absteyned him selue fro synne But yet on a daye by teÌ„ptacion of the fende he forgate him self and went agayn to a brodellys house as he was vsed to do bifore And whaÌ„ he caÌ„me thidre and the wymen lokyd vpon him they cryed oute on him and sayde O thou old sely man what dost thou here go home ayen For we se soo many maruayles on the that we maye nat haue to doo with the. Thenne this nycoll bethought him that he had the gospell vpon him and anoon he went to saint Andrewe and tolde him all the caas prayed sainte Andrewe to pray for him that his soule might be sauyd Thenne saint Andrewe wolde neuir ete nor drynke tyll he wyste whether nicoll sholde be sauyd or no Then saint Andrewe fastyd fyue daies brede and water and praied besily night and day Thenne caÌ„me a voyce sayd As thou haste fastyd and prayed make Nycol to do the same and thenne he shal be saued TheÌ„ne saint Andrewe bad nycol faste fyue daies brede water praye besily vnto god and so he dyd And thenne come a voyce to saint Andrewe agayn and sayd Thy prayers and thy fastinge hath made Nycoll that was loste founde ayen and he shal be saued ¶ Narracio ¶ Also a nother myracle that 〈…〉 yonge man come to sainte Andrewe in a tyme and saide priuely to him Sir my modre hath be longe aboute me â— I sholde lye with her and for I wold nat doo her wyll she hath accused me to the busshop and sayâ—â— that I wolde haue doon that sinfull dede with her wherfore I wote well that I shall be dede and yet I hadde leuyt dye â—e sclaundre my modre so foule therfore I beseke you pray for me that I may take my deth pacieÌ„tly to the saluacion of my soule Thenne sayd sainte Andrewe go forth to thy dome and I shal go with the. and so therwith the peple come and feâ—e him bifore the busshoppe And whanne his modre accused hym He saide noo thinge but helde his peas â–ª Thenne saide saint Andrewe InnoceÌ„s saÌ„guis enis sure causa dampnabitur This cursed woman for lust of her body wrongfully is aboute to dampne her own childe to deth vengeaunce wil come to the thenne sayd she loo syre iustice euer syth that he myght not haue his wyll he hathe drawen to this man for counseyll â— socour Thenne the Iustyce commaunded to cast this yonge man in to the water to drowne hym and to put saint andrewe in pryson tyll he were aduysed what deth he sholde deye Thenne saynt andrew prayed besely vnto god for helpe and socour And thenne anone come a grete thondre and made all the people so aferde that they were feyne to fette saynt andrewe oute of the pryson And euyn therwyth come a lyghtenyng of fyre brenned the moder of the yonge man in syght of all the people ¶ And thus was this man saued and the iustice by this grete myracle tourned to the cristen feyth and moche people wyth him and euer after belyued in god saynte andrewe Therby ye may see that he was holy in lyuyng Also he was gret in miracles wyrchyng for oon day as he went by the see syde he saw a drowned man caste oute of the water theÌ„ne andrewe prayed to god to rere hym ayen to lyfe and anone this man rose thenne andrew asked hym where that he was drowned and he sayd we were x. men to gyder and herde of an holy man that hyght andrew and we were commyng to here his preching And as we were in the see there come a gret tempest and drowned vs all to gyder But wolde god that we had be cast to londe togyder that we myght haue be reysed to lyfe to gyder ayen Thenne saynt andrewe prayed god that al the bodyes myghte come togyder and soo they dyde and were cast vp in dyuerse contreys Thenne saynt Andrewe made and ordeyned to gader theym all to gyder Thenne he kneled downe and prayed god longe for theym tyll they were reysed all to lyfe Thenne saint andrewe made them all to knele doune and thanked god and preched them and taught theym the crysten feyth crystened theym all And whan they were stedfaste in the feith he sent them home to her owne countrey wyth moche ioye to theym And many other myracles he dyde that were to longe to tel thus ye maye see that he was myghty in myracles werkynge that reysed soo many men to lyfe Also he suffred grete passion for cristis sake For whan he was in the cyte of pateas there he tourned to the feyth the wyfe of egeas And this egeas was a grete man and made moche people to doo sacrifyce offryng to mawmentis But for saint andrewe repreued hym therof Anone he made to take hym and wolde haue made hym to doo sacryfyce but he wolde not and stedfastely bode ayenste hym and preued by many ensamples by cause that he and all the people sholde worshyppe god and not the fendes of helle Thenne was Egeas wode for wrothe And made men to take Andrewe and strype hym naked and bete hym with scourges that al his body ranne on blode ¶ And thenne made to bynde hym honde and fote and made to doo him ¶ on a Crosse For he shold peyne theron longe or he deyed But whan andrewe come to the place there the cros was he kneled doune and said thus Salue crux qui in corpore cristi dedicata es Holy be thou crosse that arte halowed and made holy by the precious body of our lord Ihesu criste I desyre to clyppe the to me wherfore take me to the. For I yelde me to my mayster ihesu criste that dyed on the crosse And thenne Andrewe stode vp and dyde off his clothes and gaue them to the tourmentours and bad theym doo as they were charged to doo of the Iustice Thenne they bounde hym to the crosse honde and fote and his hede downewardis And streyned hym Soo that the blode brast oute atte euery knot of the ropes and soo he henge there thre dayes alyue prechyng to the people soo there come to the prechynge many thousandes of people· and for pyte that they hadde of hym they bad Egeas take hym doune or they wolde sle hym Thenne for fere of the people Egeas come to take hym doune Thenne saint andrew ayenst stode hym sayd Quid tu venisti ad me egeas ¶ what comest thou to me Egeas wyte thou well that thou shalt haue noo myght to take me doune For on this crosse wyll I deye and euyn therwith Hiis enim dictis splendor niuis circuiens eum quasi per mediam horam A grete lyghte come aboute hym that there noo man myght see hym in space of halfe an houre and more Thenne sayd saynt andrewe Obsecro te dnÌ„e miserere mei I beseke the lord haue mercy on me â— so in that lyght he gaaf vp the
they myghte not deye in paradyse ne suffre no penaunce ther fore he dâ—of hem naked oute in to this worlde that is full wretched wepynge and waylynge full sore syghynge to goo gete her mete wyth 〈◊〉 laboure and trauaylle and deye at the last Than pâ—aid adam our lorde sore wepyng be shold not take grete vengeauÌ„ce vpon theym but haue merry on theym and pyâ—e for they were begyled by enuy and malyce of the fende and by Innocensie off theym self that they wyste not what they dyde Thenne had our lorde â—uâ—â—e on them for they were bothe naked he clothede theym in pâ—â—â—heâ— badde theym goo laboure and traueyle for theyr lyuynge ¶ And sayd to Eue In dolore paries filios In sorowe and woo thou shalt bere thy chyldren And toke adam instrumeÌ„tes to laboure wyth and lefte them there ¶ By this ye shall vnderstonde take ensample to laboure besely For and Adam and eue had laboured besely the fende had neuer ouercome them For the fende desyreth no more whan he wolde tempte a man but for to fynde hym ydle ¶ And therfore knowe ye well that it is a riche salue agaynste synne for to laboure besyly ¶ The thirde is to chastyse the body discretely Vnde paulus Castigo corpus meum et in seruitutem redigo I shall castyse my body and dresse it in seruyce of soule for mannys flessh is so wylde and so lusty to synne that it wylle not with noo waye leue his luste to serue god but yf it be chastysed with penaunce For it muste be chastysed soÌ„tyme wyth peyne Thus dyde Adam Eue in ensample that all other that shal come after hem shold do the same for many yeres before her dethe eyther off theym stode in water a nyghtes vp to the chyn one ferre from another to suffre penaunce tyll her flesshe was as grene as grasse for colde Thenne com the fende to eue also bryghte as an angell and said that god hath sente hym from heuen and bad her goo to Adam and say that god hadde sent hym from heuyn and badde her go to Adam and saye to hym that god badde hym leue his penaunce for his trespasse was forâ—yue and Eue dyde soo but Adam wyst well that it come from the fende and not from god He sayd to eue whaÌ„ god droue vs oute of paradyse for oure synne and had compassion on vs for we wepte sore on hym and prayed hym mekely of mercy he setted vs here to penaunce to our lyues ende and therfore goo agayn for the more penaunce that we doo the more shal be our mede And therfore goo agayn and do penaunce in goddis name yet the fende come ayen the second tyme and said to eue god of his grace hath take reward to your penaunce that ye suffre hath forgyue you ¶ Thenne went eue to adam and tolde hym soo Thenne said Adam I wote well that he that hath said so to the is our enmye for oure penaunce greueth more hym than vs. he wolde haue vs to leue of and soo to lese oure mede But doo we forth our penaunce to oure lyues ende For god taketh none hede to the begynnynge of a thing but to the endyng yet the fend came ayen the thirde tyme to Eue and said ¶ Goo thou to adam and saye to hym that he began foule and wel fouler wylle ende for fyrste he trespassed by innocencie and disceyte of the fende And nowe he synneth by good delyberacion and wyll Not doo as god byddeth hym wherfore youre trespas is worthy dampnacion ¶ Thenne was eue a ferde and tolde adam soo Thenne Adam siked sore and wepte and sayd to her vnauysed won in god made the of one of my rybbes for to helpe me and comforte me· And nowe by tycinge of the fende thou arte besy to combre me agayn ¶ But thinke howe oure firste synne stanke in the ¶ syght off god that all our ofspryng shall be enfect and haue repreef therof in to the worldis ende wherfore though we might doo also moche penaunce as all our ofspring myght doo· yet it were to lytill to quyte our lorde god for oure trespas But god of his special grace aloweth a good wylle Thenne went eue ayen to her penaunce as Adam bad and than said adam god wylle sende vs the oyle of mercy whaÌ„ tyme of mercy is And soo adam and eue dyde their penaunce to theyr lyues ende ¶ And whaÌ„ Adam had lyued ix hundred yeres And xxx and hadde xxx sones and xxx doughters they deyde and were bothe buried togydere adam and eue Thus ye may see well that adam and eue were full hoolyor they deyed and thoughte on deth full inwardly and laboured full besely chastysed her flesshe full resonably soo muste we doo that come of theym that wylle come to the ioye of paradyse in tokenyng here of this sondaye is called the sonday in septuagesme a noÌ„bre of lxx The whiche nombre begynneth this daye and endeth on ester euyn soo holy chirche is mornyng from this daye tyll ester euyn than she taketh coÌ„forte ayen in partye of one alleluya wyth a tracte for it is not yet in fulle myghte tyll saterday in ester weke the whiche is called Dominica in albis Than she leyeth doun the tracte and grayell and syngeth double alleluya techyng all crysten men to labour and do penaunce truly tyll the saterdaye that is to a mannys lyues ende that is tyll the soule goo to rest yet is not the soule in full rest tyll the sâ—terdaye in albis that is tyll the daye of 〈◊〉 whan the body and the soule shall come togyder and be clothed in albis that is in white seuen tymes whetter than the sonne and than they shalle synge double alleluya that is to say lord make vs saaf in euerlastyng blisse To the whiche brynge vs he that for vs al deyed on the rode tree Amen Dominica ¶ ly â—Ood men and wymmen thâ—s daye is called the sonday in seâ—agesme that is the nombre ofâ— lx the whiche nombre holy chirche techeth euery man and woman to thynke how short our lyf is now in our dayes for somtyme people â—uâ—â—dâ—y â—â—yeres and more And now iii. score oâ— iiii score is a longe lyffâ— But the grace off god and his mercy and goodnesse is so moche that yf we wyll doo our besynes and dyligence to serue god and plese hym he wyll gyue vs asmoche ioye and blysse in heyen as he gaf to adam and eue that lyued soo longe But he that wyll haue ioye and blysse muste doo thre thynges One is he muste â—â—te synne namely and suffre tribulaâ—ioÌ„ mekely And do almys dedes wylfully Than for our dayes ben shoâ—â— we muste the more trybulacion suffre mekely And wyth paciente herte an not grâ—â—chynge and disease cometh of speciall grace For it is remedye for synnes he◠¶ re in this worlde for penaunce oâ— elles for grete encreasing to his Ioye in a nother world wherfore
saued Soo noe was in the shyp al a yere And thenne he put out a rauen for to bryng worde to knowe yf the reyne water seaced or no. he come not ayen Thenne he sent oute a douue and she come ayen and brought a braunche of olyue in her bylle And therby noe knewe well that the water was seaced in some place Thenne as god bad noe went oute toke the vnclene bestis from the clene and brente the vnclene bestis in sacryfice to god and that plysed god soo well that he gaaff hem and all that come of hem after leue to ete flesshe of all clene bestes and for to drynke wyne there as before the flode the peple ete and dranke nothing but water for therthe was soo fertyll in it selfe to fore that the people neded none other fode but suche as come of the erthe Thus may ye see and vnderstonde how grete vengeaunce god toke on all the world for synne nowe there is asmoche synne as euere there was in thoo dayes and moche more in many degres where I drede lest god wyll take vengeaunce on vs. and wolde or this tyme were not the prayers of holy chirche and good sayntes â–ª and in especyall by the prayers of oure Lady and that ye shall here by ensample of saynt domynyk as he was in his prayers he sawe our lord Ihesu Crist holdynge thre speres in his honde redy to shote hem in to this worlde for vengeaunce and all for synne Thenne com our lady knelyng before our lord and said my dere sone what wyll ye doo he said my dere moder the worlde is so full of synne of pryde couetyse lechery and other synnes that I wyll shote thyse iii. speres of vengeaunce on the people Thenne said our lady my dere sone hauer mercy on hem and abyde a whyle for I haue some true seruauÌ„tes the whiche shal preche and teche the peple to tourne hem from synne thus by prayer of our lady god spared to take vengeaunce But now the world is so full of synne and cursed liuyng of false extorcion oppression of the poure peple that they cry to god for socoure and helpe wherfore it is full lyke that we shall be smytten full soone wyth some greuous vengeaunce other wyth derth· other wyth dethe of pestilence wherfore it is nedefull for vs to praye besely to our lady that she maye praye for vs to her dere sone Oure lord Ihesu Criste to spare vs in our dayes that we mow haue grace and mercy now euer Anen Do◠〈…〉 GOod men wymen â—â—â—daye is cal◠〈…〉 in quiquagesme This worde quinquagesme 〈◊〉 a nombre of â— whiche nombre betokeneth remission and ioye â–ª For in the olde lawe euery .l. wynter oâ— maner of people that were ouirsette with seruyce of bondage whan they come to the age they were made free in grete ioye and myrthe to them wherfore this nombre begiÌ„neth this daye and endeth on Esterday shewynge that all cristen peple that be oppressed with any tribulacion or dysease here in this woâ—â—de shal be made fre and haue remission at the day of dome and be heires in the kingdome of heuyn And yet in confortynge of al cristen people euery â— wynter the pope of Rome graunteth full remission of all sinnes to all cristen people that coÌ„meth to Rome that yere And for all that may nat come thydre to haue this pardon The pope of heuyn iesu crist of his specyall grace graunteth to all cristen people full pardon of all sinnes in their laste ende So that they wyll â—epe thre thynges here in this worlde Confession contricion and satisfaction Holy shrifâ— of mouthe with contricion of hert and satisfaction in dede doyng Also he muste haue charite withoute faynynge stable feyth withoute flaterynge And withoute these thermay no man haue parâ—â—â—â—e at Rome nor elles where And therfore he that wyll be assoiled of the pope of heuin and haue clene remission ne muste be contriâ—e sorye for his synnes and shryue him clene be in purpose neuir to sinne more And they that 〈…〉 all the peyneâ— that 〈◊〉 were ordeyned â–ª for for him Take an ensample by pâ—â—ye that forsoâ—â— criste 〈…〉 grete othes but he was after 〈◊〉 and sory Et 〈…〉 And wept ful bâ—tterly and god that is ful of mercy for yaue him his trespas and made better there to him after than he dyd to fore For he sholde be in no dispayr deede ¶ Narracio ¶ we finde of a grete riche man that was so wycked in his lyf that moche people demyd him dampned to hell Soo he fell seke and felyd him selue that he shulde be dede and he â—â—thoughte him how wycked he hadde be in his leuyng and toke suche a contricion to hym and soo grete sorowe that he wept nyght â— day euir whan his synne came to his mynd And so ley vii daies and vâ— nyghâ—â—â— and shroue him clene and toke grete repentaunce to him and euir cryed god mercy So that all the peple hadde grete pyte on him and than deyed â–ª Thenne it hapned that ther was a monâ—e â—â— an abbey that dyed the same tyme. waâ— made by his abbot to come â—yen to tel him how he faryd â–ª and so he dyd and sayd to the abbot whan he was coÌ„me Sir I am come to kepe my promyse I praye you gyue me leue to go ayen for I goo to ioye Thenne saide the abboâ— was there any moo that dyed whanne thou dydyst that went to ioye but thou And he sayd ye forsoth one no mo◠〈…〉 was 〈◊〉 soâ—leâ— of suche a man 〈…〉 name Thenne saide thabbot â–ª Nowe I knowe well thou art nat my monke but soâ—â—e send is coÌ„me to teÌ„pte me For we knowe wele if any soule be in peyne he is one of tho Thenne sayd the monke full vnworthy is any man for to knowe the preuyte of goddes dome For that man hadde so grete contricion and repentaunce and wepte so bytterly for his synnes that the water of his eyen percyd through all his clothes to the grouÌ„de wherfore go thydre to morowe and whan thou fyndest it true that I say than byleue me For I goo nowe to euirlastinge ioye and blisse Then went thabbot thyder fouÌ„de as it was true as the monke had saide and there knelyd thabbot downe thankyd god and bad all the peple to be gladde that god is so mercifull and that he had the knowlege Here ye may se that the grete contricioun that this man hadde quenchyd the grete payne that was ordeyned for him Thus ye may se hou grete help it is to a mannys soule to be contrite and sory for his synnes and to drawe a man to the more contricioun â–ª those L. daies the psalme in the psaulter Miserere mei deus is more rehercid these daies than any other tyme of the yere the whiche is thus moche to saye God for thy grete mercy haue mercye on me
a lyue or noo And that they mette by Ioseph and for to preue the trow the he made to bynde one of them that hyghte Symeon And sayd that he shuld abyde wyth hym tyll they had fette hym that was atte home And so he lete fylle her sackes wyth corne preuyly put her mony in to her sackis vnwetynge to hem And so whan they came home to her fader and putte out her corne they fonde her mony ¶ And they tolde her fader but thenne he was sory for Symeon his sone that was lefte behynde in pryson And more ouer that he muste nedys sende for Hym whiche he loneth moste and that was Beniamyn Ioseph hole brother For thyse other were but halfe brederne to Ioseph but whan Iacob fayled corne he must nedis sende for more And he sente forth Beniamyn And whan Ioseph sawe his brother Beniamyn he myghte not forbere wepyng And anone delyuered hym his brother symeon and sette hem all to mete and fylled her sackes wyth corne and pryuely put the cup that they dranke of in Beniamyns sacke and badde hem go her waye But anone after Ioseph sente after theym and sayde they were to â—lame whyle they had soo good chire 〈◊〉 bere awaye a cuppe that they draÌ„ke of Thenne they were heuy and sadde and sayde it was not soo and he raÌ„ â—aked hem by and by ¶ And thenne they founde it in BeÌ„iamyns sacke theÌ„ne came they ayen to Ioseph sore wepynge And whan Ioseph sawe hem all wepe and his owne broder Beniamyn made moost sorowe For it was founde wyth hym ¶ Thenne Ioseph bad hem all bee of good chere For I am Ioseph your broder And be noo thynge adred For god hath me sente heder for youre profyte and anone sente after his fader and soo dwelled all to gyder a grete whyle in the londe with moche prosperyte ¶ This story is red this weke in holy chirche For goddis children shold take ensample off olde faders to suffre tribulacion and persecucion mekely in parfyte charite for goddis sake As he suffred for vs. ¶ For who that grucheth ayenste trybulacion and persecucion that god sendeth must shryue hym and take his penaunce For there is some people wyll saye why dooth god thus by me what haue I trespassed agayn hym they be in great peryll for her penaunce For truly wordes may lette moche grace ¶ Narracio ¶ we fynde in myracles of wenefrede the virgyn that a man came to her on a nyghte vpon two crotches full off many maner syknes and so by the helpe of god and this holy virgyne ¶ This man was hole and soo wente where he wolde an hole daye in the abbey and thanked hyghly god and this holy virgyne of his hele ¶ Soo at nyghte he wente to his bedde in good hele And on the morowe his sykenes toke hym ayen sorer than it dyd before and soo leye cryynge that it was grete pyte to here Thenne came a monke to hym and asked hym what he had done that his syknes was come ayen and he sayd nothynge Thenne said the monke were thou shriuen sith thou were hole and he sayde nay I had noo nede For I stale nother oxe nor cowe nor dyd noo gryuous synne Thenne the monke thoughte thoughe a man doo noo dedely synne he maye doo so many venyall that they maye make a dedely synne for ryghte as a man may wyth many smale cornes charge a stronge horse soo maye he lade his soule wyth soo many smale sinnes that he maye falle in the pytte off helle Thenne anone this man wente to a preeste and shroue hym and soo was hole bothe in body and soule euer after by confessioÌ„ and preyers of this holy virgyne Amen ¶ Dominica iiii quadragesiÌ„e â—Ood men and wymmen this is the fourthe sonday in lenton the whiche holy chirche maketh mencion of an holy prophete that was called moyses the whiche was a fygure of our lorde Ihesu Criste many yeres or our Lorde was borne Thenne as we rede in holy chirche as Moyses was in the deserte of Synay God spake to hym and sayd ¶ Vidi afflictioneÌ„ populi mei qui est in egipto clamorem eius audiui c. ¶ Pharao the kynge of egypte oppresseth soo the peple of Israel wyth bondage and vnresonable werkes And they for woo cryde to me for socoure helpe wherfore goo thou thyder and brynge hem oute of her bondage and I shall be wyth the. thenne bryng hem and offre hem to me I wyll brynge hem in to a londe of plentuousnes off all goodis Soo whan he had taught Moyses how he sholde doo Moyses went thyder and gadered all tholde peple to gyder that knewe the prophecye how they shold be ladde oute of that londe and sayde to hem as god bad hym thenne were they full glade and wente wyth hym olde and yonge tyll they came to the rede see and god was euyr byfore hem in the daye in a pyler as a cloude to refresshe hem fro the hete of the sonne And in the nyghte in a pyler off fyre to lyghte hem fro harme of venym beestis But whan that pharao herde that moyses hadde forth this people he toke thre hondred Charâ—ottis of his owne and thre hondred of the londe and xl thousande horsmen and thre hondred thousande fote men and went after And whan Moyses sawe this peple come he prayed to god for helpe And god hym selfe bad hym smyte the see wyth his yerde Et percussit mari rubro And whan he had smytten the see â–ª he had way for hym and his people The see cloue in two partyes Soo that the water stode stylle on euery syde as an hyll and the grounde was dâ—eye sonde Thenne Moyses yede forthe and all the people after hym Thenne wende pharao to haue passed also and sewed after with all his ofte but whaÌ„ he had his oste wythin the see the water went to gyder drowned hym all his oste And whan moyses sawe that he his peple were peryshed thus he thanked god was there vii dayes after and euery day they yede to the see thankinge god of her passage makynge great melodye that our lord had done soo to them And yet in mynde herof all ester weke we make solempne procession to the fonte that is the rede see ¶ Thenne wente moyses forthe wyth his people in to deserte tylle he came to the hylle of Synay and there he lefte the peple benethe Stabat moyses super monteÌ„ ¶ And moyses stode vpon the hyll there as god was and there he was xl dayes and xl nyghtes wythoute mete and drynke ¶ Thenne god gaue hym two tables of stone in the whiche god wrote wyth his owne fyngres the ten commaundementes and toke theym Moyses ¶ And bad hym teche hem to his people And whan Moyses came downe to the peple his face was all bryghte as the sonne and two spites stondyng on his hede lyke two hornes soo that the people myght not speke wyth
hym for clerenes Abscondit moyses faciem suā ¶ Thenne moyses hyde his face wyth a kerchiff thenne in that one leef were wryten the thre cōmaundemētes that longen to god and those ben thyse ¶ The first thou shalt worshippe thy god and loue hym aboue all thinge For thou shall directe all maner thynge to goddis wyll byfore thyne owne And sue his and not thyn owne wylle ¶ The seconde cōmaundemente is this Thou shalt not take his name in veyne that is for to saye thou shall not bee called goddis childe as crysten man And s◠fende For thenne that name is to the but vayn ¶ Also thou shall not swere by god Nor by noo parte off his body not by noo thynge that he made but in forderynge of the trouthe And yet whan thou arte constreyned therto ¶ The thirde commaundemente is thou shall kepe thyne holy daye that is for to saye thou shall be erly vp and late downe to serue god on the holy daye as thou arte on the werkedaye to thyne owne werke as besy shall thou be on the hooly daye to serue god ¶ The fourthe commaundemente is thou shall worshippe thy fader and thi moder that brought the in to this worlde Also thy godfader and thy godmoder that made the a crysten man And thy fader vnder god that hath cure and charge of thy soule ¶ The fyfthe is thou shall sle no man nother wyth tonge nor wyth thy honde nor wyth euyll ensample The sixte thou shall stele no mannes godes The vii is thou shalt doo no lechery The viii is thou shall bere noo false wytnesse The nynthe thou shall nat coueyte thy nyghboures godes ne no thing that longeth to him that is his ayenst his wyll The tenthe thou shall nat desire thy neyghboures wyf ne coūseyll her in noo waye to do euyll that sholde be harme or vilonye to her husbonge Thies been the x cōmaundmentes the whiche euery cristen man woman is bonde to kepe Thus was moyses a figure and a token of criste Moyses camme bifore and yaue the lawe and Criste came after and gaaf grace and mercy ¶ For in that same maner as moyses fette the people oute off Egypte thrughe the rede see forth to the hylle of Sinay in the same wyse Crist whan he came by his prechynge and myracles doyng He fette the people out of dernesse of synne and of all euyl lyuyng thorugh the water of baptysme to the hylle of vertuous lyuyng ¶ And therfore he that wyll shryue hym clene And leue his fowle lyuing and kepe the commaundementis of god that he made couenaunte to kepe in his cristning thēne shal he be encreased hygher thā ony hyl in erth that is in heuen But he that wyll do thus he muste be fedde wyth fyue loues two fysshes ¶ we rede this daye in holy chirche in the gospell How Criste fedde fyue thousand people wyth fyue looues and two fysshes The fyrste loff of the fyue is contricion for synne The seconde is shryfte of mouth The thirde is satisfaction for the trespasse ¶ The fourth is not to tourne ayen to his synne For he that is ofte aferde shall doo well The fyfthe is perseueraunce in good lyuynge And the two fysshes ben good orysons and almesdedes For thyse be norysshed in waters that is wepynge teres in deuocion thyse two fysshes geten of god what they wylle ¶ Narracio ¶ It is wreten that somtyme was a man that was called pyers and was a ryche man But he was soo harde that there was noo begger that myght gete 〈◊〉 of hym Thenne on ◠tyme it happed so that many beggers satte to gyder in a place and spake off this Pyers how they myghte gete noo good of hym ¶ Thenne spake one off theym as a mayster and sayde what wylle ye ley wyth me that I shall not gete noo good of hym Soo they made a wager thenne wente this man forth and came to Pyers place and set hym doune in the porche at the halle dore there abode tyll pyers came and anone as he sawe Pyers he spake soo horryble to pyers that for grete angre as his seruauntes came by hym wyth a basket of brede he toke a loof And wyth all his myghte he caste it atte the beggers hede and smote hym on the brest and sayd stoppe thy mouth there wyth that the deuylle stoppe the. And anone the begger caught the loofe and ranne his waye to his felowes and shewed his loof And soo he gate his wager ¶ Thenne the next nyghte after it happed soo that this Pyers was shryuen and brought to his bedde ▪ and soo deyed And anone fendes came to take his soule But thenne was our lady redy and bad them brynge the sowle to her And soo they dyde thenne was there noo thynge to helpe the soule But only that lof that he cast to the begger thenne sayde the fendys he gaaf that ayenste his wylle therfore by ryght it sholde not helpe hym ¶ Thenne wente oure Lady to her sone prayenge hym to graunte the soule to goo to the body ayent to loke yf he ¶ wolde amende 〈◊〉 Thenne our lorde badde vere the soule ayen to the body And whan the soule was wyth the body anone he satte vp and gaaf a great syghynge and called to hym all his seruauntes and tolde hem at how hard a dome he was at And he had be dampned hadde not that lof be that he cast at the begger ¶ Therfore anone he made to selle his good and deled it to poure people fore goddis sake And whan he hadde done soo he made hym selfe an heremyte after was an holy man ¶ Here by ye maye well wyte how grete is almesdede and preyers that made a man so preuy wyth god and soo syker ayenst the dome ¶ For all that haue done almysdede for goddis sake shall bee saued yf they be oute of dedely synne ¶ we fynde that a vowtry that is for a man to take another mannys wyfe or a woman another mā than her husbonde it is a greuous sinne And that ye shall here by ensample ¶ Narracio There was somtyme a man that made charcoles in a wode and whan he had made a grete fyre he leye down therby all nyght and soo aboute mydnyght there came a woman rennynge afore a man on a blacke horse as faste as he myght ryde and hunted her abowte wyth a naked swerde all aboute the fyre And so at last this man slewe this woman and hew her all to peces and cast her in to the fyre and rode ayen wyth all his myght Soo whan this man sawe this done many nyghtes thenne he went to his lord and told hym all this mater Thenne was the lorde a bolde knyght and sai◠I will wyte what all this mente and 〈…〉 thyder the nyght after and fonde it as the man had tolde Thenne the knyght asked the spiryte why he dyde so thenne saide he was suche
to a contree that was called pounce where the people of that contrey where so cursed that they slewe ony that come to bee thyr mayster ouer hem Soo whan this pylate come thyder he applied hym to her maners soo what wyth whyles and sotyltye he ouercome hem and had the maystrye gate his name and was called pylate of poâ—â—ceâ— and had grete domynacion and power Thenne the kynge of Iherusalem sent after him and made him lyeuftenaunt vnder hym of the londe of Iury. And for pylate lyked well â—â—office preuely he sente to themperour and had his offyce confermed of hym vnwetynge to the kynge herode Kynge that tyme. wherfore whan kynge herode herde what he hadde done he was soo wrothe that they were enmyes vnto the tyme that oure Lorde Ihesu crist was take and thenne they become frendis ayen and fylle bothe in to one aseÌ„t of Cristis deth Thenne it happed afterward that themperour fylle syke sent after criste for to hele hym For it was tolde hym that cryste heled all tho that euer wolde come to hym of all maner of sykenesse what soo euer sykenesse it had soo bee But thenne had pylate done hym to deth or the messager come Thenne whan themperoure vnderstode that he sent for pylate and made hym come to hym ¶ And whan pylate herde this he was sore aferd take on Cristis cote And soo whan he come to rome to themperour all those that were in preseÌ„ce made pilate good chere all the whyle that he had on cristis â—â—te And themperour swore byfore that he shold be ded Thenne toke of the cote and anone as the cote was off Themperour was sore wrothe wythe Pylate that he putte hym in to a prysoÌ„ tyll he had take counseyll what dethe he shold deye on Thenne as soone as pylate wist and vnderstod that he sholde be dede he toke his owne knyfe and slewe hym self wyth all And whan the Emperour herde therof and vnderstode that he had sleyn hym self And thenne anone he made to bynde a grete stone aboute pylats necke and to caste hym in a water that is called Tyber Thenne whan he was cast therin the fendes made suche a noyse there about that all the Cite of Rome was sore afreyd ¶ Thenne whan Emperour sawe this he made to take hym vp agayn and thenne was he caste in to a water that was betwyx two hie hilles and soo longe tyme after there was in the water many horryble syghtes seen aboute that cursed man Thus Oure Lorde Ihesu Cryste suffred passion and dethe for all mankynde and fyrst whan he was take they dyde buffete hym and stryped hym naked and bete hym wyth scourgis ¶ A vertice capitis vsque ad plantas pedumnon fuit in eo sanitas ¶ That from the hyest place of his hede to the sole of the fete was noo thynge lefte hole on hym but all raw And after made a crowne off thornes and set it on his hede and bete it doune wyth stauis of reede that it perisshed his brayne And whan they had peyned hym soo they lad hym foâ—h all blody Ad montem caluarie To the monte of caluary to th ende off dethe yet wymmen of the Cyte whan they see hym soo fowle fayre wyth all to lougged and all to drawe for very pyte they wepte vpon hym ¶ Thenne sayde our lord to hem Nolite flere super me sed super vos et filios vestros ¶ ye wymmen of Iherusalem wepe ye not for me but vpon you and your children· For there shall dayes come in the whiche ye shall blisse the wombes that were bareyne and the pappes that neuer gaue souke Thus oure Lord preched byfore the vengeaunce that fille after vpon Iherusalem The which prophecye Iheremye the prophete spak of that is redde in holy chirche thyse thre dayes at tenebras the which was soo horryble of many dyuerse myscheues and in especiall off hongre deyde in the stretes Thenne was there a woman was come of grete birthe Tthat for houngre toke her owne chyld that was fedde wyth her pappes and slewe it and parte it in two partyes and than rosted halfe And thother halfe she kepte tyll on the morowe ¶ Thenne as the people come by the strete they had sauour of the roste and anone they come in to haue hadde part therof and whan they sawe the moder roste her owne chylde and sone they were heuy and foule dissmayed and wold not ete therof But wente theyr waye forthe ayen Thenne toke the moder of that child and ete theroff and sayd in this maner wyse This is myn owne sone and myn owne chyld that I bare of my body and fedde it wyth my pappes but I wyll rather ete hit than deye for houngre Therfore I tell you this to shewe you somwhat of the vengeaunce that fyll on Iherusalem after the dethe of oure Lord Ihesu Criste ¶ Thenne they ladde hym to the mouÌ„te of Caluarye And there they streyned hym soo on the Crosse that euery bone of his body myght be knowen one from another And nayled hym honde and fote to the crosse and they lyfte vp the Crosse and the body to gyder And wyth a grete peyce they leâ—e the crosse and the body falle doune to gyder in to the mortesse that all the body dasshed and his bonys craked and his ioyntes brast and veynes and al wouÌ„des brake out of blode Sydes armes legges fete and hondes soo that there was no blode in hym yet they toke a clothe while the blod was hote wouÌ„de it a bout his body tyl the blode was cold theÌ„ne they drew away the cloth pulled away the flesshe fro the bonis this was a grete pyte And soo whan he shold deye he began as IohaÌ„ bellet sayth Deê° meê° respice in me And soo saide al the verses siâ—â—ng tyll he caÌ„me vnto the verse In te dneÌ„ spaui And soo atte this verse ¶ In manus tuas domine coÌ„mando spiritum meum redemisti me domine deê° veritatis· ¶ There he gaue vp the spirite This is a grete ensample that our lorde Ihesu Crist gaue to al cristen that euery maÌ„ shold haue in mynde thise verses And he that can hem say and yf he say hem euery daye he shall not deye no maner myscheuous nor vengeable deth TheÌ„ne after this passion we saye orysons and knelyng at euery oryson saue atte that oryson that is said for the Iewes at that oryson holy chirche kneleth not for by cause iewes in scorne knelynge thre tymes to crist whan they scourged hym Thenne thyse orysons holy chirche prayeth for all maner of people For Iewes sarasyns cysmatiâ—s heretykis But not for crysten people for whyle ony man or woman stondeth a cursed â—he is damned byfore god And dampned shall be at his deth But he repente hym and amende hym whyle he lyueth in this present world ¶ Si scirem pro certo quod pater meus esset iÌ„ inferno
Crysten people that wyll calle hym And specyally in lernyng of the feyth but yet for mannys wyttes be dulle to lerne theÌ„ne they maye not se nor here â–ª but they be brought in by grete ensample But that people is not most comendable yf we may by ensample come the soner to the byleue in the fader and the sone and the holy ghoste thre persones and all one god take hede of this ensaÌ„ple â–ª Of â–ª yse snowe and water howe yâ— thyse thre ben dyuerse eche in substauÌ„ce and yet is all but water ye may vnderstonde by the water the fader bi the yse the sone and by the snowe the holy ghoste water is an element that hathe grete myght and strenthe as the mayster Alisaunder sayth It is aboue heuen in the maner of yse side a castall and doth worship to heuen and anone it is vnder erthe And therthe is grounded vpon water And dauid saith in the psalter it is al about the worlde and in all thinge for in harde stones and yron somtyme is swete water for this water is soo full of myghte that is to vnderstonde the fader that his power is soo moche that he gouerneth al the worlde and knoweth all thynge all thynge is at his wylle and commaundement By the sone Ihesu crist ye shall vnderstonde yse that is water congeled harde and bretyll that is ihesu cryste very god and man that toke the substance and freilte of mankynd ¶ whan he was conceyued of the holy ghoste in the virgyn Mary and borne of her body god that suffred passion vndre ponce pylate done vpon the crosse deyed and was buryed and the thirde daye rose from deth to lif and after on holy thursday styed vp in to heuen and shall come ayen at the daye off dome and deme the quycke and the dede By the snowe ye shall vnderstonde the holy ghoste for ryght as snowe is but water and yse and lyghte in thayre but how noo man can telle So comyth the holy ghoste from the fader the sone Spiritus sanctus a patre et filio noÌ„ factus nec creatus nec genitus sed procedens But how it is for noo man to study for it excedith all mennys wytt to stody therupon but sadly byleue the fader is full god almyghty and of him come the sone full god and of hem bothe comyth the holy ghoste full god This trynyte was knowen in the fullyng of cryste as the gospell telleth· In baptismo cristi tota trnitas se manifestauit scilicet pater in voce filius in carne spiritus sanctus in coluÌ„ba et totuÌ„ celum apertum erat ¶ Thenne our lorde Ihesu cryste was baptised in the water of flom Iordan And all the people nye of the countree there aboute were baptysed there wyth hym and as they were in her prayers Et aperti sunt celi et spiritus sanctus descendit sicut coluÌ„ba The holy goost come downe in liknesse of a whyte doue And lyghted on crystis hede Et vox de celo dicens Hic est filius meus dilectus in quo michi bene complacui And the fader spake in heueÌ„ and said Thou arte my welbeloued sone that pleaseth me well that was the holy trinyte that spake in his persone and the sone was bodely there in his persone Than Iohan baptist sayd to the peple Ecce agnus dei See the lambe of god And the holy goost was seen in his persone Sicut columbaÌ„ descendenteÌ„ â—s a 〈◊〉 done come downe and thise thre ben but one god in trinite wherfore it were full nedefull to all crysten people to praye besely soo that we maye haue grace to haue the parfight loue to byleue in the fader the sone and holy goost thre persones and one god in Trinyte ¶ Narracio ¶ we fynde that the moder of Saynt Edmunde of pountney as he stodyed of this holy trynyte she appered vnto him and leyed in his honde thre ringes eche with in other And in the first was wryten Pater The fader In the secound Filius The sone In the thirde Spiritus sanctus The holy gooste sayd My dere sone To suche fygures take hede and lerne what thou mayst And take good hede to this ensample For ryght as a rynge is rounde wythoute ony beginnyng and ending right soo ben thre persones in one god But for to stody how it myghte be it is but foly for it excedeth ony mannys wytt to muse ther vpon but sadly byleue ther vpon ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede of a clerke that was gretly lerned in dyuinyte the whiche stodyeth besely to haue broughte this in a boke why god wolde be byleued one god â— thre persones â— soo as he walked on a day stodyeng on this mater by the see sonde he was ware of a faire child sittyng on the see sonde had a lytyl shelle in his honde therwyth he toke water out of the see and cast it in to alâ—tyl pytte fast by Thenne sayd this mayster to this chyld Sone â—â—at doost thou and he sayd Syre I am abowte to haue all this water yâ— is in the see in to this lytyll pytte TheÌ„ne said the mayster that shalt thou neuer doo it passeth ony mannys power Syre sayd he as soone shall I doo this as thou shall doo that thou arte aboute to doo And anone the child vanysshed awaye Thenne this mayster thought it was not goddis wyll lefte his stodyenge in that mater and thanked god hyghely By this ensample ye may see that it is not goddis wil that we shold muse in that mater But stedfastly belyue in the fader the sone and the holy ghoste Veni per fidem trinitatis Come by feyth and loue of this perfyght feyth of the trynite Veni per opera misericordie Come by the werkys of mercy doing Veni per opera iusticie Come to this belyue by doyng of werkis of rightwysnesse and thus ye shal come to this parfyte beleue fader sone holy ghoste Et tunc conoraberis corona glorie eterne ¶ And thenne thou shat be crowned wyth a crowne of euerlastynge Ioye and blisse to the whiche brynge vs to the holy Trinyte ¶ De corpore cristi GOod frendis ye shall vnderstonde that this daye is an hye And a solempne feste in holy chirche the feste of Corpus cristi it is the feste of oure lordis owne body the whiche is offred to the hye faâ—er of heuen atte the auter in remyssion of oure synnes for all Crysten people that lyue here in parfyte lyf and charyte and grete socour and help in releuyng hem that ben in peynes of purgatory there abydyng the mercy of god ¶ ye shall vnderstonde that this feste was found by a pope that was called Vrban the v the whiche had grete grace and deuocion in the sacramente of the aulter consyderyng the grete mede helpe and socour to mannys soule And to the forderynge of lyuyng to all crysten people here in
all the reame aboute And thus it was alowed in all holy chirche ¶ Narracio Also we fynde that there was a seculer chanon that on a tyme wente ouer a water to haue doo avowtry wyth a woman And as he was aboute to begynne to saye oure lady maâ—yns and as he was at the Inuytatory that is Aue maria Ther wyth the fende caste hym downe and drowned hym wolde haue had hym to helle Thenne come our lady and sayd why hast thou take this man the fende sayde for we fynde hym in our seruyce goyng to do avowtry Thenne sayd our lady he was in my seruice and anone restored hym to lyf ayen And bad hym do no more synne and bad hym halow her concepcion soo he dyde was a good man euer after all his lyf ¶ Narracio ¶ Also there was a clerke that euery day vsed to say the seruice of our lady Then it hapned by counseyll of hys frendes he sholde haue a wyf whan he shulde ben weddyd he bethoughte him that he hadde nat saide oure lady seruyce Thenne he made all the peple to go oute of the churche while he sayd his seruyce And theÌ„ne he knelyd a doune and saide his seruyce tyll he caÌ„me to an antem of oure lady Quam pulcra es amica mea Thenne oure lady apperyd vnto hym and saide why sayste thou that I am faire and honest why wyll thou than leue me and take a nother Thenne saide he vnto oure lady what wylte thou that I shall doo Thenne saide our lady If thou wylt leue thy flesshly wyf and serue my sone and me I shall be thy spouse and thou shalte haue with me a crowne of euirlastinge lyf in the kingdome of heuyn the whiche god his blessed modre sainte mary and all holy saintes of heuyn brynge vs al the dre nowe and euir Amen Sequitur sermo breuis de sancto thoma gOode men and wymen suche a daye ye shall haue saint thomas day he was cristes appostel and ye shall faste the euyn and do him worshippe specially for thre causes The firste is for the preuynge of oure byleue and for grete woundres in his waye and grete miracles in his day This holy appostyll preuyd so oure faythe that he lefte no trouble For whan the discyples saide that our lord was rysen fro dethe to lyue And they haue seen him and spoke with him Thomas said he wolde nat byleue it tyll he hadde pull his honde into his side into the wound that the spere hadde made Thenne viii daies after whan all the disciples were to giddre and thomas with them theÌ„ne oure lorde iesu criste come bodily to theym and saide Pay vobis Peas be with you and thanne oure lorde sayde to thomas of ynde Mitte manuÌ„ tuaÌ„ in latus menÌ„ Putte thy honde into my syde in to the wounde that was made with the spere that smote me to the herte Et noli esse meredulus And be no lengre out of beleue but be stedfaste in the fayth TheÌ„ne whan Thomas hadde doon so anone he cryed and sayd for grete wondre Dominus meus et deus meus My lorde and my god I beleue that thou arte very god and man Then our lorde saide to him thus BtiÌ„ qui credideruÌ„t noÌ„ videruÌ„t Blessed be they that beleue and se nat For thou that haste seen thou byleueste But yet the taryenge of thomas brought vs to fadder beleue and to the blessinge of oure iesu criste Of this speketh sainte Gregory and sayth Thomas of ynde thou haste holpe more to the fayth that woldest nat beleue tyll thou haddest felyd his woundes thenne mary mawdeleyn that dyd beleue at the firste sighte Minus est enim in maria magdalena que cicius credidit quaÌ„ thomas qui diu dubitauit Thus Thomas preuyd oure feyth beleue that we nede neuir to varye ne to be in doubte ¶ Also thomas dyd from deth to lyf tolde to the kynge yâ— he had seen his palâ—yse in paradyse many merueylles and grete wondres that were in his dayes ¶ Narracio Hit happed that a kynge of ynde sende his messenger Abbanê° indie requireÌ„s artificeÌ„ To seke some crafty men in to the contrey of cesar to seke a carpeÌ„ter that coude make hym a palays to his plesaunce Thenne our lorde IhuÌ„ criste met wyth this Abbanus sente wyth hym thomas in to ynde Also whan thomas abbanus were passed the see they com to a cyte there as the kyngis doughter was wedded the same daye wherfore all maner of peple were commaunded to mete So amonge al other people thomas abbanus come in And were set to mete But thomas ete not for his thoughte was euere off god had no luste to ete Thenne come a boteler to thomas smote thomas on the cheke and badde hym ete thenne sayd thomas to hym Non hunc surgam donec manus que me percussit a canibê° aufertur I shall not ryse from this place tyll the honde that smote me be brought wyth a dogge Thenne anone after the boteler went after water and a lion met with hym and slew hym dranke his blode and ete of his body and thenne come a blacke dogge caught that honde that smote thomas and brought it in to the hall in the syghte of all the people layd it downe byfore thomas Thenne was there a woman that vnderstode thomas wordes anone â—neled dowâ—ne to thomas and cryed and said thoâ— arte god or elles one of his disciples For ryght as thou wylt soo it is TheÌ„ne the kynge prayed to thomas to blesse his doughter and her husbande theÌ„ne thomas was glad therof ¶ Cepit ergo predicare beatus Thomas Therfore the blessed thomas began to preche and tolde them of our lord ihesu crist that he tourned the man that was wedded the same daye from his wyff a none and made hym bisshop of the same Cite his wyff anon and they were martirs after for crystis sake TheÌ„ne wente thomas forth in to ynde to the kynge to make hym a paleys to his plesaunce Soo whan Thomas was come to the kynge he was gladde ¶ And delyuered thomas a grete soÌ„me of gold to make a palays wyth Thenne rode the king forth in the meane tyme. And whan thomas sholde haue made this paleyse hym thought it was better to make a paleyse in heuen than in erthe and deled his golde amoÌ„ge poure peple and conuerted them to the feyth Thenne come the kynge home and went that his paleyse had be redy And whan he herde how Thomas and abbanus had done he wold haue put them to deth But it happed that his owne brother was dede the same time ¶ And therfore he putte theym bothe in to pryson in to the tyme that he had buryed his brother ¶ Thenne as god wold whan his brother had laye longe dede he rose
ben cristen peple be well ware lest ye be disceyued by any false sorcery as by taking couÌ„ seyll of a man a fore a nother In byenge or sellinge or lenynge In the whyche haue some diuerse opyniones And if they be well shreuyn they be worthy for to haue grete penauÌ„ce for their mysbeleue for that coÌ„meth of the fende and nat of god This day is called the circumcision of oure lorde For as holy churche tellith this day he was circumcised and bledde his blode for our sake For whanne the flesshe was cutt he bledde faste and was full sore for he was but yong and tendre and but viii daies olde and therfore he bled the more Thenne ye shall vnderstond that he bledde v tymes for vs. Quinque enim vicibus sanguinem suum ê“ nobis effudit The first tyme that he shedde his blode was as this daye whanne he was circumcised A nother was for fere of his passion For right as a child wepyth for fere whanne he seeth the rodde hathe noo harme Soo the flesshe of our lord swete bloode for drede of astroÌ„ger passion that was coÌ„mynge The thryd tyme was in his flagellacion whanne he was beten with scourges â–ª soo that all his body ranne on rede blode The iiii tyme was whanne he was nayled hoÌ„de and fote on the crose The v. tyme was whanne that longius perryd his herte with a spere the water the blode come oute of his woundes and then they tooke vp the crosse with the bodye and lyfte it vp on hye and sodenly they lete the crosse fall downe in the morter se that all the senouse veynes and io 〈…〉 tes brake and blode and water come oute of euery wounde this he suffred for vs Thenne sithe criste was circumcised and shedde his bloode for vs that was withoute synne and circumcision is for synne remedye help why wold he be circumcysed that dyd no synne Sanctus augustinud dicit ê“pteer quatuor causas Saint Austyn sayth it was for foure causes The firste was for to make a sethe with the iewys For elles they wold and might haue saide that he had natt been of their lawe wherfore they wold nat resceyue him nor consente to his techinge this was to desceyue the fende For right as the fend disceyued Adam and eue so all mankynde was daÌ„pned so it fel to crist to desceyue the fend where through all mankynde mighte be sauyd Than whan the fende sawe that he was circuÌ„cised as an other childe child for yf he had knowe hym verely that he had come to haue boughte man kynde he wold neuer haue tysed the iewes to haue put hym to deth And this was the cause that our lady was wedded to Ioseph for to dysceyue the fende for the fende sholde wene that Ioseph had ben his fader and not conceyued of the holy goost The third cause why he was circumcysed that was in confermynge of the olde lawe in greate comforte to the olde faders that were of the olde testament For and yf he had be cristened and not circumcysed it had be a grete discomforte to al that were before thâ—â—carnaciouÌ„ of our lord Ihesu criste The fourth cause of his circumcysion was for our lorde wyste well that there wolde come heretykes after that wold haue sayd that Criste â—ad a body of the erthly fantasye and not of flesshe and blode as one of vs haue for a body of thayre may not blede And therfore to put awaye all suche errours Crist was circuncysed bled in his cuttynge of his flesshe the whiche flesshe was cut from his membre And an angell after broghte it to kyng Charles for the most precious relyke in the world And for the gretteste worshyp that he coude doo therto broughte it to rome to a chirche that is called Sancta sanctorum For thyse iiii causes Crist was cercuÌ„cysed This daye also it is called the vtas of the natiuyte that is the viii daye of our lordis birthe in grete tokenynge to all vs that be goddis seruauntes to thinke on thise viii dayes that foloweÌ„ the byrth The first day is to thynk inwardely on the sede that we were conceyued of that is fowle and abomynable in it self â–ª that a man or a woman be they neuer soo fayre that and they sawe the mater they wold be ashamed of hem self to thynke that euer he were conceyued of that sowle thynge The second daye is to thinke how greuous he peyneth his moder in his byrth in so moche that it is a grete miracle of god that she may haue her lyf The thirde day is to thynke how feble and how wretched he is borne for all the bestes of kynde some what they caÌ„ helpe them self saue oonly mankynde he nother maye ne can helpe hym self f in noo degree but deye anone But he had not helpe and socour of other The iiii day is to bâ—thynk howe moche parell and drede he lyueth here fore in euery place deth folowth hymand is euer redy to fall on him what tyme ne where noo man knoweth But oonly god hym self Incertus eÌ„ locê° in quo mors te expectat ¶ It is incerteyn the place there as deth abydeth the. ¶ The v daye is for to thynke howe horryble deth is whan he cometh for in shorte space tyme he maketh a man to stynke that all the best frendes that he hath ben auysed to put hym in erth And hyde hym there ¶ The vi daye is to thynke how rew full is the departyng of the body and the soule that may not be departed tyl the herte in the body breke for drede off the syghtes that the saule shal see that for greate fere the herte breketh O mors quam amara est memoria tua O thou deth howe byttre is it to thynke vpon whan thou arte coÌ„mynge to any man The vii is to thynke howe dredefull is the dome that he shall go to anoon and howe streight his iugemente shall be Thenne he that wyll thinke on these vii daies besily on the viii day I hope he shal be circumcised that is he shal be cutt away fro the lust of his flesshe and of synne and soo do depart from this worldis likynge And thus coÌ„meth the viii daye that is the vtas of cryste that is the ioye of blisse that neuir shal haue ende To the whiche god brynge vs all In die Epiphanie GOode frendes this daye is called the xii daye but it is xiii daye of cristes byrth the whiche day holy church calleth it Epiphania domini that is to saye the shewyng of our lord Iesu criste very god and man For this daye he was shewyd very god man by thre offringes by his cristnyng and also by tornynge of the water into wyne The xiii day of his birthe by offringe of the thre kinges that same daye xxx wynter and xiii daies after hys byrthe He was cristned in the water of flome Iordane And that same
synne but for to make the sacrament that shoâ—â—â— wasshe them toâ—â— crystenynge in his name fro all synnes Thenne was Iohan â—aptist redy and moche people wyth hym that come to the cristnynge Thenne sayd Iohan to oure lord all quakyng and tremblynge blessed lord thou art goddis lambe wythoute synne thou hast no nede to be cristened of me But that I am a man goten and bourne in synne haue nede to come and be cristened of the in remissyon of synnes Thenne said our lord Ihesu Iohan suffre at this tyme. For thus we muste fulfyll all rightwysnesse and Iohan cristened our lord 〈◊〉 Criste and as it is credyble our Lady was cristened after wyth other of cristis diciples and all the people that were come thyder Thenne whan all were cristened our lord wente oute of the water And as he went out of the brinke of the water and all the people with hym Aperti sunt celi HeueÌ„ opened a grete lyght â—â—â—lipped hym in syght of al the peple The holy goost come doune in liknesse of a whyte doue lighted on cristis hede And the fader spake and sayd thuâ— in herynge of all the people Hic est filius meus dilectus in quo michi bene complacui This is my welbeloued sone the which pleyseth me This was to teche al cristen people the feyth of the byleue of holy chirche for al cristen people be bounde to byleue stedfastli in the fader and the sone and the holy gooste In baptismo cristi tota trinitas se maiÌ„festauit scilicz pater in voce filiê° in carne spiritê° saÌ„ctus in columba et totum celuÌ„ apertum est In crystis baptisme al the holy trinite was shewed for the fader spak in voyce whan â—e sayd Hic est filius meus dilectus This is my welbeloued sone was there bodely whan Iohan baptist said Ecce agnus dei And the holy goost was seen Sicut columba As a whyte doue Thyse ben iii. persones in one godhede For the fader spake aboue and the sone was ther bodely and the holy gooste in liknesse of a doue ye shal byleue that thyse thre persones be but one god in trinyte This byleue ye shal know on the water brinke that is in your crystenyng at the foÌ„te wherfore he that byleueth thus and doth werkis of byleue shal be saued Qui crediderit et baptisatê° fuerit saluus erit He that byleueth is cristened shall be saued foloweth the werkis of byleue Qui vero non crediderit condempnabitur And he that byleueth not nor doth not the werkes of byleue shal be dampned The werkes of byleue ben mekenesse and charite for wyth out thyse ii shall noo man be saued And he that hath thyse ii he is wreteÌ„ in the genâ—logye of our lord Ihesu crist the whiche iâ— red in cristmasse that begynneth aboue wyth abraham and soo cometh dounwardes to Ioseph and to our lady In shewyng that he that is mooste mekest in herte is moost next oure lord Ihesu cryst and suche he auaunseth in euerlastynge blysse And therfore the genelogye this nyght begynneth atte Ihesu cryst and goth vpwardes to abraham and soo to god Also he was shewed very god in trynite whan he tourned water into wine at the wedding It happed soo the people lacked wyne atte the mete Thenne bad our lord that they shold take vi stenes or pottes that were empty and bad fylle them wyth water and they dyde soo Thenne our lord blessed them and bad that they shold bere them to hiÌ„ that begaÌ„ the table lete hym begyn and thenne he began and said it was the best wyne that euer he dranke Thus oure lorde shewed hym self both god and man God that he tourned water in to wyne and man in that he ete and dranke wyth theym ¶ This miracle he shewed at the weddyng in tokenynge that he blessed all weddyngis that be done after the law of holy chirche and therfore kepe your wedloke and be in full feythe and byleue of holy chirche as holy chirche techeth And soo ye shall come to euerlastyng blisse Amen ¶ De conuercoÌ„e sciÌ„ Pauli â—â—tte a mayâ—e 〈…〉 sone 〈…〉 the mayâ—e anoon by kynde he wyll â—all downe and laye his heâ—â— in her lappe and thenne all his mighte and strenghte is gone And thenne they come and take him Thus he sayth sainte poule was firste so fers in hym self that they durste nat preche there as he was ne speke to hiÌ„ for drede â–ª whan oure lorde iesu criste shewyd him swetenesse of his grace and this faire maiden that is the lawe of holy churche a none Poule fell downe to the ground and was subgett to all cristen people Herfore holy churche was glad of his defendynge He is sette also in high ensample of high mendinge for oure lord is so gracious that all cristen proplee may be sauyd that wyll forsake his mysse lyuynge and he conuerted Multo magis gaudiuz erit in celo de vno peccatore penitenciam agente quam de nonaginta nouem qui non indigent penitencia et cetera There is more ioye in heuyn vpon one synner doynge penaunce thenne vpon xcix that dyd neuir synne and therfore oure lorde wolde that all were conâ—â—â—ted and saued wherfore in high ensample and comforte to all synfull peple he sâ—tte sainte poule to loke vpon For though a man hadde do neuir soo moche synne and he wolde forsake his synne and synne no more Thenne all the company of heuyn maketh myrthe and melodye of his conuersion as we do here in erthe of the coÌ„uersion of sainte Poule But ther is moche peple that loâ—e more synne with luste and 〈◊〉 in this worlde than they doo god For there be many that wyll neuir leue syn nother for loue of god nor for the desyre of the blesse of heuyn nor for fere of the fende nor for deede of the peynes of hell But some saye that god wyll neuer lese that he hath boughte soo dere with his passion But they that say so ben nat wise god wyll that noon were loste but be ware thou lese nat thy selue For all the while thou louest more synne than god and haddest leuyâ— to serue the fende than god thou art cause of thyn owne dampnacion For whyle thou haste more wyll to serue the feÌ„de and be his childe than goddes childe thou lesest â—hy self and god hath ordeyned fendes to turment them in euirlastinge peyne But sainte Gregory saith they that shal be dampned begynne her penaunce here in this worlde in partye and after their deth contynueth for euir more wherfore I tel you this ensaÌ„ple ¶ Narracio ¶ There was a man that was an officer with a lorde and stoode a cursed And on a tyme as he rode towardes a maner of his lordes he fell oute of his mynde and vnbridâ—led his horse and ledde him in to a maner of his lordes and thenne anoon the bailyf perceyued how it was
towarde Rome TheÌ„ saide Vaspasian I am gladde therof for I haue herd say that there be many grete leches in that countre wherfore I wolde well that thou coudest hele me and if thou doo nat hele me thou shall be dede Then aunsweryd he and said I am no leche my selue but he that he lyth all seke and reyseth the dede to lyue he may hele the and if it be his wyl who is that saide Vaspasian Sir said he iesu of Nazereth that the Iewes slewe And if thou wyl beleue in him thou shalte haue all that thou wyll desyre and be hole Then said vaspasian I beleue verily as thou saifte that he maye hele me that reyseth men from dethe to lyf and anon with that worde he was hole then was he gladde that he was hole Then anoon he sente a man to the Emperoure of Rome and gate licenâ—e and leue to distroye the cyte of Ierusalem And he gadred a grete multitude of people and Tytus that was his oune sone with him and wente to Ierusalem Thenne in the mene whyle that he besegyd the cyte the emperour dyed thenne he was chosen Emperoure and turned ayen to Rome and lefte Tytus his sone there to distroye the cyte Then tytus laye so sore to the cyte that he 〈◊〉 famysshed theym In somoche that they ete their shone and their botes and the fader tooke mete fro the sone and the sone from the fader and either toke it from others mouth the husbond fro the wyf the wyf fro the husbonde TheÌ„ emonge all other there was a woman of grete birthe and was come of gentyll bloodde and haddde a yonge childe and for hungre she sayd My dere child I haue suffred more peyne for the thaÌ„ than euyr thou dedyste for me wherfore it is more reason that I ease my hungre on the thanne though I dyed and thou also so toke her childe and slewe it and rosiyd halue of it and kepte half tyll on the morowe And so as the flesshe rosiyd the sauour went into the cytee â–ª And whanne the people felte the sauoure they wened there hadde be pleÌ„tye of mete and come to haue had part And theÌ„ne this woman wold haue hid it but they saide they wolde see whatt mete she hadde and thenne she brought it forthe and shewyd it and sayd Loo here I haue rosiyd myn owne childe here is the other half ayenst to morowe Thenne the people were agreuyd therof and all amased of that sight weÌ„t sorth leuynge the woman etyng of her child Thenne hungre encreased so gretely that there dyed within the cytee so thicke that they caste the bodies ouir the walles oute of the cyte into dyches and so fylled the dyches full of dede bodyes and the stynche smote forthe into the countre and enfectyd the people gretly ¶ Thenne so at the laste greate â—ede made theym to yelde vp the cytee Thenne Tytus went in with his oste and right as the iewes solde criste for xxx pens Soo in lyke wyse he solde xxx iewes for one peny and turned the cyte vp syde downe In somoche that they lefte nat a stone stondyng vpon an other But distroied it to the vttermost parte Lo thus may ye see thoughe god almyghtye abyde and suffre longe he smyteth sore at the last and taketh greate vengeaunce on theym that be lusty to shedde cristen mennes blode ¶ wherfore euery cristen man and woman amende him selue praynge to this holy appostyll to be mediatoure bitwene god and theym that they may haue veâ—y repentaunce in theire hertes here with shryfte of mouthe and satisfactyon in dede doyng that we may coÌ„me to the blisse that neuir shall haue ending Amen De inuencione sancte crucis gOode frendes suche a daye ye shall haue the Inuencion of the holy crosse But ye shall nat faste the euyn but coÌ„me to god and to holye churche as cristen people shulde doo in worshyp of him that dyed on the crosse Thenne ye shall vnderstond why it is called thus Inuencio sancte crucis The fyndyng of the holy crose the whiche was founde in this wyse as I shal tell you whan Adam oure firste fad was seke for age and wolde fayne haf be oute of this worlde Adam sent Seeth his sone to the aungell of paradise praynge the aungell to sende hym the oyll of mercy to anoynte his bodye therwith whan he were dede Thenne wente Seeth to paradise and saide his message to the aungell Then aunswered the aungell and saide that he myghte nat haue it tyll the yeres be fulfilled But haue this branche of the tree that thy fader synned in and sette it on his graue and whanne it berythe frute thenne shall he haue mercy and not erst Thenne toke sech this braunche and come home and founde his fader dede Thenne he sette this braunche on his faders graue as the aungell badde him doo the whiche branche growyd there tyll Salamon was kinge and he made to fel it downe for it was faire to the werke of the temple butt it wolde nat accorde with the werk of his temple Salamon made to caste it doune to the erthe And was hydde there Vnto the tyme. that the busshoppe of the temple lete make a wayre in the same place there as the tree laye to wasshe in shepe that were offred to the temple Then whanne this wayre was made they called it in their langage Probatica piscina To the water come an aungell certeyn tymes fro heuyn and dyd warshippe to the tree that laye in the grounde of the wayre and meuyd the water And what man or woman that com to the water next after the aungel was made hole of what sekenesse that euir they hadde by vertue of the tre and soo endured many wynters to the tym that criste was taken and sholde be done on the crosse Thenne this tree by the ordenance of god swaÌ„me vpon the water And whanne the iewes haddde none other tree redy to make the crosse of for greate haste that they hadde they toke the same tree and made therof a crose and so dyd oure lord theron And theÌ„ the tre bare the blessyd frute cristes body of the whiche welleth the oyll of mercy to Adam and eue all other of ther ofsprynge But whanne criste was dede and was take down of the crosse for eâ—â—ye that the iewes hadde to hym they tooke the crosse and two other croces yâ— the theuys were hanged in either syde of criste and buried theym depe in ther the. for cristen people shulde nat wytte where they were dâ—dâ— for to doo it worshippe And there â— laye a yere and more vnto the tyme that Elyn the Empâ—ce modre of Constantyne gadred grete people to fight with Maxencius â—â—te a greate water ouir the whiche water laye a greate bridge for desceyte of coÌ„stantyne Maxencius lete make a tray hopynge for to haue disceyued constantyne that he shulde haue fallen into the
water And as constantyne laye in his bedde sore aferde of maxencius for he was moche byger of people thanne he was thenne came to him an aungell with a signe of the crosse shynynge as golde sayd to him To morow whan thou goest to the batayll Take this â—yne in thyn honde and by the vertue thâ—â— of thou shalt haue victory Then was constantyne wounder gladde and anone lete make a crosse of tree to bere it to fore him to the batayll But whanne maxencius sawe him nygh the brydge he was so fyers of him selue that he had forgete the trappe the whiche he had made him selue and so came on the bridge and fyll downe to the water by the trape and was drowned Thenne was al his aste wondre fayne to yelde theim to Constantyne with good wyll Then for constantyne was nat yet crystned And also he was helyd of a Leperhode that he hadde Thenne anoon by couÌ„seyll of the pope he sent his modre quene Elene that was quene of IerusaleÌ„ and prayed her to go and seke the crose that criste dyed on This Elene was a kinges doughter of Englonde and the emperour of Rome wedded her for her beautie and soo she was made empresse of Rome But after her husbondes dethe she hadde the kingdome of Ierusalem to dowry where she made gadre all the iewes that might be found and saide But if they wolde shewe her the crosse they shulde all be brent TheÌ„ was there one of theym that hight Iudas and all saide that he knewe beste where the croce was Thenne said Elene to him Si vis viuere osteÌ„de michi lignum crucis If thou wylt lyue shewe me the crosse that god dyed vpon or els thou shalte be brente and so putte him to grete distresse Thenne he sawe he muste nedes tell or dye and saide to theym I biseche you lede me to the mounte of Caluary there as I shall bydde you and I shall shew you the crosse of Criste for he was blynde and myght nat se And soo whanne he was brought to the moÌ„te of Caluary he knelyd downe and prayed longe and whanne he had prayed the place where the crosse was meuyd and the erthe quoke and there came a swete sauoure fro that place that the crosse laye that was as swete as any spycery in the worlde and then they dygged there longe and at the last they founde thre crosses But then wyst thei nat whiche was cristes crosse fro the other â—weyn And then toke they a dede body and layd nowe on that one crose and then on that other And whan it come to cristes crosse anone the body rose to lyf and thanâ—ed god Thynne saide Iudas thou arte criste truly and sauyoure of the worlde and after that Iudas was cristned was an holy man after Thenne tooke Elyne a parte of that crosse and sent it to her sone Constantyne And the Remenaunte therof she made to shryne it in syluer and golde and lefte it in Ierusalem with all the worshippe that she coude ¶ Thus holy churche maketh mencion this day that the holy crosse was founde Thenne as we rede we fynde in a citee that was called Birectus A cristen man hyred a house of a Iewe to dwel in Thenne hadde this man a rode whiche Nicodemus hadde made in mynde of criste Thenne tooke he this rode and sette it in a preuy place of his house for sighte of the Iewes and dyd it worship after his coÌ„mynge Then after it fell so that this man went into a nother house and hapnyd to leue this rode behind him vnwetynge Thenne come a iewe and duelt in the house there this cristen man hadde been in Then for to make him good chere his neyghboures come on a nyght and souped with hym And as they sat at souper and spake of this cristen man that duelled there bifore this iewe loked beside him and in a corner he sawe this rode And whan he sawe that anon he began to grynde with his teeth and to chide with this other iewe his neyghboure and saide thou art turned to cristen feyth haste a rode dooste it worshippe pryuely Then this other iewe swore nay as depe as he coude that it was nat so ne neuir saw it bifore that thyme yet nat withstandyng that other iewe went tolde his neyghboures and saide that this man was a preuy cristen man and hadde a rode priuely in his house Then anon come all his neyghboures wode for wrath al to bete this man and drewe him tugged him in the worste maner that they coude and so at the laste they saide all this is the ymage that thou beleuest vpon And they toke the ymage and bete it and scourged it and crowned it wyth thornes and at the laste they made the strengest of theym to take a spere and with all his myghte he smote it to the herte And anoon therwith blode water ran oute by the sides Then wer theâ—fore aferd therof and saide Take we pottes and fyll them with this blode and let vs bere it into the temple there as the seke people is of diuerse maladies anoynte them therwith if they be hole with the blode than cry we god mercy and anon let vs be cristned maÌ„ and woman Then they anoyntyd the seke people with this blode and anoon they were hole Then went these iewes to the busshop of the cyte and tolde him all the caas anon he knelyd downe on his knees thanked god of this fair myracle And whan he cristned the Iewes he toke vyolles of glasse cristall ambre put of this blood in them seÌ„t about in diuerse churches of this blode as many men vnderstonde come to the blode of hayles ¶ Mylites tellith in his Crouyeles that many yeres after that Ierusalem was dâ—stroyed the iewes wolde haue bylded it ayeÌ„ Then as they went thiderwardes erly in a mornynge they founde many croces by the way â—they were aferd therof and turned homwarde ayen yet on the morowe they went agayn then were the crosses full of blode and thenne they fledde homwardes agayn echone yet wolde they nat leue therby but went ayen the thridde day then fyre rose oute of the erthe and brent them euirechone to asshes De scoÌ„ ioheÌ„ ante portam lati gOode frendes suche a daye ye shall haue saint Iohns daye at the porte latyn why is it called soo It hapned as this daye this holy saint prechyd the worde of god in a cyte that was called Ephesie â–ª the iustice of the cyte sawe that he turned moche people to the byleue of Criste and wolde haue hadde him to doo sacrifice to false goddes and for he wolde nat but rather lese his lyf Then the iustice lete take him and coÌ„maunded him to be sette in persone while he sent to the Emperoure of Rome to knowe what he shulde do wâ— the him And so â—reÌ„s came to themâ—eroure
in the whiche he called Iohn all â—e worste that he coude saide he was a false disceiuour of the people Then wrote themperour agayn to the Iustice bad that he shulde sende Iohn to him to come and so he dyd And themperour apposed him of his dedys and Iohn stoode stedefast in the feyth for grete scorne the emperoure made to clyppe some of Iohns here of his hede for he hadde a faire hede of here And whaÌ„ be was so clipyd all the people lough him to scorne and so dyd him grete disease they ledde him to a gate of the towne of Rome whiche is called porte latyne ther they put him in a tonne of hote feruent oyll and closed him therin and put vndre fyre to haue brente him therin but he was goddes owne derlynge He kept him so that he had no harme in no part of his body Thenne whanche peple we nyd that he had be dede they vnclosed the tonne and found him as hole and as founde in all parties of his bodye and clothes as no thyng hadde touched him Therfore cristen people lete make a churche there in the worship of god of his martirdome that he suffred ther Then for the Emperour might nat ouircoÌ„me him by no waye of martirdome and penaunce he exiled him into an yle that is called Pathmos Then herd saint Iohns modre that her sone was sent to Rome for to be dede For gret sorow and coÌ„passion of him she went after to Rome But whan she herde that he was exiled she turned ayen went homwarde And so whan she came to a cyte that was called vetulam and ther she fyll seke and dyed there she was buryed beside the cyte in a roche And whan she hadde layne there many yeres saint Iames her other sonne came thydre and toke up his moders body it smelled as swete as any spycerye brought it into the cyte and buryed it there with grete worship and honoure De sancto IoheÌ„ baptista gOode frendes suche a daye ye shall haue an high feste and an holy that is called saint Iohns day the Baptiste and it is called so for he baptised Criste in the water of flaine Iordan wherfore ye shall faste theuyn And ye shall vnderstonde and knowe how the euynâ— were firste founde in olde tyme In the beginning of holy â—huâ—che It was soo that the people came to churche with candellys brennyng and wolde wake and come with lighte towarde nyght to the churche in their deuociones and after they fell to lechery songes daunses harpyng pipynge also to glotony and synne and so tourned the holynesse to cursednesse wherfore holy faders ordeyned the people to leue the wakynge and to faste theuyn and thus turned the wakinge into fastynge But it is called vigilia that is wakinge in englissh and it is called the euyn for at euyn they were wonte to come to the churche But in worshippe of saint Iohn the people waked at home and made thre maner of fyres Oone was clene bones and noo wode and that is called a bone fyre A nother is clene wode and no bones and that is called a wode fyre for people to sytte and wake therby The thridde is made of wode and bones that is called saynt Iohnes fyre The firste fyre as a greate clerke Iohn Byllet tellith he was in a certein countre Soo in the countre there was so grete hete the whiche causeth the dragones to go to gydder in toknyng that Iohn dyed in brennynge loue to god man And they that dye in charite shal haue parte of all gode prayers they that doo nat shall neuir be sauyd ¶ Thenne as this dragon fleeth in the ayre they shedde downe to the waterâ— frothe of their kynd and so enuenemed the waters and causeth moche peple to tâ— their dethe therby many dyuerse â—esse Thenne on a tyme there were many grete clerkes and radde of kinge Alisaundre how on a tyme as he sholde haue a batyll with the kynge of ynde And this kinge of ynde broght with him many oliphantes berynge castelles of tre on ther backes as the kind of theim is to haue armed knightes in the castell for the batayll Then knewe alisaundre the kynde of the OliphaÌ„tes that they dradde no thynge more than the iarrynge of swyne wherfore he made to gadre to gydder all the swyne that myght be goten and caused them to be dreuyn as nygh the oliphantes as they myghte wel here the iaâ—ryng of the swyne And then they made a pygge to crye and whan the swyne herde the pyg cry anoon they made a grete iarryng and assone as the oliphantes herd that they began to flee echone and cast down the castelles and sleew the knyghtes that wer in them and by this meane Alisander hadde the victory Also these wise clerkes knowe well that dragones hate nothing more than the stynche of breÌ„ning bones Therfore they gadred as many as they mighte fynde and brent theym And so with the stynche therof they droue awaye the dragones and so they were brought oute of grete disease The ii fyre was made of wode for that woll brenne light and woll be seen ferre for it is the cheif of fyres to be seen ferrre and tokenynge that saynte Iohn was a lanterne of light to the people Alsoo the people made blases of fyre for they shuld be seen ferre and specially in the nyghte Saynte Ierom the prophet many a yere or god was borne he prophecyed and spake thus with goâ—â—es moâ—the and saide Priusquam te formaui in vtero noui te Bifore or thou were fourmed in thy modres wombe I knewe the. Et aÌ„tequam exires de vulua sanctificauite And bifore or thou yedest oute of thy modres wombe I halowed the Et ê“phaÌ„m iÌ„ geÌ„tibus dedi te And I gaue the a prophete to the peple Thenne for saint Iohn shulde be holy or he were borne god sent his aungell gabriell to zacary sainte Iohnes fad as he dyd sacryfice in sâ—â—de of abâ—a the busshop in the temple prayed to god to haue a childe For bothe he his wyf were barrayne and olde Then said the aungell to zacary Ne tâ—neas zacaria Drede nat zacary god hath â—eâ—d thy prayer Elizabeth vxor tua parâ—et filium et vocabitur nomen eius Iohannes Elizabeth thy wyf shall haue a child and his name shal be called Iohn He shal be fulfilled with the holy ghooste Et multi in natiuitate eius gaudebuÌ„t And many shall ioye in the byrthe of him Then for zacary was olde he praied the aungell to haue a token of his biheste Then saide the aungell to hym he shulde be dombe tyll the childe were borne so he was Then conceyued elyzabet And whan she was quyck with childe oure lady come with childe also to speke with Elizabeth and anoone â–ª as she spake to elysabeth saynt Iohan played in his moders wombe for ioye of crystis presence
that he sawe our lady was wyth elysabeth vnto the tyme that Iohan was borne and was mydwyf to elysabeth toke saynt iohan from the erthe and whan neyghbours herde that elysabeth had a sone they were full glad and come thyder as the maner was that tyme. to gyue the chyld a name called it zacary after the fader But elysabeth bad calle hym Iohn But for there was none of the kynne of that name they asked zacary by synes what the chyld shold hyght Thenne he wrote to them and bad calle hym Iohan. And therwyth god losed zacaryas tonge spake redely thanked god hyghly Thus was IohaÌ„ holy or he was borne And for he wold gyue euery man syghte of grace and of good liuing he gaue hem ensample for assone as he was of couenable age he wente in to deserte was there tyll our lord come to be cristened of hym Iohannes habuit vestimenta de pilis camelorum Iohan had his cloth made of the here of the camel and a gyrdel aboute him of the same skynne Esca autem eius erat locusta et mel siluestre Forsothe his mete was leues honysocles that hath a whyte floure that growethe in trees he ete al maner of wormes that were noryshed in that deserte amonge herbes and the wormes be as grete as a mannis fynger and sucked hony off floures that be called hanysocles thaâ— poure people gadren and fry heâ— oyle to her mete Also Iohan ete 〈◊〉 rounde leues that growen in trees in that deserte And whan they be broâ—en bytwene a manniâ— hondis thei be swete as hony and he dranke water of the welle that was in the deserte there was Iohnes life in that deserte tyl that our lord was xxx wynter of age And thenne our lord and Iohan met at the water of flain Iordan And thenne iohan tolde the people of crist and said Ecce agnus dei See the lambe of god that I haue tolde you of that shall fulfyll you in the holy gost TheÌ„ne went Iohn in to the water there he baptysed crist and whan he was baptysed Ecce aperti sunt celi Heuen opened Et vidit spiritum dei descenteÌ„ sicut columba And he sawe the holy goost come downe as a doue Et vox de celo dicens And a voys from heuen spake thus Ecce filius meus dilectus in quo michi bene complacui This is my welbeloued sone that pleseth me Here lerned iohan first to knowe thre persones in trynyte all this betokeneth two fyres The thirde fyre of bones betokeneth Iohnes marterdoÌ„ for his bones were brent and how ye shall here ¶ we rede the kyng herode had a broder that highte Phylippe and he had a fair woman to his wyf and herode louyd her 〈◊〉 And helde her vndre his wyf where Ihon repreuyd him and sayd Non licet tibi habere vxorem fratris tui It is nat laufull to the to haue thy broders wyf And therfore he putt hym in pryson and ordeyned bitwene him his wyf how Iohn might be dede with oute troublyng of the people for the comen people loued Iohn well Thenne herode ordeyned to make a grete feste to all the states of the countre for they shulde holde with him if the peple had rysen And so whan the daye was com that the feste shulde be holde and al the people were seruyd at the mete herodes wyf as couenaunt was bitwene theim tho sent her doughter into the hall for to daunce and to tomble afore the gestes And that pleased her fader so well that he swore a grete othe and saide Pete a me quod vis dabo tibi Ask of me what thou wylt and I shal gyue it the. Thenne as her modre bad her saye she saide Caput Iohannis baptiste The hede of Iohn Baptyst Then herode fayned him wrothe and sory that he hadde made suche an othe But he was glad in his hert thenne seÌ„t into pryson to smyte of Iohnes hede withoute any other dome and was brought to the damoysell Then the modre lete bury it in a pryuy place ferre from the body ¶ Thenne the next night after Iohnes disciples came and toke his body buryed it And there it laye tyll Iulyan the appostita the emperour come that waye Then he made take vp Iohnes bones to brenne them to wyndow theym in the wynde hopynge that he shuld neuer ryse ayen to lyf ¶ Thus ye may vnderstonde how holy that this man was Thenne an aungell come fro heuyn and tolde zacary of his conceyuig and was halowed in his moders woÌ„be and oure lady toke him from therth in his byrthe and an aungell brought his name fro heuyn and after he criste nyd oure lorde iesu criste this was an holy man ¶ ye shall vnderstonde thaâ— sainte Iohn the euangelyst dyed the same daye but holy churche maketh noo mencion therof For his day is holde in cristmas weke Then for these ii Iohns beholden the worthiest saintes in heuyn Thenne there were two scolars of dyuynite the one louyd Iohn Baptyst the other Iohn euaÌ„gelyst And on a day they purposed to dispute in this mater and the day was assigned but thenne the night bifore either Iohnes appered to their louers and bad theym leue ther disputacion for they were well accorded in heuyn and made no stryf And thenne on the morow bifore al the people either tolde his vision that were come to here theym dispute ¶ And thenne all the people thanked god almyghty and bothe saint Iohns of this faire miracle ¶ Alsoo there were two meselles that louyd wele thies two Iohnes And so as they were in coÌ„mynge they spake of these two saintes whiche were the gretest in heueÌ„ And soo that one saide that the one was greter thanne that other and so they begannne to fyghte Thenne there come a voys fro heuen and sayd we fyghte not in heuen and therfore fighte not ye in erthe for vs. for we ben in peas and so be ye And therwyth they were bothe hole of their sykenesse and thanked god and bothe saynt Iohannis and afterwarde they were holy men ¶ And therfore lete vs worshyppe thyse holy sayntes· that they maye praye for vs that we may come to euerlastynge blisse ¶ SctoÌ„rum Petri Pauli GOod frendes suche a daye ye shall haue the feste of saynt Peter and Poule and ye shall faste the euyn and on the morowe come vnto the chirche And worshyp god and praye to thyse two saintes that were holy appostles to praye for vs. Oure lord hath peter on the one syde poule on the other syde And he hath his woundes open and fresshe bledyng shewing to all maner of cristen people that he suffred those woundes for vs. that bee the v. welles of mercy that he suffred for vs. ¶ ye shall vnderstonde that thyse two appostles were first grete synners But for they left her synne and were sory
goodlake that first inhabyted crowland in the fennys And the first daye that he come thyder was on saynt Barthylmewis daye· Thenne he prayed to this holy appostle to bee his patrone ayenst the wycked spirytes that were in that place For it was called thinhabytacion of fendes for there durst noo man dwelle there for fendes theÌ„ne whaÌ„ this holy maÌ„ was come thider almost lost his wyttes for fere But thenne by grete grace he had mynde of saynt Barthylmew And prayed hym wyth all his herte of help and socour Thenne anone come saint Barthylmew and commaunded the fendes to goo from that place Thenne the fendes made a grete horryble noyse and wente her waye and sayd Alas alas for now haue we loste our myght and our habytacion and nowe shall we goo to helle for euermore and soo sorowynge and waylinge they wente theyr way Thenne this holy man thaÌ„ked god and saynt Barthylmew for the grete helpe and socour that he had done to hym Hereby ye may see vnderstonde that this holy appostle is euer redy to all that wyl calle to hym with good deuocion he wyll helpe them at theyr nede De â—tate â—eate maâ—â—â— gOodâ— frendes suche a daye ye shall haue the Natiuyte of oure lady that is whan she was borne ye shall fast the euyn And come to god and holy churche in the worshyp of oure lady saint maryâ— Ioachym was her fader and saint anne her madre There canne no man tel the ioye that Ioachym and Anne hadde in their hertes whan our lady was borne For they hadde prayed xxx yere to god nyghte and day and dealyd moch almes And for the goode dedys that they dyd they hadde reuelacion of god that they sholde be holy and please god and also by the byrthe of oure lady the repreue that they hadde bifore of their bareynesse shulde be put awaye And soo Anne went oute emonge other wymen So the byrthe of oure lady gladed the fader and the moder wherfore god seÌ„t them frute of their bodies more by grace than by kynde Thenne all the neyghboures come and conforted anne called her doughter mary as the angel badde or she were borne or begoten ye shall vnderstonde that holy church worshippeth thre byrthes One of oure lorde iesu criste That other of oure lady The thridde of saint Iohn baptyst shewynge openly that euery man and womâ—n that woll be sauyd muste be thryes borne Firste of his modre in to this worlde The secounde from synne by water wasshynge And the thridde oute of this worlde to ioye passinge The firste betokenethe by our lady thâ— seconde by sainte Iohn Baptyst the thridde by our lorde 〈◊〉 câ—iste For 〈◊〉 thre byrthes iâ— grete ioye â—â—yn and 〈◊〉 Though a woman haue greate pâ—yne in the byrthe of her childe I may 〈◊〉 byleue sainte Anne thenne oure laâ—yâ—â— modre hadde nat so in her byrthe of her childe oure lady For â—he was halowed in her moder wombe holy borne â—oly euir after Soo whan she was born and wanyd and was thre yere of age Ioachym and anne and other frendes brought mary into the cyte of Ierusalem to fore the temple as they had made their auowe to fore Thenne the temple stode on an hyll and was xv fâ—eyres vp to the dore and so they lefte mary at the nethermooste steyâ—e while thei made theym redy to do their offrynge Thenne went mary to the vppermâ—ste grece her self knelynge downe and made her prayers to god as she hadde ben of grete age For the holy gooste was euir with her and gaue her grace Also god sent her an aungell to kepe her and to teche her And whanne her fader and her modre hadde offred â—â—y wâ—nte home and lefte her there and she chaunged no â—here bâ—â— gaue her selue all to spirituell occupaâ—ion And euery day fro morowe to vndren she wâ—â— in her prayers from vndren to noâ—â— she occupyed her craft of wenynge of clothes in the temple And anone the mete and the drynk that was set to her she gaue to the pore people was in her deuocion tyll an aungell broughte hyr mete Thenne she lâ—â—ed so clene and so honestly that all her felâ—wes called her qâ—â—ne of maydâ—â—â—â— And whaÌ„ any maÌ„ spake to heâ— mekely she louâ—ed with her hede and saide ¶ Deo gracias For that word was comon in her mouthe and therfore she is lykned to a spicers shop for she smelleth swete for the presence of the holy goste was with her and habundaunce of vertues that she shulde bere the kyng of vertues And thus her byrthe daily is ioye to all crysten people ¶ Howe this daye was firste founde a grete clerke Iohn Byllet tellith There was an holy maÌ„ that prayed to god ofte by nyght tyme And so on a nyghte as he was in his deuociones he herde a songe of an angel in heuyn that oure lady was borne of her modre and noo more of all the yere after So on a nyght he herd this melody in the ayr wherfore this holy maÌ„ prayed to god that he might haue wittynge what was the cause that he herd that melody that certeyn nyght and no more of all the yere after Thenne came an aungell to him and saide That nyghte oure lady was borne of her modre and therfore the melody was made in heuyn at that tyme Thenne went he to the pope and tolde him howe the angell saide Thenne the pope coÌ„manded that day sholde be halowed for euirmore ¶ Thus come this feste firste into holy churche And so oure lady is borne by water wasshynge that is by cristnynge For whanne oure lorde Iesu criste was baptised in the water of flome iordane Thenne oure lady and the xii appostelles in that tyme were cristned Therfore right as oure lorde folowed the olde lawe and the newe lawe bothe and all that fyll to a man of right and so our lady fulfilled both the lawes and all that fyll to a womaÌ„ at that cristnynge For there her sone toke his right name and she bothe And as the gospel telleth whanne oure lord Iesus was cristned the fader of heuen spake and saide Hic est filius meus dilectus c. Here is my welbelouyd sone but after he was called goddes sone â–ª afore the tyme oure lady was called the wyfe of Ioseph and after that she was called the modre of iesu to moch worship to her ¶ The thridde tyme our lady was borne to ioye passinge For whan she shold passe out of this world her sonne come with a greate multitude of aungelles and broughte her to heuyn with moche ioy and there crowned her quene of heuyn Empresse of hel and lady of all the worlde soo she is in euirlastinge blysse Narraico ¶ we fynd of our lady how ther was a iewe that was borne in Fraunce and come into Englonde for diuerse maters that he hadde to do with other people And come to gloucestre and to Bristowe and
so wolde goo into wyllshyre but he was take by the wey with theuys and ladde into an olde house bounde to a post and his hondes behinde him and so lefte him ther all nyghte and at the laste he fyll a slepe sawe a fayre woman clothed in whyte he neuir sawe noon such and euyn therwith he awoke and felte him selue loose Then he sawe oure lady so bright that he thoughte she passed the sonne said what arte thou and she saide I am mary that thou and thy nacion despisen say that I bare neuir goddes sonne But nowe I am coÌ„me to bryng the oute of thy erroure and oute of pryson that thou arte in therfore come thou with me and stonde yonder at the stone and loke downewarde and so he dyd and there he sawe the horrible peynes of hel that he was nygh oute of his mynde Thenne saide oure lady to him These be the peynes that be ordeyned to al tho that wyll nat beleue in my sones passion and in the feyth of holy churche yet come forth and se more and she set him on a hye hyll and shewyd a place of grete ioye and myrthe in somoche that he was rauysshed with that sight Then saide oure lady Lo these been ordeyned to al tho that beleue in the incarnacion of god and that he was borne of me I clene mayde bifore and after And that my sonne shedde his blood for all maÌ„kynde Nowe haste thou seen both ioye and peyne chose whiche thou haste leuyr Thenne he wente moche of the nyghte he wyst nat what waye but walkyd forthe And on the morowe he come to Bathe there he was cristned and named Iohn after was a holy man ¶ Then to come agayn to oure purpose of oure lady what tyme that IoachiÌ„ hadde offred oure lady into the temple to the bisshop to kepe her saue in ward tyll she were xii yere of age and more Thenne muste the busshop ordeyne her an husbonde and then they lete crye al aboute in the countre that kynges lordes and other gentylles that were with oute wyues shold come at a certein day for to knowe who were best worthy to wedde that faire mayde that was floure of all maydens For right as the lily is white and faire emonge briers and other floures Right so was oure lady emonge other maydenes So whan they come to Ierusalem to see the mayden that was of the beste bloode of the worlde The busshop ordeyned an olde staff of asshe that hadde been kepte in the temple many yeres was al worme etyn and he saide He that handeleth that staff and burgenyd and bere floures he shulde haue the mayden and she was brought forthe into the temple yâ— all the people myght see her Then â—ad the busshop brynge forthe the staf and whan any man handled it he bad him holde it vp on hye that the peple myght se if it burgened Then went it to kynges prynces lordes knyghtes and sauyers and other gentylmen but it wolde nat be the firste daye ne the second day so the thridde day they shulde make an ende Thenne came there an olde man into the temple and hadde herde of this but he sawe it nat and thought to goo se how the peple dyd come thyder and stode a ferre in a corner and loked on this mayden Thenne he thought in him selue he wolde nat handell the staf for this mayde is nat for me that is so passynge faire and I so passinge olde Thenne come there a white doue fall vpon his hede with a golden byll and her feet shone as it hadde be bright burnysshed golde that all the people sawe her and some wolde haue caughte her but they might nat Then was the busshop ware and badde Ioseph come vp to him anone and Ioseph saide nay she is nat for me she is to yonge and I am to olde to gouerne her estate Then said the busshop handell this staf he dyd and anone it was grene and began to burgyn and bare leuys and blosomed and bare frute Thenne was the busshop gladde and Ioseph sory for to haue her for he was full purposed neuir to haue wyf Thenne the busshoppe weddyd theym worshipfully and bad Ioseph take her home with him and so he dyd Thenne sone after the holy goste lighted in her with gretynge of the aungell gabriell And soo beganne to weye greate with childe Then Ioseph loked on her and thoughte to haue gone awaye pryuely fro her and leue her allone Thenne come an aungell to Ioseph and badde he sholde take mary to his kepynge and studye no more thervpon and leue all such thoughtes for it was goddes wyll and god him selfe wyll that it be so Thenne he lefte all suche fantasies and kepte her well as a man shulde doo his wyf De exaltacione sancte crucis gOode frendes suche a daye ye shall haue holy rode daye in the whiche ye shall coÌ„me to the churche in worship of hym that was done on the crosse that day is called Exaltatio sancte crucis The exaltacion of the crose whan saint Elyn hadde set the crose in Ierusalem cristen peple dyd it grete reuerence But then come the kinge of Perce that was called Cosdre and he tooke the crosse with him and made the cyte bare and bare awey all that he might and went into the temple and toke all the treasoure iewelles and precious stones and bare them awaye Thê° this cursed man did distroy many kingdomes and so bare the holy crosse into his owne countre Thenne the Emperoure Eraclius herde herof and was full wrothe and sory And sent to this kinge cosdre to trete with him For eraclius was a cristen man Then cosdre aunsweryd cursedly and said he wold nat trete tyll he hadde all his people to forsake cristendome and to do sacrifice to his mawmentes Thenne this Emperoure eraclius betooke all to god gadred him an ooste of people to fight with this cursed kynge cosdre hoping in god to gete the holy crosse agayn But whan this cursed kynge Cosdre come he fyll in suche a fantasy madnesse that he tooke his sone all the gouernaunce of his realme And lete make an house for him selue in maner of an aulter lyke vnto heuyn and made it all shynynge gold and precious stones And sette him selue in the myddes in a chaire of golde and coÌ„maunded that all the people shulde call him god and so satte and the holy crosse in his right hoÌ„de in stede of his sonne and on the left honde a tame cocke in stede of the holy gooste and him selue in the myddes in stede of the trynyte And thus he sat lyke a mad man Thenne whanne his sone herd that Eraclius was coÌ„mynge he went ayenste him and met him att a grete water ouer the whiche water was a brydge Thenne by the assent of bothe their often the ii cheif capitaynes a middes the bridge shold
goddis appostell poull wylle that al cristen peple shal take ensample of hym For he suffred moche trybulacion paciently that he reherceth in the pistell of this daye And sayd thus In laboribus plurimis Poull saith I haue be in many grete traueyles and often tymes in pryson sore bounden wyth cheynes of yron Quinque virgis cesus Fyue tymes beton wyth rodis scourgis on my bare body wyth paynemes Semel lapidatus And ones beten wyth stones and thre tymes in shyp brekyng ¶ Nocte ac die in profundum maris fui And I was in the grounde of the see a nyghte and a daye Sepe in periculis fluuium Many tymes in peryll of flodes Periculis latronum In peryll of theues and in perrell off bretherne that shewed true loue to me and were false and couÌ„seyled other to dome dysease and troble In fame et siti In hongre and in thurste In ieiuniis multis In moche fastyng In multis vigiliis In longe wakynge In frigore In colde and in many other mischeues and peryll that were to longe to telle and all he suffred wyth good wyll euer thanked god of his swete sonde For wel he wyst that al thyse tribulacioÌ„s disease was for sinne that he had doâ—â— to fore to encrece his meryte ioye that shold come after wherfore al criste peple that wyl please god what maner disease or tribulacioÌ„ that come to hem be it sâ—kenes losse of catel or other goodes or deth of frendis take it pacietly mekely thinke it cometh for synne that thou hast do tofore or elles for grete increace of ioye blisse that thou shal haue after for it cometh of specyal grace there as god visiteth comyth there as god sendeth but there as he suffreth al their wyl is no good signe that he loueth therfore thanke god euer of his visitacion beseche hym euer of his mercy God knoweth our enteÌ„t therfore he foryeueth sone to al that asketh mercy wyth a meke herte Thus must a man suffre tribulacioÌ„ pacieÌ„tly he must also do almes discretly whiche be figured by thy se lx dayes for lx is six â—ithes .x. so that by vi ye shal vnderstoÌ„de the vii werkes of mercy that comen out of the x. coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes the whiche ben thise to yeue mete drinke cloth herborow visite prysoners coÌ„forte the sike blinde lame to berye them that ben ded thyse ben the vii werkes of mercy the whiche al cristen peple muste do the wyl be saued and haue mercy of god wherfor sexagesme begynneth this daye and endeth the wednesday in ester weke the whiche holy chirche speketh of thus Venite bendicti patris meâ— c. Come ye my faders blyssed children take the kyngdom of heuen that is ordeyned for you These same wordes god shal saye to you at the daye of dome to all that hath done almes dedes discretly And fulfylled the werkes off mercy yf they were of power that tho that ben not of power muste do they good wyl that shal fulfil the dede this must be doo discretely And how god teche this daye in the gospell by ensample and sayth thus Exiit qui seminat seminare se men suum ¶ A man went to sowe his sedes and as he sew some fell by the waye and fowles come and ete it and some fell emonge thornes and was lost and some fel in good erthe brought forth an C. folde encreace to this cryste sayth thus hym selfe Ego sum via veritas et vita ¶ I am the very ryght true lyffe and waye to heuen Thenne falleth his sede besyde the waye that yeueth not his almes for cristys sake dyscretly But for pryde pompe and vayn glory off the world and so leseth his mede and that I preue by ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ There was in Irlond a wonder riche man and dede moche almes in his lyfe in so moche that the peple wende he had be a saynt But whan he was dede he appered to one that he loued well in his lyf as black as ony pytche with an horryble stynke and sayd ye wene that I be a saynt but now I am suche as thou seest thenne sayd he where be thy almes dedes he sayd the wynde of vayn glory hath blowen theym away For he that dooth his almes for vayn glory of the world leseth his mede and the feÌ„des of the cyre destroyeth it Also he leseth his mede that yeueth his almes to suche as he knowe that ben in dedely synne And soo to mayntene theym in ther synne his sâ—de falleth amonge stones and weyeth dâ—ye And soo lesyth his mede his sede falleth amonge thornes that yeueth his good to riche people that hath noo nede therto and soo lesyth theyr mede But his sede falleth in goode erthe that yeueth his almes to good true people for they be goddis erthe â–ª and that sede shall yeue an hundred folde encreace in euerlastynge ioye and blisse and shall bee euerlastyng fode to them that don thus her almes dyscretly ye must also hate synne namely and flee it in al that ye may for he that hateth and fleeth synne loueth god and god loueth hym For god hateth synne in soo moche that he toke vengeaunce on all the worlde fo synne of lechery and in special for the synne ayenst kynde For whan god sawe this synne rennynge in alle the world soo vnworthely he said thus Me forthynketh that euer I made maÌ„ and said to noe ¶ Fac tibi archam Make the a shype of planed boordes as I shall teche the. and make chambres therin and take of al clene bestes the couple by hym self and mete and drinke wyth them ¶ Than made noe this shyp as god taughte hym square in the botom and iii C. cubytes of lâ—â—ghthe and l. cubites in brede and xxx cubytes of heyght and this shepe was in makynge a C. yeres to shewe how merciable god is in taryeng to loke yf the people wold amende hem and how lothe he was to doo vengeaunce But the people was euer lenger the wors thenne by helpe of angelles all maner birdes and bestis were brought to noe And whan al were brought to the ship our lord bad noe and his wyfe and his iii. sones goo in to the ship by hem self And noes wyfe and her soones wyfes by hem self for the men sholde not comen wyth the wymmen so whan they were alle ynne god closed the dore to hem wythout forth Quadraginta diebus quadraginta noctibus aperti sunt celi ¶ Thenne it rayned xl dayes and xl nyghtes that the water bare the shype hygher than ony hyll by xl cubytes stode styll an C. dayes and xl And drowned all the worlde bothe people bestes saue those that were in the shype yet iosephus said in armany ther is an hylle and that is called Barus that was hygher than the water was and therfore dyuerse people haue opynyon there was moche peple
daye xii monthe he turned water into wyne at the weddinge at Chane galilee But the feste maketh mooste mynde mencion of the iii. kinges offryng and therfore lete vs folowe the fourme of holy churche and ye shall here howe it fyll of their offringe to oure lorde iesu criste very god and man Thus iii. kynges wer of the lignage that prophecyed howe a sterre sholde shyne of Iacob But they were no iewes kynd but they hadde herde by prophecy of this wherfore they hadde greate desire luste to see it And so often tymes whaÌ„ne they might coÌ„me to giddre vpon certeyne high hylles thenne they wolde dispute emonge theym of this sterre Soo it hapned vpon cristemasse nighte the same tyme as oure lorde was borne they were to gyddre and were disputyng of this sterre Super montem Vpon the hyll Dominus enim erat natus Oure lorde was borne Eâ— apperuit illis And apperyd to theym in the sterre as a faire childe and vnder his hede a brâ—kâ—â—â— â–ª crosse of golde and saide thus to them Goo ye anoon in all the haste that ye maye into the londe of Iury and take with you gold myrre and ensence and offre these thre thinges to him that ye shal fynde there now borne kinge of iewes very god man And I shal be youre gyde and lede you to the way Then anoon for grete haste they toke bestâ—â— that ben called Dromedaries that ben of suche kynde they be so swyfte that they wyll tenne further in one day thaÌ„ne any other beest wyll tenne or go in thre daies And so they caÌ„me to Ierusalem that was the cheif cyte of all Iury hopynge that they shulde here there some tydinges where that this child was borne But as sone as they turnyd into the cyte of Ierusalem thenne they loste the sighte of the sterre that lad theâ—◠¶ euyr the waye tyll that they come thyder bryghter than the sonne theÌ„ne wheÌ„ they com to the cyte of iherusâ—leÌ„ they rode to kyng Herode for he was there the same tyme sayd to heÌ„ Vbi eÌ„ qui natus eÌ„ rex iudeoruÌ„ ¶ where is he that is borne that is kynge of iewes Vidimus enim stellam eius in oriente we sawe his sterre in the Este Venimus adorare eum we be come to worshyp hym Thenne kynge herode was troubled and all the cyte wyth hym but more for flaterynge of him thenne for ony loue that they had to hym Thenne kynge Herode asked his clerkis where this child sholde be borne and they sayd in bethelem â—nde thenne kyng herode asked the kingis preuely of the sterre and bad hem goo in Bethelem and worship the childe â–ª and come ayen by hym telle hym where he myghte fynde the chylde that he myght goo worshyp hym Thenne whan the kyngis were passed towardes Bethelem anone the sterre apered to them And whan thei sawe the sterre was come ayen they were glad in their hertes and as it is in many place painted the kynge that is in the myddel for gret ioye of the sterre he loked bacwarde to his felowe behynde hym and wyth his fynger shewed him the sterre that is the cause that the middel king loked bacward ¶ And thus the sterre broughte them to bethelem and whan the sterre come ouer the hous there as Our Lord was in it stode styll Thenne the kynges lighted downe and wente in to the hous and wyth al the reuerence that they coude knelynge â— downe offird eche of theÌ„ thise iii. thinges Aurum thus et mirram Golde cence and myâ—â—e knowlechyng by the golde that he was kynge of all kynges And by the 〈◊〉 that he was very god and by the myrre that he waâ— very man and shold be dede and layd in graue wythout rotynge For gold is cheef of al mettallis Encence is breÌ„te in holy chirche in worship to god Myrre is an oynemeÌ„te that kepeth the bodyes from rotynge Thus whan the kyngis had done theyr offrynge by techinge of the angell Per aliam viam reuersi sunt iÌ„ regionem suam By another waye they wente toward theyr owne londis And lefte kynge he rode and the sterre vanysshed awaye fro them ¶ Thenne as syant Bernard sayth Ioseph kept of this golde as moche as hym neded to his tribute that he shold paye to the emperour And also more to kepe our lady wyth whyle she laye in chylde bed And the remenaunt he deled to poure people suche as had grete nede therto The cence he brente to put awaye the stenche of the stable there as she laye in and wyth the myrre Oure lady anoynted her chyld to kepe hym from wormes and dysease But what befel of the kyngis after I fynde no thyng in certeyn but some peple haue an oppynyon how the saynt thomas of Inde cristened theym whan he come in to that cuntrey of Inde ¶ And thenne as the sterre lyghtened theym to crystis birth Soo the holy ¶ goost lyghtened them in theyr soule and â—aught them the parfyghte waye of the byleue And also of parfyghte and gracious lyuinge In soo moche that they lefte all theyr kingedom and wente forth on pylgrâ—mages that is to saye to Iherusalâ—m to many other places And soo they come forthe to Myllayne and there they deyed all thre And soo after that they were translated to Coleyne and there they ben yet now haue ye herde bi thyse thre kynges How Oure Lorde Ihesu Criste was this daye shewed verey god and man wherfore lyke as they offred wyth deuocyon So shold ye doo your offrynges whan ye come to holy chirche knelynge downe wyth all reuerence that ye canne or may not on your one knee as to a temporal lorde but on bothe your knees And doo worshyp hym wyth good prayers Thenne offre ye precious golde For there is noo golde soo precyous as is the good prayer deuoute And thenne hold vp your hondes to hym wyth all the reuerence that ye can and wyth a deuoute herte praye to hym and shewe hym all the loue of your hertes And thenne offre ye to hym ensence For there is noo ensence sauour that is so swete brennyng in the fyre as doth good prayers that is deuoutely said· wyth a brennyng loue in clene charyte And if thou doo thus thenne thou offrest knelyng on thy knees Make a crosse on therthe and kysse it and thynke well thou art but etthe theÌ„ne muste ye offre myrre For right as myrre kepeth a body from rotyng soo the mynde of deth kepeth a mannis soule from dedely synne in this wyse do ye your offâ—nâ—â—e And thenne shall ye haue as moche mede as had thyse thre kynges Also he was shewed bothe god and man atte his cristenyng For he come to the water of flom Iordan he wente in to the water and halowed it for right as he was circumcised to conferme the new lawe and for noo nede that he hadde therto For he was clene wythout