[The lyf of our lady]

Author: Lydgate, John, 1370?-1451?1484

tHis book was compyled by dan Iohn lydgate mon [...]e of burye / at the excitacion and styryng of the noble and victoryous prynce / Kyng harry the fyfthe / in thonoure glorye & reuerence of the byrthe of our moste blessyd lady / mayde wyf / and moder of our lord Ihesu cryst / chapytred as foloweth by this table

Fyrst the prologue
The natyuyte of our lady capitulo primo & secundo
How our lady was offryd in to the temple capitulo t [...]rao
Of the conuersacion of our lady in the temple capitulo iiij
How our lady receyuyd the seuen yeftes of the holy ghoost ca v
How our lady prayed to god for vij peticions capitulo vj vij viij
How Ioseph vsid the crafte of a carpenter capitulo ix
How our lady is sette for ensaumple of virgynyte capitulo x
How mercy and pees / rightwysnes and trouthe desputeden for the redempcion of mankynde capitulo xi
How mercy and pees brought in this plee byfore the hygh Iuge capitulo xii
How god the fader of heuen answerd to mercy and pees capitulo xiij
How the fader of heuen accorded the foure susters capitulo xiiij
How his sone shold take mankynde capitulo xv
How gabryel the aungel was sent to our lady capitulo xvj
A lamentacion of saynt bernard capitulo xvij
A recapitulacion of the wordes of gabryel to our lady And how holy men by deuyne lyknesse / worte of our lady in cōmendacyon of hir capitulo xviij
A comendacion of our lady capitulo xix
Autentyke conclusions ayenst vnbylefful men that sayden that cryst myght not be borne of a mayde capitulo xx
How our lady went to saynt Iohan baptistes moder capitulo xxj
How our lady made magnificat capitulo xxij
How our lady after the byrthe of saynt Iohn baptyst returned to nazareth capitulo xxiij
[Page]How the maydens that weren attendaunt to our lady / comforteden Ioseph capitulo xxiiij & xxv
How the aungel warned Ioseph to abyde with our lady capitulo xxvj
How the bysshop dyd doo somone Ioseph / for our lady was wyth chylde capitulo xxvij xxviij xxix xxx
How our ladyes frendes wayled and morned whan the bysshoppes made so stronge a proof of hir virgynyte capitulo xxxj
How our lady prayed to god to shewe hir virgynyte ca xxxij
How the peple and bysshop dredde of the assaye that was made to our lady capitulo xxxiij
A cōmendacion of chaucers capitulo xxxiiij
How cryst was born after the makyng of the world v M j C four score xix yere capitulo xxxv
How Ioseph and our lady went to bethlem to paye trybute capitulo xxxvj
How Ioseph went to s [...]che a mydwyf capitulo xxxvij
A deuoute prayer that our lady made / when Cryst was born capitulo xxxviij
How the mydwyf durst not entre with Ioseph in to the bows for a grete light apperid within capitulo xxxix
How balaam prophecyed the st [...]r [...]x that shewyd crystes byrth capitulo xl
How our lady receyued the mydwyues capitulo xlj
How the hond of salome wayed drye capitulo xlij
How tharge [...]ys apperyd to the shepherdes and tolde of the byrthe of cryst capitulo xliij
How the shepherdes founden cryst with our lady capitulo xliiij
How god wold not be born / but of a mayde moder and wyf capitulo xlv
How Ysaac prophecyed the byrthe of cryst by touchyng the clothes of his sone Iacob capitulo xlvj
How the garnet apple is likned to our lady capitulo xlvij
How Ioseph fygured the byrthe of crist capitulo xlviij
How nature obeyeth to virgynyte capitulo xlix
How the chyef temple of rome fyl the nyght of cristes byrthe / and other wonderful tokenes capitulo L
How the nyght of cristes byrthe a welle in rome [Page] ranne oyle capitulo Lj
How the senatours of rome wolden haue holden Octauyon theyr emperour as for her god capitulo Lij Liij
How the romayns whan they had domynacion ouer alle the world made an ymage & callyd hit theyr god capitulo Liiij
How wyse sybyle tolde to the senate of rome the byrthe of cryst capitulo Lv
How the prophetes prophecyed the byrthe of cryst capitulo Lvj
A questyon assoyled whiche is worthyest of kyng wyne or woman capitulo Lvij
How our lady ought worthely to be recomendyd and honoured for the byrthe of cryst capitulo Lviij
Of liknessys of our lady in comendacion of hir capitulo Lix
How cryst was circumcisyd capitulo lx
How in four maner of wyses crist was circumcysed capitulo lxj
How cryst suffryd circumcision in his chosen peple capitulo lxij
How the peple of god that due Iosue had in gouernaunce were saued by the stedfast beleue of the name of Ihus capitulo lxiij
How prophetes and martres suffreden deth for the name of Ihus capitulo lxiiij lxv
How Ihesu cryst was bothe prophete / preest / kyng / and myghty champyon capitulo lxvj
How by the prophecye of balaam / watche was made vpon an hylle capitulo lxvij lxviij
How the thre kynges perceyuyd the sterre capitulo lxix
How kyng herode sent for the thre kynges capitulo lxx lxxj
Of the ioye that the kynges had whan they fonde cryst capitulo lxxij
Of vertuous pouerte and mekenes of our lady capitulo lxxiij
How the aungel warned the thre kynges / to passe not by herodes / / but by another waye capitulo lxxiiij
A declaracion of the thre kynges / of theyr thre yeftes capitulo lxxv
How we shold doo this offryng ghoos [...]ly capitulo lxxvj
How our lady was purefyed capitulo lxxvij
[Page]How symeon receyuyd cryst in the temple of our lady capitulo lxxviij
How where and whan symeon made Nunc dimittis seruum tuum domine capitulo lxxix
Of the ioye that anna the doughter of Phanes had whan cryst was offrid in to the temple capitulo lxxx
A prouffytable declaracion of the propretees of the Turtle and the douue capitulo lxxxj
How Candelmasse toke first the name capitulo lxxxij

[Page]

o Thoughtful herte 
plungyd in distresse
With slōbre of slouth this long wynters nyght
Out of the slepe of mortal heuynesse
Awake anone & loke vpon the light
Of thylke sterre that with her bemys bryght
And wyth the shynyng of his stremes merye
Is wont to glade al our emysperye

And to oppresse the derknes 
and the doole
Of heuy hertis that sorowen 
and syghen ofte
I mene the sterre of the bright poole
That with her bemys whan she is alofte
May al the trouble asswage and assofte
Of worldly wawys whiche in this mortal see
Hath vs bysecte wyth grete aduersite

The rage of whiche is so tempestyous
That whan the calme is moste blandisshyng
Then is the storme of deth most perilous
Yf that he want the light of hir 
shynyng
And but the sight allas of hir 
lokyng
From deth is brynke vs to ascape
The hauen of lyf of vs may not betake

This streme in beaute passy
 [...]h plyades
Bothe of 
shynyng 
and of stremes clere
Boetes 
and artur 
and also Iades
And esperus whan hit doth appere
For this is spica with her bright spere
That toward euyn at mydnyght & at morowe
Doun from heuyn adawyth al our sorowe

Whos bright bemes shynen fro so ferre
That clowdes blake may the light not steyne
For this of Iacob is the fayre sterre
That vnder wawes neuer doth declyne
Whos cours is not vnder the ec
 [...]ptike lyne
But euer liche of beaute may be seen
Amyd the arke of our meridyne

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And dryeth vp the bytter terys wete
Of au
 [...]o
 [...] after the morowe graye
That she in wepyng doth on floures flete
In lusty aprille and in fressh maye
And causyth phebus the bright someris daye
With his wayne 
goldborned bright 
and fayre
To enchace the mystes of our cloudy ayre

For this is the sterre that bare the bright sonne
Whiche holdeth the spere of Iuda in his honde
Whos stremes ben out of Iesse ronne
To shede hyr light bothe in see and londe
Whos 
glad bemys without 
eclipsyng stonde

Es
 [...]ward to vs in the oryent ful shene
With light of grace to wyde al our tene

Now fayre sterre / o sterre of sterris alle
Whos light to see aungelis delite
So 
 [...]at the 
gold dewe of thy grace falle
In to my br
 [...]ste lyke scalis fayr 
and whyt
Me to enspyre of that I wyl endyte
With thylke bawme sent doun by myracle
Whan the holy ghoost the made his tabernacle

And the lycoure of thy grace shede
In to my penne to ensumyne this dytee
Thorow thy supporte that I may procede
Somwhat to say in laude & 
praysyng of the
And first I thynke of thy natyuyte
So that thyn helpe from me not twynne
Benygne lady anone to begynne

The natyuyte of our lady capitulo primo

[Page]
a Flour of 
 [...]rtu ful 
 [...]
Ful made was with 
 [...]
Only by grace vpon the 
 [...]
Out of Iesse 
spryngyng from the 
 [...]
Of 
god 
ordeyned to be refuyte 
and 
 [...]
Vnto mankynde our trouble to determyne
Ful longe beforne by prescience deuyne

The whiche floure preseruyth man fro deth
Vnto the vertu who so lys
 [...] take hede
That in a gardyn 
amyd of nazareth
So fayr somtyme gan to sprynge 
and sprede
That thorow the 
world bothe in lengthe & brede
The fresshe odoure 
and also the swetnesse
Hertis comforteth of al her heuynesse

O nazareth wyth bethlem the besyde
This floure the makyth of name more ryalle
Than outher rome elate 
and ful of pryde
Or myghty troye with the stourdy walle
Whos renoun holdeth to be peregalle
In honour pryce fame or reuerence
Vnto your 
passyng worthy excellence

Yf for the frute 
cōmendyd be the tree
Thou hast ruore laude 
and commendacion
For thylke floure sprynge out of the
Than hath auffrike or worthy scipyon
Of rome Cesar or of fabyon
Though her names were somtyme graue in golde
Her ydel fame to thyn may not be tolde

Therfore reioyse and be right 
glad 
and light
O nazareth of name most 
flouryng
For out of the floure most fayr of sight
Most ful of grace somtyme 
dyd sprynge
Of the whiche fully remembrynge
So longe agone spake holy ysaye
When that he 
sayd in his prophecy
 [...]

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That on this floure playnly shold reste
The holy ghoost for his chosen place
As for the fayrest 
and also for the l
 [...]ste
That euer was 
and moste ful of grace
Whos 
passyng beaute no stormes may defface
But euer a lyke contynueth fressh of hewe
Withouten f
 [...]dyng the colour is so trewe

For this is the floure that 
god hym self behelde
The whyt lelye of the chosyn vale
The swete rose of the fayr felde
Whiche of coloure waxyth neuer pale
The vyolet our langour to auale
Purpyl 
bewyd thorow mercy 
and pyte
To socour al that in myschyef be

And from the stocke of Ioachym 
and anne
This holy flour 
had hir orygynal
To hym afore by signe y 
shewyd whan
The aungel tolde hem playnly that there shal
Of hem be borne a mayde in speciall
Chosen of god most chyef of her alye
And for hir mekenesse hyght shal marye

And whan the aungel at the yate of golde

Had of this mayde the byrth 
prophecyed

And al the maner of hem bothe tolde
In bookes olde as it is 
specefyed
Home to her hows anone they haue hem 
h
 [...]d
And she conceyuyth this faythful trewe wyf
By Ioachym the holy fruyte of lyf

Out of the whiche gan growe al our grace
Our olde sorowes fully for to syne
The bytter galle playnly to enchace
Of the venym 
callyd serpentyne
For that whan anna 
had monthes nyne
Borne this frute so holy 
and entiere
Thorow the grace of god anone hit 
dyd appere

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In the oryent to glad al mankynde
With dedely errour oppressyd of the nyght
With clowdes black / and with sky
 [...] blynde
Tyl they were cleryd with fayrenes of the lyght
Of the whiche the aungel somtyme 
had a syght
With Iacob wrastlyng from hym as he 
brayed
So longe aforne to hym whan he 
sayed

Lete me departe withouten more affraye
Ageynst me and make no resystence
The nyght is passed / lo the morowe graye
The fresshe aurora so fayr in apparence
Hir lyght dawyth to voyde al offence
Of wynter nyghtes ful long and tedyous
With newe apperyng so glad and gracyous

This is to saye the holy dawynyng
Of thys mayde of hyr natyuyte
The nyght gan voyde of oure old mornyng
As the Aungel in fygure dyd see
With suche a touche made Iacob be
Sore in his senewes lyke as it is founde
In thylk membre where lust doth moost habounde

In fygure only that there shold sprynge
Downe by dyssent oute of his kynrede
A clene mayd in wylle and in worchynge
Pure of entent bothe in thought and dede
With aurora with his bemes rede
The nyght auoyded with his copes donne
Afore the vpperyst of the bryght sonne

Ryght so thys mayd at hyr natyuyte
The nyght of deth auoyded hath awaye
And bryght calendys moost lusty for to see
Of Phebus vpryst wythouten more delaye
For she is aurora sobrely this is to saye
Oute of whiche as prophetes gan deuyse
The sonne of lyf to vs gan fyrst deuyse

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Of whos byrthe ful many a day beforne
Albumazar wrote in speciall

And 
sayd a mayde sothely shal be borne
Vnder the signe aboue celestyall
That 
callyd is the signe vyrgynal
The whiche mayde as he eke telle can
Shal bere a chylde without spott
 [...] of man

And as mynerua moder of prudence
Is holde a mayde / right so this heuenly quene
Bare in her wombe the faders sapyence
And moder was 
and mayden clene
Of 
god 
prouyded playnly forto been
Socour to man 
and helpe in al our nede
Whan she was borne this floure of womanhede

How our lady was offryd in to the temple capitulo tercio

aNd after thre yere as was the vsage.
Hir moder pappys she lefte as in sowkynge
And than anone in hir tender age
Vnto the temple deuoutly they hir brynge

And vnto 
god they made offerynge▪
Of this mayde for to abyde there
With other maydens that in the temple were▪

And not 
withstondyng her passyng tendernesse
Hir grene youthe but of yeris thre
Thorow goddis helpe this braunche of holynesse
Withouten helpe went vp gree by gree
Fyftene alofte that al myghten see
Tofore that aulter of so grete an hyghte
And whan her moder therof 
had a sight

[Page]
For veray Ioye anone she fylle a downe

And said thus that al myghten here
God from aboue hath herde myn oryson
Of his goodnes 
and 
graunted my prayere
And comfortid myn 
oppressyd chere
In sight of hem that loosen at my payne

And of malice gan at me dysdayne

Now hath he ben my synguler refute
To my trystesse consolacion
For he hath made the bareyn to bere frute
Thorow his myghty vysitacion

And 
maad clere my confusion

And alle my woo for to ouergo on
Only by grace 
amyd alle my foon

And thorow his myght the hertes hath 
bowyd
Of hem that gan to chace at me by pryde
Wherfore she hath vnto 
god 
auowyd
That hir doughter shal in the temple abyde
The holy ghoost for to been her guyde
For euermore by goddes purueaunce
Thorow hyr mekenes hym to do plesaunce

Forth al her lyf there to slepe 
and wake
Hym for to serue wyth humble parfytenesse
That al maydens myght ensaumple ta
 [...]e
Of hyr allone to lyue in clennesse
And specially of hyr mekenesse
Benygne porte countenaunce 
and chere
If that hem lyst of hyr they myght bere

Ful of vertu deuoyde of alle outrage
Hyr herte was that god to dwelle in che
 [...]e
And day by day right as she wexe in age
Right so in vertu gan she to encrece
And nyght ne day 
wold she neuer ceace
To exclude slouthe 
and vyces to weruaye
With honde to worche or wyth mouth to praye

[Page]
For but in god her herte nought deliteth
So vpon hym entierly was her thoughte
And from aboue by grace he hyr visiteth
That euery thyng but hym she sette at nought
Of worldly lust she hath so litel thought
That out of mynde she let hit euer slyde
That nought but god may in her abyde

And whan that she xv yere dyd attayne
She was as sad in conuersacion
And also demure sothely for to sayne
From al chyldehede 
and dissolucion
In gouernaunce and in discrescion
And in talkyng as wyse 
and as sage
As ony mayde of thirty yere of age

Of the conuersacion of our lady in the Temple

aNd of hir reule this was hyr vsage
From day to day this holy mayde entyere
From pryme at morne by contynuaunce
Tyl thre of the belle to be in hyr prayere
And 
tyl the sonne was at mydday spere
On golde and siluer & on wu
 [...]es softe
With her handes she wolde wyrche ofte

And euen at none to brynge hyr hyr fode
From god aboue there was an aungel sent
Whiche that she took as for her lyfloode
Thankyng hym ay wyth al her hole entent
And after mete anone this mayde is went
Ageyn to praye tyl phebus went to reste

And at euene with hym she toke her reste

[Page]
This lyf she ladde & this cours she gooth
In whom was neuer yet fonde offence
And neuer man sawe this mayde wrooth
But euer meke 
and ful of pacience
Of herte clene and pure of conscience
This lyf she lad & as lokis teche
Of wordes fewe & wonder softe of speche

The mete also that was to hyr brought
Out of the temple for hyr sustenaunce
With herte glad & with a parfyt thought
To poure & nedy that lyued in penaunce
To yeue hit frely was al hyr plesaunce
And who that euyr of hir had a syght
Of al dysease was made 
glad 
and lyght

And euery wyght greuyd wyth sekenes
A touche of hyr made hem hole anone
And they that were in thought & in distres
Whan they hyr seye hyr malice was a goone
And thus she was to euericho one
Of al myschyef refuyte 
and remedye
With a beholdyng of hyr goodely eye

And of this mayde eke as it is tolde
Hyr godely face was so ful of lyght
That no man myght susteyne to beholde
For hit was clerer than the sonne bryght
That the crowne in the wynters nyght
Of adryanne ne of the sterris seuen
To hyr fayrnes ne be not for to neue ne

Yet neuyr man 
temptyd was to synne
While he behelde on her goodely face
The holy ghoost so hoole was hir wythin
That al enuyron spredde gan his grace
Where that she was present in the place
For alwey god gaf hyr to hir presence
So fulsom lyght of heuenly influence

[Page]
Ne none so fayre was neuer founde in reme
As was that mayde of Iuda 
and Syon
The doughter chosen of Iherusalem
Of dauythis sede to be sette allone
Of al maydenes to rekene hem euerychone
She bare the prise as wel in fayrnesse
As she excellyd in vertu 
and goodnesse

Let be thou grece and speke not of Eleyne
Ne thou Troye of yonge pollycene
Ne rome of Lucresse with her eyen tweyne
Ne thou cartage of thy fressh quene
Dido that was somtyme so fayre to seen
Let be you: boost & take of hem none hede
Whos beaute fayleth as floure in frosty mede

 [...] was meke but not to hyr mekenesse
And Iudith wyse / but she yet dyd excelle

And bersabe of grete semelynesse
And rachel fayre Iacob can you telle
But she allone of woman hede the welle
Of bounte beaute that neuer fade may
Nought like a floure that florissheth but in maye

Passith echone bothe nygh 
and ferre
Bothe in fayrnesse 
and in perfeccion
Right as the sonne doth a lityl sterre
And as the Rubye hath the renoun
Of stones al 
and domynacion
Right so this mayde to speke of holynesse
Of wymmen alle is lady and maistresse

Of whom spake somtyme wyse Salamon
In sapyence who so list to seke
That she was chosyn for hyr self allone
This whyt downe with her eyen meke
Whos chekes weren her beaute for to 
 [...]ke
With 
 [...]lyes meynte & fressh roses reed
This is to say who so can take 
heed

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Fyrst with the rose of womanly sufferaunce
And with the fayr lylye next of chastyte
She was 
ennewyd to yeue hir suffysaunce
As wel in goodnes as in beaute
And as he sayth she fayrer was to see
Than outher phebus platly or lucyne
With hornes ful of heuen whan they shyne

And of this mayde as saynt ancelme fayth
In his writyng hir beaute to termyne
Of face fayre but fayrer yet of fayth
He sayth she was this holy pure virgyne
Whos chaste herte to no 
thyng 
dyd enclyne
For al hir beaute but to holynesse
Of whom also this auctour sayth expresse

That she was doughter of 
dauyd by dissent
Sterre of the see 
and goddis owne analle
Euen in this world alwey of one entent
And goddes spouse his hestys to fulfille
And euer redy for to do his wylle
Cristis temple 
and also receptacle
Of the holy ghoost 
and chosen tabernacle

The yate of heuen 
and also the fayrnesse
Of wymmen al who so loketh a right
Of maydenhede lady 
and pryncesse
One of the fyue that bare her lampes light
Redy to mete with her spouse at nyght
Ful prudently 
awaytyng at the yate
That for no slouthe she came not to late

In fygure eke the chaundelabre of golde
That somtyme hare seuen lampys shene
This is to say the receyte of the holde
Of 
god 
preseruyd for she was so clene
Thorugh her meryte endewed for to bene
By grace of hym that is of power moste
With the seuen yeftes of the holy ghooste

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How our lady receyuyd the seuen yeftes of the holy ghoost capitulo quinto

He fyrst yeft was the yefte of drede
To eschewe eche thyng that shal god displese
The next pyte of veray womanhede
To rewe on al that she sawe in dysease
The thyrd connyng god / 
and man to please
The fourth streng the thorow hyr stedfastnesse
Onely by vertu al vyces to oppresse

Of counceyl eke she had excellence
To kepe hyr pure in vyrgynyte
For ay with counceyl alyed is prudence
Of vnderstondyng eke the pefte had she
For god hym self chese with her to be
And of wysedome so god lyst hyr auaunce
To knowe eche thyng that was to his plesaunce

She was also the Trone voyd of synne
Th
 [...] stondyth so ryal in goddes owne syght
To fore whiche seuen lampes brenne
With heuenly fyre so spyrytual of lyght
That neuer wast but euer alyche bryght
Contynuen in one here aboue in heuen
By the whiche trone 
and the lampys seuen

Is vnderstonde this mayd most entere
With seuen vertues that in her were founde
That somtyme weren with ghoostely light so clere
Thorow lyght of vertu inwardely iocounde
Only thorowe grace that dyd in her habounde
And al they were grounded in mekenesse
Hyr lyght to god more plesauntly to dresse

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For fayth in hir had a grounde so 
 [...]
That hit was voyde of al doublenesse
Hyr hope of trist was also mayntynoble

Rotyd in 
god by parfyt sike 
 [...]nesse
Whos charite so large gan hym dresse
That vp to 
god 
hastyd ranne the fyre
With herte of clennesse to al by desyre

Stronge in vertu prudent in gouernaunce
She 
had also 
conueyed with clennesse
And soueraynly she 
had attemperaunce
In al her werkis with grete aduysidnesse
And euer annexyd vnto rightwysnes
Within her h
 [...]rte of womanly bounte
She 
had of custome mercy 
and pyte

Sothfast ensaumple also of chastyte
As saith ambrose she was in thought & dede

And trewe myrrour of vyrgynyte
Of poorte benygne ful of bowlyhede
As humble of chere and femynyne of drede
Prudent of speche of what she list to shewe
Large of sentence 
and but of wordes fewe

To praye & rede that was euer her lyf
Of herte waker by deuocion
To god alwey with thought contemplatyf
Ful feruent euer in her entencion
And ydel neuer from ocupacion

And specially to almesdede
Hir hande was euer redy at the nede

And ful she was of compassyon
To rewe in al that felt woo or smer
 [...]
Wel wylled euer with hole affeccion
To euery wyght so longe was hir 
 [...]er
 [...]e
Sadde with al this that hir neuer a
 [...]er
 [...]
A looke a myo of hir eyen fayre
So close of sight was this deboneyre

[Page]

And in psalmes of holy pr
 [...]phecye
To loke 
and rede she founde most delyte

And whan she sawe 
and founde in Is
 [...]ye
Of cristys byrthe how he 
dyd wryte
To 
god she lefte her tender h
 [...]ndys whyte

Besechyng hym she myght abyde 
and see
The basful day of his natyuyte

And in the book of elyzabeth
That 
tytelyd is of hyr auysions
I fynde how thys mayde of nazareth

Sayd euery day seuen orisons
That 
callyd ben hir peticions
With humble herte this blesful yonge mayde
Ful lowly 
knelyng euen thus she sayde

How our lady prayed to god for seuen peticions capitulo quinto

o Blisful 
lord that knowest the entente
Of euery hette in thyn eternal sight
Yeue me grace the first cōmaundemente
To fulfille as it is skylle 
and right
And graunte also wyth herte wylle & myght
And al my sowle and al my knowynge
The for to loue aboue al other thynge

And yeue me myght playnly to fulfille
The next 
byddyng like to thy plesaunce

And for to loue with herte 
and al my wylle
My neyghbour in dede 
and countenaunce
Right as my self with euery circumstaunce

And herewythal for ioye woo or sm
 [...]te
What thou louest to loue with al myn herte

[Page]
Thy precepte graunte eke that I may
Fulfylle also bothe erly 
and late
In suche maner as moste is to thy paye
Benygne lorde 
and make me for to hate
Mankyndes foo for he maad first debate
In kynde of man 
and made hym to trespace
Ayenst the 
and to lese his grace

And 
lord graunt me for thy mercy dygne
Aboue al thynge for to haue mekenes

And make me humble sufferaunt & benygne
With pacience & 
Inward myldenesse
Of al vertues yeue me eke largenesse
To be 
acceptyd the to queme 
and serue
To fynde onely thy grace I may deserue

And also 
lord wyth 
quakyng herte & drede
Mekely I praye vnto thy dey tee
Me for to graunte of thy godlihede
The gracious oure for to abyde 
and see
In whiche the holy chosen mayden free
In to this 
world here after shal be bore
Lyke as prophetes hath writen here before

How that she shal by thyn eleccion
Be mayde 
and moder to thy sone dere
Now good 
lord here myn oryson
To kepe myn eyen and my sight entyere
That I may see hir holy 
halowyd chere
Hir sakerid beaute & holy countynaunce
Yf thou of grace list me so moche auaunce

And kepe myn erys that they may also
Here hir speche & hir dallyaunce
And with my tongue speke that mayden vnto
Paciently thorow hir sufferaunce
Of worldly Ioye this were suffysaunce
And hir to loue like as I desyre
Benygne lord so set myn herte afyre

[Page]

And lord also on me saue thou vouche
Though I therto haue no wordynesse
That holy mayde to handyl 
and touche
Myn owne lady 
and my maystresse
And that I may with humble buxumnesse
Vpon my feet in al my best wyse
Goo vnto hir for to do seruyse

And to that floure of vyrgynyte
Graunte also 
lord that I may haue space
Mekely to bowe & knele vpon my knee
Vnder supporte onely of hyr grace
And to honour the goodly 
yong face
Of hir sone as she dothe hym wrappe
In clothys softe l
 [...]ggyng in her lappe

And loue hym best playnly to my laste
Wi
 [...]h al myn herte & myn hole seruyse
Withouten chaunge while my lyf may laste
Right as thy self 
lord canst best deuyse
So that I may in faythful humble wyse
In al this 
world nomore grace attayne
Than loue hym best with al my myght & payne

And to thy grace also 
lord I praye
To graunte me to fulfille in dede
Hooly the statutes 
and mekely to obeye
Within the temple as I here hem rede
For but thou helpe I may no thynge spede
As of my lyf & therfore vnto the
Alle I cōmytte as thou list it be

The obseruauncee & the preceptis alle
That to thy temple 
 [...] 
lord ben partynent
So let thy grace by mercy on me falle
That I may do hem with al myn hole entente
And euery byddyng and cōmaundeyeent
That thy mynystres assygnen vnto me
Make me fulfille wyth al humylite

[Page]
And thy temple & thy holy house
Benygne lord kepe me from al damage
And make thy peple to be vertuouse
To thy plesaunce of euery maner age
The for to serue with herte & hoole corage
And where they erre / 
lord on ony syde
Or thou do right let mercy be her guyde

And thus this mayde alwey day by day
In the temple makith hir prayeris
To plese 
god what she can or may
The chyef resorte of al her desyres
Tyl she attayne to fourtene yeris
With herte 
auowyd bothe in thought & dede
For to contynue in her maydenhede

Of whos entent 
god wote ful vn war
Weren sōme of them that in the temple abyde
Of whiche a bisshop callyd abyathar
Cast hym fully for to / sette a syde
Hir purpoos playnly 
and so for to prouyde
That hyr auowe maad of chastyte

Shold not holde but vtterly that she

Shold be 
weddid sothely yf he myght
Vnto his sone of hygh affeccion
For that she in euery wyghtes sight
So 
passyng 
good of condicion

And to fulfille his entencion
Abyathar byhoteth golde 
and 
 [...]ente
To the bisshoppi
 [...] to make hyr to assente

To this purpose & to hir they gone
And what they may they gan hir excite
And to afferme to hir euerichone
With 
sugrid tungys of many wordes whyte
That 
god aboue doth hym more delyte
In birthe of children than in virgynyte
Or ony suche 
auowyd chastite

[Page]
And more in children is 
honoured in certayn
And more in hem hath he his plesaunce
Than in suche as ben not but b
 [...]rayn
Without fruyt thorow mysgouernaunce
And holy writte makith remembraunce
That no man was sothely for to telle
Without 
seed 
blessid in Israelle

To whome anone with loke doun caste & chere
Benygnely & in ful humble wyse
This holy mayde sayd as ye shullen here
Certes 
ad she yf ye wel you auyse
Whiche in your self so prudent ben 
and wyse

And wel aduerte in your discressyoune
That a 
 [...]el somtyme had a dowbyl croune

One for his faithful trewe sacrefise

Offeryng to 
god of humble herte 
and free

And another as I shal deuyse

 [...] his body kept in chastyte
And Ely eke as ye may rede 
and see
For 
 [...] in herte was a mayden clene
He was 
reuysshed aboue the sterris seuene

Body 
and alle in a chare of fyre
For 
 [...]e hym kepte from al corrupcion
Therfore in vayne is playnly your desyre
To speke with me of this opynyon
For 
god wel knoweth myn entencion
How I haue 
vowyd as it to hym is couthe
To be a mayde fro my tendyr youthe

And al my lyf so forth to perseuere
For lyf or deth onely for his sake
From whiche purpoos shal I not disseuere
Thorow his grace whether I slepe or wake
To kepe 
and holde I haue vndertake
My maydenhede sithen goo ful yore
Ageyn whiche ne spekith to me nomore

[Page]

And whan they sawe her herte not mutable
But euer stedfast of one affeccion

And euer eliche as ony centre stable
They haue made a conuocacion
Of al the kynredes in conclusion
The eyght day for to come in fere
By one assent to trete of this matere

This is to say that of olde vsage
Of custome kepe for a memorialle
That euery mayde of fourtene yere of age
Riche 
and poure of the stocke ryall
In the temple no lenger dwelle shall
But by statute shal be take 
and 
maried
By the lawe 
and no l
 [...]ngyr 
taryed

And when they were 
assemblid al in one
Isacar in opyn audyence
Gan to pronounce afore hem euerichone
Ful prudently the sōme of his sentence

And 
said sires with your pacience
So hit your 
 [...]ris offende not ne greue
Declare I shal my 
menyng wyth your leue

Yf ye remembre sithen salamon the 
kyng
Of Israel ceptre bare 
and crowne
In this temple so ryal in 
byldyng
Haue 
yong maydens by deuysion
Of custome 
had her conuersacion
Bothe kynges doughters & prophyces eke
As ye may fynde yf ye list to seke

But to the age of fourtene yere
Abyden here 
and no lenger of space
As ye wel knowe withouten ony were

And than be 
remeuyd from her place

And in her stede other 
dyd pace
As custome was & eche in her lynage

Delyuerd was vnto mariage

[Page]

And as a lawe hit hath be kept ful trewe
Vnto this tyme in hygh & lowe estate
But now marie hath fonde an ordre newe
To kepe her clene 
and Inuyolate
A 
 [...]enst whiche there helpith no debate
For of fre chose 
and hertely volunte
She hath to 
god 
auowed chastyte

Wherfore me semeth it were wel sittyng
To hir purpose by good discressyon
First that we myght fully haue knowyng
Of goddis wylle in this opynyon
For thēne hit were a more perfeccion
Hir clene entente as semyth vnto me

And eke the strenger of auctorite

First that we myght knowe verayly
To whos kepyng she shal 
cōmytted be
And they assenten herto verayly
Withouten more of hygh or lowe degree

And of accorde & of one vnyte
The prestes al begonnen to procede
To cast 
 [...]ette doun by eche kynrede

The whiche lotte on Iuda fyl anone
As 
 [...] thrugh goddis purueaunce

And 
 [...] hem euerichone
Purpos
 [...] 
 [...] newe ordynaunce
That 
 [...] of that allyaunce
That 
 [...] withouten more delaye
Shold 
 [...] a yerde agayn the next daye

And to the bisshop hyest of echone
Euery 
 [...] of hem 
dyd his yerde brynge
Amonge whiche Ioseph 
had brought one
Though he were olde & passiō his likynge
And he anone maao his offerynge
To 
god aboue 
and a sacrefyse
In the olde lawe suche as was the guyse

[Page]

And 
god to hym thenne 
dyd appere
And with the yerdis bad that he 
shold goon

And put theym euerichoon in fere
In sancta sanctorum liggyng one by one

And in the morowe to come ageyn echone
Eueriche his yerde to receyue ageyn
And vpon whiche yerde onely were seyn

A downe appere 
and vp to heuen flee
He shal haue without more obstacle
Marye in 
kepyng so fayr vpon to see
As it is right for the hygh myracle

And when they come to the tabernacle
As ye haue herde the bisshop deuoutely
Eueriche his yerde 
delyuerd by and by

But vtterly vpon none them of alle
At thylke tyme was there no thynge seyn
For goddes heste was nought ye y falle
Of her desyre to put hem in certeyn
Wherfore the bisshop with newe fyre agayn

Entryd is in to the seyntuarye
And whyle that he a whyle there gan tarye

Goddis aungel apperid to hym newe
Doun fro heuen by myracle sent
And tolde playnly the beste of 
god was trewe
But how hym self was somwhat necligent
For to delyuer by cōmaundement
Euery man his yerde as be oughte
And whan the bisshop aright hym bethoughte

He gan remembre playnly in his mynde
That of disdayne and wylful necligence
The yerde of Ioseph was left behynde
Wherby he knewe that he 
h
 [...]d doon offence

And gan anone to brynge hit in presence

And took hit Ioseph deuoutly in his honde
Amonge hem al there they dyd stonde

[Page]
Al behynde disseueryd from the prees
With humble chere in the lowest place

And of this yerde in maner recheles
Ful stylle of poorte wyth a dreedful face
And whan he did with his hande enbrace
His yerde ageyn ful debonayr of looke
For Innocence of humble drede he quoke

And sodenly thrugh grace aboue deuyne
All openly in euery wyghtes sight
Vpon the yerde of Ioseph ful benygne
Was seen a downe of fetheris lyly whight
That toward heuen took the flight
And with one voys the peple tho abrayde
And vnto Ioseph al attones sayde

Bl
 [...]ssed art thou & 
blissed is thy chaunce
Thy face 
blessyd & thyn aduenture

And 
blessid is thyn humble attendaunce

And thou art blessyd so longe tendure
For to 
 [...]ossede so fayr a creature
So 
good so holy now in thy passyng age
So clene a mayde to haue in mariage

And she anone by preestis of the lawe

Assigned was vnto his gouernaunce
But sely Ioseph gan hym to withdrawe
With humble chere & shamefast countenaunce

And 
said certes there is none accordaunce
Bytwene hir yongthe florisshyng in fayrnesse
And me whom age with vnlust doeth oppresse

For she is fayr & fresshe as rose in maye

And wel I wote also a mayden clene

And I am olde with whyt lockis graye

Passid ful for my tendyr yer
 [...]s grene
Wherfore I praye you to consydre 
and sene
To accorde discordaunt saith to me nomore
Bitwene hir beaute & my lockis hore

[Page]

And whan the bysshop sawe the humble entent
Of this Ioseph 
and the Innocence
And how that he to take hir nolde assent
To hym he 
sayd in opyn audyence
Ioseph he sayd take hede to my sentence
And be wel ware that thou the not excuse
Agayn the wylle of 
god for to refuse

This holy mayde 
assigned vnto the
By opyn signe whiche al the peple seye
Thorough goddis grace & myghty volunte
Ayenst whiche bewaar to dssobeye
And thynke how he somtyme 
maad to deye
A biron 
and dathan onely for the offence
Doon to hym of Inobedyence

Quod Ioseph that wyl I not in no 
thyng
To goddis wylle ne 
biddyng contrayre
But hir accepte in to my 
kepyng
For whom 
god hath 
shewyd signes fayre
Whiche is so 
good benygne 
and debonayr
That I to hyr wyl seruaunt be & guyde
Tyl for hir 
god list bet to preuyde

And as the custome of the lawe hem 
 [...]onde
So maad was the confirmacion
By heste of wedlok betwene hem honde in honde
And he hir took to his possessyon
With herte clene 
and meke affeccion
But whyle he went to bethelem the cyte
Marye abode stylle in galilee

[Page]

How Ioseph vsyd the crafte of a carpenter capitulo ix

aT nazareth in hyr faders howe
Lyke hir auowe of herte alwey in one

And fyue maydens the moste vertuous
Of the temple were chosen out anone
Of the bisshop with hir for to goone
To wayte on hir by humble attendaunce
In what they can to serue 
and doo plesaunce

Of whiche the first callyd was reyca
And S
 [...]eph
 [...]a the secund as I fynde
Susanna Zabe
 [...] 
and Abigea
The other thre as bokes maken mynde
Whiche wold neuer thorow slouth be behynde
But ay in one as it is 
specefyed
In werke 
and prayer were 
ocupyed

And vnto hem as made is mencion
That of 
lyuyng so faythful weren & trewe

And diligent in occupacion
Delyuerd was sylke of sondry hewe
For to make dyuerse werkis newe
In the temple of Intencion
Onely to be in mynystracion

And as it is put in remembraunce
Eueriche her silke took by aduenture
Like as her hande fyl the
 [...]on by chaunce
But mary as god tho shope hir ewre
The purpyl silke took in to hir cure
Of gracious happe of sorte without sight
The whiche colour of custome and of right

[Page]
To none estate is kyndely syttyng
Of doubte to speke in special
But to the state onely of a kynge
So that no wyght but of the stocke ryal
By statute olde this colour vse shal
For by olde tyme ye 
shold no man sene
In purpyl cladde but owther kyng or quene

Wherfore the sorte ful rightfully is falle
Verily by dewe dispocision
Vpon marye that before hem alle
By ligne right is 
discendyd doun
Of 
blood ryalle 
and by eleccioun
Of 
god aboue was chosyn for to been
For hir merite of heuen 
and erthe quene

And moder eke as ye shal after here
Of thylke kynge that was 
clad in 
tred
Of purpur hewe bothe face 
and chere
Doun to the foot from his 
blessyd 
b
 [...]ed
Whan he of purpyl 
dyd his baner sprede
On caluarye abrood vpon the 
 [...]ode
To saue mankynde whan he shedde his blode

And of this purpyl that I spake of to
 [...]orne
I fynde playnly how that marye wroughte
Tyilke vayle that was on tweyne torne
The same oure whan he so dere vs boughte
Lo how that 
god in his eternal thoughte
Prouyded hath by Iust purueaunce
The purpyl silke to his moders chaunce

How our lady is sette for an ensaunple of virgynyte capitulo decimo

[Page]
bVt now I leue this blissed mayde dere
In nazareth amonge hir frendis to dwelle
Ledyng a lyf more purfyt 
and entere
Than ony tonge suffyse may to telle
For euyn like as a fulsum welle
Shedyth his stremys in to the ryuere
Right so marie an ensaumpeler clere

Yaffe to alle by plenteuous largenes
Onely vertu vpon euery syde
O wel were they to whom thou were maistres
And blessyd eke that myght on the abyde
To haue by ensaumple so vertuous a gyde
And blessid was that holy companye
That day by day the seen with her eye

And blessid was the paleys & the hows
In which thou haddist thy holy mācion
Fortuned wel & wonder gracious
So humb
 [...]e was thy conuersacioun

And blessyd was also al the towne
There thou abode & 
blessid the vyllage
O holy mayde where thou haddest hostage

And blessid was the worthy table riche
Where day by day thou wentist vnto borde
For in sothnes the ioye was not lyche
Of Cresus kyng for al his riche horde
And 
blessid be they that herden 
word by worde
Of thy speche & 
blessyd the houre 
and tyme
Of al thy lyf from euyn tyl the pryme

O weelful eke 
and gracious the sight
Of hem that myghten vpon the beholde
For wel they ought to be gladde & light
That weren with the alwey whan they wolde
And blessid weren yonge 
and olde
That were 
reioysed wyth thy excellence
Whan that hem l
 [...]st of thy hygh presence

[Page]
O the Ioye who coude telle a right
Of thyn heuenly meditacions
Assendyng vp aboue the sterris bright
In thyn 
Inward contemplacions
Or the 
blessid & holy visitayons
Who can reherce bright as sonne or leuene
So ofte sent doun to the fro heuene

Or who can telle thyn holy slepys softe
With 
god alwey ful in thy memorye
For loue of whom thou sighedyst ful ofte
When thou were soole in thyn oratorye
Or who can telle the melodye or glorye
That aungelys hath maad in the place
For the ioye they had to loke in thy face

I am rude to rehersen alle
For vnkonnyng & for lacke of space
The mater is so Inly spiritual
That I dare not so hygh a style pace
But lady myn I put me al in thy grace
This first book 
compylid for thy sake
Of my symplenesse & thus an ende I make

Besechyng al to haue pyte & routh
That therof shal haue ony Inspeccion
Yf oughte be lefte of necligens 
and slouthe
Or 
sayd to moche of presumpsion
I put hit mekely to hi
 [...] correccion
And axe mercy of my trespace
There as I erre & put me in her grace

And thorow hir benygne supportacion
So as I can forth I wyl procede
With al myn herte & hoole entencion

Prayeng that mayde of so goodlyhede
Croppe & rote to helpe in this nede
Whom I now leue in nazareth soiorne
And to my mater I wyl agayn retorne

[Page]

How mercy and pees rightwysnes and trouthe disputeden for the redempcion of mankynde capitulo vndecimo

wHo that is bounde 
and fetterid in prison
Thynketh longe after delyueraunce
And he that felith payne 
and passyon
Desireth sore after allegeaunce
And who that is in sorow 
and penaunce
Lytyl wondre of hertely heuynesse
Though he coueyte relees of his distresse

And who that lyueth in langour & in woo
For in exyle 
and prescripcion
And is withsette with many a cruel foo

And can no geyne to his sauacion
To escape deth without grete raunson
Ful longe he thynketh of ful lityl space
While he in bondes abydeth after grace

And yet to recorde of olde felicite
In sothfastnes encresith more his payne
Than al the constraynte of his aduersite
And causith hym more to syghe & playne
For ioye passyd can hertys more constrayne
Her welthe afore to bewepe 
and wayle
Than al the torment that hem doth assayle

O who coude euer sith the 
world bygan
Of more ioye or of gladnoe telle
Than somtyme coude the worthy kynde of man
That shapen was in paradyse to dwelle
Tyl he alas was 
banysshed in to helle
Fer in exyle from his possessioun

And there to abyde stockid in pryson

[Page]

And he hath lost his riches 
and honour
His myrthe hys ioye & his olde welfare
His force his myght and hooly his socour
And was of vertu nakyd made 
and bare
And laye ful seke 
languysshyng in care
So fer proscripte out of his contre
That by the lawe there may no recouer be

Whos necke 
oppressid with so stronge a c
 [...]ene
Laye 
plunged doun wythout remedye
That whan mercy wold haue ben amene
Rightwysnes gan hit anone denye
And whan that pees for recouer gan to crye
Came trouth forth with a sterne face
And sayd playnly that he gete no grace

For pees 
and mercy to gyder assemblid were
Ful longe agone to trete of this matere
And rightwysnes with hem was eke there

And trouth also with a deynous chere

And whan they were al foure in fere
As ye haue herde 
and gan to entrete
Than first of al cruelly to threte

Trouth began almost in a rage
Of cruel Ire 
and of malencolye
And said shortly that man for his outrage
Of veray right must nedes deye

And thus began the contrauersye
Betwene the susteryn & trouth alwey in one
Sayd playnly that recouer was there none

For I quod trouth at his creacion
Tolde hym the parel afore his offence
But he me put out of his 
 [...]ndon

And yaue to me no maner audyence
And I 
quod right al my dyligence
Wold hym haue rewlyd but he took none hede
Wherfore of me he gete none helpe at nede

[Page]
And whan he gaf credence to the snake
He made his quarel euyn ayenst right

And agayn trouth he falsely gan to take
Whan he hir clene put out of his sight

And agayn pees began a quarell to sight
Whan he from hym mercy sette aferre
And so he sette hym self al out of herre

Therfore quod right pletith for hym nomore
But let hym haue as he hath 
deseruyd
Ye do grete wronge yf ye wyl hym restore
That hath his heste to you not 
conseruyd
A yis 
quod mercy nature hath 
reseruyd
To pees my suster ylaynly 
and to me
On wretches euer for to haue pyte

And offendyth hath of ignoraunce
More than of malice ywys 
qd mercy tho
Yet for al that he must haue his penaunce

Quod right anone like as he hath doo
And thynke 
quod pees that 
toward Ierico
He was 
disposid amonge his cruel foon
For lacke of helpe whan he left hym allone

That was 
qd trouth for he was recheles
To goo the waye y taught hym of reson
Quod mercy than the mortal foo of pees
The olde serpent rote of al tresoun
Of false enuye 
and Indygnacion
Lay a wayte to brynge hym in a trayne
Whan he to hym falsely 
dyd fayne

That yf he ete of the forboden tree
The fayr faite in paradyse present
He 
shold lyke vnto 
god be
Of 
good 
and euyl to haue entendement

And for my suster trouth was absent
And ye your self also rightwysnes
He was 
betrayed sleightly by falsenes

[Page]
Wherfore 
quod mercy I purpose vttertye
Hym to releue yf I can or maye
And I 
quod pees wyl helpe faythfullye
The grete yre 
and rancour to allaye
Of Iugement to put it in delaye

And here vpon to fynde ful refuge
I wyl procede afore the hye Iuge

How mercy and pees brought in this plee before the hygh Iuge capitulo xij

aNd right forthwith before the kyng of glorye
Mercy 
and pees the cause brought anone
And in the hygh heuenly consistorye
Pees 
said thus amonge hem euerichone
O blessyd lord that art bothe thre 
and one
So plese hit the benygnely to here
What I wyl say 
and my suster dere

Remembre 
lord amonge thy werkis alle
How thou madest mercy soueraygne
That whan that euer vnto the she calle
Thou maist not of right hir prayer disdaigne
And specially whan that we bothe twayne
To thyn hyghnes for ony thynge requyre
Thou mude of grace fulfille our prayere

Is not thy mercy grete aboue the heuen
Thyn owne doughter cheef of thyn alye

And hath her place aboue the sterris seuen
With the ordris of euery Ierarchye
Whom day by day thou canst so magnefye
Amonge thy werkis to make hir emperesse
To helpe wretchis whan they ben in distresse

[Page]
Thy mercy eke abydith euer with the
Lyke thy gretnesse & thy magnyficence

And who that doeth mercy 
and pytre
Doth sacrefise hygh in thy presence

And is not mercy of more excellence
Lyke as the sauter wel reherce can
Vpon the erthe than the lyf of man

Thy self also as it is playnly couthe
Auysedly who so takith hede therto
Sayest opynly with thyn owen mouthe
That to a thousand thou canst thy mercy doo

And holy dauyd recordith eke also
With his harpe aboue al thynge
That he thy mercyes eternally shal synge

And how myght eke ony creature
Vpon erthe in ony maner kynde
Without mercy ony whyle endure
For al were goon yf mercy were behynde
Wherfore 
lord on mercy haue thy mynde
The wooful caytyf to take vnto thy grace
That hath so 
long 
 [...]e seuerid fro thy face

And though that I be humble meke & free
Forsothe 
lord of duete 
and of right
Yet euer in one my dwellyng is wyth the
For selde or neuer I parte out of thy sight
Peas is my name that power hath & myght
Thorow my kunnyng they that be mortal foone
By the helpe of the to accorde in to one

And also lorde as holy writte can telle
That of thy pees there may none ende be
And eke thy pees doth euety wyght excelle

And art thy self of very duete
Callyd the prynce of pees 
and vnyte
And yet byhotest wretchis to releue
That is mankynde & shal neu
 [...]r fro hem meue

[Page]

And Ioob recordeth the holsomest fruyte
Of al thys 
world spryngeth out of pees
Now 
lord sithen I am maad to be refuyte
And to the wooful comfort 
and encrees
Graunte of thy grace now a ful relees
That I 
and mercy may the 
 [...]oon confounde
Of thylke caytyf that lyeth in pryson bounde

So that he may haue lyberte
To goo at large 
and haue remyssyon
Of this thraldom 
and captyuyte

And be 
delyuerd out of this pryson
So that there may be made redempsion
For his seruage 
and fynal paye

Lord of thy mercy without more delaye

And whan they had her mater ful 
purposid
Mercy 
and pees with ful hygh sentence

Touchyng man with synne so 
enclosid
The Iuge gaf benygne audyence
And whan he 
had kept 
long scilence
For al the skilles to hym that they layde
Yet at the last to hem thus he sayde

How god the fader of heuyn answerd to mercy and pees capitulo xiij

Myn owne doughter next to myn alye
Though your request come of tendyr herte
Ye must consyder with a prudent eye
Of rightwysnes it may not me asterte
Lyke your axyng by fauour to aduerte
Vnto the cause that ye represent
But right and trouth fully 
wold assente

[Page]
Withouten whom I may not procede
To execute ony maner Iugement
Wherfore let calle hyr in this grete nede
For I mote worche by hir auysement
And when they weren come 
and present
Than trouth anone 
touchyng this matere
Sayd opynly that al myghten here

Yf hit so be this man that 
trespaced
Ne be not dede for his Inyquyte
Though vtterly the fraunchesse is 
defaced
Bothe of my suster rightwysnes 
and me

And fynally our bothe lyberte
Goeth vnto nought of our Iurisdiccion
But he be 
punysshed for his transgressyon

The 
word of 
god that playnly may not erre
Tolde hym afore withouten ony drede
The grete parelle of this mortal warre
Etyng the appyl that he must be dede
But he of slouth took therto none hede
Wherfore he must as right lust prouyde
Withouten mercy the dome of deth abyde

And though that pees be of pyte 
meuyd
Man to delyuer with a zeel of routh
Rightwysnes 
wold than be 
agreuyd
With me to consente that am 
callyd trouthe
And as me semyth it were to grete a slouthe
Dome or cause plee or ony sute
Withouten vs tweyne to be execute

Me semyth eke my suster pees doth wronge
To foster a man & holde agaynst vs twayne
That hath ben conuersaunt so longe
Amonge vs discorde to restrayne
Therfore 
quod pees now wyl I not fayne
To doo myn offyce right to modefye
That she of rygour cause hym not to dye

[Page]
Than 
quod right of necessyte
Hit must folowe though he were my brother
That he must deye by dome of equyte
Or in his name mote be dede sōme other
So of my shyppe 
guyed is the rother
That ne may erre for wawe ner for wyn
 [...]e
More than the anker of trouth wyl me bynde

Certes 
quod mercy so it not dysplese
Vnto your noble 
and wyse prouydence
His deth to you may be lityl ese
For holy writte rehercith in sentence
Yf you consydere in your aduertence
That deth of synners the hygh 
god to quen
 [...]e
Is werst of dethis yf ye of right list dem
 [...]

For synful blood is no sacrefyse
To 
god aboue that euery 
thyng may sene
Than must ye the deth of one deuyse
That is of synne Innocent and clene

And is I trowe vnder the sonne shene
Thorow the world to reherce al mankynde
It were ful 
hard suche one for to fynde

For rust wyth rust may not 
scouryd be
Ne foule wyth fylth may be 
purefyed
But who is 
soyl
 [...]d with dyshoneste
To wasshe another it is not 
aplyed
Blacke vnto white may not be 
dyed
Ne 
blood enfect wyth corrupcion
To 
god for synne is none oblacion

Fygure herof ye may beholde 
and see
As the byble makyth mencion
How that a lambe of spotte & fylthe fere
Somtyme was take by eleccion

And 
offryd vp in satisfaccion
To 
god for synne for to signefye
Who 
shold for mannys raunsom dye

[Page]
Must be clene pure 
and Innocent
Right as a lambe from euery spotte & blame

And trewly vnder the firmamente
There was none suche sithen adam 
dyd atame
The frute to ete for eyther halte or lame
In souerayn vertu is al the kynde of man
Wherfore 
qd mercy the best rede that I can

That pees my sister cese this discorde
And al the stryf that is vs bytwene
And that we praye our Iuge & myghty 
lord
To this mater benygnely to seen

And of his grace to shape suche a mene
For trouth & right so prudently ordeygne
That pees ne I haue no cause to pleyne

And this request is nought agaynst right
Ne vnto trouth playnly none offence
Yf that our Iuge of his grete myght
Ordeyne so in his prouydence
To scare aweye thorow his sapyence
That trouth 
and right be not 
displesid
Thorow pees & me though man be holpe & 
easid

How the fader of heuyn accordyd the foure systren capitulo xiiij

aNd whan that she by reson had 
fyned
That 
groundyd was playnly vpon skylle
The hygh Iuge by mercy is 
enclyned
To condescende of grace to hir wylle
And in suche wyse her 
axyng to fulfille
That right be seruyd & trouthe not 
dysmayed
That pees & she shullen eke be wel 
apayed

[Page]

And by sentence anone diffynyt yf
The Iuge 
sayd for conclusion
In Innocent pure 
and clene of lyf
Shal mekely dye to paye the raunson
For mannys gylt 
and transgressyon

And he so frely shal the deth abeye
In al his payne that he no word shal seye

And thus shal right in al maner thynge
Haue hir desyre 
and trouth shal not fayle
But agreably in theyr 
worchyng
To execute fully to stynte this batayl
 [...]

And for that pees in moche may auayle
And mercy eke shal not be 
agreuyd
Hir broder 
axyng also shal be 
achyeuyd

To fynde a man that shal vndertake
This myghty quarel of mercy 
and pyte
To suffre deth onely for mannys sake

Vncompellyd frely 
and of volunte
That is a lamle withouten spotte shal be
And with his 
blood shal wesshe 
vndefouled
The gylt of man with rust of synne y 
mouled

How his sone shold take mankynde capitulo xv

bVt for to wete of what stocke be shal spryng
Of what kynrede 
and of what estate
My sothfast word eternally 
lyuyng
Myn owne sone with me Increa
 [...]e
Shal doun be sent to be Incarnate
And wrappe hym self in the mortal kynde
Of man for loue so that he may fynde

[Page]
A clene grounde his palayce vnto bylde
In al the erthe neither of lyme ne stone
But in a mayde debonayr 
and mylde
The humble doughter of Iuda 
and syon

And vnto hir shal trouthe & mercy goon
By one accorde sent afore my face
Lyke my deuyse to chese me a place

And say to hir in al maner thynge
Hir tabernacle that she make feyre
Ayenst the comyng of hir myghty kynge
Whiche is my sone 
and myn owne heyre
That in her brest shal haue his repeyre
Where trouth & mercy shal to gyder mete
By one assent and her rancour lete

And there shal pees kisse rightwysnes
And al the susteris accorde in that place
And right shal leue al hir stourdynes
And trewthis swerde shal nomore manace
And fynally mercy shal purchace
A chartour of pardon like this mayden clene

And whiche for man is so 
good a mene

That he shal mowe escape daungers
A 
myd the forest free from euery trappe
While the mayde that causith al this pees
Hath the vnycorne slepyng in her lappe
That thorow mekenes shal his horne so wrappe
There it was wont to slee by vyolence
Thorow d
 [...]th it shal ageyn d
 [...]th 
 [...]e defence

Ayenst venym more holsom than treacle
Euery poyson asofte 
and aswage
Whan the lyon makith his habytacle
Within a mayde but of tendir age
And gabriel shal goon on message
To hir anone myn owne secretarye
With newe tydynges & no lenger tarye

[Page]

How gabryel the Aungel was sent to our lady capitulo xvj

aNd right forthwith the aungel tar
 [...]eth nought
But helde his waye from the see of glorye
Vnto this mayde clene in wylle 
and thought
Where as she sat in hir oratorye
With herte ententyf & with hole memorye
Grete to 
god 
and al hir ful mynde
To whom the aungel whan he 
dyd hir fynde

Benygnely with al humylite
Sayd vnto hir anone as ye shullen here
Hayle ful of grace our 
lord is wyth the
Ne drede the not but be right 
glad of chere
That art to 
god so acceptable 
and dere
That hooly his grace is vpon the falle
To be most 
blessyd amonge wymmen alle

And with that worde thorow goddis myght
Al hole the somme of the deyte
That from heuyn his blisful bemys bright
Shadde on ther
 [...]he of our humanyte
Whan in the breste of a mayden free
The holy ghoost by free eleccion
For hir mekenes hath made his mancion

For whan that bernard somtyme gan beholde
With thought vp lift by contemplacion
The bright sōne in herte he gan to colde
Inly 
astoned in his aspeccion
And ful deuoutly in a medi
 [...]acion
Therof 
remembryng as he gan take hede

Sayd euyn thus 
quakyng in a drede

A lamentacion of saynt bernard cayitulo xvij

[Page]
a Lord 
quod he so I am 
agrysed

And sore a 
drad to loke on this clerenesse

And yet wel more wyth fere I am 
supprised
For to beholde for myn vnworthynesse
Ony worde to wryte or to expresse
Of this mysterie 
and grete pryuyte
Benygne 
lord lest thou saye to me

What arte thou bolde or darist in ony wyse
My rightwysnes to telle or to wryte
Or to presume so hardely to deuyse
My testament with thy mouth endyte
That certes 
lord but yf thou respyte
My wretchidnes by supporte of thy grace
I gretely drede of deth for my trespace

But 
wold 
god thrugh his grete myght

And his goodnes lyke to my desyre
That from thaulter that brennyth in his sight
No litel sparcle but a flame of fyre
Wold doun dissende myn herte to enspyre
For to consume with his feruent hete
The rusty filthe that in my mouthe doth flete

And al vnclennesse cankerid there of olde
To make clene 
and to scoure awaye
That thorow his grace I durst be so bolde
Other to wryte or somme worde to saye
That was rehercid vpon the blisful day
Whan gabriel 
and marie mette
In nazareth 
and humbly hir grette

But sithen this man so parfyt of 
lyuyng
This holy 
bernard so 
good 
and gracious
So dreedful was this mater in writynge
That was of lyf so Inly vertuous
How dare I than be presumptuous
I wooful wretche in ony maner wyse
To take on me this parfyt hygh emprise

[Page]
My lippis pollute my mouth with synne y soyled
Myn herte vnclene 
and ful of cursidness
 [...]
My thought also wyth al vyces 
foyled
My breste receyte & cheste of wretchidnesse
That me to wryte of ony parfitnesse
Not onely drede of presumpsion
But for to eschewe the Indignacion

Of 
god aboue for my grete offence
That I am bolde or hardy in his sight
To dar presume the grete excellence
For to descryue of hir that was so brigh
But vnder hope that mercy passith right
And that disdayne my style not veraye
With humble herte thus to hym I praye

A recapitulacion of the wordes of gabriel to our lady how holy men by deuyne liknessis wrote of our lady in cōmendacion of hir ca xviij

o Lord whos mercy goth not to declyne
But euer eliche stondyth hoole in one
That somtyme sendist doun frum seraphyne
To Ysaye an aungel with a stone
Wherwyth he began to touche his mouthe anon
 [...]
To purge his lippis from al pollucion
So let thy grace to me descende doun

My rude tunge to explite 
and spede
Somwhat to say in cōmendacion
Of hir that is welle of womanhede

And thorow hir helpe 
and meditacion
Be to my style ful dyreccion

And let thy grace alwey be present
This book to forther after myn entende

[Page]
For of my lyf for to vndertake
To speke or write in so deuout matere
Lytyl wonder though I tremble or quake
And chaunge bothe countenaunce 
and chere
Sithen this mayden of vertu tresorere
Perturbyd / was in loke 
and in vysage
Of gabriel to here the message

And ful demurely stylle gan abyde
And in her herte 
castyng vp 
and doun
Ful prudently vpon euery syde
The maner of thys salutacion

And how hit myght in conclusion
In ony wyse fully 
performed be
She stondyng hole in hyr virgynyte

And whan the aungel sawe hir lowlyhede
He
 [...] humble countenaunce 
chaunged in her face
He 
sayd marye for no thyng that you drede
For tofore 
god thou hast founde grace
And shalt conceyue within a lityl space

And in thy wombe a sone of al vertu
And shalt hym calle whan he is borne Ihesu

That shal be grete & 
namyd sothfastlye
Sone of the hyest that euer was of myght

And god to hym shal yeue ful Iustlye
The see of dauyd his owne faders right

And he shal reygne in euery wyghtes sight
In the hows of Iacob eternally by ligne
Whos kyngdom euer shal last & neuer fyne

And though his heste were passyng of renowne
Surmountyng eke as in excellence
That vtwardly yaf so meruaylous a sowne
And wonderful to her audyence
Thēne she ful mekely of grete reuerence
And look doun cast of her eyen clere
Benygnely the aungel gan enquere

[Page]
In what maner shal this thynge betyde
Sithen I no man knowe in no degree
Quod gabriel within thy 
blessyd syde
The holy ghoost shal I 
shrowdyd be

And al the vertu of the trynyte
Enclose shal in thy brest so clene
The sonne of lyf wyth al his bemys shen
 [...]

Wherfore this childe that shal of the be borne
Shal callyd be goddis sone eterne
Beholde & see a litel her toforne
Elysabeth thyn owne cosyn dere
Conceyued hath sithen goon half yere
Though she for age went to haue been barayn
And is with childe to put al in certayn

That to 
god is no 
thyng Inpossyble
But as hym list may euery thynge fulfill
 [...]
Vnto whos worde be fully now credyble
Byholde quod she of god the meke aualle
With al myn herte 
obeyeng to his wylle
In euery 
thyng right as hym list it be

And like thy 
word falle it vnto me

Lo she that was chosyn for to been
Of al this 
world lady 
and emper
 [...]sse
Of heuyn & erthe allone to be quene

And goddys moder for hir holynesse
Lo for al this how lowly wyth mekenes
She al commytteth vnto goddis wylle
As he ordeyneth redy to fulfille

And wold not calle her self none other name
But goddis handmayde in ful lowe manere
O where is al the transitorye fame
Where is your boste or daren you apere
Of pompe or pryde or surquedrye in fere
With your forblowe 
blowyng vanyte
Sithen that a mayde thorow hir humylite

[Page]
Of pryde hath now wonne the victorye

And opynly hath yeuyn hym a falle
Thorow whos lowlynes the hygh kyng of glorye
Within her wombe hath made in speciall
His dwellyng place & his hospytal

And with one worde of the mayde I spoke
The holy ghoost is in her breste yloke

A cōmendacion of our lady capitulo xix

aNd whā thaungel from hir departed was
And she allone in her tabernacle
Right as the sonne perisshith thorow the glasse
Thorow the cristalle beralle or spectacle
Without harme / right so by myracle
In to her closet the faders sapyence

Entrid is wythouten vyolence

Or eny wemme vnto her maydenhede
On ony syde in party or in alle
For goddis sone 
takyng our manhede
In hir hath bylde his paleys pryncypalle
And vnder pyght this mancion ryalle
With seuen pylers as made is memorye
And therm sette his reclynatorye

Whiche is perfourmed al of pure golde
Only to vs for to signefy
 [...]
That he al holy maad hath his holde
Within this mayde that 
callyd is marye
And seuen pylers that sholden this mayde gye
Ben seuen spirites so as I can disserne
Of god aboue this mayde to gouerne

[Page]
For al the tresour of his sapyence
And al the wisdom of heuen 
and erthe therto
And al the richesse of spiritual science
In hir were shytte 
and closid eke also
For she is the toure without wordes moo

And house of yuore in whiche Salamon
Shitte al his tresour in his possessyon

She was the castel of the cristal walle
That neuer man myght yet vnclose
In whiche the kyng that maad and causeth alle
His 
dwellyng chyef by grace gan dispose

And like as dewe discendyth on the rose
With syluer dropys 
and of the leuys fayre
The fressh beaulte ne myght not payre

Ne as the rayne in aprille or in maye
Causeth the vertu to renne out of the rote
The grete fayrnes nought appeyte may
On vyolettis 
and on herbys soote
Right so this grace of al our greuys boote
The grace of 
god 
amyd the bely whyt
The beaute causith to be of more delyte

And as the cokyle with heuenly dewe so clene
Of kynde engendrith whyte perlys rounde

And hath no cherisshyng but the sunne shene
To his 
fosteryng as hit is playnly founde
Right so this mayde of grace most habounde
A peerle hath 
closid within her brestys whyte
That from the dethe myght al our raunson quyte

She was eke the gate of the lockis bright
Sette in the northe of hygh deuocion
Of whiche somtyme the prophete 
had a sight
Ezechyel as is writon in his auysyon
Whiche 
stood euer cloos in conclusion
That neuer man entre shal ne pace
But god hym self to make his dwellyng place

[Page]

And yet in sothe as I reherde can
So as the flees of geddon was wette
Tofore he fauhgt with hem of madyan
With heuenly dewe enuyron al be sette
In signe onely he spede shal the bette
Right so hath 
god on hir his grace 
shewyd
With the holy ghoost whan she was 
bydewyd

In token playnly she 
shold socour be
Vnto mankynde manly for to fight
Agayn the deuyl that hath in his pouste
Al madyan wyth his felle myght
And thorow the helpe of this mayden bright
And thorow the dewe of hir heuenly grace
We shal this serpent from our londes chace

She was also of golde the ry
 [...]he vrne
Kepyng the man of our sauacion
That al our woo may to ioye turne
With holsom 
food 
and ful perfeccion
She was also as scripture maketh mencion
The yerde of aaron with fruyt 
and leuys lade
Of vertu most to comforte vs 
and glade

She was the aultre of cedre golde 
and stone
Stedfast 
and trewe in perfeccion
And as the cedre 
conseruyng ay in one
His body clene from al corrupcion

And for to make a ful oblacion
Of euery vertu to 
god in chastyte
She shone as gold by parfyt charyte

And on this aulter she made her sacrefyse
With fyre of loue 
brennyng as bright
To god 
and man in euery maner wyse
As don the sterris on the frosty nyght
Hir frankensence yaue so clere a light
Thorow good ensaumple that the parfyt leuene
Of hir lyuyng raught in to heuene

[Page]
She was the trone where that Salamon
For worthynes sette his ryal see
With golde 
and yuore that so bright shone
That al about the beaute men myght see
The 
gold was loue / the yuore chastyte

And twelue lyons so grete huge 
and large
That of this werke bare vp the charge

Of the olde lawe weren prophetes twelue
That longe before gan beholde 
and see
That Salamon goddis sone hym selue

Shold in this mayde beholde his ryal see
So that in soth hir clene virgynyte
To be a moder 
shold no 
thyng lette
Amyd hir breste that he his trone sette

She was the woman that saynt Iohn
Sawe in heuen so richely appere
Cladde in a sunne whiche brighter shone
Than phebus doth in his 
long spere
And twelue sterris that passyngly were clere
So as to hym playnly 
dyd seme
Weren sette aboue in her dyademe

And as hym thought at hir feet there stood
A large mone bright 
and no thyng pale
In fygure onely that she that is so 
good
To swage the bytter of our olde bale
The sunne of lyf maad to auale
Doun to the erthe to gouerne vs 
and guy
 [...]
And eke the mone to vs doth signefye

Al holy chirche large to beholde
Within this mayde 
had his orygynal
Whan fynally with his rightes olde
The synagoge of Iewys 
had a falle
For in this mayde the first faythful walle
Of holy chirche 
god gan first to bylde
Whan with his sone he made hir goo with childe

[Page]

And to reforme the rudenes vtterly
Of blynde folkis that coude not parceyue
How that marie myght kyndlye
A mayde be 
and a chylde conceyue
That yf hym list reson to conceyue
They may exaumples right y now fynde
Of this mater accordyng vnto kynde

Autentyke conclusions ayenst vnbeleeful men that sayden that crist myght not be borne of a mayde capitulo xx

o Blynde man thorow thyn Inyquyte
Why hast thou lost thy reson 
and thy sight
That thou of malyce list not for to see
How cryst Ihesu thorow his grete myght
To his dyscyples helde the waye right
Thorow the yatis y shytte by grete deffence
Without 
brekyng or ony vyolence

Who myght he not of his magnyficence
Within a mayde make his mancion
And she yet stood in hygh excellence
Of maydenhede from al corrupcion
Ye ben to blynde in your discressyon
That list not to see also how he roos
From deth to lyf in his sepulture cloos

And here withal thou mayst also aduerte
How he ful graciously of his myghty grace
Made peter out of pryson to sterte

And where hym lyst frely for to pace

And yet the dores were shytte of the place
What wonder than though 
god by myracle
Within a mayde made his habytacle

[Page]
And beyng cloos and parfytly shytte
With al the bondes of clene virgynyte
For sothfastly hir clennesse was not lette
Vpon no syde ne yet hir chastyte
But 
encresyd and fauour for to see
That goddes sone list to light adoun
Within thys mayde to make his mancion

Eke hildefons tellyth of a tree
In stede of faite heri
 [...]h byrdys smale
From yere to yere by kynde as men may see
Without medlyng of female or of male
This verily is soth playnly 
and no tale
Thā wondre not though crist were borne bitwene
The chaste sydes of a mayden clene

Eke certeyn byrdes 
called vultures
Without 
medlyng conceyuyn by nature
As bookes sayn withouten ony lees

And of her lyf an 
hundred yere endure
Than the 
lord of euery creature
That causeth al no wonder though I say
Though that he were 
conceyuyd of a maye

And plunyus in bookes naturalle
Wryte of a roche grete 
and large also
That wyl remoue with a fynger smalle
But yf a man do al his myght therto
It wyl not stere neyther to ne fro
Right so this mayde that is of vertu moste
With a fynger of the holy ghooste

And with a touche of his myghty grace

Conseruyd hath stedfast 
god 
and man
That neuer myght remoue from hir face
Of thylke auowe that she first began
To be a mayde as forforth as she can
In herte & wylle as ony roche stable
That from his grounde is not remouable

[Page]
This clerke also this wyse plunius
Seyth in tauriche there is an erthe founde
That of nature is so vertuous
That wyl cure euery maner wounde
Right so marie was the erthe founde
That 
god out choos by eleccion
To bere the frute of our redempcion

That 
shold be helthe 
and also medecyne
To al our woundes whan they ake or smerte
And our greuys & our hurtis fyne
From deth to make vs to asterte
With holsom bawme 
percyng to the herte
Our festerid soris that they shul ake nomore
Ne that she ne were we were al forbore

And ferthermore this auctour can eke telle
Within his book who so loketh a right
To Iubyter 
sacryd is a welle
That whan it hath queynte his brondes bright
That ofte agayn hit yeueth them a newe light
Who list assaye soth as he shal fynde
What wonder than though the 
god of kynde

Amyd this welle from fylthe of synne colde
Ful of vertu with fayr stremys clere
His 
lodgyng took & his myghty holde
And thorow his grace sette hit newe afyre
With the holy ghoost that withouten were
Though she were colde from al flesshlyhede
She brent in loue hotter than the glede

And in falisco as hym list to wryte
Is a welle that causeth eke of newe
Whan the oxen drynke to be whyte

And sodaynly to chaunge her hewe
What meruayle than though the welle trewe
The welle of helthe 
and of lyf eterne
The lord of al so as I can disserne

[Page]
Thise stremys shedde in to this mayde free
To make hir whightest as in holynesse
That bothe 
shold mayde 
and moder be
And euer in one / kepe hir clennesse
Withouten chaunge so that hir whitnesse
Ne fadeth neuer in beaute ne in colour
Of maydenhede to bere bothe leef 
and floure

And who that wold dispute in this matere
I holde hym madde or ellis out of mynde
For yf he haue his eyen hoole 
and clere
He shal now see preef ynough by kynde
For he that made bothe leef 
and rynde
And with a worde thise waste wordes wylde
Myght make a mayde for to goo with chylde

And 
 [...] that made the hygh cristal heuen
The firmament & also euery spere
The goldyn axtree & the sterris seuen
Cithera so lusty for to appere
And rede marce with his sterne chere
Myght he not eke onely for our sake
Within a mayde of man the kynde take

And he that causeth fowles in the ayre
In her kynde to waxe 
and multeplye
And fysshe eke with fynnes si
 [...]d fayre
In depe wawes to gouerne hem 
and gye
And doth one lyue & another dye
And geuyth bestys her fode vpon the grounde

And in his kynde doth hem to abounde

Sithen he is lorde 
and causeth al thynge
To haue 
beyng yf I shal not fayne
And is the prynce 
and the worthy kyng
That al enbracith in his myghty chayne
Why myght he not by power souerayne
At his free choys that al may saue 
and lose
To his moder a clene mayde chese

[Page]
Who causeth the frute out of the 
hard tree
By vertu onely that spryngeth from the rote
To growe & wexe 
 [...]ke as men may see
With leuys grene & newe blosmes soote
Is it not that 
lord that for al our bote
Wold of a mayde as I reherce can
Mekely be borne without touche of man

For he that doth the tender braunches sprynge
And fressh floures in the grete mede
That weren in wynter / dede & eke droppyng
Of bawme voyde & of lustyhede
Myght be not make his grayne to growe & sede
Within her brest that was bothe mayde & wyf
Wherof is made the sothfast 
breed of lyf

And he that 
grauyd of his grete myght
Without poyntel in the harde stone
And the tabl
 [...]s with lettres clere and bright
His ten preceptes & byldynges eurichone
The same 
lord of his power allone
Hath made this mayde here in erthe bowe
A chylde conceyue 
and no man to knowe

And he that made the busshe to appere
Al on flame with fe
 [...]ly sparcles shene
And whan moyses gan to approche nere
And yet no harme cam to the bowes grene
The same lord hath conseruyd clene
His habytacle & his herber swete
In this mayde from al flesshly hete

And he that made the yerde of moyses
Of a serpent to take the liknesse
In the halle amonge al the prees
Where pharao the peple dyd oppresse
And in deserte the byble beri
 [...]h / wytnesse
The ryuer made to renne out of the stone
The thrist to staunche of the peple anone

[Page]
And ouer this for to verefye
His grete myght sampson the stronge man
As Iudicum doth playnly specefye
Dranke the water that from the chanel ran
And he that made the flodys of Iurdan
To torn agayne for loue of Iosue
That al his peple clerely myght see

And how wawes gan a sondre breke
And like an hylle to stonde hygh on lofte

And he that made the asse to speke
To balaam for he rode so softe
Why myght he not by power 
preuyd ofte
Sithen he the yren made in the water hous
Be of a mayde 
 [...]orne for mannys loue

And he that made an aungel for to take
Abacuk the prophete by a lityll here

And sodaynly brynge hym to the lake
In babylon whiche was so fere

And to visite 
liggyng in his fore
Danyel amonge the bestys rage
Tyl he to hym brought the potage

The doris shitte of the stronge pryson
For to aswage of hunger al his payne

And in a moment to his mancion
Ful sodaynly restoryd hym agayn
Why myght he not as wel in certayne
The same 
lord of a mayde than
Take flessh 
and 
blood 
and bycome man

And he that made the sunne at gabaon
To stonde & shyne vpon the bright shelde
Of Iosue 
and 
toward achalon
The mone also as al the hooste behelde
The longe day they faught in the felde
Ageynst the kynges of myghty of amorre
That his peple clerely myght see

[Page]

And he that made the shadew to retorne
In the orlage of 
kyng ezechy
 [...]
By ten degrees onely to parfourme
By 
 [...]ste
 [...]y made to hym of ysaye
Why myght he not that al this world shal gye
Of a mayde by the same skylle
Frely he borne at his owne wylle

And he that fedde with fyue louys smale
Fyue thousand in solytarye place
Ferre in deserte sittyng in a vale
Thorow the foyson 
and plente of his grace

 [...] same 
 [...]ord why myght he not purchace
W
 [...]th
 [...]n a mayde 
duryng her maydenhede
Whan that hym list to take his manhede

F
 [...] as the b
 [...]e bothe w
 [...]x and hony shede
A
 [...] the 
 [...]yue who taketh hede therto
R
 [...]ght so marye flouryng in maydenhede

 [...] her wombe 
god 
and man also
And 
 [...] soth she was bo
 [...]he two
I dare afferme 
 [...] per
 [...]o
 [...]e in fere
A ma
 [...]de clene 
and cristes moder de
 [...]re

And as the beme shynyng from so ferre
S
 [...]di
 [...]h his light as men may wel espye
Withouten harme of hynderyng of the sterre

And so as manna fyl doun fro the skye
Right so this floure that callyd is marye
With wombe halowed in to chastyte
Conceyuyd ha
 [...]h in her virgynyte

And as the barnacle in the 
hard tree
Of kynde bredith 
and the vyne floure
Causeth the wyne flo
 [...]re for to be
Thorow bachus myght & grapes gouernoure
Right so in soth mankyndes sauyour
As the barnacle and floure out of the vyne
Spronge of marye she beyng virgyne

[Page]

And as a worme vnder a stone
Of therthe comyth wythout engendure
And as the fenyx of whiche there is but one
To asshes brent renewyth by nature
Right so this lorde that al hath in his cure
Our kynde ageyn fro synne to renewe
Toke flessh and 
blood in this mayde trewe

And as the snowe fro Iubyter doth falle
Thorow the force of sagittaryus bowe
And zepherus doth the flouris falle
On whyt blosmys whan she doth blowe
Right so in soth the grace alight a bowe
Of the holy ghoost like a wynd 
cherisshyng
Amydde the mayde to make his 
dwellyng

And to the floure did no duresse
But parfytly conseruyd hir beaute
From euery storme and flesshly lustynesse
A
 [...] lyke fresshe of fayrnes for to see
As by ensanmples more than two or thre
As ye toforne haue herde deuyse
Whiche as me semeth ought ynough suffyse

To al that be 
grounded in the fayth
Ageynst falsehede to stonde at defence
And yet in suche so as Saynt Gregore sayth
Fayth hath no merite where as euydence
Or mannys reson yeueth experience
But he that leueth 
and fyndeth no reson
Ne kynde accordyng is worthy more guerdon

But yf that ony be now in this place
That hath doubte or ambyguyte
Thorow false errour that doth his herte enb
 [...]ce
Eyther of malice or of Inyquyte
For to accuse the blessyd virgynyte
Of marie playnly this is my lone
But yf so be that he amende sone

[Page]
And axe mercy for his grete offence
Of hir that is of mercy grounde 
and welle
That he of vengeaunce haue experience
With Ixyon doun depe in belle
And that the clapper of his 
distuned belle
May cankre soone I mene his false tonge
Be doumbe for euer & neuer efte to be runge

With hym I am no better in charite
Then ye haue herde at eue 
and at morowe
For here my trouthe he gete nomore of me
Saue cerberus I take hym to borowe
What euer he be 
and leue hym with sorowe
To tantalus his hunger to appease
At fewe wordes passe ouer is an ease

How our lady went to saynt Iohan Baptist moder capitulo xxj

fOr what in soth vpon ony syde
Is p
 [...]rbus chare 
appeyryd of his light
Though eyen rawe may not abyde
For to beholde ayenst his bemys bright
Right so playnly though the gound
 [...] sight
Of heretykes may not sustene
For to beholde the clerenes of this quene

May in no wyse sothely disencoece
Hir clere light ne hyr parfyt brightnesse
Whos faye stremes shullen neuer sece
Withouten eclipse to shyne in clennesse
For of this mayde as bokes doon expresse
Whan gabriel to heuen drowe the coost
She replenysshid was of the holy ghoost

[Page]
Roos vp anone 
and out of nazareth
Toward the mounteyns fast gan hir hye
And there she salewith mekely elizabeth
Within the hows of trewe zacarye
And right forthwith whan she 
dyd espye
Of marie the meke salutacion
And thorow hir eris whan passyd was the sou
 [...]

Within her wombe playnly thus to tale
For veray Ioye and spirituel gladnesse
The yonge Infant with his lymes smal
 [...]

Reioysid hym the gospel sayth expresse
And she 
fulfilled in veray sothfastnesse
With the holy ghoost lowde gan to crye
And euen thus sayd vnto marye

Blessyd art thou amonge wymmen alle

And of thy wombe 
blessyd the faiyte also
And how to me of happe is now befalle
My lordes moder for to come me to
For veray ioye I note what I may doo
For sothfastly thy gretyng as I here
Within my wombe my litel childe now here

Reioyseth hym for gladnes as he can
That of al woo myn herte it doth releue
And blissed art thou that first this ioye began
The 
word of god so faythfully to byleue
Now be right glad & thyn herte meue
For al 
thyng shal 
performed be
That ben of 
god 
byhestyd vnto the

Marye thenne with a deuoute entente
With loook benygnely 
and ful humble chere
The same hour 
beyng ay present
Elizabeth hir owne cosyn dere
With a ful meke and humble chere
And al the accorde 
and hoole melodye
Of the holy ghoost 
sayd in her armonye

[Page]

How our lady made magnificat capitulo xxij

wIth lawde 
and pryse my sowle magnefieth
Eternal 
lord bothe one two 
and thre
That al hath made 
and euery 
thyng now gyeth
Whiche of his myght 
and bounteous pyte
Of his goodnes 
and hygh benygnyte
Onely of mercy list to haue plesaunce
For to consyder 
and graciously to see
To my mekenes 
and humble attendaunce

My spryte also with herte & thought in fere

Reioysid bath with fulsum habundaunce
In 
god that is myn herte souerayn entere

And al my ioye 
and al my suffysaunce
My hole desyre 
and al my sustenaunce
Within my thought so depe he is graue
That but in hym wythout variaunce
In al this world I can no gladnes haue

For he from heuen goodly hath beholde
Of his handmayde the humylite
Wherfore in soth al onely for he wolde
Alle kynredys shal 
blessyd calle me
Of the whiche the thanke / o 
lord be vnto the
With pace 
and honour of euery voyce & tunge
Thorow armony of sothfast vayte
For this allone be to thy name sunge

For he to me hath do thynges grete
Of hygh renowne 
and 
passyng excellence
His grace made fully in
 [...] to flete
For he is myghty of his magnyfyce n
 [...]e


[Page]His name holy 
and moste of reuerence
That wyl I leue hit shal me neuer sterte
With al my trewe faythful dyligence
To thanke hym of al my hoole herte

And he his mercy most passyngly famous
For kyn to kyn & so doun to kynrede
Shal thorow his grace be so plenteuous
Perpetually that it shal procede

And specially to them that louen and drede
Myn owne lorde with herte wylle 
and mynde
To suche his pyte shal euer sprynge & sprede
Of due right & neuer be behynde

He hath his arme enforced & maad stronge
His dreedful myght that men may see & knowe
And proude men they reyne not ful longe
He 
seruyd hath & 
maad him ful bowe
With al his herte doun of the wh
 [...]le hem throwe
For to abate hir surquedrye 
and pryde
Or they were ware her pompe was ouerthrowe
Ful sodenly 
and seyde her boste a syde

And myghty tyrauntes from her ryal see
He hath 
avalyd 
and y put a doun
Aod humble 
and meke for hir humy
 [...]te
He hath 
enhaunced to ful hygh renowne
For he can make atransmutacion
From bowe to hygh as it is seen ful ofte
And whan hym list the domynacion
Of worldly pompe to falle ful vnsofte

He hath 
fulfilled 
and fosteryd in her nede
With the goodes of plenteuous largenesse
Hem that were hungry & I
 [...]dygent in drede
And hem relecid of al her wretchidnesse
And he the riche hath raught from his richesse
Ful wylde & waste to make vpon the playne
And sodenly plungyde in distresse


[Page]Al solytarye & left hym lygge in vayne

For he his chylde chosen of Israel
Benygnely hath taken to his grace

And of his mercy is remembrid wel
To wyde onely vengeaunce from his face
And humble pees shal ocupye hys place

And pyte shal be 
sosid in his stalle

And trouthe shal his right so enbrace
To sette mercy aboue his werkys alle

As he hath spoken & faythfully behyght
To our faders that hath ben here tofore
To abraham & to his sede of right
That his mercy shal leste euermore
For nere his mercy al the 
world were lore
Vnto the whiche to make man attayne
He ha
 [...]h made mercy our kynde to restore
And of al his werkis to be souerayne

How our lady after the byrthe of saynt Iohn baptist torned to nazareth capitulo xxiij

aNd whan this blessyd gracious dytee
Was 
sayd to 
god deuoutly of marie
I fynde after playnly how that she
Stylle in the howe 
bood of zacharye
Thre monthes the gospel may not lye

And after that I rede in certayne
To nazareth that she went agayne

[Page]
And there abode in contemplacion
In her prayers alwey day by day
With many an holy medytacion
To queme her lord in what she can or ma­an
From whom hir thought went neuer
Hir ful mynde ne hir remembraunce
For but in hym she hath no plesaunce

In al thys world of no maner thynge
For al her ioye was on hym to thynke
What euer she 
dyd prayeng or worchyng
No thynge but he myght in her herte synke
For fynally whether she wake or wynke
Amyd hir herte he was alwey present
So fixe on hym was sette her hoole entent

And day by day this holy lyf she ladde
This parfyt mayde thorow hygh deuocion
So feruent loue vnto 
god she 
had
There may be made no deuysyon
For she sequestrid hir opynyon
From al the world & let it playnly goon
So hole to 
god she gaf hir herte alloon

For euer in loue she brent more 
amd more

Toward 
god in his hygh seruyse
Was al hir lust with herte sette so sore
Al erthely thyng she fully doth despyse
And day by day her wombe gan to ryse
Through the fulfillyng of the holy ghoost
Therein by loke whom she 
louyd moste

This mene while Ioseph ay 
soiourned
In galylee 
god wote ful Innocent
Of al this thyng 
and why he not 
retorned
Was for that he was so diligent
In carpentrye with al his ful entent
Sundry werkis of meruaylous empryse
By carpentrye to forge 
and deuyse

[Page]
For in this crafte inpassyng excellence
He had in soth & hygh discressyon
And was 
had most in reuerence
Of al the werkmen of that regyon
And for he had in connyng suche renowne
Lyke a mayster ther is nomore to seye
The werkmen al his byddyng 
dyd obeye

And when he had al his werke 
acheuyd
He is repayryd to nazareth ageyn
But 
lord how he was in his herte 
ameuyd
When that marye he hath with chylde y seyn
That sore astonyd he not what he may seyn
So at his herte hit sat so Inwardly
Tyl at th
 [...] laste he abrayed sodaynly

And said allas how hit is falle of newe
In myn absence or what thyng may this be

 [...] this mayde so faithful & so trewe

 [...] with chylde & god wote not with me
That somtyme had 
auowyd chastyte
And to my kepyng eke 
delyuerd was
What shal I saye of this sodeyn caas

What shal I answer my self to excuse
Vnto the bysshop yf he me appose
For eyther must I playnly hir accuse
Or my gylt with this gylt enuose
This thynge is opene I may it not enclose
O 
blessyd god so do me now this grace
Out of my brest this wooful ghoost to trase

For certes 
lord & hit were thy wylle
I had leuer vtterly to deye
Than thorow my worde this mayde for to spylle
As I mote nede yf I hir bewraye
And on my self yf I the charge laye
For to afferme she hath 
conceyuyd by me
I mote accuse hir vow of chastyte

[Page]
And so my sylf appeche of vntreuth
Sithen I in soth dyd hir neuer knowe
O blessyd 
lord haue on this mater reuthe
For vtterly my wyt is brought so lowe
To see corne growe where no sede is sowe
And reson also platly can I none
How a mayde with chylde 
shold gone

And floure forthe in hir vyrgynyte
I neuer sawe ne neuer yet 
dyd rede
And this I doubte my reson can not see
How that marie hath kept her maydenhede
In myn absence & this I double drede
My witte is brought & wote not where to torne
For double cause that I haue now to morne

That one is this that my fantasye
May neuer accorde that she 
dyd offence
And reson playnly 
agaynward doth denye

And vpon kynde 
groundyd his sentence
To preue sothely wythout resistence
That neuer woman in natures sight
Without a man a chylde conceyue myght

And with that 
word he brest out for to wepe
Lyke as he 
wold al in teris drowne
And for the constreynt of his syghes depe
Stode on the poynt for to haue fallen doune
His sodayn woo made hym almost swowne
So for distresse this Ioseph fer in age
Of Inward thought caught was in a rage

How the maydens that weren attendaunt to our lady comforteden Ioseph capitulo xxiiij

[Page]
aNd whan the maydens weren ay presente
And euer in one 
abydyng on marye

And vnderstood what that Ioseph ment
Alle attones they began to crye
And said Ioseph leue thy fantasye
And thyn errour for hit is folye
Withouten auyse to deme sodaynlye

And certenly with al our herte entere
Of knowlechyng in veray sykernesse
We wyl recorde euerichone in fere
Al opynly touchyng her clennesse
And here vpon bere opynly wytnesse
Lyke as we knowe vnto this same day
Tho nigh al this world at ones wyl say nay

For we in soth thorow besy dylygence
Haue ben with hir bothe day & nyght
And neuer 
departyd out of hir presence
But euer in one 
had of hir a syght
And late & erly with al our myght
On hir 
awayted without Wordes moo
And from our sight she 
dyd neuer goo

And euery houre bothe tyde 
and tyme
Of vs there was no deuysion
And al the morow tyde tyl the hygh pryme
She neuer stynte of hir deuocion
To be in prayer 
and in oryson

And eche day by contynuaunce
A certeyn houre she 
had a dalyaunce

With holy aungels that with her knelid or stoode

And on a tyme thorow goddis puruyaunce
Of his honde she took hir holy foode
As nedeful was to hir sustenaunce

And this in so
 [...]h hath ben hir gouernaunce
And as we echone of hir can recorde
Wherfore Ioseph this lyf doth not accorde

[Page]
In sothfastnes of thyn opynyon
That so mysdemyth of this mayden f
 [...]e
Of fantasye or of fal
 [...] suspecion
For to accuse hyr virgynyte
Of whiche thynge we dare ensure the
That no wight made sothely to deuyse
But the holy ghoost he
 [...] wombe for to ryse

And here vpon we recorde can
Of al the tyme thou were in galyle
She neuer allone was with no man
And what she spake we myght here 
and see
Wherfore Ioseph let thy talys be
And deme not amys in 
word nor in thought
For al this thyng by goddys honde is wrought

And by his aungels 
comyng on message
Is this thynge fully brought aboute
Therfore Ioseph let thyn yre asswage

And of marie be no 
thyng in doute
Certes 
qd he I may not voyde oute
My fantasye to assent in ony wyse
It 
shold be lyke as ye now deuyse

For by an aungel hit were Inpossyble
Hir to conceyue lyke as ye wytnesse
But yf hit so were that hit be credyble
Sōme wyght by sleyght takyng the liknes
Of an aungel thorow fraudelent falsenes
Thorow Innocence shortly to conclude
By engyne of fraude hir thought to deludo

And efte agayn for his 
Inward payne
He gan to chaunge bothe face 
and hewe
And from his eyen the salte teris myne
Lyke as he wold drowne hym self of newe
So sore he gan in herte for to rewe
For this mater that for his mortal woo
He can no rede ne wote what he may doo

[Page]

And in his herte he caste many a waye
To haue fonde refute with al his ful mynde
And thought alwey he wold hir not betraye
For he was rightful playnly as I fynde
And thus he gan in sondry thoughtes wynde
As in balaunce for 
possyd vp 
and doun
Tyl at the last in conclusion

He purposith fully & castyth hym vtterly
To goo his waye sothely yf he myght
And thought he wold forsake hir pryuely

And neuer more to come in hir sight
Tyl an aungel on the same nyght
Sent doun from god to Ioseph 
dyd appere
Whyle that he slepte 
and 
sayd as ye shul here

How the aungel warned Ioseph to [...] wyth our lady capitulo xxvj

o Thou Ioseph ne drede thou not blyue
Thou the s
 [...]n
 [...] of 
dauyd of lyne by dissent
For to take marie to thy wyue
Whiche is a mayde with al her ful entent
With whom is ay the holy ghoost present
Of whom 
god as I the telle byforne
In veray so
 [...]h that shal of hir be borne

And like in soth as writyth Crisostomus
Of this mater that for causis thre
Vnto Ioseph as he tellyth vs
The aungel cam 
and first he 
sayd that he
Sithen he was rightful that in no degree
Of purpose rightful he 
shold vnrightfully
Thys holy mayde forsake pryuely

[Page]
Another cause he wryteth eke exp
 [...]sse
That his 
forsakyng myght to hir name
Be dishonour 
and cause in sothfastnesse
Of vntrewe tunges for to speke hir shame
And though in hir ther were no spotte of blame
Suspecion to voyde on euer eyther syde
The aungel 
bad that Ioseph 
shold abyde

The 
thyrd cause & also most trewe
Was that he with more diligence

Shold hir kepe whan he the soth knewe
That she was clene without al offence
And wyst playnly that by magnyficence
Of the holy ghoost his erreur to enchace

Conceyued hath this mayde ful of grace

And whan Ioseph abrayed out of his slepe
And in his herte by reuolucion
Gan to caste 
and to take kepe
Ageynst the morowe of his auysion
He caught comforte 
and consolacion
Of al that euer he was afore 
dispayrid
And to marie agayn he 
repayrid

And thankyd 
god with al̄ his hole herte
That he to hym hath so graciously
In recomforte of his 
Inward smerte
His grete myght 
declarid opynlye

And of Marie ful benygnely
He axyth mercy of humble affeccion
That euer to hir he 
had suspecion

And of his errour & of his trespace
This hore graye with al humylite
With wepyng eyen gan to axe grace

And she anone of womanly pytee
His heuynes whan she 
dyd see
Comfortid hym in al that euer she myght

And he anone in al theyr sight

[Page]

And al her maydens 
stondyng enuyron
Gan euen thus for to crye lowde
Certes 
quod he my derk suspeccion
Cam of blyndenes for I none other coude
But now in soth the mysty blacke cloude
Of ignoraunce is so 
clarefyed
That al the trouth to me is 
verefyed

Thorow grace of 
god that myn olde rudenesse
Is now from me 
chacid clene awaye
Haue me 
excusid of my derke dulnesse
With al myn herte benygnely I praye
My nyght of errour is 
torned in to daye
That I may now with myn eyen olde
The bright bemys of tytan wel beholde

That for derknes I nyst what to doon
Onely for lacke of his bemys bright
Weren me berafte thorow the clowdy mone

And had within me no clere Insighte
That this eclyps was 
causid al to sone
By her sodeyn Interpocessyone
That was cheef grounde of my suspeccion

This is to sayn that myn erthely thought
So was 
opressyd 
derkyd 
and borne doun
That wordely skyees that I myght nought
Ne was nor worthy to haue Inspeccion
Of this derke knowlege by relacion
Tyl the sunne of his grace 
dyd shyne
My wytte 
eclipsid fully to enlumyne

For he to me hath his aungel sent
Myn ignoraunce fully for to clere
Wherfore of you in al my best entente
O ye maydens that be present here
I axe mercy with al myn herte entere
Of al that euer that ha
 [...]h be spoken & 
sayd
And lowly I praye you be not euyl 
apayd

[Page]

And they echone 
thankyd 
god of alle
With herte 
and wylle bothe in worde 
and dede
That he on Ioseph hath in speciall
His grace of newe made for to sprede
To voyde aweye al his hoole drede
Of euery conceyt 
and 
Imagenyng
To make hym knowe the trouthe of this thynge

There thorow in soth the ioye gan renewe
Amonge hem al echone of one accorde
The armonye 
entuned was so trewe
Betwene hem that there was none dyscorde
Not so moche as a lityl worde

And thus in ioye a whyle I lete hem dwelle
And of the bysshops forth I wyl telle

How the bysshop dyd do sompmon Ioseph for our lady was with chylde capitulo xxvij

tOuchyng this thynge playnly yf I conne
How 
word by word sothely in sentence
Of this thyng the rumour is I ronne
And 
reportid that thorow neclygence
Of this Ioseph or by vyolence
How that marie goth with chylde grete
Wherfore they haue in a sodeyn hete

Cytyd hym afore hym to apere
And he came forth with sobyr countenaunce
Of whom anone the bysshop gan enquere
Abyathar of hys gouernaunce
From poynt to poynt with euery circumstaunce
Touchyng this thynge what it myght amounte
Or how that Ioseph 
wold yeue a counte

[Page]
That marie debonayr 
and so mylde
That somtyme was of suche opynyon
In the temple is grete now with chylde
Ageynst the auowe of hir profescion
By some engyne of collucion
In prouydence of hir vyrgynyte

Notwythstondyng vtterly that she

Aouwyd 
had of hole affeccion
Alle her lyf to kepe in her maydenhede

And was that tyme of suche perfeccion
That sothfastly withouten ony drede
Of suche another coude I neuer rede
Hir vertues al to reken hem by 
and by
From day to day that tyme trewly

She neuer stynte for to wyrche or preye
But lyke a myrrour of al holynesse
The wylle of 
god fully 
dyd obeye
With al hir herte 
and al hir besynesse
And with al this 
fulfilled of mekenesse
She was example to euery maner wyght
That there abode or of hir 
had a sight

And euery day without wordes moo
Stound
 [...]ele from the heuen adoun
Goddys aungel came to 
and fro
Where as she laye in contemplacion
And at the last of grete affeccion
By signes shewyd of goddys volunte
She was of vs 
asigned vnto the

After the custome playnly of the lawe
That thou sholdest conserne hir 
and gouerne
Now be wel ware that thou haue not mysdrawe
Hir t
 [...]ndyr thought fro 
god that is eterne
The trouth of thynges clerely can conserne
Wherfore beware that thou be not to wyte
In this mater lest he wyl the quyte

[Page]

Quod Ioseph than with 
heed 
enclyned 
 [...]we
Syrs speke I wyl yf hit your wylle be
Of this thyng I am not aknowe
The sothfast 
lord that euery thynge may see
My tryst is fully he wyl excuse me
Of rightwysnes & shylde me fro shame
Of al that euer ye put me in blame

For I haue kept hir in the same poynte
Of maydenhede that she was me betake
Of whiche as yet she stondyth in no dysioynte
I dare afferme & swere hit for hir sake
And for my parte what preef ye lyst to make
I wyl be redy & let hit not be 
sparid
Tyl veryly the soth be 
declaryd

Than 
quod the bysshop al suspescion
To deuoyde 
and al ambyguyte
That 
god may make demonstracion
Of you tweyne how the trouthe may be
Ye shullen at taste bothe thou 
and she
Of thylke water to speke in wordes fewe
That 
god 
ordeyned trouthe for to shewe

To exclude playnly euery conceyt newe
Of tunges large 
and euery fantasye
As is somtyme shewyd by the hewe
Of them that dranke the drynke of Ie
 [...]osye
As Numeri doth clerely specefye
Wherfore anone ther is nomore to seye
Make you redy for ye bothe tweye

Shullen make a taste whether it be soure or sote
There is none agaynsay ne excusacion
Tyl the trouth be 
rypyd in the rote
Ne shullen procede to this conclusion
That 
god list make a declaracion
Of al this thynge for fauour or for routhe
There is no mene but the playne trouthe

[Page]
For yf 
god list that your Innocence
Lyke your deser
 [...]e be opynly 
excusid
Than is your merite of your excellence
That ye toforne falsely were 
accusid
And sithen this preef may not be 
refusid
But that ye must obeye to the lawe
Come of anone & you not withdrawe

Do sette hir forth 
and brynge hir to presence
That hath in vertu so excellent a name
In whom was neuer yet founde offence
But vnto this tyme euer flourith in her fame
And standith at large from euery maner blame
Now lat hir come & lyke as 
god your ewre,
For you disposith taketh your auenture

 [...] she anone was of hir frendys brought

 [...] not what al thys myght mene

 [...] of drede bothe in herte 
and thought

 [...] in soth may not doo no tene
To c
 [...]ns
 [...]i
 [...]nce that is of synne clene

 [...] there no place ocupyeth

 [...] a sowle vngylty gyeth

 [...] may no whyle brenne

 [...] brondes be taken awaye

 [...] ryuer holde his course 
and renne

 [...] sprynge drye sothely this is no naye
Ne vengaunce playnly make may none assaye

 [...] e
 [...]cute agaynst Innocence
Ne voyde of synne his myghty vyolence

For nothyng but synne may engendyr shame
For s
 [...]lde or not ben the chekys rede
Of hym in soth that is deuoyde of blame
For who so is clene takyth lityl hede
To wynke or blenke for ony maner drede
And for the assaute of ony mysty cloude
Light of vertu may no whyle shroude

[Page]
It may a whyle be 
derkyd wyth a skye
As is amonge the fayr bright sonne
And wyth the wyndes of malice 
and enuye
The clere sterris often wexen donne
But whan trouth sette abroche his tonne
To make the soth opynly be knowe
The wynde of falsenes may no lengyr blowe

How our ladyes frendys wayled and morned whan the bysshoppys made so stronge a preef of hir vyrgynyte capitulo xxxj

tHan sithen trouth may no whyle dare
Hornys shrynke ne hyde hym in his neste
But like a sonne his light abrode declare
Whan she that was the veray chosen cheste
Of al clennesse & therewyth al the beste
Of al 
good how myght hit betyde
Hir light of vertu to be sette a syde

That hit nyl shyne maugre who sayth nay
Whan her bemys ben opynly 
discurid
As golde in fyre 
fyned by assaye

And as the 
tryed syluer is 
depurid
And she that was in vertu moste 
assuryd
Where the holy ghoost his dwellyng dyd sette
How myght than ony mystes lotte

The clere light of hir parfytnesse
Or ony maner preef or probacion
In ony parte for to make it lesse
For light wyl out it may not be borne doun
And so wyl trouth haue domynacion
For ony falsenes that men can conspyre
Than she that was so fully sette a fyre

[Page]
Of the holy ghoost ne dar but lityl drede
To drynke water whether hit be thykke or clere
To take a preef of hir maydenhede
For hir harme it shal haue no power
For to deface her colour or hir chere
But rather amende more 
and clarefye
The derke 
dymmyng of euery clowde skye

And so marie 
stondyng in the place
And al her frendys about enuyron
Where men may see vpon many a face
Of frendely routhe 
and compassyon
The salte treris falle 
and renne doun
For drede 
and loue they 
had for to seen
So 
hard assaye made on hir age grene

But she alwey constant as a walle
In thought in chere 
abasshyd neuer a dele
Ne in hir herte dredyth not at alle
But vpon 
god tristyth alwey wele
That he of trouth shal trye out the stele

And by that she spake but wordes fewe
Withouten speche he shal the dede shewe

And whan the water fully was confecte
Lyke the statute 
and the rytes olde
The bysshop hath the cuppe first directe
Vnto Ioseph 
and hym the parel tolde

And manly he gan hit holde

And dranke hit vp & chaunged not his chere

And seuen tymes aboute the aultere

He went than by custome as he ought
Of face 
and colour alwey lyke newe

And to marie also the bysshop brought
A cuppe of water & she of herte trewe
Acceptith eke this godely fressh of hewe
And or she dranke this holy parfyt mayde
Al opynly thus to 
god she sayde

[Page]

How our lady prayed to god to shewe hir vyrgynyte capitulo xxxij

o Sothfast 
lord that hast the 
knowlechyng
Of euery 
thyng thorow thy myght

And art so trewe 
and so iust a 
kyng
To hygh 
and lowe thou wylt do right
And 
nothyng may be 
shroudyd fro thy sight
Thorow none engyne ne thy face asterte
But sothfastly knowest euery herte

So that no wyght fade may ne fayne
Tofore the eye of thy sapyence
Now let thy grace doun fro heuen trayne
Clerely in dede 
and not by apparence
To shewe in me yf ther be offence
Of ony gylte myn auowe to appeche
To the I praye so thy light to reche

That hit be couthe here al opynly
To wete in soth whether I in chastyte
Haue ledde my lyf as faythfully
Lyke as thou knowest for the loue of the
And yf I haue my virgynyte
Conceruyd hole this is myn oryson
Make opynly a demonstracion

And with that word the drynke she 
dyd ataste
And went hir course about the aultere
And al the peple gan to gasen faste
Yf ony signe 
dyd in hir appere
Other in colour countenaunce or chere
But al for nought playnly as I tolde
The more on hir they losten 
and beholde

[Page]
The more she was in hir sight fayre
And lyke as phebus in Ioly grene maye
Whan she hath 
chasid the derk mysty ayre
Shyneth more clere the bright somers daye
Whan thylke vapours ben dryuen clere awaye
Right so Ioseph 
and also marie
So fressh were in euery wyghtes eye

That to beholde they thought hit 
dyd hem goode
The longe day in hir opynyon
For in her face alwey was the bloode
Without 
palyng or ony 
drawyng doun
And alwey more fayr of Inspeccion
Of whiche thynge the peple gan meruayle
And for 
astoned thoughten her wittes fayle

How the bysshop and the peple dredde hem of the assaye that was maad to our lady capitulo xxxiij

aNd in partye gretely weren 
dysmayed
Lest that god on hem wold take vengeaunce
For they so ferre goddis myght haue 
assayed
O
 [...]f errour blynde 
and veray Ignoraunce
And right forthwith of hertely repentaunce
They bonchen her b
 [...]estys wi
 [...]h fystys wonder sore
And al attones f
 [...]len doun afore

This holy mayde with humble reuerence
And wolden hir feet haue 
kyssyd there anone

Axyng mercy of hir grete offence
And she forgaue it hem euerychone
And al the bysshops 
and the peple gone
Benygnely to brynge hir aweye
And to hir paleys fully hir conueye

[Page]
Of whom the noyse to the heuen runge
Wi
 [...]h herte 
and speche as they magnefye
The 
lord aboue in euery wyghtes tunge
For ioye 
and myrthe gan hym glorefye

And al the day thus in melodye
They ladde for
 [...]h tyl hit drowe to eue
And godely than of hir they took her leue

And forth they went euery man his waye
In the storye as made is memorye
But marie in al the haste she maye

Entr
 [...]d is in to hir oratorye
As she that ha
 [...]h wonne the victorye
Of al tho that aforne gan muse
Hir maydenhede of malyce to accuse

And thorow hir merite hath the mouthis shette
And lippys 
closid of hem that weren in were
And day by day kepyng hir closette
Contynuelly lay in hir prayere
Expectaunt euer lyke as ye shul here
With humble herte 
and deuoute obeysaunce
Vpon the tyme of hir delyueraunce

The holy ghoost 
beyng ay hir guyde
Hir chaumbre she kept her day 
awaytyng
As ye shal here yf ye list to abyde
And god toforne yet or the birdes synge

And or that floura doth the flouris sprynge
Tofore the calendys of apryle or of maye
My purpose is playnly yf that I maye

For to procede forth in this dytee
So as I can or make mencion
Of the feste 
and solempnyte
That 
callyd is the Incarnacion
Only thrugh helpe 
and supportacion
Of hir that is so plenteuous benygne
Or that phebus entre in the signe

[Page]
With this carecte of the ariete
Of this feste somwhat shal I wryte
But o alas the rethorikes swete
Of petrake fraunces that coude so endyte

And tullyus with al his wordes whyte
Ful longe agone and ful olde of date
Is 
deed allas & 
passyd in to fate

A comendacion of chauceres capitulo xxxiiij

aNd eke my master chauceris now is graue
The noble rethor poete of brytayne
That worthy was the lawrer to haue
Of poetrye 
and the palme attayne
T
 [...]at made first to dystylle 
and rayne
The gold dewe dropys of speche & eloquence
In to our tunge thrugh his excellence

And fonde the flouris first of rethoryke
Our rude speche onely to enlumyne
That in our tunge was neuer none hym lyke
For as the sonne doth in heuen shyne
In mydday spere doun to vs by lyne
In whos presence no sterre may appere
Right so his dytees withouten ony pere

Euery 
makyng with his light distayne
In sothfastnes who so takyth hede
Wherfore no wonder though myn herte playne
Vpon his deth 
and for sorow blede
For want of hym now in my grete nede
That shold allas conueye 
and dyrecte
And with his supporte amende 
and correcte

[Page]
The wronge traces of my rude penne
There as I erre 
and goo not lyne right
But that for he ne may me not kenne
I can nomore but with al my myght
With al myn herte & myn 
Inward sight
Prayeth for hym that now lyeth in cheste
To god aboue to geue his sowle 
good reste

And as I can forthe I wyl procede
Sithen of his helpe ther may no socour le
And though my penne be quakyng ay for drede
Nether to clyo ne to calyope
Me list not calle for to helpe me
Ne to no muse my poyntel for to gye
But leue al this 
and say vnto marie

O clere castel 
and the chaste toure
Of the holy ghoost moder 
and virgyne
Be thou my helpe counceyl 
and socoure
And let the stremys of thy mercy shyne
In to my breste this thyrd book to fyne
That thorow thy supporte 
and benygne grace
Hit to parforme I may haue lyf 
and space

How Cryst was borne after the makyng of the world fyue thousand an hundred four score and xix yere capitulo xxxv

wHan al was hushte & al was in salonce
And in his cours the longe sterry nyght
Was half past & fresshe of apparence
Lucyna shone in heuen fayr 
and bryght
Thy word o 
lord that is most of myght
Whiche ay abydeth & parteth not fro the
Sente & dissendyth from thy ryal see

[Page]
Hath sodeynly vpon al erthe

Shad his light for our sauacion
As I shal synge or mayes day the ferthe
Yf ye lyst here of humble affeccion
How in the yere of computacion
Fourty 
and two of octauyan
Ferthermore after the 
world began

Fyue thousand as beda list defyne
And an hundred sothely this is no lees
And therwythal nynty yere 
and nyne
Whan al the world in rest was & in pees
Withouten warre 
and of olympyades
In the 
hundred nynty yere 
and thre
And by cronycle eke as ye may see

Than augustus by cōmaundement
Generally withouten excepcion

Bad by his lettris that the president
Of eche prouynce cyte borough or towne

 [...]orow out the world make discripcion
Of euery hede so that eche man
At a certeyn day in al the haste he can

Vpon a payne be founde in the cyte

 [...] was borne without more delaye
Bo
 [...]he hygh 
and lowe of what estate he be
After his statute his tribute for to paye
And that no man be hardy to say nay
To quyte hym self of euery circumstaunce
To make in opyn a reconysaunce

With 
hand 
assured 
and hole professnon
Of the prouynce tofore the president
That he is subget vnto come town
With al his herte 
and his hole entente
And here vpon that he 
payed his rente
As the custome 
and the statute bonde
That is to say that he brynge in his honde

[Page]
A large peny 
enprynted wyth the name

And the ymage of the Emperour

And there vpon he 
shold anone atame
Another of newe 
and for the more honour
With 
hond touchyd swere for swete or soure
Whyle he lyueth 
and neuer for to rewe
With herte 
and body playnly to be trewe

To tempre his 
byddyng to obeye
Withouten 
grutchyng or rebellyon
With al his myght for to lyue 
and deye
And than anone the dyscripsion
Of euery 
heed in his owne towne
Was made in haste where that he was bore
And after that I fynde furthermore

His name was regestrid with hem there
Perpetuelly to be in mynde
And this discryuyng yf ye list to here
Was made first in syrye as I fynde
By one cyrynus the peple for to bynde
To be to rome in subieccion
For 
 [...] cyrynus in that regyon

Was preferrid there vnder the emperour
In 
 [...]okes olde as made is mencion
And 
 [...]hiles he was theyr gouernour
Was first than begonne the discripcion
The 
 [...] in soth after the foundacion
Of myghty rome seuen 
hondred & fyftene
At whiche tyme with his bemys shene

Was fressh phebus in his first face
Of caprycorn the lowest stacion
The same yere 
callyd the yere of grace
The yere of comforte 
and remyssyon

Beyng the thyrteneth the Indyccion
The golden nombre of the same yere
Eyghtene 
acounted in our calendere

[Page]

How Ioseph & our lady went to bethlem to paye trybute capitulo xxxvj

tHe yere of herode thyrty yere 
and one
Whan made was the discripsion
As ye haue herde that Ioseph must gone
To bethlem for conclusion
To paye his tribute in his owne towne
As the statute afore doth specefye
By cause that he and also marie

Wherof the housolde & the tribe borne

Callyd Iuda 
and of the kynrede
Of worthy 
dauyd as I haue sayde toforne
And on her iorney as they gan hem spede
And holy Ioseph 
dyd her brydel lede
And sodeynly marie than abrayde
And vnto Ioseph euen thus she sayde

Y wys 
qd she me thynketh that I see
Two folkis gretely 
discordyng
Vpon the waye 
apperyng vnto me
That one reioysyng that other 
compleynyng
To whom Ioseph benygnely 
lokyng

Answerd agayn & 
bad hir ryde in pees
And 
prayed hir also not to be recheles

Ony wordes for to speke in vayne
But holde hir waye 
and hir iourney right
And vnwarely afore them in the playne
Apperid an aungel with face sterne & bright
Of whom the beaute yaue a plesaunt light
The place enuyron & a swete odoure
And his clothyng the like lyly floure

[Page]
Was whyt in soth as snowe that falleth newe
Whiche gan anone chere 
and loke to meue
And therwithal with a chaungyd hewe
Bygan also Ioseph to repreue
And shortly 
bad his wordes that he leue

And 
sayd in soth that he was to blame
For to be bolde ony wordes to tame

Ayenst marie thrugh thy neclygence
To say that she spake ony wordes veyne
For that she sawe / was none apparence
But veray soth as she hath it seyne
For tryste me wel 
and be right certeyne
Of this folke of whiche she spake to the
In sothfastnesse like as thou shalt see

Ben the folkis 
and the peplis tweyne
That ben 
disseuerid in ful large space
That one of Iewes that wepe shal 
and pleyne
With many tere 
distyllyng in her face
That wylfully shal refuse his grace
Of 
froward herte for to be benygne
To deuoyde 
and playnly to resygne

The Synagoge with her rightes olde
Whiche in shorte tyme shal drawe to declyne

And her faces quenche 
and wexe colde
With sacrid light that weren wonte to shyne
For tyme is come that they must fyne

And the 
waylyng of her 
derkyd chere
Vnclose shal & shewe as bright 
and clere

This tyme of grace fully to obeye
With herte & wylle & with humble chere
For goddis worde that no man may withsaye
Hath hastyd it / goon ful many a yere
To abraham 
and also Isaac in fere

And to Iacob that in her holy sede
Ful hastely who so wyl take hede

[Page]
Shal al the peplys 
blessyd be
Thrugh out the 
world in euery londe & re
 [...]e
And with that word that Ioseph myght see
The aungel stye aboue the sonne beme
And be goth forth 
toward bethleme
With marie tyl that they bothe tweyne
In ful lityl space gan to atteyne

To the bondes of bethlem the cyte
Wery 
and mate somdele of hir vyage
Where they founden of peple suche plente
In the cyte of euery maner age
That they myght haue no maner herbegage
In al the towne neyther boure ne halle
Saue a stable 
and a litel stalle

That was 
sequestrid 
and y sette a syde
Out of al prees the story sayth expresse

 [...]ade for bestys therin to abyde

 [...] streyte & narowe shadowyd with derknesse
In to the whiche Ioseph gan hym dresse
With marie to reste there al nyght
And as she 
entrid a newe sodeyn light

All the place 
enlumyned enuyron
That shone as bright as ony somers day
So that this 
 [...]tyl humble mancion
Was fressh and light as phebus is in may
Whic
 [...] 
 [...] to weye 
and encrece ay

 [...] was there al be that it was nyght
And 
 [...] anone the sothfast sonne of light

Of al our ioye cast hym to aryse
And shedde his light to glade al mankynde
For toward mydnyght shortly to deuyse
Whan al was husshte holy writte makith mynde
As sothely as he 
dyd hym wynde
In the sydys of this holy mayde
So esely this newe sonne abrayde

[Page]
Whan he was borne in to this mortal lyf
Vpon the erthe to shede his brightnesse
Withouten helpe of ony mydwyf
Or of his moder trauayle or sekenesse
For she that first 
conceyuyd in clennesse
It sat right wel that she 
shold also
Withouten trauayle or ony maner woo

For to goo quyte at hir delyueraunce
And specially haue a prerogatyf
In hir 
chyldyng to fele no penaunce
Sithen she was mayde moder 
and wyf
Chosen of 
god for to stynte our stryf
Of al wymmen by her self allone
Wherfore hit sat not hir to crye 
and grone

Lyke to other women that be Inly syke
In the tyme of theyr trauelynge
Wherfore sithen she was to none other lyke
No payne felte she the houre of hir chyldyng

And as I fynde at hir delyueryng
Ther was no wyght but her self allone
For thylke tyme Ioseph was out gone

How Ioseph went to seche a mydwyf to our lady capitulo xxxvij

iN ful grete haste to enquere 
and seke
Sōme mydwyf to helpe in this nede
And in this while with her eyen meke
She 
chylded hath this floure of maydenhede

And home ageyn as Ioseph gan hym spede

And to the place the mydwyues brought
Euen at the dore 
abasshyd in her thought

[Page]
Stoden stylle 
astoned of that light
And the brightnesse that shone in the place
Ageyn kynde that tyme of the nyght
That they ne myght susteyne in her face
And no wonder for the sonne of grace
Within whiche cast his light to ferre
Of whom the mone 
and eche other sterre

Receyuen her light eueriche in her spere
Al by that he lay here in erthe lowe
In a stable with his 
sacrid chere
Sool with his moder that no man 
dyd knowe
Of whom hir 
 [...]ook she mekely gan to throwe
Godely beholdyng his fayr yonge face
And 
knelyng doun began to enbrace

His tender lymmes in her armes tweyne
And 
wrawyd hym in clothes tenderlye
And took hym vp & sothely gan hym leyne
In her lawe 
and ful humbly
She behelde his fetures by 
and by
So fayr shapen in party 
and in alle
And with her mylke very celestyal

And heuenly sycour of hir pappys smale
His 
 [...] lymmes she spredde in euery coste
The whyt bawme to make hit auale
Fet from the conduyte of the holy ghoost
Vpon the thynge that she 
louyd moste
And gaue hym sowke of the pyment sote
That spronge & grewe out of the holy rote

Of maydenhede & from the chaste vyne
Of al clennes was I 
tryed oute
Wherwith she made her yonge chylde to dyne
Whom heuen & erthe must obeye 
and lowte
All be that he with bestys hym aboute
Laye humbly as ye haue herde deuyse
And after this his moder 
dyd aryse

[Page]
And lift hym vp sothely in to the stalle
Where the asse 
and the oxe stode
And on hir knees she gan anone to falle
And worshipped hym this beste of al 
good
That yeuy
 [...]h to aungels 
and to man 
food
And than this mayde with debonayr chere
With face erecte 
and hondys eke in fere

A deuout prayer that our lady maad whan cryste was born capitulo xxxviij

tO god aboue began thus for to praye
O 
lord 
qd she with al my ful myght
To whom eche thynge Iustely must obeye
To the I than as it is skylle 
and right
That thou so godely list to haue a sight
To my mekenes though I vnworthy be
And not dysdayne of thy benygnyte

To graunte onely of thy hygh goodnesse
Me to encrece in to suche excellence
To be a mayden and moder in clennesse
To bere thy sone 
and thy sapyence
That neuer twynneth out of thy presence
But in heuen abydeth ay with the
And in erthe mekely now with me

Lyeth in a stable of chere most debonayr
Tofore my face my ioye 
and my comforte
Whiche with the lokyng of his eyen fayre
Is hole my gladnes 
and fully my disporte
Sothfast plesaunce and my cheef resorte
My dere sōne 
and my 
lord also
To whom with herte 
and alle that I can doo

[Page]
I thanke the 
lord that liggist me beforne
That thou list chese to haue affeccion
Of me so mekely in erthe to be borne
And fro thy fader to discende adoun
Onely for helpe 
and sauacioun
Of mankynde frely of thy wylle
My blessyd chylde that so 
good & stylle

Liggest now here mekely by sufferaunce
Amyd the bestys so fayr Vpon to see
And hast no wighte to thyn attendaunce
Lyke thyn astate 
awaytyng vpon the
Saue that thou hast so godely chosen me
Of thy grace vpon the to abyde
I to serue 
and thou to be my guyde

As it is right & Ioseph with vs tweyne
To take his parte what fortune so betyde
Lyke as thou list of grace to ordeyne
And than anone right in the self tyde
Ioseph cam ynne & stode hir besyde
And sodeynly whan he the chylde doth see
Ful humbly knelyng on his kne

How the mydwyf durst not entre wyth Ioseph in to the hows for a grete light apperyd wythin capitulo xxxix

WOrshypped hym with al his herte & myght
With al his wylle & al his ful thought
And tellyd marye for fere of the light
The mydwyues that he had brought
Astoned were that they durst nought
Entre ynne but kepte hem aferre
For cause onely that a newe sterre

[Page]

Ascended was vpon that mancion
That spredde his light & his bemys shene
From este to weste thorow out the regyon
That al they that 
dyd it sene
Gan fast muse what it myght mene

And in her hertes gretely for to charge
That a sterre so bright so fayr 
and large

Of newe 
dyd appere in that reem
That neuer none suche was sene tofore
Of whiche sterre prophetes in Iherusaleem
That tyme were 
astonyd wonder sore
Sayden playnly withouten ony more
That this sterre 
dyd signefye
Thylke sterre whiche in his prophecye

How balam prophecyed the sterre that shewid Crystys byrthe capitulo xl

bAlam the sone of beor as I fynde
Cōmendith so in al his best wyse
Whan he 
sayd sothely of the kynde
Of worthy Iacob a sterre 
shold aryse
And eke also as he doth deuyse
Ful opynly the byble can you telle
How that a 
yerd out of Israhel

Shal sprynge also to smyte 
and oppresse
The felle dukes of moab with her myght

And he shal waste in warre sothfastnesse
The chyldren of sothe 
and of kynde right
With the shynyng of his bemys bright
Conquere also to his subieccion
Withouten obstacle 
and haue poscessyon

[Page]
Of ydume for his heritage
With many another riche regyon
And of Seyr the riche baronage
Shal to hym lowte / for his renoun
So that this sterre in conclusion
Whiche in bethleme brightest of sterris alle
The whiche aboue the lytyl oxys stalle

So shene shone at the natyuyte
Of the chylde as ye haue herde me telle
Betokeneth playnly as ye shul after here
That the lord of heuen erthe 
and helle
W
 [...]iche may of moab the tyrannye felle
Was there by look & helde his hostage
I
 [...] a sta
 [...]le narow as ony cage

 [...] bestis though he were 
lord of alle

 [...] world may at his wylle gouerne
Whic
 [...]e in his honde hangith as a balle
In 
 [...] his m
 [...]ght is so eterne
And 
 [...] th
 [...]ng marye gan concerne
Within her self s
 [...]ker 
and ful 
 [...]oos
And after that she mekely vp roos

How our lady receyuyd the mydwyues capitulo xlj

aNd to the dore wonder womanly
She went a paas and whan she dyd see
The mydwyues ful benygnely
She brought hem in with al humylite
Shephora 
and also Salomee
And hem welcometh in ful lowe manere

And whan that they thise signes sawe in fere

[Page]
Of the sterris / 
and the bestys knele

Toward the chylde to do hym reuerence
And gan also by other tokens fele
Of maydenhode that there was none offence
And that she 
stood hole in that excellence
Of parfyt clennesse 
and virgynyte

And moder to be 
and floure in chastyte

Withouten wemme on ony party founde
Of al the preues that they make coude
And whan they sawe her pappis so habounde
With heuenly mylke sent from aboue the cloude
Shephora gan thēne to crye ful lowde
That a mayde hath a chylde borne
The whiche thynge was not seen beforne

In al this world who so list to take hede
For it in soth the right of al nature
Passith playnly & also doth excede
The wytte of man I do you wel assure
But I see wel thrugh the myghty cure
Of goddys honde this thynge is brought aboute
Wherof platly I am no thynge in doubte

But assentyd with herte 
and hole credence
Hauyng theron none ambyguyte

And thēne anone for the grete offence

And for wantriste of her felow salome
Opynly that al men myght see
Wexe in that arme dede 
and colde as stone
With whiche she was hardy for to gone

How the honde of Salome wexyd drye capitulo xlij

[Page]
tHe childe to touche of presumpsion

And his moder without reuerence
Deuoyde of drede or of deuocion
Or ony faithful humble aduertence
Don as hir ought of his magnyficence
Wherfore anone for hir hygh trespace
Al opynly in the same place

She punysshid was that al myght hit see
And gan for sorow wepe 
and complayne
And 
sayd 
lord haue pyte vpon me
And of mercy rewe vpon my payne
And of myn offence that thou not dysdayne
Ne to thyn hyghnes hit be no displesaunce
That I a wretche blynde of ignoraunce

Offendyd gretely hath in thy sight
Of moche 
vnkunnyng 
and Indiscressyon

And sodeynly in al theyr syght
Euen amyddes of that mancion
An aungel bright sent from heuen doun

Dyd appere byddyng hir anone
With deuoute herte that she 
shold goon

Ful humbly in her beste entente
Vnto the chylde for to haue socoure
And touche the hemme of his vestemente
Reuerently and with grete honour
For he in soth is the sauyour
Of al the 
world 
and of al mankynde
And power hath playnly to vnbynde

Al tho that playnen 
and ben in distresse
Whan they to hym mekely wyl calle

And salome deuoutly gan hir dresse
Toward the childe & on her knees falle
And 
said o 
lord that power hast of alle
Let thy mercy on me sprede
For to socour me in this grete nede

[Page]
Me wretchyd wyght 
punysshed rightfu
 [...]
And lost for euer saue onely thy grace
For in soth saue onely thy mercy
I haue lost myn arme allas for my trespace
And with that 
word as she 
dyd enbrace
To touche the cloth that he laye in bounde
Without more this salome hath founde

Remedye 
and was made hole agayn
Sodenly or she coude it spye
And vp she rose 
and may no lenger fayn
But in the strete opynly gan crye
How the lord that al this world may gye

Descendyd is 
and bycome man
And whiles that she thus in the strete ran

Tellyng the byrthe / & of the sterre also
And of hir arme and of hir sodeyn cure
The peple gan faste to drawe to
To herken more of this aduenture
For in her speche sōme gan hem assure
And that her wordes myght be credyble

And specially for to them vysyle

The sterre shone euer aboue the hous
Ay lyke fyx wythout mocion
So bright so longe so glad so ioyous
That al that 
had Inspeccion
In herte parfyte 
and trewe entencion

 [...]hat they weren 
reioysid 
and made light

And al this thynge felle vpon the nyght

On a sonday myn auctour wyl not lye
As ye may fynde yf ye list to rede
The viij kalendis for sothe of Ianuarye
Whan marye example of maydenhede
Was of age who so wyl take hede
Sixtene yere thys floure of nazareth
At the vysion of saynt Elizabeth

[Page]
Playnly recordeth loke 
and ye may see
And in this nyght of moste worthynesse
Of crystys byrthe 
and natyuyte
As the gospel saith 
and berith wytnesse
Whan the shepherdes with grete besynesse
Kepte her watche the longe wynters nyght
Vpon her shepe / an aungel with grete light

How the aungels apperid to the shepherdis and tolde the birthe of cryst capitulo xliij

aMyd the felde to hem 
dyd appere
And gaue hem comfort in her grete drede

And 
bad hem be light 
and 
glad of chere
For I 
ad he shewe to you in dede
A ioye that doth euery ioye excede
That fynally shal of al dysease
To al folke comforte be 
and ease

And be to hem refuyte 
and socoure
In al myscheues 
and aduersite
For now this day mankyndes sauyour
In bethleme of 
dauyd his cyte
Is borne in soth lyke as ye may see
Goth and beholdeth how that it is falle
And ye shullen fynde in an oxes stalle

How that he lyeth in clothis narow wounde
This yonge faunte with chere ful benygne
The whiche thyng when that ye haue founde
That al is soth let be to you a signe

And sodenly with lawde & pryse condygne
With the aungel the hole chyualrye
Of al heuen by one armonye

[Page]
For ioye herof gan to say 
and synge
Glorye 
and honour in the heuenly see
Be vn to 
god eternally durynge

And in erthe pees 
and reste be
To al tho men that of one vnyte
This hygh feste honoure 
and magnefye
And we echone of one melodye

O myghty 
lord we prayse 
and blesse the

And worshyp eke with humble reuerence

And glorefye thyn hygh mageste
And thankyng gyue to thy magnyficence
For thy glorye 
and thyn excellence
O thou 
lord 
god / o kyng celestyal
O 
god the fader most myghty founde at alle

And god the sone his chylde aboue eterne
Crist Ihesu borne of this heuenly quene
O 
god also the chosen lambe so derne
Sone of the fader withouten spotte al clene
That doest away the worldes synne 
and tene
Haue mercy on vs of thyn hygh goodnesse
Syth thou thy self in parfyte holynesse

Allone thou art sothely holy 
and no moo

And 
lord allone ouer al thynge
And worthyest and hyghest eke also
O crist Ihesu of heuen 
and erthe kynge
With the holy ghoost in glorye 
reynyng
Ay with the fader by eternyte
Thre knyt in one thrugh parfyte vnyte

How the shepherdys founden cryst wyth our lady capitulo xliiij

[Page]
aNd whā the aungels with this heuēly sōge
The byrth of crist 
had 
magnefyed
With parfyte gladnesse that was hem amonge
To heuen anone / ageyn they haue hem 
hyed

And the hi
 [...]rdys by one accorde 
alyed
Ben hastely vnto bethlem gone
Where they founden when they came anone

Marie 
and Ioseph 
and the chylde also

Leyd in a stable accordyng euery dele
As the aungel 
had 
sayd hem vnto
And of the sight they lyked wonder wele
And in h
 [...]m self gan knowe 
and fele
That al was soth that they 
sayd afore
Of the aungel how a chylde was bore

In to this 
world mankynde for to saue
After the recorde of olde prophecye
Wherof they ganne so grete a ioye haue
That al attones they gan magnefye

God aboue deuoutly 
and to glorefye
Retornyng hem deuoyde of euery smerte
And marie choos within hir herte

Conseruyd al that she 
dyd see
Worde 
and dede 
and euery maner thynge
That befylle in this natyuyte
Ful secretly theron ymagenynge
And prudently hir self gouernynge
Kepte hir sone with al her besy cure
Whiche on this day as sayth bonauenture

Lyke a spouse from his chambre is goon
His chosen chyldre thrugh his benygnyte
In his chirche to ioye hem of syon
By parfyte pees & sothfast vnyte
And he this day hath 
shewyd the beaute
Of his face of excellente fayrnesse
In whos honour this day of hygh gladnesse

[Page]
Was made the ympne the gospel sayth also
Our alther myrthe 
and ioye to encrees
Gloria in excelcis deo

And in erthe this day a parfyt pees
To man was 
shewyd withouten ony lees
And as saith powle goddis benygnyte
This day 
apperid in our humanyte

How god wold not be borne but of a mayde moder and wyf capitulo xlv

aNd ouer this as he eke telle can
God was this day in symylitude
In erthe 
honoured in liknesse of man
And he this day his godhede 
dyd enclude
In our manhode 
and shortely to conclude
This day also yf I shal not feyne
Befyl also other thynges tweyne

The wonderfullest 
and most meruaylous
That euer yet were seen tofore
Wherof no wyght by kynde is capyous
First how 
god to saue that was forlore
Lowly in erthe list to be bore
And how a mayde in hir virgynyte
Myght also chylde / 
and a moder be

The whiche thynges passen 
and transende
Reson of man by kyndes liknesse
But fayth aboue must al comprehende
And hit enbrace by parfyt stablenesse
And make his grounde vpon the wytnesse
Of prophe
 [...]es whiche in her prophecye
So longe aforne gan to speke 
and crye

[Page]
After the comyng of thys myghty kynge
Our olde woo 
and trouble to enchace
To whom dauyd 
sayd in his writyng
O b
 [...]sful 
lord shewe to vs thy face
And we in sothe onely thorugh thy grace
Shullen saued be from al myschyef & drede

And also now in our grete nede

Sende to vs thy comfortable light
Vs to enlumyne 
liggyng in derknesse
Eke ysaye with al his 
Inward sight
Vp to heuen gan his loke to dresse
And said 
lord of thy grete goodnesse
Out of desert from the 
hard stone
Vnto the doughter dwellyng in syone

Send doun thy lambe 
fulfilled wyth mekenesse
T
 [...]at lordshyp hath 
and domynacion
Of al the erthe our dole to redresse

And 
wold 
god for our sauacion
This myghty 
lord for to come a doun
The hygh heuenes wold brek
 [...] on tweyne
Vs to releue of that we so compleyne

And 
dauyd spake eke this 
lord vnto
In the sawter our sorowes for to fyne

And 
sayd 
lord in relees of our woo
In hygh heuyns thy mercy make enclyne
And doun dyscende / & lat thy grace shyne
Vpon vs wretchis in the vale of sorow
And 
lord do dawe thy holy 
glad morowe

Quod salamon 
and shewe to vs thy light
Of thy mercy & rewe on our distresse
And with thy vertues that be so moche of myght
That no man may counte theym ne expresse
Fulfylle syon & with hygh gladnesse
Thy peples hertes make to renewe
That thy prophetes may be founde trewe

[Page]
For out of the shal procede anone
The myghty 
kyng 
and 
lord of Israel
And now this day is coruen out of stone
Without hondes of that holy helle
Of whiche somtyme the prophete danyelle
In his book wrote so longe aforne
To signefye that there 
shold be borne

At Iherusalem / where as a myghty kynge
Shal come in haste his peple to vysite
And he shal brynge pees in his comynge
Of whom the power shal not be a lyte
For hit shal laste as hym lyst to wryte
From see to see 
and al the erthe sprede
Thorugh out the 
world in lengthe 
and brede

And baruk 
commaunded to Iherusalem
To be holde in al his beste entente

Toward the brightnesse of the sonne beme

And wysely loke in to the orient
To see the gladnesse that this day is sent
Doun to the erthe now that criyst is bore
Of whos comyng so many a day afore

Spake ysaye & 
sayd in wordes playne
The hygh heuens doo your grace adewe
And 
sayd also the skyes 
shold rayne
Vpon erthe her moysture for to shewe

And bad the grounde eke in wordes fewe
For to opyn 
and thus this heuenly shoure
For to brynge our alther sauyour

And Ieromye spake eke of this day
And 
said on heyght god 
shold make sede
A grayne of dauyd fayrer than floure in maye
Whiche in fresshnes shal euer sprynge & sprede
And conserue Iuda out of drede
And eke Israel kepe in sykernesse
And he shal make dome and rightwysnesse

[Page]
Vpon the erthe of hygh 
and lowe degree
And rightwysnes men shal his name calle
Whan he cometh to sitte in the see
Of kyng 
dauyd in his ryall stalle

And he also tofore the prestys alle
Bothe of Iuda 
and leuy shal deuyse
With newe encence to do sacrefyse

To 
god aboue for the grete offence
Of the peple 
and ignoraunce
With his offeryng make recompence
Or that the swerde be whette of vengeaunce
Euen lyke as made is remembraunce
In malachye in the same wyse
This sonne of lyf shal sprynge 
and aryse

To al the that hym loue 
and drede

And ben expectant with al humylite
On his comyng to suche he shal out shede
His light of grace at his natyuyte
Wherfore be glad lyke as hit may be
Thou bethleme y 
callyd effrata
Though thou be lytyl 
namyd in Iuda

For 
 [...]ut of the shal procede anone
The myghty 
kyng 
and 
lord of Israel
And now this day is coruen out of stone
Withouten 
 [...]ndes of that holy helle
Of the 
 [...] somtyme the prophete danyelle
In his 
 [...]ke wrote so longe aforne

 [...]o sig
 [...]efye that there 
shold be borne

A chylde in soth without touche of man
Of a mayde after his beheste
That lyke a stone was y corue out than
Whan he was borne / of this hygh feste
Only to bere the crowne / 
and the cheste
In babylonye of the grete ymage
That made man first for to doo oultrage

[Page]
For now in soth comyn is the day
Of prophetes so longe beforne 
 [...]ehyght
For cryst Ihesu playnly this is no nay
Is lyke a stone who so lokyth a right
Whiche by his wysdom & his faders myght

And the vertu of the holy ghoost
Was coruen out so clene of euery coost

Of that 
blessyd parfyt holy hylle
That growyth ful of holsom flouris fayre
For out of hir that was in herte 
and wylle
A parfyt mayde humble 
and debonayre
Lyke as the dewe of heuen doth repayre
Vpon hermon alwey newe 
and newe

Amendyng ay the fresshnes of her hewe

Right so thorow vertu lastyng ay in one
Of the holy ghoost / this day of marye
Was coruen out the sothfast angle stoou
Whom that prophetes prayse 
and magnefye
For she this day was the glad skye
Whiche the chylde of elye 
dyd see
So plesantly dessende from the tree

Vpon the erthe 
nakyd 
and barayne
Of holsom faite / 
and of erbys sote
That hath shadde the comfortable rayne
The grayne of grace for our alther bo
 [...]e
That 
percyd hath euen to the rote
Of our Welfare / to do the leuys sprynge
For she allone is the felde flourynge

That somtyme gaue so 
passyng a swetenes
To Isaak whan he was falle in age
Of whiche he cast so 
Inward gladnesse
That hym thought ho
 [...]e his corage

Renewyd was 
and wyth a 
glad vysage
Vnto Iacob of hertely ioye sayde
On his clothys as he his hondes layde

[Page]

How ysaac prophecyed the byrthe of cryst by towchyng of the clothys of hys sone Iacob capitulo xlvj

myn owne chylde 
and my sone dere
The grete swetenesse of the fressh odoure
Of thy clothyng to me is so entere
That hit fro me deuoydeth al langoure
Seyng tofore that there 
shold a floure
Out of the felde sprynge of his kynrede
The whiche shold suche an odoure shede

That al the world shal comforte fynde & hele
In the swetenes agaynst eche maladye
And souerayn helthe in euery myschyef fele
So that this was no wyght but marie
That by dyssent cam of his alye
Out of the whiche to glade al our chere
This day in erthe there 
dyd a floure appere

The swettest yet that euer man behelde
Passyng the rose 
and the floure delyse
And of this holy fressh fayr felde
Somtyme the spouse spake in canticis
Whan he it sawe so fresshe at his deuyse
And habundaunt of a tempre eyre
And that it was so 
passyng I
 [...]ly fayre

How the garnet appyll is lykened to our lady capitulo xlvij

[Page]
o How the bawme of heuenly lycoure
Of thy swetenes with souerayn suffysaunce
Lyke paradyse shedyth his vapoure
Erly a morowe 
auoydyng al greuaunce
Lyke the frute that is of suche plesaunce
The garnet appyl of colour golden hewed
Thorow whos odoure the corage is renewed

Of euery wyght that may the eyre receyue
For euen lyke as the golden rynde
Is playne & 
shynyng as ye may conceyue
His colour 
kepyng euer in one by kynde
And doth his pypynes in the scales bynde
To do comforte to seke in her accesse
Right so marie our sekenes to redresse

This day hath borne the holsom holy frute
The frute of lyf that with his swete breth
Is remedye 
and also cheef refute
To mankynde agayn the feuer of deth
For as the grayne of the garnet sleeth
The stronge axes 
and doth the hete auale
Right so this day out of the golden scale

The holsom pepyne 
and the grayne of lyf
Crist Ihesu gan first to appere
And of marye moder mayde 
and wyf
The goldyn garnet with gis scales clere
Beyng al hole 
and euer a like entere
Was borne in soth for to refresshe blyue
Our olde axes / 
and right as the olyue

His oyle shedith 
and braunche leef ne tree
Apperith not of fayrnes ne coloure
Right so marye flouryng in chastyte
This day hath borne our alther sauyour
The oyle of pees to stynte our langour
To softe our soris 
and our 
swellyng slake
Of al our woundes whan they smerte o
 [...] ake

[Page]
And now this day shortely for to wryte
This bl
 [...]sful tyme of the natyuyte
Of yonge Ioseph the cote polymyte
Wrought by the poure of al the trynyte
Within the closette of chosen chastyte

Parformyd was 
and by none hande of man
As alysaunder wel wherce can

Within his book made in speciall
On cantica as ye may rede 
and see
The whiche cloth of purpyl most ryall

Hewyd wyth clennesse of virgynyte
This day hath 
shewyd in our humanyte
The godhede hoole for by this cloth is ment
Of our kynde the freel garnement

How Ioseph fygurid the byrthe of crist capitulo xlviij

aLso this day of Ioseph the canele

Amyd the felde that doth the vertu floure
Was 
gaderyd vp by clennesse euery dele
Whom al that other gan worshyp 
and honoure
For in chastyte clene chosen bowre
Of maydenhede this canel grewe by kynde
That whan the brethern of Ioseph 
dyd bynde

Eueriche his sheef the byble gan deuyse
How hit stode vp amonge hem euerichone
And al the other gan attones ryse
And 
worshippyd hit mekely one 
and one
For this Ioseph sawe this day allone
Sonne 
and mone and sterris eke eleuen
To hym obeye vpon the hygh heuen

[Page]
And the sothfast garner of the holy greyne
As sayth guydo was a mayde swete
In whom was shytte sothely for to seyne
The 
sacrid store 
and eke the 
halowyd whete
Of the seuen yere that 
dyd in plente flete
For on this parfyt roote vertuous
The seuen eeris of grayne so plenteuous

This day be growen to ful perfeccion
To saue egypte in his grete nede

And for to be to hym sauacion
In crafte whan he hath nede
For this is the grayne that fostre 
and fede
With ful repaste woman chylde 
and man
And al his brethern 
dwellyng in canaan

Tis yonge Ioseph this Ioseph the second
Shal by his wytte helpe 
and releue

And Iacob made in plente to abounde
With fulsum fode at morow 
and eke at eue
That the hunger on no syde ne greue
Of the seuenth yere vnto his lignage

And like as Ioseph in his tendyr age

Thought he sawe hygh vp in heuen
Sonne 
and mone in his auysion
And therwithal sterris eke elleuen
Honoure hym with grete deuocion
Of this Ioseph 
excellyng of renowne
This newe Ioseph crist Ihesu hym selue
Of the sterris 
and the signes twelue

Honowrid was with lowe subieccion
Though he laye lowe in an oxes stall
 [...]
For bothe troni 
and domynacion

And hole the courte aboue celestyal
This hygh feste for a memorial
The laudis songe in the heuen quere
Lyke as 
dauyd 

 [...]ad in the saultere

[Page]
Preyseth the 
lord of the high empyre
And with one voyse his byrthe glorefyeth
That hath with loue brent 
and set a fyre
Seraphyn wherfore hym magnefyeth
Betwene two bestis / though he in erthe lyeth
Ful humbly thrugh his humylite

And now this feste of the natyuyte

The hygh aungels 
and vertues alle
Preysen hym as they ben wonte to done

And let the swetenes of theyr notis alle
Doun to the erthe where goddis owne sone
This day 
 [...]ath chose with vs for to wone
And lyeth now wrappyd in his moders barme
Whom wel softely with her holy arme

And with the fayrnes of his fyngres whyte
Ful softely she doth hym enbrace
And in so moche in herte doth delyte
His tender lymmes to welde 
and compace

And to beholde the goodlyest face
That euer was 
forgyd by nature
For hit was he▪ I dar wel you assure

Whom she behelde wyth hyr eyen meke
That from eter
 [...]e was in h
 [...]s faders thought

And one wyth hym who can take kepe
His owne 
word that al made of nought
Whom a mayde hath to mankynde brought
Thorow hir mekenes of heuen & erthe quene
The lynyal stocke of Iuda to sustene

Whom that Iacob on his fatal day
Whan antropos 
shold his threde vntwyne
Whiche c
 [...]o
 [...]o 
had put longe in delaye

And lachesis or they 
wold it fyne
Gan to blesse & thus to hem deuyne
Whan al his brethern 
stood enuyron
This olde gray with a ful softe sown

[Page]
O Iuda Iuda thy brethern euerichone
Shal prayse 
and worshyp the grete renoun
Of thyn estate whiche shalt of al thy foon
The pryde oppresse 
and make hem lowte doun
That shal be 
clepyd the whelpe of the lyon
The ryal beste whiche maugry who sayth nay
Shal myghty be to catche 
and take his praye

And prowdly bere hit home vnto his caue
My sone Iuda in thy dredeful tene
For thrugh thy myght thou shalt victory haue
Magre echone that the reuers mene
For who shal mowe withstande or sustene
Thy kyngly power to make resistence
Ageyn thy manhode 
and thy magnyficence

That shal in the so clerely shewe 
and shyne
Without 
clipsyng of ony maner clowde
The septer of whom / in soth shal neuer fyne
To be famous by reporte of lawe lowde
Ne neuer cese / ne in couert shroude
Tyl a duc aryse of thy kynrede
Whom al the 
world shall obeye 
and drede

The whiche in soth is for to be sent
Out of thy sede by successyon
Lyke a 
kyng to holde his parlement
With his kegys 
and his regyon

And he shal be to euery nacion
Sothfast abydyng & socour in her nede
And he shal bynde his myghty sterne stede

Of very force at the holsom vyne

And tye his asse vnder the grapys rede
And he his stole / that like to 
god doth shyne

And his palle by myght of his manhede
Shal wesshe in grapys that shullen blede
The 
reed blode deper than scarlet hewe

And thus 
arayed in his vester newe

[Page]
Of loke be shal be sterner to beholde
Than the stremys of the light sterre
And of eyen fayrer many folde
Than wyne 
fynyd shynyng thrugh a verre

And like yuore that comyth fro so ferre
His tethe shal be euen smothe 
and whyte
And like in soth as Ioseph list endyte

The sone of Iacob in his testament
Wherto his chyldren / he makyth mencion
Tofore his deth wyth ful deuoute entente
His presence as they knelyn doun
To hem rehercyng the grete auysion
Whiche he had in egypt goon ful yore
In the foreste amonge the holtes hore

How that he sawe twelue hertes whyte
Ful lustely goo in her pasture

And after that as lyncolne lyst to wryte
He sawe of Iuda borne a creature
Of thought & dede a veray mayde pure
And in his dreme he thought he 
dyd sene
Of hir brought forth / without spotte al clene

A lambe most fayr to his Inspeccion
That euer he sawe / vnto his plesaunce
On whos lyft honde 
stood a fierce lyon
And bestys al by one alyaunce
That were in erthe thrugh cruel resemblaunce
A forcyng hem by sheltron in batayle
By felle malice this fayr lambe to assayle

But or they auayle myght in fight
The lambys power made hem for to deye

And hem 
vanysshed thrugh his humble myght
That man & aungel whan they this conquest seye
They fyllen doun 
and the lambe 
dyd obeye
Sent of 
god this meke werriour
Whiche was borne to be our sauyour

[Page]
Vnto mankynde 
and proteccion
To slee the lyon that he may not endure

And 
accordyng with his auysion
This lambe of 
god 
clad in our armure
This day was borne of a mayde pure
And 
lord of al here in a litel cage
By kyn 
descendyd out of lignage

Of the worthy 
and myghty brethern two

And as burion out of a stocke growyng
Right so thys chylde from leuy / 
and also
Fro myghty Iuda grewe out 
succedyng
Borne of the 
blood to be preest 
and 
kyng
So 
entremedlyd by successyon
Of bothe thyse two was the generacion

Tyl the braunches be ronne and so ferre gone
By lynyal cours 
descendyng as a steyre
Tyl the kynredes were bothe growen in to one
In to a braunche to haue her repeyre
That was 
preuyd playnly to ben eyre
The right of leuy in preesthode to succede

And by Iust tytle who so list take hede

For to be 
kyng 
and bere the dyademe
After his fader 
and be successoure
To worthy Iuda of Israel to queme
To be hir prynce 
and myghty gouernoure

And fro Iacob this burion 
and this floure
Fyrst gan sprynge / to Iesse tyl hit raught
And so forth doun tyl the buddes caught

How nature obeyeth to virgynyte ca xlix

[Page]
tHe holy sydes in a pure virgyne
To bere frute that shal mankynde saue
And now this day the prophecye to fyne
In bethleme within a lityl caue
Kynde 
and mayde suche werre haue
For this matere how no creature
To mannys myght Iustely by nature

That ben contrarye haue her 
restyng place
For mayde 
and moder shortely for to seye
In one persone to gyder may not trace
For by kynde that one must voyde aweye
But in this caas nature 
dyd obeye
To a mayde 
and gaue vp hole her right
Wysely 
aduertyng / she was to feble of myght

In this mater to holde chaumpartye
With hir that was of face most benygne
Wh
 [...]rfore she wydeth al rancour 
and enuye

And humbly hir quarel doth resigne
For hi
 [...] were vayne for nature to malygne
Though she of kynde be the emperesse
Agayn hir 
lord that made hir so maystresse

That she mote nede of necessyte
In euery thynge to his wylle obeye

And be mynyster vnto his volunte
Syth of her myght / he berith hym self the keye
For in to hir by no maner weye
It is no wronge ne no preiudyce
Though of a mayde without synne or vyce

That was so holy 
and parfyt founde at alle
He 
wold grace descende doun so lowe
To take the 
clothyng f
 [...]el 
and mortalle
Of our kynde to make a burion growe
That neuer was of man sette no sowe
But wyth a worde 
and the consentynge
Of a mayde a gra
 [...]fe burgenynge

[Page]
Of Iudas stocke this day gan appe
 [...]
Whan crist was bore of a mayde free

And the fader sent his sone dere
Doun to the erthe to make an vny
 [...]
By parfyt loue 
and feruent charyte
Eternally be bonde that may not fayle
Fully 
assurid by weddyng & spousayle

Betwene his sone his chosyn cyte
And holy chirche perpetually to laste

And in a chaumbre by excellence fayre
Of maydenhede that hym self caste
The holy knotte 
and the bonde so faste
Y bounden was that it may neuer vntwyne

And of that araye for to termyne

Where the feste 
and the 
weddyng was
In al the erthe y 
halowed 
and y holde
In a closette more clerer than verre or glas
Or ony 
 [...]erelle brighter to beholde
For by recorde of patriarkes olde
The chaste chaumbre was within 
adorned
With golde of fayth fayr bright y 
borned

With charite that yeuyth so clere a light
To recomforte al that ben in presence
And with siluer 
depuryd out so bright
Thorugh hygh wysdom of ghoostly sapyence
And al the ge
 [...]nee that haue excellence
In moral vertu for to shewe & shyne
The closette chosen so clerely enlumyne

That of vnclennesse there may no clipsyng be
So fulsum light is there of parfytnesse
For there the violettes men may beholde & see
Of clene entent 
and of holynesse
With roses strewyd in god to haue swetnesse
And with lylyes of chastyte y meynt
And therof colour that neuer wyl be feynt

[Page]
This
 [...] vyolet
 [...]is betoken maydenhede
Lyke to purpyl in signe of victorye

And in this chambre ful of honest drede
The chose closette the chaste oratorye
This day in soth the hygh 
kyng of glorye
To shewe his myght how he for man gan wir
 [...]he
Y 
spowsid hath our moder holy chirche

And like a spouse he 
procedyd is
Out of his chaumbre for to rectefye
Al that was wronge or in our kynde amys
Wherfore this feste for to glorefye
Ful longe agoon to synge his psalmodye
The kyng dauyd entune did his harpe
And with the tenours & the trebblys sharpe

He to heuen gan enhaunce 
and reyse
This day of dayes most worthy & famous

And al prophetes in her sawes preyse
This noble feste / this feste gracious

And fro heuen with voys melodyous
Aungelis ful lowe / sone doun alyght
For to honour this holy nyght

The nyght of nyghtes hyghhest of echone

Excellyng alle as in worthynesse
For in this 
world was creature none
In heuen ne erthe ne in sothfastnesse
On londe ne see that with grete besynesse
Her deuoyr 
dyd this nyght to honoure
Hym that was borne mankynde to socoure

How the chyef temple of rome fyl the nyght of crystys byrthe and other wonderful tokenys capitulo

[Page]
for on this nyght by euery 
 [...]
Was sothely 
shewyd his natyuyte
In bethlehem how of a mayde pure
A chylde was borne moste souerayn of deg
 [...]e

And first of alle in rome the cyte
His byrthe was 
shewyd hyghly by myracle
For walle 
and roof tow
 [...]is 
and pynacle

Of the temple moste famous in the towne
To 
god of p
 [...]es that was consecrate
The same nyght to grounde fyl downe
Playn with the erthe waste 
and dyssolate
In whiche temple moste ryal of estate
The statue stood of myghty romulus

And at the 
byldyng the storye tellyth thus

Of this temple they of rome went
To appollo wyth humble sacrefyse
To haue answer in her best entent
How long this fane ryal of asyse
So stronge bylte 
and in so trusty wyse
That it 
shold last euer 
and endure
Agayn the assente of ony creature

Or parturbyng on ony maner syde

And he gaue answer vnto one 
and alle
How this temple with his wallys wyde
With his crestys 
and batalyng ryalle
Shal euer stonde sure wythouten falle
Vnto the tyme that a mayde chylde

And they anone that first made it bylde

Of this answer 
glad & ful credyble
That this temple euer 
shold stonde
For hem thought it was Inpossyble
A mayde euer eyther on see or londe
To haue a chylde and so they vnderstonde
And they anone yaue tho temple a name
By 
 [...] assent for the grete fame

[Page]

And callyd i
 [...] as I can discerne
The temple of pees with his walles whyte

And therwith 
namyd is eterne
And at the entre so they 
dyd wryte
But on the nyght the trouthe to endyte
Whan cryst was borne of a mayde clene
This temple fyl doun endlonge the grene

To fulfille the trewe prophecye
Of appollo that tolde hem al this thynge
And in that place / in worshyp of marye
And of hir sone of heuen 
and erthe kynge
Standyth a chirche ful ryal of byldynge

And euen lyke the sylf same tyme
The grete statue long or hit were pryme

Of romulus that was 
deyfyed
Fel to the erthe 
and brast on pecys smale

And though romayns made hym 
stellefyed
His grete 
heed for al that 
dyd auale
Of whom al the werkmen made a tale
That 
forgyd it many a day afore
And in soth tyl a chylde were bore

Of a mayde hit 
shold stonde vp riyht
This grete ymage 
and neuer his 
heed enclyne
But he alowted vpon the same nyght
Whan cryst was bore of a pure virgyne
Lyke as the werkman 
dyd aforne deuyne
Ageyn the conceyt 
and the entencion
Of that he mente in his opynyon

I fynde also that the skyes donne
Whiche of custome curteyne so the nyght
The same tyme with a sodayn sonne

Enchaced were that it 
wexid al light
As at mydday whan phelus is most bright
To shewe sothely that the sonne of lyf
Was borne that nyght to stynte al our stryf

[Page]

How the nyght of crystys by [...]th a wel [...]e in Rome ranne oyle capitulo lj

aNd euen than as bookes also telle
In veray soth withouten ony were
The sylf tyme in rome was a welle
Of his stremys passyngly entere
To loke vpon as ony crystal clere
From his vaynys as hit 
dyd boyle
Of whiche the water 
chaunged in to oyle

The same nyght / 
and to tybre ranne
So large plente that al myght hit see
Of whiche welle longe beforne or thanne
Al opynly in rome the cyte
Sybylle the wyse that 
had soueraynte
Of prophecye planly wrote 
and tolde
That the water of this welle sholde

The same nyght chaunge his lycoure
In to oyle / 
and so a day endure
Whan of this 
world was borne the sauyour
In bethelem of a mayden pure

And as I fynde also in scripture
The same day hygh in the fyrmamente

Toward the partye of the oryent

Were seen thre sonnes lustely appere
Eueriche of hem large rownde 
and bright
That cast abrode his fayr bemys clere
Thorugh al the 
world in euery mannys sight
The whiche sonnes drewe lyne right
Her cours holdyng in haste 
and that anone
Tyl they thre were 
ioyned in to one

[Page]
To mankynde playnly to declare
That he was borne in whom were founden thre
To encrees our ioye 
and our welfare
Flessh 
and sowle 
and eke the deyte
Knytte al in one by sothfast vnyte
Whiche as a sonne 
wydyng shoure and shade
Was born this day al the world to glade

How the senatis of rome wold haue holden octauyan her emperour as for her god capitulo lij

also in rome as writeth Innocente
In his cronycle 
makyng mencion
How the senates al by one assent
In consistorye of affeccion
Whiche they 
had in her opynyon
Vnto her noble 
and myghty emperoure
Octauyan of worthynes the floure

Wolden echone hym haue 
deyfyed
And callyd hym by name Inmortalle
The whiche thyng whan he 
had 
espyed
As he that was ful prudent founde at alle
To his presence made anone to calle
Sybylle that was myrrour of sapyence
Here vpon to here hir sentence

And therwithal that she mote deffyne
Wythout doubte or ambyguyte
As ferre in soch as phebus doth now shyne
Yf there were ony of power more than he
Or peregall vnto his degree
From este to weste here in erthe lowe
In al this world that she coude of knowe

[Page]
And this was doon vpon the self day
Whan cryst was borne in bethlem by myracle

And she ful wysely nolde put hym in delay
 [...]
To yeue answer makyng a smalle obstacle
Tyl at the last the fyne of hir oracle

Amyd the chaumbre of the emperour
Standyng enuyron / many a senatour

Was playnly thus wyth chere 
and face bolde
O emperour lyft vp anone thyn eye
And loke vp yonder / & see the sercle of golde
About the sonne whiche ethe is to espye
And there beholde thou mayst hit not denye
A mayde sitte of beaulte most soueyrene
Holdyng a chylde in her armes tweyne

And yet anone as octauyan
Sawe the chylde by clere Inspeccion
With out abode / a voys he 
herd than
From alofte vnto the chambre doun
Beholde 
and see with humble affeccion
This is the aulter of the hygh heuen
Sette in the sonne clere as ony leuen

Wherfore sybylle all abrode gan seye
To hym anone / & lyst not for to byde
Thy crowne auale / 
and the chylde obeye
Whos face the sonne bright may not hyde

And let now be al thy p
 [...]mpe and pryde

And at one 
word she platly gan hym telle
The chyldes myght his power 
dyd excelle

Whiche thynge whan he gan playnly vnderstāde
Of faythful wylle 
and hole herte entere
He knelyd doun & list no lengre stande
And with encence cast in the sencere
He 
dyd worshyp vnto the aultere
And to the chylde most excellent of fame
And list nomore vsurpe on hym the name

[Page]
To be 
callyd ageyn al skylle & right
Wrongfully a 
god sith there is but one
And right anone this noble worthy knyght
Thorugh out the world his precept made to gone
To prouynces 
and contreyes euerichone
Vpon payne of deth that none of hem alle
Be hardy more / a 
god hym for to calle

For he wel wyst by signes opynly

And euydencis eke in specialle
There was one borne of power more worthy
Than was hym self / 
and therto Inmortalle
To whom no 
thyng in erthe is peregalle
Of al this world of hygh ne lowe estate

And for this skylle after dedycate

Was that chaumbre by hygh deuocion
To marye playnly this is no naye
And 
callyd eke for this auysion
A ra ce
 [...] / yet vnto this daye
The name abydeth / 
and slydeth not awaye
Ne lesyth not the light of his brightnesse
Thorow none 
eclipsyng of foryetefulnesse

And in edgady the lusty large vynes
That tyme of yere of her kynde bare
Gan florisshe & floure / & in stede of vynes
With rich
 [...] bawme her braunches to repayre

And the vertu that wynter made bare
Thorow constraynyng of colde in the rote
Nature made wi
 [...]h fressh blossomes sote

To assende vpon the same nyght
Vpon the croppe with frute 
and leues newe
Makyng the bowys as lusty to the sight
As fresshe & as fayre of colour 
and of hewe
And as plenteuous her colour to renewe▪
As in septembre whan bachus hath powere
To shewe his myght that tyme of the yere

[Page]
Lo how the 
lord & the myghty kyng
That hath lordshyp ouer grape 
and vyn
 [...]
Vnto whos myght euery maner thyng
Heuen 
and erthe must enclyne
Can braunches bare / with fressh flowris fyne
Araye newe / though they be scer 
and old
 [...]
In frosty wynter & in weder colde

As in somer whan phebus is alofte
Whan flora reygneth in maye / & in aprille

And make blossomes to be as smothe & softe
Amyd decembre when men for colde of chylle
Wherfore this feste frely at his wylle
The nyght I mene of his natyuyte
To shewe his myght in erbe floure & tree

He made the vynes as ye haue herde me seyn
In edgady her bawme for to shede
When they were most 
nakyd 
and barayn

And out of seson who so can take hede
Of whiche nyght longe aforne I rede
That in egypt the prophete Ieromye
Ful opynly in his prophecye

To the prestys of that kyngdom tolde
That the Idoles of her temples alle
Withouten ony reste by myracle sholde
Breke her neckys 
and to grounde falle
Whan a mayde in an oxes stalle
Hath borne a chylde this thynge shal betyde
Wherfore the prestes in her fanes wyde

Of veray fayth & of hygh credence
Secretly vpon a lityl stage
Vpon his word with humble reuerence
Of a mayde let make an ymage
And in her arme a chylde of tendyr age

Doyng therto in her paynym wyse
After her rytes a maner of sacrefyse

[Page]
And on this heste / ay fro yere to yere
They were awaytyng whan that it 
wold be
Tyl on a day of happe the 
kyng came nere
The noble worthy 
and wyse Tolome
The whiche thynge when that he 
dyd see
Anone of hem the cause he gan enquere
Why & wherfore the ymage was set there

And they echone of one entencion
Yaue answere / & lyst not for to lye
It was ordeyned of olde tradycion
Shewyd toforne thorugh holy prophecye
In whiche they 
dyd faythfully espye
Vndyspayrid the heste shal not varye
Of the prophecye / a whyle though hit tarye

And sothfastly in conclusion
Vpon the tyme of the natyuyte
The false ydolis in egypt fyl doun
And al to braste / in pecys moo than thre
To shewe trewly that y borne was he
Of heuen 
and erthe that hath the regallye

And shal destroye all false mawmetrye

How romayns whan they had domynacion ouer alle the world maden to them an ym [...] and callyd hit theyr god capitulo l [...]

I Fynde also as writeth carnotence
In his book pollycronycon
That whan romayns hadden excellence
Of hygh lordshyppes so many a day a gone
And the peplis / 
and reamys euerichone
Stoden vnto hem vnder lowe seruage
From yere to yere 
payeng a trewage

[Page]
Of a tribute that was customa
 [...]
To the empyre of ve
 [...]y 
 [...]
For with the romayns & s
 [...]nates honourable
Whan they 
flowrid in most felycite

Deuysed haue for a ryal
 [...]
Amyd her towne in most worthy place
A large statue femynyne of face

That made was of coper 
and of bras
Large 
and longe & wonderful to see
And of entayle 
deuyded the compas
This grete ymage 
callyd 
shold be
Goddesse of rome 
and like a mageste
In hir right 
hond 
shold also holde
A large 
world ful sterne to beholde

Whiche shold of rowndenes haue the fygure
To signefye that she most glorious
The cyte hath hooly in her cure

And how by hir they were victorious

And here vpon most excellent famous
They 
dyd a werkman seke vp 
and doun

And to parforme thorugh out al the towne

And at the laste of happe suche one they fynde
That 
passyd all to werke in entayle

And was subtyl bothe of wytte 
and mynde
To werke in metalle & 
sayd he 
nold not fayle
Of this empryse that may so moche auayle
To the cyte and shortely in this caas
Thorugh his engyne hit 
parformed was

So ryally / in the 
world no man
Coude amende hit in that ylke tyde

And to beholde hit many a 
thousand ran
So 
glad of hit they were on euery syde
Tyl at the last one of veray pryde
Presumtuously gan to crye 
and calle
And said shortely the leggys were to smalle

[Page]
So grete a werke longe to sustene
For lacke onely of 
good proporcion
Wherfore anone with sodayn yre 
and tene
The werkman brent in his opynyon

Rebukyng hym of his presumpsion
And sodeynly parturbyd in his mynde

Answerid ageyn shortely as I fynde

As it 
had ben halfendele in scorne
And 
said frende yf thou can vnderstonde
Tyl that a chylde be of a mayde borne
I vndertake that this werke shal stonde
Thyn 
bred is dull in water 
and in londe
To lacke thynge thou canst not amende
And the werkman sother than he wende

Hath of this werke 
said & 
prophecyed
For on the nyght whan that crist was borne
In veray soth hit may not be 
denyed
Of brasse the goddesse is broke 
and to torne
And al the cost / of the werke forlorne
In sygne onely that the 
lord 
and syre

And myghty kyng of the hygh empyre

Was borne that tyme in the lityl towne
Of bethlem / of a pure vyrgyne
To whos power 
and domynaciowne
Grete rome mekely shal enclyne
For erthely lordshippes nedes must fyne
With al theyr pompe / 
and lowte to hym lowe
Whan the power of this 
kyng is knowe

How wyse sybylle tolde to the senates of rome the byrthe of Cryst capitulo lv

[Page]

aNd of this tyme gone ful many a 
 [...]
Wyse sybyll
 [...] 
callyd tyb
 [...]elyn
Spake to the Senate ful opynly & 
 [...]
Hir dreme 
expownyng of the sonnes ny
 [...]
Whiche they sawe al attones shyne
Vpon a nyght eueriche ful dyuerse
To hem 
declaryng playnly in her verse

That eche sonne in her auysions
Whiche in heuen were so bright 
and fayre
Betokeneth sothely the generacions
That shal succede dyuerse 
and contrayre
Of whiche sonme shal vanysshe 
and appayre
And of bemes waxe wonder donne
Vnto the tyme that the eyght sonne

His stremys shadde as rede as ony blode
That specefyeth the generacion
That shal by kynde be furious 
and wode

And vnto vertu ful of rebellyon
Tyl there be borne a myghty champyoun
Out of the stocke of Iuda that shal haunte
His myghty 
hand her tyrannye to daunte

Whos moder shal come of the kynrede
Of the ebrewys / 
and yssue of her lyne

And out of hem euen y lyke procede
As doth a floure out of the roote spyne
And she shal be moder 
and virgyne
And tolde hem eke in hir prophecye
Whan she is borne / hyght shal marye

And she shal be eke by eleccion
Moder to hym that is of power moste
Of whom the byrthe 
and the concepcion
Shal fully be of the holy ghooste
And he shal stretche vnto euery cooste
His grete kyngdom that shal neuer fyne

And his byrthe she gan also assygne

[Page]

And tolde forth affermyng stedfastly
Whan he were borne that he 
shold be
Bothe 
god 
and man to gyder verely

And of the nyght of his natyuyte
To hem of rome many thynges tolde she
And specially what he 
shold hyght
As openly ye may haue a sight

In thylke verse that 
aledgyd be
In grete austyne where ye may the name
In the 
bygynnyng / of cryst Ihesu see
And of his renome / & of his grete fame

And by 
and by how she 
dyd attame
To the Iewys his 
comyng euery dele
Of whiche thynge / lyke they no 
thyng wele

Certeyn prestys of the Iewes lawe
Gan to grutche as they yaue audyence
And 
bad to hir / hyr tonge to withdrawe

And wold for angre haue put hir in scilence
And 
 [...]ist of malice yeue no credence
Vnto no word / that she spake or 
sayd
Tyl that she of sodayn yre 
abrayd

And 
sayd o Iewys blynde wyth the skye
Of ygnoraunce 
and malice Indurate
Ye shal to hym of veray false enuye
Be 
wickyd rebelle 
and obstynate
And ay with hym ye shul holden debate

And magreth you / 
and al your enmyte
Yet shal he reygne 
and 
kyng 
crowned be

Whan he is borne in the heritage
Of his fader who so that sayth naye

And procede out of your lignage

And of his comyng shal be no delaye

And tolde hem eke playnly of the daye
Of his byrthe bet than I can ryme
And like his 
word 
comyng is the tyme

[Page]
The tyme of tymes / the tyme of lyf & 
 [...]
The tyme of Ioye & no 
thyng to morne
Sithen he is borne with so fayr a face
The golden 
world 
makyng to retorne
The world of pees the kyngdom of satorne
Of whiche somtyme proba that was wyf
Of adelphus wrote in her lyf

How the prophetes prophecyed the byrthe of cryst capitulo lvj

tHe tyme also that is 
auctorised
Of prophetes in her prophecye
Where his 
comyng is opynly 
deuysed
Recorde I take first of hym abdye
That sayth thus the byble may not lye
How in the hylle playnly of syon
Shal ioye 
and helthe come bothe in one

Vnto mankynde 
and sauacion
Where he sette his kyngdom 
and his see
Wherby is take the myghty regyon
Of worthy Iuda 
and he shal also be
Socour 
and helpe vnto ydume
Of esau that 
callyd is the hylle
To ioye bothe to obeye his wylle

And Naym hyght Iuda to be light
And bad hym halowe his festys pryncipalle
For that shal newly enspyre his sight
Assendyd is vpon his see ryalle
That shal to the be bothe towre 
and walle
Chyef defence 
and proteccion
In euery woo 
and trybulacion

[Page]

And abacuk 
makyng mencion
Of his 
comyng whan he wrote in tree
Of grene box his auysyon
Where he spake playnly of his natyuyte
And his 
shynyng clere 
and light shal be
And of the hornes be platly gan to sayne
That he shal holde in his hondes twayne

Therin is 
hyd his power 
and his myght
That on his foon kyngly he shal shewe
And of the hylle he tellyth there a right
How he shal bowe hem / & the croppis hewe

And tellyth eke in wordes not a fewe
Of ethyope 
and also Madyan
The tabernacles how they shal quake than

And b
 [...]ruk eke scrybe of Ieromye
Ful opynly wrote of his 
comyng
And 
bad loke vp clerely wyth thyn eye
And of 
dauyd a burion 
and the sprynge
Shal be 
susteyned to rayne lyke a kynge
And he shal do thorugh his worthynesse
Doome in erthe 
and also rightwysnesse

And sophone 
bad abyde a whyle
Vpon this day with deuocyon
For he shal gader out of euery yle
Of eche kyngdom and euery regyon
His peple in one of hygh affeccion

And also there▪ as he makyth mynde
From the f
 [...]odes of ethyope 
and ynde

They shal to hym deuou
 [...]ly 
offeryng bryng

And do to hym dewe sacrefyse
And false goddes eke thorugh his worchyng
With ryal myght he shal also despyse
And from her sees make hem to aryse
And fro the bondes of her 
dwellyng place
Of veray force dryue hem 
and enchace

[Page]

And of his byrthe longe or that it felle
In a vysyon wonderful of sight
Spake the prophete 
callyd dany
 [...]lle

And sayd hym thought he sawe vpon a nyght
Lyke to beholde as he 
 [...] right
A sone of man 
comyng with a 
 [...]
To whom power honour 
and regally

There geuen was perpetuelly to abyde

And his kyngdom by eternyte
Shal stonde hole 
and not deuyde
Whiche shal not passe neyther corupte be
Whos 
comyng eke whan he 
dyd see
The holy prophete olde ezechyel
Sayth thus the byble can you telle

I shal ordeyne & prudently prouyde
An herdeman my slepe to kepe sure
To wake the flockes euery tyde
To kepe hem wysely in to her pasture

And forthermore he doth vs eke assure
The holy prophete forthe in his 
wrytyng
Sothely 
affermyng that there shal be a 
kyng

Of al folkes whos empyre shal be one
And no lenger 
deuyded in to tweyne
Whiche in ydolis made of stocke 
and stone
Ne shal nomore be pollute to ordeyne
False offerynges to 
god that they seyne

And the prophete that 
callyd is adgee
Ful opynly who so lyst to see

Wryteth of his byrthe in a lytyl stounde
Euen lyke as he was 
enspyrid
That he shal moue heuen see 
and grounde

And he that is of al most 
desyrid
Shal come in haste lyke a kyng a 
tyrid
For ioye of the whiche holy zacarye
To crystys spouse this doth specefye

[Page]

 [...] 
and 
 [...] thou doughter of syon

And synge thou doughter of Iherusaleme
Beholde 
 [...] 
kyng shal come right anone
That shal be 
 [...] in bethleme
And his power shal fro 
 [...] to royame
The bondes 
 [...] of his rya
 [...]te
As ferre in soth as ony 
flood or ony see

Holden her course as they wyth wawes wynde
Out of her moder the grete occian
Of whos 
comyng malachye maketh mynde
Within his book the byble telle can
How the name of hym bothe 
god 
and man
Shal stretche his stremys withouten wene
Fro thylke place where the sonne shene

Reysith his light whan hit begynneth dawe
At the vpryste in the mornynge
Vnto the west where he goeth vnder wawe
Tyl efte ageyn his chariete he brynge
In to the este that doth the larke synge
For ioye onely that his bemys ryse

And of his 
comyng doth eke amos deuyse

And sayth he shal newely by myracle
Restore ageyn 
and eke reedefye
Vpon that day the myghty tabernacle
Of 
kyng 
dauyd with al the regallye

And of this chylde wryteth also ysay
 [...]
Whan he is borne that in his presence
Kynges for drede shullen kepe salence

A questyon assoyled whiche is worthyest of kyng wyne or woman capitulo lvij [Page] A questyon assoyled whiche is worthyest of kyng wyne or woman capitulo lvij

aNd as in erthe is made a questyon
Of thynges thre whiche was worthyest
Kyng wyne or woman in comparison
Eche y praysid & holden as for best
And al this stryf as darius gan lest
Zorobabel withouten ony slouthe
Aboue echone 
had 
preferrid trouthe

And whyle they were atrauerse of thise thre
Eueriche holdyng his opynyon
Zorobabel of ryght 
and equyte
To woman yaue his commendacion
Makyng forthwith of trouthe mencion
Onely in signe as he can deuyse
Fro woman first / trouthe must aryse

Whiche is the bonde & knotte pryncipalle
Of al vertu hit may not be 
denyed
And therwithal so excellent ryalle
With 
god hym self that is next 
alyed
And for hit is so moche 
magnefyed
Thorow the 
world of pryce and worthy fame
God chese hym self of that to bere the name

And with his mowth hym self so list hym calle
As the gospel makyth mencion
And by recorde of prophet
 [...]s alle

God descendyng to one conclusion
This day in erthe for our sauacion
Of a woman in maydenhede 
flouryng
To mankynde trouth 
dyd spryng

[Page]
And fro heuen rightwysnes behelde
How trouthe & mercy in a mayde mette
And thus is trouth spronge out of a felde
Where the holy ghoost the rayne of grace sette
To make the graffe that he fro Iuda fette
To fructefye / 
and a pure virgyne
That shal be tytle of the same lyne

The crowne of Iuda to hym accepte anone
And vnderfonge hit as a champyon
Whiche was byrafte so many a day a gone
From sedechye aweye in babylon
Whan that was made a transmygracion
By the tyraunt nabugodonosore
Whos cruelte last shal nomore

How our lady ought worthely to be recommendyd and worshypped for the byrthe of cryst capitulo lviij

nOw he is borne that is rightful eyre
That shal make better than neomy
 [...]
His peple of Iuda for to haue repeyre
Ierusaleme ageyn to reedefye
Though herode that falsely doth ocupye
As a foreyn thrugh his cruel myght
By tyrannye 
and no tytle of right

Of whom the kyngdom shal not longe endure
The reygne 
vsurpyng by extorcion
For the 
lord of euery creature
This day hath take his Iust pocessyon
In bethlehem within a smale dongeon
He & his moder as who sayth but allone
To wayte on hym / other fewe or none

[Page]
A lady myn how god hath made the riche
Thy self allone al richesse to possede
For in this world none is the lyche
Of plente ryal fro the londe of mede
Where the hylles of golde ben as I rede
May no tresoure in his menes reyse
Ageyn thy tresure for to counterpeyse

For certes lady thou allone hast alle
That within heuen aungels desyre
The Iewel riche the tresour celestyalle
Of heuen kyng of erthe 
lord 
and syre

And hym that hath al the hole empyre
Of londe & see & the monarchye
Thow hast hooly lady myn to gye

And as austyn the holy doctour writeth
In a sermon of the natyuyte
We may to the say right as he byddeth
With deuout herte 
knelyng on our kne
O blessyd lady floure of virgynyte
We prayen echone o welle of our welfare
Lyke a moder not thy mylke to spare

Yeue hym plente that is so plenteous
Of fulsomnesse aungels to fede
And yeue hym sowke the pyment gracious
Of thy pappes let thy condyte shede
The swete mylke al about in brede
Moderly it 
makyng to auale
On his fayr tendyr lymmes smale

Glad mayst thou be that sauf list to vouche
With his softe rounde lyppes lyte
To haue plosaunce thy brestis for to towche
Onely to sowke thy 
blessyd pappys whyte
And that hym list so godely to delyte
For his playe to haue so moche blisse
Euer amonge thy holy mouthe to kysse

[Page]

And sodeynly with childely chere Iocounde
Than anone thy whyt necke to enbrace
With his softe tendyr armys rounde
And than attones falle on thy face

And of his eyen 
fulfilled of al grace
A goodely loke to the 
ward enclyne
And so forth his chekys leye to thyn

And with his fyngrys mowth & eyen touche
His smalle pawmys on thy chekis leyne
His yonge face betwene thy pappys couche
And holde hym stylle with al his besy peyne
And grype hem fast with his hondes tweyne
For therin was his heuenly repaste
Thy yonge sone whan he lyst breke his faste

There was his fode 
and his norisshyng pure
Sothfast seleer of his sustenaunce
The tonne of lyf that euer 
dyd endure
Ay lyke fresshe vnto his plesaunce
With 
sacrid lycour of holy habundaunce
That none but he may touche ne appronhe
For hit for hym was onely set a broche

For in that lycour is ful remedye
Holy refuyte 
and playne medecyne
Ageyn the venym brought in by enuye
Thorugh false engyne & malyce serpentyne
Whan the snake made adam to dyne
Of the appyl that was intoxicate
Falsely with 
god to make hym at debate

But now the mylke of thy pappys tweyne
Benygne lady is to vs tria
 [...]le
Within thy breste spryngeth from a veyne
Ayenst the deth to be to vs obstacle
O how it is a passyng hygh myracle
Thorow goddes myght / & by nought ellys
Out of a breste to see two smale wellys

[Page]
Of a mayde 
spryngyng as a ryuere
To yeue hym drynke that is 
kyng of alle
O goodely lady / o heuenly botel
 [...]re
Whan we in myschyef to the clepe & calle
Somme drope of grace let vpon vs falle
And to that celer make a redy weye
Where thou of mercy allone berist the key
 [...]

And of grace let be no scarsete

Good lady that art of grace welle
For now this day in erthe is borne of the
The sothfast 
god of heuen erthe and helle
Whiche is come doun with vs for to dwelle
And hath of the our mortall kynde y take
Of al our woo an ende for to make

Somtyme fro heuen fy
 [...] doun the manne
To refresshe the hungry in her nede

And that befyl in deserte right thanne
Whan moyses the peple 
dyd lede
But now this day in erthe man to fede
An humble mayde to al that ben trewe
In this desert hath brought manna newe

Whiche to aungel is the food of lyf
To man repaste of ioye 
and of gladnesse
Chyef recomforte 
and restoratyf
To al feble 
oppressyd with sekenesse
O 
good lady o myrrour of mekenesse
Benygne floure of womanhede the welle
In this deserte where as now we dwelle

Send vs thy manna of souerayn hertes hele
To our comforte 
and consolacion

And let vs grace in thy mercy fele
For our refuyte 
and refeccion

And in this vale of confusion
Let the grace fro the skyes rayne
The manna of lyf that we may attayne

[Page]
For thou allone ar
 [...] comforte synguler
To al tho that no refuyte conne
This day also of mercy the ryuere
Fro whiche al grace is to mankynde ronne
The sterre also that hath brought forth the sonne
The sone of lyf in erthe for to wone
O mayde o moder o doughter of thy sonne

Whiche none in soth sithe the 
world began
Was bothe two but thy self allone
For who is he that remembre can
First or last late or ellys soone
So bright a sonne 
spryng of so fayr a mone
Saue this day the sonne of lyf most shene
From the aroos & thou a mayde clene

Without 
eclipsyng or 
lesyng of thy light
For thou a moder 
and mayde bothe two
In v
 [...]tu
 [...]ay
 [...]e like shene 
and bright
O fayr 
 [...]oose / o roose of Ierico
That hast this day 
god 
and man also
In bethelem borne ageyn the greye morowe
The nyght to voyde of al our olde sorowe

Of liknessis of our lady in commendacion of hir capitulo lix

nOw fayr 
 [...]edre cy
 [...]resse of syon

Spryngyng light of nazareth
Chosen chambre of wyse salamon
Floure of the felde swettest on holte & heth
Of whom al vertu saueth men fro deth
Of syloe the water eke 
depurid
Wherby the lepre of Naman was 
recuryd

[Page]
Laude 
and glorye of Iherusalem
Thow 
namyd arte and of Israel gladnesse
Holsom cestern this day of bethlehem
The thrist of 
dauyd to s
 [...]aunche 
and distresse
Of paradyse the welle in sothfastnesse
Foyson that floweth in to sondry royames
The soyle to adewe with his swete stremes

The 
lond also of promyssyon
That mylke 
and hony bothe in fere shedyth
The soyle 
and grounde of our sauacion
With his herbys that fosterith vs 
and fedeth
Now 
blessyd mayde whos mercy euer nedeth
Also that lyuen in thy seruyse
This hygh feste so for vs deuyse

That in honoure of thy sone dere
We may of herte rede synge 
and praye
And let the stremys of thyn eyen clere
Thy seruauntes / o lady myn conueye
To contynue fully vntyl we deye
The to serue with hertely loue 
and drede
As moste is plesyng to thy womanhede

And this feste of festys pryncipalle

Callyd the feste of the natyuyte
Make loue & pees to reygne oueralle

And hertis ioye wyth parfyt vnyte
Voyde al dyscorde & let no rancour be
In hertes 
closed by malice or enmyte
But of thy grace so gouerne vs and gye

This hygh feste in whiche thy sone was borne
Now this mydwynter nyght with ful affeccion
Whyle phebus shyneth in the caprycorne
We may the serue with al deuocion
And lady myn in conclusion
Now this monthe that 
callyd is decembre
Vpon thy seruauntes faythfully remembre

[Page]

How cryst was circumcisyd capitulo lx

wHan Ianus bifrons in colde Ianuarie
With frosty berde 
entryd in the yere
And phebus chare neyeth to aquarie
His watery bemys tofore feuerere
Whan that his light was pale & nothyng clere

And from hym late was 
passyd lucyne
The same nyght as I sawe her shyne

A 
ourned newe with bemes 
glad 
and merye
On the heuen and cast his stremys doun
I gan remembre of the hygh ferye
That 
callyd is the circumcision
How hit befyl than by reuolucion
By iuste 
acountyng in the calendere
The first day of the newe yere

And thought I wold in my book procede
Of this feste somwhat for to wryte
And to the gospel first I gan take hede
Of this day how luke list to endyte
Though he therof speke but a lyte

And was ful brief 
and compendyous
Yet of this day hygh 
and glorious

He writeth playnly & sayth how that anone
After the day of the natyuyte
When eyght dayes 
passed were 
and gone
The chylde was brought with al humylite
To the temple lowly for to be
As the lawe of the Iewys hath 
deuysed
The eyght day to be circumcis
 [...]n

[Page]

And he therto mekely 
dyd obeye
And with a knyf made ful sharpe of stone
His moder lokyng with a pyteou
 [...] eye
The chylde was corue therwythal anone
That al abowt the 
reed 
blood gan gone
Without abode as sayth bonauenture
And for the payne he 
dyd endure

And for sharpenes of the sodayn smerte
The chylde gan wepe that pyte was to he
 [...]
Wherfore his moder of veray tendyr herte
Out brast on teris & myght hir self not stere
That al 
bydewyd were hir eyen clere
Whan she sawe hym that she 
louyd so
So yonge so fayre to wepe so for woo

But he anone in al his passyon
For al that he was so yonge of age
In manere he 
had a compassyon
To see his moder to wepe in her rage
And put his hande vnto hir vysage
On mouthe 
and eyen passyngly benygne

And as he coude goodely made a signe

Withouten speche to stynte her wepyng
That came to hir of moderly pyte
And she ful wel conceyuyth his 
menyng
From poynte to poynte & than anone gan she
To loke on hym that was so fayr to see

And his feturis 
consideryd by 
and by
And in her armes wonder womanly

She took hym vp & 
prayed hym be stylle
As of moderis is playnly the manere

And he in al obeyeth to hir wylle
Though he were yōge & gan to chaunge his cher
 [...]
And with h
 [...]r kerchye
 [...] she made his eyen clere
On his chekys in al that euer she may
Ful moderly the trerys wypte awaye

[Page]

How in four maner of wyses cryst was circumcisid capitulo lxj

and like of alquyn as it is 
deuysid
That crist Ihesu who so list to see
In foure maners was trewly 
circumcisid
Fyrst of his fader at his natyuyte
With the knyf of wylful pouerte
And now this day whiche is not 
feyned
Eke wyth a knyf by the lawe 
ordeyned

The 
thyrd maner ye may eke consyder
How with the knyf of grete aduersite
That he was kyt first whan he cam hyder
Takyng for vs oure humanyte

And alther last with ful cruelte
For vs he 
suffrid circumcision
Vpon the crosse duryng his passyon

How crist suffryd circumcision in his chosen peple capitulo lxij

eKe in four maner who so can take hede
Cryst in is chosen by 
good Inspeccion
Here in this 
world withouten ony drede
Of newe he 
suffrid circumcision
The first is made by false detraccion
That kytteth aweye bothe frende 
and fame

And the 
shynyng of her goode name

[Page]
The 
second is by false tyrannye
Of suche that haue no conscience at alle
But taketh aweye by 
cursid robbery
 [...]
Vnrightfully her goodes temporalle
And the 
thyrd sothely is most mortall
 [...]
Of heretykes that falsely dysobeye
To holy chirche & to our fayth vareye

The fourth is made by effusion of bloode
Of tyrauntes that the body sleeth
Whan they of malice ageyn the fayth stoode
To execute her venym vp by deeth
To make marters to yelde vp the breeth
Whom crist Ihesu eternally in glorye

Ordayned hath a palme of victorye

Eke fyue tymes cryst in his manhede

Shad his 
blood by effusion

And alther first whan he 
dyd blede
Vpon the day of circumcision

And next in soth tofore his passyon
Vpon the hylle for anguysshe whan he swette
The rede blood whiche al his body wette

The 
thyrd tyme his 
blood most vertuous
Gan renne out by many a cruel wounde
Whan that he was this kyng most gracious
Of the Iewes to a pyler bounde
The fourth tyme eke as it is founde
He spent his 
blood for our alther 
good
Whan he was 
naylyd hygh vpon the 
rood

And alther last whan longeus a fere
Thorugh his herte playnly as I fynde
On caluere hym 
percyd with a spere
That 
blood & water as bookes make mynde
Gan streme doun to his eyen blynde
By whos vertu anone this paynym knyght
Onely of g
 [...]ce 
recouerd hath his sight

[Page]

And in bookes eke as it is tolde
How the py
 [...]ce of his Incision
Was by an aungel in an vrne of golde
To charks brought in a vysion
And be anone of grete affeccion
Of this myracle for the excellence
Made hit be kept for grete reuerence

And at A
 [...]on but yf bookes lye
Ful many yere by reuolucion
In a chirche sothely of marye
But clerkys haue an opynyon
That the day of resurrexyon
Whan cryst Ihesu rose from deth to lyue
The same py
 [...]ce 
retorned as blyue

To the place where that it cam fro
Sythen that it was sothely as I fynde
Of his manhode 
parteynyng therto
And a party 
longyng to his kynde
Though hit be so that bookes make mynde
That in rome it is yet 
preseruyd
And yere by yere whan this feste is 
seruyd

In a chirche whiche men of custome calle
Sancta sanctorum of olde foundacion
The same day there the prestys alle
Solem
 [...]nely make a stacion
Whan al the peple goon on processyon
Fully in h
 [...]pe better for to spede
From yere to yere there they synge & rede

And ferthermore the storye doth deuyse
The same day right forthwyth anone
In the temple as they hym circumcise
He 
namyd was Ihe of echone
The which name longe or that agone
Was of the aungel tolde & 
sayd afore
To his moder or that he were bore

[Page]

How the peple of god that our Iosue had in gouernaunce weren sauyd by the stedfast beleue of the name of Ihesus capitulo lxiij

aNd to reherce the grete worthynesse
Of this name whiche may not be described
My wyttes ben so dulle with rudenesse
And in the chayne of ygnoraunce 
guyded
That I alas of 
konnyng am 
depry
 [...]ed
Thorow lacke of wytte in ony maner wyse
To vnderfonge so passyng hygh empryse

For this is the name who so can discerne
Most excellent 
and most of dygnyte
The name of namys 
sacrid from eterne
As sayth 
bernard who so list to see

Fygurid first vnto Iosue
Thorugh his knyghthode / whan he shold lede
The peple of 
god to saue hem in her nede

For this is the name that hertis most desyre
For therin is so 
passyng swetenesse
For it may best hem with grace enspyre
And with plente of al goodely rychesse
It is comforte & socoure in sekenesse
Refuyte also / reste 
and remedye
To al tho that felen maladye

Ayenst langour the best medecyne
In al this world that o where may be founde
For this name is so heuenly 
and deuyne
That hertes seke hit doth with hele habounde
It curith soris / it he
 [...]ith euery wounde
And sauyth man fro many a swerde & spere
Where euer they ryden in londe ferre o
 [...] nere

[Page]
It is first writen in the book of lyf
For worthyest 
and moste of reuerence
And it is eke best preseruatyf
Ageyn the assent of the vyolence
Of 
wicked eyre to voyde pestelence
And from the deth hem that playnen sore
Of his vertu to helthe it doth restore

It is also sothfast sauacion
To al that be in pouerte 
and in nede
It is deffence / it is proteccion
In eche parille & in euery drede
It is also the guerdon 
and the mede
In them that ben in exyle of oultrage
Repeyre fynal of hir pylgrymage

This is the welle with the foure stremys
Wherof writeth 
bernard in his sentence
That thorugh the world refresshith al royames
It is so holsom & of suche excellence
The first be callyth the streme of sapyence
Of whiche the 
flood most Inly is habounde
And rightwysnesse he namyth the secounde

And the thyrd be callyth holynesse
For hit excellyth in perfeccion
The fourth also as I can expresse
Is the flode of our redempcion

And of the first in conclusion
Of whiche the stremes ben so fressh 
and fyne
Who so loketh a right is hoole our doctryne

And of his right to make mencion
The holsom welle euer doth flowe & flete
With mercy 
medlid 
and remyssyon
Tofore his dome his yre for to lete
And of the thyrd the water is so swete
By good ensaumple who so can dyscerne
In vertu ay how we shullen vs gouerne

[Page]

And of the fourth to speke in specialle
Is al our helthe 
and sauacion
For therin is our remedy fynall
Ageynst deth 
and ful proteccion
Whos 
blood spronge out of cristes passyon

And who that list by water to attame
He shal hit fynde 
closyd in the same

Of parfyte richesse it is t the resorye
Whiche may not waste buty liche abyde
The fyre it quenchith also of enuye
And repressith the 
bolnyng eke of pryde

And thorow mekenes settith yre a syde
And who that hath this name in remembraunce
Hym the spyryte of slouth may do no greuaunce

It is also the myghty pauyce fayre
Ageyn wanhope 
and dysperacion
Cristal shelde of pallas for dispayre
Therto auoyde the foule abusion
And who that maketh his Inuocacion
To this name with herte of stablenesse
It yeuyth hym strengthe & also sikernesse

The cruel fyre & 
brennyng to withstonde
Of lecherye 
and al temptacion
It is refuyte to fre & eke to bonde
That haue therin her hoole affeccion
Whos vertu was to 
kyng salamon
Ful longe aforne in deuyne oracle
As I fynde 
shewyd by myracle

How prophetes and marters suffreden deth for the name of Ihesus capitulo

[Page]
This is the name of prophetes 
specifyed
In her wrytyng and in her bookes olde
Of apostles most hyghly 
magnefyed
By whos vertu they the trouthe tolde
This made also marters to be bolde
And myghty like scerne champyons
With stable herte to suffre her passyons

By this name they were victorious
In her turment pacience to haue
This is the name that ygnasius
Had in his herte of golde depe y graue
Wherof the tyraunt gan hym sore abaue
When that he sawe his herte cutte a tweyne

 [...] letters newe depycte in euery veyne

 [...] name that to confessouris

 [...] in her abstynence

 [...] is the 
 [...] that in sharpe shouris

 [...] lust was hoole her deffence

 [...] y
 [...]ue hem myght to make resistence
Ageyn synne 
and knyghtly to warreye

 [...]nd to contynue in vertu tyl they deye

It is the feste 
and the 
figured 
food
Of maydenhede 
and of virgynyte
The oyle of grace holsom to al 
good
Whiche in the lampes of parfyte chastyte
Brennyng so clere with loue 
and charite
That worldly wyndes boystous & 
blowyng
Ne may not quenche the light of his 
shynyng

This is the name that most yeuyth melodye
Vnto the ere and the swettest sown
It is the name of heuenly armonye
To voyde out synne 
and al temptacion
With ful accorde ayenst deuysion
It causeth hertes no lenger to debate
That partyd ben with the wreste of hate

[Page]
This name is ioye of sorowful in distresse
Eternal mede of hem that lyu
 [...]n in blysse
Salue vnto hem that langour in sekenesse
Vesture in colde to hem that clothes mysse
Souerayn repaste hungry for to wysse
For to ascape the cruel vyolence
Of nedes swerde 
whetted wyth Indygence

Cryst is the name of sothfast sacrament
That first was yeuen of holy vnccion

And he was 
callyd first for this entent
For he for man 
shold make oblacion

And for he came for our sauacion
To 
 [...] aweye the rust of al our blame
He hath of Ihesus worthely the name

I fynde in bookes of olde antyquyte
In his writyng as clerkys list expresse
How there were four persones of degree
Somtyme anoynte for her worthynesse
Somme for manhode & somme for holynesse
With obseruaunce 
and solempnyte
As was couenable vnto hir degree

Prophetes prestys & they that beren crownes
As worthy kynges of euery regyon

Anoynted weren & myghty champyownes
Within palastre thorugh her hygh renowne
Or in champcloos hardy as lyon
Entre 
wold somme quarel to darreyne
Syngulerly by empryse of hem tweyne

And crist was al by reson as I preue
Fyrst prophete by Informacion
And by his doctryne most worthy of beleue

And he was eke the myghty champyon
That syngulerly for our sauacion
Faught with the fende & 
had of hym victorye
Maugre his myght & wanne the palme of glo
 [...]

[Page]

And he was preste man to reconsile
That banyssid was out of his heritage
Whom a serpent falsely 
dyd exyle
Of falce malice in a sodayn rage

And he was borne onely by lignage
To be a 
kyng 
and by power eterne
Whan he is 
crowned his peple to gouerne

How cryst Ihesu was bothe prophete preest kyng and myghty champyon capitulo lxvj

nOw crist Ihesu sothfast preest & kynge
And for mankynde most worthy warrioure
Prophete also 
and trewest in 
lyuyng
Be thou our helpe / be thou our socoure
And like a 
kyng be thou our gouernoure

And champyon to helpe vs in our nede
And like a prophete to wisshen vs 
and rede

O crist Ih
 [...]su to the I clepe 
and crye
Fro day to day to helpe vs 
and releue
And of thy grace vs wretches for to gye
Or that thou thy rightwysnes preue
Let pyte first the to mercy meue
And or thy swerde of vengeaunce vs manace
Let trouth afore thy rightful dome enbrace

For of our helpe thou art the pyllere
Ageyn dispayre hooly our sustenaunce
Our strengthe our myght our re
 [...]uyte fer & nere
In eche perille to saue vs from myscheaunce
Thou art our force & our sustenaunce
And in myschyef whan drede wold vs assayle
Thou art our shelde thou art our supportayle

[Page]
Thou art myghty 
and thou art meke also
Thou art rightful / 
and thou art merciable
Lambe 
and lyon 
callyd bothe two
And sothfast kyng whos reygne is Inmutable
To repentaunte / by rygour not vengealle
And euer aforne in ponysshyng of thy lawe
Pees to preferre / or right his 
swerd may drawe

And to brynge the lost shepe ageyn
Out of deserte in to his pasture
That was errant ydle / 
and in veyne
O crist Ihesu of thy benygne cure
More redy ay to saue 
and to cure
Al that ben sore / & 
scabbyd eke with synne
Rather with pyte than thou with reddur wynne

Now thou that art the veray rightful ligne
Al that is 
crokyd goodely to redresse

And mayster of mercy al our myschyef fyne
O crist Ihesu welle of al swetnesse

Lord of pyte & 
lord of rightfulnesse
Haue vpon vs this day compassyon
That 
callyd is thy circumcision

And graunt
 [...] vs grace with dewe reuerence
This hygh feste so noble 
and so dygne
Worshyp & halowe deuoyde of al offence

And be to vs goodely 
and benygne
That were this day 
markyd with the signe
And the carecte by the lawe 
ordeyned
Is veray soth & no 
thyng 
feyned

And so as thou that neuer 
dyd trespasse
Thorow thy mekenesse 
and lowly subieccion
Suffre woldest this day of thy grace
For our offence / haue circumcision
So kytte from vs al temptacion
Of worldly lust & make the flessh to serue
To the spyryte tyl the body sterue

[Page]
And graunte vs grace to lyue chaste & clene
O crist Ihesu whyle that we been here
Thorow the prayer of that heuenly quene
That is mayde 
and moder eke in fere
With helpe of hir graunte vs this newe yere
So prudently with vertu vs prouyde
Our vyces al that we may circumside

And crist Ihesu we praye vnto the
Lete thy name whether we ryde or goon
In eche peryll 
and eche aduersite
Be our defence ageynst our mortal foo
To make hem stonde stylle as ony stoon
And al that casten vs falsely to wareye
Make her malice mekely to obeye

To thy name & make hem stonde al backe
Or they haue power to hawnte her cruel myght
And 
wicked spirites so horible & blacke
That besy ben to wayte vs day 
and nyght
Lete thy name dryue hem out of sight
And in our forhede whan we Ihe Impresse
Make vs of grace her malice to oppresse

For to thy name hooly we commende
Our lyf our deth body herte & alle
Our s
 [...]wle also whan we hens wende
O crist Ihu o 
lord Inmortal
Prayeng to the whan thou vs deme shal
To saue al tho from eternal shame
That haue ful fayth & hoole trist in thy name

How by the prophecye of balaam watche was made vpon an hylle capitulo lxvij

[Page]
tHou lord whos light dessendith fro so fer
 [...]
Thorow the roundenes of the speres nyne
Withouten whom phebus ne no sterre
Vpon heuen power hath to shyne
Let now thy light my derknes enlumyne
That thorow thyn helpe I may my style gye
Somwhat to sey of thyn epyphanye

And let my brest benygne 
lord be 
dewyd
Doun with somme drope from thy mageste
That was this day by a sterre y 
shewyd
Out of the este to worthy kynges thre
Whiche on this nyght of thy natyuyte
Gan first aspye the bright bemys clere
Of this sterre on the heuen apere

Of whom the sprynge was not cansille
Of fortune ne sodayn auenture
For many a day or this 
thyng befylle

And many a yere by recorde of scripture
With a waytyng & wonder besy cure
In veray soth as I remembre can
A certeyn kynrede 
toward the occian

Whiche of the stocke 
and the lyne cam
Who so list loke in bookes from a ferre

And of the blode of olde balaam
That somtyme 
had with his asse werre
The whiche 
sayd there 
shold ryse a sterre
Out of Iacob 
and from Israelle
Al be that he therof no tyme coude telle

Vpon whos 
word fully in beleue
There 
shold aryse suche a sterre light
Weren twelue chosen the trouthe for to preue
Within mydwynter euer fro nyght to nyght
Whan in aquarie phebus shadde his light
For to awayte in al her best wyse
Whan this sterre in heuen 
wold aryse

[Page]

And these twelue weren of kynrede
Of balam as ye haue herde me telle
That yere by yere 
shold take hede
Vpon an hylle besyde a lytyl welle

And ther in fere a certeyn space dwelle

Anoynted & 
bathed in clothes whyte
And they of custome to speke but a lyte

But in prayer & in certeyn rytes 
vsid
They must wake 
and wayte in specialle
And none of hem platly to be 
excusid
Vpon this hylle 
namyd victoryalle

And yf one 
dyd that his sone shalle
This statute olde his place ocupye

 [...]r effys one that were next of alye

 [...] this 
commytted 
duryng many yere

 [...] custome 
vsid of antyquyte

 [...] phebus went by 
meuyng circuler

 [...]o they kept her tymes by degree

And eche yere weren certeyn dayes thre

 [...] 
 [...]a
 [...]kyng cast 
and computacion
Sought & chosen out by 
good eleccion

For 
 [...] awayte the vprist by the morowe
Of this sterre with his lemes glade
Whiche balam 
sayd 
shold auoyde her sorowe
At his vp
 [...]st whos bemes may not fade
To shewe his light in euery shroude & shade
Without wrestyng or drawyng to declyne
Tyl at the last for the same fyne

To see this sterre most famous of renown
On the heuen whan hit 
shold appere
The worthy kynges as made is mencion
Vpon the hylle to gyder goon in fere
For cause they who so list to here
Were of the stocke of balam doun 
discendyd
Wherfore of sorte the hylle they be 
ascendyd

[Page]
As fyl on hem by custome to succede
At a certeyn of the yere by reuolucion

And on this hylle estward they toke hede
By 
good auyse in her Inspeccion
The same nyght of the Incarnacion
Whan crist was born in bethlehem of marye
The same oure / the sterre they aspye

Of newe aryson in the oryent
Ful lusty of whom the bemes light
Gan enlumyne al the firmament
From este to west it yaue so clere a light
That of the stremes euery maner wyght

Astonyd was they were so bright & shene
And to the eye / ful persant for to sene

The whiche sterre drowe his course of right
Toward the hylle lyke as bookes telle
Where the kynges the long wynters nyght
It to awayte solytarye dwelle

And there anone vpon her knees felle
And thankyd god with al her hertes luste
Whiche hath not hem 
defrauded of her lust

How the thre kynges perceyuyd the sterre capitulo lxix

aNd al that nyght to gyder as they woke
Vpon this sterre that shone so fayr & clere
And sodaynly vpward as they gan loke
They sawe a chylde aboue the sterre appere
So yonge so fayr in a golden spere
Ful ryally stonde / & aboue his hede
A large crosse that was of blood ful rede

[Page]
The whiche chylde spake to hem anone
Aboue the hylle with voyce 
and chere benygne
And 
bad hem fast that they 
shold gone
In to Iuda right as ony lyne
And folowe alwey the sterre for a signe
That shal hem brynge to that regyon
Where the kyng most worthy of renown

Was borne that tyme to haue the regallye
Of Iewes 
lond of veray dewe right
To whom the sterre 
dyd specefye
Whan he was borne with his clere light
And they anone whan passyd was the nyght
The next morowe no lenger list abyde
But toward hym cast hem for to ryde

With grete araye 
and ryal aparayle
As was sittyng to theyr worthynesse
They shope hem forth / & for they nolde not fayle
To do honoure to his noblenesse
With hem they toke golde & grete richesse
To spende & yeue / & also for they ment
With yeftes grete the chylde to present

And forth they gone no lenger wold they tarye
Thorow many a londe / & many a dyuerse yle
Eueriche of hem on a dromedarye
Whiche weren so swyfte that ful many a myle
They 
passyd haue within a lityl whyle
That in the space of dayes thyrtene
By conduyte onely of the sterre shene

They entrid ben in to Iherusaleem
That of Iuda was the chyef cyte

Conueyed euer with the bright beem
Of the sterre that was so fayr to see
And whan they 
amyd the cytee be
Not 
astonyed 
axed in audyence
Where is the kyng grettest of reuerence

[Page]
Of Iewes borne for to bere the crowne
Whos sterre we haue seen in the oryent
That from heuen cast his stremys downe
Whiche al the world vnder the firmament
Is glad to see / & we of one entent
Haue yeftes brought out of our contre
Hym to honoure in his ryall see

And whan herode of theyr comyng knewe
He troubelyd was / & also al the town
And gan anone to chaunge chere 
and hewe
And made in haste a conuocaciyn
Of al the prestys dwellyng enuyron
To knowe clerely / & be 
certefyed
Of the place that was 
specefyed

Of prophetes where crist shal be borne
And they anone the trouthe to hym tolde
In bethlehem as they ful longe aforne
Fownden out in her bookes olde
And al the maner to hym they vnfolde
From poynt to poynt as mathew maketh mynde
Redith his gospel 
and there ye shal hit fynde

How kyng herode sent for the thre kynges capitulo lxx

aNd than herode gan the kynges calle
And of this mater entrid pryuely

And coriously how that it was falle
He gan enquere & 
axyd besyly
And of the sterre also by 
and by
He 
axyd hem and in wordes fewe
How & what wyse it gan first shewe

[Page]

And whan they 
had tolde hym euery del
 [...]
They departed out of his presence
But first he 
 [...]ade hem to enquere
Of the childe with al her dylygence
And whan they had doon hym reuerence
He charged hem vnder wordes fayre
Homwardes by hym al gates to repayre

To yeue hym clerely Informacion
Of her exploite & of the chylde also
Surely affermyng by false collucion
That he hym self 
wold sone after goo
Vnto the chylde 
and his deuoyr do
To worshyp hym / & al vnder coloures
As the worme / or serpent vnder floures

Da
 [...]th ful ofte & kepith hym couertly
Of ky
 [...]de malice tyl they a tyme see
To shede her venym / & than sodaynly
Al attones whan they vnwarest be
They styngen 
and shewyn her cruelte
And her venym vnder floures fayre
Ful ofte is 
hyd tyl they may appayre

Right so thou serpent ful of Inyquyte
False tygre ful of doublenesse
Vnder fayr colour of humylite
Thy venym darith / & also thy falsenesse
O thou tyraunt o rote of cursidnesse
Thou herode of malice most mortalle
What wenyst thou / hym that knoweth al

To dysseyue with thy slyly wyle
What can suger vnder galle fayne
What wenyst thou the kynges to begyle

And of malice brynge hem in a trayne
Of whos comyng though that thou dysdayne
It may not helpe playnly ne 
 [...]ayle
For of thy purpoos playnly thou shalt fayle

[Page]
For by grace they shullen in quye
 [...]
Maugre thy myght al the daunger passe
For though that thou with wordes hony swete
Malyciously vpon her deth compasse
They shullen scape despyte of thy face
For al the coniecte of thy prynces wyse
As the story shal anoue deuyse

And so wtth venym in his herte y loke
He yaue hem leue passe thorugh his reme
In her repayre hym 
castyng to 
 [...]e wroke
Yf they retorne ageyn by Iherusaleme

And so the sterre hem brought to bethleme

And lyne right the chyldes hede aboue
Where as he laye stylle gan to houe

Of the ioye that the kynges had when they found cryst capitulo lxxij

bVt who the ioye coude telle or endyte
Or with his mowthe the myrthe expresse
Or who can playnly with his penne write
The grete blysse or the gladnesse
Whiche they made in sothfastnesse
After her iourney & her longe weye
Aboue the hows whan they the sterre seye

That gan to hem clerely certefye
Without more the chyldes dwellyng place

And they anone fast gan hem hye
With lusty herte & 
glad of chere 
and fa
 [...]
To alyght doun in a lytyl space
They made hem redy & with reuerence
They entryn in / & came in to presence

[Page]
Where as the chylde most worthy of degree
Was with marye in an oxes stalle

And humbly the kynges al thre
Forth they went 
toward the stalle
And brought her tresoure & her yeftes alle
As reuerently as they coude deuyse
And hym presented in al her best wyse

Lyke as her astate eueriche after other
Makyng theyr present with al humylite
Lyke her age as brother after other
Gold franke & myrre they yaue hym al thre
After custome of perce 
and caldee
For of that londe whan kynges present make
The custome is suche yeftes for to take

And this was doon with foyson 
and plentee
In veray soth 
and grete habundaunce
For in her present was no scarsete
For of richesse they 
had al suffysaunce
Wherfore they cast with deuoute obeysaunce
Of due right with the chylde to parte
Of her tresoure or that they departe

And for golde is 
payed for tribute
As hit is founde of antyquyte
Therfore the kynges for a maner sute
That they hym ought of veray dewte
They brought hym golde out of her contree
And yaue it hym withouten repentaunce
Hooly of herte for a recognysaunce

And franke also as clerkis can deuyse

Ordeyned is in conclusion
To 
god onely to make sacrefyse
With contrite herte 
and deuocion
Therfore to hym for oblacion
They brought franke to signefye than
That he was bothe sothfast 
god 
and man

[Page]

And for they 
wold in al 
thyng obeye
To his hyghnes with al her besy cure
In token he shold for mankynde deye
They brought myrre to his sepulture
For like a man / deth he most endure
And with his 
blood 
shed in his passyon
For our trespace for to make redempcion

In franke also who that can disserne
Is vnderstonde the hygh mageste
Of his power whiche that is eterne

And eke also his hygh deyte
The gold betokeneth his hygh dygnyte

And myrre declareth vnto vs at alle
Of his manhode that he was mortalle

And golde betokeneth of loue the feruence
That he to man 
had of affeccion
And franke betokeneth the souerayn excellence
In holynesse his conuersacion

And myrre betokeneth the tribulacion
That he 
suffrid and al the grete penaunce
For vs in erthe by contynuaunce

In 
gold he was knowe as a kynge
In franke a preest who so can take hede
Of myrre also this day the offerynge
Was 
longyng onely to his manhede
And thus he was withouten ony drede
Bothe kyng & preest as I discryue can
And for our sake in erthe a mortal man

In golde also most glorious metalle

Fygurid was his hygh deytee
In franke also that is so cordyalle
The sowle also of cryst most parfyte of degree
And myrre betokeneth thorow his dygnyte
His flessh the whiche by disposicion
May neuer suffre no corrupcion

[Page]
And of thise yeftes 
passyng reuerente
Ful of mysterye & heuenly pryuyte
And whan they 
had made theyr presente
Vnto the chylde ay sittyng on hir knee
And with grete auyse they began beholde & see
Tofore that they remoue from that place
His godely chere & his fayr face

Consyderyng his feturis by 
and by
With grete Insight / 
and humble entencion

And ay the more they loke besely
The more they thynke in her Inspeccion

And thoughten alwey as in her reason
Though kynde & 
god hath sette in one fygure
The beaute hooly of euery creature

It myght not in sothenes 
 [...]euen ben liche
To his fayrnes / neyther peregall
For he that is aboue nature riche
Hath made this 
chyld fayrest in speciall
For in his face they be holden alle
The hole beaute / & fayrnesse eke also
Of heuen & erthe to gyder bothe two

Wherfore no wonder though they hem delyte
Most passyngly vpon hym to see
For they in herte reioycen hem not alyte
On hym to looke that they haue lyberte
For ay the more playnly that they be
In his presence the parfy
 [...]e hote fyre
Of hertely ioye hem brent in desyre

And of one 
thyng 
good hede they took
How that the 
chyld demurely cast his sight

Toward hem & godely gan to loke
On her faces with his eyen bright

And how that he put his armes ryght
Goodely to hem 
makyng a maner signe
To them of 
thankyng / with chere ful benygne

[Page]

And of his moder they moche thynge enquere
Towchyng his byrthe with humble affeccion

And she answerith most femynyne of chere
Ful prudently to euery questyon
With chere demure / & look y cast adoun
With al the porte of womanly clennesse
Hir self demenyng cheefly with mekenesse

Of vertuous pouerte and mekenesse of our lady capitulo lxxiij

o She that was of heuen 
and erthe quene

And of helle lady 
and pryncesse
O what was she alas that myght sustene
To be proude 
considerid hir mekenesse
O pryde alas o rote of our distresse
Though thy boost aboue the skye blowe
Thy byldyng hygh shal be brought ful lowe

O surquedrye alas why nylt thou see
How that she 
had heuen in hir demeyne

And lady is bothe of 
lond 
and see

And of the axtre betwene the poles tweyne
And of the 
enbracyng of the golden cheyne
Yet vnto hir I say in sothfastnesse
Aboue al this 
agreyd hir mekenesse

O pompe elate with thy cheris bolde
Remembre & see 
and loke how that she
Of whom kynges haue ioye to beholde
In her presence to knele on her knee
Though she of women be hyest in degree
Take hede & see how lowly in a stable
How that she sat this lady honourable

[Page]
Were therre of 
gold ony clothes founde
Of sylke damask or riche turturyne
Or was there aras aboute her hede bounde
Or was there ony velwet crymsyne
Or was there ony samyte or satyne
Or were there ony tapytes large or wyde
The 
nakyd grounde to couer or to hyde

Or was her paleys bylte of lyme & stone
Or the pylers set on marbyl graye
Or the grounde 
pauyd on to gone
Or fressh parlours 
glasid bright as day
Or were therin chambris of aray
Or for estates was there ony halle
Saue a dongeon & 
and an oxes stalle

Or of hir 
bed was the appareyle
Of golde & silke 
corteyned large aboute
Or were the shetis of longe or wyde entayle
Kytte out of raynes / nay without dowte
Or were there ony ladyes for to lowte
To hir hyghnes with besy obseruaunce
Or of maydens ony attendaunce

O as me semeth of veray dewe right
Ye wymmen al sholden take hede
With your perlys & your stones bright
How that our quene floure of womanhede
Of no deuyse 
embrowdyd hath hir wede
Ne 
furrid with ermyn / ne with cristy graye
Ne marty
 [...]n ne sabyl I trowe in 
good faye

Was none founden in her garmente
And yet she was the fayrest for to see
That euer was vnder the firmamente
That me semeth ye sholden haue pyte
To see a lady of so hygh degree
So semely atyrid o ye wymmen alle
So narow 
closid in an oxes stalle

[Page]
Let be your pryde 
and your affection
Of riche araye & no 
thyng you delyte
In worldly pompe 
and suche abusion
Of soudry clothes rede blacke 
and whyte

And be wel ware or the spere byte
Of cruel deth and the fel smerte
My counceyl is to lifte vp your herte

To that lady & to that worthy quene
That you may beste helpe in your nede
And you releue in euery woo 
and tene
And delyuer from al myschyef 
and drede
And thynke playnly & take right good hede
That al shal passe araye & eke richesse
Whan ye list wene & al your semelynesse

Let hem afore be to you a kalendere
Isowde Eleyne / and eke polycene
Hestor also & dydo with hir chere
And riche candace of ethyope quene
Lygge they not graue vnder colours grene
And yet al this may not your pryde attame
Notwithstondyng that ye shal doo the same

And after deth abydeth no memorye
For ay with deth comyth foryetefulnesse
And fare wel than araye and al veynglorye
Saue onely vertu that stondith in sikernesse
I take recorde of the hygh mekenesse
Of hir that is of holynesse welle
Of whom I thynke sothely for to telle

How that she satte for al her worthynesse
Holdyng her chylde lowly on the grounde
And kynges knelyng as ye haue herde expresse

Beholdyng hir in vertu moste habounde
Tyl at the last they haue a 
 [...]yser founde
To take her leue / and the same nyght
They gan to ryde homward al her myght

[Page]

How the aungel warned the thre kynges to passe not by herodes but by another waye capitulo lxxiiij

aNd suyng after on the next nyght
Whyle they slepte at her lodgyng place
Came an aungel apperyng with grete light
And 
warned hem that they nought ne trace
By herodes but that they 
shold pace
Withouten taryeng / in al the haste they may
To her kyngdom by another waye

And in shorte tyme to theyr regyon
They ben 
repayred / the gospel tellyth thus
And of her names to make mencion
The first in ebrew was 
callyd appelleus
The next amerus the 
third damarus
And in greke the first galgatha
And sarachym / the 
thyrd malgalatha

And in latyne as bookes make mynde
The first of hem 
namyd was Iaspar
And the 
second playnly as I fynde
Lyke myn auctour reherce as I dar

Callyd was 
and 
namyd balthazar
And the 
thyrd ye gete of me no more
As I rede was 
callyd melchyore

Of whos repayre as somme bookes seyn
That first of al they wenten to the see

And retornyng to her kyngdom ageyn
They 
shypped hem at tharse the cyte
For whiche herode of 
cursyd cruelte
In tharse made al the shyppes brenne
Wherof write 
dauyd the sawter yf ye kenne

[Page]

And vnto you clerely to specefye
Towchyng this feste & thys solemnyte
Wherof is 
sayd this 
word epyphanye
Whiche is a 
word of grete auctoryte
And 
sayd 
and 
compowned who so can see
Of epy first / 
and phanos soth to sayn
And one 
word compowned of thyse tweyne

Cometh this 
word of epyphanye

And this 
word epy by dyscripsion
Is 
sayd of heyght as I can signefye

And of a shewyng by demonstracion
As phanos 
sayd / and so by 
good reson
Epy 
and phanos bothe knytte in fere
Is a shewyng that doth a lofte appere

And for this day alofte was the sterre
Whiche crristes byrthe 
and Incarnacion
With his stremes gan shede from so ferre
From este to weste in many a regyon
Wherof this feste in conclusion
As ye toforne haue herde me specefye
This feste is 
callyd of epyphanye

The whiche feste hath a prerogatyf
Of myracles notable in specialle
For thynges foure wrought in cristes lyf
Weren on this day by his power ryalle
The first of al for a memoryalle
Is of the kynges as ye haue herde me sayne
Whiche were in ydel to reherce agayne

The 
second is / it is sothely tolde
That crist Ihesu / this day of saynt Iohn
The yere whan he was thyrty wynter olde

Baptised he was in the flom Iordayne
At whiche tyme thre kynges vnder one
Apperid this day worthy of memorye
The first was that from the hygh glorye

[Page]
The faders voyce as clerkis list endyte
Cam doun to erthe that men myght here
And like a downe with fayr federis whyte
The holy ghoost also 
dyd appere
And crist Ihesu the faders sone entere
This day apperyng in our mortal kynde
Was of saynt Iohan baptyst as I fynde

And for as moche as they al thre
Thys day were seen by sothfast apparence
They 
beyng one in parfyte vnyte
Therfore this day of moste reuerence

Namyd is trewly in this sentence
Theophanos for 
god in treble wyse
Therin apperyd as ye haue herde deuyse

For the
 [...]s is as moche for to mene
As god in englisshe yf ye list to see
And phanos / as shewyng withouten wene
As ye haue herde afore 
rehercyd of me
For in erthe o 
god in trynyte
This day 
apperid withouten ony lye
Ye truly may it calle theophanye

Eke whan cryst was olde thyrty yere
This day he 
torned water in to wyne
That passyngly was to the eye clere
And of tarrage Iuly 
good 
and fyne
The whiche he sent to archedeclyne
And for this myracle Iuly vertuous
In galile was shewyd in an hous

This same day whiche man 
dyd espye
As holy chirche maketh mencion
Therfore hit is 
named bethphanye
For beth in englissh by dyscripsion
Is 
callyd an hous or a mancion
Of whiche myracle 
renomed of fame
Bethphanye this day hath the name

[Page]
Eke in the yere of his pass
 [...]on
Fer in deserte this day also I rede
With 
 [...]oues fyue thorugh his grete foyson
Fyue 
thousand I fynde that he 
dyd fede
Of whiche myracle yf ye taken hede
This day is last 
named phagyfanye
Lyke as first was 
clepyd epyphanye

For this worde phagy in to our entente
Is 
sayd of 
fedyng of refeccion
For whiche myracle 
passyng excellente
That is so famous & so hygh of renoun
Lyke as the gospel maketh mencion
Therfore this day amonge the other alle
Ye iustely may / it phagyfanye calle

A declaracion of the thre kynges of theyr thre yeftes capitulo lxxv

nOw crist Ihesu this day this hygh feste
We the beseche with herte wylle & thought
Onely of mercy to here our requeste
For the myracles that thou therin hast wrought
For loue of hem that the so ferre haue sought
The worthy kynges that came out of caldee
The to honoure in bethlehem the cyte

And thorugh the prayers of thyse kynges thre
That for thy loue token her vyage
Ihesu defende vs from al aduersite

And make vs stronge & sure in our passage
In this exyle 
and parlous pylgremage
With our foo men of malice 
and of pryde
Whiche haue vs bysette on euery syde

[Page]
The whiche our golde of parfyte charite
Wolden vs byreue by persecusion
That we 
shold offre of f
 [...]ruen
 [...] vnto the
Of hertely loue & hygh deuocion

And eke our franke of contemplacion
Wherwith he 
shold make our sacrefyse
Of hye dysdayne & malice they dyspyse

For golde of trouthe is falsely now 
alayed
By 
fayned loue 
and symylacion

And fayth with frawde is corupt & 
frayed
With double tonges & detraccion
Our franke also of hygh perfeccion
That shold brenne clere aboue the skye
Is with the coode 
medlid of enuye

That it alas yeue may no light
In the centre of trewe affeccion
For day of trouthe is 
torned in to nyght
Thorow false reporte / & false suspeccion

And thus 
good fayth is 
rollyd vp so doun

And trewe menyng 
derkyd with a skye
That we in englissh callen flaterye

And t
 [...]us our offryng goeth almoste wronge
Of 
 [...] of franke / for ought I can espye
And our myrre hath be behynde ful longe
Vs to preserue from al suche trecherye
For now is 
torned in to ypocresye
Our holynesse & that is grete ruthe
And cause why / for fraude hath banysshed truthe

But crist Ihesu that al this mayste amende
And that is a mysse in eche state redresse
This hygh feste suche grace to vs sende
That we the golde of stablenesse

And eke the franke of parfyte holynesse
May on this day present vnto the
With al trewe herte as 
dyd thyse kynges thre

[Page]

And graunte also bothe to hygh 
and lowe
To haue suche myrre in her a
 [...]uertence
That euery wyght his owne fawtes knowe

And that no man be hasty of sentence
To deme lightly before or in absence
For sodeyn dome meynte with ygnoraunce
Hath a longe tayle 
shewyng of repentaunce

For in sothnesse yf that euery man

Wold make a myrrour of his owne mynde
To deme hym self of thynge that he wel can
And open his eyen that hath be longe blynde
To see his fawtes that he coude fynde
I trowe in soth for ony hasty rape
Harmeles fro dome his felowe 
shold ascape

How we shold doo this offeryng ghoostly capitulo lxxvi

nOw crist Ihesu that knowest euery herte
And no thyng may be 
hyd fro thy presence
Ne from thyn eye declyne ne asterte
Graunte vs this day of thy magnyficence
The golde of loue / the franke of Innocence
And the chaste myrre of clene entencion
So to presente in our oblacion

To thyn hyghnes that it be acceptable
Whyle that we lyue euer from yere to yere
As was the 
offryng in bethleme in a stable
Made vnto the & to thy moder dere
Of the kynges that with the stremes clere
Of a sterre 
conueyed were by grace
Where thou laye / to come to the place

[Page]

And vnto the this day we clepe 
and calle
Thou 
blessyd quene of kynges emperesse
That yaue thy sone sowke in a stalle
That chaste mylke of virgynall clennesse
That thou this feste o sterre of holynesse
Conueye our 
offryng to that sterry see
Where next thy sone thou hast the souerayn
 [...]

And 
good lady in this sorowful vale
Of trobyl 
and woo & of heuynesse
Sithen thou of Iacob art the right scale
The waye of lyf / the ladder of holynesse

Toward that courte the euen weye dresse

And make thy men thyder to assende
Where euer blesse & ioye hath none ende

For certes lady in this lyf we lacke

 [...] sothfast ioye al the suffysaunce
Saue amonge we knele afore the racke
W
 [...]rwyth thy sone was somtyme thy plesaunce

 [...] vs 
reioycyng as by remembraunce

 [...] by liknes to loke on thyn ymage
An
 [...] 
 [...] thy sone with his fayr vysage

But o alas there is but a liknesse
Of portrature that doth grete offence
For we may not haue ful the blessydnesse
O
 [...] thy vysage / neyther of thy presence
And so to vs grete harme doth apparence
Whan that we see of our desyre we fayle
We may playne / but it may not auayle

Yet day by day of trewe affeccion
We goone of newe thy liknesse for to see
Where of one thynge we haue compassyon
To see the bestys that so humble be
To stonde so nere betwene thy sone 
and the
The rude asse 
and the oxe also

And than we say complaynyng in our woo

[Page]
With al our herte o what thyng
 [...] may this 
 [...]
To see that 
lord in a racke ly
 [...]
That hath the heuen in his po
 [...]ste

And al this 
world power hath to gye
O how it is that the regallye
Of heuen & erthe is brought doun so lowe
That no man list vnnethe his power knowe

And sodeynly our hertes gynnyth colde
For 
astonyng & is for woo nygh mate
So grete a quene when that we beholde
Allone 
sittyng al dysconsolate
So fayr so 
good & of so hygh estate
Most womanly 
and so benygne of chere
Thy sone & the to gyder 
sittyng in fere

In the bondes of so narow a dongeon
Whereof al erthe tremble shal 
and quake

And euery wyght by lamentacion
Wepe & playne syghe 
and sorow make
O blysful quene onely for thy sake
To see on the none other waytynge
But bestys with hey hem self fedynge

But in one thynge comforte yet we fele
O 
good lady sothely yf we see
Thre worthy kynges afore thy face knele
Bryngen her yeftes with al humylite

And hem gouerne lyke to thy degree
With meke attendaunce & ful besy cure
But al this thynge we see but in picture

Alas the whyle & yet it doth vs ease

And in party aswagith our greuaunce
For no thyng may our sorowe so appease
As euer of the to haue a remembraunce
For in the lady / is hoole our sustenaunce
Though we lyue in langour for thyn absence
Yet 
good lady for thy magnyficence

[Page]
To thy seruauntes of thy grace see

And to thy sone be for vs a mene
This hygh feste whiche longeth vnto the
In wh
 [...]che thou were honourid like a quene
With myrre & franke & golde that shone so clene
Now for the honour this day was to the

And for the loue of the kynges thre

Whan we shul parte out of this wooful lyf

And make an ende of this captyuyte
Or herodes thorugh his mortal stryf
The fende bytrappe vs thorow his cruelte
Now that tyme lady of thy benygnyte
Ayenst the snaris of this dredeful werre
To lyf et
 [...]ne be thou our 
lood sterre

How our lady was purifyed capitulo lxxvij

gLorye and pryce laude & hygh honoure
O 
blessyd quene be yeuen vnto the
That were of golde the cloos chaste toure
Su
 [...]y 
founded vpon humylite
Shet
 [...] with the keye of clene virgynyte
From al synne fully to be 
assurid
And of the holy ghoost rounde about 
enuyrid

That neuer no brennyng of flesshly hete
Assayle myght thyn holy tabernacle
With dewe of grace thy closette was so swete

Fulfilled with vertu onely by myracle

God chase thy wombe for his tabernacle

And 
halowed it so clene in euery coost
To make hit sacrarye for his owen ghoost

[Page]
Notwithstondyng that thou were so clene
Aboue al other by eleccion
Of mekenesse onely o thou heuenly quene
Thou list to haue none Indygnacion
The day to passe of thy purificacion
But to fulfille the precepte of the lawe
In euery thynge & not a poynt
 [...] withdrawe

But euen like as hit is 
specefyed
Leuitici who so can vnderstonde
To the temple to be 
purefyed
Thou mekely come thyn offryng in honde
Al be the lawe sette on the no bonde
For it is there made mencion
Touchyng the lawe of purificacion

Yf a woman conceyue by a man

And haue a chylde by medlyng hem betwene
That it be a male the lawe techyth than
Fourty dayes that she 
shold be vnclene

And kepe hir close that no man 
shold hir sene
And after that she shold hir offerynge
In lawe expressyd to the temple brynge

But taketh hede in conclusion
How this lawe like as ye shul fynde
Ne was not put but by condycion
Onely to them that corupt weren by kynde
Thorugh touche of man / of suche is made mynde
The dayes 
nombred of hir purgacion
To come 
and make her oblacion

And brynge a lambe the whiche in sacrefyse

Shold al be brought in the holy place

And a pygeon as lawe doth deuyse
She 
shold eke offre as for hir trespace
And than al fylthe from hir to enchace
She of the preest 
halowed & 
sacrefyed
Returneth home & fully 
purefyed

[Page]
And yf she 
had in hir possessyon
Redely no lambe onely for pouerte
Than 
shold she take for hir oblacion
Two turtyl dow
 [...]ys & therwithal goo free
Or two pygeons like as ye may see
Leuitici where as by dystynction
Of this 
offeryng is made dyscripcion

But this mayde who so can take hede

Excluded was fro this condycion
That bare a chylde without mannys sede

Beyng euer clene from al corrupcion
Where thorugh she was from suche oblacion
By lawe excepte / & was vnder no charge
For her clennesse stondyng at her large

For of her wombe the cloyster virgynal
Was euer eliche bothe first 
and laste

Closed & shytte as castel pryncipal
For the holy ghoost 
deuysed hit 
and caste

And at bothe tymes shytte as like faste
In her chyldyng nomore thorugh grace y broke
Than at hir 
conceyuyng / than it was vn loke

For nature withouten ony stryf
Repugnaunce or ony resistence

 [...]aue this mayde prerogatyf
As moder to haue experience
Onely of 
chyldyng / & fele none offence
Nether of sekenes ne of suche maner woo
In trauelyng as other women doo

She was except from al suche passyon
For hir clennesse / & so was none but she

And yet her tyme of purificacion
She 
dyd abyde of hir humylite
And like as lawe ordeyneth by decree
After al this of custome as she ought
To the temple she hir 
offeryng broughte

[Page]
To yeue ensaumple onely of mekenesse
To the lawe she mekely 
wold obeye
Fro poynt to poynt the gospel sayth expresse
And on no syde 
wold it not withsaye
And though that she bare of golde no keye
To bye a lambe for pouerte 
constreynyng
Yet she ful mekely to make hir 
offeryng

Brought two turtils as it is 
sayd aforne
That was the offeryng of poure folke echone
Whiche to the temple whan that she hath borne
As custome was she 
offerid hem anoon

And after that olde symeon
With humble herte 
and a ful peyne
The chylde 
embracyng in his armes tweyne

How Symeon receyuyd crist of our lady in the temple capitulo lxxviij

Of his moder goodely gan hym take
Of louyng herte and grete deuocion
And suche a ioye of hym gan to make
Within hym self of hygh affeccion
That he ne coude neyther by 
word ne soun
Outward declare neyther with chere ne face
The 
passyng ioye that gan his herte enbrace

And he was rightful holy 
and vertuous
This olde man this 
blessyd symeon
Dredeful also and passyngly famous
Amonge the prestys to reken hem euerichone
That was expectant & ful longe agone
Of the comforte 
and consolacion
Of Israel in his entencion

[Page]
For he had answer of the holy ghoost
In his prayere that he 
shold see
The byrthe of cryst that is of power moste

And eke fro deth that he shal goo free
To the tyme of his natyuyte
And to the day that with his eyen olde
The byrthe of hym that he may beholde

The whiche day that with his eyen olde

And for that he by reuelacion
The tyme knewe he hath the waye holde
To the temple with hygh deuocion
To see of crist the presentacion
How that marye 
and Ioseph eke also
The chylde 
presented and her offeryng doo

And for that crist was the first borne
After the lawe in his tendyr age
Not of leui as ye haue herde toforne
But of Iuda comen by lignage
Therfore his moder most holy of vysage
Hyr offeryng made list not for to stryue
For hym ageyn to paye shyllynges fyue

Lyke as the custome of the lawe was
She mekely made his redempcion

And symeon 
beholdyng al this caas
Ful stylly in his Inspeccion
For loue brennyng / by affeccion
Of veray herte sodaynly 
abrayed

Holdyng the chylde euen thus he 
seyd

How where and whan symeon made Nunc dimittis seruum tuum dnē secundum verbum tuum in pace capitulo lxxix

[Page]
o Blisful 
lord of thy hygh grace
Yf that thou list now thou mayst me lete
Out of this lyf in rest and pees to pace

And suffre me to dye in quyete
For now to me deth is wonder swete
Now haue I seen thy helthe 
and thy socour

And of mankynde 
lord 
and sauyoure

Whiche thou hast dyght afore the faces alle
Of eche peple to make hem 
glad 
and light
To late thy grace so to erthe falle
Thorow al the world to shewe his bemys bright
That may be 
callyd for comforte of his light
Vnto al the gentilys the reuelacion
The glorye also 
and the sauacion

Of Israel thy peple in specialle
To voyde hem out of al derknesse
And marie ful mekely listenyth alle
And gan merueyle with grete aduysidnesse
Of the wordes that he gan expresse
And Ioseph eke gan to wonder also
And symeon hem 
blessyng bothe two

Spake to marye and 
sayd in audyence
Beholde and see in thyn Inspeccion
How he is put in ruyne and offence
Of many one here in his regyon

And to somme in resurrexyon
That shal releue thorow his myghty grace
And thorow thy sowle shal a sharpe swerde pace

Of hertely woo to see his passyon
That passyngly shal be bytter and felle
To opene hertes by confessyon
Her sorowful thoughtes opynly to telle
And anna than doughter of phanuelle
Borne of the trybe of the kynrede

Callyd asser sothely as I rede

[Page]

Of the ioye that anna the doughter of phanes had whan crist was offryd in to the temple capitulo lxxx

tHat was that day ronne 
 [...] in age
Within the temple by contynuaunce
Soole by hir sylf out of mariage
Laye nyght 
and day in fastyng & penaunce
In wydow abyte 
sad of countenaunce

And in prayer was her besy cure
Whiche in that houre of grace or auenture

Whan crist was there with his moder dere
In the tyme of his oblacion
This anna came demure 
and 
sad of chere

And vnto hym with grete deuocion
Whan she hym sawe / fyl on knees doun
Recomforted of al her olde smerte
Hym honouryng with al her hoole herte

Sayd opynly that al myght here

 [...] mery 
and light in your entencion
And 
 [...] man be 
glad 
and of good chere
For now is borne for our sauacion

 [...] that shal make our redempcion

 [...] yonge chylde 
blessyd mote he be
That me hath 
graunted his face for to see

And than in soth whan euery thynge was doon
After the lawe withouten excepcion
And than anna 
and holy symeon

Had of this chylde made declaracion
As ye haue herde in conclusion
This chylde & Ioseph & this mayde free

Retorned hoome agayn in to galyle

[Page]

A profytable declaracion of the propy [...]tees of the Turtyl / and the douue Capitulo lxxxvj

nOw as me semyth in this hye ferye
That namyd is the puryfycacion
Euery man oughte to be 
glad 
and mery
And with good herte / and hole entencyon
Deuoutely brynge his oblacyon
And offre fyrste the turtyl of Innocence
Of veray mekenes and hertely pacyence

And who that wold this offryng make aryght
He may not fayle none of bothe two
Fyrste shyne in clennesse with his chaste lyght
As the Turtyl / and therwith also
Lyche the douue bothe in wele and wo
His herte daunte so by temporaunce
To voyde rancour / and plante in sufferaunce

And as the Turtyl by contemplacyon
For synne soroweth with grete waymentyng
Only for loue of thilke eternal dilectyon
That lasteth ay / and hath none 
endyng
And as the byrde shewyth the 
comyng
Of grene wherwith fresshe byrdes newe
Ryght so of vertu with floures fayre of hewe

He must exampel of the turtyl take
And be wel ware that he not ne varye
But lyue sole whan he hath lost his make

And in prayer be also solytarye
And loke alwey that he not ne tarye
On no careyne of no flesshelyhede
And with al this to take also hede

[Page]
That he his lyf 
 [...]ede not in vayne
But like a downe be
 [...]ely afpye
Where he of vertu gader may the grayne

And that he fle not out of companye
Waytyng also the galle of enuye

And that he haue ay Indygnacion
Of synful lust out of corrupcion

On ony careyn to foster hym and fede
And euermore with al his besy payne
Eschewyng synne loue god 
and drede
And with the douue sygh and compleyne
For his offence / and with wynges tweyne
Take his flyght as ferforth as he can
Thorowe parfyte loue / bothe to god and man

And as the douue toucheth eke her make

 [...] with kyssyng whan they to geder gone
So muste he whether he slepe or wake
Thorowe chastyte set his herte in one
And lyke a douue maketh his nest of stone
This is to seye among al his plesaunce
He must his flesshe daunte with penaunce

And as the douue wyth her eyen meke
Of kynde aspyeth amyd the Riuere
The 
 [...]wbys shadowe when he doth hir seke
Sechyng his repast bothe ferre and nere
Ryght so must he with parfyte eyen clere
Amyd the watres ful of woo and stryf
In the wawes of his mortal lyf

The dedely shadowe of the fende eschewe
That wayteth hym with snares large & huge
And to the deth ay doth hym pursewe
To trappe hym here in his deluge
And lyke a douue flee to his refuge
By grace only yf he may escape
Or deth bytraye hym with his sodeyne trape

[Page]

And who so by clennesse with the turtyl fleet
 [...]
As I tofore haue made mencion

And lyke a downe afore his perille fleeth
Of de
 [...]h to eschewe the persecusion

And can be meke in tribulacion
I dar recorde it / write it for soth
Trewly to 
god he his 
offeryng doth

And who that euer lyueth in chastyte

And hath enuy 
enclosid in his herte
He may wel offre what so that he be
To 
god a turtyl / but the downe nought
Wherfore they must be to gyder brought
That clennesse by sothfast vnyte
Without 
partyng be knytte with charite

And sothely than there is no more to seyne
Whan his 
offeryng 
and oblacion
Is Iustely made to 
god of bothe tweyne
It is 
accepted of more deuocion

And for to make a shorte dyscripcion
Of the turtyl 
and 
 [...]he downys kynde
Redith thyse versis / 
and ye shul it fynde

Alta petit turtur cantando genut veniens 
 [...]
Nunciat et caste viuit solus que mor
 [...]tur
Pullos nocte fouit mortecinium que fugit
Errana legat volicat sociata cadauera vitat
Felle caret plangit socium que per oscula tangit
Petra dat huic nidum fugit hos
 [...] flumī 
 [...] visum
Rostro non ledit geminos pullos bene nu
 [...]nt

This feste also bothe of more 
and lesse
Thorugh out the 
world / in euery regyon

Called is the feste of candelinesse
For sundry skylles / in conclusion
As olde bookes make mencion
And how this feste first took his name
So as I can to you I wyl ataine

[Page]

How candelmasse took first the name capituse lxxxij

sOmtyme whan rome thorugh his hye renoun
Was most 
flowryng in power & in myght
Euery fyfthe yere by reuolucion
In februarie vpon the first nyght
Eche man & chylde with a taper light
Went in the cyte two & two a paas
Vnto a temple whiche 
sacrid was

To 
 [...] of olde fandacion
That moder was to mars omnypotente
In whos honour this processyon

Ordeyned was by grete auysemente
At eche lustre wenyng in her entente
That her power 
and grete worthynesse

Preseruyd was thrugh helpe of this goddesse

From al asaute of euery aduersayre
Supposyng fully in her opynyon
That she fort
 [...]e made debonayre
For to susteyne the honour of her toun
And thorugh her helpe 
and medytacion
That myghty mars to encrece her glorye
In al conquest yaue to hym glorye

For whiche cause thorugh out the cyte
As ye haue h
 [...]de of hygh & lowe estate
Was fi
 [...]st ordeyned this solempnyte
In the temple that was consecrate
To februa the goddesse fortunate
Thorow helpe of whom they were victorious
And so this custome superstitious

[Page]
In Rome towne as myn auctor seyth
Obseruyd was long / and many a day
Yet after that they torned to the feyth
But euer in one this 
 [...]yte they kepte alway
For old customme is hard to put away
And also vsage greuyth folk ful sore
To doo away that they haue kepte yo
 [...]

But at the laste pope Sergius
Of the peple seeyng this errour
And that the customme was ful peryllous
Dyde his deuoyre / and also his laboure
That ryte to chaunge in to the honoure
Of oure lady / soo that this hye feste
From the hyest doune to the loweste

Euery man and woman in her honde
To the Temple shold a tapre brynge
Thorowe oute the world in euery maner londe
And ther with al make her 
offryng
After the gospel the prestes hand 
kyssyng
With lyght solempne that al myght it sene
In honour only of the heuen quene

That best may be oure medyatryce
To hyr sone / that is withoute fayle
Bothe lord and kyng and she Imperatryce
Of lond and see of pees and of batayle
Withouten whome no conquest may auayle
For she hath power more in sothfastnesse
Than Februa of Rome the goddesse

And thus this ryte was vtterly 
refusyd
By sergyus as ye haue herd deuyse
That was aforne of hem of Rome 
vsyd
Ful many a day in her paynym wyse
Whome to sowe al Cristen must despyse
And of candels whan this rite gan passe
Came the name fyrst of Candelmasse

[Page]
This feste also of ful long agone
The name took of the processyon
Made of Anna and holy Symeon
When they hym me
 [...] with grete deuocyon
Brought to the temple to this oblacion
As was the lawe customme and vsaunce
Of holy chirche for a remembraunce

Obseruyd forthe fro yere to yere
Of February on the fyrst day
With sacrid lyght vppon taperis clere
Shynyng as bryght / as phebus in may
Whan the peple / in what they can or may
Ful redy ben of one entencyon
To make in fygure a presentacyon

Of Crist Ihesu with al her ful myght
Sygnefyed / who so can take hede
By the tapre / that we offre lyght
For fyrste the waxe bytokeneth his manhede
The weke his sowle / the fyre his godhede
For as the wex is made of newe
Thorow smal bees of floures fresshe of hewe

Thorow clennesse only and dylygent laboure
On blosso
 [...]es gadred / and to hyue brought
Soo Crystes manhode grewe oute of a floure
Whoos fresshe beaute of colour fadeth nought
For a mayde clene in wylle and thought
Lyche as wexe of floure soote and glade
Is tryed oute / and doth hem not to fade

So Crist Ihesu conseruyng hyr clennesse
His manhoode took of a mayde free
She standyng hole flouryng in fayrenesse
With al the fresshenesse of vyrgynyte
And as a tapre is one to geder on thre
Soo thylk lord / that is bothe thre and one
Took flesshe and blood to saue vs euerychone

[Page]
Of a mayde whiche this day fro 
 [...]
Mekely wente to be 
 [...]
To the temple of Ierus
 [...]lem
As her to forne it is 
specyfyed
In whoos honour this feste is 
magnyfyed
Of al Cristen men with fresshe tapres shene
To sygnefye / who so that wyl be clene

Must offre a tapre to geder made of thre
Of feythe and werke and trewe entencyon
For sothfastly / but they conioyned be
Withoute partyng or deuysyon
Nother his offryng ne oblacyon
How fayr outward pleynly that it seme
To god aboue it may neuer queme

And though this tapre brenne bryght al day
And enuyron make his lyght to shede
If werke of feyth prolonged be away
And trewe entent folowe not the dede
Fare wel his guerdon / his meryte & his mede
For whan these thre be not knette in one
He nys not able to offryng for to gone

For yf these thre to geder be not meynt
Feyth / werke / and hoole entencion
His offryng fareth but as a tapre queynt
That yeueth no lyght / but bryghtynesse enuyron
For derke of dede from al deuocyon
His offryng is / but yf this thre
Be knette in one thorow perfyght vnyte

Now Cryst / that art the sothfast holy lyght
The hert of man for to enlumyne
Vppon vs wretches / for thy / see so bryght
Lete the sonne of thy mercy shyne
For loue of hyr that is a pure vyrgyne
Whiche on this day to the temple went
Of mekenes only the fo
 [...] to present

[Page]

 [...] whoos prayer lord of thy myght
Graunte vs grace / whan we be olde

And shal deye to holde oure 
 [...]pres 
 [...]
To fore thy see where that it is 
t
 [...]ld
Seuene chaundelors al of 
 [...] gold
Fresshely with lyght stonde afore thy 
 [...]
The dye to come of mercy graunt vs grace

And in this exyle where as we soiourn
 [...]
Graunt vs lord whyle that we ben here
In February / as Phebus doth retourne
The circuite of his golden spere
Vppon this day ay fro yere to yere
With tapres fresshe / and 
 [...]
To kepe and halowe 
 [...] honour of that 
 [...]

To whome 
 [...]
Dedy
 [...]t 
 [...]
Whiche 
 [...]
Betwene 
 [...]

And 
 [...]
To thy 
 [...]

[...]

[Page]Sancte & Indiuidue trinitati / Ihesu cristi crucifix humanitati gloriose beate marie virgini / sit semp terna gloria / ab omni creatura / per Infinita seculorum secula / Amen

Vnto the holy 
and 
vndeuyded trynyte
Thre persones in one veray godhede
To Ihesu crist 
crucefyed humanyte

And to our 
blessyd ladyes maydenhede
Be geuyn laude 
and glorye in veray dede
Of euery creature / what someuer he be
World withouten ende / amen say al we

Benedictum sit dulcissime nomen Ihesu crysti / [...] gloriosissime marie matris eius ineternū & vltra Nos cum prole pia benedicat virgo maria Amen

Blessid be the swettest name of our 
lord
Ihesu crist / 
and most glorious marie
His 
blessyd moder / with eternal 
accord
More than euer / tendure in glorye

And with hir meke sone for memorye
Blesse vs marie / the most holy virgyne
That we regne in heuen with the ordres nyne

Enpryntyd by Wyllyam Caxton

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