The Life of Saint Werburge of Chester :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Life of Saint Werburge of Chester

By Henry Bradshaw. Englisht. A.D. 1513, printed by Pynson A.D. 1521, and now re-edited by Carl Horstmann

Bradshaw, Henry

Here begynneth the holy lyfe and history of saynt werburge / very frutefull for all christen people to rede.

The Prologe of .J. T. in the honour & laude of saint Werburge / and to the prayse of þe translatour of the legende folowynge.

Here foloweth the lyfe of the gloryous virgyn saynt werburge / also many miracles that god hath shewed for her. / & fyrst the prologe of the auctour.

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The Prologe of .J. T. in the honour & laude of saint Werburge / and to the prayse of þe translatour of the legende folowynge.

1

Honour / ioye / and glorie / the toynes organicall,
Endeles myrthes wt melodies! / prayse ye all ye princes,
Nourisshed in vertue / intact / as pure as cristall,
Relefe to all synners! / o Werburge, lady maistres;
In grace thou passed / all other, and in goodnes,
Whan thou was present in this mundayne lyfe;
None was the lyke / wydowe / mayde / ne wyfe.

2

By diuyne grace / to vs a ryche present,
Reioyce we may / in Werburge one and all,
A gemme of vertue / a virgin resplendent,
Dilect of our lorde (in ioye and blis eternall
Surely she is set) to intercede and call,
Her mouth nat cessyng / for them to call and crye
And in her trust / of synne to haue mercy.

3

O good lady maistres / declyne thy syght a-fer
And graciously beholde / thy seruaunt chast and pure,
Henry Bradsha / sometyme monke in Chester,
Whiche only for thy loue / toke the payne and laboure
Thy legende to translate— / he dyd his busy cure,
Out of latine / in Englisshe rude and vyle,
Whiche he hath amended / with many an ornate style.

4

Alas, of Chestre / ye monkes haue lost a treasure,
Henry Bradsha / the styrpe of eloquence!
Chestre, thou may wayle / the deth of this floure;
So may the citeȝens / alas! for his absence,
So may many other / for lacke of his sentence.
O swete lady Werburge / an holy Abbasse glorious,
Remembre Henry Bradsha / thy seruaunt most gracious.

5

In hym remayned no vice ne presumpcion,
Enuy and wrath / from hym were exyled,
Slouth ne Venus in hym had no dominion,
Auarice and glotony / he vtterly expelled;
No vice in hym regned / his felowes he excelled.
As clene as cristall / he bare these vertues thre:
Chastite / obidience / and wylfull pouerte.

6

O cruell deth / whiche art the perfite ende
Of this noble clerke / and euery mortall thyng,
Agaynst the / no man may hym defende;
Thou causest wo / languor / and anguissyng.
And who on this / wolde haue remembryng
Howe from erth / to erth he must agayne,
He wolde dispise all thynges that be mundayne.

Vale.