kyllyd with Wolfes which he accompted to be his defaute wherfore he dyd great penauÌ„ce many yerys and the Deuylle temptyd hym to make of stone Brede and to the contrary he made of Brede a stone that yet remaynyth at Bertesmesley and after he wente with seynt Guthlake fro kependon to Croulande there he lyuyd with hym many yerys in great penaunce doynge And when seynt Guthlake was goon oute of this transytorye Lyfe And seynt Bertelyn hadde seen hym Buryed he retourned agayne to his Fader And he gaue hym the grouÌ„de where staff is now Buyldyd theÌ„ beynge growen with Busshes breerys to lyue therin a solytary Lyfe but his fader knewe not that it was his sone And after his faders deth a Kynge that enteryd the Realme by myght wolde haue takyn the grounde fro hym vnder coloure of lawe and offerde to ioyne batayle therfore And by an Aungell that was his champyon he defendyd it and after that the Kynge and all the people louyd hym as theyr owne Father And he aduoydynge teÌ„porall honoure Lefte that place and Lyued in Deserte placys in prayers vygyll endyd this Lyfe the .v. Ious of September And at Stafforde our Lorde hathe she â—â—yd for this holy man many great Myracles De sancto Cadoco epÌ„o SEynt cadoke was sone to Kynge guÌ„dlens and before his byrthe there were seen in the Chaumber where is moder was .iiii. LauÌ„pes at .iiii. corners of the Chaumber with a great lyghte And when he was borne an AuÌ„gell bad the Kynge take a holy Eremyte which on the morowe shulde come vnto hym to crysten his sone And the same Nyght of his Byrthe all the Cellers were founde full of Oyle and Hony And when he came to age in vyle habyt he vsyd to be at the Church And at nyghte he toke a lytell Brede and Water and all that he had he gaue to poure men And when he was desyryd to play he wolde go to the Churche and pray cryenge out of the blyndenesse of man that euer couetyd traÌ„sitorye thynges and forsoke thynges euerlastynge seyinge that when the dredefull day of our Lord shall come laughynge shall be tournyd into waylynge and waylynge into Ioye This blessyd man was a man of great perfeccyon And had synguler gracys of oure Lorde as in his Lyfe apperyth which be here omyttyd he was thryse at Iherusalem and .vii. tymes at Rome And by the gyfte of our Lorde he spake in dyuerse langages And by his prayer a Quene that was Barayne conceyuyd had a sone that after was his successoure by his prayers a great Derkenes fell aboute a Kynge that wolde haue dystroyed his Countrey so that the Kynge myght se nothynge And when the Kynge repentyd hym the lyghte came agayne He conuertyd moche people in Scotlande there reryd a gyant that had ben many yerys deed was in Hell His monastery was in wales .iii. myle fro conbrydge and as he was comynge fro seynt myghellys mouÌ„te in Cornewalle and was very drye he strake his staffe in the grouÌ„de a fayre watersprange vp therby is a Churche buyldyd in honoure of his name after by the porueyaunce of god he was made Abbot of beneuen tane beyonde yâ— see he was sodeynly had thyder by auÌ„gels and there he was namyd sophye And after he was made Busshope there And as he was seyinge masse he was stryken to the deth by company of a Tyraunt that came to destroye the Cyte and he had grauntyd to hym of our Lord that who so euerbeynge in trouble callyd to hym for helpe our Lorde shuld delyuer hym And soo he yeldyd his spirit to our Lord the .ix. kaleÌ„das of February ¶ De sancto Carodoco SEynt carodoke was borne in wales and in his youth he went to Lernynge after he was in seruyce with the Prynce of south wales there he had the kepynge of two Greyhoundes for Lesynge of them the kynge thret hym with great Punysshement of deth And then Carodokesayde he wolde serue a Mayster that wolde geue a better rewarde to his sernauntys And so he went to Landanense and there he toke orders and after went to seynt Dauythys and there he toke order of preesthod and encreacyd fro vertue to vertue the Deuyll on a tyme apperyd to hym vysybly in lykenes of a man he knew hym feryd hym nothynge the deuyll offeryd hym his seruyce And he sayde he wolde none of his seruyce And after he was in the prouynce of Rosence at the Monastery of seynt Ismaell there the see by his prayers went fro the Monasterye a great space and he knewe by reuelacyon as he was at masse the certeyne daye of his Deth he dyed of the Ares in the yere of oure Lord a. M.a. C. .xxiiii. is buryed at seynt Dauythis many yerys after his body was founde vncorrupte And when a monke of malmesbury of deuocyon wolde haue cut of oon of his fyngers for a Relyke He closyd his hande and drewe it awaye wherfore the Monke ferynge askyd mekely forgyuenesse ¶ De sancto carantoco SEynt carantoke was sone to Kynge keredicus And when the people wolde haue made hym kynge he fled awaye rather folowynge the wyll of God theÌ„ the fauoure of the people a whyte doue wente before hym to a place where he made a Churche after he went into Irlande for loue of seynt Patryke about .xxx. yere before seynt Dauyd was Borne and he dyd many Myracles And wyther soo euer he went an Aungell in lykenes of a doue accompanyed hym and Daylye and nyghtlye he sayde Innumerable of prayers And when he hadde conuertyd moche people in Irlande he came agayne into his owne countrey at Keretyca And there our Lorde gaue hym an Aulter that no man coulde tell of what Coloure it was and he put it into Seuerne and badde it goo before hym thyder as oure Lorde wolde he shuld fynde it And after at the desyre of Kynge arthour he kyllyd a Serpent And the Kynge of his Aulter wold haue made a table and what so euer he set appon it was caste a way and then it was caste into the see And there as it came vppe the Kynge gaue hym the twelfyth parte of the grounde and there he made a Churche and after by monycyon of an Aungell he went agayne into Irlande And there in great Age full of good werkys he went out of this worlde the .xvii. kalendas of Iune and is Buryed in a Cytie callyd chernac ¶ De sancto cedd episcopo confessore SEynt Cedd and thre other Prestys were sente by Oswy kynge of Northamhumbre with peada Kynge of mydle Englonde which hadde marryed his Doughter to Instructe hym and his people in the feythe And the sayde peada was Crystenyd before by the Busshope fynanus And there seynt Cedd with his companye conuertyd moche people to the Faythe after he was takyn fro thens by kynge Oswy And was sent to Sabertus Kynge of
houre to passe but he was Prayenge Redynge or Doynge some good werkys He had the spyryte of prophecye and shewyd thynges to come as thoughe they hadde ben paste He was on a tyme accursyd wrongefully And wheÌ„ he came to the couÌ„ceyll seynt Brendan rose to hym dyd hym reuerence he was blamyd for that he dyd reuerence to a man accursyd And he sayd he sawe a bryght Pyller of Fyre before hym and AuÌ„gellys accompanyenge hym wherfore the other began to Honoure hym he sawe a great companye of blacke Deuyllys come to his Monasterye And by his Prayers they were all dreuyn a waye fro thens they wente streyghte to a nother Monastery and brought thyder Sykenes and Pestylence and kyllyd many and Appuls that were Bytter by his prayer were made swete his Face was oftymes seen veray bryght Shynynge And on a tyme he was very mery countenauncyd And anon very heuy and by great instaunce he shewyd the that our Lord longe tyme before hadde promysyd hym that that Daye he shulde haue you to Heuyn wherfore he was gladde and by Prayer of odermen and to prophyt to other oure Lorde shewyd hym that he shuld tary foure yerys lenger wherfore he was Heuy and thre Dayes he was in a Chaumber without mete and drynke and was coÌ„forted by Aungellys and harde there many great Secrecys of god shewyd vnto hym and his voyce was somtyme herde farre of that to theym that were present was but smalle And he dyed in the I le of Jona the .v. I de of Iune and in the Monastery there he was buryed with great honoure and many notable thynges be here omyttyd De sancto Columbano abbate et confessore SEynt Columbane was borne in Irlande And whenne he in his youthe hadde prophyted moche in vertue he entendyd to forsake the worde And toke leue of his Moder and his company And his Moder wolde in no wyse assent to his goynge but stoude on the Tbressholde and Stoppyd his waye And he sayde Moder haue ye not harde the wordys of our Lorde that sey the he that louyth his Fader and Moder more thenne me he is not me worthye And anone his Moder wepte and waylyd and laye prostrate and sayde She wolde neuer assent And he wente ouer Her and prayde Her be merye and sayde She shulde neuer see hym agayne in this worlde And so he wente to the Monasterye of Benechor And there he was made Monke And when he was .xx. yerys of age He wente into FrauÌ„ce And there prechyd the worde of God And he hadde meny Bretherne and if any of his Bretherne hadde onythynge in propre he shulde be put oute of theyr companye and no man durste Speke to other a hasty worde soo that they lyuyd an Aungellys lyfe And in a wyldernes callyd vosague he made a Monasterye He made also dyuerse other Monasteryes in Fraunce And in Almayne And in some of theym as it is sayde they Amytte none but Irysshe men Nyne yere he and his Bretherne hadde none other mete but Rootys and Herbys and then an Abbot by monycyon of our Lorde sente them mete And a Monke that broughte it sayde if it be the wylle of god that they shulde haue it the Horse shall goo to the Monasterye the streyght way without ledynge so he lette theym goo in the wyldernes at large and they went streyghte to the Monasterye of seynt ColuÌ„bane he was wonte to say that they that seruyd oure Lord shuld not perysshe so it prouyd for oftymes when he his Bretherne lackyd they had helpe of our Lord in so moche that somtyme theyr barnys were sodenly fyllyd with Corne somtyme mete was sent sodeÌ„ly somtyme brede multyplyed And somtyme Byrdys were sent sodeÌ„ly fro heuyn that none suche had ben seen And for Iustyce he suffered great ê‘secucioÌ„ he departyd this worlde aboute the yere of our Lorde syx hundred .xv. the .ix. kalendas of Decembre ¶ De sctoÌ„ Cuthberto epÌ„o confessore SEynt cuthbert was a Kyngessone of Irlonde And at his byrthe the House was full of a heueÌ„ly lyght wherfore a holy Busshoppe thankyd out Lorde desyred to haue the bryngynge vp of the Chylde And after the deth of the Busshop seynt cuthbert went with his Moder into Bretayne to Seynt Columbe and by the waye his Boke fell into the see and a Fysshe swalowyd it vp And whan they landyd caste it vp to theym safe to Londe And after his Moder lefte hym with two Busshoppes that were her bretherne in ScotlaÌ„de and went to Rome And the chylde in the nyghtys wolde be in prayer in a Hylle where he droue a waye the Deuylle with his staffe And theyr steppys be seen there yet And as he was kepynge Bestys on a nyghte beynge in prayer he sawe the sowle of seynt Aidane had into heuyn ther vpon he lefte the kepynge of Bestys entryd into Relygyon at the monastery of maylros where anon he was lyke to his felowys iÌ„ redynge syngynge prayenge workyng after in the monastery of RypoÌ„ he was put into the offyce to receyue gestys there he receyuyd an AuÌ„gell as a geest And anon he wesshed his feet and gaue hym water to his HaÌ„dys weÌ„t to fet hym brede ar he came agayne the Aungell was goon leuynge behynde hym iÌ„ the House ameruaylouse swete sauoure And thre louys of Brede which were whyte as a Lylye And they sauouryd lyke Roses that neuer noon suche had ben seen in that couÌ„trey fro that tyme fourth he was oftymes vysytyd with AuÌ„gellys And wheÌ„ he was made Abbot of lyndyfferneÌ„se oftymes he argued with his bretherne of theyr Rule sufferyd somtymes Iniuryes of theym pacyently But neuerthelesse he wolde a noder tyme gyue the same monycyon as he dyd before tyll by lytell and lytell with sobrenes he brought them to reformacyon He was a man of great pacyence and hauynge troubles he neuer bere the more heuy Countenaunce He vsyd suche coÌ„tynuall knelynges that he had great drusyd Flesshe vppon his knees and he toke so lytyll hede to his Body that some yere he chaungyd his Shone but ones No man wente fro hym without comforte the sorowe that they brought went not with theym fro hym And at a CouÌ„ceyle in presence of the Kynge and of the archebusshope Theodre he was made Busshope of Lyndefernens though he moch refusyd But the Kynge on his knees desyryd hym to take vppon hym And anon he defendyd the people to hym commyttyd with dylygent prayers and techynges and as he taught he dyd And at his departynge oute of the worlde he sussered great sykenes pacyeÌ„tly And venerable Bede was with hym in his sykenes And he yeldyd vp his spyryte the .xiii. kalendas of Apryll in the yere of oure Lord syx hundred .iiii. score and seuyn and .xi. yere after that he was Buryed his Body was founde hoole more lyke to be a slepe then to be deed and his senewys were flexyble and his
of chyualry defeÌ„dyd hys Father myghtely agaynste his enemyes bette downe castellys townys in his moost cruelty he was also mercyfull wolde geue to his enemyes the thyrde parte of that he geet And after he consyderyd that the glorye of the worlde was but as smoke a vapoure of small abydynge wherfore he caste away his Armoure went to repeÌ„don toke orders geuynge hym to monastycall lernynge he wolde drynke nothynge that myght be occasyon of dystemperaunce And after he went to crowlande where then no man durste enhabyte for fere of wyckyd spiritis there he lyuyd a blessyd lyfe sufferyd great temptacyons persecucyons of wyckyd spiritis as in that Legende apperyth at great length he was ofte delyuerd owte of trowbles temptacyons by seynt Bartylmew whom he had in synguler deuocyon on a tyme two Deuyllys in lykenes of men came to hym ê‘swadyd hym to faste not two or thre dayes but by hole wekys put hym iÌ„ mynde of Moyses hely howe they fastyd of the fastyngys of olde fathers of sythye theÌ„ he knewe they were wyckyd spiritis wherfore he made his prayer anon they vanysshed awey then he toke his sustenaunce of Barley brede as he was wonte to do This blessyd man had suche a hoole entent to god that there was neuer in his harte but pyte charyte in his mouth there was nothynge but our lorde Ihesu Peas mercy forgyuynge He was neuer seen angry prowde or heuy but alwayes iÌ„oon sobrenes On a tyme he sawe two deuyllys wepe when he askyd them the cause why they wepte they sayd bycause he pÌ„uaylyd so ofte agaynste theÌ„ so he made the sygne of the crosse anon they vanysshyd away the busshope hedda as he was goinge to seynt guthlake praysid moch the strayghtnes of his lyfe oon of his chapleyns sayd that he had seen many Heremytes some good some euyll if he had ones seen hym he sayd he coulde tell whether he were so good as the fame raÌ„ne vppoÌ„ hym wheÌ„ he cam to seynt guthlake he by spyryt knowynge his wordys askyd of hym howe he sayd by that man that he spake of the day before then he was abasshyd fell downe askynge hym forgyuenes theÌ„ the Busshope made hym preest he had a suster callyd pega whom he wolde not see iÌ„ this lyfe to the enteÌ„t they myght the rather mete in the lyfe to come when his tyme drew nere he shewyd his discyple Bertelyn therof bade hym that he shulde praye his suster to se hym buryed then Bertelyn prayed seynt Guthlake to shewe hym who he was that he had seen euery day syth his fyrste cuÌ„mynge to hym spekynge with hym Mornynge euenynge he sayde that euer syth he came to that wyldernes he had an AuÌ„gell to coÌ„forte hym to helpe hym in his teÌ„ptacions that shewyd hym thynges to come with other great secretys that it was not laufull to speke bade Bertelyn kepe it secrete not to shew it to any ê‘sone but to his suster Pega to a holy Anker callyd Egbert when he had thus spokyn there came a swete smell out of his mouthe as of Rose flowrys or Balme fro mydnyght to the mornynge was a great lyght seen in all the house then he sayd to his dyscyple that his tyme was come lyftynge vp his Ien his haÌ„dys into Heuyn he slepte iÌ„ our Lorde aboute the yere of grace .vii. C. .vi. aboute a yere after his deth his body was remouyd was fouÌ„de vncorrupt with all his clothys a kynge callyd Ethelbalde which was wrongefully put out of his Realme had be moche famylyer with seynt gutlake in his lyfe came to his tumbe prayed deuoutly to hym for helpe he apperyd to hym tolde hym that within two yerys he shuld be restoryd to his kyngdoÌ„ so he was theÌ„ he buylded crowlaÌ„de endewyd it with great loÌ„des many lybertyes as he hadde promysed to seynt Guthlake in his lyfe that he wolde doo De sancta Helena regina Seynt helyn was doughter of cloell kyng of grete brytayn iÌ„ tho dayes the senate of romeseÌ„te coÌ„staÌ„cyus which had subdued to theÌ„ the couÌ„trey of spayne to subdue also to them brytayne now callyd EngloÌ„de And cloell ferynge the great wysdome of coÌ„stancius anon assentyd to pay yâ— olde trybute theruppon constancyus toke the sayd helyn his doughter to wyfe had by her constantyne whiche after the deth of his fader went to rome with great power of brytayne toke his moder with hym put downe maxencyus the tyrauÌ„te was made Emperoure after he was coÌ„uertyd to the feyth also Crystenyd by seynt syluester wherfore his moder praysyd hym that he had lefte the worshyppynge of Idollys but she thought he shuld rather haue receyuyd the feyth of the god of the Iues which she had theÌ„ receyuyd then to receyue the feythe of a man crucyfyed there vppon a tyme was appoyntyd betwyxte them to haue bothe lawes disputyd at which day by the ê“founde argumeÌ„tys of seynt Syluester also by myracles that our lorde shewyd in ê“ue of the feyth seynt Helyn all the docturys of the Iues that she brought with her were coÌ„uertyd to the feyth when she was crystenyd she encouragyd her selfe to enlarge the crysten feythe all that she could went to Iherusalem with a great power where she fouÌ„de the holy crosse with the thre naylys the crybbe that our lorde was leyed on ê‘te of the hey our Ladyes smokke she made monasteryes where our lord sufferyd his deth passyon there as the holy crosse was fouÌ„de at BetheleÌ„ in many other placys After she went to ynde she made many churchys brought with her the Bodyes of the thre kynges of coleyne she broughte with her ê‘te of the holy crosse to constantynople after she went to rome grewe to suche hyghe charyte that she was as a moder to all personys And after when she laye syke she sawe heuyn open our lord standynge with a great multytude of AuÌ„gellys with his Crosse meruaylously shynynge which comfortyd her moche She went to our Lord the .xv. kalendas of septeÌ„ber was honorably buryed by the Pope with great wepynge of all the people as it is sayd her body was traÌ„slatyd to constantynople now it lyeth at venys De sancto Henrico heremita SEynt henry the heremyte was borne in denmarke And on a tyme when all thynge was ordeynyd that he shuld haue ben maryed our lord prohybytyd hym to be maryed bad hym kepe hym selfe clene inmaculate fro this worlde that he shuld goo into the I le of Coket so he came to tynmouth there he had leue of the pryor to go into the I le of Coket And certen yerys he lyuyd with brede
toke many other dayes in the honour of dyuerse other seyntê wheder she fasted or otherwyse toke hir sustynaunce she rose euer with most great sobernes natfully saciate in the same frydayes she toke war candellys made breÌ„nyng droppes fall vpon hir bare flesshe so that the breÌ„nynge markê of them coÌ„tynuelly remayned gencian whiche is a moch bytter erbe she helde coÌ„tynually in hir mouth And when she was at Rome nat dredyng the vigour of the colde nor the impedymeÌ„t of the great hete rayne or foulnes of the waye ne yet the sharpnes nf the snowe or hayle and thoughe she myght haue ryden neuerthelesse vpon the strengthe of hir lene bodye she wente euery daye the Stacyons ordeyned by the churche And also visyted many other seyntes She vsed so many longe knelyngê that her knees were waxen harde as it had be of a Camel She was of so grete meruaylous mekenes that ofttymes she sat vnknowen with pore pylgrymes at the monastery of seynt Laurence in pamsperna in the cyte of Rome which is of the ordre of seynt Clare there she toke almes with them Ofttymes with hir owne haÌ„des for goddes sake she repayred the clothes of pore men euery day in hir husbandes lyf she fedde .xii. pore men in hir house seruyd mynystred to them hirselfe suche as they neded Of hir owne substauÌ„ce she repayred in hir countre many desolate hospytalles as a busy administratrice mercyful pytuous she visited the nedy syke meÌ„ that were ther haÌ„deled and wasshyd theyr sores without horror or lothsomnes And she was of so meruaylouse great pacyence that the sykenes that she had hir self wronges that were done vnto hir and the deth of hir husbande of hir sone Charles with all other aduersyties she suffred moost pacyently without murmur or gruttynge and in all thyngê with hygh mekenes she blessyd our lorde beynge for suche troubles the more constauÌ„te in the fayth the more redy in hope and the more brennynge in Charyte hyghly she loued Iustyce equyte The mocions of the flesshe vayneglory with a busy cure great truste in our lorde she despysed and ouercame She was of suche hygh wysedome discrecion that fro hir youth vnto his laste houre asmoche as fraylnes myght suffre she neuer sayd good to be euyll nor euyll to be good And euery fryday in hir husbandes lyf she was confessyd and after his deth she was euery day confessyd Euery sonday she hir doughter Katheryne whiche lyued with hir all hir lyfe in penaunce chaste wydowhed with great deuocioÌ„ and humylyte resceyued the holy body of our lord euer lyuyngâ— in secrete penauÌ„ce whiche they dyd nat to the apparaunte syght of the worlde but secretly to almyghty god in symplenes of herte and cleÌ„nes of spyrit On a tyme when the kyng of Swecia wolde haue charged his comons with agreat exacion that he myght therw t haue payed a great suÌ„me of money wherin he was in detted seynt Birget for great compassyon that she had to the people sayd to the kynge Osyr do nat so but take my two sones lay them in plegge to yo credytours tyl ye may pay your money do nat offende god yo subiettê There was a knyght that alway studyed to fynde newe inuencyons amonge the people whiche by his wordê euyll examples brought many to dampnacion this knyght had great enuy to seynt Birget and bycause he durste nat hym selfe speke â—uyll to hir he styred another that shuld fayne hym self dronken then he to speke vnto hir shamefull and coÌ„tumelious wordes to brynge hir out of pacyence whiche cursed man as seynt Birget was syttynge at the table with many honorable ê‘sones sayd in the herynge of theym all O lady thou slepest to lytell â—and thou wakest to moch it were expedyent for the to drynke well and to slepe more hathe god thynkest thou forsaken Relygyous ê‘sons and speketh with proude people of the world It is a vayne thyng to gyue any fayth to thy wordes and as he was so spekyng they that stode by wolde haue put hym away with violence to his rebuke and shame And seynt Birget prohybyted theym and sayd suffre hym to speke almyghty god hath sent hym hyther for I that in all my lyfe haue sought myn owne prayse why shuld I nat here my rightwysnes This maÌ„ sayth to me yÌ„e trouth And when the knyght herde of the great pacyence of seynt Birget he toke great repentaunce and came to Rome and asked forgyuenes of seynt Birget there he made a good and a laudable ende The sayd blessyd woman seynt Birget was so adourned fulfylled with all vertues that oure lorde receyued hir to be his spouse and vysyted hir many tymes with merueylous consolacyons and dyuyne graces shewyd hir many heuynly reuelacyons saynge vnto hir I haue chosen the to my spouse that I maye shewe to the my secretê for it pleasyth me so to do And another tyme he sayd to hir I take the to my spouse and to my proper delyte suche as it is my pleasure to haue with a chaste soule In whiche reuelacyons be conteyned the hyghe secrete my steryes of the moste gloriouse Trinite of the Incarnacyon natyuyte lyfe and passyon of our Sauyour criste Ihesu with the playne and trewe Doctryne to knowe vertue and to folowe it and to eschewe vycesshewynge the rewarde of vertue and the great intollerable payne and dampnacyon that shall fall to synners that dye in deedly synne exortynge also all men to do condigne penauÌ„ce for the synnes that they haue ben shryuen of to eschewe the great and dredefull paynes of purgatorye ordeyned for theyr purgacyon by the strenght equyte of Iustyce whiche terryble paynes our Sauyour shewyd dyuerse tymes to his sayde spouse seynt Birget to thentenâ— she shuld shewe them ouer the people whiche reuelacioÌ„ seynt Birget wrote in hir owne naturall tonge and the sayd Pryour of Albastra hir Fader espuÌ„ell by the coÌ„maundement of almyghty god translated theym into Latyn and deuyded theym into .viii. bokes bysyde a especiall reuelacion that she had of the praysynges and excellencye of our blessyd Lady whiche he appoynted for the Legend of the susters and bysyde many other Reuelacyons that she hadde for the Rule and foundacyon of hir sayd Monasterye of Watzstenes foure goodly chappytours for prayers with certeyn reuelacyons called the extrauagantê And natwithstandynge the great and synguler graces that she hadde as well in the sayde RevelacioÌ„s as otherwyse she was nat therfore any thynge exalted but dayly with many terys humbled hirselfe the more therfore and wolde gladly haue hydde and kept cloâ—â— the especyall gyfte that she had of our lord in the sayd Reuelacions but that our lorde coÌ„maunded hir oft tymes to wryte to speke them boldely to the Pope to the Emperour kyngê prynces and other people that by the reason of theym they myght the soner be conuertyd fro theyr synnes And
tymes she vysytyd many Seyntys in hyr owne countrey and in other countreys therto adioynynge in Fraunce Italye Spayne Napuls many other placys after hyr sayd holy pylgrymagys she lyuyd the resydue of hir lyfe in the cyty of Rome fyue dayes before that seynt Byrgette shulde passe out of this transytory Lyfe our Lorde apperyd vnto hyr before an Aulter that was in hyr Chaumber and with a mery countenaunce sayde vnto hyr I haue not vysytyd the in this tyme with consolacyons for it was the tyme of thy probacyon Therfore nowe thowe arte prouyd procede and make the redy for the tyme is come that that I promysyd that shal be fulfyllyd that is to saye that before myn Aulter thou shalte be clothyd coÌ„secrate a Nunne from hensforthe thou shalte not onely be reputyd to be my espouse but also thou shalte be reputyd to be moder in watzstenys neuertelesse knowe it for a trouth thou shalte leue thy Body here in Rome vnto the tyme it shall come into the place ordeynyd for it knowe thou for certeyne that men shall come when it shall please me that with all swetnes and Ioye shall receyue the wordys of the Heuenly reuelacyons that I haue shemyd to the and all thynges that I haue sayde to the shal be fulfyllyd And though my grace be withdrawen fro many for theyr vnkyndenes Neuerthelesse other shall come that shall ryse in theyr place whiche shall opteyne my Grace And in the mornynge of the fyfte Daye nowe nexte folowynge after thou haste receyuyd the SacrameÌ„tys of the Chyrche calle to the seuerallye the persones that I haue namyd to the nowe and telle theym what they shall doo and then in theyr Handys thou shalte come into my ioye euerlastynge and thy Bodye shall be caryed to watzstenes And on the sayde fyfte Daye she callyd to hyr all hyr housholde and shewyd theym what they shulde doo and at the laste she gaue a great monycyon to hyr son Byrgerus and to hyr doughter Katheryne chargynge theym that aboue all thynges they shulde perseuer in the drede of god and in the Loue of theyr neyghbourys in good Warkys and theropon she made hyr Confessyon with great dylygens and Deuocyon and receyuynge the blessyd Bodye of oure Lorde was a noylyd And as a Masse was sayde afore hyr and she had honouryd the blessyd Bodye of oure Lorde she lyfte vppe hyr eyen to Heuyn and sayde In manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meum whiche is to seye Lorde into thy handys I coÌ„myt my spirite And with tho wordys she yeldyd her soule to our Lorde the .xxiii. daye of Iulii the yere of oure Lorde god a thousande thre hundreth .lxxiii. and the yere of hyr age .lxx. And anon a great fame went thrughe all the Cytye of rome of the deth of this gloryous woman and the people came with great deuocyon to se the holy body gloryfyinge and lawdynge almyghty god and in suche greâ—e recourse of the people the Body was caryed to the monastery of seynt Laurence as it was shewyd by hyr selfe that it shuld be for the great prese of the people it coulde not conuenyently be buryed vnto the seconde daye and before she was buryed a woman callyd Agnes de coÌ„tess a dwellynge in the Cytye of Rome whiche fro hyr byrthe had a great grosse throte moche foule dyfformyd came with other to the Bodye of seynt Byrgette and with hyr owne Gyrdell she towchyd the hande of this gloryous woman seynt Byrgette with great deuocyon and bounde the same gyrdell abowte her necke and anon aftyr her throte swagyd by the myracle of almyghty god was brought in to the due shappe conformyte Also there was a Nonne of the sayde monastery of seynt LaureÌ„ce which for feblenes and great sykenes that she had in her stomake by the space of .ii. yerys kepte hyr bedde well nere all that tyme and she was moch famylyer with seynt Byrgette in hyr lyfe thys Nonne with great peyn rose fro hyr bedde and with helpe came to the Beer lay by it all the nyght and cessyd not to praye almyghty god that by the merytys and Prayers of his gloryouse spouse seynt Byrgette whose Body was there present that she myghte haue soo moche ease of hyr sayde longe sykenes that she myght with hyr Susters be at deuyne seruyce and that she myghte when nede shulde requyre goo aboute the monastery with oute helpe And in the mornynge she hadde more helth of hyr Bodye thenne she prayed fore And the .xxvi. daye of the sayde moneth of Iulii the Bodye of Seynt Birgette was buryed in the sayde Monasterye of seynt Laurence in a cheste of wode enclosyd in a tombe of marbull and in the space of fyue wekys and a halfe the Flesshe by Myracle was clerely consumyd and goon and nothynge lefte but the clere whyte shynynge Bonys and after the sayde Bonys and Relykes of seynt Birgette were translatyd from Rome to the sayde Monasterye of watzstenes in swecia the fourth nonas of Iulii by the sayde Byrgerus and Katheryne and after this blessyd woman seynt Birgette was canonyzed by pope bonyface of that name the nynth the yere of our Lord god a thousande CCC lxxxxi as in the Bull of hyr canonyzacion apperyth A woman of the dyocesse of LyncopeÌ„ce callyd Elseby Snara with great peyne and sorowe was delyuered of a deed Chylde and when she was after her great peyne come to hyr perfyte remembrauÌ„ce with humble prayer she besoughte almyghtye god that by the merytes of his gloryouse espouse seynt Birgette the Chylde myghte be restoryd to Lyfe and made a vowe that if the Chylde came to lyfe that she wolde vysyte the sepulcre of Seynt Birgette And anon the Infaunâ—â— beganne to waxe hote and to take Brethe and afterwarde it was restoryd to full Lyfe wherfore the Moder with great deuocyon and gladnes fulfyllynge hyr auowe vysytyd the Relykes of Seynt Birgette in the Monasterye of watzstenes aboute the Natyuyte of oure Lorde certeyne persons of gothlande toke the See and with a great Tempeste they were dryuen into a place whiche was moche shalowe of Water and there theyr Shyppe was all to Broysyd and they taryed there a se nyght in great Hunger and Colde and Coulde not remoue theyr Shyppe At the wekys ende for asmoche as they were lyke to haue perysshyd for lacke of SustenauÌ„ce they drewe Cuttes amonge theym whiche of theym shulde be kyllyd and made mete for the other And he vppon whome the Lotte felle with great wepynge commyttyd hym to Seynt Birgette and prayde for helpe promysynge that if he escapyd that Daunger he wolde vysyte hyr at hyr Monasterye of watzstenes And anon by Myracle they fouÌ„de a great peace of Flesshe in the See and when they hadde refresshyd theym selfe therwyth there arose anon suche a great calmenes that in a lytell smalle Bote they came by great longe weyes in the See to londe And as he
yeres he wente to Rome and came agayne with Seynt Theodre whenne he came into Englonde and broughte with hym many Relykys And after he made two Monasteryes one of Seynt Peter and anoder of Seynt Paule where venerable bede was broughte vppe And he was Mayster to venerable Bede and fyue tymes he was at Rome and alwey retournyd with moche Rycheses of heuenly thynges and he studyed alway to prophyt theym that were vnder hym both in werke exaumple And he yeldyd vp his spyryt to our Lorde the day before the Idus of Ianuary the yere of our Lorde seuyn hundred and thre ¶ De venerabili Bede pÌ„sbitero UEnerable bede was borne in Gyrwence a lytle fro the ryuer of Tyne And he was brought vpe vnder seynt Benet Busshope in the monasteryes that the sayde seynt Benet made by the Ryuers of Tyn and were And after he had attayned great cuÌ„nynge in lyberall scyence he gaue hym to study of scrypture And he lernyd Greke and Latten tonge of the discyples of seynt Theodre and seynt Adryan And as he encreasyd in coÌ„nynge and wisdome he encreasyd also iÌ„ the drede of our Lorde And amonge .vi. C. Bretherne that were in bothe monasteryes what so euer any of theym had in vertue it was hoole in this blessyd man in the .ix. yere of his age he toke Dekon and at Thyrty prechyd of seynt IohnÌ„ of beuerlay and all that tyme he gaue study to Rulys of his Relygyon and to Scripture and was alway Redynge Wrytynge or Techynge And many came to hym to be assoylyd of doughtys in Scrypture And those that myght not come sent to hym by Wrytynge And his fame was spronge soo farre that it came to Rome And the 〈◊〉 wrote to his Abbotte coylfryde to sende hym to Rome to assoyle certeyn doughtis there in Scripture but whether he went or not it was not expÌ„ssyd And .vii. wekes before his deth he had great desease in his stomake and drewe his breth thycke notwithstoÌ„dynge he lost not his study And all that tyme besyde his duty he sayde dayly certeyne deuocyons And he askyd of our Lorde that he that had geuyn hym grace to haâ—â— cunnynge vnderstondynge of his wordys that he wolde geue hym grace to come to the euerlastynge welle of cuÌ„nynge in heuyn And thanne he teurned to his bretherne and sayd to them that he couetyd to be dissoluyd to be with our Lorde And prayed them if he had any thynge laboured for them or prophytyd in any maner to that churche of god that they wolde therfore haue hym in remembrauÌ„ce in theyr prayers and lyuynge vppon heere with hooll mynde mery Countenaunce he made a specyall Prayer to the holy Goost And as he sayd Gloria patry Filio et spiritui sancto with the namynge of the holy Goost he yeldyd vp his spyryt the .vii. kalendas of Iune with so swete a Sauoure that all that were presente thoughte they had byn in paradyce And lyeth nowe with the Bodye of Seynt Cuthbert And in the legende appere two causes why he was callyd venerable Bede not seynt Bede that for shortnes be here omytted And some men adde therto a nother cause that his omâ—lyes were of such Auctoryte that they were redde in his lyfe And then he was callyd venerable Bede And not seynt Bede for it hadde not ben coÌ„uenyent And so that name that he had geuyn hym in his lyffe coÌ„tynued after his deth c. ¶ De sancto Benygno epÌ„o confessore AFter seynt Benygne had ben many yerys a Busshope in Irlande he was warnyd by an Aungell that he shuld leue his owne CouÌ„trey And lyue in Deserte and soo he lefte Irlonde and came to Glastonbury And there he founde seynt Patryke he bad hym goo forthe and set his staffe in the grounde and if it were the place that was appoyntyd for hym by oure Lorde it shulde growe And soo he went fourthe with one Chylde and came into the I le of Ferramoure And there he sette his staffe in the GrouÌ„de which grewe and bare leuys And that place lackyd water And as the chylde was fettynge water farre of and slepte by the way the deuyll stale away his vessell Wherfore when he awoke he was very heuy And chargyd hym that had takyn it awaye in the name of god whom his Mayster benygne dyd worshyppe that he shuld brynge it agayne And theÌ„ the Deuyll had no power to kepe it ony loÌ„ger but brought it agayne And when his Mayster harde therof he prayde hertely to our Lord and an Aungell apperyd to hym and bad hym sende his Chylde into the Eest parte of his Celle and byd hym sette his staffe in the grownde and he shulde haue water and soo he dyd and hadde Water in suche habundaunce that a Ryuer is rysen therof where was none before And he mette with the Deuyll on a Brydge and askyd hym what he dyd there And he sayde he came to deceyue hym and he toke hym with his staffe all to bete hym and after he threwe hym into a depe Pytte where to this Daye no man dare come for it is sayd it hath no bottom he shewyd the Bretherne the very houre of his deth and in theyr handys lyftynge vp his eyen into Heuyn he yeldyd his sowlle to our Lorde the thyrde nonas of Nouembre And in the yere of our Lorde a thousande foure score aleuyn his body was takyn vppe borne to the Churche of Glastonbury And the Abbot with one of his Bones blessyd the people and dyuerse of theym were helyd of theyr diseases De sancto Bernaco abbate confessore SEynt bernake was of noble Blode fro his you the kepte the commaundementys of God And had great Ryches whiche he forsoke and wente to Rome and there by his Prayer he dystroyed a cruell Monstre that had dystroyed moche people And when he began to be moche magnyfyed of the people he withdrewe hymselfe pryuely and came to lytle Brytayne and there dyd many myracles and eftsones eschewynge the prayse of the worlde he came alone to the Seesyde and when he founde no Shyppe redy he coÌ„mytted hymselfe to our Lorde and vpon a stone he came ouer the See in to Northwales and there he droue away wicked spryrytys fro a place that he enhabyted in the whiche afore his tyme was inhabytable And he punysshed his Body with great fastynge ofte vigyllys and sharpe Clothes And that he kepte fro hym selfe he gaue to poure men He made somtyme Hartys to drawe in the chare And a wulfe to kepe his Cowe And on a tyme when his Cowe was taken away by the kynges commaundement the water that she shuld haue ben soden in wolde in no wyse be hoote wherfore the kynge came to hym on his bare feet And asked forgeuenes And he forgaue hym and afore them all reysyd the Cowe agayne And for the Kynges souper of water he made wyne and of stonys Fysshe And in
for loue of the great lernynge that fro the tyme of seynt Theodre flowryd in Englonde he lefte his owne Countre came into EngloÌ„d And anon he prophyted moche in holy Techynge heuynly wisdome And at last forsakynge this deceytfull Worlde he assocyatyd hym selfe to a college of Monkys and he was Busshope after seynt Cuthbert And shone soo clere in vertuous werkes that euery man myghte se in his steppys the wey to lyue vertuously And the thyrde yere after he was made Busshop he went to heuyn the .vii. kalendas of SepteÌ„bre lyeth at Caunterbury A man without reuerence set his corne vppon seynt Bregwyns toumbe and anone it was throwen a good space of And the seconde tyme it was sparkled all the pauement wherfore his shryne was after had in more reuerence And a lame man that went of all foure at his toumbe was made hoole ¶ De sancto Brendano abbate SEynt brendane was borne in the weste parte of Irlonde And his Moder when she was with chylde with hym sawe her bosome full of shynyge gold And hyrtetys Shynynge with a merueylous bryghtnes whiche vysyon Ercus the Busshope enterpretyd to sygnyfye that she shulde bere a Chylde of great holynes And in the nyght when he was borne Ercus the Busshope sawe all the prouynce illumyned with a great lyghte And aungells fleynge aboute in whyte vesture And the Busshope nourysshyd the Chylde and brought hym vp in holy lernynge as the Busshope the Chylde were together a man came faste rennynge for fere of his enemâ—es And the chylde bade hym goo to a stone therby feâ—â— nothynge And whan his enemyes came they stroke the stone takynge it for the man the man for the stone and when they knewe the meruaylous werke of God therin they toke penaunce to theyr deth lyued with the Busshope Laudynge and praysynge our Lorde And after seynt Brendan shewyd the Busshope that he wolde goo lerne the Rulys of the holy Faders of that I le And the Busshope assentyd thynkynge that that mocyoÌ„ came of our Lorde And wheÌ„ he had byn with a nother holy Busshope an Aungell bad hym wryte a Rule and soohe dyd whiche contynueth to this day And after he lefte the worlde and was Fader of .iii. M. moÌ„kys and he made .xiiii. Rulers ouer theym and lyuyd hymfelfe in an Oratorye with them and after he saylyd many longe wayes in the See and escapyd many peryllys in that iourney by the speciall assystaunce of our Lorde and when he had ben fourthe .vii. yere he retournyd agayne to his Monastery and there his staffe was leyde vppon a Chylde that was deed after .iii. dayes he rose agayne to lyffe wheÌ„ .ii. kynges varyed entendyd to haue destroyde others cuntrey by his entreatyce wolde not ceace by his prayers they were made in such case that they coulde not goo out of the place where they were wherby they knewe they re defaute and lefte theyr enterpryse And he went oute of this Worlde full of good Werkys and great Myracles the .xvii. kalendas of Iune at cluenarca ¶ De sancta Brigida virgine SEynt bryde was borne in Irloude her moder when she was with Chylde with her was solde in bondage to a wiche and she caste vppe all the mete that she reseyuyd of the wyches And he perceyuyd it sayd that he was vnclene and that the Mayde was full of the spirit of god and coulde not take his mete and so he gaue her a Cowe of her owne with whose Mylke she was fedde She was full of Pyte hadde great coÌ„passyon to pore men and gaue all that she had to theym in Almes in her youth she gaue Butter to pore men And whenne the wich which was her Mayster was angrye therwith by her prayer it encreasyd agayne And he seynge that was conuertyd and gaue her .xii. Kyne and made her free and sent her to her fader after her fader thoughte to sell her agayne bycause she gaue pryuely to poure men all that she myghte gette And offerd to selle hyr to the Kynge And when the kynge askyd of her why she gaue awaye her faders swerde she sayde she had geuyn it to our Lorde and if he askyd of her the Kynge her father both she sayde she wolde gladly gyue theym both vnto hym and then the Kynge gaue her aswerde to gyue her Father She was euer ententyfe to a hoole cleÌ„nesse sobrenes And euer encreasyd fro vtue to vtue And she prayde to our Lorde that some deformyte myghte falle vppoÌ„ her that no man shuld aske her in maryage and anone â—on of her eyen wente out And when she was made a Nonne her eye was hole agayn Certeyne Ale that she made of a stryke of malte seruyd moch people all the vtas of ester she helyd Lepours men syke of the Palsey blynde obcessyd of deuyllys a vgyn that was blynde prayde seynt Bryde to blesse her eyen yâ— she myghtse she dyd so Aranon she had hyr syghte theÌ„ she prayde her to close her eyen agayne for the more that a man is absent fro the world the nerer he is to God And then seynt Bryde closyd her eyen agayne and on a nyght in frost snowe wheÌ„ other slepte she went into a Ponde wepynge prayde And so she thoughte to haue perseueryd but that oure Lord other wyse dysposyd And she knewe when her tyme to passe out of this worlde drewe nere And aboute the yere of our Lorde fyue hundred and .xviii. she went to our Lorde in the kalendas of February ¶ De sancto Brythuno abbate SEynt brythune was borne in EngloÌ„d and was Discyple to seynt IohnÌ„ of Beuerlay many yerys And for his holy Lyfe and laudable coÌ„uersacion he hadde hym in great famylyaryte before other And he made him Abbot of deirwodde now callyd Beuerley He was a Louer of vertues and a persecutor of vyces A dyspyser of the worlde and desyrous of the kyngdome of heuyn and a dylygent instructour of the flocke to hym commyted a executoure of Iustyce and Pyte A great gyuer of Almes And a keper of Hospytalyte and redye to doo all thynges that he myghte please our Lorde with all And he lyued in good Werkys vnto greaâ— Aege And endyd his Lyfe in the Ious of Maii and was Buryed in his Monasterye And after the Clergy and the people seynge the great Myracles Sygnys that our Lorde shewyd for hym by a comyn assent translatyd his Body and leyde it by his mayster seynt IohnÌ„ of Beruerley De sctoÌ„ Bertelmo heremita confessore SEynt bartelyn was sone of the kynge of Kynge of the countrey of Stafforde he lefte his countrey and went into Irlonde there was in grete famylyaryte with a Kynge of Irlonde And there by entysynge of the Goostly enemy he gate the Kynges doughter with chylde and pryuely brought her into Englonde And in a Forest she traueylyd where bothe she the Chylde were
Eest saxons to Preche the Feythe there And when he had there conuertyd moche people he resortyd into his contrey And there the Busshope Fynanus made hym Busshope of eest Englonde And then he went agayne and gatheryd a great company of dyscyples and taught them regular discyplyne as theyr rudenesse myght bere And he resortyd ofte iÌ„to his couÌ„trey of Northamhumbrorum And the Kynge there gaue hym a grounde to make a Monasterye whiche he callyd lestyngey and he enfourmyd his dyscyples there after the manner of the Monasterye of Lyndyffernens that he was brought vppe in And before he beganne the foundacyon he Fastyd and Prayed that the Grounde myght be clensyd fro the olde synnes And there he went to oure Lorde and lefte his Broder cedda Abbotte after hym and it is not knowen what daye nor what yere he Dyed ¶ De sancto CeddaepÌ„o confessore SEynt Chadde broder to seynt Cedd was dyscyple to seynt AidaÌ„ And he was sent by Kynge Oswy to CauÌ„terbury to be made Busshope of yorke And bycause the see of Caunterbury was voyde he was coÌ„secrate by wyne Busshope of westsaxons For at that tyme there was no Busshope in all Englonge laufully made Busshope but wyne And anon he gaue grete dylygence to Redynge Prayinge and in humylyte went on Prechynge in his dyocyse on Foot and not on horsbacke And when seynt Theodre tharchebusshope was sent frome sayd he was not duely coÌ„secrate he answeryd mekely that if he thought he was not duely coÌ„secrate he was coÌ„tentyd to resygne And he seynge his humylyte sayde he hought not to leue his Busshopryke but rather to haue his eleccyon confermyd And after he was desyred by wlferus Kynge of Marshlonde to be Busshope there and in Lyndesey and so he was And he had a see in Lychefelde and in a place two myle fro thens he was wonte to be ofte in Prayers And the Kynge gaue hym a certeyne grounde in the Prouynce of Lyndesey where he made a Monastery callyd barwe he was full of the drede of god in soo moche that when he harde any contraryous weder he woldelye prostrate in prayer for hym and for the people for fere of Punysshement for he callyd it a Thretnynge of God and feryd that punysshement shulde ensue And a lytyll before his deê‘tynge oute of this worlde oon of his Dyscyples herde a swete voyce of Aungellys syngynge that cam fro heuyn downe to the house where seynt Chadde was in prayer And they taryed there nyghehalfe an our after they went agayne to Heuyn And the Aungellys shewyd hym that the .vii. Daye folowynge he shulde departe out of this worlde And then he admonysshyd his Bretherne that they shulde kepe Loue and Peace amonge theym and kepe the rulys of theyr Relygyon and in the .vii. Daye whiche was the .vi. nonas of Marche as the Aungell hadde shewyd hym he gaue vppe his soule to our Lord as the AuÌ„gell had shewyd hym ¶ De sctoÌ„ Claro presbytero martyre IN the tyme of the gloryous Kynge Edmonde a man of orchester callyd Edwarde and his wyfe prayed to our Lorde with great deuocyon that they myght haue a Chylde that shulde be obedyeÌ„t to his wyll And so they had a sone whome they callyd clare they instructyd hym in lernynge And when he came to age they porposyd to haue maryed hym wherfore he fled ouer the see into Normandy And there he helyd an Eremyte that was sore woundyd and wente to a Monasterye where seynt odebert was And after he was desyred by the Eremytys to shewe theym howe they myght saue theyr soullys And he bad theym here the wordys of our Lorde that seyed he that wyll folowe me let hym forsake hym selfe take his Crosse folowe me also loue thy Lorde god with all thy Hart Mynde thy Neyghboure as thy selfe And he sayd to loue God aboue all thynge is to withdrawe thy mynde fro all erthely thynges to put all his hooll Entente besyly in oure Lorde after he wente aboute moch ê‘te of FrauÌ„ce and buyldyd a Monasterye at wicassyno and there he lyued only with Rotys of Erbys and after of malyce he was behedyd the .iiii. daye of Nouember And he bere his hed to his Monastery and there he lyeth Buryed where our Lord hath shewyd for hym many myracles ¶ De sctoÌ„ Clytanco Rege martyre SEynt clytanke was Kynge in south walys and kepte Iustyce and peace amonge his subiectys And a virgyn that was Doughter to a myghty man Louyd the yonge Kynge and sayde she wolde neuer be maryed but vnto hym and oon of the Kyngys seruauntys kendlyd with the Fyre of lybydyousnes which carnally louyd the sayde damesell herynge that answere of malyce as the Kynge was by a Waters syde in his prayers and deuocyon abydynge a company of HuÌ„ters kyllyd hym traytorously And when they wolde haue remouyd hym ouer the water his Body was so heuy that it wolde not remoue tyll by goodnes of our Lord it was hadde to a place that our Lord shewyd vnto them And in the nyghte folowynge a Pyller of Fyre was seen asceÌ„dynge fro his TouÌ„be to heuyn where a Church is buyldyd in the honoure of his name ¶ De sancto Colfrydo abbate confessore SEynt Colfryde was made Abbot in the monasterye of seynt Paule by the Ryuer of Tyne And also in the Monastery of Seynt Peter .v. myle â—o thens whiche were fouÌ„dyd by Seynt Benet byscop And he was a man of great wytte and great dyscressyon and feruent iÌ„ Loue of Relygyon And by desyre of the Kynge of Pyctes he wrote an Epystell to hym of the tyme of obseruauÌ„ce of Estre for in tho dayes were dyuerse oppynyons therin And also for the tonsure of Clerkys And whenne the Epystell was redde before the Kynge and his Lordys it was of suche Prophytte Truthe and profounde sentence and soo hoole grundyd in scrypture that the Kynge knelyd downe and thankyd our Lorde that hadde sente hym suche a werke out of the Londe of Englonde And after moche Spyrytuall exercyse in techynge Fastynge and Prayenge in his decrepit age he went towarde Rome And by the way at Lingonas he was buryed He dyed the .vii. kalendas of octobre in the yere of our Lord seuyn hundred and syxtene And in his Iourney dayly he sayd twyse the Psalter besyde his houres canonycalle And euery daye Masse excepte one day whenne he was on the See And thre Dayes before he dyed ¶ De sancto Columba abbate confessore SEynt columbe was borne of noble Blode in Irlande And he came into great Brytteyne into the Northe pyctes to preche to theym the worde of God the yere of oure Lorde fyue Hundred .lxv. And the south pyctys were before that tyme conuertyd by seynt Ninian And whenne he hadde couuertyd theym to the faythe he made a Monasterye in the I le of Hii he was a man of Aungellys aspecte and of great Eloquence he suffred no
Clothis vnhurte And also in the yere of our Lorde a Thousand a hundred and foure his Body was agayne fouÌ„de vncorrupte And he lyeth now at Duresme in the latter ende of seynt Cuthbertys Lyfe is made mencyon of many Kynges in Englond that haue lefte theyr Kyngdomes And some entered into Relygyon some went on Pylgrymage to Rome or otherwyse made a blesyd ende as in the Legende apperyth ¶ De sctaÌ„ Cuthburga regina virgyne SEynt cuthburge was Syster to Ibe kynge of westsaxones And alfryde Kynge of Northamhumber herynge the fame of her beauty vertusent Ambassatoures to her Broder desyrynge to haue her in maryage And when her Broder had shewyd to her the message she Answeryd that if she myght lyue after her owne Appetyte there shulde no Husbonde in all Bretayne please her but she sayde she wolde not be dysobedyent to hym if he otherwyse ordeynyd lest it shulde be a dysobedyens to god puttynge her truste only in our Lorde and so she was maryed And whan her Husbond she came into the ChauÌ„ber she shewyd hym her purpose of kepynge virginyte and exortyd hym therto in such maner with such great charyte mekenes that he was therto coÌ„tentyd And so she lefte all pompe of the worlde and buyldyd a Monasterye in wymburne and there she punysshed her Body with fastyngys and watchyngys and vsyd coÌ„tynuall prayers and was very meke to god and man and in her monasterye she gatheryd many virgyns And whenne she knewe that her tyme drewe nere to go out of this worlde she exortyd her systers to consyder desceytfulnes of the worlde And with all dylygence to kepe theyr hert for of that lyfe procedyth And to loue all that our Lorde which is theyr spouse Louyth and to hate all that he hatyth and to loue eche other and alway to desyre the euerlastynge Lyfe and when she had made theym a longe exortacyon she chauÌ„gyd thys lyfe the day before the kalendas of September ¶ De sancto Cinigaro heremyta SEynt cinigar was sone to the Emperour of CoÌ„stantynople and to the Empryse lucyna And when he shulde haue ben maryed to a great kyngys Doughter he wente a way pryuely in poure apparell And the Emperoure sent messaÌ„gers after hym but our Lorde sauyd hym fro theym And soo he came into Fraunce and so to Englonde and with all his dylygens he entendyd to kepe a solytary Lyfe and beynge in that porpose he came into somerset shyre And by monycyon of an Aungell he came to a place now callyd CuÌ„gresbury he were the heer and dylygently kepte Fastyngys Prayers and euery mornynge he stode in the water tyll he had sayd thre Pater nosters And at .ix. of the cloke he refresshyd hymselfe with harley Breed The kynge Iue gaue hym the terrytorye about Cungresbury And there he made a teÌ„ple of .xii. ChanoÌ„s by reasoÌ„ of his great Myracles there was suche great Resorte to hym that for his more quyetnes he lefte that place and went into Wales And in a place shewyd to hym by an Aungell he made an Oratory and after he went on pylgrymage to Rome so to Iherusalem And at Iherusalem he chauÌ„gyd his Lyfe And as it is sayde his Company brought his Body with theym into Englonge to cungresbury ¶ De sancto Dauyd epÌ„o confessore SEynt dauyd was sone to the Kynge of Nortwales And his moders name was NuÌ„nyta And as seynt Patryke was in the vale of Rosyn where is nowe seynt Dauithis An aungell apperyd to hym and sayd that that place was not ordeynyd for hym but for oon that shulde be Borne .xxx. yerys after And when seynt Patryke was therwith astonyed that he was soo abiectyd for oon not yet borne an Aungell shewyd hym beynge in Wales all the lande of Irlande and tolde hym that in that Countrey he shulde suffre moche for our Lorde And that our Lorde shulde be with hym in all that he dyd And when the Chylde was Borne all the place where he was shone with a great clerenes And a stone at the feet of Nonyta in her traueyle gaue place to her Feet as if it had ben waxe And in the same place a Churche is made And when he was at scole his felawes sawe a Doue with a golden byll fleynge before his face and Techynge hym and he helyd his Mayster that was blynde He made .xii. Monasteryes and came to Glastonbury and made the churche And with his blessynge puryfyed waters at Bath and made them contynually to be hote and holsome to be wasshed in when brede poysonyd was seruyd to hym he Blessyd it and gaue oon parte to a Lytyl dogge which strayghte way dyed a nodre parte he gaue to a Crowe which also Dyed the thyrde ê‘te he ete hym felfe had no hurte an Abbot vpon a Horse that he borowyd of seynt Dauyd and trustynge on his Blessynge rode on hym ouer the See safe on a tyme whenne his dyscyples and he had sufferyd a great wronge He sayd to theym that he that wyll serue oure Lorde shall suffre trybulacyon but he may not be ouerome with euyll but he muste ouercome euyll with goodnes for he sayd if oure Lorde be with vs who shal be agaynste vs he wolde haue all his discyples laboure seyinge with the appostell he that wyll not laboure shall not ete and as they laboured they other prayed or thought some thynge plesaunte to almyghty god and they lyuyd with Breed and Lekys toke Mylke for theyr drynke wheÌ„ laboure was doon they wolde be Prayenge redyng or wrytynge he wolde take no thynge of theym that shulde be resceyuyd amonge theym into Relygyon and after by monycyon of an AuÌ„gell he went to Iherusalem with seynt Thelyans and seynt Patrone And there they prechyd agaynste the Iewes and strengthyd many in the faythe And euery man vnderstode theym in theyr owne tonge and there he was made an Archebusshope the patryarke gaue hym an Aulter a staffe a belle a cote coueryd with Golde wherby great Myracles haue beÌ„ don And wheÌ„ he was come home agayne He was desyryd to Preche agaynste the Heresye of Pelagyen and as he stode amoÌ„ge the people he had a Chylde that he hadde Reysyd by the way fro deth to Lyfe ley his napkyn vnder his feet standynge therupon he began to Preche And as he prechyd the grounde that he stoude on rose with hym lyke a Hyll wheruppon a Churche is buldyd And by his prechynge the people were confermyd And all the Clergye toke there doctryne at hym And he was as a Father to all the people And he knewe the verye Day of his Deth And at his departynge our Lorde apperyd vnto hym with a great company of AuÌ„gellys And he sayde to hym Lorde take me with the And so he wente with oure Lorde in the kalendas of Marche and he was Buryed at Seynt Dauythys and oure Lorde hath shewyd for hym many Myracles bothe in his lyfe and after his
in Penaunce that he shuld not were his Crowne of .vii. yere and that he shulde faste twyse euery weke whiche Penaunce the Kynge dyd And after seuyn yere he were his Crowne agayne whiche Penaunce doynge was great Ioye to all the realme And this blessyd man full of good werkys wente to oure Lorde the .xiiii. kalendas of Iune And he was Buryed at CauÌ„terbury and after was translatyd to Glasâ—â—â—buâ—y And he prophycyd that great and longe Punysshement shulde falle vppon the people of Englonde by estrauÌ„ge nacyons and that there in the ende of dayes the mercy of our Lorde shulde fall â—ppon theym De sancta Eauswida virgine abbatissa SEynt eauswyda was doughter to the Kynge son to kynge ethelbert Edbaldus And fro her youthe she forsoke the pompys of the worlde and enducyd her Fader to make her an Oratorye at Folkstan that she myghte in virgynyte serue our Lorde And as the oratory was in buyldynge the kynge of NorthamhumbroruÌ„ which was a paynym desyryd to haue her in maryage and her Father counceylyd her therto and praysyd the Kynge moche And she sayd if he coulde in the name of his goddys make a beame of her Oratorye which was to shorte longe I nough she wolde assente to hym if not she desyryd to be let a lone And the kynge trustynge in his Goddes gladly assentyd And when he hadde longe Prayde all was in vayne that he dyd and soo he went away with shame And thenne the virgyn Prayed in the name of oure Lorde And anone her Prayer was herde and the Bame made longe Inoughe And so the Kynge departyd And by her prayer water came agaynste the Hylle fro a Towne callyd Swecton to her oratory And it came by a noder Ryuer and yet Ioynyd not with it foure Bretherne of great Ryches denyed to geue Dysmes to seynt Eauswyda And after many yerys iii. of theym were compuncte and aduertysyd the .iiii. to goo with them to her sepulcre to doo penaunce and make satysfaccyon and he denyed it And anon the Deuyll enteryd into hym And soo his Bretherne bounde hym And broughte hym to her Aulter And anone he was made Hoolle and Payed his Tythes And she wente fro this present lyfe the day before the kaleÌ„das of september And bycause her church was dystroyed with the see her bodye was brought to Folkstane ¶ De sancto Eata epÌ„o confessore WHen seynt Oswalde had opteynyd the kyngdomes of Deyre Bernysshe had sent for seynt Aidan to instructe his people in the feythe of our Lorde seynt Aidan toke .xii. Englysshe chyldren to Instructe whereof â—ata was oon which anon folowyd the exaumples techynges of his maister And after he enteryd into Relygyon and was made abbot of Mayâ—rose otherwyse callyd menrose And thenne he shewyd to his Bretherne moo tokyns of mekenes and charyte then he dyd before And he made many monasteryes and gaderyd many dyscyples wherof seynt Cuthbert was oon And after he was made Abbot of lyndyffernens that nowe is callyd the holy Ilonde And after he was electyd Busshope of hagustaldeÌ„se with great gladnes of all the people he was busy iÌ„ prayenge dylygeÌ„t in exortynge the people ententyffe to geue Almes And what soeuer he knew by the holy goost was to be don besyly deuotlye he wolde se it to be doon And he endyd this lyfe of a sykenes callyd the Dyssentory by longe and greuous contynuaunce And lyeth at Hagustaldense Thomas archbusshope of yorke wolde haue translatyd hym to yorke And on the nyghte before he wolde haue traÌ„slatyd hym seynt Eata apperyd to hym and tolde hym that he had attemptyd to do that that was not the wyll of our Lorde shulde be doon And so he cessyd that enterpryse ¶ De sancta Ebbavirgyne abbatissa SEyntebba was syster to Kynge Oswy And she forsoke the worlde and all the pleasure therof was made a Nonne of seynt Fynan Busshope of Lyndyffernense and after she was Abbes of the Monastery of Coludy now callyd coldynghm .vi. mylys fro Berwyke And it is enhabytyd with Monkys of Durham And she made a noder Monasterye vppoÌ„ 〈◊〉 callyd Ebbcester which was destroyed by Danes And seynt Etheldred was her dyscyple though seynt Cuthbert fro his youth fledde the company of women as Pestylens yet he wolde speke with this blessyd Woman tary with her to informacyon of her and of her company certeyn tymes And she went to our Lorde .iiii. yere before seynt Cuthbert the. viii kalendas of September and was buryed in her Monasterye And after her Monasterye was destroyed for synne wretchydnes as it was shewyd to her it shuld be And her Relykys were hadde to the Churche of our Lady A yonge man that hadde a Bone in his Throte wasshyd his throte at her well and receyuyd helthe And wiste not where the Bone became she helyd dyuerse that were mute blynde obsessyd of Deuyllys and of dyuerse other diseasys ¶ De sancta Edburga virginâ— martyre SEynt edburgh was doughter to Kynge Ethelbert and she was great grauÌ„tmoder to Seynt Myldrede And after seynt Myldredis deth she toke the rule of the Monastery was made Abbasse and amonge the wauys â—o the worlde she confortyd her selfe with holy scrypture prayers and geuynge of Almys And all the pleasure of this worlde she dyspysyd she reputyd Golde and Syluer but oonly for ornamentys of the Churche and for other thynges for deuyne seruyet as donge And couetyd to be dyssoluyd and to be with our lorde And she endyd this lyfe in the Idus of december And lyeth now at CauÌ„terbury she helyd a Chylde that was mute a these that toke wytnesse of her that he was not gyltye And prayde god if he were that he shulde neuer goo ferther Anon expyryd a wrytynge of hers after her Dethe was vnauysydly throwen into the Fyre with other scrowes an it wolde not burne ¶ De sctaÌ„ Edytha virgine abbatissa SEynt edyth was Doughter to Kynge Edgare And her Moder mulstrudys after she was borne enteryd into Relygyon at wylton where she was made Abbesse And Edyth beynge in kepynge of her moder by assent of the Kynge Edgar her Fader also enteryd into Relygyon vnder her Moder And she was moche mouyd and comfortyd therto by the blessyd lyfe of her Aunte callyd also edyth which in tho dayes lyuyd a blessyd Lyfe in Polles worthe as she dyd at wyltoÌ„ she was full of Pyte and compassyon and the more dyfformyte of sykenes that she saw in any creature the more charytable and helpynge she wolde be vnto hym And vnder her vtter apparell that was sumwhat precyous she were the heer And seynt Ethel wolde sayde vnto her that suche apparell was not the way to please her spouse And then she shewyd hym the trouche what she were inwardly wherfore he was gladde consyderynge that all was oon purpure and sacclothe so that the mynde be clene And after she was made abâ—esse of thre monasteryes Wynton
And his Hed was growen agayne to his bodye And nothynge apperyd of the Cuâ—tynge but a lytell redde serkyll aboute his necke After when swanus kynge of Danes destroyed the Countrey and blasphemyd seynt Edmonde and askyd a great Trybute of the people they feryd moche And a Monke that then was very deuoute to seynt Edmonde went to seynt Edmonde wasshyd his body and kembed his hed as he had ben a Lyue And prayed hym of Helpe And he spake to hym famylyarlye and bad hym goo to swanus And commaunde hym in his name to ceasse when the monke had soo doon and it nothynge auayled but that he had moch a doo to skape with his lyfe the same nyght the Kynge swanus was kyllyd amonge his people with seynt Edmondys swerde no man knew howe Wherfore kunt that was swanus sone fro thensfourthe delt more mekely with seynt Edmonde And made a dyke aboute his grouÌ„de dischargyd it of all trybutys And made a Chyrche ouer his Body and enduyd it with grete possessyons De sancto Edwardo rege confessore SEynt Edwarde was sone to kynge Etheldrede And for fere of the Danys he was sent into Normandye there he wolde be ofte at the Churche in prayers he was Chast of Bodye trewe of dede and of lytell speche He wolde vysyt Monasteryes and accoÌ„pany hymselfe with those Monkys that he sawe moost vertuous And when he sawe howe he was destytute of all worldly helpe his Father ded his Brother kyllyd his Moder maryed to his enemy with deuout prayers he coÌ„myttyd hym hooly to oure Lord And after the Dethe of Kynyte he was sent for and was chosen Kynge enoyntyd with great gladnes of all the people And anone all thynges were broughte in good ordre the Clergye dyd theyr dutye the people dyd theyr duetye and Monasteryes kepte theyr relygyon He was neuer seen enflamyd with pryde or angre nor dyshonestyd with glotonye He was neuer the meryer for gettynge of money nor the soryer if he lost it He sawe oon of his seruauntys stele his Treasure and yet he wolde not dyscouer hym but after thryse coÌ„mynge bad hym beware his stewarde By couÌ„cell of his Lordys he toke to Wyfe the doughter of goodwyn a Blessyd vyrgyne And they Lyuyd chast all theyr Lyues At the tyme of Leuacyon he sawe the Kynge of Denmarke as he was commynge into EngloÌ„de to warre drownyd in the See He repayryd the abbey of westmester newely enduyd it for RedeÌ„pcyoÌ„ of his aduowe to Rome He sawe the Deuyll sytte vppon Money that his couÌ„cell had gaderyd of the coÌ„moÌ„s he causyd it to be repayed at westin our lorde shewyd hym selfe Bodely to hym at masse and with his ryght haÌ„de blessyd hym with the sygne of the Crosse As the Kynge the Erle goodwyn sate at dyner the Erle prayde God that if he were Gyltye of the Dethe of Alerude the Kynges Broder that a pece of Breed whiche he entendyd to Ete shulde neuer goo thrugh hym and the Kynge blessyd it And anone as he wolde haue etyn it he was stranglyd therwith And as they sate at dyner he dyed He sawe the seuyn slepars turne theym on the lefte syde that longe a fore had lyen on the Ryght syde whiche betokenyd great trouble to come in the worlde seynt IohnÌ„ euangelyst sent hym a Rynge by two Pylgrymes whiche he had before that ryme gyuen to seynt IohnÌ„ in Almys in lykenes of a poure man And he sent hym worde that within syx monethes he shuld departe this worlde and so he dyd our Lorde shewyd for hym many Myracles in so moche that the water that he wasshyd in helyd many persones of dyuerse sykenes all his dayes was full peace in Englonde and Immedyatlye after his dayes rose great trouble He dyed the yere of our Lorde god M.lxvi. the Daye before the fyrste nonas of Ianuary And he lyeth at westmester .xxxvi. yere after he was buryed his Body was founde vncorrupte ¶ De sancto Edwardo rege martyre SEynt edwarde Kynge and Martyr was sone to kynge Edgar And after his Faders deth by helpe of seynt Dunstane of seynt Oswalde he was made Kynge as his Fader commaundyd But yet his mother in lawe Alfryth coueytyd to haue her Sone ethelrede Kynge as seynt Edwarde was Goynge to corffe Castell with a smalle company to se his Broder ethel rede came by his moder iÌ„ lawe she offerd hym Drynke causyd hym to be kyllyd traytorously as he was drynkynge the .xv. kalendas of apryll in the yere of grace .ix. C. foure score one And in the nyght folowyng a lyght cam into the ChauÌ„ber where his body lay that helyd a blynde woman that kepte hym And that knowyn the quene Alfrythe hyd his Bodye a yere in vyle placys And by a bryghte beame that shone there as the Budye a laye it was knowen was takyn vppe buryed at warreham by the people of that prouynce And when his myracles were knowyn he was takyn vp agayne was founde vncorrupte was buryed honorably with dyuerse Busshopes at the monastery of Septon His syster Edyth and her Moder wulstrude beynge present as it is sayde the quene Alfryth for her penaunce made the Monasteryes of wharwell Malmesbury And enduyd them with great possessioÌ„s ¶ De sctoÌ„ Edwino rege martire SEynt edwyn was sone to Elle kynge of NorthaÌ„humbre and deire And by Etherfryde that had maryed his suster Acca he was put oute of his Realme And soo he fled to rad wolde Kynge of eest EngloÌ„de And what by threttys promysse of rewardys he was lyke to haue ben delyuerd by Kynge Radwolde to his broders handys And as he was in great Heuynes therfore a man cam to hym tolde hym if he wolde promyse to be cristened he shuld not be delyueryd to his broder but restoryd ageyne to his Kyndome And when he had made promes to be crystenyd the man set his ryght hand vppon his heed and bad hym wheÌ„ that sygne cam to hym not to dyffer to be criâ—tenyd and that doon he vanysshyd away And so the kynge Radwolde chaunged his mynde and after kyllyd Ethelfryde in Batayle and sette Seynt Edwyn in his Kyndome And after the kynge Edwyn maryed Alburghe doughter to kynge Ethelâ—ert vppon condycyon that he shulde nothynge doo to lette her kepe the cristen feythe he assentyd And seynt paulyn was assygnyd to be with her And after the kynge of westsaxons vnder treason sent a messynger to the Kynge edwyn which with a venemyd Knyfe sholde sodeynly haue kyllyd hym And when the kynge was sauyd by meanes of a feythfull seruaunte of his that put hym selfe bytwene the Kynge and the stroke The kynge prepayryd warre agaynste that Kynge that had wrought that treason And promysyd seynt pawlyn if he spede well in that Iourney he wolde be crystenyd a doughter that he had theÌ„ newely borne he comyttyd to our Lord to be in the kepynge of
of our Lorde if that peyne myghte put a way the peyne that she was worthye to haue for her pryde and offencys in werynge golde precyous stonys aboute her necke when she was yonge And when a surgeon had Cutte the sore place and that Easyd her for a tyme the thyrde day after the peyne came agayne And she yeldyd her soule to our Lorde the .ix. kalendas of Iuly after she had ben abbesse .vii. yere wheÌ„ she had lyen .xvi. yerys her Body all her clothys were founde vncorrupte And her necke was hoole a tokyn apperyd of the Cuttynge after the monasterye was destroyed by Inguer hubba was renewyd agayne by seynt Ethelwolde by helpe of the kynge Edgar A man that had ben a great vserer full ofâ—ynne was in great syknesse enteÌ„dyd to serue god in relygyon at Ely the resydew of his lyfe anâ— the Kyngys mynysters prohybytyd it sayde he was a thyfe also in the Kynges det Wherfore he was had to London there he was put in prysone on a nyâ—â—t apryd to hym seynt Benet seynt Awdry her suffe 〈◊〉 Sexburghe And seynt Benet onlosyd hys Irons the Myracle knowyn he was let goo so he enteryd into relygyon as he before purposyd ¶ De sanâ—tis Ethelcedo Ethelbricto martyrybus SEynt ethelberte that was conuertyd by Seynt augustyne had Issu Edbalde edbalde had two sonnes Eâ—menâ—ed ErcoÌ„berte Ermented had Issu theys blessyd martyrs Ethelrede Ethelbricte a doughter callyd doÌ„puena which was maryed to the kynge of Mershyes after the deth of theyr fader moder bycause they were then but yonge they were put to the kepynge of Egbert sone of the sayde Ercombert to brynge vp And therupon a cursyd man callyd thuÌ„nir that had grete rule vnder the kynge ferynge that if they lyuyd they shulde be gretter in fauoure with the kynge then he enuyed theÌ„ moch tolde the kynge many false talys of them sayd if they Lyuyd they wolde put hym oute of his Realme CouÌ„ceylyd that kynge to let hym Kyll them pryuelye and when the Kynge for drede of god loue that he had to them wolde in no wyse assent at laste when the sayde Cursyd man euer callyd on the kynge and he on a tyme with dyssymylynge voyce sayd nay that cursyd man toke boldenes on a nyght kyllyd them both buryed them in the Kynges house when the kynge rose in the nyghte he sawe a grete lyghte in the heygth of the hall wherat he merueylyd moch dred for the chylderne callyd thuÌ„nir wheÌ„ he had lernyd of hym how it was he feryd greatly the Iugement of god sent for his couÌ„ceyll spirituall teÌ„porall by couÌ„cell of them all he sent for dompuena theyr suster And for the deth of her bretherne she askyd asmoch grouÌ„de in the I le of tenet as her Hynde wolde goo aboute seyinge she was so commaundyd by oure lorde And when the hynde hadde goon a certeyn space and all the people folowyd her Thumnyr founde a great deffaute at the kyngys graunte wolde haue stoppyd it forthwith as he had spokyn the worde he fell of his horse brake his necke he was buryed in the same place and a great rocke of stonys were caste vppon hym it is callyd ThuÌ„nerslane to this day after by Ethelrede that was kynge Edgares sone these gloryouse martyrs were traÌ„slatyd fro a place where then regnyd the blessyd Kynge sygbert whiche before that tyme for fere of Redwarde hadde fledde into Fraunce And there he was crystenyd And then came agayne into his countrey and after made a monasterye by councell of seynt felyx and toke tonsure and there seruyd our Lorde And in short tyme seynt Felyx coÌ„uertyd all the people and was made Busshope of the Cytie of dominoke And the kynge sygberte by helpe of seynt Felyx made scolys for bryngynge vp of Chyldren in all the countrey he went to our Lord full of good werkys the .viii. Idus of marche and was buryed in thesame Cytie his Relykys were broughte to Seham which was after destroyed by Danys And then his Relykys were brought to Ramsey where they lye at this daye ¶ De sctoÌ„ Flacrio heremyta confessore SEynt fyacre was borne of noble blod in Irlande bycause he desyred moch to kepe a solytary lyfe he lefte his countrey and his Frendys and went into Fraunce and so came to seynt pharao Busshope of Meldees And when he knewe the enteÌ„t of his commynge he cherysshyd hym moche and gaue hym a certeyne grounde in the wood of Brodyle farre fro the recourse of people where he buyldyd a monastery in honoure of our Ladye there dayly he encreasyd in vertues And that he sparyd fro hymselfe he gaue it to pore men And with only touchynge of his haÌ„dys with helpe of god he helyd many men of dyuerse sykenes soo that his fame sprongâ— farre And bycause great people resortyd to hym the busshope at his desyre gaue hym as moche Grounde adioynynge to his howse as he coulde with his owne laboure dyke aboute in a day to make a gardeyne apon he thaÌ„kyd hym moche And when he came home he made his prayers drewe his staffe after hym with towchynge of the staffe the grouÌ„de voydyd waxyd holowe lyke a dyke all the Trees in the cumpasse fell downe And a woman seynge the Dyke meruaylyd greatlye tolde the busshope therof sayde that the Heremyte was a Wytche a enchauntour not the seruauÌ„te of god And came agayne to hym presumptuously spake to hym coÌ„tumelyous wordys chargyd hym in the Busshopys name to ceasse his werkee And he herynge that was heuy sate downe vppon a stone which waxyd softe holowe to hym lyke a sete which remaynyth there to this day by towchynge therof dyuers syke men haue ben helyd And when the Busshope sawe the Myracles that were doon he louyd seynt fyacre moch the better was euer after the more famylyer with hym neuerthelesse seynt Fyacre prayed to our Lord that if any womaÌ„ euer came into his Monastery that she shuld fall in some sykenes so it prouyd after of dyuerse womeÌ„ He went out of this worlde the .xv. kaleÌ„das of SepteÌ„ber aboute the yere of our Lorde .vi. C. .xxii. ¶ De sancto Finano epÌ„o confessore SEynt finane was borne of the people of Arades and seynt patryke prophecyed that he shulde be a holy Busshope wherfore his frendys in truste of seynt patrykys wordys at a souper brought hym thre vessellys of smalle Ale by his blessynge it was turnyd into wyne After he was coÌ„myttyd to the busshope Colman to enfourme And as he on a tyme wolde haue betyn hym an Aungell helde his hande styll vppe in the ayre wherfore he sayde he wolde no more bete hym And after a holy abbot also refusyd to haue hym
greatly wherfore he meltyd away lyke waxe and the kynge herynge therof was angry and wolde haue kylled seint Iltute wherfore he flede and hydde hymselfe a yere in a Caue where euery daye he had brought to hym of the prouysyon of our Lorde a barly lofe and a pece of flesshe Theuys that on a nyght stale his hogges in the mornynge came agayne to the gates of the Monasterye when they wolde nat yet beware but stele agayne the nexte nyght they were tourned into stones that be there to this day In the ende of his lyfe he went into lytell Brytayne And there he dyed the .viii. I de of Nouembre and lyeth at Dolence ¶ De sancto Indracto sociis eius martiribus SEynt Indracte martyr was a kynges sone borne in Irlande and he with .ix. Felawes and his suster Domynyke went into Brytayne and there they made an Oratorye and lyued a strayght lyfe in the seruyce of god many yeres he had a water with certayne Fysshes therin and thoughe one were taken dayly the nombre mynysshed nat tyll one of his felawes stale one of theym and then they mynysshed and heseyng that thought it was nat the wyll of god that he shuld tarye any lenger there and so with his .ix. felawes he went to Rome and after retourned to Glastonburye to worshyp seynt Patryke for in tho dayes Irysshe men came moche to Glastonburye for loue of seynt Patryke as he wolde haue retourned into his countre he with his companâ—â—â—â—ere martyred at Shapwyke in theyr beddes by mynysters of â—ue Kynge of Westsaxons that thought that they had hadde moche Riches the kynge as he rose in the nyght thre nyghtes togyder sawe a clere shynynge beame ouer the place were they were hydde in a depe dyke and so they were Founde and conueyed honorably to Glastonbury and they that martyred theim were taken with deuylles so wodely that they ete their owne flesshe a woman that byfore that tyme by no maner of prechynge wolde be conuerted when she sawe the beame that the kynge sawe vpon the blessyd sayntê she was conuertyd foure score ê‘sons were also conuerted by the reporte that she made of that that she had seen ¶ De sancto IoheÌ„ Beuerlaco EpÌ„o confessore SSeynt IohnÌ„ of Beuerley was borne in EnglaÌ„de in his yonge Age he was coÌ„mytted to seynt The oder Archebysshop of Caunterbury to instruct he enformed hym in holy scripture and when he was well instructed he prechyd in the countre in small vyllages to the people and when Cata the bysshop dyed he was made bysshop gaue ordre of presthode to venerable Bede he vsed euery Lent to prouyde some pore impotent persone that he myght do charyte vpon one that was so ê“uyded whiche was mute fro his natiuyte he helyd also with his blessynge he helyd a Nonne that with lettyng of blode in vncoÌ„uenyent tyme was at the poynt of deth after the deth of Bosa Archebysshop of yorke he was electetd thyther and when he came to great age he lefte his Bysshopryche and went to his Monasterye at Beuerley there he lyued a blessyd solytarie lyfe he dyed in the yere of our lord .vii. C. .xxi. in the Nonas of Maii for whom our lorde hath she wyd many great myracles he helyd two blynde children two women that were contracte in the yere of o r lord M.CCC .xii. oyle came out of his tumbe tyll thre of the cloke of the next day that helyd many blynde men kyng EthelstanÌ„ prayed vnto seiÌ„t IohnÌ„ that by his prayer some euydeÌ„t tokeÌ„ myght apê‘e that of right ScotlaÌ„de shuld be subiect to Englande therupon with his swerde he strake vpon a rocke of stone by DuÌ„barre in scotland it waxed holowe with the stroke an Elne depe which coÌ„tyenuyth to this day as he was praying this lyf in yâ— porch of seiÌ„t Michellê of york the holy gost apperid to hyÌ„ iÌ„ lykenes of a Doue more bryght then the sonne beame and when the people in the Churche meruayled at the lyght one of the dekons went to the porche sawe the bysshop there in prayer and with the hete of the holy ghost his face was stryken so that the skyn shranke togyther and then seynt IohnÌ„ handeled his cheke and made it hole and bad hym kepe that vysyon secret ¶ De sancto Ithamar EpÌ„o et confessore SEynt Ithamar was of the countre of Kent was bysshop of Rochester and as Bede wytnessyth he succedyd to seynt Paulyn and was in vertuous lyfe and cuÌ„nynge lyke to his predecessour and after his deê‘tynge out of this world almyghty god shewyd for hym many myracles dyuers that were vexed with the Axes that had sore iyen by his prayers were made hole A childe that with great feblenes was become dombe deffe at the tumbe of seynt Ithamar receyued ê‘fyte helth and he lyeth at Rochester he helyd a bysshop of Rochester of a great desease that he had in his iyen therfore in the fourth Ide of Iune he remouyd his Relykes and put theym in a newe cheste at that day his seruyce is kept in remembrauÌ„ce of that myracle and of other that our lorde shewyd for hym ¶ De sancto Iuone EpÌ„o confessore SEynt yue was a Kynges sone borne in the Cytie of Fryane in ê‘syde and there he was made bysshop after he was made Archebysshop of Asitanda where he was dylygent for the helth of the people to hym coÌ„mytted tyl for the synnes of the people there fell suche a derth that the Father ete the sone the moder the doughter the prelatê theyr subgettes wherfore seynt yue with .xi. felowes relygyous went to Rome and by councell of the Pope they seuered in to dyuerse couÌ„tres seynt Iue with Sythyo his neuewe and Inthyo his kynnesman aboute the yere of our lorde six hondred came into Brytayne now called Englande into a towne called Slepe thre myle fro HuÌ„tyngdonÌ„ there ended his lyfe seruynge almyghty god in fastynge and prayer and other good werkes and lay vnknowen many yeres vnto his tumbe was fouÌ„de by a husbondman with his plough And then he by reuelacion shewyd to a smythe who he was and what was his name wherupon he was translated to Ramsey as he appoynted to be the yere of our lorde a thousande one in the .viii. kalend of Maii and the .iiii. I de of Iune his translacion was coÌ„secrate coÌ„maunded to be halowed out of his tumbe spryngyth fayre water that hath gyuen helth to manâ— people A childe toke of the water to seth mete it wold in no wyse be made hote though it had great plente of fyre o r lord hath shewid for hym many myracles ¶ De sancto ywyo confessore SEynt ywyo was of noble blode of the Brytons was brought vp in the I le of Lyndefernens and was disciple to seynt Cuthbert In his youth he toke orders or his fader or moder were ware and
there he had auctoryte to preche and was made Busshope after he retournyd to wyrtzburgh where he connertyd the duke and all the countrey to the feythe And when he had lernyd that the Duke had maryed his broders wyfe yet neuerthelesse for a tyme he forbere and wolde not speke to the duke therof leste it shuld haue made trouble at his newe conuersyon but when he sawe he was strengthnyd in the feythe he admonysshed hym therof Streyghtlye wherfore the quene when the Kynge was goon to batell martyryd seynt Kylyan all his cōpanye and buryed them with all theyr Bokys in a pryuy place made a stable ouer theym that they shulde neuer be founde And when the kynge came home she tolde hym that they were goon on pylgrymage the cursyd men that put them to deth fell madde and cryed Kylyan kyllyan why doest thou so burne vs And not longe after the quene was takyn with a Deuyll she sayde she was worthy to haue tourmētys for she tourmentyd the ryght wyse men and furthwyth she dyed a Preest herde Chylderne saye seynt Kylyan doth many signes he muste be takyn vp for he lyeth not in a cōuenyent place And when he toke no hede to theyr sayinge the nexte nyghte he was stryken blynde and he harde a voyce saye to hym without thou beleue thou shalt not see And then he sought for them and when he came to the place where they were he sent for the Archebusshope of Magunce and tolde hym where they lay And then he had his syght ageyne ¶ De sanctis Keneburga Regina abbatissa desctis Kineswida Tibba virginibus SEynt kyneburgh kyneswyda were doughters to kynge penda a cruell pagan that was Kynge of Marshes And neuerthelesse his Doughters were crystenyd Kyneburgh was maryed and notwithstondynge by assent of her Husbonde she enteryd into relygyon so leuynge carnall Chylderne she had in shorte tyme many spyrytuell Chylderne she made a Monasterye callyd dormuncastre not far fro the Ryuer callyd venwhere she was made abbesse And with what dylygens she norysshed the sowlys to her cōmyttyd And how wakerye she was to kepe the cōmaūdemētis of our lord to kepe her holy porpose ī Relygion no tonge can tell seynt Kyneswyda lyuyd in virgynyte And after the Deth of seynt Kyneburgh off a Kynge of cest saxons wolde haue had kyneswyda to his wyfe whiche he attemptyd not only with feyre Speche but also with thretes And bycause she wolde not assent all her Frendys were agaynste her wherfore she prayed dylygentlye to oure Ladye for helpe and our Ladye apperyd to her comfortyd her and sayd ther was nothynge better for her than to kepe her Immaculate as she was borne nothynge more noble thē to take her sone to be her spouse more over she bade her not to fere for she sayde she wolde praye for her and therupon seynt Kyneswyda takynge boldenes sent worde to the Kynge that in no wyse she wolde assent And there upon the Kynge consyderynge her blessyd lyfe and seynge that he all his Rychesse were despysyd of a yonge mayde lefte the worlde went to Rome there he enteryd into Relygyon Seynt Tybba that was kynneswoman to seynt Kyneburgh and kyneswyda lyued many yerys a blessyd solytary lyfe And after her deth she apperyd to a holy man on seynt Lucyes daye and tolde hym that on that daye she yeldyd her sowle to heuyn And in the yere of our Lorde a thousande and fyue the relyhys of the fayde blessyd women Kyneburghe Kyneswyda and Tybba were translatyd to Peterburgh and there theyr feest is Halowyd the Daye before the Nonas of Marche ¶ De sancto Lamfranco archiep̄o SEynt lamfranke was borne in the Cytie of papeder and in his youth he forsoke his faders successyon gyuynge hym to studye And when he had atteynyd hygh seculer lernynge he came into Normandye and there he was takyn with theuys and was cobbyd of all that he had wherupon he went to the abbey of Beccense in Normandye as to the porest house he could here of and there he founde the Abbot bakynge of Brede and his handys were myrye to stoppe the Ouen and there he enteryd into Relygyon and lyuyd in profounde humylyte obedyence On a tyme as he redde the lecture the presydent founde a defaute at his redynge bade hym amende it and he redde as he was commaundyd and yet he hadde redde better before but that he dyd to shewe hym selfe obedyent For the euyll maners of the Bretherne he thought to leue the Abbey and lyue in Desert and vsyd vnder coloure of a medesyn to ere Erbys to proue how he myght endure with them And on a nyght a kynnesman of the Abbottys lately decessyd apperyd vnto hym and shewyd hym the purpose of Lanfrāke and tolde the Abbot it was not good for hym that he shulde goo frō hym And when the Abbot with great wepyngys shewyd this to Lamfranke he sawe his coūceyll was dyscoueryd wherfore he thought it was the wyll of god that he shuld tary so he dyd was made pryor there after Abbot of Cadonyence This blessyd man came into Englonde with wyllyam conqueroure and was made Archebusshoppe of Caunterbury dyd many notable thyngys in thys Realme He gaue great Possessyons to the Chyrche of Rochester and restoryd seynt Albons to the fyrste estate As he satte by the Kynge at a solempne feest a Rayler seynge the kynge syt ī gloryouse apparell seyd lo I se god lo I se god And seynt Lamfranke remembrynge the hystorye of Herode aduertysyd the kynge that he shuld not suffer such wordys spokyn to hym that belōgyd only to god but that he shuld commaunde hym that speke them to be betyn so that he shulde neuer after dare speke such wordys and so it was don He was a man of great lyberalyte and as it is sayde gaue yerely in aknes fyue hūdred poūdys And he was a man of a quycke spyryt and recoueryd many thynges that were wrongfully holden fro his Chyrche And oftyn tymes seynt dunstan apperyd vnto hym cōfortyd hym she wynge to hym the crafty purpose of his enemyes He was dyuerse tymes at Rome where he was had in great fauoure of the Pope when it happenyd hym at any tyme to be at beccense he wolde not vse hym selfe but as he had ben pryour he was profounde in humylyte large in almes a great helper of pore men a defender of pupyllys and a comforter of wydowys And with sobernes he refourmyd the Monkys of Caunterbury that had vysd before hys tyme Huntynge Haukynge and such other wanton disportys and in the .xix. yere after he had ben busshope the .v. kalendas of Iune he Dyed and lyeth at Caunterbury in a Chyrche which he in his lyfe buyldyd ¶ De sancto laurencio archiepiscopo SEynt Laurence was archebusshope of Caunterbury next after seynt Augustyne And after seynt Ethelbertys deth the Kynge Ebbalde his
many yerê tyll seynt Osith apê‘ed to asmythe bad hym remoue her relykê fro Aylesbury to ChycheÌ„sen so he dyd the bysshop of LoÌ„don layd them iÌ„ a goodly Shryne the bysshop of Rochester there beyng pÌ„sent was helyd of a sykenes that he had longe tyme had Shypmen had stollyn a pece of Marble of the porche of seynt Osithes Churche theyr shyp was made vnmouable tyll they coÌ„fessyd the trespas brought it agayne she helyd a woman that was contract and a childe that was dombe and deffe De sancta Osmanna virgine SEynt OsmanÌ„ was of noble blode in Irlande and fro her youth in her herte secretly as a chosyn vessell of almyghty god she byleued in the faythe her Father moder beynge gentyles And when they sawe that by no compulcion they coulde remoue her fro the faythe of our lorde Ihesu criste they thought to marye her so that by that way she shuld forget our lord his beleue hate cristen men she ê‘ceyuynge that fled with one mayde ouer the see into a wodde by the Ryuer of Lygerim where she lyued with rotes leuys of trees and made her clothes of Russhes longe grasse and she was founden by a wylde bore that fledde to her for socour when she was hunted by a bysshoppes seruauntes And when they wolde haue kylled the bore theyr knyues wolde nat entre into his flesshe and then they went to the bysshop tolde hym they were by wytchyd wherupon the bysshop went to her fouÌ„de her very stedfast in the fayth And she sayd to hym that she desyred nothynge more then to be cristened wherof the Bysshop was veray glad when she was made Cathecumynablyde maÌ„ receyued his syght And then the bysshop left with her a seruaunt to be her gardener that she myght haue Erbes to lyue with and the deuyll moued that man to say oftymes euyll wordes vnto her to angre her therwith and promysed hym a great rewarde therfore when he had assented he was sodeynly stryken blynde so he came to repentauÌ„ce The sone of the Quene of spayne cursed his moder whiche was a pagan bycause she prohibyted hym to gyue almes therfore he loste bothe his speche his syght and the quene seyng that for sorowe fell out of her mynde and by seynt OsmaÌ„ne they were both made hole and so full of great myracles she went to our lorde the fyfth Ide of Septembre De sancto Osmundo Episcopo confessore SEynt Osmunde was bysshop of Salysbury and in his youth he put hym selfe to lernynge and to kepe the coÌ„maundementes of the Faders he was of the kynges blode and dayly in presence of his prynce yet he wolde here the causes of pore men Pupillis and wydowes He gaue great almes to pore folke and endowed the Churche with great possessions abiectyng hymself vtterly fro all temporall thynges and he that wyll accompt his lyfe by ordre one thynge after a nother shall playnely se that our lorde alwayes ledde hym by the streyght pathe gyuynge vnto hym the coÌ„nynge of ê‘feccion wherby he myght deserue the kyngdome of heuyn and so at the laste as an approued seruaunt and faythfull werker in the vyneyarde of our Lorde wysely expendynge his talentes he was coÌ„mauÌ„ded to entre into the Ioye of his lord yeldyng his soule to heuyn the daye byfore the nonas of Decembre and was buryed at Salysburye A childe that was drowned at Salysburye at the tumbe of seynt Osmunde was restored to lyfe agayne On a nyght a Clerke called Thomas that as he thought went to bedde in good helth when he awoke of his slepe he felt his senewes dryed vp and one of his legges drawen vp to his buttockes and the thirde nyght after that he had prayed for helth at seynt Osmunde stumbe he thought in his slepe that he saâ—e seynt Osmunde appere vnto hym and that he toke hym by the fote drewe his legge streight in the mornynge he was perfyghtly hole he was Canonysed by Pope Calixt the thirde in the yere of our Lorde god CCCClvi at whiche Canonisacion the 〈◊〉 beynge of great decrepyt age and in great feblenes sodeynly was made stronge and all men meruaylynge that knewe his feblenes he mynystred solemply the dyuyne seruyce and other thynges necessarye in his owne person and for this blessyd man our lorde hath shewed many and innumerable myracles ¶ De sancto Oswaldo Archiepiscopo SEynt Oswalde in his youth eschewyd all wantonnes and gaue hymselfe to werkes of perfeccion after he coÌ„mytted to his vnkle Odo archebysshop of Caunterbury to lerne coÌ„nynge and good maners when he had opteyned great connynge in scripture he was made Chanon at Wynchestre and after dean And when he coulde nat remoue they there fro theyr olde euyll Customes he went to Floriacum where seynt Benet lyeth there he was made monke and profyted moche in vertue The deuyl appered to hym as he was in prayer and made dyuers fereful noyses to haue made hym cease of prayer somtyme rored lyke a Lyon somtyme lyke a serpent and he stronge in the fayth feryd hym nothynge and the deuyll seyng that went away and came agayne lyke an Aungell of lyght wherfore anon he made the sygne of the Crosse knowynge verayly that if it were a good Aungell it wold nat discontent hym and if it were a wycked spirite he myght nat abyde it and so it proued for the deuyll seynge the sygne of the Crosse vanysshed awaye lyke smoke He was of lytell slepe sobre in dyete discrete in spekynge and busy in prayenge how pacyenthe was meke sobre and benyuolent in clene pure charyte is aboue mannes estymacion to shewe Seynt Odo herynge his fame was veray glad and thankynge our Lorde sent for hym aswel bycause he was in great age as to instructe other in reguler disciplyne wherfore they of Floriacum were veray sory yet bycause they durste nat disobey so holy a Father they sent hym ouer and byfore he came to CauÌ„terbury the Archebysshop was deed thenne he went to his vnkle Oskyltellus at Dorchester and when he was made Archebysshop of yorke seynt Oswalde by meanes of seynt DunstanÌ„ was put into the rule at Dorchestre at westbury he gathered .xii. monkes and instructed them with holsome monycions set theym a warke to watche faste praye after he had made a Monastery where the Erle Aylwyn by monycion of an Aungell had made a Chapell the Erle gaue vnto that Monastery great possessyons an abbot that was of seynt Oswaldes makynge feruent in his relygion but euer moche harde cruell to his subiectes dyed as he lay on the bere he toke his spirite agayne reysed hym selfe vp sayd he was ledde to Iugement by seynt Benet that by the prayers of seynt Oswalde his synÌ„es were forgyuen hym shewyd them that were there present that he was reuyued agayne to shewethe holynes of seynt Oswalde and so he was howselâ—d and
lyued halfe a daye and then dyed he buylded a Monastery at Wynchester and a stone that was appoynted to that werke wolde nat remoue by any maner connynge And when seynt Oswalde came thyder he sawe the deuyll sytte vpon the stone mockynge theym that laboured with the sygne of the Crosse he droue hym away and then fewe men remoued it that .lxxx. coulde nat remoue byfore He was bysshop of Worcestre after by coÌ„pulcion of kyng Edgare seynt DunstanÌ„ by hole assent of the Clergye he was made Archebysshop of yorke he chaunged seynt Albones Elye Beamflet .vii. other places fro clerkê to monkê he fed euery day .xii. pore meÌ„ gaue them money he knewe that he shuld dye the daye byfore and that nygâ—t he went to Churche and kepte the Quere the resydewe of the nyght he expended in laudynge of almyghty god and in the mornynge was howseled anelyd and gyrded a lynnen clothe aboute hym and wasshed the fete of pore men dryed theym and kyssed them as he was wont to do after the .xv. Psalmes he sayd Glia patri c. And as he payed the pore men was seyinge spuÌ„isancto he yelded vp his spirit in the yere of our lorde .ix. C. lxxxxii the day byfore the Kalend of Marche as he was had to the churche a whyte doue a bryght beame were seen descendynge vpon hym he was buryed at yorke .xii. yeres after his deth he was remoued to Worcestre as he wylled to be where he lyeth now this daye our lord hath shewyd for hym many great myracles both in his lyfe and after his deth ¶ De sancto Oswaldo Rege martyre THe quene Acta moder to seynt Oswalde after her husbonde kynge Ethelfryde was slayne in batayle by kynge Edwyn fled with seynt Oswalde other of her children into Scotâ—ade and there seynt Oswalde after the Counsell of his moder was Cristened after with small coÌ„pany he came to recouer his right enherytaunce agaynst Cedwalla kyng of Deiâ— and Bernysshe that had slayne in batayle his broder Daufride kyng of deirÌ„ Osryke kynge of bernysshe and when they shuld go to batayle he set vp a Crosse made the people knele downe pray for helpe iÌ„ their rightwyse quarel so with small coÌ„pany he had the victory in a place called Deuysborne ayenst the sayd Cedwalla that a right myghty cruell kyng by the sayd Crosse also in the sayd place where he made his prayer that is called Heuynfelde great myracles haue be done after seint Oswalde sent into scotlande where he was Baptysed desyryng to haue seynt Aydane the bysshop to Instruct hym and his people in the fayth And when seynt Aydane was come the kynge gaue hym a bysshoppes see in the I le of Lyndesernense anone the people were conuerted Churches were buylded Monasteryes founded This blessyd man beyng instruct with worde and example of seynt Aydane nat oonly atteyned a full hope of an Euerlastynge kyngdome but also of Erthely kyngdomes he had more lordshyp then any of his auncestours for he atteyned nat oonly the kyngdom of Deir and Bernysshe but also all the Nacions of Brytayne wherin then were .iiii. dyuers speches bryttysshe scottysshe englysshe of the pictes he toke in his domynion He was a great gyuer of almes and wolde suffre no Cristen man go openly on beggynge As he seynt Aydane oâ— Eester day satte at dyner a great multitude of pore men came to aske almes and the kynge hauynge no other thynge redy at hande gaue theym a dysshe of syluer with mete therin the bysshop seynge his great charyte toke his hande and prayed to almyghty god that that hande which was so redy to gyue almes shuld neuer Rotte and his prayer was herde On a tyme he prayer for his people that were moche vexed with pestylence and shortly after he hym selfe had the same desease wherupon thre AuÌ„gelles appered vnto hym and sayd that he shuld nat dye of that sykenes and that his people by his prayer shuld be delyuered therof and so they were Moreouer the sayd aungellys shewyd hym that he shuld be martyred and the daye and place where it shuld be sayd they wolde be there with hym at that tyme so vanysshed away after that there was neuer in his dayes pestylence in Englande fro that tyme he abode his ende Ioyously and with great deuocyon with almes and teres redemed his neclygences and as it is sayd fro Matens to day he wolde be in prayers and where so euer he satte he wolde holde his handes vp to praye and to gyue thankynges to our lorde after he was slayne in batayle by kynge Penda in a place called maseyfelde seuyn myles fro Shrewysbury the .viii. nonas of August as it was shewyd hyÌ„ byfore as he was slayne he was in prayers deuoutly prayeng for hym for the people his relykes haue ben oft remoued his hed lyeth now in the Monastery of seynt Cuthbert one of his armes at Bamburgh and the other at Peterburghe his body and bones at glouerma where Etheldrede duke of Mershes made a churche iÌ„ honour of his name at FaruerhmÌ„ a nother churche is buylded to his honoure where great myracles haue ben done a thefe that robbed that church was sodeynly stryken blynde in the Lengende is a goodly Pedegre fro Ida that was the firste Englysshe kynge in NorthmÌ„humbre The kyngdome of DeirÌ„ streched fro humbre to tyne the kyngdome of Bâ—rnyshe strechyd fro tyne to the Scottysshe see that in Scotlande is called forth whiche two kyngdomes were dyriuyed out of the kyngdome of Northamhumbre as it apperyth in dyuerse Cronycles ¶ De sancto Oswino Rege martyre AFter the deth of seynt Oswalde kynge and martyr Oswy his broder succeded vnto hym in the kyngedomes of deyre Bernyssh and after this blessyd seynt Oswyne kyng and martyr that was sone of kynge Osrik kynge of deyre whiche of longe tyme for fere of Cedwalla kynge of brytons that had kylled his fader had ben as an outlawe with the West saxons herynge that kynge Oswalde was deed by couÌ„sell of his frendes came agayne to deyre by assent of al the people of deyt he was made kyng of that couÌ„tre the sayd Oswy was put out therof and reygned oonly in Bernysh seynt Oswyne was a man of great charite he was as a staffe to feble men a fote to haltyng men an Iye to blinde meÌ„ as a fader to wydowes orphanes also he was beauteous of vysage hygh of statute mery of countenauÌ„ce sobre of maners and very lyberall wherfore he was byloued of all men great smal The kynge gaue to seynt Aydane a horse when a pore man asked almes of hym and he had none other thyng at haÌ„de to gyue hym he gaue hym the sayd horse when the kynge herde therof he was descontented sayd to the bysshop as the sat
Sampson ê‘ceyuyng that the monke was the cause of that temptacion asked for gyuenes for hym wherupon seynt Paterne droue away the deuyll made hym hole wherfore the bysshop discharged hym of all suche paymentê After at a synode seynt Paterne had great trowble of some that enuyed hym at laste a full peace was made yet ferynge that suffraunce myght ê“uoke Ire or hurte his humylyte he lefte that couÌ„tre went in to Fraunce where he slepte in our lorde the .xvii. Kalend of Maii. Thre yeres after his deth fell no rayne or dewe in that countre wherfore the people remeÌ„brynge that seynt Paterne went out of the countre for iniuryes done vnto hym by a hole assent went into FrauÌ„ce to fet his body â–ª when they coulde nothyng gette but oonly a bone of one of his armes yet all theyr company coulde nat remoue it wherfore they were meruaylously troubled Then a noble man of the cyte of Guenet sayd that seynt Paterne in his lyfe had asked of hym oftentymes a grounde to make a Churche in that he wolde nat graunt it but nowe he was contented that sayd they toke the bone lyghtly bare it with theym to the sayd Cyte that was his bysshoppes see there it lyeth in a church made in the grouÌ„de of the sayd nobleman In his lyfe one of his seruauntê â–ª that went to ouer se the woddes was kylled with theuys byheded wherfore seynt Paterne heryng therof went to the wodde called the seruauÌ„t by his name asked where he was he answered here I am then he went to the place there as he harde hyÌ„ speke leying the hed the body togyther lyftyng his â—yen into heuyn he blessyd the deed body forthwith he rose vp hole And therupon a myghty man in that couÌ„tre came to the bysshop sayd they were his mynystres that dyd it ferynge that the vengeauÌ„ce of god wolde preuent hym asked mercy and gaue hym a parte of the groun he benyngly forgaue hyÌ„ seying to hym that byfore his dethde he shuld please our lorde and that he shuld be buryed honorably in holy buryall ¶ De sancto Patricio EpÌ„o confessore SEynt Patrike was borne in Brytayne now called Englande in his youth he was taken prisoner was put to kepeswyne a C. tymes in the daye as many tymes in the nyght he prayed after by an Aungell he was shewyd that he shuld fynde a certayne thyng there as a hogge Roted whiche he shuld take to pay his Rraunson so he was delyuered out of bondage as he was goynge home by his prayer his felowes founde mete that had ben longe wtout be raâ—ted .xxx. dayes by cause his coÌ„pany offered all their mete to theyr Idolles as he slept the deuyll tempted hym strongly lay vpon hym thre dayes thre nyghtê‘ lyke a stone the he coulde nat remoue then he cryed hely helpe twyse hely came and delyuered hym then the deuyll sayde that after that daye he shulde haue no power ouerhym And our lorde put fro hym all torpoure and heuynes his strength clerely restored agayne vnto hym In his slepe he thought that one brought hym a letter in the begynnynge was wryten her est vox hiÌ„bmensiuÌ„ And as he was redyng of it in the same moment he harde a voyce of many Iâ—fauÌ„tes of dyuerse Countrees in Irlande saynge we praye the Father that thou come and walke amonge vs and then he thought it was the wyll of god that he shuld preche in that couÌ„tre Therupon bycause he wold lerne scripture he went to the bysshop of Antisiodorense was with hym .xl. yeres redynge fulfyllynge holy scripture after he was with seynt Martyne .xl. dayes and of a holy Heremyte he had a staffe that our lord had in his owne hande which is called the staffe of Ihesu and this day the staffe remayneth in his Cyte in Irlande of a bysshop called Amotus he was made Bysshop so he went to Rome where he was in great fauoure with the Pope Celestyn and he sent hym into IrlaÌ„de to coÌ„uerte the people there to the fayth in the yere of our Lorde CCCC xxv And when he came to the see a lepour desyred to go ouer with hym his company wold nat assent wherfore seynt Patryke threwe his Aulter into the see the Lepour syttynge therupon folowed the shyp tyll they came in to the Countre of Lagyne Then he went into the couÌ„tre of Anathaylt where the people wold nat receyue hym wherfore the see destroyed al the countre Then he went into the North ê‘te of Irlande to the man where he was in bondage and there he sawe moche people abydynge his coÌ„myng for they had herde by ê“phetes that suche a man shulde come yet the kynge LoegarÌ„ coÌ„maunded them to put hym awaye when a fyers dogge was tourned to hym to haue deuoured hym he was anone made vnmouable lyke a stone TheÌ„ a gyaunt wold haue kylled hym whiche also was made vnmouable by the pÌ„chynge of seynt Patryke was coÌ„uerted Then the gyauntes brother that was a man of great age whiche was called Russeynge his broder coÌ„uerted faught agaynst seynt Partryke he asked hym what he ment of that age to dispose hym to fyght asked hym whether he wolde byleue if he made hym yonge agayne and he sayd ye then seynt Patrike put hym to prayer anone he was made in that state of a fayre yonge man wherfore he his sones many other were cristened then Patrike asked of hym whether he wolde lyue any longer in this worlde or streyght way to go to heuyn he desyred to go to heuyn so he receyued the sacrament went to our lorde As he was sayinge Masse a wytche caste downe his Chalys forth with the grounde opened Swalowed hym vp A great tyraunt called Magnil his companye Feyned one to be deed that seynt Patryke attempt to reyse hym so to be deceyued wheÌ„ they sawe that he was deed in dede they sayd amonge them selfe verayly this is the man of god anone Magnil was conuerted baptysed was redy to take penauÌ„ce then seynt Patrike sayd that he coulde nat Iuge hym but god shulde Iuge hym neuerthelesse he had hym go to the see takynge nothynge with hym but a vyle vestement and there to goo iÌ„to a shyp of one skyn without guyde or ore that he fetter his legges togyther throwe the kney into the see to what place souer the wynde brought hym there to serue god and when he had ê“mysed to do it seynt Patryke areysed the maÌ„ that was deed the same day he went to the see as he was bydden came into an I le called MannaÌ„ where he fouÌ„de two holy Byshoppes and they meruaylynge had pyte on hym and toke hym vp gladly he taryred with theym there and after was made a
bysshop was a great man in that countre where there is a cyte called the cyte of Magnil the bysshop to this day Our lorde was with hym in all that he went aboute he was a great confounder of Enchauntours and by his prayers he put awaye snowes derkenes that they had made sodeynly by helpe of the deuyll land one that was moche malycyous to hym was sodeynly lyfted vp into the Eyre and lette fall agayne wherof he dyed myserably an Erthquake sodeynly came fered a kynge that meynteined the sayd EnchauÌ„tour wherby the kynge came to repentaunce He reysed a man to lyfe that hadde ben deed .x. yeres This was his dayly lyfe he sayd euery day the Psaulter with CC. prayers dayly sayd masse he taught disciples pÌ„ched to the people euery houre he marked hymself with a. C. crosses In the begynnynge of the nyght he sayd CC. psalmes and CC. tymes he knelyd and fro the Cokkes crowyng he stode in water tyll he had sayd his prayers Then he toke slepe lyeng vpon a bare stone a nother vnder his hedde Often tymes he sawe heuyn open our lorde Ihesu stondyng with his Aungellys in heuyn wherfore his herte alway brenned in an vncomê‘able fyre of the loue of god He was a Clene irgyne in body and spirite he chaunged this lyfe the .xvi KaleÌ„dr of Apryl And after one oppynion he was buryed in the Cyte of Dimense in Irlande but in the latter ende of the Legende it is sayd that after he had coÌ„uerted IrlaÌ„de he came into the I le of Aualony was ther .xxxix. yerâ— that at this day seynt Patrike seiÌ„t benygne disciple lyeth both iÌ„ one Shryne on the southe syde of the hygh Aulter at Glastonbury ¶ De sancto Paulino EpÌ„e confessore SEynt Paulyn came into Englande with seynt Augustyne and conuerted kynge Edwyn whiche was kynge of NorthmÌ„humbre moche ê‘te of all the countre in the yere of our Lorde .vi. C. and .xxvii. And the people there had such Feruour and desyre to the fayth that .xxxvi. dayes fro mornynge to Euenynge he baptysed the people iÌ„ the water of Gleni whiche is in the kyngdome of Bernyshe for at that tyme there were no fontes He baptised also many in the water of Swala that is in the kyngdome of Deyre also in the prouynce of Lyndesey in LyncolnÌ„ and in the water of Trent six yeres whiche was all the dayes of kyng Edwyn he contynued in prechynge baptisynge the people kyng Edwyn made for hym a bysshoppes see in yorke there began to buylde for hym a Churche of stone iÌ„ honour of seynt Peter byfore it was Fynysshed he was martyred seynt Oswalde that succeded hym buylded the resede wetherof He made dyuerse Churches one in LyncolnÌ„ where longe after that it was decayed yerely were done myracles and when Iustus that was bysshop there was deed seiÌ„t PaulynÌ„ made Honorius bysshop there He was of a longe stature somwhat stowpynge of blacke heere lene faced venerable also terryble of couÌ„tenauÌ„ce after the good kyng Edwyn was martyred seynt PaulynÌ„ left Iame his Deakon at yorke came iÌ„to kent with the quene Ethelburgh that was wyfe to kyng Edwyn brought with hym a goodly Crosse a Chaleys of golde that yet be to shewe in kent He was made bysshop of Rochester by honorius the said Iames lyued to the tyme of venerable Bede in the yere of o r lorde .vi. C. xliiii the .vi. I de of October he chauÌ„ged this lyf lyeth at Rochester where he left his palle A woman that had longe coÌ„tynued in synne on a tyme as she was goynge to offer to hym was stopped at the first gresse dyuers tymes she sawe nothyng wherby she was moche coÌ„puncte prayed the monkê to pray for her was coÌ„fessyd yet neuerthelesse she fel agayne after wher she was syke she was meruaylously sore aferde of the harde IugemeÌ„t of god was confessed to the bysshop sent offrynge to seynt PaulynÌ„ seyinge if seynt Paulyne receyue myne offryng I am forgyuen if nat I shal haue euer lastynge payne And when it was sent thyder he receyued it that had firste refused for he regarded nat the offrynge but there â—entaunce of the woman ¶ De sancto Petroco abbate confessore SEynt Petroke was borne in Cumber and was a kynges sone fro his youth he was a folower of the Appostellys He was sober meke feruent in Charite redy to all merkes of relygyon And when he shuld haue ben made kynge he forsoke the pompe of the world toke with hym .lx. Felowes entered into Relygyon after he went into Irlande was there .xx. yeres where he profited moche in lernynge entendynge to go agayne into his couÌ„tre founde a shyp redy there that he had left without keper And whan he came into Brytayne he founde there men labouryng that spake harde wordes to hym whether it were to tempte his holynes or to restreyne theyr drynesse they bad hym make a welle of swete water in a Rocke that was therby he dyd so then he harde of a holy man called SaÌ„pson that he ledde therby a solytary lyf in great streyghtnes with barley brede iÌ„ fastyngê prayers when he sawe Sampson he prayed our lorde that he shuld nat remoue tyll he had spoken with hym his prayer was herde saÌ„pson therby was bouÌ„den tyll they had saluted eche other nygh to SaÌ„pson he made a Monastery lyued theyr .xxx. yerê iÌ„ great fastiÌ„gê prayers and colde restreynyng glotony and vnlaufully mocyons all which tyme he lyued in suche innocencye that he dyd nothynge that he wolde nat haue done to hym After .xxx. yerê he went to Rome came agayne into Cornewayle wherin a great tempest to coÌ„forte his discyples he sayd the tempest shuld cease the next day And whan it dyd nat so he was heuy aud repented hym self moche of the pÌ„suÌ„pcion that he had sayd otherwyse then as it folowed wherfore the thirde day after he went to Rome agayne so to Ierâ—m and there he toke purpose to go into ynde after had come with great labours to the Est occean there he fouÌ„de a vessell mete oonly for one man wherby he went into an Ilande where he lyued in coÌ„templacion .vii. yeres al that tyme he was fedde with one fysshe and afterwarde by an Aungell he was conueyed in the same vessell into the West parte of brytayne where afore that tyme had ben a Cruell kynge that had gathered many venemous serpentes to punysshe felons men that had offended and when he was deed his sone wolde none of yâ— crueltye so that one of the serpentes for hunger kylled a nother tyl one terryble serpent preuayled that kylled man and beste whom seynt Petroke droue into a wyldernes where he shuld hurte no man by his prayer byfore all the people he reysed a man fro
¶ De sancto Sampsone epÌ„o confessore SEynt sampsone was borne in great Brytayne our Lord shewyd in vysyon to his moder callyd anne whiche was bareyne that lyuyd with her HusboÌ„de a blessyd Lyfe in fastyngys prayers that she shuld haue a sone whom she shuld call SaÌ„pson that shulde be great with our lorde worthye to haue order of preesthod when he was .vii. yerys olde he was commyttyd to seynt Iltut and he sayde he shuld be a great Busshope profyte moche in the chyrche of god and when he toke dekon preesthod and also when he was made busshope a whyte doue was seen descende vppon hym the hyer degre that he toke the streyghter lyfe he ledde iÌ„ all his lyfe he neuer ete flesshe the celerer that was neuew to seynt Iltute which was desyrous to be Abbot aftre his vncle feryd that seynt saÌ„psone shuld haue it wherfore he put a great poyson into his chales he blessyd it dranke it without hurte as the Celerer abydynge in his malyce shulde be houselyd by seynt Sapsone on a sonday the Deuyll enteryd into hym vexyd hym sore by seynt sampsone he was delyueryd with water and oyle that he blessyd and gaue hym by the Daye he labouryd and prayed And on the nyghte he redde scripture vsyd medytacyon and when he toke slepe he lenyd to some wall and neuer slept iÌ„ bedde His fader was syke and sayd he shulde neuer be hole nor receyue the sacrameÌ„tys tyll he sawe his son sampson and though he was ryght lothe to goo yet by counsell of seynt Iltute he went vnto hym which was moche gladde of his coÌ„mynge and confessyd hym to hym of a great hed synne that he had longe kept close after both he his wyfe with all theyr chylderne betoke them to the seruyce of god With the sygne of the crosse he kyllyd a great serpent after the sayde Celerer compleynyd that he had wasted the Houy and when the busshope Dubryee thought to proue it Sampson made the sygne of the Crosse ouer the vessellys and anon all the vessellys whiche he hadde afore geuyn in almes were fyllyd agayne full of Hony after he was Abbot thre yerys Then he wente into Scotlande where he dyd many great Myracles and instructyd the people and when he came whome dubrycyus by commaundement of an Aungell made hym Busshope so he went into lytyll brytayne where he fouÌ„de a man at the seesyde lokynge for oon that as it was shewyd hym by our Lorde shulde come fro be yonde the see that shuld hele his wyfe that was a lepoure and his Doughter that was vexyd with a Deuyll and soo he helyd theym bothe And there the quene had great malyce vnto hym and gaue hym Puyson And after that turnyd a wylde Lyon to hym and he escapyd both and by his worde the Lyon dyed and the Quene seynge that Myracle askyd hym forgyuenes euery Lent he wolde be in some secret place fro recourse of people He departyd fro this Lyfe the fyth kalendas of Auguste And lyeth at the Monasterye of dolo which he had foundyd in lytle Brytayne as he had doon dyuerse other Monasteryes This blessyd man had suche grace that euer as he was at masse he had Aungells to assyste hym and to mynystre to hym in the sacryfyce ¶ De sancta Sexburga regina abbatissa SEynt Sexburghe was Doughter to Anna kynge of eest Englonde And she was maryed to ercombertus kynge of Kent and hadde Issue Egbertus and Lotharyus whiche were after Kyngys and two doughters Ermenylde and ErkeÌ„gode she was in that hyghe degre meke and poore in spyryte she ruled her Ryches it rulyd not her she was good to them in hygh degre and also in lowe degre Seldome it was that she was seen amonge the people often in the Churche she enducyd her Husbonde to destroye all Idollys that were in his Realme And crystendome was brought in thrughe all the Realme and at her desyre he made dyuerse Monasteryes She taughte her Chyldrenne dylygentlye to drede God and to kepe his commaundemeÌ„tys And when the Kynge was dede she enteryd into Relygyon at Ely vnder her suster etheldrede whiche lyuyd there a Blessyd lyfe iÌ„ great Fastynges watchyngys laboure And in great mekenes she folowyd the example of her suster where after her deth she was made abbesse and then she was moche dylygent by cause she knewe she had more cure and charge then she had before and she endyd this present lyfe the daye before the Nonas of Iulii aboute the yere of our Lorde .vi. C. and .xl. and was buryed by her Suster ¶ De sancto Swithuno epÌ„o confessore SEynt Swythune was borne in the tyme of kynge Egbertus which was the .viii. kynge fro kynge kynegelfe that was coÌ„uertyd by seynt Byrynne and after he had taken ordre of preesthode He endeuouryd hymselfe to preche the worde of god catholycallye and truely to vse werkys of pyte to correcte theym that lyuyd inordynately after the deth of Helynstane whiche was busshope of wynchester he was chosen busshope there And he made Churches of newe and repayryd tho that were decayed and when he went to halowe any churche he went not with great pompe but went on his bare fete To his feestys he callyd not Ryche men but poore men euer he callyd vppon synners to do penauÌ„ce And encouragyd men that lyuyd vertuously to perseuer in vertue he neuer toke a full meale but moderatly for sustenaunce and after longe vygyllys great labourys that he shuld not all fayle he toke a lytyll slepe He made the brydge at the eest ende of Wynchester And as he was lokynge vpoÌ„ the werke a woman came bye with egges in a basket and by the neclygence of the werkemen her Eggys were brokyn wherfore she wepte and made sorowe And the Busshope hauynge pyte with his ryght hande blessyd the basket all the Eggys were hole agayne he was euer busy Psalmes and spirituell melodye and with all dylygence he kept his herte in all clennes and ê‘seuered in kepynge of the coÌ„maudementes of our lorde to his departynge out of this worlde whiche was the syxth nonas of Iulii in the yere of our lorde god D. CCC.lxii And he was translated in the yere of our lorde D. CCCC.lxxi in the Ide of Iulii And the same daye of his translacyon our lorde shewyd for hym many myracles A thilde contracte fro his byrth was helyd There blynde wymmen had their syght The yrons of one in pryson brake and the man was delyuered A man syke of the palsey was helyd and .xxv. other were also made hole of dyuers sykenes ¶ De sancto Thatheo confessore SEynt Thathe was sone to a kynge in Itlande called Thathalius fro his yonge age he kepte hym self vndefowled fro al vyces and when his Fader and moder sawe hym despyse all worldy thynges they set hym to scole
sacramentall wordes he sawe a goodly childe more whyte then the snowe with a crowne of golde that with mylde countenaunce touched his face and hedde whiche oft kyssed hym and blessyd hym and soo he vanysshed awaye leuynge nothynge but the hoste he neuer after Remembred that vysyon but he wept for Ioy After fro more streyght lyfe he entered into Relygyon of Cisteur at wardonÌ„ after he was made Abbot at Mailrose By his mocyon his kynnesman Symond made the Monasterye of Seynt Andrews in Northampton the NoÌ„nery without the towne and saltery Abbey Thre gestes came to hym whiche he receyued mekely wassynge theyr handes and fete and sodeynly one of theym was gone and in the nyght folowynge an Aungell appered to one of the Brethene and sayd he was the geste that the day byfore went sodeynly fro them addyng therto that he was appoynted by our lorde to be keper of that place sayd the almes and prayers of theyr Abbot dayly ascended byfore our lorde lyke swete encense he sawe in vysyon the thre kynges do theyr offrynge how our lorde was scourged dispysed crowned with the crowne of thorne crucifyed and suffred deth and how water and blod came out of his syde and how he rose fro deth leuynge the kepers as deed and after went into heuyn On a tyme when the deuyll appered to hym he toke the Sacrament and badde hym cursed wretche se his Iugge that shulde sende hym into helle And thenne he myght abyde noo lenger but vanysshed awaye He refused to be Bysshop he multyplyed corne and brede that seruyd moch people and helyd a man of the dropesye he went to heuyn the thride nonas of August In the yere of our lorde god a Thousande a hondred thre score after he appered to a broder that by temptacoÌ„n of the Deuyll preferred the lawe of the Iewes byfore the cristen lawe And also sayd there was no lyf but this and he shewid hym in vysyon 〈…〉 hell and heuyn and then whenne he came to hymselfe agayne he forsoke all his errours and lyued a good lyfe and conuerted many people and byfore his deth sawe our lorde with his bodely lyen ¶ De sancto Walstano Confessore SEynt WalstanÌ„ was borne in the Southe parte of Englande in a towne called Bauburgh and was of the kynges blode And whenne he was aboute the Age of .xii. yeres by Inspyracyon of the holy Ghost he forsoke all his Enherytaunce and his Countree and went into the Northe partes and put hym selfe in seruyce to a man in the towne of Tauerham He was a great gyuer of almes in so moche that he gaue nat oonly his owne mete to poore men but also on a tyme he gaue his shone to a poore man went hym selfe barefote And whenne his dame perceyued it she feyned that she hadde great nede to haue thornes caused hym to go to the wodde to fet theym home and by the goodnes of oure Lorde the thornes were to hym lyke rose flowers hurtynge hym no thynge And whenne his dame knewe that she cryed hym mercy and he anone forgaue her His mayster seynge the sygnes that he dyd loued hym moche and wolde haue made hym his heyre whiche he refused and wolde no thynge haue in any wyse but oonly that whiche one of his Mâ—ysters keen hadde in her bely at that tyme and she had aâ—â—er two Calues whiche his mayster gaue hym with good wyll and as he was after mowynge in a medowe with one of his felowes an auÌ„gell appered to hym and shewyd hym that the thirde daye folowynge he shulde departe this world wherfore he was howseled and toke all the sacramentê of the Churche and at the sayd daye he toke his mayster and dyuerse other honest ê‘sones with hym and went to the sayd medowe and there he wylled that when he was deed his body shuld be put in to a carte and his two oxen to be put in it and to be suffred to go with it where they wold without any leder and there as they taryed he to be buryed he had graunted of our lorde that what laborer that called vnto hym for helpe of his desease or for his bestes that he shuld be herde and so he departed out of this worlde the thirde Kalend of Iune in the yere of our lorde a thousande and syxtene And when he was leyde in a Carte the sayd two Oxen brought hym to Bauburgh and by the way they went ouer a water the wheles of the carte dyd nat synke into the water and in thre places where they rested sprange vp thre fayre welles he lyeth in Bauburgh where a Churche is halowed in the honoure of his name and there our lorde hath shewyd for hym many great myracles as well vpon men as vpon brute bestes De sancta Wenefreda virgine martyre A Man of great vertues called Bennow came to the fader of seynt Wenefrede desyred of hym a grounde wherin he myght make a churche to serue almyghty god therin he gladly assented and assygned a place vnto hym also coÌ„mytted his oonly begoten doughter called Wenefrede to hym to enforme and she herynge his prechynge and Doctryne purposed secretly her herte to forsake all the plesures of the worlde and to kepe virgynyte whiche purpose she durste nat shewe to her fader and moder but to her mayster he shewyd it to theym wherwith they were ryght well contented and after it happened that when her fader and moder on a Sonday were at Churche Cradoke sone to kynge Algare founde her alone in her faders house and promysed to her great gyftes to assent vnto hym and she sodeynly astonyed dissembled with hym and sayd that she was sory that she was so euyll appareylled and prayed hym that she myght go into her Chamber to apparell her more honestly and when she came into the Chambre she ranne pryuely towarde the churche and when he ê‘ceyued that iÌ„ great angre he folowed and when he had ouer taken her on a hylle and she wolde in no wyse assent to hym he strake of her hedde and there as the hedde fell anone sprange a fayre welle and the stones therof haue redde spottes lyke blode to this day the hedde ran downe into the Churche there as they were at seruyce wherat all the people were meruaylously astonyed and her fader and moder made great Lamentacyon wherupon her mayster takyng the hed went to the place where her body lay where was yet the kynges sone dryinge his swerde and when he had reproued hym for his wycked dede and he had no repentauÌ„ce therfore sodeynly he dyed and it was nat knowen where his body became and then her mayster leyde the hedde to the body and shewyd the people how she had aduowyd to be a Nonne and therupon he made his prayer anone she rose vp as she had ben a slepe nothynge apperyng of the cuttynge but oonly a lytell whyte cercle aboute her necke and the people nat
more to say Masse for that daye and when the kynge askyd hym why he wolde nâ—t say Masse he shewyd hym his vysyon by that occasion he ê“hybyted the kynge that he shuld neuer after go a huntynge on the sonday which monycion the kynge toke benygnely fro thens kept it all his lyfe This blessyd kynge in many thyngê maye be resembled to the great kynge Dauid for as kynge Dauid was fyrste kynge of Iuda and after was kynge of all the Lande aswell of Iuda as of Iherusalem and helde it at his deth peasyblye So this noble kynge was kynge of all this Realme of Englande and hadde the hole monarchye therof peasybly whiche hadde ben byfore tyme deuydyd in to many kyngdomes and was called Reâ—pacificus Also as kynge Dauid was a myghty defender of his subgettes a subduer of â—â—bellys and so was this blessyd kynge as in his lyfe And also in Crâ—nycles wyll appere and as kynge â—auâ—d moche encreasyd the seruyce of almyghty god And appoyntyd dyuers men therto pÌ„payrynge many thynges to haue buyldyd the Temple to the honoure of god so this blessyd man made repayred dyuerse Monasteryes in this Realme wherby the seruyce of god was moche encreacyd Also when kynge Dauid had offendyd and was wherfore reprouyd by the Prophete Natham anone he coÌ„fessyd his offence cryed mercy and dyd penauÌ„ce in lyke wyse when this blessyd kynge had offendyd and seynt Dunstane reprouyd hym therof anone ferynge the Iugement of god he knowlegyd his offence and dyd seuen yeres penaunce as in the lyfe of seynt Dunstane apperyth in the latter ende of seynt Patrykes lyfe in the Legende it apperyth that many yeres after the departynge of this blessyd kynge his body was founde vncorrupt and that when the place that was newly ordeyned for hym was to lytell Oon presumptuously attemptyd to make the body mete for the place wherupon incontynent the blode folowed so that all that were there present fearyd greatly and therupon he was honorably leyde in a Shryne by the hyghe Aulter whiche he had gyuen to the sayd Churche and anone he that so presuÌ„ptuously had offendyd sodeynly fell downe and expyred A man that was madde and also a blynde man at the tumbe of this blessyd kyng receyued helth and he lyeth at Glaston bury Praye we then to thyse glorious seyntê that be in this present Kalendre that by merytes of theyr prayers we may haue grace so to passe by thyse transytorye thynges that after this short lyfe we may come to the Euerlastynge lyfe in the kyngdome of heuen Amen ¶ Explicit ¶ Thus endyth the Kalendre of the new Legende of Englande Emprynted to the honour of the gloriouse Seyntê therin conteyned by Richarde Pynson prynter to our Soueraygne lorde Kynge Henry the .viii. ¶ Here 〈◊〉 the lyfe of seynt Birgette SEynt Birget was of the 〈◊〉 and lynage of the noble kyngê of Gothis of the kyngdome of Swecia hir Faders name was Byrgerus and his moders name was Sighryd One tyme as hir graunâ—moder was walkynge with hir seruauntê by the Monastery of Shoo one of the NoÌ„nes of the sayd monastery byholdâ—â— hir beaute apparell in maner despysed hir for the great pryde that she adiuged to be in hir And in the nyght folowynge there appered vnto the sayd Nonne a certeyne ê‘sone of a meruaylous beaute whiche as it had ben with an angrye couÌ„tenauÌ„ce sayd vnto hir why hast thou bakbyten my handemayde adiugynge hir to be proude whiche is nat trewe I shall make a doughter to come of hir ê“geny with whom I shall do great dedys in the worlde and I shall gyue hir so great grace that all people shall meruayle After whaÌ„ seynt Birget was in hir moders wombe iâ— happenyd hir moder for dyuerse causes to take the see where hir shyp with moche people were drowned with a sodeyn tempest and she was brought saue to the lande And in the nyght folowyng a persone appered vnto hir with shynynge apparell And sayd thou art sauyd for the childe that thou haste in thy body norysshe it therfore with the charyte of god for it is gyuen to the of the especyall goodnes of almyghty god And after whenne that blessyd childe was newly borne a preest which was curate of a Churche therby and was after Bysshop of Aboens a man of good and blessyd lyuynge as he was in his prayers sawe a bryght shynynge clowde and in the clowde a virgyne hauynge a boke in hir hande and a voyce sayde vnto hym Byrgerus hathe a doughter borne whose meruaylous voyce shal be harde thorugh all the worlde whiche shal be a voyce of gladnes and helth in the tabernacles of ryghtwyse men Fro the tyme of the byrth of this blessyd childe vnto the ende of thre yeres she was in maner as thoughe she had hadde no tonge and as she shuld neuer haue spoken but sodeynly agaynst the comon course of children nat stuttynge lyke the maner of other children that begynne to speke she speke complete and full wordes of suche thynges as she harde and sawe in hir tendre youth she was neuer ydell fro doynge some good werkes And when she was of the age of seuen yeres she sawe nygh vnto hir bed an Aulter and vpon the aulter she sawe our Lady syttynge in bryght clothynge hauynge in hir hande a precyous crowne whiche sayd vnto hir Birget wylt thou nat haue this crowne and she with mylde coâ—tenaunce assentyng to our Lady put it vpon hir hedde wherby she felte in maner as though a cerkyll of a crowne had gyrde hir faste aboute the hedde and furth with the vysyon vanysshed awaye whiche she neuer after coulde forgette In the .x. yere of hir age Whenne she on a tyme had harde in a Sermon of the passyon of our lorde the same nyght our lorde appered vnto hir lyke as he hadde ben the same houre newly Crucyfyed and sayd vnto hyr loo Birget howe I am woundyd and she â—hynkynge that it hadde ben newly done sayde O lorde who hathâ— done thus to the our lorde answeryd sayd they that do contempne mâ— and forgette my charyte they do this to me And fro that daye euer after she hadde suche affeccyon to the Passyon of oure Lorde that she syldome refreyned hir from wepynge whenne she remembred it seruynge our lorde as the Appostell techyth with mekenes and terys And â—boute the .xii. yere of hir age hir Aâ—â—te wente on a nyght vnto the bedde of the holy virgyne Seynt Byrgette where she founde Seynt Birget out of hir hedde knelynge all nakyd and she somwhat suspectynge the lyghtnesse of the virgyn commaundyd a rod to be brought vnto hir and as soone as she layde it vpon the backe of the virgyn to haue â—etyn hirtherwith the rod breke all in small pecys wherupon hyr Aunte merueylyng greatly sayd vnto hir Biâ—get what hast thou done â–ª hath nat some women taught the some falâ— prayers and she wepyng answeryd and sayd no Lady but I rose out
ê“fyted nat somwhat with vyolence neuerthelesse reuerently they ledde hir out of hir house vnto the watersyde And loo a meruaylous thyng the olde myracle was reuyued for lyke as in the tyme of Iosue the water of fleme Iordane was stopped ayenst the natural course so at the entryng of the holy virgyn Katherin into the water of Tyber suche vtue yssued out of hir by the power of almyghty god that it restreyned the strength of the water so that it coÌ„pellyd the streme with a great swyftnes to go into the olde course wherof all men ioyed laudyng the great power of o r lord shewyd iÌ„ his blessyd vgyn seynt Katheryn Iugeburgê the iii. dought of seit birget in hir youth was made a noÌ„ne in the Monastery of Rysaburga where in shorte tyme after she yelded hit soule to almyghty god And whenne hir moder knewe that she was deed with great Ioye she sayd O lorde Ihesu criste blessyd be thou that thou haste called hir to the or the worlde had be wrappyd hir with synne and anone after seynt Birget was in hir oratory she fell vpon such great wepynge and sobbynge that all that were nygh to hir harde and sayd loo howe she wepyth for the deth of hir doughter Then our lorde apperyd to hir sayd woman why wepyst thou though I knowe all thynges yet by thy wordes I wyll knowe to whom she sayd O lorde I wepe nat for that my doughter is deed but I am glad therof for if she hadde lyued lenger she shuld haue had before the a gretter accomptê but I wepe for this cause that I haue nat enformed hir after thy coÌ„maundementê bycause I haue gyuen hir examples of pryde And I haue neclygently corrected hir when she hath offendyd To whom our lorde answered and sayd euery moder that wepyth bycause hir doughter hath offen dyd god and enformyth hir after hir beste conscyence she is a very moder of charite and moder of terys and hir doughter is the doughter of god for the moder But that moder that Ioyeth of that that hir doughter can behaue hir after the worlde nat carynge of hir lyuynge so that she may be eraltyd and honoured in the worlde she is no very moder but a stepmoder therfore for thy charyte and good wyll thy doughter by the nyghest waye shall goo vnto the Kyngdome of heuyn and at the Sepulture of the sayd gloryous virgyne Iugeburgê he done many great myracles Cecily the fourth doughter of seynt Birget was the laste childe that euer she had and she is to be had in great honour moste specially for the synguler grace gyuen vnto hir by our blessyd lady before she was borne For when hir moder at hir byrthe was in great parrell in despayre of hir lyfe our blessyd lady was seen in whyte clothynge of sylke goynge to hir and as she stode byfore the bed she towched seynt Birget in dyuers ê‘tyes of hir body so that all the women there beynge present greatly meruayled therof nat knowynge any thynge who it was And as soone as our lady was gone out of the house seynt Birget was delyuered without defyculte and shortly after our lady sayd to seynt Birget when thou was iÌ„ icopardy at thy delyueraune I came vnto the and helpyd the. Therfore thou art vnkynde if thou loue me nat wherfore labour that thy children may also be my children AftseiÌ„t Birget induced hir husbande to lyfe in contyneus many yeres And also they both went on pylgremage to seynt Iames in Gales with great deuocyon after came agayne into their Countre at Swecia and by comen assententendyd bothe to haue entred into Relygyon and in that purpose the sayd Ulpho hir husbande dyed the .xii. daye of Februarii the yere of our lord god a Thousande CCC and .xliiii. and is buryed in the monastery of Albastra After his deth seynt Birget put all hir wyll to the wyll of god and thought she wolde for the loue of god forsake all the worldly pleasure and determyned hir selfe with the assystaunce and grace of our lorde to lyue in chaste wydowhed all hir lyfe and contynuelly made hir prayer to almyghty god to knowe by what way she myght beste please hym And after she gaue all hir landes and goodes to hir children and to pore men so that she myght in pouerte folowe our lorde and reseruyd to hirselfe oonly that that wolde symply and mekely serue hir for mete drynke and clothynge and that to lyue in symple array After by the coÌ„maundement of almyghty god folowynge the example of Abraham she left his owne countrey and hir carnall frendes went in pylgremage to Rome the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.xlvi the .xlii. yere of hir age therto abyde in the lyfe of penaunce to vysyt the lyghtê of seynt Peter and Paule the relykes of other seyntê tyl she had of our lorde other coÌ„mauÌ„dement hauyng euer with hir .ii. olde faders spirituell wherof one was a monke called Peter whiche was pryor of Albastra of the ordre of Cisteux a pure virgyn was a man of great connynge of vertuous lyf and the other was a preest of Swecia whiche also was a vgyn a man of holy lyfe he by the coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of almyghty god taught hir hir doughter Katheryn graÌ„mer to whiche faders spirituall of hir lyfe she obeyed in all vertue as mekely as a very meke monke is wont to obey his pÌ„late in somoche that she came into so ê‘fyte humylyte obedyens mortyfiynge of hir owne wyll that when she went to ê‘dons and holy places amonge the recourse of the people euer accompanyed with the sayd preest hir fader spirituall she durste nat lyft vp hir iyen fro the grouÌ„de tyll she had leue of the the â—ayd fader sperituell And after the deth of hir husbande in the honour of the Trinite she weer nere next hir bare skyn a corde of hempe with many knottes harde bouÌ„den to hir in lykewyse about euery of hir legges vnder hir knees And she neuer vsed any lynen cloth though it weer in tyme of sykenes but oonly vpon hir hed next hir skyn she weer euer rough sharpe wolen cloth hir outwarde appareâ— was nat after the coÌ„dicion of hir ê‘sone but moch meke abiecte she nat oonly kepe the fastyngê or vigylles that holy churche coÌ„mauÌ„deth but she suê‘added therto many other in so moche that beyonde the coÌ„maundement of the churche she fasted .iiii. tymes in the weke aswell in hir husbandes lyfe as after And after hir husbandê deth vnto a lytel byfore hir blessyd passage out of this world after fastyngê prayers other dyuyne labours most comeÌ„ly she reâ—resshed hir self with right short slepe in hir clothes that she was wont to weer lyinge vpon a carpet wtout federbed matres strawe or any otherthing euery fryday in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of the gloryous passion of our sauyour criste Ihesu she absteyned in brede water oonly bysyde lyke abstyneÌ„ce that she
if deuocyon of prayers brynge into thy Herte a deuoute thought of the manhed of our Lord or of ony of the other beforesayde this thought shulde be lettyd by thy sayinge than mayste thou cease of thy saynge and occupy the with medytacyon tyll it passe away ¶ Where of a man nedyth to be ware iÌ„ meditacioÌ„ ca. xix BUt of certeyn thynges the behouyth to be ware in thy medytacyons somme shall I tell the One is whan thou haste hadde a ghostly thought or Imagynacyon of the manhed of our Lorde or of suche bodyly thynges and thy soule hath ben coÌ„fortyd and fed therwyth it passyth away by the selfe be not to busy to holde it styll with maystry for it is than turned to peyne and to bytternes Also if it passe not away but dwell styll in thy mynde without ony traueyle of thy selfe and thou for comfort of it wyll not leue it and therfore it reuyth the of thy slepe in nyghtys or ellys in dayes fro other good dedys or ellys for grete feruoure of thy body thy body or thy hedde fallyth into great febylnes Than shalt thou wylfully breke of whanne tyme commyth somtyme whanne thou haste moost deuocyon and were lotheste for to leue it as whan it passyth resonable tyme or ellys it turneth to dysease of thyn euencrysten But if thou do soo thou doest not well as me thynketh ne wysely neyther a worldly man or woman that felyth not perauenture deuocyon twyse in a yere if he fele by the grace of our lorde Ihesu great coÌ„punccyon for his Synnys or ellys haue mynde on the passyon of oure Lorde if he were put fro his slepe and his rest a nyght or two or thre vntyll his Hed werke it is no force for it commyth to theym but seldome But to the or to an other man that hath the manâ—r of werkynge in custome as it were eche other daye it is spedefull for to haue dyscrecyon in youre werkynge and not fully falle therto for to folowe it as moche as wyll come I holde that it is good to the to vse this manner in what deuocyon that thou he that thou hange not to longe therupon eyther to put yâ— fro thy mete or fro thy slepe in tyme or for to dysease ony other man vnskylfully the wyse man sayth thus Omnia tempus habent all thynges haue tyme Another thynge that the behouyth to be ware of is this whaÌ„ thy thought hath ben occupyed in Imagynacyon of the Manhed of our Lorde or in any suche other and after this thou arte busy with all the desyre of thy Herte for to seke knowynge or felynge more ghostlye of the godhed prese not to moche theron ne suffre not thy desyre ne thy Herte tary to longe there in as yf thou were abydynge after some quaynte styrynge or woÌ„derfull felynge other than thou haste had before tyme thou shalte not do so it is ynough to the and to me for to haue a desyre and a longynge to our lorde and if he wyll of his grace frelye ouer this desyre sende vs of his ghostlye lyghte and open our ghostlye eye for to knowe more of hym than we haue hadde before by comon traueyle thanke we hym therof and if he wyll not for we are not yet meke Inoughe or ellys we ar not dysposyd by clennes of lyuynge in othersydes to receyue that grace thanne shall we mekely knowe our owne wretchydnes and holde vs payde with desyre that we haue to hym and with other coÌ„myn thoughtys that now lyghtly fall vnder our Imagynacyon as of oure Synnes or Crystes passyon or such other or ellys with prayers or of the Sauter or some other and loue hym wyth all our herte that he woll geue vs ony parte of his grace And if thou doo otherwyse thou mayste lyghtlye be begylyd by the spyryt of erroure for thy presumpcyon for it is great foly a man by his owne wytte for to prese so moche into ghostlye thynges but if he felyd plente of grace for the wyse man saythe Scrutator maiestatis opprimetur a glorya That is to saye a ransaker of the myghte of god and of his mageste without great clennes and mekenes shall be ouerleyde and oppressyd in hym selfe therfore the wyse man sayeth in a nother place on this wyse Alciora te ne quesieris et forciorate ne scrutatus fueris That is for to saye Hyghe thynges that are aboue thy wytte and thy reason seke not and great thynges that are aboue thy myght ransake not By thyse wordys the wyse man forbedyth not vtterlye for to seke and ransake ghostlye and heuenly thyngys but he forbyd dethe vs that as longe as we ar flesshlye and not clensyd fro vayne loue of the worlde that we take not vpon vs by oure owne traueyle ne by oure owne wytte for to ransake or to feele ghostlye thynges ne thoughe we fele ghostlye thyngys and great feruoure of the loue of god soo moche that we set at nought all erthlye thynges vs thynkyth that we wolde for goddys loue forsake all the Ioyes and all the welthe of this worlde yet are we not anone able and redy for to seke and beholde ghostlye thynges that are aboue vs vntyll our soule be made sotyll and tyll it be made sad and stable in vertues by proces of tyme and encreasynge of grace for asseynt gregory sayth no man sodaynelye is made souerayn in grace but fro lytyll he begynnyth and by proces waxyth vntyll he be perfyte Amen ¶ Here folowyth the table ¶ Howe a man that wyll be ghostlye must fyrste vse moche bodely exercyse iÌ„ penauÌ„ce destroying of syn Ca. i. ¶ Howe a man that is set oonly to ghostly lyuynge shall rule all his dedys by dyscrecyon without whiche they turne often into vyce Ca. ii ¶ Unto what maner man belongyth actyfe lyfe Ca. iii. ¶ Unto whom belongyth contemplatyf lyfe Ca. iiii ¶ Unto whom belongeth medlyd lyfe Ca. v. ¶ How holy Busshopes vsed medlyd lyfe that a man that hath souereynte shall not gyue hym only to deuocyoÌ„ and vtterly leue worldly busynes Ca. vi ¶ What lyfe moost accordyd to hym that this was wrytten to Ca. vii ¶ Howe a man that is well traueylyd and prâ—uyd in dedys of actyfe lyfe may passe fourthe and attaynt to Contemplacyon whiche is fyguryd by Iacobes 〈◊〉 Rachell and Lya Ca. viii ¶ That a man shall sometyme hauâ— the more deuocyon whan he hath ben lettyd by outwarde 〈◊〉 Ca. ix ¶ What is desyre to god for hymselfe Ca. x. ¶ That in clennes of conscyence is the very comforte swetnes Ca. xi ¶ How thou shalt dyspose 〈◊〉 to deuocyon Ca. xii ¶ Howe a man shall haue myâ—â—â—â—n crystes manhed of his passyon Ca. xiii ¶ How a maÌ„ shall thynke on 〈◊〉 on seyntys ca. xiiii ¶ Of our Ladye and of oure laâ—â—â— Ihesu Howe a man shall beholde theyr holynes Ca. xv ¶ Of beholdynge of the myght the wysdome the goodnes and the mercy of god to his creatures Ca. xvi ¶ Howe the mynde of the wretchydnes of peryllys of this worlde makyth a sowle to desyre heuyn Ca. xvii ¶ How a man shall doo when he felyth no sauoure ne coÌ„forte in his medytacyons Ca. xviii ¶ Wherfore a maÌ„ nedyth to beware iÌ„ meditacioÌ„ Ca. xix ¶ Thus endyth a deuoute boâ—e coÌ„pylyd by mayster water Hylton Empryntyd at loÌ„don in flete strete at the signe of the George by Rycharde Pynson prynter vnto the Kynges noble grace in the yere of our Lorde god a M. CCCCC .vi. endyd in the laste daye of February
¶ Here begynneth the Kalendre of the newe Legende of Englande ¶ The Prologe THe firste treatyce of this preseÌ„t boke is taken out of the newe Legende of the sayntys of Englande Irelande Scotlande and Wales for theym that vnderstande not the Laten tonge that they atte theyr pleasure may be occupyed therwith and be therby the more apte to lerne the resydue when they shall here the hole Legende And it is to vnderstande that nat oonly those sayntes that were borne in theyse Countreys be in the sayde Legende and iÌ„ this lytell treatyse But also dyuerse other blessyd sayntes that were borne beyonde the see and that came into any of theyse countreys Englande Irelande ScotlaÌ„de and Wales doynge there any notable thynge to the honour of god and to the profyte of the people as to preche to theym the Faythe of oure Lorde and to sette the people in good ordre Or that haue lyued a blessyd lyfe iÌ„ any of theyse Countreys to gyue the people example of good lyuynge Be also in the sayde Legende and in this present treatyse be accompted to be of that countrey that they so came into As seynt Augustyne the appostell of Englande whom blessyd seynt Gregorye then beynge pope sent fro Rome with seynt Paulyn seynt Laurence the confessoure and dyuerse other in his company to preche the faythe of oure Lorde to the people of this Realme then beynge Idolatroures and clerely alyenatyd fro trueth wherupon Seynt Augustyne Faythfully accomplysshynge his Auctoryte with his company conuertyd Seynt Ethelbert then kynge of Kent and all his people to the fayth of our lorde And after seynt Paulyne conuerted seynt Edwyn then kynge of Northamhumbre and all his people in whiche countreys Churches were buylded Temples of Idollys destroyed or turned into Churches bysshoppes preestes ordeyned in all the countrey And the fayth gladly resceyued with great deuocyon and after the deth of seynt Augustyne and of kyng Ethelbert kynge Edbalde that was sone to kynge Ethelbert fell to Idolatrye forsakynge the cristen fayth wherby the faythe there was lyke to haue holly perysshed whom the sayd seynt LaureÌ„ce which was busshop of CauÌ„terbury next after seynt Augustyne by especyall myracle of seynt Peter reduced agayne to the faythe as in the lyfe of seynt Laurence apperyth longe after theyr tyme other holy men seynt Adryan seynt Honorye seynt Felyx seynt Beryn and dyuers other cam fro beyonde the see and moche edefyed the people iÌ„ this Realme of Englande and establysshed greatly that fayth whiche seynt Augustyne seynt Paulyne seynt Laurence and theyr company had begon also dyuerse countreys in Englande whiche were nat holly conuerted in seynt Augustynes dayes some that after his dayes fell agayne to Idolatrye theÌ„ they reduced to the fayth of our lord And neuerthelesse ryght fewe of this Realme of Englande specyally of the CoÌ„men people haue harde of any suche men in soo moche that the oonly herynge of theyr names wyll be a lernynge to most men and so it wyll be of dyuerse other blessyd men and women that were borne iÌ„ this Realme whiche haue done many notable thynges for the comen welthe of the people therof as well ê“fytable for this lyfe as for the lyfe to come as seynt Dunstane seynt Deus dedit seynt Wylfryde Seynt Oswalde seynt Cedd and seynt Chadde bysshoppes Seynt Ethelbert seynt Edwyn seynt Edgare and seynt Oswalde kyngys seynt Sexburgh seynt Ermenylde quenes seynt Wallen seynt Gylbert seynt Wulryke and dyuerse other holy men and women as in the sayd Legende and also in this treatyse apperyth by which gloryouse sayntys with other borne in other Countreys as before apê‘yth the fayth of our Lorde hath ben pÌ„ched receyued greatly prosperyd in this Realme so that many of oure Auncestours neyghboures and frendes by the mercye of our lorde be now in the Ioyes of heuyn to praye for vs. And for all the people we also by the grace goodnes of our lord be heyrys apparauÌ„te to the kyngedome of heuyn And if the lawe of god had nat ben knowen iÌ„ theyse parties both we our AuÌ„cestours myght ê‘case haue lyued in erroures as other do wherfore we be moche bouÌ„den to loue theym honoure them in lykewyse to do that is in vs to helpe other as they dyd to helpe vs our AuÌ„cestours and frendys And veryly if there were nowe in thyse dayes the hygh Charyte ê‘fyte loue to almyghty god to oure neyghboure that was in theyse blessyd seyntes or at leest a desyre therto with loue of Iustyce zele of the comen welthe lyke desyre to brynge the people to good lyfe with hole truste sure faythe iÌ„ our lord as was iÌ„ theyse blessyd men women It wolde renewe the face of this worlde and brynge a newe lyghte amonge the people as it dyd in the tyme of the sayd gloryous seyntys in whom florysshed shyned all ê‘feccyon of vertues as euydently wyll appere to theym that wyll rede theyr Legende trewe mekenes inuyncyble pacyence symple obedyence heuenly wysdome ê‘fyght charyte loue of Iustice with mercye pyte coÌ„passyon vppon theyr neyghbourys ryches in pouerte pouerte in ryches with other lyke vertues and gracyous gyftes of god many of them were nedye outwarde but within forthe they were replenyssed with goostlye swetnes and Comforte In the syght of the worlde and in theyr owne syght they were vyle and abiecte but in the syght of almyghtye god of all seyntes they were precyous syngulerly elect Wherfore the people of Irelande haue seynt Patryke for his blessyd lyfe and for that he conuerted moche people there to the faythe in great honour and in theyr necessyties they call vnto hym for helpe with great deuocyon And in lykewyse in Scotlande the people there haue seynt Nynian coÌ„menlye called seynt Tronyon in great honoure for the same cause And in Wales they haue deuocyon to seynt Dauyd for his blessyd lyfe and for confermynge and establysshynge of the people in the faythe by his prechynge good example but in this Realme of Englonde what so euer is the occasyon fewe people in comparyson of the multytude haue deuocyon to any of thyse blessyd seyntes that haue laboured for the welthe of the people in this Realme iÌ„ tyme paste or that haue theym in honoure as other Countreys haue other seyntes in lyke case yet we knowe ryght well that seyntys in heuyn be iÌ„ suche fauoure with almyghty god the they re prayer is herde for suche persones as they pray for and we maye not dowte but they be redye to pray for vs if we do worship theym and call vnto theym by our prayer for helpe God forbede that any of vs shulde thynke or saye the contrarye as thynkynge in his mynde or sayinge in this wyse Sayntes be aboue iÌ„ heuen and we be here bynethe and therfore they haue no mynde vppon vs for to helpe vs or to pray for vs so to thynke or
sancto Uulstano EpÌ„o confessore fo Cxvi De sancto Edgare Rege confessore fo Cxviii De sancta Birgiâ—ta fo C.xxi. ¶ Finis tubula De sancto Adriano abbate confessore SEynt adryan was abbot of the monastery of viridian that is a lytle fro napuls And for his â—â—â—tue and cunnynge vitalian the pope wolde haue made him archebussope of Caunterbury he of mekenes refusyd it for his escuse desyred that saynt Theodre myghte be elected therto so he was vpon this coÌ„dicion that he shulde accompany seynt Theodre into EngloÌ„de and he assentyd and so refusynge the honoure he toke the laboure And when he came into EngloÌ„de he had coÌ„myttyd to hym the rule of the monasterye of seynt Augustyne of Caunterbury and there he gadered a great multytude of dyscyples taught them metyr astronomye arythmetryke also dyuynite many of his dyscyples coulde greke lateÌ„ toÌ„ge as well as theyr owne he with seynt Theodre taught the tewnes of syngynge in the churche of Englond which afore theyr tyme was onely vsed in Kent he passed out of this worlde full of good werkes good exaumples the .v. Iâ—â—s of Ianuary in the yere of our lorde God seuyn hundred â—â—iii lyeth in his monastery at CauÌ„terbury And after his deth shypmeÌ„ of EngloÌ„de which were lyke to haue ben robbed by pyratis iÌ„ the see by prayer to seynt Adryan were delyuered he reysed a man fro deth he appered to one bad hym shewe seynt Dunstane that he dwellyd iÌ„ houses that were well sufficieÌ„tly couered but the moder of almyghty god he other her seruauntes lay open to the heuyns wherfore anone seynt DuÌ„stane repayred the Churche of our Lady and vsed moche to be there in contemplacyon and on a nyght as he was there in prayers he sawe euydently our Lady seynt Adryan in the sayd Churche laudynge honourynge our Lorde ¶ De sancto aido siue Aidano abbate A Man of Irlonde callyd sedia and his wyfe prayde certyen holy men to Praye for theym that they mought haue a Chylde after they had prayed they bad the man his wyfe goo whom in the nyghte folowynge the husband sawe a bryght sterre falle into the mouthe of his wyfe And she sawe a bryght mone falle iÌ„to the mouth of her HusboÌ„de after they had a sone whom they callyd Aidus or Aidanus And when he came to age he his felowe Molassus entendyd to goo on Pylgrymage they wiste not whether And by InspyracioÌ„ of our Lord they bad .ii. great Trees growinge therby tell them what they sholde do And anon the two Trees fell downe oon towarde the Northe the other towarde the Southe And so the Chyldren deuyded seynt Aidus came into the countrey of LagmenciuÌ„ an AnÌ„gell brought hym to the place where he wolde be and he went vppon the water to a place where two chyldren were drowned by his prayers he reysyd them to lyfe after he came to seynt Dauyd into Wales was with hym a longe tyme and there for haste as he went to the wood he lefte his boke open behynde hym though it rayned in other places it rayned not vppoÌ„ his Boke And seynt Dauyd as he was by the seesyde blamyd hym for leuynge his Boke behynde hym wherfore anon he lay ê“strat before seynt Dauyd of mekenes wolde not ryse tyll he were bydden And seynt Dauyd retournyd whom for gate to bydde hym ryse so the flowe of the see came as he lay the see rose aboute hym touchyd hym not And when seynt Dauyd myssed hym he was moch heuy and sent Bretherne for hym they founde hym lyenge in the bottome of the see drewe hym vppe into theyr shyppe c. And on a tyme wheÌ„ seynt Aidus went fro seynt Dauyd into Irlonde he forgate his Cymbale behynde hym in Wales when he had nede of it it was sodenly brought ouer the see to hym Wherfore he thanked our Lorde a nother tyme seynt dauyd sent for hym he went to hym And when he shulde goo agayne into Irlonde he asked seynt Dauyd how he shuld gette ouer the see and he bad hym goo to the see syde ony beest that he founde go on hym to his Monastery And he fouÌ„de a beest lyke a Horse on hym he went ouer the see into Irlonde then the Beest wente agayne into the see He was a great gyuer of Almes and fastyd .l. dayes and .l. nyghtes to gedyr he dyed in great Age full of good Werkes vertues the day before the fyrste kalendas of Marche And at seynt Dauythys he is callyd moadoke and there his Feest is kepte with great honoure ¶ De saÌ„cto Aidano episcopo confessore THere is a monastery in the I le of hii which of olde tyme beloÌ„ged to Brytayne nowe callyd EngloÌ„d the pyotys gaue it to the scottys because they were firste coÌ„uertyd by them And se that AidaÌ„ beynge busshope was sent fro that I le to preche to the people of Englonde and he taughte noon otherwyse but as he lyuyd hym selfe what so euyr was geuyn to hym by the Kynge or Rychemen He gaue it to poure men he went on foote to Preche and Rode not withoute great nede All that were in companye with hym shuld Rede or Praye And when he was at dyner thoughe it were with the Kynge as it was seldome he wolde goo fourthe and praye he wolde alwaye reproue Rychemen when they offendyd and not forbere theym for fere nor for theyr Auctoryte he gaue oyle to a preest which was called vtta as he was goynge to fette enflede doughter to kynge Edwyn to be maryed to kynge oswy And bad hym if any tempest toke hym in the see that he sholde caste the oyle into the see And it shulde ceasse and so it prouyd and when penda had thoughte to haue burnyd the Cytie of bamburghe for that he coulde not wyn it by streyngthe he leyde moche wood and hey nyghe to the towne and seynt aidan then beynge in the I le of Ferne to myles fro thens when he saw the Fyre aboue the Cytie wallys prayed to our lorde for helpe And by his prayer the wynde chauÌ„ged and so the towne was saued he dyed the day before the kalendas of Septembre the yere of Grace .vi. hundred and .li. and was buryed a lytle fro the sayd Cytie And now parte of his relykys be at Duresme and parte be had into Scotlande and twyse the house wherein he dyed which was adioynynge to the churche was saued when the churche all the strete were burned venerable bede that wrote his lyfe seyth of hym that he was a great louer of peace and charyte was an ouercomer of Ire couetyse a dispyser of vaynglory a reprouer of proude men and a comforter of syckemen and poore men and that as farre as he coulde
lerne this blessyd man omytted nothyng 〈◊〉 he lerned by the euangelystys or ê“phyttys to be 〈◊〉 fulfyllyd it in that he coulde howe be it in that he kepte 〈◊〉 Estre at the due tyme Bede prayseth hym not 〈◊〉 prayseth hym for he seyth ê‘case he knewe it not 〈◊〉 kepte it on a sonday but he praysyth hym that 〈…〉 pynge of his Ester he beleuyd nor worsh 〈…〉 other thynge but as we doo that is to say the Redempcion of mankynde by the Passyon Resurreccyon AsseÌ„cyon of the medyator betwixte God Man our Lorde Ihesu Criste And in the lyfes of Seynt Oswalde and Oswyn kynges And of Seynt Cuthbert dyuerse thynges thynges be spokyn of this Blessyd man ¶ De sancto Albano martire SEynt Albon dwellyd iÌ„ the Towne of verolame that now is callyd seynt Albons And in the tyme of the ê‘secucyoÌ„ of dioclesyan seynt Amphibell came into Brytayne and lodged in the house of seynt Albon and exortyd hym to be coÌ„uerted And shewyd hym sumwhat of the beleue of our lorde and he gaue lytle credence to his techynge And the same nyght seynt Albon sawe a vision that betokened the Misteryes of the Incarnaciou Passyon Resurreccion Assencion of our Lorde as in the Legende apperyth And in the mornynge he asked of seynt Amphibell what his visyoÌ„ betokened wheÌ„ seynt Amphibell had declared the hole misteryes therof how our Lorde suffred Passyon and Deth And how he Rose agayne and assendyd to Heuyn he sayd it was all trewe that he sayde And anon he Beleued and was Cristened And thenne he was complaynyd on that he was Cristened Wherfore he was sent for and was Takyn as he was prayenge before a Crosse And so he was broughte to the Iudge And there constauntly he confessyd that he was a CristeÌ„maÌ„ And so he was put iÌ„ prison there he lay .vi. Monethes in all that tyme there felle no rayne And therfore the people thynkynge that the god that AlboÌ„ worshypped ê“hibited the rayne toke hym out of prysone and wolde haue lette hym goo And he seynge that 〈◊〉 wold haue let hym goo prayde our Lorde that his martyrdome shuld not be lette And opynly dyspysyd theyr Idollys and soo he was had with great vyolence to be behedyd and as he went a ryuer that wolde haue lettyd theyr passage by his Prayer dryed vppe and oon of the Knyghtys that drewe hym to his marterdome seynge the great Myracles that our lorde shewyd for hym was coÌ„uertyd seynt AlboÌ„ was behedyd the .x. kaleÌ„das of Iuli the yere of our lorde god CClxxx vi And anon the eyen of hym that strake it offelle owte he was buryed at seynt Albons sumwhat the LegeÌ„d leuyth it for a dowte whether he lye now at seynt Albons or at ely but it semyth to be the more lyke that he shuld lye at seynt Albons And in the legend apperith how kynge Offa repayred the monastery ofseynt Albons And how the heresy of PelagianÌ„ began at Bangor and how it was extyncte ¶ De sancto Aldelmo episcopo confessore SEynt aldelme was of kynne to Iue kynge of we stesaxoÌ„s iÌ„ his youthe he ê“phyted moch iÌ„ coÌ„nynge after he was made monke at malmesbury so preest then Abbot And his fame went so ferre that it came to the pope Sergyus he sent for hym to Rome wheÌ„ he had sayd masse in the Church of lateraneÌ„se helde the vestemeÌ„t behynde hym to haue takyn it to one of his seruauÌ„tis none was there it hoÌ„ge vppoÌ„ a sonne beame a longe tyme a womaÌ„ that was with Chylde defamed the Popâ— therw t And saynt Aldelme herynge that was moch heuy coÌ„mauÌ„dyd the chylde which was but .ix. dayes olde iÌ„ the name of our lorde Ihesu criste to shewe if the Pope were his fader he sayd nay And so the Pope was delyuerd of the cryme And seynt Aldelme brought with hym fro Rome an Alterstone which by the way brake with his prayer blessynge it was made hoole And as it is sayd the same stone is yet iÌ„ the priory of Briton now callyd Bruton he was a great wryter of Bokes meynteyned moche the due kepynge of Ester he neuer went out of his Monastery without a great cause he gaue great almes wold stonde in the water thoughe it were froste snowe tyll he had sayd a hole psalter And after he was made busshop of Shyryburne and in great age full of good werkes he went to our Lorde the .viii. kalendas of Iune in the yere of our Lorde .vii. hundred .ix. and lyeth in his monastery at Malmesbury ¶ De sancto alredo EpÌ„o confessore When seynt Alrede was in his Cradell his face shone lyke the sonne And in his chyldehod he had the spirit of ê“phecy And tolde the very day of the deth of the Busshop of yorke he was in so great fauoure with Dauyd kynge of Scottys that he was seconde to hym whiche a Knyght enuyed much with great hatred insomoche that somtyme in presence of the kynge he wolde speke opprobrious wordys to hym he toke all paciently so that the Knyght meruaylyd toke penauÌ„ce askyd hym forgeuenes he tolde hym that he ought to loue hym the more for by his hatred he encresyd the more in the loue of our lord And by hym his pacieÌ„ce was prouyd And he was so meke that thoughe he were hurte he was not moche troubled therwith and if any accused hym he was not prouokyd to vengeaunce and he dyd alway good for euyll and when the kynge wolde haue made hym busshope he forâ—oke it entred into Relygyon at ryeuall which is of the ordre of cisteaux and was mayster of the nouyces a Nouyce that was vnstable was by his prayers twyse brought agayne to the Monasterye when he was goynge away and when he was made Abbot oftymes he counceyled his Bretherne that noo foule worde shulde goo out of theyr mouthe ne any detraccion or o the And he refourmyd the hole couÌ„trey of gallway and wrote the lyfe of Seynt Edwarde Kynge Confessoure and dyd many other thynges he was of great abstynence and wolde moche rede in Bokes that shulde moue compunccion and he had great sykenes ten yeres before he dyed and toke it in great pacieÌ„ce and wolde no fysyke and oftymes was visityd with Aungells and he knewe the veray daye of his Deth he sayde to his Bretherne that after he entered into Relygyon he neuer fret in malyce nor detraccyoÌ„ with any ê‘son that for any cause taryed with hym tyll nyghte and that he had louyd alway peace Broderly loue his owne espirituell quietnes he wente to our lord the day before the firste Idus of Ianuarye in the yere of our lorde god a. M. a huÌ„dred .lxvi. and dyuers thynges be here omytted c. ¶ De sancto Amphybalo martire WHen seynt Amphibell had coÌ„uertyd seynt Albon seynt Albon aduertysed hym to go
Paulyn he crystenyd her callyd her eaÌ„fledaÌ„ which was the fyrste that euer was Crystenyd iÌ„ tho ê‘tyes after he sped well in his Iourney had the victorye neuertheles he dyfferryd to be crystenyd And the 〈◊〉 Bonyface wrote a Letter to hym to exorte hym to it after seynt paulyn by spyryt knewe the tokyn aforesayd leyd his Ryght haÌ„de vppoÌ„ his heed bad hym remeÌ„ber the tokyn then he sayd he wolde counceyle with his Lordys and so he dyd And oon of theym sayd veryly thys feythe that we haue kept is of no vertue nor prophyt but veyne the newe is the better and all the other were of the same oppynyon And so the Kynge hymselfe dystroyed the Idollys and was crystenyd at yorke on Ester day the yere of our Lord .vi. C. .xxvii. And all the people folowyd his exaumple And seynt paulyn was made Archebusshope of yorke And anon seynt Edwyn had such feruoure to Crysten Relygyon that he enducyd the Kynge of eest EngloÌ„de to be Crystenyd And soo greatpeace was in his Realme that a Chylde myghte haue goon fro the oon See to the other withoute Hurte and brasen Uessellys that the Kynge sette vppe at commen Wellys for ease of the people noo man durste take awaye And after he was kyllyd in batayle by penda kynge of Marchelonde and cedwalla kynge of Brytons the .iiii. I de of October in the yere of our lorde .vi. C. and .xxxiii. And his Hedde lyeth at yorke in the Churche of seynt Petyr that he began seynt Oswalde his successoure perfourmyd it ¶ De sancto Edwoldo confessore SEynt Edwolde was broder to seynt Edmonde Kynge and martyr And he was a deuoute folower and very heyer of vertues to his Broder He hard gladlye spirituall Doctyre he worshyppyd the Churche he helpyd the nedye And had alway the pleasurys of the worlde suspecte And by lytell and lytell he lefte the pompe therof cleerly And he couetyd moche to kepe the lyfe of an Anker wherfore when all the people after the dethe of his Broder wolde haue made hym Kynge he prayde to our lord to sende hym couÌ„ceyle it was she wyd vnto hym that he shuld seke a sylueâ— well at which well he shuld fynde such a place as he desyred but it was not she wyd hym in what countrey the well was And so he gaue all that he had to poore men and pryuely lefte his couÌ„trey And when he had sought many prouyncys coulde not fynde the sayde well he cam to Septon and there a Shepherd tolde hym where he shulde fynde the Syluer well And when he came thyder he set his staffe into the grounde And therof grewe a feyre tre and there he made a Celle And hyred the shepherde to brynge hym thryse in the weke barly bredde and somtyme mylke gaue hym for euery tyme .i. d And bad hym neuer dyscouer hym for if he dyd he shulde lose his rewarde And after the shepherde dyscoueryd hym And thenne when he came to hym nexte he gaue hym a peny and tolde hym it was the laste that euer he shuld haue of hym And when the shepherde cam to hym the next tyme he founde hym departyd fro this worlde he dyed the .iiii. kalendas of september And was buryed in his Celle .iiii. myle fro the Abbey of Cerue And after he was hadde to Cerue by seynt DuÌ„stane and seynt Ethelwolde And with the water of his welle dyuers haue ben helyd of theyr dyseases De sancto Egberto monachrâ— SEynt Egbart was borne in Englonde And he went into Irlande to the Busshoppes fynauus and colniauus to lerne cunnynge and good lyuynge as dyuerse other of Englonde dyd in tho dayes And there in the Monastery of Rathemaell he was stryken with the pestylence And when he thought he shulde haue dyed he began to remembre his lyfe past with many terys and great compunccyon for his synnes And be sought almyghty god if it were his wyll that he myghte yet Lyue and make amendys for his neclygencys And therupoÌ„ for the more restraynynge of his owne affeccyon he aduowyd that he wolde neuer come in Englonde where he was borne that if sykenesse lettyd it not he wolde dayly sey the hoole saulter and euery weke faste oon daye nyght And his felawe that was then also syke of a sykenesse wherof he dyed by reuelacyon knewe his petycyon and tolde hym that he was herd of all almyghty god And wheÌ„ he was hoole he thought to haue goon into germania fro whens Englysshe men came to preche to them the feythe for some of them then were paynymmys after one of his bretherne shewyd hym that his master bayfylus lately deed apperyd to hym and shewyd hym that it was not the wyll of god that he shulde goo into germania but that it was the wyll of god that he shulde go to the Monasteryes of seynt Columbe to set them in good order And when he was twyse warnyd by the sayde Broder therof And moreouer that he shulde not goo though he wolde yet he beleuyd hym not but made redy his coÌ„pany and his shyppys and when he was apon the see a contraryouse wynde tempest rose agaynste hym wherby he knewe it was not the wyll of oure Lorde that he shuld goo theder wherfore he sent thyder seynt wyllybrorde aleuyn other And he wente into the I le of Hii in the scottyshe see to the sayde Monasteryes of seynt Columbe to set theym in good ordre And there he was gladlye receyuyd And there he taughte theym the veray Catholycall waye of lyuynge And brought theym to kepe the due tyme of Ester And he departyd fro this worlde the yere of our Lorde .vii. C. and .xxix. the .viii. kalendas of Maye which then was Ester day on which daye he had sayde Masse and kepte the feest of Ester after the due ordre ¶ De sancto Egbino monacho SEynt egbyne was borne in Brytayne And after his deth his Moder enteryd into RelygyoÌ„ was made a Nunne of seynt sampson wheÌ„ he harde the wordys of our Lorde in the gospell seyinge that he that wyll not renouÌ„ce all thynge may not be his dyscyple he forsoke all thynges was made a moÌ„ke in the monastery of Tanrake where seynt wynwalogus was as seynt winwalogus with seynt Egbyn theÌ„ beynge deken weÌ„t to sey masse a myle fro the monastery a pore lepourfull of sorys prayed them of helpe he sayd if he had not theyr helpe he shulde dye for he sayd his nostrellys were brennyd with the fyfth of his sykeneâ— so that he coulde not contynue And then Egbynus toke hym vppe in his armys seynt wynwalogus with his haÌ„de wolde haue clensyd the place And the poore man sayd not soo but that he wolde with his conge clense it And than he mekely assayed to do it and when he thought to haue easyd the poore man it was the sone
assent of his coÌ„mons he was desyryd to marye and for loue of Chyldren he asseÌ„tyd therto And he refusyd the doughter of a great Consulle bycause her Fader was a man full of fraunde and dysceyte alienatyd fro Truthe And at the laste it was concludyd that he shuld goo to off a Kynge of mersshes And when he was goynge the Erthe quoke the sonne waryd derke so that oon of them myght scarcely see a nother And when all a boute hym were a frayde merueylyd what it shuld betokyn He sayde let vs doo that is in vs humble our hartys to almyghty god praye that he put awaye the derkenes both of Body and soule and that he send vs the lyghte of his clerenes And so they laye prostrate prayed And anon the Derkenes went awaye And then he wente forth in his Iourney when he cam into the kyngedome of Marshes he had a meruaylouse dreme that as he stode with his counceyll he thought his house fell downe anon he sawe a goodly tree that he neuer sawe any lyke to it that certeyn ê‘sones were he wynge at the tree to cut it downe a streme of blood folowyd of theyr hewynge he thought he hymselfe was a byrde that his wyngys were blody he sawe a bryght beame bryghter then the sonne com out of the south which asceÌ„dyd into heuyn he thought that he flewe into the toppe of the tree sawe all that was in the firmameÌ„t herde a songe of great melody some thought it shulde betokyn the exaltynge of his kyngdome he sayd how so euer our Lord wold dyspose of hym he wold take it pacyeÌ„tly when he came to Kynge off a by counceyll of the quene for ambycyon of hys kyngdome And to enhaunce theyr owne blode his hed was stryken of the .xiii. kaleÌ„das of Iune as apperyth in his legende at great length And when the virgyne alfryde whome he shulde haue maryed knew therof she bade his seuauÌ„tys goo into theyr couÌ„trey for they re mayster was behedyd taught of the holy goost she sayde to hir moder thy sone shall not lyue .iii. yerys thy kyngedome shall not be stabled thou shalt not lyue in the confeffyon of god ouer thre monethâ—s thou shalte be takyn with a Deuyll ete thyn owne tonge and dye an euyll deth and it folowyd as she sayd and therupon that blessyd virgyne auowyd to entre into relygyon at crowlande fro the tumbe there as the yonge kynge was buryed a bryght beame wente to heuyn And when Kynge off a herde therof â—e feryd greatlye toke penaunce and after his body was broughte to herforde And by the way a blynde man recoueryd his syghte a longe tyme was seen euery nyghte a bryghte beame vppoÌ„ his sepulcre the kynge Mylfryde made a goodly chyrche ouer hym and endewyd it with great possessyons And was the fyrste kynge that made there a Busshoppyssee callyd wakerynge to ramesey where they lye to this day that traÌ„slacyon was made the .xvi. kaleÌ„das of noueÌ„ber ¶ De sancto Ethelwoldo epÌ„o confessore SEynt ethelwolde was borne in wynchester his moder when she was with chylde with hym sawe two visions which signyfyed that she shulde bere a chylde of great ê‘feccyon when his norse hauynge the chylde in her armys wolde haue goon to the Chyrche coulde not for great tempest sodenly she was broughte into the Chyrche wiste not how she came thyder And when the chylde came to age he was set to scole he had a quycke witte what so euer he lernyd he kepte it in memorye kynge ethelstane herynge his famesent for hym to haue hym abyde with hym causyd hym to take order of preesthod And seynt DuÌ„stane and he And oon Ethelstane were made Preestys on oon daye by Seynt Aldelme and he sayde that two of them shulde be Busshoppes And the Thyrde shuld geue hym to Uoluptuousnes make an euyll Ende And soo it prouyd of the sayde Ethelstane And after seynt Ethelwolde went to glastenbury there was made a moÌ„ke vnder seynt Dunstan where euer he coueytyd to the hyghnesse of vertue though he was moche cherysshed belouyd of all men he ranne not therby in any peryll of Pryde but kepte hym alwey in humylyte And after Kynge edrede gaue hym a Place in abyngdon where he renewyd the Monastery of Abyngedon And put therin monkys there he was Abbot and after by coÌ„mauÌ„dement of Kynge Edgar seynt DuÌ„stan made hym Busshope of Wynchester there he put in monkys also at hyde he made a place of Nonnys at Wynchester he made Peterburgh thorney wente aboute all monasteryes to set them in good order to coÌ„forte good men to correcte theym that were obstynate he neuer punysshed any of cruelnes but for loue He was a fader a shepherde to Relygyous men a defender of virgyns a comforter of wydowys a receyuoure of pylgrymys a refressher of poure men a helper of pupyllys orphanys when a great derth was in all Englonde he solde the Ornamentys of his Churche the plate to helpe the poure people he had coÌ„tynuall sykenes so that many nyghtys he slepte nothynge And he neuer ete Flesshe but twyse onys by coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of seynt DuÌ„stane a noder tyme in the sykenes that he dyed of His Candell burnyd vppoÌ„ his boke tyll it weÌ„t out And yet it hurtyd not his boke It is red of hym in Cronycles that when he was at grete feestys which began in Englonde at the commynge in of the Danys he wolde ete no other thynge but Breed wolde drynke water And he went to our Lord in the kalendas of August in the yere of our Lord .ix. hundred foure score and foure and he lyeth at wynchester where our lorde hath shewyd for hym many Myracles a man and a Chylde that were blynde at his tombe receyuyd theyr sâ—gh ¶ DesctoÌ„ Felice epÌ„o confessore SEynt felix was borne in Pyes a cytie of BurguÌ„dye there was made Busshope in the tyme of the 〈◊〉 honoryus of honoryus Archebusshope of Caunterbury leuynge his owne countrey the pompe of the worlde He came into Englonde to preche the feyth of our Lorde to suche people as were not then coÌ„uertyd he was a man of great lernynge that he taught he fulfyllyd iÌ„ good werkys the Archebusshope honory us at his coÌ„mynge reseyued hym moche charytably but wheÌ„ he knewe his enteÌ„t was to ê‘seuer iÌ„ pÌ„chynge he was moch more glad so he weÌ„t into the ê“uynce of est EngloÌ„d the yere of our Lord .vi. C.lxxiii And after that she enteryd into Relygyon she neuer ware lynnen she ete but onys on a day She was dylygent to vigyllys prayers before her deth she had a great swellynge in her Throte in her cheke wherin she moche delytyd sayde it was a great goodnes
to his dyscyple for he sayd he was gretter of merytys then he sayd he shulde be a holy busshope theÌ„ the Chylde sayd a holy busshope was Commynge owt of Brytayne that shuld be his master so there was he went with hym to his busshopryke callyd maguns where he was made monke He helyd a man that for his synnys had a legyon of Deuyllys HedraÌ„ke poyson it hurtyd hym not after he wente to Rome where he was made preest was there .vii. yerys As he pÌ„chyd at Rome of enuye they range the bellys blewe the Organes his voyce was harde aboue theÌ„ all wherof the people thaÌ„kyd our lord He coÌ„uertyd moch people aboute Italy there the hande of a Kynge that wolde haue crucyfyed hym stake fast to the Crosse tyll he all the people were penytent were conuertyd then he went to his owne CouÌ„trey was made Busshope in Irlande he dyd so many Myracles that no man can tell He was syke a hole yere lyenge in his bedde And when his tyme drewe nere he reyseyuyd the blessyd Body of our Lord the fourth Idus of September And he was buryed in Scotlande at cumgham at a place that after his name in welche is callyd Kylwynny ¶ De sancto Foillane epÌ„o martire SEynt foyllane busshope martyr was borne of noble blood in Irlond he made his blood more noble by his good lyuynge and lyke to the patryarke Abraham He lefte his owne countrey and his carnall Frendys And went into FrauÌ„ce where he was Instructor to seynt geretrude and she gaue to hym and to his broder vltan a grounde callyd folse to make therin a Monasterye to receyue pylgrymes And vltan was made ruler therof And seynt Foyllan styll remaynyd to Instructe seynt Geretrude on a tyme asseynt Foyllane with thre felowys went to see his Broder vltan a mynyster of the Deuyll met theym by the waye and promysyd to brynge them to a good lodgynge vnder coloure that he myght murdre theym And seynt Foyllane by the holy goost knowynge his purpose gaue hym selfe to prayers and comfortyd his bretherne to be stronge in our lorde And so the sayd Cursyd man with his company strake of theyr heddys the day before the kalendas of NoueÌ„ber leuynge theyr Bodyes in a vyle place solde theyr Horsys and apparell And when seynt Geretrude meruaylyd of his longe taryinge she sent to the monastery for hym and his Broder vltan sent her worde that she shuld by her wysdome expouÌ„de his vysyon as he was in prayer he thought he sawe a whyte doue with blody wyngys fly vppe to Heuyn And more he sayde he knewe not of hym werfore anon she and all the bretherne and fusters â—ell to prayer by an Aungell it was shewyd vnto her that he was Martyred And that she shulde fynde hym by a tokyn that our Lorde shulde shewe hyr And so she went furthe and founde hym and his felowes lxxviii dayes after theyr martyrdome by a bryghte shynynge crowne that apperyd ouer theym And the same day of his fyndynge seynt Fursee his broder dyed and he was buryed in the sayd Monastery where our Lord hath shewyd for hym many myracles De sctoÌ„ FremuÌ„do Rege martire A Chylde of .iii. dayes olde prophecyed that off a thenne a Kynge of Englonde in his age shulde haue a sone callyd Fremunde that shulde conuerte hym and his Moder with all the cuntrey to the Feythe of our Lorde And that in his youth he shulde he le lepourys and blynde men And that at his byrthe shulde appere a bryght beame ouer the house And as he sayde it prouyd in euery thynge after When the kynge off a waxyd olde he made seynt Fremunde kynge though he moche refusyd And a yere a halfe he occupyed as Kynge norysshynge poore men encreasynge peace and puttynge downe of Rebellys then he lefte all that honour with two clerkys went pryuely in a lytell shyppe without sayle into the see trustynge in the helpe of our lorde not in the wynde And in the .v. day they came into a I le callyd Ilefage where no man before his tyme durst dwelle for fere of Deuyllys And there he lyuyd vnknowen .vii. yerys by Rootye Erbys And his Apparell appeyryd not in all that tyme after his goynge away fro his Cuntrey the Danys came into the LaÌ„de And when they had martyryd Seynt Edmonde his Fader was verye sore aferde And sent messangers for his son And when they had fouÌ„de hym and shewyd hym the entente of theyr message he gaue hym selfe to prayer to knowe the wyll of our Lord therin by an Aungell he was admonysshyd that he shulde goo with them And the Aungell shewyd hym that he shulde haue the victory that euery man that he toke with hym to the batayle shuld appere a M. men soo he went into his Contrey where he fouÌ„de his Fader ouercome with the Infydelys And then he with his two felowys and .xxii. other that came for hym Wherfore euery oon of theym apperyd a thousande men as the Aungell sayde kyllyd xl thousande paynymes And incontynent after the vyctorye he went to prayer and thankyd oure Lorde then a Cristen man callyd Oswy that had ben in great fauoure with his Father which had forsakyn the Feythe for that he was promysyd by the Danes to be Kynge strake of his Hed the .v. Idus of May And the blood that fell vppon hym burnyd hym with suche intollerable Hete that anon he fell prostrate and cryed mercy And the Hed spake forgaue hym And then he toke vppe his owne Hed and bare it to a place betwene Huchyn and Harburbury and there he wesshyd his Hed in a well that sprange vp there by his prayer And after he was had to a place callyd of churche where he was buryed and laye there .ix. yerys And then he was remouyd by monycyon of an Aungell gyuyn to thre Maydens that were all thre made hoole of theyr dyseasys to a place bytwene Charwell Bradmoure And there he laye vnknowen many yerys tyll it was shewyd by an auÌ„gell to a pylgryme at Iherusalem where he laye And then he was takyn vppe by seynt Beryne honorably and as seynt Beryne was ledynge hym to the nexte Monasterye as the Pope had coÌ„maundyd the Pylgryme in his commynge whome At redyke his Relykys stoude styll wolde no ferther Wherfore seynt Beryne went to Rome and shewyd it to the 〈◊〉 retournyd agayne with the Popys bullys there buryed hym in the same place honorably the .v. kalendas of apryll And now i these dayes oon of his armys and oon of his Rybbys a parte of his Iawe lye at Dunstable And the resydue of his Bodye lyeth at Croprede De sancta Frideswida virgine SEynt frydeswyde was borne in Oxforde aboute the yere of our Lorde seuyn Hundred and fyftye And after her Chyldehod was paste she lyuyd with wortys barley Brede
and Water After by assent of her Fader and Modershe was made a Nunne And by her exaumple .xii. other noble virgyns enteryd also in to relygyon And by the helpe of the Kynge she made a Monasterye where she lyuyd in Fastyngys and contynuell Prayers a Hundred tymes on the Daye as many tymes of the Nyght she prayed knelynge the Deuyll enuyed her And to haue deceyuyd her he apperyd lyke our Lorde with Aungellys and bad her come and worshyp hym whom she had longe seruyd And by Spyryte she knewe hym and dyspysyd hym And so he went awey with a great stenche and she contynued in prayer quyetlye and without fere And thenne the Deuyll mouyd the Kynge alger to desyre her to his voluptuous pleasure so that the Kynge sent his seruauntys for her when they coulde not haue her assente to come to the Kynge And wolde therfore haue takyn her by Strength they were anon strykyn Blynde And by desyre of all the people that came to that spectacle she made them see agayne And the same nyght an AuÌ„gell apperyd to her and bade her goo to Chamyssyde And there she shuld fynde a Bote and a yonge man prepayryd by our Lorde to conuey her for the Kynge wolde come to take her awaye so she wente to Chames and in an houre space with two Susters she was conueyed in the sayde bote .x. myles And sodeynly the bote the rower were gon there they lyuyd in a wyldernesse .iii. yerys in great abstyneÌ„ce vigillis and prayers And when the Kynge in the Mornynge coulde not fynde her in a great Ire he studyed to destroy the Towne wherfore when he came to the north yate He was stryken blynde and for his offence as it is sayde it is prohybytyd to Kyngys of Englonde to come within the Towne of Oxforde to this day And after .iii. yerys she came agayne and made an Oratory at thornbury by Oxforde there by her Prayers sprange a feyre welle On a tyme when she came to Oxforde all the people met her And a fowle lepoure prayed her in the name of god to kysse hym and so she dyd and anon he was made hoole as she was praynge an AuÌ„gell tolde her that she shuld dye the .xiiii. kalendas of nouember And so he went fro her and lefte her seke of the Axes And when her strength was moche goon fro her she sawe seynt Katheryne and seynt Cecylye whom she had euer moche worshyppyd And as she cryed to theym I come Ladyes I come she went to oure Lorde the sayd .xiiii. kalendas of Nouember And anon came a great Lyght into the house that fyllyd all the house And the towne full of a goodly swete â—auoure And she Lyeth in Oxforde ¶ De sancto furseo abbate confessore SEynt furse was borne in Irlonde And was broder to seynt Foillane He was feyre and chaste of Bodye deuoute in mynde full of Grace good Werkys And fro his youth he was brought vppe in holy Letters and lernynge of Relygyon And on a tyme when he was seke and was seyinge his euynsonge a grete derkenes fell aboute hym And he was brought in maner as he hadde ben deed Then he sawe thre Aungells come to hym And he herde theym synge ibunt sancti de virtute invirtutem and other merueylous swete songes And after Deuyllys before our Lorde leyde many thyngys agaynste hym and the AuÌ„gellys defendyd hym fro theyr accusacyons and fro great terryble Fyres that he sawe and fro all other daungers excepte that he had takyn a gowne of oon that was a synner to Praye for hym And the Deuyll threw that man vppon hym which burnyd his shulder so sore that it was seen vppon hym euer after Then the Aungellys bade hym loke into the worlde And he sawe the worlde lyke a great Ualsy wherin were foure Fyres And the Aungellys sayd that tho Fyres consume all the worlde The fyrste is the fyre of lyinge in that that men at theyr Baptysme promyse to forsake the Deuyll and all his werkys and do not The seconde is the fyre of couetyse when men set the loue of the worlde before the loue of Heuenly thyngys The thyrde is the Fyre of discencyon when men fere not to offende theyr neyghboures for veyne thynges And the fourth fyre is of wyckydnes when great men fere not to robbe and spoyle pore men And as he lokyd vp he sawe a great company of AuÌ„gellys in heuyn harde them synge sanctus sanctus sanctus dnÌ„s deus sabaoth therby he was moch coÌ„fortyd sayd it was great ioy to here that heueÌ„ly songe then two holy Busshoppys that lately were gon to heuyn apperyd to hym that he shuld goo to the worlde ageyne wherfore he was very heuy And they shewyd hym that there is no sacryfyce more acceptable to our Lord then pacyence myldenes of herte wherby all Aduersyteys Hurtys in truste of the resurreccyon to come be gladlye takyn many goodlye thynges notable lernyngys be in the vysyon of this blessyd man that for shortnes be here omyttyd A yere after that he was come to hymselfe as he was syke an Aungell apperyd to hym sayd he shulde yet lyue xii yerys in prechynge the worde of god And so he came to sygybert Kynge of eest Englonde of whome he was gladly receyuyd And at knoberesburgh he made a Monasterye when so euer he talkyd of his vysyon though it were colde wynter he swette for fere And after he lefte the cure of the Monasterye to his Broder seynt Foyllane and he went into Fraunce there made a Monasterye at Latynyacum He lefte this worlde the .xvii. kalendas of February and lyeth at perona .iiii. yere after his buryenge his Bodye was remouyd was fouÌ„de vncorrupte He departyd about the yere of our Lord .vi. C. .xxxvi. ¶ De sancto Gylda abbate confessore SEynt gylda was a Kynges sone of scotlande in his youth he was lernyd in the Artes lyberall after he went into Fraunce there he was .vii. yere and fro thens he came into Brytayne where many scolers resortyd to hym He fastyd lyke an Heremyte And euer was busye in Prayers were the heer he lyuyd w e Barly breed made with asshes dranke water neuer eete Flesshe And in the nyghtys he sayde certeyne Prayers in the water takynge his slepe vppon a stone And the Heuenly rewardys were alwayes in his desyre And he taught his dyscyples to despyse all that was traÌ„sytorye on a tyme as he prechyd in the CouÌ„trey of Epydane his voyce was stoppyd sodeynly when all the people merueylyd therat he bad them all goo out of the Church that he myght knowe whether any of them were the cause therof And at laste Nunnyta moder of seynt Dauyd then beynge with Chylde was founde in the Churche and then he sayd that she shuld haue a blesshyd Chylde that no man in his tyme shulde be
lyke to And that for presence of that blessyd Chylde his speche was stoppyd And so seynt Gylda went into Irlande there he cōuertyd moch people And after when kynge arthure had kyllyd his broder ho well he came into Brytayne there he forgaue kynge Arthure the deth of his Broder And he dwellyd by seuerne there he buyldyd a Chyrche where he was moche in prayer He wrote a Boke of the foure Euangelystys that was had in suche honoure that the people durste not open it And the people thought ther was no accorde fully made bytwixt enemyes but apon that boke And after he came to glastonbury And not farre fro thens he buyldyd a Chyrche vppon a Ryuer where he lyuyd an Heremytys lyfe After he felle syke wherfore he sent for the Abbot of glastonbury desyred that he myght be buryed in his monasterye And so he went out of this worlde the fourth kalendas of february in the yere of our Lord CCCCC .xii. a grete lyght was seen about his Body And he lyeth at Glastonbury ¶ De sancto Gilberto confessore SEynt gylbert was borne at sempyngham and ī his youth he was so abiecte ī his faders House that the seruauntys dysdeynyd to sytte with hym at mete and at Scole he lytyll prophytyd And so he wente into Fraunce and there he toke degre of Mayster And when he came ageyne into Englonde he began the ordre of Sempyngham of men and women He labouryd all that he coulde for the helthe of so wllys And to all that he coulde he prophytyd in worde dede and exaumple And his father lykyd his conuersacyon so well that he presentyd hym to the chyrches of sempyngham tyryngton on a tyme ther fell a lyghte temptacyon bytwyxt hym his hostys doughter And the nyght folowynge he thought in his slepe that he had put his hāde so ferre in her bosom that he coulde not plucke it oute agayne wherfore he feryd greatly lefte that place And after that virgyn was oon of the .vii. that he began his relygyon vppō And all that he had aboue his necessary lyuynge he gaue to pore men after he was made preest then went to Rome to the pope engeny to haue the Relygyon of Cisteux assygnyd to haue rule of his Monasteryes And the Pope wolde not assent therto ne yet the Cysteux And then the Pope orderyd that he shulde appoynt men therto hym selfe And so he dyd And in that Iourney he was moche famylyer with seynt malachye Busshoppe of Irlande and with seynt Bernarde And to his Bretherne he appoyntyd the ruell of seynt Augustyne And to the Susters the rule of seynt benedycte and what so euyr he myslykyd in eyther of the Rulys he refourmyd and sent his Rule to Rome where it was cōfermyd he made .xiii. monasteryes wherin at his deth were aboute seuyn Hundred Bretherne fyue hundreth Susters he louyd all his placys lyke moche and put lyke dylygence for the one as he dyd for the other His rydynge apparell was symple And his companye honest He absteynyd alwey fro flesshe but in grete sykenes In lent and Aduenthe absteynyd fro Fysshel He hadde at his table a dysshe that was callyd the dysshe of Ihesu wherin he put mete for pore men not of the refuse but very good and after dyner hevsyd Redynge prayer or medytacyon he were in Wyntre and Somerlyke many clothys And he electyd one of his dyscyples to be his mayster was to hym obedyent and toke the habyt of a chanon A man with werynge of his sockys was helyd of the gowte Also fyre fledde fro the house where he was prayinge and hurte it not And in the yere of our lorde god a thousande a hundred foure score and .ix. the day before the Nonas of February full of good werkys and good exaumples he went to our Lorde and was buryed honorably in the monastery of Sempyngham which he had foundyd ¶ De sancto Godrico seruo dei heremita THe fader and moder of seynt Godryke dwellid in Norfolke in a Towne callyd Walpole they were pore of worldlye substaunce and Ryche in vertues deuoutly prayinge to our Lord that they myght haue a chylde apte to his seruyce And so they had a sone whom they callyd Goderyke And in his youthe he was a marchaūte vsynge Feyrrys and Markettys he went to seynt Andrewys in Scotlande soo to Rome came whom with marchauntys by water And went into Brytayne Flaunders and Denmarke wan moche good And .xvi. yerys he expendyd in suche busynes And after he went twyse to Rome oon tyme he went by seynt Gyle And the other tyme he toke his moder with hym whiche went barefote And when he came whome at the laste tyme he solde all that he had gaue it to poore men lyuyd at caerlyle vnknowyn Wher many folkys began to worshype hym wherfore he went into a wood lyuyd there with herbys frutys had no house after he founde an olde heremyte and eyther of them callyd other by his name yet they neuer had herde of other before he taryed with hym tyll the other Heremyte dyed And then seynt Cuthberte apperyd to hym bad hym to go to Ierusalem and be crucyfyed with our Lord then to come agayne to a wood callyd fynkale a lytyll fro Duresme And in that Iourney he toke no sustenaunce but drye barley breed water And he chaungyd not his clothynge nor wasshed theym ne chaungyd his shone tyll he came there so that stonys grauell were growyn into his feet so greuouslye that the flesshe bonys myght scarcely hange to gedyr And at fleme Iordane he chauugyd hym wyshe his Here fro that tyme he were no shone Then he retournyd ageyne to fynkale by the ryuer of were he made a lytyll house where he dwelled vnknowen dyuerse yerys lyuyd with Leuys Rotys after he began to Laboure to get hym mete by his laboure he dyggyd the grownde sewe it made a Gardeyne he neuer lay in Bedde but on the groūde with a here vnder hym a stone vnder his Hedde of all thyngys he eschewed Idelnes and wolde eyther be in Prayer medytacyon or Laboure He wolde stonde in the water thoughe it were Froste snowe sometyme a moneth together in the nyghtys tyll the mornynge when his teth chakyid ī his heed he wolde sey thys is greuous but the fyre of Hell is moche more greuous in the coulde wynter he wolde go barefote so that his feet sumtyme were cut so greuously that a man myght put ī his fynger he chose the pryor of Duresme to be his mayster wolde not speke with any man wtout lycēse of hym .iiii. dayes in the weke sonday mōday tuesday fryday also in festys in aduēt fro septuagesyme to Ester he kepte scylence after he began to enhabyt that place He neuer went out of it but thryse
nedyd bothe in Body sowle so that before god man she lyuyd without offeÌ„ce more apperyth not of her lyfe nor of her myracles but the thre blynde Women that came all at oon tyme oon to seynt Alburgh a noder to seynt Hyldelythe And the thyrde to seynt Wulfhylde receyuyd all thre theyr syghte ¶ De sancto Honorio archiepÌ„o confessore SEynt honorye was discyple to seynt Gregory after seynt Iustus he was electyd to be archebusshope of CauÌ„terbury he was coÌ„secrate by paulyn archebusshope of yorke the Pope honoryus sent to hym a pall with his letters wherin he decreyd that whether of the archebusshope of CauÌ„terbury or yorke dyed furste that he yâ— ouerlyuyd shulde haue auctoryte to make a newe not to goo at euery tyme to Rome by so great iourneys And this blessyd man made seynt Felyx busshope of eest Englonde which conuertyd all the CouÌ„trey to the feythe when seynt Edwyn was deed all the CouÌ„trey of northamhuÌ„bre was trowblyd with Paganes seynt paulyn and the quene Ethelburghe which was wyfe to Kynge Edwyn went to seynt Honorye he made seynt paulyn Busshope of rochester the quene Ethelburghe a Nonne at a place callyd lymmynge where she had foundyd a Monasterye vppon the grouÌ„de that she had of the gyfte of her Broder kynge Edbalde where she was Mother to many virgyns wydowys This blessyd man made parysshys ordeynyd clerkys pÌ„chourys bad them that they shulde instructe the people aswell by feyrenes pacyence as by hygh doctryne so that the rude people myght be broughte to the loue of almyghty god aswell by swete techynge as by sharpenes drede our Lord so adournyd this blessyd man with pure feythe goodlye conuersacyon in many sygnys vertues that he shone in this Realme of Englonde as a lanterne put away errours coÌ„uertyd many paganes to the feythe releuynge the wretchydnes of the people with prayer consolacyon so that his lyfe shone lyke glasse to all that wolde loke in it he was strayght harde to hymselfe lyberall to the pore people seruynge our lord iÌ„ humylyte charyte he went out of the prysone of this worlde the day before the kalendas of october in the yere of our lorde god syx Hundred fyghtye and thre lyeth in the monasterye of seynt Peter and paule at CauÌ„terbury many yerys after when his Body was remouyd there was so goodly as wete sauoure that all that were there pÌ„sent gaue thaÌ„kynges laudys to our lorde ¶ De puero Hugone a iudeis crucifixo IN the yere of our Lorde a M.CC. .lv. aboute the feestys of seynt Peter paule the Iewys of Lyncolne stale a cristen Chylde that was aboute the age of .viii. yerys callyd hugh they put hym iÌ„ a secrete house fedde hym .x. dayes with mylke that he myght abyde the gretter turmeÌ„tys thereupoÌ„ they sent to all the townys in EngloÌ„de wherein were any Iewys to haue some of theÌ„ to be at the sacryfyce of this Chylde which they entendyd to crucyfye in despyte of our lorde Ihesu Cryste And when they were gaderyd they appoyntyd a Iuge as for Pylat so they Iugyd Hym to deth And then they bet hym soo that the blode folowyd they crownyd hym with thorne they spyt vppon hym and mockyd hym and euery man pryckyd hym with his Knyfe they gaue hym to drynke Gall And with great opprobryes blasphemouse wordys with gnasshynge of theyr teth they callyd hym Ihesus the Cursyd prophet And after they Crucyfyed hym And with a spere thruste hym to the Herte And when he was deed they toke his Body fro the Crosse and vnbowelde hym for theyr enchauntementys After when they leyde his Bodye into the grounde the grouÌ„de wolde not kepe it but caste it vppe agayne wherfore they were merueylously aferde And threwe hym into a Pytte After the moder of the Chylde which made great sorowe and dylygentlye enqueryd for hym harde say that he was seen laste at a Iewys house pleyinge with Iewys chyldren And so she went sodeynly into the House And there she founde the Chylde and vppon that suspeccyon the man that owyd the House was takyn And he confessyd the murder wherupon .xviii. of the Rychest of the Iewys of Lyncolne that assentyd to the martyrdome of the sayd blessyd chylde were drawyn hangyd the chanoÌ„s of LyncolnÌ„ askyd the Body of the sayde Chylde buryed hym lyke a gloryouse martyr ¶ De sancto hugone epÌ„o confessore SEynt hugh wheÌ„ he was but .viii. yere olde was set to Reguler discyplyne was euer broughte vp in vtue he neuer knewe pleasurys of the Worlde nor lernyd any maner of disportê after he was made a Chanon regler in a monastery in GraÌ„miople where his fader lyued vnder reguler discipline as loÌ„ge as his fader lyued he wiped his shone made his bedde was dylygent to hym in all other thyngê after for zele of a streyghter Religion he entred into relygioÌ„ in the ordre of Chartuc there he was made prest And whan he was at Masse he ordred hymself as if our lorde had ben visibly there present and he vsed moch vigylles fastyngê and scorgynges ofte fasted brede and water and weer the heere as the vse of the Relygion is and after when he was made proctour he thought in his slepe that he that made hym prest came to hym opened his bely with a Raser and cut fro hym a thyng lyke a bylle of fyre and he neuer after felt temptacion of the flesshe but that he myght lyghtly despyse After by desyre of kynge Henry the seconde he was sent into Englande to be Pryor of WythmÌ„ thoughe he moche refused it and on a tyme whan he came to the kynge for certeyne thynges that they neded and the kynge gaue hym lytell comforte but fayre wordes one Gerarde that came with seynt Hughâ— sayd to the kynge that he wolde go home agayne into his Countre and tolde the kyng that he sawe well that al that he gaue for his soule helth he thought it loste and seynt Hughe bad hym leue suche wordes or holde his peace and then he spake to the kynge in suche sobre charytable maner that when he had doon the kynge enbraced hym and sayd verayly he shuld neuer go from hym but that he wolde kepe hym and take counsell of hym for the helth of his soule anone he gaue to seynt Hughe all that he asked one a tyme when the kynge was in great ê‘ell of the see he had great truste in the prayer of seynt Hughe and of his bretherne and as it is sayd he aduowed that if he came safe to lande he wolde make hym a bysshop and forthwith the tempest ceasyd when the buyldynge was done at Wytham he wolde euer be occupyed in prayer redynge medytacyon or in some spirituell collacion or exortacion he wolde neuer lye in his
kept the vygylles with the Couent in the nyght And also the seruyce in the day and fedde the hungry clothed the naked comforted theym that were in heuynes appesyd stryffes and norysshed loue so vsyng actiflyfe that he forget nat contemplatyfe somtyme when he was at masse he was in so hyghe deuocyon that he coulde nat absteyne fro wepynge and that he reputed to his feblenes often tymes he wolde admonysshe his bretherne to be ware of temptacyons and to exclude women fro theyr company he wolde alway dyne and soupe with the bretherne in the fraytour without great company of straungers caused the contrarye he lay in the Dortor and wolde weer no furre but of lambe On a tyme one of his bretherne openly afore moche company spake euyll and vngoodly wordes vnto hym and he answered nothyng agayne and when one of the company meruayled therat he sayd it was nat best where was to great a fyre to ley to more styckes but he sayd by good dylyberacion the mater shuld rightwell come to reformacion and so though he was of Colerike complexcion by grace he subdued nature to reason and agaynst theym that wolde trouble his Churche he was armed with great constaunce and on a tyme nat iÌ„ angre but charitably he sayd to a great mannes seruaunte that entended to do great wronge to his Monasterye that he shuld beware that for his maysters pleasure he went nat hymselfe to helle and tho wordes toke sueffecte in that man that in the mornyng he sayd whyle he lyued he wolde be a frende to the house so his mynde chauÌ„ged and the varyaunce ceased our Lorde shewyd for hym many myracles he appered to men in the see that were in ê‘ell and saued theym in lyke maner as it is redde of seynt Nicholas and they after knewe hym by the Fygoure that appered to theym in the see By his prayer a woman that by lykelyhode of age dispeyred to haue children coÌ„ceyued and had two doughters one of them had a great deformyte in her face wherfore he hadde the Father that when he came home he shuld ley his thumbe vpon the place so deformed he in the meane tyme wolde praye for her and he dyd so and within the space of an houre the deformyte went away Also by his blyssynge whete in his barne encreased ten tymes asmoch as it was after he fell syke of the sykenes and then he called his bretherne and exorted theym to kepe humylyte vnyte obedience and charite and theyr statutes Reguler nat to breke the leest obseruaunces of theyr Relygion and bad them when he was gone they shuld electe a nother tha shuld ordre and norysshe the bretherne and they shuld welse that he had nat habundaunce of Ryches and that yet he was out of dette In his sykenes he toke Fysyke for he sayde he wolde do that was in hym for his helthe and thre dayes he was vysyted with Aungellys And when he had ben Pryor .xvii. yeres he went to heuyn In the yere of our Lorde a Thousande thre hondred .lxxix. And lyeth in his Monasterye for whom our lorde hath shewyd innumrable myracles ¶ De sancto Ioseph Ab arimathia WHen our Lorde Ihesu Criste was crucefyed Ioseph Ab Arimathia asked of Pylate the bodye of our Lorde and leyde it in a clene Sendell and put it in a Sepulcre that no man had ben buryed in as the Euangelyst testifie the Iues heryng therof put hym in a derke Pryson that had no wyndowe and Annas and Cayphas locked the dores and after when they had thought to haue put hym to deth they sent for hym to the pryson and before theyr coÌ„mynge on the saterday at nyght our lord apperyd to hym with a great bryghtnes as he was in prayer foure aungellys lyfted vp by the house that he was in and our Lorde sayd to hym I am Ihesus whom thou hast buryed and then Ioseph sayd lord if thou be he shewe me the monumeÌ„t that I put the in and our lord toke hym by the hande and ledde hym to the sepulcre fro thens he brought hym into his house at Arimathe after the Iues sent for hym asked of hym howe he came out of pryson and he tolde them as byfore apperyth and then they let hym goo he became disciple to seynt Phylyp of hym he and his sone Iosefes were baptised and he was a messeÌ„ger fro Ephese bytwyxt seynt JohnÌ„ Euangelyst and our Ladye and was at her deê‘tynge with other disciples he was a Constaunte precher of the worde of god as he had herde of our lorde and of our Lady and conuertyd moche people after he with his sone Iosefes went into Fraunce to seynt Phylyp and he sent Ioseph and his sone with .x. other into Brytayne at last they came to a place then called InswytryuÌ„ nowe called glastonburye and thyse verses be made at Glastonburye of theyr coÌ„mynge Intrat AualloniaÌ„ duo dena caterua virorum flos Arimathie Ioseph est primê° corum Iosefesex Ioseph genitê° prÌ„em coÌ„mitatÌ„ hiis aliisque decemius glastonie ê“priat And after by monycion of the ArchauÌ„gell gabryell they made a Churche or oratory of o r Lady there they lyued a blessyd lyf in vigylles fastyngê prayers And two kynges seynge theyr blessid lyfe though thy were paynymes gaue to eueryche of theym a hyde of lande whiche to this day be called the .xii. hydes and there they dyed and Ioseph was buryed nygh to the sayd oratory ¶ De sancto Iltuto abbate confessore SEynt Iltute was sone to a noble knyght of kyn to kynge Arthur and in his youthe when he was put to lernyng what soeuer he ones herde of his mayster he euer bere it away after he went to kyng arthur where he was honourably receyued then he went to the kyng of Morgan and there he was in suche fauour that he was as the seconde to hym and after heryng that the grounde opened and swalowed vp his seruauntes for doynge wronge to seynt Cadoke he askyd forgyuenes of seynt Cadoke then by counsell of seynt Cadoke And also by monycion of an Aungell that bad hym that he shuld neuer loue transitory thingê he left the world And of Dubrice bysshop of Landaffe he toke ordres then he made a Churche where he lyued a blessyd lyfe in fastyngê and prayer he wolde laboure his owne handes and nat trust to the laboure of any other in the nyghtê he wolde be prayng in the water on his knees halfe the nyght seynt Sampson paulyne gyldas and Dauid were his disciples with many other in so great nombre that he appoynted fyftye alway to be in prayer whenne the great wawes of the see troubled the Monasterie by his prayers the see withdrewe his course and lefte the grouÌ„de drye a great spase whiche so enduryth to this daye a fayre welle of Fresshe water sprange in the same grounde so beyngenyghe vnto the salte water The kynges bayliffe troubled the Monasterye
of seynt Cuthbert he toke Dekon he prophyted meruaylously in cuÌ„nynge so that profouÌ„de clerkes had hym in great reuerence he was oft in the Churche at prayer and as to the world he was nat studyous what shuld fall on the morowe he endeuoured hym self to helpe the necessyte of euery man the beste he coulde he gaue almes to the pore he forgaue theym that had offended hym he clothed the naked and coÌ„forted them that were iÌ„ heuynes as he was helpyng seynt Cuthbert to masse a pore man that was syke of the Axes came lenynge on his staffe to offer to kysse seynt Cuthbertê hande and seynt ywyo seynge hym toke hym by the hande to helpe hym and anone he was hole whiche he arected to the holynes of seynt Cuthbert and nat of his owne he gaue a man syder to drynke and anon he was hole of a desease that he had longe had after dredyng the vayne glorie of the world he went into lytel Brytayne there he helyd one of the palsey and there he punysshed his body with oft vigylles fastynges gaue example of mekenes and of all vertues and the daye byfore the daye byfore the Nonas of Octobre he passed to our lorde he lyeth now at WyltonÌ„ and in the Legende in the lyfe of seynt Edyth it apperyth how his body was brought thyder ¶ De sancto Iustinano martire SEynt Iustinan was of the noble blode of lytell brytayne after he was made preest he herde a voyce that bad hym leue his countre his kynred and the house of his fader so he dyd with certeyne felowes went into the see ia shyp made of ledder and roddes besought almyghty god that it myght brynge hym to a place where he myght lyue a solytarye lyfe and so he came into a lande called CormÌ„ where many by his example forsoke the world and yet he was eftsones warned to leue that place and so he went into the see and as the wynde droue hym he came into an I le called Lemonia and the fame of this holy man came to seynt Dauid the whiche was very glad of the coÌ„mynge of such a holy man and sent messengers for hym receyued hym honorably chewsynge hym to be his ghostly father and on a tyme wyckyd spiritê in the lykenes of men shewyd hym that seynt Dauid was syke and had sent for hym wherfore anone he toke shyp with theym and on the see he perceyued they were wycked spirites and no men thenne he lyfte vp his herte to almyghty god and began the psalme Deus in adiutorium meum intende And when he came to this verse ConfundaÌ„tur reuereantur qui queruÌ„t animam meam they vanysshed away lyke blacke crowes and left hym in the see and on a stone that rose fro the bottom of the see he was brought saufe to lande founde seynt Dauid in good helth The deuyll seynge he coulde nat preâ—ayle agaynst hym by any maner temptacoÌ„n styred his seruauÌ„tes agaynst hym with suche malyce that they despysed his doctryne and stroke of his hedde and he toke his hedde in his armes and bare it vpon the see into a place where he was buryed there as his hedde fell sprange a fayre welle and the water therof helyd a man that was poysoned and they that kylled hym were stryken leper and dyd great penauÌ„ce all theyr lyues in a hylle that yet is called the lepours hylle after seiÌ„t Dauid brought his body to Menonia now called seynt Dauidê where he buryed it honorably ¶ De sancto Iusto ArchiepÌ„o et confessore AFter kynge Ethelbert his people were conuerted to the fayth by seynt Augustyne he sent worde therof to Rome to seynt Gregorie that there was moche corne fewe werkemen wherfore seynt Gregorie alway diligent for Englande sent seynt Iuste and thre other holy Faders Mellite Paulyne and Rufyne into Englande to assiste seynt Austyn in ghostly werkes and instructyng of the people and seynt Austyne made hym bysshop of Rochester After he was dryuen out of his see by Edbald that was kyng Ethelbertes sone and by the thre sones of Sabert kynge of est saxons whiche were Apostatase as in the lyf of seynt Mellyte apperyth wherfore he wente into Fraunce and when Edbald was coÌ„uertyd by seint Laurence he came agayne and aftre seynt Melyte was deed seynt Iustus was made Archebysshop of Caunterburye he endeuoured hymselfe all that he coulde to magnyfie our lorde amonge the poeple by fayre speche by thretenynges by promes of euerlastyng Ioye by fere of payne in all Charite and he conuertyd moche people to the fayth and was a man of great merytes as apperyth by letters that 〈◊〉 Bonyface wrote vnto hym wherin he conforted hym to preche by the wordes that oure lorde sayd to the prechours I shall be with you vnto the ende of the worlde and he sent hym a palle and gaue hym auctorite to make other bysshoppes where nede was he went out of this wrold the fourth Idus of Nouembre and was buryed at Caunterbury and when he shuld be translated as soone as his tumbe was opened ther was a goodly swete sauour and as for other myracles it is nat moche matery all where the good lyfe suffycyently apperyth ¶ De sancta Iuthwara virgine martyre SEynt Iuthwara virgyne fro her youth serued out lorde in good werkes ê‘seuerauÌ„tlye and was veray dylygent to serue pore pylgrymes that came to her fathers house her moder iÌ„ lawe sought oftymes occasions agaynst her and with watchynges fastyngê and longe prayers she waxed pale coloured and after her fathers dethe her moder in lawe vnder coloure of medysyne aduysed her to ley new these to her tetes to helpe the sykenes of the brest and so she dyd mystrustynge no thynge And afterwarde her moder in lawe tolde her broder called Banam that she was with childe bad hym loke on her brestê he shuld fynde mylke in them therupon afore moche people in great hast he demaunded of her who had goten her with childe she therwith astonyed denyed sayd she was nat with childe then her broder as he was taught opened her brestê when he sawe mylke aboute theym in a furyous wodnes with his swerde he strake of her hedde she toke vp her hedde afore all the people bare it to the churche there as her hedde was stryken of sprange a fayre welle atre by myracle grewe vpon the same welle whiche many yeres after with great wynde was blowe downe vpon the next house so that the bowes stopped the coÌ„myng in wherfore the owner of the house wolde haue cut away the bowes and anone the tree Rose vpright agayne and toke a yonge man with it that was aboute to haue lopped it so that he was fayne to crye for helpe whiche all the people referryd to the merytes of seynt Iuthwara At her sepulchre a knyght that was lame and went with staues recouered
vpon the drye grouÌ„de by her prayer was anone taken vp with the see and so she escaped and came into an I le called Ippleffec and as she sette her fote vpon a foure square stone her fote sanke into the stone as it hadde bensnowe after by seynt Theodre she was made abbesse to .lxx. nonnes On a tyme the deuyll as she was prayeng blewe out her candell and an AuÌ„gell lyght it agayne She dyed the .iii. I de of Iulye her successours whiche was called Edburgh toke vp her body to remoue it to a more honorable place and founde it vncorrupt more lyke to slepe then to be deed After her monastery was destroyed and was made a parysshe churche her Relykê were brought to Caunterbury but whether they lye in the church of seynt Augustyne or of seynt Gregorie the Legende leuyth it in doute and dyuers myracles be here omytted On a nyght as she was in prayer the holy ghost appered to her lyke aboue satte vpon her hedde with his wynges compassynge her hedde lyke a crowne with suche a lyght that she myght skarsely be seen the space of an houre ¶ De sancta Modwenna virgine abbatissa SEynt Modwen was borne in Irlande and by prechynge of seynt Patryke she entered into Relygyon and fro thens she gaue her self to lernynge to despyse the vanytes of the worlde to kepe her herte stedfast with all dylygence to punysshe her bodye with fastynges and vygylles no thynge she put byfore the loue of god hauynge great desyre to the Ioyes of heuyn with contynuell feere of the paynes of hell and her broder by her example forsoke the worlde and after was made a bysshop She made a monasterye and there lyued with her brother with rawe rotes gettynge her lyuynge with her owne laboure many noble matrones came to her quenes and virgyns to here the worde of god Eyght virgyns Ioyned them selfe to her wherof seynt Bryde and orbila were in the company and when Orbila for her youth fered to take the rule of the monastery vpon her seynt modwen put the gyrdell aboute her and brethyd vpon her and anone her heere waxed hoore and she was lyke an olde woman and thenne she toke the rule of the Monasterye with good wyll She caused a wolfe that had kylled one of her calues to folowe the cowe and kepe her and other wolfes of that kynde vse to do so to this day A great thefe called Glunelach kylled .viii prestê that seynt Patrike had sent to vysyt seynt Modwen and she herynge therof went thyder with .xlix. nonnes to burye theym and Glunelache with .xlix. theuys mette theym and thought to haue rauysshed theym but when they wolde haue layde handes vpon the virgyns they fell sodeynly a slepe and slept .ii. dayes and the spyryte of seynt Modwen and Glunelache were ledde with an Aungell into heuyn hell when Glunelache came to hymselfe agayne he was coÌ„uerted and his neue we also lyued a good and a blessyd lyfe A holy bysshop called Cheuyn was brought in beleue by craft of the deuyll that Glunelach the thefe by prayer of seynt Modwen shuld haue his place in Heuyn and that all was in vayne that he had done in the seruyce of god wherfore the bysshop thought to destroye her and her Monasterye and as he was coÌ„mynge therto she had knowlege therof by our lorde and so she met hym and shewyd hym that his enemye had deceyued hym greatly and anone he sawe the deuyll that brought hym to the temptacyon lyke a blacke Ethyope wherfore he toke great repentauÌ„ce Then seynt Modwen to the entent she myght the more surely conferme hym in our lord put her staffe into a welle that she vsed oftymes in the wynter to stande in tyl she had sayd a hole Psaulter she drewe her staffe after her agaynst the hylle the water folowed the staffe into the toppe of the hylle wherupon he depê‘ted lyued after a blyssed lyf On a tyme when she entended to go into EnglaÌ„de she lacked a shyp at her prayer the grouÌ„de reysed it self vp about her lyke an I le so coÌ„ueyed her her company ouer the see into Englande where she and seynt Edith that was suster to kyng Edgar rered Ositha that was drowned fro deth to lyfe She went thryse to Rome for remyssion of her synnes and she dyed in Irlande the thyrde Nonas of Iulii after whose deth great varyauÌ„ce was bytwyxt Englysshemen Irysshemen and Scottes for her bodye and the bysshop Counceyled theym that eyght men shuld take vp her bere that countre that our Lorde wolde haue theym go towardes shulde haue the body and by the wyll of our lorde they went streyght towardes Englande so she was brought into Englande and lyeth at Andreseia After her deth she apperyd to one of the Nonnes after compleyne and tolde her that she herde some of the susters speke in tyme of scylence and that her body yet beyng amonge them vnburyed she meruayled that they forget her doctryne and reguler obseruaunce and bad them nat to breke the leste obseruauÌ„ce lest by lytell lytel they fell into greatter defautê sayinge vnto the suster that she appered vnto that she shuld make her redy for after .vii. dayes she shuld come vnto her and so it was done ¶ De sancto Neoto abbate confessore SEynt Neotus comonly called seynt Eed was the kynges sone of west Englande of Kent and when he came to age he forsoke the pryde pompe of the worlde was made a monke at Glastenbury vnderseynt DunstanÌ„ where he ascendyd to hygh perfyte relygion he was so lytel of stature that at masse he had a thynge vnder his fete but he was full of vertues and good maners Eloquent of speche discrete of wordes and of great lernynge beynge byloued of all men and to the entent that he wolde eschewe the recourse and fauour of the people he went into Cornewale where he lyued .vii. yeres in a wyldernes whiche after his name is called Neotstoke after he went to Rome and was there honorably receyued of 〈◊〉 Martyne fro thens he retourned into his owne couÌ„tre where he made a monasterye and was ofte vysyted with Aungellys he had a water that had thre Fysshes in it and if he toke one euery day yet alway there were thre Fysshes He tolde the kynge Alfred his broder that for his pryde and tyrauntrye he shulde be put out of his Realme and be as an outlawe but he sayd by his prayers he had opteyned of our Lorde that he shuld be restored agayne and shuld coÌ„uerte his enemy to the fayth it ê“ued after iÌ„ euery thyng as he had sayd By seynt Ede the kyng was correct tyrauntrie tourned into sobernes the worshyppyng of deuylles abated and the people of our lorde moche encreasyd in all the countre he lefte this worlde the day before the kalend of August and paâ—â—e of his Relykes lye at Ramsey the
other ê‘te at seynt Edis after his deth he apperyd dyuers tymes to his broder kyng Alfrede comfortynge hym in his trouble and by his helpe he had great victorye agaynst the Danes ¶ De sancto Niniano EpÌ„o SEynt Ninian in Englysshe called seynt Tronyon was a Kynges sone of great Brytayne anone as he had passed his yerê of childhod he had great deuocion to be in the Church had great loue spirituell to his Felowes he was Sober in diet difcrete of wordes besy in Redynge sadde of maners absteynyng fro pleys and alwayes laboured to subdewe the body to the spyryte He went to Rome on Pylgrymage where he profyted moch in lernynge and was in synguler fauour with the 〈◊〉 and he grewe in all vertue charite after the 〈◊〉 made hym bysshop and sent hym into the weste parte of Englande to preche the worde of god and in the waye homewarde he came by seynt Martyn and seynt Martyn knewe by reuelacion that he shuld profyte to moche people And when he came thyder as he was sent the people receyued hym Ioyously and toke hym as a veray Prophet whereby his prechynges examples and myracles he conuertyd all the people And he buyldyd the firste Churche of stone that euer was buyldyd in Brytayne he conuertyd also the Southe pictes where he dyd many myracles and if a man thynke of the lyues of seynt DunstanÌ„ seynt Cuthbert seynt ModwynÌ„ seynt Goderyke seynt Ninian and suche other he shall thynke it right lytell that is done by the people for the loue of god in thyse dayes a disciple of seynt Tronyon that hadde offendyd feâ—ynge punysshement toke seynt Tronyons staffe and went into the see in a lytell shyppe and anone with a sodeyne tempest he was dryuen so ferre into the see that he wyst nat what to do wherfore he was conpunct and in his herte asked forgyuenes and cryed to seynt Tronyon for helpe sodenly the wynde tourned and brought hym safe to lande And when he came to laÌ„de in testefyinge of the myracle he prayed o r lord that the staffe myght growe when he set it into the grouÌ„de forthwith it grewe had rotê new barke with goodly armes brauÌ„ches at the rote therof spraynge a fayre welle wherof the water is very holsome forsyke men he dyed in the .xvi. Kalend of Octobre lyeth in a Churche that he made of newe in the honour of seynt Martyne A childe that was borne with great deformytes to the great heuynesse of his father moder at the tumbe of seynt Trony an resceyued perfyte helth two lepous wasshyd theym at seynt Tronyons welle and theyr flesshe was made clene lyke the flesshe of a Childe ¶ De sancto Odone Archiepiscopo SEynt Odo was sone of a Paynym of the blode of the danes that came in with Hynguar bycause he vsed moche to speke to his fader such thyngê as he had lethed at sermones of the Cristen fayth his fader corrected hym cruelly And also disheryted hym wherfore he lefte his fader moder came to a Duke a noble man in kynge Edwyns house he receyued hym Ioyously There he was baptyzed lerned both latentunge and greke tunge whiche fro the tyme of seynt Theodre was moch vsed in Englande after he toke ordres was made Dekon so he taryed dyuerse yeres was after made preest By his prayer the Duke was made hole of a great sykenesse as he was goynge towarde Rome And after he was made bysshop of Salisbury and fro thense was electyd to be Archebysshop of Caunterbury whiche he wolde nat take vpon hym tyll he was made monke and so he entred into Relygion and when he was Archebyssop he reproued the kynge of his abhominable aduoutrie and the women that the kynge kepthe toke theym and burned theym in the face with yron abanysshed them the Realme To reforme certeyn clarkê that erred in the sacrament of the Aultre affermynge it to be a fygure of the passyon of our lorde by his prayer as he was at masse at the brekynge of the Hoest very blode ran out therof into the Chales and the clerkes seynge it were conuerted and then the blode went agayne into the nature of wyne By his prayer there felle noo rayne in his Churche all the whyle it was in buyldynge whiche was thre hole yeres He was alway aduersarye inflexible agaynst synne The pleasure or Ioyes of the world ne yet thretes coulde nat fere hym neyther lette hym fro doynge Iustyce he prophesyed that seynt Dunstaâ— shuld be Archebysshop after hym and so he was he dyed the fourth Nonas of Iulii and lyeth at Caunterbury ¶ De sancto Odulpho confessore SEynt Odulphe was borne of noble blode in FrauÌ„ce and he forsoke his frendes and went to the Bysshop of Traiectense where he lyued dyuerse yerê in vigylles fastynge prayeng and holy redynge he coÌ„uerted the Frysonnes by his prechynge He set nought by any Erthly thynge so that after this lyfe he myght haue euerlastynge rewarde in heuyn By his prayer the fyre ceased fro his â—eâ—â— and he dyed of the Axes the daye byfore the Idus of Iune at his deth was a swete sauoure that comforted all that were present his Relykes were after brought to London the tyme of kynge Kinite and fro thens they were conueyed to Enesshm honorably and though he was neuer in Englande whyle he was a lyue yet bycause his Relykes be in Englande he is put into the Legende ¶ De sancta Ositha virgine martire SEynt Osithe was doughter to kynge Frethewalde and she was bytaken iÌ„ her youth to seynt Modwen to Instructe seynt Modwen bytoke her to seynt Edith she on a tyme beynge at Pollesworth sent a boke to Osyth to seynt Modwen on a brygge she was blowen with the wynde into the water and drowned and when she had lyen deed thre dayes by monycion of an AuÌ„gell seynt Modwen went to the brygge nat knowynge wherto where she met with seynt Edith and there by theyr prayers she was Reysed fro dethe to lyfe After she was maryed by her frendes agaynst her wyll to the kyng of Estsaxons and a longe season by certeyne excuses she kept her husbonde fro the Acte of matrymony and when he had fully purposed to receyue no ferther excuses sodeyn tydynges came to hym that a harte was founde nygh to the paleys and in the tyme that the kynge made taryeng dyuerse dayes about his huntynge the virgyne sent for two bysshoppes was made a Nonne And when the kynge retourned and knewe therof though he was greatly moued yet he suffred her and gaue her the towne of Chychensen and in the yere of our lorde godsyx C. .liii. Danes came into the couÌ„tre of Estsaxons bycause seynt Osith wolde nat do sacrifice to their Idollê she was beheded she bare her hedde to the churchedore there fell downe her fader moder buryed her at Aylesbury wher she lay
home he vysytyd the Relykys of his Mayster seynt Edmōde And when he came into Englonde he suffred many great rebukys and Iniuryes in great pacyence a longe tyme Tyll after great sute he was restoryd to his possessyons This blessyd man after that he was made Busshope went aboute his dyoces prechynge visytynge and mynystrynge of the sacramentys He was fro thens more feruent in prayer more lyberall in almes gyuynge the more dylygent aboute poore men and his demeanoure was the more meke he made a place that preestys that felle in Pouerte myghte be releuyd in A great man whom he had accursyd for wronge doon to his Churche came to hym he receyuyd hym famylyerly bade hym to dyner sayinge for that tyme he wolde assoyle hym that after that tyme the sentence shulde reuyue onlesse he made amendys in that he had offendyd agaynste the the Churche sayinge also if partyes do varye for any thynge that they clayme ryght in yet they ought to shewe charyte to eche other for if a man clayme that that is his he maye not yet withdrawe fro god that that is his whiche is charyte He sought for poore men as he went in vysytacyon and wolde aswell with his owne presence as with his almes comforte them He herd confessyons he assoylyd penytentys He gaue counceyll to them that axyd for it He strengthed men that were feruent to serue god and multyplyed brede that fedde moche people reysyd a Chylde that was deed borne this blessyd man as he was prechynge by the Popes auctoryte for helpe of the Holy lande dyed at douer the thyrde nonas of apryll and was brought frothens to chychestre where our lord hath shewyd for hym many myracles ¶ De seruo dei Roberto abbate venerabili SEynt robert was borne in the prouynce of yorke he toke order of preesthod had a benefice which he forsoke enteryd into Relygyon at whytby after by lycence of his Abbot he went to fontes where Rycharde pryor of seynt mary of yorke had buyldyd a Monasterye there no man lyuyd Idle but gaue hym to laboure the bretherne went hungry to theyr table and wery to bedde they lyuyd without murmure or Heuynes in great feruoure they laudyd our Lorde after seynt Robert made a newe Monasterye and there he was made abbot He neuer rose fro his table fullysacyate he fasted euery lent Breed and water At an Estre tyme when he had no appetyte to ete he sayde he thought that if he had eten Brede with butter he shulde ete it and whan it was brought consyderynge that he had somwhat assentyd to his concupyscence he wolde not ete it but sent it to the gate to poore men where an Aungell lyke a yonge man with a bryght shynynge face toke the dysshe anon vanysshyd awaye and when the dysshe was askyd for it fell sodeynly vppon the Borde before seynt Robert He sayde dayly besyde his dutye C. .l. psalmes As he went by newe castell he sawe the Deuyll amonge moche yonge people by compulcyon he shewyd seynt Robert that ne had ben his cōmynge he had made the husbonde at a pompyouse Bryde as to haue ben slayne by his enemyes And there vpon shulde haue folowyd great murdre And by his cōmynge he sayd all his purpose was stoppyd On a nyght he thought he sawe the Dedyll amonge his Bretherne that he toke a Nouyce that was not stable pullyd hym into his Basket with his Hoke in the mornynge seynt Robert enquyred for hym and he was ren his weye and accōpanyed hym to the theuys where shortlye after his heed was stryken of he was ghostlye fader to seynt Godryke And when he dyed seynt Godrykesawe thre Aungellys bere his soule to Heuen And seynt Godryke sayd that of the purueyaunce of god a blessyd woman of Hastynges wente with hym in oonsorte oon rewarde into Heuyn He dyed the yere of our Lorde a Thousande a Hundred and .lix. the .vii. I de of Iune for whome oure Lorde hath shewyd many great myracles A dome man that hadde lōge ben at seynt thomas for helpe was bydden by seynt Thomas that he shulde goo to the newe Monesterye to seynt Robert there he shulde be helyd and soo he was a Knyght sawe in vysyon many Deuyllys goo towarde the newe Monastery he thought a Monke in whyght apparell came out of the Monastery and with his crosyer lyfte vppe prohybytyd them that they shuld goo no ferther and he thought that with theyr stryuynge a Crosse that was nygh to hym was throwne downe and so it was asapperyd when he sent thyder in the mornynge De sancto Rumwaldo THe moder of seynt rūwalde was doughter to kynge pēda which was a paynym and she was Crystened was maryed to the kynge of northāhumbre that was a paynym and she prayed hartelye to our Lorde that her body shulde neuer be defoulyd with a man eschaungyd fro his lawe and when she came into the chaumbre she tolde her Husbonde that she wolde neuer accūpany with hym tyll he was crystenyd and by the wyll of our Lorde he assentyd And aftre as he and the quene which was great with Chylde were goynge to her fader She was delyueryd in Tētys in a medowe besyde buckyngham callyd Suttun and anon as the Chylde was borne he cryed I am a cristen man thryse and he sayd he wolde not haue to his godfaders the Ryche prowde men of the worlde but chase to his godfaders two holy Prestis Wyderynus and Edwoldus and he shewyd a Holowe stone that he shulde be crystenyd in and when moch people coulde not remoue the stone he bade wyderinus and Edwoldus in the name of our Lord to brynge it anon they brought it without dyffyculte And so he was crystenyd and was callyd Rumwalde as he appoyntyd And anon he prechyd to the people the hyghe mysteryes of the Trynyte howe they were thre personys and one god of the Artycles of the feythe and of the .x. commaundemētys and specyally of the Loue to almyghty god to our neyghbour exortyd the people to do penaūce for theyr synnys which is to leue theyr euyll Lyfe to make amendys for that they haue offendyd with Fastynges prayers Almesdedys aduertysyd the people to loue honour eche other not to accuse other not to detracte other not to stele ne to be forsworne And when he had made a long sermon approuyd it by grete auctorytes of Scripture He sayd it was not for hym to lyue in this worlde and so aftre thre dayes his spiryt went to heuen the thyrde nonas of Nouembre as he had appoyntyd his bodye lay oon yere there as he was borne two yerys at Brakley and then at Buckyngham where he lyeth at this day theyse Townys at that tyme were not so namyd but after they were callyd accordynge as he had namyd them our lorde hath shewyd for hym many myracles
where he profyted so moche in vertue coÌ„nynge that of all the countre yonge folkes came to here his Doctryne and after when his fader was syke and he was called to haue taken the charge of the Realme an Aungell appered to hym and aduertysed hym to kepe his firste purpose and nat to coueyt the desceytfull enheritauÌ„ce of this worlde for he sayd all that we se shall shortly vanysshe away with heuynes and ê‘ell and so on the mornynge with .viii. felowes he went into Wales in a shyp without sayle or ore whenÌ„e they were come ouer as they were restynge theym in a towne therby he sent one to tye the bote that he came iÌ„ where the messenger founde a harte holdynge the rope and sauynge the bote fro drownynge then the harte was ledde to seynt Thathe where by the power of god he lay downe on the grouÌ„de stretched out his hed and made sygnes that he shuld be kylled so he was to make mete for the bretherne After at the desyre of the kynge called Cradoke he gathered many Scolers and made a Churche of the blessyd Trinyte by counseyll of the Bysshop of Landaffe he sette in it .xii. Chanons The kynges seruauÌ„tes with theyr horses destroyed his grounde and sodeynly all the horses dyed when the kynge herde of it he came to hym and cryed hym mercy anone all the horses rose agayne then the kynge seynge the myracle gaue hym all the towne with his owne Palays the seruauntes of kynge Gundlens stale his cowe kylled her and seth her in cawdren the more it seth the rawer it was and seynt Thathe herynge therof folowed and by the way founde the prynt of her fote meruaylously prynted in a stone and so folowed to the kynges Palays whereof malyce and in mockage the euyll seruauntes couered the cawdren and made it lyke a sete that when he had syt downe theron he shuld haue ben skalded and it was to hym when he satte downe harde sure the kyng heryng therof kneled downe and asked hym mercy and then he made the flesshe bones to be layde in the skynne and the Cowe anone rose vp afore theym all and seynt Cadoke sone to the kynge seyng that myracle became his disciple and after many vertuous werkes vigylles and abstynence he yelded his soule too o r Lorde the seuynth Kalend of Ianuarii lyeth in his Monasterye ¶ De sancto Theliao EpÌ„o confessore SEynt Thelianus fro his youth vsed vigylles and prayers gaue all that he had to pore men he made hym self lene that he myghte make other fatte and he was enformed in scripture of seynt Dubryce And after went to a wyse maÌ„ called PaulynÌ„ where he accompanyed with seynt Dauid in suche affeccoÌ„n that there was bytwyxt theym but one wyll when wodde lacked at the Monastery seynt Thelians lefte his stody and went to the wodde where two hartes offered theyr neckes to the yoke and so they brought home the wodde and seruyd longe after in the Monasterye This blessyd maÌ„ by the monycoÌ„n of an auÌ„gell went with seynt Paterne and seynt Dauid to Iherusalem and there they were .iii. dayes in contemplacion and had forgotten all erthly thynges and after there were thre Cheyres ordeyned for theym and for humylyte seynt Thelians satte downe in the lowest of the thre Cheyres And it was a cheyre that our Lorde hadde sytten in and whenne he knewe that he knelyd downe with great reuerence Then the people desyred hym to preche and so he dydde and the people of straunge tonges vnderstode hym After he was made bysshop and in token of the grace that he had receyued there was gyuen to hym a Cymbale whiche helyd dyuerse men and condempnyd them that were ê‘iuryd vpon it and euery houre it sowned withoute to wchynge tyll wretchyd synners presumptuously towched it and so it loste the vertue This blessyd man as the trumpe of our Lorde perseuerantly by worde and example admonysshed the people to Heuynly thynges and he lefte this worlde the fyfth Idus of Februarii And anone there was gret stryfe for his body bytwyxt .iii. ê‘ties and as the people by comen assent fell to prayer there appered thre bodyes al I lyke and there was no varyaunce in fauoure coloure nor vestymentes and so Landaffe had one of the bodyes another was had a lytell bysyde Caremerthyne the thirde into West wales where it is had in great honour ¶ De sancto Theodero ArchiepÌ„o confessore SEynt Theodre was of the countre of Tarse Celicie and was a man of approued maners instruct aswell in Latyn as Greke tunge and when seynt Adryan of mekenes refused to be Archebysshop of Caunterbury he appoynted for his excuse seint Theodre and the Pope admytted hym with that condycyon that he shuld accompany seynt Theodre into Englande and he assented and when they came into Englande anone seynt Theodre went aboute the countre and taughte the people the trewe way of good lyuynge and the dewe tyme when they shuld kepe theyr Ester And he was the firste Archebysshop to whom the hole Churche of Englande obeyed He with seint Adryan taught the maner of syngynge in all the Churches of Englande that byfore his tyme was oonly vsed in Kent he ordeyned scoles aswel for Latyn as greke tuÌ„ge taught theym Astronomye Arythmetryke and also Dyuynyte many of his Discyples were as experte intho speches as in theyr owne he went aboute the Realme and ordeyned bysshoppes where nede was and correctyd that was nat ê‘fyte when the Errour of Entycetê rose at Constantinople seynt Theodre to kepe the Churche of Englande fro that errour gathered all the people an Clergye togyther with great dilygence and when he founde theym hole stable in the â—ayth for instruction of theym that shuld come after hym he wrote a letter of theyr by leâ—e and sent it to Rome He knewe by reuelacyon how many yeres she shuldelyue he went fro this transitory lyfe to yâ— euerlastyng lyfe the .xiii. kalend of Octobre In the yere of our lord syx hondred foure score and ten and in his tyme the Churche of Englande profyted more spyrytuelly then euer it dyd byfore his dayes ¶ De sancto Thoma EpÌ„o Herfordie SEynt Thamas of Herforde was borne in EnglaÌ„de sone to Wylliam de CaÌ„tslupo in his youth he vsed dayly to say Maâ—â—â— to here masse After he went to stody first at Oxford then to Parees where he was made mayster and after he came agayne to Oxforde where he was made Doctour of lawe and then Chaunceller of the Uniuersite and after agaynst his wyll he was made ChauÌ„celler to kyng Henry the thirde in whiche offyce dayly he encreased in vertue and kept him clene fro all rewardes for pleasure of ryche men or pore he wold nat do agaynst Iustyce and after the deth of the kynge he retourded agayne to Oxforde and there he stodyed Dyuynyte This blessyd man was of
Theodre sente for hym and cryed hym mercye for that he had so moche assentyd agaynste hym as he had And shortlye after he was restoryd to his see agayne and was in peace .v. yerys then he was wrongfully put out agayne and was at Rome eftesones restoryd and as he was in the commynge home by the way was nyghe deed in Fraunce seynt Myghell apperyd vnto hym tolde hym he shulde escape that sykenes and that he shulde be restoryd to his see and Dye in peace for he sayd our Ladye had acceptyd his seruyce for the profet of other she wolde he shulde yet lyue and so he was sodeynly made hoole that all meruaylyd that were aboute hym and after two kyngys were punysshed because they wolde not suffre hym to be in peace and when kynge Osrede was made Kynge he had hym in great fauoure And when he knewe that his tyme drewe nere he callyd his Bretherne and bade theym that nothynge shulde seuer theym fro the charyte of god And that they shulde put awaye the snares of the Deuyll with all dylygens And as he sayde the verse Emitte spiritum tuum et creabuÌ„tur he yeldyd his spyryte to our Lord the .viii. kalendas of Maye in the yere of our Lorde .vii. huÌ„dred and .ix. And was buryed in Rypon in a monasterye that he had newe buyldyd And after Odo archebusshope of Caunterbury remouyd moost parte of his Relykys to Caunterbury and parte he lefte at Rypon ¶ De sancto Wiro epÌ„o confessore SEynt wyre was borne in Scotlande And as he encreasyd in age he encreasyd in vertue And he wolde not be ouermoche abiecte with aduersyte nor elate in prosperyte He was not wery iÌ„ holy vygyllys He was fedde with prayers was mery in fastynges he was electyd to be Busshope whiche he moche refusyd sayd it became hym rather to be a Dyscyple then a mayster notwithstaÌ„dynge by desyre of the people he toke iâ— vpon hym then dylygentlye he prechyd to the people confermyd hys lyfe to his prechynge After he wente into Fraunce there lyuyd a blessyd lyfe in good exaumples and Doctrynes many yerys and he dyed of the Axes was buryed in the Chyrche of our Ladye intraiecte inferiori And at his buryenge was felte a meruaylous swete sauoure of all that were there present His feest is Halowed the .viii. Idus of May. ¶ De sancto willibrordo epÌ„o confessore SEynt Wyllybrorde was borne in the Prouynce of Northamhumbre his Fader Moder were blessyd folkys his Moder when she was with Chylde with hym sawe a Mone falle into hyr mouthe that euer encreasyd more more and made her bowellys bryght shynynge whiche betokenyd the Holynes of the Chylde that she went with And his Fader enteryd into Relygyon And when the Chylde was norysshed he was put to Scole at rypon there he made hym selfe monke after for the more streyghter lyfe he went into Irlonde where he lyuyd in great hyghe Relygyon and study .xii. yerys and after with a .xi. felowes he went ouer the see to preche to Infydelys in the Countrey of Fryson and came to a place callyd Traiecte so he went to Pyppyn then ruler of FrauÌ„ce where he put awaye errourys and conuertyd moche people then Pyppyn sent hym to rome the pope had knowlege of his coÌ„mynge by reuelacion wherby he was warnyd to take hym reuentlye so he dyd grauÌ„tynge to hym all that he askyd also made hym an archebussop theÌ„ he departyd fro Rome coÌ„uertyd moch people to the feyth in Fraunce in Fryson and in Denmarke he cam into an I le that amonge the Gentyls was in such honoure that they durste not touche any thynge that was in it ne touche a well that was therin In the whiche well seynt wylly brorde Crystenyd thre men and kyllyd of the beâ—â—ys ete theym when the paganys thought they shulde therfore haue goon mad or sodeynly dye they had no hurte wherfore the paganys shewyd it to theyr Kynge callyd rathbode a cruell man which sent for hym in great anger and askyd why he had defoullyd the holy thynges of his goddys and when he with constant mynde tolde the kynge that they were no goddys that he worshyppyd but a Deuyll and that if he wolde not forsake theym he shulde haue eternall peyne The kynge was admeruaylyd and sayde he sawe well that he set noughte by his manacyâ— coÌ„cyderynge that his lyfe was lyke to his wordys thoughe he wolde not be crystenyd yet he sent seynt wyllybrorde to Pypyn honorably after pypynnys dâ—the Kynge charles that was Pypyns sone made hym Busshope of Traâ—ecte he wolde not doo euyll for euyll And therfore some tyme oure Lorde toke vengeaunce for hym He gaue .xii. poore men drynke of his best bottell of wyne And when they had all dronke the Botell was as full as it was before By his prayer a vessell of a Toâ—ne that had but lytell wyne in it was made full He was of goodly stature of stable countenaunce mery wyse redye in couÌ„ceyle and stronge in all the werkys of god and in the .vii. I de of noueÌ„bre he went to our Lord was buryed in a Monasterye that he had made of the blessyd Trynyte where the tuÌ„be that he shuld be leyed in that was to short meruelously waxyd longe Inoughe as thoughe it had ben so made for hym De sancto Wilhelmo puero martire SEynt wyâ—lyam the chylde and martyr was borne in Englâ—nde and when his mâ—der was wyth Chylde of hym she sawe in a vysyon â—â—ysshe callyd a â—uce the .xii. red synnys lyke as it had ben sparkelyd with blode when she had put the fysshe into her bosom she thought it grewe so moch that her bosome coulde not holde it and sodeynly it flewe aboue the Cloudys into heuen and apreest that had great grace in expouÌ„dynge of vysyons sayde she shulde haue a blessyd Chylde that in the age of .xii. yerys shuld goo into Heuyn And when he was a yonge Chylde it happenyd hym to touche the IroÌ„s of a man that was fetteryd And anon the Irons felle of And when he was but .vii. yere olde he wolde faste thre dayes in the weke and wolde be at the Chyrche in prayer And after at norwych he was put to askynner to enfourme where on an Estre daye he was taken pryuely by the Iues and they in despyte of oure Lorde mokâ—yd hym cruelly martyryd hym they thruste all the blode oute of his Hedde with cordys and then they dyd shaue his Hedde and pryckyd it with thornys and put hym vpon a Crosse and thruste hym into the lefte syde greuously and so by great Martyrdome he went to our Lorde the .vii. kalendas of Maye and that doon they caryed hym towardes a wood to hyde hym And a Crysten man came by them perseyuyd that they caryed a deed man wherfore they feryd moche and pryuely hunge hym vp
holy vyrgyne Inmedyatlye alâ—yghty god not suffrynge thyse cruell Tyrauntys to goo all quyte without takynge vengeauÌ„ce of the Blode of his holy virgyns which was shed for his loue sent put into them such a â—eer that with all theyr myght they flâ—dde ran awaye glad to escape with theyr lyuesâ— for as them thought they sawe coÌ„mynge vppon theym to persecute them such a companye so great a multytude of armyd men so terrybly that they thought neuer to haue escaped so they fled iÌ„ all haste that they myghte where thrughe the wofull prysoners all desolute the Cytezyns of Coleyne which had loÌ„ge tymâ— be holden kepte thrall in dyspayre of lyfe seynge theyr enemyes chasyd fled awaye openyd theyr Gates went fourth all Ioyfull glad of theyr sodeyne delyuerauÌ„ce coÌ„syderynge this to be the hande of god thrughe the merytes of thise holy virgyns which they sawe lye in the felde slayne by theyr enemyes full dylygently gatheryd the bodyes of them togeder which were full â—yde caâ—â— sparkelyd in pecys and with great honoure reuerence buryed them vnto this day there dare noon burye any other Bodye within the coÌ„passâ— whâ—tâ— they ben buryed which myracle suffyseth to declare make open howe dere acceptable thyse holye blessyd vgyns were to almyghty god many other myracles appere in the hystory which I omytte for shortness Also seynt Elyzabeth that holy vyrgyn in her reuelâ—cioÌ„s spekyth moch of thyse holy vgyns which for the cause before sayde I leue to speake of after in ê“ces of tyme men beynge forgetfull by dulnes of wytte colde anf drye 〈◊〉 to beleue thyngys which they see not nor canot coÌ„preheÌ„de by theyr blynde Reason by theyr neclygens put thyse holy virgyns vtterly in oblyuyon wherfore our lord not sufferyng his deer belouyd vgyns so to be forgotten to his honoure praysynge pryncipally to the honoure of the sayd gloryous virgyns also for our socoure helpe many yerys after the passyon of them shewyd by reuelacyon the foresayd hystâ—â—ye to hym that was the wryter maker thereof furthermore the sayde blessyd seynt Ursula dyuerse other of the sayde virgyns apperyd vnto hym as he was wrytynge therof affermynge it to be true as apperyth more at large in the sayde legende there was of the same company of Blessyd virgyns one virgyn callyd Cordula the whiche when the other virgyns were in theyr martyrdoms hyd hyrselfe all nyghte in the bottom of a shyppe neuerthelesse in the mornynge she offeryd her selfe frely to deth as the other vgyns dyd receyuyd the Crowne of martyrdome and it is not for any man to thynke that this Blessyd virgyn by that lytyll fear ony thinge hyndred her rewarde or Crowne of martyrdom wheÌ„ neyther Peter denyinge our Lorde nor Thomas doubtynge of the resurreccion were aâ—â—â—â—â— fro the honoure to be Apostyll And parcase thys Blessyd Uyrgyne somewhat hadde presumed by the purpce of her Lyfe and constaunce of her feyth to putte a truste in her selfe to suffre Martyrdome soo that it was expedyent for her to be mâ—ked or to lerne to truste in our Lorde and not in her selfe After many yerys this blessyd virgin Cordula apperyd vnto a holy woman callyd Hellentâ—ude beynge recluse seyinge vnto her I am oon of those blessyd virgyns that suffred martyrdome at Coleyne lyuyd one nyght after them in the mornynge offred my selfe gladly vnto the deth so dyinge in our lorde I neyther lefte the company of my susters ne yet lackyd lyke rewarde as they had of the crowne of martyrdome wherfore I woll that thou shalte in my name commaunde the susters that the nexte daye after that they shall haue seruyd all the hoole companye of the sayde blessyd virgyns that they doo some thynge to my honoure for it is not expedyent for them that I only be lefte vnhonouryd amonge that company And then the â—ecluâ—e askyd of her what was her name she bade hee loke in her forhed what she sawe wrytten there and she lokynge vp sawe wrytten dystructlye Cordula whereupon she made relacyon to the Nounes therof wherfore in the daye folowynge they halowed her feest accordynge to the sayde coÌ„mauÌ„dement a certeyne Abbot desyryd of the abbey of Coleyne the body of one of those virgyns promysynge that he wolde sette her in his Chyrche in a Coffer of syluer And when he had kepte her a hoole yere vppon the Aulter in a Coffer of wood in a nyghte as the abbot and couent were 〈◊〉 matens they sawe the sayde vyrgyn descende vppoÌ„ the Aulter and goynge downe she â—â—wyd her 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 and went thrâ—ghe the quere that all the brethe 〈…〉 we so she departyd wheropâ—n that 〈◊〉 went to the Coffer and fyndynge nothynge therin wente to the Abbesse of Coleyne and shewyd heâ— then ofâ— And thenne they wente to the place fro whens the Bâ—dye was taken and there they fouÌ„de it agayne wherforâ— lawght at it And as he was goynge to dryue a way the hyndes he fell fro his Horse streyghtwaye dyed After full of good werkys good exaumples she went to our Lord and was buryed at dereham After that monastery was destroyed by Danes nowe ther is a parysshe Churche And in the yere of oure Lorde .ix. C.lxxiiii in the tyme of Kynge Edgar her Body was translatyd to Ely whiche was then newely repayryd by seynt Ethelwolde all the wey in the Nyghtys a bryght sterre folowyd the Bodye nyghe all the nyght longe in the yere of our Lorde a. M. and .xxvi. her Bodye was remouyd by Richarde the laste Abbot to the Place where it lyeth nowe And the Bodye also the clothes were fouÌ„de vncorrupte A munke towchyd her Bodye fouÌ„de it flexyble hir chekys rodye as roses lyke as she had ben a lyue ¶ De sancta Ursula et vndecim milibus virginuâ— martiribus THere was in moche Brytayne nowe callyd Englonde a Crysten Kynge whiche hadde a noble and a vertuose Quene to his wyfe and they lyued loÌ„ge togeder without ony chylde wherfore they were ryght heuy at the laste thorough contynuell prayers good werkys they opteynyd of almyghty god to haue a doughter whom they crystenyd namyd vrsula norysshed brought her vp in the feythe of our lorde full vertuosly gracyously with all theyr myght and cunnynge which encreasyd soo meruaylously in all vertue grace and therto was soo feyre that the fame of her was in short tyme spronge ouer all into many CouÌ„treys and Landes so farre that it came to knowlege of a certen Kynge heynge a Paynym but he was veray myghtye of great power and therto veray Harde cruell but the Quene his Wyfe was ryght noble in all her behauyoure Courteys and Gentyll and of euery persone bylouyd This Kynge had a yonge sone callyd Olyfernes Ryght lowly and Courteys and they herynge of this Fayre vertuous yonge Lady vrsula desyryd moch
to prayer He weer the Here nexte his skynne and therupon an Haberioyne On a tyme when the haberioyne was to longe he clyppyd it with sherys as if it hadde ben clothe In the nyghtys he wolde goo into a Uessel of Water and saye the hoole Psalter wherby he mortyfyed the Temptacyons of his Flesshe whiche he suffered ryghte moche He sawe Deuylls sytte in Iudgement where they condempnyd hym as one that was in euery thynge agaynste them And as they drewe hym aboute the Chyrche our Lady delyueryd hym On a tyme he bette the Deuyll wolde not let hym goo tyll he promysyd that he wolde neuer come agayne a wretchyd man not berynge his pouerte pacyentlye had doon to the Deuyll homage And aftre when he repentyd was coÌ„mynge towarde seynt Wlryke by the way the Deuyl helde hym faste at a water syde wolde nat suffer hym go wherfore seynt wlryke knowynge it by an Aungell bad a preest go thyder and shewyd hym the place where it was that he shuld caste holy water and brynge the man to hym and so it was done when he was brought to hym he toke hym by the ryght hande the deuyll helde hym by the lefte hande and plucked at hym with all his myght then seynt Wlryke caste holy water and droue hym away with confucyon After when the man was confessyd and was penytent seynt Wlryke brought to hym the Sacrament and asked hym whether he byleued and he sayd ye for he sawe the veray body and blode of our Lorde bytwyxt his handes then seynt Wlryke thanked our lorde and prayer that it mought appere as it dyd byfore and so he was coÌ„muned The deuyl had power of the body of seynt Wlryke in so moche that he strake hym with byles wormes so that al his flesshe putrefyed somtyme he stroke hym with intollerable hete soÌ„tyme with intollerable colde which he alway ouercame with pacyence two tymes his Lanterne went out was sodeynly lyghted agayne when he had helyd a man that had the deuylin hym he bad hym shewe it to no man in his slepe he was blamed that he wolde nat lette the werkes of god be knowen so after he wolde shewe theym oonly to Relygyousmen Apreesâ— called Osborne on a nyght sawe in the churche a great lyght that made all the churchyarde bryght and in the mornyng seynt Wlryke asked hym what he sawe and when he had tolde hym he sayd it is well that thou seest it It was our lorde Ihesu that came to comfort me his seruaunt and I prayed that thou myght se it whiche scarcely I coulde opteyne Moreouer he shewyd hym what Psalmes he was then sayinge and where he stode at that tyme Water with his blessynge turned into wyne wherof a woman that was nyghe deed drauke and furth wich was hole A lady with all her companye that came to vysyte seynt Wlryke with one lofe were fully sacyat and of the fragmentes a great company of people that came to haue his blessynge were also refresshed as it is sayd aboue .xl. persones A yonge mayde that was syke thought that in her slepe she went to seynt Wlryke that he gaue her holy water in a cuppe to drynke wherwith she was hole and whenne she wakyd she was hole in dede and she shewyd what maner a man he was and the very markes of the place where it was done As he was at masse he was in doubte whether he put water into the Chaleys wherfore he made his prayer with great deuocyon whenne his prayer was done he sawe in the chaleys blode rodye as a Rose as of the lambe immaculate our lorde Ihesu criste whiche whenne he hadde receyued the hoste he receyued yâ— as of a moste delycate grape He dyd many myracles sygnes with holy brede and holy water and dyuerse that brought hym presentê and stall parte were punysshed He tolde kynge Henry the firste when he went ouer the see that he shulde dye there and so he dyd another tyme he tolde the Erle stephan that he shulde be kynge and so he was He shewyd to a preest called Osborne that on the saterdaye at nyght he shulde go to our lorde as he had longe desyred and so he dyed in the yere of our lorde god a Thousande a hondred and .liiii. in the .x. Kalend of Marche ¶ De sancto Wlsino EpÌ„o confessore SEynt Wlsyne was borne in London and by assent of his Fader moder he was made monke at Westmynster and when he was made preest he shyned in al vertue fyghtynge agaynst the enemye of mankynde with vygylles and prayers He ouercame the coueytousnes of the worlde with desyre of heuynly thynges with all dylygence wolde note the mocyons of his body and spyrit He was meke redy to helpe his bretherne and fulfylled with charyte encouragynge his bretherne to al vertue in the beste maner that he coulde to wynÌ„ theym to our lorde After by helpe of seynt Dunstane kynge Edgare made hym Abbot of Westmynster then how dylygent he was for the helth of other and how he faught agaynst the enemye of the flocke of our lorde what example he lefte byhynde hym of doctryne and of good lyfe no man can tell After kynge Ethelred sone to kyng Edgare by a hole assent of the clergye and people made hym bysshop of Shyrborne and all the Lent he wolde be in the Cloyster in fastyngê wepynges and contemplacyon eschewyng the clamore of the worlde And after Ester he wolde go aboute his Diocise prechynge and techynge the people and dyd great reperacyon vpon the olde temple at Shirborne In the fyfth yere after he was made bysshop he fell syke and a specyall frende of his sent to hym to know how he dyd and he sent hym worde agayne that he shulde make hym redye for on the morowe he shulde go with hym to the hyghe Courte to receyue his rewarde in heuyn And whenne the messanger was gone he prayed the bretherne that they wolde carye both hym his sayd frende to Shirborne and then lyftynge vp his iy en to heuyn lyke seynt stephan he sayd I se heuyn open and our lorde standynge on the ryght hande of almyghty god and as he sayd tho wordes he yelded his spirite to the handes of our lorde De sancto Wlstano EpÌ„o confessore SEynt Wlstano was borne in the Prouynce of Warwyke And in the Monasterye of Burghe he had his lernynge He sayd a longe Masse was oonly content with the offrynges of the people he was a clene virgyn a man of great symplycyte mekenes He neuer toke excesse of drynke left etynge of flesshe by this occasyon On a tyme as he was goynge to a certeyne busynes had appoynted to ete of a goose after masse as he was at masse he coulde in no wyse kepe his mynde fro the goose that was rostynge at the fyre the sauoure therof was alwayes in his nose Wherfore he made an
of my bed to laude and prayse hym that is euer wonte to helpe me to whom the lady sayd who is that The virgyne sayd our lorde Crucyfyed that I sawe of late And from that daye furth hir moder in lawe honoured hir and louyd hir more feruently then she was wont to do As seynt Byrget was playinge with Maydens of lyke age to hyr The deuyll appered vnto hir hauynge a hondreth handes and fete moste fowle lothsome to beholde of which syght she beynge merueylously a ferde went streyght and coÌ„mytted hir to the Crucyfyx wher the deuyll eftsones apperyd sayd I haue no power to do any thynge to the but the crucyfix suffer me to do it and therupon he vanysshed awaye And so our lorde delyuered hir from that daunger when she was .xiii. yeres of age though she entendyd by great feruent desyre to haue lyued all hir lyfe in virginite neuerthelesse aswell by the puruyaunce of almyghty god as by the counceyll of hyr Fader she was maryed tâ— a noble yonge knyght called Ulpho de Ulphasume prynce of Neryce of the age of .xviii. yeres otherwyse called Ulpho Gudhmarson whiche also was a virgyn And by the space of .ii. yeres after they were maryed they lyued togyder clene vgynes And after with deuoute prayers made to almyghty god that in the acte of matrymony he wolde kepe theym without offence and that it wolde please hym to sende theym yssue to his pleasur they had .viii. Childrene that is to say .iiii. sones .iiii. doughters The names of the sones were these Charles Birgerus Benedictus and Gudmarus And the names of the .iiii. doughters be thyse Merita Katerina Iuge burgys and Cecilia Charles the eldest sone of seynt Byrget was a noble knyght and went with his moder in pylgremage towarde Iherusalem redy to haue ieoparde his lyfe for the recouerynge of the holy lande and as he was goynge at â—apuls he dyed the .xii. day of Marche and in the day of the Ascencion of our lorde next folowyng his soule went to heuyn as it was shewyd to seynt Birgette by reuelacion as in the .vii. boke of hir reuelacions the .xiii. and .xiiii. chapter apperyth And this noble knyght hadde a sone also that was called Charles whiche after he had atteyned great coÌ„nynge in Dyuynyte he left studye the purpose that he had begon in and toke a wyfe And on a tyme as he after the deth of seynt Birget was prayinge at hir tumbe she appered vnto hym holdynge as it had ben an Horologe of glasse in hir hande and sayd Charles seest thou howe nyghe this glasse hath renne his course and he sayd ye lady I se it well she sayd ayene so nyghe is the tyme of thy lyfe and there is no more abydynge for the but as thou seest But if thou haddyst ben obedyent to god thou shuldest haue lyued lenger then any other in my progenye and thou shuldest haue ben Bysshop of Lyntopens and a notable pyler in the churche of god Then he prayed hir that she wolde praye for hym sayd he wolde gladly amende in all that he myght And she sayd nay sone nay veryly iugement is gyuen and the tyme is paste and anone after he fell seke and therupon takynge all the sacramentê of the churche he dyed and is buryed in the Monasterye of Watzstenes whiche seynt Birget in hir lyf founded and endowed it suffycyently for .lx. nonnes .xxv. bretherne Byrgerus the secunde sone of seint Birget went with his moder to Ihrt'in and there he was made knyght and came with hir agaynetâ— Rome And when seynt Birget was deed he and his suster Katheryne cuÌ„ueyed the relikes the bones of seynt Birget their moder to the sayd Monastery of Watzstenes in Swethyn And after many great labours and expensys done by the sayd Byrgerus by the coÌ„maundement of our lorde aboute the sayd Monasterye of Watzstenes for his moder the sayd Byrgerus chaunged this lyfe as it is mekely to bylue toke the blessynge of god with his seyntê in heuyn for the generacion of ryghtwysmeÌ„ shal be blessyd Benedict the thirde sone of seynt Birgette was longe seke in the monastery of Albastra wherfore seynt Birget wept tenderly prayed deuoutly for hym thynkynge it had ben for the synÌ„es of his Fader moder Then the deuyll appered vnto hir and sayd woman what menest thou with thy great wepynge so to feble thy syght all thy labour is in vayne trowest thou that thy terys can ascende into heuyn And anone our lorde cryste Ihesu was there present and sayd the sykenes of this childe is nat of the sterres nor for his synnes ne yet for the synÌ„es of his fader moder but it is of that coÌ„dicion of his nature for his morere wardeiÌ„ heuyn where beforetyme he hathe be called Benedict he shal be from hensforth called that sone of weâ—yng of prayers I shall shortly make an ende of his necessyte the .v. day after there was herde betwyx the bed where the childe laye the walle as it had ben the most swete songe of byrdes and then the soule of the childe went from the body Katheryne the seconde doughter of seynt Birget was maryed neuerthelesse she with hir husbande lyued in pure virginite after the deth of hir husbande she was alwayes with hir moderseit Birget lyued in the estate of wydo whod al hir lyfe This blessyd virgyne Katheryne bycause she was feruent in deuocion excellent in grauite of maners fayre of body lyued a blessyd lyfe to gyue other example of good lyuyng the moste honest woman of Rome loued to be in hir company And when she was on a tyme desyred by the moste noble matrones of the Cytie of Rome to walke with them for recreacyon without the walles of the Cytie as they walked here there amoÌ„ge many clusters of grapes They desyred the the sayd blessyd virgyne Katheryn bycause she was of an Eligant stature wold gather them of the sayd grapes as she streched vp hir armes to the grapes it semyd as thoughe hir armes had ben apperelled with shynyng cloth of golde where in dede for very voluÌ„tary pouerte that she had chosyn she had broken patchyd sleuys all that matrons meruayled that so meke a creature deuoute ê‘son wold weer so pÌ„cious apperell as it appered to them that she dyd nat knowyng that it was the mystery myracle of god that they sawe The ryuer of tyber rose with so great power of waâ— that it went ouer the bridge of LateraneÌ„ce the monastery of seynt Iames with many byldynges theraboute Wherfore the Cytezens of Rome dredynge the destruction of the cyte went vnto the house of the sayd blessyd virgyn Katheryn praying hir that she wold go with them to the Ryuer to pray to our lord for the cyte she of mekenes reputyng hir seâ—â— therto vnworthy desyred respyte wheÌ„ the cytezens lawe that by prayers they
vpon whome the Lotte felle was goynge towarde watzstenes to fulfyll his a vowe by the waye he was takyn Prysoner and was greuously betyn leyde in Prysone with many Irons vpon hym wherfore estesones he prayde to seynt Birgette for helpe and anon as he hadde so doon all his Irons and Bondys felle fro hym and he toke his Iourney towarde seynt Birgette withoute lette with great deuocion In the Cytie of lyptzyge there was a Peynter callyd HeÌ„ry which for the great loue that he hadde to seynt Birgette was wonte to sey many thynges amonge doctours of hyr Holynes and of the Bookys of hyr Heuenly reuelacyons wherfore on a tyme oon of the Doctours with great Indygnacyon sayd vnto hym but thou leuesayde he to speke of thys newe he â—esye of the Bokys of that olde matrone I shall cause the to be burnyd for thy erroure and so he porposyd to haue don and causyd the Paynter to be cytyd that the daye folowynge he shuld appere before the Iuges wherupon the sayde Peynter wente to a Clerke that had also great denocyon to Seynt Birgette to aske hym couÌ„ceyle and he comfortyd hym ryghte charytably and aduysyd hym to be dylygent in prayer to almyghtye god and to seynt Birgette and bade hym drede nothynge but they wolde helpe hym And more ouer he sayde that he and another preest callyd master IohnÌ„ Torto whiche also had great deuocion to seynt Birgette wolde praye for hym to seynt Birgette and so they dydde In the mornynge the sayde Peynter beynge moch ferefull apperyd before the Iuges where he was strayghtly examynyd and many thynges were leyde to his charge to haue conuyctyd hym of heresye But by the prayers of Seynt Birgette for whom he sufferde that trowble the sayde symple laye man not letterde was so fulfyllyd with the holy goste and speke soo effectuouslye great hyghe mysteryes of almyghtye God that his aduersaryes coulde not resyste the spyryt that speke in hym wherfore he was dyschargyd and his aduersaryes confysyd Not longe after oure Lorde toke vengeaunce of hym that was the Pryncypall causer of that dysturbaunce for as he went on a nyght hoole to his bedde the same nyght he was smytten with the Fallynge sykenes wherof he dyed And anon his Bodye rottyd and corruptyd with suche an horryble stenche that fewe men durste come nyghe it And with handelynge of the Body the Flesche came from the Bonys by great peaces And at the laste when men for his horryble sauoure refusyd to bere hym to his graue certeyne ê‘sonys that were vsyd to clensevyle stynkynge pryuyes where hyryd to bere the wretchyd Bodye to his Graue and whenne they hadde don they sayde that if they hadde knowen before that he had had so horryble a sauoure that they wolde not haue borne hym though they myght haue had the dowble pryce that they hadde Finis A prayer to seynt Byrgette ¶ Nowe lette vs pray vnto this gloryous spouse of our sauyoure Cryste Ihesu seynt Byrgette that she praye for vs vnto our Lorde that by the merytys of hyr prayers after this transytory short lyfe we maye come to the euerlastynge Lyfe in the blysse of Heuyn Amen ¶ A prayer to seynt Byrgette O Birgitta mater bona Dulcis ductrix et patronâ— Nobis fer suffragia Naufragantes in hoc mari Tuo ductusalutari Duc ad vite breuia O preclara tu dignare Delictorum impetrare Nobis christi veniam Ut possimus respirare Et excessus emendare Consecuti gratiam Confer vite sanctitatem Corpori da sanitatem Et quieta tempora Auge veram charitatem Cordium da puritatem Nos languentes robora Uite nostre rege cursum Post hanc vitam transfersursum Animas ad gaudia Ubi deum contemplari Tibi quoque sociari Possimus in gloria Amen Uersus ¶ Ora pro nobis beata Birgitta sponsa christi preelecta Ut ad Celestem patriaÌ„ sit ipse nobis via recta Oremê° DEus qui ecclesiam tuaÌ„ per beatam Birgittam sacris illuminare dignatus es et coÌ„siliis exemplis coÌ„cede propicius eius intercessionevt que pro nostris purgandis excessibus clementer ei reuelasti deuotis mentibus exequamur Per christum â—nÌ„m nostrum Amen ¶ Another prayer to seynt Byrgette O Beata Birgiâ—ta late collandata Principissa suecie in terris vocata Uita verbo stabilis solide fundata Omnibus affabilis humilis monstrata Post sponsi exequias casta approbata Remotas prouincias es peregrinata Cristo sponsa nobilis pie adoptata Nunc manes laudabilis christo copulata Sanctorum reliquias pietate grata Deuotis obsequiis multum venerata In multis misteriis aliis prelata Coruscas miraculis celo sublimata Iustis desideriis assiste perata Regnis et ecclesie pace confirmata Pro nostris miseriis matrona beata Sponsa sponsum dominum flecte aduocata Uersus multe filie regum Congregauerunt diuicias Tu superegressa es vniuersas Oratio DOmine Ihesu criste qui beatam BirgittaÌ„ propter multorum secretorum Inspiracionem et singularem virtutum adornacionem sponsam tuam vocari decreuisti Presta quesumus vt eadem in vite moribus conformemur cum ea de mundi illecebris ad visionem celestium transferamur Qui viuis regnas c. ¶ Thus endyth the Lyfe of Seynt Byrgette Enprynted at LoÌ„don in Flere strete at the sygne of the George by Rycharde Pynson prynter vnto the kynges noble grace the .xx. daye of February In yere of oure Lorde god a. M. CCCCC and .xvi. Hereaftre foloweth a deuoute Boke compylyd by mayster Walter Hylton to a deuoute man in temperall estate howe he shulde rule hym whiche is ryghte expedyent for euery man moste in especyall for theym that lyue in the medylde lyfe it shewyth what medelyd lyfe is he that wyll dylygently loke vpon it may therby the soner come to some of the hyghe vertues and blessyd lyfe that he shall rede of in the begynnynge of this present Boke of the gloryous Seyntys conteynyd in the same ¶ Howe a man that woll be ghostly must fyrste vse moche Bodely exercyse in penaunce and destroyenge of synne Capitulum primum DEre broder iÌ„ cryst two maner of states there are in holy Chyrche by the which crysteÌ„ soulys please god and get theym the blysse of Heuyn the one is bodely and the other is ghostly bodely werkynge longeth pryncypally to worldly men wymen the which lefully vse worldlye goodes and wylfully vse worldlye busynes Also it longeth to all yonge begynnynge men the which comen newe out of worldly synnys to the seruyce of god for to make theym able to ghostly werkynge for to breke downe that vnbuxumnes of the body by dyscrecyon and by suche Bodelye werkynge that it myghte be souple and redy not moche coÌ„traryous to the spyryte in ghostly werkynge for seynt poule sayth as woman was made for man and not man for woman ryght so bodely werkynge was made
for ghostly not ghostly for bodely bodely werkynge goth before ghostly coÌ„myth after as seynt Poule sayeth ¶ Non ê™ prius spirituale sed ê™ prius animale deinde spirituale And this is a cause why it behouyth to be so for we ar borne in synne corrupcyon of the flesshe by the which we ar so blyndyd so ouerlayed that we haue neyther the ghostlye knowynge of god by lyght of vnderstandynge ne ghostlye felynge of hym by clene desyre of louynge therfore we may not sodeynly sterte out of this derke nyght of this flesshly corrupcyon into that ghoostly lyghte for we may not suffre it ne bere it for syknes of our selfe no more than we may with our bodely eyen whan they at sore beholde the lyght of the son therfore we must abyde and werke by processe of tyme. Fyrst by bodyly werkys bysyly tyll we be dyschargyd of this heuy burden of synne whiche lettyth vs fro ghostlye werkynge tyll our soules be somwat clensyd fro great outwarde synnes abled to ghostly werke By this bodyly werkynge that I speke of mayste thou vnderstoÌ„de all manner of good werkys that thy soule dothe by the wyttes the meÌ„brys of thy body vnto thy selfe as in fastynge wakyng in restraynynge of flesshely lustes by penauÌ„ce doynge or to thyn euen crysten by fullfyllynge of the dedys of mercy bodely or ghostly or vnto god by sufferynge of all bodely myscheuys for the loue of ryghwysenes All thy se werkys done in trouth by charyte please god without which they are nought Than who so desyrythe for to be occupyed ghostly it is syker profytable to hym that he be fyrste well assayde a longe tyme in this bodely werkyng for these bodely dedys are a tokeÌ„ a shewynge of morall vertues withoute whiche a soule is not able for to werke ghostlye Breke downe fyrste pryde in bodely berynge also within thy harte thynkynge bostynge praysynge of thy selfe vayn lykynge iÌ„ thy selfe of ony thynge that god hath sent to the bodely or ghostly Breke downe also enuy yre agaynste thyn eueÌ„crysten whether they be ryche or poore good or bad that thou hate hym not ne haue dysdeyne of hym wylfully neyther in worde ne in dede Also breke downe couetyse of worldly good that thou for that holdynge gettynge or sauynge of it offende not thy concyence ne breke not charyte to god to thyn euyncrysten for loue of ony worly good but that thou gettyst to kepe it speÌ„de it without loue and vayne lykynke of it as reason askyth in worshyp of god helpe of thyn euencrysten Breke downe also as moch as thou mayst flesshly lykynges eyther of accydye or bodely ease glotony or lechery and than whan thou hast ben weâ—l traueylyd well asayde in all suche bodely werkys than mayste thou by grace ordeyne the to ghostlye werkynge ¶ Howe a man that is set only to ghostly lyuynge shall rule all his dedys by dyscrecyon without which they turne often into vyce Ca. ii THe grace the goodnes of our Lord Ihesu cryst that he hathe shewyd to the in withdrawynge of thyn Herte fro luste and lykynge of worldlye vanyte vse of Flesshely synnys And in turnynge of thy wyll entyerly to his Seruyce and his plesaunce bryngeth into myn Herte moche mater to loue hym in his mercy and also it steryth me greatlye to streÌ„gthe the in thy good purpose and in thy werkynge that thou haste begonne for to brynge it to a good ende if that I coulde And pryncypally for god sythen for teÌ„der affeccyon of loue that thou haste to me if I be a wretche vnworthy I knowe well the desyre of thyn herte that thou desyrest greatlye to serue our Lord by ghostly occupacyon all holly withouten lettynge or troublynge of worldlye busynes that thou myghtest come by grace to more knowyng ghostlye felynge of god and of ghostly thynges this desyre is good as I hope of god for it is set vpon hym in charyte spyrytually neuerthelesse it is to refrayne and rule by dyscrescyon as agaynste outwarde werkynge after the state that thou arte in for charyte vnrulyd tourneth somtyme into vyce and therfore it is sayde in holy Wrytte ¶ Ordinauit in me charitatem that is to saye our Lorde geuynge to me charyte set it in ordre in rule that it shulde not be loste thrugh myn vndyscressyon ryght so this charyte this desyre that our Lorde hath geuyn of his mercy to the is for to rule and ordeyne how thou shalt pursue it after thy degre askyth and after the lyuynge that thou hast vsyd before tyme and after the grace of vertues that thou now haste Thou shalt not vtterly folowe thy desyre for to leue occupacyon and busynes of the worldle the which ar nedefull to vse in rewlynge of thy selfe and of all other that are vnder thy kepynge and geue the holly to ghostly occupacyon of Prayers and holy medytacyons as it were a Frere or a Monke or an other man that were not bounde to the worlde be Chyldren and seruauÌ„tys as thou arte for it fallyth not to the and if thou do soo thou kepyst not the order of Charyte ¶ Also if thou woldyst leue vtterly ghostly occupacyon namemely now after the grace that god hath geuyn to the and set the holly to the busynes of the worlde in fulfyllynge of the werkes of actyfe Lyfe as fully as an other man that neuer felyd deuocyon thou leuyst the ordre of charyte For thy state askyth for to do bothe eche of them in dyuerse tymes thou shalte medle the werkys of actyfe lyfe with ghostely werkys of lyfe coÌ„templatyfe And than doest thou well For thou shalte one tyme be busye with Martha for to rule and gouerne thyn husholde Thy chyldren thy seruauntys thy neyghbourys thy tenauntys if they doo well coÌ„forte theym therin and helpe them if they doo euyll for to teche them a mende theÌ„ chastyse theym thou shalt also loke and know wysely thy thynges thy worldly goodes be ryghtfully kepte by thy seruauntys gouernyd truely spendyd that thou myght the more pleÌ„teuously fulfyll the dedys of mersy with them vnto thy euen crysten Also thou shalt with marye leue busynes of the worlde sytte downe at the feet of our Lorde by mekenes in prayers in holy thoughtys in contemplacyon of hym as he geuyth the grace and so shalt thou goo fro that one to that other medefully fulfyll theym bothe And than kepeste thou well the order of Charyte ¶ Unto what maner of maÌ„ beloÌ„gyth actyf lyfe Ca. iii. NEuerthelesse that thou ne haue wonder of this that I say therfore I shall tell the and declare to the a lytyll of this more openlye Thou shalte vnderstande that there is thre maners of Lyuynge one is Actyfe lyfe another is contemplatyfe the thyrde is made of bothe and that is medelyd Actyfe lyfe aboue longeth to Worldlye men wymen the whych are lewde in
knowyng of ghostlye occupacyon for they ne fele sauour ne deuocion by feruoure of loue as other men doo ne they canne no skylle of it and yet neuerthelesse they haue drede of god and of the payne of hell and therfore they flee synne and they haue desyre for to please god and for to come to heuyn and a good wyll haue to ther euēcrysten vnto thyse men it is nedefull spedefull to vse the werkys of actyflyfe as busylye as they maye in the helpe of themselfe of theyr euencrysten for they canne not elles doo ¶ Unto whom belongyth contemplatyfe lyfe Ca. iiii COntemplatyfe lyfe longeth alone to such men and wymen that for the loue of god forsake all open synnes of the worlde and theyr flesshe and all busynes charges gouernaunce of worldly goodes make them selfe poore nakyd to the bare nede of the bodyly kynde flee fro souereynte of all other men to the seruyce of god vnto thyse men it longeth for to traueyle occupye them inwardly for to gete thrughe the grace of our lorde clennes in herte peas in concyens by destroyinge of synne receyuynge of vertues soo for to come to contemplacyon which clennes may not be had without great exarcyse of body and contynuell trauayle of the spirit in deuout prayers feruent desyres ghostly medyracyons ¶ Unto whom belongeth medlyd lyfe Ca. v. THe thyrde lyfe the is the medlyd lyfe lōgeth to men of bodyly chyrche as to prelatys and to other curatys the whiche haue cure soueraynte ouer other men for to teche rule thē bothe theyr bodyes theyr soulys pryncipally in fulfyllynge of the dedys of mercy bodelye ghostly vnto thyse men it longyth somtyme to vse werkys of mercy in actyfe lyfe in helpe sustenaunce of them selfe of theyr subgiettys of other also sōtyme for to leue all maner of busynes outwarde to gyue theym vnto prayers medytacyons as redynge of holy wryt to other ghostly occupacyōs after that they fele them disposyd Also it lōgeth to some tēporall men which haue souereynte with moch fauer of worldlye goodes haue also as it were lordshyp ouer other men for to gouerne susteyne them as a fader hath ouer his chyldren a mayster ouer his seruaūtis a Lorde ouer his tenaūtys the whiche men haue also receyuyd of our Lordes gyfte grace of deuocyon ī party sauoure of ghostly occupacyon Unto these men also lōgeth medlyd lyfe that is both actyfe contemplatyfe For is thyse men stōdynge the charge the bōde that they haue takyn wyll leue vtterly that busynes of the worde the which ought skylfully to be vsyd ī fulfyllynge of her charge holly gyue them to cōtēplatyf lyfe they do not well for they kepe not the ordre of charyte for charyte as thou knowyst well lyeth bothe in Loue of god of thyn euencristen therfore it is that he that hath charyte to vse bothe in werkynke now to that one nowe to that other for he that for the loue of god in cōtemplacyon leuyth the loue of his euencristen doth not to them as he ought whan he is boūde therto he fulfyllyth not charyte also on the contraye wyse who so hath so great regarde to werke of actyfe lyfe to busynes of the worlde that for the loue of his euēcristen he leuyth gostly occupacyō vtterly after that god hath dysposyd hym therto he fulfyllyth not charyte this is the sayinge of seynt gregory for though our lorde for to styre some to vse this medlyd lyfe toke vpon hym selfe the persone of such maner men both of prelatis of holy chyrch of suche other as are disposed therto as I haue sayd gaue them ensaumple by his owne werkynge that they shuld vse this medlyd lyfe as he dyd One tyme he cōmonyd with men medlyd with them she wynge his dedys of mercy for theym taught the vncōnynge vnknowen by his prechynge he vysityd the syke helyd theym of theyr dyseasys he fed the hūgry he cōfortyd that sory neuerthelesse other tymes he lefte the cōuersacyō of all worldly men of this dyscyples went into desert vpon the hyllys cōtynued all nyght in prayers alone as the gospell sayth therfore this medlyd lyfe she wyth our lord in hym selfe to ensaūple of all other men that haue takyn the charge of this medlyd lyfe that they shuld one tyme gyue thē to busynes of worldly thyngys at resonable nede and to the werkys of actyfe lyfe in profyt of theyr euencrysten whiche they haue cure of and an other tyme gyue them holly to deuocyon and contemplacyon in prayers and medytacyons ¶ How holy Busshops vsyd medlyd lyfe Ca. vi THis lyfe ledde holy busshopys which had cure of mennys soules and mynystracyon of temporall goodes for thyse holy men lefte not vtterly the mynystracyon and the lokynge and the dyspendynge of worldly goodes gaue them holly to cōtemplacyon as moch grace of contemplacyon as they hadde but they lefte full ofte theyr owne rest in contemplacyon whan that they had well leuer haue byn stylle for loue of theyr euyncrystē entermetyd them with worldly busynes ī helpynge of ther subgyettys southly that was charyte For wysely and dyscretly they departyd theyr lyuynge in two O tyme they fulfyllyd the lower parte of charyte by werkys of actyfe lyfe for they were bounde therto by takynge of her prelacye And an other tyme they fullfyllyd the hygher partye of charyte in contemplacyon of god of ghostly thynges by prayers medytacyons so they had charyte to god to ther euencrysten both in affeccyon of soule within also in shewynge of bodyly dedys without other men that were oonly contemplatyfe were fre fro all curys prelacye they had full charyte to god to theyr euencrysten but it was oonly in affeccyon of theyr soule not in outwarde shewynge in hap soo moche it was the more full inwarde that they myght not ne it nedyd not ne it fyll not for them to shewe it outwarde but theyse men that were in prelacye other also that were onely temporall men had full charyte in affeccyon within also in werkynge and that is properly this medlyd lyfe bothe of actyfe of cōtemplatyfe lyfe southly for suche a man that is inspyrytuell souereynte as prelatis curatys be or in temporall souereynte as worldly Lordes maysters are I holde this medlyd lyfe best moost behouefull to them as longe as they are bounden therto But to other that are free not bounde to temporall mynystracyon ne to spyrytuall I hope that lyfe contemplatyfe alone if they myght come therto southfastly were best moost spedefull moost medefull moost fayre moost worthy to them for to vse to holde not for to leue it wylfully for any outwarde warkynge of actyfe lyfe but if it were in great nede at great releuynge comfortynge of
other men eyther of theyr bodyes or of theyr soules than if nede aske at the prayer instauÌ„ce of other or ellys at the byddynge of his souerayne I hope it be good to shewe it to theÌ„ in outwarde werkys of actyf lyfe for a tyme in helpynge of theyr euecrysten ¶ What lyfe moost accordyd to hym that this was wrytten to And that a man that hath souerentye shall not gyue hym vtterly to deuocioÌ„ leue wordly busynes Ca. vii By this that I haue sayde a partye mayste thou vnderstonde whiche is oon and whiche is other and which accordyth moost to thy state of lyuynge southly as methynkyth this medlyd lyfe accordyth moost to the sythen our lorde hath ordeynyd set the in the state of soueraynte ouer other men as moche as it is hath lent the abuÌ„dauÌ„ce of worldly goodes for to rule susteyne specyally all thyse that are vnder thy gouernauÌ„ce thy lordshyp after thy myghte connynge also therwith thou haste receyuyd grace of the mercy of our lorde for to knowe thy selfe gostly desyre sauoure of his loue I hope that thys lyfe that is medlyd is beste accordyth most to the for to trauayle in and therfore deê‘te wysely thy lyuynge for wyt thou well if thou leue nedefull busynes of actyfe lyfe be rekles take no kepe of thy worldly goodes how they arspeÌ„dyd kepte ne makyst no force of thy subiectys and of thy euencrysten by cause of desyre wyll that thou hast only to geue the to ghostly occupacyoÌ„ wenynge that thou arte by that excused if thou do so thou doest not wysly for what ar all thy werkys worth whether they be bodyly or ghostly but if they be done rightfully resonably to the worshyp of god after his byddynge southly ryght noughte than if thou leue that thynge that thou arte bouÌ„de to by the way of charyte of ryght reson wylt holly gyue the to an other thinge wylfully as it were to a more plesaunce of god whiche thou art not fully bouÌ„de to thou doest not worshype dyscretly to hym thou arte busy to worshyp his hed his face to araye it fayre curyously but thou leuest his body with that feet raggyd rent takest no kepe therof there thou worshypest hym not for it is vylany no worshyp a maÌ„ for to be curyouslye arayed vpoÌ„ his hed with perlys precyous stonys all his body nakyd bare as it were a begger ryght so ghostly it is no worshyp to god to crowne his hed leue his body bare thou shalt vndertonde that our Lord ihesu cryste as man is hed of his ghostly bodye which is holy chyrche the meÌ„bres of his body are all crystenyd men some are armes some are feet some are other meÌ„bres after suÌ„dry werkynges that they vse in theyr lyuynge thaÌ„ if that thou be busy with all thy myghte for to aray his hed that is for to worshype hym selfe by mynde of his passyon of his other werkys in his manhed by deuocyoÌ„ medytacyoÌ„ of hym forgettyst his feet that ar thy chyldren thy seruauÌ„tys thy tenauÌ„tys all thyn eueÌ„crysten letyst theÌ„ spyll for defaute of kepynge vnarayed vnkept not tent to as they ought for to be thou pleasyst hym not thou do est no worshyp to hym thou makest that to kysse his mothe by deuocyon ghostly prayer but thou tredest vpon his feet defoulyst them in as moche as thou wylt not tende to them for neclygeÌ„ce of thy selfe the which thou haste take cure of thus thynkyth me neuertheles if thou thynke that this is not south for it were a feyre offyce to worshyp the hed of hym as for to be all daye occupyed in medytacion of the manhed than for to go lower to other werkys make clene his feet as for to be busy bothe in worde iÌ„ dede aboute the helpe of thyn eueÌ„crysten thynke not so for southly he wyll thanke the more for the meke wasshynge of his feet whan they are right foule stynke vpoÌ„ the than for all the precyous peyntynge arayenge that thou canst make aboute his hedde by mynde of his manhed for it is fayre Inoughe nedythe not to be arayed of the moch but his fet his other meÌ„brys that are somtyme euyll arayed had nede to be lokyd holpen by the namely sythen thou arte bouÌ„de therto therfore wyll he cuÌ„ne the more thanke yf thou wylt mekely teÌ„derly loke to theÌ„ for the more lower seruyce that thou doest to thy Lorde for the loue of hym or to any of his meÌ„bres whan nede ryght askyth it with a glad meke herte the more pleasyst thou hym thynkynge that it were ynough for the to be at the leest degre at the lowyst state sythen it is his wyll that it be so for it semyth to me sythen he hath put the in that state for to traueyle serue other men that it is well done that thou shuldest fulfyll it after thy myght this ensaumple I saye to the not for thou doest not thus as I saye for I hope that thou doest thus better but I wolde that thou shuldest doo thus gladly not thynke loth for to leue somtyme ghostly occupacyon entermete with worldly busynes in wyse kepyng spendynge of thy worldly goodes in good rulynge of thy seruauÌ„â—ys of thy tenauÌ„tys in other good werkys werkynge to all thyn euyncrysten after thy myght but that thou shuldest doo bothe werkys in dyuers tymes with as good wyll the one as the other if thou myghtyst As if thou haddest prayed ben occupyed ghostly thou shalt after certeyne tyme breke of that then shalte thou busyly and gladlye occupye the in some bodyly occupacyon to thyn euen crysten And also whanne thou haste ben busye outwarde a whyle with thy seruauntys or with other men profytably thou shalte breke of turne agayne to thy prayers thy deuocyons after god geuyth the grace so shalt thou put awaye by grace of oure Lorde slouth ydylnes vayne rest that cometh of thy flesshe vnder coloure of conteÌ„placyon lettyth the somtyme fro medefull and spedefull occupacyon in outwarde busynes thou shalte be aye well occupyed Bodyly or ghostly and therfore if thou wylte doo well thou shalt do ghostlye as Iacob dyd bodyly ¶ How a man that is well traueylyd prouyd in dedys of actyf lyfe may passe forthe atteyne to contemplacyoÌ„ which is fyguryd by iacobes wyfes rachell lya ca. viii HOly wryt sayeth that Iacob when he began to serue his mayster Laban he coueytyd rachell his mayster doughter to his wyfe for her fayre hed for her he seruyd seuen yere but whan he wende to haue had her to his wyfe he had fyrst lya the other doughter iÌ„ stede of Rachell afterward he toke rachell so he had both at the last by Iacob iÌ„ holy
wryt is vnderstonden an ouercomer of synnys By thyse two Wyues are vnderstande as Saynt Gregory sayth two lyues in holy Chyrche actyfe lyfe contemplatyfe lyfe lya is as moch for to saye as traueylous betokeneth actyfe lyfe rachell is as moche to saye as syght of begynnynge that is god and betokenyth lyfe conteÌ„platyfe lya bare chyldren But she was foreyzed rachell was fayre and louely but she was barayn than rygh as Iacob couetyd rachell for her fayrhed yet had her nought whan he wolde but fyrste he toke lya and afterwarde Rachell ryght so eche man traueylynge south fastlye in coÌ„punccyon by grace for synnys of the worldle of the flesshe to serue god in cleÌ„nes of good lyuynge hath great desyre to haue rachell that is for to haue rest iÌ„ ghostly swetnes in deuocyon contemplacyon for it is so fayre so louely and in hope for to haue that lyfe oonly he dysposyth hym to serue our Lorde with all his myghte but often whan he wende to haue had Rachell that is rest in deuocyon our Lorde suffred hym to be a sayde well in traueyle with lya that is eyther with teÌ„ptacyons of the worlde or ellys of the deuyll or of his flesshe or ellys with other worldlye busynesse bodyly or ghostlye in helpynge of his euen crysten whan he is well trauaylyd with lya nerehoÌ„de ouercome than our lorde geuyth hym rachell that is grace deuocyon rest in coÌ„cyeÌ„ce than hath he both Rachell Lya So shalt thou do after ensaumple of Iacob take these two lyues Actyfe and Contemplatyfe sythen god hath sent that bothe vse that oon with the other By that on lyfe shalt thou brynge forth frute of many good dedys in helpe of thyn euyncrysteÌ„ that is by actyfe lyfe by that other thou shalt be made fayre bryght and clene in the souereyn bryghtnes that is god begynner ender of all that is made than shalt thou be southfastly Iacob ouergoer ouercomer of all synnes after this by grace of god thy name shall be chaungyd as Iacobes name was tornyd into israell Israell is as moche for to saye as a Man seynge god thenne if thou be fyrste Iacob and discretlye wylte vse thyse two lyues in tyme thou shalte after be Israell that is verye contemplatyfe eyther in this Lyfe he wyll delyuer the make the fre fro chargys busynessys the which thou arte bounde to or ellys after this lyfe full in the blysse of Heuyn whan thou comest thyder A man shall desyre contemplatyfe for it is fayre and nedefull therfore thou shalte aye haue it in thy mynde and in thy desyre but thou shalte haue in vsynge actyfe lyfe for it is so nedefull so spedefull therfore if thou be put fro reste in deuocyon whan thou haddest leuer be stell therat eyther by thy chyldren or by thy seruauÌ„tys or by any of thyn euen crysten for her profyte or ese of her hertys skylfully askyd be not angry with them ne heuy ne dredefull as thoughe god wolde be wroth with the that thou leuyst hym for any other thynge for it is not so leue of lyghtly thy deuocyon whether it be in prayer or medytacyon goo do thy dede thy seruyce to thyn euencrysten as lyghtly as our lorde hym selfe bade the do so suffre mekely for his Loue without grutchynge if thou may do both with out dysease trowblynge of thyn hert by cause of medlyng of such busynes ¶ That a man shall somtyme haue the more deuocyon whan he hath be lettyd by outwarde werkys Ca. ix FOr it may fall sometyme that the more trowblynge that thou haste outwarde with actyfe werkys the more brennynge desyre thou shalte haue to god and the more clere syghte of ghostly thynges by grace of our Lorde in deuocyon whanne thou coÌ„mest therto for it faâ—yth therby as if thou haddest a lytyll cole and thou woldest make a fyre therwith make it to brenne thou woldest fyrst ley to styckys ouer hyle the cole with the styckys neuerthelesse when thou haste abyden a whyle afterwarde blowest a lytyll anon shall sprynge out a great flame of fyre for the styckys are all turnyd to fyre Right so is ghostly thy wyll thy desyre that thou hast to god it is as it were a lytyll cole of fyre in thy soule for it geuyth to the som what of lyght of ghostly hete but it is but lytyl For often it waryth colde turnyth to flesshly reste and somtyme into Idelnes therfore it is good that thou put to styckys that are good werkys of actyfe lyfe thoughe it be so that these werkys as it semyth for a tyme let thy desyre that it may not be so clene ne so feruent as thou woldest be not to dredefull therfore but abyde suffre a whyle so blowe at the fyre that is fyrste goo do thy werkys after goo than alone to thy prayers medytacions lyfte vp thy herte to god pray hym of his goodnes that he wyll accepte thy werkys that thou doest to his plesauÌ„ce holde the then as nought in thy owne syght but only at his mercy be a knoweÌ„ mekely thy wretchydnes thy fraylte arecte southfastly thy good dodys to hym iÌ„ as moche as they are good iÌ„ as moch as they are bade not done dyscretly with all cyrcuÌ„staucys that are nedeful to a good dede forde faute of discrecion put them to thy selfe thaÌ„ for this mekenes shall all thy good dedys turne into a flaine of fyre as styckys is layed vp on a cole and so shall thy good dedys outwarde not hyndre thy deuocyoÌ„ but rather make it more more ouer our lorde sayth iÌ„ holy wryt thus Ignis in altari meo semê‘ ardebit sacerdos surgeÌ„s mane subiciet liÌ„gna vt ignis noÌ„ extiÌ„guarur Fyre shall euer breÌ„ in myn auter the preest rysynge at morowe shall put vnder stickis that it be not queÌ„chyd this fyre is loue desyre to god iÌ„ a soule that which louyth for to be norisshyd kept by layeÌ„ge to the styckis that it go not out thyse stickis are of dyuers maters som are of a tre som are of an other a man that is letteryd hath vnderstandynge of holy wryt if he haue this fyre of deuocyon in his hert it is good to hym to gete hym styckys of holy ensaumples deuoute prayers and norysshe the fyre with them An other man vnletteryd may not so redely haue at his hande holy wrytte ne doctours sayingys and therfore it nedyth to hym for to do many good dedys outwarde to his euyncrysten and kyndel the fyre of loue with theym And so it is good that eche man in his degre after that he is dysposyd that he gete hym styckys of o thynge or of other eyther Prayers or medytacyons or redynge in holy wryt or good bodely werkys for to norysshe
the fyre of loue in his sowle that it be not quenchyd for that affeccyon of loue is tender lyghtly wyll vanysshe awaye but if it be well kepte by good dedys bodyly and ghostly cōtynuelly norysshed Nowe than sythen our lord hath sent into thyn herte a lytyl sparke of this blessyd fyre that is hym selfe as holy wrytte sayth ¶ Dominus noster ignis consumens est ¶ Oure lorde god is fyer wastynge for as bodely fyer wastyth all Bodyly thynge that may be wastyd ryght soo ghostly fyre that is god wastyth all maner of synne and therfore oure Lorde is lykenyd to fyre wastynge I pray the norysshe this fyer this fyre is nought ellys but loue charyte this hath he sent into the erthe as he saythe in the gospell Ignem veni mittere in terrā ad quid nisi vt ardeat I am comen to sende fyre into the erthe and wherto but that it shulde Brenne that is god hath sente fyre of Loue and a good desyre and a gret wyll for to please hym into mannys soule and vnto this ende that after that a man shall knowe it he may the better kepe it norysshe it strength it and therby be sauyd the more desyre that thou hast to hym and for hym the more is the fyre of Loue in the and the lesse that this desyre is in the the lesse is the Fyre the mesure of this desyre howe moch it is neyther in thy selfe or ony other knoweste thou not ne any man of him selfe but god oonly that gyuyth it therfore dyspute not with thy selfe as though thou woldest knowe how moche thy desyre is be busy for to desyre as moche as thou mayste but not for to wytte the mesure of thy desyre ¶ What is desyre to god for hym selfe Ca. x. SAynt augustyne saythe that the lyfe of euery good crysten man is a cōtynuell desyre to god and that is of great vertue for it is a great cryenge in the erys of god the feruentlyer thou desyrest the hygher thou cryest the better thou prayest the wyslyer thou thynkyst what is this desyre southly nothynge but lothynge of all this worldys blysse of all flesshly lykynge in thy herte a wonderfull louynge with a restfull yernynge of endlesblysse and heuenly Ioye this thynge may be callyd a desyre to god for hym selfe if thou haue this desyre as I hope sykerly that thou hast I pray the kepe it well and nourysshe it wysely and whan thou shalt pray or thynke make this desyre begynnynge and endynge of all thy werke for to encreace it loke after none other felynge in thy Bodylye wittys ne seke after none other bodyly swetnes neyther sownynge ne sauourynge ne wonderfull lyght ne aungells syght ne though our Lorde hym selfe as vnto thy syght wolde apere to the Bodylye charge it but a lytyll but that all thy busynes be that thou myghtest fele south fastly in thy thought a lothynge a full forsakynge of all maner of synne and all maner of vnclennes with a ghost lyesyght of it howe foule howe vglye and howe paynfull it is and that thou myghtest haue a myghty desyrynge to vertues to mekenes and to charyte to the blysse of heuyn this thynketh me were ghostlye comforte ghostlye swetnes in mannys Soule as for to haue clennes in concyence fro wyckydnes of all wordly vanyte with stable trouthe meke hope full desyre to god howe soo euer that it be of other comfortys and swetnessys ¶ That in clennes of Concyence is the very comfort and swetnesse Ca. xi ME thynkyth that that swetnes is syker and southfast that is felyd in clennes of cōscyence by myghty forsakynge and lothyng of all synne and with inwarde syghte and feruēt desyre of ghostly thyngys All other comfortys and swetnessys of ony maner of felynge but if they helpe and lede to this ende that is to clennes of cōcyence and ghostly desyre of god are not syker to rest on But now askyste thou whether this desyre be loue to god as vnto this I saye that this desyre is not properly loue but it is a begynnynge and a tastynge of loue For loue properlye is a full cowpelynge of the louer they louyd togyder as god and a sowle into one This cowpelynge maye not be fully had in this lyfe but oonly in desyre and longynge therto as by this Ensaumple if a man loue another man whiche is absent he desyryth greatlye his presence Right so ghostly as longe as we ar in this lyfe our Lorde is absent fro vs that we may neyther se hym ne here hym ne fele hym as he is and therfore we may not haue the vse of this full loue here in full lykynge but we may haue a desyre and a great yernynge for to be present to hym for to se hym in his Blysse fully for to be onyd to hym ī Loue this desyre may we haue of his gyfte ī this lyfe by the whiche we shall be safe for it is Loue vnto hym as it maye be hadde here thus Saynt Poule saythe ¶ Scientes qm̄ dum sumus in hoc corpore peregrinamura dn̄o perfidem enim ambulamus non persp̄em audemus autem bonam voluntatem habemus magis peregrinari a corpore presentes esse ad deum iam cōcedimus siue absentes siue presentes placere illi Saynt Poule fayeth that as longe as we are in this body we ar Pylgrymes fro our Lorde that is we are absent fro Heuen in this excyle we goo by trougth not by syght that is we lyue in trouth not in bodyly felynge we dare and we haue a good wyll to be absent fro the body and be present to god that is we for clennesse in Concyence and syker truste of saluacyon dare desyre partyng fro our body by Bodelye deth and be presente to our Lorde Neuerthelesse for we maye not yet therfore we stryue whether we be absente or present for to please hym that is we stryue ayenste Synues of the worlde and lykynge of the flessh by desyre to hym for to bren in the fyre of desyre all thynge that lettyth vs fro hym But yet askyste thou me may a man haue this desyre in his Herte contynuslly the thynkyth naye as vnto this I maye saye as me thynkyth that this desyre maye be hadde as for vertue and profyte of it in Herte contynuelly but not in werkynge ne vsynge as by this ensaūple if thou were seke thou sholdeste haue as eche man hath a kyndely desyre of bodelye hele contynuelly in thy hert what that thou dyddest whether thou slepe or wake but not aye I lyke for it thou slepe or wake and thynkest on some worldlye thynges than thou haste thy desyre in hert oonly and not in werkynge but whan thou thynkyst on thy Bodylye syknes on thy he le than thou hast it īvsynge right so it is ghostly of desyre to god he that hathe this desyre of the gyfte of god if he
slepe or ellys thynke not on god but on worldlye thynges yet he hath this desyre ī hert in his soule tyll that he syn dedely but anone as he thynkyth on god or on clennes of lyuynge or of Ioyes of Heuen thanne werkyth his desyre to god as lōge as he kepyth his thought and his entent to please god eyther in Prayers or in medytacion or ī ony other good dede of actyfe lyfe then it is good that all our busynes befor to stere this desyre vse it by dyscrecyon nowe in oon dede nowe in an other after he is dysposyd hath grace therto this desyre is roote of all thy werkynge if it be me defull for wytte thou well what good dede that thou do est for god bodyly or ghostlye it is an vsynge of this desyre whan thou Prayest or thynkest doute not than if thou desyre god therfore whan thou doest a good dede or thynkyst on god dout not thynkynge in thy herte whether thou desyrest or not For thy dede shewyth thy desyry Some are vncunnynge wene that they desyre not god but if they euer be cryenge on god with wordys of of theyr mouthe or ellys ī theyr herte as if they sayd thus Lorde make me safe or ellys such other thyse wordys ar good whether they be sayd with the mothe or fourmyd in the herte for they styre a mannes herte to desyrynge of god But neuerthelesse withoute ony suche wordys a clene thoughte of god or of any ghostlye thynge of vertues or of the manhed of Cryst or of the Ioyes of heuyn or of vnderstondynge of holy wrytte with loue may be bette◠than such wordys for a clene thought of god is southfast desyre to hym and the more ghostly that the thoughte is the more is thy desyre therfore be thou not ī doubte whā thou Prayest or Thynkyste on god or ellys whan thou doest other outwarde good dedys to thy Euencrysten whether thou desyryst hym or not For thy dedys shewe it Neuerthelesse thoughe it be soo that all thy good dedys Bodylye and ghostlye are a shewynge of thy desyre to god yet is there dyuersyte betwyt ghostly dedys bodyly for dedys of contemplaty flyfe are not so outwarde therfore whā thou prayest or thynkyst on god thy desyre to god is more hole more feruente more ghostlye than whan thou doest other dedys to thy euencrysten nowe if thou aske howe thou shalt kepe this desyre and norysshe it a lytell shall I tell the not that thou shalte vse the same forme as I saye but that thou shuldest haue therby if nede be some Warnynge techynge for to rule the in that Occupacyon For I maye not ne I can not tell the fully what is best to the for to vse but I shall say the somwhat as me thynkyth ¶ How thou shalt dyspose the to deuocyon Ca. xii IN nyghtys after thy slepe if thou wylte ryse for to pray serue thy Lord thou shalt fele thy selfe fyrste flesshely heuy somtyme lusty than shalte thou dyspose the for to pray or to thynke som good thought for to quyckyn thy herte to god set all thy busynes for to drawe vp thy thought fro worldly vanytes fro vayne Imagynacyon that fallyth into thy mynde that thou may fele some deuocyon in thy sayenge or ellys if thou wylt thynke on ghostlye thynges that thou be not lettyd with such vayne though t ys of the worlde or of thy flesshe in thynkynge there ar many maner of medytacyons which are beste to the can I not saye But I hope that that thought by the whyche thou felyst moost sauoure and moost rest in for the tyme is beste to the thou mayste if thou wylte sometyme thynke on thy synnes before doon of thy frayltees that thou fallyst in eche daye and aske mercye and forgyuenes for them Also after thys thou mayste thynke on the frayltes the synnys and the wretchydnes of thy euencrysten bodyly ghostly with pyte compassyon of them aske merrye and forgyuenes for them as tenderly as for thy selfe as thou haddyst doon them that is a good thoughte For I tell the forsoth thou mayste make of other mennis Synnys a precyous oyntement for to hele thy owne soule whan thou hast mynde on them with compassyon and sorowe for them this oyntement is precyous thoughe the spycery of it be not clene For it is tryacle made of venym for to destroye venym that is for to saye thy owne Synnes and othermennys Synnys if thou bete theym with sorowe of herte Pyte and Compassyon they turne into tryacle whiche makyth thy soule hole fro pryde and enuye and bryngyth in Loue and Charyte to thy euencrysten this thought is good somtyme for to haue ¶ Howe a man shall haue mynde on crystes manhed of his passyon Ca. xiii ALso thou mayste haue mynde on the manhed of out Lorde in his byrthe in his passyon or in ony of his werkys and fede thy thoughte with ghostly Imagynacyons of it for to stere thy affeccyon more to the Loue of hym This thoutht is good and spedefull namelye whan it cometh freelye of goddys gyfte with deuocyon and feruoure of the spyryte ellys a man maye not lyght lye haue sauoure ne deuocyon in it I holde it not spedefull to a man for to prese than to moche therupon as if he wolde gete it by maystry for he shall mow breke his hed and his bodye to and he shall neuer be the nere therfore me thynkyth vnto the it is good for to haue in mynde his manhed somtyme and if deuocyon come withall and sauoure kepe it and folowe it for a tyme but leue of soon hange not longe therupon Also if deuocyon comme not with mynde of the passyon stryue not ne prese not to moche therafter take easely what wyll come and goo forth to some other thought ¶ Howe a man shall thynke on Uertues and on sayntys Ca. xiiii ALso other thoughtys there are that ben more ghost lye as for to thynke on vertues for to se by lyght of vnderstondynge the Uertue of mekenes what it is howe a man sholde be meke And also what is pacyence clennes ryghtwysnes charyte chastyte sobyrte suche other and howe a man shulde gete all these vertues and by suche thoughtys for to haue great desyre and longynge to these vertues for to haue theym and also for to haue a ghostly syght of the pryncypall vertues as of trouthe hope and charyte By the syght desyre of these vertues a soule shulde mowe se and fele moche grace of our Lorde withouten whiche grace a mannes soule is halfe blynde and withouten sauoure or ghostly swetnes Also for to thynke on sayntys as the apostles martyrs confessourys and holy vyrgyns beholde inwardlye the holy lyuynge the grace and the vertues that oure Lorde gaue theym theyr lyuynge and by the mynde of this styre thy owne herte for to take ensaumple of them vnto better
lyuynge ¶ Of our Lady of our Lorde Ihesu howe a man shall beholde theyr holynes Ca. xv ALso the mynde of our Lady saynt mary aboue all other sayntys for to se with thy ghostlye eye the abundaunce of grace in her holy soule whan she was here lyuynge that our lord gaue her alone passynge all other sayntys for she was fulfyllyd with all vertues withoute wem of synne shewynge full mekenes perfyte charyte and fully with these the fayrnesse of all other vertues soo holly that there myghte no styrynge of Pryde ne Enuy ne wrothe ne flesshlye lykynge ne no manner of Synne entre into her herte ne defoule the soule iÌ„ ony ê‘te of it by the beholdynge of the fayrehed of this blessyd soule myght a mannys herte be styryd into ghostly comforte greatly And moche more thanne aboue this is the beholdynge of the soule of our lorde Ihesu which was fully onyd to the godhed passynge with oute comparyson our Lady and all other creatures For in the persone of Ihesu are two Kynges that is god and man fully onyd togyder By the vtue of this blesfull onynge which may not be tolde ne coÌ„ceyuyd by mannys wytte the soule of Ihesu hathe receyuyd the full hed of wysdome and loue all goodnes as the Apostle saythe ¶ Plenitudo diuinitatis inhabitat in Cristo corporaliter That is the godhed was onyd fully to the manhed in the soule of Ihesu so by the soule dwellynge in the body the mynde of the manhed of our Lord was Illumynyd aboue all other that ben or shal be and vpon this wyse for to beholde the vertues the ouer passynge grace of the soule of Ihesu shall be ryght comfortable to a mannys soule ¶ Of beholdynge of the myghte the wysdom the goodnes and the mercy of god in his creatures â–ª Ca. xvi ALso the mynde of the myght the wysdome goodnes of our lorde in all his creaturys for as moche as we maye not see god fully in hymselfe here lyuynge therfore we shulde beholde loue drede and wonder his myght his wysdome and his goodnes in his werkys in his creatures Also for to thynke on the mercye of oure Lord that he hath shewyd to me and to the to all Synfull captyues that haue ben combryd in Synne and sparyd so longe in the deuyllys prysone howe our Lorde pacyently suffryd vs lyue in our Synne toke no veÌ„geauÌ„ce on vs as he myghte haue doon ryghtwyslye and put vs into Helle if his Loue had not lettyd hym but for Loue he sparyd vs He had pytte on vs sent his grace into oure hertys and callyd vs out of our Synne and by his grace hath tournyd our wyll holly to hym And for to haue hym and for his loue to forsake all manner of Synne The mynde of his mercy and of his goodnes with other cyrcumstauncys moo than I can or maye reherse nowe brynge into a sowle grete truste of our Lord and full hope of saluacyon and kyndelyth the desyre of Loue myghtyly to the Ioyes of Heuen ¶ Howe the mynde of the wretchydnes and of peryllys of this worlde make a soule to desyre to Heuen Ca. xvii ALso for to thynke on the Wretchydnes Myscheues and peryllys Bodyly and ghostly that falle in this Lyfe and after for to thynke on the Ioyes of Heuen howe moch blysse there is and Ioye for there is neyther Synne ne sorowe ne passyon ne peyne hunger ne thyrste sore ne sykenes dowte ne drede shame ne shenshyp ne defaute of myghte lackynge of lyghte ne wantynge of loue but there is souerayne fayrehed lyghtenes streÌ„ghte he le lykynge aye lastynge wysdom loue peas worshyp sykernes rest ioye blysse Inough euer with outen ende the more that thou thynkyste and felyste the wretchydnes of this lyfe the more ferueÌ„tly shalt thou desyre the ioye and the reste of the blysse of Heuyn Many men are couetous of worldly worshyppes and erthly ryches and thynke nowe dremynge now wakynge how by what meanys they myght come therto therfore they forgete the mynde of themselfe the peynys of hell the Ioyes of heuyn southlye they are not wyse they are lyke to Chyldren that renne after butterflyes and for they loke not to theyr feet they fall sometyme sone downe and breke theyr leggys what is all the pompe the worshyp of this worlde iÌ„ ryches or in iolyte but a butterfly southly no thynge ellys and yet moche lesse therfore I praye the be thou coueytous of the Ioyes of Heuyn and thou shalt haue worshyp and rychesse that euer shall laste for at the laste ende whan worldly coueytous men brynge no good in theyr hondys for all theyr worshyppes and all theyr Rychessys are tornyd into noughte saue sorowe peyne than shall worldly men that forsake trewely all vayne worshyppys and rychessys of this worlde or ellys if they haue rychesse and worshyppys they set noughte by them ne they set not theyr Loue ne lykynge in them but lyue euer in drede and in mekenes and in hope and somtyme in sorowe abyde the mercy of god pacyently they shall thanne haue fully that they here coueytyd for they shall be crownyd as kynges and sâ—ye vp with our Lorde Ihesu into the blysse of Heuen Also there be many other medytacyons mo than I can say which that god putteth into a mannys mynde for to styre the affeccyon and the reason of mannys soule to lothe vanytees of this worlde and for to desyre the Ioyes of Heuyn Thyse wordes I say not to the as I had fully shewyd the maner of medytacyons as they are wrought in a mannys soule but I touche them to the a lytell that thou myghteste by this haue more vnderstondynge ¶ How a man shall doo whan he felyth no sauoure ne coÌ„forte in his medytacyons Ca. xviii NEuerthelesse me thynkyth it is good to the yâ— whaÌ„ thou dysposyst the to thynke on god as I haue before sayde or on otherwyse and peraueÌ„ture thou felyst no sauoure ne deuocyon in thy thynkynge but only a nakyd mynde and a weke wyll that thou woldest fayne thynke on god but thou canste not than I hope it is good to the that thou stryue not to moche with thy selfe for thou myghtest so lyghtly falle into more derknes but if thou were more sâ—ye in thy werkynge and therfore I holde it then moost syker vnto the for to saye thy paternoster and thy Aue or ellys thy matens or ellys for to rede vpon thy saulter for that is euermore a syker standarde that wyll not fayle who so maye cleue therto he shall not erre and if thou mayste by thy prayer gete deuocyon loke than if this deuocyon be only in affeccyon that is to saye in great desyre to god with ghostly delyte holde forth than thy saynge and breke not lyghtly of for often it fallyth that prayenge with the mouth getyth and kepyth deuocyon and if a man cease of sayinge deuocyon vanyssheth awaye Neuerthelesse