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<DATE>2014-04-30</DATE>
<RESPSTMT>
<NAME>Alexis Jakobson</NAME>
<RESP>MURP</RESP>
</RESPSTMT>
<ITEM>*Proofed title page(s).
*Reviewed structure.
*Checked division-marking material at heads and feet of divisions (HEADS, CLOSER, OPENER, ARGUMENT, EPIGRAPH, SIGNED, BYLINE, etc.).
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<EEBO>
<IDG S="marc" R="UM" ID="B11729">
<STC T="S">3506</STC>
<STC T="C">S104674</STC>
<BIBNO T="umi">99840407</BIBNO>
<VID>173062</VID>
</IDG>
<TEXT LANG="eng">
<FRONT>
<DIV1 TYPE="title page">
<PB REF="1">
<PB REF="1" MS="y">
<P>&para; Here begynneth the holy lyfe and hi&s;tory of &s;aynt werburge / very frutefull for all chri&s;ten people to rede.</P>
<P><FIGURE>
</FIGURE></P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="prologue">
<PB REF="2">
<HEAD>&para; The prologe of. I.T. in the honour &amp; laude of &s;aint Werburge / and to the pray&s;e of y^e tran&s;latour of the legende folowynge.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>H onour / ioye / and glorie / the toynes organicall</L>
<L>E ndeles myrthes w^t melodies / pray&s;e ye all y^e princes</L>
<L>N ouri&s;&s;hed in vertue / intact / as pure as cri&s;tall</L>
<L>R elefe to all &s;ynners / o Werburge lady mai&s;tres</L>
<L>I n grace thou pa&s;&s;ed / all other and in goodnes</L>
<L>Whan thou was pre&s;ent in this mundayne lyfe</L>
<L>None was the lyke / wydowe / mayde / ne wyfe</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>B y diuyne grace / to vs a ryche pre&s;ent</L>
<L>R eioyce we may / in Werburge one and all</L>
<L>A gemme of vertue / a virgin re&s;plendent</L>
<L>D ilect of our lorde (in ioye and blis eternall</L>
<L>S urely &s;he is &s;et) to intercede and call</L>
<L>H er mouth nat ce&s;&s;yng / for them to call and crye</L>
<L>A nd in her tru&s;t / of &s;ynne to haue mercy</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>O good lady mai&s;tres / declyne thy &s;yght a fer</L>
<L>And graciou&s;ly beholde / thy &s;eruaunt cha&s;t and pure</L>
<L>Henry Brad&s;ha / &s;ometyme monke in Che&s;ter</L>
<L>Whiche only for thy loue / toke the payne and labour</L>
<L>Thy legende to tran&s;late / he dyd his bu&s;y cure</L>
<L>Out of latine / in Engli&s;&s;he rude ande and vyle</L>
<L>Whiche he hath amended / with many an ornate &s;tyle</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Alas of Che&s;tre / ye monkes haue lo&s;t a trea&s;ure</L>
<L>Henry Brad&s;ha / the &s;tyrpe of eloquence</L>
<L>Che&s;tre thou may wayle / the deth of this floure</L>
<PB REF="2">
<L>So may the citezens / alas for his ab&s;ence</L>
<L>So may many other / for lacke of his &s;entence</L>
<L>O &s;wete lady Werburge / an holy Abba&s;&s;e glorious</L>
<L>Remembre Henry Brad&s;ha / thy &s;eruau~t mo&s;t gracio&abus;</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In hym remayned no vice ne pre&s;umpcion</L>
<L>Enuy and wrath / from hym were exyled</L>
<L>Slouth ne Venus in hym had no dominion</L>
<L>Auarice and glotony / he vtterly expelled</L>
<L>No vice in hym regned / his felowes he excelled</L>
<L>As clene as cri&s;tall / he bare the&s;e vertues thre</L>
<L>Cha&s;tite / obidience / and wylfull pouerte</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>O cruell deth / whiche art the perfite ende</L>
<L>Of this noble clerke / and euery mortall thyng</L>
<L>Agayn&s;t the / no man may hym defende</L>
<L>Thou cau&s;e&s;t wo / languor / and angui&s;&s;yng</L>
<L>And who on this / wolde haue remembryng</L>
<L>Howe from erth / to erth he mu&s;t agayne</L>
<L>He wolde di&s;pi&s;e all thynges that be mundayne. Vale.</L>
</LG>
</DIV1>
</FRONT>
<GROUP>
<TEXT LANG="eng">
<FRONT>
<DIV1 TYPE="table of contents">
<HEAD>The table of this boke.</HEAD>
<LIST>
<ITEM>FIr&s;t the prologue of the tran&s;latour of this lite&s;t treaty&s;e. Cap. i.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; A de&s;cripcion of the realme of mercie~s of the bou~des and commodites of the &s;ame. Cap. ii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; A de&s;cripcion of the geanologie of &s;aynt Werburge and howe &s;he de&s;cended of .iiii. kynges of this la~de and of the riall blodde of Fraunce. Cap. iii.</ITEM>
<PB REF="3" MS="y">
<ITEM>&para; A playn de&s;cripcion of the act&abis; and chiualry of kyng Penda grau~tfather to &s;aynt Werburge / and of his no|ble and vertuous progenie. Ca. iiii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe after the deth of kyng Pe~da / and of his prince Pe~da his &s;eco~de &s;on Wulfer father of &s;aynt Werburge was elect to be kyng of merciens Cap. v.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; A lyttell de&s;cripcyon of the noble maryage bytwene kyng Wulfer and &s;aynt <ABBR>Ermenild</ABBR> the kyng&abis; doughter of Kent / and of the &s;olempnite done at the &s;ame &s;ea&s;on The &s;yxt chapitre.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Abreue declaracion of the holy lyfe and conuer&s;acio~ of &s;aynt Werburge / v&s;ed in her tender youth / aboue the comon cours of nature. Cap. vii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe this yonge virgin &s;aynt Werburge was de&s;i|red of dukes and erles in mariage / and of the rea&s;ona|ble an&s;were &s;he gaue to them in auoydyng &s;uche word|ly plea&s;ures. Cap. viii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe the fal&s;e Werebode de&s;yred kynge Wulfer to haue his doughter Werburge in mariage / and howe he graunted thervnto. Cap. ix.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe the quene &s;aynt <ABBR>Ermenild</ABBR> wolde nat con&s;ent ther to / &amp; how her bretherne &s;aint Wulfade / and Ruffin were agayn&s;t the &s;ayd mariage. Cap. x.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe the fal&s;e Werebode complaynned vpon &s;aynt
<PB REF="3"> Wulfade &amp; Ruffyn to kyng Wulfer / and was the cau&s;e of their deth. Cap. xi.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe kynge Wulfer was conuerted / and toke great repentaunce for his offence. and by the coun&s;ell of &s;aint Ceade was a deuout man / and a good benefactour to holy churche / and founder of diuers places Cap. xii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Of the feruent de&s;ire &amp; &s;ingular deuocion &s;aynt Wer+burge had to be religious / and of the dayly &s;upplicaci|ons &s;he made to her father for the &s;ame. Cap. xiii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Of the rea&s;onable &amp; meke an&s;were &s;aynt Werburge gaue to her father / whan he moued her to haue ben ma|ried. Cap. xiiii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; How &s;aint Werburge was made an no~ne at Ely aft&aber; her de&s;ire vnder &s;aint Audri lady and abba&s;&s;e. Ca. xv.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Of the great &s;olemni&s;acion kyng Wulfer made at y^e go&s;tly mariage of &s;aynt Werburge his dought&aber; at Ely / to all his louers and frendes. Cap. xvi.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Of the holy profe&s;&s;ion and go&s;tly co~uer&s;acion &s;aynt Werburge v&s;ed at Ely i~ religio~ <ABBR>vnd</ABBR> &s;aint Audri. xvii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>A litell treati&s;e of the lyfe of &s;aynt Audrie abba&s;&s;e of Ely / &amp; of her holy conuer&s;acion &amp; great deuocion which Audrie was aunt and co&s;yn to &s;aynt Werburge. xviii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; A breue reher&s;al of the lyfe of &s;aint Sexburge grau~t
<PB REF="4"> moder to &s;aint werburge / &amp; of her comyng to Ely to her &s;y&s;t Audrie thabba&s;&s;e from Shepay mona&s;terie. c. xix.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe &s;aint <ABBR>Ermenild</ABBR> after dethe of kynge Wulfer was made a noune at Ely / vnder her moder Sexburge and Werkurge her doughter. Cap. xx.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe kyng Ethelrede &s;eynge the holy conuer&s;acio~ of Werburge his nece / made her lady and pre&s;ident at Wedon / Trenta~ / &amp; Hambury. Al&s;o by her example and coun&s;el made hym a monke at Bardeney abbay. c. xxi.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; The holy co~uer&s;acio~ of kyng Ke~red brother to &s;aynt Werburge / &amp; howe he refu&s;ed his crowne / &amp; was made a monke at Rome / &amp; there de&abper;ted a holy co~fe&s;&s;our. xxii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Of the go&s;tly deuocio~ of &s;aynt Werburge &amp; vertuo&abus; gouernans of her places / and of the great humilite &s;he v&s;ed to her &s;y&s;ters and all creatures. Ca. xxiii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; How at Wedo~ wilde gy&s;e were pynned at her co~ma~|dement / and al&s;o rele&s;ed &amp; put at liberte. Ca. xxiiii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; How a tyrande without pite was puny&s;&s;hed his face &s;et backewarde / and by his mekenes was re&s;taured to helth and pro&s;perite agayne. Cap. xxv.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; How deuers princes folowyng &s;en&s;ualite ente~dyng to violate this virgine by power: by myracle were put to confu&s;ion. Cap. xxvi.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; How &s;aynt Werburge gaue knowlege to her &s;y&s;ters
<PB REF="4"> of her departure / &amp; howe &s;he ordred in vertue her &s;ayd mona&s;teries after her departure. Cap. xxvii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Of the go&s;tly exortacio~ &s;aint Werburge made to her &s;y&s;ters in her &s;ekenes / and howe deuoutly &s;he receyued the &s;acrame~tes of holy churche afore her deth. c. xxviii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Of the departure of &s;aynt Werburge at Tre~ta~ vnto heuen fro~ this mi&s;erable lyfe / &amp; what lame~tacion her &s;y|&s;ters and &s;ubiectes made for her deth Ca. xxix.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe the <ABBR>ha~burgens</ABBR> toke the ble&s;&s;ed body of Wer|burge fro~ Trenta~ by myracle &amp; brought it to Ha~bury / and of the buriall of this virgin / and manyfolde &s;ignes &s;hewed of god by her merites / the &s;pace of .ix. yere afore her tran&s;lacion. Cap. xxx.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; A litel breue treati&s;e of her hole lyfe / and how for her myracles &s;hewed after her deth / the couent of Hamburi purpo&s;ed to tra~&s;lat her body by helpe of kyng Coelrede reignyng in mercelande. Ca. xxxi.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; The &s;olempne tran&s;lacion of this glorious virgine &s;aynt Werburge, and of the great myracles done at the &s;ame &s;ea&s;on by the might of god / and merite of this gra+cious lady. Cap. xxxii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe the body of &s;aynt Werburge continued hole / &amp; &s;ub&s;ta~cial at Hambury after y^e tra~&s;lacion by the &s;pace of .CC. yeres / tyll the dayes were comon to this lande / or it fell &amp; re&s;olued was vnto powder. Cap. xxxiii.</ITEM>
</LIST>
</DIV1>
</FRONT>
<BODY>
<DIV1 N="1" TYPE="book">
<PB REF="5" MS="y">
<PB REF="5" MS="y">
<HEAD>&para; Here foloweth the lyfe of the glory|ous virgyn &s;aynt werburge / al&s;o many miracles that god hath &s;hewed for her / &amp; fyr&s;t the prologe of the au|ctour.
<FIGURE>
</FIGURE></HEAD>
<PB REF="6">
<DIV2 N="1" TYPE="chapter">
<PB REF="6" MS="y">
<HEAD>&para; The prologe of the tran&s;latour of this lytell werke y^e lyfe of &s;aynt Werburge.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>_WHa~ Phebus had ron~e his cours i~ &s;agittari</L>
<L>And Capricorne entred a &s;ygne retrograt</L>
<L>Amyddes Dece~bre / y^e ayre colde &amp; fro&s;ty</L>
<L>And pale Lucyna / the erthe dyd illumynat</L>
<L>I ro&s;e vp &s;hortly / fro my cubycle preparat</L>
<L>Aboute mydnyght / and ca&s;t in myne intent</L>
<L>How I myght &s;pende / the tyme conuenyent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>I called vnto mynde / the great vn&s;tedfa&s;tnes</L>
<L>Of this wretched worlde / not by cours of nature</L>
<L>How there be brought / &s;ome men to bu&s;ynes</L>
<L>Oppre&s;&s;ed with pouerte / langour / and dy&s;plea&s;ure</L>
<L>Some other exalted / to felycyte and plea&s;ure</L>
<L>The maker of mankynde / mo&s;t in maie&s;te</L>
<L>Ruleth all at his wyll / it may non other be.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Beholde dy&s;cretly / and &s;e the fyrmament</L>
<L>Con&s;yder the &s;onne / and the mone al&s;o</L>
<L>With all the planettes / and &s;terres re&s;plendent</L>
<L>How they kepe theyr cours / bothe to and fro</L>
<L>Euer obedyent / theyr creature vnto</L>
<L>And byrdes be&s;ely / &s;yngynge euery day</L>
<L>Pray&s;ynge theyr prymate all that they may.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The .iiii. elementes / in lyke condycyon</L>
<L>The fyre / the water / the ayre / and the londe</L>
<L>Ob&s;eruen theyr duty / after theyr creacyon</L>
<L>And buxum ben / and euer &s;o be fonde</L>
<L>Thus euery creature / as we vnder&s;tonde</L>
<PB REF="7">
<L>Obeyeth to his creature / with humylyte</L>
<L>Except dy&s;&s;olute man / folowyng &s;en&s;ualyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>If man wyll remembre / how he was create</L>
<L>To the lykenes and figure / of god almyghty</L>
<L>And &s;et in parady&s;e / a place moo&s;t delycate</L>
<L>To haue the fruycyon / of eternall glory / </L>
<L>If not &s;ynne expul&s;ed hym to the vale of my&s;ery</L>
<L>But that he wolde enclyne / his naturall rea&s;on</L>
<L>To &s;erue his maker / truely at due &s;ea&s;on.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Dyuers people / haue dyuers condicions</L>
<L>Comynly proued / it is euery day</L>
<L>Some &s;et to vertu / and good di&s;po&s;ycyons</L>
<L>In penau~ce / prayer / all that they may</L>
<L>Some in contemplacyon / the &s;othe to &s;ay</L>
<L>Some in ab&s;tynence / to cha&s;tyce the body</L>
<L>And make it &s;ubget / to the &s;oule perfytely.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Some other reioyce / in &s;ynne and ydelnes</L>
<L>Some &s;eruauntes to Venus / both day and nyght</L>
<L>Other to couety&s;e / and worldly be&s;ynes</L>
<L>Some to deceyue / by &s;ubtylte in &s;yght</L>
<L>Some vnto marchandy&s;e / &amp; wynnynge full ryght</L>
<L>Some ferefull and tymerous / without audacyte</L>
<L>Some &s;adde and &s;obre / and of great grauyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Many haue plea&s;ure to &s;peke of rybaudry</L>
<L>Some of fyghtynge / braulynge / and actes marcyall</L>
<L>Other to flater / and paynt the company</L>
<L>Some to &s;yt bytwene the cuppe and the wall</L>
<L>Some to bla&s;pheme / and dy&s;&s;emble withall</L>
<PB REF="7" MS="y">
<L>To backbyte and &s;clau~der / by malyce and enuy</L>
<L>Some to extorcyon / thefte and playne robry.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thus after fraylte / and &s;undry compleccyons</L>
<L>Dyuers men dyuers in lyuynge there be</L>
<L>Dy&s;po&s;ed by a contrary dy&s;po&s;ycyon</L>
<L>Some vnto vertue / &s;ome vnto vanyte</L>
<L>Many maners of people / now we may &s;e</L>
<L>Wauerynge in the worlde / without quyetnes</L>
<L>As a &s;hyp by tempe&s;t / is dryuen doubtles.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan I reuolued / with due circum&s;taunce</L>
<L>The dyuers maners / and mutabylyte</L>
<L>Of worldly people / and the great varyaunce</L>
<L>And how this lyfe / is of no &s;uerte</L>
<L>Now in great langour / now in pro&s;peryte</L>
<L>yet after our meryte / we &s;halbe &s;ure</L>
<L>To be rewarded / at our departure.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Than to vertuous labours / we &s;hulde apply</L>
<L>And &s;pende not our tyme / all in ydlenes</L>
<L>For as a byrde is made / by nature to fly</L>
<L>Ryght &s;o we &s;hulde v&s;e / &s;ome good bu&s;ynes</L>
<L>To our &s;oule helthe / with great mekenes</L>
<L>For tyme euyl &s;pende / in labours vayne</L>
<L>Is harde to be well / recouered agayne</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But now &s;yth I am / a relygyous man</L>
<L>For lo&s;ynge of tyme / can not me excu&s;e</L>
<L>Therfore I purpo&s;e / to do as I can</L>
<L>All &s;uche ydlenes / whylom to refu&s;e</L>
<L>With the grace of god / the tyme for to v&s;e</L>
<PB REF="8" MS="y">
<L>Some &s;mall treaty&s;e / to wryte breuely</L>
<L>To the comyn vulgares / theyr mynde to &s;aty&s;fy.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>To de&s;crybe hye hy&s;toryes / I dare not be &s;o bolde</L>
<L>Syth it is a mater / for clerkes conuenyent</L>
<L>As of the .vii. aeges / and of our parentes olde</L>
<L>Or of the .iiii. empyres / whylom moo&s;t excellent</L>
<L>Knowynge my lernynge / therto in&s;uffycyent</L>
<L>As for bawdy balades / ye &s;hall haue none of me</L>
<L>To excyte lyght hertes / to plea&s;ure and vanyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But now in auoydynge / &s;uche great foly&s;&s;henes</L>
<L>I purpo&s;e to wryte / a legende good and true</L>
<L>And tran&s;late a lyfe / into Engly&s;&s;he doubtles</L>
<L>I meane the &s;pou&s;e / of our lorde Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>Ble&s;&s;ed &s;aynt Werburge / replete with vertue</L>
<L>A noble prynces borne / &amp; vyrgyne pure and gloryous</L>
<L>After an holy monyall / and an abbe&s;&s;e gracyous.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In the abbay of Che&s;tre / &s;he is &s;hryned rychely</L>
<L>Pryores and lady / of that holy place</L>
<L>The chyef protectryce / of the &s;ayd mona&s;tery</L>
<L>Longe before the conque&s;t / by deuyne grace</L>
<L>Protectryce of the Cytee / &s;he is and euer was</L>
<L>Called &s;pecyall prymate / and pryncypall pre&s;ydent</L>
<L>There rulynge vnder / our lorde omnypotent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And yf I vnworthy / begynne this lytell werke</L>
<L>I praye all the reders / mekely of pardon</L>
<L>To correcke and amende / &s;yth I am no clerke</L>
<L>Excu&s;e my ignoraunce / and take the entencyon</L>
<L>My mynde is to &s;hewe / her lyfe and deuocyon</L>
<PB REF="8">
<L>That euery man and woman / en&s;ample maye take</L>
<L>At this pure vyrgyn / &s;ynne to for&s;ake.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And &s;yth that &s;he is / in bly&s;&s;e now gloryfyed</L>
<L>It were no rea&s;on / her name be had in &s;cylence</L>
<L>But to the people / her name be magnyfyed</L>
<L>To her laude and pray&s;e / honour and reuerence</L>
<L>Her parentes and bretherne / y^e floures of experyence</L>
<L>Haue ben kepte in clo&s;e / &s;ecrete many a day</L>
<L>Wherfore I purpo&s;e / &s;omwhat of them to &s;ay.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Fyr&s;t I entende / to make playne de&s;crypcyon</L>
<L>Of her fathers kyngedome the realme of Mercyens</L>
<L>How longe it endured / vnder his tuycyon</L>
<L>Vnder how many kynges / it had prehemynens</L>
<L>Al&s;o of her petygre / the noble excellence</L>
<L>For &s;o many &s;ayntes / of one kynred certayne</L>
<L>Is harde to be founde / in all the worlde agayne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Vnto this rude werke / myne auctours the&s;e &s;halbe</L>
<L>Fyr&s;t the true legende / and the venerable Bede</L>
<L>May&s;ter Alfrydus / and Wyllyam Maluy&s;burye</L>
<L>Gyrarde / Polycronycon / and other mo in deed</L>
<L>Now gloryous god / graunt me to procede</L>
<L>Ble&s;&s;ed vyrgyn Werburge / my holy patrone&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Helpe me to endyte / I praye the &s;wete may&s;tre&s;&s;e.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="2" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A de&s;crypcyon of the realme of Mercyens / of bondes and commodytes of the &s;ame.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THe yere of our &s;auyoure / by full compulacyon</L>
<L>Foure hu~dred / nyne &amp; fourty frome his natiuite</L>
<PB REF="9" MS="y">
<L>As venerable Bede / maketh declaracyon</L>
<L>Duke Hengy&s;t came to this lande in great royalte</L>
<L>With Saxons / Angles / Iutes / thre people myghtre</L>
<L>De&s;yred by Vortyger / than kynge of Brytons</L>
<L>Came to defende / fro greuous oppre&s;&s;yons.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o the yeres of our ble&s;&s;ed &s;auyoure</L>
<L>Syxe hundreth foure &s;core and nyne expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>The Brytons were expul&s;ed / &s;o &s;ayth myne auctoure</L>
<L>From Englande to walles / with great wretchydnes</L>
<L>In Englande than ruled / &s;euen kynges doubtles</L>
<L>Who&s;e names we purpo&s;e / to &s;hewe with lyeens</L>
<L>But pryncypally / of the kyngdome of Mercyens.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The fyr&s;t realme of Saxons / began in Kent</L>
<L>The yere of grace / foure hundreth fyue and fyfty</L>
<L>Where duke Engy&s;tus / in honour excellent</L>
<L>With &s;eptre and crowne / fyr&s;t reygned royally</L>
<L>The &s;econde was South&s;ex / &s;ayth the hy&s;tory</L>
<L>Wher Adla and Ella / reygned full ryght</L>
<L>Whiche realme endured / but &s;hort tyme in myght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The thyrde was We&s;t&s;axons / famous and myghty</L>
<L>Where fyr&s;t reygned / kynge Cerdicus</L>
<L>The yere of our lorde / fyue hundreth one and twenty</L>
<L>Whiche realme by proce&s;&s;e / and power vyctoryous</L>
<L>Subdued all other / to hym full memorous</L>
<L>The pryncypall Cytees / of his regalyte</L>
<L>Were in olde &s;ea&s;on / Wynche&s;ter and Sale&s;burye.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The fourth was E&s;t&s;ex / Where duke Erchenwyn</L>
<L>Fyr&s;t reygned kynge / hauynge domynacyon</L>
<PB REF="9" MS="y">
<L>By the kynge of Mer&s;elande / brought ofte to ruyne</L>
<L>The chyef Cytee was Colche&s;ter / of his domynyon</L>
<L>Al&s;o of ee&s;t Englande / was the fyfth kyngdome</L>
<L>Where Vffa crowned / had fyr&s;t the &s;ufferaynte</L>
<L>Of Northfolke and Southfolke / knowen in certaynte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The &s;yxthe was the kyngdome of Mer&s;lande</L>
<L>Where Cryda was crowned / fyr&s;t by auctoryte</L>
<L>Hauynge nyne &s;hyres / obedyent to his hande</L>
<L>As after &s;hall appere / more euydent to be</L>
<L>The &s;euenth was Northu~berlande / vnder Ida &amp; Alle</L>
<L>Whylom dyuyded / in &s;ondry kyngdomes twayne</L>
<L>The chyfe Cytee was yorke / wher y^e kynge dyd reygne</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The realme of Mercyens / by olde antyquyte</L>
<L>As playnly declareth / Polycronycon</L>
<L>Thre hundreth yeres / endured in auctoryte.</L>
<L>Vnder eyghtene kynges / worthy nomynyon</L>
<L>Greate&s;t of gouernaunce of all this regyon</L>
<L>Where Vulfer reygned / a kynge vyctoryous</L>
<L>Father to &s;aynt Werburge / vyrgyn moo&s;t gloryous</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The bou~des and lor&s;hyppes / of the &s;ayd Mercyens</L>
<L>As &s;hewen dyuers bokes hy&s;toryall</L>
<L>Were large and myghty / and of great prehemynens</L>
<L>Where the &s;ayd kynge reygned by power imperyall</L>
<L>This realme to dy&s;crybe / begyn we &s;hall</L>
<L>At the Cytee of Che&s;ter / and the water of Dee</L>
<L>Bytwene Englande and wales / of the we&s;t partye</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And &s;o tran&s;cendynge / vp towarde Shrewy&s;bury</L>
<L>By the water of Sabryne / vnto Bry&s;towe</L>
<PB REF="10" MS="y">
<L>The Ee&s;t &s;ee me&s;ureth / the Ee&s;t parte truely</L>
<L>The water of Thamys / the &s;outh parte doth &s;hewe</L>
<L>Flowynge vnto London / who&s;o dothe it knowe</L>
<L>The water of Humbre was on the north, &s;yde</L>
<L>With the water of Mer&s;ee / theyr landes to dyuyde.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Of the fore&s;ayd ryuer / and water of Mer&s;ee</L>
<L>The kynge of Mercyens / taketh his name</L>
<L>As moo&s;t &s;ure dyuydent / to be had in memorye</L>
<L>Me&s;urynge and metynge / the bondes with great fame</L>
<L>Of Mer&s;ee and Northumberlande / kynges of the &s;ame</L>
<L>Bitwene che&s;&s;hyr / &amp; la~ca&s;hyr theyr ki~gdomes certayne</L>
<L>As auncyent Cronycles de&s;cryben it full playne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The &s;ayd myghty kyngdome / of Mercyens dyd holde</L>
<L>Many noble Cytees / with townes and burghes royall</L>
<L>Whiche Penda optayned / enlarged manyfolde</L>
<L>As Che&s;ter / Stafford / Lytchefelde / Coue~tre memorall</L>
<L>Lyncolne and Huntyngdon / Northampton withall</L>
<L>Leyce&s;ter and Derby / Cambrydge and Oxonforde</L>
<L>Worche&s;ter and Bry&s;towe / with other mo &amp; Herforde.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Many royall ryuers / were conteyned in the &s;ame</L>
<L>With &s;undry kyndes of fy&s;&s;hes / &s;wete and delycyous</L>
<L>It were tedyous to &s;hewe / of them the dyuers name</L>
<L>In ryuers and in pooles / &s;wymmynge full plentuous</L>
<L>Al&s;o fore&s;tes / parkes / cha&s;es large and beauteous</L>
<L>And all bee&s;tes of venery / plea&s;aunt for a kynge</L>
<L>To cours at lyberte / befounde there pa&s;turynge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o this royall realme / holdeth as we fynde</L>
<L>Habundaunce of fruytes / ple&s;aunt and profytable</L>
<PB REF="10" MS="y">
<L>Great plente of cornes / and graynes of euery kynde</L>
<L>With hylles / valeys / pa&s;tures / comly and delectable</L>
<L>The &s;oyle and glebe / is &s;et plentuous and co~mendable</L>
<L>In all plea&s;aunt propurtes / no part of all this lande</L>
<L>May be compared / to this fore&s;ayd Mer&s;elande.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The people of Mercyens / the trouthe yf we dare &s;aye</L>
<L>Lordes / barons / knyghtes / with all the comunete</L>
<L>In mu&s;ture and in batayle / euer the pryce haue they</L>
<L>The kynges grace to &s;erue / moo&s;t valyau~t in artylere</L>
<L>In all artes Marcyall / euer hauynge the vyctorye</L>
<L>With herte / mynde and harneys / redy day and nyght</L>
<L>Theyr enemyes to &s;ubdue / by power mayne &amp; myght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>If they be well ordred / vnder a &s;ure capytayne</L>
<L>And &s;et to &s;uche bu&s;yne&s;&s;e / theyr honour to auaunce</L>
<L>The tryumph they optayne / knowen it is certayne</L>
<L>In Engla~de and Scotlande / &amp; in the realme of Frau~ce</L>
<L>Fewe of them haue cou~tred / by manhode and valeau~ce</L>
<L>Great nombre of enemyes / with knyghthode &amp; polycy</L>
<L>We meane them moo&s;t &s;pecyall / in the Wee&s;t party.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Many other commodytes / plea&s;ures and proprytes</L>
<L>This &s;ayd realme / holdeth of olde antyquyte</L>
<L>In royaltes and lord&s;hyppes / landes and lybertes</L>
<L>Honourably dylated / in wor&s;hyp and polyce</L>
<L>Flourynge in wy&s;edome / honours / and chyualre</L>
<L>Veryfyed by kynge Offa / moo&s;t myghty and excellent</L>
<L>Proued in his actes / by playne experyment</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This Offa &s;ubdued / in hy&s;tory as is founde</L>
<L>The kynge of We&s;t&s;axons / Northumberlande &amp; Kent</L>
<PB REF="11" MS="y">
<L>Droue Brytons to wales / out of this lande</L>
<L>And made a depe dytche / for a &s;ure dyuydent</L>
<L>Bytwene Englande and Wales / &amp; to this day pre&s;ente</L>
<L>Is called dytche Offa / &s;o that no Bryton</L>
<L>On payne of puny&s;&s;hement / &s;hulde entre this regyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Kynge Offa tra~&s;lated / as &s;ayth Polycronycon</L>
<L>By myghty power / the &s;ee of Canterbury</L>
<L>Vnto Lychefelde chyrche / with famous oblacyon</L>
<L>For euer to contynu / confyrmed by auctoryte</L>
<L>Al&s;o he founded / &s;aynt Albans mona&s;terye</L>
<L>Fyr&s;t of deuocyon to Rome gaue Peter pens</L>
<L>Thus royall &s;omtyme / was the realme of Mercyens.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="3" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A de&s;crypcyon of the Geanalogy of &s;aynt Werburge and how &s;he de&s;cended of foure kynges of this lande / &amp; of the royall blode of Fraunce.</HEAD>
<DIV3 TYPE="section">
<HEAD>&para; Regnum Mert&aber;. ex&abper;te &abpro;r~is.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THis noble prynces / the doughter of Syon</L>
<L>The floure of vertu / and vyrgyn gloryous</L>
<L>Ble&s;&s;ed &s;aynt Werburge / full of deuocyon</L>
<L>De&s;cended by auncetry / and tytle famous</L>
<L>Of foure myghty kynges / noble and vyctoryous</L>
<L>Reynynge in this lande / by true &s;ucce&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>As her lyfe hy&s;toryall / maketh declaracyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The yere of our lorde / frome the natyuyte</L>
<L>Fyue hundreth .xiiii. and al&s;o .iiii. &s;core</L>
<L>Whan Au&s;tyn was &s;ende / frome &s;aynt Gregorye</L>
<L>To conuert this regyon / vnto our &s;auyoure</L>
<L>The noble kynge Cryda than reygned with honoure</L>
<PB REF="11" MS="y">
<L>Vpon the mercyens / whiche kynge was father</L>
<L>Vnto kynge Wybba and Quadriburge his &s;y&s;ter.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This Wybba gate Penda / kynge of mercyens</L>
<L>Whiche Penda &s;ubdued / fyue kynges of this regyon</L>
<L>Reygnyge thyrty yere / in wor&s;hyp and reuerens</L>
<L>Was grauntfather to Werburge / by lynyall &s;ucce&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>By his quene Kyne&s;with / had a noble generacyon</L>
<L>Fyue valeant prynces / Penda and kynge Wulfer / </L>
<L>Kynge Ethelred / &s;aint Marceyl / &s;aint marwalde i~ fere.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And two holy doughters / ble&s;&s;ed and vertuous</L>
<L>Saynt Kene burge / and &s;aynt Kene&s;wyde the vyrgyn</L>
<L>Whiche ladyes were buryed / full memorous</L>
<L>At peturborowe abbay / and now there lyen in &s;hryne</L>
<L>The &s;ayd kynge Ethelrede / by &s;ufferaunce deuyne</L>
<L>Had a prynce Cochede / whiche after reygned kynge</L>
<L>That tra~&s;lated Werburge / the .x. yere of her buryenge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Saynt Merwalde &s;pecyfyed / vncle to &s;aint Werburge</L>
<L>By his quene &s;aint Erme~berge a pri~ces doughter of ke~t</L>
<L>Gate .iii. holy vyrgyns / &s;aint myldred &amp; &s;aint mylburge</L>
<L>Saynt Mylgyde the thyrde / of vertu equypolent</L>
<L>With a &s;one Mereum / whiche frome the holy &s;acrame~t</L>
<L>Of baptym was taken / by myracle expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>To the blys of heuen / to reygne there endele&s;&s;e.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The &s;econde &s;one of Penda / we meane kynge Wulfere</L>
<L>A noble valyant prynce / by lynyall dy&s;cent</L>
<L>Reygnynge vpon the Mercyens with royalte &amp; power</L>
<L>Maryed &s;aynt Ermenylde / y^e kynges doughter of kent</L>
<L>Where throughe the grace of god omnypotent</L>
<PB REF="12" MS="y">
<L>They had fayre y&s;&s;ue / &s;aynt Werburge / &s;aynt Kenrede</L>
<L>Saynt wulfade / &s;aynt Ruffyn / in &s;tory as we rede.</L>
</LG>
</DIV3>
<DIV3 TYPE="section">
<HEAD>&para; Regnum Northumbrorum / ex parte matris.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>The &s;eco~de realme of who~ &s;aynt Werburge dyd de&s;ce~de</L>
<L>Was of &s;aynt Edwyn / kynge of Northumberlande</L>
<L>Whiche maryed Quadryburge / his ryghtes to defende</L>
<L>Doughter of Gryda / kynge of Mer&s;lande</L>
<L>Bytwene them de&s;cended / as we vnder&s;tande</L>
<L>Two comly prynces / the fyr&s;t we call Eadfryde</L>
<L>The &s;eco~de &s;one in batayle &s;layne was named Offryde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Kyng Eadfryde gate Hereryc y^t was kynge of Deiram</L>
<L>This Hereryc by Beor&s;wyde his quene fayre &amp; fre</L>
<L>Had &s;aynt Hylde the abbe&s;&s;e / &s;aynt Bede &s;ayth y^e &s;ame</L>
<L>Lady al&s;o foundre&s;&s;e / of the abbay of Whytbye</L>
<L>This &s;ayd kynge Hereryc / had another lady</L>
<L>The quene of ee&s;t Engla~de / &s;aynt Hery&s;with &s;he hyght</L>
<L>Mother to &s;aynt Sexburge / &amp; thre other ladies bryght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This holy Sexburge / full of grace and goodnes</L>
<L>Was maryed to Ercombert / a noble kynge of Kent</L>
<L>Bytwyx them de&s;cended / a precyous ryches</L>
<L>The ble&s;&s;yd Ermenylde / humble and pacyent</L>
<L>Whiche for her vertue / was maryed full excellent</L>
<L>To Wulfer kynge of Merciens / with great &s;olempnyte</L>
<L>And mother was to werburge / a&s;wete floure of cha&s;tite</L>
</LG>
</DIV3>
<DIV3 TYPE="section">
<HEAD>&para; Regnum E&s;tanglorum / ex parte matris.</HEAD>
<LG>
<PB REF="12" MS="y">
<L>The thyrde noble kyngedome / of her parentage</L>
<L>Was the realme of ee&s;t England / whylom i~ great degre</L>
<L>Tytylus kynge of the &s;ame / vyctoryous and &s;age</L>
<L>Gate Redwald his fyr&s;t &s;one / a chry&s;ten prynce was he</L>
<L>This Redwalde had .ii. &s;ones flourynge in chyualrye</L>
<L>The fyr&s;t was Kenuherus / a noble man of fame</L>
<L>The &s;econde Eorpwaldus / called by his name.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This fore&s;ayd kynge Tytylus / had a &s;econde &s;one</L>
<L>Called Egnicius / accepted as a martyre</L>
<L>Whiche &s;ayd Egnicius / by lynyall progre&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Had .iii. noble prynces / that worthy euer were</L>
<L>The fyr&s;t was called Ethelwood / y^e &s;econde Adelhere</L>
<L>The thyrde was &s;aynt Anna / a kynge moo&s;t vertuous</L>
<L>In batayle &s;layne vnryghtfully / now a martyr gloryo&abus;</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This for&s;ayd kynge Anna / maryed as we rede</L>
<L>The holy prynces Here&s;with / for loue and amyte</L>
<L>They had a noble y&s;&s;ue / to encrea&s;e theyr mede</L>
<L>The ble&s;&s;ed Sexburge / faynt Audry of Elye</L>
<L>Saynt Ethelburge the thyrd / in Bryges now lyeth &s;he</L>
<L>Saynt Withburge the .iiii. y^e martyr &s;aynt Iurwyne</L>
<L>And Aldulph after kynge / whiche regned a lo~ge tyme.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The lady &s;aynt Sexburge / elde&s;t of them all</L>
<L>A gracyous matrone / endurynge all her lyfe</L>
<L>Was maryed to Ercombert / y^e kynge of Kent royall</L>
<L>They brought fourth a progeny / noble to dy&s;cryue</L>
<L>The ble&s;&s;ed Ermenylde / vertuous mayd and wyfe</L>
<L>Whiche lady was mother / by grace of god almyght</L>
<L>Vnto ble&s;&s;ed Wrburge / our confort and our lyght</L>
</LG>
</DIV3>
<DIV3 TYPE="section">
<PB REF="13" MS="y">
<HEAD>&para; Regnum Cancie et Francie / ex parte matris.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>The .iiii. myghti kyngdome / of whom this royal pri~ces</L>
<L>Saynt Werburge de&s;cended / was the realme of kent</L>
<L>Where reygned fyr&s;t Hengy&s;tus / by vyctory &amp; prowes</L>
<L>Whiche was the fourth man / by lygnage euydent</L>
<L>Procedynge fro Woden / a prynce full prepotent</L>
<L>Of whom our &abpro;genytours / Angles / Iutes / &amp; Saxons</L>
<L>Lynyally &s;ucceded / kynges of dyuers nacyons.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This fore&s;ayd prynce Wode~ / as dyuers auctours &s;ayne</L>
<L>Was the .xv. fro Noe / by naturall progre&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Of his elde&s;t &s;one Sem / de&s;cendynge playne</L>
<L>In &s;axons tongue Geaf / after ryte and cu&s;tome</L>
<L>Not of the lygne of Iaphet / by theyr opynyon</L>
<L>Retourne we to Hengy&s;t / and to his &s;ucce&s;&s;oures</L>
<L>And &s;peke of theyr royalte / to plea&s;e the audytoures.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Ermenrycus kynge of kent / reygned with great powes</L>
<L>The yere of our &s;auyoure / fyue hundreth fyue &amp; thyrte</L>
<L>Vnto whome Engy&s;tus was great graundfather</L>
<L>This &s;ayd kynge Ermenryc / had y&s;&s;ue fayre and fre</L>
<L>A doughter called Ricula / which maried was to fledde</L>
<L>Of E&s;t&s;ex and Mydyl&s;ex / gouernoure and kynge</L>
<L>Of whom a myghty kynred / by proces was comynge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This Ermenryc gate Ethelbryct full vertuous</L>
<L>Whiche kynge reygned in kent / the yere of our &s;auyou<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"></L>
<L>Fyue hundreth fyue &amp; fyfty / &amp; bapty&s;ed was gracyous</L>
<L>By ble&s;&s;yd by&s;&s;hop Au&s;tyn / of Engla~de called doctour</L>
<L>He was fyr&s;t cry&s;ten kynge / &amp; pryncypall protectour</L>
<L>Of the <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ayth within this lande / and founder was al&s;o</L>
<PB REF="13" MS="y">
<L>Of dyuers holy places / and mona&s;teryes both tow.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This &s;ayd kynge Ethelbrye / for the great habundau~ce</L>
<L>Of ryches and honour / was maryed &s;olemply</L>
<L>To the prynces Berta / the kynges doughter of Frau~ce</L>
<L>And of them proceded a vertuous progeny</L>
<L>Eadburg &amp; Ethelburg &s;aintes / whiche Ethelburg truly</L>
<L>By Edwyne kyng of North / had .iiii. pri~ces honorable</L>
<L>And .iii. holy doughters / gracyous and commendable.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o kynge Ethelbryct / had to his &s;ucce&s;&s;oure</L>
<L>Kynge Eadbalde / in Kent reygnynge a longe &s;pace</L>
<L>He maryed lady Emma / of fraunce the cho&s;en floure</L>
<L>And by her had y&s;&s;ue / &s;aynt En&s;wyde full of grace</L>
<L>Al&s;o prynce Ermenred his &s;econde &s;one / whiche wace</L>
<L>Maryed to quene O&s;laua / of them dyd procede</L>
<L>Two holy martyrs / Ethelbryct and Etheldrede.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This prynce Ermenred / had .iiii. ladyes bryght</L>
<L>Lyke the .iiii. floodes of Parady&s;e / &s;hynynge in vertu</L>
<L>The elde&s;t of the &s;y&s;ters / &s;aynt Ermenberge hyght</L>
<L>The &s;econde &s;aynt Ermenburge / the &s;pou&s;es of Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>The thyrde &s;aynt Adeldryde / all vyces dyd &s;ubdu</L>
<L>The .iiii. &s;aynt Erme~gyde / &s;ayth theyr lyues hy&s;toryall</L>
<L>Thre of them holy vyrgyns / the fourth matrone we call</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This fore&s;ayd Eadbalde / a &s;ouerayne myghty kynge</L>
<L>By Emma of Fraunce / had to his enherytoure</L>
<L>The noble kynge Ercumbert / full gracyous in lyuynge</L>
<L>Whiche maryed Sexburge / with wor&s;hyp &amp; honoure</L>
<L>The kynges doughter of ce&s;t England &s;pecyfyed afore</L>
<L>This prynce loued vertue / prayer and deuocyon</L>
<PB REF="14" MS="y">
<L>Commau~dynge all his realme / to kepe y^e fa&s;t of Lenton</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Ercombert .xxx. yere / regnynge in his regaly</L>
<L>Had a noble progeny / in grace and all goodnes</L>
<L>His prynce hyght Egbryct / his &s;econde &s;one Lothary</L>
<L>Whiche prynce reygned but ten yere / kynge expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Lothary &s;ucceded hym / raynynge .xii. yeres doubtle&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Al&s;o he had two doughters / &s;aynt Ermenylde y^e quene</L>
<L>The other hyght &s;aynt Erkengode / amoynes &s;erene.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This lady Ermenylde / was maryed royally</L>
<L>To the afore&s;ayd Vulfer / kynge of Mercyens</L>
<L>Bytwene them de&s;cended / full gracyou&s;ly</L>
<L>A noble Margaryte / of hye magnyfycens</L>
<L>A roo&s;e of Parady&s;e / full of prehemynens</L>
<L>Moo&s;t ble&s;&s;ed Werburge / the gemine of holynes</L>
<L>Our &s;ynguler &s;uffrage / and &s;terre of our clerenes.</L>
</LG>
</DIV3>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="4" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A de&s;crypcyon of the actes &amp; chyualry of kynge Pen|da graundfather to &s;aynt Werburge / &amp; of his noble and vertuous y&s;&s;ue and progenye. Ca. iiii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THe yere of grace .vi.C. &s;yre and twenty</L>
<L>The fore&s;ayd prynce Pe~da / began for to reygne</L>
<L>The tenth man fro Woden / a prynce in Saxony</L>
<L>Sone and heyre to Wybbe / &s;ayth myne auctour playne</L>
<L>Fyfty yeres of aege / that tyme he was certayne</L>
<L>Whan he was fyr&s;t crowned / kynge of Mercyens</L>
<L>Thyrty yeres he reygned / with great reuerens.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Fyue kynges in batayle / this Penda dyd &s;ubdue</L>
<L>Saintes Edwyn &amp; O&s;wald / kinges of Northu~berla~de</L>
<PB REF="14" MS="y">
<L>With Sygebert / Egnycius / and Anna full of vertu</L>
<L>Thre noble kynges / regnynge in ee&s;t Englande</L>
<L>With helpe of Brytones / by Bede we vnder&s;tande</L>
<L>Dylated his regyon / with wor&s;hyp and honoures</L>
<L>Moche more than dyd / any of his predece&s;&s;oures.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>He maryed Kene&s;with / a lady fayre and bryght</L>
<L>And by her had y&s;&s;ue / a goodly generacyon</L>
<L>Peada his prynce / Vulfer a noble knyght</L>
<L>Saynt Ethelred / and Merwalde full of deuocyon</L>
<L>Al&s;o &s;aynt Mer&s;ellyn / of holy conuer&s;acyon</L>
<L>Saynt Keneburge / al&s;o &s;aynt Kene&s;wyde</L>
<L>Auntes to &s;aynt Werburge / vpon the fathers &s;yde.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thre of his chyldren / as we vnder&s;tande</L>
<L>Prynce Peada / Kyneburge / and Ethelrede</L>
<L>He maryed with O&s;wy / Kynge of Northumberlande</L>
<L>To .iii. of his y&s;&s;ue / for loue and for mede</L>
<L>Vulfer and Merwalde / the &s;tory &s;ayth in dede</L>
<L>Were maryed vnto / the royall blode of Kent</L>
<L>To Ermenylde and Domueue / two ladyes excellent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Soone after by grace / the myddyll parte of Mercyens</L>
<L>Vnder prynce Peada / were bapty&s;ed euery chone</L>
<L>Whiche Peada maryed / Elflede with reuerens</L>
<L>Doughter vnto O&s;wy / kynge of the North regyon</L>
<L>Penda therto graunted / without contradyccyon</L>
<L>Vnder a fre lycence / his people were at lyberte</L>
<L>Within all his regyon / bapty&s;ed for to be.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o prynce Alfryde / &s;one to kynge O&s;wy</L>
<L>Maryed &s;aynt Keneburge / &s;y&s;ter to prynce Peada</L>
<PB REF="15" MS="y">
<L>Whiche &s;ayd Peada / brought from the north party</L>
<L>Foure holy pree&s;tes / Ced / Beccy / and Adda</L>
<L>To preche to his people / the fourth was Duyna</L>
<L>Whiche .iiii. &s;elden &s;ea&s;ed / day / nyght nor tyme</L>
<L>To conuert the people / vnto chry&s;tes doctryne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Kynge Penda con&s;ented / as afore is &s;ayd</L>
<L>And permytted doctours / to preche in euery place</L>
<L>Thrughout his realme / and neuer it denayed</L>
<L>To bapty&s;e his &s;ubgectes / by fayth and gho&s;tly grace</L>
<L>He ayded them with &s;ocour / and helpe in that ca&s;e</L>
<L>That wolde be conuerted / for theyr &s;ynguler mede</L>
<L>As &s;ayth myne auctour / the venerable Bede.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But by the temptacyon / of our gho&s;tly enemy</L>
<L>This &s;ayd kynge Penda / this vyctoryous knyght</L>
<L>Of valyaunt men in armure ray&s;ed a great company</L>
<L>And to the North partyes went / purpo&s;ynge to fyght</L>
<L>And cruelly to flee / by power / mayne / and myght</L>
<L>The fore&s;ayd kynge O&s;wy / as he afore had &s;layne</L>
<L>Sayt O&s;walde his brother / kynge and martyr playne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Shortly was forgoten / the fauour of his affynyte</L>
<L>That fully was co~tracte / bytwene the&s;e kynges twayne</L>
<L>Ioyned at the maryages / of theyr chyldren thre</L>
<L>Euer to haue endured / in loue by rea&s;on playne</L>
<L>yet O&s;wy offered Penda / many ryche gyftes certayne</L>
<L>To auoyde his malyce / and for to kepe the peas</L>
<L>Whiche Penda refu&s;ed / replete with wyckednes.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Bytwene the&s;e .ii. kynges / was a &s;tro~ge myghty batell</L>
<L>Not ferre frome yorke / ny the flood of Wynwed</L>
<PB REF="15" MS="y">
<L>In the regyon of Leedes / where by fortune cruell</L>
<L>Kynge Penda pery&s;&s;hed / &amp; carefully was leed</L>
<L>And .xxx. dukes with hym / were &s;layne and lefte deed</L>
<L>The kynge O&s;wy offered gladly / with good entent</L>
<L>His yonge doughter Edelfled / to god omnypotent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>He &s;et her for doctryne / to the abbe&s;&s;e &s;aynt Hylde</L>
<L>Lady of Streny&s;halt / now called Whytby</L>
<L>And gaue .xii. po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yons / a mona&s;tery to buylde</L>
<L>Whiche place is from yorke / myles thyrty</L>
<L>He gaue great landes to his &s;one in lawe Peade</L>
<L>But the thyrde yere after / this &s;ayd prynce was &s;layne</L>
<L>By trea&s;on of his wyfe Elflede / for certayne.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="5" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; How after dethe of Penda &amp; his &s;one prynce Peada his &s;econde &s;one Vulfer / father to &s;aynt Werburge was electe to be kynge of all the Mercyens. Ca. v.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>AFter that this Penda / of Mercyens kynge</L>
<L>In batayle by kynge O&s;wy / cruelly was &s;layne</L>
<L>And his prynce Peada / after hym thre yeres reygnynge</L>
<L>Was put vnto deth / by his quene in certayne</L>
<L>The&s;e people of Mercyens / rebelled fore agayne</L>
<L>The fore&s;ayd O&s;wy / kynge of Northumberlande</L>
<L>And hym refu&s;ed / as ye &s;hall vnder&s;tande.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>All the &s;ayd Mercyens / by a generall coun&s;ell</L>
<L>Fortyfyed them&s;elfe / with power myght and rea&s;on</L>
<L>And crowned prynce Vulfer / as Bede doth vs tell</L>
<L>with honour / wor&s;hyp / and great renowne</L>
<L>Whiche prynce to kynge Penda / was the &s;econde &s;one</L>
<L>This prynce was pre&s;erued / afore tyme &s;ecretly</L>
<PB REF="16" MS="y">
<L>And &s;aued by his &s;ubiectes / frome dethe and malady.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This valyaunt prynce / and redoubted knyght</L>
<L>Kynge Vulfer thus crowned / with great pro&s;peryte</L>
<L>Vpon the Mercyens regned / by tytle and myght</L>
<L>Whiche realme was dyuyded / whylom in partes thre</L>
<L>Fyr&s;t in the We&s;t marches / &amp; in the South parte truely</L>
<L>The thyrde parte was nomynate / mydle Englonde</L>
<L>Ouer them all thre / he reygned as is fonde.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This &s;ayd kynge Vulfer in honour famous</L>
<L>Was deuoutely bapty&s;ed / with great &s;olempnyte</L>
<L>By two holy by&s;&s;hops / the ble&s;&s;ed Finanus</L>
<L>And by&s;&s;hop Ierumannus / &s;aythe the hy&s;torye</L>
<L>The kynge made a vowe / of hye auctoryte</L>
<L>All temples of ydols / within his regyon</L>
<L>To de&s;troy and chaunge / vnto chry&s;ten relygyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This Vulfer was polytyke / replete with wy&s;dom</L>
<L>Vyctoryous in batayle / proued by his chyualry</L>
<L>His enemyes oppre&s;&s;ed / by manhode and rea&s;on</L>
<L>Subdued his aduer&s;aryes / and had the vyctory</L>
<L>From his realme expelled / all cruell tyranny</L>
<L>Conquered in batayle / at A&s;hdum ryght famous</L>
<L>The kynge of We&s;t Saxons / called Kenwalcus.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o he &s;ubdued / vnto his Empyre</L>
<L>The Ilande Vecta / called the yle of wyght</L>
<L>And after that he had / of it his de&s;yre</L>
<L>He gaue the &s;ayd yle / by tytle full ryght</L>
<L>To the kynge of ee&s;t Englande / to enlarge his myght</L>
<L>Vnder that condycyon / that he bapty&s;ed wolde be.</L>
<PB REF="16" MS="y">
<L>And was his godfather / of pure charyte</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In lykewy&s;e as this prouynce / of Mercyens</L>
<L>Whylom was greate&s;t realme / within Englande</L>
<L>Many yeres contynuynge / in prehemyne~s</L>
<L>Ryght &s;o the &s;pyrytualte / well knowen and founde</L>
<L>How fyu? by&s;&s;hop &s;ees / within this &s;ayd Mer&s;elande</L>
<L>As at Che&s;ter / at Lychefelde / al&s;o at Worce&s;ter</L>
<L>The fourth at Lyncolne / the fyfth at Dorche&s;ter.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Forthermore after dethe / of Ierumannus</L>
<L>By&s;&s;hop of Lychfelde / Vulfer the &s;ayd kynge</L>
<L>De&s;yred the archeby&s;&s;hop / and prymate Theodorus</L>
<L>To graunt them a by&s;&s;hop / of holy lyuynge</L>
<L>To gouerne the people / by &s;pyrytuall techynge</L>
<L>To &s;hewe to his &s;ubiectes / the en&s;ample of vertu</L>
<L>And to preche and teche / the fayth of Chry&s;t Ihe&s;u.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This holy archeby&s;&s;hop / and prymate Theodorus</L>
<L>De&s;yred &s;aynt Cedda / of the kynge O&s;wy</L>
<L>For his perfeccyon / and lyuynge vertuous</L>
<L>To be remoeued / to the prouyce of Mercy</L>
<L>Kynge Vulfer was gladde / of his comynge truly</L>
<L>Ryght &s;o were all / the people of his realme</L>
<L>Thankynge therfore / the kynge of Ieru&s;alem.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Kynge Vulfer graunted / to &s;aynt Cedda the co~fe&s;&s;oure</L>
<L>Than by&s;&s;hop of Lychefelde / moche po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>To edyfy chyrches / vnto chry&s;tes honoure</L>
<L>But namely he gaue a certayne man&s;yon</L>
<L>In the prouynce of Lynde&s;y / ny vnto Lyncolne</L>
<L>Suffycyent to &s;uffy&s;e / and well for to content</L>
<PB REF="17" MS="y">
<L>Fyfty &s;eruauntes / of good relygyous obedyent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This noble &s;ayd prynce / and redoubted &s;ouerayne</L>
<L>Flourynge in manheed / wy&s;edome and polycy</L>
<L>Excelled the peres / of this realme certayne</L>
<L>In per&s;on / fortytude / and proued chyualry</L>
<L>Lyberall to his &s;eruauntes / gentyll in company</L>
<L>Gracyous to the poore / and a &s;ure protectour</L>
<L>A founder of chyrches / and a good benefactour.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="6" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A lytell de&s;crypcyon of the noble maryage bytwene Kynge Vulfer &amp; &s;aynt Ermenylde y^e kynges doughter of Kent / &amp; of the &s;ole~puyte done at y^e &s;ame &s;ea&s;on. Ca. vi.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>IN meane whyle the kynge / mynded maryage</L>
<L>By the &s;ufferaunce of our lorde god omnypotent</L>
<L>I&s;&s;ue to encrea&s;e / acordynge to his lygnage</L>
<L>After hym to &s;uccede / kynge and pre&s;ydent</L>
<L>He mynded moo&s;t / the kynges doughter of Kent.</L>
<L>Prynces Ermenylde / nomynate &s;he was</L>
<L>A beautefull creature / replete with great grace.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Certaynly her father / was called Excomberte</L>
<L>As afore is &s;pecyfyed / the kynge of Kent</L>
<L>Her mother Sexburge / humble in her herte</L>
<L>Of whome Ermenylde / a lady excellent</L>
<L>Lynyally de&s;cended / by tytle full auncyent</L>
<L>Her graundfather Edbalde / kynge Ethelbryctes &s;one</L>
<L>The fyr&s;t cry&s;ten prynce / of Saxons nacyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Of foure myghty kyngdomes / &s;he is de&s;cended</L>
<L>From the royall blode of Fraunce / al&s;o of Kent</L>
<PB REF="17" MS="y">
<L>Vpon her fathers party / as afore is notyfyed</L>
<L>And on her mothers &s;yde / by lyne auncyent</L>
<L>Frome the ee&s;t Englande / famous and excellent</L>
<L>Al&s;o of Northumberlande / flourynge in honour</L>
<L>Conuerted and bapty&s;ed / vnto our &s;auyour.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This &s;ayd Ermenylde / this floure of vertue</L>
<L>Was euer dy&s;po&s;ed / from her natyuyte</L>
<L>Vnto the dy&s;cyplyne / of our lorde Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>En&s;pyred with his grace / and benygnyte</L>
<L>Refu&s;ed this worlde / ryches and vanyte</L>
<L>He v&s;ed the maners / of &s;adde dy&s;po&s;ycyon</L>
<L>Pa&s;&s;ynge fragyll youth / and naturall rea&s;on.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Suche &s;ynguler confort / of vertuous doctryne</L>
<L>In her &s;o dyd water / a pure perfyte plante</L>
<L>Whiche dayly encrea&s;ed / by &s;ufferaunce deuyne</L>
<L>Merueylou&s;ly growynge / in her fre&s;&s;he and varnaunt</L>
<L>With dyuers proprytes / of grace exuberaunt</L>
<L>As &s;obrynes / dy&s;crecyon / and mekene&s;&s;e vyrgynall</L>
<L>Obedyence / grauyte / and wy&s;edome naturall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Euery tree or plante / is proued euydent</L>
<L>Whyther good or euyll / by experyence full &s;ure</L>
<L>By the budde and fruyte / and plea&s;aunt de&s;cent</L>
<L>A&s;wete tree bryngeth forth / by cours of nature</L>
<L>Swete fruyte and delycyous / in ta&s;t and verdure</L>
<L>Ryght &s;o Excombert / by his quene moo&s;t mylde</L>
<L>Brought gracyou&s;ly forth / the &s;wete Ermenylde.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She folowed her father / in wor&s;hyp and honoure</L>
<L>At her mother Sexburge / &s;he toke imytacyon</L>
<PB REF="18" MS="y">
<L>To lyue in clennes / pre&s;entynge in behauyour</L>
<L>Her father in power / her mother in relygyon</L>
<L>Humble in herte / hauynge compa&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Pyteous and lyberall / where was nece&s;&s;yte</L>
<L>Ioyfull to ob&s;erue / the dedes of charyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Forther of her lyfe / to make declaracyon</L>
<L>As the true legende playnly dothe expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Con&s;yder the hy&s;tory / with good in&s;peccyon</L>
<L>Of ble&s;&s;ed Sexburge / that noble prynce&s;&s;e</L>
<L>The &s;ayd conuer&s;acyon / and gho&s;tly &s;wetene&s;&s;e</L>
<L>That is perceyued / in her holy mother</L>
<L>The &s;ame perfeccyon / was in the other.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Neuerthele&s;&s;e Ermenylde / e&s;cape ne myght</L>
<L>Worldely honours / and &s;eculer dygnyte</L>
<L>As requyred &s;o noble a &s;tate of ryght</L>
<L>Ryches / po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yon / namely her beaute</L>
<L>But vnto maryage / compelled was &s;he</L>
<L>Of her parentes / contrary to her entent</L>
<L>To whome &s;he was founde / euer obedyent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This noble lady / by deuyne prouydens</L>
<L>Elected to her / a &s;pou&s;e commendable</L>
<L>A valyaunt prynce / the kynges &s;one of Mercyens</L>
<L>Called kynge Vulfer / famous and honorable</L>
<L>Reygnynge in Mercelande / with ioy incomparable</L>
<L>Excellynge many other / prynces of this regyon</L>
<L>In ryches / retynu / fortune / honour / and wy&s;dome</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>At this maryage / was moche &s;olempnyte</L>
<L>Her father Excomberte / and her frendes all</L>
<PB REF="18" MS="y">
<L>Tho prynces her vncles / Egbryct and Lothary</L>
<L>The kynge of ee&s;t Englande / Aldulph in &s;pecyall</L>
<L>Dukes / erles / barons / and knyghtes in generall</L>
<L>Whiche &s;ayd company / were redy that &s;ame day</L>
<L>To wor&s;hyp the matrymony / in theyr bee&s;t aray.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This royall maryage / was &s;olempny&s;ed</L>
<L>With &s;ynguler plea&s;ures / ryches and royalte</L>
<L>Theyr frendes co&s;yns / redy on euery &s;yde</L>
<L>To do theyr deuoyre / and &s;hewe humanyte</L>
<L>Nothynge wantynge / euery thynge was plente</L>
<L>Of delycate metes / and myghty wynes &s;tronge</L>
<L>With myn&s;trels / melody / and myrthes amonge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan this fayre prynces / re&s;plendent in vertue</L>
<L>Came vnto Mercelande / in the order of matrymony</L>
<L>Than grace with good gouernaunce / dyd vyce &s;ubdue</L>
<L>Vertue was may&s;tres / chefe ruler and lady</L>
<L>The faythe of holy chyrche / dyd growe and multyply</L>
<L>Relygyon encre&s;ed / honour and pro&s;peryte</L>
<L>In euery place pacyence / true loue and charyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>At the &s;olempne &s;pou&s;age / of this lady bryght</L>
<L>Kynge Vulfer promy&s;ed / on his fydelyte</L>
<L>Errours to correcke / by his wy&s;dome and myght</L>
<L>Clerely to expell / all &s;ectes of ydolatrye</L>
<L>Frome his realme / and fulfyll by his auctoryte</L>
<L>The promy&s;e truely made / at the fonte of baptyme</L>
<L>The chyrche to con&s;erue / and &s;aue it from ruyne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The myghty realme of Mercyens / al&s;o of Kent</L>
<L>That &s;ea&s;on were brought / bothe vnto vnyte</L>
<PB REF="19" MS="y">
<L>And as one kyngedome / ruled full excellent</L>
<L>Theyr &s;ubiectes and &s;eruauntes / in tranquyllyte</L>
<L>Kynge Vulfer by his quene / had a noble progenye</L>
<L>Vulfade and Ruffyn / with prynce Kenrede</L>
<L>And Werburge / of whome we purpo&s;e to procede.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="7" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A breue declaracyon of the holy lyfe and conuer&s;acy|on of &s;aynt Werburge / v&s;ed in her tender youthe / aboue the comyncours of nature. Ca. vii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THis ble&s;&s;ed lady / and royall prynces</L>
<L>De&s;cendynge of noble / and hye parentage</L>
<L>Was doughter to Vulfer / the legende dothe rehers</L>
<L>Kynge of Mercelande / and of famous lynage</L>
<L>Her mother Ermenylde / ioyned to hym in maryage</L>
<L>They dwelled &s;omtyme / a lytell frome Stone</L>
<L>At a place in Stafforde &s;hyre / amyddes his regyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>They had bytwene them / other chyldren thre</L>
<L>Vulfade and Ruffyn / martyrs full gloryous</L>
<L>Synt Kenrede his prynce / of greate auctoryte</L>
<L>Tumylate at Rome / a confe&s;&s;our gracyous</L>
<L>The lyues of the&s;e thre / we wyll not now dy&s;cus</L>
<L>But &s;peke of the gho&s;tly / and meke conuer&s;acyon</L>
<L>Of ble&s;&s;ed Werburge / now at this &s;ea&s;on.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>For as declareth / the true Pa&s;&s;yonary</L>
<L>A boke wherin / her holy lyfe wryten is</L>
<L>Whiche boke remayneth / in Che&s;ter mona&s;tery</L>
<L>I purpo&s;e by helpe / of Ihe&s;u kynge of blys</L>
<L>In any wy&s;e to reher&s;e / any &s;entence amys</L>
<PB REF="19">
<L>But folowe the legende / and true hy&s;tory</L>
<L>After an humble &s;tyle / and from it lytell vary.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This ble&s;&s;ed Werburge / from her natyuyte</L>
<L>Folowynge the coun&s;eyll / of her noble parentes</L>
<L>Dy&s;po&s;ed her &s;elfe / euer to humylyte</L>
<L>Obedyent to them / with all reuerens</L>
<L>Loth to dy&s;plea&s;e / or make any offens</L>
<L>Or dy&s;quyet any rea&s;onable creature</L>
<L>Thus was her maner / in youthe be ye &s;ure.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Sadde and demure / of her countenaunce</L>
<L>Stable in ge&s;ture / proued in euery place</L>
<L>Sobre of her wordes / all vertu to auaunce</L>
<L>Humble / meke / and mylde / replete with grace</L>
<L>Many vertuous maners / in her founde there was</L>
<L>And dyuers gyftes naturall / to her appropryate</L>
<L>As was conuenyent / for &s;o noble a &s;tate.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And as &s;he encrea&s;ed / moore and more in age</L>
<L>A newe plant of goodnes / in her dayly dyd &s;prynge</L>
<L>Great grace and vertue / were &s;et in her ymage</L>
<L>Wherof her father / had moche merueylynge</L>
<L>Her mother mu&s;ed / of this gho&s;tly thynge</L>
<L>To beholde &s;o yonge / and tender a may</L>
<L>From vertu to vertu / to procede euery day.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>No merueyll it is / who &s;o taketh hede</L>
<L>In naturall thynges / the dyuers operacyon</L>
<L>Dothe not a royall ro&s;e / from a brere procede</L>
<L>Pa&s;&s;ynge the &s;tocke / with plea&s;aunt dylectacyon</L>
<L>The &s;wete ryuer pa&s;&s;eth / by due probacyon</L>
<PB REF="20">
<L>His heed and fountayne / ryght &s;o dothe &s;he</L>
<L>Tran&s;cende her parentes / with great benygnyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And tho her bretherne / delyted for to here</L>
<L>For theyr &s;oule helthe / gho&s;tly exortacyon</L>
<L>yet &s;he them pa&s;&s;ed / manyfolde more clere</L>
<L>In loue of our lorde / and meke conuer&s;acyon</L>
<L>And lyke as Phebus / in his heuenly regyon</L>
<L>Pa&s;&s;ed other &s;tretes / &s;hynynge moo&s;t pure</L>
<L>So dothe this vyrgyn / aboue the cours of nature.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Lordes / dukes / barons / within the kynges hall</L>
<L>Merueyled on her maners / and con&s;taunte &s;obrynes</L>
<L>The plente of wy&s;edome / and dy&s;crecyon withall</L>
<L>In &s;o tender age / they neuer knewe expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Her mynde &s;o perfyte / auoydynge all ylnes</L>
<L>But they knewe well / it pretended by all rea&s;one</L>
<L>Synguler grace and goodnes / to her comynge &s;oone.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Affyrmynge on this wy&s;e / y&s; &s;he wolde contynu</L>
<L>With &s;uche vertuous maner in yeres of hye dy&s;crecyon</L>
<L>That &s;he &s;holde do honour / by the grace of Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>Vnto all her kynrede / and &s;ynguler con&s;olacyon</L>
<L>An en&s;ample of vertu / and humylyacyon</L>
<L>Theyr conforte / theyr tre&s;ure / and &s;terre full bryght</L>
<L>And chefe lumynary / &s;hynynge day and nyght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Fyr&s;t in the mornynge / to chyrche &s;he wolde go</L>
<L>Folowynge her mother / the quene euery day</L>
<L>With her boke and bedes / and departe not them fro</L>
<L>Here all deuyne &s;eruyce / and her deuocyons &s;ay</L>
<L>And to our ble&s;&s;ed &s;auyour / mekely on knees pray</L>
<PB REF="20">
<L>Dayly hym de&s;yrynge / for his endeles grace and pyte</L>
<L>To kepe her frome &s;ynne / and pre&s;erue her in cha&s;tyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Where youthe is dy&s;po&s;ed / of naturall mocyon</L>
<L>To dy&s;portes and plea&s;ures / full of vanyte</L>
<L>This mayde was euer of &s;adde dy&s;po&s;ycyon</L>
<L>Con&s;taunt and dy&s;crete &s;tyll and womanle</L>
<L>Gladde in her &s;oule / to her &s;peke of cha&s;tyte</L>
<L>Clennes and &s;obrenes / and ioyfull for to here</L>
<L>Gho&s;tly exortacyons / to her herte moo&s;t dere.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="8" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; How this yonge vyrgyn &s;aynt Werburge was de&s;y|red of dukes &amp; erles in maryage / and of the an&s;were &s;he gaue to the~ / in auoydynge worldly plea&s;ures. Ca. viii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>AS tender youthe pa&s;&s;ed / this ble&s;&s;ed maydyn</L>
<L>Dayly encrea&s;ed / more and more in vertue</L>
<L>In gho&s;tly &s;cyence / and vertuous dy&s;cyplyne</L>
<L>Ob&s;eruynge the doctryne / of our lorde Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>Had his commaundymentes / in her herte full tru</L>
<L>So that no creature / more perfyte myght be</L>
<L>In vertuous gyftes (by grace) than &s;he.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She was replete / with gyftes naturall</L>
<L>Her vy&s;age moo&s;t plea&s;aunt / fayre and amyable</L>
<L>Her goodly eyes / clerer than the cry&s;tall</L>
<L>Her countenaunce comly / &s;wete and commendable</L>
<L>Her herte lyberall / her ge&s;ture fauourable</L>
<L>She lytell con&s;yderynge / the&s;e gyftes tran&s;ytory</L>
<L>Set her felycyte / in chry&s;t perpetually.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She hadde moche wor&s;hyp / welthe / and ryches</L>
<PB REF="21">
<L>Ve&s;tures / honoures / reuerence and royalte</L>
<L>The ryches &s;he dy&s;po&s;ed / with great mekene&s;&s;e</L>
<L>To the poore people / with great charyte</L>
<L>But her &s;adnes / con&s;taunce / and humylyte</L>
<L>Vertue / gentylnes / &s;o pacyent and colde</L>
<L>Tran&s;cended all the&s;e other / a thou&s;ande folde.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The vertuous maners / and excellent fame</L>
<L>Of this holy vyrgyn / redoubted &s;o ferre</L>
<L>In all this regyon / in pray&s;ynge her name</L>
<L>That the nobles of this lande / wolde not dyfferre</L>
<L>But with ryche apparell / and myghty power</L>
<L>Came for to &s;eke her / lyke as to Salomon</L>
<L>Quene Saba approched / to here of his wy&s;edome.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>So lykewy&s;e &s;ome came / to her of her vertue</L>
<L>Some of her &s;adne&s;&s;e / and prudent dy&s;crecyon</L>
<L>Some for her con&s;taunce / &s;o &s;table and true</L>
<L>Some of her cha&s;tyte / and pregnaunt rea&s;on</L>
<L>Some for her beaute / and famous wy&s;edome</L>
<L>And &s;ome that were borne / of kynges lygnage</L>
<L>De&s;yred yf they myght / haue her in maryage.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In beaute amyable / &s;he was equall to Rachell</L>
<L>Comparable to Sara / in fyrme fidelyte</L>
<L>In &s;adnes and wy&s;edom / lyke to Abygaell</L>
<L>Replete as Delbora / with grace of prophecy</L>
<L>Equyualent to Ruth / &s;he was in humylyte</L>
<L>In pulchrytude Rebecca / lyke He&s;ter in lolyne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Lyke Iudyth in vertue / and proued holyne&s;&s;e.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The prynce of We&s;t&s;axons / a pere of this lande</L>
<PB REF="21" MS="y">
<L>Wyllynge to haue her by way of maryage</L>
<L>With humble reuerence / as we vnder&s;tande</L>
<L>Sayd to her the&s;e wordes / wy&s;ely and &s;age</L>
<L>O &s;ouerayne lady / borne of hye lynage</L>
<L>O beautefull creature / and imperyall prynces</L>
<L>This is my full mynde / that I now rehers.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>From my fathers realme / hyder I am come</L>
<L>Vnto our pre&s;ence / yf ye be &s;o content</L>
<L>With wor&s;hyp and honour / and moche renowne</L>
<L>In all hone&s;t maner / aperynge euydent</L>
<L>My mynde is on you &s;et / with loue feruent</L>
<L>To haue you in maryage / all other to for&s;ake</L>
<L>If it be your plea&s;ure / thus me for to take.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>ye &s;halbe a&s;ured / a quene for to be</L>
<L>ye &s;hall haue ryches / wor&s;hyp / and honour</L>
<L>Royall ryche appareyll / and eke the &s;ufferaynte</L>
<L>Precyous &s;tones in golde / worthy a kynges tre&s;our</L>
<L>Landes / rentes / and lybertees / all at your plea&s;ur</L>
<L>Seruauntes euery houre / your byddynge for to do</L>
<L>With ladyes in your chambre / to wayte on you al&s;o.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>With the&s;e kynde wordes / the vyrgyn aba&s;&s;hed &s;ore</L>
<L>And with mylde countenaunce / an&s;wered hym agayne</L>
<L>The playnes of her mynde / to re&s;t for euermore</L>
<L>Sayenge: o noble prynce / I thanke you now certayne</L>
<L>For youre gentyll offer / &s;hewed to me &s;o playne</L>
<L>ye be well worthy / for your regalyte</L>
<L>To haue a better maryage / an hundreth folde than me.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But now I &s;hewe you / playnly my true mynde</L>
<PB REF="22">
<L>My purpo&s;e was neuer / maryed for to be</L>
<L>A lorde I haue cho&s;en / redemer of mankynde</L>
<L>Ihe&s;u the &s;econde per&s;one in trynyte</L>
<L>To be my &s;pou&s;e / to Whome my vyrgynyte</L>
<L>I haue depely vowed / endurynge all my lyfe</L>
<L>His &s;eruaunt to be / true &s;pou&s;es and wyfe.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Therfore noble prynce / hertfully I you pray</L>
<L>Tempte me no forther / after &s;uche condycyon</L>
<L>Whiche am &s;o &s;tedfa&s;t / and wyll be nyght and day</L>
<L>Neuer for to chaunge / nor make alteracyon</L>
<L>Take ye this an&s;were / for a &s;ure conclu&s;yon</L>
<L>The promy&s;e I haue made / and vowe of cha&s;tyte</L>
<L>Endurynge my lyfe / &s;hall neuer broken be.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Dyuers other a&s;tates / came her for to a&s;&s;ayle</L>
<L>Made in&s;taunt reque&s;tes / vnto this vyrgyn fre</L>
<L>For all theyr bu&s;yne&s;&s;e / they myght not preuayle</L>
<L>So con&s;taunt fyrme &amp; &s;table / in herte &amp; mynde was &s;he</L>
<L>A mountayne or hyll / &s;oner leue ye me</L>
<L>Myght be remoeued / agayn&s;t the cour&s;e of nature</L>
<L>Than &s;he for to graunte / to &s;uche worldly plea&s;ure.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She well con&s;ydered / the texte of holy &s;crypture</L>
<L>Who byleueth her cha&s;t / for the loue of Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>The temple of god / they be clypped &s;ure</L>
<L>And &s;halbe rewarded / for that noble vertu</L>
<L>An hundreth folde (by grace) vyces to &s;ubdu</L>
<L>And heuen for to haue / at theyr departynge</L>
<L>Whiche &s;he remembred wy&s;ely / aboue all thynge.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="9" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; How y^e fal&s;e Werbode de&s;yred kynge Vulfer to haue
<PB REF="22" MS="y"> Werburge his doughter in maryage. And how y^e kynge graunted therto. Ca. ix.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>AS afore is &s;ayd / whan Penda the kynge</L>
<L>By &s;aynt O&s;wy kynge / at Leedes was &s;layne</L>
<L>And Vulfer his &s;one / the fourth yere folowynge</L>
<L>Was bapty&s;ed and crowned / By by&s;&s;hop Fynane</L>
<L>A &s;olempne voue he made / faythfull and certayne</L>
<L>All temples of ydolles / in his realme to de&s;troy</L>
<L>And chaunge them to chyrches / and newe edyfy.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The &s;ame he promy&s;ed / as he was true knyght</L>
<L>Whan that he maryed / ble&s;&s;ed Ermenylde</L>
<L>Dredynge &s;ore the iu&s;tyce / of god almyght</L>
<L>For his fathers demerytes / vnrecon&s;yled</L>
<L>On hym to fall &s;odeynly / and &s;o be begyled</L>
<L>Promy&s;ynge a mendes / at his conuer&s;yon</L>
<L>Vnto holy chyrche / with humble deuocyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whiche kynge Vulfer / as was the more pyte</L>
<L>By the wycked coun&s;eyll / of a fals knyght</L>
<L>Called Werbode / ranne &s;oone in apo&s;ta&s;y</L>
<L>For a lytell whyle / wantynge perfyte lyght</L>
<L>The bryghtnes of the day / was tourned to nyght</L>
<L>Whan he gaue credence / that creature vnto</L>
<L>Prolongynge the actes / he promy&s;ed to do.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Vnder kynge Vulfer / chefe &s;tewarde of his hall</L>
<L>Was this fal&s;e Werbode / ruler of euery porte</L>
<L>Whome the lady Venus / brought vnto thrall</L>
<L>Per&s;ed and wounded / &s;o greuou&s;ly his harte</L>
<L>Enflammed with loue / and with her fyry darte</L>
<PB REF="23">
<L>Plonget with &s;orowe / &s;yghynge day and nyght</L>
<L>The beaute of Werburge / moeued &s;o his &s;yght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The blynde goddes Cupyde / vexed &s;o &s;ore his mynde</L>
<L>With interyor loue / and &s;en&s;uall de&s;yre</L>
<L>Of worldely affeccyon / that re&s;te coude he none fynde</L>
<L>His &s;pyryte was troubled / he brenned as dothe the fyre</L>
<L>Vpon this holy vyrgyn / his loue was &s;o entyre</L>
<L>To haue her in maryage / was all his intent</L>
<L>That euery houre was a moneth / after his iudgement.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Prouyded in his mynde / how that he well myght</L>
<L>Enforce hym wy&s;ely / with boldyne&s;&s;e and polycye</L>
<L>To &s;hewe his full entent / in maner good and ryght</L>
<L>No dy&s;plea&s;ure taken / vpon his lordes partye</L>
<L>By this ymagynacyon / he fell vpon his knee</L>
<L>Afore his lorde and kynge / de&s;yrynge a petycyon</L>
<L>His mynde to declare / with fully grace of pardon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Excellent prynce he &s;ayd / and moo&s;t worthy kynge</L>
<L>That reygnes now within the realme of Englande</L>
<L>Flourynge in chyualry / in honour encrea&s;ynge</L>
<L>Tra~&s;cendynge other prynces / of this for&s;ayd lande</L>
<L>My full intencyon / now ye &s;hall vnder&s;tande</L>
<L>Requyrynge your grace / in this poore cyrcum&s;taunce</L>
<L>At my petycyon / to take no greuaunce.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>My &s;ynguler good lorde / hertfully I you pray</L>
<L>With in&s;taunte reque&s;t / and humble &s;upplycacyon</L>
<L>Graunte me your doughtes Werburge / as ye maye</L>
<L>To haue her in maryage / auoydynge all trea&s;on</L>
<L>If your grace deny / this pre&s;ent petycyon</L>
<PB REF="23" MS="y">
<L>Dethe me behoues / full &s;oone and ha&s;tely</L>
<L>My loue is &s;o feruent / there is no remedy.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Stande vp Werbode / kynge Vulfer than &s;ayd</L>
<L>Our chyfe champyon / in all our chyualry</L>
<L>your humble de&s;yre / &s;hall not be denayd</L>
<L>Of Werburge our doughter / now con&s;ent wyll we</L>
<L>If ye may optayne / her wyll and mynde truele</L>
<L>Her mothers al&s;o / vnder that condycyon</L>
<L>We graunt her to you / at your meke &s;ugge&s;tyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Of this gracyous an&s;were / a gladde man he was</L>
<L>Reioy&s;ynge in his herte / began to con&s;pyre</L>
<L>Ca&s;tynge in his mynde / craftely by compas</L>
<L>How he myght optayne / to the hye empyre</L>
<L>And reygne after Vulfer / at his owne de&s;yre</L>
<L>But tho man prepo&s;e / god dy&s;po&s;ed all</L>
<L>Who clymbeth to hye / often hath a fall</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="10" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; How the quene &s;aynt Ermenylde wolde not co~&s;ente therto / &amp; how her bretherne &s;aynt Wulfade and Ruffyn were agayn&s;t the &s;ayd maryage. Ca. x.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>OF this bu&s;yne&s;&s;e / whan the quene had knowlege</L>
<L>Namely of Werebode / the greuous pre&s;umpcyon</L>
<L>How he had moeued / thrught his wycked rage</L>
<L>The kynge in &s;uche cau&s;es / by &s;ynguler petycyon</L>
<L>And how the kynge con&s;ented / to his &s;upplycacyon</L>
<L>She was &s;ore greued / at this prowde crafty knyght</L>
<L>Called hym in pre&s;ence / and &s;ayd the&s;e wordes ryght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thou wycked tyraunt / and vnkynde creature</L>
<PB REF="24">
<L>Folowynge thyne appetyte / and &s;en&s;ualyte</L>
<L>Thou cruell pagane / pre&s;umynge at thy plea&s;ure</L>
<L>Blynded with ygnoraunce / and infydelyte</L>
<L>Who gaue the lycence / and &s;uche auctoryte</L>
<L>Our doughter Werburge / to de&s;yre of the kynge</L>
<L>Without our coun&s;eyll / therto con&s;entynge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Con&s;yder ryght well / thy kynred and pedegre</L>
<L>It is well knowen / thou arte comen of nought</L>
<L>Nother of duke / erle / lorde / by auncetre</L>
<L>But of vylayne people / yf it be well &s;ought</L>
<L>Agayn&s;t our honour / now that thou ha&s;e wrought</L>
<L>Whiche con&s;equently / &s;hall be to thy payne</L>
<L>For all thy labour / is &s;pende in vayne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thou knowes of a certayne / refu&s;ed &s;he ha&s;e</L>
<L>Many a ryche maryage / within this londe</L>
<L>A thou&s;ande tymes better / than euer thou wa&s;e</L>
<L>Is now orels &s;halbe / by any maner fonde</L>
<L>Our doughter to the / &s;hall neuer be bonde</L>
<L>Nor &s;uche a caytyfe / &s;hall haue no powere</L>
<L>With kynges blode royall / to approche it nere.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Vnder my &s;ouerayne lorde / and me al&s;o</L>
<L>An offycer thou arte / and of great royalte</L>
<L>To be a true &s;eruaunte / now thou arte our foo</L>
<L>Tryed / proued / founde fals / in eche degre</L>
<L>Thou ha&s;e well de&s;erued / to be hanged on a tre</L>
<L>For thy my&s;dede / thou &s;hall &s;oone repent</L>
<L>Thy hye pre&s;umpcyon / proude and dy&s;obedyent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>As for our doughter / and dere derlynge</L>
<PB REF="24" MS="y">
<L>By the grace of god / and our aduy&s;ement</L>
<L>Soone &s;halbe maryed / to the moo&s;t myghty kynge</L>
<L>That euer was borne / and in this erth lent</L>
<L>We meane our &s;auyour / lorde omnypotent</L>
<L>Wherfore thy wretchydnes / wyll vpon the lyght</L>
<L>Thou taynted traytour / out of our &s;yght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>With that &s;aynt Werburge / came into pre&s;ence</L>
<L>Afore her mother / and all the company</L>
<L>Doynge her duty / with all due reuerenc</L>
<L>Folowynge her doctryne / full &s;apyently</L>
<L>With lycence optayned / &s;pake euydently</L>
<L>After &s;uche maner / that all the audyence</L>
<L>Reioy&s;ed to here / her lu&s;ty eloquence</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>O &s;ouerayne lady / and kynges doughter dere</L>
<L>My dere mother / ouer all thynge tran&s;ytory</L>
<L>O gracyous prynces / and quene to kynge Vulfere</L>
<L>To your gho&s;tly coun&s;eyll / do me euer apply</L>
<L>As I haue promy&s;ed / ryght euydently</L>
<L>To the kynge of kynges / and lorde cele&s;tyall</L>
<L>I wyll ob&s;erue / endurynge this lyfe mortall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And thou fal&s;e Werbode / folowynge &s;en&s;ualyte</L>
<L>I meruayle greatly / thy hye pre&s;umpcyon</L>
<L>To moeue our father / with &s;uche audacyte</L>
<L>Knowynge my mynde / &s;et on relygyon</L>
<L>yet for thy &s;oule helthe / accepte this le&s;&s;on</L>
<L>A&s;ke mercy and grace / of my &s;pou&s;e eternall</L>
<L>Le&s;t vengeaunce &s;odeynly / vpon the do fall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Wherwith her bretherne / Vulfade and Ruffyn</L>
<PB REF="25" MS="y">
<L>Two noble prynces / manfull &s;adde and wy&s;e</L>
<L>Sore vexed with peyne / theyr hertes were within</L>
<L>At this fal&s;e &s;tewarde / whiche can &s;o deuy&s;e</L>
<L>Agayne theyr honour / to do &s;uche preiudy&s;e</L>
<L>As to attempte theyr father the kynge</L>
<L>In &s;o great a mater / they not con&s;entynge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>They called Werebode / afore them all</L>
<L>Sayenge thou caytyfe / who gaue the lycence</L>
<L>To moeue this cau&s;e / &s;o he and &s;pecyall</L>
<L>Touchynge a lady / of &s;uche prehemynence</L>
<L>A kynges doughter / of moche magnyfy&s;ence</L>
<L>None comparable to hym / in all this regyon</L>
<L>In honour / royalte / power / and dy&s;crecyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And as our mother &s;ayd / to the byforne</L>
<L>Loke well thy progeny / and all thy lynage</L>
<L>A vyllayne orels wers / &s;othly thou was borne</L>
<L>Now our dere &s;y&s;ter / wolde haue in maryage</L>
<L>As &s;emynge for a prynce / of hye parentage</L>
<L>Than for &s;uche a carle / by a prouerbe au~cyent</L>
<L>A lad to wedde a lady / is an inconuenyent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Therfore we charge the / vpon greuous peyne</L>
<L>Moue no &s;uche mater / nor &s;peke of it no more</L>
<L>For yf &s;uche mocyon / come to vs agayne</L>
<L>Of hye pre&s;umpcyon / as is done afore</L>
<L>Thou &s;halt repent / the cau&s;e and dede full &s;ore</L>
<L>Now we commaunde the / no forther to contryue</L>
<L>But cea&s;e of &s;uche bu&s;yne&s;&s;e / in peyne of thy lyue.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="11" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; How the fal&s;e Werbode complayned vpon Vulfade
<PB REF="25" MS="y"> and Fu&s;&s;yn to kynge Vulfare by malyce and enuy / and was the cau&s;e of theyr dethe. Ca. xi.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THis wycked Werebode / the bedyll of Belyall</L>
<L>The mini&s;ter of my&s;chef / &amp; &s;ergeau~t of &s;athanas</L>
<L>Con&s;yderynge he was / de&s;py&s;ed of them all</L>
<L>And &s;ore rebuked / for his outragyous tre&s;pas</L>
<L>He brenned in enuy / as a man without grace</L>
<L>Ca&s;t in his mynde / how he myght wroken be</L>
<L>Vpon her bretherne / by &s;ome &s;ubtylte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Euer from that tyme / he lay in wayte</L>
<L>Sekynge occa&s;yons / on them to complayne</L>
<L>Dayly ymagyned / with &s;ubtyll deceyte</L>
<L>Them to &s;ubdue / and cau&s;e to be &s;layne</L>
<L>Attendynge oportunyte / to take them in a trayne</L>
<L>By the fal&s;e enty&s;ement / of his may&s;ter Belyall</L>
<L>Prompte to all my&s;chefe / as dy&s;cyple naturall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In fauour of his prynce / by crafte he hym brought</L>
<L>(As now is in cu&s;tome) with fal&s;e flatery</L>
<L>Some plea&s;e theyr may&s;ter / and that is ryght nought</L>
<L>So dyd this Werebode / by &s;ubtyll polycy</L>
<L>His vengeable mynde / was hym&s;elfe to magnyfy</L>
<L>And vtterly to lo&s;e / the&s;e prynces twayne</L>
<L>Or de&s;troye hym &s;elfe / by my&s;fortune playne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Lyke as Archythofell chefe coun&s;elour to ab&s;alon</L>
<L>Sundry tymes moeued hym / vnto varyaunce</L>
<L>And with kynge A&s;&s;uerus / in fauour was Amon</L>
<L>Coun&s;eylynge hym euer / vnto great my&s;chaunce</L>
<L>In lyke cau&s;e Werbode / moeued to vengeaunce</L>
<PB REF="26" MS="y">
<L>Was chefe coun&s;eler / to Vulfer the kynge</L>
<L>Whiche brought hym &s;elfe to &s;hame / and euyll endynge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The elder prynce Vulfade / in his dy&s;porte</L>
<L>V&s;ed haukynge huntynge / for a pa&s;t tyme</L>
<L>But vnto huntynge namely / was his re&s;orte</L>
<L>Euery day in the morowe / longe afore pryme</L>
<L>And as it fortuned / vpon a tyme</L>
<L>A myghty harte rey&s;ed was / cour&s;ed a longe &s;pace</L>
<L>Whome Vulfade pur&s;ued / with plea&s;ure and &s;olace.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This harte &s;ore &s;trayned / ranne for his &s;ocour</L>
<L>As all deer done / of theyr propryte</L>
<L>To a well with water / after his great labour</L>
<L>Hym to reconforte / and the more fre&s;&s;her be</L>
<L>Wherby &s;aynt Cead / had his oratorye</L>
<L>The wylde harte there lay / full &s;ecrete and &s;tyll</L>
<L>And &s;uffered this holy man / to do all his wyll.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This ble&s;&s;ed by&s;&s;hop moeued with pyte</L>
<L>Couered this &s;ayd harte / with bowes and leues al&s;o</L>
<L>Put a &s;mall corde / aboute his necke trule</L>
<L>And after commaunded hym &s;pedly to go</L>
<L>To the wylde woodes / whens he came fro</L>
<L>His pa&s;ture to &s;eke / for &s;aynt Cead knewe truly</L>
<L>It was a &s;ygne folowynge / of &s;ome great my&s;ery.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>(As Bede wytne&s;&s;eth) this holy confe&s;&s;our</L>
<L>Was by&s;&s;hop of Lychefelde / and Couentre</L>
<L>Whiche for the loue of our &s;auyour</L>
<L>In wylderne&s;&s;e dwelled / all &s;olytarye</L>
<L>Contented with fruytes / of the wylde tree</L>
<PB REF="26" MS="y">
<L>With rootes / herbes / water / for his &s;u&s;tentacyon</L>
<L>Endurynge penaunce / with due contemplacyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This venerable prynce / en&s;uynge this great harte</L>
<L>Approched to his cell / with great dylygence</L>
<L>Tenderly requyrynge / where and in what parte</L>
<L>This harte e&s;caped / &s;o ferre out of pre&s;ence</L>
<L>This holy man an&s;wered / with all reuerence</L>
<L>Bee&s;tes / byrdes / fowles / I kepe none at all</L>
<L>But I knowe the in&s;tructour / of thy helthe eternall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>By this brute bee&s;t / thou &s;hall perceyue well</L>
<L>The &s;acramentes of holy chyrche euerychone</L>
<L>To encre&s;e thy byleue / by our gho&s;tly coun&s;ell</L>
<L>And &s;o to be bapty&s;ed / and haue remy&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>By dyuers brute bee&s;tes / for mannes &s;aluacyon</L>
<L>Our lorde hath &s;hewed / &s;ecretes my&s;tycall</L>
<L>To his electe per&s;ones / by grace &s;upernall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>To Noe came conforte / after the great deluge</L>
<L>By a douue / bryngynge a braunche of Olyue</L>
<L>To the prophet Hely / a rauen dyd refuge</L>
<L>Brought hym his &s;u&s;tenaunce / and &s;aued his lyue</L>
<L>Vnto &s;aynt Eu&s;tach / full memoratyue</L>
<L>Our lorde appered / in a hartes lykenes</L>
<L>To whome he obeyed / gladly with mekenes.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Of whiche examples / prynce Vulfade gladde was</L>
<L>Thankynge god and &s;aynt Cead / that he thyder come</L>
<L>And &s;ayd holy father / fulfylled with grace</L>
<L>If ye can &s;upply / my in&s;taunte petycyon</L>
<L>That the &s;ayd harte / myght retourne hyder&s;oone</L>
<PB REF="27" MS="y">
<L>Whiche is now in wylderne&s;&s;e / vnto our pre&s;ence</L>
<L>Than to your doctryne / I wyll gyue fully credence.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Saynt Cead vnto prayer / deuoutely went</L>
<L>And the wylde harte / frome the wood came ha&s;tely</L>
<L>With the corde in his necke / apperynge euydent</L>
<L>And in theyr pre&s;ence / &s;tode full ryght &s;oberly</L>
<L>My &s;one than he &s;ayd / byleue than &s;tedfa&s;tly</L>
<L>Vnder&s;tande ye may / all thynge po&s;&s;yble is</L>
<L>To a faythfull per&s;one / that perfytely byleuys.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Vulfade conforted / and in the fayth probate</L>
<L>Fell downe to his fete / with humble deuocyon</L>
<L>De&s;yrynge baptym / to be regenerate</L>
<L>Vnto our &s;auyour / for his &s;oules &s;aluacyon</L>
<L>Saynt Cead ble&s;&s;ed / the well that &s;ea&s;on</L>
<L>And bapty&s;ed this prynce / in name of the trynyte</L>
<L>Was pree&s;t and godfather / for want of companye.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This chry&s;ten prynce / taryed with hym all nyght</L>
<L>In fa&s;tynge / prayer / and medytacyon</L>
<L>And was refre&s;&s;hed / naturally in &s;yght</L>
<L>With bodyly and gho&s;tly &s;u&s;tentacyon</L>
<L>The next day receyued / the holy co~munyon</L>
<L>With lycence departed / to his father agayne</L>
<L>The harte to the fore&s;t / recour&s;ed certayne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The thyrde day after / his brother Ruffyn</L>
<L>Folowynge the &s;ame harte / by deuyne prouydence</L>
<L>Was well in&s;tructed / in gho&s;tly doctryne</L>
<L>Bapty&s;ed by &s;aynt Cead / &amp; communed with reuerence</L>
<L>And as it fortuned / by playne experyence</L>
<PB REF="27" MS="y">
<L>Of all the proces done / to the elder brother</L>
<L>All thynge dyd happe / ryght &s;o to the other.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Afore this &s;ea&s;on / chry&s;tes fayth moo&s;t gracyous</L>
<L>Thrugh this lande / was preched in euey place</L>
<L>By by&s;&s;hop Fynane / and Ierumannus</L>
<L>Whiche Ieruman of ee&s;t Englande / fyr&s;t by&s;&s;op was</L>
<L>And with &s;aynt Ermenylde / came hyder by grace</L>
<L>yet fully conuerted / was not Mer&s;ee regyon</L>
<L>Clene frome ydolatry / vnto this &s;ea&s;on.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The&s;e for&s;ayd prynces / conuerted newly</L>
<L>By ble&s;&s;ed Cead / to chry&s;ten relygyon</L>
<L>Dayly to hym re&s;orted / for coun&s;eyll gho&s;tly</L>
<L>To encreace in vertue / and holy perfeccyon</L>
<L>With lycence pretended / they wolde togyder come</L>
<L>Vnto his oratory / from the kynges hall</L>
<L>Vnder colour of Huntynge / as they dyd it call.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And as it is wryten / in holy &s;crypture</L>
<L>Who &s;o is a &s;ure frende / loueth &s;tedfa&s;tly</L>
<L>And who is enemy / putteth dylygent cure</L>
<L>My&s;chefe to accomply&s;&s;he / moo&s;t &s;tudyou&s;ly</L>
<L>The fal&s;e Werebode &s;u&s;pectynge / euydently</L>
<L>The newe conuer&s;yon / of the&s;e prynces twayne</L>
<L>Prepared hym craftely / to take them in a trayne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>He watched on them / &s;ecretely euery day</L>
<L>To knowe theyr re&s;orte / and vnto what place</L>
<L>Kyke as a hounde folowynge / the&s;e prynces to bytray</L>
<L>Or a dogge dothe a dere / by &s;ent of the chas</L>
<L>Whan he had perceyued / how all thynge was</L>
<PB REF="28" MS="y">
<L>He compa&s;ed in mynde by fal&s;e inuencyon</L>
<L>To complayne to the kynge / for theyr de&s;truccyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>My &s;ynguler good lorde / and moo&s;t pryncypall</L>
<L>Sayd this Werebode / the fals traytour</L>
<L>Plea&s;eth your goodnes / and grace &s;pecyall</L>
<L>To my &s;upplycacyon / to be a protectour</L>
<L>ye haue two prynces / myghty in honour</L>
<L>Whiche are my lordes / and euer &s;halbe</L>
<L>If they wolde be true / to your &s;oueraynte</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>They haue refu&s;ed / the more pyte is</L>
<L>your auncyent lawes / and &s;ectes euerychone</L>
<L>And with your lycence / haue done yet more amys</L>
<L>For now they be &s;ubiecte / to a newe relygyon</L>
<L>Vtterly refu&s;ynge / your decrees and olde cu&s;tome</L>
<L>Folowynge the coun&s;eyll / and mynde of a &s;enyor</L>
<L>Called by&s;&s;hop Cead / theyr &s;pecyall auctor.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>your &s;trayte commaundymentes / they dayly de&s;pyce</L>
<L>And purpo&s;e I tell you / in &s;ecretenes</L>
<L>Vnto your per&s;one / to do moche preiudyce</L>
<L>To murther or poy&s;on you / &s;hortly doubtles</L>
<L>And &s;o for to reygne / and gouerne your ryches</L>
<L>Bytwene them twayne / to dyuyde your lande</L>
<L>By fals con&s;pyracy / as ye &s;hall vnder&s;tande.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>With the&s;e fal&s;e tales / and many other mo</L>
<L>The kynge was moeued / to malyce and yre</L>
<L>By his compleccyon / as he was wont to do</L>
<L>More cruell than a bee&s;t / as feruent as the fyre</L>
<L>Depely affyrmynge / that dethe &s;hulde be theyr hyre</L>
<PB REF="28" MS="y">
<L>If he myght take them / in any place</L>
<L>They &s;hulde be &s;layne / and &s;uffer withouten grace.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In the morowe after / whan Phebus began to clere</L>
<L>The kynge toke Werbode / with hym &s;ecretly</L>
<L>To try out the truthe / and how it wolde appere</L>
<L>Wheder his prynces / were gone to the oratory</L>
<L>If it were &s;o / he &s;ende hym pryuely</L>
<L>To gyue them knowlege / of his entent</L>
<L>For to remoeue / from his ha&s;ty Iudgment.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The father had pyte / vpon his chyldren naturall</L>
<L>Wolde not haue &s;layne them / the &s;othe to &s;ay</L>
<L>Wherfore he &s;ende / the &s;eruaunt of Belyall</L>
<L>To conuay them fro thens / &s;ome other way</L>
<L>The kynge knewe hym &s;elfe / not able that day</L>
<L>To refrayne his yre / and cruell ha&s;tyne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Gyuen to hym of nature / in &s;uche great dy&s;tre&s;&s;e.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This wycked Werebode / came to the oratory</L>
<L>And &s;awe the&s;e prynces / in great deuocyon</L>
<L>Counceyled his me&s;&s;age / by malyce and enuy</L>
<L>Retourned to the kynge / ha&s;tely and &s;oone</L>
<L>Newly complaynynge / by fals ymagynacyon</L>
<L>A hundreth folde wor&s;e / than at the fyr&s;t tyme</L>
<L>With new addycyons / to brynge them to ruyne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And whan the kynge / approched nygh the cell</L>
<L>Herynge the complayntes / of this fals knyght</L>
<L>The chyldren perceyued / a voyce ryght well</L>
<L>Ce&s;&s;ed of theyr prayers / and came forth full ryght</L>
<L>On whome whan Vulfere / had ones a &s;yght</L>
<PB REF="29" MS="y">
<L>He was &s;ore moeued / as hote as the fyre</L>
<L>Agayn&s;t hes chyldren / that loued hym entyre.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But by the malyce / and wycked temptacyon</L>
<L>Of the deuyll / mannes olde mortall enemy</L>
<L>And what by the fal&s;e crafty &s;ugge&s;tyon</L>
<L>Of Wycked Werebode / fulfylled with enuy</L>
<L>And by his owne ha&s;tyne&s;&s;e / and cruell fury</L>
<L>The&s;e prynces were &s;layne / Vulfade and Ruffyn</L>
<L>Now gloryous martyrs / reygnynge in heuyn.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After whan kynge Vulfer / approched his ca&s;tell</L>
<L>And vnneth was entred / into his hall</L>
<L>Incontynently a &s;pyryte / the fal&s;e fende of hell</L>
<L>Entred fals Werebode / after the people all</L>
<L>Inwardly hym vexed / with peynes contynuall</L>
<L>That his armes and handes / he dyd horrybly tere</L>
<L>Whiche &s;odayne vengeaunce / all the courte dyd fere.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>He rored and yelled / lyke a wylde bull</L>
<L>Shewed all the my&s;chefe / malyce and enuy</L>
<L>Done agayn&s;t the martyrs / with a mynde yrefull</L>
<L>So &s;ore con&s;trayned / with peynes greuou&s;ly</L>
<L>The deuyll cea&s;ed not / his dolours to multyply</L>
<L>Tyll his fylthy &s;oule / compelled &s;ore was</L>
<L>For to expyre / for his hydeous tre&s;pas.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="12" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; How kynge Vulfer was conuerted &amp; toke great re|pentaunce for his offences. And by the cou~&s;eyll of &s;aynt Ceade was a deuoute man / and a good benefactour to holy chyrche / and a founder of dyuers holy places rely|gyous. Ca. xii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<PB REF="29" MS="y">
<L>THan Vulfer con&s;yderynge with due dy&s;crecyon</L>
<L>His cruell ha&s;tynes / and furyous mynde</L>
<L>How ferre he had / abu&s;ed his rea&s;on</L>
<L>Agayn&s;t his chyldren / by nature and kynde</L>
<L>He &s;ore repented / in hy&s;tory as we fynde</L>
<L>His greuous tre&s;pas / and homycyde vnnaturall</L>
<L>In con&s;cyence greued / for his &s;ynnes mortall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Namely lamentynge / in foule his apo&s;ta&s;y</L>
<L>After his baptyme / and gho&s;tly conuer&s;yon</L>
<L>And for the departure / of his prynces truly</L>
<L>Contrary to ryght / kynde and all rea&s;on</L>
<L>The lo&s;&s;e of his fame / thrugh this regyon</L>
<L>A dethe to his quene / and his louers all</L>
<L>Greuous to his kynne&s;men / and frendes naturall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>All the&s;e con&s;ydered / with due cyrcum&s;taunce</L>
<L>He wayled and weped / &s;obbynge full&s;ore</L>
<L>Plonged in &s;orowe / heuynes / and greuaunce</L>
<L>Lamentynge his offence / a thou&s;ande tymes therfore</L>
<L>His intollerable peyne / encrea&s;ed more and more</L>
<L>Wofully he went / to his bed by and by</L>
<L>Suppo&s;ynge &s;ome dethe / withouten any remedy.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Some of his louers / beynge there pre&s;ent</L>
<L>Gaue hym theyr coun&s;eyll / to hunte in the fore&s;t</L>
<L>Some to dy&s;portes / and plea&s;ures euydent</L>
<L>Some vnto melody / all thoughtes to dege&s;t</L>
<L>But Ermenylde his quene / whiche loued hym be&s;t</L>
<L>Coun&s;eyled hym truly / to take contrycyon</L>
<L>And mendes make / by due &s;aty&s;faccyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="30" MS="y">
<L>Of this gho&s;tly coun&s;eyll / the kynge was very glad</L>
<L>And in the morowe after / prepared be&s;yly</L>
<L>With mekene&s;&s;e to &s;eke / ble&s;&s;ed &s;aynt Cead</L>
<L>So whan the kynge came / to his oratory</L>
<L>The by&s;&s;hop was at ma&s;&s;e / and ryght con&s;equently</L>
<L>Fro heuen de&s;cended / &s;o gloryous a lyght</L>
<L>That of the my&s;tery / Vulfer had no &s;yght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan ma&s;&s;e was ended / &s;aynt Cead his ve&s;tures ca&s;te</L>
<L>Vpon the &s;onne beame / by myracle there hangynge</L>
<L>Suppo&s;ynge on a forme / and made moche ha&s;te</L>
<L>To mete at the doore / mekely the &s;ayd kynge</L>
<L>Whiche laye there pro&s;trate / penaunce de&s;yrynge</L>
<L>With reuerence hym eleuate / and gaue an exortacyon</L>
<L>The kynge was agreable / for to do &s;aty&s;faccyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The by&s;&s;hop hym enioyned / in parte of penaunce</L>
<L>To de&s;troye all ydolles / and &s;ectes of ydolatry</L>
<L>In all his realme / and the temples of paganes</L>
<L>To tran&s;late to the honour / of god almyghty</L>
<L>With pree&s;tes and clerkes / to pray and &s;ynge deuoutly</L>
<L>Al&s;o peas and iu&s;tyce / to be kepte contynuall</L>
<L>With the werkes of mercy / to be v&s;ed in &s;pecyall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Forther he enioyned hym / of his charyte</L>
<L>Mona&s;teryes to make / of great perfeccyon</L>
<L>Endowed with landes / po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ed in lyberte</L>
<L>Therin for to &s;et / men of relygyon</L>
<L>To pray to our lorde / for his &s;aluacyon</L>
<L>Whiche Vulfer promy&s;ed / to fulfyll gladle</L>
<L>As &s;oone as he myght / by po&s;&s;ybylyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="30" MS="y">
<L>Than the fore&s;ayd kynge / and the holy confe&s;&s;our</L>
<L>Went to theyr prayers / in the oratory</L>
<L>And as the kynge loked vp / to our &s;auyour</L>
<L>The &s;ayd &s;acrat ve&s;tures / he &s;awe euydently</L>
<L>Hangynge on the &s;onne beame / full merueylou&s;ly</L>
<L>His gloues / his gyrdell / the kynge had vpon</L>
<L>Whiche &s;hortly to grounde / falled adowne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Wherby he perceyued / the great holyne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Of ble&s;&s;ed &s;aynt Cead / and interyor deuocyon</L>
<L>De&s;yred his prayer / dayly with mekene&s;&s;e</L>
<L>To almyghty god / for his remy&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Frome thens departed / with his benedyccyon</L>
<L>Ioyfull in his &s;oule / towarde his place</L>
<L>Thankynge god mekely / of his great grace.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>As the kynge promy&s;ed / to our &s;auyour</L>
<L>Shortly he auoyded / all ydolatry</L>
<L>Brenned theyr ydolles / correcked theyr errour</L>
<L>Tran&s;lated theyr temples / vnto god almyghty</L>
<L>Founded mona&s;teryes / of relygyon many</L>
<L>Of men and women / gaue them po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yons</L>
<L>Landes / rentes / ryches / to encre&s;e deuocyons</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Namely he founded / a ryche mona&s;tery</L>
<L>For dethe of the prynces / in &s;aty&s;faccyon</L>
<L>To the honour of god / and &s;aynt Peter truly</L>
<L>Called Peterborowe abbay / in all this regyon</L>
<L>Endowed it with rentes / lybertes / po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>A place where many / relygyous per&s;ones be</L>
<L>Seruynge day and nyght / our lorde with charyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="31" MS="y">
<L>Al&s;o there was founded / at Stone a pryore</L>
<L>In the honour of god / and the martyrs twayne</L>
<L>Po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ed with landes / rentes and lyberte</L>
<L>Where deuoute chanons / ben inhabyte certayne</L>
<L>Myracles and &s;ygnes / haue ben &s;hewed there playne</L>
<L>To the laude and pray&s;e / of god omnypotent</L>
<L>And of the&s;e holy martyrs / patrones there pre&s;ent.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="13" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Of the feruent de&s;yre &amp; great deuocyon y^t &s;aynt Wer|burge hadde to be relygyous / &amp; of y^e dayly &s;upplycacyo~s &s;he made to the kynge her father for the &s;ame. Ca. xiii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>AS this myghty prynces / encrea&s;ed in age</L>
<L>So dayly encre&s;ed / her good condycyons</L>
<L>That greatly enioyed / her honorable lynage</L>
<L>Con&s;yderynge in her / &s;uche vertuous dy&s;po&s;ycyons</L>
<L>In vygyls / prayers / and gho&s;tly medytacyons</L>
<L>Set all her mynde / power / myght / and mayne</L>
<L>To &s;erue our &s;auyour / day and nyght certayne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She well con&s;ydered / with due dy&s;crecyon</L>
<L>Of this pre&s;ent lyfe / the great wretchydne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>How dredefull it is / full of vatyacyon</L>
<L>Deceuable / peryllous / and of no &s;ykerne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>The tyme vncertayne / to be knowen doubtle&s;&s;e</L>
<L>For here is no cytee / nor &s;ure dwelyynge place</L>
<L>All thynge is tran&s;ytory / in &s;hort proces and &s;pace.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Wherfore this vyrgyn / gladde and benyuolent</L>
<L>Folowynge the coun&s;eyll / of ble&s;&s;ed Mathewe</L>
<L>Was on of fyue vyrgyns / euer redy pre&s;ent</L>
<L>Had her lampe replete / with oyle full of vertue</L>
<PB REF="31" MS="y">
<L>Redy for to mete / her &s;pou&s;e &s;wete Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>With charytable werkes / in her &s;oule contynuall</L>
<L>Therfore &s;he was taken / to his blys eternall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She well con&s;ydered / the wordes of the go&s;pell</L>
<L>Who refu&s;es plea&s;ures / and naturall generacyon</L>
<L>For the loue of Ihe&s;u / rewarded &s;halbe well</L>
<L>With a hundreth folde grace / here for theyr guerdon</L>
<L>And after this lyfe / haue eterne fruycyon</L>
<L>Whiche &s;he remembred / and euer fro that day</L>
<L>On her father wolde call / and mekely to hym &s;ay.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Reuerent myghty prynce / and lorde honorable</L>
<L>Moo&s;t dere byloued father / my &s;ynguler helpe &amp; &s;ocour</L>
<L>My tru&s;t / tre&s;ure / and &s;olace / to me moo&s;t amyable</L>
<L>In&s;tauntly I be&s;eche you / for loue of our &s;auyoure</L>
<L>And of his mother mary / of vyrgyns the floure</L>
<L>With all the company / that in heuen be</L>
<L>My humble petycyon / now graunt it vnto me.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Well byloued father / this is my fully mynde</L>
<L>My in&s;taunte de&s;yre / and humble &s;upplycacyon</L>
<L>By the grace of god / maker of all mankynde</L>
<L>And by your ly&s;ence / helpe / and tuycyon</L>
<L>I purpo&s;e to enter / into holy relygyon</L>
<L>And vtterly refu&s;e / all plea&s;ures tran&s;ytory</L>
<L>To be profe&s;&s;ed / at the hou&s;e of Ely.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>O my dere doughter / &s;ayd this noble kynge</L>
<L>My plea&s;ure / &s;olace / and hope of my gladne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Moo&s;t dere byloued / and my &s;ynguler &s;wete derlynge</L>
<L>I well con&s;yder / your vertue and &s;adne&s;&s;e</L>
<PB REF="32" MS="y">
<L>your in&s;taunt reque&s;t / and humble gentylne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>And of your de&s;yre / inwardly I am gladde</L>
<L>But yet your motyon / makes my herte full &s;adde.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>All my ioye and conforte / now re&s;teth in the</L>
<L>Syth thy dere bretherne / from vs ben agone</L>
<L>Thou arte the tru&s;ty trea&s;ure to thy mother and me</L>
<L>Our &s;ynguler &s;olace / and &s;ure con&s;olacyon</L>
<L>Wherfore &s;wete derlynge / as for my heyre alone</L>
<L>I wolde the mary / and a quene the make</L>
<L>If thou wyll con&s;ent / and my coun&s;eyll take.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Con&s;yder and beholde / thrugh all this lande</L>
<L>Take the a maryage / at thyne owne plea&s;ure</L>
<L>A prynce moo&s;t valyaunt / moo&s;t noble to be founde</L>
<L>And of helpe and ayde / I &s;hall the a&s;&s;ure</L>
<L>With ryches / royalte / welche / and tre&s;ure</L>
<L>Clothes of golde / and royall ryche apparell</L>
<L>And all thynges nece&s;&s;ary / as man can of tell.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Remembre al&s;o / how after cour&s;e of kynde</L>
<L>Aege dothe &s;ore greue / thy moder and me al&s;o</L>
<L>Therfore naturall loue (&s;wete chylde) dothe me bynde</L>
<L>To gyue the be&s;t cou~&s;eyll / what thou &s;hall do</L>
<L>To honour and wor&s;hyp / how thou may come to</L>
<L>Whiche great renowne / and hye a&s;tate certayne</L>
<L>To &s;e the a quene / wyll make vs yonge agayne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>God ordeyned matrymony / fyr&s;t in Parady&s;e</L>
<L>Bytwene man &amp; woman / whan he the worlde dyd make</L>
<L>That mankynde myght encre&s;e / multyply and ry&s;e</L>
<L>Eche per&s;one at plea&s;ure / a &s;pou&s;e for them to take</L>
<PB REF="32" MS="y">
<L>Now ioyned by holy chyrche / all other to for&s;ake</L>
<L>The chylde of the father / to take his dy&s;cyplyne</L>
<L>And after that to teche / his y&s;&s;ue theyr doctryne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o man and bee&s;t / haue dy&s;po&s;ycyon naturall</L>
<L>To brynge forth theyr lykene&s;&s;e / by generacyon</L>
<L>But man hauynge rea&s;on / and foe wyll with all</L>
<L>As lawe requyreth / hath his procreacyon</L>
<L>Vnder true matrymony / by his owne eleccyon</L>
<L>Orels to ob&s;erue / and lyue in pure vyrgynyte</L>
<L>For the greater meryte / and rewarde of glorye.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And yf all maydens / &s;hulde kepe theyr cha&s;tyte</L>
<L>As ye now do / how &s;hulde the worlde encre&s;e</L>
<L>Swete louely creature / ryght ioyfull wolde I be</L>
<L>To ky&s;&s;e a chylde of thyne / hauynge thy lykene&s;&s;e</L>
<L>And &s;e the al&s;o coronate / as a myghty prynce&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Enclyne dere derlynge / thy mynde to myne entent</L>
<L>And all the&s;e &s;ayd honours / wyll folowe con&s;equent.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="14" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Of the meke an&s;were &s;aynt Werburge gaue to her fa+ther whan &s;he was moeued to maryage. Ca. xiiii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THe holi mayd / wha~ &s;he knewe her fathers mynde</L>
<L>Her &s;oule was replete / with woo &amp; pen&s;yuene&s;&s;e</L>
<L>And &s;ore began to wepe / after cours of kynde</L>
<L>The &s;alte teeres dy&s;tylled / for payne and heuyne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>By her ruddy chekes &s;hynynge / full fayre doubtele&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Pyteous to beholde / but whan the fore&s;ayd mayde</L>
<L>Cea&s;ed of her &s;orowe / thus to hym &s;he &s;ayde.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Moo&s;t bee&s;t byloued father / nexte to god almyght</L>
<PB REF="33">
<L>your kynde gentyll mocyon / wolde moeue inwardely</L>
<L>The mynde of any creature / to folowe you ryght</L>
<L>Or any &s;tony &s;tomake / to relent and apply</L>
<L>And re&s;olue eche harde herte / to waylynge dolefully</L>
<L>Con&s;yderynge on euery parte / with good dy&s;crecyon</L>
<L>To accepte or refu&s;e / this harde eleccyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Father I haue ben to you / meke and obedyent</L>
<L>Euer &s;yth I had / yeres of dy&s;crecyon</L>
<L>Gladde to ob&s;erue / your hye commau~dyment</L>
<L>With loue interyor / and humble intencyon</L>
<L>And &s;o wyll contynue / with lowly &s;ubmy&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>In this pre&s;ent lyfe / whyle I do endure</L>
<L>Of my loue and prayer / euer ye &s;halbe &s;ure.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But moo&s;t louely father / I pray you hertfully</L>
<L>Take no dy&s;ple&s;ure / pardon what I &s;hall &s;ay</L>
<L>My &s;oule / my herte / and mynde / is &s;et &s;tydfa&s;tly</L>
<L>To &s;erue my lorde god / nyght and al&s;o day</L>
<L>Neuer to be maryed / by no maner of way</L>
<L>For &s;othly I haue vowed / my true vyrgynyte</L>
<L>Vnto Ihe&s;u / the &s;econde per&s;one in trynyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>That is my &s;pou&s;e / and ble&s;&s;ed &s;auyour</L>
<L>For Who&s;e loue refu&s;ed / in certaynte haue I</L>
<L>All worldely plea&s;ures / welth / ryches and honour</L>
<L>With all voyde bu&s;yne&s;&s;e / and cures tran&s;ytory</L>
<L>My loue on hym is &s;ette / &s;o &s;ure and feruently</L>
<L>That nothynge &s;hall &s;eparate / my hert hym fro</L>
<L>Sekenes nor helthe / plea&s;ure / peyne / ne wo.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o my full entent / was neuer otherwy&s;e</L>
<PB REF="33" MS="y">
<L>Than to be handmayde / to my lorde Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>And of my &s;oule and body / to make hym &s;acryfyce</L>
<L>For my gho&s;tly welthe / all vyces to &s;ubdue</L>
<L>He is my dere &s;pou&s;e / &s;olace / helthe moo&s;t true</L>
<L>On hym is all my herte / and ha&s;e ben &s;et alway</L>
<L>And euer &s;halbe / vnto my endynge day.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In this wretched worlde / we can not longe endure</L>
<L>And of this pre&s;ent lyfe / we are in no &s;uerte</L>
<L>As we haue de&s;erued / &s;o we &s;halbe &s;ure</L>
<L>After this pylgrymage / rewarded for to be</L>
<L>For mercy and grace / therfore mekely call we</L>
<L>Whyle we haue tyme and &s;pace / for than it is to late</L>
<L>Whan dethe with his darte / fayth to vs chekemate.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Wherfore dere father / I &s;hewe you now agayne</L>
<L>All my hole herte / de&s;yre and entent</L>
<L>Whiche euer hath ben / and &s;o &s;halbe certayne</L>
<L>For to be relygyous / cha&s;t / and obedyent</L>
<L>Namely at Ely / for theyr vertue excellent</L>
<L>Father I requyre you / for chry&s;tes loue and charyte</L>
<L>My meke &s;upplycacyon / now graunte it vnto me.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The kynge well con&s;ydered / his doughters de&s;yre</L>
<L>Her con&s;taunte true mynde / and pure deuocyon</L>
<L>Graunted her petycyon / with &s;ynguler loue entyre</L>
<L>Tru&s;tynge by her prayer / and dayly &s;upplycacyon</L>
<L><MILESTONE N="C"> Vnto heuen bly&s;&s;e / the rather for to come</L>
<L>Her mother Ermenylde / was gladde of this tydynge</L>
<L>And lauded full lowly / our lorde and heuen kynge.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="15" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; How &s;aynt Werburge was made a moynes after her
<PB REF="34"> de&s;yre at the mona&s;tery of Ely vnder &s;aynt Audry / lady and abbe&s;&s;e. Ca. xv.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THan the kynge reme~bred / with due cyrcu~&s;tau~ce</L>
<L>The excellent vertue / &s;adnes / and grauyte</L>
<L>Of his dere doughter / and the perfyte con&s;taunce</L>
<L>Her humble petycyon / and pure vyrgynyte</L>
<L>He thanked our lorde / with great humylyte</L>
<L>Of his infynyte grace / that &s;o royall a floure</L>
<L>Frome hym de&s;cended / to his pray&s;e and honoure.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>He &s;ende me&s;&s;ages / in all goodly ha&s;t</L>
<L>With letters my&s;&s;yue / thrugh his regyon</L>
<L>Commaundynge his &s;ubiectes / they &s;hulde full fa&s;t</L>
<L>By a day a&s;&s;ygned / be redy euerychone</L>
<L>In theyr be&s;t maner / with hym for to gone</L>
<L>To brynge his doughter / to the hous of Ely</L>
<L>There to be relygyous / after her de&s;ydery.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan the day was come / of theyr appoyntment</L>
<L>The nobles of the realme / and lordes were redy</L>
<L>To attende on theyr &s;ouerayne / at his commau~dyment</L>
<L>Kynge Vulfer prepared / all thynge plea&s;auntly</L>
<L>And of his court / had cho&s;en a noble company</L>
<L>In theyr be&s;t aray / royalte / and renowne</L>
<L>To offer &s;aynt werburge / to god and relygyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The kynge on his Iourney / rode for the royally</L>
<L>The quene hym folowed / as is the cu&s;tome,</L>
<L>Werburge &s;ucceded them con&s;equently</L>
<L>The peeres and his coun&s;eyll / knewe well theyr rowme</L>
<L>Dukes / erles / lordes / and many a worthy barowne</L>
<PB REF="34">
<L>Knyghtes / &s;quyers / gentyls / of her kynred al&s;o</L>
<L>With ladyes and gentylwomen / &amp; &s;eruau~tes both two.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan the kynge approched / the &s;ayd mona&s;tery</L>
<L>Saynt Audry than abbe&s;&s;e / toke her holy couent</L>
<L>And mette the &s;ayd kynge / and all his company</L>
<L>With &s;olempne proce&s;&s;yon / and gretynge benyuolent</L>
<L>Pray&s;ynge our lorde god omnypotent</L>
<L>Whiche of his goodnes / to that congrecacyon</L>
<L>Sende them a &s;y&s;ter / of &s;uche perfeccyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Wereburge requyred / by the order of charyte</L>
<L>Mekely on her knees / to enter relygyon</L>
<L>Saynt Audry receyued / of her benygnyte</L>
<L>And graunted fre lycence / after her petycyon</L>
<L>Gladde were al&s;o / the hole congregacyon</L>
<L>And &s;ange (Te deum) with moche reuerence</L>
<L>Magnyfyenge our lorde / of his prouydence.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She was receyued / with moche &s;olempnyte</L>
<L>Into the holy order / after her entent</L>
<L>To proue her &s;adnes / and humylyte</L>
<L>(As is the cu&s;tome) and &s;o be obedyent</L>
<L>To lyue euer after / humble / cha&s;t / and contynent</L>
<L>Than dyd theyr Ioye / merueylou&s;ly encreas</L>
<L>Con&s;yderynge her pacyens / and perfyte holynes.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her royall dyademe / and &s;hynynge coronall</L>
<L>Was fyr&s;t refuted / for loue of our &s;auyoure</L>
<L>The poore vayle accepted / and the &s;ymple pall</L>
<L>The royall ryche purpull / reiected that &s;ame houre</L>
<L>With other clothes of golde / &s;ylkes of great honoure</L>
<PB REF="35">
<L>She toke lowe appareyll / ve&s;tures that were blake</L>
<L>All her ple&s;aunt garmentes / &s;he clerely dyd for&s;ake.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o &s;he refu&s;ed / her fathers realme and royalte</L>
<L>All ryches / rentes / / plea&s;ures / po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>With all worldely honoures / full of vanyte</L>
<L>Lowly &s;ubmyttynge her / vnder &s;ubieccyon</L>
<L>Vertu to encre&s;e / myndynge moo&s;t relygyon</L>
<L>She refu&s;ed yet more her owne proper wyll</L>
<L>Put all to her abbe&s;&s;e / her order to fulfyll.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="16" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Of the great &s;olempnyte kynge Vulfer made at the gho&s;tly maryage of &s;aynt Werburge his doughter / to al his louers / co&s;yns / and frendes. Ca. xvi.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>Kynge Vulfer her father / at this gho&s;tly &s;pou&s;age</L>
<L>Prepared great tryumphes / and &s;olempnyte</L>
<L>Made a royall fee&s;t / as cu&s;tome is of maryage</L>
<L>Sende for his frendes / after good humanyte</L>
<L>Kepte a noble hou&s;holde / &s;hewed great lyberalyte</L>
<L>Bothe to ryche and poore / that to this fee&s;t wolde come</L>
<L>No man was denyed / euery man was well come.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her vncles and auntes / were pre&s;ent there all</L>
<L>Ethelred and Merwalde / and Mercelly al&s;o</L>
<L>Thre ble&s;&s;ed kynges / whome &s;ayntes we do call</L>
<L>Saint kene&s;wyd / &s;ai~t keneburg / theyr &s;y&s;ters both two</L>
<L>And of her noble lygnage / many other mo</L>
<L>Were redy that &s;ea&s;on / with reuerence and honour</L>
<L>At this noble tryumphe / to do all theyr deuour.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Tho kynges mette them / with theyr company</L>
<PB REF="35" MS="y">
<L>Egbryct kynge of kent / brother to the quene</L>
<L>The &s;econde was Aldulphe / kynge of the ee&s;t party</L>
<L>Brother to &s;aynt Audry / wyfe and mayde &s;erene</L>
<L>With dyuers of theyr progeny / and nobles as I wene</L>
<L>Dukes / erles / barons / and lordes ferre and nere</L>
<L>In theyr be&s;t aray / were pre&s;ent all in fere.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>It were full tedyous / to make de&s;crypcyon</L>
<L>Of the great tryumphes / and &s;olempne royalte</L>
<L>Belongynge to the fee&s;t / the honour and prouy&s;yon</L>
<L>By playne declaracyon / vpon euery partye</L>
<L>But the &s;othe to &s;ay / withouten ambyguyte</L>
<L>All herbes and floures / fragraunt fayre and &s;wete</L>
<L>Were &s;trawed in halles / and layd vnder theyr fete.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Clothes of golde and arras / were hanged in the hall</L>
<L>Depaynted with pyctures / and hy&s;toryes manyfolde</L>
<L>Well wrought and craftely / with precyous &s;tones all</L>
<L>Glyterynge as Phebus / and the beten golde</L>
<L>Lyke an erthly parady&s;e / plea&s;aunt to beholde</L>
<L>As for the &s;ayd moynes / was not them amonge</L>
<L>But prayenge in her cell / as done all nouyce yonge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The &s;tory of Adam / there was goodly wrought</L>
<L>And of his wyfe Eue / bytwene them the &s;erpent</L>
<L>How they were deceyued / and to theyr peynes brought</L>
<L>There was Cayn and Abell / offerynge theyr pre&s;ent</L>
<L>The &s;acryfyce of Abell / accepte full euydent</L>
<L>Tuball and Tubalcain / were purtrayed in that place</L>
<L>The inuentours of mu&s;yke / and craftes by great grace.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Noe and his &s;hyppe / was made there curyou&s;ly</L>
<PB REF="36">
<L>Sendynge forthe a rauen / whiche neuer came agayne</L>
<L>And how the douue retourned / with a braunche ha&s;tely</L>
<L>A token of conforte and peace / to man certayne</L>
<L>Abraham there was / &s;tandynge vpon the mount playne</L>
<L>To offer in &s;acryfyce / I&s;aac his dere &s;one</L>
<L>And how the &s;hepe for hym / was offered in oblacyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The twelue &s;ones of Iacob / there were in purtrayture</L>
<L>And how into Egypt / yonge Io&s;eph was &s;olde</L>
<L>There was inpry&s;oned / by a fal&s;e coniectour</L>
<L>After in all Egypte / was ruler (as is tolde)</L>
<L>There was in pycture / Moy&s;es wy&s;e and bolde</L>
<L>Our lorde apperynge / in bu&s;&s;he flammynge as fyre</L>
<L>And nothynge therof brent / lefe / tree / nor &s;pyre.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The ten plages of Egypte / were well embo&s;t</L>
<L>The chyldren of I&s;raell / pa&s;&s;ynge the reed &s;ee</L>
<L>Kynge Pharoo drowned / with all his proude hoo&s;t</L>
<L>And how the two tables / at the mounte of Synaye</L>
<L>Were gyuen to Moy&s;es / and how &s;oone to ydolatry</L>
<L>The people were prone / and puny&s;&s;hed were therfore</L>
<L>How Datan and Abyron / for pryde were lo&s;t full youre.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Duke Io&s;ue was ioyned / after them in pycture</L>
<L>Ledynge the I&s;rehelytes / to the lande of promy&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>And how the &s;ayd lande / was dyuyded by me&s;ure</L>
<L>To the people of god / by equall &s;undry porcyon</L>
<L>The Iudges and by&s;&s;hops / were there euerychone</L>
<L>Theyr noble actes / and tryumphes Marcyall</L>
<L>Fre&s;&s;hly were browdred / in the&s;e clothes royall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Nexte to hye borde lorde / appered fayre and bryght</L>
<PB REF="36" MS="y">
<L>Kynge Saull and Dauyd / and prudent Salomon</L>
<L>Roboas &s;uccedynge / whiche &s;oone lo&s;t his myght</L>
<L>The good kynge E&s;echyas / and his generacyon</L>
<L>And &s;o to the Machabees / and dyuers other nacyon</L>
<L>All the&s;e &s;ayd &s;toryes / &s;o rychely done and wrought</L>
<L>Belo~gyng to kyng Vulfer / agayn y^t tyme were brought</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But ouer the hyede&s;&s;e / in the pryncypall place</L>
<L>Where the &s;ayd thre kynges / &s;ate crowned all</L>
<L>The be&s;t hallynge hanged / as rea&s;on was</L>
<L>Wherin were wrought / the .ix. ordres angelycall</L>
<L>Dyuyded in thre Ierarchy&s;es / not ce&s;&s;ynge to call</L>
<L>Sanctus / &s;anctus / &s;anctus ble&s;&s;ed be the trynyte</L>
<L>Dominus deus &s;abaoth / thre per&s;ones in one deyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Nexte in ordre &s;uynge / &s;ette in goodly purtrayture</L>
<L>Was our ble&s;&s;ed lady / floure of femynyte</L>
<L>With the twelue apo&s;tles / echeone in his fygure</L>
<L>And the foure euangely&s;tes / wrought moo&s;t curyou&s;ly</L>
<L>Al&s;o the dy&s;cyples / of chry&s;t in theyr degre</L>
<L>Prechynge and techynge / vnto euery nacyon</L>
<L>The faythtes of holy chyrche / for theyr &s;aluacyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Martyrs than folowed / ryght manyfe&s;tly</L>
<L>The holy innocentes / whome Herode had &s;layne</L>
<L>Ble&s;&s;ed &s;aynt Stephan / the prothomartyr truly</L>
<L>Saynt Laure~ce / &s;aynt Vynce~t / &s;ufferynge great payne</L>
<L>With many other mo / than here ben now certayne</L>
<L>Of whiche &s;ayd martyrs / ex&s;ample we may take</L>
<L>Pacyence to ob&s;erue / in herte for chry&s;tes &s;ake.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Confe&s;&s;ours approched / ryght conuenyent</L>
<PB REF="37" MS="y">
<L>Fre&s;&s;hely enbrodred / in ryche ty&s;&s;hewe and fyne</L>
<L>Saynt Nycholas &s;aynt Benedycte / and his couent</L>
<L>Saynt Ierom / Ba&s;ylyus and &s;aynt Augu&s;tyne</L>
<L>Gregory the great doctour / Ambro&s;e &amp; &s;aynt Martyne</L>
<L>All the&s;e were &s;ette / in goodly purtrayture</L>
<L>Them to beholde / was a heuenly plea&s;ure.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Vyrgyns them folowed / crowned with the lyly</L>
<L>Amonge whome our lady / chefe pre&s;ydent was</L>
<L>Some crowned with roo&s;es / for theyr great vyctory</L>
<L>Saynt Katheryne / &s;aynt Margarete / &s;aynt Agathas</L>
<L>Saynt Cycyly / &s;aynt Agnes / and &s;aynt Charytas</L>
<L>Saynt Lucye / &s;aynt Wenefryde / and &s;aynt Apolyn</L>
<L>All the&s;e were brothered / the clothes of golde within.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Vpon the other &s;yde / of the hall &s;ette were</L>
<L>Noble auncyent &s;toryes / &amp; how the &s;tronge Samp&s;on</L>
<L>Subdued his enemyes / by his myghty power</L>
<L>Of Hector of Troy / &s;layne by fals trea&s;on</L>
<L>Of noble Arthur / kynge of this regyon</L>
<L>With many other mo / whiche it is to longe</L>
<L>Playnly to expre&s;&s;e / this tyme you amonge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The tables were couered / with clothes of Dyaper</L>
<L>Rychely enlarged / with &s;yluer and with golde</L>
<L>The cupborde with plate / &s;hynynge fayre and clere</L>
<L>Mar&s;halles theyr offyces / fulfylled manyfolde</L>
<L>Of myghty wyne plenty / bothe newe and olde</L>
<L>All maner kynde / of meetes delycate</L>
<L>(Whan grace was &s;ayd) to them was preparate.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>To this noble fee&s;t / there was &s;uche ordynaunce</L>
<PB REF="37" MS="y">
<L>That nothynge wanted / that goten myght be</L>
<L>On &s;ee and on lande / but there was habundaunce</L>
<L>Of all maner plea&s;ures / to be had for monye</L>
<L>The bordes all charged / full of meet plente</L>
<L>And dyuers &s;ubtyltes / prepared &s;othly were</L>
<L>With cordyall &s;pyces theyr ghe&s;tes for to chere.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The Ioyfull wordes / and &s;wete communycacyon</L>
<L>Spoken at the table / it were harde to tell</L>
<L>Eche man at lyberte / without interrupcyon</L>
<L>Bothe &s;adnes and myrthes / al&s;o pryue coun&s;ell</L>
<L>Some adulacyon / &s;ome the truthe dyd tell</L>
<L>But the great a&s;tates / &s;pake of theyr regyons</L>
<L>Knyghtes of theyr chyualry / of craftes the comons.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Certayne at eche cours / of &s;eruyce in the hall</L>
<L>Trumpettes blewe vp / &s;halmes and claryons</L>
<L>Shewynge theyr melody with / toynes mu&s;ycall</L>
<L>Dyuers other myn&s;trelles / in crafty proporcyons</L>
<L>Made &s;wete concordaunce / and lu&s;ty dyuy&s;yons</L>
<L>An heuenly plea&s;ure / &s;uche armony to here</L>
<L>Reioy&s;ynge the hertes / of the audyence full clere.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>A &s;ynguler myn&s;trell / all other ferre pa&s;&s;ynge</L>
<L>Toyned his in&s;trument / in plea&s;aunte armony</L>
<L>And &s;ange moo&s;t &s;wetely / the company gladynge</L>
<L>Of myghty conquerours / the famous vyctory</L>
<L>Wherwith was rauy&s;&s;hed / theyr &s;pyrytes and memory</L>
<L>Specyally he &s;ange / of the great Alexandere</L>
<L>Of his tryumphes and honours / endurynge .xii. yere.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Solemply he &s;onge / the &s;tate of the Romans</L>
<PB REF="38" MS="y">
<L>Ruled vnder kynges / by polycy and wy&s;edome</L>
<L>Of theyr hye iu&s;tyce / and ryghtfull ordynauns</L>
<L>Dayly encrea&s;ynge / in wor&s;hyp and renowne</L>
<L>Tyll Tarquyne y^e proude kynge / with y^t great co~fu&s;yon</L>
<L>Oppre&s;&s;ed dame Lucrece / the wyfe of Colatyne</L>
<L>Kynges neuer reygned in Rome / &s;yth that tyme.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o how the Romayns / vnder thre dyctatours</L>
<L>Gouerned all regyons / of the worlde ryght wy&s;ely</L>
<L>Tyll Iulyus Ce&s;ar / excellynge all conquerours</L>
<L>Subdued Pompeius / and toke the hole monarchy</L>
<L>And the rule of Rome / to hym &s;elfe manfully</L>
<L>But Ca&s;&s;ius Brutus / the fals con&s;pyratour</L>
<L>Cau&s;ed to be &s;layne / the &s;ayd noble emperour.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After the &s;ayd Iulyus / &s;ucceded his &s;y&s;ter &s;one</L>
<L>Called Octauyanus / in the imperyall &s;ee</L>
<L>And by his precepte / was made de&s;crypcyon</L>
<L>To euery regyon / lande / &s;hyre / and cytee</L>
<L>A trybute to pay / vnto his dygnyte</L>
<L>That tyme was / vnyuer&s;all peas and honour</L>
<L>In whiche tyme was borne / our ble&s;&s;ed &s;auyoure.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>All the&s;e hy&s;toryes / noble and auncyent</L>
<L>Reioy&s;ynge the audyence / he &s;ange with plea&s;uer</L>
<L>And many other mo / of the newe te&s;tament</L>
<L>Plea&s;aunt and profytable / for theyr &s;oules cure</L>
<L>Whiche be omytted / now not put in vre</L>
<L>The myny&s;ters were redy / theyr offyce to fulfyll</L>
<L>To take vp the tables / at theyr lordes wyll.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan this noble fee&s;t / and great &s;olempnyte</L>
<PB REF="38" MS="y">
<L>Dayly endurynge / a longe tyme and &s;pace</L>
<L>Was royally ended / with honour and royalte</L>
<L>Eche kynge at other / ly&s;ence taken hace</L>
<L>And &s;o departed from thens / to theyr place</L>
<L>Kynge Vulfer retourned / with wor&s;hyp and renowne</L>
<L>Frome the hou&s;e of Ely / to his owne man&s;yon.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="17" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Of the holy profe&s;&s;yon &amp; gho&s;tly conuer&s;acyon &s;aynt Werburge v&s;ed at Ely in relygyon / vnder &s;aynt Audry her abbe&s;&s;e and co&s;yn. Ca. xvii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>SO whan this vyrgyn / the &s;pou&s;e of Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>Had fully contynued / in holy relygyon</L>
<L>With mekene&s;&s;e / pacyens / and all vertu</L>
<L>Fully the yere / of her probacyon</L>
<L>Than &s;he made in&s;taunce / for her profe&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Vnto &s;aynt Audry / her lady and abbe&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Whiche &s;oone was graunted / with great gladne&s;&s;e.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Ordynaunce they made / and great royalte</L>
<L>Her frendes were called / agayn&s;t that &s;ea&s;on</L>
<L>She was profe&s;&s;ed / with great humylyte</L>
<L>The ob&s;eruaunce done / with due deuocyon</L>
<L>She made &s;olempne vowe / of gho&s;tly conuer&s;acyon</L>
<L>Mekely to ob&s;erue / obedyence and cha&s;tyte</L>
<L>Endurynge her lyfe / and wylfull pouerte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>By the ex&s;ample / of her perfeccyon</L>
<L>Many dyuers per&s;ones / of her noble lynage</L>
<L>Refu&s;ed this worlde / and entred relygyon</L>
<L>Renou~&s;ynge vayne plea&s;ures ryches and maryage</L>
<L>Enclyned to vertue / for theyr gho&s;tly auauntage</L>
<PB REF="39">
<L>As may be &s;pecyfyed / here after folowynge</L>
<L>Theyr names / theyr a&s;tate / and theyr good lyuynge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Now this gloryous vyrgyn / after her de&s;yre</L>
<L>Is gho&s;tly maryed / to our lorde Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>Accordynge to her entent / and true loue entyre</L>
<L>She dayly encre&s;ed / frome vertu to vertu</L>
<L>With more &s;trayter lyfe / vyces to &s;ubdu</L>
<L>The longer &s;he endured / in relygyon</L>
<L>The better &s;he prepared / her herte to deuocyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And tho this vyrgyn / clerely dyd for&s;ake</L>
<L>All ryches honours / and plea&s;ures worldly</L>
<L>With all po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yons / for her lordes &s;ake</L>
<L>She thought than &s;he reygned / moo&s;t lyke a lady</L>
<L>Cau&s;e that &s;he lyued in chry&s;tes &s;eruyce dayly</L>
<L>And certayne it is / holy &s;crypture recordynge</L>
<L>Who &s;erues well god / dothe reygne lyke a kynge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In prayer / penaunce / and / contemplacyon</L>
<L>Was all her bu&s;yne&s;&s;e / and &s;tudy alway</L>
<L>Compa&s;ynge by what maner of medytacyon</L>
<L>She myght be&s;t plea&s;e / our lorde to his pay</L>
<L>Offerynge her per&s;one / a true &s;acryfyce euery day</L>
<L>No labour her greued / loue was &s;o feruent</L>
<L>Her body vpon erthe / her &s;oule in heuen lent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Swete / comly creatures / ladyes euerychone</L>
<L>Sekynge for plea&s;ures / ryches and arayment</L>
<L>Blynded by your beaute / and &s;ynguler affeccyon</L>
<L>Con&s;yder this vyrgyn / humble and pacyent</L>
<L>A &s;pectacle of vertue / euer obedyent.</L>
<PB REF="39" MS="y">
<L>Beholde how &s;he ha&s;e / clerely layde away</L>
<L>Her royall ryche clothes / and is in meke aray.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>your garmentes now be gay and gloryous</L>
<L>Euery yere made / after a newe inuencyon</L>
<L>Of &s;ylke and veluet / co&s;tly and precyous</L>
<L>Brothered full rychely / after the bee&s;t facyon</L>
<L>Shynynge lyke angels / in your opynyon</L>
<L>Where le&s;&s;e wolde &s;uffy&s;e / and content as well</L>
<L>As all that great co&s;t / folowynge wy&s;e coun&s;ell.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>A playne ex&s;ample / now ye may take</L>
<L>Of this myghty kynges doughter dere</L>
<L>Whiche for the loue of god / dyd for&s;ake</L>
<L>All &s;uche vayne plea&s;ures / and garmentes clere</L>
<L>She gaue her&s;elfe / to penaunce and prayere</L>
<L>Wherfore fayre ladyes / do way &s;uche vanyte</L>
<L>Prepare your&s;elfe / to vertue and humylyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Some of lowe byrthe / excellynge theyr degre</L>
<L>Done couet to haue / as royall ryche ve&s;ture</L>
<L>Worldly honours / al&s;o the &s;ufferaynte</L>
<L>As they were ladyes / by lyne of nature</L>
<L>Of dredefull my&s;ery / they here the fygure</L>
<L>Prowde as a Pecocke / whelynge full bryght</L>
<L>All is but vanyte / contentynge the &s;yght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L><HI>O</HI> Gloryous vyrgyn / replete with &s;ynguler grace</L>
<L>Endowed with &s;ouerayne gyftes cele&s;tyall</L>
<L>Refu&s;ynge voyde plea&s;ures / whan thou had &s;pace</L>
<L>And honours tran&s;ytory / whiche hath brought in thrall</L>
<L>A thou&s;ande per&s;ones / in ruyne to fall</L>
<PB REF="40">
<L>A myrrour thou arte / of vyrgynall clennes</L>
<L>Of true obedyence / and perfyte mekenes.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>So Werburge profe&s;&s;ed / to her rule full ryght</L>
<L>A redolent floure / all vertue to augment</L>
<L>As Lucyfer &s;hynynge / a clere lampe of lyght</L>
<L>For whome her &s;pou&s;e / god &s;one omnypotent</L>
<L>Shewed many myracles / to euery pacyent</L>
<L>A &s;ygne her loue was / &s;upernaturall</L>
<L>Clo&s;ed in our lorde / by grace &s;upernall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The excellent goodnes / of this moynes</L>
<L>And fame of vertue / with humylyte</L>
<L>Tran&s;cended all other / in perfyte holynes</L>
<L>So that &s;undry per&s;ones / approched that party</L>
<L>For gho&s;tly conforte / coun&s;ell and remedy</L>
<L>Suche as to her came / pen&s;yue / woo / and &s;adde</L>
<L>Departed ioyfull / in &s;oule mery and gladde.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She dayly prouyded / for gho&s;tly trea&s;ure</L>
<L>To buylde her a place / a &s;ure man&s;yon</L>
<L>Euer to remayne / with ioye and endure</L>
<L>In plea&s;ure perpetuall / without corrupcyon</L>
<L>Whiche &s;he optayned / by her deuocyon</L>
<L>After this departure / to reygne as a pre&s;ydent</L>
<L>In eterne blys / with god omnypotent</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="18" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A lytell treaty&s;e of the lyfe of &s;aynt Audry abbe&s;&s;e of Ely / and of her holy couer&s;acyon and great deuocyon / vnder whome &s;aynt Werburge was made nonne / and profe&s;&s;ed. Ca. xviii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<PB REF="40" MS="y">
<L>THe yere of our lorde .vi.C.ix. and thyrty</L>
<L>Regned &s;aynt Anna / kynge of ee&s;t Englande</L>
<L>Whiche maryed &s;aynt Here&s;with / of the North party</L>
<L>They had noble y&s;&s;ue / as we vnder&s;tande</L>
<L>Prynce Aldulph and Iurwyne / in &s;tory as is founde</L>
<L>Saynt Sexburge the quene / and ble&s;&s;ed Audry</L>
<L>Saynt Ethelberge / Withburge / a holy progeny.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This ble&s;&s;ed Audry / called Etheldred</L>
<L>Of two great kyngedomes / lynyally de&s;cendynge</L>
<L>Was borne in Suffolke / as &s;ayth &s;aynt Bede</L>
<L>In a lytell vyllage / called Exmynge</L>
<L>This noble prynces / and dere derlynge</L>
<L>With many great vertues / of grace illumynate</L>
<L>Magnyfyed her parage / and royall a&s;tate.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This ble&s;&s;ed Audry / from her yonge aege</L>
<L>Was dy&s;po&s;ed euer / vnto &s;adnes</L>
<L>Obedyent lowly / vnto her parentage</L>
<L>Encrea&s;ynge in vertue / and con&s;taunt &s;obrynes</L>
<L>Worldely plea&s;ures / dy&s;portes / and wantonnes</L>
<L>Lyghtnes of language / and all pre&s;umpcyon</L>
<L>In this &s;ayd vyrgyn / had no domynacyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Sad and demure / &s;he was in countenaunce</L>
<L>Nothynge enclyned / vnto fragylyte</L>
<L>Benynge and pacyent / without perturbaunce</L>
<L>Meke / curteys / gentyll / full of humylyte</L>
<L>Pryde / &s;tatelenes / and &s;en&s;ualyte</L>
<L>Were not in her fou~de / by any condycyon</L>
<L>Curtey&s;e in byhauour / vnto euery per&s;one.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="41">
<L>No man was greued / nor toke dy&s;plea&s;ure</L>
<L>At this &s;ayd mayden / in her fathers hall</L>
<L>Euery hone&s;t per&s;one / and rea&s;onable creature</L>
<L>Were plea&s;ed with her / bothe one and all</L>
<L>None dy&s;content / pryuate nor generall</L>
<L>She was &s;o meke / and full of pacyence</L>
<L>That people de&s;yred / to come to her pre&s;ence.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She was beauteous / fayre and amyable</L>
<L>Plea&s;aunte to beholde / in gyftes of nature</L>
<L>Her countenaunce comly / &s;wete / louely / and &s;table</L>
<L>Nothynge dy&s;po&s;ed / vnto worldely plea&s;ure</L>
<L>More lyke an angell by all coniecture</L>
<L>Than a fragyll mayde / of &s;en&s;uall appetyte</L>
<L>For in vayne plea&s;ures / &s;he had no delyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan that &s;he came / to yeres of dy&s;crecyon</L>
<L>Dyuers her moeued / in way of maryage</L>
<L>Some offered ryches / royalte / and renowne</L>
<L>Some other po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yons landes and herytage</L>
<L>And &s;ome the &s;ufferaynte / her mynde to a&s;&s;wage</L>
<L>All the&s;e &s;he refu&s;ed / for the loue of Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>To whome &s;he auowed / her cha&s;tyte full tru.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After that Venus / had her longe a&s;&s;ayled</L>
<L>To peruerte her mynde / to worldly affeccyon</L>
<L>And of all nettes and engynes / therof had fayled</L>
<L>Than came to her pre&s;ence / a prynce of renowne</L>
<L>Called duke Tombert / of the ee&s;t regyon</L>
<L>Whiche longe de&s;yred / to haue her in &s;pou&s;age</L>
<L>At the la&s;te optayned / the wyll of her parentage.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="41" MS="y">
<L>Vnto whiche thynge he wolde neuer enclyne</L>
<L>For all the mocyon of her hye parentes</L>
<L>Tyll &s;he was a&s;&s;ured / by heuenly doctryne</L>
<L>To kepe her vyrgynyte / clere in con&s;cyens</L>
<L>Than &s;he con&s;ented / without concupy&s;cens</L>
<L>And with the &s;ayd duke / &s;he lyued in cha&s;tyte</L>
<L>Bothe mayden and wyfe / almo&s;t yeres thre.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After who&s;e dethe / &s;he remayned in Ely</L>
<L>In fa&s;tynge / prayer / vygyls / and penaunce</L>
<L>Whiche place was gyuen / to her Ioynt and dowry</L>
<L>By Tombert her hu&s;bande / with great plea&s;aunce</L>
<L>This yle of Ely / by deuyne purueaunce</L>
<L>With muddy waters / is compa&s;ed aboute</L>
<L>Theyr enemyes to greue / and &s;trongely to holde out.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thyder came Ggbyrct / kynge of the north parte</L>
<L>To de&s;yre &s;aynt Audry / in matrymony</L>
<L>To whome &s;he wolde neuer / con&s;ent in herte</L>
<L>For no maner coun&s;eyll / that myght be done truly</L>
<L>Tho her &s;y&s;ter Sexburge / moeued her tenderly</L>
<L>Tyll the angell of god / a&s;&s;ured her to be</L>
<L>Quene / wyfe / and mayde / kepynge vyrgynyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Than Audry graunted / maryed for to be</L>
<L>Vnto this fore&s;ayd / noble kynge Egfryde</L>
<L>And at the maryage / was great &s;olempnyte</L>
<L>Tryumphes honoures / on euery &s;yde</L>
<L>Great co&s;t and royalte / they dyd prouyde</L>
<L>Frome Ely departed / vnto his owne place</L>
<L>In the North parted wellynge / with great &s;olace</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="42" MS="y">
<L>By the grace of our lorde god / moo&s;t of myght</L>
<L>And helpe of his mother / ble&s;&s;ed mayd mary</L>
<L>By prayer of Audry / and by myracle ryght</L>
<L>Togyder they lyued / bothe in pure cha&s;tyte</L>
<L>The naturall mocyon / of his la&s;cyuyte</L>
<L>Was &s;hortly &s;laked / and feruent de&s;yre</L>
<L>By myracle / as water quencheth the fyre.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan he apperceyued / her a&s;ured con&s;taunce</L>
<L>Her perfyte holynes / and cha&s;t contynence</L>
<L>His herte reio&s;ed / of her contynuaunce</L>
<L>Of whome &s;he de&s;yred / with humble reuerence</L>
<L>And &s;ynguler &s;upplycacyon to haue fre ly&s;ence</L>
<L>At Canwod abbay / to enter relygyon</L>
<L>Whiche the kynge graunted / for her deuocyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Saynt Ebba &s;y&s;ter / vnto &s;aynt O&s;wolde</L>
<L>Was abbe&s;&s;e and ruler / of that congregacyon</L>
<L>Where ble&s;&s;ed Audry / ryght as &s;he wolde</L>
<L>Was reuerently receyued / into relygyon</L>
<L>And after the yere / of her probacyon</L>
<L>Profe&s;&s;ed there was / by by&s;&s;hop Wylfryde</L>
<L>Where all worldly honours &s;he &s;et on &s;yde.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Frome thens &s;he departed / to the yle of Ely</L>
<L>More quyetly to lyue / out of bu&s;yne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>For drede of the kynge / her hu&s;bande truly</L>
<L>Purpo&s;ynge to take her / frome that holyne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>She toke two maydens / with her doubtle&s;&s;e</L>
<L>And in theyr Iournay / our lorde of his grace</L>
<L>Shewed dyuers myracles / at eche re&s;tynge place.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="42" MS="y">
<L>The archeby&s;&s;hop of yorke / Wylfryde her confe&s;&s;our</L>
<L>Was depryued frome his benefyce / by the kynge cruelly</L>
<L>Ob&s;erued pacyence / laudynge our &s;auyour</L>
<L>And folowed &s;aynt Audry / to the place of Ely</L>
<L>Whiche (as afore is &s;ayd) was her Ioynt and dowry</L>
<L>And electe her abbe&s;&s;e / on that congregacyon</L>
<L>Moo&s;t worthy to be / for her holy conuer&s;acyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Where Audry buylded / a chyrche of our lady</L>
<L>With helpe of kynge Aldulph / her brother naturall</L>
<L>Dy&s;taunt a myle / frome the olde mona&s;tery</L>
<L>Founded by &s;aynt Au&s;tyn / for meryte &s;pyrytuall</L>
<L>Whiche place all de&s;olate / &s;he edyfyed full &s;pecyall</L>
<L>By her prouy&s;yon / an other noble mona&s;tery</L>
<L>The yere of grace / &s;yxe hundreth &s;euenty and thre.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan the werke was ended / as her wyll was</L>
<L>She endowed the abbay / with fraunches and lyberte</L>
<L>And gaue the hole yle of Ely / to that place</L>
<L>With all commodytes / profettes / and y&s;&s;ues fre</L>
<L>Frome all exaccyons / exempte clerely to be</L>
<L>Of kynge and by&s;&s;hop / confyrmed it at Rome</L>
<L>With all prelates &amp; prynces / con&s;entynge of this regyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In &s;hort tyme and &s;pace / to Audry dyd re&s;orte</L>
<L>Relygyous men and women / a great company</L>
<L>Profe&s;&s;ed in that place / for theyr gho&s;tly conforte</L>
<L>Renoun&s;ynge vayne plea&s;ures / &amp; honours tran&s;&s;ytory</L>
<L>Amonge whome &s;aynt Werburge / profe&s;&s;ed &s;olemply</L>
<L>Promy&s;ed in audyence / to lyue a lyfe mone&s;tycall</L>
<L>After &s;aynt Bene<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">tes rule / for the lyfe eternall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="43" MS="y">
<L>Al&s;o the yere of grace / &s;yxe hundreth &s;euenty and nyne</L>
<L>In the moneth of Iulii / in the nynth kalendas</L>
<L>To heuen departed / &s;aynt Audry the quene</L>
<L>Than reygnynge in Kent / kynge Lothary by grace</L>
<L>Aldulph in ee&s;t Englande / her brother whiche was</L>
<L>Kynge Offryde her hu&s;bande / in Northumberlande</L>
<L>Al&s;o kynge Ethelrede / than reygnynge in Mercelande</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="19" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A breue reher&s;al of y^e lyfe of &s;aynt Sexburge / grau~d mother to &s;aynt Werburge. And of her comynge to Ely to her &s;y&s;ter Audry from Shepay mona&s;tery. Ca. xix.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THe holy matrone / and quene &s;aynt Sexburge</L>
<L>A kynges doughter / &amp; moder to kynges twayne</L>
<L>Sy&s;ter to &s;aynt Audry / &amp; graundmother to Werburge</L>
<L>Of noble parentage / is comen certayne</L>
<L>Of two realmes de&s;cendynge / lynyally and playne</L>
<L>By her father / from the realme of ee&s;t Englande</L>
<L>And by her mother / frome Northumberlande.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her father &s;aynt Anna / as &s;ayth myne auctour</L>
<L>Was kynge of the ee&s;t parte / &s;one to Egnicius</L>
<L>Whiche Anna was maryed / with moche honour</L>
<L>To Here&s;with / doughter to kynge Herericius</L>
<L>And &s;y&s;ter to &s;aynt Hylde / the vyrgyn gracyous</L>
<L>To whome &s;aynt Edwyn / the gloryous martyr</L>
<L>Kynge of Northumberlande / was great graundfather.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This &s;ayd kynge Anna / lyued a longe &s;pace</L>
<L>In welthe / wor&s;hyp / honour / and pro&s;peryte</L>
<L>With his quene Here&s;with / by &s;ynguler grace</L>
<L>Ob&s;eruynge Iu&s;tyce / pacyence / and equyte</L>
<PB REF="43">
<L>Kepte the preceptes / of god almyghte</L>
<L>Mercyfull and lyberall / to the poore in payne</L>
<L>Whiche kynge by Penda / was murdred and &s;layne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>As the ryuer pa&s;&s;eth / oftetymes the heed fountayne</L>
<L>The lytell graffe or ympe / tran&s;cendeth the tree</L>
<L>Lykewy&s;e theyr chyldren / encre&s;ed certayne</L>
<L>In mekenes / pacyence / and perfyte charyte</L>
<L>Aboue theyr parentes / in vertue and benygnyte</L>
<L>So that theyr name / lynage / and hye a &s;tate</L>
<L>By them was magnyfyed / pray&s;ed and decorate.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Kynge Anna and Here&s;with / had a noble y&s;&s;ue</L>
<L>Syxe goodly chyldren / plea&s;aunt to beholde</L>
<L>None fayrer in this lande / myndynge all vertue</L>
<L>And to all good maners / dy&s;po&s;ed manyfolde</L>
<L>yet was theyr fayrenes / not equall to be tolde</L>
<L>To theyr deuocyon / and &s;ynguler goodnes</L>
<L>Who&s;e names expre&s;&s;ed / ben afore doubtles.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Sexburge the elde&s;t / of the &s;y&s;ters all</L>
<L>In&s;tructe by her parentes / in vertuous dy&s;cyplyne</L>
<L>Folowynge theyr coun&s;ell / in herte full &s;pecyall</L>
<L>Prepared her &s;oule / after theyr doctryne</L>
<L>For aboue the age / of &s;o yonge a femynyne</L>
<L>So that euery day / by grace and wy&s;dome</L>
<L>In her dyd growe / &s;ome plant of deuocyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In all this realme / dylated was her fame</L>
<L>That whan &s;he approched / vnto lawfull aege</L>
<L>Prynces / dukes / erles / herynge of her name</L>
<L>De&s;yred to haue Sexburge / in maryage</L>
<PB REF="44">
<L>And bu&s;yly laboured / vnto her parentage</L>
<L>This mayd was maryed / with honourfull excellent</L>
<L>Vnto Ercombert / the noble kynge of Kent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>To whome kynge Ethelbryct graundfather was</L>
<L>The fyr&s;t chry&s;ten kynge / of Saxons and chefe floure</L>
<L>Bapty&s;ed by &s;aynt Au&s;tyn / thrughe heuenly grace</L>
<L>He was to holy chyrche / a &s;pecyall benefactour</L>
<L>Mona&s;teryes and pryores / fou~ded with great honoure</L>
<L>Kynge Eadbalde his &s;one / exemple of hym toke</L>
<L>Whiche was father to Ercombert / as &s;ayth my boke.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This lady Sexburge / cyrcumful&s;ed with grace</L>
<L>After her de&s;yre / and vertuous entent</L>
<L>Had leuer the mona&s;tery / than the fayre palace</L>
<L>The chyrche to vy&s;yte / than with maryage be lent</L>
<L>But to her parentes / &s;he was euer obedyent</L>
<L>Folowynge theyr coun&s;eyll / and of her frendes dere</L>
<L>In lawfull maryage / toke the &s;ayd kynge her fere.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>A noble generacyon / &s;he hadde by the kynge</L>
<L>Egbryct and Lothary / two prynces prepotent</L>
<L>And two holy doughters / in vertue &s;hynynge</L>
<L>Ermenylde and Erkengode / by lynyall de&s;cent</L>
<L>This Ermenylde maryed / with honour equyualent</L>
<L>Vnto kynge Vulfer / had a royall y&s;&s;ue</L>
<L>The gloryous Werburge / replete with vertue.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her &s;y&s;ter Erkengode / refu&s;ed vtterly</L>
<L>Honours / wor&s;hyp / and worldly po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Ryches / maryage / and plea&s;ures tran&s;ytory</L>
<L>Went vnto Fraunce / with humble deuocyon</L>
<PB REF="44" MS="y">
<L>At the Cytee of Burges / entred relygyon</L>
<L>Where Ethelberge her aunt / was ruler and abbe&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Togyder they lyued / in perfyte holyne&s;&s;e.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This honorable Sexburge / and ble&s;&s;ed matrone</L>
<L>Refu&s;ynge worldly honours / and &s;olempnyte</L>
<L>Preferred mekene&s;&s;e / and perfyte deuocyon</L>
<L>Aboue all ryches / power and dygnyte</L>
<L>Auoyded ambycyon / ob&s;erued humylyte</L>
<L>Vpon poore people / euer had compa&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>And them releued / with due myny&s;tracyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She made her palace / manytymes an ho&s;pytall</L>
<L>Her pryuate cubycle / a deuoute oratory</L>
<L>As a kynde mother amyable / in courte and in hall</L>
<L>Mekely fulfylled / the &s;euen werkes of mercy</L>
<L>Oftetymes in the chyrche / &s;elde amonge company</L>
<L>yet euer whan &s;he myght / haue tyme and &s;pace</L>
<L>Magnyfyed and pray&s;ed / our lorde in &s;ecrete place.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She in&s;tructe her hu&s;bande / in gho&s;tly vertu</L>
<L>To great lolyne&s;&s;e / and &s;ynguler perfeccyon</L>
<L>So by her coun&s;eyll / with the grace of Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>Frome infydelyte / purged was that regyon</L>
<L>De&s;troyed theyr ydolles / theyr &s;ectes euerychone</L>
<L>Be&s;taured temples / vnto chry&s;tes honour</L>
<L>Founded mona&s;teryes / by her co&s;t and labour.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The kynge by her mocyon / commaunded &s;traytly</L>
<L>All his people and &s;ubiectes / vpon &s;harpe correccyon</L>
<L>To ob&s;erue prayer / and penaunce deuoutely</L>
<L>And truly for to fa&s;t / the holy tyme of Lenton</L>
<PB REF="45" MS="y">
<L>The archby&s;&s;hop Theodorus / and fathers of relygyon</L>
<L>Con&s;yderynge her pacyence / and benygnyte</L>
<L>Reioy&s;ed in her dedes / and pray&s;ed the trynyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan the famous Ercombert / the &s;ayd kynge of Kent</L>
<L>Foure &amp; twenty yere had reygned / in honour full royall</L>
<L>With ble&s;&s;ed Sexburge his quene excellent</L>
<L>Than he departed / frome this lyfe mortall</L>
<L>The quene prepared / the ob&s;equyes funerall</L>
<L>With great lamentacyon / and great royalte</L>
<L>As was conuenyent / for his &s;tate and degre.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After that Sexburge / refu&s;ed worldely plea&s;ure</L>
<L>Entred relygyon / profe&s;&s;ed cha&s;tyte</L>
<L>At Shepay mona&s;tery / in Kent full &s;ure</L>
<L>Buylded at her co&s;t / full honorable</L>
<L>After electe Abbe&s;&s;e / and ruler of that companye</L>
<L>To whome &s;he was / a myrrour of mekenes</L>
<L>And exemple of vertue / and proued holynes.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>As &s;he was occupyed / in medytacyon</L>
<L>An heuenly me&s;&s;anger / to her was &s;ent</L>
<L>Shewynge how for &s;ynne / and tran&s;gre&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Englande &s;hulde &s;uffer / great puny&s;ment</L>
<L>And be &s;ubdued / with greuous torment</L>
<L>Wherfore &s;he lefte / in good rule that place</L>
<L>And dyd electe to them / an other abbace.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Sexburge toke lycence / of her &s;y&s;ters all</L>
<L>Commendynge them / vnto the trynyte</L>
<L>And &s;o departed / fro her chyldren &s;pyrytuall</L>
<L>With labour attayned / to the hous of Elye</L>
<PB REF="45" MS="y">
<L>There to be &s;ubiecte / to Her&s;y&s;ter Audrye</L>
<L>And to her doctryne / apply her entent</L>
<L>Vnto relygyon / euer founde obedyent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Saynt Audry was gladde / of her &s;y&s;ters comynge</L>
<L>In lyke maner / were all the hole congregacyon</L>
<L>With myrthes and &s;olace / in &s;oule reioy&s;ynge</L>
<L>To haue the pre&s;ence / of &s;o worthy a per&s;one</L>
<L>There lyued togyder / in perfyte deuocyon</L>
<L>Tyll ble&s;&s;ed Audry / frome this lyfe mortall</L>
<L>Departed was / to the lyfe eternall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After who&s;e buryall / Sexburge was electe</L>
<L>To be abbe&s;&s;e and ruler / ouer that couent</L>
<L>Whiche to all vertue / her mynde dyd erecte</L>
<L>And the .xvi. yere after / with labours dylygent</L>
<L>She tran&s;late &s;aynt Audry / that noble pre&s;ydent</L>
<L>Beynge hole incorrupte / al&s;o &s;ub&s;tancyall</L>
<L>In body and in ve&s;ture / by grace &s;upernall.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="20" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; How &s;aynt Ermenylde after the dethe of kynge Vul+fer her hu&s;ba~de was made a nonne at Ely / vnder her mo+ther &s;aynt Sexburge abbe&s;&s;e / and Werburge her de|uoute doughter. Ca. xx.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>OF Mercye~s the kynge / wha~ the fore&s;ayd Vulfere</L>
<L>Had regned in honour / wor&s;hyp and royalte</L>
<L>With &s;aynt Ermenylde his quene / fully .xvii. yere</L>
<L>Vnto euerla&s;tynge bly&s;&s;e / departed than he</L>
<L>And buryed was / with moche &s;olempnyte</L>
<L>In Lychefelde chyrche / after hym there dyd &s;uccede</L>
<L>In to the kyngdome / his brother Ethelrede.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="46">
<L>The quene for her hu&s;bande / made great lamentacyon</L>
<L>Dolefully lamentynge / nyght and day his departure</L>
<L>As nature enquyred / endurynge a longe &s;ea&s;on</L>
<L>Remayned in wydohode / and mournynge ve&s;ture</L>
<L>yet after all heuyne&s;&s;e / penaunce / and dy&s;confyture</L>
<L>She reioy&s;ed in &s;oule / to be at lyberte</L>
<L>Entendynge relygyon / by grace of the trynyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Soone &s;he departed / to the hous of Ely</L>
<L>Refu&s;ynge this worlde / plea&s;ures po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>In&s;tauntly requyred / with perfyte humylyte</L>
<L>To be a moynes / accepte in relygyon</L>
<L>Gladde was the abbe&s;&s;e / of her conuer&s;yon</L>
<L>And thanked our lorde / of his &s;pecyall grace</L>
<L>So dyd all the &s;y&s;ters / within the &s;ayd place.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her naturall mother / ble&s;&s;ed Sexburge</L>
<L>That tyme was lady / and chefe pre&s;ydent</L>
<L>There was profe&s;&s;ed / her doughter Werburge</L>
<L>An exemple of mekenes / to all the couent</L>
<L>Ermenylde thanked god / and was obedyent</L>
<L>To her mother Sexburge / a myrrour of vertu</L>
<L>Al&s;o to her doughter / the &s;pou&s;es of Ihe&s;u.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>It pa&s;&s;eth mannes rea&s;on / playnly to expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Her vertuous lyfe / and gho&s;tly conuer&s;acyon</L>
<L>In prayer / penaunce / and proued mekene&s;&s;e</L>
<L>In perfyte obedyence / and &s;ynguler deuocyon</L>
<L>In vygyls / ab&s;tynence / and in hye perfeccyon</L>
<L>The cotydyane labours / her body to cha&s;tyce</L>
<L>That her &s;oule may be / to god true &s;acryfyce.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="46">
<L>Bycau&s;e that Werburge / in order was &s;enyoure</L>
<L>Her mother Ermenylde / gaue her the &s;ufferaynte</L>
<L>Preferrynge her doughter / with mekenes and honoure</L>
<L>But yet her doughter / of a naturall amyte</L>
<L>Preferred her mother / with humble &s;enyoryte</L>
<L>And &s;o bytwene them / was a &s;wete contencyon</L>
<L>Wheder &s;hulde more &s;ubiecte be / to other in relygyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Afore whan Ermenylde / was vnder maryage</L>
<L>Vnto holy matrones / &s;he was comparable</L>
<L>Sara / Rebecca / Rachell / and Sybell &s;age</L>
<L>And &s;aynt Ely&s;abeth / with other mo honorable</L>
<L>Now in relygyon / &s;he is moo&s;t notable</L>
<L>Knowen by her vertues / and &s;adde dy&s;po&s;ycyon</L>
<L>What vnder matrymony / was her intencyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Ermenylde &s;ubdued / by &s;ynguler deuyne grace</L>
<L>All fragyll mocyons / and &s;en&s;ualyte</L>
<L>Lyke maner as Iudyth / Olofernes &s;layne hace</L>
<L>She mortyfyed all plea&s;ures / lu&s;tes and volupte</L>
<L>Lykewy&s;e as Iaell / dyd the prynce Sy&s;are</L>
<L>A duches of vertue / as whylom was Delbora</L>
<L>V&s;ed the oratory / in prayer as dyd Anna.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After the departure / and wofull buryall</L>
<L>Of Sexburge her mother / abbe&s;&s;e and lady</L>
<L>Her doughter Ermenylde / the ble&s;&s;ed monyall</L>
<L>Was cho&s;en abbe&s;&s;e / and ruler of Ely</L>
<L>As &s;heweth dan Wyllyam / of Maluy&s;bury</L>
<L>How fyr&s;t was Audry / than Sexburge her &s;y&s;ter</L>
<L>Afterwarde was abbe&s;&s;e / Ermenylde her doughter.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="47" MS="y">
<L>The lyfe of Ermenylde / was euer vertuous</L>
<L>Plea&s;aunt to god / and her &s;y&s;ters euerychone</L>
<L>In the &s;yght of god / her dethe was precyous</L>
<L>Playnly notyfyed / by her conuer&s;acyon</L>
<L>She vertuou&s;ly gouerned / her congregacyon</L>
<L>Frome this lyfe departed / to eternall glory</L>
<L>As &s;ayth her legende / the Idus of February.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And buryed was / with moche lamentacyon</L>
<L>In the holy mona&s;tery / and hou&s;e of Ely</L>
<L>Amonge her parentage / and congregacyon</L>
<L>Where &s;he is &s;hryned / with her aunt &s;aynt Audry</L>
<L>And with her mother / &s;aynt Sexburge rychely</L>
<L>For whome our &s;auyour / of his &s;pecyall grace</L>
<L>Sheweth dayly myracles / in that &s;ayd place.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>One of the myracles / we &s;hall now rehers</L>
<L>Our lorde for her &s;hewed / at Ely abbay</L>
<L>After her tran&s;lacyon / the &s;tory dothe expres</L>
<L>It fortuned in Whyt&s;on weke / vpon a thur&s;day</L>
<L>An Engly&s;&s;hman was bounden / in wofull aray</L>
<L>Fetered with yrons / bothe on handes and fete</L>
<L>Wrongfully accu&s;ed / as ye may all wete.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>By in&s;taunt reque&s;t / he gate hym lycence</L>
<L>To vy&s;yte the tombe / of &s;aynt Ermenylde</L>
<L>Whome he requyred / with humble reuerence</L>
<L>And meke petycyon / frome the herte full mylde</L>
<L>To be delyuered / and fully recon&s;ylde</L>
<L>Who&s;e humble de&s;yre / and &s;ynguler &s;upplycacyon</L>
<L>Was fully graunted / to his con&s;olacyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="47" MS="y">
<L>At this tyme / whan this holy man was prayenge</L>
<L>Whan the Deken redde the holy go&s;pell</L>
<L>By meane of Ermenylde / to our lorde and kynge</L>
<L>Frome his handes and fete / the yrons done fell</L>
<L>By grace aboue nature / merueylou&s;ly to tell</L>
<L>That the &s;ayd yrons / in &s;yght of all the bretherne</L>
<L>Sprange vp &s;odenly / and lyght vpon the aulter.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<HEAD>&para; Aliud miraculum.</HEAD>
<L>AN other myracle / declare now may we</L>
<L>Done at the &s;ayd Ely / by this holy matrone</L>
<L>In pre&s;ence of the pryor / and all the fraternyte</L>
<L>Whiche pryor of this mater / had be&s;t notycyon</L>
<L>A&s;cole may&s;ter of Innocentes / after the cu&s;tome</L>
<L>Gaue ly&s;ence / vpon &s;aynt Ermenyldes day</L>
<L>To all his chyldren / to &s;port them in play.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan the fee&s;t / and &s;olempnyte was done</L>
<L>The yonge tender chyldren / wanton and neclygent</L>
<L>Dredynge theyr may&s;ter / for fere of correccyon</L>
<L>To the holy &s;hryne / they a&s;&s;embled full dylygent</L>
<L>Tru&s;tynge therby of pardon / after theyr entent</L>
<L>De&s;yred theyr may&s;ter / for&s;aynt Ermenyldes &s;ake</L>
<L>To pardon theyr tre&s;pas / and no dy&s;plea&s;ure take.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The may&s;ter fulfylled / with ha&s;tynes and euny</L>
<L>Toke them frome the tombe / with great indygnacyon</L>
<L>Without dy&s;crecyon / puny&s;&s;hed them greuou&s;ly</L>
<L>Gyuynge no honour / to the &s;aynt ne deuocyon</L>
<L>Rebuked them &s;ore / &s;ayenge with in&s;ultacyon</L>
<L>Trowe ye to be &s;pared / from puny&s;hment this day</L>
<L>For &s;aynt Ermenyldes &s;ake / nay nay do way.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="48" MS="y">
<L>After all this done / the nexte nyght folowynge</L>
<L>Whan the &s;ayd may&s;ter / to his bedde was gone</L>
<L>His great vnkyndenes / &s;aynt Ermenylde reme~brynge</L>
<L>Rewarned hym Iu&s;tly / after his guerdon</L>
<L>His handes and his fete / prompte to per&s;ecucyon</L>
<L>Were &s;odenly &s;mytten / made lame / contracte al&s;o</L>
<L>No power had to ry&s;e / to moeue nor to go.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This &s;odayne puny&s;&s;hement / langour / confu&s;yon</L>
<L>Vexed hym greuou&s;ly in all his body</L>
<L>Moo&s;t terryble of all of helthe de&s;peracyon</L>
<L>Inwardly hym troubled / with peynes horryble</L>
<L>But yet by grace / he thought be&s;t remedy</L>
<L>Sende for his chyldren / vpon the other day</L>
<L>Humble a&s;ked them pardon / in a wofull aray.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>De&s;yrynge his &s;colers / for loue and charyte</L>
<L>To cary hym moo&s;t carefull / to her &s;epulture</L>
<L>To requyre for hym grace / helthe and pro&s;peryte</L>
<L>Of god and &s;aynt Ermenylde / with all theyr cure</L>
<L>They toke hym tenderly / ye may me leue full &s;ure</L>
<L>Amonge them all with mynde dylygent</L>
<L>And brought to the &s;hryne / this wretched impotent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>They prayed for hym / to our ble&s;&s;ed &s;auyour</L>
<L>And to &s;aynt Ermenylde / a longe tyme and &s;pace</L>
<L>Knelynge on theyr knees / wepynge full &s;ore</L>
<L>In prayer and p&s;almody / for his helthe and &s;olace</L>
<L>And &s;o contynuynge / by our lordes great grace</L>
<L>He that afore was lame / bothe on fote and hande</L>
<L>Re&s;tored to helthe / departed hole and &s;ounde.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="21" TYPE="chapter">
<PB REF="48" MS="y">
<HEAD>&para; How kynge Ethelrede &s;eynge the holy conuer&s;acyon of Werburge his nece / made her lady and abbe&s;&s;e at We+don / Trentam / and Humbury. And by her cou~&s;eyll and ex&s;ample was made mo~ke at Bardeney abbay. Ca. xxi.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THe famous prynce / and fore&s;ayd Ethelrede</L>
<L>Brother to kyng Vulfer / as lawfull enherytour</L>
<L>To the &s;ayd kyngedome / dyd nexte hym &s;uccede</L>
<L>Electe of his peeres / with wor&s;hyp and honour</L>
<L>Permytted by his chyrche / to be theyr gouernour</L>
<L>Bycau&s;e prynce Kenrede / his brother fone</L>
<L>Was yonge and not able / to rule his kyngdome.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This &s;ayd kynge Ethelrede / clerely con&s;yderynge</L>
<L>With due cyrcum&s;taunce / the hye perfeccyon</L>
<L>Of Werburge his nece / and vertuous lyuynge</L>
<L>Her great holyne&s;&s;e / and gho&s;tly conuer&s;acyon</L>
<L>Dayly encre&s;ynge / with feruent deuocyon</L>
<L>The excellent fame / and myracles full ryght</L>
<L>Shewed by our &s;auyour / bothe day and nyght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The&s;e good ex&s;amples / grounded in vertu</L>
<L>Moeued kynge Ethelrede / in &s;oule and in mynde</L>
<L>And clerely conuerted / throwe the grace of Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>To de&s;py&s;e this worlde / wretched and blynde</L>
<L>Pryncypally by grace / wryten as we fynde</L>
<L>For her great goodnes / and vertues excellent</L>
<L>He made her lady / ruler / and pre&s;ydent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Ouer all the nonnes / of euery mona&s;tery</L>
<L>Within his realme / to gouerne and to guyde</L>
<L>To in&s;tructe and informe / and to exemplyfy</L>
<PB REF="49" MS="y">
<L>To encre&s;e deuocyon / vpon euery &s;yde</L>
<L>Vertue to exalte / to &s;ubdue vyce and pryde</L>
<L>That holy relygyon / plea&s;aunt to chry&s;t Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>Myght dayly encre&s;e / frome vertu to vertu.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o he gaue Werburge / great po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Landes / and rentes / ryches withall</L>
<L>To edyfy and repayre / places of relygyon</L>
<L>After her de&s;yre / with fauour &s;pecyall</L>
<L>Wherwith &s;he buylded / famous memoryall</L>
<L>Two fayre mona&s;teryes / Trentam and Humbury</L>
<L>Po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ed with rentes / landes / and lyberte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o by &s;ufferaunce / of the &s;ayd kynge truly</L>
<L>She tran&s;late the kynges maner of Wedon</L>
<L>Whiche was in Hampton&s;kyre / vnto a mona&s;tery</L>
<L>Of holy women / ob&s;eruynge relygyon</L>
<L>Suffycyently endowed / with lybertes / po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Of whiche &s;ayd places / &s;he had the gouernaunce</L>
<L>As worthy may&s;tres / all vertue to auaunce.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The yere of grace / &s;yxe hundreth foure &s;core and nyen</L>
<L>As &s;heweth myne auctour / a Bryton Giraldus</L>
<L>Kynge Ethelred / myndynge moo&s;t the bly&s;&s;e of heuen</L>
<L>Edyfyed a collage chyrche / notable and famous</L>
<L>In the &s;ubbarbes of Che&s;ter / plea&s;aunt and beauteous</L>
<L>In the honour of god / and the Bapty&s;t &s;aynt Iohan</L>
<L>With helpe of by&s;&s;hop Vulfryce / and good exortacyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o at the humble / and &s;ynguler &s;upplycacyon</L>
<L>Of ble&s;&s;ed Egwyn / by&s;&s;hop of worce&s;tur</L>
<L>This kynge gaue a place / for a fundacyon</L>
<PB REF="49" MS="y">
<L>To buylde a mona&s;tery / to relygyous brethur</L>
<L>At Eu&s;am vpon Auen / for heuenly tre&s;ur</L>
<L>With a large precynct / to compas all the abbay</L>
<L>More quyetly to &s;erue / our &s;auyour nyght and day.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After this tyme / Ethelrede the kynge</L>
<L>By his coun&s;eyll maryed / a beautefull lady</L>
<L>Called quene O&s;tryde / a woman of good lyuynge</L>
<L>Borne in the North parte / doughter to kynge O&s;wy</L>
<L>To whome &s;aynt O&s;walde / was vncle truly</L>
<L>The y&s;&s;ue bytwene them / after to &s;uccede</L>
<L>Was a noble prynce / nomynate Colrede.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Agayn&s;t his enemyes / the kynge gate vyctory</L>
<L>Fortunate in batayle / &s;ore oppre&s;&s;ed Kent</L>
<L>In all this regyon / famous was his chyualry</L>
<L>Namely he &s;ubdued / at the water of Trent</L>
<L>Egfryde of Northumberlande / a kynge auncyent</L>
<L>His brother in lawe / whan Egfryde agayn&s;t rea&s;on</L>
<L>Entred his landes / by &s;ubtyll intru&s;yon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But after that O&s;tryde / his quene was &s;layne</L>
<L>By people of the North parte / moo&s;t cruelly</L>
<L>The kynge frome that tyme / by grace certayne</L>
<L>Chaunged his maners / and lyuynge dayly</L>
<L>Frome temporall cures / and bu&s;yne&s;&s;e worldly</L>
<L>To gho&s;tly werkes / and contemplacyon</L>
<L>Sekynge for heuen / with pure deuocyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Specyally he folowed / &s;aynt Werburge coun&s;ell</L>
<L>V&s;ynge hym after / her &s;wete gho&s;tly doctryne</L>
<L>The clere ex&s;amples / as we afore dyd tell</L>
<PB REF="50" MS="y">
<L>Moeued his con&s;cyence / to gho&s;tly dy&s;cyplyne</L>
<L>With &s;uche contrycyon / by &s;pecyall grace deuyne</L>
<L>That all vayne plea&s;ures / and honours tran&s;ytory</L>
<L>Were clere expul&s;ed / and put out of memory.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This kynge refu&s;ed / his &s;eptre and crowne</L>
<L>Clothes of Ty&s;hew / and purpull full royall</L>
<L>With ryches / lybertes / plea&s;ures / po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>For the loue of Ihe&s;u / in herte pryncaypall</L>
<L>And for the meryte / of his &s;oule helthe withall</L>
<L>So whan he had reygned / nyne and twenty yere</L>
<L>He chaunged his habyte / &s;ayth the &s;tory clere.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>At a relygyous place / nomynate Bardenay</L>
<L>In Lyncolne&s;hyre / vnder his domynyon</L>
<L>Synguler byloued / of hym alway</L>
<L>De&s;yred the habyte / with meke &s;upplycacyon</L>
<L>And was receyued / profe&s;&s;ynge relygyon</L>
<L>Euer after to ob&s;erue / the e&s;&s;encyals thre</L>
<L>Obedyence / cha&s;tyte / and wylfull pouerte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>He a&s;&s;ygned his crowne / and temporall dygnyte</L>
<L>Vnto prynce Kenrede / his brother &s;one</L>
<L>As true enherytour / to haue regalyte</L>
<L>For in pure obedyence / prayer and medytacyon</L>
<L>Ethelrede encre&s;ed / with feruent deuocyon</L>
<L>And as declareth / wyllyam of Maluy&s;bury</L>
<L>After was made abbot / of the &s;ayd mona&s;tery.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="22" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; The holy conuer&s;acyon of kynge Kenred brother to &s;aynt Werburge / &amp; how he refu&s;ed his crowne / and was made monke at Rome / &amp; ther departed a holy co~fe&s;&s;our.</HEAD>
<LG>
<PB REF="50">
<L>SO whan kynge Etheldrede / by heuenly grace</L>
<L>At Bardenay abbay / profe&s;&s;ed relygyon</L>
<L>Than prynce Kenrede / his &s;ucce&s;&s;our was</L>
<L>And toke the Empyre / the &s;eptre and the crowne</L>
<L>With moche wor&s;hyp / royalte / and renowne</L>
<L>As nexte of inherytaunce / by law naturall</L>
<L>To be kynge of Mercyens / by dy&s;cent lynyall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This noble kynge Kenrede / replete with vertu</L>
<L>Brother to Werburge / ob&s;erued truly</L>
<L>The commaundymentes of god / &amp; his lawes moo&s;t tru</L>
<L>Obedyent to our &s;auyour / and lorde almyghty</L>
<L>Loued holy chyrche / moo&s;t tenderly</L>
<L>Myny&s;tred Iu&s;tyce / to his &s;ubiectes all</L>
<L>Mercyfull to the poore / pyteous and lyberall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In all his realme / was no dyuer&s;yte</L>
<L>Malyce was &s;ubdued / rancour and debate</L>
<L>Vertue encrea&s;ed / true loue and charyte</L>
<L>Enuy was exyled / and all pryuy hate</L>
<L>Thefte / murthur / robry / were founde at no gate</L>
<L>True men myght lyue / without vexacyon</L>
<L>Pollers / promoters / had no domynacyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>He gaue to our &s;auyour / and by&s;&s;hop Egwyn</L>
<L>For gho&s;tly meryte / with moche honoure</L>
<L>Of tenementes and landes / playnely to determyne</L>
<L>Within worcetur&s;hyre .iiii. &s;core and foure</L>
<L>To maynteyne the mona&s;tery / &s;poken of before</L>
<L>Eue&s;ham vpon Auen / byfore lawfull wytnes</L>
<L>As the legende of Egwyn / truly dothe expres.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="51">
<L>To the courte of Rome / kynge Kenred went</L>
<L>So dyd Offa kynge / of the ee&s;t Saxons</L>
<L>Al&s;o by&s;&s;hop Egwyn / by one a&s;&s;ent</L>
<L>Deuoutly to vy&s;yte / all the hole &s;tacyons</L>
<L>Of the cytee of Rome / with humble &s;upplycacyons</L>
<L>Thankynge our lorde / of his mercy</L>
<L>Hath them pre&s;erued / and all theyr company.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This holy by&s;&s;hop / and kynge Kenrede</L>
<L>Offered to our holy father / pope boneface</L>
<L>With mekenes deuocyon / for gho&s;tly mede</L>
<L>Afore his collage / wytnes in that ca&s;e</L>
<L>The fore&s;ayd mona&s;tery / and relygyous place</L>
<L>Frome that day euer after / to be clerely exempte</L>
<L>To the popes holynes / immedyatly obedyent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan they had optayned / perfyte expedycyon</L>
<L>Of all theyr bulles / after theyr entent</L>
<L>They toke lycence / and had the popes bene&s;on</L>
<L>And towarde Engla~de / retourned and went</L>
<L>Pray&s;ynge our lorde / with herte and loue feruent</L>
<L>For theyr good &s;pede / and pro&s;perous Iournay</L>
<L>Pre&s;erued in good helthe / all to theyr countray.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After all this done / Kenrede the &s;ayd kynge</L>
<L>Commaunded to be had / a coun&s;eyll generall</L>
<L>By letters my&s;&s;yue / his peeres and lordes cytynge</L>
<L>Shortly to be pre&s;ent / with hym one and all</L>
<L>As well the &s;pyrytualte / as the temporall</L>
<L>The Seyn was kepte / at a place called Alue</L>
<L>And thyder a&s;&s;embled / his prelates of degre.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="51">
<L>Berthtunaldus / the archeby&s;&s;hop of Canturbury</L>
<L>The archby&s;&s;hop of yorke / called Wylfryde</L>
<L>With by&s;&s;hops / &s;uffreganes / archdekens many</L>
<L>Dukes / erles / barons / vpon euery &s;yde</L>
<L>Kynghtes / e&s;quyers / and comunes that tyde</L>
<L>Were redy to knowe / the kynges mynde and plea&s;ure</L>
<L>Well ordred in place / and &s;cylence kepte &s;ure.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This gloryous Kenrede / crowned with golde</L>
<L>Clothed in purpull / ro&s;e vp fro his place</L>
<L>After due &s;alutacyon / the cau&s;e mekely he tolde</L>
<L>Why he for them &s;ende / and wherfore it was</L>
<L>That they &s;hulde te&s;tyfy / with hym in this ca&s;e</L>
<L>What landes he gaue / towarde the fundacyon</L>
<L>Of the &s;ayd mona&s;tery / with grete deuocyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And how for that abbay / he went to Rome</L>
<L>And made the place &s;ubiecte / immedyatly</L>
<L>To our father boniface / and gate an exempcyon</L>
<L>For euer to remayne / to the &s;ayd mona&s;tery</L>
<L>With pardons and pryuyleges / there redde openly</L>
<L>And many other benefytes / of great commodyte</L>
<L>Wryten in theyr grauntes / wholy&s;t them to &s;e.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Requyrynge the lordes / &s;pyrytuall and temporall</L>
<L>To graunte to the &s;ame / with good entent</L>
<L>And it to confyrme / and roborate &s;pecyall</L>
<L>With charters and dedes / and &s;eales patent</L>
<L>To who&s;e petycyon / they dyd all con&s;ent</L>
<L>Made confyrmacyons / and grauntes them amonge</L>
<L>With a terryble &s;entence / who dothe the place wronge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="52">
<L>Kynge Kenrede con&s;yderynge / the great holynes</L>
<L>Of his noble parentes / his vncles euerychone</L>
<L>Theyr royall progeny / the &s;ufferaunt goodnes</L>
<L>From this lyfe tran&s;ytory / to heuen agone</L>
<L>Namely the vertue / and feruent deuocyon</L>
<L>Of his &s;y&s;ter Werburge / and his auntes all</L>
<L>Moeued his mynde / to &s;eke for lyfe eternall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And as &s;aynt Bede &s;ayth / whan this noble kynge</L>
<L>Had regned fyue yere / in great pro&s;peryte</L>
<L>He for&s;oke this worlde / and chaunged his lyuynge</L>
<L>Refu&s;ynge his crowne / &s;eptre / and dygnyte</L>
<L>All vayne honours / ryches and regalyte</L>
<L>And made his vncles &s;one / prynce Coelrede</L>
<L>To take his empyre / after hym to &s;uccede.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>So with all gentylnes / and humylyte</L>
<L>The kynge of his &s;ubiectes / toke leue &s;pecyall</L>
<L>Commendynge his people / to the trynyte</L>
<L>Them to con&s;erue / &s;pyrytuall and temporall</L>
<L>Of his departure / dolorous were they all</L>
<L>Thus for the loue / of our &s;auyoure</L>
<L>He refu&s;ed this worlde / plea&s;ures and honoure.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And went to Rome agayne / the yere of grace</L>
<L>Seuen hundreth and eyght / by full computacyon</L>
<L>Vy&s;ytynge the &s;tacyons / frome place to place</L>
<L>There was profe&s;&s;ed to &s;aynt Benettes relygyon</L>
<L>V&s;ed vygyls / fa&s;tynges / prayer / medytacyon</L>
<L>Where this holy monke / frome this lyfe tran&s;ytory</L>
<L>With vertu departed / to eternall glory.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="23" TYPE="chapter">
<PB REF="52">
<HEAD>&para; Of y^e feruent &amp; gho&s;tly deuocyon of &s;aynt Werburge &amp; vertuous gouernau~ce of her places / &amp; of y^e great humi|lite &s;he v&s;ed to her &s;i&s;ters / &amp; al other creatures. Ca. xxiii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THis venerable Werburge / &amp; moynes gracyous</L>
<L>For her great vertue / and perfyte holyne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Electe to be gouernour / ouer the nonnes relygeous</L>
<L>By her vncle kynge Ethelrede / of his goodne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Ouer dyuers mona&s;teryes (as is &s;ayd) expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Was con&s;ecrate abbe&s;&s;e / and lady gracyous</L>
<L>By the by&s;&s;hop of Lychefelde / nomynat Sexwulfus.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And thus &s;he departed / fro the hous of Ely</L>
<L>Wherin &s;he v&s;ed / heuenly medytacyon</L>
<L>With lycence optayned / in mynde &s;ad and heuy</L>
<L>So were the &s;y&s;ters / and all the congregacyon</L>
<L>Of her departure / knowynge her conuer&s;acyon</L>
<L>But as wolde charyte / they had great gladnes</L>
<L>Knowynge by her vertue / relygyon to encres.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The &s;pou&s;es of Ihe&s;u / and floure of benygnyte</L>
<L>Con&s;yderynge her &s;elfe / a lady and pre&s;ydent</L>
<L>Ordered her mona&s;teryes: ryght well and wy&s;ele</L>
<L>Receyued in &s;y&s;ters / cha&s;t / humble / obedyent</L>
<L>Ouer them made rulers / vertuous / and pacyent</L>
<L>Her &s;ubiectes to in&s;tructe / and coun&s;eyll day and nyght</L>
<L>Vertue to exalte / and vyce depryue aryght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This noble abbe&s;&s;e / remembrynge her duty</L>
<L>What charge it is / to rule a congregacyon</L>
<L>Humble requyred / the grace of god almyghty</L>
<L>And dylygently prepared / to &s;upple her rowme</L>
<PB REF="53">
<L>Pryncypally &s;he gaue / to them euerychone</L>
<L>Perfyte ex&s;ample / of vertue in her dede</L>
<L>With vertuous doctryne / the &s;ame to procede.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>A myrrour of mekene&s;&s;e / &s;he was to them all</L>
<L>A floure of cha&s;tyte / and well of clennes</L>
<L>The fruyte of obedyence / in her was &s;pecyall</L>
<L>Refu&s;ynge vayne plea&s;ures / honours and ryches</L>
<L>Content with lytell / an ex&s;ample of lowlynes</L>
<L>As dothe belonge / vnto wylfull pouerte</L>
<L>Pryde had no re&s;ydence / but all humylyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She was a myny&s;ter / rather than a may&s;tres</L>
<L>Her great preemynence / cau&s;ed no pre&s;umpcyon</L>
<L>She was a handmayd / rather than a pryores</L>
<L>Seruynge her &s;y&s;ters / with humble &s;ubieccyon</L>
<L>Subduynge her body / to penaunce and afflyccyon</L>
<L>Subiecte to the &s;oule / as rea&s;on wolde &s;hulde be</L>
<L>A true &s;acryfyce / offered to the trynyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>It was no merueyll / tho all her couent</L>
<L>Vnder &s;uche a ruler / encrea&s;ed in vertu</L>
<L>Seynge her ex&s;ample / afore them dayly pre&s;ent</L>
<L>Euer augmentynge / throwe the helpe of Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>Worldy de&s;yres / &s;he clerely dyd &s;ubdue</L>
<L>She neuer ware lynon / by day or by nyght</L>
<L>All ryche vayne ve&s;tures / &s;he &s;et by them but lyght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In prayer medytacyon / the tyme &s;he dy&s;pent</L>
<L>Proued: for euery nyght / longe afore matyns</L>
<L>The wolde vpry&s;e / at an houre conuenyent</L>
<L>And deuoutely &s;ay / afore our lordes pre&s;ens</L>
<PB REF="53">
<L>Dauyd &s;palter holly knelynge / with great reuerence</L>
<L>Or that her &s;y&s;ters / came to the oratory</L>
<L>To &s;ay dyuyne &s;eruyce / fyndynge her all redy.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>At after matyns / &s;he v&s;ed contemplacyon</L>
<L>Contynually abydynge / vnto the day lyght</L>
<L>Pro&s;trate on the grounde / or knelynge in deuocyon</L>
<L>Wepynge full tenderly / with teeres downe ryght</L>
<L>Many holy oray&s;ons / &s;he &s;ayd day and nyght</L>
<L>Pyteous mercyable / and fulll of charyte</L>
<L>To the poore people / in theyr nece&s;&s;yte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This lady ob&s;erued / &s;uche &s;harpe ab&s;tynence</L>
<L>That one dayly repa&s;t / wolde her well &s;uffy&s;e</L>
<L>Delycate dy&s;&s;he meetes / were put out of her pre&s;ence</L>
<L>So nature were content / in moo&s;t humble wy&s;e</L>
<L>The Worde of god / was moo&s;t delycate &s;eruy&s;e</L>
<L>Myndynge moche more / the &s;oule to &s;aty&s;fy</L>
<L>Than plea&s;e and content / her enemy the body.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The&s;e &s;ayd exemples / with many other mo</L>
<L>Plea&s;aunte vnto Ihe&s;u / &s;he taught her couent</L>
<L>Them to pre&s;erue / frome theyr mortall fo</L>
<L>By &s;ynguler vertue / grace to augment</L>
<L>Her precepte and lyuynge / were euer core&s;pondent</L>
<L>She neuer commaunded &s;y&s;ter / do any thynge</L>
<L>But it was fulfylled / in her owne doynge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She exorted her chyldren / euer to deuocyon</L>
<L>With many folde doctrynes / ydlenes to exchewe</L>
<L>Lyke a tender mother / had pyte and compa&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>She dayly fedde them / and noury&s;&s;hed in all vertue</L>
<PB REF="54">
<L>And dylygently prayed / our &s;auyour Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>Them to pre&s;erue / of his infynyte grace</L>
<L>Frome peryll of pery&s;hynge / in bly&s;&s;e to &s;e his face.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o the .xii. degrees / of humylyte</L>
<L>Pacyence / quyetnes / and great perfeccyon</L>
<L>Were well ob&s;erued / with true loue and charyte</L>
<L>Amonge her &s;y&s;ters / the hole congregacyon</L>
<L>And the thre e&s;&s;encyals / of relygyon</L>
<L>Wylfull pouerte / cha&s;tyte / and obedyence</L>
<L>were truly fulfylled / proued by the con&s;equence.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>As for a pa&s;tyme / amonge her &s;y&s;ters all</L>
<L>She cau&s;ed to be redde / auoydynge ydlene&s;&s;e</L>
<L>The &s;wete legendary / for a memoryall</L>
<L>And Vitas patrum / &s;hewynge great &s;wetene&s;&s;e</L>
<L>With other narracyons / of grace and goodne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Ofttymes to her couent / &s;he had a comyn &s;ayenge</L>
<L>Plea&s;e god and loue hym / and doubte ye nothynge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>All reders excu&s;e me / tho I can not expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>For lacke of lernynge / the vertues morall</L>
<L>The hye perfeccyon / and proued holyne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Of this pure vyrgyn / and &s;anctymonyall</L>
<L>Wherwith was decorate / her lyfe mone&s;tycall</L>
<L>Manyfe&s;t With myracles / by meryte of her mekene&s;&s;e</L>
<L>As the true hy&s;tory / playnly dothe expre&s;&s;e.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The worthy myracles / of this vyrgyn pure</L>
<L>Dylated were / thrugh all this regyon</L>
<L>By deuyne &s;ufferaunce / aboue nature</L>
<L>Profytable / to euery chry&s;ten &s;ynguler per&s;one</L>
<PB REF="54">
<L>In &s;ekene&s;&s;e / trouble / peyne or vexacyon</L>
<L>Of her they haue refuge / helpe / and &s;ocoure</L>
<L>By her merytes / and prayer / that euery honoure.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her merytes were / moche more commendable</L>
<L>Than were her myracles / manyfe&s;t and playne</L>
<L>For why by her merytes / famous and notable</L>
<L>Sygnes and myracles / were &s;hewed full playne</L>
<L>In the hou&s;e of Ely / by grace of our &s;ufferayne</L>
<L>And in euery place / where &s;he kepte re&s;ydence</L>
<L>Of whome parte folowen / in this rude &s;entence.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="24" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; How at Wedon wylde gees were pynned by her com+maundyment &amp; al&s;o rele&s;hed &amp; put at lyberte. Ca. xxiiii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THis holy vyrgyn / whan &s;he dwelled at Wedon</L>
<L>In Northampton &s;hyrn / with a deuoute couent</L>
<L>Whiche place &s;omtyme / was the kynges man&s;yon</L>
<L>Tran&s;lated to an abbay / by her commaundyment</L>
<L>A myracle was done / by this noble pre&s;ydent</L>
<L>As the true legende / playnly dothe vs &s;ay</L>
<L>And all the inhabytauntes / vnto this pre&s;ent day.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>A great multytude / &s;omtyme of wylde gees</L>
<L>Comunely called Gauntes / made great de&s;crypcyon</L>
<L>Vpon her landes / pa&s;tures waters / and feldes</L>
<L>Deuourynge the cornes / and fruytes of Wedon</L>
<L>Greuous to her &s;ubiectes / within that po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>The people coude fynde / no &s;uffycyent remedy.</L>
<L>But &s;hewed theyr complaynte / to Werburge theyr lady.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan Werburge had herde / this greuous complayne</L>
<PB REF="55">
<L>How the cornes were wa&s;ted / y^e tenauntes hurte therby</L>
<L>Her herte was moeued / with charyte than certayne</L>
<L>To &s;aue her fruytes / and helpe her company</L>
<L>Wherfore &s;he commaunded a &s;eruaunt go ha&s;tely</L>
<L>To dryue tho&s;e wylde gees / &amp; brynge home to her place</L>
<L>There to be pynned / and puny&s;&s;hed for theyr tre&s;pace.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The me&s;&s;anger merueyled / and mu&s;ed in his mynde</L>
<L>Of this &s;traunge me&s;&s;age / &s;tode &s;tyll in a &s;tudy</L>
<L>Knowynge it well / it pa&s;&s;ed cour&s;e of kynde</L>
<L>Wylde gees for to pynne / by any mannes polycy</L>
<L>Syth nature hath ordeyned / &s;uche byrdes to fly</L>
<L>Suppo&s;ynge his lady / had ben vnrea&s;onable</L>
<L>Commaundynge to do / a thynge vnpo&s;&s;yble.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>With wordes of conforte / &s;he &s;ayd to hym agayne</L>
<L>Go in my name / do my commaundyment</L>
<L>The &s;eruaunt went forth / thynkynge all but vayne</L>
<L>Vnto the foldes / where the byrdes were lent</L>
<L>And &s;ayd his me&s;&s;age / with mynde and good entent</L>
<L>My lady commaundes you / byrdes euerychone</L>
<L>Afore me to go / vnto her proper man&s;yone.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>A merueylous thynge / tran&s;cendynge nature</L>
<L>Vnto his wordes / the gees were obedyent</L>
<L>Not one departed / fro thens ye may be &s;ure</L>
<L>Of all the nombre / that there were pre&s;ent</L>
<L>Towarde her place / afore hym they went</L>
<L>Mekely / as yf they had rea&s;on naturall</L>
<L>Vnto her pre&s;ence / he brought the gauntes all.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Dredefully darynge / comen now they be</L>
<PB REF="55">
<L>Theyr wynges traylynge / entred into the hall</L>
<L>For great confu&s;yon / after theyr kynde and propryte</L>
<L>Mournynge in theyr maner / abydynge one and all</L>
<L>Her wyll and Iudgment / with mercy &s;pecyall</L>
<L>Lamentynge all nyght / there in captyuyte</L>
<L>Tyll the morowe after / withouten lyberte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>All that &s;ame nyght / Werburge dyd contynue</L>
<L>In deuoute prayers / and ympnes cele&s;tyall</L>
<L>After her olde cu&s;tome / v&s;ed in all vertue</L>
<L>In the mornynge after / the byrdes that were thrall</L>
<L>With hye voyces (as yf it were) on her dyd call</L>
<L>For grace and pardon / of theyr offence</L>
<L>And of departure / to haue fre lycence.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Than &s;he full pyteous / to euery creature</L>
<L>Vpon the&s;e byrdes hauynge compa&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Delyuered them / frome all daunger and cure</L>
<L>Frely to departe / vnder this condycyon</L>
<L>That none of them / vpon the lord&s;hyp of Wedon</L>
<L>Shulde make de&s;truccyon / nor lyght by any way</L>
<L>On cornes or fruytes / neuer after that day.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Neuertheles a &s;eruaunt / one of the gees dyd take</L>
<L>And pryuely hydde it / agayn&s;t iu&s;tyce and ryght</L>
<L>Vnknowynge to Werburge / &s;uche brybry to make</L>
<L>The byrdes departed / moo&s;t glad to take theyr flyght</L>
<L>From theyr tender Iudge / but whan they &s;awe in &s;yght</L>
<L>One of theyr felawes / taken frome theyr company</L>
<L>The &s;ayd great nombre / of gees retourned ha&s;tely.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>They flewe ouer / this ble&s;&s;ed vyrgyns hall</L>
<PB REF="56" MS="y">
<L>Mournynge and waylynge / after theyr entent</L>
<L>And wolde not departe / but fa&s;t on her dyd call.</L>
<L>yet they dur&s;t not lyght / for drede of her co~maundyment</L>
<L>But in theyr maner &amp; kynde they &s;ayd / o &s;wete pre&s;ydent</L>
<L>Why &s;uffer ye &s;uche wyckednes / done for to be</L>
<L>Anendes our felawe / agayn&s;t all ryght and charyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Werburge went fyr&s;t / to knowe wherfore and why</L>
<L>The&s;e byrdes retourned / &s;o ha&s;tely certayne</L>
<L>By grace &s;he perceyued / the cau&s;e of it truly</L>
<L>And tryed out the truthe / of all the mater playne</L>
<L>She re&s;taured the byrde / to his fely&s;hyp agayne</L>
<L>And gaue them a le&s;&s;on / or they went her fro</L>
<L>How they &s;hulde pray&s;e / theyr maker and &s;ufferayne</L>
<L>Sayenge (benedicite volucres celi domino)</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But as Wyllyam Maluy&s;bury / &s;heweth expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>The goos that was taken / and &s;tollen afore away</L>
<L>Was ro&s;ted and eten / the &s;ame nyght doubtle&s;&s;e</L>
<L>So whan it was a&s;ked / for vpon the other day</L>
<L>The bare bones were brough / after this lady veray</L>
<L>And there by the vertue / of her benedyccyon</L>
<L>The byrde was re&s;taured / and flewe away full &s;oone.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Certaynly frome that tyme / vnto this pre&s;ent day</L>
<L>As all the people knowe / dwellynge aboute Wedon</L>
<L>The fore&s;ayd wylde gees / attempten by no way</L>
<L>To hurte theyr fruytes / ne lyght in that po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>No merueyll it is / remembrynge the deuocyon</L>
<L>And true loue &s;he had / to god omnypotent</L>
<L>For vnto vertue / all thynge is obedyent.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="25" TYPE="chapter">
<PB REF="56" MS="y">
<HEAD>&para; How a tyraunt without pyte puny&s;hynge an Inno|cent was puny&s;hed / &amp; after made hole. Ca. xxv.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>FOrther to declare / the pacyence and humylyte</L>
<L>And the &s;ynguler grace / grounded in this abbas</L>
<L>As in the true legende / playnly ye may &s;e</L>
<L>We &s;hall parte rehers / to augment your &s;olas</L>
<L>Werburge had a &s;eruaunte / whiche named was</L>
<L>Alnotus a man / of meke conuer&s;acyon</L>
<L>Knowen by his merytes / after due probacyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o a baylyfe &s;he had / a cruell tyraunt</L>
<L>Whiche pyteou&s;ly puny&s;&s;hed / without rea&s;on</L>
<L>And wounded greuou&s;ly / Alnother &s;eruaunt</L>
<L>Without any greuaunce / at the place of Wedon</L>
<L>Werburge for pyte / and great compa&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Afore this caytyfe / kneled on her knee</L>
<L>Prayenge hym to cea&s;e / for loue of the trynyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Sayenge why does thou puny&s;&s;he / this innocent</L>
<L>Cau&s;eles without mercy / whiche I byleue playne</L>
<L>Is more acceptable / to our lorde omnypotent</L>
<L>Than many other be / for his mekene&s;&s;e certayne</L>
<L>The baylyfe at her prayer / wolde not refrayne</L>
<L>But puny&s;&s;hed hym &s;tyll / in his fury and pryde</L>
<L>Tyll the vengeaunce of god / fell on hym that tyde.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Incontynente his heed / his necke / and his face</L>
<L>Were tourned backwarde / lyke a per&s;one mon&s;truous</L>
<L>Contrary to nature / for his great tre&s;pace</L>
<L>Crucyate with &s;orowe / and peynes hyduous</L>
<L>Contynually encrea&s;ynge / to beholde pyteous</L>
<PB REF="57" MS="y">
<L>At the la&s;t remembred / of the be&s;t remedy</L>
<L>Fell pro&s;trate to the fere / of Werburge his lady.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And cryed vpon her / with wofull chere</L>
<L>Wepynge / lamentynge / his great inyquyte</L>
<L>My louely lady / and may&s;tres moo&s;t dere</L>
<L>Helpe me &s;wete abbe&s;&s;e / in this nece&s;&s;yte</L>
<L>I haue offended god / now pray for me</L>
<L>And I wyll neuer / endurynge all my lyfe</L>
<L>Dy&s;plea&s;e no more / man / mayde / ne wyfe.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan Werburge con&s;ydered / his great contrycyon</L>
<L>His woofull herte / and lamentable crye</L>
<L>Vpon hym &s;he had / tender compa&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Beholdynge his greuaunce / and tender agony</L>
<L>Good brother &s;he &s;ayd / who &s;o wyll haue mercy</L>
<L>Mu&s;t be mercyable / as in prouerbe wryten is</L>
<L>Who is without mercy / of mercy &s;hall mys.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Call vnto mynde / thy owne wycked dede</L>
<L>In puny&s;hynge this poore man / without offence</L>
<L>To &s;e his puny&s;hment / my herte &s;ore dyd blede</L>
<L>I kneled afore thy fete / de&s;yrynge indulgence</L>
<L>Thou toke no regarde / to my prayer ne pre&s;ence</L>
<L>Wherfore the Iu&s;tyce / of god almyghty</L>
<L>Vpon the is fallen / for thy &s;ynne &s;odayly.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan &s;he had ended / her gho&s;tly exortacyon</L>
<L>Perceyuynge hym penytent / with great humylyte</L>
<L>Gladde to amende / vyce and tran&s;gre&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Anone vnto prayer / &s;he went with charyte</L>
<L>Opteyned forgyuene&s;&s;e / of the ble&s;&s;ed trynyte</L>
<PB REF="57">
<L>His fy&s;namy / re&s;taured to his kynde agayne</L>
<L>Bothe bodyly and gho&s;tly / cured was certayne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This for&s;ayd Alnotus / by &s;ynguler grace</L>
<L>Refu&s;ed this worlde / plea&s;ures and vanyte</L>
<L>Went vnto wylderne&s;&s;e / and machoryte was</L>
<L>Whome theues martyred / to heuen bly&s;&s;e went he</L>
<L>At Stow be&s;yde Bukbrydge / buryed was trule</L>
<L>For whome our lorde / of his infynyte goodnes</L>
<L>Shewed many myracles / affyrmynge his holynes.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="26" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; How dyuers prynces folowynge &s;en&s;ualyte inten|dynge to violate this vyrgyn bi power / bi myracle were put to confu&s;yon. Ca. xxvi.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>ANother &s;ygne was &s;hewed / by the kynge of blys</L>
<L>Of a wanton prynce / folowynge &s;en&s;ualyte</L>
<L>And his fragyll appetyte / in doynge amys</L>
<L>Entendynge by vyolence / power / and auctoryte</L>
<L>To depryue Werburge / of her vyrgynyte</L>
<L>E&s;pyed a &s;ea&s;on / to fulfyll his entent</L>
<L>Whan &s;he was &s;olytary / and no man there pre&s;ent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>By force than he began / this mayd to a&s;&s;ayle</L>
<L>But &s;he tru&s;tynge in god / to be her protectour</L>
<L>E&s;capynge his pre&s;ence / ca&s;t her &s;acrat vayle</L>
<L>For lyghtne&s;&s;e and ea&s;e / to fle from the traytour</L>
<L>The &s;onne beame receyued it / whiche ha~ged that houre</L>
<L>Whiche myracle &s;ene / the prynce fledde away</L>
<L>The vyrgyn was pre&s;erued / by grace that day.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>&para; An other myracle / was done in Kent</L>
<PB REF="58" MS="y">
<L>In the vyllage of Hoo / yet full memorous</L>
<L>A &s;en&s;uall prynce / of wycked con&s;ent</L>
<L>Purpo&s;ed to maculate / this vyrgyn gloryous</L>
<L>Con&s;yderynge her per&s;one / &s;o fayre and beauteous</L>
<L>Taryed the &s;ea&s;on / to fynde her &s;olytary</L>
<L>By power to oppre&s;&s;e / this gracyous lady.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan the tyme was comen / he thought conuenyent</L>
<L>After her furyou&s;ly / he ranne a fa&s;t pace</L>
<L>She knowynge his mynde / add vncha&s;t entent</L>
<L>Seynge no remedy / by man in that place</L>
<L>Called to our &s;auyoure / for his helpe and grace</L>
<L>Sayenge ble&s;&s;ed lorde / for thy endeles pyte</L>
<L>Defende me this daye / and &s;aue my cha&s;tyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And as &s;he fledde / frome this cruell per&s;one</L>
<L>She ranne for &s;ocour / to a great oke tree</L>
<L>By grace the &s;ayd tree / opened that &s;ame &s;ea&s;on</L>
<L>Sufferynge this mayd / to haue &s;ure and fre entree</L>
<L>Wherby &s;he e&s;caped his / wycked tyrannye</L>
<L>Whiche tree to this day / endurynge all the yere</L>
<L>By myracle is vernaunte / fre&s;&s;he / grene / and clere.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Of the &s;ayd oke tree / is a famous opynyon</L>
<L>That no man may entre / the &s;ayd concauyte</L>
<L>In deedly &s;ynne bounden / without contrycyon</L>
<L>But in clene perfyte lyfe / who &s;oeuer he be</L>
<L>May entre the &s;ayd oke / with fre lyberte</L>
<L>And nygh to that place / a chyrche is now dedycate</L>
<L>In the honour of god / and werburge immaculate.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>&para; Many other myracles / our ble&s;&s;ed &s;auyour</L>
<PB REF="58">
<L>Shewed for this vyrgyn / of his goodnes</L>
<L>Conforte to the people / in &s;ekenes and langour</L>
<L>That to her wyll &s;eke / in theyr dy&s;tre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Her excellent vertue / and great holyne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>By &s;ygnes and myracles / were dayly manyfe&s;t</L>
<L>To many a creature / with peynes oppre&s;t.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The fame wherof &s;prange / &s;o fa&s;t aboute</L>
<L>Notyfyed playne / in all this regyon</L>
<L>The people approched / withouten doubte</L>
<L>To knowe her ble&s;&s;ed / and holy conuer&s;acyon</L>
<L>And of the&s;e myracles / to haue probacyon</L>
<L>By the &s;yght wherof / they myght all gloryfy</L>
<L>With ioy and gladne&s;&s;e / our lorde god almyghty.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>There was no &s;ekene&s;&s;e / nor infyrmyte</L>
<L>That mankynde had / nor vexacyon</L>
<L>But by her prayer / and humylyte</L>
<L>Makynge for them / to our lorde interce&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>They were re&s;taured / to helthe and &s;aluacyon</L>
<L>All by the meryte / of this vyrgyn pure</L>
<L>A &s;ynguler refuge / vnto euery creature.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>To the dombe was gyuen / &s;peche and language</L>
<L>To blynde theyr &s;yght / to defe theyr herynge</L>
<L>To halte and lame people / helthe in euery aege</L>
<L>By deuyne grace / and her gho&s;tly lyuynge</L>
<L>The people approchynge / nygh to her in dwellynge</L>
<L>By callyge to her / in the name of Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>Had theyr petycyon / by her &s;ynguler vertu.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Some other that were / fully po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ed</L>
<PB REF="59">
<L>With wycked &s;pyrytes / vexynge the mynde</L>
<L>Or with &s;ekenes incurable / my&s;erably greued</L>
<L>By her dayly prayer / aboue cour&s;e of kynde</L>
<L>Of theyr dy&s;ea&s;es / they &s;hulde remedy fynde</L>
<L>And from her departe / in &s;oule with gladne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Whiche to her came / &s;ory in peyne and wretchednes.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="27" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; How &s;aynt Werburge gaue knowlege to her &s;y&s;ters of her departure &amp; how &s;he ordered i~ vertue her &s;ayd mo+na&s;teryes afore her dethe. Ca. xxvii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THis ble&s;&s;ed abbe&s;&s;e / and vertuous floure</L>
<L>The well of clennes / and humylyte</L>
<L>Called to mynde / the wordes of our &s;auyour</L>
<L>Reher&s;ed by Mathewe / in his euangely</L>
<L>The vyctoryall crowne / of eterne glory</L>
<L>Is gyuen to them / that be redy eche houre</L>
<L>Wy&s;ely attendynge / whan they be &s;ende fore.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This texte was euer / in her memoryall</L>
<L>Prompte alway redy / as a true &s;pou&s;es</L>
<L>To wayte on her &s;pou&s;e / whan he wyll call</L>
<L>Her lampe replete / with oyle of mekenes</L>
<L>Synguler gyftes / &s;he had of chry&s;tes goodnes</L>
<L>In&s;pyred with the &s;pyryte / of prophecy</L>
<L>Secrete thynges to come / knowynge therby.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She knewe the &s;ea&s;on / was ha&s;tely comynge</L>
<L>Of her departure / fro this lyfe mortall</L>
<L>Wherfore &s;he ordred / &s;adly euery thynge</L>
<L>Within her mona&s;teryes / and charges &s;pyrytuall</L>
<L>Vy&s;ytynge her couent / with her pre&s;ence per&s;onall</L>
<PB REF="59">
<L>Gaue knowlege to them / that &s;oone and ha&s;tely</L>
<L>She &s;hulde departe / frome this lyfe tran&s;ytory.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Afore her were called / the &s;y&s;ters of yche place</L>
<L>And were apoynted / who &s;hulde &s;uccede</L>
<L>After to be gouernour / ruler / and abbe&s;&s;e</L>
<L>To the plea&s;ure of god / and theyr gho&s;tly mede</L>
<L>Specyally commendynge / vertue as we rede</L>
<L>What meryte they &s;hall haue / of god almyghty</L>
<L>In &s;pyrytuall cures / that done well theyr duty.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>All other offycers / within eche mona&s;tery</L>
<L>Were a&s;&s;ygned by Werburge / theyr pre&s;ydent</L>
<L>And vnder obedyence / charged full depely</L>
<L>Theyr offyce to execute / vertue to augment</L>
<L>For the &s;ynguler profyte / of all the couent</L>
<L>She gaue to yche place / landes and po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Suffycyently to &s;erue / all the congregacyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan &s;he had ordeyned / eche place in charyte</L>
<L>Dy&s;chargynge her con&s;cyence / chargynge them all</L>
<L>To ob&s;erue relygyon / with perfyte humylyte</L>
<L>After her exemple / and doctryne pryncypall</L>
<L>She had perfyte knowlege / by grace &s;upernaturall</L>
<L>Her body &s;hulde re&s;t / in the place of Hamburgens</L>
<L>After her departure / by deuyne prouydens.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Wherfore &s;he commaunded / the couent of Hambury</L>
<L>Wy&s;ely to attende / with all theyr dylygence</L>
<L>Vpon the ende / of her lyfe tran&s;ytory</L>
<L>Where&s;oeuer it be / to come with benyuolence</L>
<L>And incontynent <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ake / her body with reuerence</L>
<PB REF="60">
<L>And brynge it &s;hortly / vnto theyr mona&s;tery</L>
<L>There to be tumylate / after her de&s;ydery.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>As it plea&s;eth our lorde / and cele&s;tyall &s;ufferayne</L>
<L>To &s;ende to his &s;eruaunte / his vy&s;ytacyon</L>
<L>The day was apoynted / the houre incertayne</L>
<L>Of her departure / frome worldly vexacyon</L>
<L>The me&s;&s;anger of dethe / the ende of trybulacyon</L>
<L>Oppre&s;&s;ed this lady / moo&s;t worthy fame</L>
<L>Ryght at her mona&s;tery / nomynat Trentame.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She thanked her maker / &s;ayenge day and nyght</L>
<L>Well come be the vy&s;ytacyon / of god almyghty</L>
<L>She called her &s;y&s;ters / pre&s;ent afore her &s;yght</L>
<L>Her entente reher&s;ynge / to them tenderly</L>
<L>De&s;yrynge all them / to folowe dylygently</L>
<L>The lawes of god / with honour and reuerence</L>
<L>And to her coun&s;eyll / to gyue fully credence.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Sayenge dere byloued &s;y&s;ters / in our &s;auyour</L>
<L>O &s;pyrytuall chyldren / my derlynges moo&s;t dere</L>
<L>Whiche haue refu&s;ed / all worldly honour</L>
<L>To &s;erue our lorde / with herte and mynde clere</L>
<L>Suffer no &s;ynne / in your &s;oule to apere</L>
<L>But wa&s;&s;he it away / by bytter contrycyon</L>
<L>With prayer penaunce / and true confe&s;&s;yon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And tru&s;t ye well your true obedyence</L>
<L>your cha&s;t lyuynge / and wylfull pouerte</L>
<L>your dayly prayers / vygyls / and ab&s;tynence</L>
<L>That ye haue ob&s;erued / her vnder me</L>
<L>Shalbe recompen&s;ed / a thou&s;ande folde trule</L>
<PB REF="60">
<L>Whan ye &s;halbe taken / fro this lyfe tran&s;ytory</L>
<L>your rewarde &s;halbe / with immortall glory.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>As for my dethe / whiche approches nere</L>
<L>I drede nothynge / tho nature ferefull be</L>
<L>I knowe for certayne / who departeth well here</L>
<L>Is newe borne agayne / to Ioye and felycyte</L>
<L>Iche chry&s;ten man hath / a threfolde natyuyte</L>
<L>Fyr&s;t of his parentes / by cours of nature</L>
<L>Borne to many troubles / and &s;orowes &s;ure.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>By the &s;econde byrthe / whiche is more excellent</L>
<L>At fonte of baptym / we haue regeneracyon</L>
<L>By fayth profe&s;&s;ed / to god omnypotent</L>
<L>And made the chyldren / of gho&s;tly &s;aluacyon</L>
<L>To auoyde by grace / all wycked temptacyon</L>
<L>To be inherytours / of Ioy perpetuall</L>
<L>Folowynge the coun&s;eyll / of holy chyrche withall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The thyrde byrthe / moo&s;t ferefull and to be dredde</L>
<L>Is whan the &s;oule / departeth fro the body</L>
<L>To payne or bly&s;&s;e / and leues the corps dedde</L>
<L>To tourne agayne to erthe / to wa&s;t and putryfy</L>
<L>In this thyrde byrthe / by callynge aferre for mercy</L>
<L>Our &s;oule &s;hall lyue in bly&s;&s;e / euerla&s;tynge</L>
<L>Crowned with vyctory / for our cha&s;t lyuynge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The &s;wete byrde clo&s;ed / in a cage a longe &s;ea&s;on</L>
<L>Gladly entendeth to fly at lyberte</L>
<L>The pry&s;oner fetered / and ca&s;t in depe dongeon</L>
<L>Euer &s;uppo&s;es / to be rydde frome captyuyte</L>
<L>The &s;oule of mankynde / moo&s;t dygne of dutye</L>
<PB REF="61">
<L>Naturally de&s;yreth / proued by rea&s;on</L>
<L>To be delyuered / frome bodyly pry&s;on.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="28" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Of y^e gho&s;tli exortacyon &s;aynt Werburge made to her &s;y&s;ters in her &s;ekene&s;&s;e / and how deuoutely &s;he receyued y^e &s;acrame~tes of holy chyrche byfore her deth. Ca. xxviii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THe day knowen / to her by reuelacyon</L>
<L>Of her departure / by &s;ygnes euydent</L>
<L>She &s;ende for all / the hole congregacyon</L>
<L>And in pre&s;ence / of all her holy couent</L>
<L>She called for the ble&s;&s;ed &s;acrament</L>
<L>To whome &s;he &s;ayd / with wordes expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>With wepynge teeres / and great mekene&s;&s;e.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Well come my lorde / well come my kynge</L>
<L>Well come my &s;ufferayne / and &s;auyour</L>
<L>Well come my conforte / and ioy euerla&s;tynge</L>
<L>My tru&s;t / my trea&s;ure / my helpe and &s;ocour</L>
<L>Well come my maker / and my redemptour</L>
<L>The &s;one of god / moo&s;t in maie&s;te</L>
<L>Withouten begynnynge / and endeles &s;halbe.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>I byleue that thou / for all mankynde</L>
<L>Frome heuen de&s;cended / of thy charyte</L>
<L>And was incarnate / &s;crypture dothe mynde</L>
<L>In the vyrgynall wombe / of ble&s;&s;ed marye</L>
<L>And &s;uffered dethe / to make vs all fre</L>
<L>De&s;cended to hell / roo&s;e the thyrde day</L>
<L>A&s;cended to heuen / and our raun&s;on dyd pay.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And I knowlege to the / with pure entent</L>
<PB REF="61">
<L>On Shorpthur&s;day / after thy pa&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Thy moo&s;t ble&s;&s;ed body / in &s;acrament</L>
<L>Thou gaue to vs / for our communyon</L>
<L>To be our defence / and gho&s;tly tuycyon</L>
<L>Now pre&s;ent here / informe of breed</L>
<L>To Iudge mankynde / bothe quycke and deed.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>O &s;ufferayne &s;auyour / replete with grace</L>
<L>I the be&s;eche / haue pyte vpon me</L>
<L>And in my &s;oule / make a dwellynge place</L>
<L>Expulce all vyce / &s;ynne and my&s;ery</L>
<L>Defende my &s;oule / frome our aduer&s;ary</L>
<L>Saue and protecte me / from peynes infernall</L>
<L>And brynge thrugh thy mercy / to ioye perpetuall</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thus with reuerence / and great humylyte</L>
<L>She receyued / the ble&s;&s;ed &s;acrament</L>
<L>The &s;econde per&s;one / in trynyte</L>
<L>In perfyte fayth / hope / and loue feruent</L>
<L>With great contrycyon / as it was apparent</L>
<L>Her herte lyfte vp / towarde heuen on hye</L>
<L>Abydynge the wyll / of god almyghty.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She exorted / her &s;y&s;ters euerychone</L>
<L>That were there pre&s;ent / in companye</L>
<L>De&s;yrynge them all / with &s;upplycacyon</L>
<L>To remembre her / &s;ayenge with humylyte</L>
<L>My &s;y&s;ters in god / now knowe may ye</L>
<L>My dayes ben ferre pa&s;t / comynge is the houre</L>
<L>Wherfore I betake you / fyr&s;t to our &s;auyour.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Prayenge you tenderly / for the loue of me</L>
<PB REF="62">
<L>In deuyne &s;eruyce / loke ye contynu</L>
<L>Ob&s;eruynge pacyence / mekenes / and cha&s;tyte</L>
<L>Encre&s;ynge in relygyon / by the grace of Ihe&s;u</L>
<L>Who &s;o perceuers / in herte and mynde true</L>
<L>Vnder obedyence / to the extreme day</L>
<L>Is &s;ure to be &s;aued / &s;crypture &s;o doth &s;ay.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o remembre / that all worldly royalte</L>
<L>Honour / ryches / plea&s;ure / po&s;&s;e&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>If ye con&s;yder / are but a vanyte</L>
<L>Nothynge a&s;&s;ured / to tru&s;t therupon</L>
<L>Wherfore dy&s;po&s;e you / to vertue alon</L>
<L>Whyle ye endure / in this lyfe mortall</L>
<L>Tyll that ye come / to Ioy perpetuall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Secondly &s;he &s;ayd / &s;y&s;ters I you pray</L>
<L>Kept well the order / of perfyte charyte</L>
<L>Neuer declynynge / fro it by no way</L>
<L>As ye haue taken / exemple of me</L>
<L>Iche loue other / and wor&s;hyp in theyr degre</L>
<L>So that no murmure / nor dy&s;&s;y mulacyon</L>
<L>Befounde amonge / this holy congregacyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Be euer lowly / humble / and obedyent</L>
<L>With due reuerence / wor&s;hyp and honoure</L>
<L>Folowe the mynde / of your pre&s;ydent</L>
<L>Vnto your heed / and gho&s;tly gouernoure</L>
<L>Kepe well cha&s;tyte / that precyous floure</L>
<L>So that no thought / of &s;en&s;ualyte</L>
<L>Corrupte your mynde / to breke vyrgynyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Se that ye v&s;e / dy&s;crete temperaunce</L>
<PB REF="62">
<L>Ab&s;tenynge frome vayne &s;uperfluyte</L>
<L>Se that amonge you / be founde no varyaunce</L>
<L>Kepe well the degrees / of humylyte</L>
<L>The&s;e and many other / exemples of charyte</L>
<L>She taught her couent / of &s;ynguler deuocyon</L>
<L>How they &s;hulde optayne / to hye perfeccyon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thyrdly &s;he prayed / &s;ayenge with mynde dylygent</L>
<L>O ble&s;&s;ed &s;auyour / I de&s;yre the</L>
<L>Saue and defende / my hole couent</L>
<L>And theyr mona&s;teryes / of thy great pyte</L>
<L>Frome peryll of pery&s;hynge / and frome enmyte</L>
<L>That all the &s;ubiectes / of our congregacyon&punc;</L>
<L>May well ob&s;erue / theyr holy profe&s;&s;yon.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And graunt me &s;wete lorde / throwe thy goodnes</L>
<L>Who &s;o in thy name / vpon me dothe call</L>
<L>In langour / my&s;ery / in peyne / or &s;ekenes</L>
<L>Al&s;o women with chylde / in peynes thrall</L>
<L>May haue remedy / and helpe &s;pecyall</L>
<L>And people in pry&s;on / halte / blynde / and lame</L>
<L>By me may magnyfy / thy gloryous name.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Than &s;he requyred / with humylyte</L>
<L>The &s;pyrytuall &s;ufferage / of holy vnccyon</L>
<L>Her &s;oule to conforte / frome all aduer&s;yte</L>
<L>She toke her leue / and ky&s;&s;ed them yche on</L>
<L>Alas what herte / myght &s;hewe the lamentacyon</L>
<L>The wepynge / waylynge / and wofull heuynes</L>
<L>At the departure / of theyr &s;wete may&s;tres.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="29" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Of the departure of &s;aynt Werburge vnto heue~ at the
<PB REF="63"> abbay of Trentam / fro this my&s;erable lyfe / &amp; what la|mentacyon her &s;y&s;ters made for her dethe Ca. xxix.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>IN all her infyrmyte peyne and bu&s;yne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>She v&s;ed prayer / and medytacyon</L>
<L>Callynge for mercy / by interyor mekene&s;&s;e</L>
<L>With wepynge eyes / and great lamentacyon</L>
<L>Remembrynge in herte / our lordes pa&s;&s;yon</L>
<L>Commendynge her couent / vnto our &s;auyour</L>
<L>To be theyr defence / ayde / and protectour.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The peynes encrea&s;ed / of her infyrmyte</L>
<L>The panges doubled / her peyne to augment</L>
<L>Nature decayed / vnto &s;uche debylyte</L>
<L>That the &s;ygnes of dethe / appered euydent</L>
<L>The houre approched / after all Iudgment</L>
<L>Wherfore all thynges / were redy preparate</L>
<L>As was conuenyent / for &s;o noble a &s;tate.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her &s;pou&s;e Ihe&s;us / hauynge pyte and cure</L>
<L>Vpon his &s;pou&s;es / in extreme dy&s;tre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Wolde not &s;uffer her peyne / longer endure</L>
<L>But &s;ende his angels / with great lyghtne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>To conforte his &s;eruaunt / in peyne and &s;ekene&s;&s;e</L>
<L>To dy&s;&s;olue her wo / and great penalte</L>
<L>And brynge vp her &s;oule / to eterne felycyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>There derknes was tourned / all vnto lyght</L>
<L>Langour and trouble / vnto pro&s;peryte</L>
<L>The day was gouernour / ouer the nyght</L>
<L>Whan that &s;he pa&s;&s;ed / this lyfe tran&s;ytory</L>
<L>Bondage and thraldome / were brought to lyberte</L>
<L>The tyme of Ioye / and euerla&s;tynge plea&s;ure</L>
<PB REF="63">
<L>Was approchynge to Werburge / euer to endure.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>A multytude of angelles / &s;hynynge moo&s;t clere</L>
<L>Were redy to gyde / with humble reuerence</L>
<L>The &s;oule of werburge / as truly dyd apere</L>
<L>And brought it to blys / vnto the hye pre&s;ence</L>
<L>Of almyghty god / moo&s;t of magnyfycence</L>
<L>Clerely relea&s;hed / frome peynes of purgatory</L>
<L>To be rewarded / with euerla&s;tynge glory.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This ble&s;&s;ed vyrgyn / gloryous and pure</L>
<L>In &s;tedfa&s;t fayth / hope / loue / and charyte</L>
<L>The thyrde day of February / ye may be &s;ure</L>
<L>Expyred frome this lyfe / caduce and tran&s;ytory</L>
<L>To eterne bly&s;&s;e / coronate with vyctory</L>
<L>Chaungynge her lyfe / my&s;erable and thrall</L>
<L>For infynyte ioye / and glory eternall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>With moche honour / the&s;e &s;pyrytuall myny&s;ters</L>
<L>Conueyed the &s;oule / aboue the fyrmament</L>
<L>Pa&s;&s;ynge the &s;euen planettes / and all the &s;terres</L>
<L>Vnto the pre&s;ence / of god omnypotent</L>
<L>Syngynge full &s;wetely / theyr &s;onges equyualent</L>
<L>Of plea&s;aunt armony / of conforte and blys</L>
<L>Salutynge her mekely / with wordes reuerent</L>
<L>Veni dilecta: veni coronabitis.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The thre Ierarche&s;es / were redy pre&s;ent</L>
<L>With heuenly melody / to receyue this monyall</L>
<L>The quere of vyrgyns / mette her incontynent</L>
<L>With great &s;olempnyte / and proce&s;&s;yon royall</L>
<L>Pre&s;entynge her &s;oule / with myrthes angelycall</L>
<L>To Ihe&s;u her &s;pou&s;e / to whome he &s;ayd truly</L>
<PB REF="64">
<L>Well come dere doughter / to bly&s;&s;e cele&s;tyall</L>
<L>Intra in gaudium: domui tui.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In meane tyme and &s;pace / this venerable body</L>
<L>(The &s;oule departed) lay whyte / &s;treyght and colde</L>
<L>Semynge as on &s;lepe / &s;he had ben verely</L>
<L>With &s;wete odours fragrant / pa&s;&s;ynge manyfolde</L>
<L>All &s;pyces and herbes / in erth may be tolde</L>
<L>The place was &s;o plea&s;aunt / full of delyce</L>
<L>Lyke as it had ben / an erthly paradyce.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This for&s;ayd venerable congregacyon</L>
<L>With wepynge teeres / and &s;yghes lamentable</L>
<L>Wa&s;&s;hed the &s;wete body / after the olde cu&s;tome</L>
<L>And dre&s;&s;ed the corps / with clothes honorable</L>
<L>Prepared all nece&s;&s;aryes / plea&s;aunt and commendable</L>
<L>To churche &s;he was brought / &s;olemply in &s;yght</L>
<L>With feruent deuocyon / to be watched all nyght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And as they watched / with due myny&s;tracyon</L>
<L>Ouer the &s;ayd corps / deuoutly prayenge</L>
<L>They made great mournynge / and lamentacyon</L>
<L>Euerychone to other / for her departynge</L>
<L>Alas they all &s;ayd / with wofull waylynge</L>
<L>Our &s;olace / our helthe / is clere gone away</L>
<L>Alas for &s;orowe / what &s;hall we now &s;ay.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The &s;terre of our conforte / is extyncte clere</L>
<L>The lanturne of our lyght / is taken vs fro</L>
<L>The floure of cha&s;tyte / is layd vpon a bere</L>
<L>The myrrour of mekenes / now lyeth full loo</L>
<L>The trea&s;ure of relygyon / from vs now is ago</L>
<L>Our &s;orowe encre&s;ed / wretchednes / and my&s;ery</L>
<PB REF="64">
<L>Syth thou arte departed / alas what remedy:</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Our hertes ben plonged / in great wo and peyne</L>
<L>Our myndes are medled / with heuy langour</L>
<L>How &s;hulde we now re&s;t / frome mornynge certayne</L>
<L>Beholdynge now deed / whylom our protectour</L>
<L>Swete lady thou art gone / frome vs for euermore</L>
<L>Our deedly &s;orowe / replete with bytternes</L>
<L>For waylynge and wepynge / can neuer ceas.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>With herte mynde and voyce / to the we do call</L>
<L>O ble&s;&s;ed Werburge / our moo&s;t dere may&s;tres</L>
<L>O &s;ufferayne lady / and ruler of vs all</L>
<L>Why ha&s;e thou vs lefte / in &s;uche heuyne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>If thy wyll had ben / it is knowen expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Thou myght haue taryed / with vs by petycyon</L>
<L>Alas remedyle&s;&s;e / is our lamentacyon</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Frome vs thou arte taken / and gone is our &s;olace</L>
<L>The myrrour of vertue / is deed now with the</L>
<L>The tryed &s;tock of truth / and the grounde of grace</L>
<L>Is pyteou&s;ly decayed / our hope and &s;ufferaynte</L>
<L>O ble&s;&s;ed &s;auyour / vpon vs haue pyre</L>
<L>Sende vs our conforte / by thy great myght agayne</L>
<L>As thou ha&s;e rey&s;ed many / from dethe to lyfe certayne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>O dredefull dethe / cruell enemy to nature</L>
<L>With dolefull heuynes / on the we may complayne</L>
<L>Takynge our heed frome vs / to our great dy&s;confyture</L>
<L>Hath brought vs to thraldome / wofulnes and peyne</L>
<L>Nother kynge ne emperour / thy fauour may optayne</L>
<L>But he mu&s;t departe / are&s;ted with thy launce.</L>
<PB REF="65">
<L>Thanke we god of all / for it is his plea&s;aunce.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="30" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; How the hamburgen&s;es toke the ble&s;&s;ed body of Wer+burge frome Trentam by myracle &amp; brought it to Ham|bury / &amp; of y^e buryall of werburge / &amp; of manyfolde myra|cles &s;hewed for her merytes .ix. yere after her tra~&s;lacyon. Ca. xxx.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THis gloryous vyrgyn / and moo&s;t ble&s;&s;ed abbace</L>
<L>Departed from this lyfe / caduce and tran&s;ytory</L>
<L>(As afore is &s;ayd) the yere and tyme of grace</L>
<L>Almoo&s;t &s;euen hundreth / the thyrde day of February</L>
<L>To cele&s;tyall bly&s;&s;e / and infynyte glory</L>
<L>Her &s;ubiectes oppre&s;&s;ed / with wylfull pen&s;yuene&s;&s;e</L>
<L>With great trybulacyon / care and heuyne&s;&s;e.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But where werburge gaue / in commaundyment</L>
<L>To bury her corps / at place of Hambury</L>
<L>As was the wyll / of our lorde omnypotent</L>
<L>Her &s;ubiectes of Trentam / whiche had her body</L>
<L>Purpo&s;ed her wyll / and entent to deny</L>
<L>Prepared to kepe / the corps by &s;tronge hande</L>
<L>With them to remayne / as ye &s;hall vnder&s;tande.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The &s;ayd people of Trentam / watched full dylygent</L>
<L>Her corps fulfyllynge / the ob&s;equyes funerall</L>
<L>Entendynge to auoyde / and fru&s;trate her te&s;tament</L>
<L>Gate a great company / by power Marcyall</L>
<L>Clo&s;ed fa&s;t theyr doores / and gates one and all</L>
<L>Made &s;ure yche place / by theyr prouydens</L>
<L>For to kepe the corps / excludynge Thamburgens.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But as Salomon &s;ayth / &s;entencyou&s;ly</L>
<PB REF="65">
<L>There may be no coun&s;eyll / power ne prudence</L>
<L>Wy&s;edome of man / nor naturall polycy</L>
<L>To derogate or chaunge / deuyne &s;entence</L>
<L>Proued euer day / by true experyence</L>
<L>Tho mankynde prepo&s;e / his mynde to fulfyll</L>
<L>yet god dy&s;po&s;eth / all thynge at his wyll.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And as they watched / the &s;ame &s;ayd nyght</L>
<L>Moo&s;t bu&s;yly / to execute they wyll and entent</L>
<L>By deuyne prouydence / pa&s;&s;ynge mannes myght</L>
<L>Sodeynly on &s;lepe / was all that couent</L>
<L>Theyr company and myny&s;ters / that were there lent</L>
<L>Hauynge no power / for to waken doubtles</L>
<L>God &s;o prouyded / for theyr great may&s;tres.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Than &s;hortly re&s;embled / vnto that &s;ayd place</L>
<L>The people of Hamburgens / a great company</L>
<L>With the myny&s;ters of god / people full of grace</L>
<L>And anone by the wyll / of our lorde almyghty</L>
<L>The lockes and the barres / of that &s;ayd mona&s;tery</L>
<L>Fell downe to the grounde / by power &s;upernall</L>
<L>Without mannes hande / that enter they myght all.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whiche myracle proued / the people of Hambury</L>
<L>Entred Trentam abbay / with mynde reuerent</L>
<L>And founde there on &s;lepe / all the other company</L>
<L>Man / woman / and chylde / all that were pre&s;ent</L>
<L>They kneled all downe / and wor&s;hypped the &s;acrament</L>
<L>Pray&s;ynge our maker / of theyr good &s;pede</L>
<L>Theyr &s;pecyall &s;ocour / euer at theyr nede.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her ble&s;&s;ed body / from Trentam they dyd take</L>
<PB REF="66">
<L>Gladly departynge / out of the mona&s;tery</L>
<L>Nother man nor woman / had power to wake</L>
<L>Tyll they were pa&s;&s;ed / all greuous Ieopardy</L>
<L>Magnyfyenge our lorde / of his grace deuoutly</L>
<L>Solemply &s;yngyng their &s;onges cele&s;tiall</L>
<L>With infinite gladnes / and comfort &s;pirituall.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After all this done / this holy congregacion</L>
<L>With reuerence / honour / and &s;olempnite</L>
<L>With wepynge tearis / for pure affection</L>
<L>With lamentable &s;onges / ma&s;&s;e and dirige</L>
<L>Buried the corps / of this ble&s;&s;ed ladie</L>
<L>Right in the chauncell / of the &s;ayd abbay</L>
<L>There bodily to re&s;t / as her wyll was alway.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>All ob&s;equies ended / therto belongynge</L>
<L>As was agreable for &s;uche a pre&s;ident</L>
<L>The &s;y&s;ters departed / with clamour and mournynge</L>
<L>Plonged in heuynes / and to their celles went</L>
<L>To wepe and wayle &s;ecretly / their hartis to content</L>
<L>Criynge alas alas / nowe buried haue we</L>
<L>The exemple of vertu / mekenes / and cha&s;tite.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And as the hi&s;tory of her lyfe / doth expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>In a boke nominat / the thrid Pa&s;&s;ionary</L>
<L>After the buriall of this patrone&s;&s;e</L>
<L>The place was decorat / with myracles many</L>
<L>Manife&s;t to the people / of euery progeny</L>
<L>Howe god almyghty of his &s;peciall grace</L>
<L>Hath done for his &s;eruant / in &s;hort tyme and &s;pace.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>For many people greued with infirmite</L>
<PB REF="66">
<L>Dolorous of hert / and interiour tribulacion</L>
<L>Heuynes of mynde / or other penalite</L>
<L>To her graue re&s;ortyng / with feruent deuocion</L>
<L>Sekynge for remedy / with great contricion</L>
<L>Anon by her prayer / vnto our &s;auyour</L>
<L>They were relea&s;ed from peyne and langour.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o by her merite &s;uffrage and peticion</L>
<L>Euery humble creature had helpe and &s;uccour</L>
<L>To di&s;tract per&s;ons / was yelded rea&s;on</L>
<L>Wikked &s;pirites expul&s;ed. were that &s;ame hour</L>
<L>Impotent and feble to helth &s;he dyd re&s;tour</L>
<L>Halt and lame had pa&s;&s;age / the blynde had &abper;fect &s;yght</L>
<L>The dombe had &s;peche / the deffe herynge ryght.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Women with childe / beynge in great ieopardy</L>
<L>Namely in trauelyng / greued with wo and payne</L>
<L>Whan they myght nat come / &s;endyng to her oratorye</L>
<L>Makynge true oblacion / re&s;taured were certayne</L>
<L>To helth and pro&s;perite / from wo delyuered playne</L>
<L>And if they obteyned a relique from the place</L>
<L>The mother and childe / by it founde &s;peciall grace.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The deuour pilgrym / the perfit maryner</L>
<L>The true laborer / the marchant with riche&s;&s;e</L>
<L>The carefull pore man / the peynfull pri&s;oner</L>
<L>Were &s;ondry tymes delyuered from wo and di&s;tre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Men / women / <ABBR>child</ABBR> / &s;ekynge with mekenes</L>
<L>This glorious virgyn / with humble &s;upplicacion</L>
<L>Founde &s;oone remedie / helpe and con&s;olacion.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="31" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A litle breue reher&s;all of her lyfe / and howe for her
<PB REF="67"> myracles &s;hewed y^e couent of Hambury purpo&s;ed to tra~+&s;late her body / by the helpe of Mercyens. Ca. xxxi.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THis gloryous lady / and gemme of holyne&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Of fyue myghty kynges / de&s;cended lynyally</L>
<L>A prynces / an enherytryce / replete with mekenes</L>
<L>Refu&s;ed all plea&s;ures / pompe / and vayne glory</L>
<L>Entred relygyon / profe&s;&s;ed at Ely</L>
<L>A &s;pectacle of vertue / dwellynge in that place</L>
<L>And a floure of cha&s;tyte / electe by &s;ynguler grace.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her honorable vncle / kynge Ethelrede</L>
<L>Con&s;yderynge her vertue / and hye deuocyon</L>
<L>Made her gouernour / for gho&s;tly helthe and mede</L>
<L>Ouer all the mona&s;teryes / within his regyon</L>
<L>For the &s;ure encre&s;ement / of perfyte relygyon</L>
<L>Foure of the&s;e mona&s;teryes / we haue in memory</L>
<L>As Wedon / Trentam / Repton / and Hambury.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan &s;he was ruler / and chefe pre&s;ydent</L>
<L>Of the&s;e &s;ayd places / vnder god almyghty</L>
<L>Than vertue and goodnes / dayly dyd augment</L>
<L>By heuenly grace / to the &s;oule helthe of many</L>
<L>And by her exemple / and doctryne gho&s;tly</L>
<L>Kynges / lordes / barons / refu&s;ynge theyr royalte</L>
<L>Entred relygyon / with great humylyte.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her lyfe and doctryne / agreed bothe in one</L>
<L>Proued in effecte / by &s;pecyall gyftes of grace</L>
<L>Many &s;he conuerted / vnto contemplacyon</L>
<L>To prayer and penaunce / whyle they had here &s;pace</L>
<L>Her couent and &s;ubiectes / within euery place</L>
<L>By her excellent vertue / and hye dy&s;crecyon</L>
<PB REF="67">
<L>Were gratiou&s;ly gouerned / for theyr &s;aluacion.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her dwellynge Was mo&s;t at the place of Wedon</L>
<L>Where many myracles were &s;hewed openly</L>
<L>And at Trentam abbay / of her foundacion</L>
<L>From peyne &s;he departed to eternall glory</L>
<L>After her entent was buried at Hambury</L>
<L>Of whom it may be &s;ayd / here lyeth nowe pre&s;ent</L>
<L>A prince&s;&s;e / a virgin / a nonne / and a pre&s;ident.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The deuout couent of her congregacion</L>
<L>Whiche hath long wayled / with &s;orowfull payne</L>
<L>Nowe haue great cau&s;e to make con&s;olacion</L>
<L>And gyue due honour to our lorde and &s;ufferayne</L>
<L>Knowynge that Werburge / in bly&s;&s;e is nowe certayne</L>
<L>For them all dayly a true mediatrice</L>
<L>In the heuynly trone / afore the hie Iu&s;tice.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Our &s;auiour Ie&s;us / graunter of all goodnes</L>
<L>Con&s;yderyng the mekenes / and pure virginite</L>
<L>Of Werburge his &s;pou&s;e / and proued holynes</L>
<L>By &s;peciall grace / pre&s;erued her body</L>
<L>To his laude and honour / his name to magnifye</L>
<L>Both hole and &s;ounde / from naturall re&s;olucion</L>
<L>As her &s;oule was clere from vice and corruption.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This immaculat mayde / &s;henyng more bryght</L>
<L>Than radiant phebus in the triumphant trone</L>
<L>With the quere of virgins / pray&s;eth day and nyght</L>
<L>The ble&s;&s;ed trinite with due adoracion</L>
<L>Of perpetuall plea&s;ure hauyng the fruycion</L>
<L>A &s;ingular interce&s;&s;our for her &s;eruauntes all</L>
<PB REF="68">
<L>That here in erth mekely to her wyll call</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And though her body do re&s;t nowe in graue</L>
<L>yet notable &s;ignes contynually be done</L>
<L>Some warned in their &s;lepe comfort to haue</L>
<L>By vi&s;ityng her place / callynge her vpon</L>
<L>With contrite hert makyng true oblacion.</L>
<L>Whiche thynge contynued by &s;pace of .ix. yere</L>
<L>With meruailous myracles euydent and clere</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The couent con&s;yderyng &s;uche great company</L>
<L>From diuers partes / re&s;ortynge to theyr place</L>
<L>In pylgrimage to Werburge / for helpe and remedy</L>
<L>Entended to tran&s;late this glorious abba&s;&s;e</L>
<L>To exalte her body replet with great grace</L>
<L>To her great honour / comfort to eche creature</L>
<L>Pite that &s;uche a relique &s;hulde lye in &s;epulture</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>To the prayes and honour of god omnipotent</L>
<L>And of &s;aint Werburge laude and reuerence</L>
<L>The couent and the people by one a&s;&s;ent</L>
<L>De&s;ired Coelrede than kynge of merciens</L>
<L>For aide in this ca&s;e / helpe and diligence</L>
<L>(Whiche thynge graunted) the day appointed was</L>
<L>The clergy and the comons reioi&s;ed with &s;olace</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="32" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Of the &s;olempne tran&s;lacion of this glorious virgyn &s;aynt Werburge / and of the great myracles done at the &s;ayd &s;ea&s;on by the myght of god and merite of this gra|cious lady. Cap. xxxii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>At the day appoynted of her tran&s;lacion</L>
<PB REF="68">
<L>Kyng Coelted and his coun&s;ell were redy pre&s;ent</L>
<L>With by&s;&s;hops and the clergy men of deuocion</L>
<L>Her &s;y&s;ters and &s;ubiettes a religious couent</L>
<L>The comon people from eche place thider went</L>
<L>With great gladnes / the hole for plea&s;ure go&s;tly</L>
<L>The &s;eke and impotent for helth and remedy</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The by&s;&s;hops and clergy &s;tode vpon one parte</L>
<L>Of her holy graue / and her &s;y&s;ters echone</L>
<L>Syngynge and pray&s;ynge the ble&s;&s;ed trinite</L>
<L>The kyng and his coun&s;ell with great deuocion</L>
<L>Stode on the other parte in contemplacion</L>
<L>The graue was opened eleuat was the che&s;t</L>
<L>Wherin her holy corps .ix. yere fully dyd re&s;t</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan this &s;ayd monument di&s;couered was</L>
<L>Suche a &s;uauite and fragrant odoure</L>
<L>A&s;cended from the corps by &s;ingular grace</L>
<L>Pa&s;&s;yng all wordly &s;wetnes and &s;auour</L>
<L>That all there pre&s;ent that day and hour</L>
<L>Suppo&s;ed they had ben / in the felicite</L>
<L>Of erthely paradi&s;e / without ambiguite.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And as eche man thaught by naturall rea&s;on</L>
<L>Nothyng &s;hulde remayn of that ble&s;&s;ed body</L>
<L>But the bare boones / all els to re&s;olucion</L>
<L>The couerture remoued by the &s;ayd clergy</L>
<L>The corps hole and &s;ounde was funde verely</L>
<L>Apperyng to them / on &s;lepe as &s;he had ben</L>
<L>Nothyng depaired / that ther coude be &s;een.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her ve&s;ture appered hole clere and white</L>
<PB REF="69">
<L>No parte con&s;umed / for all the longe &s;pace</L>
<L>Fragrant in odoure / repleit with delite</L>
<L>As at the fyr&s;t &s;ea&s;on whan &s;he buried was</L>
<L>But whan di&s;couered was her &s;wete face</L>
<L>Beautye appered more white than the lile</L>
<L>Mixt with ro&s;e colour / moo&s;t faire for to &s;e</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her louely countenaunce / &s;o comly to beholde</L>
<L>And her &s;wete fi&s;nomy / with fairenes decorat</L>
<L>As fre&s;&s;hely apparant / moo&s;t plea&s;ant to be tolde</L>
<L>As at the fyr&s;t day / whan &s;he was tumulat</L>
<L>No doubt therof / for &s;he with &s;ynne nat macular</L>
<L>V&s;yng all her lyfe in clennes and virginite</L>
<L>From bodily corruption / by grace mu&s;t &s;aued be.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The clergy yet &s;erchyng more diligently</L>
<L>Her precious body / and interiour ve&s;ture</L>
<L>Eleuat the corps full reuerently</L>
<L>With moche worchip honour and cure</L>
<L>Founde nothynge peri&s;&s;hed in &s;hap nor figure</L>
<L>For all the long &s;pace tyme and contynuaunce</L>
<L>She lay in &s;epulture by diuine ordynaunce.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whiche famous myracle / notified &s;o clere</L>
<L>The clergy with her &s;y&s;ters in ioy and honour</L>
<L>The kyng and his coun&s;ell all therat pre&s;ent were</L>
<L>With voice melodious made a great clamour</L>
<L>Pray&s;yng and magnifiyng our ble&s;&s;ed &s;auiour</L>
<L>With cele&s;tiall &s;onges / and hymnes full of blys</L>
<L>Deuoutly reher&s;yng / with all their deuour</L>
<L>Mirabilis deus in &s;anctis &s;uis.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="69">
<L>With that the comon rude people euerychone</L>
<L>In the &s;ayd churche yarde &s;tandyng without</L>
<L>Heryng the clergy &s;yng with &s;uche deuocion</L>
<L>Towarde heuen they cried / and bu&s;ely dyd &s;hout</L>
<L>The &s;pace of .iii. houres / or nere there about</L>
<L>Wor&s;hippyng our lorde / with voice &s;hrill and loude</L>
<L>In hert wyll and mynde / as well as they coude.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After all this done / her ble&s;&s;ed body</L>
<L>Was wa&s;&s;hed and reclothed with ve&s;ture precious</L>
<L>By the &s;ayd couent of the place of Hambury</L>
<L>The by&s;&s;hops were reue&s;&s;hed in pontificalibus</L>
<L>And all the clergy &s;yngyng with voice melodious</L>
<L>Kneled all downe and gaue due reuerence</L>
<L>Honour and wor&s;hip to her corporall pre&s;ence.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thus they re&s;ceyued with perfit humilite</L>
<L>This &s;acrat relique hole and &s;ub&s;tanciall</L>
<L>And layd it in a &s;hryne with great &s;olempnite</L>
<L>Enowrned with riches &s;umptuous and roiall</L>
<L>Prepared by the kyng / and ordeyned in&s;peciall</L>
<L>Entendyng that this relique and go&s;tly trea&s;ure</L>
<L>Perpetually with them &s;hulde remayne and endure</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>People oppre&s;&s;ed with greuous infirmite</L>
<L>Di&s;tract per&s;ons / halt blynde and lame</L>
<L>Re&s;ortynge to her &s;hryne with humilite</L>
<L>Shortly were cured by callynge of her name</L>
<L>Impotent creatures (the legende &s;ayth the &s;ame)</L>
<L>Touchyng her tumbe / were cured from payne</L>
<L>Whiche tumbe remayneth at Hambury certayne</L>
<PB REF="70">
<L>After &s;he was tran&s;late / knowen it is well</L>
<L>The clergy to proce&s;&s;ion / went after to mas</L>
<L>Honoryng and pray&s;yng / the kyng of I&s;raell</L>
<L>And ble&s;&s;ed Werburge / with moche &s;olace</L>
<L>Whan diuine &s;eruice duely ended was</L>
<L>The bi&s;&s;hops gaue theyr holy benedictions</L>
<L>The people departed glad to their man&s;ions</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This holy &s;ayd fe&s;t of her tran&s;lacion</L>
<L>Was ordeyned and celebrate with &s;olemnite</L>
<L>As &s;ayeth Ranulphus in his policronicon</L>
<L>About the yere of grace .vii. hundreth and .viii. &s;othie</L>
<L>The .xi. Kalendas of the moneth Iulii</L>
<L>Regnyng in mercelande the &s;aid Kyng Coelrede</L>
<L>Than by&s;&s;hop of <ABBR>Lichefeld</ABBR> was Hedda / as we rede</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="33" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Howe the body of &s;aynt Werburge contynued hole / and &s;ub&s;tanciall at Hambury after the tra~&s;lacion by the &s;pace of two hundreth yeres / tyll the danes were comon to this lande / or it felle and was re&s;olued vnto powder The .xxxiii. Chapitre.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>This rutilant gemme and &s;pecious floure</L>
<L>Hole and &s;ub&s;tanciall remayned at Hambury</L>
<L>Two hundreth yeres in beaute and colour</L>
<L>By &s;ingular grace / and angelicall cu&s;todye</L>
<L>Tyll the danes were comon of malice and mi&s;ery</L>
<L>Of ire and my&s;chief / as we vnder&s;tande</L>
<L>We meane the comyng of pagans to this lande</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whiche danes by &s;ufferaunce and di&s;pen&s;acion</L>
<PB REF="70" MS="y">
<L>Of almyghty god / for &s;ynne and iniquite</L>
<L>Puny&s;&s;hed vnpiteou&s;ly all this region</L>
<L>with a wofull plage of great crudelite</L>
<L>The &s;harpe &s;werde of deth / hauynge no pite</L>
<L>Spared no creature / pre&s;t nor religious</L>
<L>Long tyme duryng in their malice odious</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Than this vitall glebe by diuine ordinaunce</L>
<L>Voluntary permytted naturall re&s;olution</L>
<L>Le&s;t the cruell gentils / and wiked my&s;creauntes</L>
<L>With pollute handes full of corrupcion</L>
<L>Shulde touche her body / by indignation</L>
<L>Whiche pagans were enemyes to our lorde Ie&s;u</L>
<L>Rebels to holy churche vnfeithfull and vntrue</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Howe be it the power of our &s;wete &s;auyour</L>
<L>Myght haue continued the body of his &s;yruant</L>
<L>All that longe &s;ea&s;on in wor&s;hyp and honour</L>
<L>As he pre&s;erued of his grace abundaunt</L>
<L>Many &s;ayntes of this realme hole fre&s;&s;he and veruant</L>
<L>viii. hundreth yeres agon / to this pre&s;ent day</L>
<L>And like &s;o to endure / hole and clere alway.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Sothely to con&s;idre / our lorde omnipotent</L>
<L>Glorious in his &s;ayntes / &s;cripture doth &s;pecifie</L>
<L>Of his diuine prouidence / plea&s;ure and intent</L>
<L>Some haue re&s;olued / for the greatter glorie</L>
<L>Of their re&s;urrection for the tyme truly</L>
<L>Some other to continue without corruption</L>
<L>To the true example of his promi&s;&s;ion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Many holy martyrs / for Chri&s;t haue byn &s;layne</L>
<PB REF="71">
<L>The hie pre&s;tis of god murdred cruelly</L>
<L>Some with wylde be&s;tes deuoured in certayne</L>
<L>Some ca&s;t in fiers on cooles to broyle and fry</L>
<L>Vpon many other byrdes fedyng openly</L>
<L>Of whom the prophet clerely doth reherce</L>
<L>The more peyne here and wo / the more glory doubtles.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The glorious martyr Stephan (as is red)</L>
<L>In this pre&s;ent lyfe dyd myracles many</L>
<L>Neuertherles / he rai&s;ed no people that were deed</L>
<L>But after the re&s;oluynge of his ble&s;&s;ed body</L>
<L>He rai&s;ed deed men to lyfe agayne truely</L>
<L>That the great power of lyfe myght &s;prynge</L>
<L>From iniurie of deth / by our heuen kynge.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Great was the re&s;pect of diuyne grace</L>
<L>In the body of Werburge / without re&s;olucion</L>
<L>Shewed by her myracles / for mannes helth and &s;olace</L>
<L>But greatt&aber; was the hope of the eterne reuouacion</L>
<L>In her body re&s;olued to naturall con&s;umption</L>
<L>Whiche for her merites to this pre&s;ent day</L>
<L>Helpeth all her &s;eruantes that to her wyll praye</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Therfore wor&s;hyp me with &s;ingular deuocion</L>
<L>The holy lyuynge of this virgin gratious</L>
<L>For why / all the halowynge of her conuer&s;acion</L>
<L>Belongeth to the honour of our lorde Ie&s;us</L>
<L>Whiche of his grace hath made her &s;o glorious</L>
<L>And graunteth his mercy / and of &s;ynne remy&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>To all them / for whom / &s;he maketh interce&s;&s;ion.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Ble&s;&s;ed pure virgin / moines and abba&s;&s;e</L>
<PB REF="71" MS="y">
<L>O venerable werburge / mekely we the pray</L>
<L>Make thou &s;upplycacyon / to the graunter of grace</L>
<L>After this lyfe pre&s;ent / that all we may</L>
<L>Come to heuen bly&s;&s;e / whiche la&s;teth for ay</L>
<L>There to beholde / the gloryous trynyte</L>
<L>To whom be laude / wor&s;hyp / honour / &amp; endeles glorye.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
</TEXT>
<TEXT LANG="eng">
<FRONT>
<DIV1 TYPE="table of contents">
<HEAD>&para; The table of the &s;econde boke of y^e glo|ryous vyrgyn &s;aynt Werburge.</HEAD>
<LIST>
<ITEM>_OF the comynge to this lande of paganes / and of the trouble of this lande / and how y^e kynge of Mercyens for drede departed out of this lande / and how longe &s;aynt Werburge con|tynued incorrupte and hole at the abbay of Hambury. Ca. i.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; How the people of Hambury brought the &s;hryne to Che&s;ter / and of the &s;olempne receyuynge of it / by all the inhabytauntes of the countre. Ca. ii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; A lytell de&s;crypcyon of the fundacyon of Che&s;ter / and of y^e abbay churche within the &s;ayd cytee / where the holy &s;hryne remayneth. Ca. iii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; A breue reher&s;all / of the fyr&s;t fundacyon of the myn|&s;ter of Cher&s;ter / &amp; of the in&s;tytucyon of &s;eculer chanous / in the tyme of kynge Edwarde &s;enyor. Ca. iiii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Of the notable myracle of &s;aynt Werburge in y^e tyme of chanons / and fyr&s;t how &s;he &s;aued Che&s;ter from the de|&s;truccyon of Wal&s;he men. Ca. v.</ITEM>
<PB REF="72">
<ITEM>&para; Howe &s;aynte Werburge cured and healed a woman thre tymes whiche was halt and lame to helthe and pro|&s;perite agayne. Cap. vi.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe &s;aynt Werburge &s;aued and defended Che&s;ter from innumerable barbarik nacions purpo&s;ynge to de+&s;troye and &s;poyle the &s;ame cite vtterly. Cap. vii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe &s;aynt Werburge by her merite &s;ent fruyte to a barayne Woman by &s;ynguler prayer made vnto her. Cap. viii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe a woman with childe by peyne brought out of her mynde &amp; rea&s;on by &s;aynt Werburge was re&s;taured to pro&s;perite and helthe agayne. Cap. ix.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Of another woman vnlaufully wurkyng was made blynde and &s;ore puny&s;&s;hed / and by &s;aint Werburge was re&s;tored to &s;yght agayne. Cap. x.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe &s;aint Werburge re&s;tored to helth &amp; pro&s;perite. vi. lame &amp; halt per&s;ons by &s;ingular grace. Ca. xi.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Of a yonge man vnryghtfully hanged was thries de+lyuered from deth by &s;aynt Werburge to helth and pro|&s;perite. Cap. xii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe at the maner of Vpto~ &s;aynt Werburge refray|ned wilde hor&s;es from di&s;truction of her cornes. ca. xiii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Of a chano~ of Che&s;ter hauyng his leg broke~ was re|&s;tored to helth by &s;aint Werburge his pr~ones. Ca. xiiii.</ITEM>
<PB REF="72">
<ITEM>&para; A breue reher&s;all or cronicle of certayne kyngis / and howe kyng Edgar came to Che&s;ter / al&s;o howe erle Le|ofrice repared diuers churches. Ca. xv.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Of the comyng of Willyam co~querour to this lande / &amp; how Lupe was fonder of Che&s;ter mona&s;tery. ca. xvi.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe &s;aint Werburge taught her monke to kepe pa+cience for the greatter merite and glori to come. ca. xvii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe &s;andes ro&s;e vp within the &s;alt &s;ee ayen&s;t Hil|burghde by &s;aint Werburge at the peticion of William con&s;table of Che&s;tre. Ca. xviii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe <ABBR>Matild</ABBR> counte&s;&s;e of Che&s;tre cou~&s;ellynge her hu&s;band agayn&s;t the mona&s;terie was drowned at Bart flowe with many other mo. Cap. xix.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; Howe a great fire like to de&s;troye all Che&s;tre by my|racle cea&s;&s;ed whan the holy &s;hryne was borne about the towne by the monkes. Ca. xx.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; A breue reher&s;all of the myracles of &s;aynt Werburge after her tran&s;lacion to Che&s;tre. Ca. xxi.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; A charitable mocio~ / cou~&s;el / &amp; de&s;ire to al thinhabita~t&abis; w^tin the cou~tie palatin of Che&s;t&aber; for y^e mona&s;tori. ca. xxii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; A litle ori&s;on or prayer to y^e ble&s;&s;ed virgin &s;aint Wer|burge by the tran&s;latour of this warke. Ca. xxiii.</ITEM>
<ITEM>&para; A &s;hort conclu&s;ion of this litle werke to the reders by the tran&s;latour. Ca. xxiiii.</ITEM>
</LIST>
</DIV1>
</FRONT>
<BODY>
<DIV1 N="1" TYPE="book">
<PB REF="73" MS="y">
<DIV2 TYPE="prologue">
<HEAD>&para; The prologe of the tran&s;latour of this lytell treaty&s;e in the &s;econde boke.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>NOw whan we con&s;yder / with mynde dylygent</L>
<L>The merueylous maners / &amp; &s;ynguler condycion</L>
<L>Of the comyn people / &s;ymple and neclygent</L>
<L>Whiche without lytterature / and good informacyon</L>
<L>Ben lyke to Brute bee&s;tes / as in compary&s;on</L>
<L>Rude / wylde / and boy&s;tous / by a prouerbe certan</L>
<L>Good maners and conynge / maken a man.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Saynt Paule &s;ayth / &s;hewynge to the Romans</L>
<L>How all thynge wryten / in holy &s;crypture</L>
<L>Is wryten for our doctryne / and gho&s;tly ordynans</L>
<L>For our great conforte / and endeles plea&s;ure</L>
<L>All thynge is knowen playnly / by lytterature</L>
<L>Morall vertues / be noted by it full playne</L>
<L>Frome vyce and neclygence / to ab&s;tayne certayne.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>What were mankynde / without lytterature</L>
<L>Full lytell worthy / blynded by ignoraunce</L>
<L>The way to heuen / it declareth ryght &s;ure</L>
<L>Thrugh perfyte lyuynge / and good per&s;eueraunce</L>
<L>By it we may be taught / for to do penaunce</L>
<L>Whan we tran&s;gre&s;&s;e / our lordes commaundyment</L>
<L>It is a &s;wete cordyall / for mannes entent.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>How &s;hulde the &s;euen / &s;cyences lyberall</L>
<L>Haue ben pre&s;erued / vnto this day</L>
<L>The wy&s;dome / of the phylo&s;ophers all</L>
<L>But alone by lernynge / it is no nay</L>
<L>The notable actes / of our fathers I &s;ay</L>
<PB REF="73">
<L>(yf litterature were nat) myght nat nowe be tolde</L>
<L>Nor auncient hi&s;tories and cronycles olde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The lawe of ciuile / and of holy canon</L>
<L>By &s;tudy be preferred with moche honour</L>
<L>To execute iu&s;tice / and for due reformacion</L>
<L>The mo&s;t ble&s;&s;ed doctrine of our &s;auiour</L>
<L>The actis of the apo&s;toles / with the doctours four</L>
<L>Be pre&s;erued by wrytyng / and put in memorie</L>
<L>With the lyues of &s;aintes many a noble &s;torie</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Of whiche hi&s;tories we purpo&s;e &s;peciall</L>
<L>To &s;peke of &s;aint Werburge / vnder your protection</L>
<L>Declaryng the ende of her lyfe hi&s;toriall</L>
<L>As we haue begon / and made playne mencion</L>
<L>In the fyr&s;t volume by breue compilacion</L>
<L>There playnly de&s;criuyng her liniall di&s;cens</L>
<L>Of .iiii. myghty kyngdomes by true experience</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o we haue &s;hewed in the &s;ayd littell boke</L>
<L>Her goodly maners / and vertuous di&s;po&s;icion</L>
<L>Of her yonge age / who &s;o ly&s;t theron to loke</L>
<L>And howe her bretherne &s;uffred martyrdome</L>
<L>Of her fathers realme a litell di&s;cripcion</L>
<L>Howe &s;he was profe&s;&s;ed in the place of Ely</L>
<L>Of her conuer&s;acion within the &s;ayd mona&s;tery</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After for her vertue / howe &s;he was made abba&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Of diuers mona&s;teries flouryng in vertue</L>
<L>And of the great miracles whiche there done was</L>
<L>For her great charite / by the grace of Ie&s;u</L>
<L>Howe diuers of her kynrede dyd clerely exchewe</L>
<PB REF="74" MS="y">
<L>All wordly plea&s;ures and honours tran&s;etory</L>
<L>Profe&s;&s;ynge obedience at the place of Ely</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o we haue &s;hewed vnder your licence</L>
<L>Of her departure from this lyfe mortall</L>
<L>And of her &s;epulture at the place of Hamburgence</L>
<L>The manyfolde myracles &s;hewed by grace &s;upernall</L>
<L>The wofull lamentacion of her &s;y&s;ters all</L>
<L>And howe after .ix. yere of her tran&s;lacion</L>
<L>By diuine ordinaunce miracles were done</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>We humble require you of your charite</L>
<L>To this &s;econde ab&s;tract to graunt pardon</L>
<L>Con&s;yderynge we omytte whilom the hi&s;torie</L>
<L>And &s;peke of cronicles / makyng a digre&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>It is of no ignoraunce / nor pre&s;umption</L>
<L>But to enlarge the mater and &s;entence</L>
<L>To gladde the auditours / and moue their diligence</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In <ABBR>our</ABBR> &s;econde boke expre&s;&s;e nowe wyll we</L>
<L>Vnder your licence and &s;peciall tuicion</L>
<L>Of this ble&s;&s;ed virgin / flourynge in cha&s;tite</L>
<L>Why and wherfore &s;he came to Che&s;tre to wne</L>
<L>Principally by miracle / and diuine proui&s;ion</L>
<L>And howe for &s;ynne / vice / and wykednes</L>
<L>Danes oppre&s;&s;ed this lande with wretchednes</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And howe &s;he was receyued at Che&s;tre citie</L>
<L>Of the fyr&s;t foundacion of towne and the place</L>
<L>Of the great myracles there &s;hewed openlie</L>
<L>To chanons and monkes / by &s;ingular grace</L>
<L>Vnto euery creature in extreme ca&s;e</L>
<PB REF="74">
<L>Howe Werburge delyuered the towne from enmite</L>
<L>From dredfull fire / and plages of mi&s;erye</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o encronicled foloweth here expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>A brefe compilacion of kynge Edwarde &s;eniour</L>
<L>Of kyng Ethel&s;tam / the great worthynes</L>
<L>Of humble kyng <ABBR>Ergar</ABBR> regnyng as emperour</L>
<L>Of his comyng to Che&s;tre / of his great honour</L>
<L>And howe Erle Leofrice repared of his charite</L>
<L>The myn&s;tre of Werburge gyuyng therto liberte</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Of the &s;econde foundacion of the &s;ayd mona&s;tery</L>
<L>From &s;ecular chanons to monkes religious</L>
<L>Soone after the conque&s;t &s;ayth the hi&s;torye</L>
<L>By the erle of Che&s;tre nominar Hug. Lupus</L>
<L>With coun&s;ell and helpe of ble&s;&s;ed An&s;elmus</L>
<L>And of the great compas of the &s;ayd abbay</L>
<L>Enuired with walles myghty to a&s;&s;ay</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Howe Ric erle of Che&s;tre by myracle ryght</L>
<L>Was pre&s;erued from daunger of Wal&s;hemen</L>
<L>And howe he was drowned about mydnyght</L>
<L>Purpo&s;yng to di&s;troye the mona&s;tery certen</L>
<L>Cele&s;tiall &s;ignes were &s;hewed to men and women</L>
<L>To children and innocentes by &s;ingular grace</L>
<L>Of ble&s;&s;ed Werburge patrone&s;&s;e of the place</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The&s;e miracles &s;pecified / and many other mo</L>
<L>This virgin &s;hewed within Che&s;tre cite</L>
<L>Whiche at this tyme we let ouer go</L>
<L>Le&s;t to the reders tedious it &s;hulde be</L>
<L>Almyghty god both one two and thre</L>
<PB REF="75">
<L>Sende vs of theyr grace to make a good ende</L>
<L>Helpe lady Werburge this warke to amende</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="1" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Of the comynge of cruell pagans to this lande / and howe &s;aint Werburge longe lyenge hole and incorrupt at Hambury. than was re&s;olued to pouder. And howe the kynge of merciens was cha&s;ed from his la~de. Ca. i.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>AFore the comyng of danes to this lande</L>
<L>Merueilous &s;ignes were &s;hewed in &s;yght</L>
<L>To conuert the people (as we vnde&s;tande)</L>
<L>Sterres in the heuen &s;hynyng full bryght</L>
<L>Dyuer&s;ly mouynge apperyng day and nyght</L>
<L>Rennynge in the ayre dredfull to beholde</L>
<L>By longe continuaunce &s;ayth the &s;tory olde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Flamyng fire / dragons in the ayre fleynge</L>
<L>Thondryng / and layth / erth quake moo&s;t terrible</L>
<L>With many other &s;ignes / as cometis bla&s;ynge</L>
<L>Were &s;een in the ayre / to nature horrible</L>
<L>Vpon clothynge of people bloddy dropes odible</L>
<L>Euydently appered: the yere of grace</L>
<L>vii. hundreth. lxxxvi in many a place</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>By whiche &s;ayd &s;ignes wonderfull to &s;e</L>
<L>Two plages of pe&s;tilence folowed incontinent</L>
<L>The fir&s;t was great derthes hungre and pouerte</L>
<L>The &s;econde was the greuous and &s;ore puny&s;&s;hement</L>
<L>Of the cruell danes cur&s;ed and fraudulent</L>
<L>Whiche trouble began the .iiii. yere of Bricticus</L>
<L>Kyng of we&s;t &s;axon / &s;aith mai&s;ter Alfridus.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="75">
<L>The thyrde yere folowyng the&s;e &s;ignes in certen</L>
<L>Danes and Norwaies enterpri&s;ed this lande</L>
<L>In the north partie. an hoo&s;t of armed men</L>
<L>Whiche cruelly &s;poiled and di&s;troied holy Ilande</L>
<L>With Tynmouth abbay / and all that myght be fonde</L>
<L>Drowned and &s;lewe the people euerychone</L>
<L>Brenned churches / townes / &s;pared no religion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In &s;hort tyme after the prenominate pagans</L>
<L>At tamy&s;mouth reentred this realme agayne</L>
<L>De&s;troyed many cites by their myghty ordynaunce</L>
<L>Oppre&s;&s;ed London / Canturbury by power certayne</L>
<L>The kynge of Merciens to e&s;cape was fayne</L>
<L>Kyng Adoulfus made the danes a batell</L>
<L>To whiche kyng by grace the victorye befell</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>yf ye wyll con&s;ydre the cau&s;e wherfore and why</L>
<L>Our lorde &s;uffred pagans to puny&s;&s;he this region</L>
<L>The treuth was this: for &s;ynne &s;pecially</L>
<L>For in the primatiue churche / with great perfection</L>
<L>Kynges / quienes / dukes entred religion</L>
<L>Profe&s;&s;ed obedient cha&s;te without propurte</L>
<L>Vertue to encrea&s;e / true loue and charite</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>That tyme was iu&s;tice mini&s;tred with mercy</L>
<L>True loue and amite founde in euery place</L>
<L>Di&s;&s;imulacion / pride and fals enuye</L>
<L>Dur&s;t nat appere in halle nor in palace</L>
<L>Extorcion pollynge opteyned no grace</L>
<L>The commaundementes of god were ob&s;erued a ryght</L>
<L>Charite was feruent / encrea&s;ynge day and nyght</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="76" MS="y">
<L>By proces of tyme / as &s;ayth myn auctour</L>
<L>Through great po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion / power / and liberte</L>
<L>Vertue decrea&s;ed in holy churche day and <ABBR>hour</ABBR></L>
<L>Holy religion decayed pitiou&s;le</L>
<L>Charite was colde / iu&s;tice and equite</L>
<L>Extorcion di&s;ceyte were v&s;ed euery day</L>
<L>Coueti&s;e / pride / lechery were ryued alway</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Therfore our lorde of his great ryghtwi&s;nes</L>
<L>Suffred cruell people to entre this region</L>
<L>A&s;courge to correct &s;ynne and wykednes</L>
<L>Like a &s;warme of bees from dyuers nacion</L>
<L>Whiche had no pite mercy nor compa&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>Danes Gotes Norwayes and &s;cottes al&s;o</L>
<L>Pictes and the wandeles with mony other mo</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The&s;e fore&s;ayd fearfull and cruell nacions</L>
<L>Moo&s;t cruell pagans dyd great per&s;ecucion</L>
<L>From the begynnyng of <ABBR>Adelwlf</ABBR> kyng of we&s;t&s;axons / </L>
<L>Tyll the comynge of normans vnto this region</L>
<L>The &s;pace enduryng by full computacion</L>
<L>Two hundreth yeres complet .xxx. al&s;o</L>
<L>With the &s;werde of vengeaunce fire and moche wo</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The yere of our lorde .D.CCC. fyfty and one</L>
<L>At Tamy&s;mouth arriued a great hoo&s;t of pagans</L>
<L>With .iii. hundreth &s;hips and .l. men of armes echone</L>
<L>Whiche de&s;troied Douer / and put the <ABBR>land</ABBR> to greuans</L>
<L>Agayne Bernulphus the kyng of Mercians</L>
<L>The paynyms preuayled / and cau&s;ed his hoo&s;t to fle</L>
<L>Whiche fortune enforced them more bolder to be</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="76" MS="y">
<L>But the yere of grace .D.CCC. &s;ixe and &s;ixtie</L>
<L>The greatte&s;t noumbre of the pagans all</L>
<L>viii. kynges entred this realme by victorie</L>
<L>Norwaies / ghotes / Wandels / danes in e&s;peciall</L>
<L>With many other nacions within in generall</L>
<L>Kyng Hingwar and Hubba than came to this lande</L>
<L>Whiche &s;lewe &s;aint Edmunde kyng of E&s;tenglande</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The cruell paynyms and tyrauntes moo&s;t furious</L>
<L>Repleit with malice / pride / and enuye</L>
<L>Seruauntes to &s;atan and mini&s;tres malicious</L>
<L>Purpo&s;ed to de&s;olate holy churche wyckedly</L>
<L>Brenned mona&s;teries and &s;poiled vtterly</L>
<L>Many churches chapels of a mortall hate</L>
<L>Slewe religious men and nonnes dyd violate</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The people were puny&s;&s;hed in euery place</L>
<L>To olde &s;icke and impotent they &s;hewed no mercy</L>
<L>yonge &s;oukyng children coude fynde no grace</L>
<L>Wyddowes and wyues were put to vilany</L>
<L>Maydens were corrupt / and &s;layne chamfully</L>
<L>So all this realme endured confu&s;ion</L>
<L>Put to greuous peyne / deth / and affliction</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After the&s;e infidels had ben at London</L>
<L>And there accompli&s;&s;hed theyr cruell entent</L>
<L>They &s;oone proceded towarde Lincoln~ region</L>
<L>From thens directly with ha&s;ty iugement</L>
<L>To the realme of Merciens noble and auncient</L>
<L>Right vnto Repton where the kynge lay</L>
<L>Robbyng and &s;poilynge all in theyr way</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="77" MS="y">
<L>This kynge of Mercelande called Burdredus</L>
<L>Regnyng .xxii. yere vpon the merciens</L>
<L>Was clerely expul&s;ed by the pagans furious</L>
<L>And went vnto rome with pure con&s;cience</L>
<L>Where he is buried by diuine prouidence</L>
<L>Whiche kyng was co&s;yn by di&s;cent liniall</L>
<L>To ble&s;&s;ed Werburge &s;o glorious and pudicall</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This gracious virgin and preelect abba&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Buried at Hambury (as is &s;ayd before)</L>
<L>Continued incorrupt and hole in that place</L>
<L>In ve&s;ture and body .ii. hundreth yere and more</L>
<L>But whan the danes came with &s;uche rigour</L>
<L>To Repton abbay / than &s;he was re&s;olued</L>
<L>And of deuocion full richely &s;hryned</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="2" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Howe the people of Hambury brought the &s;hryne to Che&s;tre / and of the &s;olemne receyuyng of it by all the in+habitauntes of Che&s;&s;hyre. Cap. ii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>IN meane tyme the danes pitou&s;ly de&s;troyed</L>
<L>The mona&s;teries of Werburge / Trenta~ &amp; Wedo~</L>
<L>As they many other places had euyll oppre&s;&s;ed</L>
<L>In the north and ee&s;t part of this region</L>
<L>The kyngdome of Kent &s;uffred lyke punicion</L>
<L>The Ile of Wyght endured moche turment</L>
<L>So dyd the We&s;tmarches / for puny&s;&s;hement</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The people of Hambury Wy&s;ely con&s;yderyng</L>
<L>The comynge of danes vnto Repton</L>
<L>And of the departure of Burdred theyr kyng</L>
<L>Howe all Englande was in great affliction</L>
<PB REF="77">
<L>And howe they were next to endure punicion</L>
<L>Whiche for&s;ayd Repton was di&s;taunt from Hambury</L>
<L>The &s;pace of .v. mile &s;ayth the hi&s;tory</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The <ABBR>Hamburgen&s;~</ABBR> with all the comons and clergy</L>
<L>Dredynge full &s;ore the pagans flagellacions</L>
<L>Of their lyues de&s;perate / but for the &s;hryne &s;pecially</L>
<L>To our ble&s;&s;ed &s;auiour made dayly inuocacions</L>
<L>With vigils prayers and feruent meditacions</L>
<L>To pre&s;erue the countrey / the relique / the &s;hryne</L>
<L>From daunger of enmite and mi&s;erable ruyne</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>As they continued in cotidian prayer</L>
<L>The be&s;t remedie &s;ekyng for to fynde</L>
<L>To auoide vexacion and all greuous daunger</L>
<L>Of theyr great ennemies cur&s;ed and vnkynde</L>
<L>The holy goo&s;t in&s;pired theyr mynde</L>
<L>To take the &s;hryne with great humilite</L>
<L>And brynge it to Che&s;tre from perill and enmyte</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>They toke this triall relique of reuerence</L>
<L>With great mekenes deuocion and feruour</L>
<L>Through the grace of god theyr helpe and defence</L>
<L>Came towarde Che&s;ter with diligence and honour</L>
<L>A place preordinat by our &s;auoiur</L>
<L>Where her body &s;hulde re&s;t and wor&s;hipped be</L>
<L>Magnified with miracles next our ladie</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>&para; Whan the clergie of Che&s;tre and the citezens</L>
<L>Herde tell of the comynge of this noble abba&s;&s;e</L>
<L>They made preparacion and great diligence</L>
<L>In theyr be&s;t maner wor&s;hip and &s;olace</L>
<PB REF="78">
<L>To mete this relique of &s;ingular grace</L>
<L>The great e&s;tates / and rulers of the countray</L>
<L>Were redy to honour &s;aint Werburge that day</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Fir&s;t was ordeyned a &s;olemne proce&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>With cro&s;&s;es / and baners / and &s;urges clere lyght</L>
<L>The belles were tolled for ioye and deuocion</L>
<L>The mini&s;tres of god in coopes redy dight</L>
<L>With cen&s;ours of &s;iluer / to encen&s;e her body right</L>
<L>All pre&s;tis and clerkes redy to &s;ay and &s;ynge</L>
<L>Proceded in ordre / this holy virgin pray&s;yng</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Next to the clergie approched in degree</L>
<L>The lordes of the &s;hyre knyghtes barons all</L>
<L>With feruent deuocion / pray&s;yng the trinite</L>
<L>Whiche &s;ent to them &s;uche comfort &s;pirituall</L>
<L>The citezens en&s;ued with gladnes cordiall</L>
<L>With bokes and beades / magnifieng our maker</L>
<L>For this great trea&s;ure to kepe them from daunger</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Venerable virgins next &s;ette in ordre clere</L>
<L>With lilies in theyr handes coronate with cha&s;tite</L>
<L>Good widowes and wyues appoynted well were</L>
<L>Gyuynge true thankes vnto this virgin fre</L>
<L>Nex them a&s;&s;emble all the commonte</L>
<L>In all goodly maner dyui&s;ed by di&s;crecion</L>
<L>Pray&s;ynge &s;aynt Werburge with humiliacion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan they approched to her hie pre&s;ence</L>
<L>And comon were afore this relique mo&s;t riall</L>
<L>They kneled all downe with mycle reuerence</L>
<L>Salutynge the &s;hryne with honour victoriall</L>
<PB REF="78">
<L>Magnifiyng with melodye and tunys mu&s;icall</L>
<L>This glorious virgin / nothyng done amis</L>
<L>Syngynge Te deum to the kyng of bly&s;&s;e</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The lordes / the citezins / and all the commons</L>
<L>Mekely &s;ubmytted them &s;elfe to the &s;hryne</L>
<L>With manyfolde pray&s;es and humble &s;upplicacions</L>
<L>With interiour loue / and morall di&s;cipline</L>
<L>Tru<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="2 letters">yng all in her to &s;aue them from ruyne</L>
<L>From greuous daunger / and cruell enmite</L>
<L>By her enterce&s;&s;ion vnto the trinite</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>They gaue due thankes vnto this abba&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Deuoutly &s;ayenge knelyng vpon kne</L>
<L>Welcome &s;wete lady replet with grace</L>
<L>The floure of mekenes / and of cha&s;tite</L>
<L>The cri&s;tall of clennes and virginite</L>
<L>Welcome thou art to vs euerychone</L>
<L>A &s;peciall comfort for vs to tru&s;t vpon</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Welcome &s;wete prince&s;&s;e / kynges doughter dere</L>
<L>Welcome faire creature / and ro&s;e of merciens</L>
<L>The diamonde of dignite / and ge~me &s;henyng clere</L>
<L>Virgin and moiniall of mycle excellence</L>
<L>Welcome holy abba&s;&s;e of hie preeminence</L>
<L>The rutilant &s;aphire of &s;yncerite</L>
<L>Welcome &s;wete patrone&s;&s;e to Che&s;tre cite</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thou art our refuge / and &s;ingular &s;uccour</L>
<L><ABBR>Our</ABBR> &s;ure tuicion next to the trinite</L>
<L><ABBR>Our</ABBR> &s;peciall defence at euery <ABBR>hour</ABBR></L>
<L>To releue thy &s;eruauntes in all nece&s;&s;ite</L>
<PB REF="79">
<L>Thou art our &s;olace and helpe in eche degre</L>
<L><ABBR>Our</ABBR> ioye / tru&s;t / and comfort / and goo&s;tly trea&s;ure</L>
<L>Welcome to this towne for euer to endure</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>&para; Agayn&s;t her comynge into Che&s;tre cite</L>
<L>The &s;tretes were &s;trawed with flours fragrant</L>
<L>The mancions and halles edified rialle</L>
<L>Were hanged with arras precious and plea&s;aunt</L>
<L>Torches were caried on eche &s;yde flagrant</L>
<L>Al&s;o ouer the &s;hryne was prepared a canaby</L>
<L>Of cloth of golde and ti&s;&s;ewe riche and co&s;tly</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thus with great wor&s;hip <ABBR>decour</ABBR> and dignite</L>
<L>Of all the clergie lordis and citezens</L>
<L>She was receyued with great humilite</L>
<L>Into the cite with humble reuerence</L>
<L>The clergie &s;yngyng with mycle diligence</L>
<L>The comons prayeng with loue feruent</L>
<L>Folowynge this relique after their entent</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In proce&s;&s;ion they pa&s;&s;ed all in to the towne</L>
<L>With ioye and great gladnes ye may be &s;ure</L>
<L>In ordre togyther in charite and deuocion</L>
<L>Pray&s;yng our &s;auiour and this virgin pure</L>
<L>They brought full &s;olemple with go&s;tly pea&s;ure</L>
<L>This riall relique to the moo&s;t noble place</L>
<L>Within all the cite as our lordes wyll was</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This &s;econde tran&s;lacion of this virgin bright</L>
<L>From Hambury abbay vnto Che&s;tre cite</L>
<L>Was celebrate with ioye and gladnes full right</L>
<L>The yere of our &s;aueour in his humanite</L>
<PB REF="79">
<L>viii. hundreth complet .v. and &s;euentie</L>
<L>Alured regned than kyng of this region</L>
<L>Victorious and liberall / coronate at London</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This kyng deuyded in .iiii. partes his riche&s;&s;e</L>
<L>One parte to the poore the &s;econde to religion</L>
<L>The thyrde part to &s;cholers / the fourth to bild churches</L>
<L>And of a day naturall / he made triu~ diui&s;ion</L>
<L>viii. houres to rede and praye with feruent deuocion</L>
<L>viii. houres occupied with bu&s;ine&s;&s;e naturall</L>
<L>And other .viii. houres to rule his realme riall</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<HEAD><ABBR>Henric.</ABBR> li^o. v.</HEAD>
<L>Nobilitas innata tibi probitas honorem</L>
<L>Armipotens Alurede dedit / probitas&abque; laborem:</L>
<L>Perpetuum&abque; labor nomen: cui mixta dolori</L>
<L>Gaudia &s;emper erant: &s;pes &s;emper mixta timori.</L>
<L>Si modo victus erat / ad cra&s;tina bella parabat</L>
<L>Si modo victor erat / ad cra&s;tina bella pauebat.</L>
<L>Iam po&s;t tran&s;actos regni vite&abque; labores / </L>
<L>Chri&s;te ei &s;it vera quies / &s;ceptrum&abque; perenne.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="3" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A litel de&s;cripcion of the foundacion of Che&s;tre / and of the abbay churche within the &s;ayd cite / where y^e holy &s;hryne by grace remayneth. Cap. iii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>Two cites of legions in cronicles we fynde</L>
<L>One in &s;outh Wales / in the tyme of Claudius</L>
<L>Called Caeru&s;ka / by britons had in mynde</L>
<L>Or els Caerleon / buylded by kyng Belinus</L>
<L>Where &s;omtyme was a legion of knyghtes chiualrous</L>
<L>This cite of legions was whilom the by&s;&s;hops &s;e</L>
<L>Vnto all &s;outh wales / nominat Wenedocie</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="80">
<L>Another cite of legions we may fynde al&s;o</L>
<L>In the we&s;t part of Englande / by the water of Dee</L>
<L>Called Caerlleon of britons longe ago</L>
<L>After named Che&s;tre by great auctorite</L>
<L>Iulius the emperour &s;ende to this &s;ayd cite</L>
<L>A legion of knyghtes / for to &s;ubdue Irelande</L>
<L>Like wy&s;e dyd Claudius (as we vnder&s;tande)</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The founder of Che&s;tre / as &s;ayth Policronicon</L>
<L>Was Lleon Gauer / a myghty &s;tronge gyaunt</L>
<L>Whiche buylded caues and dongions many one</L>
<L>No goodly buyldyng / propre ne plea&s;aunt</L>
<L>But the Kynge Leil a briton &s;ure and valiaunt</L>
<L>Was founder of Che&s;tre by plea&s;aunt buyldyng</L>
<L>And of Caerleil al&s;o / named by the kynge</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Ranulphus in his cronicle yet doth expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>The cite of Che&s;tre edified for to be</L>
<L>By the noble romans prudence and riche&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Whan a legion of knyghtes was &s;ende to the cite</L>
<L>Rather than by the wy&s;dome of Britons or policie</L>
<L>Obiectyng clere agayn&s;t the britons fundacion</L>
<L>Whiche auctour re&s;teth in his owne opinion.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<HEAD>A^o gratie. lxv.</HEAD>
<L>Kyng Marius a bryton regnyng in pro&s;perite</L>
<L>In the We&s;t partie of this noble region</L>
<L>Ampliat and walled &s;trongly Che&s;tre cite</L>
<L>And myghtyly fortified the &s;ayd foundacion</L>
<L>Thus eche auctour holdeth a &s;ingular opinion</L>
<L>This Marius &s;lewe Reodric kyng of pictis lande</L>
<L>Callyng the place of his name We&s;tmarilande</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="80">
<L>This cite of legions &s;o called by the Romans</L>
<L>Nowe is nominat in latine of his proprete</L>
<L>Ce&s;tria qua&s;i ca&s;tria / of honour and plea&s;ance</L>
<L>Proued by the buyldynge of olde antiquite</L>
<L>In cellers and lowe voultes / and halles of realte</L>
<L>Lyke a comly ca&s;tell / myghty &s;tronge and &s;ure</L>
<L>Eche hou&s;e like a toure &s;omtyme of great plea&s;ure</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Vnto the &s;ayd Che&s;tre all northwales &s;ubiect were</L>
<L>For reformacion Iu&s;tice and iugement</L>
<L>Theyr by&s;&s;hops &s;ee al&s;o it was many a yere</L>
<L>Enduryng the gouernaunce of brutes auncient</L>
<L>To &s;axons and britons a place indifferent</L>
<L>The inhabitauntes of it manfull and liberall</L>
<L>Con&s;tant &s;ad and vertuous / and gentyll continuall</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Of frutes and cornes there is great habundaunce</L>
<L>Woddes / parkes / fore&s;tes / and bee&s;tis of venare</L>
<L>Pa&s;tures / feeldes / comons / the cite to auaunce</L>
<L>Waters / pooles / pondes / of fy&s;&s;he great plente</L>
<L>Mo&s;t &s;wete hol&s;ome ayre by the water of dee</L>
<L>There is great marchandi&s;e / &s;hyps / and wynes &s;trang</L>
<L>With all thyng of plea&s;ure the citezens amonge</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The yere of our lorde a hundreth &s;ixe and fyfty</L>
<L>Reigned vpon this lande a briton kyng Lucius</L>
<L>Whiche with great de&s;ire required in&s;tantly</L>
<L>His realme to be baptized of pope Elenthertus</L>
<L>Who&s;e charitable mocion was harde full gratius</L>
<L>The pope enioyed / graunted his peticion</L>
<L>And &s;ende .ii. doctours to conuerte this region</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="81" MS="y">
<L>The doctours by prechyng and &s;ingular grace</L>
<L>In &s;hort tyme conuerted the greatter Britayne</L>
<L>The people confe&s;&s;ed their &s;ynne and tre&s;pa&s;e</L>
<L>Baptized all were / forgyuenes dyd attayne</L>
<L>Idolatrie ce&s;&s;ed through out this lande certayne</L>
<L>With grace circum&s;ulced and lyghtned was England</L>
<L>By faith to god profe&s;&s;ed was all Wales and &s;cotlande</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Kynge Lucius ordeyned by the doctours mocio<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"></L>
<L>xxviii. bi&s;&s;hops in this realme for to be</L>
<L>And .iii. archebi&s;&s;hops for go&s;tly exhortacion</L>
<L>To reduce the people to vertue and humilite</L>
<L>At London was &s;et the chief archebi&s;&s;hops &s;e</L>
<L>The &s;econde in &s;outh Wales at cite of legions</L>
<L>The thyrde was at yorke all &s;ubiect to the britons</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Churches were edified in many a place</L>
<L>Here in the more Britayne with diligent labour</L>
<L>Chri&s;t is faith encrea&s;ed by &s;peciall grace</L>
<L>Faithfull religion delated euery hour</L>
<L>Diuine &s;eruice was &s;ongon &amp; &s;ayd with great honour</L>
<L>True faith and deuocion were dayly encrea&s;ynge</L>
<L>Namely in Che&s;tre by grace continuall abidynge</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Certaynly &s;ith baptym came to Che&s;tre cite</L>
<L>Soone after Lucius and afore kynge Arthure</L>
<L>By the grace of god and their humilite</L>
<L>The faith of holy churche dyd euer there endure</L>
<L>Without recidiuacion and infection / &s;ure</L>
<L>Wherfore it is worthy a &s;ingular commendacion</L>
<L>Aboue all the citees and townes of this region</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="81">
<L>The perfect begynnyng and fyr&s;t foundacion</L>
<L>Of the mona&s;terie within the &s;ayd cite</L>
<L>Was at the &s;ame tyme by famus opinion</L>
<L>That baptym began within this countre</L>
<L>The great lordes of Che&s;tre of landes and auncetre</L>
<L>Fir&s;t edified the churche for comfort &s;pirituall</L>
<L>In honour of the apo&s;tels Peter and Paule</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whiche churche was principall to all the citie</L>
<L>And the mouther churche called withouten doubt</L>
<L>It was their buriall by great auctorite</L>
<L>To all this &s;ayd cite / and .vii. myle without</L>
<L>The cemiterie was large to compa&s;&s;e it about</L>
<L>But what by &s;ufferaunce and proce&s;&s;e of tyme</L>
<L>Many olde cu&s;tomes ben brought now to ruyne</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In whiche mother churche of Peter and Paule</L>
<L>All holy &s;acramentes mini&s;tred dayly were</L>
<L>With great encrea&s;ement of vertues all</L>
<L>Continuall endurynge more than .CCC. yere</L>
<L>In the britons tyme / of blodde noble and clere</L>
<L>Afore the comyng of &s;axons to this lande</L>
<L>Whiche with apo&s;ta&s;ie en&s;erted all Englande</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>So after that the Angles / Iutes / and &s;axons</L>
<L>By fortune of batell / power and policie</L>
<L>Had clerely &s;ubdued all the olde britons</L>
<L>And them expul&s;ed to wales and wylde countre</L>
<L>The faith of holy churche remayned at che&s;tre cite</L>
<L>In the &s;ayd chu<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">che conely by &s;ingular grace alone</L>
<L>Like as the faith of Peter neuer f<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">yled at Rome</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="82">
<L>What tynie &s;aint Au&s;tin the doctour of Englande</L>
<L>Had baptized Ethelbrut kynge of Kent</L>
<L>And by relacion dyd fully vnder&s;tande</L>
<L>That the faith of Chri&s;t mo&s;t digne and excellent</L>
<L>In the citie of legions was truely remanent</L>
<L>In the churche of the apo&s;toles Peter and Paule</L>
<L>He magnified our lorde with thanke &s;peciall</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>That &s;ea&s;on there was a noble mona&s;terie</L>
<L>xii. myles from Che&s;tre nominate Bangour</L>
<L>Where religious monkes lyued vertuou&s;lye</L>
<L>Almo&s;t .iii. thou&s;ande / obedient euery <ABBR>hour</ABBR></L>
<L>Without po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ions / lyuyng by theyr labour</L>
<L>Vnto whiche place he &s;ende for helpe at nede</L>
<L>To conuert the &s;axons (&s;ayth venerable Bede)</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Saynt Au&s;tin approched the cite of legions</L>
<L>Where the &s;ayd couent afore hym were pre&s;ent</L>
<L>Whom he required to preche to the &s;axons</L>
<L>The faith of holy churche and baptym diligent</L>
<L>To who&s;e humble prayer / they were di&s;obedient</L>
<L>Ob&s;eruyng no charite / yet for theyr great pride</L>
<L>Many of them were &s;layne by kyng Ethelfride</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>That &s;ea&s;on the britons remayned vnder licence</L>
<L>Of Angles and &s;axons within the &s;ayd cite</L>
<L>Tyll the dayes of Offa kynge of merciens</L>
<L>Regnyng in the we&s;t marche with great victorie</L>
<L>Whiche kynge expul&s;ed by power and chiualrie</L>
<L>All brutes and wal&s;hemen clere out of his londe</L>
<L>In peyne of puny&s;&s;hement none there to be fonde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="82">
<L>Whan the &s;aid churche hauynge great liberte</L>
<L>Dayly augmented in vertue and holynes</L>
<L>Pre&s;tis and clerkes pray&s;ed the holy trinite</L>
<L>And the &s;ayd apo&s;toles with great mekenes</L>
<L>The cite encrea&s;ed in wor&s;hyp and ryches</L>
<L>Churches were edified with feruent deuocion</L>
<L>In &s;ondrie places within the &s;ayd towne</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This noble kyng Offa agayn&s;t the pagans</L>
<L>Of .xvii. batels had euer the victorye</L>
<L>Confederate was with great Charles kyng of Frau~ce / </L>
<L>And edified &s;aint Albans mona&s;terye</L>
<L>Of Englande fir&s;t toke the hole monarchie</L>
<L>Gaue Peter pens vnto the court of Rome</L>
<L>Tran&s;late to <ABBR>Lichefeld</ABBR> the &s;e of Canturbury</L>
<L>xxxix. yere regned fully in this region.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="4" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A brefe reher&s;all of the fir&s;t fou~dacion of the myn&s;tre of Che&s;tre / and of the in&s;titucion of &s;ecular chanons in the tyme of kyng Edwarde &s;enior. Cap. iiii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THe yere of grace .D.CCC. &s;euynte and fyue</L>
<L>Kyng Alured regned vnpon this region</L>
<L>The relique the &s;hryne full memoratyue</L>
<L>Was brought to Che&s;tre for our con&s;olacion</L>
<L>Reuerently receyued &s;et with deuocion</L>
<L>In the mouther churche of &s;aint Peter and Paule</L>
<L>(As afore is &s;ayd) a place moo&s;t principall</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In whiche holy place vnto this pre&s;ent day</L>
<L>She bodilye re&s;teth by diuine prouidence</L>
<L>And &s;o by his grace &s;hall continue alway</L>
<L>In honour wor&s;hyp / and mycle reuerence</L>
<PB REF="83">
<L>A deuout oratorie of vertue and excellence</L>
<L>Prepared by our lorde / where &s;peciall remedy</L>
<L>Is agayne all greuans in &s;oule and in body</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The primatyue gyftes gyuen to the place</L>
<L>Immediatly were after her comynge</L>
<L>Of deuout people replet with grace</L>
<L>In the dayes of the for&s;ayd Alured kyng</L>
<L>Of landes and libertes they made moche offerynge</L>
<L>To god and &s;aint Werburge / after theyr po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>Tri&s;tyng to her prayer and &s;ure protection</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The people with deuocion and mynde feruent</L>
<L>Gaue diuers enormentes vnto this place</L>
<L>Some gaue a coope / and &s;ome a ve&s;tement</L>
<L>Some other a chalice / and &s;ome a corporace</L>
<L>Many albes and other clothes offred ther was</L>
<L>Some cro&s;&s;es of golde / &s;ome bokes / &s;ome belles</L>
<L>The pore folke gaue &s;urges / torches / and towelles</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The citezens offered to the &s;ayd virgine</L>
<L>For the great miracles amonge them wrought</L>
<L>Many riall gyftes of Iewels to the &s;hrine</L>
<L>Thankynge our lorde that hath vs all bought</L>
<L>And ble&s;&s;ed Werburge in worde dede and thought</L>
<L>Women and children &s;he mynded full gracious</L>
<L>As te&s;tifieth the archebi&s;&s;hop Antoninus</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Diuine &s;eruice was ob&s;erued deuoutly</L>
<L>Euery day encrea&s;yng with feruent adoracion</L>
<L>As the fee&s;t required / and the &s;olemnite</L>
<L>To the honour of our lorde and hie glorificacion</L>
<PB REF="83" MS="y">
<L>Prei&s;tis and clerkes with pure meditacion</L>
<L>Ob&s;eruynge their dutie gaue vertuous example</L>
<L>Of great perfection to the comon people</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>&para; After kyng Alured / regned his &s;on</L>
<L><ABBR>Edward</ABBR> &s;enior by liniall di&s;cence</L>
<L>Crowned the yere of grace .ix. hundreth and one</L>
<L>with wordly glorie and great preeminence</L>
<L>Buylded ca&s;tels townes of myghty defence</L>
<L>Subdued the danes .vii. tymes in batell</L>
<L>Encrea&s;ed his realme manfully and well</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>That tyme the realme of merciens was tran&s;late</L>
<L>By the kynge / and gyuen to duke Ethelrede</L>
<L>A noble man of auncetre / politicke and fortunate</L>
<L>Whiche maried his &s;y&s;ter lady Elflede</L>
<L>Doughter to the for&s;aid valiant kynge Alurede</L>
<L>The &s;ayd gentilman was wy&s;e and vertuous</L>
<L>Sad and di&s;crete pacient and famous</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This lady Elflede duche&s;&s;e of merciens</L>
<L>Had &s;peciall loue and &s;ingular affection</L>
<L>To ble&s;&s;ed Werburge and true confidence</L>
<L>Wherfore &s;he mynded with great dilectacion</L>
<L>To edifie a myn&s;tre a place of deuocion</L>
<L>To this holy virgin for profite of her &s;oule</L>
<L>Enlargynge the churche of Peter and of Paule</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She moued her hu&s;bande with great mekenes</L>
<L>To &s;upplie the &s;ame dede of his charite</L>
<L>And diuers other nobles of theyr goodnes</L>
<L>For aide in that cau&s;e after their degree</L>
<PB REF="84" MS="y">
<L>Ioyfull was the duke of the mocion go&s;tle</L>
<L>Glad were the nobles within all the &s;hire</L>
<L>To founde a myn&s;tre after her de&s;ire</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Afore the holy roode in a table writen is</L>
<L>At &s;aint Iohans churche without the &s;ayd cite</L>
<L>Howe that prince <ABBR>Edmund</ABBR> the thyrde &s;on ewis</L>
<L>Of Edwarde &s;enior true foundour &s;hulde be</L>
<L>To whom lady Elflede was aunt by auncetre</L>
<L>So betwix twayne was founded in &s;hort &s;pace</L>
<L>An holy myn&s;tre of vertue full and grace</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>They &s;ende for ma&s;ons vpon euery &s;yde</L>
<L>Counnynge in geometrie / the foundacion to take</L>
<L>For a large myn&s;tre longe hie and wyde</L>
<L>Sub&s;tancially wrought / the be&s;t that they can make</L>
<L>To the honour of god / for &s;aynt Werburge &s;ake</L>
<L>At the e&s;t ende taken theyr &s;ure foundacion</L>
<L>Of the apo&s;toles churche / ioynynge both as one</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan it was edified / and curiou&s;ly wrought</L>
<L>And all thyng ended / in goodly proporcion</L>
<L>Than riche enormentes were offred and brought</L>
<L>Of the &s;aid nobles with great deuocion</L>
<L>Temporall landes / rentes / po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>Were gyuen for euer to mayntayne the place</L>
<L>Of ble&s;&s;ed Werburge by &s;ingular grace</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Spirituall mini&s;tres were elect al&s;o</L>
<L>Secular chanons of great humilite</L>
<L>To &s;ynge and p&s;almodi&s;e <ABBR>our</ABBR> &s;auiour vnto</L>
<L>Within the &s;ayd myn&s;tre hauynge a perpetuite</L>
<PB REF="84" MS="y">
<L>Prebendes were a&s;&s;igned to that fraternite</L>
<L>With townes / borowes / and fredomes manife&s;t</L>
<L>Continually encrea&s;yng vnto the conque&s;t</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And the olde churche of Peter and of Paule</L>
<L>By a generall cou~&s;ell of the &s;piritualte</L>
<L>With helpe of the duke moo&s;t principall</L>
<L>Was tran&s;late to the myddes of the &s;ayd cite</L>
<L>Where a pare&s;&s;he churche was edified truele</L>
<L>In honour of the afore&s;ayd apo&s;toles twayne</L>
<L>Whiche &s;hall for euer by grace diuine remayne</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o we may note holdyng none opinion</L>
<L>This lady Elflede of her charite</L>
<L>Of the &s;ayd mother churche tran&s;late the patron</L>
<L>Cau&s;ed the &s;ayd oratorie reconciled to be</L>
<L>In the honour of the mo&s;t ble&s;&s;ed trinite</L>
<L>And of &s;aynt O&s;walde martyr and kyng</L>
<L>For the loue &s;he had to hym continuynge</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The yere of our lorde .ix. hundreth and .viii.</L>
<L>This noble duche&s;&s;e with mycle royalte</L>
<L>Reedified Che&s;tre / and fortified it full ryght</L>
<L>Churche / hou&s;e / and wall decayed piteou&s;le</L>
<L>Thus brought vnto ruyne was Che&s;tre cite</L>
<L>Fir&s;t by Ethelfride kyng of Northumberlande</L>
<L>And by danes / norwaies vexyng all Englande</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o &s;he enlarged this &s;ayd olde cite</L>
<L>With newe myghty walles &s;tronge all about</L>
<L>Almo&s;t by proporcion double in quantite</L>
<L>To the forther byldynge brought without dout</L>
<PB REF="85" MS="y">
<L>She compa&s;&s;ed in the ca&s;tell enemies to hold out</L>
<L>Within the &s;ayd Walles to <ABBR>defend</ABBR> the towne</L>
<L>Agayn&s;t danes and wal&s;heme~ to dryue them all downe</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After the deth of her hu&s;band Ethelrede</L>
<L>She ruled the realme of mercelande manfully</L>
<L>Buylded churches / and townes repared in dede</L>
<L>As <ABBR>Staford</ABBR> / Warwike / Thomwort / and Shiri&s;bury</L>
<L>Of newe&s;he edified Runcorn~ and Edi&s;bury</L>
<L>The body of &s;aynt <ABBR>O&s;wald</ABBR> al&s;o &s;he tran&s;late</L>
<L>From Bardeney to Gloucetur there to be tumulate</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Where &s;he edified a noble mona&s;tery</L>
<L>With licence of her brother afore nominate</L>
<L>In honour of &s;aint Peter / ouer the ble&s;&s;ed body</L>
<L>Of the &s;ayd &s;aint <ABBR>O&s;wald</ABBR> / kyng and martyr coronate</L>
<L>In wiche mona&s;tery this lady was tumulate</L>
<L>The yere of our lorde .ix. hundreth and nyntene</L>
<L>Whom myn auctour pray&s;eth in this wordes &s;erene</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<HEAD><ABBR>Henric.</ABBR> li. v.</HEAD>
<L>O Elfleda potens / o terror virgo virorum:</L>
<L>Victrix nature nomine digna viri.</L>
<L>Te quo&abque; &s;plendidior fecit natura puellam</L>
<L>Te probitas fecit nomen habere viri.</L>
<L>Te mutare docet &s;ed &s;olum nomina &s;exus</L>
<L>Tu regina potens / rex&abque; trophea parans</L>
<L>Iam nec ce&s;arei tant&aber; meruere triumphi</L>
<L>Cae&s;are &s;plendidior virgo virago. Vale.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="5" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Of the notable myracles of &s;aynt Werburge &s;hewed in the tyme of chanons / and fyr&s;t howe &s;he &s;aued Che&s;t&aber; from di&s;truction of wal&s;hemen Cap. v.</HEAD>
<LG>
<PB REF="85" MS="y">
<L>THis glorious Werburge and virgin pure</L>
<L>By &s;ingular grace of god omnipotent</L>
<L>Shewed many myracles to euery creature</L>
<L>To blynde / dombe halt / lame / and impotent</L>
<L>In the cite of Che&s;tre / whan her &s;hryne was pre&s;ent</L>
<L>Like wy&s;e as in her lyfe at Wedon / at Hambury</L>
<L>Witne&s;eth the &s;ame her true legende and hi&s;tory</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Where to the honour / pray&s;e / and laudacion</L>
<L>Of Ie&s;u / the &s;econde per&s;one in trinite</L>
<L>And of this virgin a &s;peciall commendacion</L>
<L>We purpo&s;e to reher&s;e nowe with charite</L>
<L>Vnder the protection of you that &s;hall the reders be</L>
<L>Parte of the myracles / with mynde diligent</L>
<L>In this humble &s;tile / and &s;entence con&s;equent</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The fir&s;t myracle / that our ble&s;&s;ed &s;auiour</L>
<L>Shewed for his &s;pou&s;es / after her tran&s;lacion</L>
<L>To Che&s;tre: was nye the tyme of Edwarde &s;eniour</L>
<L>Son to kyng Alured famous of renowne</L>
<L>The Name of britons was chaunged that &s;ea&s;on</L>
<L>Were named wal&s;hemen in the montaynes &s;egregate</L>
<L>Euer to the &s;axons hauynge inwarde hate</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The Wal&s;hemen that tyme had ouer them a kyng</L>
<L>Called Griffinus / to be theyr gouernour</L>
<L>Electe by the comons their appetite folowyng</L>
<L>Endurate with malice / coueti&s;e and rancour</L>
<L>Ennemies to engli&s;&s;hemen / as is &s;aid before</L>
<L>This kyng entended by mortall enuy</L>
<L>The cite of Che&s;tre to &s;poyle and di&s;frye</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="86" MS="y">
<L>A myghty ho&s;t di&s;cended from the mountans</L>
<L>Well armed and &s;trongely approchyng the cite</L>
<L>Prepared for batell with them great ordinaunce</L>
<L>The &s;ayd Griffinus and all his company</L>
<L>With his power pa&s;&s;ed ouer the water of De<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"></L>
<L>Whiche ryuer adioynneth to the &s;ayd towne</L>
<L>Betwene Englande and Wales a &s;ure diui&s;ion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This kynge layd &s;iege vnto Che&s;tre cite</L>
<L>With all his great ho&s;t / there honour to wyn</L>
<L>By policie of warre / encrea&s;ynge myghtyle</L>
<L>For whiche the citezens remaynyng within</L>
<L>were &s;ore di&s;con&s;olate like for to twyn</L>
<L>With wofull heuy hartes they dyd call and crye</L>
<L>Vpon ble&s;&s;ed Werburge for helpe and remedye</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The charitable chanons with great deuocion</L>
<L>Toke the holy &s;hryne of theyr patrones</L>
<L>Set it on the towne walles for helpe and tuicion</L>
<L>Tru&s;tynge on her to be &s;aued from di&s;tres</L>
<L>But one of the ennemyes with great wyckednes</L>
<L>Smot the &s;ayd &s;hryne in ca&s;tyng of a &s;tone</L>
<L>And it empaired / piteous to loke vpon</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Anone great puny&s;&s;hement vpon them all lyght</L>
<L>The kyng and his ho&s;t were &s;mytten with blyndnes</L>
<L>That of the cite / they had no maner of &s;yght</L>
<L>And he that &s;mote the holy &s;hryne doubtles</L>
<L>Was greuou&s;ly vexed with a &s;prite of darkenes</L>
<L>And with hidous payne expired mi&s;erably</L>
<L>The kynge was &s;ore a dred / and all his company</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="86" MS="y">
<L>Shortly the kynge remoued his great ho&s;t</L>
<L>Departed from the cite without any praye</L>
<L>And gaue in commaundement in euery coo&s;t</L>
<L>Saynt Werburge landes to meynteyne alway</L>
<L>A&s;&s;igned her po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ions euer after that day</L>
<L>With the &s;igne of the cro&s;&s;e a token euident</L>
<L>In plea&s;yng this virgin / for drede of puny&s;&s;hement.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="6" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Howe &s;aynt Werburge cured and healed a woman thre tymes (whiche was halte and lame) to helth and &abpro;|&s;perite agayne. Cap. vi.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>IN the cite of Che&s;tre (the legende doth expre&s;&s;e)</L>
<L>An hone&s;t matrone dwelled / Eagida nominat</L>
<L>Whiche by continuaunce / and payne of &s;ickenes</L>
<L>Was made halt and lame / of helth all de&s;perate</L>
<L>yet to &s;aynt Werburge her hart was eleuate</L>
<L>In&s;tantly required with humble &s;upplicacion</L>
<L>This holy virgin for helth / and pre&s;eruacion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Anone by the merite of this lady clere</L>
<L>The pacient re&s;tored to helth and pro&s;perite</L>
<L>Gaue honour and thankes to Werburge and prayer</L>
<L>Entendyng euer after her true &s;eruaunt to be</L>
<L>And truely continue lyuyng in pure cha&s;tite</L>
<L>But &s;hortly &s;he brake her prome&s;&s;e made in &s;yght</L>
<L>Folowyng her appetite and carnall lu&s;tes full ryght</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She had great riches welth and pro&s;perite</L>
<L>And maried with plea&s;ure after her entencion</L>
<L>Where thries &s;he endured her olde infirmite</L>
<L>And thries was cured by meke interce&s;&s;ion</L>
<PB REF="87">
<L>To helth of body from peynfull contraction</L>
<L>Thus by the merite of this virgin pure</L>
<L>She was deliuered from peyne thries to plea&s;ure</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This for&s;ayd Gadgide prudently ponderyng</L>
<L>The&s;e notable miracles with her go&s;tly eye</L>
<L>Gaue great co~mendacion and &s;peciall thankyng</L>
<L>To almyghty god / with feruent humilite</L>
<L>And to &s;aynt Werburge knelynge on kne</L>
<L>Came to her oratorie and gaue an oblacion</L>
<L>To the holy &s;hryne with &s;ingular deuocion</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="7" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Howe &s;aynt Werburge &s;aued Che&s;tre from innume+rable barbarike nacions / purpo&s;ynge to di&s;troye and &s;poyle the &s;ayd cite vtterly Cap. vii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>AN other tyme innumerable barbarike nacions</L>
<L>Came to &s;poyle Che&s;tre to robbe it and di&s;try</L>
<L>(Sayth the hi&s;torye) from diuers regions</L>
<L>Harolde kyng of danes / the kynge of gotes &amp; galwedy</L>
<L>Maucolyn of Scotlande and all theyr company</L>
<L>With baners di&s;played well armed to fyght</L>
<L>Theyr tentes rially in hoole heth were pyght</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>They &s;et theyr ordinaunce agayn&s;t the towne</L>
<L>Vpon euery &s;ide / timorous for to &s;e</L>
<L>Namely at the northgate they were redy bowne</L>
<L>By myght police to haue entred the cite</L>
<L>The citezens dredyng to be in captiuite</L>
<L>Made interce&s;&s;ion vnto this holy abba&s;&s;e</L>
<L>For theyr deliueraunce in &s;uche extreme ca&s;e</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="87" MS="y">
<L>The deuout chanons &s;ette the holy &s;hryne</L>
<L>Agayn&s;t theyr enemies at the &s;ayd northgate</L>
<L>Tru&s;tynge to Werburge to &s;aue them from ruyne</L>
<L>And &s;hewe &s;ome myracle to them di&s;con&s;olate</L>
<L>For the citezens were of their lyues de&s;perate</L>
<L>Pa&s;&s;ynge mannes mynde to e&s;cape theyr daunger</L>
<L>But all only by merite of this virgin clere</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>As the kynges were &s;autynge this for&s;ayd cite</L>
<L>Tru&s;tyng for a praye to haue it euery hour</L>
<L>One of the &s;ayd ennemies replet with iniquite</L>
<L>Nat wor&s;hyppyng y^e virgin / nor dredyng our &s;auiour</L>
<L>Smote this riall relique with a &s;tone in his rancour</L>
<L>Brake therof a corner curiou&s;ly wrought</L>
<L>Ca&s;t all to the grounde: than &s;orowe came vn&s;ought</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The &s;ayd malefactour nat pa&s;&s;ynge the place</L>
<L>Vexed with the deuill for his greuous offence</L>
<L>Roryng and yellyng his outragious tre&s;pa&s;e</L>
<L>Tore his tonge a &s;onder in wodely violence</L>
<L>Mi&s;erable ex&s;pired afore them in pre&s;ence</L>
<L>Satan cea&s;ed nat to &s;hewe great puny&s;&s;hement</L>
<L>Vpon his &s;oule and body / by &s;ignes euident</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The&s;e kynges con&s;iderynge this &s;oden vengeaunce</L>
<L>Amonge them all lyght &s;o &s;oone and ha&s;tely</L>
<L>Shortly remoued theyr great ordinaunce</L>
<L>Departed from the cite with theyr company</L>
<L>Callyng on this virgin fa&s;t for grace and mercy</L>
<L>Promyttynge neuer after to retourne agayne</L>
<L>To di&s;quiete her &s;eruauntes and cite in certayne</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="8" TYPE="chapter">
<PB REF="88">
<HEAD>&para; Howe &s;aynt Werburge by her merite &s;ent frute to a barrayne woman by &s;yngular prayer made vnto her The .viii. chapitre.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>A Noble gentilman / a con&s;ul in office</L>
<L>De&s;cendyng of the hie and riall blodde of co&s;ty</L>
<L>Elected a &s;pou&s;es at his owne deuice</L>
<L>A &s;wete faire gentil woman curtes and comly</L>
<L>Nominat Iudith / ioynned to hym in matrimony</L>
<L>With whom this lady lyued a longe &s;ea&s;on</L>
<L>Barrayn and fruteles of generacion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She daily lamented her great wretchednes</L>
<L>As woman infortunate full of mi&s;erye</L>
<L>Prayed to &s;aynt Werburge with interiour mekenes</L>
<L>For remedy and helpe agayn&s;t that wofull infamye</L>
<L>De&s;ired to haue i&s;&s;ue and frute of her bodye</L>
<L>If it plea&s;ed god / and this virgin al&s;o</L>
<L>Mo&s;t greatte&s;t comfort to brynge her hert from wo</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Saynt Werburge appered to her in vi&s;ion</L>
<L>In white bright ve&s;ture / clere as the cri&s;tall</L>
<L>Expre&s;&s;ynge wordes of great con&s;olacion</L>
<L>Mo&s;t ioyfull to Iudith to make reher&s;all</L>
<L>Commaundyng her by the effect &s;peciall</L>
<L>To go to her churche with &s;ingular deuocion</L>
<L>And praye our &s;auiour with humble &s;upplicacion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o for to compa&s;&s;e her holy aulter</L>
<L>With a linen cloth / knelyng on herkne</L>
<L>And after for to take the &s;ame cloth in <ABBR>fer</ABBR></L>
<L>And compas her wombe about reuerentle</L>
<PB REF="88">
<L>This Iudith was ioyfull / and ro&s;e vp yerle</L>
<L>And truely fulfylled this go&s;tly vi&s;ion</L>
<L>From thens departed to her propre mancion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Soone after this wyfe afore reher&s;ed</L>
<L>Conceyued a childe and had &s;ucce&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>Pray&s;yng this virgin in hart worde and dede</L>
<L>And after the tyme of her purificacion</L>
<L>Of the &s;ame faire cloth &s;he made oblacion</L>
<L>Richely &s;et in &s;yluer / well wrought in compas</L>
<L>With many riche enormentes &s;he &s;ende to this place</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After came her &s;elfe vnto the mona&s;tery</L>
<L>With many of her neyghbours / <ABBR>ther</ABBR> nye dwellyng</L>
<L>Pray&s;yng and laudyng this glorious lady</L>
<L>With cordiall thankynges makyng theyr offeryng</L>
<L>Of this great myracles true witnes bearyng</L>
<L>Departed from the place with ioy and deuocion</L>
<L>All the &s;ayd company / eche to theyr mancion.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="9" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Of a woman great with childe with peyne brought out of her wytte / by &s;aynt Werburge was re&s;toured to rea&s;on agayne. Cap. ix.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>IN the prouince of Che&s;tre / knowen it is of olde</L>
<L>A certayne man dwelled / of great hone&s;te</L>
<L>Whiche had a doughter di&s;po&s;ed manyfolde</L>
<L>To &s;ondrye vertues / clennes / and humilite</L>
<L>This humble mayde ioyned was in matrimonye</L>
<L>To an hone&s;t yong man / of whom &s;he conceyued</L>
<L>And was great with childe / openly perceyued</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="89">
<L>Whan the tyme approched of her deliueraunce</L>
<L>Vexed &s;he was with mycle wo and payne</L>
<L>Continually enduryng / with &s;uche hidous greuaunce</L>
<L>That out of her mynde &s;he went incertayne</L>
<L>All phi&s;ike and medicyns were founde to her in vayne</L>
<L>No comfort in erth helpe nor remedye</L>
<L>For hee myght be founde in &s;uche extremite</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Her father and mother / and her frendes all</L>
<L>Brought theyr dere doughter with great deuocion</L>
<L>To &s;aynt Werburge churche / requiryng &s;peciall</L>
<L>This ble&s;&s;ed virgin / with humble interce&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>To helpe the pacient from all vexacion</L>
<L>Promyttynge an oblacion to this lady bryght</L>
<L>Whan &s;he vnto rea&s;on were comen a ryght</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And as &s;he &s;lepped at the aulter ende</L>
<L>Wofully cruciat with peynes hiduous</L>
<L>Pa&s;&s;yng mannes cure it for to amende</L>
<L>Anone by the merite of this virgin glorious</L>
<L>She was relea&s;ed from all payne greuous</L>
<L>And fully re&s;tored to her rea&s;on agayne</L>
<L>Had good deliueraunce / and &s;pedde well in certayne</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whiche myracle knowen / her frendes euerychone</L>
<L>And all the good matrons of the &s;ayd cite</L>
<L>Came holly togyther with theyr oblacion</L>
<L>To the holy &s;hryne thankyng with hart fre</L>
<L>This ble&s;&s;ed virgin of her benignite</L>
<L>Whiche is &s;o redy a mediatrice alway</L>
<L>To helpe her true &s;eruauntes both nyght and day</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="10" TYPE="chapter">
<PB REF="89">
<HEAD>&para; Howe an other woman vnlaufully wurkynge was made blynde / and by &s;aynt Werburge re&s;tored was to her &s;yght agayne. Cap. x.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>Within the &s;ame cite afore the abbay gate</L>
<L>Dwelled a woman / which brake the co~maundement</L>
<L>Of god and holy churche / hye &s;abbot day dyd violate</L>
<L>Vnlaufully wurkynge: wherfore great puny&s;&s;hement</L>
<L>Fell vpon this woman with peynes equiualent</L>
<L>Sodaynly &s;mytten / wurkynge full bu&s;ely</L>
<L>With greuous blyndes / and mycle mi&s;erye</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This woman con&s;yderynge her &s;yght was gone</L>
<L>The plea&s;ure of this worlde her helpe and &s;uccour</L>
<L>Hauynge to lyue by / &s;mall riches or none</L>
<L>Cried maynly out out alas euery hour</L>
<L>Wo is me wretche fulfylled with dolour</L>
<L>Alas I was borne to abyde this wofull day</L>
<L>My maker to di&s;plea&s;e / alas what &s;hall I &s;ay?</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>She called to memorie with hye di&s;crecion</L>
<L>The myracles that Werburge &s;hewed to mankynde</L>
<L>By grace &s;he repented / with &s;uche contricion</L>
<L>That water di&s;tilled from her eyes blynde</L>
<L>Dolefully lamentynge / that &s;he was &s;o vnkynde</L>
<L>Ruthfully was brought to Werburge oratory</L>
<L>Tru&s;tyng in this virgin to haue remedy</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>As &s;he continued in her &s;upplicacion</L>
<L>Wofully wepynge / abidyng the great grace</L>
<L>Of ble&s;&s;ed Werburge / with &s;ingular inuocacion</L>
<L>Anone &s;he was cured to helth and &s;olace</L>
<PB REF="90">
<L>Re&s;tored to her eye &s;ight / &s;he pa&s;&s;ed the place</L>
<L>Pray&s;ed our lorde and this virgin pure</L>
<L>Was a holy woman after ye may be &s;ure.</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="11" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; How &s;aint Werburge re&s;tored to helth and &abpro;&s;perite vi. lame and halt &abper;&s;ons by &s;ingular grace. Cap. xi.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THe excellent fame of this glorious lady</L>
<L>Dilated was through all this region</L>
<L>Manife&s;t by myracles full honorably</L>
<L>Therfore from diuers partes came many a per&s;on</L>
<L>For helth of body and go&s;tly conuer&s;acion</L>
<L>Some to be cured from payne intollerable</L>
<L>And &s;ome of olde &s;ores that were incurable</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Amonge whom there came vnto her place</L>
<L>Sire wofull per&s;ones / cured for to be</L>
<L>Halt blynde and lame be&s;ekyng her of grace</L>
<L>With humble &s;upplicacion vpon them haue pite</L>
<L>With wepynge treares &s;ayenge / o &s;ouerayn ladie</L>
<L>O imperiall prince&s;&s;e / and kynges doughter dere</L>
<L>Heele our di&s;ea&s;e by thy in&s;tant prayer</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>O ble&s;&s;ed virgin and holy moiniall</L>
<L>O glorious abba&s;&s;e / and worthy gouernour</L>
<L>O pereles parens and mini&s;tre &s;pirituall</L>
<L>O cele&s;tiall gemme re&s;plendent with honour</L>
<L>Praye for vs wretches vnto our &s;auiour</L>
<L>That we may opteyne here mercy and grace</L>
<L>Cured of our &s;ekenes / after to &s;e thy face</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thy name tran&s;cendeth this realme &s;wete lady</L>
<PB REF="90">
<L>Thy myracles magnifien thy great goodnes</L>
<L>Thy wor&s;hyp encrea&s;eth with honour and glorie</L>
<L>Daily euermore through thy great holynes</L>
<L>Shewe nowe thy power / cure vs from &s;ekenes</L>
<L>That by the we may pray&s;e the kyng of blis</L>
<L>As thou ha&s;t cured many one or this</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>By the&s;e meke prayers / in hert full penitent</L>
<L>And many other ori&s;ons &s;ayd priuatly</L>
<L>Callyng on this virgin with deuocion feruent</L>
<L>For certayne / or they pa&s;&s;ed the mona&s;tery</L>
<L>They were all cured from peyne and malady</L>
<L>In wytnes wherof / and triall as it was</L>
<L>Theyr &s;taues remayned longe after in the place</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="12" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Howe a yonge man thries hanged vnlaufully Was thries delyuered by &s;aynt Werburge from dethe to lyfe and lyberte. Cap. xii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>ALmyghty god gaue in commaundement</L>
<L>By moi&s;es lawe / to his people echone</L>
<L>No innocent to &s;lee by wrongfull iudgement</L>
<L>Nor cau&s;eles to puny&s;&s;he by greuous oppre&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>Al&s;o to beware of lyght &s;u&s;pection</L>
<L>Wherof a myracle we &s;hall nowe expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Done in Che&s;tre cite by Werburge theyr patrone&s;&s;e</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>A certayne yonge man dwelled in the cite</L>
<L>Hone&s;t in maners / and of good conuer&s;acion</L>
<L>Di&s;po&s;ed to vertue and humilite</L>
<L>Was arre&s;t and taken of a lyght &s;u&s;picion</L>
<L>By the officers and rules of the &s;ayd towne</L>
<PB REF="91" MS="y">
<L>Gyltles accu&s;ed mo&s;t innocently</L>
<L>Condemned and iudged to deth &s;hamfully</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After &s;entence gyuen / mini&s;tres were all redy</L>
<L>Vpon the iudgement to do execucion</L>
<L>He was fettred and brought to the gebbet by and by</L>
<L>And as a &s;tronge thefe hanged thervpon</L>
<L>His frendes and co&s;yns for hym made great mone</L>
<L>Alas what tonge myght expre&s;&s;e the wo</L>
<L>They made that tyme departynge hym fro</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And as this innocent hang in his payne</L>
<L>He called to mynd the manyfolde goodnes</L>
<L>The myracles of Werburge &s;hewed her certayne</L>
<L>Howe &s;he had &s;aued many in great di&s;tres</L>
<L>So whan he myght no wordes expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>In mynde he required her / and humblie dyd pray</L>
<L>From &s;hamfull deth to &s;aue hym that day</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan all the officers departed were thens</L>
<L>Suppo&s;ynge the &s;oule &s;eperate from the body</L>
<L>A white done de&s;cended afore them in pre&s;ence</L>
<L>And lyght vpon the gebbet immediatly</L>
<L>The byrde with his byll brake the rope truely</L>
<L>The pri&s;oner e&s;caped that tyme from deth</L>
<L>Shortly reuiuynge toke naturall breth</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whiche thynge notified &s;o meruailous in &s;yght</L>
<L>The mini&s;ters returned / theyr labour in vayne</L>
<L>Toke this innocent by power and myght</L>
<L>Vpon the &s;ayd gebbet hanged hym agayne</L>
<L>Thus he was delyuered by myracle from payne</L>
<PB REF="91" MS="y">
<L>The tortuous turmentours ce&s;&s;ed their tyrranny</L>
<L>Permytted the pri&s;oner to go at liberte</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whiche myracle knowen / his frendes and co&s;yns all</L>
<L>Returned agayne with glad mynde and chere</L>
<L>The pri&s;oner mette them louyng god in &s;peciall</L>
<L>And ble&s;&s;ed Werburge in his be&s;t manere</L>
<L>The deuout citezens approched them nere</L>
<L>Went all to the &s;hryne the virgin thankyng</L>
<L>The belles were tolled for ioy of this thyng</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="13" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Howe at the maner place of Vpton &s;aint Werburge re&s;trayned <ABBR>wyld</ABBR> hor&s;es from di&s;truction of cornes put in by theyr ennemyes. Cap. xiii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>AL&s;o the thyrde &s;ea&s;on approched to Che&s;tre cite</L>
<L>Many cruell ennemyes in the part of Wirall</L>
<L>Purpo&s;yng to &s;poyle and di&s;troy all the countre</L>
<L>The people and theyr frutes / theyr corne and catall</L>
<L>The citezens dredyng to be captyue and thrall</L>
<L>Fortified the cite with men of armes bright</L>
<L>Hauynge &s;ure artillarie for to defende and fight</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The hu&s;bandes of the countrey about there dwellyng</L>
<L>Agayn&s;t the &s;ayd ennemyes makyng &s;ore prouy&s;ion</L>
<L>Brought their corne &amp; cattell / their <ABBR>hu&s;old</ABBR> remaynynge</L>
<L>In a&s;&s;urance to be / to the parke of Vpton</L>
<L>Saynt Werburge landes from all di&s;truction</L>
<L>Whiche parke from Vpton was di&s;taunt a myle &s;pace</L>
<L>A prebende to a chanon of her myn&s;tre and place</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The&s;e Wycked ennemies fulfylled with malice</L>
<PB REF="92">
<L>Agayn&s;t all con&s;cience and ordre of charite</L>
<L>In no maner wi&s;e dredynge the hie iu&s;tice</L>
<L>Entred the &s;ayd parke with mycle cruelte</L>
<L>Pulled downe the paale at plea&s;ure and liberte</L>
<L>Put in theyr hor&s;es made great di&s;truction</L>
<L>Of cornes and catell of a hie pre&s;umpcion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Werburge remembrynge theyr great wyckednes</L>
<L>Theyr malice and my&s;chief agayn&s;t her po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>By myracle &s;hewed her power and goodnes</L>
<L>Pre&s;eruynge her &s;eruauntes from all vexacion</L>
<L>And puny&s;&s;hyng her ennemies with great affliction</L>
<L>As &s;he hath done many &s;ea&s;ons or this</L>
<L>By mean to her &s;pou&s;e our lorde kyng of blis</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan the corne &s;heuys laye broken afore them playne</L>
<L>The hor&s;es had no power any part to take</L>
<L>For why? by myracle / theyr heedes all in certayne</L>
<L>Were vp holde~ in the ayre / theyr bodyes &s;ore dyd quake</L>
<L>They touched no frutes / wa&s;t they dyd none make</L>
<L>Of the principall doers / &s;ome raged out of mynde</L>
<L>Some &s;metyn with pal&s;y / &s;ome lepre halt and blynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whiche puny&s;&s;hement knowen vnto all the ho&s;t</L>
<L>The rulers and captens without any delaye</L>
<L>Knyt agayne the &s;heuys / that none &s;hulde be lo&s;t</L>
<L>With tremblynge hartes humbly began to praye</L>
<L>This holy virgin to &s;aue them that daye</L>
<L>Vpon a condicion / e&s;capynge from payne</L>
<L>Endurynge theyr lyfe neuer to turne agayne</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>From that tyme furth ther <ABBR>dar</ABBR> no nacion</L>
<PB REF="92">
<L>Con&s;yderyng the power of this virgin pure</L>
<L>Approchyng Che&s;tre cite to make derogacion</L>
<L>Denmarke Goet nor Galway &s;cot ye may be &s;ure</L>
<L>Cruell danes nor wal&s;hemen dare nat procure</L>
<L>Wherfore the citezens haue cau&s;e to loue the place</L>
<L>And thanke this virgin for her helpe and grace</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="14" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Howe a chanon of Che&s;tre hauyng his leg and thie broken was re&s;taured to helth by &s;aynt Werburge hys patrone&s;&s;e. Cap. xiiii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>Within Che&s;tre myn&s;tre that holy place</L>
<L>Dwelled a chanon nominate Vlminus</L>
<L>Sad of di&s;po&s;icion by &s;yngular grace</L>
<L>Humble and pacient / di&s;crete and vertuous</L>
<L>Liberall and hone&s;t / gentyll and piteous</L>
<L>And for a pa&s;tyme this was his plea&s;ure</L>
<L>To hunt and to hauke to confort nature</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And as this chanon rode for his &s;olace</L>
<L>On huntyng with other hone&s;t company</L>
<L>By fortune vnfrendly / the more pite was</L>
<L>Both hor&s;e and man fell to grounde &s;odendly</L>
<L>In perill of theyr lyues &s;tandynge in ieoperdye</L>
<L>The hor&s;e downe lyenge oppre&s;&s;ed the chanon</L>
<L>Brake his leg a &s;ondre / with blod great effu&s;ion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan by his company the chanon was vp take</L>
<L>He fell in a &s;wowne for angui&s;&s;he wo and payne</L>
<L>All wordly riches redy to for&s;ake</L>
<L>For one hour of quietnes to be had agayne</L>
<L>Vnto his mancion they brought hym certayne</L>
<PB REF="93">
<L>Where he continued in mycle wo and langour</L>
<L>Abydyng all only the mercy of our &s;auiour</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Cou~nyng &s;urgeans were &s;ought vpon euery &s;yde</L>
<L>To cure this gentylman from penalite</L>
<L>But none of them / by wy&s;dome coude prouyde</L>
<L>Clerely to heele hym / and do hym remedye</L>
<L>Thus he remediles / in extreme ieopardye</L>
<L>Prayed to &s;aynt Werburge his patrone&s;&s;e</L>
<L>For helth and remedye / of her great goodne&s;&s;e</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Who&s;e humble prayer with inward loue feruent</L>
<L>Was graciou&s;ly harde of her charite</L>
<L>For right &s;oone after appered euident</L>
<L>A byrde like a doue mo&s;t clere for to &s;ee</L>
<L>Into the chanons chambre the byrde flow trule</L>
<L>Among the company / and anone doubtles</L>
<L>The place was repleit with odour and &s;wetnes</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Soone after the company euerichone</L>
<L>Were &s;adly on &s;lepe a thynge meruaylous</L>
<L>And afore the pacient by playne vi&s;ion</L>
<L>Saynt Werburge appered in his &s;yght full glorious</L>
<L>Sayeng: my chaplayne and &s;eruaunt vertuous</L>
<L>Why be ye ab&s;ent from diuine &s;eruice</L>
<L>Nat doynge your dutie accordyng to iu&s;tice</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Madame he &s;ayd / and &s;wete pre&s;ident</L>
<L>It is well knowen to all the cite</L>
<L>Of my my&s;fortune and harmes euydent</L>
<L>Howe my hor&s;e almo&s;t had oppre&s;&s;ed me</L>
<L>Wherfore an impotent I endure my&s;ere</L>
<PB REF="93" MS="y">
<L>It is no feyned cau&s;e / that I do expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>I be&s;eke you of helpe nowe &s;wete mai&s;tres</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Saynt Werburge euer piteous and merciable</L>
<L>Vpon her &s;eruantes in great di&s;tre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Conforted her chaplayne with wordes delectable</L>
<L>Proued in effect by her excellent goodnes</L>
<L>To his &s;yght and felynge as he dyd expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>She touched the foote that &s;ore and broken was</L>
<L>Cured it holly from payne by &s;ingular grace</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan &s;he had cured thus this impotent</L>
<L>Anone &s;he departed out of his &s;yght</L>
<L>The chanon gaue honour to god omnipotent</L>
<L>And to this virgin and lady bryght</L>
<L>Of this go&s;tly vi&s;ion comfort and lyght</L>
<L>All peyne was pa&s;t &s;ekenes vexacion</L>
<L>Helth was come by playne probacion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The chanon ro&s;e vp the &s;ame mydnyght</L>
<L>And went to mattens as cu&s;tome was</L>
<L>His bretherne were glad with all theyr myght</L>
<L>Pray&s;ed our lorde of his &s;ingular grace</L>
<L>And Werburge patrones of the &s;ayd place</L>
<L>Al&s;o with honour reuerence and humilite</L>
<L>The bretherne &s;ange te deum &s;olemle</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="15" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A brefe reher&s;all of certayne kynges / and how kyng <ABBR>Edgar</ABBR> came to Che&s;tre. Al&s;o howe Leofrice Erle of Che&s;tre repared diuers churches. Cap. xv.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>After the dece&s;&s;e of kynge Edwarde &s;eniour</L>
<L>Ethel&s;tan his &s;onne was coronate at London</L>
<PB REF="94" MS="y">
<L>Kyng of this lande / regnyng in honour</L>
<L>With power regalite by true &s;ucce&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>Valeant in chiualry and actes euerychone</L>
<L>Subdued danes / &s;cottes / norwayes / britons all</L>
<L>Opteyned triumphe / and dignite imperiall</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The fourth yere of his reigne / and the yere of grace</L>
<L>viii. hundreth .ii. and &s;euenty by full computacion</L>
<L>Guy erle of Warwike by fortune &s;layne ha&s;e</L>
<L>Colbrond the gyaunt / floure of danes nacion</L>
<L>The &s;ayd kyng Ethel&s;tan by power and renowne</L>
<L>Thries &s;ubdued danes / and &s;lewe the kyng of Irela~de</L>
<L>Nominat prince Anlaff. as we vnder&s;tande</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This noble Ethel&s;tan was good and gracious</L>
<L>To all holy churche namely to religion</L>
<L>Ryghtfull in iudgement / liberall and piteous</L>
<L>To his true &s;ubiectes through his dominion</L>
<L>To myn&s;tres and holy places had great affection</L>
<L>Confirmed theyr foundacions with libertes clere</L>
<L>Who&s;e noble actes be touched a lytell here</L>
</LG>
<Q><L>Regia progenies produxit nobile &s;temma.</L>
<L>Cum tenebris no&s;tris illuxit &s;plendida gemma</L>
<L>Magnus Ethel&s;tanus patrie decus / orbira recit</L>
<L>Illu&s;tris probitas a verone&s;cia fleert.</L></Q>
<LG>
<L>After Ethel&s;tan regned Edmunde his brothur</L>
<L>Fyue yeres in honour / hauyng great victory</L>
<L>Princis Elred and Edwyn &s;uccided eytherothur</L>
<L>In great bu&s;ines with &s;cottes and danes truly</L>
<L>Next whom meke <ABBR>Edgar</ABBR> / &s;ayth the hi&s;tory</L>
<L>xvi. yere of age / coronate at Kyng&s;ton</L>
<L>With peace and quietnes fir&s;t ruled this region.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="94" MS="y">
<L>In who&s;e natiuite the ble&s;&s;ed Dun&s;tan</L>
<L>Herde angels &s;inge with mycle melody</L>
<L>Peace is nowe come to Englande certan</L>
<L>Quietnes / and re&s;t / honour / and victory</L>
<L>Of cornes and frutes that tyme was plentie</L>
<L>Danes / norwaies / &s;cottes / britons in euery place</L>
<L>Submytted them &s;elfe to the kynges grace</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Science encrea&s;ed true loue and amite</L>
<L>Vertue was exalted in all this region</L>
<L>Mona&s;teries were edified of his benignite</L>
<L>Endowed with riches / and riall po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>xl. religious places by famous opinion</L>
<L>Were newly buylded by the &s;ayd noble kyng</L>
<L>In &s;ondry places of this realme &s;tandyng</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Secular pre&s;tes expul&s;ed &s;othely were</L>
<L>From diuers mona&s;teries with great di&s;crecion</L>
<L>Religious per&s;ones repleit with vertue clere</L>
<L>Entred their places cau&s;e of deuocion</L>
<L>Charite was feruent and holy religion</L>
<L>The lyues of &s;ayntes were &s;oth in eche place</L>
<L>And written in legendes for our comfort and grace</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Many &s;hyps were made vpon the kynges co&s;t</L>
<L>To &s;erche by the&s;e all his lande about</L>
<L>That no alian entre in no maner co&s;t</L>
<L>By policie and manhod to holde all his ennemies out</L>
<L>Danes / norwaies / &s;cottes dur&s;t nat ones loke out</L>
<L>Suche drede all nacions had en&s;uynge the tyme</L>
<L>That kyng <ABBR>Edgar</ABBR> regned by prouidence diuine</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In progre&s;&s;e he pa&s;&s;ed ones in the yere</L>
<L>Eche quarter of the realme with his company</L>
<PB REF="95" MS="y">
<L>To &s;e that his &s;ubiectes well ordred were</L>
<L>And the lawe ob&s;erued / iu&s;tice with mercy</L>
<L>Than was none oppre&s;&s;ion wronges nor iniury</L>
<L>Debate malice rancour myght nat be founde</L>
<L>True loue and charite was in all the londe</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Kynge <ABBR>Edgar</ABBR> approched the cite of legions</L>
<L>Nowe called Che&s;tre / &s;pecified afore</L>
<L>Where .viii. kynges mette of diuers nacions</L>
<L>Redy to gyue Edgare reuerence and honour</L>
<L>Legiance and fidelite depely &s;worne full &s;ore</L>
<L>At the &s;ame cite: after to be obedient</L>
<L>Promyt at his callyng to come to his parliament</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>From the Ca&s;tell he went to the water of Dee</L>
<L>By a priue po&s;turne through walles of the towne</L>
<L>The kyng toke his barge with mycle rialte</L>
<L>Rowyng vpwarde to the churche of &s;aynt Iohn~</L>
<L>The for&s;ayd .viii. kynges with hym went alone</L>
<L>Kynge <ABBR>Edgar</ABBR> kept the &s;torne / as mo&s;t principall</L>
<L>Eche prince had an ore to labour with all</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan the kynge had done his pylgrimage</L>
<L>And to the holy roode made oblacion</L>
<L>They entred agayne into the &s;ayd barge</L>
<L>Pa&s;&s;ynge to his place with great renowne</L>
<L>Than Edgare &s;pake in pray&s;yng of the crowne</L>
<L>All my &s;ucce&s;&s;ours may glad and ioyfull be</L>
<L>To haue &s;uche homage honour and dignite</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o it is to be had in memory</L>
<L>That this &s;ayd <ABBR>Edgar</ABBR> and his princis all</L>
<PB REF="95" MS="y">
<L>Came with great reuerence vnto the mona&s;tery</L>
<L>To wor&s;hyp &s;aynt Werburge with mynde liberall</L>
<L>Where he gaue fredoms and priuileges &s;peciall</L>
<L>With &s;ingular po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ions of his charite</L>
<L>Confirmynge the olde grauntes by hye auctorite</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This <ABBR>Edgar</ABBR> was nominate in cronicles expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>The floure of Engla~de / regnyng as emperour</L>
<L>Lyke wi&s;e as Romulus to romains was of prowes</L>
<L>Cyrus to the per&s;is / to the grekes their conquerour</L>
<L>Great Charles to frenchemen / to troians Hectour</L>
<L>Famous in victorye preignant in wy&s;dome</L>
<L>Vertuous and pacient / feruent in deuocion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<HEAD><ABBR>Henric.</ABBR> li^o. v.</HEAD>
<L>Auctor opum vindix &s;celerum / largitor honorum</L>
<L>Sceptriger Edgarus regna &s;uperna petit.</L>
<L>Hic alter Solomon / legum pater / orbita pacis</L>
<L>Quod claruit bellis / claruit inde magis.</L>
<L>Templa deo / te~plis monachos / monachis dedit agros:</L>
<L>Nequitie lap&s;um / iu&s;ticie&abque; locum.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o from the byrthe of our ble&s;&s;ed &s;auiour</L>
<L>A thou&s;ande fyfty yere / and &s;euyn expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>In the tyme of &s;aynt Edwarde kyng and confe&s;&s;our</L>
<L>As William Malue&s;bury beareth wytnes</L>
<L>Than Leofricus a man of great mekenes</L>
<L>Was erle of Che&s;tre and duke of merciens</L>
<L>Son to duke Leoffwin by liniall di&s;cence</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This noble Leofric &s;ayth policronicon</L>
<L>Of his deuocion and beningne grace</L>
<PB REF="96" MS="y">
<L>Namely by the coun&s;ell and vertues mocion</L>
<L>Of his lady Godith countes whiche was</L>
<L>Reedified churches decayed in many a place</L>
<L>Al&s;o he founded the mona&s;tery of Leonence</L>
<L>By the towne of <ABBR>Herford</ABBR> / and the place of Wenlecence</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This erle repareled a noble olde mona&s;tery</L>
<L>Eue&s;ham vpon Auen / gaue them great riches</L>
<L>Al&s;o founder was of the abbay in couentre</L>
<L>Made the cite free for loue of his counte&s;&s;e</L>
<L>At the cite of Che&s;tre of his great goodnes</L>
<L>He repared the College churche of &s;aynt Iohn~</L>
<L>Endowed it with riches and enormentes many on.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This erle of Che&s;tre the &s;ayd Leofricus</L>
<L>Of his charite / and feruent deuocion</L>
<L>To the honour of god / reedified full gracious</L>
<L>The myn&s;tre of Werburge within the &s;ayd towne</L>
<L>Gaue vnto it riches and &s;ingular po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>Endowed the &s;ayd place with fredoms and liberte</L>
<L>And &s;peciall priuileges confirmed by auctorite</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>So the &s;ayd place encrea&s;ed in honour</L>
<L>In great po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ions / fredoms / and riche&s;&s;e</L>
<L>With &s;ingular deuocion vnto our &s;auiour</L>
<L>And pray&s;e to &s;aynt Werburge theyr patrone&s;&s;e</L>
<L>The chanons ob&s;erued vertue and clennes</L>
<L>Daily augmentyng by diuine &s;ufferaunce</L>
<L>Vnto the comyng to this lande of normans</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="16" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Of the comyng of Willyam conquerour to this la~de and howe Hug. Lupe his &s;y&s;ter &s;onne was founder of
<PB REF="96" MS="y"> Che&s;tre mona&s;terye Cap. xvi.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THe yere of grace .M. &s;ixe and thre&s;cour</L>
<L>The .xiii. day of the moneth of october</L>
<L>The duke of Normandy / William conquerour</L>
<L>Pight a &s;tronge batell / di&s;played his baner</L>
<L>Of normans and frenchemen hauynge great power</L>
<L>Subdued kyng <ABBR>Harold</ABBR> / opteyned all the londe</L>
<L>Was coronate at London / made &s;axons all bonde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>For diuer&s;e great cau&s;es he came to this countre</L>
<L>Fir&s;t for deth of Alured his nere kyn&s;man</L>
<L>The pro&s;cripcion of Robert archebi&s;&s;hop of Cant&aber;bury</L>
<L>The periury of Harolde agayn&s;t con&s;cience playne</L>
<L>The promys of &s;aynt Edwarde made to hym certayne</L>
<L>That the &s;ayd Wylliam &s;hulde enioye the crowne</L>
<L>If the kyng departed without &s;ucce&s;&s;ion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>A generall coun&s;ell was celebrate at London</L>
<L>That all by&s;&s;hops &s;ees by helpe of the conquerour</L>
<L>From borowes &s;hulde be tran&s;late to a famous towne</L>
<L>Within their <ABBR>dioce&s;~</ABBR> / to the greatter honour</L>
<L>Ryght &s;o they all were / &s;ayth myn auctour</L>
<L>Al&s;o the &s;ee of <ABBR>Lichefeld</ABBR> was tran&s;late to Che&s;ter</L>
<L>By helpe and &s;ufferaunce of the by&s;&s;hop Peter</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>With Wylliam conquerour came to this region</L>
<L>A noble worthy prynce nominate Hug. Lupus</L>
<L>The dukes &s;on of Britayne / and his &s;y&s;ter &s;on</L>
<L>Flourynge in chiualry bolde and victorious</L>
<L>Manfull in batell / liberall and vertuous</L>
<L>To whom the kyng gaue for his enheritaunce</L>
<PB REF="97" MS="y">
<L>The counte of Che&s;&s;hire with the appurtinaunce</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>By victorie to wynne the for&s;ayd Erledom</L>
<L>Frely to gouerne it as by conque&s;t right</L>
<L>Made a &s;ure chartre to hym and his &s;ucce&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>By the &s;werde of dignite to holde it with myght</L>
<L>And to calle a parlement to his wyll and &s;yght</L>
<L>To ordre his &s;ubiectes after true iu&s;tice</L>
<L>As a prepotent prince / and &s;tatutes to deui&s;e</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This valeant knyght with a myghty ho&s;t</L>
<L>De&s;cended from London to wynne the &s;ayd counte</L>
<L>But the lordes of Che&s;&s;hire ro&s;e from euery co&s;t</L>
<L>Agayn&s;t hym made batell and had the victorie</L>
<L>Thries they preuayled agayn&s;t the erle trulie</L>
<L>After he optayned to his fame and honour</L>
<L>The erledome of Che&s;tre entred as a conquerour</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>He gaue to his knyghtes after theyr de&s;ire</L>
<L>Lord&s;hyps and franches / and great po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>With riche mariages within all Che&s;&s;hire</L>
<L>Exalted his &s;eruauntes to hye promocion</L>
<L>Vnto holy churche had &s;pecial deuocion</L>
<L>Maynteynge iu&s;tice / commendyng vertue</L>
<L>Depo&s;yng vice by the helpe of Ie&s;u</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>After the departure of his vncle the conquerour</L>
<L>Whan William Ruff. toke the regalite</L>
<L>Than ble&s;&s;ed An&s;elme the famous doctour</L>
<L>Dyd vi&s;et this lande oft tymes of his charite</L>
<L>Glad to refourme / and brynge vnto vnite</L>
<L>Where was debate / and mycle diui&s;ion</L>
<PB REF="97" MS="y">
<L>By diligent labour and good exhortacion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This for&s;ayd erle of his benignite</L>
<L>Interiou&s;ly louynge holy religion</L>
<L>Repleit with vertue and feruent charite</L>
<L>Sende for &s;aynt An&s;elme vnto London</L>
<L>To come to Che&s;tre at his peticion</L>
<L>And there for to founde a religious place</L>
<L>In honour of Werburge by diuine grace</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Ble&s;&s;ed An&s;elme at the erles &s;upplicacion</L>
<L>Came vnto Che&s;tre with gladde chere &s;hortly</L>
<L>Where he founded an abbaye of holy religion</L>
<L>A plea&s;aunt place and a noble mona&s;terye</L>
<L>In wor&s;hyp of god / and &s;aynt Werburge &s;othely</L>
<L>The yere of grace by full computacion</L>
<L>A thou&s;ande .iiii. &s;core .xiii. yere alon</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>All &s;ecular pre&s;tes / and chanons al&s;o</L>
<L>Within the &s;ayd place afore tyme dwellyng</L>
<L>Were clerely di&s;my&s;&s;ed / and letten go</L>
<L>Religious monkes perfect in lyuynge</L>
<L>Receyued were gladly their rule profe&s;&s;ynge</L>
<L>Saynt An&s;elme ordeyned <ABBR>Ric</ABBR> of <ABBR>Beccen&s;~</ABBR></L>
<L>To be their abbot with great preeminence</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Landes / rentes / libertes / and great po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>Franches / fredoms / and priuileges riall</L>
<L>Were gyuen mekely to that foundacion</L>
<L>Maners borowes / townes / with the people thrall</L>
<L>And many faire churches / chapels withall</L>
<L>Wardes and mariages were gyuen that &s;ea&s;on</L>
<PB REF="98" MS="y">
<L>To god and &s;aynt Werburge cau&s;e of deuocion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Kyng Wyllyam Ruff, &s;on to the conquerour</L>
<L>Confirmed the foundacion / with great auctorite</L>
<L>Endowed the mona&s;tery with mycle honour</L>
<L>Of fredoms / franches / al&s;o liberte</L>
<L>The place that tyme was made as fre</L>
<L>As the &s;ayd erle was in his ca&s;tell</L>
<L>Or as hert myght thynke / or tonge myght tell</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Saynt An&s;elme departed thence vnto London</L>
<L>And was made archebi&s;&s;hop of Canturbury</L>
<L>To the place he gaue a &s;ure confirmacion</L>
<L>With &s;ingular priuileges to be had in memory</L>
<L>Of whom it is written here folowyng truly</L>
<L>Hic vir dum vixit extirpantes maledixit</L>
<L>Werburge iura pre&s;entia &s;ine futura.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This noble prince gaue of his charite</L>
<L>Riall riche enormentes vnto the &s;ayd place</L>
<L>Coopes / cro&s;&s;es / Iewels of great rialte</L>
<L>Chales / cen&s;ures / ve&s;tures / and landes dyd purchace</L>
<L>A librarie of bokes to rede and &s;ynge there was</L>
<L>Of whiche riall iewels and bokes &s;ome remayne</L>
<L>Within the &s;ayd mona&s;tery to this day certayne</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The founder al&s;o buylded within the mona&s;terie</L>
<L>Many myghty places / conuenient for religion</L>
<L>Compa&s;ed with &s;tronge walles on the we&s;t partie</L>
<L>And on the other &s;yde with Walles of the towne</L>
<L>Clo&s;ed at euery ende with a &s;ure po&s;tron</L>
<L>In &s;outh part the cimiterie inuironed rounde about</L>
<PB REF="98" MS="y">
<L>For a &s;ure defence ennemies to holde out</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The .ix. yere aftre this riall foundacion</L>
<L>This noble founder the .xxvii. day of Iuly</L>
<L>Departed towarde the heuenly mancion</L>
<L>Next whom his &s;on Richarde &s;ucceded truly</L>
<L>Than regnyng in honour the fir&s;t kyng Henry</L>
<L>Al&s;o the place had their fraunces and fredom</L>
<L>Afore the &s;ayd cite a hundreth yere and one</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="17" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Howe &s;aynt Werburge taught her monke and cha|playne to kepe paciens for his greatter merite and glo|rye to come. Cap. xvii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>AFter the tran&s;lacion of Che&s;tre mona&s;terye</L>
<L>From &s;ecular chanons to monkes religious</L>
<L>By helpe of An&s;elme archebi&s;&s;hop of Canturburye</L>
<L>Supportyng therto the founder Hug. Lupus</L>
<L>As afore is &s;pecified full memorous</L>
<L>A monke there dwelled of vertuous di&s;po&s;icion</L>
<L>Vnder obedience / nominate dan Symon</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This brother Simon his tyme well v&s;yng</L>
<L>Nowe in vertuous &s;tudy / nowe in contemplacion</L>
<L>Nowe in deuout prayer / nowe bu&s;ely wryttynge</L>
<L>Somtyme in &s;olace / and hone&s;t recreacion</L>
<L>Ob&s;erued deuoutly his holy religion</L>
<L>Obedience / pacience / and wylfull pouerte</L>
<L>Mekenes / meditacion / with pure cha&s;tite</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>For whiche examples and &s;ignes of vertue</L>
<L>Diuers of his bretherne repleit with enuy</L>
<L>Were fully confederate entendyng to &s;ubdue</L>
<L>This hone&s;t pre&s;t by malice and policy</L>
<PB REF="99" MS="y">
<L>They layd to his charge open wronges and iniury</L>
<L>They puny&s;&s;hed &amp; oppre&s;&s;ed hym with great affliction</L>
<L>Dayly augmentyng by &s;ubtyll collu&s;ton</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Dan Symon offendyng no brother at all</L>
<L>Ob&s;erued pacience / euer callynge for grace</L>
<L>Wepyng lamentyng with &s;yghes cordiall</L>
<L>His fortune vnfrendly remediles in that ca&s;e</L>
<L>Entended to depart to &s;ome other place</L>
<L>Of a &s;crupulous con&s;cience / &s;eyng no redre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Was redy to procede plouged in heuynes</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Werburge appered to this monke in vi&s;ion</L>
<L>Bryghter than Phebus in his meridian &s;pere</L>
<L>My &s;eruaunt &s;he &s;ayd callyng hym vpon</L>
<L>Why be ye &s;o &s;ad / and heuy of chere?</L>
<L>Wheder entende ye? &s;hewe the mater clere</L>
<L>Alas he &s;ayd madame and patrone&s;&s;e</L>
<L>For &s;orowe I can nat my peynes expre&s;&s;e</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Diuers of my bretherne ben greued at me</L>
<L>Vexyng me dayly with great tribulacion</L>
<L>Cau&s;eles on my part de&s;erued trule</L>
<L>In worde or en dede gyuyng none occa&s;ion</L>
<L>I can nat be quiet amonge that congregacion</L>
<L>Wherfore &s;wete lady vnder your licence</L>
<L>I purpo&s;e to departe in &s;auynge my con&s;cience</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Saynt Werburge pacified his mynde and entent</L>
<L>With wordes of comfort and holy &s;cripture</L>
<L>Made hym be humble in hert and pacient</L>
<L>Thy &s;ufferaunce &s;halbe great ioye and plea&s;ure</L>
<PB REF="99" MS="y">
<L>And for thy pacience thou mai&s;t be &s;ure</L>
<L>To haue rewarde in blis perpetuall</L>
<L>At thy departure from this lyfe mortall</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Wherwith &s;aynt Werburge departed &s;odein<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"></L>
<L>To the blys of heuyn euer endurynge</L>
<L>The monke was meke in hert and mery</L>
<L>Ob&s;erued her doctrine this lyfe continuyng</L>
<L>Gaue good example of perfect lyuynge</L>
<L>Vnto his bretherne / and at his departure</L>
<L>For his pacience pa&s;&s;ed to eternall plea&s;ure</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="18" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Howe &s;ondes ro&s;e vp within the &s;alt &s;ee agayn&s;t Hil+burghee by &s;aynt Werburge at the peticion of the con|&s;table of Che&s;tre. Ca. xviii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THe &s;econde erle of Che&s;tre after the conque&s;t</L>
<L>Was erle Richard / &s;on to Hug. Lupus</L>
<L>Whiche Richarde entended all thyng to the be&s;t</L>
<L>To vi&s;ite &s;aynt Winifride in hert de&s;irous</L>
<L>Vpon his iourney went / myn auctour &s;ayth thus</L>
<L>Deuoutly to holy well in pylgrimage</L>
<L>For his great merite and go&s;tly aduantage</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan the wicked wal&s;hemen herd of his comyng</L>
<L>After a meke maner vnto that party</L>
<L>They made in&s;urrection inwardly gladdyng</L>
<L>De&s;cended from the mountaynes mo&s;t furiou&s;ly</L>
<L>Agayn&s;t the erle rai&s;ed a cruell company</L>
<L>Bytwxt hym and Che&s;tre lettynge the kyngis way</L>
<L>Purpo&s;ynge to flee or take hym for a praye</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="100" MS="y">
<L>The erle &s;on perceyued theyr malicious entent</L>
<L>In all ha&s;t po&s;&s;ible &s;ende to Che&s;tre &s;ecretly</L>
<L>To warne his con&s;table by loue and commaundemt</L>
<L>Wyllyam the &s;on of Nigell / to ray&s;e a great army</L>
<L>To mete hym at Ba&s;yng werke right &s;one and &s;pedely</L>
<L>For his deliueraunce from deth and captiuite</L>
<L>Of the wyld wal&s;hemen / without humanite</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The con&s;table congregate in all goodly ha&s;t</L>
<L>A myghty &s;tronge ho&s;t / in theyr be&s;t arraye</L>
<L>Towarde Hilburghee on iourney ridyng fa&s;t</L>
<L>Tru&s;tyng vpon &s;hippes all them to conuaye</L>
<L>Whiche was a riall rode that tyme nyght and daye</L>
<L>And whan they theder came &s;hyppyng none there was</L>
<L>To carie all them ouer in conuenient &s;pace</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Alas what hert may thynke / or tonge well expre&s;&s;e?</L>
<L>The dolorous greuaunce / and great lamentacion</L>
<L>That the ho&s;t made / for loue and tendernes</L>
<L>Knowynge their great mai&s;ter in &s;uche per&s;ecucion</L>
<L>Some wept and wayled without con&s;olacion</L>
<L>Some &s;ighed and &s;obbed / &s;ome were in exta&s;y</L>
<L>Without perfect rea&s;on / alas what remedy?</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Wyllyam the con&s;table mo&s;t carefull man on lyue</L>
<L>Of his my&s;fortune in &s;uche extreme nece&s;&s;ite</L>
<L>Called to hym a monke there dwellyng contemplatyue</L>
<L>Required hym for coun&s;ayle and prayer for his charite</L>
<L>The monke exhorted hym to knele vpon his kne</L>
<L>Humblie to be&s;eke Werburge his patrone&s;&s;e</L>
<L>For helpe and remedy in &s;uche great di&s;tre&s;&s;e</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="100" MS="y">
<L>The con&s;table content anone began to praye</L>
<L>O ble&s;&s;ed Werburge and virgin pure</L>
<L>I be&s;eke the mekely helpe me this day</L>
<L>That we may tran&s;cende this ryuer &s;afe and &s;ure</L>
<L>To &s;aue and defende my lorde from di&s;comfiture</L>
<L>And here I promytte to god and the alone</L>
<L>To offre to the a gyfte at my comyng whome</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whiche prayer ended with wepyng and langour</L>
<L>Beholde and con&s;ydre well with your go&s;tly ee</L>
<L>The infinite goodnes of our &s;auiour</L>
<L>For like as to Moi&s;es deuided the redde &s;ee</L>
<L>And the water of Iordan obeyed to Io&s;ue</L>
<L>Ryght &s;o the depe riuer of Dee made diui&s;ion</L>
<L>The &s;ondes drye appered in &s;yght of them echone</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The con&s;table con&s;yderynge / and all the company</L>
<L>This great myracle tran&s;cendyng nature</L>
<L>Pray&s;ed and magnified our lorde god almyghty</L>
<L>And ble&s;&s;ed Werburge the virgin pure</L>
<L>They went into wales vpon the &s;ondes &s;ure</L>
<L>Deliuered their lorde from drede and enmite</L>
<L>Brought hym in &s;afe garde agayne to Che&s;tre cite</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The &s;aid Wyllyam con&s;table came to the mona&s;terye</L>
<L>Thanked &s;aynt Werburge with meke &s;upplicacion</L>
<L>Fulfylled his promes made in extremite</L>
<L>Offred to the place the village of Neuton</L>
<L>Afterwarde he founded the abbay of Norton</L>
<L>And where the ho&s;t pa&s;&s;ed / ouer betwix bondes</L>
<L>To this day ben called the con&s;table &s;ondes</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="19" TYPE="chapter">
<PB REF="101" MS="y">
<HEAD>&para; Howe <ABBR>Marild</ABBR> counte&s;&s;e of Che&s;tre coun&s;ellyng her <ABBR>hu&s;band</ABBR> agayn&s;t the mona&s;tery of Che&s;ter was drow|ned at Barflewe with many other mo. Cap. xix.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>AFter the dece&s;&s;e of Hug. Lupe prenominate</L>
<L><ABBR>Richard</ABBR> his &s;on .vii. yeres of age</L>
<L>Was elect Erle by the kyng and creat</L>
<L>With coun&s;aile gouerned his landes and heritage</L>
<L>At yeres of di&s;crecion he toke in mariage</L>
<L>The lady Matild / nece to the fir&s;t kynge Henry</L>
<L>Doughter to erle Stephan (&s;ayth the hi&s;tory)</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>At his begynnyng he was a benefactour</L>
<L>A founder to the place by landes and po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>By franches and libertes / ayde / helpe / and &s;uccour</L>
<L>Gyuen to the abbay / augmentyng the foundacion</L>
<L>Proued by his actes of &s;ingular deuocion</L>
<L>Enduryng long tyme / tyll that his lady</L>
<L>By wycked coun&s;aile moued hym the contrarye</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>It is red in &s;cripture howe quene Ie&s;abell</L>
<L>Ambicious of honour agayn&s;t all ryghtou&s;nes</L>
<L>Peruerted her lorde Achas / kyng of I&s;raell</L>
<L>To&s;le Nabath for his vineyard doubtles</L>
<L>Al&s;o Athalia / the bible &s;heweth expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Commaunded to &s;lee the kynges children all</L>
<L>That &s;he myght regne &s;ole prince&s;&s;e imperiall</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Ryght &s;o this <ABBR>Matild</ABBR> clerely refu&s;yng</L>
<L>The &s;teppes of Sara / Rebecca / and Rachell</L>
<L>And other good matrons: but mutacion takyng</L>
<L>Of the&s;e wycked women Athali and Ie&s;abell</L>
<PB REF="101" MS="y">
<L>Peruerted her hu&s;bande by her &s;ubtyll coun&s;ell</L>
<L>To a&s;ke of the abbot the maner place of Salton</L>
<L>With the appurtinaunce / by famous opinion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thabbot by coun&s;ell of his bretherne all</L>
<L>Denyed to graunt their propre po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>The patrimony of Chri&s;t and their landes &s;euerall</L>
<L>To the &s;ayd erle Richarde and his &s;ucce&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>Gyuen by his father at the fir&s;t foundacion</L>
<L>For Whiche thyng the erle and <ABBR>Matild</ABBR> his lady</L>
<L>Hated thabbot / the bretherne / and the mona&s;tery</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The erle and his counte&s;&s;e went to Normandy</L>
<L>To vi&s;et their frendes and co&s;yns naturall</L>
<L>So dyd the princis / their father kyng Henry</L>
<L>With many e&s;tates of the blodde riall</L>
<L>The&s;e princis fauored no &s;axon at all</L>
<L>The erle conominat in malice and hate</L>
<L>Agayn&s;t the mona&s;terie / as a man endurate</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Satan &s;ende forth his &s;eruauntes in ha&s;t</L>
<L>To enfect the erles hert with venomous poi&s;on</L>
<L>The bedyls of Belial attempted full fa&s;t</L>
<L>The erle and his counte&s;&s;e / to kepe theyr opinion</L>
<L>Detractours flaterers cau&s;e of promocion</L>
<L>Tru&s;tyng therby to opteyne fauour and grace</L>
<L>Excited their myndes agayn&s;t the &s;ayd place</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The erle &s;ore attempted by his go&s;tly ennemy</L>
<L>By wycked people callyng hym vpon</L>
<L>Namely by the coun&s;ell of <ABBR>Matild</ABBR> his lady</L>
<L>Entended to alter and chaunge the foundacion</L>
<PB REF="102" MS="y">
<L>Of the &s;ayd abbay to a nother religion</L>
<L>Confirmed the &s;ame &s;weryng mo&s;t depely</L>
<L>At his whom comyng to Englande / from Normandy</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Thabbot and couent knowyng this great perell</L>
<L>By &s;peciall louers and frendes &s;ecretly</L>
<L>Were pen&s;yue and &s;orowfull (it was no meruell)</L>
<L>Their hertes plonged in wo and mi&s;ery</L>
<L>By naturall rea&s;on hauyng no remedy</L>
<L>Con&s;yderyng his malice encrea&s;ed more and more</L>
<L>Agayn&s;t the mona&s;tery / with wordes of rigour</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>They had their hope tru&s;t and confidence</L>
<L>In ble&s;&s;ed Werburge their patrone&s;&s;e</L>
<L>With wepyng eies clere in con&s;cience</L>
<L>They called her vpon in all their di&s;tre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>O glorious virgin lady and &s;wete mai&s;tres</L>
<L>Metigate the malice by thy benignite</L>
<L>Of Richarde our lorde / mekely we praye the</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Suffre hym neuer to di&s;troye thy place</L>
<L>By wycked con&s;ell malice and enuy</L>
<L>Founded and dedicate by heuenly grace</L>
<L>In honour of god / and the &s;pecially</L>
<L>Protect / defende / and &s;aue thy mona&s;tery</L>
<L>Thy landes / thy libertes / and thy &s;eruauntes all</L>
<L>As thou afore tyme ha&s;t done continuall</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>In meane tyme the erle entended &s;pedely</L>
<L>From thens to depart / and retourne agayne</L>
<L>To fulfyll his entent agayn&s;t the mona&s;terye</L>
<L>By the &s;ubtyll mocion of his counte&s;&s;e playne</L>
<PB REF="102" MS="y">
<L>A &s;hip was prepared / all thyng redy certayne</L>
<L>The prince of England / the erle and his lady</L>
<L>Toke &s;hippyng at Barflewe and all their comp</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Certaynly they &s;ayled but a lytell &s;pace</L>
<L>Whan agayn&s;t them roo&s;e a contrarie wynde</L>
<L>The mariners to gyde the &s;hip had no grace</L>
<L>The &s;tormes &s;o great hiduous agayn&s;t kynde</L>
<L>On a rocke they ranne / no remedy myght fynde</L>
<L>Incontinently the &s;hip bar&s;t all in &s;ondre</L>
<L>The erle and his feli&s;hip were turned all vndre</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>No man ne childe &s;caped from deth that tyme</L>
<L>But one pore &s;eruaunt whiche &s;wamme to the londe</L>
<L>Suche was theyr fortune by &s;ufferaunce diuyne</L>
<L>Many of theyr bedis were neuer fonde</L>
<L>Thus was their power made thrall and bonde</L>
<L>Theyr lyues were lo&s;t within a &s;ort &s;pace</L>
<L>Whiche were cruell ennemyes vnto her place&punc;</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>On &s;aynt Katharins day at after mydnyght</L>
<L>Whan matens were ended / and bretherne gon</L>
<L>Some mournyng waylyng for drede full ryght</L>
<L>Some bu&s;ie in prayer and contemplacion</L>
<L>Werburge appered to the &s;ecri&s;tan alone</L>
<L>Sayenge: ye may be ioyfull in god and mery</L>
<L>Erle Richarde is drowned your mortall ennemy</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The &s;ame glad tidyng &s;hewed an hone&s;t woman</L>
<L>Tollyng at the churche dore the &s;ayd day and hour</L>
<L>As &s;he was commaunded by Werburge incertan</L>
<L>To thabbot and couent plonged in great langour</L>
<PB REF="103" MS="y">
<L>(Whiche myracle herde) they prayed our &s;auiour</L>
<L>And ble&s;&s;ed Werburge / with hert deuoutly</L>
<L>Syngyng Te deum full &s;olemply</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="20" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; Howe a great fire like to di&s;troye all Che&s;tre by my|racle cea&s;ed / whan the holy &s;hryne was borne about the towne by the monkes. Cap. xx.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>FRom the incarnacion of our &s;auiour</L>
<L>A thou&s;and / a hundreth yere .lxxx. al&s;o</L>
<L>On &s;onday in mydlenton / the .viii. <ABBR>hour</ABBR></L>
<L>Whan euery pare&s;&s;hen theyr churche went to</L>
<L>As all chri&s;ten people of dutie &s;hulde do</L>
<L>A fyre by infortune ro&s;e vp &s;odeinly</L>
<L>All flamyng feruent or the people dyd e&s;py</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This fearefull fire encrea&s;ed more and more</L>
<L>Piteou&s;ly wa&s;tyng hous / chambre / and hall</L>
<L>The citezens were redy their cite to &s;uccour</L>
<L>Shewed all their diligence / and labour continuall</L>
<L>Some cried for water / and &s;ome for hookes dyd call</L>
<L>Some v&s;ed other engins by crafte and policy</L>
<L>Some pulled downe how&s;es afore the fire truly</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Other that were impotent / mekely gan praye</L>
<L>Our ble&s;&s;ed lorde / on them to haue pite</L>
<L>Women and children cried out and waile away</L>
<L>Beholdyng the daunger and perill of the cite</L>
<L>Pre&s;tes made ha&s;t diuine &s;eruice to &s;upple</L>
<L>Redy for to &s;uccour their neyghbours in di&s;tres</L>
<L>(As charite required) and helpe their heuynes</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="103" MS="y">
<L>The fire contynued without any ce&s;&s;ynge</L>
<L>Feruently flamyng euer contynuall</L>
<L>From place to place meruaylou&s;ly rennyng</L>
<L>As it were tynder con&s;umyng toure and wall</L>
<L>The citezens &s;adly laboured in vayne all</L>
<L>By the policie of man was founde no remedy</L>
<L>To ce&s;&s;e the fire &s;o feruent and myghty</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Alas great heuynes it was to beholde</L>
<L>The cite of Trope all flamyng as fire</L>
<L>More pite of Rome cite was manyfolde</L>
<L>Feruently flagrant / empeiryng the empire</L>
<L>As to the quantite the cite of Che&s;tire</L>
<L>Myght be a&s;&s;embled this tyme in like ca&s;e</L>
<L>To the &s;ayd citees remedeles alas</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Many riall places fell adowne that day</L>
<L>Riche marchauntes hou&s;es brought to di&s;truction</L>
<L>Churches and chapels went to great decay</L>
<L>That tyme was brent the more part of the towne</L>
<L>And to this pre&s;ent day is a famous opinion</L>
<L>Howe a myghty churche a myn&s;tre of &s;aynt Michaell</L>
<L>That &s;ea&s;on was brent and to ruyne fell</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan the people &s;awe their power in&s;ufficient</L>
<L>By diligent labour / wy&s;dome and policye</L>
<L>To &s;ubdue the fire / but &s;tyll dyd augment</L>
<L>To almyghty god they dyd call and crye</L>
<L>And to &s;aynt Werburge the gracious lady</L>
<L>For helpe and &s;uccour in &s;uche wretchednes</L>
<L>Wepyng and waylyng for woo and heuynes</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="104" MS="y">
<L>Thabbot and couent of the &s;ayd mona&s;terie</L>
<L>Religiou&s;ly lyuyng in holy conuer&s;acion</L>
<L>Repleit with mekenes and feruent charite</L>
<L>Toke the holy &s;hryne in prayer and deuocion</L>
<L>Syngyng the letanie bare it in proce&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>Compa&s;yng the fyre in euery &s;trete and place</L>
<L>Tru&s;tyng in Werburge for helpe aide and grace</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan they had ended the holy letanye</L>
<L>From place to place procedyng in &s;tacion</L>
<L>Anone a &s;tremyng &s;terre appered &s;odaynlye</L>
<L>A white doue de&s;cended afore the congregacion</L>
<L>Approchyng as to helpe them / a &s;igne of con&s;olacion</L>
<L>The people reioy&s;ed of that go&s;tly &s;yght</L>
<L>And pray&s;ed &s;aynt Werburge with power and myght</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>So by the merite of this ble&s;&s;ed virgin</L>
<L>The fire began to ce&s;&s;e / a myracle clere</L>
<L>Nat pa&s;&s;yng the place / where the holy &s;hryne</L>
<L>Was borne by the bretherne / as playnly dyd appere</L>
<L>The citezens dyd helpe in their be&s;t manere</L>
<L>The feruent great fire extincted was in dede</L>
<L>By grace aboue nature / in &s;tory we may rede</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The clergie the burges / and the comons all</L>
<L>Con&s;yderyng the goodnes of this virgin bright</L>
<L>With tendernes of hert and loue in &s;peciall</L>
<L>Magnified and pray&s;ed our lorde god almyght</L>
<L>And ble&s;&s;ed Werburge by day al&s;o nyght</L>
<L>Whiche hath pre&s;erued of her great charite</L>
<L>Che&s;tre from di&s;truction in extreme nece&s;&s;ite</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="104" MS="y">
<L>Vnto her &s;hryne the people all went</L>
<L>The clergie before in maner of proce&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>Thankyng this virgin with loue feruent</L>
<L>For her mercy and grace &s;hewed them vpon</L>
<L>Deuoutly knelynge there made oblacion</L>
<L>Sayeng full &s;adly / we &s;hall neuer able be</L>
<L>The place to recompence for this dede of charite</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="21" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A breue reher&s;all of the myracles of &s;aynt Werburge after her tran&s;lacion to Che&s;tre. Cap. xxi,</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>THe&s;e fore&s;ayd myracles and &s;ignes cele&s;tiall</L>
<L>By diuine &s;ufferaunce &s;hewed manife&s;tly</L>
<L>Magnifien this virgin and ble&s;&s;ed moiniall</L>
<L>With mycle wor&s;hyp honour and victory</L>
<L>Playnly declaryng vnto your memory</L>
<L>What &s;ingular grace / wor&s;hyp / and excellence</L>
<L>Our &s;auiour &s;hewed for his &s;pou&s;e openly</L>
<L>As is reher&s;ed at ma&s;&s;e in her &s;equens</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>To expre&s;&s;e all myracles written in the place</L>
<L>In a boke nominate the third pa&s;&s;ionarye</L>
<L>It wolde require a longe tyme and &s;pace</L>
<L>To the reders tedious (no meruayle &s;othly)</L>
<L>Where we omytte to writte of them &s;pecially</L>
<L>But touched in generall vnto your audience</L>
<L>To reioy&s;e and comfort your hertes inwardly</L>
<L>As ye may con&s;idre in her &s;equens</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Certaynly it is knowen by bokes expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Sith that &s;aynt Werburge came to Che&s;tre cite</L>
<L>By the power of god and myracle doutles</L>
<PB REF="105" MS="y">
<L>She hath defended the towne from ennemite</L>
<L>From barbarike nacions full of crudelite</L>
<L>Of whom we haue &s;hewed with diligence</L>
<L>Pre&s;eruyng her &s;eruauntes / and the mona&s;tery</L>
<L>As is declared in her true &s;equence</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o of her goodnes pre&s;erued &s;he ha&s;e</L>
<L>The &s;ayd towne from fire in extreme nece&s;&s;ite</L>
<L>Many diuers tymes to their ioye and &s;olace</L>
<L>Releuyng the citezens in wo and penalite</L>
<L>For it is well knowen by olde antiquite</L>
<L>Sith the holy &s;hryne came to their pre&s;ence</L>
<L>It hath ben their comfort and gladnes truly</L>
<L>As playnly appereth in her &s;equens</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Al&s;o to blynde men &s;he hath gyuen &s;yght</L>
<L>To dombe men &s;peche right perfectly</L>
<L>To deffe men their heryng plea&s;aunt and right</L>
<L>And helth to &s;icke men repleit with debilite</L>
<L>Delyuered pri&s;oners from captiuite</L>
<L>Pa&s;&s;age to lame men / to mad men intelligence</L>
<L>Suche myracles &s;hewed this ble&s;&s;ed lady</L>
<L>As ye may vnder&s;tande in her &s;equens</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Women with childe by her had good delyueraunce</L>
<L>Virgins defended from &s;hame and vilany</L>
<L>Her &s;eruauntes were cured from wofull greuaunce</L>
<L>Marchantes and mariners delyuered from ieopardye</L>
<L>Other were &s;aued from hangyng &s;hamfully</L>
<L>A &s;peciall comfort &s;uccour and defence</L>
<L>To all carefull creatures &s;ekyng for remedy</L>
<L>By &s;ingular grace / as &s;ayth the &s;equens</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="105" MS="y">
<L>No wofull per&s;on in payne and wretchednes</L>
<L>Man woman childe / who &s;o euer they be</L>
<L>Comynge to the abbay with perfit mekenes</L>
<L>Makyng &s;upplicacion to this lady free</L>
<L>But they departed ioyfull and merie</L>
<L>To theyr dwellyng place by her beniuolence</L>
<L>And for their lyuyng had all thyng nece&s;&s;arie</L>
<L>As written is playnly in her &s;equens</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>For whiche great myracles and &s;ignes continuall</L>
<L>This ble&s;&s;ed Werburge floure of humilite</L>
<L>Of the people is called for grace &s;upernall</L>
<L>Patrones of Che&s;tre / protectrice of the countre</L>
<L>Where next our &s;auiour and his mother Marie</L>
<L>She hath great honour pray&s;e and preeminence</L>
<L>As mo&s;t condigne to beare the principalite</L>
<L>In witnes wherof recordeth her &s;equens</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>This holy abba&s;&s;e and lady imperiall</L>
<L>Hath ben pre&s;ident in Che&s;tre mona&s;terie</L>
<L>Theyr tru&s;t / theyr trea&s;ure / and defence &s;peciall</L>
<L>In mycle reuerence .vii. hundreth yere trulie</L>
<L>And &s;o &s;hall continue by grace of god almyghty</L>
<L>To the worldes ende in hie magnificence</L>
<L>To whom be honour wor&s;hip and glorie</L>
<L>Euer to endure / as &s;ayth her &s;equens</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="22" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A charitable mocion and a de&s;yre to all the inhaby|tauntes within the countie palatine of Che&s;tre for the mona&s;terie. Cap. xxii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<PB REF="106" MS="y">
<L>O ye worthye nobles of the we&s;t partye</L>
<L>Con&s;idre in your mynde with hye di&s;crecion</L>
<L>The perfite goodnes of this &s;wete ladye</L>
<L>We mean &s;aynt Werburge nowe at this &s;ea&s;on</L>
<L>Whiche hath ben your helpe and &s;ingular tuicion</L>
<L>And &s;o euer wylbe / haue this in your mynde</L>
<L>Whan ye to her call with humble &s;upplicacion</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terye be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Remembre / at the foundacion of the &s;ayd place</L>
<L>your predece&s;&s;ours and fore fathers redy were</L>
<L>To gyue for their &s;oule helth by &s;ingular grace</L>
<L>Parcell of their landes and po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ions mere</L>
<L>To our &s;auiour and to &s;aynt Werburge clere</L>
<L>Redy to offre them with humble hert and mynde</L>
<L>In perfit oblacion with Hug. Lupe their foundere</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terie be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Many helde their landes of the &s;ayd mona&s;terie</L>
<L>By tenure grand <ABBR>&s;eriant</ABBR> / and &s;ome by homage</L>
<L>By <ABBR>tenur</ABBR> franke almoigne / other by fealtie</L>
<L>With &s;eruice de <ABBR>chiualer</ABBR> / and &s;ome by e&s;cuage</L>
<L>Some by petit &s;eriant / and by <ABBR>tenur</ABBR> burgage</L>
<L>As in their euidentes and grauntes they may fynde</L>
<L>Tres maners de rentes / with <ABBR>tenur</ABBR> villenage</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terie be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The place hath &s;peciall franches and liberte</L>
<L>Hauynge certayne wardes of landes and mariage</L>
<L>Of diuers gentilmen within the &s;ayd counte</L>
<L>All theyr tenauntes and &s;eruauntes haue fre pa&s;&s;age</L>
<L>Within all che&s;&s;hire without tolle and pillage</L>
<PB REF="106" MS="y">
<L>Suche auncient fredoms in their dedes they fynde</L>
<L>Gyuen by theyr founders for go&s;tly auauntage</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terie be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>The erle gaue the place many great fredoms</L>
<L>Within Che&s;tre cite / whiche ben knowen of olde</L>
<L>With &s;ingular priuileges and auncient cu&s;toms</L>
<L>Saynt Werburge faire / with profites manyfolde</L>
<L>That no marchandi&s;e &s;hulde be bought ne &s;olde</L>
<L>Enduryng the faire dayes (in writyng as we fynde)</L>
<L>But afore thabbay gate / to haue and to holde</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terie be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Therfore lordes barons / ye rulers of the countre</L>
<L>We you nowe exhorte in our &s;auiour</L>
<L>Di&s;cretly con&s;idre with your go&s;tlie eie</L>
<L>The myght of this mayden and cha&s;te floure</L>
<L>Shewed by myracles euery day and hour</L>
<L>Whan &s;he was required with true hert and mynde</L>
<L>In all bu&s;ines &s;he hath ben their protectour</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terie be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Whan your forefathers haue ben in great perell</L>
<L>In ieoperdie of lyfe on &s;ee and on londe</L>
<L>Or like to be &s;layne by ennemies in batell</L>
<L>Or taken by <ABBR>warr</ABBR> in pri&s;on fa&s;t bonde</L>
<L>Vnto this virgin / as we vnder&s;tonde</L>
<L>Whan they called and cryed with contrite mynde</L>
<L>They e&s;caped all daunger / cam whom &s;afe and &s;onde</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terie be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Marchauntes pa&s;&s;ynge with marchaundi&s;e</L>
<PB REF="107" MS="y">
<L>From lande to lande truly entendyng</L>
<L>If they were taken with cruell ennemy&s;e</L>
<L>Or els were put in perill of peri&s;&s;hyng</L>
<L>If they to this virgin deuoutly praying</L>
<L>Made &s;upplicacion with humble hert and mynde</L>
<L>Anone they opteyned theyr humble a&s;kyng</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terie be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>If any of you vexed with infirmite</L>
<L>With &s;ekenes incurable / or other vexacion</L>
<L>Ar wronges iniuries and other maladie</L>
<L>Vnto &s;aynt Werburge makyng interce&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>And to her place promy&s;yng an oblacion</L>
<L>With contrite hert and penitent mynde</L>
<L>They were &s;oone cured from all affliction</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terie be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>And you hone&s;t matrons remembre you all</L>
<L>The goodnes of this virgin full of grace</L>
<L>Whan ye in trauelyng vpon her do call</L>
<L>Or haue any relique &s;ende from the place</L>
<L>ye fortune and &s;pede well in &s;hort tyme and &s;pace</L>
<L>And diuers maydens louyng a cha&s;te mynde</L>
<L>From vilany ben &s;aued by her purcha&s;e</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terie be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>But eche contray / &s;hire / and congregacion</L>
<L>Some be di&s;po&s;ed to vertues generall</L>
<L>And &s;ome to the contrarie proued by rea&s;on</L>
<L>Folowyng their mynde and appetite &s;en&s;uall</L>
<L>Haue &s;heweb vnkyndnes to the place &s;pirituall</L>
<L>And haue ben &s;ore puny&s;&s;hed / take this in mynde</L>
<PB REF="107" MS="y">
<L>To all other folowynge and example &s;peciall</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;tery be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L><ABBR>Ther</ABBR> was neuer man of high nor lowe degree</L>
<L>Lorde / baron / knyght / marchaunt / and burges</L>
<L>Attemptyng to infringe their rightes and liberte</L>
<L>Remaynyng in the &s;ame malice and wyckednes</L>
<L>But if they repent &s;hortly theyr bu&s;ynes</L>
<L>A&s;kyng ab&s;olucion to theyr con&s;cience blynde</L>
<L>Vengeance on them doth lyght doutles</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;tery be neuer vnkynd</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Diuers malefactours agayne good con&s;cience</L>
<L>Attemptyng to take there &s;euerall po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion</L>
<L>By &s;ubtell policy and wrong feyned euidens</L>
<L>By proued periury and fals collu&s;ion</L>
<L>Whiche in theyr iniury and wronge me&s;pri&s;ion</L>
<L>Without repentauns in theyr con&s;ciens blynde</L>
<L>Sodenly haue ben drowed a &s;harpe punycion</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;tery be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Other haue be glad to alienat the patronage</L>
<L>Of certayne churches by malice and enuy</L>
<L>By a fals enque&s;t for theyr owne auauntage</L>
<L>Defraudyng the right of the holy mona&s;tery</L>
<L>Suche euill doers remaynynge in theyr tyranny</L>
<L>Without &s;ati&s;faccion in their con&s;ciens blynde</L>
<L>Lyke wretches expired mo&s;te my&s;erably</L>
<L>Whrfore to the mona&s;tery be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Other haue ben be&s;y &s;erching day and nyght</L>
<L>To infringe theyr fraunchis and fridome auncient</L>
<PB REF="108" MS="y">
<L>By fals recordes oppugnant to ryght</L>
<L>As hath ben proued by per&s;ones indifferent</L>
<L>yet they haue procured and &s;ought wronge iugement</L>
<L>Agayn&s;t their libertes in con&s;cience blynde</L>
<L>Sodayne and euyll deth folowed them con&s;equent</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terye be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Some other haue be parauenture on late</L>
<L>Studious to di&s;quiet the place the company</L>
<L>And diuers libertes haue alienate</L>
<L>Al&s;o tolled their franchis fraudulently</L>
<L>From the &s;ayd place well knowen in memory</L>
<L>Suche my&s;doers we moue in con&s;cience blynde</L>
<L>To maende their wronges le&s;t payne come &s;odeynly</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terie be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Suche malefactours con&s;idre nat di&s;cretly</L>
<L>Howe all &s;uche landes libertes and fredoms</L>
<L>Were gyuen to Chri&s;t and ben his patrimonye</L>
<L>And nat all only to religious per&s;ons</L>
<L>For all &s;uche fraunches priuileges po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ions</L>
<L>Of charite were gyuen of pure con&s;cience and mynde</L>
<L>To god and &s;aynt Werburge with great deuocions</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terie be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Nowe for to make a &s;mall conclu&s;ion</L>
<L>We well perceyue in auncient bokes olde</L>
<L>All &s;uche tran&s;gre&s;&s;ours / holdyng their opinion</L>
<L>Ob&s;tinate in malice indurate and bolde</L>
<L>Some haue ben &s;layne / &s;ome drowned in water colde</L>
<L>Some &s;hamfully hanged rebukyng their kynde</L>
<L>Some wretchedly departed / &s;ome cruciat manyfolde</L>
<L>Wherfore to the mona&s;terie be neuer vnkynde</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="23" TYPE="chapter">
<PB REF="108" MS="y">
<HEAD>&para; A litell ori&s;on or prayer to the ble&s;&s;ed virgine &s;aynte Werburge by the tran&s;latour of this werke. Ca. xxiii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L><HI>O</HI> Ble&s;&s;ed Werburge and virgin glorious</L>
<L>De&s;cended by auncetrie of blod victoriall</L>
<L>Doughter to kynge <ABBR>Vulfer</ABBR> / and <ABBR>Ormenild</ABBR> vertuous</L>
<L>O &s;ufferayne lady and famous moiniall</L>
<L>With hert and true mynde on the I call</L>
<L>Thou art my &s;uccour / my helpe in all di&s;tres</L>
<L>Defende and &s;aue me from peynes infernall</L>
<L>By thy meke prayer &s;wete patrones</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>O rutilant gemme clerer than the cri&s;tall</L>
<L>O redolent ro&s;e repleit with &s;uauite</L>
<L>Whiche for the loue of thy &s;pou&s;e eternall</L>
<L>Refu&s;ed ha&s;t all vayne plea&s;ures tran&s;etore</L>
<L>Honours / riches / and &s;ecular dignite</L>
<L>Nowe regnyng in heuyn as a quene doutles</L>
<L>Praye for thy &s;eruaunt to the lorde of mercy</L>
<L>Mekely I be&s;eke the &s;wete patrone&s;&s;e</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>O &s;ufferayne lady full of &s;ingular vertue</L>
<L>Myndyng mo&s;t religion from thy infancy</L>
<L>Elect to the a &s;pou&s;e our &s;auiour Ie&s;u</L>
<L>Profe&s;&s;ed obedience at the hou&s;e of Ely</L>
<L>Where thou ob&s;erued the &s;en&s;uals thre</L>
<L>By grace aboue nature playn to expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Opteyne me power to haue victory</L>
<L>Ageyn&s;t myn ennemyes &s;wete patrones</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>O floure of virgins and comly creature</L>
<L>Syngyng with angels in the heuenly toure</L>
<PB REF="109">
<L>Tran&s;cendyng the &s;aphir and diamounde pure</L>
<L>In wor&s;hip prai&s;yng beaute and decur</L>
<L>What tong can reher&s;e thy ioy and honour</L>
<L>Whiche is ineffable for man to expre&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Be&s;eke thy &s;pou&s;e our ble&s;&s;yd &s;auiour</L>
<L>To graunte me mercy &s;wete patrones</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>For thy great vertu and hie di&s;crecion</L>
<L>Cho&s;en thou was a pyler here to be</L>
<L>Of diuers mona&s;teryes to encrea&s;e religion</L>
<L>By thy go&s;tly doctryne and humilite</L>
<L>Ex&s;ample thou gaue of perfit charite</L>
<L>Vnto thi &s;ubgettis as a kynde mai&s;tres</L>
<L>Helpe me thy &s;eruaunt of thy benignite</L>
<L>To plea&s;e my maker &s;wete patrones</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>No maruell it was thought thy &s;ubgettis all</L>
<L>Were vertuous and perfect in contemplacion</L>
<L>Vnder &s;uche a ruler a hed and principall</L>
<L>Who&s;e go&s;tly example and exortation</L>
<L>Were core&s;pondent accordyng in one</L>
<L>Thy precept and deed were vnit with mekenes</L>
<L>In this vale mi&s;ery be my protection</L>
<L>I humble the require &s;wete patrones</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Glorious abba&s;&s;e and floure of cha&s;tite</L>
<L>Carboncle &s;henyng bothe day and nyght</L>
<L>All this region by thy noble progenie</L>
<L>And by the is decorat vnder god almyght</L>
<L>The pre&s;ens of thy ble&s;&s;yd body right</L>
<L>Reioi&s;ith thy &s;eruauntis in all di&s;tres</L>
<L>Thou art our refuge and lanterne of light</L>
<PB REF="109">
<L>Succour thy &s;eruauntes &s;wete patrones</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>O pereles princes lady imperiall</L>
<L>O gemme of holynes and noble pre&s;ident</L>
<L>Comfort to all creatures in paynes thrall</L>
<L>Releuyng all &s;ecke feble and impotent</L>
<L>A myrrour of mekenes to euery pacient</L>
<L>Who&s;e myracles magnifien thy great goodnes</L>
<L>Defende thy &s;eruaunt from greuous turment</L>
<L>By thy &s;upplicacion &s;wete patrone&s;&s;e</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>O noble &s;ufferayne and &s;ingular protectrice</L>
<L>Of thy true &s;ubiectes by &s;peciall grace</L>
<L>In all nece&s;&s;ite a &s;ure mediatrice</L>
<L>From greuous oppre&s;&s;ion pre&s;eruyng thy place</L>
<L>A lanterne of lyght in eche wofull ca&s;e</L>
<L>To illumine thy people plonged in heuynes</L>
<L>With great con&s;olacion and go&s;tly &s;olace</L>
<L>Nowe lyghten our con&s;cience &s;wete patrone&s;&s;e</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Swete louely lady mekely I the praye</L>
<L>For thy great mekenes and perfect charite</L>
<L>Make thou interce&s;&s;ion both nyght and day</L>
<L>For thy true &s;eruauntes vnto the trinite</L>
<L>That we may opteyne here grace and mercy</L>
<L>And of our &s;ynne to haue forgyuenes</L>
<L>Afterwarde to come to eternall glorie</L>
<L>Helpe nowe and euer &s;wete patrone&s;&s;e</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="24" TYPE="chapter">
<HEAD>&para; A breue co~clu&s;ion of this litell werke vnto the reders by the tran&s;latour. Cap. xxiiii.</HEAD>
<LG>
<PB REF="110" MS="y">
<L>With tremblynge penne / and hand full of drede</L>
<L>In termes rude tran&s;late nowe haue we</L>
<L>The noble hi&s;torye of &s;aynt Werburge in dede</L>
<L>Be&s;ekyng all them for their good humanite</L>
<L>Whiche this litell proces &s;hall beholde and &s;e</L>
<L>For to adde and mini&s;&s;he and cau&s;e reformacion</L>
<L>Where nede requireth after your di&s;crecion</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>At her lyfe hi&s;toriall example may take</L>
<L>Euery great e&s;tate / quene / duches / and lady</L>
<L>To encreace in vertue / and &s;ynne to for&s;ake</L>
<L>To ob&s;erue mekenes and prayer deuoutly</L>
<L>With pacience of hert / and alme&s;dede truly</L>
<L>If thou be widowe / her lyfe well folowyng</L>
<L>Thou may&s;t be &s;ure in blis to haue a wonnyng</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>If thou be religious / wearyng blacke ve&s;ture</L>
<L>Take good example at this holy abba&s;&s;e</L>
<L>Her lyfe wyll teche the how thou &s;hult endure</L>
<L>In holy religion / opteynyng mycle grace</L>
<L>With mekenes / meditacion / me&s;ure in eche place</L>
<L>And howe thou &s;halt kepe thy &s;en&s;uals thre</L>
<L>Con&s;ideryng in heuen thy rewarde to be</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>If thou be a virgin of hie or low degre</L>
<L>Takyng imitacion of this virgin bright</L>
<L>Thou may&s;t well ob&s;erue the floure of cha&s;tite</L>
<L>And thy &s;pou&s;e &s;halbe the lorde mo&s;t of myght</L>
<L>On whom if thou attende redy day and nyght</L>
<L>Thou &s;halt haue merite as recordeth &s;cripture</L>
<L>With v. wi&s;e virgins after thy departure</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="110" MS="y">
<L>The cau&s;e mouyng vs this werke to begyn</L>
<L>It was to auoyde &s;louth and idelnes</L>
<L>And mo&s;t for the loue of this holy virgin</L>
<L>Whiche is our &s;ufferayn lady and patrones</L>
<L>As for baudy balades full of wretchednes</L>
<L>And wanton wylde ge&s;tis / we purpo&s;e none to make</L>
<L>For drede of lo&s;yng tyme / clothed in ve&s;ture blake</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Go forth litell boke / Ie&s;u be thy &s;pede</L>
<L>And &s;aue the alway from my&s;reportyng</L>
<L>Whiche art compiled for no clerke in dede</L>
<L>But for marchaunt men / hauyng litell lernyng</L>
<L>And that rude people therby may haue knowyng</L>
<L>Of this holy virgin / and redolent ro&s;e</L>
<L>Whiche hath ben kept full longe tyme in clo&s;e</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>To all auncient poetes litell boke &s;ubmytte the</L>
<L>Whilom flouryng in eloquence facundious</L>
<L>And to all other / whiche pre&s;ent nowe be</L>
<L>Fyr&s;t to mai&s;ter Chaucer / and Ludgate &s;entencious</L>
<L>Al&s;o to preignaunt Barkley / nowe beyng religious</L>
<L>To inuentiue Skelton and poet laureate</L>
<L>Praye them all of pardon both erly and late</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>If there be any thynge within this litell boke</L>
<L>Plea&s;aunt to the audience / contentyng the mynde</L>
<L>We praye all reders / whan they theron do loke</L>
<L>To gyue thankes to god maker of mankynde</L>
<L>Nat to the tran&s;latour ignoraunt and blynde</L>
<L>For euery good dede / done in any co&s;t</L>
<L>It cometh all only of the holy go&s;t.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="111" MS="y">
<L>Almyghty god both one two and thre</L>
<L>We de&s;ire the with humble &s;upplicacion</L>
<L>Saue holy churche of thy benignite</L>
<L>And all mini&s;tres in holy religion</L>
<L>Pre&s;erue the kyng is grace the Peeris the region</L>
<L>Defende our mona&s;terie and thy &s;eruantes all</L>
<L>And graunt vs by grace to come to blis eternall</L>
</LG>
</DIV2>
<TRAILER>Finis.</TRAILER>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="ballad">
<HEAD>A balade to the auctour.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>O thou di&s;ciple of Tully mo&s;t famous</L>
<L>Nowe flouri&s;&s;hyng in the floures of glorious eloque~ce</L>
<L>Like as appereth by your &s;tile facundius</L>
<L>Full worthe laude pray&s;e and preeminence</L>
<L>Put forth your werkes full &s;ure of &s;entence</L>
<L>Who&s;e auctour / what though vncertayne be his name</L>
<L>Of all the reders exalted &s;halbe in fame</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Alas why &s;hulde this delicious werke</L>
<L>Thus &s;urely &s;ette by pured &s;cience</L>
<L>To be examined by my rudenes all derke</L>
<L>Whiche knowe full well myn in&s;ufficience</L>
<L>Sith I haue lerned by longe experience</L>
<L>That dulled age in werkes of poetry</L>
<L>Mu&s;t nedes gyue to poetes place and victory</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Glorious god and kynge eternall</L>
<L>We magnifie thy name as is but ryght</L>
<L>Sith thou gaue to vs a floure mo&s;t riall</L>
<L>Redolent in cronicles with hi&s;toricall &s;yght</L>
<L>Whiche nowe is departed from this temporall lyght</L>
<L>The pre&s;ent yere of this tran&s;lacion</L>
<L>M.D.xiii. of Chri&s;tis incarnacion</L>
<L>Cuius anime propicietur deus.</L>
</LG>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="ballad">
<PB REF="111" MS="y">
<HEAD>An other balade.</HEAD>
<LG>
<L>O frutefull hi&s;tore / o digne memoriall</L>
<L>Enbawmed with doctrine of vertues infinite</L>
<L>With termes exqui&s;ed / and &s;ence retoriall</L>
<L>To &s;pirituall hertes a &s;ingular delite</L>
<L>Fragrant and facunde / of engli&s;&s;he exqui&s;ite</L>
<L>Hol&s;ome in doctrine / for tho&s;e that it de&s;ire</L>
<L>Auaunce you to rede it / for it is exqui&s;ite</L>
<L>Folowynge theffect to kepe you from hell fire</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Reioy&s;e Che&s;tre / reioy&s;e ye religious</L>
<L>And thanke your maker of his beniuolence</L>
<L>That hath you gyuen &s;uche trea&s;ure preciou&s;e</L>
<L>Aduocatrice / in your mo&s;t indigence</L>
<L>O virgin werburge / of double excellence</L>
<L>Con&s;erue thy &s;eruauntes dayly familier</L>
<L>Pre&s;eruyng them from inconuenience</L>
<L>The for ten&s;ue / that art theyr lode &s;terre</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Amonges the whiche to thyn honour</L>
<L>One of thy clientes / with morall retorique</L>
<L>Hath chaunged newly / o mayde mo&s;t &s;wete flour</L>
<L>Thy legende latine / to our language publique</L>
<L>Pre&s;erue his &s;oule / and make hym dome&s;tique</L>
<L>Within the heuyns / in whiche that thou art &s;onke</L>
<L>With deth preuent / he myght nothyng replique</L>
<L>Harry Bradde&s;haa of Che&s;tre abbay monke</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>O cruell deth / o theffe vindicatyfe</L>
<L>To per&s;ons vertuous ennemy mortall</L>
<L>Of this good clerke thou ha&s;t abbreged the lyfe</L>
<L>Preuentyng hym with thy dede &s;tronge fatall</L>
<PB REF="112">
<L>yet in di&s;pite of thy mo&s;t venomus gall</L>
<L>He hath tran&s;late this legende profitable</L>
<L>And left it for hol&s;ome memoriall</L>
<L>To all his &s;equaces / a gyft mo&s;t couenable</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>With poly&s;&s;hed termes / and good &s;ence litterall</L>
<L>No place there voyde / but vertue abundeth</L>
<L>Theffect is manife&s;t: for &s;cience ouer all</L>
<L>Rethorically thy &s;entence groundeth</L>
<L>All vices &s;urely it confoundeth</L>
<L>Shewynge the legende of this mayde pure</L>
<L>Her &s;henyng lyfe eche where redoundeth</L>
<L>Suche &s;teppes folowyng / we hope in them tendure.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>An other balade to &s;aynt werburge</L>
<L>With hert contrite accepte my &s;upplicacion</L>
<L>Aydynge my fraylete and lyfe vacillaunt</L>
<L>Renegate and contumace in all ob&s;tinacion</L>
<L>Be wrapt with all &s;ynne / dete&s;table and recreaunt</L>
<L>Vouch&s;afe to &s;upplie Ie&s;u and geat graunt</L>
<L>Remy&s;&s;ion to haue of my &s;ynnes generall</L>
<L>Greuous and thrall that I may the auaunt</L>
<L>A gentill Werburge / to thy doctrine me call</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Wherfore thy father / thy mother <ABBR>Ermenild</ABBR></L>
<L>Enclined both to dedes catholique</L>
<L>Ruffine and Kenrede / thy bretherne were <ABBR>fulfild</ABBR></L>
<L>Both with great grace / through martyrdome both like</L>
<L>With diuers of thy kynne magnifique</L>
<L>Redact in the catholique papall</L>
<L>Geat me &s;uche grace to voyde all &s;ynnes inique</L>
<L>And gentill Werburge to thy doctrine me call</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<PB REF="112">
<L>With faithfull clennes / thy &s;oule was &s;urep<GAP DESC="illegible" REASON="right margin cropped or obscured" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1+ letters"></L>
<L>Euer contynuynge in doctrine celicall</L>
<L>Refu&s;yng vanite / from vertue neuer &s;warued</L>
<L>But in all grace remaynyng principall</L>
<L>Vnto thy deth exhortyng great and &s;mall</L>
<L>Ruled to be / to the preceptes diuine</L>
<L>Gouerned by grace / were thy di&s;ciples all</L>
<L>A gentill Werburge call me to &s;uche doctrine</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Wordly felicite abiect from my courage</L>
<L>Enuy and pride / with lu&s;tes voluptuous</L>
<L>Rancorous cupidite myn hert &s;ore do a&s;wage</L>
<L>Bryng oyntmentes &s;anatiue for my &s;ores dolorous</L>
<L>Vnclo&s;e thy &s;uccours / and be beniuolous</L>
<L>Redy to be pre&s;eruyng me from pyne</L>
<L>Gouerne my lyfe from all actes daungerous</L>
<L>And gentill Werburge call me to thy doctrine</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Be nowe beniuolent / whan I &s;hall on the call</L>
<L>Vnto thy &s;laue / as my tru&s;t hath ben &s;ure</L>
<L>Leue vnto me for a memoriall</L>
<L>Knowlege effectuall of thy lyfe pure</L>
<L>Lyuynge ther after / and &s;o tendure</L>
<L>Euer in purite my lyfe to contynue</L>
<L>yeldyng thankes for thy mo&s;t hol&s;ome lure</L>
<L>Chri&s;t ouer vs holde his hande / al vices te&s;chue. Ame~.</L>
</LG>
<TRAILER>&para; And thus endeth the lyfe and hi&s;torye of &s;aynt Wer|burge. Imprinted by Richarde Pyn&s;on / printer to the kynges noble grace / with priuilege to hym graunted by our &s;ouerayne lorde the kynge. A^o. M.D.xxi.</TRAILER>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
<BACK>
<DIV1 TYPE="illustration">
<PB REF="113" MS="y">
<P><FIGURE>
<FIGDESC>printer's device of Richard Pynson</FIGDESC>
</FIGURE></P>
<PB REF="113">
</DIV1>
</BACK>
</TEXT>
</GROUP>
</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
