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
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
named Theodorus And there she was receyued And mekely dyd alle thoffyces and her seruyce was acceptable to euery body After certeyn yeres thabbot called brother theodorik for to yoke the oxen and commaūded her that she shold goo to the cite and fetche oyle her husbond wepte moche for sorowe dredde lest she were goon away with an other man And the angelle of god appered to hym sayd Aryse erly and stonde in the way of the marters Peter and paule and she that shalle mete the is thy wyf whiche don theodora with her camellis cam and seyng her husbond knewe hym wel And sayd wythin her self alas good husbond how moche labour doo I that I may haue forgeuenes of the synne that I haue don to the And whan she approched hym she salowed hym sayeng Our lord gyue the Ioye my lord He nothyng knewe her And whan he had long abyden he helde hym deceyued And a voys sayd to hym he that yesterday salowed the was thy wyf Theodora was of so grete holynes that she dyd many myracles She saued a man al to torn wyth a wyld beste by her prayers And she cursed that beste and sodenly it dyed and fyl doun The deuyl coude not suffre her holynes apperid to her sayeng Thou strompet aboue alle other and aduoulterer thou hast forsake thy husbond for to come hether and despyse me By my myght power I shal reyse a batayle ayenst the and but I make the renye the crucifyed god saye it am not I She made the signe of the crosse And anon the deuyl vanysshed On a tyme as she retorned fro the cyte And in a certayn place was herberowed a wēche cam to her in the nyght sayeng Slepe with me this nyght whom she refused And thenne this wenche went to a nother that laye in the same hostery when her bely began to swelle she was demaunded of whom she had conceyued And she sayde that monke hath leyn by me whan the child was born they sent it to the Abbotte of the monasteri whiche blamed sore theodorik and he mekely demaunded that it myght be forgyuen hym but he was cast out of the monastery and toke the child vpon his sholder and so she abode out of the monastery vij yere and norisshid the chyld wyth the mylke of the bestes the deuyl hauyng enuy of her moche pacyence in the lyknes of her husbonde he transfygured hym cam and sayd to her come now thou my wif for if thou hast leyn with another man I forgyue it the and she had supposed it had be her husbond and sayde I shalle nomore dwelle with the for the sonne of Iohan the knyght hath leyn by me and I wil do penaunce for that I haue synned agaynst the she made her preyer and anon the deuyl vanisshyd away and knewe that it was the deuyl another tyme the deuyl wold make her afferd for deuylles cam to her in the lykenes of terryble wyld bestes and a certeyn man seyd to hem ete ye this strompet she thenne prayed and anon they vanysshed away Another tyme a multytude of knyghtes cam whome a prynce tofore and the other worshipped hym which knyghtes said to theodore arise worship our prynce whiche answerd I worshippe and adoure my lord god and whan it was told to the prynce He commaunded that she shold be brought to fore hym And to be tormented wyth so many tormentes that she shold be estemed for dede And thenne she made her prayers And alle the multytude vanysshed away Another tyme she sawe there moche gold and she blessed her and commended her to god And it vanysshed away another tyme she sawe a baskette born ful of alle maner of good mete And he that bare it sayd to her The prynce that bete the sayth that thou sholdest take this and ete for he did it vnwittyngly she blessyd her anon he vanysshed away whan the seuen yere wer complete that she had ben out of the monestarye the abbot consyderyng her pacyence toke her in agayn in to the monasterye wyth her chyld And vnnethe two yere after whan she had laudably accomplysshed her obseruaunce she toke the chyld closed it wyth her in her celle And whan the abbot knewe therof he sente certayn of his monkes to take hede what she dyd and sayde And she embrasyng the chyld and kissyng saide My swete sonne the tyme of my deth cometh I leue and commaunde the to god take hym for thy fader and helper And my swete sonne see that thou fast and praye And serue my brethern deuoutly And she thys sayeng yaf vp her spirite and slepte in our lord Aboute the yere of grace four hondred sixti and x which the chyld beholdyng began to wepe bytterly In that same nyght was a visyon shewed to thabbot in thys wyse hym semed that a grete mariage was made and therto cam angellys prophetes marters and alle seyntes And in the myddle of them was a woman besette aboute with grete glorye And they that assysted her worshipped her And a voys was herde sayeng This is theodoryk the monke that was falsely accused of a chylde And seuen tymes ben chaunged on her She is chastysed for she defouled the bedde of her housbond And thenne thabbot awoke And astonyed went wyth his brethern to her celle and fond her theer dede And they entred in and vncouerd her And fonde that she was a woman the abbot sent for the fader of the wenche that sklaundred her and sayd to hym the man that hath leyne by thy doughter is now dede And toke away the cloth And so knewe that she was awoman And alle that herde herof were in grete drede The angel of god spacke to the abbot sayeng Aryse hastely and take thy hors and ryde in to the cyte And hym that thou mete take and bryng hym wyth the And forth he rode And mette wyth a man rennyng Whom thabbot demaunded whyther he ranne And he sayd my wyf is now dede and I goo to see her the abbot toke sette the husbond of theodora on hys hors And cam to gydre wepyng moche sore and wyth grete reuerence and solempnyte buried her The husbond of Theodora entryd in to the celle of hys wyf and abode theryn Tyl that he deyed in our lorde The chyld folowyng hys noryce Theodora floured in alle honeste And whan thabbot of the monestory was dede He was electe wyth one voys of the couent for to be abbot Thenne late vs praye to thys holy seynt Theodora To pray to almyghty god for vs AMEN Thus endeth the lyf of Seynt Theodora Here foloweth the lyf of seint Swithine bisshop SAint Swithyne the holy cōfessour was born besydes wynchester in the tyme of Seynt Egberte kyng he was the vij kyng after kenulf that seynt byryne cristened For seynt austyn cristened not alle englond in seynt athelbertus dayes but seynt byryne cristened the west partye of englond in the dayes
assayled the marters of god and therfor thou art yeuen in to the possessyon of the fende and thenne anon lucrete tremblid and fered And was forthwith rauysshed of the deuyll and was so tormented by iij houres of the deuyl that he deyed at that same dyner whan they that were there sawe that they were conuertid to the fayth and recompted to al men how the passyon of seint beatrice was aduengyd at the same dyner And they suffred deth aboute the yere of our lord CClxxxvij Thus enden the liues of the Seintes Simplicien Faustin and Beatrice And here foloweth the lyf of Saynt Martha SEynt Martha hostesse of our lord Ihesu cryste was born of a ryalle kynrede Her fader was named Syro And her moder euchalia The fader of her was duc of Sirie and marytyme And martha wyth her suster posseded by the herytage of theyr moder thre places that was the castel magdalene and bethanye and a parte of Iherusalem It is nowher redde that martha had euer ony husbond ne felawsshyp of man But she as a noble hostesse mynystred and serued our lord and wold also that her suster shold serue hym and helpe her ffor she thought that alle the world was not suffycyent to serue suche a ghâ—ste After thascencyon of our lord whan the dyscyples were departed she wyth her brother lazare and her suster Marie Also Seynt maxymyne Whiche baptised them and to whom they were commysed of the holy ghoost And many other were put in to a shyppe wythout sayle ores or rother gouernayle of the paynems whyche by the conduyte of our lord they cam alle to marcelle and after cam to the territorye of Aquense or ays And there conuerted the peple to the fayth Martha was ryght facounde of speche and curtoys and gracious to the sight of the peple There was that tyme vpon the Ryuer of rone in a certayn wode bytwene ari late and auynyon a grete dragon half leste and half fysshe gretter than an oxe lenger than an hors hayng tethe sharpe as a swerde and horned on eyther syde hede lyke a lyon tayle lyke a serpent and defended hym wyth two Wynges on eyther syde and coude not be beten wyth cast of stones ne wyth other armour And was as strong as xij lyons or beres whiche dragon lay hydyng and lurkyng in the ryuer and perysshed them that passyd by drowned shippes he cam thyder by see fro galyce and was engendryd of leuiathan whyche is a serpent of the water and is moche woode And of a beest callyd bonacho that is engendryd in galyce And whan he is pursiewed he cast out of his bely behynd hys order the space of an aker bond on them that folowe hym it is bryght as glasse And what it toucheth it brenneth as fyre To Whom martha at the prayer of the peple cam in to the wode And fond hym etyng a man And she cast on hym holy water shewed to hym the crosse whiche anon was ouercomen and stondyng stil as a sheep she bonde hym wyth her owen gyrdle and thenne Was sleyn with speres and glayues of the peple the dragon was called of them that dwellyd in the contre tharasconus wherof in remembraunce of hym that place is called tharasconus whiche tofore was called verlue and the blacke lake by cause there ben wodes shadowous and black and there the blessyd martha by lycence of maxymyne her mayster and of her suster duellyd and abode in the same place after dayly ocupyed in prayers and in fastynges and there after assembled and were gadred to gydre a grete couente of susters and bilded a fayr chirche at thonour of the blessyd marie virgyne where she ledde an harde a sharpe lyf she eschewed flesshe and alle fatte mete egges chese and wyne she ete but ones a day An hondred tymes a day and an hondred tymes a nyght she kneled doun and bowed her knees On a tyme at Auynyon whan she preched bytwene the toun and the Ryuer of roon ther was a yong man on that other syde of the ryuer desyryng to here her wordes and had no bote to passe ouer he began to swymme naked but he was sodenly taken by the strengthe of the water And anon suffocate and drowned whos body vnnethe was founden the nexte day And whan it was taken vp it was presented at the feet of martha for to be reysed to lyf She thenne in maner of a crosse fyll doun to the grouÌ„de and prayed in thys maner O adonay lord IhÌ„u crist whiche reysedest somtyme my wel byloued brother beholde my most dere gheste to the faythe of them that stonde here and reyse thys chylde And she toke hym by the honde and forthwith he aroos lyuyng and receyued the holy bapteme Eusebyus tellith in the v boke of thistorye ecclesiast that a woman named emorissa After that she was heled of our lord she made in her courte an ymage lyke vnto Ihesu cryst with cloth and hâ—me lyke as she sawe hym whan she was heled And worshipped hym moche deuoutly The herbes that grewe vnder thymage to fore that she had touched the hemme were of no vertue but after that she had touched it they were of so moche vertue that many seek peple by them were heled That woman emorissa whom our lord heled ambrose saith that it was martha Seint Iherome sayth and it is had in historia tripertita that Iulianus apostata toke away that ymage that Emorissa made and sette his owne there whyche with the stroke of thondre was al to broken Our lord cam to her a yere tofore her deth and shewd to her that she shold departe out of this worlde and al that yere she was seke and laboured in the febrys viij dayes tofore her deth she herde the heuenly felawships of angellis beryng her susters soule in to heuen and anon dyde do come all the couent of brethern of susters and sayd to them my frendes and moste swete felawes I pray you to reioyse and enioye with me For I see the felawship of angellys bere the soule of my suster marie vnto heuen O most fayr and swete suster thou lyuest now with thy mayster and my ghest in the blessid sete in heuen and theÌ„ne anon Martha sayde to them that were present that her deth was nyghe And had to lyght the tapers aboute her And that they shold wake vnto her deth And aboute mydnyght to fore the day of her deth they that shold watche were heuy of slepe slepte and there cam a grete wynde and extyncte â—nd dyd out the lightes She thenne seyng a grete tourhe of wycked spirites began to praye and sayed My fader hely my dere gheste thise deâ—cyuers ben gadred for to deuour me bryngyng wreton alle the euyl dedes that euer I dyde O blessyd hely be not for withdrawen fro me but entende in to myn helpe and fâ—rthwith she sawe her suster comyng to her holdyng a
be forgoten And sayth that Ihesu cryst ordeyned and disposed the lyf of his moder to be fynysshed he sent an Aungel acustomed whiche shewed to her to fore the demonstraunce of hir departyng that the deth shold not come sodenly and gyue to her tribulacion And she had prayd hym her sone face to face whan he was here in erthe that she shold not see ony wycked spyryte he sente thenne to her the angel to fore with these wordes It is tyme to take my moder with me And thus as thou hast replenysshed the erthe with ioye so make heuen to enioye Thou shalt rendre the mansions of my fader ioyous And thou shalt comforte the spyrytes of my sayntes Be not thou wrothe to leue the world corrumpable with hiâ— couetyses but take the celestyall palays Moder be not aferde to be taken fro thy flesshe thou that arte called to the lyf perdurable To Ioye withoute faylyng to the rest of pees to sure conuersacyon to refection not recordable to lyght not quenchable to day not euenyng to glory not recountable to my self thy sone maker of alle thynges for I am lyf perdurable loue not corrumpable habitacion not recordable lyght withoute derkenesse Bounte not estymable I yeue withoute tremblynge to the hertes ease None shalle rauysshe the oute of my hande For in my hande ben alle the endes of the world Delyuere to me thy body For I haue put in tâ—e my deyte or godhede The deth shal neuer haue ioye on the for thou hast borne the very lyght brekyng ne destruction shall not enuyronne the for thou hast deseruyd to be my vessel come thou anone to hym whiche is borne of the for to receyue the guerdons of the wombe of the moder the rewarde of thy mylk for my mete Come now fast hast the to ioyne the to me thyne only sone I knowe wel thou shalt not be coÌ„streyned for the loue of another sone than of me that sheweth the vyrgyn moder I shewe the a walle of stedfast fayth thou art an Arche of sauacion A brydge to them that flete A staff to the feble A ladder to them that go vp and mounte to heuen the moost debonayr aduocate for synnars I shal bryng thappostles to the of whome thou shalt be buryed ryght of their hondes For it apperteyneth to my spyrytuel childreÌ„ of lyght to whome I haue yeuen the hooly ghoost to burye thy body And that they accomplysshe in thy persone the seruyce of thy merueylous departyng oute of the erthe And after that the aungel had recounted these thynges he gaf to oure lady a bowhe of palme sente fro the plante of paradys in token of the vyctorye ageynste the corrupcion of deth and clothes of inmortalyte and whan he had al sayd he styed vp in to heuen fro whens he cam fro Thenne the blessid vyrgyn mary assembled her neyghbours and sayd to them I lete yow wete certaynly that I am at the ende of my temporell lyf shalle hastely departe wherfor hit behoueth that ye wake For to eueryche that shall passe oute of this world come gladly good angels and wycked spyrytes whan they herd this they began to wepe say Thou doubtest the syghte of the spyrytes whiche hast deserued to be moder of the maker of all thynges barest hym that robbed helle whiche hast deserued to haue the sete aboue Cherubyn Seraphyn how shalle we doo thenne and whyther shalle we flee there were a grete multitude of wymmen wepyng And sayd that she shold not leue them Orphanes And the blessid virgyn our lady said in comfortyng them ye that be moders of sones corruptyble maye not wel suffre to be a litel whyle thens fro your children how thenne ought not I to desyre to goo to my sone whiche am moder vyrgyn and he is only sone of god the fader and yf ye or ony of yow had but one sone ye wold desire to see hym be comforted in the lignage of hym I thenne that am not corrupt wherfor shold not I be desyrous to see hym whiche is lyf of al creatures and whiles they spak these thynges the blessyd saynt Iohan theuangelyst cam enquyred how the mater wente thenne whan our lady had told to hym of hir hasty departyng he fylle doun stretched to the erthe and sayd with wepyng terys O lord what ben we wherfor sendest thou to vs so many trybulacions Why hast not thou erst taken awey the sowle fro my body that I hadde ben better vysyted of thy blessid moder thaÌ„ I shold come to her departyng theÌ„ne the blessid virgyne bad hym wepyng in to her chambre And shewed to hym the palme and the vestymentes whiche the aungel had brought and after leid her doune in her bedde for to be there iyl her passyng and anone after cam a greete noyse of thonder whytter than snowe in whiche thappostles were brought to fore the yate of oure blessid lady lyke as it had rayned so fyll they doun one after another And as they merueyled of this thyng Iohan cam to them tolde to them what the angel had shewed to our lady And thenne they al wept and saynt Iohan comforted them theÌ„ne they dryed their eyen entryd in to the blessid vyrgyn salewed her honourably adoured she sayd to them My dere children god my sone kepe you all And whan they had told to her of their comyng she said to them all theyr estate And the appostles sayd Ryght honourable lady and vyrgyn we in beholdynge the ben gretely comforted lyke as we shold be in oure lord and maystre And we haue only comforte in oure self by cause we hope that thou shalt be medyatryce for vs vnto god And thenne she salewed Powle by name god saue the exposytour of my comforte how be hit that thou hast senâ— Ihesu Cryste in his Flesshe Neuertheles I am comforted sayd saynt Powle that I may see the in flessh And vnto this daye I haue prechyd to the peple that thou hast borne Ihesu Cryst And now I shall preche that thou art borne vp to heuen to hym And after the vyrgyn shâ—wed to hym that whiche thangel had brought And warned them that the lyghtes shold not be put oute tylle that she were departed And there were CC xx tapres And theÌ„ne she clad her with the clothe of mortalyte And salewed them alle And ordeyned her body to abyde in her bedde vnto her yssue and departyng And Peter stode at the hede And Iohan at the feet and the other Apostles were aboute the bedde and gaf laude to the vyrgyn moder of god And thenne Peter beganne the songe and sayd Enioye thou spouse of god in the chambres celestyall thou candelstyk of lyÈt withoute derkenes by the is shewed the euerlastyng lyght and clerenes The blessid Archebisstep of CoÌ„stantynople wytnessith that alle thappostles were assemblyd at the passyng of the blessid vyrgyne marye the right swete
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