¶ Here beginneth the holy life and history of saint werburge/ very fruitful for all christen people to rede.  
  

¶ The prologue of. I.T. in the honour& laud of saint Werburge/ and to the praise of the translator of the legend following.  

H onour/ joy/ and glory/ the toynes organical  
E ndeles mirths with melodies/ praise ye all the princes  
N ourisshed in virtue/ intact/ as pure as crystal  
R elefe to all synners/ o Werburge lady maistres  
I n grace thou passed/ all other and in goodness  
when thou was present in this mundayne life  
None was the like/ widow/ maid/ ne wife   

B y divine grace/ to us a rich present  
R eioyce we may/ in Werburge one and all  
A gem of virtue/ a virgin resplendent  
D ilect of our lord( in joy and blis eternal  
S urely she is set) to intercede and call  
H er mouth not cessyng/ for them to call and cry  
A nd in her trust/ of sin to haue mercy   

O good lady maistres/ decline thy sight a far  
And graciously behold/ thy servant chast and pure  
Henry Bradsha/ sometime monk in Chester  
which only for thy love/ took the pain and labour  
Thy legend to translate/ he did his busy cure  
Out of latin/ in english rude and and vile  
which he hath amended/ with many an ornate style   

Alas of chester/ ye monks haue lost a treasure  
Henry Bradsha/ the styrpe of eloquence  
chester thou may wail/ the death of this floure  
So may the citizens/ alas for his absence  
So may many other/ for lack of his sentence  
O sweet lady Werburge/ an holy abbess glorious  
remember Henry Bradsha/ thy servant most gracio{us}   

In him remained no 'vice ne presumpcion  
envy and wrath/ from him were exiled  
sloth ne Venus in him had no dominion  
avarice and gluttony/ he utterly expelled  
No 'vice in him reigned/ his fellows he excelled  
As clene as crystal/ he bare these virtues three  
chastity/ obidience/ and wilful poverty   

O cruel death/ which art the perfit end  
Of this noble clerk/ and every mortal thing  
against the/ no man may him defend  
Thou causest wo/ languor/ and anguissyng  
And who on this/ wolde haue remembering  
Howe from earth/ to earth he must again  
He wolde despise all things that be mundayne. Vale.    

The table of this book.  

FIrst the prologue of the translator of this litest treatise. Cap. i.  
¶ A description of the realm of merciens of the bounds and commodities of the same. Cap. ii.  
¶ A description of the geanologie of saint Werburge and howe she descended of .iiii. kings of this land and of the rial blodde of france. Cap. iii.  
¶ A plain description of the act{is} and chivalry of king Penda grauntfather to saint Werburge/ and of his noble and virtuous progeny. Ca. iiii.  
¶ Howe after the death of king Penda/ and of his prince Penda his second son Wulfer father of saint Werburge was elect to be king of merciens Cap. v.  
¶ A little descripcyon of the noble marriage between king Wulfer and saint Ermenild the kyng{is} daughter of Kent/ and of the solemnity done at the same season The sixth chapitre.  
¶ Abreue declaration of the holy life and conversation of saint Werburge/ used in her tender youth/ above the common course of nature. Cap. vii.  
¶ Howe this young virgin saint Werburge was desired of dukes and erles in marriage/ and of the reasonable answer she gave to them in avoiding such worldly pleasures. Cap. viii.  
¶ Howe the false Werebode desired king Wulfer to haue his daughter Werburge in marriage/ and howe he granted thereunto. Cap. ix.  
¶ Howe the queen saint Ermenild wolde not consent ther to/& how her brethren saint Wulfade/ and ruffian were against the said marriage. Cap. x.  
¶ Howe the false Werebode complaynned vpon saint Wulfade& ruffian to king Wulfer/ and was the cause of their death. Cap. xi.  
¶ Howe king Wulfer was converted/ and took great repentance for his offence. and by the counsel of saint Ceade was a devout man/ and a good benefactor to holy church/ and founder of diuers places Cap. xii.  
¶ Of the fervent desire& singular devotion saint Werburge had to be religious/ and of the daily supplicacions she made to her father for the same. Cap. xiii.  
¶ Of the reasonable& meek answer saint Werburge gave to her father/ when he moved her to haue ben married. Cap. xiiii.  
¶ How saint Werburge was made an nōne at Ely aft{er} her desire under saint Audri lady and abbess. Ca. xv.  
¶ Of the great solemnisacion king Wulfer made at the ghostly marriage of saint Werburge his dought{er} at Ely/ to all his louers and friends. Cap. xvi.  
¶ Of the holy profession and ghostly conversation saint Werburge used at Ely in religion vnd saint Audri. xvii.  
A little treatise of the life of saint Audrie abbess of Ely/& of her holy conversation& great devotion which Audrie was aunt and cousin to saint Werburge. xviii.  
¶ A breue rehearsal of the life of saint Sexburge grant moder to saint werburge/& of her coming to Ely to her syst Audrie thabbasse from Shepay monastery. c. xix.  
¶ Howe saint Ermenild after death of king Wulfer was made a noun at Ely/ under her moder Sexburge and Werkurge her daughter. Cap. xx.  
¶ Howe king ethelred seeing the holy conversation of Werburge his niece/ made her lady and president at Wedon/ Trentā/& Hambury. Also by her example and counsel made him a monk at Bardeney abbey. c. xxi.  
¶ The holy conversation of king Kēred brother to saint Werburge/& howe he refused his crown/& was made a monk at Rome/& there de{per}ted a holy confessor. xxii.  
¶ Of the ghostly devotion of saint Werburge& vertuo{us} gouernans of her places/ and of the great humility she used to her miters and all creatures. Ca. xxiii.  
¶ How at Wedō wild guise were pinned at her commandement/ and also relesed& put at liberty. Ca. xxiiii.  
¶ How a tyrande without pity was punished his face set backward/ and by his meekness was restaured to health and prosperity again. Cap. xxv.  
¶ How deuers princes following sensualite intending to violate this virgin by power: by miracle were put to confusion. Cap. xxvi.  
¶ How saint Werburge gave knowledge to her miters of her departure/& howe she ordered in virtue her said monasteries after her departure. Cap. xxvii.  
¶ Of the ghostly exortacion saint Werburge made to her miters in her sickness/ and howe devoutly she received the sacramentes of holy church afore her death. c. xxviii.  
¶ Of the departure of saint Werburge at Trentan unto heaven from this miserable life/& what lamentation her miters and subiectes made for her death Ca. xxix.  
¶ Howe the hamburgens took the blessed body of Werburge from Trentā by miracle& brought it to Hābury/ and of the burial of this virgin/ and manifold signs shewed of god by her merites/ the space of .ix. year afore her translation. Cap. xxx.  
¶ A little breue treatise of her hole life/ and how for her miracles shewed after her death/ the covent of Hamburi purposed to translat her body by help of king Coelrede reigning in mercelande. Ca. xxxi.  
¶ The solemn translation of this glorious virgin saint Werburge, and of the great miracles done at the same season by the might of god/ and merit of this gracious lady. Cap. xxxii.  
¶ Howe the body of saint Werburge continued hole/& substantial at Hambury after the translation by the space of. CC. yeres/ till the dayes were common to this land/ or it fell& resolved was unto powder. Cap. xxxiii.    

¶ Here followeth the life of the glorious virgin saint werburge/ also many miracles that god hath shewed for her/& first the prologue of the author.  

¶ The prologue of the translator of this little work the life of saint Werburge.  

WHā Phebus had ron̄e his course in sagittari  
And capricorn entred a sign retrograt  
Amyddes Decembre/ the air cold& frosty  
And pale Lucyna/ the earth did illumynat  
I rose up shortly/ fro my cubycle pmparat  
about midnight/ and cast in mine intent  
How I might spend/ the time convenient.   

I called unto mind/ the great vnstedfastnes  
Of this wretched world/ not by course of nature  
How there be brought/ some men to business  
Oppressed with poverty/ languor/ and displeasure  
Some other exalted/ to felicity and pleasure  
The maker of mankind/ most in majesty  
Ruleth all at his will/ it may non other be.   

behold discreetly/ and se the firmament  
consider the son/ and the mone also  
With all the planets/ and stars resplendent  
How they keep their course/ both to and fro  
ever obedient/ their creature unto  
And birds busily/ singing every day  
praising their primate all that they may.   

The .iiii. elements/ in like condition  
The fire/ the water/ the air/ and the land  
Obseruen their duty/ after their creation  
And buxum ben/ and ever so be fonde  
Thus every creature/ as we vnderstonde  
Obeyeth to his creature/ with humility  
Except dissolute man/ following sensualyte.   

If man will remember/ how he was create  
To the likeness and figure/ of god almighty  
And set in paradise/ a place most delicate  
To haue the fruition/ of eternal glory/  
If not sin expulsed him to the vale of misery  
But that he wolde incline/ his natural reason  
To serve his maker/ truly at due season.   

dyvers people/ haue dyvers conditions  
commonly proved/ it is every day  
Some set to virtue/ and good disposycyons  
In penance/ prayer/ all that they may  
Some in contemplacyon/ the sooth to say  
Some in abstinence/ to chastyce the body  
And make it subget/ to the soul perfitly.   

Some other rejoice/ in sin and idleness  
Some servants to Venus/ both day and night  
Other to covetise/ and worldly business  
Some to deceive/ by subtlety in sight  
Some unto merchandise/& winning full right  
Some fearful and tymerous/ without audacyte  
Some sad and sober/ and of great grauyte.   

Many haue pleasure to speak of rybaudry  
Some of fighting/ brawling/ and acts martial  
Other to flatter/ and paint the company  
Some to sit between the cup and the wall  
Some to blaspheme/ and dyssemble withall  
To backbyte and slander/ by malice and envy  
Some to extorcyon/ theft and plain robbery.   

Thus after frailty/ and sundry compleccyons  
dyvers men dyvers in living there be  
disposed by a contrary disposition  
Some unto virtue/ some unto vanity  
Many manners of people/ now we may se  
wavering in the world/ without quietness  
As a ship by tempest/ is driven doubtless.   

when I revolved/ with due circumstance  
The dyvers manners/ and mutabylyte  
Of worldly people/ and the great variance  
And how this life/ is of no surety  
Now in great languor/ now in prosperity  
yet after our merit/ we shalbe sure  
To be rewarded/ at our departure.   

Than to virtuous labours/ we should apply  
And spend not our time/ all in lameness  
For as a bird is made/ by nature to fly  
right so we should use/ some good business  
To our soul health/ with great meekness  
For time evil spend/ in labours vain  
Is hard to be well/ recovered again   

But now sith I am/ a religious man  
For losynge of time/ can not me excuse  
Therfore I purpose/ to do as I can  
All such lameness/ whylom to refuse  
With the grace of god/ the time for to use  
Some small treatise/ to write breuely  
To the common vulgares/ their mind to satysfy.   

To describe hye histories/ I dare not be so bold  
sith it is a matter/ for clerkes convenient  
As of the .vii. aeges/ and of our parentes old  
Or of the .iiii. empires/ whylom most excellent  
knowing my learning/ thereto insuffycyent  
As for bawdy ballads/ ye shall haue none of me  
To excyte light hearts/ to pleasure and vanity.   

But now in avoiding/ such great folysshenes  
I purpose to write/ a legend good and true  
And translate a life/ into english doubtless  
I mean the spouse/ of our lord Ihesu  
Blessed saint Werburge/ replete with virtue  
A noble princes born/& vyrgyne pure and glorious  
After an holy monyall/ and an abbess gracious.   

In the abbey of chester/ she is shrined richly  
Pryores and lady/ of that holy place  
The chief protectryce/ of the said monastery  
long before the conquest/ by divine grace  
Protectryce of the city/ she is and ever was  
Called special primate/ and principal president  
There rulynge under/ our lord omnypotent.   

And yf I unworthy/ begin this little work  
I pray all the readers/ meekly of pardon  
To correcke and amend/ sith I am no clerk  
Excuse my ignorance/ and take the intention  
My mind is to show/ her life and devotion  
That every man and woman/ ensample may take  
At this pure virgin/ sin to forsake.   

And sith that she is/ in bliss now glorified  
It were no reason/ her name be had in silence  
But to the people/ her name be magnified  
To her laud and praise/ honour and reverence  
Her parentes and brethren/ the flowers of experience  
Haue ben kept in close/ secret many a day  
wherefore I purpose/ somewhat of them to say.   

first I intend/ to make plain description  
Of her fathers kingdom the realm of Mercyens  
How long it endured/ under his tuycyon  
under how many kings/ it had prehemynens  
Also of her petygre/ the noble excellence  
For so many sayntes/ of one kindred certain  
Is hard to be found/ in all the world again.   

unto this rude work/ mine auctours these shal be  
first the true legend/ and the venerable Bede  
master Alfrydus/ and Wyllyam Maluysburye  
Gyrarde/ Polycronycon/ and other mo in dead  
Now glorious god/ grant me to procede  
Blessed virgin Werburge/ my holy patroness  
help me to endyte/ I pray the sweet mistress.    

¶ A description of the realm of Mercyens/ of bonds and commodytes of the same.  

THe year of our saviour/ by full compulacyon  
four hundred/ nine& forty from his nativity  
As venerable Bede/ maketh declaration  
Duke Hengyst came to this land in great royalty  
With Saxons/ Angles/ Iutes/ three people myghtre  
desired by Vortyger/ than king of britons  
Came to defend/ fro grievous oppressyons.   

Also the yeres of our blessed saviour  
Syxe hundreth four score and nine express  
The britons were expulsed/ so saith mine auctoure  
From england to walls/ with great wretchydnes  
In england than ruled/ seven kings doubtless  
Whose names we purpose/ to show with lyeens  
But principally/ of the kingdom of Mercyens.   

The first realm of Saxons/ began in Kent  
The year of grace/ four hundreth five and fifty  
Where duke Engystus/ in honour excellent  
With sceptre and crown/ first reigned royally  
The second was Southsex/ saith the history  
where Adla and Ella/ reigned full right  
which realm endured/ but short time in might.   

The thyrde was Westsaxons/ famous and mighty  
Where first reigned/ king Cerdicus  
The year of our lord/ five hundreth one and twenty  
which realm by process/ and power victorious  
Subdued all other/ to him full memorous  
The principal cities/ of his regalyte  
Were in old season/ Wynchester and Salesburye.   

The fourth was Estsex/ Where duke Erchenwyn  
first reigned king/ having domynacyon  
By the king of Merselande/ brought oft to ruin  
The chief city was Colchester/ of his dominion  
Also of east england/ was the fifth kingdom  
Where Vffa crwoned/ had first the sufferaynte  
Of norfolk and Southfolke/ known in certainty.   

The syxthe was the kingdom of Merslande  
Where Cryda was crwoned/ first by authority  
having nine shires/ obedient to his hand  
As after shall appear/ more evident to be  
The seventh was northumberland/ under Ida& Alle  
Whylom divided/ in sundry kingdoms twain  
The chyfe city was york/ where the king did reign   

The realm of Mercyens/ by old antyquyte  
As plainly declareth/ Polycronycon  
three hundreth yeres/ endured in authority.  
under eyghtene kings/ worthy nomynyon  
Greatest of governance of all this region  
Where Vulfer reigned/ a king victorious  
Father to saint Werburge/ virgin most glorious   

The bounds and lorshyppes/ of the said Mercyens  
As shown dyvers books hystoryall  
Were large and mighty/ and of great prehemynens  
Where the said king reigned by power imperial  
This realm to dyscrybe/ begin we shall  
At the city of Chester/ and the water of d'ye  
between england and wales/ of the west party   

And so transcendynge/ up toward Shrewysbury  
By the water of Sabryne/ unto Brystowe  
The east see mesureth/ the east parte truly  
The water of Thamys/ the south parte doth show  
flowing unto London/ whoso doth it know  
The water of Humbre was on the north, side  
With the water of Mersee/ their lands to dyuyde.   

Of the foresaid river/ and water of Mersee  
The king of Mercyens/ taketh his name  
As most sure dyuydent/ to be had in memory  
Mesurynge and meeting/ the bonds with great famed  
Of Mersee and northumberland/ kings of the same  
between chesshyr/& lancashyr their kingdoms certain  
As ancient chronicles descryben it full plain.   

The said mighty kingdom/ of Mercyens did hold  
Many noble cities/ with towns and burghes royal  
which Penda obtained/ enlarged manifold  
As Chester/ Stafford/ Lytchefelde/ Couentre memorall  
lincoln and Huntyngdon/ Northampton withall  
leicester and Derby/ cambridge and Oxonforde  
Worchester and Brystowe/ with other mo& Herforde.   

Many royal rivers/ were contained in the same  
With sundry kinds of fishes/ sweet and delycyous  
It were tedious to show/ of them the dyvers name  
In rivers and in pools/ swymmynge full plenteous  
Also forests/ parks/ chaces large and beauteous  
And all beasts of venery/ pleasant for a king  
To course at liberty/ befounde there pasturynge.   

Also this royal realm/ holdeth as we finde  
abundance of fruits/ pleasant and profitable  
Great plenty of cornes/ and grains of every kind  
With hills/ valleys/ pastures/ comely and delectable  
The soil and glebe/ is set plenteous and commendable  
In all pleasant propurtes/ no part of all this land  
May be compared/ to this foresaid Merselande.   

The people of Mercyens/ the truth yf we dare say  
lords/ barons/ knights/ with all the comunete  
In musture and in battle/ ever the price haue they  
The kings grace to serve/ most valiant in artylere  
In all artes martial/ ever having the victory  
With heart/ mind and harneys/ redy day and night  
their enemies to subdue/ by power main& might.   

If they be well ordered/ under a sure capitain  
And set to such business/ their honour to advance  
The triumph they obtain/ known it is certain  
In england and Scotlande/& in the realm of france  
few of them haue countred/ by manhood and valeaunce  
Great nombre of enemies/ with knighthood& policy  
We mean them most special/ in the Weest party.   

Many other commodytes/ pleasures and proprytes  
This said realm/ holdeth of old antyquyte  
In royaltes and lordships/ lands and liberties  
Honourably dylated/ in worship and polyce  
flowering in wisdom/ honours/ and chyualre  
Veryfyed by king Offa/ most mighty and excellent  
proved in his acts/ by plain experyment   

This Offa subdued/ in history as is found  
The king of Westsaxons/ northumberland& Kent  
drove britons to wales/ out of this land  
And made a deep dytche/ for a sure dyuydent  
between england and Wales/& to this day present  
Is called dytche Offa/ so that no Bryton  
On pain of punishment/ should entre this region.   

king Offa translated/ as saith Polycronycon  
By mighty power/ the see of Canterbury  
unto lichfield church/ with famous oblation  
For ever to contynu/ confirmed by authority  
Also he founded/ saint Albans monastery  
first of devotion to Rome gave Peter pens  
Thus royal sometime/ was the realm of Mercyens.    

¶ A description of the Geanalogy of saint Werburge and how she descended of four kings of this land/& of the royal blood of france.  

¶ Regnum Mert{er}. ex{per}te {pro}r̄is.  

THis noble princes/ the daughter of zion  
The floure of virtue/ and virgin glorious  
Blessed saint Werburge/ full of devotion  
Descended by auncetry/ and title famous  
Of four mighty kings/ noble and victorious  
Reynynge in this land/ by true succession  
As her life hystoryall/ maketh declaration.   

The year of our lord/ from the nativity  
five hundreth .xiiii. and also .iiii. score  
when austin was send/ from saint gregory  
To convert this region/ unto our saviour  
The noble king Cryda than reigned with honour  
Vpon the mercyens/ which king was father  
unto king Wybba and Quadriburge his sister.   

This Wybba gate Penda/ king of mercyens  
which Penda subdued/ five kings of this region  
Reygnyge leavy year/ in worship and reuerens  
Was grauntfather to Werburge/ by lynyall succession  
By his queen Kyneswith/ had a noble generation  
five valeant princes/ Penda and king Wulfer/  
king Ethelred/ saint Marceyl/ saint marwalde in fear.   

And two holy daughters/ blessed and virtuous  
saint Kene burge/ and saint Keneswyde the virgin  
which ladies were buried/ full memorous  
At peturborowe abbey/ and now there lain in shrine  
The said king ethelred/ by sufferance divine  
Had a prince Cochede/ which after reigned king  
That translated Werburge/ the .x. year of her burying.   

saint Merwalde specyfyed/ uncle to saint Werburge  
By his queen saint Ermēberge a princes daughter of kent  
Gate .iii. holy virgins/ saint myldred& saint mylburge  
saint Mylgyde the thyrde/ of virtue equypolent  
With a sone Mereum/ which from the holy sacrament  
Of baptym was taken/ by miracle express  
To the bliss of heaven/ to reign there endless.   

The second sone of Penda/ we mean king Wulfere  
A noble valiant prince/ by lynyall dyscent  
reigning vpon the Mercyens with royalty& power  
married saint Ermenylde/ the kings daughter of kent  
Where through the grace of god omnypotent  
They had fair issue/ saint Werburge/ saint Kenrede  
saint wulfade/ saint ruffian/ in story as we rede.    

¶ Regnum Northumbrorum/ ex parte matris.  

The second realm of whom saint Werburge did descend  
Was of saint edwin/ king of northumberland  
which married Quadryburge/ his rights to defend  
daughter of Gryda/ king of Merslande  
between them descended/ as we understand  
Two comely princes/ the first we call Eadfryde  
The second sone in battle slain was name Offryde   

king Eadfryde gate Hereryc that was king of Deiram  
This Hereryc by Beorswyde his queen fair& fre  
Had saint Hylde the abbess/ saint Bede saith the same  
Lady also foundress/ of the abbey of Whytbye  
This said king Hereryc/ had another lady  
The queen of east england/ saint Heryswith she height  
Mother to saint Sexburge/& three other ladies bright.   

This holy Sexburge/ full of grace and goodness  
Was married to Ercombert/ a noble king of Kent  
Bytwyx them descended/ a precious riches  
The blessed Ermenylde/ humble and patient  
which for her virtue/ was married full excellent  
To Wulfer king of Merciens/ with great solempnyte  
And mother was to werburge/ aswete floure of chastity    

¶ Regnum Estanglorum/ ex parte matris.  

The thyrde noble kingdom/ of her parentage  
Was the realm of east England/ whylom in great degree  
Tytylus king of the same/ victorious and sage  
Gate Redwald his first sone/ a chrysten prince was he  
This Redwalde had .ii. sones flowering in chyualrye  
The first was Kenuherus/ a noble man of famed  
The second Eorpwaldus/ called by his name.   

This foresaid king Tytylus/ had a second sone  
Called Egnicius/ accepted as a martyr  
which said Egnicius/ by lynyall progressyon  
Had .iii. noble princes/ that worthy ever were  
The first was called Ethelwood/ the second Adelhere  
The thyrde was saint Anna/ a king most virtuous  
In battle slain vnryghtfully/ now a martyr gloryo{us}   

This foresaid king Anna/ married as we rede  
The holy princes Hereswith/ for love and amity  
They had a noble issue/ to increase their meed  
The blessed Sexburge/ faint audery of Elye  
saint Ethelburge the third/ in Bryges now lieth she  
saint Withburge the .iiii. the martyr saint Iurwyne  
And Aldulph after king/ which reigned a long time.   

The lady saint Sexburge/ eldest of them all  
A gracious matron/ enduring all her life  
Was married to Ercombert/ the king of Kent royal  
They brought fourth a progeny/ noble to dyscryue  
The blessed Ermenylde/ virtuous maid and wife  
which lady was mother/ by grace of god almight  
unto blessed Wrburge/ our comfort and our light    

¶ Regnum Cancie et Francie/ ex parte matris.  

The .iiii. myghti kingdom/ of whom this royal princes  
saint Werburge descended/ was the realm of kent  
Where reigned first Hengystus/ by victory& prows  
which was the fourth man/ by lineage evident  
proceeding fro wooden/ a prince full prepotent  
Of whom our {pro}genytours/ Angles/ Iutes/& Saxons  
lineally succeeded/ kings of dyvers nations.   

This foresaid prince Wodē/ as dyvers auctours say  
Was the .xv. fro Noe/ by natural progressyon  
Of his eldest sone Sem/ descending plain  
In saxons tongue Geaf/ after rite and custom  
Not of the lygne of japhet/ by their opinion  
return we to Hengyst/ and to his successoures  
And speak of their royalty/ to please the audytoures.   

Ermenrycus king of kent/ reigned with great powes  
The year of our saviour/ five hundreth five& thyrte  
unto whom Engystus was great grandfather  
This said king Ermenryc/ had issue fair and fre  
A daughter called Ricula/ which married was to fled  
Of Estsex and Mydylsex/ governor and king  
Of whom a mighty kindred/ by process was coming.   

This Ermenryc gate Ethelbryct full virtuous  
which king reigned in kent/ the year of our sauyou●  
five hundreth five& fifty/& baptized was gracious  
By blessed bishop austin/ of england called doctor  
He was first christian king/& principal protector  
Of the ●ayth within this land/ and founder was also  
Of dyvers holy places/ and monasteries both tow.   

This said king Ethelbrye/ for the great abundance  
Of riches and honour/ was married solemnly  
To the princes Berta/ the kings daughter of france  
And of them proceeded a virtuous progeny  
Eadburg& Ethelburg saints/ which Ethelburg truly  
By Edwyne king of North/ had .iiii. princes honourable  
And .iii. holy daughters/ gracious and commendable.   

Also king Ethelbryct/ had to his successoure  
king Eadbalde/ in Kent reigning a long space  
He married lady Emma/ of france the chosen floure  
And by her had issue/ saint Enswyde full of grace  
Also prince Ermenred his second sone/ which wace  
married to queen Oslaua/ of them did procede  
Two holy martyrs/ Ethelbryct and Etheldrede.   

This prince Ermenred/ had .iiii. ladies bright  
like the .iiii. floods of paradise/ shining in virtue  
The eldest of the miters/ saint Ermenberge height  
The second saint Ermenburge/ the spouses of Ihesu  
The thyrde saint Adeldryde/ all vices did subdu  
The .iiii. saint Ermengyde/ saith their lives hystoryall  
three of them holy virgins/ the fourth matron we call   

This foresaid Eadbalde/ a sovereign mighty king  
By Emma of france/ had to his enherytoure  
The noble king Ercumbert/ full gracious in living  
which married Sexburge/ with worship& honour  
The kings daughter of cest England specyfyed afore  
This prince loved virtue/ prayer and devotion  
commanding all his realm/ to keep the fast of lenten   

Ercombert .xxx. year/ regnynge in his regaly  
Had a noble progeny/ in grace and all goodness  
His prince height Egbryct/ his second sone Lothary  
which prince reigned but ten year/ king express  
Lothary succeeded him/ raynynge .xii. yeres doubtless  
Also he had two daughters/ saint Ermenylde the queen  
The other height saint Erkengode/ amoynes serene.   

This lady Ermenylde/ was married royally  
To the aforesaid Vulfer/ king of Mercyens  
between them descended/ full graciously  
A noble Margaryte/ of hye magnyfycens  
A rose of paradise/ full of prehemynens  
most blessed Werburge/ the gemine of holynes  
Our singular suffrage/ and star of our clearness.     

¶ A description of the acts& chyualry of king Penda grandfather to saint Werburge/& of his noble and virtuous issue and progeny. Ca. iiii.  

THe year of grace .vi. C. sire and twenty  
The foresaid prince Penda/ began for to reign  
The tenth man fro wooden/ a prince in Saxony  
Sone and heir to Wybbe/ saith mine author plain  
fifty yeres of age/ that time he was certain  
when he was first crwoned/ king of Mercyens  
leavy yeres he reigned/ with great reuerens.   

five kings in battle/ this Penda did subdue  
saints edwin& Oswald/ kings of northumberland  
With Sygebert/ Egnycius/ and Anna full of virtue  
three noble kings/ regnynge in east england  
With help of Brytones/ by Bede we understand  
Dylated his region/ with worship and honours  
much more than did/ any of his predecessoures.   

He married Keneswith/ a lady fair and bright  
And by her had issue/ a goodly generation  
Peada his prince/ Vulfer a noble knight  
saint Ethelred/ and Merwalde full of devotion  
Also saint Mersellyn/ of holy conversation  
saint Keneburge/ also saint Keneswyde  
Auntes to saint Werburge/ vpon the fathers side.   

three of his children/ as we understand  
prince Peada/ Kyneburge/ and ethelred  
He married with Oswy/ king of northumberland  
To .iii. of his issue/ for love and for meed  
Vulfer and Merwalde/ the story saith in dede  
Were married unto/ the royal blood of Kent  
To Ermenylde and Domueue/ two ladies excellent.   

soon after by grace/ the myddyll parte of Mercyens  
under prince Peada/ were baptized every chone  
which Peada married/ elfled with reuerens  
daughter unto Oswy/ king of the North region  
Penda thereto granted/ without contradyccyon  
under a fre licence/ his people were at liberty  
Within all his region/ baptized for to be.   

Also prince Alfryde/ sone to king Oswy  
married saint Keneburge/ sister to prince Peada  
which said Peada/ brought from the north party  
four holy preestes/ ce/ Beccy/ and Adda  
To preach to his people/ the fourth was Duyna  
which .iiii. selden seized/ day/ night nor time  
To convert the people/ unto chrystes doctrine.   

king Penda consented/ as afore is said  
And permitted doctors/ to preach in every place  
throughout his realm/ and never it denayed  
To baptize his subgectes/ by faith and ghostly grace  
He aided them with succour/ and help in that case  
That wolde be converted/ for their singular meed  
As saith mine author/ the venerable Bede.   

But by the salvation/ of our ghostly enemy  
This said king Penda/ this victorious knight  
Of valiant men in armour raised a great company  
And to the North parties went/ purposing to fight  
And cruelly to flee/ by power/ main/ and might  
The foresaid king Oswy/ as he afore had slain  
Sayt Oswalde his brother/ king and martyr plain.   

Shortly was forgotten/ the favour of his affynyte  
That fully was contract/ between these kings twain  
joined at the marriages/ of their children three  
ever to haue endured/ in love by reason plain  
yet Oswy offered Penda/ many rich gifts certain  
To avoyde his malice/ and for to keep the peas  
which Penda refused/ replete with wickedness.   

between these .ii. kings/ was a strong mighty battle  
Not far from york/ ny the flood of Wynwed  
In the region of Leedes/ where by fortune cruel  
king Penda perished/& carefully was lead  
And .xxx. dukes with him/ were slain and left dead  
The king Oswy offered gladly/ with good intent  
His young daughter Edelfled/ to god omnypotent.   

He set her for doctrine/ to the abbess saint Hylde  
Lady of Strenyshalt/ now called Whytby  
And gave .xii. possessions/ a monastery to build  
which place is from york/ miles leavy  
He gave great lands to his sone in lawe Peade  
But the thyrde year after/ this said prince was slain  
By treason of his wife elfled/ for certain.    

¶ How after death of Penda& his sone prince Peada his second sone Vulfer/ father to saint Werburge was elect to be king of all the Mercyens. Ca. v.  

AFter that this Penda/ of Mercyens king  
In battle by king Oswy/ cruelly was slain  
And his prince Peada/ after him three yeres reigning  
Was put unto death/ by his queen in certain  
These people of Mercyens/ rebelled fore again  
The foresaid Oswy/ king of northumberland  
And him refused/ as ye shall understand.   

All the said Mercyens/ by a general counsel  
fortified wolf/ with power might and reason  
And crwoned prince Vulfer/ as Bede doth us tell  
with honour/ worship/ and great renown  
which prince to king Penda/ was the second sone  
This prince was preserved/ afore time secretly  
And saved by his subiectes/ from death and malady.   

This valiant prince/ and redoubted knight  
king Vulfer thus crwoned/ with great prosperity  
Vpon the Mercyens reigned/ by title and might  
which realm was divided/ whylom in partes three  
first in the West marches/& in the South parte truly  
The thyrde parte was nomynate/ middle Englonde  
over them all three/ he reigned as is fonde.   

This said king Vulfer in honour famous  
Was devoutly baptized/ with great solempnyte  
By two holy bishops/ the blessed Finanus  
And bishop Ierumannus/ saythe the history  
The king made a vow/ of hye authority  
All temples of idols/ within his region  
To destroy and change/ unto chrysten religion.   

This Vulfer was polytyke/ replete with wisdom  
victorious in battle/ proved by his chyualry  
His enemies oppressed/ by manhood and reason  
Subdued his adversaries/ and had the victory  
From his realm expelled/ all cruel tyranny  
Conquered in battle/ at Ashdum right famous  
The king of West Saxons/ called Kenwalcus.   

Also he subdued/ unto his empire  
The island Vecta/ called the yle of wight  
And after that he had/ of it his desire  
He gave the said yle/ by title full right  
To the king of east england/ to enlarge his might  
under that condition/ that he baptized wolde be.  
And was his godfather/ of pure charity   

In likewise as this province/ of Mercyens  
Whylom was greatest realm/ within england  
Many yeres contynuynge/ in prehemynens  
right so the spyrytualte/ well known and found  
How fyu? bishop sees/ within this said Merselande  
As at Chester/ at lichfield/ also at Worcester  
The fourth at lincoln/ the fifth at Dorchester.   

furthermore after death/ of Ierumannus  
bishop of Lychfelde/ Vulfer the said king  
desired the archbishop/ and primate Theodorus  
To grant them a bishop/ of holy living  
To govern the people/ by spiritual teaching  
To show to his subiectes/ the ensample of virtue  
And to preach and teach/ the faith of christ Ihesu.   

This holy archbishop/ and primate Theodorus  
desired saint Cedda/ of the king Oswy  
For his perfection/ and living virtuous  
To be remoeued/ to the prouyce of Mercy  
king Vulfer was glad/ of his coming truly  
right so were all/ the people of his realm  
thanking therfore/ the king of jerusalem.   

king Vulfer granted/ to saint Cedda the confessor  
Than bishop of lichfield/ much possession  
To edyfy chyrches/ unto chrystes honour  
But namely he gave a certain mansion  
In the province of Lyndesy/ ny unto lincoln  
sufficient to suffice/ and well for to content  
fifty servants/ of good religious obedient.   

This noble said prince/ and redoubted sovereign  
flowering in manheed/ wisdom and policy  
Excelled the peers/ of this realm certain  
In person/ fortytude/ and proved chyualry  
liberal to his servants/ gentle in company  
gracious to the poor/ and a sure protector  
A founder of chyrches/ and a good benefactor.    

¶ A little description of the noble marriage between king Vulfer& saint Ermenylde the kings daughter of Kent/& of the solempuyte done at the same season. Ca. vi.  

IN mean while the king/ minded marriage  
By the sufferance of our lord god omnypotent  
Issue to increase/ according to his lineage  
After him to succeed/ king and president  
He minded most/ the kings daughter of Kent.  
princes Ermenylde/ nomynate she was  
A beautefull creature/ replete with great grace.   

certainly her father/ was called Excomberte  
As afore is specyfyed/ the king of Kent  
Her mother Sexburge/ humble in her heart  
Of whom Ermenylde/ a lady excellent  
lineally descended/ by title full ancient  
Her grandfather Edbalde/ king Ethelbryctes sone  
The first christian prince/ of Saxons nation.   

Of four mighty kingdoms/ she is descended  
From the royal blood of france/ also of Kent  
Vpon her fathers party/ as afore is notified  
And on her mothers side/ by line ancient  
from the east england/ famous and excellent  
Also of northumberland/ flowering in honour  
converted and baptized/ unto our saviour.   

This said Ermenylde/ this floure of virtue  
Was ever disposed/ from her nativity  
unto the discipline/ of our lord Ihesu  
inspired with his grace/ and benignity  
Refused this world/ riches and vanity  
He used the manners/ of sad disposition  
passing fragyll youth/ and natural reason.   

such singular comfort/ of virtuous doctrine  
In her so did water/ a pure perfect plant  
which daily increased/ by sufferance divine  
marvelously growing/ in her fresh and varnaunt  
With dyvers proprytes/ of grace exuberaunt  
As sobrynes/ discretion/ and meekness vyrgynall  
obedience/ grauyte/ and wisdom natural.   

every three or plant/ is proved evident  
whither good or evil/ by experience full sure  
By the bud and fruit/ and pleasant descent  
Aswete three bringeth forth/ by course of nature  
sweet fruit and delycyous/ in taste and verdure  
right so Excombert/ by his queen most mild  
Brought graciously forth/ the sweet Ermenylde.   

She followed her father/ in worship and honour  
At her mother Sexburge/ she took imytacyon  
To live in cleanness/ presentynge in behauyour  
Her father in power/ her mother in religion  
Humble in heart/ having compassion  
piteous and liberal/ where was necessity  
joyful to observe/ the deeds of charity.   

further of her life/ to make declaration  
As the true legend plainly doth express  
consider the history/ with good inspeccyon  
Of blessed Sexburge/ that noble pryncesse  
The said conversation/ and ghostly sweetness  
That is perceived/ in her holy mother  
The same perfection/ was in the other.   

nevertheless Ermenylde/ escape ne might  
worldly honours/ and secular dignity  
As required so noble a state of right  
riches/ possession/ namely her beauty  
But unto marriage/ compelled was she  
Of her parentes/ contrary to her intent  
To whom she was found/ ever obedient.   

This noble lady/ by divine prouydens  
Elected to her/ a spouse commendable  
A valiant prince/ the kings sone of Mercyens  
Called king Vulfer/ famous and honourable  
reigning in Mercelande/ with ioy incomparable  
excelling many other/ princes of this region  
In riches/ retynu/ fortune/ honour/ and wisdom   

At this marriage/ was much solempnyte  
Her father Excomberte/ and her friends all  
Tho princes her vncles/ Egbryct and Lothary  
The king of east england/ Aldulph in special  
Dukes/ erles/ barons/ and knights in general  
which said company/ were redy that same day  
To worship the matrimony/ in their beest array.   

This royal marriage/ was solemnized  
With singular pleasures/ riches and royalty  
their friends cousins/ redy on every side  
To do their devoir/ and show humanity  
nothing wantynge/ every thing was plenty  
Of delicate meats/ and mighty wines strong  
With mynstrels/ melody/ and mirths among.   

when this fair princes/ resplendent in virtue  
Came unto Mercelande/ in the order of matrimony  
Than grace with good governance/ did vice subdue  
virtue was maystres/ chief ruler and lady  
The faith of holy church/ did grow and multiply  
religion increased/ honour and prosperity  
In every place patience/ true love and charity.   

At the solemn spousage/ of this lady bright  
king Vulfer promised/ on his fydelyte  
errors to correcke/ by his wisdom and might  
clearly to expel/ all sects of ydolatrye  
from his realm/ and fulfil by his authority  
The promise truly made/ at the font of baptism  
The church to conserve/ and save it from ruin.   

The mighty realm of Mercyens/ also of Kent  
That season were brought/ both unto vnyte  
And as one kingdom/ ruled full excellent  
their subiectes and servants/ in tranquyllyte  
king Vulfer by his queen/ had a noble progeny  
Vulfade and ruffian/ with prince Kenrede  
And Werburge/ of whom we purpose to procede.    

¶ A breue declaration of the holy life and conversation of saint Werburge/ used in her tender youth/ above the comyncours of nature. Ca. vii.  

THis blessed lady/ and royal princes  
descending of noble/ and hye parentage  
Was daughter to Vulfer/ the legend doth rehearse  
king of Mercelande/ and of famous lineage  
Her mother Ermenylde/ joined to him in marriage  
They dwelled sometime/ a little from ston  
At a place in Stafforde shire/ amyddes his region.   

They had between them/ other children three  
Vulfade and ruffian/ martyrs full glorious  
Synt Kenrede his prince/ of great authority  
Tumylate at Rome/ a confessor gracious  
The lives of these three/ we will not now dyscus  
But speak of the ghostly/ and meek conversation  
Of blessed Werburge/ now at this season.   

For as declareth/ the true Passyonary  
A book wherein/ her holy life written is  
which book remaineth/ in Chester monastery  
I purpose by help/ of Ihesu king of bliss  
In any wise to rehearse/ any sentence amiss  
But follow the legend/ and true history  
After an humble style/ and from it little vary.   

This blessed Werburge/ from her nativity  
following the counsel/ of her noble parentes  
disposed herself/ ever to humility  
obedient to them/ with all reuerens  
Loth to displease/ or make any offens  
Or dysquyet any reasonable creature  
Thus was her maner/ in youth be ye sure.   

sad and demure/ of her countenance  
Stable in gesture/ proved in every place  
sober of her words/ all virtue to advance  
Humble/ meek/ and mild/ replete with grace  
Many virtuous manners/ in her found there was  
And dyvers gifts natural/ to her appropryate  
As was convenient/ for so noble a state.   

And as she increased/ moore and more in age  
A new plant of goodness/ in her daily did spring  
Great grace and virtue/ were set in her image  
whereof her father/ had much merueylynge  
Her mother mused/ of this ghostly thing  
To behold so young/ and tender a may  
From virtue to virtue/ to procede every day.   

No merueyll it is/ who so taketh hede  
In natural things/ the dyvers operation  
doth not a royal rose/ from a brere procede  
passing the stock/ with pleasant delectation  
The sweet river passeth/ by due probation  
His heed and fountain/ right so doth she  
Transcende her parentes/ with great benignity.   

And tho her brethren/ delighted for to here  
For their soul health/ ghostly exortacyon  
yet she them passed/ manifold more clear  
In love of our lord/ and meek conversation  
And like as Phebus/ in his heavenly region  
Passed other streets/ shining most pure  
So doth this virgin/ above the course of nature.   

lords/ dukes/ barons/ within the kings hall  
Merueyled on her manners/ and constant sobrynes  
The plenty of wisdom/ and discretion withall  
In so tender age/ they never knew express  
Her mind so perfect/ avoiding all ylnes  
But they knew well/ it pretended by all reason  
singular grace and goodness/ to her coming soon.   

Affyrmynge on this wise/ is she wolde contynu  
With such virtuous maner in yeres of hye discretion  
That she should do honour/ by the grace of Ihesu  
unto all her kindred/ and singular consolation  
An ensample of virtue/ and humylyacyon  
their comfort/ their treasure/ and star full bright  
And chief lumynary/ shining day and night.   

first in the morning/ to church she wolde go  
following her mother/ the queen every day  
With her book and beads/ and depart not them fro  
Here all divine service/ and her deuocyons say  
And to our blessed saviour/ meekly on knees pray  
daily him desiring/ for his endeles grace and pity  
To keep her from sin/ and preserve her in chastity.   

Where youth is disposed/ of natural motion  
To dysportes and pleasures/ full of vanity  
This maid was ever of sad disposition  
constant and discrete still and womanle  
glad in her soul/ to her speak of chastity  
cleanness and sobrenes/ and joyful for to here  
Ghostly exortacyons/ to her heart most dere.    

¶ How this young virgin saint Werburge was desired of dukes& erles in marriage/ and of the answer she gave to thē/ in avoiding worldly pleasures. Ca. viii.  

AS tender youth passed/ this blessed maydyn  
daily increased/ more and more in virtue  
In ghostly science/ and virtuous discipline  
observing the doctrine/ of our lord Ihesu  
Had his commaundymentes/ in her heart full true  
So that no creature/ more perfect might be  
In virtuous gifts( by grace) than she.   

She was replete/ with gifts natural  
Her visage most pleasant/ fair and amiable  
Her goodly eyes/ clerer than the crystal  
Her countenance comely/ sweet and commendable  
Her heart liberal/ her gesture favourable  
She little considering/ these gifts transitory  
Set her felicity/ in christ perpetually.   

She had much worship/ wealth/ and riches  
Vestures/ honours/ reverence and royalty  
The riches she disposed/ with great meekness  
To the poor people/ with great charity  
But her sadness/ constance/ and humility  
virtue/ gentleness/ so patient and cold  
Transcended all these other/ a thousand fold.   

The virtuous manners/ and excellent famed  
Of this holy virgin/ redoubted so far  
In all this region/ in praising her name  
That the nobles of this land/ wolde not dyfferre  
But with rich apparel/ and mighty power  
Came for to seek her/ like as to Salomon  
queen Saba approached/ to here of his wisdom.   

So likewise some came/ to her of her virtue  
Some of her sadness/ and prudent discretion  
Some for her constance/ so stable and true  
Some of her chastity/ and pregnant reason  
Some for her beauty/ and famous wisdom  
And some that were born/ of kings lineage  
desired yf they might/ haue her in marriage.   

In beauty amiable/ she was equal to rachel  
Comparable to Sara/ in firm fidelyte  
In sadness and wisdom/ like to Abygaell  
Replete as Delbora/ with grace of prophesy  
Equyualent to Ruth/ she was in humility  
In pulchrytude Rebecca/ like Hester in lolynesse  
like Iudyth in virtue/ and proved holiness.   

The prince of Westsaxons/ a pere of this land  
willing to haue her by way of marriage  
With humble reverence/ as we understand  
said to her these words/ wisely and sage  
O sovereign lady/ born of hye lineage  
O beautefull creature/ and imperial princes  
This is my full mind/ that I now rehearse.   

From my fathers realm/ hither I am come  
unto our presence/ yf ye be so content  
With worship and honour/ and much renown  
In all honest maner/ aperynge evident  
My mind is on you set/ with love fervent  
To haue you in marriage/ all other to forsake  
If it be your pleasure/ thus me for to take.   

ye shalbe assured/ a queen for to be  
ye shall haue riches/ worship/ and honour  
royal rich appareyll/ and eke the sufferaynte  
precious stones in gold/ worthy a kings treasure  
lands/ rents/ and lybertees/ all at your pleasure  
servants every hour/ your bidding for to do  
With ladies in your chamber/ to wait on you also.   

With these kind words/ the virgin abashed sore  
And with mild countenance/ answered him again  
The plains of her mind/ to rest for evermore  
saying: o noble prince/ I thank you now certain  
For your gentle offer/ shewed to me so plain  
ye be well worthy/ for your regalyte  
To haue a better marriage/ an hundreth fold than me.   

But now I show you/ plainly my true mind  
My purpose was never/ married for to be  
A lord I haue chosen/ redeemer of mankind  
Ihesu the second person in trinity  
To be my spouse/ to whom my virginity  
I haue deeply vowed/ enduring all my life  
His servant to be/ true spouses and wife.   

Therfore noble prince/ hertfully I you pray  
tempt me no further/ after such condition  
which am so steadfast/ and will be night and day  
never for to change/ nor make alteracyon  
Take ye this answer/ for a sure conclusion  
The promise I haue made/ and vow of chastity  
enduring my life/ shall never broken be.   

dyvers other estates/ came her for to assail  
Made instant requests/ unto this virgin fre  
For all their business/ they might not prevail  
So constant firm& stable/ in heart& mind was she  
A mountain or hill/ sooner leave ye me  
might be remoeued/ against the course of nature  
Than she for to grant/ to such worldly pleasure.   

She well considered/ the text of holy scripture  
Who byleueth her chast/ for the love of Ihesu  
The temple of god/ they be clipped sure  
And shalbe rewarded/ for that noble virtue  
An hundreth fold( by grace) vices to subdu  
And heaven for to haue/ at their departing  
which she remembered wisely/ above all thing.    

¶ How the false Werbode desired king Vulfer to haue Werburge his daughter in marriage. And how the king granted thereto. Ca. ix.  

AS afore is said/ when Penda the king  
By saint Oswy king/ at Leedes was slain  
And Vulfer his sone/ the fourth year following  
Was baptized and crwoned/ By bishop Fynane  
A solemn voue he made/ faithful and certain  
All temples of idols/ in his realm to destroy  
And change them to chyrches/ and new edyfy.   

The same he promised/ as he was true knight  
when that he married/ blessed Ermenylde  
dreading sore the justice/ of god almight  
For his fathers demerytes/ vnreconsyled  
On him to fall suddenly/ and so be beguiled  
promising a mends/ at his conversion  
unto holy church/ with humble devotion.   

which king Vulfer/ as was the more pity  
By the wicked counsel/ of a fals knight  
Called Werbode/ ran soon in apostasy  
For a little while/ wantynge perfect light  
The brightness of the day/ was turned to night  
when he gave credence/ that creature unto  
prolonging the acts/ he promised to do.   

under king Vulfer/ chief steward of his hall  
Was this false Werbode/ ruler of every port  
whom the lady Venus/ brought unto thrall  
pierced and wounded/ so grievously his heart  
Enflammed with love/ and with her fiery dart  
Plonget with sorrow/ syghynge day and night  
The beauty of Werburge/ moeued so his sight.   

The blind goddes Cupyde/ vexed so sore his mind  
With interyor love/ and sensual desire  
Of worldly affection/ that rest could he none finde  
His spirit was troubled/ he burned as doth the fire  
Vpon this holy virgin/ his love was so entire  
To haue her in marriage/ was all his intent  
That every hour was a month/ after his iudgement.   

provided in his mind/ how that he well might  
Enforce him wisely/ with boldynesse and policy  
To show his full intent/ in maner good and right  
No displeasure taken/ vpon his lords party  
By this imagination/ he fell vpon his knee  
Afore his lord and king/ desiring a petition  
His mind to declare/ with fully grace of pardon.   

Excellent prince he said/ and most worthy king  
That reygnes now within the realm of england  
flowering in chyualry/ in honour increasing  
Transcendynge other princes/ of this foresaid land  
My full intention/ now ye shall understand  
requiring your grace/ in this poor cyrcumstaunce  
At my petition/ to take no grievance.   

My singular good lord/ hertfully I you pray  
With instant request/ and humble supplication  
grant me your doughtes Werburge/ as ye may  
To haue her in marriage/ avoiding all treason  
If your grace deny/ this present petition  
death me behoves/ full soon and hastily  
My love is so fervent/ there is no remedy.   

stand up Werbode/ king Vulfer than said  
Our chyfe champion/ in all our chyualry  
your humble desire/ shall not be denayd  
Of Werburge our daughter/ now consent will we  
If ye may obtain/ her will and mind truele  
Her mothers also/ under that condition  
We grant her to you/ at your meek suggestyon.   

Of this gracious answer/ a glad man he was  
rejoicing in his heart/ began to conspire  
casting in his mind/ craftily by compass  
How he might obtain/ to the hye empire  
And reign after Vulfer/ at his own desire  
But tho man prepose/ god disposed all  
Who clymbeth to hye/ often hath a fall    

¶ How the queen saint Ermenylde wolde not consent thereto/& how her brethren saint Wulfade and ruffian were against the said marriage. Ca. x.  

OF this business/ when the queen had knowledge  
Namely of Werebode/ the grievous presumption  
How he had moeued/ thrught his wicked rage  
The king in such causes/ by singular petition  
And how the king consented/ to his supplication  
She was sore grieved/ at this proud crafty knight  
Called him in presence/ and said these words right.   

Thou wicked tyrant/ and unkind creature  
following thine appetite/ and sensualyte  
Thou cruel pagan/ presuming at thy pleasure  
blinded with ygnoraunce/ and infydelyte  
Who gave the licence/ and such authority  
Our daughter Werburge/ to desire of the king  
Without our counsel/ thereto consenting.   

consider right well/ thy kindred and pedegre  
It is well known/ thou arte comen of nought  
neither of duke/ earl/ lord/ by auncetre  
But of vylayne people/ yf it be well sought  
against our honour/ now that thou hast wrought  
which consequently/ shall be to thy pain  
For all thy labour/ is spend in vain.   

Thou knows of a certain/ refused she hast  
Many a rich marriage/ within this land  
A thousand times better/ than ever thou wase  
Is now or else shal be/ by any maner fonde  
Our daughter to the/ shall never be bonde  
Nor such a caitiff/ shall haue no powere  
With kings blood royal/ to approach it nere.   

under my sovereign lord/ and me also  
An office thou arte/ and of great royalty  
To be a true servant/ now thou arte our foo  
tried/ proved/ found fals/ in each degree  
Thou hast well deserved/ to be hanged on a tre  
For thy mysdede/ thou shall soon repent  
Thy hye presumption/ proud and dysobedyent.   

As for our daughter/ and dere derlynge  
By the grace of god/ and our advisement  
soon shal be married/ to the most mighty king  
That ever was born/ and in this earth lent  
We mean our saviour/ lord omnypotent  
wherefore thy wretchydnes/ will vpon the light  
Thou tainted traitor/ out of our sight.   

With that saint Werburge/ came into presence  
Afore her mother/ and all the company  
doing her duty/ with all due reuerenc  
following her doctrine/ full sapyently  
With licence obtained/ spake evidently  
After such maner/ that all the audience  
rejoiced to here/ her lusty eloquence   

O sovereign lady/ and kings daughter dere  
My dere mother/ over all thing transitory  
O gracious princes/ and queen to king Vulfere  
To your ghostly counsel/ do me ever apply  
As I haue promised/ right evidently  
To the king of kings/ and lord celestial  
I will observe/ enduring this life mortal.   

And thou false Werbode/ following sensualyte  
I marvel greatly/ thy hye presumption  
To moeue our father/ with such audacyte  
knowing my mind/ set on religion  
yet for thy soul health/ accept this lesson  
ask mercy and grace/ of my spouse eternal  
Lest vengeance suddenly/ vpon thee do fall.   

wherewith her brethren/ Vulfade and ruffian  
Two noble princes/ manful sad and wise  
Sore vexed with pain/ their hearts were within  
At this false steward/ which can so devise  
again their honour/ to do such preiudyse  
As to attempt their father the king  
In so great a matter/ they not consenting.   

They called Werebode/ afore them all  
saying thou caitiff/ who gave the licence  
To moeue this cause/ so he and special  
touching a lady/ of such prehemynence  
A kings daughter/ of much magnyfysence  
None comparable to him/ in all this region  
In honour/ royalty/ power/ and discretion.   

And as our mother said/ to the byforne  
look well thy progeny/ and all thy lineage  
A villain or else wers/ soothly thou was born  
Now our dere sister/ wolde haue in marriage  
As seeming for a prince/ of hye parentage  
Than for such a carl/ by a proverb ancient  
A lad to wed a lady/ is an inconuenyent.   

Therfore we charge the/ vpon grievous pain  
move no such matter/ nor speak of it no more  
For yf such motion/ come to us again  
Of hye presumption/ as is done afore  
Thou shalt repent/ the cause and dede full sore  
Now we command the/ no further to contryue  
But cease of such business/ in pain of thy live.    

¶ How the false Werbode complained vpon Vulfade and Fussyn to king Vulfare by malice and envy/ and was the cause of their death. Ca. xi.  

THis wicked Werebode/ the bedyll of belial  
The minister of myschef/& sergeant of sathanas  
considering he was/ despised of them all  
And sore rebuked/ for his outrageous trespass  
He burned in envy/ as a man without grace  
Cast in his mind/ how he might wroken be  
Vpon her brethren/ by some subtlety.   

ever from that time/ he lay in wait  
seeking occasions/ on them to complain  
daily imagined/ with subtle deceit  
Them to subdue/ and cause to be slain  
attending oportunyte/ to take them in a train  
By the false entysement/ of his master belial  
prompt to all mischief/ as disciple natural.   

In favour of his prince/ by craft he him brought  
( As now is in custom) with false flattery  
Some please their master/ and that is right nought  
So did this Werebode/ by subtle policy  
His vengeable mind/ was himself to magnyfy  
And utterly to lose/ these princes twain  
Or destroy himself/ by misfortune plain.   

like as Archythofell chief counsellor to absalon  
Sundry times moeued him/ unto variance  
And with king Assuerus/ in favour was Amon  
Counseylynge him ever/ unto great mischance  
In like cause Werbode/ moeued to vengeance  
Was chief counseler/ to Vulfer the king  
which brought himself to shane/ and evil ending.   

The elder prince Vulfade/ in his dysporte  
used hawking hunting/ for a past time  
But unto hunting namely/ was his resort  
every day in the morrow/ long afore prime  
And as it fortuned/ vpon a time  
A mighty heart raised was/ coursed a long space  
whom Vulfade pursued/ with pleasure and solace.   

This heart sore strained/ ran for his succour  
As all dear done/ of their propryte  
To a well with water/ after his great labour  
him to reconforte/ and the more fressher be  
whereby saint Cead/ had his oratory  
The wild heart there lay/ full secret and still  
And suffered this holy man/ to do all his will.   

This blessed bishop moeued with pity  
covered this said heart/ with bows and leues also  
Put a small cord/ about his neck trule  
And after commanded him spedly to go  
To the wild woods/ whence he came fro  
His pasture to seek/ for saint Cead knew truly  
It was a sign following/ of some great misery.   

( As Bede witnesseth) this holy confessor  
Was bishop of lichfield/ and Couentre  
which for the love of our saviour  
In wilderness dwelled/ all solytarye  
Contented with fruits/ of the wild three  
With roots/ herbs/ water/ for his sustentation  
enduring penance/ with due contemplacyon.   

This venerable prince/ ensuing this great heart  
approached to his cell/ with great diligence  
Tenderly requiring/ where and in what parte  
This heart escaped/ so far out of presence  
This holy man answered/ with all reverence  
beasts/ birds/ fowles/ I keep none at all  
But I know the instructor/ of thy health eternal.   

By this brute beest/ thou shall perceive well  
The sacramentes of holy church everichone  
To increase thy believe/ by our ghostly counsel  
And so to be baptized/ and haue remission  
By dyvers brute beasts/ for mannes salvation  
Our lord hath shewed/ secrets mystycall  
To his elect persons/ by grace supernal.   

To Noe came comfort/ after the great deluge  
By a dove/ bringing a branch of conceive  
To the prophet Hely/ a raven did refuge  
Brought him his sustenance/ and saved his live  
unto saint Eustach/ full memoratyue  
Our lord appeared/ in a hartes likeness  
To whom he obeied/ gladly with meekness.   

Of which examples/ prince Vulfade glad was  
thanking god and saint Cead/ that he thither come  
And said holy father/ fulfilled with grace  
If ye can supply/ my instant petition  
That the said heart/ might return hydersoone  
which is now in wilderness/ unto our presence  
Than to your doctrine/ I will give fully credence.   

saint Cead unto prayer/ devoutly went  
And the wild heart/ from the wood came hastily  
With the cord in his neck/ appearing evident  
And in their presence/ stood full right soberly  
My sone than he said/ believe than steadfastly  
understand ye may/ all thing possible is  
To a faithful person/ that perfitly byleuys.   

Vulfade comforted/ and in the faith probate  
Fell down to his feet/ with humble devotion  
desiring baptym/ to be regenerate  
unto our saviour/ for his souls salvation  
saint Cead blessed/ the well that season  
And baptized this prince/ in name of the trinity  
Was priest and godfather/ for want of company.   

This chrysten prince/ tarried with him all night  
In fasting/ prayer/ and meditation  
And was refreshed/ naturally in sight  
With bodily and ghostly sustentation  
The next day received/ the holy communion  
With licence departed/ to his father again  
The heart to the foreste/ recoursed certain.   

The thyrde day after/ his brother ruffian  
following the same heart/ by divine providence  
Was well instructed/ in ghostly doctrine  
baptized by saint Cead/& communed with reverence  
And as it fortuned/ by plain experience  
Of all the process done/ to the elder brother  
All thing did hap/ right so to the other.   

Afore this season/ chrystes faith most gracious  
through this land/ was preached in euey place  
By bishop Fynane/ and Ierumannus  
which Ieruman of east england/ first byssop was  
And with saint Ermenylde/ came hither by grace  
yet fully converted/ was not Mersee region  
Clene from idolatry/ unto this season.   

These foresaid princes/ converted newly  
By blessed Cead/ to chrysten religion  
daily to him resorted/ for counsel ghostly  
To increase in virtue/ and holy perfection  
With licence pretended/ they wolde together come  
unto his oratory/ from the kings hall  
under colour of hunting/ as they did it call.   

And as it is written/ in holy scripture  
Who so is a sure friend/ loveth steadfastly  
And who is enemy/ putteth diligent cure  
mischief to accomplish/ most studyously  
The false Werebode suspectynge/ evidently  
The new conversion/ of these princes twain  
Prepared him craftily/ to take them in a train.   

He watched on them/ secretly every day  
To know their resort/ and unto what place  
Kyke as a hound following/ these princes to bytray  
Or a dog doth a dere/ by sent of the chas  
when he had perceived/ how all thing was  
He compased in mind by false inuencyon  
To complain to the king/ for their destruction.   

My singular good lord/ and most principal  
said this Werebode/ the fals traitor  
Pleaseth your goodness/ and grace special  
To my supplication/ to be a protector  
ye haue two princes/ mighty in honour  
which are my lords/ and ever shal be  
If they wolde be true/ to your soueraynte   

They haue refused/ the more pity is  
your ancient laws/ and sects everichone  
And with your licence/ haue done yet more amiss  
For now they be subject/ to a new religion  
utterly refusing/ your decrees and old custom  
following the counsel/ and mind of a senyor  
Called bishop Cead/ their special author.   

your straight commaundymentes/ they daily despise  
And purpose I tell you/ in secretenes  
unto your person/ to do much prejudice  
To murder or poison you/ shortly doubtless  
And so for to reign/ and govern your riches  
between them twain/ to dyuyde your land  
By fals conspyracy/ as ye shall understand.   

With these false tales/ and many other mo  
The king was moeued/ to malice and ire  
By his complexion/ as he was wont to do  
More cruel than a beest/ as fervent as the fire  
deeply affyrmynge/ that death should be their hire  
If he might take them/ in any place  
They should be slain/ and suffer without grace.   

In the morrow after/ when Phebus began to clear  
The king took Werbode/ with him secretly  
To try out the truth/ and how it wolde appear  
whether his princes/ were gone to the oratory  
If it were so/ he send him rejoicingly  
To give them knowledge/ of his intent  
For to remoeue/ from his hasty Iudgment.   

The father had pity/ vpon his children natural  
Wolde not haue slain them/ the sooth to say  
wherefore he send/ the servant of belial  
To convey them fro thence/ some other way  
The king knew himself/ not able that day  
To refrain his ire/ and cruel hastynesse  
given to him of nature/ in such great distress.   

This wicked Werebode/ came to the oratory  
And saw these princes/ in great devotion  
Counceyled his message/ by malice and envy  
returned to the king/ hastily and soon  
Newly complaining/ by fals imagination  
A hundreth fold worse/ than at the first time  
With new addycyons/ to bring them to ruin.   

And when the king/ approached nigh the cell  
hearing the complaints/ of this fals knight  
The children perceived/ a voice right well  
Cessed of their prayers/ and came forth full right  
On whom when Vulfere/ had ones a sight  
He was sore moeued/ as hote as the fire  
against hes children/ that loved him entire.   

But by the malice/ and wicked salvation  
Of the devil/ mannes old mortal enemy  
And what by the false crafty suggestyon  
Of wicked Werebode/ fulfilled with envy  
And by his own hastynesse/ and cruel fury  
These princes were slain/ Vulfade and ruffian  
Now glorious martyrs/ reigning in heaven.   

After when king Vulfer/ approached his castle  
And vnneth was entred/ into his hall  
incontinently a spirit/ the false fiend of hell  
Entred fals Werebode/ after the people all  
Inwardly him vexed/ with pains continual  
That his arms and hands/ he did horrybly tere  
which sudden vengeance/ all the court did fear.   

He roared and yelled/ like a wild bull  
Shewed all the mischief/ malice and envy  
Done against the martyrs/ with a mind yrefull  
So sore constrained/ with pains grievously  
The devil ceased not/ his dolours to multiply  
till his filthy soul/ compelled sore was  
For to expyre/ for his hideous trespass.    

¶ How king Vulfer was converted& took great repentance for his offences. And by the counsel of saint Ceade was a devout man/ and a good benefactor to holy church/ and a founder of dyvers holy places religious. Ca. xii.  

THan Vulfer considering with due discretion  
His cruel hastiness/ and furious mind  
How far he had/ abused his reason  
against his children/ by nature and kind  
He sore repented/ in history as we finde  
His grievous trespass/ and homycyde unnatural  
In conscience grieved/ for his sins mortal.   

Namely lamenting/ in foul his apostasy  
After his baptism/ and ghostly conversion  
And for the departure/ of his princes truly  
Contrary to right/ kind and all reason  
The loss of his famed/ through this region  
A death to his queen/ and his louers all  
grievous to his kinsmen/ and friends natural.   

All these considered/ with due cyrcumstaunce  
He wailed and weped/ sobbynge fullsore  
plunged in sorrow/ heaviness/ and grievance  
lamenting his offence/ a thousand times therfore  
His intolerable pain/ increased more and more  
woefully he went/ to his bed by and by  
supposing some death/ without any remedy.   

Some of his louers/ being there present  
gave him their counsel/ to hunt in the foreste  
Some to dysportes/ and pleasures evident  
Some unto melody/ all thoughts to degest  
But Ermenylde his queen/ which loved him best  
counseled him truly/ to take contrition  
And mends make/ by due satisfaction.   

Of this ghostly counsel/ the king was very glad  
And in the morrow after/ prepared busily  
With meekness to seek/ blessed saint Cead  
So when the king came/ to his oratory  
The bishop was at mass/ and right consequently  
Fro heaven descended/ so glorious a light  
That of the mystery/ Vulfer had no sight.   

when mass was ended/ saint Cead his vestures cast  
Vpon the son beam/ by miracle there hanging  
supposing on a form/ and made much hast  
To meet at the door/ meekly the said king  
which lay there prostrate/ penance desiring  
With reverence him elevate/ and gave an exortacyon  
The king was agreeable/ for to do satisfaction.   

The bishop him enjoined/ in parte of penance  
To destroy all idols/ and sects of idolatry  
In all his realm/ and the temples of pagans  
To translate to the honour/ of god almighty  
With preestes and clerkes/ to pray and sing devoutly  
Also peas and justice/ to be kept continual  
With the works of mercy/ to be used in special.   

further he enjoined him/ of his charity  
monasteries to make/ of great perfection  
Endowed with lands/ possessed in liberty  
therein for to set/ men of religion  
To pray to our lord/ for his salvation  
which Vulfer promised/ to fulfil gladle  
As soon as he might/ by possibility.   

Than the foresaid king/ and the holy confessor  
Went to their prayers/ in the oratory  
And as the king looked up/ to our saviour  
The said sacrat vestures/ he saw evidently  
hanging on the son beam/ full marvelously  
His gloves/ his girdle/ the king had vpon  
which shortly to ground/ falled adowne.   

whereby he perceived/ the great holiness  
Of blessed saint Cead/ and interyor devotion  
desired his prayer/ daily with meekness  
To almighty god/ for his remission  
from thence departed/ with his benedyccyon  
joyful in his soul/ toward his place  
thanking god meekly/ of his great grace.   

As the king promised/ to our saviour  
Shortly he avoyded/ all idolatry  
burned their idols/ correcked their error  
Translated their temples/ unto god almighty  
Founded monasteries/ of religion many  
Of men and women/ gave them possessions  
lands/ rents/ riches/ to increase deuocyons   

Namely he founded/ a rich monastery  
For death of the princes/ in satisfaction  
To the honour of god/ and saint Peter truly  
Called Peterborowe abbey/ in all this region  
Endowed it with rents/ liberties/ possession  
A place where many/ religious persons be  
serving day and night/ our lord with charity.   

Also there was founded/ at ston a pryore  
In the honour of god/ and the martyrs twain  
Possessed with lands/ rents and liberty  
Where devout chanons/ ben inhabit certain  
miracles and signs/ haue ben shewed there plain  
To the laud and praise/ of god omnypotent  
And of these holy martyrs/ patrons there present.    

¶ Of the fervent desire& great devotion that saint Werburge had to be religious/& of the daily supplycacyons she made to the king her father for the same. Ca. xiii.  

AS this mighty princes/ increased in age  
So daily increased/ her good conditions  
That greatly enjoyed/ her honourable lineage  
considering in her/ such virtuous dysposycyons  
In vigils/ prayers/ and ghostly medytacyons  
Set all her mind/ power/ might/ and main  
To serve our saviour/ day and night certain.   

She well considered/ with due discretion  
Of this present life/ the great wretchydnesse  
How dreadful it is/ full of vatyacyon  
Deceuable/ perilous/ and of no sykernesse  
The time uncertain/ to be known doubtless  
For here is no city/ nor sure dwelyynge place  
All thing is transitory/ in short process and space.   

wherefore this virgin/ glad and benyuolent  
following the counsel/ of blessed matthew  
Was on of five virgins/ ever redy present  
Had her lamp replete/ with oil full of virtue  
Redy for to meet/ her spouse sweet Ihesu  
With chartable works/ in her soul continual  
Therfore she was taken/ to his bliss eternal.   

She well considered/ the words of the gospel  
Who refuses pleasures/ and natural generation  
For the love of Ihesu/ rewarded shalbe well  
With a hundreth fold grace/ here for their guerdon  
And after this life/ haue etern fruition  
which she remembered/ and ever fro that day  
On her father wolde call/ and meekly to him say.   

reverent mighty prince/ and lord honourable  
most dere byloued father/ my singular help& succour  
My trust/ treasure/ and solace/ to me most amiable  
Instauntly I beseech you/ for love of our saviour  
And of his mother mary/ of virgins the floure  
With all the company/ that in heaven be  
My humble petition/ now grant it unto me.   

Well byloued father/ this is my fully mind  
My instant desire/ and humble supplication  
By the grace of god/ maker of all mankind  
And by your lysence/ help/ and tuycyon  
I purpose to enter/ into holy religion  
And utterly refuse/ all pleasures transitory  
To be professed/ at the house of Ely.   

O my dere daughter/ said this noble king  
My pleasure/ solace/ and hope of my gladness  
most dere byloued/ and my singular sweet derlynge  
I well consider/ your virtue and sadness  
your instant request/ and humble gentleness  
And of your desire/ inwardly I am glad  
But yet your motyon/ makes my heart full sad.   

All my joy and comfort/ now resteth in the  
sith thy dere brethren/ from us ben ago  
Thou arte the trusty treasure to thy mother and me  
Our singular solace/ and sure consolation  
wherefore sweet derlynge/ as for my heir alone  
I wolde the mary/ and a queen the make  
If thou will consent/ and my counsel take.   

consider and behold/ through all this land  
Take the a marriage/ at thine own pleasure  
A prince most valiant/ most noble to be found  
And of help and aid/ I shall the assure  
With riches/ royalty/ welche/ and treasure  
Clothes of gold/ and royal rich apparel  
And all things necessary/ as man can of tell.   

remember also/ how after course of kind  
age doth sore grieve/ thy moder and me also  
Therfore natural love( sweet child) doth me bind  
To give the best counsel/ what thou shall do  
To honour and worship/ how thou may come to  
which great renown/ and hye estate certain  
To se the a queen/ will make us young again.   

God ordained matrimony/ first in paradise  
between man& woman/ when he the world did make  
That mankind might increase/ multiply and rise  
each person at pleasure/ a spouse for them to take  
Now joined by holy church/ all other to forsake  
The child of the father/ to take his discipline  
And after that to teach/ his issue their doctrine.   

Also man and beest/ haue disposition natural  
To bring forth their likeness/ by generation  
But man having reason/ and foe will with all  
As lawe requireth/ hath his procreacyon  
under true matrimony/ by his own election  
or else to observe/ and live in pure virginity  
For the greater merit/ and reward of glory.   

And yf all maidens/ should keep their chastity  
As ye now do/ how should the world increase  
sweet lovely creature/ right joyful wolde I be  
To kiss a child of thine/ having thy likeness  
And se the also coronate/ as a mighty pryncesse  
incline dere derlynge/ thy mind to mine intent  
And all these said honours/ will follow consequent.    

¶ Of the meek answer saint Werburge gave to her father when she was moeued to marriage. Ca. xiiii.  

THe holy maid/ when she knew her fathers mind  
Her soul was replete/ with woe& pensyuenesse  
And sore began to weep/ after course of kind  
The salt tears dystylled/ for pain and heaviness  
By her ruddy cheeks shining/ full fair doubtelesse  
piteous to behold/ but when the foresaid maid  
Ceased of her sorrow/ thus to him she said.   

most beest byloued father/ next to god almight  
your kind gentle motion/ wolde moeue inwardly  
The mind of any creature/ to follow you right  
Or any stony stomach/ to relent and apply  
And resolve each hard heart/ to wailing dolefully  
considering on every parte/ with good discretion  
To accept or refuse/ this hard election.   

Father I haue ben to you/ meek and obedient  
ever sith I had/ yeres of discretion  
glad to observe/ your hye commaundyment  
With love interyor/ and humble intention  
And so will continue/ with lowly submyssyon  
In this present life/ while I do endure  
Of my love and prayer/ ever ye shalbe sure.   

But most lovely father/ I pray you hertfully  
Take no displeasure/ pardon what I shall say  
My soul/ my heart/ and mind/ is set stydfastly  
To serve my lord god/ night and also day  
never to be married/ by no maner of way  
For soothly I haue vowed/ my true virginity  
unto Ihesu/ the second person in trinity.   

That is my spouse/ and blessed saviour  
For Whose love refused/ in certainty haue I  
All worldly pleasures/ wealth/ riches and honour  
With all void business/ and cures transitory  
My love on him is set/ so sure and fervently  
That nothing shall separate/ my heart him fro  
sickness nor health/ pleasure/ pain/ ne wo.   

Also my full intent/ was never otherwise  
Than to be handmaid/ to my lord Ihesu  
And of my soul and body/ to make him sacrifice  
For my ghostly wealth/ all vices to subdue  
He is my dere spouse/ solace/ health most true  
On him is all my heart/ and hast ben set alway  
And ever shal be/ unto my ending day.   

In this wretched world/ we can not long endure  
And of this present life/ we are in no surety  
As we haue deserved/ so we shalbe sure  
After this pilgrimage/ rewarded for to be  
For mercy and grace/ therfore meekly call we  
while we haue time and space/ for than it is to late  
when death with his dart/ faith to us chekemate.   

wherefore dere father/ I show you now again  
All my hole heart/ desire and intent  
which ever hath ben/ and so shal be certain  
For to be religious/ chast/ and obedient  
Namely at Ely/ for their virtue excellent  
Father I require you/ for chrystes love and charity  
My meek supplication/ now grant it unto me.   

The king well considered/ his daughters desire  
Her constant true mind/ and pure devotion  
granted her petition/ with singular love entire  
trusting by her prayer/ and daily supplication  
unto heaven bliss/ the rather for to come  
Her mother Ermenylde/ was glad of this tydynge  
And lauded full lowly/ our lord and heaven king.    

¶ How saint Werburge was made a moynes after her desire at the monastery of Ely under saint audery/ lady and abbess. Ca. xv.  

THan the king remembered/ with due cyrcunstaunce  
The excellent virtue/ sadness/ and grauyte  
Of his dere daughter/ and the perfect constance  
Her humble petition/ and pure virginity  
He thanked our lord/ with great humility  
Of his strove grace/ that so royal a floure  
from him descended/ to his praise and honour.   

He send messages/ in all goodly hast  
With letters myssyue/ through his region  
commanding his subiectes/ they should full fast  
By a day assigned/ be redy everichone  
In their best maner/ with him for to gone  
To bring his daughter/ to the house of Ely  
There to be religious/ after her desydery.   

when the day was come/ of their appointment  
The nobles of the realm/ and lords were redy  
To attend on their sovereign/ at his commaundyment  
king Vulfer prepared/ all thing pleasantly  
And of his court/ had chosen a noble company  
In their best array/ royalty/ and renown  
To offer saint werburge/ to god and religion.   

The king on his journey/ road for the royally  
The queen him followed/ as is the custom,  
Werburge succeeded them consequently  
The peers and his counsel/ knew well their room  
Dukes/ erles/ lords/ and many a worthy barowne  
knights/ squires/ gentyls/ of her kindred also  
With ladies and gentylwomen/& servants both two.   

when the king approached/ the said monastery  
saint audery than abbess/ took her holy covent  
And met the said king/ and all his company  
With solemn procession/ and greeting benyuolent  
praising our lord god omnypotent  
which of his goodness/ to that congrecacyon  
send them a sister/ of such perfection.   

Wereburge required/ by the order of charity  
meekly on her knees/ to enter religion  
saint audery received/ of her benignity  
And granted fre licence/ after her petition  
glad were also/ the hole congregation  
And sang( Te deum) with much reverence  
Magnyfyenge our lord/ of his providence.   

She was received/ with much solempnyte  
Into the holy order/ after her intent  
To prove her sadness/ and humility  
( As is the custom) and so be obedient  
To live ever after/ humble/ chast/ and continent  
Than did their joy/ marvelously increase  
considering her pacyens/ and perfect holynes.   

Her royal dyademe/ and shining coronall  
Was first refuted/ for love of our saviour  
The poor veil accepted/ and the simple pall  
The royal rich purpull/ rejected that same hour  
With other clothes of gold/ sylkes of great honour  
She took low appareyll/ vestures that were black  
All her pleasant garments/ she clearly did forsake.   

Also she refused/ her fathers realm and royalty  
All riches/ rents// pleasures/ possession  
With all worldly honours/ full of vanity  
Lowly submyttynge her/ under subieccyon  
virtue to increase/ myndynge most religion  
She refused yet more her own proper will  
Put all to her abbess/ her order to fulfil.    

¶ Of the great solempnyte king Vulfer made at the ghostly marriage of saint Werburge his daughter/ to al his louers/ cousins/ and friends. Ca. xvi.  

king Vulfer her father/ at this ghostly spousage  
Prepared great triumphs/ and solempnyte  
Made a royal feest/ as custom is of marriage  
send for his friends/ after good humanity  
kept a noble household/ shewed great liberality  
both to rich and poor/ that to this feest wolde come  
No man was denied/ every man was well come.   

Her vncles and auntes/ were present there all  
Ethelred and Merwalde/ and Mercelly also  
three blessed kings/ whom sayntes we do call  
Saint keneswyd/ saint keneburg/ their miters both two  
And of her noble lineage/ many other mo  
Were redy that season/ with reverence and honour  
At this noble triumph/ to do all their devour.   

Tho kings met them/ with their company  
Egbryct king of kent/ brother to the queen  
The second was Aldulphe/ king of the east party  
Brother to saint audery/ wife and maid serene  
With dyvers of their progeny/ and nobles as I ween  
Dukes/ erles/ barons/ and lords far and nere  
In their best array/ were present all in fear.   

It were full tedious/ to make description  
Of the great triumphs/ and solemn royalty  
belonging to the feest/ the honour and provision  
By plain declaration/ vpon every party  
But the sooth to say/ without ambyguyte  
All herbs and flowers/ fragraunt fair and sweet  
Were strawed in walls/ and laid under their feet.   

Clothes of gold and arras/ were hanged in the hall  
Depaynted with pyctures/ and histories manifold  
Well wrought and craftily/ with precious stones all  
Glyterynge as Phebus/ and the beaten gold  
like an earthly paradise/ pleasant to behold  
As for the said moynes/ was not them among  
But praying in her cell/ as done all novice young.   

The story of Adam/ there was goodly wrought  
And of his wife eve/ between them the serpent  
How they were deceived/ and to their pains brought  
There was Cayn and Abell/ offering their present  
The sacrifice of Abell/ accept full evident  
tubal and Tubalcain/ were portrayed in that place  
The inuentours of music/ and crafts by great grace.   

Noe and his ship/ was made there curyously  
Sendynge forth a raven/ which never came again  
And how the dove returned/ with a branch hastily  
A token of comfort and peace/ to man certain  
Abraham there was/ standing vpon the mount plain  
To offer in sacrifice/ Isaac his dere sone  
And how the sheep for him/ was offered in oblation.   

The twelve sones of jacob/ there were in purtrayture  
And how into Egypt/ young joseph was sold  
There was inprysoned/ by a false coniectour  
After in all egypt/ was ruler( as is told)  
There was in picture/ Moyses wise and bold  
Our lord appearing/ in bush flammynge as fire  
And nothing therof brent/ lief/ three/ nor spire.   

The ten plagues of egypt/ were well embossed  
The children of Israell/ passing the reed see  
king Pharoo drowned/ with all his proud host  
And how the two tables/ at the mount of Synaye  
Were given to Moyses/ and how soon to idolatry  
The people were prove/ and punished were therfore  
How Datan and Abyron/ for pride were lost full your.   

Duke Iosue was joined/ after them in picture  
Ledynge the Isrehelytes/ to the land of promyssyon  
And how the said land/ was divided by measure  
To the people of god/ by equal sundry portion  
The Iudges and bishops/ were there everichone  
their noble acts/ and triumphs martial  
Fresshly were browdred/ in these clothes royal.   

next to hye board lord/ appeared fair and bright  
king Saull and Dauyd/ and prudent Salomon  
Roboas succeeding/ which soon lost his might  
The good king Esechyas/ and his generation  
And so to the maccabees/ and dyvers other nation  
All these said stories/ so richly done and wrought  
belonging to king Vulfer/ again that time were brought   

But over the hyedesse/ in the principal place  
Where the said three kings/ sate crwoned all  
The best hallynge hanged/ as reason was  
wherein were wrought/ the .ix. ordres angelycall  
divided in three Ierarchyses/ not ceasing to call  
Sanctus/ sanctus/ sanctus blessed be the trinity  
Dominus deus sabbath/ three persons in one deyte.   

next in order suing/ set in goodly purtrayture  
Was our blessed lady/ floure of femynyte  
With the twelve apostles/ echeone in his figure  
And the four euangelystes/ wrought most curyously  
Also the disciples/ of christ in their degree  
Prechynge and teaching/ unto every nation  
The faythtes of holy church/ for their salvation.   

Martyrs than followed/ right manifestly  
The holy innocents/ whom herod had slain  
Blessed saint Stephan/ the prothomartyr truly  
saint Laurence/ saint Vyncent/ suffering great pain  
With many other mo/ than here ben now certain  
Of which said martyrs/ example we may take  
patience to observe/ in heart for chrystes sake.   

confessors approached/ right convenient  
freshly enbrodred/ in rich tysshewe and fine  
saint Nycholas saint Benedycte/ and his covent  
saint jerom/ Basylyus and saint augustine  
Gregory the great doctor/ Ambrose& saint Martyne  
All these were set/ in goodly purtrayture  
Them to behold/ was a heavenly pleasure.   

virgins them followed/ crwoned with the lily  
among whom our lady/ chief president was  
Some crwoned with rooses/ for their great victory  
saint Katheryne/ saint Margarete/ saint Agathas  
saint Cycyly/ saint Agnes/ and saint Charytas  
saint Lucye/ saint Wenefryde/ and saint Apolyn  
All these were brothered/ the clothes of gold within.   

Vpon the other side/ of the hall set were  
Noble ancient stories/& how the strong samson  
Subdued his enemies/ by his mighty power  
Of Hector of Troy/ slain by fals treason  
Of noble Arthur/ king of this region  
With many other mo/ which it is to long  
plainly to express/ this time you among.   

The tables were covered/ with clothes of Dyaper  
richly enlarged/ with silver and with gold  
The cupborde with plate/ shining fair and clear  
marshals their offices/ fulfilled manifold  
Of mighty wine plenty/ both new and old  
All maner kind/ of meets delicate  
( when grace was said) to them was preparate.   

To this noble feest/ there was such ordinance  
That nothing wanted/ that gotten might be  
On see and on land/ but there was abundance  
Of all maner pleasures/ to be had for money  
The boards all charged/ full of meet plenty  
And dyvers subtyltes/ prepared soothly were  
With cordyall spices their guests for to cheer.   

The joyful words/ and sweet communycacyon  
Spoken at the table/ it were hard to tell  
each man at liberty/ without interrupcyon  
both sadness and mirths/ also prive counsel  
Some adulacyon/ some the truth did tell  
But the great estates/ spake of their regions  
knights of their chyualry/ of crafts the commons.   

certain at each course/ of service in the hall  
trumpets blewe up/ shawms and claryons  
showing their melody with/ toynes musycall  
dyvers other minstrels/ in crafty proporcyons  
Made sweet concordaunce/ and lusty dyuysyons  
An heavenly pleasure/ such armony to here  
rejoicing the hearts/ of the audience full clear.   

A singular mynstrell/ all other far passing  
Toyned his instrument/ in pleasant armony  
And sang most sweetly/ the company gladynge  
Of mighty conquerors/ the famous victory  
wherewith was ravished/ their spirits and memory  
specially he sang/ of the great Alexandere  
Of his triumphs and honours/ enduring .xii. year.   

solemnly he song/ the state of the Romans  
Ruled under kings/ by policy and wisdom  
Of their hye justice/ and rightful ordynauns  
daily increasing/ in worship and renown  
till Tarquyne the proud king/ with that great confusion  
Oppressed dame Lucrece/ the wife of Colatyne  
kings never reigned in Rome/ sith that time.   

Also how the Romayns/ under three dyctatours  
governed all regions/ of the world right wisely  
till Iulyus caesar/ excelling all conquerors  
Subdued Pompeius/ and took the hole monarchy  
And the rule of Rome/ to himself manfully  
But Cassius Brutus/ the fals conspyratour  
Caused to be slain/ the said noble emperour.   

After the said Iulyus/ succeeded his sister sone  
Called Octauyanus/ in the imperial see  
And by his precept/ was made description  
To every region/ land/ shire/ and city  
A tribute to pay/ unto his dignity  
That time was/ universal peas and honour  
In which time was born/ our blessed saviour.   

All these histories/ noble and ancient  
rejoicing the audience/ he sang with pleasuer  
And many other mo/ of the new testament  
pleasant and profitable/ for their souls cure  
which be omitted/ now not put in ure  
The ministers were redy/ their office to fulfil  
To take up the tables/ at their lords will.   

when this noble feest/ and great solempnyte  
daily enduring/ a long time and space  
Was royally ended/ with honour and royalty  
each king at other/ lysence taken hace  
And so departed from thence/ to their place  
king Vulfer returned/ with worship and renown  
from the house of Ely/ to his own mansion.    

¶ Of the holy profession& ghostly conversation saint Werburge used at Ely in religion/ under saint audery her abbess and cousin. Ca. xvii.  

SO when this virgin/ the spouse of Ihesu  
Had fully continued/ in holy religion  
With meekness/ pacyens/ and all virtue  
Fully the year/ of her probation  
Than she made instance/ for her profession  
unto saint audery/ her lady and abbess  
which soon was granted/ with great gladness.   

ordinance they made/ and great royalty  
Her friends were called/ against that season  
She was professed/ with great humility  
The observance done/ with due devotion  
She made solemn vow/ of ghostly conversation  
meekly to observe/ obedience and chastity  
enduring her life/ and wilful poverty.   

By the example/ of her perfection  
Many dyvers persons/ of her noble lineage  
Refused this world/ and entred religion  
Renounsynge vain pleasures riches and marriage  
inclined to virtue/ for their ghostly advantage  
As may be specyfyed/ here after following  
their names/ their estate/ and their good living.   

Now this glorious virgin/ after her desire  
Is ghostly married/ to our lord Ihesu  
according to her intent/ and true love entire  
She daily increased/ from virtue to virtue  
With more strayter life/ vices to subdu  
The longer she endured/ in religion  
The better she prepared/ her heart to devotion.   

And tho this virgin/ clearly did forsake  
All riches honours/ and pleasures worldly  
With all possessions/ for her lords sake  
She thought than she reigned/ most like a lady  
Cause that she lived in chrystes service daily  
And certain it is/ holy scripture recordynge  
Who serves well god/ doth reign like a king.   

In prayer/ penance/ and/ contemplacyon  
Was all her business/ and study alway  
Compasynge by what maner of meditation  
She might best please/ our lord to his pay  
offering her person/ a true sacrifice every day  
No labour her grieved/ love was so fervent  
Her body vpon earth/ her soul in heaven lent.   

sweet/ comely creatures/ ladies everichone  
seeking for pleasures/ riches and arayment  
blinded by your beauty/ and singular affection  
consider this virgin/ humble and patient  
A spectacle of virtue/ ever obedient.  
behold how she hast/ clearly laid away  
Her royal rich clothes/ and is in meek array.   

your garments now be gay and glorious  
every year made/ after a new inuencyon  
Of silk and velvet/ costly and precious  
Brothered full richly/ after the beest fashion  
shining like angels/ in your opinion  
Where less wolde suffice/ and content as well  
As all that great cost/ following wise counsel.   

A plain example/ now ye may take  
Of this mighty kings daughter dere  
which for the love of god/ did forsake  
All such vain pleasures/ and garments clear  
She gave herself/ to penance and prayere  
wherefore fair ladies/ do way such vanity  
Prepare yourself/ to virtue and humility.   

Some of low birth/ excelling their degree  
Done covet to haue/ as royal rich vesture  
Worldly honours/ also the sufferaynte  
As they were ladies/ by line of nature  
Of dreadful misery/ they here the figure  
proud as a peacock/ whelynge full bright  
All is but vanity/ contentynge the sight.   

O glorious virgin/ replete with singular grace  
Endowed with sovereign gifts celestial  
refusing void pleasures/ when thou had space  
And honours transitory/ which hath brought in thrall  
A thousand persons/ in ruin to fall  
A mirror thou arte/ of vyrgynall cleanness  
Of true obedience/ and perfect meekness.   

So Werburge professed/ to her rule full right  
A redolent floure/ all virtue to augment  
As lucifer shining/ a clear lamp of light  
For whom her spouse/ god sone omnypotent  
Shewed many miracles/ to every patient  
A sign her love was/ supernatural  
Closed in our lord/ by grace supernal.   

The excellent goodness/ of this moynes  
And famed of virtue/ with humility  
Transcended all other/ in perfect holynes  
So that sundry persons/ approached that party  
For ghostly comfort/ counsel and remedy  
such as to her came/ pensyue/ woe/ and sad  
Departed joyful/ in soul merry and glad.   

She daily provided/ for ghostly treasure  
To build her a place/ a sure mansion  
ever to remain/ with joy and endure  
In pleasure perpetual/ without corruption  
which she obtained/ by her devotion  
After this departure/ to reign as a president  
In etern bliss/ with god omnypotent    

¶ A little treatise of the life of saint audery abbess of Ely/ and of her holy couersacyon and great devotion/ under whom saint Werburge was made nonne/ and professed. Ca. xviii.  

THe year of our lord .vi. C.ix. and leavy  
reigned saint Anna/ king of east england  
which married saint Hereswith/ of the North party  
They had noble issue/ as we understand  
prince Aldulph and Iurwyne/ in story as is found  
saint Sexburge the queen/ and blessed audery  
saint Ethelberge/ Withburge/ a holy progeny.   

This blessed audery/ called Etheldred  
Of two great kyngedomes/ lineally descending  
Was born in suffolk/ as saith saint Bede  
In a little village/ called Exmynge  
This noble princes/ and dere derlynge  
With many great virtues/ of grace illumynate  
magnified her parage/ and royal estate.   

This blessed audery/ from her young age  
Was disposed ever/ unto sadness  
obedient lowly/ unto her parentage  
increasing in virtue/ and constant sobrynes  
worldly pleasures/ dysportes/ and wantonness  
lightness of language/ and all presumption  
In this said virgin/ had no domynacyon.   

Sad and demure/ she was in countenance  
nothing inclined/ unto fragility  
Benynge and patient/ without perturbaunce  
meek/ curteys/ gentle/ full of humility  
pride/ statelenes/ and sensualyte  
Were not in her found/ by any condition  
Curteyse in byhauour/ unto every person.   

No man was grieved/ nor took displeasure  
At this said maiden/ in her fathers hall  
every honest person/ and reasonable creature  
Were pleased with her/ both one and all  
None dyscontent/ private nor general  
She was so meek/ and full of patience  
That people desired/ to come to her presence.   

She was beauteous/ fair and amiable  
pleasant to behold/ in gifts of nature  
Her countenance comely/ sweet/ lovely/ and stable  
nothing disposed/ unto worldly pleasure  
More like an angel by all conjecture  
Than a fragyll maid/ of sensual appetite  
For in vain pleasures/ she had no delight.   

when that she came/ to yeres of discretion  
dyvers her moeued/ in way of marriage  
Some offered riches/ royalty/ and renown  
Some other possessions lands and heritage  
And some the sufferaynte/ her mind to assuage  
All these she refused/ for the love of Ihesu  
To whom she avowed/ her chastity full true.   

After that Venus/ had her long assailed  
To pervert her mind/ to worldly affection  
And of all nets and engynes/ therof had failed  
Than came to her presence/ a prince of renown  
Called duke Tombert/ of the east region  
which long desired/ to haue her in spousage  
At the last obtained/ the will of her parentage.   

unto which thing he wolde never incline  
For all the motion of her hye parentes  
till she was assured/ by heavenly doctrine  
To keep her virginity/ clear in conscyens  
Than she consented/ without concupyscens  
And with the said duke/ she lived in chastity  
both maiden and wife/ almost yeres three.   

After whose death/ she remained in Ely  
In fasting/ prayer/ vigils/ and penance  
which place was given/ to her joint and dowry  
By Tombert her husband/ with great pleasance  
This yle of Ely/ by divine purueaunce  
With muddy waters/ is compased about  
their enemies to grieve/ and strongly to hold out.   

thither came Ggbyrct/ king of the north parte  
To desire saint audery/ in matrimony  
To whom she wolde never/ consent in heart  
For no maner counsel/ that might be done truly  
Tho her sister Sexburge/ moeued her tenderly  
till the angel of god/ assured her to be  
queen/ wife/ and maid/ keeping virginity.   

Than audery granted/ married for to be  
unto this foresaid/ noble king Egfryde  
And at the marriage/ was great solempnyte  
triumphs honours/ on every side  
Great cost and royalty/ they did provide  
from Ely departed/ unto his own place  
In the North partend wellynge/ with great solace   

By the grace of our lord god/ most of might  
And help of his mother/ blessed maid mary  
By prayer of audery/ and by miracle right  
together they lived/ both in pure chastity  
The natural motion/ of his lascyuyte  
Was shortly slaked/ and fervent desire  
By miracle/ as water quencheth the fire.   

when he apperceyued/ her assured constance  
Her perfect holynes/ and chast continence  
His heart reiosed/ of her continuance  
Of whom she desired/ with humble reverence  
And singular supplication to haue fre lysence  
At Canwod abbey/ to enter religion  
which the king granted/ for her devotion.   

saint Ebba sister/ unto saint Oswolde  
Was abbess and ruler/ of that congregation  
Where blessed audery/ right as she wolde  
Was reverently received/ into religion  
And after the year/ of her probation  
Professed there was/ by bishop Wylfryde  
Where all worldly honours she set on side.   

from thence she departed/ to the yle of Ely  
More quietly to live/ out of business  
For dread of the king/ her husband truly  
purposing to take her/ from that holiness  
She took two maidens/ with her doubtless  
And in their Iournay/ our lord of his grace  
Shewed dyvers miracles/ at each restynge place.   

The archbishop of york/ Wylfryde her confessor  
Was deprived from his benefice/ by the king cruelly  
observed patience/ laudynge our saviour  
And followed saint audery/ to the place of Ely  
which( as afore is said) was her joint and dowry  
And elect her abbess/ on that congregation  
most worthy to be/ for her holy conversation.   

Where audery builded/ a church of our lady  
With help of king Aldulph/ her brother natural  
Dystaunt a mile/ from the old monastery  
Founded by saint austin/ for merit spiritual  
which place all desolate/ she edified full special  
By her provision/ an other noble monastery  
The year of grace/ syxe hundreth seventy and three.   

when the work was ended/ as her will was  
She endowed the abbey/ with fraunches and liberty  
And gave the hole yle of Ely/ to that place  
With all commodytes/ profettes/ and issues fre  
from all exaccyons/ exempt clearly to be  
Of king and bishop/ confirmed it at Rome  
With all prelates& princes/ consenting of this region.   

In short time and space/ to audery did resort  
religious men and women/ a great company  
Professed in that place/ for their ghostly comfort  
Renounsynge vain pleasures/& honours transsytory  
among whom saint Werburge/ professed solemnly  
promised in audience/ to live a life monestycall  
After saint Bene●tes rule/ for the life eternal.   

Also the year of grace/ syxe hundreth seventy and nine  
In the month of julii/ in the ninth kalendas  
To heaven departed/ saint audery the queen  
Than reigning in Kent/ king Lothary by grace  
Aldulph in east england/ her brother which was  
king Offryde her husband/ in northumberland  
Also king ethelred/ than reigning in Mercelande    

¶ A breue rehearsal of the life of saint Sexburge/ grand mother to saint Werburge. And of her coming to Ely to her sister audery from Shepay monastery. Ca. xix.  

THe holy matron/ and queen saint Sexburge  
A kings daughter/& moder to kings twain  
sister to saint audery/& graundmother to Werburge  
Of noble parentage/ is comen certain  
Of two realms descending/ lineally and plain  
By her father/ from the realm of east england  
And by her mother/ from northumberland.   

Her father saint Anna/ as saith mine author  
Was king of the east parte/ sone to Egnicius  
which Anna was married/ with much honour  
To Hereswith/ daughter to king Herericius  
And sister to saint Hylde/ the virgin gracious  
To whom saint edwin/ the glorious martyr  
king of northumberland/ was great grandfather.   

This said king Anna/ lived a long space  
In wealth/ worship/ honour/ and prosperity  
With his queen Hereswith/ by singular grace  
observing justice/ patience/ and equyte  
kept the precepts/ of god almyghte  
merciful and liberal/ to the poor in pain  
which king by Penda/ was murdered and slain.   

As the river passeth/ oftentimes the heed fountain  
The little graffe or ympe/ transcendeth the three  
likewise their children/ increased certain  
In meekness/ patience/ and perfect charity  
above their parentes/ in virtue and benignity  
So that their name/ lineage/ and hye a state  
By them was magnified/ praised and decorate.   

king Anna and Hereswith/ had a noble issue  
Syxe goodly children/ pleasant to behold  
None fairer in this land/ myndynge all virtue  
And to all good manners/ disposed manifold  
yet was their fairness/ not equal to be told  
To their devotion/ and singular goodness  
Whose names expressed/ ben afore doubtless.   

Sexburge the eldest/ of the miters all  
instruct by her parentes/ in virtuous discipline  
following their counsel/ in heart full special  
Prepared her soul/ after their doctrine  
For above the age/ of so young a feminine  
So that every day/ by grace and wisdom  
In her did grow/ some plant of devotion.   

In all this realm/ dylated was her famed  
That when she approached/ unto lawful age  
princes/ dukes/ erles/ hearing of her name  
desired to haue Sexburge/ in marriage  
And busily laboured/ unto her parentage  
This maid was married/ with honourfull excellent  
unto Ercombert/ the noble king of Kent.   

To whom king Ethelbryct grandfather was  
The first chrysten king/ of Saxons and chief floure  
baptized by saint austin/ through heavenly grace  
He was to holy church/ a special benefactor  
monasteries and pryores/ founded with great honour  
king Eadbalde his sone/ example of him took  
which was father to Ercombert/ as saith my book.   

This lady Sexburge/ cyrcumfulsed with grace  
After her desire/ and virtuous intent  
Had lever the monastery/ than the fair palace  
The church to visit/ than with marriage be lent  
But to her parentes/ she was ever obedient  
following their counsel/ and of her friends dere  
In lawful marriage/ took the said king her fear.   

A noble generation/ she had by the king  
Egbryct and Lothary/ two princes prepotent  
And two holy daughters/ in virtue shining  
Ermenylde and Erkengode/ by lynyall descent  
This Ermenylde married/ with honour equyualent  
unto king Vulfer/ had a royal issue  
The glorious Werburge/ replete with virtue.   

Her sister Erkengode/ refused utterly  
Honours/ worship/ and worldly possession  
riches/ marriage/ and pleasures transitory  
Went unto france/ with humble devotion  
At the city of burgess/ entred religion  
Where Ethelberge her aunt/ was ruler and abbess  
together they lived/ in perfect holiness.   

This honourable Sexburge/ and blessed matron  
refusing worldly honours/ and solempnyte  
Preferred meekness/ and perfect devotion  
above all riches/ power and dignity  
avoyded ambycyon/ observed humility  
Vpon poor people/ ever had compassion  
And them relieved/ with due mynystracyon.   

She made her palace/ manytymes an hospital  
Her private cubycle/ a devout oratory  
As a kind mother amiable/ in court and in hall  
meekly fulfilled/ the seven works of mercy  
oftentimes in the church/ seld among company  
yet ever when she might/ haue time and space  
magnified and praised/ our lord in secret place.   

She instruct her husband/ in ghostly virtue  
To great lolynesse/ and singular perfection  
So by her counsel/ with the grace of Ihesu  
from infydelyte/ purged was that region  
Destroyed their idols/ their sects everichone  
Bestaured temples/ unto chrystes honour  
Founded monasteries/ by her cost and labour.   

The king by her motion/ commanded straightly  
All his people and subiectes/ vpon sharp correction  
To observe prayer/ and penance devoutly  
And truly for to fast/ the holy time of lenten  
The archbishop Theodorus/ and fathers of religion  
considering her patience/ and benignity  
rejoiced in her deeds/ and praised the trinity.   

when the famous Ercombert/ the said king of Kent  
four& twenty year had reigned/ in honour full royal  
With blessed Sexburge his queen excellent  
Than he departed/ from this life mortal  
The queen prepared/ the obsequyes funeral  
With great lamentation/ and great royalty  
As was convenient/ for his state and degree.   

After that Sexburge/ refused worldly pleasure  
Entred religion/ professed chastity  
At Shepay monastery/ in Kent full sure  
builded at her cost/ full honourable  
After elect abbess/ and ruler of that company  
To whom she was/ a mirror of meekness  
And example of virtue/ and proved holynes.   

As she was occupied/ in meditation  
An heavenly messenger/ to her was sent  
showing how for sin/ and transgression  
england should suffer/ great punysment  
And be subdued/ with grievous torment  
wherefore she left/ in good rule that place  
And did elect to them/ an other abbace.   

Sexburge took licence/ of her miters all  
commending them/ unto the trinity  
And so departed/ fro her children spiritual  
With labour attained/ to the house of Elye  
There to be subject/ to Hersyster Audrye  
And to her doctrine/ apply her intent  
unto religion/ ever found obedient.   

saint audery was glad/ of her miters coming  
In like maner/ were all the hole congregation  
With mirths and solace/ in soul rejoicing  
To haue the presence/ of so worthy a person  
There lived together/ in perfect devotion  
till blessed audery/ from this life mortal  
Departed was/ to the life eternal.   

After whose burial/ Sexburge was elect  
To be abbess and ruler/ over that covent  
which to all virtue/ her mind did erect  
And the .xvi. year after/ with labours diligent  
She translate saint audery/ that noble president  
being hole incorrupte/ also substantial  
In body and in vesture/ by grace supernal.    

¶ How saint Ermenylde after the death of king Vulfer her husband was made a nonne at Ely/ under her mother saint Sexburge abbess/ and Werburge her devout daughter. Ca. xx.  

OF Mercyens the king/ whan the foresaid Vulfere  
Had reigned in honour/ worship and royalty  
With saint Ermenylde his queen/ fully .xvii. year  
unto everlasting bliss/ departed than he  
And buried was/ with much solempnyte  
In lichfield church/ after him there did succeed  
In to the kingdom/ his brother ethelred.   

The queen for her husband/ made great lamentation  
Dolefully lamenting/ night and day his departure  
As nature inquired/ enduring a long season  
remained in wydohode/ and mourning vesture  
yet after all heaviness/ penance/ and dysconfyture  
She rejoiced in soul/ to be at liberty  
intending religion/ by grace of the trinity.   

soon she departed/ to the house of Ely  
refusing this world/ pleasures possession  
Instauntly required/ with perfect humility  
To be a moynes/ accept in religion  
glad was the abbess/ of her conversion  
And thanked our lord/ of his special grace  
So did all the miters/ within the said place.   

Her natural mother/ blessed Sexburge  
That time was lady/ and chief president  
There was professed/ her daughter Werburge  
An example of meekness/ to all the covent  
Ermenylde thanked god/ and was obedient  
To her mother Sexburge/ a mirror of virtue  
Also to her daughter/ the spouses of Ihesu.   

It passeth mannes reason/ plainly to express  
Her virtuous life/ and ghostly conversation  
In prayer/ penance/ and proved meekness  
In perfect obedience/ and singular devotion  
In vigils/ abstinence/ and in hye perfection  
The cotydyane labours/ her body to chastyce  
That her soul may be/ to god true sacrifice.   

because that Werburge/ in order was senyoure  
Her mother Ermenylde/ gave her the sufferaynte  
Preferrynge her daughter/ with meekness and honour  
But yet her daughter/ of a natural amity  
Preferred her mother/ with humble senyoryte  
And so between them/ was a sweet contencyon  
whether should more subject be/ to other in religion.   

Afore when Ermenylde/ was under marriage  
unto holy matrons/ she was comparable  
Sara/ Rebecca/ rachel/ and Sybell sage  
And saint Elysabeth/ with other mo honourable  
Now in religion/ she is most notable  
known by her virtues/ and sad disposition  
What under matrimony/ was her intention.   

Ermenylde subdued/ by singular divine grace  
All fragyll mocyons/ and sensualyte  
like maner as Iudyth/ Olofernes slain hace  
She mortyfyed all pleasures/ lusts and volupte  
likewise as Iaell/ did the prince Sysare  
A duchess of virtue/ as whylom was Delbora  
used the oratory/ in prayer as did Anna.   

After the departure/ and woeful burial  
Of Sexburge her mother/ abbess and lady  
Her daughter Ermenylde/ the blessed monyall  
Was chosen abbess/ and ruler of Ely  
As sheweth dan Wyllyam/ of Maluysbury  
How first was audery/ than Sexburge her sister  
afterward was abbess/ Ermenylde her daughter.   

The life of Ermenylde/ was ever virtuous  
pleasant to god/ and her miters everichone  
In the sight of god/ her death was precious  
plainly notified/ by her conversation  
She virtuously governed/ her congregation  
from this life departed/ to eternal glory  
As saith her legend/ the Idus of February.   

And buried was/ with much lamentation  
In the holy monastery/ and house of Ely  
among her parentage/ and congregation  
Where she is shrined/ with her aunt saint audery  
And with her mother/ saint Sexburge richly  
For whom our saviour/ of his special grace  
Sheweth daily miracles/ in that said place.   

One of the miracles/ we shall now rehearse  
Our lord for her shewed/ at Ely abbey  
After her translation/ the story doth express  
It fortuned in Whytson weke/ vpon a thursday  
An Englysshman was bound/ in woeful array  
Fetered with irons/ both on hands and feet  
Wrongfully accused/ as ye may all wete.   

By instant request/ he gate him licence  
To visit the tomb/ of saint Ermenylde  
whom he required/ with humble reverence  
And meek petition/ from the heart full mild  
To be delivered/ and fully reconsylde  
Whose humble desire/ and singular supplication  
Was fully granted/ to his consolation.   

At this time/ when this holy man was praying  
when the Deken red the holy gospel  
By mean of Ermenylde/ to our lord and king  
from his hands and feet/ the irons done fell  
By grace above nature/ marvelously to tell  
That the said irons/ in sight of all the brethren  
sprang up suddenly/ and light vpon the altar.   

¶ Aliud miraculum.  
AN other miracle/ declare now may we  
Done at the said Ely/ by this holy matron  
In presence of the prior/ and all the fraternyte  
which prior of this matter/ had best notycyon  
Ascole master of innocents/ after the custom  
gave lysence/ vpon saint Ermenyldes day  
To all his children/ to sport them in play.   

when the feest/ and solempnyte was done  
The young tender children/ wanton and negligent  
dreading their master/ for fear of correction  
To the holy shrine/ they assembled full diligent  
trusting thereby of pardon/ after their intent  
desired their master/ forsaynt Ermenyldes sake  
To pardon their trespass/ and no displeasure take.   

The master fulfilled/ with hastiness and euny  
took them from the tomb/ with great indignation  
Without discretion/ punished them grievously  
giving no honour/ to the saint ne devotion  
Rebuked them sore/ saying with insultacyon  
trow ye to be spared/ from punishment this day  
For saint Ermenyldes sake/ nay nay do way.   

After all this done/ the next night following  
when the said master/ to his bed was gone  
His great vnkyndenes/ saint Ermenylde remembering  
Rewarned him justly/ after his guerdon  
His hands and his feet/ prompt to persecution  
Were suddenly smitten/ made lame/ contract also  
No power had to rise/ to moeue nor to go.   

This sudden punishment/ languor/ confusion  
Vexed him grievously in all his body  
most terrible of all of health desperacyon  
Inwardly him troubled/ with pains horrible  
But yet by grace/ he thought best remedy  
send for his children/ vpon the other day  
Humble asked them pardon/ in a woeful array.   

desiring his scholars/ for love and charity  
To carry him most careful/ to her sepulture  
To require for him grace/ health and prosperity  
Of god and saint Ermenylde/ with all their cure  
They took him tenderly/ ye may me leave full sure  
among them all with mind diligent  
And brought to the shrine/ this wretched impotent.   

They prayed for him/ to our blessed saviour  
And to saint Ermenylde/ a long time and space  
kneeling on their knees/ weeping full sore  
In prayer and psalmody/ for his health and solace  
And so contynuynge/ by our lords great grace  
He that afore was lame/ both on foot and hand  
Restored to health/ departed hole and sound.    

¶ How king ethelred seeing the holy conversation of Werburge his niece/ made her lady and abbess at Wedon/ Trentam/ and Humbury. And by her counsel and example was made monke at Bardeney abbey. Ca. xxi.  

THe famous prince/ and foresaid ethelred  
Brother to king Vulfer/ as lawful enherytour  
To the said kingdom/ did next him succeed  
elect of his peers/ with worship and honour  
permitted by his church/ to be their governor  
because prince Kenrede/ his brother fone  
Was young and not able/ to rule his kingdom.   

This said king ethelred/ clearly considering  
With due cyrcumstaunce/ the hye perfection  
Of Werburge his niece/ and virtuous living  
Her great holiness/ and ghostly conversation  
daily encresynge/ with fervent devotion  
The excellent famed/ and miracles full right  
Shewed by our saviour/ both day and night.   

These good exsamples/ grounded in virtue  
Moeued king ethelred/ in soul and in mind  
And clearly converted/ throw the grace of Ihesu  
To despise this world/ wretched and blind  
principally by grace/ written as we finde  
For her great goodness/ and virtues excellent  
He made her lady/ ruler/ and president.   

over all the nonnes/ of every monastery  
Within his realm/ to govern and to guide  
To instruct and inform/ and to exemplyfy  
To increase devotion/ vpon every side  
virtue to exalt/ to subdue vice and pride  
That holy religion/ pleasant to christ Ihesu  
might daily increase/ from virtue to virtue.   

Also he gave Werburge/ great possession  
lands/ and rents/ riches withall  
To edyfy and repair/ places of religion  
After her desire/ with favour special  
wherewith she builded/ famous memorial  
Two fair monasteries/ Trentam and Humbury  
Possessed with rents/ lands/ and liberty.   

Also by sufferance/ of the said king truly  
She translate the kings maner of Wedon  
which was in Hamptonskyre/ unto a monastery  
Of holy women/ observing religion  
sufficiently endowed/ with liberties/ possession  
Of which said places/ she had the governance  
As worthy maystres/ all virtue to advance.   

The year of grace/ syxe hundreth four score and nyen  
As sheweth mine author/ a Bryton Giraldus  
king Ethelred/ myndynge most the bliss of heaven  
edified a collage church/ notable and famous  
In the subbarbes of Chester/ pleasant and beauteous  
In the honour of god/ and the baptist saint johan  
With help of bishop Vulfryce/ and good exortacyon.   

Also at the humble/ and singular supplication  
Of blessed Egwyn/ bishop of worcestur  
This king gave a place/ for a fundacyon  
To build a monastery/ to religious brethur  
At Eusam vpon Auen/ for heavenly tresur  
With a large precynct/ to compass all the abbey  
More quietly to serve/ our saviour night and day.   

After this time/ ethelred the king  
By his counsel married/ a beautefull lady  
Called queen Ostryde/ a woman of good living  
born in the North parte/ daughter to king Oswy  
To whom saint Oswalde/ was uncle truly  
The issue between them/ after to succeed  
Was a noble prince/ nomynate Colrede.   

against his enemies/ the king gate victory  
Fortunate in battle/ sore oppressed Kent  
In all this region/ famous was his chyualry  
Namely he subdued/ at the water of Trent  
Egfryde of northumberland/ a king ancient  
His brother in lawe/ when Egfryde against reason  
Entred his lands/ by subtle intrusyon.   

But after that Ostryde/ his queen was slain  
By people of the North parte/ most cruelly  
The king from that time/ by grace certain  
changed his manners/ and living daily  
from temporal cures/ and business worldly  
To ghostly works/ and contemplacyon  
seeking for heaven/ with pure devotion.   

specially he followed/ saint Werburge counsel  
using him after/ her sweet ghostly doctrine  
The clear exsamples/ as we afore did tell  
Moeued his conscience/ to ghostly discipline  
With such contrition/ by special grace divine  
That all vain pleasures/ and honours transitory  
Were clear expulsed/ and put out of memory.   

This king refused/ his sceptre and crown  
Clothes of Tyshew/ and purpull full royal  
With riches/ liberties/ pleasures/ possession  
For the love of Ihesu/ in heart pryncaypall  
And for the merit/ of his soul health withall  
So when he had reigned/ nine and twenty year  
He changed his habit/ saith the story clear.   

At a religious place/ nomynate Bardenay  
In Lyncolneshyre/ under his dominion  
singular byloued/ of him alway  
desired the habit/ with meek supplication  
And was received/ professing religion  
ever after to observe/ the essencyals three  
obedience/ chastity/ and wilful poverty.   

He assigned his crown/ and temporal dignity  
unto prince Kenrede/ his brother sone  
As true enherytour/ to haue regalyte  
For in pure obedience/ prayer and meditation  
ethelred increased/ with fervent devotion  
And as declareth/ wyllyam of Maluysbury  
After was made abbot/ of the said monastery.    

¶ The holy conversation of king Kenred brother to saint Werburge/& how he refused his crown/ and was made monk at Rome/& ther departed a holy confessor.  

SO when king Etheldrede/ by heavenly grace  
At Bardenay abbey/ professed religion  
Than prince Kenrede/ his successor was  
And took the empire/ the sceptre and the crown  
With much worship/ royalty/ and renown  
As next of inheritance/ by law natural  
To be king of Mercyens/ by dyscent lynyall.   

This noble king Kenrede/ replete with virtue  
Brother to Werburge/ observed truly  
The commaundymentes of god/& his laws most true  
obedient to our saviour/ and lord almighty  
loved holy church/ most tenderly  
ministered justice/ to his subiectes all  
merciful to the poor/ piteous and liberal.   

In all his realm/ was no diversity  
malice was subdued/ rancour and debate  
virtue increased/ true love and charity  
envy was exiled/ and all privy hate  
theft/ murthur/ robbery/ were found at no gate  
True men might live/ without vexacyon  
Pollers/ promoters/ had no domynacyon.   

He gave to our saviour/ and bishop Egwyn  
For ghostly merit/ with much honour  
Of tenements and lands/ plainly to determine  
Within worceturshyre .iiii. score and four  
To maintain the monastery/ spoken of before  
Euesham vpon Auen/ before lawful witness  
As the legend of Egwyn/ truly doth express.   

To the court of Rome/ king Kenred went  
So did Offa king/ of the east Saxons  
Also bishop Egwyn/ by one assent  
devoutly to visit/ all the hole stacyons  
Of the city of Rome/ with humble supplycacyons  
thanking our lord/ of his mercy  
Hath them preserved/ and all their company.   

This holy bishop/ and king Kenrede  
Offered to our holy father/ pope boneface  
With meekness devotion/ for ghostly meed  
Afore his collage/ witness in that case  
The foresaid monastery/ and religious place  
from that day ever after/ to be clearly exempt  
To the popes holynes/ immediately obedient.   

when they had obtained/ perfect expedycyon  
Of all their bulls/ after their intent  
They took licence/ and had the popes beneson  
And toward england/ returned and went  
praising our lord/ with heart and love fervent  
For their good speed/ and prosperous Iournay  
preserved in good health/ all to their country.   

After all this done/ Kenrede the said king  
commanded to be had/ a counsel general  
By letters myssyue/ his peers and lords cytynge  
Shortly to be present/ with him one and all  
As well the spyrytualte/ as the temporal  
The Seyn was kept/ at a place called Alue  
And thither assembled/ his prelates of degree.   

Berthtunaldus/ the archbishop of Canturbury  
The archbishop of york/ called Wylfryde  
With bishops/ suffreganes/ archdekens many  
Dukes/ erles/ barons/ vpon every side  
Kynghtes/ esquyers/ and comunes that tide  
Were redy to know/ the kings mind and pleasure  
Well ordered in place/ and silence kept sure.   

This glorious Kenrede/ crwoned with gold  
Clothed in purpull/ rose up fro his place  
After due salutation/ the cause meekly he told  
Why he for them send/ and wherefore it was  
That they should testyfy/ with him in this case  
What lands he gave/ toward the fundacyon  
Of the said monastery/ with grete devotion.   

And how for that abbey/ he went to Rome  
And made the place subject/ immediately  
To our father boniface/ and gate an exempcyon  
For ever to remain/ to the said monastery  
With pardons and pryuyleges/ there red openly  
And many other benefits/ of great commodyte  
written in their grants/ wholyst them to se.   

requiring the lords/ spiritual and temporal  
To grant to the same/ with good intent  
And it to confirm/ and roborate special  
With charters and deeds/ and seals patent  
To whose petition/ they did all consent  
Made confyrmacyons/ and grants them among  
With a terrible sentence/ who doth the place wrong.   

king Kenrede considering/ the great holynes  
Of his noble parentes/ his vncles everichone  
their royal progeny/ the sufferaunt goodness  
From this life transitory/ to heaven ago  
Namely the virtue/ and fervent devotion  
Of his sister Werburge/ and his auntes all  
Moeued his mind/ to seek for life eternal.   

And as saint Bede saith/ when this noble king  
Had reigned five year/ in great prosperity  
He forsook this world/ and changed his living  
refusing his crown/ sceptre/ and dignity  
All vain honours/ riches and regalyte  
And made his vncles sone/ prince Coelrede  
To take his empire/ after him to succeed.   

So with all gentleness/ and humility  
The king of his subiectes/ took leave special  
commending his people/ to the trinity  
Them to conserve/ spiritual and temporal  
Of his departure/ dolorous were they all  
Thus for the love/ of our saviour  
He refused this world/ pleasures and honour.   

And went to Rome again/ the year of grace  
seven hundreth and eight/ by full computacyon  
Vysytynge the stacyons/ from place to place  
There was professed to saint Benettes religion  
used vigils/ fastynges/ prayer/ meditation  
Where this holy monk/ from this life transitory  
With virtue departed/ to eternal glory.    

¶ Of the fervent& ghostly devotion of saint Werburge& virtuous governance of her places/& of the great humility she used to her sisters/& al other creatures. Ca. xxiii.  

THis venerable Werburge/& moynes gracious  
For her great virtue/ and perfect holiness  
elect to be governor/ over the nonnes relygeous  
By her uncle king ethelred/ of his goodness  
over dyvers monasteries( as is said) express  
Was consecrate abbess/ and lady gracious  
By the bishop of lichfield/ nomynat Sexwulfus.   

And thus she departed/ fro the house of Ely  
wherein she used/ heavenly meditation  
With licence obtained/ in mind sad and heavy  
So were the miters/ and all the congregation  
Of her departure/ knowing her conversation  
But as wolde charity/ they had great gladness  
knowing by her virtue/ religion to encres.   

The spouses of Ihesu/ and floure of benignity  
considering herself/ a lady and president  
Ordered her monasteries: right well and wysele  
received in miters/ chast/ humble/ obedient  
over them made rulers/ virtuous/ and patient  
Her subiectes to instruct/ and counsel day and night  
virtue to exalt/ and vice deprive aright.   

This noble abbess/ remembering her duty  
What charge it is/ to rule a congregation  
Humble required/ the grace of god almighty  
And diligently prepared/ to suppling her room  
principally she gave/ to them everichone  
perfect example/ of virtue in her dede  
With virtuous doctrine/ the same to procede.   

A mirror of meekness/ she was to them all  
A floure of chastity/ and well of cleanness  
The fruit of obedience/ in her was special  
refusing vain pleasures/ honours and riches  
Content with little/ an example of lowliness  
As doth belong/ unto wilful poverty  
pride had no residence/ but all humility.   

She was a minister/ rather than a maystres  
Her great pre-eminence/ caused no presumption  
She was a handmaid/ rather than a pryores  
serving her miters/ with humble subieccyon  
Subduynge her body/ to penance and afflyccyon  
subject to the soul/ as reason wolde should be  
A true sacrifice/ offered to the trinity.   

It was no merueyll/ tho all her covent  
under such a ruler/ increased in virtue  
seeing her example/ afore them daily present  
ever augmentynge/ throw the help of Ihesu  
Worldy desires/ she clearly did subdue  
She never ware lynon/ by day or by night  
All rich vain vestures/ she set by them but light.   

In prayer meditation/ the time she dyspent  
proved: for every night/ long afore matyns  
The wolde vpryse/ at an hour convenient  
And devoutly say/ afore our lords presens  
Dauyd spalter holly kneeling/ with great reverence  
Or that her miters/ came to the oratory  
To say divine service/ finding her all redy.   

At after matyns/ she used contemplacyon  
continually abiding/ unto the day light  
Prostrate on the ground/ or kneeling in devotion  
weeping full tenderly/ with tears down right  
Many holy orisons/ she said day and night  
piteous mercyable/ and fulll of charity  
To the poor people/ in their necessity.   

This lady observed/ such sharp abstinence  
That one daily repast/ wolde her well suffice  
delicate dysshe meets/ were put out of her presence  
So nature were content/ in most humble wise  
The word of god/ was most delicate service  
Myndynge much more/ the soul to satysfy  
Than please and content/ her enemy the body.   

These said exemples/ with many other mo  
pleasant unto Ihesu/ she taught her covent  
Them to preserve/ from their mortal fo  
By singular virtue/ grace to augment  
Her precept and living/ were ever corespondent  
She never commanded sister/ do any thing  
But it was fulfilled/ in her own doing.   

She exhorted her children/ ever to devotion  
With many fold doctrines/ lameness to eschew  
like a tender mother/ had pity and compassion  
She daily fed them/ and nourished in all virtue  
And diligently prayed/ our saviour Ihesu  
Them to preserve/ of his strove grace  
from peril of peryshynge/ in bliss to se his face.   

Also the .xii. degrees/ of humility  
patience/ quietness/ and great perfection  
Were well observed/ with true love and charity  
among her miters/ the hole congregation  
And the three essencyals/ of religion  
wilful poverty/ chastity/ and obedience  
were truly fulfilled/ proved by the consequence.   

As for a pastime/ among her miters all  
She caused to be red/ avoiding idleness  
The sweet legendary/ for a memorial  
And Vitas patrum/ showing great sweetness  
With other narracyons/ of grace and goodness  
Ofttymes to her covent/ she had a common saying  
Please god and love him/ and doubt ye nothing.   

All readers excuse me/ tho I can not express  
For lack of learning/ the virtues moral  
The hye perfection/ and proved holiness  
Of this pure virgin/ and sanctymonyall  
wherewith was decorate/ her life monestycall  
manifest With miracles/ by merit of her meekness  
As the true history/ plainly doth express.   

The worthy miracles/ of this virgin pure  
Dylated were/ through all this region  
By divine sufferance/ above nature  
profitable/ to every chrysten singular person  
In sickness/ trouble/ pain or vexacyon  
Of her they haue refuge/ help/ and succour  
By her merits/ and prayer/ that every honour.   

Her merits were/ much more commendable  
Than were her miracles/ manifest and plain  
For why by her merits/ famous and notable  
signs and miracles/ were shewed full plain  
In the house of Ely/ by grace of our sufferayne  
And in every place/ where she kept residence  
Of whom parte followen/ in this rude sentence.    

¶ How at Wedon wild geese were pinned by her commaundyment& also releshed& put at liberty. Ca. xxiiii.  

THis holy virgin/ when she dwelled at Wedon  
In Northampton shyrn/ with a devout covent  
which place sometime/ was the kings mansion  
Translated to an abbey/ by her commaundyment  
A miracle was done/ by this noble president  
As the true legend/ plainly doth us say  
And all the inhabitants/ unto this present day.   

A great multitude/ sometime of wild geese  
Comunely called Gauntes/ made great description  
Vpon her lands/ pastures waters/ and fields  
devouring the cornes/ and fruits of Wedon  
grievous to her subiectes/ within that possession  
The people could finde/ no sufficient remedy.  
But shewed their complaint/ to Werburge their lady.   

when Werburge had herde/ this grievous complain  
How the cornes were wasted/ the tenants hurt thereby  
Her heart was moeued/ with charity than certain  
To save her fruits/ and help her company  
wherefore she commanded a servant go hastily  
To drive those wild geese/& bring home to her place  
There to be pinned/ and punished for their trespass.   

The messenger merueyled/ and mused in his mind  
Of this strange message/ stood still in a study  
knowing it well/ it passed course of kind  
wild geese for to pin/ by any mannes policy  
sith nature hath ordained/ such birds to fly  
supposing his lady/ had ben unreasonable  
commanding to do/ a thing vnpossyble.   

With words of comfort/ she said to him again  
Go in my name/ do my commaundyment  
The servant went forth/ thinking all but vain  
unto the folds/ where the birds were lent  
And said his message/ with mind and good intent  
My lady commands you/ birds everichone  
Afore me to go/ unto her proper mansyone.   

A marvelous thing/ transcendynge nature  
unto his words/ the geese were obedient  
Not one departed/ fro thence ye may be sure  
Of all the nombre/ that there were present  
toward her place/ afore him they went  
meekly/ as yf they had reason natural  
unto her presence/ he brought the gauntes all.   

Dredefully darynge/ comen now they be  
their wings traylynge/ entred into the hall  
For great confusion/ after their kind and propryte  
mourning in their maner/ abiding one and all  
Her will and Iudgment/ with mercy special  
lamenting all night/ there in captivity  
till the morrow after/ without liberty.   

All that same night/ Werburge did continue  
In devout prayers/ and hymns celestial  
After her old custom/ used in all virtue  
In the morning after/ the birds that were thrall  
With hye voices( as yf it were) on her did call  
For grace and pardon/ of their offence  
And of departure/ to haue fre licence.   

Than she full piteous/ to every creature  
Vpon these birds having compassion  
delivered them/ from all danger and cure  
freely to depart/ under this condition  
That none of them/ vpon the lordship of Wedon  
should make destruction/ nor light by any way  
On cornes or fruits/ never after that day.   

nevertheless a servant/ one of the geese did take  
And rejoicingly hid it/ against justice and right  
Vnknowynge to Werburge/ such brybry to make  
The birds departed/ most glad to take their flight  
From their tender judge/ but when they saw in sight  
One of their fellows/ taken from their company  
The said great nombre/ of geese returned hastily.   

They flew over/ this blessed virgins hall  
mourning and wailing/ after their intent  
And wolde not depart/ but fast on her did call.  
yet they durst not light/ for dread of her commaundyment  
But in their maner& kind they said/ o sweet president  
Why suffer ye such wickedness/ done for to be  
Anendes our fellow/ against all right and charity.   

Werburge went first/ to know wherefore and why  
These birds returned/ so hastily certain  
By grace she perceived/ the cause of it truly  
And tried out the truth/ of all the matter plain  
She restaured the bird/ to his fellowship again  
And gave them a lesson/ or they went her fro  
How they should praise/ their maker and sufferayne  
saying( benedicite volucres celi domino)   

But as Wyllyam Maluysbury/ sheweth express  
The goose that was taken/ and stolen afore away  
Was roasted and eaten/ the same night doubtless  
So when it was asked/ for vpon the other day  
The bare bones were borough/ after this lady very  
And there by the virtue/ of her benedyccyon  
The bird was restaured/ and flew away full soon.   

certainly from that time/ unto this present day  
As all the people know/ dwelling about Wedon  
The foresaid wild geese/ attempten by no way  
To hurt their fruits/ ne light in that possession  
No merueyll it is/ remembering the devotion  
And true love she had/ to god omnypotent  
For unto virtue/ all thing is obedient.    

¶ How a tyrant without pity punyshynge an Innocent was punished/& after made hole. Ca. xxv.  

further to declare/ the patience and humility  
And the singular grace/ grounded in this abbess  
As in the true legend/ plainly ye may se  
We shall parte rehearse/ to augment your solace  
Werburge had a servant/ which name was  
Alnotus a man/ of meek conversation  
known by his merits/ after due probation.   

Also a baylyfe she had/ a cruel tyrant  
which piteously punished/ without reason  
And wounded grievously/ Alnother servant  
Without any grievance/ at the place of Wedon  
Werburge for pity/ and great compassion  
Afore this caitiff/ kneeled on her knee  
praying him to cease/ for love of the trinity.   

saying why does thou punish/ this innocent  
causeless without mercy/ which I believe plain  
Is more acceptable/ to our lord omnypotent  
Than many other be/ for his meekness certain  
The baylyfe at her prayer/ wolde not refrain  
But punished him still/ in his fury and pride  
till the vengeance of god/ fell on him that tide.   

incontinent his heed/ his neck/ and his face  
Were turned backward/ like a person monstrous  
Contrary to nature/ for his great trespass  
Crucyate with sorrow/ and pains hyduous  
continually increasing/ to behold piteous  
At the last remembered/ of the best remedy  
Fell prostrate to the fear/ of Werburge his lady.   

And cried vpon her/ with woeful cheer  
weeping/ lamenting/ his great iniquity  
My lovely lady/ and maystres most dere  
help me sweet abbess/ in this necessity  
I haue offended god/ now pray for me  
And I will never/ enduring all my life  
displease no more/ man/ maid/ ne wife.   

when Werburge considered/ his great contrition  
His woofull heart/ and lamentable cry  
Vpon him she had/ tender compassion  
beholding his grievance/ and tender agony  
Good brother she said/ who so will haue mercy  
Must be mercyable/ as in proverb written is  
Who is without mercy/ of mercy shall mys.   

Call unto mind/ thy own wicked dede  
In punyshynge this poor man/ without offence  
To se his punishment/ my heart sore did bleed  
I kneeled afore thy feet/ desiring indulgence  
Thou took no regard/ to my prayer ne presence  
wherefore the justice/ of god almighty  
Vpon thee is fallen/ for thy sin sodayly.   

when she had ended/ her ghostly exortacyon  
perceiving him penitent/ with great humility  
glad to amend/ vice and transgression  
anon unto prayer/ she went with charity  
obtained forgiveness/ of the blessed trinity  
His fysnamy/ restaured to his kind again  
both bodily and ghostly/ cured was certain.   

This foresaid Alnotus/ by singular grace  
Refused this world/ pleasures and vanity  
Went unto wilderness/ and machoryte was  
whom thieves martyred/ to heaven bliss went he  
At Stow beside Bukbrydge/ buried was trule  
For whom our lord/ of his strove goodness  
Shewed many miracles/ affyrmynge his holynes.    

¶ How dyvers princes following sensualyte intending to violate this virgin bi power/ bi miracle were put to confusion. Ca. xxvi.  

ANother sign was shewed/ by the king of bliss  
Of a wanton prince/ following sensualyte  
And his fragyll appetite/ in doing amiss  
intending by violence/ power/ and authority  
To deprive Werburge/ of her virginity  
espied a season/ to fulfil his intent  
when she was solitary/ and no man there present.   

By force than he began/ this maid to assail  
But she trusting in god/ to be her protector  
Escapynge his presence/ cast her sacrat veil  
For lightness and ease/ to fle from the traitor  
The son beam received it/ which hanged that hour  
which miracle sene/ the prince fled away  
The virgin was preserved/ by grace that day.   

¶ An other miracle/ was done in Kent  
In the village of ho/ yet full memorous  
A sensual prince/ of wicked consent  
Purposed to maculate/ this virgin glorious  
considering her person/ so fair and beauteous  
tarried the season/ to finde her solitary  
By power to oppress/ this gracious lady.   

when the time was comen/ he thought convenient  
After her furyously/ he ran a fast place  
She knowing his mind/ add vnchast intent  
seeing no remedy/ by man in that place  
Called to our saviour/ for his help and grace  
saying blessed lord/ for thy endeles pity  
defend me this day/ and save my chastity.   

And as she fled/ from this cruel person  
She ran for succour/ to a great oak three  
By grace the said three/ opened that same season  
suffering this maid/ to haue sure and fre entry  
whereby she escaped his/ wicked tyranny  
which three to this day/ enduring all the year  
By miracle is vernaunte/ fresh/ green/ and clear.   

Of the said oak three/ is a famous opinion  
That no man may entre/ the said concauyte  
In deadly sin bound/ without contrition  
But in clene perfect life/ who soever he be  
May entre the said oak/ with fre liberty  
And nigh to that place/ a church is now depreciate  
In the honour of god/ and werburge immaculate.   

¶ Many other miracles/ our blessed saviour  
Shewed for this virgin/ of his goodness  
comfort to the people/ in sickness and languor  
That to her will seek/ in their distress  
Her excellent virtue/ and great holiness  
By signs and miracles/ were daily manifest  
To many a creature/ with pains oppressed.   

The famed whereof sprang/ so fast about  
notified plain/ in all this region  
The people approached/ without doubt  
To know her blessed/ and holy conversation  
And of these miracles/ to haue probation  
By the sight whereof/ they might all gloryfy  
With ioy and gladness/ our lord god almighty.   

There was no sickness/ nor infirmity  
That mankind had/ nor vexacyon  
But by her prayer/ and humility  
making for them/ to our lord intercession  
They were restaured/ to health and salvation  
All by the merit/ of this virgin pure  
A singular refuge/ unto every creature.   

To the dumb was given/ speech and language  
To blind their sight/ to defe their hearing  
To halt and lame people/ health in every age  
By divine grace/ and her ghostly living  
The people approchynge/ nigh to her in dwelling  
By callyge to her/ in the name of Ihesu  
Had their petition/ by her singular virtue.   

Some other that were/ fully possessed  
With wicked spirits/ vexynge the mind  
Or with sickness incurable/ miserably grieved  
By her daily prayer/ above course of kind  
Of their diseases/ they should remedy finde  
And from her depart/ in soul with gladness  
which to her came/ sorry in pain and wretchedness.    

¶ How saint Werburge gave knowledge to her miters of her departure& how she ordered in virtue her said monasteries afore her death. Ca. xxvii.  

THis blessed abbess/ and virtuous floure  
The well of cleanness/ and humility  
Called to mind/ the words of our saviour  
rehearsed by matthew/ in his euangely  
The vyctoryall crown/ of etern glory  
Is given to them/ that be redy each hour  
wisely attending/ when they be send fore.   

This text was ever/ in her memorial  
prompt alway redy/ as a true spouses  
To wait on her spouse/ when he will call  
Her lamp replete/ with oil of meekness  
singular gifts/ she had of chrystes goodness  
inspired with the spirit/ of prophesy  
secret things to come/ knowing thereby.   

She knew the season/ was hastily coming  
Of her departure/ fro this life mortal  
wherefore she ordered/ sadly every thing  
Within her monasteries/ and charges spiritual  
Vysytynge her covent/ with her presence personal  
gave knowledge to them/ that soon and hastily  
She should depart/ from this life transitory.   

Afore her were called/ the miters of each place  
And were appointed/ who should succeed  
After to be governor/ ruler/ and abbess  
To the pleasure of god/ and their ghostly meed  
specially commending/ virtue as we rede  
What merit they shall haue/ of god almighty  
In spiritual cures/ that done well their duty.   

All other officers/ within each monastery  
Were assigned by Werburge/ their president  
And under obedience/ charged full deeply  
their office to execute/ virtue to augment  
For the singular profit/ of all the covent  
She gave to each place/ lands and possession  
sufficiently to serve/ all the congregation.   

when she had ordained/ each place in charity  
Dyschargynge her conscience/ charging them all  
To observe religion/ with perfect humility  
After her example/ and doctrine principal  
She had perfect knowledge/ by grace supernatural  
Her body should rest/ in the place of Hamburgens  
After her departure/ by divine prouydens.   

wherefore she commanded/ the covent of Hambury  
wisely to attend/ with all their diligence  
Vpon the end/ of her life transitory  
wheresoever it be/ to come with benevolence  
And incontinent ●ake/ her body with reverence  
And bring it shortly/ unto their monastery  
There to be tumylate/ after her desydery.   

As it pleaseth our lord/ and celestial sufferayne  
To send to his servant/ his vysytacyon  
The day was appointed/ the hour incertain  
Of her departure/ from worldly vexacyon  
The messenger of death/ the end of generation  
Oppressed this lady/ most worthy famed  
right at her monastery/ nomynat Trentame.   

She thanked her maker/ saying day and night  
Well come be the vysytacyon/ of god almighty  
She called her miters/ present afore her sight  
Her intent rehersynge/ to them tenderly  
desiring all them/ to follow diligently  
The laws of god/ with honour and reverence  
And to her counsel/ to give fully credence.   

saying dere byloued miters/ in our saviour  
O spiritual children/ my derlynges most dere  
which haue refused/ all worldly honour  
To serve our lord/ with heart and mind clear  
Suffer no sin/ in your soul to appear  
But wash it away/ by bitter contrition  
With prayer penance/ and true confession.   

And trust ye well your true obedience  
your chast living/ and wilful poverty  
your daily prayers/ vigils/ and abstinence  
That ye haue observed/ her under me  
Shalbe recompensed/ a thousand fold trule  
when ye shal be taken/ fro this life transitory  
your reward shalbe/ with immortal glory.   

As for my death/ which approaches nere  
I dread nothing/ tho nature fearful be  
I know for certain/ who departeth well here  
Is new born again/ to joy and felicity  
Iche chrysten man hath/ a threfolde nativity  
first of his parentes/ by course of nature  
born to many troubles/ and sorrows sure.   

By the second birth/ which is more excellent  
At font of baptym/ we haue regeneracyon  
By faith professed/ to god omnypotent  
And made the children/ of ghostly salvation  
To avoyde by grace/ all wicked salvation  
To be inherytours/ of Ioy perpetual  
following the counsel/ of holy church withall.   

The thyrde birth/ most fearful and to be dread  
Is when the soul/ departeth fro the body  
To pain or bliss/ and leues the corps dead  
To turn again to earth/ to wast and putryfy  
In this thyrde birth/ by calling aferre for mercy  
Our soul shall live in bliss/ everlasting  
crwoned with victory/ for our chast living.   

The sweet bird closed/ in a cage a long season  
Gladly intendeth to fly at liberty  
The prisoner fetered/ and cast in deep dungeon  
ever supposes/ to be rid from captivity  
The soul of mankind/ most dygne of duty  
Naturally desireth/ proved by reason  
To be delivered/ from bodily prison.    

¶ Of the ghostli exortacyon saint Werburge made to her miters in her sickness/ and how devoutly she received the sacramentes of holy church before her death. Ca. xxviii.  

THe day known/ to her by reuelacyon  
Of her departure/ by signs evident  
She send for all/ the hole congregation  
And in presence/ of all her holy covent  
She called for the blessed sacrament  
To whom she said/ with words express  
With weeping tears/ and great meekness.   

Well come my lord/ well come my king  
Well come my sufferayne/ and saviour  
Well come my comfort/ and ioy everlasting  
My trust/ my treasure/ my help and succour  
Well come my maker/ and my redemptour  
The sone of god/ most in majesty  
without beginning/ and endeles shal be.   

I believe that thou/ for all mankind  
from heaven descended/ of thy charity  
And was incarnate/ scripture doth mind  
In the vyrgynall womb/ of blessed marye  
And suffered death/ to make us all fre  
Descended to hell/ rose the thyrde day  
Ascended to heaven/ and our raunson did pay.   

And I knowledge to the/ with pure intent  
On Shorpthursday/ after thy passion  
Thy most blessed body/ in sacrament  
Thou gave to us/ for our communion  
To be our defence/ and ghostly tuycyon  
Now present here/ inform of breed  
To judge mankind/ both quick and dead.   

O sufferayne saviour/ replete with grace  
I the beseech/ haue pity vpon me  
And in my soul/ make a dwelling place  
Expulce all vice/ sin and misery  
defend my soul/ from our adversary  
save and protecte me/ from pains infernal  
And bring through thy mercy/ to joy perpetual   

Thus with reverence/ and great humility  
She received/ the blessed sacrament  
The second person/ in trinity  
In perfect faith/ hope/ and love fervent  
With great contrition/ as it was apparent  
Her heart lift up/ toward heaven on hye  
abiding the will/ of god almighty.   

She exhorted/ her miters everichone  
That were there present/ in company  
desiring them all/ with supplication  
To remember her/ saying with humility  
My miters in god/ now know may ye  
My dayes ben far past/ coming is the hour  
wherefore I betake you/ first to our saviour.   

praying you tenderly/ for the love of me  
In divine service/ look ye contynu  
observing patience/ meekness/ and chastity  
Encresynge in religion/ by the grace of Ihesu  
Who so perceuers/ in heart and mind true  
under obedience/ to the extreme day  
Is sure to be saved/ scripture so doth say.   

Also remember/ that all worldly royalty  
Honour/ riches/ pleasure/ possession  
If ye consider/ are but a vanity  
nothing assured/ to trust thereupon  
wherefore dispose you/ to virtue alone  
while ye endure/ in this life mortal  
till that ye come/ to Ioy perpetual.   

Secondly she said/ miters I you pray  
Kept well the order/ of perfect charity  
never declynynge/ fro it by no way  
As ye haue taken/ example of me  
Iche love other/ and worship in their degree  
So that no murmur/ nor dyssy mulacyon  
Befounde among/ this holy congregation.   

Be ever lowly/ humble/ and obedient  
With due reverence/ worship and honour  
follow the mind/ of your president  
unto your heed/ and ghostly governor  
keep well chastity/ that precious floure  
So that no thought/ of sensualyte  
corrupt your mind/ to break virginity.   

Se that ye use/ discrete temperance  
Abstenynge from vain superfluity  
Se that among you/ be found no variance  
keep well the degrees/ of humility  
These and many other/ exemples of charity  
She taught her covent/ of singular devotion  
How they should obtain/ to hye perfection.   

readily she prayed/ saying with mind diligent  
O blessed saviour/ I desire the  
save and defend/ my hole covent  
And their monasteries/ of thy great pity  
from peril of peryshynge/ and from enmyte  
That all the subiectes/ of our congregation▪  
May well observe/ their holy profession.   

And grant me sweet lord/ throw thy goodness  
Who so in thy name/ vpon me doth call  
In languor/ misery/ in pain/ or sickness  
Also women with child/ in pains thrall  
May haue remedy/ and help special  
And people in prison/ halt/ blind/ and lame  
By me may magnyfy/ thy glorious name.   

Than she required/ with humility  
The spiritual sufferage/ of holy vnccyon  
Her soul to comfort/ from all adversity  
She took her leave/ and kissed them each on  
Alas what heart/ might show the lamentation  
The weeping/ wailing/ and woeful heaviness  
At the departure/ of their sweet maystres.    

¶ Of the departure of saint Werburge unto heaven at the abbey of Trentam/ fro this miserable life/& what lamentation her miters made for her death Ca. xxix.  

IN all her infirmity pain and business  
She used prayer/ and meditation  
calling for mercy/ by interyor meekness  
With weeping eyes/ and great lamentation  
remembering in heart/ our lords passion  
commending her covent/ unto our saviour  
To be their defence/ aid/ and protector.   

The pains increased/ of her infirmity  
The pangs doubled/ her pain to augment  
Nature decayed/ unto such debylyte  
That the signs of death/ appeared evident  
The hour approached/ after all Iudgment  
wherefore all things/ were redy preparate  
As was convenient/ for so noble a state.   

Her spouse Ihesus/ having pity and cure  
Vpon his spouses/ in extreme distress  
Wolde not suffer her pain/ longer endure  
But send his angels/ with great lightness  
To comfort his servant/ in pain and sickness  
To dyssolue her wo/ and great penalte  
And bring up her soul/ to etern felicity.   

There derknes was turned/ all unto light  
languor and trouble/ unto prosperity  
The day was governor/ over the night  
when that she passed/ this life transitory  
Bondage and thraldom/ were brought to liberty  
The time of joy/ and everlasting pleasure  
Was approchynge to Werburge/ ever to endure.   

A multitude of angels/ shining most clear  
Were redy to guide/ with humble reverence  
The soul of werburge/ as truly did appear  
And brought it to bliss/ unto the hye presence  
Of almighty god/ most of magnificence  
clearly releashed/ from pains of purgatory  
To be rewarded/ with everlasting glory.   

This blessed virgin/ glorious and pure  
In steadfast faith/ hope/ love/ and charity  
The thyrde day of February/ ye may be sure  
expired from this life/ caduce and transitory  
To etern bliss/ coronate with victory  
changing her life/ miserable and thrall  
For strove joy/ and glory eternal.   

With much honour/ these spiritual ministers  
conveyed the soul/ above the firmament  
passing the seven planets/ and all the stars  
unto the presence/ of god omnypotent  
singing full sweetly/ their songs equyualent  
Of pleasant armony/ of comfort and bliss  
Salutynge her meekly/ with words reverent  
Veni dilecta: veni coronabitis.   

The three Ierarcheses/ were redy present  
With heavenly melody/ to receive this monyall  
The quere of virgins/ met her incontinent  
With great solempnyte/ and procession royal  
Presentynge her soul/ with mirths angelycall  
To Ihesu her spouse/ to whom he said truly  
Well come dere daughter/ to bliss celestial  
Intra in gaudium: domui tui.   

In mean time and space/ this venerable body  
( The soul departed) lay white/ straight and cold  
seeming as on sleep/ she had ben verily  
With sweet odours fragrant/ passing manifold  
All spices and herbs/ in earth may be told  
The place was so pleasant/ full of delyce  
like as it had ben/ an earthly paradyce.   

This foresaid venerable congregation  
With weeping tears/ and sighs lamentable  
washed the sweet body/ after the old custom  
And dressed the corps/ with clothes honourable  
Prepared all necessaries/ pleasant and commendable  
To church she was brought/ solemnly in sight  
With fervent devotion/ to be watched all night.   

And as they watched/ with due mynystracyon  
over the said corps/ devoutly praying  
They made great mourning/ and lamentation  
everichone to other/ for her departing  
Alas they all said/ with woeful wailing  
Our solace/ our health/ is clear gone away  
Alas for sorrow/ what shall we now say.   

The star of our comfort/ is extyncte clear  
The lanturne of our light/ is taken us fro  
The floure of chastity/ is laid vpon a bear  
The mirror of meekness/ now lieth full loo  
The treasure of religion/ from us now is ago  
Our sorrow increased/ wretchedness/ and misery  
sith thou arte departed/ alas what remedy:   

Our hearts ben plunged/ in great wo and pain  
Our minds are meddled/ with heavy languor  
How should we now rest/ from morning certain  
beholding now dead/ whylom our protector  
sweet lady thou art gone/ from us for evermore  
Our deadly sorrow/ replete with bitterness  
For wailing and weeping/ can never cease.   

With heart mind and voice/ to the we do call  
O blessed Werburge/ our most dere maystres  
O sufferayne lady/ and ruler of us all  
Why hast thou us left/ in such heaviness  
If thy will had ben/ it is known express  
Thou might haue tarried/ with us by petition  
Alas remediless/ is our lamentation   

from us thou arte taken/ and gone is our solace  
The mirror of virtue/ is dead now with the  
The tried stock of truth/ and the ground of grace  
Is piteously decayed/ our hope and sufferaynte  
O blessed saviour/ vpon us haue pyre  
send us our comfort/ by thy great might again  
As thou hast raised many/ from death to life certain.   

O dreadful death/ cruel enemy to nature  
With doleful heaviness/ on the we may complain  
taking our heed from us/ to our great dysconfyture  
Hath brought us to thraldom/ wofulnes and pain  
neither king ne emperour/ thy favour may obtain  
But he must depart/ arrested with thy lance.  
thank we god of all/ for it is his pleasance.    

¶ How the hamburgenses took the blessed body of Werburge from Trentam by miracle& brought it to Hambury/& of the burial of werburge/& of manifold miracles shewed for her merits .ix. year after her translacyon. Ca. xxx.  

THis glorious virgin/ and most blessed abbace  
Departed from this life/ caduce and transitory  
( As afore is said) the year and time of grace  
almost seven hundreth/ the thyrde day of February  
To celestial bliss/ and strove glory  
Her subiectes oppressed/ with wilful pensyuenesse  
With great generation/ care and heaviness.   

But where werburge gave/ in commaundyment  
To bury her corps/ at place of Hambury  
As was the will/ of our lord omnypotent  
Her subiectes of Trentam/ which had her body  
Purposed her will/ and intent to deny  
Prepared to keep/ the corps by strong hand  
With them to remain/ as ye shall understand.   

The said people of Trentam/ watched full diligent  
Her corps fulfyllynge/ the obsequyes funeral  
intending to avoyde/ and frustrate her testament  
Gate a great company/ by power martial  
Closed fast their doors/ and gates one and all  
Made sure each place/ by their prouydens  
For to keep the corps/ excluding Thamburgens.   

But as Salomon saith/ sentencyously  
There may be no counsel/ power ne prudence  
wisdom of man/ nor natural policy  
To derogate or change/ divine sentence  
proved ever day/ by true experience  
Tho mankind prepose/ his mind to fulfil  
yet god dysposeth/ all thing at his will.   

And as they watched/ the same said night  
most busily/ to execute they will and intent  
By divine providence/ passing mannes might  
suddenly on sleep/ was all that covent  
their company and ministers/ that were there lent  
having no power/ for to waken doubtless  
God so provided/ for their great maystres.   

Than shortly resembled/ unto that said place  
The people of Hamburgens/ a great company  
With the ministers of god/ people full of grace  
And anon by the will/ of our lord almighty  
The locks and the bars/ of that said monastery  
Fell down to the ground/ by power supernal  
Without mannes hand/ that enter they might all.   

which miracle proved/ the people of Hambury  
Entred Trentam abbey/ with mind reverent  
And found there on sleep/ all the other company  
Man/ woman/ and child/ all that were present  
They kneeled all down/ and worshipped the sacrament  
praising our maker/ of their good speed  
their special succour/ ever at their need.   

Her blessed body/ from Trentam they did take  
Gladly departing/ out of the monastery  
neither man nor woman/ had power to wake  
till they were passed/ all grievous jeopardy  
Magnyfyenge our lord/ of his grace devoutly  
solemnly singing their songs celestial  
With infinite gladness/ and comfort spiritual.   

After all this done/ this holy congregation  
With reverence/ honour/ and solemnity  
With weeping tearis/ for pure affection  
With lamentable songs/ mass and diring  
butted the corps/ of this blessed lady  
Right in the chancel/ of the said abbey  
There bodily to rest/ as her will was alway.   

All obsequies ended/ thereto belonging  
As was agreeable for such a president  
The miters departed/ with clamour and mourning  
plunged in heaviness/ and to their cells went  
To weep and wail secretly/ their hartis to content  
Criynge alas alas/ now butted haue we  
The example of virtue/ meekness/ and chastity.   

And as the history of her life/ doth express  
In a book nominat/ the thrid Passionary  
After the burial of this patroness  
The place was decorat/ with miracles many  
Manifest to the people/ of every progeny  
Howe god almighty of his special grace  
Hath done for his seruant/ in short time and space.   

For many people grieved with infirmity  
Dolorous of heart/ and interior tribulation  
heaviness of mind/ or other penalite  
To her grave resorting/ with fervent devotion  
seeking for remedy/ with great contrition  
Anon by her prayer/ unto our saviour  
They were released from pain and languor.   

Also by her merit suffrage and petition  
every humble creature had help and succour  
To distracted persons/ was yielded reason  
Wikked spirites expulsed. were that same hour  
Impotent and feeble to health she did restour  
Halt and lame had passage/ the blind had {per}fect sight  
The dumb had speech/ the deffe hearing right.   

Women with child/ being in great jeopardy  
Namely in trauelyng/ grieved with wo and pain  
when they might not come/ sending to her oratory  
making true oblation/ restaured were certain  
To health and prosperity/ from wo delivered plain  
And if they obtained a relic from the place  
The mother and child/ by it found special grace.   

The devour pilgrym/ the perfect mariner  
The true labourer/ the merchant with richesse  
The careful poor man/ the painful prisoner  
Were sundry times delivered from wo and distress  
Men/ women/ child/ seeking with meekness  
This glorious virgin/ with humble supplication  
found soon remedy/ help and consolation.    

¶ A little breue rehearsal of her life/ and howe for her miracles shewed the covent of Hambury purposed to translate her body/ by the help of Mercyens. Ca. xxxi.  

THis glorious lady/ and gem of holiness  
Of five mighty kings/ descended lineally  
A princes/ an enherytryce/ replete with meekness  
Refused all pleasures/ pomp/ and vain glory  
Entred religion/ professed at Ely  
A spectacle of virtue/ dwelling in that place  
And a floure of chastity/ elect by singular grace.   

Her honourable uncle/ king ethelred  
considering her virtue/ and hye devotion  
Made her governor/ for ghostly health and meed  
over all the monasteries/ within his region  
For the sure encresement/ of perfect religion  
four of these monasteries/ we haue in memory  
As Wedon/ Trentam/ Repton/ and Hambury.   

when she was ruler/ and chief president  
Of these said places/ under god almighty  
Than virtue and goodness/ daily did augment  
By heavenly grace/ to the soul health of many  
And by her example/ and doctrine ghostly  
kings/ lords/ barons/ refusing their royalty  
Entred religion/ with great humility.   

Her life and doctrine/ agreed both in one  
proved in effect/ by special gifts of grace  
Many she converted/ unto contemplacyon  
To prayer and penance/ while they had here space  
Her covent and subiectes/ within every place  
By her excellent virtue/ and hye discretion  
Were graciously governed/ for their salvation.   

Her dwelling Was most at the place of Wedon  
Where many miracles were shewed openly  
And at Trentam abbey/ of her foundation  
From pain she departed to eternal glory  
After her intent was butted at Hambury  
Of whom it may be said/ here lieth now present  
A princess/ a virgin/ a nonne/ and a president.   

The devout covent of her congregation  
which hath long wailed/ with sorrowful pain  
now haue great cause to make consolation  
And give due honour to our lord and sufferayne  
knowing that Werburge/ in bliss is now certain  
For them all daily a true mediatrice  
In the heuynly throne/ afore the high Iustice.   

Our saviour Iesus/ granter of all goodness  
considering the meekness/ and pure virginity  
Of Werburge his spouse/ and proved holynes  
By special grace/ preserved her body  
To his laud and honour/ his name to magnify  
Both hole and sound/ from natural resolucion  
As her soul was clear from 'vice and corruption.   

This immaculat maid/ shenyng more bright  
Than radiant phebus in the triumphant throne  
With the quere of virgins/ praiseth day and night  
The blessed trinity with due adoracion  
Of perpetual pleasure having the fruycion  
A singular intercessor for her servants all  
That here in earth meekly to her will call   

And though her body do rest now in grave  
yet notable signs continually be done  
Some warned in their sleep comfort to haue  
By visityng her place/ calling her vpon  
With contrite heart making true oblation.  
which thing continued by space of .ix. year  
With marvelous miracles evident and clear   

The covent considering such great company  
From diuers partes/ resorting to their place  
In pilgrimage to Werburge/ for help and remedy  
intended to translate this glorious abbess  
To exalt her body replet with great grace  
To her great honour/ comfort to each creature  
pity that such a relic should lie in sepulture   

To the prays and honour of god omnipotent  
And of saint Werburge laud and reverence  
The covent and the people by one assent  
Desired Coelrede than king of merciens  
For aid in this case/ help and diligence  
( which thing granted) the day appointed was  
The clergy and the commons reioised with solace    

¶ Of the solemn translation of this glorious virgin saint Werburge/ and of the great miracles done at the said season by the might of god and merit of this gracious lady. Cap. xxxii.  

At the day appoynted of her translation  
king Coelted and his counsel were redy present  
With bishops and the clergy men of devotion  
Her miters and subiettes a religious covent  
The common people from each place thither went  
With great gladness/ the hole for pleasure ghostly  
The seek and impotent for health and remedy   

The bishops and clergy stood vpon one parte  
Of her holy grave/ and her miters eachone  
singing and praising the blessed trinity  
The king and his counsel with great devotion  
stood on the other parte in contemplacion  
The grave was opened eleuat was the chest  
wherein her holy corps .ix. year fully did rest   

when this said monument discovered was  
such a suauite and fragrant odoure  
Ascended from the corps by singular grace  
passing all worldly sweetness and savour  
That all there present that day and hour  
Supposed they had ben/ in the felicity  
Of earthly paradise/ without ambiguite.   

And as each man thought by natural reason  
nothing should remain of that blessed body  
But the bare bones/ all else to resolucion  
The coverture removed by the said clergy  
The corps hole and sound was funde verily  
appearing to them/ on sleep as she had ben  
nothing depaired/ that ther could be seen.   

Her vesture appeared hole clear and white  
No parte consumed/ for all the long space  
Fragrant in odoure/ repleit with delight  
As at the first season when she butted was  
But when discovered was her sweet face  
beauty appeared more white than the lile  
mixed with rose colour/ most faire for to se   

Her lovely countenance/ so comely to behold  
And her sweet fisnomy/ with fairness decorat  
As freshly apparent/ most pleasant to be told  
As at the first day/ when she was tumulat  
No doubt therof/ for she with sin not macular  
using all her life in cleanness and virginity  
From bodily corruption/ by grace must saved be.   

The clergy yet searching more diligently  
Her precious body/ and interior vesture  
Eleuat the corps full reverently  
With much worchip honour and cure  
found nothing perisshed in shap nor figure  
For all the long space time and continuance  
She lay in sepulture by divine ordinance.   

which famous miracle/ notified so clear  
The clergy with her miters in ioy and honour  
The king and his counsel all thereat present were  
With voice melodious made a great clamour  
praising and magnifiyng our blessed saviour  
With celestial songs/ and hymns full of bliss  
devoutly rehersyng/ with all their devour  
Mirabilis deus in sanctis suis.   

With that the common rude people everichone  
In the said church yard standing without  
hearing the clergy sing with such devotion  
toward heaven they cried/ and busily did shout  
The space of .iii. houres/ or nere there about  
Worshippyng our lord/ with voice shrill and loud  
In heart will and mind/ as well as they could.   

After all this done/ her blessed body  
Was washed and reclothed with vesture precious  
By the said covent of the place of Hambury  
The bishops were reuesshed in pontificalibus  
And all the clergy singing with voice melodious  
kneeled all down and gave due reverence  
Honour and worship to her corporal presence.   

Thus they resceyued with perfect humility  
This sacrat relic hole and substantial  
And laid it in a shrine with great solemnity  
Enowrned with riches sumptuous and royal  
Prepared by the king/ and ordained inspeciall  
intending that this relic and ghostly treasure  
Perpetually with them should remain and endure   

People oppressed with grievous infirmity  
distracted persons/ halt blind and lame  
resorting to her shrine with humility  
Shortly were cured by calling of her name  
Impotent creatures( the legend saith the same)  
touching her tomb/ were cured from pain  
which tomb remaineth at Hambury certain  
After she was translate/ known it is well  
The clergy to procession/ went after to mas  
Honoryng and praising/ the king of Israell  
And blessed Werburge/ with much solace  
when divine service duly ended was  
The bishops gave their holy benedictions  
The people departed glad to their mansions   

This holy said fest of her translation  
Was ordained and celebrate with solemnite  
As saith Ranulphus in his policronicon  
About the year of grace .vii. hundreth and .viii. sothie  
The .xi. Kalendas of the month julii  
Regnyng in mercelande the said king Coelrede  
Than bishop of Lichefeld was Hedda/ as we rede    

¶ Howe the body of saint Werburge continued hole/ and substantial at Hambury after the translation by the space of two hundreth yeres/ till the danes were common to this land/ or it felle and was resolved unto powder The .xxxiii. Chapitre.  

This rutilant gem and specious floure  
Hole and substantial remained at Hambury  
Two hundreth yeres in beauty and colour  
By singular grace/ and angelical custody  
till the danes were common of malice and misery  
Of ire and mischief/ as we understand  
We mean the coming of pagans to this land   

which danes by sufferance and dispensation  
Of almighty god/ for sin and iniquity  
punished vnpiteously all this region  
with a woeful plague of great crudelite  
The sharp sword of death/ having no pity  
Spared no creature/ prest nor religious  
Long time during in their malice odious   

Than this vital glebe by divine ordinance  
Voluntary permitted natural resolution  
Lest the cruel gentiles/ and wicked myscreauntes  
With pollute hands full of corruption  
should touch her body/ by indignation  
which pagans were enemies to our lord Iesu  
Rebels to holy church vnfeithfull and untrue   

Howe be it the power of our sweet saviour  
might haue continued the body of his syruant  
All that long season in worship and honour  
As he preserved of his grace abundant  
Many sayntes of this realm hole fresh and veruant  
viii. hundreth yeres agone/ to this present day  
And like so to endure/ hole and clear alway.   

soothly to considre/ our lord omnipotent  
Glorious in his sayntes/ scripture doth specify  
Of his divine providence/ pleasure and intent  
Some haue resolved/ for the greater glory  
Of their resurrection for the time truly  
Some other to continue without corruption  
To the true example of his promission   

Many holy martyrs/ for Christ haue been slain  
The high prestis of god murdered cruelly  
Some with wild bestes devoured in certain  
Some cast in fiers on cools to broil and fry  
Vpon many other birds feeding openly  
Of whom the prophet clearly doth rehearse  
The more pain here and wo/ the more glory doubtless.   

The glorious martyr Stephan( as is read)  
In this present life did miracles many  
Neuertherles/ he raised no people that were dead  
But after the resoluynge of his blessed body  
He raised dead men to life again truly  
That the great power of life might spring  
From injury of death/ by our heaven king.   

Great was the respect of divine grace  
In the body of Werburge/ without resolucion  
Shewed by her miracles/ for mannes health and solace  
But greatt{er} was the hope of the etern reuouacion  
In her body resolved to natural consumption  
which for her merites to this present day  
Helpeth all her servants that to her will pray   

Therfore worship me with singular devotion  
The holy living of this virgin gracious  
For why/ all the halowynge of her conversation  
Belongeth to the honour of our lord Iesus  
which of his grace hath made her so glorious  
And granteth his mercy/ and of sin remission  
To all them/ for whom/ she maketh intercession.   

Blessed pure virgin/ moines and abbess  
O venerable werburge/ meekly we the pray  
Make thou supplication/ to the granter of grace  
After this life present/ that all we may  
Come to heaven bliss/ which lasteth for ay  
There to behold/ the glorious trinity  
To whom be laud/ worship/ honour/& endeles glory.     

¶ The table of the second book of the glorious virgin saint Werburge.  

OF the coming to this land of pagans/ and of the trouble of this land/ and how the king of Mercyens for dread departed out of this land/ and how long saint Werburge continued incorrupte and hole at the abbey of Hambury. Ca. i.  
¶ How the people of Hambury brought the shrine to Chester/ and of the solemn receiving of it/ by all the inhabitants of the country. Ca. ii.  
¶ A little description of the fundacyon of Chester/ and of the abbey church within the said city/ where the holy shrine remaineth. Ca. iii.  
¶ A breue rehearsal/ of the first fundacyon of the mynster of Cherster/& of the instytucyon of secular chanous/ in the time of king Edwarde senyor. Ca. iiii.  
¶ Of the notable miracle of saint Werburge in the time of chanons/ and first how she saved Chester from the destruction of welsh men. Ca. v.  
¶ Howe saint Werburge cured and healed a woman three times which was halt and lame to health and prosperity again. Cap. vi.  
¶ Howe saint Werburge saved and defended Chester from innumerable barbarik nations purposing to destroy and spoil the same city utterly. Cap. vii.  
¶ Howe saint Werburge by her merit sent fruit to a barren Woman by singular prayer made unto her. Cap. viii.  
¶ Howe a woman with child by pain brought out of her mind& reason by saint Werburge was restaured to prosperity and health again. Cap. ix.  
¶ Of another woman vnlaufully wurkyng was made blind and sore punished/ and by saint Werburge was restored to sight again. Cap. x.  
¶ Howe saint Werburge restored to health& prosperity. vi. lame& halt persons by singular grace. Ca. xi.  
¶ Of a young man vnryghtfully hanged was thries delivered from death by saint Werburge to health and prosperity. Cap. xii.  
¶ Howe at the maner of upton saint Werburge refrained wild horses from destruction of her cornes. ca. xiii.  
¶ Of a chanō of Chester having his leg broken was restored to health by saint Werburge his pr̄ones. Ca. xiiii.  
¶ A breue rehearsal or chronicle of certain juuenis/ and howe king Edgar came to Chester/ also howe earl Leofrice repaired diuers churches. Ca. xv.  
¶ Of the coming of william conquerour to this land/& how Lupe was fonder of Chester monastery. ca. xvi.  
¶ Howe saint Werburge taught her monk to keep patience for the greater merit and glori to come. ca. xvii.  
¶ Howe sands rose up within the salt see against Hilburghde by saint Werburge at the petition of William constable of chester. Ca. xviii.  
¶ Howe Matild countess of chester counsellynge her husband against the monastery was drowned at Bart flow with many other mo. Cap. xix.  
¶ Howe a great fire like to destroy all chester by miracle ceased when the holy shrine was born about the town by the monks. Ca. xx.  
¶ A breue rehearsal of the miracles of saint Werburge after her translation to chester. Ca. xxi.  
¶ A charitable motion/ coumsel/& desire to al thinhabitant{is} within the county palatin of Chest{er} for the monastori. ca. xxii.  
¶ A little orison or prayer to the blessed virgin saint Werburge by the translator of this work. Ca. xxiii.  
¶ A short conclusion of this little work to the readers by the translator. Ca. xxiiii.    


¶ The prologue of the translator of this little treatise in the second book.  

NOw when we consider/ with mind diligent  
The marvelous manners/& singular condition  
Of the common people/ simple and negligent  
which without lytterature/ and good information  
Ben like to Brute beasts/ as in comparison  
Rude/ wild/ and boystous/ by a proverb certan  
Good manners and conynge/ maked a man.   

saint paul saith/ showing to the Romans  
How all thing written/ in holy scripture  
Is written for our doctrine/ and ghostly ordynans  
For our great comfort/ and endeles pleasure  
All thing is known plainly/ by lytterature  
moral virtues/ be noted by it full plain  
from vice and neclygence/ to abstain certain.   

What were mankind/ without lytterature  
Full little worthy/ blinded by ignorance  
The way to heaven/ it declareth right sure  
through perfect living/ and good perseverance  
By it we may be taught/ for to do penance  
when we transgress/ our lords commaundyment  
It is a sweet cordyall/ for mannes intent.   

How should the seven/ sciences liberal  
Haue ben preserved/ unto this day  
The wisdom/ of the philosophers all  
But alone by learning/ it is no nay  
The notable acts/ of our fathers I say  
( yf literature were not) might not now be told  
Nor ancient histories and chronicles old   

The lawe of civil/ and of holy canon  
By study be preferred with much honour  
To execute iustice/ and for due reformation  
The most blessed doctrine of our saviour  
The acts of the apostles/ with the doctors four  
Be preserved by writing/ and put in memory  
With the lives of saints many a noble story   

Of which histories we purpose special  
To speak of saint Werburge/ under your protection  
declaring the end of her life historical  
As we haue begon/ and made plain mention  
In the first volume by breue compilacion  
There plainly descriuyng her lineal discens  
Of .iiii. mighty kingdoms by true experience   

Also we haue shewed in the said little book  
Her goodly manners/ and virtuous disposition  
Of her young age/ who so list thereon to look  
And howe her brethren suffered martyrdom  
Of her fathers realm a little discripcion  
Howe she was professed in the place of Ely  
Of her conversation within the said monastery   

After for her virtue/ howe she was made abbess  
Of diuers monasteries flouryng in virtue  
And of the great miracles which there done was  
For her great charity/ by the grace of Iesu  
Howe diuers of her kindred did clearly eschew  
All worldly pleasures and honours transetory  
professing obedience at the place of Ely   

Also we haue shewed under your licence  
Of her departure from this life mortal  
And of her sepulture at the place of Hamburgence  
The manifold miracles shewed by grace supernal  
The woeful lamentation of her miters all  
And howe after .ix. year of her translation  
By divine ordinance miracles were done   

We humble require you of your charity  
To this second abstract to grant pardon  
considering we omit whilom the history  
And speak of chronicles/ making a digression  
It is of no ignorance/ nor presumption  
But to enlarge the matter and sentence  
To glad the auditors/ and move their diligence   

In our second book express now will we  
under your licence and special tuition  
Of this blessed virgin/ flowering in chastity  
Why and wherefore she came to chester to own  
Principally by miracle/ and divine provision  
And howe for sin/ 'vice/ and wykednes  
Danes oppressed this land with wretchedness   

And howe she was received at chester city  
Of the first foundation of town and the place  
Of the great miracles there shewed openly  
To chanons and monks/ by singular grace  
unto every creature in extreme case  
Howe Werburge delivered the town from enmite  
From dreadful fire/ and plagues of misery   

Also encronicled followeth here express  
A brief compilacion of king Edwarde senior  
Of king Ethelstam/ the great worthiness  
Of humble king Ergar regnyng as emperour  
Of his coming to chester/ of his great honour  
And howe earl Leofrice repaired of his charity  
The minster of Werburge giving thereto liberty   

Of the second foundation of the said monastery  
From secular chanons to monks religious  
soon after the conquest saith the history  
By the earl of chester nominar Hug. Lupus  
With counsel and help of blessed Anselmus  
And of the great compass of the said abbey  
Enuired with walls mighty to assay   

Howe Ric earl of chester by miracle right  
Was preserved from danger of welshmen  
And howe he was drowned about midnight  
purposing to destroy the monastery certain  
celestial signs were shewed to men and women  
To children and innocents by singular grace  
Of blessed Werburge patroness of the place   

These miracles specified/ and many other mo  
This virgin shewed within chester city  
which at this time we let over go  
Lest to the readers tedious it should be  
almighty god both one two and three  
send us of their grace to make a good end  
help lady Werburge this work to amend    

¶ Of the coming of cruel pagans to this land/ and howe saint Werburge long lyenge hole and incorrupt at Hambury. than was resolved to powder. And howe the king of merciens was chased from his land. Ca. i.  

AFore the coming of danes to this land  
marvelous signs were shewed in sight  
To convert the people( as we vndestande)  
stars in the heaven shining full bright  
diversly moving appearing day and night  
running in the air dreadful to behold  
By long continuance saith the story old   

flaming fire/ dragons in the air fleynge  
Thondryng/ and layth/ earth quake most terrible  
With many other signs/ as cometis blazing  
Were seen in the air/ to nature horrible  
Vpon clothing of people bloddy drops audible  
evidently appeared: the year of grace  
vii. hundreth. lxxxvi in many a place   

By which said signs wonderful to se  
Two plagues of pestilence followed incontinent  
The first was great derthes hungre and poverty  
The second was the grievous and sore punishment  
Of the cruel danes cursed and fraudulent  
which trouble began the .iiii. year of Bricticus  
king of west saxon/ saith master Alfridus.   

The thyrde year following these signs in certain  
Danes and Norwaies enterprised this land  
In the north party. an host of armed men  
which cruelly spoiled and destroyed holy island  
With Tynmouth abbey/ and all that might be fonde  
Drowned and slew the people everichone  
burned churches/ towns/ spared no religion   

In short time after the prenominate pagans  
At tamysmouth reentred this realm again  
Destroyed many cites by their mighty ordinance  
Oppressed London/ Canturbury by power certain  
The king of Merciens to escape was fain  
king Adoulfus made the danes a battle  
To which king by grace the victory befell   

yf ye will consider the cause wherefore and why  
Our lord suffered pagans to punish this region  
The truth was this: for sin specially  
For in the primitive church/ with great perfection  
kings/ quienes/ dukes entred religion  
Professed obedient chased without propurte  
virtue to increase/ true love and charity   

That time was iustice ministered with mercy  
True love and amity found in every place  
dissimulation/ pride and fals envy  
Durst not appear in hall nor in palace  
extortion pollynge obtained no grace  
The commandments of god were observed a right  
charity was fervent/ increasing day and night   

By process of time/ as saith mine author  
Through great possession/ power/ and liberty  
virtue decreased in holy church day and hour  
Holy religion decayed pitiousle  
charity was cold/ iustice and equity  
extortion disobeyed were used every day  
covetise/ pride/ lechery were ryued alway   

Therfore our lord of his great ryghtwisnes  
suffered cruel people to entre this region  
Ascourge to correct sin and wykednes  
Like a swarm of bees from dyvers nation  
which had no pity mercy nor compassion  
Danes Gotes Norwayes and scottes also  
picts and the wandeles with money other mo   

These foresaid fearful and cruel nations  
most cruel pagans did great persecution  
From the beginning of Adelwlf king of westsaxons/  
till the coming of normans unto this region  
The space enduring by full computacion  
Two hundreth yeres complete .xxx. also  
With the sword of vengeance fire and much wo   

The year of our lord. D. CCC. fifty and one  
At Tamysmouth arrived a great host of pagans  
With .iii. hundreth ships and .l. men of arms eachone  
which destroyed dover/ and put the land to greuans  
again Bernulphus the king of Mercians  
The paynims prevailed/ and caused his host to fle  
which fortune enforced them more bolder to be   

But the year of grace. D. CCC. six and sixty  
The greatest noumbre of the pagans all  
viii. kings entred this realm by victory  
Norwaies/ ghotes/ Wandels/ danes in especial  
With many other nations within in general  
king Hingwar and Hubba than came to this land  
which slew saint edmund king of Estenglande   

The cruel paynims and tyrants most furious  
Repleit with malice/ pride/ and envy  
servants to satan and ministres malicious  
Purposed to desolate holy church wickedly  
burned monasteries and spoiled utterly  
Many churches chapels of a mortal hate  
slew religious men and nonnes did violate   

The people were punished in every place  
To old sick and impotent they shewed no mercy  
young soukyng children could finde no grace  
Wyddowes and wives were put to villainy  
maidens were corrupt/ and slain chamfully  
So all this realm endured confusion  
Put to grievous pain/ death/ and affliction   

After these infidels had ben at London  
And there accomplisshed their cruel intent  
They soon proceeded toward Lincoln region  
From thence directly with hasty judgment  
To the realm of Merciens noble and ancient  
Right unto Repton where the king lay  
robbing and spoilynge all in their way   

This king of Mercelande called Burdredus  
Regnyng .xxii. year vpon the merciens  
Was clearly expulsed by the pagans furious  
And went unto rome with pure conscience  
Where he is butted by divine providence  
which king was cousin by discent lineal  
To blessed Werburge so glorious and pudicall   

This gracious virgin and preelect abbess  
butted at Hambury( as is said before)  
Continued incorrupt and hole in that place  
In vesture and body .ii. hundreth year and more  
But when the danes came with such rigour  
To Repton abbey/ than she was resolved  
And of devotion full richly shrined    

¶ Howe the people of Hambury brought the shrine to chester/ and of the solemn receiving of it by all the inhabitants of Chesshyre. Cap. ii.  

IN mean time the danes pitously destroyed  
The monasteries of Werburge/ Trentā& Wedō  
As they many other places had evil oppressed  
In the north and east part of this region  
The kingdom of Kent suffered like punition  
The Ile of wight endured much turment  
So did the Westmarches/ for punishment   

The people of Hambury wisely considering  
The coming of danes unto Repton  
And of the departure of Burdred their king  
Howe all england was in great affliction  
And howe they were next to endure punition  
which foresaid Repton was distant from Hambury  
The space of .v. mile saith the history   

The Hamburgens̄ with all the commons and clergy  
dreading full sore the pagans flagellacions  
Of their lives desperate/ but for the shrine specially  
To our blessed saviour made daily inuocacions  
With vigils prayers and fervent meditacions  
To preserve the country/ the relic/ the shrine  
From danger of enmite and miserable ruin   

As they continued in cotidian prayer  
The best remedy seeking for to finde  
To avoid vexation and all grievous danger  
Of their great enemies cursed and unkind  
The holy ghost inspired their mind  
To take the shrine with great humility  
And bring it to chester from peril and enmyte   

They took this trial relic of reverence  
With great meekness devotion and fervour  
Through the grace of god their help and defence  
Came toward Chester with diligence and honour  
A place preordinat by our sauoiur  
Where her body should rest and worshipped be  
Magnified with miracles next our lady   

¶ when the clergy of chester and the citizens  
Herde tell of the coming of this noble abbess  
They made preparation and great diligence  
In their best maner worship and solace  
To meet this relic of singular grace  
The great estates/ and rulers of the country  
Were redy to honour saint Werburge that day   

First was ordained a solemn procession  
With crosses/ and banners/ and surges clear light  
The belles were tolled for joy and devotion  
The ministres of god in coops redy dight  
With censours of silver/ to encense her body right  
All prestis and clerkes redy to say and sing  
proceeded in order/ this holy virgin praising   

Next to the clergy approached in degree  
The lords of the shire knights barons all  
With fervent devotion/ praising the trinity  
which sent to them such comfort spiritual  
The citizens ensued with gladness cordial  
With books and beads/ magnifieng our maker  
For this great treasure to keep them from danger   

Venerable virgins next set in order clear  
With lilies in their hands coronate with chastity  
Good widows and wives appoynted well were  
giving true thankes unto this virgin fre  
next them assemble all the commonte  
In all goodly maner dyuised by discretion  
praising saint Werburge with humiliacion   

when they approached to her high presence  
And common were afore this relic most rial  
They kneeled all down with mickle reverence  
Salutynge the shrine with honour victoriall  
Magnifiyng with melody and tunys musical  
This glorious virgin/ nothing done amis  
singing Te deum to the king of bliss   

The lords/ the citezins/ and all the commons  
meekly submytted themself to the shrine  
With manifold praises and humble supplicacions  
With interior love/ and moral discipline  
Tru●●yng all in her to save them from ruin  
From grievous danger/ and cruel enmite  
By her entercession unto the trinity   

They gave due thankes unto this abbess  
devoutly saying knelyng vpon knee  
Welcome sweet lady replet with grace  
The floure of meekness/ and of chastity  
The crystal of cleanness and virginity  
Welcome thou art to us everichone  
A special comfort for us to trust vpon   

Welcome sweet princess/ kings daughter dere  
Welcome faire creature/ and rose of merciens  
The diamonde of dignity/ and gem shenyng clear  
Virgin and moiniall of mickle excellence  
Welcome holy abbess of high pre-eminence  
The rutilant sapphire of syncerite  
Welcome sweet patroness to chester city   

Thou art our refuge/ and singular succour  
Our sure tuition next to the trinity  
Our special defence at every hour  
To relieve thy servants in all necessity  
Thou art our solace and help in each degree  
Our joy/ trust/ and comfort/ and ghostly treasure  
Welcome to this town for ever to endure   

¶ against her coming into chester city  
The streets were strawed with flowers fragrant  
The mancions and walls edified rialle  
Were hanged with arras precious and pleasant  
Torches were carried on each side flagrant  
Also over the shrine was prepared a canaby  
Of cloth of gold and tissewe rich and costly   

Thus with great worship decour and dignity  
Of all the clergy lordis and citizens  
She was received with great humility  
Into the city with humble reverence  
The clergy singing with mickle diligence  
The commons praying with love fervent  
following this relic after their intent   

In procession they passed all in to the town  
With joy and great gladness ye may be sure  
In order together in charity and devotion  
praising our saviour and this virgin pure  
They brought full solemple with ghostly peasure  
This rial relic to the most noble place  
Within all the city as our lords will was   

This second translation of this virgin bright  
From Hambury abbey unto chester city  
Was celebrate with joy and gladness full right  
The year of our savour in his humanity  
viii. hundreth complete .v. and seuentie  
allured reigned than king of this region  
Victorious and liberal/ coronate at London   

This king divided in .iiii. partes his richesse  
One parte to the poor the second to religion  
The thyrde part to scholars/ the fourth to build churches  
And of a day natural/ he made trium division  
viii. houres to rede and pray with fervent devotion  
viii. houres occupied with business natural  
And other .viii. houres to rule his realm rial   

Henric. lio. v.  
Nobilitas innata tibi probitas honorem  
Armipotens Alurede dedit/ probitasque laborem:  
Perpetuumque labour nomen: cvi mixta dolori  
Gaudia semper erant: spes semper mixta timori.  
Si modo victus erat/ ad crastina bella parabat  
Si modo victor erat/ ad crastina bella pauebat.  
Iam post transactos regni viteque labores/  
christ ei sit vera quies/ sceptrumque perenne.    

¶ A little description of the foundation of chester/ and of the abbey church within the said city/ where the holy shrine by grace remaineth. Cap. iii.  

Two cites of legions in chronicles we finde  
One in south Wales/ in the time of Claudius  
Called Caeruska/ by britons had in mind  
Or else Caerleon/ builded by king Belinus  
Where sometime was a legion of knights chiualrous  
This city of legions was whilom the bishops se  
unto all south wales/ nominat Wenedocie   

Another city of legions we may finde also  
In the west part of england/ by the water of d'ye  
Called Caerlleon of britons long ago  
After name chester by great authority  
Iulius the emperour send to this said city  
A legion of knights/ for to subdue ireland  
Like wise did Claudius( as we understand)   

The founder of chester/ as saith Policronicon  
Was Lleon Gauer/ a mighty strong giant  
which builded caues and dongions many one  
No goodly building/ proper ne pleasant  
But the king Leil a briton sure and valiant  
Was founder of chester by pleasant building  
And of Caerleil also/ name by the king   

Ranulphus in his chronicle yet doth express  
The city of chester edified for to be  
By the noble romans prudence and richesse  
when a legion of knights was send to the city  
Rather than by the wisdom of Britons or policy  
Obiectyng clear against the britons fundacion  
which author resteth in his own opinion.   

Ao gratie. lxv.  
king Marius a bryton regnyng in prosperity  
In the West party of this noble region  
Ampliat and walled strongly chester city  
And myghtyly fortified the said foundation  
Thus each author holdeth a singular opinion  
This Marius slew Reodric king of pictis land  
calling the place of his name Westmarilande   

This city of legions so called by the Romans  
now is nominat in latin of his proprete  
Cestria quasi castria/ of honour and pleasance  
proved by the building of old antiquity  
In cellars and low voultes/ and walls of realte  
like a comely castle/ mighty strong and sure  
each house like a tour sometime of great pleasure   

unto the said chester all north-wales subject were  
For reformation Iustice and judgment  
their bishops see also it was many a year  
enduring the governance of brutes ancient  
To saxons and britons a place indifferent  
The inhabitants of it manful and liberal  
Constant sad and virtuous/ and gentle continual   

Of fruits and cornes there is great abundance  
woods/ parks/ forests/ and beestis of venare  
Pastures/ fields/ commons/ the city to advance  
Waters/ pools/ ponds/ of fish great plenty  
Most sweet wholesome air by the water of d'ye  
There is great merchandise/ ships/ and wines strange  
With all thing of pleasure the citizens among   

The year of our lord a hundreth six and fifty  
Reigned vpon this land a briton king Lucius  
which with great desire required instantly  
His realm to be baptized of pope Elenthertus  
Whose charitable motion was hard full gracious  
The pope enjoyed/ granted his petition  
And send .ii. doctors to convert this region   

The doctors by prechyng and singular grace  
In short time converted the greater britain  
The people confessed their sin and trespass  
Baptized all were/ forgiveness did attain  
idolatry cessed through out this land certain  
With grace circumsulced and lyghtned was England  
By faith to god professed was all Wales and scotlande   

king Lucius ordained by the doctors mocio●  
xxviii. bishops in this realm for to be  
And .iii. archebisshops for ghostly exhortation  
To reduce the people to virtue and humility  
At London was set the chief archebisshops se  
The second in south Wales at city of legions  
The thyrde was at york all subject to the britons   

Churches were edified in many a place  
Here in the more britain with diligent labour  
Christ is faith increased by special grace  
faithful religion delated every hour  
divine service was songon& said with great honour  
True faith and devotion were daily increasing  
Namely in chester by grace continual abiding   

certainly sith baptym came to chester city  
soon after Lucius and afore king Arthure  
By the grace of god and their humility  
The faith of holy church did ever there endure  
Without recidiuacion and infection/ sure  
wherefore it is worthy a singular commendation  
above all the cities and towns of this region   

The perfect beginning and first foundation  
Of the monastery within the said city  
Was at the same time by famus opinion  
That baptym began within this country  
The great lords of chester of lands and auncetre  
First edified the church for comfort spiritual  
In honour of the apostels Peter and paul   

which church was principal to all the city  
And the mouther church called without doubt  
It was their burial by great authority  
To all this said city/ and .vii. mile without  
The cemiterie was large to compass it about  
But what by sufferance and process of time  
Many old customs ben brought now to ruin   

In which mother church of Peter and paul  
All holy sacramentes ministered daily were  
With great encreasement of virtues all  
continual enduring more than. CCC. year  
In the britons time/ of blodde noble and clear  
Afore the coming of saxons to this land  
which with apostasy enserted all england   

So after that the Angles/ Iutes/ and saxons  
By fortune of battle/ power and policy  
Had clearly subdued all the old britons  
And them expulsed to wales and wild country  
The faith of holy church remained at chester city  
In the said chu●che conely by singular grace alone  
Like as the faith of Peter never f●yled at Rome   

What tynie saint Austin the doctor of england  
Had baptized Ethelbrut king of Kent  
And by relacion did fully understand  
That the faith of Christ most dign and excellent  
In the city of legions was truly remanent  
In the church of the apostles Peter and paul  
He magnified our lord with thank special   

That season there was a noble monastery  
xii. miles from chester nominate Bangour  
Where religious monks lived vertuouslye  
Almost .iii. thousand/ obedient every hour  
Without possessions/ living by their labour  
unto which place he send for help at need  
To convert the saxons( saith venerable Bede)   

saint Austin approached the city of legions  
Where the said covent afore him were present  
Whom he required to preach to the saxons  
The faith of holy church and baptym diligent  
To whose humble prayer/ they were disobedient  
observing no charity/ yet for their great pride  
Many of them were slain by king Ethelfride   

That season the britons remained under licence  
Of Angles and saxons within the said city  
till the dayes of Offa king of merciens  
Regnyng in the west march with great victory  
which king expulsed by power and chivalry  
All brutes and welshmen clear out of his land  
In pain of punishment none there to be fonde   

when the said church having great liberty  
daily augmented in virtue and holynes  
Prestis and clerkes praised the holy trinity  
And the said apostles with great meekness  
The city increased in worship and riches  
Churches were edified with fervent devotion  
In sundry places within the said town   

This noble king Offa against the pagans  
Of .xvii. batels had ever the victory  
Confederate was with great Charles king of france/  
And edified saint Albans monastery  
Of england first took the hole monarchy  
gave Peter pens unto the court of Rome  
Translate to Lichefeld the se of Canturbury  
xxxix. year reigned fully in this region.    

¶ A brief rehearsal of the first foundacion of the minster of chester/ and of the institution of secular chanons in the time of king Edwarde signior. Cap. iiii.  

THe year of grace. D. CCC. seuynte and five  
king allured reigned vnpon this region  
The relic the shrine full memoratyue  
Was brought to chester for our consolation  
reverently received set with devotion  
In the mouther church of saint Peter and paul  
( As afore is said) a place most principal   

In which holy place unto this present day  
She bodily resteth by divine providence  
And so by his grace shall continue alway  
In honour worship/ and mickle reverence  
A devout oratory of virtue and excellence  
Prepared by our lord/ where special remedy  
Is again all greuans in soul and in body   

The primatyue gifts given to the place  
immediately were after her coming  
Of devout people replet with grace  
In the dayes of the foresaid allured king  
Of lands and liberties they made much offering  
To god and saint Werburge/ after their possession  
Tristyng to her prayer and sure protection   

The people with devotion and mind fervent  
gave diuers enormentes unto this place  
Some gave a coop/ and some a vestement  
Some other a chalice/ and some a corporace  
Many albes and other clothes offered ther was  
Some crosses of gold/ some books/ some belles  
The poor folk gave surges/ torches/ and towelles   

The citizens offered to the said virgin  
For the great miracles among them wrought  
Many rial gifts of jewels to the shrine  
thanking our lord that hath us all bought  
And blessed Werburge in word dede and thought  
Women and children she minded full gracious  
As testifieth the archbishop Antoninus   

divine service was observed devoutly  
every day increasing with fervent adoracion  
As the feest required/ and the solemnite  
To the honour of our lord and high glorificacion  
Preistis and clerkes with pure meditation  
observing their duty gave virtuous example  
Of great perfection to the common people   

¶ After king allured/ reigned his son  
Edward signior by lineal discence  
crwoned the year of grace .ix. hundreth and one  
with worldly glory and great pre-eminence  
builded castles towns of mighty defence  
Subdued the danes .vii. times in battle  
increased his realm manfully and well   

That time the realm of merciens was translate  
By the king/ and given to duke ethelred  
A noble man of auncetre/ politic and fortunate  
which married his sister lady elfled  
daughter to the foresaid valiant king Alurede  
The said gentleman was wise and virtuous  
Sad and discrete patient and famous   

This lady elfled duchess of merciens  
Had special love and singular affection  
To blessed Werburge and true confidence  
wherefore she minded with great dilectacion  
To edify a minster a place of devotion  
To this holy virgin for profit of her soul  
Enlargynge the church of Peter and of paul   

She moved her husband with great meekness  
To supply the same dede of his charity  
And diuers other nobles of their goodness  
For aid in that cause after their degree  
joyful was the duke of the motion gostle  
Glad were the nobles within all the shire  
To found a minster after her desire   

Afore the holy rood in a table written is  
At saint Iohans church without the said city  
Howe that prince edmond the thyrde son ewis  
Of Edwarde signior true foundour should be  
To whom lady elfled was aunt by auncetre  
So betwixt twain was founded in short space  
An holy minster of virtue full and grace   

They send for masons vpon every side  
Counnynge in geometry/ the foundation to take  
For a large minster long high and wide  
substantially wrought/ the best that they can make  
To the honour of god/ for saint Werburge sake  
At the est end taken their sure foundation  
Of the apostles church/ joining both as one   

when it was edified/ and curiously wrought  
And all thing ended/ in goodly proportion  
Than rich enormentes were offered and brought  
Of the said nobles with great devotion  
temporal lands/ rents/ possession  
Were given for ever to maintain the place  
Of blessed Werburge by singular grace   

spiritual ministres were elect also  
Secular chanons of great humility  
To sing and psalmodise our saviour unto  
Within the said minster having a perpetuite  
prebends were assigned to that fraternite  
With towns/ borrows/ and freedoms manifest  
Continually increasing unto the conquest   

And the old church of Peter and of paul  
By a general counsel of the spiritualte  
With help of the duke most principal  
Was translate to the mids of the said city  
Where a paresshe church was edified truele  
In honour of the aforesaid apostles twain  
which shall for ever by grace divine remain   

Also we may note holding none opinion  
This lady elfled of her charity  
Of the said mother church translate the patron  
Caused the said oratory reconciled to be  
In the honour of the most blessed trinity  
And of saint Oswalde martyr and king  
For the love she had to him continuing   

The year of our lord .ix. hundreth and .viii.  
This noble duchess with mickle royalty  
re-edified chester/ and fortified it full right  
church/ house/ and wall decayed piteousle  
Thus brought unto ruin was chester city  
First by Ethelfride king of northumberland  
And by danes/ norwaies vexyng all england   

Also she enlarged this said old city  
With new mighty walls strong all about  
Almost by proportion double in quantity  
To the further byldynge brought without doubt  
She compassed in the castle enemies to hold out  
Within the said walls to defend the town  
against danes and walshemen to drive them all down   

After the death of her husband ethelred  
She ruled the realm of mercelande manfully  
builded churches/ and towns repaired in dede  
As Staford/ warwick/ Thomwort/ and Shirisbury  
Of neweshe edified Runcorn̄ and Edisbury  
The body of saint Oswald also she translate  
From Bardeney to Gloucetur there to be tumulate   

Where she edified a noble monastery  
With licence of her brother afore nominate  
In honour of saint Peter/ over the blessed body  
Of the said saint Oswald/ king and martyr coronate  
In which monastery this lady was tumulate  
The year of our lord .ix. hundreth and nyntene  
Whom mine author praiseth in this words serene   

Henric. li. v.  
O Elfleda potens/ o terror virgo virorum:  
Victrix nature nomine digna viri.  
Te quoque splendidior fecit natura puellam  
Te probitas fecit nomen habere viri.  
Te mutare docet said solum nomina sexus  
Tu regina potens/ rexque trophea parans  
Iam nec cesarei tant{er} meruere triumphi  
caesar splendidior virgo virago. Vale.    

¶ Of the notable miracles of saint Werburge shewed in the time of chanons/ and first howe she saved Chest{er} from destruction of welshmen Cap. v.  

THis glorious Werburge and virgin pure  
By singular grace of god omnipotent  
Shewed many miracles to every creature  
To blind/ dumb halt/ lame/ and impotent  
In the city of chester/ when her shrine was present  
Like wise as in her life at Wedon/ at Hambury  
witnesseth the same her true legend and history   

Where to the honour/ praise/ and laudacion  
Of Iesu/ the second person in trinity  
And of this virgin a special commendation  
We purpose to rehearse now with charity  
under the protection of you that shall the readers be  
Parte of the miracles/ with mind diligent  
In this humble style/ and sentence consequent   

The first miracle/ that our blessed saviour  
Shewed for his spouses/ after her translation  
To chester: was nigh the time of Edwarde senior  
Son to king allured famous of renown  
The Name of britons was changed that season  
Were name welshmen in the montaynes segregate  
ever to the saxons having inward hate   

The welshmen that time had over them a king  
Called Griffinus/ to be their governor  
elect by the commons their appetite following  
Endurate with malice/ covetise and rancour  
enemies to englisshemen/ as is said before  
This king intended by mortal envy  
The city of chester to spoil and disfrye   

A mighty host descended from the mountans  
Well armed and strongly approaching the city  
Prepared for battle with them great ordinance  
The said Griffinus and all his company  
With his power passed over the water of De●…  
which river adioynneth to the said town  
between england and Wales a sure division   

This king laid siege unto chester city  
With all his great host/ there honour to win  
By policy of war/ increasing myghtyle  
For which the citizens remaining within  
were sore disconsolate like for to twyn  
With woeful heavy hartes they did call and cry  
Vpon blessed Werburge for help and remedy   

The charitable chanons with great devotion  
took the holy shrine of their patrons  
Set it on the town walls for help and tuition  
trusting on her to be saved from distress  
But one of the ennemyes with great wickedness  
smote the said shrine in casting of a ston  
And it impaired/ piteous to look vpon   

anon great punishment vpon them all light  
The king and his host were smitten with blindness  
That of the city/ they had no maner of sight  
And he that smote the holy shrine doubtless  
Was grievously vexed with a spirit of darkness  
And with hidous pain expired miserable  
The king was sore a dread/ and all his company   

Shortly the king removed his great host  
Departed from the city without any pray  
And gave in commandment in every coost  
saint Werburge lands to meynteyne alway  
Assigned her possessions ever after that day  
With the sign of the cross a token evident  
In pleasyng this virgin/ for dread of punishment.    

¶ Howe saint Werburge cured and healed a woman three times( which was halt and lame) to health and {pro}sperite again. Cap. vi.  

IN the city of chester( the legend doth express)  
An honest matron dwelled/ Eagida nominat  
which by continuance/ and pain of sickness  
Was made halt and lame/ of health all desperate  
yet to saint Werburge her hart was elevate  
Instantly required with humble supplication  
This holy virgin for health/ and preservation   

anon by the merit of this lady clear  
The patient restored to health and prosperity  
gave honour and thankes to Werburge and prayer  
intending ever after her true servant to be  
And truly continue living in pure chastity  
But shortly she broke her promise made in sight  
following her appetite and carnal lusts full right   

She had great riches wealth and prosperity  
And married with pleasure after her entencion  
Where thries she endured her old infirmity  
And thries was cured by meek intercession  
To health of body from painful contraction  
Thus by the merit of this virgin pure  
She was delivered from pain thries to pleasure   

This foresaid Gadgide prudently ponderyng  
These notable miracles with her ghostly eye  
gave great commendation and special thanking  
To almighty god/ with fervent humility  
And to saint Werburge kneeling on knee  
Came to her oratory and gave an oblation  
To the holy shrine with singular devotion    

¶ Howe saint Werburge saved chester from innumerable barbarike nations/ purposing to destroy and spoil the said city utterly Cap. vii.  

AN other time innumerable barbarike nations  
Came to spoil chester to rob it and distry  
( saith the history) from diuers regions  
harold king of danes/ the king of gotes& galwedy  
Maucolyn of Scotlande and all their company  
With banners displayed well armed to fight  
their tentes rially in hoole heath were pight   

They set their ordinance against the town  
Vpon every side/ timorous for to se  
Namely at the northgate they were redy bowne  
By might police to haue entred the city  
The citizens dreading to be in captivity  
Made intercession unto this holy abbess  
For their deliverance in such extreme case   

The devout chanons set the holy shrine  
against their enemies at the said northgate  
trusting to Werburge to save them from ruin  
And show some miracle to them disconsolate  
For the citizens were of their lives desperate  
passing mannes mind to escape their danger  
But all only by merit of this virgin clear   

As the kings were sautynge this foresaid city  
trusting for a pray to haue it every hour  
One of the said enemies replet with iniquity  
not worshipping the virgin/ nor dreading our saviour  
Smote this rial relic with a ston in his rancour  
broke therof a corner curiously wrought  
Cast all to the ground: than sorrow came unsought   

The said malefactor not passing the place  
Vexed with the devill for his grievous offence  
Roryng and yellyng his outrageous trespass  
Tore his tongue a sunder in wodely violence  
Miserable expired afore them in presence  
Satan ceased not to show great punishment  
Vpon his soul and body/ by signs evident   

These kings considering this sudden vengeance  
among them all light so soon and hastily  
Shortly removed their great ordinance  
Departed from the city with their company  
calling on this virgin fast for grace and mercy  
Promyttynge never after to return again  
To disquiet her servants and city in certain    

¶ Howe saint Werburge by her merit sent fruit to a barren woman by singular prayer made unto her The .viii. chapitre.  

A Noble gentleman/ a consul in office  
descending of the high and rial blodde of costy  
Elected a spouses at his own device  
A sweet faire gentle woman curtes and comely  
Nominat judith/ ioynned to him in matrimony  
With whom this lady lived a long season  
Barrayn and fruitless of generation   

She daily lamented her great wretchedness  
As woman infortunate full of misery  
Prayed to saint Werburge with interior meekness  
For remedy and help against that woeful infamy  
Desired to haue issue and fruit of her body  
If it pleased god/ and this virgin also  
Most greatest comfort to bring her heart from wo   

saint Werburge appeared to her in vision  
In white bright vesture/ clear as the crystal  
expressing words of great consolation  
Most joyful to judith to make rehearsal  
commanding her by the effect special  
To go to her church with singular devotion  
And pray our saviour with humble supplication   

Also for to compass her holy altar  
With a linen cloth/ knelyng on herkne  
And after for to take the same cloth in far  
And compass her womb about reuerentle  
This judith was joyful/ and rose up yerle  
And truly fulfilled this ghostly vision  
From thence departed to her proper mansion   

soon after this wife afore rehearsed  
conceived a child and had succession  
praising this virgin in hart word and dede  
And after the time of her purification  
Of the same faire cloth she made oblation  
richly set in silver/ well wrought in compass  
With many rich enormentes she send to this place   

After came herself unto the monastery  
With many of her neighbours/ ther nigh dwelling  
praising and laudyng this glorious lady  
With cordial thankynges making their offering  
Of this great miracles true witness bearing  
Departed from the place with ioy and devotion  
All the said company/ each to their mansion.    

¶ Of a woman great with child with pain brought out of her wit/ by saint Werburge was restoured to reason again. Cap. ix.  

IN the province of chester/ known it is of old  
A certain man dwelled/ of great honest  
which had a daughter disposed manifold  
To sundry virtues/ cleanness/ and humility  
This humble maid joined was in matrimony  
To an honest young man/ of whom she conceived  
And was great with child/ openly perceived   

when the time approached of her deliverance  
Vexed she was with mickle wo and pain  
Continually enduring/ with such hidous grievance  
That out of her mind she went incertain  
All physic and medicyns were found to her in vain  
No comfort in earth help nor remedy  
For he might be found in such extremity   

Her father and mother/ and her friends all  
Brought their dere daughter with great devotion  
To saint Werburge church/ requiring special  
This blessed virgin/ with humble intercession  
To help the patient from all vexation  
Promyttynge an oblation to this lady bright  
when she unto reason were comen a right   

And as she slepped at the altar end  
woefully cruciat with pains hiduous  
passing mannes cure it for to amend  
anon by the merit of this virgin glorious  
She was released from all pain grievous  
And fully restored to her reason again  
Had good deliverance/ and sped well in certain   

which miracle known/ her friends everichone  
And all the good matrons of the said city  
Came holly together with their oblation  
To the holy shrine thanking with hart fre  
This blessed virgin of her benignity  
which is so redy a mediatrice alway  
To help her true servants both night and day    

¶ Howe an other woman vnlaufully wurkynge was made blind/ and by saint Werburge restored was to her sight again. Cap. x.  

Within the same city afore the abbey gate  
Dwelled a woman/ which broke the commandment  
Of god and holy church/ hye sabbot day did violate  
Vnlaufully wurkynge: wherefore great punishment  
Fell vpon this woman with pains equivalent  
suddenly smitten/ wurkynge full busily  
With grievous blyndes/ and mickle misery   

This woman considering her sight was gone  
The pleasure of this world her help and succour  
having to live by/ small riches or none  
Cried maynly out out alas every hour  
Wo is me wretch fulfilled with dolour  
Alas I was born to abide this woeful day  
My maker to displease/ alas what shall I say?   

She called to memory with hye discretion  
The miracles that Werburge shewed to mankind  
By grace she repented/ with such contrition  
That water distilled from her eyes blind  
Dolefully lamenting/ that she was so unkind  
Ruthfully was brought to Werburge oratory  
trusting in this virgin to haue remedy   

As she continued in her supplication  
woefully weeping/ abiding the great grace  
Of blessed Werburge/ with singular inuocacion  
anon she was cured to health and solace  
Restored to her eye sight/ she passed the place  
praised our lord and this virgin pure  
Was a holy woman after ye may be sure.    

¶ How saint Werburge restored to health and {pro}sperite vi. lame and halt {per}sons by singular grace. Cap. xi.  

THe excellent famed of this glorious lady  
Dilated was through all this region  
Manifest by miracles full honourably  
Therfore from diuers partes came many a person  
For health of body and ghostly conversation  
Some to be cured from pain intolerable  
And some of old sores that were incurable   

among whom there came unto her place  
Sire woeful persons/ cured for to be  
Halt blind and lame besekyng her of grace  
With humble supplication vpon them haue pity  
With weeping treares saying/ o common lady  
O imperial princess/ and kings daughter dere  
heel our disease by thy instant prayer   

O blessed virgin and holy moiniall  
O glorious abbess/ and worthy governor  
O peerless parens and minister spiritual  
O celestial gem resplendent with honour  
pray for us wretches unto our saviour  
That we may obtain here mercy and grace  
Cured of our sickness/ after to se thy face   

Thy name transcendeth this realm sweet lady  
Thy miracles magnifien thy great goodness  
Thy worship increaseth with honour and glory  
Daily evermore through thy great holynes  
show now thy power/ cure us from sickness  
That by the we may praise the king of blis  
As thou hast cured many one or this   

By these meek prayers/ in heart full penitent  
And many other orisons said privately  
calling on this virgin with devotion fervent  
For certain/ or they passed the monastery  
They were all cured from pain and malady  
In witness whereof/ and trial as it was  
their staues remained long after in the place    

¶ Howe a young man thries hanged vnlaufully Was thries delivered by saint Werburge from death to life and liberty. Cap. xii.  

almighty god gave in commandment  
By moses lawe/ to his people eachone  
No innocent to slay by wrongful iudgement  
Nor causeless to punish by grievous oppression  
Also to beware of light suspection  
whereof a miracle we shall now express  
Done in chester city by Werburge their patroness   

A certain young man dwelled in the city  
Honest in manners/ and of good conversation  
Disposed to virtue and humility  
Was arrest and taken of a light suspicion  
By the officers and rules of the said town  
guiltless accused most innocently  
Condemned and judged to death shamefully   

After sentence given/ ministres were all redy  
Vpon the iudgement to do execution  
He was fettered and brought to the gebbet by and by  
And as a strong thief hanged thereupon  
His friends and cousins for him made great mone  
Alas what tongue might express the wo  
They made that time departing him fro   

And as this innocent hang in his pain  
He called to mind the manifold goodness  
The miracles of Werburge shewed her certain  
Howe she had saved many in great distress  
So when he might no words express  
In mind he required her/ and humbly did pray  
From shameful death to save him that day   

when all the officers departed were thence  
supposing the soul separate from the body  
A white done descended afore them in presence  
And light vpon the gebbet immediately  
The bird with his bill broke the rope truly  
The prisoner escaped that time from death  
Shortly reuiuynge took natural breath   

which thing notified so marvelous in sight  
The ministers returned/ their labour in vain  
took this innocent by power and might  
Vpon the said gebbet hanged him again  
Thus he was delivered by miracle from pain  
The tortuous turmentours cessed their tyranny  
permitted the prisoner to go at liberty   

which miracle known/ his friends and cousins all  
Returned again with glad mind and cheer  
The prisoner met them loving god in special  
And blessed Werburge in his best manner  
The devout citizens approached them nere  
Went all to the shrine the virgin thanking  
The belles were tolled for ioy of this thing    

¶ Howe at the maner place of upton saint Werburge restrained wild horses from destruction of cornes put in by their ennemyes. Cap. xiii.  

ALso the thyrde season approached to chester city  
Many cruel ennemyes in the part of Wirall  
purposing to spoil and destroy all the country  
The people and their fruits/ their corn and catall  
The citizens dreading to be captive and thrall  
Fortified the city with men of arms bright  
having sure artillery for to defend and fight   

The husbands of the country about there dwelling  
against the said ennemyes making sore provision  
Brought their corn& cattle/ their husold remaining  
In assurance to be/ to the park of upton  
saint Werburge lands from all destruction  
which park from upton was distant a mile space  
A prebend to a chanon of her minster and place   

These wicked enemies fulfilled with malice  
against all conscience and order of charity  
In no maner wise dreading the high iustice  
Entred the said park with mickle cruelty  
Pulled down the paale at pleasure and liberty  
Put in their horses made great destruction  
Of cornes and catell of a high presumpcion   

Werburge remembering their great wickedness  
their malice and mischief against her possession  
By miracle shewed her power and goodness  
preserving her servants from all vexation  
And punysshyng her enemies with great affliction  
As she hath done many seasons or this  
By mean to her spouse our lord king of blis   

when the corn sheuys lay broken afore them plain  
The horses had no power any part to take  
For why? by miracle/ their heeds all in certain  
Were up holden in the air/ their bodies sore did quake  
They touched no fruits/ wast they did none make  
Of the principal doers/ some raged out of mind  
Some smetyn with palsy/ some leper halt and blind   

which punishment known unto all the host  
The rulers and captens without any delay  
knit again the sheuys/ that none should be lost  
With trembling hartes humbly began to pray  
This holy virgin to save them that day  
Vpon a condition/ escapynge from pain  
enduring their life never to turn again   

From that time forth ther dar no nation  
considering the power of this virgin pure  
approaching chester city to make derogacion  
denmark Goet nor Galway scot ye may be sure  
cruel danes nor welshmen dare not procure  
wherefore the citizens haue cause to love the place  
And thank this virgin for her help and grace    

¶ Howe a chanon of chester having his leg and thy broken was restaured to health by saint Werburge his patroness. Cap. xiiii.  

Within chester minster that holy place  
Dwelled a chanon nominate Vlminus  
Sad of disposition by singular grace  
Humble and patient/ discrete and virtuous  
liberal and honest/ gentle and piteous  
And for a pastime this was his pleasure  
To hunt and to hawk to comfort nature   

And as this chanon road for his solace  
On hunting with other honest company  
By fortune vnfrendly/ the more pity was  
Both horse and man fell to ground sodendly  
In peril of their lives standing in jeopardy  
The horse down lyenge oppressed the chanon  
broke his leg a sondre/ with blood great effusion   

when by his company the chanon was up take  
He fell in a swoon for anguish wo and pain  
All worldly riches redy to forsake  
For one hour of quietness to be had again  
unto his mansion they brought him certain  
Where he continued in mickle wo and languor  
abiding all only the mercy of our saviour   

Counnyng surgeans were sought vpon every side  
To cure this gentleman from penalite  
But none of them/ by wisdom could provide  
clearly to heel him/ and do him remedy  
Thus he remediless/ in extreme jeopardy  
Prayed to saint Werburge his patroness  
For health and remedy/ of her great goodness   

Whose humble prayer with inward love fervent  
Was graciously hard of her charity  
For right soon after appeared evident  
A bird like a dove most clear for to see  
Into the chanons chamber the bird flow trule  
Among the company/ and anon doubtless  
The place was repleit with odour and sweetness   

soon after the company euerichone  
Were sadly on sleep a thing marvelous  
And afore the patient by plain vision  
saint Werburge appeared in his sight full glorious  
saying: my chaplain and servant virtuous  
Why be ye absent from divine service  
not doing your duty according to iustice   

madam he said/ and sweet president  
It is well known to all the city  
Of my misfortune and harms evident  
Howe my horse almost had oppressed me  
wherefore an impotent I endure mysere  
It is no feigned cause/ that I do express  
I beseek you of help now sweet maistres   

saint Werburge ever piteous and merciable  
Vpon her servants in great distress  
comforted her chaplain with words delectable  
proved in effect by her excellent goodness  
To his sight and feeling as he did express  
She touched the foot that sore and broken was  
Cured it holly from pain by singular grace   

when she had cured thus this impotent  
anon she departed out of his sight  
The chanon gave honour to god omnipotent  
And to this virgin and lady bright  
Of this ghostly vision comfort and light  
All pain was past sickness vexation  
health was come by plain probacion   

The chanon rose up the same midnight  
And went to matins as custom was  
His brethren were glad with all their might  
praised our lord of his singular grace  
And Werburge patrons of the said place  
Also with honour reverence and humility  
The brethren sang te deum solemle    

¶ A brief rehearsal of certain kings/ and how king Edgar came to chester. Also howe Leofrice earl of chester repaired diuers churches. Cap. xv.  

After the decesse of king Edwarde senior  
Ethelstan his son was coronate at London  
king of this land/ regnyng in honour  
With power regalite by true succession  
Valeant in chivalry and acts everichone  
Subdued danes/ scottes/ norwayes/ britons all  
obtained triumph/ and dignity imperial   

The fourth year of his reign/ and the year of grace  
viii. hundreth .ii. and seventy by full computacion  
Guy earl of warwick by fortune slain hast  
Colbrond the giant/ floure of danes nation  
The said king Ethelstan by power and renown  
Thries subdued danes/ and slew the king of ireland  
Nominat prince Anlaff. as we understand   

This noble Ethelstan was good and gracious  
To all holy church namely to religion  
rightful in iudgement/ liberal and piteous  
To his true subiectes through his dominion  
To mynstres and holy places had great affection  
Confirmed their foundations with liberties clear  
Whose noble acts be touched a little here   
Regia progenies produxit nobile stemma.  
Cum tenebris nostris illuxit splendida gemma  
Magnus Ethelstanus patrie decus/ orbira recit  
Illustris probitas a veronescia fleert.  

After Ethelstan reigned edmund his brothur  
five yeres in honour/ having great victory  
Princis Elred and edwin succided eytherothur  
In great business with scottes and danes truly  
Next whom meek Edgar/ saith the history  
xvi. year of age/ coronate at Kyngston  
With peace and quietness first ruled this region.   

In whose nativity the blessed Dunstan  
Herde angels sing with mickle melody  
Peace is now come to england certan  
quietness/ and rest/ honour/ and victory  
Of cornes and fruits that time was plenty  
Danes/ norwaies/ scottes/ britons in every place  
Submytted themself to the kings grace   

Science increased true love and amity  
virtue was exalted in all this region  
Monasteries were edified of his benignity  
Endowed with riches/ and rial possession  
xl. religious places by famous opinion  
Were newly builded by the said noble king  
In sundry places of this realm standing   

Secular priests expulsed soothly were  
From diuers monasteries with great discretion  
Religious persons repleit with virtue clear  
Entred their places cause of devotion  
charity was fervent and holy religion  
The lives of sayntes were soth in each place  
And written in legends for our comfort and grace   

Many ships were made vpon the kings cost  
To search by these all his land about  
That no alian entre in no maner cost  
By policy and manhood to hold all his enemies out  
Danes/ norwaies/ scottes durst not ones look out  
such dread all nations had ensuing the time  
That king Edgar reigned by providence divine   

In progress he passed ones in the year  
each quarter of the realm with his company  
To se that his subiectes well ordered were  
And the lawe observed/ iustice with mercy  
Than was none oppression wrongs nor injury  
Debate malice rancour might not be found  
True love and charity was in all the land   

king Edgar approached the city of legions  
now called chester/ specified afore  
Where .viii. kings met of diuers nations  
Redy to give edgar reverence and honour  
Legiance and fidelity deeply sworn full sore  
At the same city: after to be obedient  
Promyt at his calling to come to his parliament   

From the castle he went to the water of d'ye  
By a prive posturne through walls of the town  
The king took his barge with mickle rialte  
Rowyng upward to the church of saint Iohn  
The foresaid .viii. kings with him went alone  
king Edgar kept the storne/ as most principal  
each prince had an ore to labour with all   

when the king had done his pilgrimage  
And to the holy rood made oblation  
They entred again into the said barge  
passing to his place with great renown  
Than edgar spake in praising of the crown  
All my successors may glad and joyful be  
To haue such homage honour and dignity   

Also it is to be had in memory  
That this said Edgar and his princis all  
Came with great reverence unto the monastery  
To worship saint Werburge with mind liberal  
Where he gave fredoms and privileges special  
With singular possessions of his charity  
confirming the old grants by hye authority   

This Edgar was nominate in chronicles express  
The floure of england/ regnyng as emperour  
like wise as Romulus to romains was of prows  
Cyrus to the persis/ to the greeks their conqueror  
Great Charles to frenchmen/ to troians Hectour  
Famous in victory preignant in wisdom  
virtuous and patient/ fervent in devotion   

Henric. lio. v.  
author opum vindix scelerum/ largitor honorum  
Sceptriger Edgarus regna superna petit.  
Hic alter Solomon/ legum pater/ orbita pacis  
Quod claruit bellis/ claruit ind magis.  
Templa deo/ templis monachos/ monachis dedit agros:  
Nequitie lapsum/ iusticieque locum.   

Also from the birth of our blessed saviour  
A thousand fifty year/ and seuyn express  
In the time of saint Edwarde king and confessor  
As William Maluesbury beareth witness  
Than Leofricus a man of great meekness  
Was earl of chester and duke of merciens  
Son to duke Leoffwin by lineal discence   

This noble Leofric saith policronicon  
Of his devotion and beningne grace  
Namely by the counsel and virtues motion  
Of his lady Godith countes which was  
re-edified churches decayed in many a place  
Also he founded the monastery of Leonence  
By the town of Herford/ and the place of Wenlecence   

This earl repareled a noble old monastery  
Euesham vpon Auen/ gave them great riches  
Also founder was of the abbey in couentre  
Made the city free for love of his countess  
At the city of chester of his great goodness  
He repaired the College church of saint Iohn  
Endowed it with riches and enormentes many on.   

This earl of chester the said Leofricus  
Of his charity/ and fervent devotion  
To the honour of god/ re-edified full gracious  
The minster of Werburge within the said town  
gave unto it riches and singular possession  
Endowed the said place with fredoms and liberty  
And special privileges confirmed by authority   

So the said place increased in honour  
In great possessions/ fredoms/ and richesse  
With singular devotion unto our saviour  
And praise to saint Werburge their patroness  
The chanons observed virtue and cleanness  
Daily augmentyng by divine sufferance  
unto the coming to this land of normans    

¶ Of the coming of william conqueror to this land and howe Hug. Lupe his sister son was founder of chester monastery Cap. xvi.  

THe year of grace. M. six and threscour  
The .xiii. day of the month of october  
The duke of Normandy/ William conqueror  
Pight a strong battle/ displayed his banner  
Of normans and frenchmen having great power  
Subdued king Harold/ obtained all the land  
Was coronate at London/ made saxons all bonde   

For diverse great causes he came to this country  
First for death of allured his nere kynsman  
The proscripcion of Robert archbishop of Cant{er}bury  
The perjury of harold against conscience plain  
The promise of saint Edwarde made to him certain  
That the said Wylliam should enjoy the crown  
If the king departed without succession   

A general counsel was celebrate at London  
That all bishops sees by help of the conqueror  
From borrows should be translate to a famous town  
Within their dioces̄/ to the greater honour  
right so they all were/ saith mine author  
Also the see of Lichefeld was translate to Chester  
By help and sufferance of the bishop Peter   

With Wylliam conqueror came to this region  
A noble worthy prince nominate Hug. Lupus  
The dukes son of britain/ and his sister son  
flowering in chivalry bold and victorious  
manful in battle/ liberal and virtuous  
To whom the king gave for his inheritance  
The count of cheshire with the appurtinaunce   

By victory to win the foresaid Erledom  
freely to govern it as by conquest right  
Made a sure chartre to him and his succession  
By the sword of dignity to hold it with might  
And to call a parlement to his will and sight  
To order his subiectes after true iustice  
As a prepotent prince/ and statutes to devise   

This valeant knight with a mighty host  
Descended from London to win the said count  
But the lords of cheshire rose from every cost  
against him made battle and had the victory  
Thries they prevailed against the earl truly  
After he obtained to his famed and honour  
The earldom of chester entred as a conqueror   

He gave to his knights after their desire  
Lordshyps and franchise/ and great possession  
With rich marriages within all cheshire  
Exalted his servants to hye promotion  
unto holy church had special devotion  
Maynteynge iustice/ commending virtue  
Deposyng 'vice by the help of Iesu   

After the departure of his uncle the conqueror  
when William Ruff. took the regalite  
Than blessed anselm the famous doctor  
did viset this land oft times of his charity  
Glad to reform/ and bring unto unite  
Where was debate/ and mickle division  
By diligent labour and good exhortation   

This foresaid earl of his benignity  
Interiously loving holy religion  
Repleit with virtue and fervent charity  
send for saint anselm unto London  
To come to chester at his petition  
And there for to found a religious place  
In honour of Werburge by divine grace   

Blessed anselm at the erles supplication  
Came unto chester with glad cheer shortly  
Where he founded an abbaye of holy religion  
A pleasant place and a noble monastery  
In worship of god/ and saint Werburge soothly  
The year of grace by full computacion  
A thousand .iiii. score .xiii. year alone   

All secular priests/ and chanons also  
Within the said place afore time dwelling  
Were clearly dismyssed/ and letten go  
Religious monks perfect in living  
received were gladly their rule professing  
saint anselm ordained Ric of Beccens̄  
To be their abbot with great pre-eminence   

lands/ rents/ liberties/ and great possession  
franchise/ fredoms/ and privileges rial  
Were given meekly to that foundation  
manners borrows/ towns/ with the people thrall  
And many faire churches/ chapels withall  
wards and marriages were given that season  
To god and saint Werburge cause of devotion   

king Wyllyam Ruff, son to the conqueror  
Confirmed the foundation/ with great authority  
Endowed the monastery with mickle honour  
Of fredoms/ franchise/ also liberty  
The place that time was made as fre  
As the said earl was in his castle  
Or as heart might think/ or tongue might tell   

saint anselm departed thence unto London  
And was made archbishop of Canturbury  
To the place he gave a sure confirmation  
With singular privileges to be had in memory  
Of whom it is written here following truly  
Hic vir dum vixit extirpantes maledixit  
Werburge iura presentia sine futura.   

This noble prince gave of his charity  
rial rich enormentes unto the said place  
coops/ crosses/ jewels of great rialte  
Chales/ censures/ vestures/ and lands did purchase  
A library of books to rede and sing there was  
Of which rial jewels and books some remain  
Within the said monastery to this day certain   

The founder also builded within the monastery  
Many mighty places/ convenient for religion  
Compased with strong walls on the west party  
And on the other side with walls of the town  
Closed at every end with a sure postron  
In south part the cimiterie environed round about  
For a sure defence enemies to hold out   

The .ix. year after this rial foundation  
This noble founder the .xxvii. day of july  
Departed toward the heavenly mansion  
Next whom his son richard succeeded truly  
Than regnyng in honour the first king Henry  
Also the place had their fraunces and freedom  
Afore the said city a hundreth year and one    

¶ Howe saint Werburge taught her monk and chaplain to keep paciens for his greater merit and glory to come. Cap. xvii.  

AFter the translation of chester monastery  
From secular chanons to monks religious  
By help of anselm archbishop of Canturburye  
Supportyng thereto the founder Hug. Lupus  
As afore is specified full memorous  
A monk there dwelled of virtuous disposition  
under obedience/ nominate dan simon   

This brother Simon his time well using  
now in virtuous study/ now in contemplacion  
now in devout prayer/ now busily writing  
sometime in solace/ and honest recreacion  
observed devoutly his holy religion  
Obedience/ patience/ and wilful poverty  
meekness/ meditation/ with pure chastity   

For which examples and signs of virtue  
Diuers of his brethren repleit with envy  
Were fully confederate intending to subdue  
This honest prest by malice and policy  
They laid to his charge open wrongs and injury  
They punished& oppressed him with great affliction  
daily augmentyng by subtle colluston   

Dan simon offending no brother at all  
observed patience/ ever calling for grace  
weeping lamenting with sighs cordial  
His fortune vnfrendly remediless in that case  
intended to depart to some other place  
Of a scrupulous conscience/ seeing no redress  
Was redy to procede plouged in heaviness   

Werburge appeared to this monk in vision  
Bryghter than Phebus in his meridian spear  
My servant she said calling him vpon  
Why be ye so sad/ and heavy of cheer?  
whether intend ye? show the matter clear  
Alas he said madam and patroness  
For sorrow I can not my pains express   

Diuers of my brethren ben grieved at me  
Vexyng me daily with great tribulation  
causeless on my part deserved trule  
In word or en dede giving none occasion  
I can not be quiet among that congregation  
wherefore sweet lady under your licence  
I purpose to depart in saving my conscience   

saint Werburge pacified his mind and intent  
With words of comfort and holy scripture  
Made him be humble in heart and patient  
Thy sufferance shalbe great joy and pleasure  
And for thy patience thou mayst be sure  
To haue reward in blis perpetual  
At thy departure from this life mortal   

wherewith saint Werburge departed sodein●…  
To the bliss of heaven ever enduring  
The monk was meek in heart and merry  
observed her doctrine this life continuing  
gave good example of perfect living  
unto his brethren/ and at his departure  
For his patience passed to eternal pleasure    

¶ Howe sondes rose up within the salt see against Hilburghee by saint Werburge at the petition of the constable of chester. Ca. xviii.  

THe second earl of chester after the conquest  
Was earl Richard/ son to Hug. Lupus  
which richard intended all thing to the best  
To visit saint Winifride in heart desirous  
Vpon his journey went/ mine author saith thus  
devoutly to holy well in pilgrimage  
For his great merit and ghostly advantage   

when the wicked welshmen herd of his coming  
After a meek maner unto that party  
They made insurrection inwardly gladdyng  
Descended from the mountains most furiously  
against the earl raised a cruel company  
Bytwxt him and chester letting the juuenis way  
purposing to flee or take him for a pray   

The earl son perceived their malicious intent  
In all hast possible send to chester secretly  
To warn his constable by love and commaundemt  
Wyllyam the son of Nigell/ to raise a great army  
To meet him at Basyng work right sone and speedily  
For his deliverance from death and captivity  
Of the wild welshmen/ without humanity   

The constable congregate in all goodly hast  
A mighty strong host/ in their best array  
toward Hilburghee on journey riding fast  
trusting vpon ships all them to convey  
which was a rial road that time night and day  
And when they theder came shyppyng none there was  
To carry all them over in convenient space   

Alas what heart may think/ or tongue well express?  
The dolorous grievance/ and great lamentation  
That the host made/ for love and tenderness  
knowing their great master in such persecution  
Some wept and wailed without consolation  
Some sighed and sobbed/ some were in ecstasy  
Without perfect reason/ alas what remedy?   

Wyllyam the constable most careful man on live  
Of his misfortune in such extreme necessity  
Called to him a monk there dwelling contemplatyue  
Required him for counsel and prayer for his charity  
The monk exhorted him to gail vpon his knee  
humbly to beseek Werburge his patroness  
For help and remedy in such great distress   

The constable content anon began to pray  
O blessed Werburge and virgin pure  
I beseek the meekly help me this day  
That we may transcende this river safe and sure  
To save and defend my lord from discomfiture  
And here I promytte to god and the alone  
To offer to the a gift at my coming whom   

which prayer ended with weeping and languor  
behold and consider well with your ghostly ee  
The infinite goodness of our saviour  
For like as to moses divided the red see  
And the water of jordan obeied to Iosue  
right so the deep river of d'ye made division  
The sondes dry appeared in sight of them eachone   

The constable considering/ and all the company  
This great miracle transcendyng nature  
praised and magnified our lord god almighty  
And blessed Werburge the virgin pure  
They went into wales vpon the sondes sure  
delivered their lord from dread and enmite  
Brought him in safe guard again to chester city   

The said Wyllyam constable came to the monastery  
Thanked saint Werburge with meek supplication  
fulfilled his promise made in extremity  
offered to the place the village of Neuton  
afterward he founded the abbey of Norton  
And where the host passed/ over betwixt bonds  
To this day ben called the constable sondes    

¶ Howe Marild countess of chester counsellyng her husband against the monastery of Chester was drowned at Barflewe with many other mo. Cap. xix.  

AFter the decesse of Hug. Lupe prenominate  
Richard his son .vii. yeres of age  
Was elect earl by the king and creat  
With counsel governed his lands and heritage  
At yeres of discretion he took in marriage  
The lady Matild/ niece to the first king Henry  
daughter to earl Stephan( saith the history)   

At his beginning he was a benefactor  
A founder to the place by lands and possession  
By franchise and liberties/ aid/ help/ and succour  
given to the abbey/ augmentyng the foundation  
proved by his acts of singular devotion  
enduring long time/ till that his lady  
By wicked counsel moved him the contrary   

It is read in scripture howe queen Iesabell  
ambitious of honour against all ryghtousnes  
perverted her lord Achas/ king of Israell  
Tosle Nabath for his vineyard doubtless  
Also Athalia/ the bible sheweth express  
commanded to slay the kings children all  
That she might reign sole princess imperial   

right so this Matild clearly refusing  
The steps of Sara/ Rebecca/ and rachel  
And other good matrons: but mutacion taking  
Of these wicked women Athali and Iesabell  
perverted her husband by her subtle counsel  
To ask of the abbot the maner place of Salton  
With the appurtinaunce/ by famous opinion   

Thabbot by counsel of his brethren all  
denied to grant their proper possession  
The patrimony of Christ and their lands several  
To the said earl richard and his succession  
given by his father at the first foundation  
For which thing the earl and Matild his lady  
Hated thabbot/ the brethren/ and the monastery   

The earl and his countess went to Normandy  
To viset their friends and cousins natural  
So did the princis/ their father king Henry  
With many estates of the blodde rial  
These princis favoured no saxon at all  
The earl conominat in malice and hate  
against the monastery/ as a man endurate   

Satan send forth his servants in hast  
To enfect the erles heart with venomous poison  
The bedyls of Belial attempted full fast  
The earl and his countess/ to keep their opinion  
Detractours flatterers cause of promotion  
trusting thereby to obtain favour and grace  
Excited their minds against the said place   

The earl sore attempted by his ghostly enemy  
By wicked people calling him vpon  
Namely by the counsel of Matild his lady  
intended to alter and change the foundation  
Of the said abbey to a neither religion  
Confirmed the same sweryng most deeply  
At his whom coming to england/ from Normandy   

Thabbot and covent knowing this great peril  
By special louers and friends secretly  
Were pensyue and sorrowful( it was no marvel)  
Their hearts plunged in wo and misery  
By natural reason having no remedy  
considering his malice increased more and more  
against the monastery/ with words of rigour   

They had their hope trust and confidence  
In blessed Werburge their patroness  
With weeping eyes clear in conscience  
They called her vpon in all their distress  
O glorious virgin lady and sweet maistres  
Metigate the malice by thy benignity  
Of richard our lord/ meekly we pray the   

suffer him never to destroy thy place  
By wicked consell malice and envy  
Founded and dedicate by heavenly grace  
In honour of god/ and the specially  
Protect/ defend/ and save thy monastery  
Thy lands/ thy liberties/ and thy servants all  
As thou afore time hast done continual   

In mean time the earl intended speedily  
From thence to depart/ and return again  
To fulfil his intent against the monastery  
By the subtle motion of his countess plain  
A ship was prepared/ all thing redy certain  
The prince of England/ the earl and his lady  
took shippyng at Barflewe and all their comp   

certainly they sailed but a little space  
when against them rose a contrary wind  
The mariners to guide the ship had no grace  
The storms so great hiduous against kind  
On a rock they ran/ no remedy might finde  
Incontinently the ship barst all in sondre  
The earl and his feliship were turned all under   

No man ne child scaped from death that time  
But one poor servant which swam to the land  
such was their fortune by sufferance divine  
Many of their bedis were never fonde  
Thus was their power made thrall and bonde  
their lives were lost within a sort space  
which were cruel ennemyes unto her place▪   

On saint Katharins day at after midnight  
when matins were ended/ and brethren gon  
Some mourning wailing for dread full right  
Some busy in prayer and contemplacion  
Werburge appeared to the secristan alone  
saying: ye may be joyful in god and merry  
earl richard is drowned your mortal enemy   

The same glad tidyng shewed an honest woman  
Tollyng at the church door the said day and hour  
As she was commanded by Werburge incertan  
To thabbot and covent plunged in great languor  
( which miracle herde) they prayed our saviour  
And blessed Werburge/ with heart devoutly  
singing Te deum full solemnly    

¶ Howe a great fire like to destroy all chester by miracle ceased/ when the holy shrine was born about the town by the monks. Cap. xx.  

FRom the incarnation of our saviour  
A thousand/ a hundreth year .lxxx. also  
On sunday in mydlenton/ the .viii. hour  
when every paresshen their church went to  
As all christen people of duty should do  
A fire by infortune rose up suddenly  
All flaming fervent or the people did spy   

This fearful fire increased more and more  
Piteously wasting house/ chamber/ and hall  
The citizens were redy their city to succour  
Shewed all their diligence/ and labour continual  
Some cried for water/ and some for hooks did call  
Some used other engines by craft and policy  
Some pulled down houses afore the fire truly   

Other that were impotent/ meekly 'gan pray  
Our blessed lord/ on them to haue pity  
Women and children cried out and wail away  
beholding the danger and peril of the city  
priests made hast divine service to suppling  
Redy for to succour their neighbours in distress  
( As charity required) and help their heaviness   

The fire continued without any ceasing  
fervently flaming ever continual  
From place to place marvelously running  
As it were tynder consuming tour and wall  
The citizens sadly laboured in vain all  
By the policy of man was found no remedy  
To cease the fire so fervent and mighty   

Alas great heaviness it was to behold  
The city of Trope all flaming as fire  
More pity of Rome city was manifold  
fervently flagrant/ empeiryng the empire  
As to the quantity the city of Chestire  
might be assembled this time in like case  
To the said cities remedeles alas   

Many rial places fell adowne that day  
rich merchants houses brought to destruction  
Churches and chapels went to great decay  
That time was brent the more part of the town  
And to this present day is a famous opinion  
Howe a mighty church a minster of saint michael  
That season was brent and to ruin fell   

when the people saw their power insufficient  
By diligent labour/ wisdom and policy  
To subdue the fire/ but still did augment  
To almighty god they did call and cry  
And to saint Werburge the gracious lady  
For help and succour in such wretchedness  
weeping and wailing for woe and heaviness   

Thabbot and covent of the said monastery  
Religiously living in holy conversation  
Repleit with meekness and fervent charity  
took the holy shrine in prayer and devotion  
singing the litany bare it in procession  
Compasyng the fire in every street and place  
trusting in Werburge for help aid and grace   

when they had ended the holy letanye  
From place to place proceeding in stacion  
anon a stremyng star appeared suddenly  
A white dove descended afore the congregation  
approaching as to help them/ a sign of consolation  
The people rejoiced of that ghostly sight  
And praised saint Werburge with power and might   

So by the merit of this blessed virgin  
The fire began to cease/ a miracle clear  
not passing the place/ where the holy shrine  
Was born by the brethren/ as plainly did appear  
The citizens did help in their best manner  
The fervent great fire extincted was in dede  
By grace above nature/ in story we may rede   

The clergy the burgess/ and the commons all  
considering the goodness of this virgin bright  
With tenderness of heart and love in special  
Magnified and praised our lord god almight  
And blessed Werburge by day also night  
which hath preserved of her great charity  
chester from destruction in extreme necessity   

unto her shrine the people all went  
The clergy before in maner of procession  
thanking this virgin with love fervent  
For her mercy and grace shewed them vpon  
devoutly kneeling there made oblation  
saying full sadly/ we shall never able be  
The place to recompense for this dede of charity    

¶ A breue rehearsal of the miracles of saint Werburge after her translation to chester. Cap. xxi,  

THese foresaid miracles and signs celestial  
By divine sufferance shewed manifestly  
Magnifien this virgin and blessed moiniall  
With mickle worship honour and victory  
plainly declaring unto your memory  
What singular grace/ worship/ and excellence  
Our saviour shewed for his spouse openly  
As is rehearsed at mass in her sequens   

To express all miracles written in the place  
In a book nominate the third passionarye  
It wolde require a long time and space  
To the readers tedious( no marvel soothly)  
Where we omit to writ of them specially  
But touched in general unto your audience  
To rejoice and comfort your hearts inwardly  
As ye may considre in her sequens   

certainly it is known by books express  
Sith that saint Werburge came to chester city  
By the power of god and miracle doubtless  
She hath defended the town from ennemite  
From barbarike nations full of crudelite  
Of whom we haue shewed with diligence  
preserving her servants/ and the monastery  
As is declared in her true sequence   

Also of her goodness preserved she hast  
The said town from fire in extreme necessity  
Many diuers times to their joy and solace  
Releuyng the citizens in wo and penalite  
For it is well known by old antiquity  
Sith the holy shrine came to their presence  
It hath ben their comfort and gladness truly  
As plainly appeareth in her sequens   

Also to blind men she hath given sight  
To dumb men speech right perfectly  
To deffe men their hearing pleasant and right  
And health to sick men repleit with debilite  
delivered prisoners from captivity  
Passage to lame men/ to mad men intelligence  
such miracles shewed this blessed lady  
As ye may understand in her sequens   

Women with child by her had good deliverance  
Virgins defended from shane and villainy  
Her servants were cured from woeful grievance  
merchants and mariners delivered from jeopardy  
Other were saved from hanging shamefully  
A special comfort succour and defence  
To all careful creatures seeking for remedy  
By singular grace/ as saith the sequens   

No woeful person in pain and wretchedness  
Man woman child/ who so ever they be  
coming to the abbey with perfect meekness  
making supplication to this lady free  
But they departed joyful and merry  
To their dwelling place by her beniuolence  
And for their living had all thing necessary  
As written is plainly in her sequens   

For which great miracles and signs continual  
This blessed Werburge floure of humility  
Of the people is called for grace supernal  
patrons of chester/ protectrice of the country  
Where next our saviour and his mother mary  
She hath great honour praise and pre-eminence  
As most condign to bear the principalite  
In witness whereof recordeth her sequens   

This holy abbess and lady imperial  
Hath ben president in chester monastery  
their trust/ their treasure/ and defence special  
In mickle reverence .vii. hundreth year truly  
And so shall continue by grace of god almighty  
To the worlds end in high magnificence  
To whom be honour worship and glory  
ever to endure/ as saith her sequens    

¶ A charitable motion and a desire to all the inhabitants within the county palatine of chester for the monastery. Cap. xxii.  

O ye worthy nobles of the west party  
Considre in your mind with hye discretion  
The perfit goodness of this sweet lady  
We mean saint Werburge now at this season  
which hath ben your help and singular tuition  
And so ever wylbe/ haue this in your mind  
when ye to her call with humble supplication  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

remember/ at the foundation of the said place  
your predecessors and fore fathers redy were  
To give for their soul health by singular grace  
parcel of their lands and possessions more  
To our saviour and to saint Werburge clear  
Redy to offer them with humble heart and mind  
In perfect oblation with Hug. Lupe their foundere  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

Many held their lands of the said monastery  
By tenor grand sergeant/ and some by homage  
By tenur frank almoigne/ other by fealty  
With service de chiualer/ and some by escuage  
Some by petit sergeant/ and by tenur burgage  
As in their euidentes and grants they may finde  
trees manners de rents/ with tenur usage  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

The place hath special franchise and liberty  
having certain wards of lands and marriage  
Of diuers gentlemen within the said count  
All their tenants and servants haue fre passage  
Within all cheshire without tolle and pillage  
such ancient fredoms in their deeds they finde  
given by their founders for ghostly advantage  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

The earl gave the place many great fredoms  
Within chester city/ which ben known of old  
With singular privileges and ancient customs  
saint Werburge faire/ with profits manifold  
That no merchandise should be bought ne sold  
enduring the faire dayes( in writing as we finde)  
But afore thabbay gate/ to haue and to hold  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

Therfore lords barons/ ye rulers of the country  
We you now exhort in our saviour  
discretely considre with your gostlie eye  
The might of this maiden and chased floure  
Shewed by miracles every day and hour  
when she was required with true heart and mind  
In all business she hath ben their protector  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

when your forefathers haue ben in great peril  
In indemnify of life on see and on land  
Or like to be slain by enemies in battle  
Or taken by war in prison fast bonde  
unto this virgin/ as we vnderstonde  
when they called and cried with contrite mind  
They escaped all danger/ cam whom safe and sonde  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

merchants passing with merchandise  
From land to land truly intending  
If they were taken with cruel ennemyse  
Or else were put in peril of perisshyng  
If they to this virgin devoutly praying  
Made supplication with humble heart and mind  
anon they obtained their humble asking  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

If any of you vexed with infirmity  
With sickness incurable/ or other vexation  
Ar wrongs injuries and other malady  
unto saint Werburge making intercession  
And to her place promising an oblation  
With contrite heart and penitent mind  
They were soon cured from all affliction  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

And you honest matrons remember you all  
The goodness of this virgin full of grace  
when ye in trauelyng vpon her do call  
Or haue any relic send from the place  
ye fortune and speed well in short time and space  
And diuers maidens loving a chased mind  
From villainy ben saved by her purchase  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

But each contrary/ shire/ and congregation  
Some be disposed to virtues general  
And some to the contrary proved by reason  
following their mind and appetite sensual  
Haue sheweb unkindness to the place spiritual  
And haue ben sore punished/ take this in mind  
To all other following and example special  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

Ther was never man of high nor low degree  
lord/ baron/ knight/ merchant/ and burgess  
Attemptyng to infringe their rights and liberty  
remaining in the same malice and wickedness  
But if they repent shortly their business  
asking absolution to their conscience blind  
Vengeance on them doth light doubtless  
wherefore to the monastery be never vnkynd   

Diuers malefactours again good conscience  
Attemptyng to take there several possession  
By subtell policy and wrong feigned evidens  
By proved perjury and fals collusion  
which in their injury and wrong mesprision  
Without repentauns in their consciens blind  
suddenly haue ben drowed a sharp punycion  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

Other haue be glad to alienat the patronage  
Of certain churches by malice and envy  
By a fals inquest for their own advantage  
Defraudyng the right of the holy monastery  
such evil doers remaining in their tyranny  
Without satisfaction in their consciens blind  
like wretches expired most miserably  
Whrfore to the monastery be never unkind   

Other haue ben busy searching day and night  
To infringe their fraunchis and fridome ancient  
By fals records oppugnant to right  
As hath ben proved by persons indifferent  
yet they haue procured and sought wrong judgment  
against their liberties in conscience blind  
sudden and evil death followed them consequent  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

Some other haue be dower on late  
Studious to disquiet the place the company  
And diuers liberties haue alienate  
Also tolled their franchis fraudulently  
From the said place well known in memory  
such misdoers we move in conscience blind  
To maende their wrongs lest pain come suddenly  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

such malefactours considre not discretely  
Howe all such lands liberties and fredoms  
Were given to Christ and ben his patrimonye  
And not all only to religious persons  
For all such fraunches privileges possessions  
Of charity were given of pure conscience and mind  
To god and saint Werburge with great deuocions  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind   

now for to make a small conclusion  
We well perceive in ancient books old  
All such transgressors/ holding their opinion  
Obstinate in malice indurate and bold  
Some haue ben slain/ some drowned in water cold  
Some shamefully hanged rebuking their kind  
Some wretchedly departed/ some cruciat manifold  
wherefore to the monastery be never unkind    

¶ A little orison or prayer to the blessed virgin saint Werburge by the translator of this work. Ca. xxiii.  

O Blessed Werburge and virgin glorious  
Descended by auncetrie of blood victoriall  
daughter to king Vulfer/ and Ormenild virtuous  
O sufferayne lady and famous moiniall  
With heart and true mind on thee I call  
Thou art my succour/ my help in all distress  
defend and save me from pains infernal  
By thy meek prayer sweet patrons   

O rutilant gem clerer than the crystal  
O redolent rose repleit with suauite  
which for the love of thy spouse eternal  
Refused hast all vain pleasures transetore  
Honours/ riches/ and secular dignity  
now regnyng in heaven as a queen doubtless  
pray for thy servant to the lord of mercy  
meekly I beseek the sweet patroness   

O sufferayne lady full of singular virtue  
minding most religion from thy infancy  
Elect to the a spouse our saviour Iesu  
Professed obedience at the house of Ely  
Where thou observed the sensuals three  
By grace above nature plain to express  
obtain me power to haue victory  
against mine ennemyes sweet patrons   

O floure of virgins and comely creature  
singing with angels in the heavenly tour  
Transcendyng the sapphire and diamounde pure  
In worship praisyng beauty and decur  
What tongue can rehearse thy ioy and honour  
which is ineffable for man to express  
beseek thy spouse our blessed saviour  
To grant me mercy sweet patrons   

For thy great virtue and high discretion  
Chosen thou was a pyler here to be  
Of diuers monasteries to increase religion  
By thy ghostly doctrine and humility  
example thou gave of perfect charity  
unto thi subgettis as a kind maistres  
help me thy servant of thy benignity  
To please my maker sweet patrons   

No marvell it was thought thy subgettis all  
Were virtuous and perfect in contemplacion  
under such a ruler a head and principal  
Whose ghostly example and exortation  
Were corespondent according in one  
Thy precept and dead were unit with meekness  
In this vale misery be my protection  
I humble the require sweet patrons   

Glorious abbess and floure of chastity  
Carboncle shenyng both day and night  
All this region by thy noble progeny  
And by the is decorat under god almight  
The presens of thy blessed body right  
Reioisith thy seruauntis in all distress  
Thou art our refuge and lantern of light  
Succour thy servants sweet patrons   

O peerless princes lady imperial  
O gem of holynes and noble president  
Comfort to all creatures in pains thrall  
Releuyng all secke feeble and impotent  
A mirror of meekness to every patient  
Whose miracles magnifien thy great goodness  
defend thy servant from grievous turment  
By thy supplication sweet patroness   

O noble sufferayne and singular protectrice  
Of thy true subiectes by special grace  
In all necessity a sure mediatrice  
From grievous oppression preserving thy place  
A lantern of light in each woeful case  
To llumine thy people plunged in heaviness  
With great consolation and ghostly solace  
now lighten our conscience sweet patroness   

sweet lovely lady meekly I the pray  
For thy great meekness and perfect charity  
Make thou intercession both night and day  
For thy true servants unto the trinity  
That we may obtain here grace and mercy  
And of our sin to haue forgiveness  
afterward to come to eternal glory  
help now and ever sweet patroness    

¶ A breue conclusion of this little work unto the readers by the translator. Cap. xxiiii.  

With trembling pen/ and hand full of dread  
In terms rude translate now haue we  
The noble history of saint Werburge in dede  
Besekyng all them for their good humanity  
which this little process shall behold and se  
For to add and minisshe and cause reformation  
Where need requireth after your discretion   

At her life historical example may take  
every great estate/ queen/ duchess/ and lady  
To increase in virtue/ and sin to forsake  
To observe meekness and prayer devoutly  
With patience of heart/ and almesdede truly  
If thou be widow/ her life well following  
Thou mayst be sure in blis to haue a wonnyng   

If thou be religious/ wearing black vesture  
Take good example at this holy abbess  
Her life will teach thee how thou shult endure  
In holy religion/ opteynyng mickle grace  
With meekness/ meditation/ measure in each place  
And howe thou shalt keep thy sensuals three  
considering in heaven thy reward to be   

If thou be a virgin of high or low degree  
taking imitacion of this virgin bright  
Thou mayst well observe the floure of chastity  
And thy spouse shalbe the lord most of might  
On whom if thou attend redy day and night  
Thou shalt haue merit as recordeth scripture  
With v. wise virgins after thy departure   

The cause moving us this work to begin  
It was to avoyde sloth and idleness  
And most for the love of this holy virgin  
which is our sufferayn lady and patrons  
As for bawdy ballads full of wretchedness  
And wanton wild gestis/ we purpose none to make  
For dread of losing time/ clothed in vesture black   

Go forth little book/ Iesu be thy speed  
And save the alway from mysreportyng  
which art compiled for no clerk in dede  
But for merchant men/ having little learning  
And that rude people thereby may haue knowing  
Of this holy virgin/ and redolent rose  
which hath ben kept full long time in close   

To all ancient poets little book submit the  
Whilom flouryng in eloquence facundious  
And to all other/ which present now be  
first to master Chaucer/ and Ludgate sentencious  
Also to preignaunt Barkley/ now being religious  
To inuentiue Skelton and poet laureate  
pray them all of pardon both early and late   

If there be any thing within this little book  
pleasant to the audience/ contentyng the mind  
We pray all readers/ when they thereon do look  
To give thankes to god maker of mankind  
not to the translator ignorant and blind  
For every good dede/ done in any cost  
It cometh all only of the holy ghost.   

almighty god both one two and three  
We desire thee with humble supplication  
save holy church of thy benignity  
And all ministres in holy religion  
preserve the king is grace the Peeris the region  
defend our monastery and thy servants all  
And grant us by grace to come to blis eternal    
Finis.   

A balade to the author.  

O thou disciple of Tully most famous  
now flourisshyng in the flowers of glorious eloquence  
Like as appeareth by your style facundius  
Full worth laud praise and pre-eminence  
Put forth your works full sure of sentence  
Whose author/ what though uncertain be his name  
Of all the readers exalted shal be in famed   

Alas why should this delicious work  
Thus surely set by pured science  
To be examined by my rudeness all dark  
which know full well mine insufficience  
Sith I haue learned by long experience  
That dulled age in works of poetry  
Must needs give to poets place and victory   

Glorious god and king eternal  
We magnify thy name as is but right  
Sith thou gave to us a floure most rial  
Redolent in chronicles with historical sight  
which now is departed from this temporal light  
The present year of this translation  
M.D.xiii. of Christis incarnation  
Cuius anime propicietur deus.    

An other balade.  

O fruitful histore/ o dign memorial  
Enbawmed with doctrine of virtues infinite  
With terms exquised/ and sense retoriall  
To spiritual hearts a singular delight  
Fragrant and facunde/ of english exquisite  
wholesome in doctrine/ for those that it desire  
advance you to rede it/ for it is exquisite  
following theffect to keep you from hell fire   

rejoice chester/ rejoice ye religious  
And thank your maker of his beniuolence  
That hath you given such treasure precious  
Aduocatrice/ in your most indigence  
O virgin werburge/ of double excellence  
conserve thy servants daily familiar  
preserving them from inconvenience  
The for tensue/ that art their load star   

amongs the which to thyn honour  
One of thy clients/ with moral retorique  
Hath changed newly/ o maid most sweet flower  
Thy legend latin/ to our language public  
preserve his soul/ and make him domestic  
Within the heuyns/ in which that thou art sunk  
With death prevent/ he might nothing replique  
Harry Braddeshaa of chester abbey monk   

O cruel death/ o theffe vindicatyfe  
To persons virtuous enemy mortal  
Of this good clerk thou hast abbreged the life  
Preuentyng him with thy dede strong fatal  
yet in despite of thy most venomus gull  
He hath translate this legend profitable  
And left it for wholesome memorial  
To all his sequaces/ a gift most covenable   

With polysshed terms/ and good sense literal  
No place there void/ but virtue aboundeth  
Theffect is manifest: for science over all  
Rethorically thy sentence groundeth  
All vices surely it confoundeth  
showing the legend of this maid pure  
Her shenyng life each where redoundeth  
such steps following/ we hope in them tendure.   

An other balade to saint werburge  
With heart contrite accept my supplication  
aiding my fraylete and life vacillaunt  
renegade and contumace in all obstinacion  
Be wrapped with all sin/ detestable and recreaunt  
Vouchsafe to supply Iesu and geat grant  
remission to haue of my sins general  
grievous and thrall that I may the avaunt  
A gentill Werburge/ to thy doctrine me call   

wherefore thy father/ thy mother Ermenild  
inclined both to deeds catholic  
ruffian and Kenrede/ thy brethren were fulfilled  
Both with great grace/ through martyrdom both like  
With diuers of thy kin magnific  
Redact in the catholic papal  
Geat me such grace to void all sins inique  
And gentill Werburge to thy doctrine me call   

With faithful cleanness/ thy soul was surep●…  
ever contynuynge in doctrine celicall  
refusing vanity/ from virtue never swerved  
But in all grace remaining principal  
unto thy death exhorting great and small  
Ruled to be/ to the precepts divine  
governed by grace/ were thy disciples all  
A gentill Werburge call me to such doctrine   

worldly felicity abject from my courage  
envy and pride/ with lusts voluptuous  
Rancorous cupidite mine heart sore do assuage  
bring ointments sanatiue for my sores dolorous  
Vnclose thy succours/ and be beniuolous  
Redy to be preserving me from pine  
govern my life from all acts daungerous  
And gentill Werburge call me to thy doctrine   

Be now beniuolent/ when I shall on the call  
unto thy slave/ as my trust hath ben sure  
leave unto me for a memorial  
knowledge effectual of thy life pure  
living ther after/ and so tendure  
ever in purite my life to continue  
yeldyng thankes for thy most wholesome lure  
Christ over us hold his hand/ al vices teschue. Amen.   
¶ And thus endeth the life and history of saint Werburge. Imprinted by richard Pynson/ printer to the kings noble grace/ with privilege to him granted by our sovereign lord the king. Ao. M.D.xxi.   

 printer's device of Richard Pynson