Compiled by Jacobus de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa, 1275 First
Edition Published 1470
From the Temple Classics Edited by F.S. ELLIS First issue of
this Edition, 1900 Reprinted 1922, 1931
Here followeth of S. Pauline the Widow
S. Pauline was a much noble widow of Rome, of whom S. Jerome wrote the life,
and saith first thus: If all my members were turned into tongues, and all my
arteries should resound in human voice, yet I might not worthily write the virtues of S.
Pauline. I take witness of God and of his holy angels, and also of the angel that was
keeper of this woman that I shall say nothing for praising but that same that I shall say
shall be less than appertaineth to her virtues. She was born among the nobles of
the senators of Rome, and of the lineage of the noble Gregois, rich of good and puissant
of seignory at Rome. She was the most humble of all other, for like as the sun surmounteth
the clearness of the stars, so surmounted she the beauty of others by her great humility.
When her husband was passed out of this world, she abode lady of all the goods and
riches. It happed that, at the mandment of the Emperor, many bishops came to Rome, among
whom were there the holy man Paulinus, the patriarch of Antioch, and Epiphanius, bishop of
Cyprus, of whom she was esprised in good virtues, so that she gave largely of her goods
for God’s sake. Her parents, ne her friends, ne her own children could not turn her,
ne make her to change her purpose, but that she would become the pilgrim of Jesu
Christ, for the amorous desire that she had to Jesu Christ surmounted the love that she
had to her children. Only among all her children she had put her affection in Eustochium
her daughter, whom she led with her in this pilgrimage. She took the sea and sailed so far
that she came into the holy land of Jerusalem. O how great devotion she had to visit the
sepulchre of Jesu Christ and the other holy places, and how all weeping she kissed them,
there can no man rehearse. All the city of Jerusalem could speak of it, and yet best of
all knew the Lord for whose love she had forsaken all things.
She had been at Rome so puissant and so noble, that every man coveted to do to her
honour for her great renomee, but she that was founded upon humility sought the
humble places and religious, and came at the last to Bethlehem. And when she had devoutly
visited the place in which the Virgin Mary infanted and childed Jesu Christ, she fell in a
vision, and as she sware to me, she saw in that vision the child wrapped in poor clouts
Iying in the crib or in the rack, and how the three kings worshipped him, how the star
came upon the house, and how the shepherds came to see him, and how Herod made persecution
upon the innocents, and how Joseph bare the child into Egypt. And this vision she said,
all in weeping and in laughing, and said: I salute thee Bethlehem wherein he is born, that
descended from heaven, of thee prophesied Micah the fifth chapter, that of thee should be
born the God that should govern the people of Israel, and the lineage of David should
endure in thee unto the time that the glorious virgin should enfant Jesu Christ; and I
wretched, as unworthy to repute me to kiss the crib in which our Lord wept as a child, and
the virgin childed, here I shall take my rest and my dwelling, for my Saviour chose this
place in Bethlehem.
She made there her habitation with many virgins that served God, and how well
that she was lady of all, nevertheless she was the most humble and meek in speaking, in
habit, and in going, in such wise that she seemed servant of all the other. She never ate
after the death of her husband with no man, how good that he was; she visited as it is
said tofore, all the holy places and the monks of Egypt, among whom were many of the
ancient fathers and many holy men, and her seemed that she saw Jesu Christ among them. And
after, she founded in Bethlehem an abbey in which she assembled virgins as well of noble
estate as of middle and low lineage, and departed them in three congregations, so that
they were departed in work, in meat, and drink, but in saying their psalter and adoring
were they together at the hours as it appertaineth. And she induced and informed all the
other in prayer and in work, by example giving, she was never idle. And all they were of
one habit, and they had ne sheets ne linen cloth but to dry their hands, and they might
have no licence to speak to men, and they that came late to the hours, she blamed
debonairly or shortly, after that they were, and suffered not that any of them should have
anything save the living and clothing, for to put away avarice from them. She appeased
them sweetly that strove, and also she brake and mortified among the young maidens their
fleshly desires by continual fastings, for she had liefer have them good, suffering sorrow
and sickness, than their heart should be hurt by fleshly will. And she chastised
them that were nice and quaint, saying that such nicety was filth of the soul, and
said also that, word sounding to any ordure or filth should never issue out of the mouth
of a virgin, for by the words outward is showed the countenance of the heart within, and
she that so spake and was rebuked therefor, if she amended it not at the first warning, ne
at the second, ne at the third, she should be dissevered from the others in eating and in
drinking, by which she should be ashamed, and thus should be amended by debonair
correction, and if she would not, she should be punished by right great moderation. She
was marvellous debonair and pitiful to them that were sick, and comforted them and served
them right busily, and to them largely to eat such as they asked, but to herself she was
hard in her sickness and scarce, for she refused to eat flesh, how well she gave it to
other, and also to drink wine. She was oft by them that were sick, and laid the pillows
aright and in point, and frotted their feet and chauffed water to wash them. And her
seemed that the less she did to the sick in service, so much less service did she to God,
and deserved less merit, and therefore she was to them pitiful, and nothing to herself. In
her right great sicknesses she would have no soft bed, but lay upon the straw or upon the
ground, and took but little rest. For the most part she was in prayers both by day and by
night, and she wept so much that it seemed of her eyes a fountain. So many tears ran from
them, and when we said to her oft-times that she should keep her eyes from weeping so
much, she said: The visage ought to be like to be foul because it hath so much been made
fair and gay against the commandment of God, and the body ought to be chastised that hath
had so much solace in this world, and the laughings ought to be recompensed by weepings,
and the soft bed and the sheets ought to be changed into the sharpness of hair. I that was
accustomed to please man and the world, I desire now to please Jesu Christ. And what shall
I say of chastity in which she was ensample unto all ladies of time past when she was yet
secular? For she conversed in such wise that they that were envious durst not avise on her
any evil fame. She was debonair and courteous unto all, for she comforted the poor and
warned the rich to do well, but in largess she passed so that no poor man complained of
her. And this did she not by the great abundance that she had of goods, but by her wise
governance, and when I said to her that she should have measure in doing alms,
after that the apostle saith that, the alms that is done to another be not grievous to him
that doth it. But she said that for the love of our Lord she did all, and that she desired
to die, begging in such wise that she should not leave one penny to her daughter after
her, and that she might be wrapped in a strange sheet when she should die.
And at the last she said: If I should demand ought, I should find enough that would
give to me, and these beggars, if I gave to them nought and they so departed and died for
poverty, of whom should God demand this? Oft said she so: They be happy that be merciful,
and alms quencheth sins as the water quencheth the fire, but for to do alms it cometh not
always to perfection, for many do alms that abide in their carnalities, they seem to be
good without forth. but within they be mortal.
Pauline was not such an one, she affeebled her body right sore in fasting and in
labouring, that unnethe she set her eyes to her meat, without eating fish, ne milk,
eggs, or white meat, in which many ween to do great abstinence without eating flesh. For
our Lord gave to her an adversary, the stimulation fleshly, by which she held her in
humility without savouring anything of pride for the foison of her virtues, and also that
she thought not to be higher than other women. She had always in her mind the holy
Scriptures against the deceptions of the fiend, and especially this that Moses saith: God
assayeth you if he love you, and this that saith Isaiah the prophet: Ye that have been at
the solace and joys of the world and now be withdrawn from them and left them, lookafter
none other thing but to suffer tribulation upon tribulation and know ye by tribulation is
had patience, and by patience is had poverty. It is said, Job, primo capitulo, when it was
showed to him the loss of his patrimony, he answered: I issued naked from the belly of my
mother, and I shall re-enter naked again into the earth, like as God may be pleased so be
it done, his name be praised and blessed. He learned us that we should not love the world,
for the world shall finish in her covetise. When one told her that her children were right
sick, she said: Who loveth his son or his daughter more than God is not worthy to be with
God. A man, that seemed to be her friend, sent her word on a time that she had great need
to keep well her brain, for because of the ardour that she had in virtues, she seemed to
be out of her wit, and she answered: In this world we bereputed as fools for the love of
Jesu Christ. And our Lord said to his apostles: The world hateth you, for ye be not of the
world, if ye were of the world, that is to say of the conversation of the world, the world
should love you. Fair Lord God we mortify ourselves always, and we be reputed as sheep
that be brought to death, because that without plaining we mortify our bodies. In
such patience was she unto the death, and suffered humbly the envy of them that were evil.
She had in her mind the holy Scriptures, and she held her more to the spiritual
understanding than to the histories of the Scripture. She could perfectly Hebrew, Greek,
Latin, and French, and read coursably the Scriptures in these four languages.
Who may recount without weeping the death of this woman? She fell in a malady mortal
and saw well that she should die, for all her body became cold, and she felt that her
spirit held her in her breast. Then said she without plaining, and without having any
charge save to God: Fair sweet Lord, I have coveted the beauty of thy house for to be in
thy habitation that is so fair, my soul hath desired to be in thy realm. And when I
demanded her wherefore she spake no more, and she would not answer me, and I asked if she
suffered great pain, she said to me in Greek tongue that she was well and in good peace.
And anon she left speaking to me, and closed her eyes in saying to God: Lord, like as the
hart desireth to come to the fountain, so desireth my soul to come to thee; alas! when
shall I come to thee fair Lord God? And in saying these words, she made a cross
upon her mouth. There were bishops, priests, clerks, canons, and monks without number, and
at the last, when she heard her spouse, Jesu Christ, which called her saying: Arise and
come to me my sweet love and fair espouse, for the winter is passed. She answered gladly:
The flowers be showed in our country, and I believe that I shall see the goods in the
realm of heaven of my Lord Jesu Christ, and thus she rendered her soul and passed out of
this world. And anon all the congregation of virgins made no cry in weeping as do the
people of the world, but read devoutly their psalter not only unto the time that she was
buried, but all the day and all the night. And with great pain could not Eustochium, her
venerable daughter, the virgin, be withdrawn from her, but she kissed her and embraced her
piteously in weeping the death of her mother. And Jesus witnesseth that S. Pauline left
not one penny to her daughter, she had so given alms of all her great riches. Many give
largely for God’s sake, but they give not so much but some abideth.
When she was passed as said is, her lips ne her face were not pale, but was as reverent
to look on as she had been yet alive. She was buried in a sepulchre in Bethlehem with
right great honour by the bishops, priests, clerks, monks, virgins, and all the poor
people of the country, which plained that they had lost their good mother that had
nourished them. She lived in Rome holily thirty-three years, and in Bethlehem twenty
years, and all her age was fifty three years seven months and twenty days, from the time
of Honorius, emperor of Rome. Then let us pray to this holy woman that she pray for us.
Here followeth of S. Julian, the bishop, and first the
interpretation of his name.
Julian is as much to say as jubilus, singing, and ana, that is on high, and thereof
Julian as going to high things in singing. Or it is said: Julius, that is as much to say
as not wise, and anus, that is old, for he was old in the service of God, and not wise in
reputation of himself.
The Life of S. Julian.
S. Julian was bishop of Cenomanence. It is said that it was he that was said Simon
the leper, whom our Lord healed of his measelry, and bade Jesu Christ to dinner, and after
the Ascension of our Lord, he was ordained of the apostles bishop of Emmaus, full of great
virtues. He appeared to the world, he raised three dead men, and after he ended his
days in great praising of God. Of this S. Julian some say that this is he that pilgrims
and wayfaring men call and require for good harbourage because our Lord was lodged in his
house, but it seemeth better that it is he that slew his father and mother ignorantly, of
whom the history is here after. There was another Julian born in Alvernia, which
was of noble lineage, and yet more noble in faith and in virtue, which for the great
desire that he had to be martyred, he offered himself to the tyrants where he had not
forfeited.
Now it happed that Crispinus, which was one of the governors of Rome, sent to him one
of his ministers for to put him to death. Anon as the minister came to him, he issued out
of his place and came tofore him, and offered to him to suffer death, and his head was
smitten off. And they took the head, and showed it to S. Feriol that was his fellow, and
said they would so do of him if he sacrificed not, and because he would not obey to them
they slew him, and took the head of S. Julian, and the body of S. Feriol, and buried them
both in one pit, and a great while after S. Mamertine, bishop of Vienne, found the head of
S. Julian between the hands of S. Feriol, all so whole as it had been buried that same
day.
Among the other miracles of S. Julian it is said that a deacon took all the white sheep
that were of the church of S. Julian, and the shepherds defended them, but he said
to them that S. Julian ate never no mutton, and anon after a fever took him, so great and
hot that he knowledged that he was of the martyr so burnt, and he did water to be cast on
him for to cool him. And anon issued out of his body such a fume and smoke, and therewith
so great a stench, that all they that were present were constrained to flee, and anon
after he died. Another miracle happed of a man of a village that on a Sunday would ear his
lands, and when he took the share to make clean his coulter, it cleaved to his hand. And
two years after, at the prayer of S. Julian in the church, he was healed.
There was another Julian which was brother to one named Julius. These
two brethren went to the Emperor Theodosius, which was a very christian man, and they
prayed him that they might destroy all the idols that they might find, and that they might
edify churches, each which thing the emperor granted them, and wrote that all men should
obey them and help them, upon pain to lose their heads. Now it happed that they edified a
church, and all men by the commandment of the emperor obeyed and helped them. It happed
that there were some men that led a cart which should pass by, and thought how they might
do and pass without arresting for to help them, and they thought that one of them should
lie on the cart as he were dead, and thereby they would excuse them, and so they did, and
bade him that lay in the cart to hold his eyes closed till they were past the pass. And
when they came in the place where they edified the church, Julian and Julius, his brother,
said to them: My sons, tarry a while and come and help us to work. They answered that they
might not for they carried a dead man. S. Julian said to them: Why lie ye so? They
answered: Sir, we lie not, it is so as we say to you. And S. Julian said to them: So may
it fall to you as ye say. And anon they drove forth their oxen and passed forth. And when
they were passed a little they called their fellow that he should arise and drive forth
the oxen for to go the faster, and he answered not one word. And they called him again on
high and said: Art thou out of thy wit? Arise up and drive forth the beasts, and he moved
ne spake not one word. They went up and discovered him and found him dead as S. Julian had
said to them. Then took they such dread and fear that after that they ne none other that
heard of the miracle durst lie no more tofore the holy servant of God.
Another Julian there was that slew his father and mother by
ignorance. And this man was noble and young, and gladly went for to hunt. And one time
among all other he found an hart which returned toward him, and said to him, thou huntest
me that shall slay thy father and mother. Hereof was he much abashed and afeard, and for
dread, that it should not happen to him that the hart had said to him, he went privily
away that no man knew thereof, and found a prince noble and great to whom he put him in
service. And he proved so well in battle and in services in his palace, that he was so
much in the prince’s grace that he made him knight and gave to him a rich widow of a
castle, and for her dower he received the castle. And when his father and mother knew that
he was thus gone they put them in the way for to seek him in many places. And so long they
went till they came to the castle where he dwelt, but then he was gone out, and they found
his wife. And when she saw them she inquired diligently who they were, and when they had
said and recounted what was happened of their son, she knew verily that they were the
father and mother of her husband, and received them much charitably, and gave to them her
own bed, and made another for herself. And on the morn the wife of Julian went to the
church, and her husband came home whiles she was at church, and entered into his chamber
for to awake his wife. And he saw twain in his bed, and had weened that it had been a man
that had lain with his wife, and slew them both with his sword, and after, went out and
saw his wife coming from church. Then he was much abashed and demanded of his wife who
they were that lay in his bed, then she said that they were his father and his mother,
which had long sought him, and she had laid them in his bed. Then he swooned and was
almost dead, and began to weep bitterly and cry, alas! caitiff that I am, what shall I do
that have slain my father and my mother? Now it is happened that I supposed to have
eschewed, and said to his wife: Adieu and farewell, my right dear love, I shall never rest
till that I shall have knowledge if God will pardon and forgive me this that I have done,
and that I shall have worthy penance therefor. And she answered: Right dear love, God
forbid that ye should go without me, like as I have had joy with you, so will I have pain
and heaviness. Then departed they and went till they came to a great river over which much
folk passed, where they edified an hospital much great for to harbour poor people,
and there do their penance in bearing men over that would pass.
After long time S. Julian slept about midnight, sore travailed, and it was frozen and
much cold, and he heard a voice lamenting and crying that said: Julian come and help us
over. And anon he arose, and went over and found one almost dead for cold, and anon he
took him and bare him to the fire and did great labour to chauffe and warm him. And when
he saw that he could not be chauffed ne warm, he bare him in to his bed, and covered him
the best wise he might. And anon after, he that was so sick and appeared as he had been
measell, he saw all shining ascending to heaven, and said to S. Julian his host: Julian,
our Lord hath sent me to thee, and sendeth thee word that he hath accepted thy penance.
And a while after S. Julian and his wife rendered unto God their souls and departed out of
this world.
Another Julian there was, but he was no saint but a cursed man, and
was called Julianus Apostata. This Julian was first a monk, and showing outward signs of
great religion and of great holiness, after that that Master John Beleth reciteth. There
was a woman that had three pots full of gold, and because the gold should not be seen she
had put in the mouth of the pots above, ashes, and delivered them to this Julian tofore
other monks for to keep, whom she reputed a holy man, but she said not to him that they
were full of gold. When he had these pots he looked what was therein, and he found that it
was gold and took it out all, and filled them full of ashes, and fled with all to Rome,
and did so much that he was of the councillors and governors of Rome. But the
woman, when she would have again her pots, she could not prove that she had delivered to
him in keeping gold, for she made no mention thereof tofore the monks, and therefore he
retained it, and procured withal the office of a consul of the governance of Rome. And
after that he procured so much that he was instituted emperor. Whiles he was young he was
taught in the art of enchantment and of the invocations of fiends, and gladly he studied,
and it pleased him much, and had with him divers masters of that science. Now it happed on
a day that as his master was out he began alone to read the invocations, and a great
multitude of fiends came about him and made him afeard, and he made the sign of the cross,
and anon they vanished away. And when his master was returned he told him what was happed
to him, but his master said to him that always he had hated and feared that sign. When
then he was emperor he remembered thereof, and because he would use the craft of the
devil, overall where he found the signs of the cross he destroyed them, and persecuted
christian men because that he knew well that otherwise the fiends would not do for him.
Now it happed that he descended into a region that is called Persia, and from thence he
sent into the occident a devil for to have answer of that he said to him, and this
devil went and abode ten days in one place without moving, because there was a monk
continually in prayer night and day, and when he might not do he returned. Then Julian
demanded him where he had been so long, he answered: I have been in a place where I
found a monk night and day praying, and I supposed to have troubled him that he should no
more pray, and all this while I could never turn him from his prayer, and thus I am
returned without doing anything. Then Julian the apostate had great indignation and said
when he came thither he would avenge him of the monk, and when he went in to Persia the
devils promised him that he should have victory of a city. The master of enchantments,
which divined by the devil for him, said to a christian man: What doeth the smith’s
son? He said that he made a sepulchre for Julian his master. And as it is read in the
history of S. Basil, he came in Cæsarea of Cappadocia and S. Basil came against him, and
presented three loaves to him, which he sent to him. And Julian had great indignation of
this gift, and for the bread, he sent to S. Basil hay, saying: Thou hast sent to me meat
for dumb beasts, therefore take this that I send to thee. S. Basil said: We have sent to
thee such as we eat, and thou sendest to us of that thou nourishest thy beasts with. Of
which answer Julian was wroth and said: When I shall have done in Persia I shall destroy
this city in such wise that it shall be better ordained for to ear and sow than people to
dwell in. And the night ensuing, S. Basil saw in a vision, in the church of our Lady, a
great multitude of angels, and in the middle of them a woman being in a throne, which said
to them: Call to me Mercury whom Julian the apostate hath slain, which blasphemeth
me and my son. Mercury was a knight, that for the faith of God had been slain of Julian,
and was buried in the same church. Then anon Mercury with all his arms, that were kept,
was present, and at the commandment of the lady he went to battle. S. Basil awoke all
affrayed, and went to the tomb where the knight was buried in, and opened the
sepulchre, but he found neither body ne arms. Then he demanded of the keeper who had taken
away the body. And he sware that in the even tofore it was there. S. Basil after on the
morn returned, and found the body and the armour and the spear all bloody. And anon came
one from the battle which said that Julian the apostate and emperor was in the battle, and
thither came a knight unknown all armed with his spear, which hardily smote his horse with
his spurs and came to Julian the emperor, and brandished his sword and smote him
through the body, and suddenly he departed and never after was seen again. And yet when he
should die he took his hand full of blood and cast it into the air saying: Thou hast
vanquished man of Galilee ! thou hast overcome! And in crying thus, miserably he expired,
and died in great pain, and was left without sepulture of all his men. And he was flayed
of the Persians, and of his skin was made to the king of Persia an undercovering, and thus
he died cursedly.
Thus end the Lives of four holy saints every each named Julian, and
of one that was a false apostata.
Here followeth the Life of S. Ignatius bishop, and first the interpretation of his name.
Ignatius is said as one suffering fire and burning, for he was embraced and all
esprised of the divine and burning love of God.
Of S. Ignatius.
S. Ignatius was disciple of S. John Evangelist, and was bishop of Antioch. And after
that, as some say, he sent a letter unto our Lady or an epistle in this wise: Unto Mary
the Virgin, that bare Jesu Christ in her body, I, humble Ignatius, her servant, send
greeting, I, that am yet a novice in the faith and disciple to Jesu Christ and to John thy
dear friend, desire to have of thee some comfort and consolation of some good enseignment
and teaching. For of Jesus thy Son I have heard say many marvels, of which I am enjoyed to
hear only of thee, which hast been always in his company. Thou knowest well the secret
desires of him, thou hast been plainly informed, and they that be yet young in the faith
with me trust much to be endoctrined of thee, and informed in their creance and belief:
Lady, God salute thee.
And to this letter answered the glorious Virgin Mary in this manner: Ignatius, good
disciple of Jesus and his special friend, the humble handmaid of Jesu Christ sendeth to
thee greeting. I do thee to wit that all that John hath said to thee of Jesu Christ and
all that thou hast learned of him is true doctrine and thing certain. Go alway in good
creance, and believe and keep firmly the promise of thy christian faith, and do thy works
according to the same. I shall come with S. John for to visit thee and other christian men
with thee. Hold thee always well in the faith and in good works, and let no persecution ne
adversity that thou shalt suffer move thee from thy faith ne from thy creance, but have
solace and affiance in Jesu Christ thy Saviour. This was the answer of his letter.
S. Ignatius was a man right well learned, and the third bishop after S. Peter, the
apostle of the church of Antioch, and much desired to be a martyr for the faith of Jesu
Christ. It happed that Trajan, which was emperor of Rome, passed by Antioch, to whom
Ignatius showed to him and blamed of this, that he persecuted christian men, wherefor the
emperor did him to be taken and put in irons, and in that wise by ten knights to be led to
Rome. There he was presented tofore the emperor and all the senators of Rome, and was
constrained by promises, by menaces, and by torments, many and great an horrible, for to
adore the idols. S. Ignatius showed to them clearly that their gods had been thieves,
ribalds, and men of abominable and evil life, and that they were damned in hell, and that
they had been in great error in this, that of so cursed men they made their gods and
worshipped devils, and had forsaken God which had made and created all the world, and his
blessed Son which in human nature had redeemed and saved the world.
Finably, after this, that he had been tormented by fire, and by beating and prison, the
emperor did send for the Romans in a place and there did do set S. Ignatius, and did do
bring thither two lions for to devour him. But he had never dread for death ne for other
torments, of which he had suffered many, but was always comforted for to die for the love
of Jesu Christ. And he said at the last: I am wheat of Jesu Christ, which ought to be
grounden between the teeth of these beasts, by which I may be pure bread for to be
presented to my Lord; and anon the lions came and strangled him without tearing of his
flesh, or anything hurting it, wherefor Trajan had great marvel and departed from the
place. It is read that S. Ignatius in all his torments and all the pains of martyrdom that
he suffered, that his tongue never ceased to name the name of Jesus, and when they
that tormented him demanded him wherefore he named this name so oft, he answered: Know ye
for certain that I have in my heart this name written, and therefore I may not leave to
name this name oft. And because hereof, when he was dead, they that heard these words
opened his body and drew out his heart and cut it open, and they found within the name of
Jesus written with fair letters of gold, for which miracle many received the faith of Jesu
Christ.
Of this saint saith S. Bernard upon the psalm, Qui habitat: S. Ignatius, martyr of God
glorious, is of great merit, which was minister to the disciple that Jesus so much loved,
and in his epistles, the which he sent to the glorious Virgin Mary, he saluted her as
mother that had borne Jesu Christ and she resaluted him again, in sign that he was a
person of great honour, of great dignity, and of great authority. The body of whom was
honorably buried of christian men, to the worship of Jesu Christ which is blessed in
secula seculorum. Amen.
Here followeth the Purification of Our Lady.
Postquam impleti sunt dies purgationis Marie secundum legem Moisi, tulerunt Jesum
in Jerusalem. Lucæ, cap. ii. The ancient law had his course until the time that God hath
suffered death for us. And when he died on the cross he said, Joh. cap. xix. Consummatum
est, that is to say: All thing is finished and ended that hath been written of me. Which
law he kept during his life; as it is written: I am not come for to break the law; in
which he gave us example of humility and of obedience, like as S. Paul saith. In like wise
our Lady, for to obey to the law, bare her sweet son Jesu Christ unto the temple of
Jerusalem after the fortieth day of his birth, for to offer him to God, and for to give
offering for him such as in the law was ordained, that is to wit, a pair of turtles or two
doves was the offering of poor folk, like as it is written.
Our Lord, which in all case came to make our salvation, deigned not only to
humble himself and descend from his realm, and became man mortal, semblable to us.
Also he deigned to be born of a poor woman, and was poor for to enrich us, and draw us out
of the misery of this world to the riches permanable. And we that be poor because of our
sins, and without riches of good virtues, so worthily should we come and be at the feast
of our Lord; we should offer to him that which by the offering is signified. The dove
which is of her nature simple and without gall, and the turtle naturally chaste, for when
she hath lost her mate she will never have other mate, and with that she taketh the
weeping for her song; we ought to offer to our Lord instead of two doves, one simple will
and a good intention, without retaining in our heart any gall of anger or of hate towards
our neighbour; for as our Lord saith, if thine eye be simple all thy works shall be in
light. And hereof saith S. John the Evangelist in the Apocalypse: The city needeth no sun
ne moon to shine in it, for the clearness of God shall illumine it, and his lantern is the
lamb; the lamb is the light. By the lamb, which is simple, is signified to us a simple
conscience and righteous, which maketh true judgment of the intention, for all
works be good or evil. If they be done in evil intention or by hypocrisy they be
evil and without profit, like as saith Jesu Christ: If thine eye be evil, all thy body
shall be dark. By the eye is understood the intention, with goodness simple, and
debonairty is signified by the doves. We ought also to offer a pair of turtles to our
Lord, that is to say, a chaste life and a very intention to leave our sins, the which is
signified to us by the chastity of the turtle, and by her weeping the contrition. As Bede
saith: Contrition ought to begin in dread and end in love; for the soul faithful, when she
remembereth her sins in her conscience, she weepeth for the dread of the pains of hell
that she hath deserved, and thus offereth she to God a turtle; and when she hath wept,
there cometh to her a hope to have mercy and pardon of her sins, and this hope is
conceived of dread in him and love of God, to serve and to be in his company; so that soul
that ought to sing, weepeth for love, which hath delivered her so soon from the perils and
miseries of this world, and for to come to the sweet company of our Lord. And thus offered
she that other turtle, in weeping with David the prophet the long pilgrimages that she
hath made in the miseries of this world saying: Heu me quia incolatus meus prolongatus
est; for when she beginneth to think after the joyous company of angels, and of the souls
that be in heaven, and what joy and deduit that they have in the over desirous sight of
our Lord, then all the world grieveth them, and they desire to be delivered from the faits
of the body for to go into the company of these holy souls.
And also that S. Simeon, which by revelation of the Holy Ghost came into the
temple of Jerusalem in the same hour that the blessed Virgin brought her dear son for to
offer him, and the Holy Ghost had showed to him, that tofore that he should die corporally
he should see Jesu Christ come in to the earth, the which birth he knew long before
to be showed by the prophets. And when he saw Jesu Christ brought into the temple, anon he
knew him by the Holy Ghost to be very God and very man, and took him between his arms and
said: Fair Lord God let thy sergeant and servant from henceforth be in peace, and suffer
that after this revelation showed to me, I may depart and die for to be delivered from the
evils of this world, for mine eyes corporal and spiritual have seen thy blessed son Jesu
Christ, which shall save the creatures human from their sins; the which thou hast made
ready and ordained tofore the face of all creatures human, for to be light to all people
by his doctrine, to illumine and take away darknesses; that is to say, of their idolatry,
after this that Isaiah the prophet hath prophesied of him: Populus gentium qui ambulabat
in tenebris, etc., the people of gentiles or paynims which walked in darkness to worship
idols and devils for very God, saw a great light when they issued from their sins by the
doctrine of Jesu Christ which came also to the glory of the Jews, for they received his
sight bodily, like as was promised them by the witness of the prophets, by which they
might glorify them of this, that their rightful King was born among them and conversed
bodily in their country. And S. Simeon said: Nunc dimittis servum tuum domine, etc. Sire,
let thy servant depart in peace after thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy health, which
thou hast made ready tofore the face of all peoples, that is light to the revelation of
paynims and to the glory of thy people of Israel. Jesu Christ is called peace, health,
light and joy. Peace, because that he is our moyen and our advocate; health, for he is our
redeemer; light, for he is our informer; and glory, for he is our governor. This feast is
called Candlemas, and is made in remembrance of the offering that our Lady offered in the
temple as said is, and every each beareth this day a candle of wax burning, which
representeth our Lord Jesu Christ. Like as the candle burning hath three things in it,
that is to wit, the wax, the wick, and the fire, right so be three things in Jesu Christ,
that is the body, the soul and the godhead. For the wax which is made of the bee purely,
without company and mixture of one bee with another, signifieth the body of our Lord Jesu
Christ, and the fire of the candle signifieth the divinity of our Lord Jesu Christ, which
illumineth all creatures. And therefore if we will appear in this feast tofore the face of
God, pure and clean and acceptable, we ought to have in us three things which be signified
by the candle burning: that is good deeds, true faith, with good works. And like as the
candle without burning is dead, right so faith is dead without works as S. James saith,
for to believe in God without obeying his commandments profiteth nothing. And
therefore saith S. Gregory: The good work ought to show withoutforth that thy intention
abide good withinforth the heart, without seeking within any vain glory to be allowed and
praised. And by the fire is understood charity, of which God saith: I am come to put fire
in the earth, and whom I I will, I will burn.
This feast is called the purification of our Lady, not for that she had need ne ought
make her purification, for she was pure and clean without having of any tatche of deadly
sin ne venial, like as she that had, without company of any man, by the virtue of
the Holy Ghost, conceived the Son of God, and was delivered without losing of her
virginity, so she came with her blessed son at the fortieth day after his nativity for to
obey the commandment of the law, after the manner of other women which had need of
purification, and also for to show to us the example of humility. He is very humble that
is worthy to be praised for his virtues. This glorious Lady is queen of heaven and Lady of
angels, nevertheless she is pure and humble among the women like as a poor woman,
without making any semblant of her great humility, ne of the high majesty of her son,
whereof S. Bernard saith in this manner:
O who may make us to understand, glorious Lady, the thought of thine heart that thou
haddest among the services that thou madest to thy blessed son in giving him suck, in
laying down and raising, when thou sawest a little child of thee born on that one part,
and of that other side thou knewest him to be God Almighty? And now thou believest and
seest him created that had created all the world, now thou seest him feeble as a child
which is Almighty and all puissant, now thou feedest him that all the world feedeth, and
now thou seest him not speaking, that made man and speech. O who should con show hereupon
the secrets of thine heart? How savoured thy courage when thou heldest thy child between
thine arms whom thou lovedest as thy Lord, and kissed him as thy son. Who should not
marvel of this miracle, when a virgin and a clean maid hath enfanted and childed her
maker and Lord of all the world? To him let us address our thoughts, and embrace we this child of one very belief, whom we ought to love because he hath humbled himself for
us, and to doubt him, because he is our judge and our Lord, to whose commandments we owe
to obey if we will be saved.
We read an example of a noble lady which had great devotion in the blessed Virgin Mary,
and she had a chapel in which she did do say mass of our Lady daily by her chaplain. It
happed that the day of the purification of our Lady, her chaplain was out, so that this
lady might that day have no mass, and she durst not go to another church because she had
given her mantle unto a poor man for the love of our Lady. She was much sorrowful because
she might hear no mass and for to make her devotions she went into the chapel, and tofore
the altar she kneeled down for to make her prayers to our Lady. And anon she fell asleep,
in which she had a vision, and her seemed that she was in a church, and saw come into the
church a great company of virgins, tofore whom she saw come a right noble virgin crowned
right preciously. And when they were all set each in order, came a company of young men
which sat down each after other in order like the other; after, entered one that bare a
burden of candles, and departed them to them above first, and so to each of them by order
he gave one, and at the last came this man to this lady aforesaid and gave to her also a
candle of wax. The which lady saw also come a priest, a deacon and a subdeacon, all
revested, going to the altar as for to say mass. And her seemed that S. Laurence and S.
Vincent were deacon and sub-deacon, and Jesu Christ the priest, and two angels bearing
tofore them candles, and two young angels began the introit of the mass, and all
the company of the virgins sang the mass. And when the mass was sung unto the offering,
her seemed that thilk virgin so crowned went tofore, and after, all the others followed,
and offered to the priest, kneeling much devoutly, their candles. And when the priest
tarried for this lady that she should also have come to the offering, the glorious queen
of virgins sent to her to say that she was not courteous to make the priest so long to
tarry for her. And the lady answered that the priest should proceed in his mass forth, for
she would keep her candle and not offer it. And the glorious virgin sent yet once to her,
and she said she would not offer her candle. The third time the queen said to the
messenger: Go and pray her that she come and offer her candle, or else take it from her by
force. The messenger came to this lady, and because in no wise she would not come and
offer up her candle, he set hand on the candle that this lady held and drew fast, and she
held fast, and so long he drew and haled that the candle brake in two pieces, and
that one half abode still in the hand of the lady aforesaid, which anon awoke and came to
herself; and found the piece of the candle in her hand, whereof she much marvelled, and
thanked our Lord and the glorious Virgin Mary devoutly which had suffered her that
day not to be without mass. And all the days of her life after she kept that piece of that
candle much preciously, like an holy relic, and all they that were touched therewith were
guerished and healed of their maladies and sicknesses. Let us pray then humbly to the
glorious Virgin Mary, which is comfort to them that forsake their sins, that she will make
our peace to the blessed Son and impetre and get of him remission of all our sins, and
after this life to come to the glory and joy of heaven, to the which bring us the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Here followeth the Life of S. Blase,
and first of his name.
Blase is as much to say as glosing, or it is said as belasius of bela, which is
habit,and syor, which is to say, little. And thus he is said glosing by the sweetness of
his word,meek by his habit of virtues, and little by humility of manners and of
conversation.
S. Blase was so sweet, holy and humble in manners, that the christian men of Cappadocia
of the city of Sebaste chose him to be a bishop. The which when he was bishop saw that
Diocletian the emperor made so many persecutions to christian men that S. Blase sought and
would dwell in an hermitage in a ditch, in which place the birds of heaven brought to him
meat for to eat. And it seemed to him that they came to serve him and accompany him, and
would not depart from him till he had lift up his hands and blessed them. And also sick
men came to him and anon were cured and healed. Now it happed that the prince of this
region sent his knights to hunt, and they could take nothing. But by adventure they came
unto the desert place where S. Blase was, where they found great multitude of beasts which
were about him, of whom they could take none, whereof they were all abashed and showed
this to their lord, the which anon sent many knights for him, and commanded to
bring him and all the christian men with him. And that night Jesu Christ appeared to him
thrice, which said to him: Arise up and make to me sacrifice. Lo! here be the knights that
come to fetch thee at the commandment of the prince. And the knights said to him: Come out
from this place, the president calleth thee. And S. Blase answered: My sons, ye be
welcome, I see now well that God hath not forgotten me. He went with them and continually
preached, and did many miracles tofore them.
There was a woman that had a son dying, in whose throat was a bone of a fish athwart,
which estrangled him, and she brought him tofore his feet, praying him that he would make
her son whole. And S. Blase put his hand upon him and made his prayer to God that this
child, and all they that demanded benefits of health in his name, that they should be
holpen and obtain it, and anon he was whole and guerished.
Another woman there was that was poor which had a swine, which the wolf had borne away,
and she humbly prayed to S. Blase that she might have again her swine. And he began to
smile and said: Good woman anger thee not, for thou shalt have again thy swine, and anon
the wolf brought again to the woman, which was a widow, her swine.
And anon after he was entered into the city, the prince commanded to put him in prison,
and after another day he made him to come tofore him, whom he saluted by fair words,
saying to him: Be thou joyful, Blase, the friend of God. S. Blase answered to him: Be thou
joyous right good prince, but call not them gods whom thou worshippest, but fiends, for
they be delivered to fire perdurable with them that serve and worship them. Then was the
prince much wroth, and made to beat S. Blase with staves, and after to put him in prison.
Then said S. Blase: O mad man, weenest thou by thy torments and pains to take away from me
the love of my God whom I have with me and is my helper? And when this good widow, which
by S. Blase had recovered her swine, heard thereof, she slew it, and the head and the feet
with a little bread and a candle, she brought to S. Blase, and he thanked God and ate
thereof, and he said to her that every year she should offer in his church a candle, and
know thou that to thee and to all them that so shall do shall well happen to them, and so
she did all her life, and she had much great prosperity. After this that the right cruel
prince had brought him tofore his gods, and in no wise might make him incline for to adore
to their gods, he made him to be hanged on a gibbet, and his body to be torn with combs of
iron, and this done he was remitted again to prison. And there were seven women that
siewed him, which gathered up the drops of his blood, which women anon were taken, and
constrained to sacrifice to their gods. The which said: If thou wilt that we worship thy
gods, and that we do to them reverence, send them to the water for to wash and make clean
their visages, to the end that we may more cleanlier worship them. Then the prince was
right glad and joyous, and anon sent them to the water, and the women took them and threw
them in the middle of the stagne or pond, and said: Now shall we see if they be gods. And
when the prince heard this he was out of his wit for anger, and smote himself all wroth
saying: Wherefore retained not ye our gods that they should not have thrown them in the
bottom of the water? The ministers answered:Thou spakest shrewdly to the women, and they
cast them into the water. To whom the women said: The very God may not suffer iniquity ne
falseness, for if they had been very gods they had well eschewed that they had not been
thrown there, and had seen what we would have done. Then the tyrant became wroth and did
do make ready lead molten and iron combs, and seven coats of iron burning as hot as fire
on that one side, and that other he did do bring smocks of linen cloth and said to them
that they should choose which they would. And one of them that had two small children ran
hardily and took the smocks of linen cloth and threw them in the furnace for to go after
herself if she had failed. And the children said to the mother, leave us not after thee,
but right sweet mother, like as thou hast nourished us with thy milk so replenish us with
the realm of heaven. Then the tyrant did do hang them, and with hooks and crochets of iron
did do tear their flesh and all to-rent it. Of whom the flesh was as white as snow, and
for blood they gave out milk. And as they suffered these great torments the angel of God
descended from heaven and comforted them, and said to them: Have ye no dread, the worker
is good that well beginneth and well endeth, and who deserveth good reward shall have joy,
and for his work complete he shall have his merit, and for labour he shall have rest, and
that shall be the reward. Then the tyrant did do take them down and did do throw them into
the burning furnace, which women, by the grace of God issued without taking harm, and the
fire was extinct and quenched. And the tyrant said to them, now leave ye your art of
enchantment and adore ye our gods. And they answered: Do that thou hast begun, for we be
now called to the kingdom of heaven. Then he commanded that they should be beheaded; and when they should be beheaded they began to adore God kneeling on their knees, saying: Lord
God which hast departed us from darknesses, and in to this right sweet light hast brought
us, and of us hast made thy sacrifice, receive our souls, and make us to come to the life
perdurable, and thus had they their heads smitten off, and sith their souls went to
heaven. After this the prince made S. Blase to be brought before him, and said to him:
Hast thou now worshipped our gods or not? S. Blase answered: Right cruel man I have no
dread of thy menaces, do what thou wilt, I deliver to thee my body whole. Then he took him
and did him to be cast in to a pond, and anon he blessed the water and the water dried all
away, and so he abode there safe. And then S. Blase said to him, If your gods be very and
true gods, let them now show their virtue and might and enter ye hither. Then there
entered into it sixty-five persons, and anon they were drowned. And an angel descended
from heaven, and said to S. Blase: Blase go out of this water and receive the crown that
is made ready of God for thee. And when he was issued out of the pond the tyrant said to
him: Thou hast determined in all manners not for to adore our gods. To whom S. Blase said:
Poor caitiff, know thou that I am servant of God, and I adore not the fiends as ye do. And
anon then the tyrant did do smite off his head, and S. Blase prayed to our Lord tofore his
death that whosoever desired his help from the infirmity of the throat, or required aid
for any other sickness or infirmity, that he would hear him, and might deserve to be
guerished and healed. And there came a voice from heaven to him saying that his petition
was granted and should be done as he had prayed. And so then with the two little children
he was beheaded about the year of our Lord three hundred and eighty seven.
Here followeth the Life of S. Agatha,
and first the interpretation of her name.
Agatha is said of agios, which is as much to say as holy, and theos, that is God, that
is to say the saint of God: and, as Chrysostom saith, three things make a man holy, which
three were perfectly in her; that is cleanness of heart, the presence of the Holy Ghost,
and plenty of good manners. Or she is said of A, which is to say without, and of geos,
earth, and of theos, God, as a goddess without earth, that is without earthly love. Or she
is said of aga, that is to say speaking, and of thau, that is perfection, that is that she
was speaking and accomplishing much perfectly, and that appeareth well in her answers. Or
she is said of agath, that is service, and thaas, sovereign, which is as sovereign
service, and because she said that servage is sovereign noblesse. Or she is said of aga,
that is solemn, and of thau, that is perfection, for the perfection was right solemn, like
as it appeareth by the angels that buried her.
Of S. Agatha.
S. Agatha the virgin was right fair, noble body and of heart, and was rich of
goods. This glorious virgin served God in the city of Catania, leading a pure and holy
life. Quintianus the provost of Sicily, being of a low lineage, was lecherous, avaricious,
and a miscreant and paynim, and for to accomplish his evil desires fleshly, and to have
riches, did do take S. Agatha to be presented and brought tofore him, and began to behold
her with a lecherous sight; and for to have her himself, he would have induced her to make
sacrifice unto the idols. And when he saw her firm in her purpose, he put her in the
keeping of a woman named Aphrodisia, which had nine daughters, over foul, like unto the
mother. This did he for to induce S. Agatha to do his will within thirty days. Aphrodisia
and her daughters entreated the holy virgin to consent to the will of the provost, and
sometime they made to her great promises of temporal goods and of great eases, and
sometimes they made to her menaces of grievous torments for to suffer, and great pains, to
which S. Agatha answered freely: My courage and my thought be so firmly founded upon the
firm stone of Jesu Christ, that for no pain it may not be changed; your words be but wind,
your promises be but rain, and your menaces be as rivers that pass, and how well that all
these things hurtle at the foundement of my courage, yet for that it shall not move. In
this manner answered she, and alway wept in making her prayers, and much great desire had
she to come to Jesu Christ by martyrdom and by torments. When Aphrodisia saw well that in
no wise she would be moved, she went to the provost Quintianus, and said to him: Sooner
should the stones wax soft, and iron turn to soft lead, than turn the courage of
this maid, or to take from her the christian faith. I and my daughters have done none
other thing night ne day, one after another, but to labour how we might turn her heart to
your consenting. I have promised her in your name your precious adornments, clothes of
gold, houses, lands, towns, servants, and great meinys, and all this she despiseth and
reputeth them at no value. When Quintianus heard this, anon he made her to come tofore him
in judgment, and demanded her of her lineage, and at the last he would constrain her to
make sacrifice unto the idols. And S. Agatha answered that they were no gods, but were
devils that were in the idols made of marble and of wood, and overgilt. Quintianus said:
Choose one of two; or do sacrifice to our gods, or thou shalt suffer pain and torments. S.
Agatha said: Thou sayst that they be gods because thy wife was such an one as was Venus,
thy goddess, and thou thyself as Jupiter, which was an homicide and evil. Quintianus said:
It appeareth well that thou wilt suffer torments, in that thou sayst to me villainy. S.
Agatha said: I marvel much that so wise a man is become such a fool, that thou
sayest of them to be thy gods, whose life thou ne thy wife will follow. If they be
good I would that thy life were like unto theirs; and if thou refusest their life, then
art thou of one accord with me. Say then that they be evil and so foul, and forsake their
living, and be not of such life as thy gods were. Quintianus said: What goest thou thus
vainly speaking? make sacrifice unto the gods, or if thou do not I shall make thee to die
by divers torments. S. Agatha abode firm and stable in the faith. Then Quintianus
did do put her in a dark prison, and she went also gladly, and with as good will as she
had been prayed to go to a wedding.
On the morning Quintianus made her to be brought tofore him in judgment, and said to
her: Agatha, how art thou advised for thy health? She answered: Christ is mine health.
Quintianus said: Reny Christ thy God, by which thou mayest escape thy torments. S. Agatha
answered: Nay, but reny thou thine idols which be of stones and of wood, and adore thy
maker, that made heaven and earth, and if thou do not thou shalt be tormented in the
perpetual fire in hell. Then in great ire Quintianus did her to be drawn and stretched on
a tree and tormented, and said to her: Refuse thy vain opinion that thou hast, and thou
shalt be eased of thy pain; and she answered: I have as great dilection in these pains as
he that saw come to him that thing which he most coveteth to see, or as he that had found
great treasure. And like as the wheat may not be put in the garner unto the time that the
chaff be beaten off, in like wise my soul may not enter into the realm of heaven, but if
thou wilt torment my body by thy ministers. Then Quintianus did her to be tormented in her
breasts and paps, and commanded that her breasts and mammels should be drawn and cut off.
When the ministers had accomplished his commandment, then said S. Agatha: Over felon and
cruel tyrant, hast thou no shame to cut off that in a woman which thou didst suck in thy
mother, and whereof thou wert nourished? But I have my paps whole in my soul, of which I
nourish all my wits, the which I have ordained to serve our Lord Jesu Christ, sith the
beginning of my youth. After, Quintianus did do put her in prison, and commanded that none
should enter for to heal her, ne none should give to her meat ne drink. And when she was
fast closed in the prison, there came an ancient noble man, and tofore him a child bearing
a light, and divers ointments in his hand. This noble man said that he was a surgeon, and
in comforting her said: How well that the tyrant hath tormented thee bodily, nevertheless
thou hast more tormented him in his heart by thy answers. I was there when he made thy
paps to be cut off, and saw how I might well heal them. Then said she: I knew never of
medicine corporal, and it were shame to me to take it now. That which I have avowed
and kept to my Lord, sith mine infancy, yet I shall keep it if it please him. The ancient
nobleman answered: I am also christian, and a good master and leech, be not ashamed. She
answered: Whereof should I be ashamed? Thou art ancient and of great age, and how well
that I be a young maid, nevertheless my body is defeated by the torments, that the wounds
suffer nothing to enter into my thought whereof I should be ashamed, and not for but I
thank thee fair father that thou art so diligent to heal me, but know that my body shall
receive no medicine of no man. And this nobleman said: Wherefore sufferest thou not me
that I may heal and guerish thee? She said: Because I have Jesu Christ, my Saviour, which
with a word healeth all, and if he will he may heal me. And the good man smiling said: And
he hath sent me hither for to heal thee; I am his apostle, and know verily that thou art
whole in the name of him, and anon the apostle vanished away. Then she fell down in
prayers and said: Lord Jesu Christ, I yield thee thankings that thou hast remembered me,
and hast sent thine apostle S. Peter to me, which hath comforted me, and healed my wounds.
And after the orison made, she saw that her paps were again restored to her and all her
wounds healed. And all that night was the prison fulfilled with great clearness and light,
so that the keepers fled for the great dread that they had, and left the prison all open.
Then said to her the other prisoners that were in the prison, that she should go their
way, and she said: That shall never happen that the keepers of the prison shall suffer any
harm for me, ne that I shall lose my crown; I shall abide in the faith of Jesu
Christ my Lord, which hath comforted and healed me.
After four days Quintianus made her to be brought tofore him in judgment, and said to
her that she should do sacrifice to the idols. She answered: These words be vain, and thy
commandments evil, they make the air to stink, he is much mechant that believeth in a
stone without entendment, and leaveth our Lord the very God that hath healed me, and hath
restored to me again my paps. Quintianus demanded her: Who is he that hath healed thee?
She said: Jesu Christ. Quintianus said: Namest thou yet Jesu Christ? She answered: I shall
have in my heart Jesu Christ as long as I shall live. Quintianus said: Yet shalt thou see
if he may help and heal thee. And then he made her, all naked, to be rolled upon burning
brands, and anon the ground where the holy virgin was rolled on, began to tremble like an
earthquave, and a part of the wall fell down upon Silvain, counsellor of Quintianus, and
upon Fastion his friend, by whose counsel she had been so tormented. And then all the city
of Catania was abashed, and the people came running unto the house of Quintianus, saying,
in a great bruit, that the city was in a great peril for the torments that he did to S.
Agatha. Quintianus redoubled the bruit of the people, and went out behind and commanded
that she should be remised in prison. When she came into the prison she joined her hands,
holding them up to heavenward, and said in praying: Lord God Jesu Christ which hast
created me of nought, and sith my youth hast kept me and hast suffered me to live well in
my youth, which hast taken from mine heart the love of the world and hast made me to
overcome the torments, and hast lent me patience among the pains, I pray thee that
thou take my spirit, for it is time that thou make me to depart from this world and to
come to thy mercy. This orison and prayer made she on high tofore many persons. And anon
after she gave up the ghost, and rendered her soul, the year of our Lord two hundred and
fifty-three in the time of Decius, the emperor of Rome. After this the Christian people
took the body for to bury it worshipfully, and whiles they arrayed it with ointments for
to embalm the corpse, anon came a young man clad in silk, and well an hundred that
followed him, richly clothed, which were never tofore seen in the city, ne never after
also. This young man, whom followed the fair company, set him on that one side of the tomb
in which the body should be put, and when the body was embalmed within the tomb, this
young man set, at the head of the body, a short table of marble stone, in which was
written this scripture: Mentem sanctam, spontaneam, honorem deo dedit et patriæ
liberationem fecit; which is as much to say: The holy saint Agatha had always holy thought
and pure, and gave honor to God with a free will in all her works, and purchased by her
prayers peace and deliverance to all the country. After that the table containing this
scripture was set at her head, the young man and all his company departed from the tomb,
being closed, without appearing any more afterward, wherefore it is supposed that this
young man was her good angel. This was published over all, whereof the Jews and
Saracens began to sing and worship the sepulchre of the tomb of S. Agatha. Quintianus, the
provost, died of an evil death in the way as he went for to seek the goods and riches of
S. Agatha, and also for to have taken her parents, and never after could be known where
her body became. And for to prove that she had prayed for the salvation of the country, at
the beginning of February, the year after her martyrdom, there arose a great fire, and
came from the mountain toward the city of Catania and burnt the earth and stones, it was
so fervent. Then ran the paynims to the sepulchre of S. Agatha and took the cloth that lay
upon her tomb, and held it abroad against the fire, and anon on the ninth day after, which
was the day of her feast, ceased the fire as soon as it came to the cloth that they
brought from her tomb, showing that our Lord kept the city from the said fire by the
merits of S. Agatha. To whom pray we that she by her prayers may get and impetre grace of
our Lord to be kept from all perils of fire in this world, and when we shall depart hence
to eschew the perpetual fire, and to come to the glory and joy in heaven. Amen.
Of S. Amande, and first the interpretation of
his name.
Amande is as much to say as amiable, for he had in him three things that make a man
amiable. The first is to be courteous and gracious in company, as Solomon saith in his
Proverbs the nineteenth chapter: Vir amabilis ad societatem. The second is to be honest in
conversation, as it is said of Esther, Esther secundo. Quod omnibus oculis amabilis
videbatur: The third is to be virtuous in faith of prowesse, as it is said in the book of
Paralipomenon the second chapter: Saul and Jonathas amabiles et decori.
Of the Life of S. Amande.
S. Amande was born of noble father and mother. On a time he entered into a
monastery, and, as he walked and went in the church, he found a great serpent, whom by the
virtue of his prayer and with the sign of the cross, he made him to issue out and to enter
into the great pit out of which he never issued after. And after S. Amande came to the
sepulchre of S. Martin and there abode fifteen years, where he lived with barley bread and
water, and ware always the hair. After that he went to Rome and went into the church of S.
Peter, and abode there by night. The keeper of the church put him out right rudely; and S.
Peter appeared to him as he lay and slept tofore the church door, and sent him in legation
into France, where he found the king of Dagobert, the which he reproved strongly of his
sins. The king was angry and put him out of his realm. After, when the king had no son he
made his prayers to God that he might have one, and God sent him one, and when he was
born, he thought much, and sorrowed who should baptize him, and it came into his mind that
he would that S. Amande should baptize him. S. Amande was sought and brought to the king,
and as soon as he was come, the king fell down to his feet and prayed him that he would
pardon him of that he bad trespassed to him, and that he would baptize his son. And S.
Amande granted benignly to the king his request, the first petition, but not the second
request, for he dreaded that he would have desired about some worldly occupation or
secular things, of which he would not gladly intermeddle, and went his way and departed;
but at the last, as vanquished by the prayers of the king, he granted him. And thus then
as he baptized the child, and no man answered, the child with a clear voice said and
answered: Amen. And after this the king promoted him to be bishop of Sens. And when he saw
that the word of God in predication was despised and not set by, he went into Gascony,
where he saw a juggler who mocked his words. The fiend took him, and with his own teeth he
tare him, and confessed that he had done injury to the person of God, and anon died
miserably.
Now it happed on a time that he washed his hands, and a bishop made the water to be
kept, of which water a blind man had his sight again. It happed that in that place, by the
will of the king, he would edify a monastery of monks; then a bishop that was of the next
city took it grievously and was much angry therewith, and commanded his servants to cast
him out or else they should slay him. And anon they came to him and said to him, in guile
and treason, that he should go with them and they would show to him a place apt and good,
and water enough, for to edify upon a monastery for monks. And he that knew their malice
and their evil purpose went with them unto the top of an high mountain whereas they would
have slain him, and he desired much the martyrdom for the love of our Lord, and for to
come in his company; but anon suddenly descended from heaven such a tempest of rain and of
orage, that it covered all the mountain so much that that one could not see that other,
and supposed to have died suddenly. And they fell down to the earth upon their knees,
praying him to pardon them, and that they might depart thence alive. For whom he put
himself to prayer, and anon the storm was appeased and the weather fair. They went to
their place, and S. Amande thus escaped from this peril. And many other miracles he showed
and did in the honour of our Lord, and finished in holy virtues his life, and departed out
of this world in the time of Eraclius, the emperor, about the year of our Lord six hundred
and fifty-three.
Here next followeth the Life of S. Vedaste.
S. Vedaste was ordained Bishop of Arras by the hand of S. Remigius. And S. Vedaste was
of much great holiness and cleanness: for when he came to the gate of Arras he found there
two poor men of whom that one was lame and that other blind. These two poor men demanded
of him some alms. And S. Vedaste answered to them and said: I have neither gold nor
silver, but this that I have I give to you. Then he made them both whole by virtue of his
prayer. It happed on a time he came into a church destroyed, and found there a wolf among
the bushes; and he commanded him that he should go his way, and anon he obeyed to him and
fled, so that sith that time he was not seen. At the last, when he had converted much
people, by his word and predication, to the faith of God, and also by good ensamples
showed evidently to the people, in the fortieth year of his bishopric, he saw a dove of
fire that came from heaven to his house. And by that he understood well that he should
finish and pass out of this world, and so he did, for he died anon after, about the year
of our Lord five hundred and fifty. When his body should be translated, S. Omer which was
blind for age, was sorry that he might not see the body of S. Vedaste and anon our Lord
enlumined him, and rendered to him his sight. And he saw the body of S. Vedaste, but anon
after, he was blind again as he had been tofore. Let us pray to him, etc.
Here beginneth the Life of S. Valentine, and first the
interpretation of his name.
Valentine is as much to say as containing valour that is perseverant in great holiness.
Valentine is said also as a valiant knight, for he was a right noble knight of God, and
the knight is said valiant that fleeth not, and smiteth and defendeth valiantly and
overcometh much puissantly. And so S. Valentine withdrew him not from his martyrdom in
fleeing, he smote in destroying the idols, he defended the faith, he overcame in
suffering.
Of S. Valentine the Martyr.
S. Valentine, friend of our Lord and priest of great authority, was at Rome. It happed
that Claudius the emperor made him to come tofore him and said to him in demanding: What
thing is that which I have heard of thee, Valentine? Why wilt thou not abide in our amity,
and worship the idols and renounce the vain opinion of thy creance? S. Valentine answered
him: If thou hadst very knowledge of the grace of Jesu Christ thou shouldest not say this
that thou sayest, but shouldest reny the idols and worship very God. Then said to
S. Valentine a prince which was of the council of the emperor: What wilt thou say of our
gods and of their holy life? And S. Valentine answered: I say none other thing of them but
that they were men mortal and mechant and full of all ordure and evil. Then said Claudius
the emperor: If Jesu Christ be God verily, wherefore sayst thou not the truth? And S.
Valentine said: Certainly Jesu Christ is only very God, and if thou believe in him, verily
thy soul shall be saved, thy realm shall multiply, and he shall give to thee alway victory
of thine enemies. Then Claudius turned him unto all them that were there, and said to
them: Lords, Romans, hear ye how wisely and reasonably this man speaketh? Anon the provost
of the city said: The emperor is deceived and betrayed, how may we leave that which we
have holden and been accustomed to hold sith our infancy? With these words the
emperor turned and changed his courage, and S. Valentine was delivered in the keeping of
the provost.
When S. Valentine was brought in an house in prison, then he prayed to God, saying:
Lord Jesu Christ very God, which art very light, enlumine this house in such wise that
they that dwell therein may know thee to be very God. And the provost said: I marvel me
that thou sayest that thy God is very light, and nevertheless, if he may make my daughter
to hear and see, which long time hath been blind, I shall do all that thou commandest me,
and shall believe in thy God. S. Valentine anon put him in prayers, and by his prayers the
daughter of the provost received again her sight, and anon all they of the the house were
converted. After, the emperor did do smite off the head of S. Valentine, the year of our
Lord two hundred and eighty. Then let us pray to S. Valentine that he get us pardon of our
sins. Amen.
Here followeth the Life of S. Juliana,
and first the interpretation of her name.
Juliana is as much to say as burning plainly, for she burnt herself against the
temptation of the devil which would have deceived her, and she helped many others to
believe in the faith of our Lord Jesu Christ.
Of S. Juliana.
S. Juliana was given in marriage to the provost of Nicomedia, which was named Eulogius,
and he was a paynim, and therefore she would not assent to the marriage, ne assemble with
him, but if he would first take the faith of Christ and be baptized. When her father saw
this, anon he did do her to be naked, and made her to be beaten sore, and after delivered
her to the provost. And after when the provost beheld her, and saw the great beauty in
her, he said to her: My most sweet Juliana, why hast thou brought me in such
confusion that I am mocked because thou refusest to take me? She said: If thou wilt
adore my God, I shall assent and agree to take thee, and otherwise shalt thou never be my
lord. To whom the provost said: Fair lady, that may I not do, for the emperor
should then smite off my head. And she said: If thou doubtest so much the emperor, which
is mortal, why should not I doubt mine emperor Jesu Christ, which is immortal; do what
thou wilt, for thou mayst not deceive me. Then the provost did do her to be beat most
cruelly with rods, and half a day to hang by the hairs of her head, and molten lead
to be cast on her head. And when he saw that all this grieved her not, he made her to be
bounden in chains, and to be set in prison. To whom the devil came then in the
likeness of an angel, which said to her in this manner: Juliana, I am the angel of God,
which hath sent me to thee to warn thee and say that thou make sacrifice to the idols for
to escape the torments of evil death. Then she began to weep, and made to God this prayer:
Lord God, suffer not me to be lost, but of thy grace show to me what he is that maketh to
me this monition.The same time came to her a voice that said that she should set hand on
him, and that she constrain him to confess what he was, and anon she took him and demanded
him, and he said that he was the devil, and that his father had sent him thither for to
deceive her. She demanded him: Who is thy father? And he answered: Beelzebub, which
sendeth us for to do all evil, and maketh us grievously to be beaten when we come
vanquished of the christian people. And therefore I am certain I shall have much harm
because I may not overcome thee. She said to him: Of what craft is thy father Beelzebub?
The devil said: He contriveth all evil, and when we come into hell he sendeth us for to
tempt the souls of the people. She demanded: What torments suffereth he that cometh
vanquished of a christian creature? The devil said: We suffer then much grievous torment,
and by cause when we be vanquished of a good man we dare not return, and when we be sought
and cannot be found, then commandeth our master to other devils that they torment us
wheresomever they find us, and therefore we must obey to him as to our father. And of what
craft art thou? I take solace in the shrewdness of the people; I love homicide, luxury,
battle, and make debate and war. And she demanded him: Goest thou never to do good works
and profitable? The devil answered: Madam, to the end that I answer the truth, to my right
great harm and evil am I come hither, for I had well supposed to have deceived thee, and
made thee to make sacrifice to the idols and to renounce thy God. When we come to a good
christian man and we find him ready to do service to God, we send into him many thoughts
vain and evil, and also many evil desires, and turn his thought by this that we set tofore
him, and we send errors into his thoughts, and we let him not persevere in his orisons ne
in no good works; yet if we see any that will go to the church or in other place for any
good, anon we be in their ways, and cast into their hearts divers thoughts and occasions
by which they be distorned for to do well. But whosomever may understand our temptations
and apperceive them, to the end that he put away from him evil cogitations and thoughts,
and will make his prayers, and do his good works, and hear the words of God and the divine
service, of him we be cast out, and when they receive the body of Jesu Christ we depart
forthwith from them. We set our intent to nothing but to deceive good persons that lead an
holy life, and when we see them do good works, we send into them bitter and grievous
thoughts for to leave all and do our will. S. Juliana said: O thou spirit! how art thou so
hardy to tempt any christian person? And the devil answered: How darest thou thus hold me,
if it were not thou affiest in Jesu Christ? Right so trust I in my father, which is a
malefactor, and I do that pleaseth him; I have pained me to do oft many evils, and
sometime I come to mine intent, and accomplish my desire, but at this time I have failed:
I would I had not come hither! Alas! how understood my father of this that should not hap.
Madam, let me go, and give me leave to go in to some other place, for it is no need that I
accuse thee to my father. At the last she let him go.
On the morn the provost commanded that S. Juliana should be brought tofore him in
judgment; and when he saw her so well guerished, and her visage so fair and so shining,
then said the provost to her: Juliana, who hath taught thee, and how mayest thou vanquish
the torments? And she said: Hearken to me and I shall say to thee: My Lord Jesu Christ
hath taught me to adore the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for I have overcome and
vanquished Satan thy father, and all his other devils; for God hath sent his angel for to
comfort and to help me. Mechant man, knowest thou not that the torments be made ready for
thee everlasting, where thou shalt be tormented perpetually in a perpetual darkness and
obscurity. Anon the provost made to be brought a wheel of iron between two pillars, and
four horses to draw it forth, and four knights at one side, and four knights on that other
to draw, and four for to draw forth the wheel, so that all the body was tobroken in such
wise that the marrow came out of the bones, and the wheel was all bloody. Then came an
angel of God and brake the wheel, and healed the wounds of S. Juliana perfectly. And for
this miracle were converted all they that were present. And anon after, for the faith of
Jesu Christ were beheaded men and women to the number of one hundred and thirty persons.
After, commanded the provost that she should be put in a great pot full of boiling lead,
and when she entered into the said pot, all the lead became cold, so that she felt no
harm. And the provost cursed his gods because they might not punish a maid that so
vanquished them. And then he commanded to smite off her head. And when she was led to be
beheaded, the devil appeared to the provost in figure of a young man, and said: Spare not
good people, and of her have no mercy, for she hath blamed your gods and done much harm,
and me she hath beaten this night past, therefore render to her that she hath deserved.
With these words S. Juliana looked behind her for to wit who said such words of her. Anon
the devil said: Alas! alas ! caitiff that I am, I doubt me that yet she will take and bind
me, and so he vanished away. After this, that she had admonished the people to love and
serve Jesu Christ she prayed them all to pray for her, and then her head was smitten off.
The provost entered into a ship with thirty-four men for to pass an arm of the sea; anon
came a great orage and a tempest, which drowned the provost and all his company in the
sea, and the sea threw their bodies to the rivage, and wild beasts came thither and ate
them. Thus this holy virgin S. Juliana suffered martyrdom for our Lord the fourteenth
calends of the month of March. Let us pray to her that she pray for us, etc.
Of the Chairing
of S. Peter the Apostle.
The chair is said in three manners, that is, the chair royal, as it is said in
the book of Kings: David sitting in a chair. And there is a chair of priests, as Regum
primo, Eli, the priest sitting upon a chair. And the third is the chair for a master as is
said, Matt. xxiii.: Upon the chair of Moses, etc. Then S. Peter sat in a chair royal, for
he was prince of the apostles, and he sat in the chair of priests, for he was lord of all
the priests, and in the chair of the master, for he was a great doctor of christian men.
The first was of equity, the second of quantity, and the third of truth and of
virtue.
Holy church halloweth the feast of S. Peter the apostle, and this day was S. Peter
honorably enhanced in the city of Antioch, and set in the chair as a bishop. Many causes
there be wherefore this feast is hallowed and established. Of whom the first is, as is
said in a sermon of this feast, that when S. Peter went for to preach the word of God and
founded holy church by his predication, Niceta and Aquila showed unto the city of Antioch
that Peter the apostle of God came thither, wherefore the people and also the nobles of
the city came against him, and knowledged themselves culpable of that they had holden of
the predication of Simon Magus, which was an enchanter. After, they did to be brought
tofore him all such people as were vexed with divers maladies and sicknesses, of whom
there were so many that they might not be numbered. S. Peter beheld their repentance, and
also that they believed firmly in the name of God, and anon lift up his hands unto heaven,
and made his prayer to God saying: O God, Father Almighty, I yield to thee thankings in
this that thou hast worthily fulfilled the promises of thy blessed Son, by which all
creatures may know that thou art one only God in heaven and in earth. And after, he
ascended up into an high place, and all the multitude of sick men were brought tofore him,
and he said to them in this manner: Ye that see me a mortal man as ye be, ween ne suppose
not ye that by me ye may be healed, but by him that is descended from heaven to earth,
which giveth to all them that believe in him full health of body and of soul. This ought
ye to believe to the end that all may know that ye that thus believe entirely with all
your heart in Jesu Christ may be made whole and guerished by him. And anon all they that
were sick cried with a high voice: We believe that Jesu Christ is very God. Suddenly a
light appeared there, and all the sick people were guerished and healed of whatsomever
malady they had. And that same day the Holy Ghost showed so greatly his grace, that from
the least unto the most, all believed in our Lord Jesu Christ. And there were baptized in
seven days more than ten thousand persons of men, women, and children, and also
Theophilus, the lord and provost of the city, to whom S. Peter had raised his son which
had been fourteen years dead. And some say that of his palace he made a church in the
which all the people set up a chair for S. Peter to sit in more higher, for to preach the
doctrine of Jesu Christ, and the better to be heard and seen. And of the exalting thus of
S. Peter into this chair, this feast taketh the name of the chairing of S. Peter. And in
this church was S. Peter seven years, and from thence he went to Rome and governed the
church of Rome twenty-five years. That other reason why this feast was established was for
the reverence of the crown or tonsure of his head, which yet clerks bear and have, for
like as some say, at this journey was first found the crown of the clerks. For when S.
Peter preached at the first time in the city of Antioch, the paynims sheared him upon his
head above, like a fool, in despising christian law. And because this was done to S. Peter
to do him despite and shame, it was sith stablished that the clergy should have his crown
shaven in sign of right great honour and authority. And it is to wit that in the crown be
three things: first the head is discovered and bare above and the hair cut away, and the
crown is round. There be three reasons why the head is bare, of which S. Denis assigneth
the twain, and saith the rasure and cutting off of the hair signifieth pure life and clean
without any arraying withoutforth; for like as hairs be naturally for to adorn the head,
right so deform they the head when they be cut off by mockery or otherwise. Also good
manners which ought to adorn the clean life, deform the holy conversation when they be
left and taken away by habits covetous and proud. Also the rasure or shaving which is on
the overmost part of the head signifieth that between God and them ought to be nothing ne
mean that should displease God, but their love should be in God without any letting and
empeshment and should address in him their thoughts. The second thing that is in the crown
is that the hairs be shaven clean away. By that is signified that the clerks ought to take
away from their hearts all vain thoughts which might let and empesh the service divine,
and also ought to be withdrawn from all temporal business, and only to have their
necessities. The third thing that is in the crown is that it is round, and this figure
seemeth good by many reasons. The first is that a round figure hath neither beginning nor
end. The second is, in a round crown be no corners, and as S. Bernard saith whereas be
corners there is gladly filth, and that is to be understood that the clerks ought not to
have in their hearts no corners where the filth of sins might assemble, but ought to have
a clean conscience, and also they ought to have truth in their mouths. For as saith S.
Jerome: Truth seeketh no corners. The third reason is, for like as the figure of a crown
is most fair among all other, so the conversation of clerks or priests ought to be best
adorned of good manners among all other lay people. The fourth reason is, for like as a
crown hath but one way round and no figure, like as S. Austin saith: There is none so
simple a figure as that which hath but one way, also the clerks ought to be simple in
their conversation, without fiction and pride. And it is to wit that holy church halloweth
of S. Peter three feasts in the year for three gifts that he hath power to give to the
people. The first is the chair, for he giveth absolution of sins. The second feast
is called advincula, that is the first day of the August, for he by his power
transumeth the pain perpetual due for sins mortal into pain temporal. The third feast is
of his martyrdom, for he hath power to release some pains of penance enjoined for the sins
confessed, and for these three causes he is digne and worthy honorably to be served and
worshipped. Let us then pray to him that he may impetre and get to us remission of all our
sins, and after this short transitory life we may come to everlasting joy and glory in
heaven. Amen.
Of S. Matthias the Apostle, and
first the interpretation of his name.
Matthias in Hebrew is as much to say as given to our Lord, or a gift of our Lord,
or else humble or little. For he was given of our Lord when he was chosen from the world,
and was set and entered among the seventy-two disciples, he was also given of our Lord
when he was chosen by lot and numbered among the apostles. He was little for he had all
very meekness in him and humility. There be three manners of humilities, as S. Ambrose
saith that: The first is of the affliction by which a man is made humble; the second is
consideration of himself, and the third is of the devotion which is of the knowledge of
his maker. S. Matthias had the first in suffering martyrdom, the second was in despising
himself, and he had the third in amarvelling the majesty of our Lord. For Matthias is said
as doing good for evil, for he being good was set in the place of Judas the traitor. And
his life is read in holy church, and Bede writeth it as many holy men bear witness.
Of S. Matthias.
S. Matthias the apostle was in the place of Judas the traitor, and therefore first we
shall rehearse here the birth and beginning of Judas. It is read in a history, though it
be named apocrypha, that there was a man in Jerusalem named Reuben, and by another named
Simeon, of the kindred of David, or, after S. Jerome, of the tribe of Issachar, which had
a wife named Ciborea, and on the night that Judas was conceived his mother had a
marvellous dream whereof she was so sore afeard. For her seemed that she had conceived a
child that should destroy their people, and because of the loss of all their people her
husband blamed her much, and said to her: Thou sayest a thing over evil, or the devils
will deceive thee. She said: Certainly if so be that I shall have a son, I trow it shall
be so, as I have had a revelation and none illusion. When the child was born the father
and mother were in great doubt, and thought what was best to do, for they durst not slay
the child for the horror that they should have therein, neither they wist not how they
might nourish one that should destroy their lineage. Then they put him to a little
fiscelle or basket well pitched, and set it in the sea, and abandoned him to drive whither
it would. And anon the floods and waves of the sea brought and made him arrive in an
island named Scarioth, and of this name was he called Judas Scariotes. Now it happed that
the queen of this country went for to play on the rivage of the sea, and beheld this
little nacelle and the child therein, which was fair, and then she sighed and said: O Lord
God, how should I be eased if I had such a child, then at the least should not my realm be
without heir. Then commanded she that the child should be taken up, and be nourished, and
she fained herself to be great with child and after published that she had borne a fair
son. When her husband heard say hereof he had great joy, and all the people of the country
made great feast. The king and queen did do nourish and keep this child like the son of a
king. Anon after, it happed that the queen conceived a son, and when it was born and grown
Judas beat oft that child, for he weened that he had been his brotber, and oft he was
chastised therefore, but alway he made him to weep so long that the queen which knew well
that Judas was not her son, and at the last she said the truth, and told how that Judas
was found in the sea. And ere this yet was known Judas slew the child that he had supposed
to be his brother, and was son to the king, and in eschewing the sentence of death he fled
anon and came into Jerusalem, and entered into the court of Pilate which then was provost.
And he so pleased him that he was great with him, and had in great cherety and nothing was
done without him.
Now it happed on a day that Pilate went for to disport him by a garden belonging to the
father of Judas, and was so desirous to eat of the fruit of the apples that he might not
forbear them. And the father of Judas knew not Judas his son, for he supposed that he had
been drowned in the sea long tofore, ne the son knew not the father. When Pilate had told
to Judas of his desire, he sprang into the garden of his father and gathered of the fruit
for to bear to his master, but the father of Judas defended him, and there began between
them much strife and debate, first by words and after with fighting, so much that Judas
smote his father with a stone on the head that he slew him, and after brought the apples
unto Pilate, and told to him how that he had slain him that owned the garden. Then sent
Pilate to seize all the good that the father of Judas had, and after gave his wife to
Judas in marriage, and thus Judas wedded his own mother.
Now it happed on a day that the lady wept and sighed much strongly and said: Alas! how
unhappy that I am! I have lost my son and my husband. My son was laid on the sea, and I
suppose that he be drowned, and my husband is dead suddenly, and yet it is more grievous
to me that Pilate hath remarried me against my will. Then demanded Judas of this child,
and she told him how he was set in the sea, and Judas told to her how he had been found in
the sea, in such wise that she wist that she was his mother, and that he had slain his
father and wedded his mother. Wherefore then he went to Jesu Christ, which did so many
miracles, and prayed him of mercy and forgiveness of his sins. Thus far it is read in the
history which is not authentic.
Our Lord made Judas one of his apostles and retained him in his company, and was so
privy with him that he was made his procurator, and bare the purse for all the other, and
stole of that which was given to Christ. Then it happed that he was sorry and angry for
the ointment that Mary Magdalene poured on the head and feet of our Lord Jesu Christ and
said that it was worth three hundred pence, and said that so much he had lost, and
therefore sold he Jesu Christ for thirty pence of that money usual, of which every penny
was worth ten pence, and so he recovered three hundred pence. Or after that some
say that he ought to have of all the gifts that was given to Jesu Christ the tenth penny,
and so he recovered thirty pence of that he sold him, and nevertheless at the last he
brought them again to the temple, and after hung himself in despair, and his body opened
and cleft asunder and his bowels fell out. And so it appertained well that it should so
be, for the mouth which God had kissed ought not to be defouled in touching, and also he
ought not to die on the earth because all earthly creatures ought to hate him, but in the
air where devils and wicked spirits be, because he had deserved to be in their company.
Then when the time came between the Ascension and Whitsuntide, S. Peter beheld that the
number of the apostles was minished, he arose up in the middle of the disciples and said:
Fair brethren, ye know how our Lord Jesu Christ had chosen twelve men for to bear witness
of his resurrection, and Judas was gone the evil way, it behoveth to accomplish the number
of twelve of such as have been with him. And sith they chose two of them that were there,
that one was named Joseph surnamed Justus, and that other was Matthias. And then they made
their orisons and said: Lord God, which knoweth the hearts of all the persons, show to us
whom we shall choose of these twain here. And after, they cast lots, and the lot fell on
Matthias, which forthwith was enumbered with the other eleven, and then were they twelve.
But the holy S. Denis saith that the lot was a ray and a shining which came and shone upon
him. And anon he began to preach, and had his predication about Jerusalem, and was much
virtuous, and did many miracles as is written of him, of whom the legend followeth, which
legend is found at Treves in Almaine. S. Matthias which was set in the place of Judas was
born in Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah. He was set to school and in a little time
he learned all the science of the law and of the prophets; he was afeard of fleshly lusts,
and he passed his youth in good manners. His courage was inclined to all virtues, for he
was humble and debonair, and alway ready to do mercy, and was not proud in prosperity, ne
frail in adversity. He did that which he preached, he made the blind to see and healed the
sick men, he raised the dead men, and did great miracles in the name of Jesu Christ. And
when he was accused hereof tofore the bishop of Jerusalem, it was demanded him that he
should answer thereto and he said: It behoveth not much to answer hereto, because for to
be a christian man it is nothing criminal but it is a glorious life. Then said the bishop
that he would spare him and give him respite to repent him, and S. Matthias answered: God
forbid that I should repent of the truth that I have truly found, and become an apostate.
He was firm in the love of God, and clean of his body, and wise in speaking of all the
questions of scripture, and when he preached the word of God many believed in Jesu Christ
by his predication. The Jews took him and brought him to justice and had gotten two false
witnesses against him and for to accuse him, the which cast on him first stones, and the
other after, and so was stoned, and he prayed that the stones might be buried that the
false witnesses had cast upon him, for to bear witness against them that stoned him, and
finally he was slain with an axe after the manner of the Romans. And he held up his hands
and commended his spirit to God. And after it is said that his body was brought to
Rome, and from Rome it was translated to Treves. Another legend saith that his body lieth
at Rome, and buried under a stone of porphyry in the church of S. Mary the major.
Of S. Gregory the Pope.
Gregory is said of grex, which is to say a flock; and of gore, which is to say a
preacher. Then Gregory is to say as a preacher to an assembly or flock of people. Or it is
said as a noble doctor or preacher. Or Gregory is to say in our language as awaked, for he
awoke to himself, to God, and to the people, he awoke to himself by keeping of cleanness,
to God by good contemplation, and to the people by continual predication. And by this is
deserved the vision of God; and S. Austin saith, in the Book of Order, that he seeth God
that well liveth, well studieth, and well prayeth. And Paul, the historiographer of the
Lombards, writeth his history and life of him, the which John the deacon afterwards much
diligently compiled and ordained.
S. Gregory was born of the parentage of senators of Rome, whose father was named
Gordian and his mother Silvia. And when he had so much learned that he was a master in
philosophy, and also was rich of patrimony, he thought that he would leave all the riches
that he had, and would enter into religion for to serve God. But in this, that he put this
thought in respite, he conceived another purpose, that was that him seemed he should
better serve God in a secular habit, in doing the office of the pretoria of the provost of
Rome, for to give to each man duly reason after the nght of his cause. But he found in
this office so great secular business that it began to displease him, because by this
great business he withdrew him over far from God. In this meanwhile his father and mother
died, in such wise that he was rich of patrimony and puissant, that at the beginning he
founded and endowed with rents six abbeys in Sicily, and the seventh he founded within the
walls of Rome in the honour of S. Andrew the apostle, in the which he became a monk, and
the remnant of his patrimony he gave for God's sake so that he that tofore went clothed in
clothes of gold and of silk, and adorned with precious stones in the city, when he was
monk served in a poor habit the monks. There was at the beginning of his conversation of
so perfect a life that it might be said well that he was all perfect. He made great
abstinences in eating, in drinking, in waking, and in praying, in so much that he was so
travailed that unnethe he might sustain himself. He had put out of his heart all secular
things so that his conversation was in heaven, for he had addressed all his desire for to
come to the joy permanable.
On a time it happed that, S. Gregory in his cell of the same abbey whereas he was abbot
wrote something, and an angel appeared to him in semblance of a mariner, which seemed as
he had escaped from the tempest of the sea, and prayed him weeping to have pity on him.
Then S. Gregory commanded that there should be given to him six pence, and then he
departed. The same day the angel came again in like wise as he did tofore, and said that
he had lost all his good, and prayed him that he would yet help him; on whom S Gregory had
yet pity, and did to be given to him six pence more, yet at the third time he came and
made great cry and wept, and prayed him that he would yet help him toward his great loss,
so that S. Gregory commanded his provost that he should yet give to this poor man
an alms. And the provost said that there was no more silver in all the abbey, but a dish
of silver in which his mother was wont to send him pottage. And S. Gregory commanded anon
that that dish of silver should be given to him and the angel took it with great joy. And
little while after, this angel appeared to S. Gregory and said to him that God hath sent
him so to him.
It happed afterward that as S. Gregory passed through the market of Rome, and
saw there two fair children white and ruddy of visage, and fair yellow hair which were for
to sell. And S. Gregory demanded from whence they were, and the merchant answered, of
England. After S. Gregory demanded if they were christian, and he answered: Nay, but that
they were paynims. Then sighed S. Gregory and said: Alas, what fair people hath the
devil in his doctrine and in his domination. After he demanded how these people were
called: he answered that they were called Angles men; then he said they may well be so
called for they have the visage of angels. And for that S. Gregory went to the pope, and
by great prayers he impetred and had grant that he was sent in to England for to convert
the people of that same country, but when the Romans heard say that Gregory was sent into
England, anon they went to the pope and said to him: Thou hast angered S. Peter, thou hast
destroyed all Rome, and hurt all holy church in this that thou hast let Gregory go out of
Rome. Of which word the pope was angry and much abashed, and sent anon his messengers
after S. Gregory, and commanded him to return and come again to Rome, which then was gone
on his journey three days, and for his noble and good renomee the pope made him cardinal
deacon. After, for the corruption of the air, the pope Pelagius died, and then S. Gregory
was elect of all the people to be pope, but he refused it and said that to that dignity he
was not worthy, and for the right great mortality, ere that he was sacred pope he made to
the people a sermon and said: Right dear brethren, well ought we to have doubt of the
scourge of God ere that we feel it, and yet we ought to fear it, and to turn and forsake
our sins, lo! ye may behold the people die ere they beweep their sins; think ye then in
what point he cometh in the presence of the judge that hath had no time to bewail
his sins. The houses be void, the children die in the presence of father and mother,
suddenly, so that they have little time to die, wherefore every man amend his life while
he hath time for to repent him of his evil deeds and sins, ere that the judge call him
from the mortal body. He saith by the prophet, I will not the death of a sinner, but I
will that he return and live; much soon the judge heareth the sinner when he converteth
from his sins and amendeth his life. By such manner admonested he to the people their
health, and he ordained to make procession in all the churches much solemnly for to
impetre and get mercy for this mortality. When the procession was done he would have gone
privily out of Rome, for to eschew the office of the papalty, but against that the gates
were kept so that he might not issue. At the last he did do change his habit, and so much
did with the merchants that they brought him out of Rome in a tun upon a cart. And when he
was far out of the town, he issued out of the tun and hid him in a ditch, and when he had
been therein three days the people of Rome sought him all about. Anon they saw a pillar
shining descend from heaven straight upon the ditch in which S. Gregory was; and a
recluse, a holy man saw that by that pillar angels descended from heaven to S. Gregory and
after went up again. Anon then S. Gregory was taken of the people and after the ordinance
of holy church he was ordained and sacred pope against his will, for he was much debonair,
humble and merciful to rich and poor, and to great and small. Well may he apperceive that
readeth his writings how oft he complained of this great charge that he was charged
withal, to which he said he was not worthy thereto, and also he might not hear that any
should praise him, ne in letters ne in words. And alway he was in great humility and
accounted himself more meek and low after that he was pope than tofore, insomuch that he
was the first of the popes that wrote: Servus servorum Dei, that is, servant of the
servants of God. He had great cure and was busy to convert sinners; he made and compiled
many fair books, of which the church is greatly illumined. He was never idle, how well
that he was always sick. He converted the English people to the christian faith by three
holy men and good clerks that he sent thither, that is to wit Augustin, Mellitus, and
John, for to preach the faith. And because the mortality ceased not, he ordained a
procession, in the which he did do bear an image of our Lady, which, as is said, S. Luke
the Evangelist made, which was a good painter, he had carved it and painted after the
likeness of the glorious Virgin Mary. And anon the mortality ceased, and the air became
pure and clear, and about the image was heard a voice of angels that sung this anthem:
Regina cæli lætare, etc., and S. Gregory put thereto: Ora pro nobis, deum rogamus,
alleluia. At the same time S. Gregory saw an angel upon a castle which made clean a
sword all bloody, and put it into the sheath, and thereby S. Gregory understood that the
pestilence of this mortality was passed, and after that it was called the Castle Angel.
S. Gregory did every day so great alms that many in the country about were nourished by
him, whom he had by name written, and also the monks that dwelt in the Mount Sinai had of
him their sustenance. Among all other alms that he did he governed three thousand virgins,
to whom he sent every year four score pound of gold, and also he founded to them an abbey
in Jerusalem, and sent to them that therein were such things as they lacked. Every day had
he poor men to dinner. On a time it happed that he took the laver for to give water to a
pilgrim for to wash his hands by great humility, and anon the pilgrim vanished away,
whereof S. Gregory had marvel. The night after our Lord appeared in a vision and said to
him: The other days thou hast received me in my members, but yesterday thou receivedst me
in my person.
Another day S. Gregory commanded to his dispenser that he should bring to dinner twelve
poor men, and when S. Gregory and the poor men were set at meat, he told at the table
sitting thirteen poor pilgrims, and demanded of his dispenser why he had done above his
commandment to bring in more than twelve persons. And anon the dispenser, all abashed,
went and told the poor men, and found but twelve, and said to S. Gregory: Holy father,
there be no more but twelve, and so many shall ye find and no more. Then considered S.
Gregory that, one of the pilgrims that sat next to him oft changed his visage, for oft he
seemed young, and after old. And after dinner S. Gregory took him by the hand and brought
him into his chamber, and prayed him that he would tell him his name. And he answered:
Wherefore demandest thou my name, which is marvellous? Nevertheless know thou well that I
am the same poor mariner to whom thou gavest the dish of silver in which thy mother was
wont to send the pottage, and know for certain that sith that day that thou didst to me
that alms, God hath destined thee to be pope. And said moreover: I am the angel of God,
and he hath sent me hither to thee to be thy defender and procurer of that which thou
wouldst demand and impetre of him, and after this the angel vanished away.
And in that time there was an hermit, an holy man, which had left and forsaken all the
goods of the world for God's sake, and had retained nothing but a cat, with which he
played oft, and held it in his lap deliciously. On a day it happed that he prayed God
devoutly that he would vouchsafe to show to him to what saint he should be in like joy in
heaven, because for his love he had left all the world and renounced. Upon this God showed
him in a vision that S. Gregory and he should have like joy in heaven. And when he
understood this he sighed sore and praised little his poverty, which he had long suffered
and borne, if he should have Iike merit which abounded so greatly in secular riches. Upon
this there came a voice to him which said that: The possession of riches maketh not a man
in this world rich, but the ardour of covetise. Then be still thou, darest thou compare
thy poverty to the riches of S. Gregory which lovest more thy cat, with whom thou ceasest
not to stroke and play, than S. Gregory doth all his riches, for he ceaseth never to give
alms for God's sake? Then the hermit thanked Almighty God, and prayed that he might have
his merit and reward with S. Gregory in the glory of paradise.
On a day it happed that S. Gregory sang mass in the church of S. Mary major, and when
he had said: Pax domini sit semper vobiscum, anon the angel said: Et cum spiritu tuo, and
from then forthon the pope ordained a station in that church every year on Easter day, and
when then he said in his mass: Pax domini, etc., none shall answer, in remembrance of this
miracle.
In the time that Trajan the emperor reigned, and on a time as he went toward a battle
out of Rome, it happed that in his way as he should ride, a woman, a widow, came to him
weeping and said I pray thee, sire, that thou avenge the death of one my son which
innocently and without cause hath been slain. The emperor answered: If I come again from
the battle whole and sound then I shall do justice for the death of thy son. Then said the
widow: Sire, and if thou die in the battle who shall then avenge his death? And the
emperor said: He that shall come after me. And the widow said: Is it not better that thou
do to me justice and have the merit thereof of God than another have it for thee? Then had
Trajan pity and descended from his horse and did justice in avenging the death of her son.
On a time S. Gregory went by the market of Rome which is called the market of Trajan, and
then he remembered of the justice and other good deeds of Trajan, and how he had been
piteous and debonair, and was much sorrowful that he had been a paynim, and he turned to
the church of S. Peter wailing for the horror of the miscreance of Trajan. Then answered a
voice from God saying: I have now heard thy prayer, and have spared Trajan from the pain
perpetual. By this, as some say, the pain perpetual due to Trajan as a miscreant was
somedeal taken away, but for all that was not he quit from the prison of hell, for the
soul may well be in hell and feel there no pain by the mercy of God. And after, it
is said that the angel in his answer said more to thus: Because thou hast prayed for a
paynim, God granteth thee to choose of two things, that one which thou wilt, or thou shalt
be two days in purgatory in pain, or else all the days of thy life thou shalt languish in
sickness. Then answered S. Gregory that he had liefer to have sickness all his life in
this world, than to feel by two days the pains of purgatory. And ever after he had
continually the fevers, or axes, or the gout in his feet, and hereof himself maketh
mention in one his epistle, and saith: I am so much tormented of the gout in my feet, and
of other sicknesses that, my life is to me a great pain, every day meseemeth that I ought
to die, and always I abide the death. Some time my pain is little, and some time right
great, but it is not so little that it departeth from me, ne so great that it bringeth me
to death, and thus it is that I, that am always ready to die, am withdrawn from
death. lt happed that a widow that was wont every Sunday to bring hosts to sing mass with,
should on a time be houseled and communed, and when S. Gregory should give to her the holy
sacrament in saying: Corpus domini nostri, etc., that is to say: The body of our Lord Jesu
Christ keep thee into everlasting life, anon this woman began to smile tofore S. Gregory,
and anon he withdrew his hand, and remised the sacrament upon the altar. And he demanded
her, tofore the people, why she smiled, and she said: Because that the bread that I have
made with my proper hands thou namest it the body of our Lord Jesu Christ. Anon S. Gregory
put himself to prayer with the people, for to pray to God that hereupon he would show his
grace for to confirm our belief, and when they were risen from prayer, S. Gregory saw the
holy sacrament in figure of a piece of flesh as great as the little finger of an hand, and
anon after, by the prayers of S. Gregory, the flesh of the sacrament turned into semblance
of bread as it had been tofore, and therewith he communed and houseled the woman, which
after was more religious, and the people more firm in the faith.
S. Gregory made and ordained the song of the office of holy church, and established at
Rome two schools of song, that one beside the church of S. Peter, and that other by the
church of S. John Lateran, where the place is yet, where he lay and taught the scholars,
and the rod with which he menaced them, and the antiphoner on which he learned them is yet
there. He put to the canon of the mass these words: Diesque nostros in tua pace disponas,
atque ab æterna damnatione nos eripi, et in electorum tuorum
jubeas grege numerari. At the last when S. Gregory had been pope thirteen years, six
months and ten days, he being full of good works, departed out of this world in the year
of our Lord six hundred and six years, in the time when Phocas was emperor of Rome. Let us
then pray to S. Gregory that he get us grace that we may amend so ourselves here in this
life that we may come unto everlasting life in heaven. Amen.
Here beginneth of S. Longinus the
Life.
Longinus, which was a puissant knight, was with other knights, by the commandment of
Pilate, on the side of the cross of our Lord, and pierced the side of our Lord with a
spear; and when he saw the miracles, how the sun lost his light, and great earthquaving of
the earth was, when our Lord suffered death and passion in the tree of the cross, then
believed he in Jesu Christ. Some say that when he smote our Lord with the spear in the
side, the precious blood avaled by the shaft of the spear upon his hands, and of adventure
with his hands he touched his eyes, and anon he that had been tofore blind saw anon
clearly, wherefore he refused all chivalry and abode with the apostles, of whom he was
taught and christened, and after, he abandoned him to lead an holy life in doing alms and
in keeping the life of a monk about thirty-eight years in Cæsarea and in Cappadocia, and
by his words and his example many men converted he to the faith of Christ. And when this
came to the knowledge of Octavian the provost, he took him and would have constrained him
to do sacrifice to the idols, and S. Longinus said: There may no man serve two lords which
be contrary to other; thine idols be lords of thy malices, corrupters of all good works
and enemies to chastity, humility and to bounty, and friends to all ordure of luxury, of
gluttony, of idleness, of pride and of avarice, and my Lord is Lord of soberness that
bringeth the people to the everlasting life. Then said the provost: It is nought that thou
sayest; make sacrifice to the idols and thy God shall forgive thee because of the
commandment that is made to thee. Longinus said: If thou wilt become christian God shall
pardon thee thy trespasses. Then the provost was angry, and made the teeth of S. Longinus
to be drawn out of his mouth, and did do cut his mouth open. And yet for all that Longinus
lost not his speech, but took an axe that he there found, and hewed and brake therewith
the idols and said: Now may we see if they be very gods or not. And anon the devils
issued out and entered into the body of the provost and his fellows, and they brayed like
beasts and fell down to the feet of S. Longinus and said: We know well that thou art
servant unto the sovereign God. And S. Longinus demanded of the devils why they dwelled in
these idols, and they answered: We have found place in these idols for us, for over all
where Jesu Christ is not named ne his sign is not showed, there dwell we gladly; and
because when these paynims come to these idols for to adore and make sacrifice in the name
of us, then we come and dwell in these idols, wherefore we pray thee, man of God, that
thou send us not in the abysm of hell. And S. Longinus said to the people that there were:
What say ye: will ye have these devlls for your gods and worship them or have ye liefer
that I hunt them out of this world in the name of Jesu Christ? And the people said with a
high voice: Much great is the God of christian people, holy man, we pray thee that thou
suffer not the devils to dwell in this city. Then commanded S. Longinus to the devils that
they should issue out of these people, in such wise that the people had great joy and
believed in our Lord.
A little time after the evil provost made S. Longinus to come tofore him, and said to
him that all the people were departed, and by his enchantment had refused the idols; if
the king knew it he should destroy us and the city also. Aphrodisius answered: How wilt
thou yet torment this good man, which hath saved us and hath done so much good to the
city? And the provost said: He hath deceived us by enchantry. Aphrodisius said: His God is
great and hath none evil in him. Then did the provost cut out the tongue of Aphrodisius,
wherefore S. Longinus signed unto God, and anon the provost became blind and lost all his
members. When Aphrodisius saw that, he said: Lord God, thou art just and thy judgment is
veritable. And the provost said to Aphrodisius: Fair brother, pray to S. Longinus that he
pray for me, for I have done ill to him, and Aphrodisius said: Have not I well told it to
thee, do no more so to Longinus: Seest not thou me speak without tongue? And the provost
said, I have not only lost mine eyes, but also my heart and my body is in great pain. And
S. Longinus said: If thou wilt be whole and guerished put me appertly to death, and I
shall pray for thee to our Lord, after that I shall be dead, that he heal thee. And anon
then the provost did do smite off his head, and after, he came and fell on the body of S.
Longinus and said all in weeping, Sire: I have sinned; I knowledge and confess my filth,
and anon came again his sight, and he received health of his body and buried honorably the
body of S. Longinus. And the provost believed in Jesu Christ and abode in the company of
christian men, and thanked God, and died in good estate. All this happed in Cæsarea of
Cappadocia to the honour of our Lord God, to whom be given laud and glory in secula
seculorum.
Here beginneth the Life of S. Maur.
The year that S. Benet died he sent S. Maur and four fellows with him into France
that is to wit Fuscinian, Simplician, Antoninian and Constantine, at the prayer of Varicam
the bishop of Meaux, for to found an abbey which the said bishop would make of his own
good, and gave to S. Maur a book in which he had written the rule, of his hand. And as
they passed the mountains of Mongus Sourgus one of their servants fell from his horse upon
a great stone, and his left foot was all tofrushed, but as soon as S. Maur had blessed it
and made his orison he was guerished and all whole. After this he came into the church of
S. Maurice, and there was at the entry a blind man begging, that had sat there eleven
years, and was named Lieven, which, for the long usage that he had been there, he knew all
the office of the church by hearing that he had learned thereby without more. He conjured
S. Maur by the virtue of the martyrs that he would help him, and anon he was guerished and
had again his sight by his prayer, and then S. Maur commanded him that he should serve all
his life in the church as he had done.
On a night this holy man and his fellows harboured in the house of a widow which was
named Themere, the which had a son that was so sick that each man said that he was dead,
and this holy man healed him, and when he was whole he said to S. Maur: Thou art he that
by thy merits and by thy tears hast delivered me from the judgment where I was in,
condemned to the fire of hell. Thus as they held their way on the Good Friday in the abbey
of which S. Romain was abbot, and S. Maur said to S. Romain: S. Benet shall depart out of
this world to-morrow. On the morn after the hour of tierce, as S. Maur was in his prayers,
he saw the way by which S. Benet mounted in to heaven, and he was adorned with palls and
great foison of clearness, and this vision saw two other monks. Also when S. Maur and his
fellow came to Orleans, they heard say that the bishop Varicam of Meaux was dead, and he
that was in his place would not receive them. Then S. Maur and his fellow went into a
place that is called Restis, and there founded he first a house for to adore God there in
the honour of S. Martin, and commanded that he should be buried therein.
A clerk that was there named Langiso fell down off an high stair upon an heap of stones
and was all tofrusshed, but S. Maur healed him anon. And after, Flocus, which was one of
the greatest friends of the king, had him in so great reverence that he durst not approach
but if he bade him. Three workmen that wrought in that house began to say shrewdly of S.
Maur, and say that he coveted overmuch vain glory, but anon they became so mad that one of
them lost forthwith his life and the other two to-tare themselves with their teeth. The
holy man anon put his hand in their mouths and made the fiend to go out beneath, and after
he raised the third to life which had been dead, and commanded him, if he would live, that
he should no more enter into that house, and this commanded he for to eschew the favour of
the world.
Theodebert, King of France, came for to visit him, and prayed to S. Maur and the
brethren that they would pray for him, and he gave to them of that house the fee royal of
that boscage, and all the rents thereto belonging, and the towns. On the morn S. Maur went
to see the gift that the king had given, and there he healed one having the palsy which
had been seven years sick. The second year that this house was founded came many noble men
of the country, which demanded that their children might be clothed and received into the
religion. And there came so many that the twenty-sixth year of the foundation of the
abbey, there were an hundred and forty brethren. And S. Maur commanded that they should
abide in that number without more or less, and not to increase ne minish that number.
After this Clothaire, the king, came in to this abbey, and gave thereto the chief of
Blason and the town Longchamp therewith. And after this time S. Maur would no more issue
out of the abbey, but he went and abode in a side of the church of S. Martin where he had
made a house for him, and had with him two monks for to serve him, but he ordained tofore
that Bercuses should be abbot after him. When he had been in that house two years and an
half the devil appeared to him on a time, which was in his orisons, and said to him that
there should be great destruction of his brethren, but the angel of our Lord came after
him which recomforted him, and then he came unto the brethren and said to them that he and
many of them therewithin should pass out of this world. And it happed that within a month
after, there died one hundred and sixteen monks of that abbey, and of all the number there
abode no more alive but twenty-four. And then died Anthonin and Constantine that were come
with him. A little while after died S. Maur of the pain of his side, the forty-first year
after he was come thither, the eighteenth calends of February, and he died tofore the
altar of S. Martin, where he was covered with an hair. The other of his fellowship
returned to Mount Cassin, and thus accomplished this blessed saint his life in the time of
Louis the emperor the second. And the body of S. Maur was borne from the abbey in Angers,
named Glanfeuil, for fear of the Normans, unto the abbey of S. Peter des Fosses where his
body is now, which abbey founded S. Banolanis disciple to S. Columbain. His feast is the
fifteenth day of January.
Here followeth the Life of S. Patrick,
and the interpretation of his name.
Patrick is as much to say as knowledge, for by the will of God he knew many of the
secrets of heaven and of the joys there, and also he saw a part of the pains of hell.
Of S. Patrick.
S. Patrick was born in Britain, which is called England, and was learned at Rome
and there flourished in virtues; and after departed out of the parts of Italy, where he
had long dwelled, and came home into his country in Wales named Pendyac, and entered into
a fair and joyous country called the valley Rosine. To whom the angel of God appeared and
said: O Patrick, this see ne bishopric God hath not provided to thee, but unto one not yet
born, but shall thirty years hereafter be born, and so he left that country and sailed
over into Ireland. And as Higden saith in Polycronicon the fourth book, the twenty-fourth
chapter, that S. Patrick's father was named Caprum, which was a priest and a deacon's son
which was called Fodum. And S. Patrick's mother was named Conchessa, Martin's sister of
France. In his baptism he was named Sucate, and S. Germain called him Magonius, and
Celestinus the pope named him Patrick. That is as much to say as father of the citizens.
S. Patrick on a day as he preached a sermon of the patience and sufferance of the
passion of our Lord Jesu Christ to the king of the country, he leaned upon his crook or
cross, and it happed by adventure that he set the end of the crook, or his staff, upon the
king's foot, and pierced his foot with the pike, which was sharp beneath. The king had
supposed that S. Patrick had done it wittingly, for to move him the sooner to patience and
to the faith of God, but when S. Patrick perceived it he was much abashed, and by his
prayers he healed the king. And furthermore he impetred and gat grace of our Lord that no
venomous beast might live in all the country, and yet unto this day is no venomous beast
in all Ireland.
After it happed on a time that a man of that country stole a sheep, which belonged to
his neighbour, whereupon S. Patrick admonested the people that whomsoever had taken it
should deliver it again within seven days. When all the people were assembled within the
church, and the man which had stolen it made no semblant to render ne deliver again this
sheep, then S. Patrick commanded, by the virtue of God, that the sheep should bleat and
cry in the belly of him that had eaten it, and so happed it that, in the presence of all
the people, the sheep cried and bleated in the belly of him that had stolen it. And the
man that was culpable repented him of his trespass, and the others from then forthon kept
them from stealing of sheep from any other man.
Also S. Patrick was wont for to worship and do reverence unto all the crosses devoutly
that he might see, but on a time tofore the sepulchre of a paynim stood a fair cross,
which he passed and went forth by as he had not seen it, and he was demanded of his
fellows why he saw not that cross. And then he prayed to God he said for to know whose it
was, and he said he heard a voice under the earth saying: Thou sawest it not because I am
a paynim that am buried here, and am unworthy that the sign of the cross should stand
there, wherefore he made the sign of the cross to be taken thence. On a time as S. Patrick
preached in Ireland the faith of Jesu Christ, and did but little profit by his
predication, for he could not convert the evil, rude and wild people, he prayed to our
Lord Jesu Christ that he would show them some sign openly, fearful and ghastful, by which
they might be converted and be repentant of their sins. Then, by the commandment of God,
S. Patrick made in the earth a great circle with his staff, and anon the earth after the
quantity of the circle opened and there appeared a great pit and a deep, and S. Patrick by
the revelation of God understood that there was a place of purgatory, in to which
whomsoever entered therein he should never have other penance ne feel none other pain, and
there was showed to him that many should enter which should never return ne come again.
And they that should return should abide but from one morn to another, and no more, and
many entered that came not again. As touching this pit or hole which is named S. Patrick's
purgatory, some hold opinion that the second Patrick, which was an abbot and no bishop,
that God showed to him this place of purgatory; but certainly such a place there is in
Ireland wherein many men have been, and yet daily go in and come again, and some have had
there marvellous visions and seen grisly and horrible pains, of whom there be books made
as of Tundale and others. Then this holy man S. Patrick, the bishop, lived till he was one
hundred and twenty-two years old, and was the first that was bishop in Ireland, and died
in Aurelius Ambrose's time that was king of Britain. In his time was the Abbot Columba,
otherwise named Colinkillus, and S. Bride whom S. Patrick professed and veiled, and she
over-lived him forty years. All these three holy saints were buried in Ulster, in the city
of Dunence, as it were in a cave with three chambers. Their bodies were found at the first
coming of King John, King Harry the second's son, into Ireland. Upon whose tombs these
verses following were written: Hic jacent in Duno qui tumulo tumulantur in uno, Brigida,
Patricius atque Columba plus, which is for to say in English: In Duno these three be
buried all in one sepulchre: Bride, Patrick, and Columba the mild.
Men say that this holy bishop, S. Patrick, did three great things. One is that he drove
with his staff all the venomous beasts out of Ireland. The second, that he had grant of
our Lord God that none Irish man shall abide the coming of Antichrist. The third wonder is
read of his purgatory, which is more referred to the less S. Patrick, the Abbot. And this
holy abbot, because he found the people of that land rebel, he went out of Ireland and
came in to England in the Abbey of Glastonbury, where he died on a S. Bartholomew's day.
He flourished about the year of our Lord eight hundred and fifty, and the holy bishop died
the year of our Lord four hundred and ninety in the one hundred and twentysecond year of
his age, to whom pray we that he pray for us.
Of S. Benet the Abbot, and first the
interpretation of his name.
Benet is said because he blessed much people, or else because he had many
benedictions in this life. Or forasmuch as he deserved for to have blessings or
benedictions perpetual. And the holy doctor, S. Gregory, wrote his life.
Of S. Benet the Abbot
S. Benet was born of the province of Nursia, and was sent to Rome for to study, but in
his infancy he left the schools and went into a desert, and his nourice, which tenderly
loved him, went alway with him till they came to a place named Æside, and there she
borrowed a vessel for to purge or winnow wheat; but the vessel fell to the earth for
negligence, and was broken in two pieces. And when S. Benet saw his nurse weep he had
great pity, and made his prayers to Almighty God, and after made it also whole as it had
been tofore, then they of the country took it and hung it on the front of the church in
witness of one so fair a miracle. Then left S. Benet his nurse and fled secretly, and came
into a hermitage where he was never known of no man but of a monk named Romain, which
ministered to him meat for to eat. And because that there was no way from the monastery of
Romain unto the pit where S. Benet was, he knit the loaf in a cord and so let it down to
him, and because he should hear when Romain should let down the bread he bound a bell on
the cord, and by the sound thereof he received his bread, but the devil having, envy of
the charity of that one, and of the refection of that other, cast a stone and brake the
bell, but nevertheless Romain left not to minister to him.
It happed that there was a priest on an Easter day that had arrayed his dinner for
himself, and our Lord appeared to him and said: Thou ordainest for thyself delicious
meats, and my servant dieth for hunger in such a pit, and named him the place. Then the
priest arose and bare his meat with him and sought so long that he found S. Benet in great
pain. When he had found him he said to him: Arise and take thy meat and refection for it
is Easter Day. He answered, I know well that it is the feast of Paske, because that I see
thee. The priest said to him: Certainly this day is the day of Easter, and S. Benet wist
it not because he had dwelled there so long and so far from people. Then said they graces,
and made the benediction, and took their refection. It happed after this that a black
bird, that is called a merle, came on a time to S. Benet and pecked with his bill at his
visage, and grieved and noyed him so much that he could have no rest for it, and could not
put it from him, but as soon as he had made the sign of the cross, anon the bird vanished
away. And after that came to him a great temptation of the flesh, by the which the devil
tempted him in showing him a woman, and he burnt sore, and was inflamed in his courage,
but anon he came again to himself; and after, he despoiled himself all naked and went
among thorns and wallowed among the nettles, so that his body was torn and pained, by
which he healed the wounds of his heart. Then after that time he felt no more temptation
of his flesh.
It happed that the abbot of a monastery was dead, and for the good renomee of this holy
man S. Benet, all the monks of the abbey gave their voices and elected S. Benet for their
abbot, but he accorded not thereto, ne agreed to them, for he said that his conditions and
manners were not according to theirs. Notwithstanding he was vanquished, and so instantly
required, that at the last he consented. But when he saw they lived not ne were not ruled
according to their religion and rule, he reproved and corrected them vigorously. And when
they saw that they might not do their wills under him, they gave him venom meddled with
wine for to drink, but S. Benet made the sign of the cross over it and blessed it, and
anon the vessel brake in pieces, which was of glass. When S. Benet then knew so that in
that vessel was mortal drink, which might not abide ne suffer the sign of the cross, he
rose up and said: God have mercy on you fair brethren; I said to you well, at the
beginning, that my conditions and manners appertain not to yours, from henceforth get to
you another father, for I may no longer dwell here. Then went he again to desert, where
God showed for him many signs and miracles, and founded there two abbeys. Now it happed
that in one of these two abbeys, was a monk that might not endure long in prayers, and
when the other of his fellows were in prayer he would go out of the church. Then the abbot
of that abbey showed this to S. Benet, and anon he went for to see if it were true. And
when he came he saw that the devil, in likeness of a little black child, drew him out of
the church by his cowl. Then said S. Benet to the abbot and to S. Maur: See ye not him
that draweth him out ? They said: Nay. Then said he: Let us pray to God that we may see
him. When they had made their prayers S. Maur saw him, but the abbot might not see him.
The next day S. Benet took a rod and beat the monk, and then he abode in prayer, like as
the devil had been beaten, and durst no more come and draw him away, and from then forthon
he abode in prayer and continued therein.
Of the twelve abbeys that S. Benet had founded, three of them stood on high rocks, so
that they might have no water but by great labour. Then came the monks to him and prayed
him that he would set these abbeys in some other place, because they had great default of
water. Then went S. Benet about the mountain, and made his orisons and prayers much
devoutly; and when he had long prayed he saw three stones in a place for a sign,
and on the morn, when the monks came for to pray, he said to them: Go ye to such a place
where ye shall find three stones, and there dig a little and ye shall find water, our Lord
can well provide for you water. And they went and found the mountain all sweating where as
the three stones were, and there they digged and anon they found water, so great abundance
that it sufficed to them, and ran down from the top of the hill unto beneath into the
valley.
It happed on a time that a man hewed bushes and thorns about the monastery, and his axe
or instrument of iron that he hewed with, sprang out of the helve and fell into a deep
water; then the man cried and sorrowed for his tool, and S. Benet saw that he was over
anguished therefor and took the helve and threw it after into the pit, and anon the iron
came up and began to swim till that it entered in to the helve.
In the abbey of S. Benet was a child named Placidus, which went to the river for to
draw water, and his foot slode so that he fell into the river which was much deep, and
anon the river bare him forth more than a bow-shot. And when S. Benet, which was in his
study, knew it, he called to S. Maur, and said that there was a child which was a monk
that was about to be drowned, and bade him go to help him. And anon S. Maur ran upon the
water like as it had been on dry ground and his feet dry and took up the child by the
hair, and drew him to land, and after, when he came to S. Benet, he said that it was not
by his merit but by virtue of his obedience.
There was a priest named Florentin which had envy on S. Benet, and he sent to him a
loaf of bread envenomed. After, when S. Benet had this loaf he knew, by the inspiration,
that it was envenomed. He gave it to a raven that was wont to take his feeding of S.
Benet's hand, and commanded him to bear it unto such a place that no man should find it.
Then the raven made semblant for to obey to the commandment of S. Benet, but he durst not
touch it for the venom, and fled about it howling and crying. S. Benet said to him: Take
this bread hardily and bear it away. At the last the raven bare it away into such a place
that there was never heard tidings thereof after, and came again the third day after and
took his refection of S. Benet's hand as he was wont to do tofore. When this priest
Florentin saw that he could not slay S. Benet, he enforced him to slay spiritually the
souls of his disciples. He took seven maidens, all naked, and sent them into the garden to
dance and carol for to move the monks to temptation. When S. Benet saw the malice of
Florentin he had fear of his disciples, and sent them out of that place. When Florentin
saw that S. Benet and his monks went out, he demened great joy and made great feast, and
anon the solar fell upon him and slew him suddenly. When S. Maur saw that Florentin was
dead, he ran after S. Benet and called him, saying: Come again, for Florentin that
hath done so much harm to you is dead. When S. Benet heard this he was sorry for
the perilous death of Florentin, and because S. Maur was glad for the death of his enemy,
as him seemed, he enjoined him penance therefor. After this he went to Mount Cassin, where
he had another great adversary, for in the place where that Apollo was adored, he made an
oratory of S. John Baptist, and converted all the country about to the christian faith,
whereof the devil was so tormented that he appeared to S. Benet all black, and ran upon
him with open mouth and throat, and had his eyes all enflamed and said to him, Benet!
Benet! and S. Benet answered not. The devil said: Cursed and not blessed, why have
I so much persecution?
It happed on a time that as the monks should lift a stone for a work of an
edifice, they might not move it, then there assembled a great multitude of people, and yet
they all might not lift it, but anon as S. Benet had blessed it, they lifted it
anon. Then apperceived they that the devil was upon it and caused it to be so heavy. And
when they had a little made the wall high, the devil appeared to S. Benet and bade him go
see them that edified, then S. Benet sent to his monks and commanded that they should keep
them well, for the devil went to destroy them. But ere the messenger came to them the
devil had thrown down a part of the wall, and had therewith slain a young monk. Then they
brought the monk, all tobruised, in a sack to S. Benet, and anon S. Benet made upon him
the sign of the cross and blessed him, and raised him to life and sent him to the work
again.
A lay man, of honest life, had a custom once in the year to come to S. Benet all
fasting, and on a time as he came, there was one that bare meat accompanied with him, and
desired that he would eat with him, but he refused it. After, he prayed him the second
time, and yet he refused it, and said he would eat no meat till he came to S. Benet. At
the third time he found a fair fountain and a much delitable place, and began sore to
desire him to eat with him, and at the last he consented and ate. And when he came to S.
Benet he said to him: Where hast thou eaten? which answered, I have eaten a little. O fair
brother, the devil hath deceived thee, but he could not deceive thee the first ne the
second time, but the third time he hath surmounted thee. Then the good man knelt down to
the feet of S. Benet and confessed him of his trespass.
Attila, the king of Goths, would once prove if S. Benet had the spirit of prophecy, and
sent to him his servant, and did do array him with precious robes, and delivered to him a
great company as he had been the king himself. When S. Benet saw him come, he said to him:
Fair son, do off that thou wearest, it is not thine, and the man fell down anon to the
ground because he mocked the holy man, and died anon.
A clerk that was vexed with the devil was brought to S. Benet for to be healed, and S.
Benet put him out, and after, said to the clerk: Go, and from henceforth eat no more
flesh, and go no more to none order, for what day thou goest and takest orders, the devil
shall re-enter into thee. This clerk held him long time without taking any, till at last
he saw younger than he that went to take orders, and had forgotten the words of S. Benet,
and took orders, and anon the devil entered in to his body and tormented him till he died.
There was a man that sent to S. Benet two flagons of wine, but he that bare them hid
that one, and presented that other without more. When S. Benet had received the present he
thanked him much and said to him: Fair brother, take good heed how thou shalt do with that
which thou hast hid, and drink not thereof for thou knowest not what is therein. Then he
was ashamed, and so confused went from him, and when he came to the place where he had hid
it, he would wit what was therein like as S. Benet had told to him, and bowed it a little,
and anon a serpent issued out.
It happed on a time that S. Benet ate, and a young man which was son to a great
lord held to him a candle, and began to think in his heart who is this that I serve? I am
son unto a great man; it appertaineth not that one so gentle a man as I am be servant to
him. When S. Benet saw by experience the pride that arose in this monk, he called another
monk and made him to hold the candle, and after said to him: What is that thou hast? bless
thy heart brother, bless it, God forgive it thee, now thou shalt serve me no more; go into
thy cloister and rest thee there.
There was a man of the king of Goths which was named Gallas, which tormented over
cruelly the christian men, because he was of the sect of the Arians, in such wise
that where he found clerks or monks he slew them. Then it happed on a day that he
tormented a villain or a carle for the covetise of his good; when the carle saw that he
would take all, he gave all that ever he had to S. Benet. Then left Gallas to torment him
a little, but he bound him with the reins of his bridle, and drove him tofore, and he rode
after till that he came to the abbey of S. Benet, and bade him that he should show to him
this Benet. When he came thither he saw S. Benet stand tofore the gate alone and studied
in a book; then said the villain to the tyrant: Lo! there is Benet that thou demandest
after. When Gallas had looked on him cruelly, like he had been accustomed, he had supposed
to have dealt with him like as he had done with other christian men, and said to S. Benet:
Arise up anon and deliver to me the goods of this carle which thou hast by thee. When S.
Benet heard, he lift up a little his eyes and beheld the carle that was tofore him, and
anon by great marvel his arms were unbounden, he stood tofore the tyrant appertly, without
dread. And anon Gallas fell down to the feet of S. Benet and recommended him to his
prayers. And never for all this left S. Benet to read on his book, but called his monks
and commanded that his meat should be brought to him, and the monks did so, and
sith bare it away. Then admonested S. Benet the tyrant, and said to him that he should
leave his cruelty and his woodness, and he departed and never after that day he demanded
of villain any good, ne of the man that S. Benet had unbounden only by his sight.
It happed over all Champagne, whereas he dwelt that so great a famine was in the
country that much people died for hunger. Then all the bread of the abbey failed, and
there was within but five loaves for all the convent; when S. Benet saw that they were
abashed he began debonairly to chastise and warn them that they should have their hearts
on high to God, and said to them: Wherefore are ye in so great misease for bread? If ye
have none this day ye shall have it tomorn. Now it happed that on the morn they found at
their gate two hundred muddes of meal, which were properly sent from God, for never man
wist from whence they came. When the monks saw that they thanked God, and learned that
they ought not doubt ne of abundance ne of poverty.
It happed on a time that S. Benet sent his monks for to edify an abbey, and said that
at a certain day he would come see them and show them what they should do. Then the night
tofore that he had said to come he appeared to the master and to his monks, and showed to
them all the places that they should build, but they believed not this vision and supposed
it had been but a dream. Then when they saw that he came not, they returned and said to
him: Fair father, we have abided that thou shouldst have come to us like as thou
promisedst us. Then answered he: What is that ye say? Remember ye not that I appeared to
you that night that I promised you and enseigned and told how ye should do? Go your way
and do in such wise as I have devised to you in the vision.
There were two nuns nigh unto his monastery which were of much noble lineage, which
were much talkative, and restrained not well their tongues, but tormented overmuch him
that governed them. And when he had showed this to S. Bentt, he sent them word that they
should better keep silence and rule their tongues, or he would curse them. But they for
all that would not leave it, and so anon after, they died and were buried in the church.
And when the deacon cried in the end of the mass that they that were accursed should go
out of the church, the nurse that had nourished them and that every day had offered for
them, beheld and saw that, when the deacon sang so, they issued out of their sepulchres
and went out of the church, and when S. Benet knew hereof he offered for them himself and
assoiled them. Then after that when the deacon said so as afore, they never issued out
after as their nurse had seen them.
There was a monk gone out for to see his father and mother, without licence and
blessing of his abbot, and the day after he came thither he died; and when he was buried
in the earth the earth cast him out again, and so it did twice. Then came the father and
mother to S. Benet and told him how the earth threw him and would not receive him, and
prayed that he would bless him. Then took he the blessed sacrament and made it to be laid
on the breast of the corpse, and when they had done so they buried him, and the earth
threw him no more out, but received the body and held it.
There was a monk that could not abide in the monastery, and prayed so much to S. Benet
that he let him go, and was all angry, and anon as he was out of the abbey he found a
dragon with open mouth; and when he saw him he had fear that he would have denounced him,
and cried loud: Come hither and help me! come hither, for this dragon will devour me! Then
the monks ran, but they saw no dragon, and brought again the monk trembling and sighing.
Then the monk promised that he never would depart from the abbey.
In a time there was in that country a great famine, and all that ever S. Benet might
get and have, he gave it to the poor people, in so much that he had no more in the abbey
but a little oil, and he commanded yet to the cellarer to give it to a poor man. The
cellarer understood him well, but he gave it not because there was no more in the convent.
And when S. Benet knew it he took the vessel and cast it out of the window, and it was of
glass, and it fell on a stone and brake not; then he reproved the cellarer of inobedience
and of the little hope that he had in God; and after he went unto his prayers, and anon a
great empty tun that was there was full of oil, insomuch that it ran over.
It happed another day that S. Benet went to visit his sister, named Scholastica, and as
they sat at table she prayed her brother that he would abide there all that night, but he
in no wise would grant her, and said he might not live out of his cloister. And when she
saw that he would not grant to her to abide, she inclined her head and made her prayers to
our Lord, and anon it began to thunder and to lighten, and the air to wax dark which
tofore was fair and clear, and a great rain fell down so that for nothing he might depart.
And like as she wept with her eyes, right so forthwith the rain and storm came, and then
she lifted up her head. Then S. Benet said to his sister: Almighty God forgive you that ye
have done, for ye have letted me that I may not depart hence. And she said: Fair brother,
God is more courteous than ye be, for ye would not accept my prayer, but God hath heard
me, now go if ye may. And then S. Benet abode there all the night, speaking of God between
him and his sister without sleeping, till they were both eased. On the morn S. Benet went
to his abbey, and on the third day he lift up his eyes to heaven, and saw the soul of his
sister mount up into heaven in the likeness of a dove, and anon he did the body of her to
be brought to his abbey, and did it to be buried in his tomb which he had do made for
himself.
On a night as S. Benet was in his prayer at a window, he saw the soul of S. Germain,
bishop of Capua, mount into heaven, and like as a light sudden that enlumineth all the
darknesses of the world, so the light of that soul gave a great light; and after he knew
that the soul of S. Germain passed that same hour. After this, when time came that S.
Benet himself should depart out of this world, he showed it to his monks six days tofore,
and did do make his pit. And after that a fever took him strongly, which held him every
day, and at the sixth day he did himself to be borne to the church, and there received the
body of our Lord Jesu Christ, and after, among the hands of his disciples, his own hands
lifting up to heaven in making his orison, he rendered his soul unto his creator. The same
hour was a revelation showed to two monks, for they saw a way to heaven all covered with
palls and mantles of gold, and full of torches burning which illumined all the heaven,
which came from the cell of S. Benet unto heaven. And there was a man in a fair habit to
whom these monks demanded what way that was, and he answered that it was the way by which
S. Benet mounted up to heaven. Then the body of S. Benet was buried in the oratory that he
had made of S. John, where as was wont to be the altar of Apollo, the year of our Lord
five hundred and eighteen. To whom let us pray devoutly that he pray to our Lord for us,
that we may have grace after this life to come to everlasting bliss in heaven. Amen.
Here next followeth the Life of S. Cuthbert of Durham.
S. Cuthbert was born in England, and when he was eight years old our Lord showed for
him a fair miracle for to draw him to his love. For on a time, as he played at the ball
with other children, suddenly there stood among them a fair young child of the age of
three years, which was the fairest creature that ever they beheld, and anon he said to
Cuthbert: Good brother, use no such vain plays, ne set not thy heart on them. But for all
that Cuthbert took none heed to his words, and then this child fell down and made great
heaviness, wept sore and wrung his hands, and then Cuthbert and the other children left
their play and comforted him, and demanded of him why he made such sorrow. Then the child
said to Cuthbert: All mine heaviness is only for thee, because thou usest such vain plays,
for our Lord hath chosen thee to be an head of holy church; and then suddenly he
vanished away. And then he knew verily that it was an angel sent from our Lord to him, and
from then forthon he left all such vain plays and never used them more, and began to live
holily. And then he desired of his father that he might be set to school, and anon he drew
him to perfect living, for he was ever in his prayers, night and day, and most desired of
our Lord to do that which might please him and eschew that should displease him. And he
lived so virtuously and holily, that all the people had joy of him, and within a while
after, Aidanus the bishop died. And as Cuthbert kept sheep in the field, looked upward and
saw angels bear the soul Aidanus the bishop to heaven with great melody. And after that S.
Cuthhert would no more keep sheep but went anon to the abbey of Jervaulx, and there
he was a monk, of whom all the convert were right glad, and thanked our Lord that
had sent him thither. For he lived there full holily, in fasting and great penance doing.
And at last he had the gout in his knees, which he had taken of cold in kneeling upon the
cold stones when he said his prayers, in such wise that his knees began to swell and the
sinews of his leg were shrunk that he might neither go nor stretch out his leg, but ever
he took it full patiently and said: When it pleaseth our Lord it shall pass away.
And within a while after, his brethren for to do him comfort bare him into the field,
and there they met with a knight which said: Let me see and handle this Cuthbert's leg;
and then when he had felt it with his hands, he bade them take the milk of a cow of one
colour, and the juice of small plantain, and fair wheat flour, and seethe them all
together, and make thereof a plaister and lay it thereto and it will make him whole. And
as soon as they had so done he was perfectly whole, and then he thanked our Lord full
meekly. And after, he knew by revelation that it was an angel sent by our Lord to heal him
of his great sickness and disease.
And the abbot of that place sent him to a cell of theirs to be hosteler, for to receive
their guests and do them comfort, and soon after our Lord showed there a fair miracle for
his servant S. Cuthbert, for angels came to him oft-times in likeness of other guests,
whom he received and served diligently with meat and drink and other necessaries. On a
time there came guests to him whom he received, and went into the houses of office
for to serve them, and when he came again they were gone, and went after for to call and
could not espy them, ne know the steps of their feet, how well that it was then a snow;
and when he returned he found the table laid and thereon three fair white loaves of bread
all hot which were of marvellous beauty and sweetness, for all the place smelled of the
sweet odour of them. Then he knew well that the angels of our Lord had been there, and
rendered thankings to our Lord that he had sent to him his angels for to comfort him.
And every night when his brethren were abed he would go and stand in the cold water all
naked up to the chin till it were midnight, and then he would issue out, and when he came
to land he might not stand for feebleness and faintness, but oft fell down to the ground.
And on a time as he lay thus, there came two otters which licked every place of his body,
and then went again to the water that they came from. And then S. Cuthbert arose all whole
and went to his cell again, and went to matins with his brethren. But his brethren knew
nothing of his standing thus every night in the sea to the chin, but at the last one of
his brethren espied it and knew his doing, and told him thereof, but S. Cuthbert charged
him to keep it secret and tell no man thereof during his life. And after this within a
while the bishop of Durham died, and S. Cuthbert was elected and sacred bishop in his
stead after him, and ever after he lived full holily unto his death, and, by his preaching
and ensample giving, he brought much people to good living. And tofore his death he left
his bishopric and went into the holy island, where he lived an holy and solitary life,
unto that he being full of virtues, rendered his soul unto Almighty God and was buried at
Durham, and after translated, and the body laid in a fair and honourable shrine, where as
yet daily our Lord showeth for his servant there many fair and great miracles. Wherefore
let us pray unto this holy saint that he pray for us.
Here followeth the Feast of The Annunciation or Salutation of the Angel Gabriel to our Lady.
The feast of this day is called the Annunciation of our Lady, for on this day the
angel Gabriel showed to the glorious Virgin Mary the coming of the Blessed Son of God.
That is to wit, how he ought to come into the glorious Virgin, and take on her nature and
flesh human for to save the world. It was well thing reasonable that the angel should come
to the glorious Virgin Mary, for like as Eve by the exhorting of the devil gave her
consent to do the sin of inobedience to our perdition, right so by the greeting of the
angel Gabriel and by exhorting, the glorious Virgin Mary gave her consenting to his
message by obedience, to our salvation. Wherefor like as the first woman was cause of our
damnation, so was the blessed Virgin Mary beginning of our redemption. When that the angel
Gabriel was sent for to show the incarnation of our Saviour Jesu Christ, he found her
alone, enclosed in her chamber, like as S. Bernard saith, in which the maidens and virgins
ought to abide in their houses, without running abroad out openly, and they ought also to
flee the words of men, of which their honour and good renomee might be lessed or hurt. And
the angel said to the glorious Virgin Mary: I salute thee, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee. There is not found in Scripture in no part such a saluing. And it was brought from
heaven unto the glorious Virgin Mary, which was the first woman that ever in the world
offered to God first her virginity. And the angel said to her after: Thou shalt be blessed
above all other women, for thou shalt escape the malediction that all other women have in
childing in sin and in sorrow; and thou shalt be mother of God, and shalt abide a pure
virgin and clean. And our blessed Lady was much abashed of this salutation, and thought in
herself the manner thereof. This was a good manner of a virgin that so wisely held her
still and spake not, and showing example to virgins, which ought not lightly to speak, ne
without advice ne manner to answer. And when the angel knew that for this salutation she
was timorous and abashed, anon he repeaced her, saying: Mary, be nothing afeared, for thou
hast found soothly grace at God, for thou art chosen above all women for to receive his
blessed Son and be mother to God, and moyen and advocate for to set peace between God and
man, for to destroy the death and bring the life. O thou that art a virgin, saith S.
Ambrose, learn of Mary to be mannered and fearful to all men, learn to be still and to
eschew all dissolutions.
Mary was afeared of the salutation of the angel, the which said: Thou shalt conceive
and bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, and he shall be called the Son
of God. And Mary said to the angel: In what manner may this be that thou sayest? For I
have purposed in mine heart that I shall never know man, and yet I never knew none, how
then shall I have a child against the course of nature, and may abide a virgin? Then the
angel informed her, and began to say how her virginity should be saved in the conceiving
of the Son of God, and answered to her in this manner. The Holy Ghost shall come in
to thee, which shall make thee to conceive: the manner how thou shalt conceive thou shalt
know better than I shall con say, for that shall be the work of the Holy Ghost, which of
thy blood and of thy flesh shall form purely in the body of the child that thou shalt
bear, and other work to this conception shalt thou not do. And the virtue of God sovereign
shall shadow thee in such wise that thou shalt never feel in thee any burning ne covetise
carnal, and shall purge thine heart from all desires temporal, and yet shall the Holy
Ghost shadow thee with the mantle corporal, that the blessed Son of God shall be hid in
thee and of thee for to cover the right excellent clarte of his divinity; so that by this
ombre or shadow may be known and seen his dignity; like as Hugh of S. Victor and S.
Bernard say. After, the angel said: And for as much as thou shalt conceive of the Holy
Ghost and not of man, the child that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Yet of this conception which is above nature, the angel said to her this example: Lo!
Elizabeth thy cousin, which is barren, hath conceived a child in her age, for there is
nothing impossible to God, which is almighty. Then said the glorious Virgin Mary to the
angel the answer for which he was come: Lo! the handmaid of God, he do to me that he hath
ordained after thy words. She hath given to us example to be humble when prosperity of
high riches cometh to us, for the first word that she spake or said when she was made
mother of God and queen of Heaven, that was that she called herself ancille or
handmaid, and not lady. Much people is humble in low estate and but few in high estate,
that is to wit in great estates, and therefore is humility more praised in them that be
great in estate, as soon as she said: Lo! here the handmaid of God, let it be done to me
after thy words. Thomas in compendio: In that same time that she had thus given her
assent to the angel, she conceived in her Jesu Christ, which in that same hour was in her,
perfect man and perfect God in one person; and as wise as he was in heaven, or when he was
thirty years old. This blessed Annunciation happened the twentyfifth day of the month of
March, on which day happened also, as well tofore as after, these things that hereafter be
named. On that same day Adam, the first man, was created and fell into original sin by
inobedience, and was put out of paradise terrestrial. After, the angel showed the
conception of our Lord to the glorious Virgin Mary. Also that same day of the month Cain
slew Abel his brother. Also Melchisedech made offering to God of bread and wine in the
presence of Abraham. Also on the same day Abraham offered Isaac his son. That same day S.
John Baptist was beheaded, and S. Peter was that day delivered out of prison, and S. James
the more, that day beheaded of Herod. And our Lord Jesu Christ was on that day crucified,
wherefore that is a day of great reverence. Of the salutation that the angel brought to
the glorious Virgin, we read an example of a noble knight which for to amend his life gave
and rendered himself into an abbey of Citeaux, and, forasmuch as he was no clerk, there
was assigned to him a master for to teach him, and to be with the brethren clerks, but he
could nothing learn in long time that he was there save these two words: Ave Maria, which
words he had so sore imprinted in his heart that alway he had them in his mouth
wheresomever he was. At last he died and was buried in the churchyard of the
brethren. It happed after, that upon the burials grew a right fair fleur-de-lis, and in
every flower was written in letters of gold: Ave Maria, of which miracle all the brethren
were amarvelled, and they did open the sepulchre, and found that the root of this
fleur-de-lis came out of the mouth of the said knight, and anon they understood that our
Lord would have him honoured for the great devotion that he had to say these words. Ave
Maria. Another knight there was that had a fair place beside the highway where much people
passed, whom he robbed as much as he might, and so he used his life. But he had a good
custom, for every day he saluted the glorious Virgin Mary, in saying: Ave Maria; and for
no labour he left not to greet our Lady, as said is. It happed that an holy man passed by
his house, whom he robbed and despoiled, but that holy man prayed them that robbed him
that they would bring him to their master for he had to speak with him in his house of a
secret thing for his profit. And when the robbers heard that they led him tofore the
knight their lord; and anon the holy man prayed him that he would do come all his meiny
tofore him. And when his meiny by the commandment of the knight were assembled the holy
man said: Yet be they not all here; there is one yet to come. Then one of them aperceived
that the chamberlain of the lord was not come; and anon the knight made him to come. And
when the holy man saw him come anon he said: I conjure thee by the virtue of Jesu Christ
our Lord that thou say to us who thou art, and for what cause thou art come hither.
Anon the chamberlain answered: Alas, now must I say and knowledge myself, I am no man but
am a devil which am in the form of a man and have taken it fourteen years, by which space
I have dwelled with this knight, for my master hath sent me hither to the end that I
should take heed night and day that if this knight ceased to say the salutation, Ave
Maria, for then I should strangle him with mine own hand and bring him to hell because of
the evil life that he hath led and leadeth. But because he saith every day this
salutation, Ave Maria, I might not have him, and therefore I abode here so long, for there
passeth him no day but that he salueth our Lady. When the knight heard this he was much
afeard, and fell down to the feet of this holy man and demanded pardon of his sins. After
this the holy man said to the devil: I command thee in the name of our Lord that thou
depart hence, and go into another place where thou mayst grieve ne annoy no man. Then let
us pray to the glorious Virgin Mary that she keep us from the devil, and that we may by
her come to the glory of heaven, to the which bring us the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Ghost. Amen.
Here beginneth the Life of S. Seconde,
Knight.
S. Seconde was a noble and valiant knight and glorious martyr of our Lord
Jesu Christ, and suffered his passion and was crowned with the palm of martyrdom in
city of Astence. By whose glorious presence the said city was embellished, and for a
singular patron ennobled. And this holy man Seconde was informed in the faith of
the blessed man Calocerus, which was holden in prison by the provost Saprice in the said
city of Astence. And when Marcianus was holden in prison in the city of Tredonence,
Saprice the provost would go thither for to make him to sacrifice, and S. Seconde much
desiring to see S. Marcian, went with him as it had been because of solace. And anon as
they were out of the city of Astence a white dove descended upon S. Seconde's head, to
whom Saprice said: See, Seconde, how our gods love thee, which send birds from heaven to
visit thee. And when they came to the river of Tanaro, S. Seconde saw the angel of God
going upon the flood and saying to him: Seconde, see that thou hast firm faith, and thus shalt thou go above them that worship idols. Then Saprice said: Brother Seconde, I
hear the gods speaking to thee, to whom Seconde said: Let us walk unto the desires of our
heart. And when they came to another flood that hight Burin, that same angel aforesaid
said: Seconde believest thou in God or peradventure thou doubtest? To whom Seconde said: I
believe verily the truth of his passion. Then said Saprice: What is that I hear? and
Seconde said nothing. When they should enter into Tredonence, by the commandment of the
angel, Marcianus issued out of prison and appeared to Seconde, saying: Seconde, enter into
the way of truth and receive the victory of faith. Saprice said: Who is he that speaketh
to us as it were in a dream? To whom Seconde said: It may be well to thee a dream, but to
me it is admonition and a comfort. After this, Seconde went to Milan, and the angel
of God brought Faustin and Jonathan, which were holden in prison, out of the city to
Seconde, and of them he received baptism and a cloud ministered water for to baptize him
with. And suddenly a dove descended from heaven, bringing unto Faustin and Jonathan the
blessed sacrament, and Faustin delivered it to Seconde for to bear it to Marcian. Then
Seconde returned when it was night, and went to the river named Pade, and the angel of our
Lord took the bridle of the horse and led him over the river, and led him unto Tredonence,
and set him in the prison where Marcian was. And Seconde delivered to Marcian the gift
that Faustin had sent to him, and receiving it said: The blessed body of our Lord Jesu
Christ be with me into everlasting life. Then, by the commandment of the angel, Seconde
went out of prison and went unto his lodging. After this Marcian received sentence to have
his head smitten off, and so it was done. And then Seconde took his body and buried
it. And when Saprice heard thereof he did do call Seconde to him and said: By this that I
see thee do, I see well that thou art a christian man. To whom Seconde said: Verily I
knowledge me to be a christian man; then Saprice said: Lo! how desirest thou to die an
evil death? To whom Seconde said: That death is more due to thee than to me; and when
Seconde would not sacrifice to the idols he commanded him to be despoiled all naked, and
anon the angel of God was ready, and clad him in a better clothing than he had tofore.
Then Saprice commanded him to be hanged on an instrument named eculeus, of which two ends
stand on the ground, and two upward like S. Andrew's cross, and thereon he was hanged till
his arms were out of joint, but our Lord restored him anon to health. And then he was
commanded to go in to prison, and when he was there the angel of our Lord came to him and
said: Arise, Seconde, and follow me and I shall lead thee to thy maker. And he led him
from thence unto the city of Astence, and brought him into the prison where Calocerus was,
and our blessed Saviour with him. And when Seconde saw him he fell down at his feet, and
our Saviour said to him: Be not afeard, Seconde, for I am thy Lord God that shall keep
thee from all evil. And then he, blessing him, ascended to heaven. On the morn Saprice
sent unto the prison which they found fast shut, but they found not Seconde. Then Saprice
went from Tredonence the city unto Astence for to punish Calocerus, and when he was
come he sent for him to be presented tofore him, and they said to him that Seconde was
with him, and anon he commanded that they should be brought tofore him, to whom he said:
Because that my gods know you to be despisers of them, they will that ye both die
together. And, because they would not do sacrifice to his gods, he did do melt pitch and
rosin, and commanded it to be cast upon their heads and in their mouths. They drank it
with great desire, as it had been most sweetest water, and said with a clear voice: O Lord
how thy words be sweet in our mouths. Then Saprice gave upon them sentence, that S.
Seconde should be beheaded in the city of Astence and Calocerus should be sent to
Albigany and there to be punished. When then S. Seconde was beheaded, the angels of our
Lord took his body and buried it with much worship and praising. He suffered his death the
third calends of April. Let us pray then that he pray for us to our Lord.
Here beginneth the life of Mary of
Egypt.
Mary the Egyptian, which was called a sinner, led and lived the most straight life
and sharp that might be, forty-seven years in desert. In that time was a good, holy and
religious monk named Zosimus, and went through the desert which lieth beyond the flom
Jordan and much desired to find some holy fathers. And, when he came far and deep in the
desert, he found a creature which was all black over all her body, of the great heat and
burning of the sun, which went in that desert, and that was this Mary Egyptiaca aforesaid.
But as soon as she saw Zosimus come, she fled, and Zosimus after. And she tarried and
said: Abbot Zosimus, wherefore followest thou me? Have pity and mercy on me, for I dare
not turn my face toward thee, because I am a woman and also naked, but cast thy mantle
upon me, by which I may then, without shame, look and speak with thee. And when Zosimus
heard himself named he was greatly amarvelled, and anon he cast to her his mantle, and
humbly prayed her that she would give to him her blessing; and she answered: It
appertaineth to thee fair father to give the benediction, and nothing to me, for thou hast
the dignity of priesthood. When he heard that she knew his name and his office, he had yet
more marvel, and of that she asked so meekly his blessing. After, she said: Blessed be God
the Saviour of our souls. Then she lift up her hands unto heaven in making her prayer, and
Zosimus saw that in praying to God her body was lift up from the earth well nigh a foot
and a half, and began to think that it had been some evil spirit. Then Zosimus conjured
her by the virtue of God that she should tell to him her estate and her condition, and she
answered: Fair father, spare me thereof, for if I should recount mine estate ye should
flee away from me like as from a venomous serpent, and thy holy ears should be made foul
of my words, and the air should be full and foul of corruption. And when she saw that
Zosimus would not be satisfied so, then she said: Fair father I was born in Egypt, and
when I was in the age of twelve years I went into Alexandria, and there I gave my body
openly to sin by the space of seventeen years, and abandoned it to lechery and refused no
man. After, it happed that men of that country went for to adore and worship the holy
cross in Jerusalem, and I prayed to one of the mariners that he would suffer me to pass
with the other people the sea, and when he me demanded payment for my passage, I answered:
Fair sirs, I have nothing to pay you with, but I abandon my body to do withal your
pleasure for my passage, and they took me by that condition; and when I was come into
Jerusalem unto the entry of the church for to worship the holy cross with the
others, I was suddenly and invisibly put aback many times, in such wise that I might not
enter into the church. And then I returned and thought in myself that this came to me for
the great sins that I had committed in time past, and began to smite my breast and weep
tenderly and sigh grievously. And I beheld there the image of our Lady, and I fell down
and prayed her all weeping that she would impetre and get me pardon of my sins of her
sweet Son, and would suffer me to enter into the church for to worship the holy cross,
promising to forsake the world, and and from then forthon to live chaste. When I had thus
prayed, and to our blessed Lady thus faithfully promised, I went again to the doors of the
church, and without any impediment I entered into the church. And when I had devoutly
worshipped and adored the holy cross, a man gave to me three pence, of which I bought
three loaves of bread. And after, I heard anon a voice: If thou wilt pass and go over flom
Jordan thou shalt be safe, and then I passed Jordan, and came into this desert, where I
never saw man by the space of seventeen years. These three loaves, that I bare with me,
became hard, by the drought of the time, as a stone, of which I took my sustenance, and
sufliced to me seventeen years, and after, I ate herbs. My clothes be rotten long sith,
and these seventeen flrst years I was much tempted by the burning of the sun much asprely,
and many delectations that I have had in meat and drink, the good wines, and doing the
desires of my body, all these came in my thought. Then I bewailed them on the earth, and
prayed for help to our blessed Lady in whom I had set all my affiance, and I wept much
tenderly. And anon I saw coming about me a great light, by the which I was all
recomforted, and lost all the thoughts which oft and grievously tempted me. And sith, I
have been delivered of all temptations and am nourished of spiritual meat of the word of
our Lord. And thus have I been all my life as I have told to thee, and I pray thee by the
incarnation of Jesu Christ that thou pray for me, sinful creature. Then the old father
Zosimus fell down unto ground, and thanked our Lord God that had thus saved his servant.
And she said: I pray thee fair father that thou wilt come again on the next
Shere-Thursday, and bring with thee the body of our Lord for to housel me, for sith I
entered into this desert I was never houseled ne received the holy sacrament, and then I
shall come to flom Jordan against thee. Zozimus went to his abbey, and, after the year
passed, on ShereThursday he came again in to the place like as the holy woman had prayed
him. And when he was come to flom Jordan he saw on that other side the holy woman, which
made the sign of the cross upon the water and went on it, and came over to him. When
Zosimus saw this miracle, anon he fell down to the feet of the holy woman for to do to her
honour and reverence, but she forbade and defended him and said: Thus oughtest thou not to
do, for thou art a priest, and bearest the holy sacrament. The which she received in right
great devotion, and said in weeping: Lord God please it to thee to receive me in peace for
mine eyes have seen my Saviour. How well that she had always wept and shed tears so
abundantly that it seemed that she had lost her sight. And after, she said to Zosimus: I
pray thee that at the end of this year thou wilt come hither again to me and pray for me,
sinful creature, and anon after, she made the sign of the cross upon the river and passed
over the water with dry feet as she tofore came. And Zosimus went again to his abbey, but
he repented much that he had not demanded the name of the woman. And after the year passed
he came again to the desert, like as he had promised to this holy woman, and he found her
dead, and the body ordinately laid as it should be buried. Zosimus began then anon
tenderly to weep, and durst not approach ne touch the body, but said to himself: I would
gladly bury this holy body if I knew that I should not displease her. And when he was in
this thought he saw Iying by her head a letter, that said in this manner: Zosimus, bury
right here the body of the poor Mary and render to the earth his right, and pray to
God for me, at whose commandment the second day after I received him, he called me from
this world. Then Zosimus was much glad that he knew the name of the saint, but he
was greatly dismayed how he might bury the body, for he had nothing for to delve the earth
with. And anon he saw the earth dolven, and a sepulchre made by a lion that came thither.
And then Zosimus buried her, and the lion departed debonairly, and Zosimus returned to his
abbey and recounted to his brethren the conversation of this holy woman Mary. And Zosimus
lived an hundred years in holy life, and gave laud to God of all his gifts, and his
goodness that he receiveth sinners to mercy, which with good heart turn to him, and
promiseth to them the joy of heaven. Then let us pray to this holy Mary the Egyptian that
we may be here so penitent that we may come thither.
Here followeth of S. Ambrose, and
first the interpretation of his name.
Ambrose is said of a stone named ambra, which is much sweet, odorant and precious,
and also it is much precious in the church, and much sweet smelling in deeds and in words.
Or Ambrose may be said of ambra and syos which is as much to say as God, for Ambrose is as
much to say as amber of God, for Ambrose felt God in him, and God was smelled and odoured
by him over all where as he was. Or he was said of ambor in Greek, which is to say as
father of light, and of sior, that is a little child that is a father of many sons
by spiritual generation, clear and full of light in exposition of holy Scripture,
and was little in his humble conversation. Or thus as is said in the glossary, Ambrose is
odour and savour celestial, he was odour of heaven by great renomee smelling, savour by
contemplation within him, an honeycomb by sweet exposition of scriptures, meat of angels
by his glorious life. And Paulinus, bishop of Volusian, wrote his life unto S. Austin.
Of the Life of S. Ambrose.
S. Ambrose was son of Ambrose, provost of Rome, of whom it happed as he lay in his
cradle in the hall of the prætorium, that there came a swarm of bees which fell on his
visage and his mouth, and after, they departed and flew up in the air so high that they
might not be seen. When this was done, the father, which was hereof dismayed, said: If
this child live, there shall be some great thing of him. After, when he was a little
grown, he beheld his mother and his sister, which was a sacred virgin, kiss the priests'
hand when they offered, and he playing with his sister put forth his hand for to kiss, and
said that so behoved her to do to him. And she, not understanding him, refused it. After,
he was set to school at Rome, and became to be so good a clerk that he determined the
causes of the palace, and therefore Valentinian the emperor delivered him to govern, two
provinces named Liguria and Æmilia. Then when he came into Milan it happed that the
bishop was dead, and the people were assembled to provide for another, but, between the
Arians and the good christian men, for the election, fell a great sedition and discord.
And Ambrose for to appease this sedition went thither, and the voice of a child was heard
saying: Ambrose ought to be bishop: and anon all the people accorded thereto wholly, and
began for to cry: Ambrose! Ambrose! But Ambrose defended as much as he might, and alway
the people cried: Ambrose! Then for to make the people cease, he went out of the church,
and went up on a scaffold, and made the people to be beaten, against the usage and custom,
for to let them, that they should name him no more. But yet they left not for all that,
but the people said: Thy sin be upon us. Then he being sore troubled, went home, and
suffered common women to enter openly into his house, to the end that when the people saw
that, they should revoke their election; but for all that they cried as they did tofore
and said: Thy sins be upon us. When S. Ambrose saw that he might not empesh the election
he fled away, but the people awaited upon him and took him at the issue of the gate, and
kept him so long till they had grant of the emperor. And when the emperor knew hereof he
had great joy, because that the judge that he had sent for the provinces was chosen to be
their bishop, and also he was glad because his word was accomplished, for the emperor said
to Ambrose when he sent him thither: Go, said he, and abide not there as a judge but as a
bishop.
S. Ambrose in the meanwhile that they abode the answer of the emperor fled yet away,
but he was taken again and was baptized, for he was not tofore baptized, how well that he
was christian in will. And the eighth day after he was consecrate and stalled
bishop of Milan. And four years after that he went to Rome, and there his sister, the
virgin, kissed his hand as of a priest, and he smiling said: Lo! as I told thee, now thou
kissest my hand as of a priest.
It happed after that, when S. Ambrose went to another city to the election of a bishop,
Justina the empress, and others of the sect of the Arians would not consent to the good
christian men, but would have one of their sect. Then one of the virgins of the empress,
much fair, took S. Ambrose and drew him by his vestments and would have made him to be
beaten because he would not hold the party of the women. Then S. Ambrose said to her: If I
be not worthy to be a bishop, yet thou oughtest not to lay hand upon me ne none other
bishop, thou hast laid hand on me, thou oughtest much redoubt and dread the judgment of
God. And therefore God confirmed his sentence on her, for the next day she was borne to
her grave and was dead. Thus was she rewarded for the villainy that she had done, and all
the other were thereby sore afraid. After this, when he was returned to Milan he suffered
many assaults and persecutions of the empress Justina, for she moved, by gifts and by
honours, much people against S. Ambrose, and many there were that enforced them to send
him in exile, and among all others there was one mounted in so great madness and fury
against him, that he hired him an house by the church because he would have therein a cart
for to set S. Ambrose thereon and lead him in to exile. But that same fell to him, for he
himself was sent in exile in the same cart the same day that he would have led away S.
Ambrose. To whom yet S. Ambrose did good for evil, for he ministered to him his costs and necessaries. S. Ambrose also established in the church, song and offices at
Milan first.
There were at that time in Milan many men vexed and beset with devils, which cried with
high voice that S. Ambrose tormented them thus, but the empress Justina and the Arians
said that S. Ambrose made them to say so for money that he gave to them. Then it happed
that one of the Arians was out of his mind and said thus: Be they all tormented as I am
that consent not to S. Ambrose, and therefore the other Arians drowned him in a deep
piscine or pit. There was another heretic and an Arian, a sharp man and so hard that he
was inconvertible, because no man might convert him to the faith. On a time he heard S.
Ambrose preach, and he saw at his ear an angel that told him all that he preached, and
when he had perceived this he began to sustain the faith to which he had been contrary.
After this it happed that an enchanter called devils to him and sent them to S. Ambrose
for to annoy and grieve him, but the devils returned and said that they might not approach
to his gate because there was a great fire all about his house. And this enchanter, after,
when he was tormented of the provost for certain trespasses, he cried and said that he was
tormented of S. Ambrose.
There was a man that had a devil within him, and after went to Milan, and anon, as he
entered the city, the devil left him, and as soon as he went out of the city the devil
re-entered in him again. Then he demanded him why he did so, and he answered because he
was afeard of Ambrose.
After, it happed that a man being conducted and hired of Justina the empress, went to
the bedside of S. Ambrose and would have put and riven his sword through his body,
but anon his arm was dried up. Another that was vexed with a devil said that S. Ambrose
tormented him, but S. Ambrose made him to be still, for Ambrose tormenteth none, but that
doth the envy of thee, for thou seest men ascend from whence thou art fallen, and that is
it which tormenteth thee, for Ambrose cannot be so blown and swollen as thou art; then was
he still and spake not.
When S. Ambrose went into the town he saw a man laugh because he saw another fall, then
said Ambrose to him: Thou that laughest, beware that thou fall not also, and after he
fell, and thus was he taught that he should not mock his fellow. On a time S. Ambrose went
unto the palace for to pray for a poor man, but the judge made to close the gate that he
might not enter in; then S. Ambrose said: Thou shalt come for to enter into the church,
but thou shalt not enter, and yet shall the gates be open. And so it happed that after,
the judge doubted his enemies and went to the church, but he might not enter in, and yet
the gates were open.
S. Ambrose was of so great abstinence that he fasted every day save the Sunday or a
solemn feast. He was of so great largess that he gave all to poor people and retained
nothing for himself. He was of so great compassion that when any confessed to him his sin,
he wept so bitterly that he would make the sinner to weep. He was of so great doubt that,
when it was told to him of the death of any bishop, he would weep so sore that unnethe he
might be comforted, and when it was demanded him why he wept for the death of good men,
for he ought better to make joy because they went to heaven, then he answered: I weep not
because they go tofore me, but because that unnethe and with great pain may any
be found for to do well such offices. He was of so great steadfastness and so established
in his purpose that he would not leave, for dread ne for grief that might be done to him,
to reprove the emperor ne the other great men when they did things that they ought not to
do, ne he would flatter no man. There was brought once tofore him a man which was grievously
mismade; then said S. Ambrose: The body must be delivered to the devil and that the flesh
go to the death, by which the spirit may be saved. Unnethe was the word out of his mouth
but the devil began to torment him.
After, as it is said, on a time he went to Rome, and when he was on a time by the way
harboured with a rich man, S. Ambrose began to demand him of his estate. That rich man
answered: Sir, mine estate is happy enough and glorious, for I have riches enough,
servants, varlets, children, nephews, cousins, friends, and kinsmen which serve me, and
all my works and besoins come to my will, ne I have never thing that may anger ne trouble
me. Then said S. Ambrose to them that were with him: Flee we hence, for our Lord God is
not here, haste you fair children, haste you and let us abide here no longer lest the
vengeance of God take us, and that we be not wrapped in the sins of these people.
They departed and fled anon, but they were not gone far but that the earth opened and
swallowed in all the house of this rich man, and there abode not as much as the step ne of
himself ne of all that ever he had. Then said S. Ambrose: behold fair children how great
pity and how great mercy God doth to them that have adversity in this world, and how wroth
he is to them that have the wealth and riches of this world. Of which thing
appeareth yet the pit or foss which endureth into this day in witness of this adventure.
When S. Ambrose beheld that avarice, which is root of all evils, grew more and more in
much people, and specially in great men and in them that were in most great estate, which
sold all for money, and with the ministers of the church he saw simony reign, he began to
pray to God that he would take him away from the miseries of this world, and he impetred
that which he desired. Then he called his fellowship, and said to them, in joying, that,
he should abide with them unto the resurrection of our Lord. And a little tofore that he
lay sick, as he expounded to his notary the forty-fourth psalm, suddenly, in the presence
and sight of his notary, a fire in the manner of a shield covered his head and entered
into his mouth. Then became his face as white as any snow, and anon after it came again to
his first form, and that day he left his writing and inditing. Then began his malady to
grieve him, and the Earl of Italy which was then at Milan called the gentlemen of the
country, and said to them that if so great and good a man should go from them it should be
great pity and great peril to all Italy, and said to them that they all should go with him
to this holy man and pray him that he would get grant of our Lord of space and longer
life. When S. Ambrose had heard their request he answered: Fair sons, I have not so
lived among you that I am ashamed to live if it please God, ne I have no fear re dread of
death, for we have a good Lord. In this time assembled his four deacons and began to treat
who should be a good bishop after him, and they named secretly among themselves, that
unnethe they themselves heard it, Simplician. S. Ambrose was far from them, they weened
that he might not have heard them, and he cried on high thrice: He is old and he is
good. When they heard him they were much abashed and departed, and sith after his death
they chose the same Simplician for the good witness that S. Ambrose had borne of him.
A bishop which was named Honorius, that abode the death of S. Ambrose, slept and heard
a voice that thrice called him and said: Arise thou up for he shall go his way anon. Then
he arose anon hastily and went to Milan and gave to him the holy sacrament, the precious
body of our Lord. And anon S. Ambrose laid his arms in form of a cross and made his
prayers, and so departed and gave up his ghost among the words of his prayers,
about the year of our Lord three hundred and eighty, the vigil of Easter. And when his
body in the night was borne in to the church many children that were baptized, saw him, as
they said, sitting in a chair honorably, and others showed him with their fingers to their
father and others, and some said that they saw a star upon his body. There was a priest,
that sat at meat with others, which said not well of him, but mislaid, but anon God so
chastised him that he was borne from the table and died anon after. In the city of
Carthage were three bishops together at dinner, and one of them spake evil by detraction
of S. Ambrose, and there was a man that told what was befallen for such language to this
aforesaid priest, but he mocked and japed so much that he felt a stroke mortal; that that
same day he died and was buried.
It is found written in a chronicle that the emperor Valentinian was wroth because that
in the city of Thessalonica the people had stoned to death his judges that were sent
thither in his name, and for to avenge the same the emperor did do slay five thousand
persons, great and little, good and evil, and as well them that had not trespassed as them
that had deserved it. And when after this occision he came to Milan and would enter into
the church, S. Ambrose came against him and defended him the entry, and said to him that
after so great woodness thou oughtest not to do so great presumption, but peradventure thy
power suffereth not thee to acknowledge thy trespass. It appertaineth that reason surmount
power. Thou art emperor, but that is for to punish the evil people. How art thou so hardy
to enter so boldly into the house of God whom thou hast horribly angered? How darest thou
with thy feet touch his pavement? How darest thou stretch thy hands which be all bloody,
and of whom the blood of innocents run and drop off. By what presumption darest thou put
forth thy mouth to receive the precious body and blood of our Lord, of which mouth thou
hast done the commandment of the devil? Go hence! go hence! and put not sin upon sin. Take
the bond that our Lord hath bounden thee with, for it is given to thee in the way of
medicine. When the emperor heard these words, he was obedient and began to wail and weep,
and returned into his palace and abode there long weeping. Then Ruffin the master of his
knights demanded wherefore he so sorrowed and wept, and he answered Ruffn, thou knowest
not my sorrows, for I see that servants and poor beggars may enter into the church that I
may not enter, for Ambrose hath excommunicated me. And he saying this, at every word he
sighed. Then said Ruffin to him, if thou wilt I shall make him anon to assoil thee. He
answered: Thou mayst not, for Ambrose doubteth not the force ne the power of the emperor,
to the end that he hold firmly the law of God. And when Ruffin said more and more that he
should make him incline to assoil him, then he sent him to Ambrose, and the emperor
followed soon after much humbly. When S. Ambrose saw Ruffin come, he said to him: Thou
hast no more shame than an hound for to do such occision, and now comest boldly to me.
When Ruffin had prayed him long for to assoil the emperor, which came following him, S.
Ambrose said to him: Certainly I defend to him the entry into the church, and if he will
be a tyrant I will much gladly receive the death. Then returned Ruffin to the emperor, and
recounted to him how he had done, and the emperor said: Certainly I shall go to him that I
may receive of him villainy enough, for it is well right. When he was come to him he
demanded of him absolution much devoutly. S. Ambrose demanded of him what penance hast
thou done for so great wickedness? The emperor alleged to him that David had sinned and
after had mercy. S. Ambrose said: Thou that hast followed him that sinned, follow also him
repentant. Then said the emperor: It appertaineth to thee to give and enjoin penance, and
I shall do it. Then he bade him do open penance and common tofore all the people, and the
emperor received it gladly and refused it not. When the emperor was reconciled to the
church he stood in the chancel. Then said to him S. Ambrose: What seekest thou here? He
answered: I am here for to receive the sacred mysteries; and Ambrose said: This place
appertaineth to no man but to priests. Go out, for ye ought to be without the chancel and
abide there with other. Then obeyed the emperor humbly and went out. And after, when the
emperor came to Constantinople, and he stood without with the lay people, the bishop came
and said to him that he should come into the chancel with the clerks, he answered
that he would not, for he had learned of S. Ambrose what difference there was between an
emperor and a priest. I have found a man of truth, my master Ambrose, and such a man ought
to be a bishop.
The lives of the Saints Tyburtius and Valerian be contained
in the life of Cicely, Virgin and Martyr.
The Iife of S. Alphage Bishop and
Martyr.
S. Alphage the holy bishop and martyr was born in England in the shire of
Gloucester, and he came of a noble kin, and was his father's heir, but he forsook all for
God's love, and became a monk at Deerhurst, five miles from Gloucester; but afterward good
King Edward gave that house of Deerhurst to the house of S. Denis in France. And when S.
Alphage had been monk there long time, living a full holy life, then he went from thence
to the Abbey of Bath, to be there in more contemplation and rest of soul. And he builded
there that fair abbey and established therein black monks and endowed it, and was himself
therein the first abbot and founder. And he led there a full holy life, and much well he
guided the monks in holy and virtuous living. And that time was S. Dunstan, bishop of
Canterbury, and S. Ethelwold, bishop of Winchester. But within short time after S.
Ethelwold died, and then S. Andrew appeared to S. Dunstan in a night and bade him arise
anon and make Alphage, abbot of Bath, bishop of Winchester, and so it was done with great
solemnity, like as our Lord by his holy apostle S. Andrew had commanded, and he was bishop
there twenty-two years in full holy living. And after that he was made archbishop of
Canterbury, after S. Dunstan, and thereto he was chosen by the pope, and by all the clergy
of England, in the year of our Lord one thousand and six years, and six years he was
bishop of Canterbury. And in the seventh year came a wicked tyrant out of Denmark into
this land of England, whose name was Erdrithe, with a great multitude of Danes. And they
burnt and robbed in every place where they came, and slew many lords of the land, and many
of the common people. And that time was Ethelred king of England, and S. Edward the martyr
was his brother, and S. Edward the confessor his son, the which lieth at Westminster.
And in this time the Danes did do much harm in this land. The chief prince of them
hight Thurkill and his brother Erdrithe was leader of the host. They did full great
persecution, for there was none that might resist ne withstand them, for King Ethelred was
a meek man and took none heed to help his people. And Erdrithe, with the Danes went to
Canterbury, and there he did much wickedness to the people, and burnt and destroyed all
that he might find, but at the last he was slain by men of Canterbury. And when the Prince
Thurkill wist that he was slain, he was much angry, and in great haste he came to
Canterbury and besieged the town and anon he gat it, and burnt and destroyed all that he
might. And this holy bishop S. Alphage came to the prince of the Danes, and prayed him to
take his body and spare the poor people of the town, but for all that he slew monks,
priests and all that he might find. And he tithed the monks, he slew nine monks and saved
the tenth, and yet he thought there were over many alive, and began to tithe them again, and then S. Alphage reproved them for their cursed doings. And then anon they took S.
Alphage, the holy man, and bound his hands behind him, and they led him with them from
thence unto the town of Greenwich beside London, and there they put him in prison half a
year and more.
And the Friday in the Easter week the devil appeared to this holy man in the prison, in
likeness of an angel, and said unto him that it was our Lord's will that he should go out
of prison and follow him. And this holy man believed him and went out, and followed the
wicked angel by night, and he brought this holy man into a dark valley, and there he waded
over waters and ditches, mires and hedges, and ever this holy man followed him as he might
for weariness, till at the last he had brought him into a foul mire that was set about
with great waters, and there the devil left him, and vanished away. And then this holy man
wist well that he was deceived by his enemy the fiend, and then he cried God mercy and
prayed him of help. And then our Lord sent to him his holy angel, and aided him out of the
mire and water, and said it was the will of God that he should return again to
prison that he came from, for tomorrow shalt thou suffer martyrdom for our Lord's sake.
And as he went again towards the prison at Greenwich, early by the morrow, his keepers
that had sought him all the night met him, and anon they cast him down to the ground and
there they wounded him full piteously. And then they brought him again to prison, and they
made therein a great smouldering of smoke for to disease him. And then S. Dunstan appeared
to him and bade him be of good comfort, for our Lord hath ordained for thee a glorious
crown. And as they spake together his bonds brake, and all his wounds were made whole
again through the mercy of our Lord Jesu Christ, and when his keepers saw this they
dreaded full sore. And anon this miracle was known to the people and they went then fast
to see him. And the judges doubted the great people that came thither, and they took him
out of prison and led him to that place where he should be martyred, but the poor people
made great lamentation for him. But anon the wicked tormentors stoned him to death like as
the Jews did S. Stephen. And when he was almost dead, one there was that was his godson,
which with an axe smote him on the head that he fell to the ground, and then rendered up
his spirit to our Lord Jesu Christ. And then these wicked tyrants threw the holy body into
a deep water that good men should not find it, but by the providence of our Lord, within
short time after he was found of the true christian men, and they reproved greatly these
wicked tyrants. And they began then to scorn the holy body and one of them took an old
rotten stake or tree, and pight it in the earth and said: If this stake bear flowers by
to-morrow we will repent us and believe that he is an holy man, or else we will never
believe it. And on the morrow they found the stake green and bare leaves. And when they
saw this great miracle they believed in God, and kissed the feet of this holy Saint, and
repented them full sore of their wicked deeds, and cried full meekly God mercy, and this
holy S. Alphage. And after, he was brought to London with great worship and buried in the
church of S. Paul with great reverence, and there his body lay buried many years; and
afterwards it was taken up and translated to Canterbury, and his bones there laid in a
worshipful feretory or shrine, where our Lord showed daily many fair miracles for his holy
martyr S. Alphage. And the tormentors that repented them not, died anon affer in great
misery in divers wises, for to be punished as it pleased our Lord. Then let us pray to
this blessed martyr and archbishop, S. Alphage, that he be moyen unto our Lord Jesu Christ
that we may come to his everlasting bliss in heaven. Amen.
Of S. George, Martyr, and first the
interpretation of his name.
George is said of geos, which is as much to say as earth, and orge that is tilling. So
George is to say as tilling the earth, that is his flesh. And S. Austin saith, in libro de
Trinitate that, good earth is in the height of the mountains, in the temperance of the
valleys, and in the plain of the fields. The first is good for herbs being green, the
second to vines, and the third to wheat and corn. Thus the blessed George was high
in despising low things, and therefore he had verdure in himself, he was attemperate by
discretion, and therefore he had wine of gladness, and within he was plane of humility,
and thereby put he forth wheat of good works. Or George may be said of gerar, that is
holy, and of gyon, that is a wrestler, that is an holy wrestler, for he wrestled with the
dragon. Or George is said of gero, that is a pilgrim, and gir, that is detrenched out, and
ys, that is a councillor. He was a pilgrim in the sight of the world, and he was cut and
detrenched by the crown of martyrdom, and he was a good councillor in preaching. And his
legend is numbered among other scriptures apocryphal in the council of Nicene, because his
martyrdom hath no certain relation. For in the calendar of Bede it is said that he
suffered martyrdom in Persia in the city of Diaspolin, and in other places it is read that
he resteth in the city of Diaspolin which tofore was called Lidda, which is by the city of
Joppa or Japh. And in another place it is said that he suffered death under Diocletian and
Maximian, which that time were emperors. And in another place under Diocletian emperor of
Persia, being present seventy kings of his empire. And it is said here that he suffered
death under Dacian the provost, then Diocletian and Maximian being emperors.
Here followeth the Life of S. George Martyr.
S. George was a knight and born in Cappadocia. On a time he came in to the province of
Libya, to a city which is said Silene. And by this city was a stagne or a pond like a sea,
wherein was a dragon which envenomed all the country. And on a time the people were
assembled for to slay him, and when they saw him they fled. And when he came nigh the city
he venomed the people with his breath, and therefore the people of the city gave to him
every day two sheep for to feed him, because he should do no harm to the people, and when
the sheep failed there was taken a man and a sheep. Then was an ordinance made in the town
that there should be taken the children and young people of them of the town by lot, and
every each one as it fell, were he gentle or poor, should be delivered when the lot fell
on him or her. So it happed that many of them of the town were then delivered, insomuch
that the lot fell upon the king's daughter, whereof the king was sorry, and said unto the
people: For the love of the gods take gold and silver and all that I have, and let me have
my daughter. They said: How sir! ye have made and ordained the law, and our children be
now dead, and ye would do the contrary. Your daughter shall be given, or else we shall
burn you and your house.
When the king saw he might no more do, he began to weep, and said to his daughter: Now
shall I never see thine espousals. Then returned he to the people and demanded eight days'
respite, and they granted it to him. And when the eight days were passed they came to him
and said: Thou seest that the city perisheth: Then did the king do array his daughter like
as she should be wedded, and embraced her, kissed her and gave her hls benediction, and
after, led her to the place where the dragon was.
When she was there S. George passed by, and when he saw the lady he demanded the lady
what she made there and she said: Go ye your way fair young man, that ye perish not also.
Then said he: Tell to me what have ye and why weep ye, and doubt ye of nothing. When she
saw that he would know, she said to him how she was delivered to the dragon. Then said S.
George: Fair daughter, doubt ye no thing hereof for I shall help thee in the name of Jesu
Christ. She said: For God's sake, good knight, go your way, and abide not with me, for ye
may not deliver me. Thus as they spake together the dragon appeared and came running to
them, and S. George was upon his horse, and drew out his sword and garnished him with the
sign of the cross, and rode hardily against the dragon which came towards him, and
smote him with his spear and hurt him sore and threw him to the ground. And after said to
the maid: Deliver to me your girdle, and bind it about the neck of the dragon and be not
afeard. When she had done so the dragon followed her as it had been a meek beast and
debonair. Then she led him into the city, and the people fled by mountains and valleys,
and said: Alas! alas! we shall be all dead. Then S. George said to them: Ne doubt ye no
thing, without more, believe ye in God, Jesu Christ, and do ye to be baptized and I shall
slay the dragon. Then the king was baptized and all his people, and S. George slew the
dragon and smote off his head, and commanded that he should be thrown in the fields, and
they took four carts with oxen that drew him out of the city.
Then were there well fifteen thousand men baptized, without women and children, and the
king did do make a church there of our Lady and of S. George, in the which yet sourdeth a
fountain of living water, which healeth sick people that drink thereof. After this the
king offered to S. George as much money as there might be numbered, but he refused all and
commanded that it should be given to poor people for God's sake; and enjoined the king
four things, that is, that he should have charge of the churches, and that he should
honour the priests and hear their service diligently, and that he should have pity on the
poor people, and after, kissed the king and departed.
Now it happed that in the time of Diocletian and Maximian, which were emperors, was so
great persecution of christian men that within a month were martyred well twenty-two
thousand, and therefore they had so great dread that some renied and forsook God and did
sacrifice to the idols. When S. George saw this, he left the habit of a knight and sold
all that he had, and gave it to the poor, and took the habit of a christian man, and went
into the middle of the paynims and began to cry: All the gods of the paynims and gentiles
be devils, my God made the heavens and is very God. Then said the provost to him: Of what
presumption cometh this to thee, that thou sayest that our gods be devils? And say to us
what thou art and what is thy name. He answered anon and said: I am named George, I am a
gentleman, a knight of Cappadocia, and have left all for to serve the God of heaven. Then
the provost enforced himself to draw him unto his faith by fair words, and when he might
not bring him thereto he did do raise him on a gibbet; and so much beat him with great
staves and broches of iron, that his body was all tobroken in pieces. And after he did do
take brands of iron and join them to his sides, and his bowels which then appeared
he did do frot with salt, and so sent him into prison, but our Lord appeared to him the of
same night with great light and comforted him much sweetly. And by this great consolation
he took to him so good heart that he doubted no torment that they might make him suffer.
Then, when Dacian the provost saw that he might not surmount him, he called his enchanter
and said to him: I see that these christian people doubt not our torments. The enchanter
bound himself, upon his head to be smitten off, if he overcame not his crafts. Then he did
take strong venom and meddled it with wine, and made invocation of the names of his false
gods, and gave it to S. George to drink. S. George took it and made the sign of the cross
on it, and anon drank it without grieving him any thing. Then the enchanter made it more
stronger than it was tofore of venom, and gave it him to drink, and it grieved him
nothing. When the enchanter saw that, he kneeled down at the feet of S. George and prayed
him that he would make him christian. And when Dacian knew that he was become christian he
made to smite off his head. And after, on the morn, he made S. George to be set between
two wheels, which were full of swords, sharp and cutting on both sides, but anon the
wheels were broken and S. George escaped without hurt. And then commanded Dacian that they
should put him in a caldron full of molten lead, and when S. George entered therein, by
the virtue of our Lord it seemed that he was in a bath well at ease. Then Dacian seeing
this began to assuage his ire, and to flatter him by fair words, and said to him: George,
the patience of our gods is over great unto thee which hast blasphemed them, and
done to them great despite, then fair, and right sweet son, I pray thee that thou return
to our law and make sacrifice to the idols, and leave thy folly, and I shall enhance thee
to great honour and worship. Then began S. George to smile, and said to him: Wherefore
saidst thou not to me thus at the beginning? I am ready to do as thou sayest. Then was
Dacian glad and made to cry over all the town that all the people should assemble for to
see George make sacrifice which so much had striven there against. Then was the city
arrayed and feast kept throughout all the town, and all came to the temple for to see him.
When S. George was on his knees, and they supposed that he would have worshipped
the idols, he prayed our Lord God of heaven that he would destroy the temple and the idol
in the honour of his name, for to make the people to be converted. And anon the fire
descended from heaven and burnt the temple, and the idols, and their priests, and sith the
earth opened and swallowed all the cinders and ashes that were left. Then Dacian made him
to be brought tofore him, and said to him: What be the evil deeds that thou hast done and
also great untruth? Then said to him S. George: Ah, sir, believe it not, but come with me
and see how I shall sacrifice. Then said Dacian to him: I see well thy fraud and thy
barat, thou wilt make the earth to swallow me, like as thou hast the temple and my gods.
Then said S. George: O caitiff, tell me how may thy gods help thee when they may not help
themselves! Then was Dacian so angry that he said to his wife: I shall die for anger if I
may not surmount and overcome this man. Then said she to him: Evil and cruel tyrant! ne
seest thou not the great virtue of the christian people? I said to thee well that thou
shouldst not do to them any harm, for their God fighteth for them, and know thou well that
I will become christian. Then was Dacian much abashed and said to her: Wilt thou be
christian? Then he took her by the hair, and did do beat her cruelly. Then demanded she of
S. George: What may I become because I am not christened? Then answered the blessed
George: Doubt thee nothing, fair daughter, for thou shalt be baptized in thy blood. Then
began she to worship our Lord Jesu Christ, and so she died and went to heaven. On the morn
Dacian gave his sentence that S. George should be drawn through all the city, and after,
his head should be smitten off. Then made he his prayer to our Lord that all they that
desired any boon might get it of our Lord God in his name, and a voice came from heaven
which said that it which he had desired was granted; and after he had made his orison his
head was smitten off, about the year of our Lord two hundred and eighty-seven. When Dacian
went homeward from the place where he was beheaded towards his palace, fire fell down from
heaven upon him and burnt him and all his servants.
Gregory of Tours telleth that there were some that bare certain relics of S. George,
and came into a certain oratory in a hospital, and on the morning when they should depart
they could not move the door till they had left there part of their relics. It is also
found in the history of Antioch, that when the christian men went over sea to conquer
Jerusalem, that one, a right fair young man, appeared to a priest of the host and
counselled him that he should bear with him a little of the relics of S. George. for he
was conductor of the battle, and so he did so much that he had some. And when it was so
that they had assieged Jerusalem and durst not mount ne go up on the walls for the
quarrels and defence of the Saracens, they saw appertly S. George which had white arms
with a red cross, that went up tofore them on the walls, and they followed him, and so was
Jerusalem taken by his help. And between Jerusalem and port Jaffa, by a town called Ramys,
is a chapel of S. George which is now desolate and uncovered, and therein dwell christian
Greeks. And in the said chapel lieth the body of S. George, but not the head. And there
lie his father and mother and his uncle, not in the chapel but under the wall of the
chapel; and the keepers will not suffer pilgrims to come therein, but if they pay two
ducats, and therefore come but few therein, but offer without the chapel at an altar. And
there is seven years and seven lents of pardon; and the body of S. George lieth in the
middle of the quire or choir of the said chapel, and in his tomb is an hole that a man may
put in his hand. And when a Saracen, being mad, is brought thither, and if he put his head
in the hole he shall anon be made perfectly whole, and have his wit again.
This blessed and holy martyr S. George is patron of this realm of England and the cry
of men of war. In the worship of whom is founded the noble order of the garter, and also a
noble college in the castle of Windsor by kings of England, in which college is the heart
of S. George, which Sigismund, the emperor of Almayne, brought and gave for a great and a
precious relique to King Harry the fifth. And also the said Sigismund was a brother of the
said garter, and also there is a piece of his head, which college is nobly endowed to the
honour and worship of Almighty God and his blessed martyr S. George. Then let us pray unto
him that he be special protector and defender of this realm.
Here followeth of S. Mark the
Evangelist, and first the interpretation of his name.
Mark is as much to say as high to commandment, certain, declined, and bitter. He
was high of commandment by reason of perfection in his life, for he kept not only the
commandments common, but also the high as be counsels. He was certain in the doctrine of
the gospel, like as he had received of S. Peter his master, he was declined by reason of
perfect and great humility, for because of great meekness he cut off his thumb, to the end
that he should not be chosen to be a priest. He was bitter by reason of right sharp and
bitter pain, for he was drawn through the city, and among those torments he gave up his
spirit. Or Mark is said of a great mallet or beetle, which with one stroke maketh plain
iron and engendereth melody, and confirmeth it. For S. Mark by his only doctrine
quencheth the unsteadfastness of the heretics, he engendered the great melody of the
praising of God, and confirmed the church.
Of S. Mark the Evangelist.
Mark the Evangelist was of the kindred of the Levites, and was a priest. And when he
was christened he was godson of S. Peter the apostle, and therefore he went with him to
Rome. When S. Peter preached there the gospel, the good people of Rome
prayed S. Mark that he would put the gospel in writing, like as S. Peter had preached.
Then he at their request wrote and showed it to his master S. Peter to examine; and when
S. Peter had examined it, and saw that it contained the very truth, he approved it and
commanded that it should be read at Rome. And then S. Peter seeing S. Mark constant in the
faith, he sent him into Aquilegia for to preach the faith of Jesu Christ, where he
preached the word of God, and did many miracles, and converted innumerable multitudes of
people to the faith of Christ. And wrote also to them the gospel, like as he did to them
of Rome, which is in to this day kept in the church of Aquilegia, and with great devotion
kept.
After this it happed that S. Mark led with him to Rome a burgess of that same city whom
he had converted to the faith, named Ermagoras, brought him to S. Peter, and prayed him
that he would sacre him bishop of Aquilegia, and so he did. Then this Ermagoras, when he
was bishop, he governed much holily the church, and at the last the paynims martyred him.
Then S. Peter sent S. Mark into Alexandria, whereas he preached first the word of God, and
as soon as he was entered a great multitude of people assembled for to come against him.
There was he of so great perfection that by his predication and by his good example, the
people mounted in so holy conversation and in so great devotion that, at his instance they
led their life like monks.
He was of so great humility that he did cut off his thumb because he would be no
priest, for he judged himself not worthy thereto; but the ordinance of God and of S. Peter
came against his will, for S. Peter made and sacred him bishop of Alexandria. And anon, as
he came into Alexandria, his shoes were broken and torn; when he saw that he said: Verily
I see that my journey is sped, ne the devil may not let me sith that God hath assoiled me
of my sins. Then went S. Mark to a shoemaker for to amend his shoes, and as he would work
he pricked and sore hurted his left hand with his awl, and when he felt him hurt he cried
on high: One God! when S. Mark heard that he said to him: Now know I well that God hath
made my journey prosperous. Then he took a little clay and spittle and meddled them
together and laid it on the wound, and anon he was whole. When the shoemaker saw this
miracle he brought him into his house and demanded him what he was, and from whence he
came. Then said S. Mark that he was the servant of Jesu Christ, and he said: I would fain
see him. Then said S. Mark. I shall show him to thee. Then he began to preach to him the
faith of Jesu Christ, and after baptized him and all his meiny. When the men of the town
heard say that there was a man come from Galilee, that despised and defended the
sacrifices of idols, they began await how they might deliver him to death. When S. Mark
espied that, he made his shoemaker, which was named Anian, bishop of Alexandria, and he
himself went to Pentapolin whereas he was two years, and after, came again to Alexandria
and found then there the town full of christian men, and the bishops of the idols awaited
for to take him.
Now it happened on Easter day, when S. Mark sang mass, they assembled all and put a
cord about his neck, and after, drew him throughout the city, and said: Let us draw the
bubale to the place of bucale. And the blood ran upon the stones, and his flesh was torn
piecemeal that it lay upon the pavement all bebled. After this they put him in prison,
where an angel came and comforted him, and after came our Lord for to visit and comfort
him, saying: Pax tibi Marce evangelista meus. Peace be to thee Mark, mine Evangelist! be
not in doubt, for I am with thee and shall deliver thee. And on the morn they put the cord
about his neck and drew him like as they had done tofore and cried: Draw the bubale, and
when they had drawn he thanked God and said: Into thy hands Lord, I commend my spirit, and
he thus saying died. Then the paynims would have burnt his body, but the air began
suddenly to change and to hail, lighten and thunder, in such wise that every man enforced
him to flee, and left there the holy body alone. Then came the christian men and bare it
away, and buried it in the church, with great joy, honour, and reverence. This was in the
year of our Lord fifty-seven, in the time that Nero was emperor.
And it happed in the year of grace four hundred and sixty-six in the time of Leo the
emperor, that the Venetians translated the body of S. Mark from Alexandria to Venice in
this manner. There were two merchants of Venice did so much, what by prayer and by their
gifts, to two priests that kept the body of S. Mark, that they suffered it to be borne
secretly and privily unto their ship. And as they took it out of the tomb, there was so
sweet an odour throughout all the city of Alexandria that all the people marvelled, ne
knew not from whence it came. Then the merchants brought it to the ship, and after, hasted
the mariners and let the other ships have knowledge thereof. Then there was one man in
another ship that japed, and said: Ween ye to carry away the body of S. Mark? Nay, ye lead
with you an Egyptian. Then anon, after this word, the ship wherein the holy body
was, turned lightly after him, and so rudely boarded the ship of him that had said that
word, that he brake one of the sides of the ship, and would never leave it in peace till
they had confessed that the body of S. Mark was in the ship, that done, she held her
still.
Thus as they sailed fast they took none heed, and the air began to wax dark and thick,
that they wist not where they were. Then appeared S. Mark unto a monk, to whom the body of
S. Mark was delivered to keep, and bade him anon to strike their sails for they were nigh
land, and he did so, and anon they found land in an isle. And by all the rivages whereas
they passed, it was said to them that they were well happy that they led so noble a
treasure as the body of S. Mark, and prayed them that they would let them worship it. Yet
there was a mariner that might not believe that it was the body of S. Mark, but the devil
entered into him, and tormented him so long that he could not be delivered till he was
brought to the holy body; and as soon as he confessed that it was the body of S. Mark, he
was delivered of the wicked spirit, and ever after he had great devotion to S. Mark.
It happed after, that the body of S. Mark was closed in a pillar of marble, and right
few people knew thereof because it should be secretly kept. Then it happed that they that
knew thereof died, and there was none that knew where this great treasure might be,
wherefore the clerks and the lay people were greatly discomforted and wept for sorrow, and
doubted much that it had been stolen away. Then made they solemn processions and
litanies, and the people began to fast and be in prayers, and all suddenly the stones
opened and showed to all the people the place and stead where the holy body rested. Then
rendered they thankings to God of this, that he had relieved them of their sorrow and
anguish, and ordained that on that day they shall hold feast alway for this devout
revelation.
A young man on a time had a cancer in his breast, and worms ate it which were come of
rotting, and as he was thus tormented he prayed with good heart to S. Mark, and required
him of help and aid, and after, he slept. And that same time appeared to him S. Mark in
form of a pilgrim, tucked and made ready for to go hastily over sea; and when he demanded
him what he was, he answered that he was S. Mark, which went hastily for to succour a ship
which is in peril; then he stretched and laid his hand on him, and anon as he awoke he
found himself all whole. Anon after, this ship came unto the port of Venice, and the
mariners told the peril where they had been in, and how S. Mark had holpen them, then
for that one miracle and for that other the people rendered thankings to our Lord.
The merchants of Venice went on a time by the sea in a ship of Saracens towards
Alexandria; and when they saw them in peril, they hewed the cords of the ship, and
anon the ship began to break by the force of the sea. And all the Saracens that were
therein fell in the sea, and died that one after the other. Then one of the Saracens made
his avow to S. Mark and promised him that if he delivered him from this peril he would be
baptized. Anon a man all shining appeared to him, which took him out of the water and
remitted him again into the ship, and anon the tempest ceased. When he was come into
Alexandria he remembered no thing S. Mark, which had delivered him from peril, he went not
to visit him, ne he did him not do be baptized. Then appeared to him S. Mark, and said to
him that he remembered evil the bounty that he did to him when he delivered him from the
peril of the sea, and anon the Saracen came again to his conscience, and he went to
Venice, and was there baptized and named Mark, and believed perfectly in God, and ended
his life in good works.
There was a man gone up in the steeple of S. Mark at Venice; and as he intended for to
do a work, he was troubled in such wise that he fell, and was like to have been all
to-broken in his members, nevertheless in his falling he cried: S. Mark! and anon he
rested upon a branch that sprang out, whereof he took none heed, and after, one raught and
let him down a cord, by which he avaled down and was saved.
There was a gentleman of Provence which had a servant that would fain go on pilgrimage
to S. Mark, but he could get no licence of his lord. At last he doubted not to anger his
lord, but went thither much devoutly. And when his lord knew it he bare it much
grievously, and as soon as he was come again his lord commanded that his eyes should be
put out; and the other servants that were ready to do the lord's will made ready sharp
brochets of iron, and enforced them with all their power and might not do it. Then
commanded the lord to hew off his thighs with axes, but anon the iron was as soft as
molten lead. Then commanded he to break his teeth with iron hammers, but the iron thereof
was so soft that they could do him no harm. Then when the lord saw the virtue of
God so openly by the miracles of S. Mark, he demanded pardon and went to Venice, to S.
Mark, with his servant.
There was a knight on a time so hurt in battle that his hand hung on the arm in such
wise that his friends and surgeons counselled him to cut it off, but he, that was
accustomed to be whole, was ashamed to be maimed, and made it to be bound in his place,
and after he called much devoutly to S. Mark, and anon his hand was as whole as it had
been tofore, and in the witness of this miracle a sign of the cutting abode still.
Another time there was a knight armed which ran upon a bridge, and his horse and he
fell in a deep water, and when he saw he might not escape he cried on S. Mark, and anon he
raught him a spear by which he was saved, and for this cause he came anon in pilgrimage to
Venice and told this miracle.
There was a man taken, by envy of them that hated him, and was put in prison, and when
he had been there forty days, and was much grieved, he cried on S. Mark. And when S. Mark
had appeared thrice he supposed that it had been a fantasy. At the last he felt his irons
broken, as it had been a rotten thread, and passed by the keepers of the prison openly by
day, he seeing them all, but none of them saw him, and after, came to the church of S.
Mark and thanked God devoutly.
It happed in Apulia was great famine, and the land was barren that nothing might grow
thereon. Then was it showed by revelation to a holy man that it was because that they
hallowed not the feast of S. Mark; and when they knew this, anon they hallowed the feast
of S. Mark, and anon began to grow great plenty of goods throughout all the country.
It happed at Papia, in the convent of the friars preachers, in the year of our Lord one
thousand two hundred and forty-one, that a friar, a much religious man, was sick
unto the death, named Julianus, which sent for his prior for to demand him in what state
he was in, and he told him that he was in peril of death, and that it approached fast, and
anon his face was all bright and joyful, and with gladness be began to say: fair brethren,
my soul shall depart anon, make room and place, for my soul joyeth in my body for the good
tidings that I have heard. And lift up his eyes unto heaven and said: Lord God, take away
my soul out of this prison; and after he said: Alas! who shall deliver me from this
corrupt and mortal body? Among these words he fell in a light sleep, and saw S. Mark come
to him and standing by his bedside, and he heard a voice saying to him: O Mark, what
makest thou here? He answered that he was come to visit this friar because he should die.
Then he demanded him wherefore he came more than another saint; he answered because he had
a special devotion to me, and because he hath oft devoutly visited my church, and
therefore am I come to visit him in the hour of his death. Then entered into that place
great plenty of people all white, to whom S. Mark demanded wherefore they were come. And
they said and answered that they were come for to present the soul of this brother tofore
God. And when the friar was waked he sent for the prior and told to him advisedly all this
vision, and after, anon, in the presence of the prior, he died with great joy. And all
this the prior recounted to him that wrote this book named Legenda aurea.
Here followeth of S. Marcelin the
Pope.
S. Marcelin was pope of Rome by the space of nine years and four months. In his
time reigned Diocletian and Maximian, emperors of Rome. The which commanded that he should
be taken and brought into the temple for to do scarifice to the idols; and when he would
not assent, the ministers of the emperors menaced him that they would make him die by
diverse torments. And when he heard that, he had so great dread that he
put in their sacrifice two grams of incense only, whereof the paynims had great joy,
and the christian men had right great sorrow, and reprehended him greatly of that he had
such a thing done against the christian faith, and anon he repented him and put himself to
the judgment of the bishops. But the bishops answered: God forbid that it never fall that
the pope of the christian people, which is sovereign, be judged of any man, but be he
judged of himself, and anon he deposed himself. And after, the christian men chose him
again to be pope as he was tofore. And when this came to the knowledge of the emperors,
then they did do take him and, because that he would in no wise do sacrifice to the idols,
they made to smite off his head. And then the persecution and woodness was so great of the
paynims against the christian people, that within a month after were put to death for the
name of Jesu Christ and for to sustain the christian faith, well a seventeen thousand
christian people. Marcelin, in the hour that he should be beheaded, said tofore all the
people that he was not worthy to be buried among christian people, and therefore he
commanded upon pain of cursing that none should bury his body. And so the body of him
abode above the earth thirty-five days without burying.
After, S. Peter the apostle appeared to Marcel, which was pope after Marcelin, and said
to him in this manner: Marcel, fair father, why buriest thou not me? And he answered: Sir,
be ye not long sith buried? And S. Peter said: I hold me not buried as long as I see
Marcelin not buried, and the pope answered: How, sir! know ye not how he accursed all them
that should bury him? And S. Peter said: Is it not written that he that meeketh himself
shall be enhanced? This shouldest thou have thought; go then and bury him at my feet. And
anon the pope did his commandment and buried the body of S. Marcelin hastily, which
was martyred the year of our Lord two hundred and eighty. Then pray we to him that he pray
for us.
Of S. Vital, Martyr, and first of the
interpretation of his name.
Vital is as much to say as such one living, for he lived without forth like as
he was in his heart within. Or Vital is as much to say as life. Or Vital is to say flying
with wings, or flying himself with wings of virtues. He was as one of the beasts
that Ezechiel saw, having in himself four wings; the wing of hope by which he flew
into heaven, the wing of love by which he flew to God, the wing of dread by which he flew
to hell, and the wing of knowledge by which he flew to himself. And it is supposed that
his passion is found in the book of Gervase and Prothase.
Of S. Vital.
S. Vital was a knight and a consul, and of Valeria his wife he gat S. Gervase and S.
Prothase. He went to Ravenna with Paulin that was judge of the country, and when he came
thither he saw that this Paulin made a physician named Ursian to suffer many torments
because he would not reny his faith, and at the last when they would have beheaded him he
was so afraid that he would have renied God. Then said S. Vital to him: Ha! Ursian, do not
so, thou wert wont to heal other and now wilt deliver thyself to perdurable death. Thou
wert come to the victory, now thou art in peril to lose thy crown which was ready for
thee. When this physician had heard these words, he was all recomforted, and repented of
his evil purpose, and suffered gladly martyrdom. And S. Vital did do bury him much
honorably, ne never after would S. Vital not go in the company of the judge Paulin. Then
he had so great indignation, of that he had defended Ursian to make sacrifice, and of this
that he deigned not to come to him, and because he showed him a christian man he did him
to be hanged by the arms on a gibbet. Then said to him Vital, thou art overmuch a fool if
thou ween to deceive me which have always delivered the other. Then said Paulin: Bring him
for to do sacrifice, and if he do it not, make a deep pit unto the water and put his head
thereunder. And so they did, and there buried him quick, in the year of our Lord
fiftyseven. And the priest of the idols that had given this counsel was anon taken of the
devil, and cried seven days continually and said: S. Vital thou burnest me, and the
seventh day the devil threw him in the river and there died shamefully. And the wife of S.
Vital, when she came to Milan she found there of her people sacrificing the idols, which
prayed her to eat with them of their sacrifices, to whom she answered: I am a christian
woman, and it is not lawful for me to eat of your sacrifices. Then they, hearing that,
beat her so long and so sore that they left her for dead. And her men that were
with her brought her to Milan half living, and there the third day she died holily And the
body of S. Vital lieth now at Cologne in the church of our Lady.
Here followeth the Life of S. Peter of Milan, and first the interpretation of his name.
Peter is as much to say as knowing or unhosing, or Peter is said of petros, that is
constant and firm, and by that be understood three privileges that were in S. Peter; he
was a much noble preacher, and therefore he is said knowing, for he had perfect
knowledge of scripture, and knew in his predication what was behoveful to ever each
person. Secondly, he was pure and a virgin, and therefore he was said unhosing, for he
unhosed and did off his will from his feet, and despoiled all mortal love, insomuch that
he was a virgin, and not only of body but also of mind. Thirdly, he was a martyr glorious
of our Lord and therein he was constant and firm, to the end that he should suffer
steadfastly martyrdom for the defence of the faith.
Of S. Peter of Milan.
S. Peter the new martyr, of the order of the friars preachers, was born in the city of
Verona in Lombardy. His father and mother were of the sect of the Arians. Then he
descended of these people like as the rose that cometh of the thorn, and as the light that
cometh of the smoke. At the age of seven years, when he learned at the school his credo,
one, his eme, which was a heretic, demanded of him his lesson, and the child said to him:
Credo, till to creatorem cœli et terræ; his uncle said to him that he should no more
say so, for God hath not made temporal things, the child affirmed that he ought to say
none otherwise, but so as he had learned, and that other began to show him by authority
his purpose; but the child, which was full of the Holy Ghost, answered so well and wisely
that his uncle departed all confused, and all achauffed, said to the father that he should
take away his son from school, for he doubted when he shall be great that he should turn
against their law and faith, and that he should confound them. And so it happed, and so he
prophesied like as Caiaphas did, but God, against whom none may do, would not suffer it
for the great profit that he attended of him. Then after, when he came to more age, he saw
that it was no sure thing to dwell with the scorpions. He had in despite father and
mother. and left the world whiles he was a clear and a pure virgin. He entered into the
order of the friars preachers there, whereas he lived much holily the space of
thirty years or thereabout, full of all virtues and especial in defending the faith, for
love of which he burnt. He did much abstinence for to bring his flesh low, he fasted, he
entended to wake by night in studying and in prayer when he should have slept and rested,
and by day he entended to the profit of the souls, in preaching, in confessing, and in
counselling, in disputing against the heretics and Arians, and in that he had a special
grace of Jesu Christ, for he was right sore founded in humilty. He was marvellously
piteous and debonair, full of compassion, of great patience, of great charity, and of
steadfastness. So ripe and so well ordained in fair manner that every man might
behold as in a mirror, in his continence and in his conversation. He was wise and
discreet, and so emprinted in his heart that all his words were firm and stable. Then he
prayed many times to our Lord that he would not let him die but by sufferance of martyrdom
for him and for his faith. And thus as he prayed God accomplished in the end.
He did many miracles in his life, for in the city of Milan, on a time when he examined
a bishop of the Arians that the christian men had taken, and many bishops, religious, and
great plenty of other people of the city were there assembled, and was then right hot,
this Arian said to S. Peter tofore them all: O thou Peter perverse, if thou art so holy as
this people holdeth thee for, wherefore sufferest thou this foolish people to die for
heat, and prayest not God that he would shadow them. Then S. Peter answered and said: If
thou wilt promise that thou shalt hold the very faith and thou wilt leave thine heresy, I
shall pray therefor to our Lord. Then all they that were on the party of the Arians cried
that he should promise him, for they supposed that he should not get it specially, because
the air was so clear and no cloud was seen, and the christian men doubted that their faith
might thereby come to confusion, but the bishop, the heretic, would not bind him thereto.
S. Peter had good faith and trust in God, and made his prayer openly that he would convey
over them a cloud, and he made the sign of the cross, and anon the cloud came and
overspread them like a pavilion that there were assembled, and abode as long as the sermon
endured, and it stretched no further but there.
There was a lame man which had been so lame five years and might not go, but was drawn
in a wheelbarrow, and brought to S. Peter at Milan, and as S. Peter had blessed him with
the sign of the cross, anon he was whole and arose. Yet other miracles God showed for him
by his life. It happed that the son of a gentleman had such a horrible disease in his
throat that he might neither speak ne draw his breath, but S. Peter made on him the sign
of the cross, and laid his cope on the place where the sore was, and anon he was all
whole. The same gentleman had afterwards a grievous malady and supposed to have died, and
made bring to him the said cope, which with great devotion laid it on his breast, and anon
he cast out a worm with two heads which was rough, and after he was brought in good health
and anon all whole. It happed that a young man was dumb and might not speak a word,
wherefore he came to S. Peter, and he put his finger in his mouth and his speech came to
him again. Now it happed that time that an heresy began much in Lombardy, and that
there were much people that were fallen in this error, and the pope sent divers
inquisitors thither of the order of the friars preachers, and because that at Milan there
were many in number of great power and engine, he sent thither S. Peter as a man wise,
constant, and religious, which doubted nothing. And by his virtue he reproved them, and by
his wit he understood their malice, and when he had enterprised the office of
Inquisition, then began he, as a lion, to seek the heretics over all, and left them not in
peace, but in all places, times, and all the manners that he might, he overcame and
confounded them. When the heretics saw that they might not withstand the Holy Ghost that
spake in him, they began to treat how they might bring him to death. Then it happed
on a time, as he went from Cumea to Milan for to seek the heretics, he said openly in a
predication that the money was delivered for to slay him. And when he approached nigh the
city a man of the heretics, which was hired thereto, ran upon him and smote him with his
falchion on the head, and gave and made to him many cruel wounds, and he that murmured not
ne grudged not, suffered patiently the cruelty of the tyrants, and abandoned or gave
himself over to suffer the martyrdom, and said his credo, and in manus tuas, commending
his spirit unto the hands of our Lord. And so the tyrant left him in the place for dead,
and thus told the tyrant that slew him, and friar Dominic which was his fellow was slain
with him. And after, when the tyrant saw that he removed yet his lips, the cursed and
cruel tyrant came again and smote him with his knife to the heart, and anon his spirit
mounted in to heaven. Then was it well known that he was a very prophet, for the prophecy
of his death that he had pronounced was accomplished. After, he had the crown of virginity,
for as his confessors witness that in all his life he had never done deadly sin. After, he
had the crown of a doctor, because he had been a good fast firm preacher and doctor of
holy church. After, he had the crown of martyrdom, as it appeared when he was slain. The
renown thereof came into the city of Milan, and the friars, the clergy, and the people,
came with procession with so great company of people, that the press was so great that
they might not enter into the town, and therefore they left the body in the abbey of S.
Simplician, and there it abode all that night and so he said the day tofore to his
fellow. The passion of S. Peter ensued much like the passion of our Lord in many
manners, for like as our Lord suffered for the truth of the faith that he preached, so S.
Peter suffered for the truth of the faith that he defended; and like as Christ suffered of
the Jews, so S. Peter suffered of the people of his own country, and of the heretics;
Christ suffered in the time of Easter, so did S. Peter. Jesu Christ was sold for thirty
pence, and S. Peter was sold for forty pounds. Jesu Christ showed his death to his
disciples, and S. Peter showed it in plain predication. Jesu Christ said at his
death: Lord God, into thy hands I commend my spirit; right so S. Peter did the same. There
was a nun of Almaine, of the abbey of Oetenbach, which had a grievous gout in her knee,
which had holden her a year long and more, and there was no master ne physician that might
make her whole. She had great devotion to S. Peter, but she might not go thither
because of her obedience, and because her malady was so grievous. Then demanded she how
many days' journey was from thence to Milan, and she found that there were fourteen
journeys. Then purposed she to make these journeys by her heart and good thoughts, and she
said for every journey one hundred paternosters. And always as she went forth by her mind
in her journeys, she felt herself more eased, and when she came to the last journey in her
mind she found herself all guerished. Then she said that day all the Psalter, and after
returned all the journeys like as she had gone by her thoughts in her heart, and after
that day she felt never the gout.
There was a man that had a villainous malady beneath, in such wise that he
voided blood six days continually; he cried to S. Peter devoutly, and as he had ended his
prayer he felt himself all whole; and after he fell asleep, and he saw in his sleep a
friar preacher which had a face great and brown, and him seemed that he had been
fellow to S. Peter, and verily he was of the same form. This friar gave to him a box of
ointment and said to him: Have good hope in S. Peter which late hath shed his blood for
the faith, for he hath healed thee of the blood that ran from thee, and when he awoke he
purposed to visit the sepulchre of S. Peter.
There was a countess of the castle Massino, which had special devotion to S. Peter and
fasted alway his vigil; now it happed that she offered a candle to the altar of S. Peter,
and anon the priest for his covetise quenched the candle, but anon after the candle was
light again by himself, and he quenched it again once or twice, and always as soon as he
was gone, it lighted anon again; then he left that and put out another candle which a
knight had offered in the honour of S. Peter, which knight fasted also his even, and the
priest assayed two times if he might put it out, but he might not. Then said the knight
unto the priest: What, devil, seest thou not well the miracle, that S. Peter will not that
they be quenched? Then was the priest abashed and all the clerks that were there with him,
in so much that they fled out of the church and told the miracle overall.
There was a man called Roba which had lost at play his gown and all the money that he
had. When he came into his house and saw himself in so great poverty, he called the devils
and gave himself to them; then came to him three devils which cast down Roba upon the
soler and after took him by the neck, and it seemed that they would have estrangled
him, in such wise that he unnethe might speak. When they that were in the house beneath
heard him cry, they went to him, but the devils said to them that they should return, and
they had supposed that Roba had said so, and returned, and after anon he began to cry
again; then apperceived they well that they were the devils, and fetched the priest, which
conjured in the name of S. Peter, the devils, that they should go their way. Then two of
them went away and the third abode, and his friends brought him on the morn to the
church of the friars. Then there came a friar named Guillaume of Vercelli, and this friar
Guiliaume demanded what was his name, and the fiend answered: I am called Balcefas; then
the friar commanded that he should go out, and anon the fiend called him by his name as he
had known him, and said: Guillaume, Guillaume, I shall not go out for thee, for he is ours
and hath given himself to us. Then he conjured him in the name of S. Peter the martyr, and
then anon he went his way and the man was all whole, and took penance for his
trespass, and was after a good man.
S. Peter whiles he lived, it happed that he disputed with a heretic, but this heretic
was sharp, aigre, and so full of words that S. Peter might have of him none audience. When
he saw that, he departed from the disputation and went and prayed our Lord that he would
give to him place and time to sustain the faith, and that the other might be still and
speak not; and when he came again he found this heretic in such case that he might not
speak. Then the other heretics fled all confused, and the good christian men thanked our
Lord.
The day that S. Peter was martyred, a nun that was of the city of Florence saw in a
vision our Lady that styed up to heaven, and with her two persons, one on the right side
and that other on the left, in the habit of friars, which were by her, and when she
demanded who it was, a voice said to her that it was the soul of S. Peter, and was found
certainly that same day he suffered death, and therefore this nun, which was grievously
sick, prayed to S. Peter for to recover her health, and he gat it for her entirely.
There was a scholar that went from Maloigne unto Montpellier, and in leaping he
was broken that he might not go. Then he remembered of a woman that was healed of a cancer
by a little of the earth of the sepulchre of S. Peter, and anon he had trust in God, and
cried to S. Peter in such manner as she had done, and anon he was whole.
In the city of Compostella there was a man that had great legs swollen like a barrel,
and his womb like a woman with child, and his face foul and horrible, so that he seemed a
monster to look on. And it happed that he went with a staff begging his bread, and in a
place where he demanded on a time alms of a good woman, she saw him so swollen that she
said that it were better for him to have a pit to be buried in than any other thing, for
he was no better than dead, yet nevertheless, said she, I counsel thee that thou go into
the church of the friars preachers, and pray S. Peter that he make thee whole, and have in
him very faith and I hope he shall make thee all whole. This sick man went in the morn to
the church, but he found it shut and closed. Then he slept at the door, and he saw in his
sleep that a man in the habit of a friar brought him into the church, and covered him with
his cope, and when he awoke he found himself in the church and was perfectly whole,
whereof much people marvelled because they had seen so short time tofore, him like as he
should have died forthwith. There be many more miracles which were over great a labour to
write all, for they would occupy a great book. Then let us pray to this holy martyr S.
Peter that he pray for us.
Here followeth of S. Philip
the Apostle, first of the interpretation of his name.
Philip is as much to say as the mouth of a lamp, or the mouth of hands. Or it is
said of philos, that is as much to say as love, and of yper, that is to say sovereign, so
Philip is as much to say as love of sovereign things. Then is it said, mouth of a lamp for
his clear preaching, and mouth of the hands for his busy work, and love of things
sovereign for his celestial love and contemplation.
Of the Life of S. Philip.
S. Philip, when he had preached in Scythia by the space of twenty years, he was
taken of the paynims, which would constrain him to make sacrifice to an idol which was
called Mars, their God, and anon under the idol issued out a right great dragon, which
forthwith slew the bishop's son that appointed the fire for to make the sacrifice,
and the two provosts also, whose servants heed S. Philip in iron bonds; and the dragon
corrupted the people with his breath that they all were sick, and S. Philip said: Believe
ye me and break this idol and set in his place the cross of Jesu Christ and after, worship
ye it, and they that be here dead shall revive, and all the sick people shall be made
whole. And they that were sick cried to S. Philip, and said: If thou mayst do so much that
we may be guerished and whole, we shall gladly do it. And anon S. Philip commanded the
dragon that he should go in to desert without grieving or doing any harm to any person,
and anon he departed without appearing after; and forthwith S. Philip healed all them that
were sick, and raised the three that were dead, and were all baptized, and preached
to them the space of a year the faith of Jesu Christ. And when he had ordained priests and
deacons, after, he departed and came into the city of Hierapolin in Asia, where he
destroyed the heresy of the Hebronites, which said and preached that Jesu Christ had not
taken very flesh human, but only the semblance of the body human. In this city were his
two daughters, by whom our Lord had converted much people to the christian faith.
S. Philip tofore his death made to come tofore him all the bishops, seven days tofore
his death, and also all the priests, and said to them: These seven days hath our
Lord given to me respite for to warn you to do well. And he was of the age of eighty-seven
years. And after this the paynims took and held him, and fastened him to the cross, like
unto his master, and so he yielded up his soul and died. And his body was worshipfully
buried there, and his two daughters died long after him and were also buried, that one on
the right side, and that other on the left side of the body of their father.
Isidore writeth in the book of the life and death of saints, and saith that Philip
preached to the Frenchmen, and to men that were in darkness, he enlightened them in the
faith. After, he was taken in the city of Hierapolin of the paynims, and of them stoned
and crucified, of whom the martyrology of holy church speaketh not. But of another Philip,
which was one of the seven deacons, S. Jerome saith in the martyrology that he was buried
in the city of Cæsarea, where God showed many fair miracles for him, beside whom three of
his daughters be buried, and the fourth daughter lieth at Ephesus. The first Philip
differenceth from this Philip, for he was an apostle and this was a deacon. The apostle
resteth at Hierapolin, and the deacon at Cæsarea; he had two daughters, and this four.
Though Historia Ecclesiastica saith that Philip the apostle had four daughters
prophetesses, but it is herein more to believe S. Jerome. Then let us pray to the holy
Life of apostle S. Philip that he pray for us to our Lord S. James that we may come
to his bliss. Amen.
Here followeth of S. James the
Less.
James is as much to say as supplanter or supplanting a feast, or making ready. Or James
is said of ja and of cobar, which is as much to say as the burden or weight of God. Or
James may be said of jaculum, a dart and copis smiting, which is to say smitten with a
dart, or smitten with glaives. He was said a supplanter of the world, for he despised it
in supplanting hastily the devil. And he is said making ready, for always he made ready
his body to do well. For as Gregory of Nyssen saith: We have in us three evil passions
which come of evil nourishing, or of right false conversation, or of evil custom of the
body, or of the vice of ignorance, and they be cured by good conversation, and for to
haunt studies of good exercitation of doctrine. So then the blessed James is escried, for
he was always ready in his body to all good. He is said the burden or weight of good or
godly manners, that he used by exercitation of virtues. He was smitten with glaives by
martyrdom.
Of S. James the Less.
James the apostle is said the Less, how well that he was elder of age than was S. James
the More, because like as is in religion he that entered first is called aine and great,
and he that cometh after shall be called less, though he be the older, and
in this wise was this S. James called the less. He was called also the brother of our
Lord, because he resembled much well our Lord in body, in visage, and of manner. He was
called James the Just for his right great holiness, for S. Jerome recordeth that he was so
holy that the people strove how they might touch the hem of his robe or mantle. He was
also called James the son of Alpheus. This James was ever holy after that he issued out of
his mother's womb. He never drank wine, mead, ne cider, ne never ate flesh, ne never rasor
touched his head, ne he never bathed. He knelt so oft in prayers that his knees were as
hard as the horn of a camel. He sang in Jerusalem the first mass that ever was sung
therein, and he was first bishop of Jerusalem. Josephus recordeth that he had avowed at
the death of our Lord that he would never eat till our Lord were risen from death to life;
then on Easter day our Lord appeared to him and said: Lay the table, fair brother, and
eat, for the son of the Virgin is risen from death to life. Then took he the bread and
made the benediction and gave it to him. The seventh year after, the apostles assembled in
Jerusalem on Easter day, there S. James demanding what God had done by them tofore the
people, that they should tell. And when S. James had preached seven days in the temple
with the other apostles, Caiaphas and some other would have been baptized, and then
entered in a man suddenly in to the temple and said crying: O ye sirs, what will ye do?
why suffer ye thus to be deceived of these enchanters? Be ye ware and keep you, that they
deceive you not. He moved so much the people that they would have stoned the apostles.
Then this fellow went up to the lectern whereas S. James preached, and threw him down
backward, and from then forthon ever after he halted. And this was done the seventh year
after the ascension of our Lord, and he was bishop there by the space of thirty years. And
in his thirtieth year, when the Jews saw that they might not slay S. Paul because he had
appealed to the emperor to Rome, and was sent forth to Rome, they turned all their
persecution against S. James, and said to him: The people is deceived, for they supposed
that your Jesus were Messias. Then for as much as thou art much believed, we pray thee
that thou assemble the people, and that thou stand up on high, and show to them that it is
not he, for thou art so just that we all shall believe in thee. Then S. James went up on
the front of the temple on Easter day, and all the people were assembled beneath. Then
said the Jews to him, with an high voice: Right just and true man, we know well that thou
shalt not lie, show to us of Jesus that was hanged upon the cross that which thou knowest,
for all the world is deceived. Then answered he with an high voice: Wherefore demand ye me
of the son of the virgin? I say to you that he is now in heaven, and sitteth on the right
side of God the Father, and shall come to deem the living and the dead. When the christian
men had heard him they were much glad, but the Pharisees and the masters of the law
repented them of this that they had made him to say, and bear this witness tofore the
people, and took counsel together for to cast him down, for to make the people afeard,
because they should not believe him, and they cried: O the just man hath erred at this
time. and after they threw him down and the people began to stone him, But he was on his
knees, and said: Fair Lord God, pardon them, for they wot not what they do. Then cried out
one of the sons of the priest named Jacob: Sirs, leave this just man in peace. But there
was a man in that company took a fuller's staff and smote him on the head, that his brain
fell all abroad, and thus by martyrdom he finished his life and was there buried,
nigh unto the temple. And the people would have slain these malefactors because they had
slain him, but they fled. This was done in the time of Nero the year of our Lord
fifty-seven. Josephus saith that for this great sin of the death of S. James was Jerusalem
afterward destroyed, for tofore that the destruction came, God showed marvellous signs.
For there was a star, right clear and shining, which had the form of a sword, that hung
over Jerusalem; but this token, ne the tokens hereafter following, came not only for the
death of S. James, but for the death of our Lord Jesu Christ principally, for he said:
There shall not in thee be left a stone upon a stone. But because our Lord would not the
death of sinners, but that he would they should do penance and repent them, he abode forty
years, and called them unto penance by his apostles, and most by S. James, brother of our
Lord, which continually preached to them. For in this forty years were many signs and
prodigies showed to them as Josephus rehearseth, of which the star, like the sword, was
one, which was seen over the city a whole year during, and burning with great bright
flames. The next year after, in a feast of Easter, there was a clearness and light about
the temple in the night, that it was like unto clear day. In that same time there was a
cow brought forth to be sacrificed, which anon calved or brought forth a lamb, against
kind. After this a little time, about going down of the sun, there was seen in the air
carts and wains, and great company of men of arms that environed the city suddenly. In a
feast of Whitsuntide, which is called Pentecost, the priests went in to the temple by
night for to do their mysteries, and they heard a voice saying: Let us go hence from this
place. And four years after, tofore that the destruction came, a man whose name was Jesus,
the son of Ananias, began to cry suddenly: The voice of the orient! the voice of the
occident! the voice of four winds upon Jerusalem! Woe on the husbands! woe upon the wives
! and woe upon all the people! The said man was taken, smitten, and beaten, tormented, and
brought tofore the judge, and he never wept ne cried mercy, but ever persevered, and cried
howling the same words, adding thereto: Woe ! woe! to Jerusalem. All this saith Josephus,
and yet for all these tokens, warnings, and prodigies the Jews were never afeard. Then,
forty years after the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ, came Titus and Vespasian against
Jerusalem, and destroyed it. The cause, and by whom it was destroyed, is recorded in an
history, though it be not authentic. For Pilate, which doubted the fury and anger of the
emperor Tiberius, because he had wrongfully judged and condemned Jesu Christ the innocent,
sent one of his servants for to excuse him, and the servant's name was Alban. In this time
Vespasian was governor of Galatia for the emperor, and the messenger of Pilate which would
have gone to Rome, was constrained by a contrary wind to arrive in Galatia, and was
brought to Vespasian. For the custom of the country was that who was taken on the sea, and
brought so in against his will, should be at the will of the lord, body and goods. And
when Vespasian saw him he demanded him what he was and from whence he came; he said that
he was of Jerusalem. Then said Vespasian: Ah Lord God! in that country were wont to be
good masters and much good surgeons; my friend, said he, canst thou anything of
surgery? This said he because he had in his nose a botch full of worms from his youth, and
never might man be found that might heal him of it. The messenger of Pilate answered and
said that he could nothing thereof. Vespasian said: If thou heal me not I shall slay thee.
The messenger said: He that enlumined the blind, and chased devils out of men, and raised
dead men to life in our country, knoweth well that I cannot heal thee but he can well heal
thee if he will. Then demanded Vespasian what he was. He said to him that it was Jesus of
Nazareth, whom they of Jerusalem had slain wrongfully for envy, and if thou wilt believe
in him he shall heal thee. Then said Vespasian: I believe well that he that raised
dead men may well heal and make me all whole; and saying these words the wasps fell from
his nose with the botch within which they were, and forthwith he was made perfectly whole,
whereof he had much great joy and said: I am certain that he that hath thus made me whole
was the very son of God. I shall demand licence of the emperor Tiberius, and I shall go
destroy the cursed traitors that have slain this man; and then he let Alban, the messenger
of Pilate, go where he would.
After this Vespasian went to Rome, and gat licence of the emperor for to destroy this
people and the city of Jerusalem, and assembled his host in the time of Nero the emperor,
and came suddenly, the Jews then being the most part in Jerusalem on Easter day,
and besieged the town, for on that day all the Jews of the country were come to the feast,
so that they were suddenly enclosed. Now was it so that tofore that Vespasian came, the
good men of the city were warned by the holy Ghost that they should go out of the city,
and they went to a place called Pella, because that the vengeance should not fall on them,
but on the wicked people of the Jews.
There was another city of the Jewry named Jonapatam, in which Josephus was duke, which
Vespasian first assailed, but Josephus, with such men as he had, resisted them manly, but
at the last, when Josephus saw the destruction of it and might no longer keep it, he took
with him twelve Jews and hid him in a cave or an house under the earth, where they were
four days without meat and drink in great anguish and affliction. Then the Jews, being
there without consent of Josephus, had liefer die than be subject or put themselves in
servitude to Vespasian, and would slay themselves, and offer their blood in sacrifice to
God. And because Josephus was the most worthy and noble of them, they would slay him
first, by whose blood God might best be pleased, or else, as it is said in the chronicle,
that each of them should slay other rather than they should come into the hands of the
Romans. Then Josephus, a prudent man, and not willing to die, constituted and ordained
himself judge of the death and sacrifice, and who that first should be slain; he ordained
that between two and two should be drawn lots, and so, the lot given, now one was slain,
now another, till at the last all were dead save Josephus and one other. Then Josephus,
being a strong man and a light, caught the sword to him and asked his fellow whether he
had liefer live or die, and commanded him shortly without delay to tell him; and he sore
dreading said: I forsake not to live if I may by thy grace get and keep my life. Then
Josephus spake to a servant of Vespasian, and did so much that he gat his life of
Vespasian, and then he was brought to Vespasian, and Vespasian said to him: Thou shouldst
have died if thou hadst not gotten grace by the prayer and request of this man; and
Josephus answered: If any thing be done amiss it may turn to better; and Vespasian said:
Who that is bound, what may he do? Josephus answered: Somewhat may I do if thou wilt give
me audience. Vespasian said: I will well that thou say, and if thou say any good thou
shalt be peaceably heard. And Josephus said: The emperor of Rome is dead, and the senate
hath made thee emperor; and Vespasian answered: If thou be a prophet, why hast thou not
prophesied to the people of this city that they shall be taken by my hand? And Josephus
said: I have well forty days warned them. And in the meanwhile came the messengers from
Rome and affirmed that Vespasian was made emperor, and led him to Rome. All this
recounteth Eusebius in his chronicle. Josephus said tofore to Vespasian as well of the
death of the emperor as of his election to be emperor. And Vespasian left his son Titus at
the siege of Jerusalem.
It is read also in the same history, though it be apocrypha, that when Titus heard that
his father was enhanced into the empire, he was so glad and had so much joy, that all his
sinews were shrunken and were so feeble that he was sore tormented with the palsy.
And Josephus hearing thereof diligently enquired the cause of the sickness, the time
thereof and the manner. The cause ne the sickness were not known, but the time was when he
heard of the election of his father to the empire. Josephus, a wise and a prudent man,
considered the time of the coming of the sickness, and conjectured that it came of
overmuch joy and abounding gladness, and remembering that contraries be cured by their
contraries, for that which cometh of love is cured by hate ofttimes, and began to enquire
if there were any man that the prince hated much. And it was that he had a servant whom he
held in prison, and hated him so much that in no wise he might look on him ne hear him
named. Then he said: Titus, if thou desire to be whole, who that ever come in my
fellowship must be here sure and safe. Then Josephus made the dinner to be ready and set
himself against him, and the servant that Titus most hated sat on his right side, whom as
soon as Titus had beholden he began to chauffe and to be marvellous angry for anguish.
Then he which was infrigidate and cold for joy, stretched out his sinews, and was made all
whole by the burning heat of anger and was all whole.
All this foresaid of Josephus, I remit it to the reader's judgment whether he will
believe it or not, but Titus lay at the siege two years tofore the city, and so long that
the famine oppressed so sore, that the fathers from the children, and the children from
the fathers, and husbands from the wives, and wives from the husbands, plucked the meat
out of others' mouths; and young men that had been right strong fell down dead in the
streets and ways. They that should bury the dead fell down ofttimes dead upon them that
were dead, and because they were not borne away nor they might not suffer the
stench of the dead bodies, they ordained that the commons of the town should cast them
over the walls into the ditches because they might not endure the stench to bury them. And
when Titus, which went about the city, saw the ditches so full of carrions which corrupted
all the country with the stench, he held up his hands to heaven weeping, and said: Lord
God, now see I well that this is not by me but by thee which herein takest vengeance; for
then they of the town within had so great default that they ate their shoes and ratchets.
There was a gentlewoman in the town which had a child to whom she gave suck, and
for hunger that she had she strangled and slew this child, and roasted that one half and
kept that other for to eat. It happed that the governors of the town which went to search,
smelled the savour of this roast, and brake up the door and threatened to slay the woman
if she gave to them not of her meat. Then she showed to them that other deal of her child
that she had kept, and said: If ye will, I shall gladly give you part. Then had they so
great horror thereof that they might not speak. Then said she: This was my son, the sin is
mine and cometh on me, eat on hardily for I have eaten part tofore, for ye loved him not
so well as I did that was his mother. And if pity move you that ye leave to eat of him, I
that have eaten that one half, know ye for certain that I shall well eat that other half.
They then, being abhorred of this inhumanity, went their way. After this then, when
Vespasian had been emperor two years, Titus took Jerusalem and destroyed all, and the
temple also; and like as the Jews had bought our Lord for thirty pence, so gave he thirty
Jews for one penny. And like as Josephus recordeth, he sold so four score and seventeen
thousand, and eleven hundred thousand were perished by famine and by sword. It is read
that when Titus entered Jerusalem he saw a thick wall which he did do perish and break,
and when a hole was made therein they saw there a fair old man, hoar and venerable of
cheer, whom they demanded long what he was. At the last he answered and said he was Joseph
of Arimathea, a city of Judea, and that the Jews had mured him therein because he had
buried Christ, and saying more, that from that time until this now I have been fed with
heavenly bread and drink, and comforted with divine light. Nevertheless, in the gospel of
Nicodemus it is said that when the Jews had shut him up, Christ in his resurrection took
him thence and led him in to Arimathea. It may well be after, when he ceased not to preach
of Christ, that the Jews so mured him up. After this, when Vespasian was dead, Titus his
son was made emperor after him, and was so debonair, so liberal and of so great bounty,
that there had none been like him, for as Jerome saith: That day that he had not given a
gift, ne had done no good, at even he said to his friends, O my friends, this day have I
lost. After this, long time, it happed that some Jews would re-edify Jerusalem. And on the
first morning that they went to work they found crosses on the dew, and then they fled;
and after they came again and began to re-edify again, and then they found bloody crosses,
and then they fled away again; and the third time they came again, and out of the earth
issued a fire and burnt and wasted them all.
Of the Invention of
the Holy Cross, and first of this word invention.
The invention of the holy cross is said because that this day the holy cross was
found. For tofore it was found of Seth in Paradise terrestrial, like as it shall be said
hereafter, and also it was found of Solomon in the Mount of Lebanon, and of the Queen of
Sheba in the temple of Solomon, and of the Jews in the water of Piscine, and on this day
it was found of Helena in the Mount of Calvary.
Of the Holy Cross.
The holy cross was found two hundred years after the resurrection of our Lord. It is
read in the gospel of Nicodemus that, when Adam waxed sick, Seth his son went to the gate
of Paradise terrestrial for to get the oil of mercy for to anoint withal his father's
body. Then appeared to him S. Michael the angel, and said to him: Travail not thou in vain
for this oil, for thou mayst not have it till five thousand and five hundred years be
past, how be it that from Adam unto the passion of our Lord were but five thousand one
hundred and thirtythree years. In another place it is read that the angel brought him a
branch, and commanded him to plant it the Mount of Lebanon. Yet find we in another place
that he gave to him of the tree that Adam ate of, and said to him that when that bare
fruit he should be guerished and all whole. When Seth came again he found his father dead
and planted this tree upon his grave, and it endured there unto the time of Solomon. And
because he saw that it was fair, he did do hew it down and set it in his house
named Saltus. And when the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon, she worshipped this tree,
because she said the Saviour of all the world should be hanged thereon, by whom the realm
of the Jews shall be defaced and cease. Solomon for this cause made it to be taken up and
dolven deep in the ground. Now it happed after, that they of Jerusalem did do make a great
pit for a piscine, whereas the ministers of the temple should wash their beasts that they
should sacrifice, and there found this tree, and this piscine had such virtue that the
angels descended and moved the water, and the first sick man that descended into the
water, after the moving, was made whole of whatsoever sickness he was sick of. And when
the time approached of the passion of our Lord, this tree arose out of the water, and
floated above the water, and of this piece of timber made the Jews the cross of our Lord.
Then, after this history, the cross by which we be saved came of the tree by which we were
damned, and the water of that piscine had not his virtue only of the angel but of the
tree. With this tree, whereof the cross was made, there was a tree that went overthwart,
on which the arms of our Lord were nailed, and another piece above, which was the table
wherein the title was written, and another piece wherein the socket or mortice was made,
wherein the body of the cross stood in, so that there were four manner of trees, that is
of palm, of cypress, of cedar, and of olive. So each of these four pieces was of one of
these trees. This blessed cross was put in the earth, and hid by the space of a hundred
years and more, but the mother of the emperor, which was named Helena, found it in this
manner. For Constantine came with a great multitude of barbarians nigh unto the river of
the Danube, which would have gone over for to have destroyed all the country. And when
Constantine had assembled his host he went and set them against that other party, but as
soon as he began to pass the river he was much afeard because he should on the morn have
battle. And in the night, as he slept in his bed, an angel awoke him, and showed to him
the sign of the cross in heaven, and said to him: Behold on high in heaven. Then saw he
the cross made of right clear light, and was written thereupon with letters of gold: In
this sign thou shalt overcome the battle. Then was he all comforted of this vision and on
the morn he put in his banner the cross and made it to be borne tofore him and his host,
and after, smote in the host of his enemies and slew and chased great plenty. After this
he did do call the bishops of the idols, and demanded them to what God the sign of the
cross appertained. And when they could not answer, some christian men that were there told
to him the mystery of the cross, and informed him in the faith of the Trinity. Then anon
he believed perfectly in God and did do baptize him, and after it happed that Constantine
his son remembered the victory of his father, and sent to Helena his mother for to find
the holy cross. Then Helena went in to Jerusalem and did do assemble all the wise men of
the country, and when they were assembled they would fain know wherefore they were called.
Then one Judas said to them: I wot well that she will know of us where the cross of Jesu
Christ was laid, but beware you all that none of you tell her, for I wot well, then shall
our law be destroyed. For Zacheus, mine old father, said to Simon my father, and my father
said to me at his death: Be well ware that for no torment that ye may suffer, tell not
where the cross of Jesu Christ was laid, for after that it shall be found the Jews shall
reign no more, but the christian men that worshipped the cross shall then reign; and
verily this Jesus was the son of God. Then demanded I my father wherefore had they hanged
him on the cross sith it was known that he was the son of God. Then he said to me: Fair
son, I never accorded thereto, but gainsaid it always, but the Pharisees did it because he
reproved their vices; but he arose on the third day and, his disciples seeing, he ascended
into heaven; then because that Stephen, thy brother, believed in him the Jews stoned him
to death. Then, when Judas had said these words to his fellows, they answered: We never
heard of such things, nevertheless keep thee well, if the queen demand thee thereof, that
thou say no thing to her. When the queen had called them and demanded them the place where
our Lord Jesu Christ had been crucified, they would never tell ne enseign her. Then
commanded she to burn them all, but then they doubted and were afraid, and
delivered Judas to her and said: Lady, this man is the son of a prophet and of a just man,
and knoweth right well the law, and can tell to you all things that ye shall demand him.
Then the queen let all the others go and retained Judas without more. Then she showed to
him his life and death, and bade him choose which he would. Show to me, said she, the
place named Golgotha where our Lord was crucified, because and to the end that we may find
the cross. Then said Judas: It is two hundred years passed and more, and I was not then
yet born. Then said to him the lady: By him that was crucified, I shall make thee perish
for hunger if thou tell not to me the truth. Then made she him to be cast into a dry pit
and there tormented him by hunger and evil rest. When he had been seven days in that pit,
then said he: If I might be drawn out, I should say the truth. Then he was drawn out, and
when he came to the place, anon the earth moved, and a fume of great sweetness was felt,
in such wise that Judas smote his hands together for joy, and said: In truth, Jesu Christ,
thou art the Saviour of the world.
It was so that Adrian the emperor had do make, in the same place where the cross lay, a
temple of a goddess, because that all they that came in that place should adore that
goddess, but the queen did do destroy the temple. Then Judas made him ready and began to
dig, and when he came to twenty paces deep he found three crosses and brought them to the
queen, and because he knew not which was the cross of our Lord, he laid them in the middle
of the city and abode the demonstrance of God; and about the hour of noon there was the
corps of a young man brought to be buried. Judas retained the bier, and laid upon it one
of the crosses, and after the second, and when he laid on it the third, anon the body that
was dead came again to life.
Then cried the devil in the air: Judas, what hast thou done? Thou hast done the
contrary that the other Judas did, for by him I have won nany souls, and by thee I shall
lose many, by him I reigned on the people, and by thee I have lost my realm, nevertheless
I shall yield to thee this bounty, for I shall send one that shall punish thee. And that
was accomplished by Julian the apostate, which tormented him afterward, when he was bishop
of Jerusalem. And when Judas heard him, he cursed the devil and said to him: Jesu Christ
damn thee in fire perdurable. After this Judas was baptized and was named Quiriacus, and
after was made bishop of Jerusalem.
When Helena had the cross of Jesu Christ, and saw that she had not the nails,
then she sent to the bishop Quiriacus that he should go to the place and seek the nails.
Then he did dig in the earth so long that he found them shining as gold; then bare he them
to the queen, and anon as she saw them she worshipped them with great reverence. Then gave
S. Helena a part of the cross to her son and that other part she left in Jerusalem,
closed in gold, silver, and precious stones. And her son bare the nails to the emperor,
and the emperor did do set them in his bridle and in his helm when he went to battle. This
rehearseth Eusebius, which, was bishop of Cæsarea, how be it that others say otherwise.
Now it happed that Julian the apostate did do slay Quiriacus, that was bishop of
Jerusalem, because he had found the cross, for he hated it so much that wheresomever he
found the cross he did it to be destroyed. For when he went in battle against them of
Persia, he sent and commanded Quiriacus to make sacrifice to the idols, and when he would
not do it, he did do smite off his right hand, and said: With this hand hast thou written
many letters by which thou repelled much folk from doing sacrifice to our gods. Quiriacus
said: Thou wood hound, thou hast done to me great profit, for thou hast cut off the hand
with which I have many times written to the synagogues that they should not believe in
Jesu Christ, and now sith I am christian thou hast taken from me that which noyed me. Then
did Julian do melt lead and cast it in his mouth, and after did do bring a bed of iron and
made Quiriacus to be laid and stretched thereon, and after laid under burning coals and
threw therein grease and salt for to torment him the more; and when Quiriacus moved not,
Julian the emperor said to him: Either thou shalt sacrifice to our gods, or thou shalt say
at the least thou art not christian. And when he saw he would do never neither, he did do
make a deep pit full of serpents and venomous beasts, and cast him therein. And when he
entered, anon the serpents were all dead. Then Julian put him in a caldron of boiling oil,
and when he should enter into it he blessed it, and said: Fair Lord, turn this bath to
baptism of martyrdom. Then was Julian much angry, and commanded that he should be riven
through his heart with a sword, and in this manner finished his life.
The virtue of the cross is declared to us by many miracles; for it happed on a time
that one enchanter had deceived a notary and brought him into a place where he had
assembled a great company of devils, and promised to him that he would make him to have
much riches; and when he came there he saw one person black, sitting on a great chair, and
all about him all full of horrible people and black which had spears and swords. Then
demanded this great devil of the enchanter who was that clerk. The enchanter said to him:
Sir, he is ours. Then said the devil to him: If thou wilt worship me and be my servant and
reny Jesu Christ, thou shalt sit on my right side. The clerk
anon blessed him with the sign of the cross, and said that he was the servant of Jesu
Christ his Saviour, and anon, as he had made the cross, that great multitude of devils
vanished away. It happed that this notary, after this, on a time entered with his lord
into the church of S. Sophia and kneeled down on his knees tofore the image of the
crucifix, the which crucifix, as it seemed, looked much openly and sharply on him. Then
his lord made him to go apart on another side, and always the crucifix turned his eyes
towards him; then he made him go on the left side, and yet the crucifix looked on him,
then was the lord much amarvelled, and charged him and commanded him that he should tell
him whereof he had so deserved that the crucifix so beheld and looked on him. Then said
the notary that he could not remember him of no good thing that he had done, save that one
time he would not reny ne forsake the crucifix tofore the devil. Then let us so bless us
with the sign of the blessed cross that we may thereby be kept from the power of our
ghostly and deadly enemy the devil, and by the merits of the glorious passion that our
Saviour Jesu Christ suffered on the cross, after this life we may come to his everlasting
bliss. Amen.
Here followeth the History of S. John
Port Latin.
When S. John the apostle and evangelist preached in a city of Greece named Ephesus,
he was taken of the judge, which commanded him that he should make sacrifice to the false
idols, and when he would not do it he put him in prison. And after, he sent a letter to
Domitian the emperor which said that he held an enchanter in prison which had despised
their gods and worshipped him that was crucified. Then commanded Domitian that he should
be brought to Rome, and when he was there they did do shave off all the hairs of his head
in derision, and after, they brought him tofore the gate called Port Latin, and put him in
a ton full of burning oil. But he never felt harm ne pain, and without suffering any harm
he issued out. In that place christian men did do make a fair church, and this day made a
solemn feast, as it were the day of his martyrdom. And when the emperor saw that he
ceased not of preaching for the commandment that he had made, he sent him in exile into an
isle named Patmos. It ought not to be believed that the emperor did these persecutions
unto christian people because they believed in God, for they refused none, but it was a
displeasure to them that they worshipped God without authority of the senators. Another
reason there was, and that was that the service of their other gods was lessed and
minished thereby. The third reason was that he preached to despise the worship, the
honour, and the avoir of the world, and that was the thing principal that the Romans
loved. But Jesu Christ would no thing permit it lest they held that it was done by
puissance human. Another cause there was, as Master John Beleth saith, why that the
emperor and the senate pursued Christ and his apostles, and that was that them seemed that
God was over proud and envious, because he desgned not to have a fellow. Another cause
allegeth Orosius, and saith that the senate had despite of this, that Pilate had written
the miracles of Jesu Christ to the emperor only, and not to the senators, wherefore they
would not accord that he should be admitted to be worshipped among the gods. Therefore
Tiberius the emperor did do slay some of the senators and some he sent in exile. The
mother of S. John hearing that her son was prisoner, moved with motherly compassion, came
to Rome; and when she came she found that he was sent in exile, she went then into the
champain to a city named Vorulana, and there died and yielded her soul to Christ. Whose
body was buried in a cave where it long rested, but after, by S. James her other son, it
was showed, which then was taken up and found sweet smelling, and many miracles showed in
her translation in the said city. Then let us pray to S. John that he pray for us.
Here beginneth the Life of S. Gordian.
Gordian, that was vicar unto Julian the emperor, constrained a christian man named
January for to do sacrifice, but by the grace of God he was converted by the preaching of
the same January unto the christian faith, with his wife and fifty-three men. And when
this came to the knowledge of the emperor, he commanded that January should be put and
sent in exile; and if so were that Gordian would not do sacrifice to the gods he should be
beheaded, and so his head was smitten off and the body cast unto the hounds, which lay so
by the space of seven days untouched. And at the last his servants took and stole it away,
and with it the body of the blessed Epimachus, whom the said Julian had slain a little
tofore. They buried it not far from the city of Rome, about a mile, and this was done
about the year of our Lord three hundred and sixty.
Here follow the Lives of Nereus and Achilleus, and
first the interpretation of their names.
Nereus is as much to say as council of light. Or Nereus is said of nereth, that is
a lantern, and us, that is hasting. Or Nereus is said of ne and reus, which is to say no
thing guilty. He was then council of light in preaching of virginity, a lantern in honest
conversation, hasty in fervour of love to get heaven, and never guilty in his conscience.
Achilleus is said of achi, that is to say my brother, and lesa, that is health, as who
saith, the health of brethren. The passion of these twain wrote Eutichius, Victorine, and
Maro, servants of Christ, diligently.
Of the Saints Nereus and Achilleus.
Nereus and Achilleus were gelded, and chamberlains of one Domicella, niece of
Domitian the emperor, whom S. Peter the apostle baptized. And this Domicella had to
husband a man that was called Aurelian, and was son of one of the councillors of the
emperor. And when she was curiously clad and arrayed in robes of purple and precious
stones, these two glorious saints preached to her the faith of Christ and the virtue of
virginity; they praised it much in showing that it was nigh neighbour unto God, sister
unto angels, cousin unto saints, and of nature born with creature human. And the woman
that is married is subject to man. and is beaten with staves and fists in such wise that
they be delivered of their children ere their time, deformed and lame, and where in her
youth she might unnethe suffer teachings and admonestments of her mother, which was but
soft and amiable, she should now by the contrary suffer of her husband great shames,
reproofs, and villainies. And she among all other things answered: I know well that my
father was jealous over my mother, and much sorrow suffered my mother, and my husband
shall be such an one hereafter. Thereto they answered: When they be new wedded they seem
much debonair, but after, when they feel themselves married, they reign much cruelly, and
sometimes they make their maidens mistresses greater than their wives, and thus all
holiness may be lost, but by penance may it be recovered, and virginity may not come again
to his perfection, how well that the culpe of sin may well be defaced, and the virginity
may not be had again.
Then this damsel, which was named Flavia, believed in God and avowed to him her
virginity, and received the veil at the hand of S. Clement. And when her husband heard
this he gat licence of the emperor that he might do what he would with his wife, and also
of them that had converted her. And he sent them all three into an isle called Pontiana,
and by this he supposed to do that the foresaid saints, that is to say S. Nereus and S.
Achilleus, should turn the purpose of his wife, touching the avow of the virginity that
she had made. And after that, a little time, he went to the virgin and also to the saints,
to the end that they should change their purpose, and they in no wise would not, but yet
more strongly than tofore were they confirmed and comforted, and said plainly they would
in no wise do, ne make sacrifice to the idols, for they had been baptized of S. Peter the
apostle, which so had confirmed them in the law and faith, that they might make no
sacrifice but only to God; and therefore their heads were smitten off, and so suffered
martyrdom about the year of our Lord four score. Of whom the bodies were buried by the
sepulchre of S. Pernelle. And the other saints, that is to say, S. Victorine, Eutichius,
and Maro, which were about them as servants, were put to labour all day in the gardens,
and at even was given to them brown bread, black and rough, which was made of great meal
and bran. Finally he made Eutichius to die by force of famine and to give up his spirit.
He did do cast S. Victorine into foul and stinking water, and there was drowned, and he
made S. Maro to be laid under a stone the which seventy of his servants might unnethe
move, and the glorious saint cast the stone upon his shoulders as lightly as it had been a
little straw, and bare it two miles farther from thence, for which cause many were
converted and believed in God, for which cause the master's councillors did him to be
slain. And after this Aurelian did do bring the damsel from the place of exile, and sent
to her two virgins named Euphrosyne and Theodora, which had been nourished with her, to
the end that they should turn and change her vow, but she converted these two virgins to
the faith by her exhortation. Then Aurelian took the husbands of the two maidens and three
enchanters with him, and came to Domicella for to wed and accomplish the marriage by force
against her will; but Domicella, as God would, converted the young men to the faith of
Jesu Christ. But when Aurelian saw that she had converted the two young men and the two
virgins aforesaid, he led her into his chamber and made of enchanters to sing, and
commanded the others to dance with him as he that would defoul Domicella, but the
jugglers left singing, and the others dancing, and he himself ceased not to dance two days
continually, unto the time that he expired and died tofore them all. Then Luxurius, which
was his brother, gat leave to slay all them that believed in Jesu Christ. And he did so
much that in the place where they dwelled he did do set a fire, and they, being in their
prayers, rendered their souls unto God, whose bodies S. Cæsarius, upon the morn finding
no thing hurt, buried. Then let us pray to them that we may come to everlasting bliss in
heaven. Amen.
Here followeth of S. Pancrace, and
first the interpretation of his name.
Pancrace is said of pan, that is as much to say as all, and gratus and citius,
which is as much to say as courteous in his young age. Or otherwise, as it is said in the
book called glossarium, pancras is said rapine, or pancras is, subject to beatings and
torments. Pancrace is also said of divers colours; and so it appeared by him: he used
rapine in ravishing by his exhortation the prey of caitiffs misbelieving, in bringing them
to the faith. He was also subject to beatings and torments in suffering them, also in
divers colours and full of all virtues.
Of S. Pancrace.
Pancrace was of right noble lineage and was born of the country of Phrygia. When his
father and mother were dead he was put to be governed in the hand of Denis his
uncle, which was brother of his father, and they both came to Rome, where they had
of their patrimony great rents. In their street the pope Cornelius held him privily, of
which pope, Pancrace and Denis had received the christian faith. Finally Denis died in the
country, and Pancrace was taken and presented to Cæsar. And then was Pancrace about
fourteen years of age. To whom the emperor Diocletian said: My little child, I warn and
counsel thee that thou advise thee well, to the end that thou die not an evil death, for
as a child thou art lightly deceived; and because thou art noble of blood and of lineage,
and son of one my right dear friend, I pray thee that thou leave this madness that thou
hast emprised, and that I may have thee with me as my son. To whom Pancrace answered: If I
be a child of body yet mine heart is old, and by the virtue of my lord Jesu Christ your
threatening and menaces make me no more to move than doth the painting that I see upon the
wall; and these gods that thou wouldest that I should worship be but deceivers of
creatures and have been as germains in fornications made against God their creator, and
have not spared kin ne other. And if thou hadst knowledge that thy servants were such,
thou shouldst command that they should be slain, and I much marvel that ye adore such
gods. When the emperor heard this child thus speak he doubted to be overcome of him, and
commanded that his head should be smitten off, and so he was martyred about the year of
our Lord two hundred and eighty-five, whose body a worshipful lady named Cocovilla, which
was of the senate, with great diligence buried honorably. And of him said Gregory of
Tours, doctor: That if there be a man that will make a false oath in the place of his
sepulchre, tofore or he come to the chancel of the quire he shall be travailed with an
evil spirit and out of his mind, or he shall fall on the pavement all dead.
It happed on a time that there was a great altercation between two men, and the judge
wist not who had wrong. And for the jealousy of justice that he had, he brought them both
unto the altar of S. Peter for to swear, praying the apostle that he would declare who had
right. And when he that had wrong had sworn and had none harm, the judge, that knew the
malice of him, said all on high: This old Peter here is either over merciful or he is
propitious to this young man, but let us go to Pancrace and demand we of him the truth;
and when they came to the sepulchre, he that was culpable sware, and stretched forth his
hand, but he might not withdraw his hand again to him, and anon after he died there, and
therefore unto this day of much people it is used that for great and notable causes men
make their oaths upon the relics of S. Pancrace.
Here followeth of S. Urban, and first
of the interpretation of his name.
Urbanus is said of urbanity, that is courtesy, or it is said of ur, that is to say fire
or light and banal, that is to say response or answer. He was light by honest
conversation, fire by charity, and answer by doctrine. Or he was light, for the light is
good to behold, and it is immaterial in essence, in setting celestial, and profitable in
working. And thus this saint was amiable in conversation, celestial in love of God,
and profitable in predication.
Of S. Urban.
S. Urban was pope after S. Calixtus, and the christian people were in his time in over
great persecution, but the mother of the emperor, whom Origen had converted, prayed
so much her son that he left the christian people in peace. Nevertheless there was one,
Almachius, provost of Rome, and was their principal governour of the city, and he had
cruelly smitten off the head of S. Cecilia. This man was marvellously cruel against
christian men, and did diligently enquire where S. Urban was, and by one of his servants,
named Carpasius, he was found in a dark place and a secret with three priests and three
deacons. He commanded to put him in prison, and after, he did him to be brought tofore him
and accused him that he had deceived five thousand people with S. Cecilia, and the noble
men Tiburtius and Valerian, and made all them do sacrilege, and above this he demanded him
the treasure of S. Cecilia and of the church. To whom Urban said: I see now that covetise
moveth thee more to persecute the christian men than doth the sacrifice of thy gods; the
treasure of S. Cecilia is ascended into heaven by the hands of poor people. Then did he do
beat S. Urban with plummets and also his fellows with him, and he praised the name of god
Elyon, and the tyrant smiling said: This old fellow would be reputed wise, for he speaketh
and saith words that he understandeth not. And when he saw that he might not overcome him,
he commanded him and sent him to prison again, whereas S. Urban converted three captains
of the town with the keeper of the prison, which was named Anolinus, and baptized them. When the tyrant heard that Anolinus was become christian, he did do bring him
tofore him, and because he would do no sacrifice to his gods he did do smite off his head.
And when S. Urban and his fellows were brought tofore the idols, to the end that they
should sacrifice and cense tofore the gods, S. Urban began to make his orison to God; and
anon the idol fell down and slew twenty-two priests of the law that held fire for to make
sacrifice. Then were they beaten cruelly, and after brought for to make sacrifice, and
then they spit in the idol and after made the sign of the cross in their foreheads, and
kissed each other, and received capital sentence, that is to say they were beheaded, and
so suffered death under Alexander the emperor, which began to reign the year of our Lord
two hundred and twenty. And anon after Carpasius was taken of the fiend in blaspheming his
gods and in magnifying the christian men against his will, he was strangled of the fiend,
which thing his wife seeing, called Armenia, with her daughter Lucina and all her
household received baptism of S. Fortunatus, priest. And after that the bodies of the
saints were right honorably buried.
Here followeth the Life of S. Pernelle, and first
the interpretation of her name.
Petronilla is said of petens, that is demanding, and of tronus, that is a throne or
a seat, as who saith she was demanding the throne or seat of virgins.
Of S. Pernelle.
S. Pernelle, whose life S. Marcel writeth, was daughter of S. Peter the apostle, which
was right fair and beauteous, and by the will of her father she was vexed with the fevers
and axes. It happed on a time that the disciples dined with S. Peter, and one, Titus, said
to him: Peter, how is it that all sick people be healed of thee and thou sufferest
Pernelle, thy daughter, to lie sick? To whom S. Peter said: For it is expedient to her to
be sick; nevertheless because it shall not be imputed impossibility of her health for to
be excused by my words, he said to her: Arise, Pernelle, hastily, and serve us; which anon
arose all whole and ministered and served them. And when the service was all done and
complished, Peter said to her: Pernelle, go again to thy bed; who anon went again to her
bed, and the fevers vexed her as they did tofore, and whereas she began to be perfect in
the love of God so he healed her perfectly. Then was there an earl called Flaccus which
came to her, and for her beauty would have her unto his wife. To whom she answered: If
thou desirest me to have unto thy wife, command thou certain virgins to come to me for to
accompany me unto thine house. And whiles he was busy to make ready the said maidens, S.
Pernelle set herself in fastings and prayers, and received the holy body of our Lord and
reclined in to her bed, and after the third day she died, and she passed out of this world
rendering her soul unto our Lord. Then Flaccus, seeing himself disappointed and mocked,
turned himself unto Felicula, fellow of S. Pernelle, and said that she should wed him or
offer unto the idols, which both two she refused.
Then the prefect set her in prison and there kept her seven days and seven nights
without an meat and drink, and after he did do hang her body on a gibbet, and there slew
her and threw her body into a foul privy, which holy Nicodemus took up and buried.
Wherefore Nicodemus was called of Flaccus, and because he would not sacrifice to the idols
he was beaten with plummets and his body cast into the Tiber, but it was taken up of
Justin his clerk and honorably buried.
Here followeth the Life of S. Dunstan.
S. Dunstan was born in England, and our Lord showed miracles for him ere he was born.
It was so that on a Candlemas day, as all the people were in the church with tapers in
their hands, suddenly all the lights in the church were quenched at once, save only the
taper which S. Dunstan's mother bare, for that burned still fair. Whereof all the people
marvelled greatly; howbeit her taper was out, but by the power of our Lord it lighted
again by itself, and burned full bright, so that all the others came and lighted their
tapers at the taper of S. Dunstan's mother. Wherefore all the people gave laud and
thankings unto our Lord God for this great miracle. And then there was a holy man that
said that the child that she then bare should give light to all England by his holy
living.
This holy child Dunstan was born in the year of our Lord nine hundred and twenty-five,
that time reigning in this land king Athelstan. And S. Dunstan's father hight Herston, and
his mother hight Quendred, and they set their son Dunstan to school in the abbey of
Glastonbury, whereafter he was abbot for his holy living. And within a short time after he
went to his uncle Ethelwold, that then was bishop of Canterbury, to whom he was welcome
and was glad of his conversation of holy living. And then he brought him to King
Athelstan, the which made full much of him also for his good living, and then he was made
abbot of Glastonbury by consent of the king and his brother Edmond, and in that place
ruled full well and religiously the monks his brethren, and drew them to holy living by
good ensample giving. S. Dunstan and S. Ethelwold were both made priests in one day, and
he was holy in contemplation. And whenso was that S. Dunstan was weary of prayer, then
used he to work in goldsmith's work with his own hands for to eschew idleness, and he gave
alway alms to poor people for the love of God.
And on a time as he sat at his work his heart was on Jesu Christ, his mouth occupied
with holy prayers, and his hands busy on his work. But the devil, which ever had great
envy at him, came to him in an eventide in the likeness of a woman, as he was busy to make
a chalice, and with smiling said that she had great things to tell him, and then he bade
her say what she would, and then she began to tell him many nice trifles, and no manner
virtue therein, and then he supposed that she was a wicked spirit, and anon caught her by
the nose with a pair of tongs of iron, burning hot, and then the devil began to roar and
cry, and fast drew away, but S. Dunstan held fast till it was far within the night, and
then let her go, and the fiend departed with a horrible noise and cry, and said, that all
the people might hear: Alas! what shame hath this carle done to me, how may I best quit
him again? But never after the devil had lust to tempt him in that craft. And in short
time after died king Athelstan, and Edmond his brother reigned king after him, to
whom S. Dunstan was chief of counsel, for he gave to him right good counsel to his life's
end; and then died Edmond the king, and after him reigned his son Edwin, and soon after S.
Dunstan and he fell at strife for his sinful living. For S. Dunstan rebuked the king
sharply therefor, but there was none amendment, but always worse and worse. Wherefore S.
Dunstan was right sorry, and did all that pain he might to bring the king to amendment,
but it would not be. But the king, within a while after, exiled S. Dunstan out of this
land, and then he sailed over the sea and came to the abbey of S. Amand in France, and
there he dwelled long time in full holy life till king Edwin was dead. And after him
reigned Edgar king, a full holy man. And then he heard of the holiness of S. Dunstan, and
sent for him to be of his council, and received him with great reverence, and made him
again abbot of Glastonbury. And soon after the bishop of Worcester died, and then S.
Dunstan was made bishop there by the will of king Edgar. And within a little while after
the see of London was void, to which king Edgar promoted S. Dunstan also, and so he held
both bishoprics in his hand, that is to wit both the bishopric of Worcester and the
bishopric of London. And after this died the archbishop of Canterbury, and then king Edgar
made S. Dunstan archbishop of Canterbury, which he guided well and holily to the pleasure
of God, so that in that time of king Edgar, and Dunstan archbishop, was joy and mirth
through the realm of England, and every man praised greatly S. Dunstan for his holy
life, good rule, and guiding. And in divers places, whereas he visited and saw curates
that were not good, ne propice for the weal of the souls that they had cure of, he
would discharge them and put them out of their benefices, and set in such as would entend
and were good men, as ye shall find more plainly of this matter in the life of S. Oswald.
And on a time as he sat at a prince's table, he looked up and saw his father and mother
above in heaven, and then he thanked our Lord God of his great mercy and goodness that it
pleased him to show him that sight. And another time as he lay in his bed he saw the
brightness of heaven, and heard angels singing Kyrie eleison after the note of Kyrie rex
splendens, which was to him a full great comfort. And another time he was in his
meditations, he had hanging on the wall in his chamber an harp, on which otherwhile he
would harp anthems of our Lady, and of other saints, and holy hymns, and it was so that
the harp sounded full melodiously without touching of any hand that he could see, this
anthem was, Gaudent in celis animæ sanctorum, wherein this holy saint Dunstan had great
joy. He had a special grace of our Lord that such heavenly joys and things were showed to
him in this wretched world for his great comfort. And after this he became all sick and
feeble, and upon holy Thursday he sent for all his brethren and asked of them forgiveness,
and also forgave them all trespasses and assoiled them of all their sins, and the third
day after he passed out of this world to God, full of virtues, the year of our Lord nine
hundred and eighty-eight. And hls soul was borne up to heaven with merry song of angels,
all the people hearing that were at his death. And his body lieth at Canterbury in a
worshipful shrine, whereas our Lord showeth for his servant S. Dunstan many fair and great
miracles, wherefore our Lord be praised, world without end. Amen.
Here followeth the life of S. Aldhelm.
S. Aldhelm the confessor was born in England. His father highs Kenton; he was brother
unto Ina, king of this land, and when king Ina was dead, Kenton was made king after him,
and then this holy child Aldhelm was set to school in the house of Malmesbury, where
afterward he was made abbot. And then he did there great cost in building and did do make
there a full royal abbey. And when the pope heard of his great holiness, he sent for him
to come to Rome, and when he was there the pope welcomed him and was much glad of his good
living, and there he abode long time with the pope, and gat full great privileges and
liberties to the house of Malmesbury, in such wise that no bishop in England should visit
ne have to do there, ne the king to let them of their free election, but chose their abbot
among the convent themselves. And when he had gotten all this of the pope he was full glad
and joyful, and lived there holily a long time. And on a day he said mass in the
church of S. John Lateran, and when mass was done, there was no man that would take his
chasuble from him at the end of the mass, and then he saw the sunbeam shine through the
glass window, and hung his chasuble thereon, whereof all the people marvelled greatly of
that miracle, and the same chasuble is yet at Malmesbury, the colour thereof is purple.
And within short time after, he came again into England, and brought with him many
privileges under the pope's seal, which after, king Ina confirmed all that the pope had
granted to the house of Malmesbury. This was about the year of our Lord seven hundred and
six. And that time there fell a great variance among the bishops of this land for the
holding of Easter day, but S. Aldhelm made a book that all men should know for ever when
Easter day should fall, the which book is yet at Malmesbury. And that abbey he did do make
in the worship of our blessed Lady. And Brightwold that was archbishop of Canterbury heard
of Aldhelm's holy living, and he sent for him to be his chancellor, and they lived
together full holily long time, and each was full glad and joyful of the other.
And on a day as they stood at the seaside by Dover Castle, they saw a ship laden with
merchandise not far from them, and S. Aldhelm called to them to wit if they had any
ornaments longing to holy church within their ship to sell. But the merchants had disdain
of him, and thought he was not of power to buy such things as they had to sell, and
departed from the holy man. But anon fell on them so great a tempest that they were in
peril for to perish, and then one of them said: We suffer this trouble because we had
disdain of the words of yonder holy man, and therefore let us all meekly desire him to
pray for us to our Lord Jesu Christ. They did so, and anon the tempest ceased, and then
they came to this holy man and brought to him a full fair Bible, the which is yet at
Malmesbury unto this day. And four years before his death he was made bishop of
Dorset by the archbishop of Canterbury and by other bishops, but within short time after
he died, and lieth buried at Malmesbury thereas he was abbot. And after that S.
Egewin came to offer at his tomb, fettered with chains of iron fast locked, and
from thence he went so to Rome to the pope, alway wearing those fetters which was to him
great pain, God reward him his meed. And S. Aldhelm, ere he died, cursed all them that did
any wrong in breaking of the privileges of the said abbey of Malmesbury, and them that
help the house to maintain God's service shall have God's blessing and his. And when he
had lain long in the earth he was translated, and laid in a full rich shrine, whereas our
Lord showeth daily for his holy servant many fair miracles. Then let us pray S. Aldhelm to
pray for us unto our Lord God, that we may in this wretched vale of this world so bewail
our sins and amend our living that we may come to everlasting life in heaven. Amen.
Of S. Austin that brought
Christendom to England.
S. Austin was a holy monk and sent in to England, to preach the faith of our Lord
Jesu Christ, by S. Gregory, then being pope of Rome. The which had a great zeal and love
unto England, as is rehearsed all along in his legend, how that he saw children of England
in the market of Rome for to be sold, which were fair of visage, for which cause he
demanded licence and obtained to go into England for to convert the people thereof to
christian faith. And he being on the way the pope died and he was chosen pope, and was
countermanded and came again to Rome. And after, when he was sacred into the papacy, he
remembered the realm of England, and sent S. Austin, as head and chief, and other holy
monks and priests with him, to the number of forty persons, unto the realm of England. And
as they came toward England they came in the province of Anjou, purposing to have rested
all night at a place called Pounte, say a mile from the city and river of Ligerim, but the
women scorned and were so noyous to them that they drove them out of the town, and they
came unto a fair broad elm, and purposed to have rested there that night, but one of the
women which was more cruel than the other purposed to drive them thence, and came so nigh
them that they might not rest there that night. And then S. Austin took his staff for to
remove from that place, and suddenly his staff sprang out of his hand with a great
violence, the space of three furlongs thence, and there sticked fast in the earth. And
when S. Austin came to his staff and pulled it out of the earth, incontinent by the might
of our Lord, sourded and sprang there a fair well or fountain of clear water which
refreshed him well and all his fellowship. And about that well they rested all that night,
and they that dwelled thereby saw all that night over that place a great light coming from
heaven which covered all that place where these holy men lay. And on the morn S. Austin
wrote in the earth with his staff beside the well these words following: Here had Austin,
the servant of the servants of God, hospitality, whom S. Gregory the pope hath sent to
convert England.
On the morn when the holy men were departed, the dwellers of the coasts thereby which
saw the light in the night tofore, came thither and found there a fair well, of the which
they marvelled greatly. And when they saw the scripture written in the earth then they
were greatly abashed because of their unkindness, and repented them full sore of that they
had mocked them the day before. And after, they edified there a fair church in the
same place in the worship of S. Austin, the which the bishop of Anjou hallowed. And to the
hallowing thereof came so great multitude of people that they trod the corn in the fields
down all plain, like unto a floor clean swept, for there was no sparing of it.
Notwithstanding, at the time of reaping, that ground so trodden bare more corn and better
than any other fields beside, not trodden, did. And the high altar of that church standeth
over the place where S. Austin wrote with his staff by the well, and yet unto this day may
no woman come in to that church. But there was a noble woman that said that she was not
guilty in offending S. Austin, and took a taper in her hand and went for to offer it in
the said church; but the sentence of almighty God may not be revoked, for as soon as she
entered the church her bowels and sinews began to shrink and she fell down dead in
ensample of all other women; whereby we may understand that injury done against a saint
displeaseth greatly almighty God.
And from thence S. Austin and his fellowship came into England and arrived in the isle
of Thanet in East Kent, and king Ethelbert reigned that time in Kent, which was a noble
man and a mighty. To whom S. Austin sent, showing the intent of his coming from the court
of Rome, and said that he had brought to him right joyful and pleasant tidings, and said
that if he would obey and do after his preaching that he should have everlasting joy in
the bliss of heaven, and should reign with almighty God in his kingdom. And then king
Ethelbert hearing this, commanded that they should abide and tarry in the same isle, and
that all things should be ministered to them that were necessary, unto the time that he
were otherwise advised. And soon after, the king came to them in the same isle, and he
being in the field, S. Austin with his fellowship came and spake with him, having tofore
them the sign of the cross, singing by the way the litany, beseeching God devoutly to
strengthen them and help. And the king received him and his fellowship, and in the same
place S. Austin preached a glorious sermon, and declared to the king the christian faith
openly and the great merit and avail that should come thereof in time coming. And when he
had ended his sermon the king said to him: Your promises be full fair that ye bring, but
because they be new and have not been heard here before, we may not yet give consent
thereto; nevertheless, because ye be come as pilgrims from far countries, we will not be
grievous ne hard to you, but we will receive you meekly and minister to you such things as
be necessary, neither we will forbid you, but as many as ye can convert to your faith and
religion by your preaching ye shall have licence to baptize them, and to accompany them to
your law. And then the king gave to them a mansion in the city of Dorobernence, which now
is called Canterbury. And when they drew nigh the city they came in with a cross of
silver, and with procession singing the litany, praying almighty God of succour and help
that he would take away his wrath from the city and to inflame the hearts of the people to
receive his doctrine. And then S. Austin and his fellowship began to preach
there the word of God, and about there in the province, and such people as were well
disposed anon were converted, and followed this holy man. And by the holy conversation and
miracles that they did much people were converted and great fame arose in the country. And
when it came to the king's ear, anon he came to the presence of S. Austin and desired him
to preach again, and then the word of God so inflamed him, that incontinent, as soon as
the sermon was ended, the king fell down to the feet of S. Austin and said sorrowfully:
Alas! woe is me, that I have erred so long and know not of him that thou speakest of, thy
promises be so delectable that I think it all too long till I be christened, wherefore,
holy father, I require thee to minister to me the sacrament of baptism. And then S.
Austin, seeing the great meekness and obedience of the king that he had to be christened,
he took him up with weeping tears and baptized him with all his household and meiny, and
enformed them diligently in the christian faith with great joy and gladness. And when all
this was done S. Austin, desiring the health of the people of England, went forth on foot
to York; and when he came nigh to the city there met him a blind man which said to him: O
thou holy Austin, help me that am full needy. To whom S. Austin said: I have no silver,
but such as I have I give thee; in the name of Jesu Christ arise and be all whole, and
with that word he received his sight and believed in our Lord and was baptized. And upon
Christmas day he baptized, in the river named Swale, ten thousand men without women
and children, and there was a great multitude of people resorting to the said
river, which was so deep that no man might pass over on foot, and yet by miracle of our
Lord there was neither man, woman, ne child drowned, but they that were sick were made
whole both in body and in soul. And in the same place they builded a church in the worship
of God and S. Austin. And when S. Austin had preached the faith to the people and had
confirmed them steadfastly therein, he returned again from York, and by the way he met a
leper asking help, and when S. Austin had said these words to him: In the name of Jesu
Christ be thou cleansed from all thy leprosy, anon all his filth fell away, and a fair new
skin appeared on his body so that he seemed all a new man.
Also as S. Austin came in to Oxfordshire to a town that is called Compton to preach the
word of God, to whom the curate said: Holy father, the lord of this lordship hath been
ofttimes warned of me to pay his tithes to God, and yet he withholdeth them, and therefore
I have cursed him, and I find him the more obstinate. To whom S. Austin said: Son, why
payest thou not thy tithes to God and to the church? Knowest thou not that the tithes be
not thine but belong to God? And then the knight said to him: I know well that I till the
ground, wherefore I ought as well to have the tenth sheaf as the ninth, and when S. Austin
could not turn the knight's entent, then he departed from him and went to mass. And ere he
began he charged that all they that were accursed should go out of the church, and then
rose a dead body and went out in to the churchyard with a white cloth on his head, and
stood still there till the mass was done. And then S. Austin went to him and demanded him
what be was, and he answered and said: I was sometime lord of this town, and because I
would not pay my tithes to my curate he accursed me, and so I died and went to hell. And
then S. Austin bade bring him to the place where his curate was buried, and then the
carrion brought him thither to the grave, and because that all men should know that life
and death be in the power of God, S. Austin said: I command thee in the name of God to
arise, for we have need of thee, and then he arose anon, and stood before all the people.
To whom S. Austin said: Thou knowest well that our Lord is merciful, and I demand thee,
brother, if thou knowest this man? and he said: Yea, would God that I had never known him,
for he was a withholder of his tithes, and in all his life an evil doer, thou knowest that
our Lord is merciful, and as long as the pains of hell endure let us also be merciful to
all christians. And then S. Austin delivered to the curate a rod, and there the knight
kneeling on his knees was assoiled, and then he commanded him to go again to his grave,
and there to abide till the day of doom; and he entered anon into his grave and forthwith
fell to ashes and powder. And then S. Austin said to the priest: How long hast thou
lain here? and he said a hundred and fifty years; and then he asked how it stood with him,
and he said: Well, holy father, for I am in everlasting bliss; and then said S. Austin:
Wilt thou that I pray to almighty God that thou abide here with us to confirm the hearts
of men in very belief? And then he said: Nay, holy father, for I am in a place of rest;
and then said S. Austin: Go in peace, and pray for me and for all holy church, and he then
entered again into his grave, and anon the body was turned to earth. Of this sight the
lord was sore afeard, and came all quaking to S. Austin and to his curate, and demanded
forgiveness of his trespass, and promised to make amends and ever after to pay his tithes
and to follow the doctrine of S. Austin.
After this S. Austin entered into Dorsetshire, and came in to a town whereas were
wicked people who refused his doctrine and preaching utterly and drove him out of the
town, casting on him the tails of thornbacks, or like fishes, wherefore he besought
almighty God to show his judgement on them, and God sent to them a shameful token, for the
children that were born after in that place had tails, as it is said, till they had
repented them. It is said commonly that this fell at Strood in Kent, but blessed be God at
this day is no such deformity. Item in another place there were certain people which would
in no wise give faith to his preaching ne his doctrine, but scorned and mocked him,
wherefore God took such vengeance that they burned with fire invisible, so that their skin
was red as blood, and suffered so great pain that they were constrained to come and ask
forgiveness of S. Austin, and then he prayed God for them that they might be acceptable to
him and receive baptism and that he would release their pain, and then he christened them
and that burning heat was quenched and they were made perfectly whole, and felt never
after more thereof. On a time, as S. Austin was in his prayers, our Lord appeared to him,
and comforting him with a gentle and familiar speech, said: O thou my good servant and
true, be thou comforted and do manly, for I thy Lord God am with thee in all thine
affection, and mine ears be open to thy prayers, and for whom thou demandest any
petition thou shalt have thy desire, and the gate of everlasting life is open to thee,
where thou shalt joy with me without end. And in that same place where our Lord said these
words he fixed his staff into the ground, and a well of clear water sourded and
sprang up in that same place, the which well is called Cerne, and it is in the country of
Dorset, whereas now is builded a fair abbey, and is named Cerne after the well. And the
church is builded in the same place whereas our Lord appeared to S. Austin. Also in the
same country was a young man that was lame, dumb, and deaf, and by the prayers of S.
Austin he was made whole, and then soon after he was dissolute and wanton, and noyed and
grieved the people with jangling and talking in the church. And then God sent to him his
old infirmity again, because of his misguiding, and at the last he fell to repentance, and
asked God forgiveness and S. Austin. And S. Austin prayed for him and he was made whole
again the second time, and after that he continued in good and virtuous living to his
life's end.
And after this S. Austin, full of virtues, departed out of this world unto our Lord
God, and lieth buried at Canterbury in the abbey that he founded there in the worship and
rule, whereas our Lord God showeth yet daily many miracles. And the third day before the
nativity of our Lady is hallowed the translation of S. Austin. In which night a citizen of
Canterbury, being that time at Winchester, saw heaven open over the church of S. Austin,
and a burning ladder shining full bright, and angels coming down to the same church. And
then him thought that the church had burned of the great light and brightness that
came down on the ladder, and marvelled greatly what this should mean, for he knew nothing
of the translation of S. Austin; and when he knew the truth, that on that time the body of
the glorious saint was translated, he gave laud and thankings to almighty God, and we may
verily know by that evident vision that it is an holy and devout place; and as it is said
that of old time, ancient holy men that used to come thither would at the entry of it do
off their hosen and shoes and durst not presume to go into that holy monastery but
barefoot, because so many holy saints be there shrined and buried. And God hath showed so
many miracles in that holy place for his blessed saint, S. Austin, that if I should write
them here it should occupy a great book. Then let us pray unto S. Austin, father and
apostle of England, by whom this land was converted unto the christian faith, and by his
ordinance bishops were ordained to minister the sacraments, that he be moyen unto our Lord
Jesu Christ, that we may here so live according to his doctrine that after this life we
may come to everlasting bliss in heaven. Amen.
Here next followeth the life of S. Germain and first the interpretation of his name.
Germain is said of germ and of ana that is high, that is that there were found in
the seed of Germain three sovereign things, that is heat natural, humour, and nourishing,
and reason of semence or seed. Germain is said seed burgeoning, for he had in him heat by
ardour of great dilection, humour by eagerness of devotion, and seed by virtue of his
predication by which he engendered much people to the faith. And Constantinus the priest
wrote his life to S. Censurius, bishop of Auxerre.
Of S. Germain.
S. Germain was of much noble lineage born in the city of Auxerre and was well learned
in the arts liberal. And after, he went to Rome for to learn the sciences of droit and of
the law, and there received he so much dignity that the senate sent him to the Frenchmen
for to have the rule and dignity of Burgundy. And thus as he governed the city of Auxerre
more diligently than the other, there was in the middle of the city a tree called a
pineapple tree, on which were hanged on the branches of this tree, for the marvel
of chase and hunting, the heads of wild beasts that had been slain. But when S. Amadour,
which was bishop of this city, reproved them of such vanities, and warned them to hew down
this tree, they would not consent thereto in any manner. And on a time, when Germain was
not in the city, the bishop did do hew down this tree, and did do burn it. And when
Germain knew it he was much angry, and forgot christian religion, and came with a great
multitude of knights for to have slain the bishop. And then the bishop knew by revelation
divine that S. Germain should be his successor, and forbare and gave place to his
hastiness, and went to Autun, and after, when he was come again to Auxerre, he enclosed
much subtilly Germain within the church and sacred him there, and said to him that he
should be his successor in the bishopric, and so he was; for a little after S. Amadour
died and all the people required S. Germain to be bishop, and then he gave all his riches
to poor people, and changed his wife into his sister, and tormented his body by the space
of thirty years, that he never ate bread of wheat, ne drank wine, ne used no pottage, and
would have never salt to make his meat savoury. And two times in the year he would drink
wine, that was at Easter and Christmas, and yet for to take away the savour of the wine he
would put therein plenty of water, and in his refection he would take barley bread with
ashes, and fasted every day, and never ate but in the even. In winter ne summer he had but
one clothing, and that was the hair next his body, a coat and a gown, and if it happed so
that he gave not his vesture to some poor body, he would wear it till it were broken and
torn. His bed was environed with ashes, hair, and sackcloth, and his head lay no higher
than his shoulders, but all day wept, and bare about his neck divers relics of saints. He
ware none other clothing, and he went oft barefoot and seldom ware any girdle. The life
that he led was above man's power. His life was so straight and hard that it was marvel
and pity to see his flesh, and was like a thing not credible, and he did so many miracles
that, if his merits had not gone before, they should have been trowed phantasms. In a time
he was harboured in a place where always after supper the tables were covered when all men
had supped, whereof he marvelled, and demanded the host wherefore they covered the tables
again after supper, and the host said it was for his neighbours that came to drink each
with other. And that night S. Germain concluded to watch for to see what it should
be. It was not long after that there came in there a great multitude of devils, and
sat at the table in likeness of men and women; and when the holy man saw them he commanded
them that they should not depart, and then sent to awake the host, and all the neighbours
and guests on all sides, in such wise that every man and woman were found in their houses,
and he made all them to come and see if they knew any of them. And they said nay; and then he showed them that they were devils; of whom the people was much abashed because the
devils mocked them so. And then S. Germain conjured them, and they went their way, and
never after returned.
In a time S. Lupus bishop of Troyes was besieged by the king Attila, and S. Lupus went
upon the gate, and demanded who he was that assieged and assailed them, and the king said
to him: I am he, Attila, the scourge and rod of God. And then the meek bishop said to him,
sore weeping: I am Lupus that have wasted the flock of God and have need of the scourging
of God; and then S. Lupus commanded to open the gates, and all the people of Attila were
so, by the will of God, blinded, and they passed through the town, and saw no men of the
city, ne did no hurt to nobody. And then the blessed S. Lupus took S. Germain with him and
went into Britain, whereas there were heresies. But when they were on the sea there arose
a right great tempest, which by the merits of S. Germain was anon appeased. Then they were
honestly received of the people of the country, whose coming the devils that S. Germain
had driven out of such bodies as were beset had told their coming. And when they had been
a while in England and had convanquished the heretics, they returned into their countries
and proper places.
On a time it happed that S. Germain lay sick of a malady in a street, and the street
was taken with fire, and men counselled him to be borne thence for peril of the fire, and
then he put himself against the fire, and the flame burnt all about, and touched nothing
that Germain lay in.
Another time he returned in to Britain for the heresies, and one of his disciples
followed him hastily, and fell sick and lay down in a town, and there died; and when S.
Germain returned thereby he demanded to see the sepulchre of his disciple which there was
dead, and did do open his sepulchre, and he called him by his name, and demanded him what
he did, and if he would no longer go with him, and that other answered and said that he
was well, and all things were to him soft and sweet, and would no more come here; and
the holy man granted it him that he should abide in rest, and he remised himself in his
grave and slept in our Lord.
He preached on a time in the country of Britain in such wise that the king of Britain
forbade him his house, and his people also. Then it happed that the king's cowherd went to
the pasture with his kine, and received his portion at the king's palace, and bare it to
his little house. Then went S. Germain and his fellowship for to see where they might be
lodged, and the cowherd brought them to his house, and he saw that they had great hunger,
but he had not meat for them and him. This cowherd had but one calf; he slew it and gave
it to them, and they took it debonairly of the little good that he had, and when they had
supped and said graces, S. Germain did do gather together all the bones of the calf and
laid them under the skin, and after, made his prayers to God, and anon then the calf
arose all alive and whole as he was tofore. And the next day after, S. Germain demanded
the king why he had forbidden him his house, and the king was much abashed and could not
answer. Then said S. Germain to him: Thou shalt no more reign, but thou shalt leave thy
realm to one better than thee.
And as they of Saxony should fight against the Britons, and they saw that they were but
few, and saw the holy man pass by, they called him. And then S. Germain and his fellows
preached so long to them that they came to grace of baptism. And on Easter day they cast
off their armours, and by great desire of faith purposed them to fight. And when the other
heard that, they purposed to go against them hardily for they were dissevered, and S
Germain hid him away with his people, and warned them when he cried: Alleluia! they should
answer with one voice, and when the saints had cried, alleluia! and the other had
answered, their enemies had so great dread that they threw all their harness and armours
away, and weened certainly that all the mountains should fall on them and also heaven, and
so they fled all afraid.
On a time as S. Germain passed by Autun and went to the tomb of S. Cassian, he enquired
how it stood with him; he answered to him out of the tomb wherein he day, and said: I am
in sweet rest and abide the coming of the Redeemer. And he said to him: Rest in peace in
the name of our Lord, and pray for us devoutly that we may deserve the holy joys of the
resurrection. And when S. Germain came in Ravenna he was received much honorably of
Placida the queen, and of Valentinian her son, and at the supper she sent to him a great
vessel of silver full of delicious meat, the which he received, and gave the meat to his
servants, and retained the vessel of silver for to give to the poor. And instead of
this gift he sent to the queen a dish of wood or of tree and a barley loaf, the which she received gladly, and after, did do cover that dish with silver and kept it long in
great devotion. On a time that the said queen had desired him to dine with her, he
accorded thereto gladly, and because he was weary of travail, of fasting and watching, he
came upon an ass from his house unto the palace, and anon as he was at dinner his ass
died. And when the queen knew that his ass was dead, she was much sorrowful, and did do
present him a right fair and good horse. And when the saint saw him so richly adorned and
apparelled he would in no wise take it, but said: Show to me where mine ass
is, for he that brought me hither shall bring me home again. And then he went to his ass,
that lay dead, and said to him: Let us return home again, and anon the ass arose and shook
him as he had risen from sleep and that he had no harm, and then Germain remounted on his
ass and rode home. But tofore ere he departed from Ravenna he said that he should
not be long in this world, and anon after he became sick of the fevers, and the seventh
day after, he passed unto our Lord and his body was borne into France, as he had required
to the queen. And he died about the year of our Lord four hundred and twenty.
S. Germain had promised, by his life, to S. Eusebius bishop of Versailles, that when he
returned he should hallow his church that he had founded and when S. Eusebius,
bishop of Versailles understood that he was dead, he would himself hallow his church, and
made to light the candles and tapers, but the more they lighted them the more were they
extinct and put out. And when Eusebius saw that, he perceived that the dedication was made
ere he would come and do it, or else of some other bishop. And when the body of S. Germain
was brought to Versailles, as soon as it was entered in to the church all the tapers were
lit divinely. Then S. Eusebius remembered the promises of S. Germain, and that which he
promised, living, he would do it being dead. But it is not to be understood of the great
Eusebius of Versailles, that this was done in his time, for he died under Valens the
emperor, and from the death of him unto the death of S. Germain was more than fifty years
from that one to that other, but this was another Eusebius under whom this said thing was
done.
Here followeth the Life of S. Peter
the Exorcist or Deacon.
S. Peter the deacon was bound with chains of iron in prison of one Archemius whose
daughter was vexed of a fiend, wherefore he was much sorrowful. Then said S. Peter to him
that Jesu Christ should well heal her if he would believe in him. To whom Archemius
answered: I marvel much of thee because thou sufferest so much for thy God and I see that
he may not deliver thee. S. Peter said: He will well that I suffer for to deserve
the glory that alway shall endure, but he can well deliver me if he would, and heal also
thy daughter. To whom Archemius said: I shall double thy chains, and if then thy God may
deliver thee, and also make my daughter whole, I shall believe in him. And when that was
done, S. Peter, clad in white clothes, holding the sign of the cross, appeared to
him, and then anon Archemius fell down to his feet and his daughter was made all whole. He
then with all his house received baptism and he let out of prison all the christian
men and all them that would be christian, and he with many other that believed were
baptized of S. Marcellin priest. When the provost of Rome heard this he made all the
christian men come tofore him, whom Archemius gathered together, kissing their hands, and
said that who would come to be martyred should come hardily without dread, and he that
dare not come, let him go in peace where he will. And when the provost knew for certain
that S. Peter and S. Marcellin had baptized them, he made them come tofore him, and
departed that one from that other, and put them so in prison. And S. Marcellin was laid
naked upon broken glass, without light or water and S. Peter was imprisoned in a strait
place wherein he was strained. Then came an angel from heaven and unbound S. Marcellin,
and clad him, and brought him with Peter into the house of Archemius, because they should
seven days comfort the people busily. After, when he found not Marcellin in prison whereas
he had set him, he sent for Archemius and commanded him and his household to do sacrifice,
and they would not obey to him. He put then him and his wife into a pit in the earth. Then
when S. Marcellin and S. Peter heard tell the adventure of Archemius, they came to him and
sung mass in the same pit with seven christian men that defended them, and after, they
said to the paynims: We might well, if we would, deliver Archemius and hide ourselves, but
we will do neither. Then the paynims smote Archemius with a sword through the body and killed
him, and after, stoned to death his wife and his daughter. Then brought they S. Marcellin
and S. Peter to the black isle and there beheaded them, which place is called now Candia,
for their martyrdom, and thus they suffered martyrdom the year of grace seven hundred and
eighty-seven, and they that smote off their heads saw their souls, adorned with roses and
precious stones, borne up to heaven by angels. One Dorotheus, that was one of them that
beheaded them, saw it, wherefore he became christian and lived after a holy life and after
rested in our Lord.
Here followeth of SS. Prime and Felician, and of the
interpretation first of their names.
Primus is as much to say as sovereign and great, and Felician is as much to say as
a blessed or happy old man. Primus is said sovereign and great in dignity, for suffering
of his martyrdom, and puissant for the operation of miracles, holy for the perfection of
his life, and blessed for his glorious fruition. Felician is said happy old man, not only
for the ancient of time, but for the reverence of dignity, for the ripeness of wisdom, and
for the weight of his manners.
Of Saints Prime and Felician.
Prime and Felician were accused to the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, of the
priests and bishops of the idols, to the end that they should do sacrifice, and they said
but if they so did their gods would do nothing for them. Then, by the commandment
of the emperors, they were shut in prison and bound with chains of iron, but anon after,
the angel unbound them and presented them tofore the emperor, and when he found them fast
and firm in the faith he did do beat them, and after that departed one of them from that
other, and then said the provost to S. Felician that he should have pity on his old age,
and that he should sacrifice to their gods. Then answered he: Lo! I am four score years
old, and it is thirty years since I knew the truth, and that I have purposed to serve God,
which may well deliver me from thy hands. Then the provost did him be bounden, and made
nails to be driven into his feet and hands, and said to him: Thou shalt be in this point
so long till thou consent to us and shalt do our wills. And when the provost saw that he
suffered his martyrdom so gladly and so joyously, he did him to be tormented again, and
commanded that nothing should be ministered to him to eat. After this he made S. Prime to
come tofore him and said to him: Lo! thy brother hath consented to the saying of the
emperor and therefore he is worshipped greatly in his palace, do thou the same wise. To
whom he said: Though thou be the son of the devil yet in part thou sayest the truth that
my brother hath consented to the decree of my heavenly emperor. Then the provost was
angry, and commanded to set fire and burn his sides, and to pour boiling lead in to his
mouth in the presence of Felician, to fear him withal, and he drank it as sweetly as it
had been cold water. Then the provost, being all angry and enraged, commanded two lions to
be put to them, which anon as they were put to them fell down to their feet and stood afore
them like meek lambs. Then after, he sent two cruel bears which anon became as mild
and debonair as the lions. There were in the place that saw this well twelve thousand men,
of whom five hundred believed in Jesu Christ. Then the provost did the saints to be
beheaded, and threw their bodies to dogs and to birds, but they never touched them, and
after this christian men buried them. And these blessed saints were thus martyred the year
of our Lord two hundred and eightyseven. Then let us pray to these saints that we may
come to everlasting bliss in heaven. Amen.
Here followeth the Life of S. Barnabas the Apostle, and first the interpretation of his name.
Barnabas is as much to say as the son of him that cometh, or the son of
consolation, or the son of a prophet, or a son concluding. He is four times said a son by
four manners of expositions, he is said son in scripture by reason of generation, of
erudition, of imitation, and of adoption. He was regenerate of Jesu Christ by baptism, and
he was taught by the gospel and followed him by martyrdom, and adopted by heavenly reward,
and this was touching himself. As touching others he was coming, comforting, prophesying
and concluding. Coming, in running and preaching over all, and that appeareth for he was
fellow of S. Paul. Comforting poor people and desolate, to poor people in giving alms, to
desolate in sending epistles in the name of the apostles. Prophesying for he flowered by
the spirit of prophecy. In concluding, for he concluded a great multitude of people and
converted them to the faith, as it appeareth when he was sent to Antioch. And that saith
the book called the Acts of the Apostles. As to the first he was a man and manly, to the
second good; as to the third, full of the Holy Ghost, and as to the fourth, true. His
passion Bede compiled out of Greek into Latin.
Of S. Barnabas the Apostle.
S. Barnabas was a deacon, and was born in Cyprus, and was one of the seventy-two
disciples of our Lord, and is greatly praised in the history of the Acts of the Apostles
of many good things that were in him, for he was right well informed and ordinate, as well
to himself as to God and to his neighbour. He was well ordinate in himself after three
virtues that be in the soul, that is to say reason, desire, and strength; he had reason
illumined with the clearness of very knowledge, hereof is said in the Acts of the
Apostles, the thirteenth chapter. It is said that there were in the church of Antioch
doctors, prophets and great masters in holy scripture among whom were Barnabas, Simon, and
many other great clerks, yet had he desire well ordinate and expurged them from the dust
of all worldly affection, and thereof is found in the Acts of Apostles the fourth chapter,
that he sold a field that he had, and the value and price thereof he laid at the feet of
the apostles. And the gloss saith: S. Barnabas showed to us herein that we ought leave the
things that men should not put thereon their desire ne their heart, and taught us to
despise gold and silver, by that that he laid the silver at the feet of the apostles, yet
had he the virtue of the soul which is called strength, well affrmed with prowess
of patience, and that may we see on the great things and high that he emprised, and on the
great penances that he did, and on the great torments and pains that he suffered. Great
things then he emprised, and that may we see when he took upon him to convert so great a
city as was Antioch. For when S. Paul came into Jerusalem anon after his conversion, and
would accompany him with the disciples, they fled all away, like sheep do from wolves, but
Barnabas went anon to him, and took and brought him in to the company of the apostles.
After, he enforced his body with great penances that he did, for he tormented it with
aspre and hard fastings, yet was S. Barnabas a man enforced to suffer pains and torments;
for he and S. Paul abandoned their lives overall for the love of our Lord Jesu Christ.
Secondly, he was ordained as touching to God in bearing, authority, majesty, and bounty.
He bare honour and reverence unto the great authority of God, after that we find in the
Acts of the Apostles the thirteenth chapter, when the Holy Ghost said: Take ye to me
apart, Barnabas and Paul, for to do the office that I have chosen them to. Yet S. Barnabas
bare honour to the great majesty of God, for when there should be done reverence to him
and sacrifice as to a God, and was called Jupiter as he that went before, and they called
Paul, Mercury, as a fair and wise speaker. Anon Barnabas and Paul rent and tare their
coats, and cried all on high: Ye people, what do ye? We be mortal as ye be, which warn you
to turn and convert to the very God living, Jesu Christ. After, S. Barnabas bare reverence
to the bounty of God, after that is found in the Acts of Apostles the fifteenth chapter.
Some converts of the Jews would minish the bounty of the grace of God, and said that this
grace that our Lord had done in his passion sufficed not to save us without
circumcision. Against this error S. Paul and Barnabas withstood vigorously, and showed to
them appertly that the grace and bounty that God hath done is sufficient, without the law,
to our salvation. After they sent to the apostles this question, the which they sent anon
through the world in epistles against this foolish error. After, S. Barnabas was right
strongly well ordained against his neighbours, for all them that were committed to his
cure he nourished and fed, in word, in example and in benefits. In word, for he pronounced
to them the holy word of God and the gospel. Hereof is said in the Acts of the Apostles,
that Paul and Barnabas abode in Antioch preaching the word of God. That may be seen
by the great multitude of people that he converted in the city of Antioch, for they
converted so much people there, that the disciples lost their special name and were called
christian men as the other. Yet nourished he them that he had charge of by good ensample,
for his life was to all them that saw him as a mirror of holiness and the exemplar of all
religion. For he was in all his works noble and hardy, and well embellished of all good
works, and was full of the Holy Ghost, and enlumined and light in the faith of our Lord.
All these four things be touched of him in the Acts of the Apostles, and yet nourisheth he
them by benefits in two manners, that is in alms temporal, is administering to the poor
their necessity, and in other alms spiritual, in forgiving all rancour and evil will. The
first alms did S. Barnabas, for he bare to such as were in right great poverty and misery,
that as was needful for them to live, for after that we find in the Acts of the Apostles,
there was a great famine in the time of Claudius the emperor, which famine had Agabus
prophesied, and because the disciples that would return to their brethren into Judea, sent
unto the most ancient their alms by the hands of Barnabas and Paul. The second alms did S.
Barnabas when he pardoned his anger to John, surnamed Mark. For when the said John, which
was one of the disciples, was departed from the company of Barnabas and of Paul, he
repented him, and would return to them, and Barnabas forgave it him and took him again to
his disciple, but Paul would not receive him with him; nevertheless that which was done
between them both was by good intention, for in this that Barnabas took him again, we may
see the sweetness of his pity, and in this that S. Paul would not receive him, is showed
the great savour of right that was in him, after that the gloss saith, Acts xv., because
this John had been tofore the master of the law to defend the law of Jesu Christ, and had
not contained him vigorously for to repress them, but had been negligent. For this reason
S. Paul would not accord to receive him in to the company of the other. Nevertheless this
departing that John was thus departed from the company of S. Paul and from the other, was
for no vice that was in him, but for the sharpness and inspiring of the Holy Ghost, to the
end that they might preach in divers places; after that it happed after. For when Barnabas
was on a time in the city of Iconium, a man with a clear shining visage appeared by night
to this John aforesaid, his cousin, and said to him thus: John, have in thee no doubtance,
but be strong and vigorous, for from henceforth thou shalt no more be called John, but
thou shalt be called right high enhanced. And when he had told this to his cousin S.
Barnabas, he answered and said to him: Keep thee well that thou tell this vision to no
man, for in the same form he appeared to me that night after.
When S. Barnabas and S. Paul had long preached in the city of Antioch, the angel of God
appeared to S. Paul and said to him: Go hastily in to Jerusalem, for thou shalt find there
some of the brethren that abide thee. Then Barnabas would go in to Cyprus to visit his
friends and kin that were there, and S. Paul would go to Jerusalem; thus departed that one
from that other by enticement of the Holy Ghost, that so had ordained it. And when S. Paul
had showed to S. Barnabas this that the angel said, S. Barnabas answered to him: The will
of God be done like as he hath ordained it. I go now into Cyprus, and more hereafter shall
I not see thee, for there shall I end my life. Then he humbly kneeled down and fell to his
feet weeping, and S. Paul, which had compassion of him, said unto him these words by
consolation: Barnabas, weep no more, for our Lord will that it be so, our Lord hath
appeared to me this night, and hath said to me: Let not ne give none empeshment to
Barnabas for to go into Cyprus, for he shall there enlumine many folk and shall suffer
there martyrdom. On a time that Barnabas and John issued out of Cyprus and found an
enchanter named Elymas, which by his enchantment had taken away the sight from some and
after given it to them again, he was much contrary to them and would not suffer them enter
into the temple. After this, Barnabas saw on a day men and women, being all naked, running
through the town, and made then great feast, whereof he was much angry and gave his
malediction and curse to the temple, and suddenly a great part thereof fell down and slew
a great part of the people. At the last S. Barnabas came into the city of Salome, but this
enchanter aforesaid moved the people greatly against him, so much that the Jews came and
took him and led him through the city with great shame, and would have delivered him to
the judge of the city for to punish him and to put him to death. But when they heard say
that a great and a puissant man was come in to the city, which was named Euseblus, and was
of the lineage of the emperor Nero, the Jews had doubt that he would take him out of their
hands and let him go, and therefore anon they bound a cord about his neck, and drew him
out of the city, and there anon burnt him, but yet the felon Jews were not satisfied to
martyr him so, for they took the bones of him and put them in a vessel of lead, and would
have cast them into the sea, but John, his disciple, with two other of his disciples went
by night into the place and took the holy bones and buried them in an holy place. Then,
after that Sigbert saith, they abode in that place unto the time of the emperor
Zeno and Gelasius the pope, that was the year of our Lord five hundred. After that then,
as S. Dorotheus said, they were found by the revelation of S. Barnabas himself, and were
from thence translated in to another place, and S. Dorotheus saith thus: Barnabas preached
first at Rome of Christ. and was made bishop of Milan.
Here follow the Lives of SS. Vitus and
Modestus, and first the interpretation of their names.
Modestus is as much to say as attemperate which is one of the cardinal virtues, and
two extremities go round about every virtue, and the virtue abideth in the midst. And the
extremities of wisdom be treachery and folly; the extremities of attemperance be the
accomplishment of all fleshly desires, and to do after his will; the extremities of
strength be feeble courage and folly; and the extremities of justice be cruelty and
default. And therefore Modestus was attemperate by means of virtues that were in him.
Vitus is said of vita, that is, life. S. Austin, in libro de Trinitate deviseth of three
manners of life, that is the life doing, that appertaineth to active life; a life idle
that appertaineth to idleness; and a life spiritual which appertaineth to life
contemplative, and this great manner of living was in him. Or Vitus is as much to say as
virtue or right virtuous.
Of S. Vitus and S. Modestus.
S. Vitus was a child much noble that suffered martyrdom in the age of twelve years. His
father beat him oft, because he despised the idols, but neither for beating ne smiting he
would never worship them. When Valerian the provost of Lucca heard say hereof, he made him
to come tofore him, and when S. Vitus would not do sacrifice for him ne for his words, he
did do beat him with great staves. But the hands of them that beat him became dry and the
hands of the provost also, in such wise that they might not bewield them. Then said the
provost: Alas! alas! I have lost mine hands. Then said to him the child Vitus: Call thy
gods and pray them that they help thee if they may. Then said the provost: Mayst
thou heal me? The child answered: I may well heal thee in the name of my Lord Jesu Christ,
and anon he made his prayer and healed him. Then said the provost to his father: Chastise
thy son, to the end that he die not an evil death. Then his father brought him again to
his own house, and made come to him harps, pipes and all manner instruments that he might
have, and after did do come maidens for to play with him, and made him to have all manner
of delights that he might get, to mollify and change his heart. And when he had been shut
and enclosed in a chamber one day, there issued a marvellous odour and sweet savour,
whereof his father and the meiny marvelled, and when the father looked in to the chamber,
he saw two angels sitting by his son, and then said he: The gods be come into mine
house, and anon after these words he was blind. Then assembled all the city of Lucca at
the cry of the father, and the provost Valerian came also, and demanded what it was that
was happed to him. And he said to him: I have seen in my house the gods all so shining and
bright as fire, and because I might not suffer the clearness, I am become blind. Then led
they him to the temple of Jove and promised unto him a bull, with horns of gold, for to
have again his sight. But when he saw it availed him nothing, he required his son that he
would pray for him, and anon he made his prayer unto God, and anon he was all whole. Yet
for all that he would not believe in God, but thought how he might put his son to death.
Then appeared the angel to a servant that kept him, whose name was Modestus, and said to
him: Take this child and lead him unto a strange land. And anon he found a ship ready and
entered therein, and so went out of the country. An angel brought meat to them, and he did
many miracles in the country where he was.
Now it happed that Diocletian, son of the emperor, had a wicked spirit in his body, and
said openly that he would not go out till the child of Lucca named Vitus was come. Anon he
sought all about the country, and after, when he was found, he was brought to the emperor.
Then he demanded if he might heal his son; he answered: I shall not heal him, but our Lord
shall. And anon he laid his hand on him and he was all whole, so that the devil left him.
Then said Diocletian: My child, take counsel in thy works and do sacrifice unto our gods
to the end that thou die not an evil death. And Vitus answered that he would never do
sacrifice to their gods, and anon he was taken and put into prison with Modestus
his servant, and they laid mill-stones upon their bodies. And anon the mill-stones fell
off, and the prison began to shine of great light. And when it was told to the emperor
they were taken out of prison, and after, S. Vitus was cast in to a fire burning, but by
the might of God he issued out whole and safe without suffering of any harm. Then was
there brought a terrible lion for to devour him, but anon by the virtue of the faith he
became meek and debonair. After, the emperor made him to be hanged on a gibbet with
Modestus and Crescentia his nurse, which always followed him. Then anon the air began to
trouble and thunder, the earth to tremble, the temples of the idols to fall down and slew
many. The emperor was afeard and smote himself on the breast with his fist saying:
Alas ! alas ! a child hath overcome me. Then came an angel that unbound them and they
found themselves by a river, and there resting and praying rendered their souls unto our
Lord God, whose bodies were kept of eagles, and afterward, by the revelation of S. Vitus,
a noble lady named Florentia took the bodies and buried them worshipfully. They suffered
martyrdom under Diocletian about the year of our Lord two hundred and eighty-seven.
It happed afterward that a gentleman of France bare away the heads and put them in a
church which is a mile from Lusarches, named Fosses, and closed them in a wall unto the
time that he might set them more honourably. But he died ere he might perform it, so that
the heads were there whereas no man living knew where they were. It happed so after, that
there was certain work in that church, and when the wall was broken where the heads lay
and were discovered, the bells of that church began to sound by themselves. Then assembled
the people to the church and found a writing which devised how they had been brought
thither, and then they were laid more honourably and set, than they were tofore; and there
then were showed many miracles. Then let us pray to these glorious saints that it
may please them to pray to God for us in such wise that we may by their merits and prayers
come to the glory of heaven, to which bring us the Father and Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Here follow the Lives of SS. Quirine and Juliet.
Quirine was son of a noble lady of Iconium, which lady would flee the persecution, and
she went with her son Quirine, which then was but three years old, into the city of Tarsus
in Cilicia. And she was there presented to Alexander the provost, and bare her child in
her arms, which when her two chamberers saw that, anon they fled and left her alone. Then
the provost took the child in his arms, and Juliet his mother refusing to do sacrifice, he
made her to be scourged with raw sinews. And when the child saw his mother beaten he wept
bitterly and made a lamentable noise, but the provost took it in his arms and danced it
upon his knees, and would fain please the child with kissings and fair words. The child,
alway beholding his mother, abhorred the kissings of the provost, and turned his head away
from him with great indignation and scratched his face with his nails, and gave his cries
consonant into his mother, as he should have said: And I am also christian. Then he bit
the provost, and wrestling with him all to-scratched him. Then the provost, having
indignation hereof and in a great anger, threw down the child off the steps whereas he sat
in judgment, that the tender brain fell abroad out of his head upon the steps. Then Juliet
seeing her son go to heaven tofore her, gave thankings unto God, and she was thereof right
glad. Then it was commanded that Juliet should be flayed, and burning pitch cast on her,
and at the last her head to be smitten off. And it is found in another legend that Quirine
despised the tyrant as well when he glosed him as when he blamed him, and confessed him to
be christian, howbeit that he was over-young to speak but the Holy Ghost spake in
him. When then the provost demanded of him who had so taught him, he answered and said: O
thou provost I marvel much thy folly which seest me so young of age, not being yet three
years old, and demandest who hath taught me this divine wisdom; thou mayst clearly see
that it cometh from God. When the child was beaten he cried: I am christian; and the more
that he cried, the more strength among the torments he received. And the judge did do
dismember the mother with the child, and all to-hew them in pieces, and because their
members should not be buried of the christian people, he commanded that they should be
cast and disperpled abroad. But not withstanding they were of an angel gathered together,
and in the night buried by the christian people; whose bodies were showed in the time of
Constantine the Great when peace was in the Church, by a maid which had been one of her
chamberers, that then yet lived, and were had of all the people in great devotion. They
suffered martyrdom about the year of our Lord three hundred and thirty under Alexander.
Here followeth the Life next of S. Marine.
Marine was a noble virgin and was one only daughter to her father without brother or
sister, and after the death of her mother, her father entered into a monastery of
religion, and changed the habit of his daughter so that she seemed and was taken for his
son and not a woman. Then the father prayed the abbot and his brethren that they would
receive his only son, whom at his instance they received for to be a monk and was called
of them all brother Marine. He began to live right religiously, and to be much obedient.
When she was twenty-seven years and her father approached towards the death, he called his
daughter to him, confirming her in her good purpose and commanding her that in no wise she
should show ne do be known that she was a woman, and then her father died. She went
ofttimes to the wood with the cart to fetch home wood, and because it was far from the
monastery otherwhile she lodged in a goodman's house whose daughter had conceived a child
by a knight. And when it was perceived, she was thereof examined, who had begotten that
child, and she said that it was the monk Marine had lain by her and gotten it. And then
anon the father and mother went to the abbey and made a great complaint and a great
clamour to the abbot for his monk Marine. Then the abbot, being hereof sore abashed, sent
for Marine and demanded of him why he had done so horrible a sin. And he meekly answered
and said: Holy father, I ask of our Lord mercy, for I have sinned. Then the abbot hearing
this was much angry for the sorrow and shame, and commanded anon that he should be put out
of the house. And then this Marine full patiently went out of the monastery, and dwelled
at the gate three years, and lived straitly with a morsel of bread a day. And when the
child was weaned from the mother's pap, it was sent to the abbot, and he sent it to
Marine, and bade him keep such treasure as he had brought forth. And then he took meekly
and patiently the child and kept it with him there two years. All these things he took in
great patience, and in
all things gave to our Lord thankings; and at the last the brethren had pity on him and
considered his humility and patience, and did so much to the abbot that he was taken into
the monastery, and all the offices that were most foul were enjoined for him for to do. He
took it all gladly, and all things he did patiently and devoutly, and at the last, being
full of virtuous life, she died and departed out of this world. When they should take up
the body and wash it for to dispose it to be buried they saw that she was a woman. All
they were astonied and feared, and knowledged that they had trespassed greatly in the
servant of God. Then they ran all for to see the sight, and asked forgiveness of their
ignorance and trespass. Then bare they the body of her into the church and there
honourably they buried it. Then she that infamed the servant of God was taken and vexed
with a devil, and knowledging her sin came to the sepulchre of the blessed virgin, and
there was delivered and made all whole. To whose tomb the people over all there about came
and assembled, and there our Lord showed many miracles for his blessed virgin Marine. She
died the fourteenth kalends of July.
Here follow the lives of SS. Gervase and Prothase, and first of the interpretation of their names.
Gervase is said of gerar, which is as much to say as a vessel, or holy, or
of gena, that is to say strange, and of syor, that is little, for he was holy by merit of
his life; a vessel for to receive virtues in himself; strange by despising of the world,
and he was little by despising of himself. Prothase is said of prothos, which is as much
to say as first, and of syos, that is, divine. Or Prothase may be said of procul, that is,
far, and of stasis, that is, set, that is to say he was first by dignity, he was divine by
dilection, and far set from worldly affection. And S. Ambrose found their passion written
in a book found in the sepulchre at their head.
Of SS. Gervase and Prothase.
S. Gervase and S. Prothase were brethren of one burden of father and mother. Their
father was S. Vital, and their mother the blessed Valery, which gave all their goods unto
the poor for the love of God, and dwelled with S. Nazarine which made a right fair oratory
in the city of Hebredune. And a child named Celsus bare to him the stones, and if Nazarine
had then the child Celsus or not, I wot never, for the history of Nazarine rehearseth that
Celsus was offered to him long after. And when they were offered and led to Nero the
emperor, this child Celsus followed them much sore weeping, and one of the knights
buffeted and smote him, and Nazarine then blamed him. Then the knights in their great
anger beat and defouled Nazarine under their feet, and after, they put this Celsus with
the other in prison, and after that they threw him into the sea, and led Gervase and
Prothase to Milan. And Nazarine was delivered by miracle, and came to Milan. In that time
there came thither the earl Astasius which went in battle against them of Marcomannos
which came against him. Then the keepers of the idols came to him and said that their gods
would give none answer but if Gervase and Prothase should first
offer to them and do sacrifice. Then anon were they brought and led forth for to
sacrifice; and then Gervase said that all the idols were deaf and dumb, and that he should
require help of Almighty God. Then the earl was wroth and commanded him to be beaten with
scourges of lead so long till he gave up his spirit, and so suffered death. Then he
commanded Prothase to be brought to him, to whom he said: Thou cursed wretch, now think to
save thy life and die not an evil death with thy brother. To whom Prothase said: Who is a
wretch? I that dread thee not, or thou that dreadest me? To whom Astacius said: How should
I dread thee, wretch? To whom Prothase said: In that thou dreadest me, that thou shouldest
be hurt by me if I make not sacrifice to thy gods; if thou dreaded not to be hurt of me
thou wouldest never compel me to the sacrifice of idols. Then the provost commanded him to
be hanged on a gibbet. Then said Prothase to him: I am not angry with thee, for I see
thine eyes of thine heart blinded, and I have great pity of thee because thou seest not
what thou doest, but do that thou hast begun, that this day the benignity of our Saviour
may bring me to my brother. Then the earl commanded him that his head should be smitten
off, and thus he suffered martyrdom for our Lord. Philip, a servant of Jesu Christ, with
his son, took the bodies and buried them secretly in his house in a tomb of stone, and
laid a book at their heads containing their nativity, their life, and their end.
And they suffered death under Nero about the year of our Lord fifty-six. These bodies
were hid there many years, but in the time of S. Ambrose they were found in this manner.
S. Ambrose was in prayer in the church of S. Felix and S. Nabor in such wise that he neither
slept ne woke wholly, there appeared to him two young men clad in white vestments with one
coat and mantel, and hosed, and they appeared praying with him with their hands holden up.
Then S. Ambrose prayed that if it were illusion that it would appear no more, and if it
were truth that it should be showed him. Then when the cock crew, the younglings appeared
to him, adoring with him in semblable manner, and at the third time they appeared the
third night when he had fasted and slept not. And with them appeared S. Peter the apostle,
after that he had seen him in painture. Then the younglings said nothing, but the apostle
spake: These be they that desire none earthly thing, but have followed mine admonishments,
and these be they of whom thou shalt find the bodies in such a place, and there thou shalt
find an arch of stones covered with twelve feet of earth, and thou shalt find at their
heads a little book, wherein is contained their birth and their end. Then S. Ambrose
called all his neighbours and began first to dig the earth, and found like as the apostle
had said to him, and they had lain in that place well a three hundred years, and they were
as fresh as they had been laid there that same hour; and a right sweet savour issued out
of their tomb; and incontinent a blind man touched the bier, and anon he had his sight
again, and many other sick people were healed by the merits of them, and in their
solemnity peace was reformed between the Lombards and the emperor of Rome. And then S.
Gregory, the pope, established for the introit of the mass of them: Loquitur dominus
pacem, and this office appertained in part to the saints, and in part to the great
adventures that were in that time. And S. Austin rehearseth in the book of the City of God
that he was present, and the emperor and much great company, when that a blind man received his sight at Milan at the bodies of Gervase and Prothase, but it is not known
whether it was the same blind man or no.
Also he telleth in the same book that there was a young man in a town named Victoriana
rode his horse into a river that lay thereby, and as soon as he was therein the devil
strangled him and threw him in the water all dead, and whiles they sang evensong in a
church of S. Gervase and Prothase, which was thereby, he was so smitten with the voices of
them that sang that he started up alive, and in a great haste he entered into the church
in a great dread, and held fast by the altar like as he had been bounden thereto; then the
devil menaced him, and said if he would not come thence he would break all his members,
and a little while after, by the merits of the holy martyrs he was plainly healed. And S.
Ambrose saith in his preface: These be they that by the heavenly banner took the arms of
the apostles and vanquished and have the victory, and be assoiled from the snares of the
world, they destroyed the feilowship of the fiend and followed freely without any
empeshment our Lord Jesu Christ, like unto a debonair fraternity that so learned the holy
words that no filth was meddled among them. O how glorious a strife was this that causeth
them both to be crowned in heaven like as they issued out of one belly.
Here followeth the life of S. Edward,
King and Martyr.
S. Edward, the young king and martyr, was the son of King Edgar, and he was king but
three years and seven months, and when his own mother was dead, his father, the king,
wedded another wife, which was full wicked, and by her he had a son named Ethelred. This
queen laboured sore for to destroy this young King Edward for to make her own son,
Ethelred, king, and little loved the King Edward. For then King Edgar was dead which had
been a good justicer in chastising rebels and cherishing good and welldisposed people. For
he had a blessed and an holy man, S. Dunstan, which was chief of his council and was much
ruled by him, and in that time was joy and mirth in all England. And the queen, through
enticing of the fiend our enemy, laboured ever and awaited for to destroy this young King
Edward. And so it happed that this said young king, Edward, rode on hunting with his
knights in the wood of Dorset beside the town of Warham, and there in the chase it happed
the king to depart away from his men, and rode forth alone to see his brother Ethelred
which was thereby, with the queen, his mother, in the castle named Corfe. But when the
queen saw him there being alone, she was joyful and glad in her heart, hoping then to
accomplish that which she sore had laboured for, and went to the king and welcomed him
with fair and blandishing words, and commanded to fetch bread and wine to the king, and
whiles the king drank, the butler took a knife and roof the king through the body to the
heart, in such wise that the king fell down dead. And anon then the queen's servants
buried the body in a desolate place of the wood, to the end that no man should know where
he was become. And when S. Dunstan knew that the king was so murdered, he made much great
sorrow, and in short time after, yet a part against his will, he crowned her son Ethelred
king. And then he said to the king: Forasmuch as by manslaughter and wrong thou art come
to be king, thou shalt therefore have great sorrow and trouble to thy life's end, and all
shall fall for the death of thy brother Edward. Who that will know the sorrow that fell
may see it in the life of S. Alphage, and there he shall see what sorrow there fell, and
all was for the death of this S. Edward. And all the poor people of this land sorrowed
greatly for this good king's death, and in especial because they could not know where he
was buried. For they would bury him much worshipfully if they might find him.
And in a time, as God would, men of Warham and of the country be gone for to seek this
holy body of S. Edward with great devotion, praying our Lord that they might have
knowledge where the holy body was, and soon after, one of them that so sought saw a great
light in a desolate place of the wood in likeness of a pillar of fire, stretching from
heaven even unto the grave where the holy body lay in. And then the people full reverently
digged up the body and brought it with solemn procession to the church of Warham, and they
buried this holy body in the churchyard at the east end of the church, for they durst not
do otherwise for displeasure of the queen. But now over that grave is builded a fair
chapel of our Lady, and in the place where he was first buried is now a
right fair well, which is called S. Edward's well, where our Lord showeth many miracles
for his holy martyr S. Edward. And in likewise in the chapel at Warham, whereas his
holy body lay long, our Lord showeth also miracles. But long time after, by the labour of
the earl Alphere which much loved S. Edward, the bishops and clergy, by the counsel of S.
Wilfrida and S. Edith, sisters of S. Edward and nuns at Wilton, the holy body was took out
of the chapel of Warham, and brought with great solemnity unto the nunnery of Shaftesbury.
And by the way, as men bare this holy body, two cripples were made all whole, and followed
the holy body with great joy and mirth, thanking God and the holy saint of their health.
And when they came to Shaftesbury they laid this holy body in the wall by the high altar
right worshipfully, where our Lord showed miracles for him. And when the queen, his
stepmother, heard tell what miracles God showed for him, then she repented her full sore,
and cried God mercy, and the holy saint, for her trespass, and purposed to ride thither to
do worship to the holy body, and there to ask forgiveness of the death that she had
committed to be done in him. But, when she would have ridden thitherward, her horse would
not go forth in no wise for beating ne drawing; and then she lighted down and went thither
full meekly on her feet; and oft in her journey she repented her of that cursed deed that
she had caused to be done to this holy S. Edward. And when she came to Shaftesbury, where
as this holy body was buried, she did full great reverence thereto, and cried God mercy,
and the holy saint, for her great offence. And after this she became a full good woman,
and had great repentance thereof unto her life's end. And after, when the holy body had
rested in the wall certain years, S. Edward appeared to an holy religious man, and
bade him go to Dame Ethelreda, abbess of that place, and say to her that she purvey that
his body should be laid in a more worshipful place. And then she went to S. Dunstan to
pray him of his help in this matter, and soon after S. Dunstan came with a multitude of
bishops, abbots, priors and of the clergy, and took up this holy body and laid it
in a worshipful shrine, which the abbess and other well-disposed people had ordained for
it. And when his body was taken out of the wall, there came out of the grave a savour like
a smoke of frankincense, smelling so sweet that all the people were greatly
comforted thereby. And thus this holy king and martyr was translated in the year of our
Lord one thousand, and somewhat more. And when king Ethelred was dead, Edward his son
reigned after him, which was a holy and glorious king and confessor, and lieth buried at
Westminster, and worshipfully shrined, whereas our Lord hath showed many a great miracle
for him. Then let us pray to this holy martyr S. Edward, king, and to S. Edward, king and
confessor that they pray to our Lord for us, that we may in this wretched world so amend
and repent us of our wretched life, that, when we shall depart hence we may come to his
everlasting life in heaven. Amen.
Here followeth the Life of S. Alban and
of S. Amphiabel
After that Julius Cæsar, the first emperor of Rome, had divided the land of France, he
made a shipping in to Great Britain, which now is called England, in the time of
Cassibelaun, king of the Britons. And twice he was driven out, and the third time by the
help of one Androgeus, duke of Kent, he had victory and conquered the realm and subdued it
to Rome, and made it to pay yearly tribute, and ordained and stablished certain statutes
in this land which were long observed and kept. Among which he ordained that none of this
land should receive the order of knighthood, but only at Rome by the hands of the emperor,
lest peradventure the rude people and unworthy would take upon them that order unworthily,
which is of great dignity, and also they should make an oath never to rebel ne bear arms
against the emperor, which statutes were used in all places obedient to Rome and under
their subjection. Then reigned in the land of Britain, which is now called England,
a king named Severus, which for to please the emperor Diocletian, who sent his son that
hight Bassianus with many other lords' sons, of Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and Ireland,
unto the number of a thousand five hundred and forty, among which was a prince's son of
Wales in great array which hight Amphiabel, a goodly young man, and well learned in Latin,
French, Greek, and Hebrew. Also there was in his fellowship a lord's son of the city of
Verulam named Alban, which was a well disposed and seemly young man, and discreet in his
governance. And all this fellowship came prosperously to Rome in the time when Zephyrus
was pope of Rome, which saw the great beauty of this young company, and had compassion
that they were not christian, and laboured as much as he might to convert them to the
faith of Jesu Christ.
And among all other he converted the prince's son of Wales, Amphiabel, and baptized
him, and informed him secretly in the faith. And then this holy Amphiabel forsook
the pomp and glory of the world, and took on him wilful poverty for the love of Jesu
Christ, and ever after continued his life in perfection. Also there were many other
converted at that time whom Diocletian did do seek, but none could he find. Then he
ordained a day in which these young men should receive the order of knighthood of the
emperor's hand; and he himself girded their swords about them and informed them the rule
and estate of the order. And when all the ceremonies were done longing to the order, and
the oath sworn, Bassanius, son of king Severus, desired of the emperor that he might prove
the feats of knighthood there in jousting and tourneying, which was granted to him and
greatly allowed for his manly desire and noble request. In which tourney and jousts
Bassanius and his fellowship had the prize and victory. And among all other, Alban was the
best knight, and most best proved in strength, wherefore he had a sovereign name tofore
all other, whose arms were of azure with a saltire of gold, which arms afterward bare the
noble king Offa, first founder of the monastery called S. Albans, and he bearing those
arms had ever glorious victory, and after his death he left those arms in the
monastery of S. Alban. Then, when Bassanius and his fellowship had long sojourned in Rome,
they asked licence of the emperor to return home into Britain, which the emperor granted
to them all, save to Alban, whom for his manliness and prowess he would retain for to be
in his service about his person, and so he abode with him there seven years. And after,
for divers causes, Maximian, which was fellow to Diocletian was sent in to Britain with a
great army for to subdue the rebels, with whom Alban came and was ordained prince of his
knights, and so entered into Britain again. In that time S. Pontian sat in the see at
Rome, which by himself and virtuous men that preached, and by showing of miracles,
converted unto the faith of Jesu Christ and christened in the city of Rome sixtysix
thousand men. And when the emperor heard hereof he assembled all the senators and kings,
princes and lords, of every land being under the obeisance of Rome, to have advice how he
might destroy the christian faith, and then it was concluded that the pope should be
damned with all his christian people, and be punished with divers torments, and that all
the books of christian law should be burnt and churches thrown down, and all men of holy
church to be slain in every place. Which ordinance when it was known among the christian
people of Rome of divers parts of the world, then they went and departed into their own
country, among whom S. Amphiabel, which long had dwelt at Rome, departed and came home in
to Britain again where he was born, and so came unto Verulam whereas none would receive
him into his house, and ne walked about in the streets abiding the comfort of God. And
then it happed he met with Alban, which was lord of that city and prince of the knights,
and steward of the land, having about him a great multitude of servants, and at that time
Alban was richly arrayed with clothes fringed with gold, to whom all the people did
great worship. Then Amphiabel, which had left the arms of a knight and was arrayed like a
clerk, knew well Alban, but Alban knew him not, how be it they had been tofore both in one
fellowship, and desired and prayed Alban of harbour for the love of God, which Alban
without feigning, as he that always loved to do hospitality, granted him harbour and well
received him, and gave to him meat and drink necessary for him. And after, when his
servants were departed, he went unto this pilgrim secretly, and said to him in this wise:
How is it, said he, that thou art a christian man and comest in to these parts unhurt of
the gentiles? To whom S. Amphiabel said: My Lord Jesu Christ, the son of the living God,
hath surely conducted me and hath kept me by his power from all perils. And that same Lord
hath sent me in to this land to preach and denounce to the people the faith of Jesu
Christ, to the end that they should be made people acceptable to him. To whom Alban said:
What is he that is the son of God whom ye affirm to be Jesu Christ and son of the virgin?
These be new things to me, for I have not heard of them; I would fain know what christian
men feel thereof. Then Amphiabel expounded to him and declared our faith and belief, in
which anon Alban disputed again and said that by reason it might not be, and so departed
from him. And the next night after, S. Alban saw in his dream all the mystery of our
faith, as well how the second person of the Trinity came down and took our nature and
became man and suffered death, and of his resurrection and ascension, whereof he was
greatly troubled, and came on the morn to Amphiabel and told him what he had dreamed. And
then S. Amphiabel thanked our Lord, and so informed him in the faith that S. Alban was
steadfast in the belief of Jesu Christ and thus kept his master Amphiabel in his house six
weeks and more, and always in a place named Tigurium, they held their holy communication,
so long till at the last they were espied and complained on unto the judge. Wherefore the
judge sent for Alban and for the clerk, and because the clerk should go in to Wales, S.
Alban did do clothe him like a knight, and led him out of the town, and departed with many
tears, and commended each other to our Lord. And after, S. Alban was sent for, which came
having on him the clerk's array and clothing, bearing a cross and an image of our Lord
hanging thereon, to the end that they should know verily that he was a christian man. And
the men that came for him drew him cruelly to the judge Askepodot, and when the paynims
saw him bear the sign of the cross, which was unknown, to them, they were sore troubled
and afraid. Then the cruel judge demanded him whose servant he had been, and of what
kindred, and because he would not tell he was much wroth, but among many questions he told
him that his name was Alban and that he was a very christian man. Then the judge demanded
him where the clerk was that entered in to the city, now late speaking of Christ: He is
come for to beguile and deceive our citizens, know ye well he would have come unto our
presence but that his conscience hath removed him, and hath mistrust in his cause, and
guile and falseness is hid under his doctrine. Thou mayest well know and evidently
understand that thou hast given thy consent to a foolish man, wherefore forsake his
doctrine and repent thee, and make satisfaction for thy trespass in doing sacrifice to our
gods, and that done thou shalt not only have forgiveness of thy sins, but thou shalt have
towns and provinces, men, gold and power. Then said Alban to the judge: O thou judge! the
words and menaces that thou hast spoken be but vain and superfluous. It is openly known
that this clerk, if it had thought him good and profitable, and also if our both hearts
had accorded thereto, he had come to thine audience, but I would not assent thereto,
knowing that this people is ever ready to do evil. I acknowledge that I have received his
doctrine and repent me nothing thereof, for the faith that I have received restoreth the
feeble and sick to their health, for the deed proveth it. This faith is more dear to me
than all the riches that thou promisest me, and more precious than all the worship that
thou purposest to give me, for shortly, your gods be false and failing, for they
that most basely serve them be most wretchedly deceived. Then came anon forth a great
multitude of paynims, and with force and strength would compel him to do sacrifice, and
commanded him to offer to the gods, but in no wise he would not consent to their
cursed rites. And by the commandment of the judge he was taken and stretched abroad to be
scourged, and as he was grievously beaten he turned him to our Lord with a glad visage,
and said: My Lord Jesu Christ, I beseech thee keep my mind that it move not ne that it
fall from the estate that thou hast set it in, for, Lord, with all my heart I offer my
soul to thee in very sacrifice, and I desire to be made thy witness by shedding of
my blood. These words sounded he among his beatings, and the tormentors beat him so long
that their hands waxed weary; and the people hoped that S. Alban would change his purpose,
and therefore he was kept under the governance of the judge six weeks and more, and all
that time the elements bare witness of the injury done to holy Alhan, for from the time of
his taking unto the time that he was delivered from the bonds of his flesh there came
never dew nor rain upon the earth, but burning heat of the sun, and also in the nights all
that time was insufferable heat, so that neither trees ne fields brought forth no fruit,
and thus the elements fought for this holy man against the wicked men. And the judge
Askepodot dreaded for to slay him because of the great love that the emperor had to him,
and for reverence of his dignity, and power of his kindred, unto the time that he had
informed Diocletian of his conversation. And when the emperor had seen the letters, anon
Maximian came into Britain for to destroy the faith of Jesu Christ, and was commanded that
no christian man should be spared, save only Alban, whom they should entreat to pervert
him by fair promises and to fear him by menaces, and so to compel him to turn again to
their sect. And if he would in no wise leave the christian faith, then he to have capital
sentence, and be beheaded by some knight for the worship of the order of knighthood, and
the clerk that converted him to suffer the foulest death that could be imagined, that the
beholders thereof may have dread and horror of semblable pains.
And when Maximian came into Britain, he took with him the king Askepodot and went
straight to the city of Verulam for to fulfil the commandment of the emperor. And then S.
Alban was brought forth tofore them out of prison, and, by all the ways that they could
imagine, they attempted to pervert him, but the holy man was constant and firm in the
faith, whereof they, having indignation, ordained a day of justice, which day come, they
gave sentence, first on Amphiabel, that wherever he was found he should be scourged, and
after bounden to a stake all naked, and then his navel be opened and his bowels to be
fastened by that one end to the stake, and he then to be driven to go round about the
stake till all his bowels were wounden out about the stake, and after to have his head
smitten off, and, as touching S. Alban, they gave sentence that he should be beheaded,
which sentences were given under writing. Then all the burgesses of Verulam, of London,
and other towns about, were summoned to come the next Thursday following for to hear the
judgment, and see the execution upon Alban, prince of knights, and steward of Britain. At
which day came people without number for to see this said execution. And then was Alban
brought out of prison, whom they desired to make sacrifice to Jupiter and Apollo, which
utterly refused it but preached the faith of Christ, that he converted much people to be
christened. Then Maximian and Askepodot gave final sentence on him, thus saying: In the
time of the emperor Diocletian, Alban, lord of Verulam, prince of knights, and steward of
all Britain during his life, hath despised Jupiter and Apollo, our gods, and to them hath
done derogation and disworship, wherefor by the law he is judged to be dead by the hand of
some knight, and the body to be buried in the same place where his head shall be smitten
off, and his sepulchre to be made worshipfully for the honour of knighthood, whereof he
was prince, and also the cross that he bare and sklavin that he ware should be buried with
him, and his body to be closed in a chest of lead and so laid in his sepulchre.
This sentence hath the law ordained because he hath renied our principal gods. Then arose
a great murmur among the people, and said that they ought not to suffer such injury done
to so noble and so good a man, and specially his kindred and friends, which laboured full
sore for his deliverance, whereof Alban was afeard to be delivered from his passion at
their request and instance, and stood up holding the cross, looking towards heaven and
saying: Lord Jesu Christ, I beseech thee that thou suffer not the fiend to prevail against
me by his deceits, and that the people let not my martyrdom. And then he turned to the
people saying: Wherefore tarry ye and lose the time, and why execute ye not on me the
sentence? For I let you wit I am a great enemy to your gods, which have no power ne may do
no thing, ne hear, ne see, ne understand, to whom none of you would be like. O what
vanity, and what blindness is among you to worship such idols, and will not know Jesu
Christ the only son of God and his very true law. Then the paynims spake together and
assented that he should be put to death, and they chose a place where he should be
executed named Holmeshurst. But then arose a contention among the people what death he
should suffer. Some would have him crucified like as Christ was, and others would have him
buried quick, but the judge and the people of the city would have him beheaded
according to the commandment of the emperor, and so he was led forth towards his
martyrdom, and all the people to the place following this holy man with despitous words
and rebukes, whereto the blessed man Alban answered no word, but meekly and patiently
suffered all their reproofs, and the people were so great a multitude that they occupied
all the place, which was large and great. And the heat of the sun was so great that
it burnt and scalded their feet as they went, and so they led him till they came to a
swift running river, where they might not lightly pass for press of people, for many were
shifted over the bridge into the water and were drowned, and many, because they might not
go over the bridge for press, unclothed them for to swim over the river, and some that
could not swim presumed to do the same, and were wretchedly drowned, whereof was a great
rumour and noise piteously among the people. And when S. Alban perceived this thing he
bewailed and wept for the harm and death of his enemies that so were perished, and kneeled
down holding his hands up to God beseeching that the water might be lessed and the flood
withdrawn that the people might be with him at his passion, and forthwith God showed at
the request of S. Alban a fair miracle, for the water withdrew, and the river dried up in
such wise that the people might safely go dry foot over the river, and also by the prayer
of this holy man, they that tofore had been drowned were restored again to life, and were
found alive in the deepness of the river. And then one of the knights that drew S.
Alban toward his martyrdom, saw these
miracles that God showed for him, and anon threw away his sword and fell down at the
feet of S. Alban, saying: I knowledge to God mine error and demand forgiveness, and
wept sore and said: O Alban, servant of God, for verily thy God is almighty and there is
none God but he, and therefore I knowledge me to be his servant during my life, for this
river by thy prayers is made dry, wherefore I bear witness that there is no god but thy
God which doeth such miracles. And when he had said thus, their fury and woodness
increased and said to him: Thou art false for it is not as thou sayest nor as thou
affirmest, for this river is thus dried by the benignity of our gods, and therefore we
worship Jupiter and Apollo which for our ease have taken up this water by this great heat;
and because thou takest away the worship of our gods and rewardest it to other by evil
interpretation, thou hast deserved the pain which longeth to a blasphemer. And then
forthwith they drew out his teeth of his head, and the holy mouth that had borne witness
of truth was grievously beaten with so many of them that, ere they left they tare
all the members of his body and to-brake all his bones, and all to-rent his body, and left
him Iying upon the sand. But who might without weeping of tears express how this holy man
Alban was drawn and led through briars and thorns and sharp stones, that the blood in his
feet coloured the way as they went in and the stones were bloody? Then at the last they
came to the hill where this holy Alban should finish and end his life, in which place lay
a great multitude of people nigh dead for heat of the sun and for thirst, and when they
saw Alban they grinded with their teeth on him for anger, saying: O thou most wicked man,
how great is thy wickedness that makest us to die with thy sorcery and witchcraft in this
great misery and heat. Then Alban, having pity on them, sorrowed by great affection for
them and said: Lord, that madest man's body of earth, and his soul unto thy likeness,
suffer not these creatures to perish for any cause committed in me, and blessed Lord make
the air attemperate and send them water to refresh them. And then anon the wind
blew afresh cool, and also at the feet of this holy man Alban, sprang up a fair well,
whereof all the people marvelled, to see the cold water spring up in the hot sandy
ground, and so high on the top of an hill, which water flowed all about, and in large
streams running down the hill. And then the people ran to the water and drank, so that
they were well refreshed, and thus by the merits of S. Alban their thirst was clean
quenched. But yet, for all the great goodness that was showed, they thirsted strongly the
blood of this holy man and his death, and gave the praising and laud to their gods, and
took this holy man, and bound him first to a stake, and after, hung him on a bough by the
hair of his head, and sought among the people one to smite off his head; and then a cruel
man was ready, and in an anger took his sword and smote off the head of this holy man at
one stroke, that the body fell to ground and the head hung still on the bough, and the
tormentor, as he had smitten off his head, both his eyes started out of his head, and the
wretch might in no wise be restored again to his sight. Then many of the paynims said that
this vengeance came of great righteousness. Then the knight which was left for dead upon
the sand a little before, enforced himself as much as he might, and crept upon his hands
unto the top of the hill whereas S. Alban was beheaded. And the judge seeing him
began to scorn him, and all the miracles that had been shown by S. Alban, and said to him:
O thou lame and crooked, now pray to thine Alban that he restore thee to thy first health,
run and hie thee and take the head by which thou mayst receive thine heal, why tarriest
thou so long? Go and bury his body and do him service. Then this knight, burning in
charity, said: I believe firmly that this blessed Alban by his merits may get to me
perfect health, and get to me of our Lord that which ye say in scorn. And when he had thus
said he took and embraced the holy head in his arms, and reverently loosed it from the
bough, and set it fair to the body and by the miracle of our Lord he was forthwith
restored to his first health and forthwith began to preach the great power of our Lord
Jesus Christ and of the merits of S. Alban, and then he was stronger to labour than ever
he was tofore, whereof he gave thankings and laud to God and to this holy martyr S. Alban.
And there in the same place he buried the holy body, and laid a fair tomb over him,
and afterwards the paynims took this knight and bound him to a stake, and after smote off
his head that same day, and after, the judge gave licence to the people to depart and go
home. And the night after was seen a clear beam coming down from heaven to the sepulchre
of S. Alban, by which angels descended and ascended all the night during, singing heavenly
songs, among which this song was heard: Alban the glorious man is a noble martyr of Jesu
Christ. And the people came to behold this sight, wherefore many were turned from their
false belief and believed in Jesu Christ, and many of them soon after went into Wales for
to seek Amphiabel for to be baptized and informed in the faith of Jesu Christ, and there
they found him preaching the word of God. And then they told him how that Alban was
martyred, and for a token they brought the cross which he held in his hand, and was yet
bloody of his blood, whereby he might evidently know that he had suffered death,
whereof this holy man gave laud and thankings to our Lord, and made then unto them
a noble sermon in such wise as all that people that came from Verulam were baptized and
received the faith. And soon after, the judge had knowledge of the departing of this
people from the city, and were gone into Wales to receive the faith of Amphiabel,
S. Alban's master, whereof he was much angry and sore moved and enquired of the number
of them that were gone, and he found a thousand and more whose names were written, and
then he ordained a multitude of people well armed and in defence for to seek Amphiabel and
those people that were gone to him; which went in to Wales, and there found all these
people awaiting on Amphiabel and hearing him preach the word of God; to whom one of
them that were so sent, said to Amphiabel: O thou deceiver and most wicked of all men, why
hast thou deceived this people with thy deceivable preaching, stirring them to forsake our
true laws and gods? Command them to leave their error and to return home again to our
city, and if thou do not we shall slay all of them and bring thee to our city there to be
tormented to the death. To whom one of the christian men said: Certainly this man is the
very true servant of God, for whom God doeth and showeth daily miracles, and we all
knowledge us all to be very true christian men, and be ready for the love of the faith of
our Lord Jesu Christ to suffer death, for to have therefor our reward in heaven,
everlasting joy and bliss, and counsel you to be baptized and to receive the faith of
Christ. And when the paynims heard this, they in a great fury ran upon all that blessed
company and cruelly slew, which gladly offered themselves to suffer death for our Lord.
There the father slew the son and the son the father, brother slew brother, and
cousins their cousins. Then the holy man Amphiabel, seeing this blessed company thus
cruelly put to death, recommended their souls to almighty God, and then the tormentors
took Amphiabel, and sware by their gods that they would bring him to Verulam quick or
dead, and bound his hands behind him fast, and drew him forth going afoot, and they
riding, that his feet bled grievously, till they came to the place where S. Alban was
buried.
And by the way there was a sick man which was going from Verulam toward Amphiabel for
to receive the faith, and he cried to Amphiabel for to be relieved of his sickness, whom
the paynims scorned, and Amphiabel, by the name of our Lord, made him all whole;
and his bonds that his hands were bound with were loosed, whereof some of the paynims
glorified our Lord. They said that Amphiabel was brought and should come, whereof they of
the city were glad, and supposed he should have forsaken his faith, but the
tormentors took and bound him; notwithstanding that, he always preached the word of God.
And one of them told to them how that their friends were slain, and what miracles God
showed for them at their death, in such wise that many were converted to the faith. And
the people ran out of the city to the place whereas this holy man was and stood, which was at that tomb of S. Alban. And one of those tormentors, in a great fury took this holy
man and bound him fast, and after, opened his navel and took out one end of his
bowels, and fastened it to a stake which he pight in the ground, and made the holy man to
go round about the stake, and drove him with whips, and beat him till that his bowels
were wounden out of his body. And in all this pain the holy man gave no token of sorrow ne of disease. And then in their woodness they ran upon him with spears and swords to
compel him to run about till all were drawn out, which was a marvel to the people that he
so patiently might endure such grievous torments so long, wherefore many of them forsook
their idols and became christian. And when the judge saw and knew that the people were
become christian, he commanded to slay them incontinent, and so there were slain to the
number of a thousand people, which Amphiabel saw, and thanked God, recommending to him
their souls. And then the tormentors, seeing yet the life in this holy man, cast stones at
him and stoned him; and he always persevered in preaching to them, and counselled them to
be baptized, and they should have forgiveness of all their sins; and the gates of heaven
should be opened to them, but they ceased not of their cruel casting of stones. Then at
last this holy man Amphiabel lifted up his eyes unto heaven, beseeching our Lord to
receive his spirit. And then he saw S. Alban standing among the angels, to whom he said: O
holy S. Alban, I beseech thee that thou pray to our Lord for me that it please him to send
his angel to lead me surely, that I be not let in my way by the cursed enemy the fiend.
And unnethe he had said the word, but two angels descended from heaven, and said to him:
This day shalt thou be in heaven with Alban; and when the paynims heard this heavenly
voice they were sore afeard and abashed. And the angels took his soul with heavenly song
and mirth and bare it unto heaven, and so departed this holy soul from the body. And the
paynims, persevering in their malice, threw alway stones at the dead body: and anon
after, fell a debate among of the paynims, that each fought with other, and in the
meanwhile a christian man stole away the body and hid it.
And anon after, our Lord showed a great miracle, and that was that, the visages of the
tormentors were disfigured, their hands, arms and other members dried up, and the judge
lost his mind and was mad, because they strove against the will of God, and suffered great
pain afterward. And thus suffered these two holy martyrs, S. Alban and S. Amphiabel,
martyrdom and death for the faith of Jesu Christ, which by their merits bring us unto his
everlasting life. Amen.
Here followeth the Nativity
of S. John Baptist.
S. John Baptist is named in many manners. He was named a prophet; friend of the spouse;
lanterne; an angel voice; Elias; baptist of the Saviour; messenger of the judge; and
foregoer of the King. By prophet is signified prerogative of knowledge; in the friend of
the spouse, noblesse of love; in the lantern burning, noblesse of holiness; in an angel,
prerogative of virginity; in voice, nobleness of meekness; in Elias, noblesse of burning
love; in baptist, prerogative of marvellous honour; in messenger, prerogative of
preaching; and in foregoing, prerogative of preparation or making ready. All these
virtuous things were in him.
Of S. John Baptist
The nativity of S. John Baptist was ancient, and showed by the Archangel Gabriel in
this manner. It is said in the History Scholastic that David the king, willing to increase
and make more the service of God, instituted twenty-four bishops or high priests, of whom
one was overest and greatest, and was named prince of the priests, and he ordained that
each priest should serve a week. Abias was one, and had the eighth week, of whose kindred
Zacharias was descended, father of S. John Baptist. This Zacharias had to wife one of the
daughters of the kindred of Aaron, whose name was Elizabeth, daughter of Esmeria, which
was sister of S. Anne, mother of our Lady. Then this Elizabeth and our Lady were
cousins-german, daughters of two sisters. These two, Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth,
were just tofore our Lord, living in all the justifications, and holding all the
commandments of the law without murmur ne complaint, praising and thanking our Lord
God.They had no children, for the holy woman was barren. They had great desire to have a
son that might be bishop of the law by succession of lineage after Zacharias, and hereof
had they in their youth prayed much to our Lord, but when it pleased not unto our
Lord, they took it a worth and thanked God of all. They served the more devoutly our Lord
God, for they had no charge but only to serve and entend unto him. Many there be that
withdraw them from the service and love of our Lord for the love of their children. They
were both old, he and his wife Elizabeth. It happed, at a solemnity that the Jews had
after August, that the bishop did holy sacrifice in doing the office that appertained to
him and to his week; he went for to incense, and entered into the temple, and the people
abode without, making their prayers and awaiting the coming again to them of the holy
bishop. Thus, as he was alone, and incensed the altar, the angel Gabriel appeared
to him standing on the right side of the altar, and when the holy bishop saw him he was
abashed and had great dread. The angel said to him: Be nothing afeard, Zacharias, thy
prayers be heard and thou hast found grace tofore of whom our Lord. Elizabeth thy wife
shall conceive and bear a son, whom thou shalt call John, of whom thou shalt have great
gladness, and much people shall make great feast and joy of his nativity, for he shall be
great, and of great merit tofore our Lord. He shall not drink wine ne cider, ne thing
whereof he might be drunken, and in his mother's womb he shall be sanctified and fulfilled
with the Holy Ghost. He shall convert many of the sons of Israel, that is to say,
of the Jews, to our Lord, and shall go tofore him in the spirit and virtue of Elias the
prophet for to convert father and sons, old and miscreants, to the sense of righteousness
and to the service of God. When the angel had thus said to Zacharias, he answered: How may
I believe and know that this is truth that thou sayest? I am now all old and ancient, and
my wife old and barren. The angel answered and said: I am Gabriel, the angel and servant
tofore God, which in his name am sent to speak to thee and to show to thee these things
aforesaid, and because thou hast not believed me thou shalt lose thy speech, and shalt not
speak till the day that this which I have said shall be accomplished, each thing in his
time. The people were abiding and awaiting when Zacharias the bishop should come out, and
marvelled where he tarried so long. He came out of the temple, but he might not speak, but
the holy man made to them signs by which they thought well that he had seen
some vision of our Lord, but more knew they not. He abode in the temple all that week, and
after, went home to his house. His wife conceived and waxed great, and when she perceived
it she was shamefaced and kept her in her house well five months. In the sixth
month the same angel Gabriel was sent from our Lord unto the blessed Virgin Mary, newly
espoused to Joseph, which shewed the conception of Jesu Christ, son of God our Lord, and
the angel told to her that she should conceive of the Holy Ghost without knowledge of man.
For our Lord may do all that it pleaseth him, like as it appeareth, said he, of Elizabeth
thy cousin, the which, she being old of age, and barren by nature of her body, hath
conceived by the pleasure of our Lord, and hath now borne about six months. When our Lady
heard that S. Elizabeth her cousin was great, she went to visit and accompany her in the
mountains where she dwelt, right far, hard, and evil way. When she came thither she
saluted her much courteously. Our Lady was then great with the blessed Son of God, our
Lord Jesu Christ, whom she had conceived when she said to the angel: Ecce ancilla domini;
and then she was replenished with the deity and humanity of our Lord Jesu Christ. Then,
when the salutation issued out of the body of our Lady, the greeting entered into the ears
of the body of S. Elizabeth, and into her child that she had within her, which child was
anoint of the blessed Holy Ghost, and, by the presence of our Lord, sanctified in the womb
of his mother and replenished with grace, whereof he removed him for joy in his mother's
womb, in making to our Lord reverence such as he might make not of himself, but by the
grace that he had received of the Holy Ghost. Of which by the merits and grace done to the
blessed child, S. Elizabeth was replenished, and anon prophesied in saying and crying with
a high voice: Thou art blessed among and above all women, and blessed be the fruit of thy
womb. From whence cometh to me such grace, so great that the mother of my Lord cometh to
visit me? I know well that thou hast conceived the Son ot God, for as soon as thy
salutation entered into mine ears, the child that is in my belly made joy and feast, and
removed. Thou art well blessed and happy that thou hast given faith and believed the words
of the angel which he said to thee, for all things shall be performed that he hath said to
thee.
Of all these things S. Elizabeth knew nothing when our Lady came, ne yet our Lady had
nothing said to her, but the Holy Ghost, by the merits of her holy child that she bare,
replenished her and made her to prophesy. Then answered our Lady and made the holy psalm
saying: Magnificat anima mea dominum, and all the remnant. Our Lady abode with S.
Elizabeth three months or thereabouts till she was delivered and laid abed, and it is said
that she did the office and service to receive S. John Baptist when he was born.
When then he was born, and the neighbours and cousins and friends knew the grace that
our Lord had done to these holy folk, noble of lineage, rich of goods and of great
dignity, to whom in the end of their age he had given an heir male against double or
treble nature, they made great joy and feast with them. When the eighth day came,
and the child should be circumcised, they called him after his father's name, Zacharias.
The mother said that he should named John. and not Zacharias. and they went unto
the father and said that there was none in that kindred that so was called. And then the
father demanded pen and ink, and wrote: Johannes est nomen ejus, John is his name, and all
they marvelled. Anon after, by the merit of S. John, his father's mouth was opened, and
had again his speech, and spake, glorifying our Lord God. And these tidings of this holy
child thus born, were anon spread all about the country, and each man said in his heart,
and without forth one to another: What suppose ye shall be of this child? He shall be
great and a man of our Lord, for he is already now with him, and the hand, the work, and
the virtue of our Lord is with him. The father, holy Zacharias, replenished with the Holy
Ghost, said and prophesied, and made then the holy psalm: Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel,
which psalm is always sung in the end of matins.
It is said that holy Zacharias dwelled upon the mountains two miles nigh to Jerusalem,
and there S. John Baptist was born, and after that S. John was circumcised, he was
nourished as a child of a noble and rich man and son of great dignity, but when he had
understanding and strength of body, God our Lord and the heart performed the work. He
issued out of his father's house, and left riches, honours, dignities, noblesse, and all
the world, and went into desert on flom Jordan. Some say he went in the age of fifteen
years accomplished, and others say he departed at twelve years of age for to serve our
Lord without empeshment, by which he kept silence, and bydwonge his life and his soul from
idle words. This holy S. John, dwelling in desert, ware an hair made of the hair of
camels. Some say that he ware the skin of a camel, in which he had made an hole to put his
head in and girded it with a girdle of wool, or of leather, cut out of an hide or a
beast's skin. He ate locusts, not such as we have here that we call honeysuckles; some say
that it is flesh of some beasts that abound in the desert of Judea where he baptized; with
wild honey he ate it. That it was flesh, the legend of S. Austin doth us to understand,
which saith that S. Austin ate flesh by the example of Elias the prophet, which ate the
flesh that a crow brought to him, and so S. John ate locusts, some say that there be roots
so called. There served he our Lord solitarily upon the flom Jordan till that he was about
twenty-nine years old. The angel of our Lord came to him and said that he should show the
coming of our Lord and preach penance, for to purge them that were baptized, in
accustoming the baptism of our Lord Jesu Christ. This angel said to S. John Baptist that,
Jesu Christ, Saviour of the world, should come to him for to be baptized, and it should be
he on whom the Holy Ghost should descend in semblance of a dove.
S. John drew him towards Bethany, upon the river or desert, not far from Jerusalem;
there preached he, and taught and baptized them that would amend their life, and said to
them that the Saviour and health of the world was nigh. Then came to him many, and he said
to some religious men of evil life: Ye children of serpents, who hath given to you counsel
to eschew the ire of our Lord? If ye will be baptized in sign of penance, do ye the works
of penitence. Leave the evil, humble you, do the work of mercy; ween ye, because ye be
circumcised and be the children of Abraham, that ye shall be saved? Our Lord shall
make of these stones if it please him the child of Abraham which with Abraham shall be
saved. S. John preached about a year tofore that our Lord came to him for to be baptized.
When the Pharisees heard say that he baptized, they sent to know what he was, and they
demanded if he were Christ the great prophet that was promised in their law, and he said:
Nay. They demanded him if he were Elias, and come from Paradise terrestrial, he said: Nay.
They demanded him if he was a prophet, he said: Nay. They demanded him whereof he meddled
then to baptize, since he was neither Christ, ne Elias, ne prophet. Say to us, said they,
who that thou art, that we may answer to them that have sent us hither. He
answered: I am he of whom Isaiah prophesied: I am the voice of the crier in desert:
Address ye and make ready the ways to God, and make ye right the paths of our Lord. They
said to him: Wherefore baptizest thou then? I baptize and wash the body with water in sign
of penance, but among you is he that ye know not, which was tofore me, and came after me,
of whom I am not worthy to loose the latchet of his shoe. He shall give you baptism in the
virtue of the Holy Ghost, in water and fire of penance.
When S. John along the flom Jordan had preached and baptized about a year, our Lord
came unto him and would be baptized of him. S. John, enlumined of the Holy Ghost, knew
him, and did to him reverence as to his God, his Maker, and Lord. He was so espired that
human nature which was pure in him might not sustain so great knowledge, and he said right
humbly: Sir, thou comest to me, which art pure and clean, to be baptized and washed of me
that am foul and wasted, which ought to be baptized of thee and washed, how dare I lay on
thee my hands? Our Lord said to him: Do this that I say now, for thus behoveth it to
fulfil all justice and to humble and give ensample of baptism to all people. And then in
humility and patience he baptized our Lord, and washed him where he had never filth, and
all by holy mystery; on whom the Holy Ghost descended visibly in likeness of a dove, and
the voice of the Father was heard saying: Here is my well-beloved son in whom I am well
pleased. Then our Lord was thirty years old from his nativity and thirteen days beginning
of the thirtyfirst year. On that same day our Lord changed water into wine in Cana of
Galilee. And this sufficeth for the nativity of S. John Baptist, and the residue of his
life and of his death shall be said at the feast of his decollation, by the grace of God,
who bringeth us to his bliss. Amen.
The Life of S. Loye.
S. Loye was born in the country of Limoges. His father was named Eucherius and his
mother Terrigia. What time his mother was conceived with him, she saw in her sleep, an
eagle fly over her bed, and thrice bowed and inclined to her, and promised to her
something. And with the voice of the eagle she awoke and was much abashed, and began to
think what her dream might signify. And when the time came of childing, and that she
should be delivered, she was in great peril, and anon she sent for an holy man to come and
pray for her. When the good man was come, anon he said to her: Have no doubt dame ne
dread, for this child shall be holy and much great in the church. And after that he was
born, this child grew in virtue, and his father set him to goldsmith's craft; and when he
knew well the craft and art of goldsmithery he came into France and dwelt with a goldsmith
that made work for the king. It happed that time that the king sought for one that could
make for him a saddle of gold and of precious stones. Then the master of S. Loye said to
the king that he had found a workman that should right well make whatsomever he would. The
king delivered to him a great mass of gold, which mass the master delivered to S.
Loye, whereof he made two right fair saddles and presented that one to the king and that
other he retained himself. When the king saw this saddle so fair he and all his people
marvelled much thereof and the king rewarded him much largely. Then after this, S. Loye
presented to the king that other saddle, saying to him that, of the remnant of the gold he
had made the same, and then was the king more amarvelled than he was tofore and demanded
how he might make these two saddles of that weight that was delivered to him; S. Loye
said: Well by the pleasure of God. Then grew the name and fame of him in the king's court.
S. Loye loved well poor people, for all that he won and might win he distributed it to
them, in so much that oft he was almost naked. The poor people also loved him, that where
he went they followed him, and that they that would speak with him must ask and enquire of
the poor people where he was.
On a time it happed that as he dealed alms with his own hand, there was a poor man that
had his hand stiff and lame, and put forth the better hand to receive the alms. Then S.
Loye said to him that he should put forth that other hand, which as well as he might he
put forth. S. Loye took and handled it and anointed it with a little oil, and anon it was
guerished and whole.
Another time when he had given to the poor people all the gold and silver that he had,
many other poor men came and demanded of him alms: and beholding himself that he had no
more to give, anon he departed among them a mark of gold that he had borrowed of his
neighbour, and anon after, came more poor folk to demand alms, he put his hand anon to his
purse, for he remembered not that it was void, and by the will of God he found therein a
mark of gold, and when he had found that he began greatly to thank our Lord God thereof,
and distributed it and departed it to the poor people for the love of God.
He was of high stature, red of visage and angelic, of simple and prudent regard
and cheer. At the beginning he was clad with precious vestments of gold adorned with gems
and ouches, and ware gilt girdles with precious stones, but under that, on his bare flesh,
he wore always the hair. After this he gave all his precious vesture to the poor people
for to succour them in their necessities, and from then forthon he used always simple and
poor clothing, and oft despoiled himself for to clothe the poor people. And when the king
saw him in such wise he gave to him his own vestments and girdles, for he loved him as his
proper soul, and abandoned to him all his house, and commanded to all his folk that all
that S. Loye would have should be delivered to him without delay, and all he gave and
distributed to poor folk, prisoners and to sick.
From the time of Brunehilde queen, unto the time of Dagobert, the
pestilence of simony reigned strongly, which, for to take away and destroy, S. Loye and S.
Ouen laboured sore. Then was S. Loye chosen bishop of Noyon, after Achaire bishop of the
said city, and with him was chosen S. Ouen archbishop of Rouen. S. Loye was pastor
spiritual of Tournay, city royal, of Noyon, of Ghent, and of all Flanders, and of
Courtrai. He had a certain place in which, by certain days, he called to him poor and sick
men and served them devoutly, and made clean their heads and washed them, and them that
were lousy and full of vermin he himself would pick and make them clean, and gave them
meat and drink, and clothed them; and when they departed anon came other to whom he did in
like wise. And when great company came, sometime he made them to sit down and refreshed
them all, but every day, at the least he and twelve, the which he made sit down, and at
certain hour ate and drank with them, but first he washed their hands and served them. On
a time he impetred and gat of the king that all the bodies that were condemned to death,
that he could find in towns and cities hanged and ratted, that he might take them down and
bury them, and ordained men of his college to do it.
It happed on a time that in the company of the king in the parties of Arastria, in a
town named Strabor, he found a man that was hanged that same day and was then dead, and
men made the sepulture for to bury him in. And S. Loye approached him and began to take
him down, and apperceived that the soul was in the body. He would not appropriate the
miracle to him but kept him from vain glory and said full sweetly: O, what evil have we
done for to let this man to be taken off if God Almighty had not holpen us; the soul is
yet in his body. When he was raised, he was clad, and he did him to take his rest. When
they that had made him to die knew it, they would have made him receive death again, and
with great pain S. Loye delivered him from their hands, yet he gat letters of grace for
him, to be more sure. There was a priest in his diocese which was infamed, and oft he
reprored him and exhorted him to be confessed, but the priest alway heled his sin. When S.
Loye saw that his fair admonition availed not, he excommunicated and accursed him, and
defended him that he should no more sing mass unto the time he had done open penance. The
priest set nought by his commandment ne defence, in despiting his sentence. A little after
this the said priest would go sing mass, and as he approached unto the altar, he fell down
to ground and died.
Many other miracles did he by his life and doeth yet. He edified at Noyon the ancelles
of Jesu Christ. By him, God showed the body of S. Quintin. He found at Soissons the bodies
of two brethren germanes, martyrs, S. Crispin and Crispinian, and ordained a precious
vessel to put them in. He found also at Beauvais the body of S. Lucian, which was of the
company of S. Quintin, which he put in a precious vessel. At Paris, upon the great bridge,
he made a blind man to see. The sexton of the church of S. Colomba at Paris, came to S.
Loye and said to him that thieves had borne away by night all the jewels and parements of
the said church. Then S. Loye went into the oratory of S. Colomba, and said to him: Hark
thou, Colomba, what I say to thee; my Redeemer will that anon thou bring again the
ornaments of this church that have been taken away, or I shall in such wise close
the doors with thorns, that never hereafter thou shalt, in this place, be served ne
worshipped. When he had said thus he departed. On the morn the sexton of the said church,
that was called Maturin, rose up and found all the parements and jewels that had been
borne away, and were set in the place as they had been tofore.
S. Loye did do ordain much richly the body of S. Germain and the bodies of S. Severin,
S. Plato, S. Quintin, S. Lucian, S. Genevieve, S. Colomba, S. Maxime, S. Julian, and
specially of S. Martin at Tours, by Dagobert the king, and the tomb of S. Brice, and
another tomb where the body of S. Martin had been long in, and the house of S. Denis the
martyr at Paris, and the tigurion of marble which is upon him, of marvellous work of gold
and of gems. When S. Loye died he was seventy years old. At the end of the year he was
transported into another place, and was found also fresh and without rotting as he had
been alive in his sepulchre. Now hear ye yet a more great miracle: his beard and his hairs
were shaven when he died, but in his tomb, when he was translated, they were found as
great and long as they had always grown in his tomb.
Thus endeth the Life of S. Loye and beginneth the
Life of S. William.
S. William was drawn out of noble lineage. In his childhood he was made canon of Paris
and of Soissons, and when he came to perfect age and was a man ripe and attempered, he
might no more suffer the pestilences and the perils of this deceivable world, but brake
all the bonds of the world and went into a desert named Granmonte, and lived there a great
while in pure conscience and in holy contemplation, but, as he led this life, there grew
on him a great tribulation that he had great fear that the tranquillity of his
contemplation might be troubled, and went into an abbey of Citeaux and there he was
professed, and profited much in virtues from then forthon, and after, he was there made
prior. Afterward he was translated from thence into another abbey that is called
Karolosence, and there by election he was chosen abbot. And there in all humility he
treated debonairly his disciples and subjects, in showing to them examples of good virtues
and good manners. After, he was chosen to be archbishop of Bourges, and how well it was
against his will, he accepted it, nevertheless when he had accepted and taken it, yet
therefore changed he not the habit of the order which he had tofore taken, ne the
observance also. And how well that he had meats delicious enough, as to such a prelate be
ordained and arrayed, nevertheless he left not the soberness that he had maintained
tofore, in humility, in holy meditation, and in devout prayers, in which gladly always he
occupied his time. And he was much busy for the health of the souls that were committed to
him and charged to keep; gladly and diligently be heard their confessions, he nourished
them sweetly, oft and diligently he preached to them or did do preach. He deserved so much
grace of our Lord that by his devout prayers and merits in his living life God showed many
miracles.
On a day it happed that a priest named Gerald had lost the health of one of his hands,
that he might sing no mass, which came to S. William, and S. William bade him that he
should confess him and without doubt he should be whole, and so he did, and at the end of
three days he sang mass whole and sound. Another time there was a young child that had his
brain sore troubled, in such wise that his eyes turned in his head; his friends brought
him tofore this holy man, on whom he had great pity and began humbly to handle him and
laid his hand on his head, and anon the pain ceased and he was anon all whole. He was
always glad and joyous, and that displeased much to some that were of hard and rude
living. Above all things the sin of detraction displeased him much, and he loved no
detractors, and to his power, with great diligence, he made them to eschew this sin, and
where they would not he withdrew him from their company. Finally he took the cross for to
go over sea against heretics and heathen men, and as he made his purveyance for to make
the said voyage, he rendered and gave up his soul to Almighty God, the fifth ides of the
month of January, and was buried in the church of Bourges, the which anon after, began to
do miracles. When the pope Honorius the third heard his life, and how God showed miracles
for him, after that he by great diligence had made inquisition, he canonised him to the
honour and praising of God, which by the prayers of the said S. William bring us to his
everlasting bliss in heaven. Amen.
Here beginneth the Life of S. Eutrope.
S. Eutrope was born and came of the most excellent lineage of all the world, and was
born in the realm of Persia, and was son of the admiral of Babylon, which was named
Exerces, whom the said Exerces engendered on a queen which was called Gwyne. And S.
Eutrope was endoctrined in his youth in letters of Chaldee and of Greek, sofarforth that
he was compared to the most greatest clerk of the realm. After, he went to Galilee into
the court of king Herod, for to see some curiosity or some novelty of the barbarians that
were with the king Herod. When he had dwelt there certain days in the court he heard the
fame and renomee of the miracles of our Lord Jesu Christ, and began to enquire and search
so much that he heard say that our Lord would go over the sea of Galilee, and he put
himself in the multitude of the people that followed him. It happed that this day, our
Lord, by his infinite largesse, refreshed and fed five thousand men with five loaves of
barley bread and two fishes, in the presence of S. Eutrope. When S. Eutrope had seen this
miracle and heard say of his other miracles, from then forthon he began to believe a
little in him, but he durst not for his pedagogue or his governor which was with him, for
the admiral, his father, had committed him in his guard. When he had fed him with the
other, he went to Jerusalem into the temple for to pray and adore his creator in his law,
and after this went home to his father, and told him all that he had seen in the country
from whence he came. I have seen a man, said he, that is called Christ, but in all the
world is not his pareil ne like, for he raiseth dead men, he healeth the lazars, he maketh
blind men to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to go right, and healeth all manner
sicknesses, and yet more, tofore me he hath fed, with five loaves of barley and two
fishes, five thousand men. Wherefore if it pleased him that hath made heaven and earth to
send him into this country, I shall be glad and joyous, if it pleased you, to do him
honour and reverence. When the admiral heard the words of the child he went thinking how
he might see him. A little while after, the child, that had great desire to see yet Jesu
Christ, took leave of his father, which he gat with great pain, and came sith with great
company for to worship and adore in the temple, where he saw on a day how the
children of Jerusalem came with a great company of people tofore our Lord Jesu Christ unto
Bethany, making to him great reverence, and took the boughs of palm, and of olives, and of
other trees, and many other flowers, which they threw in the way where he should pass, and
sang with high voice: Hosanna! Then S. Eutrope himself began to cast flowers in the way,
but he was much angry because he might not see Jesu Christ for the multitude of the people
that was there, and, after that is contained in the gospel, he was in the company of them
that were come for to adore and worship in Jerusalem at the feast that was there, which
said to S. Philip: Sir, we would see Jesu Christ. Then S. Philip, accompanied with S.
Andrew, told it to Jesu Christ. And anon after, S. Eutrope and his company saw him sitting
upon an ass, whereof he was right glad, and from then forthon he believed secretly and
accompanied with him, but he doubted his fellowship, forasmuch as his father had commanded
them to keep him well, and that they should bring him again with them. Then he heard say
that the Jews should shortly bring Jesu Christ to death, and because he would not
see so great cruelty done to so true and just a man, he departed on the morn and went in
to his country, and recounted all that he had seen of our Lord. A little while after he
returned, and heard say how he was put to death, wherefore he was sorry, for he loved him
much. But when he heard say that he was risen from death to life, and ascended in to
heaven, he was much joyous, and returned into Babylon, fulfilled with the Holy Ghost. And
all the Jews that he found in his country, for anger he destroyed, because they of
Jerusalem had put our Lord to death.
After this, a certain time, when the apostles were departed through the world, two
shining candlesticks of gold were sent into Persia which were of very faith, that is to
say Simon and Thaddeus the apostles of God, and entered into Babylon and had chased out of
the country two enchanters, Zaroen and Arphaxat, which had perverted the people by false
and deceivable speaking. And in this city these two apostles began to sow the word of God,
and to do many miracles, and heal sick people of divers maladies. When this holy young man
knew of their coming he was right glad, and admonished his father to leave his errors and
his idols, and that he should receive the christian faith to the end that he might get
thereby heaven. And what by the predication of the apostles, and by the counsel and
exhorting of his son, his father and many others were converted and regenerate in the holy
font of baptism by the hands of the apostles, and after, all the city was converted to the
faith, and did do make a much notable church there, and ordained there a prelate,
an holy man and true, whom they had brought with them from Jerusalem, named Abdias,
endoctrined in the doctrine of the gospels, and they ordained S. Eutrope archdeacon. And
when they had all thus ordained, they departed and went in to other cities for to preach
the faith of God, and anon after, they received the palm of martyrdom. After, S. Eutrope
wrote their passion in letters of Chaldee and of Greek. A little while after, S. Eutrope
heard speak of the miracles that S. Peter prince of the apostles did, which that time was
pope of Rome; he took leave of the bishops privily, without witting of his father, and
came to Rome. When S. Peter saw him, he received him much agreeably, and endoctrined and
taught him the law of God much diligently. When he had dwelled with S. Peter a long while,
by the ordinance and commandment of S. Peter, he went in to France with many others for to
preach the christian faith, and thus as he entered into the city of Xaintes; he went
through the streets and places preaching the faith of Christ. Anon, as they of the city
saw him, they knew well that he was a barbarian by his speech, and when they heard him
preach things that they never heard tofore, they burned him with burning fagots, and beat
him with poles villainously, and when they had so villainously beaten him, they put him
out of the city. But the glorious friend of God bare full patiently this persecution, and
made in a mountain, right nigh the city, a little lodge of boughs, wherein he dwelled a
great while, and by daytime he came and preached in the city, and at night he returned
unto his little lodge, where he abode in fastings and prayers and in orisons. Then when he
had been long there and had converted but few of the people, he went again to S.
Peter to Rome, and when be came thither he found that he had suffered passion on the
cross, and found there S. Clement in his stead, which commanded and counselled him to
return into the said city of Xaintes, and that in preaching the commandments of God
benignly he should abide the palm of victory for the love of our Lord, that is to wit
passion and martyrdom. Then S. Clement ordained him a bishop, and also S. Denis which was
come out of Greece to Rome, and many other brethren which S. Clement sent into France, and
thus departed they from Rome and arrived in the city of Auxerre, and there, in great love,
they kissed and embraced each other in taking leave for to depart one from another and
tenderly wept. S. Denis and his fellows came to Paris and S. Eutrope went to Xaintes,
strongly confirmed and firm in the love of God, all prest and ready to suffer all
torments, and much constantly preached the faith in such wise that many were baptized.
Among whom the daughter of the king of the said city, which was named Euscelle, was
baptized. When her father knew it, he had thereof so great indignation that he put her out
of the city, and anon as she was out, for the love of God she went straight unto the lodge
of the holy man and abode there. Always the father for love that he had to his daughter
was sorry that he had put her out, and sent ofttimes to her messengers for to come again
home to him. To whom she answered that she had liefer for the faith of Jesu Christ dwell
out of the city, than to return in again to sacrifice to the idols. For which answer the
father was so angry and wroth that he wist not what to do, and did do assemble of
all the butchers of the town, and gave to them an hundred and fifty shillings for to put
to death S. Eutrope, and that they should bring again his daughter to his house. Then, the
day tofore the calends of May, they assembled with them many Saracens and came to the
lodge of S. Eutrope, and first they stoned him, and after they beat this holy man with
staves and scourges leaded, all naked, and after they cleaved his head with a butcher's
axe, and sawed him with a saw. The maid with many others buried him by night in his
tigurion or lodge, and kept him in vigils with lights, and in divine obsequies, as long as
she lived. A little while after, she departed out of this world right holily, and was
buried beside her master as she had required by her life. After this, a certain space of
time, they of Xaintes edified over this holy corpse a much notable church, in which all
sick folk of divers maladies and sicknesses have been healed, and yet daily be, and also
many prisoners be also, by the prayer of this holy saint, delivered of their irons, as
gyves, bolts, and other, which be hanged in the said church in remembrance that they have
been loosed and unbound by the prayers of S. Eutrope. S. Denis wrote the passion and
martyrdom of S. Eutrope in Greek and sent it into Greece, to his friends that believed
there in God, by the hands of S. Clement that then was pope of Rome, in exalting and
glorifying the name of God which without end reigneth and shall reign. Amen.
Thus endeth the Life of S. Eutrope and
Beginneth of S. Marcial.
In the time that our Lord Jesu Christ preached in Jewry, in the lineage of Benjamin,
much people came to him for to have that was necessary to them, as well of drink as of
meat, and in especial for to hear and understand such things as touched the salvation of
the soul. On a day, in the midst of all the company, came a man that was of the said
lineage of Benjamin, the most noble of all the Jews, named by his right name Marcial, and
his wife was called Elizabeth, which had between them both a child of the age of fifteen
years, that was named also Marcial. When they heard our Lord Jesu Christ preach, which
said in his predication: Do ye penance, the realm of heaven is nigh to them that do
penance, and who that is not regenerate in water by the sacrament of baptism he may not
enter into the realm of heaven, then by the commandment of our Lord Jesu Christ Marcial,
his wife, and their son Marcial, which was a child replenished in holy doctrine, were
baptized of S. Peter. Then Zaccheus and Joseph, the which buried our Lord, were baptized
also, and many other of the people of the Jews, which were over long to tell here all
their names. When all this was accomplished, and that every each turned homeward to his
house, the child Marcial returned not with his father and mother, but gave himself all
over to our Lord Jesu Christ, and put him in the company as one of his disciples, and held
him always by S. Peter, which was right nigh of his kin, and from then forthon he was so
enlumined and endoctrined of our Lord and of S. Peter that he nothing desired so much as
for to accomplish commandments solitaries. After this S. Peter came to Rome, and prayed to
Marcial that he would go with him, and thus as they had been together endoctrined with one
holy doctrine, and of one meritorious dilection, in like wise that together they receive the common reward of the joy perdurable. And thus as they went they were accompanied
of some disciples of Antioch, among whom were Alphinian and Austridiman, and many other.
When they were entered within Rome, they were received of a man named Marcel, at that time
consul of the Romans. Thus as they dwelled there God appeared to S. Peter, and commanded
him that he should send S. Marcial into the provinces of Gaul for to preach the faith and
the belief to the people which were in the bonds ot the devil of hell. Then S. Peter
called to him S. Marcial and told him all by order that our Lord had said and commanded
him. When S. Marcial heard that, he began strongly to weep, because he doubted the far
region, and the people which had no knowledge of God. When S. Peter saw him thus weep he
began much sweetly to comfort him in saying to him: My holy brother, be not heavy
ne sorrowful, for God shall be always with thee like as he hath promised to us saying: Lo!
I am always and shall be with you unto the consummation of the world. Thus, my sweet
brother, he commanded us after his resurrection saying: Go ye unto and through the
universal world and preach the gospel to all creatures, that who shall believe and shall
be baptized he shall be saved, and they that will not do so shall be damned. Which things,
my blessed brother, behoveth us to keep and put in effect, to the end that we forget not
the commandments of God. Anon after these blessed words S. Marcial took leave of S. Peter,
and brought with him the two disciples aforesaid; that is to wit Alphinian and
Austridinian and departed like as God had commanded to S. Peter.
Thus then as they went, and that they were weary and sore travelled by the way, which
was long and grievous, S. Austridinian departed out of this world and died. When S.
Marcial saw that he was dead he returned in great haste to Rome, and told to S. Peter that
which was befallen in their way. When S. Peter had heard him he said: Return as hastily as
thou mayest, and take my bourdon in thy hand, and thou shalt come where thou hast left thy
brother, touch his body with this bourdon and anon he shall arise and go in thy company as
he did tofore. When S. Marcial came again to the corpse he touched it with the bourdon
like as S. Peter bade him, and anon he was raised from death to life.
After, when S. Marcial had journeyed long by divers countries in long preaching and
sowing the word of God, they came in to Guienne unto a castle called Tulle and there were
received of a rich and a mighty man named Arnold, which had a daughter that daily was
tormented with the enemy. Thus as S. Marcial entered into the house the fiend began to
cry, saying: I know well now that I must issue out of the body of this maid, for the
angels of paradise that be with thee, Marcial, torment me right grievously; but I pray
thee by the name of him that was crucified, whom thou preachest of, that thou send me not
into the abysm of hell. Then S. Marcial said to him: I conjure thee in the name of Jesu
Christ that was crucified for us, that thou issue out of the body of this maid, and never
return again, but that thou go unto a place desert where bird, ne fowl, ne person dwelleth.
With this commandment the maid cast out the enemy and she fell down as dead. Then S.
Marcial took her by the hand and raised her up and delivered her to her father, whole and
safe.
Holiness and benignity, with all humility, shone in S. Marcial, and he was always in
prayers. Another miracle also our Lord showed by the prayers of S. Marcial in the same
place. The prince of the said castle, which was called Nerva, and was cousin to the
emperor Nero, had a daughter which was suffocated and murdered by the fiend, and was dead.
Then the father and mother of the child, that were much sorrowful and heavy, with a great
part of the people, brought the body of the child tofore S. Marcial, tenderly weeping, and
saying to him: O man of God, help us at this time, thou seest how it is with us. When S.
Marcial saw the lamentation and the sorrow that they made, he had pity on them, and said
with an high voice: I pray you all, as well christians as paynims, that ye will devoutly
pray God Almighty that by his benign grace it please him to give again the life to this
child. The two disciples of S. Marcial, and a few of christian people that were there, put
them to prayers, and sith S. Marcial himself made his prayer, saying: Sire, I pray thee in
the name of thy blessed dear Son and of thy good friend S. Peter, by the ordinance and
commandment of whom I am come hither, that it please thee to raise this child here: to the
end that when she shall be raised many may believe in thine holy and precious name. Then
S. Marcial, trusting in the help of God, took the child by the hand saying to her: In the
name of our Lord Jesu Christ, that of the Jews for us was crucified, and the third day
rose from death to life, arise up and stand right on thy feet. Anon the child arose right
upon her feet, and sith kneeled down to the feet of the holy man, saying to him: O man of
God, I require thee to baptize me to the end that I may be saved, and mark me with the
sign of the holy cross, for otherwise may none be saved but if he be baptized. Anon, S.
Marcial baptized him and with him in the same place were well christened also, as well men
as women three thousand and six hundred. And after this, S. Marcial went and destroyed the
idols and brought them to nought. From thence went S. Marcial and his two disciples, and
departed and came to Limoges, where they were beniguly received of a matron that was named
Susanna, in whose presence Marcial healed one that was frenatic. When the good woman
Susanna saw the miracle that so was made in her presence, anon she and her meiny were
baptized.
After this S. Marcial went into the temple where the priests of the idols were, the
which beat him grievously, and sith put him in prison. On the morn, as he made his prayer,
there descended a light so great upon him that men might not behold him, the chains of
iron burst, and the doors of the prison opened, the keepers and they that were there
required to be baptized, and the priests that had so beaten him were smitten to death by
thunder and lightning. Then the others that were there came to S. Marcial, in to the
prison, and prayed him that he would raise them that so were smitten to death by the
thunder, promising to him that if he so did they all would be baptized. Then our Lord by
his prayer raised them again from death to life. Then that same time were turned to
christian faith and baptized twelve thousand creatures, as well men as women. And after
this, on a time died the holy woman Susanna, and totore her death she recommended to S.
Marcial her daughter, that was called Valerienne, which had promised and avowed to our
Lord chastity as long as she lived. After, when the holy maid knew that there should come
to Limoges a lord named Steven, which was lord of all the province from the river of Rhone
unto the sea, she was sore afraid lest he would do to her any grief or noyance against her
vow, and gave away all her riches to poor folk for the love of God. When the said Steven
was come to Limoges, he made to do come tofore him the holy maid, to the end to have his
will of her; but when she was come and he saw that she would not consent to do his will,
anon he made her head to be smitten off. Then the squire that beheaded her heard the
angels sing, that bare the soul of the holy virgin into heaven, with much great joy and
solemnity, and anon he returned unto his master and told him all that he had seen and
heard, and sith fell down dead at his feet. Then the duke and all his company had much
great dread, and the duke himself clad him next his flesh in a sharp hair and hard, for
great repentance, and prayed S. Marcial that he would pray God that it might please him to
raise his squire from death to life, and he would believe in the faith of Jesu Christ and
be christened. Anon after that S. Marcial had prayed, our Lord raised the squire; then the
duke and well fifteen thousand persons in his company were baptized. In this time the same
duke by the commandment of the emperor Nero went in to Italy with a great company
of men of arms. When he had accomplished the commandment of Nero, they went to Rome for to
see S. Peter, whom they found preaching to the people, which people were barefoot and had
clothed them with the hair, Iying on the ground tofore S. Peter in demanding him pardon of
their sins. When S. Peter saw the duke and so much fair people in his company, he demanded
them what they were, and of what country. Then the duke told him by order how he and his
company had been converted and baptized of S. Marcial.
After, when they were departed from Rome, they thought that they would go see S.
Marcial tofore ere they returned in to their country. Thus then as they were lodged nigh
by a river, and the son of the earl of Poictiers bained him in the said river, the
enemy the devil drowned and smothered him to the death. When his father knew it he went
weeping tenderly to S. Marcial, and prayed him to raise his son from death to life. Then
S. Marcial went to the place where he was drowned and commanded to the fiend to bring the
body out of the water, and that he should appear in a likeness visible tofore them all.
Anon, issued out of the water three fiends, like Ethiopians, more black than coals, and
had terrible feet and eyes, and great hair that covered all the body, and cast out at
their mouths and nostrils fire like sulphur, and cried like ravens. When they had told to
S. Marcial the harms and evils that they had done, he commanded them that they should
depart and go into places desert, whereas they might never noy ne grieve persons living.
S. Marcial, which had pity and compassion on them that wept for the dead child
raised him from death to life, and then the child told, tofore them all that were there,
how the fiend had drowned and smothered him, and how they would have bounden
him with chains of iron burning, but an angel of heaven delivered him, and showed him the
fire of purgatory, and from thence led him to the gate of Paradise, and as the fiends
required to have him, a voice came from heaven and commanded that he should arise again,
and that he should live yet twenty-six years. When he had told him all this he gave
himself all over to S. Marcial, and from then forthon lived in great abstinence and holy
life, like as the angel had taught him. S. Marcial did many miracles and virtues. There
was in that time a woman that had an husband sick of the palsy, to which woman S. Marcial
delivered his bourdon, with which she touched a little her husband, and incontinent he was
whole. Another time the fire was so great in the city of Bordeaux that all was on a flame.
S. Marcial held up his bourdon against the fire and anon it was quenched.
Another time, as he would have hallowed a church at Limoges, the prince aforesaid
conveyed and summoned all the people, poor and rich, to come to the dedication of this
church, and when they were all assembled, S. Marcial admonished and warned them to be in
very chastity. It happed among them whilst the mass was on saying that there was a knight,
which he and his wife were sore vexed and troubled with fiends, and as they were brought
tofore S. Marcial, he demanded of the fiends why they vexed them so, and they answered to
him: Thou hast commanded them that the people maintain chastity, and these two have all
night exposed them in lechery, and this is the cause that wherefore we be entered
into them. S. Marcial, at the request of the prince and people, healed them.
This same year, that is to say the fortieth year after the passion of our Lord Jesu
Christ, the same, our Lord Jesu Christ, appeared to him and showed how that hastily he
should depart from this world, and be with his other friends in the realm of heaven. Then
he did do assemble all the christian people that he had converted, and to them made a much
sweet sermon in taking leave of them. Soon after he was sick of the fevers, and then our
Lord appeared to him with a great quantity of angels, which with much joy and gladness
bare the soul of S. Marcial into heaven: Ubi est honor et gloria in secula seculorum,
Amen. This S. Marcial of whom we speak here was the same child, as some say, on whom our
Lord laid his hand upon his head, when the contention and strife was among the apostles
which of them should be greatest in the realm of heaven, and then our Lord set the child
Marcial in the midst of them, laying his hand upon his head, as said is, and said to them:
If ye be not little and humble as this child is, ye shall not enter into heaven; he that
shall be least among you he shall be greatest in my realm, as the gospel maketh more plain
mention. The which glorious S. Marcial let us pray unto, that he procure unto our Lord
Jesu Christ, that all we may have part with him in the joy and glory perdurable.
Amen.
Here followeth the Life of S. Genevieve.
The noble S. Genevieve was born at Nanterre, beside Paris, in the time of the
emperor Honorius and Theodosius the less, and was with her father and mother unto the time
of the emperor Valentinian. Anon after her nativity, the Holy Ghost showed unto S. Germain
of Auxerre how she should serve God holily and virginly, the which thing he told to many.
After, she was sacred of the bishop of Chartres, Viliques, and came to dwell at Paris full
of virtues and of miracles, in the time of S. Nicasius the martyr, whom the Hungarians
martyred, and after, in the time of S. Remigius under Childeric, king of France, and
after, under Clovis his son, first christian king of France, and was named Louis in his
baptism, whom S. Remigius christened. And an angel of paradise brought to him an ampul
full of chrism of which he was anointed, and also his successors, kings of France, be
anointed and sacred at their coronation. And after, he was of good life, and founded the
church that is now called S. Genevieve, on the mount of Paris, in the honour of S. Peter
and S. Paul, at the request of S. Clotilde his wife, of whom the body resteth in the said
church, at the incitation of S. Genevieve, and S. Remigius did hallow and dedifie it. The
said king did increase much the realm of France, and franchised it by his puissance from
the Romans. He conquered Melun, and the land Iying by Seine and Loire, Touraine, Toulouse,
and all Guienne, and at his coming to Angouleme the walls of the city fell down. He made
Almaine and Bourgogne his tributaries, he ordained and instituted Paris to be the chief
siege of the realm, and he reigned thirty years, and after, he was interred in the said
church, the year of our Lord five hundred and fourteen. In the time of the said king lived
the said virgin, unto the time of king Clothaire his son, of which virgin the soul flew
into heaven and the body abode in earth, in the said church, in which she is yet whole and
honorably interred, and devoutly worshipped by the good and devout christian people.
In the time that the said virgin S. Genevieve was a child, S. Germain of Auxerre and S.
Lew of Troyes, elect of the prelates of France, for to go quench an heresy that was in
Great Britain, now called England, came to Nanterre for to be lodged and harboured, the
people came against them for to have their benison. Among the people, S. Germain, by the
enseignements of the Holy Ghost, espied out the little maid S. Genevieve, and made her to
come to him, and kissed her head and demanded her name, and whose daughter she was, and
the people about her said that her name was Genevieve, and her father Severe, and her
mother Geronce, which came unto him, and the holy man said: Is this child yours? They
answered: Yea. Blessed be ye, said the holy man, when God hath given to you so noble
lineage, know ye for certain that the day of her nativity, the angels sang and hallowed
great mystery in heaven with great joy and gladness; she shall be of so great merit
against God. And of her good life and conversation many shall take ensample, that they
shall leave their sin and shall convert them to God, and shall live religiously, by which
they shall have pardon and joy perdurable. Then he said to Genevieve: My daughter tell to
me, and be not ashamed, if ye will be sacred and live in virginity unto the death, as
espouse of Jesu Christ? The maid answered: Holy father, ye demand that I desire;
there lacketh no more but that by your prayers our Lord will accomplish my devotion. The
holy man said: Have firm belief in God, and prove by works the good things that ye believe
in your heart and say with your mouth, and our Lord shall give you force and virtue.
S.Germain held his hand on her head till he came unto the minster, there he gave to the
people the benison. S. Germain said to the father and mother of the maid that they should
bring her again on the morn to him. When she was brought again on the morn, S. Germain saw
in her a sign celestial, I wot not what, and said to her: God thee saluteth, Genevieve.
Daughter, rememberest thou what thou promisedst to me yesterday of the virginity of thy
body? Holy father, said the maid, I remember well that, and by the help of God I desire
and think to accomplish my purpose. Then the ho]y man looked on the ground and saw a penny
signed with the cross, which came by the grace and will of God; he took it up and gave it
her and said: Fair daughter take this and bear it in mind of Jesu Christ your espouse, and
suffer not about you none other arrayment of gold ne silver, ne of precious stones, for if
the beauty of this world surmount a little your thought, ye shall lose the goods of
heaven. He commended her to God, and prayed her that she would remember him in her orisons
and prayers, and recommended her to father and mother. The two holy bishops went from
thence into England, where were heretics against the faith, which said that children born
of father and mother baptized had no need to be christened, which is not truth, for our
Lord Jesu Christ saith clearly, in the gospel, that none may enter into the kingdom of
heaven if he be not regenerate of water and of the Holy Ghost, that is to say, regenerate
by the sacrament of baptism. By this scripture, and by semblable, the holy prelates
destroyed their false creance and belief, and by virtue also and by miracles, for in a
solemnity of Easter, by many that were new baptized, in singing Alleluia they chased and
drove away their enemies of Scotland, and strangers of other places, that were come for to grieve them.
It happed on a day that Geronce, the mother of the holy maid Genevieve, went on an holy
and festal day toward the minster, and her daughter went after, saying that the faith that
she had promised to S. Germain she should keep by the help of God and that she should oft
go to the minster to the end that she might desire to be the espouse of Jesu Christ, and
that she might be worthy of his love. The mother was angry and smote her on the cheek. God
avenged the child that the mother became blind, and that in twenty-one months she saw not.
When the mother had been long in this pain, which much annoyed her, she remembered
of the goodness that S. Germain had said of her daughter, and called her and said: My
daughter, go to the pit and fetch me water; the maid went hastily; when she was at the pit
she began to weep because her mother had lost her sight for her sake, and took up water
and bare it to her mother. The mother stretched her hands to heaven, and took the water
with great faith and reverence, and made her daughter to sign her with the sign of the
holy cross and wash her eyes, and anon she bepan for to see a little. When she had twice
or thrice washed, her sight came whole to her again as it had been tofore. After
this it happed that the holy maid was offered to the bishop of Chartres, Viliques, for to
be sacred with two other elder maidens; for men offered them after their age. But the holy
bishop knew by the Holy Ghost that Genevieve was the most worthy and digne, and said to
her, that was behind, that she should come before, for God had then sanctified her. After
the death of her father and her mother the holy damsel came and dwelt at Paris for to
assay and prove her there, and for to avail the more she was sick of the palsy, so much
that it seemed that her members were disjoined and departed that one from that other,
whereof she was so sore tormented that during three days she was kept as for dead, for
there appeared on her no sign of life save that her jowes were a little red. In this space
and time, as she confessed after, an angel led her in spirit whereas the rest was
of good folk, and where the torment was of evil people. Afterward she showed to many the
secrets of their consciences, as she that was taught and enseigned of the Holy
Ghost. The second time S. Germain returned from England and came to Paris the people
almost all went against him with great joy, and tofore all other things S. Germain
demanded how Genevieve did, but the people, which more is inclined to say evil of good
people than well, answered that of her was nothing, in blaming her, which was to her a
praising. Of other men's praising is none the better, ne of others blaming is none the worse,
therefore the holy man set nought of their jangling, but as soon as he entered into the
city he went straight to the house of the holy virgin whom he saluted in so great humility
that all they marvelled, and showed to them that dispraised her, the ground wet of her
tears, and recited to them the beginning of her life, and how he found at Nanterre that
she was chosen of God, and recommended her to the people.
Tidings came to Paris that Attila, the felon king of Hungary, had enterprised to
destroy and waste the parts of France, and to subdue them to his domination. The burgesses
of Paris, for great dread that they had, sent their goods into other cities more sure. S.
Genevieve warned and admonished the good women of the town that they should wake in
fastings and in orisons, by which they might assuage the ire of our Lord and eschew the
tyranny of their enemies, like as did sometime the two holy women Judith and Esther. They
obeyed her, and were long and many days in the church in wakings, fastings and in orisons.
She said to the burgesses that they should not remove their goods, ne send them out of the
town of Paris, for the other cities that they supposed should be more sure, should be
destroyed and wasted, but by the grace of God, Paris should have none harm. And, some had
indignation at her, and said that a false prophet was risen and appeared in their time, an
began among them to ask and treat whether they should drown her or stone her. Whilst they
were thus treating, as God would, came to Paris, after the decease of S. Germain,
the archdeacon of Auxerre, and when he understood that they treated together of her death,
he came to them, an said: Fair sirs, for God's sake do not this mischief, for she of whom
ye treat, S. Germain witnesseth that she was chosen of God in her mother's belly, and lo!
here be the letters that he hath sent to her in which he recommendeth him to her
prayers. When the burgesses heard these words recited by him of S. Germain, and saw
the letters, they marvelled and feared God, and left their evil counsel and did no more
thereto. Thus our Lord kept her from harm, which keepeth alway them that be his, and
defendeth, after that the apostle saith, and for her love did so much that the
tyrants approached not Paris, thank and glory to God and honour to the virgin. This holy
maid did great penance in tormenting her body all her life, and became lean for to give
good example. For sith she was of the age of fifteen years unto fifty, she fasted every
day save Sunday and Thursday. In her refection she had nothing but barley bread, and
sometime beans, the which, sodden after fourteen days or three weeks, she ate for all
delices. Always she was in prayers in wakings and in penances, she drank never wine ne
other liquor, that might make her drunk, in all her life. When she had lived and used this
life fifty years, the bishops that were that time, saw and beheld that she was over
feeble by abstinence as for her age, and warned her to increase a little her fare. The
holy woman durst not gainsay them, for our Lord saith of the prelates: Who heareth you
heareth me, and who despiseth you, despiseth me, and so she began by obedience to eat with
her bread, fish and milk, and how well that, she so did, she beheld the heaven and
wept, whereof it is to believe that she saw appertly our Lord Jesu Christ after the
promise of the gospel that saith that, Blessed be they that be clean of heart for they shall
see God; she had her heart and body pure and clean. There be twelve virtues virginal,
saith Hermes Pastor, without which no virgin may be agreeable to God, that is to
wit: Faith, abstinence, patience, magnanimity, simplesse, innocence, concord, charity,
discipline, chastity, truth, and prudence. These virtues accomplished the holy virgin by
work, she taught and enseigned by word, and showed oft by ensample.
Oft and tofore all other holy places, she visited the place whereas rested S.
Denis and his fellows, and had great devotion to edify upon the said holy bodies a
church, but she had not whereof. On a time came to her the priests, as oft they had done
tofore, to whom she said: Reverend Fathers in God, I pray and require that each of you do
his power and his devoir to assemble matter whereof might be made and edified a church in
the honour of the glorious martyrs S. Denis and his fellows, for the place where they rest
ought much to be worshipped and doubted, which first taught to our ancestors the faith.
Dame, answered the priests, we would fain, and have great will thereto, but we can get no
chalk ne lime. Then said the holy virgin with a glad cheer in prophesying as she that was
replenished by the Holy Ghost: Go ye I pray you to Paris upon the great bridge, and bring
that ye shall find there. They went thither and abode there a while, marvelled and
abashed. And anon came by them two swineherds speaking together, of which that one said:
As I went yesterday after one of my sows, I found a fournil of lime marvellously great,
that other answered: And I found in the wood under the root of a tree that the wind had
thrown down a fournil of lime of which I trow was never none taken away. When the priests
heard this they had great admiration, and blessed our Lord that had given such grace to
Genevieve his handmaid. They demanded where the fournils were, and after
returned and told to the virgin what they had found. She began to weep for joy,
and as soon as the priests were gone and departed, she set on her knees and was all the
night in orisons and in tears, in requiring help of God to perform this work, and on the
morn early, all mat and travailed of waking, she went to Genese, a good priest, and prayed
him that he would do his pain and labour that the church might be edified, and told him
tidings of the lime. When Genese heard this he was all amarvelled, and fell down to her
feet and promised to her that night and day he would do his labour to accomplish her
commandment. By the help of God and of S. Genevieve, and of the people of Paris, the said
church was begun in the honour of the blessed martyrs S. Denis, S. Rustique, and S.
Eleuthere which now is called S. Denis de Lestree. There be yet the holy bodies where our
Lord showeth fair miracles, for as the workmen entended to make the edificee each after
his craft, it happed that their drink failed and was done, and Genese the priest said to
Genevieve, which knew not hereof, that she should talk with the workmen so long that he
might go to Paris and fetch drink. When she heard this she demanded for the vessel
that they had emptied, and it was brought to her; she made them to depart from her. Then
she kneeled down on her knees and prayed God with warm tears to help her, and when she
felt that our Lord had heard her prayer, she arose up, and made the sign of the cross upon
the said vessel, and a marvellous thing happed, for the vessel was full. The workmen drank
their bellyful, and as oft as they would, unto the time the church was perfectly made,
whereof they thanked our Lord.
The holy virgin had devotion to wake the night that our Lord rose from death to life,
after the custom and statutes of ancient fathers. It happed on a time that she put her on
the way, tofore day, to go to the said church of S. Denis, and made to bear a candle
burning tofore her. The night was dark, the wind great, and it rained fast, which quenched
the light of the candle.The maidens that were in her company were sore troubled; she asked
after the candle, and as soon as she had it in her hand it was lighted by God's will
again, and so she bare it burning unto the church.
Another time when she had ended her prayer, a candle that she held, lighted in her hand
by the grace of God. Semblably in her cell, on a time was a candle lighted in her hand
without any fire of this world, of which candle many sick folk by their faith and
reverence have been healed. That taper is kept yet at Notre Dame de Paris. A woman which
by the temptation of the devil, which to his power always deceiveth the good, stole
away her shoes, but as soon as she was at home she lost her sight. When she saw that our
Lord had avenged the wrong that she had done to the virgin, she did her to be led to her
with the theft. When she came tofore the holy virgin she fell down to her feet, and
required her of forgiveness and restoring of her sight. Genevieve, that was right
debonair, took her up from the ground, and in smiling, gave to her the sight again of her
eyes.
The holy virgin on a time went to Laon, and the people of the town went out
against her, among whom were the father and mother of a maid that had been nine
years so paralytic that none might show the jointure of her members. They besought
and required S. Genevieve that she would visit the sick maid. She went and saw her, and
sith made her prayer as she was accustomed, and after, handled the members of the maid,
and commanded her to do on her clothes and hosen and shoes. Incontinent she arose in good
health in such wise that she went unto the church with the people. The folk that saw this,
blest our Lord, that had given such grace to his damsel Genevieve, and when she returned
they conveyed her, singing with great joy. The king of France, Childeric, how be it he was
a paynim, held her in great reverence, so did also the barons of France, for the fair
miracles that she did in the name of our Lord Jesu Christ.
Whereof It happed on a time that the said king held certain prisoners judged to death,
but because Genevieve should not demand them, he issued out of Paris, and made to shut the
gates after him. The holy virgin knew it anon, and went hastily after him for to help to
deliver them. As soon as she came to the gates, they opened without key, all the people
seeing which, thought it a great wonder. She pursued the king and obtained grace
for the prisoners.
In the parts of the Orient beyond Antioch, was a good man named Simeon, which had
despised this world, and was of marvellous holy life, which demanded of S. Genevieve of
the merchants that went in to those parts, and by them he saluted her much honourably, and
recommended him unto her prayers. It was a great marvel that the holy man which had never
seen ne heard speak of her did do greet her by her name. Verily the friends of God that
know his will and do thereafter, have tidings that one from that other by administration
of the Holy Ghost, they shall never be separate ne departed, as S. Ambrose being at Milan
knew of the death of S. Martin at Tours.
At Meaux was a noble damsel which was named by her proper name Celine, which, when she
had heard of the grace that God had given to S. Genevieve, she required her to change her
habit. A young man had fianced and trothed her, which had great indignation when he heard
of those tidings, and came to Meaux in a great ire, where the two virgins dwelt; and when
they knew of his coming they fled unto the church. There happed a fair miracle, for as
they came to the church door, which was locked and fast shut, the door that was so locked
opened by his gree by himself; thus S. Genevieve delivered S. Celine from peril and from
the contagion of the world, the which persevered in abstinence, and in chastity to her
end. In this time the said Celine offered to S. Genevieve one, her chamberer, which had
lain sick two years and might not go; the holy virgin handled her members with her worthy
hands and anon she was whole and in good point.
There were brought to her twelve men that were wood and beset with devils, unto Paris,
which were over hard bestead and tormented of the enemy, the virgin had great pity, and
went to prayer and orisons in requiring our Lord, with salt tears, that by his grace and
goodness he would deliver them of this pestilence; and as she persevered in her prayers,
they were hanged in the air in such manner as they touched nothing. She arose from her
prayer, and said that they should go to S. Denis, the wood men answered that they might
not but she unbound them; the virgin which was for them in great sorrow commanded that
they should go; then anon they suffered them to be led secretly, their hands bound behind
their backs. She went after them, and when she was in the church of S. Denis, she
stretched herself on the ground in orisons and in weepings. Thus as she persevered in
prayers and weepings, the wood men cried with a high voice that they approached whom the
virgin called in to their help. None ought to doubt that the enemy, that saw that he must
needs issue and go out, signified by the mouth of the demoniacs, that the apostles,
martyrs and other saints, that the holy virgin called, came unto her help by the gift of
God, which is ready to do the will of them that dread him and call him in truth. When the
holy virgin heard this that they said, she arose up and blessed each after other with the
sign of the cross, and anon they were delivered of the enemies. They that were present
felt so great stench that they doubted nothing but the souls were delivered from the
vexation of the devil, and blessed our Lord for this miracle.
There was at Bourges a damsel, which heard speak of the great renomee of this
holy saint, and came to Paris for to speak to her. She had been sacred, but after the
consecration she had lost her virginity. The holy Genevieve demanded of her if she was a
virgin nun, or wife, or a widow. She answered that she was a virgin sacred; Genevieve said
nay, telling to her the place and time of her defloration and the man that had done the
fait. When she saw that it was for nought that she said she was a virgin, her conscience
remorsed her, and fell down to her feet in requiring pardon. In semblable wise the holy
Genevieve discovered to many the secrets of their consciences, which be not here written
because it were over noyous and long to write.
A woman whom the holy virgin had healed, had a child of the age of four years which
felI in a pit, he was therein the space of three hours. The mother came and drew it out,
and bare it all dead unto the saint, in rending her hair and beating her breast and paps,
and weeping bitterly, and laid the child dead at her feet. The holy virgin covered it with
her mantle, and after, she fell down in her prayers and wept, and anon after, when she
ceased of her weeping, our Lord showed a fair miracle, for the child that was dead
revived, the which was baptized at Easter after, and was named Celonier because she was
raised in the cell of S. Genevieve. There came from Meaux a man to this holy virgin which
had his hand dried unto the wrist, and she handled his joints and fingers, and made
thereon the sign of the cross, and anon the hand became all whole.
Genevieve that knew well, that our Lord Jesu Christ was baptized the day of Epiphany,
and after, went into desert in giving enseignement to them that be regenerate in the
sacrament of baptism, to fast, wake and adore busily, and to accomplish by work the grace
that they have taken in the baptism, by the ensample of sweet Jesu Christ. Then entered
the holy virgin in to her cell the Sunday tofore the said feast, and abode there as
recluse unto the Thursday, absolute in waking, in prayers, in tastings and orisons.
Thither came a woman to see her, more for curiosity than for good faith, and therefore God
punished her, for as soon as she approached the door of the cell she lost her sight and
became blind, but the holy maid by her debonairty, and by her prayer gat her sight again,
and by the sign of the holy cross, when she issued out of her cell in the end of Lent.
In the time that the city of Paris was assieged by the term of ten years, like as the
ancient histories rehearse, there followed so great famine and hunger that many died for
hunger. The holy virgin, that pity constrained her, went to the Seine for to go fetch by
ship some victuals. When she came unto a place of Seine, whereas of custom ships were wont
to perish, she made the ship to be drawn to the rivage and commanded to cut down a tree
that was in the water, and she set lier to prayer. Then, as the ship should have smitten
upon the tree it fell down, and two wild heads, grey and horrible, issued thereout, which
stank so sore that the people there were envenomed by the space of two hours, and never
after perished ship there, thank be to God and to his holy saint.
Unto Arcy, the castle, went this holy virgin, and there came against her a great lord
which required her that she should visit his wife, which had had long time the palsy. The
holy virgin went and visited her which had been long sick, with prayers and orisons, and
after, blessed her with the sign of the cross, and commanded her that she should arise.
She then, that had been four years sick and might not help herself, arose, which seeing,
all the people thanked our Lord.
From Arcy she went to Troyes in Champagne. The people came to meet with her, and
offered to her great multitude of sick people without number. She blessed them and signed
them with the sign of the cross, and incontinent they were healed in the sight of all the
people, which marvelled much and rendered thankings to our Lord. There was brought to her
a man, which by the punition of God was made blind, because he wrought on the Sunday; and
a blind maid also. The holy virgin blessed them in the name of the Father, and Son, and of
the Holy Ghost, and anon their sight was restored to them. There was a sub-deacon present
and saw this; he went and fetched a child which had been sick ten years of the fevers
right sore, the holy virgin did do bring holy water and blessed it and gave him drink, and
that done, by the grace of God, the child was in good health. In this time many took of
the cuttings of her vesture by devotion, whereof many sick were healed, and many vexed by
spirits were delivered and remised in to their good mind.
From Arcy returned the holy virgin to Paris with eleven ships charged with victual.
Wind, tempest, and orage assailed them so strongly that they weened to have perished
without remedy, the holy virgin lift up her hands to heaven requiring help of our Lord,
and anon the tempest ceased. Then Bessus, a priest that was present and saw it, which
tofore had trembled for fear, began to sing for joy: Cantemus domino gloriose. All that
there were thanked our Lord that had saved them by the prayer of the damsel Genevieve.
When the goods came to Paris that she had brought, she departed them and gave for the love
of God to some poor, wool, and to others whole loaves of bread, and sometimes she so
hasted for pity that she took the loaves hot out of the oven secretly and gave it to the
poor. The women marvelled why she took their loaves, but they spake ne said nothin, and
they much doubted that they should not find their count ne tale. But notwithstanding that
she had so taken, by the grace of God they found all their loaves and lacked none, by the
merits of the holy saint. Her hope was nothing in worldly things, but in heavenly, for in
the holy scriptures that saith: Who so giveth to the poor lendeth for a vaile. The reward
which they receive that give to poor people, the Holy Ghost had showed to her long tofore,
and therefore she ceased not to weep, to adore, and to do works of pity, for she knew well
that she was none other in this world but a pilgrim passing.
There was at Meaux a burgess that by the space of four years he might not hear ne go,
he did him be brought to the holy virgin which dwelt at Paris, and required her that she
would restore to him his health and hearing. She touched his ears and blessed him, and
anon he was whole, and went and heard as he did before, thanking our Lord.
On a time the holy virgin went to Orleans. A woman named Fraterne was in great sorrow
for her daughter that lay dying. Anon, as she wist the coming of the holy virgin, she went
to her to S. Aiguen where she found her in prayer. Fraterne fell down to her feet saying:
Dame Genevieve give me again Claude my daughter. When Genevieve saw the good faith of her,
she said: Discomfort thee nothing, thy daughter is in health, the which by the marvellous
puissance of God, at the word of the holy virgin, was brought from the wicket of death,
and came all whole against her mother, and met with her at the portal of the house. The
people thanked our Lord for this fair miracle.
In the said city there was a servant culpable against his master; the holy maid
prayed his master that he would forgive him his trespass. The master, as felonous and
proud, deigned not to do it at her request. Then said the holy virgin: Though ye despise
me, our Lord will not have me in despite. As soon as he was at home he was taken with a
hot fever ague, which vexed him in such wise that he might not sleep of all the night. On
the morn he came to the holy virgrin, running with open mouth, like a bear of Almaine, the
tongue hanging out, and foaming like a boar, requiring pardon, which would give no pardon.
The saint had pity on him and blessed him, and the fever left him, thus made she the
master whole and the servant excused.
From Orleans the holy woman went to Tours by the water of Loire, where she suffered
many perils. When she arrived at Tours great foison of demoniacs came against her out of
the church of S. Martin, and the spirits cried by the mouth of them that were mad and
vexed, which were burnt by the merits of S. Martin and S. Genevieve, and the perils that
the virgin had in the water of Loire, they had done it by envy. The holy virgin went into
the church of S. Martin whereas she healed rnany demoniacs by prayers and by the sign of
the cross, and the demoniacs said at the hour of the torment that, the fingers of the
saint burnt about them as tapers inflamed with fire of heaven. Hereof heard three men
which kept their wives mad; they went to the church and prayed her that she would visit
their wives. The blessed virgin, which was debonair, went and visited them and delivered
them from the enemy by unction of holy oil and by prayer. Anon after, it happed as she was
in orisons in a corner in the church of S. Martin that, one of the singers was so sore
vexed with the enemy that he ate his members, which went out of the chancel and came
straight to the holy virgin. The blessed virgin commanded the spirit to issue out. He
answered: If he issued, he would issue by the eye. She commanded that he should no longer
abide ne dwell there, and then he issued out anon wold he, nold he, by the flux of the
womb, and left foul enseigns and tokens, and the sick man was all whole and in good mind,
whereof he thanked our Lord. They of Tours honoured much this blessed virgin, how well it
was against her will. On a time as she was at her door she saw a maid pass by bearing a
burette of oil; she called her and asked what she bare, she answered and said, oil which
she had bought. The holy maid which saw the enemy sit on the mouth of the burette, blew on
it, and the burette brake; she blessed the oil and bade the maid bear it forth safely. The
people that saw this had great marvel that the enemy could not hide him, but that she
perceived him, and thanked our Lord. There was brought to her a child by his friends which
was dumb, blind, and lame; the blessed virgin anointed him with the holy oil, and the same
hour he saw clearly, spake and went, and received health entirely.
In the territory of Meaux the holy maid did do labour a field that she had, and a storm
and tempest of wind and rain arose which troubled much the workmen. She lay down
stretching on the earth, in orison and prayer, and our Lord showed there a fair miracle,
for the rain fell on all the corn in the fields thereabout, and in her field fell not one
drop. Another time as she was on the Seine there was a great tempest, and she besought God
of help, and anon it ceased in such wise that they that were present saw well that our
Lord at her request and for her love made wind and rain to cease. All sick men that she
anointed with holy oil devoutly, were healed and made whole.
It happed so that on a time when she would have anointed a demoniac she found no oil in
her ampul, whereof she was so sorry that she wist not what to do, for there was no bishop
present for to bless it. She lay down in orisons and prayers, beseeching God that he would
deliver the man from the enemy. Our Lord showed there two fair virtues, for as soon as she
arose her ampul was full of oil, being in her hands, of which she anointed the madman, and
anon he was delivered of the wicked spirit, which ampul, with the oil, saw the same man
that wrote her life eighteen years after her decease. Many other miracles without number
showed our Lord for the love of the holy and blessed saint, S. Genevieve, the which lived
in this world full of virtues and miracles more than four score years, and departed out of
this world and died worthily the third day of January, and was buried in the mount of
Paris called Mount Parlouer, and is now called the Mount of S Genevieve, in the church of
S. Peter and Paul, the which, as said is at the beginning, the King Louis, sometimes
called Clovis, did do make by the exhortement of this holy virgin, for the love of whom he
gave grace to many prisoners at her departing. And after, there were many fair miracles
which by negligence, by envy, and not recking, were not written, as he confessed that put
her life in Latin, except two which he set in the end of his book as here followeth. Unto
the sepulchre of the holy virgin was brought a young man that was so sick of the stone
that his friends had no hope of life. In great weeping and sorrow they brought him thither
requiring aid of the holy virgin. Anon after their prayer, the stone issued, and he
was forthwith all whole as he had never been sick. Another man came thither that
gladly wrought on the Sunday, wherefor our Lord punished him, for his hands were so
benumbed and lame that he might not work on other days. He repented him and confessed his
sin, and came to the tomb of the said virgin, and there honoured and prayed
devoutly, and on the morn he returned all whole, praising and thanking our Lord, that by
the worthy merits and prayers of the holy virgin, grant and give us pardon, grace, and joy
perdurable. After the death of the blessed virgin S. Genevieve was assigned a lamp at her
sepulchre in which the oil sourded and sprang like water in a well or fountain. Three fair
things showed our Lord by this lamp, for the fire and light burned continually, the oil
lessed not ne minished, and the sick people were healed there. Thus wrought our Lord by
the merits of the blessed virgin corporally, which much more abundantly worketh by her
merits to the souls spiritually. Many more miracles hath our Lord showed at her sepulchre
which be not here written, for it would be over long to remember them all, and yet daily
be showed, wherefore in every necessity and need let us call on this glorious saint, the
blessed Genevieve, that she be mediatrix unto God for us wretched sinners, that we may so
live and amend us in this present life that we may come when we shall depart hence by her
merits unto the life perdurable in heaven. Amen.
GLOSSARY
achauffed, pp., angry.
ampul, n., a vessel for holy oil.
ancelles, n., handmaids.
appertly, adv., openly.
asprely, adv., extremely.
avaled, v., descended.
avoir, n., goods.
await, n., a snare.
axes, n., ague.
barat, n., treachery.
besoins, n. (Fr ), needs.
bourdon, n., a staff.
brochets, n., spikes.
bubale, n., a wild ox.
bucale, n., shambles.
burette, n., cruse or bottle for oil.
bydwong, v., to refrain or keep strictly.
cellarer, n., steward.
champaine, n., campagna.
cherety, n., affection.
clarte, adj., glory.
con, v., to be able.
deal, v., to divide.
deduit, n., pleasure.
did do make=caused to made.
doubt, v., to fear.
eme, n., uncle.
empesh, v., Fr. empecher, to hinder.
engine, n., wit.
enseigned, v., Fr. enseigner, taught.
faits, n., doings.
flom, n., river.
fournil, n., limekiln.
frushed, pp., bruised; Fr. froisser, to crush
gree, n., goodwill.
guerished, pp., Fr. guerir, healed.
heled, v., concealed.
honeysuckle, n., a rendering of locusta as the name of a plant.
hosteler, n., one who received guests.
impetre, v., to beseech.
japed, v., mocked.
jowes, n., Fr. joues. cheeks.
lessed, pp., diminished.
mat, adj., worn out.
mechant, adj., Fr. mechant, wicked.
more, adj., elder.
moyen, n., mediator.
muddes, n., Fr. muids, a measure of about five quarters.
occision, n., slaughter.
orage n. (Fr.), a storm.
parements, n., adornments.
quarrels, n., crossbow bolts.
ratted, pp., torn.
raught, v., reached.
renomee, n., renown.
repeased, v., reassured.
sacred, v., consecrated.
siewed, v., followed.
soler, n., an upper chamber.
styed, v., ascended.
tatche, n., Fr. tache, a stain.
tigurion, n., a cottage, used also for a shrine or chapel.
transumeth, v., converteth.
unnethe, adv., scarcely.
wood. add., mad.
