¶ Here beginneth the life of saint Brandon  
 woodcut representation of Saint Brendon, in monk's robes, with a book and crook or crosier, in a compartment with the device of William Caxton's mark and initials at the bottom   

Saint Brandon the holy man was a monk and borne in yrlonde/ & there he was abbot of an house wherein were a thousand monks/ & there he had a full straight & holy life in great penance and abstinence and he governed his monks full virtuously/ & than within short time after there came unto him an holy abbot the height Beryne to visit him & each was joyful of other & than saint brandon began to tell the abbot beryn of many wonders that he had seen in divers lands & when Beryn herd that of saint Brandon he began to sigh & sore wept/ & saint Brandon comforted him the best wise he could saying/ ye come hither for to be joyful with me/ & therefore for gods love leave your mourning & tell me what marvels ye have seen in the great see ocean that compasseth all the world about/ & all other waters come out of him/ which cometh in all the parties of the earth/ & than Beryn began to tell saint Brandon & his monks the marvels that he had seen full sore weeping/ & said I have a son his name is Meruoke/ & he was a monk of great fame/ which had great desire to seek about by ship in divers countries to find a solitary place/ wherein he might dwell secretly out of the business of this world for to serve god quietly with more devotion/ & I counseled him to sail in to an island far in the see beside the mountain of stones which is full well known. And than he made him ready & sailed thither with his monks/ & when he came thither he liked the place full well where he & his monks served our lord full devoutly. And than Berynsawe in a vision that this monk Meruoke was sailed right far eastward in the see more than three days sailing & suddenly to his seeming there came a dark cloud & covered them that a great part of that day they saw no light/ & as our lord would the 〈…〉 away & they saw a full fair island/ & thither 〈◊〉 they drew/ in that island was joy & mirth enough & the earth of the island shined as bright as the son/ & there were the fairest trees & herbs that ever any man saw/ & there were many precious stones shining bright & every herb there was full of figures/ & every tree full of fruit so that it was a glorious sight & an heavenly joy tabyde there/ & than there came to them a fair young man & full courteously he welcomed them all & called every monk by his name & said that they were much bound to praise the name of our lord Ihu that would of his grace show to them the glorious place where is ever day & never night & this place is called paradise terrestre but by this island is an other island wherein no man may come/ & this young man said to them ye have been here half a year without meet drink or sleep/ & they supposed that they had not been there the space of half an hour/ so merry & joyful they were there & the young man told them that this is the place that Adam & Eve dwelt in first/ ever should have dwelled there if that they had not broke that commandment of god & than the young man brought them to their ship again & said they might no longer abide there/ and when they were all shipped suddenly this young man vanished away out of their sight/ & than within short time after by the purveyance of our lord Jesu they came to the abbey where saint Brandon dwelled/ & than he with his brethren recyeved them goodly & demanded them where they had been so long/ & they said we have been in the land of behest afore the gates of paradise where as is ever day & never night & they said all that the place is full delectable/ for yet all their clothes smelled of the sweet & joyful place. And than saint Brandon purposed soon after for to seek 〈◊〉 ●e by gods help/ & anon began to purvey for a good ship & a strong & victualed it for seven year/ and than he took his leave of all his brethren & took xii monks with him/ but or they entered in to the ship they fasted forty days & lived devoutly and each of them received the sacrament/ and when saint Brandon with his xii monks were entered in to the ship there came other two of his monks and prayed him that they might sail with him. And than he said ye may sail with me but one of you shall go to hell or ye come again/ but not for that they would go with him. And than saint Brandon bade the shipmen to wind up the sail & forth they sailed in god's name so that on the morrow they were out of sight of any land and forty days & forty nights after they sailed plain east. And than they saw an island far fro them. and they sailed theyderwarde as fast as they could & they saw a great rock of stone appear above all the water and three days they sailed about it or they could get in to the place. But at the last by the purueeaunce of god they found a little haven & there went a land every th'one and than suddenly there came a fair hound & fell down at the feet of saint Brandon & made him good there in his manner/ and than he bad his brethren be of good there/ for our lord hath sent to us his messenger to lead us in some good place/ & the hound brought them in to a fair hall where they found the tabbles spread ready set full of good meet and drink. And than saint Brandon said graces/ & than he and his brethren sat down and eat and drank of such as they found And there were beds ready for them wherein they took their rest after their long labour. And on the morn they returned again to their ship & sailed a long time in the see after or they could find any land till at the last by the purveyance of god they saw far fro them a full fair island full of green pasture wherein were the whitest & greatest sheep that ever they saw. For every sheep was as great as an ox & soon after came to them a goodly old man/ which welcomed them & made to them good cheer/ & said this is that island of sheep & here is never cold weather but ever summer & that causeth the sheep to be so great & white they eat of the best grass & herbs that is any where & than this old man took his leave of them and bad them sail forth right east and within short time by god's grace that they should come in to a place like paradise/ wherein they should keep their easter tide & than they sailed forth & came soon after to that land but because of little depth in some place & in some place were great rocks but at the last they went upon an island weening to them they had been saufte & made thereon a fire for to dress their dinner but saint Brandon abode still in the ship & when that fire was right hot & the meet nigh sudden than this island began to move/ werof the monks were afeard/ & fled anon to ship & left the fire & meet behind them & marveled sore of the moving/ & saint Brandon comforted them and said that it was a great fish named jasconie which laboured night & day to put his tail in his mouth but for greatness he may not. And than anon they sailed west three days & three nights or they saw any land/ wherefore they were ryghe heavy/ but soon after as god would they saw a fair island full of flowers herbs & trees/ werof they thanked god of his good grace/ & anon they went on land/ & when they had gone long in this they found a full fair well and thereby stood a fair tree full of bows/ & on every bough sat a fair bird/ & they sat so thick on the tree that uneath any lief of the tree might be seen the number of them was so great & they sang so merrily that it was an heavenly noise to here/ wherefore saint Brandon kneeled down on his knees & wept for joy/ & made his prayers devoutly to our lord god to know what these birds mente. And than anon one of the birds fled fro the tree to saint Brandon & he with flekering of his wings made a full merry noise like a fydle that him seemed he heard never so joyful a melody/ & than saint Brandon commanded the bird to tell him the cause why they sat so thick on the tree & sang so merely/ & than the bird said. Sometime we were angels in heaven/ but when our master lucifer fell down in to hell for his high pride/ & we fell with him for our offences/ some hyger/ & some lower after the quality of the trespass & because our trespass is but little therefore our lord hath set us here out of all pain in full great joy & mirth after his pleasing here to serve him on this tree in the best manner we can/ the sunday is a day of rest fro all worldly occupation/ & therefore that day all we be made as white as any snow for to praise our lord in the best wise we may/ & than this bird said to saint Brandon that it is xii months passed that ye departed fro your abbey & in the vii year here after ye shall see the place that ye desire to come to/ & all this vii year ye shall keep your ester here with us every year/ & in the end of the vii year ye shall come in to the land of behest/ & this was on ester day that the bird said these words to saint Brandon/ & than this bird flew again to his fellows the sit on the tree/ & than all the birds began to sing evensong so merrily that it was an heavenly noise to here/ & after supper saint Brandon & his fellows went to bed & slept well/ & on the morn they arose by times/ & thenne those birds began matins prime & hours & all such service as christian men use to sing/ and saint Brandon with his fellows abode there viii weeks till trinity sunday was passed/ & they sailed again to the island of sheep/ & there they victualed them well/ & sith took their leave of that old man & returned again to ship/ & than the bird of the tree came again to saint Brandon/ & said I am come to tell you that ye shall sail fro hens in to an island wherein is an abbey of xxiiii monks which is fro this place many a mile/ & there ye shall hold your christmas & your ester with us like as I told you/ & than this bird flew to his fellows again. And than saint Brandon & his fellows sailed forth in the ocean/ & soon after fell a great tempest on them/ in which they were greatly troubled long time & sore for laboured/ & after that they found by the purveyance of god an island which was far fro them/ & than full meekly prayed to our lord to send them thither in safety but it was xl days after or they came thither/ wherefore all the monks were so weary of that trouble that they set little price by their lives/ & cried continually to our lord to have mercy on them & bring them to the land in safety/ & by purveyance of god they came at the last in to a little haven/ but it was so straight that uneath the ship might come in/ & after they came to an anchor/ & anon the monks went to land/ & when they had long walked about at the last they found two fair wells/ that one was fair clear water/ & that other was some what troubly & thick. And than they thanked our lord full humbly that had brought them thither in safety & they would fain have drunken of the water/ but saint Brandon charged them they should not take without licence For if we abstain us a while our lord will purvey for us in the best wise. And anon after came to them a fair old man with hoar here & welcomed them full meekly & kissed saint Brandon & led them by many fair wells till they came to a fair abbey/ where they were received with great honour & solemn procession with xxiiij monks all in rial copes of cloth of gold and a rial cross was before them. And than the abbot welcomed saint Brandon & his fellowship and kissed them full meekly/ & took saint Brandon by the hand & led him with his monks in to a fair hall/ and set them down a row upon the bench/ and the abbot of the place wish all their feet with fair water of the well that they saw before/ & after lad them in to the fratour and there set them among his covent & anon there came one by the purveyance of god/ which served them well of meet and drink/ for every monk had set before him a fair white loaf and white roots and herbs which were right delicious/ but they wist not what roots they were/ & they drank of the water of the fair clear well that they saw before when they came first to land which saint Brandon forbade them. And the abbot came and cheered saint Brandon & his monks and prayed them eat and drink for charity/ for every day our lord sendeth a goodly old man that covereth this table and setteth our meet and drink tofore us/ but we know not how it cometh/ new ordain never no meet ne drink for us/ and yet we have been lxxx year here/ & ever our lord worshipped be he feedeth us/ we be xxiiij monks in number & every feryall day of the week he sendeth to us xii loves & every sunday & feestfull day xxxiiii loves/ & the breed that we leave at dinner we eat at supper/ & now at your coming our lord hath sent to us xlviij loves for to make you & us merry together as brethren/ & all way twelve of us go to dyner whiles other xii keep the choir/ and thus have we done this lxxx year/ for so long have we dwelled here in this abbey And we came hither out of th'abbey of saint patrick's in yrlonde. And thus as ye see our lord hath purveyed for us/ but none of us knoweth how it cometh but god alone to whom be given honour & laud world without end. And here in this land is ever fair weather/ and none of us hath been seek sith we came hither/ & when we go to mass or to any other service of our lord in the church/ anon seventapers of wax been set in the quere & been light at every time without man's hand/ & so bren day & night at every hour of service and never waste ne minish as long as we have been here which is lxxx year. And than saint Brandon went to the church with the abbot of the place and there they said evensong together full devoutly. And than saint Brandon looked upward toward the crucifix/ & saw our lord hanging on the cross/ which was made of fine crystal & curiously wrought. And in the quere were xxiiii seetes for xxiiii. monks & the seven tapers brenning/ and the abbots see't was made in the mids of the quere. And than saint Brandon demanded of the abbot how long they had kept that silence that none of them spoke to other. And he said this xxiiii year we spoke never one to another/ & than saint Brandon wept for joy of their holy conversation. And than saint Brandon desired of the abbot that he & his monks might dwell there still with him. To whom the abbot said. Sir that may ye not do in no wise for our lord showed to you in what manner that ye shall beguyded till the seven year be fulfilled & after that term thou shalt with thy monks return in to yrlonde in safety/ but one of the two monks that came last shall dwell in the island of anchors/ & that other shall go quick to hell. And as saint Brandon kneeled in the church he saw a bright shining angel/ came in at the window and lighted all the lights in the church. And than he flew out again at the window to heaven/ & than saint Brandon marveled greatly how the light burned so fair & wasted not. And than the abbot said that it is written that Moses saw abusshe all on fire/ & yet it died not burn/ & therefore marvel not thereof/ for that might of our lord is now as great as ever it was. And when saint Brandon had dwelled there fro crystmasse even till the twelfth day was passed. Than he took his leave of the abbot & the covent & returned with his monks to his ship and sailed fro thence with his monks toward the abbey of saint Helarye. But they had great tempests in the see fro that time till palm sunday. And than they came to the island of sheep & there were received of the old man which brought them to a fair hall & served them. And on she erthursdaye after supper he washed their feet & kissed them like as our lord did to his disciples. And there abode till saterdaye easter even. And than they departed & sailed to the place where the great fish lay/ and anon they saw their cauldron upon the fishes back/ which they had left there twelve months tofore/ and there they kept the service of the resurrection on the fishes back and after they sailed that same day by the morning to the island where as the tree of birds was. And than the said bird welcomed saint Brandon and all his fellowship/ and went again to the tree and sang full merrily/ & there he and his monks dwelled fro easter till trinity sunday as they died the year before/ in full great joy & mirth And daily they heard the merry service of the birds sitting on the tree. And than the bird told unto saint Brandon that he should return again at crystmasse to the abbey of monks/ & at ester thither again/ and the other deal of the year labour in the ocean in full great perils/ and fro year to year till the seven year be accomplished. And than shall ye come unto the joyful place of paradise and dwell there xl days in full great joy and mirth/ and after ye shall return home in to your own abbey in safe and there end your life and come to the bliss of heaven/ to which our lord bought you with his precious blood. ¶ And than the angel of our lord ordained all thing that was needful to saint Brandon and to his monks in victuals and all other things necessary to them. ¶ And than they thanked our lord of his great goodness he had showed to them oft in their great need and sailed forth to the great see ocean abiding the mercy of our lord in great trouble and tempests and soon after came to them an horrible fish which followed the ship long time casting so moche water out of his mouth in to the ship that they supposed to have be drowned/ wherefore they devoutly prayed god to deliver them of that great peril And anon after came an other fish gretre than he out of the west see and fought with him/ & at the last clave him in three pieces & than returned again And than they thanked meekly our lord of their deliverance fro this great peril/ but they were in great heaviness because their victuals were nigh spent/ but by the ordinance of our lord there came a bird and brought to them a great branch of a vine full of red grapes/ by which they lived xiii days/ & than they came too a little island/ wherein were many wines full of grapes/ & they there landed & thanked god/ & gathered as many grapes as they lived by xl days after alway sailing in the see in moche storm & tempest/ & as they thus sailed suddenly came fleeing toward them a great gripe which assailed them & was like to have destroyed them wherefore they devoutly prayed for help & aid of our lord Jesu christ. And than the bird of the tree of the island where they had holden their Easter tofore. Came to the gripe & smote out both his eyen/ & after slew him/ wherefore they thanked our lord. And than sailed forth continually till saint Peter's day. And than sungen they solemnly their service in the honour of the feast. And in that place the water was so clear that they might see all the fishes that were about them whereof they were full sore aghast/ and the monks counseled saint Brandon to sing no more. For all the fishes lay than as they had slebe. And than saint Brandon said dread ye not for ye have kept by two eesters the feast of the resurrection upon the gretefysshes back/ and therefore dread ye not of these little fishes. And thenne saint Brandon made him ready & went to mass & bad his monks to sing the best wise they could/ and than anon all the fishes a work and came about the ship so thick that uneath they might see the water for the fishes/ & when the mass was done all the fishes departed so as they were no more seen. And seven days they sailed all way in that clear water. And than there came a south wind & drove the ship northward where as they saw an island full dark and full of stench & smoke/ & there they heard great blowing and blasting of bellows/ but they might see nothing but heard great thonderinge whereof they were sore afeard and blessed them oft/ & soon after there came one sterting out all brening in fire and stared full ghastly on them with great staring eyen/ of whom the monks were aghast/ & at his departing fro them he made the horyblest cry that might be herd/ & soon there came a great number of fiends & assailed them with hokes & brenning iron malles/ which ran on the water following their ship fast in such wise that it seemed all the see to be on a fire/ but by the pleasure of our lord they had no power to hurt ne grieve them ne their ship wherefore the fiends began to roar and cry and threw hokes and malles at them/ and they than were sore afeard & prayed to god for comfort & help for they saw the fiends all about the ship & them seemed than all the island & the see to be on a fire/ & with a sorrowful cry all though fiends departed fro them/ & returned to the place that they came fro. And than saint Brandon told to them that this was a part of hell/ & therefore he charged them to be steadfast in the faith For they should yet see many a dreadful place or they came home again/ & than came the south wind & drove them ferther in to the north where they saw an hill all of fire/ & a foul smoke & stench coming fro thence/ & the fire stood on each side of the hill like a wall all brenning and than one of his monks began to cry & weep full sore & said that his end was comen & that he might abide no longer in the ship/ and anon he leapt out of the ship into the see & than he cried and roared full piteously cursing the time that he was borne & also father & mother that begat him because they saw no better to his correction in his young age. For now I must go to perpetual pain. And than the saying of saint Brandon was verified that he said to him when he entered/ therefore it is good a man to do penance & forsake sin for the hour of death is incertain And than anon the wind turned in to the north & drove the ship in to the south which sailed seven days continually. And than they came to great a rock standing in the see/ & thereon sat a naked man in full great misery and pain. For the waves of the see had so beaten his body that all the flesh was gone of/ and no thing left but sinews & bare bones. And when the waves were gone/ there was a canvas that hang over his heed which bet his body full sore with the blowing of the wind. And also there were two ox tongues/ and a great stone that he sat upon the which did to him full great ease And than saint Brandon charged him for to tell him what he was. And he said my name is judas that sollde our lord Jesu christ for xxx pens which sitteth here so wretchedly/ how be it I am worthy to be in the greatest pain that is. But our lord is so merciful that he hath rewarded me better than I have deserved For of right my place is in the brenning fire of hell. But I am here but certain times of the year that is fro crystmasse to twelfth day and fro easter to whitsun tide be paste and every feestfull day of our lady & every saturday at none till sunday that evensong be done but all other times I lie still in hell in full brenning fire with Pilate/ Herode & Cayphas therefore accursed be the time that ever I knew them And than judas prayed saint Brandon for to abide still there all that night/ and that he would keep him still that the fiends should not fetch him to hell. And than he said to him with god's grace/ thou shalt abide here all this night And than he asked. judas what cloth that was that hinge over his heed & he said it was a cloth that he gave unto a lepre/ which was bought with the money that he stolen fro our lord when I bore his purse/ wherefore it doth to me full great pain now in beating my face with the blowing of the wind. And these two ox tongues that hang here above me I gave them sometime to two priests to pray for me/ them I bought with mine own money/ & therefore they ease me because the fishes of the see gnaw on them & spare me And this stone that I sit on lay sometime in a desolate place/ where it eased no man/ and I took it thence and laid it in a foul way where it did moche ease unto them that went by that way. And therefore it easeth me now/ for every good deed shall be rewarded & every evil deed shallbe punished. And on the sunday against even there came a great multitude of fiends blasting and roaring/ & they bad saint Brandon go thence that they might have their servant judas/ for we dare not come in the presence of our master but if we bring him to hell with us. And than said saint Brandon I let not you to do your masters commandment but by the power of our lord Jesu I charge you to leave him this night till to morrow. How darest thou help him that sold his master for xxx pens unto the Jews/ and caused him also to die the most shameful death upon the cross. And than saint Brandon charged the sends by his passion that they should not noye him that night. And than the fiends went their way roaring and crying towards hell to their master the great devil/ & than judas thanked saint Brandon so ruefully that it was pity to see and on the morn the fiends came with an horrible noise saying that they had that night suffered great pain by cause they brought not judas and said that he should suffer double pain the vi day following & they took than judas trembling for fere with them to pain. And after saint Brandon sailed south ward three days & three nights & on the friday they saw an island. And than saint Brandon began to sing & said I see the ylonde wherein saint Poule the hermit dwelleth & hath dwelled there xl year without meet & drink ordained by man's hand/ & they came to the land saint Poule came & welcomed them humbly he was old & forgrown so that no man might see his body Of whom saint Brandon said weening/ now I see a man that liveth more like an angel than a man/ wherefore we wretches may be ashamed that we live no better. Than saint Poule said to saint Brandon/ thou art better than I for our lord hath showed to the more previtees than he hath done to me/ wherefore thou oughtest to be more praised than I To whom said Brandon saint/ we be monks & must labour for our meet. But god hath provided for the such meet as thou holdest the pleased/ wherefore thou art much better than I. To whom saint paul said sometime I was a monk of saint Gatrikes abbey in yrlonde & was warden of the place where as men enter in to saint patrick's purgatory. And on a day there came one to me & I asked him what he was. And he said I am your abbot patrick & charge the that thou depart fro hens to morn early to the see side & there thou shalt find a ship in to which thou must enter/ which god hath ordained for that whose will thou must accomplish/ & so the next day I arose & went forth & sound the ship in which he entered/ & by the purveyance of god I was brought in to this island the seventh day after. And than I left the ship & went to land and there I walked up & down a good while. And than by the purveyance of god there came an otter going on his hinder feet & brought me a flint stone & an iron to smite fire within his two sore claws of his feet/ & also he had about his neck great plenty of fishes which he cast down before me & went his way and I smote fire & made a fire of sticks & died seethe the fish by which I lived three days. And than the otter came again & brought me fish for other three days & thus he hath done this li year thorough the grace of god/ and there was a great stone out of the which our lord made to spring fair water clear & sweet/ whereof I drink daily & thus have I lived one & thirty year & I was forty year old when I came hither & am now an hundred and xi year old & abide till it please our lord to send for me and if it please him I would fain by discharged of this wretched life/ and than he bad saint Brandon to take of the water of the well & to carry in to his ship/ for it is time that thou depart for thou hast a great journey to do for thou shalt sail to an island which is forty days sailing hens/ where thou shalt hold thy cester like as thou hast done tofore where as the tree of birds is & fro thence thou shalt sail in to the land of behest & shalt abide there forty days. And after return home in to thy country in safety. And than these holy men took leave each of other & they wept both full sore & kissed each other. And than saint Brandon entered in to his ship & sailed even xl days south in full great tempest. And upon easter even came to their procurator which made to them good cheer as he had before time & from thence they came to the great fish where they said matins & mass on ester day/ & when the mass was done the fish began to move & swam forth fast in to see whereof the monks were sore aghast which stood upon him/ for it was a great marvel to see such a fish as great as all a country for to swim so fast in the water/ But by the will of our lord this fish set all the monks a land in the paradise of birds all hole & sound. And than returned to the place he came fro. And than saint Brandon & his monks thanked our lord of their deliverance of the great fish & kept their eestertyde till trinity sondaye like as they had done tofore time & after this they took their ship and sailed east xl days/ & at the forty days end it began for to hail right fast. And therewith came a dark mist the which lasted long after which feared saint Brandon & all his monks & prayed unto our lord for to help them. ¶ And than anon came their procurator & bad them to be of good cheer for they were comen in to the land of byheest. And soon after that mist passed away/ and anon they saw the fairest country westward that any man might see & was so clear and bright that it was an heavenly sight to behold. And all the trees were charged with ripe fruit & herbs full of flowers. In which land they walked forty days but they could not see none end of that land and there was all way day & never night/ & the land was attemperate/ ne to hot ne to cold. And at the last they came to a fair river/ but they durst not go over. And there came to them a fair young man & welcomed them courteously & called each of them by his name & died great reverence to saint Brandon and said to them be ye now joyful/ for this is the land that ye have sought. But our lord will that ye depart hastily & he will show to you more of his secrets when ye come again in to the see/ & our lord will that ye lad your ship with the fruit of this land and high you hens. For ye may no longer abide here/ but thou shalt sail again in to thine own country. And soon after that thou comest home thou shalt die. And this water that thou seest here departeth the world asunder. For on that other side of this water may no man come that is in this life And the fruit that ye see here is alway thus ripe every time of the year/ & alway it is here light as ye now see & he that keepeth our lords hests & commandments at all times shall see this land or he do pass out of this world. And than saint Brandon and his monks took of that fruit as much as they would and also they took with them great plenty of precious stones. And than they took their leave & went to ship weeping sore because they might no longer abide there. And than they took their ship & came home in to yrlonde in safety/ whom thyr brethren received with right great joy gyvenge thankings unto our lord, which had kept them all that seven year fro many a peril and brought them home in safety. To whom begive honour and glory world without end. Amen. ¶ And so soon after this holy man saint Brandon waxed feeble & seek/ & had but little joy of this world but ever after that his joy & mind was in the joys of heaven. And within short time after he being full of virtues departed out of this world unto everlasting life in heaven and was worshipfully buried in a fair abbey/ the which he himself founded where our lord showeth for this holy saint many fair miracles wherefore let us devoutly pray to this holy saint that he pray for us to our lord that he have mercy on us to whom be given land honour and empire world, withouten end. Amen.   

¶ Thus endeth the life of saint Brandon. imprinted at London in the Fleetstreet at the sing of the son. By winkin de word.  
 tripartite printer's device of Wynken de Worde, featuring William Caxton's mark and initials in central position; the sun, two blazing stars, and twenty small ones at top, the name Wynken de Worde a dog, a centaur and a centaur drawing a bow or Sagittarius at bottom (McKerrow 20) 
Wynken de word.