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." 

3 De sancto Nicholao episcopo

Transcribers note:  This sermon contains two stories about Christians stealing from Jews.  Christians weren't very... nice... to Jews during the medieval period, and these stories are definitely written for a medieval Christian audience, not a faithful Jewish audience.  Nonetheless, they are presented in as true a translation as I can render them.  And considering the historical context, they are surprisingly sympathetic. Believe me, I was worried it was going to get much more hairy.  Other highlights: St. Nicholas saves girls from the brothel, St. Nicholas bullies an emperor

 For such a day ye shall have Saint Nicholas Day.  

He is much praised in Holy Church for three things especially: for his meek living, for his heavenly [chesyng], and for his great compassion.

He was of meek living.  For we read he had a father that was called Ephifanus and a mother that was called Johanna.  And when he was born, they avowed chastity and dallyed no more together, but concentrated all their attention on their child, to make him a Christian, and would not call him Nychol, that is a man's name, but instead Nicholas, that is a child's name, so that all the days of his life he had the name of the child and the virtues of a child also, that is to say, meekness, simpleness, and without malice.  

Also, while he was in his cradle, he fasted Wednesday and Friday, the which days he would suck but once in one day, and so tide him over.  And he held forth these virtues all his life with his child's name, so children worship him especially before any other saint.  Thus all the days of his life he lived so meekly and simply and so without malice that all people loved him and praised him for his meek living.  

He was also chosen by a voice that came down from heaven, to be bishop of the city of Myrre.  For when the bishop of that city was dead, the bishops of the country came together to choose another bishop.  Then came a voice to one of them, that was the chiefest of them, and bade him go early on the morrow to the church door and make the one he found there the new bishop, "and is called Nycholas".  On the morrow this bishop arose early and went to the church door, and found there Nicholas ready, and said to him, "What is thy name?" then he, as it was he, was full meek, meekly answered and said, "Sire," bowing his head, "Nycholas, servant to your holiness."  Then said the bishop, "Come, son, with me, for I have to speak to thee in private." and took him to the other bishops and said, "Lo, sires, here he is that God hath ordained to us."  And so they took him and consecrated him bishop, thus he was made bishop by heavenly choosing. 

He had also great compassion for all that were diseased and in woe.  For when his father and his mother were both dead, they left him an abundance of the world's goods, which he spent upon them that were needy.  When it happened that there was a rich man that had three daughters, young fair women, but by mischief he was fallen in to such poverty that for great need he ordained that his daughters be whores and so to support her living and his living both.  But when Nycholas heard of this, he had great compassion on them.  And on a night privately at a window he cast in a bag with a sum of gold into the man's chamber.  In the morrowtide the man rose and found this gold.  He was so glad that no man could tell, and with that gold anon he got his eldest daughter married.  Then on another night Nycholas cast another sum of gold into the man's chamber as he did before  And so the third time until they were all married.  But the third night, when this man heard this gold fall, anon he went out and caught up with Nycholas and knew that it was he that had so helped him in his time of need, and kneeled down and would have kissed his feet.  He would not let him, but prayed him to keep better counsel {make better choices) while he lived.   

Also another time men were in the sea in despair of their lives, crying to Saint Nycholas for help.  Then anon he came to them, going on the water, and said to them: "Lo, I am ready at your calling." and helped them so that they came soon to a haven.  

Also that time was there such a dearth of grain and a hunger in all that country that everyone almost died from the lack.  Then it happened that the emperor's common ships, filled with wheat, sailed into the haven.  Then went Saint Nycholas to them, praying them to grant him of each ship a hundred bushel of wheat for to relieve the people with, and he would make sure that they would not lack any measure of when when they had arrived home.  Then he had what he asked for.  And when these sailors came home, their ships were full of wheat and wanted nothing.  And that grain that Saint Nycholas had through his holy power was of so great plenty and virtue (quality) that it fed all the people and there was enough left over for sowing.  

Three knights also impeached to the emperor of traitory, by false suggestion, and were condemned to prison, to be slain that very night.  But because these knights were weeping and crying to Saint Nycholas for help, he came that night to the emperor as he was in bed and said thus to him: "Why has thou so wrongfully condemned these knights to death?  Rise up anon and make for to deliver them, or else I will pray to my God to raise battle against thee, in the which thou shalt be dead and beasts shall eat thee." Then said the emperor: "What art thou that speak so boldly to me?" "I am," he said, "Nicholas, the bishop of Myrre."  Then was this emperor afraid, so that anon he had the knights brought to him and said thus: "What witchcraft have ye cast that hath troubled me so much this night?  Know ye a man is called Nycholas, bishop of Myrre?"  Then when they heard his name, anon they fell to the ground on their knees and held up their hands, thanking God and Saint Nycholas.  And when they had told the emperor of his life, he bade them go to him and thank him for their lives and pray mightily to God on his behalf, and so they did.  Thus, men see that he had great compassion upon all that were in dis-ease.  

Then after when he knew that he would die, he prayed God to send him angels to fetch his soul.  And when he saw the angels coming, he bowed to them with his head and said: In manus tuas, domine, commendo spiritum meum, and so gave up the ghost.  And when he was buried, at the head of his tomb sprung a well of oil that was medicine to all who were sick.  Then it happened that many years after, Turkus was walking in the city of Myrre where Saint Nycholas lay.  And when men of the city of Barus heard that, seven and forty knights with their servants ordained him [schyppus] and went thither.  ANd when they came thither, four monks that were left there told them of his tomb.  And anon they opened it and found his bones swimming in oil, and took them up and brought them into the city of Bares with much joy and mirth.  

Then because of the great miracles that were done there when Saint Nycholas was dead, another good man was chosen to be bishop in his stead.  Then after, by envy of cruel men, he was put out of his bishopric.  And then anon the oil ceased and ran out.  Then was he called again to the bishopric, and then anon oil sprang out as it had done before.  

Also a Christian man borrowed a certain sum of gold at a Jew.  The Jew said he would  loan nothing unless he had a [borgh.] He said he had none but Saint Nycholas.  Then the Jew granted to take Saint Nycholas to [borgh]. So the Christian man swore upon the  alter of Saint Nycholas that he would truly pay him again.  THen they went forth and the day of payment of the money passed.  The Jew then asked the CHristian man why he paid not him his money as he had promised.  And he answered and said he had paid him each penny, and he said nay.  The other said he had paid, and thereto he would bring it to the law.  Then this Christian man made him a whole staff and put the gold therein and went to bring it to the law.  When he brought it to court, he told the Jew to hold his staff while he swore.  When he had done, he took his staff back again and went home.  As he went by the way, he was sleepy and lay down and slept in the road.  Then came a cart and went over him and slew him, and broke his staff, and the gold fell out.  Everyone saw it as vengeance for his falsehood and called the Jew and bade him to take his gold. He was sorry and said he would not but Saint Nycholas would pray for to raise him to life.  Then he would be christened and live in Christian faith.  And so by the prayer of Saint Nycholas the dead man rose up, and then the Jew was christened by evidence of this miracle.

Also a Jew saw the great might of Saint Nycholas by working of miracles, and made an image of Saint Nycholas and set it in his shop among his goods, and bade him keep well his goods well he was away from home or else he should fall thereby.  Then he went out of the town.  So when he was gone forth, thieves came and stole his goods and bore them away.  So when this Jew came home and found his goods stolen, he was full wroth with Saint Nycholas and took a scourge and beat this image of Saint Nycholas, as if it were Saint Nycholas himself, and thus spake to him, "I told thee to keep my goods safe, Nycholas, for the great trust I had in thee, and thus foully hast thou served me!  Thou shalt be beaten each day until thou hast brought my goods back again."  Then as the thieves were assembled for departure, with the stolen goods, Saint Nycholas came to them and said, "See how you have made me be beaten for these goods", and showed them his sides all bloody.  "Go," said he, "and bring them straight back again, or else God's vengeance shall fall upon you and you shall be hanged."  Then said they to him: "Who art thou that treateth us thus?" Then said he: "I am Nycho, God's servant, that the Jew told to keep his goods safe." Then were they so afeared that anon the same night they carried all the goods back again.  Then on the morrow when the Jew saw his goods brought back again, anon he took faith and was after a true Christian man.  

 

A man for the love of a son that he had, a cleric, made every year a feast for the day of Saint Nycholas.  One time the father made a feast and invited many clerics.  Then the devil came to the gate in the appearance of a pilgrim and asked for some goods.  The father told his son to give the pilgrim alms.  The child went to the door and the pilgrim was gone.  Then the child followed after.  Then he caught the child and strangled him.  When the father heard, he was full sorry.  He took the child and laid him in his chamber, crying for sorrow, and said: "A, Saint Nycholas, is this what I shall have for my worship of thee?"  Anon the child rose up, as if he had been asleep.  

Also a man prayed to God and to Saint Nycholas to give him a child, and he would lead the child to his church and should offer there a cup of gold.  The child was born, and he had a cup made.  WHen it was made, it was so fair that he had another made.  Then he went forth with the child toward Saint Nycholas' church over the sea.  Then in the sea the father bid his child: "Take the cup and [cleche] water."  The child went forth and stooped down recklessly.  The cup fell out of his hand, and he tried to catch it again but fell after and was drowned.  The father made much sorrow, but yet he went forth with his other cup to do his pilgrimage.  And when he would have offered up his cup, he set it on the altar, and anon it was thrown from the altar.  He set it again on the altar and it was thrown from it again.  The third time he set it on the altar and it was thrown well far from the altar.  With that, in came in the child with his cup in his hand.  Then he told to all folk how Saint Nycholas took him by the hand when he fell into the sea and carried him out safe.  Then was the father glad and offered up both cups, and they went on their way.  

There was also a rich man the which, by the prayer of Saint Nycholas, had a child.  Then he built a chapel in honor of Saint Nycholas, and every year he made a feast in honor of Saint Nycholas.   Then upon the day this child was taken by enemies and carried into another land and was in the service of a king.  On Saint Nycholas' day, as he was serving the king, he thought on the mirth that his father made on that day, and he sighed and moaned, full sore.  The king was worried and said, "Whatsoever thy Nycholas may do, thou shalt dwell here with us."  Then suddenly a great wind came and smote the house, and the child was caught up with the cup that he bore in his hand and was set before the gates of the church where his father made the feast.  Then was there great joy.  Thus he had great compassion on them that were in dis-ease.  Some books say that this child was of Normandy and was taken of a sultan beyond the sea and was often beaten.  For certain, he was beaten upon Saint Nicholas day and put into the prison.  Then he wept sore and with that he fell asleep.  And when he woke, he was in the chapel of his fathers etc. 

2 De sancto Andrea apostolo

Highlights: an old man visits a brothel, a mother wants to sleep with her son, and a disappearing hitchhiker/pilgrim.  Note: Muslims are not actually into sacrificing to Satan, they're pretty clear on that point. 

Good men, we shall have such a day as Saint Andrew's Day, and fast until the even, the which day we shall come to God and Holy Church to see God and do worship to this holy saint, specially for three virtues that he had.  One, for he had great holiness and was holy in living, the second for great miracles doing, and the third for great passion suffering. 

He was a man of holy living.  For when he heard that Saint John Baptist preached in the desert, he left all his worldly occupation and went to him and was his disciple.  Then fell it upon a day that Christ came walking.  And when Saint John saw him walking, he said to his disciples, "Lo, that is God's lamb that shall do away the sin of the world."  And when Saint Andrew heard that, anon he left Saint John and followed Christ.  And when he heard Christ peaching, he liked it so well that he brought Saint Peter, his brother, to Christ to hear his preaching  And then they both conceived such a love to Christ that, on a day soon after, as they were in the Sea of Galilea fishing, Christ came by them and called them.  Then they both anon left their ship and their nets and all that they had and followed forth after Christ forever until he went into heaven.  

And when he was gone into heaven, Andrew preached the word of God to the people, among the which was one called Nycol that had lived sixty winters and more in lechery.  But by the grace of God he sought to mend himself and had written a gospel and had it with him, hoping that by virtue of God's word should put away temptation.  And so, by virtue of God's word, he absented himself of his sin a while.  But yet, by enticing of the fiend, on a day he forgot himself and went to the brothel, as was his wont.  And when he came hither, the women cried out to him and said, "Wretched old man, go home!  for  I see on thee many marvels!"

Then this Nycol bethought him that he had the gospel of God upon him, and anon he went to Saint Andrew and told him all that had happened and prayed him to pray to God for him that his soul was not lost.  Then Saint Andrew said that he would never eat nor drink until he knew whether he should be saved or damned.  Then he fasted five days, praying alone for him.  Then at the fifth days end, there came a voice to him and said: "Andrew, right as thou has fasted and prayed, so make Nycol to do the same, and then he shall be safe."  Then he called Nycol to him and bade him fast forty days bread and water and pray [bysyly] to God, and so he did.  And when the forty days were done, soon after this Nycol died.  Then there came a voice to Andrew and said: "By thy prayer I have won Nycol, that was lost." 

Also a young man came to Saint Andrew and privately said to him: "Sire, my mother hath sought me long to lie by her.  And because I would not do her will, she hath accused me to the justice.  Wherefore I would that I were dead, and yet I would rather take the death than so foully slander my mother.  Wherefore, sire, for the love of God, pray for me that I may take my death meekly."  Then said Saint Andrew: "Son, go forth to they doom and I will go with thee."  Then anon came men and took him to the justice.  And when his mother accused him [stufly], he held his tongue and said nothing.  Then answered Saint Andrew and said to the mother: "Thou wicked woman, that for lust of thy lechery art about to do thy son to death.  Vengeance will fall upon thee!"  Then said she to the justice, "Sire, [sethon] my son might not do this horrible deed that he would have done, he hath gone to this man for succor."  Then the justice commanded to put the son in a feet and cast him into a water to drown, and Andrew into prison until he were decided as to by what death he should slay him.  Then anon came a hideous thunder that made all afeared that were there, and were fain to fetch Andrew out of prison.  And therewith came a bolt of light and incinerated the mother in the sight of all men.  And thus he saved this man from death and turned the justice and all the people to the faith of Christ.  Hereby the men understood that he was a man of holy living.  

He was also great in working miracles.  For on a day, as he walked upon the seaside, he saw a drowned man cast out of the water.  Then he prayed to God for to raise him to life.  Then anon his body arose to live.  And when he was raised to life, Saint Andrew asked him how he was drowned.  Then he answered and said thus: "We were forty young men together in a company, and heard of a holy man that was in this country and would have gone to him to have heard of his preaching.  But when we were in the sea, a tempest came on us and drowned us all together.  But would God that we had all been cast up together that we might have all been raised together."  Then, at the prayer of Saint Andrew, all the bodies were cast to land at diverse places.  Then Saint Andrew made for to gather them together and kneeled down, praying long for them until they were raised all, every one together.  Then Saint Andrew preached to them the faith of Christ and they all followed him together.  And when they were steadfast in the faith, he sent them home to their country again with much joy and mirth.  Many other miracles he did that are too long to tell, but hereby you may know that he was mighty in working of miracles, that thus raised forty drowned bodies together.  

Also he suffered great passion for Christ's love.  For when he was in the city of Patras, he turned to the faith the wife of the justice that was called Eggeas.  He made men to do Mohametry (Islam), that is, to offer to fiends.  But because Saint Andrew reproved him thereof, anon he made to take him and would have had him to have done the same.  But he steadfastly refused him and proved by many reasons that he and all men should worship God almighty and not the fiend of hell.  Then Egeas grew insane with wrath and made men to take Andrew and strip him naked and beat him with scourges, that all his body ran with blood.  And after, he commanded them to bind him feet and hand and put him on a cross, so he should suffer long until he died.  But when Saint Andrew came to the place where the cross was, he kneeled down and said: "Hail be thou cross, that art made holy by the precious body of Christ!  On thee hanged my master Jesus Christ.  I worship thee with all my heart, I desire to [cluppe] be.  Wherefore now take me to thee and send me to my master that died on thee."  He stood up and took off his clothes and gave them to his tormentors, and bade them do as they were charged to do by the justice.  Then they bound him to the cross hand and foot, so hard and straight that the blood gushed out at such a cut.  Thus he hanged on the cross two days, always preaching to the people, so that there came to his preaching many thousands of folk.  

And for [rewth] that they had of him, they bade Egeas take him down off the cross or else they would slay him.  Then for fear of the people he came to take him down.  THen Saint Andrew refused and said, "Egeas, know this: that thou shalt have no might to take me down, for here I will die on this cross."  Then there came a great light, so that afterwards no man could see for half an hour, and in that light he gave up the ghost.  Thus when Egeas saw that he was dead, he went home.  Then after a while he went insane, and soon after, in front of everyone, he starved in the road.  And when Maximilla his wife heard thereof, anon she made for to take Saint Andrew's body and bury it in a tomb, out of the which tomb manna and oil well out together, so that men of that country may know when they shall have famine and when great [cheppe]. For when sustenance is hard to come by, it welleth swiftly, and when it shall be great [chep], it welleth plenty enough.  

After it fell that there was a bishop that loved Saint Andrew well, so that all things that he did he commended them to God and to Saint Andrew.  Then so that the devil might put him out of his purpose, the devil came to his bishop in the likeness of a fair woman, praying him that she might speak with him in private confession, and this he granted.  Then she began thus: "Sire," she said, "I am a king's daughter and have been [chyrlych noryschet].  But because I see that the will of the world is but a flower, I vowed chastity.  And when my father would have married me to a great prince, I would not break my vow, so I stole away in the night in poor clothes.  and when I heard of your great holiness, I came to have help, counsel, and succor of you.  Wherefore, sir, I pray that you will ordain that I should be helped, that the fiend have no power to let me off my purpose."  Then the bishop comforted her and bade her that she should have trust in God, for he that had set to high a purpose in pure heart would have grace.  "But this day thou shall eat with me, and after meat we shall by good advice ordain see how thou shall be helped."  "Nay, sire," said she, "not so, lest men would have suspicion of evil."  "There shall be no condemnation," said the bishop, "for we shall be safely in company, so that there shall be no suspicion of anything amiss."

Then she gently thanked him, and was set in a chair before the bishop at meat.  But ever when the bishop looked upon her, he thought her so fair that he was so tempted by her that he almost forgot himself.  Then anon came there a pilgrim to the gate and beat on gate so hard that all that were in the hall were astonished.  Then said the bishop, "Dame, shall this man come in or no?" "Sire," said she, "First let him answer to a question and then let him come in." "Dame," said the bishop, "ask the question, for we are [onavysed] as now."  "Then," said she, "Let him be asked what is the greatest miracle that ever God made in a foot of earth?"  Then when the pilgrim was asked thus, he answered and said: "A man's face, that is earth, and but a man's own foot.  For though all the men and women that ever were bore stood together, I should know one by another by some degree." When he had made this answer, he was greatly commended for his wise answer.  

Then said she, "Because I see he is wise, bid him make another answer.  Ask him whether the earth is higher than heaven."  Then when this pilgrim was asked this, he said: "Wherever Christ is bodily.  For Christ's body is of our kind, and our kind is on earth.  Wherefore, wherever Christ's body is, there the earth is higher than heaven, for Christ is higher than heaven." When he had made this answer, he was not only allowed, but bidden to come in.  

Then she said, "Let him answer a third question and then let him come in.  Ask him how far it is from heaven to hell."  Then when this question was put to him, he answered and said to the messenger, "Go again," he said, "to her that sits before the bishop in the chair and bid her answer the question, for she can do better than I.  For she is a fiend and hath been there, whereas I never have.  She, however, fell down with Lucifer."  Then when the messenger heard this, he felt heavy in heart, but yet he made answer that all there might hear.  Then anon this fiend vanished away with a horrible stench.  

Then this bishop thought better of his temptation and was sorry in his heart, and anon, sent after the pilgrim.  But by the time the messenger came to the gate, the pilgrim was gone.  Then the bishop made all men pray to God to send knowledge as to who this pilgrim was that so kindly had helped him in his need.  Then there came a voice to him and said it was Saint Andrew that came for to succor him for the good love and service that he did to him, and bade him beware in time coming and preach what had happened to the people to help their souls.   

1 Advent

 

This day is called the first Sunday in the Advent, that is, Sunday in Christ's coming.  Wherefore this day, the Holy Church maketh mention of two comings of Christ.  The first coming of Christ, God's Son of heaven, was to bring mankind out of the devil's bondage and to bring all good-doers into the bliss that ever shall last.  And of his other coming: that shall be at the day of doom for to damn all wicked-doers into the pit of hell forevermore.  

But the first coming of Christ into this world brought joy and bliss with him.  Therefore Holy Church useth some songs of melody as Alleluia and so forth.  And for the second coming of Christ to the doom shall be so cruel and so grevious that no tongue may tell, therefore Holy Church layeth down some songs of melody and of mirth, as Te Deum laudamus, Gloria in excelsis.  And also weddings, for after that day shall nevermore be weddings. Thus the Holy Church layeth down songs of melody before, in token of vengence that shall come after.  

Then of the first coming of Christ into this world, thus sayeth Saint Augustine: "There is," he sayeth, "Three things that run riot in this world-- birth, travail, and death." This is the testament that Adam our father made to all his offspring after him, that is to be bourne in sickness, for to live in travail, and to die in dread.  But Christ, blessed be he, came to be the fulfillment of this testament and was born, travailed, and died.  He was born for to bring men to everlasting rest; he was deax to bring man into everlasting life that never shall have end.  This was the cause of the first coming of Christ. 

Therefore he that will void the peril and the mischief of the second coming to the doom, he might lay down all manner of pride and highness of heart and know himself a wretch and slime of the earth, and so hold meekness in his heart.  He might travail his body in good works and get his living by toil of his body, an put away all idleness and sloth, for he that will not toil with men, as sayeth Saint Bernard, he shall travail forever with the fiends of Hell.  And for dread of death he might make him ready to his God when He will send after him, that is to say, shrive him of all his sins that are in his conscience, not for to abide from year to year, but also as soon as he feeleth himself in sin to shrive him and meekly take the doom of his confessor.

Then shall he have at the day of doom great worship  For surely as a knight showeth the wounds that he got in battle (in much commending to him), surely so all the sins that a man hath shriven him of and taken his penace shall be shown to much honor and worship to him and much confounding to the fiend.  Just like that which he hath not shriven him of shall be showed to all the world in great confusion and shame to him.  This is said for the first coming of Christ into the world.

The second coming of Christ to the doom shall be so cruel, fearful, and horrible that there shall come before tokens of great dread so that by the evidence of the tokens coming before, a man may know in part the great horribility and dread that shall come at the doom after.  The first day, as sayeth Saint Jerome, the sea shall rise up in her place, that the water shall be higher than any hull by forty cubits, standing still in her place as it were a wall.  The second the sea shall fall down again, so that only she shall be seen.  The third day all the sea-swine and scary things of the sea shall stand on the sea and make a roaring and a noise so hideous  that no man may tell it but God.  The forth day the sea and all waters shall burn.  The fifth day trees and herbs shall sweat blood and all fowls shall come together and neither eat nor drink for dread of the doom coming.  The sixth day all buildings and castles shall fall down to the ground and a horrible fire shall rise at the sun going down and burn until the rising of the sun again.  The seventh day, all stones and rocks shall, every one, break and beat together with a hideous noise, the which noise God himself shall know and understand.  The eighth day, the earth shall quake so horribly that there shall no man stand on it but fall to ground.  The ninth day, all hills and mountains shall turn into powder and the earth shall be made plain and even.  The tenth day men shall go out of their dens and go as they were mindless, and nevermore shall speak to each other.  The eleventh day, all the bones of dead men shall rise and stand upon their grave, and that day all graves shall open.  The twelfth day, stars shall fall from heaven and shoot out of them burning trails, and also beasts shall come in to the fields roaring and crying and shall never eat nor drink.  The thirteenth day all men shall die for to rise with him that lath been dead before.  The fourteenth day, heaven and earth shall burn so horribly that no man may tell.  The fifteeth day heaven and earth shall be made new, and all men, and women, and children shall rise up in the age of 30 year and come to the doom.  

Then shall Jesus Christ, very God and man, come to the doom with his angels and show his wonders, fresh and new bleeding as the day that he died on the cross.  And there shall be the cross all bloody, the spear, the scourges, the nails, and all the instruments of his passion.  Then sorry may they be that had been wont to swear by his heart and other lines of God.  That shall be a great reproof and great confusion to them, unless they had been mended thereof in this world.  Then, lo, Christ shall think highly on him and praise him that hath done mercy to have Eucharist and will say to him thus: "My Father's blessed children, come to me.  Reserveth be the kingdom of my Father that is orderly from now to the beginning.  For when I was hungry ye fed me, when I was thirsty ye served me drink, and so all the works of mercy.  For when ye did this to any of mine, ye did this unto me, and thus for my love ye did it to me.  For when ye did this to the least of mine, ye did it to me." 

Then shall he horribly rebuke rich men that hath done no mercy and say to them spitefully thus: "Go, ye cursed left, into the pain of hell.  For when I was hungry ye gave me no meat, et cetera, vt in evangelio.  Then woe may they be that Christ Jesus shall rebuke.  There shall no pleading be that shall help, nor gold, nor silver, nor other stuff, but as a man hath done he shall have.  There shall be diverse accusers above him, within him, on every side of him and under him, that he shall no way shape.  Above him shall be Christ Jesus, his Lord, so wrought that no tongue can tell, for he did no mercy.  Within him his own conscience accusing him of the least deed that ever he did amiss.  His angel on the right side telling him readily where, when, and how often he did amiss.  On the other side fiends challenging him here as by right for his wicked deeds.  Under him hell yawning and gaping to swallow then that hath been evil and spitting out fire and stench.  Those that are found evil that day, there shall be in pain and woe without end.  

That day of doom poor men shall sit in doom with Christ and damn the rich, for the woe and the disease that poor men have is by rich men, for, though they have much wrong, they [mowe geton non amendes] until they come to that doom there they shall have all their own will of him.  For when they have done wrong, they may get forgiveness but by praying to God full heartfully to quit them at the day of doom, and so would he full well and truly.  For God sayeth: "Keepeth your vengence to me and I will forgive."  Therefore while you are here, make amends for your cruel deeds and make them your friends that shall be your Lords at the day of doom and trust not to him that cometh after you lest ye be beguiled.  Dreadeth by pain that shall last forever without end.  

Saint Bede telleth that there was an husbandman here in England that fell sick and lay as dead from the eventide until the morrow.  Then he arose and gave away his goods in three parts.  And his part he gave to poor men, and was made a monk in an abbey that stood upon a water's side into the which water each night he waded, were it never so cold, and stood therein long time of the night.  And when he was asked why he put himself into so much pain, he said, "To eschew the more pain that he had seen."  And he ate barley bread and drank water all his life after and told to religious men that pain that he saw, that was so great that he could not tell it openly.  He said that an angel laid him into a place there, on the one side, was such a cold that no tongue might tell the pain thereof.  On the other side was so great heat that no man might tell the pain thereof, and souls were cast out of the one into the other.  And so the angel showed him the fire that come out of hell that was so white-hot, all so far as he might see it, he burned like a brand for heat.  And the ground thereof he saw was souls surging/welling up and down, crying and wailing for woe and sore, and horrible noise of fiends crying: "Beat, beat, beat.  Beat, beat, beat!  Put them on the skewers, roast hot, cast into the cauldron, boil hot in pitch and [kode] and brimstone and hot lead!"

    Thus then they that are damned to hell

    Cease never to cry and yell.

    Woe is him that there shall go--

    God himself shield us therefrom--

    And bring usto the bliss he bought us to.  Amen.  

     

Prologue

 

By mine own feeble letter I feel how it fareth by other that are in the same degree that have charge of souls and are bound to teach parishioners of all the principal festus that come in the year, showing them what the saints suffered and did for God's love, so that they should have the more devotion in God's saints and will the better come to the church to serve God and pray to holy saints of their help.  But many are ignorant for lack of books and simpleness of letters, therefore in help of such humble clerics (such as I am myself) I have brought out this treatis out of Legenda Aurea with more adding to, so he that hath lust to study therein, he shall find ready for all the principal festis of the year a short sermon needful for him to teach, and for others to learn.  And because this treatise speaketh all of festis, I will and pray that it be called a Festial, the which beginneth on the Sunday of the Advent in worship of God and of all the saints that are written herein.  Explicit prefacio.  Incipit liber qui vocatur Festial.  In dei nomine.  Amen.  

Prayer

 

God, maker of all thing,

Be at our beginning, 

and give us all his blessing,

And bring us all to a good ending.

Amen.  

Intro

In around the 1380's, the Augustinian canon John Mirk authored a series of sermons in vernacular English.  It was called "Festial," and is the only pre-Reformation collection in existence.  An interesting feature is that they contain a solid amount of scripture translated into contemporary, vernacular English, in stark contrast with the idea that church services were only in Latin.  These sermons are designed for the ignorant with short attention spans, so they are both educational and entertaining.  But whereas it is freely available out of copyright, it is also written in Middle English.  This blog is an amateur's attempt to translate them so they are understandable to modern readers.  Thus, there may be any number of mistakes and misinterpretations.  Mea culpa.  

Jana atte Hille