[The lyf of our lady]

o Thoughtful herte plungyd in distresse With slombre 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 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 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 commendyd 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● 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

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 strengthe 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 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 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 commaundemente 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 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 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 commytte 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 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 vnwar Weren some 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 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 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 some 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 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 thenne 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 commytted 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 & passion his likynge And he anone maao his offerynge To god aboue and a sacrefyse In the olde lawe suche as was the guyse 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 commaundement 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 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 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

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 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 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 mancion 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 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 foole 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

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 some 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 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 And by sentence anone diffynytyf 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 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

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 sonne 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 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 th aulter 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 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 commendacion 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 commendacion 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 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 Thenne she ful mekely of grete reuerence And look doun cast of her eyen clere Benygnely the aungel gan enquere 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 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 commendacion of our lady capitulo xix aNd whan th aungel 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 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 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 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 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 ynowfynde 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 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 Than 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 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 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 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 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 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 And as a worme vnder a stone Of th erthe 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 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 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

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 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 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 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 and 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 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 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 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 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 Some 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 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 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 all 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 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 worldely 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

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 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 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 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 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 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 commaundement 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 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

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 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 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 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 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 Some 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 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 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 sonne and my lord also To whom with herte and alle that I can doo 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 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 Commendith 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 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 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 thenne 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 thenne 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 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 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 some 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 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 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 aNd whan the aungels with this heuenly songe 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 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 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 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 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 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

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 delys 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 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 his 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 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 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 T is 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 sylfsame 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

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 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 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 vnderstande 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 attyrid For ioye of the whiche holy zacarye To crystys spouse this doth specefye 〈…〉 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 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 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 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 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 abroche 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 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 he le 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 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 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

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 Adourned 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 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 yonge & 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

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 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 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

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 he le 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 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 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 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 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●● 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 anone deuyse And so with 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 loodsterre

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 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 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 vnloke 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 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 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 dnem secundum verbum tuum in pace capitulo lxxix 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

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 self 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

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 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 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

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 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 cyte 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 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 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 〈◊〉 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 〈…〉

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 ineternum & 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