De scto~ Erkenwaldo ep~o & confessore.

SEynt erkenwalde and his syster Ethelburghe
comonly callyd Alburgh were borne in that parte
of Englonde callyd Lynsey And seynt Erkenwalde
was conuertyd to the feythe when seynt Augustyne
came into Englond and was dyscyple to the Busshope
Mellyt And his syster folowed the exau~ple of her broder
And when she was Cristenyd she was callyd Ethelburghe
And seynt Erkenwalde foundyd the Monasterye
of Chertesey for hymselfe where he was Abbot and
Barkynge for his syster And after he was made busshope
of London by seynt Theodre Archebusshope of Caunterbury
And when a beame that was ordeynyd for the
monastery of Berkynge was to shorte he and his syster
Ethelburghe drew it in length & made it longe ynough
And as he was goynge on Prechynge in a chare oon of
the whelys went of and yet the chare went vpryghte he
shewyd the very day of his deth and vnto his laste ende
he comfortyd the people besylye with the worde of god
And he Dyed at barkynge and there was at his deth a
merueylous swete Sauoure in all the house And as he
shulde be brought to London the water rose at Ilforde
and wolde not suffer theym to passe tyll the people fell
to prayer. And anone the Water deuydyd and soo they
went thrughe And all the Candellys that were out lyghtyd
agayne by them selfe And so he was buryed at seynt
Poulys in London And was leyde in leed in a Coffyn
of wodde And it was coueryd with a Palle of small pryse
many yerys And after in the tyme of Wyllyam Conqueroure
the Churche of poulys and great parte of london
was Brent And neuerthelesse the sayde palle and sepulcre
was not hurte wherfore the people gaue Laudys
to our Lorde And thoughe that that punyssheme~t came
to theym bycause they had not doon condygne honoure
to the sayd blessyd Relyquys And after the Churche of
Poulys was newe buyldyd by thre Busshoppys of London
oon after a noder And by a hoole Deuocyon of the
people his Body was tra~slatyd to a more honorable place
in the yere of our lorde god a Thousande a hundred &
xi. the .xiii. daye of Nouember And when the place that
was newe made was to lyttyll for the Chest of leed wher
in his Relykys lay fyrst ye people for that neclygence were
sory And anon the stone waryd more holow and gaue
place to ye blessyd relykys And after at his shryne were
doon many great myracles as in the lege~de apperyth

G.i.

at great length which be here omyttyd.

De sancta Ermenilda regina.

SEynt ermenylde was doughter to Ercomberte
kynge of kent & of seynt serburghe his wyfe she
was dysposyd to all pytye & co~passyon and endeuouryd
her selfe with a moderly pytye to helpe the necessytes
of euery man & there was in hyr alway oon stablenesse
on Benygnyte on Charyte on desyre to Heuynly
thingys She was maryed to wulferus son to penda kynge
of Marshyes which after his Faders Deth was crystenyd
& by her exortacyon & good maners she tamyd ye
wylde people and brought theym to the feythe & thruste
downe Rebellys myghtyly And she ceassyd not tyll the
Idollys & worshyppynge of deuyllys with the helpe of
the Kynge was clene put away & Chyrchys were buyldyd
for Dyuyne seruyce thrughe all the Realme & they
had a doghter callyd werburga And after the deth of ye
Kynge the quene Ermenylde & her Doughter enteryd
into Relygyon at Ely vnder her moder serburghe & so
for our lord she forsoke all the pleasurys and loue of the
worlde And punysshyd her body with abstynence prayers
and lamentyngys and shewyd her selfe moost lowe
of all folkys and she endyd her lyfe full of good werkys
in the Idus of February And a man that was bounden
with Irons prayed at her tumbe at masse for helpe and
at the gospell the Irons were strykyn fro his arme with
such a vyole~ce that they flewe to the Awter that all men
myght see.

De sancto Esterwino Abbate.

SEynt esterwyn was mynyster to kynge Egfryde
And he lefte the Temporall armoure & toke
Espyrytuall armour & enteryd into Relygyon
vnder his vnkyll Benet busshope in the Monasterye of
seynt peter but for all the kynred he lokyd not to be any
thynge the more honowryd But he was anon soo meke
that he wolde wynnow and thresshe with the bretherne
mylke Kyen & shepe And be with theym gladlye in the
Bakhouse & Kechyn & in all other busynes of the Monasterye
And after seynt Coolfryde abbot of the monasterye
of seynt paule in the yere of our Lorde .vi.C.lxxxiii.
electyd hym beynge in the monastery of seynt Petyr and
made hym Abbot there And whe~ he was Abbot he was
of the same mekenes that he was before so that when he
sawe the Bretherne worke he wolde put to his hande as
they dyd And he was a man of great strengthe of feyre
speche mery and lyberall And he ete of the same mete
as the bretherne dyd and laye as they dyd And when he
shulde dye he kyssyd all the bretherne in tokyn of peas
And instructyd theym with many Blessyd monycyons
he wente to oure Lorde of the great Syknes in the Nonas
of Marche.

De sancto Ethelberto rege & confessore.

SEynt ethelbert was ye thyrde kynge of Kent but
he was the fyrste that wente to Heuyn And all
that seynt Augustyne dyd to the Encreasynge

G.ii.

of the faythe may be also attrybutyd to this blessyd kynge
for as farre as to man apperyth if he had not holpen
seynt Augustyne & other werkes in the werke of oure lorde
lytyll frute had come to the Londe of Englonde And
when he was co~uertyd with great benygnyte he mouyd
other kynges that were his subgyettys or his felowys to
become crysten And those that beleuyd he louyd as hys
bretherne and kynysmen and felawys to the kyngdome
of heuyn And in all his realme Chirchys were buldyd &
placys of Idollys destroyed or tournyd into Churches
By counceyll of seynt Augustyne he made the Churche
of seynt sauyoure in Caunterbury And without the wallys
of the Cytie he made a monasterye in the honoure of
seynt peter and poule which was a place of buryall for
Kynges and busshoppes he buyldyd a Church of seynt
paule in london and there was the~ made a Busshoppys
see And he made a Churche of seynt Andrewe at Rochester
where was also made a noder Busshoppys see And
he was founder of Ely thughe seynt Ethelbrede bycause
she repayryd it is takyn for foundres his realme stretchyd
to humber And yet he shewyd hym selfe poore and
meke as thoughe he had had nothynge It was a gloryus
thynge to see hym that hadde rule and domynyon in
great countreys to serue poore men And to see hym that
kynges feryd to drede the preestys of our Lorde as this
blessyd kynge dyd And he was a great exalter of vertue
a fulfyller of the commaundementys of god & of werkys
of pyte And he went to our Lorde the syxte Kalendas of
marche And when his feest was on a tyme not halowed
nor the place where he laye adhournyd with lyghtys as
it was wonte to be he apperyd to a preest that of deuocyon
lay there all nyght and blamyd them of theyr neclygence
yt they had not don as was wonte to be And that
doon the preest wakynge sawe hym goo into his toumbe
agayne.

De sancto Ethelberto rege & martire.

SEynt Ethelbert was Kynge of eest Englonde
And when he had in his youthe moche prophytyd
in lernynge he gaue not his mynde to voluptuous
pleasurys but to Prayers almys dedys & other
good werkys And when his felowys were at Playe he
wolde be at Churche & after the deth of his Fader Kynge
ethelrede he was made Kynge & was profounde in
counceyll ryghtwyse and mercyfull in Iudgement & sober
i~ wordys He wolde spare his subgyettys and resyst
prowde men And after by hoole assent of his co~mons he
was desyryd to marye and for loue of Chyldren he asse~tyd
therto And he refusyd the doughter of a great Consulle
bycause her Fader was a man full of fraude and
dysceyte & alienatyd fro Truthe And at the laste it was
concludyd that he shuld goo to offa Kynge of mersshes
And when he was goynge the Erthe quoke & the sonne
waryd derke so that oon of them myght scarcely see a nother
And when all aboute hym were afrayde & merueylyd
what it shuld betokyn He sayde let vs doo that is in
vs & humble our hartys to almyghty god & praye that
he put awaye the derkenes both of Body and soule and
that he send vs ye lyghte of his clerenes And so they laye
prostrate & prayed And anon ye Derkenes went awaye
And then he wente forth in his Iourney & when he cam
into the kyngedome of Marshes he had a meruaylouse
dreme yt as he stode wt his counceyll he thought his house
fell downe & anon he sawe a goodly tree that he neuer
sawe any lyke to it & that certeyn persones were hewynge

G.iii.

at the tree to cut it downe & a streme of blood folowyd of
theyr hewynge & he thought he hymselfe was a byrde &
that his wyngys were blody & he sawe a bryght beame
bryghter then ye sonne com out of ye south which asce~dyd
into heuyn & he thought yt he flewe into the toppe of the
tree & sawe all that was in the firmame~t & herde a songe
of great melody & some thought it shulde betokyn ye exaltynge
of his kyngdome & he sayd how so euer our Lord
wold dyspose of hym he wold take it pacye~tly & when he
came to Kynge offa by counceyll of the quene for ambycyon
of hys kyngdome And to enhaunce theyr owne blode
his hed was stryken of the .xiii. kale~das of Iune as apperyth
in his legende at great length And when the virgyne
alfryde whome he shulde haue maryed knew therof
she bade his seuau~tys goo into theyr cou~trey for theyre
mayster was behedyd & taught of the holy goost she
sayde to hir moder thy sone shall not lyue .iii. yerys & thy
kyngedome shall not be stabled & thou shalt not lyue in
the confessyon of god ouer thre monethis thou shalte be
takyn with a Deuyll & ete thyn owne tonge and dye an
euyll deth and it folowyd as she sayd and therupon that
blessyd virgyne auowyd to entre into relygyon at crowlande
& fro the tumbe there as the yonge kynge was buryed
a bryght beame wente to heuyn And when Kynge
offa herde therof he feryd greatlye & toke penaunce and
after his body was broughte to herforde And by ye way
a blynde man recoueryd his syghte & a longe tyme was
seen euery nyghte a bryghte beame vppo~ his sepulcre ye
kynge Mylfryde made a goodly chyrche ouer hym and
endewyd it with great possessyons And was the fyrste
kynge that made there a Busshoppys see.

De sancta Ethelburga virgine & abbatissa.

SEynt ethelburgh co~monly callyd seynt Alburgh
was borne in the prouynce of lyndesey & fro her
youthe she abhorryd the bodely pleasurys & the
flaterynge of the worlde And the auncyent enemy enuyenge
her werkys styrryd her owne fader agaynste her
so that he was a cruell persecutor of her wherfore she went
ofte to a Chapell where she was crystenyd And commyttyd
herselfe to our Lord with deuoute prayer & afflyccyons
& it is sayd ye grasse is alway grene there as she wente
to the sayd chapell And after when she shuld haue ben
maryed she lefte her Fader & Moder & with oon mayde
went her waye pryuely & by the waye the mayde fell in so
great a drynes that withoute helpe she was lyke to Dye
wherfore seynt Alburghe prayde for helpe to our Lorde
And anon a feyre well sprange vppe that is there to this
day And when certeyne werke was assygnyd to her by
her hostes in Herueste she went to prayer and her werke
was don without leyinge any hande to it and her fader
by her was conuertyd to ye feyth & after her broder seynt
Erkenwalde of his patrymonye made for her the Abbey
of Barkynge where she was abbesse & there she subdued
the Body to the spyryte wt contynuell Fastyngys vygyllys
& prayers & she prechyd to the systers perseuerantlye
and after was seen an Image bryght shynynge in ye
Dormytory of the systers & bryght shynynge cordys were
seen stretchynge into heuyn wherwith the sayd Image
was pluckyd vppe And anone after seynt Alburghe
deptyd this worlde ye .v. Idus of october about ye yere of
our Lorde .vii.C. & .vi. & so it apperyth to be for her yt the
sayd Image was shewyd her monastery hath ben often
tymes preseruyd agaynste paganys by especyall myracle
somtymes wylde bestys at ye yatys feryd ye enemyes so yt

G.iiii.

they durst not come in sometyme the offenders were sodeynly
strykyn some with woodnes some with blyndenes
and some with Deth And dyuerse Myracles oure
Lorde hath shewyd for this gloryous virgyn.

De sancta Etheldreda virgine.

SEynt etheldrede co~menly callyd Seynt Awdry
was doughter to anna Kynge of eest Englo~de
And agaynste her wyll she was maryed to Tonbert
kynge of the south Gyrwyes where is the Ile of ely
And when she came into the Chau~ber she comyttyd her
virgynyte to our Lorde And as her husbonde lokyd in
to the Chau~ber it was lyke as if all the chau~ber had ben
on Fyre And so he bad her fere no more for he wolde not
touche her for he sayde our Lorde was hyr defender and
shortlye after he dyed & she was maryed ageyne by her
frendys to Egfryde kinge of northamhu~broru~ & .xii. yerys
she was with hym not as a wyfe but as a Lady &
for her holynes he worshyppyd her moch & promysyd to
ye Busshope wylfryde great gyftys to make her agree to
hym in matrymonye And the Busshope co~trarye wyse
exortyd her to kepe virgynyte And at laste by assente of
the Kynge she enteryd into Relygyon at Coldyngham
vnder Ebba aunte to ye kynge And when the kynge repentyd
hym & wolde haue fet her fro the monasterye she
co~myttyd her to our Lorde And with to systers went in
to a Hyll & there our lorde brought ye see about theym &
preseruyd them there beynge in prayers with oute mete
or drynke & when the Kynge sawe that he went away &
repentyd hym of his presumpcyon and after she went to
Ely yt was geuyn to her by her husbonde tonbert & there
she repayryd a Monasterye & gaderyd many susters
the yere of our Lord .vi.C.lxxiii. And after yt she enteryd
into Relygyon she neuer ware lynnen she ete but onys
on a day She was dylygent to vigyllys & prayers & before
her deth she had a great swellynge in her Throte &
in her cheke wherin she moche delytyd & sayde it was a
great goodnes of our Lorde if that peyne myghte put away
the peyne yt she was worthye to haue for her pryde
and offencys in werynge golde & precyous stonys aboute
her necke when she was yonge And when a surgeon
had Cutte the sore place and that Easyd her for a tyme
the thyrde day after the peyne came agayne And she yeldyd
her soule to our Lorde the .ix. kalendas of Iuly after
she had ben abbesse .vii. yere & whe~ she had lyen .xvi. yerys
her Body & all her clothys were founde vncorrupte
And her necke was hoole & a tokyn apperyd of the Cuttynge
& after the monasterye was destroyed by Inguer
& hubba & was renewyd agayne by seynt Ethelwolde
by helpe of ye kynge Edgar A man that had ben a great
vserer & full of synne & was in great syknesse ente~dyd to
serue god in relygyon at Ely the resydew of his lyfe and
the Kyngys mynysters prohybytyd it & sayde he was a
thyfe & also in the Kynges det Wherefore he was had to
London & there he was put in prysone & on a nyght aperyd
to hym seynt Benet seynt Awdry & her suster seynt
Sexburghe And seynt Benet onlosyd hys Irons & ye
Myracle knowyn he was let goo & so he enteryd into relygyon
as he before purposyd.

De sanctis Ethelredo & Ethelbricto martyrybus.

SEynt ethelberte that was conuertyd by Seynt
augustyne had Issu Edbalde edbalde had two
sonnes Ermenred & Erco~berte Ermenred had
Issu theys blessyd martyrs Ethelrede & Ethelbricte & a
doughter callyd do~puena which was maryed to ye kynge
of Mershyes & after the deth of theyr fader & moder
bycause they were then but yonge they were put to the kepynge
of Egbert sone of the sayde Ercombert to brynge
vp And therupon a cursyd man callyd thu~nir yt had grete
rule vnder the kynge ferynge yt if they lyuyd they shulde
be gretter in fauoure wt the kynge then he enuyed the~
moch & tolde the kynge many false talys of them & sayd
if they Lyuyd they wolde put hym oute of his Realme &
Cou~ceylyd ye kynge to let hym Kyll them pryuelye and
when ye Kynge for drede of god & loue yt he had to them
wolde in no wyse assent at laste when the sayde Cursyd
man euer callyd on the kynge and he on a tyme wt dyssymylynge
voyce sayd nay yt cursyd man toke boldenes &
on a nyght kyllyd them both & buryed them in the Kynges
house & when the kynge rose in the nyghte he sawe a
grete lyghte in the heygth of the hall wherat he merueylyd
moch & dred for the chylderne & callyd thu~nir & whe~
he had lernyd of hym how it was he feryd greatly ye Iugement
of god & sent for his cou~ceyll spirituall & te~porall
& by cou~cell of them all he sent for dompuena theyr suster
And for the deth of her bretherne she askyd as moch grou~de
in the Ile of tenet as her Hynde wolde goo aboute seyinge
she was so commaundyd by oure lorde And when
the hynde hadde goon a certeyn space and all the people
folowyd her Thumnyr founde a great deffaute at the
kyngys graunte & wolde haue stoppyd it & forthwith as
he had spokyn ye worde he fell of his horse & brake his necke
& he was buryed in ye same place and a great rocke of
stonys were caste vppon hym & it is callyd Thu~nerslane
to this day & after by Ethelrede yt was kynge Edgares
sone these gloryouse martyrs where tra~slatyd fro a place
callyd wakerynge to ramesey where they lye to this day
& that tra~slacyon was made the .xvi. kale~das of noue~ber.

De sancto Lamfranco archiep~o

SEynt lamfranke was borne in the Cytie of papeder
and in his youth he forsoke his faders successyon
gyuynge hym to studye And when he had
atteynyd hygh seculer lernynge he came into Normandye
and there he was takyn with theuys and was robbyd
of all that he had wherupon he went to the abbey of
Beccense in Normandye as to the porest house he could
here of and there he founde the Abbot bakynge of Brede
and his handys were myrye to stoppe the Ouen and
there he enteryd into Relygyon and lyuyd in profounde
humylyte & obedyence On a tyme as he redde the lecture
the presydent founde a defaute at his redynge & bade
hym amende it and he redde as he was commaundyd
and yet he hadde redde better before but that he dyd to
shewe hym selfe obedyent for the euyll maners of the
Bretherne he thought to leue the Abbey and lyue in Desert
and vsyd vnder coloure of a medesyn to ete Erbys to
proue how he myght endure with them And on a nyght
a kynnesman of ye Abbottys lately decessyd apperyd vnto
hym and shewyd hym the purpose of Lanfra~ke and
tolde the Abbot it was not good for hym yt he shulde goo
fro~ hym And when the Abbot with great wepyngys shewyd
this to Lamfranke he sawe his cou~ceyll was dyscoueryd
wherfore he thought it was the wyll of god that
he shuld tary & so he dyd & was made pryor there & after
Abbot of Cadonyence This blessyd man came into Englonde
with wyllyam conqueroure and was made Archebusshoppe
of Caunterbury & dyd many notable thyngys
in thys Realme He gaue great Possessyons to the
Chyrche of Rochester and restoryd seynt Albons to the
fyrste estate As he satte by the Kynge at a solempne feest
a Rayler seynge the kynge syt i~ gloryouse apparell seyd
lo I se god lo I se god And seynt Lamfranke remembrynge
the hystorye of Herode aduertysyd the kynge yt
he shuld not suffer such wordys spokyn to hym that belo~gyd
only to god but that he shuld commaunde hym that
speke them to be betyn so that he shulde neuer after dare
speke such wordys and so it was don He was a man of
great lyberalyte and as it is sayde gaue yerely in almes
fyue hu~dred pou~dys And he was a man of a quycke spyryt
and recoueryd many thynges that were wrongfully
holden fro his Chyrche And oftyn tymes seynt dunstan
apperyd vnto hym & co~fortyd hym shewynge to hym the
crafty purpose of his enemyes He was dyuerse tymes at
Rome where he was had in great fauoure of the Pope
when it happenyd hym at any tyme to be at beccense he
wolde not vse hym selfe but as he had ben pryour he was
profounde in humylyte large in almes a great helper of
pore men a defender of pupyllys and a comforter of wydowys
And with sobernes he refourmyd the Monkys
of Caunterbury that had vsed before hys tyme Huntynge
Haukynge and such other wanton disportys and in
the .xix. yere after he had ben busshope the .v. kalendas of
Iune he Dyed and lyeth at Caunterbury in a Chyrche
which he in his lyfe buyldyd.

De sancto laurencio archiepiscopo.

SEynt Laurence was archebusshope of Caunterbury
next after seynt Augustyne And after seynt
Ethelbertys deth ye Kynge Edbalde his sone fell to Idolatry
And also toke his faders wyfe & in lykewyse after
sabertus Kynge of eest saxons was deed his thre so~nes
fell to Idolatry which was great trouble to the feyth so
that mellyte Busshope of London and Iustus Busshope
of Rochestre were put oute of theyr Busshoprykes
which by assent of seynt Laurence went into Fraunce &
seynt Laurence thought to haue folowyd but that seynt
Peter the same nyghte that he wolde haue departyd as
he laye in ye Chyrche of seynt Petyr and Paule apperyd
vnto hym and bette hym with roddys bycause he wolde
forsake the flocke of god which he had takyn the charge
of & admonescyd hym that for the people of our Lorde he
shulde tary vnto the Deth lyke as he dyd And so he went
to the Kynge Edbalde and shewyd hym how he was betyn
of whom & for what cause And so the Kynge receyuyd
the feythe And also lefte his aduoultrye And after
seynt Laurence conuertyd moch people in Scotla~de to
the Feythe and in the way thytherwarde he went ouer ye
see drye fote And a holy Busshope of Irlande came thyder
to hym & herynge his Oppynyon of the kepynge of
Eester confermyd hym therto and taught his people to
folowe the same And after he retournyd into Englonde
and reysyd a Chylde where he was lodged fro deth to lyfe
And in the yere of our Lord god .vi. hundred and .xix.
the thyrde nonas of Februarye he lefte this worlde & is
buryed by seynt Augustyne.

De sancto Lethardo ep~o & confessore.

SEynt letharde was assygnyd to come with the
Quene Berta when she shuld be maryed to kynge
Ethelberte yet beynge a Paynym to be her leder
docter and preseruator in Vertue and to defende
her fro the Idolatrye then vsyd in Englonde where he
suffred great opprobryes and laughyngys to skorne in
doynge ye seruyce of god which he vsyd to doo in an olde
Chyrche of seynt martyn nygh to Cau~terbury in which
Chyrche the quene and her seruauntys that were crystenyd
vsyd to here dyuyne seruyce At the toumbe of seynt
Letharde a blynde mayde receyuyd her syght as a man
that with the palsey was lame fro the myddle downewarde
was prayinge for helthe at his tumbe he apperyd &
sayd the people in theyr sykenesse pray with grete deuocyon
for helth but when they be hoole they forgette ye benefaytys
of god And anon be vnkynde and turne ageyn
to synne And when the syke man faythfully promysyd to
amende seynt Letharde sayd of the oon legge thou shalt
be hoole that thou mayste knowe the goodnes of god &
ye other shalbe as it was yt thou waxe not vnkynde and
so it was doon This blessyd man was the precoursoure
of seynt Augustyne and made the waye redye for hym
to ye bryngynge in of ye feythe wherfore he is right moch
to be had in honoure by Englysshemen.

De sancto Macuto ep~o & confessore.

SEynt machute was borne in great Brytayne on
Eester euyn in a noble Monastery in the vale of
nantcarwan where his moder came to kepe vygyllys
And he was baptyzyd by seynt Brendan yt was
Abbot of the sayd monasterye & .xxxiii. men Chyldren were
borne ye same nyght of wome~ that came to bere his moder
co~pany and fro his youth he was vertuous & when
his felowys were quakynge for colde he swette & leyde awey
his Clothys which was of a brennynge Charyte yt
was in hym On a tyme the see flowyd there as he laye &
slepte and the grou~de where he laye rose lyke an Ile and
so he was sauyd Seynt Brendan seynge yt the holy gost
was with hym aduysyd hym to be preest and he sayde he
was not worthy to take that offyce neuerthelesse after he
assentyd And when he was made preest a whyte Doue
was seen descende vppon his shoulder He saylyd moche
with seynt brendane in his Iourneys and in his company
with the sygne of the Crosse he droue away a serpent
that hadde kyllyd .iii. Chylderne In lytell Brytayne he
was made Busshope of alethys And when he shulde be
consecrate at turone a whyte doue was seen descende vppon
his necke as he helde downe his hedde to benedyccyon
he vsyd gret watchynges fastynges & prayers And
when he rode by ye waye eyther he talkyd of god or prayde
there was no tyme but he Prophytyd to other or to
hymselfe He vsyd euer a sharpe Heer vppon hym and
was a grete precher to the people he went to Rome with
seuyn dyscyples and chylderne that he fou~de there to be
solde he bought the~ & cristenyd the~ In ye waye homewarde
as he was i~ great perell of ye see seynt peter apperyd to
hym & sauyd hym & all his co~pany when he was .Cxxxiii.
yere olde he dyed the .xvii. kalendas of december & was
honorably buryed at perdma where all his Relykys lye
excepte his hed and his ryght hand which lye at alethys
He helyd oon that was deffe dome and lame He reysyd
a chylde that was drownyd And by his prayer a blynde
woman recoueryd her syght For the wretchydnes of the
people he cursyd them and went into Andygauya & was
there .vii. yerys durynge whych tyme was great drynes
and derth in lytell Brytayne And when he was desyred
to come agayne to blesse the people as soone as he came the
rayne fell and great plenty folowed in all the countre.

De sancto Maglorio Ep~o & confessore.

SEynt Maglorye bysshop was borne in great brytayne
he was Felowe to seynt Sampson & was
his successoure by an Aungell he was admonysshed
to leue his bysshopryke and to lyue a solytary
lyfe and so he dyd he helyd an Erle that was lepre wherfore
he gaue hym the one halfe of a Certeyne grounde to the
whiche grounde inco~tynent came many byrdes with great
plente of fysshes & therfore the Erle by counsell of his wyfe
toke yt grou~de from hym and gaue hym the other half and
then the byrdes and fysshes came thyder and left the other.
And then the Erle perceyuyng that he had done amysse gaue
to seynt Maglorye the hole grounde and then the birds
and fysshes came indifferently to bothe partes He was a clene
virgyne and lyued with barley brede and lekes Euery
wednysday and fryday he fasted and punysshe his body wt
the heer he neuer dranke wyne ne syder somtyme when ye
bretherne were aslepe he wolde go pryuely to the seesyde &
there wake in prayers On eester euyn as he watched in ye
Churche an Aungel appered to hym and shewed hym that
his tyme drewe nere to go out of this worlde and he ferynge
it had ben an Illusion made instau~te prayer and when
the Aungell had thryse affermed the same he receyued of ye
Aungell the blessyd Sacramente and after that tyme if
there were nat ye greatter lettynge he vsyd euer to saye this
verse. Unam pecii a dn~o hanc requira~ vt inhabite~ in domo
dn~i &c. And he went to our lorde the .ix. kalendas of Noue~bre

N.i.

De sancto Malichia Episcopo & confessore.

SEynt Malachie was borne in Irlande amonge
barbarous people and as a fysshe is in the salt see
and is nat salt so was seynt Malachie good amo~ge
euyll people he went to a man that lyued a solytary lyfe
seruynge our lorde in fastyngs and prayers and of hym he
toke his example of lyuynge and in shorte tyme had many
disciples and there he toke the ordre of presthode. The bysshop
co~mytted to hy~ his auctoryte to preche vnto ye rude people
whiche he dyd with great fauoure and what so euer he
sawe out of good ordre he spared nat to reproue theym of it.
He had great loue and zele to the seruyce of god & honoure
to the Sacramentes of the Churche and went to a holy bysshop
called Malcus that was borne in Irlande & brought
vp in Englande and that had ben a monke at Wynchester
to lerne at hym that he taught nothynge but as the Churche
co~mau~ded after he was made bysshop of Co~nereth in
Irlande where anone he perceyued that the people were bestely
and rude Christen men in name and nat in dede they
payed no tythes they lyued out of laufull matrymony they
made no confessions there was no man to enioyne penau~ce
ne to aske it they made more noyse in the Churche then
the precher or they that sange wherfore to refourme thyse
people he put hym selfe in Ieopardye as a good Sheperd
and admonysshed theym of theyr defautes openly and also
secretely he wepte vpon theym tenderly nowe he spake
sharpely and anone more easely And whenne he nothynge
preuayled he humbly watched in prayer for them to our lorde
when they wolde nat come to the Churche he wolde go
in to theym lokynge who he myght wyn to our lord when
euyll wordes were sayde to hym he spake fayre and when
he was wronged he toke pacyence and so with goodnesse
he ouercame euyll. Thus were the people reformed Churches
were buylded the lawes of the Churche receyued the
Sacramentes duely mynystred & the people went to confessyons
and toke penaunce after the deth of the Archebysshop
Celsus he was made Archebysshop of Archemacan
and yet he wolde neuer haue seruaunt ne house of his owne
he went in maner a wayes aboute the parysshes prechynge
the worde of god and leued of the Gospell Other prelates
toke Lordshyp in the Clergye and he made hymselfe seruaunte
to all men After he gaue vp the Archebysshopryche
and went to his parysshe agayne Thenne he wente to
Rome & there the Pope toke a Myter fro his owne hedde
and set it vpon his hedde and also gaue hym a stole and a
phanon Fro thens he went to Clareuall to seynt Bernarde
and leuynge with hym foure of his disciples he went in
to Scotlande where our Lorde shewyd for hym many myracles
and after he went into Irlande and there he helyd a
monke of the great fallynge sykenesse. Thenne he went agayne
to Scotlande and so thorughe Englande to Clareualle
to seynt Bernarde And there he dyed the .iiii. Nonas
of Nouembre In the yere of our Lorde god a Thousande
a hondred and .xlviii. and Seynt Bernarde wrote his lyfe
wherin be many notable thynges.

De sancta Margareta Regina Scocie.

N.ii.

SEynt Margaret Quene of Scotlande was doughter
of Edwarde outlawe sone to Edmonde Irneside
And she by prouysion of god was Maryed
to Malcolyn~ kynge of Scotlande she delyted
more in good werkes thenne in possessions or ryches Ofttymes
she called her children afore her and admonysshed
theym to loue and drede our lord and dayly she prayed for
theym that they myght pleas hym she enduced the kynge
to do Iustyce with mercye and to gyue almes & in her dayes
the kynges seruaunts durst nat take any thynge fro pore
men or otherwyse hurte theym She reproued the people
of Scotlande in yt they began nat Lent so that they myght
faste .xl. dayes besyde the sondayes and that theyr prestes
sange nat masse after the custome of the Churche and that
the people were nat howseled at Ester that they kept nat ye
sondayes and that they maryed theyr moders in lawe and
susters in lawe & she reformed theym in thyse poynts The
kynge seynge the holy ghost was with her helped her forewarde
in all that she went aboute She serched where she
myght fynde pore people to do almes vpon on the nyghts
she sayd Matens of the Trinite of the holy crosse & of our
ladye the Dirige and the Psalter And thenne she vsed to
wasshe .vi. pore men and then she toke rest In the mornynges
she refressed .ix. orphanes and serued theym knelynge
And afore dyner the kynge and she serued .CCC. pore people
her boke fell into the water and lay there a daye and a
nyght without hurte she knewe the deth of her husbonde &
sone that were slayne in Batayle which she toke pacyently
she dyed the .iiii. Idus of Iune & lyeth in the Churche of
the holy trinite that she had buylded in the same place where
she was maryed.

De sancta Maxencia virgine & martyre.

SEynt Maxence was doughter to Marcolane so~tyme
kynge of Scotlande & fro her youth she entended
to kepe virginite after a prynce called maxencius
was a pagan desyred her in maryage wherto he had
her fathers assent and she perceyuyng that fledde to a churche
and co~mended her virginite to oure Lorde And after
with an olde man and a Mayde she fledde secretely and
came into Fraunce into a place called Pontis and as it is
sayd in the way thyder she went ouer the water of ysara wtout
bote and the sayd the prynce made suche serche that he
founde where she was and when he coulde by no mean haue
her assent in a fury he toke her by the heer and stroke of
her hedde & after kylled both her seruants and she toke vp
her hedde and bare it to the place where she now lyeth and
ouer her is buyldyd a godly churche where our lorde hath
shewyd for her many myracles kyng Charles that reyned
in tho dayes loued her churche moche & gaue many great
thynges to it.

De sancto Mellito Archiep~o & confessore.

SEynt Gregorie was moche dylygent for the conuertynge
of the people of Englande to the fayth and also
to haue the people well ordered after they were conuerted
wherfore he is moche to be honoured by Englysshmen
after kynge Ethelbert & his people were co~uerted by seynt
Augustyne he sent worde therof to seynt Gregorie as in the
lyfe of seynt Mellyt apperyth and then seynt Gregorie sent
Mellite Iuste and Pallyne with dyuerse other into Englande

N.iii.

to preche to the people and Mellite in ye yere of our
lorde .vi. hondred and foure was made bysshop in the prouynce
of Eest saxons nyghe to Thamyse where London
is metropolys and by hym that prouynce was conuertyd
and the Churche of seynt Paule that was made by kynge
Ethelbert is the bysshopes see and after the deth of kyng
Ethelbert and of kynge Sabert theyr children whiche were
Idolatrours wold haue ben houseled as they saw other
were but they wolde nat be Cristened and bycause seynt
Mellite wold nat housell them they banysshed hym out of
the Countre and so he and seynt Iustus went into Fraunce
but shortly after the sayd Idolatrours were slayne i~ batayle
Mellite and Iustus came agayne and after the deth
of seynt Laurence Mellite was made Archebysshoppe of
Caunterbury He had the gowte and after his deth he helyd
a woman of the gowte By his prayer moche parte of ye
Cytie of Caunterburye was sauyd fro fyre He dyed the
eyght Kalendas of Maii in the yere of our lorde god six hondred
and .xxiii. he lyeth on the right hande of seynt Augustyne
and for this blessyd man our Lorde hath shewyd many
myracles.

De sancto Melone Episcopo.

IN the tyme of Valerian the Emperour Mellothen
beynge a Paynyme was sent out of great
Brytayne to Rome to paye the trybute and as
he harde Pope Stephan preche he was conuerted
and gaue all that he hadde to pore folkes after he receyued
of the Pope ordre of presthode and vsed moche fastynges
and vigylles and as he was sayinge masse the Pope
and he sawe an Aungell on the ryght hande of the Aulter
that when masse was done gaue hym a bysshoppes staffe
and sayd vnto hym with this staffe thou shalt rule the people
of rethomagense in the parties of Nestrie and so hauynge
ye popes blessynge he toke his Iourney & in the way at
Antisioder holdynge the sayd staffe in his hande he helyd a
man that had his fote cutte in two partes with an axe and
whenne he came to Rothomagense faythfully fulfyllynge
that he was appoyntyd to and full of vertues and myracles
he went to our lord and lyeth at Rothomagense.

De sancto Melore martyre.

MElianus duke of Cornewayle fader to seynt Melorie
was kylled by his owne broder called Rynoldus
whiche toke vpon hym the Dukedome then
he toke Melorie with hym into Cornewayle beynge
of the age of .vii. yeres and thought to kylle hym there
and there he was desyred by the people that he shuld nat
kyll hym but that he shuld stryke of his ryght hande & his
lefte fote and lette hym go and so it was done Thenne he
had a ha~de and fote made for hym of syluer & was put to a
Monasterye in Cornewayle where he encresyng in all vertue
& lernyd scriptur to his age of .xiiii. yeres & ye hande wold
open & shyte as it had ben of flesshe & bone aft Cerialtanus
that had the rule of hym at the desyre of the Duke cutte of
his hedde in the kalendas of Octobre And as his sone was
berynge of the hedde to Rynolds by the waye he fell downe
of a walle and brake his necke And thenne his fader toke
the hede to bere it to the Duke and by the way whenne he
was nyghe deed for drynes the hedde badde hym sette his
staffe in the grounde and there he shuld fynde a welle and
so he dyd and the staffe waxed into a tree and a fayre welle
sprange at the rote therof And natwithstandynge whenne
he hadde refresshed hymselfe he bare the hedde furth and
the Duke receyued it gladly and had hym go to a hylle therebye
& all that he sawe he wolde gyue hym for his rewarde
and whenne he came thyder he was stryken blynde and
forthwith dyed and his flesshe melted awaye lyke waxe at
the fyre. The body of seynt Melorye was .iii. tymes buryed
& euery tyme it was founde agayne aboue the grounde
wherfore by a hole counsell he was layde in a wayne and .ii.
wylde bulles were put in it & they stode styll wt it in a place
that the people lyked nat : And whenne the people assayed
to remoue it and coulde nat they buryed it there honorably
The hedde was brought to Rynolde and whenne he had
towched it the thyrde daye after he dyed and thenne it was
buryed by the bysshoppes and the Clergye with the body
and nowe his relykes be at Malmesbury.

De sancto Thoma monacho a gallis occiso.

WHen Lowys sone to the Frenche kynge at the desyre
of dyuers of the noble men of England came
with a great hoste into Engla~de they founde this
blessyd ma~ seynt Thomas at douer syttyng alone in ye dormytorie
a ma~ of a venerable age meke & sobre & fro his youthe
brought vp i~ monastical 9uersavio~ & al his felowes were
sled for fere of ye Frenchme~ & whe~ he wold nat by fayr wordes
neyther by thretes discouer the Riches of the Monastery
But also boldely rebuked theym for theyr sacrelege and
cruelte with a swerde in great malyce they martyred hym
the nonas of August the yere of our lorde .M.CC.lxxxxv.
and at his Tumbe a man of the Frenesy was made hoole
Foure men had theyr syght & .v. were reysed fro deth to lyf.

De sancta Walburga virgine.

SEynt Walburgh was suster to seynt Willibrord~ &
Wynnybolde and with theym she went out of Englande
& when they came to seynt Bonyface bysshop
of Maguntine~se he made Willibrord bysshop of Heystatense
& Wynnobolde entered into Religion at Heydanhem
and after theyr deth seynt Walburgh was made Abbes
of that Monastery & had rule of many virgyns: And
when the keper of the churche at nyght denyed to gyue her
lyght and she toke it in great pacyence there was in the dortor
where she went a great heuynly lyghte that endured to
Matens tyme so that al the susters meruayled at it and she
thanked our lorde therof and attrybuted it to the merytes
of her bretherne and nat of her owne. On a nyght she went
vnknowen to a Riche mannes house where a mayde lay syke
and when the man sawe her he badde her beware of the
dogges and she sayd he yt had brought her thyther shuld saue
her fro ye dogges and when he had lerned what was her
name he toke her into his house with great reuerence and
when it was tyme to go to reste he asked her where she wolde
lye and she sayde there as her suster lay syke where she
gaue her to prayers and helyd the mayde and in the mornynge
retourned to her Monastery and full of good werkes
she went to our lorde the. .Kalendas of May and was
honorably buryed in the same Monasterye She appered
After her deth to Otgare bysshop of Heystatense and blamyd
hym that he kept the Monastery neclygently and tolde
hym that she wolde shewe hym such a token that he shulde
perceyue that he had nat done well to her and shortly after
at the rofe of a house there was settynge vp ye North wall
fell and feryd theym moche and then Otgare repayred the
Churche and remouyd the body of seynt Walburgh and of
her brother Wynnybold~ to Heystatense.

De sancto Walleno abbate.

SEynt Wallene otherwyse called Walthesse was
sone to Symon Erle of Huntyngdon & his moder
was doughter to the Erle of Northumberla~de
& accordynge to his name he was a good thefe
for he stale mekely the kyngdome of heuyn kepynge all his
Reuelacions and vertues close when his fader was disheryted
and was deed in Fraunce seynt Wallene was made
Chanon in the Monastery of seynt Oswalde in yorke and
there beyng sexten he was chosen to be Pryor of Kyrkehm
and how moche he was in the oppynyon of other men hyer
so moche he was in his owne syghte the more meke As he
was at masse on Cristenmasse daye and he had spoken the
sacramentall wordes he sawe a goodly childe more whyte
then ye snowe with a crowne of golde yt with mylde countenaunce
touched his face and hedde whiche oft kyssed hym
and blessyd hym and soo he vanysshed awaye leuynge nothynge
but the hoste & he neuer after Remembred that vysyon
but he wept for Ioy After fro more streyght lyfe he entered
into Relygyon of Cisteux at wardon~ & after he was
made Abbot at Mailrose. By his mocyon his kynnesman
Symond~ made the Monasterye of Seynt Andrews in
Northampton the No~nery without the towne and saltery
Abbey Thre gestes came to hym whiche he receyued mekely
wassynge theyr handes and fete and sodeynly one of
theym was gone and in the nyght folowynge an Aungell
appered to one of the Bretherne and sayd he was the geste
that ye day byfore went sodeynly fro them addyng therto yt
he was appoynted by our lorde to be keper of that place &
sayd the almes and prayers of theyr Abbot dayly ascended
byfore our lorde lyke swete encense he sawe in vysyon the
thre kynges do theyr offrynge & how our lorde was scourged
dispysed crowned with the crowne of thorne crucifyed
and suffred deth and how water and blod came out of his
syde and how he rose fro deth leuynge the kepers as deed
and after went into heuyn. On a tyme when the deuyll appered
to hym he toke the Sacrament and badde hym cursed
wretche se his Iugge that shulde sende hym into helle
And thenne he myght abyde noo lenger but vanysshed awaye
He refused to be Bysshop he multyplyed corne and
brede that seruyd moch people and helyd a man of the dropesye
he went to heuyn the thride nonas of August: In the
yere of our lorde god a Thousande a hondred & thre score
& after he appered to a broder that by temptaco~n of the Deuyll
preferred the lawe of the Iewes byfore the cristen lawe
And also sayd there was no lyf but this and he shewid hym
in vysyon typeset unknown hell and heuyn and then whenne he
came to hymselfe agayne he forsoke all his errours and lyued
a good lyfe and conuerted many people and byfore his
deth sawe our lorde with his bodely iyen.

De sancto Walstano Confessore.

SEynt Walstan~ was borne in the Southe parte of
Englande in a towne called Bauburgh and was
of the kynges blode And whenne he was aboute
the Age of .xii. yeres by Inspyracyon of the holy
Ghost he forsoke all his Enherytaunce and his Countree
and went into the Northe partes and put hym selfe in seruyce
to a man in the towne of Tauerham He was a great
gyuer of almes in so moche that he gaue nat oonly his owne
mete to poore men but also on a tyme he gaue his shone
to a poore man & went hymselfe barefote And whenne his
dame perceyued it she feyned that she hadde great nede to
haue thornes & caused hym to go to the wodde to fet theym
home and by the goodnes of oure Lorde the thornes were
to hym lyke rose flowers hurtynge hym no thynge And
whenne his dame knewe that she cryed hym mercy and he
anone forgaue her His mayster seynge the sygnes that he
dyd loued hym moche and wolde haue made hym his heyre
whiche he refused and wolde no thynge haue in any wyse
but oonly that whiche one of his Maysters keen hadde
in her bely at that tyme and she had after two Calues whiche
his mayster gaue hym with good wyll and as he was
after mowynge in a medowe with one of his felowes an au~gell
appered to hym and shewyd hym that the thirde daye
folowynge he shulde departe this world wherfore he was
howseled and toke all the sacraments of the Churche and at
the sayd daye he toke his mayster and dyuerse other honest
persones with hym and went to the sayd medowe and there
he wylled that when he was deed his body shuld be put in
to a carte and his two oxen to be put in it and to be suffred to
go with it where they wold without any leder and there as
they taryed he to be buryed & he had graunted of our lorde
that what laborer that called vnto hym for helpe of his desease
or for his bestes that he shuld be herde and so he departed
out of this worlde the thirde Kalendas of Iune in the yere
of our lorde a thousande and syxtene And when he was
leyde in a Carte the sayd two Oxen brought hym to Bauburgh:
and by the way they went ouer a water & the wheles
of the carte dyd nat synke into the water and in thre places
where they rested sprange vp thre fayre welles he lyeth
in Bauburgh where a Churche is halowed in the honoure
of his name and there our lorde hath shewyd for hym many
great myracles as well vpon men as vpon brute bestes.