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
¶ 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
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
for loue of the great lernynge that fro the tyme of seynt Theodre flowryd in Englonde he lefte his owne Countre came into EngloÌ„d And anon he prophyted moche in holy Techynge heuynly wisdome And at last forsakynge this deceytfull Worlde he assocyatyd hym selfe to a college of Monkys and he was Busshope after seynt Cuthbert And shone soo clere in vertuous werkes that euery man myghte se in his steppys the wey to lyue vertuously And the thyrde yere after he was made Busshop he went to heuyn the .vii. kalendas of SepteÌ„bre lyeth at Caunterbury A man without reuerence set his corne vppon seynt Bregwyns toumbe and anone it was throwen a good space of And the seconde tyme it was sparkled all the pauement wherfore his shryne was after had in more reuerence And a lame man that went of all foure at his toumbe was made hoole ¶ De sancto Brendano abbate SEynt brendane was borne in the weste parte of Irlonde And his Moder when she was with chylde with hym sawe her bosome full of shynyge gold And hyrtetys Shynynge with a merueylous bryghtnes whiche vysyon Ercus the Busshope enterpretyd to sygnyfye that she shulde bere a Chylde of great holynes And in the nyght when he was borne Ercus the Busshope sawe all the prouynce illumyned with a great lyghte And aungells fleynge aboute in whyte vesture And the Busshope nourysshyd the Chylde and brought hym vp in holy lernynge as the Busshope the Chylde were together a man came faste rennynge for fere of his enemâ—es And the chylde bade hym goo to a stone therby feâ—â— nothynge And whan his enemyes came they stroke the stone takynge it for the man the man for the stone and when they knewe the meruaylous werke of God therin they toke penaunce to theyr deth lyued with the Busshope Laudynge and praysynge our Lorde And after seynt Brendan shewyd the Busshope that he wolde goo lerne the Rulys of the holy Faders of that I le And the Busshope assentyd thynkynge that that mocyoÌ„ came of our Lorde And wheÌ„ he had byn with a nother holy Busshope an Aungell bad hym wryte a Rule and soohe dyd whiche contynueth to this day And after he lefte the worlde and was Fader of .iii. M. moÌ„kys and he made .xiiii. Rulers ouer theym and lyuyd hymfelfe in an Oratorye with them and after he saylyd many longe wayes in the See and escapyd many peryllys in that iourney by the speciall assystaunce of our Lorde and when he had ben fourthe .vii. yere he retournyd agayne to his Monastery and there his staffe was leyde vppon a Chylde that was deed after .iii. dayes he rose agayne to lyffe wheÌ„ .ii. kynges varyed entendyd to haue destroyde others cuntrey by his entreatyce wolde not ceace by his prayers they were made in such case that they coulde not goo out of the place where they were wherby they knewe they re defaute and lefte theyr enterpryse And he went oute of this Worlde full of good Werkys and great Myracles the .xvii. kalendas of Iune at cluenarca ¶ De sancta Brigida virgine SEynt bryde was borne in Irloude her moder when she was with Chylde with her was solde in bondage to a wiche and she caste vppe all the mete that she reseyuyd of the wyches And he perceyuyd it sayd that he was vnclene and that the Mayde was full of the spirit of god and coulde not take his mete and so he gaue her a Cowe of her owne with whose Mylke she was fedde She was full of Pyte hadde great coÌ„passyon to pore men and gaue all that she had to theym in Almes in her youth she gaue Butter to pore men And whenne the wich which was her Mayster was angrye therwith by her prayer it encreasyd agayne And he seynge that was conuertyd and gaue her .xii. Kyne and made her free and sent her to her fader after her fader thoughte to sell her agayne bycause she gaue pryuely to poure men all that she myghte gette And offerd to selle hyr to the Kynge And when the kynge askyd of her why she gaue awaye her faders swerde she sayde she had geuyn it to our Lorde and if he askyd of her the Kynge her father both she sayde she wolde gladly gyue theym both vnto hym and then the Kynge gaue her aswerde to gyue her Father She was euer ententyfe to a hoole cleÌ„nesse sobrenes And euer encreasyd fro vtue to vtue And she prayde to our Lorde that some deformyte myghte falle vppoÌ„ her that no man shuld aske her in maryage and anone â—on of her eyen wente out And when she was made a Nonne her eye was hole agayn Certeyne Ale that she made of a stryke of malte seruyd moch people all the vtas of ester she helyd Lepours men syke of the Palsey blynde obcessyd of deuyllys a vgyn that was blynde prayde seynt Bryde to blesse her eyen yâ— she myghtse she dyd so Aranon she had hyr syghte theÌ„ she prayde her to close her eyen agayne for the more that a man is absent fro the world the nerer he is to God And then seynt Bryde closyd her eyen agayne and on a nyght in frost snowe wheÌ„ other slepte she went into a Ponde wepynge prayde And so she thoughte to haue perseueryd but that oure Lord other wyse dysposyd And she knewe when her tyme to passe out of this worlde drewe nere And aboute the yere of our Lorde fyue hundred and .xviii. she went to our Lorde in the kalendas of February ¶ De sancto Brythuno abbate SEynt brythune was borne in EngloÌ„d and was Discyple to seynt IohnÌ„ of Beuerlay many yerys And for his holy Lyfe and laudable coÌ„uersacion he hadde hym in great famylyaryte before other And he made him Abbot of deirwodde now callyd Beuerley He was a Louer of vertues and a persecutor of vyces A dyspyser of the worlde and desyrous of the kyngdome of heuyn and a dylygent instructour of the flocke to hym commyted a executoure of Iustyce and Pyte A great gyuer of Almes And a keper of Hospytalyte and redye to doo all thynges that he myghte please our Lorde with all And he lyued in good Werkys vnto greaâ— Aege And endyd his Lyfe in the Ious of Maii and was Buryed in his Monasterye And after the Clergy and the people seynge the great Myracles Sygnys that our Lorde shewyd for hym by a comyn assent translatyd his Body and leyde it by his mayster seynt IohnÌ„ of Beruerley De sctoÌ„ Bertelmo heremita confessore SEynt bartelyn was sone of the kynge of Kynge of the countrey of Stafforde he lefte his countrey and went into Irlonde there was in grete famylyaryte with a Kynge of Irlonde And there by entysynge of the Goostly enemy he gate the Kynges doughter with chylde and pryuely brought her into Englonde And in a Forest she traueylyd where bothe she the Chylde were
and Water After by assent of her Fader and Modershe was made a Nunne And by her exaumple .xii. other noble virgyns enteryd also in to relygyon And by the helpe of the Kynge she made a Monasterye where she lyuyd in Fastyngys and contynuell Prayers a Hundred tymes on the Daye as many tymes of the Nyght she prayed knelynge the Deuyll enuyed her And to haue deceyuyd her he apperyd lyke our Lorde with Aungellys and bad her come and worshyp hym whom she had longe seruyd And by Spyryte she knewe hym and dyspysyd hym And so he went awey with a great stenche and she contynued in prayer quyetlye and without fere And thenne the Deuyll mouyd the Kynge alger to desyre her to his voluptuous pleasure so that the Kynge sent his seruauntys for her when they coulde not haue her assente to come to the Kynge And wolde therfore haue takyn her by Strength they were anon strykyn Blynde And by desyre of all the people that came to that spectacle she made them see agayne And the same nyght an AuÌ„gell apperyd to her and bade her goo to Chamyssyde And there she shuld fynde a Bote and a yonge man prepayryd by our Lorde to conuey her for the Kynge wolde come to take her awaye so she wente to Chames and in an houre space with two Susters she was conueyed in the sayde bote .x. myles And sodeynly the bote the rower were gon there they lyuyd in a wyldernesse .iii. yerys in great abstyneÌ„ce vigillis and prayers And when the Kynge in the Mornynge coulde not fynde her in a great Ire he studyed to destroy the Towne wherfore when he came to the north yate He was stryken blynde and for his offence as it is sayde it is prohybytyd to Kyngys of Englonde to come within the Towne of Oxforde to this day And after .iii. yerys she came agayne and made an Oratory at thornbury by Oxforde there by her Prayers sprange a feyre welle On a tyme when she came to Oxforde all the people met her And a fowle lepoure prayed her in the name of god to kysse hym and so she dyd and anon he was made hoole as she was praynge an AuÌ„gell tolde her that she shuld dye the .xiiii. kalendas of nouember And so he went fro her and lefte her seke of the Axes And when her strength was moche goon fro her she sawe seynt Katheryne and seynt Cecylye whom she had euer moche worshyppyd And as she cryed to theym I come Ladyes I come she went to oure Lorde the sayd .xiiii. kalendas of Nouember And anon came a great Lyght into the house that fyllyd all the house And the towne full of a goodly swete â—auoure And she Lyeth in Oxforde ¶ De sancto furseo abbate confessore SEynt furse was borne in Irlonde And was broder to seynt Foillane He was feyre and chaste of Bodye deuoute in mynde full of Grace good Werkys And fro his youth he was brought vppe in holy Letters and lernynge of Relygyon And on a tyme when he was seke and was seyinge his euynsonge a grete derkenes fell aboute hym And he was brought in maner as he hadde ben deed Then he sawe thre Aungells come to hym And he herde theym synge ibunt sancti de virtute invirtutem and other merueylous swete songes And after Deuyllys before our Lorde leyde many thyngys agaynste hym and the AuÌ„gellys defendyd hym fro theyr accusacyons and fro great terryble Fyres that he sawe and fro all other daungers excepte that he had takyn a gowne of oon that was a synner to Praye for hym And the Deuyll threw that man vppon hym which burnyd his shulder so sore that it was seen vppon hym euer after Then the Aungellys bade hym loke into the worlde And he sawe the worlde lyke a great Ualsy wherin were foure Fyres And the Aungellys sayd that tho Fyres consume all the worlde The fyrste is the fyre of lyinge in that that men at theyr Baptysme promyse to forsake the Deuyll and all his werkys and do not The seconde is the fyre of couetyse when men set the loue of the worlde before the loue of Heuenly thyngys The thyrde is the Fyre of discencyon when men fere not to offende theyr neyghboures for veyne thynges And the fourth fyre is of wyckydnes when great men fere not to robbe and spoyle pore men And as he lokyd vp he sawe a great company of AuÌ„gellys in heuyn harde them synge sanctus sanctus sanctus dnÌ„s deus sabaoth therby he was moch coÌ„fortyd sayd it was great ioy to here that heueÌ„ly songe then two holy Busshoppys that lately were gon to heuyn apperyd to hym that he shuld goo to the worlde ageyne wherfore he was very heuy And they shewyd hym that there is no sacryfyce more acceptable to our Lord then pacyence myldenes of herte wherby all Aduersyteys Hurtys in truste of the resurreccyon to come be gladlye takyn many goodlye thynges notable lernyngys be in the vysyon of this blessyd man that for shortnes be here omyttyd A yere after that he was come to hymselfe as he was syke an Aungell apperyd to hym sayd he shulde yet lyue xii yerys in prechynge the worde of god And so he came to sygybert Kynge of eest Englonde of whome he was gladly receyuyd And at knoberesburgh he made a Monasterye when so euer he talkyd of his vysyon though it were colde wynter he swette for fere And after he lefte the cure of the Monasterye to his Broder seynt Foyllane and he went into Fraunce there made a Monasterye at Latynyacum He lefte this worlde the .xvii. kalendas of February and lyeth at perona .iiii. yere after his buryenge his Bodye was remouyd was fouÌ„de vncorrupte He departyd about the yere of our Lord .vi. C. .xxxvi. ¶ De sancto Gylda abbate confessore SEynt gylda was a Kynges sone of scotlande in his youth he was lernyd in the Artes lyberall after he went into Fraunce there he was .vii. yere and fro thens he came into Brytayne where many scolers resortyd to hym He fastyd lyke an Heremyte And euer was busye in Prayers were the heer he lyuyd w e Barly breed made with asshes dranke water neuer eete Flesshe And in the nyghtys he sayde certeyne Prayers in the water takynge his slepe vppon a stone And the Heuenly rewardys were alwayes in his desyre And he taught his dyscyples to despyse all that was traÌ„sytorye on a tyme as he prechyd in the CouÌ„trey of Epydane his voyce was stoppyd sodeynly when all the people merueylyd therat he bad them all goo out of the Church that he myght knowe whether any of them were the cause therof And at laste Nunnyta moder of seynt Dauyd then beynge with Chylde was founde in the Churche and then he sayd that she shuld haue a blesshyd Chylde that no man in his tyme shulde be
vpon the drye grouÌ„de by her prayer was anone taken vp with the see and so she escaped and came into an I le called Ippleffec and as she sette her fote vpon a foure square stone her fote sanke into the stone as it hadde bensnowe after by seynt Theodre she was made abbesse to .lxx. nonnes On a tyme the deuyll as she was prayeng blewe out her candell and an AuÌ„gell lyght it agayne She dyed the .iii. I de of Iulye her successours whiche was called Edburgh toke vp her body to remoue it to a more honorable place and founde it vncorrupt more lyke to slepe then to be deed After her monastery was destroyed and was made a parysshe churche her Relykê were brought to Caunterbury but whether they lye in the church of seynt Augustyne or of seynt Gregorie the Legende leuyth it in doute and dyuers myracles be here omytted On a nyght as she was in prayer the holy ghost appered to her lyke aboue satte vpon her hedde with his wynges compassynge her hedde lyke a crowne with suche a lyght that she myght skarsely be seen the space of an houre ¶ De sancta Modwenna virgine abbatissa SEynt Modwen was borne in Irlande and by prechynge of seynt Patryke she entered into Relygyon and fro thens she gaue her self to lernynge to despyse the vanytes of the worlde to kepe her herte stedfast with all dylygence to punysshe her bodye with fastynges and vygylles no thynge she put byfore the loue of god hauynge great desyre to the Ioyes of heuyn with contynuell feere of the paynes of hell and her broder by her example forsoke the worlde and after was made a bysshop She made a monasterye and there lyued with her brother with rawe rotes gettynge her lyuynge with her owne laboure many noble matrones came to her quenes and virgyns to here the worde of god Eyght virgyns Ioyned them selfe to her wherof seynt Bryde and orbila were in the company and when Orbila for her youth fered to take the rule of the monastery vpon her seynt modwen put the gyrdell aboute her and brethyd vpon her and anone her heere waxed hoore and she was lyke an olde woman and thenne she toke the rule of the Monasterye with good wyll She caused a wolfe that had kylled one of her calues to folowe the cowe and kepe her and other wolfes of that kynde vse to do so to this day A great thefe called Glunelach kylled .viii prestê that seynt Patrike had sent to vysyt seynt Modwen and she herynge therof went thyder with .xlix. nonnes to burye theym and Glunelache with .xlix. theuys mette theym and thought to haue rauysshed theym but when they wolde haue layde handes vpon the virgyns they fell sodeynly a slepe and slept .ii. dayes and the spyryte of seynt Modwen and Glunelache were ledde with an Aungell into heuyn hell when Glunelache came to hymselfe agayne he was coÌ„uerted and his neue we also lyued a good and a blessyd lyfe A holy bysshop called Cheuyn was brought in beleue by craft of the deuyll that Glunelach the thefe by prayer of seynt Modwen shuld haue his place in Heuyn and that all was in vayne that he had done in the seruyce of god wherfore the bysshop thought to destroye her and her Monasterye and as he was coÌ„mynge therto she had knowlege therof by our lorde and so she met hym and shewyd hym that his enemye had deceyued hym greatly and anone he sawe the deuyll that brought hym to the temptacyon lyke a blacke Ethyope wherfore he toke great repentauÌ„ce Then seynt Modwen to the entent she myght the more surely conferme hym in our lord put her staffe into a welle that she vsed oftymes in the wynter to stande in tyl she had sayd a hole Psaulter she drewe her staffe after her agaynst the hylle the water folowed the staffe into the toppe of the hylle wherupon he depê‘ted lyued after a blyssed lyf On a tyme when she entended to go into EnglaÌ„de she lacked a shyp at her prayer the grouÌ„de reysed it self vp about her lyke an I le so coÌ„ueyed her her company ouer the see into Englande where she and seynt Edith that was suster to kyng Edgar rered Ositha that was drowned fro deth to lyfe She went thryse to Rome for remyssion of her synnes and she dyed in Irlande the thyrde Nonas of Iulii after whose deth great varyauÌ„ce was bytwyxt Englysshemen Irysshemen and Scottes for her bodye and the bysshop Counceyled theym that eyght men shuld take vp her bere that countre that our Lorde wolde haue theym go towardes shulde haue the body and by the wyll of our lorde they went streyght towardes Englande so she was brought into Englande and lyeth at Andreseia After her deth she apperyd to one of the Nonnes after compleyne and tolde her that she herde some of the susters speke in tyme of scylence and that her body yet beyng amonge them vnburyed she meruayled that they forget her doctryne and reguler obseruaunce and bad them nat to breke the leste obseruauÌ„ce lest by lytell lytel they fell into greatter defautê sayinge vnto the suster that she appered vnto that she shuld make her redy for after .vii. dayes she shuld come vnto her and so it was done ¶ De sancto Neoto abbate confessore SEynt Neotus comonly called seynt Eed was the kynges sone of west Englande of Kent and when he came to age he forsoke the pryde pompe of the worlde was made a monke at Glastenbury vnderseynt DunstanÌ„ where he ascendyd to hygh perfyte relygion he was so lytel of stature that at masse he had a thynge vnder his fete but he was full of vertues and good maners Eloquent of speche discrete of wordes and of great lernynge beynge byloued of all men and to the entent that he wolde eschewe the recourse and fauour of the people he went into Cornewale where he lyued .vii. yeres in a wyldernes whiche after his name is called Neotstoke after he went to Rome and was there honorably receyued of 〈◊〉 Martyne fro thens he retourned into his owne couÌ„tre where he made a monasterye and was ofte vysyted with Aungellys he had a water that had thre Fysshes in it and if he toke one euery day yet alway there were thre Fysshes He tolde the kynge Alfred his broder that for his pryde and tyrauntrye he shulde be put out of his Realme and be as an outlawe but he sayd by his prayers he had opteyned of our Lorde that he shuld be restored agayne and shuld coÌ„uerte his enemy to the fayth it ê“ued after iÌ„ euery thyng as he had sayd By seynt Ede the kyng was correct tyrauntrie tourned into sobernes the worshyppyng of deuylles abated and the people of our lorde moche encreasyd in all the countre he lefte this worlde the day before the kalend of August and paâ—â—e of his Relykes lye at Ramsey the
home he vysytyd the Relykys of his Mayster seynt Edmōde And when he came into Englonde he suffred many great rebukys and Iniuryes in great pacyence a longe tyme Tyll after great sute he was restoryd to his possessyons This blessyd man after that he was made Busshope went aboute his dyoces prechynge visytynge and mynystrynge of the sacramentys He was fro thens more feruent in prayer more lyberall in almes gyuynge the more dylygent aboute poore men and his demeanoure was the more meke he made a place that preestys that felle in Pouerte myghte be releuyd in A great man whom he had accursyd for wronge doon to his Churche came to hym he receyuyd hym famylyerly bade hym to dyner sayinge for that tyme he wolde assoyle hym that after that tyme the sentence shulde reuyue onlesse he made amendys in that he had offendyd agaynste the the Churche sayinge also if partyes do varye for any thynge that they clayme ryght in yet they ought to shewe charyte to eche other for if a man clayme that that is his he maye not yet withdrawe fro god that that is his whiche is charyte He sought for poore men as he went in vysytacyon and wolde aswell with his owne presence as with his almes comforte them He herd confessyons he assoylyd penytentys He gaue counceyll to them that axyd for it He strengthed men that were feruent to serue god and multyplyed brede that fedde moche people reysyd a Chylde that was deed borne this blessyd man as he was prechynge by the Popes auctoryte for helpe of the Holy lande dyed at douer the thyrde nonas of apryll and was brought frothens to chychestre where our lord hath shewyd for hym many myracles ¶ De seruo dei Roberto abbate venerabili SEynt robert was borne in the prouynce of yorke he toke order of preesthod had a benefice which he forsoke enteryd into Relygyon at whytby after by lycence of his Abbot he went to fontes where Rycharde pryor of seynt mary of yorke had buyldyd a Monasterye there no man lyuyd Idle but gaue hym to laboure the bretherne went hungry to theyr table and wery to bedde they lyuyd without murmure or Heuynes in great feruoure they laudyd our Lorde after seynt Robert made a newe Monasterye and there he was made abbot He neuer rose fro his table fullysacyate he fasted euery lent Breed and water At an Estre tyme when he had no appetyte to ete he sayde he thought that if he had eten Brede with butter he shulde ete it and whan it was brought consyderynge that he had somwhat assentyd to his concupyscence he wolde not ete it but sent it to the gate to poore men where an Aungell lyke a yonge man with a bryght shynynge face toke the dysshe anon vanysshyd awaye and when the dysshe was askyd for it fell sodeynly vppon the Borde before seynt Robert He sayde dayly besyde his dutye C. .l. psalmes As he went by newe castell he sawe the Deuyll amonge moche yonge people by compulcyon he shewyd seynt Robert that ne had ben his cōmynge he had made the husbonde at a pompyouse Bryde as to haue ben slayne by his enemyes And there vpon shulde haue folowyd great murdre And by his cōmynge he sayd all his purpose was stoppyd On a nyght he thought he sawe the Dedyll amonge his Bretherne that he toke a Nouyce that was not stable pullyd hym into his Basket with his Hoke in the mornynge seynt Robert enquyred for hym and he was ren his weye and accōpanyed hym to the theuys where shortlye after his heed was stryken of he was ghostlye fader to seynt Godryke And when he dyed seynt Godrykesawe thre Aungellys bere his soule to Heuen And seynt Godryke sayd that of the purueyaunce of god a blessyd woman of Hastynges wente with hym in oonsorte oon rewarde into Heuyn He dyed the yere of our Lorde a Thousande a Hundred and .lix. the .vii. I de of Iune for whome oure Lorde hath shewyd many great myracles A dome man that hadde lōge ben at seynt thomas for helpe was bydden by seynt Thomas that he shulde goo to the newe Monesterye to seynt Robert there he shulde be helyd and soo he was a Knyght sawe in vysyon many Deuyllys goo towarde the newe Monastery he thought a Monke in whyght apparell came out of the Monastery and with his crosyer lyfte vppe prohybytyd them that they shuld goo no ferther and he thought that with theyr stryuynge a Crosse that was nygh to hym was throwne downe and so it was asapperyd when he sent thyder in the mornynge De sancto Rumwaldo THe moder of seynt rūwalde was doughter to kynge pēda which was a paynym and she was Crystened was maryed to the kynge of northāhumbre that was a paynym and she prayed hartelye to our Lorde that her body shulde neuer be defoulyd with a man eschaungyd fro his lawe and when she came into the chaumbre she tolde her Husbonde that she wolde neuer accūpany with hym tyll he was crystenyd and by the wyll of our Lorde he assentyd And aftre as he and the quene which was great with Chylde were goynge to her fader She was delyueryd in Tētys in a medowe besyde buckyngham callyd Suttun and anon as the Chylde was borne he cryed I am a cristen man thryse and he sayd he wolde not haue to his godfaders the Ryche prowde men of the worlde but chase to his godfaders two holy Prestis Wyderynus and Edwoldus and he shewyd a Holowe stone that he shulde be crystenyd in and when moch people coulde not remoue the stone he bade wyderinus and Edwoldus in the name of our Lord to brynge it anon they brought it without dyffyculte And so he was crystenyd and was callyd Rumwalde as he appoyntyd And anon he prechyd to the people the hyghe mysteryes of the Trynyte howe they were thre personys and one god of the Artycles of the feythe and of the .x. commaundemētys and specyally of the Loue to almyghty god to our neyghbour exortyd the people to do penaūce for theyr synnys which is to leue theyr euyll Lyfe to make amendys for that they haue offendyd with Fastynges prayers Almesdedys aduertysyd the people to loue honour eche other not to accuse other not to detracte other not to stele ne to be forsworne And when he had made a long sermon approuyd it by grete auctorytes of Scripture He sayd it was not for hym to lyue in this worlde and so aftre thre dayes his spiryt went to heuen the thyrde nonas of Nouembre as he had appoyntyd his bodye lay oon yere there as he was borne two yerys at Brakley and then at Buckyngham where he lyeth at this day theyse Townys at that tyme were not so namyd but after they were callyd accordynge as he had namyd them our lorde hath shewyd for hym many myracles
ê“fyted nat somwhat with vyolence neuerthelesse reuerently they ledde hir out of hir house vnto the watersyde And loo a meruaylous thyng the olde myracle was reuyued for lyke as in the tyme of Iosue the water of fleme Iordane was stopped ayenst the natural course so at the entryng of the holy virgyn Katherin into the water of Tyber suche vtue yssued out of hir by the power of almyghty god that it restreyned the strength of the water so that it coÌ„pellyd the streme with a great swyftnes to go into the olde course wherof all men ioyed laudyng the great power of o r lord shewyd iÌ„ his blessyd vgyn seynt Katheryn Iugeburgê the iii. dought of seit birget in hir youth was made a noÌ„ne in the Monastery of Rysaburga where in shorte tyme after she yelded hit soule to almyghty god And whenne hir moder knewe that she was deed with great Ioye she sayd O lorde Ihesu criste blessyd be thou that thou haste called hir to the or the worlde had be wrappyd hir with synne and anone after seynt Birget was in hir oratory she fell vpon such great wepynge and sobbynge that all that were nygh to hir harde and sayd loo howe she wepyth for the deth of hir doughter Then our lorde apperyd to hir sayd woman why wepyst thou though I knowe all thynges yet by thy wordes I wyll knowe to whom she sayd O lorde I wepe nat for that my doughter is deed but I am glad therof for if she hadde lyued lenger she shuld haue had before the a gretter accomptê but I wepe for this cause that I haue nat enformed hir after thy coÌ„maundementê bycause I haue gyuen hir examples of pryde And I haue neclygently corrected hir when she hath offendyd To whom our lorde answered and sayd euery moder that wepyth bycause hir doughter hath offen dyd god and enformyth hir after hir beste conscyence she is a very moder of charite and moder of terys and hir doughter is the doughter of god for the moder But that moder that Ioyeth of that that hir doughter can behaue hir after the worlde nat carynge of hir lyuynge so that she may be eraltyd and honoured in the worlde she is no very moder but a stepmoder therfore for thy charyte and good wyll thy doughter by the nyghest waye shall goo vnto the Kyngdome of heuyn and at the Sepulture of the sayd gloryous virgyne Iugeburgê he done many great myracles Cecily the fourth doughter of seynt Birget was the laste childe that euer she had and she is to be had in great honour moste specially for the synguler grace gyuen vnto hir by our blessyd lady before she was borne For when hir moder at hir byrthe was in great parrell in despayre of hir lyfe our blessyd lady was seen in whyte clothynge of sylke goynge to hir and as she stode byfore the bed she towched seynt Birget in dyuers ê‘tyes of hir body so that all the women there beynge present greatly meruayled therof nat knowynge any thynge who it was And as soone as our lady was gone out of the house seynt Birget was delyuered without defyculte and shortly after our lady sayd to seynt Birget when thou was iÌ„ icopardy at thy delyueraune I came vnto the and helpyd the. Therfore thou art vnkynde if thou loue me nat wherfore labour that thy children may also be my children AftseiÌ„t Birget induced hir husbande to lyfe in contyneus many yeres And also they both went on pylgremage to seynt Iames in Gales with great deuocyon after came agayne into their Countre at Swecia and by comen assententendyd bothe to haue entred into Relygyon and in that purpose the sayd Ulpho hir husbande dyed the .xii. daye of Februarii the yere of our lord god a Thousande CCC and .xliiii. and is buryed in the monastery of Albastra After his deth seynt Birget put all hir wyll to the wyll of god and thought she wolde for the loue of god forsake all the worldly pleasure and determyned hir selfe with the assystaunce and grace of our lorde to lyue in chaste wydowhed all hir lyfe and contynuelly made hir prayer to almyghty god to knowe by what way she myght beste please hym And after she gaue all hir landes and goodes to hir children and to pore men so that she myght in pouerte folowe our lorde and reseruyd to hirselfe oonly that that wolde symply and mekely serue hir for mete drynke and clothynge and that to lyue in symple array After by the coÌ„maundement of almyghty god folowynge the example of Abraham she left his owne countrey and hir carnall frendes went in pylgremage to Rome the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.xlvi the .xlii. yere of hir age therto abyde in the lyfe of penaunce to vysyt the lyghtê of seynt Peter and Paule the relykes of other seyntê tyl she had of our lorde other coÌ„mauÌ„dement hauyng euer with hir .ii. olde faders spirituell wherof one was a monke called Peter whiche was pryor of Albastra of the ordre of Cisteux a pure virgyn was a man of great connynge of vertuous lyf and the other was a preest of Swecia whiche also was a vgyn a man of holy lyfe he by the coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of almyghty god taught hir hir doughter Katheryn graÌ„mer to whiche faders spirituall of hir lyfe she obeyed in all vertue as mekely as a very meke monke is wont to obey his pÌ„late in somoche that she came into so ê‘fyte humylyte obedyens mortyfiynge of hir owne wyll that when she went to ê‘dons and holy places amonge the recourse of the people euer accompanyed with the sayd preest hir fader spirituall she durste nat lyft vp hir iyen fro the grouÌ„de tyll she had leue of the the â—ayd fader sperituell And after the deth of hir husbande in the honour of the Trinite she weer nere next hir bare skyn a corde of hempe with many knottes harde bouÌ„den to hir in lykewyse about euery of hir legges vnder hir knees And she neuer vsed any lynen cloth though it weer in tyme of sykenes but oonly vpon hir hed next hir skyn she weer euer rough sharpe wolen cloth hir outwarde appareâ— was nat after the coÌ„dicion of hir ê‘sone but moch meke abiecte she nat oonly kepe the fastyngê or vigylles that holy churche coÌ„mauÌ„deth but she suê‘added therto many other in so moche that beyonde the coÌ„maundement of the churche she fasted .iiii. tymes in the weke aswell in hir husbandes lyfe as after And after hir husbandê deth vnto a lytel byfore hir blessyd passage out of this world after fastyngê prayers other dyuyne labours most comeÌ„ly she reâ—resshed hir self with right short slepe in hir clothes that she was wont to weer lyinge vpon a carpet wtout federbed matres strawe or any otherthing euery fryday in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of the gloryous passion of our sauyour criste Ihesu she absteyned in brede water oonly bysyde lyke abstyneÌ„ce that she
if deuocyon of prayers brynge into thy Herte a deuoute thought of the manhed of our Lord or of ony of the other beforesayde this thought shulde be lettyd by thy sayinge than mayste thou cease of thy saynge and occupy the with medytacyon tyll it passe away ¶ Where of a man nedyth to be ware iÌ„ meditacioÌ„ ca. xix BUt of certeyn thynges the behouyth to be ware in thy medytacyons somme shall I tell the One is whan thou haste hadde a ghostly thought or Imagynacyon of the manhed of our Lorde or of suche bodyly thynges and thy soule hath ben coÌ„fortyd and fed therwyth it passyth away by the selfe be not to busy to holde it styll with maystry for it is than turned to peyne and to bytternes Also if it passe not away but dwell styll in thy mynde without ony traueyle of thy selfe and thou for comfort of it wyll not leue it and therfore it reuyth the of thy slepe in nyghtys or ellys in dayes fro other good dedys or ellys for grete feruoure of thy body thy body or thy hedde fallyth into great febylnes Than shalt thou wylfully breke of whanne tyme commyth somtyme whanne thou haste moost deuocyon and were lotheste for to leue it as whan it passyth resonable tyme or ellys it turneth to dysease of thyn euencrysten But if thou do soo thou doest not well as me thynketh ne wysely neyther a worldly man or woman that felyth not perauenture deuocyon twyse in a yere if he fele by the grace of our lorde Ihesu great coÌ„punccyon for his Synnys or ellys haue mynde on the passyon of oure Lorde if he were put fro his slepe and his rest a nyght or two or thre vntyll his Hed werke it is no force for it commyth to theym but seldome But to the or to an other man that hath the manâ—r of werkynge in custome as it were eche other daye it is spedefull for to haue dyscrecyon in youre werkynge and not fully falle therto for to folowe it as moche as wyll come I holde that it is good to the to vse this manner in what deuocyon that thou he that thou hange not to longe therupon eyther to put yâ— fro thy mete or fro thy slepe in tyme or for to dysease ony other man vnskylfully the wyse man sayth thus Omnia tempus habent all thynges haue tyme Another thynge that the behouyth to be ware of is this whaÌ„ thy thought hath ben occupyed in Imagynacyon of the Manhed of our Lorde or in any suche other and after this thou arte busy with all the desyre of thy Herte for to seke knowynge or felynge more ghostlye of the godhed prese not to moche theron ne suffre not thy desyre ne thy Herte tary to longe there in as yf thou were abydynge after some quaynte styrynge or woÌ„derfull felynge other than thou haste had before tyme thou shalte not do so it is ynough to the and to me for to haue a desyre and a longynge to our lorde and if he wyll of his grace frelye ouer this desyre sende vs of his ghostlye lyghte and open our ghostlye eye for to knowe more of hym than we haue hadde before by comon traueyle thanke we hym therof and if he wyll not for we are not yet meke Inoughe or ellys we ar not dysposyd by clennes of lyuynge in othersydes to receyue that grace thanne shall we mekely knowe our owne wretchydnes and holde vs payde with desyre that we haue to hym and with other coÌ„myn thoughtys that now lyghtly fall vnder our Imagynacyon as of oure Synnes or Crystes passyon or such other or ellys with prayers or of the Sauter or some other and loue hym wyth all our herte that he woll geue vs ony parte of his grace And if thou doo otherwyse thou mayste lyghtlye be begylyd by the spyryt of erroure for thy presumpcyon for it is great foly a man by his owne wytte for to prese so moche into ghostlye thynges but if he felyd plente of grace for the wyse man saythe Scrutator maiestatis opprimetur a glorya That is to saye a ransaker of the myghte of god and of his mageste without great clennes and mekenes shall be ouerleyde and oppressyd in hym selfe therfore the wyse man sayeth in a nother place on this wyse Alciora te ne quesieris et forciorate ne scrutatus fueris That is for to saye Hyghe thynges that are aboue thy wytte and thy reason seke not and great thynges that are aboue thy myght ransake not By thyse wordys the wyse man forbedyth not vtterlye for to seke and ransake ghostlye and heuenly thyngys but he forbyd dethe vs that as longe as we ar flesshlye and not clensyd fro vayne loue of the worlde that we take not vpon vs by oure owne traueyle ne by oure owne wytte for to ransake or to feele ghostlye thynges ne thoughe we fele ghostlye thyngys and great feruoure of the loue of god soo moche that we set at nought all erthlye thynges vs thynkyth that we wolde for goddys loue forsake all the Ioyes and all the welthe of this worlde yet are we not anone able and redy for to seke and beholde ghostlye thynges that are aboue vs vntyll our soule be made sotyll and tyll it be made sad and stable in vertues by proces of tyme and encreasynge of grace for asseynt gregory sayth no man sodaynelye is made souerayn in grace but fro lytyll he begynnyth and by proces waxyth vntyll he be perfyte Amen ¶ Here folowyth the table ¶ Howe a man that wyll be ghostlye must fyrste vse moche bodely exercyse iÌ„ penauÌ„ce destroying of syn Ca. i. ¶ Howe a man that is set oonly to ghostly lyuynge shall rule all his dedys by dyscrecyon without whiche they turne often into vyce Ca. ii ¶ Unto what maner man belongyth actyfe lyfe Ca. iii. ¶ Unto whom belongyth contemplatyf lyfe Ca. iiii ¶ Unto whom belongeth medlyd lyfe Ca. v. ¶ How holy Busshopes vsed medlyd lyfe that a man that hath souereynte shall not gyue hym only to deuocyoÌ„ and vtterly leue worldly busynes Ca. vi ¶ What lyfe moost accordyd to hym that this was wrytten to Ca. vii ¶ Howe a man that is well traueylyd and prâ—uyd in dedys of actyfe lyfe may passe fourthe and attaynt to Contemplacyon whiche is fyguryd by Iacobes 〈◊〉 Rachell and Lya Ca. viii ¶ That a man shall sometyme hauâ— the more deuocyon whan he hath ben lettyd by outwarde 〈◊〉 Ca. ix ¶ What is desyre to god for hymselfe Ca. x. ¶ That in clennes of conscyence is the very comforte swetnes Ca. xi ¶ How thou shalt dyspose 〈◊〉 to deuocyon Ca. xii ¶ Howe a man shall haue myâ—â—â—â—n crystes manhed of his passyon Ca. xiii ¶ How a maÌ„ shall thynke on 〈◊〉 on seyntys ca. xiiii ¶ Of our Ladye and of oure laâ—â—â— Ihesu Howe a man shall beholde theyr holynes Ca. xv ¶ Of beholdynge of the myght the wysdome the goodnes and the mercy of god to his creatures Ca. xvi ¶ Howe the mynde of the wretchydnes of peryllys of this worlde makyth a sowle to desyre heuyn Ca. xvii ¶ How a man shall doo when he felyth no sauoure ne coÌ„forte in his medytacyons Ca. xviii ¶ Wherfore a maÌ„ nedyth to beware iÌ„ meditacioÌ„ Ca. xix ¶ Thus endyth a deuoute boâ—e coÌ„pylyd by mayster water Hylton Empryntyd at loÌ„don in flete strete at the signe of the George by Rycharde Pynson prynter vnto the Kynges noble grace in the yere of our Lorde god a M. CCCCC .vi. endyd in the laste daye of February
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