¶ HEre begynnen the myracles of the gloryouse vyrgyn and moder of god oure blessyd Lady saynt Marye .

IN fraunce somtyme there was a noble man / & a ryche / the whiche loued & worshypped well god & holy chirche and specyally oure-blessyd lady saynt Mary . This man had a yonge man to his sone whom he taught well to loue oure lady / and bad that he sholde saye dayly to her worshyp .l. tymes the angels salutacyon / that is Aue maria &c. Sothely by prosesse of tyme afterwarde by the will and consente of his fader / this yonge man was made a monke in the monasterye of saynt Gyles / ¶ And there lyued deuoutly in full grete-penaunce . And on a tyme his fader sende to hym that he sholde come home to his place / and brynge his mayster with hym for his recreacion . He had also in his maner that he dwelled in afayre chapell buylded in the worshyppe of our blessyd lady . in to the whiche his sone came whan he had leyser / and there deuoutely as he vsed al waye to do / say● fyfty tymes his ¶ Aue maria &c. And after warde whan he hadde sayd them / the blessyd virgyn Marye apperyd to hym vysybly in a whyte garment / that lacked bothe sleues & lappes : Than this monke meruayled and sayd to her . O moost swete lady why haue your vpper clothynge no sleues ne lappes Than she sayd . This clothe thou hast gyuen me and it betokeneth the .l. Aue maryes that thou sayste dayly to me . Therfore it is ryght behofull to the-that from hens forthe thou saye thryes .l. tymes Aue maria . And after euery .x. Aue maria / adde to them a Pater noster . And the fyrste .l. saye in remembraunce and worshyppe of that Ioye that I hadde whan the angell Gabryell gret me / & sayd I sholde conceyue the sone of god / whiche sholde redeme-mankynde . The seconde .l. thou shalt saye in remembraunce & Worshippe of that grete Ioye that I had whan I brought forth in to this worlde god & man The thyrde .l. thou shalt saye in remembraunce and worshyppe of myn Assumpcion whan I was exalted and crowned quene of heuen / where my dere sone-regneth euerlastyngly . Sothely it was than satyrdaye whan these thynges were done / & she sayd to hym . The next satyrdaye . I wyll come hyder to the agayne / & than some tydynges I shall shewe the / wherof thou shalt gretely Ioye . And whan she had tolde & sayd this to hym / she vanysshed awaye from hym / trewely this forsayd monke contynued in his deuocyon / & sayd euery daye Aue maria after the forme that our lady taught hym . Than the next satyrday folowynge oure lady appered to the same monke agayne as she sayd before in the forsayd chapell ful semely arayed in fayre clothynge & sayd to hym . Lo this clotynge thou hast gyuen me this weke that hath bothe sleues & lappes . Therfore gramercy / & well I shall rewarde the bothe here in this lyfe / and in tyme to come . And now go home vnto thy monaesterye / for whan thou comest thyder thou shalt be chosen abbot . And whan thou art abbot / teche the couent to saye my sawter / as I haue tolde the. And preche it ouer to all the people to do the same / that well it may be to them bothe in lyfe and in dethe . Seuen yere thou shalt lyue to preche and teche the people that they maye exarcyse and vse to saye my-sawter . And at the seuenste yeres end thou shalt dye & come to me . Also knowe thou for certayne that many the whiche sholde haue perysshed and be loste / shall be saued by my sawter saynge . And whan she had this sayd she assended vp to heuen / and anone after this monbe was made abbot . And thanne he-taught his brethren & . the people there how they sholde say our ladyes santer . & also by the space of that-seuen yere he preched dylygentely to all folke / to kepe & vse the same forme & saynge / as he . was warned before of our blessyd lady· And whan this was done he blessedly dyed & went to heuen .

¶ How a childe spake with an ymage of our lorde and ete with hym .

A Certayne abbot there was vpon a tyme the whiche had many worshypfull mennes sones dwellynge with hym to be nortured & brought vp in his abbaye / amonge the whiche childern one specyaly he loued / whome oftentymes syngulerly he desyred and wolde haue with hym / and specyaly dyde enforme and teche hym to beware of dyces and to kepe hym fro synne / & to vse hym to vertue and good lyuynge . Sothely the chylde toke good hede to the abbottes techyng / & after his wordes Innocently lyued / and euery daye at a certayne houre he toke his dyner . and wente in to the chirche to the aulter of oure blessyd lady . And there whan he had sayde our lady sawter / toke and yete his dyner that he had brought wyth hym / and this he vsed to do often tymes . Sothely on a tyme he made hym redy to ete there as he was wonte to do . & the ymage of the chylde Ihesu came downe from his moders lappe & sat wyth hym / Mekely they louyd to gyder / etynge to gyder . & spekynge to gyder and also many swete wordes were betwixt theym / And what someuer Ihesu taught the chylde . he promysid to doo / And in this samr wyse they dyde often tymes to gydre / ¶ Sothely on a daye whan he came from suche a swete breke faste It happened he met wyth the abbot there as he dwelled wyth al. whiche asked hym where he had be so longe . and the childe answerd and sayde that he had ben wyth his good felowe / Thenne the abbot asked hym . who is that good felawe . He sayde agayne / come wyth me and I shall shewe hym to the. And brought the abbot in to the chirche and shewed hym the ymage of the chylde Ihesu / in the lappe of the ymage of oure blessyd lady / Trewely thenne sayde the abbot . the felawshyppe of hym is good . God defende that ony man sholde forbede the this felawshyppe / therfore be treue to hym and loue hym well . Trewely the abbot thought that on the morowe he wolde wayte the houre whan this childe after his custome wolde come to the same place / leste happely he hadde lyed lyke as chyldren vse to do . And on the morowe the chylde came as he vsed to doo to the same place / Whan he had sayd our lady sauter . he put his brede on his cappe and sayde to the ymage of the chylde Ihesu come hyder good felowe . and lete vs ete oure dyner to gyder . Thenne the ymage sayd to hym I wyll no more dyne wyth the For thou haste tolde the abbot of me . and hast shewed to hym my secretes / Than the chyde answered agayne and sayd . The abbot asked me where I had be / And I wote not what I sholde haue sayde other wyse / but I sholde haue lyed : And often thou haste taught me that I sholde not lye in no wyse . Thenne sayd the ymage agayne . I wyll not come to the but thou wyll an other tyme come to me and dyne wyth me / Ryghte gladly sayd the chylde I wyl come to the and dyne wyth the / what daye that euer it please the / & than anone the ymage came downe to the chylde / Sothely the abbot aforsayde stode in a secrete place & behelde the ymage of our lorde Ihesu and the childe and herde theyr wordes / And for Ioye gretely he began to wepe / And so stylly wente his waye . And after they had eten and spoken to gyder / the chylde went thens home / The abbot met wyth hym anone / and swetely spekynge to hym / clypped hym in his armes and sayde . My swete soone where haste thou be so louge . And the childe sayde . For the loue of god fader aske me no more / For the other tyme that I tolde you my felowe was very wroth / And soo moche he was dyspleased that he wolde not come to me tyll I promysed hym that I wolde come and dyne wyth hym an other tyme / Thenne sayd the abbot to the childe . Aa therfore sone thou must come to his dyner / And the childe sayde yes fader / and that algate / Than sayde the abbot . And thou wylt do ony thynge for me . And for my loue praye thy felowe that I maye come also wyth the to that dyner . Gladdely syr sayde the childe . I wyll speke for you . and doo also as moche as I maye / And on the morowe this childe came agayne after his custome to the same place where the ymage of oure lady was / And the abbot preuely folowed after And stode in a secrete place as he dyde afore The childe not knowynge . Thenne the ymage of Ihesu came downe to the childe / And moche Ioye they had bytwene them . than the childe sayd to our lorde Ihesu Nowe good felowe here my tale that I wyll telle the. yesterdaye my lorde the abbot asked of me as he met with me where I had be so longe . & I tolde hym al to gyder & how I must dyne wyth you . & whan he herde me saye this . he wept sore & prayed me hertely that I shold pray to you for hym that he myght also come wyth me to that dyner / Wherfore good felowe and mooste beloued now I praye you graunte me this / Than our lorde Ihesu sayde to the childe . The abbot is not redy to come to that dyner . But saye fo-hym that he make hym redy as soone as he can to come to me on crystmasse daye / the whiche was than nyghe at honde . Than the abbot that stode by in a secrete place herynge this / for Ioye & gladnesse he-wept / & preuely wente awaye agayne . And aftwarde the childe came to hym / & tolde hym that he had sped his erande / & therfore the abbot gretely thanked hym . Sothely whan crystmasse day was come the abbot made a feste to all his brethern / & sange that same daye the hye masse / & serued also his gestes in his owne propre persone . Than came the forsayd childe to the abbot / & sayd to hym stylly in his ere . Syr it is tyme that we go to our dyner aforsayd lest happely my felowe our lorde Ihesu cryste shlbe wrothe . Than sayd the same abbot to the chylde . ¶ Thou sayst wel my sone . And I wolde not that yo rue feloye sholde be wrothe for nothynge . Than the forsayd abbot gladly conforted his gestes / & prayed them to be mery & sayd . This same chylde and I be called to an other feste . And now it is tyme that we go / wherfore I commende me you to our lorde Ihesu cryste / the whiche graunte you for his grete mercy to come to the same feste . Trewely the forsayd childe that same daye wold ete no thynge / for he wolde come fastynge to his good felowe our lorde Ihesu cryste . And whan the abbot & the forsayd childe were come to the same place they passed both to gydre / and yelded vp theyr soules to god

¶ Of a wycked kyng that was tourned at the last & became a monke & by the gloryous virgyn . Marye was delyuered fro the power of the fendes

THere was a certayne kynge full cruell and wycked in all hys kyngdome and power . And whan he had thus longe contynued / he 〈◊〉 & vnderstode at the laste his lyfe drawynge to an ende . And on a daye this kynge called for certayne bysshoppes & abbottes and other of his frendes as he sholde seche helpe and counseyll of them . And as they were come to gyder he sayd I see and vnderstande my lordes & frendes that I shall not longe lyue / wherfore I dsyre you to gyue me holsome counseyl what I myght do for the helth of my soule For I knowe well that wyckedly I haue lyued hytherto . and I shall be dampned in helle . And therfore what maye I nowe do . Than they sayd Yf ye wyll haue forgyuenes of your synnes / & desyre to be saued / we auyse you that ye leue your kyngdome / and let your hede be shaue / and take on you the habyte and clothynge of a monke / for this onely remayneth for hope of your saluacyon / & many by this haue be saued . Therfore doo this that ye may be saued Than the kynge without ony taryenge by the consent of theym all was receyued of-a certayne abbot in to his abbay / the whiche abbay was of oure blessyd lady saynt Marye / & there he-was made a monke . Sothely soone after he was-smyten with a greuous axis / and began to drawe faste out of this worlde . And anone came to hym wycked spyrytes and fendes to face hym . Trewely than came thyder an angell of god & sayd to them wherfore come you hyder . Than they sayd . For this kyng is oures . The angell sayd agayne . Take your kynge & go your waye . I. knowe hym not for a kyng / but for amonke . Sothely sythen he became the blessyd virgyn Maryes monke / she hath goten of her sone forgyuenesse of all his synnes / and tho haue also euerlastynge lyfe and. Ioye in heuen : And therfore what thynge haue ye to do with hym Knowe ye not that as in baptym all synnes be forgyuen / and euerlastynge lyfe is grauneted is Soo the grete mercy and pyte of our lorde Ihesu cryste dooth awaye a mannes synnes that taketh of hym the ordre of a monke and kepeth it : Therfore of some it is called a seconde baptymme : And how be it that this forsayd kyng synned moche yet at the laste he sore repented hym / and with his wepynge wasshed awaye his synnes . And more ouer he was a monke of the gloryouse virgyne and moder of god saynt Marye / the whiche hath goten of her sone for hym remyssyon of his synnes / and euerlastinge lyfe in heuen . And also she hath sende me hyther to brynge his soule before god . And whanne the angell had sayd this / he toke vp with hym the soule with grete melodye / and wente his waye - ¶ Trewly thanne these wycked spyrytes and mynystres of the deuyll with a full grete crye vanysshed awaye as the smoke doth fro the fyre not knowynge the grete mercy of our blessyd lorde Iesu cryste & the goodnesse of the gloryouse virgyne his moder to whome be now and euermore worshyp and Ioye Amen .

¶ How a knyght was delyuered out of pryson by our lady / by cause he eshewed to synne with a woman that was called Maria.

A Certayne knyght was take of his enem●●s to whome came a woman bycause he sholde synne with her and whan he cons●nted so to do / he asked what was her name . She sayd / Maria is my name Than he said to her by cause thy name is Maria / for the reuerence of the moder of god I wyl not synne wyth the. Than the blyssed virgine & moder of pyte seynge this / without ony taryenge opened the prison that this knyght was in and delyuered hyn thens .

Of an other knyght also the whiche fylle in a uowtrye .

ALso an other knyght on a tyme fylle in avoutrye with his lordis wyfe Neuertheles he had grete deuocyon to our blissed Lady saynte Mary / & euery daye by an hole yere he vsed for to saye thryes . fyfty . tymes Aue marya to the wor●hyp of-oure blyssed lady . Sothely it happened on a tyme as he was a slepe / he sawe hym thoughte our blyssed lady brynge to hym fayre mylke in a foule cuppe & styred hym to ete of it . And than he sayd that he loued mylke aboue all other metys / but of that mylke he sayd he myghte not ete for the foule and vnclene vessell that it was in . Than our lady sayd to hym agayn . So loue I the salutacyon that thou sayst to me dayly . And bycause thy herte is vnclene . I lothe it of thy mouth . But be clensyd of it & thou shalt be rewarded .

¶ Of a knyght that was delyuered from pryson by our lady .

AN other knyght also vpon a tyme was put in a full myghty towre / & whan he coude not be delyuered by prayer neyther by moneye / he prayed deuoutely to our blessyd lady / that she wolde wouchesuf to delyuer hym . Than oure blessyd lady whoos mercy . & pite is infynite / herde his deuoute prayers & lyghtned the pryson & loused his cheynes / & opened the dore / & so delyuered hym withoute ony knowlege of the kepers / and walked with hym in the nyghte a dayes Iourneye & so he escaped the daunger of his enemyes .

¶ How oure lady restored a knyghtes wyfe to her lyfe .

A Certayn knyghte there was that moche loued our blessyd lady / the whiche customably vsed to ryse oute of his bedde at mydnyght to go to his chapel / not knowynge his wyfe whether that he went / & there in the same chapel he vsed to saye euery nyght in the worshyp of our lady .l. tymes Aue marie Sothely it happened on a tyme as this lady sat at souper with her husbond the knight thynkynge that he was ful fayre & goodly / sayde to hym Sir is there ony woman that ye loue more than me Than sayde he to her / for certayne madame ther is no woman that I loue so moche as you saue one . Than she was full sory for this worde that he sayde saue one / & thought to her selfe that the next tyme that he rose out of his bedde fro her as he was wonte to do . she wolde slee her self that so he myght be slayne for her deth . And whan she had thought this / the next nyght folowynge this knyght her husbonde rose at mydnight as he vsed to do & wente in to his chapell . & sayde in the worshyp of our lady .l. tymes Aue maria / The mene whyle his lady toke his knyfe & . slytte her owne bely & slewe her self . for she had wende that he had gone that tyme to some other woman . And whan she hadde slayne her selfe / there was founde in her bely two yonge babyes deed lyenge in her blood / Trewely than whan this knyght hadde sayd his prayers bifore the ymage of our blessyd lady in his chapell / he came in to his chambre to his bed / and there he founde his wyf deed & al blody . & two yonge babyes by her & deed also Thenne this knyght was full sore aferd of this horryble syght . & gretly drede leste his wyues kynne wolde therfore persue him to the deth . & therfore anone he retourned agayne vnto his chapell / and prayed deuoutly vnto our blessyd lady saynt Marye for helpe / & sayd vnto her as many salutacyons as he dyde afore : And thanne he fyll a slepe / vnto whome came our blessyd lady & sayd / bycause chat oftentymes thou hast come hyther and worshypped me deuoutely / therfore goo to thy chambre & there thou shalt fynde mater of comfort & Ioye . And whan she had this sayd to hym / anone she vanysshed awaye . Than this knyght came to his chambre & founde his wyfe hole & a lyue / and two yonge babyes soukynge her pappes . And sayd to her . O my good lady be ye alyue : She sayd / yes yr / & blessyd mote ye be / for by your prayers I am saued whan I was dampned bycause I slewe my selfe that ye myght be kylled also for me . And thersfore that moost fayrest lady saynt Marye euermore loke that ye loue her more than me . And so he dyd & bothe they ended theyr lyues blessydly to gyd

¶ How a knyght fyll to pouerte / & by the deuyll was made ryche / & by the merytes of his wyfe was by our lady restored agayn to good and vertuouse lyuyng .

ON a tyme a worshypful knyght fyll to grete pouerte by an vndyscrete lyberalnes that he vsed to gyue his godes awaye . This-knyght hadde a full honest woman to his wyfe / that whiche serued our lady full deuoutely . And on a tyme ther was a solempne fest of the yere nye / as it myght be crystamas or est / in the which this knyght vsed afore to gyue large gyftes / & whan he sawe he had not to gyue at that tyme as he was wonte to-do / full gretely he was confounded & asshamed in hym selfe / wherfore tyll that solempne tyme were paste he wente to wyldernes to sorowe his mysfortune & to eschewe his shame . And anone came to hym a sterne & a gastfull man on horsbacke syttynge / that asked him why he was so heuy . Than this knyght tolde hym all thynge as it was . Than the other sayd to hym . And thou wylte doo a lytyl thynge for me / thou shalt haue more rychesse than euer thou haddest before . I promyse the sayd this knyght . I wyll do what someuer thou byddest me / so that thou wylt fulfyll in dede lyke as thou sayest . Than sayd he to hym . Go to thy house / and in suche a place thou shalt fynde grete weghtes of golde & syluer & precyous stones / And this thou shalt do for me . At suche a day brynge hyther thy wyf wyth the. Than vnder this promyse this knyght retourned home agayne & in the same place where it was sayd to hym he founde grete quantyte of golde & syluer & precyous stones Than anone he bought him places / he yaue gyftes & quyte out hys pledges / & gate him seruauntes . And whan the daye was nye comen to fulfyll hys promyse / he called hys wyfe to him & sayd : Take your horse / for ye muste go a good way hens . Than she fered not knowynge what he ment / but she durste not saye hym nay / & deuoutely commytted her to our blessyd lady / & so rode after her husbonde . Sothely as they rode forthwarde / they founde a chapell in theyr waye / & this lady lyghted downe of her horse & wente in to the chapel . the knyght her huysbonde bydynge her / wythout / & as she prayed deuoutly to our lady / sodenly she fyll a slepe / Than anone the gloryouse virgyn Mary tame out of the chapel in raymente & shap lyke this knyghtes wyfe in all thynges / & lyghted vp on her horse . she bedynge stil in the same chappel / This knyght knewe not but she that came out of the chapell had be his wyfe / & so wente forth his waye And whan he was come to the place that was assygned to hym anone the prince of derkenes the deuyll wyth grete fyersnes hasted hym to that place / And whan he was nye it / he began anone to ro●e & sayd / O thou moste falseste of men . why hast thou this Illuded & desceyued me for soo grete benefetys that I haue done for the / I sayde to the that thou sholdest brynge me thy wyfe And thou hast brought with the the moder of god / I wolde haue had thy wyf / & thou hast brought the holy Mary / & for the grete wronges that thy wyfe doth to me . I wolde haue be auenged on her . And thou hast brought this woman that she myghe punysshe me & commaunde me to helle . And whan this knyght herde this . gretely he merueyled / & for drede & wondre myght not speke one worde / Thenne sayde the blyssyd virgyn Mary . By what boldenes hast thou presumed wycked spyryte to noye or ●rouble my seruaunt this mannes wyfe . This shall not be vnpunisshed . And now with this sentence I bynde the that thou descende downe to helle / & here after thou presume not to noye or dyssesse ony persone that to me deuoutly prayeth : Sothely than this wycked spiryte wyth a grete crye voyded awaye & the knight lyghted downe & laye hym prostrate at oure ladyes fete : whome our lady blamed / & bad hym go agayne to his wyfe that was in the chapell yet a slepe . & that he sholde caste awaye all the rychesse that he had of the deuyl . Than he came ayene to his wyf as he founde her slypynge & waked her vp / & tolde her all thynge lyke as it befylle hym . And whan they cam home they caste awaye all the deuylles ryches . and full deuoutly they contynued in laude & seruyce of oure blessyd lady saint mary / the whiche afterward sende to them bothe rychesse and prosperyte .

¶ How oure lady preserued a knyght that he was not strangled of the deuyll .

TRewly the deuyll Sathanas was aboute the space of thre yere to lette a certayne knyght fro the sayenge of our ladyes salutacion yt-is Aue maria . And whan he coude not brynge it aboute / he came to hym vysybly in the lykenesse of a fayre yonge man & tolde hym that he knewe all the wayes that he went / & all the flockes of his bestes . And whan this knyght herde this / he prayed hym to dwelle wyth hym in a castell that was inexpugnable . And whan he had be wyth hym a foure yere he coude neuer make hym leue the saynge of oure ladyes salutacyon Aue maria / But he dyde moo cursed dedes the tyme that the deuyll dwelled wyth hym ▪ than euer he dyde before in his lyfe . And on a tyme there was an heremyte that dwelled by hym the whiche by cause of frendeshypp came to visyte hym / whome this knyght wyth grete Instaunce desired to dyner / and tolde hym that for ony thynge . he muste tary & abyde dyner . and as this heremite sat wyth the knyght at mete / he sawe a deuyl seruyng hym / & called the deuyll & coniured hym by the passyon of the sone of god & his blessyd moder / to telle hym what he was . & wherfore he dwelled with this knyght . Than he sayde . I am a deuyl and of the felauship of Lucyfer . & I was sende hyther to dysceyue this knyght that thou seest . and bycause I coude not let hym fro sayng of the salutacions of the holy virgyn mary . I came to dwelle with hym in this lykenes and shape / that I myght the soner strangle hym / & also it was graunted me yf he left ony daye euentyde or mornynge the saynge of the salutacion of the blessyd Mary / than to slee hym and to bere wyth me his soule to helle . And whan he had sayde this anone he vanysshed awaye . Sothely than this knyght restored all thynge agayne that he had taken awaye fully / and chose hym a place in wyldernes to do his penaunce .

¶ How oure lady taught a monke of the charterhouse at Colayne how that he sholdt please her in prayers and deuoute orysons .

A Certeyn monke of the chartyrhouse at colayne the whiche afterwarde was made pryour of the same place . vsed to praye contynually deuoutly to god to haue somme vnderstandyng what thinge he myght saye or do to the worshyp of oure blessyd lady . where by he myght beste please her . And att the laste his prayer was herde / Sothely on a tyme our lady apperyd to hym in his celle syttynge & sayd to hym . Lo longe tyme thou hast prayed to knowe how thou myghteste please me / Saye euery daye lyenge prostrate vpon thy one syde l. tymes Aue maria . And well it . wyll please me And well it shall be to the / And whyle she sayde this to hym / one of his brethern a monke knocked at his celle dore . Than our blessyd lady asked him who is he / And he tolde her that it is one of his brethern . & named hym . Than sayde she to hym . Let hym come in for he is a specyall frende of myne / And whan he was come in . our blessyd lady saynt Mary kyssyd hym . and soo wente oute of her syght bothe /

¶ Of a monke a sexten . and how oure lady kyssed hym /

IN a certayne abbay ther was a monke that was sexten full deuoute to our blessyd lady . and loued her in a clene herte / Sothely he had his bedde in the chirche / & vsed euery nyght bothe afore macyns and after full longe tyme deuoutely to prade vppon his knees on the bare grounde byfore an ymage of our lady largely wenyng for his synnes & whan he had wepte & sayd his prayers / thus he wolde saye to the ymage of our lady . O blessyd lady that art so fayre in erthe / how incomparble art thou moost fayrest in heuen . Sothely he were blessyd that myght see thy fayrenes . I wote well that I am vnworthy . But good lady after the vertu of thy power thou mayst make me worthy . And in this wyse longe tyme he exercysed hym selfe in mornynge & teres . Than at the laste the blessyd lady knowynge his desyre appered to hym in his slepe hauynge / in her hande a boke wryten with golden letters . And it semed to a monke that all the chyrche was enflammed of fyre . And as he skypped out of his bed / he fyll before the fete of our blessyd lady / & loked in her face that was bryghter than the sone And she opened the boke / in the whiche was wryten the prophecye of Ysaye / of the whyche the monke gretely Ioyed but moche more he delyted to beholde the fayrenesse & the rose coloure of her face . & sayd . O moost blessyd lady saynt Marye / suffre me ones to kysse thy fete . Than she smyled & sayd in this wyse to hym . I wyll not that thy mouth with the whiche thou hast so oftymes lauded me / touche my fete / but thy mouthe shall touche my mouthe / & the clerenes of my face . Than our lady saynt Marye kyssed hym / & for Ioye therof he thought hym self rauysshed . And whan this monke remembred well that swete dreme / and for the grete gladnesse of his herte full largely he wept . And euer after all the-dayes of hys lyfe full deuoutely he serued our blessyd lady .

¶ How our lady apperyd to monkes that were at matyns / and shewed her sone to them and sayd-Eccemerces vestra .

IN a certayne grete abbay on crystmas nyght as the monkes were at matyns / full myghtely labourynge in dyuyne seruyce sange-deuoutely Te deum laudamus . Our blessyd lady saynt Marye shewed her self to some of them / the whyche sawe her go vysybly through the myddes of the quere with a grete multytude of angellys / with Instrumentes of musyke / laudyng & praysynge our blessyd lorde Ihesu . And she bare in her handes her swete sone our lorde Ihesu cryste offerynge hym to them & sayd . Ecce merces vestra / that is to say . Lo this is your mede .

¶ How a monke that besely remembred our blessyd lady was receyued of her in to heuen .

THere was a certayne yonge monke that so moche loued our blessyd lady saynt Mary that he wolde neuer leue her out of his mynde / & what someuer he dyde / or whether euer he wente / euer more he wolde deuoutely thynke on our blessyd lady . And on a tyme it happened that he fyl seke / to whome came deuylles in lykenesse of angeles whiche had enuy at his clene & holy lyuynge / and moost bycause he loued our blessyd lady so moche . And one of them sayde to hym I wyl hele the. and thou wylt do after my counseyl / Truely thou doste consume thy selfe by ouermoche thynkynge on Mary / Leue this / & do by dyscrecyon There be many blessyd men in this monastery that thynke not soo moche on her / what auayleth it to the yf thou be cause of thyn owne dethe & lese thy selfe . Sothely than this forsayd monke hadde knowlege by the grace of almyghty god that they were wycked spyrytes & deuylles / wherfore he caste holy water amonge them - & than anone all tho wycked spyrytes vanysshed awaye . Than the thyrde daye the gloryouse virgin saynt Mary came to hym with a noble heuenly felawshyp & sayd . Bycause thou hast had my euer in mynde I haue not forgoten the / gyue me thy soule / for it shall dwell with me euerlastyngly / when our lady had sayd this / the monke anone yelded vp his spyryte / & our lady assended vp to heuen berynge with her the monkes soule / & after the .iij. daye this monke appered to all his brethern as they were in the / chirche at dyuyne seruyce & sayd / brethern thanke-ye our blessyd lady / & worshyp her by whome I am saued / & bycause I had her euermore whyle I lyued in mynde / she hath set me in euerlastynge Ioyes of heuen / & therfore brethern be ye myndefull of her that after your deth ye may reygne with her / & whan this-was sayd he vanysshed awaye .

¶ Of a monke that was in all thynges full seruysable to our lady / blessydly dyed .

ALso it is not to leue out of a monke called Egnesanensi / the whiche wolde neuer leue ony thynge vndone that longed to the seruyce of our blessyd lady . This monke on a tyme was seke / & whan he was full nyghe his deth / he sawe the gloryouse virgyn Marye & moder of god comynge to hym / & ful gladde he was to see her come to helpe hym . & bowed his hede mekely to her as he myght and sange this response . Gaude maria virgo . And whan he had songe this response / he yelded vp his spyrite at the commaundement of our blessyd lady / to be bore in to the blesse of heuen by the seruyse of angels . Therfore al crysten people ought of ryght to be feruent & brennynge in her seruyce / & to studye how they myghte please her / not onely they that ben well & vertuously dysposed / but also they that ben synners and proue to euyll . Sothely she is full benynge & redy to al / & euerychone / ryghte largely to rewarde theym with mede that woll deserue it . Ryghtful men & synners none she doth forsake / or refuse / gode men preseruynge in grace / & lyftynge vp synfull men fro wyckednes / & therfore all crysten people of what degree or meryte that they be of / sholde specyally take hede to her worshyppe and laude . For who someuer deuoutely contynueth in her seruyce / withouten doubte he shall come to the Ioyes of heuen .

¶ How a monke worshypped our blessyd lady with fyue psalmes after fyue letters of her name .

THere was a symple monke that was called Iostyus / that to our blessyd lady was ful deuoute nyght & daye / beyng carefull how he myght please her . And oftentymes with grete deuocyon he vsed to saye on his knees to the worshypp of our blessyd lady the .vij. psalmes with other thynges that he lerned in his youth . And gretely he sorowed that he coude no propre thynge of laude and commendacyon to her / by the which he myght specyally worshyp her or grete her . So at the laste after his symple vnderstandyng / he dysposed hym to saye euery daye whyle he lyued fyue psalmes for the fyue lettres that be in oure blessyd lady saint Maryes name Maria : that is to saye . for the fyrst letter M Magnificat . for A. Ad dnm cum tribularer . for R / Retribue seruo tuo . for I. In conuertendo . for the seconde A. Ad te leuaui . And this pleased our blelsyd lady saint mary . as was shewed after his deth Trewely there was founde after that he dyceasyd fyue fayre rede roses springynge out of his mouth as fresshe & well smellynge as they had be gedryd the same daye And this was done be yonde the see at a place called Ad sanctum audomarum .

¶ How these two wordes Aue marya . gloryfyed a knyght after his deth .

A Certayne knyght that was ryche & noble forsoke the world & entred in to a religyon called cisterciēsiū . And by cause he knewe no letter on bokes / the monkes put to hym a mayster that he myght somwhat lerne / & so by that occasyon to stonde amonge the monkes / for they were ashamed that suche a noble man sholde stonde amonge the lay people And whan he had be longe tyme with a mayster & no thynge coude lerne but these two wordes Aue maria . so faste he helde tho two wordes / that whether euer he went / or what some euer he dyde / euermore he wolde saye Aue maria . Than at the last he deyed & was buryed in the chirche yerde with other . And lo out of his graue spronge a fayre lylye / & euery leaf was wreten with golden letters . Aue maria . Than they ranne all thyd for to see so grete a syght . And as they dygged the erthe out of the graue they founde the rote of the same forsayd lylye spryngyng out of his mouth / where by they vnderstode with how grete deuocyon he vsed in his lyf to saye tho two wordes . Aue maria for whome oure lorde shewed so grete myracle of worshyppe .

¶ An other myracle of oure lady of a good aged woman .

THere was also on a tyme a good aged woman that knewe nomore of the salutacyon of our blessyd lady saynt Mary but these two wordes Aue maria . the whiche euermore she wolde say full deuoutly / to whose prayers our blessyd lady was enclyned & dyde by her merytes many myracles . Than the bysshop perceyuynge this / made her to lerne of a clerke all the hole salutatōn of our lady . And whan she vsed dayly to saye it as she coude . there were no myracles shewed by her . & whan the byssop sawe this / he warned her to leue al that she lerned & so to worship our lady as she dyd before . & whan she so dyd . myracles came to her ayen

¶ How our lady vysyted a monke at his deth . for sayng of her seruyce deuoutely .

IN spayne in an house of the ordre of cisterciensium was a yonge monke that was very feruent & deuoute in our ladyes seruyse . And in saynge the houres of our lady he wolde be so well auysed & softe that he had mynde of her not only in euery verse / but also in euery worde / so that an houre of sayng almost wolde last hym with full grete labour an houre of tyme . And whan he had lyued in his ordre .xvi. yere / he fyl seke almost to the deth . And whan it was asked of hym that serued hym how he dyde / he tolde hym & sayd . Our lady of heuen hath vysyted me & tolde me that I shall passe hens the vij . daye next comynge / & more ouer to me she sayd . bycause thou hast serued me more deuoutely than ony other that lyue . I woll do to the that I dyde neuer to none other / & clypped me about the necke & kyssed me : Therfore the vij . daye our blessyd lady apered to this monke with a fayre multytude of aungellys / wiche passed hens the same daye as she tolde hym before .

¶ How oure lady accused certayn relygyouse persones to her sone / bycause they sayd her seruyse vnreuerently and hastely .

A Certayn relygyous man that was laboured with sekenes by the whyche he deyed & sawe before his deth him self rapt to Iugement . And whan he taryed to haue his Iugement the moder of god came & kneled byfor her sone complaynynge & sayd O moste ryghtwyse Iuge / thys mannes bretheren ful neglygently & breuely & vnreuerently saye myn houres & therfore commaunde Iugement to passe ayenst theym . Than the Iuge toke auysement & sayd in this wyse . Lete vs sende this man to his bretheren ayen that he may warne theym / yf they wyl amende them by hym . Sothely than soon after this forsayd seke man was retourned to hymself ayen / & sat vp in his bedde & tolde to them that stode aboute hym tho thynges that he had sene & herde / besechynge & exortynge them in our lorde Ihesu crystus behalue to amende them of all maner defautes & neglygences done in goddes seruyce and our ladyes / leste she be founde as she is to deuoute persones a moder of mercy / & to them for neglygence a quene of vengeaunce . And whan he had this sayd before them al he deyed .

¶ Of a monke whiche had his mynde wanderynge in dyuyne seruyce .

ALso an other monke was that had his mynde wandryng about / & in his prayers vndeuoute / but to oure ladyes seruyce he behaued hym well & dylygently . And vpon a tyme whan his bretheren went to chyrche to say matyns / he bode alone at home lyenge in his bed & he sawe a blacke deuyl comynge to hym that toke hym vp & brought hym before a grete Iuge & sayd . Lo I haue brought to the one that longe tyme fayntly & neglygenfly hath sayd thy seruyce . And as the deuyll began to take power of hym he cryed and sayd / holy Mary helpe me / and anone our blessyd lady delyuered hym from the fende

¶ An exortacion to saye dyuyne seruyce distynctly

WHo someuer wolde ordeyne to a grete lord a luce or a pyke / & therof wold some what stele / he wold take neyther the hede / nor the tayle / for it wolde be soon aspyed / but the myddes Sothely suche theues ben all prestes & clerkes that say theyr seruyce hastely / for the begynnynge & the endynge of the verses of the psalmes they stele not / but the wordes about the myddes . But wolde god it myght fall to them that so done / as it hapened to a certayne preest in the prouynce of Burgone as I herde of a brother of the place of dunene / how a certayne preest vsed to saye full shortly his dyuyne seruyce whome the deuyll often sythes lyfte vp on hye in his chauncell / & afterward myghtely wolde caste hym downe sore to the grounde . And this sayd the deuyll whan he lyfte hym vp . Dixit dns dno meo / & there made a good pause / & afterwarde he wolde caste hym downe & ende the verse & saye / sede a dexteris meis . Wherfore this preest amendyd him & afterwarde sayd his dyuyne seruyce perfyghtely Sothely they that tolde this / herde afore of this prestes fantes / & oftentymes went to him / and of his correctyon & amendement they gretely meruayled and asked hym the cause / and he tolde theym as it is sayd before .