¶ The first chapiter is the life of saint jerom as it is take of legenda aurea  
¶ The second is of his life also as saint austin writeth in his pystill  
¶ The third is how saint Jerome appeared to said Austin in great joy and swytnesse the same hour of his death  
¶ The fourth is how fou●●●ther men had a marvelous vision of saint Jerome that same hour that he died  
¶ The v is how saint johan baptiste and saint iorome arrayed both alike appeared to saint austin  
¶ The vi is how by merits of saint Jerome three men were areised from death to life in destrucion of an heresy  
¶ The seven is of a marvelous and aferefull death of an holy man cleped Euseby and saint jerome appeared to him & comforted him in the hour of his death  
¶ The viii is how the said iii men that were araised told of the peyines of hell and of purgatory/  
¶ The ix is of the dying of the same iii men and how saint jerome help them in their dying  
¶ The x is how the soulis of the same iii men after their death stood afore the doom and how saint Jerome lad them to see the joys of heaven the pain of purgatory and of hell & sith bade them go again to their bodies  
¶ The xi is of two miracles of saint euseby that were do or his body mere buried  
¶ The xii is how an heretic called sabyman was marvelously heeded and a bishop called sylvan delivered from death by thelpe of saint jerome  
¶ The xiii is how the fend appeared in likeness of the same archybysshop sylvan and slandered him marvelously and how saint jerome help him  
¶ The xiiii is saint jerome saved two hethyn men that came to visit him from thiefs and from death  
¶ The xv is how saint jerome saved two young men from death that came from rome to visit him  
¶ The xvi is how an abbey of nuns was destroyed for simony and covetise/ And how saint Jerome saved one of the nuns that was not guilty in that sin when all the other were killed by vengeance  
¶ The xvii is how iii heretics were marvelously punished for offence against saint Jerome  
¶ The xviii is how saint Jerome delivered a man out of prison from oon land to another on a night  
¶ The nineteen is how our lady praised saint Jerome as it is written in the revelation of saint brigitte   


¶ The life of saint jerome as it is take of legenda aurea  
 
Saint Jerome came of noble kin: and in his childhood he was sent to rome to learn. And there he learned Grew latin and Hebrew: And on a time as he writeth himself to the holy maid Eustace when he studied busily night & day in books of poets of holy scripture: Hit happened so that about midlent he was smete with a sudden and a fervent fever. In so much that all his body was dead and cold unto the heart/ And when they were busy to dispose for his burying/ Suddenly he was ravished to fore the dom of god/ And there he was asked what man he was & he answered that he was a christian man than said the judge thou sayst not sooth for thou art an heathen man and nought a christian man/ For where thy treasure is there is thy heart And thy heart is more upon worldli books than upon holy writ/ Saint jerome could not answer but one of the judges bade beat him hard/ and than he cried and said have mercy upon me and they that stood by side prayed that he might have forgiveness for he was but young. And than saint jerom swear tofore the judge almighty god And said lord if ever I have any secular or worldly books or read upon them her after: than forsake me for a christian man. and by his oath he was let go And anon he lived again and fond himself all be wept and his body sore and full of wounds of the beating that he suffered afore the judge: And fro thence forth he studied and red as besily upon holy books as he had done tofore upon worldly books Than he made himself a monk and there he lived so holily chastysing the lusts of the flesh and with standing the delights of the world that he caused other that were holy religious to be the better for his example when he was xxxix year of age he was made a cardinal priest in the church of rome And after the pope was deed all folk cried that jerome was worthy to be pope But for as much as he had used to blame the flesshelynes of misgoverned clerks and religious people they with great indignation lay in a wait to do him repref: And on a night when saint jerome should rise to matins as he was wont: he died upon him a woman's cloth/ and so went in the the church. weening it had be his own: which his enemies had laid by his beddis forto make folk ween that he had a woman in his chamber: & so to scorn him/ And when he see their malice he fled thence and come to constantinnoble and there he comyned with the bishop of holy scripture and sithen went in to desert and there he suffered great penance and dissese un year to gydre: wherefore he writeth unto the said holy maid Eustace and saith when I was in desert in great wyldrenes where is a full horrible dwelling place all to brent with the son me thought I was among the delices of rome all my body was deformed and clad in a sack & my skin made black like an aethiop or man of ynde/ Every day weepings/ every day wailings. And when sleep come upon me uneath I would suffer my ●ere bones to rest upon the bare earth. of meet and drink I spoke not when they that be sick use there but cold water. And it seemeth gluttony to eat any thing/ soothe I was fellow of scorpions and of wild beasts/ And yet in this cold body & in my deed flesh I felt brenninges & sturinge of uncleanness: And therefore sith they feel such temptations that so despise their bodies and fight only with their thoughts: what suffer the men or women that live in delyces soothly as the apostle saith they live in body: but they are dead in soul/ But our lord is my witness that after many weepings/ full often times me seemed that I was amongst the companies of angels: After he had lived thus in desert four year he went again in to Bethlem & theridamas offered himself as a wild best to abide at the crib of our lord & there he gathered many disciples. and founded a monastery & lived under the rule of thapostles and v year & an half he traveled about translation of holy writ And unto his end he lived a virgin. also he wrote the life of holy faders in a book called vitas patrum: he was so wise that what man had asked him any question he should anon without tarrying give him aresonable answer/ & when there had be never set no certain service in holy church but each body song and red what he would The emperor prayed the pope that he would ordain some wise man to set dyvin service/ & for the pope knew well that saint jerom was perfect and most excellent in latin tongue grew & ebrew & all wisdom he committed to him that office & than saint jerom divided the sauter in to nocturnes & assigned to each day in the wike a proper nocturne & ordained that Glia patri should be said at the end of every psalm. He ordained also pistelles & gospels for all the year and other things that long unto divine service & sent them from bethelem unto the pope which he & his cardinals received & approved & authorised forever that uviht abstinence & labour he wax so weri & feeble that when he lay on his bed he might not arise but as he pulled vy himself with a rope tied unto abalke for to go do the service that longed to be do in the monastery. After thus he made himself a grave in the mowth of the cave where our lord lay when he was boar: & thus after he had lived: lxxx yerè & xviii & vi months he died & was buried the yer of our lord ccc xviii: ¶ Of the life & passig of this holy doctor saint jerome saint austins writeth unto cirille bishop of ierlm̄ in this wise  
O thou worshipfulle pressed cyrille  
trust thou that silence is not to be kept from the preising of the pressed jerome that was most glorious servant of christen faith & a corner stone of our mother holy church in whom it is in manner grounded and made sure/ & now ashynygsterre in heuynli bliss/ or else thou drediste that I should speak of him as a lisping child or as a man with foul lips: But for heavens tell the gloire of god & all that god made praise him in his deeds should a reasonable creature be still for prising while unreasonable creaturis are not stilli/ therefore I shall other speak or be still if I be still I shall be bede cry uviht stones/ for sooth I shall speak & nought be still to praise the high & worthy jerome for thouh I be unworthy & insuficient preisere while that is no preising fair in the mouth of a sinner yet I shall not sese of this pising. Therefore our tongue & our hand be made sure and the tongue may not cleave to our palate: for certainly this man is great rigthe holy marvelous & to be dread above all that be about us/ great he is in holiness of his right excellent life: great in deepness of his unspeakable wisdom & great in quantity of his great joy marvelous he is in unwont miracles & to be dread for the great power that is yeven him of god/ but how great this glorious jerome is in holiness of his life how should one tongue make know when uneath all tongues of that be a live in earth may not suffice to tell his excellence/ be it therefore leeful to call him another samuel another hely another iohan baptilte dwelled in desert & made leanly his body with sharpness of meet & of clothing but most glorious jerome was not of alas leaving which as an hermit dwelling iiii year in desert had no fellow but wild beasts & scorpions: & forty year together he never drank wine nor sither but fled them so much that uneath he would here named: he eat no meet that came nigh the fire but only twies in the bitrest need of sickness next his flesh he wered a sack of here & hillid him above with a cloth most vile he knew never other bed but the earth. ones on the day only after evensong time he eat fruit or leaves or herbs or roots: & after the giving him to praiees he work till two ours within night And he sleep upon the ground till midnight/ And then Anon he rose and till day he entenced to readings and to holy Scriptures/ He wept fore right small venial sins/ so bytterli that men might have wend that he had slain a man each day thrice he beat his flesh with so hard betynges that rivers of blood flowid fro his body he eschewid as a tempest to speak any evil word idle was he neun but alway occupied in holy reading or writing or teaching of other: what shall I say more if I should sek the lives of all saintis I ween I should find none more holy than he. but for we named samuelle tofore we may show clearly that he was samuel for from his mother teties he was cleped to diverse studies of lecture and set to service of holy scripture so that in the light of his cheer all be flowed with godly wisdom we see light of both testamentis & in strength of his arm a great party of herytikis is dispurpled he is the glory of our virtue translating both the old law & the new fro the language ebrew in to latin and in to grew dysposing both to abide for ever unto all that come after declaring many privities & doubtꝭ & araing the order of divine service he edified nigh all the church so that he appeared great in deepness of unspeakable wisdom. he could all liberal sciences so perfectly that as all men say none appeareth like him & as I learned myself by experience of many pystellis of holy writ that he ●ent to me I found never none like unto him for he could the language & lectres of ebrew: grew: called. pierce: meed arabic & of all nations as though he had be borne & norsshid among them what shall I say more never man could ne know in kind that jerome could not but worshipful father ween thou not that I say these things weening that thou knew not the life & virtues of jerome but by me: well wots I thyself were his fellow a long time but I call god to witness that for the holiness of so unspeakable a man I may not be still though I would for merueilles & miracles knowlech his holiness and also the self heavens in which he is great & of more bliss than many of the saints that are therein/ No man doubt but that he hath one of the greatest & the highest set among the mansions of the everlasting father for while every man is rewarded there after his life & his merits/ and he was of most perfect life/ Hit showeth that he is on of the greatest & the highest cytezyens of heavenly Jerusalem which that it should more sickerly & plainly be believed to us to fore all men that any age hath mind of/ He appeared most marvelous in unwont tokens and innumerable miracles of which the worshipful man Euseby declared some to me by his letters But of other wonders that be do there each day marvelously as I here by continual relation/ I pray the right dear father that when thou mayst have laiser thou wouldst gather as many of them as thou may & sent them unto me that am so desirous to here of so worthy dediss and so profitable How saint jerom the same hour that he died appeired unto saint austin  
THat the merits of most holy Jerome be not hid I shall tell that befell me thorgh gods grace the same day of his passing for the same day & our that the holy jerome died of the cote of filth and of uncleanness & was clad with a clothing of joy & of undedlynesse while I was in myself thenking besili what glory & mirth was in the blessed souls that joy with christ desiring to make there of a short tretis as/ I was pied/ I took pen & Ink to write a pistle thereof unto most holy jerome that he should write again to me what he felt in this matter/ for I know well that in so hard a question I might not be learned so evydentli as of him of no man a live & when I began to write that beginning of my letter suddenly an unspeakable light with ameruilous sweetness of sweet smell entered in to my sell at compline time/ & when I say it I was so gretli stoned that I lost my strength both of heart & body: I wist not yet than that the meruillous hand of god enhanced his servant from coruption of the body & arrayed him so hie a seat in heaven/ but for my eyen had never seen such a light my smelling had never felt such a savour I was greatly a stonyed of so unherde marvels. And while I thought myself what it might be A none there swooned a voice out of the light saying these words/  
AVstyn Ausyn what sekeste Troweste thou that all the see shall be put in alitelle mantel/ Or weenest thou to close all the earth in a little fist Or to let the firmament from contynualle meaning/ Or to let the see of yys wont course/ That never man's yeen might see shalt thou see Or thin ere here that never man's herd weenest thou to mow understand, that neverman might understand nor might think what shallbe the end of an endless thing what shallbe the measure of a thing that may not be measured/ Rather shall all the see be spered in a little pit/ Rather shall the earth be hold in alytel fist: Rather shall all the see of ebbing & flowing cece than thou shouldest understand the least part or portion of the joys & bliss that blessed souls of heaven have without end/ but if thou were taught by experience and tasting of the same bliss as I am/ Therefore travail thou not to do things that be inpossible till the end of thy life be come/ seek thou not here the things that may not be know but of them that be in bliss But rather travail thou to do such dediss that thou may be in possession there of such things as thou desirest to know her: for they that ever enter thither go never again than I all atoned for dread & without strength of heart took to me a little boldness and said: who art thou that droppest so sweet words in to my throat/ I am he said Jerome priest to whom thou haste begun to write apistell I am his soul that this same our in bethlem leaving the burden of the flesh am joined unto Christ & fellow with all companies of heaven clad in light & arayied with the stole of undeadly bliss go on to the everlasting bliss in the kingdom of heavens and from hens forth I a bide in no lassing of joy/ but moring when i shallbe joined aien to the body it shall be glorified & the glory that I have now alone/ I shall have then with the body in the day of the resurecxion & we shallbe ravished up in to the eier to meet with christ austin not cesing answered thou worthiest of men to be thy footman but have mind on thy servant though I be most unworthy whom thou lovedeste in the world with so great affectonn of charity that by thy prayer I may be cleansed of sin by thy governance I may go without stombeling in the right way or virtue. by thy busy defence I may be defended fro my emmies & by thy holy leading I may come unto the haven of health & now like it the to answer me to sonthinges that I shall ask thee/ than laid the soul ask what thou wilt/ knowing that I shall answer to all thy will/ than I said I would wit if the souls that be in heaven may will any thing that they may not get The soul answered/ Austin/ know thou one thing that the souls in that heavenly bliss are made so sure & stable that there is no will in them but God's will for they may will God's will & fulfil it: non of us is defrauded of our desires aienst our will for none of us desireth any thing but god & for we have god alway as we will: our desires are all weigh fulfilled for we abide perfitly in god & he in us O father ciril it were to long to writ in this short pistyl all things that the glorious soul ansuerd & made known to me but I hope with God's help after few years to come to bethlem to visit his holy relics & than to declare more openly that I herd & have write. if I should speak with the tongues of all men I might in no wise worthly expnss how suddenly how openly & how marvelously that holy soul abiding with me many ours expressid unto me the unity of the holy trinity ¶ and the trinity of unite ¶ And the generation of the son of the father: and the going forth of the holy ghost from the father and the son & the ierarchies and ordres of angels and of blessed spirits & their ministration and the blessed joys of holy souls & other things profitable and hard to man's understanding and after this the light vanished from mine eyen: But the sweet smell abode many days after▪ how marvelous therefore is this man doing so many merueillies & showing to men so unwont wonders therefore to him cry we & joy we: And give glory unto his praising for certainly he is worthy all praising: & we are not sufficient to praise him for he is entered in to the house of our lord bright: & most fair where without doubt he hath an everlasting seat a 'mongst the highest mansions of bliss. ¶ How four other men had a vision of saint jerome in the our of his death  
But for the troth should be declared more witness than one I will confirm more plainly the truth of this thing: A worthy man called Severe excellent in wisdom & cunning with iii other men being the same day and our of the passing of saint Jerome in the city of turon saw avision like unto mine of which the same severe witnesseth to me for that the high joy of jerome should not be hid to the world: lest they that have delight to follow the steps of his holiness if they knew not that he hath so great reward they might wax weary & cease fro the weigh of holiness god would that they should see & know how many & worthy rewards of holiness he hath yevyn unto him that they should the more surely draw aster the steps of his virtue for the hope of reward lassyth the strength of labour: The day of saint jeromes' passing at compline time: The said severe was in his house & three other good men with him of which tweyn were monks of saint martin's monastery intending to holy readings suddenly they herd in heaven in earth and the air innumerable voices of most sweet songs unherde unspeakable: & the sound of organs. Symphans and of instrumentis of all music with the which as them seemed heaven and earth and all things souned in every side: so that with sweetness of that melody their souls were in point to go out of their bodies. And thus atoned they looked vy in to the air in to heaven. & saw all the air and all that is about the firmament shine with light brighter than the son out of which come we sweetness of all sweet odour And then they prayed god that they might know why all this was Than there come a voice out of heaven and said late no marvel move you nor thenketh it not merueveilloꝰ though ye see and here such things: for this day king of kings: and lord of lords christ Ihesu cometh festefully against the soul of glorious jerom in Bethleem going out of this wicked world to lead him up in to the kingdom of heaven so much the more excellently and high tofore other as he shined to fore other in this world by merits of more high & holy living This day the orders of angels joying & singing with such voices as ye here come with their lord. This day all the companies of patriarkis & prophetis. This day all holy martyrs/ This day all confessors/ and this day the glorious & most blessed virgin marry mother of god with all holy virgins above heaven & the souls of all that be in bliss come joyfully and festefully against the country man their cytezin and heir of heaven with them This things said the voice was still but the light odour and song abode an our after and so ceased: By this things here is it showed that he is one of the highest cytezyenes of heavenly Jerusalem & no man doubt but that as his will is more near to God's will. so he may get there what he will rather than other ¶ How saint johan baptiste and saint jerome appaired to saint austin in a vision  
NO man think that I am so hold to say that saint jerome is better than saint johan baptiste: for as our saviour beareth witness noon is more than he ne that jerome is in the bliss of heaven to fore peter and paul and other appostols that were specially chose & hallowed of christ himself yet though reason forbid to say that Jerome should have more glory in heaven than they I see no reason why it should not be leeful to say that jerome is in heaven blessed with them while he is not discording fro them in holiness And sith god is not acceptor of people but he discerneth the merits of each person he giveth to each as they deserve/ if it seem that jerome should have less joy than johan baptiste and other apostles: yet the merits of his holiness the griefs of his labours the books of his writing the translation of both laws/ The ordinance of divine service the frutis and profitis of goodness that he died not only to all that be now but also to them that be to comen seem to prove that jerome is even like to them in bliss/ But lest that I make a suaar of scorning to some that would dame that for carnal affection where through a man may lightly err from troth or for uncunning of myself: I likened glorious jerome to saint iohan baptist. or other apostles I clepe god to witness that I shall tell a thing that I learned never of man: but by the revelation of almighty god that hiheth and magnifieth his chosen. the fourth night after his passing when I thought desirously upon the praisings of most blessed jerome & began to writ a pistelle thereof unto the about midnight when the sleep came upon me there befille me a meruerueillous vision there come vn●to me a great multitude of angels and among them were twain men without comparison brighter than the son: so lyche that there seemed no difference safe the one bare three crowns of gold set full of precious stones on his heed. And the other but twain both they were clad with mantles most white and fair all wove with gold & precious stones They were so fair that no man may imagine it. They both come near unto me and stood still in silence when he that had iii crowns saide unto me these words Austyn thou thinkest what of troth thou shouldest say of Jerome. And after long thinking thou wist never Therefore we be come both unto the to tell the bliss/ soothly this my fellaw whom thou cheese/ is Jerome/ which is even to me In all wise in desire as he was even to me In leaving: that I may he may: that I will he will/ And as I see god so seeth he god/ knoweth god and understandeth god in whom is all blessidnesse of saynetes None saint hath more or lass bliss than other but in asmuch as oon hath more clear contemplation and sight than other of the fairness of god/ That crown that I bear more than he is the aurealle of martyrdom by which I ended my bodily life: For thaughe Jerome for the travails & disseses penances and afflictions words and repreves and other grievous things which he sufred joyfully for christ And so being a verray martyr hath not the reward of martyrdom: yet he ended not his life by the sword he hath not the aurealle that is given in token of martrydome: The other crowns that both he and I/ have are the aureall that are dew only to virgins and doctors by which they are know from other. Than Aunsuerd and said who art thou my lord/ he said I am johan baptist that am come down to teach the of the gloyre of Saint Jerome that thou tell it to other people for know thou that wourshipe that is to do to any saint. is do to all saints for there is none envy there as is in the world where each man seeketh rather to be above than to be under: Not so In heaven but there each soul is all glad of others joy and bliss as if he had it himself/ wherefore the joy of each is the joy of all/ And the joy of all is the Joy of each/ when thes things were said that blessed company went there ways/ And I awoke of that sweet sleep/ and felt in me so great fervour and brenning of love & and charity that I felt never so much tofore: And from thence forth was there none appetite in me of envy or of pride as was to fore/ God is my witness that there is so moche fervour of charity in me that I joy more of another's good than of mine/ i desire more to be under than a 'bove any/ I say not this for to get me vain praising/ But for no man should ween that these were vain dreams where by we are oft scorned/ but a true vision by which we are other while taught of god praise we therefore god and his saints/ praise we most holy jerome that died great things in his life/ and hath received great things in his death. ¶ Man owht not be slothful to peryse him whom god hath manyfyed Nor ween to man to do wrong to sayinct johan and to the apostles/ Evening Jerome unto them for they would gladly if they might give him of their glory. Therefore thou that worshipeste saint johan and the Apostles worship also saint Jerome/ For he is even unto them in all things sykyrly therefore with out dread knowledge we with devotion that Jerome is even unto johan: For if we say he is lass than johan/ we do derogation unto johan: ¶ This treatise of praising of jerome I said unto the father Cirylle praying that thou scorned not my little wit/ Sith that thou wilt read this praisings that I have said of charity/ if all tongues of all men should praise him they were not sufficient wurshipfulle father have mind on me sinner when thou standest on the place where the body of jerome lieth/ & commend me to him with thy prayers/ For no man doubt but what ever jerome desireth in heaven he may get it/ for he may in no wise be deffrawded of his desire farewell father and pray for me/  
¶ Here endeth the pistle of saint Austin unto cirille  
and here beginneth the pistle of the same cyrille bishop of jerusalem unto saint Austyn of the Miracles of saint Jerome And first how three deed men where areised & an heresy destroyed by saint Jerome/  
TO the worshipful man worthiest of bishops Austin bishop of upon Cirille bishop of jerusalem lowest of all priests Sendyth greeting  
¶ And to follow his steps whose holiness cessith not to shine In earth that is to say of glorious Jerome whose mind is had everlasting: And how worthy he is thou woste well thyself for th●w usedst right much his speaking and doctryn/ But I to speak of him sith I am in all wise wicked and unworthy I hold it to much boldness But yet for thy charity compelleth me to write to the some marvelous miracles that god list to do by him in our days to show him glorious to the world. And to all folk trusting in thy prayers I took it on hand & shortly I shall tell few of many/ And first I begin at one holy man Eusebye disciple of the same Jerome/ after the death of most gloyrious Jerome there rose an heresy Amongst the greeks which come to us that be of latin tongue which heresy laboured to prove by wicked reasons that all saved saul's should not come to the sight and knowliche of god in which is all bliss till that day of doom: when they shul be joined again to the body/ And also that dampened saul's should have no pain till that day/ their reason was this For like as the soul with the body had do well or evil▪ so with the body it should receive meed or pain They said also that there was no place of purgatory where souls that had not do full penance for their sins should be purged/ And when this wicked sect encresid we were sorry that us yrked to live any leuger than I gathered to guider all our bishops and & enioned them fastings & prayers that the power of god should not suffer his faith so to be troubled A marvelous thing and in haps not sayne to fore three days of fasting and prayers fulfilled glorious Jerome Appearing on the night following to his dear son Euseby to forseid in his prayers & with benign speech comforted him and said dread the not of this wicked sect for it shall soon have an end then euseby looked on him & he shone with so moche brightness that no man's eye might look upon him but weeping for joy euseby might unneath speak but as he might he cried And said thou art my father Jerome and oft rehearsing thes same words he said father why forsakest me why despised thou my company Certain I shall hold the And not leave the nor thou shalt not go without thy sone he said/ I shall not leave the be comforted for the xx day after thou shall follow me. And be with me in joy without end: But say to Cirille and to his brethren that they all And to all Clerks that be men of true crystyn faith and also all that be of the tother sect come the morrow together to the church of our lord where my body lieth/ And make thou the bodies of three men that are this nyht deed/ in the city to be brought unto the place where my body is huryed And thou shalt lay upon them that sack that I used to were and anon they shall arise And groundly destroy this beresye/ Than glorious Jerome bade him far well and appeared no longer on the morrow worshipful father Euseby came unto me that was than at bethlem and told me all that he had seen/ And I doing thank to god and to glorious jerome died bring the three deed bodies to us all gathered together in the place where our saviour was borne of the clean virgin marry where also lieth the body buried of glorious Jerome/ O marvelous mercy In how many worships can he enhance his saints/ In this time men of evil sect scorned men of right believe/ But beth glad all men of Right faith and praiseth god in voice of joying/ For ye have received mercy in mids of his temple/ The worshipfulle man Euseby come to the bodies of each one of these deed bodies of men and kneeling on his kneys and holding up his hands to heaven he prayed all men hearing/ And said God to whom no thing is Inpossible no thing grievous that dost great marvelous alone and dispisest none that hopeth in the Send to us virtue of thy grace and strength and here the prayers of thy true servants And that the faith that thou haste give mote a bde undefouled/ And that the error of the other may Appear by merits and prayers of the glorious loved Jerome bring again unto these bodies the souls that thou haste made go out thereof/ After this prayers he took the sack that Jerome used and touched the deed bodies there with/ And anon they opened her eyen and showing all tokens of life/ verily a roos and be gan with a clear voice to tell openly all the joys of holy souls/ And the pains of sinners in purgatory and in hell/ For as they told me afterward saint Jerome lad/ de them in to paradise purgatory and in to hell that they should tell all folk what was do there/ And after bad them go to there bodies again and do penance for the sins that they had do/ For the same day and our the wurshipfulle Euseby should die they should pass also/ and if they died well they should have joy with him: And so it fill as I shall tell afterward these things done: The great multitude of people both of true faith and this sect: saying openly there errors/ & the great marvels of Jerome gave great praising unto god that forsaketh not them that trust In him: Thus dear Austyn we be taught not to dread the pursewers of our faith/ And to know how ready our pitiful lord is to help all that call unto him in time of tribulation/ And how mighty glorious Jerome is to promote the prayers of them that in clean heart pray and trust unto him.  

¶ Of the marvelous death of the said Euseby and how saint Jerome Appeared unto him in the our of his Passing.  
When time come that eusebi knew that he should pass as he was informed by the said vision of saint jerome the iii day tofore he was mightily smite with a fever And than he made his bretheen lay him naked on the earth and lay upon him the sake that Glorious Jerome used to were than he kissed all his brethren and benignly comforting them/ he stured 'em to abide stavely In their holy living/ He ordained by example of glorious Jerome that he should be buried naked without the church in which the body of saint Jerome lieth/ After this he strengthened himself with the communion of the holy body of our lord Ihesu christ/ And commended him to god and saint Jerome And so he lay three days whithowt bodily sight or speech. His brethren standing a bout him continually saying and redying their sawter the passion of our lord and other holy things: But for sith it is hard and feerfulle to all that live in this world this that I shall tell/ The day that he should die two hours to fore the passing of the blessed soul/ worshipfulle euseby by gan to behave himself so fearfully that the monks that stood about him fell down to the earth for feet as men out of their mind/ For other wile he turned up his eyen and wrong his hands together/ And with a fearful face and an hard voice/ He sat up and cried I shall not I shall not thou liest thou liest ¶ After thus he fell dowun again to the earth and festening his face to the ground as much as he might he cried help me brethren that I perish not/ And they hyering this weeping and trembling for fear asked/ him father how is it with you he said see ye not the great multitude of fiends that would overcome me/ They asked him what would they that thou shouldest do: when thou saidest I shall not I shall not he answered they labour & travail me that I should blapheme the name of god/ And therefore I cry that I should not do it/ And they asked him why father hadst thou thy face down to the earth. He answered that I should not say here lokynges which be so fowl and so hory●ble that the pains of the world are right nought In regard thereof/ Among these words he began to do and cry again as he died to fore/ And so came to the last end of his life his bretheen that stood about him/ For fere and sorrow fell down as deed not witting what they might do: god that is glorious in his saints marvelous In majesty benign and merciful to them that dread him he forsaketh not his servants In time of need/ For when worshypfulle father Euseby came unto the last, end: Glorious Jerome appeared and benynely comforted him and when he came all that Innumerable company of fiends for fear of him vanished away as smoke as many of the monks bear witness/ that by dispensation of god saw it/ But all that stood about herd how Euseby said/ From whence comest thou father why hast thou tarried so long/ I pray the for sake not thy son And suddenly all they heard how jerome answered again/ Abide son be not a feared for I shall not for sake the whom I love so moche: then afterward a little while worshipful Euseby died/ And the same our died the three men that were arerid and as I hope went with Euseby unto everlasting Joy for all the: xx. days after they were arerid they give them to so moche penance that without doubt they where worthy to be rewarded with endlese bliss/   

¶ How the said three men after they were arreared told Cirille of thee/ viii/ pains of purgatory and of hell/  
I Trow it be not to keep silence of the things that I learned of the three men in the days that they lived after they were arerid for all the time I was continually with some of them from mydmorow till evensong time desiring to know the pryvetes of the life/ that we abide after this short and passing life But though I learned many things of them yte now by cause of shortness I may tell but afew/ On a time when it happened me go to one of them I fond him sore weeping And after I felt he would take no comfort by my words I asked him the cause of his weeping And when I had askid him often/ And he answered not at the last compelled be long instance/ He Answered and said if thou knew the things that I had by experience of the last day there shuolde none be but in cause of weepings than said I I pray the tell me what thou seyeste he was still a little while and than he said O what pain and torments are ordained not only to dampened souls but also to them that be in purgatory Than said I of thing that I know not/ I can give no certain sentence/ But I trow they be not like to the pains and deseses that we suffer here/ he answered if all the pains torments and afflytions that might be thought in this world were likened to the lest pain that is there all that seemeth there pain and torment should be but soulas and comfort for if any man a live knew the pains by experience he should rather cheese to be tormented unto the end of the world without remedy with all the pains together that all men suffered from Adam till now than be tormented a day in hell or in purgatoyre with the lest pain that is there And thetfore if thou ask me the cause of my great weeping it is for dread of pains that are rightfully give unto sinners for I know well that I have sinned against god And I doubt not but that he is ryghtwis And therefore marvel not though I sorrow/ But rather thou owest to be greatly marveled why men that wot well they shall die at the leeste by experience/ of other live here in great sikyrnesse and think not how escape so great pains/ At these words I was so touched with inward sorrow so that uneath I might speak and I said Alas what is this that I here: But I pray: the tell me what difference is there be twyxe the pains of hell and of purgatore he said there is no difference in greatness of pains but in o wise there may be difference for the pains of hell abideth no end but moaning at the day of doom when the bodies shallbe tormented with the souls and the pain of purgatoire hath an end: for after they have do her penance there/ they shallbe take unto endlenes joy I asked be they that are in purgatoure tormented all I lich or elliss diversly he said diversly some more grievously and some more eisely: After the quantity of the sins for in heaven all blessed souls be hold the face of god wherein is all bliss and though each of them have asmuch joy as they can will or think: yet they be not all eveyn in joy for some hath more and some hath lass after there deeds that they have dso/ And if thou marvel that there may be diverse joys in saints while the only cause of their joys is god himself in whom may be no diversity: The answer is this that the knowing of holding and understanding of god is all the reward & joy of saints & therefore though all souls in blyse & know god as he is yet some see & undèstand laces than other: & so have less joy & some so & undiystand him clearly than other and so have more Joy So it may be sa●de of the pains of dapned souls For though all dapned souls be in one place of pains ytt they are tormented with diverse pains after the quality of the sins for there is so much difference be twyx the pains of crsten men and hetheen men that the pains of heathen men in regard of the that false christian men suffer be as it were no pain And there be unspeakable & may not be thought of any that liveth in earth and so it is worthy/ For christian men receive the grace of god in vain and would not be amended of their sins while they livid holy scripture crying upon them cntynuall and they set not there buy/ I said it is right horyble that thou sayst/ And would god it were bysylly festned in the minds of all that be alive that they might sense from sin for dread of pain/ if they would not for love of joy   

¶ Of the dying of these three men▪ a reryd and how Saint Jerome comforted them in their passing/  
NOw I pray the tell me how it was with the the last day when thy soul passed from thy body/ he said when the our of my death came there came so great multitude of evil spirits & eendes in the place there I lay that for multitude they might not be numbered the likeness of them was such that theridamas may not thing by thought more painful nor more/ horrible for any man of live would Rather put himself to burn in hottest flames of fire than ye would see the forms of them in twynkeling of on eye. Thes fiends came unto me and brought unto my mind all the sins that ever I died sturing me to trust no longer in the mercy of god for I might not escape nor withstand them to assent unto them/ Glorious Jerome came with a/ great company of Angels about him seven times brighter than the son and confortid me: And when he saw the wicked spirits how hard they troubled me he was greatly sturid against them and said with a feerfule voice ye spirits of wickedness and of all cursidnesse. why come ye heder wots ye not well that he thus should be socored by my helps leaveth him anon. and with draw this wickedness from him as far as the Este is from the west/ and anon with thes words all that company of cursed spirits was afeard: And with great crienges and wailings they went out of the place there I lay ¶ And that glorious Jerome bade some of the angels that they should not go from me but abide till he come again. And with the other angels in haste he went his ways & when he was gone: the Angels that he left to keep me: Bigyne to comfort me & behoting me fair/ if I would suffer and abide with strong heart/ and these words of comfort an our passed/ And than came saint Jerome again/ And standing in the door he said come in haste/ Then suddenly my soul left the body so grievously And birterlly that no man's mind might undirstande what anguish and disseeses these were: But if he learned them by experience as I have: For if the undyrstanding of all men should receive all anguishes and sorrows that they could they shnlde count them at nought in regard of the departing of the soul from the body But while he told me this and many more things full hard and dredefulle to all men which I write not her for length. the day began to end and therefore he must nediss leave to tell the things that by fill him after his death which I desired most to here/   

¶ How the saul's of the iii men stood to fore the doom of god and how saint Jerome had them to see the joys of heaven the pain of purgatory & of hell and sith bade them go again to their bodies  
●He next day after I cleped the other twain with hrm to weet how they acordid that by witness of them all three I might be taught the more surely And when they began to tell me that/ that the other had cold me to fore I said though thes things be profitable/ yet it is not vein to speak them often yet leaving this that I have heard/ I pray you tell it forth what byfyl you after ye were departed from the body than said he that spacke on the day to fore/ what askest thou cyrille it is not possible to tell it fully for spiritual things may not be comprehendid in our wit thou knowest that thou hast asoule/ and yet what a 〈◊〉 is thou knowest not/ Also thou knowest that god is but what he is thou mayst not know in this life but by example So it is of Angels and of all unbodely things for which there is many things know in kind that for our little understanding we may not understand heavenly and spyrtuel things that been in all wise strange from/ the knowing of kind/ Than I saide it is as thou sayest But I pray the tell as thou mayst: than he said/ as these men that been higher with me shall here witness that had experience of the same things as well as I▪ so shall I tells as I may when my soul was dissolved from the body with so many anguishes and sorrow as I said to fore/ suddenly and unspekably in twynkeling of an eye it was boar to fore the presence of god deming/ But how or of whom it was boor I know not/ & it is no meyrueyle for now I am in the heavy body and thenne was the soul without body of flesh/ There to fore the judge god were the souls of rightwise men trembling with unthenkable fear what the judge should do: Alas why know not they that be deadly to whom shall befall as then befulle us certain/ were not the unknowing there of: They should not sin in all the time of our life/ that might be hid from the judge/ but all that ever we died was as clerli know to all that stood there as if they had be present/ In so much that the lest of all thoughts that ever we thought appeareth there as it was By think that with great fears we were smite with all at that time/ there stood many fiends bearing witness of all the evils that we had do declaring the time the place and the manner/ And we our. self might not say nay to that/ that was put upon us both for each of us knew well that it was true/ and also that the judge knew all things and was most rightful: Alas alas what shall I say what sentence abode we than/ for mind thereof I quake yet I am afeard Our wickedness cried after vengeance unto the judge And unneath appeared there any good whereby we might have hope of mercy/ & all that were there cried that we were worthy to be in torment & pain And when there failed no thing but only to give the sentence against us that is give against sinners Glorious Jerome that is brighter than all the stars with saint johan baptist And with peter prince of the apostles and with a great multitude of angels come unto the throne of the judge and prayed that our sentence might be tarytd a while/ And that we might be give to him for the reverence of devotion that we had to him & for need to destroy the said heresy And as he would so it was granted to him After this he with his blessed company led us with him and declared to us where all christian souls have everlasting joy that may not be spoke that we should bear witness the And then he had us to purgatory and to hell And not oonlie he showed us what was there/ But he would also we should assay the pains by experience/ And when all this was do that time that worshipful Euseby touched our bodies with Ieromes sack The same glorous serome bade us turn again to our bodies And that we should bear witness of all that we had seen and behoting us that if we died due penance for our sins we should on the/ xx/ day after have endless bliss with worshipful euseby that should depart from this world the same time and so were our souls joined again to our bodies/ O dear austin many things learned I of the three men which if they were Impressed to menis mind they should utterly leave a way from them the love of all etherly things and the great bisynes that is had there about/ that make many a man to err/ But for I bide thy coming to visit the relics of glorious jerome: as thy letters make mind/ I leave of now and will touch of the sepulture of worshipful euseby. And sith speak forth of the glorious miracles of saint Jerome:   

¶ Of twain miracles that euseby wrought Or his body were buried:  
When this holy man was deed a bout mydmorowe anon there showed many miracles to bear witness of the holiness of his life of which I will tell twain/ there was a monk of the same abbey that for waking & for weeping, had lost his sight & a none as he touched the worshipful body of euseby he had his sight ayen as he had to fore/ Another man there was that had a fend with in him and was out of his wit & come & met with us as we bear the body of holy eusebi & a none he was delivered & made hole. think we here meveyle how holy this man was in his life that might do so great miracles so hastily after his end: think we on his holiness with great dread for sith that he that was so holy had so perilous a trouble & temptation at his end how shall we sinful wretches escape that hour & we wot not how soon we shall come thereto▪ than we buried the body of eusebi with worship but naked as his master was by the church in the which jerome was buried & in the church yard of the same church the bodies were buried of the said three men that died the same hour  
¶ How an heretic called Sabynyan was mtruelously heeded & overcome by might of jerome  
Theridamas was an heretic called sabynyan that said there were two wills ni cryst some time varying In so moche that he said christ would many things that he might not do. and with this heresy he died us so much sorrow that I may not tell it with my words/ For he perverted the folk that Is committed unto us: As a ravishing wolf/ And for he should maintain his heresy the more effectually he made a tretyce thereof/ And said that glorious Jerome had made it to make us give faith there to. But I know well jerome made apistell against the same error a little afore he died And therefore I cleped the same heretic on a sunday with all his disciples in to the church of jerusalem to dispute and prove his error Theridamas was gathered also the same time all the bishops and many other true cirsten men And so our disputation from none endurid to even And when the said heretic alleged against us the said tretice that he fadred upon glorious Jerome Siluayn archbishop of nazareth might not suffer so moche wrong to be put on saint jerome for he loved & wourshiped saint Jerome with so moche affection and devotion of heart that at the beginning of any thing that he deed he asked help first of god and of glorious Jerome/ And therefore he was called jerome nigh of all folk: he a rose against the heretic and blamed him sharply for the wickedness that he died/ And when they had long strived and each of them said against other what they might at the last they accorded together thus/ That if saint Jerome showed by the second day at none that he had falsely made that tretyce the heretics heed should be smitten of And else should siluayns the Archebysshp of nazareth/ And thus each man went home and all that night we gave us to prayers asking help of god that faileth none that trusteth in him But he is great and right preysible & there is none number of his wisdom when the our came on the next day the heretic with his disciples came and went in to the church running about as a lion seeking to devour the servant of trist and all the people of true faith stood in the church cleping the name of saint Jerome But the glorious jerome fared as thaugh he had slept and took no head to thayre prayers/ And I all be wept stood estonyed and marveled why glorious Jerome abode so long/ and when there appeared no thing of miracle the heretic crwelly cried upon Sylvan to do that he had be hight the holy Sylvan came unto the place where he should by be heeded joing as though he had gone to ward a feast/ And all other bishops that stood there weeping he comforted and said joyeth with me my dear friends joieth and be not heavy for god leaveth not them that hope in him than he kneeled a down and said most holy Jerome help me if it please thee/ And though I be worthy moche more torment than this is/ yet least fallnesse have place/ do ye socours to truth/ And if it be not leeful that I be holp be merciful unto me at mine hour of my death that I be not departed from endless bliss/ And thenne he held forth his neck and bade the tourmentour smite & the left up his sword on high desiring to smite of the bishops head at one struck than suddenly all men seeing come glorious Jerome and put up his hand and held still the sword and bade Sylvan a rise/ and then he blasfemed the heretic/ Showing how he had untruly made that tretyce and understand that scripture and therefore he threatened him and vanished from the sight of all people/ And anon as Glorious Jerome was a go. the heretics head fill upon the ground smytte of from the body as though it had be smytte of with aswerd at a stroked/ And when they all saw this great marvel: suddenly they were astonied/ and thanked god/ and the disciples of the heretics turned to the way of trougth: Loo how the trust of this bishop Sylvan was effectuellie in god and glorious Jerome for he dread not to die for through giving example to all christian men for he is no cyrsten man that spareth to die for trougth Sith cryst gave his life for us to buy us from all thraldom we own not to be afeard to give our life for him when time is for no man may get the crown of bliss without he fight lawfully for it:   

¶ How the fend appeyed in likeness of the said archbishop Sylvan and disclaundered him meruylouly & how he was delivered by glorious saint Jerome  
FOr I have said somewhat of Syluayn I will say another thing of him als marvelous as the furst whereof be as many witness as there be folk dwelling in the city of Nazareth and of Bethenlem they saw it with thayre eyen/ The old serpent the fiend that for his pride was cast down in to hell having envy at this wourshypfull bishop Syluayn grievously he was stirred against him/ and guilefully he travailed to slander him: that as many as by ensample of his holiness had increased in the ways of holy conversation so by his fall that they be stirred to euelle/ On a night he took his likeness of the said holy man/ And appeared unto awurshypfulle and a great woman lying in her bed/ And busied him to come unto her unleefully/ asking the consent of hure body/ than the woman not knowing the man was afeard/ And seeing herself alone in hure chamber with a man wist not what to do/ But cried loud and often So that with her busy creing they awoke that were a sleep not only in the same house. But also her neighbours about her/ And all they come running to her chamber & asked her what her eyeld and she being sore afeard told them/ But in the mean time that guileful serpent hid him under her bed/ And they sought a bout long to wite what man it was/ and at the last they found him wiith many candles light that went verylly it had be Syluayn the Arshebysshop and then they stood astonied & in their manner out of there wits nor witting what to say nor do: saying both his holiness and that foul abominable deed/ At the last they asked him why he had do such wickedness And he answered what did I amiss though this woman cleped me to do this/ the woman hearing with weeping answered that he said untrue thenne he willing to stir men more a yenst the sèruant of god to make them slander him the rather/ He bygan to speak so foul and horrible word is of uncleanness/ That no man might suffer them for foulness: But with despite & great repreves they compelled him & made him go out of the house and on the morrow they told about what was do/ And cried that Sylvayn the archbishop was an Ipocryte/ And worthy to be brent In so much that all nazareth was stirred against him that they might not here his name but if they cursed him a meruylous patience of this man a token of great holiness when he herd all this slander & reproof he moved not once his mouth to speak any evil word nor his heart was nothing stirred to unpatience: but always he thanked god & said his sins had deserved it Alas Augustyn what shall I say not only I flee as much as I may wrong & repreves/ but often I am grieved with a few words I desire reward of heaven But I take no keep to travail therefore and yet I wot well there can no man come there/ But by the way of travails and of affliction & desseses/ And what shall I else dame while I find myself discording from holy men in my life and manners/ But I must be found discording from them in my death/ And in reward it is full grievous and heavy to me: to think on holy men's life: & on mine it is marvelous to here how men speak & read of holy men's deeds as I do/ and will nothing do as they deed/ This I say to show mine own folly I know well that I have often herd of th● same syluayns mouth that he thought himself never so well at ease/ as when he saw him despised and trod down of all folk/ But this slander of him grew so far that it went in to alyzaundre and Cypre and other lands and cities so much that there durst no man come within his door marvelous god sitting a 'bove and seeing all folk/ He suffered his servants to fall in tribulations and desseses for their better/ But he faileth not them when need is/ After a year was passed that the fend had used such malice a yen the servant of God the holy bishop the same bishop left all other things and went privily in to the church where the body of saint jerome was buried as to an haven of refuge/ And there at his tomb he set him to pray and after he. had bidden their two hours in his pariers there come a man in to the church full of the spirit of malice/ And finding the Holy man there praying he ran unto him as a dragon and reproved him saying that he laboured contynualy to stir womennes hearts to unleeful lusts/ But the Innocent lamb Siluayn joying of his of his own despite answered not. Than he with his right hand drow out his sword that he bore by his side and lift up it to have put it into Sylvans throat/ And when this worshipful bishop Sylvan put against him this word help Glorious Jerome this man turned his own throat and so slew himself/ After it happened that another wicked man came in to the church and weening the holy Bishop Syluayn had slain him: He took his sword to have slain the said Sylvan and shortly to tell he killed himself as the other had do tofore: And uneath was he fall to the ground or that other two camme in to the church and seeing thes men deed they weaned the holy man had do it and therefore one of them that more cruel began to cry and called him thief. and said how long shall thy malice eudure thou styrrest women unto thy fowl wills and thereto thou sleest men thus privily Certain this day shallbe an end of thy weekednesse/ And a none he ran with his naked sword to have slain him/ And when Sylvan said this word Help glorious Jerome/ this man slow himself as the other had do tofore with his own hand/ The other man that came with him seeing this was afeard and ran out of the door and cried out and said come heder all folk and seeth this wicked Sylvan that not only defoulleth women but also Sleeth men with his wytchetraft then all the people of men and women came running crying that Sylvayn the Arshebysshop was worthy to by brent/ And when this came to mine ears I went weeping thither full heavily/ and there I saw how a 'mong cruel wolves stood that meek lamb joyefulle and merry as he had be in great prosperity: No thing he said but I suffer this rightfully for I have sinned a 'gainst my god all they beat him and pulled him and led him unto torment/ And he was so much the more glad and the torment was more grievous/ but a none he was lad out of the church door suddenly glorious Jerome was say Rising up out of the place where he lay/ So bright that man's eyen might not well endure to look upon him/ And thus he appeared that all might see him and with his right hand took Sylvayn by the right hand/ And with aferefulle voice he bad them that held him leaveth of which voice and vision was of so great power that all that were there were afeard and all the strength of their bodies failing fill down to the earth as dead men In the mean time a woman bound hands and feet and full of the fend was brought unto the church for help by thands of many men/ And anon as the woman's foot touched the church door the fiend be gan to cry fearfully by her mouth and said/ Mercy Mercy ¶ Glorious Jerome said unto him/ Thou wicked spirit go out of this servant of god and tell the wickedness that thou hast do against syluayn showing thyself in likeness of Sylvayn to all folk/ when Glorious saint Jerome had bidden the fend appear In the likeness of Syluayn/ So that all men might know It it had be Sylvan the archbishop And there he told all that he had do to slcaunder the servant of god And loo with great crying the fend vanished a way And than glorious Jerome not leaving the right hand of the bishop said unto him with a soft voice what desirest thou of me my most dear Sylvan that I shall do more for thee/ He answered my lord my lord he said/ That thou leave me no more longer her/ Than said glorious Jerome that thou askest shallbe do/ And therefore come thou after me anon/ And this said anon he appeared no longer/ But after the space of a short hour/ Sylvan passed to christ▪ And thenne all the people was astonied and marveled/ After this the body of this worshipful Sylvan was boar in to the church of Nazareth with due worship with the multitude of people both of Nazareth and bedlam/ And there in the church of Nazareth we buried the body of silan as was seeming/ But many words might not express the wonders of this wourshipfull bishop for I have more to say of saint Jerome I leave of   

¶ How heathen men that can to visit, saint Jerome were marvelously delivered from thieves and from death  
There were two heathen men rich & good on their manner herring of the miracles of jerome come from alizander with much devotion to visit the reliqns of glorious Jerome and going in their way if happened them to err in their way in to agret would where they saw no steps of men nor of horses/ & therefore they cleped unto the name of glorious jerome/ & committed them to his keeping in the same wood dwelled a prince of thieves having under him more than/ v: hundred sending some oon way & some an other way to slay men and to bring there bodies to him of goods both This prince seeing thes two men he cleped iii thieves and bade them go slay them/ And when they had taken their armour & were nigh them where they saw tofore but two they see an Innumerable multitude and oon going to fore them so bright that none might look upon him Than the thieves were afeard and witted not what to do but turned again and when they were far from them they looked a gain and saw but two and than poursewed them again but assoon as they come near they saw as they did tofore then were they more atoned & in all haste went to their prince & told him & he called them, fools & cleped other xii thieves going himself with them and they all were afeard they saw but two & when they came near they saw as many as they died tofore than they were afeard & all their bodies trembled & all their strength of their bodies failed & when they came again to themself they thought to sew again after them pryvelly to see what should fall when even came these pilgrims wist not what to do ne where to be lodged & therefore they turned to the said xii thieves to ask counseell weening to them they be way faring men. as they were and than they turned to the thieves ward. They see but two and than they were bold to meet with them:: And after they met the thieves asked whence they were and whider they would they answered and said we be men of alyzaunder going to Bedlam to visit the holy relics of glorious Jerome The thieves asked what men were they that come with them/ the other meveylled & said we saw none sith we come to the wood save you & other three/ than the prince of the thues told them all: praying them to tell him what wa● the cause & they said they knew no cause: But if it were for they committed them to the keeping of glorious jerome/ than these thieves inspired suddenly with the holy ghost fill down at their feet asking them forgeffenesse and sith lad them unto their fellows atte the bigyning of the night they come to the other thieves abiding after them & told them as it had befall praying them to leave all their sins and go with them to visit the body of glorious Jerome/ The t'other thieves scorned them and said they would slay them if they spacke any more thereof and they not ceasing therefore many of the thieves a roos and drowe out their swords but they calling after help of saint Jerome they might neither left up their swords nor put them up/ till they whom they would have slain prayed to glorious Jerome for them/ O the unspeakable mercy of our saviour that in so many wise bringeth whom he will to knowledge of truth/ Anon all the company of thieves seeing this thanked god and glorious jerome and made avow to visit his relics/ Therefore when morrow came more than three ninety thieves that were there that time left the wood & went with the said men of Alyzander unto the tomb of glryous jerome telling these wonders there the heathen men were baptized and leaving all the vanities of the world & went in to a monastery: And the thieves also gave them to holy living by the grace of god and by the merits of Sanict Jerome:  
¶ How saint Jerome saved two young men from death that came from rome to visit him/ ●Han tweyn young men going from Rome to wards Bethlem to visit the relics of Jerusalem it happened they come by a village xii mile from constantyn noble & two mile from the vilaige or they come thereto two men were slain wherefore men of the town gathered together & began to seek a bout who it should be that/ died that/ & when they had all sought they found none but only the two men that came fast by whom they took weening they had slain the two men▪ whereof the young men were amerueyled & swore asmuch as they might that they knew not thereof: but they set not thereby but lad forth the young men to their village/ And they with rigour of girt torment they were compelled to knowledge them self guilty where they were not guilty/ And so they were damned to be heeded Alas what heart might contain him from weeping to here so many wailings of Innocentes which were arrayed both with youth & with faryenes & with noble byrghte for wepinges and waillynges & syhynges continually. They said Jerome is this reward that thou givest to them they serve thee: is it that we have deserved with travail of our way Alas thou city of Rome thou knowest of our birth we went not that thou should have been so unknowing of our end/ thus they were lad to the place where they should be beheaded moche people standing there and abiding/ And there they kneeled down and held up there hands & said with a loud voice glorious Jerome maker of our help and haven of our hope bow thine ears unto our prayers at this time so that if we died not this sin: for the which we be punished we may feel of thy wont pity the help of thy delyverrances and if we be guilty let us be dead as need asketh & when they had said thus they put there necks to the smiters saying no thing but help help glorious jerome what marvel then the help of glorious ieroeme might not absteigne him from showing of mercy to so many tears of them that come unto him while the hearts of all that stood about they of the self tormentors were moved unto compassion than they life up their swords and smote on there necks but their necks took the strokes as though It had be a stone and then they smete again & again but they felt them as they had be smytyn with a straw whereof there aroos great marvel to all that stood about: and great multitude came running to see at the last the judge that deemed come himself and bad them smite again that he might see/ And they smote but their necks would not be hurt thenne the judge marveled greatly and witted not what it might be/ But thought that they had used some whitchecrafte And therefore thenne he commanded in all haste that they should be made naked and brent/ thenne they made a great fiere a bout them and put therein pitch and oil the rather to destroy their lives: but he that delivered them from sword could also help 'em crying continually in the fire: the fire brent fast and the flames assendid up right high but the young men by the help of glorious Jerome rested as in a merry herber/ At last the judge would know whether it were by miracles or witchcraft he had they should be hanged viii days and if they lived so they should go whether they would: But the presence of glorious Jerome failed them not for merneylously he kept them the viii days holding their feet with his hands On the viii day all the people of the city and towns and the judge himself went unto the gallows and their openlis they see this Glorious miracle the keepers telling them what they had seen then all marveled and praised God and Saint Jerome & died great worship unto the young men/ And than moche people went from constantynnoble unto Bedlam to visit the relics of glorious Jerome/ And anon the young men casting from them all worldly business entered unto the monastery where glorious Jerome lived both night and day intending to prayer and penance and holy living   

¶ How a Monastery of nuns was destroyed for covetise and simony/  
THis Miracle of thes young men tofore is to us cause of great marvel joy and devotion But this that followeth giveth cause of great dread namely to religious people in a country called Thebayde was a monasteri of nuns right fair a bout two year a go/ wherein were about two hundred ladies honest in religion and manners & in continual reclution/ Now each one blessed thayre ears/ that the one let not go out all that the other taketh in/ for he that shall sail in dep see have he never so good a ship & hole it vaileth him not & if it have one hole in the bottom where water may come in & drown him/ why I say this the matter of the story shall show: for the said monasteri had many virtues and holiness of living but it kept one sin of simony that caused it to be destroyed for by instruction of the fiend. the nuns had this ambition that when any should be received A none a 'mongst them they took here not so much for charity & mercy as they died for money/ there might non entry to a bide in that monastery but if she brought a certain/ some of money with here/ In this monastery wa● a nun far in Age that had cast from her the love of all earthly thing & from her childhood ever intended to god in her prayers and fastings and greatly she hated & loathed this vice that was amongst them/ To her on a night being in prayers as she was wont Glorious Jerome appeared in great light And bad her go on the morrow and tell the abbess and the other nuns But if they would cease of the sin they should feel the sudden vengeance of god And when he was a go she marveled gretlis what he was that gave her that charge/ And all that night she abode waking/ On the morrow she rung the chapter bell. And when they were all gathered marveling why they called so hastily this holy lady a rose up a 'mongst them and told what she had seen and herd/ And anon all tother scorned her and called her fool. And how she might in haps be drunk over night and dream such things But she taking the repreffe defended her with the shield of patience And sorrowing of thayre obstinacy: But joying of their own despite went unto her wont prayers beseeching contnuelly that it be fill not here sisters as she had herd and/ x days after she abiding in this prayer on a night about mydnighte Jerome appeared unto her & bade her go without dread & tell her susteres as she had warned them tofore than the asked what art thou that biddest do thes things he said jerome & anon went fro her tight: But she knowing of their hardiness wist not what to do nor say yet at the last she thought she had liefer behold of them wood & drunk than do against the will of god: Therefore she did gather her sisters as she died to fore/ To have told them what she saw and heard/ But assoon as they saw her a rise or she began to speak they went out of the chapterhouse with mows and scorns/ The third night with a great multitude of Angels saint Jerome appeared unto this lady being a sleep/ And bade her a rise and go out of the Monastery that she were not smitten with sudden sentence that should come upon them/ but when she prayed with great weeping that they might be spared saint Jerome bade her go unto her abbess in haste and to here sisters and tell them that but if they died penance for their sin that same night they should feel the vengeance of god: and if they abode still obstinate then she to go and tarry no longer in that monastery/ Than this nun full of anguish and of heaviness went to the chapter and rung the bell hastily wherewith the abbess a work and when she wist who it was she was wroth and came to the chapter & blamed her greatly & would hear no word of her saing & but if she left such things she should no longer abide in the place with her/ that lady answered tari not to do that thou sayst for I will no longer abide in this place saint jerome hath appeared unto me & saith that this monastery shallbe symte anon with the wretch of god Than the abbess wenyng● she had said this of madness bade the kepar drive her out/ & when she had been out a while she took her in again hoping that thereby the would have ceased of such deeds: but this nun was glad to go and full of weeping for the mischief coming to the place O fearful god strong & mighty: And who shall withstand him: alas why dread we him not to provoke so much his wretch & may not flee his hands/ but his great doom must needs take them at lest wretches beth afeard by thes examples here they that trust in their rychisses that stir god unto wrath with dryness of their covetise what doom god sent from heaven upon this monastery turning a way their face from him for love of money/ uneath was the nun gone out at the door but suddenly all the monastery fill done to the ground slaying all the nuns so that there bode not one a live/ But this lady went unto a Monastery in A country fast by & there lived in great holiness: To this miracle I will join other showing the ferfulle doom of god that the hard hearts of syners might be turned to the fastness of penance/   

¶ How three heretics were marvelously punished for offence against Saint Jerome  
AN herytike of the greeks disputed openly on a sunday with a priest in the cite of Jerusalem and when the priest for his defence of his parti alleged an authority of Jerome to destroy the reasons of the greek the greek with a bold voice was not a shamed to say that Jerome light of all troth lied/ & for he dead such a wickedness with his speech he spoke never word after another herytike of the arraians when one had brought an authority of jerome against him in disputation & heretic had boldli said he lied anon he was smytte with the vengeance of god. for he had not fully ended the word but that all day he cried mercy glorious jerome for I am tormented of the with hard pains & when he had cried thus aldaie asmuch as he might at compline time all men seeing that were there wretchedly he died/ another heretic saw in the church of sion an image of saint jerome & said would god that I had: had the in hand while thou lyvedest that I might have slain the with my sword/ & than he pulled out his knife & smote it in the throat of the Image: and how great is this jerome doing thus many merueiles this heretic smote his knifft mightily in the images throat but he might not get out his knife from his throat nor his hand from the knife till it was know openlly/ but a noon there came blood following out at the wound as of a living man which cessekis not yet in showing of the miracle: the same time that this was do the judge of the country was in the church yard to whom glorious jerome appeared with a knife in his throat asking him to do vengeance for that ofence telling him how that it was/ The Juge was a stonyed & all that were there & going to the church they see the heretic stand with his knife in the throat of the Image/ And as soon as they saw it he might take a way his hand than they took him & for he abode obstinately in his will & evil saying that he sorrowed for no thing but that he had slain jerome in his life/ The multitude of the people with spears and swords stones and staves slew him/   

¶ How saint jerome delivered a man out of prison from one Land to another on a night  
IOhan mine neve whom thou knowest arrayed with all fairness whom I chose to me in stead of a son told the as I ween what befell him/ But yet that it may be the better had in mind I will write it the lame when was take two year a go of men of pierce and sold to the officers of the king of percy & for his fairness he was ordained to serve the king & when he had be a year with great sorrow & heaviness in the kings court/ the same day twelmouth serving the king at meet he might not for heaviness keep h●m fro wepig & when the king saw it & had besily asked & knew the cause he had certain knyghtis take & keep him in a castle in the night following he being there all bewept: in his sleep Jerome came unto him & as him thought took him by the hand & bade him come to the city of Jerusalem: on the morrow johan a work weening himself he had be amongs the knights/ He found himself in the house were I dwell/ And than he was nigh mad for marvel and could not wit weather he were in the castle or in my house: At the last he come to himself and cried And a work them that were a sleep/ Than they all came running to me and said johan was comen. yet I was doubtful till I came myself a saw him present which I went had be in bonds among the persiens/ than he told us how he was holp & than we praised god & glorious Jerome by whose merit's & prayers our lord deleyvere us from all evil & bring us to the city of all we'll to dwell with him in endlees bliss & joy AMEN   
¶ Here endeth the pistle of cirille to saint Augustyn of Saint Jerome   

¶ How our lady commendeth saint jerome in the revelations of brigitte  
When saint brigitte was in prayer she said on a time blessed be thou my god/ that art three & one three persons in oo nature thou art very goodness & very wisdom thou art very fairness & power thou art veri rightwiseness & troth by whom all things live: & have their being thou art like a flower growing singularly alloon in the field of which flower all that nigh thereto: receive sweetness in their tasting releving in their brain delectation in their sight & strength in all their membres so that all that nigh unto thee/ be made the fairer by leaving of sin. wiser following the will of the & nought of the flesh more ryghtwis following the profit of the soul & the worship of the therefore most pitiful god grant me to love that pleaseth the mightily to withstand temptacons & to despise all worldly things & to hold the besili in my mind the mother of Jesus answered this salutacon gate the jerome by his merit that went from false wisdom to true wisdom that despiseth earthly worship blessed is that Jerome & blessed are they that follow his teaching and living/ he was a lover of widows A mirror of all that be perfit in virtue A doctor A teacher of all troth and cleanness: Another time our lady said to saint Brigitte daughter have mind that I told thee/ How Jerome was a lover of widows a follower of perfit monks/ And an author and defensour of truth that gate the be his merits that prayer that thou saidst and now I add to and say that Jerome was a trump by the which the holy ghost spoke/ He was also a flame inflamed of that fire that come upon me and upon thapostles on pentecost day And therefore blessed are they that here this and follow after that AMEN/    


¶ Oracio ad sanctum jeronimum  

Antifona ¶ Iste est qui ante deum magnas virtutes operatus est et omnis terra dotrina eius repleta est ipse intercedat pro pecatis omni populorum   

versus Amavit eum dns et ornavit eum   

℟ Stola glory induit eum   

Oremus DEus qui nobis per beatum Ieronimum confessorem sacerdotenquam tuum scripture sancte veritatem et mistica sacramenta revelare dignatus es presta quesumus ut cuius natalicia colimus eius semper et erudiamur doctrinis et incritis adiwemur/ ꝑ xpm   
Explicit Vita beati Ieronimi confessorris   

¶ Alia Oracio:  

Antifona ave amator quam famose jeronime gloriose Magnus amator xpi: Doce nos bene vivere Deum vere diligere ut in libris scripsisti/ O amator castitatis. Tenens vitam puritatis Cordis per mundiciam fac nos corpus castigare ꝓ pecatis quam plorare divinam per gracian: Emuli te ianiabant Sed neququam superabant per inpaciēeiā Ob amorem thesu xpi Fac implere quod fecisti Nos per diligenciam/   

v Ora pro nobis gloriose ieronime   

℟ ut deum diligamus cord ore & opere   

DEus qui gloriosum confessorem tuum ieronimun multis di 〈…〉 rum nacionum linguis peritum. sacre bibli e tra●●tore magna ex part voluisti et ecclesie tue doctorem luminosum fecisti presta q̄s nobis xpianis et omnibus in mundo creaturis racionis capacibus ut eius doctrinam & exempia bone vite sequentes in te fideliter credamus mentis mundiciam teneamus te toto cord diligamus pro inimicis ex cord vero preces fundamus: et in hiis perseuerantes: te doctore: te duce/ ad te in celum perveniamus Per xpmm dominum nostroum amen.     


W C   printer's or publisher's device  
Printed by Caxton 〈…〉