to fulfyll in dede Hooly the statutes and mekely to obeye Within the temple as I here hem rede For but thou helpe I may no thynge spede As of my lyfe therfore vnto the All I coÌ„mytte as thou list it be ¶ The obseruaunces the preceptes all That to thy temple o lorde ben partynent So let thy grace by mercy on me falle That I may do hem with all myn hole enteÌ„ts And euery byddyng and coÌ„maundement That thy mynystres assygnen vnto me Make me fulfille with al humylite ¶ And thy temple thy holy house Benygne lorde kepe me from all damage And make thy people to be vertuouse To thy pleasaunce of euery maner age Therfore to serue with herte hoole corage And where they erre lorde on any syde Or thou do right let mercy be her guyde ¶ And thus this mayde alway day by day In the temple makith her prayers To please god what she can or may The chyef resorte of all her desyres Tyll she attayne to fourtene yeres With herte auowyd bothe in thought dede For to contynue in her maydenhede ¶ Of whose entent god wote ful vnware Wherin suÌ„me of them that in the temple abyde Of whiche a bisshope callyd Abyathar Cast hym fully for to sette a syde Her purpose playnly an so for to prouyde That her auowe made of chastyte Shulde not holde but vtterly that she ¶ Shold be wedded sothely yf he myght Unto his sone of hygh affection For that she in euery wyghtes sight So passyng good of condicion And to fulfyll his entencion Abyathar byhoteth golde and rente To the bisshoppes to make her to assente ¶ To this purpose to her they gone And what they may they gan her excite And to afferme to her euerichone With sugred tonges of many wordes whyte That god aboue doth hym more delyte In birthe of children than in virgynite Or any suche auowyd chastite ¶ And more in children is honoured in certayn And more in hem hath he his pleasaunce Than in suche as ben not but barayn Without fruyt thorowe mysgouernauÌ„ce And holy wrytte makith remembraunce That no man was sothely for to tell Without seed blessed in Israell ¶ To whom anone with loke downe cast chere Benygnely in full humble wyse This holy mayde sayd as ye shull here Certes quod she yfye will you auyse Whiche in your selfe so prudent ben and wyse And well aduerte in your discressioune That Abell somtyme had a dowble croune ¶ One for his faithfull trewe sacrifise Offryng to god of humble herte and free And another as I shall deuyse For he his body kept in chastite And Ely eke as ye may rede and see For he in herte was a mayden clene He was rauysshed aboue the sterres seuene ¶ Body and all in a chare of fyre For he hym kepte from all corrupcion Therfore in vayne is playnly your desyre To speke with me of this opynion For god wel knoweth myn entencyon Howe I haue vowyd as it to hym is couthe To be a mayde fro my tender y outhe ¶ And all my lyfe so forth to perseuere For lyfe or deth onely for his sake From whiche purpose shall I not disseuere Thorowe his grace whether I slepe or wake To kepe and holde I haue vndertake My maydenhede siâ—hen go full yore Agaynst whiche ne spekith to me nomore ¶ And whan they sawe her herte not mutable But euer stedfast of one affeccion And euer eliâ—he as one centre stable They haue made a conuocacion Of all the kynredes in conclusion The eyght day for to come in fere By one assent to â—râ—â—e of this matere ¶ This is to say that of olde vsage Oâ— custome kepe for a memoriall That euery mayde of fourtene yere of age Riche and poore of the stocke ryall In the temple no lenger dwell shall But be statute shall be take and maryed By the lawe and no lenger taryed â–ª ¶ And whan they were assembled al in one Isacar in opyn audyence Gan to pronounce afore hem euerichone Ful prudently the suÌ„me of his sentence And said siâ—es with your pacience So yt your eres offende not ne greue Declare I shal my meynyng with your leue ¶ If ye remembre sithen Salamon the kynge Of Israel ceptre bare and crowne In this temple so ryal in byldyng Haue yong maydens by deuysion Of custome had her conuersacion Bothe kynges doughters prophytes ake As ye may fynde yf ye lyst to seke ¶ But to the age of fourtene yere Abyden here and no lenger of spake As ye wel knowe withouten any were And than be remeuyd from her place And in her stede other dyd pace As custome was eche in her lynage Delyuerd was vnto mariage ¶ And as a lawe it hath be kept full trewe Unto this tyme in hygh lowe estate But now Marie hath fonde an ordre newe To kepe her clene and inuyolate Agaynst whiche there helpâ—th no debate For of fre chose and hertely volunte She hath to god auowed chastyte ¶ Wherfore me semeth it were well sittyng To her purpose by good discressyon Fyrst that we myght fully haue knowyng Of goddes wyll in this opynion For thant were a more perfeccion Her clene entente as semyth vnto me And eke the stronger of auctorite ¶ Fyrst that we myght knowe veryly To whose kepyng she shall commytted be And they assenten herto veraly Withouten more of hygh or lowe degre And of accorde of one vnyte The prestes all begonnen to procede To cast lotte downe by eche kynrede ¶ The whiche lotte on Iuda fyll anone As I suppos ethrogh goodes purueaunce And Isacar amonge hem euerichone Purposed hath a newe ordynaunce That euery wyght of that allyaunce That wyfles were withouten more delaye Shulde brynge a yerde agaynst the next daye ¶ And to the bisshop hyest of echone Eueryche of hem dyd his yerde brynge Amonge whiche Ioseph had brought one Though he were olde passed his likynge And he alone made his offerynge To god aboue and a sacrifyse In the olde lawe suche as was the guyse ¶ And god to hym than dyd appere And with the yeâ—des bad that he sholde gone And put them euerichone in fere Insancta sanctorum liggyng one by one And in the morowe to come agayne echone Eueriche his yerde to receyue agayne And vpon whiche yerde onely were seyne ¶ A downe appere and vp to heuen flee He shall haue without more obstacle Marie in kepyng so fayre vpon to see As it is right for the hygh myracle And whan they come to the tabernacle As ye haue herde the besshop deuoutely Eueriche his yerde delyuerd by and by ¶ But vtterly vpon none them of alle At thylke tyme was theyre nothyng sayne For godes heste was noughte ye ytallâ— Other desyre to put hem in certeyne Wherfore the bisshop with newe fyre agayne Entred is in to the senturye And whyle that he a whyle there gantarye ¶ Godes angell appered to hym newe Downe fro heuen by
entencion To make in figure a presentacion ¶ Of Christe Iesu with all her full might Signefied who so can take hede By the tapre that we offre light For tyrste the waxe betokeneth his manhede The weke his soule the fyre his godhede For as the waxe is made of newe Thorowe small bees of floures fresshe of hewe ¶ Thorowe clennes onely and diligent labours On blossomes gadred to hyue brought So Christes manhode growe out of a floure Whose fresshe beaute of coloure fadeth nought For a mayde clene in will and thought Lyche as waxe of floure sote and glade Is tryed out and dothe hem nat to fade ¶ So Christe Iesu conseruynge her clennes His manhode toke of a mayde fre She standynge hole flourynge in fayrenes With all the fresshenes of virginite And as a tapre is one to gether on thre So thylke lorde that is bothe thre and one Toke flesshe and blode to saue vs euerychone ¶ Of a mayde whiche this daye fro Bethleem Mekely wente to be purified To the Temple of Ierusalem As her toforne it is specified In whose honour this feste is magnefied Of all Christen men with fresshe tapres shene To signefye who so that will be clene ¶ Muste offre a taper to gether made of thre Of feythe and werke and true entencion For sothfastly but they conioyned be Withoute partynge or deuision Nother his offrynge ne oblacion Howe fayre outwarde playnly that it seme To god aboue it maye neuer queme ¶ And though his taper brenne bright all daye And enuiron make his light to shede If werke of fay the prolonged be awaye And true entent folowe nat the dede Fare well his guerdon his merite his mede For whan these thre be nat knytte in one â–ª He is nat able to offrynge for to gone ¶ For if these thre to gyder be nat meynte Feyth werke and hoole entencion His offrynge fareth but as a taper queynte That gyueth no light but brightnes enuiron For derke of dede from all deuocion His offrynge is but if this thre Be knette in one thorowe perfyte vnite ¶ Nowe Christe that art the sothfaste holy lighâ— The hert of man for to enlumyne Upon vs wretches for thy see so bright Lete the Sonne of thy mercy shyne For loue of her that is a pure virgyne Whiche on this daye to the Temple went Of mekenes onely the for to present ¶ Thorowe whose prayer lorde of thy might Graunte vs grace whan we be olde And shall dye to holde our tapers light Tofore thy see where that it is tolde Seuen Chaundelars all of pure golde Fresshely with light standeafore thy face Theder to come of mercy graunt vs grace ¶ And in this exyle where as we soiourne Graunt vs lorde whyle that we ben here In February as Phebus dothe retourne The circuite of his golden spere Upon this daye ay fro yere to yere With tapers fresshe and bright torches shene To kepe and halowe in honoure of that quene ¶ To whome this feste is in speciall Dedicat bothe of more and lasse Whiche bare her chylde in a litell stall Betwene an Oxe and a sely Asse And blessed quene this feste of Candelmasse To thy seruauntes shelde and socour be To kepe and saue from all aduersite ¶ Here endeth the boke of the lyfe of our Lady made by Dan Iohn Lydgate moÌ„ke of bury at thynstauÌ„ce of y e moste cristeÌ„ kynge kynge Henry the fyfth ¶ Go litell boke and submitte the Unto all them that the shall rede Or here prayenge hem for charite To pardon me of the rudehede Of myne enpryntynge nat takynge hede And if ought be done to theyr pleasynge Saye they these balades folowynge ¶ Sancte indiuidue Trinitate Iesu Christi crucifixi humanitati gloriose beate Marie virgini sit sempiterna gloria ab omni creatura per in finita seculorum secula Amen ¶ Unto the holy and vndeuided Trinite Thre persones in one very godhede To Iesu Christe crucefied humanite And to our blessed ladyes maydenhede Be gyuen laude and glorie in very 〈◊〉 Of euery creature what soeuer he be Worlde withouten ende Amen saye all we ¶ Benedictum sit dulcissime nomâ— Iesu Christi et gloriosissime Marie matris eius â—â—eterâ—uÌ„ vltra Nos cuÌ„ ê“le pâ—a bâ—dicat virgo Maria. Am◠¶ Blessed be the swettest name of our lorde Iesu Christe and moste glorious Marie His blessed mother with eternall accorde More than euer to endure in glorie And with her meke sone for memorie Blesse vs Marie the moste holy virgine That we reygne in heuen with the ordres nyne ¶ Here endeth the lyfe of our Lady ¶ Imprynted at London in the Fletestrete by me Robert Redman dwellynge in saynt Dunstones parysshe next y e churche In the yere of our lorde god M. CCCCC xxx I. The fyrste daye of the moneth of Nouembre
hestys to fulfyll And euer redy for to do his wyll Christes temple and also receptacle Of the holy ghoste and chosen tabernacle ¶ The yare of bruen â–ª and also the fayrnes Of women all whoso loketh a ryght Of may denhede lady and prynces One of the fyue that â—are her lampes lyght Redy to mete with her spouse at nyght Full prudently away â—ynge at the yare That for no stouthe she came not to late ¶ In fygure the â–ª the chaundelabre of golde That somtyme her seuen lampes shene This is to saye the receyâ—â— of the holde Of god preserued for she was so clene Thorowe her meryte endewed for to bene By grace of hym that is of power moste With the seuen yestes of the holy ghoste â–ª ¶ How one lady receynge the seuen yestes of the holy ghoste Ca. v. THe fyrste yeste â–ª was the yeste of drede To â—fthe 〈◊〉 â—he thynge thâ—â— shall god displesâ— The nexte pyte of veray women hede To rewe on all â–ª that she sawe in dysease The thyrde conuynge god and man to please The fourthe strâ—ng the thâ—râ— we her stedfastnesse Onely by vertue al vyces to oppresse ¶ Of counceyll the she had excellence To kepe her pure in virgynyte For ay with counceyll â—â—yed is prudence Of vnderstandynge eke the yeste had she For god hym selfe chose with her to be And of wysdome so god lyst her â—uaunce To knowe erhe thyuge that was to his plesauÌ„ce ¶ She was also the Trone voyde of synne That standeth so royall in godes owne syght To fore whiche seuen lampes brenne With heuenly fyre so spyrytuall of lyght That neuer wast but euer alyche bryght Contynued in one here aboue in heuen By the whiche Trone and the lampesseuen ¶ Is vnderstande this mayde moste entere With seuen vertues that in her were â—ounde That somtyme wereâ— w t ghostely lyght so clere Thorowe lyght of vertue in wâ—rdâ—ly â—â—coâ—nde Onely thorowe â—ence that dyd in her 〈◊〉 And all they were grounded in meâ—enes Her lyght to god more pleasauntly to distres ¶ For fayth in her had a grounde so stable That it was voyde of all doublenes Her hope of truste was also mayntynable Roâ—yd in god by parfyâ—e sykernes Whose charite so large gan hym dres That vp to god hasted ranne the fyre With herte of clennes to all by desyre ¶ Strâ—nge in vertue prubent in gouernaunce She hath also conueyed with clennes And â—oueraynly she had attempetaunce In all her werkes with grete aduysioneâ— And euer annexyd vnto righwysnes within her herte of womanly bounte She had of custome mercy and pyte ¶ Sothfaste ensample also of chastyre As sayeth Ambrose she was in thought and dedâ— And treue myrrour of virginite Of poorte benygne full of lowlyhede As humble of chere and feminine of drede Prudent of speche of what she lyste to shewe Large of sentence and but of wordes â—ewe ¶ To praye and rede that was euer her lyfe Of herte wâ—â—er by deuocyon To god alwey with thought contemplatyfe Ful â—eruent 〈…〉 And ydel neuer from 〈◊〉 And specially to 〈◊〉 Her hands was 〈◊〉 â—edy at the â—ede ¶ And full she was of compassyon To rewe in all that â—alt woo or smerte Well wylled euer with hole affeccion To euery wyght so longe was her herte Sad with all this that her neuer asterde A looke a â—â—s of her eyen fayre So close of sight was this debonayre ¶ And in Psalme of holy prophecye To loke and rede she founde most desyte And â—dan she sawe and founde in Isaye Of Cristys hyrthe how he dyd wryte To god she lyâ—â—e her tender handes whyte Besechyng hym she myght abyde and seâ— The blesfull day of his naâ—yuyâ—e ¶ And in the boke of Elyzabeth That â—yrulyd is of her auysions I synde howe this mayde of Nazareth Sayd euery day seuen orisons That callyd ben her peticions With humble herte this blesfull yonge mayde Full lowly knelyng euen thus she sayde ¶ How our lady prayed to god for seuen peticions Ca. v. O Blisfull lorde that knowest the entente Of euery herte in thyne eternal sight yeue me grace the first coÌ„maundement To fulfyll as it is skylle and ryght And graunt alâ—o with herte will and myght And all my soule and all my knowynge The fyrst to loue aboue all other thynge ¶ And giue me myght playnly to fulfyll The next biddinge like to thy plesaunce And for to loue with herte and all my wyll My neyghbour in dede and countenaunce Right as my selfe with euery circumstaunce And here with all for ioye and smerte What thou louest to loue with all myne herte â–ª ¶ Thy precepte graunt eke that I may Fulfyll also bothe erly and late In suche maner as moste is to thy paye Benygne lorde and make me for to hate Mankyndes so for he made fyrst debate In kynde of man and made hym to trespace Agaynst the and to liese his grace ¶ And lorde graunt me for thy mercy digne Aboue all thynge for to haue mekenes And make me humble sufferaunt benygne With pacience inwarde myldenese Of all vertues gyue me eke largenese To be acceptyd the to queme and serue To fynde onely thy grace I may deserue ¶ And also lord with quakyng herte drede Mekely I praye vnto thy deite Me for to graunte of thy godlyhede The gracious houre for to abyde and see In whiche the holy chosen mayden free In to this world hereafter shall be bore Lyke as Prophetes hath wrytten here before ¶ How that she shall by thyne eleccion Be mayde and mother to thy sone dere Nowe good lorde here myne oryson To kepe myn eyen and my syght entyere That I may se her holy halowyd chere Her sakerid beaute holy countynaunce If thou grace list me so moche auaunce ¶ And kepe myne eres that they may also Here her speche her dally aunce And with my tong speke that mayden vnto Paciently thorowe her sufferaunce Of wordly Ioye this were suffysaunce And her to loue like as I desyre Benygne lorde so set myn herte afyre ¶ And lord also on me saue thou vouche Though I therto haue no wordynesse That holy mayde to handyll and touche Myn owne lady and my maystresse And that I may with humble buxumnesse Upon my fete in al my best wyse Go vnto her for to do seruyce ¶ And to that floure of vyrgynyte Graunte also lorde that I may haue space Mekely to bowe knele vpon me knee Under supporte onely of her grace And to honour the goodly yong face Other sone as she dothe hym wrappe In clothes softe lyggyng in her lappe ¶ And loue hym best playnly to my laste With all myn herte myn hole seruyce Withouten chaunge while my lyfe may laste Right as thy selfe lorde caust best deuyse So that I may in faythfull humble wyse In all this worlde nomore grace attayne Than loue hym best with all my myght payne ¶ And to thy grace also lorde I praye To graunt me
meditacions Assendyng vp aboue the sterres bright In thyne inwardecon templacions Or the blessed holy vysitacions Who can reherce bright as sonne or leuen So oftesent downe to the fro heuen ¶ Or who can tell thyne holy slepes softe With god alway full in thy memorie For loue of whome thou sighedest full ofte Whan thou where sole in thyne oratorye Or who can tell the melodye or glorye That angelys hath made in the place For the ioye they had to loke in thy face ¶ I am rude to rehersen all For vnconnynge for lacke of space The mater is so mly spirituall That I dare nat so hygh a style pace But lady myne I put me all in thy grace This iyrst boke compyled for thy sake Of my symplenesse thus an ende I make ¶ Besechynge all to haue pyte routh That therof shall haue any inspeccion If oughte be lefte of necligence and slouthe Or sayd to moche of presumpsion I put it mekely to her correccion And ashe mercy of my trespace There as I erre put me in her grace ¶ And thorowe her benygne supportacion So as I can forth I wyll procede With all myne herte hole entencion Prayeng that mayde ofso goodlyhede Croppe rote to helpe in this nede Whome I nowe leue in Nazareth soiourne And to my mater I wyll agayne retourne ¶ Howe mercy and peace rightwysnes trouthe dysputed for the redempcion of mankynde Ca. xi W No that is bounde and fettered in prison Thynketh longe after delyuerauuce And he that feieth payne and passyon Desyreth sore after allegeaunce And who that is in sorowe and penaunce Lytell wondre of hertely heuynesse Though he coueyte relees of his distresse ¶ And who that lyueth in langour in wo Feare in exyle and prescripcion And is with sette with many a cruell fo And can no gayne to his saluacion To escape deth without grete raunson Full longe he thynketh of full litell space While he in bondes abydeth after grace ¶ And yet to recorde of olde felicite In sothfastnes encreseth more his payne Than all the constraynte of his aduersite And causeth hym more to sygh playne For ioye passed can herten more constrayne Her welthe afore to be wepe and wayle Than all the torment that hem dothe assayle ¶ O who coulde euersith the worlde began Of more ioye or of gladnes tell Than somtyme coulde the worthy kynde of man That shapen was in paradyse to dwell Tyll he alas was banysshed in to hell Feare in exyle from his possession And there to abyde stocked in pryson ¶ And he that lost his riches and honoure His myrthe his ioye his olde welfare His force his myght and holy his socoure And was of vertue nakyd made and bare And laye full secke languyssenge in care So feare proscripte out of his contre That by the lawe there may no recouerbe ¶ Whose necke oppressed with so stronge a châ—â—â— Laye plunged downe without remedye That whan mercy wolde haue ben aâ—ane Right wysnes gan hit anone denye And whan that peace for recouer gan to crye Came trouth forth with a sterne face And sayd playnly that he gete no grace ¶ For peace and mercy to gyder assembled ware Full longe agone to trete of this matere And rightwysnes with hem was eke there And trouth also with a deynous chere And whan they were all foure in fere As ye haue herde and gan to entrete Than fyrst of all cruelly to threte ¶ Trouthe beganne almoste in a rage Of cruell ire and of melancolye And sayd shortly that man for his outrage Of veray Right must nedes dye And thus began the contrauersye Betwene the susteren trouthe alway in one Sayd playnly that recouer was there none ¶ For I quod Trouth at his creacion Tolde hym the parell afore his offence But he me put out of his bandon And gaue to me no maner audyence And â— quod Right all my dyligence Wolde hym haue rewlyd but he toke none hede Wherfore of me he gete none helpe at nede ¶ And whan he gaue credence to the snake He made his quarell euen agaynst Right And agayne Trouth he fallely gan to take Whan he her clene put out of his sight And agayn peace began a quarell to fight Whan he from hym mercy sette aferre And so he sette hym selfe all out of herre ¶ Therfore quod Right pleteth for hym nomore But let hym haue as he hath deserued ye do grete wronge yf ye wyll hym restore That hath his heste to you not conserued Ayes quod mercy nature hath reserued To peace my suster playnly and to me On wretches euer for to haue pyte ¶ And offendeth hath of ignoraunce More than of malice y wys quod mercy to yet for all that he muste haue his penaunce Quod Right anone like as he hath do And thynke quod peace that towarde Ierico He was disposed amonge his cruell fone For lacke of helpe whan he lefte hym alone ¶ That was quod Trouth for he was recheles To go the waye I taught hym of reason Quod mercy than the mortall fo of peace The olde Serpent rote of all treason Of false enuye and indygnacion Lay a wayte to brynge hym in a trayne Whan he to hym falsely dyd fayne ¶ That yf he ete of the forboden tree The fayre fruyte in paradyse present He sholde lyke vnto God be Of good and euyll to haue entendement And for my syster trouth was absent And ye your selfe also rightwysnes He was betrayed sleyghtly by falsenes ¶ Wherfore quod mercy I purpose vtterlye Hym to releue yf I can or maye And I quod peace wyll helpe faythfullye The greate yre and rancour to allaye Of iugement to put it in delaye And here vpon to fynde full refuge I wyll procede afore the hye Iuge ¶ Howe mercy and peace brought in this plee before the hyghe iuge Ca. xii ANd right forth w t before the kyng of glorie Mercy and peace the cause brought alone And in the hygh heuenly consistorye Peace sayd thus amonge hem euerichone O blessed lorde that arte bothe thre and one So please it the benygnely to here What I wyll say and my suster dere ¶ Remembre lorde amonge thy werkes all Howe thou madest mercy souerayne That whan that euer vnto the she call Thou maiste not of right her prayer disdayne And specially whan that we bothe twayne To thyne hyghnes for any thynge requyre Thou muste of grace fulfyll our prayere ¶ Is not thy mercy greate aboue the heuen Thyne owne doughter chefe of thyne alye And hath her place aboue the sterres seuen With the ordres of euery Ierarchye Whome daye by daye thou canst so magnefye Amonge thy werkes to make her empresse To helpe wretches whan they ben in distresse ¶ Thy mercy eke abydeth euer with the Lyke thy gretnes thy magnyficence And who that dothe mercy and pyte Dothe sacrefice hygh in thy presence And is not mercy of more excellence Lyke as the sauter well
reherce can Upon the erthe than the lyfe of man ¶ Thy selfe also as it is playnly couthe Auysedly who so taketh hede therto Sayest openly with thyne owne mouthe That a thousande thou canst thy mercy do And holy Dauid recordeth eke also With his Harpe aboue all thynge That he thy mercyes eternally shall synge ¶ And howe myghte eke any creature Upon erthe in any maner kynde Without mercy any whyle endure For all were gone yf mercy were behynde Wherfore lorde on mercy haue thy mynde The wofull captyfe to take vnto thy grace That hath so longe be seuered fro thy face ¶ And though that I be humble meke fre Forsothe lorde of ouete and of right yet euer in owne my dwellyng is with the. For selde or neuer I parte out of thy sight Peace is my name that power hath myght Thorowe my connyng they that be mortal fone By the helpe of the to accorde in to one ¶ And also lorde as holy writte can tell That of thy peace there may none ende be And eke thy peace doth euery wyght excell And art thy selfe of very duere Called the prynce of peace and vnyte And yet by hotest wretches to releue That is mankynde shall neuer fro hym meue ¶ And Iob recordeth the holsomest fruyte Of all thys worlde spryngeth out of peace Now lorde sithen I am made to be refuyte And to the wofull comfort and encreace Graunte of thy grace nowe a full releace That I and mercy may the sone confounde Of thyâ—ke caytyse that lyeth in pryson bounde ¶ So that he may haue lyberte To go at large and haue rempssion Of this thraldome and captyuyte And be delyuered out of this pryson So that there may be made redempsyon For his seruage and fynall paye Lorde of thy mercy without more delaye ¶ And whan they had her mater full purposyd Mercy and peace with full hygh sentence Touchynge man with synne so enclosed The iuge gaue benigne audyence And whan he had kept longe scilence For all the skilles to hym that they layde Yet at the laste â–ª to hem thus hesayde ¶ Howe god the father of heueÌ„ answered to mercy and peace Ca. xiii â—Ine owne doughter next to myne alye Though your request come of teÌ„der herte ye moste consydere with a prudent eye Of ryghtwysnes it may not me asterte Lyke your askyng by tauour to aduerte Unto the cause that ye represent But right and trouth fully wolde assent ¶ Withouten whome I may not procede To execute any maner iugement Wherfore let call her in this greate nede For I moâ—e worche by her auysement And whan they waren come and present Than trouth alone touchynge this matere Sayd openly that all myghten here ¶ If hit so be this man that trespaced Ne be not dede for his iniquyte Though vtterly the franchesse is defaced Bothe of my suster ryghtwysnes and me And fynally our bothe lyberte Goeth vnto nought of our iurisdiccion But he be punysshed for his trausgression ¶ The worde of God that playnly may not erre Tolde hym afore withouten any drede The greate parelle of this mortall warre Etynge the appell that he muste be dede But he oâ— slouthe toke therto none hede Wherfore he muste as right lyste prouide Without mercy the dome of deth abyde ¶ And though that peace be of pyte meued Man to delyuere with zele of routhe Righwisnes wolde than be agreued With me to consente that am called trouthe And as me semeth it were to greate aslouthe Dome or cause plee or any sute Without vs tweyne to be execute ¶ Me semyth eke my syster peace dothe wronge To foster a man holde agaynst vs twayne That hath ben conuersaunt so longe Amonge vs discorde to restrayne Therfore quod peace nowe wyll I not fayne To do myne office right to modefye That she of rigoure cause hym not to dye ¶ Than quod right of necessyte Hit muste folowe though he were my brother That he muste dye by dome of equyte Or in his name moâ—e be dede suÌ„me other So of my shyppe guyded is the rather That ne may erreâ—tor wawe nor for wynde More than the anker of trouth wyll me bynde ¶ Certes quod mercy so it not dysplease Unto your noble and wyse prouidence His deth to you may be lytell ease For holy writte reherceth in sentence If you consyderd in your aduertence That deth of synners the hygh god to queme Is werst of deâ—hes yfye of right list deme ¶ For synfull blode is no sacrefyse To god aboue that euery thynge mayesâ—nâ— Than muste ye deth of one deuyse That is of synne innocent and clene And is I â—rowe vnder the sonne shene Thorowe the worlde to reherce mankynde It were full harde suche one for to fynde ¶ For rust with rust may not scoured be Ne â—oule with fylth may be purefyed But who is soyled with dishoneste To wasshe another it is not aplyed Blacke vnto white may not be dyed Ne blode enfecte with corrupcion To god for synne is none oblacion ¶ Fygure herof ye may not be dyed As the byble maketh mencion Howe that a lambe of spotte fylthe free Somtyme was take by eleccion And offred vp in satisfaccion To god for synne for to signefye Who sholde for mannes ransome dye ¶ Must be clene pure and innocent Right as a lambe from euery spotte blame And trewly vnder the firmamente There was nonesuche sithen Adam dyd atame The fruyte to ete for eyther halte or lame In souerayne vertue is all the kynde of man Wherfore quod mercy the best rede that I can ¶ That peace my syster cesse this discorde And all the stryte that is vs bytwene And that we praye our iuge myghty lorde To this mater benygnely to sene And of his grace to shape suche a mene For trouth right so prudently ordeyne That peace ne I haue no cause to pleyne ¶ And this request is nought agaynst right Ne vnto trouth playnly none oftence If that our iuge of his greate myght Ordeyne so in his prouydence To scape awaye thorowe his sapyence That trouth and right be not displeased Thorow peace me though man be holpe eased ¶ Howe the father of heuen accorded the fouresystren Ca. xiiii ANd whan that she by reason had fyned That grounded was playnly vpon skyll The hygh iuge by mercy is enclyned To condescende of grace to her wyll And in suche wyse her askynge to fulfyll That right be serued trouthe not dysmayed That peace she shulde eke be well apayed ¶ And by sentence alone diffynytyfe The iuge sayd for conclusion An innocent pure and clene of lyfe Shall mekely dye to paye the raunson For mannes gylt and trasgression And he so frely shall the deth abaye In all his payne that he â—o worde shall saye ¶ And thus shall right in all maner thynge Haue her desyre and trouth shall not fayle But agreably in theyr worchynge To execute fully to stynte this batayle And
for that peace in moche may anayle And mercy eke shall not be agreued Her brother askynge also shall be achyeued ¶ To fynde a man that shall vndertake This myghty quarell of mercy and pyte To suffre deth lonely for mannes sake Uncompellyd frely and of volunte That is a lambe withouten spotte shall be And with his blode shall wasshe vndefouled The gylt of man with rust of synne y mouled ¶ Howe his sonne sholde take maÌ„kynde Capittulo xv BUt for to wete of what stocke he shal spring Ot what kynrede and of what estate My sothfast worde eternally lyuynge Myne owne sonne with me encreate Shall downe be sent to be incarnate And wrappe hym selfe in the mortall kynde Of man for loue so that he may fynde ¶ A clene grounde his palayce vnto bylde In all the erthe neyther of lyme ne stone But in a mayde debonayre and mylde The humble doughter of Iuda and Syon And vnto her shall trouthe mercy gone By one accorde sent afore my face Lyke my deuyse to chese me a place ¶ And say to her in all maner thynge Her tabernacle that she make fayre Agaynst the comyng of her myghty kynge Whiche is my sonne and myne owne heyre That in her breste shall haue his repeyre Where trouth mercy shall to gydeâ— metâ— By one assent and her rancour lete ¶ And there shall peace kysse rightwysnes And all the susters accorde in that place And right shall leue all her stourdines And trewthes swerde shall nomore manace And fynally mercy shall purchace A chartour of pardon like this mayden cleâ—â— And whiche for man is so good a mene ¶ That he shall mowe escape daungers A myd the forest free from euery trappe While the mayde that causeth all this peace Hath the vnycorne slepyng in her lappe That thorowe mekenes shal his horne so wrappe There it was wonte to slee by vyolence Thorowe deth it shall agayne deth be defence ¶ Agaynst venym more holsome than treaclâ— Euery poyson asofte and aswage Whan the lyon maketh his habitacle Within a mayde but of tender age And Gabriell shall gone on message To her alone myne owne secretarie With newe tydinges no lenger tarye ¶ Howe Gabryell the Angell was sent to our Lady Capittulo xvi ANd right forthw t the angel tarieth nought But helde his waye from the see of glorye Unto this mayde clene in will and thought Where as she sat in her oratorye With herte enteâ—tyfe with hole memorie Greate to god and all her full mynde To whome the angell whan he dyd her fynde ¶ Benignely with all humylite Sayd vnto her alone as ye shallen here Hayle full of grace our lorde is with the Ne drede the not but be right glad of chere That art to god so acceptable and dere That hooly his grace is vpon the fall To be moste blessed amonge women all ¶ And with that worde thorowe goddes myght All hole the somme of the deyte That from heuen his blisfull bemys bright Shadde on therthe of our humanyte Whan in the breste of a mayden fre The holy ghoste by fre eleccion For his mekenes hath made his mancion ¶ For whaÌ„ that Bernarde somtyme gan beholde With thought vp lifte by contemplacion The bright sonne in herte he gan to colde Iuly astoned in his aspeccion And full deuoutly in a meditacion Therof remembrynge as he gan take hede Sayde euen thus quakyng in a drede ¶ A lamentacion of saynt Bernarde Capittulo xvii A Lorde quod he so I am agrysed And sore a drade to loke on this clerenesse And yet well more with feare I am supprised For to beholde for myne vnworthynesse Any worde to wryte or to expresse Of this mysterie and greate pryuyte Benigne lorde lest thou saye to me ¶ What arte thou bolde or darest in any wyse My rightwisnes to tell or to wrytte Or to presume so hardely to deuyse My testament with thy mouth endyte That certes lorde but yf thou respyte My wretchidnes by supporte of thy grace I greately drede of deth for my trespace ¶ But wolde god through his greate myght And his goodnes lyke to my desyre That from thaulter that brenneth in his sight No lytell sparcle but a flame of fyre Wolde downe discende myne herte to enspyre For to consume with his feruent hete The rusty filthe that in my mouthe dothe flete ¶ And all vnclennesse cankered there of olde To make clene and to scoure awaye That thorowe his grace I durste be so bolde Other to wryte or some worde to saye That was rehercid vpon the blisfull daye Whan Gabriell and Marie mette In Nazareth and humbly her grette ¶ But sithen this man so parfyte of lyuynge This holy Bernarde so good and gracious So dredfull was this mater in writtinge That was of lyfe so inly vertuous Howe dare I than be presumptuous I wofull wretche in any maner wyâ—e To take on me this parfyte hygh emprise ¶ My lippes pollute my mouth w t synne ysoyled Myne herte vnclene and full of cursidnesse My thought also with all vyces foyled My breste receyte cheste of wretchidnesse That me to wryte of any parfitnesse Nat onely drede of presumpsion But for to esche we the indignacion ¶ Of god aboue for my greate offence That I am bolde or hardy in his sight To dare presume the greate excellence For to descryue of her that was so bright But vnder hope that mercy passeth right And that disdayne my style not veraye With humble herte thus to hym I praye ¶ A recapitulacioÌ„ of the wordes of Gabriell to our Lady howe holy men by diuyne liknesses wrote of our Lady in coÌ„meÌ„ dacion of her Capitulo xviii O Lorde whose mercy goth not declyne But euer â—liche stondith hole in one That somtyme sendest downe from Seraphyne To I saye an Angell with a stone Wherwith he began to touche his mouthe alone To purge his lippes from all pollucion So let thy grace to me descende downe ¶ My rude tonge to explite and spede Somwhat to say in commendacion Ofher that is well of womanhede And thorowe her helpe and meditacion Be to my style full direccion And let thy grace alwaye be present This boke to forther after myne entent ¶ For of my lyfe for to vndertake To speke or write in so deuoute matere Lyttell wonder though I tremble or quake And chaunge bothe countenaunce and chere Sithen this maydeu of vertue tresorere Perturbed was in loke and in vysage Of Gabriell to here the message And full demurely stylle gan abyde And in her herte castinge vp and downe Full prudently vpon euery syde The maner of this salutacion And howe hit might in conclusion In any wyse fully performed be She stondynge hole in her vyrginite ¶ And whan the Angell sawe her lowly hede Her humble countenaunce chaunged in her face He sayde Marye for nothynge that you drede For to fore god thou haste founde grace ¶ And shalt conceyue within a litell space And in thy
the holy ghoste lowde gan to crye And euen thus sayd vnto Marie ¶ Blessed art thou amonge woman all And of thy wombe blessed the fruyte also And howe to me of happe is newe befall My lordes mother for to come me to For very ioye I note what I may do For sothfastly thy greatyng as I here Within my wombe my litell childe nowe here ¶ Rioyseth hym for gladnes as he can That of all wo myne herte it doth releue And blessed are thou that fyrst this ioye began The worde of god so faythfully to beleue Nowe be right glad thyne herte meue For all thynge shall performed be That ben of god byhested vnto the. ¶ Marie than with a deuoute entente With loke benignely and full humble â—here The same houre beyng ay present Elizabeth her owne cosyndere With a full meke and humble chere And all the accorde and hole melodie Of the holy ghoste sayd in her armonye ¶ Howe our Lady made Magnificat Capitulo xxii WIth laude and prise my soule magnefieth Eternall lorde bothe one two and thre That all hath made and euery thyng nowe gyeth Whiche of his myght and bounteous pyte Of his goodnes and hygh benignite Onely of mercy list to haue plesaunce For to consyder and graciously to se To my mekenes and humble attendaunce ¶ My spryte also with herte thought in fere Reioysed hath with fulsome habundaunce In god that is myne herte souerayne entere And all my ioye and all my suffisaunce My hole desyre and all my sustenaunce Within my thought so depe he is graue That but in hym without variaunce In all this worlde I can no gladnes haue ¶ For he from heuen goodly hath beholde Of his handmay de the humilite Wherfore in soth all onely for he wolde All kynredes shall be blessed call me Of the whiche the thanke o lorde be vnto the With pryce and honour of euery voyce and tonge Thorowe armony of sothfast vnyte For this alone be to thy name songe ¶ For he to me hath do thynges greate Of hygh renowne and passinge excellence His grace made fully me to flete For he is myghty of his magnifycence His name holy and moste of reuerâ—nce That wyll I loue hit shall me neuer sterte With all my trewe faythfull diligence To thanke hym of all my hole herte ¶ And he his mercy moste passyngly famous For kyn to kyn so downe to kynrede Shall thorowe his grace be so plenteous Perpetually that it shall procede And specially to them that louen and drede Myne owne lorde with herte wylle and mynde To suche his pyte shall euer sprynge sprede Of due right neuer be behynde ¶ He hath his arme enforced made stronge His dredefull myght that men may se knowe And proude men they reyne not full longe He serued hâ—th made hem full lowe With al his herte downe of the whele hem throwe For to aâ—â—â—â—e her surquedrie and pryde Or they were ware her pompe was ouer throwe Full sodenly and leyde her boste a syde ¶ And myghty tyrauntes from her ryall so He hath avayled and I put a downe And humble and meke â—or her humilitâ— He hath enhaunced to full hygh renowne For he can make atransmutacion From lowe to hygh as it is sene full ofte And whan hym liâ—â— the dominacion Of wordly pompe to tall full vnsofte ¶ He hath fulfilled and fostered in her nede With the goodes of plentuous largenes Hem that were hongry indygent in drede And hem relâ—â—ed of all her wretchednes And he the riche hath raught from his richesse Full wylde waste to make vpon the playne And sodenly plungyde in distresse All solytary left hym ligge in vayne For he his chylde chosen of Israell Benignely hath taken to his grace And of his mercy is remembred well To voyde onely vengeaunce from his face And humble peace shall occupye his place And pyte shall besesed in his stall And trouthe shall his right so enbrace To sette mercy aboue his Werkes all ¶ As he hath spoken faythfully behight To our fathers that hath ben here tofore To Abraham to his sede of right That his mercy shall laste euermore For nere his mercy all the worlde were lore Unto the whiche to make man attayne He hath made mercy our kynde to restore And of all his werkes to be souerayne ¶ Howe our Lady after the byrthe of saynt Iohan Baptiste tourned to Nazareth Capitulo xxiii ANd whan this blessed gracious dyte Was sayd to god deuoutly of Marie I fynde after playnly howe that she Styll in the house bode of Zacharie Thre monthes the Gospell may notlye And after that I rede in certayne To Nazareth that she went agayne ¶ And there aboue in contemplacioâ— In her prayers alway day by daye With many an holy meditacion To queme her lorde in what she can or maye From whome her thought went neuer awaye Her full mnyde ne her remenbraunce For but in hym she hath no plesaunce ¶ In all this worlde of no maner thynge For all her ioye was on hym to thynke What euer she dyd prayeng or worchynge Nothinge but he might in her herte synke For fynally whether she wake or wynke Amyd her herte he was alway present So fixe on hym was sette her hole entent ¶ And day by day this holy lyfe she lad This party emayde thorowe hygh deuocion So seruent loue vnto god she had There may be made no deuision For she sequestred her opynion From all the worlde let it playnly gone So hole to god she gaue her herte alone ¶ For euer in loue she brent more and more Towarde god in his hygh seruice Was all her luste with herte sette so sore All erthely thynge she fully doth despyse And day by day her wombe gan to ryse Through the fulfilling of the holy ghoste Therin by loke whome she loued moste ¶ This mene while Ioseph ay soiourned In Galilee god wote full innocent Of all this thynge and why he not retourned Was for that he was so diligent In Carpentryâ— with all his full entent Sondry werkes of meruaylous empryse By carpentrye to forge and deuise ¶ For in this crafte inpassyng excellence He had in soth hygh discression And was had moste in reuerence Of all the werkmen of that regyon And for he had in connyng suche renowne Lyke a mayster there is nomore to saye The werkmen all his bidding dyd obaye ¶ And when he had all werke acheued He is repayred to Nazareth agayne But lorde howe he was in his herte ameued When that Marie he hath with childe yseyne That sore astoned he nat what he may sayne So at his herte it sat so inwardly Tyll at the laste he abrayed sodaynly ¶ And sayd alas howe it is fall of newe In myne absence or what thyng may this be Sithen this mayde so faithfull so trewe Is with chylde god wote not with me That somtyme had auowed chastite And to my kepyng eke
compassion The salte teeres fall and renne downe For drede and loue they had for to sene So harde assaye made on her age grene ¶ But she alwaye constant as a wall In thought in chere abasshed neuer a dele Ne in her herte dredeth nat at all But vpon god tristeth alwaye wele That he of trouth shall trye out the stele And by that she spake but wordes fewe Withouten speche he shall the dede shewe ¶ And whan the water fully was confecte Lyke the statute and the rytes olde Tâ— Bisshoppe hath the cuppe fyrste directe Unto Ioseph and hym the parell tolde And manly he gan it holde And dranke her vp chaunged nat his chere And seuen tymes aboute the Aultere ¶ He went than by custome as he ought Of face and colour alwaye lyke newe And to Marie also the Bisshope brought A cuppe of water she of herte trewe Accepteth eke this godely fresshe of hewe And or she dranke this holy parfyte mayde All openly thus to god she sayde ¶ Howe our Lady prayed to god to shewe her virginite Capitulo xxxii OSothfast lorde that hast the knowlechynge Of euery thynge thorowe thy might And art so truwe and so iuste a kyng To hygh and lowe thou wilt do right And nothing may be shrouded fro thy sight Thorowe none engyne ne thy face asterte But sothtastly knowest euery herte ¶ So that no wight fade may ne fayne Tofore the eye of thy sapience Nowe let thy grace downe fro heuen trayne Clerely in dede and nat by apparence To shewe in me yf there be offence Of any gylte myne auowe to appeche To the I praye so thy light to reche ¶ That it be couthe here all openly To wete in soth whether I in chastite Haue ledde my lyfe as faythfully Lyke as thou knowest for the loue of the And if I haue my virginite Concerned hole this is myne oryson Make openly a demonstracian ¶ And with that worde the drinke she dyd ataste And went her course aboute the Aultre And all the people gan to gasen faste If any signe dyd in her appere Other in colour countenaunce or chere But all for nought playnly as I tolde The more on her they loken and beholde ¶ The more she was in her sight fayre And lyke as Phebus in Ioly grene maye Whan she hath chased the derke misty ayre Shineth more clere the bright Somers daye Whan thylke vapours ben driuen clere awaye Right so Ioseph and also Marie So fresshe were in euery wightes eye ¶ That to beholde they thought it dyd heÌ„ goode The longe daye in her opynion For in her face alwaye was the bloode Without poling or any drawing downe And alwaye more fayre of inspeccion Of whiche thinge the people gan meruayle And for astoned thoughten her wittes fayle ¶ Howe the Bysshope and the people drede hem of the assaye that was made to our Lady Capitulo xxxiii ANd in paâ—â—ye greately weren disâ—â—â—â—â— Lest that god on heÌ„ wolde take vengâ—â—â—câ— For they so ferre goddes might haue assayed Of errour blynde and veâ—ay ignoraunce And right forthwith of hertely repentaunce They bonchen her brestes with fystes woÌ„der sore And all attones fellen downe afore ¶ This holy mayde with humble reuerence And wolden her fete haue kyssed there a none Askynge mercy of her greate offence And she forgaue it hem euery chone And all the Bisshoppes and the people gone Benignely to brynge her awaye And to her paleyse fully her conueye ¶ Of whome the noyse to the heuen ronge With herte and speche as they magnefye The lorde aboue in euery wightes tonge For ioye and myrthe gan hym glorefye And all the daye thus in melodye They ladde forth tyll it drowe to eue And godely than of her they toke her leue ¶ And forth they went euery man his waye In the storye as made is memorye But Marie in all the haste she maye Entred is in to her oratorie As she that hath wonne the victorie Of all tho that aforne gan muse Her mayden hede of malice to accuse ¶ And thorowe her merite hath y e mouthes shette And lippes closed of hem that weren in were And day by day kepinge her closette Continuelly laye in her prayere Expectaunt euer lyke as ye shall here With humble herte and deuoute obeysaunce Upon the tyme of her delyueraunce ¶ The holy ghoste beynge ay her guyde Her chaumbre she kept her day awaytinge As ye shall here if ye liste to abyde And god toforne yet or the byrdes singe And or that Flora doth the floris sprynge Tofore the calendes of Apryll or of Maye My purpose is playnly if that I maye ¶ For to procede forth in his dyte So as I can or make mencion Of the feste and solempnite That called is the Incarnacion Onely through helpe and supportacion Of her that is so plenteous benigne Or that Phebus entre in the signe ¶ With this carecte of the Ariete Of this feste somwhat shall I wryte But o alas the Rethorikes swete Of Petrake fraunces that coude so endyte And Eullius with all his wordes whyte Full longe agone and full olde of date Is dede alas and passed into fate ¶ A comendacion of Chaucers Capitulo xxxiiii ANd eke my maister Chaucers nowe is greue The noble rethore Poete of Britaine That worthy was the laurer to haue Of Poetrie and the palme attayne That made firste to distille and rayne The golde dewe dropes of speche eloquence In to our tonge thrugh his excellence ¶ And fonde the floures firste of rethorike Our rude speche onely to enlumine That in our tonge was neuer none hym lyke For as the sonne dothe in heuen shyne In mydday spere downe to vs by lyne In whose presence no sterre may appere Right so his dyttes withouten any pere ¶ Euery makinge with his light distayne In sothfastnes who so taketh hede Wherfore no wonder though myne herte playne Upon his deth and for sorowe blede For want of hym nowe in my greate nede That sholde alas conueye and directe And with his supporte amende and correcte ¶ The wronge traces of my rude penne There as I erre and go not lyne right But that for he ne may me naâ— kâ—nne I can nomore but with all my might With all myne herte myne inwarde sight Prayeth for hym that nowe lyeth in cheste To god aboue to gyue his soule good reste ¶ And as I can forthe I will procede Sithen of his helpe there may no socour be And though my penne be quakinge ay for drede Nether to Clyo ne to Calyope Me liste not call for to helpe me Ne to no muse my poyncell for to gye But leue all this and saye vnto Marie ¶ O clere Castell and the chaste Toure Of the holy ghoste mother and virgine Be thou my helpe conceyle and socoure And let the stremes of thy mercy shyne In to my breste this thyrde boke to fyne That thorowe thy supporte and benigne grace It to parforme I may
mercy on vs of thyne hygh goodnesse Syth thou thy selfe in parfyte holynesse ¶ Alone thou arte sothely hooly and no mo And lorde alone ouer all thynge And worthyest and hyghest eke also O Christ Iesu of heuen and erthe kynge With the holy ghoste in glorie reyninge Ay with the father by eternite There knyt in one through parfyte vnite ¶ Howe the Shepeherdes founden Christ with our Lady Capitulo xliiii ANd whā the Angels with this heuēly songe The byrth of Christ had magnefyed With parfyte gladnesse that was hem amonge To heuen anone agayne they haue hem hyed And the herdes by one accorde a lyed Ben hastely vnto Bethleem gone Where they founden whan they came anone ¶ Marie and Ioseph and the chylde also Leyde in a stable accordinge euery dele As the Angell had sayde hem vnto And of the sight they lyked wonder wele And in hem selfe gan knowe and fele That all was soth that they sayde afore Of the Angell howe a chylde was borne ¶ In to this worlde mankynde for to saue After the recorde of olde prophecye Wherof they ganne so greate a ioye haue That all atones they gan magnefye God aboue deuoutely and to glorefye Retorninge hem deuoyde of euery smerte And Marie close within her hert ¶ Conserued all that she dyd se Worde and dede and euery maner thynge That befylle in this natiuite Full secretely theron ymageninge And prudently her selfe gouerninge Kepte her sone with all her besy cure Whiche on this day as sayth Bonauenture ¶ Lyke a Spouse from his chambre is gone His chosen chyldre through his benignite In his chyrche to ioye hem of Syon By parfyte peace and sothfast vnite And he this day hath shewed the beaute Of his face of excellente fayrnes In whose honoure this day of hygh gladnes ¶ Was made the ympne the Gospell sayth also Our alther myrthe and ioye to encreace Gloria in excelsis de◠And in erthe this day a parfyte peace To man was shewed withouten ony leace And as say the Poule goddes benignite This day appered in our humanite ¶ Howe god wolde nat be borne but of a mayde mother and wyfe Capitulo xlv ANd ouer this as he eke tell can God was this day in similitude In erthe honoured in lykenesse of man And he this day his godhede dyd enclude In our manhode and shortely to conclude This day also yf I shall nat fayne Befyll also other thynges twayne ¶ The wonderfullest and moste meruaylous That euer yet were sene tofore Wherof no wight by kynde is capyous Firste howe god to saue that was forlore Lowly in erthe liste to be bore And howe a mayde in her virginite Might also chylde and a mother be ¶ The whiche thynges passen and transende Reason of man by kyndes lykenesse But fayth aboue muste all comprehende And it enbrace by parfyte stablenesse And make his grounde vpon the witnesse Of Prophetes whiche in her prophecye So longe aforne gan to speke and crye ¶ After the cominge of this mighty Kynge Our olde wo and trouble to enchace To whome Dauid sayde in his writinge O bleffull lorde shewe to vs thy face And we in sothe onely through thy grace Shall saued be from all myschyef drede And also nowe in our greate nede ¶ Sende to vs thy confortable light Us to enlumine ligginge in derkenesse Eke Isaye with all his inwarde sight Up to heuen gan his loke to dresse And sayde lorde of thy greate goodnesse Out of deserte from the harde stone Unto the doughter dwellinge in Syone ¶ Sende downe thy lambe fulfilled with mekenesse That lordshyp hath and dominacion Of all the erthe our dole to redresse And wolde god for our saluacion This mighty lorde for to come a downe The hygh heuenes wolde breke on twayne Us to releue of that we so complayne ¶ And Dauid spake eke this lorde vnto In the Sawter our sorowes for to fyne And sayde lorde in relese of our wo In hygh heuenes thy mercy make enclyne And downe discende and let thy grace shyne Upon vs wretches in the vale of sorowe And lorde do dawe thy holy glade morowe ¶ Quod Salamon and shewe to vs thy light Of thy mercy and rewe on our distresse And with thy vertues that be so moche of might That no man may counte them ne expresse Fulfylle Syon and with hygh gladnesse Thy peoples hertes make to renewe That thy Prophetes may be founde trewe ¶ For out of the shall procede anone The myghty kynge and lorde of Israhell And nowe this day is coruen out of stone Without handes of that holy hell Of whiche somtyme the prophete Daniell In his boke wrote so longe aforne To signefye that there sholde be borne At Iherusalem where as a mighty Kynge Shall come in haste his people to visite And he shall bringe peace in his cominge Of whome the power shall not be alyte For it shall laste as hym liste to wryte From see to see and all the erthe sprede Thorugh out the worlde in lenghte and brede ¶ And Baruch commaunded to Iherusalem To be holde in all his beste entente Towarde the brightnesse of the Sonne beame And wysely loke in to the Oriente To se the gladnesse that this day is sent Downe to the erthe nowe that Christ is borne Of whose cominge so many day aforne ¶ Spake Isaye sayde in wordes playne The hygh heuens do your grace adewe And sayde also the skyes sholde rayne Upon erthe her moysture for to shewe And bad the grounde eke in wordes fewe For to open and thus this heuenly shoure For to brynge our alther sauyour ¶ And Ieronime spake eke of this daye And sayde on heyght god sholde make sede A grayne of Dauid fayrer than Floure in Maye Whiche in fresshnes shall euer springe sprede And consetue Iuda of drede And eke Israhell kepe in sykernes And he shall make dome and rightwisnes ¶ Upon the erthe of hygh and lowe degre And rightwisnes men shall his name call Whan he cometh to sitte in the see Of kynge Dauid in his ryall stall And he also tofore the prestes all Bothe of Iuda and Leui shall deuise With newe encence to do sacrefice ¶ To god aboue for the greate offence Of the people and ignoraunce With his offeringe make recompence Or that the swerde be whette of vengeaunce Euenlyke as made is remembraunce In Malachie in the same wyse This sonne of lyfe shall sprynge and aryse ¶ To all tho that hym loue and drede And ben expectant with all humilite On his cominge to suche he shall out shede His light of grace at his natiuite Wherfore be glad lyke as it may be Thou Bethleem I called Effrata Though thou be litell named in Iuda ¶ For out the shall procede anone The mighty kynge and lorde of Israhell And nowe this day is coruen out of a stone Withouten handes of that holy hell Of the whiche somtyme the prophete Daniell In his boke wrote so longe aforne To signefye that
it excelleth in perfeccion The fourth also as I can expresse Is the stode of our redempcion And of the fyrste in conclusion Of whiche the streames ben so fresshe and fyne Who so loketh a right is hole our doctrine ¶ And of his right to make mencion The holsom well euer dothe flowe flete With mercy medlede and remission Tosore his dome his pre for to lere And of the thyrde the water is soswete By good example who so can discerne In vertue ay howe we shullen vs gouerne ¶ And of the fourth to speke in speciall Is all our helthe and saluacion For therin is our remedy finall Agaynste deth and full proteccion Whose blode spronge out of Christes passion And who that liste by water to attaine He shall it fynde closed in the same ¶ Of parfyte richesse it is the resorye Whiche maye not waste but yliche abyde The fyre it quencheth also of enuye And represseth the bolnynge eke of pryde And thorowe mekenes setteth yre a syde And who that hath this name in remembraunce Hym the spyryte of slouthe maye do no greuauÌ„ce â–ª ¶ It is also 〈…〉 Agayne wanhope and 〈◊〉 Cristall shelde of Pâ—â—lâ—s fâ—â— dispayre Therto auoyde the foule Abusion And who that maketh his â—â—uocacion To this name with herte of stablenes It gyueth hym strenghte also sikernes ¶ The cruell fyre and brennynge to withstonde Of lecherye and all temptacion It is refuyte to 〈◊〉 eke to bonde That haue therin her hole affeccion Whose vertue was to kynge Salamon Full longe aforne in deuine oracle As I fynde shewed by myracle ¶ Howe Prophetes and Marters suffredeÌ„ deth for the name of Iesus Capi. lxiiii THis is the name of Prophetes specified In her writynge and in her bokes olde Oâ— apostles moste hyghly magnefyed By whose vertue they the trouthe tolde This made also marters to bebolde And mighty lyke sterue champyons With stable herte to suffre her passions ¶ By this name they were victorious In her torment pacience to haue This is the name that Ignasius Had in his herte of golde depe 〈◊〉 Wherof the tyraunt gan hym sore abâ—ue Whan that he sawe his herte cutte a twayne And letters newe depâ—â—â—â— in euery vayne ¶ This is the name that to confessoures Was full repaste in her abstinence This is the name that in sharpe shoures Of flesshely luste was hole her deffence It gaue hem might to make resistence Agayne synne and knightly to warreye And to continue in vertue till they deye ¶ It is the feste and the figured fode Of may denhede and of virginite The Oyle of grace holsom to all gode Whiche in the lampes of parfyte chastite Brennynge so clere with loue and charite That wordly wyndes boystous blowynge Ne maye nat quenche the light of his shynynge ¶ This is the name that moste gyueth melodie Unto the eare and the swettest souâ— It is the name of heuenly armonie To voyde out synne and all temptacion With full accorde agaynst deuision It causeth hertes no lenger to debate That parted ben with the wreste of hate ¶ This name is ioye of sorowfull in distresse Eternall mede of hem that lyuen in blisse Salue vnto hem that langour in sekenesse Uesture in colde to hem that clothes mys Souerayne repaste hongry for to wys For to ascape the cruell vyolence Of nedes swerde whetted with indigence ¶ Christe is the name of sothfaste sacramente That fyrste was gyuen of holy vnccion And he was called fyrste for this entent For he for man sholde make oblacion And for he came for our saluacion To socoure a waye the ruste of all our blame He hath of Iesus worthely the name ¶ I fynde in bokes of olde antiquite In his writynge as clerkes liste expresse Howe there were foure persones of degre Somtyme anoynte for her worthynes Some for manhede some for holynes With obseruaunce and solempnite As was couenable vnto her degre ¶ Prophetes prestes they that beren crownes As worthy kynges of euery region Apoynted weren mighty Champiousnes Within palastre through her hygh renowne Or in champclose hardy as Lyon Entre wolde some quarell to darreyne Singulerly by empryse of hem tweyne ¶ And Christe was all by reason as I preue Firste prophete by informacion And by his doctryne moste worthy of beleue And he was eke the mighty champyon That singulerly for our saluacion Faught with the fende had of hym victorie Maugre his might wanne the Palme of glorie ¶ And he was preste man to â—econsile That banisshed was out of his heritage Whome a Serpent falsely dyd exyle Of false malice in a sodayne rage And he was borne onely by lignage To be a kynge and by power eterne Whan he is crowned his people to gouerne ¶ Howe Christe Iesu was bothe prophete preste kynge and mighty champyon Capitulo lxvi NOwe Christe Iesu soth faste preste kynge And for maÌ„kynde most worthy warriouâ—â— Prophet also and truest in lâ—uynge Be thou our helpe be thou ouâ— socoure And lyke a kynge be thou our gouernoure And champyon to helpe vs in our nede And lyke a prophete to wisshen vs and rede ¶ O Christe Iesu to the I clepe and crye Fro daye to daye to helpe vs and releue And of thy grace vs wretches for to gye Or that thou thy rightâ—â—â—snes preue Let pyte fyrste the to mercy â—eue And or thy 〈◊〉 of vengeaunce vs manace Let tronthe afore thy rightfull dome enbrace ¶ For of our helpe thou arte the pyllere Agayne dispayre hooly our sustenaunce Our strengthe our mighte our reâ—uite fer nere In eche perille to saue vs from mischaunce Thou arte our force and our sustenaunce And in mischief whan drede wâ—lde vs assayle Thou arte our shelde thou arte our supportayle ¶ Thou arte mighty and thou arte meke also Thou arte rightfull and thou arte merciable Lambe and Lyon called bothe two And sothfaste kynge whose reygne is immutable To repentaunte by rygour nat vengeable And euer aforne in ponisshynge of thy lawe Peace to preferre or right his swerde may drawe ¶ And to brynge the loste shepe agayne Out of deserte into his pasture That was errant ydle and in vayne O Christe Iesu of thy benigne cure More redyay to saue and to cure All that ben sore scabbed eke with synne Rather with pyte than thou with reddur wynne ¶ Nowe thou that arte the very rightfull ligne All that is croked goodely to redresse And mayster of mercy all our mischyefe fyne O Christe Iesu well of all swetenesse Lorde of pyte lorde of rightfulnes Haue vpon vs this daye compassion That called is the circumcision ¶ And graunte vs grace with dewe reuerence This hygh feste so noble and so digne Worshippe halowe deuoyde of all offence And be to vs goodely and benigne That were this daye marked with the signe And the carecte by the lawe ordeyned Is very soth and nothynge feyned ¶ And so as thou that neuer dyd trespasse Thorowe thy mekenesse