9 De festo innocencium et martirum

Note: Child death.  The header art I have chosen is of the flight into Egypt, instead of the alternatives. The grief of lost children is still, unfortunately, a reality today.  

I have put words I couldn't figure out in brackets, if anyone has translation suggestions.  

Good Christian children, this day is called in Holy Church “Innocent’s Day,” that is in English, “Childermas Day,” for children that were slain for Christ’s love are called Innocents, that is, without offense.  For they were not noisome to God by pride, for God is ever offended with pride and against proud men; they did no wrong to their neighbors and had no concept of sin.  Wherefor, I may well say that they lived cleanly without shame, they did nothing blameworthy, but were baptized in their blood at home.   

 

These Innocents that Holy Church readeth and singeth of lived here without shame, for they were all within two years of age, wherefore they were not ashamed of their own transgressions.  For while a child is within the state of innocence, he is not ashamed of his transgressions, for he is not befouled with filth of sin, except for that of Adam and Eve.  They fared in a similar state, for they were in paradise in the state of innocence: they were naked but they were not ashamed of their transgression, for they were without sin.  But as soon as they had sinned, they saw their transgression and were ashamed thereof and hid it with leaves of a fig tree.  Thus, when sin beginneth for to take root in a child, then innocence goeth away.  For then he beginneth to know the good from the evil, and when he leaveth the good and taketh the evil, then he sinneth, and in that he is no innocent, in that he grieveth his God.   But these children lived not so long as to know good by the evil, but were slain within the degree of innocence.  Wherefore they lived here without shame. 

 

They died also without blame.  For Herod, king of Jews, made to slay them without guilt.  For when the kings came to Herod and asked where the king of Jews was born, for they were come to worship him from out of the east, then was Herod all astonished of their words and asked his clerks where he should be born.  Then said they: “In the city of Bethlehem.”  Then told Herod the kings so, and bade them go thither and do him worship and come again by him and tell him all their doing, that he might go and worship him also.  But when the kings had done their offering to Christ, they went home another way, for an angel in their sleep bade them go another way home, and so they did.  Then was Herod wonderfully wroth and intended to have slain Christ. 

 

But when he had made him ready, at that same time the emperor of Rome sent to him by letter for to come to him in all the haste that he might, for two of his own sons had approached him to be emperor of the treasury.  So at that time he left the slaying of Christ and went to Rome and had the better of his sons, and so came home with more worship than he had before.  Wherefore he thought to slay Christ, lest when he had come to man’s state, he would have put him out of his kingdom.  Then sent he men anon and bade them slay all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the country round about that were two years old or within two, and a child that was born that same day, and so it was done.  For he was afraid that Christ, who had made a star bring the kings so far, could have turned himself into diverse ages and made himself older or younger by his own will while Herod was going and coming to Rome.  Therefore he made to slay all the children that were within two years old.  And for vengeance should fall upon himself in part, therefore, a child of his own was slain amongst the others.  But then came an angel to Joseph and bade him take the child and his mother and flee to the land of Egypt and be there until he warned him, and so he did.  Thus the Innocents were slain without blame. 

 

They were also [baptized/redeemed] in the same, that is, in their own blood, in no font but in the shedding of their blood.  Wherefore the [schul] understood that [folth] cometh in three waves: in water, as we Christian men are baptized in the font at the church; in shedding of blood, as these children and many thousands of other martyrs that shed their blood for Christ’s love, the third [folthe] is in faith, in the which faith all patriarchs and prophets and all other holy fathers that were before Christ’s incarnation, that lived in Christ’s coming, they were redeemed in the [folth] of faith.  Thus may you see how much cruelty this man had in his heart, to slay so many thousands of guiltless children because of the envy that he had for Christ, that he felt no guilt.  Because he made many a mother childless, weeping for their deaths, God wrought that he should slay his own children also.  And after, as he pared an apple, with that same knife he struck himself.  Thus he that lusted for the children’s guiltless blood, ad the last he shed his own heart’s blood.  For he that is without mercy, vengeance falleth on himself.  And he that liveth to do mercy, God will show him mercy in turn. 

 

And that I may affirm by example that I find in the life of Saint Sylvester.  There I find that Constantine the emperor was leperous, and by the counsel of his healers he made to gather three thousand children to be slain, that all their blood should be put into a vessel, that the emperor should bathe therein while the blood was yet hot.  And when these children were gathered in a place, this emperor came riding thither in a chair.  But when he came nigh, the mothers of these children wept against him, crying and weeping and so on, making a doleful noise.  Then asked the emperor what women they were.  They said others that they were the mothers of the children that should be killed, and they hade that noise for sorrow of their children.  Then said the emperor: “It would be a cruel deed of us to make so many bodies slain for to heal my body, as I am but one man.  And many of these children may be thereafter full worthy men and stand our empire in good stead.  Nay,” quoth he, “I will not so.  Let them go home whole and sound.  And I will take the penance that is ordained for me,” and made to give the mothers great gifts, and so bade them go home with mirth and gladness that had come thither with sorrow and weeping.  Then the night after, as the emperor lay in his bed sleeping, Peter and Paul came to him and said: for that great compassion that he had on the children and their mothers, God sent to him word that he should have compassion on him, and bade him send after Saint Sylvester and follow him, and then he should be whole, and so he did.  Then when he went there, anon in the water the leprosy fell away from him, and he was as clean of hide and skin as any child that he delivered before. 

 

Thus we may see how that he that will do mercy, shall have mercy.  And he that loveth to do vengeance, vengeance shall fall on himself.  So did Herod: he did vengeance and vengeance fell on him.  And because the other man did mercy, he had mercy and grace both. 

8 De sancto Iohanne euangelista

 

God's blessed people, that are come this day to Holy Church to worship God, our Lady, and Saint John the evangelist that is God's own darling.  Wherefore all Holy Church this day maketh mention of the special grace that Christ gave him before all other disciples: he gave him grace of virginity, and grace of keeping his mother free, and grace of showing his privacy. 

He gave him grace of virginity, that is, of maidenhood, for, as stories telleth and some have in opinion, when he should have wedded Mary Magdalene, Christ called him and bade he should serve him.  And he anon left all the world's vanity and served Christ henceforth and kept himself clean maiden until his ending day.  In proving of this, as we readeth, when Domitian the emperor of Rome heard that John preached in a country that is called Asia and built many churches, he was wroth therewith and sent after John, and made to put him in a brazen pot full of oil and so boil him therein.  But when he had long stood therein, and all men thought he had been all boiled to pieces, then the emperor bad them open the pot.  And when the pot was open, John came out of the oil and of the burning of the fire just as whole and sound in each part of his body as he was clean of part of woman's body, of thought, and of deed.  

Another said he had full [harde].  When he saw a temple of Jews full of idolatry, he prayed to God for the destruction of it.  And therewith anon it fell down into powder.  Wherefore Arostodinus, a bishop of the temple, pursued John to the death.  Then said John to him: "What wouldst thou that I do for to make thee to believe on Jesus Christ my Lord?" Then said he: "I will make venom and make men to drink it before thee, and when thou seest them dead, drink thou that without harm, and then shall I believe in thy God." Then said John: "Go and do as thou sayest."  Then the bishop ordered his poison and got two men that were condemned to death and made them drink of this poison before John, and when they had drunk it, they were dead anon right.  Then John took that poison and blessed it and so drank of it, and was never the worse, but seemed the [lylokur] after then he was before.  For as clean as he was without venom of lechery, so clean he was of that poison after he had drunk it.  But then this bishop said that he might not believe until he saw the men raised again to life that were slain by drinking of that poison.  Then John cast off his coat and said: "Have this, and lay it upon the dead bodies and say this: "John, Christ's apostle, sent me so that they should rise up in Christ's name."  And when he had done so, they raised again to life.  Then this bishop with many others believed in Christ and became followers of John and was after a full holy man.  Thus he that hath grace to keep him clean in body and soul, that hath not in him venom of lechery or of other sin, it shall not do him any harm, but in the withstanding of his lust he is a martyr before God and shall be taken as for worthy to be keeper of Christ's mother. \

Thus for the great [clannes] that Christ saw in John before all others, when he should die, he charged John with keeping of his mother.  And he, as a good son should do, took her into his keeping, so that when Christ was dead and laid in his tomb, John, with others, helped to bear her into his house and kept her there until Christ was risen again to life.  And also when Christ was risen to heaven,   he kept her in the same chamber as long as she lived hereafter on earth.  Thus had he grace of keeping of Christ's mother free.  

He had also grace of knowing of God's privacy.  This was first when Christ sat at his supper on Schere Thursday.  For great love that he had to Christ, he leaned his head to Christ's breast, and then right as a man leaneth to a well and drinketh his body full of water, just so John drank of the well of wisdom that is Christ's breast and filled his soul full of ghostly wisdom, so that afterwards he passed all others in wisdom.  Thus Christ showed him of his privacy before all others.  

Also, because he would not cease to preach God's word, the emperor exiled him alone into the isle of Pathmos.  But while he was there on his own, God showed him his apocalypse of the world that was to come, and of the Antichrist, and of the world's ending, and of the day of doom.  And as he saw it, he wrote it in great confirmation of Holy Church.  But after when the emperor was dead, Joh was called again to the city of Ephasim, and there was he bishop.  And when he came thither, a widow called Drusyana lay dead on a bier.  Then because John saw many weeping for her, John said to her: "Drusyana, rise up and go make me some meat." And she anon rose up and went forth, as though she had risen from sleep.  

Another day too, young men and rich, by preaching of John they they sold all their goods and served John.  Then on a day, as they came into the city of Pargame, when they saw a thick crowd of civil servants in rich array and the city itself in poor weeds, by temptation of the fiend they forgot their purpose.  Then anon by revelation of the privacy of God, John knew their thoughts and said to them: "I see how the devil tempted thou and maketh thou to forsake your purpose that thou were in.  Wherefore, go to the wood and bring a burden of sticks, and after go to the sea and bring hither a burden of small stones."  And they did so.  Then at the prayer of John the sticks turned into gold and the stones into precious jewels, and then John said to them: "Now take this gold and these precious stones and be also rich as ye were before, and know well that ye have lost the kingdom of heaven.  

Then it happened that a man brought a dead body to bury.  But when the mother of the corpse saw John, she fell down on her knees to him, praying him that he would raise her son back to life, as he raised Drusyana the widow to life.  Then John prayed to God and anon he that was dead rose up.  Then John said to him: "I bid thee tell these men what thou hast seen and what joy these men have lost."  Then he, in the hearing of all men, told of the joy of paradise and of the pains of hell, how strong and how horrible they were, and how high glorious place was ordained for men, and now how sore the angels did weep for love of them, and how much joy the fiends made for those that so turned from perfect living.  Then anon these men were sorry in their hearts and repented of their doings, and, weeping, cried to Johyn that he should pray to God for them.  Then when John saw them weep for sorrow, he prayed to God for them and gave them penance.  And when they had down their penance, anon the gold turned back into sticks and the stones into stones, and they were holy men forever after.  

Another revelation John had by showing of God's privacy.  For on a day he saw a  child that was like to be a good man.  Wherefore John brought him to a bishop and bade him keep him well and teach him.  Then this child grew into a man and gave himself all to folly, and so fell into a company of theives and was soon after a master of them.  Then by revelation of God, John knew that, and anon he went to the bishop and blamed him excessively for the mis-keeping of his child, and bade him tell where he was.  Then the bishop with much fear said he was a leader of thieves in such and such a place.  Then John, for he was old and might not go well, took a horse and rode thither.  And when this thief saw John, he was so ashamed that he fled.  Then John rode after crying, and said, "My sweet son, my dear son, abide and speak with this old father." So at the last this man stayed.  Then John preached to him so that he left all his folly and was afterwards so holy a man that he was a bishop after.  This John had revelation of God's privacy.  

In the life of Saint Edward the Confessor that lay at Westminster it is written that Saint John appeared to Saint Edward on a day as he went in procession, and prayed him to give him some goods for Saint John the evangelist's sake, for he loved him much.  But because the king had nothing else ready to serve him, he took the ring of his finger and gave it to him.  And so Saint John had the ring seven years, and at the seventh year's end Saint John appeared to a knight of the king's beside the sea and bade him bear that ring to the king, and bade he should bethink him well for whose love he gave it away, and said that he greet him well and bade him to make him ready, for he should die soon after, and so did.  

Another revelation he had when he was sixty years old and seven.  Then came Jesus Christ to him with his disciples and said this to him: "My darling, come now to me, for now it is time for thee to eat with me and my brethren in my feast."  Then he rose up anon and would have gone.  Then said Christ to him: "Upon Sunday thou shalt come to me."  Then by Sunday he was so feeble that he made to carry him to church, and, ever as he might speak, he said to them that carried him: "Children, love each other."  Then said one to him: "Father, why say ye so thus oft?"  Then said he: "For, if ye love together, it is enough to salvation." Also he bade them that they should be stable in the faith and fervent in the commandments.  Then he commanded to make him a grave before the altar, and, when it was made, he lay down in it, and then there came such a light upon him a great while that no man might see him.  And when this light was gone, it was full of manna and welleth up as doth sand in a well with water.  

55 De festo sancti Bartholomei

 

Such a day ye shall have Saint Bartholomew's Day, God's holy apostle.  Wherefore ye shall fast this even and come on the morrow to Holy Church in worship of God and of Saint Bartholomew.  

Ye shall know that Bartholomey is in Latin Martholomeus: interpretatur filius suspendentis aquas, siue filius suspendentis me.  Thus Bartholomew is understood in English "The son of hanging up waters" or "Hanging up me'.  Then as we know well, God is he that hangeth up water two ways.  One is when he halteth up clouds in the firmament until he sees fit to let them downfall and raineth where he wishes.  Another way he hangeth up water is when a man or a woman is so sorry and contrite for his sins that he weepeth for his guilt bitterly.  Then God taketh these tears and hangeth them up in the ball of heaven, that all the saints of heaven might have sight of them in great joy to all the angels that there are.  For it is great joy to them that are in heaven, when they see any man or woman that doth do amissturn and leave their sin, weeping for contrition.  

Wherefore a man or a woman that weepeth in this manner quencheth the great burning fire of hell that was ordained before to him.  On this matter speaketh Saint John Chrysostom: "O thou tear, that art meekly let in orison, thy might is so great that thou goest into heaven up to God's Throne without warning and takest the word of the judge mouth, making him to turn his doom into salutation there before he must speak it into damnation; and there thou makest thine accusations doom--that is fiends--so that they have nothing to lay against thee; and also there thou quenchest the fire of hell that the fiends had made ready against thine coming; and thus thou painest the fiend wors than he [mythe han peynot] thee.' Thus God hangeth up water.  

Then for Saint Bartholomew who was God's son, as all are that serve him devotedly, he ws hanged up in three ways: in devout orison, in faithful [monicion], and in suffering of great passion.  He was hanged up in devout orison, for all that he said with his mouth he spake with his heart, so that in all his orisons his heart was hanging up to God, as the priest biddeth the people in his mass when he sayeth: 'sursum corda', that is: heaveth up your hearts to God, and they answer again, "we have to God."  Thus had this holy saint his heart hanging up to God, so that, for the great devotion that he had in his orisons, each day he [knelud] an hundred [sythes] to God and an hundred [sythus] in the night.  But so that he should not be weary of his great travail, God made angels for to [swen] him to keep him and to comfort him that he should not weary.  Thus ws he hanged up in holy orison.  

He was also hanged up in faithful [monicion], for God gave him so great power over fiends that by his [monycion] and commandment he suspendeth them of the power that they had in God's creatures, both in men and women and other idolatries.  We read of this, how that Bartholomew came to the land of India and went into the temple in the which was a idol that was called Astoroth, that was an image made of gold and silver, of stone or of tree, with many hands and set up in the temple.  Then a fiend went into this image and oft would speak to him that did worship it, so that by such enchantment of false words he maketh the people to leave that who was their God and none other.  And further to make them to have more belief in him, he made them many crooked, sick, halt, and blind, deaf and dumb, and in many other ways sick, and then would he bid bright them to him.  And when they were brought to him, he freed them from the sickness that he laid upon them, and so seeming to them that they were healed by him.  But the sickness that God sent up on any man, that he could not heal by any craft that he could do.  Then was the temple full of sick folk brought to be healed of their God.  

But from the time that Bartholomew came into the temple, he [Bartholomew] suspended so his [the fiend's] power that he might heal none of them.  Wherefor they went to another temple site, where there was another idol, and asked him why their god gave them no answer nor healed any of the sick people.  Then answered he and said: for God's high apostle, Bartholomew, was coming into the temple and had bound their god so wore with burning chains that he durst not speak one word, and told the features of Saint Bartholomew, and said, forsooth, that Bartholomew knew and heard each word that he spake to them by the revelation of an angel that telleth him and said: "When ye seek him, if he will, ye should find him, and if he will not, ye shall not find him until his own liking be."  Then went they again home and sought him and could not find him in any way.  

Then as Bartholomew walked among the folk, a madman that had a fiend him him cried to Bartholomew and said: "Bartholomew, God's apostle, thine holy prayers burn me sore!" Then answered he and said: "Hold thou thine peace, thou fiend, and go out of this man!" And so with those words the fiend left the man and he was whole.  Then had the king of the city a daughter that was mad and bound with chains for harm that she did to them that might over reach.  And when the king heard of this madman, how he was healed, anon he sent to Bartholomew, praying him to come and heal his daughter, and so he did.  And when he had so done, he preached to the king so that he turned him to Christ's faith.  

Then he commanded to throw down all idols that were in the temple.  Then went men and cast ropes about the necks of their gods and would have thrown them down, but they could not stir them, for the fiend was within them.  Then Bartholomew commanded the fiend to go out of the images and all pulled them down to powder.  Then anon the fiend did as Bartholomew bade him do and pulled them down and broke them.  Then because the temple was full of sick people, he prayed to God that they would have healing.  Anon they were all whole.  So therewith came an angel from heaven in the sight of all the people, so bright that all the temple shone of him, and flew all about the temple, so that in four parts made a sign of the cross with his finger in the wall and said thus to the people: "Just as all ye have been healed of your sickness, so shall this temple be cleansed of all filth of idolatry and of the craft and power of the fiend.  But first I will show you the same fiend that ye have worshipped and held as your god." 

Then the fiend appeared in the sight of all the people like a man of India, black all together as pitch, with a sharp nose and a loathly face, with a beard down to his feet, black as soot, burning as iron burneth in the fire, sparkling on each side, and blowing of his mouth flames of burning fire, with his hands bound behind him with chains burning.  Then said the angel: "Lo, this is he that ye have called your god!" But because the people were greatly afraid of him, he bade them make a sign in their forehead of the cross and have no dread.  Then in the sight of them all, the angel unbound this fiend and bade him go where there was no access to men nor of beast and stay there until the day of doom.  Then went he forth with great wailing, and the angel flew up into heaven in the sight of all the people.  Then was the king and his wife and all the people turned to the faith and followed Saint Bartholomew.  Thus Saint Bartholomew hanged up by faithful [monicion], for he suspendeth the fiend's power that he neither moveth nor durst do anything but by his bidding and permission.  

He was also hanged up by suffering of passion.  For when the bishops of the temple saw all the people go to Christ's faith and leave the fiends of idolatry, then went they to a city nearby, where there was a king was called Astrages and was brother to the king Polymyus, and complained to them weeping sore, and said: "There was a man came to them that was called Bartholomew, the which had so turned his brother and all the people to Christian faith that they set as naught their gods, but had thrown them down and broke them to powder, and so was their temple hallowed to Christ that was done on the cross.  And so they prayed him of his help and succor.  

Then this king sent a thousand men armed after Bartholomew, and when he came before them, he asked them why he had turned his brother from his faith and made him to believe on a dead man that was hanged and slain on the cross.  Then said Bartholomew: "I have bound the fiend that thy brother held for his god and showed him, and if thou might do so with my God, I will believe as thou doest, and else I will not."  Then commanded this king to hang Bartholomew on a cross and torment him lengthily thereon.  And when he was long tormented on the cross, he made to take him down and lay him altogether.  And when he was flayed, then he made to smite off his head.  And when he was dead, Christian men came and buried him with all the reverence that they could.  Thus was Bartholomew hanged up in great passion of suffering.  

We read in the Gestes of Romanes that, when the emperor Frederic had destroyed a great city, there was therein a church of Saint Bartholomew that was a chief church and others of holy saints, a good holy man came to that city and saw a great company of men, all clad in white, standing and counseling together.  And because this man had great wonder of them, he asked of them what men they were and what was their counsel about.  Then said he how that was Saint Bartholomew and other saints that had churches in that city destroyed, and they took counsel what they might do with the emperor that had done them that villiany and harm: "and now they have taken full purpose that the emperor shall come anon before God to make an answer of his misdeeds."  And so the emperor died anon a foul death and was damned to hell forever.  

I read in the life of Saint Gowdolok that first inhabited Crowland in the fens, for because the first day that he came hither was Saint Bartholomew day, he prayed this holy apostle be his patron and his succor against the wicked spirits that were in that wild place.  For that place was named and known as the habitation of fiends in all the country.  Wherefore each man was afeared for to come thither, and no man durst dwell there for fear of them.  Then because this holy man came and dwelled there for to drive them away, these fiends were so wroth that they took this man bodily and bore him up into the air and tormented him spitefully in many ways.  At the last they would have brought him to the pains of hell, and when he saw them he was sore afeared that he had lost his wits.  But by the grace of God he had mind of Saint Bartholomew, shining fair and brother to the sun, and spitefully rebuked the fiends, and commanded them to bring him again to his place.  These fiends then made a yelling and a crying, but they brought him save without harm to his place.  Their cry was so hideous that a man might be aghast to hear it, and they said: "Alas, alas!  Now we have lost our might and our habitation, and now we shall go to hell forevermore into the pains that ever shall last", and so yelling went on their way.  Then this holy man thanked God and Saint Bartholomew for the help and succor that they gave to him, and was evermore after ready to him in each need when he called to him.  Hereby we might understand that this holy apostle is ready to all that call to him with a full heart.  Wherefore folk that are wont to work on his afternoon and on his day after evensong, let him beware lest this holy saint suffer the fiends to have power upon them and for courtesy of a little work, bring him wherever they like to be hard worked forevermore in the pain of hell, et cetera.  

7 De sancto Stephano

 

Blessed people of God's might, that are come this day to Holy Church in worship of God and his holy martyr Saint Stephen, that is called God's first martyr because he was the first martyr that suffered death for the love of Christ after the ascension of God--Then to strengthen your devotion all the more to this holy martyr, ye shall now hear what he suffered for God's love, as the book of the deeds of the apostles telleth.  

When Christ was ascended into heaven, the apostles all tended to the preaching of God's word and to holy prayer.  And for because they might not serve all that turned to the faith, they chose six holy men and good out of sixty and ten that were Christ's disciples for to help them in God's service, of the which Saint Stephen was the first and the wisest, and was so full of grace and might of the Holy Ghost that he did many wonders and miracles among the people.  But although a man be never so holy a liver, yet he shall have enemies.  Wherefore many Jews of diverse countries that had envy towards Saint Stephen rose up against him and despised and spited against him and against Christ's faith, having full purpose, that if they might not overcome him by disputation and by false witness, they might do him to death.  But when Saint Stephen knew their malice, he thought for to confound them them in one of these three ways: by shaming in disputation, or by dread of revelation, or by love and holy orison.  

But first he said by shaming in disputation.  For when they began to spite with him, he was so full of the Holy Ghost that they had no wit nor power to astound him, he but openly overcame them in all matters and proved their witness false and said he was ready to take death in verifying of all that he said, and proved well that it was a great shame to all of them, that were great clerics and knew the law and the prophecies that should come--and were fulfilled in Jesus Christ that he preached, and that they would not believe in him unless they were astounded by the Holy Ghost speaking in their hearts and showing them in conscience that they did amiss.  And whereas they saw that the common people turned to the faith because of the words and miracles that God showed in their sight, they [algate geynstoden stufly] and set God's works and naught only by malice of envious hearts and by no manner reason of scripture.  Then were they more angered against him, and filled their hearts with envy within, and gnashed their teeth against him.  And so that they might not overcome him by disputing, they sought that they might take him with some word of slander in God whereby they might lawfully have cause to do him to death.  

Then knew Saint Stephen their malice and lifted up his eyes even to heaven and saw Jesus, God's Son, standing on his father's right hand.  And then said Saint Stephen: "Lo, I see Jesus standing at his father's right hand ready to help me," and therewith anon his face shone as bright as if he had been an angel of heaven.  But when they herd him speak so, they were faint and stopped their ears, as if they had heard him speak false and slander of God, and had been horrible for any man to have heard him lie so.  Then anon they dragged him out of the city for to stone him to death as if he were a slanderer of God, and chose two men that could best hurl stones at him, and despoiled him of his clothes and laid them at the feet of a young man who was called Saul, that was after Saint Paul, for he was one of the chief of them that did Saint Stephen to death.  

But when Saint Stephen saw that he might not free himself by fear of revelation, then he turned to devout orisons.  And when they hurled stones at him and smote out his brain, he bried to God and said, "Lord Jesus, take my soul!" And because he wanted to pray more devoutly for his enemies than for himself, he kneeled down to the earth and said, "Lord Jesus, let the sin f them be forgiven and this guilt, for they know not what they do." And when he had said so, anon he slept in God.  

Now take heed what a burning love this man had in his heart, that he prayed more devoutly for his deadly enemies than he did for himself.  In this he gave a high example to all Christian people to have charity each to another and to pray heartily for their enemies and for folk that pursue them or do them dis-ease.  For he that prayeth devoutly for his enemy in that he is a martyr, for martyrdom falleth by three ways: by passion and will thereto, by will without passion, and by passion without will.  

In showing of these three martyrdoms, the three festus that show the birth of Christ are set together in token that who so suffereth any of these he shall be set even to Jesus in heaven.  Saint Stephen he is set next to him, for he had passion and will thereto, Saint John had will but no passion, the Innocents they suffered death but had no will thereto--but not [ageynus] will.  Thus may a man be a martyr, though he shed not his blood, that is, when he suffereth wrong and pursuit of evil men and thanketh God thereof, and taketh it with good will, and prayeth for his enemies to God in full charity.  For martyrdom without charity, as Saint Paul sayeth, profiteth naught.  Wherefore take good heed, and ye shall find that these three were full of charity:  Saint Stephen when he should die, he kneeled down for to pray for his enemies; Saint John when he went to his death, he said to them that took him: "Children, love together and that is enough"; the Innocents, for they were so young that they could not speak, they showed their love by open sign, for they did laugh upon them that slew them and played with their hands for joy when they saw the bright swords shine.  

Then for [encheson] that Saint Stephen was so glorious a martyr, God showed many miracles for him, of the which this is one.  There was an honest woman who had seven sons and three daughters.  But in a mishap one day, all of them vexed their mother so that she in a great malice cursed them all, and anon therewith fell vengeance upon them so that their limbs quaked, and all that saw them had great compassion on them and pitied them greatly.  And because they could do no work, they went as [mased] beasts all through the country.  Then happened it so that a brother of them that was named Paule and a sister that was named Pallida came into a church of Saint Stephen.  And when this man heard how devoutly they prayed for them, he had full trust that he would pray for him, and he would be his servant ever after.  And so in this full hope he went into the chancel, and with all his heart he prayed Saint Stephen of help.  And anon in sight of all men he was whole.  Then when the sister saw her brother whole, she prayed in the same wise to Saint Stephen.  And then as she prayed, she fell asleep, and when she woke, she was whole, and with all her heart thanked God and Saint Stephen.  

Another miracle Saint Augustine telleth thus: A senator of Rome with his wife went to Jerusalem and there built a fair chapel in worship of Saint Stephen.  And when he was dead, he ordained himself to be buried therein by Saint Stephen.  But long after his death his wife would go again to her country, and she would have the bones of her master with her.  And so with prayer and with gifts the bishop brought to her the bones of Saint Stephen and of her husband and said to her: "I know not which are the bones of thy master." Then said she: "Sire, I know full well.  These be my master's bones." and took Saint Stephens bones instead of her master's bones, unbeknownst to her.  Then when she came to the sea, angels sang in the air and a sweet smell came out of the bones that passed any spicery, and therewith fiends cried, "Woe is ours for Stphen goeth and bitterly burneth us and beateth us." and therewith roared a tempest that the sailors would have drowned and cried to Saint Stephen.  And he anon appeared to them and said: "Be not afraid" and anon the tempest ceased.  Then she heard these fiends cry, "Thou wicked [prynste], our master burneth the ship, because Stephen, that is our adversary, is therein."  Then the prince of fiends sent five fiends for to have burned the ship.  But then was the angel of God ready and drowned them in the ground of the sea.  And when they came with the ship to land, fiends cried: "God's servant cometh that was stoned to death by Jews wicked."  Then in worship of Saint Stephen men made a church and put his bones therein, where God worked many miracles after for him.  

6 De nativitate Christi

Note: I am beginning to think that John Mirk was unfamiliar with the tenets of Islam.  Some good stuff about why he believes Christ came to earth as a child.  

 Good Christian men, as you see and hear, this day all Holy Church maketh melody and mirth in mind of the blessed birth of our Lord Jesus, very God and man, that was this day born of his mother Saint Mary in great help and succor to all mankind, but especially for three causes: for to give peace to men of good will, for to enlighten them that have poor vision, and for to draw us with love to him.  

Then, as to the first cause, that he was born to give peace to men of good will, I may prove thus.  For when he was born, angels sang thus: "Gloria in excelsis Deo', that is to say: joy be to God that is high in heaven and peace be in earth to men of good will.  At midnight Christ was born, for then all things by kind taketh rest in showing that he is prince of peace and was come to make peace between God and man, between angel and man, and between man and man.  

He made peace between God and man.  Wherefore to be a true mediator tween them too, he took the form of both and was very God and man, and by his mediation he knit the love of God to man so sadly that the father of heaven spared him not that was his own Son, but sent him to [geynbye] man with is holy blood and bring him by way of meekness again to the joy of paradise that man lost by greed and pride.  Thus he maketh peace betwixt God and man.  

He maketh peace between angel and man.  For when angels saw that their Lord was wroth with man for his unbuxomness (selfishness), they were also wroth with him, for unbuxomness is a sin that angels hate highly.  Wherefore they guarded the gates of paradise and let no soul in until they saw their Lord born into mankind.  Then anon for love of their Lord they did worship man and speak lovingly to the poor shepherds that kept their sheep in the country nearby, and bade them go into the city of Bethlehem, for there they should find a child born and laid in a creche that they may do him worship, and so they did, that ever after angels have been friends and servants to all good men and women, and all in reverence of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Thus he made peace between angel and man.  

He made also peace betwixt man and man.  For again the time that he would be born, he made so great peace in all the world that, whereas before all kingdoms and countries that were in discord with each other, in his time of birth was so great peace that one man, that was called Octavian, was emperor of Rome and had the governance of all the world--for all the world was subject to the emperor of Rome--and had been so thirty winters, insomuch that then was sent out a mandate unto all the world, commanding that each should go to the city from which his lineage came to lay a penny upon his head and so offer it up to acknowledge that he was subject to the emperor of Rome.  

Then must Joseph, our Lady's husband, need to to the city of Bethlehem for to offer up his money with other men.  But because he had no money, he took an ox with him for to sell there, and for to make him money of.  But because he dared not leave our Lady behind, for she was so nigh the time of birth, he set her upon an ass and took her with him.  But when they came into the city, it was so full of people that they could find no harbor, but turned into a cave that was betwixt two houses, where men set their [kapulus] when they came to the market, and they found there a creche with hay and fed their ox and ass there.  

Then a little before midnight our Lady bade Joseph go and get her midwives so that she may deliver.  But while he was in the town after midwives, our Lady was delivered and wrapped her Son in clothes and laid him in the creche before the ox and the ass.  And they anon knew their Lord and fell down on knees and worshipped him and ate no more of the hay.  That same time, as men in the country labored at the plough, oxen spoke to the ploughmen and said thus: "[Sedus] shall increase and men shall decrease."

Then soon after came Joseph with two midwives, Jebel and Salome.  But when Jebel found wlel that our lady was yet a clean maiden, she cried anon and said, "A maiden hath born a child!"  Then the other, Salome, would not believe her but instead boisterously handled our Lady, and therewith anon her hands shriveled up.  Then came there an angel and bade her touch the child and she should be whole, this she did and was whole.  Then went Joseph and did his offering with other men and kept our Lady in that same cabin while she was in childbed.  Thus [mowen] understand how God speaketh peace to them that are men and women of good will and calleth them his children.  

In verifying of this thing, the first mass that is sung this day is said soon after midnight and beginneth thus: Dominus dixit ad me, filius meus es tu-- God said to me: thou art my son.  God calleth him his son that liveth here in peace and rest, and when he parteth from this world, he will bring him to the peace that ever shall last, and those that will have no peace here, they shall go heathen to everlasting woe.  Thus Christ giveth peace.  

He lightest also those that have poor sight.  Hereby, good men, ye shall understand that Christ healeth not only then that were blind in body but many more that were blind in soul and encumbered with the darkness of sinful living.  For as Saint Augustine sayeth, when Christ should be born, the world was so full of darkness of sin, and namely the sin of lechery and of sin against nature, that he had almost laughed to have been born of mankind.  Wherefore that night that Christ was born, all that did sin against nature did suddenly in all the world, in showing how horrible sin is before God [enon].  Then those with poor vision and had great need to be lightened that had ever before had heart only to sin.  Wherefore Christ was born at midnight and turned the darkness of night into daylight, showing that then was born the son of righteousness and come for to lighten all that were encumbered with darkness of sin.  

Also that same time that he was born, as many doctors say, Christ appeared in a bright star to three kings in the east and bad them go to Bethlehem and worship there a child that should be king of Jews that was born, and they so did, following the star until they came thither.  Thus he lighted them that before looked full ill, for before they were pagans and lived on Mohametry (Islam) and false gods, but after they lived on Christ and were holy livers and now live at Coleyne.  

Thus the birth of Christ maketh to see full well that before those with poor vision.  For he with poor vision that hath always thought only on his good and on the world's worship, for these maketh a man blind, so that he forgetteth his God and hath no lust to desire the richness of heaven nor to see the light that is there, but such maketh his own good his God, and his merriment also.  When, when Christ was born to destroy such Mohametry, when that Herod pursued him and would have slain him, his mother bore him into the land of Egypt.  ANd when he came thither, anon all the Mohametans that were in the land, they fell down to the ground, because they understood that he was come into this world that should cast down Mohametry from men's hearts, and covetousness of good and of the world's worship and pomp and pride.  He himself was Lord of all Lords, he was born full poorly, and of a poor maiden, and in a poor place, and full poorly clothed, giving example to all men to set naught by worldly richness nor by the pride of this world.  For have a man never so much good nor never so much worship, here he findeth it and here he believeth it.  Thus Christ, by miracles that he showed in his birth, he lighteth many within henceforth, that were fully blind before.  

In token of this, the second mass of this day is said at the dawn when night and day parteth, the which mass beginneth thus: Lux fulgebit hodie super nos-- light shall shine thus day upon us.  For the Father of heaven sendeth grace of spiritual light upon all men that believeth that Christ that was this day born, very God and man,  of his mother Mary, very mother and maiden, and setteth naught by the vanity of this world, but setteth all his hope in Christ and in his mother Mary.  Thus Christ's birth lighteth many full well that before had poor sight.  

Also with love he draws him to us.  Children inspire love from folk that see them, and they make folk wish to hear them speak and to play with them.  Thus Christ was born a child, the first that ever was born of woman, for to draw mankind's love to him.  For while a child is young and without sin, it is more amiable than it is after it comes to a man's age.  Thus not only for his beauty, but also for his bounty, each man had better draw near to him and do him worship, as did Octavian the emperor, the which emperor pleased so much the people of his empire of Rome that they would have worshiped him as for God.  But then this emperor was wise and knew well that he was but a man, just as other men, and dared not take upon him that name, but sent after Sybil the sage and asked her whether there should be after him any born that should be greater than he.  Then Sybil looked in the sun and saw at midday a circle of gold about the sun and in the middle of the circle a wonderfully fair maiden with a child in her arms.  And when Sybil had told this to the emperor, she said to him, "This child shall be greater than thou art, or ever were, or ever shall be--therefore do him worship and reverence!" Then the emperor took incense and did sacrifice to him, and charged all men that they should do the same and call that child God and not him.  By this example each Christian man and woman should learn to do service and honor this day to this child.  

Wherefore the third mass of the day is said at midday, in showing that each man and woman is bound to come and offer in the worship of this child and his mother, and show them servant and subject to him, and acknowledge this child for his God and his Lord.  And because each man should do this for love and not for eye, the mass beginneth thus: Puer natus est nobis--A child is born to us.  A child, he sayeth, and not a man, so that all men and women for love should have boldness to come to him in such grace.  And because he is full of grace and ready to give mercy to them that asketh it meekly with due reverence, he is always ready to give grace and mercy.  In token of this thing, that same day that Christ was born in Bethlehem, a well of water in Rome turned to oil and ran so all that day, showing that the well of grace and mercy was born that day that should give grace and mercy to all that would come to him.  

Therefore, I read of a woman that was befouled with the sin of lechery and almost fell into despair.  For when she thought upon Christ's doom, she knew her guilt and that she would be doomed.  When she thought upon the pains of hell, she knew well what [þylk] pains were ordained for such as she was; when she thought on the joys of paradise, she knew that she might not go there, for she was unworthy; when she thought on the passion of Christ, she knew well that she was unkind to him that suffered so much for her.  At the last, she thought about how that children do no vengeance but lightly seek peace, though they be worthy.  Wherefore she cried to Christ, praying him for his childhood that he would have mercy on her and forgive her her trespass.  Then anon she heard a voice on high and said, "Thy trespass is forgiven."  

5 De sancto Thoma apostolo

Note: Take note how often translations of scripture in contemporary English are quoted, and contrast to the idea that only Latin was used prior to the Reformation. Also, Saint Thomas is not fun at parties, nor is he a satisfactory contractor. 

 Such a day you shall have Saint Thomas' day, that was Christ's holy apostle, and shall fast until the even.  And especially you shall worship him for the virtues that this holy apostle had, that is to say, for his high proving of our faith, for great wonders in his way, and great miracles upon his day.  

This holy apostle proved our faith so much, that he left no scruples in any part therein.  For when all the disciples believed and told him that Christ was risen from death to life, and they had seen him live and spoken with him, Thomas answered and said he would never believe until he had put his hand in his side in the wound of the spear.  Then eight days after, when all the disciples were together and Thomas with them, then came Jesus bodily to them and said to them, "Peace be with you."  And then he said to Thomas, "Come and put thy finger into the holes of the nails that pierced my hands and put thy hands into my side, and be no longer out of belief, but be hereafter steadfast in believe."  Then when Thomas had so done, anon he cried for wonder and for fear and said: "My Lord and my God." That is for to say: now I believe that Jesus art very God and man.  Then said Jesus to Thomas: "Thou hast seen me, therefore thou believest, but blessed be they that see me not and believe in me." Thus the tarrying of Thomas leave brought us in full belief and to the benison of Jesus Christ.  Of this saith Saint Gregory thus: "Thomas of India helped me much more to the faith, that would not believe until he had handled and groped the wounds of Christ, than Mary Magdalene that believed anon at first sight."  Thus Thomas proved our faith.  

He made also wonders along his way.  For when the king of India had sent his messenger, that is Abbanes, into the country of Ceasar to seek him a carpenter that could make him a palace, then CHrist spake with this Abbanes and sent Thomas to India with him.  And when they had passed over the sea, they came into a city, of the which the king's daughter was wedded that day.  Wherefore each man was commanded to come into the meat.  Then among the others Thomas and Abbanes came into the feast.  But because Thomas had all his thoughts on God and had no lust to eat, the bottler smote him on the cheek and bade him eat.  Then Thomas said to him, I will not rise out of this place until that hand is gnawed by dogs and brought here before me."  Then anon after this bottler went to get water, a lion slew him and drank his blood and dogs ate his body, among the which was one black dog that took his hand in his mouth and brought it into the hall in the sight of all men and laid it down before Thomas.  Then was there a woman, a minstrel, that understood Thomas' words, the which anon fell down at Thomas' feet and cried so that all men heard, "Either thou art God or else God's disciple.  For right as thou saidest, it has befallen."  Then was the king and all men abashed and prayed Thomas to bless his daughter and her husband.  Then Thomas preached to them both so that he made the husband bishop of the city and the wife a nun, and both were martyrs afterwards for God's sake.  

Then went Thomas forth to India to the king, to make the king a palace, one bold and brave enough for a king.  Wherefore the king was glad and made to deliver to him a great sum of gold for to make the palace with, and so went to another country while Thomas should have made that palace.  But Thomas thought it would be better to make him a palace in heaven and earth, therefore he took his money and dealt it out among poor men and women and others that were needy, and so afterwards went about and preached God's word to the people and turned many of them to the faith of Christ.  Then after, when the king came home and had great hope that his palace was ready, and heard what Thomas had done, he was mad with wrath and would have killed Thomas and Abbanes.  But because his brother had died about that same time, therefore he put them both in prison until after he had buried his brother.  

Then, as God would, when his brother had long been dead, he rose from death to life and told the king that he had seen the palace that Thomas had made for him: "Wherefore I pray thee, let me buy it and I shall give thee as much as it cost thee."  The king then reconsidered, and by good counsel he said, "Nay, that shall be mine, let him make thee another."  For his brother said he had seen it in paradise arrayed with gold, silver, and precious stones.  Then he took forth many thousand people with.  Then the bishops of Mohametry (Islam) saw  that all the people left their law and went to the Christian faith.  Wherefore they were so wroth with Thomas that one of them said that he would wreck his god, and with a spear ran through Thomas throughout his body and slew him.  Then Christians buried him in a tomb of crystal, where God wrought many wonderful miracles for him, but for his hand that was in Christ's side. It was never in the tomb but lay without.  

Also in his preaching he taught [a large paragraph of Latin].  

He doth also many wonders on his day.  For all the country cometh thither on his day and take [hosul] of that hand in this wise: the bishop of that city singeth the mass that day, and, when he beginneth the mass, or he says his Confiteor, he taketh a branch of a vine and putteth it in Thomas' hand and so goeth forth to mass.  Then this branch fruits with grapes, and he wringeth it into his chalice and singeth with that wine and so [hoseleth] all the people.  But when any cometh that are unworthy, anon the hand closeth together and will not open until he be shriven clean, and then it will open and [hoselen] him.  Also when men are in debate, they are brought before the tomb of Thomas and the hand is suspended on twine.  And when the cause of debate is rehearsed, then will the hand turn to him that is in the right.  Thus he proveth our faith and did wonders in his way and great miracles on his day.  John Crysostom sayeth that Thomas came into that country where there were three kings of [Coleyn], and they followed him and he made them Christian men.  For after they worshipped Christ as his birth, they heard no more of him, and therefore Thomas came to them and taught them the faith.  

4 De concepcion de beate Marie

 

Such a day we shall have the conception of our Lady, the which day Holy Church maketh mention of the conception of her for three special points: for her father's holiness, for her mother's goodness, and for her own chosen meekness.  

She had a father that was called Joachim, that was of such holiness that, when he was fifteen years old, he gave away all his goods in three parts: one to widows and fatherless children and others that were poor and needy, the other part to them that serve God both day and night in the temple, and the third part he kept to his own household.  And when he was twenty years old, because of the great goodness that he heard and knew by Saint Anne, he wedded her.  And they were together twenty years, during which time Anne never displeased him by night or day because of the great gentleness that was with her  But although they were both good and holy, God gave them no fruit of her body, but instead were both barren.  Wherefore they made a vow to God: that if he would give them a child, they would offer it in the temple to serve God both day and night.  

Then one day, as Joachim, along with his neighbors, went to the temple to do his offering, the bishop, that is Issacar, rebuked him openly and said, "Joachim," quoth he, "it is not for you, that art barren, to offer in company with others that God hath given fruit in Israel." Then was Joachim so ashamed with this rebuke that he went home weeping, and privately took his shepherds with his sheep and went forth far into the country among the hills, and planned to live there all the days of his life and never again to see Anne, his wife.  

Then was Anne sorry and prayed to God and said thus: "Lord, I am woeful because I am barren and may have no fruit, and now, more mine husband is gone from me, though I am not a widow.  Lord, have mercy of me!"  Then, as she prayed thus, an angel came to her and comforted her and said, "Anne, be of good comfort--thou shall have a child, one that there was never the like of, nor ever shall be."  Then was Anne frightened of this angel's words and of the sight of him, and lay all day in her prayers as though she were dead.  

Then went this same angel to Joachim and said the same words, and bade him take a lamb and offer it to God in sacrifice, which he did.  And when he had so done, from midday until evensong he lay upon the earth in his prayers, thanking God with all his might.  Then on the morrow, as the angel bade him, he went homeward softly with his sheep.  And when he was almost home, the angel came to Anne and bade her go to the gate that was called the golden gate and meet her husband there.  Then was she glad, and took her maidens with her went thither, and met there with Joachim her husband and said, "Lord, I thank thee highly, for I was a widow and now I am a wife; I was barren and now I shall have a child; I was in woe and weeping and now I shall be in joy and liking." and so conceived our Lady.  And when she was born, she was called Marya, as the angel bade before.  

Then after she was weaned, they brought her to the temple and left her among other maidens to serve God day and night, then was she so meek among all other virgins in all her doing that other virgins called her Queen of Maidens, so that yet she is the meekest saint in heaven and most ready always to help all that call to her in need.  

I read that there was a lord that had a penny-reeve (tax collector?), the which had gathered his lord's rent and went to take it to him.  Then were thieves waiting for him in a wood that he must needs go through.  But when he came into the wood, he remembered that he had not said Our Lady's psalm, that he was wont to say each day.  Then anon he kneeled down and began to say it.  Then anon came our Lady, like a fairy maiden, to set a garland on his head, and at each "Ave" she put a rose in the garland, that shone as bright as a star.  So by that by the time he was finished, the garland was so bright that all the wood shone thereof.  Thus, when he had finished, he kissed the earth and continued on his way.  Then were the thieves ready and brought him to their master, that had seen all that had happened.  Then said the thief to him: "I know that thou art that lord's servant and have his money with thee, but tell me what woman that was that set this garland on thy head?"  "Forsooth," he said, "I saw no woman nor have no garland that I know of.  But I had forgotten to say Our Lady's psalm and was in dread, so I kneeled down and said it, praying to her to help me at my need."  Then said the thief, "For her love, now go thy way and pray for us." and so he went his way safe and sound because of the succor of our Lady.  

But now shalt thou all hear how this feast was first founded.  There was in England a king called William Conqueror.  He sent the abbot of Ramesey to the king of Denmark with a message.  But when he was in the sea, there came a darkness upon him and such a tempest with it, that he and all that were with him would have been spilled into the sea.  Then each man prayed piously to diverse saints of heaven to help and succor them in their great need.  Then as the abbot prayed devoutly to God, there came to him a fair man and said to him thus: "If thou wilt hallow the conception of our Lady, that is the second day after Saint Nycholas day, she will succor thee and all that are with thee in this need."  "Sire," he said, "With full good will, if thou wouldst tell me what shall be the service of this feast."  Then said he: "The same as thou doest for her nativity, save turn 'nativity' into 'conception.'"  "Full gladly," said he, "it shall thus be done."  And then anon the tempest ceased and the weather cleared.  He went forth and delivered his message, and came again to speed well in all his doing.  And when he had told the king of this vision, the king had it preached in all the realm, and so was it hallowed in the Holy Church.  

Also there was a secular canon that went over a water so that he may do adultery.  As he was in a boat, he began to say matins of our Lady.  While he said the inuitatorium, Ave Maria, the devil cast him down and drowned him and had him to pain.  Then our Lady came and said, "Why have you taken this man?" they said, he was in our service.  Our lady said, "Nay, he was in the hour of my office," and anon restored him to life, and bade him that he should nevermore do adultery, and also hallow her conception, and so he did and was a full good man after.  

Also I read that there was a cleric that every day would say matins and service of our Layd.  It fell that by counsel of his friends, he took a wife.  And when he should be wedded he had a mind that he had not said the service of our Lady that day, and he made all that were there to go out of the church.  And when they were gone, he kneeled and said his service until he came to the song: "Quam pulcra es et quam decora.  Then our Lady appeared to him and said, "While thou sayest that I am fair and honest, why will thou leave me and take another?" Then anon he said, "Lady, what will you that I should do?" "She said, "That thou wilt leave thy fleshly wife and serve my Son and me, I will be thy purpose and thou shall have with my son a crown in the kingdom of heaven.  And also that thou will celebrate the feast of my conception."