hym And this is that thappostle saith ad ephesiâ—eâ— iij Our lord hath gyuem hym self in to oblacion and sacrefice for vs in to the odour of swetenesse to god the fader And how he was sacrefyed that was in vs appeasyng god Seynt Austyn in the boke of the Trynyte saith thus what thyng may be more grâ—ciously playsantly receyued than the flesshe of our sacrefyse whiche was maad the precyous body of our preest Therfor iiij thynges ought to be considered in all sacrefise First hym to whom is offred that whiche is offred hym that offreth And hym for whom the offrynge is offred he hym self is the moyen of bothe two that is to saye god and man he was hym self that dyde offre And he was hym self that was offred And the same doctour saith yet of this sacrâ—fyse how we be to god reconcyled IhuÌ„ Cryst is the preest And the sacrefyse he is god and also he is the temple he is the preest by whome we beÌ„ reconcyled God to whom we ben reconcyled And the temple in whom We be recoÌ„cyled The sacrefyse of whom we ben reconcyled saynt Austyn saith consideryng them that despyse this reconciliacion And sette nought therby he saith in the persone of IhuÌ„ Cryst in repreuyng theÌ„ whan thou were enemy to my fader I haue reconcylyd the whan thou were ferre I brought the agayn whan thou were taken I cam for to redeme the whan emonge the montaynes and the forestes thou were out of the waye I sought the to th ende that of the vulues ne of the euyll bestes thou were not eten ne all to tornÌ„ I gadred the And bare the in myn armes and delyuerd the to my fader I laboured I swette I put myn hede ayenst the thornes stratched myn hondes vnto the naylles opened my syde to the spere haue shedde my blood And haue gyue ouer my sowle and lyf for to Ioyne the to me And thou hast departed thy self fro me Secondly Ihesu crist was right couenable and necessarye for to saue vs and to hele and cure vs of our maladye and sekenesse for by cause of the tyme and of the place And of the maner of the tyme as it apperith For Adam was made and synned in the moneth of marche and on the fryday whiche is the vj day of the weke and therfor god in the moneth of marche on the fryday wold suffre deth and at at mydday whiche is the vj hour Secondly For the place of his passyon the whiche myght be considerid in thre maners for one place eyther it is comyn or especyal or singuler The place comyn where he suffred was the londe of promyssyon The place especyall the mouÌ„t of caluarye The place singuler the crosse In the place comyn the first man was there fourmed that was in a feld aboute or nygh damas where it is said in a place specyall he was there beryed For ryght in the place where Ihesu cryst suffred deth it is said that adam was buryed how wel that this is not auteÌ„tyque For saynt Iherome saith that adam was buryed in ebron And also in the book of Iosue is wreton the xiiij chapitre In a place singuler he was deceyued that is to wete in the tre not in this on whiche IhÌ„s suffred deth but in an other tre Thyrdly he was right couenable by cause of the curyng the whiche by manere was semblable to the preuaricacion by lyk and contrarye For thus as saith saynt Austyn in the booke de doctrina cristiana By a woman he was deceyued And by a woman he was born a man And the man delyuerd the men one mortal delyuerd the mortall and the deth by his deth And saynt ambrose saith Adam was of therthe a virgine Ihesu cryst was born of the virgine Adam was made to thymage of god Ihesus was thymage of god by a woman folye was shewde by a woman wysedom was born Adam was naked Ihesu cryst naked The deth cam by the tre the lyf by the crosse Adam in deserte And Ihesus in deserte but by the contrarye ¶ For after saynt gregorye Adam synned by pryde by mobedience and by gloutonye For he coueyted the hyenes of god for the serpent said to theym ye shal be semblable to god he brake the comandement of god and desired and coueyted the swetenes of the fruyt by gloutonnye And by cause the maner of the sauour ought to be by the coÌ„trarye therfore this manere was right couenable by the humyliacion by the fulfyllyng and affliction or of the dyuyne volente And herof sayth thappostle ad philipenses humiliauit sepisum Thirdely Ihesus was right proufitably to drawe to hym thumayn lynage For one of the world his frewil saued myhgt neuer haue drawen mankynd to hys loue And how he draweth vs to his loue saynt bernard saith Aboue alle thyng o good Ihesu gyue me grace to loue the And by this thyng he drewe vs most to his loue That is the chalys good lord that thou hast dronkeÌ„ whiche was the werke of our redempcion This châ—lys is thy passyoÌ„ whiche lightly may appropre our lord to the this is that draweth most playsantly oure deuocion and Iustly reyseth it and sonnest streyneth and most vehemently taketh our affection And where thou lamentest and there as thou despoyllest the of thy rayes naturell there shyneth most thy pyte there is most clere thy charyte And there habundeth most thy grace how also we ought to retorne to the affyaunce of hym saynt poul saith ad romanos viij he spareth not his owen sone but for vs alle he delyuerd hym wherof saynt bernard saith who is he that is not rauysshid to hope of affyauÌ„ce whiche taketh none hede to the disposicion of his body he hath his hede enclyned to be kyssed the armes stratched tembrace vs his hondes perced to gyue to vs The syd open to loue vs The feeet fixed with nayles for to abyde with vs And the body stratched all for to gyue to vs Fourthly he was right wyse and right wel aduysed for to fyght ayenst thenemy of thumayne lygnage Iob xxv His wysedom hath smeton the prowde man ¶ And after may ye not take the fende wyth an hoke Iesu Cryst hath hydd the hoke of hys dyuynyte vnder the mete of our humanyte and the fend wold take the mete of the flesshe and was taken wyth the hooke of the godhede Of this wyse takyng sayth saynt Austyn Oure redemptour is comen and the deceyuer is vaynquysshed And what dyde our redemptour he leyd out his bayte to our deceyuour and aduersayre he hath sette forth his crosse And within he hath sette his mete that is his blood For he wold shede his bloode not as a dettour And therfore he departed fro the dettours And this dette here thappostle calleth Cirographe or oblygacion the which Ihesu Cryst bare and attouchyd it to the crosse Of which saynt Austyn saith Eue toke of the feÌ„de synne by borowyng by vsure and wrote an
and by this flood our lord hath sanctefyed his tabernacle The fourthe cause is he is sente for to conferme loue emong them that ben in discorde and hate whiche is noted in this word Pater he is said fader by cause that naturelly he loueth vs as saith saynt IohÌ„n in the gospel Iohannis xiij Ihesu cryst saith my fader loueth you as his sones ¶ And yf ye be hys sones thenne be ye brethern eche to other And bytwene brethern ought alleway to perseuere loue and frendship The fyfte cause is for to saue the Iuste and trewe men in this that he saith In nomine meo that is Ihesus that is to saye sauyour In whos name the fader to the holy ghoost to shewe that he cam to saue the peple The syxte cause is for forme the ignorauÌ„tes in this that he saith Ille vos docebit oiÌ„a The holy ghoost whaÌ„ he shal come he shal teche you all thynges As to the seuenth that he is gyuen or sent first in the begynnyg of the chirche by prayer as thus whaÌ„ he cam thappostlis praid god were in prayer wherof is songen OraÌ„tibus applis deuÌ„ venisse thappostlis praieÌ„g the holy ghoost caÌ„ luce .iij. IhÌ„u prayeng the holy ghoost descended Secondly he cam by heeryng attentyfly and deuoutly the word of god actuuÌ„ x As saynt peter was prechyng the holy ghoost desceÌ„ded vpon them Thirdly he cam by holy besy operacion that is by this that is said ImponebaÌ„t manus super eos accipiebant spmÌ„ scmÌ„ Thappostlis put their hoÌ„des on them that byleued anon they receyued the holy ghoost and this Imposicion of thandes sygnefyeth thabsolucion of the preest whiche absolucion gyue vs the holy ghoost Amen THe grete largesse benefayttes that god hath distributed to cristeÌ„ peple gyue to the said peple grete dygnyte for ther is no peple ne neuer was so grete a nacion that their goddes had approched so nyghe them ae our lord god is vnto vs The blessid sone of god wold make vs partyners vnto his dyuynyte godhede therfore toke our nature to th ende that makyng hym self man he wold make men as goddes And all that he toke of vs he gaf all agayn to vs for our sauacion he gaf his propre body in offryng vnto god the fader in the aulter of the crosse for our recoÌ„ciliacion shedde his blood in pris wasshyng our synnes to th eÌ„de that we myght be redemyd fro the myserable seruytude wherin we were that we shold be also clene and cleÌ„sid of our synnes also to th eÌ„de that this excelleÌ„t benefice abide to vs in perpetuell memorye he hath vnto deuoute hertes faithful gyueÌ„ his owen body in mete his precious blod in drynk in lyknes of brede wyn O precioê° feste conuyne verayly ful of grete woÌ„dre the feste helthful replenesshid of all swetnes what thyng may be more precious than the noble coÌ„uynye or feste in which not only the flesshe of calues ne of oxen lyk as was gyueÌ„ in thold lawe for to taste but the ê“pre body of IhÌ„u which is very god is presented for receyue and assauoure deuoutly what thyng myght be more full of grete admiracioÌ„ than is this holy sacramÌ„t in which the brede wyn ben coÌ„myxted substaÌ„cyelly in to the ê“pre body of IhÌ„u And therfor IhÌ„u crist there is conteyned vnder the spece lyknes of brede wyn he is eten receyued of the good trewe cristen men but for that he is not departed in pyeces ne asondred in his meÌ„bres but abydeth all hoole entier in euerich of his partyes For yf this holy sacramÌ„t were deuyded or deê‘teed in a M. partyes in euerich partie shold remayne 〈◊〉 propre body of our lord hool entier None other sacremeÌ„t is not of somoche merite ne so full of helth as this sacramÌ„t is for by this be purged the synnes the vertues ben encreaced the thoughtes be engrassed fulfylled with thabundaunce of alle good vertues he is in holy chirch offrid for the lyuyng them that ben deed to th ende that he may prouffite to all that which is for their saluacioÌ„ of all them that ben ordeyned institued to consacre it the swetnesse of this holy sacramÌ„t may none expresse by the which swetenesse is spirituelly tasted remembred thexcelleÌ„t charyte that god shewde in his gloryous passyon to th ende that it myght be the more ferueÌ„tly impressed in the hertes of deuoute faithful peple of the grete largesse of his charite whaÌ„ he shold deê‘te out of this world goo to god his fader wold ete his paske lambe with his disciples theÌ„ne he institued this holy sacramÌ„t lyke a memoire perdurable of his passion as thaccomplyssemÌ„t of auÌ„cyent fygures of the myracles that were don by hym And also to th ende that they that were sorouful heuy for his absence shold therby haue somÌ„ solace synguler This is a thyng theÌ„ne rihgt conuenyent conuenable vnto the deuocion of deuoute hertes to remeÌ„bre soleÌ„ply thynstitucion of so helthful meruayllous sacramÌ„â—t to th eÌ„de that the ineffable maner of thornauÌ„ce thought dyuyne vysyble be honoured worshipped that the myght puyssauÌ„ce of god be loued thanked which in this sacramÌ„t werketh so merueyllously also of so helthful of so swete gracious benefyce be gyueÌ„ and rendred to god due thankynges graces ¶ And how wel that the day of the Cene or souper in which this noble sacrameÌ„t was institued is specyall memoire made of this sacramÌ„t how be it the surplus of the seruyce of the same day apparteyneth to the passyon of our lord In the which passyon our moder holy chirch is occupied all that day deuoutly by cause this intusticion of so noble sacramÌ„t may be halowed more solempnly the pope vrban the fourth by grete affection that he had to this holy sacramÌ„t moeued of grete deuocion he ordeyned the feste remeÌ„braunce of this holy sacramÌ„t the first thursday after the octaues of pentecâ—ste for to be halowed of all good cristen peple to th ende that vse thurgh out all the yere this holy sacremÌ„t to our saluacion may doo our deuoyr to this holy Institucion specyally in the tyme whan the holy ghoost enseyned teched the hertes of the disciples to knowe the mysterye of this holy sacramÌ„t For in that tyme there the trewe faithful disciples begaÌ„ to frequeÌ„te it It is redde in thactes of thappostles that they were ê‘seuerauÌ„t in the doctryne of thappostles in comynycacion of the brekyng of the brede in deuoute orysoÌ„s after the sendyng of the holy ghoost to th eÌ„de that the holy institucioÌ„ of this amerous sacramÌ„t shold be the more honourably halowed on the said day by the vtas or octaues folowyng in stede distribucion material that ben distributed in cathedral chirches the forsaid pope vrâ—an hath gyueÌ„ of his
toun but the preest cam to hym bad hym to byleue in god and baptysed hym euyr as longe as he lyued after he had alleway in hys mouth Ihesu cryst receyue my spyrite and yet he wist not the tho wordes were the wordes that seynt stephn last spack And also he reherceth another myracle in the same place that a lady callyd patrone had ben seek moche greuously had souht many remedies for to be helâ—d of her maladye but she felt none hele but in th ende she had counseyl of a Iewe whyche gaaf to her a rynge wyth a stone And that she shold bynde this rynge wyth alaas to her baar flesshe and by the vertue of the stone she shold be hool And whan she sawe that this helped her not she wente to the chyrche of the prothomartir And praid the blessyd saynt steuen for her helthe and anon without brekyng of the laas or of the rynge the rynge fyl doun to the grouÌ„d And she felt her self anone all hool ¶ Item the same recounteth another myracle not lesse merueyllous that in Cesaree of Capadoce was a lady moche noble of whom the husbond was deed but she had x chyldren vij sones and iij doughtres And on a tyme whan they had angred theyr moder she cursed them And the dyuyne vengeaunce ensyewed sodaynly the malediction of the moder so that all the chyldren were smeton of one semblable and horryble sekenes on all her membres For whyche thyng they myght not dwelle in the contre for shame and for the sorowe that they had and began to goo folyly thurgh the world And in what someuer contre they wente euerich man behelde them And it happed that two of them that is to wyte a brother and a suster cam to ypotence And the brother was named poul and the suster pauladye And there they fonde Austyn the bysshop and told to hym and recounted what was happed Thenne they hauÌ„ted the chyrche of saynt stephen by the space of xv dayes and it was to fore ester and they prayed strongly the saynt for their helthe and on ester day whan the peple was present poul entred sodaynly within the chauncell and put hym to prayer by grete deuouocion and with grete reuerence to fore the aulter and as they that were there abode vpon th ende of the thyng he aroos vp appertly all hole of hys tremblyng Thenne seynt Austyn toke hym and shewd hym to the peple sayd that on the morn he wold telle them the caas And as he spack to the peple the suster was there tremblyng on all her membres and she aroos vp entred in to the chauncell of saynt stephen and anon she slepte And after aroos sodeynly all hole and was shewd to the peple as was don to fore of her brother And thenne graces and thankynges were gyuen to saynt stephen for the helthe of them bothe whan Orosius cam fro Iherusalem he brought to saynt austyn of the relyques of seynt stephâ—n of whom many myracles were shewd and doon It is to wyte that the blessyd saynt stephen suffred not deth on the daye of hys feste but it was on the daye that hys Inuencion is on in the moneth of august And yf it be demaunded why the fest is chauÌ„ged it shal be said whan hys Inuencion shal be said And thys may suffyse you for thys present For the chyrche wylle also ordeyne the festes whyche folowen the natyuyte of Ihesu cryst for two causes The first is to Ihesu cryste whyche is heed and spowse to th ende that thaccompanyes be Ioyned to hym For Ihesu cryste spowse of the chyrche in thys world adioyneth to hym thre companyes of whyche companyes is sayd in the cantycles my whyte soule and rody chosen of thousandes The whyte is as to saynt Iohan theuaÌ„gelyste a precious confessour And the rody or reed is as to saynt stephen the first martir And chosen of thousandes is to the vyrgynal companye of thynnocentes ¶ The seconde reson is that the chyrche assembleth also to gydre the maners of the martirs the somÌ„e by wyl and by werke the seconde by wyll and not by dede the thirde by dede and not by wyll The first was the blessyd stephen ¶ The seconde was in saynt IohÌ„n theuangelyst ¶ The thyrde was in sayntes and gloryous Innocentis whyche for god suffred passyon Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Stephen And next foloweth of saynt Iohan theuangeliste IOhan is expowned the grace of god or he in whom grace is or to whome it is gyueÌ„ of our lord And therfore ben vnderstonen iiij preuyleges that ben in the blessid saynt IohÌ„n The first was the noble loue of Ihesu cryst For he loued hym more than the other shewde to hym of gretter loue and therof he is said the grace of god also as gracious god and to hym he was more gracious than to pieter for he louyd hym moche but he is loue of corage and of signe and thys that is of signes is double that one is for to shewe famylyarite and that other is in geuyng benefices As to the first he loued that one and thother egally as to the seconde he loued more IohÌ„n and as to the thirde he loued more peter The seconde was virgynyte whaÌ„ he was chosen virgyne of god and therfore it is said in what is that grace For grace of vyrgynyte is in a virgyne ¶ And whan he wold marye he was called of god The thyrde is the reuelacion of the secretes of our lord therfore it is sayd to whom grace is gyuen For to hym was gyuen to knowe many secretes profound as of the dyuynyte of the sone of god and of th eÌ„de of the world The fourth is the recomendacion of the moder of god whyche gyft of grace was gyuen of our lord For thys gyft was gyuen to hym whan the moder was gyuen to hym in to kepyng And Mylete bysshop of lyege wrote hys lyf the whiche ysoâ—ore abredgyd and sette it in to the book of the natyuytâ—es of the lyf and the deth of holy faders SAynt Iohan thappostle and euangelist was sone of Zebedee whyche had maryed the thirde suster of our lady to wyf and that was brother to saynt Iames of galice Thys said IohÌ„n signefyeth as moche as the grace of god And wel myght he haue suche a name For he had of our lord iiij graces aboue the other appostles The first is that he was biloued of our lord The seconde was that our lord kepte to hym hys vyrgynyte lyke as saynt Ierome saith For he was at hys weddyng and he abode a clene virgyne The thyrde is that our lord made hym to haue moche grete reuelacion and knowleche of hys dyuynyte and of the fynysshyng of the world lyke as it appireth in the begynnyg of his euaÌ„gelyes and in thapocalypse The fourth grace is that our lord commysed to hym in especial the kepyng of hys swete moder He was after thasceÌ„cion of our lord in Iherusalem wyth
perylles or sende to vs pacyence or take me oute of this lyf that I be no more constreyned to haue soo many cursidnesses or ylle happes And the thyâ—dde thyng that he requyred he had For in the thyrdde moneth of the syege he trauaylled in the Feuers and lay doune on his bedde And whan he vnderstode his departyng he dyd doo write the seuen psalmes of penaunce in a place ageynste the walle And redde them lyeng in his bedde and wepte habondauntly And by cause he shold entende to god the more dylygently And that his entente shold not be letted by no body x dayes tofore his deth he suffred no body to entre in to hym but yf hit were his phisycyen or ellys whan his refection was brought hym A certeyne seke man cam by cause he shold leye his honde on hym and therby to hele hym of his Infyrmyte And saint Augustyn answerd to hym sone that whiche thou requyrest of me wenest thou that I may do suche thyng that I ne neuer dyde Yf I myght do hit I wold thenne hele my self And the man requyred of hym alwey affermyng that he was soo commaunded in a vysyon to come to hym And thenne he prayd for hym and he receyued helthe he heled many seke peple and dyde many other myracles he recompted in the book of the Cyte of god another myracle of tweyne foles of which that one sayd I haue sene a vyrgyn of yponense whiche enoynteth her with oyle And anoye the deuyl rauysshed vexed her And a preest prayd for her wepyng And she was anone made all hoole And the fende yssued fro her And of that other myracle he sayth in the same book I knowe well that a bisshop on a tyme prayd for a childe that he hadde neuer sene and he he was anone delyuerd of the deuylle And it is no doubte but that he sayd it of hym self but he wold not name hym self by cause of humylyte he saith in the same booke that a man shold haue be cutt of the stone and men doubted that he shold deye And thenne the seke man prayde god wepyng And Austyn praid for hym And he was heled withoute cuttyng or incysyon Thenne whanne his departyng approuched he enseygned his bretheren that â—hey sholde reteyne in mynde that no man of what excellence that he were oughtâ— not to daye withoute Confessyon ne withoute to receyue hys sauyour And whanne he cam to the last houre he felte hym hoole in all his membrys of good entendement cleer seynge and heryng ¶ And in the yere of his age thre score and sixe and of his bisshopryche fourty he put hym self in prayers with his bretheren whiche prayenge he departed oute of thys lyf and wente vnto our lord And he made no testament For he was poure in Ihesu Cryst And hadde not wherof And he flouryd aboute the yere of our lord foure honderd And thus saynt Augustyn ryght clere by lyght of wysedome fyghtyng in deffence of trouthe of feythe and of garnyson of the chirche surmounted alle the other doctours of the chirche as well by engyne as by connynge flourynge with oute comparyson as wel by example of vertues as by habondaunce of doctryne of whome the blessyd Remygye in recordyng of Iheromme and other doctours sayth thus Seynt Augustyn concluded alle the other by engyn and by scyence For how be hit that the blessid Iheromme sayth that he hadde seensixe M volumes of Orygenes This same wrote soo many that no man by day ne nyght myght not wryte his bookes ne yet rede them Volusian to whome saynt Augustyn wrote sayth of hym thus It lacketh in the lawe of god Alle that whiche Augustyn knewe not ¶ Saynt Iheromme sayth thus in a pystle that he wrote to the gloryous saynt Augustyn I haue no connyng to answere to thy two greete bookes shynynge by al clerenes of fayre spekynge And certeynly this that I haue sayd and haue lerned by engyne and connyng and drawen oute of the fontayne of scripture as taken aweye and a deserte to the but I pray thy reuerence that thou suffre me a lytelle to preyse thyn engyne ¶ The blessyd Ysydore wrote thus of hym in the book of twelue doctours The gloryous saynt Augustyn Bisshop fleynge by the hyghe Montayns as an Egle hath pronounced by clere wordes many of the spaces of heuen the boundes of the londes and the Cercle of the waters And after hit apperyth in what reuerence and loue saynt Iheromme hadde to hym in the epystles that he sente to the hooly fader saynt Augustyn I Iheromme honoure alweye thy blessydnesse by suche honoure as hit apperteyneth to loue oure lord Ihesu Cryste dwellynge in the But and yf it maye be now late vs now gadre of thy praysynges somme thyng The blessid seynt Gregory sayth thus of his bookes in a pystle that he sente vnto Innocent prouost of Auffryque by cause hit hath lyked to the to sende to vs for the exposycion of hooly Iob We râ—ioyse vs in thy studye But yf thou wyll be made fatte in scyence rede the swete pystles of thy patron and heede saynt Augustyn our felawe But thynke not that our whete maye be compared to his rye And the blessyd prospere sayd of hym Seynt Augustyn was quycke in engyne Swete in speche Wyse in lettuâ—re and a noble Werker in the labours of the Chirche Clere in dayly disputacions in alle his doynges wel ordred sharp in assoyllyng questyons ryght a ppert in confundyng heretykes And ryghte catholyke in expownyng of oure feyth and subtyle in expownyng the scriptures of canon And after that the straunge peple had occupyed that couÌ„trey longe And hadde corrumped the hooly places the good Crysten men toke the body of seynt Augustyn And brought it in to sardyne And after that two honderd and four score yere one Lyprand a deuoute kyng of the lombardes sente solempne messagyers thyder for to brynge the relyques of saynt Augustyn to pauye whiche gafe grete good for hit And brought the body vnto Iene And whan the deuoute kyng herde therof he had grete ioye And wente for to mete with hit at the seyd Cyte and receyued it honourably And on the morne whan they wold haue ladde the body aweye they myght not remeue it in no manere till that the kynge had auowed that yf he wold late hym be borne thens he wold make ther a chirche in thonour of hym whan he had done so anone withoute ony diffyculte hit was ladde and taken fro thens And on that day folowynge ther fylle a myracle in a Towne named Cryselle in the Bisshopryche of Trydone in the same wyse And there he buylded another chirche in thonour of hym And the same towne with alle thappertonentes he gaf to them that serued in the sayd chirche to possede for euermore And by cause the kyng wold please the saynt and doubted that he wold be in some other place than the kyng wold haue where euer the kynge herberughd by
merytees haue taken theyr sorte in the nombre of Cherubyn For cherubyn is sayd the plenytude of scyence And as pawle sayth the plenytude of the lawe is loue and charyte And these ben they that enbraced in the brennyng loue of supernal contemplacion wysshe only to be in the desyre of theyr maker They desyre no thynge of this world but only ben fedde in the loue of the lord perdurable they eschewe al erthely thynges and ouer passe by thought al temporal thynges they loue they brenne and reste in that brennynge loue they brenne in louynge And ben enflammed in spekynge And alle that euer they touche in ony maner by worde they make them anone to brenne in the loue of god And where shalle these take theyr sorte but among the nombre of Seraphyn Hec Gregorius this saith saynt gregory Fourthly they ought to be honoured by cause that they be berars of oure soules in to paradys And this done they in thre maners The fyrste in makynge redy the waye as Malachiel sayth in the thryd chapytre loo here I sende myn angel which shal make redy thy waye to fore thy face Secondly in beryng them to heuen by the way made redy lyke as it is seyd in Exodo the four and twenty chapytre I sende to the myn angel whiche shalle kepe the in thy waye shall brynge the to the lond whiche I haue promysed to thy faders Thyrdly in settyng them in heuen herof sayth lucas luce xv It was done whan the beggar deyd his sowle was borne of angels in to Abrahams bosome Fyftly they ought to be honoured by cause they ben representers of oure sowles to fore god and this representacion is in thre maners first they represente our prayers to fore god and this sayth Thobye the xij chapytre whan thou praydest with teres And buryedest the dede men I offred thy prayer to our lord Secondly they alledge for vs to fore our lord And herof sayth Iobe the xxxiij Chapytre yf ther were an aungell spekynge for hym sayd one of lyke thynges that he shewe the equyte of the man our lord shold haue mercy and pyte on hym Also Zachee primo And thaungel of our lord answerd and sayd O lord of all strengthes shalt not thow haue pyte of Iherusalem and of the cytees of Iuda To whome thou art wrothe This is the lxx yere Thyrdly they shewe the sentence of god as it is sayd in danyell that the angel gabryell fleynge sayde Syth the begynnynge of the prayers the word yssued oute that is to wete the sentence of god and I am comen for to shewe it to the For thou arte a man of desyres Of these thre thynges sayth Bernard vpon the Cantyques The aungel secheth moyen bytwene the loue and the louer in offrynge the desyres and bryngyng yeftes and meueth her and plesyd hym Sixthly they ought to be honoured For they ben the ryght noble knyghtes of the kynge perdurable after that Iob saith in the xxv chapytre Is not this the noble nombre of his knyghtes For as we see in the knyghtes of somme kynge that somme of them dwelle alwaye in the halle of the kyng and accompanye the kyng coueyte honour solace to the kyng some other kepe the cytees castels of the kyng other fyÈt ageynst the enemyes of the kyng Thus is it of the knyghtes of Cryste Some ben in the halle ryall that is to seye in the heuen Imperyal accompanye alwey the kynge of kynges and synge alwey songes and gladnesse to his honour and glory sayenge Sanctus sanctus sanctus blessyng and clernes and wysedome And the other kepe the cytees the townes the castellys and the fawbourghs they ben deputed to the kepyng of vs kepyng the state of vyrgyns of contynentes of maryed peple and the castellys of Relygyon Wherof ysaye sayth Vppon the walles of Iherusalem I haue establysshed kepars Other ther ben that fyght vaynquysshe the enemyes of god Of whom it is sayd in thapocalypsis Ther is a bateyll made in heuen that is after som exposycyon in the chirche mylytaunt Mychel and his angels foughten with the dragon The seuenthe and the laste they ought to be honoured by cause they ben comfortours of them that ben in trybulacion And herof sayth Zacharye in the fyrst chapytre Thangel that spak to me good wordes were wordes of comfort And this done they in thre maners Fyrst in comfortyng strâ—ng thyng danielis decimo For where as danyel fyll the aungel of our lord touched hym sayd be not aferd ne drede the no thyng pees be to the Comforte thy self and be boystous Secondly in kepyng fro Impacyence and this sayth Dauyd He hath commaunded his Aungels to kepe the in al thy wayes Thirdly in refresshynge and lassyng that trybulacion and that is signefyed in Danyel the third chapytre There where as the angel of our lord descended in the fornays with thre children and made the myddel of the fornays as it had ben a wynde blowyng with a soft dewe By these ensamples we may vnderstande that we ought to gyue honour to the hooly company of Aungels And to praye them to kepe vs in this wretchid lyf from oure enemyes the deuylle the world and the Flesshe that after whanne we shalle departe they presente our soules vnto almyghty god in heuen there to duelle and abyde sempyternally with them qd ipse prestatur qui sine fine viuit et regnat in secula seculorum Amen Thus endeth the Historye of saint Mychel and thaungels Here foloweth the lyf of saint Ieromme And first of his name IHeromme is said of Ihera that is hooly And of nemus that is to saye a wood And soo Iherome is as moche to saye as an hooly wood Or it is sayd of norma that is to saye lawe wherof is sayd in his legende that Iheromme is interpreted an hooly lawe He was ferforth hooly that is to saye ferme or clene or dyed of blood or deputed to hooly vsage lyke as vessels of the Temple ben sayd holy For they ben ordeyned to hooly vsage he was hooly that is to saye stâ—dfast in hooly werke by longe persâ—ueraunce he was clene in mynde by purete he was dyed in blood by thynkynge of the passion of our lord Ihesu cryste he was deputed to hooly vsage by â—hexposicion of hooly scripture he was said an hooly woode by the conuersacion that he somtyme dyde and abode in the woode And he was sayd lawe for the rewles of his disciplyne whiche he taught to his Monkes or by cause he expowned and interpreted the holy lawe and scripture Iheromme also is interpreted the vision of beaulte or Iugyng wordes ther is beaute manyfold Fyrst is spyrytuall whiche is in the sowle Second morale whiche is in honeste of maners The thyrd is intellectuall whiche is in the aungels The fourthe is substancyall whiche is dyuyne the fyfthe is heuenly whiche is in the Countrey of sayntes
ecclesiastici xliij The firmamÌ„t is the beaute of the height the beaute of heueÌ„ is in the sigght of glorye The heuene is substaÌ„ciall that is the qualite of the dyuyne exellence of IhÌ„u crist caÌ„ after this he ascended wherof dauid saith A summo celo egressio eius cÌ„ Fro the hye souerayn heueÌ„ the sone of god descended asceÌ„ded agayn vnto the souerayn heyght the qualite of the dyuyne excellence that he asceÌ„ded aboue all the heuenes materiell dauid sayd it clerely whiche said Eleuata est magnyficencia tua suê‘ celos lord god thy magnyficeÌ„ce is left vp eleuate aboue all the heuenes materiell he asceÌ„ded vnto the heuen where god the fader sitteth not lyke vnto helye which ascendeth in a chare of fyre vnto a hye regioÌ„ Fro whens he was translated in to paradis terrestre he wente no ferther but IhÌ„u Cryst ascended in the hyest heueÌ„ that is callid celum empireum whiche is the propre habitacioÌ„ of god of thangellis and of the sayntes And this habitacion properly apperteyneth to dwellars for this heuene aboue alle other heuenes hath excellence in dyuinyte in priorite in situacion and circumference ¶ And thefore it is conuement of Ihesu Cryste whiche all the heuenes of intelligence and rasonable surmounteth in dyuynyte in eternite in situacion of inmobylyte and in circuÌ„ference of puissance semblably it is thabitacion of sayntes of good congruite For that heuen is wythout difformyte vnmeuable of parfyght lyght and of capacite without mesure And ryghtfully it apperteyneth vnto angelis and vnto sayntes whiche were alle one in operacion vnmeuable in dilection shynyng in the fayth and in knoweleche of grete capacite in receyuyng the holy ghoost It appiereth by this scrypture that saith in the cantycles Loo this is he that comyth lepyng in the montaynes and ouerpassyng the hylles And who that ascended aboue all the heuenes of intelligeÌ„ce that is to saye aboue thangellis appyereth by dauid that saith he ascended aboue the cherubyn-whiche is as moche to saye as the plenytude of scyence and flewe vpon the pennes of the wyndes And who ascended aboue vnto the heuen substancyall that is to thequalyte of god the fader it appiereth by the gospell of marke Marci vltimo Dominus qui dem Ihesus xpristus cÌ„ ¶ Syth that our lord had spoken to his disciples he was sette in heuene on the ryght side of god wherof saith saynt bernard to my lord Ihesu cryst it is said syngulerly and gyuen of my lord god the fader that he sytte on the ryght side of his glorye In glorye in essence consubstanciall by generacion semblable of mageste and nothyng vnlyke and of eternyte semblable Now may we saye that Ihesus in his ascencion was right hye of iiij maners of heyght that is to wyte of place of remuneracion of reward of knowleche and of vertualyte or strengthe ¶ Of the fyrst saith thappostle ad ephesios He that descended hyther doun that is he that ascended aboue alle the heuenes Of the seconde ad ephesios secundo He was made obedient vnto the deth Where saynt Austyn saith The humylyte of clerenes is the meryte and the clerenes of mekenes is the mede or reward mekenes is the merite of clerenes And clerenes is the reward of mekenes Of the thyrde saith dauid Ascendit super cherubin he ascended aboue cherubyn that is aboue the plenytude of science and of knowleche Of the fourth it appiereth for as it is wreton he ascended aboue Seraphin whiche is interpreted the strengthe of god And we ought to knowe that of his Ascencion we haue nyne fruytes prouffytable Tle fyrst is thabytacion of the loue of god wherof is said in the gospel Iohannis xvj Nisi enim abiero cÌ„ But yf I shal goo the holy ghoost shal not come to you where saith saynt Austyn yf ye seche me by flesshly loue ye may not coÌ„prehende the holy ghoost which is spyrituelle loue The seconde is the more gretter knowleche of god wherof saith saynt IohÌ„n in the gospel yf ye loue me wel ye shal haue grete Ioye For I goo to my fader For he is gretter than I am where saith saynt austyn I shal withdrawe this forme of humanyte in whiche my fader is more gretter than I as to that ye may see god The thirde fruyt is the meryte of the faith of whom saith saynt lyon the pope in a sermon of thascencion Thenne began the fayth more certayn tapproche whiche techeth vs the sone to be egall to the fader and semblable and as to the body substancyall of Ihesu cryst of whiche he is lasse than the fader and wherof he had no nede And this vigour is of grete courage and ferme without doubte for to byleue that whiche is not seen at eye and to affyxe the desyres that may not be beholden And saynt austyn saith He ascended as a gyant to renne in his waye and taryed not but he ranne cryeng by voys by wordes by dedes by deth by lyf by descendyng and by ascendyng in cryeng that we shold retorne to hym by good heâ—te that we may fynde hym The fourth is oure surete therfore ascended Ihesu cryst in to heuen for to be oure aduocate to god the fader And we ought to holde vs wel assured whan we haue suche aduocate to god the fader and this witnesseth to vs saynt IohÌ„n that saith in his canonne we haue aduocate the fader IhÌ„uÌ„ Cryst whiche is mercyful to vs for our synnes and of this surete saith seynt bernard O man saith he we haue a sure goynge or a comyng to god the fader where the moder is to fore the sone to whome she sheweth her breste and her pappes And the sone sheweth to the fader his side and his woundes Thenne we may not be put away where we haue so many signes of loue and of charite ¶ The fyfte is our dygnyte a grete dygnyte haue we goten whan our nature is lyfte vp vnto the right side of the fader wherof thangellis of heuen consideryng that deffended for to be worshyped of man Apocalipsis xix Saynt Iohan wold haue worshippid thangele that spack to hym and thangele deffended hym in sayeng Beware the that thou doo not so For I am thy brother and thy seruaunt where as the glose saith that in the old lawe he defended not to be worshipped of maÌ„ but after thascencion whan he sawe maÌ„ lyft vp aboue hym ¶ And of this saynt lyon saith in a sermon of thascencion This day the nature of our humanyte hath be born aboue the heyght of all puyssaunces vnto where as god the fader sitteth as that it shold seme more merueyllous whan it is seen that it is moche ferre fro men so moche more shewe they the reuerence and thonour that they haue And herof the faith mystrust not ne hope slaketh not ne charyte amynysshith not The syxthe is the stedfastnes and fermete of our faith wherof saith
receyue none other licour of erthely delectacion ¶ And by cause they haue tasted the swetnes of heuen they haue none appetyte to the erthely delectacions wherof saith saynt Austyn who so drynketh one drope of delyces of paradys the whiche one drope is gretter than all the see occean whiche ought to be vnderstoÌ„de that all the thurst of this world is in hym extyncte And this signe had thappostles whiche wold haue none of the goodes of this world in propre but put it all in comyn The thirde signe is for to renne ouer out as it appierith by a Ryuer whiche aryseth and renneth ouer his bankes As salamon saith whiche fyllyth as phison wysedom This flode or ryuer phison of his nature ariseth and spryngeth ouer and watreth and arrouseth the bonde aboute hym In lyke wyse thappostles began to sprede abrode For after they had receyued the holy ghoost they began to speke dyuerse langages where the glose saith that that was the signe of plenytude For the vessell full shedeth ouer as it appiereth of saynt Peter For anone as he began to preche he â—â—nuerted thre thousand Secondly he was sente in tongues of fyre And here be thre thynges to be considered First for whom he was sente conioynctly in the tongues of fyre Secondly wherfore he was sente in tongues of fyre more than in another element ¶ Thirdly wherfor he was sente in toÌ„gues more thaÌ„ in another membre As to the first for thre reasons he was sent and appiered in tongues of fyre to th ende that their wordes shold enflamme the hertes Secondly that they shold preche the fyry lawe of god Thirdly that they shold knowe that the holy ghoost whiche is fyre spack in them And that they shold doubte nothyng And by cause alle men shold here the wordes of god And they shold attrybue ne take to them self that they conuerted by theyr predicacion but by the wordes of god ¶ Of the second we ought to knowe that he was sent in lyknes of fyre for many reasons The first is taken after the seuen vertues of grace The holy ghoost cam in the maner of fyre for to make meke hyghe thynges by the yefte of drede he amolyfyeth and softeth hard thynges by the yefte of pyte he illumyneth hard thynges by the yefte of scieÌ„ce he restrayneth the flodes of vices by the yefte of counseyl he affermeth and consolideth softe thynges by the yefte of strâ—ngthe he clereth the ruste of synne by the yefte of vnderstandyng he draweth vp the creatures by the yeft of sapience The second reason is taken after his dignyte and excellence the fyre surmounteth and excedeth all other elementes in beaute in ordre and in vertue In beaute by cause of the fayrnes of lyght In ordre by cause of his situacion In vertu by cause of vigour in operacion In lyke wyse the holy ghoost in thyse iij thynges excedeth all For the first he is said the holy ghoost pure without fylthe For the second holy ghoost whiche compriseth all other spyrites of vnderstondyng by his incomprehensibilite For the thirde he is said holy goost hauyng alle vertue for he is Invyncyble For he hath all strength seeyng all thynges fro ferre The third reason is taken as to hys manyfold effecte And this reason assigneth Rabanus sayeng that the fyre hath iiij vertues or natures It brenneth it purgeth it chauffeth and it lighteth In lyke wyse the holy ghoost brenneth the synnes he purgeth the hertes he casteth away alle coldnes and drede of the hertes And he enlumyneth theym that ben ignorauÌ„t Of the first saith zacharye the prophete He broyleth and brenneth the hâ—rtes as the fyre brenneth the syluer Also dauid sayd Lord I praye the brenne my reynes and my herte and drye them fro all synne he purgeth also the hertes after that as saith ysaye Whan our lord had wasshe away the fylthes of the doughters of syon hath purged the blood of Iherusalem fro the myddle of hym in the spiryte of Iugement and in the spyryte of brennyng thenne shal they be in sauete and surete and kepte ayenst all tempeste And the prophete speketh of the purgacion that shall be made atte laste whan all shal be purged pure clene that shal goo in to heuen he casteth out also all coldenes and pusyllanymyte of the hertes wherof thappostle saith Be ye feruent in spyryte that is of herte the whiche thyng the holy ghoost maketh whan he espriseth hym of hys loue And herof saith saynt gregory The holy goost appyered in fire for alle the hertes whiche he replenessid and voyded the coldnes of fere and enflamed them with desyre of the glorye perdurable He enlumyned also the ygnorauntes wherof sayth the wyse man Lord god who shal knowe thy scieÌ„ce yf thou gyue not thy sapience and sende to vs thyn holy spyryte from aboue that is he that all enseyneth and techeth The fourthe reason is taken after the nature of hys loue Loue is sygnefied by the fire for iij causes The first cause is for the fire is alway moeuyng So is it of the holy goost For them that he replenesshith he maketh them to be in contynuel moeuyng of good operacion wherof saith saynt gregory The loue of god is neuer ydle as longe as it is in the herte of a deuoute persone it fructyfyeth And it fructyfyeth not it is a signe that it is not there The seconde is For the fyre emonge al the other elementis hath but lytle matere but stronge vertue in operacion it hath in his qualite Thus the holy ghoost whom he replenesseth maketh them to haue but lytle ne lotâ— erthely thynges and gretly to spyrituel thynges in so mochethey loue not worldly thynges more wordly but spyrytuelly Saynt bernard putteth iiij maners of loue that is to wete to loue the world flesshly the spyrite flesshly the flessh spyrituelly the spyryte spyrytuelly The thirde cause is for that the fyre abassheth and meketh the thynges hye he hath tendede on hye thynges despercled to vnye them and them despercled to beynge to gydre And by thyes thre thynges ben vnderstonden thre ver tues of loue For as saith saynt denys in the book of the names dyuyne the fyre hath iij vertues ¶ For he enclyneth the hye thynges doun he lyfteth the thynges lowe in heyght he ordeyneth the thynges egall to theyr ordenaunce And thyse thre thynges maketh the holy ghoost in them that he replenesshyth For he enclyneth them by humylyte he lyfte them vp in desyre of hye thynges And ordeyneth them to gydre by vnyte of maners Thyrdly he apyered in lyknes of a tongue more than in an nother membre And for iij reasons The tongue is the membre that is enflamed of the fyre of helle and is of grete dyffyculte to gouerne And proufytable whan it is wel gouerned And by cause that the tongue was enflamed of the fyre of helle she hadde nede that the holy ghoost shold come tenflame it as saith saynt
fro the culture and worshypyng of false ydolles fro the vemyin of the dragon Atte laste whan saynt siluestre approched toward hys deth he called to hym the clergye and admonested them to haue charyte And that they shold dylygently gouerne their chirches And kepe theyr flock fro the wulues And after the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord thre hondred twenty he departed out of thys world and slept in our lord cÌ„ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Siluester Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Poul the first heremyte SAynt Poul whiche was the first heremyte as saynt Iherome wryteth was in the tyme of decius and valeryanus emperours the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord ijClvj Thys holy man saynt poul sawe men for Crysten faith cruelly tormented wherfore he fledde in to the deserte Emonge whome he sawe two cruelly tourmented The first for that he abode fermly in hys fayth The Iuge dyde do enoynte alle hys body wyth hony And dyde do bynde hys hondes by hynde hym on hys back And soo dyde hym be sette in the hete of the sonne for to by byten and stongen of flyes and waspes That other that was yonge he made hym to lye in a right softe bedde bytwene ij shetes emonge flowres and delectable Roses and herbes swete smellyng And there in he was bounden so that he myght not meue hym After made an harlote a Rybaulde come to hym allone for to touche hys membres and hys body to moeue to lecherye Fynably whan the voluptuosyte of hys flesshe surmounted hym and myght not deffende hym self ne hys meÌ„bres he bote of a pyâ—ce of hys tongue and spitte it in her vysage whiche alleway enticed hym to lecherye by touchyng and by kyssynges And so he voyded the temptacion flesshely and the Rybaulde also and deserued to haue lawde and victorye In thys tyme saynt poul to fore said was yong aboute xvj yere of age and dwellyd in thebayde whyche is a partye of Egypte wyth hys suster mauryce And whan he sawe the persecucions of crysten men he departed and becam an heremyte so longe and so many yeres that he was olde an honderd and xiij yere In thys tyme saynt Anthonye was an heremyte in an other deserte was thenne lxxxx yere of age And on a tyme he thought in hym self that in the world was none so good ne so grete an heremyte as he was hym self Herupon cam to hym a reuelacioÌ„ as he slepte that bynethe alle alowe doun in that deserte was an heremyte better than he And that he ought to goo and see thys holy man Anon after the next day he toke hys staf by whyche he susteyned hym and began in goo thurgh that deserte And it happed that he mette a persone whyche was half aboue an hors and bynethe a man whome the fables of the poetes calle centaure And anon made to fore hym the signe of the crosse And demaunded of hym where thys holy maÌ„ theremyte dwellyd And he shewed to hym the waye on the right side and anon vanysshyd away from hym It is not certaynly knowen yf thys beste was a beste of the deserte or the deuyl in fygure of a beste After thys saynt Anthonye mette with a monstre in a valeye beryng the fruyte of a pal myer croked and had in hys forhede hornes and hys legges and feet lyke a ghoot of the woodes And anon he made to fore hym the signe of the crosse Thys bestial man gaf to saynt Anthonye the fruyte of the palmyer And saynt Anthonye demauÌ„ded what he was And he answerd I can mortal and dwelle in deserte And the sarasyns calle vs sacraros I am the messager of our companye we praye the that thou praye the lord for vs we knowe wel that the sauyour of the world is comen And hys renomee is spred thurgh the world And by cause herof noman shold haue doubtauÌ„ce Alle men knowe that in the tyme of Constantyn themperour suche amaÌ„ was brought in to the cyte of Alexandre to fore the peple and whan he was deed hys body was fylled with salt ayenst the hete of the sonne And was sente to themperour to Anthioche for a meruaylle But retorne we to our mater Saynt Anthonye had grete labour in goyng by the deserte where as was no waye Fynably he fonde a she wulf whyche brought hym by the wille of god vnto thermytage of saynt poul But assone as he knewe that saynt Anthonye cam hastely he shytte hys dore And saynt Anthonye prayd hym for charyte that he wold opene it to hym said thou wotest wel who wherfore I am come I knowe wel I am not worthy to rendre gyue to the ony thyng for thy labour Neuertheles I shal not departe fro hens vnto the tyme that I haue seen the Atte last he opened hys dore and sâ—â—h entrebraced eche other And eche of them dyde reuerence eche to other And saynt poul demaunded of thestate of the world and of the gouernaunce And yf Crysten faith were spredde and vsed ouerall And whyles they were thus talkyng A crowe cam fleyng and brought to them two loues yf breed And whan the crowe was goon Saynt Poul said be thou glad and Ioyeful For our lord is debonayre and mercyful he hath sente vs brede for to ete It is xl yere passed that euery day he hath sente me half a loof But now at thy comyng he hath sente ij hole loues and double prouende And they had question to gydre vntil euensong tyme whyche of them bothe shold entame or bygynne to take of the breed Atte laste the bred departed euen bytwene theyr handes and thenne they ete dranke of the welle or fontayne After graces said they had alle that nyght collacion to gydre On the morn said saynt poul Broder it is longe sith that I knewe that thou dwelledeth in this region and in thys contree And god had promysed to me thy coÌ„panye I shal now shortly deye and shal goo to Ihesu cryst for to receyue the crowne to me promysed Thou art comen hyther for to burye my body whan saynt Anthonye herd that anon he begaÌ„ tendrely to wepe and waylled prayeng that he myght deye with hym and goo in hys companye Saynt Poul said hyt is nede yet that thou lyue for thy brethren to th ende that they by the ensample of the be made forme and taught wherfore I praye the retorne to thyn abaye And brynge to me the mantel whyche Athanases the bysshop gaf to the for to wrappe in my body Thenne saynt Anthonye merueylled of thys that he knewe of this bysshop and of thys mantel and after durst nothyng saye â—ut dyde to hym reuerence lyke as god had spokeÌ„ to hym And wepyng kyssed hys feet and hys hondes and cam aâ—ayn to hys abbaye with grete trauayl and labour for he had fro that one parte to that other many Iourneyes and foul waye thurgh hayes and hedges woodes stones hylles and valeyes and saynt
themperour of thys that he was ouer cruel to Crysten people And themperour had of hym so grete despyte that he made of the hows of a good womaÌ„ of whyche saynt marcel had made a chyrche the sayd emperour made it a stable for horses And in the place where saynt marcel had songe masse themperour made hym to kepe hys hors in whyche seruyse saynt marcell was alle hys lyue after and in that seruyse saynt marcell deyed holily the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord two hondred and foure score Here endeth the lyf of saynt Marcell pope Here foloweth of saynt Anthonye and fyrst thynterpretacion of hys name ANthonye is sayd of Ana whyche is as moche to saye as hye and tenens that is holdyng whyche is as moche to saye as holdyng hye thynges and despysyng the world he despysed the world and sayd it is deceyuyng transitorye and bytter And Athanase wrote hys lyf Of the lyf of saynt Anthonye SAynt Anthonye was born in egypte of good relogious fader moder And whan he was but xx yere olde he herde on a tyme in the chirche redde in the gospell that sayd yf thou wilt be ê‘fight goo and selle alle that thou hast gyue it to poure men And theÌ„ne accordyng therto he solde all that he had gaf it to the poure peple becam an heremyte he had ouer many teÌ„ptacions of the deuyll Thenne on a tyme whan he had ouercomen the spiryte of fornycacioÌ„ which teÌ„pted hym therin by the vertue of his faith the deuyl cam to hym in the forme of a lityl child all black fille douÌ„ at his feet and confessed that he was the deuyl of fornycacion whyche saynt Anthonye had desired and prayd to see hym for to knowe hym that so tempted yong people Thenne said saynt Anthonye sith I haue perceyued that thou art so â—oul a thyng I shal neuer doubte the After he wente in to an hole or caue to hyde hym And anon he fonde there a a grete multitude of deuylles that so moche bete hym that hys seruant bare hym vpon hys sholdres in to hys hous as he had ben deed whan the other heremytes were assembled and wepte hys deth and wold haue don hys seruyse sodenly saynt Anthonye reuyued and made hys seruaunt to bere hym in to the pytte agayn where the deuyllis had so euyl beten hym And began to somone the deuyllis agayn whyche had beten hym to bataylles And anon they cam in fourme of dyuerse bestes wylde and sauage of whom that one howled another syfled and another cryed and another brayed and assaylled saynt Anthonye that one wiâ—h the hornes the other with theyr teeth and the other with theyr pawes and vngles and dystourned and alle to rente hys body that he supposed wel to deye Thenne cam a clere bryghtnes And alle the bestes fledde awaye and saynt Anthonye vnderstode that in this grete light our lord cam and he sayde tweyes who art thou the good Ihesu answerd I am here Anthony theÌ„ne said saynt Anthony O good Ihesu where hast thou ben so longe why were thou not here wyth me atte begynnyng to helpe me and to hele my woundes thenne our lord sayd I was here but I wold see and abyde to see thy bataylle And by cause thou hast manly foughten and wel mayntened thy batayll I shal make thy name to be sprad thurgh alle the world Saynt Anthony was of so grete feruour and brennyng loue to god that whan maximus themperour slewe and martred crysten men he folowed the martres that he myght be a martir wyth them and deserue it And was sory that martirdom was not gyuen to hym After thys as saynt Anthony wente in deserte he fonde a plater of siluer in hys way theÌ„ne he thoughte whens this plater shold come seeyng it was no way for ony man to passe And also yf it had fallen fro ony man he shold haue herde it sowne in the fallyng Thenne said he wel that the deuyl â—ad leyde it there for to tempte hym and sayd Ha deuyl thou wenysâ— to tempte me and deceyue me but it shal not be in thy power thenne the plater vanysshed away as a lytyl smoke And in lyke wyse it happed hym of a masse of gold that he fonde in his wayâ— whiche the deuyl had caste for to deceyue hym which he toke and caste it in to the fyre and anon it vanysshed away After it happed that saynt Anthony on a tyme was in prayer and sawe in a vysion alle the world ful of snares and grynnes Thenne cryed saynt Anthony and said O good lord who may escape fro thyse snares ¶ And a voâ—s said to hym veray humylyte shal escape them without moâ—e whan saynt Anthonye on a tyme was lefte in the ayer the deuylles câ—m ayenst hym and layde to hym alle the euylles that he had doo fro hys chyldhode tofore the angellis ¶ Thenne said thangellis thou oughtest not to telle the â—uyâ—les that hen deffeted but saye yf thou knowe ony euyl sith he was made a monke thenne the deuyllys contryued many euyllys And whan they myght not preue them the Angellis bare hym hyer than to fore and after sette hym agayn in hys place Saynt Anthonye reâ—â—â—â—eth of hym self that he had seen a man so grete and sâ— hye that he vaunted hym self to 〈◊〉 the vertue and the prouydence of â—od and sayd to me 〈◊〉 of me what thou wylt and I shal gyue it to the And I spytte in the myddes of hys vysage And anon I armed me wyth the signe of the crosse and â—anne vpon hym anon he vanysshid away And after thys the deuyl appyereâ—â— to hym in so grete a stature that he towched the heuen And whan saynt Anthony had demaunded hym what he was He answerd I am the deuyl and demaunde the why thyse monkes and thyes cursed crysten men doo mâ— thus moche shame Saynt Anthonye said they doo it by good right For thou doost to them the werst thou canst And the deuyl answerd I doo to theÌ„ none harme but they trouble eche other I am destroyed and comeÌ„ to nought by cause that Ihesu cryst regneth ouerall A yonge man passed by seynt Anthonye hys bowe in his honde behelde how saynt Anthonye played with his felawes and was euyl a payd Thenne saynt Anthony said to hym that he shold bende hys bowe and so he dyde and shotte ij or iij shottes to fore hym and anon he vnbente hys bowe Thenne demanded hym saynt Anthony why he helde not hys bowe bente And he answerd that it shold be theÌ„ne ouer weak and feble Thenne said to hym saynt Anthonye in lyke wyse playe the monkes for to be after more stronge to serue god A man demanded of saynt Anthony what he myght doo to plese god and he answerd ouer all where thou shalt be or shal goo haue god to fore thyn eyen and the holy scripture And holde the in one
of god said to hym Aryse vp noble martyr surely aryse vp For thou shalt be our felawe be accoÌ„panyed wyth sayntes O knyght inuyncible strengest of alle stroÌ„ge now thise aspre tormÌ„tes cruell doubte the now a vaynquer prudencien saith thou art only noble of the world thou berest only the victorie of double batayll thou hast deserued ij crownes to gydre Praye we theÌ„ne to hym that he Impetre grace of our lord Ihesu Cryste that we may deserue to come vnto hys blisse Ioye in heueÌ„ where he regneth ¶ Amen Here endeth the lyf and passion of saynt vyncent Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Basylle bysshop and first of the interpretacion of hys name BAsille is said of basis in greke which is as moche to saye as a fouÌ„dement leos that is peple For he was fouÌ„dement of them that wold go to their maker or ellis it is sayd of basilisco a serpente For he ouercam the serpentâ— enemye of mankynde Of the lyf of saynt Basille SAynt Basille was a venerable bysshop and a solempne doctour of whom Amphilonus bysshop of ycome wrote the lyf And it was shewde in a vision to an hermyte named effraym how moche holy he was On a tyme as the said effâ—aim was in a traunse he sawe a pyler of fyre whos hede areched heuens a voys ther vpon sayeng Suche is basille lyke vnto thys pyber that thou seest And after thys the hermyte caÌ„ to the cite for to see at the daye of epiphanye so noble a maÌ„ whan he sawe hym he was clad with a whyte vesture goyng honourably with the clergie theÌ„ne thermyte said to hym self I see wel that I haue laboured in vayn for nought he that is sette in suche honour may not be suche as I haue seen we that haue born the burthen labour of the hete of the day in grete payne we had neuer suche thynge he here whiche is sette in suche honour also thus acoÌ„panyed is a colompne of fyre Now I haue grete merueylle what this may be And saynt basylle that sawe this in spirite made hym to be brought to hym And whan he was comen he sawe a tongue of fyre spekyng in hys mouth Thenne said effraim Truly basille is grete truly basille is the pyler of fyre And verily the holy ghoost speketh in his mouth And Effraim said to saynt basille Sire I praye the that thou Impetre of god that I may speke greek to whom saynt basille saide thou hast demaunded an hard thyng Neuertheles he prayd for hym and he spack greek Another hermyte sawe saynt basille how he wente in thabyte of a bysshop demed euyll in hys thought how he delyted in this estate in vayn glorye And anon ther cam a voys that sayd to hym thou delytest the more in playng and handlyng thy catte than basille doth in all hys araye and â—â—urnementis Malens themperour whych susteyned tharryens heretikes toke away a chyrche fro the crysten men and gaf it to the Arryens to whome saynt basylle sayd O thou Emperour it is wreton honor regis Iudicium diligit Thonour of the kynge requyreth true Iugement And the dome of a kyng is Iustyse And wherfore thenne hast thou coÌ„manded that the catholyque crysten men ben put out of holy chyrche And themperour said to hym yet retornest thou to saye vylonye to me It apperteyneth not to the To whom saynt basille said It apperteyneth wel to me and also do deye for Iustyce Thenne demostenes prouost of the metes of themperour vpholder of tharryens spack for them and made an answere corruÌ„ped in langage for to make satisfaction And saynt basille said to hym it apperteyneth to the to ordeyne for the metes of themperour and not to enquyre of the techynges dyuyne the whiche as confused held hym stylle said not And theÌ„perour said to saynt basille Now goo thou forth and Iuge thou bytwene them and not for fauour ne ouer grete loue that thou hast to that one partye ne for hate that thou hast to that other Thenne saynt basille wente to them and said to fore tharryens and to the catholyques that the doores of the chirche shold be shette faste and sealid wyth the sealis of eyther partye And that euery shold praye to god for hys right and that the chyrche shold be delyueryd to theÌ„ at whos prayer it shold opene And thus they accorded The arryens put them to prayer iij dayes and thre nyghtes And whan they caÌ„ to the doores they opened not Thenne saynt basille ordeyned a procession and cam to the chyrche and knocked a stroke wyth hys croche sayeng Attollite portas principes vestras cetera and anon as he had sayde the verse the dores opened and they entryd in and gaf lawde and preysynd to god and so was their chyrche rendryd to them agayn And after the emperour dyde promyse to saynt basylle moche good honour yf he wold consente to hym And saynt basille sayd that was a demande to make to chyldren For they that be fulfylled wyth dyuyne wordes wyl not suffre that one only syllable of the dyuyne science be corrupte Thenne themperour had grete Indygnacion of hym and toke a penne for to wryte the sentence on hym that he shold be exyled And the first penne brake and the second and also the thyrde And hys hande began to tremble for fere thenne in grete Indygnacion he alle to rente the cedule Ther was an honest worshypful man named heradius whiche had but one doughter whom he dysposed to consacre to god but the fende enemy to mankynde enflamed made one of the seruauÌ„tes of the same to breÌ„ne in the loue of thys mayde And whan he remeÌ„bred that he was but a seruant hym thought not possyble that euer he shold atteyne to come to hys desyre of so noble a virgyne he wente to an enchaaunteur to whom he promysed grete quantyte of moneye yf he wold helpe hym to whom theÌ„chantour answerd that he coude not do it but I shal sende the to the deuyll whych is my mayster and lord And yf thou doo that he shal saye to the thou shalt haue thy desyre And the yong man sayd he wold so doo And this enchanteur sente a lettre by hym to the deuyll thus conteynyng My lord and mayster by cause that I must hastly besily drawe alle them that I may fro the religion of crystendom brynge them to thy wyll to th ende that thy partye alleway growe and multeplye I sende to the thys yong man esprysed in the loue of the mayde And demandeth that hys desyres may be accomplysshyd that herin I haue glorye honour And that fro now forthon I may gadre to the drawe moo TheÌ„ne he gaf hym hys lettre had hym goo and at mydnynght stande vpon the toÌ„be of a paynem calle the deuyll And hold vp thys lettre in thayer And anon he shal come to the
Albone And saynt Amphiabel ¶ Here foloweth the natyuyte of Saynt Iohan Baptiste SAynt Iohan baptiste is named in many maners he was named a prophete frende of the spouse lanterne an aungel voys helyas baptist of the saueour messager of the Iuge and foregoar of the kynge by prophete is signefyed prerogatyf of knowleche in the frende of the spouse noblesse of loue In the lanterne brennyng noblesse of holynes in an aungel prerogatyf of vyrgynyte In voys noblesse of mekenes in helye noblesse of brennyng loue In baptiste prerogatyf of meruayllous honour In messager prero gatyf of prechyng and in forgoyng prerogatyf of preparacyon or makyng redy Alle thyse vertuous thynges were in hym ¶ Of saynt Iohan Baptist THe Natyuyte of saynt Iohan baptyste was auÌ„cient shewed by the archaungel gabryel in this manere It is said in thystorye scolastyke that dauyd the kyng wyllyng to encrece make more the seruyse of god Instytued xxiiij bysshoppes or hyghe preestys of whome one was ouerest grettest was named prynce af the preestys and he ordeyned that eche preest shold serue a weke abias was one and had the viij weke of whos kynrede Zacharyas was descendyd fader of Saynt Iohan baptyste This Zacharye had to wyf one of the doughters of the kynrede of aaron whos name was elysabeth doughter of esmeria whyche was suster of saynt anne moder of our lady Thenne thys Elysabeth and our lady were cosyns germayns doughters of two susters Thyse two Zacharye his wyf elizabeth were Iust tofore our lord lyuyng in al the Iustyficacions holdyng al the coÌ„mauÌ„dementes of the lawe without murmure ne compleynt preysyng thankyng our lord god They had no chyldren for the holy woman was bareyn They had grete desyre to haue a sone that myght be byshop of the lawe by successyon of lygnage after Zacharye And herof had they in theyr yongthe prayed moche to our lord but whan it plesyd not vnto our lord they toke it a worthe and thanked god of alle They seruyd the more deuoutely our lord god For they had no charge but onelye to serue and entende vnto hym Many there be that withdrawe them fro the seruyce and loue of our lord for the loue of theyr chyldren They were bothe olde he and his wyf Elysabeth It happed at a solempnyte that the Iewes had after august that the bysshop dyd holy sacrefise in doyng the offyce that apperteyned to hym to his weke he wente for to encence and entryd in to the temple and the peple abode wythout makyng their prayers and awaytyng the comyng ageyn to them of the holy bysshop Thus as he was allone and encencyd the aulter The aungel gabryel apperyd to hym stondyng on the ryght syde of the aulter and whan the holy bysshop sawe hym he was abasshyd and had grete drede The aungel sayd to hym be no thynge aferde Zacharye thy prayers ben herde And hast fouÌ„den grace tofore our lord Elysabeth thy wyf shal conceyue and bere a sone whome thou shalt calle Iohan of whome thou shalt haue grete gladnes And moche people shall make grete feste and ioye of his natyuyte For he shal be grete and of grete meryte tofore our lord He shal not drynke wyne ne syther ne thynge wherof he myght be dronken and in his moders wombe he shal be sayntefyed and fulfylled wyth the holy ghoost he shall conuerte many of the sones of Israhel that is to say of the Iewes to our lord And shal goo tofore hym in the spirite and vertue of helye the prophete for to conuerte fader and sones olde and myscreauntes to the sens of rightwysnesse and to the seruyce of god Whan the aungel had thus sayd to Zacharye he answerd how may I byleue and knowe that this is trouth that thou sayest I am now aâ—olde auncyen and my wyf olde bareyn The aungel answerd and sayd I am gabryel the aungel and seruaunt tofore god whiche in his name am sent to speke to the and to shewe to the thyse thynges aforsayd and by cause thou hast not byleuyd me thou shalte lâ—se thy speche and shalt not speke tyl the day that this whiche I haue sayd shal be accomplisshed eche thyng in his tyme The peple were abydyng awaytyng whan Zacharye the bysshop shold come out and meruayled where he taryed so longe he came out of the temple but he myght not speke but the holy man made to them signes by whyche they thought wel that he had seen somme vysyon of our lord but more knewe they not he abode in the temple alle that weke and after went home to hys hows his wyf conceyued and waxe grete and whan she perceyued it she was shamefaste and kepte hyr in hyr hows wel fyue monethys In the syxthe monethe the same aungel Gabrye was sente from our lord vnto the blessyd vyrgyn marye newly espowsed to Ioseph which shewed the concepcion of Ihesu criste sone of god our lord and the aungel tolde to hyr that she shold conceyue of the holy ghooste wythout knowleche of man for our lord may do al that it pleaseth hym lyke as it apperyth sayd he of Elysabeth thy cosyn the whiche she beyng olde of age and bareyn by nature of hir body hath conceyued by the plesure of our lord and hath now borne abowte vj monethes whan our lady herde that saynt elizabeth hir cosyn was grete she wente to vysyte and accompanye her in the montayns where she dwellyd ryght ferre harde and euyll waye Whan she came thyder she salewyd hyr moche courtoyslye Our lady was thenne grete wyth the blessyd sone of god our lord Ihesu cryste whome she had conceyued whan she sayd to the aungel Ecce ancilla dâ—miny And thenne she was replenysshed wyth the deyte and humanyte of our lord Ihesu Cryste Thenne whan the salutacyon yssued out of the body of our lady the gretyng entryd in to the eerys of the body of Saynt Elyzabeth and in to hir chylde that she had wythin hyr whyche chylde was enoynte of the blessyd holy ghoost and by the presence of our lord sayntefyed in the wombe of hys moder and replenysshed wyth grace wherof he remeuyd hym for ioye in his moders wombe in makyng to our lord reuerence suche as he myght make not of hym self but by the grace that he had receyued of the holy ghoost Of whiche by the merytes and grace doon to the blessyd chylde saynt Elysabeth was replenysshed And anone prophecyed in sayeng and cryeng within hygh voys Thou arte blessyd emonge and aboue alle wymmen and blessyd be the fruyte of thy wombe From whens cometh to me suche grace so grete that the moder of my lord cometh to vysyte me I knowe wel that thou hast conceyued the sone of god For as sone as thy salutacyon entrid in to myn eerys the chylde that is in my bely made ioye and feste remeuyd thou arte wel blessyd and happy that thou hast gyuen feythe and byleuyd
euerlastyng blysse in heuen amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt wyllyam ¶ Here begynneth the lyf of Saynt Eutrope SAynt Eutrope was borne and came of the moste excellente lignage of al the world was borne in the royame of Perse and was sone of the admyralle of babylone whiche was named exâ—â—â—â—s whome the sayd exerses engendryd on a quene which was called guyâ—e and saynt eutrope was endoctryned in his yongthe in letters of caldee and of grece so ferforth that he was compâ—ryd to the moste gretest clerke of the royame After he wente to galylee in to the courte of kyng herodes for to see somme curyosyte or somme nouelte of the barbaryens that were wyth the kynge herodes whan he had dwellyd there certeyn dayes in the courte he herde the fame and renommee of the myracles of our lord Ihesu cryste began to enquyre and serche soo moche that he herde say that our lord wold goo ouer the see of galylee and he put hym self in the multitude of peple that folowyd hym It happed that this day our lord by his Infenyte largesse refresshed and fedde fyue thousand men wyth fyue loues of barley brede and two fysshes in the presence of Saynâ— eutrope Whan saynt eutrope had seen this myracle and herde saye of hys other myracles fro than forthon he began to byleue a lytel in hym but he durst not for his pedagoge or his gouernour whiche was wyth hym For the admyralle his fader had coÌ„mysed hym in his garde whan he had fedde hym wyth the other he wente to Iherusalem in to the temple for to praye adoure his creatour in his lawe and after this wente home to his fader tolde hym alle that he had seen in the contre fro whens he came I haue seen a man sayd he that is callyd cryste but in al the world is not his pareyll ne lyke For he reyseth deed men he heleth the lazers he maketh blynde men to see the deef to here the lame to goo ryght and heleth al maner sekenesses and yet more tofore me he hath fedde wyth fyue loues of barley ij fysshes fyue thousand men Wherfore yf it plesyd hym that hath made heuen and erthe to sende hym in to thys contreye I shold be glad and ioyous yf it plesyd you to doo hym honoure and reuerence whan thadmyral herde the wordes of the chylde he wente thynkyng how he myÈt see hym A lytel whyle after the chylde that had grete desyre to see yet Ihesu cryste toke leue of his fader whyche he gate wyth grete payne and came sythe wyth grete companye for to worshyp adoure in the temple where he sawe on a day how the chyldren of Iherusalem came wyth a grete companye of people tofore our lord Ihesu cryste vnto bethanye makyng to hym grete reuerence and toke the bowes of palme and of olyues and of other trees and many other floures whiche they threwe in the waye where he shold passe and songen wyth hye voys osanna Thenne saynt eutrope hym self began to caste floures in the waye but he was moche angry by cause he myght not see Ihesu cryste for the multitude of the peple that was there and after that is conteyned in the gospel he was in the companye of them that were come for to adoure and worshyp in Iherusalem at the feste that was there whiche sayd to saynt phelyppe Syr we wold see Ihesu cryste Thenne Saynt phelyp accompanyed wyth saynt Andrewe tolde it to Ihesu cryste And anone after saynt eutrope hys companye sawe hym syttyng vpon an asse wherof he was right glad fro than forthon he byleuyd secretely and accompanyed wyth hym but he doubted his felawshyp for as moche as his fader had commaunded them to kepe hym wel and that they shold brynge hym ageyn wyth them Thenne he herde say that the Iewes shold shortely brynge Ihesu cryste to dethe and by cause he wold not see soo grete cruelte do on to so trewe and Iuste a man he departed on the morne and wente in to hys contrey and recounted al that he had seen of our lord a lytel whyle after he retorned and herde say how he was put to dethe wherfore he was sory For he louyd hym moche But whan he herde say that he was rysen fro dethe to lyf and ascendyd in to heuen he was moche ioyous and retorned in to babylonye fulfylled wyth the holy ghoost And al the Iewes that he fonde in hys contreye for angre he destroyed by cause theâ— of Ierusalem had put our lord to dethe After this a certeyn tyme whan thappostles were departed thorugh the world two shynyng candelstykes of golde were sente in to perse whych were of veray fayth that is to saye Symon and Thadeus the appostles of god And entryd in to babylone and had chaced out of the contrey two enchauntours zaroen and arphaxat which had peruerted the peple by false deceyuâ—ble spekyng in this cyte thyse two appostles began to sowe the worde of god and to do many myracles hele seke peple of dyuers maladyes Whan this holy yonge man knewe of theyr comyng he was ryght glad admonestyd his fader to leue his errours his ydollys and that he shold receyue the crysten feyth to th ende that he myght gete therby heuen And what by the predycacion of the appostles and by the counceyl and exortyng of his sone his fader many other were conuerted and regenerate in the holy fonte of baptesme by the handes of the appostles and after alle the cyte was conuerted to the feythe dyd do make a moche notable chirche there and ordeyned there a prelate an holy man and trewe whome they had broughte wyth them fro Ierusalem namyd abdyas endoctryned in the doctryne of the gospellys and they ordeyned saynt eutrope archedeken and whan they had al thus ordeyned they departed and wente in to other cytees for to preche the feythe of god And anone after they receyued the palme of marterdom After Saynt eutrope wrote theyr passyon in lettres of caldee and of greke a lytel whyle after saynt eutrope herde speke of the myracles that saynt Peter prynce of the appostles dyd whyche that tyme was pope of rome he toke leue of the bysshop pryuelye wythout wetyng of his fader and came to rome Whan saynt peter sawe hym he receyued hym moche agreably and endoctryned and taughte hym the lawe of god moche dylygently whan he had dwellyd wyth saynt peter a longe whyle by the ordenaunce and commaundemente of saynt peter he wente in to fraunce with many other for to preche the crysten feythe and thus as he entryd in to the cyte of xayntes he wente thorugh the stretes and places prechyng the feythe of cryste anone as they of the cyte sawe hym they knewe wel that he was a barbaryen by his speche And whan they herde hym preche thynges that they neuer herde tofore they brente hym wyth brennyng fagottes bete hym
that she had brought she departed them and gaue for the loue of god to somme poure wulle and to other hool loues of breed and somtyme she so hasted for pyte that she toke the loues hote out of the ouen secretely and gaue it to the poure The wymmen meruayled why she toke theyr loues but they spake ne sayd no thynge And they moche doubted that they shold not fynde theyr counte ne tale But notwythstondyng that she had so taken by the grace of god they fonde al theyr loues and lacked none by the merytes of the holy saynt hyr hope was no thynge in worldly thynges but in heuenly for she byleuyd in the holy scrypture that saith who so yeueth to the poure leneth for a uayle The rewarde whiche they receyue that gyue to poure peple the holy ghoost had she wyd to hyr longe tofore and therfore she cessyd not to wepe to adoure and to doo werkys of pyte For she knewe wel that she was none other in thys world but a pylgryme passyng There was at meaux a bourgeys that by the space of foure yere he myght not here ne goo he dyd hym be broughte to the holy vyrgyn whiche dwellyd at parys requyred hir that she wolde restore to hym hys helthe and heryng she touched his eerys blessyd hym and anone he was hole and wente herde as he dyd before thankyng our lord On a tyme the holy vyrgyne wente to orlyaunce a woman named fraterne was in grete sorowe for hyr doughter that laye deyeng anone as she wyste the comyng of the holy virgyne she wente to hir to saynt aiguen where she fonde hyr in prayer fraterne fyl doun to hir feet sayeng Dame geneuefe gyue me ageyn clode my doughter Whan geneuefe sawe the good feythe of hyr she sayd dyscomforte the no thynge thy doughter is in helthe the which by the meruayllous puyssaunce of god at the worde of the holy vyrgyne was brought fro the wycket of dethe and came al hool ageynst hir moder and mette wyth hir at the portal of the hows The people thankyd our lord for thys fayre myracle In the sayd cyte there was o seruauÌ„t culpable ageynst his mayster the holy mayde prayed hys mayster that he wold foryeue hym hys trespaas The mayster as felonous and proude daygned not to doo hit at hyr requeste Thenne sayd the holy vyrgyne though ye despyse me our lord wyl not haue me in despyte assone as he was at home he was taken with an hote feare ague whiche vexyd hym in suche wyse that he myÈt not slepe of al the nyght On the morne he came to the holy vyrgyne rennyng wyth open mowth lyke a bere of almayn the tonge hangyng out and fomyng lyke a boor requyryng pardon whiche wold gyue no pardon The saynt had pyte on hym and blessyd hym and the fyeure lefte hym thus made she the mayster hool and the seruaunte excused fro orlyounce the holy woman wente to tours by the water of loyre where she suffryd many perylles whan she areyued at tours grete foyson of demonyaks cam ageynst hir out of the chirche of saynt martyn and the spyrytes cryed by the mowthes of them that were madde vexyd which were brente by the merytes of saint martyn and saint geneuefe and the perylles that the vyrgyn had in the water of loyre they had doon hit by enuye The holy vyrgyn wente vnto the chyrche of saynt martyn where as she helyd mony demonyaks by prayers and by the sygne of the crosse and the demonyaks sayd at the houre of the tormente that the fyngres of the saynt brente aboute them as tapres en flamed wyth fyre of heuen herof herde thre men which kepte their wyues mad they wente to the chyrche and prayed hyr that she wold vysyte theyr wyues The blossyd vyrgyne whyche was debonayr wente and vysyted them and delyuerd them fro thenemye by vnctyon of holy oyle and by prayer Anone after it happed as she was in orysons in a corner in the chyrche of saynt martyn that one of the syngars was soo sore vexyd wyth the enemye that he ete his membris whyche wente out of the chauncel and came strayte to the holy vyrgyn the blessyd virgyn coÌ„mauÌ„ded the spiryte to yssue out he answerd yf he yssued he wold yssue by the eye She commaunded that he shold no lengyr abyde ne dwelle there and thenne he yssued out anone wold he nolde he by the flux of the wombe and lefte foule enseygnes and tokenes and the seek maÌ„ was at hool in good mynde wherof he thanked our lord They of tours honourid moche thys blessyd vyrgyne how wel hyt was ageynst her wylle On a tyme as â—e was at hyr dore she saw a mayde passe by beryng a buyret of oyle she callyd hyr and askyd what she bare She answerd and sayd oyle which she had boughte the holy mayde whyche sawe the enemye sytâ—e on the mowthe of the buyrette blewe on hit the buyrette brake she blessyd the oyle and bad the mayde bere it forth saufly the peple that sawe this had grete meruaylle that thenemye coude not hyde hym but that she perceyued hym and thankyd our lord There was broughte to hyr a chylde by his frendes whyche was dombe blynde and lame the blessyd vyrgyn enoynted hym wyth the holy oyle and the same oure he saw clerely spake and wente and receyued helthe entyerly In the terroyr of meaux the holy mayde dyd do laboure a felde â—â—at she had and a storme tempeste trouâ—â—ed wynde and rayn aroos which 〈◊〉 moche the werkemen She 〈…〉 stretchyng on the erthe in orison 〈◊〉 prayer and our lord shewyd 〈◊〉 a fayr myracle for the rayne fyl 〈◊〉 al the corne in the feldes theraboute and in hyr felde fyl not one drope Another tyme as she was on the sayn there was a grete tempeste and she besoughte god of helpe and anone it cessid in suche wyse that they that were presente sawe wel that our lord at hyr requeste and for hir loue made wynde raâ—ne to cesse alle seek men that she enoynted wyth holy oyle deuoutelye were helyd and made hool hit happed so that on a tyme whan she wold haue enoynted a demonyak she fonde no oyle in hir ampolle whe 〈…〉 was so sory that she wyste not what to doo For there was no bysshop presente for to blesse hâ—t She laye douâ— in orysons and prayer besechyng god that he wold delyuer the man from the enemye Our lord shewyd there two fayre vertues for assone as she aroos hir ample was ful of oyle beyng in hir handes of whiche she enoynted the madde man and anone was delyuerd of the wycked spyrite whyche ample with the oyle sawe the same man that wrote hir lyf xviij yere after hyr decesse Many other myracles without nombre shewyd our lord for the loue of the holy and blessyd saynt saynt Geneuefe the whiche lyued in this world ful of vertues and myracles more than foure score
Englisshe and Egidius in latyn And it is sayd of E that is withoute and geos that is erthe and dya that is cleer oâ— godly he was withoute erthe by despisyng of erthely thynges Cleere by enlumynyng of scyence Dyuyne or godly by loue whiche assembleth the loueâ— to hym that is loued ¶ Of saint Gile SAynt Gyle was borne in Athenes and was of noble lygnage and ryall kynrede And in his childehode he was enformed in holy lettâ—ure And on a daye as he wente to the chirche he fonde a seke man whiche lay all seke in the waye and demaunded almesse of saynt Gyle whiche gaf hym his cote And as soone as he cladde hym with all he receyued full and entyer helthe And after that anon his fader and his moder deyd and rested in our lord And thenne saynt Gyle made Ihesu Cryste heyr of his herytage On a tyme as he went to the chirche a man was smeton with a serpent and deyde And Gyles cam ageynst this serpent and made his oryson and chaced oute of hym al the venym Ther was a man whiche wâ—s demonyake in the monasterye with other peple and troubled them that herde the seruyce of god Thenne Gyles coniured the deuylle that was in hâ—s body And anone he yssued oute and anone he was al hoole Thenne Gyles doubted the parylle of the world and wente secretely to the Ryuaâ—â— of the see And sawe there marynas in grete peryll and lyke to 〈◊〉 in the see And he made his prayer and anone the tempest cessed and anone the maronners cam to bonde and thanked god And he vnderstode by them that they wente to Rome And he desyred to go with them whome they receyued in to theyr shippe gladly And sayd they wold brynge hym thyder without ony freyght or huyr And thenne he cam to Arelete and abode there two yere with saynt Cezaryen Bisshop of that Cyte And there he heled a man that hadde ben seke of the feuers thre yere And after he desyred to goo in to deserte departed couertly and dwellyd there long with an Heremyte that was an holy man And there by his merytes he chaced awey the sterylyte and bareynes that was in that Countre caused grete plente of goodes And whan he had done this myracle he doubted the perylle of the glorye humayne and lefte that place and entred ferther in to deserte And there fonde a pytte and a lytel welle and a fayr hynde which without doubte was purueyed of god for to norysshe hym And at certayne houres mynystred her mylke to hym And on a tyme seruauÌ„tes of the kyng roode on hontyng moche peple many houÌ„des with them It happed that they espyed this hynde they thouÈte that she was soo fayre that they folowed her with houÌ„des whan she was fore constrayned she fled for socour to the feet of saynt Gyles whome she nourysshed theÌ„ne he was moch abasshed whan he saw her so chauffed more thaÌ„ she was wonte to be theÌ„ne he spraÌ„g vp espyed the huÌ„ters TheÌ„ne he praid to oure lord Ihesu criste that like as he sente hir to hym for to be nourisshed by her that he wold saue her TheÌ„ne the houÌ„des durst not approche her by the space of a stone cast but they howled to gyder retorned to the hunters thenne the nyÈt cam they retorned home ageyne and tooke no thynge whan the kynge herd saye of this thyng he had suspection what it myght be and wente and waâ—ned the bisshop And bothe wente thyder with grete multitude af huÌ„ters whan the hâ—uÌ„des were on the place where as the hynd was â—â—en durst not go forth as they dyde before but thenne they alle enuyronned the busshe for to see what there was but that busshe was so thyck that no manne beest myght entre therin for the breÌ„bles and thornes that were there And thenne one of the knyghtes drewe vp an arowe folyly for to make it aferd and sprynge oute but he wounded and hurte the hooly man whiche cessed not to praye for the fayr hynde And after this the hunters made weye wyth their swerdes and wente vnto the pytte And sawe there this auÌ„cient man whiche was clothed in thabyte of a Monk of a ryght honourable fygure and parure and the hynde lyeng by hym And the kynge and the Bisshop wente allone to hym and demaunded hym fro whens he was and what he was and why he had taken so grete a thycknesse of deserte and of whome he was soo hurte And he answerd ryght honestly to euery demauÌ„de And when they had herd hym speke they thought that he was an holy man and requyred hym humbly pardon And they sente to hym maystres and surgyens to hele his wounde of fryd hym many yeftes but he wold neuer ley medycyne to his wounde ne receyue their yeftes but refused them And he prayd our lord that he myght neuer be hole therof in his lyf For he knewe wel that vertu shold prouffyte to hym in Infyrmyte And the kyng vysyted hym ofte and receyued of hym the pasture of helthe And the kyng offryd to hym many grete Rychesses but he reffused all And after he admonested the kyng that he shold doo make a monasterye where as the disciplyue of thordre of Monkes shold be And whan he had doo make it Gyles reffused many tymes to take the charge and the Croce And at the laste he was vaynquysshed by prayers of the kynge and toke hit And thenne kynge charles herd speke of the renommee of hym and impetred that he myght see hym And he receyued hym moche honourably And he prayd hym to praye for hym amonge other thynges by cause he had done a synne soo foul and vylaynous that he durst not be shryuen therof to hym ne to none other And on the sonday after as saynt Gyles sayd masse and prayd for the kyng the Aungel of our lord appyeryd to hym and leyd a Cedule vpon the aulter where the synne of the kyng was wryton in by ordre and that it was pardonned hym by the prayers of saynt Gyles soo that he were therof repentaunt and absteyned hym fro doynge it ony more and hit was adioyned to th ende that who that requyred saynt giles for ony synne that he had done yf he left it that it shold be pardonned to hym And after the holy man deliuerd the cedule to the kyng And he confessyd his synne and requyred pardon humbly Thenne saynt Gyles retorned thens with honoure whan he cam to the Cyte of Verence he reysed the sone of a prnyce that was deed And a lytel whyle after he denounced that his monasterye shold be destroyed of enemyes of the faythe And after he wente to Rome and gate pryueleges of the pope to his chirche And two dores of Cypresse In whiche were the ymages of saynt Peter and Powle And he threwe them in to the Tybre at Rome and recommaunde them to god for to gouerne
herynge this thyng the blessyd Adryan enioyed hym strongly merueiled moche of his wyf that was soo yonge and ryght fayre noble and maryed but xiiij monethes withoute more hâ—u she myght saye this And therfor he was the more ardaunt to martirdome And herd gladly these wordes But whanne he sawe her ouermoche tormented he sayd to her opene the dore to me Natalye my loue and lady For I haue not fledde the martirdom as thowwenest but I am come to calle the as I promysed to the And she byleuyd it not but sayd to hym See how this traytoure renegate deceyueth me why lyest thou that other Iudas Flee thou vnhappy fro me or I shal slee my self And thenne thou shalt be ful sory whyle she taryed to opene the dore he sayd opene anone for I must goo thenne thou shalt see me no more and thenne shalt thow wepe that thou hast not sene me to fore my deth I haue leyd to pledge for me the hooly martirs And yf the mynystres seche me they fynde me not they shal cause the sayntes to suffre theyr martyrdome and myn alâ—o And whan she herd that she opened the dore And they thenne embraced and kyssed eche other went to gyder to the pryson And there Natalye clensyd seuen dayes duryng the woundes of the sayntes with precious clothes And thenne themperour commaunded them to be brought to hym And they were so broken with the paynes that they myght not goo but were borne as beestes And Adryan certaynly was bounden his handes behynde hym And spake to Natalye was born vpon the torment of Eculee and presented to Cezar And Natalye ioyned her to hym and sayd to hym My lord beware that thow tremble not for none aduenture whan thou shalt see the tormentes thou shalt not suffre here but a lytel but thou shalt be anone enhaunced with the Aungels And thenne Adryan wold not sacryfyse and was beten right greuously And thenne Natalye ranne to the sayntes that were in the pryson and said my lord hath begonne his martirdome And the kynge warned hym that he sholde not blame his goddes And he answerd yf I be thus tormented that blame theÌ„ that be no goddes hou shalt thou be tormented that blasphemest hym that is very god And the kyng sayd to hym these other traytours haue tauÈt the these wordes To whom adryan sayd Why callest thou them traitours whiche ben Doctours and enseygne the lyf perdurable And Natalye ranne to the other with grete ioye and tolde the wordes that her husbond had sayd And thenne the kyng dyde hym to be beten with foure strong men And Natalye anone reported to the other martirs that were in the pryson alle the martirdome the answers and the paynes of her husbond and he was so sore beten that his entrailles sprang oute of his bely And thenne he was bounden with yron and put in pryson with the other And Adryan was a yong man lusty and moche fayre of eyght and twenty yere of age And when Natalye sawe her husbond lye grouelynge vppon the erthe and al to broken she leyde hir hande on his heede in comfortyng hym and sayde Thew arte blessyd my lord For thou art made worthy to be of the nombre of sayntes thow arte blessid my lyghte when thou suffrest for hym that suffred dethe for the Goo thenne forth my swete loue that thou mayst see his glory And when themperour herd that many wymmen mynystred to the sayntes in pryson he commaunded that they shold no more be suffred to entre And Natalye herd that she shoof her heede and tooke thabyte of man and serued the sayntes in the prison and made the other wymmen doo soo by the ensample of her And she praid her husbond when he sholde be in glorye that he wolde praye for her that she myght kepe her vndefowled in this worlde or rather to be taken out therof And when the kyng herd what the wymmen had done he commanded to brynge forth an anuelt or a stythye soo that the holy martirs sholde haue theron her legges and armes all to frusshed and broken theron and dye the sonner And thenne Natalye doubted that her husbonde shold be aferd for the tormentes of the other prayde the mynystres that they wolde begynne with hym Thenne they hewe of his legges and thyes And Natalye prayd hym that he wold smyte of his hondes to th ende that he shold be lyke to the other saintes that had suffred more than he And when he had hewen them of he gaf vp his spyryte to god The other sayntes helde forthe their feet with theyr free wylle and passyd to our lord And the kyng commaunded that the bodyes sholde be brent And Natalye hyd in her bosome the hond of saynt Adryan And when the bodyes of the sayntes were throwen in to the fyre Natalye wolde haue with them sprongen in to the fyre and â—e cam And sodenly anone 〈◊〉 a 〈…〉 quenchyd the fyre soo that the bodyes of the sayntes had none harme And the Crysten men tooke counceylle to gydre and dyd doo bere the bodyes to constantynople tille that the pees was gyuen to the chirche that they were fette ageyne with honour And they suffred dethe aboute the yere of oure lorde two honderd and four score Natalye thenne abode and dwellyd in her hows reteyned the honde of saynt Adryan And for to haue therof she kepte it al wey at her beddes hede And after the Iuge sawe natalye so fayre soo ryche and soo noble by leue of themperoure he sent wymmen to her by cause she sholde consente to hym by maryage to whome Natalye answerd who is he that may doo soo moche honour that I may be ioyned to hym by maryage but I requyre yow that I maye haue terme of thre dayes to araye and make me redy And thiâ— she sayd to th ende that she myght flee awey Thenne beganne she to praye our lord that he wold kepe her fro touchynge of man And theÌ„ne sodenly she fylle a slepe and one of the martirs appered to her and comforted her swetely and commaunded her that she shold goo to the place where the hooly bodyes were And whan she awoke she took the hond of Adrian only with her and entryd in to a ship with many Crysten men whan the Iuge herd it he folowed after with many knyghtes thenne the wynde cam contrary to them And drowned many and constrayned the other to retorne And thenne in the nyght the deuylle appered to them in guyse of a maronner in a shippe of fantasme and sayd to them fro whens come ye and whyder goo ye And the Crysten men sayd we come fro Nychomedye and goo vnto Constantinople And he sayd ye erre goo toward the lyfte syde And ye shalle sayle more ryght And he sayd soo by cause he wold haue drowned them in the See And as they folowed the sterres anone sodenly Adryan appered to them in a
masse and slepte vpon the aulter bytwene the lesson of the prophecye and the epystle And none durst wake hym And the subdeken durst not rede the pystle with oute his leue And whanne he hadde slepte the space of thre houres they awoke hym and sayde Syre the houre is passyd And the peple ben wery for tabyde wherfor commaunde that the Clerke rede the pystle And he sayd to them be not angry Martyn my broder is passid vnto god I haue done the offyce of his departyng buryeng I coude no sonner accomplysshe ne make an ende of the laste oryson by cause ye hasted me so sore Thenne they marked the daye and the houre and they fonde that saynt Martyn was thenne passyd oute of this world and gone to heuen ¶ Mayster Iohan Beleth sayth that kyngis of Fraunce were woned to bere his cope in bataylle And by cause they kepte this cope they were called chappellayns And after his deth the yere thre score and foure whan saynt perpetue hadde enlarged his chirche And wold transporte the body of saynt Martyn therin they were in fastynges vygylles ones twyes thryes And they myght not moeue the sepulcre And as they wold haue lyfte hit a ryght fair old man appiered to them and sayde wherfore tarye ye See ye not that saynt Martyn is alle redy to helpe yow yf ye sette to youre handes with hym And thenne anone they lifte vp the sepulcre and brought hit to the place where as he is now worshipped And thenne anone this old maÌ„ vanysshed aweye This translacion was made in the monethe of Iuyllet And hit is said that there were thenne two felawes one lame and that other was blynde The lame taught the blynde man the weye And the blynd bare the lame man And thus gate they moche money by truaundyse and they herd saye that many seke men were heled whan the body of saynt Martyn was borne oute of the Chirche on procession And they were aferd leste the body shold be brought to fore their hows and that peraduenture they myght be heled whiche in no wyse they wold not be For yf they were heled they shold not gete so moche money by truaundyse as they dyde And therfor they fledde fro that place and went to another chirche where as they supposed that the body shold not come And as they fled they encountred mette the holy body sodenly vnpourueyed by cause god gyueth many bienfaittes to men not desyred and that wold not haue them they were bothe heled ayenst their wylle and were ryght sory therfore And saynt Ambrose sayth thus of saynt Martyn He destroyed the Temples of the cursyd errour he reysed the baners of pyte he reysed deede men he cast deuylles oute of bodyes in whiche they were And alledged by remedye of helthe them that trauaylled in dyuerse maladyes and sekenesses And he was founded so parfyghte that he cladde Ihesu Cryst in stede of a poure man And the vesture that the poure man hadde taken the lord of alle the world cladde hym with alle That was a good largesse that dyuynyte couerd O glorious vesture inâ—stymable yeft that clothed couerd both the knyÈt and the kynge This was a yefte that no man maye preyse of whiche he deseruyd to clothe the deyte lord thow gauest to hym worthely the reward of thy confession thou puttest vnder hym worthely the cruelte of tharryens And he worthely for the loue of martirdome neuer dredde the tormentes of the persecutours what shalle he receyue for the oblacion of his body that for the quantite of a lytell vesture whiche was but half a mantelle deseruyd to clothe and couere god and also to see hym And gaf so grete medicyne to them that trusted in god that some he helyd by his prayers and other by his commaundements Thenne late vs praye to saynt Martyn et cetera Thus endeth the lyf of saint Martyn Here foloweth the lyf of saint Bryce And first of his name BRyce is said of Breos that is to saye in Greke as mesure and of scio scis that is to knowe And thus thexposicion of this name Brictius or Bryce is as moche to say as knowynge mesure For atte begynnynge of his enfancye whan he was yonge he was full of many sottyes and folyes but he coude well after the mesure of hym self demaunde and counceylle and gouerne wel other and to excuse hym self by mesure ¶ Of saint Bryce BRyce was Archedeken of saynt Martyn and was moche greuous to hym and sayde of hym many thynges vnresonable And on a tyme a poure man cam to Bryce and demaunded of hym where the Bisshop was And how he shold knowe hym And he bad hym goo in to the Chirche hym that â—how shalt there see lokyng vpward to heuen as a madde man or one fro hym self that same is Martyn And the poure man wente and fonde saynt martyn And whanne he hadde receyued that he asked saynt Martyn called saynt Bryce and sayd to hym Bryce semeth it to the that I am a fole or frantyke And he forsoke hit and denyed it for shame And sayd he had not sayd so And saynt Martyn sayd I haue herd it For myn eres were at thy mouthe whanne thou saydest hit to the poure man openly I telle and saye to the forsothe that I haue obteyned haue graunte of god that thow shalte suâ—cede me in this Bisshopryche But knowe thou for certain that thou shalt suffre therynne many aduersytees And whanne Bryce herd hym say so he scorned hym sayenge Sayd I not trewe whanne I sayd he was a fole And after the dethe of saynt Martyn Bryce was elect and made Bisshop of Tours which fro thenne forthon he entended alle to prayer how be it that he had ben prowde yet he was alwaye chaste And in the thyrttyest yere of his bisshopryche a woman which was relygyously clad whiche was his lauender and had wasshen his clothes had conceyued and born a child whiche all the peple saide that the bisshop had goten they assembled at his yates with stones and sayden we haue long suffrid thy lecherye for the loue of saint Martyn and for his pyte But now we wylle no more kysse thy handes whiche ben acursed but he denyed the fait and dede manly And sayd brynge to me the Child And whanne he was broughte he was but thyrtty dayes old And saynt Bryce sayd to hym I coniure the by the sone of god that thow saye to me to fore alle thys peple yf I haue engendryd the And the child sayd thou art not my fader And the peuple yet not contente badde hym to demaunde the Child who was his fader And he saide that apperteyneth not to me to do I haue done that apperteyneth to me for myn excuse And the peple sayde that this was done by the arte of enchauntement and sayde playnly he shold not seignorye ouer vs thus falsely vnder the shadowe
saynt Damyen And the holy ladyes had so grete fere that theyr hertes malte in theyr bodyes and ronne wepynge to their moder saint Clare And she that was seke withoute fere of herte made her to be ladde to fore her enemyes vnto the dore And dyde doo bere to fore the body of our lord thou whiche was in a pixe moche rychely garnysshed and deuoutely And this holy lady was on her knees sayeng with wepynge treres vnto oure lord Hafayr lord god plese hit yow thenne that they that serue you and ben disarmed whome I nourisshe for youre loue be broughte in to the handes and power of the paynyms Fayre swet lord I byseche the that thow kee thy handmaydens and seruauntes For I may not kepe them in this poynt and our lord anone sente of his special grace a vois as it had ben a child which sayd to her I shalle kepe yow alweye O swete fayr lord kepe this cyte yf it please yow whiche hath gyuen to vs suche thynges as hath ben nedefulle to vs for the loue of yow And he answerd the cyte shalle haue somme greuaunce but neuertheles I shalle kepe and defende hit Thenne this holy vyrgyne saynt Clare aroos fro her prayer whiche hadde yet her vysage al bewept and comforted moche swetely her susters that wepte and sayde to them I commaunde yow fair doughters that ye comforte yow in good faythe and truste ye only in our lord For the sarasyns shalle neuer do yow harme Anone thenne the Sarasyns hadde soo grete drede and fere that ouer the wallys and by tho places that they hadde entryd they fledde hastely And were in this wyse by the oryson and prayer of saynte Clare destroubled and put fro their empryse Thenne commaunded she to alle them that herde the vois that that in no maner they shold discouere ne telle it to ony that lyued On another tyme it happed that an old squyer ful of vayne glory the whiche was moche hardy in bataylle and was capitayne of a grete hoost which Frederick hadde delyuerd to hym and cam with alle his hoost for to take the cyte of Assyse he dyde do hewe donne the trees and destroye the countreye al aboute and besyeged the cyte And sware that he wolde not departe thens tyl he had taken the Cyte And thus was the cyte besyeged for to haue be taken And whanne saynt Clare the handmaide of Ihesu crist herde the tydyng she hadde grete pyte and dyd do calle her susters and sayde to them Right swete doughters we receyue dayly many bienfaites of this Cyte and it sholde be a grete vnkyndenes to vs yf we socoured it not in this grete nede as moche as we may Thenne commaunded she to brynge asshes and said to her sustres that they sholde discouere their hedes and she hir self fyrste caste grete plente of Asshes vpon her hede after vpon the hedes of alle the other and sayd to them Now go fayr douÈters And with all your herte requyre and praye ye to oure lord that he wil delyuer this Cyte And thenne euerich by hem self in grete wepynges and terys made their orysons and prayers deuoutely to our lord in suche wyse that he kepte and defended the Cyte that on the morne the hoost departed oute of the countre And it was not longe after that they all were dede and slayn It shold not be acordynge that we shold hele and kepe secrete the merueylous vertu of her prayer the which atte begynnynge of her conuersyon she conuerted a sowle to god For she hadde a suster yongir than hir self was whos conuersacion she moche desyred And in alle her prayers that she made she prayd at the begynnyng with all her herte to our lorde that lyke as she and her suster hadde ben in the world of one herte and of one wylle that it myght please the fader of mercy that Agnes her suster whome she had lefte in the world myghte despyse the world and sauoure the swetenesse of god so that she myght haue no wylle to marye her sauf only to god her trewe frende in suche wyse that bytwene them bothe they myghte espouse their virginyte to oure lord These two susters loued merueylously to gyder And were moche soroufulle of their departynge that one more than that other But oure lorde graunted vnto saynt Clare the fyrst yeâ—t that she demaunded For hit was a thynge that moche plesyd hym After the seuenthe day that saynt Clare was conuertid Agnes her suster cam to her And discouered her secretenesse to hâ—r and wylle And sayd vtterly that she wold serue god And whan Saynt Clare herd that anone she embraced her And sayd for ioye that she had My suster ye be ryght welcome I thanke god that hath herd me for the For whome I was in grete sorow How be hit that this conuersion was merueyllous And yet more to be wondred how Clare deffended her suster by her prayers At that tyme were the good blessyd susters at saynt Mychell of pambo whiche were ioyned to god they folowed the lyf and werkes of ihesu cryst And there was saynte Clare whiche felte more of god than thother And she enformed her suster her nouryce how she shold rewle her And the parentes and kynnesmen of saynt clare beganne a newe batayll and stryf ayenst the vyrgyns For whanne they herd saye that Agnes was gone to duelle with her suster saynte clare there cam on the morne to the place where saynte clare dwellyd twelue of her kynnesmen and Frendes al fro them self alle araged and shewed not without forth the malyce that they hadde in their hert but gaf them to vnderstonde that they cam for good And whanne they cam within they made no force of saynt clare for to drawe her oute For they knewe wel that they shold no thyng exployte of their entente but they torned to Agnes and sayd to her What makest thou here come oute with vs home to thy hows and she answerd that she wolde neuer departe fro the companye of saynt clare And a tyraunt a knyÈt took and drewe her by the here And the other took her by the armes and caryen her forth a ferre And she whiche semed that she was amonge the hondes of a lyon and taken fro the handes of god beganne to crye and sayde Fayre dere suster helpe me and suffre not that I be taken aweye fro the holy companye of Ihesu crist But the felons drewe this vyrgyn ageynst her wyll ouer the Montayne and rente her clothes drewe and raced oute her heer And the holy swete vyrgyne saynt clare kneled doune and putte her self to prayer And praid our lord to gyue her suster a stronge herte and a stable and that she myghte by the puyssaunce of god ouercome and surmounte the puyssaunce of the peple and anone the hooly ghoost made her so peysaunt and heuy that it semed that her body were fyxed to the grounde in suche
wise that for al the force and power that they couthe 〈◊〉 they myght not bere her ouer a lytelle broke And the men that were in the feldes and ryuer cam for to helpe them but they myghte nuer remeue her fro the erthe And thenne one of them said in mockyng It is no wonder though she be heuy For she hath eten moche lede Thenne the lord mouualt her vncle lyft vp his arme for to bete her cruelly but an ache and payne took hym sodenly and tormentid hym a long tyme ryght cruelly After that this sayd Agnes hadde suffred this long wrastlyng of her kynnesmen and Frendes cam saynt Clare and prayd them for goddes sake they shold leue this bataylle with her suster and go their waye take hede of them self And she receyued the cure and charge of Agnes her suster whiche laye theron the ground in grete dysease And fynally her kynnesmen departed in grete anguysshe an and sorowe of herte ¶ And thenne anone after she aroos vp moche gladly And had moche grete ioye of that fyrst bataylle that she had suffred for the loue of Ihesu Cryst And fro this tyme forward she ordeyned her self to serue god perdurably And saynt Fraunceis cutte of her heres with his owne handes and enduced and taught her to serue god and so dyd saynt Clare her suster And by cause we may not shortely acompte with fewe wordes the grete perfection of the lyf of Agnes therfore we shalle entende vnto the lyf of saynte Clare the vyrgyne Was hit not grete meruaylle of the orysons and prayers of saynt Clare whiche were so strong and so moche auaylleth ageynst the malyce of the peple whan they fledde and were puissaunt to brenne the deuyls It happed on a tyme that a moche deuoute woman of the bisshopryche of Pyse cam to one of the ladyes for to yelde thankynges to god and saynt Clare whiche had delyuerd her fro thandes of v deuyls For they fledde and waylled that the orysons of saynt Clare brente them alle And therfore they myghte no lenger dwelle in that place The pope gregory had moche grete fayth grete deuocion in the prayers of that hooly vyrgyne And not withoute cause For he had preued and felte certayne vertue therof whiche had holpen many and dyuerce that had necessyte and nede And whanne he was Bisshop of hostence and after whanne he was pope he sente his lettres to her by whiche he requyred her to pray for hym And anone he felte hym eased and alleged by her prayers Thenne certaynly yf he whiche was vycayre of Ihesu Cryst by his humylyte as we may see had so grete deuocion to saynt Clare of whome he requyred her ayde and recommaunded hym to the vertue of her orysons well ought we thenne tensiewe with all our power the deuocion of suche a man For he knewe wel how moche loue is myghty and how the pure vyrgyns haue delyuerd entree in to the dore of the herte of oure lord And yf oure swete lord gyue hym self to them that loue hym fermely who maye he denye them for whome they requyre hym deuoutely Alwey sene that they requyre hym that is nede and behoeffull The holy werk sheweth well the grete faythe and the grete deuocion that she had in the hooly sacrament of the aulter For in that grete maladye whiche had so vexed her that she lay in her bedde she aroos and did her to be borne from one place to another did spynne a fyn smale clothe of whiche she made mo than fyfty corporas sente them in fayr towellis of sylke in to dyuerce chirches in dyuerse places of Assyse Whan she shold receyue the body of oure lord it was meruaylle to see the teres that she Wepte of whiche she was all wete And she had soo grete fere whan she approchyd nyghe vnto her saueour that she ne doubted hym no lasse whiche is in semblaunce very god in the forme of breed the sacramēt than hym that gouerneth heuen and erthe whiche is al one Thus as she hadde alwey souuenaunce and mynde of Ihesu Cryst in her maladye so god comforted her and vysited her in her Infyrmyte and languore In the houre of the natyuyte of Ihesu crist at cristemas whan the angels the world made feest songen enioyed of litil Ihesus that was born al the poure ladyes wēt to matyns in to their monastery left allone their poure moder sore greued in her maladye Thenne she began to thynke on litil Ihesus was sorouful that she myght not be at the seruyse preyse our lord And sayd in syghynge Fayr lord god I wake here allone And anone she beganne to here the Freres that songen and saynt Fraunceis and herd well the Iubylacion the psalmodye and the grete melodye of the songe how be it her bed was not so nygh that the voys of a man ne of a woman myght not be herde ne vnderstonde yf god dyd hit not by his curtosye or yf god had not gyuen to her aboue al nature of man force and power to here hit but this passyd all For she was worthy to see in her oratorye the ioye of oure lord On the mornynge whanne the ladyes her doghters cam to her she sayd to them Blessyd be oure lord Ihesu Cryste For whanne ye lefte me he lefte me not truly And I saye to yow that I haue herd this nyghte alle the seruyse and solempnyte that hath be done in the chirche by saynt Fraunceis thorugh the grace of Ihesu crist Atte paynes of her deth oure lord comforted her alwey For she drewe oute of the hooly woundes of Ihesu criste a bytternesse of whiche her herte her wil And her thought were full of anguysshes merueyllously bytter And often as she hadde be dronken of the sorowe and teeres that she wepte for the loue of Ihesu Cryste For oftymes the loue of god whiche she hadde emprynted in her herte within forthe she made to appere by signes outeward She enfourmed and taughte the nouyces and admonested them that they haue in theyr mynde the sorowe and payne of the dethe of Ihesu crist And that she said with her mouthe she dyd it in her herte and gaf ensample Whanne she was secretely all one to fore she myght saye ony thynge she was al bedewed with teres She was most deuoute and had more feruour of deuocion bytwene vndern and none than ony other tyme by cause she wold that in the houre that Ihesu crist was crucyfyed in the aulter of the crosse that her herte shold be sacrefyed to god our lord On a tyme hit happed at the houre of none that she prayd to god in her celle And the deuylle gaf to her suche a stroke vnder the ere that her eyen and her vysage were al couerd with blood She hadde lerned an oryson of the fyue woundes of Ihesu cryst whiche she ofte recorded and remembred by cause her herte and thought were nourysshed therin and myght
wold gyue hir no weye soo that she fyl in the depe myre and fylth and thenne she aroos and scraped hir vesture and lawghed and after thys one hyr aunte had grete pyte of hir and sente hir wysely to hyr vncle bysshop of banebergenence Whyche receyued hyr moche honestlye and reteyned hyr in entente to marye hyr ageyn and whan hir chamberers herde therof whiche had auowed contynence wyth hir were passyng wroth and wepte And she comforted them and sayd I truste in our lord for the loue of whome I haue auowed contynence perdurable that he shal kepe me in my purpeos and shal take aweye alle vyolence and shal corompe alle counceyl humayn and yf myn vncle wold marye me to ony man I shall wythstonde it to my power and shal gaynsay it wyth wordes and yf I may not soo escape I shal cutte of my nose so that euery man shal hate me for my lothelynes and thenne the bysshop dyd doo lede hyr in a castell ageynst hyr wylle for to abyde there tyl that somme man shold demaunde to haue hyr in maryage And she commaunded to our lord hir chastyte alle wepyng and thenne our lord ordeyned that the bones of hir husbond shold be broughte from ouer see And thenne the bysshop maad hyr to come and goo deuoutelye to mete the boones of hyr husbond And thenne the boones were receyued of the bysshop with righte grete honoure and of hir wyth grete deuocion wepyng of teerys And thenne she sayd to our lord Syr I rendre to the graces and thankynges of thys that I may receyue the bones of my swete husbond and that thou haste vouched sauf to comforte me pour caytyf Syr I loued hym moche whyâ—he louyd the and lord for the loue of the I suffred wel his presence And I sente hym vnto the helpe of the holy londe and I calle the to wytnes that how be it that hit were a delectable thynge to me to lyue yet wyth hym so that he were poure and I also a poure beggar thorugh the world but that ageynste thy wylle I wold not bye hym ageyn wyth an heer ne I wolde not retorne ageyn to mortal lyf lord I commaunde me and hym in to thy grace and thenne she cladde hyr with habyte relygyous and kepte perpetuel contyneÌ„ce after the deth of hir husbonde and obedyence performed she toke wyl ful pouerte and hyr clothyng was cours and vyle she ware a russet mantel hyr gowne of another foule colour The sleuys of hir cote were broken and amended with pyeces of other coloure Hyr fader kynge of hongarye whan he herde that hys doughter was comen to the estate of pouerte he sente an erle to hir for to brynge hyr to hir fader and whan the erle sawe hyr sytte in suche an habyte and spynnyng he escryed for sorowe and said there was neuer kynges doughter that ware suche an habite ne seen spynnyng wulle and whan he had doon hys message and desyred to haue broughte hyr to hyr fader She in no wyse wold acoordâ— to hit but had leuer to be nedy emonge the poure peple thynne to abounde in grete rychesses wyth ryche peple to the ende that she shold not be empesshed but that hir wylle mynde shold be alle weye in our lord And she prayed our lord that he wold gyue to hir grace to despyse al erthely thynges and take aweye fro hir herte the loue of hyr chyldren to be ferme and constaunte ageynst the persecucions And whan she had accomplysshed hir prayer she herde our lord sayeng thy prayer is herde and thenne sayd she to hir chamberers our lord hath herde my voys For I repute alle erthelye thynges as donge and fylthe And sette nomore by myn owne chyldren thenne I doo by other mennes and my neyghbours ne I loue none other thynge but our lord mayster conrade dyd to hyr ofte thynges contrarye greuous and suche thynges as he saw that she louyd that remeuyd he and toke aweye fro hyr companye And took fro hyr two maydens hyr chamberers byloued emonge alle other and had ben nourisshed wyth hyr fro hyr chyldehode And thys holy man dyd thys for to breke hyr wylle soo that she shold sette al loue in our lord and to the ende that she shold not remembre hyr fyrst glorye In al thyse thynges she was hasty for to obeye and constaunte to suffre that â—y pacyence she myght possesse hyr sowle and by obedyence to be maad fayre and ennobled She sayd yf I onely for goddes sake drede soo moche a man mortal how moche more ought I to drede and doubte the heuenly Iuge Therfore I make obedyence to mayster conrade a poure man and a beggar not to a ryche bysshop by cause I wold put aweye fro me alle occasyon of temporal comforte On a tyme by cause she wente in to a cloystâ—e of nonnes whyche prayed hir dyligently for to vysyte them wythout lycence of hir maister he bete hir so sore therfore that the strokes apperyd in hir thre wekes after by whiche she shewed to our lord that hir obedyence was more plesyng than the offeryng of a thousand hostyes Better is obedyence thenne sacrefyse She was of soo grete humylyte that she wold suffre in no wyse that hyr chamberers shold calle hir lady but that they shold speke and say to hir as to the lowest and leste of them She wesshe otherwhyle the dysshes and the vessel of the kechyn and she hyd hyr otherwhyle that the chamberers shold not lette hir she Wold say yf I coude fynde another lyf more despised I wold haue taken it she chase the best she had a special grace to wepe habundantly teris for to see celestyal vysyons and for to enflamme the hertes of other to the loue of god ¶ On a day of the holy lente she was in the chyrche And she behelde ententyfly the aulter lyke as she had ben in the presence deuyne and there she was comforted by reuelacion deuyne And thenne she retorned to hir hows and prophecyed of hir self that she shold see Ihesu cryste in heuen and anone as she laye doun for feblenes in the lappe of hyr chamberer she began to loke vp in to heuen and she was soo glad that she began deboneyrlye to lawghe and whan she had ben longe ioyeful she was sodeynly torned in to wepyng and theÌ„ne she loked vp to heuenward ageyn and anone she retorned in to hir fyrst ioye and whan she closed hir eyen she began to wepe in thys manere she abode tyl complyn had dyuyne vysyons and thenne she was stylle a whyle and sayd thus after lord wyl thou be with me and I with the ne I wyl not departe fro the After thyse thynges the chamberers desyred hir to telle to them why she had so lawghed and wepte and she said I haue seen heuen open and Ihesu crist whiche enclyned hym debonayrlye to me and I was glad of the vysyon and wepte
said to hym yf thou wylt consente to the prynce I shal spare the and gyue to the medecyne To whome Iames sayd haste not thou seen the strock of the vygne that whan the braunches been cutte of the knotte that remayneth in his tyme whan the erthe achauffeth It germeth and bryngeth forth newe buddes in al the places of the cuttyng thenne yf the vygne be cutte by cause he shold burgyne brynge forth fruyte in his tyme how moche more ought a man burgyne more plenteuously in the feyth that he suffreth for the loue of Ihesu cryste whyche is the veray vygne and thenne the boucher cutte of the forfyngre Thenne sayd Saynt Iames lord receyue two braunches whiche thy ryght honde hath planted he cutte of the thyrd and Iames sayd I am delyuerd fro thre temptacions I shal blysse the fader the sone and the holy ghoost and lord I shal confesse thâ— with the thre chyldren that thou sauedest fro the chymney of fyre and Ihesu cryste I shal synge to thy name in the quere of marters thenne the fourth was cutte of and saynt Iames sayd O protectour of the chyldren of Israhel whiche in the fourthe blessyng were pronounced receyue of thy seruaunte the confessyon of the fourthe fyngre lyke as the benedyccion was in Iuda and thenne the fyfthe fyngre was cutte of and he sayd my ioye is accomplisshed and thenne the bouchers said to hym spare thy lyf that thou perysshe not and angre the not though thou hast loste one hande for there ben many that haue but one hande that haue moche honour and rychesses And the blessyd Iames sayd to them whan the shepeherdes shere theyr sheep they take not onely the ryght syde 〈◊〉 also the lyfte syde thenne yf the lamâ—â— whiche is but a brute beest wyl lese his flese for his mayster how moche more thenne I that am a man resonable ouÈt to be smyton in pyeces for the loue of god and thenne the felonne bouchers wente to that other hande and cutte of fyrst the lytel fyngre and saynt Iames sayd lord whan thou were grete thou woldest be made lytel for us and therfore I yelde to the body and sowle whiche thou madest and redemyst wyth thy propre blood Thenne the seuenth fyngre was cutte of and he sayd lord I haue said to the seuen tymes in the tyme preysynges Thenne they cutte the viij fyngre and he sayd Ihesu cryste was circumcysed the eyght day and thebrewes were circumcised the eyght day for to accomplysshe the commaundementes cerymonyalles of the feythe and lord lete the mynde of thy seruaunte goo fro thyse Incircumcysed and that I may haue the prepucye vndefouled that I may come and beholde thy face lord Thenne the nynthe fyngre was cutte of and he sayd the nynthe houre Ihesu cryste rendryd his spyryte in the crosse to his fader and therfore lord I confesse me to the in the sorowe of the ix fyngre and thanke the Thenne the tenthe fyngre was cutte of and he sayd the tenthe nombre is in the commaundementes of the lawe Thenne somme of them that were there sayden right dere frende confesse thou our goddes tofore our prynce soo that thou mayst lyue how be it that thy handes be cutte of there ben right wyse leches that shal wel hele the and ease the of thy payne To whome saynt Iames sayd god forbede that in me shold be ony false dyssymylacion no man that put his honde to the ploughe loketh bacwarde is not couenable to come to the kyngdom of heuen Thenne the bouchyers hauyng despyte and cutte of the grete too of the ryght foot and saynt Iames sayd the foot of Ihesu cryste was persyd and blood yssued out The second was cutte of and he sayd this day is grete to me tofore all other dayes this day I conuerted shal goo sothely to the stronge god thenne they cutte the thyrd and threwen it tofore hym and saynt Iames sayd smylyng goo thou thyrd too to thy felowes for lyke as the grayne of whete rendryth moche fruyte so shalte thou do wyth thy felawes and shalt reste in the last day The fourth was thenne cutte of and he said my sowle wherfore arte thou sorowful and why troublest me hope in god for I shal confesse to hym that is the helthe of my chere and my god The fyfthe was cutte of and he sayd I shal now begynne to say to our lord dygne praysyng for he hath made me worthy felawe to his seruauntes Thenne they came to his lyfte foot and cutte of the lytel too and saynt Iames sayd lytel too be comforte for the grete and lytel shal haue one resurrexyon an heer of the heed shal not perisshe and thou shalte not departe fro thy felawes And after they cutte of the seconde too and he sayd destroye ye the olde hows for a more noble is maad redy The thyrd was cutte of and he sayd by suche kuttynges shal I be pourged fro vyces and they cutte of the fourth too and he sayd comforte me god of trouthe for my sowle trusteth in the Thenne the fyfthe was cutte of and he sayd O lord loo I offre and sacrefyse to the twenty tymes and thenne they cutte of his right fote and saynt Iames sayd Now I shal offre a yefte to god for whos loue I suffre this Thenne they cutte of the lyfte fote he sayd thou arte he lord that makest meruaylles here thou me lord and saue me They cutte of after his right hande and he sayd lord thy mercyes helpe me they cutte of his lifte hande and he sayd lord thou arte he that louest the ryghtful and they cutte of the ryght arme and he sayd my sowle prayse the our lord I shal gyue lawde to our lord in my lyf and shal synge to hym as longe as I shal lyue and thenne they cutte of the lyfte arme and he sayd the sorowes of dethe haue enuyronned me and I shal thynke ageynst them thenne they cutte of the ryght legge to the thye Thenne saynt Iames was greued in grete payne and sayd lord Ihesu cryste helpe me for the wayllynges of deth come about me and he sayd to the bouchyers our lord shal clothe me wyth newe flesshe so that your wouÌ„des shal neuer appere in me and thenne the bouchyers began to fayle and were wery fro the first houre of the day vnto the nynthe they had swette in cuttyng his membyrs and after they came to them self and cutte of the lyfte legge vnto the thye and thenne the blessyd Iames escryed and sayd o good lord here me halfe a lyue thou lord of lyuyng men and dede lord I haue no fyngres to lyfte vp to the ne handes that I may enhaunce to the my feet be cutte of and my knees soo that I may not knele to the and am lyke to an hows fallen of whome the pylers ben taken aweye by whiche the hows was born vp and susteyned here me lord Ihesu cryste
their feet he wesshed made clene theyr shone and also moche benygnelye he maad theyr beddes made theyr mete redy and so he was bothe cook and bysshop to gyder hongre and thyrste suffryd he many tymes so that he myght of hys owne mete fede his felawes he sette a parte alle precyous raymentes and moche dere he helde the hayre that was roughe and harde In thyse two good dedes doyng the good man rendred hys sowle to god and after his obsequye doon the bysshop hys successour that had to name gâ—erycus assemblyd to gyder a grete companye of peple two bysshoppes and many clerkys also and alle togyder they wente in to the deserte and whan they came vnto the place there as the corps was sayeng vygyles moche solempnelye and after they took the corps and bare it aweye with grete honour and reuerence vnto the cytee And as they came to a ruysel or chanel and wold haue passyd it hit happed that they whiche bare the corps behynde fyl doun but as I suppose the aungels susteyned the corps in the ayer for they that bare hit before yede euer and leâ—ted not and they that were fallen had noo harme but stood vp anone and bare the corps ageyn as they dyd before In the tyme that thys holy man was on lyue there was a man that lyued moche lecherously the holy man repreuyd hym many tymes therof and prayed hym that he wold leue that lyf and doo penytence or that he shold deye in that state It happed so that as the holy corps was borne to the cyte and as they passyd thorugh the said mannes grounde the same holy corps at thentre of the sayd mannes grounde stood stylle in so moche that they that bare it coude not moeue it from thens Wherfore the bysshoppes the preestys the clerkes and all the peple that were there were moche meruaylled and sore troubled also by cause that the nyght was nyghe and they wyst not where they myght be lodgyd Thenne a duc that was in the companye named nod do sayd thus to theym ye see how he refuseth to entre Wythm the grounde of thys synnar my towne is here nye I counceyl that we retorne thyder for to abyde and reste vs there alle nyght For also we ne haue here what to fede thys peple wythal for of al prouysyons or store I ne haue but a lytel byer within a lytel vessel and a lytel brede yf it pleased to god and to the holy corps that we myght be there or the nyght come and how be it that ferre aweye it was thens Neuerthelesse by the wylle of god they were there right soone and them semyd that the holy corps bare hym self and namely that they were borne thyder where they came by day lyght And thenne sayd noddo to them I praye to saynt arnolde that by his grace he wyl fede vs alle thys nyghte For wel I wote that at his prayer we shal haue al that to vs nedeth and soone with that lytel drynke and brede that they had by the grace of god and of the saynt they were alle fedde and rassassyed that nyght and yet moche remayned of hit bothe of drynke and of brede â— On the morne nexte wyth grete ioye they walkyd and bare the holy corps in to the cyte They of the cyte also came to mete the corps in processyon wyth grete reuerence as he that had ben their pastour or gyde of theyr sowles whyche of longe tyme they had not seen moche reuerentelys they buryed the holy corps in the chirche of the appostles A woman that Iule had to name whiche of longe tyme had loste hyr syght came to the sepulture of saynt arnolde and ferueâ—lye hyr prayer there made by hym recouerd hyr syght Another woman on a sonday wrought god punysshed hir for hir ij handes were styffe and contrefayte she came in to the chirche Where the holy corps laye besought the saynt wyth feythful herte sore wepyng and anone recouerd helthe The solempnyte of thys glorious saynt is celebred the xvij day of the kalendys of auguste in the honour of god that lyueth wythoute ende regneth In seculorum secula amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Arnolde Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Turyen SAint Turyen was archebysshop of dol in lytel bretaygne and was borne in a towne nygh to the sayd cyte where was a chyrche of ¶ Hys fader and hys moder were yssued of noble lygnage In that tyme a man of holy lyf confessour and frende of god was archebysshop of the sayd cyte and was named Sampson Soo thenne as the vessel of holynesse that is to wete turyen that yet was but a chylde of age but he was by vertu of the holy ghoost fylled wyth grace relenquysshed and lefte for loue of our lord all hys parentes whiche were of grete estate the fayre lyuelode also that he shold haue and came in to the cyte of dol toward saynt sampson Whan Saynt sampson sawe hym he ordeyned sette hym to kepe his kyen and hys other beestys This prefygured be to hym gladly sygnefyeng that he shold be in tyme to come pastour or gyde of the sheep of our lord whan he shold receyue the dygnyte of archebysshop And in this estate kepyng the beestys esprysed of the loue of god and not of no thynge humayn he dyd calle euery clerke that passed before hym prayed hym that he wold write somme letters within a lytel payre of tables that he had for to lerne and knowe them whan he beganne to knowe wel ynough his letters it plesed our lord that he shold lerne and knowe tharte of gramayr and so moche of grace gafe god to hym that he had a melodyous and fayr voys at chyrche more thenne ony of his other felawes and soo as by many a tyme his voys pleased moche to the archebysshop he reteyned and took hym stylle wyth hym and of hym he made as of his owne adopted sone and moche endeuoyred hym to make hym to lerne the deuyne scripture and swetely gouerned hym So moche grewe and fructefyed the chylde in resplendour or lyghte of alle good veertues by good doctrynes exaumples that the sayd archebysshop ordeyned hym mayster of the clerkes of his chapel The wele of this chylde turyen multeplyed euer fro better to bâ—tter in the loue grace of our lord The archebysshop saynt sampson that as thenne was olde consyderynge the holy lyf that turyen ledde the good vertues of whiche he was fylled and that he was in age parfyte ordeyned hym archâ—bysshop in his place and namely he yet lyuyng wold see hym to be possessour of the dygnyte of the archebysshop and so whan by the consecracion dyuyne he was chosen to the sayd dygnyte all the peple made ioye therof For wel they perceyued that he was ful of the grace of god On a tyme as he lyfte vp his eyen toward heuen he sawe a wyndowe wyde open and the
THe holy blessed doctour saynt Ierom sayth thys auctoryte do alweye somme good werke to th ende that the deuyl fynde the not ydle And the holy doctour saynt austyn sayth in the book of the labour of monkes that no man stronge or myghty to laboure ought to be ydle for which cause whan I had parfourmed accomplisshed dyuers werkys hystoryes translated out of frensshe in to englysshe at the requeste of certeyn lordes ladyes and gentylmen as thystorye of the recuyel of Troye the book of the chesse the hystorye of Iason The hystorye of the myrrour of the world the xv bookes of Metamorpheseos in whyche been conteyned the fables of ouyde and the hystorye of 〈…〉 froy of boloyn in the conqueste of Iherusalem wyth other dyuers werkys bookes I nyste what werke to begynne put forth after the said werkys tofore made for as moche as ydelnesse is so moche blamed as sayth saynt bernard the myllyfluous doctour that she is moder of lyes stepdame of vertues it is she that ouerthroweth stronge men in to synne quenchyth vertue nouryssheth pryde maketh the waye redy to goo to helle and Iohan cassyodore sayth that the thouÈt of hym that is ydle thynketh on none other thynge but on lychorous metys vyandes for his bely and the holy saynt bernard aforesayd sayth in an epystle whan the tyme shal come that it shal behoue vs to rendre and gyue acomptes of our ydle tyme what reson may we rendre or what answer shal we gyue whan in ydlenes is none excuse prosper sayth that who someuer lyueth in ydlenesse lyueth in manere of a dombe beest and by cause I haue seen the auctorytees that blame despyse so moche ydlenes also knowe wel that it is one of the capytal and dedely synnes moche hateful vnto god Therfore I haue concluded fermelye purposed in my self no more to be ydle but wyl applye my self to laboure and suche ocupacion as I haue be acustomed to do for as moche as saynt austyn aforesayd sayth vpon a psalme that good werke ought not be doon for fere of payne but for the loue of rightwysnesse that it be of veray souerayn fraunchyse and by cause me semeth to be a souerayn wele to Incyte exhorte men and wymmen to kepe them from slouthe and ydlenesse and to lete to be vnderstonden to suche peple as been not letterd the natyuytees the lyues the passyons the myracles and the dethe of the holy sayntes also soÌ„me other notorye dedes and actes of tymes passed I haue submysed my self to translate in to englyssle the legende of sayntes which is callyd legenda aurea in latyn that is to say the golden legende for in lyke wyse as golde is moste noble aboue al other metalles in lyke wyse is thys legende holden moost noble aboue al other werkys ageynst me here myght somme persones saye that thys legende hath be translated tofore and trouthe it is but for as moche as I had by me a legende in frensshe another in latyn the thyrd in englysshe whiche varyed in many and dyuers places and also many hystoryes were comprysed in the two other bookes whiche were not in the englysshe book and therfore I haue wryten one oute of the sayd thre bookes which I haue ordryd otherwyse than the sayd englysshe legende is whiche was so tofore made besechyng alle theym that shall see or here it redde to pardone me where I haue erryd or made fawte whyche yf ony be is of ygnoraunce and ageyn my wylle and submytte it hooly of suche as can may to correcte it humbly bysechyng them so to doo and in so doyng they shal deserue a synguler lawde and meryte I shal praye for them vnto almyghty god that he of his benygne grace rewarde them cÌ„ And that it prouffyte to alle them that shal rede or here it redde and may encreace in them vertue and expelle vyce and synne that by the ensaumple of the holy sayntes amende theyr lyuyng here in thys shorte lyf that by their merytes they and I may come to euerlastyng lyf blysse in heuen amen My Truste Is ANd for as moche as this sayd werke was grete ouer chargeable to me taccomplisshe I feryd me in the begynnyng of the translacyon to haue contynued it by cause of the longe tyme of the translacion also in thenpryntyng of the same in maner halfe desperate to haue accomplissd it was in purpose to haue lefte it after that I had begonne to translate it to haue layed it aparte ne had it be at thynstaunce requeste of the puyssant noble vertuous erle my lord wyllyam erle of arondel whiche desyred me to procede contynue the said werke promysed me to take a resonable quaÌ„tyte of them when they were achyeued accomplisshed and sente to me a worshypful gentylman a seruaunte of his named IohÌ„n Stanney whych solycyted me in my Lordes name that I shold in no wyse leue it but accomplisshe it promysyng that my sayd lord shold duryng my lyf yeue graunte to me a yerely fee that is to wete a bucke in sommer a doo in wynter with whiche fee I holde me wel contente Thenne atte centemplacion reuerence of my sayd lord I haue endeuoyred me to make an ende fynysshe thys sayd translacion and also haue enprynted it in the moost best wyse that I haue coude or myght and presente this sayd boook to his good noble lordshyp as chyef causer of the achyeuyng of hit prayeng hym to take it in gree of me Wyllyam caxton hys poure seruaunte that it lyke hym to remembre my fee I shal praye vnto almyghty god for his longe lyf and welfare after this shorte transytorye lyf to come in to euerlastyng ioye in heuen the whiche he sende to hym me vnto al them that shal rede and here this sayd book that for the loue feythe of whome al these holy sayntes hath suffred deth and passyon amen ¶ And to th ende eche hystoryy lyf passyon may be shortely fouÌ„den I haue ordeyned this table folowyng where in what leef he shal fynde suche as shal be desyred and haue sette the nombre of euery leef in the margyne ¶ Thaduent of our lord folio primo The natyuyte of our lord foure The circumcysyon of our lord fyue The feste of thepyphanye eyghte Septuagesme enleuen Sexagesme folio enleuen Quinquagesme twelue Quadragesme twelue The ymbre dayes thyrtene The passyon of our lord fourtene The resurrexyon eyghtene The letanyes more lasse xxi The ascencion of our lord xxiij The feste of whytsontyde xxvj The feste of corpus xpristi thyrty The feste of dedycacion two thyrty The hystorye of adam seuen thyrty The historye of Noe nyne thyrty The hystorye of abraham fourty The hystorye of ysaac his two sones Esau Iacob four fourty Thystorye
goodes that he hath lente vs For we haue nothyng propre but Ihesu Cryst hath lente to vs all that we haue theÌ„ne it is wel reason that we doo gyue for hym to the poure of suche goodes as be his For we ben but seruauntes And we ought to gy ue to the hungry mete to the dursty drynke to the naked clotyng vysyte the seke And to fore al thynges to loue god and after our neyghebours as our sylf And despoylle our self fro synne And clothe vs with good werkes and vertues And folowe the co mandement of Ihesu Cryst And in this manere we shal fulfyll the wyll of our fader Ihesu Cryst yf we ben so purged and thus circumcised Thenne late vs pray vnto the lord of heuene that saith that he cam not to breke the lawe but to fulfyll it that he gyue vs grace In suche maner to fulfyll the lawe and his wyll in thys world that we may come in to his holy blysse in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the fest of the circumcision of oure lord Here foloweth the fest of the Epiphanie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the thre kynges THe fest of thepiphanye of our lord is aourned of foure myracles after them it hath foure names On this day the kynges worshipped Ihesu Cryst And saynt IohnÌ„ baptyst baptysed hym And Ihesu Cryste chaunged this day water in to wyn And he fedde fyue thousand men with fyue loues of brede Whan Ihesu cryst was in the age of xiij dayes the thre kynges cam to hym the way lyke as the sterre ledde them And therfore this day is callyd Epiphanye or the tiephanye in comyn langage And is said of this terme ephi whiche is as moche to saye as aboue And of this terme phanes whiche is as moche to say as apparicion For thenne the sterre appierede aloue them in thayer where the same Ihesus by the sterre that was seen aboue them shewde hym to the kynges And that day xxix yere passed that whas at thentre of xxx yere For he had xxix yere and xiij dayes and began the xxx yere as saith seynt luc Or after this that Bede saith he had xxx yere complete as the chirche of Rome holdeth And thenne he was baptysed in the flood or ryuer of Iordan therfore it is callyd thiephanie said of theos whiche is as moche to saie as god phanes Apparicion For thenne god that is the trynyte appierede god the fader in voys god the sone in flessh humayne god the holy goost in lykenes of a douue After this that same day a yere whan he was xxxj yere old and xiij dayes he torned water in to wyn therfore it is called bethania sayd of beth that is to saie an hows and phanes that is apparicion And this myracle was doon of the wyne in an hows by whiche he shewde hym very god and this same day â— yere after that was xxxij yere he fedde fyue thousand men with fyue loues lyke as bede saith And is also songen in an hympne wiche begynneth Illuminans altissimus And therfor it is called phagiphania of phage that is to saye mete And of this fourth myracle some doubte yf it were don on this day For it is not wreton of bede expressely And by cause that in the gospell of saynt IohnÌ„ is red that it was don nyghe vnto paske Therfore the foure apparicions were sette on this day The first by the sterre vnto the crebbe or racke The second by the voys of the fader on floâ— Iordan The thirde of the water in to wyne at the hows of archedeclyn ¶ The fourth by the multiplicacion of fyue loues in deserte Of the first apparicion we make solempnyte on this day pryncipally And therfore poursiewe we thistorye suche as it is whan our lord was â—orn the thre kynges cam in to Iherusalem of whome the names ben wreton in ebrewe That is to wete Appelyus Ameryus and Dâ—mascus ¶ And in greke Galagalath Magalath and Tharath And in latyn Iaspar Melchior and Baltasar ¶ And it is to wete that this name Magus hath thre significacions It is said illuseur or deceyuour Enchaunteur and wyse They ben sayd illuseurs and deceyuours by cause they deceyued herodes For they retorned not by hym whan they departed fro the place where they had honoured and offred to Ihesus but retorned by another way in to theire coÌ„tre ¶ Magus also is said enchaunteur And herof ben said thenchauntours of pharao Magi whiche by their malefice made their merueylles by theÌ„ chauntyng of the craft of the deuyl And saynt IohÌ„n Grisostom calleth this kynges magos as wycked and euyldoers For fyrst they were ful of malefices but after they were conuerted to whoÌ„ god wold shewe his natyuyte and bryng them to hym to th ende that to synners he wold doo pardon Item ¶ Magus is said wise For Magus in hebrewe is said doctour in greke philosopher and in latyn wyse wherof they be sayd magi that is to saye grete in wisedom And thies thre cam in to Iherusalem with a grete companye and grete estate But wherfore cam they to Iherusalem whan the chyld was not born there Seynt remyge assygneth foure reeasons ¶ The first reson is that the kynges had knouleghe of the natyuyte of the chyld that was born of the virgyne marye â— But not of the place And by cause that Iherusalem was the most cyte Ryall And there was the See of the souerayn preest they thought that so noble a chyld so nobly shewd â— ought to be born in the most noble cyte that was ryalle The seconde cause was For in Iherusalem were the doctours and the wyse men by whome they myght knowe where the sayd chyld was born The third cause was to th ende that the Iewes shold haue none excusacion For they myght haue sayd that they had knowleche of the place where he shold be born but the tyme knewe they not therfore they myght saye wâ—â—eleue it not â— And the kynges shewde to them the tyme and the Iewes shewde the place The fourth to the doubte of the Iewes their curiosite for thise kynges byleued one only prophete And the Iewes byleued not many They sought a straunge kynge And the Iewes sought not their owne kynge Thise kynges cam fro ferre contrees And the Iewes were neghbourâ— fast by These kynges were successours of balaam â— And cam at the visyon and sight of the sterre by the prophesie of their fader whiche said that a sterre shal be 〈◊〉 or sprynge out of Iacob and a man shal arise of the lignage of Israhel â— That other cause that meueth theym to come to Iherusalem putteth saynt IohnÌ„ Crisostome whiche saith That ther were somme that affermeden for trouthe that there were grete clerkes that curiously studyed to knowe the secretes of heuen And after they chosen xij of them to take hede And yf ony of thyem deyede his sone or next kynnesman shold be sette in his place
his resurrection And thyes fyue representeth the preest in his masse whan he tourneth hym fyue tymes to the peple but the thirde tornyng is in silence whiche signifyeth tapparicion made to saynt peter whiche is not knowen when it was made ne in what place Sixthly he appyered the eight day to his disciples whan saynt thomas was there whiche had said that he wold not byleue it til that he had seen the woundes the naylles and that he had put his hande in his syde The seuenth tyme he appiered to his disciples fysshyng IohÌ„is vltiÌ„o And that signyfieth prechers whiche ben fysshers of men The viij tyme he appered to his disciple in the mount Thabor Mathei vltimo And that signifyeth them that ben contemplatyf For in the said hylle was our lord transfygured The ix tyme he appered to xj disciples where they satte atte table where as he repreued their incredulite and hardnes of herte By whiche we vnderstonde the synnars in the xj nombre of transgressyon sette whome our lord by his mercy somtyme vysiteth The tenth tyme he appiered to to his disciples in the mount of olyuete by whiche is sygnefyed theÌ„ that ben ful of mercy and that loue compassion to whom our lord appierith whiche is fader of mercy and of pyte fro this place he ascended vp in to heuen Ther ben thre other maner of apparicioÌ„s of whiche is made mencion whiche were made the day of the resurrection but they be not had in the texte of the gospel The first was that he appered to saynt Iames the lasse whiche is named Iames alphei of whiche thou shalt fynde in his legeÌ„de The seconde that he appered was to Ioseph as it is red in the gosppell of Nychodeme For whan the Iewes had herde that Ioseph had demanded the body of Ihesus of pylate And that he had put it in his monument They were angry and had indignacion on hym And toke hym and put hym in a secrete place where diligently they closed hym and kepte hym and wold haue slayn hym after their sabbat day And Ihesus the nyght of his resurrection entred in to the hows where he was in and ouer lyft vp the iiij corners of the hows and wyped clensid his visage kyssed hym And without brekyng of ony locke or seall he brought hym in to his hous in Arimathye The thirde is after that it is byleued he appered vnto his moder marye the gloryouse virgyne and how be it that the holy euangelystes speke nothyng herof the chirche of Rome appproueth it For the same day is made stacion at our lady the maiour And yf we shold not byleue by cause theuuaÌ„gelistes make no mencioÌ„ therof it shold folowe that after his resurrection he appiered not to her but that ought not to be byleued that suche a sone shold not leue his moder without vysytyng and doo to her so lytyl honour And peraueÌ„ture the euangelystes speke no worde of her by cause it apperteyneth not to them but to sette wytnes of the resurrection And the virgyne marye ought not to be sette in for no wytnes For yf the wordes of straunge wymen were reputed for lesynges moche more shold the moder be by cause of the loue that she had to hym that was her sone And thaugh the euangelistes haue not wreton it yet they knewe wel for certayn that it is right that first he shold enhaunce and comforte her that had most payne and sorowe for his deth And that witnesseth saynt ambrose in the thirde book of virgynes Vidit maria cÌ„ Marye sawe the resurrection and she byleued it parfyghtly Marye magdalene sawe it and yet she doubted it ¶ Of the seuenth how Ihesus crist drewe the holy fadres out of helle and what he made there The euangelist telleth not clerly Neuertheles saynt Austyn in a sermon and Nichodemus in his gospell shewe it somwhat and saynt Austyn saith Anone as Ihesu Crist had rendred the spyrite the soule that was vnyed to his godhed was quyk and lyuyng in the depnes of helle descended And whan he was atte deppest of the derkenes lyke as a Robber shynyng and terrible to the tirantis of helle They behelde hym and began to demaunde and enquyre who is he that is so stronge so terryble so clere and so shynyng ¶ The world whiche is to vs subget sente to vs neuer suche one deed ne he sente to vs ne uer suche yeftes in to helle who is he thenne that is so constant that is entred in to the ferthest ende of our parties and he doubteth not only our tormentes but yet he hath vnbound them of their bondes whom we helde and kepte And they that were wonte to waylle wepe vnder our tormeÌ„ts assayllle vs now by theyr helthe And now not only they fere vs but now threten and manace vs And they sayd to their prynce what prynce art thou all thy gladnesse is perisshed and all thy Ioyes ben conuerted in to wepynges whan thou hengest hym in the crosse thou knewest not what domage thou sholdest suffre in helle After thise cruell wordes of them of helle Atte commandement of our lorde all the lockes alle the barres and shyttynges ben broken and to frusshed And loo the peple of sayntes that come knelyng to fore hym in cryeng with pytous voys sayeng Oure redemptor thou art comen for to redeme the worlde we haue abyden the euery day thou art descended in to helle for vs And leue vs not but that we be with the whan thou shalt retorne to thy brethern lord swete god shewe that thou hast despoylled helle And bynde the auctour of deth wyth his bondes rendre to the world now gladnes And quenche the paynes And for thy pyte vnbynde the caytyfs fro seruitude whyles thou art here and assoylle the synnars whan thou desceÌ„dest in to helle them of thy partye this saith saynt Austyn And it is redde in the gospell of nychodemus that Carinus and lencius sones of old symeon aroos with Ihesu Crist And they were adiured and sworn of anne of Cayphas of Nichodeê° of Ioseph of gamaliel that they shold telle and saye what Ihesus dyde in helle And they rehersed and sayde whan we were wyth our faders in the place of obscurte and derknes sodenly it was also lyght and clere as the colour of the sonne lyke purple gold and lyght ryall whiche enlumined alle thabitacion vpon vs And anon Adam the fader of thumayne lygnage begaÌ„ to enioye Sayeng This lyght is the lyght of the creatour of the lyght sempyternel whiche promysid to sende to vs hys lyght perpetuell And ysaye cryed This is the lyght of god the fader lyke as I seide lyuyng in therthe the peple that were in derknes sawe a grete lyght Thenne cam our fader Symeon And in Ioyeng sayde gloryfye ye our lord For I receyued Cryst a chyld born in the world in to myn hondes in the temple And I was constrayned by the holy goost to
abasshid of the multitude of his gretnes The sendyng vysible whan it is in ony signe visible it sheweth And it is to wete that in fyue signes visible the holy ghoost is sente shewed First in signe of a douue vpon IhÌ„u cryst whaÌ„ he was baptised luce iij the holy ghoost desceÌ„ded in bodyly lykneâ— of a douue vpoÌ„ hym SecoÌ„dly in lyknes of a fair clowde clere vpon Ihesu crist at his traÌ„sfiguracioÌ„ mathei xvij 〈◊〉 he ye tspekyng a bryght clowde shadowed them this was vpon the mouÌ„t thabor where Ihesu cryst spack with saynt Petir Iames and Iohan And thus as he spack ther descended a clere clowde that couerd hem alle where as the glose saiththus ¶ Whan Ihesu cryst was baptysed and also whan he was clarefyed the mysterye of the trynyte was shewde The holy ghoost was shewed atte baptesme in lyknes of a douue in the hylle in lyknes of a clere montaygne clowde Thyrdly he was sheewde in lyknes of a blowyng or a blaste as saith saynt Iohan Iohannis vicesimo He brethed and blewe on them and said Take ye the holy ghoost in yow of whom ye foryeue the synnes they shal be foryeuen ¶ And of whom ye reteyne the synnes they shal be reteyned ¶ Fourthly in lyknes of fyre Fyftly in lyknes of tongues And in thyse two maners he appiered to vs to gyue vs to vnderstonde that the propretees of the tongue and of fyre he putteth in the hertes where he descendeth The douue hath wayllyng for his â—â—nge she hath no galle she maketh her hows in an hole or in a walle of stone And thus the holy ghoost them that he replenessheth he maketh them to waylle for theyr synnes Wherof saith Ysaye the prophete Ysaye lix we all shal rore lyke beres and waylle lyke dowues in thynkyng humbly and bytterly how we haue erred ayenst the scripture And for this comforteth vs thappostle seynt poul ad Romanos viij The holy ghoost ceasseth not to praye for vs in moeuyng vs to wayllynges without nombre for our synnes whyche ben without nombre Secondly the douues ben without galle And the holy ghoost maketh them suche where he descendeth ¶ For that is his nature Wherof saith the wyse man Sapiencie xij O quam bonus et suauis cÌ„ O lord god how moche good and swete is this spyrite in vs Item in the same place he is called swete benygne and humayne of that he maketh vs benygne and humayn that is to wete swete in worde benygne in herte and humayne in werke ¶ Thyrdly the douues dwelle within the holes of walles of stone that is to saye in the woundes of Ihesu cryst he maketh them dwelle that he fulfylleth wherof it is said in the cantykes Canticorum ij Aryse thou my spouse my loue and my douue my spouse and loue that is a deuoute soule come my douue for to nourysshe smale pygeons in the holes of the walle that is in the woundes of our lord wherof saynt Iherome saith Spiritus oris nostri cÌ„ thus as he wold saye the spirite that is of our mouthe that is Ihesu cryst For he is our mouth and our flesshe maketh vs saye to cryst In thyn vmbre that is in thy passion in whiche Ihesu cryst was obscure derke and despyted we shal lyue by contynuel memorye Secondly he was shewd in lyknes of a clowde The clowde is lyft vp fro therthe by vertue of the sonne And nourysshith and engendryth rayn And refresshyth and coleth thayer and therthe ¶ Thus the holy ghoost them that he replenesshith he lyfteth fro therthe for to despyse therthely thynges as saith the prophete Ezechiel ¶ The holy ghoost hath lyft me in to the ayer bytwene heuene and erthe and hath brought me in to Iherusalem in the vysioÌ„ of god Secondly he refressheth therthe that is the hertes ayenst the dryenesse of brennyng of vices ¶ And of this was said to the virgyne marye Spiritus sanctus superuemet in te etcÌ„ The holy ghoost shal come in the And the vertu of hym that is hyest shal shadowe the and fro alle ardour of vices shal cole the ¶ And the holy ghoost is called water by cause that water hath the vertue and nature to refresshe cole wherof saith saynt IohÌ„n theuangelyst Fro the holy ghoost the flodes of lyuyng water shal renne ¶ And that same saith he of the holy goost whiche thappostles receyued and of them that receyuyd hym ¶ For the ryuers ran thurgh all the world vpon them that byleuyd in god ¶ Thyrdly he engendryth rayne the whiche descendeth by dropes ¶ And this is that dauid saith The holy ghoost shal blowe and make waters to flowe that is to saye by the teeris comyng fro the herte droppyng fro the eyen ¶ Fourthly he is shewd in lyknes of breth whiche is a spyrite of the herte whiche is cast out by the mouth whiche is lyght hote Swete and necessarye to brethe with Thus the holy ghoost is lyght to be shedde in to a man he is most swyfte of ony thynge that is moeuable as the glose saith vpon this worde factus est repente de celo sonus et cetera At the comyng of the holy ghoost he made moeuyng as of thondre and of wynde vehement and sodayn and fulfyllyd alle the hows where thappostlis saten whyche abode hym in grete deuocion ¶ For the grace of the holy ghoost wrought not in his operacioÌ„ of space ne of tyme but he had sodeyn mocyon ¶ Secondly he is hoote for to enflamme the hertes wherof Ihesu cryst saith I am comen to â—ast fyre in therthe but this is that brenneth and enflammeth the hertes And is compared to wynde whiche is hote wherof is said in the canticles Vem auster et perfla ortum meum ¶ Come wynde of the south and blowe in my gardyn that is my sowle Thyrdly he is swete for to make swete the hertes and therfore he is named by the name of vnxyoÌ„ the swete vnxion of hym techeth vs whiche apperteyneth to our helthe And it is named by name of dewe wherof syngeth holy chirche Et sui roris as percione fecundet where she prayeth that the aspercioÌ„ and spryngyng of the dewe make our hertes to growe in vertues and also by space of tyme stylle and calme After the stroke of the fyre descended a swete sowne of ayer softe and smalle And ther was our lord Fourthly it is necessarye to brethe in suche manere that yf it myght not yssue out of the mouthe that he myght not brethe anonÌ„ the man shold deye And thus shold we vnderstande of the holy ghoost after this that dauid saith Auferes spiritum eorum et deficient et in puluerem etcÌ„ lord god as sone as thou shalt take awaye theyr spyryte they shal faylle And therfore saith he Emitte spiritum tuum cÌ„ Lord god sende thy spiryte in to theÌ„ and they shal be created by spyrituel lyf and be renewed For the
holy ghoost is he that gyueth lyf Fourthly he was shewed in the lyknes of fyre Fyftly in lyknes of tongues And the cause for whyche he appiered in thyes two maners I shal here after saye As to the thirde pryncypal in whiche tyme he was sent he was on the fyfty daye sent after ester for to gyue to vs knowleche that the holy ghoost cam And it is the perfection of the lawe the remuneracioÌ„ perdurable and the remyssion of synnes it appiereth of the perfection of the lawe For fro the daye that the laÌ„be was sacrefied in that old lawe the lawe was delyuerd the fyfty day after that as the chirche saith in fyre And also in the newe testameÌ„t fyfty dayes after ester descended the holy ghoost on the mount of syon in lyknes of fyre lyke as the lawe was gyue in the hyest of the mount of Synay so the holy ghoost in the solier where the soupper of Ihesu cryst and of his appostles was made ¶ In this appiereth that the holy ghoost is the perfection of all the lawe ¶ For in that is the plenytude of dilection Secondly the perdurable remuneracion is in the holy ghoost wherof the glose saith thus that the fourty dayes in whiche our lord conuersed with his disciples signfeye the holy chirche also the fyfty day on whiche the holy ghoost was gyuen expressheth the peny of the last retrybucion and reward perdurable ¶ Thirdly of the holy ghoost is the remyssyon of synnes as saith the glose Therfore it was gyuen in the fyfty day by cause in the fyfty yere was the Iubylee and alle thyng pardonned And by the holy ghoost the synnes ben pardonned ¶ And it foloweth in the glose In the Iubylee spyrytuel the prysonners ben delyuerd the debtes ben quyted the exyled ben repelled and called home therytages ben rendryd And the bonde men ben rendred from theyr seruytud and made free And the gylty of deth ben made quyte and delyuerd wherof saith scynt poul The lawe of the spyryte of lyf in Ihesu Cryst hath delyuerd me fro the lawe of synne and of deth ¶ After the dettes of synne be left for charyte couerith quenchith grete multytude of synnes The exiled men ben callyd home And the prophete saith Spiritus tuus bonus cÌ„ Lord thy good spirite hath brought me in to the right londe of my contree that is in to heuen The herytage lost is rendrid wherof saith saynt poul The holy ghoost had gyuen wytnes to our spyryte that we ben the sones of god ¶ And yf we be sones we be heyres whiche were seruauntes to synne we be made free to god For where the holy ghoost is there is fraunchyse and lyberte As touchyng the fourthe how ofte he was sente to thappostles after that the glose saith he was gyuen to them by thre tymes that is to wete to fore the passion of Ihesu cryste after the resurrection and after thascencion Fyrst â—o doo myracles Secondly to relece the synnes And thyrdly to conferme the hertres Fyrst whan he sente them to preche and to caste fendes out of bodyes and to hele the seke malades he gaf to them the puissaunce ¶ And thise meruaylles dyde they by the holy ghoost Neuertheles it is not consequent that who som euer haue the holy ghoost doo myracles For saynt gregory saith the myracles maketh not a man holy but shewe hym holy ne also euery man that doth myracles hath not the holy ghoost For euyl peple auaunte them to haue don myracles sayeng lord lord saye they haue not wel prophesyed in thy name thou hast gyuen to vs the spyryte of prophesye God doth myracles by his angellys by mater amyable that they haue And the fendes by vertues naturall whiche ben in thynges created naturelly And thenchaunter by helpe of fendes The good crysten man by Iustyce publyque The euyl crysten man by signes of Iustyce Secondly they had the holy ghoost whan he brethed on theÌ„ sayeng take ye the holy goost in to you to whome ye loose their synnes they shal be loosed and of whome ye reteyne they shal be reteyned Neuertheles none sauf god may foryeue synnes as to the synne that is in the soule and whiche is thobligaciion to payne pardurable or as to th offence of god the whiche is only foryeuen by the Infusion of the grace of god and by the force and vertue of câ—ntricion neuertheles we saye that the preest assoylleth of synnes as for that he is Insynued or sheweth that the synner is assoylled of god as to that that the payne that shold be perpetuel he chauÌ„geth in to temporal of purgatorye and also for that the payne temporal is dewe he releceth partye Thyrdly the holy ghoost was gyueÌ„ to them on this day whan he confermed so theyr hertes that they dredde no tormente by the vertue of the hooly ghoost whiche all ouercometh wherof saith saynt Austyn Suche is the grace of the holy ghoost that yf he fynde heuynesse in the herte he breketh it yf he fynde desyre of euyll he destroyeth it yf he fynde vayne drede he caste it out And Saynt lyon the pope saith the holy ghoost was hoped of thappostles not for theÌ„ fyrste he had enhabited in them but by cause that the hertes to hym sacred and dedyed more shold vysite them and more habundantly by grace shold abyde in encreacyng his yeftes not thenne bygon of whiche he was not newly shewyng his operacion For hys largesse passed all habondaunce As to the fyfthe that is to wite how he was sente it is to be knowen that he was sente wyth grete sowne in tongues of fyre the whiche tongues appiered syttyng And the sowne was sodeyn fro heuen vehement and shynyng It was sodeyn For he had no nede of space temporell It was fro heuen For he made them celestyall that he reâ—lenesshyd vehement For he gaf drede of loue or for that that he toke away the sorow perdurable whiche is malediction or for that that he bare the herte out of carnall loue also he was replenesshyng Foâ— he fulfyled all thappostles as saith saynt luc Repleti sunt omnes spiritu sancto And it is to wete that ther ben iij signes of replenyssyng that were in thappostles The first is that the place where he is yeueth no sowne lyke a tonne of wyn that is full to this purpoos spekyth Iob Shal not the oxe crye and rore whan the racke is ful The oxe shall not bowe ne crye whan the crybbe shal be full lyke as he wold saye WhaÌ„ the herte is ful of grace hym ought not grudche by impacience This signe had thappostles For in the tribulacion that they had they resowned not ne grudched by Impacience but Ioyously wente to the presence of the tyrauntes to pryson and to tormentes The seconde signe is that he may receyue nomore ellis he were not full In this maner he that is all fylled demandeth nomore In lyke wyse the sayntes that haue plenytude of grace may
soule with honeste wherof thappostle saith to the Romayns Clothe you with vestymentes of lyght they enchauffe and enflamme vs in charyte wlerof it is sayd Be not thy vestementes hoote For it auayleth lytil to hym that gooth to the aulter yf he haue souerayn dygnyte and a lyf defamed it shold be an horryble thynge to see hym in an hye sete and a lowe lyf souerayn degre and lowe estate A sad visage and lyght in werkis ful of wordes and nothyng of dede Noble of auctoryte and fleyng corage ¶ Secondly it ought to be seen how the chirche is sacred and halowed And to that apparteynen many thingis For the bisshop gooth all aboute thre tymes And at euery tyme that he cometh to the gate or dore he knocketh wyth his croys sayeng Prynces opene your yates And the chirche is wasshen within and withoute with holy water And a crosse of asshen is made on the pauement and of sonde a trauers the Angle fro thorient vnto that Whiche is ayenst thoccydent And the A. B. C. is wreton within of lettres of greke and of latyn Crosses ben made on the wallis of the chirche and they be enoynted with creme ¶ And it is to wete that the thre first goynges aboute signefye thre goynges aboute that Ihesu cryst made for the halowyng of this chirche The first was whan he cam fro heuen in to the world the seconde was whan he desceÌ„ded fro the world in to helle The thirde was whan he cam agayn fro helle and ascended in to heuen Or the thre gooyngâ—s aboute shewe that the chirche is halowed in thonoure of the trynyte or for to signefye the thre estates of them that ben to be saued of the chirche That ben virgynes continentis and maryed folke whiche be signefyeed in the disposicioÌ„ of the chirche materyall lyke as hugo de sancto victore sheweth For he saith that the sanctuarye signefieth the ordre of virgyns the chore or quyer signefieth the continentes And the body sygnefyeth thordre of them that ben maryed For the sayntuarye is strayter than the chore or quyer and the quyer strayter than the body For thordre of vrgyns is more worthy than the contyneÌ„tes thordre of the contyneÌ„tys is more worthy than they that be maryeed The seconde knockyng atte dore signefieth the treble right that Ihesu cryst hath in the chirche wherfore it ought to be opened to hym ¶ For it is his by creacion and swete by redempcion and by promesse of gloryfyeng And of this thre fold right saith Anselme Certaynly lorde for somoche as thou hast made me I owe my self al to the by cause thou redemyst me I owe my self al to the by cause thou hast promysed to me so grete thyngis I owe my self vn to thy loue by cause thou art gretter than I for whoÌ„ thou gauest thy self and to whom thou promysest thy self I owe to the more thaÌ„ my self And this that the bysshop cryeth thryes opene your yates cÌ„ sygnefyeth the treble power that he hath in heuen in the world and in helle And this that the chirche is thryes wasshen within and withoute sygnefyeth thre causes The fyrst is for to put out the deuyll And therfore is said in the blessyng of the water that it be blessyd to chace away all the power of thenemye the fende with his angellis cursed and shrewd And thou oughtest to knowe that this holy water is made of four thynges that is of water of salt of wyne and of asshes whiche thynges put out the deuyll and chacheth hym away By the water is signefyed theffusion of teeres by the wyn is signefyed spyrituel gladnesse and by the salt is shewd mewre distrecion And by thasshes is parfonde humylyte Secondly it is dedicate for to make her self clene from all erthly thynges whiche were corrupt by synne And therfore by cause it shold be clene from all ordure it is wasshen wyth holy water so that it be clene and pure And this was signefyed in tholde lawe that all shold be clensed by water Thirdly it is halowed for to take away all malediction For therthe atte begynnyng was cursyd with his fruyt by cause man Was deceyued by fruyte and and the water was not cursed And therfore it is said that our lord ete fysshe but it is not fonden that euer he ete ony flesshe by name sauf the pâ—ske lambe And that was in ensample for taccomplysshe the commandement of the lawe And by cause that all malediction and cursynges shold be take awaye is the chirche wasshen wyth holy water Fourthly the A.B.C. is wreton in the pauement in latyn and in greek and thys signefyeth the comunion of that one and of that other people Or it sygnefyeth that one and that other testament or thartycles of our faith For thescripture of the lettres greekes and latyn that were made on the table of the crosse representeth thassemble of the faith made by IhÌ„u crist on the crosse therfore is this crosse leyde made trauers fro thaÌ„gle of thoryent vnto thangle of thoccident for to signefye that it that was first on the right syde was made the lift syde that whiche was atte heede was made atte ende thus to the contrarye And it representeth the scripture of that one and that other testament whiche was accomplisshid by IhÌ„u crist on the crosse For he said whaÌ„ he deyde all is accomplisshid And the crosse is made trauerse by cause that the one was chauÌ„ged in to that other For all the lawe is in a rolle Thirdly the crosses ben paynted in the chirche that is for thre causes The first is to fere the deuyll For whan they see the signe of the crosse there by whiche they haue ben put out they ben aferde dar not entre For they doubte and drede moche the signe of the crosse ¶ And herof saith Crysostome In what place they shal see the signe of the crosse they shal flee For they drede the staf of whiche they haue beÌ„ hurte Thirdly it representeth the artycles oâ— the faith For the pauement of the chirche is the fondement of our faith the lettres that ben within wreton ben tharticles of our faith by the whiche the rude peple and newe ben introduced And they of the one and other peple whiche ought repute them for asshes and for pouldre after this that abraham saith in genesis I shal speke to my lord as that I were asshees and pouldre SecoÌ„dly for to shewe the signe of the victorye of IhÌ„u crist For thise crosses ben signes baners of IhÌ„u crist and of his victorye therfore ben there paynted the crosses for to shewe that the place is dyuyne subgette to god And also it is of custome to emperours to other prynces that Whan a toun or cyte is takeÌ„ or yoldeÌ„ for to sette vp within the baners and thensignemens of the lordes to signefye that it is subgette to them Thyrdly for to represente thappostles it is
and gaf them to Rebecca for a yefte And to her brethern moder he gaf also yeftes And anon made a feste ete and were Ioyeful to gyder On the morn betymes the seruauÌ„t of abraham aroos And desyred to departe and take Rebecca with hym and goo to his lord TheÌ„ne the moder her brethern said late the mayde abyde with vs but only x dayes thenne take her goo thy waye I pray you said he Reteyne ne lette me not our lord hath adressyd my way and achyeuyd my erand wherfor late me goo to my lord and they saide we shal calle the mayde knowe her wille and whan she was demanded yf she wold goo with that man She saide ye I shal goo with hym Thenne they lete her goo and her noryce wyth her And so she departyd they sayd to her thou art our suster we pray god that thou may encrece in to a thousand thousand And that thy seed may possede the yates of theyr enemyes Thenne Rebecca and her maydens ascended vpon the cameles folowed the seruaunt of Abraham whiche hastely retorned vnto his lord That same tyme whaÌ„ they come Ysaac walked by the way without forth and loked vp sawe the cameles comyng fro ferre Rebecca espyed hym demanded of the seruauÌ„t who that he was that cam in the felde ayenst them he answerd saide that is my lord ysaac And anon she toke her palle or maÌ„tel couerd her The seruauÌ„t anon tolde vnto his lord ysaac alle that he had doon whiche resceyuyd her lad her in to the tabernacle of sara his moder and wedded her toke her in to his wyf and somoche louyd her that the loue atteÌ„pered the sorow that he had for his moder Abraham after this wedded another wyf by whoÌ„ he had diuerse childreÌ„ Abraham gaf to ysaac alle his possessyons And to his other chyldreÌ„ he gaf meuable goodes departed the sones of his coÌ„cubynes fro his sone ysaac whyles he yet lyued And alle the dayes of the lyf of abraham were Clxxv yere And theÌ„ne deyed in good mynde and age And ysaac Ismael buryed hym by his wyf Sara in a double spelunke Here begynneth the lyf of ysaac with thistorye of Esau and of Iacob whiche is redde in the chirche the second sonday of lente YSaac was xl yere olde whan he wedded rebecca and she bare hym no children wherfore he besought our lord that she myght coÌ„ceyue brynge forth fruyt Our lord herd his praeyr that she conceyued of hym And had tweyne sones attones whiche two er they were born fought ofte in their moders bely ¶ For whiche cause she prayd god to couÌ„seylle her and to gyue her comfort whiche apperid and said to her two maner peple ben in thy bely and two maner folke shal be deuyded fro thy wombe peple shal ouercome peple And the more shal serue the lasse Thus said our lord to her After this whaÌ„ tyme cam that she shold be delyuerd ther were tweyne to be born The first that yssued was rough fro the heed to the foot he was named Esau And forthwith folowed that other holdyng the plante of his broders foot in his hond And he was named Iacob Ysaac the fader was lx yer old whan thise children were born And after this whan they were growen to resonable age Esau becam a plowhman and a telyar of therthe And an hunter And Iacob was symple and dwellyd at home with his moder Ysaac the fader loued wel Esau by cause he ete ofte of the venyson that Esau toke And rebecca the moder loued Iacob Iacob on a tyme had made good potage And Esau his broder had ben an huntyng al day and cam home sore an hungrid fonde Iacob hauyng good potage and prayd hym to gyue hym some For he was wery and moche hungry to whom Iacob said yf thou wyllt selle to me thy patrymony and heritage I shal gyue the somme potage â— And Esau answerd Lo I dye for hungre what shal auaylle me myn enheritaunce yf I dye and what shal proufyte me my patrymonye I am conteÌ„te that thou take it for this potage Iacob theÌ„ne said Swere that to me that thou shalt neuer clayme hit that thou art content that I shal enioye it And Esau sware it and so sold away his patrymony And toke the potage and ete it and wente his waye settyng nothyng therby that he had sold his patremony This aforsaid is for to brynge in my mater of thystorye that is redde For now foloweth the legende as it is redd in the chirche Ysaac began to wexe olde his eyen faylled and dymmed that he myght not clerly see and on a tyme he called Esau his oldest sone and said to hym Sone nâ—yne which answerde ¶ Fader I am here redy to whom the fader saide beholde that I wexe olde and knowe not the day that I shal dye and departe out of this world wherfore take thyn harneys thy bowe and quyuer with takles and goo forth an huntyng And whaÌ„ thou hast taken ony venyson make to me therof suche maner mete as thou knowest that I am woned to ete And brynge it to me that I may ete it and that my sowle may blesse the or I dye whiche all thise wordis Rebecca herde Esau wente forth for taccomplyssh the comaÌ„dement of his fader she saide theÌ„ne to Iacob I haue herde thy fader saye to Esau thy brother brynge to me of thy venyson and make therof mete that I may ete and that I may blesse the to fore our lord er I dye Now my sone take hede to my conceyll and goo forth to the flock brynge to me two the beste kyddes that thou canst fynde And I shal make of them mete suche as thy fader shal gladly ete whiche whan thou hast brought to hym hath eten he may blesse the er he dye to whom Iacob answerd knowest thou not that my brother is rowhe and heery and I smothe yf my fader take me to hym and taste me and fele I drede me that he shal thynke that I mocke hym and shal gyue me his curse for the blessyng The moder thenne seid to hym In me said she be this curse my sone Neuertheles here me go to the flocke and doo that I haue said to the he weÌ„te and fette the kyddes and delyuerd them to his moder And she wente and ordeyned them in to suche mete as she knewe wel that his fader louyd And toke the beste clothes that Esau had and dyde hem on Iacob And the skynnes of the kyddes she dyde aboute his necke and handes there as he was bare And delyueryd to hym brede and the pulmente that she had boyled And he wente to his fader and saide fader myn And he answerd I here who art thou my sone Iacob saide I am Esau thy fyrst be goten sone I haue don as thou comaundest me Aryse sitte and
clothis And on the morn Saul sente spyes for dauid And it was answerd to them that he laye seke in his bedde thenne after this sente saul messagers for to see dauid said to them brynge hym to me in his bedde that he may be slayn whaÌ„ the messagers cam they fonde a symylacre or an ymage in his bedde and ghotes skynnes on the heed Thenne said Saul to mychol his doughter Why hast thou mocked me so and hast suffrid myn enemy to flee And mychol answerd to Saul and said He said to me late me goo or I shal slee the Dauid wente to samuel in Ramatha and told hym all that Saul had don to hym And it was told to saul that Dauid was with Samuel and he sente theder messagers to take hym And whan they cam they fonde hem with the companye of prophetes and they satte prophecied with them and he sente moo And they dyde also so And the thyrde tyme he sente mo messagers and they also prophecyed And thenne Saul beyng wroth askyd where Samuel and dauid were and wente to them and he prophecyed whan he cam also and toke of his clothis and was naked alle that day and nyght byfore Samuel Dauid thenne fledde from thens and cam to Ionathas and complayned to hym sayeng what haue I offended that thy fader secheth to slee me Ionathas was sory therfore For he louyd wel Dauid After this Saul euer sought for to slee dauid And on a tyme Saul wente in to a Caue for to ease hym And dauid was within the caue to whom his sauyer said ¶ Now hath god brought thyn enemye in to thyn hand now go and slee hym And dauid said god forbede that I shold leye ony honde on hym he is enoynted I shal neuer hurte ne greue hym late god doo his playsyr ¶ And he wente to Saul and cutte of a gobet of his mantel and kepte it And whan Saul was goon out Sone after yssued dauid out and cryed to Saul sayeng loo Saul god hath brought the in my handes I myght haue slayn the yf I had wolde but god forbede that I shold leye honde on the my lord enoynted of god And what haue I offended that thou sechest to slee me who art thou said Saul Arte not thou Dauid my sone Yes said dauid I am thy seruaunt And kneled doun and worshiped hym ¶ Thenne said Saul I haue synned and wepte and also saide Thou arte rightfuller than I am Thou hast don to me good And I haue don to the euylle And thou hast wel shewde me this day that god had brought me in to thyn hande and hast not slayn me God rewarde the for this that thou hast don to me Nowe I knowe wel that thou shalt regne in Israhel I praye the to be frendly to my seed and destroye not my hows and swere and promyse me that thou take not away my name fro the hows of my fader ¶ And Dauid sware and promysed to Saul And thenne Saul departed and wente home ¶ And Dauid and his peple wente in to surer places Anon after this Samuel deyde and was buryed in hys hows in Ramatha And alle Israhel bewaylled hym gretly ¶ Thenne ther was a riche man in the mounte of Carmel that on a tyme he share clypped his sheep to whom dauid sente certayn meÌ„ bad them saye that dauid grette hym wel where as afortymes his shepherdes kepte his sheep in deserte he neuer was greuoê° to theÌ„ ne they lost not as moch as a sheep as loÌ„ge as they were wyth vs that he myght aske his seruantes for they coude telle and that I wold now in their nede sende them what it pleased hym Nabal answerd to the children of Dauid Who is that Dauid ¶ Trowe ye that I shal sende the mete that I haue made redy for theÌ„ that shere my sheep and sende it to men that I knowe not The men retorned told to dauid alle that he had sayd Thenne said dauid to his men late euery man take his swerd and gyrde hym wyth alle And Dauid toke his swerd and gyrde hym And Dauid wente and iiijC men folowed hym and he â—â—fte ijC behynde hym One of the seruauÌ„tes of Nabal told to abygayl Nabals wyf how that dauid had sente messagers fro the deserte vnto his lord and how wroth and weyward he was also he said that tho men were good ynough to hem whan they were in deserte ne neuer perisshed beest of our as longe as they were there They were a wal a shelde for vs both day nyht all the tyme that we kepte our flockes there wherfor coÌ„sydere what is to be don they purpose to do harme to hym to his hous For he is the sone of belial in suche wise that noman may speke with hym TheÌ„ne abygail hyed her toke ijC loues of breed ij botellee of wyn v weders sothen and v mesures of potage C bondes of grapes dreyde ijC masses of cariacares and leyde all this vpon asses said to her seruauÌ„tes goo ye to fore I shal folowe after She told herof nothyng to her husbond nabal theÌ„ne she toke an asse rode after whaÌ„ she cam to the foot of the hille dauid his meÌ„ desceÌ„ded to whoÌ„ she ran dauid said I haue for nought sauyd alle the beestis of this nabal in deserte ther perisshed nothyng of his that perteyned to hym hath yelded euyl for good by the lyuyng god I shal not leue as moche of his alyue as shal pisse ayenst a walle as sone as abigail sawe dauid she desceÌ„ded fro her asse fill doun to fore dauid vpon her visage worshipped hym on therthe fylle douÌ„ to his feet said In me said she my lord be this wickednes I beseche that I thyn handmayde may speke to thyn eeris that thou wilt here the wordes of me thy seruaunte I praye requyre the my lord late not thy herte be sette ayeÌ„st this wicked man nabal For acordyng to his name he is a fool And folye is with hym I thyn handmayde sawe not thy chyldren that thou sendest Now therfor my lord for the loue of god of thy soule suffre not thy hond to shede no blood I beseche god that thyn enemyes may be lyke nabal they that wold the harme and I beseche the to resseyue this blessyng presente whiche I thyn handmayde haue brought to the my lord gyue it to thy men that folowe the my lord Take away the wyckednes fro me thy seruaunt And I beseche god to make to the my lord a hous of trouthe For thou my lord shal fight the bataillis of our lord god And late no malyce be fouÌ„de in the neuer in alle the dayes of thy lyf yf euer ony man aryse ayenst the or wold pursiewe or wold hurte the I beseche god to kepe the And whan our lord god hath accoÌ„plisshid
of kynge Salomon with grete dylygence in their tyme God gaf to Salamom moche wysedom and prudence in hys herte lyke to the grauel that is in the see syde And the sapyence and wysedom of Salamon passed and weÌ„te to fore the sapyence of alle them of thoryent and of egypte And he was wysest of all men so he was named he spack thre thousand parablis and fyue thuosand songes And dysputed vpon alle maner trees and vertue of them fro the cedre that is in libano vnto the ysope that groweth on the walle And discerned the propretees of beestis fowles reptyles and fysshes And ther cam peple from all regyons of the world for to heere the wysedom of Salamon And Salamon sente lettres to hyram kynge of Tyre for to haue his men to cutte cedre trees with his seruauntis and he wold yelde to them theyr hyre and mede And lete hym wete how that he wold bylde and edefye a temple to our lord And hyram sente to hym that he shold haue all that he desyred And sente to hym cedre trees and other woode And SalamoÌ„ sente to hym corne in grete nombre And Salomon and hyram confederyd them to gydre in loue and frendship Salamon chaas out werkmen of alle Israhel the nombre of xxxM men Of whom he sente to libane xM euery moneth and whan xM wente the other cam home and so two monethis were they at home And Adonyras was ouerseer and comandour on them Salamon had lxxM men that dyde nothyng but bare stone and morter and other thynges to the edefyeng of the temple and were berars of burthens only And he had lxxxM of hewers of stone and masons in the montayn wyth out the prefectes and maisters whiche were iijM and iijC that dyde nothyng but comande and ouersee theÌ„ that wrought ¶ Salamon comanded the werkmen to make square stones grete and precyouse for to laye in the foundement whiche the masons of Israhel and masons of hyram hewed and the carpenters made redy the tymbre Thenne began Salomon the temple to our lord in the fourthe yere of his regne hâ—e began to bylde the temple The hous that he bylded had lx cubytes in lengthe and xx cubytes in brede and xxx in heyght And the porche to fore the temple was xx cubytes longe after the mesure of the brede of the temple and had x cubytes of brede to fore the face of the temple for to wryte the curiosyte and werke of the temple and the necessaryes the tables and cost that was don in gold syluer and laton it passeth my connynge to expresse and englysshe them ye that ben clerkys may see it in the second boâ—k of kynges and the seconde book of paralipomenon it is wondre to here the costes and expencis that was made in that temple but I passe ouer it was on makyng vij yere and his palays was xiij yere er it was fynysshed he made in the temple an aulter of pure gold and a table to sette on the loues of proposicion of gold fyue candelstiks of gold on the right syde and fyue on the lyft syde and many other thynges And toke all the vessels of gold and syluer that hys fader dauid had sanctefyed and halowed and brought hem in the tresory of the hows of our lord After thys he assemblyd alle the noblest and grettest of lurthe of them of Israhel with the prynces of the trybus and dukes of the famylyes for to brynge the arke of god fro the cyte of dauid Syon in to the temple And the prestes and leuytes toke the Arke and bare it and alle the vessels of the sanctuarye that were in the tabernacle Kynge Salamon with alle the multytude of the chyldren that were there wente to fore the arke and offred sheep and oxen without extimacion nombre ¶ And the preestes sette the Arke in the hows of our lord in the oracle of the temple in sancta sanctorum vnder the wynges of cherubyn In the Arke was nothyng but the two tablys of Moyses of stone which Moyses had put in And thenne Salamon blessyd our lord to fore all the peple and thanked hym that he had suffred hym to make an hous vnto hys name and besought our lord that who someuer prayd our lord for ony petycion in that temple that he of his mercy wold here hym be mercyful to hym And our lord appered to hym whan the edefyce was accomplysshed perfightly and said to Salamon I haue herde thy prayer and thyn oracion that thou hast prayd to fore me I haue sanctefyed and halowed this hows that thou hast edefyed for to put my name therin for euermore and myn eyen and herte shal be theron alle waye And yf thou walke byfor me lyke as thy fader walked in the symplycyte of herte and in equyte and wylt doo alle that I haue coÌ„manded the and kepe my Iugements and lawes I shal sette the trone of thy regne vpon Israhel euermore lyke as I haue said to thy fader Dauid sayeng Ther shal not bytaken away a man of thy generacion fro the regne and sete of Israhel yf ye auerte and torne fro me ye and your sones not folowyng ne kepyng my comandements and cerymonyes that I haue shewd to fore you but goo and worshyp straunge goddes and honoure them I shal cast away Israhel fro the face of the erthe that I haue gyuen to them And the temple that I haue halowed to my name I shal cast it away fro my syght And it shal be a fable and prouerbe and thys hows an example shal be to alle peple Euery man that shal goo ther by shal be abasshyd and astonyed and shal saye why hath god don thus to this londe and to thys hows And they shal answere For they haue forsaken theyr lord god that brought their fadres fro the londe of egypte and haue folowed straunge goddes and them adoured and worshipped and therfor god hath brought on them all thys euyll here may euery man take ensample how peryllous and dredeful it is to breke the comandements of god xx yere after that Salamon had edefyed the temple of god and hys hows and fynysshyd it perfyghtly hyram the kynge of tyre wente for to see townes that Salamon had gyue to hym they plesyd hym not hyram had sente to kynge salamon an hondred and twenty besaunts of gold whyche he had spente on the temple and hys hows and on the walle of Iherusalem and other townes and places that he had made Salamon was ryche and gloryous that the same ranne of hys sapyence wysedom and of hys byldyng and dyspense in hys hows thurgh the world in so moche that the quene of Saba cam fro fer contreys to see hym to tempte hym in demaundes and questyons And she cam in to Iherusalem with moche peple Richessis with camelles charged with Aromatykes and gold Infynyte And she cam spack to kynge Salamon alle that euer
receyuyd them Ioyously And Raguel beholdyng wel thobye sayd to anna hys wyf how lyke is thys yong man vnto my cosyn And whan he had so said he asked them whens be ye yong men my brethern And they said of the trybe of neptalym of the captyuyte of nynyue Raguel saide to them knowe ye thobye my brother whiche said we know hym wel whan Raguel had spoken moche good of hym Thaungele said to Raguel Thobye of whom thou demaundest is fader of this yonge man And thenne wente Raguel and with wepyng eyen kyssed hym and wepyng vpon hys necke saide the blessyng of god be to the my sone for thou art sone of a blessyd and good man And Anna hys wyf and Sara hys doughter wepte also After they had spoken Raguel comanded to slee a weder and make redy a feste whan he thenne shold bydde them sytte doun to dyner Thobye said I shal not ete here thys day ne drynke but yf thou fyrst graunte to me my petycion and promyse to me to gyue me Sara thy doughter whyche whan Raguel herde he was astonyed and abusshid knowyng what had fallen to vij men that to fore had wedded her And dredde leste it myght happen to this yong man in lyke wyse And whan he helde his pees and wold gyue hym none answere the Angele said to hym Be not aferde to gyue thy doughter to thys maÌ„ dredyng god for to hym thy doughter is ordeyned to be hys wyf Therfor none other may haue her Thenne said Raguel I doubte not god hath admytted my prayers and teres in hys syghte And I byleue that therfor he hath made you to come to me that thyse mâ—y be Ioyned in one kynrede after the lawe of moyses And now haue no doubte but I shal gyue her to the And he takyng the right honde of his doughter delyueryd it to Thobye seyeng God of Abraham god of ysaac and god of Iacob be wyth you and he conioyne you to gydre and fulfyl hys blessyng in yow And toke a chartre and wrote the conscryption of the wedlok And after thys they ete blessyng our lord god Raguel callyd to hym anne hys wyf and bad her to make redy another cubycle And she brought Sara her doughter therin and she wepte to whom her moder said Be thou stronge of hâ—rte my doughter our lord of heuen gyue to the Ioye for the hâ—uynes that thou hast suffred After they had souped they lad the yong man to her Thobye remembryd the wordes of thaungele toke out of hys bagge parte of the herte of the fysshe and leyde on brennyng â—oles Thenne Raphael thangel toke the deuyll and bonde hym in the vpperyst deserte of egypte Thenne thobye exhorted the vyrgyne and sayd to her Aryse Sara and late vs praye to god thys day and to morow and aftee to morow For thyse thre nyghtis we be Ioyned to god And after the thyrde nyght we shal be in our wedlok we ben sothly the chyldren of saynctes we may not so Ioyne to gydre as peple doo that knowe not god Thenne they bothe arysynge prayde to gydre InstaÌ„tly that helth myght be gyuen to them Thobye said lord god of our fadres heuen and erthe See welles and floodes and all creatures that ben in them blesse the Thou madest adam of the slyme of therthe and gauyst to hym for an helpe Eue And now lord thou knowest that for the cause of lecherye I take not my suster to wyf but only for the loue of posteryte and procreacion of chyldren in whyche thy name be blessyd world without ende TheÌ„ne said Sara Haue mercy on vs lord haue mercy And late vs wexe olde bothe to gydre in helthe and after this the cokkes began to crowe at whiche tyme Raguel comanded hys seruauÌ„tes to come to hym And they to gydre wente for to make and delue a sepulcre he said lest happely it happen to hym at it hath happed to the vij men that wedded her whan they had made redy the fosse and pytte Raguel retorned to hys wyf and said to her Sende one of thyn handmaydens and late her see yf he 〈◊〉 deed that he may be beryed er it be lyght day And she sente forth one of her seruauÌ„tes whiche entryd in to the cubycle and fonde theÌ„ bothe sauf and hole And sleâ—yng to gydre And she retorned and brought good tydynges And Raguel and Anna blessyd our lord god and said we blesse the lord god of Israhel that it hath not happed to vs as we supposid Thou hast don to vs thy mercy thou hast excluded fro vs our enemye poursyewyng vs Thou hast don mercy on two only chyldren Make them lord to blesse the to fulle and to offre do the sacrefyse of praysyng and of theyr helth that the vnyuersyte of peples may knowe that thou art god only in the vnyuersal erthe Anone thenne Raguel comaÌ„ded his seruauntes to fylle agâ—yn the pytte that they had made er it wexid lyght And bad hys wyf to ordeyne a feste and make all redy that weâ—e necessarye to mete he dyde doo sâ—â—e ij fatte kyen and foure weders and to ordeyne mete for all hys neyghbours frendys And Raguel dâ—sired and adiured thobie that he shold abyde with hym two wekys Of all that euer Raguel had in possessyon of goodys he gaf half parte to thobye And made to hym a writyng that the 〈◊〉 half pâ—rte he shold haue after the deth of hym and hys wyf TheÌ„ne thobye called thangele to hym whiche he trowed had ben a man And said to hym Azaria brother I praye the to take heed to my wordes yf I make my self seruauÌ„t to the I shal not be worthy to satysfye thy prouydence Neuertheles I pray the to take to the the bestes and seruauÌ„tes and goo to gabele in Rages the cyte of medes and rendre to hym hys oblygacioÌ„ receyue of them the money and praye hym to come to my weddynge thou knowest thy self that my fader nombreth the dayes of my beyng oute And yf I tarye more hys sowle shal be heuy and certaynly thou seest how Raguel hath adiured me whos desire I may not despyse Thenne Raphael takyng foure of the seruauntis of Raguel and two camels and wente to Rages the cyte of medes And there fyndyng gabele gaf to hym hys oblygacion and receyuyd alle the money And tolde to hym of thobye sone of thobye alle that was don and made hym come wyth hym to the weddyng whan thenne he entred the hows of raguel he fonde thobye syttyng at mete and cam to hym and kyssed hym And gabele wepte and blessyd god sayeng God of Israhel blesse the for thou art sone of the best man and Iuste dredyng god and doyng almesse and the blessyng be said vpon thy wyf and your parentis and that ye may see the sones of your sones vnto the thyrde fourth generacion and your seed be blessyd of god of Israhel whyche regneth in secula seculorum And whan alle
had not be deed Man had neuer be made mmortal And thenne said Egeas Telle to thy dyscyples suche vanytees And obeye thou to me make sacrefise vnto the goddes almyghty And thenne said saynt Andrewe I offre euery day vnto god almyghty a lambe wythout spotte And after that he is receyuyd of alle the peple so lyueth he and is all hole Thenne demandeth Egeas how that myght be And Andrewe saide take the forme for to be a dyscyple thou shal knowe it wel I shal demande the said Egeas by turmentis Thenne he beyng alle angry comanded that he shold be enclosed in pryson And on the morne he cam to Iugement And the blessyd saynt Andrewe vnto the sacrefyse of the ydolles And Egeas comanded to be said to hym yf thou obeye not to me I shal doo hange the on the crosse For so moche as thou hast praysed it And thus as he menaced hym of many turmentis seynt Andrewe said to hym Thynke what turment that is most greuous that thou mayst doo to me and the more I suffre the more I shal be agreable to my kynge by cause I shal be most ferme in the turmentis payne Thenne comanded Egeas that he shold be beten of xxj men And that he shold be so beten bounden by the feet and handes vnto the crosse to th ende that hys payne shold endure the lenger And whan he was ledde vnto the crosse ther ran moche peple theder sayeng The blode of thynnocent is dampned without cause And thappostle prayd them that they shold not empesshe ne lette hys turment ne martirdom And whan he sawe the crosse fro ferre he salewed it and sayd Alle hayl crosse whyche art dedycate in the body of Ihesu cryst and were aourned with the mēbres of hym as of precious stones To fore that our lord Ascended on the thou were the power erthly Now thou art the loue of heuen Thou shalt receyue me by my desyre I come to the surely gladly so that thou receyue me gladly as dyscyple of hym that henge in the For I haue alway worshyppid the and haue desyre the tembrace O thou crosse whyche hast receyued beaute and noblesse of the membres of our lord whō I haue so longe desyred and curiously loued and whom my corage hath so moche desyred and coueyted take me fro hens and yeld me to my mayster to th ende that he receyue me by the that redemyd me by the And in thys sayenge he dyspoylled and vnclad hym and gaf hys clothys vnto the bochyers And thenne they henge hym in the crosse lyke as to them was comanded And there he lyuyd two dayes and prechyd to twenty thousand men that there were Thenne all the company swore the deth of egeas and said The holy man and debounayre ought not to suffre thys Thenne cam theder egeas for to take hym doun of the crosse And whan andrewe sawe hym he said wherfore arte thou come to me Egeas yf it be for penaunce thou shalt haue it And yf it be for to take me doun knowe thou for certayn thou shalt not take me herof alyue For I see nowe my lord and kynge that abideth for me therwith they wold haue vnbounden hym And they myght in noo wyse touche hym For theyr armes were bynomen and of no power And the holy saynt Andrew sawe that the world wolde haue taken hym doun of the crosse he made thys oryson hangyng on the crosse as saynt Austyn saith in the boke of penaunce Syre suffre me not descēde fro this crosse a lyue For it is tyme that thou comande my body to the erthe For I haue born longe the charge And haue so moche watched vpō that which was comanded to me and haue so longe traueyllyd that I wold now be delyuerd of thys obedyence and be taken away fro thys agreable charge I remēbre that it is moche greuous in prowd beryng in doubtyng vnstedfast in nouryssyng And haue gladly laboured in the refraynyng of them Syre thou knowest how ofte the world hath entented to withdrawe me fro the purete of contemplacion how ofte he hath entended to awake me fro the slepe of my swete reste how moche and how ofte tymes he hath made me to sorowe And as moche as I haue had myght I haue resysted it ryght debonayrly in fyghtyng ayenst it And haue by thy werke and ayde surmounted it And I requyre of the Iuste and debonayr gwerdon and reward And that thou comāde that I not goo agayn therto but I yelde to the that whyche thou hast delyuerd me Comande it to another and empesshe me nomore but kepe me in the resurrection so that I may receyue the meryte of my labour Comande my body vnto the erthe so that it behoueth nomore to wake but late it be stratched frely to the whiche art fontayne of Ioye neuer fayllyng ¶ And whan he had said thys ther cam fro heuen a ryght grete shynyng lyght whiche enuyroned hym by the space of half an our in suche wyse that noman myght see hym And whan this light departed he yelded and rendryd therwith hys spyryte And maximilla the wyf of Egeas toke away the body of thappostle and buried it honnourably And or that Egeas was comen agayn to hys hows he was rauysshyd with a deuyl by the waye and deyed to fore them alle and it is said that out of hys sepulcre cometh manna lyke vnto mele And oylle whyche hath a right swete sauour and odour And by that is shewed to the peple of the contrey whan ther shal be plente of goodes For whan ther cometh but lytyl of manna Therthe shal brynge forth but lytyl fruyt And whan it cometh habundantly The erthe bryngeth forth fruyt plentyuously And thys myght wel happen of olde tyme For the body of hym was transported in to Constantynoble ¶ Ther was a bysshop that ledde an holy and relygyous lyf And louyd saynt Andrewe by grete deuocion and worshypyd hym aboue all other sayntes so that in alle hys werkys he remembryd hym euery day and sayd certayn prayers in thonour of god saynt Andrewe in suche wyse that thenemye had enuye on hym and sette hym for to deceyue hym with alle hys malyce ¶ And transfourmed hym in to the fourme of a ryght fayr woman And cam to the palays of the bysshop and sayd that she wold be confessyd to hym And the bysshop bad her to goo confesse her to hys penytaūcer which had playn power of hym And she sente hym word agayn that she wold not releue ne shewe the secretes of her confessyō to none but to hym And so the bysshop comanded her to come And she said to hym Syre I praye the that thou haue mercy on me I am so as ye see in the yeres of my yongthe and a mayde and was delycyously nourisshed fro my Infancye and born of ryal lygnage but I am come allone in strange habyte For my fader whyche is a ryght
holy psalme In te domine speraui vnto In manus tuas And so sayeng lord In to thyn hondes I comende my spyrite he rendrid vp hys sowle and deyde the yere of our lord thre honderd and xliij with grete melodye songen of the celestiall company ¶ And whan he was buryed in a tombe of marble a fontayne of oylle sprange out fro the heed vnto hys feet And vnto this day holy oylle yssueth out of hys body whiche is moche vayllable to thelthe of sykenesses of many men And after hym in hys see succeded a man of good holy lyf whiche by eÌ„uye was put of hys bysshopriche And whan he was out of his see the oylle cessed to renne And whan he was restored agayn therto the oylle ranne agayn ¶ Longe after this the turkes destroyed the cyte of myrre And thenne caÌ„ theder iiij knyghtes of Bar and iiij Monkes shewed to theym the sepulcre of saynt Nicholas And they opened it And fonde the bones swymyng in the oylle And they bare them away honourably in to the cyte of bar in the yere of our lord Mlxxxvij Ther was a man that had borowed of a Iewe a somÌ„e of moneye And sware vpon the aulter of saynt Nicholas that he wold rendre and paye it agayn as sone as he myght and gaf none other pledge And thys man helde thys monye so longe that the Iewe demaunded and axed hys moneye And he said that he had paid hym Thenne the Iewe made hym to come to fore the lawe in Iugement And throth was gyuen to the debttour And he brought with hym an holow staff in whiche he had put the money in golde And he lente vpon the staf And whaÌ„ he shold make his oth and swere he delyuerd hys staf to the Iewe to kepe hold whilys he shold swere And thenne sware that he had delyuerd to hym more than he ought to hym and whan he had made the oth he demaÌ„ded hys staf agayn of the Iewe And he nothyng knowyng of hys malyce delyueryd it to hym Thenne this deceynour wente hys waye and anon after hym lyste sore to slepe and leyde hym in the way And a carte with iiij whelis cam with grete force and slew hym and brake the staf wyth gold that it spredde a brood And whan the Iewe herd this he cam theder sore moeued and sawe the frawd And many said to hym that he shold take to hym the gold And he refused it sayeng but yf he that was deed were not reysed agayn to lyf by the merytes of saynt Nicholas he wold not receyue it And yf he cam agayn to lyf he wold receyue baptesme and become crysten Thenne he that was deed aroos And the Iewe was crystened ¶ Another Iewe sawe the vertuous myracles of saynt Nicholas and dyde do make an ymage of the saynt and sette it in hys hows and comanded hym that he shold kepe wel hys hows whan he weÌ„te oute And that he shold kepe wel all hys goodes sayeng to hym Nicholas lo here be alle my goodes I charge the to kepe theym And yf thou kepe theym not well I shal auenge me on the in betyng and tormentyng the And on a tyme whan the Iewe was oute theuys cam and Robbed alle his goodes and lefte vnborn away only thymage And whan the Iewe cam home he fonde hym robbed of alle hys goodes he aresonned thymage sayeng thyes wordes Syre Nycholas I had sette you in my hows for to kepe my goodes fro theues wherfore haue ye not kepte theym ye shal receyue sorow and turmentes and shal haue payne for the theues I shal auenge my losse and refrayne my wodnes in betyng the And thenne toke the Iewe the ymage and bete it and turmented it cruelly Thenne happed a grete meruaylle For whan the theuys departed the goodes The holy saynt lyke as he had be in his araye apyeryd to the theuys and said to them wherfore haue I be beten so cruelly for you and haue so many turmentis See how my body is hewen and broken See how that the rede blood renneth doun by my body goo yee faste and restore it agayn or ellis the yre of god almyghty shal make you as to be one out of hys wytte and that all men shal knowe your felonnye and that eche of you shal be honged and they saide who art thou that saist to vs suche thynges he said to them I am Nicholas the seruaunt of Ihesu Cryst whom the Iewe hath so cruelly beten for hys goodes that ye bare away ¶ Thenne they were aferde and cam to the Iewe and herd what he had don to thymage and they tolde hym the myracle and delyuerd to hym agayn all hys goodis And thus cam the theuys to the waye of trouthe and the Iewe to the waye of Ihesu cryst ¶ A man for the loue of hys sone that wente to scole for to lerne halowed euery yere the feste of saynt Nicholas moche solempnly On a tyme hyt happed that the fader had do make redy the dyner and called many clerkys to thys dyner And the deuyl cam to the yate in thabyte of a pylgrym for to demande almesse And the fader anon comanded hys sone that he sholde gyue almesse to the pylgrymÌ„e he folowed hym as he wente for to gyue to hym almesse And whan he cam to the quarfâ—xr the deuyl caught the chylde and strangled hym And whan the fader herde thys he sorowed moche strongly and wepte and bare the body in to hys chambre and began to crye for sorowe and saye right suete sone how is it wyth the saynt Nicholas is thys the guerdon that ye haue don to me by cause I haue so longe seruyd you ¶ And as he said thyse wordes and other semblable The chyld opened hys eyen and awoke lyke as he had ben aslepe and aroos vp to fore alle was reysed fro deth to lyf ¶ Another noble man prayd to saynt Nicholas that he wold by hys merites gete of our lord that he myght haue a sone And promysed that he wold brâ—nge his sone to the chirche wold offre vp to hym a cuppe of gold TheÌ„ne the sone was born caÌ„ to age the fader comaÌ„ded to make a cuppe the cuppe plesid hym moche reteyned it for hym self dide do make another of the same value as they weÌ„te saylyng in a shippe toward the chirche of saynt Nicholas And whan the child wold haue fylled the cuppe he fille in to the water with the cuppe And anon was lost caÌ„ nomore vp yet neuertheles the fader perfourmed hâ—s auowe in wepyng moche tendrely for hys sone and whan he caÌ„ to the aulter of saynt Nicholas he offred the second cuppe And whaÌ„ he had offrid it If fyl doun lyke as one had cast it vnder the aulter And he toke it vp sette it agayn vpoÌ„ the aulter and theÌ„ne yet was caste ferther than tofore And yet he toke
it vp remysed it the thyrde tyme vpon the aulter And it was throweÌ„ agayn ferther than to fore of which thyng all they that were there merueylled men caÌ„ for to see thys thyng And anon the chyld that had fallen in the water in the see cam agayn prestly to fore them alle brought in hys hondes the first cuppe and recounted to the people that anon as he was fallen in the see the blessyd saynt Nicholas cam kept hym that he had none harme And thus hys fader was glad offrid to saynt Nicholas bothe the two cuppes ¶ Ther was another riche man that by the merites of saynt Nicholas had a sone and callid hym deus dedit god gaf And this riche man dyde do make a chapel of saynt Nicholas in hys dwellyng place and dyd do halowe euery yere the feste of saynt Nicholas And thys manoyr was sette by the londe of Agariens thys chylde was taken prysoner and deputed to serue the kynge The yere folowyng and the day that hys fader helde deuoutly the fest of saynt Nicholas the chylde helde a precious cuppe to fore the kynge And remembrid his pryse the sorowe of hys frendes and the ioye that that day was made in the hous of hys fader And began for to sighe sore hye And the kynge demaunded hym what hym eyled and the cause of hys sighyng And he tolde to hym euery word hoolly ¶ And whan the kynge knewe it he said to hym what someuer thy Nicholas doo or doo not thou shalt abyde here wyth vs And sodaynly ther blewe a moche stronge wynde that made alle the hows to tremble And the chyld was rauysshyd wyth the cuppe and was sette to fore the yate where hys fader helde the solempnyte of saynt Nycholas in suche wyse that alle they demened grete Ioye And somÌ„e saye that this chyld was of Normandye and wente ouer see and was taken by the sowdan whiche made hym ofte to be beten to fore hym And as he was beten on a saynt Nicholas day and was after sette in pryson he prayd to saynt Nicholas as wel for hys betyng that he suffred as for the grete Ioye that he was wonte to haue on that day of saynt Nicholas ¶ And whan he had long prayed and syghed he fyl a slepe And whan he awoke he fonde hym self in the chappel of hys fader where as was moche Ioye made for hym ¶ Late vs thenne praye to thys blessyd saynt that he wyl praye for vs to oure lord Ihesu cryst whyche is blessyd in secula seculorum Amen Here endeth the lyf of saynt Nicholas Here foloweth the Concepcion of our blessid lady Of the Fest of the Concepcion of our blessyd lady MAria inuemsci graciam apud dominum Luce primo capitulo Whan the Aungel gabriel had grete our lady for to shewe to her the blessyd concepcion of our lord For to take from her alle doubtes and dredes he comforted her in sayeng the wordes aforsaid Marie thou hast founden grace at the lord Ther ben foure maner of peple of whiche the ij ben good And the two ben euyll For somÌ„e ther ben that seche not god ne hys grace as peple out of the byleue Of whom may be said as it is wreten who that byleueth not on his lord god shal deye perpetuelly And other ther ben that seche god hys grace but they fynde it not For they seche it not as they ought to doo as Coueytous men that sette alle their loue in hauoyr and in solace of the world ¶ Suche peple ben lykened to them that seche flowres in wynter wel seche they flowres in wynter that seche god and hys grace in the couetise of the world which is so colde of alle vertues that it quenchyth alle the deuocion of the loue of god ¶ And wel is callyd the world wynter in holy scripture For hys euyllis and vices make synners and colde to serue god And therfore saith the holy ghoost to the sowle that is amerouse Canticorum primo capitulo Arise vp thou my fayr sowle the wynter is passed ¶ Iam enim hyemps transiit For thou hast vaynquysshyd the temptacions of the world whiche kele my loue and therfore come in to my Royame where thou shalt fynde deduyte of alle flowres of the somer there as the synners may not come by cause they seche not god as they ought to doo by uery repentauÌ„ce of herte ¶ And therfor sayth our lord Iohannis vij capitulo Queritis et non inuenietis Item Iohannis octauo capitulo 〈◊〉 voâ— queritis me et in peccato moriemmj Ye seche me and fynde me not Item Lo ye seche me and in synne ye shal deye ¶ The thyrde maner of peple that seche not god And yet neuertheles they fynde hym They ben chyldren that deye in their Innocencie and ben purged by lapâ—esme Of whom god said by hys prophete Ysaye lxiiij capitulo Inuenerunt qui non quesierunt me I am founden of them that sought me not And that is for defaulte of Age ¶ The fourth maner of peple that seche god and fynde hym ben they that sette alle theyr desyre to serue god and loue hym lyke as the blessyd vyrgyne marye that sith she was in her enfancye she put her euer in the seruyce of god and loue of hym and vowed to hym chastete afore alle other wymen And therfore with right myght the Aungel wel saye to her Maria inuenisti graciam apud dominum Marye thou hast founden grace at god our lord We fynde in the scripture that thys gloriouse virgyne marye hath founden grace in thre maners For her comyng was longe afore prophecied And her byrthe anunciat and shewd by thaungel And in the wombe of her moder er she was born sanctefyed and halowed Fyrst her comyng was shewd and prophecied in many maners and by many fygures For Balaam prophesyed Numeri vicesimoquarto Capitulo Orietur stella ex Iacob et consurget virga de Israhel That is to saye that the virgyne marye shal be born of the lignage of Iacob patriarke it is a custome whaÌ„ folke wyl preyse a persone they wylle compare hym to a valyant man lyke as it said comunely of an hardy man Thys is a right alisaundre And of a symple man Thys is a right Iob Thus Balaam the prophete compared our lady to a sterre for thre causes First for she is aourned and gyueth beaute to alle humayne creature lyke as the sterre doth on the firmament For she hath opened to vs the yate of ê‘radis like as it is songe in holy chirche paradisi porta ê“ â—uaÌ„ cuÌ„ctis claâ—sa â— et per beatam virginem mariam iterum patefacta est The yate of paradys whyche by eue was closed fro all men is now opened by the blessyd vyrgyne marye Secondly lyke as the sterre enlumyneth the nyght by hys clerenes In lyke wyse the gloryous lady enlumyneth by her lyf all holy chirche
swerd thurgh her throte And yet for all that she deyde not anon but spack to the peple sayeng I adnounce and shewe to you that holy chyrche shal haue peas For dyoclesyen the Emperour whiche was enemy to holy chirche is this day put out of his seignourye And maximiē hys felawe is this day deed And in lyke wyse as saynt Agathe is patronesse and kepar of cathanence In the same wyse shal I be commysed to be patronesse of siracusane this cyte And as she spack thus to the peple The sergeantes and mynystres of Rome cam for to take pascasius and brynge hym to rome by cause that he was accused to fore the senatours of Rome of that he had Robbed the prouynce wherfore he resseyued hys sentence of the senate And had hys heed smyten of Saynt lucye neuer remeuid fro the place where she was hurt wyth the swerd ne deyde not tyl the preest cam brought the blessyd body of our lord Ihesu cryst And assone as she had receyued the blessyd sacrament she rendred and gaf vp her soule to god thankyng and preysyng hym of alle his goodnes In that same place is a chyrche edefyed in the name of her where as many benefetes ben gyuen to thonour of our lord Ih̄u crist whiche is blessed world wythouten ende Amen Here foloweth the lyf of seynt Nychase IN that tyme that the wandles wasted and destroyed many cytes londes they cam to the cyte of reynes in fraūce in whiche cyte seynt nychase was arche bysshop he prechyd the fayth of Ihesu cryst and conforted the peple and admonested them to receyue in pacience the persecucion of the wandles whiche thenne had destroyde the contraye and londe alle aboute the cyte and as thys peple called wandles approched the cyte The folke cam to tharchebisshop and demaunded counseyl yf they shold yelde theym or go and fyght for the cite Seynt nychase to whom god hath shewed to fore that the wandles cam that al the cite shold be destroyde Impetred and had graūte of our lorde that thys tribulacion and thys deth sholde be to the helthe of the soules of them that to theyr power shold be repentaūt of theyr synnes sythe sayde to them late vs goo surely to the peryl of dethe And lat vs abyde the mercy of god I am redy to sette my sowle for my peple late us preye for our enemyes and late vs desyre of theyr soules lyke as of our owne Thus as he spake to the peple seynt eutroppe his suster exorted as moche as she myght the peple to receyue martordom whiche was redy after thorysons and thensygnementes that they had made to the peple they yssued out ayenst the wandles Ande seynt nychase sayde to them yf ye wyl slee my people slee me fyrst tofore And after he prechyd to them the fayth of Ih̄u cryst and taughte them how they myght be saued but they wold not vnderstonde it thenne the holy man sette hym to prayer And whyles he prayde hys enemyes smote of hys hede and after that the hede was smeton offe he made an ende of hys prayer and sayde in his tongue thys vers of the sauter adhesit panimento c̄ whan seynt eutrope saw her brother martred And sawe that noman made hym redy to be martred but stroof for her beaute she ran to hym that had slayn her brother And wold haue cratched hys eyen out of his heed And anon she was martrid and many other with her Thenne the wandles sawe a grete companye of cheualrye of heuen come for tauenge the grete felonye that they had don and herde a grete soun in the chirche And they had so grete fere and drede that they lefte all theyr Armures and fledde And ther appiered a grete lyght and clernes vpon the bodyes that it was seen ferre by nyght thenne cam agayn som̄e burgeyses of them that had fled and sawe the clerenes and felte a grete odour aboute the martirs and buryed thē aboute the cyte And thanked our lord and seruyd hym more perfyghtly than they had don byfore late vs praye thenne to the holy saynt Nichase and to saynt Eutroppe that they wyl gete vs grace of our lord that they brynge vs in to their companye Amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Nychase And here begynneth the lyf of saynt Thomas thappostle THomas is as moche to saye as abysme or double whiche in grece is said didimus or ellis Thomas is said of Thomos whiche is said dyuysion and departyng he was abysme or swolowe by cause he deserued to perse the depnes of dyuynyte whan at hys Interrogacion Ihesu cryst answerd to hym Ego sum via veritas vita I am the waye trouthe and lyf he is said double by cause he knewe cryst in hys resurrection in double thyse more than other knewe For they knewe hym but only in seeyng but Thomas knewe hym bothe seeyng and feelyng he is said dyuysyon or departyng for he departed hys loue fro the loue of the world And was departed fro the other appostles atte Resurrection Or Thomas is said as appered agayn that is in the loue of god by contemplacion he had thre thynges in hym of whiche prosper saith in the book of the soule contemplatyf and demaundeth what it is for to loue nothyng but for to conceyue the brennyng of hym in hys thought and the talente of god and hate of synne and to forsake the world Or Thomas is as moche to saye as alway goyng in the loue and contemplacion of god Or thomas is as moche as my god by cause he said whan he touched the syde of our lord my god and my lord SAynt Thomas whā he was in Cezaree our lord appiered to hym and sayde The kynge of ynde gondeforus hath sente his prouost Abanes for to seche men that can wel the craft of masons And I shal sende the to hym and saynt Thomas saide Syre sende me oueral sauf to them of ynde And our lord said to hym goo thy way theder surely for I shal be thy kepar and whan thou hast conuerted them of ynde thou shalt come to me by the crowne of martirdom And Thomas said to hym thou art my lord And I thy seruaunt thy wyll be fulfyllid And as the prouost wente thurgh the market our lord said to hym yong man what wilt thou bye And he said my lord hath sente me for to brynge to hym som̄e that be lerned in the science of masonrye that they myght make for hym a palays after the werke of Rome And thenne our lord delyuerid to hym saynt Thomas thappostle and told to hym that he was moche expert in that werke and they departed and saylled til they cam in a cyte where the kyng made a weddyng of hys doughter And had do crye that all the people shold come to this feste of this mariage or ellis he wold be angry And it so happed that the prouost and thomas wente thyder And an hebrewe mayde
maners in that he is gloryous gloryfyeng and to be gloryfyed And after he excused hym of the blame in moyses in praysyng hym moche and especyally in thre thynges that is to wyte of feruour of loue For he slewe thegypcien that smote thebriew And of the myracles that he dyde in egypte or deserte And of the famyliaryte of god whan he spack to hym many tymes amyably And after thys he excused hym of the thyrde blame that was in the lawe in preysyng the lawe in thre maners Fyrst by cause of the gyuer that was god the seconde of the mynystre which was moyses that was a grete prophete And the thyrde by cause of th ende For it gyueth lyf perdurable And after he purged hym of the blame of the tabernacle and of the temple In preisyng the tabernacle in iiij maners one was by cause he was comanded of god to make it And was shewd in vision it was accomplysshed by moyses and that the arke of wytnes was therin he said that the temple succeded tabernacle And the blessyd Stephen purgyd hym of that whyche was â—yde to hym of whyche the Iewes sawe that they myght not ouercome hym in that manere And theÌ„ne they toke the thirde bataylle ayenst hym that they shold surmounte hym by tormentis And whan the blessyd saynt stephen sawe thys he wold kepe the comandement of our lord and enforced hym to refrayne them in thre maners that was by shame by drede and by loue Fyrst by shame in blamyng the hardnes of theyr hertes And said to them ye coÌ„trarye alleway the holy goost by your harde heedes and hertes not pyteous lyke as your fadres that persecuted the prophetes and slewe them that shewde the comyng of god And the glose saith that in thre maners they were malycyous The first that they contrarye den to the holy ghoost The seconde that they persecuted the prophetes The thyrde that by theyr euyl malyco they slewe Iesu cryst but by cause they were lyke the comyn woman they coude haue no shame to leue theyr malyce but whan they had herd thyse thynges they wythsayde it in theyr hertes and grennyd theyr teeth ayenst hym After thys he corrected them by drede by cause that he said that he sawe IhÌ„u cryst on the right syde of god lyke as redy to helpe hym and condempne his aduersaryes For saynt stephen which was ful of the holy ghoost loked vp and byheld the heuen and sawe the glorye of god And said loo I see the heuenes opene and the sone of the mayde stondyng on the right syde of the vertue of god how be it that he corrected theÌ„ by shame by drede yet they left not their malice but were more werse thaÌ„ to fore and stopped their eeris to th eÌ„de that they wold not here hym wherof he blamed them And they cryed with an hye voys and made a grete assault ayenst hym and caste hym out of the cyte all to gydre and stoned hym And they supposed to haue doon after theyr lawe as a blasphemour in comandyng that he shold be stoned out of the castellis And thyes ij false witnessis which after theyr lawe ought to cast the first stone toke of theyr clothes by cause that they shold not be touched of god and to th ende that they myght better lyghtlyer bywelde them to stone hym and they lefte them atte feet of a child that theÌ„ne was callid saulus and after he was called paule And thus he kept the clothes of them that stoned hym And he was stoned of them alle And whan he myght not withdrawe them fro their malice ne by shame ne by drede he toke the thyrde maner so that he wold withdrawe them by loue and the loue that he shewed them was not lytyl whan he prayd for hym for them that hys passyon myght not be dyffered And that the synne shold not be Imputed do them that stoned hym and sayeng lord Ihesu cryst receyue my spyrite And whan he was on hys knees he cryed with an hye voys and said lord establysshe not to theym thys synne And thys was a meruayllous loue whan he prayd on hys knees for theym that stoned hym lyke as yf he had prayd more for them than for hym sylf For he desyred to be more empesshed for theÌ„ than for hym self And as the glose saith he knelyd for by cause he ought the more humbly to praye for them of whom thynyquyte was grete And in thys he dyde as dyde Ihesu cryste For in hys passyon he prayd for hym self And said Fader I comande my spyryte in to thyn hondes and he said for them that stoned hym Fader foryeuene it theym And whan saynt stephen had so said he slepte in our lord and was not deed For he suffred sacrefyse of dylection And after slepte in hope of resurrection And the stonyng of saynt stephen was made in the same yere that our lord ascended vp in to heuen in the next moneth of august the thirde day entrynâ— And saynt Gamalyel and Nycodemus whych were emong the connseyllys of the Iewes for the crysten men buryed hym in the felde of gamalyel made grete wepyng for hym and theÌ„ne was grete persecucioÌ„ of crysten meÌ„ that were in IhrlÌ„m For whan the blessyd saynt stephen whyche was one of the prynces was slayn they began to persecute alle the crysten meÌ„ in so moche that thappostles whiche were strenger than other in the faith departed out of all the prouynce of the Iewes after that whiche our lord had comaunded to theÌ„ yf they persecute you in one cyte flee you in to another And the blessyd doctour saynt austyn reherceth that the blessyd saynt stephen was noblysshid by many myracles For he reysed by hys merytes sixe dede bodyes and heled many that were seeke of dyuerse maladyes languors And without this recounteth he other myracles worthy dygne to be remembrid For as he saith in the xxiiij book of the cyte of god the floures that were put on the aultre of saynt stephen were put on the seek men anon they were cured heled And the clothes taken fro the aulter leyde on theÌ„ that were seek were a medecyne to many For as it is said in the xxiiij chapytre of the cronycles of god thyse floures taken vpon the aulter of saynt stephen were leyd on the eyen of a womaÌ„ that was blynde and anon she had agayn her sight And also said he in the same book that a man that was maistre of a cyte was named marcial was a paynem wold not be coÌ„uerted it happed that he was strongly seke and his sone in lawe that was a right good man cam in to the chirche of saynt stephen toke of the flowres leyd vnder the heed of his lord and anon whaÌ„ he had slepte therupon on the mornyg he cryed that the bysshop shold be brought to hym the bysshop was not in the
thappostles other And after that that they were by thordenaūce of the holy ghoost confermed in the crysten fayth by the vnyuersal world Saynt Ioh̄n cā in to grece where he conuersid and conuertid moche people and founded many chyrches in the cristen faith as wel by myracles as by doctryne ¶ In thys tyme domycien was Emperour of rome whyche made right grete persecucions vnto cristen men ¶ And dyde do take saynt Iohan and to be brought to Rome And made hym to be caste in to a fatte or a tonne full of hote oylle in the presence of the senatours of which he yssued out by the helpe of god more pure and more fayr wythout felyng of ony hete or chauffyng than he entred in After thys that themperour sawe that he cessed not to preche the cristen faith he sente hym in exile vnto an yle called pathmos There was saynt Iohan allone and was visited of angellis and gouerned there wrote he by the reuelacion of our lord thapocalypse whiche conteyned the secretes of holy chyrche and of the world to come In thys same yere was domycien themperour for hys euyllis put to deth And all that he had don was reuoqued by the senatours and deffeated And thus was saynt Ioh̄n brouht agayn from hys exyle with grete honour in to Ephesym And all the people of ephesym cam ayenst hym syngyng and sayeng blessyd be he that cometh in the name of our lord In that waye he reysed a woman whyche was named drusiane whiche had moche loued saynt Ioh̄n and wel kept hys comandementis And her frendes brought her tofore saynt Ioh̄n all wepyng and sayeng to hym Loo here is drusyane whyche moche loued the and dyde thy comandementis and is deed ande desired nothyng so moche as thy retorne and that she myght see the to fore her deth now thou art comen hether and she may not see the Saynt Ioh̄n had grete pyte on her that was deed and of the peple that wepte for her and comanded that they sholde sette doun the byere and vnbynde take awaye the clothes fro her And whan they had so doon he said hyeryng alle wyth a lowde voys Drusiane my lord god Ihesu criste areyseth the drusiane arise and goo in to thy hows and make redy for me som̄e refection Anon she aroos and wente in to her hows for to doo the comandement of saynt Ioh̄n And the peple made thre howres longe a grete noyse and crye sayeng ther is but one god and that is he whom seynt Ioh̄n prechyth It happed on an other day that craton the phylosophre made a grete assemblee of peple in the myddes of the cyte For to shewe to them how they ought to despyse the world and he had ordeyned two yong men brethern whiche were moche ryche and had made thē to selle theyr patrymonye and therwith to b̄ye precious stones the whiche thyse two yong men brake in the presence of the peple for to shewe howe thyse precious and grete Rychesses of the world ben soone destroyed That same tyme saynt Ioh̄n passed by And said to craton the phylosopher Thys maner for to despyse the world that thou shewest is vayne and folyssh demonstraunce For it secheth to haue the preysyng of the world god reproueth it my good maystre Ihesu cryst sayd to a man that demanded of hym how he myght come to euerlastyng lyf that he shold goo and selle all hys goodes And gyue that he receyued of it to the poure peple And he shold fynde tresour in heuen Craton said thenne to hym the pryse and valewe of thyse precious stones is destroyed in the presence of alle men here but yf thy maystre be veraye god he wyll that the goodes of the world be gyuen to poure men take thenne the pieces of thyse precious stones broken And make them hole stones as they were to fore by cause yf I haue shewd thys by vayne glorye make thou them to the honour of thy maystre Anon saynt Ioh̄n toke the pyeces of the precious stones ¶ And after that he had made hys prayer to god he shewd to thē the stones as hoole as euer they were or had ben whan craton the phylosopher sawe thys anon he with his ij men and his disciples fyll doun to the feet of saynt Ioh̄n receyued the faith and baptesme of Ihesu criste And sold the precious stones gaue the money therof for the loue of god And begonne to preche the faith of our lord Ihesu cryst Than the two brethern moche riche and honoured in the cyte of Ephesim anon they sold al their patrymony and gaf it for the loue of god But after whan they cam in to the cyte of pergania sawe them that had ben theyr seruauntes clothed in silke and in grete honour of the world and them self hauyng but a poure mantel or perauenture a poure cote Anon they repented them that they had gyuen away their goodes in almesse to poure people Thys apperceyued saynt Ioh̄n and said to them I see that ye ben heuy and sorouful of thys that after the doctryne of Ihesu cryste ye haue gyuen your good for goddes sake wherfor yf ye wyl haue agayn the valewe of your goodes brynge to me roddes of the trees and stones of the Ryuage of the see And so they dyde And whan saynt Iohan had them anon by hys prayer he chaunged the roddes in to fyn gold And the comyn stones in to precious stones And saynt Iohan had them to take them and shewe to the maistres that had knowleche in suche Iewellis yf the Roddes were gold and the comyn stones precyous stones After they cam agayn and said to saynt Ioh̄n Syre the maistres saye that they sawe neuer so fyne gold ne so precious stones Seynt Ioh̄n thēne said to them goo ye and bye ye agayn your londes that ye haue solde For ye haue lost the reward of heuen Be ye riche temporelly for to be beggars perpetuelly Thenne began he to preche in despytyng the Rychesses and to shewe vj causes why we ought to restrayne vs for to loue Rychesses Fyrst thescripture lerneth vs to hate Richesses And reciteth in the gospell how the Ryche mā that was clad in purpure and ete euery day delycious metes glotonously was lost and dampned but the poure man at hys gate that deyde ful of soores and hongry was saued Secondly Nature techeth vs to hate Rychesses For we ben born poure naked and pourly muste we departe and deye ¶ Thyrdly the creature techith vs For the sonne the mone the sterres the Rayne and the ayer ben comyne and departe theyr Influences and their benefices largely ¶ Fourthly the man it not oft in one estate For whan he weneth to be Ryche plentiuous and free he fyndeth hym self bonde and caytyf For the Ryche man aduerse is bonde and seruaunt to the peny and to the deuyll Amator pecunie seruus est mammone ¶ Fyftly sorowe and care
And the deuyl saide for they ben alle holy And that werst is ther was one that was myn And I haue loste hym For he is now made holyer than the other whan saynt machaire herd this he gaf lâ—uynges and thankynges to god ¶ It happed on a tyme saynt machaire fonde in hys waye the hede of a dede man And he demanded of it whos hede it was and the hede answerd of a paynem And machaire said to hym where is thy soule he answerd in helle And he demanded yf it were depe in helle and he said deper than is fro heuen to erthe And after he demanded yf there were ony bynethe hym And he said the Iewes ben lower than he was he asked yf there were ony lower or bynethe the Iewes to whom he said that the false crysten men ben yet lower and depper in helle than the Iewes For as moche as they haue dyspyted and vyâ—onyed the blood of Ihesu cryst of whiche they were redemed so moche the more be they tormented On a tyme saynt machaire wente in a deserte and atte ende of euery myle he sette a reed in therthe for to haue knowleche therby to torne agayn And wente forth ix day Iourney and after he slepte And the deuyl toke all thyse reedes bonde them leyd them atte hys hede wherfor he had grete labour for to come agayn in to hys hows An heremyte which was in deserte was moche tempted for to goo agayn to the world And he thought in hys herte that he shold doo more good to be emong the people than he shold doo in hys hermytage Thenne he tolde all thys to saynt machayre And saynt machayre said to hym thus shall thou saye to thy thoughtes that for the loue of Ihesu cryst I kepe the walles of thys celle It happed on a tyme that saynt machaire kylde a flee that bote hym And whan he sawe the blood of thys flee he repented hym And so repentaunt of that wold reuenge it and anon vnclothed hym and wente nakyd in the deserte vj monethis and suffred hym self to be byten of the flyes After this saynt machaire whaÌ„ he had longe lyued and god had shewed many myracles for hym and had flowrid in many vertues he deyed and rendred hys sowle vnto our lord Ihesu cryst qui est benedictus in secula seculorum Amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Machaire Hyer begynneth the lif of seynt Felix sayd enpices FElix was surnamed enpices and is said of the place where he resteth or of the poyntellis of greffes a greffe is ê“prely callid a poyntel to wryte in tablis of waxe by whyche he suffred deth And somÌ„e saye that he was a scolemaistre and taught chyldren And was to them moche Rygorous After he was knowen of the paynems And by cause he confessed playnly that he was crysten and byleued in Ihesu cryst he was delyuerd to be tormented in to the handes of the chyldren hys escoliers whom he had taught and lerned whiche scoliers shewe hym wyth theyr poyntellis pryckis and greffes and yet the chirche holdeth hym for no martir but for a confessour And the paynems sayd to hym that he shold doo sacrefyse to thydollis but he blewe on them and anon they fylle to therthe It is redde in a legeÌ„de that whan mychene bisshop and valerian fledde the persecucion of the paynems the bysshop was tormented wyth hungre and thurst so moche that he fylle doun to the ground wherfore Felix was sent of an aungele to hym And he bare nothyng wyth hym for to gyue to hym and he sawe by hym a clustre of reysens hongyng â—n a tree whyche he leyd on hys sholdres hastely and bare it with hym And whan the bysshop was deed Felix was elect and chosen to be bysshop And as he preched on a tyme the persecutours sought hym And he hydde hym in the clyftes of a broken walle and incontynente by the wylle of god cam spyncoppes and made their werke and nettes afore hym that they myght not fynde hym And whan the tyrauntes coude not fynde hym they wente theyr waye And he wente thens and caÌ„ to the hows of a wydowe And toke there hys refection of her thre monethes And yet he sawe her neuer in the vysage And atte laste whan the peas was made he wente hym in to hys chyrche And there deyed and rested in our lord and was buried by the cyte in a place that was called pynces And this Felix had a brother whyche was in lyke wyse named felix And whan thys felix was constrayned to adoure thydolles he sayd ye be enemyes vnto your goddes For yf ye brynge me to them I shal blowe on them lyke as my brother dyde and they shal falle to therthe and breke On a tyme thys Felix dyde do laboure his gardyn where he had sette cooles and wortes for hys vse And somÌ„e of hys neyghbours wold haue stolen away thyse cooles and wortes and houed in the gardyn alle the nyght and dygged And on the mornyng saynt felix salewed them And anon they confessed their synne And he pardonned them And thenne they wente theyr waye And a litil whyle after the paynems cam for to take saynt Felix And anoÌ„ so grete dolour and payne toke them that they began to howle as dogges And he said to them byleue ye in god and saye ye that Ihesu Cryst is veray god And doo you to be baptysed and ye shal be hool and your payne shal seasse And so they dyde and anon they were alle hool And after the bysshop of thydolles cam to hym and said Syre assone as our god sawe the he fledde And whan I said why fleest thou He said I may not suffre the vertu of Felix And whan my god doubteth the moche more I ought to doubte the And whan Felix had confermed hym in the fayth he baptised hym And Felix sayd to them that adoured Appolyn yf appolyn be very god late hym saye to me what I hold in my honde And he had in hys honde a cedule wherin was wreton the oryson of our lord that is the Pater noster And he myght not answere wherfore the paynems were conuerted to our lord And atte laste whan he had songe his masse and the peas gyuen to the people he fylle doun in prayer vpon the pauement of the chyrche and passed out of thys world vnto our lord Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Felix Here foloweth the lyf of saynt marcell and thynterpretacion of hys name Marcel is as moche to saye as denyeng to doo euyll or i. is said as smytyng the sees that is to saye the aduersytees of the world For the world assambleth the see For lyke as Crysostome sayth vpon mathew contynuel drede is hys confuse And alleway in the see is contynuel drede thymage of deth and perpetuel dysordynance wythout ceassyng ¶ Of saynt Marcell SAynt Marcell was chyef bysshop and 〈◊〉 of Rome he wente to chastyse repreue maxymyen
is ful of myserye also fals sith the begynnyng of the world hath deceyued all his frendes conquerd all them that haue affiance in hym For she hath lyed in her promyse yet doth she dayly in this lyf more harme For she maketh gloutons And other she maketh lecherons she maketh theeues for to slee And the angry cruell and the lyars fals deceyuable She putteth discorde emong wedded and maryed peple and debate emong the peasible By the world cometh alle malyce and alle felonnye Thys euylle doo they that in this lyf putte theyr desyres And wene longe to lyue therin And whan they that thus serue the world haue vsed theyr lyf in dooyng thise euyll aforsaid Thenne gyueth she to them her doughter that is the deth perpetuelle that is the reward that the lyf of thys world gyueth to her seruaÌ„tes that departe froÌ„ thys world despourueyed And bere nothyng with them but their synnes After thys saynt sebastien torned hym to their parentis and frendes and said to them in thys maner O ye my frendes lo here the lyf of thys world which deceyueth you in suche wise that ye discounseylle your frendes fro the euerlastyng lyf ye destrouble your chyldren that they shold not come to the companye of heuene and to the honoure permanable and to thamytye of themperour celestyall by your folyssh wordes and your false wepynges yf they shold assente to your repeell they shold but a whyle dwelle wyth you And after shold departe fro your companye where ye shold see them in tormentes that shold neuer ende where as cruel flamÌ„e deuoureth the soules of mescreants and worshippers of ydollis And the dragons eten the lippes of cursid men And the serpents destroye them that ben euyll there where is herd nothyng but wayllyngis wepyngis and horryble cryes of sowles whyche brenne contynuelly in the fyre of helle and euer shal brenne without deyeng Suffre ye that your sones escape thyse tormentes And thynke how ye may escape And late theÌ„ suffre deth for the loue of Ihesu cryste thenke not but they whan they shal be thus departed fro you goon for to make redy your place and your mansion in heuen where ye and youre chyldren may be in Ioye perpetuel In thys houre and tyme that saynt sebastyan that was in habite of a knyght clad with a mantel and gyrd wyth a gyrdle of gold and had sayd thyse wordes anone cam a grete light in the whyche appiered a yonglyng clad with a whyte mantel emong vij angellis And gaf to saynt sebastyan the peas sayeng thou shalt be alleway with me Thys sawe the wyf of nychostratus named Zoe in whos hows marcus marcellianus were in pryson whyche had ben muet dombe vj yere by a sekenes that she had But she had vnderstaÌ„den that whyche saynt sebastian had said had seen the lyght aboute hym And she fyll doun to hys feet And by signes of her haÌ„des made prayers to hym And after whan saynt Sebastyan knewe that she had loste her speche Anone he said to her yf I be the seruant of Ihesu cryste and yf all that that I haue said be trewe thenne I praye hym that he wyl rendre to the thy speche agayn that opened the mouth of Zacharye the prophete And anon escryed thys woman moche hye and said The worde that thou hast said is veray trewe And blessyd be thou And the word of thy mouth and blessyd ben alle they that by the byleue in Ihesu cryst the sone of god For I haue seen certaynly vij angellis to fore the holdyng a book in whiche was wreton all that whiche thou hast said Blessid be all they that byleue that whiche thou hast said And cursid be they that byleue the not And Nichostratus husbonde of this woman and the fader and moder and alle the frendes of marcellianus marcus receyueden the crysten faith And were all baptised by policarpus the preest vnto the nombre of lxxviij persones men wymen and chyldren And ten dayes duryng they abode to gydre in orysons and in prayers and thankyd god of hys benefettes Emong them was tarquyllynus fader vnto the holy martirs aforsaid whyche had xj yere duryng the gowte in hys feet handes And assone as policarpus had baptysed hym he bicam as hool and sound in his feet hondes as a chyld After the ten dayes agrestyn and Comatyn prouostes of Rome made Tarquillinus their fader to come to for hym And demaunded of hym how hys sones were aduysed and counseylled And he answerd moche wel dyde ye whan ye gaf to them respyte For in the mene tyme they that shold haue deyde haue founde lyf and Ioye And the prouost supposed that hys sones had ben torned And said to moâ—n I shal see how thy sones shal make sacrefyse to thydolles by whom thou and they may dwelle in peas And tarquillinus said gentyl man yf thou wylt Iustly adoure werke aboute me and my sones thou shal fynde that the name of crysten men is of grete vertue And the prouoste said tarquillinus art thou wood And he answerd I haue ben out of my wytte but assone as I bileued in Ihesu cryst I resseyued helth of body and of sowle The prouoste said I see wel that the respyte of thy sones haue brought the in errour Tarquillinus sayde knowe of what werkis come errour The prouost bad hym saye And he said The first errour is to leue the waye of lyf and goo by the waye of deth for to dyspute that men whyche ben deed for to be goddes and to adoure their ymages made of wood or of stone The prouoste said thenne be they no goddes that we adoure Tarquillinus said It is redde in our bokes what men they were that ye adoure for goddes how euyl they lyued and how meschauntly they deyed Saturnus whom ye worshippe for god was lord of Crete and ete the flessh of hys chyldren how is not he one of your goddes And Iupiter hys sone whom ye adoure whyche slewe hys fader and toke hys suster to hys wif what euyl was thys how art thou in grete errour that adourest thys cursid men And saist to the ymage of stone thou art my god And to the stock of tree helpe me The prouost said yf ther be none but one god inuisible that ye adoure wherfor thenne adoure ye Ihesu cryst whome the Iewes crucyfyed Tarquillinus answerd Yf thou knowest a ryng of gold in whyche were a precious stone lyeng in the myre of a valeye thou woldest sente thy seruaÌ„ts for to take vp this ryng And yf they myght not lefte it vp thou woldest vnclothe thy self of thy clothes of silke and doo one a course cote and woldest helpe to take vp thys rynge and make grete feste The prouost said wherfor hast thou put forth this proposicioÌ„ now Tarquillinus answerde For to shewe to the that we adoure one only god The prouost said what vnderstondest
lyue and brought hym to her hows and toke charge of hym tyl he was all hool Many crysten men cam to hym whyche counseylled hym to voyde the place but he was comforted and stode vpon a stappe where themperour shold passe by and said to hym the bysshoppis of thydolles deceyue you euyll whyche accuse the crysten men to be contrayre to the comyn prouffyt of the cyte that praye for your estate for the helthe of Rome dyoclesyan said arte not thou sebastyen whom we comanded to be shoten to deth And saynt Sebastian saide therfor our lord hath rendred to me lyf to th ende that I shold telle you that euylle and cruelly ye doo persecucions vnto crysten men Thenne made dyoclesyan hym to be brought in to pryson in to hys palays And to bete hym so sore wyth stones tyl that he deyde And the tyrauntis threwe hys bodye in to a grete pryuee by cause the crysten men shold make no feste to burye hys body ne of hys martredom but saynt sebastian appyerid after to saynt lucyne a glorious wydowe And said to her in suche a pryue shalt thou fynde my body hangyng at an hoke whyche is not defouled with none ordure whan thou hast wasshed it thou shal burye it at Cathacombes by the appostlis And the same nyght she and her seruantes accomplysshyd alle that sebastian had comanded her he was martred the yere of our lord CClxxxvij And seynt gregory telleth in the first boke of hâ—s dyaloges that a woman of tuskane whych was newe wedded was prayd for to goo wyth other wymen to the dedicacion of the chyrche of sebastian and the nyght to fore she was so moeued in her flessh that she myght not absteyne her from her husbond And on the morn she hauyng gretter shame of men than of god wente theder and anon as she was entryd in to the oratorye where the relyques of saynt sebatian were the fende toke her and tormentid here byfore all the people And thenne the preest toke the couerture of the aulter and couerd her And theÌ„ne the deuyl assaylled the preest her frendes lad her to thenchauntours that that they shold enchaunte the fende but assone as they began thenchaunte by the IugemeÌ„t of god a legion of deuylles entryd in to her that is vjMvjClxvj and vexid her more sharply than to fore And an holy man named formatus by hys prayers heled her It is redde in the gestes of the loÌ„bardis that in the tyme of kynge gylberte all ytalye was smeton wyth so greet a pestilence that vnnethe they that were alyue myght burye the dede And this pestylence was most at Rome and pauye Thenne the good Angele was seen vysybly of many and an euyl Angele folowyng beryng a staf whom le bad smyte and slee And as many strokes as he smote an hows so many deede persones were born out of it Thenne at laste it was shewed to one by goddes grace that this pestylence shold not cesse tyl that they had made an aulter to saynt sebastian at pauye whiche thenne was made in the chyrche of saynt peter and anone the pestylence seassed And thyder fro rome relyques of saynt sebastian were brought And saynt Ambrose in his preface saith thus O lord the blood of thy blessyd martir saynt sebastian was shedd for the confession of thy name he hath shewed thy meruaylles that they prouffyte in infirmyte vertue and gyueth to our studyes prouffyt and to them not stedfast to the it gyueth ayde and helpe Thenne late vs praye to this holy martir saynt sebastian that he praye vnto our lord that we may be delyuerd from all pestylence and sodeyn deth and so departe aduysedly hens that we may come to euer lastyng Ioye and glorye in heuen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Sebastian And next foloweth of saynt Agnes and first thynterpretacion of her name AGnes is said of agna a lambe For she was humble and debonayr as a lambe or of agno in greke whyche is to saye debonayr and pyteous For she was debonayr and mercyful Or agnes of agnoscendo for she knewe the waye of trouthe and after thys saynt Austyn saith trouthe is opposed ayenst vanyte falsenes doublenes For thyse thre thyngis were taken from her for the trouthe that she had ¶ Of saynt Agnes THe blessyd virgyne seynt Agnes was moche wyse and wel taught as saynt Ambrose wytnesseth and wrote her passyon she was fayr of vysage but moche fayrer in the crysten fayth she was yong of age aged in wytte For in the xiij yere of her age she lost the deth that the world gyueth And fonde lyf in Ihesu cryst whyche whan she cam fro scole the sone of the perfecte of Rome for themperour louyd her And whan hys fader and moder knewe it they offred to gyue moche Rychesse wyth hym yf he myght haue her in maryage And offryd to saynt Agnes precyous geÌ„mes and Iewellis whyche she refused to take wherof it happed that the yong man was ardauntly esprysed in the loue of saynt Agnes and came agayn and toke wyth hym more precious Rycher adournementes made wyth all maner of precious stones And as wel by hys parentes as by hym self offred to saynt agnes Ryche yeftes and possessyons and all the delytes and deduytes of the world and all to th ende to haue her in maryage but saynt agnes answerd to hym in thys mater Goo fro me thou fardel of synne norysshyng of euyllys and morsell of deth and departe And knowe thou that I am preuented and am loued of another louer whych hath gyuen to me many better Iewellis whych hath fyanced me by his fayth And is moche more noble of lygnage than thou art of estate he hath clad me wyth precyous stones and wyth Iewellis of golde he hath sette in my vysage a signe that I receyue none other espowse but hym And hath shewde me ouer grete tresours whiche he must gyue me yf I abyde wyth hym I wyl haue none other spowse but hym I wyl seche none other In no maner may I leue hym wyth hym am I ferme and fastned in loue whyche is more noble more puyssant fayrer than ony other whos loue is moche swete and gracious of whom the chambre is now redy for to receyue me where the virgynes syngyn meryly I am now embraced of hym of whome the moder is a vyrgyne And hys fader knewe neuer woman to whom the angelles serue the sonne and the mone merueylle them of hys beaute whos werkes neuer faylle whos Rychesses neuer mynusshe by whos odour dede men reyse agayn to lif by whos touchyng the seke men be conforted whos loue is chastyte To hym I haue gyuen my faith To hym I haue comanded my herte whan I loue hym thenne am I chaste and whan I touche hym theÌ„ne am I pure and clene And whan I take hym thenne am I a virgyne Thys is the loue of my god whan the yong man had
crysten peple myght surely come to the sepulcre vnhurte And the body of Emerencian was buryed by the body of saynt Agnes It happed that whaÌ„ the frendes of seynt Agnes watched at her sepulcre on a nyght they sawe come a grete multitude of virgynes clad in vestymentes of gold and siluer and a grete light shone to fore them And on the right side was a lambe more whyte than snowe and sawe also saynt Agnes emong the virgynes whyche said to her parentes Take hede and see that ye bewaylle me nomore as deed but be ye Ioyeful wyth me For with all thise virgynes Ihesu cryst haue gyue me most â—â—yghtyst habytacion and dwellyng And am with hym Ioyned in heuen whoÌ„ in erthe I loued wyth my thouht And thys was the viij day after her passyoÌ„ And by cause of thys vysion holy chyrche maketh memoyre of her the viij day of the feste after whyche is called Agnetis secundo Of her we rede an example that in the chyrche of saynt agnes was a preest whych was named paulus and allewaye serued in that chyrche and had right grete temptacion of hys flesshe but by cauhe doubted to angre our lord he kepte hym fro synne And prayd to the pope that he wold gyue hym leue for to marye The pope considered hys symplenesse and for hys bouÌ„te he gaf hym a rynge in whych was an emerawde and câ—manded that he shold goo to thymage of saynt Agnes whyche was in hys chyrche and praye her that she wold be hys wyf Thys symple man dyde so And thymage put forth her fyngre And he sette the rynge theron And thenne she drewe her fyngre agayn and kept the ryng faste And thenne anon all hys tempptacion carnall was quenchyd and take away from hym And yet as it is said the rynge is on the fyngre of thymage Constaunce the doughter of Constantyn was smeton wyth a sore and foul lepre whan she had herd of the vysion of saynt agnes at her tombe shâ—wed to her frendes she cam to the sepulcre of saynt agnes And whan she was in her prayers she fill a slepe And she sawe in her slepe saynt agnes sayeng to her Constaunce werke constantly And yf thou wylt byleue in cryst thou shalt anon be delyuerd of thy sekenes wherwyth she awoke and fonde her self perfyghtly hool anon she receyuyd baptesme and founded a chyrche vpon the body of the virgyne And ther abode in her virgynyte and assembled there many virgynes by cause of her good ensample In an other place it is redde that whan the chyrche of saynt agnes was voyde the pope said to a preest that he wold gyue to hym a wyf for to norysshe and kepe and he mente to coÌ„myse the chyrche of saynt agnes to hys cure And he delyueryd to hym a rynge and bad hym to wedde thymage And thymage put forth her fyngre and he sette on it the ryng and anon she closid the fynger to her hand and kept the rynge and so espoused her Of thys vyrgyne sayth saynt Ambrose in the book of vyrgynes ¶ Thys vyrgyne yong men olde men and chyldren preyse ¶ Ther is none more to be praysed than that may be praysed of all Saynt Ambrose saith in hys preface that this blessyd saynt Agnes despysed the delytes of noblesse and deserued heuenly dygnyte she lefte the desires of mannes felawshyp and she fonde the felawshyp of the euerlastyng kynge And she receyuyng a precious deth for the confession of Ihesu cryst is made conformable to hym euerlastyngly to regne in Ioye in heuen to the whyche he brynge vs for whos glorious name and faith thys gloryous vyrgyne saynt Agnes suffred martirdom of deth Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Agnes Here begynneth thynterpretacion of the name of saynt vyncent Vyncent is as moche to saye as brennyng vyces or ouercomyng brennynges and kepyng victorye For he brente and destroyed vyces by mortificacion of hys flessh he vaynquysshid the brennyngis of tormentis by stedfast suffraunce he helde the victorye of the world by despysyng of the same he vaynquysshyd thre thynges in the world that is to wete false errours foule loues and wordly dredes whyche thynges he ouercam by wysedom by clennesse and by constaunce Of whom saynt Austyn saith that the martirdoms of sayntes haue enseygned that the world is ouercome wyth all errours loues and dredes ¶ And somÌ„e afferme that saynt Austyn wrote and compyled hys passyon whyche prudencien sette right clerly in versis Of the lyf of saynt vyncent Vyncente was noble of lygnage but he was more noble by fayth and relygion And was deken to saynt valeryen bysshop he was in hys chyldhode sette to studye where by dyuyne prouydence he floured in double science most parfoundly that is to saye in dyuynyte and humanyte To whom saynt valerien by cause he was empesshyd in hys tongue comysed to hym the fayttes and werkes of charge And hym self entended to prayer and contemplacion And by the comandement of dacian the prouost vyncent and valeryen were drawen to valence and there caste in pryson And whan the prouost had supposed they had ben almost perysshyd for hungre and payne he comanded them to come to fore hym And whan he sawe them hool Ioyeful he beyng wroth began to crye moche strongly and sayd what saist thou valeryen whyche vnder the name of thy relygyon doost ayenst the decrees of prynces And as the blessyd valeryen answerd lyghtly Saynt vyncente sayd to hym worshypful fader answere not hym so wyth a tymerous herte but put out thy voys and escrye hym frely And fader yf thou wylt comande me I shal goo answere to the Iuge To whom valerian said right dere sone it is longe sith I haue coÌ„mysed to the the charge of spekyng And now it byhoueth the to answere for the fayth for whyche we ben here Thenne saynt vyncent torned to the Iuge and said to dacyan Thou hast holden vnto now wordes to renye our faith but knowe thou that it is grete felonnye to the wysedome of crysten men to blame and renye our crysten fayth Thenne dacyan beyng wroth comaÌ„ded that the bysshop shold be put in exile And vyncente as a man presumptuous and despytons shold be put to be tormented in the place named eculeo And it was made lyke a crosse twhart of whyche the two endes were fyxed in therthe And that hys membres shold theron be broken for to fere the other And whan he was all thus to broken dacian said to hym saye vyncente now seest thou thy body vnhappy And vyncent smylyng sayd to hym Thys is that I all way haue desired TheÌ„ne the prouoste beyng wroth began to saye menace hym with many turmÌ„tis And vyncent said to hym O vnhappy man how wenest thou to angre me the more greuously that thou tormentest me so moche more pyte shal god haue on me Aryse vp thou vnhappy man and cursid and by thy wyckyd spyrite thou shalt be vaynquysshyd
vyage was right euyll And yet neuertheles the mercy of god conuerted Secondly the conuersion was merueyllous of hym that ordeyned it that is of the lyght that he ordeyned in hys conuersion And it is said that thys lyght was dispositif sodayne and celestyall And thys light of heuen aduyronned hym sodeynly Poule had in hym thre vices the first was hardynesse whych is noted whaÌ„ it is said that he wente to the prynce of the prestes And as the glose sayth not called but by hys owen wyll enuye that enticed hym The second was pryde and that is signefyed by that he desired and sighed the menaces and thretenyngis The thyrd was thentente carnall the vnderstandyng that he had in the lawe wherof the glose saith vpon that worde I am IhÌ„uÌ„s cetera I god of heuene speke the whyche thou supposest to be deed by the consente of the Iewes ¶ And thys lyght dyuyne was sodeyne It was grete and out mesure for to throwe donÌ„ hym that was hye and proude in to the dyche or pytte of humanyte It was celestyal by cause it torned and chauÌ„ged hys flesshely vnderstondyng in to celestyall Or it may be said that this ordenaunce or dysposicion was in thre thynges that is to wete in the voys cryeng in the light shynyng and in the vertue of puyssaunce Thyrdly it was merueyllous by the vertue of the souffryng of the pacyent that is of poule in whom the conuersion was made For thyes thre thynges were made in hym without forth merueyllously that is to wyte that he was beten to therthe he was blynde fasted iij dayes was smeton doun to the ground for to be reysed saynt austyn sayth he was smeton doun for to be blynde for to be chaunged and for to be sente he was sente to suffre deth for trouthe And yet saith saynt Austyn he that was out of the fayth was hurte for to be made bileue the persecutor was hurt to be made a prechour the sone of perdicion was hurt for to be made the vessell of election And was made blynde for to be enlumyned And thys was as touchyng hys derke vnderstandyng Thenne in the iij dayes that he abode thus blynde he was lerned enformed in the gospell For he lerned it neuer of man ne by maÌ„ as he hym self witnesseth but by the reuelacion of Iâ—â—su cryst And saynt Austyn sayth thus I saye that seynt poule was the very champion of Ihesu cryst taught of hym redressed of hym crucyfyed with hym and gloryous in hym he was made lene in hys flessh that hys flessh shold be dysposid to th effecte of good operacion And fro thenne forthon hys body was establyssed and desposed to all good he coude wel suffre hungre and habondaunce and was informed and instructe in all thynges And all aduersitees he gladly suffred crisostomÌ„ sayth he ouercam tormentours tyrauÌ„tes and peple full of woodnesse lyke as flyes And the deth the tormentes and all the paynes that myght be don to hym he counted theÌ„ but as the pâ—aye of chyldren ¶ Alle them he embraced wyth a good wyll And he was ennobled in hym self to be bounde in a stroÌ„ge chayne more than to be crowned with a crowne And receyued more gladly strokes and woundes than other yeftes And it is red that in hym were thre thyngis aynest the thre that were in our formest fader adam for adam erected and adressid hym ayenst god our lord And in saynt poule was contrarye For he was throweÌ„ doun to the erthe In adam was thopenyng of hys eyen and poule was in the contrarye made blynde and adam ete of the fruyt deffended And saynt poule contrarye was abstynent of couâ—nable mete Thus endeth the conuersion of saynt poule Here foloweth of saynt pawlyne the wydowe SAynt pawlyne was a moche noble wydowe of rome of whome saynt Iherome wrote the lyf and sayth fyrst thus yf alle my membres were torned in to tongues And alle my Arteryes shold resowne in humayne voys yet I myght not worthyly wryte the vertues of saynt paulyne I take wytnesse of god and of hys holy angellis and also of thaungel that waâ— kepar of thys woman that I shal saye nothyng for preysyng but thaâ— sâ—me that I shal saye shal be lasse than apperteyneth to her vertues She was born emoÌ„g the nobles of the senatours of Rome of the lignage of the noble grygoys Ryche of good puyssaunt of seygnorye at Rome She was the most humble of all other For lyke as the sonne surmounteth the clerenes of the sterres so surmounted she the bounte of other by her grete humylyte whan her husbond was passed out of thys world she abode lady of all the goodes and Rychesse It happed that atte mandement of themperour many bysshoppis cam to Rome emonge whom were there the holy man paulynus the patryarke of Anthyoche And Epiphanus bysshop of cypre of whom she was esprysed in good vertues so that she gaf largely of her goodes for goddes sake her parentes ne her frendes ne her owne chyldren coude not torne her ne to make her to chaunge her purpose but that she wold become the pilgryme of Ihesu cryst For thamerous desyre that she had to Ihesu cryst surmouÌ„ted the loue that she had to her chyldren Onely emong all her chyldren she had put her affectioÌ„ in eustochiuÌ„ her doughter whome she lad wyth her in thys pylgremage She toke the see and saylled so ferre that she cam in to the holy lande of Iherusalem O how grete deuocion she had to vysyte the holy sepulcre of Ihesu cryst and the other holy places and how all wepyng she kyssed them ther can noman reherce alle Alle the cyte of Iherusalem coude speke of it And yet best of alle knewe the lorde for whos loue she had forsaken all thynge She had be at rome so puyssaunt and so noble that euery man coueyted to doo to her honour for her grete renoÌ„mee but she that was fouÌ„ded vpon humylyte sought the huÌ„ble places and relygions and cam atte laste to bethleem And whan she had deuoutly vysyted the place in whych the vyrgyne marye enfaunted and childed Ihesu cryst she fyll in a vysion And as she sware to me that she sawe in that vision the chyld wrapped in poure clowtes lyeng in the cribbe or in the racke and how the thre kynges worshipped hym how the sterre cam vpon the hows and how the shepherdes cam to see hym and how herodes made persecucion vpon the Innocentis and how Ioseph bare the chyld in to egypte And thys vysion she said alle in wepyng and in lawhyng and sayd I salewe the bethleem wherin he is born that descended fro heuen Of the prophesyed mychee the xv chapytre That of the shold be born the god that shold gouerne the peple of Israhel And the lygnage of dauid shold endure in the vnto the tyme that the gloryous virgyne shold enfaunte Iesu cryst and I wretched as vnworthy to repute me
thaÌ„ god is not worthy to be with god A man that semed to be her frende sente her word on a tyme that she had grete nede to kepe wel her brayne For by cause of thardeur that she had in vertues she semed to be out of her witte And she answerd In thys world we be reputed as fooles for the loue of Ihesu cryst And our lord said to his appostles the world hateth you For ye be not of the world yf ye were of the world that is to saye of the conuersion of the world the world shold loue you Fayr lord god we mortyfye our self allewaye and we be reputed as sheep that be brought to deth by cauâ—â— that without playnyng we mortefye our bodyes In suche pacience was she vnto the deth and suffred humbly thenuye of them that were euyll She had in her mynde the holy scriptures And she helde her more to the spyrituel vnderstondyng than to thystoryes of the scripture She coude parfyghtly hebrewe greke latyn frensshe and redde coursably the scriptures in thyse foure langages who may recounte wythout wepyng the deeth of this woman She fylle in a maladye mortall and sawe wel that she shold deye For all her body bycam cold And she felte that her spirite helde her in her brest Thenne said she wythout playnyng and with out hauyng ony charge sauf to god Fayr swete lord I haue coueyted the beaute of thy hous for to be in thyn habytacion that is so fayr My sowle hath desired to be in thy Royame And whaÌ„ I demaunded her wherfor she spack nomore And she wold not answere me and I asked yf she suffred grete payne she said to me in grekis tongue that she was wel and in good peas And anone she lefte spekyng te me and closed her eyen in sayeng to god Lord lyke as the herte desireth to come to the fontayne so desireth my sowle to come to the Alas whan shal I come to the fayr lord god And in sayeng thyse wordes she made a crosse vpoÌ„ her mouth There were bysshoppis prestes clerkes chanones and monkes wythout nombre And atte laste whan she herd her spowse Ihesu cryst whyche callid her sayeng Aryse and come to me my swete loue and fayr espowse For the wynter is passed she answerd gladly the flowres ben shewde in our contrey And I byleue that I shal see the goodes in the Royame of heuene of my lord Ihesu cryst And thus she rendred her sowle and passed out of thys world And anone all the congregacioÌ„ of vyrgynes made no crye in wepyng as don the peple of the world but redde deuoutly their psaltier not only vnto the tyme that she was buryed but all the day all the nyght with grete payne coude not EustochiuÌ„ her venerable doughter the virgyne be withdraweÌ„ fro her but she kyssed her and embraced her pyteously in wepyng the deth of her moder And Ihesus wytnesseth that saynt paulyne left not one peny to her doughter she hadde so gyueÌ„ almesse of alle her grete Rychesse many gyue largely for goddes sake but they gyue not somoche but somÌ„e abydeth whan she was passed as said is her lyppes ne her face were not pale but was as reuerent to loke on as she had ben yet alyue She was buryed in a sepulture in bethleem wyth right grete honour bÌ„y the bysshoppis preestis clerkes monkes vyrgyns and all the poure peple of the contrey whyche playned that they had loste their good moder that had nourisshed them She lyued in Rome holyly xxxiij yere And in bethleem xx yere And alle her age was liij yere vij monethes and xx dayes fro the tyme of honoure Emperour of Rome Thenne late vs praye to thys holy woman that she praye for vs Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Pawlyne Here foloweth of saynt Iulien the bysshop And first the interpretacion of hys name IUlien is as moche to saye as Iubilus Syngyng and ana that is an hye And therof Iulyen as goyng to hye thynges in syngyng Or it is said Iulius that is as moche to saye as not wyse and anus that is old For he was old in the seruyce of god and not wyse in reputacion of hym self SAynt Iulyen was bysshop of cenomanence It is said that it was he that was said SymoÌ„ the lepre wham our lord heled of hys meselâ—rye and bad Ihesu cryst to dyner And after thascencion of our lord he was ordeyned of thappostles bysshop of Emaus full of grete vertues he appyered to the world he reysed thre dede meÌ„ and after he ended hys dayes in grete preysyng of god Of thys saynt Iulyen somÌ„e saye that this is he that pylgryms and weyfaryng men calle and requyre for good herberowe by cause our lord was lodged in hys hows but it semeth better that it is he that slewe hys fader and moder ignorauÌ„tly of whom thystorye is here after Ther was another Iulyen born in almayne whyche was of noble lygnage and yet more noble in fayth and in vertue whyche for the grete desire that he had to be martir he offrid hym self to the tyrauntis where he had not forfayted Now it happed that crispmus whyche was one of the gouernours of rome sente to hym one of hys mynystres for to put hym to deth anon as the mynystre cam to hym he yssued out of hys place And cam to fore hym And offred to hym to suffre deth And hys heed was smeten of And they toke the hede and shewde it to saynt Feryel that was hys felowe And sayd they wold so doo of hym yf he sacrefyed not And by cause he wold not obeye to them they slewe hym And toke the heed of saynt Iulyen and the body of saynt Feryoll and buryed them bothe in one pytte And a grete whyle after saynte mamertyne bysshop of vyane fonde the heed of saynt Iulyen bytwene the handes of saynt feryol also hoole as it had be buryed that same day ¶ â—mong the other myracles of saynt Iulyen it is said that a deken toke alle the whyte sheep that were of the chyrche of saynt Iulyen And the shepherdes defended them but he sayd to them that saynt Iulyen ete neuer no motoâ— And anon after a feuer toke hym so grete and hooot that he knowleched that he was of the martir so brente And he dyde water to be caste on hym for to cole hym And anon yssued out of hys body suche a fume and smoke and therwith so grete a stenche that all they that were present were constrayned to flee and anon after he deyde ¶ Another myracle happed of a man of a vyllage that on a sâ—nday wolde ere hys londes and whan he toke the share to make clene hys cultre hyt cleuyd to hys hond and two yere after atte prayer of saynt Iulien in the chyrche he was helâ—d ¶ Ther was another Iulyen whyche was brother to one named Iulie Thyse two brethern wente to themperour Theodose whyche was a very crysten man
maystres of that science Now it happed on a day that as hys maistre was oute he began allone to rede thynuocacions And a grete multitude of feendis cam aboute hym and made hym aferd and he made the signe of the crosse and anon they vanysshed away And whaÌ„ his maistre was retorned he told hym what was happend to hym but his maistre said to hym that alleway he had hated fered that signe whan theÌ„ne he was emperour he remeÌ„brid the rof by cause he wold vse the craft of deuyll ouerall where he fonde the signes of the crosse he destroyed theÌ„ persecuted crysten men by cause that he knewe well that otherwyse the feendes wold not doo for hym Now it happed that he descended in to a regyon that is called perside And fro thens he sente in to thoccident a deuyl for to haue answere of that he sayd to hym And this deuyl wente abode x dayes in one place wythout meuyng by cause ther was a monke contynuelly in prayer nyght day And whan he myght not doo he retorned Thenne Iulien demanded hym where he had ben so longe he answerd I haue ben in a place where I fonde a monke nyght daye prayeng And I supposed to haue troubled hym that he shold nomore pray And all this whyle I coude neuer torne hym fro his prayer And thus I am retorned wythout doyng ony thyng Thenne Iulien thapostata had grete Indignacion sayd whan he cam thider he wold auenge hym of the monke And whan he wente in to perse the deuylles promysed hym that he shold haue victorye of a cyte The maister of enchantemens whyche deuyned by the deuyl for hym said to a crysten man what dooth the smythis sone he said that he made a sepulture for Iulyen his maistre and as it is redde in thistorye of saynt basille he cam in cesarâ—e of capadoce And saynt basille cam ayenst hym presented thre louys to hym whyche he sente to hym And Iulien had grete Indygnacion of this yefte And for the breed he sent to saynt basille heye sayeng Thou hast sente to me mete for dombe beestis therfor take this that I sende to the Saynt basille said we haue sente to the suche as we ete thou sendest to vs of that thou nourisshest thy beestis with Of whiche answere Iulien was wroth said whan I shal haue don in perse I shal destroye this cyte in suche wyse that it shal be better ordeyned for to ere and sowe than peple to dwelle in and the nyght syewyng saynt basille sawe in a vision in the chyrche of our lady that a grete multitude of angellis and in the myddle of them a woman beyng in a trone whyche said to them Calle to me mercurye whom Iulien thappostata hath slayn whyche blasplemeth me and my sone Mercurye was a knyght that for the fayth of god had be slayn of Iulyen and was buryed in the same chyrche Thenne anone Mercurye with alle his Armes that were kept was present And at the comandement of the lady he wente to bataylle Seynt basylle awoke all affrayed And wente to the tombe where the knyght was buryed in And opened the sepulcre but he fonde neyther body ne Armes Thenne he comanded of the kepar who had take away the body And he sware that in the euen to fore it was there Saynt basylle after on the morn retorned and fonde the body the armures and the spere all blody And anone cam one fro the bataylle whyche sayd that Iulyen thapostata and Emperour was in the bataylle And thyder cam a knyght vnknowen all armed wyth hys spere whych hardyly smote hys hors wyth hys spores and cam to Iulyen themperour and brandysshyd his swerd and smote hym thurgh the body and sodenly he departed and was neuer after seen to gydres And yel whan he shold dye he toke hys hand ful of blood and caste it in to the ayer sayeng ¶ Thou hast vaynquysshed man of Galile thou hast ouercomen And in cryeng thus myserably he espyred and deyed in grete payne and was left wythout sepulture of all hys men And he was flayn of the perses And of hys skynne was made to the kyng of perses a vndercoueryng And thus he deyed cursedly Thus enden the lyues of foure holy sayntes euerich named Iulien And of one that was a fals Apostata Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Ignacien bysshop And fyrst thynterpretacion of hys name IGnacien is said as one suffryng fyre and brennyg For he was embraced and alle esprysed of the deuyne and brennyng loue of god ¶ Of saynt Ignacien Saynt IgnacieÌ„ was disciple of saynt Iohan Euangelist And was bysshop of Anthioche And after that as somÌ„e saie he sente a lettre vnto our lady or an epistle in this wise vnto marye the virgyne that bare IhÌ„u cryst in her body I humble Ignacien her seruauÌ„t sende gretyng I that am yet a nouyse In the fayth dysciple to Ihesu cryst to IohÌ„n thy dere frende desyre to haue of the somÌ„e comforte and consolacion of som good enseygnemÌ„t and techyng For of Ihesus thy sone I haue herde saye many merueylles of whiche I am enioyed to here only of the which hast ben alleway in his companye thou knowest wel the secret desires of hym thou hast be playnly enformed And they that be yet yong in the fayth with me truste moche to be endoctryned of the enformed in their creaunce and byleue lady god salewe the And to this lettre answerd the gloryous virgyne marye in this manere Ignace good disciple of Iesus his especyal frende the humble handmayd of IhÌ„u cryst sendeth to the gretyng I doo the to wete that all that IohÌ„n hath sayd to the of Ihesu cryst And all that thou hast lerned of hym is trewe doctryne thyng certayne Goo alleway in good creaÌ„ce byleue kepe fermly the promesse of thy crystyn fayth and doo thy werkes acordyng to the same I shal come wyth IohÌ„n for to visite the other cristen meÌ„ with the hold the alleway well in the fayth in good werkes And late no persecucioÌ„ ne aduersite that thou shal suffre moeue the fro thy fayth ne fro thy creaunce but haue solaas affyaunce in IhÌ„u crist thy sauyour This was thanswere of his lettre Saynt Ignacien was a man right wel lerned And the thyrde bysshop after saynt peter thappostle of the chirche of Anthyoche And moche desired to be a martir for the faith of Ihesu crist It happed that Traian whych was emperour of Rome passyd by Anthioche To whom Ignace shewed to hym blamed of thys that he persecuted crysten men wherfor themperour dyde hym to be taken and put in yrons And in that wyse by x knyghtes to be ladde to Rome There he was presented to fore themperour and alle the senatours of Rome And was constrayned by promesses by menaces And by tormentis many grete and horryble for to adoure
thydolles Saynt Ignace shewd to them clerely that theyr goddes had ben theuys Rybauldes and men of abhomynable euyl lyf And that they were dampned in helle And that they had ben in grete errour in thys that of so cursid men they made theyr goddes and worshypped deuyllys and had forsake god whyche had made and created all the world And hys blessyd sone whyche in humayne nature had redemyd and sauyd the world Fynably after thys that he had be tormented by fyre by betyng pryson Themperour dyde sende for the romayns in a place and there dyde do sette saynt Ignace And dydde doo brynge theder two lyons for to deuoure hym but he had neuer drede for deth ne for other tormentes of whyche he had suffred many but was alleway cōforted for to deye for the loue of Ih̄u crist and he said atte laste I am wheete of Ihesu cryst whyche ought to be groūden bytwene the teeth of thyse bestes by whych I may be pure brede for to be presented to my lord And anon the lyons cā strangled hym wythout treryng of hys flessh or ony thyng hurtyng it wherfor traian had grete merueylle and departed fro the place It is redde that saynt Ignace in alle hys tormentes and alle the paynes of martirdom that he suffred that his tongue neuer ceassed to name the name of Ih̄us And whan they that tormented hym demanded hym wherfor he named this name so ofte he answerd knowe ye for certayn that I haue in my herte thys name wreton◠¶ And therfor I may not leue to name thys name ofte And by cause herof whan he was deed they that herd thyse wordes opened hys body drewe out his herte cut it open And they fonde wyth in the name of Ihesu wreton wyth fayr lettres of gold ¶ For whyche myracle many receyued the fayth of Ihesu cryst ¶ Of thys saynt sayth saynt bernard vpon the psalme Qui habitat Saynt Ignace martir of god gloryous is of grete meryte whyche was mynystre to the dyscyple that Ihesus so moche louyd And in hys epystles the whyche he sente to the gloryous vyrgyne marye he salewed her as moder that had born Ihesu cryst And she resalewed hym agayn in sygne that he was a persone of grete honour of grete dygnyte and of of grete Auctoryte The body of whom was honourably buryed of crysten mē to the worshyppe of Ihesu cryst which is blessyd in secula seculorum Amen Here endeth the lyf of saynt Ignacien And here foloweth the puryficacion of our lady POstquam impleti sunt dies purgacionis marie secundum legem moysi tulerunt Ihesum in Iherusalem luce secundo capitulo Th auncyent lawe had his cours vntil the tyme that god hath suffred deth for vs And whan he deyde on the crosse he sayd Iohannis nono capl̄o Consummatum est That is to saye alle thyng is fynysshed and ended that hath be wreton of me whyche lawe he kepte duryng hys lyf as it is wreton I am not comen for to breke the lawe In whych he gaf vs example of humylyte and of obedience lyke as saynt Poul saith In lyke wyse our lady for tobeye to the lawe bare her swete sone Ihesu Cryst vnto the temple of Iherusalem after the xl daye of hys byrthe for to offre hym to god and for to gyue offryng for hym suche as in the lawe was ordeyned that is to wete a payr turtellis or two douues was thoffryng of poure folke lyke as it is wreton Our lord whyche in alle caas cam to make our sauacion dayned not only to humble hym self and descende fro his royame and becam man mortall semblable to vs Also he dayned to be born of a poure woman And was poure for tenriche vs and drawe vs out of the myserye of thys world to the richesse permanable ¶ And we that ben poure by cause of our synnes and wythout Richesses of good vyrtues ¶ So worthyly shold we come and be atte feste of our lord we shold offre to hym that whyche by the offryng is signefyed The douue whiche is of her nature symple wyhout galle And the turtle naturelly chaste ¶ For whan she hath loste her make she wyl neuer haue other make And wyth that she taketh the wepyng for her songe we ought to offre to our lord in stede of ij douues one symple wyll and a good Intencion wythout reteynyng in our herte ony galle of angre or of hate toward our neyhbour For as our lord sayth yf thyn eye be symple all thy werkes shal be in light ¶ And herof sayth saynt Iohan theuangelist in thapocalipse The cyte nedeth no sonne ne mone to shyne in it For the clerenes of god shal enlumyne it And hys lanterne in lambes The lambe is the lyght by the lambe whyche is symple is signefyed to vs a symple conscience and ryghtwys whyche maketh true Iugement of thyntencion For all werkes ben good or euyl yf they be doon in euyl entencion or by ypocrysye they ben euyl and wythout prouffyt lyke as sayth Ihesu cryst yf thyn eye be euyll Alle thy body shal be derke by the eye is vnderstande thentencion with goodnes symple And debonairte signefieth by the douues we ought also to offre a payre of turtles to our lord that is to saye a chast lyf and a very entenciō to leue our synnes the whiche is signefyed to vs by the chasttete of the turtle ¶ And by her wepyng the contricion As Bede saith Contricion ought to begynne in drede and ende in loue For the sowle faithful whan she remembreth her synnes in her conscience ¶ She wepeth for the drede of the paynes of helle that she hath deseruyd and thus offreth she to god a turtle And whan she hath wepte ther cometh to her an hope to haue mercy and pardon of her synnes And thys hope conceyued of drede in hym a loue of god to serue and to be in hys companye So that that soule that ought to synge wepeth for loue whyche hath delyuerd her so sone fro the paryllis and myseryes of thys world and for to come to the swete companye of our lord And thus offreth she that other turtle in wepyng wyth dauid the prophete the longe pylgremage that she hath made in the myseryes of thys world sayeng Heu me quia incolatus meus prolongatus est For whan she begynneth to thynke after the Ioyous companye of Angellis and of the sowles that ben in heuene And what Ioye and deduyt that they haue in the ouerdesirous syght of our lord Thenne alle the world greueth them and desireth to be delyuerd fro the faytes of the body for to goo in to the companye of thyse holy sowlis And also that saynt Symeon which by reuelacion of the holy ghoost cam in to the temple of Iherusalem in the same houre that the blessyd virgyne brought her dere sone for to offre hym And the holy ghoost had shewd to hym that to fore that he
shold deye corporally he shold see Ihesu cryste comen in to therthe the whyche byrthe he knewe longe byfore to be shewed by the prophetes ¶ And whan he sawe Ihesu cryst brought in to the temple anone he knewe hym by the holy ghoost to be very god and very man And toke hym bytwene hys Armes and sayd fayr lord god late thy sergeant and seruaunt from hensforth be in peas ¶ And suffre that after thys reuelacion shewed to me I may departe and deye for to be delyuerd fro the euyllis of thys world ¶ For myn eyen corporell and spyrytuell hath seen thy blessyd sone Ihesu cryste whyche shal saue the creatures humayne fro theyr synnes the whyche thou hast made redy and ordeyned to fore the face of alle creatures humayne for to be lyght to alle peple by hys doctryne tenlumyne and take away derknesses that is to saye of theyr ydolatrye After thys that ysaye the prophete hath prophecied of hym Populus genaū qui ambulabat in tenebris cetera the peple of gētilis or paynems which walkyd in derknessis to worshyppe ydollis and deuyllys for very god saw a grete light whan they yssued fro their synnes by the doctryne of Ih̄u crist whiche cam also to the glorye of the Iewes For they receyued hys syght bodyly lyke as was promysed them by the wytnesse of the prophetes by which they myght gloryfye them of this that theyr ryghtful kynge was born emōg them and conuersed bodyly in theyr contrey ¶ And saynt Symeon said Nunc dimittis seruum tuun domine c̄ Syre lete thy seruant in pees after thy word For myn eyen haue seen thy helthe whyche thou hast made redy to fore the face of all peples that is light to the reuelacion of paynems and to the glorye of thy peple of Israhel Ihesu cryst is called pees helth light and Ioye Peas by cause that he is our moyen and our aduocate Helthe For he is our redemer Lyght for he is our enformer And glorye for he is our gouernour ¶ Thys feste is called candelmas And is made in remembraunce of thoffryng that our lady offryd in the temple as sayd is And euerych beryth thys day a candel of waxe brennyng whyche representeth our lord Ihesu cryst lyke as the candel brennyng hath thre thyngis in it that is to wyte the waxe the weyke and the fyre Ryght so be thre thyngis in Ih̄u cryst that is the body the sowle and the godhede ¶ For the waxe whyche is made of the bee purely wthout companye and myxtionn of of one bee with another signefyeth the body of our lord Ihesu cryst And the fyre of the candele signefyeth the dyuynyte of Ihesu cryst whiche enlumyneth alle creatures And therfor yf we wyll appiere in thys feste to fore the face of god pure and clene and acceptable we ought to haue in vs thre thyngis whyche be signefied by the candell brennyng that is good deedis trewe fayth wyth good werkis And lyke as the candell without brennyng is deed Ryght so fayth is deed without werkis as saynt Iame saiths For to byleue in god without obeyeng hys comādementis prouffyteth nothyng And therfor sayth saynt gregorye The good werke ought to shewe withoutforth that thyntencion abyde good withinforth the herte wythout sechyng within ony vayne glorye to be alowed and praysed And by the fyre is vnderstonden charyte Of whyche god sayth I am comen to put fyre in therthe and whom I wylle I wylle brenne Thys feste is called the puryficacion of our lady not for that she had nede ne ought make her purificacion For she was pure and clene wythout hauyng of ony tatche of dedely synne ne venyal lyke as she that had without companye of ony man by the vertue of the holy ghoost conceyued the sone of god and was delyueryd with out leesyng of her virgynyte So she cam wyth her blessid sone atte fourty daye after hys natyuyte for tobeye the comandement of the lawe after the manere of other wymen whyche had nede of purificacion And also for to shewe to vs thexample of humylite he is very humble that is worthy to be praysed for hys vertues Thys gloryous lady is quene of heuene and lady of angellis neuerthebes she is pure and humble emonge the wymen lyke as a poure woman wythout makyng ony semblant of her grete humylyte ne of the hye mageste of her sone wherof saynt bernard sayth in thys maner O who may make vs to vnderstonde gloryous lady the thought of thyn herte that thou haddest emonge the seruyses that thou madest to thy blessyd sone in gyuyng hym souke in leyeng doun and reysyng whan thou sawest a lytyl chyld of the born on that one parte of that other syde thou knowest hym to be god almyghty And nowe thou byleuest and seest hym create that had created alle the world Now thou seest hym feble as a chyld whyche is alle myghty and alle puyssaunt Now thou fedest hym that alle the world fedeth And now thou seest hym not spekyng that made man and speche O who shold conne shewe here vpon the secretes of thyn herte how sauoured thy corage whan thou heldest thy chyld bytwene thyn armes whom thou louedest as thy lord And kyssed hym as thy sone who shold not merueylle of thys myracle whan a virgyne and a a clene Mayde hath enfaunted and chylded her maker and lord of all the world To hym lete vs adresse our thoughtes and enbrace we this child of one very byleue whome we ought to loue by cause he hath humbled hym self for vs And to doubte hym by cause he is our Iuge and our lord to whos comandementes we owe tobeye yf we wyll be saued ¶ We rede an example of a noble lady whiche had grete deuocion in the blessid virgyne marye and she had a chappell in whyche she dyde doo saye masse of our lord dayly by her chapelayn It happed that the day of the purificacion of our lady her chappelayn was oute so that thys lady myght that day haue no masse And she durst not goo to another chyrche by cause she had gyuen her mantel vnto a poure man for the loue of our lady she was moche sorowfull by cause she myght here no masse And for to make here deuocions she wente in to the chapelle and to fore th aulter she knelyd doun for to make her prayers to our lady And anon she fyl a slepe in whyche she had a vision And her semed that she was in a chyrche and sawe come in to the chyrche a grete companye of vyrgyns to fore whome she sawe come a right noble virgyne crowned right preciously And whan they were all sette eche in ordre cam a companye of yong men whyche satte doun eche after other in ordre lyke the other After entred one that bare a burthen of candellis And departed them to them aboue first and so to eche of them by ordre he gaf one And atte laste cam
this man to thys lady aforsayd and gaf to her also a candell of waxe The whyche lady sawe also come a preest a deken a subdeken all reuestyd goyng to th aulter as for to saye masse And her semed that saynt laurence saynt vynceÌ„t were deken and subdeken And Ihesu crist the preest And two angellis beryng to fore them candellis And two yong angellis began the Introyte of the masse And alle the companye of the vyrgyns songe the masse And whan the masse was songe vnto thoffryng her semed that thylke virgyne so crowned wente to fore and after all the other folowed and offrid to the preest knelyng moche deuoutly theyr candellis And whan the preest taryed for thys lady that she shold also haue comen to thoffryng The gloryouse quene of virgyns sente to her to saye that she was not curtoys to make the preest so longe to tarye for her And the lady answerd that the preest shold procede in hys masse forth for she wold kepe her kandell and not offre it And the gloryouse vyrgyne sente yet ones to her And she said she wold not offre her candelle The thyrde tyme the quene said to the messager goo and praye her that she come and offre her candell or ellis take it from her by force The messager cam to thys lady And by cause in no wyse she wold not come offre vp her candell he sette honde on the candell that thys lady helde and drew faste and she helde faste And so longe he drewe and haled that the candelle brake in two pyeces And that one half abode stylle in the hand of the lady aforsaid whyche anon awoke and cam to her self and fonde the pece of the candell in her honde wherof she moche merueylled and thanked our lord and the gloryouse vyrgyne marye deuoutly whyche had suffred her that day not to be wythout messe And all the dayes of her lyf after she kepte that pyece of that candle moche preciously lyke an holy relyque And alle they that were touchyd therwyth were guarysshed heled of theyr maladyes and sekenessis Late vs pray thenne humbly to the gloryous vyrgyne marye whyche is confort to them that forsake their synnes that she wyll make our peays to her blessyd sone and Impetre and gete of hym remyssion of all our synnes And after thys lyf to come to the glorye Ioye of heuene to the whyche brynge vs the fader the sone and the holy ghoost Amen Here endeth the purificacion of our lady Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Blase and first of hys name BLase is as moche to saye as glosyng or it is sayd as belacius of bela whiche is habyte sius whyche is to saye lityl And thus he is sayd glosyng by the swetenes of hys word meke by hys habyte of vertues And lytyl by humylyte of maners of conuersion ¶ Of the lyf of saynt Blase SAynt Blase was so swete holy and humble in maners that the cristeÌ„ men of capadoce of the cyte of Sebaste chees hym to be a bysshop The whyche whan he was bysshop sawe that dioclesian themperour made so many ê‘secucucions to crysten men that saynt blase sought and wold dwelle in an hermytage in a dyche in whyche place the byrdes of heuene brought to hym mete for to ete And it semed to hym that they cam to serue hym and accompanye hym And wold not departe fro hym tyl he had lyft vp hys hande and blessyd them And also sekemen cam to hym And anon were cured and heled Now it happed that the prynce of thys region sente hys knyghtis to hunte And they coude take noo thyng but by aueÌ„ture they cam vnto the deserte place where saynt blase was where they founde grete multitude of beestes whyche were aboute hym Of whom they coude take none wherof they were all abasshed and shewd this to theyr lord The whyche anon sente many knyghtes for hym And comaÌ„ded to brynge hym and alle the crysten men with hym And that nyght IhÌ„u cryst appiered to hym thryes which said to hym Aryse vp and make to me sacrefise Lo here ben the knyghtes that come to fetche the atte comandement of the prynce And the knyghtes sayd to hym Come out fro thys place The president calleth the And saynt Blase answerd my sones ye be wel come I see now wel that god hath not forgeten me he wente with them and contynuelly prechyd And dyde many myracles to fore them Ther was a woman that had a sone deyeng in whos throte was a bone of a fysshe thwart whyche estrangled hym And she brought hym to fore hys feet prayeng hym that he wold make her sone hoole And saynt blase put hys honde vpon hym and made hys prayer to god that thys chyld and alle they that demanded benefettes of helthe in hys name that they shold be holpen and opteyne it And anon he was hool and guarysshed Another womaÌ„ ther was that was poure whyche had a swyne whyche the wulf had born away And she humbly prayd to saynt blase that she myght haue agayn her swyne And he began to smyle sayd good woman Angre the not For thou shalt haue agayn thy swyne And anon the wulf brought agayn to the woman whyche was a wydowe her swyne And anon after he was entrâ—d in to the cyte the prynce comaÌ„dâ—d 〈◊〉 put hym in pryson And after another daye he made hym to come to for hym whom he salewed by fayr wordes sayeng to hym be thou Ioyefull blase the frende of god Saynt blase answerd to hym Be thou Ioyous right good prynce but calle not them goddes whom thou worshipest but feendis For they ben delyuerd to fyre perdurabâ—e wyth them that serue and worshype â—â—em Thenne was the prynce moche wroth And made to bete saynt blase wyth staues and after to put hym in pryson Thenne sayd saynt blase O mad man wenest thou by thy tormÌ„tis and paynes to take away fro me the loue of my god whome I haue wyth me and is my helpar And whan thys good wydowe whyche by saynt blase had recouerd her swyne herd herof she slewe hit and the heed and the feet with a litil brede a caÌ„dell she brought to saynt blase And he thanketh god ete therof he said to her that euery yere she shold offre in hys chyrche a candell And knowe thou that to the and to all them that soo shal doo shall wel happen to them And so she dyde all her lyf and she had moche grete prosperyte After thys that the right cruell prynce had brought hym to fore hys goddes in no wyse myght make hym enclyne for to adoure to their hoddes he made hym to be hanged on a gyâ—et and hys body to be torn wyth combes of yron And thys don he was remysed agayn to pryson And ther were vij wymen that siewed hym whyche gadred vp the dropes of hys blood whyche wymen anon were taken and constrayned
comforted and heled me After foure dayes quyncianus made her to be brought to fore hym in Iugement and sayd to her that she shold doo sacrefise to thydollis She answerd thyse wordes ben vayn and thy comandemeÌ„tis euyl they make the ayer to stynke he is moche meschaunt that byleueth in a stone and wythout entendement And leueth our lord the very god that hath heled me and hath restored to me agayn my pappes Quincianus demanded her who is he that hath heled the She saide Ihesu crist Quincianus said namest thou yet IhÌ„u cryst She answerd I shal haue in my herte Ihesu cryst as longe as I shal lyue Quincianus said yet shalt thou see yf he may helpe and hele the And thenne he made her all naked to be rolled vpon brennyng brondes And anon the grounde where the holy vyrgyne was rolled on began to tremble lyke an erthe quaue and a parte of the walle fyl doun vpon syluayn counseyllour of quyncianus and vpon fastion hys frende by whos counseyll she had be so tormented And thenne all the cyte of Cathanence was abasshyd And the peple cam rennyng vnto the hows of Quincianus sayeng in a grete bruyt that the cyte was in a grete paryll for the tormentis that he dyde to saynte Aghate Quincianus redoubted the bruyte of the peple And went â–ª out by hynde comanded that she shold be remysed in pryson whan she cam in to the pryson she Ioyned her handes holdyng them vp to heuenward and sayd in prayeng ¶ Lord god Ihesu cryst whyche hast created me of nought And sith my yougth hast kept me hast suffred me to lyue wel in my yougth which hast taken fro myn herte the loue of the world and hast made me to ouercome the tormentis and hast lente me pacience emong the paynes I pray the that thou take my speryte For it is tyme that thou make me to departe fro thys world and to come to thy mercy Thys â—ryson and prayer made she an hye to fore many persones and anon after she gaaf vp the ghoost and rendred her sowle The yere of our lord ijC and liij in the tyme of decius themperour of Rome After thys the crysten peple toke the body for to burye it worshipfully And whylis they arayed it wyth oynementis for tenbawme the corps Anone cam a yong man clad in silke and wel an hondred that folowed hym richely clothed which were neuer to fore seen in the cyte ne neuer after also thys yong man whoÌ„ folowed the fayr companye sette hym on that one side of the tombe in whiche the body shold be put And whan the body was enbamed wythin the tombe thys yong man sette atte hede of the body a shorte table of marble stone in whyche was wryton thys scripture Mentem sanctam spontaneam honorem deo patrie liberacionem whyche is as moche to saye The holy saynt Aghate had alleway holy thought and pure And gaf honoure to god wyth a free wyll in all her werkis And pourchaced by her prayers peas and delyuerauÌ„ce to all the contreye After that the table conteynyng thys scripture was sette at her hede the yong man and all his companye departed fro the tombe beyng closed wythout appyeryng ony more afterward wherfore it is supposed that thys yong man was her good angele Thys was publysshyd ouerall wherof the Iewes and sarasyns began to synge and worshyppe the sepulcre of the tombe of saynt aghate Quincianus the prouost deyde of an euyl deth in the waye as he wente for to seche the goodes and Rychesses of saynt Agathe and also for to haue taken her parents And neuer after coude be knowen wher hys body be cam And for to preue that she had prayd for the sauacion of the câ—ntrey Atte the begynnyng of feuerer the yere after her martirdom ther aroos a grete fyre and cam fro the montayne toward the cyte of Cathanence and brente the erthe and stones it was so feruent Thenne ranne the paynems to the sepulcre of saynt agathe and toke the cloth that laye vpon her tombe and helde it abrode ayenst the fyre And anon on the ix day after whyche was the day of her feste ceassed the fyre as sone as it cam to the cloth that they brought from her tombe shewyng that our lord kepte the cyte from the sayd fyre by the merytes of saynt agathe To whome praye we that she by her prayers may gete and Impetre grace of our lord to be kept from all parillis of fyre in thys world And whan we shal departe hens teschewe the perpetuell fyre and to come to the glorye Ioye in heuene amen Here endeth the lyf and passyon of saynt Agathe Of saynt Amande and fyrst thynterpretacion of hys name AMande is as moche to saye as amyalle For he had in hym thre thynges that make a man amyable The first is to be courtoys and gracious in companye As salamon sayth in his prouerbes the xix chapitre Vir amabilis ad societatem The second is to be honest in conuersacion as it is sayd of hester hester secundo Quod omnibus oculis amabilis videlatur The thyrde is to be vertuons in fayth of prowesse as it is sayd in the book of paralipomenon the second chapytre Saul Ionathas amabiles et decori Of the lyf of saynt amande SAynt amand was born of noble fader and moder On a tyme he entred in to a monastery And as he walked and wente in the chyrch he fonde a grete serpente whom by the vertue of hys prayer and wyth the signe of the crosse he made hym to yssue out And to entree in to the grete pytte out of whyche he neuer yssued after And after saynt amande cam to the sepulcre of saynt martyn and there abode xv yere where he lyued wyth barle brede and water and ware alleway the hayer After that he wente to rome And wente in to the chyrche of saynt peter and abode there by nyght the kepar of the chyrche put hym out right rudely And saynt peter appyered to hym as he laye and slepte to fore the chyrche dore And sente hym in legacion in to fraunce where he fonde the kyng dagobert the whyche he repreued strongly of hys synnes The kynge was angry and put hym out of hys Royame After whan the kynge had no sone he made hys prayer to god that he myght haue one And god sente hym one And whan he was born he thought moche sorowed who shold baptise hym And it cam vnto his mynde that he wold that saynt Amande shold baptyse hym Saynt amaÌ„de was sought and brought to the kyng and assone as he was come the kynge fyl doun to hys feet and prayd hym that he wold pardone hym of that he had trespaced to hym And that he wold baptyse hys sone And saynt amande graunted benyngly to the kyng his request the first peticion but not the second request for he dredde that he wold haue desired
For he was moche debonayr humble and mercyful to riche and poure and to grete and smale wel may he apperceyue that redeth his wrytynges how ofte he complayned of thys grete charge that he was charged wyth alle to whyche he sayd he was not worthy therto and also he myght not here that ony shold preyse hym ne in lettres ne in wordes And alleway he was in grete humylite and acounted hym self more meke and lowe after that he was pope than to fore in so moche that he was the first of the popes that wrote seruus seruorum dei that is seruaūt of the seruantis of god he had grete cure and was besy to conuerte synnars he made and compyled many fayr bookes of whyche the chirche is gretly enlumyned he was neuer ydle how wel that he was alleway seke he conuerteth the englisshe peple to the crysten fayth by thre holy men and good clerkys that he sente thyder that is to wyte Augustyn mellitus and Ioh̄n for to preche the fayth And by cause the mortalyte cessyd not he ordeyned a procession in the whyche he dyde do bere an ymage of our lady which as is sayd saynt luke the euangelyste made whyche was a good payntour he had coruen it paynted after the lykenesse of the gloryouse virgyne marye And anon the mortalyte cessed and thayer becam pure and clere And aboute thymage was herd a voys of angellis that songen thys Antheme regina celi letare c̄ And saynt gregory put therto Ora pro nobis deum alleluya At the same tyme saynt gregory sawe an angele vpon a Castelle whyche made clene a swerd alle blody and put it in to the shethe And therby saynt gregory vnderstode that the pestylence of thys mortalite was passed and after that it was called the castell Angell Saynt gregory dyde euery day so grete almesse that many in the contre aboute were nourisshid by hym whom he had by name wreton And also the monkes that dwellyd in the mount Synay had of hym theyr sustenaunce Emonge alle other almesses that he dyde he gouerned thre thousand virgyns to whom he sente euery yere four score pound of gold and also he founded to them an abbeye in Iherusalem ¶ And sente to them that therin were suche thynge as they lacked Euery day had he poure men to dyner On a tyme it happed that he toke the lauour for to gyue water to a pylgrym for to wasshe hys hondes by grete humylite and anon the pylgrym vanysshyd a way wherof saynt gregory had merueylle The nyght after our lord appiered in a vysion and said to hym The other dayes thou hast receyued me in my membres but yesterday thou receyuedest me in my persone Another day saynt gregory comaunded to hys dyspenser that he shold brynge to dyner xij poure men And whan saynt gregory and the poure men were sette atte mete he tolde atte table syttyng xiij poure pylgryms And demaunded of hys dyspenser why he had don aboue hys comandement to brynge in moo than xij persones And anon the dyspenser all abasshyd wente and told the poure men and fonde but xij and sayd to saynt gregory holy fader ther be no moo but xij and so many shal ye fynd and nomoo Thenne considerid saynt gregorye that one of the pylgryms that sette next to hym ofte chaunged hys vysage For ofte he semed yong and after old And after dyner saynt gregory toke hym by the honde and brought hym in to hys chambre and prayd hym that he wold telle hym hys name And he answerd wherfor demādest thou my name which is merueyllous neuertheles knowe thou wel that I am the same poure maronner to whom thou gauest the dyssh◠of siluer in which thy moder was wonte to sente the potage And knowe for certayn that sith that day that thou dydyst to me that almesse god hath destyned the to be pope And sayd more ouer I am thangelle of god and he hath sente me hyther to the to be thy deffendour procurour of that whiche thou woldest demande and Impetre of hym And after this the angele vanysshed away And in that tyme ther was an heremyte an holy man whyche had lefte and forsaken all the goodes of the world for goddes sake and had reteyned nothyng but a catte wyth whyche he playde ofte and helde it in hys lappe delyciously On a day it happed that he prayd god deuoutly that he wold wouch◠sauf to shewe to hym to what saynt he shold be in lyke Ioye in heuen by cause for his loue he had left all the world and renounced vpon thys god shewd hym in a vysion that saynt gregory and he shold haue lyke Ioye in heuene And whan he vnder stode thys he syghed sore and preysid lytyl hys pouerte whyche he had longe suffred and born yf he shold haue lyke meryte whyche habounded so gretly in seculer Rychesse vpon this ther cam a voys to hym whyche said that the possession of richesse maketh not a man in this world riche but the ardour of couetyse Thenne be stille thou darest thou compare thy pouerte to the rychesse of saynt gregory whyche louest more thy catte with whom thou cessest not to stroke and playe than saynt gregory doth all his richesses for he seesseth neuer to gyue almesse for goddes sake Thenne theremyte thanked almyghty god and prayd that he myght haue hys meryte and reward with saynt gregory in the glorye of peradys On a day it happed that saynt gregory sange masse in the chyrche of saynt Marye Maior And whan he had said Pax dominj sit semper vobiscum Anone thangele sayd Et cum spiritu tuo and fro than forthon the pope ordeyned a stacion in that chyrche euery yere on ester day And whan thenne he sayd in hys masse Pax dominj c̄ none shal answere in remembraunce of this myracle In the tyme that Traian themperour regned one as a tyme he wēte toward abatayll out of Rome it happed that in his way as he shold ryde a woman a wydowe cam to hym wepyng and sayd I pray the sire that thou auēge the deth of one my sone whiche Innocently and wythout cause hath be slayn Themperour answerd yf I come agayn fro the bataylle hool and sounde thenne I shal doo Iustyce for the deth of thy sone Thenne said the wydowe Syre and yf thou deye in the bataylle who shal thenne auenge his deth And themperour sayde he that shal come after me And the wydowe sayd is it not better that thou do to me Iustyce and haue the meryte therof of god than another haue it for the Thenne had traian pyte and descended fro hys hors and dyde Iustice in auengyng the deth of her sone On a tyme saynt gregory wente by the market of Rome whyche is called the market of traian And thene he remembred of the Iustice and other good dedes of traian and how he had ben pyteous and debonayr and was moche sorowful
the man fyl doun anon to the ground by cause he mocqued the holy and man deyde anon A knyght that was vexed with the deuyl was brought to saynt benet for to be heled And saynt benet put hym out and after sayde to the knyght Goo and fro hensforth ete nomore flessh and goo nomore to none ordre For what day thou goost takest ordres the deuyl shal reentre in to the Thys knyght helde hym longe tyme wythout takyng ony tyl atte laste he sawe yonger than he that wente to ordres And had forgete the wordes of saynt benet and toke ordres And anon the deuyl entryd in to hys body and tormented hym tyl he deyde Ther was a man that sente to saynt benet ij flagons of wyn but he that bare them hydde that one And presented that other wythout more whaÌ„ saynt benet had receyued the presente he thanked hym moche and sayd to hym Fayr brother take good hede how thou shalt doo wyth that whyche thou hast hyd and drynke not therof For thou knowest not what is therin Thenne he was asshamed and so confused wente from hym And whan he cam to the place where he had hyd it he wold wyte what was therin lyke as saynt benet had told to hym and bowed it a lytyl and anon a serpent yssued out ¶ It happed on a tyme that saynt benet ete and a yong man whyche was sone to a grete lord helde to hym a candel and began to thynke in hys herte who is thys that I serue I am sone vnto a grete man hyt apperteyneth not that one so gentyl a man as I am be seruant to hym whan saynt benet sawe by experience the pryde that aroos in thys monke he called another monke and made hym to holde the candell And after sayd to hym what is that thou hast blesse thy herte brother blesse it god forgyue it the Now thou shalt serue me nomore goo in to thy cloystre and reste the there Ther was a man of the kyng of gothes whyche was named Zallas which tormented ouer cruelly the crysten men by cause he was of the secte of tharryeÌ„s in suche wise that where he fonde clerkes or monkes he slewe them Thenne it happed on a day that he tormented a uylayn or a carle for the couetyse of hys good whan the carle sawe that he wold take all he gaf all that euer he had to saynt benet Thenne left Zallas to tormente hym a lytyl but he bonde hym wyth the reynes of hys brydell droof hym to fore and he rode after tyl that he cam to thabbaye of saynt benet and bad hym that he shold shewe to hym this benet whan he cam theder he saw saynt benet stonde to fore the gate allone studyed in a book theÌ„ne sayd the vylayne to the trauÌ„t Loo ther is benet that thou demaundest after whan Zallas had loked on hym cruelly lyke he had ben acustomed he had supposed to haue delt wyth hym lyke as he had doo wyth other crysten men And sayd to saynt benet Aryse vp anone and delyuer to me the goodes of thys carle whyche thou hast by the whan saynt benet herde he lyft vp a lytyl hys eyen and beâ—â—lde the carle that was to fore hym And anon by grete meruaylle hys armes were vnbounden And whan the carle sawe hym self vnbounden he stode to fore the tyrant Appertely wythout drede And anon Zallas fyl doun to the feet of saynt benet and recomanded hym to hys prayers And neuer for al thys left saynt benet to rede on hys book but called hys monkes and comaÌ„ded that his mete shold be brought to hym and the monkes dyde so And sith bare it away Thenne admonested saynt Benet the tyraunt and sayd to hym that he shold leue hys cruelte and hys wodenes And he deê‘ted neuer after that day he demanded of vylayn ony good ne of the man that saynt benet had vnbouÌ„den only by his sight ¶ It happed ouer alle champayne where as he dwellyd that so grete famyne was in the contre that moch peple deyed for hungre thenne alle the breed of thabbaye faylled and ther was wythin but v loues for all the couent whan saynt benet sawe that they were abasshyd he began debonairly to chastyse warne them that they shold haue theyr hertes on hye to god and sayd to them Wherfore are ye in so grete mesease for brede yf ye haue no ne thys day ye shal haue to morn now it happed that on the morn they fonde at theyr yate two honderd muddes of mele whyche were proprely sente fro god For neuer man wyst fro whens they cam whan the monkes sawe that they thanked god and lerned that they ought not doubte ne of habundaunce ne of pouerte ¶ It happed on a tyme that saynt benet sente hys monkes for to edefye an abbaye and sayd that at a certayn day he wold come see them and shewe them what they shold doo Thenne the nyght to fore that he had sayd to come he appyered to the maystre and to hys monkes and shewed to them alle the places that they shold bylde but they byleuyd not thye vysion and supposed it had be but a dreme Thenne whan they sawe that he cam not they retorned and sayd to hym Fayr fader we haue abyden that thou sholdest haue comen to vs lyke as thou promysest vs thenne answerd he what is that ye saye remembre not ye that I appyeryd to you that nyght that I promysed you enseygned and told how ye shold doo Goo your way and doo in suche wyse as I deuysed to you in the vysion ¶ Ther were two nonnes nyghe vnto hys monasterye whyche were of moche noble lygnage whyche were moche talkatyf and restrayned not wel theyr tongues but tormented ouermoche hym that gouerned them ¶ And whan he had shewed this to saynt benet he sente them word that they shold better kepe scilence and rule theyr tongues or he wold curse them but they for alle that wold not leue it And so anon after they deyde and were buryed in the chyrche And whan the deken cryed in th ende of the masse that they that were acursed shald goo out of the chyrche the nourisse that had nourisshed them and that euery day had offred for them byhelde and sawe that whan the deken sange so they yssued out of theyr sepulcres and wente out of the chyrche ¶ And whan saynt benet knewe herof he offred for them hym self and assoylled them Thenne after that whan the deken said so as a fore they neuer yssued out after as theyr noucices had seen them ¶ Ther was a monke goon out for to see hys fader and moder wythout lycence and blessyng of hys abbotte And the day after he cam theder he deyd And whan he was buryed in therthe therthe caste hym out agayn And so it dyde twyes thenne cam the fader and moder to saynt benet and told hym how
the erthe threwe hym and wold not receyue hym and prayd that he wold blesse hym Thenne toke he the blessyd sacrament and made it to be leyde on the breste of the corps And whan they had doon so they buried hym and therthe drewe hym nomore out but receyued the body helde it ¶ Ther was a monke that coude not abide in the monastery prayd so moche to saynt benet that he lete hym goo was all angry and anon as he was out of thabbaye he fonde a dragon with open mouth And whan he sawe hym he had fere that he wold haue deuoured hym cried lowde Come hether and helpe me come hether For this dragon wil deuoure me theÌ„ne the monkes ranne but they sawe no dragon and brought agayn the monk treÌ„blyng syghyng thenne the monke promysed that he neuer wold departe fro thabbaye ¶ In a tyme ther was in that centre a grete famyne and all that euer saynt benet myght gete haue he gaue it to the poure peple in so moche that he had nomore in the abbaye but a lytyl oyle and he comanded yet to the celerer to gyue it to a poure man the celerer vnderstode hym wel but he gaf it not by cause ther was nomore in the couent And whan saynt benet knewe it he toke the vessel and cast it out of the wyndow was of glasse it felle on a stone brake not thenne he repreued the celerer of inobedience of a lityl hope that he had in god after he wente vnto hys prayers And anon a grete empty tonne that was there was full of oylle in so moche that it ranne ouer ¶ It happed an other day that saynt benet wente to visite hys suster named scolastica And as they satte atte table She prayd her brother that he wold abyde there al that nyght but he in no wyse wold graunte her and sayd he myght not lye out of hys cloyster ¶ And whan she sawe that he wold not graunte to her to abyde she enclyned her heed and made her prayers to our lord ¶ And anon it began to thoÌ„dre to lyghtne the ayer to wexe derke whyche to fore was fayr clere and a grete rayn fyl doun so that for nothyng he myght departe And lyke as she wepte wyth her eyen right so forthwyth the rayne and storme cam and thenne she lyft vp her heed TheÌ„ne saynt benet said to his suster almyghty god forgyue you that ye haue don For ye haue letted me that I may not departe hens And she said Fayr brother god is more curtoys than ye be For ye wold not accepte my prayer but god hath herd me now goo yf ye may And thenne saynt benet abode there all the nyght spekyng of god bytwene hym and hys suster wythout slepyng tyl they were bothe eased On the morn saynt benet wente to hys abbaye And on the thyrde day after he lyft vp hys eyen to heuen and sawe the sowle of hys suster mounte vp in to heuen in the lyknes of a douue And anon he dyde the body of her to be brought to hys abbaye and dyde it to be buryed in hys tombe whyche he had do made for hym self On a nyght as saynt benet was in hys pyayer at a wyndowe he sawe the sowle of saynt germayn bysshop of capes mounte in to heuen And lyke as a light sodayne that enlumyneth all the derknesses of the world so the light of that sowle gaf a grete light And after he knewe that the sowle of saynt germayn passed that same hour After thys whan tyme cam that saynt benet hym self shold deê‘te out of this world he shewd it to hys monkes sixe dayes to fore and dyde do make hys pytte and after that a feuer toke hym strongly whyche helde hym euery day and atte the sixthe day he dyde hym self to be born to the chyrche And there receyued the body of our lord Ihesu cryst And after emong the handes of hys dyscyples hys owen handes lyftyng vp to heuen in makyng hys oryson he rendryd hys sowle vnto hys creatour The same hour was a reuelacion shewd to two monkes For they sawe a way to heuen all couerd with palles man tellis of gold alle ful of torches brennyng whyche enlumyned alle the heuen whyche cam fro the celle of saynt benet vnto heuen And ther was a maÌ„ in a fayr habyte to whome thyse monkes demaunded what way that was And he answerd that it was the way by whyche saynt benet mounted vp to heuen ¶ Thenne the body of saynt benet was buryed in the oratorye that he had made of saynt Iohan where as was wonte to be the aulter of appollyn the xere of our lord vC and xviij To whom late vs praye deuoutly that he praye to our lord for vs that we may haue grace after thys lyf to come to euerlastyng blysse in heuen Amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt benet Abbote Here next foloweth the lyf of saynt Cuthberd of durham Saynt cuthberd was born in englond And whan he was viij yere old our lord shewd for hym a fayr myracle for to drawe hym to his loue For on a tyme as he pleyed atte the balle wyth other chyldren Sodenly ther stode emonge them a fayr yong child of the age of iij yere which was the fayrest creature that euer they behelde And anon he sayd to cuthberd good broder vse no suche vayne plaies ne sette not thy herte on them But for all that cuthberd toke none heed to his wordes And thenne thys chyld fyll doun and made grete heuynes wepte sore and wronge hys hondes And thenne Cuthberd and the other chyldren lefte theyr playe and comforted hym and demaunded of hym why he made suche sorow Thenne the chyld sayd to Cuthbert all myn heuynesse is only for the by cause thou vsist suche vayne playes for our lord hath chosen the to be an heed of holy chyrche And thenne sodenly he vanysshyd away And thenne he knewe veryly that it was an Angele sente fro our lord to hym And fro thenne forthon he lefte all suche vayne playes neuer vsed them more and began to lyue holyly And thenne he desired of hys fader that he myght be sette to scole and anon he drewe hym to parfyght lyuyng for he was euer in his prayers nyght and daye And most desired of our lord to doo that which myght plese hym and eschewe that shold dysplese hym and he lyued so vertuosly and holyly that all the peple had Ioye of hym and within a whyle after Aydanus the bisshop deyde And as cuthberd kept shepe in the felde he lokyd vp ward and sawe angellis bare the sowle of Aydanus the bysshop to heuen with grete melodye And after that saynt cuthberd wold nomore kepe sheep but weÌ„te anon to thabbaye of geruâ—us And there he was a monke of whome all the coueÌ„te were right glad and thanked our lord that had sente hym
hym self And it is supposed that hys passyon is founden in the book of geruase and prothase ¶ Of saynt vytal SAynt Vytal was a knyght and a consull and of valeria his wyf he gate saynt geruase saynt prothase he weÌ„t to rauenne wyth paulyne that was Iuge of the contree and whan he came thyder and sawe that thys paulyne made a physicien named vrsianum to suffre many tormentes bycause he wold not renye his feythe and at the last whan they wold haue byheded hym he was so a frayed that he wold haue renyed god Thenne sayd saynt vytal to hym Havrsyan doo not soo thou were wonte to hele other and now wylt delyuer thy self to perdurable dethe Thou were come to the vyctorye now thou arte in perylle to lose thy crowne whyche was redy for the whan thys physycien had herde thyse wordes he was al recomforted and repentyd of his euyl purpoos and suffred gladly marterdom And saynt vytal dyd do burye hym moche honourably ne neuer after wold saynt vytal not goo in the companye of the Iuge paulyn ¶ Thenne he had so grete Indygnacion of that he had dâ—fended vrsyan to make sacrefyse and of thys that he daygned not to come to hym And bycause he shewed hym a crysten man he dyd hym to be hanged by the armes on a gybette Thenne sayd to hym vytal thou arte ouermoche a fool yf thou wene to dysceyue me whiche haue alweye delyuerd the other Thenne sayd paulyn brynge hym for to doo sacrefyse And yf he doo hit not make a depe pyâ—tâ— vnto the water and put his heed there vnder and so they dyd and there buryed hym quycke in the yere of our lord lvij And the preest of thydolles that had gyuen thys counceyl was anone taken of the deuyl and cryed vij dayes contynuel and sayd Saynt vytal thou brennest me the seuenth day the deuyl threwe hym in the ryuer and there deyed shamefully And the wyf of saint vytal whan she came to melane she fonde there of hyr peple sacrefyeng thydolles which prayed hyr to ete wyth them of theyr sacrefyses to whome she answerd I am a crysten woman and it is not lawful to me to ete of your sacrefyses Thenne they heeryng that bete hyr soo longe and so sore that they lefte hir fordeed And hir men that were with hir broughte hir to melane halfe lyuyng and there the thyrd day she deyed holy And the body of saynt vytal lyeth now at coleyn in the chyrche of our lady ¶ Thus endeth The lyf of saynt Vytal ¶ Here foloweth The lyf of saynt Peter of mylane and first thynterpretacion of his name PEter is as moche to saye as knowynge or vnhosyng or peter is sayd of petros that is constaunte and ferme and by that ben vnderstonden thre preuyleges that Were in saynt Peter he was a moche noble prechour and therfore he is said knowyng For he had perfyte knowlege of scrypture and knewe in his predycacion what was behofful to eueryche Secondly he was pure and a vyrgyn and therfore he was sayd vnhosyng For he vnhosed and dyd of his wyll fro his feet and despoyled al mortal loue in so moche that he was a vyrgyn and not onely of body but also of mynde Thyrdly he was a marter glorious of our lord and therin he was constaunte and ferme to the ende that he shold suffre stedfastlye marterdom for the deffence of the feythe ¶ Of saynt peter of melane SAynt Peter the newe marter of thordre of the frere prechours was borne in the cyte of veronne in lombardye his fader moder were of the secte of tharryens Thenne he descendyd of thyse people lyke as the rose that cometh of the thorne and as the lyght that cometh of the smoke At the eage of vij yere whan he lerned at the scole his credo One his eme which was an heretyke demaunded of hym his lessoÌ„ the chylde said to hym credo tyl to creatorem celi et terre hys vncle said to hym that he shald nomore say so for god hath not made temporall thynges the chylde affermed that he oughte to saye none otherwyse but soo as he had lerned that other began to shewe hym by auctorytre his purpoos but the chylde whiche was ful of the holy ghoost answerd so wel wysely that his vncle departed al confus and alle achauffed said to the fader that he shold take aweye his sone fro scole for he doubted whan he shal be grete that he shold turne ageynst theyr lawe feyth that he shold confounde them and so it happed soo he prophecyed lyke as cayphas dyd but god ageynst whome none may do wold not suffre it for the grete prouffite that he attended of hym Thenne after whan he came to more eage he saw that it was no sure thynge to dwelle with the scorpyons he had in despyte fader and moder and lefte the world whyles he was a clere a pure vyrgyn he entred in to thordre of the frere prechours there where as he lyued moche holyly the space of xxx yere or theraboute ful of al vertues and especyal in deffendyng the feythe For loue of whyche he brente he dyd moche abstynence for to brynge hys flesshe lowe he fasted he entended to wake by nyght in studyeng and in prayer whan he shold haue slepte and rested And by day he entended to the prouffyte of the sowles in prechyng in confessyng and in counceyllyng in desputyng ageynste the heretykes and arryens And in that he had a specyal grace of Ihesu cryste For he was ryght sore founded in humylyte he was merueylously pyteous and debonayre ful of compassyon of gretâ— pacyence of grete charyte and of stedfastnesse So rype and so wâ—l ordeyned in fayre manere That euery man myght beholde as in a myrrour in hys contynence and in hys conuersacyon He was wyse and dyscrete and soo enprented in his herte that alle hys wordes were ferme and stable Thenne he prayed many tymes to our lord that he wold not lete hym deye but by suffrance of marterdom for hym and for hys faythe And thus as he prayed god accomplysshed in the ende He dyd many myracles in his lyf For in the cytee of melane on a tyme whan he examyned a bysshop of the Arryens that the crysten men had taken and many bysshoppes relygyous and grete plentee of other peple of the cyte were there assembled and was thenne right hâ—te This arryan said to saynt Peter tofore them al O thou peter peruerse yf thou arte so holy as this peple holdeth the fore wherfore suffrest thou thys folysshe peple deye for hete and prayest not god that he wold shadowe them Thenne saynt peter answerd and sayd yf thou wylt promyse that thou shalt holde the veray feythe and thou wylt loue thyn heresye I shal praye therfore to our lord thenne al they that were on the partye of the arryens cryed that he shold promyse hym for they
and fasted alweye his vygyl Now it happed that she offred a candell to th aulter of saynt peter and anone the preest for his couetise quenchyd the candel but anone after the candel was lyhht ageyn by hym self he quenched it ageyn ones or twyes alle weye as sone as he was gone it lighted anone ageyn thenne he lefte that put out another candel which a knyght had offred in thonour of saynt peter whiche knyghte fasted also hys euen and the preest assayed ij tymes yf he myght put it out but he myght not Thenne said the knyght vnto the preest what deuyl seest thou not well the myracle that saynt Peter wyl not that they be quenchyd Thenne was the preest abasshed all the clerkes that were there with hym in so moche that they fledde out of the chirche tolde the myracle oueralle There was a man called roba whyche had lost hys gowne and alle the money that he had whan he came vnto hys hows and sawe hym self in soo grete pouerte he called the deuylles and gaue hym self to them thenne came to hym thre deuyls whiche cast doun roba vpon the solyer after toke hym by the necke it semed that they wold haue estrangled hym in suche wyse that he vnothe myght speke whan they that were in the hows bynethe herde hym crye they went to hym but the deuylles said to them that they shold retorne they had supposed that roba had sayd so retorned and after anone he began to crye ageyn thenne apperceyued they wel that they Were the deuyls fette the preest which coniured in the name of saynt Peter the deuyls that they shold goo their waye Thenne two of them wente awaye and the thyrd abode his frendes brought hym on the morne to the chyrche of the freres Thenne there came afrere named guyllam of versel this frere guyllame demaunded What was hys name the fende answerd I am called buthsephast thenne the frere commauÌ„ded that he shold goo out anone the fende called hym by his name as he had knowen hym said guyllam guyllam I shal not gone out for the for he is oures and hath gyuen hym self to vs thenne he coniured hym in the name of saynt peter the marter thenne anone he went his waye the man was all hoole toke penaunce for his trespace was after a good man Saynt peter whiles he lyued it happed that he dysputed with an heretyke but this heretyke was sharpe aygre soo full of wordes that saynt peter myght haue of hym none audyence whan he sawe that he departed fro the dysputacion wente prayed our lord that he wold gyue to hym place and tyme to susteyne the feythe that the other myght be stylle speke not whan he came ageyn he fonde this heretike in suche caas that he myght not speke Thenne the other heretykes fledde al confused and the good cristen men thanked our lord The day that saynt peter was marterd a nonne that was of the cite of florence sawe in a vysyon our lady that styed vp in to heuen with her two persones one on the ryght syde that other on the lyfte in the habyte of freres whiche weren by hir whan she demaunded who it was A voys said to hyr that it was the sowle of saynt Peter And was founden certeynly that same day he suffred deth therfore thys Nonne whiche was grouously seek prayed to saynt peter for to recouer her helthe and he gate it for hir entyerly There was a scoler that wente fro maloygne vnto monpellyer in lepyng he was broken that he myght not goo Thenne he remembryd of a woman that was helyd of a cancre by a lytel of the erthe of the sepulcre of saynt peter anone he had truste in god and cryed to saynt peter in suche manere as she had doon anone he was hoole In the cyte of compostelle there was a man that had grete leggys swollen lyke a barelle his wombe lyke a woman with chylde and his face foule horryble so that he semed a monstre to loke on and it happed that he wente with a staffe beggyng his breed and in a place where he demaundd on a tyme almesse of a good woman she sawe hym so swollen that she said that it were better for hym to haue a pytte to be buryed in than ony other thynge For he was no better than dede yet neuerthelesse sayd she I counceyl the that thou goo in to the chirche of the frere prechours praye saynt peter that he make the hoole and haue in hym veray faythe I hope he shal make the al hole This seek man wente on the morne to the chyrche but he founde it shette closed Thenne he slepte atte dore he sawe in his slepe that a man in the habyte of a frere broughte hym in to the chyrche And couerd hym wyth his cope whan he awoke he fouÌ„de hym self in the chirche was perfytely hole Wherof moche peple merueyled by cause they had seen so shorte tyme tofore hym like as he shold haue deyed forthwith There be many mo myracles which were ouer grete a laboure to wryte al for they wold ocupye a grete book theÌ„ne lete vs praye to thys holy marter saynt Peter that he praye for vs ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Peter the marter ¶ Here foloweth of saynt Phelip thappostle fyrst of thynterpretacyon of his name PHelyp is as moche to saye as the mowthe of a lampe or the mouthe of handes or it is sayd of philos that is as moche to saye as loue and of ypus that is to saye souerayn so phelyp is as moche to saye as loue of souâ—rayne thynges thenne is it said mowthe of a lampe for his clere prechyng and mowthe of the handes for hys besy werke loue of thynges souerayn for his celestyal loue and contemplacion Of the lyf of Saynt phylyp SAint phylip whan he had preched in sychye by the space of xx yere he was taken of the Paynyms whiche wold constrayne hym to make sacrefise to ydolles whiche was called mars theyr god anone vnder thydol yssued out a right grete dragon whiche forthwith slewe the bysshoppes sone that apoynted the fyre for to make the sacrefyse the ij prouostes also whos seruauÌ„tes helde saint phylip in yron bondes and the dragon corrupted the peple with his breethe that they al were seek saynt philyp said beleue ye me breke thys ydol sette in his place the crosse of IhÌ„u crist after worshyp ye it they that been here dede shal reuyue al the seek peple shal be made hole they that were seek cryed to saynt philip and said yf thou mâ—y do so moche that we may be guarisshed hole we shal gladly doo hit anone saynt philyp commauÌ„ded the dragon that he shold
ye adoure suche goddes Whan themperour herde this chylde thus speke he doubted to be ouercomen of hym and commaunded that his heed shold be smyten of and so he was marterd aboute the yere of our lord two hondred foure score and fyue whos body a worshypfull lady named Octouylla whiche was of the senate with grete dylygence buryed honourably And of hym sayd Gregory of turone doctour that yf there be a man that wyl make a false othe in the place of his sepulcre tofore or he come to the chauncel of the quyre he shal be trauaylled wyth an euyl spyryte and out of his mynde or he shall falle on the pament alle deed It happed on a tyme that there was a grete altercacyon bytwene two men And the Iuge wyste not who had wrong for the ialousye of Iustyse that he had and he brought them bothe vnto the aulter of saynt Peter for to swere prayeng the appostle that he wold declare who had right And whan he that had wronge had sworen and had none harme the Iuge that knewe the malyce of hym sayd al on hyghe ¶ This olde peter here is eyther ouer mercyful or he is proâ—yce to thys yonge man but lete vs goo to Pancrace and demaunde we of â—ym the trouthe and whan they came to the sepulcre he that was culpable sware and stratched forthe hys honde but he myght not wythdrawe hys honde ageyn to hym and anone after he deyed there And therfore vnto this day of moche peple it is vsed that for grete and notable causes men make theyr othes vpon the relyques of saynt Pancrace Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Pancrace Here foloweth of saynt urban and first thynterpretacion of his name VRbanus is sayd of vrbanyte that is curtosye or it is sayd of vr that is to saye fyre or lyght and bana that is to saye responce or answere he was lyght by honest conuersacion fyre by charyte answere by doctryne Or he was light for the light is good to beholde and it is Inmateryal in essence in settyng celestyal and proffytable in werkyng And thus thys saynt was amyable in conuersacion Inmateryal in despysyng the world celestyal in loue of god prouffytable in predycacion ¶ Of Saynt Urban SAynt vrban was pope after saynt calixte the crysten people were in hys tyme in ouer grete persecusyon but the moder of the emperour whome orygene had conuerted prayed soo moche her sone that he lefte the crysten peple in pees Neuerthelesse there was one almachyus prouoste of Rome and was there pryncypal gouernour of the cyte And had cruelly smyton of the heed of saynt cecyle This man was meruaylously cruel ageynst crysten men And dyd dylygently enquyre where Saynt Vrban was And by one of his seruauntes naâ—ed carpase he was founden in a derke place and a secrete with thre preestes and thre dekenes He commaunded to put hym in pryson and after he dyd hym to be brought tofore hym and accused hym that he had deceyued fyue thousand peple with saynt cecyle and the noble men tyburse valeryan and made al them do sacrylege And aboue this he demaunded hym the tresone of saynt cecyle and of the chyrche To whome vrban sayd I see now that couetyse moeueth the more to persecute the crysten men than doeth the sacrefise of thy goddes The tresour of saynt cecyle is ascendyd in to heuen by the handes of poure peple Thenne dyd he doo bete saynt vrbane wyth plommettys and also his felowes wyth hym he praysed the name of god Elyon And the tyraunt smylyng sayd this olde felowe wold be reputed wyse For he speketh sayth wordes that he vnderstondeth not and whan he sawe that he myght not ouercome hym he commaunded hym and sente hym to pryson ageyn where as saynt vrban conuerted thre captayns of the towne with the kepar of the pryson whiche was named anolyn And baptysed them whan the tyraunte herde that anolyn was bycomen crysten he dyd doo brynge hym tofore hym and by cause he wold do no sacrefyse to his goddes he dyd do smyte of his heed and whan saynt vrban and his felowes were brought tofore thydollys to the ende that they shold sacrefyse and sence tofore the goddes Saynt vrban began to make his oryson to god and anone thidolle fyl doun and slewe xxij preestys of the lawe that helde fyre for to make sacrefyse Thenne were they beten cruelly and after brought for to make sacrefyse and thenne they spytte in thydolle and after maad the signe of the crosse in theyr forhedes kyssed eche other and receyued capytal sentence that is to say they were beheded and so suffred dethe vnder alisaunder the emperour whiche began to regne the yere of our lorde two hondred and twenty ¶ And anone after carpasyus was taken of the fende in blasphemyng his goddes and in magnefyeng the crysten men ageynste his wylle he was strangled of the fende whiche thynge his wyf seeyng callyd marmenye with hir doughter lucye and alle hir howsholde receyued baptesme of Saynt Fortune preest And after that the bodyes of the sayntes were right honourably buryed Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Urban Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Pernelle and first the interpretacion of his name PEtronylla is sayd of Petens that is demauÌ„dyng and of thronus that is a trone or a sete as who sayth she was demaundyng the trone or sete of vyrgynes ¶ Of saynt Pernelle SAynt Pernelle whos lyf saynt marcelle wryteth was doughter of Saynt peter the appostle whyche was right fayre and bewteous and by the wylle of hir fader she was vexyd wyth the feuers and axes It happed on a tyme that the dysciples dyned wyth saynt peter and one tytus sayd to hym peter how is it that alle seek peple ben helyd of the and thou suffrest Pernelle thy doughter lye seek To whome saynt Peter sayd for it is expedyent to hyr for to be seek Neuerthelesse by cause it shal not be Imputed Impossybylite of hyr helthe for to be excused by my wordes he sayd to hyr aryse pernelle hastely serue vs whyche anone aroos al hool and mynystred and serued them And whan the seruyse was al doon complysshed Peter said to hir pernâ—lle goo ageyn to thy bedde who anone wente ageyn to hir bedde and the feuers vexyd hir as they dyd tofore and where as she began to be perfyte in the loue of god so he helyd hyr parfytely Thenne was there an erle callyd flaccus which came to hyr and for hir beaute wold haue hir vnto hys wyf To whome she answerd yf thou desyrest me to haue vnto thy wyf coÌ„mauÌ„de thou certeyn vyrgyns to come to me for to accompanye me vnto thyn hows And whyles he was besy to make redy the sayd maydens saynt pernelle sette hir self in fastynges and prayers and receyued the holy body of our lord and reclyned in to hyr bedde and after the thyrd day she deyed and passyd out of thys world
sanctoruÌ„ wherin thys holy saynt dunston had grete ioye he had a special grace of our lord that suche heuenly ioyes and thynges were shewed to hym in thys wretchyd world for his grete comforte and after this he became alle seek and feâ—le and vpon holy thorsday he sente for al his brethern and asked of them foryeuenesse and also forgaue them alle trespaces â—nd assoyled them of al theyr synnes aâ—d the thyrd day after he passed out of this world to god ful of vertues the yere 〈◊〉 our lord ix hâ—ndred lxxxviij and hys sowle was borne vp to heuen with 〈◊〉 songe of aungels al the peple heryâ—â— that were at his dethe and his â—â—dy lyeth at caunterburye in a worshypâ—â—l shryne where as our lord sheweth 〈◊〉 his seruaunt saynt dunston many 〈◊〉 and grete myracles wherfore our lord be praysed world wythouten ende amen Here endeth the lyf of Sayâ—t dunston Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Aldelme SAynt aldelme the confessour was borne in englond his fader hyght kenton he was broder vnto Iue kyng of this londe and whan kyng Iue was dede kenton was made kynge after hym and thenne this holy chylde aldelme was sette to scole in the hows of malmesburye where afterward he was maad abbot And thenne he dyd there grete ceste in byldyng and dyd doo make there a ful ryal abbey and whan the 〈◊〉 herde of his grete holynesse he sent for hym to come to rome whan he was there the 〈◊〉 welcomed hym was moche glad of his good lyuyng and tâ—ere he abode longe tyme with the pope and gate ful grete pryuyleges and lybertees to the hows of malmesburye in suche wyse that no bysshop in englond shold uysyte ne haue to doo there ne the kynge to lette them of theyr free elâ—â—cion but chese theyr abbot emonge the couent them self and whan he had goten alle this of the pope he was full glad and ioyeful and lyuyd there ful holyly longe tyme And on a day as he said masse in the chirche of saynt Iohan latrans and whan masse was doon there was no man that wold take his chesyble fro hym at the ende of the masse and thenne he sawe the sonne beme shyne thorugh the glasse wyndowe henge his chesybâ— theron wherof al the peple merueyled greteâ—â— of that myracle and the same châ—sâ—â—le is yet at malmesburye the câ—lour therof is purple and within shorte tyme after he came ageyn in to englond brought with hym many preuylegys vnder the 〈◊〉 seal which after kyng 〈◊〉 confermed alle that the pope had gâ—â—unted to the hows of malmesbury Tâ—is was aboute the yere of our lord seuen hondred and vj â— And that tyme thâ—re fyl a grete varyaunce emonge the bysshoppes of this loÌ„de for the holâ—yng of ester day but saynt aldelme mâ—ad a book that alle men shold knoâ—â— for euer whan estern day shall 〈◊〉 the whiche book is yet at malmesburye And that abbay he dyd do make in the worshyp of our blessyd lady And brightwold that was archebysshop of caunterburye herde of aldelmus holy lyuyng and he sente for hym to be his counceyllour and they lyued to gyder ful holyly longe tyme and eche was ful glad and ioyeful of other And on a day as they stood at the sâ—e syde by douer castel they sawe a shyp laden with marchaundyse not ferre fro them and saynt aldelme callyd to them to wyte yf they had ony ornament longyng to holy chirche within theyr shyp to selle but the marchauntes had dysdaygne of hym and thoughte he was not of power to bye suche thynges as they had to selle and departed from the holy man but anone fyl on them soo grete a tempest that they were in paryl for to perysshe and thenne one of hem said we suffre this trouble bycause we had dysdayne of the wordes of yonder holy man and therfore lete vs all mekely desyre hym to praye for vs to our lord Ihesu cryste they dyd so and anone the tempest cesed and theÌ„ne they came to this holy man and brought to hym a ful fayre byble the whiche is yet at malmesbury vnto this day and foure yere before his deth he was maad bysshop of dorset by the archebysshop of caunterburye and by other bysshoppes but within shorte tyme after he deyed and lyeth buryed at malmesburye there as he was abbot And after that saynt egewyn came to offre 〈◊〉 his tombe feteryd with chaynes of yron faste locked fro thens he wente so to rome to the pope alwey weryng tho feteris whiche was to hym grete payne god rewarde hym his mede ¶ And Saynt Aldelme or he deyed cursed alle them that dyd ony wronge in brekyng of the preuyleges of the sayd abbey of malmesburye and them that helpe the hows to mayntene goddes seruyce shall haue goddes blessyng and his And whan he had layen longe in the erthe he was translated and layed in a ful ryche shryne where as our lord sheweth dayly for hys holy seruaunte many fayre myraclâ—s Thenne lete vs praye saynt Aldelme to praye for vs vnto our lord god that we may in thys wretchyd 〈◊〉 of â—his world soo bewayle our synnes and amende our lyuyng that we may come to euerlastyng lyf in heuen amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Aldelme Of Saynt austyn that brouÈt crystendom in to englond SAynt austyn was an holy monke and sente in to englond to preche the faythe of our lord Ihesu cryste by saynt gregory thennâ— kyng pope of rome the whyche had a grete zele and loue vnto englond as is reberced alle alonge in his legende hâ—w that he sawe children of englond in the marlet of rome for to be solde whiche we 〈◊〉 fayre of vysage for whiche cause he demaunded lycence and opteyned to goo in to Englond for to conuerte the peple therof to crysten feythe And he beyng on the weye the pope deyed and he was chosen pope was countremaunded came ageyn to rome And after whan he was sacred in to the papacye he remembryd the royame of englond and sente saynt Austyn as heed and chyef other holy monkes preestes with hym to the nombre of xl persones vnto the royame of englond as they came toward englond they came in the prouynce of Andegauence purposyng to haue restyd alle nyght at a place called pounte Say a myle fro the cyte and ryuer of ligerym but the wymmen scorned and were so noyous to them that they droof theym out of the towne and they came vnto a fayre brode elme and purposyd to haue restyd there that nyght but one of the wymmen which was more cruel than the other purposed to dryue them thens came so nyghe them that they myght not reste there that nyght And thenne Saynt Austyn toke hys staffe for to remeue fro that place and sodeynly his staffe sprange out of hys honde with a grete vyolence the space of thre furlonges thens and there styked faste
shewed in the tyme of constantyn the grete whaÌ„ pees was in the chyrche by a mayde whyche had ben one of her chamberers that tho yet lyued and were had of al the people in grete deuocion They suffred marterdom aboute the yere of our lord CCC and thyrty vnder alysaunder Thus endeth the lyf of saynt quyryn his moder Iulitte Here foloweth the lyf nexte of saint maryne MAryne was a noble vyrgyn was one onely doughter to hir fader wythout broder or suster after the deth of hir moder hir fader entryd in to a monastery of religyon chauÌ„ged thabbyte of hys doughter so that she semed was taken for his sone not a woman theÌ„ne the fader prayed thabbot his brethern that they wold receyue his onely sone whome at his Instaunce they receyued for to be a monke was called of them al brother maryne he began to lyue right religyously to be moche obedyeÌ„t whan she Was xxvij yere hir fader approched toward the dethe he callyd his doughter to hym confermyng hir in hir good purpoos commaundyng hyr that in no wyse she shold shewe ne doo be knowen that she were a woman and thenne hir fader deyed she went oftymes to the wood wyth the carte to fetche home wood and by cause it was ferre fro the monasterye other whyle she lodged in a good mannes hows whos doughter had conceyued a chylde by a knyghte And whan it was perceyued she was therof examyned who had begoten that chylde and she sayd that it was the monke maryne had leyen by hir and goten it and thenne anone the fader and moder wente to the abbay and maad a grete compleynte and a grete clamour to thabbot for his monke maryne TheÌ„ne thabbot beyng herof sore abasshed sente for maryne and demauÌ„ded of hym why he had doon so horryble a synne And he mekely answerd and sayd holy fader I aske of our lord mercy for I haue synned Thenne the abbot heryng thys was moche angry for the sorowe and shame commaunded anone that he shold be put out of the hows And thenne this maryne ful paciently wente out of the monasterye dwellid at the yate thre yere lyued straytly wyth a morsel of breed a day and whan the chylde was wened fro the moders pappe it was sente to thabbot and he sente it to maryne bad hym kepe suche tresour as he had broughte forthe and thenne he toke mekelye pacyently the chylde and kepte it with hym there two yere Al thyse thynges he toke in grete pacyence in al thynges gaue to our lord thankynges atte last the brethern had pyte on hym consyderyd his humylyte pacyence dyd so moche to thabbot that he was taken in to the monasterye and al the offyces that were moste foule were enioyned to hym for to do he toke it all gladly and alle thynges he dyd pacyently and deuoutely and at the laste beyng ful of vertuous lyf she deyed and departed out of this world Whan they shold take vp the body and wasshe it for to dyspose hyt to be buryed they sawe that she was a woman alle they were astonyed and aferde and knowleched that they had trâ—spaced gretely in the seruaunte of god Thenne they ranne alle for to see the syght asked foryeuenes of theyr ygnoraunce and trespaas Thenne bare they the body of hyr in to the chyrche And there honourably they buryed it ¶ Thenne she that enfamed the seruaunte of god was taken and vexyd wyth a deuyl And knowlechyng hyr synne came to the sepulcre of the blessyd vyrgyne and there was delyuerd and made al hool To whos tombe the people oueral there aboute came and assemblyd there our lord shewyd many myracles for hys blessyd vyrgyn maryne she deyed the xiiij kalendys of Iuyl Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Maryne ¶ Here folowen the lyues of saint geruase and prothase and firste of the ynterpretacion of their names â—Eruase is sayd of gerar whiche is as moche to say as a vessel or holy or of gena that is to say strauÌ„ge and of syor that is lytel For he was holy by meryte of his lyf a vessayl for to receyue vertues in hym self straunge by despysyng of the world and he was lytel by despysyng of hym self Prothays is sayd of prothos why che is as moche to say as fyrst and of syon that is dyuyn Or prothas may be sayd of procul that is ferre and of stasis that is sette that is to say he was fyrst by dygnyte he was dyuyn by dyleccion and ferre sette fro worldly affecaon And Saynt Ambrose fonde theyr passyon wryten in a book founden in the sepulture at theyr heed Of saynt geruase prothase SAynt geruase and saynt prothase were brethern of one burthen of fader and moder theyr fader was saynt vytal and theyr moder the blessyd valerye which gaue all theyr goodes vnto the poure for the loue of god and dwellyd with saynt nazaryen whiche made a right fayr oratoyr in the cyte of hebredune And a chylde named celsus bare to hym the stones and yf nazaryen had thenne the childe celsus or none I wote neuer For the hystorye of nazaryen reherced that celsus was offryd to hym longe after and whan they were offryd and ladde to nero the emperour thys chylde celsus folowed them muche sore wepyng and one of the knyghtes buffeted and smote hym and nazaryen thenne blamyd hym Thenne the knyghtes in a grete angre bete defowleden nazaryen vnder theyr feet and after they put this celse wyth the other in pryson and after that they threwe hym in to the see and ladde geruase and prothase to melan And nazaryen was delyuerd by myracle and came to melan In that tyme there came thyder the erle astase whiche wente in batayle ageyn them of marcomannos whiche came ageynst hym Thenne the kepers of the ydolles came to hym said that theyr goddes wolde gyue none answer but yf geruase prothase shold fyrst offre to them and do sacrefyse ¶ Thenne anone were they broughte and ledde for to sacrefyse and thenne geruase sayd that all the ydolles were deef and dombe and that he shold requyre helpe of almyghty god ¶ Thenne the erle was wrothe and commauÌ„ded hym to be beten with scorges of leed so longe tyl he gaue vp his spyrite and so suffryd dethe Thenne he commaunded prothase to be brouÈt to hym to whome he said thou cursyd wretche now thynke to saue thy lyf and deye not an euyl dethe with thy broder To Whome prothase sayd who is a wretche I that drede the not or thou that dredest me To whome of tasyus sayd how shold I drede the wretche To whome prothase sayd In that thou dredest me that thou sholdest be hurte by me yf I made not sacrefyse to thy goddes yf thou dreddest not to be hurte of me thou woldest neuer compelle me to the sacrefyse of ydollys
gyue ensaumple of baptesme to al peple and thenne in humylite and pacyence he baptysed our lord and wysshe hym where he had neuer fylthe And al by holy mysterye on whome the holy ghooste dyscendyd vysybly in lykenes of a downe And the voys of the fader was herde sayeng here is my wel belouyd sone in whome I am plesyd Thenne our lord was thyrty yere olde fro hys natyuyte and xiij dayes begynnyng of the xxxj yere On that same day our lord chaunged water in to wyne in chana galylee And thys suffyseth for the natyuyte of saynt Iohan baptest and the resydue of his lyf and of his dethe shall be sayd at the feste of his decolacyon by the grace of god who brynge vs to his blysse Amen ¶ Thus endeth the natiuite of saint Iohan Baptiste ¶ Th lyf of Saint Loey SAynt Loye was borne in the contre of lymoges his fader was named eucherye and his moder terrigia what tyme his moder was conceyued with hym she sawe in hir slepe an egle flee ouer hir bedde and thryes bowed and enclyned to hyr and promysed to hyr somme thynge and with the voys of the egle she awoke and was moche abasshed and began to thynke what hyr dreme myght sygnefye whan the tyme came of chyldyng and that she shold be delyuerd she was in grete parylle and anone she sente for an holy man to come and praye for hyr Whan the good man was come anone he sayd to hyr haue no doubte dame ne drede for thys chylde shal be hâ—ly moche grete in the chyrche and after that he was borne thys chylde grewe in vertue and his fader sette hym to goldsmythes crafte whan he knewe wel the crafte arte of goldsmythrye he came in to frauÌ„ce and dwellyd with a goldsmyth that made werke for the kynge Hit happed that tyme that the kynge sought for one that coude make for hym a sadle of golde and of precious stones Thenne the mayster of saynt loye sayd to the kyng that he had founden a werkman that shold right wel make what someuer he wold The kynge delyueryd to hym a grete masse of golde whiche masse the maister delyuerd to saynt loye wherof he made two right fayre sadels presented that one to the kynge and that other he reteyned hym self whan the kynge sawe thys sadyl soo fayre he alle his peple meruayled moche therof and the kynge rewarded hym moche largely Thenne after this saynt loye presented to the kynge that other sadyll sayeng to hym that of the remenaunte of the golde he had maad the same And thenne was the kyng more esmerueylled than he was tofore and demaunded how he myght make thyse ij sadellys of that weyght that was delyuerd to hym saynt loye sayd wel by the plesure of god thenne grewe the name and fame of hym in the kynges courte Saynt loye louyd wel poure people for alle that he wanne and myght wynne he destrybued it to them in so moche that ofte he was almoste naked The poure people also louyd hym that where he wente they folowed hym and that they that wold speke wyth hym must aske and enquyre of the poure peple where he was On a tyme it happed that as he deled almesse wyth his owne honde there was a poure man that had his hande styffe and lame And put forth the better honde to receyue the almesse Thenne Saynt Loye sayd to hym that he shold put forthe that other honde Whyche as wel as he myght he put forth Saynt Loye toke and handled it and enoynted it wyth a litel oyle and anone it was guarisshe and hool Another tyme whan he had gyuen to the poure peple al the golde and siluer that he had many other poure men came and demaunded of hym almesse and beholdyng hym self that he had nomore to gyue Anone he departed emonge them a marcke of golde that he had borowed of his neyghbour and anone after came moo poure folke to demaunde almesse he put hys hande anone to his purse for he remembryd not that it was voyde by the wylle of god he fonde therin a marcke of gold and whan he had founde that he began gretely to thanke our lord god therof and destribued it and departed it to the pour peple for the loue of god He was of hye stature reed of vysage and angelyk of symple and prudente regarde and chere at the begynnyng he was cladde with precious vestementys of golde aourned wyth gemmys and ouches and ware gylte gyrdellis wyth precious stones but vnder that on his bare flesshe he ware alweye the hayr after thys he gaue al his precyous vesture to the poure people for to socour them in theyr necessytâ—es And fro than forthou he vsed alweye symple and poure clothyng and ofte despoyled hym self for to clothe the poure peple and whan the kyng sawe hym in suche wyse he gaue to hym his owne vestementes and gyrdellys for he louyd hym as his propre sowle And abandoned to hym all his hows and commaunded to al his folke that al that saynt loye wolde haue shold be delyuerd to hym wythout delaye and alle he gaue and destribued to poure folke prysonners and to seek Fro the tyme of Bruneshylde quene vnto the tyme of dagoherte the pestylence of symonye regned stroÌ„gly whiche for to take aweye and destroye saynt loye and saynt Onen laboured sore Thenne was saynt loye chosen bysshop of noyon after achayre bysshop of the sayd cyte and with hym was chosen saynt onen archebysshop of Roen saynt loye was pastour spyrituel of tournay cyte ryal of noyon of gaunte and of alle flaundres and of courtray he had a certeyn place in which by certeyn dayes he callyd to poure and seek men and seruyd them deuoutely And made clene theyr heedes wysshe them and them that were lowsy and ful of vermyne he hym self wold pyke and make them clene and gaue hem mete and drynke and clothyd them and whan they departed anone came other to whome he dyd in lyke wyse whan grete companye came somtyme he made them to sytte doun refresshed them alle but euery day at the leste he had twelue the whiche he made sytte doun and at certeyn houre ete and dranke wyth hem but fyrst he wysshe theyr hondes and serued them On a tyme he Impetred and gate of the kyng that al the bodyes that were dampned to dethe that he coude fynde in townes and citees hanged ratted that he myght take them doun burye them ordeyned men of hys cellegys to doo it It happed on a tyme that in the companye of the kynge in the partyes of arastrye in a towne named strabor he fonde a man that was hanged that same day was theÌ„ne deed and men made the sepulture for to bury hym in ¶ And Saynt Loye approchyd hym and began to take hym doun and apperceyued that the sowle was in the body he wold not appropre the
wyth poles vylaynsly and whan they had so vylaynsly beten hym they put hym out of the cyte but the glorious frende of god bare ful pacyently thys persecucyon and made in a mountayn right nyghe the cyte a lytel lodge of bowes wherin he dwellyd a grete while and by day tyme he came and prechyd in the cyte and at nyght he retorned vnto his lytel lodge where he abode in fastynges and prayers in orysons Thenne whan he had been longe there had conuerted but fewe of the peple he wente ageyn to saynt peter to rome and whan he came thyder he fonde that he had suffred passyon on the crosse and fonde there Saynt clemente in his stede which coÌ„mauÌ„ded and counceylled hym to retorne in to the sayd cyte of xaintes and that in prechyng the commauÌ„dementes of god benygnely he shold abyde the palme of vyctorye for the loue of our lord that is to wete passyon and marterdom Thenne saynt clemente ordeyned hym a bysshop and also saynt denys which was come out of grece to rome many other brethern whiche saynt clemente sente in to fraunce and thus departed they fro Rome and arryued in the cyte of ancerre and there in grete loue they kyssed and enbraced eche other in takyng leue for to departe one fro another and tenderly wepte Saynt denys and his felawes came to parys and saynt eutrope wente to xaintes strongely confermyd fâ—rme in the loue of god alle prest and redy to suffre alle tormentes and moche constauntely prechyd the feyth in suche wyse that many were haptysed Emonge whome the doughter of the kynge of the sayd cyte whiche was named euscelle was baptysed whan hyr fader knewe hit he had therof soo grete Indygnacion that he put hir out of the cyte and anone as she was out for the loue of god she wente strayte vnto the lodge of the holy man and abode there Alwey the fader for loue that he had to his doughter was sory that he had put hyr out and sente oftymes to hir messagers for to come ageyn home to hym To whome she answerd that she had leuer for the feythe of Ihesu crist dwelle out of the cyte thenne to retorne in ageyn to sacrefyse the ydollys For which answer the fader was so angry and wroth that he wyst not what to do and dyd do assemble alle the bouchers of the towne and gafe to theym an hondred and fyfty shyllynges for to put to dethe saynt eutrope and that they shold brynge ageyn his doughter to his hows Thenne the day tofore the kalendys of maye they assemblyd wyth them many sarasyns came to the lodge of saynt Eutrope and fyrst they stonyd hym and after they bete this holy man with staues and scourges leded alle nakyd and after they cleuyd his heed wyth a bochers axe and sawyd hym wyth a sawe The mayde wyth moo other buryed hym by nyght in his teguryon or lodge and kepte hym in vygylles wyth lyghtes and in deuyne obsequyes as longe as she lyued A lytel whyle ater she departed out of thys world right holyly and was buryed besyde hyr mayster as she had requyred by hir lyf After thys a certeyn space of tyme they of xaintes edefyed ouer thys holy corps a moche notable chyrche In whiche alle seck folke of dyuers maladyes and sekenesses haue ben helyd and yet dayly been And also many prysonners ben also by the prayer of thys holy saynt delyuerd of theyr yrons as guyues boltes and other whiche ben hanged in the sayd chyrche in remembraunce that they haue ben losed and vnbounden by the prayers of Saynt eutrope Saynt denys wrote the passyon and marterdom of saynt eutrope in greke and sente it in to grece to his frendes that byleuyd tho in god by the handes of saynt clemente that tho was pope of Rome in exaltyng and glorefyeng the name of god whyche wythout ende regneth and shal regne amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Eutrope And begynneth of saynt Marcial IN the tyme that our lord Ihesu cryst prechyd in Iurye in the lygnage of beniamyn moche peple came to hym for to haue that was necessarye to them as wel of drynke as of mete and in especyall for to here and vnderstonde suche thyng as touched the sauacyon of the sowle On a day in the myddes of al the companye came a man that was of the sayd lygnage of beniamyn the moost noble of alle the Iewes named by his right name marcial and his wyf was callyd elysabeth whiche had bytwene them bothe a chylde of the eage of xv yere that was named also marciall whan they herde our lord Ihesu cryste preche whyche sayd in his predycacion Doo ye penaunce the royame of heuen is nyghe to them that doo penaunce And who that is not regenerate in water by the sacramente of baptesme he may not entre in to the royame of heuen Thenne by the commaundement of our lord Ihesu cryste Marcyal his wyf and theyr sone marcial whyche was a chylde replenysshed in holy doctryne were baptysed of Saynt Peter Thenne Zaches and Ioseph the which buryed our lord were baptysed also and many other of the people of the Iewes whiche were ouer longe to telle here alle theyr names whan alle thys was accomplysshed and that eueriche torned homeward to hys hows The chylde marcyal retorned not wyth his fader and moder but gafe hym self all ouer vnto our lord Ihesu cryste and put hym in the companye as one of his dysciples and helde hym a weye by Saynt Peter whyche was ryght nygh of his kynne and fro than forthon he was soo ensumyned and endoctryned of our lord and of Saynt Peter that he no thynge desyred so moche as for to accomplysshe commaundementes solytayrs After this saynt peter came to rome and prayed to marcyal that he wold goo wyth hym and thus as they had been to gyder endoctryned wyth one holy doctryne and of one merytorye dyleccion In lyke wyse that to gyder they receyue the comyn rewarde of the ioye perdurable thus as they wente they were accompanyed of somme dysciples of antyoche emoÌ„ge whome were alphynyen and austridynyen and many other whan they were entryd wythin Rome they were receyued of a man named marcelle at that tyme consul of the Romayns Thus as they dwellyd there god apperyd to saynt peter and commauÌ„ded hym that he shold sende saynt marciall in to the prouynces of gaule for to preche the feythe and the byleue to the peple whiche were in the bondes of the deuyl of helle Thenne Saynt Peter callyd to hym saâ—nt marcial and tolde hym alle by ordre that our lord had sayd and commaunded hym whan saynt marcyal herde that he began strongely to wepe by cause he doubted the ferre regyon and the peple whych had no knowleche of god whan Saynt Peter sawe hym thus wepe he began moche swetely to comforte hym in sayeng to hym my holy brother be not heuy ne
sorouful for god shal be alweye wyth the lyke as he hath promysed to vs sayeng loo I am alwey and shal be wyth you vnto the consummacion of the world Thus my swete broder he commaunded vs after hys resurrexyon sayeng Goo ye vnto thorugh the vnyuersal world preche the gospel to alle creatures that who shal byleue and shal be baptysed he shal be saued and they that wyl not so do shal be dampned whiche thynges my blessyd broder behoueth vs to kepe and put in effecte to the ende that we forgete not the commaundementes of god anone after thyse blessyd wordes saynt marcial toke leue of saynt peter and broughte with hym the two dysciples aforsayd that is to wete alphynyen and austrudynyen and departed lyke as god had commaunded to saynt peter Thus thenne as they wente and that they were wery and sore traueylled by the waye which was longe and greuous saynt austrudynyen departed out of thys world deyed whan saynt marcial sawe that he was deed he retorned in grete haste to rome and tolde to saynt peter that whiche was byfalle in theyr weye Whan Saynt Peter had herde hym he sayd retorne as hastely as thou mayst and take my burdon in thy honde and thou shalt come where thou hast lefte thy broder touche his body with thys burdon and anone he shal aryse and goo in thy companye as he dyd tofore Whan saynt marcial came ageyn to the corps he touched it wyth the burdon lyke as saynt Peter bad hym And anone he was reysed fro deth to lyf After whan saynt marcial had iourneyed longe by dyuers contreyes in longe prechyng and sowyng the word of god they came in to guyan vnto a castel callyd tulle and there were receyued of a ryche and a myghty man named arnold whiche had a doughter that dayly was tormentyd wyth the enemye Thus as saynt marcyall entryd in to the hows The fende began to crye sayeng I knowe wel now that I must yssue out of the body of thys mayde For the aungels of paradyse that been with the marcyal tormente me right greuously but I praye the by the name of hym that was crucâ—fyed whome thou prechest of that thou sende me not in to thabisme of helle Thenne saynt marcyal sayd to hym I coniure the in the name of Ihesu cryste that was crucefyed for us that thou yssue out of the body of this mayde neuer retorne ageyn but that thou goo vnto a place deserte where byrde ne fowle ne persone dwellyth with this commaundemente the mayde caste out the enemye and she fyl doun as deed Thenne saynt marcyal toke hyr by the hande and reysed hir vp and delyuerd hyr to hyr fader hool and saufe Holynes benygnyte with al humylite shoon in saynt marcial and was alweye in prayers Another myracle also our lord shewed by the prayere of saynt marcial in the same place The prynce of the sayd castel whiche was called nerua and was cosyn to the emperour nero had a doughter whiche was suffocate and murdred by the fende and was dede Thenne the fader and moder of the chylde that were moche sorouful and heuy wyth a grete parte of the people brought the body of the chylde tofore saynt marcial tenderly wepyng and sayeng to hym O man of god helpe vs at thys tyme thou seest how it is wyth vs whan saynt marcyal sawe the lamentacyon and the sorowe that they maad he had pyte on them and sayd wyth an hygh 〈◊〉 I praye you al as wel crysten as paynyms that ye wyl deuoutelye praye god almyghty that by his benygne grace hit please hym to gyue ageyn the lyf to thys chylde The two dysciples of saynt marcial and a fewe of cristen people that were there put theym to prayers and syth saynt marcial hymself made his prayer sayeng Syre I pray the in the name of thy blessyd dere sone and of thy good frende sanyt peter by thordenaunce and commandement of whom I am comen hyther That it please the to reyse thys chyld here to th ende that whan he shal be reysed many may beleue in thyn holy precious name Thenne saynt marcial trustyng in the helpe of god toke the chyld by the hande sayeng to hym In the name of our lord Ihesu cryste That of the Iewes for vs was crucyfyed and the thyrd day rose fro deth to lyf aryse vp and stand right on thy feet Anone the chyld aroos rizt vpon his feet and syth kneled doun to the feet of the holy man sayeng to hym O man of god I requyre the to baptyse me to th ende that I may be saued and marke me wyth the sygne of the holy crosse for other wyse may non be sawed but yf he be baptised anon saynt macial baptysed hym And with hym in the same place were wel crstyned also as wel men as wymen thre thousand and vjC And after this saynt marcyal wente and destroyed the ydolles and brought them to nought For thens wente saynt marcial and his two disciples departed and cam to lymoges where they were benyngly receyued of a matrone that was named susanne In whos presence saynt marcial heled one that was frenatyke whan the good woman susanne sawe the myracle that soo was made in her presence anone she and her meyne were baptysed After this saynt marcyal wente in to the temple where the prestes of the ydoles were The whiche bete hym greuously and syth put hym in pryson On the morn as he made his prayer ther descended a light so grete vpon him that men myght not beholde hym The chaynes of yron to breste and the dores of the pryson opend the kepers and they that were there requyred to be baptysed and the prestes that had so beten hym were smeton to deth by thondre and lyghtnyng Thenne the other that were there cam to saint marcyal in to the pryson and prayd hym that he wolde reyse them that so were smeton to deth by the thondre promisyng to hym that yf he so dyde they al wold be baptysed Thenne our lord by hys prayer reysed them ageyn fro deth to lyf Thenne that same tyme were torned to crysten faith baptysed xijMl creatures as men and wymen ¶ And after thys on a tyme deyde the holy woman susanne and tofore her deth she recomanded to saynt marcyal her doughter that was callyd valeriene whiche had promysed and auowed to our lord chastite as longe as she lyued after whan the holy mayde knewe that ther shold come to lymoges a lord named steuyn whiche was lorde of al the prouynce fro the ryuer of rosne vnto the see She was sore aferd leste he wold do to her ony gryef or noyance ayenst her auowe And gaf away al her richesses to poure folk for the loue of god whan the said steuen was come to limoges he made to do come tofore hym the holy mayde to th ende to haue his wylle of her but whan she
sone first cristen kynge of fraunce and was named lowys in hys baptesme whome saynt remyge cristened And an auÌ„gel of paradyse brought to hym an ample ful of crysme of whiche he was enoyâ—ted aâ—so his successours kynges of fraunce ben enoynted sacred at theyr coronacion after he was of good lyf fouÌ„ded the chirche that is now called saynt geneuefe on the mounte of paas in thonour of saynt peter saynt pouâ—e at the requeste of saynt clote hys wyf of whome the body resteth in the sayd chirche at thyncitacion of saynt geneuefe and saynt remyge dyd halowe dedefye hit the sayd kyng dyd encreâ—e moche the royame of fraunce frauâ—chysed it by his puyssaunce fro the româ—yns He conquerid meleun and the londe lyenge by sayne by loyre tourayn thoulose and al guyan and at his comyng to engoulesme the walles of the cyte fyl doun he made almayne and bourgoyn his trybutayrs he ordeyned and Instytuted parys to be the chyef syege of the royame he reygned xxx yere after he was entered in the sayd chirche the yere of our lord fyue hondred xiiii In the tyme of the sayd kyng lyued the sayd virgyn vnto the tyme of kyng clotayr his sone of which vyrgyn the sowle flâ—we in to heuen the body abâ—de in erthe in the sayd châ—rche in whiche she is yet he ole honourably entered and deuoutelye worshypped â—y the good and deuoute crysten peple In the tyme that the sayd vyrgyn saynt geneuefe was a chylde Saynt germayn of ancerre saynt lâ—w of troyes electe of the prelates of fraunce for to goo quenche an heresye that was in grete brytaygne now called englond came to nauÌ„cerre for to be lodged and herberowed the peple came ageynst theym for to haue theyr beneyson Emonge the people saynt germayn by thenseygnemente of the holy ghoost espyed out the lytel mayde saynt geneuefe and made hyr to come to hym and kyste hyr heed and demaunded hyr name and whos doughter she was and the people aboute hyr sayd that hir name was geneuefe and hyr fader Seuere and hyr moder geronce whyche came vnto hym and the holy man sayd is this chylde youres they answerd ye Blessyd be ye said the holy man whaÌ„ god hath gyuen to you so noble lignage knowe ye for certeyn that the day of hyr natyuyte the aungels sange halowed grete mysterye in heuen with grete ioye and gladnes She shal be of so grete meryte ageynst god of hir good lyf and conuersacion many shal take ensauÌ„ple that they shal leue theyr synne and shal conuerte theym to god and shal lyue religyously by whiche they shal haue pardon and ioye perdurable Thenne he sayd to geneuefe my doughter telle to me and be not asshamed yf ye wyl be sacred lyue in vyrgynyte vnto the dethe as espouse of Ihesu cryste The mayde answerd holy fader ye demaunde that I desyre there lacketh nomore but that by your prayers our lord wyl accomplysshe my deuocyon the holy man sayd haue ferme byleue in god and preue by werkys the good thynges that ye byleue in your herte and saye wyth your mowthe and our lord shal gyue you force and vertue Saynt Germayn helde his honde on hir heed tyl he came vnto the mynstre there he gaue to the peple the beneyson Saynt Germayn said to the fader and moder of the mayde that they shold brynge hir ageyn on the morne to hym whan she was brought ageyn on the morne saynt germayn sawe in hir a sygne celestyal I wote not what and sayd to hyr god the saleweth Geneuefe Doughter remembrest thou what thou promysest to me yesterday of the vyrgynyte of thy body holy fader sayd the mayde I remembre wel that by the helpe of god I desyre and thynke to accomplysshe my purpoos Thenne the holy man loked on the grounde sawe a peny sygned wyth the crosse whyche came by the grace and wylle of god he toke hit vp and gaue hit hyr and sayd fayre doughter take this and bere it in mynde of IhÌ„u cryste your espouse and suffre not aboute you none other arayemente of golde ne syluer ne of precious stones for yf the beaute of thys world surmounte a lytell your thought ye shal lose the goodes of heuen he commounded hir to god and prayed hir that she wold remembre hym in hyr orysons and prayers and recommaunded her to fader and moder The two holy bysshoppes wente from thens in to englond there were heretykes ageynst the feythe whyche sayd that chyldren borne of fader and moder baptysed had no nede to be crystenyd whiche is not trouthe for our lord Ihesu cryst sayth clerely in the gospel that none may entre in to the kyngdom of heuen yf he be not regenerate of water and of the holy ghost That is to say regenerate by the sacramente of baptesme By this scripture and by semblable the holy prelates destroyed theyr false creaunce and byleue and by vertu also and by myracles For in a solempnyte of ester by many that were newe baptysed in syngyng alleluya they chaced and droof aweye theyr enemyes of scotland and straungers of other places that were come for to greue them Hyt happed on a day that Geronce the moder of the holy mayde Geneuefe wente on an holy and festeful day toward the mynstre And hyr doughter wente after sayeng that the feythe that she had promysed to Saynt germayn she shold kepe by the helpe of god and that she wold ofte goo to the mynstre to the ende that she myght deserue to be espouse of Ihesu cryste and that she myght be worthy of his loue the moder was angry smote hyr on the cheke God auengyd the chylde that the moder became blynde and that in xxj monethes she sawe not whan the moder had been longe in thys payne which moche enoyed hyr She remembryd of the goodnes that Saynt germayn had sayd of hyr doughter and callyd hyr and sayd my doughter goo to the pytte and fetche me water the mayde wente hastely whan she was at the pytte she began to wepe by cause hyr moder had loste hyr syghte for hyr sake and toke vp water and bare it to hyr mder The moder stratched hyr handes to heuen and toke the water wyth grete feythe and reuerence And maad hyr doughter to sygne hir with the sygne of the holy crosse and wesshe hyr eyen and anone she began for to see a lytell Whan she had twyes or thrise wesshen hir syght came hole to hir ageyn as it had been tofore after thys it happed that the holy mayde was offred to the bysshop of chartres buylique for to be sacred with two other elder maydens For men offred hem after theyr eage But the holy bysshop knewe by the holy ghoost that geneuefe was the moste worthy and dygne and sayd to hyr that was behynde shold come before For god had tho sanctefyed hyr After the dethe of hir fader
and hyr moder the holy damoysel came dwellyd at parys for to assaye and proue hir there and for to auayle the more she was seek of the palsye so moche that it semyd that hir membris were dysioyned and departed that one fro that other wherof she was so sore tormentyd that duryng thre dayes she was kepte as for deed for there apperyd on hir noo sygne of lyf sauf that hyr Iowes were a lytel reed In thys space and tyme as she confessyd after an aungel ledde hir in spyryte where as the reste was of good folke and where the tormente was of euyl peple afterward she shewyd to many the secretes of theyr consciences as she that was taught and enseygned of the holy ghoost The second tyme saynt germayn retorned fro englond and came to parys The peple almoste al went ageynst hym with grete ioye tofore al other thynges saynt germayn demauÌ„ded how genouefe dyd but the people whiche more is Inclyned to say euyl of good peple thenne wel answerd that of hir was no thynge in blamyng hir whiche was to hyr a praysyng of other mennys preysyng is none the better ne of others blamyng is none the werse therfore the holy man sette nought of theyr ianglyng but assone as he entryd in to the cyte he wente strayte to the hows of the holy vyrgyn whome be salewed in soo grete humylite that al they meruaylled shewyd to them that dyspraysyd hyr the grouÌ„de wete of hir teerys and recyted to them the begynnyng of hir lyf and how he fonde at nancerre that she was chosen of god and recommendyd hir to the peple Tydynges came to parys that aceylle the felon kynge of hougrye had enterprysed to destroye and waste the partyes of fraunce and to subdue them to his domynacion The bourgeyses of parys for grete drede that they had sente theyr goodes in to other cytees more sure Saynt geneuefe warned and admonested the good wymmen of the town that they shold wake in saftynges and in orysons by whiche they myght asswage the yre of our lord and eschewe the tyrannye of their enemyes lyke as dyd somtyme the two holy wymmen Iudyth and bester They obeyed hir were longe many dayes in the chirche in wakynges fastynges in orysons She sayd to the bourgeyses that they shold not remeue theyr goodes ne sende them out of the towne of parys for the other cytees that they supposed shold be more sure shold be destroyed and wasted but by the grace of god parys shold haue none harme and somme had Indygnacion at hir and sayd that a false prophete was rysen and apperyd in theyr tyme and began emonge them to aske and trete whether they shold drowne hyr or stone hyr whyles they were thus tretyng as god wolde came to parys after the decees of saynt germayn tharchedeken of ancerre whan he vnderstood that they tretyd to gyder of hir deth he came to them said fayre syrres for goddes sake do not this myschyef For she of whome ye trete saynt germayn wytnesseth that she was chosen of god in hyr moders bely And loo here been the letters that he hath sente to hyr in which he recoÌ„mendeth hym to hyr prayers Whan the bourgeyses herde thyse wordes recyted by hym of saint germayn and sawe the letters they meruaylled ferâ—d god and lefte theyr euyl counceyl and dyd nomore therto Thus our lord kepte hyr fro harme which kepeth alle weye them that be his deffeÌ„deth after that thappostle saith for hir loue dyd so moche that the tyrauntes approchyd not parys Thanke and glorye to god honoure to the vyrgyne This holy mayde dyd grete penauÌ„ce in tormentyng hyr body al hyr lyf and became bene for to gyue good exaumple For syth she was of the age â—f xv yere vnto fyfty she fastyd euâ—â—y day sauf sonday and thursday In her refection she had no thynge but barly brede and somtyme venes the whiche soden afâ—â—r xiiij dayes or thre wekys she ete for alle delyces alway she was in prayers in wakynges and in penaunces she dranke neuer wyne ne other lycour that myght make hyr dronke in al hyr lyf whan she had lyued and vsyd thys lyf fyfty yere the bysshoppes that were that tyme sawe and behelde that she was ouer feble by abstynence as for age warned hir tencrece a lytel hyr fare ¶ The holy woman durst not gaynsaye them For our lord sayth of the prelates who hereth you hereth me and who despyseth you dyspyseth me and soo she began by obedyence to ete wyth hir brede fysshe and mylke and how wel that she so dyd she behelde the heuen and wepte wherof it is to byleue that she sawe appertly our lord Ihesu cryste after the promesse of the gospel that sayth that blessyd be they that be clene of herte for they shal see god she had hir herte and body pure and clene There ben twelue vertues vyrgynal saith hermes pastour wyth out whiche no vyrgyne may be agreable to god that is to wete feythe abstynence pacyence magnanymyte symplesse Innocence concorde charyte dysciplyne chastyte trouthe and prudence Thise vertues accomplysshed the holy vyrgyne by werke she taughte and enseygned by worde and shewed ofte by ensaumple Ofte and tofore alle other holy places she vysyted the place where as restyd saynt denys and his felawes had grete deuocyon to edefye vpon the said holy bodyes a chyrche but she had not wherof On a tyme came to hyr the preestys as ofte they had doon tofore to whome she sayd reuerente faders in god I praye and requyre that eche of you doo his power and his deuoyr to assemble matere wherof myght be made and edefyed a chyrche in the honoure of the glorious marters saynt Denys and his felawes for the place where they reste ouÈt moche to be worshyppâ—d and doubted whyche first taughte to ouâ—â—â—ncestres the feythe Dame 〈◊〉 the preestys we wold fayne and haue grete wylle therto but we can gete no chalke ne lyme Thenne said the holy vyrgyn with a glad chere in prophecyeng as she that was replenysshed wyth the holy ghoost Goo ye I praye you to parys vpon the grete brydge and brynge that ye shal fynde there they wente thyder abode there a whyle meruaylled and abasshed And anone came by them two swyne herdes spekyng to gyder of which that one sayd as I wente yesterday after one of my sowes I fonde a fourneil of lyme meruelously grete That other answerd and I fonde in the wood vnder the rote of a tre that the wynde had throwen doun a fournel of lyme of whyche I trowe was neuer none taken aweye Whan the preestys herde this they had grete admyracion and blessyd our lord that had gyuen suche grace to geneuefe his handmayde They demauÌ„ded where the fournels were and after retorned and tolde to the vyrgyne what they had founden She began to wepe for ioye and assone as the preestys were gone and
spare this mā thou shalt be slayn and alle thy men Thenne seynt Leo wrote a pistle to fabyane bisshop of constantynople ayenst enticium and nestonum which he layde vpon the sepulcre of seynt Peter and was in contynuell fastynges and prayers sayeng O holy peter what that I haue erred in thys epystle as man thou to whome the cure of the chirche is commysed correcte amende And after xl dayes Peter apperid to hym prayeng and sayde I haue redde it and amended it Thenne leo toke the epistle and fond it corrected and amended with the handes of thappostle Other also xl dayes he was contynuelly in fastynges and prayers at the sepulcre of seynt Peter Bysechyng to gete hym forgyuenes of hys synnes To whom peter appered and sayd I haue prayed our lord for the and he hath forgyuen the alle thy synnes sauf only of thymposicion of thy honde thou shalt be examyned He deyed aboute the yere of our lord four hondred and sixty Thus endeth the lyf of Seynt Leon the Pope Here foloweth of Seynt peter thappostle and first of his name PEter had a grete Name For he was called Symon bariona symon is as Moche to saye as ryght obeysaunt or commysyng grete heuynesse bariona is as moche to saye as sone of a douue or of a culuer he was obedyent whan our lord callyd hym For atte voys of one only callyng he obeyed to our lorde he was cōmysing heuynes and sorowe whan he renyed Ihesu cryst For he went out and wepte bitterly he was sonne of the douue For he serued god wyth symple Intencyon Secondly he was callyd Cephas whiche is as moche to saye as chief or stone or blamyng with the mouth he was sayd chief by reson of the pryncipalyte in prelacyon A stone by reson of his stedfastnes in his passyon blamyng with his mouth by reson of constaūce in his prechyng Thirdly he was called peter whiche is as moche to say as knowyng on vnhosyng shoyng or vnbyndyng knowyng for he knewe the dygnyte of cryst whan he sayd thou art cryst sonne of the lyuyng god In vnhosyng and shoyng whan he vnshodde hys feet fro thaffectyon of alle dedely erthely werk sayeng loo we haue lefte alle thyng c̄ vnbyndyng For he hath vnbounden the bondes of synne And that was by the keyes that he receyued of our lorde And he had thre surnames he was sayd simon Iohanna whiche is as moche to saye as the beaute of our lord Secondly he was sayd symon Iohānis that is to saye to whom it is gyuen And thyrdly he is sayd Symon bariona that is to say sonne of the douue By whiche is gyuen to vnderstonden that he had beaute of maners yefte of vertues and habundance of teeres For the douue hath waylyng for her song This name peter Ihesus promysed to put to hym Ioh̄is primo Thou shalt be called cephas that is to saye Peter Secondly he dyd that he promysyd as it is sayd Mathei quarto And he named symon peter c̄ Thirdly he confermed it mathei xvj And I saye to the that thou art peter vpon thys stone c̄ his martirdom wrote marcellus linus papa Egesippus and leo the pope ¶ Of Seynt Peter SAynt Peter thappostle among al other aboue alle thother was of moost feruent and brennyng loue For he wold haue knowen the traytre that shold betraye our lord Ihesu cryst As seynt austyn sayth yf he had knowē hym he wolde haue torn hym with his tethe And therfore our lord wold not name hym to hym For as Crisostome sayth yf he had named hym peter had arysen and alle to torn hym Peter went vpon the see he was chosen of god to be at his transfiguracōn And reysed a mayde from deth to lyf he fond the statere or piece of money in the fisshes mouth He receyued of our lord the keyes of the kyngdom of heuē he toke the charge to fede the sheep of Ih̄u crist he conuerted at a whitsōtide thre thousand men he heled claude with Ioh̄n thenne conuerted v thousand men he sayde to Ananye and saphyre their deth byfore he heled Enee of the palscy he reysed thabyte he baptysed cornelye with the shadowe of his body he heled seek men He was putte in pryson by herode But by the angelle of our lorde he was delyuerd what his mete was and hys clothyng the boke of seynt Clement wytnessith For he sayde brede only wyth olyues and selde with wortes is myn vsage And I haue suche clothyng as thou seest a Cote and a mantel And whan I haue that I demaunde nomore It is sayd for certeyn that he bare alway a sudary in his bosom with whiche he wyped the teres that ran from his eyen For whan he remembryd the swete presence of our lord for the grete loue that he had to hym he myght not forbere wepyng And also whan he remembred that he had renyed hym he wepte habundauntly grete plente of teres In suche wyse that he was so acustomed to wepe that hys face was brent wyth teres as it semed lyke as Clement sayth And sayth also that in the nyght whan he herde the cocke crowe he wold wepe customably ¶ And after that it is redde in historia ecclesiastica That whan Seynt Peters wyf was ledde to her passyon ¶ He had grete ioye And called hyr by hir propre name and sayd to her My wyf remembre the of our lord On a tyme whan Seynt Peter had sente two of hys dysciples for to preche the faythe of Ihesu Cryst And whan they had goon twenty daye Iourneyes one of them deyed And that other thenne retorned to seynt peter and told hym what was happened Som say that it was seynt mercyal that so deyde ¶ And somme saye it was seynt maternus And other saye that it was seynt Franke Thenne seynt Peter gaf to hym hys staffe and cōmaunded that he shold retorne to his felawe and lay hit vppon hym which he so dyd Thenne he whiche had ben xl dayes deed anone aroos al lyuyng That tyme Symon thenchauntour was in Ierusalem And he sayd he was first trouthe and affermed that who that wold byleue in hym he wold make them perpetuel And he also said that nothyng to hym was impossyble It is redde in the boke of seynt Clement That he sayd that he shold be worshipped of alle men as god and that he myght doo alle that he wold And he sayd yet more whan my moder Rachel cōmaunded me that I shold go repe corne in the felde sawe the ziekle redy to repe with I commaūded the siekle to repe by it self alone And it reped ten tymes more than ony other And yet he added herto more after Iherom And sayd I am the word of god I am the holy ghost I am almyghty I am al that is of god he made serpentes of brasse to moeue made thymages of yron and of stone to lawhe and dogges to synge
wythinforth she is a lyghtar ffor there she toke so largely that she spradde it habundantly She toke the lyght there wyth whiche afterward she enlumyned other And in that she chaas the best parte of the heuenly glorye she is sayde the lyght For thenne she was enlumyned of parfyght knowlege in thought with the lyght in clernes in body magdalene is as moche to saye as abydyng culpable Or magdalene is Interpreted closed or shette or not to be ouercomen Or ful of magnyficence by whiche is shewed what she was to fore her conuersion and what in her conuersion and what after her conuersion For to fore her conuersion she was abydyng gylty by oblygacion to euer lastyng payne In the conuercion she was garnysshyd by armour of penaunce She was in the best wyse garnysshed wyth penaunce For as many delyces as she had in her So many sacryfyses were founden in her And after her conuersion she was praysed by ouer haboundaunce of grace For where as synne habounded grace ouer habounded and was more cÌ„ Of marye Magdalene MArie Magdalene had her sur name of Magdalo a castel and was born of ryght noble lygnage parentis whiche were descended of the lygnage of kynges And her fader was named Sirus and her moder Eucharye She with her broder lazare and her suster Martha posseded the castel of magdalo whiche is two myle fro nazareth and bethanye the castel whiche is nygh to Ierusalem and also a grete parte of Ierusalem whiche all thyse thynges they departed emong them In suche wyse that marye had the castel magdalo Wherof she had her name magdalene And lazare had the parte of the cite of Ierusalem martha had to her parte bethanye And whan Marye gaf her self to all delyces of the body And lazare entended alle to knyghthod martha whiche was wyse gouerned nobly her brothers parte also her susters and also her owen and admynestred to knyghtes And her seruauntes and to pouer men suche necessytes as them neded Neuertheâ—â—s after thascencion of our lord they sold all thyse thynges and brought the valwe therof and leyde it at the feet of the appostlys Thenne whan magdalene habounded in rychesses And by cause delyte is felawe to rychesses and haboundaunce of thynges and for so moche as she shone in beaute gretly and in rychesses so moche the more she submysed her body to delyte and therfore she bost her ryght name and was callyd customably a synner and whan our lord IhÌ„u cryst prechyd there and in other places She was enspyred wyth the holy ghoost And went in to the hous of Symon leprous where as our lord dyned Thenne she durst not by cause she was a synner appere tofore the Iust and good peple but remayned behynde atte feet of our lord and wesshe his feet wyth the teres of her eyen and dryed them wyth the heer of her hede and enoynted hem wyth precyous oynement For thenabytantes of that regyon vsed baynes and oynementes for the ouer grete brennyng heet of the sonne And by cause that Symon the pharysee thought in hym self that yf our lord had ben a very prophete he wold not haue suffred a synful woman to haue touched hym Thenne our lord repreued hym of hys presumpsion and foryaf the woman alle her synnes And this is she that same marie magdalene to whom our lord gaf so many grete yeftes And shewed so grete signes of loue that he toke from her seuen deuyls he enbraced her alle in his loue and made her right famylyer wyth hym he wold that she shold be his hostesse And his procuresse in his Iourney he oft tymes excused her swetely For he excused her ayenst the pharyse whyche sayde that she was not clene and vnto her suster that sayde that she was ydle and vnto Iudas sayd that she was a wastresse of good and whan he sawe her wepe he coude not wythholde his teres And for the loue of her he reysed lazare whiche had be four dayes deed and heled her suster fro the fluxe of blood which had holden her seuen yere And by the merites of her he made marcelle chambriere of her suster martha to saye that swete word blessyd be the womb that bare the and the pappes that gaf the souke but after seynt ambrose it was martha that sayde so And thys was her chambriere This marie magdalene sayd it is she that wesshe the feet of our lorde and dryed them wyth the heer of her hede enoynted them with precyous oynement and did solempne penaunce in the tyme of grace And was the first that chaas the best parte whiche was at the feet of our lorde an herde his prechyng whiche enoynted his hede and at his passyon was nygh vnto the crosse whiche made redy oynementis and wold enoynt hys bodye and wold not departe fro the monumente whan hys descyples departed To whom Ihesu cryst appyered first after his resurectione and was felawe to the appostlys and made of our lord appostolesse of thappostles TheÌ„ne after thascencion of our lord the xiiij yere fro his passyon long after that the Iewes had sleyn seynt Stephen and had caste out the other dyscyples out of the Iewery whiche went in to dyuerse contrayes and preched the word of god Ther was that tyme wyth thappostles seynt maxyme whiche was one of the lxxij dyscyples of our lord to whom the blessyd marie magdalene was commysed by seynt peter and thenne whan the descyples wer departed Seynt maxyme marye magdalene and lazar her brother martha her suster Marcelle chaumberer of martha and seynt cedonye whiche was born blynde after enlumyned of our lorde alle thyse to gydre many other crysten men were taken of the mescreauntes and put in to a shyppe in the see wythout ony takyl or rother for to be drowned but by the puruyaunce of almyghty god they cam al to marcelle where as none wold receyue them to be lodged they duellyd and abode vnder a porche to fore a teÌ„ple of the peple of that contray And whan the blessyd marie magdalene sawe the peple assembled at this temple for to doo sacrefyse to thydollis she aroos vp peasibly with a glad visage a dyscrete tongue and wel spekyng And began to preche the faythe lawe of Ihesu cryst and withdrewe them fro the worshippyng of thydollis Thenne were they admerueylled of the beaute of the reson and of the fayr spekyng of her And it was no merueylle that the mouth that had kyssed the feet of our lord so deboneyrly and so goodly shold be enspyred with the worde of god more than the other And after that it happed that the prynce of the prouynce and hys wyf made sacrefise to thydollis for to haue a chyld And marie magdalene prechid to them IhÌ„u cryst And forbade them tho sacrefyses And after that a lytil whyle marie Magdalene apperyd in vysion to that lady sayeng wherfor hast thou so moche rychesse and
day lyft vp by the handes of thangellys in to thayer and haue deserued to here with my bodely eeris the ryght swete song of the companye celestyal And bycause it is shewed to me of our lord that I shalle departe out of thys world Goo to Maxymyne and say to hym that the next day after the resurrection of our lord in the same tyme that he is acustomed to arise goo to matyns that he allone entre in to his oratorye and that by the mynysterye and seruyce of Angellys he shal fynd me there And the preest herd the boys of her lyke as it had be the boys of an angelle but he sawe nothyng and thenne anon he went to seynt maxymyn and told to hym alle by ordre Thenne saynt maxymyn was replenysshed of grete Ioye And thankyd gretly our lord And on the sayde day and hour as is aforesayd he entrid in to his oratorye And sawe the blessyd marie magdalene staÌ„dyng in the quyre or chore yet emong thangellys that brought her and was lyfte vp fro therthe the space of ij or iij cubyttis And prayeng to our lord she held vp her handes and whan Seynt maxymyn sawe her he was aferd to approche to her And she retorned to hym and sayd come hyther myn own fader and flee not thy doughter And whan he approched cam to her as it is redde in the bokes of the said seint maxymyn For the customable vision that she had of angellis euery day the chyere and visage of her shone as cleer as it had ben the rayes of the sonne And thenne alle the clerkes and the prestes a fore sayde were called And marie magdalene receyued the body and blood of our lord of the handes of the bysshop wyth grete habundaunce of tâ—eres and after she stratched her body tofore the aulter And her ryght blessyd soule departed fro the body and went to our lord and after it was departed ther yssued out of the body an odour so swete smellyng that it remayned there by the space of senen dayees to al them that entrid in ¶ And the blessyd maxymyn enoynted the body of her with dyuers precious oynementis and buryed it honourably And after commauÌ„ded that his body shold be buryed by heers after hys deth Egesippus wyth other bokes of Iosephus accorden ynough wyth the sayd storye ¶ And Iosephus sayth in hys tratye that the blessyd man magdalene After the ascencion of our lord for the brennyng loue that she had to Ihesu Cryste ¶ And for the grief and descomfort that she hadde for the absence of her mayster our lord she wold neuer see man but after whan she cam in to the countray of Ays She went in to deserte and dwellyd there xxx yere wythout knouyng of any man or woman And he sayth that euery day atte vij houres canonyques she was lyft in to thayer of the angellys But he sayth that whan the preest cam to her He fond her enclosed in her celle And she requyred of hym a vestement And he delyuerd to her one whiche she clothed and couered her wyth And she went wyth hym to the chirche and receyued the commynyon and thenne made her prayers with Ioyned handes and rested in pees In the tyme of charles the grete in the yere of our lord vijClxxj Gerard duc of burgoyne myght haue no child by his wyf wherfor he gaf largely almesse to the pour peple founded many chirches and many monasteries whan he had made thabbay of uisiliacense he thabbot of the monasteri sent a monke wyth a good resonable felawshyp vnto ays for to bryng thyder yf they mygt of the reliques of saint marie magdalene whan the monke cam to the sayd cite he fond it all destroyed of paynems Thenne by auenture he fond the sepulcre for the writyng vpon the sepulcre of marble shewed wel that the blessyd lady marie magdalene rested and lay there and thistory of her was merueyllously entayled coruen in the sepulcre and thenne this monke opened it by nyght and toke the relyques and bare them in to his lodgyng and that same nyght marie magdalene apperyd to that monke sayeng doubte the nothyng make an ende of thy werke thenne he retorned homward vntil he cam half a myle fro the monastery But he myght in no wyse remeue the relyques fro thens til that thabbot monkes cam wyth prosessyon and receyued them honestly And sone after the duc had a chyld by hys wyf Ther was a knyght whiche had a custome euery yere to goo a pylgrymage vnto the body of seint marie magdalene whyche knyght was slayne in batayle And as his frendes wepte for hym lyeng on the byere they sayd wyth swete and deuout quarelles why she suffred her deuoute seruaunte to dye wythout confessyon and penaunce Thenne sodenly he that was deed aroos Alle they beyng sore abasshed And made one to calle a preest to hym and confessyd hym wyth grete deuocion And receyued the blessyd sacrament And thenne rested in peas There was a shyppe charged wyth men and women that was perisshed and alle to brake And there was among them a woman wyth chylde whyche sawe her self in peryl to be drouned And cryed fast on marye magdalene for socour and helpe makyng her auowe that yf she myght be saued by her merytes and escape that perylle yf she hadde a sone she shold gyue hym to her monasterye And anon as she had so auowed A woman of honourable habyte and beaute apperyd to her and toke her by the chynne and brought her to the ryuage alle sauf And the other perysshed and were drowned And after she was delyuerd and had a sone and accomplisshed her auowe lyke as she had promysed Some say that marie magdalene was wedded to Seynt IohÌ„n theuangefist whan crist called hym fro the weddyng and whan he was called fro her she had therof IndignacoÌ„n that her husbond was taken fro her went gaf her self to alle delyte but by cause it was not couenable that the callyng of seynt IohÌ„n shold be occasion of her dampnacoÌ„n therfor our lord conuerted her mercifully to penaunce and bycause he had taken fro her souerayn delyte of the flesshe he replenyshed her with souerayn delyte spirituel to fore al other that is the loue of god it is sayd that he ennoblesshed seynt IohÌ„n to fore al other with the swetnes of his famyliarite by cause he had takeÌ„ hym fro the delyte aforsayd there was a man whiche was blynde on both his eyen dyd hym to be ledde to the monastery of the blessid marie magdalene for to visite her body his leder sayd to hym that he sawe the chyrche And theÌ„ne the blynd man â—scried and said with an hye voys O blessyd marye magdalene helpe me that I may deserue ones to see thy chyrche And anon hys eyen were opened and sawe clerly all thynges aboute hym There was another man that wrote hys synnes in
helth and was alle hool Thenne Quyryn demaunded pardon foryeuenes And delyuerd Alexander out of pryson and receyued the holy bapteme he and alle hys meyne and many other Thenne Alexander establysshed this feste to be halowed alleway the first day of august And dyd doo make a chyrche in thonour of seint peter where as he sette the chaynes And named it seynt peter ad vincula and to that chyrche come moche peple at that solempnyte and the peple kyssed there the bondes and chaynes of seynt peter The thyrde cause of thys establisshement after bede is this â— Antoyne and Octauyan were so conioyned to gydre by affynyte that they departed bytwene them two th empyre of the world Octouyen had in thoceydent ytalye ffraunce and spayne And Antoyne had in the eest Asye Ponte and affrique Anthoyne was wylde Ioly and rybauldus and had the suster of Octauyen to his wyf And left her and toke cleopatra which was quene of egypt and for this cause Octauyen had hym in grete despyte And went wyth force of armes ayenst Anthoyne in Asye And ouercam hym in alle thynges Thenne Anthoyne and Cleopatra fledde as vaynquysshed And slewe them self by grete sorowe And octauyen destroyed entierly the royame of Egypte and made be vnder the Romayns ¶ And fro thens he went in alle the hast he myght in to Alexandrye And despoyled it of alle rychesses and brought them to Rome And encreased so the comyn prouffyt of Rome That there was gyuen for one peny that whyche to fore was sold for foure And bycause the batayles of the peple had wasted and destroyed the cyte of Rome he renewed it sayeng I fond it couerd wyth tyles And I shalle leue it now couerd wyth marble And for thyse causes he was made emperour And the fyrst that euer was callyd Auguste And of hym ben alle other that come after hym called Augustes Lyke as after his vncle Iulyus Cezar they ben called Cezariens Also thys moneth of Auguste whyche tofore was called Sextilys The peple entituled it to hys name callyd it Angustus in thonour and rememberaunce of the victoryâ—e of the Emperour that he had the first day of thys monthe In so moche that alle the Romayns made that day grete solempnyte vnto the tyme of Theodosye themperour whyche began to regne the yere of our lord CCCCxxvj Thenne Eudosie doughter of the sayde Theodosyen Emperour and wyf of valente went by a bowe to Iherusalem And there a Iewe gaf to her for grete loue a grete yefte ¶ And they were the bondes that is to wete the ij chaynes wyth whiche Seynt Peter vnder herode was bounden wyth Wherof she was moche Ioyous And whan she retorned to rome she sawe that the Romayns halowed the fyrst day of august in thonour of an Emperour Paynem whyche was deed thenne was she moche sorouful by cause they dyd so moche honour to a man dampned And thought that they myght not lyghtely be wythdrawen fro thys custome But yf she myght so moche doo she wold not leue it thus But that it shold be made in thonour of Seynt Peter And that alle the peple shold name that day the day of Seynt Peter ad vincula And herof she had collacoÌ„n with seynt Pelagyen the pope And brought them wyth fayre wordes to that that the remembraunce of the prynce of paynems was forgoten And the memorye of the prynce of thappostles was halowed And it plesed ryght well to alle the people Thenne she brought forth the chaynes whyche she had brought fro Iherusalem And shewed them to alle the peple And the pope brought forth the chayne wyth whiche he had be bounden vnder Nero ¶ And assone as that chayne touched that other alle thre by myracle were but one lyke as they had be neuer but one Thenne the pope and the quene establysshed that the folisshe relygyon of the peple makyng solempnyte of a Paynem were chaunged in to better And was made of Seynt Peter prynce of thappostles And the pope and the quene sette the chaynes in the chyrche of seynt Peter ad vyncula And were gyuen of the quene to the sayd chyrche ryght grete yeftes and ryght fayre preuyleges and it was establysshed that day to be halowed ouer alle ¶ And thys is that lede sayth And Sygybert also sayth the same of thys thyng And of what grete vertue thys chayne is It apperyth wel in the yere of our lord foure hondred and xl iiij There was an erle whiche was nyghe to the Emperour Octone that was so cruelly vexyd and tormented with the deuyll to fore alle the peple that wyth his owen trethe he bote and tare hym self And by the commaundement of themperour he was ledde to pope IohÌ„n for to put the chayns aboute hys necke And there was a nother put aboute hys necke of thys wode man and demonyake â— And it dyd hym none alegement By cause it had no vertu And atte last the very chayne of Seynt Peter was broughte and put aboute the necke of the sayde man Demonyake But it was of suche vertue that the deuyl myght not bere it But departed and went out cryeng tofore them alle Thenne Theodoryke bysshop of Mets toke that chayne and said he wold not departe fro it in no maner but yf his hand were cut of for this cause was grete descorde bytwene the pope and the bysshop and the other clerkes And atte laste the Emperour appeased the noyse And gate of the pope that he had a lynke of the chayne â— And he kepte it moche Worthely in grete deuocion Mylet also recompteth in his cronyque And is wreton in thystorie tripertite that in that tyme there was a grete horryble dragon whiche apperyd at empyrum And the bysshop donatâ— spytte in his mouth and kylled hym forthwith but that bysshop made tofore the signe of the crosse with his fyngres vpon the dragon For he was so grete that there behoued seuen cople oxen to drawe hym thens out of the toune in to a place where he was brent for by cause the stenche of hym shold not corupt the ayer yet sayth the same mylet also it is sayd in thystorye tripertite that the deuyl apperyd in a toune named creta in the semblaunce of moyses And this creta is nygh to a montayne whiche is nygh to the see assembled a grete multitude of Iewes of alle places And brought them to the toppe and hyest of the montayne promysed them to lede them and to goo drye foot with them vppon the see in to the londe of promyssyon And there he assembled peple wythout nombre And some byleue that the deuyl had despyte of the Iewe that had gyuen this chayne to the quene by whyche the feste of Octauyen cessed to be made And whan the deuyl sawe that he had there of the Iewes wythout nombre aboue the grete montayne He made many falle doun from the toppe to the ground bynethe
the ordre of the prechours myght be confermed to hym to hys successours And the pope wold not lyghtely accorde to this thyng And thenne it happed on a nyght that the pope sawe in a vision that the chirche of latronense Was sodenly menaced for to falle and ouerthrowe and as he behelde it alle aferd he sawe on that other syde seint domynyk rennyng ayenst it susteyned and bare it vp and kepte it 〈◊〉 fallyng and thenne awoke the pope and vnderstode the vision and receyued Ioyously the peticōn of the man of god And badde that he and his brethern shold seche somme Rewle approued he wold conferme it at his wyll and thenne seynt domynyk cam to hys brethern and shewed to them What the pope had sayd and they Were of nombre aboute xvj or xvij freres whiche anon called counseyl of the holy ghoost and chosen the rule of seynt Austyn prechour and holy doctour and wold of one wyl be in dede and name prechours establisshed therwith somme customes more strayter in their lyuyng whiche they toke aboue and promysed to kepe them truly In this tyme Innocent the pope deyed and honorius was made pope and souerayn bisshop of the chirche and he gate of the same honorius the confirmacion of his ordre in the yere of our lord a MCCxvj And on a tyme as he prayed at rome in the chirche of seynt peter for thencreacyng of his ordre he sawe comyng to hym the glorious prynces of thappostles Peter and poule And hym semed that Peter gaf to hym the staffe first And seynt poul delyuerd to hym the book they sayd to hym goo and preche For thou art chosen of god to doo that occupacion and mynysterye and in a litil moment hym semed that he sawe hys sones sprad thrugh out the world two and ij prechyng to the peple the worde of god For whiche cause he cam agayn to tholouse and departed hys brethern somme to paris somme in to spayne And other to boloyne and he retorned agayn to Rome There was a monke byfore thestablysshement of this 〈◊〉 whiche was rauysshed in spirite and sawe the blessed virgyne our lady Seint marie knelyng with her handes ioyned prayeng her sonne for the humayn lygnage and he ofte Withstode her requeste and atte last he sayd to her that so besily requyred hym moder what may I doo more for them I haue sent to them patriarkes and prophetis and litil haue they amended them after I cam to them my self and after that I haue sent to them appostles And they haue sleyn them I sent to them also martirs confessours and doctours And they accorded not to them ne to theyr doctryne but by cause it apperteyneth not to me to wythsay thy request I shalle gyue to them my prechours by whom they may be enlumyned and made clene or ellys I shal come ayenst them my self yf they wyl not amende them And another sawe that same tyme whan the xij abbottes of the ordre of Cystews were sent to tholous ayenst the heretikes For Whan the sone had ansuerd to his moder as is aboue said The moder sayd to hym Fayr sone thou oughtest not to doo to them after theyr malyce but after thy mercy To whom the sone vaynquysshed by her prayers sayd I shalle yet doo to them mercy at thy requeste For I shal sende to them my prechours that shal warne and enforme them And yf thēne they not correcte them I shalle spare them no more A Frere menour that longe tyme had be felow with seint fraunsoys recounted to many of the freres of the ordre of the prechours that whan seint domynyke was at rome for the confirmacōn of his ordre of the pope he sawe on a nyght Ih̄u crist in thayer holdyng thre speres in his hande and brandysshed them ayenst the world and his moder ran hastely ayenst hym and demaunded hym what he wold doo And he sayd to her alle the world is ful of vyces of pryde of luxurye and of Auarice and therfor I wil destroye them wyth thyse thre speres Thenne the blessyd virgyne fyll doun at hys feet and sayde Dere sone haue pyte And tarye thy Iustyce by thy mercy Ihesu cryste sayd to her seest thou not how many wronges and Iniuryes they do to me and she answerd Sone attempre thy wrath and tarie a lityll I haue a trewe seruaunt and a noble fighter ayenst the vyces whyche shalle renne oueral vaynquysshe the worlde and subdue them vnder thy seygnorye And I shal gyue to hym a nother seruaunte in to hys helpe that shal fight as he doth and our lord her sone saide I am appeased and receyue thy prayer but I wold see whom thou wilt sende in so grete an offyce And thenne she presented to hym seynt domynyk And Ih̄u cryste sayde truly thys is a good and a noble fyghter and shalle doo dilygently that thou hast sayd And thenne she shewed to hym and offryd to hym seint ffraunsoys and he preysed hym as he dyd the first And Seynt Domynyk consydered dylygently hys felawe in that vysyon For he had neuer seen hym byfore and he fond hym on the morne in the chyrche and knewe hym by that he had seen hym in the vysyon wythout other shewer began to kysse hym and sayd thou art my felawe thou shalt renne wyth me we shalle be to gydre and none aduersarye shal surmounte vs And thenne he recounted to hym alle by ordre the sayd vysion and fro then forthon they Were one herte and one soule in our lord And commaunded that this loue shold be kepte to them that shold come after them perdurably And whan on a tyme Seynt domynyk had receyued a nouyse in to thordre Some that had ben his felawes peruerted hym in suche wyse that he wold retorne to the world And demaunded after his gowne and whan seint domynyk herd that he went to prayer and as the yong man had despoyled hym of his relygyous clothyng and they had don on hym his sherte he began to crye wyth an hye voys and saye I chauffe I brenne certaynly I am alle brente doo of doo of this cursed sherte whiche brenneth al my body And myght not endure in no wise til he was despoyled of this sherte and clothed agayn wyth his relygyous clothes and brought agayn in to the cloystre of the religious And whan seynt domynyk was at boleyne what tyme the freres were goon to slepe A frere conuerse began to be tormented of the deuyl and whan ffrere Reyner of losanne knewe it he sayde it to seynt domynyk And seynt domynyk commaunded that he shold be brought in to the chyrche tofore the aulter of our lady x ffreres myght vnnethe bryng hym And thenne said Seynt domynyk I coniure the wicked spyryte that thou telle to me wherfore thou vexyst thus the creature of god And wherfor and how thou entredest here And he answerd I vexe hym
flammes of the persecutoure he shewde to vs by the fyre of fayth that he ouercam thembracementes of the fyre of helle And by the loue of Crist not to fere the day of dome Thyrdly in brennyng loue Maxymyn and Ambrose seyn that saynt laurence enlumyned the world playnly of the same lyght that he was embraced with and chauffed the hertes of all crysten people by the flammes that he suffred by these thre thynges sayth saynt Maxymyn after the bookes of saynt Ambrose that we ben called to the feythe by thexample of saynt laurence and embraced to martirdome and chauffed to deuocion Thyrdly he was right excellent in constaunce and in strengthe And herof sayth saynt Austyn The blessid laurence dwellid in Ihesu cryste vnto the temptacion vnto the demaunde of the tyraunt And vnto the deth in whome thocasion was longe and by cause that he had well eten and well dronken he was fat of this mete And dronken of the chalyce soo that he felte not the tormentes ne eschewed them but succeded the Royamme of heuen he was so constaunt that he sette not by the tormentes but after that saynt Maxymyn sayth he was made more parfight in drede more ardaunt in loue and more Ioyous in brennyng For the fyrst it is sayd thus he was stretched vpon the flammes of the grete brondes of fyre and torned ofte fro that one syde to that other And how moche more he suffred of paynes so moche more he dradde god And of the second he sayth thus ¶ Whan the grayne of the mostard is grounden it chauffeth And whan Laurence suffred tormentes he was enflammed ageyne and tormented of a newe maner of merueylous tormentes And the gretter tormentes that the wood persecutours dyden the more deuoute was laurence to oure sauyour And as to the thyrd he sayth thus he was chauffed in the lawe of Ihesu Crist that by grete hyenes of courage he despysed the tormentes of his owne body that in hauyng Vyctorye of his woode tormentour he was Ioyous for to despyse it by the fyre Fourthly he was right excellent in the merueylous bataylle and in the maner of his vyctorye And as it apperith openly by the wordes of saynt Maxymyn and of saynt Austyn The blessid laurence had fyue brennynges withoute forthe whiche he al ouercam manly and extyncte them ¶ The firste was the fyre of helle The second mate ryall flamme the thyrdde carnal concupiscence the fourthe of brennyng couetyse And the fyfte of a mad wodenes The quenchyng of the first fyre that is of helle Maxymyn sayth It myght gyue no place of brennyng to the worldly fyre for to brenne his body whiche quenchyd the fire perdurable of helle he wente thurgh the fyre erthely and materyal of this world but he escaped and eschewed them the horryble flambe of the fire perdurable of helle The quenchyng of the second fire he sayth also he trauayled by bodely brennyng but the dyuyne ardoure quenchyd the materyal brennyng And yet sayth he how be it the euylle peple put vnder the fagottes woode for tencrece and make grete flamme Seynt Laurence esprysed by the hete of the feyth felte not the flammes And saynt Austyn sayth the charyte of Ihesu Crist may not be surmounted with flammes for the fire that brente withoute forth was more feble than that whiche he embracyd within forth And the quenchyng of the thyrd fire of carnall concupyscence sayth saynt Maxymyn saynt laurence passed thorugh the fire whiche he abhorryd beyng not brente but he enlumyned shone he brenned lest he shold brenne And by cause he shold not brenne he was brente Of the quenchynge of the fourthe fire that is of Auaryce of them that coueyte the tresours of whiche they be deceyued Sayth saynt Austyn thus A man coueytous is armed by double ardour of money and is enemy of trouthe his auaryce is for to stele gold And by his febonye he leseth oure lord He hath no thyng he prouffyteth no thyng humayne cruelte is withdrawen by his wyndes and câ—rporalle mater And laurence goth to heuen And he fayleth in his flammes Of the quenchyng of the fifthe fire that is of the furyous woodenes how that is to say furyous woodenes of the persecutoure was deceyued and brought to nought Seyth Seynt Maxymyn thus whan the woodenes of the mynystres of the flaÌ„mes was surmoÌ„ted he restrayned the brennyng of the worldly wodenes And tyll that tyme the deuyls entent prouffyted tyll that the trewe man ascended and mounted in to heuen gloryously vnto his lord god And he made to câ—le the cruelte of the persecutours confused all wyth theyr fires ¶ And sheweth that the woodenes of the persecutours was fyre whanne he sayde the woodenesse of the Paynyms maade redy a gredel of yron vppon the fyre strongly brennyng And that was done to th ende that he sholde auenge the fyres and grete heetes of indignacion And it was no wonder though he surmounted these thre grete fyres without forth For as it is had of the wordes of the sayd maxymyn he had within forth thre refroydours or coldes and bare in his herte thre fyres by whiche he assuaged by coldenes all the fyre with oute forth And surmounted with theÌ„bracynge of more fyre And the firste coldenes was the desyre of celestyalle glorye Che second was the remembraunce of the lawe of god And the thirde was the clennes of his conscyence By this treuble coldenes he quenchid alle the fyre withoute forth And he was cold of the fyrst refraydeur whiche is desyre of heuenly glorye as saynt Ambrose sayth the blessid Laurence myghte not fele the tormentes of fire in his entraylles whiche within hym posseded the refraidour of paradis Though the brente flesshe laye to fore the tyraunt and the body brente Neuertheles the body suffred no payne in erth whoos sowle and courage was in heuen Of the second coldenes or refraideur that is the remembraunce of the lawe of god he sayth thus whan he remeÌ„bryd to fore the commaundementes of Ihesu Cryst al was cold that he suffred Of the thyrde whiche is purete clennes of conscyence he sayth thus the right strong martir truly is brente in his entraylles but he sechyng the kyngdome of heuen enioyeth as a vaynqueur by the refroydour of the clennes of his conscyence And as saynt Maxymyn sayth he had thre fyres within forth by the whiche he surmonnted by embracyng al the fyres withoute forth The fyrst was the gretenes of the faith The second the ardaunt dilection The thyrdde the very knowlege of god whiche embracyd hym as fyre Of the first fyre sayth saynt Ambrose As moche as the brennyng of the feyth chauffeth hym so moche coled hym the flamme of the torment We rede in the gospell that the fyre of the feythe is the fyre of the sauyoure ¶ Theuangelyst sayd I cam in to the erthe to put fyre therin And with this fyre was saynt laurence embraced and felte not the brennyng of the
Where as I am ther shall be my mynysstre yf this sentence be generalle to alle them that haue mynystred Ihesu cryst by fayth and by werke how is ther ony more special than Marye For with oute doute she was admynystresse in alle werke For she bare hym in her bely she childed hym she nourisshed hym and leyd hym in the Crybbe she went with hym in to egypte and kept hym all her lyf vnto the deth of the Crosse and departid not fro hym but folowed hym his dyuynyte myght not be to her incredyble For she knewe wel that she had not conceyued of the seed of man but by dyuyne Inspyracion thenne she hauyng feyth in the puysaunce of her sone as of the vertu of god not chauÌ„geâ—ble said whan the wyn fayled Sone they haue no wyn she wyst that he myghte doo alle thyng And he acomplysshed anone that myracle And thenne seest thou that Marye was admynystresse of Ihesu Cryst by feythe and werke Thenne yf she be not where as Ihesu crist will that his mynystres be where shall she be thenne And yf she be there Is it not by grace pareylle and lyke And yf it be not egall where is the egall mesure of god that rendreth to eueryche after his deserte For by the deserte of Marye is gyuen to man lyâ—yng moche grace Shalle thenne the grace be lassed to her beyng deed Nay nay for yf the dethe of al sayntes be precious Certes I Iuge the dethe of Marye to be right precious whiche is receyued to the Ioyes perdurable by the debonayâ—te of her sone Ihesu Crist more honourably than the other whome he had honoured by grace tofore his other sayntes And I saye that she ought not to be put ne is not set to the comyn humanyte after the deth that is to wete of wormes of rotynnesse and of pouldre she that bare in her bely the sauyour of alle men yf the dyuyne Volente vouchesauf to kepe the vestymentes of the children from hurtyng among the flaÌ„mes of fyre why shold not he thenne in his moder that whiche he kepte in a straunge vesture It plesyd hym to kepe Ionas in the bely of the whale with oute corrupcion shold not he thenne kepe his moder not corrupt he kepte danyell a lyue in the pytte of lyons fro ther disatempered honger ouÈt he not to kepe Mary for so many yeftes of meritees dgnytees we know well that alle these dygnytees that we haue said haue not kepte nature For we doubte not but grace hath kepte more the entyernes of Marye than nature And theÌ„ne oure lord maketh Marye to enioye in her propre sone bothe in soule and in body as she that neuer had tatche ne spot of corrupcion in bryngyng forthe so grete a sone For she is alwey wyth oute corrupcion that was fulle of soo moche grace She is lyuyng entyerly she that childed the lyf of alle And thenne yf I haue sayd as I ought to saye Ihesu Criste approue it thou and thyne And yf I haue not sayd as I ought do saye I praye the to pardone me thou and thyne Thus endeth the history of thassumpcion of oure blessid lady Saynt Marye Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Rocke SAynt Rock was borne in MouÌ„tpeler whiche is a Towne ofgrete name vpon the bordure of Fraunce and was borne of noble progeny His fader was lord of Mountpeler was named Iohan and was comen of the noble hows of fraunce And though he was noble of byrthe â—nd ryche of lordship he was also vertuous in all humanyte he hadde a wyf of noble kynrede and fayr of vysage named libera whiche bothe deuoutely serued our lord Ihesu Crist and lyued in dyuyne loue and hooly werkes And how wel that they thus had lyued longe yet had they no childe ne heyr wherfor they ofte made their prayers And vowed pylgremages And on a daye moost specially the wyf made her prayers to our blessid lady prayeng deuoutely for to haue a child and was in very contemplacion in whiche she hâ—rde the voys of an angel seyeng O Lybera god hath herd thy prayer and thou shalt receyue of hym grace of thy peticion And anone she wente to hâ—r husbonde and tolde hym as she had herd of the Angel And thenne they herof ioyeful accomplysshed thacte of matrymony and she conceyued and at â—yme was delyuerd of a sone whiche in his batpysme was named Rochus or Rocke And this Rocke had inpressid in the sholder on his lyft syde a crosse whiche was a token that he shold be acceptable and byloued of god whiche thyng when his fader and moder saw they blessid god and his moder her self nourysshed and gaf sowke to the child and fedde it And commysed and dyde gladly the other besynes of a nouryce whiche deuoute moder fasted twyes in the weke And the blessid child rocke absteyned hym twyâ—s also whan his moder fasted in the weke And wold sowke his moder but ones that day whiche was to al a grete wonder and that day he was gladder meryer and swetter than the other And after whanne he cam to fyue yere of age he disposed hym to the werkes of penaunce and was moche obedyent to fader and moder And in the twelft yere of his age he fasted many dyuerse fastynges for Crystes loue And the more his membrys grewe the more the crosse that to fore was spoken of appered larger and more apparaunt In that tyme the fader of saynt Rock was seke sawe his last ende approche called to hym his sone rocke sayde O myn only sone Rocke thou seest wel that I shalle shortely fynysshe my lyf alwey the wyll of god be fulfilled foure thynges with my lordship herytage I leue to the coÌ„maÌ„de yâ— tacomplysshe Fyrst lyke as thou hast begonne that thou serue besyly god Socondly that thou remembre poure peple wydowes and Orphanes Thyrdly I coÌ„stytute and ordeyne the gouernour and dyspensatour of al my tresours that thou dispende them in charytable and meke werkes And fourthly that with all dylygence thou haunte and frequeÌ„te the hospytalles of seke and poure men These forsayd thynges Rocke promysed to his fader to fulfylle them to his power And anone after his fader deyde whome Rocke buryed honourably and leyd it in a sepulture And in the xx yere of his age he buryed also his deuoute moder And in fewe dayes he executed the testament of his fader effectuelly And vysyted Relygyous places of poure peple wretches oppressid and seke men he cured by counceylle and werkes wydowes and Orphans he comforted and poure maydens to marye he releued And in these good offices and werkes he dispended his faders goodes And whanne he had fynysshed his faders commaundements he decreed to leue the contre of Mount pâ—ler and to make and seche other dyuerse pylgremages and clad hym with thabyte of a pylgryme and couerd his hede with a bonet a scryppe on his sholder and
ne whâ—ther whâ—rof he merueyled and soo dyde al his houshold And the next dyner he sette a dellcate loof on the lord whiche anone the hound by his newe maner took aweye and bare it to Rocke and Gotard folowed after and cam to the lodge of saint Rocke and there beheld how famylyarly the hounde delyuerd the brede to saynt Rocke thenne gotard reuerently salewed the holy man and approched to hym but saynt Rock dredyng leste the contagyous ayer of the pestylence myght enfecte hym sayd to hym Frende goo fro me in good pees For the moost vyolente pestylence holdeth me Thenne Gotard wente his wey lefte hym and retorned home where by goddes grace he sayd thus to hym self alle stylle This poure man whome I haue lefte in the wood and deserte certeynly is the man of god syth this hound withoute reason bryngeth to hym brede I therfore that haue sene hym doo soo ought sonner to doo it whiche am a cristen man By this hooly medytacion Gotard retorned to Rocke and sayd hooly pylgrym I desyre to doo to the that thou nedest and am auysed neuer to leue the Thenne Rock thanked god whiche had sente to hym gotard And he enformed gotard besyly in the lawe of Cryst And whan they had ben a whyle to geder the houÌ„d brought no more brede Gotard axyd couÌ„ceyll how he myght haue brede for more and more he hongred and axed remedye of saynt Rock Seynt Rock exhorted hym after the text sayeng In the swette of thy vysage thou shalt ete thy brede and that he sholde retorne to the Towne leue all his goodes to his heyres and folowe the wey of cryst and demaunde brede in the name of Ihesu Thenne gotard was ashamed to doo so where he was knowen but at the last by the besy admonycion of saynt Rock Gotard wente to placence where as he had grete knowlege and beggeth brede and almesse at the dore of one his gossyb That same gossyb thretened sharpely Gotard and sayd he shamed his lygnage and frendes by this fowle and indecent beggyng And put hym awey beyng wrothe and scornyng hym For whiche cause Gotard was constreyned to begge besyly at the dores of other meÌ„ of the Cyte And the same day the gossyb that so had said to gotard was taken sore with the pestylence and many other that denyed almesse to gotard And thenne anone the Cyte of placence was enfect with contagyous pestylence and gotard retorned to the woode told to saynt Rocke all that was happed And saynt Rock tolde to gotard to fore that his gossib shold hastely dye whiche was done in dede And saynt Rocke meued with pyte and mercy beyng full seke wente in to placence beyng ful of pestylence And left gotard in the woode And though seynt Rock were sore vexed with the pestylence yet he with grete labour wente to placence And with touchynge and blyssyng he helpe and heled them alle And also cured thospytal of the same Cyte And he beyng sore seke and almost lame retorned ageyne to Gotard in to the wode And many that herde that he and Gotard were in the place of the desert valeye cam te them whome he found al with Rocke And to fore them alle he dyde these myracles the wylde heestes whiche wandred in the woode what hurte sekenes or swellyng they had they ranne anone to saynt Rocke and whan they were heled they wold enclyne their heedes reuerently and goo theyr weye And a lytel whyle after Gotard and his felawes for certeyne necessitees and erandes retorned in to placence And lefte that tyme saynt Rock allone in the valleye and saynt Rock made his prayers to almyghty god that he myght be delyuerd fro the wouÌ„des of pestylence And in this prayer he fyl a slepe And in the mene whyle retorned fro the Cyte And whan he cam and ioyned hym to Rock slepyng he herde the vois of an angel sayeng O Rock frende of god oure lord hath herd thy prayers lo thou arte delyuerd fro the pestylence and arte made al hoole And oure lorde comaundeth that thou take the weye towarde thy countre with this sodeyn voys gotarde was astoned whiche neuer to fore knewe the name of Rocke And anone Rock awoke and felte hym self al hole by the grace of god like as the Angel saide And Gotarde tolde vnto Rock how he had herde the aungel and what he had said thenne saynt Rock prayd gotarrd that he shold kepe his name secretâ— to telle it to noman For he desired noo worldly glorye Thenne after a fewe dayes saynt Rocke with gotard and his felawes abode in the desert enformed them alle in godly werkes And they thenne beganne to wexe hooly wherin he exhorted them and confermed and lefte them in that deserte valeye And saynt Rocke as a pylgrym doyng peuauÌ„ce entended brennyng in the loue of god toward his Countrey and cam to a prouyuce of bombardye called Anglerye and applyed hym toward almaynewhere the lord of his prouynce made warre with his enemy whoos knyghtes took saynt Rock as a spye delyuerd hym to thr lord as a traytour This blessid saynt alweye confessynge Ihesu crist was deputed vnto an hard and strayte pryson And the blessid Rocke pacyently wente in to pryson suffred it gladly where day and nyght remembryng the name of Ihesu commeÌ„dyd hym to god prayeng that the pryson shold not disproufyte hym but that he myght haue it for wyldernes penaunce And there he abode fyue yere in prayers ¶ In the ende of the fyfthe yere whan god wold that his sowle sholde be brouÈt in to the felaushyp of his sayntes and be alweye in the syght of god he that bare mete to saynt Rocke in to the pryson as he was acustomed euery day he sawe a grete light and shynnng in the pryson And saint Rocke knelyng on his knees prayeng whiche alle these thynges he told to his lord And the fame herof ranne all aboute the cyte soo that many of the Cytezeyns ranne to the pryson by cause of the nouelte of this thyng And there sawe and byhelde it and gaf laude therof to almyghty god and accused the lord of cruelte and woodenes Thenne at the last whan saynt Rock knewe by the wyll of god that he shold fynysshe his mortal lyf called to hym the kepar of the pryson and prayd hym that he wold goo to his lord and to exhorte hym in the name of god and of the glorious vyrgyn Marye that he wold sende to hym a preest of whome â—â— he deyd he wold be confessid whiche thynge was anone done And whan he hadde confessid hym to the prâ—est and deuoutely taken his blessyng he prayd hym that he myght abyde allone thre dayes next folowyng for to be in his contemplacion by whiche he myght the better haue mynde of the moost hooly passion of oure lorde For Rocke felte wel tho that the cytezeyns prayd the lord for his delyueraunce whiche thynges the
preest told to the lord Ayd soo it was graunted to saynt Rocke tabyde there allone thre dayes And in the ende of the thyrd day the Angel of god cam to saynt Rock sayeng thus O Rocke god sendeth me for thy sowle of whome in this laste parte of thy lyf that what thou now desyrest thou sholdest now aske and demaunde Thenne saynt rok prayd vnto almyghty god with his moost deuoute prayer that alle good crysten men whiche reuerently prayde in the name of Ihesu to the blessid Rock myght be delyuerd surely fro the stroke of pestylence And this prayer soo made he expyred and yaf vp the ghooste Anone an Angel brought fro heuen a table dyuynely wreton with lettres of gold in to the pryson which he leyde vnder the hede of saynt Rocke And in that table was wreton that god hadde graunted to hym his preyer that is to wete that who that calleth mekely to saynt Rocke he shall not be hurte with ony hurte of pestylence And thenne after the thyrde daye the lord of the Cyte sente to the pryson that saynt Rocke shold be delyuerd oute of hit And they that cam to the prison fonde saynt Rock departed fro this lyf And sawe thoruÈ alle the pryson a merueylous lyght in suche wyse that withoute doubte they byleued hym to be the frende of god And ther was at his hede a grete tapre brennyng and another at his feet by Whiche tapres alle his body was lyghte Ferthermore they fonde vnder his hede the forsayd table by whiche they knewe the name of the blessid Rock by auctoryte whiche name knowen the moder of the lord of that Cyte knewe many yeres to fore saynt Rock to be the sone of the lorde Iohan of Mountpeler whiche was broder germayne to this lord of whome we haue sayd whiche thyng and all that was done was by cause they knewe not his name Thenne they knewe hym to be neuewe to the lord and also by the signe of the crosse whiche saynt Rock â—are as to fore is sayd that he hadde hit whan he was borne oute of his moders bely Thenne they beyng therof penytent and in grete waylyng and sorowe Atte last with all the peple of the cyte they buryed saynt Rocke solempnly and relygyously whiche soone after the hooly saynt was canonysed by the pope gloryously And in his gloryous name and honoure they buylded a grete and a large chirche Thenne late vs reuerently with deuocion praye vnto this gloryous saynte saynt Rocke that by his intercession and prayer we may be delyuerd fro the hard dethe of pestilence and epydemye and that we may so lyue in this lyf and be penytent for oure synnes that after this shorte lyf we may come vnto euerlastyng lyf in heuen Amen The fest of saynt Rock is alwey holden on the morn after the day of thassumpcion of oure lady whiche lyf is translated oute of latyn in to Englysshe by me William Caxton Thus endeth the lif of saynt Rock Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Bernard the mellifluous doctor And first of thynterpretacion of his name BErnard is said of that is a pytte or welle and nardus whiche is the glose sayth vppon cantica is an humble herbe and of hote nature and wel smellynge He was hote in brennyng loue humble in conuersacyon a welle in flowyng doctryne a pytte in depenes of scyence and well smellyng in swetenes of fame his lyf hathe wryton Abbotte William of saynt Theoderyk and the felawe of saynt bernard hernalous thabbot of boneualle SAynt Bernard was borne in Burgoyn in the Castel of fontaynes of noble lygnage and moche relygyous Whoos fader he et Celestyn and was a noble knyght in the world moch religious to god And his moder was named Aleth She had seuen children six males and one femele The men children she norysshed all for to be Monkes and the doughter for to be a Nonne And anone as she had a childe she offryd it to god with hir owne hondes She wold refuse straunge brestes For lyke as she fedde hem with hir moderly mylke soo fedde she them with naturâ— of goodenes And as long as they grewe and were vnder her hand she norysshed them more for desert than for the Courte For she fedde them with more comyn grosser metes lyke as she wold haue sente them right forth in to deserte And as she bare the thyrdde sone whiche was Bernard in her bely she sawe in her slepe a dreme whiche was a demonstraÌ„ce of thynges to come Her semed that she had in her bely a whelp al whyte rede vpon the bucke barkyng in her bely And whan she had told her dreme to an holy man he answerd to her prophecyenge Thou arte moder of a right noble whelp whiche shall be a wardeyn of the hows of god and shall gyuâ— grete barkynges ageynst the enemyes For he shalle be a noble prechour and shalle guarysshe moche peple by the grace of his tonge And as Bernard was yet a lytel childe he was seke of the heede ache and ther cam a woman to hym for to charme hym and ther by to assuage the greuous ache of his hede but he put her fro hym cryeng by right grete indignacion And the mercy of god fayled not to his enfancye in good loue For he aroos and felt that he was delyuerd therof In the blessyd nyght of the natyuyte of oure lord whan the childe Bernard abode in the chirche thoffyce of matyns and coueyted to knowe what houre Ihesu cryst Was borne The childe Ihesus appered to hym as he had be borne ageyne oute of his moders bely wherfor as longe as he lyued he supposed that hour to be the houre of the natyuyte of our lord And euer after as long as he lyued was gyuen to hym in that houre more parfyght wytte and spech more habondaunt in suche thynges as apperteynen to the sacrament And after that he made a noble werke amonge alle his other werkes of the laude and preysyng of god and his blessid moder In the whiche werke he expowned the lesson euangelyk how the Angel Gabryel was sente to the vyrgyne marye And whan thauÌ„cyent enemy sawe the purpoos of the childe full of helthe And bente ageynst hym many gynnes of temptacion And on a tyme whan he had holden his eyen and fixed them vpon a woman he had anone shame in hym self and was a cruel venger of self For he lepte anone in to a ponde ful of water and frorn and was ther in so longe that al moost he was frorn And by the grace of god he was coled fro the hete of carnal concupiscence Aboute that tyme by instygacion of the deuylle a mayde leyde her in his bedde by hym al naked ther where he slepte And whan he felte her he lete her lye in that syde of the bedde that she hadde taken and tourned hym to that other syde And slepte And she taryed a space of tyme and felt hym and
laparyte where as the body of saynt Bertylmewe lyeth and brake vp the sepulcre and threwe the bones hyder and thyder And it is sayd that his body cam in such wise from ynde thyder in to that yle whan the paynyms sawe that this body and his sepulcre were gretely honoured for the myracles that bifelle they had therof grete despyte And leyd them in a tombe of lede and threwe them in to the see And by the wylle of god they cam in to this yle And whan the Sarasyns had departed and throwen the bones here and there and were departed thens Thappostle appered to a Monke and sayd to hym Aryse vp and goo and gadre to geder my bones that 〈◊〉 departed And he sayd to hym by what reson shalle I gadre to gyder thy bones And what honoure ought we doo to them whan thou suffrest vs to be destroyed And thappostle sayd to hym Our lord hath spared this peple here a longe whyle by my merytes but for their synnes that they haue synned whiche crye vengeaunce vnto heuene I haue not conne gete pardon ne foryeuenesse for them And thenne the Monke said how shalle I amonge soo many bones fâ—nde thyn And thappostle said to hym thou shalt gadre them by nyght and them that thou shalt fynde shynynge thou shalt take vp and the monke weÌ„t and fonde them alle as he had sayd and toke them vp and brought them with hym in to a shyppe and sayled with them to Beneuente whiche is chyef cyte of puylle and thus were they transported thyder And it is sayd now that they be at Româ— how bâ— it they of Beneuente say that they haue the body ¶ There was a woman that brought a vessel ful of oylle for to put in the lampe of saynt Bertylmew and how wel she enclyned the vessel for to poure oute the oylle there wold none yssue oute how wel she touched with her fyngre the oylle clere And thenne one cryed and sayd I trowe this oylle be not agreable to the appostle that it shold be in his lampe wherfor they put it in another lampe and it yssued anone whan that the Emperour Frederyck destroyed Beneuent And he hadde commaunded that alle the chirches that were there sholde be destroyed and enforsed them to bere awey the goodes fro that Cyte in to an other place And ther was a man whiche fonde men al whyte shynyng And hym semed that they spak to geder of some secrete thynge and he merueyled strongly who they were and demaunded them and thenne one of them answerd and sayd this is Bertylmewe thappostle with thother sayntes whiche had chirches in this Cyte that speke ordeyne to gyder in what maner and by what payne this emperour sholde be Iustyfyed that hath cast them oute of their tabernacles And they haue now confermed among them by ferme sentence that he without taryeng shal go to the Iugemement of god for to answere ther vpon And anone the Emperour deyed an euyl deth It is in a booke redde of the myracles of sayntes that a certeyne mayster halowed solempnly the fest of saynt Bertymew And the deuyl in the forme of a mayde appered to this maister that prechid And when he sawe her he had her to come and dyne with hym and when they were sette at the table she enforced her moche for to drawe hym to her loue And thenne saynt Bertylmewe cam to the gate and prayd that he myghte come in for the loue of saynt Bertylmewe and she wold not but sent hym brede and he wold none take but prayd the mayster by his message that he shold saye what thyng that he supposed was moost propre in a man And he answerd to laugh And the mayd sayd nay It is synne in whiche a maÌ„ is conceyueth born and lyueth in synne And saynt Bertylmewe answerd that he had wel sayd but she had more profoundely answerd And the pilgrym demaunded after at the maystre Where the place was conteynyng the space of a foote where had god made grettest myracle And he sayd the signe of the Crosse in whiche god had made many myracles And she sayd nay it is the hede of a man in whiche the litell world is And thappostle allowed the sentence of that one and of that other ¶ And thenne he demaunded the thyrd tyme how ferre it was fro the souerayne syege or sete in heuen vnto the lowest and deppest place of helle And the maystre sayd that he wyst not And she sayd I knowe it wel For I fylle doune from that one to that other And hit behoueth that I shewe it to the And the deuylle fylle doune in to helle with a grete bruyte and howlyng And thenne they sente for the pylgrym and he was vanysshed and gone awey and they coude not fynde hym And in lyke wyse nyghe accordyng to this is redde of saynt Andrewe The blessid Ambrose saith thus in the preface that he made of this appostle in abredgyng his legende Ihesu Cryst thou hast vouchesauf to shewe to thy disciples prechyng many thynges of thy dyuyne Trynyte in merueylous maner and thy mageste among whome thou hast sente the blessyd Bertylmewe honoure by ryght grete prerogatyf in to a ferre couÌ„trey And how be hit that he was all fer fro humayne conuersacion Neuertheles he deseruyd by thencreacyng of his predicacions to marke and thynke in thy signe the begynnyng of that peple Ha by what louynges is the merueylous appostle to be honoured And whan the hertes of the peple of his neyghbours suffysed not to hym to receyue his seede he thorugh persed lyke in fleynge in to the last Countrees of the londes of ynde and entryd in to the teÌ„ple where ther were grete companye of seke peple withoute nombre And made the deuylle soo muet that he gat noo remembraunce to them that adoured hym And the mayde that was Lunatyk by tormente of the deuylle he dyd vnbynde And delyuerd her all hole to her fader O how grete was this myracle of holynes whan he made the fende enemy to the lygnage humayne and breke and destroye his owne ydolle and to brynge it to nought O how worthy is he to be nombred to the heuenly company to whome the angell appered to preyse the feythe of hym by his myracles And cam fro the souerayne halle And shewed to alle the peple the deuyll chayned and right fowle and the signe of the Crosse empressid in the stone beryng helthe And the kyng and the quene were laptised with the peple of their Cytees And at the last the tirauÌ„t broder of Polemyen newe in feith by the relacion of the bisshops of the temple made the blessyd Appostle constaunt in the fayth to be beten flayn receyue right fowle deth And as he denounced the meschyef of deth he hadde and bare with hym in to the glorye of heuen vyctorye of his gloryous stryfe And the blessid Theodore Abbot and noble doctour sayth of this Appostle in this maner
among other thynges The blessâ—d appostle Betylmewe prechid fyrst in lychaone and after in ynde and at the laste in Albane a Cyte of grete armenye and ther was fyrst slayn and afterward his hede smyton of and there he was buryed and whan he was sent of oure lord to preche as I suppose he herd how oure lorde sayd to hym go my disciple to preche voyde out of this Countre and goo fight and be capax of perylles I haue fyrst accomplysshed and fynysshed the werkes of my fader and am fyrst wytnesse Fyll thou the vessell that is necessarye and folowe thy maystre loue thy lord gyue thy blood for his blood and thy flesshe for his flesshe and suffre that whiche he hadde suffred late thyn armoure be delonairte in thy swetynges and suffre swetely among wycked peple And be pacyent among them that perysshe the And the Appostle recuylled not but as a trewe seruaunt and obeysaunt to his mayster wente forth Ioyeng and as a lyght of god enlumynyng in derkenes the werke of hooly chirche lyke as the blessyd saynt Auistyn wytnessyth in his booke that lyke a tylyer of Ihesu Cryst he prouffyted in spyrytuel tylyeng Seynt Peter thappostle taught the naaoÌ„s but saint Bertylmew dyde grete myracles Peter was crucyfyed the hede dounward And Bertylmewe was flayn quyck and had his hede smyton of And they tweyne encreced gâ—â—tely the chirche by the yeftes of the holy gho ost And right as an harpe gyueth a right swete sowne of many stâ—â—nges in lyke wyse alle thappostles gaf swete melodye of the vnyte dyuyne And were establysshyd by the kyng of kynges And they departed amonge them alle the world And the place of Armenye was the place of Bertylmewe that is fro eiulath vnto gabaoth There thou maist see hym with the plough of his tonge erye the feldes vnresonable sowyng in the depnesse of the herte the word of the fayth and in plantyng the vygnes of our lord and trees of paradys And to eueryche settyng medycynally the remedyes of the passions And threwe thornes not intellygyble and cutte doune trees of felonnye and closed them aboute with hedges of doctryne But what reward yelded the tyrauntes to their curate They gaf to hym dishonour for honour cursyng for benediction paynes for yeftes trybulacion for reste And right bytter deth for restfull lyf And syth that he had suffred many tormentes he was of them discoryate and flayn quyck and deyde not And yet for all that he hadde them not in despyte that slewe hym but admonested them by myracles and taught them by demonstraunces that dyde hym harme But ther was noo thyng that myght refrayne theyr bestyal thoughtes ne withdrawe them from harme what did they afterward they enforced them ageynste the hooly body And the malades and seke men refused their medycyne and heler the cyte refused hym that enlumyned theyr blyndenes gouerned them that were in perylle and gaf lyf to them that were dede And how caste they hym oute certeynly they threw the body in to the see in a cheste of leed And that cheste cam fro the regyon of armenye with the chestes of foure other martirs For they dide also myracles and were throwen with hym in to the see And the foure wente bifore a grete space of the see dyde seruyce to thappostle lyke as seruauntes in a maner so ferre that they cam in to the partyes of Cecylle in an yle that is named Lyparys lyke as it was shewed to a bisshop of hostyence whiche thenne was present And thyse ryght ryche tresour cam to aright poure woman ¶ And these right precious Margarytes cam to one not noble The right shynyng lyghte cam to one right heuy And thenne the other four cam in to other londes and lefte the hooly appostle in that yle and he leste the other behynde hym And that one whiche was named Papyen wente in to a Cyte of Cecylle And he sente another named Lucyen in to the Cyte of Messenne And the other tweyne were sente in to the londe of Calabre sente gregory in to the Cyte of Colompne And Achare in to a cyte named Chale where yet at this day they shyne by theyr merytes And thenne was the body of the appostle receyued wyth ympnes louynges and candellys honourably And ther was made and bylded a faire chirche in thonoure of hym And the MouÌ„tayn of Vulcan is nyhe to that yle and was to hit moche greuous by cause it receyued fire the whiche Mountayne was withdrawe by the merytes of this hooly saynt fro that yle vn myle withoute to be sene of ony body and was suspended toward the see And yet apperith it at this day to them that see hit as hit were a figure of fire fleynge aweye Now thenne therfore I salewe the Bertylmewe blessid of blessid sayntes whiche art the shynyng lyght of hooly chirche Fssyhar of fisshes resonable hurteâ— of the deuylle whiche hurted the world by his thefte Enioye the sone of the world enlumynyng alle erthely thynges mouthe of god Fyry tongue pronouncyng wysdom Fontayne spryngyng goodly ful of helth whiche halowest the see by thy goynges and wayes not remeuable whiche makest the erthe reede with thy blood whiche repayrest in heuenes shynyng in the myddle of the dyuyne company clere in the resplendisshour of glorye And enioye the in the gladnes of Ioye insacyable Amen And this is that theodore sayth of hym ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Bertylmewe Here foloweth the lyf of saÌ„ynt Austyn doctour And first thexposicion of his name· AUstyn this name was sorted to hym for thexcellence of his dignyte Or for the ferueÌ„te loue that he had or for thexposicion of his name For thexcellence of his dignyte For like as themperour Augustus precellyd all other kynges Ryght soo he excelled al other doctours after that Remygie sayth The other doctours be compared to sterres And this to the sonne As hit apperyth in the epystle that is songen of hym he shyneth in the Temple of god lyke to the sonne shynyng Secondly for the feruent loue For lyke as the moneth of August is hote by hete soo is he enchauffed of the fyre of the dyuyne loue wherfor he saith hym self in the booke of Confessions Thou hast thorugh perced my hert with thy charyte Also in the same thou hast brought me in to a desyrous affection within forth whiche can not be aswâ—ged And I wote not to what swetâ—nes it is made in me I wote not what it shalle be I wote wel hit shall not be in this lyf Thyrdly for thexposicion of the name Augus is as moche to saye as growyng and styn is a Cyte And ana is as moche to saye as souerayne And theÌ„ne Augustyn is as moche to saye as encrecyng the cyte souerayne And it is songen of hym this is he that may well encrece the Cyte of god Or it is said in the glosarye Austyn is sayd grete blessyd and clere he was grete in his lyf clâ—re in
age as he was to haue so tendre a mayde And where other brought forth their roddes he hydde his And whanne no thyng appered accordyng to the voys of god the Bisshop ordeyned for to aske couÌ„seylle ageyne of our lord And be answerd that he only that shold espouse the vyrgyne had not brought forthe his rodde And thenne Ioseph by the comaundement of the bisshop broughte forth his rodde And anone it flouryd and a douue descended from heuen ther vpon soo that it was clerely thaduys of euery man that he shold haue the vyrgyne And thenne he espoused the vyrgyne Marye and retourned in to his Cyte of Bethlehem for to ordeyne his meyne and his hows and for to fetche suche thynges as were necessary And the vyrgyne Marye retourned vnto the hows of her fader with seuen vyrgyns her felawes of her age whiche hadde sene the demonstraunce of the myracle And in tho dayes the Aungell of our lord appyered to the Vyrgyn prayeng and shewed to 〈◊〉 how the sone of god sholde be borne of her And the daye of the Natyuyte was not knowen in long tyme of good crysten men as mayster Iohan â—eleth sayth that it happed that a man of good contemplacion euery yere in the â—â—yâ—hydus of September was in prayer And he herde a companye of Angels that made grete solempnyte And theÌ„ne he requyred deuoutely that he myÈt haue knowlege wherfor euery yere only on that day he herd suche solempnyte and not on other dayes And thenne he had a dyuyne answere that on that day the blessyd Vyrgyne Marye was borne in to this world And that he shold do it to be knowen to the men of hooly chirche soo that they shold be concordable to the heuenly Courte in halowynge this solempnyte And whan he had told this to the souerayne Bisshop the 〈◊〉 and to other and had ben in fastynges in prayers and sought in scryptures and wytnessys of old wrytynges they establisshyd this daye of the natyuyte of the gloryous vyrgyne to be halowed generally of alle Crysten men but the Vtas somtyme was not halowed ne kepte But Innocent the fourthe of the nacion of geue ordeyned and Instytued the sayd Vtas to be obserued And the cause was this After the deth of pope gregorye anone the Cytezeyns of Rome enclosed all the cardynallys in the conclaue by cause they shold purueye liÈtely for the chirche but they myght not acorde in many dayes but suffred of the Romayns moche sorowe Thenne auowed they to the quene of heuen that yf they myght goo quyte fro thennes they shold establysshe to halowe the octaues of the Natyuyte whiche they had long neclygently lefte And they thenne by one acord chees Celestyn and were delyuerd and accomplysshed thenne theyr auowe by Innocent For Celestyn lyued but a lytel tyme And therfor it myght not be accomplysshed by hym And hit is to wyte that the chirche haloweth thre Natyuytees the Natyuyte of our lord the Natyuyte of the blessyd Vyrgyne Marye and the natyuyte of saynt Iohan Baptist And these thre signefye thre natyuytees spyrytuel For we be borne ageyne with saynt Iohan Baptyst in the water of baptym and with Marye in penaunce and with our lord Ihesu Cryste in glorye And hit behoueth that the natyuyte of bapteme goote fore contrycion and that of ioye also For the two by reason haue vygylles but by cause that penaunâ—e is aâ—ouÌ„ted for Vygyle therfor that of our ledy behoueth no vygyle but they haue alle vtas For alle haste them vnto the viij resurection Ther was a knyghte moche noble and deuoute vnto our lady whiche wente to a tornoyeng And he fonde a monasterye in his waye whiche was of the vyrgyne Marye entryd in to it for to here masse and there were masses one after another And for thonour of our lady he wâ—lâ— leue none but that he herd them alle And whanne he yssued oute of the monastery he hasted hym appertely And they thaâ— retorned fro the tornaye mette hym And sayd to hym that he had ryden ryght nobly And they that hated hym affermed the same And all they to gydre cryed that he had ryght nobly tournoyed And somme wente to hym and sayd that he had taken them Thenne he that was wyse auysed hym that the curtois vyrgyne and quene hadde so curtoysly honoured hym and recounted al that was happende And thenne retorned he to the monasterye and euer after abode in the seruyâ—e of our lord the sone of the blessyd vyrgyne Theâ— was a Bisshop which had the blessid Vyrgyn Marye in souerayn honour and deuocion And there he sawe the vyrgyne of al virgyns which cam to mete hym and beganne to lede hym by souerayne honour to the chirch that he wente to and two maydens of the companâ— wente to fore syngyng And sayeng these verses Cantemus socie domino cantemus honorem Dulcis amor cristi personet ore pio That is to saye Synge we felawes to our lord synge we honour Synge we with a vois debonayre that swete loue whiche ought to plese hym and that other companye of vyrgynes songe and rehersed ageyne the same Thenne the twoo fyrst syngers began to synge this that foloweth Primus ad yma ruit magna de luce superbus Sic homo cum timuit primus ad yma ruit that is to saye the fyrst pryde fill lowe fro grete lyght So the first maÌ„ for his etyng of thapple fylle lowe also And so brought they to the chirche with procession the said Bisshop And the two to fore beganne all way and the other folowed Ther was a wydowe whos husbond was deed and had a sone whome she bouyd tendyrly And that sone was taken with enemyes and put in pryson fast bounden And whan she herde therof she wepte withoute comforte and prayd vnto oure blessyd lady with ryght deuoute prayers that she wolde delyuer her sone and at the laste she sawe that her prayers auayled her not and entryd thenne in to the chirch where as thymage of oure lady was coruen and stode to fore thymage and aresoned hit in this maner sayeng O blessyd virgyn I haue prayd ofte the for my sone that thow sholdest delyuer hym And thou hast not helped me his wretchyd moder And I pray also thy sone to helpe me and yet I fele no fruyte And therfor lyke as my sone is taken fro me so shalle I take awey thyn and sette hym in pryson in hostage for myn and in this sayenge she approched ner and tooke awey fro thymage the childe that she helde in her lappe And wrapped hit in clene clothes and shett it in her chyste and locked it fast rizt dylygently and was ryght Ioyeful that she had so good hostage for her sone and kepte it moche dylygently And the nyght folowyng the blessyd vyrgyne marye cam to the sone of the same wydowe and opened to hym the dore of the pryson and commaunded hym to goo thens and sayd to hym
putt thy swerd in to thy shethe but now by cause that we be enclosyd with the bodyes of the knyghtes oure felawes and haue our clothes reed of theyr blood late vs thenne folowe them by martirdome And yf it plese yow late vs sende this answere vnto Cezar We ben thy knyghtes Syre Emperoure and haue taken armes to the deffence of the comyn wele In vs is no traysonne ne dreede But in no whyse we wylle forsake the lawe ne faythe of Ihesu Cryste And whanne the Emperoure herd that he commaunded to byhede yet the tenthe man of them And whanne that was done one of the Bauerers named Exuperius tooke the Banere and stode amonge them and sayd Oure gloryous duck Mauryce hath spoken of the glorye of our felawes knyghtes Ne thynke not that I take armes for to resiste suche thynges but lete our ryght hondes cast awey suche flesshely armes And late vs arme vs wyth vertues And yf it plese you late vs remaunde vnto themperour suche wordes we ben knyghtes of thyn empyre but we confesse vs to be seruauntes of Ihesu crist we owe vnto the chyualrye and to hym Innocence and of the we attende the reward of our laboure And of hym we haue the begynnynge of lyf And we ben redy to receyue for hym alle tormentes And we shal not departe fro his fayth ¶ Thenne Cezar commaunded that his hoost shold enuyronne al that legyon of knyghtes soo that none shold escape Thenne were enuyronned the knyghtes of Ihesu Cryst with knyghtes of the deuyl that one of them shold not escape were al to hewen and smyton of heedes hondes and troden vnder the feet of the horses and were sacred martirs of Cryste And they suffred dethe in the yere of our lord ijC lxxx Neuertheles ther escaped somme by the wyll of oure lord and cam in to other Regyons and prechyd the name of Ihesu criste and had in other places vyctory of martirdome And it is sayd that Solutor and auentor and Octauus wente vnto Thauryne And Alexander to byrgame Second vnto vyn cemylye And Victor Constancyen vrsyn and other that escaped And when the Bouchyers deuyded the praye amonge them and ete to gydre They sawe an old man named vyctor passe forth by and they bad hym come and ete with them and he beganne to demaunde them how they myght ete with ioye amonge so many men slayn and deed whan that he had herd that they were crysten men syghyng he waillyd gretely sayd he hadde ben wel blessyd yf he had be slayne with them And when they apperceyued that he was a Crysten man they anone ranne vpon hym and slewe hym After this Maxymyen at Melane and Dyoclesian at Nychomedye in one day forsoke theyr purpre clothynge and leyd hit doune for to lede a moe symple lyf And that they that were yonger as Constancyen Maxymyen and Galeryen whome they had ordeyned Cezaryens shold gouerne th empyre And as Maxymyen wold ageyne regne commaunde as a tyraunt he was pursewed of Constancyen his stepsone and fynysshed his lyf by hangynge And after this the hooly body of Innocent one of that legyon which had ben cast in the Ryuer of Rosne was founden and by damycyan of genanence And grato of Augustodonense and prothase of the same bisshops in theyr chirche is honourably buryed there was a paynym a werk man that wrought to make the chirch with other but he wrought not but on the sondayes in the tyme when men sange and made solempnyte of masses in the sayd Chirche ther cam to hym a company of sayntes whiche rauysshed hym and 〈◊〉 hym also repreuyd hym by cause he wrought in masonrye when other dyde the dyuyne seruyse and offyce in the chirche And thenne he so corrected ranne to the chirche to the bisshop requyred to be crystned And Ambrose sayth thus of these martirs in his preface The companye of these trewe cristen meÌ„ enlumyned with dyuyne lyÈt comyng fro the ferther endes of the world whiche were armed with spyrytuel armes and hyed to theyr martirdome with stable feythe dylygent constauÌ„ce whom the cruel tyraunt for to fere them tythed two tymes by the slaughter of the swerd And after he seynge them constaunt in the faythe commaunded them alle to haue their heedes smyton of But they brenned in so grete charyte that they cast threwe awey theyr armes and harnoys and knelynge on their knees receyued suffrably wyth a Ioyous herte the swerdes of them that martryd them amonge whome mauryce embraced in the loue and faythe of Ihesu Cryst receyued the crowne of martirdome ¶ Hec Ambrosius Ther was a woman whiche delyuerd her sone to lerne vnto thabbotte of the chirche in whiche the hooly sayntes lye Inne And the sone deyde in short tyme after Wherfor the moder wepte without remedye Thenne saynt Mauryce appered to her and enquyred why she wepte soo for her sone And she answerd that as longe as she sholde lyue she shold wepe for hym And he seyd to her wepe no more for hym as he were deed For knowe thou for certayne he is with vs And yf thow wylt preue it aryse to morne and euery daye of thy lyf and come to matynes and thou shalt here his voys amonge the monkes syngynge And euer after durynge her lyf she cam euery day and herde the voys of her sone syngyng amonge the Monkes whan the kynge guturanyche had gyuen all that he had to poure men and to chirches he sent a preest for to fetche to him of the relykes of this hooly companye And as he retorned with the relykes the tempest aroos in the lake of losan in suche wyse that the shyppe was in peryll he sette the casse with the relikes ageynste the wawes of the water And anone the tempest seaced And the wawes of the water were appeasyd It happed in the yere of oure lord nyne honderd and lxiij that som Monkes by thaccorde of Charles had impetred and goten of Nycholas the pope the body of saynt Vrban pope and of saynt Tyburce martir And retornynge they vysyted the chirche of the hooly martirs and impetred and gate of thabbot and Monkes that they transported the body of saynt Mauryce and the hede of saynt Innocent vnto Ancerre in to the chirche that saynt germayne had dedyed in the name of these martirs and brought it thyder Peter of Amyens reherceth that in burgoyne was a prowde clerke and ambycious whiche had goten a chirch of saynt Mauryce and vsurped hit by force ageynste a myghty knyghte whiche was contrary and ayenst hym And on a tyme was songe a masse in th ende of the gospel that they that enhaunce them shall be meked and they that meke them shalle be enhaunced This said Malerous and cursyd clerk lawhed and sayd that is fals For yf I had humbled and meked my self I hadde not had this day so moche rychesses as I haue in the chirche And assone as
the loue of god withoute takynge of ony reward There was a lady whiche had spente al her goodes in medycyns and cam to these sayntes and anone was heled of her sekenesse and thenne she offrid a lytell yefte to saynt Damyan but he wold not receyue it And she sware and coniured hym by horryble othes that he graunted to receyue hit And not for couetyse of the yefte but for to obeye to the deuocion of her that offred it And that he wold not be sene to despyse the name of our lord of whiche he had be coniured And whanne saynt Cosme knewe hit he commaunded that his body shold not be leyd after his dethe with his broders And the nyght folowynge our lord apperyd to saynt Cosme and excused his broder And whanne Lysyas herd theyr renommee he made them to be callyd to foâ—e hym and demaunded their names and their countrey And thenne the holy martyrs sayd Our names ben Cosme and Damyan And we haue thre other bretheren whiche he named Antyne Leonce and Euprepye Our countreye is Arabye but Crysten men knowe not fortune Thenne the preconsul or Iuge commaunded them that they shold brynge forth theyr bretheren And that they shold alle togyder doo sacryfyse to the ydollys And whanne in no wyse they wold do sacryfyse but despysed thydollys he commaunded they shold be sore tormentid in the handes and feet And whanne they despysed his tormentys he commaunded them to be bounden with a chayne and throwen in to the See But they were anone delyuerd by thaungell of oure lord and taken oute of the See and cam ageyne to fore the Iuge And whan the Ingr sawe them he sayd ye ouercome our grete goddes by your enchauntementes ye despyse the tormentis and make the see peasyble Teche ye me your wytchecraft And in the name of the god Adryan I shall folowe yow And anone as he had said this two deuyls cam and bete hym gretely in the vysage And he cryeng sayd O ye good men I praye yow that ye pray for me to our lord And they thenne praid for hym And anon the deuyls departed Thenne the Iuge sayd Loo ye may see how the goddes had indignacion ageynst me by cause I thonght to haue forsaken them but I shal not suffre my goddes to be blasphemed And thenne he commaunded them to be cast in to a grete fyre But anone the flamme sprange ferre from them and slewe many of them that stode by And thenne they were commaunded to be puâ—te on a torment named Eculâ—e but they were kepte by the Aungel of our lord And the tormentours tormentid them aboue alle men And yet were they taken of with oute hurt on gryef and foo cam all hole to fore the Iuge Thenne the Iuge commaunded the thre to be put in pryson And made Cosme and Damyan to be crucyfyed and to be stoned of the peple but the stones retourned to them that threwe them and hurted wounded many of them Thenne the Iuge replenysshed with woodenesse made the thre bretheren to stande by the Crosse And commaunded that foure knyghtes shold shote arowes to Cosme and Damyan but the arowes retorned and hurted many and dyd no harme to the martirs And whan the Iuge sawe that he was confused in alle thynges he was anguysshous vnto the dethe and dyde doo byhede all fyue bretheren to gydre Thenne the crysten men doubted of the word that saynt cosme had sayd that his broder shold not be buryed wyth hym and as they thoughte theron there cam a voys whiche cryed and sayd they ben al of one substaunce berye them all to gydre in one place And they suffred deth vnder Dyoclesyan aboute the yere of oure lord two honderd four scorâ— and seuen It happend that an husbond man after that he had laboured in the felde aboute repynge of his corn he slepte With open mouthe in the feld And a serpent entryd in by his mouthe in to his body thenne he awoke felte no thynge and after retorned in to his hows And at euen he beganne to be tormented and cryed pytously and called vnto his helpe the holy sayntes of god cosme and damyan and whanne the payne and anguysshe encreced he wente to the chirche of the sayntes and fylle sodenly a slepe and thenne the serpent yssued oute of his mouthe lyke as it had entryd There was a man that shold haue gone a longe vyage and recommended his wyf to cosme and Damyan and lefte a token with her that yf he sente for her by that token she shold come to hym And the deuylle knewe well the token transfygured hym self in the fonrme of a man and brought to the woman the signe of her husbond sayd thyn husbonde hath sente me fro that cyte to the for to lede the to hym And yet she doubted for to goo wyth hym and sayd I knowe wel the token but by cause he lefte me in the kepynge of the sayntes cosme and Damyan Swere to me vpon theyr aulter that thou shalt brynge me to hym surely And thenne I shalle goo with the And he sware lyke as she hadde sayd Thenne she folewed hym And whan she cam in a secrete place the deuylle wolde haue throwen her doune of her hors for to haue slayne her And when she felte that she cryed to god and to the sayntes cosme and damyan for help And anone these sayntes were there with a grete multytude clothed inn whyte and delyuerd her and the deâ—ylle vanysshed away And they sayd to her we ben Cosme and Damyan To whoos othe thou byleuedest Therfore we haue hyed vs to come to shyn helpe Felyx the eyght pope after saynt gregory dyd doo make a noble chirche at Rome of the sayntes Cosme and Damyan and ther was a man whiche serued deuoutely the hooly martirs in that chirche whome a Canâ—â—e had consumed al his thye And as he slepte the hooly martirs Cosme and Damyan apperyd to hym theyr deuoute seruaunt bryngynge with them an Instrument and oynement of whome that one sayd to that other where shal we haue flesshe whan we hane cutte aweye the roten flesshe to fylle the voyde place Thenne that other sayd to hym Ther is an ethyopyen that this day is buryed in the chircheyerd of saynt peter ad vincula whiche is yet fresshe late vs bere this thyder and take we oute of that moryans flesshe and fâ—ll this place with all And soo they fette the thye of this dede man and cutte of the thye of the seke man and soo chaunged that one for that other and when the seke man awoke and felte no payne he put forthe his honde and felte his legge withoute hurte And thenne tooke a Candel and sawe wel that it was not his thye but that hit was another And when he was well come to hym self â—e sprange oute of his bedde for ioye and recounted to al the peple how hit was happed to hym and that
as moche as he myghte that noman shold see them And yet neuertheles somme sawe them in his lyf and at his deth they were seene of many and were shewed by many myracles that tho signes were trewe Of whiche myracles tweyne shalle suffyse for to be sette here There was a man named Rogyer and was in puylle to fore thymage of saynt Fraunceis And beganne to thynke and saye maye this be trewe that this man was so ennobled by suche myracle or was this an illusion or an Inuencion dissimyled of his bretheren the Freres And as he thought this he herde sodenly a sowne lyke as a quarel had he shotte out of Arbalaste or a Crosse bowe and he felte hym greuously hurte in his lyfte honde but ther appyeryd no hurte in his gloue And thenne he took of his gloue and sawe in the palme of his honde a wounde as it hadde ben of an arowe oute of whiche wounde ther yssued soo grete payne of ache and brennynge that almoost he deyde for sorowe and payne And thenne he repented hym and sayd that he byleuyd ryght veryly the signes and toknes of saynt Fraunceis and when he hadde praid by twâ— dayes saynt fraunceis by his holy signes and stygmates he was anone delyueryd of his payne and maade al hoole In the Royamme of Castyle ther was a man deuoute to saynt Fraunceis whiche wente on a tyme to Complyne to the chirche of seynt Fraunceis And men lay in a wayte for to slee hym and in stede of another man he was taken by errour and ignoraunce and was wounded and left as half deede And after the cruel morderer stycked his swerd in his throte and lefte it therin and myght not drawe it oute but wente his way And thenne men cryed and ranne hyder and thyder and the man was bewayled lyke as he hadde ben dede And when they ronge to matyns at mydnyght at the chirche of the Freres the wyf of the man beganne to cry Aryse vp syre and goo to matyns For the belle calleth the And anone he lyfte vp his hande to shewe that some man shold take awey the swerde fro his throte And anone in the syÈt of them alle the swerd sprange oute a ferre as it had be throwen of a stronge Champyon And anone the man arose parfyghtely hole And sayd that saynt Fraunceys cam to hym and ioyned his stygmates to my woundes enoynted them with the swetenes of his signes and sewyd them to gydre merueylously by his towchynge And whanne he wold haue gone I shewed hym that he shold take aweye the swerd For els I shold not conne speke And anone he tooke it oute And threwe it awey ferre from hym And heled me with touchyng my throte with his signes The two clerkes grete lumynayres of the world that is to saye saynt Domynyke and saynt Fraunceys were in the Cyte of Rome to fore the Lord hostyence whiche afterward was pope of Rome And this Bisshop sayd to them wherfor make ye not of your freres Bisshops and prelates whiche shold preuayle more by techynge and example gyuynge And ther was long contencion bytwene them who sholde fyrst answere And Humylyte ouercam Fraunceys that he wold not speke to fore that other And thenne saynt Domynyk humbly obeyed and sayde Syre oure bretheren ben lefte vp in good degree yf they knowe hit And I shalle neuer suffre to my power that euer they shalle hope to haue ony hyer dygnyte ¶ After that answerd saynt Fraunceys Syre my Bretheren ben callyd Mynours by cause they wold not be made gretter And the blessyd saynt Fraunceys ful of ryght grete symplycyte admonested and warned alle creatures to loue their Creatour he prechyd to byrdes and was herd of hem they suffryd hym to touche â— them and withoute lycence they wold not retorne ne flee fro hym And on a tyme whanne he prechyd the Swalowes chyteryd and songe And anon by his comaundement they were stylle There was also on a tyme a byrde on a fygge tree besyde his celle whiche sange ofte ful swetely And saynt Fraunceys put forth his hand And called that byrde And anone the byrde obeyed and cam vppon his honde And he sayd to her synge my suster and preyse thy lord And thenne anone she songe And departed not tylle she hadde lycence He spared to touche lyghtes lampes and Candels by cause he wold not defowle them with his handes He wente honourably vpon the stones for the worship of hym that was callyd stone He gadryd the smale wormes oute of the waye by cause they shold not be troden with the feete of them that passyd by He commaunded in wynter to gyue hony vnto bees that they shold not perysshe for hongre He called alle beestes his Bretheren He was replenysshed of merueylous Ioye for the loue of his Creatoure He behelde the Sonne the Mone and the Sterres And somoned them to the loue of theyre Maker He defended for to make hym a greete Crowne sayenge I wylle that my symple Bretheren haue parte in my hede ¶ There was a Seculer man whiche sawe saynt Fraunceis the Seruaunt of God prechynge att saynt Seueryns And sawe by reuelacyon of God that saynt Fraunceys was stratched on a Crosse maade of two clere swerdes Of whiche that one cam fro his heede to his feete And that other stratchyd from that one hande to that other soo that he neuer hadde sene suche a demonstraunce Thenne he was moeued in his herte And entryd in to the ordre And fynysshed goodly his lyf ¶ On a tyme as saynt Fraunceys was seke on hys eyen for contynuelle wepynge hys Bretheren sayd to hym that he sholde refrayne hym fro wepynge And he answerd The vysytacyon of the lyghte perdurable is not to be putte awaye for the lyghte that we haue here with the flyes And whanne his bretheren constrayned hym to take a Medycyne for his eyen And the Surgeon helde a brennynge yron in his hande And the blessyd Fraunceys sayde My brother Fyre be thow to me in this houre debonayre and curable I praye to our lord that made the that thou attempre my hete And thenne he made the signe of the Crosse ageynste the fyre And the fyry yron wat put in his tendre flesshe from his ere vnto his eye lyddes And he felte no payne He was strongly seke in the deserte of saynt vrban And whanne he felt that nature faylled in hym he axyd for to drynke wyn And ther was none And they brought to hym water and he blessid it and made the signe of the Crosse theron and it was conuertid and torned in to ryght good wyne And the hooly man gate of our lord that the pouerte of the deserte myghte not gete And as sone as he had tasted it he becam stronge and was alle hoole he hadde leuer here blame of him self than preysynge And for by cause that the peuple preysed in hym ony thynge of meryte of holynes he commaunded to somme broder
seke man tasted and reuyued anone helthe And also dyd many other myracles And when his laste dayes aporochyd And was greuyd by longe infyrmyte thenne he made hym self to be leyd vpon the bare ground And dyd doo calle alle the Freres that were there And whanne they were alle present he blessyd them And lyke as oure lord fedde his disciples at souper in sherthursdaye he gaf to eche of them a morselle of breed And warned them as he was woned to doo to gyue lawde to theyr maker And the very dethe whiche is to alle men horryble and hatefulle he admonested them to preyse it And also he warned and admonested deth to come to hym and sayd Deth my suster welcome be thou And whanne he cam at the laste houre he slepte in our lord Of whome a Frere sawe the soule in maner of a sterre lyke to the mone in quantyte and to the sonne in clerenes There was a Frere named Augustyn whiche was mynystre and seruaunte in the londe of laboure of the erthe And as he was in his last ende and had lost his speche he escryed sodaynly and sayde abyde me Fader abyde I shalle goo with the Thenne the Freres demaunded hym what he sayd And he sayd See ye not oure Fader Fraunceys that goth vnto heuen And anone he slepte in pees and folowed his holy fader ¶ A lady which hadde be deuoute to the blessyd FrauÌ„ceys deyed and the Clerkes prestes were at the byere for to synge thexequyes of her she aroos vp sodenly of the biere and called one of the preestes that were there sayd fader I wold confesse me I was deed and shold haue be put in a cruelle pryson by cause I hadde not shryuen me of a synne that I shalle saye But saynt Fraunceys prayd for me that this confessyd and shewed I shalle haue foryeuenesse And anone as I shalle haue seyd and confessyd hit to the I shalle reste in pees to fore yow alle And thenne she was confessyd and assoylled and rested anone in our lord The Freres of Vyterbe wold haue borowed a carte of a man And he answerd in despyte I had leuer see two of yow flayn with saynt Fraunceys than I shold leue yow my carte but he cam ageyne to hym self and repreuyd hym self and repentyd hym of the blame that he had sayd and doubted the Ire of god And anone hys sone was seke and deyde And whan he sawe his sone deed he slepte on the erthe wepyng and called saynt FrauÌ„ceis and sayd I am he that synned thou sholdest haue beten me gyue ayene to me hooly saynt prayenge dâ—uoutely to the whome thow hast taken away fro me blamynge the and blasphemynge wyckedly And anone his sone reuyued and sayde whanne I was deed seynt Fraunceys ladde me by a longe way and derke And atte laste he brought me vnto a ryght faire grene And after sayd to me Retorne to thy fader I wylle no lenger holde the ¶ There was a poure man whiche ought vnto a certayne Ryche man a quantyte of moneye· And prayd hym for the loue of saynt Fraunceys he wold prolonge the terme of payment To whome he answerd prowdely I shalle sette the in suche a place that neyther Fraunceys ne none other shalle helpe the And anone he took bonde hym and sette hym in a derke pryson And anone after saynt FrauÌ„ceis cam thyder and bracke vp the pryson and losed his bondes and brouÈt the man al saufly to his owne hows Ther was a knyghte whiche detracted the werkes and myracles of saynt fraunceys and on a tyme as he played at the dyes he beynge alle araged and full of woodenes and cruelnes sayd to theym that stoode by hym yf saynt Fraunceis be a saynt late come eyghten on the dyes And anone cam in thre dyes in eche of hem sixe and soo it apperyd nyne tymes at euery tyme thre sixes at eche caste And thenne he adioustyng woodenes to wodenes he sayd ysit be trewe that frauÌ„ceis be a seynt late a swerd ryue me thurgh my body this day And yf he be no saynt that it escape saufly And whan the playenge at dyes was ended by cause he hadde made that prayer in synne he sayd Iniurye to his neuewe And he tooke his swerd and stack it thurgh belye slewe hym anone ¶ There was a man that hade loste his thye that he couthe not moeue hit And cryed to saynt Fraunâ—â—is thus sayenge helpe me saynt fraceis remembre the of the deuocion and of the seruyse that I haue done to the For I caryed the vppon myn asse and kyssed thy feet and thy hondes And now I deye for payne of thys ryght hard tormente Thenne the hooly man appyeryd to hym with a litille staf that he helde whiche hadde the signe of thau and touchyd therwith the place of his payne and the postume bracke and receyued anone ful helthe but the signe of thau abode alwey in the same place with that signe saynt Fraunceys was wonte alwaye to signe his lettres There was a mayde whiche duellyd in the Montaynes of puylle in a castel and her fader moder ne had but only this doughter And she deyde And her moder was moche deuout toward saynt fraunceis But thenne she was full of heuynes And saynt Fraunceys appyeryd to her and sayd wepe nomore for the lyght of thy lanterne is quenchyd And it apperteyneth not that I yelde her ageyne to the by thy prayer But yet the moder had affyaunce and trust in the saynt And wold not suffre to bere awey the body but in callynge saynt Fraunceis she took her doughter that was deed and reysed her vp alyue and hoole Ther was a lytel childe in Rome fallen oute of a wyndowe to the ground and deyde forthwythe And they called to saynt Fraunceys for help and he was anone restored to lyf In a cyte of Swetse hit hapned that an hows fylle and slewe a child And whanne they had putt the corps in a chyste for to berye the moder callyd on saynt Fraunceys with all her deuocion And aboute mydnyght the chyld cowhyd and aroos all hoole And beganne to preyse god Frere Iames of Reaten had passyd a floode in a vesselle with other Freres whiche were sette a lond and he hasted so sore after to goo oute by cause he was laste and the shyppe recuyeled backward in to the water soo that he fylle doune in to the deppest of the flood And thenne alle the Freres prayde saynt Fraunceys for hym And he hym self as he myght with lyke deuocion callid the hooly saynt vnto his ayde and helpe in his herte And that same Frere beganne to goo in the bottom of the water as drye as he had gone on the erthe and caught the bote whyche was drowned and brought hit to the banke and cam vp withoute wetynge of his clothes that he ware Ne nener drope of water touchyd his cote ne wette no thynge on hym Thenne
shal haue remyssyon and foryeuenes of my synnes I axe of the but the space of thre houres And after that I shal goo whyder someuer thou wylt and shalle doo that whiche thow shalt commaunde me· And when he had gyuen to her that terme and assigned her whyder she shold come thenne she took all tho goodes that she had wonne with synne and brought them in to the myddle of the cyte to fore the peple and brent them in the fyre sayeng Come ye forth alle that haue synned with me and see ye how I brenne that whiche ye haue gyuen to me And the valewe of the goodes that she brente was of fyue honderd pound of gold And when she had all brente it she wente to the place whiche thabbot had assigned to her And ther was a monasterye of vyrgynes and there he closed her in a celle and sealed the dore with leed and the celle was lytell and strayte And but one lytel wyndowe opene by whiche was mynystred of her poure lyuynge For thabbot commaunded that they shold gyue to her a lytel brede water And whanne the Abbot shold departe Thaysys sayd to hym Fader Where shalle I shede the water and that whiche shal come fro the conduytes of nature And he sayd to her in thy selle as thou arte worthy And thenne she demaunded how she sholde praye And he ansuerde thou arte not worthy to name god ne that the name of the Trynyte be in thy mouthe ne stratche thy handes to heuen by cause thy lyppes ben fulle of iniquytees And thyn handes full of euyll attouchynges and fowle ordures but loke only towards the eest And saye ofte these wordes Qui plasmasti me miserere mei lord that hast fourmed me haue mercy on me And whanne she had ben there thre yere closed thabbot pafuncius remembryd and sorowed wente to thabbot Anthonye for to requyre of hym yf god had forgyuen her her synnes And the cause told saynt Anthonye called alle his disciples commaunded them that they shold all wake that nyght and be in prayer soo that god shold declare to somme of them the cause why thabbot Pafuncius was come And thenne as they prayd withoute ceassynge thabbot paule the grettest disciple of saynt Anthonye sawe sodenly in heuen a bedde arraed with precious vestymentes which thre vyrgynes arayed with clere vysages And these thre vyrgynes were named the fyrst was drede which drewe thaysys from euylle And the Second shame of the synnes that she commysed and that made her to deserue pardon And the thyrd was loue of ryÈtwysenesse whiche brouÈt her to hye souerayne place And whanne Powle had sayd to them that the grace of this vysyon was only by the merytes of saynt Anthonye A goodly voys answerd that it was not by the meryte of Anthony his fader but by the meryte of thaysis the synnar And on the morne whanne thabbot powle recounted his vysyon And they had knowen the wylle of god thabbotte pafuncius departed with grete ioye and wente anone to the monasterye where she was and opened the dore of the Celle And she prayd hym that she myght yet abyde there enclosed in and thabbotte sayd to her yssue and go out For god hath forgeuen to the thy synnes And she answerd I take god to wytnesse that syth I entryd herin I haue made of all my synnes a somme and haue sette them to fore myn eyen And lyke as the brethe departeth not fro the mouthe ne the nosethrellys soo the synnes departed neuer fro myn eye but alwey haue bewepte them To whome the Abbot pafuncius sayd god hath not pardonned the thy synnes for thy penaunce but by cause that thow hast had alwey drede in thy courage And he took her oute fro thens And she lyued after xv dayes and thenne she rested in our lord Thabbot Effrem conuertyd in lyke wyse another comyn woman For whanne that comyn woman wold haue drawen saynt Effrem for to haue synned dyshonestly he sayd to her folowe me and she folowed And whanne they cam in a place where a grete multytude of men were he sayd to her sytte doune here that I may haue to doo with the and she sayde how may I this doo amonge soo grete multitude of peple here standynge And he sayd yf thow be ashamed of the peple thow oughtest haue gretter shame of god whiche seeth alle thynges hydde And she wente awey all ashamed ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Thaysis Here foloweth the lyf of saint Denyse And first of his name DEnyse is as moche to saye as hastely fleynge or Denyse is sayd of dya whiche is as moche to saye as two and nysus whiche is to saye y lyft vp For he was lyft vp after two thynges that is after the body and the sowle Or denys may be sayd of Dyane that is Venus the goddesse of beaute and of syos that is to saye god as who sayth he is fayre to god or as somme saye he is sayd of Dyonisia that is after ysydore a precious stone black whiche is good ageynste dronkenesse he was hasty in fleynge the the world by parfyght renonciacion He was lyft vp by contemplacion by thynges within forth he was fayre to god by beaute of vertues He prouffyted to synnars ageynste dronkenesse of vyces And he had many names to fore his conuersyon For he was called Ariopogita for the strete that he dwellyd in he was called theosophus that is to saye wyse to god Also of the wyse men of grece he is sayd vnto this daye perystera vranos that is to say the wynghe of heuen For he flewe merueilously with the wynghe of spyrytualle vnderstandynge in to heuen Also he was sayd Macharius that is blessyd Also he was sayd of his Countreye Ionicus Ionica as sayth papye is one of the langages of grekes Or Ionyces ben sayd a maner of round pylers or Ionicum is sayd a foote of versyfyenge whiche hath two syllabes shorte and tweyne longe By whiche he is shewed that he was wyse knowynge god by Inquysycyon of thynges preuy and hydde Wynghe of heuen by loue of thynges celestyall and blessyd by possession of euerlastyng goodes By other thynges it is shewed that he was a merueilous Rethour by eloquence a susteynour and a berar vp of the chirch by doctryne shorte to hym self by humylyte and longe to other by Charyte Saynt Austyn sayth in the eyght booke of the Cyte of God that Ionyque is a kynde of Philosophres ytalyens whiche ben toward ytalye and Ionyques ben of the part of grece And by cause that denys was a souerayne philosopher· he was named Ionyque And Methodins of Constantynople endyted his lyf and his passion in grekesshe tongue And Anastasius in latyn Whiche was a writar of the byble of the chirche of Rome as ygnarus bisshop of Raynes sayth ¶ Of saint Denyse SAint Denyse Ariopagyte was conuertyd to the faythe of Ihesu Cryst of saynt powle thappostle And he was callyd
mayst happely knowe somme wordes that haue suche myghte and vertue And pawle sayde I shal write to fore the forme of the wordes whiche ben these In the name of Ihesu Cryste borne of the vyrgyne crucyfyed and deed whiche aroos ageyne ascended in to heuen and from thens shal come for to Iuge the world See And by cause that alle suspecion be taken awey Pawle seyd to Denyse that he hym self shold pronounce tho wordes And whanne Denyse had seyd those wordes in the same maner to the blynd man Anone the blynd man recouerd his syghte And thenne Denys was baptysed And Damare hys wyf and alle his meyny And was a trewe Crysten man And was Instructe and taughte by seynt Powle thre yere and was ordeyned Bisshop of Athenes And there was in predycacion And conuertyd that Cyte and grete paÌ„te of the regyon to crysten feith And it is seyd that seynt Powle shewed to hym that he sawe whanne he was rauysshed in to the thyrd heuen lyke as seynt Denyse seyth shewyth in dyuerse places wherof he speketh so clerly of the gerarchyes of Aungels of the ordres and of the disposicions offyces of them soo that it is not supposed that he lerned of ony other but only of hym that was rauysshed vnto the thyrdde heuen and hadde sene alle thynges He flouryd by the spyryte of prophecye lyke as it appieryth in an epystle that he sente to Iohan theuangelyst in the yle of pathmos to whiche he was sente in exyle where as he prophecyed that he shold come ageyne sareng thus Enioye thou veryly byloued very wonderfulle and to be desyred ryÈt well byloued thow shalt be laten oute fro the kepynge that thow hast in pathmos And shalt retorne vnto the land of Asye And thou there make there the folowynge of thy good god and the good werkes of hym and shalt delyuer them to them that shalle come after the And as it is sene and shewed in the booke of the names dyuyne he was at the deyenge of the blessyd virgyne Marye And whanne he herd that peter powle were enprysoned at Rome vnder Nero he ordeyned a Bisshop vnder hym and cam for to vysyte them And whanne they were martryd and passyd to god And Clement was sett in the see of Rome After a certayne tyme he was sente of the seyd Clement in to Fraunce and he hadde in his companye Rustyke and Elentherye And thenne he cam with them to parys and conuerted there moche peple to the faith and dyde doo make many Chirches sette in them clerkes of dyuerse ordres And thenne he shone by soo grete heuenly grace that when the Bisshops of thidolles moeued by stryf the peple ayeâ—st hym And the peple cam for to destroye hym Anone as they had sene hym they lefte alle their cruelte And knelyd doune at his feet where they hadde soo grete drede that they fledde aweye from hym for fere But the deuylle whiche had enuye and sawe euery day his power mynnysshed and destroyed And that the chirche encreaced and hadde vyctorye of hym and moeued Domycyen themperour in soo grete cruelte that he made a commaundement that who someuer myght fynde ony cristen man that he shold constrayne them to doo sacryfyse or tormente them by dyuerse tormentes And thenne he sent the prouost sysynnyeÌ„ of Rome to paris ageynste the Crysten men And fonde there the blessyd denyse prechynge and made hym cruelly to be beten bespytte and despysed and fast to be bounden wyth Rustyke and Elentherye and to be brought to fore hym And whan he sawe that the sayntes were constaunt and ferme in the knowlechynge of oure lord he was moche heuy and soroufull Thenne cam thyder a noble matrone whiche sayd that her husbond was fowly deceyued of these enchaunteurs And thenne anone the husbond was sente fore And he abydynge in the coÌ„fession of our lord was anone putte to deth And the sayntes were beten cruelly of twelue knyÈtes and were straytly bounden with chaynes of yron put in pryson the day folowynge Denys was leyd vpon a gredyron and stratched al naked vppon the celes of fyre And there he sange to our lord sayeng Lord thy word is vehemently firy And thy seruaunt is enbraced in the loue therof And after that he was putte amonge cruel beestes whiche were excited by grete hongre and famyne by longe fastynge And as soone as they cam rennynge vpon hym he maade the signe of the crosse ageynste them anone they were made mooste meke tame And after that he was cast in to a fornais of fyre and the fyre anone quenchyd And he hadde neyther payne ne harme And after that he was putte on the crosse and theron he was longe tormentid and after he was taken doune and put in to a derke pryson with his felawes And many other Crysten men And as he song ther the masse and communed the peuple our lord appyeryd to hym with greete lyght and delyuerd to hym brede sayenge Take this my dere frende For thy reward is moost grete with me After this they were presented to the Iuge and were put ageyne to newe tormentes And thenne he dyde do smyte of the hedes of the thre felawes that is to seye denyse Rustyke and Elentherye in the name of the hooly trynyte this was done by the temple of Mercurye And they were byheded wyth thre axes And anone the body of saynt Denys reysed hym self vp and bare his heede bitwene his armes as the aungels ladde hym two leghes fro the place whiche is sayd the hylle of the martirs vnto the place where he now resteth by his election and by the purueaunce of god And there was herd soo grete and swete a melodye of Aungels that many of them that herd hit byleuyd in oure lorde And Laâ—sia wyf of the forsaid prouost lubye sayd that she was Crysten And anone she was byheded of the wycked felons was baptysed in her blood and soo deyed And Lysbyen his sone whiche was a knyght at Rome vnder thre Emperours cam afterward to parys and was baptysed and putte hym self in the nombre of the Relygyous and the wycked paynyms doubted that the good Crysten men wold burye the bodyes of Rustyke and Elentherye and commaunded that they shold be caste in to sayne the Ryuer And a noble woman badde them to dyne that bare them And whyles they dyned this lady toke aweye the bodyes and buryed them secretely in a felde of heerys And after whanne the persecucion was cessyd she tooke them thens and leyde theym honourably with the body of seynt Denys And they suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord four score and sixten vnder domycyan the yere of the age of saynt Denys four score and ten On a tyme whanne Regulus the holy bisshop songe masse at Arelatence reherced the names of thappoostles in the canone he added and ioyned to the blessid martirs Denyse Rustyke and Elentherye whiche soo sayd many
supposid that they had yet lyuyd and merueyled why he so reherced their names in the canone And they so wondryng ther appyered vppon the Crosse of the aulter thre dounes syttynge whiche hadde the names of the sayntes marked and wreton on their brestes with blood whiche dylygently beholdyng vnderstode well that the sayntes were departed oute of this world And ygnarus Bisshop of Reynes sayth in a pistse whiche he sente to Charles that this denys that was sent in to Fraunce was denyse Ariopagita as afore is sayd And the same sayth Iohannes scotus in a pystle to charles lest by the reason of the countynge of the tyme shold be sayd ageynst as somme wolde obiecte Aboute the yere of our lord eyght honderd xxxij in the tyme of lowys kynge of Fraunce the Messagyers of Mychael emperour of Constantinople amonge other thynges brought to Lâ—wys sone of Charles le graunt the bookes of saynt denys of the gerarchye of the aungels translated oute of greke in to latyn and were receyued with grete ioye And that same nyght were nynten seke men heled in his chirche Aboute the yere of oure lord sixe honderd and thre and fourty lyke as hit is conteyned in a Cronycle Dagobert kynge of Fraunce whiche regned longe to fore pyppyn beganne to haue fro his childehode grete reuerence to saynt Denys For whanne he douted in that tyme the Ire of his fader Clotayre he fledde anone to the Chirch of saynt Denys And whanne thys holy kynge was deed it was shewed in a vysyon vnto an hooly man that the sowle of hym was rauysshed to iugement and that many sayntes accused hym that he hadde despoylled theyr chirches And as the wycked Aungels wold haue had hym to the paynes the blessyd Denys cam thyder by hym he was delyuerd at his comynge and escaped fro the paynes And peraduenture the sowle retorned to the body and dyd penaunce Clouys kynge discouered the body of saynt Denys not dewely and brake the bone of his arme and rauysshed it awey coueytously And anone he becam oute of his mynde Thenne late vs worshipe almyghty god in his seyntes that we by their merytes maye amende our self in this wretchyd lyf that we may after this lyf come vnto his sempyternal blysse in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Denyse Here foloweth of saint Calixt pope And first of his name CAlixte is said of caleo cales that is to say eschauffe or to make warme For he was hoote and brennynge Fyrst in the loue of god And after he was hoote and brennynge in gâ—tynge and purchacyng sowles and thyrdly he was hoote in destroyeng the false ydolles and also in shewynge the paynes for synne Of saint Calyxte CAlixte the pope was martryd the yere of our lord two honderd and two and twenty vnder Alysander the Emperour And by the werkes of the sayd emperoure the mooste apparaunt partye of Rome was thenne brent by vengeaunce of god And the lyfte arme of thydolle Iupyter whiche was of fyne gold was molten And thenne alle the prestes of thydolles wente to themperour Alysander and requyred hym that the goddes that were angry myght be appeased by sacryfyses And as they sacryfysed on a thursday by the morne the ayer beynge al clere foure of the preestes of thydolles were smeton to deth with one stroke of thondre And the aulter of Iupiter was brente soo that alle the peple fled out of the walles of Rome And whan Palmachyen Consul knewe that Câ—lyxt with his clerkes hydde hym ouer the water of Tybre requyred that the Crysten men by whom this euyll was happed and comen shold be putte oute for to purge and clense the cyte And whanne he hadde receyued power for to doo soo he hasted hym incontynent wyth his knyghtes taccomplysshe hit And anone they were al made blynde And thenne palmachyen was aferd And shewed this vnto Alysandre And thenne themperour commaunded that the wednesday alle the peple shold assemble and sacryfye to Mercurye that they myghte haue answere vpon these thynges And as they sacryfyed a mayde of the temple whiche was named Iulyane was rauysshed of the deuylle and beganne to crye The God of Calyxte is very trewe and lyuyng whiche is wrothe and hath indignacion of our ordures And whanne palmachyen herd that he wente ouer Tybre vnto the Cyte of Rauenne vnto seynt Calixte and was baptysed of him he his wyf and alle his meyny And when themperour herd that he dyd do calle hym and delyuerd hym to Symply cyen Senatour for to warne and treate hym by fayr wordes by cause he was moche prouffitable for the comune And Palmachyen perseueryd in fastynges and in prayers Thenne cam to hym a man whiche promysed to hym that yf he heled his wyf whiche hadde the palseye that he wold bileue in god anone And whan Palmachien had adourid and praid the woman that was seke aroos and was al hole And ran to Palmachyen sayenge Baptise me in the name of Ihesu crist whiche hath taken me by the hand and lifte me vp Thenne cam Calixte and baptised her and her husbond and symplycyen and many other And when themperour herd herof he sente to smyte of the hedes of all them that were baptised And made Calixte to lyue fyue dayes in the prison withoute mete and drynke And after he sawe that calixt was the more comforted and gladde And commaunded that he shold euery daye be beten with staues And after he made a grete stone to be bounden to his neck and to be throwen doun from an hihe out of a wyndowe in to a pitte And Asteryen his preest took vp the body oute of the pytte And after buryed the body in the Cymytorye of Calipodyen Thus endeth the lyf of saint Calixte ¶ Here foloweth the lyf of seint Edward kynge and confessour IN old tyme the Royamme of Englond was gretely troublyd wyth the Danes So that in many kynges dayes there couthe no pees be maade But contynuelly werre And the Danes preuayled ageynste Englond And they brought it vnder their subiection for their cruelte and tyrannye was soo grete that withoute sparynge of ony thyng brent and destroyed But at the last it plesyd almyghty god that this tyrannye shold cease And sente of his grace vnto this Royame of Englond a peasible kyng named Edgar In whos byrth angels songen that pees shal be in his tyme so in his dayes was no werre in englond saynt edward kyng martir his sone regned not long after hym For his stepmoder dyde do slee hym in his yonge age by cause her sone Ethelrede shold regne saynt Dunston baptysed Ethelrede and saide by cause he defowled the fontstone that he shold lyue in grete trouble so he dyde for the danes warryd alle his tyme thys Etheldrede wedded Erle Goodwyns doughter on whome he gate Edmond yronsyde And after the deth of that quene he wedded the doughter of Rychard duke of Normandy which hiÈt Emme by whome
thynnocentes he herd masse in the new Chirche of Westmynstre whiche he had reedefyed And thenne he gyuyng than kynges vnto almyghty god retorned in to his chambre sore seke there abydyng the mercy of our lord And all the lordes gentiles and comyns were in grete heuynesse whanne they vnderstode that the kynge myght not lyue remembrynge what welthe and prosperyte the lond had ben in duryng his dayes And what Ieopardy hit was lyke to stande in after his dyscees Thenne alle thynges were commytted to the quene whome he louyd specially And she fulle dylygently mynystred to hym alle thynges necessary And whan he was soo feble by sekenes that his naturalle hete was almoost gone he laye nyghe two dayes in a traunce as a man that hadde ben rauysshed And whanne he cam to hym self ayene they that were aboute hym merueyled gretely For they wende veryly that he shold nomore haue spoken Notwithstandynge after he spack with an hole spyryte these wordes O thow merciful lord god that arte infynyte almyghty In whos power alle thynges ben put whiche chaungest Royammes and empyres yf tho thynges ben trewe that thow hast shewed to me so graunte to me space and strengthe to declare them to my peple that yf peraduenture they gyue them to penaunce they may haue grace and foryeuenes Thenne almyÈty god yaf to hym a newe strengthe that passyth al mannes reason And that myght not be withoute myracle For before that tyme he spack so softe that for feblenes he myght not wel be herd And at that tyme he spak with an hole breste these wordes folowyng Whanne I was yong and dwellyd in Normandye I louyd well the felauship of good men For he that spak most relygyously and goodly wyth hym was I most conuersaunt And amonge alle other ther were tweyne to whome I drewe moche for theire honest conuersacion and for the holynes of theyr lyf swetnes of their maners and their comfortable wordes whome I sawe translated in to heuen For many yeres gone they deyde and now they haue appyered to me by the suffraunce of god and haue shewed to me the state of my peple and what synnes regne among them And what vengeaunce shalle be taken on them for theyr synnes Prestes haue offendyd For they mynystre the holy sacramentes with vnclene thoughtes and pollute handes And as an hyred man and not as a veray shepeherde defende not their shepe ne fede them And as for prynces and gentils they ben founden fals and vntrewe and felawes to fendes theuys and Robbers of the Countre whiche haue no drede of god ne honoure hym And trewe lawe is a burthen to them and hadde in despyte and cruelnes moche vsed and the prelates kepe not rightwysnes they correctâ— not their subgettis ne teche ne enforme them as they shold doo And therfore our lord hath now drawe oute his swerd of vengeaunce to smyte his peuple This punysshement shall begynne within this yere bothe by swerde and wastyng this Royamme pytously And thâ—nne I beganne to syghe and morne for the trouble that was comyng to my peple And sayde yf they wold be torned and doo penauÌ„ce shall not they haue foryeuenes and god shalle blesse them ageyne And it was answerd to me the hertes of the peple ben soo Indurate and so blynded and theire eeris so stopâ—ed that theywylle not here of no correction ne they be not moeued ne prouoked by no benefayttes that our lord yeueth them Thenne I axyd yf ther were ony remedye that myght attempre the wrath of our lord To whome it was ansuerd in these wordes A grene tree cutte fro his stocke shalle he deuyded fro his propre rote the space of thre furlonge And withoute mannes honde shalle torne ageyne to his old rote take ageyne his sappe and floryssheth and bryngeth fourthe fruyre And when this is done ther may come remedy And when this was sayde they were sodanly gone oute of my syghte Ther was aboute the kyng that tyme the quene Duke Harold her brother Robert kepar of the palais And Stygande whiche had defouled his faders bedde For whyles Robert tharchebisshop of Caunterbury lyued the said Stygande put hym doune and cam in by symonye wherfor he was suspendid by the pope And afterward god took vengeaunce vpon hym soo that his bely bracke and his bowellis fylle oute And soo he deyd wretchidly This Stygande gaf no credence to the kynges wordes but descryued it to his age and to the feblenes of the kyng made it but a fantasye but other that were better auysed wepte sorowed and wrange their handes and sente to our holy fader the pope yeuyng hym Informacion of the same vysion And our hooly fader wrote Epistles to Englond exhortyng the peple to do penaunce but his writyng prouffited not But when kyng Harold hadde broken the othe that he had made to duke william therfor he was slayne in bataille thenne they knewe wel that the prophecye of saint Edward was comen For theÌ„ue the lyberte of Englond made an ende And thenne cam in bondship and thraldome That tyme Englond was al chaunged And I vnderstond saynt Dunston prophecyed the same trouble comyng And after a certayne tyme he promysed comfort also Wherfor this forsayd vysyon maye be conuenyently expowned as here foloweth The tree signefyeth the Royame of Englond Whos grenesse and fayrenesse bitokeneth Rychesses plentyuous and honour of Englond of Whome alle worshippe procedeth whiche worshippe hath proceded of the trewe blood of the londe and of the trewe lygnage whiche descended fro Alured whom our holy fader the pope crowned and enoynted kynge as for the firste kynge of the trewe lygne of Englond vnto this hooly kynge Edward by succession The tree is cut doune fro the stocke whan the Royame is deuyded and translated from one seed or lygnage to an other The space of thre furlonges is the tyme of thre kynges that is to saye Harold william Conquerour and william his sone The comyng ageyne of the tree to the stocke withoute mannes helpe was whanne kynge Henry the fyrste cam in to this Royamme not by mannes strengthe but by very trewe loue of his comyns He took his sappe and his very strengthe whan he wedded Molde the doughter of the nece of saint Edward ioynynge to gydre the seed of Englond and of Normandye And by the tree flowrysshed whome Maulde themperesse sprange of their seed And it brougth forthe fruyte whan of her cam Henry the second And thus this two people were ioyned to gydre yf this exposycion displese ony man late hym expowne it better or els late hym abyde a tyme tylle it be fulfylled so that the prophecye of kyng Edward acorde to the prophecye of saynt Dunston This holy kyng saynt Edward knowyng that his houre drewe nyghe spack to them that stode wepyng aboute hym And in comfortyng them sayde Forsothe yf ye louyd me ye wold pray that I shold passe fro this world to the fader
praye for hym And whanne they had prayd a good whyle he felte hym self made parfyghtly hole And thenne he with alle the peple gaf thankynges to our lord almyghty god and saynt Edward for his delyueraunce Also a nonne of berkynge that had ben seke twelue monethes and nyghe consumed awey had a vision on a nyght by whiche she vnderstode that she shold go to saint Edword be hoole And she makynge her prayers to saint Edward and at suche tyme as her sekenes cam she entryd in to her oratory And said the seuen psalmes and letanye whan she dyd so twyes al her payne was gone was made parfiÈtely hole thanked almyghty god whiche by the merytes of saynt Edward had heled her soone after cam to westmynstre in pylgremage And there dide shewe this myracle told how she was made hole Also ther was a MoÌ„k of Westmynstre which was acustomed to saye euery day v psalmes in the worship of god saint Edward whiche Monke was greued with thre manere sekenesses For he had on his arme a congellacion of blood in manere of a postomme he hadde also in his breste a straytnes that vnnethe he myght drawe his brest Also he had in his foote a merueylous swellyng and a grete that he myght not goo but with grete payne And whanne the yerely feest was halowed he sawe his bretheren go to the chirche at mydnyght for to rynge the bellys And he was ryghte sory that he myght not doo the same Notwithstondyng he payned hym self and wente thyder said the seuen psalmes and whan he had done sawe his bretheren rynge meryly he sayd in his prayer to saynt Edward O thow my good kynge I beseche the to praye for me that I may haue strengthe to doo as I see my bretheren do For I commytte me fully to thy myght And I byleue veryly that thou wylt suffre me no lenger in this grete dysease And whan he had made an ende of his prayers he arose vp and went to the bellys for to rynge them And anone the postomme of his arme brake And whan the fowle mater was oute he felte hym self hole of that dysease Thenne his moost payne was in his breste and he wente ageyne to praye and to yeue thankynges to god and to saynt Edward of the delyueraunce of his postomme And there he prayd full deuoutely that he myght be delyuerd of the dysease of his breste whan he aroos fro prayer he felt his herte made all hole fro the sekenes that he had in his brest Thenne he felt no dysease but on his foote whan he come amonge his bretheren in the fraitour he told them hou he was delyuerd fro tweyne of his sekenesses when they sawe hym they meruayled gretely and besought almyghty god saynt Edward that he myght be delyuerd of that disese in his foote And at nyght whan he went to his bed he put hym self holy in the merites of saynt Edward And when he arose he felte no payne but put doune his hond to his fote to fele how it was he felte that the swellyng was gone he lepe out of his bedde told to his bretheren with ful grete ioye how he was made parfightly hole as euer he was Thenne they al were ful glad went with hym to the chirche to yeue thankynges praisynges to almyÈty god to his holy confessour saint Edward for these myracles for his delyuerauÌ„ce fro the ij sekenesses wherfor god be praised in his seruaÌ„t without end ameÌ„ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Edward kyng and Confessour ¶ Here foloweth of saint Luke Theuangelist And first of his name LUke is as moche to saye as arysynge or enhauncynge hym self Or Luke is sayd of lyght he was reysyng hym self fro the loue of the world and enhauncyng in to the loue of god And he was also lyght of the world for he enlumyned the vnyuersal world by holy predicacion And herof sayth saynt Maâ—hewe Mathei quinto ye ben the lyght of the world the lyght of the world is the sonne And that lyzt hath heyght in his sete or syege And herof sayth Ecclesiastes the xxvj Chapytre the sonne rysynge in the world is in the ryght hyhe thynges of god he hath delyte in beholdyng And as it is sayd Ecclesiastes vndecimo The lyght of the sonne is swete And hit is delytable to the eyen to see the sonne He hath swyftnes in his moeuyng as it is sayd in the second book of Esdre the fourthe chapytre The erthe is grete and the heuen is hyhe And the cours of the sonne is swyft and hath prouffyte in effect For after the philosophre man engendâ—th man and the sonne And thus Luke had hyhenes by the loue of thynges celestyalle delectable by swete conuersacion Swyftnes by feruent predicacion And vtylyte and prouffyte by consceypcion wrytynge of his doctryne ¶ Of saynt Luke euangelyst LUke was of the nacion of Syrye And Anthyochyen by arte of medycyne And after somme he was one of lxxij disciples of our lord Seynt Iheromme sayth that he was discyple of thappostles and not of our lord And the glose vpon the xxv chapytre of the booke of Exodi sygnefyeth that he ioyned not to oure lorde whan he prechyd but he cam to the faith after his resurection But it is more to be holden that he was none of the lxxij disciples though somme holde oppynyon that he was one But he was of ryght grete perfection of lyf moche well ordeyned as toward god And as touchynge his neyghbour as touchynge hym self and as towchynge his offyce in signe of these foure maners of ordenaunces he was descryued to haue four faces that is to wete the face of a man the face of a lyon the face of an oxe and the face of an egle eche of these bestes had foure faces foure wynghes as it is sayd in Ezechyell the fyrst chapytre And by cause it may the better be sene late vs ymagyne some beest that hath his hede four square in euery square a face so that the face of a man be to fore and on the ryght syde the face of the lyon on the lyft syde the face of the oxe behynde the face of thaygle by cause that the face of thaygle appyerid aboue thother for the lengthe of the necke therfor hit is sayd that this face was aboue and eche of these foure had foure pennes For whanne euery beest was quadrate as we may ymagyne In a quadrate ben foure corners and euery corner was a penne By these foure beestes after that sayntes sayen ben signefyed the foure euangelystes Of whome eche of them had foure faces in wrytyng that is to wete of humanite of the passion of the resurection and of the dyuynyte how be it these thynges ben syngulerly to synguler For after saynt Iheromme Mathewe is signyfyed in the man For he was syngulerly meued to speke of thumanyte
and tremblyng of the erthe And the sonne had wythdrawen her lyght and rayes And he taught moralyte whan he taught maners in his blessidnes he taught resonable thynges whan he sayd he that is trewe in lytel thynges he is trewe in grete thynges And withoute this treble wysedome the mysterye of the Trynyte ne of our faithe may not be that is to wete Wysedome naturelle Resonable and Moralle And this is that saynt Ambrose sayth Thyrdly His gospell is embelysshed and made fayre wyth moche honeste soo that the style and manere of spekyng is moche honeste and faire And thre thynges be conuenyent to this that somme men holde in his dictes honeste and beaute the whiche saynt Austyn techeth That is to wete that it please that it appyere and moeue that it please he ought to speke ornatly that it appyere that he ought to speke apertly that it moeue that he speke feruently And this maner hadde Lucas in wrytyng and in prechyng Of two the fyrst hit is sayd in the viij Chapytre to the Corynthyens We sente with hym a broder the glose Barnabe or Luke of whome the praysynge is in al Chirches of the gospell In this that he sayd the praysyng of hym is sygnefyed that he spak ornatly in this that he sayde in alle Chirches hit is signefyed that he spak apertly And that he spak feruently hit appieryd whanne he sayd was not thenne oure herte brennyng within vs in the loue of Ihesu whanne he spake wyth vs in the waye Fourthly his gospelle is auctorysed by Auctoryte of many sayntes What merueyle was it though it were auctorysed of many whan it was auctorysed fyrst of the fader wherof Iheromye seyth in the xxxj Chappytre Lo the dayes shalle come our lord saith I shal make a newe couenaunt with the hous of Israell and of Iuda not after the couenaunt that I made with theyre faders but this shal be the couenaūt saith oure lord I shalle gyue my lawe in to the bowellys of them And he speketh playnly to the letter of doctryne of the Gospel Secondly hit is enforced of the Sonne For he sayth in the same Gospel the one and twentyest Chapytre Heuen and erthe shal passe And my word shal not perysshe Thirdly he is enspyred of the holy ghoost wherof saint Iheromme sayth in his prologue vpon Luke He wrote this gospel in the partyes of Achaye by admonestment of the hooly ghost ¶ Fourthly he was to fore fygured of the Angels For he was prefygured of the same Aungel Of whome thappostle sayth in the xiiij Chapytre I sawe the Angel fleyng by the myddes of heuen And had the gospel perdurable This is sayd perdurable For it is made perdurable that is of Ihesu Cryst Fyfthly the Gospel was pronounced of the prophetes that Ezechyel the prophete pronounced to for this Gospel Whan he sayd that one of these beestes shold haue the face of an oxe wherfor the gospel of Luke is signefyed as it is said to fore And whan Ezechyel seid in the second Chapytre that he had sene the book that was wreton without and within In whiche was wreton the lamentacion songe ¶ By this booke is vnderstonde the gospel of Luke that is wreton within for to hyde the mysterye of profoundenesse and withoute for the shewynge of thystory In whiche also ben conteyned the lamentacion of the passion the Ioye of the resurection and the woo of the eternal dampnacion as it appieryth the xj Chapytre where many woes ben putte Sixtly the gospel was shewed of the vyrgyne For the blessyd vyrgyne marye kepte and heled dylygently al these thynges in her herte as it is sayd Luce secundo to the ende that she shold afterward shewe them to the wrytars as the glose sayth that alle thynges that were done and sayd of oure lord Ihesu cryst she knewe and reteyned them in her mynde So that when she was requyred of the wrytars or of the prechers of thyncarnacion and of al other thynges she myght expresse them suffycyently lyke as it was done and were in dede wherof seynt Bernard assygneth the reason why the Aungel of our lord shewed to the blessyd vyrgyne the conceyuyng of Elyzabeth The conceyuynge of Elyzabeth was shewed to Marye by cause of the comynge now of oure sauyour and now of his messager that cam to fore hym The cause why she reteyned the ordynaunce of these thynges was by cause that she myght the better shewe to wrytars and prechours the trouthe of the Gospel This is she that fully fro the begynnyng was Instruct of the celestyal mysteryes And it is to be byleuyd that theuangelystes enquyred of her many thynges And she certyfyed them truly And specially that the blessyd Luke had recours to her lyke as to the Arke of the testament And was certyfyed of her many thynges And specially of suche thynges as apperteyned to her as of the salutacion of the Angel Gabryel of the natyuyte of Ihesu Cryst and of suche other thynges as Luke speketh only ¶ Seuenthly the Gospel was shewed of the Appostles For Luke had not ben with Cryste in alle his actes and myracles therfore he wrote his gospel after that thappostles that had ben present shewed and reported to hym lyke as he sheweth in his prologue sayenge lyke as they that hadde sene hym fro the begynnynge and had ben mynystres with hym and herd his wordes enformed and told to me And by cause hit is accustomme in double maner to bere wytnesse It is of thynges sene and of thynges herde Therfor sayth saynt Austyn oure lord wold haue two witnesses of thynges sene they were Iohan and Mathewe And two of thynges herd and they were marke and Luke And by cause that the wytnesse of thynges sene ben more ferme and more certayne than of thynges herde Therfor saith saynt Augustyn ¶ The two gospels that ben of thynges sene ben sette fyrst and last And the other that ben of herynge ben sette in the myddle lyke as they were the strenger and more certeyne of and by the other tweyne Eyghtly this gospel is merueylously approuyd of saynt Powle whanne he bryngeth the Gospel of Luke to the confirmacion of his sayenges and dictes wherof saynt Ieromme sayth in the booke of noble men That somme men haue suspecyon that alwey Whanne Saynt Powle sayth in his Epystles Secundum euangelium meum that is after my Gospel that is sygnefyed the volume of Luke And he approuyd his gospell whan he wrote of hym Secundo ad Coryntheos octauo of whome the laude and praysynge is in the gospell in all the chirche It is redde in thystorye of Antyoche that the Crysten men that were besyeged of a grete multitude of turkes and dyd to them many mescheues and were tormentid with hongre and ylle happe But whan they were pleynly conuertid to our lord by penaunce A man full of clerenes in whyte vestymentes appyeryd to a man that woke in the chirche of oure lady of Trypolyn And whan he
commaundyng hym to take vp the bodyes and burye them in his howe which old man took a cosyn of his an olde woman whiche â—uâ—llyd with hym in his celle went to the place where they had ben biheded And by cause it was nyghe to the Ryuer they myght lyghtely be broughte to the Celle by water but they hadde no ship ne bote redy ne they couth not the craft of rowyng ne had the strengthe to brynge them ageynste the streme of the Ryuer And whan they cam to the place they fonde the bodyes of the sayntes and a bote redy in the ryuer ordeyned by our lord Thenne they hauynge hope and trust in oure lord eche of them tooke vp a body of the martirs And wente frely withoute burthen in suche wise that it semed to them that they bare no berthen but that they were borne of the berthens And they entryng with the holy bodyes in to the litil boote withoute ores gouernayl that myght be sene ageynst the stronge streme of the flood were brought vnto the ryuage of his celle and there buryed them in his oratorye And where the persecucion of them ceessed the honoure of them was shewed to the peple by myracles In suche wyse that a grete chirche was afterward maade in thonoure of the holy sayntes of trewe Crysten peple thenne late vs praye to them that they pray for vs etcetera ¶ Thus endeth the martirdome of the holy saintes Crispyn and Crispynyan Here foloweth of the holy Appostles Symon Iude And first of their names SYmon is as moche to saye as obedyent or beynge in heuynes And he hadde a double name He was sayd Symon Zelotes And Symon Cananean of cana a strete that is in galilee there where as oure lord conuertid the water in to wyn And Zelotes is as moche to saye as canamen This holy man had in hym obedyence of the commaundements by execucion heuynesse by pyte of tormente And had loue of Sowles by ferme ardour of loue Iudas is as moche to saye as confessyng or glorious or Iudas is as moche to seye as gyuynge ioye For he had Confession of faythe glorye of Regne and glorye of the euerlastynge ioye This Iudas was called by many names He was sayd Iudas Iames For he was broder to Iames the lasse And he was callyd Thadee whiche is as moche to saye as takynge a prynce or Thadee is sayd of Tharea that is a vesture and of deus that is god For he was vesture ryal of god by ornament of vertues by whiche he took crist the prynce He is sayd also in thystory Ecclesiaste Lebeus whiche is as moche to say as herte or worshipper of hert Or he is said Lebeus of Lebes that is a vessel of herte by grete hardynesse or a worshipper of herte by purete a vessel by plenytude of grace For he deseruyd to be a vessell of vertues and a cawdâ—on of grace And Abdyas Bisshop of Babyloyne by the Appostles ordeyned wrote their passion and Legende in greke And the disciple of Abdyas translated it oute of greke in to latyn And was named Affrycan ¶ Of the holy sayntes Symon and Iude SYmon Cananyen Iudas thaddee were bretheren of Iames the lasse and sones of Marye Cleophe whiche was maryed to Alpheus And Iude was sente of Thomas to the kynge Abagar of Edysse after thascencion of oure lord And it is redde in the Hystorye Scolastyque that the sayd Abagar sente a pystle vnto oure lord Ihesu Cryst in this maner Abagar the sone of Euchanye To Ihesu blessyd saueour whiche appiereth in the places of Iherusalem sendeth salutacion I haue herd of the and of the helthes and recouerynges that thou makest and dost ben withoute medycynes and her bys And that thou makest the blynde to see by thyn only word and the lame go the mesels to be cured and made hole and the dede bodyes to lyue ageyne whiche thynges herd of the I wene in my courage that thou arte one of two that is that thou art god that arte descended from heuen for to do this or that thou arte the sone of god that dost suche thynges wherfore I praye the by wrytynge that thow wylt trauayle so moche as to come to me and hele me of my maladye Of whiche I haue be longe vexed And I haue herd saye that the Iewes murmure ageynst the and lye in a wayte ageynst the Come therfor to me For I haue a lytell Cyte but it is honeste And shall well suffyse to vs bothe Oure lord Ihesus answerd â—yn by wrytynge in these wordes Blessyd art thou that hast byleuyd in me whanne thou hast not sene me It is wreton of me that they that see me not shalte byleue in me And they that see me shall not byleue Of that thow hast wreton to me that I shalle come to the me behoueth taccomplysshe that whiche I am sente fore And after to be receyued of hym from whome I am sente whan I am ascended I shalle sende to the one of my disciples to hele the and quykene the This is wreton in Historia Ecclesiastica And whanne Abagar sawe that he myght not see god presently after that it is sayd in an Auncyent Historye as Iohan damascene witnesseth in his fourth boke He sente a payntour vnto Ihesu Cryste for to fygure thymage of oure lord to th ende that at leste that he myght see hym by his ymage whome he myght not see in his vysage And whan the payntoure cam by cause of the grete splendour and lyght that shone in the vysage of oure lord Ihesu Cryst he coude not beholde it ne couthe not counterfete it by no figure And whan oure lord sawe this thyng he toke fro the payntour a lynnen clothe and set it vpon his vysage and enprynted the very physonomye of his vysage therin And sente it vnto the kynge Abagar whiche so moche desyred it And in the same History is conteyned how this ymage was fygured It was well eyed well browed a longe vysage or chyere and enclyned whiche is a signe of maturyte or rype sadnes ¶ That Epistle of oure lord Ihesu Cryste is of suche vertu that in the Cyte of Edysse no Heretyk ne no paynym may lyue therynne ne none Tyraunt maye greue hit For yf ony people come ageynste that Cyte by force of Armes A Chyld shalle stande vpon the gate And shal rede that Epystle And that same daye eyther thenemyes shalle flee and ben aferd or they shalle make pees wyth them of the Towne And as is sayd this hath ben done But thys Cyte hath ben sithe taken of the Sarasyns and touched In suche wyse that for the multyplyeng of synnes this benefayt is lost Also it is redde in thystorye ecclesiastyke that whan oure lord was ascended in to heuen thomas thappostle sente thaddee that was Iude vnto the kynge Abagar accordyng to the promesse of oure lord And whan he was comen to hym And had told to hym that he was
dico vos seruos et cetera I saye you not now seruauntes but frendes For the second Iohannis Primo Dedit eis potestatem filios dei fieri he gaf to them power to be maade the sones of God Of the thyrdde ad Romanos octâ—uo yf ye be sones ye be heyres et cetera Of the fourthe he sayth thus How moche sholdest thow laboure to fynde a leder to brynge the to the kynge and speke for the that is to wete that they ben leders of grace and of alle humayne lygnage and speke and pray for vs to god wherfore they ought to be worshipped Other ben taken as touchyng the preciosite of their bodyes And the sayd Iohan Damascene putteth foure resons And saynt Augutyn putteth therto the fyfthe by which is shewed the preciousite of the bodyes or of the Relyques For the holy bodyes were the selyers of god temple of Ihesu Crist they were the Alabastre or boxe of the precious oynement and the fontain of the dyuyne lyf membres of the holy ghost Fyrst they were the celers of god For the Sayntes ben celers of god and pure aournementes Secondly they were the temple of Ihesu Crist ¶ For hit foloweth by cause that god duellyd in them by entendement wherof thappostse sayth Ne knowe ye not that your bodyes ben the temple of tholy ghost duellyng in you Herof saith Crisostom Man delyteth hym in edificacion of walles and god delyteth hym in the conuersacion of sayntes Wherof Dauyd sayth Syre I haue louyd the beaute of thy hows but that beaute is not made by dyuersyte of marble but hit is gyuen to lyuyng men by dyuersyte of graces the beauâ—te of marble the Flesshe delyteth The beaute of grace quykenyth the soule the fyrst deceyueth the eyen and that other edyffyeth by double endendemente Thyrdly they ben the Alabastre or box of spyrytuel oynement wherfor hit is said oynement of good odour cometh of hymself And this gyuen the Relyques of sayntes yf the water ranne from the Roche and oute of the stone in deserte And also water ranne out of the Iowe of the asse to Sampson whiche had thurst thenne it is not incredyble that ther renneth fro the Relyques of sayntes oynementes wel smellyng to them that knowe the yefte of god and thonour of sayntes whiche cometh from hym Fourthly they ben Fontaynes of dyuynyte Of whome is sayd they that lyue in veryte with free pacyence ben assistaunt to god and ben to vs welles of helthe Our lord Ihesu Cryst yeueth vnto Relyques of his sayntes many benefayttes in dyuerse maners Fyftly they ben membrys of the holy ghost this reason assigneth saynt Augustyn in the book de Ciuitate dei And sayth they be not to be despysed but to be honourid gretely and to worshipe the bodyes of the sayntes of whome whanne they lyued the holy ghoost vsed as his owne membre in all good werke And thappostle sayth ye seche experyence of hym that speketh in me Cryste And of seynt Stephen it is sayd they myght not resiste his wysedome ne to the holy ghoost that spake in hym And Ambrose sayth in thexametre It is a ryght precious thynge that a man is made the membre of dyuyne voys And with his bodyly lyppes expressyth the wordes celestyall Thyrdly the feste of alle the sayntes is establysshed for the clensynge of oure neclygences For how be hit that we halowe the festes of a fewe sayntes yet we kepe them neclygently of tymes and leue many thynges vndon by ygnoraunce and by neclygence And yf we haue not solempnysed ony festes as we ought to do but neclygently Now in this generall feste we ought to fulfylle and amende it and purge vs of oure neclygence And this reason is touchyd in a sermon that is recited this day in the Chirche And hit is ordeyned that at this day memorye is made of alle saintes that what someuer fragylyte humayne hath done lasse than he ought by ygnoraunce by neclygence or by occupacion of seculer thynges in the solempnyte of sayntes that hit be appeased in thobseruacion of this holy feest It is to be noted that there be four differences of the sayntes that we honoure by the cours of the yere whiche ben of the newe testameÌ„t of whom on this day we gadre to gyder for taccomplisshe that whiche we haue neclygently done that ben thappostles martirs confessours and vyrgyns And after Rabane these foure ben sygnefyed by the foure partyes of the world By thoryent that is Eest thappostles by the southe the martirs By the norâ—he the confessours And by the west the vyrgyns The fyrst difference is of thappostles Of whom thexcellence is magnyfested by cause they surmounte all thother sayntes in foure thyngis First in soueraynte of dygnyte For they ben the wyse prynces of the chirche mylytaunt they ben the puyssaunt accessours of the Iuge perdurable they ben swete pastours of the shepe and flock of our lord And they ben swete Iuges as Bernard saith It besemeth well to establysshe suche pastours and suche doctours of thumayne lygnage that ben swete or softe puyssaunt and wyse swete or softe that they receyue vs goodly by mercy Myghty For to defende vs puyssauntly wyse for to bryng vs to the way of trouthe After they surmounte the other sayntes in soueraynte of puyssaunce wherof saynt Augustyn sayth thus God gaf power to the Appostles ouer the deuyls for to destroye them Aboue thelementes to chaunge them A loue nature to cure it Aboue the sowles for to assoille them of their synnes aboue the deth for to despyse hit aboue thaungels for to sacre the precious body of oure lord Ihesu Cryst Thyrdly They excede other saintes in prerogatyf of holynesse soo that by their grete holynes and plenytude of graces the lyf and conuersacion of Ihesu Crist shone in them as in a myrrour and was knowen in them as the sonne in his splendour as a rose in his odour And as fyre in his hete And herof sayth Crysostome vpon Mathewe Ihesu Cryste sente his Appostles as the sonne his rayes as the Rose his odour And as the fyre his sparkles And lyke as the sonne appierith in his rayes And as the Rose is felte by his odour and as the fyre is sene in his sparkles so by the vertues of them is knowen the puyssaunce of Ihesu Crist Fourthly Thappostles excede other sayntes in th effecte of prouffyte Of whiche vtilite saynt Augustyn spekyng of thappostles seyth Of the moste vyle of the most ydeottis And of the lâ—ste ben ennoblisshed enlumyned and multeplyed the moste eloquente and fayr spekars the clerest wyttes and connynge And most plentyuous wysedome of facunde and spekynge of Auctours doctours The second dyfference is of martirs of whome thexcellence is shewed by that they suffrid in many maners prouffitably constaÌ„tly and multyplyengly For aboue the martirdome of blood shedyng they suffrid thre other martirdome without effusion of bloode that is 〈◊〉 in plente whiche Dauyd had largesse in pouerte
of theyr kynnesmen that the penaunce done for them by their Frendes is vaillable to them hit is shewed by a solempne Doctour whiche reherceth that there was a woman whiche hadde her husbond dede And she was in grete despair for pouerte And the deuyll appierid to her and sayd that he wold make her ryche yf she wold do as he wold saye to her And she promysed to do hit And he enioyned her that the men of the chirche that she shold receyue in to her hous that she shold make them doo fornycacion Secondly that she sholde take in to her hows by daye tyme poure men And in the nyght dryue them oute voide and hauynge no thyng Thirdly that she shold in the Chirche lette prayers by her Ianglyng And that she shold not confesse her of none of alle these thynges And at the laste as she approched toward her deth her sone warned her to be confessid And she discouered to hym what she had promysed And saide that she myght not be shryuen And that her confession shold auaylle her no thyng But her sone hasted her and saide he wold do penaunce for her she repentid her and sente for to fetche the preest But to fore er the preest cam the deuyls ronnen to her and she deyde by thoorryblenes of hem Thenne the sone confessid the synne of the moder And dyd for her seuen yere penaunce And that accomplysshed he sawe hys moder And she thanked hym of her delyueraunce And in lyke wyse auaille the Indulgences of the chirche It happed that a legate of the pope praid a noble knyght that he wold make warre in the seruyse of the chirche and ryde to Albigoiâ— And he wold therfore gyue pardon to his fader whiche was deed And the knyght â—ode forth and abode there an hole lente And that done his fader appiered to hym more clere than the day and thanked hym of his delyueraunce And as to the third that is to say for whom the suffrages ben don ther ben iiij thynges to be considere Fyrst who ben they to whome it may prouffyte Secondly Wherfor hit ought to prouffyte them Thyrdly hit muste be knowen yf hit prouffyte to alle egally Fourthly how they may knowe the suffrages that ben done for them As to the fyrst who ben they to whome the suffrages may prouffite It is to be knowen as saynt Austyn sayth that alle they that departe out of this world or they ben right good or ryght euylle or bytwene both Thenne the suffrages that ben done for the good ben for to yelde thankynges for them And they that ben done for the euyl ben somme comforte to them that lyue And they that ben done for them that ben myddle and bytwene bothe they ben clensynges to them And they that ben ryght good ben they that anone flee to heuen And ben quyte of the fyre of purgatory and of helle also And there ben thre manere of this peple that ben children baptysed Martirs and parfyght men These ben they that parfyghtely mayntenyd the loue of god the loue of his neyghbour and good werkes And thoughte neuer to plese the world but to god only And yf they had done ony venyal synne Hit was anone putte awey by the loue of charyte lyke as a drope of water in a fornays And therfor they bere no thyng with them that oughte to be brent And who that prayeth for ony of these thre maner peuple or doth ony suffrages for them he doth to them wrong For saynt Augustyn sayth he doth wrong that prayeth for a martir But yf one praye for one that is rizt good of whome he doubteth that he be in heuen thenne of his orysons ben yeuen thankynges And they come to the prouffite of hym that prayeth lyke as Dauyd sayth My prayer shal be tornyd in to my bosome And to these maners of peple is the heuen anon open whan they departe ne they fele no fyre of purgatory And this is signyfyed to vs by the thre to whome the heuen was opened It was fyrst opened to Ihesu Cryst whan he was baptysed prayeng by whiche is signefyed that the heuen is open to them that ben baptitised be they yong or aged yf they deye anone they flee in to heuen For baptysme is clensyng of all orygenall synne and mortalle by the vertu of the passion of Ihesu Cryst Secondly hit was opened to saynt Stephen whan he was stoned wherof it is said in thactes of thappostles I see the Heuens open And in this is sygnefyed that hit is open to alle martirs And they flee anone to heuen as soone as they departe Thyrdly hit was opened to saint Iohan theuaÌ„gelist whiche was ryght parfyght wherof is sayd in thapocalipse I behelde and loo the dore was open in heuen by whiche it appiereth that it is opened to parfyght men that haue alle accomplysshed their penaunce And haue in them no venyal synnes or yf ony happen to be commysed anone it is consumed extyncte by the ardour of charyte And thus heuen is open to these thre maner of peple whiche entre lyghtly in for to regne perpetuelly The ryght euyll and wycked men ben they that anon ben plunged in to the fyre of helle For whome yf their dampnacion be knowen there ought no suffrages be done for them after that saint Augustyn sayth yf I knewe my fader to he in helle I wold no more praye for hym than for the deuyll but yf ony suffrages were done for a dampned man Of whome were doubte that he so were neuertheles they shold not prouffite hxm to his delyueraunce ne that is to say fro the paynes ne do the mytygacion of them ne lassyng of it ne shortynge of tyme For as Iob sayth In helle is no redempcion They that ben myddle good ben they that haue with them some thyng to be brent and purged that is to say wode heye and stupple or els they that ben surprysed with dethe before they myght haue accomplysshed their penace in their lyf Ner they be not so good but that they nede haue suffrages of their frendes ne they be not so euylle but that suffrages myght prouffyte ease them And the suffrages that ben done for them ben clensynges for them And these ben they to whom suffrages only may prouffyte And in doynge suche maner suffrages the chirche is acustomed to obserue thre maner dayes that is the seuenth day the thyrttyest day And thannyuersarye And the reson of these thre dayes is assigned in the book of offyce The seuenth daye is kepte and obseruyd that the soules shold come to the sabate of euerlastynge reste or by cause that all the synnes that they haue commysed in their lyf be foryeuen whiche they haue done by seuen dayes or that all the synnes that they haue commysed in theyr bodye whiche is made of four complexions and in their sowle â—in whiche ben thre poures may be forgyuen The trentalle
vesture and saide Fere the no thynge For thou shalte not deye Aryse vp And bere thou this chayne wyth the to my Chirche folowe me for I goo to fore ¶ Thenne he aroos and toke the chayne and folowed saynt Leonard whiche wente to fore hym tylle he cam to the chirche And anone as he was to fore the yates saynt Leonard lefte hym there and he thenne entrid in to the chirche and recounted to all the peple what saynt Leonard had done And be henge that grete chayne â—o fore his Tombe ¶ There was a certayne man whiche duellyd in the place of saynt Leonard And was moche faythful and deuoute to Seynt Leonard And hit happed that this goode man was taken of a Tyraunt whiche beganne to thynke in hym self that Seynte Leonard vnbyndeth and loseth alle them that ben bounden in yrons And the myghte of yron hath no more myghte ageynste hym than waxe hath ageynste the Fyre Yf I sette this manne in yrons Leonard shalle anone delyuere hym And yf I maye kepe hym I shalle make hym paye for his raunsonne a thowsand shyllynges I wote well what I shalle doo I shalle goo make a ryght grete and depe pytte vnder the erthe in my Toure And I shalle caste hym theryn bounden with many bondes And after I shalle doo make a cheste of Tree vpon the mouthe of the pytte And shalle make my Knyghtes to lye therynne al armed And how be hit that yf Leonard breke the yrons yet shalle he not entre in to hit vnder the erthe And whanne he had made al thys that he thought This man whiche was enclosed therin cryed oft to saynt Leonard so that on a nyght saynt Leonard cam and tourned the chyst wherin the knyghtes laye armed and closed them therin lyke as dede men ben in a tombe And after entryd in to the fosse or pitte with grete lyght And toke the hand of his trewe seruaunt and sayd to hym Slepest thou or wakest loo here is Leonard whome thou so moche desyrest And he sow merueylyng sayd lord helpe me Anone his chaynes were broken and tooke hym in his armes and bare hym oute of the toure And thenne spak to hym as a frende doth to a frende and sette hym at home in his hows There was a pylgrym whiche retorned fro the vysytynge of saynt Leonard and was taken in Almayne and put in a pytte or fosse and fast closed therin And this pylgrym prayd strongly saynt leonard and also them that tooke hym that they wold for the loue of saint leonard lete hym go for he had neuer trespaced to them And they answerd but yf he wold paye moche money he shold not departe And he sayd be it bytwene yow and saynt Leonard to whome I remytte the mater And the nyght folowynge saynt Leonard appired to the lord of the castell and commaunded hym that he shold delyuere his pylgrym And on the morn he supposed he hadde dremed and wold not delyuere hym The next nyghte he appiered to hym ageyne and commaunded hym to late hym goo but yet he wold not obeye The thyrd nyght saynt Leonard took this pylgrym and brought hym oute of the castel And anone the toure and half the castell fylle and oppressyd many of them that were therm And the prynce only was le te to his confusion a lyue and hadde his thyes broken etcetera There was a knyghte in pryson in Brytayne whiche ofte called on saynt Leonard whiche anone appiered to hym in the syght of al men and knowynge hym And they beyng sore abasshed entryd in to the prison and brake his bondes and putte them in the mannes hand brought hym forth before them alle beynge sore aferd There was another Leonard whiche was of the same profession of one vertu of whome the body resteth at Corbigny And whanne this Leonard was prelate in a monastery he was of so grete humylite that he was sene to be lowest of all And moche peple cam to hym so fast and so many that they that were enuyous sayd to the kyng Clotayre that yf he took not good hede to the Royamme of Fraunce he shold suffre damage and that grete by Leonard whiche gadred to hym moche peple vnder the shadowe of Relygyon And thenne this cruel kyng commaunded that he shold be chaced awey but the knyghtes that come for to chace hym were so coÌ„uertid by his wordes that they were conpuncte and promysed to be his disciples And thenne the kynge repentid hym and requyred pardon of hym And putte them from hym that had soo myssayd of hym and fro their goodes and honours And louyd moche saynt Leonard soo that vnnethe the kynge wold not restablysshe them ageyne to their estate at the prayers of the holy saynt And this holy saynt Impetred and hadde graunte of god that who someuer were holden in pryson and prayd in his name that he shold anone be delyuerd And on a daye as he was in his prayers a ryght grete serpente stretched hym fro the foote of saynt Leonard a longe vpward vnto his brest And he neuer therfor left his oryson And whanne he had accomplysshâ—d his orysons he sayd to the Serpent I know Wel that sythe the begynnynge of thy creacion thow tormentest men as moche as thou maist but thy myght is gyuen to me now do to me now that whiche I haue deseruyd And whanne he had sayd thus the Serpente sprange oute of his hode And fylle doune deed at his feet After this on a tyme when he had appeased two Bisshops that had ben in discord he sayd that he sholde on the morne fynysshe his lyf And so he dyde And that was aboute the yere of oure lord vC lxx Here foloweth the lyf of saint Leonard ¶ Here foloweth of the foure crowned martirs THe four crowned martirs were Seuerus Seuerianus Capoforus and Victorinus whiche by the commaundement of Dyoclesian were beten with plommettis of lede vnto the deth The names of whom coude not be founden but after long tyme they were shewed by dyuyne reuelacion hit was was establysshed that theire memorye shold be worshipped vnder the names of fyue other martirs that is to wete Claudyen Castor Symphorian Nychostrate and Symplycyen whiche were martred two yere after the foure crouned martirs And these martirs knewe all the craft of sculpture or of keruyng dyoclesian wolde haue constrayned them to kerue an ydolle but they wold not entaylle ne kerue hit ne consente to do sacrefyse to thydolles And thenne by the commaundement of Dyoclesian they were put in to tonnes of leed all lyuynge and cast in to the see about the yere of our lord two honderd foure score and seuen And Melchyades th◠〈◊〉 ordeyned these foure sayntes to 〈◊〉 and to be callyd foure crowned martirs bifore that their names were founden And though their names were afterward founden and knowen yet for thusage they ben alwey called the foure crowned marthes Thus endeth of the four crowned marters
cam from without fro their werke and dreyde them and kissed them Seuenthly how Saynte clare kepte pouerte It is redde that for to kepe and to folowe pouerte after the gospell of Ihesu crist saynt Clare put therto all her entente wherfor syth the begynnyng of her holy lyf al that euer that come to her of fader moder she solde and gaf it for goddes sake in so moche that for her ne for her susters she hadde but symple fedynge and clothynge ne wold haue none other And notwithstondynge that she was assoylled of the pope of the vowe of pouerte And thervpon had receyued lettres of the pope moche sodenly wepyng she wrote ageyne sayenge I wylle well be assoylled of my synnes but the vowe of pouerte I shalle kepe vnto the deth The eyght How in necessite Ihesu criste vysyted her It is redde that on a tyme at the hour of dyner in the college of saynte Clare was but one loof of brede nether myÈt no more be had thenne saint Clare tooke this loof of the hand of the dispenser and made thenne her prayer And after of that loof made as many loues and partyes as there were susters And as soone as eueryche had receyued her parte how well hit was but lytel the dyuyne grace multyplyed it so moche that eueryche lefte somme and hadde ynough Item semblably it is redde that god dyde for her whanne in her college the pottes were faylled Nynthly how in straytnes saynt Clare was rulyd This holy lady was contente with one poure cote lyned with a mantelet She vsed neuer pendauntes ne furres of skynnes but dispendyd all her tyme in kepynge her body in seruage of the spyryte And here with thryes in the weke she fasted in this manere that she neuer tasted thynge that was soden Item euery yere she fasted two lentens to brede and water only sauf the sonday she tooke a lytell wyn And shortely she lyued so straytly that she becam so feble that saynt FrauÌ„ceis commaunded her by vertu of obedyence that she shold faylle no daye but that she shold take for her refection an vnce and an half of brede She was neuer withoute heyr nexte her flesshe And for a pelowe she tooke a block or a grete stone She laye alwey on the bare ground Or for to take the better her reste she laye otherwhyle vp on the cuttynge of vynes vnto the tyme that saynt Fraunceis had commauÌ„ded her by cause hit was ouer fowle that she shold vse to lye on a sack ful of strawe Tenthly how she hath despised thynyquyte of the fende our enemy It is redde that in especyall she hadde a custome that from mydday she was in prayers and remembrynge the passion and suffraunce of Ihesu Cryste two houres durynge And after the eueutyde she was alwey a long whyle in orysons And it is redde that oftymes the fende apperyd to her by nyght sayenge yf soo be that ye absteyne yow not fro wakyng and wepyng ye shall for certayne be blynde And she ansuerde he shalle not be blynde that shall see oure lord in his glory And whanne the fende herd this answere anone he departed alle confused ne durste neuer after tempte her ne lette her of her prayers Enleuenthly god of his grace had perced her herte It is redde that saynt Clare for to dispende amerously the tyme that god hadde lente her In especyalle she was determyned that fro the houre of mydday vnto euensong tyme she wold dispende al that tyme in thynkynge and bywepynge the passion of Ihesu Cryst and saye prayers and orysons acordynge therto After vnto the fyue woundes of the precious body of Ihesu Cryste as smeton and persed to the herte with the darte of the loue diuyne It is redde that fro the tyme on a sherthursdaye the houre of the maundye vnto ester euen the satyrday she was remembrynge and thynkyng on the suffraunce of oure lord Ihesus so brennyngly that she was rauysshed as all dronken in the loue of god that she knewe not what was sayd ne done aboute her but as vnmeuable or as all insensible in stondynge she held her eyen fixed in one place Twelftly how in her dysease and payne she was of god comforted It is sayd that she was by the space of eyght and twenty dayes in contynuelle langoure and sekenes Neuertheles was neuer sene in her signe of vnpacyence but alwey swete wordes amyable in preysyng thankyng god of all and in especiall hit is redde that in the sekenes in whiche he passyd toward th ende of her lyf she was seuenten dayes without mete or drynke And neuertheles she was so swetely vysited of god that it semed vnto alle them that sawe her that she hadde no payne ne dysease but yet more euery creature that come to her was comforted in god And in especial it is redde that whanne the houre of deth approched she whiche long tyme had lost her speche· beganne to speke and saye goo oute surely thow hast a good saufconduyte And whanne one of her sustrrs beynge there present herde that she demaunded her to whom she spack And she answerd to my sowle whome I see abasshid to deporte fro my body for he oughte not for to doubte For I see the holy vyrgyne Marye whiche abydeth for me And this sayd Our blessyd lady entrid in to the chambre where saynt Clare laye And she was crowned with a crowne ryght clere shynyng that thobscurite of the nyÈt was chaunged in to clerenes of mydday And she brought with her a ryght grete multitude of other vyrgyns alle nobly crowned amonge whome there was one that bare a ryche mantelle To whome she sayd gyue hyder the maÌ„tell And whanne she hadde swetely embracyd her she cladde her with the mantell And at that same tyme was wepynge aboute her the college of susters And in especiall Agnes the suster of saynt Clare makynge grete mone and sorowe Thenne saynte Clare sayd swetely My susters discomforte yow not For ye shall haue vnto god of me a good and a trewe Aduocate And thou Agnes shalle soone after folowe me in to glorye Now is it well reason and ryght that we saye and shewe of the grete meruaylles that god shewed for saynt Clare by hyr holy prayers For she was verytable trewe and worthy of alle honoure That grete tempest that was in the tyme of Frederyck themperour wherof hooly Chirche had soo moche to suffre that in dyuerse partyes of the world was moche warre so that by the commaundement of themperour were bataylles establysshed of knyghtes And with that soo many Archers of Sarasyns as they hadde be hylles of flyes for to destroye the peple Chastellis Cytees The Sarasyns ranne as woodmen tylle they cam to the yates of Assyse And the felon sarasyns that ben full of alle cruelte and falshede And seke nothynge but for to flee and destroye Crysten mennes blood And they cam vnto the Cloystre of the poure ladyes of
fele the delytes that ben in Ihesu Cryst She lerned thoffice of the crosse of saynt Fraunceis whiche loued her truly And she said it as gladly to her power as he dyd She gyrd to her flesshe a corde wheron were thyrten knottes which were ful of brochettes of smale nedles and theron smale rynges And this dyde she in the remembraunce of the woundes of our lord It happed on a tyme on the holy sherthursdaye whiche is the day whanne oure lord made his maundy or souper where as is remembryd how god louyd vnto th ende his disciples aboute the houre of euyn whanne god beganne the wrastlynge of hys passion Thenne saynt Clare beynge heuy and sorowful enclosed her in the chambre of her celle And hit happed that she prayd god longe and was soroufull vnto the dethe in that sorowe and heuynes she drewe a feruent loue ful of desyre For she remembryd how Ihesus in that hour was taken estrayned haled forth and mocked in so moche that of this remembraunce she was alle dronken and satte in her bedde Al that nyght was she so rauysshyd and on the morne that she wyste not where her body was The eyen of her hede loked stedfastly in one place withoute meuynge or lokynge a syde And the eye of her herte was so fixed in Ihesu Cryst that she felte no thyng One of her doughters more famylyer and secrete with her than other wente ofte to her for to see her and alwey she fonde hyr in one poynte The nyght of the satirday this good deuoute doughter brought a candell brennynge and withoute spekynge maade a sygne to her blessyd moder Clare that she shold remembre the commaundementes of saynt Fraunceis For he hadde commanded that euery day she shold eie somwhat Thenne as she stode before her with a candell brennynge Saynt Clare cam ageyne to her astate And her semed that she was comen from an another world And she sad Fayre doughter what nede is of a candell is it not yet day And she answerd Ryght dere fayr moder the nyght is passed and the day is gone and that other nyght is comen Fayre doughter sayd saynt Clare This slepe that I haue made be blessyd For I haue moch desyred it And god hath gyuen hit to me but beware that thou saye it neuer to creature as longe as I lyue Whanne our lord knewe and apperceyued how wel and how moche this holy Clare louyd hym And the ryghte grete loue that she had to the very crosse for the loue of hym he so enlumyned and pryueleged her in suche manere that she hadde power to make tokenes and myracles by the Crosse For when she made the signe of the very crosse vp on them that were seke anon the maladye fledde awey and so many myracles god shewed for her Of whiche I shalle telle yow somme Fyrst of a frere that was oute of his wytte On a tyme it happed that saynt Fraunceis sente to saynt Clare a frere named steuen and was al madde fro hym self that she shold make vpon hym the signe of the Crosse For he knewe well that she was a woman of grete perfection And he honoured her moche for the vertue that was in her And she that was obeyssaunt and good doughter of obedyence blessid the Frere by the commaundement of saynte Fraunsoys and made hym to slepe a lytelle And after she tooke hym by the hond And he aroos al hoole and wente to saynte Fraunsois clene delyuerd of al his maladye This blessyd saynt Clare was a good maystresse and trewe for tenforme yonge peple that knewe but lytell of relygyon And she was president and vpperyst of the maydens of oure lord and enformed them in good custommes and taughte them ryght well to doo penaunce She nourysshed them by so grete loue that vnnethe ony tongue may expresse she taughte them pryuely to flee ale noyse of the world by cause they shold ioyne to our lord And also she exhorted them that they shold put fro them all carnal affection and flesshely loue of their frendes And that they shold not be ouer tendre ouer them ne loue them ouermoche ne howses ne londe but make them strong to please and serue god She counceylled them and warned that they shold hate to doo the wyll of the body And that the delytes and flesshely desyrs of the flesshe they sholde with all their herte and good reason go ther ageynste she sayde to them the fende of helle lyeth in a wayte and leyeth his hokes and grynnes subtylly for to take and bynde the holy sowles and yet they tempte more the good peple than them of the world She wold that they shold wake and laboure with her propre handes in suche werkes as she had establisshed to them She wold that whanne they had done their bodyly trauaylle they shold goo to prayer For prayer is a thynge that plesyth moche god And she wolde that in prayeng they shold rechauffe their bodyes and that they shold leue and depresse neclygence and al coldenesse of herte and be kyndeled and lyghted in the holy loue of god soo that in stede of coldenes they shold be hote in deuocion In no place ne in no cloystre was scylence better kept ne holden ther was no lauas in their speche ne euylle but they were sobre and soo good that they shewed wel that in their hertes was none euyl but al godenes The good maystresse saynt Clare her self spack so lytil that she restrayned them and thought merueyllously on theyr wordes How be it that in her herte ne in her thought was but al holynes This good lady pourueyed to her doughters the word of god by deuoute prechynges And hadde so moche ioye and gladnes perfoundely in her herte in herynge the wordes of the holy predicacion that al her delyte was in oure lord Ihesu Cryst her espouse For on a tyme as Frere phelyp A dryen prechyd a ryght fayre child was to fore saynt Clare and abode there a grete parte of the sermon and beheld merueylously and graciously saynte Clare wherof hit happed that he that was worthy to knowe and see so hyhe thynges of saynt Clare receyued in that syght and beholdynge soo grete a swetenes in his hert and so grete comfort that it myght not be sayd ne expressyd And how be hit that she was not letâ—â—ed yet herd she more gladly the sermons in latyn thaâ— in her vulgar tongue She knewe wel that with in the shelle was the kernel she herd the sermons ententyuely and assaueured them more swetely She coude moche wel drawe to her that was mooste prouffitable for her sowle And wel knewe she that it was no lesse cunnynge to gadre fayr floures amonge the sharp thornes than to ete the fruyte of a fayre tree that is to saye that she louyd better a rude sermon well edyffyeng than a fayre polysshed lytell prouffytynge On a tyme hit happed that the pope gregory deffended that no frere
shold go to the hows of the ladyes withoute his leue And whanne the holy moder saynt clare knewe that she had moche sorowe in her herte by cause she sawe wel that she myght not haue that whiche was nedefull whiche was the noreture of holy scrypture And sayd to her susters with a soroufull herte Now forthon wel may the pope gregorye take fro vs alle the freres whanne he hath taken fro vs them that nourysshed oure sowles with the word of god And anone she sente ageyne all the Freres of her howâ— to the maystre or mynystre For she sayd she hadde nothyng to do to haue freres to gete them bodyly brede whanne they failled them that nourysshed her and her susters with the word of god Anone as the pope gregory herd this tydynge he repeled that whiche he had deffended and set all at the wylle of god This hooly good Abbesse loued not only the sowles of her good doughters but thought well in her herte oftymes how she myght serue their bodyes most charytably For whanne it was ryght colde she couerd by nyghte them that were feble And vysyted them moche swetely And yf she sawe ony trouble by ony temptacion or ony anger whiche happeth somtyme she wold calle them secretely And comforted them all wepyng And other whyle she wold falle doune to the feet of her doughters that were mate and heuy And knelyd to fore them so that the swetenes and debonairte that the ladyes sawe in her good moder that she alleged and toke awey theyr sorow wherof the ladyes her doughters couthe her moche thanke And thus lerned they to doo wel by deuocion and to loue their good moder more swetely and folowed by the ryÈt weye the werkes of their good Abbesse And they meruaylled moche of the grete habondaunce of holynes that god hadde gyuen to his spouse Whanne she hadde ben fourty yere in the state of ryght holy pouerte hit pleased to oure lord to calle her to be rewarded in heuen and sente to her a grete maladye and multyplyed her languoure and sekenes She hadde somtyme done so sharp penaunce that her body ne her flesshe hadde no strengthe And at the last she was ouer seke and moche more than she was wonte to be For as our lord had gyuen to her in her helthe rychesse of merytes of good vertues and of good werkes Ryght so wold god enriche her in her sekenes to th ende that she shold suffre for hym ryghte grete payne and tormentes For in suffrynge of sekenes is vertue parfyghte how and in what wyse she was vertuous in her maladye and parfyght ye maye here For how be it that she hadde ben eyght and twenty yere in langueur and maladye yet neuer she grutched ne murmured ne playned but allewey sayd holy wordes and rendryd thankynges to our lord how be it that she was merueylously agreued and seke so that it semed that she hasted moche to drawe to her ende Hit pleasyd neuertheles to our lord that he respyted her fro the dethe vnto the tyme that her ende myght be honoured and enhaunced her by the presence of the pope and of the cardynals to whome she was especial doughter for when the pope and the cardynals hadde abyden a grete whyle at lyons Seynt clare was theÌ„ne merueyllously 〈◊〉 by sekenes soo that her doughters hadde grete sorowe at their hertes that them semed that a glayue had perâ—â—d them or that they haue be ryuen with a swerd But our lord shewed anon a vysyon to one his haÌ„dmayde which dwellyd at saynt powles For hit semed to her that she and her susters were at saynt Damyans to fore saynt clare whiche was ryght seke And her semed that this Clare laye in a moche fayr bedde and moche precious And her semed that her doughters wepte whanne the soule shold passe oute of the body And anone she sawe a ryght fayr lady at the hede of the bedde and sayd to them that wepte Faire doughters wepe no more for this lady shall ouercome all And knowe ye that she shalle not deye tyll that oure lord and his disciples shalle come And she shal not abyde longe after that the pope and the Courte of Rome shalle come to perouse And anone as the Bisshop of Hostence herd saye that this holy woman was seke anone in grete haste he wente to see and vysyte the spouse of Ihesu Cryst For he was her ghostely fader and had the cure of her soule And nourysshed her with pure herte and pure wylle For he hadde alweye deuoutely loued the holy vyrgyne And thenne he gaf to her in her maladye the body of our lord For that is the very fedyng of the sowle And he comforted the other doughters by his sermons and holy wordes Thenne the holy good moder wepynge praid hym moche swetely that he wold take heede of her doughters ther beynge and of all the other And that for the loue of our lord he wold remembre her And aboue alle other thynges she prayd hym that he wolde do so moche that her pryuelege of pouerte myghte be confermed of the pope and of the cardynals And he that loued veryly her and the relygyon and that hadde alwey truly ayded her promysed that he shold doo and dyde hit In the yere after cam the pope and the cardynals to Assyse for to see the departyng of the holy vyrgyne and to putte to effect the vysyon that hâ—dde be sene and signefyed of her For the pope is the hyhest man in erthe vnder god and that best representeth the persone of Ihesu Cryst For lyke as our lord hadde his disciples which were ioyned to hym in erthe In lyke wyse the pope hath his cardynals the whiche ben ioyned to hym in the hooly chirche Our lord god hasted hym as he that knewe the ferme purpos of his spouse saynte Clare And hasted for to honoure her and to sette in the palais of the kynge of paradys his poure pilgryme and the good lady also coueyted and wysshed with alle her herte that she myghte be delyuerd of her mortal body And that she myght see in heuen Ihesu cryst as she that hadde ensiewed hym in therthe with al her hert in very pouerte Her membres were brused and troubled by grete sekenes that the body myght not endure For it was ouer moche enfebled soo that our lord called her fro this world and ordeyned for her helthe perdurable Thenne pope Innocent the fourthe the cardynallis cam with hym for to vysyte thandmayde of god of whom he hadde better proued the holy lyf than of ony woman that was in his tyme And therfor he knewe certaynly that it was reason that he shold come and honoure her with his presence And whanne he cam in to the hows of the ladyes he went thyder where as this holy saynte laye And took to her his hond for to kysse And the pope whiche was curtois stode vpon a tree and tooke to her
hoole and aroos vp guarysshed of alle his maladye and gaf lawde thankynges and praysynges to oure lord god and to saynt Clare And prayd the peple to doo in lyke wyse by cause of his helthe ¶ Another myracle THere was also a chylde of the age of two yere in the toune of saynt quyryte in the Bisshopryche of Assyse whiche was born croked in the back and lame whiche his thyes and feet torned thwart and wente in suche wyse that it was all oute of ordre And whanne he was fallen he couthe not aryse His moder hadde oftymes auowed hym to saynt Fraunceis and was not ther by holpen And whanne she herd that god shewed newe myracles for saynt Clare she bare her chyld to her sepulture and abode there certayne dayes but within a fewe dayes his legges beganne to growe And his thyes within the skyn were redressyd naturelly And he wente vpryght And was all guarysshyd and made al hole And thus he that had ben dyuerse tymes at saynt fraunceis was heled by the merytes of his good disciple saynte Clare by the vertu of oure lord Ihesu Of a lame chyld that neuer had gone ¶ A Burgeis of Augulum named Iaques de Franque had a chyld of fyue yere of age whiche had no feet for to bere hym ne hadde neuer gone ne myght go wherfor his fader ofte wepte and sorowed moche at his hert for his deformyte and thought it a reproche to hym to haue suche one disfygured borne of his blood for he laye on the erthe and in the asshes walowyng and adressyng hym ayenst the walle desyrynge by nature to helpe hym but myght and power fayled hym Thenne his fader and moder auowed hym to saynte Clare that he shold be her seruaunt yf by her prayers and merytes he myghte be heled And assone as the fader and moder had made their auowe the holy vyrgyne heled her seruaunt soo that he had his ryght lymmes and wente vpryght And anone the fader and moder ledde hym to saynte Clare whiche wente lepynge rennynge preysynge oure lord and thankynge hym And thenne the fader and moder offryd hym vnto our lord ¶ Another myracle ¶ There was a woman of the castelle of Bruane named pleniere whiche had ben longe seke in her raynes in suche wyse that she myght not goo withoute helpe ne adresse her but with grete payne and was al croked Hit happed that on a fryday she dyd her to be borne to the tumbe of saint clare And prayd her ryght deuoutely that she wold helpe her And it happed as she prayd she was sodenly maade all hole And on the morne that was satirday she wente vpryght all hole on her feet home to her hows where as the day to forne she was borne for feblenes Of her that was heled of thescroceles There was a maide of the lond of perouse whiche had her throte gretely swollen of a maladye called the escroceles whiche she had longe and had aboute her necke throte a twenty botches called glaundres so that her neck semed gretter than her hede And ofte she hadde be ledde to seynt Clare and the fader and moder of the mayde had prayd her deuoutely to hele her doughter And it happed on a nyght as the mayde laye to fore the tombe she began to swete and thescroceles and the maladye beganne 〈◊〉 mollyfye and to remeue and anone after the maladye vanysshed awey al clene and soo net that by the merytes of saynt clare ther nas sene signe ne token therof ¶ Of a suster of thordre ONe of the susters of thordre of saynt Clare in the tyme that she lyued hadde suche a maladye in her throte whiche suster was named Andree but it was of one thyng meruaylle how that amonge the sustres whiche were as precious stones al ful of the feruent loue of the holy ghoost that suche one that was so cold myght dwelle among them as was this Andree so folysshe that dishonoureth the other vyrgyns Thenne hit happed on a nyght that she distrayned her self by the throte that she was almost estrangled Whiche thynge saynt Clare sawe and knewe by the holy ghoost and seyd to one of her susters now go hastely and take a softe egge and bere hit to suster Andree of ferriere for to rume her throte and come ageyne and brynge her with the hyder to me And thenne she hasted her And fonde the same Andree that she myghte not speke for she hadde almooste strangled her with owne handes And she releued her as well as she myght and brought her to her good moder Thenne saynt Clare sayd to her thow caytyf goo and confesse the of thyn euylle thoughtes And I wote wel that oure lord wylle hele the but amende thy lyf that thou mayst deye of somme other maladye that this whiche thow hast suffred so longe And anone as saynt Clare hadde sayd these wordes she beganne to repente her with good herte And amended her lyf merueyllously And was al holy heled of thescroseles by the grace of god but she deyde anone after of another maladye ¶ Of a wulf that bare awey a Child IN the land of Allyse ther was a wulf ouer sore cruell whiche tormentid the countreye and the peple and ranne vpon them and slewe and ete them soo there was a woman named Gallane of the Mount of gallum whiche had children and the wulf hadde rauysshed and borne awey one of them and hadde eten hym wherfore she wepte ofte And on a tyme the wulf cam for his praye as he hadde done to fore for to deuoure somme chyld And it happed that this woman was besy in her werke whiche she hadde in honde And one of her sonnes went out And anone the wulf caught hym by the hede And ranne with hym toward the wode And a man that was amōg the vynes labourynge herd the chyld braye other wyse than he had herd ony cam rennyng to the moder of the childe bad her see yf she had al herr chyldren for he said that he had herde the crye of a child other wyse than they be woned to crye And anone the moder loked and sawe that the wulf had rauysshed her child And wente toward the wode with hym lyke as he dyd with that other And cryed also hyhe as she myght crye Ha gloryous vyrgyn saynt Clare saue my child kepe hym And yf thow do not I shalle go drowne my self And therwith the neyghbours cam oute and ronnen after the wulf and fonde the child whome the wulf had lefte and an hounde besyde hym lyckynge his woundes For the wulf had fyrst take hym by the heede And after tooke hym by the raynes for the more eselyer to bere hym and the bytyng of his teethe appierid both in the hede and raynes And thenne the moder wente with hym to saynt clares that had soo wel holpen her and broughte with her her neyghbours and shewed the woundes of the child to al them that
wold see them And thanked god and saint Clare that she had her child ageyne rendryd to her Ther was a mayde of the Castel conuary whiche satte on a tyme in a feld And another woman hadde leyd her hede in her lappe And in the mene whyle there cam a wulf whiche was acustomed to renne on the peple And cam to this mayde swalowed the vysage all the mouth And so ranne with her toward the wode And the good woman that rested in her lappe whan she sawe it was moche abasshed and beganne to calle on saynt Clare And sayd helpe helpe saynt Clare and socoure vs I recommāde to the at this tyme this mayde And she whome the wulf bare sayd vnto the wulf Arte not thou aferd to bere me ony ferther that am recommaunded to so grete and worthy lady And with that word that the mayde sayd the wulf al confused and shamed sette softely the mayde doune and fled aweye lyke a theef And soo she was delyuerd Thenne late vs pray vnto thys glorious vyrgyn saynt Clare to be our Aduocate in all our nedes And by the merytes of her we maye so amende our lyf in this world that we may come vnto euerlastynge lyf and blysse in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Clare ¶ Here begynnneth the lyf of saint barbara IN the tyme that maxymyen reygned there was a ryche man a paynym whiche adoured and worshypped the ydolles whiche man was named dyoscorus thys dyoscorus had a yonge doughter whiche was named barbara for whome he dyd doo make an hyghe and stronge toure in which he dyd to kepe and close thys Brbara to the ende that no man shold see hyr by cause of hyr grete beaulte Thenne came many prynces vnto the sayd dyoscorus for to treate with hym for the maryage of hys doughter Whiche wente anone vnto hir sayd my douggter certeyn prynces be comen to me whiche requyre me for to haue the in maryage wherfore telle to me thyn entente and what wylle ye haue to doo Thenne saynt barbara retorned al angrye toward hyr fader and sayd my fader I praye you that ye wyl not constreyne me to marye for therto I haue no wylle ne thoughte After thys he departed fro hir went in to the towne where there was one makyng a cysterne or a pyscyne For he had many werkmen for to perfourme thys werke And also he had tofore ordeyned how he shold paye vnto eche of theym theyr salayre and after this he departed thens and wente in to a ferre contreye where he longe soiourned Thenne saynt barbara the an lle of our lord Ihesu cryste descended fro the toure for to come see the werke of hyr fader and anone she perceyurd that there were but two wyndowes onelye That one ageynste the southe that other ageynste the northe wherof she Was moche abasshed admeruaylled and demaunded of the werkmen why they had not made no moo wyndowes and they answerd that hyr fader had so commaunded and ordeyned ¶ Thenne saynt barbara sayd to them make me here another wyndowe They answerd dame we fere and drede to angre your fader whiche commaunded vs to make no moo ne we dar not therfore make no moo e The blessyd mayde sayd do and make that I commaunde you and I shal contente my fader shal excuse you ageynst hym Thenne dyd they that she commaunded to them by the manere that she enseygned and shewed them whan the holy saynt barbara walked and came vnto the cysterne she made wyth hir fyngre toward thorryent a crosse wyth hyr thombe in the stone of marble the whiche crosse is there yet vnto thys day Whych euery man may see that cometh thyder by deuocyon whan she came vnto the syde where as the water descended in to the sayd cysterne she blessyd it made the signe of the crosse and Incontynente the water was halowed in Whiche al they that Were seek receyued helthe yf they had parfyte byleue in god in the blessed mayde In thys same cysterne was this holy mayde baptysed of an holy man and lyued there certeyn space of tyme in takyng onelye for hyr refeccion hony socles and locustes folowyng the holy precursour of our lord Saynt Iohan baptyste thys cysterne or pyscyne is semblable to the fontayn of Syloe in whyche he that was borne blynde recouerd there hys syght ¶ Hyt is also lyke to the pisyne named robatyca In whyche thympotente by the worde of god was made hole Thyse pyssynes or pecynes ben fontaynes perpetuelles in whiche al manere seek men in what someuer maladye they were greuyd or tormented that wente therin receyued fully theyr helthe In thys fontaygne is lyuyng water and it is the water that the samarytane requyred of our lord to haue of the holy pecyne On a tyme thys blessyd mayde wente vp vpon the toure and there she behelde the ydolles to whiche hir fader sacrefyed and worshypped and sodeynlye she receyued the holy ghoost and became meruayllously subtyl and clere in the loue of Ihesu cryste For she was enuyronned wyth the grace of god almyghty of souereyn glorye and of pure chastyte Thys holy mayde Barbara aourrned wyth feythe surmounted the deuyl for whan she behelde thydolles she cratched them in theyr vysages in despysyng them alle and sayenge alle they ben made lyke vnto you whyche haue made you to erre and alle them that haue affyaunce in you thenne she wente in to the toure and worshepped our lord and whanne the werke was ful parfourmed hyr fader retorned from hys vyage whan he sawe there thre wyndowes he demaunded of the werkemen wherfore haue ye made thre wyndowes they answerd your doughter hath commaūded so Thenne he made his doughter to come afore hym and demaunded hyr why she had do make thre wyndowes and she answerd to hym and sayd I haue doon them to be maad by cause thre wyndowes lyghten alle the world and alle creatures but ij make derkenesse ¶ Thenne hyr fader toke hyr wente doun in to the pyscyne demaundyng hir how thre Wyndowes gyue more lyght thenne two saynt Barbara answerd Thyse thre fenestres or wyndowes betokene clerely the fader the sone and the holy ghoost the whyche ben thre persones one veray god on whome we oughte to byleue and worshyppe Thenne he beyng replenysshed wyth furour Incontynente drewe hys swerde to haue slayne hyr but the holy vyrgyn made hyr prayer and thenne meruayllously she was taken in a stone and borne in to a montaygne on whiche two shepherdes kepte theyr sheep the whiche sawe hyr flee and thenne hir fader Whyche pursewed after hyr wente vnto the sheepherdes and demaunded after hyr And that one whiche wolde haue preserued hyr sayd that he had not seen hyr but that other whyche was an euyl man shewed and poynted hyr wyth his fyngre whome the holy saynt barbara cursyd and anone hys sheep
to receyue the crosse a woman that louyd hym letted hym of his purpoos and drewe hym aweye fro thens with hir hondes and anone hir handes were made styff and harde as a lorde also crokyd And thenne she made grete sorowe and cryed god mercy ful mekely prayed saynt edmond to praye for hyr to ouâ— lord he sayd to hir woman wylte thou take the crosse she sayd ye syr ful fayne thenne she receyued it anone was made parfytely hool she thanked god saynt edmonde for thys myracle moche the more peple toke the crosse And in a tyme as thys holy man prechyd at oxenforde in the chyrcheyerde of al halowen moche peple beyng there to here hym Sodeynlye the weder chaunged wexe alle derke in suche wyse that the peple were agast aferde began faste to flee aweye fro the sermone this holy man sayd to the peple abyde ye stylle here For the power of god is strenger thenne the fendes power For thys he doeth for enuye to dystrouble goddes worde And thenne saynt edmonde lyfte vp his handes his mynde to almyghty god besoughte hym of his mercy grace whan he had ended his oryson his prayer the weder began to wyth drawe by that other syde of the chirche yerde al they that abode stylle meuyd not but herde the prechyng had not one droppe of rayne they that wente aweye fro the prechyng were thorugh wette for there fyl soo moche rayne in the hyghe strete that men myght not goo ne ryde therin Wherfore the peple thanked god hys holy saynt for thys myracle And at wynchester another tyme as he preched there was shewyd a lyke myracle for there he chaced aweye suche a darke wether by hys holy prayer After for his blessyd lyuyng he was chosen to be an hyghe chanon of Salys burye by the chappyter was made comyn tresorer where he lyued full blessydly in gyuyng almesse largely vnto the poure people in so moche that vnnethe he kepte ony thynge for hym self for whiche cause he wente to the abbay of stanley soiourned there tyll his rentys came in the abbot named mayster stephen laxton was somtyme his scoler in oxenford he was a man of grete abstynence ete so lytel mete that men wondred wherby he lyued he ete but selde flesshe Fro shroftyde tyl ester he wold ete no thynge that suffred dethe ne in aduent he ete neuer but lente mete whan tharchebisshop of cauÌ„terburye was dede he was electe chosen by al the couente to be theyr bysshop whiche election was sente to hym by thre messagers to salysburyeâ— But thenne he was at calue whyche was a prebende of his was solitarye in his chambre allone in his prayers and one of his chapeleyns came to hym tolde to hym that he was chosen to be archebysshop of caunterburye that the messagers were comen to hym for the same cause but saynt edmonde was no thynge glad of the tydynges and thenne the messagers came dyd theyr message and delyuerd to hym letters whyche he redde and vnderstood after sayd to the messagers I thanke you of your labour and good wylle but I am no thynge glad of thyse tydynges Notwythstondyng I wyl goo to salysburye take counceyl of my felawes in this matere and anone as he was come he leyde tofore the hole chappyter this mater shewyd to them his letters and alle the chapyter aduysed hym to take it vpon hym he alweye excusyng hym refused it to his power but atte laste the bysshop of salesburye wyth the chappyter commaunded hym by vertu of obedyence that he shold take it on hym and thenne he humbly sore wepyng agreyd to receyue it forth wyth they ladde hym to the hye aulter sange deuoutely Te deum laudamus And alle the whyle thys holy man wepte ful bytterly shedde many a tere prayed deuoutely to our lord to haue mercy on hym and besought our blessyd lady and saynt Iohan euangelyst to praye for hym to helpe hym in his nede and thenne after he was broughte to caunterburye and there in tyme and space was consecrat sâ—alled in to the see of the archebysshop And soo rewlyd the chyrche of englond that al men spake good of hym And he dyd grete penaunce and yaue grete almes to poure peple And on a tyme a poure tenaunte of his deyed and the baylye toke his beste beest for a mortuarye thenne the poure wydowe which had lost hir husbonde also hyr heste beest came to this holy man saynt edmonde and compleyned to hym af hye grete pouerte prayed hym for the loue of god that he wold yeue hir ageyn hir beest he sayd ye knowe wel that the chyef lord must haue the beste beest but yf so be that I delyuer to the ageyn thys beest wylt thou kepe hym wel to my behoof tyl I axe hym ageyn another tyme To whome she said ye syr wyth a good wylle to your plesure or ellys god deffende and praye for you also that ye vouchesauf to do soo moche grace to me a poure wretche thenne he commaunded his bayly to delyuer it to hir and she kepte it after to hyr lyues ende Thys holy man was mercyful to poure peple and ful trewely to his power maynteyned alle the ryght of holy chyrche the deuyl hauyng euer enuye on good werkys sette a debate bytwene the kynge and hym whiche was henry the thyrd sone of kynge Iohan whiche desyred certeyn poyntes ageyn the lybertees of holy chirche but thys good archebysshop wythstood hym to his power prayed the kynge to spare holy chyrche for the loue of god and mayntene theym as he was bounden had promysed but the kynge wold not here hym but expresly dyd certeyn thynges ageynst the ryght of the chirche menaced gretely saynt edmonde whan saynt edmonde sawe the kynge so cruel ageynst the chirche he spake sharpely vnto the kynge atte laste executed the sensures ageynst theym that vexyd it and cursed them that took aweye the lybertees of hit whan the kynge herde of thys cursyng he was gretely moeuyd ageynst saynt edmonde how be it thys holy man was ferme and constaunte in his holy purpoos which was redy to put hys lyf in ieopardye for the right of the chirche and saynt Thomas of caunterburye apperyd to hym and bad hym to mayntene and holde the right of the chyrche to hys power and rather to suffre dethe thenne to lese ony of the lybertees and fraunchyses of holy chyrche lyke as he dyd and after that saynt edmond was more bolde to abyde and mayntene the lybertees of the chyrche and he takyng ensaumple of saynt Thomas how he wente in to fraunce to the ende that tâ—e kyng shold be better dysposed and in lyke wyse dyd saynt edmonde and wente ouer see trustyng to
that two wycked tyrauntes that one named hynguar and that other hubba camen out of denmarke and arryued in the contre of northumberlonde and robbed and destroyed the contre and slewe the peple wythout mercy in euery place where they came Thenne the one of hem named hynguar came in to the contre where thys most cristen saynt edmond reygned and vnderstode that he was in his flowryng age stronge and myghty in batayle and demaunded of the people where theyr kynge was resydente and dwellyd whyche that was moste abydyng in a towne named thenne eglesdon and now is called burye Now the danes had all weye acustom that they wold neuer fyghte batayle sette ne apoynted but euer lye in a wayte how they myght by sleyght and deceyte preuented falle on good crysten men and so slee and destroye them lyke as theuys lye in awayte to robbe and slee good trewe men wherfore whan he knewe where thys holy kynge was he adressyd one of his knyghtes to hym for to espye what strengthe he had and what peple aboute hym and hynguar hym self folowed wyth al his hoost to th ende that sodaynly he shold falle vpon this kyng vnaduysed that he myght subdue hym vnto his lawes and commaundementes Thenne thys sayd knyght came to thys holy kyng saynt edmonde and made hys legacion and message in thys wyse Our most drad lord by londe by see hynguar whiche hath subdued dyuers contrees londes in this prouynce vnto his seygnorye by strengthe of armes purposeth wyth alle his shyppes and armye to wynter hym in thyse marches sendeth to the his commaundemente that thou Incontynente come and make allyaunce and frendshyp wyth hym And that thou departe to hym thy paternal tresours rychesses in suche wyse that thou mayst regne vnder hym Or certeynly thou shalt deye by cruel dethe And whan the blessed kynge Saynt Edmonde had herde this message anone he syghed and called to hym one of his bysshoppes and demaunded counceyl of hym what how he shold answer vpon thys demaunde that was axyd of hym whyche bysshop sore dredyng for the kynges lyf exhorted hym by many exaumples for to consente and agree to this tyraunte hynguar and the kyng a whyle said no thynge but remembryd hym wel after many deuoute wordes atte laste he answerd to the messager in thys wyse and sayd This shalt thou saye to thy lord knowe thou for trouthe that for the loue of temporal lyf the crysten kynge edmonde shal not subdue hym to a paynym duc Thēne vnnethe was the messager gone out but hynguar mette hym bad hym vse shorte wordes and telle hym hys answer whiche message tolde vnto hynguar Anone the cruel tyraūte commaunded to slee alle the people that were wyth saynt edmonde and destroye them but they shold holde and kepe onelye the kynge whome he knewe rebelle vnto his wycked lawes Thenne this holy kynge was taken and bounden hys handes behynde hym and is broughte tofore the duc and after many obprobryes wordes at the laste they ladde hym forthe vnto a tree whiche was therby To whyche tree his aduersaryes bonde hym and thenne shotte arowes at hym so thycke and many that he was thorugh wounded and that one arowe smote out another and alweye thys blessyd kynge cessyd not for alle his woundes to gyue lawde preysyng vnto almyghty god Thenne thys wycked tyraunte commaunded that they shold smyte of his heed whiche they so dyd he alwey prayeng and sayeng his orysons to our lord god Thenne the danes lefte the body there lyeng and toke the hede bare it in to the thycke of the wood hyd it in the thyckest place emonge thornes and brerys to th ende that it shold not be founden of the crysten men but by the purueaunce of almyghty god there came a wulfe whiche dylygently kepte the holy hede fro deuowryng of beestys and fowles And after whan the danes were departed the crysten men fonde the body but they coude not fynde the heed wherfore they sought it in the wood as one of them spake to another where arte thou whiche were in the thycke of the 〈◊〉 and cryed where arte thou 〈◊〉 heed answerd and sayd here here here and anone thenne alle they came thyder and sawe it and also a grete wulfe syttyng enbracyng the heed betwene his forleggys kepyng it fro alle other beestys and thenne anone they toke the heed and brought it vnto the body and sette it to the place where it was smyten of and anone they ioyned to gyder and thenne they bare thys holy body vnto the place where it is now buryed the wulfe folowed humbly the body tyl it was buryed and thenne he hurtyng no body retorned ageyn to the wood and the blessyd body and heed ben so ioyned to gyder that there apperyth no thynge that it had be smyten of saufe as hyt were a reed shynyng threde in the place of the departyng where the heed was smyten of in that place where he now lyeth so buryed is a noble monastarye made and therin monkes of the ordre of saynt benette whiche been richely endowed In whyche place almyghty god hath shewed many myracles for this holy kynge and marter ¶ Thus endeth the lyf and passyon of saint edmond kyng and marter Here foloweth of saint Cecyle vyrgyne and marter fyrste of hyr name CEcylle is as moche to say as the lyle of heuen or a waye to blynde men Or she is sayd of celo and lya or ellys cecilia as lackyng blyndenes Or she is sayd of celo that is heuen and leos that is peple she was an heuenly lyle by clennes of vyrgynyte a weye to blynde men by Informacion of example heuen by deuoute contemplacion lya by besy operacyon lackyng blyndenes by shynyng of wysedom and heuen of the people ¶ For the people behelde in hyr as in folowyng the spyrytuel heuen the sonne the mone and the sterrys that is to say shynyng of wysedom magnanymytee of feythe and dyuersyte of vertues Or she is sayd a lylye for she had the whytenes of clennesse a good concience and adoure of good fame Or she is sayd heuen for ysodore saith that the phylosopres sayen that heuen is meuable rounde and brennyng In lyke wyse was she moeuyng by besy operacion rounde by perseueraūce and brennyng by fyry charyte ¶ Of saint Cecillye SAynt cecillye the holy vyrgyn was comen of the noble lygnage of the Romayns and fro the tyme that she laye in hir cradle she was fostrid and nourisshed in the feythe of cryste and alle weye bare in hir breste the gospel hyd and neuer cessyd day ne nyght from holy prayers but recommaunded to god all weye hir vyrgynyte and whan thys blessyd vyrgyne shold be spoused to a yonge man named valeryan the day of weddyng was comen was cladde in ryal clothes of golde but vnder she ware the hayre and she heeryng
persone of symon and shold reuoke the wordes that he had sayd and yf he sayd that he was symon that was not as towchyng the trouthe But vnto the apparence and lykenesse Thenne fastynyen sayd I am Symon as who sayth I am lyke vnto Symon and was supposed to be symon of the peple Thenne thys olde man faustynyen wente in to antyoche and assemblyd she peple and sayd I Symon shewe to you and confesse that I haue deceyued you of all that I haue sayd of Peter thappostle for he is no traytre ne enchauntour but is sente for the helthe of the world wherfore yf euer I herafter shal say ony thynge ageynst hym that ye take me as a trayter wycked and put me aweye fro you for I do now penauÌ„ce for that I knowleche me to haue said falsely and euyl of hym I warne you therfore that ye byleue in hym that ye ne your cite perysshe not and whan he had sayd thys that peter had commaunded hym and had styred the peple in to the loue of peter saynt peter came to hym and made his prayer and after toke aweye fro hym the lykenes of symon and be came in his naturell lykenesse Thenne al the peple of antyoche receyued debonayrlye saynt Peter and with grete honour enhaunced hym and sette hym in a chayer as a bysshop And whan symon magus herde thys he came and gadred the people to gyder and sayd I meruayle whan I haue enseygned and taugkte you the commaundementes of helthe and haue warned you that ye shold kepe you fro the trayter Peter and ye haue not onely herde hym but ye haue enhaunced hym and haue sette hym in the chayer of a bysshop Thenne al the people aroos in a grete furye ageynst hym and sayden Thou arte no thynge but a monstre thou saydest that other day that thou repentedest of that thou haddest sayd ageynste saynt Peter and now thou woldest ouerthrowe vs and thy selfe And al attones they roos ageynst hym and caste hym out of the towne alle thyse thynges saynt clemente telleth of hym self in his book and hath sette in it thys hystorye After thys whan saynt peter came to rome sawe that his passyon approched he ordeyned clemente to be bysshop after hym And whan saynt peter prynce of thappostles was dede Clemente whyche was a man pourueyed and tâ—ke hede of the tyme to come so that leest by his ensaumple euery bysshop wold chese a successour after hym in the chyrche of our lord and so possede the see of god by herytage he gaue it ouer to lyue and afterward to clete and after theym clemente was chosen and compellyd to take it vpon hym wherin he shone by vertuous lyuyng good maners that he pleasyd wel vnto the Iewes crysten men and paynyms He had the poure peple wryton by name of eueryche relygyon for to gyue to theym theyr necessyte he louyd moche poure peple and them that he sayntefyed by baptesme he suffryd them not to begge comynly and whan he had sacred a damoysel wyth a veylle whyche was a vyrgyne and nece of domycien the emperour and had conuerted to the feyth Theodore wyf of sysynne frende of the emperour and she had promysed to be in purpose of chastyte Sysynne had doubte of his wyf and entred after hir in to the chirche preuyly for to knowe what she vsed to doo there and whan saynt clemente had sayd the orryson and the people had answerd amen Sysynne was made deef and blynde and he sayd to his seruauntes brynge me hens and lede me out and they ledde hym rounde aboute the chirche and coude not come to the dores ne gates and whan theodore sawe theym erryng soo she wente to the fyrst dore wenyng that hir husbond had knowen hir and after she axed of the seruauntes what they dyd And they sayd to hir our mayster wold here see that was not leeful and therfore he is maad bothe blynde and deef And thenne sle gafe hir self to prayer and prayed god that hyr husbonde myght goo out fro thens and after hir prayers she sayd to the seruauntes goo ye hens and brynge my lord home to his hows they went broughte hym thyder and theodore wente vnto saynt clemente and tolde to hym what was happenyd and thenne thys holy man came to hym and fonde hys eyen open but he saw not ne herde no thynge Thenne saynt clemente prayed for hym and anone he receyued his syght and his heeryng and whan he sawe clemente stondyng by his wyf he was wode and supposed that he had been Illuded by arte magyke commaunded his seruauntes to holde faste Clemente he hath made me blynde by arte magyke for to come to my wyf and commaunded to his mynystres that they shold bynde clemente so drawe hym and they bonde the pylors and stones wenyng to sysynne that they had bounden saynt clemente and hys werkys and drawen them forth Thenne clemente sayd to sysynne by cause thou worshyppest stones for goddes and trees therfore hast thou deseruyd to drawe stones and trees he whyche supposed hym to be bounden verayly sayd I shal doo slee the and thenne clemente departed he prayed theodore that she shold not cesse to pray tyl that our lord had vysyted hyr husbond Thenne saynt peter apperyd to theodore prayeng ande sayd to hyr Thy husbond shal be saued by the for to accomplysshe that that poule my broder sayth The man myscreaunte shal be saued by his trewe wyf And this sayeng he vanysshed aweye and anone sysynne callyd his wyf to hym and prayed hir to praye for hym and that she shold calle to hym saynt clemente and whan he was comen he was Instructe in the feythe and was baptysed wyth thre hondred and xiij of his mayne and many noble men and frendes of themperour byleueden in our lord by thys sysynne Thenne the erle of the sacrefyses gaue moche money and moeuyd grete treson and dyscorde ageynst saynt clemente Thenne mamertyn prouoste of the cyte of rome myght not suffre this dyscorde but made saynt clemente to be brought tofore hym and as he repreuyd and assayed to drawe hym to his lawe clemente sayd to hym I wold wel rather that thou woldest come to reason For yf many dogges haue barked ageynst vs and haue byten vs yet they may not take fro vs but that we be men resonable and they ben houndes dysresonable This dyscencyon whiche is moeuyd it shewyth that it hath no certeyn ne trouthe and thenne mamertyn wrote vnto traian emperour of clemente and he had answer that he shold doo sacrefyse or to be exyled in to the deserte that was beyonde the cyte ouer the see Thenne the prouoste sayd to hym wepyng thy god whome thou worshyppest purely he helpe the Thenne the prouoste delyuerd to hym a shyppe and alle thynge necessarye to hym and many clerkes and laye peple folowed hym in exyle the prouoste fonde in that yle
Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Grysogone and fyrste of hys name GRysogone may be sayd of gonos in Greke whiche is as moche to say as aungel For he was wythout aungel of worldly malyce or he is sayd of gonos whiche is as moche to saye as a lâ—der For he ledde moche people to the waye of a trouthe by hys ensaumple ¶ Of saynt grisogone GRisogone was taken and sette in pryson by the commaundemente of Dyoclesyan saynt anastase fedde hym and gaue to hym mete and drynke to lyue by wherfore hir husbond was put in to a strayte pryson she sente to grysogone whiche had enformed hyr in the feythe of Ihesu crist in wrytyng thys that foloweth To the holy confessour of cryste Grysogone I anastasâ— haue taken the yoke of a wycked husbond by the mercy of god I haue eschewed his bedde by fayned and dyssymyled Infyrmyte haue nyght and day embraced the stappes of our lord Ihesu cryste my husbond hath taken aweye my patrymonye of whiche he is ennoblysshed and setteth it on fowle ydolles and hath put me in pryson as a cursed enchaunteresse for to make me to lese my lyf temporel So there bleueth nomore but I that am seruaunte to the spyrite may lye doun and deye In whiche dethe I glorefye my self but I am gretely troubelyd in my mynde that my rychessls whiche I had ordeyned to god been wasted and spente in fowle thynges fare wel seruaunte of god remembre me To whome saynt grysogone answerde ageyn by wrytyng see that thou be not angred ne troubled for ony thynge that is doon to the foloneslye in thy lyf though it be contrarye vnto the thou mayste not be dysceyued yf thou be preuyd a tyme paysyble shal come to the anon for after this derknes thou shalt see anone she florysshed light of god after this colde tyme of froste and yce there shal come to the the softe swete tyme Fare wel be wyth god and praye for me and as thys blessyd anastase was thus constreyned in suche wise that vnnethe ony brede was gyuen to hyr in foure dayes and that she supposed she shold haue deyed She wrote a pystle to hym in thys wyse To the confessour of crist grysogone anastase the ende of my tyme is comen remembre me So that whan the sowle shal departe from me that he receyue it for whos loue I suffre thyse thynges whyche thou shalt here by the mowthe of this olde woman To whome he wrote ageyn It apperteyneth alwey that derkenes goo tofore the lyght In lyke wyse after sekenes and Infyrmyte helth shal retorne and lyf is promysed after deth Alle aduersytees and prosperytees of thys world been enclosed by one ende by cause desperacion shold haue no domynacyon on the sorowful ne elacyon ne pryde shold not domyne on theym that been glad and ioyeful There is but one see in whych the shyp of our lady saylleth and our sowles vse the offyse of maronners vnder the gouernaunce of the body the shippes whiche ben fastenyd and bounden wyth stronge chaynes passen wel wythout ony brekyng thorugh the stronge wawes of the see and somme shyppes there been that haue brutyl and feble ioyntures of trees and falle ofte in peryll to be drowned but thou handmayde of Ihesu cryste haue in thy mynde the vyctorye of the crosse and make the redy to the werke of god and thenne dyoclesyan whiche was in the partyes of aquyle and slewe other crysten men commaunded that grysogone shold be broughte tofore hym to whom he sayd Take the power of the prouoste and the consulate of thy lygnage and doo sacrefyse to the goddes And he answerd I adoure worshyp one onely god of heuen and I despyse thy dygnytees as fylthe or myre and thenne sentence was gyuen vpon hym and was brought in to a place where he was byheded aboute the yere of our lord two hondred lxxx and seuen whos body saynt Zeyle the preest buryed and the heed also Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Grisogone Here foloweth the lyf of saint Katheryne virgyn and marter And first of hir name KAtheryne is said of catha that is al ruyna that is fallyng for alle the edefyce of the deuyl fyl al fro hir for the edefyce of pryde fyl fro hyr by humylyte that she had and thedefyce of flesshly desyre fyl fro hir by hir virgynyte worldly couetyse for she despysed al worldly thynges Or katheryne may be sayd as a lytel chayne for she made a chayne of good werkys by whiche she mounted in to heuen and this chayne or ladder had foure grees or stappes whiche been Innocence of werke clennesse of body despysyng of vanyte and sayeng of trouthe whiche the prophete putteth by ordre where he sayth Quis ascendet in mon tem domini Innocens manibus Who shal ascende in to the montayn of our lord that is heuen he answereth The Innocence of his handes he that is clene in his herte he that hath not taken in vayne his sowle and he that hath not sworen in fraude and deceyte to his neyghbour And it apperyth in hyr legende how thyse four degrees were in hyr KAtheryn by discent of lyne was of the noble lygnage of themperours of Rome as it shal be declared more playnelye herafter by a notable cronycle whos moste blessyd lyf and conuersacyon wrote the solempne doctour anathasius whiche knewe hir lygnage hyr lyf For he was one of hir maysters in hir tender age or she was conuerted to the cristen feythe and after the sayd anathasius by hir prechyng meruaillous werkys of our lord was conuerted also Whiche after hir marterdom was made bysshop of Alysaunder And a gloryous pyler of the chirche by the grace of god and merytes of Saynt katheryne And as we fynde by credyble cronycles In the tyme of dyoclesyan and maxymyen was grete cruel tyrannye shewyd in al the world as wel to crysten men as to paynyms Soo that many that were subgette to Rome put aweye the yocke of seruage and rebellyd openlye ageynst th empyre Emonge whome the royame of armonye was one that wythstood most the trybute of the romayns wherfore they of Rome deputed a noble man of dygnyte named constancius whiche was tofore other a valyaunt man in armes dyscrete and vertuous the which lord after he came in to ermonye anone subdued them by his dyscrete prudence deseruyd to haue the loue and fauour of his enemyes in so moche that he was desyred to marye the doughter of the kynge whiche was sole heyre of the royame and he consentyd and maryed hir sone after the kynge hir fader deyed and thenne constancius was enhaunced and crowned kynge whyche sone after had a sone by his wyf named costus at the byrthe of whome his moder deyed after the dethe of whome constancius retorned to rome to see the emperour and to knowe how his lord shyppes were gouerned in tho partyes and in
the mene tyme tydynges came to rome how that grete brytaygne whiche now is called englond rebellyd ageynst the empyre wherfore by the aduys of the consulate it was concluded that constancius kynge of ermonye shold goo in to brytaygne to subdue them whiche adressyd hym thyder in shorte tyme after he entryd in to the londe by his prowesse and wysdom he appeasyd the royame and subdued it ageyn to the empyre of Rome And also he was so acceptable to the kynge of brytayne named coel that he maryed his doughter heleyne whyche afterward fonde the holy crosse And in shorte tyme he gate on hir constantyn whyche after was Emperour And thenne sone after deyed constancyus and constantyn after the dethe of kynge Coel by his moder was crowned kynge of brytaygne And costus the fyrste sone of constancyus wedded the kynges doughter of cypre whyche was heyre of whom as shal be here after was engendred Saynt katheryne whiche came of the lignage of constancyus Now foloweth the lyf of saint Katheryne IN the yere of our lord two hondred regned in cypre a noble and prudent kynge named costus which was a noble semely man ryche and of good condycyons and had to his wyf a quene lyke to hym self in vertuous gouernaunce whiche lyued to gyder prosperously but after the lawe of paynyms and worshypped ydolles Thys kynge by cause he loued renommâ—e wold haue his name spradde thorugh the world he founded a cyte in whyche he edefyed a temple of his false goddes named that cyte after his name costy whiche after to encrece his fame the peple named it fama costi and yet in to thys day is called famagous in whiche cytee he and the quene lyued in grete welthe and prosperyte and lyke as the fayr rose spryngeth emonge the brerys and thornes Right soo betwene thyse two paynyms was brought forth thys blessyd vyrgyn saynt katheryne and whan this holy virgyn was borne she was so fayr of vysage and so wel formed in hir membrys that alle the peple enioyed in hir beaute and whan she came to vij yere of age anone after she was sette to scole where she prouffyted moche more thenne ony other of hir age and was enformed in the artes lyberal wherin she dranke plenteuously of the welle of wysdom for she was chosen to be a techer enformer of euerlastyng wysdom The kynge costus hir fader had soo grete ioye of the grete towardnes and wysdom of his doughter that he lete ordeyne a toure in hys paleys with dyuers studyes and chambres in which she myght be at hir plesure and also at hir wylle and also he ordeyned for to wayte on hir seuen the best maisters and wysest in connyng that myght be goten as in tho partyes and wythin a whyle they that came to teche hir they after that lerned of hyr and became hir dyscyples and whan thys vyrgyne came to the age of xiiij yere hir fader kynge cosâ—us deyed thenne she was lefte as quene heyre after hym and thenne the estates of the londe came to this yonge lady katheryne and desyred hir to make a parlemente in whiche she myght be crowned and receyue the homage of hyr subgettes and that suche rule myghte be sette in hir begynnyng that pees prosperyte myght ensyewe in hir royame and thys yonge mayde grauÌ„ted to them theyr askynge and whan the parlamente was assemblyd and the yonge quene crowned with grete solempnyte and she syttyng on a day in hir parlamente and hyr moder by hir with al the lordes eche in his place a lord aroos by thassente of hir moder the other lordes and comyns knelid doun tofore hir sayeng thyse wordes Ryght hyghe and myghty pryncesse and our moste souerayn lady please it you to wyte that I am commaunded by the quene your moder by alle the lordes comyns of thys your royame to requyre your hyenes that it may plese you to graunte to them that they myght prouyde soÌ„me noble kyng or prynce to marye you to th ende that he myght rule and deffende your royame and subgettes lyke as your fader dyd before you and also that of you myght procede noble lygnage whyche after you may reygne vpon vs whiche thynge we moste desyre and herof we desyre your good answer This yonge quene katheryne heeryng thys request was abasshed troubled in hir corage how she myght answer to contente hir moder the lordes and hir subgettes and to kepe hyr self chaste For she had concluded to kepe hir virgynyte and rather to suffre deth than to defoule it and thenne wyth a sadde chere and meke loke she answeryd in thys wyse Cosyn I haue wel vnderstonde your requeste and thanke my moder the lordes and my subgettys of the greâ—e loue that they alle haue to me to my royame as touchyng my maryage I truste verayly there may be no peryll consyderyng the grete wysedom of my lady my moder and of the lordes wyth the good obeysauÌ„ce of the comyns trustyng in their good contynuaunce wherfore we nede not to seke a straunger for to rule vs and our royame for wyth your good assystaunce and ayde we hope to rule gouerne kepe this our royame in good Iustyce pees and reste in lyke wyse as the kynge my fader helde you in Wherfore at thys tyme I praye you to be contente and to cesse of thys matere and lete vs procede to suche maters as ben requesyte for the rule gouernauÌ„ce and vnyuersal wele of thys royame and whan this yonge quene katheryn had achyeued hir answer The quene hir moder and al the lordes were abasshed of hir wordes and wyst not what to say for they consyderyd wel by hyr wordes that she had no wylle to be maryed and thenne there aroos stood vp a duc whiche was hir vncle and with due reuerence sayd to hir in thys wyse My souerayn lady sauyng your hygh and noble dyscrescion this answer is ful heuy to my lady your moder and to vs al your humble lyege men wythout ye take better aduys to your noble corage wherfore I shal moeue to you of four notable thynges that the grete god hath endowed you before al other creatures that we know which thynges ought to cause you to take a lord to your husbond to th ende that tho plentyuous yeftes of nature and grace may sprynge of you by geeracion whiche may sucorde by ryght lygne to reygne vpon vs to the grete comforte and ioye of alle your peple subgettes the contrarye shold torne to grete sorowe and heuynesse Now good vncle sayd she what been thyse iiij notable thynges that so ye repute in vs madame sayd he the fyrst is this that we be acerteyned that ye be comen of the moste noble blode in the world the second that ye be a grete enherytour and the grettest that lyueth of woman to our knowleche the third that is that ye in science connyng and
wysdom passe alle other the fourth is in bodely shappe and beaute there is none lyke to you wherfore madame vs thynke that thyse four notable thynges must nedys constreyne you to enclyne to our requeste Thenne sayd thys yonge quene katheryne wyth a sadde countenaunce Now vncle sythe god nature haue wrought soo grete vertues in vs we been soo moche more bounden to loue and to plese hym and we thanke hym humbly of his grete and large yeftes but sythe ye desyre so moche that we shold consente to be maryed we lete you playnelye wyte that lyke as ye haue descryued vs so wyl we descryue hym that we wyll haue to our lord and husbond and yf ye can gete suche one we wyl agree to take hym wyth alle our herte For he that shal be lord of myn herte and myn husbond shal haue tho four notable thynges in hym ouer al mesure Soo ferforthly that al creatures shall haue nede of hym and he nedeth of none and he that shal be my lord must be of so noble blood that al men shal do to hym worshyp and therwyth so grete a lord that I shal neuer thynke that I made hym a kyng and so riche that he passe al other in rychesses And so ful of beaute that aūgellys haue ioye to beholde hym and so pure that his moder be a virgyne and soo meke and benygne that he can gladly foryeue al offencys do on vnto hym Now I haue descryued to you hym that I wyl haue and desyre to my lord and to my husbond goo ye and seke hym and yf ye can fynde suche one I wyl be his wyf with al myn herte yf he vouche sauf to haue me fynally but yf ye fynde suche one I shal neuer take none and take thys for a fynal answer and wyth this she cast doun hir eyen mekelye and helde hir stylle and whan the quene his moder the lordes herde this they made grete sorowe and heuynesse for they sawe well that there was no remedye in that matere Thenne sayd hir moder to hyr wyth an angry voys alas doughter is this your grete wysedom that is talked so ferre moche sorowe be ye lyke to doo to me and al youres alas who sawe euer woman forge to hir suche an husbond wyth suche vertues as ye done For suche one as ye haue deuysed 〈◊〉 was neuer none ne neuer shal be and therfore doughter leue thys foly◠and doo as your noble elders 〈◊〉 doon tofore you and thenne sayd 〈◊〉 yonge Quene Katheryne vnto 〈◊〉 moder wyth a pieteous syghyng Madame I wote wel by veray reason that there is one moche better than I can deuyse hym and but he by hys grace fynde me I shal neuer haue ioye For I fele by grete reason that there is a weye that we ben clene out of and we ben in derkenes and tyl the light of grace come we may not see the clere waye and whan hit pleaseth hym to come he shal auoyde alle derkenes of the clowdes of ygnoraunce and shewe hym clerely to me whome my herte soo feruentelye desyreth and loueth And yf it so be that he lyste not that I fynde hym yet reason commaundeth me to kepe hole that is vnhurte wherfore I beseche you mekely my lady moder that ye ne none other moeue me more of this matere for I promyse you playnly that for to deye therfore I shal neuer haue other husbond but onely hym that I haue descryued To whome I shal trewely kepe me wyth al the pure loue of myn herte wyth thys she aroos and hir moder alle the lordes of the parlamente with grete sorowe and lamentacion and takyng their leue departed and thys noble yonge katheryne wente to hir paleys whos herte was sette a fyre vpon this husbond that she had deuysed that she coude do no thynge but al hir mynde and entente was sette on hym contynuelly mused how she myght fynde hym but she coude not fynde the meane how wel he was nyghe to hyr herte that she soughte For he had kyndled a brennyng loue which coude neuer after be quenched for no payne ne trybulacyon as it apperyd in hyr passyon But now I leue thys yonge quene in hyr contemplacion shal say you as ferre as god wyl gyue me grace how that our lord by hys specyal myracle called hir vnto baptesme in a specyal manere suche as hath not be herde of before ne sythe also how she was vysybly maryed to our lord in shewyng to her souerayn tokenes of synguler loue Thenne besyde alysaunder a certeyn space of myles dwelled an holy fader an hermyte in deserte named adryan whyche had seruyd our lord contynuelly by the space of thyrty yere in grete penaunce and on a day as he walked before his celle beyng in hys holy medytacions there came ageynst hym the moste reuerent lady that euer ony erthely creature myght beholde whan this holy man behelde hir hyghe estate and excellent beaute which was aboue nature he was sore abasshed and so moche astonyed that he fyl doun as he had be dede Thenne this blessyd lady seyng this called hym by hys name goodly and sayd brother adryan drede ye no thynge for I am come to you for your good honour and prouffyte and wyth that she toke hym vp mekelye comfortyng hym sayd in this wyse Adryan ye must goo in a message for me in to the cyte of alysaundre to the paleys of the quene katheryne and say to hir that the lady saleweth hir whos sone she hath chosen to hyr lord and husbond syttyng in hir parlamente with hir moder and lordes aboute hir where she had a grete conflycte and bataylle to kepe hir vyrgynyte and saye to hyr that thylke same lord whom she chaas is my sone that am a pure vyrgyne and he desyreth hir beaute and loueth hir chastyte emonge alle the virgynes on the erthe I commaunde hyr without taryeng that she come wyth the allone vnto this paleys where as she shal be newe clothed thenne shall she see hym and haue hym to hir euer lastyng spouse Thenne adryane heeryng this sayd dredefully in thys wyse a blessyd lady how shal I doo this message for I knowe not the cyte ne the waye thyder and who am I though I knewe it to doo suche a message to the quene For hyr meyne wyl not suffre me to comme to hyr presence and though I came to hyr she wyl not byleue me but put me in duresse as I were a faytour Adryan sayd this blessyd lady drede ye not for that my sonne hath begonne in hyr must be perfourmed for she is a chosen vessel of specyal grace before alle wymmen that lyuen but goo forth ye shal fynde no lettyng and entre in to hir chambre for thaungel of my lord shal lede you thyder and brynge you bothe hyther saufelye Thenne he mekely obeyeng wente forth in to
dore where as she sawe our sauyour Ihesu cryste with a grete multitude of aungellys whos beaute is Impossyble to be thoughte or wryton of erthely creature of whos syght this blessyd vyrgyne was fulfylled with so grete swetenesse that it can not be expressyd To whome our blessyd lady benygnely sayd Moste souerayn honour ioye and glorye be to you kynge of blysse my lord my god and my sone loo I haue brought here vnto your blessyd presence your humble seruaunte ancylle katheryne whiche for your loue hath refused al erthely thynges and hath at my sendyng obeyed to come hyther hopyng and trustyng to receyue that I promysed to hir Thenne our blessyd lord toke vp his moder and sayd moder that whiche pleseth you pleseth me and your desyre is myn For I desyre that she be knytte to me by maryage emonge al the virgynes of the erthe and sayd to hir katheryne come hyther to me and assone as she herde hym nempne hir name so grete a swettenes entred in to hir sowle that she was as al rauysshed therwyth our lord yafe to hir a newe strengthe which passyd nature said to hir come my spouse yeue to me your hande there our lord espoused hir in ioynyng hym self to hir by spirituel maryage promysyng euer to kepe hir in all hyr lyf in this world after this lyf to regne perpetuelly in his blysse in token of this set a rynge on hir fyngre which he commaūded hir to kepe in remēbraūce of this said drede ye not my dere spouse I shal not departe fro you but al weye comforte and strengthe you Thenne sayd this newe espouse o blessyd lord I thanke you with alle myn herte of alle your grete mercyes besechyng you souerayn lord to make me dygne and worthy to be thy seruaunte and handmayde and to plese you whome my herte loueth and desyreth aboue alle thynges and thus thys gloryous maryage was maad wherof al the celestyal courte ioyed and songen thys verce in heuen Sponsus amat sponsam saluator visitat illam wyth soo grete melodye that no herte may expresse ne thynke it Thys was a gloryous and synguler maryage to whiche was neuer none lyke before in erthe wherfore thys gloryous virgyne katheryne ought to be honowred lawded praysed emonge alle the vyrgynes that euer were in erthe and thenne our blessyd lord after this maryage sayd vnto the blessyd katheryne Now the tyme is come that I muste departe vnto the place that I came fro wherfore what that ye wyl desyre I am redy to graunte to you and after my departyng ye muste abyde here wyth olde adryan x dayes tyl ye be perfytely enformed in alle my lawes and wylle And whan ye shal be comen home ye shal fynde your moder deed but drede ye not for ye were neuer myssed there in al this tyme For I ordeyned there one in your stede that alle men wene it were your self and whan ye come home she that is there in your stede shal voyde Now fare wel my dere spouse and thenne she cryed wyth a ful pyteous voys A my souerayne lord god and al the ioye of my sowle haue euer mynde on me and wyth that he blessyd hir and vanysshed aweye from hir syght and thenne for sorowe of his departyng she fyl in a swowne so that she laye stylle a large houre wythout ony lyf and thenne was adryan a sory man and cryed vpon hir so longe that at the laste she came to hir self and reuyued lyfte vp hir eyen and sawe noo thynge aboute hir saufe an olde celle and the olde man adryan by hyr wepynge For al the ryalte was voyded bothe monasterye and paleys and al the comfortable syghtes that she had seen And specyally he whiche was cause of all hir ioye and comforte and thēne she sorowed morned and wepte vnto the tyme that she sawe the rynge on hir fyngre and for ioye therof yet she swowned and after she kyssed it a thousand sythes with many a pyteous tere and thenne adryan comforted hir the best wyse he couthe wyth many a blessyd exortacion and the blessyd virgyne katheryne toke al his comfortes and obeyed hym as to hyr fader and dwellyd with hym the tyme that our lord had assygned hir tyl she was suffycyently taughte al that was nedeful to hir and thenne she wente home to hir paleys and gouerned hir holyly in conuertyng many creatures to the cristen feythe of Ihesu cryste on whom al hir ioye was hooly sette and euer he was in hyr mynde so dwellyd stylle in hyr paleys neuer ydle but euer contynued in the seruyce of our lord ful of charite where a whyle I lete hir dwelle fulfylled of vertues and grace as the dere and synguler sponse of almyghty god And thenne in this mene tyme maxencyus that was thenne emperour and vycyous to goddes lawe and cruell tyraunte consyderyd the noble and ryal cyte of alysaunder and came thyder and assemblyd al the peple ryche poure for to make sacrefise to thydolles and the crysten men that wolde not make sacrefyse he lete slee this holy virgyne was at that tyme xviij yere of age dwellyng in hir paleys ful of rychesses and of seruauntes allone wythout parentes and kynne herde the brayeng and noyse of beestys the ioye that they made and songe and meruaylled what it myght be sente one of hir seruauntes hastelye to enquyre what it was and whan she knewe it she toke sōme of the peple of hir paleys garnysshed hyr with the signe of the crosse went thyder and fonde there many cristen men to be ledde to do sacrefyse for fere of dethe thēne was she strongely troubeled for sorowe and wente forthe hardely to the emperour and sayd in thys wyse And thenne demaunded they for what cause they were callyd from soo ferre partyes and the emperour answerd and sayd 〈…〉 a mayden none comparable to hyr in wytte and wysdom whyche confoundeth alle wyse men and she sayth that our goddes ben deuylles and yf ye surmounte hem by honoure I shall sende you ageyn in to your contreye wyth ioye And one of them had herof despyte and sayd by dysdayn thys is a worthy counceyl of an emperour that for one mayde yonge and fraylle he hath doon assemble so many sages and fro so ferre contrees and one of our clerkys or scolers may ouercome hyr and the kynge sayd to them I may wel by strengthe constreygne hyr to sacrefyse but I had leuer that she were ouercomen by your argumentes Thenne sayd they lete hyr be broughte tofore vs and whan she shal be ouercomen by folye she may knowe that she neuer sawe wyse man and whan the virgyn knewe the stryffe of the dysputacion that she abode She commaunded hir al vnto our lord and an aungel cam to hir and sayd that she shold kepe hir fermelye for she shold not be vaynquysshed but she
shold surmounte them and sende them to marterdom and whan she was broughte tofore the maysters and oratours she sayd to the emperour what Iugement is this to sette fyfty oratours and maysters ageynst one mayde and to promyse to theym grete rewardes for their victorye and compellest me to duspute wyth them wythoute hope of ony rewarde and god IhÌ„u crist which is veray guerdon of them that stryuen for hym shal be onelye wyth me and he shal be my rewarde for he is the hope and crowne of them that fyghte for hym and whan the maysters had sayd that it was Impossyble that god was made man ne that he had suffred deth the vyrgyne shewyd to them that the paynyms had sayd it tofore that he was made For plato sayd god to be alle rounde and to be slayne and Sybylle sayd thus that the ylke god shold be blessyd happy that shold hange on the crosse and whan the vyrgyne had right wysely dysputed wyth the maysters and that she had confounded theyr goddes by open reasons they were abasshed and wyste not what to saye but were al stylle And themperour was replenysshed wyth felonye ageynst theym and began to blame theym by cause they were ouercomen soo fowlly of one mayde and thenne one that was mayster aboue al the other sayd to the emperour knowe thou syr emperour that neuer was there ony that myght stonde ageynst vs but that anone he was ouercomen But thys mayde in whome the spyryte of god speketh hath soo conuerted vs that we can not saye ony thynge ageynste Ihesu cryste ne we may not ne dare not wherfore syr emperour we knowleche that but yf that thou mayste brynge forth a more prouable sentence of them that we haue worshypped hytherto that al we be conuerted to Ihesu cryste and whan the tyrauÌ„te herde this thyng he was esprysed with grete wodenesse and commaunded that they alle shold be brente in the myddes of the cytee And the holy vyrgyne comforted them and maad them constaunte to marterdom and enformed dylygentlye in the feythe and by cause they doubted that they shold deye without baptesme the vyrgyne sayd to theym Doubte ye no thynge for theffusyon of our blood shal be reputed to you for baptesme and garnysshe you with the sygne of the crosse and ye shal be crowned in heuen And whan they were caste in to the flammes of fyre they rendryd theyr sowles vnto god and neyther heer ne clothe of them had none harme ne were hurte by the fyre And whan the crysten men had buryed them the Tyraunte spake vnto the vyrgyne and sayd a ryght noble lady vyrgyne haue pyte of thy yongthe and thou shalte be chyef in my paleys nexte the quene and thyn ymage shal be sette vp in the myddes of the cyte shal be adoured of alle the people as a goddesse To whome the virgyn sayd leue to saye suche thynges For it is euyll to thynke hit I am gyuen and maryed to Ihesu cryste he is my spouse he is my glorye he is my loue and he is my swetnes there may noo fayr wordes ne no tormentes calle me fro hym and thenne he beyng ful of wodenesse commaunded that she shold be despoyled naked and beten wyth scorpyons and so beten to be 〈◊〉 in a derke pryson and there was tormented by hongre by the space of twelue dayes and themperour wente out of the contreye for certeyn causes and the quene was esprysed with grete loue of the virgyne and wente by nyght to the prison with porphyrye the prynce of knyghtes and whan the quene entryd she sawe the pryson shynyng by grete clerenesse and aungellys enoyntyng the woundes of the holy vyrgyne katheryne and thenne Saynt katheryne began to preche to the quene the ioyes of paradys and conuertyd hyr to the feythe and sayd to hir that she shold receyue the crowne of marterdom and thus spake they to gyder tyl mydnyÈt and whan porphyrye had herde al that she had sayd he fyl doun to hyr feet and receyued the feythe of Ihesu cryste wyth two hondred knyghtes and by cause the tyraunte had commaunded that she shold be twelue dayes without mete and drynke Ihesu cryst sente to hir a whyte dowue whiche fedde her with mete celestyal after this Ihesu cryst apperyd to hir with a grete multitude of aungellis and virgynes and sayd to hir doughter knowe thy maker for whome thou haste emprysed this trauayllous bataylle be thou constante for I am with the and whan themperour was retorned he commaunded hir to be brought tofore hym and whan he sawe hir so shynyng whome he supposed to haue ben tormented by grete famyne fastyng and supposed that somme had fedde hir in pryson was fulfylled wyth furour and commaunded to tormente the kepars of the pryson and she sayd to hym veraylye I toke neuer sythe mete of man but Ihesu cryste hath fedde me by hys aungel I praye the sayd themperour sette at thyn herte this that I admoneste the and answer not by doutable wordes we wyl not holde the as a chamberer but thou shalt tryumple as a quene in my royame in beaulte enhaunced To whome the blessyd vyrgyne katheryne sayd vnderstonde I praye the and Iuge trewely whome ought I better to chese of thyse two or the kyng puyssaunt pardurable glorious and fayre or one seek vnstedfast not noble and foule and thenne themperour hauyng dysdayne angrye by felonye of these two chese the one or do sacrefyse lyue or suffre dyuers tormentes perysshe and she sayd tarye not to do what tormentes thou wylt for I desyre to offre to god my blood and my flesshe lyke as he offryd for me he is my god my fader my frende myn onely spouse and thenne a mayster warned and aduysed the kyng beyng wode for angre that he shold make foure wheles of yron enuyronned with sharpe rasours cuttyng soo that she myght be horrybly al detrenched and cutte in that torment so that he myght fere the other crysten peple by ensauÌ„ple of that cruel torment and thenne was ordeyned that two wheles shold torne ageynst the other ij by grete force so that they shold breke al that that shold be betwene the wheles and thenne the blessyd vyrgyne prayed our lord that he wold breke thyse engynes to the praysyng of hys name and for to conuerte the people that were there and anone as thys blessyd vyrgyne was sette in this tormente the aungel of our lord brake tho wheles by soo gret force that it slewe four thousand paynyms And the quene that behelde thyse thynges came from aboue had hyd hir feythe tyl thenne descendyng anone and began to blame the emperour of so grete cruelte and thenne the kyng was replenysshed with woodnes whan he saw that the quene despysed to doo sacrefyse and dyd doo fyrste doo rente of hyr pappes and after smyte of hyr heed and as she was ladde vnto marterdom she prayed katheryne to praye god for
and toke saynt brandon by the honde and ledde hym with his monkes in to a fayre halle and set them doun a rewe vpon the benche and the abbotte of the place wysshe alle theyr feet wyth fayre water of the welle that they sawe before and after ladde them in to the fraytour and there sette them emonge his couente and anone there came one by the purueaunce of god whiche seruyd them wel of mete and drynke for euery monke had sette before hym a fayre whyt loof and whyte rootys and herbys Whyche were ryght delycyous but they wyst not what rotes they were and they dranke of the water of the fayr clere welle that they sawe before whan they came fyrst a londe which saynt brandon forbadde them and thenne thabbot came and chered saynt brandon hys monkes and prayed theym ete and drynke for charyte For euery day our lord sendeth a goodelye olde man that coueryth thys table and setteth our mete and drynke tofore vs but we knowe not how it cometh ne we ordeyne neuer no mete ne drynke for vs and yet we haue been lxxx yere here and euer our lord worshypped mote he be fedeth vs we ben xxiiij monkes in nombre and euery feryal day of we weke he sendeth to vs xij loues and euery sonday festeful day xxiiij loues and the brede that we leue at dyner we ete at sowper and now at your comyng our lord hath sente to vs xlviij loues for to make you and vs mery to gyder as brethern alweye twelue of vs goo to dyner whyles other twelue kepe the quere and thus haue we don this lxxx yere for so longe haue we dwellyd here in thys abbey and we came hyther out of thabbey of saint patrikes in yrelonde thus as ye see our lord hath pourueyed for vs but none of vs knoweth how it cometh but god allone to whome be gyuen honour and lawâ—e world withouten ende here in thys londe is euer fayre weder and non of vs hath ben seek sythe we came hyther and whan we goo to masse or to ony other seruyce of our lord in the chirche anone seuen tapres of waxe been sette in the quere and ben lyght at euery tyme wythout mannes honde and so brenne day and nyght at euery houre of seruyce and neuer waste ne mynysshe as longe as we haue been here whiche is lxxx yere and thenne saynt brandon wente to the chirche wyth the abbotte of the place and there they sayd euensonge to gyder ful deuontely and thenne saynt brandon loked vpwarde towarde the crucyfyxe sawe our lord hangyng on the crosse which was made of fyn crystalle and curyously wroughte And in the quere were xxiiij seetys for xxiiij monkes and the seuen tapres brennyng and thabbottes sete was made in the myddes of the quere and thenne Saynt brandon demaunded of the abbotte how longe they had kepte that scilence that none of them spake to other and he sayd thys xxiiij yere we spake neuer one to another thenne saynt brandon wepte for ioye of their holy conuersacion and thenne saint brandon desyred of the abbotte that he and his monkes myght dwelle there stylle with hym to whome thabbot sayd syr that may ye not do in no wyse for our lord hath shewed to you in what maner ye shal be guyded tyl the vij yere be fulfylled after that terme thou sbalt with thy monkes retorne in to yrlonde in saufte but one of the ij monkes that cam last to you shal dwel in the ylonde of ankers and that other shal goo quyck to helle and as Saynt brandon knelyd in the chirche he sawe a bryghte shynyng auÌ„gel come in at the wyndowe and lyghted alle the lyghtes in the chyrche and thenne he flewghe oute ageyn at the wyndowe vnto heuen and thenne saynt brandon meruaylled gretely how the lyght brennyd so fayr and wasted not and thenne the abbotte sayd that it is wryton that moyses saw a busshe al on a fyre and yet it brennyd not and therfore meruaylle not herof For the myght of our lord is now as grete as it euer thas and whan saynt brandon had dwellyd there fro crystemasse euyn tyl the twelfthe day was passed Thenne he toke hys leue of the abbot and couente and retorned wyth hys monkes to hys shyppe and saylled fro thens wyth his monkes toward the abbay of saynt Illaryes but they had grete tempestys in the see fro that tyme tyl palme sonday and thenne they came to the ylonde of sheep and there were receyued of the olde man whyche broughte them to a fayre halle and seruyd them And on sherthursday after souper he wesshe theyr feet and kyssed them lyke as our lord dyd to hys dyscyples and there abode tyl satyrday ester euen and thenne they departed and saylled to the place where the grete fysshe laye and anone they sawe their cawdron vpon the fysshes backe which they had lefte there twelue moneth tofore and there they kepte the seruyce of the resurrexyon on the fysshes backe and fter they saylled that same day by the mornyng to the ylonde where as the tree of byrdes was and thenne the sayd byrde welcomed saynt brandon and alle his felawshyp and wente ageyn to the tree and sange ful meryly and there he and hys monkes dwellyd fro ester tyl trynyte sonday as they dyd the yere before in full grete ioye and myrthe And dayly they herde the mery seruyce of the byrdes syttyng on the tree and thenne the byrde tolde to saynt brandon that he shold retorne ageyn at crystemasse to the abbay of monkes and at ester thyder ageyn and the other dele of the yere laboure in the occean in ful grete perylles and fro yere to yere tyl the seuen yere be accomplysshed And thenne sbal ye come to the ioyeful place of paradys and dwelle there yl dayes in ful grete ioye and myrthe and after ye shal retorne home in to your owne abbey in saufete and there ende your lyf and come to the blysse of heuen to whiche our lord boughte you wyth his precyous blood And thenne the aungel of our lord ordeyned alle thynge that was nedeful to saynt brandon and to hys monkes in vytaylles and al other thynges necessarye and thenne they thanked our lord of his grete goodnes that he had shewed to them ofte in their grete nede and thenne saylled forth in to the grete see occyan abydyng the mercy of our lord in grete trouble and tempestys and sone after came to them an horryble fysshe whyche folowed the shyppe longe tyme castyng soo moche water out of hys mowthe in to the shyppe that they supposed to haue ben drowned wherfore they deuoutelye prayed god to delyuer them of that grete perylle and anone after came another fysshe gretter thenne he out of the west see and faughte wyth hym and atte laste claue hym in to thre pyeces and thenne retorned ageyn thenne they thanked
hys secretes whan ye come ageyn in to the see and our lord wyl that ye lade your shyppe wyth the fruyte of thys londe and hye you hens for ye may no lenger abyde here but thou shalte sayle ageyn in to thyn owne contree and sone after thou comest home thou shalt deye and thys water that thou seest here departeth the world a sondre for on that other syde of thys water may no man come that is in thys lyf and the fruyte that ye see here is alle waye thus rype euery tyme of the yere and alwey it is here lyght as ye now see and he that kepeth our lordes hestys at al tymes shal see thys londe or he passe out of thys world And thenne saynt brandon and his monkes toke of that fruyte as moche as they wolde and also toke with them grete plente of precyous stones and thenne toke theyr loue and wente to shyppe wepyng sore by cause they myght no lenger abyde there and thenne they toke theyr shyppe and came home in to yrelonde in saufete whome theyr brethern receyued wyth grece ioye gyuyng thankynges to our lord whiche had kepte them al that seuen yere fro many a peryl and brouÈt them home in saufete To whome be yeuen honour glorye world without ende amen And sone after this holy man Saynt brandon wexe feble and seek and had but lytel ioye of thys world But euer after his ioye mynde was in the ioyes of heuen and in shorte tyme after he beyng ful of vertues departed out of thys lyf to euerlastyng lyf And was worshypfully buryed in a fayr abbey whiche he hym self founded Where our lord shewyth for thys holy saynt many fayr myracles Wherfore lete vs deuoutely praye to thys holy saynt that he praye for vs to our lord that he haue mercy on vs to whome be gyuen lawde honour and empyre world withouten ende amen Thus endeth the lyf of saynt Brandon And here foloweth the lyf of saint erkenwolde bysshop SAynt erkenwolde was borne of noble lygnage Hys fader was named offa and was kyng of eest englond and he had also a suster named alburgh whiche Erkenwolde and alburgh were of right parfyte lyf and how be it that theyr fader was a paynym yet were thyse two chyldren crysten whan erkenwolde was in parfyte age he wente in to relygyon and was made first abbot of chirchesey where he lyued an holy lyf and after he was made bysshop of london his suster alburgh was his trewe folower in good werkys and was a woman of relygyon and for hir holy lyf she was made abbesse of berkynge Thys holy man by the Informacion of saynt Austyn mellyte was enformed in the feythe in suche wyse that he vtterly forsoke the world ordeyned and buylded ij monasteryes one for hym selfe at chyrcheseye another for hys suster at barkyng whiche after hir baptesme was named ethelburga and saynt erkenwolde counceylled his suster to flee worldely vanytees and so he dyd hym self and gaue hym in to deuyne contemplacyon gaue gladly suche goodes as he had besyde them that he spente in the fondacyon and buyldyng of the sayd monasteryes to poure peple and he chaunged his erthely herytage his worldly dygnyte and hys grete patrymonye in to the herytage and lyuelode of holy chirche for to haue hys herytage in heuen and he dyd al thyse expencis or he was called to be bysshop of london and the holy theodore archebysshop of caunterburye dyd do consecrate hym bysshop of london and hys suster was sette in berkyng with other vyrgynes for to be alweye ocupyd in the seruyce of our lord and it happed on a tyme as thartyfycers that bylded the monasterye at berkynge were ouer seen in takyng the mesure of a pryncipal beme for it was to shorte wolde not accorde to the place that it was ordeyned for wherfore they made moche sorowe Thenne this holy man saynt erkenwolde and his suster seyng thys mysfortune toke the same beme bytwene theyr hondes and drewe it out in suche wyse that it had suffycyente lengthe and accorded vnto the propre place that it was ordeyned to whiche myracle was anone knowen openlye to the people and at that tyme were noo nonnes in englonde wherfore saint erkenwolde sente ouer see for a deuoute relygyous woman named hyldelyth to whome he bytoke his suster for to be enformed in the relygyon as wel in connyng as in good maners and vertuous doctryne in which she prouffyted in suche wyse that she passed all hir felawes in connyng sone after she was made abbesse and chyef of al the monasterye and it happed sone after that the bysshop of london deyed whos name was cedda by consente of the kynge and alle the people thys holy man of god erkenwolde was bysshop of london and what someuer he taughte in worde he fulfylled it in dede for he was parfyte in wysedom softe and dyscrete in worde bysy in prayer chaast of body hooly yeuen to goddes lore and was planted in the rote of charyte and afterward whan he had suffred moche trybulacion wyth many ghoostly bataylles he began to waxe ryght seek and thenne he commaunded to make redy his chare that he myght goo and preche in the cytee the Worde of god wherfore it was kepte in custome longe tyme after of his dyscyples and many other to touche hym and kysse hym and what someuer sekenesse that they had they were anone delyuerd therof and were made parfytelye hool In a day of somer as thys blessyd saynt saynt erkenwolde rode in hys chare for to preche the word of god It fortuned that the one whele of the chare fyl of fro the axtre and that notwythstondyng the chare went forth right wythout fallyng whyche was ageyn nature and reson and a fayre myracle for god guyded the chare it was meruaylle to alle them that sawe it ¶ O mercyable god and meruayllous aboue al thyng to whom alle brute beestys be made meke and wylde thynges been obedyente thou vouchesauf to calle to thy mercy thy blessyd seruaunte to make hym partable of thy excellente ioye thou yeue vs grace by his prayer which knewe by reuelacyon that his sowle shold be losed from the body by temporall dethe to be preserued fro al manere euyl and euerlastyng dethe whan thys blessyd saynt erkenwolde as god wold came to berkyng he fyl in to a grete sekenesse in whiche he ended his temporalle lyf for soo moche as he knewe it before he sente for his seruauntes and suche as were drawyng to hym yaue to them holsom and swete lessons and blessyd them with grete deuocyon emonge them he yelded vp hys spyrite to almyghty god in whos passyng was felte a merueyllous swete odour as the hous had be ful of swete bawme And whan the hyghe channons of Saynt Powles at london herde thys and the monkys of chyrcheseye also anone they came to this holy body for to
laus honor sit tibi rex xpeÌ„ and the emperour was presente and hit plesyd so mâ—che to themperour that he toke hym out of prison and restablysshed hym in to hys see The messagers of mychel themperour of constantynople brought yeftes to lowys the sone of charles and emonge al other they brouÈt the bookes of saynt denys of the Ierarchye of aungellys translated out of greek in to latyn and he receyued them wyth grete ioye And thenne were there aboute a twenty seek men of dyuers maladyes whiche al were helyd that nyght in the chyrche of saynt denys And whan lowys was dede Lothayr helde th empyre and lowys charles his brethern made a bataylle ageynste hym where there was so grete occysion of one and other that there had neuer tofore ben suche in no tyme in fraunce atte laste it was accorded that charles shold regne in fraunce Lowys in almayne and lothayr in ytalye and in the parte of fraunce whyche is named Lorayne and after that he lefte the empyre to Lowys hys sone whiche was emperour after hym and he took the habyte of a monke And it is sayd in a cronycle that serge was thenne pope whych tofore was named os porcy that is to saye the mowth of aswyn but his name was chaunged and was called Sergyus and fro than forthon it was ordeyned that alle the popes shold chaunge their names by cause our lord chaunged the name of hym that he chaas to be prynce of thappostles For as they be chaunged in name soo shold they be chaunged in perfeccion of lyf and by cause that thys man was chosen in to a noble offyce he shold not be defouled by a dyshoneste name In the tyme of this lowys in the yere of our lord viij hondred and xvj as it is sayd in a cronycle in the paroche of magonce a wycked spyrite smote on the walles of the howses as it had be wyth hamers and spake openlye in sowyng dyscordes and tormented so the peple that in what hows he entrid anone the hows brennyd and whan the preestes sayd the letanyes he caste at them stones and greuyd them cruelly and atte laste he confessyd that whan holy water was caste he hydde hym vnder the cope of a certeyn preest as his famylyar accusyng hym that he had synned wyth the doughter of the procurour In that tyme the kyng of bulgarys was conuerted vnto the feythe was of so grete perfectyon that he made his oldest sone kyng and he hym self toke thabyte of a monke but his sone gouerned hym so yongely the he toke ageyn the ryte and lawe of the paynyms thenne his fader reprised his knyghthode pursyewyd his sone toke hym put hym in prison and thenne he ordeyned his other sone to be kynge reprised his habyte ageyn It was sayd that in ytalye that tyme in the cyte of bryxe it rayned blood thre dayes that same tyme cam in to fraunce brezes or locustes Innumerable whiche had vj wynges syxe longe feet two teeth harder than ony stone fledde by companyes as armed men by the space of a day iourneye stratchyng a four myle or fyue myle brode they deuoured al thyng that was grene in trees and in herbys and came vnto the see of brytaygne but in th ende they were drowned in the see by force of the wynde but the hete of thoccean see threwe them to the ryuage and the ayer was corumped of their rotyng and therof ensewed a grete famyne and grete mortalyte that almoste the thyrd parte of the peple perysshed and deyed And after thys the fyrste otto was emperour in the yere of our lord ixC and xxxviij and as thys otto on an ester day had ordeyned a grete feste to his prynces tofore they were sette a sone of one of the prynces in the maner of a chylde toke one of the messys of mete fro the borde the keruar smote the chylde with his fyste and slewe hym And he that had the chylde in kepyng sawe that and slewe hym anone that had slayne the chylde and whan themperour wold haue dampned hym without audyence he toke themperour and threwe hym to the grounde and wold haue strangled hym and with grete payne he was taken from his handes and after themperour made hym to be kepte and sayd that he hym self was culpable and to blame and for the honour of the feste he lete the man goo frely his waye after thys fyrst otto the second otto succeded whan the ytalyens had ofte tymes broken the pees bytwene them and the romayns he came and made a grete comune feste to al the barons bysshoppes and grete lordes and whan they were al sette at dyner he enuyronned them al wyth men of armes and thenne he made his compleynte and dyd doo name them that were culpable by wrytyng and anone dyd doo smyte of her heedes there And vnto alle the other be made good chere and moche honoured theym And Otto the thyrd came after hym the yere of our Lord ix hondred foure score and ten And he had to surname the meruaylle of the world And as it is sayd in a cronycle he had a wyf whyche wold haue been loue or lemman vnto an erle And he wold not consente to hyr Wherfore she had soo grete malyce vnto hym that she dyffamed hym in suche wyse vnto hyr husbond the Emperour that he commaunded to smyte of hys heed wythout hauyng ony audyence But tofore he was byheded he prayed his good wyf that she sholde shewe hym Innocent not gylty by the preef of hote yren and thenne after came a day that the emperour shold do right to wydowes and to orphanes And thenne thys wydowe came and brought the heed of hir husbond bytwene hyr armes and demaunded of what dethe he ought to haue that had slayne a man wrongefully And he sayd that he ought to haue hys heed smyton of and thenne she sayd thou arte he that hast slayne my husbonde by the false entysemente of thy wyf Innocentlye and that I shal preue that I sawe trouthe by the beryng of thys brennyng yron And whan the emperour sawe that he was al abasshed and gaue hym self to be punysshed in to the handes of the woman Neuerthelesse by the prayer of the bysshoppes and of the barons the emperour took terme of ten dayes and after of viij and after of seuen and after of vj tyl the cause was examyned the trouthe knowen Thenne themperour the cause examyned and the trouthe knowen dyd doo brenne his wyf al quycke gaue to the wydowe foure castellys for hys redempcyon whyche castellys been in the bysshopryche of lymencis and been callyd the termys of the dayes And after this emperour reygned Henry which was duc of lauyer in the yere a M ij and gaue his suster named Geysyle to the kynge of hungarye in maryage that same kyng al hys peple she conuerted to
he toke them alle and dyd do brenne them after thys Innocente the thyrd crowned Otto emperour and toke of hym an othe that he shold kepe the ryghte of holy chyrche and anone he dyd ageynste his othe that same day and dyd doo robbe despoyle them that cam to rome on pylgremage wherfore the pope cursyd hym and deposed hym fro the empyre In that tyme was saynt elysabeth doughter of the kyng of hongary whiche was wyf to the lantgraue of thurynge and hessyn which emonge other Innumerable myracles she reysed xvj dede men and gaue syght to one that was borne blynde Out of whos body oylle floweth vnto thys day Whan otto was deposed Frederyke sone of henry was chosen and was crowned of honorye the pope And thys man made ryght noble lawes for the lybertee of the chyrche and ageynst heretykes and this emperour habounded aboue alle other in glorye and in rychesses but he abused them euyll by pryde and was a tyraunte ageynste the chyrche and sette two cardynalles in pryson and suche prelates as pope gregory had do be assemblyd at the counceyl he took them and therfore he was acursed of the same pope And after gregory deyed whiche was oppressyd with many greuous trybulacyons And thenne was Innocente the fourth made pope whyche was of the nacyon of Iene and he assemblyd a counceyl at lyons where he deposed the emperour and thenne was th empyre voyde Thus endeth the storye of the lombardes ¶ Here foloweth of Saynt Symeon SAint Symeon was borne in antyoche was moche vertuous and fro the tyme that he was in his moders bely he was chosen of god and whan he was xij yere olde he kepte his faders shepe on a tyme he behelde the chyrche and anone as he that was replenysshed wyth the holy ghoost lefte hys shepe wente to the chirche and he accompanyed hym wyth a good auncyent man and sayd to hym in thys manere Fayre fader what thynge is that that is here redde I praye you enseygne teche it me for I am symple and ygnoraunte Thenne this good aunciente man began to speke of the vertues of the soule and how this poure presente lyf ought to be despysed and not with stondyng that the vertues ben accomplysshed of many truly and laudably and by the helpe of god in relygyon they ben accomplisshed more lightlye Thenne saynt Symeon fyl to the feet of thys good olde man and said to hym verayly from hens forthon thou shalte be my fader and my moder For thou arte mayster of good werkys after this good counceyl I shal goo in to the chyrche where as good shal ordeyn for me and thenne he expowned to hym the rule and thordre of relygyon and tolde hym how he must haue moche payne and afflictyon and hym behoueth to haue moche pacyence and perseueraunce Thenne anone he toke loue of hym and wente to the chyrche of saynt Tymothe and layed hym tofore the gate and abode there thre dayes thre nyghtes without mete or drynke Thenne the abbot came and lyfte hym vp and demaunded wherfore he was comen thyder Thenne Saynt Symeon answerd to hym and sayd I desyre moche to be seruaunte of our lord I praye the that thou receyue me in to thy monasterye and that thou commauÌ„ce me to serue al thy brethern he was receyued of the abbotte and was there syx monethes obeyeng to the brethern humbly Whan the other fastyd fro morne to euensonge tyme he after vij dayes toke hys refeccion and the other dayes he gaue his prouende to poure peple On a tyme he came to the pytte of the place and fonde there a coâ—â—e whiche he toke and bonde faste aboute his body fro his reynes to hys sholdres he strayned so sore and faste that hys flesshe roted vnder the corde soo moche that the corde wente to the bones and vnnethe myght the corde be seen On a day one of the brethern apperceyued that he gafe his mete vnto the poure peple he and the other tolde it to the abbotte and also they said that so grete stynche yssued out of his body that none myght abyde by hym that the vermyne that came out of it had fylled alle hys bedde The abbotte was moche angrye bad despoyle hym naked whan he sawe the corde he escryed sayeng O man fro whens comest thou me semeth that thou wylte destroye the rule of our relygyon whan thou wylte not serue god by dyscrescion as other doo I praye the departe hens and goo where thou wylte wyth grete payne they toke of the corde wyth whyche he was bounden and helyd hym after he departed fro the place wythout wytyng of ony of hem and entred in to a pytte in deserte wythout water where as wycked spyrytes dwellyd That nyght the abbotte had a reuelacion that a grete multitude of men of armes had enuyronned the abbay and sayd wyth an hyghe voys gyue to vs the man of god or ellys we shal breÌ„ne the and alle the abbay for thou haste dryuen aweye the man Iuste and debonayr Thabbot tolde thys to hys brethern and the nexte nyght came the semblable vysyon he was al abasshed and sente his monkes for to serche and fetche hym and they fonde hym not thenne the abbot wente wyth them and they came to the pytte and there maad theyr prayers and descendyd therin and broughte hym ageyn by force to thabbey The brethern of thabbay knelyd tofore hym and axyd hym foryeuenesse and after he abode an hole yere and after secretelye he departed ageyn and wente vnto a montayne faste by a cloystre of stones and dwellyd so thre yere Thenne his neyghbours cam thyder by deuocion enhannced his celle foure cubytes of heyghte and there he dwellyd seuen yere after and after they made to hym another of twelue cubytes of heyght in which he dwellyd after they made another of twenty cubytes after that another of xxx and there he abode foure yere and by syde hym he dyd do make ij chapellys and many seek men were heled by hys vertue and he conuertyd many sarasyns to the feythe after thys hys thye roted an hole yere and al that yere he helde hym on that other fote but the vermyn fyl to the grounde from hys thye he had a felowe whiche was called anthonye whyche wrote hys lyf and helde hym companye whyche gadred vp the vermyn and delyueryd them to hym and he toke them and layed them vpon his sore sayeng ete ye thys that god hath gyuen you There was a kynge a sarasyn named balyssyke that herde the fame renome of hym and came to hym in veray feythe and whyles the holy man prayed one of the vermyn fyl out of hys thye and the hethen kyng toke it vp and whan he loked on it hit was a precious stone Thenne sayd to hym this holy man O man this is not happed ne made by my meryte but it is made by
my counceyll and by myn enhortemente shal make the to suffre so many tourmentes that thou thy self shalt renye the crucyfyxe Thenne sayd Iudas to hym He that proprely hath power to reyse deed men put the in the depe bottom of helle in fyre perdurable Saynt Quyryace suffred marterdom as sayd is for the loue of our Lord By whiche he hath goten the glorye perdurable the whyche he graunte to vs that for vs suffryd dethe and passyon AMEN Thus endeth the passyon of Saint Quyriace Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Thomas dalquyne SAint thomas Dalquyne of thordre of the freres prechours was a right souerayn doctour hyghe of noble lygnage whiche was borne in the royame of Sesylle and tofore that he was borne He was shewyd by dyuyne pourueaunce For in tho partyes there was an holy man in werke and in renommee whyche wyth many other her mytes ladde a ryght holy lyf and al the peple had hym in grete reuerence this holy man replenysshed of the holy ghoost came to the lady and moder of this holy chylde not yet borne with grete ioye sayd to hir that she had conceyued a sone and she supposed that she had not conceyued Thenne the holy man sayd to hir lady be thou glad for thou shalte brynge forthe a chylde whiche shal be callyd Thomas and shal haue a grete name and renomee thorugh al the world in scyence and in holy lyf and he shal be of thordre of the frere prechours alle whyche thynges lyke as the holy hermyte had said were accomplysshed in the name of the sauyour of the world and to the glorye of hys gloryous saynt whan the chylde was borne he was called Thomas by his right name He had the world and the vanyte therof in despyte and for to lyue in the more holy and clene lyf he entred in to the ordre of the frere prechours and after he was drawen out therof by hys brethern and was closed vp in a chambre in a toure two yere and by cause that by menaces ne fayr wordes his brethern myght not chaunge his good purpoos ne reuoke it in no maner they put in to his chambre a yonge damoysel to the Innocente childe for to subuerte hys good corage anone he toke a bronde of fyre and droof the damoysel out of the chambre whyche was come for to deceyue hym after that he put hym in humble prayers deuoutely besechyng our lord that by his benygne grace he wolde alweye mayntene his chastyte Anone as he had made his prayers ij aungels in meruayllous habyte appeayd to hym sayeng that his prayer was herde of god they dystreyned hym by the raynes sayeng Thomas we ben sente to the by the commaundemente of god and in his name we gyrde the with the gyrdle of chastyte whyche shal neuer departe fro the ne shal be broken the whiche gyfte was gyuen to hym of specyal grace was in hym so faste and ferme that he neuer after felte prickyng of his flesshe and so kepte hym as longe as he lyued as it apperyth here after in hys lyf whan he surmounted one of hys aduersaryes with his mynystres hys good moder consyderyng and hauyng mynde of that whiche the good man had tolde to hyr and shewyd how he shold be of thordre of the freres prechours and lete hym to be ledde to them pesably not wythstondyng that tofore his brethern wold haue empesshed hym of thentryng in to the ordre and of his studye For whan he was retorned in to the ordre by consente of his good moder he began to studye whiche was as swete to hym as is to the bee to make the hony and lyke as of the bee the hony is multeplyed right so in lyke wyse was by this gloryous doctour the hony of holy scrypture wherof he made meruayllous bookes in theologye logyke phylosophye naturel and moralle vpon the euangelyes in so moche that the holy chirche thorugh out al the world of hys holy scyence is replenysshed And as he thus prouffyted he was sente to parys thenne his brethern herde that he shold departe anone came after hym sayeng that it apperteyned not that a chylde of so grete lignage as he was shold be in thordre of mendycants ne of trewantes al to rente his cote cope wold haue taken hym aweye from his good purpoos whaÌ„ he was restored to thordre to seâ—ue gyue preysyng to our lord he sette al his entente to studye in thynkyng on god whan he was in contemplacion that his thouÈt was replenysshed with grete ioye For many tymes were as he was in a secrete place set al his entente in praâ—â—â— he was seen lyfte vp many tymes wythout ayde of ony thynge corporelle This thenne is wel an holy doctour For thus as he sette not his thoughte in thys world he sette alle his herte and his thoughte towarde god and was enhaunced as he that had not had no flesshe ne bone ne ony weyghte We rede that the blessyd doctour dysputed redde or wrote or argued or dyd somme other vertuous thynge and after whan hys prayer was paste anone he had in his mowthe that whiche he shold dyspute or wryte as yf he had tofore longe estudyed in many bookes alle whiche thynges he shewed secretelye to his felawe named frere raynolde To whome pryuelye he shewed al his other secretes as longe as he lyued and wold that none other shold knowe it to the ende that the vaynglorye of the world shold not surpryse hym For the scyence that he had was not of humayne studye but was of the admynystracion deuyne by the prayers and seruyce that he dyd to our lord This holy man is thenne as Moyses was whyche was gyuen to the doughter of pharao For lyke as he was taken out of the see and saued and rendryd vnto the sayd doughter Ryght soo the sayd blessyd doctour not wythstondyng that he was borne of the grete lignage of the erle of alquyn was by the pourueaunce of god rendryd to his moder holy chyrche and caste out of the flode of thys World and enhaunced and nourysshed by the pappes and mamellys of the scrypture of holy chyrche And lyke as moyses made many meruayllous sygnes tofore the chyldren of Israhel In lyke wyse hath thys blessyd doctour and hys scyence and blessyd doctryne in destroyeng errours hath alle weye prechyd veryte and trouthe And his holy lyf wytnesseth as on a nyght this gloryous doctour was in hys orysons and prayers the blessyd appostles Peter and poule apperyd to hym and endured hym in holy scrypture in especyally of the prophecye of prophetes alle entyerly and hooly Thys thenne is an holy doctour to whome the chauncelyer of heuen and the doctour of deuyne scrypture haue openyd the gate and he that was rauysshed to heuen hath shewyd to hym the secrete of aâ—e the veryte and thus thys blessyd doctour is taken from the worlde and made bourgeys
en reygned emperours Gayus that was pope of Rome called made to assemble alle the crysten people to gyder and sayd to theym our Lord hath ordeyned two degrees or states to them that byleue on hym that is to wyte confessours and marters And therfore yf somme of you be fereful and in doubte that they shall not mowe suffre marterdom lete theym euer haue trewe and veray confessyon and stedfaste in the feythe and goo must they wyth cromacyen and Tyburcyen for to saue theym selfe And they that are wyllyng for to abyde wyth me wythin thys cytâ—e in the name of god lete them abyde For the seperacyon of the persones in ferre contrees may not separe that the deuyne charyte hath assemblyd Thenne escryed to hym Tyburcyen sayeng holy fader I beseche the that thou leue me not to tourne my bacâ—eferyng the persecutours For to me it shal be grete ioye and comforte to suffre bodylye dethe for to gete and enioye lyf eternall Whan Saynt Gayus sawe the feythe of Tyburcyen and his constaunte courage he began to wepe for ioye There abode â—eyâ—h hym Marcellyen Marke theyr fader Transquylyn Sebastyen Tyburcyen and Saynt Nychostrate with hym hys brother Castore and his wyf Zoe also claudyn and vyctoryn his brother wyth them his sone Symphoryen the bysshop ordeyned vnto deakens Saynt marke and marcellyen and maad preest transquylyn he dyd ordeygne saynt sebastyen deffensour of the chirche and the other he ordeyned and maad subdeakens nyght and day they were contynuelly in grete deuocyon fastyng wepyng and sayeng theyr prayers orysons and deuoutelye prayed our lord that of his benygne grace he wold make them able worthy to be accompanyed with the marters by veray pacyence and there by theyr prayers many one were helyd of their sekenesse many of blynde persone was restoryd of sight many enemyes or deuylles were put out fro many a creature so as tiburcien yede thorugh the towne he saw a man that was fallen from hye vnto lowe in so moche that he was al to bursten broken of al his membris and men wold haue made his graue for to burye hym Soone tyburcien approched began to say pater noster ouer hym fayr softe Incontynente after he was hole rendred hym in to good helthe to his parentes sone after he had hym a syde fro the peple conuertysed baptysed hym So as zoe was deuoutelye in oryson at hir prayers she was taken ledde by the paynyms vnto a statue of marterdom for to haue constraâ—ned hir to sacrefye thydolles She thenne answerd ye wyl constrayn a woman for to sacrefye vnto the statue of mars for to shewe that your mars delyteth and taketh his plesauÌ„ce in wymmen and how be it that he may do his wylle of the shameful venus Neuerthelatter he shal not haue the vyctorye of me For I bâ—re the vyctorye of me at my forhede Thenne she was taken and ledde in to a pryson ryght derke and moche obscure and there she was fyue dayes wythoute syghte of ony lyght without drynke and wythout mete and wythoute the syght and heeryng of ony body but onely of hym that had closed or shytte hyr therin who often sayd to hir by famyne or by fawte lacke of mete thou shalte deye here in tenebres or derkenesse yf thou sacrefye not vnto our myghty goddes The syxte day she was had out of pryson and hangyd she was by hir heerys to an hyghe tree and vnder hir they made a smoke of donge and of ordure or fylthe whyche rendred an horryble stenche by thys tormente of materdom she expyred and rendryd hyr sowle vnto our lord confessyng euer hys ryght holy name After the tirauÌ„tes toke the holy corps and at the necke of hit they henge a grete stone and caste hit wythin the ryuer of tybre to th ende that the cristens shold not take it to make of hyt a goddesse and after that she thus had receyued hir marterdom she apparysshed before saynt sebastyen and recounted to hym how she had suffryd marterdom for the loue of our Lord The whyche thynge as saynt sebastyen reherced hit to his felawes transquylyn escryed and sayd the wymmen proceden vs to the crowne of glorye Why lyue we so longe On the seuenth day after thys transquylyn allone bye and publyke beganne to denounce the name of god and anone he was taken and caste wyth stones and whan he had rendryd his sowle to god he was caste in to the watre of tybre And as nycostrate and claudyn with them castorye vyctoryn and symphoryen were aboute to haue out of the ryuer of tybre the bodyes of the marters they were taken ledde vnto the prefecte or Iuge Fabyen whyche Inuyted them to sacrefye vnto thydolles by the space of ten dayes One tyme by manaces that other tyme by fayr wordes wenyng to haue brought them to thys ydolatrye but euer they were stedfast constaunte in the feyth whiche Fabyen whan he sawe them soo constaunte he yede and tolde it to the emperour and the emperour commaunded that they shold be forthwyth tourmented by dyuers tormentes But whan he sawe their stedfast byleue he commaunded that wythout delaye they shold be caste in to the myddes of the see anone fabyen for to accomplysshe the commaundemente of the emperour made to be hanged at the necke of eche one of them a grete stone and throwen they were vnto the bottom of the see There were consommed or ended theyr marterdoms florysshyng as lylyes before god In sempiterna secula where we al may haue parte amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Gayus Here foloweth the lyf of saynt Arnolde SAynt Arnolde was fader of Pepyn grauÌ„t fader of charles the grete as a doctoure recounteth named pyeter Damyen and helde a duchye in lorayne whiche dyd put fro hym alle worldly affeccions as rychesses wyf and chyldren and haunted the desertes for to lede best solytarye lyf On a day so as he passed ouer the ryuer of meuse and that he was aboute the myddes of the brydge where the water was more depper than in ony other place he toke a rynge that he had and caste hit wythin the water Sayeng whan someuer I shal receyuâ— haue ageyn thys rynge thenne shal I beleue that I shal be assoyled of al my synnes and after from thens he departed and wente in to a deserte Where he was longe tyme as deed to the world and lyuyng wyth god ¶ In that tyme deyed the bysshop of mets and happed that saint arnolde was chosen for to be bysshop there So thenne on a tyme as he absteyned hym fro etyng of ony flesshe as he euyr dyd whyle that he was in the deserte or wode was presented vnto hym a fysshe and as hys cook dressyd and slytted it he founde wythin his bely the sayd rynge and yede shewyd it to the holy bysshop wherof he was right ioyeful and glad
aungels in paradyse that bare the arche of the testamente of god and thenne he sayd to alle the people I see heuen opene and the aungelles beryng the arche of god and yet I see our lord Ihesu cryste syttyng on his trybunal and whan the peple had herde hym they al togyder bothe more and lesse beganne of one voys of one herte and of one mowthe to preyse to glorefye and to magnefye the name of our lord and fro that tyme forth on they honoured more the holy man thenne they had doon before The holy man thenne commaunded that a crosse shold be made of Wode dressed and sette in the same place where he sawe the forsayd vysyon On another tyme as he prechyd nyghe to a chyrche called carnyfrâ—t before a crosse made of stone where as moche peple was assemblyd to here his predycacion the whiche crosse had be somtyme made in the honour and reuerence of our lord Ihesu cryste and of the gloryous archaungel Saynt Mycâ—â—l on whiche crosse somtyme he descendyd fro the sholdres of the sayd archebysshop It happed that a yonge mayde deed Was broughte thyder for to be buryed the whyche by his prayer at the requeste of the people was reysed to lyf Of thystorye of thys gloryous saynt I ne may fynde more of it but we al shal praye to hym that toward our lord he wyl be our good Intercessour and frende AMEN Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Turyen ¶ And here foloweth the lyf of Saynt Fyacre SAint Fâ—acre â—the gloryous hermyte made many vertuous dedes in the terrytorye or countreye of meaulx in the proteccion of saynt pharon that tyme bysshop of the cyte of meaulx many myracles nedeful and necessarye as thenne He made in thys world as the legende of the lessons of his faytes shewen clerely ynough and to the ende that this presente narracion that maketh of hyt mencyon be not to moche prolonged and that the lyf of saynt Fyacre and of saynt pharon assemblyd to gyder may appere to them that shal rede hit It is good as to me semeth that at thys begynnyng I make mencion of the excellence of saynt fyacre how for the loue of our lord he lefte his contree bothe fader and moder and alle hys goodes and came in to the partyes of fraunce On that tyme that the gloryous saynt pharon lefte and relynquysshed the worldly knyghthode and that he was ordeyned and made bysshop of meaulx the same monke named fyacre of the nacyon of scottes beyng in his contreye and meued by deuocyon to serue our lord more streytelye departed with suche felawshyp as fortune gafe to hym and came vnto meaulx in fraunce where he prayed the holy bysshop there that he myghte dwelle vnder his proteccion whan Pharon had herde his demaunde ryght gladly he accorded to it and as a pyteous pastour graunted that Fyacre shold dwelle wyth hym after hys owne plesure as longe as he wolde whan the hermyte fyacre had Impetred his petycyon or demaunde he yede and caste his syght lowe toward the erthe and onely with al hys herte thouÈte and wythout spekyng made his prayer to god that of hys grace he woâ—â— haue pyte on hym and so feruentelye he besought and prayed that hys face rendryd grete droppys of water and was ouer rede and sore chauffed And whan the blessyd saynt pharon sawe hym in suche estate he beganne to be meruaylled and wende that he was agreuyd of somme thynge anone he callyd to hym one of his seruauntes and sayd to hym goo to yonder man and make hym come secretelye to speke wyth me The messager dyd as to hym was commaunded and ledde saynt fyacre vnto the bysshop whan he was before his presence the holy man pharon ful of vertuous thoughtes to th ende that better he myght declare his entencion sayd to fyacre in thys manere My brother I requyre the that thou wylte put fro the thys sorowe and heuynesse whyche is in thyn herte to th ende that thou mayst better receyue my wordes Thenne sayd saynt fyacre to hym Fayr fader reuerende yf thou wylte haue pyte and compassyon on me thou shalte mowe make me to cesse thys heuynesse at thy commaundemente But to the ende that thou mayst the better vnderstonde myn answer procede forth on thy demaunde Thenne the right reuerende bysshop pharon beholdyng on phyacre sayd to hym Fyrst my ryght dere brother I requyre of the to telle me in what londe thou were borne and the cause why thou departedest fro the contreye also where thou arte bounde for to gâ—o and what thy name is Ferthermore yf thou haue nede of counceyl of wordes or of other thynge that I may do I calle god to my recorde that ryght gladly I shal endeuoyre me to suâ—â—yl it Saynt fyacre thenne knelynge rendred to hym thankes and mercyes and after sayd to hym my fader and my moder engendred or begate me in an yle of scotlande named Hyrlande and for as moche that I desyre to lede my lyf solytaryly I haue relynqued and lefte my londe and my parentes and I do seke a place for to lede my lyf hermytyke and solytarylye and by my ryght name I am called fyacre and therfore mekelye I beseche thyn hyghe and Ineffable paternyte that yf there be in somme parte of thy bysshopryche a lytel place wythin a wode where I myght vsen and employe my lyf in prayers and in orysons that thou wylt not differre to me the grauÌ„te of it Whan saynt pharon herde thys he was therof ioyeful and glad and sayd to saynt fyacre I haue a Wode ferre ynough fro hens whiche is with in our owne herytage and is called by the folke of the contreye brodyle the whiche wode as I suppose is couenable for to lede lyf solytarye and yf it be so that thy desyre is to see it lete vs two goo thyder to gyder for to beholde and see the place ¶ Thenne answerde saynt fyacre Soo as thy paternyte commaundeth I desyre that it be doon anone Thenne the pyteous and holy bysshop as sone as he myght ledde fyacre vnto the ryght desyred place and whan they were come thyder Saynt pharon sayd to saynt fyacre My brother thys place is belongyng to me by myn owne herytage comyng fro myn auncestrye and yf it seme to the good and plesaunte for to dwelle and abyde in as moche of hit behoueth to the deuoutelye and With good herte I presente it to the and ful gladly I gyue it to the for to do Wythal thy good plesure and whan thus he had graunted and sayd fyacre fyl to his feet and for grete ioye wepyng rendred to hym graces and thankynges sayeng O right blessyd fader the same place onelye of syght pleseth me and delyteth ryght gretelye for it is an holy place and ferre fro abydyng of ony folke after these wordes they took theyr refeccion or food of nourriture dyuyne and sone after retourned to gyder vnto the
of them al was made archebysshop al the entencion of saint laudry whiles that he lyued in this world was tacomplisshe myseriâ—orde and he hym self departed or dalte the almoses to the poure at al tymes we haue seen knowen that a man which men called Raoulgracaâ—d was smyton sodaynlye had the heed moche grete swollen was so rede in the face of hym that al folke that sawe hym demed helde hym for a leper which man with grete haste cam to the presence of saint laudri there he confessyd hyn moche deuoutlye receyung benygnelye his penaunce after he came to the sudayr of the saynt with grete deuocion kyssed it whan he had done his offryng and vowe with moche grete feyth hope he retourned vnnethe he was comen to his hows whan he became as hole as euer be was be therfore the name of god preysed who for his good frende saynt laudry he helyd so promptelye the forsaid pacient Vpon a nother tyme a squyer ful of paâ—sye so moche that he coude not helpe hym self wyth foot ne with handes his frendes seyng hym so oppressyd of this seeknesse made a bargeyn with a physicyen for to helpe hym It happed so that on a day as this poure saw hym self soo oppressyd wyth the said sekenesse noo remedye myÈt be founde to it he beganne for to wepe and to reclame saynt laudry sayng o blessyd saynt laudry vouchesaufe to beholde on my myserye and thenne he prayed to his frendes that they wolde bere hym vnto the sepulcre of Saynt laudry whiche dyd as he prayed them Thenne the bysshop of Parys named mauryce that was there seeyng the deuocyon of the sayd seek man prayed to saynt laudry that helthe he wold Impetre vnto god for hym by his gloryous merytes and wyth one of the teeth of the saynt touched the places on hys body that moste greuyd hym makyng the sygne of the crosse and anone he became al hoole Item it is redde of a knyght named gyberte that had a thorne wythin hys knee wherto he founde no remedye by no manere of medecyne and was as dysperate not onelye for the doloure and payne that he suffred but also for fawte of hope to be heelyd The which knyght made hym to be borne in to the chyrche of saynt laudry and with his sudarye dyd to be made ouer hym the sygne of the crosse and anone after the thorne yssued oute fro hys knee Was al hoole helyd by the merytes of the saynt whome we beseche to praye god for vs AMEN Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Laudry Here foloweth the lyf of saynt mellonyn IN the tyme of the emperour valeryen saynt Mellonyn whiche was borne in the grete bretayn cam to rome to paye the trybute of his londe for to serue the emperour whan he came thyder so as of custome was he wente in to the temple of mars for to sacrefye wyth his felowes he than herde the pope stephen with a fewe cristen folke to whome he preched the feythe of crâ—st theuangylle he tended openyd his cerys to vnder stonde his wordes anone he byleued on god requyred to be baptysed this mellonyn thenne was baptysed by the pope stephen also taughte in the catholyke feyth anone he solde aweye al suche good as he had gafe al to the poure for the loue of god The pope promoted hym in to al the degrees of the ordre of preesthode in so moche that he hym self made saynt melonyn preest so as in prayers in watchyng and in fastynges he perseueryd on a tyme as he said his masse bothe the pope he to gyder saw at the right syce of th aulter an aungel that toke to hym a staffe pastoral sayeng in this maner melonyn take this staffe vnder the whyche thou shalt rewle gouerne the citee of Roen For al the peple ther is of god al redy to thy seruyce commaundemente notwithstondyng that hyt is ferre from hens that the waye is to the right greuable by cause that thou knowest not the contreye neuerthelesse thou oughtese not to doubte no thynge for Ihesu crist shal euer kepe the vnder the shadowe of his wynges thenne after these wordes he took receyued the popes blessyng went on his waye whan the euen came helde the said staffe in his honde he mette wyth a man that was hurte in his fote which was slyt a sonder this holy man made his prayer anone he helyd hym Fro thens he came to roen where he accomplisshed wel holyly his offyce and made there many vertues myracles the which glorious saynt restyd in pees the xj day of the kalendes of the moueth of nouembre to the honour of god that lyueth regneth in finiâ—a secula Amen Thus endeth the lyf of Saint Mellonyn Here foloweth of Saynt yues SAint yues was borne in litel britayn in the dyocyse of Triguyer engendryd or begoten of parentes noble and catholyke and was reuelyd to his moder in hyr slepe that he shold be sayntefyed In his fyrst eage he was of ryghte good condycyons and right humbly deuoutelye frequented the chyrches Heeryng ententyfly the masses and the sermons Moche of hys tyme he employed to studye bysyly the holy letters and redde moche curyously the lyf of the sayntes peyned hym selfe moche withal his power for tensyewe them the whiche by processe of tyme was aourned of ryght grete wysedom and renommed ful of grete scyence bothe in ryght cyuyl and in Cannon and also in theologye wel letterd as it apperyd sythe as wel in contempâ—ions Iugemente as gyuyng counceyll to the sowles vpon the fayte of theyr conscyence For after that he had ocupyed and excerced moche holyly and deuoutelye the fayte of aduocacye in the bysshoppes courte of Tryguyer euer pletyng wythoute takyng ony salarye the causes of the myserable poure persones exposyng hym self to it with his good gree not requyred by them for to deffende theyr questyons and dyfferences he was chosen in to the offyce of the offycial fyrste in the courte of the archedeaken of Resnes and afterward in the sayd courte of the bysshop of Tryguyer whiche lawfully Iustlye and dylygentlye accomplysshed alle suche thynges that been parteynyng to the sayd offyce He socoured them that were oppressyd and that had wronge to euerichone rendryd his owne by right wythoute ony accepcion or takyng of money nor none other god The whyche thenne called to the gouernemente and gydyng of soules bare euer with hym the byble his breuyary or portoes and soo he made ordeyned in the ordre of preesthode celebred as euery day and herde moche humbly deuoutelye dyligently the confessyons of his parysshens he vysyted the seek folke without dyfference recomforted them right wysely taught to them the waye of their saiuacion deuoutelye admynystred vnto them the precyous blessyd body of our
of crysten men of which many one was dysmembryd and eten wyth beestys stanke ouer moche the whiche he gadred and assemblid wyth his owne handes With thayde and helpe of his which vnnethe myght endure ne suffre the stenche of them humbly and deuoutelye betook them to the buryeng of holy chyrche and after this vnderstondyng the sekenesse of the quene his moder by the counceyl of his barons assented to retourne in to fraunce and as he was vpon the see on the thyrd nyght after nygh the rysyng of aurora the shyppe where the kynge was in hurted and smote twyes ageynst the roche so strongelye that the maronners and other there wende that the shyppe shold haue broken and be plonged in the see And thenne the preestys clerkys and the other folke there abasshed wyth so grete hurtyng of the sayd shyppe founde the holy kyng deuoutelye prayeng before the body of our lord wherfore they fermelye beleuyd that god almyghty by the merytes and prayers of thys holy kynge had saued them from the forsayd perylle of dethe Thenne the sayd saynt so retourned into fraunce was receyued of alle there wyth grete ioye and the more ardant lye or brennynglye prouffytyng from vertue in to vertue became to al maner perfeccion of lyf and how be it that myseracion and pyte was growyng in hym from hys yongthe Neuerthelesse he shewed thenne more euydentelye his charytable dedes on the poure folke socouryng them prouffytably soo as he myght at theyr nede He began thenne to bylde and founde hospytalles or howses for poure people to lye in edefyed mynstres of relygyon and gaue yerely to other poure suffretours in dyuers places in the royame moche money pecunyes or syluer He founded many couentes of thordre of freres prechours to many other poure relygyous bylded chyrches cloysters dortoyrs and other edefyces couenables gafe for god largelye almoses to the blynde begynes doughters of god and releuyd the mynstre of many a poure nonnerye He enryched many a chirche founded by hym wyth grete reuenues rentes in whiche he many tymes excercyted thoffice of charite and of meruayllous humylyte humbly deuontelye seruyng the poure with his owne handes by grete myserycorde whan he came in parys or in other cytees vysyted the hospytalles and other smalle howses where poure peple laye in wythout abhomynacion of dyfformyte ne of ordure or fylthe of somme pacyente or seek admynystred many tymes knelyng gyuyng mete to the poure wyth hys owne handes In the abbay of royalmonte whyche he founded and dowed with grete reuenewe rentes is shewyd notoryly that suche and semblable almoses he made there many tymes and yet gretter meruaylle a monke of the sayd abbay a leper an abhomynable and as thenne proued bothe of nose and eyen by corupcyon of the sayd seeknesse the blessyd saynt lowys admynystred humbly puttyng knelyng with his owne handes bothe mete and drynke wythin the mowthe of the sayd leper wythoute ony abhomynacion The abbotte there presente wyche vnnethe myght see that wepte and syghed pyteously and how be it that to al Indygente he openyd the bosom of myserycorde Neuerthelesse to them that watched in deuyne seruyces and that prayed for sowles he maad gretter almoses and ofter And by the grete almose that he dalte euery yere to the couentes in parys bothe of the freres predycatours and mynours sayd somtyme to his famylyers O god how this almose is wel sette or bestowed on so moche and so grete nombre of freres affluyng comyng to parys oute fro alle londes for to lerne the deuyne scryptures and to th ende they myght shewe and vtter them thorugh al the world to the cure and saluacyon of sowles Other almoses that he dyd thorugh the yere no tunge shold suffyse for to reherce it He worshypped the holy relyques wyth moche grete deuocyon and assyduelly grewe the cultyuyng of god and thonour of the sayntes He bylded in parys a fayr chapel within the paleys ryalle in which he purposed and put ryght dylygently the holy crowne of thorne of our lord wyth a grete parte of the holy crosse Also the yron or heed of the spere wherwyth the syde of our lord was openyd wyth many other relyques whiche he receyued of the emperour of constantynoble He wold speke to no body whyle that he was at chyrche heryng the deuyne seruyce wythoute it were for grete nede or grete vtylyte of the comyn wele And thenne wyth shorte and substauncyous wordes vtteryd that he wold say to th ende that hys deuocyon shold not be letted He myght not here ne forbere the reproches or blasphemyes doon to the crysten feythe but he ennamoured of the loue of god as phynees punysshed them right greuously wherof it hefyl that a cytezeyn of parys who lothely sweryng had blasphemxed Ihesu Cryste ageynst the acte or statute ryal whiche saynt lowys by the counceyl of the prelates and prynces had ordeyned and made for the swerars and blasphematours at the commaundement of the sayd saynt he was marked or tokened at the lyppes of hym with an hote and brennyng yron in sygne of punycyon of his synne and terrour and dredefulnesse to alle other And how for cause of that he heryng somme say cast in on hym many cursynges sayd I wold fayne susteyn on my lyppes suche laydure or shame as longe as I shal lyue soo that alle the euyl vyce of sweryng were lefte and caste out from alle our royame He had the sygnacle or fygure of the holy crosse in soo right grete reuerence that he eschewed to trede on hit and requyred of many relygyous that wythin theyr chyrcheyerde and tombes they ne shold fro thens forthon pourtraye nor pycte the forme or fygure of the crosse and that the crosses so portrayed and fygured they shold make to be â—laned O how grete reuerence he 〈◊〉 He also wente euery yere on the good fryday to the chappel within the paleys ryal for to worshyp there the holy crosse knelyng bothe feet and heed bare O dylygente dyscutyng of causes and maters he rendred or yelded Iuste Iugemente O veray dyâ—â—ccyon or loue he doubtyng that the stryf aâ—â—ions and pletynges of the poure shold come onely to the presence and knowlege of hys counceyllours he wente presyded emonge them at the leste twyes in a weke for to here the playntes whiche lightely he made to be dyscuted and sone after Iustelye Iuged He stablysshed also for to haue aweye the brennyng couetyse of the vserers that no Iustycer shold compelle ne constrayne them that were bouÌ„den to the Iewes or to other publyke vsurers by letters ne by none other manere to paye or yelde to them theyr vsure or growyng in the ende after the cours or rennyng of many yerys vnderstondyng and by trewe reporte knowyng the desolacyon perplexyte and the perylles of the holy londe as another machabeus wyth hys sones not wyllyng that the crysten folke holy persones shold susteyn
womans eye in fourme of a litel whelk rede as ony blood to whom saynt aulbyn makyng the sygne of the crosse sayd thou wycked spyryte thou shalte not destroye the eye whiche thou madest not nor cannest make And anone the same lytel whelke beganne to blede as one had flymed hit the enemye thenne Wente from hyr whyche in good helthe was lefte and of hir wytte restoryd ¶ After our englysshe tunge albinus is as moche for to say as primo as he whyte quia albinus dicitur quasi albus and thus thys holy saynt was al whyte by purete of clene lyuyng secundo as he that in hym self hath bountee or goodnes Sic albinus dicitur quasi bonus and veraylye thys holy bysshop was good tercio as he that by vygour or force flyeth to the spirytualte Sic albinus dicitur alas bi nas habens that is to wete hope and feyth therwyth this holy saynt was replenysshed It is redde that saynt aulbyn had ij wyues that is to Wete two nourysses Whicbe dyd nourysshe hym wherof the proces or taale is suche saynt aulbyn lyeng in his cradel was lefte allone doubtyng none Inconuenyente in a gardyn a she wolfe came rauysshed the chylde bare it in to the feldes two maydens thenne passed that waye perceyued the chylde cam thyder as he laye on therthe hauyng pyte on hym one of them two sayd wold to god I had mylke to foustre the wythal these wordes thus sayd she saw hir pappes that grewe roos vp were fylled with mylke she thenne toke the chylde gafe gym sowke semblably said prayed the other mayde anone she had mylke as hir felawe had so they two nourysshed the holy chylde aulbyn It happed on a tyme as the normans in grete nombre of men of armes came in to the contreye Where the holy corps of saynt aulbyn restyd the peple there so sore they trauaylled that they ne wyste where to become flee and a man armed alle in whyte came emonge the sayd peple sayd why doubte you to sawte and befyghte your enemye so that ye haue saynt aulbyn to your helpe deffence that sayd he vanysshed awaye wherfore the peple toke courage and armyd them wente ageynst their enemyes dyscomfyted them Saynt Aulbyne was buryed at angers whan hys successour wold haue translated hym in to a gretter chappel in the presence of saynt germayn many other moo cam thyder foure men counterfeted lame in al their membris also two blynde men whiche alle vj were there by the merites of saynt aulbyn releuyd in to their good helthe that is to wete the countrefayted redressyd of their membris the blynde enlumyned This holy saynt aulbyn Was bysshop of angers by the space of twenty yere vj monethes whos sowle toke his syege in paradyse the yere of his natyuyte four score there as by the merytes of hym may lede vs the fader the sone the holy ghoost AMEN ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saint Aulbyne Here begynneth the noble historye of thexposicion of the masse FOr herte deuoute to vnderstonde what it is to say masse also to consecrate the body of our lord the precious sacrament of th aulter It is to knowe that the masse may be comprysed in four partyes principal the first parte dureth from the begynnyng of the masse vnto thofferyng the second dureth from thoffryng to the pater noster said the third parte dureth fro the pater noster vnto the persepcion the fourth parte dureth fro the percepcion vnto th ende of the masse as towchyng the first parte that is the begynnyng of the masse vnto thoffrynge It is to vnderstonde that the preest whiche is as he that sheweth the waye of god to the peple or he reuesteth hym wyth the chezuble he begynneth and saith a psalme that is in the thyrd nocturne of the psaulter the which psalme begynneth Iudica me deus discerne in the same psalme he asketh iiij thynges the fyrst is that he may be parted from al euyl companye the second is that he may be delyuerd fro al euyl temptacio◠the thyrd is that he may be of the holy ghoost enlumyned the fourth is that Ihesu crist gyue hym self to be consecrate by hym to the entente he may the more surely deuoutely consecrate the sayd sacramente he confesseth hym self generally of al his synnes sayeng his confiteor by the which confiteor he sheweth four thynges fyrst he sheweth hym self worthy of redargucion or rebuke secondly he sheweth hym self playne of contricion thirdly he requyreth ayde of them that are aboute hym that he may haue remyssyon of his synnes fourthly he demaūdeth of our lord veray absolucyon the preest after kysseth th aulter the which kyssyng sygnefyeth vnyte dyleccion in shewyng how our lord wold vnye or Ioyne our humanyte to his dyuynytee by grete loue take the chirche for his owne spouse wherfore the holy chyrche may say thus Quasi sponsam decorauit me corona et quasi sponsam ornauit me monilibus That is to saye that our lord as his propre spouse hath aourned or cladde me with thynges precyous The preest after that draweth hym to the ryghte parte or syde of the aulter sygnefyeng how god Whan he had taken our humanyte after his passyon by the vertue of hys resurrexyon he translated hym on the ryght hande of the fader and there the preest begynneth thyntroyte of the masse the which sygnefyeth the comyng of our lord Ihesu cryste how he wold come in to the world the whiche comyng thauncient faders prophetes and patryarkes and the feythful peple of our lord desyred moche ardantlye and for that they cryed wyth an hyghe voys said Emitte agnum domine dominatorem terre Syeng thus to god the fader Syr we praye the that thou wylt sende the swete lambe hauyng domynacion in al erthe and to god the sone they sayd thus Veni domine noli tardare That is for to saye we praye the that thou wylt come hastelye and tarye not Secondly the sayd Introyte signefyeth how the preest oweth to entre the seruyce of god and for thys foloweth a verse of the psaulter after the sayd Introyte suche as apperteyneth to the day the whiche verse sygnefyeth how we ought to putte our handes ioyntelye prayeng to hym deuoutelye for he is made as our propre brother in takyng our humanytee for to shewe vs the waye of trouthe After foloweth Gloria patri the whiche sygnefyeth preysyng and lawde to the fader the sone and the holy ghoost For after good werkes ought to folowe lawdyng preysyng after that the preest repeteth the Introyte of the masse to the ende that the desyres of the auncyent faders prophetes and patryarkes may the better be shewed After the preest begynneth and sayth thre tymes kyryeleyson that is to vnderstonde to the fader and thre tymes xpēleyson to the sone and thre
good offeryng toward hym and after the preest sayth Oremus Incytyng vs to honoure and to praye god thenne he sayth the offrytorye After the preest taketh the lydde of the chalys on whyche is the hoost whyche oweth to be conuertyd to the body of our lord and offreth it to god the fader sayeng Suscipe sancte pater c̄ Fader wylte thou receyue thys hoostye wythoute tatche or spotte the whyche I thy seruaunte vnworthy offre to the as to my god veray and certeyn for al the synnes that I haue doo without nombre and also for alle them that are here aboute me and for al the fyables of god that are on lyue and for alle them that are passed out of thys world to thentente that thys oblacion may be prouffytable to me and to them to the saluacyon of our sowles in the lyf parmanable or euerlastyng After the preest maketh comyxcyon of wyne and water to gyder and here it is to wete that by the sayd water is vnderstonde the people and the wyne representeth our lord in sygnefyeng that the sayd Water and wyne shewen to vs humylyte and also the comyxyon that the peple oweth to haue with god It may be sayd also that thys water is medlyd wyth the sayd wyne for thys that bothe blood water yssued out of the syde of our lord and for thys he sayth Deus qui humane substancie c̄ In the whiche oryson he prayeth for alle to the ende that by the vertue of the same myxyon the people may be vnyed to god by veray loue dyleccion after the preest offeryth the chalys to god sayeng offerrimus tibi In sygnefyeng how our lord Ihesu cryste offeryd hym self to god the fader crucefyed on th aulter of the crosse for our helthe after the preest couereth the chalyce for this that none ordure shold touche to that holy sacrefyse after maketh a crosse ouer the hoostye and ouer the chalys sayeng Venisanctificator c̄ that is as moche to say as kynge almyghty I praye the that thou wylte blesse or halowe thys sacrefise in thy swete name for hert deuoute to haue pardon after the preest draweth hym self to the ryght syde of the aulter in representyng our lord and there he receyueth the offrynges of the creatures thenne the peple by deuocyon come and offreth to the ensaumple of the peple of god which peple offryd wythin the temple of salamon to god One offryd golde the other syluer other offeryd brede and other offeryd wyne and other dyuers maners of offrynges after the preest wessheth his handes For it apperteyneth that soo precyous a sacramente be worthely clenely made after he draweth hym self euen in the myddes of the aulter and there he maketh a depe enclynacion sayeng Suscipe sancta rinitas c̄ And the same Inclynacion may sygne fye the Inclynacyon of god Whyche enclyned hym after the sacramente to the feet of the appostles and prayed to god the fader After he kysseth the aulter in sygnefyeng that the vertu of the passion peaseth the creatures to hym After the preest retourneth hym selfe toward the folke and sayth Orate pro me fratres c̄ in thys he prayeth the peple that they wyl praye god for hym ¶ For that is none other thynge to say but right dere brethern praye you god that I may make this sacrefyse worthely so that I may see god ioyously after the preest retourneth hym toward the aulter and begynneth his orysons secrete the whiche are sayd for the same cause for whiche the fyrst orysons ben sayd as many in nombre and it is to wete that these orysons are sayd softely and secretelye for thys that the preest is nyghe the sacramente and therfore he wyl haue none empesshemente or lettyng neyther by wys ne by manere For our lord to the entente he myght more secretelye honour and praye he wente from hys dyscyples as ferre as a stone myght he throwen These orysons here ben also sayd lowe or secretelye for thys that whan our lord had reysed lazarus the Iewes wold haue sleyne hym Wherfore he drewe hym self in to the cyte of effraym in a place al allone and fro that tyme he cessyd his predycacion vnto palme sonday euen Thenne he came to the hows of Symon and openlye began to preche and for thys the preeste at th ende of hys orysons in dressyng his handes vp on hye sayth Per omnia secula seculoram and for thys that he is as messager to god for the peple the people heeryng thys message answereth amen and there the preest begynneth the preface the whiche is so called for that it is the preparacion or fyrst apparayl that gooeth before the sacrefyse pryncypal and therfore he saleweth in sayeng dominus vobiscum in sayeng that We prepare or make vs redy so that our lord may be and dwelle wyth vs and the peple answeryth et cum spiritu tuo And thus the peple the preest bothe prayen eche for other after the preest Incytyng vs sayth Sursum corda that is to say that the peple haue her herte vpon hye toward god thenne answereth the peple Habemus ad dominum that is to say we haue them to god And therfore the people that there in suche houre or in that tyme hath not sette her herte to god may of lyght lye after the preest sayth Gracias agamus domino deo nostro that is to say yelde we graces and thankynges to god For yf the people in that tyme hath somme deuocyon they ought to lawde and thanke god therfore for thys the clerke for alle the people answereth dignum et iustum est Ryght euen so as we wold say worthy and lawful thynge is to lawde god Iuste thynge is to honoure hym and there the preest maketh mencyon how the aungels archaungellys and alle the courte of heuen preysen and lawden god and for thys at th ende he prayeth that with that forsayd companye we alle may prayse and lawde god sayeng wyth ferme deuocion sanctus sanctus sanctus the whiche wordes folowen after the preface for ryght euen there the preest representyng our moder holy chyrche hauyng hope to be accompanyed with bothe aungels and archaungels confermyth hym self to them sayth sanctus c̄ and it is to wete that thys sanctus is deuyded in two partyes the fyrste parte conteyneth the lawdyng of the aungellys and the seconde conteyneth the lawdyng of the people The preest thenne as to the fyrst parte he may represente thaungellys of heuen of the whyche it is redde in the book of ysaye the prophete that the seraphyns cryed with an hygh wys one to another sanctus sanctus sanctus c̄ In prayeng to the trynyte sayeng holy fader holy sone and holy spyryte alle erthe is replenysshed wyth thy glorye As to the second parte he may represente the peple of Israel of the whyche we rede that whan our lord descended fro the montayne of olyuette
accipium nomen domini Inuocabo al nys other thynge to say what shal I retribuâ— or yelde to our lord of alle his benefaytes and goodes by hym doon and gyuen to me after he taketh the chalys sayeng caâ—icem cÌ„ I shal take the chalys of my helthe and shal calle the name of god lawdyng hym callyng our lord I shal be delyuerd and kepte from alle myn enemyes that is to wete fro alle my synnes and euyl temptacions of the deuyl After the preest makyng the signe of the crosse saith ouer the chalice Sanguis domini nostri Ihesu cristi custodiat animam meaÌ„ in vitam eternam amen that is to say the precyous body and blood of our lord wyl kepe my sowle in euerlastyng lyf amen sythe deuoutely and reuerentelye the preest taketh the blood of Ihesu Cryste And after he draweth hym self to the corner of the aulter where he taketh wyne wetyng his fyngres ouer the chalys to the entente that noo thynge ne may remayne of that precious sacramente and that doyng the preest sayth two orysons the fyrst begynneth thus Quod ore sumpsimus domine cÌ„ that is to say Lord thys that we haue taken wyth mowthe Wyte that we fele it wyth herte to the ende hyt may be remedye to vs ageynst alle temporalle and wycked thoughtes The second oryson is Corpus tuum quod ego Indignus cÌ„ That is as moche for to say Lord I praye the that the precyous body and precious blood that I haue taken as vnworthy me wyl in suche manere clarefye that none ordure or fylthe ne no fawte may remayne or abyde wythin me after these two orysons fynysshed that are before said the preest enclyneth hym and rendreth graces to god sayeng Agimus tibi grâ—cias cÌ„ that is to say thus Lord that arte reygnyng in heuen We rendre and yelde to the graces lawdynges of al thy benefaytes receyued of vs After he wessheth his handes at the pyscyne or lauer for this that no thynge of the sacramente ne may abyde at his handes and therfore that water there ought to be caste in the pyscyne or in to somme clene place where men may not trede on it and it is to wete that the preest wessheth his handes thre tymes at masse that is to Wete at the begynnyng of hit the second at myddes of the masse that is to wete at offerynge and the laste is after the percepcyon of the masse And thys purgemente or wasshyng may sygnefye the purete and clennesse that the preest oughte to haue ¶ In herte by good thoughtes in mowthe by good and honeste spekyng and in his nedes or besynesse to werke trewely and wel And after the preest sayth the postcommunyon whiche is so named postcommunyon For thys that it is sayd after the preest hath receyued the precyous sacramente of the aulter And that sygnefyeth the ioye that our lord gaue to hys dyscyples For the appostles and dyscyples of god had grete ioye of the holy resurrexyon wherof it is sayd in the holy euangylle Gauisi sunt discipuli viso domino cÌ„ that as moche is to say the dyscyples of god be fayne and gladde by cause they haue seen our lord ¶ After the percepcion the preest kysseth the aulter in betokenyng that in very loue he assenteth and consenteth to byleue fermelye al the mysterye of that precyous sacramente and ryght there he retourneth hym self and salueth the peple sayeng Dominus vobiscum to the ende that the people be Incyted to make deuoute oryson and therfore he sayth Oremus and there the preest sayth as many orysons as he sayd at the begynnyng of the masse and for that same cause betokenyng that in al good werke oryson ought to be begynnyng myddel and ende of hit And at the ende of these orysons the preest concludeth sayeng Per dominum nostrum cÌ„ In betokenyng that this that we aske is in the swete name of our lord reygnyng with the fader and wyth the holy ghoost and there the peple answereth amen After the preest kysseth yet ageyn the aulter sythen retourneth hym and salueth the peple sayeng Dominus vobiscum and these two laste salutes may represente and sygnefye this that our lord after his resurrexyon salued his appostles two tymes sayeng thus Pax vobis iterum pax vobis pees be wyth you by vnyte of grete loue and yet ageyn pees be wyth you swete and good in the glorye and blysse of paradyse After al these orysons beforesayd ensoweth Ite missa est and here is to wete that the masse fynyssheth in thre maners fyrst the masse fynyssheth by Ite missa est and that is at alle tymes that Gloria in excelcis is sayd and the vnderstondyng may be suche sayeng creature goo after our lord ensyewe hym by good werkys It may be sayd also that thys Ite missa est betokeneth thys that whan the aungel had anounced the shepherdes the ioye and myrthe of the holy natyuyte of our lord Ihesu cryste they wente to the place where our lord Ihesu cryste was ryght euen so as they had vnderstonde Ite missa est goo ye for our lord is sente for your redempcion and therfore the shepherdes regracyed and lawded god Wyth al their vertue and force and therfore the peple answereth and sayth deo gracias that is to say god be lawded and regracyed of it Secondly the masse fynyssheth by benedicamus domino Ryght so as the preest wold saye blesse we god of al his goodes and with herte lawde and preyse we hym and vpon this the peple answereth deo gracias god be gracyed and thanked Thyrdly the masse fynyssheth wyth requiescant in pace that is at a masse sayd for the dede to the ende that the sowles for whome the preest hath sayd the masse may haue reste in lyf pardurable and therfore the peple answereth amen that is to say thy prayer be herde and enhaunced after that the preest blessyth the peple the whyche blessyng may sygnefye this that the holy ghoost was sente to the appostles for the promesse of god that he had doon to them sayeng Accepietis virtutem spiritus sancti venientis in vos cÌ„ That is to say ye shal take the vertu of the holy ghoost comyng in you by cause that the holy ghoost was sente by the trynyte Therfore maketh the preest that same blessyng in the name of the fader of the sone of the holy ghoost ¶ Secondly that blessyng wherof our lord spekyth to hys appostles sayth Venite benedicti patris mei percipite regnum cÌ„ that is to say come after me the blessyd of god my fader take the possessyon of my royalme Thyrdly the sayd blessyng may sygnefye that blessyng that our lord made whan he wold ascende vnto heuen to th ende that by deuoute oryson he may ascende after hym in to the blysse of paradyse and therfore he sone enclyneth hym self and
by the myracles of saynt marke he demaunded pardon and wente to be nyse to saynt marke with his seruauÌ„te There was a knyght on a tyme soo hurte in batayle that his honde hynge on the arme in suche wise that his frendes and surgyens counceylled hym to cutte it of but he that was acustomed to be hoole was ashamed to be maymed and made hit to be bounde in his place and after he called moche deuoutely to saynt marke and anone hys hande was as hole as it had ben tofore And in the wytnesse of this myracle a sygne of the cuttyng abode stylle Another tyme there was a knyght armed whiche ranne vpan a brydge and his hors and he fyl in a depe water and whan he saw he myght not esâ—â—pe be cryed on saynt marke and anone he raughte hym a spere by whyche he was saued and for this cause he came anone in pylgremage to venyse tolde thys myracle There was a man taken by enuye of them that hated hym and was put in pryson And whan he had been there xl dayes and was moche greuyd he cryed on saynt marke And whan saynt marke had apperyd thryse he supposed that it had be a fantasye atte last he felte his yrons broken as it had ben a roten threde and passyd by the kepars of the pryson openlye by day he seyng them al but none of them sawe hym and after came to the chyrche of saynt marke and thanked god deuoutelye ¶ It happed in poylle was grete famyne the londe was bareyn that no thynge myght growe theron Thenne was hit shewed by reuelacion to an holy man that it was bycause that they halowed not the feste of saint marke And whan they knewe thys anone they halowed the feste of saynt marke And anone began to growe grete plente of goodes thorugh out all the contree It happed at papye in the couente of the freres prechours in the yere of our lord MijCxlj that a frere a moche relygyous man was seke vnto the deth named Iulyanus whiche sente for his pryour for to demaunde hym in what state he was in and he tolde hym that he was in perylle of dethe and that it approched faste And anone his face was al bryght and ioyeful and with gladnes he began to say fayr brethern my sawle shal departe anone Make rome and place for my sowle ioyeth in my body for the good tydynges that I haue herde And lyfte vp his eyen into heuen sayd lord god take aweye my sowle out of thys pryson after he sayd alas who shal delyuer me fro this corrupte and mortal body Emonge thyse wordes he fyl in a syght slepe and sawe saynt marke come to kym and stondyng by his beddes syde and he herde a voys sayeng to hym O marke what makest thou here he answerd that he was come to vysyte this frere bycause he shold deye Thenne he demauÌ„ded hym woherfore he came more thenne another saynt he answerd by cause he had a specyal deuocion to me and bycause he hath ofte deuoutely vysyted my chirche And therfore am I come to vysyte hym in the houre of his deth Thenne entryd in to that place grete plente of people alle whyte to whome saynt marke demaunded wherfore they were comen And they sayd and answerd that they were comen for to presente the sowle of thys broder tofore god and whan the frere was waked he sente for the pryour and tolde to hym aduysedly al this vysyon and after anone in the presence of the pryour he deyed wyth grete ioye And alle thys the pryour recounted to hym that wrote thys book named Legenda aurea ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of Saynt marke theuangelyste Here foloweth of saynt Marcelyn the pope SAynt marcelyn was pope of rome by the space of ix yere and four monethes In his tyme reygned dyoclesyan maxymyan emperours of rome the which commaunded that he shold be taken and broughte in to the temple for to doo sacrefyse to the ydolles and whan he Wold not assente the mynystres of themperours menaced hym that they wold make hym deye by dyuerse tormentes And whan he herde that he had so grete drede that he put in theyr sacrefyse two graynes of enâ—â—nce onely wherof the paynyms had grete ioye And the cristen men had ryght grete sorowe and reprehended hym gretely of that he had suche a thynge doon ageynst the crysten feythe and anone he repented hym put hym self to the Iugement of the bysshoppes But the bysshoppes answerd god forbede that it neuer falle that the pope of the crysten peple whyche is souerayn be Iuged of ony man but be he Iuged of hym self and anone he deposyd hym selfe and after the crysten men chosen hym ageyn to be pope as he Was tofore And whan thys came to the knowlege of themperours thenne they dyd do take hym and bycause that he wold in no wyse do sacrefyse to the ydolles they made to smyte of his heed And thenne the persecucion wodenes was so grete of the paynyms ageynste the crysten people that wythin a moneth after Were put to deth for the name of Ihesu cryste and for to susteyne the crysten faythe wel a xvijM cristen peple Marcelyn in the houre that he shold be beheded sayd tofore all the peple that he was not worthy to be buryed emonge crysten peple and therfore he commaunded vpon payne of cursyng that none shold burye his body and so the body of hym abode aboue the erthe xxxv dayes wythout buryeng After saint Peter thappostle apperid to marcel whiche Was pope after marcellyn and said to hym in thys manere Marcel fayre fader why buryest thou not me And he answerd syr be ye not longe sythe buryed And Saynt Peter sayd I holde me not buryed as longe as I see marcellyn not buryed the pope answerd how syr knowe not ye how he acursyd alle them that burye hym and saynt Peter sayd is it not wreten that he that meketh hym self shal be enhaunced thys sholdest thou haue thoughte Goo thenne and burye hym at my feet And anone the pope dyd his commaundemente and buryed the body of saynt marcellyn hastelye Whiche was marterd the yere of our lord ijC and lxxx yere Thenne praye we to hym that he praye for vs ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt marcellyn the pope Of saynt vytal marter fyrst of thynterpretacyon of his name UYtal is as moche to saye as suche one lyuyng for he lyued wythout forthe lyke as he was in hys herte wythin Or vytal is as moche to saye as lyf Or vytal is to say fleyng Wyth wynges or fleyng hym self with Wynges of vertues he was as one of the bestes that ezechyel sawe hauyng in hym self four wynges the wynge of hope by whiche he flewe in to heuen The wynge of loue by whiche he flewe to god The wynge of drede by whiche he flewe to helle and the wynge of knowlege by whiche he flewe to
that they shold goo to saynt denys the wode men answerd that they myght not but she vnbonde them the virgyn which was for them in grete sorowe commaūded them that they shold goo thenne anone they suffred them to be ledde secretely theyr handes bounde behynde their backes she wente after them whan she was in the chirche of saynt denys she stratched hir self on the grounde in orisons in wepynges Thus as she perseueryd in prayers and wepynges the wode men cryed with an hygh voys that they approched whome the vyrgyn callyd in to their helpe none ought to doubte that the enemye that sawe that he must nedys yssue goo out signefyed by the mowthe of the demonyaks that the appostles marters other sayntes that the holy virgyn callyd came vnto hyr helpe by the yefte of god which is redy to do the wylle of them that drede hym calle hym in trouthe whan the holy vyrgyn herde this that they said She aroos vp and blessyd eche after other with the sygne of the crosse anone they were delyuerd of the enemyes They that were presente felte soo grete stenche that they doubted no thynge but tho sowles were delyuerd fro the vexacion of the deuyl blessyd our lord for this myracle There was at bourges a damoysel which herde speke of the grete renomee of this holy saynt came to parys for to speke to hir she had ben sacred but after the consecracion she had loste hir vyrgynyte the holy genouefe demaunded of hir yf she was a vyrgyn nonne or wyf or a wydowe She answerd that she was a vyrgyn sacred Geneuefe sayd nay tellyng to hir the place tyme of hir defloracion the man that had done the feyte Whan she sawe that it was for nought that she sayd she was a vyrgyne her conscience remorsed hir and fyl doun to hir feet in requyryng pardon In semblable wyse the holy genouefe dyscouerd to many the secretes of theyr consciences whiche ben not here wryton by cause it were ouer noyous longe to wryte A woman whome the holy vyrgyn had helyd had a chylde of the age of foure yere whiche fyl in a pyt he was therin the space of thre houres the moder came and drewe it out and bare it al deed vnto the saynt in rendyng hyr heyre and betyng hir breste and pappes and wepyng bytterly and layed the chylde dede at hyr feet The holy vyrgyn couerd hit with hyr mantel and after she fyl doun in hyr prayers and wepte and anone after whan she cesyd of hyr wepyng our lord shewyd a fayre myracle for the chylde that was deed reuyued the whiche was baptysed at ester after was named celonyer by cause she was reysed in the celle of saynt Genouefe There came fro meaux a man to thys holy vyrgyne whyche had hys hande dryed vnto the wreste and she handled his ioyntes and fyngres and maad theron the sygne of the crosse and anone the hande became alle hool Geneuefe that knewe wel that our lord Ihesu cryste was baptysed the day of epyphanye and after wente in to deserte in gyuyng enseygnement to them that ben regenerate in the sacramente of baptesme to faste wake and adoure besely and to accomplysshe by werke the grace that they haue taken in the baptesme by the ensaumple of swete Ihesu cryste Thenne entryd the holy vyrgyn in to hyr celle the sonday tofore the sayd feste and abode there as recluse vnto the thursday absolute in wakyng in prayers in fastynges and orysons Thyder came a woman to see hir more for curyosyte than for good feythe And therfore god punysshed hyr Far assone as she approched the dore of the celle she loste hyr syght and became blynde But the holy mayde by hir debonayrte by hir prayer gate hir syght ageyn and by the sygne of the holy crosse whan she yssued out of hyr celle in the ende of lente ¶ In the tyme that the cyte of parys was assyegyd by the terme of ten yere lyke as thauncyent hystoryes reherce that there folowed so grete famyne and hungre that many deyed for hungre The holy vyrgyne that pyte constrayned hir wente to the sayne for to goo fetche at name somme vytaylles whan she came vnto a place of sayne where as of custome shyppes were wonte to perysshe She made the shyppe to be drawen to the ryuage and commaunded to cutte doun a tree that was in the water and she sette hyr to prayer Thenne as the shyppes shold haue smyton vpon the tree hit fyl doun And two wylde heedys graye and horryble yssued therout which stanke so sore that the peple there were enuenymed by the space of two houres and neuer after perysshed shyp there thāke be to god and to hys holy saynt Vnto arcy the castel wente thys holy vyrgyne and there came ageyn hyr a grete lord whiche requyred hir that she wold vysyte his wyf whyche had had longe tyme the palseye The holy vyrgyn wente and uysyted hyr which had ben longe seek wyth prayers and orysons and after blessyd hyr wyth the sygne of the crosse commaunded hyr that she shold aryse She thenne that had ben four yere seek myght not helpe hyr self aroos seyng alle the people whyche thanked our lord Fro arcy she wente to troyes in champayn the peple came to mete with hir and offred to hir grete multitude of seek people wythout nombre She blessyd them and sygned them wyth the sygne of the crosse Incontynente they were helyd in the syght of al the people whiche meruayled moche and rendryd thankynges to our lord There was brought to hyr a man whiche by the pugnycion of god was made blynde by cause he wrought on the sonday and a blynde mayde also the holy vyrgyne blessyd them in the name of the fader and sone and of the holy ghoost and anone theyr syght was restored to them There was a subdeken presente and sawe thys he wente and fette a chylde whyche had ben seke x yere of the febres right sore the holy vyrgyn dyd do brynge holy water and blessyd it and gaue hym drynke and that doon by the grace of god the chylde was in good helthe In this tyme many toke of the cuttynges of hir vesture by deuocyon wherof many seek were helyd and many vexyd by spyrytes were delyuerd remysed in to theyr good mynde Fro arcy retorned the holy vyrgyne to parys wyth xj shyppes charged wyth vytayl wynde tempeste orage assayled them soo strongely that they wende to haue perysshed without remedye the holy vyrgyn lyfte vp hyr handes to heuen requyryng helpe of our lord and anone the tempeste cessed Thēne bessus a preest that was present and sawe it whiche tofore had tremblid for fere began to synge for ioye cantemus domino gloriose Al that there were thanked our lord that had saued them by the prayer of the damoysel geneuefe whan the goodes came to parys