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
¶ 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
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
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
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
of helpe of Edryke the traytoure whome the Kynge had put in great auctoryte And bycause the Kynge put his broder to deth for his offencys he went out of the courte and confeterd hymselfe with danes and they besegyd the Cyte of Caunterbury And when they had wonne it they dyd Merueylouse great cruelte to the people wherfore seynt Elphegus offerde hymselfe to them and bad them spare the people and take hym And so he was taken and put in pryson And there he lay tyll the offenders were so punysshed with sykenes by the stroke of god that they toke hym out of prysone cryed hym mercye and he forgaue them and blessyd Brede and gaue it to them And anon they were hoole and when they were hoole the rulers askyd of hym if he wolde haue his lyfe and lyberte thre thousande marke And because he wolde not greue the people to leue the Money he denyed it And soo he was put agayne in cruell pryson and there the Deuylle apperyd to hym lyke an AuÌ„gell of lyght and perswadyd hym to go out of pryson by many exauÌ„ples and soo he folowyd hym and when he had brought hym amonge waters in the derke nyght he lefte hym and then he knewe it was the crafte of the enemye wherfore he lyftyd hys mynde to our Lorde and cryed for helpe And anone a yonge man in bryghte shynynge apparell apperyd to hym and had hym goo agayne to receyue the Crowne of martyrdome and when he came to the pryson and there he was truellye takyn Betyn And foule Stynkynge Donge was caste vppon hym And thenne Seynt Dunstanne aperyd to hym and comfortyd hym And at the laste he was betyn with stones And his owne godson with a hachet stracke hym in the Hed and soo martyryd hym the .xiii. kalendas of Maii the punysshemeÌ„t of god felle vppoÌ„ the offenders so that some kyllyd theymselfe And some went madde many fledde to the see and theyr Shyppys were drownyd about a C. and .lx. Shyppes And after when Kunt came into Englonde and sawe great punyshement fall vppon hym and his pleople he toke counceyle of some Englysshemen that toke his ê‘te they thoughte it was for the wronge don to seynt Elphege And soo by theyr counceyle he promysyd that when he had peace he wolde brynge the body of seynt Elphege to cauÌ„terbury And .xvii. yere after he fouÌ„de his Body vncorrupte And brought it to CauÌ„terbury honorably as he had ê“mysed ¶ De sâ—toÌ„ Erkenwaldo epÌ„o confessore SEynt erkenwalde and his syster Ethelburghe comonly callyd Alburgh were borne in that parte of Englonde callyd Lynsey And seynt Erkenwalde was conuertyd to the feythe when seynt Augustyne came into Englond and was dyscyple to the Busshope Mellyt And his syster folowed the exauÌ„ple of her broder And when she was Cristenyd she was callyd Ethelburghe And seynt Erkenwalde foundyd the Monasterye of Chertesey for hymselfe where he was Abbot and Barkynge for his syster And after he was made busshope of London by seynt Theodre Archebussope of Caunterbury And when a beame that was ordeynyd for the monastery of Berkynge was to shorte he and his syster Ethelburghe drew it in length made it longe ynough And as he was goynge on Prechynge in a chare oon of the whelys went of and yet the chare went vpryghte he shewyd the very day of his deth and vnto his laste ende he comfortyd the people besylye with the worde of god And he Dyed at barkynge And there was at his deth a meruâ—ylous swete Sauoure in all the house And as he shulde be brought to London the water rose at Ilforde and wolde not suffer theym to passe tyll the people fell to prayer And anone the Water deuydyd and soâ— they went thrughe And all the Candellys that were out lyghtyd agayne by themselfe And so he was buryed at seynt Poulys in London And was leyde in leed in a Coffyn of wodde And it was coueryd with a Palle of small pryse many yerys And after in the tyme of Wyllyam Conqueroure the Churche of poulys and great parte of london was Brent And neuerthelesse the sayde palle and sepulcre was not hâ—rte wherfore the people gaue Laudys to our Lorde And thoughe that that punysshemeÌ„t came to theym bycause they had not doon condygne honoure to the sayd blessyd Relyquys And after the Churche of Poulys was newe buyldyd by thre Busshoppys of London oon after a noder And by a hoole Deuocyon of the people his Body was traÌ„slatyd to a more honorable place in the yere of our lorde god a Thousande a hundred xl the .xiii. daye of Nouember And when the place that was newe made was to lyttyll for the Chest of leed wheâ—in his Relykys lay fyrst the people for that neclygence were sory And anon the stone waxyd more holow and gaue place to the blessyd relykys And after at his shryne were doon many great myracles as in the legeÌ„de apperyth at great length which be here omyttyd ¶ De sancta Ermenilda regina SEynt ermenylde was doughter to Ercomberte kynge of kent of seynt sexburghe his wyfe she was dysposyd to all pytye coÌ„passyon and endeuouryd herselfe with a moderly pytye to helpe the necessytes of euery man there was in hyr alway oon stablenesse on Benygnyte on Charyte on desyre to Heuynly thingys She was maryed to wlferus son to penda kynge of Marshyes which after his Faders Deth was crystenyd by her exortacyon good maners she tamyd the wylde people and brought theym to the feythe thruste downe Rebellys myghtyly And she ceassyd not tyll the Idollys worshyppynge of deuyllys with the helpe of the Kynge was clene put a way Chyrchys were buyldyd for Dyuyneseruyce thrughe all the Realme they had a doghter callyd werbuxga And after the deth of the Kynge the quene Erâ—â—enylde her Doughter enteryd into Relygyon at Ely vnder her moder sexburghe so for our lord she forsoke all the pleasurys and loue of the worlde And punysshyd her body with abstynence prayers and lamentyngys and shewyd her selfe moost lowe of all folkys and she endyd her lyfe full of good werkys in the Idâ—â— of February And a man that was bounden with Iâ—â—â—s prayed at her tumbe at masse for helpe and at the gospell the Irons were strykyn fro his arme with such a vyoleÌ„ce that they flewe to the Aâ—ter that all mâ—n myght see De sancto Esterwino Abbate SEynt esterwyn was mynyster to kynge Egfryde And he lefte the Temporall armoure toke Espyrytuall armour enteryd into Relygyon vnder his vnkyll Benet busshope in the Monasterye of seynt peter but for all the kynred he lokyd not to be anythynge the more honowryd But he was anon foo meke that he wolde wynnow and thresshe with the bretherne mylke Kyen shepe And be with theym galdlye in the Bakhouse Kechyn in all other busynes of the Monasterye And after seynt Coolfryde abbot of the monasterye of
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
bedde wakynge but eyther ryse go to prayer or iÌ„mediatly slepe agayne and when the bysshop of LyncolnÌ„ was translated to Rome seynt Hughe was elected therto And he sayd he wolde in no wyse take it vpon hym wtout assent of the hedde house and when that was opteyned he wolde nat yet agre tyll he was aserteyned of the hole assent of all the Chanons of LyncolnÌ„ and then the Dean of LyncolnÌ„ the chyef of the Chapiter came to hym to wytham when they had herde hym speke they all desyred hym with great iÌ„staunce deuocoÌ„n to take it vpon hym then he assented the firste nyght that he came into his Bysshopryche he harde a voyce say to hym in his slepe Egressus es iÌ„saluteÌ„ ppli tui in salutem cuÌ„ xpÌ„o tuo And after seynt Hughe accursed the kynges chyef Forster for doynge agaynst the lyberte of the churche wherfore the kynge toke great displesure and that mater nat yet determyned the kynge desyred of hym for one of his clerkê the noiÌ„acion of a Benefyce that was then voyde and in the gyft of seynt Hughe he denyed it wherfore the kynge was more angry and sent for hym and when he came he founde the kynge syttynge amonge his lordes the kynge wolde nat suffre any of them to ryse to hym yet neuertheles when he had harde his answeres his sayingê the kynge was coÌ„tented when he deê‘ted coÌ„mytted hym to his prayers euery yere ones or twyse he wolde be at wytham and kepe his sell somtyme when he came furth by reason of the famylyer spekynge with our lorde he had two bryght beames came fro his face a voyce bad a clerke thre tymes that he shulde go to the bysshop of LyncolnÌ„ byd hym speke to the Archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury that tharchebysshop togyther with hym shuld more dilygently helpe to reforme the clergye for our lorde was greatly displeasyd with theim Curatê were made that were vnable benesycê were set to ferme for temporall ê“fyte nothynge regardynge the helth of the soules ne yet the coÌ„forte of pore men And when the clerke made doute how the bysshop shuld byleue hym bycause of his youth the voyce said when he had shewyd to the bysshop that that he shulde se before the Bysshop as he was at Masse he shuld byleue hym And so he went dyd his message and as the bysshop was at Masse he sawe the Hoste when it was lyft vp bytwyxt the bysshoppes handes tourned into the veray body of our lorde IhuÌ„ criste it was lyke a lytell childe more beauteous then man can tell and when he had shewyd this to the bysshop he bad hym kepe it close and aduertysed hym that he that had seen suche thynges shuld neuer busye hymselfe in the worlde but that he shuld entre into Relygyoâ— and so he dyd and lyued a blessyd lyfe when kynge Rycharde went into Fraunce to warre vpon the Frenche kynge seynt Hughe and the bysshop of Salysbury denyed to gyue any thynge to the Kynge for they sayd they were nat bounde to helpe hym but oonly within the Realme wherfore the Kynge was meruaylously angry and coÌ„maunded to sease all that they hadde But there durste noo man medell with seynt Hughe for fere of the punysshement of god then afterwarde he went ouer the See to the kynge and when he came before the kynges presence where he was at Masse the kynge loked vpon hym with an Angry countenaunce and wolde nat speke to hym and thenne he went to the kynge and toke hym aboute the necke and hadde hym kysse hym for he sayd he had deseruyd it and the kyng meruaylynge his constaunce smyled and kyssed hym And at that masse tyme the kynge ê‘ceyued right well that he was a holy man when an Archebysshop kyssed the kynge for the pax the kynge rose and kyssed seynt Hughe And after masse he admonysshed the kyng that he shuld take hede to the helth of his soule how he dyd inwardly And when the kynge tolde hym that he thought his conscyens was clere but it were for hatred to his enemyes he said there was a coÌ„men sayinge that he kept nat his wedlocke also that he toke nat hede to make good curatê and when he had admonysshed the kynge of dyuerse thyngê he gaue the kynge his blessynge so departed and when he was goon the kynge sayd that if there were many such Bysshoppes there durst no prynce do agaynst theym And when the kynge shortly after had a great victorye of the Frenche kynge he arected it to the prayers of seynt Hugh he helyd two ê‘sons that were obsessed with deuylles after he fell syke of a greuous Axes when he shuld be houseled he went bare fote in a heere with a Coule and met the sacrament and made longe prayer amonge other thynges he sayd that for loue drede or hatered or for any other cause he neuer wyttyngly went fro the truthe And in the yere of our Lorde god M.CC. and syx in the octaues of seynt Martyn the Bysshop he went to our lorde as he was in caryinge to LyncolnÌ„ foure tapres burned contynually by the way that neuer went out At bykleswade by his merytê a man was made hole that had broken his arme and at staumforde a cordoner whiche had great deuocion to seynt Hughe bysought almyghty god that he myght dye go to heuyn with hym so beynge confessyd howselyd he dyed fourth with and seynt Hughe was caryed fourth to LyncolnÌ„ was there buryed honourably ¶ De sancto IoheÌ„ de BridlyngtonÌ„ SEynt IohnÌ„ of BrydlyngtonÌ„ was brone in the CouÌ„te of yorke by the seesyde and in his youth he was set to lernynge by his Fader and moder he put nat his mynde oonly to haue cuÌ„nynge but also to heuynly thynges somtyme when he was at Oxforde he wolde leue the sophystycall argumentê lyft his mynde in prayer to o r lorde and for his cuÌ„nynge and vertue a great riche man toke hym to be maister to his children nat oonly to teche them cuÌ„nynge but also to eschewe vyces when he was about the age of .xx. yeres he consydered the deceytfull flateryng of the worlde wherfore he entred into Relygyon at the Monasterye of BridlyngtonÌ„ where he was anone meke obedieÌ„t shynynge in Charyte dispysynge the worlde rygorouse in abstynence endewed with Iustice vsynge vigylles and prayers wtout cessynge seruyng our lord there he was chosen to be precentour and so almonyser and then suppriour after when the pryor resygned he was chosen to be pryor he refused it and sayd that knowynge his ignorauÌ„ce he had leuer suffer great payne then to take it vpon hym and so a nother was chosen and after his dethe seynt IohnÌ„ was eftsones elected by hoole assent and then trustynge in the mercy of our lorde consyderynge that the greatter labour shall haue the greatter rewarde he toke the charge vpon hym In whiche offyce he
.ix. kalendr of NoueÌ„bre De sancto Malichia ¶ De sancto Malichia Episcopo confessore SEynt Malachie was borne in Irlande amonge barbarous people and as a fysshe is in the salt see and is nat salt so was seynt Malachie good amoÌ„ge euyll people he went to a man that lyued a solytary lyfe seruynge our lorde in fastyngê and prayers and of hym he toke his example of lyuynge and in shorte tyme had many disciples and there he toke the ordre of presthode The bysshop coÌ„mytted to hyÌ„ his auctoryte to pÌ„che vnto the rude people whiche he dyd with great fauoure and what so euer he sawe out of good ordre he spared nat to reproue theym of it He had great loue and zele to the seruyce of god honoure to the Sacramentes of the Chuche and went to a holy bysshop called Malcus that was borne in Irlande brought vp in Englande and that had ben a monke at Wynchester to lerne at hym that he taught nothynge but as the Churche coÌ„mauÌ„ded after he was made bysshop of CoÌ„nereth in Irlande where anone he ê‘ceyued that the people were bestely and rude Cristen men in name and nat in dede they payed no tythes they lyued out of laufull matrymony they made no confessions there was no man to enioyne penauÌ„cene to aske it they made more noyse in the Churche then the precher or they that sange wherfore to refourme thyse people he put hym selfe in Ieopardye as a good Sheperd and admonysshed theym of theyr defautes openly and also secretely he wepte vpon theym tenderly nowe he spake sharpely and anone more easely And whenne henothynge preuayled he humbly watched in prayer for them to our lorde when they wolde nat come to the Churche he wolde go in to theym lokynge who he myght wyn to our lord when euyll wordes were sayde to hym he spake fayre and when he was wronged he toke pacyence and so with goodnesse he ouercame euyll Thus were the people reformed Churches were buylded the lawes of the Churche receyued the Sacramentes duely mynystred the people went to confessyons and toke penaunce after the deth of the Archebysshop Celsus he was made Archebysshop of Archemacan and yet he wolde neuer haue seruaunt ne house of his owne he went in maner a wayes aboute the parysshes prechynge the worde of god and leued of the Gospell Other prelates toke Lordshyp in the Clergye and he made hymselfe seruaunte to all men After he gaue vp the Archebysshopryche and went to his parysshe agayne Thenne he wente to Rome there the Pope toke a Myter fro his owne hedde and set it vpon his hedde and also gaue hym a stole and a phanon Fro thens he went to Clareuall to seynt Bernarde and leuynge with hym foure of his disciples he went in to Scotlande where our Lorde shewyd for hym many myracles and after he went into Irlande and there he helyd a monke of the great fallynge sykenesse Thenne he went agayne to Scotlande and so thorughe Englande to Clareualle to seynt Bernarde And there he dyed the .iiii. Nonas of Nouembre In the yere of our Lorde god a Thousande a hondred and .xlviii. and Seynt Bernarde wrote his lyfe wherin be many notable thynges ¶ De sancta Margareta Regina Scocie SEynt Margaret Quene of Scotlande was doughter of Edwarde outlawe sone to Edmonde Irneside And she by prouysion of god was Maryed to MalcolynÌ„ kynge of Scotlande she delyted more in good werkes thenne in possessions or ryches Ofttymes she called her children afore her and admonysshed theym to loue and drede our lord and dayly she prayed for theym that they myght pleas hym she enduced the kynge to do Iustyce with mercye and to gyue alines in her dayes the kynges seruauntê durst nat take any thynge fro pore men or otherwyse hurte theym She reproued the people of Scotlande in that they begann at Lent so that they myght faste .xl. dayes besyde the sondayes and that theyr prestes sange nat masse after the custome of the Churche and that the people were nat howseled at Ester that they kept nat the sondayes and that they maryed theyr moders in lawe and susters in lawe she reformed theym in thyse poyntê The kynge seynge the holy ghost was with her helped her forewarde in all that she went aboute She serched where she myght fynde pore people to do almes vpon on the nyghtê she sayd Matens of the Trinite of the holy crosse of our ladye the Dirige and the Psalter And thenne she vsed to wasshe .vi. pore men and then she toke rest In the mornynges she refressed .ix. orphanes and serued theym knelynge And afore dyner the kynge and she serued CCC pore people her boke fell into the water and lay there a daye and a nyght without hurte she knewe the deth of her husbonde sone that were slayne in Batayle whiche she toke pacyently she dyed the .iiii. Idus of Iune lyeth in the Churche of the holy trinite that she had buylded in the same place where she was maryed ¶ De sancta Maxencia virgine martyre SEynt Maxence was doughter to Marcolane soÌ„tyme kynge of Scotlande fro her youth she entended to kepe virginite after a prynce called maxencius was a pagan desyred her in maryage wherto he had her fathers assent and she perceyuyng that fledde to a churche and coÌ„mended her virginite to oure Lorde And after with an olde man and a Mayde she fledde secretely and came into Fraunce into a place called Pontis and as it is sayd in the way thyder she went ouer the water of ysara wtout bote and the sayd the prynce made suche serche that he founde where she was and when he coulde by no mean haue her assent in a fury he toke her by the heer and stroke of her hedde after kylled both her seruauntê and she toke vp her hedde and bare it to the place where she now lyeth and ouer her is buyldyd a godly churche where our lorde hath shewyd for her many myracles kyng Charles that reyned in tho dayes loued her churche moche gaue many great thynges to it ¶ De sancto Mellito ArchiepÌ„o confessore SEynt Gregorie was moche dylygent for the conuertynge of the people of Englande to the fayth and also to haue the people well ordered after they were conuerted wherfore he is moche to be honoured by Englysshmen after kynge Ethelbert his people were coÌ„uerted by seynt Augustyne he sent worde therof to seynt Gregorie as in the lyfe of seynt Mellytapperyth and then seynt Gregorie sent Mellite Iuste and Pallyne with dyuerse other into Englande to preche to the people and Mellite in the yere of our lorde .vi. hondred and foure was made bysshop in the prouynce of Eest saxons nyghe to Thamyse where London is metropolys and by hym that prouynce was conuertyd and the Churche of seynt Paule that was made by kynge Ethelbert is the bysshoppes see and after the deth of kyng
deth to lyfe when he shuld dye he called his disciples and instructed theym how they shuld kepe ê‘fyght Relygyon aduysynge theym that they the had forsaken the wordly busynes shuld also eschewe all desceytfull plusures of the world that they shuld thurst downe all angre hatered fle frâ— lyes abanysshe enuye to pÌ„pare their hertes to be the temple of the holy ghost and so full of good werkes and blessyd myracles he chaunged this lyfe the day before the Nonas of Iune ¶ De sancto Pirano EpÌ„o confessore SEynt Pyran was borne in Irlande in his youth he went to an I le called Clera where he lyued in great abstynense holy werkes .xxx. yeres After he went to Rome where he was made bysshop seynt Patryke bad hym go byfore hym into Irlande to preche to the people and that he shuld buylde a monastery by the Ryuer of Waram there as he shuld here his Cymbale souÌ„de without touchynge so it was done By his prechynge the fayth encreasyd moche in Irlande by his exaumple many were styred to the loue of god forsakynge all wordly thynges folowed oure lorde amonge whom was Brendane whiche made hym a place nat ferre fro seynt Pyran a childe by instygacion of the deuyll put out the fyre that was vnder the Lycour to make drynke for the monkes wherupon seynt Pyran sayd there shal be no fyre be in this place tyll our lorde send it fro aboue the next daye the childe was kylled in a woode with wolfes And when Geran that was mayster of the childe came to seynt Pyran he made his prayers and forth with fyre fell into his bosom whiche he dyd bere without hurtynge of his clothes and when they shuld go to souper Geran sayd he wolde nat ete tyll his childe came a lyue to hym and then by praye of seynt Pyran the childe rose fro deth ete with theym A kynge toke fro the moder of seynt Pyran and kynges doughter called brunet whom she had to brynge vp kept her in his castell as a bond woman and when seynt Pyrane spake to hym for her he sayd he wolde nat delyuere her â—onlesse a byttour in the mornyng waked hym of his slepe whiche he thought had ben vnpossyble the same nyght fell a great snowe aboute the Castell there as seynt Pyrane his company was fell none and in the mornynge a byttoure came to the Castell with noyse that she made wakyd the kynge and then the kynge lay prostrate at the fete of seynt Pyrane and cryeng hym mercye delyue red the damosell vnto hym Neuerthelesse after he reputed that he had delyuered her and when he wolde haue taken her agayne he founde her deed wherfore he was moche angre and sayd he wolde put seynt Pyrane fro that place and he sayd to hym that he was nat god that that place was nat his but almyghty godes And when the kynge beynge veray angry was gone fro hym he sawe his castell on fyre and the Quene hauynge .ii. sones lefte that sone that she loued beste byhynde her for hast whom she coÌ„mytted to seynt Pyrane when all the Castell was burned the childe was sauffe then the kynge greatly marueylyng came to seynt Pyrane sayd he wolde gladly do whatsoeuer he bad hym do offered to hym his two sones to serue god And when the kynge was gone he Reysed brunet agayne fro deâ—h to lyfe Our lord shewyd for hym many other myracles The uys that were lyke to haue ben taken coÌ„mytted them to seynt Pyrane and sodeynly a fyre Rose in the woode bytwixt the theuys and theym that wolde haue taken theym so that they saued theym selfe and came to seynt Pyrane taryed with hym all his lyfe He reysed dyuerse fro deth to lyfe that were drowned and also otherwyse deed He went vpon the water he ceased the fyre by his blessynge He multyplyed meete that fedde moche people he tourned water into wyne Two kynges at his monycyon wolde nat cease fro Batayle wherfore by his prayer a great wodde that was bytwixt theym sodeynly felle downe and stopped them so that they coulde nat mete togyther In all his lyfe he neuer ware but bestes skynnes fro flesshe and flesshely desyres He absteyned strongely and fro all that myght dystemper hym He toke lytell slepe was oft visyted with aungellê he made many prestes and clerkes and was CC. yere olde or he dyed hauyng lytell sykenes neyther loste toth ne yet appeyred of his syght He made of his enemys his frendes dyd good for euyll He hadde mercye and pyte vpon his neyghboures and he moch laboured with his owne handes that he myght gyue that he wanne in almes He punysshed his body with fastynges and vigylles in colde hungre thurste dylygently kepynge charite chastyte and hospitalite He was alway fro his youth prayeng redynge techynge or doynge some good werkes and was humble gentyl in speche wyse sobre mercyfull he omytted nothynge of the coÌ„mauÌ„dementes of god he fedde the hungry gaue drynke to the thursty receyued them that were harborowles clothed the naked he taught the bretherne to loue togyther to direct that Iye of theyr mynde to Almyghty god and alway to desyre the kyngdome of heuyn after he called his disciples and tolde theym it was the wyl of god that he shuld go into Cornewayle and shewyd them of many great troubles that shuld come into that countre and prayed theym to praye for hym that after his deth he myght fynde our lorde meke and plesaunte vnto hym and when he came into Cornewayle he made a house where our lorde shewyd for hym many myracles when he knewe he shuld deê‘te this transitory lyfe called his disciples and prechyd to theym many thynges of the kyngdom of heuyn and caused his graue to be made goynge into it deê‘ted with great bryghtnes the thyrde nonas of Marche lyeth iu Cornewayle nygh Seuerne fro Petrokstowe .xv. myle and fro Monshole .xx. myle ¶ De sancto Richardo EpÌ„e confessore SEynt Richarde was borne iÌ„ the diocise of WigornÌ„ at the wyche and in his youthe he eschewyd daunsynges and vayne playes He forsoke twyse to be maryed and went to stodye at Oxforde Bonanye and Aurelian where he profyted moche both in lawe Cannon and in dyuynyte after he was made Chaunceler with seynt Edmunde Archbysshop of Caunterbury was to hym veray constaunte in all his troubles that he had for the lyberte of the Church in which offyce he refusyd to take ony maner of rewardys and dyd Iustyce to ryche and pore not regardynge the personys of grete man or small when he was Chosen busshope of Chichestre the kynge Henry the thyrde wolde iÌ„ no wyse assent to his eleccyon but kept hym fro his Landys and goodes and so he went to Rome and there he was consecrate by the pope Innocent the fourthe after he retournyd towardys Englonde in the coÌ„mynge
when she was in prayer contemplacoÌ„n she was ofte tymes seen by many deuoute ê‘sones eleuate lyfte vp fro the grounde the hyght of a man or there aboute an Aungell appered vnto seynt Birget and amonge many other thynges that he shewyd hir of the excellencye of our blessyd Lady he sayd yâ— she was the maystres of 〈…〉 martyrs the techer of CoÌ„fessouâ—â— the clereshynyng glasse of virgyns the helper of wydowes gyuer of hâ—â—some monycions to them that lyuyd in matrymonye a great strength to all them the lyued in the fayth of holy churche Firste he sayd that oâ— blessyd lady shewyd declared to thappostellê many thinges of hir sone that they knew nat byfore that she encouraged martyrs gladly to suffer trybulacioÌ„ for the name of criste whâ—â—he for theyr sake many yerê suffred great tribulacioÌ„ addynge therto yâ— she hirself .xxxiii. yerê byfore the deth of hir sone coÌ„tynuelly suffred trouble in hir herte with great paciens â–ª She taught to coÌ„fessourê yâ— very true lessoÌ„s of helth they by his doctrine example ê‘fytly lernyd to ordre the tymes of the daâ— of the nyght wysely to the laâ—de glory of almyght god to vse good discresoÌ„n in takyng of their slepe of their mete in labour of their bodyes of hir most vtuous lyf vgyns lerned to Rule them self honestly strongly to kepe theyr virgynall clennes vnto the deth to fle moch speche al vanyties to discusse with a dylygent pÌ„medytacion al their werkê that they had to do to examyne them streyghtly in a espuÌ„ell balauÌ„ce To wydowes she sayd to their comfort that though by moderly charyte it had moch pleased hir yâ— hir sone had had no more wyll to haue dyed in his manhed then in his godhed neuertheles she holy coÌ„fermed hir wyl to the wyl of god â—hewsyng rather to the fulfylling of the wyl of god mekely to susteyne al tribulacoÌ„n then for hir plesur anythyng to do ayenst the wyl of god with suche maner of speche she made wydowes pacient iÌ„ their tribulacoÌ„s coÌ„stauÌ„teiÌ„ al teÌ„ptacioÌ„s of the body Moreouer she 〈…〉 theim that lyued in matrymony that to the body soule in perfyght charyte nat sayued they shuld lyueâ—og◠〈◊〉 and that to the honour of almygâ—â—y god they shuld kepe one hole wyll sayinge to theym of hir selfe how she had gyuen all hir fayth and hole intent clerely to almyghty god and that for his loue she neuer withstode his wyll in any thynge Ulpho that was husbande to seynt Birget on a tyme after his deth apperyd vnto hir and sayd for a tyme I felte the great Iustyce of our lorde in purgatory nowe but mercy somwhat draweth nere vnto me thou shalâ— knowe that in my lyfelyne wayes I excedyd of the whiche when I was feke I toke nat suffycyent repentaunce The firste was that I toke to great delyte pleasure in the wantones of the child that thou knowest of The seâ—â—nde iâ— that â—f my neclygeÌ„ce I dyd nat restore a wydowe afore my deth for certeyn goodes that I bought of hir therfore that thou shall proue that I say trewe to morowe she shall 〈◊〉 to the and then gyue to hir what so euer she asketh for she wyll aske nothynge but that yâ— is right The thirde is that of the lyghtnes of my mynde I promysed a man to take his parte in all his difficultyes by reason wherof he was so â—olde that he attempted many thynges ayenst the kyng and the lawe The fourth is that in â—urneys and in vanytes of the worlde I occupyed myselfe more for the syght of the world then for any prophet The fyft is that in the exilynge of a certyn man I was ouer moche rygorouse ayenst hym for though he were worthy to haue that iugement yet I was lesse mercyfull to hym then I shuld haue ben then seynt Birget sayde vnto hym O blessyd soule what thynge hath profytyd the to thy helth or what thynge may prefyre the nowe to thy delyueraunce and he answeryd Sex thyngê haue profited me The fyrste is my confessyon that I made euery frydaye when I myght haue tyme hauynge full purpose to ameÌ„de The secoÌ„de is that when I sate in IugemeÌ„t I iuged not for the loue of money or for fauoure But all my Iugementys I examynyd dylygently redy to correcte where I had erryd to withdrawe where I had done that I shulde not haue doon The thyrde is that I obeyed vnto my ghostly Fader which couÌ„ceylyd me that I shulde not perfourme the acte of matrimony after I knewe that the chylde was quycke The fourthe is that when I was lodgyd in any place I toke hede as nyghe as I coulde that by my selfe or my Seruauntys I were not vnkynde to poore men nor that I was not chargefull to theym puttynge all my stody to se that I cam not into any det but that I prouydyd howe it shulde be payde The fyfte is that abstynence that I toke in the waye to seynt Iames for I ordeynyd soo that I dranke not betwyxte melys and for that abstyneÌ„ce is pardonyd to me the longe syttynge that I had at my table my loquacyte and excesse nowe I am sure of my helthe thoughe I be vncerteyne of the owre The syxte is that I commyttyd my Iugementys to them that I thoughte were ryghtwyse that wolde pay my dettys and bycause I doubtyd to be in det whyle I was on lyfe I resygnyd to the kynge his prouyncys that my sowle shulde not suffre the Iugement of god Therfore nowe in asmoche as it is grauÌ„tyd to me by almyghty god that I shall aske helpe and praye the that by a hoole yere thowe make contynuelly to be songe for me and for all that our Lord wolde haue to be prayed for massys of our Lady of Aungellys and of all seyntys and also of the passyon of our sauyour criste Ihesu for I truste I shal be shortly delyueryd specyally be dylygent aboute poore men to dystrybute to them suche Uessellys Horsys and other thynges wherin in my lyfe I had ouer moche delyte And also if thowe maye doo not forgete to gyue some chalyces for the sacryfyce of god for veryly they profyte moche to the helthe of the soule thyn vnmouable goodes leue to oure Chylderne for I dyd neuer euyll purchase any thynge or euyll holde any thynge ne wolde not haue doon if I myght And this blessyd woman seynt Byrget lyuyd after she went out of hyr owne couÌ„trey .xxviii. yere by all which tyme she neuer weÌ„t to any place but by the especyall commaundement of our Lorde by whos coÌ„maundement she went to Iherusalem and there dylygeÌ„tlye with great deuocyon vysyted all the placys where our blessyd Lady was salutyd by the Aungell Gabryell and where our Lorde was borne baptyzed conuersaunte or dyd any myracle where he was Illudyd Crucyfyed and buryed and where he assendyd into heuyn also at dyuerse other
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
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
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
seynt paule in the yere of our Lorde .vi. C.lxxxiii electyd hym beynge in the monastery of seynt Petyr and made hym Abbot there And wheÌ„ he was Abbot he was of the same mekenes that he was before so that when he sawe the Bretherne worke he wolde put to his hande as they dyd And he was a man of great strengthe of feyre speche mery and lyberall And he ete of the same mete as the bretherne dyd and laye as they dyd And when he shulde dye he kyssyd all the bretherne in tokyn of peas And instructyd theym with many Blessyd monycyons he wente to oure Lorde of the great Syknes in the Nonas of Marche ¶ De sancto Ethelberto rege confessore SEynt ethelbert was the thyrde kynge of Kent but he was the fyrste that wente to Heuyn And all that seynt Augustyne dyd to the Encreasynge of the faythe may be also attrybutyd to this blessyd kynge for as farre as to man apperyth if he had not holpen seynt Augustyne other werkes in the werke of 〈◊〉 lorde lytyll frute had come to the Londe of Englonde And when he was coÌ„uertyd with great benygnyte he â—â—â—yd other kyngys that were his subgyetty or his felowys to become crysten And those that beleuyd he lâ—uyd as hys bretherne and kynysmen and felawys to the kyngdome of heuyn And in all his realme Chirchys were buâ—â—yd placys of Idollys destroyed or tournyd into Churches By counceyll of seynt Augustyne he made the Churche of seynt saâ—youre in Caunterbury And without the wallys of the Cytle he made a monasterye in the honoure of seynt peter and poule whiche was a place of buryall for Kynges and busshoppes he buyldyd a Church of seynt paule in london and there was theÌ„ made a Busshoppyssee And he made a Churche of seynt Andrewe at Rochester where was also made a noder Busshoppyssee And he was founder of Ely thughe seynt Etheldrede bycause she repayryd it is takyn for foundres his realme stretchyd to humber And yet he shewyd hymselfe poore and meke as thoughe he had had nothynge It was a gloryus thynge to see hym that hadde rule and domynyon in great countreys to serue poore men And to see hym that kynges feryd to drede the preestys of our Lorde as this blessyd kynge dyd And he was a great exalter of vertue a fulfyller of the commaundementys of god of werkys of pyte And he went to our Lorde the syxte Kalendas of marche And when his feest was on a tyme not halowed nor the place where he laye adhournyd with lyghtys as it was wonte to be he apperyd to a preest that of deuocy on lay there all nyght and blamyd them of theyr necly De sancta Ethelburga virgine abbatissa SEynt ethelburgh coÌ„monly callyd seynt Alburgh was borne in the prouynce of lyndesey fro her youthe she abhorryd the bodely pleasurys the flaterynge of the worlde And the auncyent enemy enuyenge her werkys styrryd her owne fader agaynste her so that he was a cruell psecutor of her wherfore she went ofte to a Chapell where she was crystenyd And commyttyd herselfe to our Lord with deuoute prayer aâ—â—lyccyons it is sayd the grasse is alway grene there as she wente to the sayd chapell And after when she shuld haue ben maryed she lefte her Fader Moder with oon mayde went her waye pryuely by the waye the mayde fell in so great a drynes that withoute helpe she was lyke to Dye wherfore seynt Alburghe prayde for helpe to our Lorde And anon a feyre well sprange vppe that is there to this day And when certeyne werke was assygnyd to her by her hostes in Herueste she went to prayer and her werke was don without leyinge any hande to it and her fader by her was conuertyd to the feyth after her broder seynt Erken walde of his patrymonye made for her the Abbey of Barkynge where she was abbesse there she subdued the Body to the spyryte with contynuell Fastyngys vygyllys prayers she pÌ„chyd to the systers perseuerant lye and after was seen an Image bryght shynynge in the Dormytory of the systers bryght shynynge cordys were seen stretchynge into heuyn wherwith the sayd Image was pluckyd vppe And anone after seynt Alburghe deê‘tyd this worlde the .v. Idus of october about the yere of our Lorde .vii. C. .vi. so it apperyth to be for her that the sayd Image was shewyd her monastery hath ben often tymes pÌ„seruyd agaynste paganys by especyall myracle somtymes wylde bestys at the yatysferyd that enemyes so that they durst not come in sometyme the offenders were sodeynly strykyn some with woodnes some with blyndenes and some with Deth And dyuerse Myracles oure Lorde hath shewyd for this gloryous virgyn ¶ De sancta Etheldreda virgine SEynt etheldrede coÌ„menly callyd Seynt Awdry was doughter to anna Kynge of eest EngloÌ„de And agaynste her wyll she was maryed to Tonbert kynge of the south Gyrwyes where is the I le of ely And when she came into the ChauÌ„ber she comyttyd her virgynyte to our Lorde And as her husbonde lokyd in to the ChauÌ„ber it was lyke as if all the chauÌ„ber had ben on fyre And so he bad her fere no more for he wolde not touche her for he sayd our Lorde was hyr defender and shortlye after he dyed she was maryed ageyne by her frendys to Egfryde kynge of northamhuÌ„broruÌ„ .xii. yeyerys she was with hym not as a wyfe but as a Lady for her holynes he worshyppyd her moch promysyd to the Busshope wylfryde great gyftys to make her agree to hym in matrymonye And the Busshope coÌ„trarye wyse exortyd her to kepe virgynyte And at laste by assente of the Kynge she enteryd into Relygyon at Coldyngham vnder Ebba aunte to the kynge And when the kynge repentyd hym wolde haue fet her fro the monasterye she coÌ„myttyd her to our Lorde And with to systers went in to a Hyll there our lorde brought the see about theym preseruyd them there beynge in prayers with oute mete or drynke when the Kynge sawe that he went away repentyd hym of gis presumpcyon and after she went to Ely that was geuyn to her by her husbonde tonbert there she repayryd a Monasterye gaderyd many sustersgence that they had not don as was wonte to be And that doon the preest wakynge sawe hym goo into his toumbe agayne ¶ De sancto Ethelberto rege martire SEynt Ethelbert was Kynge of eest Englonde And when he had in his youthe moche prophytyd in lernynge he gaue not his mynde to voluptuous pleasurys but to Prayers almys dedys other good werkys And when his felowys were at Playe he wolde be at Churche after the deth of his Fader Kynge ethelrede he was made Kynge was profounde in counceyll ryghtwyse and mercyfull in Iudgement sober iÌ„ wordys He wolde spare his subgyettys and resyst prowdemen And after by hoole
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
certeyne space And for asmoche as theyr tyme of tryumphe was not yet commen for theyr enemyes were not yet coÌ„men thyder they were warnyd agayne by the auÌ„gell for to goo to Rome there to coÌ„meÌ„de them to almyghtye god our Lady seynt Mary to the holy appostellys with all other sayntys wheroppon they toke theyr shyppes agayne so goynge towardes rome came to the Cytye of Basyle with a prosperous cource iÌ„ the space of .ii. or .iii. dayes which was .viii. dayes Iourney and agaynste the streme and there they were gladly receyuyd as is before sayd and lefte theyr shyppes there and so wente on theyr Iourney and pylgrymage to romewarde on fote without Charet Horse or Mule to carye theym but went all lyghtly and meryly for they were comfortyd streÌ„gthed thrugh the famylyer company felaushyp of aungellys and other seyntys holy virgyns so that nothynge was to theym heuy or peynfull in so moche that dyuerse matrones in theyr Felaushyp hauyuge youre Chylderne in theyr Armes went as lyghtlye and as easely as dyd the other which bare none the sayde yonge babes Chylderne were aswell comfortyd by vysyon of Aungellys other sayntys as other were and made therof many euydent sygnes of Ioye gladnes in theyr maner as they coulde ferdermore thyse Innocentys and 〈◊〉 Chylderne neyther greuyd nor noyed theyr kepers nor yet lettyd theym by soukynge vppon them as they were wont to doo but thrughe the grace largesse of â—â—â—yghtye god they put theyr fyngers in theyr owne Mowthes and sowkyd out there full swete delycate nourysshyngs wherwyth they were full well fedde susteyned 〈◊〉 ouer they neuer wet theyr selfe with theyr vryne nor other wyse after the maner as chylderne by course of nature be defould but euer pâ—â—re and clene as they that were fedde with AuÌ„gellys food in this holy mery pylgrymage all thynge succedyd ê“sperously better than they coulde thinâ—ke or desyre for if they disposyd them at mornynge â—o lodge at suche a cytie or place at nyght they came thyder with case at theyr pleasure neuer lesynge theyr wey wheresoeuer they came in couÌ„trey or Cytye they encreasyd in noÌ„ber for many ê‘sones both Kynges Busshoppes Prynces Dukys many other nobles matrones vyrgyns whiche câ—sortyd to theym to beholde so wonderfull a spectacle seynge coÌ„syderynge how almyghty god wrought in them that it coulde not be otherwyse but by his grace goodnes lefte theyr Countreys Londys goodys dygnytes all other frendys and Iâ—ynyd them in felawshyp with thyse holy virgyns in hope truste to be parteners with them of theyr gloryous Thryumphe vyctorye And so it was doon for they all suffryd martyrdome with them Also in this blessyd Pylgrymage Rayne ne dewe noyed theym nor any euyll Felawshyp nyghed to them they were so well tenderlye kepte defendyd by garde or kepynge sent from aboue hyghe Hyllys mouÌ„taynys wherof some semyd impossyble to passe ascape were to them lyke easy as playne feyre wayes or pathis the streyght wayes noyed them nor taryed them nothynge but they passyd all lyghtlye easly Also theyr apparayle Clothys were not enpeyryd nor in any thynge that worse for this Iorney lytyll corporall mete seruyd theym they were so well fedde so delycatlye fulfyllyd wtinforth iÌ„ the soules but it was rather tedious greuous to theÌ„ to take it at Rome certen of thyse vgins which were yet vncristenyd were baptyzed of the holy pope Cyryacus which Cyryacus warnyd by an Aungell lefte his 〈◊〉 and all his dygnyte and went to Coleyne with thyse by vyrgyns to be partener of theyr rewarde and so dyd a holy man callyd Cesaryus the Busshope of Basyle beforesayde And at the Cytye of Magunce goynge from Basyle to Coleyne mette with theym the foresayde noble prynce Olyfernes the spouse of the blessyd Uirgyn vrsula with his moder and dyuerse other persones which were Crystenyd and so went fourth with theym to Coleyne desyrynge to be parteners with theym aswell of theyr laboure Peyne as of theyr Rewarde and mede And when they came to Coleyne they fouÌ„de it besette with the cruell bardaryes And the Prynce and Capytayne of theym seynge thys grete multytude of virgyns merueylynge moch therat commaundyd hastely that they shulde be brought and presentyd before hym and soo they were And after many questyons He beholdynge the foresayde Blessyd vyrgyn Ursula admerueylynge her grete bautye her sober and stable countenaunce and stedfaste mynde anon was takyn and Rauysshyd in the loue of her but all that was in vayne for neyther for his feyre wordes and great behestys ne yet for his cruell thretenynges she â—â—lynyd nothynge nor in any wyse assentyd to hym but stedfastlye and with bolde countenaunce despysyd hym not desyrynge his fauoure nor dredynge his malyce wherfore the cruell tyraunt moche greuyd and anoyed seynge that he coulde in nothynge preuayle by fayre meanys ne yet by foule caused to be Slayne martyred before her face many vyrgyns other of her companye amonge whom was the noble prynce Olyfernes her owne spouse before sayde thynkynge therby to peruerte her But for all this she was nothynge mouyd nor chauÌ„gyd any countenauÌ„ce but as she whiche desyryd to be with her veray spouse cryste Iesu not onely feryd not deth but also affectuouslye desyryd it and longyd sore in her harte for it knowynge for certeyne therby to come to her purpose and her hartes desyre wherfore the sayde Tyraunte seynge that she wolde not in any thynge enclyne vnto hym after all her coÌ„pany causyd her to be slayne martyryd ryght cruelly There myghte a man haue seen moche tyrannye exercysyd by thyse bochers which as wood dogges or wolfes thrustynge Innocent blode without pytye or mercye deuoury and slewe all thyse Holy vyrgyns with all theyr companye in a rage and furye and cutte theyr Bodyes into smalle pecys and caste and sparkelyd them ouer all aboute the felde and amonges theym were Clayne yonge Chylderne in theyr moders wombes and as it was shewyd by reuelacyon they were also receyuyd to the euerlastynge lyfe and parteners with theyr moders of the Rewarde of martyrdome as Baptyzyd in the Blode of theyr Moders wich were slayne for crystys sake for otherwyse they coulde not haue ben sauyd In the whych we may see the great and Infynyte goodnes and mercyfull pyâ—â— of our Lorde that soweth and so largely spredyth his mercye Also thyse Inâ—auÌ„tys with many other persones Men Women and Chylderne were not accomptyd in the nombre of the .xi. M. vyrgyns but were besydes them to the nombre of CCCCC and aboue as it apperyth in yâ— hystorye of them in the legende Also in yâ— nombre of the xi thousande by vyrgyns was noon â—lâ—â—te but if she 〈◊〉 ry pure and chaste for other which 〈…〉 virgyns were noon thrugh the 〈…〉 of almyghtye god to whom nothynge is 〈◊〉 were putte out not chosen after the deth of thyse
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