deth â–ª as for a disclaundreâ— Then they toke two yonge men that coude best caste stones And tooke of his clothes and layde him at the feet of a yongeman that hight saule and after was saint poule whanne sainte Steuyn sawe that he might nat sease their malice by reuelacion shewynge he turned to deuoute orisones praynge and yet it wolde nat be And thenne they caste stones at him and smote oute his brayne And thenne he cryed to god and saide Domine iesu suscipe spmÌ„ meuÌ„ O thou lorde take my spirite For hee wolde praye more deuoutly for his ennymes than for him selue He knelyd downe to the grounde and sâ—yd Pater ignosce illis quia nesciunt quid faciunt Fader forgyue them for they wote nat what they doo and anoon he slepte in god Nowe take hede what breÌ„nynge loue he hadde in his herte to god that prayed more deuoutly for his enmyes than for him selue In this he gaue ensample to all cristen people to be in charite eche one with other and to praye for his enmyes and them that pursued him and dyd him disease ViÌ„uersa delcaÌ„ cooperit caritas Charite hydeth euery trespasse For he that prayeth for his enmyes that marrieth him with any disease and suffrethe paciently is a martyr bifore god For there is thre maner of martirdomes The firste is by passion and wyll therto by wyll withoute passion by passion withoute wyll The firste is shewyd by sainte Steuyn that is sette next the birthe of Criste for he suffred passion and hadde wyll therto Sainte Iohn euangeliste he had wyll but no passion The innocentes they sufred passion but no wyll therto but ayenste wyll ¶ Thus may a man be a martyr though he shedde natt hys bloode that is whanne he suffreth grete wrong of cursed peple and thanketh god therof and taketh it with goode wyll and prayeth for his ennemyes deuoutly in clene charite ¶ Nowe take hede and ye shall see howe thies thre were in parfyte loue and charitee Sainte steuyn whan he shulde dye he knelyd downe and prayed for his ennemyes Saint Iohan whanne he weÌ„t towarde his ende he saide ofte to them that ladde him Children loue to gyddre for charite is ynough to youre saluacion ¶ The Innocentes for they were so yonge that they coude nat speke yet they shewyd loue by signe For they dyd laughe and playe with theire hondes whan they sawe the knyghtes coÌ„me with their bright swerdes to slee theym Thenne for sainte stevyn was soo gloriouse a martyr god shewyd many faire miracles for him ¶ Narracio ¶ There was an honest man that had seuyn sones and thre doughters But in mysse happe vpon a daye all they wratched the modre at onys And in angre she cursed them al at ones anone there fyll greate vengeaunce vpon theym For there caÌ„me suche a seknesse vpon their preuy meÌ„bres that they were so sore gnawen that they mighte no where abyde for woo But walked vp and downe in the countrey lyke mased bestes that all the peple that sawe theym hadde greate pyte on them ¶ Thenne it hapnyd soo that oone of the bredern that hight poule a suster that hight pallida caÌ„me into the church of sainte Steuyn and there they herde Perle tell howe deuoutly sainte steuyn prayed for his ennemyes that martred him anoon they knelyd downe prayed to saint Steuyn to pray to god for theym they wold be his true seruauntes and knelyd downe in the churche prayed saint Steuen hertly of his help And anoon they fyll a slepe in sighte of all the people and soo were hole And anone wente after al the other bretherne and susterne and they were holpen all in the same wise ¶ Narracio A nother miracle saint austyne tellith howe there was a senatoure of Rome that wente to Ierusalem and there he made a faire chapell of sainte Steuyn and there he dyed and was buryed in the same chapell Thenne longe after his wyf wolde home into her countrey and wolde fayne haue hadde her husbondes bones with her â–ª into her owne countrey and prayed the busshop that she might haue them Then the bisshop broght sainte steuyns bonys her husbondes bones to her and saide I know nat thy husbondes fro saint steuynes Thenne she saide I knowe my husboÌ„des bones well ynough and toke sainte Steuyns bones in stede of her husbondes Thenne whanne she coÌ„me fer in the see aungellys songe with great melody in the ayr and there was a passynge swete sauoure that caÌ„me out fro the bones that passed any spicery in the worlde And anoon they herde fendes cry in the eyre and saide woo wo. is vs for steuyn betyth vs and brennethe vs bytterly and therwith raysed a grete tempest that the shipmen went for to haue be drowned for grete fere cryed to sainte Stephen and anone the tepeste seased Thenne the people herde the fendys crye thus Thou cursed prynce or mayster thou nor we may do no thinge for this shippe For steuyn oure aduersary is therin Thenne the prince of fendys sende fyue fendes for to brenne the shippe But thenne goddes aungell was redy droue the fendys in to the grounde of the see And whan they coÌ„me to the londe with the shippe fendes cryed and saide Goddes seruaunt coÌ„meth that was stonyd to deth with Iewys And thenne in worshippe of sainte steuyn the peple made a churche and leyde his bones therin where god wroghte many a faire miracle for him De scoÌ„ Iohanne euangelista gOode frendes suche a daye ye shall haue an hye feste in holy churche the feste of sainte Iohn euaÌ„geliste the whiche was goddes own derlynge ¶ Wherfore all holy church maketh mynde and mencion of the specialtie that oure lorde gaue to him afore any other of his disciples oure lord gaue hym grace to kepe his virginite and of kepinge of his modre and oure lorde shewyd him his preuyte He gaue hym grace to kepe his virginite that is maydenhode For this story tellith the people haue opinyon ¶ Whan Iohn shulde wedde Mary mawdeleyn crist called him and he coÌ„me and shewyd hym and Iohn lefte the worldes vanite and sued oure lorde and so kepte him selfe clene mayden tyll he passed oute off this world In prayng of this whan douâ—ycian themperour of Rome herde the people telle that Iohan preched in a conteey that was called Asia And there Iohan made to bylde many chirches and whan the emperour herde that he sente after Iohan and made hym be put in a brasen tonne full of sethinge oyle And whan Iohan had longe sodâ—n therin that all the people wente that he had be all to soden and dede Thenne themperour bad open the tonâ—â— and whan the tonne was open Ioâ—â—n come â—ute of the tonne and as he was clene of all synne Soo was he â—leâ—e of all brennyng or harme in all â—â—aityes of his body Another harde â—â—urmente he had on a day
theym playe with them Thus oure lorde Iesu criste was borne a childe the fayrest that euir was borne to drawe maÌ„nys loue to him For while a childe is yong and withoute synne he is more amyable and more louynge then whenne he is at mannys age and is paste innocencye with doyng Sithen the loue is not only for his beaute but for the clenesse of his soule and also for the godenesse Eche man is bounde for to drawe to him and to do him worship as dyd Delauyan the Emperoure of Rome that pleased somoche his people of his empire of Rome that they wold haue worshipped him as for their god But the Emporoure was wyse and wyst well that he was but a man as a nother was and durste nat take that vpon him but anoon he sente after Sybyll the sage and askyd her whedyr sholde after hiÌ„ any be borne that shulde be greter thaÌ„ne he Thenne at mydday Sybyll loked on the sonne and there she sawe a cyrcle of golde aboute the sone Et in medio circuâ—â— virgo pulcerima And in the myddes of the circle a fayre mayden and a childe in her aâ—â—e with a crowne of golde ¶ And whan Syble had shewyd this to the Emperoure she saide 〈◊〉 him â–ª This childe shal be greter than thou arte or euir were or euir shal be And therfore do him worship and reuereÌ„ce TheÌ„ne anoon the emperoure tooke ensence and dyd worshippe to him and charged all the people to doo the same and to call the childe their god and him but a man as other were Thus all cristen people may lerne to do worshippe and â—â—ruyâ—e to this childe this day And therforâ— the thridde masse this daye is saide at myddaye in tokenyng that cristen peple shuld coÌ„me offre in the worshippe of this childe and his modre and shew him seruaunte and subget to him and knowlege this childe for their lord and god And eche man sholde coÌ„me to him for loue and nat for drede And therfore the office of the masse this day begynneth thus Puer natus est nobis A childe is borne to vs he sayth nat a man for all cristen people shold be bolde and nat aferde to come to him to haue grace for he is full of grace and redy to gyue mercy to theym that asketh it mekely with due reuerence he is euyr redy to gyue mercy and grace In tokenynge that same daye that criste was borne in Bethlem a well of water in Rome turned and ranne oyle all that daye shewynge that the well of grace and mercy was borne that daye that sholde gyue mercy and grace to all theym that wolde coÌ„me to him and aske mercy and grace and that ye shall here by ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede of a woman that was defoileâ— in lechery and almooste fyll in dispayre or drede for whan she bethought herof the streitnesse of cristes dome greate peynes of hel that were ordeyned for suche synners as she was sore aferde and bethoughte her of cristes passion â–ª what loue he shewyd to all cristen peple she thought she was vnkynde to hiÌ„ and he suffred so sore for her And theÌ„ne she bethoughte her how children be they neuir so wrothe and shewe neuyr so grete vengeaunce howe lightly they wyll sease and forgyue wherfore this woman cryed to criste prayng him for his childehode to forgyue her and to haue mercy on her and anoon she herde a voyce on high in the ayre and sayde thy trespasse is forgyuen the Sequitur breuis sermo de sancto stephano gOode men and wymen suche a daye ye shall haue a hye a holy feest in the churche of sainte stevyn the marter that suffred for goddes sake after cristes ascension Thenne for to stirre your deuocion the more to this holy martyr I wyll tel you somwhat what that he suffred for cristes sake as the booke of appostels tellith Post ascensionem domini c. After the ascension of oure lorde that he was styed vp into heuyn the appostels laboure was all to preche and to teche the worde of god to cristen peple And for bicause they were to fewe to serue the people that coÌ„me there come so many to torne to the feyth Therfore they chose vi holy men gode lyuers for to helpe theym in goddes seruyce of the whiche sainte Stevyn was one of theym And the firste and the wysest And was so full of grace and myght of the holy goost that he dyd many myracles and meruelous amonge the people But though a man be neuir so holy yet he shall haue enmyes wherfore of diuerse countrees that hadde enâ—te to Stevyn and coÌ„me ayenste him disputed with him for to haue ouircoÌ„me him with disputacion And for they myght nat they brought false wytnes ayenst him and putte him to deth But whan sainte stevyn sawe and knewe their malice anone he thoughte to sease them by one of these thre wayes Other by shamynge in disputacion or by drede of reuelacion or by prayer of holye orysones But firste he saide by shamiÌ„ge in disputacion For whan they begaÌ„ to dispute with him he was full of the holy gooste that they hadde no power ne no might for to gayne say him and so he ouircome theym in all their maters and preuyd all their mater false that they saide ayenste And therfore he saide he was redy to take the deth in verifyenge of all that he said And so put them that were grete clerkes and knew the lawe and the prophecy to shame velonye But yet they wolde nat byleue but alwaye ayenstode him But he was soo full of the holy ghooste that he preuyd that he saide by grete reason and trouthe yet wolde they nat beleue it for all that the holy gooste spake in him And yet for all that wolde they nat beleue in their conscience that they dyd amysse And there as they saw the coÌ„myte turne to the feithe for wordes miracles that god shewyd in their syghte yet they ayenstode him set goddes mirâ—â—â—es at noughte by malice and enuyte of their cursed hertes and by none other reason of scriptur And so they fretyd their hertes within them selue and gruched with their teeth for angre and thoughte howe they might ouircoÌ„me him with disputacion Thenne they soughte if they might haue take hym with some worde of cristes dethe wher by they might haue made them a cause to haue putte him to deth Thenne saint Stevyn knewe their malice and lyfte vp his eyn vnto heuyn Et vidit celos apertos And sawe heuyn opyn and oure lorde Iesu criste sittyng on his faders right honde redy to helpe him And therwith his face shone as bright as it hadde be an aungell of heuyn But whan they herde him speke thenne were they fayn and stopped their crys as though they hadde herde him speke false sclaundriâ—ge wordes of god And soo anoon drewe him oute of the cyte to stone him to
thou thy fader abyde my dere sone and speke wyth me thy fader that is olde may not well goo and thenne at the last this man abode thenne Iohan preched soo that he left his foly and after was soo holy a man that he was a bysshop Thus had Iohan reuelacion of goddis preuyte ¶ Narracio ¶ It is wreten in the lyf of saint Edward the confessour that lyeth at west mynster the saynt Iohan the euaagelist appered to saynt Edward as he went a procession at the halowyng of a chirche saint Iohan appered to hym in lykenes of a palmer prayed the kinge of good for saynt iohaÌ„nis loue the euaÌ„gelist for the kyng loued saynt Iohan well but it happed that the kyng had noo thynge redy there but as he toke a rynge of his fynger and gaue hym soo saynt Iohan had the ryng vii yeres after and thenne saynt iohan appered to two knyghtes that were beyonde the see towardes Iherusalem and asked them how the kyng fared and bad grete hym wel on this token and toke hym the rynge and aske the kynge for whose loue he gaue the ryng a waye and byd hym make him redy For he shall deye soone and soo he dyde ¶ Narracio ¶ A nother fayre reuelacion he had whan he was cx wynter olde and vii thenne our lord come to hym wyth his disciples and said thus Veni dilecte mi quia tempus eÌ„ vt in mea mensa cum fratribê° tuis epularis Come welbeloued derlinge for now is it tyme that thou come ete wyth thy bredern at my borde or in my feste ¶ Thenne Iohan rose vp anone and wolde haue gone forth wyth hym theÌ„ne said our lord to him vp on soÌ„day Thou shalt be wyth me thenne by soÌ„day he was passyng feble Die dominica conuenit ad iohannem vniuersa multitudo populi Soo on the sonday there come to Iohan a grete multytude of people and thenne Iohan made hem to lede hym to the chirche and as he might speke he said to hem that ledde hem thus In fide sitis stabiles et in man datis dei feruentes Be ye stable and sadde in the feyth feruent in the commaundementis off god Thenne sayd one of theym why saye ye thus ofte to vs. Thenne sayde he yf ye loue to gyder and be in parfyghte charyte and sted fast in the feythe it is ynought to saluacion and therfore be ye stable in the feyth and ferueÌ„t in the commaundementes of god And thenne he commaunded to make hym a graue be fore the aulter And whan it was made he wente in to it and theÌ„ne come suche a lyghte aboute hym a grete whyle that noo man myghte see hym And whan this lyght was gone the graue was full of manna and welled vp as dothe sonde in the water And thus he departed out of this worlde in to the blysse of heuen that neuer shall haue ende To that blysse brynge vs all to he that deyed on the rode tree for all mankynde Amen ¶ Sanctorum Innocencium GOod frendis suche a daye is called Innocentes daye some people calle it childermas day for children were slayn that day for cristis sake they be called innocentes that is to say wythout synne for they dyde noo synne for god is euer gretely greued wyth synne and in especyal with proude people ayenst her neyghbourâ— doyng hem wrong Thyse innocentes dyde neuer synne ne consentyng to sinne wherfore I may wel saye that they lyued here wythout shame and deyed wythout blame and were crystened in her owne blode at home and some in her moders armes Holy chirche as this daye singeth and redeth in the worship of thyse innocentes for they were with in two yere of age And therfore they were not ashamed of her owne shaâ—â— For they were not defowled wyth no maner spotte of synne but the synne that they had of the drawte of kynd of our fader adam and eue For adam â— eue ware in the same wise in paradyse in the state of innocenâ—y For they were naked but they were not a shamed of her shappe al the whyle they were wythout sinne but whan they had sinned they saw her owne shappe and were a shamed therof couered her shap wyth leuys of fygge tree Ryght soo whan synne begynneth to take â—oâ—e in a chylde thenne innocency goth away fro hym for he knoweth good from â—â—le and ylle from good and leueth the good and doth the euyll Thenne he synneth and thenne he is not innocente noo lenger For thenne greueth he god But thyse chyldren lyued not so longe to knowe that one from that other but were sleyne wythin age of innocency wherfore they lyued her lyfe wythout shame and blame For kyng herode the kynge of iewes made to slee hem wythoute gyfte For whaÌ„ the thre kynges come to kynge herode and said to hym Vbi eÌ„ qui natê° eÌ„ rex iudeorum ¶ where is he that is borne kynge of iewes and bad hym telle them for they were come to worshyp hym ferre oute the est Thenne was kynge herode foule astonyed of her wordis and asked his clerkis where this childe sholde be borne and they sayd in bethelem iude And thenne kynge herode tolde hem so and bad hem goo thider and worshyp him and come ayen by me that I may goo and worship hym also and so the kyngis wente thyder and worshypped cryste and whan they hadde doone her offryngis to cryste Per aliam viam reuersi sunt iÌ„ regionem suam By another waye they tourned home ayen For the angel bad hem do soo in her slepe Thenne was kynge herode wonder wrothe And anone ordeyned to sle crist and whan he had made all redy therto it happed soo that the Emperour of rome sente after hym for to come to hym in all the hast that he myghte For two of his owne sones had accused hym to the emperour of treson Thenne herode lefte all his purpose of crist as at that tyme. and rode to rome and had the better of his sones And come home ayen wyth more worship than he had tofore But yet alway he thought to sle Criste leste crist had come to mannis estate and wold haue put hym oute of his kyngdom Thenne sente he anone and bad hem slee of the children that were in bethelem and in all the countrey aboute that were wyth in two yeres of age and that were born the same day and so they dyde For kynge herode was goyng and comynge and soo taryeng two yeres therfore he made sle all that euer were wythin two yere of age And for he was soo vengable in party it felle on hym self For a child of his own was slayn amonge other the same tyme. But there come an angell to Ioseph and said to hym Accipe puerum et matrem eiê° et fuge in egiptum Take the child his moder flee in to egypte and be there and so he
SAM PEPYS CAR ET IAC ANGL REGIB A SECRETIS ADMIRALIAE Mens cujusque is est Quisque ¶ The helpe and grace of almighty god thrugh the besechinge of his blessed mo 〈…〉 saynt mary be with vs at oure begynnynge help vs and spede vs here in oure lyuynge and bringe vs vnto the blisse that neuir shalle haue endynge Amen Myn owne simple vnderstondinge I fele wele how it fareth by other that been in the same degree and haue charge of soules and holden to teche their parisshyns of all the principal festys that come in the yere shewynge vnto theym what the hooly saintes suffred and dyd for goddes sake and for his loue So that they sholde haue the more deuocion in good saintes with the bettre wyll come vnto the churche â–ª to serue god and pray his holy saintes of their help But for many excuse theÌ„ for defaute of bokes and also by symplenesse of connynge Therfore in help of suche this tretyse is drawen oute of Legenda aurea that he that lyst to studye therin he shal fynd redy therin of all the principall festes of the yere of echone a shorte sermon nedefull for hiÌ„ to teche and for other to serue And for this treatise speketh of all the high festys of the yere I woll and praye that it be called festiuall the whiche begynneth at the firste sonday of the Aduent in worship of god and all his sayntes that ben wretyn therin ¶ Incipit liber qui vocatur festialis GOde men and wemen this day is called the first sonday in aduent wherfore holy church maketh mencion of the coÌ„mynge of criste goddes sone into this world 〈…〉 maÌ„kinde oute of the deuylles bondage â–ª to bringe all well doers into the blisse that euir shall last And also of his other coÌ„mynge that shall be at the daye of dome whan he shall coÌ„me to deme all wacked doers into the peyne of hel for euir But the firste coÌ„mynge of â—huÌ„ Criste into this worlde brought ioye and blisse with him Therfore holy churche vsed songes of myrth as alleluya and other And for the second coÌ„mynge of criste shall be soo cruell that no tonge may tell Therfore holy churche seyth downe songes of melodye as Te deum Gloria in excelsis â–ª and weddinge For after that daye shall 〈◊〉 be weddinge more in to 〈…〉 ynge of veÌ„geaunce that coÌ„meth after Then after the the first coÌ„myng of crist into this worlde sainte Austyn sayth there been there thinges ryf in this worlde that ben 〈◊〉 the trauayll and deth This is the testamente that Adam oure forme fadre made to all his ofsprynge after him that is to be borne in sekenesse and for to lyue in trauayll and for to dye in drede But criste he came to be oure socoure of this testamente and was borne and trauayled and deyed he was borne to bringe men oute of sekenesse into euirlastinge helthe he trauayled to bryng man to euir lastinge reste he deyed to brynge man to euirlastinge lyf This was the cause of the firste coÌ„mynge of criste into this worlde wherfore h 〈…〉 wyll escape the dome that he shall coÌ„me to in the secounde coÌ„myng he must ley downe all maner of pryde of herte and knowe him selue a wreche of erth and holde meknesse in his hert he must trauayle his body in good werkes and gete truly his lyuelode with trauayll of his body and putte awaye all ydelnesse For he that woll nat trauayl his body in good werkes â–ª as sainte beinÌ„ sayth he shall trauayll euir with fendes in hel and for drede of dâ—th he muste make him euir redy to god whan he woll fende for him that is to say shryue 〈◊〉 â—ene of all his synnes and nat 〈…〉 yere to yere but assone as he 〈…〉 ryse vp and mekely tak◠〈…〉 fadre then shall 〈…〉 come haue gret worship 〈…〉 a knight she wyth his woū◠〈…〉 had in batayll in moche 〈…〉 to him Right so the synnes 〈…〉 hath doon and is shreuyn of 〈…〉 his penaunce shal be moche wâ—â—ship to him and grete coÌ„fusion to 〈…〉 And that he hath nat shryu◠〈◊〉 â—halbe shewyd openly to al the worlde in grete shamâ— to him This is sayd for the firste coÌ„mynge of crist in to this worlde Vnde DnÌ„s veniet ad iudicium· The coÌ„mynge of criste is to the dome Tunc videbunt filium hominis venientem in nubibus cum potestate magna et maiestate And these coÌ„mynges shal be so cruell that fyftene daies afore shall coÌ„me tokens of grete drede So that therby the people may knowe that sone after coÌ„myth the dome Secundum IeronimuÌ„ As Ierom sayth The firste day the water shall ryse vpon the see and it shall be higher than any hyll by xl cubytes The secounde day the see shal fal downe so lowe that vnnethe it may be seâ—â— The thridde daye all the fysshe and bestes in the see shall make suche a crye and a rorynge that no tonge may tell it but god him selue The fourthe daye the see and waters shall brenne· The v day all trees â–ª and herbes shall swete blood and al maner of foules shal coÌ„me to gidder and nother ete nor drynk for drede of the dome that is coÌ„mynge The vi day all grete bildinges castel sys toures steples and houses shal fal downe and brenne tyll the sonne ryse ayen The vii day all stones and rockes shall bete to gydre that eche shall breke other with an horrible noyse whiche shal be herde into heuyn The eyghte day the erthe shall quake so that there may no man stonde theron but shall fall downe The ix day the peple shal goo oute of their dennys goo as they were myndlesse and noone speke to other The tenth day hylles and erth shal be euyn and playn The xi day al graues and tombes shall open and the bodies shall stonde vpon them The tuelthe day sterres shall fall from heuyn shotynge oute brennynge bemys a dredefull signe to see The xiii day they shall deye that beren lyf The xiiii day heuyn and erthe shall brenne The xv day heuyn and erthe shal be made new and all people shal aryse in the age af xxx wynter and coÌ„me to the dome Dominus veniet ad iudicium cum multitudine angelorum ¶ Thenne shall come to the dome our lord Ihesu Criste very god and man wyth his angelis And shewe his wouÌ„dis fresshe bledyng as thaâ— daye he deyed on the crosse wyth all the instrumeÌ„tes of his passion ¶ The spere croune scourges nailes hamer pynsones and the garland of thornes to shewe what he suffred in his passion for mankynd Thenne maye they be sory and ferde that haue sworne by his passion or wouÌ„dis or by ony membre of his body that shall be a grete represse to theym But they amende theym in this worlde or they deye Thenne wyll our lorde gretely thanke theym that haue doo mercy in this worlde for his sake to theyr euyn crysten And
tourne ayen to synne and thenne truste vereyly ye shall haue grace mercy and socour to euerlastyng ioye and blysse wherfor thinke for certeyne though ye make it glosyng wyth wordes for to disceyue your goostly fader and saye that ye be in charyte and bee not ye begyle your self and truste truly ye shall not begyle god that seeth euery corner af your hertes ¶ And therfore dysceyue not yoâ—â—e owne soules for the loue of god And be also besy and redy to make your soules clene to the syghte of god as ye ben to make your houses to the syght of man and as ye wolde araye you in your best clothes that ye haue ayenst the comynge of your best frendis soo sholde ye araye you now to receyue your beste frende that is your maker our Lord Ihesu Criste that this tyme suffred passion and dethe to brynge vs to euerlastiÌ„ge lyf ¶ This daye is called also a passyng daye and in especiall for two causes One is for this daye all cristen people in reuerence of god sholde forgyue all theym that haue trespaced to hem and be in parâ—â—â—e loue and charyte to all 〈…〉 sholde be amendyd with the salâ—â— that â—â—â—eth al soâ—â— that is chaâ—â—e Câ—ritus cooperit multitudineÌ„ peccatorum Charite coueryth the multitude of synnes It is also a passinge day For this day shold al goddes châ—ldren passe out of euyll lyuynge into good lyuynge oute of vyces into vertues oute of pryde into mekenesse oute of couetyse in largenesse out of slouthe into holynes oute of enuye into loue and charite ouâ—e of wrathe into mercy oute of glotony into abstinence oute of lechery in to chastite out of the fendes clawes into goddes armes and of his grete enmye make his dere frende And he that passeth thus is worthy to coÌ„me to a good feste the whiche oure lorde Iesu maketh this daye to all the people It is called also goddes sonday For this day goddys sone rose from deth to lyue and so gladdeth all his seruauntes with hys vp rysinge wherfore all holy churche maketh myrthe and melody this daye and singeth thus Hec est dies quam fecit dominus exultemus et letemur iÌ„ ea This is the daye that oure lorde made ioye we and gladde we in that with al oure bertes for the fadre of heuyn with all his aungellyâ— maketh so grete melody of the vprysynge of his sone that he maâ— to daye a passinge grete fest and byâ—â—â—th all cristen people thertâ— aswell those that ben in heuyn as thâ—se that been in erthe and they shall be full welcome that coÌ„me to this feeste 〈…〉 that is a gâ—de clothynge that is in loue and charite And also euyll shal those be that shal coÌ„me in the fendes leuerye clothed in wrathâ— and enuye For as the gospell telleth these shall be caste in pryson of hell And thenne while other laughe and maâ—e mery they shall wepe and be sory and whâ—le some ete and drynâ— at goddes borde they shall grynne wythe their teeth and saye Ve ve ve quante suÌ„t tenebre wo. wo. wo. many derknesse been here For they shall thynk that they may fele the derknesse it is so derke and the peynes of hell shal be so hard for wormes shall gnawe them for they ete her eyen cristen here in this lif in erth with false baâ—bytynge and sâ—laundrynge ¶ wherfore I charge you in goddes name that noon of you coÌ„me thus to goddes borde but if ye be in parfyte loue and charite and be clene shreuyn and in full purpose to leue your synnes For and I wyst in certayn whiche were oute of charite and in dedely synne I must by the lawe of holy churche with a loude voyce say thus to theym in audience of all the people I gyf the nat thy housyll to thy saluacion bâ—â—â—e to thy dampnacion tyll thou coÌ„me to amendmente And therfore euery cristen man and woman sholde serche wel his conscience and make him able to reâ—â—â—ue his sauyour Iesu criste to the heâ—â—â—e of his soule that she may coÌ„me after this fynall lyf to euirlustinge ioye Amen gOode frendes theâ—e thre daies that is to saye Monday Tuysday and and wenesdaye ye shall faste and go in procession man woman and seruantes for al we be synners and haue nede to pray to god for helpe grace and mercy for they may nat excuse therin fro the procession that may laâ—fully be there Than he that withdraweth him self fro the coÌ„maundment of holy churche wylfully he synneth full greuouslye Firste he synneth in pryde for he is vnbuâ—um Also he synneth in slouthe that knoweth him selue in synne and wyll nat do his diligence to coÌ„me out therof right as he withdrawyth him fro peple that be gadred to serue god Right so wyll god putt him from all the company of heuyn and from all the prayers that be doon in holy churche tyll he come to amendement Therfore all cristen people come only to gidder pray these thre daies to all the sayntes in heuyn to pray to god for vs For we haue synned many tymes in the yere ayeÌ„ste the coÌ„maundment of god And therfore these thre daies we shall faste and pray to god of mercy and remission of oure synnes and put awaye al the power of the fende and kepe vs from al myscheuous peryl and dredys that fal this tyme of the yere more than any other tyme For in this tyme many grete thundres and lightnynge and as Lyncolnyence saith Ther were fendes that fleteryn in the ayr for fere of the blast of thundrynge whan that criste coÌ„me to hell gates whan he dispoyled hell And so yet whanne they here the thunder in the ayre they been so agast therof that they fallen downe and then go they nat vp ayen tyll they haue don some cursed dedes For than they 〈…〉 tempestes in the see and drawe downe shippes and make debate emonge the people and make one to slee a nother and tende fyre and brenne houses and drawe downe steples and trees and cause wymmen to ouirlye their children and make people to hange theym selue and drowne them self in wanhope and in dispayre and do many cursed dedys And for to putte awaye all suche myscheuys the power of the fende Holy church hathe ordeyned that al cristen peple shal faste and goo in processioun these thre daies and pray to god and to oure lady and to all the saintes of heuyn of helpe and socoure ¶ wherfore in these processiones belles be ronge baners be spleyed the crosse coÌ„myth after the people suyth after For right as a kinge whanne he goth to a battayl his troÌ„pettes goon to fore Thenne the baners and thenne coÌ„meth the king and his oft folowynge So in this processioun the bellys been goddes trompettes the baners coÌ„me after Thenne coÌ„meth the croce in cristes lyknesse as kinge of cristen people and all sewe him and with her good prayers chace awaye the fendys that they
and all suche thynges that may come of cursed and wyked tonges Therfore the holy ghoste cometh in the lyckenesse of tonges of brennynge fyre to brenne oute the malyce and enuy and to anoynte hem wyth swetnes off grace loue and charyte And therfore we shall praye to the holy ghoste to yeue vs grace so to tempre our tonges that we maye euermore speke good that our hertes maye be fed wyth mekenesse that we may be able to be fed wyth the holy ghoste as saynt Gregory was whan he expowned the prophecye he toke to hym his deken saynt Peter to wryte as he expowned and made drawe bytwene hem For saynt Peter shold not see how he dyde in his stodyeng Thenne as saynt Gregory satt in his chayer Holdyng vp his hondys and his eyen to heuen warde The holy ghost came lyke a white doue wyth fote and bylle brennyng golde and satte on Gregory ryght sholdre and putte her bylle in Gregoryes mouth And whan he wythdrewe it thenne he bad Peter wryte and soo contynued tyl he had made an ende But he expowned the gospell soo boldly that Peter had merueylle therof and preuely made a hole in the cloth that was bytwene gregory and hym and sawe how the holy ghoste fedde hym And anone the holy gost shewed Gregory how Peter had done thenne Gregory blamed Peter And charged hym that he shold neuer saye noo thynge whyle he lyued But whan gregory was dede an heretyâ—â— wolde haue â—renned his bokys That this holy man 〈◊〉 And thenne Peter wythstode hym and saide nay and tolde all how the holy ghoste had done to hym whyle he expowned the prophecy And soo saued his bokes vnbrenned that he had made by the grace of god and yefte of the holy ghoste the whiche yeue vs grace to be fedde of hym here in our lyuyng that we maye haue the blysse that neuer shall haue ende ameÌ„ ¶ In die sancte trinitatis GOod men and wymmen this daye is an hyghe and a soleÌ„pne feste in holy chirche For it is of the holy trynyte For as holy chirche atte wytsontyde maketh mencion how the holy goost come to crystis dysciples Now at this tyme is made mencion of all thre persones that is for to say Pater filius et spiritus sanctê° Fader sone and holy ghost thre persones and one god wherfore we ben bouÌ„de to doo al the reuerence and worship that we can or maye to this holy trynyte Also ye shall vnderstond why how And what the cause is that this feste was ordeyned This holy fest was worshyped for the trynyte fyrst fyndyng for heretykis confoundyng and for the Trynyte worshypynge Fyrste it was ordeyned for the fourme of the trynyte fyndyng And a greate clerke Iohan belleth telleth that fourme trinite was in the first man adam oure soâ—â— fader that cometh of theâ—â—he one persone and eue of adam the seconde persone of them bothe cometh the thirde persone as her chylde Thus the trynyte was founde in man wherfore man shold haue mynde to doo worshype to the holy trynyte For holy chirche ordeyned that in weddynge of a man and woman to gyder soo that the masse of the Trynyte is songen And atte his dethe one bell shall be ronge in worshyp of the trynyte wherfore all cristeÌ„ people ben bounde gretly to worshyp the holy trynyte The second cause is the feste is ordeyned in confundynge of heretykes and of lollers for to dystroye them and her false opynyons that they had ayenst the holy trynyte For ryght as heretykis in the begynnynge of the feyth wyth her swete wordes and fals opynyons were aboute to distroye the feyth of the holy trynyte In the same wyse lollers nowe a dayes wyth her false spyce of gyle be aboute also to wythdrawe the people from the trewe byleue and feyth of the holy trynyte the byleue feyth of the holy chirche Popes martirs and confessours to the deth Ryght soo now thyse lollers pursuen men of holy chirche ben aboute in all maner wayes that they can and may fynde to distroye and vndo hâ—m soo that they myghte haue theyr purpose And thus they shew openly that they be not goddis seruauntes For they ben oute of charyte and he that is oute of charyte is ferre from god But he that suffreth trybulacyon persecucion and disease for the loue of al myghty god And preyeth for his â—es and mysdoers And wylle doo noo vengeaunce but put all in god almyghty and quyte hem ful well in euerlastynge blysse For oure Lorde sayth thus Michi vindictam et ego retribuam Put all thynge to me and I shal quyte euery man after his deseruynge for though god suffre holy chyrche to bee pursued by suche mysse and proude he uerys at the laste he ordeyneth suche a remedy that holy chirche is holpen and her enmyes confounded and shamed Thus it happed on a tyme wyth themperour of rome that hyght Attylya â–ª he was made by heretikes as Iohan bellet telleth the whiche emperour pursued cristen peple sore and hated hem and holy chirche gretly wherfor he made to brenne all the bokes that myght be founde of crysten feyth But as almyghty god wolde â–ª there was a good holy man and that was a grete clerke and the clerke was called Alpunous that in mayntenynge of the feyth off holy chirche he made the story of the trinyte â–ª and the story all soo of saynt steuen and brought it vnto the pope for to haue hem songen and rede in holy chirche But by counseyll of that greâ— clerke they toke the story of saynt steuen and lefte the story of the holy trynyte tyll the tyme that saynt Gregory was pope thenne for to preue hem and doo hem shame that ben suche mysbyleuyng people and wold not byleue in the trynyte but made after her reason many heretykes and in consyderacion ¶ of hem ¶ Saynt Gregory the pope ordeyned this feste to be halowed and this story to be songe and redde in holy chirche in worship of the Trynite wyth all cristen people The thirde cause is for the hyghe trynyte worshypynge and for all crysten men shold knowe howe in what maner they shold byleue in the trynyte for as holy chirche techeth he that byleueth in the trynyte shall be saued and they that done not shall bee dampned ¶ Thenne it is full expedyent and nedefull to all crysten people to knowe how they shold lyue ye shal vnderstonde that parfyt loue to god is the byleue For he that byleueth parfitly maketh noo questions Fides non habet meritum vbi humana racio pâ—ebet experimentum ¶ Feyth hath noo mede ne meryte where mannys wytte yeueth experience Thenne it is good for all crysten peple to make loue to be medyatoure to the holy ghoste prayng hym to lyghten vs wythin our soules that we may haue grace to come to his parfyte byleue Therfore this daye was set next wytsondaye hopynge that the holy ghoste wyll be redy to all
Crysten people that wyll calle hym And specyally in lernyng of the feyth but yet for mannys wyttes be dulle to lerne theÌ„ne they maye not se nor here â–ª but they be brought in by grete ensample But that people is not most comendable yf we may by ensample come the soner to the byleue in the fader and the sone and the holy ghoste thre persones and all one god take hede of this ensaÌ„ple â–ª Of â–ª yse snowe and water howe yâ— thyse thre ben dyuerse eche in substauÌ„ce and yet is all but water ye may vnderstonde by the water the fader bi the yse the sone and by the snowe the holy ghoste water is an element that hathe grete myght and strenthe as the mayster Alisaunder sayth It is aboue heuen in the maner of yse side a castall and doth worship to heuen and anone it is vnder erthe And therthe is grounded vpon water And dauid saith in the psalter it is al about the worlde and in all thinge for in harde stones and yron somtyme is swete water for this water is soo full of myghte that is to vnderstonde the fader that his power is soo moche that he gouerneth al the worlde and knoweth all thynge all thynge is at his wylle and commaundement By the sone Ihesu crist ye shall vnderstonde yse that is water congeled harde and bretyll that is ihesu cryste very god and man that toke the substance and freilte of mankynd ¶ whan he was conceyued of the holy ghoste in the virgyn Mary and borne of her body god that suffred passion vndre ponce pylate done vpon the crosse deyed and was buryed and the thirde daye rose from deth to lif and after on holy thursday styed vp in to heuen and shall come ayen at the daye off dome and deme the quycke and the dede By the snowe ye shall vnderstonde the holy ghoste for ryght as snowe is but water and yse and lyghte in thayre but how noo man can telle So comyth the holy ghoste from the fader the sone Spiritus sanctus a patre et filio noÌ„ factus nec creatus nec genitus sed procedens But how it is for noo man to study for it excedith all mennys wytt to stody therupon but sadly byleue the fader is full god almyghty and of him come the sone full god and of hem bothe comyth the holy ghoste full god This trynyte was knowen in the fullyng of cryste as the gospell telleth· In baptismo cristi tota trnitas se manifestauit scilicet pater in voce filius in carne spiritus sanctus in coluÌ„ba et totuÌ„ celum apertum erat ¶ Thenne our lorde Ihesu cryste was baptised in the water of flom Iordan And all the people nye of the countree there aboute were baptysed there wyth hym and as they were in her prayers Et aperti sunt celi et spiritus sanctus descendit sicut coluÌ„ba The holy goost come downe in liknesse of a whyte doue And lyghted on crystis hede Et vox de celo dicens Hic est filius meus dilectus in quo michi bene complacui And the fader spake in heueÌ„ and said Thou arte my welbeloued sone that pleaseth me well that was the holy trinyte that spake in his persone and the sone was bodely there in his persone Than Iohan baptist sayd to the peple Ecce agnus dei See the lambe of god And the holy goost was seen in his persone Sicut columbaÌ„ descendenteÌ„ â—s a 〈◊〉 done come downe and thise thre ben but one god in trinite wherfore it were full nedefull to all crysten people to praye besely soo that we maye haue grace to haue the parfight loue to byleue in the fader the sone and holy goost thre persones and one god in Trinyte ¶ Narracio ¶ we fynde that the moder of Saynt Edmunde of pountney as he stodyed of this holy trynyte she appered vnto him and leyed in his honde thre ringes eche with in other And in the first was wryten Pater The fader In the secound Filius The sone In the thirde Spiritus sanctus The holy gooste sayd My dere sone To suche fygures take hede and lerne what thou mayst And take good hede to this ensample For ryght as a rynge is rounde wythoute ony beginnyng and ending right soo ben thre persones in one god But for to stody how it myghte be it is but foly for it excedeth ony mannys wytt to muse ther vpon but sadly byleue ther vpon ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede of a clerke that was gretly lerned in dyuinyte the whiche stodyeth besely to haue broughte this in a boke why god wolde be byleued one god â— thre persones â— soo as he walked on a day stodyeng on this mater by the see sonde he was ware of a faire child sittyng on the see sonde had a lytyl shelle in his honde therwyth he toke water out of the see and cast it in to alâ—tyl pytte fast by Thenne sayd this mayster to this chyld Sone â—â—at doost thou and he sayd Syre I am abowte to haue all this water yâ— is in the see in to this lytyll pytte TheÌ„ne said the mayster that shalt thou neuer doo it passeth ony mannys power Syre sayd he as soone shall I doo this as thou shall doo that thou arte aboute to doo And anone the child vanysshed awaye Thenne this mayster thought it was not goddis wyll lefte his stodyenge in that mater and thanked god hyghely By this ensample ye may see that it is not goddis wil that we shold muse in that mater But stedfastly belyue in the fader the sone and the holy ghoste Veni per fidem trinitatis Come by feyth and loue of this perfyght feyth of the trynite Veni per opera misericordie Come by the werkys of mercy doing Veni per opera iusticie Come to this belyue by doyng of werkis of rightwysnesse and thus ye shal come to this parfyte beleue fader sone holy ghoste Et tunc conoraberis corona glorie eterne ¶ And thenne thou shat be crowned wyth a crowne of euerlastynge Ioye and blisse to the whiche brynge vs to the holy Trinyte ¶ De corpore cristi GOod frendis ye shall vnderstonde that this daye is an hye And a solempne feste in holy chirche the feste of Corpus cristi it is the feste of oure lordis owne body the whiche is offred to the hye faâ—er of heuen atte the auter in remyssion of oure synnes for all Crysten people that lyue here in parfyte lyf and charyte and grete socour and help in releuyng hem that ben in peynes of purgatory there abydyng the mercy of god ¶ ye shall vnderstonde that this feste was found by a pope that was called Vrban the v the whiche had grete grace and deuocion in the sacramente of the aulter consyderyng the grete mede helpe and socour to mannys soule And to the forderynge of lyuyng to all crysten people here in
this present world Therfor he ordeyned this present feste to be halowed in the next thursdaye after the feste of the holy Trynyte for all crysten people that wyll be sauyd muste haue sad beleue in the holy sacrameÌ„t that is goddis owne body in fourme of brede made by the vertue of crystis wordes that the prest sayth by workyng of the holy ghoste ¶ Thenne for this holy pope thoughte to drawe people to more deuocion and better wyll to this holy sacrament and to doo seruyce this daye he graunteth to all that ben worthy that be they that be verey contryte and shreuen of her synnes be in the chirche at bothe euynsonges at matyns and at masse For eche a â— dayes of pardon and for eche hour off the day xl daies of pardoÌ„â— for euery day of the vtas a C. dayes of pardoÌ„ in remission of all her synnes for euermore enduryng thenne ye shall vnderstonde that Our lord Ihesu cryste on sherethursdaye at nyght whan he had souper and wyst well in the moroweâ— that he shold suffre his passion and dethe and passe oute of this worlde vnto his fadre in heuyn He ordeyned a perpetuall memory of his passion to abyde for euir with all cristen peple in erth He tooke brede and wine and made his owne flesshe and blode and gaue it to his disciples to ete and to drynke said Accipite et manducate hoc est corpus meum Take ye this and ete it for it is myn oune flesshe and blood And this he dyd for they sholde haue mynde of him so he yaue other prestys power to make his body of brede and wyne Thus euery preeste hath power to make the sacrament be he good or badde For the sacramente may no man amende nor payre but he that is a good man and a holy lyuer helpyth greatly them that he prayeth fore And he that doth the offyce of the preest worthely and trulye shal be gladde and ioyfull that euir he was borne Foâ—â—â—re lorde hath yeuyn a preest a 〈…〉 power here in erthe that he gaue neuir to aungell in heuen that is to make his owne body in fourme of breed Therfor ye shal haue worshippe more in heuyn thanne any tong can tell or herte thynke And he that is an euyll lyuer and knoweth him selfe in dedely synne and presumeth to mynistre that worthy sacrament and wyl nat amende him he may be sure of perpetuel dampnacion with fendys of hel in euirlastinge peyne Thenne shall ye vnderstonde that he graunteth this sacrament to be vsed for euirmore in holy churche For foure causes that be nedefull to all cristen people The firste is for mannys grete helpynge The secounde for cristes passion myndynge The thridde for greate loue shewynge And the fourthe for grete mede getting Nota quod propter nouem raciones prodest homini audire missaÌ„ secunduÌ„ augustinum Saint Austyn sayth it profytteth greatly all cristen peple to here masse and in especial for ix causes â— sayth thus Quia illo die qua audieret missaÌ„ necessaria cibaria coÌ„ceduÌ„tur For that day that he heryth a masse he shall nat fayll of noo bodily fode nor no necessary thynge that shall be longynge to nor no lett shall haue in his iournaye where that he trauayleth The secounde is all venyall synnes shall be forgyue him and ydel wordes The thridde is that if aman dye it shal stonde for his housell The fourth he shall nat that day lose his sighte The fyfte all ydell othes that day shall be foryeuyn The vi that daye he shal 〈◊〉 no soden dethe The vii aslonge as he heryth the masse he shall nat wâ—â— olde The viii all all his steppes towarde and from warde the churche hâ—â— goode aungyll reknyth to his saluacion The nynthe all the while that he beholdeth the holy sacramente all wycked spirites flee from him and haue no power ouir him be he neuir so grete a synner This helpe and socour we haue of the holy goost and of the sacrament here in erthe and at oure laste ende al cristen people woll sende after the pâ—â—este to coÌ„me to him with goddes body â–ª and to resceyue it knowynge wel that he beleuyth stedfastly that it is the same flesshe and bloode that criste toke of oure lady saint mary and was born of her body very god man and after suffred passion and deth on the crosse for mankynde and leyde in tombe and rose from deth to lyue and now syttethe on his faders right hond in heuyn and shall coÌ„me ayen at the daye of dome and deme the quycke and the dede euery man after his deseruynge So with this parfite beleue al cristen peple shal be armed and made stronge to wythstonde the fendes that wyll coÌ„me and assayle at the departynge bitwene the body and the soull for thenne fendes coÌ„me besily to bringe him out of the beleue Thenne shall the sacrament that a man hath rescâ—yued in his lyf make him mighty and stronge that he shall sette all the fendes at noughte and soo ouircoÌ„me thâ—ym A nother skyll that the sacramente is broughte to a man to aske mercy of criste and remission of his synnes hauynge full truste and byleue that criste is euir redy to forgyue al theym that wyl aske mercy with a meke herte as dauid sayth Cor contritum et humiliatum deus non despicies A contrite herte and a meke oure lorde shall neuir dispyse and that we may se by ensample whanne he hange vpon the crosse bitwene ii theuys that were men of cursed lyuynge And therfore they were ordeyned to be dede that one asked mercy with a meke hert and sayd in this wyse Domine duz veneris in regnuÌ„ tuum memento mei Lorde quod he whanne thou coÌ„myste to thy kyngdome haue mynde of me anoon at his firste asking he gaue him mercy more ouir he sayd to him thus Hodie mecum eris in paradiso This day thou shalte be with me in paradise And that other theef wolde aske no mercy in noo wyse for pryde he had in his herte and therfore he was dampned to hell Thus oure lorde Iesu cryste shedde his blood on the crosse in helthe of all mankynde So in the masse he shewyth his blood in grete socoure helpe and saluacion to all mankynde and the same flesshe and blood is shewed euery day in the masse for we sholde beleue stedfastly theron And he that beleuyth nat theron verily that it is so shall nat be sauyd at the day of dome ¶ Narracio ¶ Therfore I tell you this ensample that is in the lyf of Odo the Busshop of Caunterbury this busshop had wythe him clerkes that beleâ—yd nat parfytely in the sacrament of the auter and sayd they coude nat beleue that the bodye and blood of crist myght be mynistred in the masse Thenne was this busshop sory and prayed to god besily for her amendement And so on a day whanne he was at the
masse and had made the fraction he sawe the blood droppe fro the oste in the chalyce Thenne he made a signe vnto theym that beleuyd natt to coÌ„me nere him and to see And whan they sawe his fyngers blody the blode ran from the oste into the chalyce anoon for grete fere they cryed sayd O thou blessed man that hast this grace to holde cristes body in thy hondes that droppeth blood in the chalice we beleue verily therupon and we beseche the verily to pray to him for vs that thou haste in thy hondes that he take no vengeaunce on vs for oure misbileue and we cry mekely mercy And anon the ost turnyd into the fourme of brede as it was bifore And thenne they were parfyte men of bileue euir after A nother skyll is that the sacrament is made in the aulter to make a man by often syght therof the soner haue mynde on cristes passion and to haue it in mynde for it is the beste defence ayenst the teÌ„ptacion of the fende For sainte Austyne sayth the mynde of cristes passion putteth awaye all temptaciones the power of all wycked spirites And for this cause rodes and ymages been sett on hye in the churches for as sone as a man coÌ„meth into the churche he sholde se it and haue it in his mynde and thinke on cristes passion wherfore croces other ymages be ful necessary nedefull what someuir these lollers saye For and it had nat be full profytable holy faders wold haue distroyed them many yeres a goon For right as the people do worshippe to the kinges seall nat for loue of the seale but for reuereÌ„ce of the kinge that it coÌ„meth fro Soo rodes and ymages be sette for the kynges seal of heuyn and other saintes in the same wise For ymages been lewed people bokes And as Iohn Bellet sayeth ther been many thousandes of peo that can nat ymagine in their hertes howe criste was don on the crosse but as they se by ymages in the churches and in other places there as they been And for to haue the bettre mynde of cristes passion I shall tell you this ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ There was a cristen man of EngloÌ„de that went into the holy londe and 〈…〉 red an hethen man to be his guide and as he caÌ„me vnto a faire forest and sawe many faire thinges â–ª but this cristened man maruayled gretly that herd no noys of birdes therof he had gret meruayll and saide to this hethen man I meruayll moche that there is no songe of birdes in this wode Then sayd this hethen man This is the weke that ye call passion weke that your greate prophete dyed in wherfore on sonday ytâ—aâ—te was that ye call palme sonday all the foules of this wode dyed for sorowe all this weke shall lye as dede But on sonday nexte coÌ„mynge that ye call esterday they quycken ayen all the yere after they make melody whrefore 〈◊〉 vp in to the trees and see and thenne he sawe euery bowe of the trees lye full of byrdes as flatte as they had be sprede on the crosse ¶ Thenne sithe byrdes haue mynde of cristes passion and make suche mornynge and sorowe Moche more cause hath mankynde that was broughte from euirlastinge dampnacion to euirlasting saluacion by his passion ¶ The thridde cause is why the sacrament is vsed in the alter For a maÌ„ sholde by the sight therof thynke on oure lorde Iesu criste fader of heuyn that hathe but one sone that he louyth passing all thynge but he spared nat to sende him downe into this worlde to suffrer passion and deth to shede his precious blode for mankynde to bye him out of the fendes bondes and to wryte a charter with his owne preciouse blood of fredome for euirmore to all mankynd So that a man forfayte nat his charter by dedely synne But he that louyth god wyll kepe his charter for god asketh a man but loue wher he sayth thê° Da michi cor tuuÌ„ et sufficit michi et cetera Sone gyue me thy herte and it is enoughe for me Thenne take hede of this ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ There was an erle of venys that was called sir Ambright that louyd the sacrament in the Auter passinge well dyd it all the worshippe and reuerence that he coude and myght So whanne he leye seke and shold be dede he might nat resceyue the sacramente for castinge thenne was he sory and made dole and thenne he lete make clene his right side and to couer it with a fayre clothe of fendyll and leyde goddes body theren and sayd thus to the oste Lorde thou knowest that I loue the with all my herte and wolde fayn resceyue the with my mouthe and I durst And for I may nat I lay the on that place that is nexte to myn herte and so I shewe the all the loue of myn herte that I can or maye wherfore I besech the good lorde haue mercy on me and euyn therwith in sight of all the peple that were aboute him his syde openyd and the oste wente in there to his syde thenne it closed ayen and so anoon after he dyed and departyd oute of this worlde ¶ Soo lete vs loue the sacramente in oure lyf and doo it reuerence â–ª and worshyp and thenne at oure laste ende whanne we shall dye and passe oute of this worlde it woll socour vs and bringe vs to euirlastinge blisse Thus the sacramente is vsed for grete mede gettynge to all that beleue therin For though it haue the lykenesse of brede and the taste it is flesshe and semyth brede it is quycke and semyth dede ye must byleue verily that it is goddes blessed body that tooke flesshe and blood of the virgyn mary and after died on the crosse and rose fro deth to lyue and styed vp into heuyn and nowe sytteth on his faders right honde shall coÌ„me ayen at the day of dome to deme the quycke and the dede And he that resceyueth it here and beleuyth verilye theruppon shall haue euirlastinge lyf in the kyngdom of heuyn as the gospel sayth Qui manducat hunc paneÌ„ viuet in eternum who so etyth of this brede shall lyue euyr and neuir be dede And he that resceyueth it and beleueth nat thus Reus erit in iudicio At the daye of dome he shall be dampned into euirlastinge peyne Augustinus iÌ„ persona cristi Manducas me non mutabis me inte sed tu mutaberis in me Saint Austyn sayth in the persone of criste Ete me but I shal nat turne and chaunge into the but thou shal turne chaunge into me ¶ we rede that ther was a iewe that wente with a cristen man a felowe of his into a churche of cristen people and herde masse Et post missam dixit Iudeus And after masse sayde the Iewe thus Si ego tantum edissem quaÌ„tuÌ„ comedisti non esuriem vt puto in tribus
to gyue to theym that had nede Then blessed Laurence folowed his master and saide Sancte pater noli me derelinquere Holy fader forsake nat me for I haue dealyd all the tresoure that thou tookest to me wherfore go nat thou to thy passion assone but let me goo with the as we haue seruyd god to gydder So lete vs suffre deth to gyddre Then said the pope I wyll goo to fore and thow shall come after and suffre more penaÌ„ce then I may For I am olde and thou arte yonge and mayste suffre more thaÌ„ I. and therfore make the redy for ther is grete turment ordeyned for the TheÌ„ were there some that herde LaureÌ„ce speke of treasoure Thenne the Emperouâ— sente after Laurence and sayd Ostende michi thesauros eccleÌ„ Shewe me the tresoure of the churche or els thou shalte be putt to suche a torment that thou shal be fayne to deliuer it Thenne how pope Sixtê° and saint Laurence come to this treasour ye shal here ¶ we rede that there was a hooly man that hight origines that coÌ„uerted Philyp the Emperoure Thenne the Realme of Fraunce was rebell ayenste the emperoure of Rome Thenne the emperoure sent a knight of his into Fraunce with moche people to ouircome fraunce This knyght was called decyus and in shorte tyme he made frauÌ„ce subgettes to the Emperoure as they were bifore Then whanne this emperoure phylip herde that Decyus hadde doon so well to grete worshyp to Decius and to thanke him for his iourney The emperoure toke with him a fewe men and rode oute of Rome ayenst decius to welcome hym home Thenne decius sawe that the Emperoure dyd him so greate worship he thoughte it hadde be for drede and nat for loue thought to be emperoure him selue And so in the nyght nexte after as the Emperoure lay in his bedde slepynge Decius slew him and toke all his people to Rome with him Thenne whanne the Romaynes the senatoures herde therof what for drede and what for loue they made Decius Emperoure Thenne whanne Philippes sone herde tel that his fader was dede in this wyse he was aferde that decius wolde haue slayne him and tooke all his faders tresoure to holy churche and bare it to pope Sixtus and to Laurence praynge hem if so were that Decius slewe him they shold dele this treasoure to holy churche and â—o pore people that hadde nede Thenne decius made to slee philyps sone for fere left he wolde auenge his faders deth whanne he hadde come to mannys state And this was the tresoure that pope Sixtus and Laurence hadde and for this tresoure they put LaureÌ„ce into prison Then was there a man that hyght Lucellê° in prison that by grete weping had loste his sighte then Laurence made him to se agayn and cristned hym wherfore many blynde men wymen come to Laurence and hadde ther sight Thenne the Emperoure sent to LaureÌ„ce to deliuer the treasoure Then he praied him of thre daies respyte and theÌ„ne he wolde shewe him the treasoure Soo thies thre daies Laurence was lete out of prison and went and gadred all the pore people to gyder that he coude fynd blynde lame or croked and the thridde daye he broughte them bifore the Emperoure to his palys and saide Lo here is euirlastinge tresoure this wyll neuir fayll for it wyll endure for euer in heuyn Soo shewyd Laurence ayenste couetise largenesse for he delyd for goddes sake all that he hadde and myghte haue spent it invanyte and he had wolde Also in turmeÌ„t of his passion he shewyd loue and swetnesse Thenne themperoure coÌ„maunded to brynge forthe all maner of turmentry scourges nayles stones salte pyche brymstone breÌ„nyng coles yron shaftes barres of yron gredirens and coÌ„manded al shold be spent vpon Laurence but if he wold shewe the treasoure forsake his god And to doo sacrifice to mawmentes Thenne saide Laurence thou vnblessed man these metes and drynkes haue I euir desired For right as swete metes and drynkes please thy bodye So these turmentes please my soule and maken me stronge and myghty to suffre passyon for my lordes sake Thenne was themperour â—â—â—th and commaunded to bete hym wyth scourges full of knottis and leue not tyll the blode ranne downe on euery syde and thenne they layd cheynes off yron brennynge to his sydes that brenned the flesshe fro the bones and euer laurence thanked god hertely Thenne was decius wode for woo said though thou wyth thy wytche crafte scornest my tourmentis yet thou sholdest not scorne me And thenne he commauÌ„ded ayen to bete hym wyth whippes and knottes of lede tyll the bones were bare Thenne laurence helde vp his hede and prayed to god thenne came a voyce fro heuen and sayd thou muste suffre moo tourmentis and passion for loue of me This decius herde it hym self and thou shal come in to grete ioye and blysse Thenne sayde decius to the people ye may here all how the fendes come and comforte hym goo and bete hym ayen wyth scourges Thenne was there a knyghte of the emperours that hyght Romanus that sawe an angell wyth a shete of sylke come and wype laurence sydes Thenne he forsoke the emperour become the dysciple of saynt LaureÌ„ce And laurence anone crystened hym Thenne decius made to smyte of Romanus hede thenne deciê° dyd make a grete fyre and set a gred-yren theron to rost laurence and thrested hym downe wyth fyre forkes TheÌ„ne laurence loked vpon themperour sayd thou wretche that syde that is â—osted ynough ete therof whyle that other syde rosteth I drede not thy tormentes and caste his eyen vp to god and sayd Lorde Ihesu criste take my spyrite and so he yelde vp the goâ—â— Thenne the tourmentours wente her waye and lefte the body lyeng there Thenne come cristen people and toke the body and beryed it wyth grete lamentacion Thus Laurence shewed mekenesse ayenst malyce and largenes ayenst couetyse ayenst passyon loue swetenesse for the gret loue that he had to god â–ª made hym sett noughte by all his tourmentis that were doo to his body ¶ Saynt gregory telleth how there was a preste that hyghte staculus and was besy to amende a chirche of saint Laurence that was dystroyed wyth loÌ„bardes but he wanted brede to his werke men and made moche sorowe therfore· and he prayed to god and to saint Laurence besely of helpe And thenne he loked in to an ouen and foude it ful of new white brede But he wente it wold haue serued hem for a weke it fonde hem ynough all the tyme that his werke was a makyng ¶ We fynd that there was an emperour that wâ—â— a cursed man of lyuyng And whan he was dede there come a legion of feÌ„des to fetche hym and as they come by an holy hermites celle they made a grete noyse thermyte had grete merueyll therof and opened a wyndowe spake to one of hem that come behynde
neither to lese myn owne soule ne youres I purpose by his leue homly thus to shewe it and rede it to you in the boke For to your lerning it is as goode as withoute And thus dyd Esdras moyses and Baruke in the olde lawe and so dyd criste alsoo in the newe lawe â–ª And right as I am thus bounde to tell and to teche it you so be ye bound to lerne it and to conne it and soo to teche it to other folke the whiche be vndre you to youre power And howe ye shall coÌ„me to this knowlege of god these thâ—nges folowynge shall shewe you ¶ This is the firste peticion of the Pater noster The firste is the Pater noster the whiche oure lorde made and taughte his disciples which conteyneth seuyn shorte peticiones The firste is Fader oure that arte in heuynes halowed be thy name By this ye be behold to loue eche other as sustre and brother And also to yelde him worshyp dâ—ede for the gret worthynes riches and farrnesse that he hath here yeuyn lente to you For more worthynesse may nat be than to be called the sone of god ne ryches greter thanne to be ayr of the blys of heuyn ne more fayrnesse thenne to be lyke to suche a fader for we be all â–ª bretherne and susterne of one fader modre that is god and holy churche In tokenynge that noon of vs sholde scorne other as the proude dothe the pore 〈…〉 ¶ He is also in heuyn nat withstondynge that he is in euery place but yet mooste propyrly he is in heuyn Therfore halowe we so his naname in vs here that we defoule natt his holynesse by synne But that by the yefte of wysdome we may so here be clensed fro all fylthe of synne and so fulfylled of his loue that all other louys contrarye to his wyll be byttre to vs. ¶ The secounde is thy gyngdome come to vs 〈◊〉 is to saye that he and his holynes soo reyne and gouerne all oure lyf here that we may after reigne with him in blys that euyr shall laste and by very charite thou shalt distroye the foâ— synne of enuye ¶ The thridde is thy wyl be doon in erth as it is in heuyn tho that grudge in sekenesse losse of godes or other diseases ayenste god do agaynste this peticion and greatly displease god Therfore praye we that as all aungelles and holy soules please god in heuyn soo must we here in erth noo thynge askynge ayenste his wyll And thus by loue thou shalt distroye the foule synne of wrathe ¶ The fourthe is Oure euery dayes brede gyue vs to daye that is to say oure full sustenaunce of body soule Thus prayed the wise man that sayd Lorde neyther richesse ne pouerte gyue me But that that is necessary to my lyuelode By this is couetyse distroyed and the gyft of compassion and pyte brought in ¶ The fyft is and forgyue us our trespasses as we forgyue theym that trespasse agaynste vs This is ayenste the that beryst grete rancor and malyce agaynste thy neyghboure Or art to gredy of thy dettes to the pore and wylte nat forgyue him a lytell dette or trespasse there as god forgyueth the many greuous offences for the whiche ne were his grete mercy thou sholdeste be dampned To this therfore is knyt the spyrite of connâ—nge â–ª that shewith that what thou arte and what parell thou stondest in and what oure lord suffred for the. ¶ The syxte is And lede vs nat in teÌ„ptacion It is nat to praye here that noo temptacion assayll vs in that the deuyll hath lycence to tempte man as he dyd â–ª Cryste and his appostels and vs aldaye dothe soo that his power may nâ—t be putte awaye withoute the helpe and merâ—y of god Therfore holy fader by the helpe and grace of the spyrite of pyte kepe oure hertes in temptacyon that we consent nat ne be ouircome with synne ¶ The vii is But delyuer vs from all euyll of synne amen And this is the laste peticion to the whiche is yeuen the spyrite of drede that maketh a maÌ„ to withdrawe him from all euyll of synne for the begynnynge of wysdom is to drede god and his right wysnes These seuyn peticiones thus wythe a clene herte asked remeueth and putteth awaye the seuyn dedely synnnes and endueth thy soule with many holy vertues ¶ Aue maria Furthermore as for the salutacion of oure lady pope Vrban and pope Iohn to al beynge in clene lyf that in the ende of the Aue maria say these wordes Iesus amen as ofte as they say it they haue graunted of pardon lxxx and foure daies And so as often as thou sayste oure ladies sauter soo ofte thou haste of pardon xxxiiii yere xxx wekes ¶ These be the xii articles of the faythe The firste is Credo in deum patrem omnipotentem creatorem celi terre et cetera ¶ The seconde thynge that thou shold knowe god by be the articles of the feythe By the whiche grace and mercy be purchased of god and eche vertuous dede strengthed what this fayth is thies articles suynge shall shewe you ¶ The firste is I byleue in god fader almyghty maker of heuyn and of erth To byleue to god is one and to byleue in god is another The deuyl beleueth to god that is to saye that he and his wordes ben true yet many one faileth herin For and they dyd byleue that the wordes of god were true that is to say that for their gode dedys they shold haue euirlastinge lyf and for their euyll dedys the peynes of hell they wold eyther for drede or for loue amende theim To byleue in god saith saint austyn is to cleue to god by loue fulfyllynge his wyll this is very byleue Thus and if thou synne ayenste god it is for lacke of byleue yet in that he is of power to plenysshe the. If thou wylt nat leue it The secounde is Et in iesum cristum filium eiê° vnicum dominum nostrum I byleue in iesu criste his only sone oure lorde Vnderstonde here that iesu cryste the sone is in heuyn with the fader withoute begynnynge and that the fader dothe nothyng withoute the sonne ne the sonne withoute the fader And thus both they be almyghty The thrid article is Qui conceptus eÌ„ de spiritu scoÌ„natus ex maria vigrine I byleue that he was conceyued of the holy gooste and borne of the virgyne mary Here Criste the seconde persone of the holy trynite tooke flesshe blode of oure lady by the â—oly goost with oute medlynge of man She beynge a mayde after as she was to fore For as she conceyued him with oute synne bodily payne She childed him very god and man The fourthe is Passus sub poncio pilato crucifixus mortuus et sepultus I byleue that he suffred payne vndre pounce pylate doon on the crosse dede and buried Here Criste the sonne of god
the synner that is to say Gyue that nature be susteyned and nat the synne norisshed Thou norysshest the synne that yeuest thy gode to iougelers and iapers and suche that loue to be ydell and suffrest the poure man to haue hungre and myscheyf suche maner of geuynge is forboden If pyte sayth saint Ambrose shall nat be swete to all Moche more plentouous muste it thenne be to the good and vertuous in lyuynge Thou shalt rather gyue to thy kynne or neyghboure in theyr nede they be vertuous then to other Thou shalt also yeue to olde men and wymen with chylde if they haue nede rather thenne to other And to theym that be fall in grete pouerte when such pouert falleth nat through ryot array or pompe of this world yet rather gyue thenne the pore be vnseruyd Opyn thyn hert to all theym that aske the for the loue of gode withoute difficultye and gyue it with charyte and with gode wyll Or elles thou makest nat due satisfactyon for thy synne Also with a glade chere and a meke spyryte Soo that thou do it for no vayn glorye Ne dâ—spyse natt the poure for he is a man as thou art And yeue it hastely and tary nat fro him that suffreth aÌ„guysshe sayth salamoÌ„ ¶ yeue it also with discrescion and if thou haue moche yeue moche if thou haue lytell yeue lytell gladly sayeth Thoby Thus bodily and goostly euery body may yeue almes ¶ Furthermore ayenst concupiscence of thy flesshe thou haste fastyng hard goynge and lyuynge and bytter wepynge knockyng on thy breest of knelynge and sharpe disciplyne with roddes of thyn owne hondes trauayll in pylgramage tribulaciones anguyssh sekenesse and suche other bodily diseases paciently suffred of the scourge of god All suche penaunce wylfully taken a discrete confessoure wyll put to the in parte of thy satisfaction and penaunce Fastynge is a wylfull abstinence fro mete and drynke wherby thy synne is wasshen and thy flessh made lowe for desire of euirlastynge blysse gostly fastyng is fro bodily syn and temporall ioye Saint Iherom sayth that it profyteth natt to feble thy body with fastynge whanne thy herte swelleth with pryde Somme faste for sekenesse or for they may nat ete somme for pouerte som for ypocrysye and somme to the worshyp of god and thou must modre thy fastynge that thy stomake be nat greuyd with to moche excesse for lytell mete mesurably tempreth and proufytteth both body and soul and disposeth the to goostly trauayll Ther be some that ete moo delicate metes and more whenne they faste thenne they doo at ii melys whanne they faste nat and in maner they breke their faste There is also prayer ayenst pryde two maner One is inwarde in thy soull withoute shewynge of voyce A nother also ordeyned for the thre parties of satisfaction ayenst pryde Prayer is a louynge desire of thy soull to god with speche of mouthe or gaderyng of wordes to aske good of god with vttering of thy voyce ¶ Of foure frutefull prayers saynte Poul speketh whenne he sayth I pray you first of all thynge that ther be obsecraciones orisones postulaciones yeldyng of thankynges Obsecraciones are whenne thou seest in thy soul the multitude of synne and lytell of thy merytes and seest the horryble peynes of hell which thou maist nat voyde by thyn owne vertue Ne darst nat for thyn owne vnworthynes make thy prayer thy selue but makest supplicacoÌ„ns by other menys as whenÌ„ thou sayst Sancta maria ora pro nobis Oure lorde by thy passion delyuer vs. Orison is whanne thou hast forsaken thy synne askest foryeuenes by open speche· Postulacion is whanne after thy penaunce doon thou haste a sad hope of foryeuenes if thou pray also any thynge ayenst thyn owne spede As poull that prayed that his temptacion myght be putte away then oure lord wyll nat graunte it the. Some thynges thou mayst pray with condicion And some thynges without condicion to haue grace and blys with oure lorde thou mayst aske without coÌ„dicion Saynt Bernard sayth that thou maist aske of our lord grace in all godenesse to please hym lyue in him see his blysse and to able thy self to vertues to do him worshyp and to be with him withouten ende ¶ yet afore this prayer thou must make redy thy soull in dyuerse wyse Firste thou must withdrawe thyn hert fro outwarde besynesse beynge in wyl to kepe thy thoughtes after thy first entent Thou muste considre also how vnworthy thou arte that prayest and howe worthy he is thou prayest vnto and howe greate thy synnes be that thou prayest for Thou muste also be clene in soull if thy prayer be shorte let it be doon with stedfaste hope for a shorte prayer with a sad hope feithfully doon is more acceptable to god then a longe prayer fayntly doon withoute hope yet to theym that been occupyed in dyuyne seruyce Longe prayer is spedefull To pray also with voys is more spedefull thanne to thynke or whysper Grisostum sayth thus thou that with loude voyce prayest and whysperyst thou suffryst noon other to praye aboute the And therfore thy synne and thy payn are encreased if it be do wyttyngly and thy self nat herd of god It must also be doon without interupcion nat to say nowe a verse or a Pater noster and bitwene iangle and tel a tale withoute greate nede ne to haste it to moche Thou must also make it comon to place tyme and persones Paull sayth I wyll that men pray in euery place yet in the church principally For oure lorde sayth my house shal be called the house of praier All tymes are tymes of prayer yet in holy church been seuen oures ordeyned for tyme of prayer whiche moste specialy longeth to religiouse men Oure lord afore his passion traueyled all nyght in prayer Oure lady and Ioseph also rose euery nyght at mydnyght and saide the psalmes of commendacion And the same dyd Dauid and his householde Though all may nat do thus yâ—t aâ—â—yse theym that be bouâ—de and haue noo lettynge It must also be made wâ—ith other aâ—d nat alwaye allone In that it is more acceptable to god more pleasaunt to aungelles and more confusion to the deuyll And the same that thou makest for a nother is bettre then that thou makest for thy selue ¶ And though oure lorde here nat anone thy prayer at thy wyll yet he heryth it and graunteth the happely that that is more spedefull A thynge that is longe desired at the last it coÌ„myth that is the more deynte ¶ It muste also be doon with deuocyon Deuocion as clerkes sayn is a tendernesse of herte wherby thou breakyst lightly into tearys Also a wyll of loue lyfte vp to god or to his heuynly creatures mâ—uynge the inwarde and outewarde to the seruyce of god Suche deuocion purgeth bothe body and soull ¶ And thus deuocion may be knowen by two pryncipall tokens One by gretenesse of the voyce outwarde as a grete fyre is knowen by the