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Lyfe of Saynt Edwarde
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Genre
Religious Biography
Date
1533
Full Title
The lyfe of Saynt Edwarde co~fessour and kynge of Englande.
Source
STC 7500
The original format is quarto.
The original contains new paragraphas are introduced by pilcrows (paragraph signs),first paragraphas are introduced by decorated initial,
IN olde tyme the realme of Englande was
greatly troubled wt the danes so yt in many
kynges dayes there coude no peas be made.
But contynually warre. And the danes
preuayled agaynst Englande & they brought it vnder
theyr subieccyon for theyr cruelte & tyrannye was so
great that without sparyng of ony thynge brent and
destroyed. But at ye last it pleased almyghty god that
this tyrannye sholde cease and sent of his grace vnto
this realme of Englande a peasyble kynge named
Edgar in whose byrthe aungels songen that peas
shal be in his tyme & so in his dayes was no warre in
Englande. Saynt Edwarde kynge & martyr his sone
regned not longe after hym. For his stepmother dyd
do slee hym in his yonge age bycause yt her sone Ethelrede
sholde regne. And saynt dunston baptysed Ethelrede
& sayd bicause he defowled ye fontstone yt he shold
lyue in great trouble & so he dyd for ye Danes warred
all his tyme. And this Ethelrede wedded Erle Goodwyns
doughter on whome he gate Edmonde yronsyde.
And after the deth of that quene he wedded the
doughter of Rycharde duke of Normandye whiche
hyght Emme by whome he had two sones. Alfrede
and Edwarde whiche was a saynt & confessour. Of
whome we purpose to speke whan kynge Ethelrede
was fal in age he made a parliament whiche of his
two sones sholde be kynge after hym. And than by the
prouysyon of god it was co~cluded yt Edward whiche
than was not borne & in his mothers bely sholde be
kynge & excluded Edmo~d yrensyde & Alfrede which
were the kynges elder sones. And whan ye kynge had
consented therto a generall othe was made to perfourme
this chylde was borne all ye lande enioyed in his byrthe
hopyng to be greatly releued by hym yet alwaye
the cruelte of the danes was so great whiche ye kynge
so moche doubted yt he sente ye quene & his two sones
Alfrede & Edwarde in to Normandy & toke his eldest
sone Edmonde wt hym to bataylle to fyght agaynst ye
Danes the sorowe was than greate in Englande for
moche people turned to ye Danes agaynst theyr owne
kynge & without pyte dyd brenne & slee theyr owne
countre with the danes. Amonge whom was slayne
saynt Alphey archebysshop of Caunterbury at grenewyche
& many other good men. And some bysshops
preestes & men of relygyon fledde into secrete places &
desertes where they deuoutly prayed vnto almighty
god for to haue very peas in this la~de but this warre
contynued all the lyfe of Etheldrede accordynge to the
prophecye of saynt Dunston. And after Etheldrede
Edmonde yrensyde his sone in full greate trouble for
in his dayes no man durste truste other ne open his
courage to his neyghbour. For that tyme eche man
appeched other of treason to the entente yt he myght
haue his good. And they yt were not of power to ouercome
theyr neyghbour turned vnto ye Danes agaynst
theyr owne neyghbours. And so by the helpe of the
Danes they fulfylled theyr cursed purpos & so there
was moche extorcyo~ & moche people slayne in dyuerse
tymes in houses feldes & wayes yt the people vnnethes
durst burye them. Also in yt tyme was greate
tyrannye murdre oppressyng of women as wyues
wydowes and maydens agaynst theyr wylles. And
in this persecucyo~ Englysshmen were nygh destroyed
chyrches & houses of relygyon were brente and
destroyed whiche caused many to flee in to wyldernes
amonge whome the good bysshop of wynchestre
Bryghtwolde fledde in to the abbey of Glastenbury
where he dayly prayed vnto almighty god for peas of
this realme of Englande. Our blessed lorde seynge his
mekenes shewed to hym a vysyon by whiche he was
greatly co~forted. For in a nyght as he was in his oratorye
he fell in a swete slombre & sawe ye gloryous apostle
saynt Peter wt bryght shynynge clothes apperynge
in an hygh place of dygnite wt hym a semely yonge
man rychely arrayed in clothynge of a kynge whome
saynt Peter dyd co~secrate & enoynte in to a kynge and
co~mendyng his chastyte greatly & his clene lyuynge.
And it was shewed to this bysshop many yeres tofore
that this Edwarde shold regne to ye lande & ye bysshop
beynge abasshed of his vysyon desyred of saynt Peter
to knowe ye vision therof to whome saynt Peter tolde
the state of this realme & tolde yt the furye & wodnesse
of the Danes sholde cease soone after & sayd yt all this
punysshement was for ye synnes of ye people and god
sholde puruey for a peasyble kynge whiche shal fynysshe
al ye wodnesse of his ennemyes ye Danes in whose
tyme shal be plente of peas bothe to the chyrche and to
the lande & greate haboundaunce of corne and fruyte
and this realme shall be prosperous in al thynges and
the people shalbe of suche co~dicyons that other landes
shall bothe loue and drede them. The kynges name
shal be Edwarde whiche shall rule all maner of thynges
to ye pleasynge of god and shal ende his lyfe in the
loue of our lorde gracyously. And whan this holy bysshop
shedy~ge of teres & thought yt peas was not yet refourmed
neuertheles he thanked almighty god yt he was
certayne yt by goddes grace he shold se it in his dayes
wherfore he wente aboute and preched to ye people for
to do penaunce & our lorde sholde shewe to vs mercy &
gyue to vs peas and plenty of al thynges and in this
warre was ye kynge slayne by treason & he was buryed
at Glastenbury. Tha~ both his sones were brought
to kynge Canutus the dane to do with them what he
wolde. And wha~ he sawe them he myght not for pyte
slee them but sente them ouer ye see to be slayne there
so yt he might reygne in Englande peasybly whan the
ryghtfull blood were destroyed not wtstandynge they
were preserued & kepte alyue. And were co~ueyed to ye
Emperour of Rome the whiche kepte them tyll saynt
Edwarde was made kynge of Englande and than he
maryed the eldest of them to a cosyn of his bycause of ye
loue that they had to kynge Edwarde whiche was
vncle to them. Than had kynge Canute the rewle of
Englande by stronge hande. All lawe and good rewle
set asyde for in his dayes was full moche trouble and
robberye wt other great oppressyons & importable charges
amo~ge ye comynte. For he dradde no man except ye
two sones of ye kynge that were than wt the emperour
wherfore his counseyle wolde yt he shold wedde ye mother
of them named Emme to make ye more allyaunce
bytwene them. And soone after Alfrede came in to england
for to speke with his mother & anone as he was
come ouer ye see in to this lande erle Goodwyn came &
welcomed hym. And anone slewe hy~ by treason or he
came to ye presence of his mother for whose deth saynt
chylde Edwarde was in Normandye he vsed a full
good lyfe hauntynge oftymes holy chyrche & loued &
conuersed many tymes with the companye of holy
relygyous men & specyally amonge holy monkes &
vsed to praye and saye in this maner. O good lorde I
haue none helpe but ye onely my frendes ben gone me
fro & they ben become myne aduersaryes my father
is deed my bretherne be~ slayne my mother is wedded
to my moost ennemy & I am lefte alone & dayly they
seke the meanes to slee me but to the lorde I am lefte
poore. I beseche ye lorde to helpe me yt am a fatherles
chylde for yu somtyme helpedest merueyllously Edwy~
and Oswolde whiche were exyled & ordeyned for to
dye yu defended theym onely from deth but also thou
good lord restored theym agayne to theyr owne kyngdomes.
O good lorde I beseche ye and praye ye to kepe
me safe & brynge me in to ye kyngdome of my father.
Thou shalte be my god & saynt Peter the apostell my
patrone. The relyques of whome by ye grace of god I
purpose to vysyte & to honour in ye same place where
they now reste yf yu lorde sende to me lyfe helth oportunyte
& space. And whan kynge Canute had regned
in Englande .xx. yere hauynge two sones by ye sayd
Emme yt is to wyte harolde & hardeknoute he dyed
& whan his fyrst sone had regned foure yere he exyled
his owne mother & dyed soone after. And after hym
regned his brother a lytell tyme & dyed also as our
lord had ordeyned than was Englande delyuered fro
the greuous trybute of thraldome of the Danes. And
than ye lordes & comyns of Englande remembred the
othe yt they made in the parlyament whiche sware yt
sholde be theyr kynge. And anone sente in to Norma~dy
for this holy chylde Edwarde And the lordes and the
comyns reteyned hym wt greate gladnes. And than ye
archebysshop of Caunterbury & the archebysshop of
yorke wt other bysshops dyd consecrate hym enoynted
& crowned hym kynge of Englande. O good lord
what ioye & gladnes was than in Englande for than
the olde felycyte of this lande was almoost despayred
than it was kyndeled agayne by the comynge of this
blessed kynge saynt Edwarde. Than had the comyns
reste & peas & the lordes & gentylmen reste & honour
and than holy chyrche receyued all lybertees agayne.
greatly troubled wt the danes so yt in many
kynges dayes there coude no peas be made.
But contynually warre. And the danes
preuayled agaynst Englande & they brought it vnder
theyr subieccyon for theyr cruelte & tyrannye was so
great that without sparyng of ony thynge brent and
destroyed. But at ye last it pleased almyghty god that
this tyrannye sholde cease and sent of his grace vnto
this realme of Englande a peasyble kynge named
Edgar in whose byrthe aungels songen that peas
shal be in his tyme & so in his dayes was no warre in
Englande. Saynt Edwarde kynge & martyr his sone
regned not longe after hym. For his stepmother dyd
do slee hym in his yonge age bycause yt her sone Ethelrede
sholde regne. And saynt dunston baptysed Ethelrede
& sayd bicause he defowled ye fontstone yt he shold
lyue in great trouble & so he dyd for ye Danes warred
all his tyme. And this Ethelrede wedded Erle Goodwyns
doughter on whome he gate Edmonde yronsyde.
And after the deth of that quene he wedded the
doughter of Rycharde duke of Normandye whiche
hyght Emme by whome he had two sones. Alfrede
and Edwarde whiche was a saynt & confessour. Of
whome we purpose to speke whan kynge Ethelrede
was fal in age he made a parliament whiche of his
two sones sholde be kynge after hym. And than by the
prouysyon of god it was co~cluded yt Edward whiche
than was not borne & in his mothers bely sholde be
kynge & excluded Edmo~d yrensyde & Alfrede which
were the kynges elder sones. And whan ye kynge had
consented therto a generall othe was made to perfourme
1
the same in tyme comynge And after whanthis chylde was borne all ye lande enioyed in his byrthe
hopyng to be greatly releued by hym yet alwaye
the cruelte of the danes was so great whiche ye kynge
so moche doubted yt he sente ye quene & his two sones
Alfrede & Edwarde in to Normandy & toke his eldest
sone Edmonde wt hym to bataylle to fyght agaynst ye
Danes the sorowe was than greate in Englande for
moche people turned to ye Danes agaynst theyr owne
kynge & without pyte dyd brenne & slee theyr owne
countre with the danes. Amonge whom was slayne
saynt Alphey archebysshop of Caunterbury at grenewyche
& many other good men. And some bysshops
preestes & men of relygyon fledde into secrete places &
desertes where they deuoutly prayed vnto almighty
god for to haue very peas in this la~de but this warre
contynued all the lyfe of Etheldrede accordynge to the
prophecye of saynt Dunston. And after Etheldrede
Edmonde yrensyde his sone in full greate trouble for
in his dayes no man durste truste other ne open his
courage to his neyghbour. For that tyme eche man
appeched other of treason to the entente yt he myght
haue his good. And they yt were not of power to ouercome
theyr neyghbour turned vnto ye Danes agaynst
theyr owne neyghbours. And so by the helpe of the
Danes they fulfylled theyr cursed purpos & so there
was moche extorcyo~ & moche people slayne in dyuerse
tymes in houses feldes & wayes yt the people vnnethes
durst burye them. Also in yt tyme was greate
tyrannye murdre oppressyng of women as wyues
wydowes and maydens agaynst theyr wylles. And
in this persecucyo~ Englysshmen were nygh destroyed
A.ij.
2
and great desolacyo~ was in holy chyrche for monasteryeschyrches & houses of relygyon were brente and
destroyed whiche caused many to flee in to wyldernes
amonge whome the good bysshop of wynchestre
Bryghtwolde fledde in to the abbey of Glastenbury
where he dayly prayed vnto almighty god for peas of
this realme of Englande. Our blessed lorde seynge his
mekenes shewed to hym a vysyon by whiche he was
greatly co~forted. For in a nyght as he was in his oratorye
he fell in a swete slombre & sawe ye gloryous apostle
saynt Peter wt bryght shynynge clothes apperynge
in an hygh place of dygnite wt hym a semely yonge
man rychely arrayed in clothynge of a kynge whome
saynt Peter dyd co~secrate & enoynte in to a kynge and
co~mendyng his chastyte greatly & his clene lyuynge.
And it was shewed to this bysshop many yeres tofore
that this Edwarde shold regne to ye lande & ye bysshop
beynge abasshed of his vysyon desyred of saynt Peter
to knowe ye vision therof to whome saynt Peter tolde
the state of this realme & tolde yt the furye & wodnesse
of the Danes sholde cease soone after & sayd yt all this
punysshement was for ye synnes of ye people and god
sholde puruey for a peasyble kynge whiche shal fynysshe
al ye wodnesse of his ennemyes ye Danes in whose
tyme shal be plente of peas bothe to the chyrche and to
the lande & greate haboundaunce of corne and fruyte
and this realme shall be prosperous in al thynges and
the people shalbe of suche co~dicyons that other landes
shall bothe loue and drede them. The kynges name
shal be Edwarde whiche shall rule all maner of thynges
to ye pleasynge of god and shal ende his lyfe in the
loue of our lorde gracyously. And whan this holy bysshop
3
awoke he kneled downe and made his prayers wtshedy~ge of teres & thought yt peas was not yet refourmed
neuertheles he thanked almighty god yt he was
certayne yt by goddes grace he shold se it in his dayes
wherfore he wente aboute and preched to ye people for
to do penaunce & our lorde sholde shewe to vs mercy &
gyue to vs peas and plenty of al thynges and in this
warre was ye kynge slayne by treason & he was buryed
at Glastenbury. Tha~ both his sones were brought
to kynge Canutus the dane to do with them what he
wolde. And wha~ he sawe them he myght not for pyte
slee them but sente them ouer ye see to be slayne there
so yt he might reygne in Englande peasybly whan the
ryghtfull blood were destroyed not wtstandynge they
were preserued & kepte alyue. And were co~ueyed to ye
Emperour of Rome the whiche kepte them tyll saynt
Edwarde was made kynge of Englande and than he
maryed the eldest of them to a cosyn of his bycause of ye
loue that they had to kynge Edwarde whiche was
vncle to them. Than had kynge Canute the rewle of
Englande by stronge hande. All lawe and good rewle
set asyde for in his dayes was full moche trouble and
robberye wt other great oppressyons & importable charges
amo~ge ye comynte. For he dradde no man except ye
two sones of ye kynge that were than wt the emperour
wherfore his counseyle wolde yt he shold wedde ye mother
of them named Emme to make ye more allyaunce
bytwene them. And soone after Alfrede came in to england
for to speke with his mother & anone as he was
come ouer ye see in to this lande erle Goodwyn came &
welcomed hym. And anone slewe hy~ by treason or he
came to ye presence of his mother for whose deth saynt
A.iij.
4
Edwarde made greate sorowe and whyles this holychylde Edwarde was in Normandye he vsed a full
good lyfe hauntynge oftymes holy chyrche & loued &
conuersed many tymes with the companye of holy
relygyous men & specyally amonge holy monkes &
vsed to praye and saye in this maner. O good lorde I
haue none helpe but ye onely my frendes ben gone me
fro & they ben become myne aduersaryes my father
is deed my bretherne be~ slayne my mother is wedded
to my moost ennemy & I am lefte alone & dayly they
seke the meanes to slee me but to the lorde I am lefte
poore. I beseche ye lorde to helpe me yt am a fatherles
chylde for yu somtyme helpedest merueyllously Edwy~
and Oswolde whiche were exyled & ordeyned for to
dye yu defended theym onely from deth but also thou
good lord restored theym agayne to theyr owne kyngdomes.
O good lorde I beseche ye and praye ye to kepe
me safe & brynge me in to ye kyngdome of my father.
Thou shalte be my god & saynt Peter the apostell my
patrone. The relyques of whome by ye grace of god I
purpose to vysyte & to honour in ye same place where
they now reste yf yu lorde sende to me lyfe helth oportunyte
& space. And whan kynge Canute had regned
in Englande .xx. yere hauynge two sones by ye sayd
Emme yt is to wyte harolde & hardeknoute he dyed
& whan his fyrst sone had regned foure yere he exyled
his owne mother & dyed soone after. And after hym
regned his brother a lytell tyme & dyed also as our
lord had ordeyned than was Englande delyuered fro
the greuous trybute of thraldome of the Danes. And
than ye lordes & comyns of Englande remembred the
othe yt they made in the parlyament whiche sware yt
5
Edwarde whiche was than in his mothers wombesholde be theyr kynge. And anone sente in to Norma~dy
for this holy chylde Edwarde And the lordes and the
comyns reteyned hym wt greate gladnes. And than ye
archebysshop of Caunterbury & the archebysshop of
yorke wt other bysshops dyd consecrate hym enoynted
& crowned hym kynge of Englande. O good lord
what ioye & gladnes was than in Englande for than
the olde felycyte of this lande was almoost despayred
than it was kyndeled agayne by the comynge of this
blessed kynge saynt Edwarde. Than had the comyns
reste & peas & the lordes & gentylmen reste & honour
and than holy chyrche receyued all lybertees agayne.
On a tyme as ye ky~ge was in ye chyrche of say~t
Peter at Westmynstre & was dysposed in grete deuocyo~
as his custome was to heare masse erle Leofrike
kneled behynde ye kynge & sawe wt his bodyly eyen our
lorde Iesu Christ bytwene ye prestes ha~des apperyng
in ye lykenes of a gloryous chylde or beauteous persone
whiche blessed ye kynge wt his ryght ha~de. And ye ky~ge
whiche was gretely co~forted wt ye syght bowed downe
his hede & with grete deuocyo~ & mekenes receyued ye
blessynge of our lorde. Tha~ the erle arose to telle ye ky~ge
supposynge yt the kynge had not seen it but he knewe
the erles entent & badde hy~ stande styll for yt thou seest
I se & hym I honour. And wha~ masse was done they
talked togyder of theyr vysyon & they were merueylously
refresshed wt ye gyftes of ye holy ghoost & myght
not well speke for ioye and wepynge. Than the kynge
co~mau~ded Leofryke that this vysyon sholde neuer be
vttred ne openly knowen tyll ye tyme yt they sholde dye.
And wha~ Leofryke shold departe hens he tolde it in co~fessyon
to his ghoostly fader & made it to be wryten
and that wrytynge was layde in a cheste amo~ge other
relyques. And many yeres after wha~ they were both
dede the wrytynge was founde and redde. And than
the holynes of the kynge was knowen and his mekenes
shewed whiche wolde not yt it sholde be shewed
by theyr lyfe for vaynglory. There was a yonge
woman gyuen in maryage to a noble man. And not
longe after she hadde two mysfortunes fyrst she was
bareyne and also there arose vnder her cheke many
fowle botches and kernels ful of corrupt humours
whiche enge~dred foule wormes and made her flesshe
vnto her husbande and to all her frendes. And whan
she coude not be healed by no medycyn than she put al
her hope and truste in almyghty god and with many
a bytter tere bothe daye and nyght she besought and
prayed hym to delyuer her fro that repreef & dysease
or elles to take her out of this worlde and whan she
had thus longe contynued in prayer she was co~maunded
by a voyce in her slepe that she sholde go to the holy
kynge Edwarde & yf he wolde wasshe her face with
his handes she sholde be all hole and whan she awoke
she vowed to seke ye kynge in his palays and than
she came thyder and made meanes that the kynge
myght haue knowlege of her dreme. And whan the
kynge vnderstode it he called her to hym and sayd yf
god wyll that I sholde wasshe thy face I wyll not refuse
it and called after water & with his owne handes
he wasshed her face & wrong out ye wormes & al ye
foule blood out of her face and bad her tary there thre
or foure dayes tyll ye skynne myght couer agayne her
vysage and tha~ke thou god for thy delyuerau~ce. And
whan she was made parfytly hole & her vysage fayre
and beauteous than she felle downe at the kynges
fete & thanked hym humbly of her delyuerau~ce. But
he forbad her for to gyue ony praysynge to hym therfore
but bad her gyue lawde & prasynge to god therfore
for he is ye doer & not I. Than she prayed ye kyng
that he wolde praye to god for her yt she myght haue
a chylde by her husba~de for she had be~ longe bareyne
And ye kynge promysed her so to do, And tha~ she retourned
ioyously home to her husbonde and soone after she
co~ceyued & had a chylde wherof she thanked god yt she
wryteth yt ye holy ghoost gyueth graces diuersly. To some
he gyueth wysedome to some co~ny~ge and to some
grace to heale & to cure sycke people. But this blessyd
ky~ge say~t Edwarde had a specyall grace aboue other in
gyuynge syght to blynde men. There was a bly~de
man well knowen whiche herde a voyce in his slepe
that yf he myght haue of ye water yt ye kynge wasshed
his handes in & wasshe his eyen therwith he sholde
haue his syght agayn. Than the next daye after this
blynd ma~ went in to ye kynges palays & tolde his vysyon
to the kynges chamberlayne. And the chamberlayne
told it to the kynge. Than ye ky~ge sayd yt it might
be well an Illusyon or a dreme ye whiche is not alway
true for it hath not ben sene that foule water of a synners
handes shold gyue syght to blynde me~. The~ sayd
ye cha~berlayne yt many tymes dremes haue ben found
true as the dremes of Ioseph Pharao Danyell and
many other. Then ye kynge in greate humylyte wente
in to the chirche on a solempne day with a basyn of water
& co~mau~ded the blynde men to be brought to hym.
And as ye kynge wasshed ye face of the bly~de man his
eyen were opened & had his syght & stode all abasshed
lokynge on the people as he had newly come into the
worlde and than ye people wepte for ioye to se ye holynes
of ye kyng. And tha~ he was demau~ded yf he might
se clerely and he sayd ye for sothe. And the kynge kneled
downe before the awter sayenge this verse with
greate drede and mekenes. Non nobis domine non nobis
sed nomini tuo da gloriam. That is to saye not to
vs lord not to vs but vnto thy name be gyuen glorye.
After this the holynes and fame of saynt Edwarde
had ben blynde .iii. yeres came to ye kynges palays to
haue of ye water yt the kynge had wasshed his handes
in for he byleued yt it wolde heale hym. And as he had
goten of yt water by one of ye kynges offycers he wasshed
his face & his eyen therwt & anone he was restored
to his syghte & was perfytely made hole & so ioyfully
returned home magnyfyenge god & saynt Edwarde
yt he had his syght agayne. On a tyme there
were gadered togyder certayne werkme~ to hewe downe
trees to ye kynges palays at Bruham & after theyr
labour they had layde the~ downe to slepe in ye shadowe
& a yonge ma~ of ye felawshyp ye hyght Wylwyne wha~
he sholde ryse he opened his eyen and myght not se he
wasshed his face & rubbed his eye~ but he might nothy~ge
se wherfore he was full of heuynes. Than one of
his felawes ladde hy~ home vnto his house & abode so
blynde eyght yere. And at ye last a worshypful woma~
came to vysyte & comforte hy~ & whan she knewe how
he was made blynde she bad hym be of good chere &
sayd. yf he wolde visyte .lx. chirches wt good deuocyo~
& than to haue ye water yt the kynge had wasshed his
handes in & wasshe his eyen wtall he sholde haue his
syght agayne tha~ he was greatly comforted & gate
hym a guyde & wente & vysyted thre score chyrches wt
great deuocyon and came to ye kynges palays & cryed
for helpe. And they yt herde hym bad hym cease of his
cryenge but for all that he cryed more and more. And
whan the kynge vnderstode it he called hym to hym
and sayd. Why sholde I not set my handes to helpe
this poore man though I be vnworthy yf it please
god to releue hy~ his syght. And bycause he wolde not
toke water & wasshed his eyen ful mekely & anone he
was restored to his syght agayne & sawe as clerely
as euer he dyd. Also there was a fayre myracle of
iij. blynde men and the fourth had but one eye whiche
came to ye kynges palays & than came one of the kynges
seruau~tes whiche had pyte on them & he gate of
the water yt the kynge had wasshen his handes in
wha~ he had healed yt other blynde man & he brought
this water to ye gate & tolde these poore men how the
kynge a lytell before had healed a blynde man with ye
same water. And sayd to them yf they wolde wasshe
theyr eyen wt good deuocyon they myght be healed by
goddes grace wt the same water and than they kneled
downe wt great deuocyo~ & prayed this man to wasshe
theyr eyen therwith & tha~ he made a crosse wt the water
vpon eche of theyr eyen & besought almyghty god
to open theyr eyen. And they all receyued theyr perfyte
syght & returned in gyuynge lawde and praysyng to
god of theyr syght gyue~ to them by ye merytes of saynt
Edward. As ye kynge on a tyme sate at ye table with
the quene & her father erle Goodwyn & sawe how Harolde
& Tostyn ye two sones of Goodwyn played tofore
the kynge but at ye last the game turned in to ernest &
they began to fyght & Harolde toke his brother vp the
heare & drewe hym to ye erth & fell vpon hym in great
anger & wolde haue strangled hym but yf he had ben
let. Than ye kynge demaunded Goodwyn yf he vnderstode
ony thynge therby & he sayd naye for sothe. Tha~
the kynge sayd ye shall se whan they come to mannes
age yt one of them shall slee the other yf they can. And
Harolde whiche is the stronger shall put ye other out of
with the kynge of norway and holde a stronge batayl
agaynst Harolde his brother in Engla~de. In ye which
bothe ye kynge of Norway & Tostin shall be slayne and
all theyr hoost saue a fewe yt shal escape. And the same
Harolde shall gyue hymselfe to penaunce for ye deth of
his brother and so escape or elles he shal be put out of
his kyngdome & dye wretchedly.
Peter at Westmynstre & was dysposed in grete deuocyo~
as his custome was to heare masse erle Leofrike
kneled behynde ye kynge & sawe wt his bodyly eyen our
lorde Iesu Christ bytwene ye prestes ha~des apperyng
in ye lykenes of a gloryous chylde or beauteous persone
whiche blessed ye kynge wt his ryght ha~de. And ye ky~ge
whiche was gretely co~forted wt ye syght bowed downe
his hede & with grete deuocyo~ & mekenes receyued ye
blessynge of our lorde. Tha~ the erle arose to telle ye ky~ge
supposynge yt the kynge had not seen it but he knewe
the erles entent & badde hy~ stande styll for yt thou seest
I se & hym I honour. And wha~ masse was done they
talked togyder of theyr vysyon & they were merueylously
refresshed wt ye gyftes of ye holy ghoost & myght
not well speke for ioye and wepynge. Than the kynge
co~mau~ded Leofryke that this vysyon sholde neuer be
vttred ne openly knowen tyll ye tyme yt they sholde dye.
And wha~ Leofryke shold departe hens he tolde it in co~fessyon
to his ghoostly fader & made it to be wryten
and that wrytynge was layde in a cheste amo~ge other
relyques. And many yeres after wha~ they were both
dede the wrytynge was founde and redde. And than
the holynes of the kynge was knowen and his mekenes
shewed whiche wolde not yt it sholde be shewed
by theyr lyfe for vaynglory. There was a yonge
woman gyuen in maryage to a noble man. And not
longe after she hadde two mysfortunes fyrst she was
bareyne and also there arose vnder her cheke many
fowle botches and kernels ful of corrupt humours
whiche enge~dred foule wormes and made her flesshe
6
to stynke so that she was abhomynable and haatfullvnto her husbande and to all her frendes. And whan
she coude not be healed by no medycyn than she put al
her hope and truste in almyghty god and with many
a bytter tere bothe daye and nyght she besought and
prayed hym to delyuer her fro that repreef & dysease
or elles to take her out of this worlde and whan she
had thus longe contynued in prayer she was co~maunded
by a voyce in her slepe that she sholde go to the holy
kynge Edwarde & yf he wolde wasshe her face with
his handes she sholde be all hole and whan she awoke
she vowed to seke ye kynge in his palays and than
she came thyder and made meanes that the kynge
myght haue knowlege of her dreme. And whan the
kynge vnderstode it he called her to hym and sayd yf
god wyll that I sholde wasshe thy face I wyll not refuse
it and called after water & with his owne handes
he wasshed her face & wrong out ye wormes & al ye
foule blood out of her face and bad her tary there thre
or foure dayes tyll ye skynne myght couer agayne her
vysage and tha~ke thou god for thy delyuerau~ce. And
whan she was made parfytly hole & her vysage fayre
and beauteous than she felle downe at the kynges
fete & thanked hym humbly of her delyuerau~ce. But
he forbad her for to gyue ony praysynge to hym therfore
but bad her gyue lawde & prasynge to god therfore
for he is ye doer & not I. Than she prayed ye kyng
that he wolde praye to god for her yt she myght haue
a chylde by her husba~de for she had be~ longe bareyne
And ye kynge promysed her so to do, And tha~ she retourned
ioyously home to her husbonde and soone after she
co~ceyued & had a chylde wherof she thanked god yt she
C.iij.
7
was healed of bothe her dyseases. Saynt Poulewryteth yt ye holy ghoost gyueth graces diuersly. To some
he gyueth wysedome to some co~ny~ge and to some
grace to heale & to cure sycke people. But this blessyd
ky~ge say~t Edwarde had a specyall grace aboue other in
gyuynge syght to blynde men. There was a bly~de
man well knowen whiche herde a voyce in his slepe
that yf he myght haue of ye water yt ye kynge wasshed
his handes in & wasshe his eyen therwith he sholde
haue his syght agayn. Than the next daye after this
blynd ma~ went in to ye kynges palays & tolde his vysyon
to the kynges chamberlayne. And the chamberlayne
told it to the kynge. Than ye ky~ge sayd yt it might
be well an Illusyon or a dreme ye whiche is not alway
true for it hath not ben sene that foule water of a synners
handes shold gyue syght to blynde me~. The~ sayd
ye cha~berlayne yt many tymes dremes haue ben found
true as the dremes of Ioseph Pharao Danyell and
many other. Then ye kynge in greate humylyte wente
in to the chirche on a solempne day with a basyn of water
& co~mau~ded the blynde men to be brought to hym.
And as ye kynge wasshed ye face of the bly~de man his
eyen were opened & had his syght & stode all abasshed
lokynge on the people as he had newly come into the
worlde and than ye people wepte for ioye to se ye holynes
of ye kyng. And tha~ he was demau~ded yf he might
se clerely and he sayd ye for sothe. And the kynge kneled
downe before the awter sayenge this verse with
greate drede and mekenes. Non nobis domine non nobis
sed nomini tuo da gloriam. That is to saye not to
vs lord not to vs but vnto thy name be gyuen glorye.
After this the holynes and fame of saynt Edwarde
8
sprange aboute so that a cytezyn of Lyncolne whichehad ben blynde .iii. yeres came to ye kynges palays to
haue of ye water yt the kynge had wasshed his handes
in for he byleued yt it wolde heale hym. And as he had
goten of yt water by one of ye kynges offycers he wasshed
his face & his eyen therwt & anone he was restored
to his syghte & was perfytely made hole & so ioyfully
returned home magnyfyenge god & saynt Edwarde
yt he had his syght agayne. On a tyme there
were gadered togyder certayne werkme~ to hewe downe
trees to ye kynges palays at Bruham & after theyr
labour they had layde the~ downe to slepe in ye shadowe
& a yonge ma~ of ye felawshyp ye hyght Wylwyne wha~
he sholde ryse he opened his eyen and myght not se he
wasshed his face & rubbed his eye~ but he might nothy~ge
se wherfore he was full of heuynes. Than one of
his felawes ladde hy~ home vnto his house & abode so
blynde eyght yere. And at ye last a worshypful woma~
came to vysyte & comforte hy~ & whan she knewe how
he was made blynde she bad hym be of good chere &
sayd. yf he wolde visyte .lx. chirches wt good deuocyo~
& than to haue ye water yt the kynge had wasshed his
handes in & wasshe his eyen wtall he sholde haue his
syght agayne tha~ he was greatly comforted & gate
hym a guyde & wente & vysyted thre score chyrches wt
great deuocyon and came to ye kynges palays & cryed
for helpe. And they yt herde hym bad hym cease of his
cryenge but for all that he cryed more and more. And
whan the kynge vnderstode it he called hym to hym
and sayd. Why sholde I not set my handes to helpe
this poore man though I be vnworthy yf it please
god to releue hy~ his syght. And bycause he wolde not
9
be bounden dysobedyent to god ne presumptuous hetoke water & wasshed his eyen ful mekely & anone he
was restored to his syght agayne & sawe as clerely
as euer he dyd. Also there was a fayre myracle of
iij. blynde men and the fourth had but one eye whiche
came to ye kynges palays & than came one of the kynges
seruau~tes whiche had pyte on them & he gate of
the water yt the kynge had wasshen his handes in
wha~ he had healed yt other blynde man & he brought
this water to ye gate & tolde these poore men how the
kynge a lytell before had healed a blynde man with ye
same water. And sayd to them yf they wolde wasshe
theyr eyen wt good deuocyon they myght be healed by
goddes grace wt the same water and than they kneled
downe wt great deuocyo~ & prayed this man to wasshe
theyr eyen therwith & tha~ he made a crosse wt the water
vpon eche of theyr eyen & besought almyghty god
to open theyr eyen. And they all receyued theyr perfyte
syght & returned in gyuynge lawde and praysyng to
god of theyr syght gyue~ to them by ye merytes of saynt
Edward. As ye kynge on a tyme sate at ye table with
the quene & her father erle Goodwyn & sawe how Harolde
& Tostyn ye two sones of Goodwyn played tofore
the kynge but at ye last the game turned in to ernest &
they began to fyght & Harolde toke his brother vp the
heare & drewe hym to ye erth & fell vpon hym in great
anger & wolde haue strangled hym but yf he had ben
let. Than ye kynge demaunded Goodwyn yf he vnderstode
ony thynge therby & he sayd naye for sothe. Tha~
the kynge sayd ye shall se whan they come to mannes
age yt one of them shall slee the other yf they can. And
Harolde whiche is the stronger shall put ye other out of
10
his lande. Than shal his brother Tostin come agaynewith the kynge of norway and holde a stronge batayl
agaynst Harolde his brother in Engla~de. In ye which
bothe ye kynge of Norway & Tostin shall be slayne and
all theyr hoost saue a fewe yt shal escape. And the same
Harolde shall gyue hymselfe to penaunce for ye deth of
his brother and so escape or elles he shal be put out of
his kyngdome & dye wretchedly.
How his holy body was founde incorrupte
many yeres after. After this myracle was
shewed there was moche talkynge of his holynes &
the deuocyon of the people encreased more & more so yt
there were many dyuers worshypfull persones that
desyred to se this holy body. For some sayd yt it lay incorrupte
& some sayd nay & in this meke stryfe they
gate lycence of the abbot Gylberte to se it & whan the
daye was set yt this holy body sholde be shewed there
came thyder many worshypfull men & women of relygyon
amonge whome came Gu~dulfe bysshop of Rochester
& this was .xxxvj. yere after his buryenge yt
they opened his tombe. And whan ye stone was remeued
they felte a meruaylous swete sauour that all ye
chyrche was replete therof as though an odour aromatyke
had flowe out of ye tombe & they fou~de ye pal yt
lay nexte to his body as hole as euer it was & wha~ ye pal
was take of they drewe forth his armes they meued
hole as they had be~ newly buryed. And in his flesshe
was founden no corrupcyo~ but it was fayre & fresshe
of colour pure and bryghter tha~ glasse whyter than
snowe and it semed a body gloryfyed and they fered
to dyscouer his visage but Gu~dulfe whiche was hardyer
than an other with deuocyon vnbou~de his heed
and the fyrst that appered was the fayre hoor heer of
his heed and than he thought to take some therof for
a relyque and whith reuerence and drede plucked ther
at but he coude none haue out for they were as fast
as they were whan he was alyue. Than sayd the abbot
father suffre hym to lye in rest and attempte not
to mynisshe that our lorde hath so longe preserued
and kepte hole. Than the pal in whiche the holy body
was wrapped was taken awaye and an other of the
same valure was fetched and the holy body was layd
therin and couered agayne his tombe with ful great
reuerence abydynge the greate resurreccyon. How
vengeau~ce was shewed to a damoysell yt blasphemed
saynt Edwarde. In the cyte of London there was a
noble woman whiche was ryght connynge in sylke
werke whiche was desyred to enbrowdre certayne
garmentes to the cou~tesse of gloucettre whiche than
was yonge lusty fresshe and newly wedded & wolde
them haue made in shorte space and whan the feestfull
daye of saynt Edwarde approched this noble woman
was sore troubled in her mynde for she dradde
the indygnacyon of the great lady yf her garmentes
were not redy at a tyme sette and also she dradde to
werke on that day of saynt Edward for it was bothe
synfull and peryllous tha~ she sayd to a yonge damoysell
same werke what thynke ye best now eyther to dysplease
this lady or elles this good saynt Edward and
she answered is this not that Edwarde whome the
chorles of the countre worshyp as he were a god and
she sayd yet more what haue I to do with hym. I
wyl no more worshyp hym than yf he were a chorle.
Than this noble woman was sore abasshed and moued
with her that sayd suche wordes of blasphemy
to this holy saynt and she all to bette her for to be in
peas and she of frowardnes blasphemed hym more
and more and than sodeynly she was smyten with a
palsey so that her mouth was drawen to her eare &
also she had lost her speche and fomed at mouth lyke a
bore and grunted her teth togyder meruaylously and
was sore punysshed in all her membres. And whan
this noble woman sawe this she was full heuy that
she had beaten her bycause almyghty god had so punysshed
her and wepte ful bytterly and whan it was
knowen in the cyte her neyghboures came some for to
comforte her & some for to wonder vpon her so lyeng
and tha~ there came a worshypfull man to vysyte her
and cou~seylled yt she sholde be caryed by water vnto ye
shryne of saynt Edwarde and to praye to god there yt
by the merytes of the holy saynt Edwarde he wolde
shewe som myracle for her & wha~ she was so brought
thyder moche people prayed for her but they had not
their entent anone but abode in their prayers tyl mydnyght
that matyns began and than they prayed the
monkes to praye for her and wha~ they had done matyns
they came to the shryne also & prayed for this
damoysell whiche laye there in full greate payne and
good whyle than this damoysell arose vp all hole &
demau~ded why they wept & made so moche sorowe
& wha~ they sawe her mouth in his ryght place & all
her me~bres restored agayne they were full of ioye &
gaue laude & thanky~ges vnto almighty god & to this
holy ky~ge & co~fessour say~t Edward. How a monke
was healed of a feuer quartayne in ye abbaye of westmy~ster
there was a vertuous mo~ke & a co~nynge named
Gylberte whiche was sore vexed wt a feuer quartayne
fro ye moneth of Iuly to Chrystmas & co~sumed
lyke a drye ymage wherfore he prayed god to relese
his payne or to take hy~ out of this world & on Chrystmas
nyght he toke herte to hy~ & went to maty~s wt his
bretherne & he herde ye gospel how a lytel chylde was
borne & gyue~ to vs fro ye father of heue~ whose mother
was a pure vyrgyn he had so greate deuocyon yt his
mynde was rauysshed wt so great ioye yt he felte no dysease
two dayes after & after ye two dayes ye feuer came
agayne & vexed hy~ co~tynually vnto ye feest of say~t Edward
whiche is alway in ye vygyle of ye epyphanye &
yt day in ye hygh masse tyme he cam to ye tombe of say~t
Edward & fel downe flat in great deuocyo~ & wepynge
sayd thus. O yu my lorde & my ky~ge how longe wylte yu
forgete me how lo~ge shal I suffre this payne how lo~ge
shalte yu turne thy face fro~ me where ben al ye great
myracles that our fathers haue tolde vs done in their
dayes yu hast holpen many strau~gers but me yt am in
thyne owne chyrche thou forgetest & closest to me the
gate of thy pyte wolde god that I myght dye. I am
nourysshed in payne and may not dye my lyfe is sorrowe
to me but I can haue none ende I desyre deth
I beseche the good kynge laudable prynce and swete
patrone moue thy bowelles of mercy on me yf it please
the giue me helth or elles let me dye anone & amonge
these wordes the teres brake out of his eyen & sobbynges
fro his herte that he coude not speke with his
mouth but with his affeccyo~. And whan masse was
done he arose vp fro his prayers all hole and felte all
his membres meruaylously refresshed with a newe
strength. And entred in and axed after meat & drynke
and anone he felte hym selfe that he had receyued agayne
his strength. And euer after he was moeued wt
great deuocyon vnto the gloryous saynt Edward by
whos merytes he was delyuered from his sycknesse
and dysease. And in lyke wyse a knyght named Gyry~
was healed that same daye a yere after of the feuer
quartayne whiche came that same daye vnto ye shryne
and herde the same monke that had so ben healed
whiche than was pryour make a sermon in whiche
he tolde of the myracle how he was hole. And after ye
sermon this knyght thought he wolde not cease but
deuoutly praye this holy saynt tyll he were hole and
abode there prayenge all that daye and the nyghte folowynge
tyll the monkes came to matyns whome he
prayed to praye for hym. And whan they had prayed
a good whyle he felte hym selfe made parfytly hole.
And than he with all the people gaue thankynges to
our lorde god almyghty and saynt Edwarde for his
delyueraunce. Also a nonne of berkynge that had
ben sycke .xij. monethes and nygh consumed awaye
had a vysyon on a nyght by whiche she vnderstode yt
she sholde go to saynt Edwarde and be hole and she
a tyme as her syckenesse came she entred in to her oratory
and sayd the .vij. psalmes and letanye and wha~
she dyd so twyes all her payne was gone and was
made parfytly hole & thanked almyghty god which
by the greate merytees of saynt Edwarde had healed
her and soone after came to Westmynster on pylgrymage
and there dyd shewe this myracle & tolde how
she was made hole. Also there was a mo~ke of westmynster
whiche was accustomed to saye euery daye
v. psalmes in the worshyp of god and saynt Edward
whiche monke was greued with thre maner of sycknesses
for he had on his arme a congelacyon of blode
in maner of a postume he had also in his brest a straytnes
that vnneth he myght drawe his brethe. Also he
had in his fote a meruaylous swellynge and a greate
that he myght not go but with greate payne. And
whan the yerely feest was halowed he sawe his bretherne
go to the chyrche at mydnyght for to rynge the
belles and he was ryght sory that he myght not do ye
same notwithstandynge he payned hymselfe & went
theder and sayd the .vij. psalmes and whan he had
done and sawe his bretherne rynge meryly he sayd in
his prayer to saynt Edward. O thou my good kynge
I beseche the to praye for me yt I may haue strength
to do as I se my bretherne do for I commyt me fully
to thy myght and I byleue veryly that thou wylte
suffre me no lenger in this greate dysease. And whan
he had made an ende of his prayers he arose vp and
wente to the belles for to rynge them and anone the
postume of his arme brake & whan the foule matter
was out he felte hymselfe hole of that dysease. Than
to praye and to gyue thankynges to god and to saynt
Edwarde of the delyueraunce of his postume and
there he prayed full deuoutly that he myght be delyuered
of the dysease of his brest and whan he arose
from his prayer he felte his herte made all hole from
the sycknesse that he had in his brest. Than he felte no
dysease but on his fote. And whan he came amonge
his bretherne in the frayttour he tolde them how he
was delyuered from two of his syckenesses & whan
they sawe hym they meruaylled greatly & besought
almyghty god and saynt Edwarde that he myght be
delyuered of yt dysease in his fote. And at nyght whan
he wente to his bed he put hy~selfe hoolly in the merytes
of saynt Edwarde. And whan he arose he felte no
payne but put downe his ha~de to his fote to fele how
it was and he felte that the swellynge was gone he
lepte out of his bedde and tolde to his bretherne with
full greate ioye how he was made parfytly hole as
euer he was. Than they al were full glad and wente
with hym to the chyrche for to gyue thankynges and
praysynges vnto almyghty god and vnto his holy co~fessour
saynt Edward for these myracles and for his
delyueraunce fro the two syckenesses wherfore god
be praysed in his seruaunt without ende.
AMEN
Thus endeth the lyfe of the holy confessour saynt
Edwarde. Imprynted at Londo~ in Fletestrete at ye
sygne of ye Sonne by Wynkyn de Worde. In the
yere of our lorde .M.CCCCC. and .xxxiij.
many yeres after. After this myracle was
shewed there was moche talkynge of his holynes &
the deuocyon of the people encreased more & more so yt
there were many dyuers worshypfull persones that
desyred to se this holy body. For some sayd yt it lay incorrupte
& some sayd nay & in this meke stryfe they
gate lycence of the abbot Gylberte to se it & whan the
daye was set yt this holy body sholde be shewed there
came thyder many worshypfull men & women of relygyon
amonge whome came Gu~dulfe bysshop of Rochester
& this was .xxxvj. yere after his buryenge yt
they opened his tombe. And whan ye stone was remeued
they felte a meruaylous swete sauour that all ye
chyrche was replete therof as though an odour aromatyke
had flowe out of ye tombe & they fou~de ye pal yt
lay nexte to his body as hole as euer it was & wha~ ye pal
was take of they drewe forth his armes they meued
11
his fyngers and his toos and they were bowynge &hole as they had be~ newly buryed. And in his flesshe
was founden no corrupcyo~ but it was fayre & fresshe
of colour pure and bryghter tha~ glasse whyter than
snowe and it semed a body gloryfyed and they fered
to dyscouer his visage but Gu~dulfe whiche was hardyer
than an other with deuocyon vnbou~de his heed
and the fyrst that appered was the fayre hoor heer of
his heed and than he thought to take some therof for
a relyque and whith reuerence and drede plucked ther
at but he coude none haue out for they were as fast
as they were whan he was alyue. Than sayd the abbot
father suffre hym to lye in rest and attempte not
to mynisshe that our lorde hath so longe preserued
and kepte hole. Than the pal in whiche the holy body
was wrapped was taken awaye and an other of the
same valure was fetched and the holy body was layd
therin and couered agayne his tombe with ful great
reuerence abydynge the greate resurreccyon. How
vengeau~ce was shewed to a damoysell yt blasphemed
saynt Edwarde. In the cyte of London there was a
noble woman whiche was ryght connynge in sylke
werke whiche was desyred to enbrowdre certayne
garmentes to the cou~tesse of gloucettre whiche than
was yonge lusty fresshe and newly wedded & wolde
them haue made in shorte space and whan the feestfull
daye of saynt Edwarde approched this noble woman
was sore troubled in her mynde for she dradde
the indygnacyon of the great lady yf her garmentes
were not redy at a tyme sette and also she dradde to
werke on that day of saynt Edward for it was bothe
synfull and peryllous tha~ she sayd to a yonge damoysell
F.j.
12
that was felawe with her and wrought in thesame werke what thynke ye best now eyther to dysplease
this lady or elles this good saynt Edward and
she answered is this not that Edwarde whome the
chorles of the countre worshyp as he were a god and
she sayd yet more what haue I to do with hym. I
wyl no more worshyp hym than yf he were a chorle.
Than this noble woman was sore abasshed and moued
with her that sayd suche wordes of blasphemy
to this holy saynt and she all to bette her for to be in
peas and she of frowardnes blasphemed hym more
and more and than sodeynly she was smyten with a
palsey so that her mouth was drawen to her eare &
also she had lost her speche and fomed at mouth lyke a
bore and grunted her teth togyder meruaylously and
was sore punysshed in all her membres. And whan
this noble woman sawe this she was full heuy that
she had beaten her bycause almyghty god had so punysshed
her and wepte ful bytterly and whan it was
knowen in the cyte her neyghboures came some for to
comforte her & some for to wonder vpon her so lyeng
and tha~ there came a worshypfull man to vysyte her
and cou~seylled yt she sholde be caryed by water vnto ye
shryne of saynt Edwarde and to praye to god there yt
by the merytes of the holy saynt Edwarde he wolde
shewe som myracle for her & wha~ she was so brought
thyder moche people prayed for her but they had not
their entent anone but abode in their prayers tyl mydnyght
that matyns began and than they prayed the
monkes to praye for her and wha~ they had done matyns
they came to the shryne also & prayed for this
damoysell whiche laye there in full greate payne and
13
turment & whan ye holy monkes had prayed for her agood whyle than this damoysell arose vp all hole &
demau~ded why they wept & made so moche sorowe
& wha~ they sawe her mouth in his ryght place & all
her me~bres restored agayne they were full of ioye &
gaue laude & thanky~ges vnto almighty god & to this
holy ky~ge & co~fessour say~t Edward. How a monke
was healed of a feuer quartayne in ye abbaye of westmy~ster
there was a vertuous mo~ke & a co~nynge named
Gylberte whiche was sore vexed wt a feuer quartayne
fro ye moneth of Iuly to Chrystmas & co~sumed
lyke a drye ymage wherfore he prayed god to relese
his payne or to take hy~ out of this world & on Chrystmas
nyght he toke herte to hy~ & went to maty~s wt his
bretherne & he herde ye gospel how a lytel chylde was
borne & gyue~ to vs fro ye father of heue~ whose mother
was a pure vyrgyn he had so greate deuocyon yt his
mynde was rauysshed wt so great ioye yt he felte no dysease
two dayes after & after ye two dayes ye feuer came
agayne & vexed hy~ co~tynually vnto ye feest of say~t Edward
whiche is alway in ye vygyle of ye epyphanye &
yt day in ye hygh masse tyme he cam to ye tombe of say~t
Edward & fel downe flat in great deuocyo~ & wepynge
sayd thus. O yu my lorde & my ky~ge how longe wylte yu
forgete me how lo~ge shal I suffre this payne how lo~ge
shalte yu turne thy face fro~ me where ben al ye great
myracles that our fathers haue tolde vs done in their
dayes yu hast holpen many strau~gers but me yt am in
thyne owne chyrche thou forgetest & closest to me the
gate of thy pyte wolde god that I myght dye. I am
nourysshed in payne and may not dye my lyfe is sorrowe
to me but I can haue none ende I desyre deth
F.ij.
14
and can not haue it what shall I stryue with the butI beseche the good kynge laudable prynce and swete
patrone moue thy bowelles of mercy on me yf it please
the giue me helth or elles let me dye anone & amonge
these wordes the teres brake out of his eyen & sobbynges
fro his herte that he coude not speke with his
mouth but with his affeccyo~. And whan masse was
done he arose vp fro his prayers all hole and felte all
his membres meruaylously refresshed with a newe
strength. And entred in and axed after meat & drynke
and anone he felte hym selfe that he had receyued agayne
his strength. And euer after he was moeued wt
great deuocyon vnto the gloryous saynt Edward by
whos merytes he was delyuered from his sycknesse
and dysease. And in lyke wyse a knyght named Gyry~
was healed that same daye a yere after of the feuer
quartayne whiche came that same daye vnto ye shryne
and herde the same monke that had so ben healed
whiche than was pryour make a sermon in whiche
he tolde of the myracle how he was hole. And after ye
sermon this knyght thought he wolde not cease but
deuoutly praye this holy saynt tyll he were hole and
abode there prayenge all that daye and the nyghte folowynge
tyll the monkes came to matyns whome he
prayed to praye for hym. And whan they had prayed
a good whyle he felte hym selfe made parfytly hole.
And than he with all the people gaue thankynges to
our lorde god almyghty and saynt Edwarde for his
delyueraunce. Also a nonne of berkynge that had
ben sycke .xij. monethes and nygh consumed awaye
had a vysyon on a nyght by whiche she vnderstode yt
she sholde go to saynt Edwarde and be hole and she
15
makynge her prayers to saynt Edward and at suchea tyme as her syckenesse came she entred in to her oratory
and sayd the .vij. psalmes and letanye and wha~
she dyd so twyes all her payne was gone and was
made parfytly hole & thanked almyghty god which
by the greate merytees of saynt Edwarde had healed
her and soone after came to Westmynster on pylgrymage
and there dyd shewe this myracle & tolde how
she was made hole. Also there was a mo~ke of westmynster
whiche was accustomed to saye euery daye
v. psalmes in the worshyp of god and saynt Edward
whiche monke was greued with thre maner of sycknesses
for he had on his arme a congelacyon of blode
in maner of a postume he had also in his brest a straytnes
that vnneth he myght drawe his brethe. Also he
had in his fote a meruaylous swellynge and a greate
that he myght not go but with greate payne. And
whan the yerely feest was halowed he sawe his bretherne
go to the chyrche at mydnyght for to rynge the
belles and he was ryght sory that he myght not do ye
same notwithstandynge he payned hymselfe & went
theder and sayd the .vij. psalmes and whan he had
done and sawe his bretherne rynge meryly he sayd in
his prayer to saynt Edward. O thou my good kynge
I beseche the to praye for me yt I may haue strength
to do as I se my bretherne do for I commyt me fully
to thy myght and I byleue veryly that thou wylte
suffre me no lenger in this greate dysease. And whan
he had made an ende of his prayers he arose vp and
wente to the belles for to rynge them and anone the
postume of his arme brake & whan the foule matter
was out he felte hymselfe hole of that dysease. Than
F.iij.
16
his moost payne was in his brest & he wente agayneto praye and to gyue thankynges to god and to saynt
Edwarde of the delyueraunce of his postume and
there he prayed full deuoutly that he myght be delyuered
of the dysease of his brest and whan he arose
from his prayer he felte his herte made all hole from
the sycknesse that he had in his brest. Than he felte no
dysease but on his fote. And whan he came amonge
his bretherne in the frayttour he tolde them how he
was delyuered from two of his syckenesses & whan
they sawe hym they meruaylled greatly & besought
almyghty god and saynt Edwarde that he myght be
delyuered of yt dysease in his fote. And at nyght whan
he wente to his bed he put hy~selfe hoolly in the merytes
of saynt Edwarde. And whan he arose he felte no
payne but put downe his ha~de to his fote to fele how
it was and he felte that the swellynge was gone he
lepte out of his bedde and tolde to his bretherne with
full greate ioye how he was made parfytly hole as
euer he was. Than they al were full glad and wente
with hym to the chyrche for to gyue thankynges and
praysynges vnto almyghty god and vnto his holy co~fessour
saynt Edward for these myracles and for his
delyueraunce fro the two syckenesses wherfore god
be praysed in his seruaunt without ende.
AMEN
Thus endeth the lyfe of the holy confessour saynt
Edwarde. Imprynted at Londo~ in Fletestrete at ye
sygne of ye Sonne by Wynkyn de Worde. In the
yere of our lorde .M.CCCCC. and .xxxiij.