Here begynneth the lyfe of Saynt Radegunde :: :: University of Virginia Library

Here begynneth the lyfe of Saynt Radegunde

[by Henry Bradshaw]

Bradshaw, Henry

[section]

Here begynneth the lyfe of saynt Radegunde.

The prologe of the translatour in the lyfe of mayden Radegunde/quene and princesse.

Of the progeny of saynt Radegunde and howe she was taken in batell and maryed to Lothary a kynge of Fraunce.

Of the vertuous lyuing of saynt Radegund vndre spousage/and howe she contynued a pure virgyne

Of the great deuocion she vsed namely in tyme of lenton/and of the great pitie she had to all captiue prisoners.

Howe quene Radegunde shewed a great myracle deliueryng prisoners out of captiuite.

Howe quene Radegund desyred to be religyous/& of a myracle shewed/at her departyng by the way goyng

How Radegund was made relygious/& after elect abbasse of Pictauis/& howe by grace she was preserued from daunger of her husbande ye kyng.

Of the feruent deuocyon of saynt Radegunde and of the great penaunce and charitable warkes she vsed in religion.

Of the great perfeccion/and penaunce that lady Radegunde vsed in the tyme of lent.

Of the great affliccion/& hard punysshement that ye lady Radegunde vsed aboue the cours of nature in the sayd tyme of lent.

How this holy abbasse vsyng meditacyon refourmed her syster neglygent/with a lytell exortacion folowyng.

Howe blessyd Radegunde delyuered a woman possessyd with a fynde/from daunger and payne/to helth and prosperite.

Howe a ratte was slayne without hande aprochyng to hurt the vertuous labour of saynt Radegund.

Howe saynt Radegunde by prayer reuiued a laurell tre to burge and bryng forthe leaues without any rote.

Howe saynt Radegunde by humble intercession restored a yong Nunne from dethe to lyfe agayne.

Howe saynt Radegunde saued her seruantes from paryll of perisshyng which brought a parte of the holy crosse to Pectauis.

Of dyuerse myracles in generall/and how this abbasse saued dyuerse seke persons from Ieopardy of deth.

How Radegunde thabbasse cured .ii. sycke women from sickenesse/and infyrmite vnto helth and prosperyte.

How this abbasse healed dyuerse sicke women som from feuers/and some from vexacion of our gostly enemy.

Of the gostly visyon she had afore her infyrmyte & of the noble exortacion she made to her systers in her sykenes & payne.

With what pacience and deuocion lady Radegund receyued ye blessyd sacrament & extreme vnction afore her departure

Of the departure of this holy abbasse/and howe she apperyd ye same houre to a noble prefect/curyng hym from sickenesse of his throte.

How saynt Radegund cured one of her seruauntes from the plage of fier sittyng in her chayer without auctorite and right.

A breue rehersall of the great profet and remedy founde by true oblacion made to this moniall.

A prayer or orison of the blessyd quene Radegunde moniall and abbasse.

A breue conclucyon/& end of this poore translacyon mouyng the reders to accept this lytell vnworthy to be redde.

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A prayer or orison of the blessyd quene Radegunde moniall and abbasse.

O noble princesse/flouryng in vertue
Borne of kyngs blodde/by course of nature
O blessyd Radegund the spouses of Iesu
A myrrour of mekenesse/to euery creature
In thy yong age/refusyng wordly pleasure
Nowe reignest in heuen/and ioy lastyng ay
We the beseke/swete virgyn pure
Preserue and defende vs both nyght and day

O comly quene/and lady excellent
Somtyme vnder spousage/lyueng in chastite
Entendyng for to please our lorde omnipotent
And the worlde refuse with all vanite
A wyfe and a mayde as fewe other be
Weryng the herd heare vnder garmentes gay
At our departure of thy benignite
Preserue and defende vs both nyght and day

Thy chast conuersacion vnder matrimonye
Euer entended holy perfeccion
Dayly fulfillyng the werkesse of mercye
And vpon the poore hauing compassion
Releuing prisoners in wofull affliccion
Most mercifull princesse proued all way
We the require/with humble supplicacion
Preserue and defende vs both nyght and day

And whan thou was in holy religion
Thou shewed example of humilite
To all thy systers/and congregacion
Howe they shulde kepe theyr chastite
Theyr true profession/the essencials thre
A lanterne of light/shening verray
Wherfore we pray the of thy charite
Preserue and defende vs both nyght and day

Euery creature in this present lyfe
May take of the parfyt imitacion
Both quene and princesse/lady and wyfe
Remembring thy straytenesse in religion
Thy prayers/penaunce/vigils/meditacion
The torment of thy body/without delay
In euery tyme namely in lenton
Preserue and defende vs both nyght and day

Also for thy vertue and great holynesse
Many myracles were shewed both day and nyght
People were cured/by the from sickenesse
Halt and lame heled/blynd had theyr sight
Impotent persons/restored to myght
Wickyd sprites abiecte/it is no nay
Of thy great charite swete lady bright
Preserue and defende vs both nygh and day

O beauteous gēme and saphyre celestiall
O worthy diamounde/shening with honour
In the heuenly troune with ioy angelicall
Praysing and louyng our blessed sauyour
Make thou intercession/sheweng thy deuour
For vs thy seruauntes/as thou well may

Namely at this tyme/and at euery houre
Preserue and defende vs/both nyght and day

O rubicunde rose vernant in pulcritude
Our dayly comfort/plesant to be holde
O lylly whyte floure/shenyng with claritude
O radiant ster/passyng perle and golde
Our singuler defence/and succoure to be tolde
To thy spouse Iesu/for vs thou daily pray
That we may repent/our synne manyfolde
Preserue and defende vs both nyght and day

For vs make instaunce/O gracious lady
O quene and princesse/moniall and abbasse
That we may optayne here pardon and mercy
And clere be absolued/from synne and trespasse
And after this lyfe/to se the glorious face
Of the blessyd trinite/in blis to our pay
Where ioy is infinite/and eternall grace
Helpe virgyn Radegunde/both nyght and day.