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

Now whan we consyder / with mynde dylygent
The merueylous maners / & synguler condycion
Of the comyn people / symple and neclygent,
Whiche without lytterature / and good informacyon
Ben lyke to Brute beestes / as in comparyson,
Rude / wylde / and boystous / by a prouerbe, certan,
‘Good maners and conynge / maken a man.’

2

Saynt Paule sayth / shewynge to the Romans
How all thynge wryten / in holy scrypture
Is wryten for our doctryne / and ghostly ordynans,
For our great conforte / and endeles pleasure.
All thynge is knowen playnly / by lytterature,
Morall vertues / be noted by it full playne
Frome vyce and neclygence / to abstayne, certayne.

3

What were mankynde / without lytterature?
Full lytell worthy / blynded by ignoraunce.
The way to heuen / it declareth ryght sure
Thrugh perfyte lyuynge / and good perseueraunce;

132

By it we may be taught / for to do penaunce
Whan we transgresse / our lordes commaundyment;
It is a swete cordyall / for mannes entent.

4

How shulde the seuen / scyences lyberall
Haue ben preserued / vnto this day,
The wysdome / of the phylosophers all,
But alone by lernynge / it is no nay.
The notable actes / of our fathers, I say,
(yf litterature were nat) myght nat nowe be tolde,
Nor auncient histories and cronycles olde.

5

The lawe of ciuile / and of holy canon
By study be preferred with moche honour
To execute iustice / and for due reformacion;
The most blessed doctrine of our sauiour,
The actis of the apostoles / with the doctours four,
Be preserued by wrytyng / and put in memorie,
With the lyues of saintes many a noble storie.

6

Of whiche histories we purpose speciall
To speke of saint Werburge / vnder your protection,
Declaryng the ende of her lyfe historiall
As we haue begon / and made playne mencion
In the fyrst volume by breue compilacion,
There playnly descriuyng her liniall discens
Of .iii. myghty kyngdomes by true experience;

7

Also we haue shewed in the sayd littell boke
Her goodly maners / and vertuous disposicion
Of her yonge age / who-so lyst theron to loke;
And howe her bretherne suffred martyrdome;
Of her fathers realme a litell discripcion;
Howe she was professed in the place of Ely;
Of her conuersacion within the sayd monastery;

133

8

After for her vertue / howe she was made abbasse
Of diuers monasteries, flouryng in vertue;
And of the great miracles whiche there done was
For her great charite / by the grace of Iesu;
Howe diuers of her kynrede dyd clerely exchewe
All wordly pleasures and honours transetory,
Professynge obedience at the place of Ely;

9

Also we haue shewed vnder your licence
Of her departure from this lyfe mortall,
And of her sepulture at the place of Hamburgence;
The manyfolde myracles shewed by grace supernall,
The wofull lamentacion of her systers all;
And howe after .ix. yere of her translacion
By diuine ordinaunce miracles were done.

10

We humble require you of your charite
To this seconde abstract to graunt pardon,
Consyderynge we omytte whilom the historie
And speke of cronicles / makyng a digression;
It is of no ignoraunce / nor presumption,
But to enlarge the mater and sentence,
To gladde the auditours / and moue their diligence.

11

In oure seconde boke expresse nowe wyll we,
Vnder your licence and speciall tuicion,
Of this blessed virgin / flourynge in chastite,
Why and wherfore she came to Chestre towne,
Principally by miracle / and diuine prouision,
And howe for synne / vice / and wykednes
Danes oppressed this lande with wretchednes,

12

And howe she was receyued at Chestre citie;
Of the fyrst foundacion of towne and the place;
Of the great myracles there shewed openlie

134

To chanons and monkes / by singular grace,
Vnto euery creature in extreme case,
Howe Werburge delyuered the towne from enmite,
From dredfull fire / and plages of miserye.

13

Also encronicled foloweth here expresse
A brefe compilacion of kynge Edwarde seniour,
Of kyng Ethelstam / the great worthynes,
Of humble kyng Edgare regnyng as emperour,
Of his comyng to Chestre / of his great honour;
And howe Erle Leofrice repared of his charite
The mynstre of Werburge, gyuyng therto liberte;

14

Of the seconde foundacion of the sayd monastery
From secular chanons to monkes religious
Soone after the conquest, sayth the historye,
By the erle of Chestre nominat Hug. Lupus,
With counsell and helpe of blessed Anselmus;
And of the great compas of the sayd abbay,
Enuired with walles myghty to assay;

15

How Richard erle of Chestre by myracle ryght
Was preserued from daunger of Walshemen,
And howe he was drowned about mydnyght
Purposyng to distroye the monastery, certen.
Celestiall signes were shewed to men and women,
To children and innocentes by singular grace
Of blessed Werburge, patronesse of the place:

16

These miracles specified / and many other mo
This virgin shewed within Chestre cite,
Whiche at this tyme we let ouer go,
Lest to the reders tedious it shulde be.
Almyghty god, both one two and thre,
Sende vs of theyr grace to make a good ende:
Helpe, lady Werburge, this warke to amende.

135

Of the comynge of cruell pagans to this lande / and howe saint Werburge longe lyenge hole and incorrupt at Hambury, than was resolued to pouder. And howe the kynge of merciens was chased from his lande. Ca. i.

17

Afore the comyng of danes to this lande
Merueilous signes were shewed in syght,
To conuert the people (as we vnde[r]stande):
Sterres in the heuen shynyng full bryght,
Dyuersly mouynge apperyng day and nyght,
Rennynge in the ayre dredfull to beholde,
By longe continuaunce, sayth the story olde;

18

Flamyng fire / dragons in the ayre fleynge,
Thondryng / and layth / erth-quake moost terrible,
With many other signes / as cometis blasynge,
Were seen in the ayre / to nature horrible;
Vpon clothynge of people bloddy dropes odible
Euydently appered: the yere of grace
vii. hundreth .lxxxvi. in many a place.

19

By whiche sayd signes wonderfull to se
Two plages of pestilence folowed incontinent:
The first was great derthes, hungre and pouerte,
The seconde was the greuous and sore punysshement
Of the cruell danes, cursed and fraudulent;
Whiche trouble began to .iiii. yere of Bricticus,
Kyng of westsaxon[s] / saith maister Alfridus.

20

The thyrde yere folowyng these signes, in certen,
Danes and Norwaies enterprised this lande,
In the north partie, an hoost of armed men,
Whiche cruelly spoiled and distroied holy Ilande,
With Tynmouth abbay / and all that myght be fonde,

136

Drowned and slewe the people euerychone,
Brenned churches / townes / spared no religion.

21

In short tyme after the prenominate pagans
At tamysmouth reentred this realme agayne,
Destroyed many cites by their myghty ordynaunce,
Oppressed London / Canturbury by power, certayne;
The kynge of Merciens to escape was fayne;
Kyng Adoulfus made the danes a batell,
To whiche kyng by grace the victorye befell.

22

yf ye wyll consydre the cause wherfore and why
Our lorde suffred pagans to punysshe this region,
The treuth was this: for synne specially.
For in the primatiue churche / with great perfection
Kynges / quienes / dukes entred religion,
Professed obedient, chaste, without propurte,
Vertue to encrease / true loue and charite:

23

That tyme was iustice ministred with mercy,
True loue and amite founde in euery place;
Dissimulacion / pride and fals enuye
Durst nat appere in halle nor in palace,
Extorcion, pollynge opteyned no grace;
The commaundementes of god were obserued a-ryght,
Charite was feruent / encreasynge day and nyght.

24

By proces of tyme / as sayth myn auctour,
Through great possession / power / and liberte
Vertue decreased in holy churche day and houre,
Holy religion decayed pitiousle,
Charite was colde / iustice and equite,
Extorcion, disceyte were vsed euery day,
Couetise / pride / lechery were ryued alway:

25

Therfore our lorde of his great ryghtwisnes

137

Suffred cruell people to entre this region,
A scourge, to correct synne and wykednes;
Like a swarme of bees from dyuers nacion,
Whiche had no pite, mercy nor compassion:
Danes, Gotes, Norwayes, and scottes also,
Pictes and the wandeles, with mony other mo.

26

These foresayd fearfull and cruell nacions,
Moost cruell pagans, dyd great persecucion,
From the begynnyng of Adelwlfe, kyng of westsaxons,
Tyll the comynge of normans vnto this region,
The space enduryng by full computacion
Two hundreth yeres complet .xxx. also,
With the swerde of vengeaunce, fire and moche wo.

27

The yere of our lorde .D.CCC. fyfty and one
At Tamysmouth arriued a great hoost of pagans
With .iii. hundreth ships, and .l. men of armes echone;
Whiche destroied Douer / and put the lande to greuans;
Agayne Bernulphus, the kyng of Mercians,
The paynyms preuayled / and caused his hoost to fle;
Whiche fortune enforced them more bolder to be.

28

But the yere of grace .D.CCC. sixe and sixtie
The greattest noumbre of the pagans all,
viii. kynges, entred this realme by victorie,
Norwaies / gootes / Wandels / danes in especiall,
With many other nacions within in generall;
Kyng Hingware and Hubba than came to this lande,
Whiche slewe saint Edmunde, kyng of Estenglande.

29

The cruell paynyms and tyrauntes moost furious,
Repleit with malice / pride / and enuye,
Seruauntes to satan and ministres malicious,
Purposed to desolate holy churche wyckedly:
Brenned monasteries and spoiled vtterly

138

Many churches, chapels, of a mortall hate,
Slewe religious men, and nonnes dyd violate.

30

The people were punysshed in euery place;
To olde, sicke and impotent they shewed no mercy,
yonge soukyng children coude fynde no grace,
Wyddowes and wyues were put to vilany,
Maydens were corrupt / and slayne chamfully.
So all this realme endured confusion,
Put to greuous peyne / deth / and affliction.

31

After these infidels had ben at London
And there accomplisshed theyr cruell entent,
They soone proceded towarde Lincoln̄ region,
From thens directly with hasty iugement
To the realme of Merciens, noble and auncient,
Right vnto Repton, where the kynge lay;
Robbyng and spoilynge all in theyr way.

32

This kynge of Mercelande, called Burdredus,
Regnyng .xxii. yere vpon the merciens,
Was clerely expulsed by the pagans furious,
And went vnto rome with pure conscience;
Where he is buried by diuine prouidence—
Whiche kyng was cosyn by discent liniall
To blessed Werburge so glorious and pudicall.

33

This gracious virgin and preelect abbasse,
Buried at Hambury (as is sayd before)
Continued incorrupt and hole in that place
In vesture and body .ii. hundreth yere and more;
But whan the danes came with suche rigour
To Repton abbay / than she was resolued,
And of deuocion full richely shryned.

139

Howe the people of Hambury brought the shryne to Chestre / and of the solemne receyuyng of it by all the inhabitauntes of Chesshyre. Cap. ii.

34

In meane tyme the danes pitously destroyed
The monasteries of Werburge / Trentam & Wedon,
As they many other places had euyll oppressed
In the north and eest part of this region;
The kyngdome of Kent suffred lyke punicion,
The Ile of Wyght endured moche turment:
So dyd the Westmarches / for punysshement.

35

The people of Hambury, wysely consyderyng
The comynge of danes vnto Repton,
And of the departure of Burdred, theyr kyng,
Howe all Englande was in great affliction,
And howe they were next to endure punicion—
Whiche forsayd Repton was distaunt from Hambury
The space of .v. mile, sayth the history—

36

The Hamburgenses with all the comons and clergy,
Dredynge full sore the pagans flagellacions,
Of their lyues desperate / but for the shryne specially,
To our blessed sauiour made dayly inuocacions
With vigils, prayers and feruent meditacions,
To preserue the countrey / the relique / the shryne
From daunger of enmite and miserable ruyne.

37

As they continued in cotidian prayer,
The best remedie sekyng for to fynde
To auoide vexacion and all greuous daunger
Of theyr great ennemies cursed and vnkynde,
The holy goost inspired theyr mynde
To take the shryne with great humilite
And brynge it to Chestre from perill and enmyte.

140

38

They toke this riall relique of reuerence
With great mekenes, deuocion and feruour,
Through the grace of god, theyr helpe and defence,
Came to-warde Chester with diligence and honour—
A place preordinat by our sauiour
Where her body shulde rest and worshipped be,
Magnified with miracles next our ladie.

39

Whan the clergie of Chestre and the citeȝens
Herde tell of the comynge of this noble abbasse,
They made preparacion and great diligence,
In theyr best-maner worship and solace
To mete this relique of singular grace;
The great estates / and rulers of the countray
Were redy to honour saint Werburge that day.

40

First was ordeyned a solemne procession,
With crosses / and baners / and surges clere lyght,
The belles were tolled for ioye and deuocion;
The ministres of god in coopes redy dight,
With censours of siluer / to encense her body right;
All prestis and clerkes redy to say and synge
Proceded in ordre / this holy virgin praysyng.

41

Next to the clergie approched in degree
The lordes of the shyre, knyghtes, barons, all
With feruent deuocion / praysyng the trinite
Whiche sent to them suche comfort spirituall.
The citeȝens ensued with gladnes cordiall,
With bokes and beades / magnifieng our maker
For this great treasure to kepe them from daunger.

42

Venerable virgins next sette in ordre clere,
With lilies in theyr handes / coronate with chastite,
Good widowes and wyues appoynted well were,

141

Gyuynge true thankes vnto this virgin fre.
Nex[t] them assemble all the commonte
In all goodly maner, dyuised by discrecion,
Praysynge saynt Werburge with humiliacion.

43

Whan they approched to her hie presence
And comon were afore this relique most riall,
They kneled all downe with mycle reuerence,
Salutynge the shryne with honour victoriall,
Magnifiyng with melodye and tunys musicall
This glorious virgin / nothyng done amis,
Syngynge Te deum to the kyng of blysse.

44

The lordes / the citeȝins / and all the commons
Mekely submytted them-selfe to the shryne,
With manyfolde prayses and humble supplicacions,
With interiour loue / and morall discipline,
Trustyng all in her to saue them from ruyne,
From greuous daunger / and cruell enmite
By her entercession vnto the trinite.

45

They gaue due thankes vnto this abbasse,
Deuoutly sayenge knelyng vpon kne:
‘Welcome, swete lady, replet with grace,
The floure of mekenes / and of chastite,
The cristall of clennes and virginite;
Welcome thou art to vs euerychone,
A speciall comfort for vs to trust vpon!

46

‘Welcome, swete princesse / kynges doughter dere,
Welcome, faire creature / and rose of merciens,
The diamonde of dignite / and gemme shenyng clere,
Virgin and moiniall of mycle excellence;
Welcome, holy abbasse of hie preeminence,
The rutilant saphire of syncerite,
Welcome, swete patronesse, to Chestre cite!

142

47

‘Thou art our refuge / and singular succour,
Oure sure tuicion, next to the trinite,
Oure speciall defence at euery houre
To releue thy seruauntes in all necessite;
Thou art our solace and helpe in eche degre,
Oure ioye / trust / and comfort / and goostly treasure:
Welcome to this towne, for euer to endure!’

48

Agaynst her comynge into Chestre cite
The stretes were strawed with flours fragrant,
The mancions and halles edified rialle
Were hanged with arras precious and pleasaunt,
Torches were caried on eche syde flagrant;
Also ouer the shryne was prepared a canaby
Of cloth of golde and tissewe riche and costly.

49

Thus with great worship, decoure and dignite
Of all the clergie, lordis and citeȝens
She was receyued with great humilite
Into the cite with humble reuerence,
The clergie syngyng with mycle diligence,
The comons prayeng with loue feruent,
Folowynge this relique after their entent.

50

In procession they passed all in to the towne,
With ioye and great gladnes, ye may be sure,
In ordre togyther, in charite and deuocion,
Praysyng our sauiour and this virgin pure;
They brought full solemple with gostly p[l]easure
This riall relique to the moost noble place
Within all the cite, as our lordes wyll was.

51

This seconde translacion of this virgin bright
From Hambury abbay vnto Chestre cite
Was celebrate, with ioye and gladnes full right,

143

The yere of our saueour in his humanite
viii. hundreth complet .v. and seuentie;
Alured regned than kyng of this region,
Victorious and liberall / coronate at London.

52

This kyng deuyded in .iii. partes his richesse:
One parte to the poore, the seconde to religion,
The thyrde part to scholers / the fourth to bild churches;
And of a day naturall / he made trium diuision:
viii. houres to rede and praye with feruent deuocion,
viii. houres occupied with businesse naturall,
And other .viii. houres to rule his realme riall.

A litel descripcion of the foundacion of Chestre / and of the abbay-churche within the sayd cite / where ye holy shryne by grace remayneth. Cap. iii.

53

Two cites of legions in cronicles we fynde:
One in south-Wales / in the tyme of Claudius
Called Caeruska / by britons had in mynde,
Orels Caerleon / buylded by kyng Belinus;
Where somtyme was a legion of knyghtes chiualrous.
This cite of legions was whilom the bysshops se
Vnto all south-wales / nominat Wenedocie.

54

Another cite of legions we may fynde also

144

In the west part of Englande / by the water of Dee,
Called Caerlleon of britons longe ago,
After named Chestre, by great auctorite;
Iulius the emperour sende to this sayd cite
A legion of knyghtes / for to subdue Irelande;
Like-wyse dyd Claudius (as we vnderstande).

55

The founder of Chestre / as sayth Policronicon,
Was Lleon Gauer / a myghty stronge gyaunt,
Whiche buylded caues and dongions many one,
No goodly buyldyng / propre ne pleasaunt;
But the Kynge Leil, a briton sure and valiaunt,
Was founder of Chestre by pleasaunt buyldyng,
And of Caerleil also / named by the kynge.

56

Ranulphus in his cronicle yet doth expresse
The cite of Chestre edified for to be
By the noble romans prudence and richesse
Whan a legion of knyghtes was sende to the cite,
Rather than by the wysdome of Britons or policie;
Obiectyng clere agaynst the britons fundacion,
Whiche auctour resteth in his owne opinion.

57

Kyng Marius, a bryton, regnyng in prosperite
In the West partie of this noble region,
Ampliat and walled strongly Chestre cite
And myghtyly fortified the sayd foundacion.
Thus eche auctour holdeth a singular opinion.
This Marius slewe Reodric, kyng of pictis lande,
Callyng the place of his name Westmarilande.

58

This ‘cite of legions,’ so called by the Romans,
Nowe is nominat in latine of his proprete
Cestria quasi castria / of honour and pleasance:
Proued by the buyldynge of olde antiquite

145

In cellers and lowe voultes / and halles of realte
Lyke a comly castell / myghty, stronge and sure,
Eche house like a toure, somtyme of great pleasure.

59

Vnto the sayd Chestre all northwales subiect were
For reformacion, Iustice and iugement;
Theyr bysshops see also it was many a yere
Enduryng the gouernaunce of brutes auncient;
To saxons and britons a place indifferent;
The inhabitauntes of it manfull and liberall,
Constant, sad and vertuous / and gentyll continuall.

60

Of frutes and cornes there is great habundaunce,
Woddes / parkes / forestes / and beestis of venare,
Pastures / feeldes / comons / the cite to auaunce,
Waters /pooles/ pondes / of fysshe great plente;
Most swete holsome ayre by the water of dee;
There is great marchandise / shyps / and wynes strang,
With all thyng of pleasure the citeȝens amonge.

61

The yere of our lorde a hundreth sixe and fyfty
Reigned vpon this lande a briton kyng Lucius,
Whiche with great desire required instantly
His realme to be baptiȝed of pope Eleutherius.
Whose charitable mocion was harde full gratius:
The pope enioyed / graunted his peticion
And sende .ii. doctours to conuerte this region.

62

The doctours by prechyng and singular grace
In short tyme conuerted the greatter Britayne;
The people confessed their synne and trespase,
Baptiȝed all were / forgyuenes dyd attayne;
Idolatrie cessed through-out this lande, certayne;
With grace circumfulced and lyghtned was Englande,
By faith to god professed was all Wales and scotlande.

146

63

Kynge Lucius ordeyned / by the doctours mocion
xxviii. bisshops in this realme for to be,
And .iii. archebisshops, for gostly exhortacion,
To reduce the people to vertue and humilite.
At London was set the chiefe archebisshops se,
The seconde in south-Wales at cite of legions,
The thyrde was at yorke, all subiect to the britons.

64

Churches were edified in many a place
Here in the more Britayne with diligent labour,
Christis faith encreased by speciall grace,
Faithfull religion delated euery hour;
Diuine seruice was songon & sayd with great honour,
True faith and deuocion were dayly encreasynge,
Namely in Chestre by grace continuall abidynge.

65

Certaynly, sith baptym came to Chestre cite,
Soone after Lucius / and afore kynge Arthure,
By the grace of god and their humilite,
The faith of holy churche dyd euer there endure
Without recidiuacion and infection / sure;
Wherfore it is worthy a singular commendacion,
Aboue all the citees and townes of this region.

66

The perfect begynnyng and fyrst foundacion
Of the monasterie within the sayd cite
Was at the same tyme by famus opinion
That baptym began within this countre;
The great lordes of Chestre of landes and auncetre
First edified the churche for comfort spirituall
In honour of the apostels Peter and Paule.

67

Whiche churche was principall to all the citie,
And the mouther-churche called withouten doubt;
It was their buriall by great auctorite,

147

To all this sayd cite / and .vii. myle without;
The cemiterie was large to compase it about.
But what by sufferaunce and processe of tyme
Many olde customes ben brought now to ruyne.

68

In whiche mother-churche of Peter and Paule
All holy sacramentes ministred dayly were,
With great encreasement of vertues all,
Continuall endurynge more than .CCC. yere,
In the britons tyme / of blodde noble and clere,
Afore the comyng of saxons to this lande,
Whiche with apostasie enfected all Englande.

69

So after that the Angles / Iutes / and saxons
By fortune of batell / power and policie
Had clerely subdued all the olde britons
And them expulsed to wales and wylde countre,
The faith of holy churche remayned at chestre cite
In the sayd churche, truely, by singular grace alone,
Like as the faith of Peter neuer fayled at Rome.

70

What tyme saint Austin, the doctour of Englande,
Had baptiȝed Ethelbrut, kynge of Kent,
And by relacion dyd fully vnderstande
That the faith of Christ most digne and excellent
In the citie of legions was truely remanent,
In the churche of the apostoles Peter and Paule,
He magnified our lorde with thanke speciall.

71

That season there was a noble monasterie
xii. myles from Chestre, nominate Bangour,
Where religious monkes lyued vertuouslye,
Almost .iii. thousande / obedient euery houre,
Without possessions / lyuyng by theyr labour:
Vnto whiche place he sende for helpe at nede,
To conuert the saxons (sayth venerable Bede).

148

72

Saynt Austin approched the cite of legions,
Where the sayd couent afore hym were present:
Whom he required to preche to the saxons
The faith of holy churche and baptym diligent.
To whose humble prayer / they were disobedient,
Obseruyng no charite. / yet for theyr great pride
Many of them were slayne by kyng Ethelfride.

73

That season the britons remayned vnder licence
Of Angles and saxons within the sayd cite,
Tyll the dayes of Offa, kynge of merciens,
Regnyng in the west marche with great victorie;
Whiche kynge expulsed by power and chiualrie
All brutes and walshemen clere out of his londe,
In peyne of punysshement none there to be fonde.

74

Whan the said churche, hauynge great liberte,
Dayly augmented in vertue and holynes,
Prestis and clerkes praysed the holy trinite
And the sayd apostoles with great mekenes,
The cite encreased in worshyp and ryches;
Churches were edified with feruent deuocion
In sondrie places within the sayd towne.

75

This noble kyng Offa agaynst the pagans
Of .xvii. batels had euer the victorye;
Confederate was with great Charles, kyng of Fraunce,
And edified saint Albans monasterye;
Of Englande first toke the hole monarchie;
Gaue Peter pens vnto the court of Rome;
Translate to Lichefelde the se of Canturbury;
xxxix. yere regned fully in this region.

149

A brefe rehersall of the first foundacion of the mynstre of Chestre / and of the institucion of secular chanons in the tyme of kyng Edwarde senior. Cap. iiii.

76

The yere of grace .D.CCC. seuynte and fyue,
Kyng Alured regned vpon this region,
The relique, the shryne full memoratyue
Was brought to Chestre for our consolacion,
Reuerently receyued, set with deuocion
In the mouther-churche of saint Peter and Paule,
(As afore is sayd), a place moost principall.

77

In whiche holy place vnto this present day
She bodilye resteth by diuine prouidence,
And so by his grace shall continue alway,
In honour, worshyp / and mycle reuerence;
A deuout oratorie of vertue and excellence,
Prepared by our lorde / where speciall remedy
Is agayne all greuans in soule and in body.

78

The primatyue gyftes gyuen to the place
Immediatly were after her comynge
Of deuout people replet with grace
In the dayes of the forsayd Alured kyng:
Of landes and libertes they made moche offerynge
To god and saint Werburge / after theyr possession,
Tristyng to her prayer and sure protection.

79

The people with deuocion and mynde feruent
Gaue diuers enormentes vnto this place:
Some gaue a coope / and some a vestement,
Some other a chalice / and some a corporace,
Many albes and other clothes offred ther was,
Some crosses of golde / some bokes / some belles;
The pore folke gaue surges / torches / and towelles.

150

80

The citeȝens offered to the sayd virgine
For the great miracles amonge them wrought
Many riall gyftes of Iewels to the shrine,
Thankynge our lorde, that hath vs all bought,
And blessed Werburge in worde, dede, and thought—
Women and children she mynded full gracious,
As testifieth the archebisshop Antoninus.

81

Diuine seruice was obserued deuoutly
Euery day, encreasyng with feruent adoracion
As the feest required / and the solemnite,
To the honour of our lorde and hie glorificacion;
Preistis and clerkes with pure meditacion
Obseruynge their dutie gaue vertuous example
Of great perfection to the comon people.

82

After kyng Alured / regned his son
Edwarde senior, by liniall discence,
Crowned the yere of grace .ix. hundreth and one,
with wordly glorie and great preeminence;
Buylded castels, townes of myghty defence,
Subdued the danes .vii. tymes in batell;
Encreased his realme manfully and well.

83

That tyme the realme of merciens was translate
By the kynge / and gyuen to duke Ethelrede,
A noble man of auncetre / politicke and fortunate,
Whiche maried his syster, lady Elflede,
Doughter to the forsaid valiant kynge Alurede;
The sayd gentilman was wyse and vertuous,
Sad and discrete, pacient and famous.

84

This lady Elflede, duchesse of merciens,
Had speciall loue and singular affection
To blessed Werburge, and true confidence:

151

Wherfore she mynded with great dilectacion
To edifie a mynstre, a place of deuocion,
To this holy virgin, for profite of her soule,
Enlargynge the churche of Peter and of Paule.

85

She moued her husbande with great mekenes
To supplie the same dede of his charite,
And diuers other nobles of theyr goodnes
For aide in that cause after their degree.
Ioyfull was the duke of the mocion gostle,
Glad were the nobles within all the shire
To founde a mynstre after her desire.

86

Afore the holy roode in a table writen is
At saint Iohans churche without the sayd cite,
Howe that prince Edmunde, the thyrde son e-wis
Of Edwarde senior, true foundour shulde be—
To whom lady Elflede was aunt by auncetre.
So betwix twayne was founded in short space
An holy mynstre, of vertue full and grace.

87

They sende for masons vpon euery syde,
Counnynge in geometrie / the foundacion to take
For a large mynstre, longe, hie, and wyde,
Substancially wrought / the best that they can make,
To the honour of god / for saynt Werburge sake;
At the est ende taken theyr sure foundacion
Of the apostoles churche / ioynynge both as one.

88

Whan it was edified / and curiously wrought
And all thyng ended / in goodly proporcion,
Than riche enormentes were offred and brought
Of the said nobles with great deuocion;
Temporall landes / rentes / possession
Were gyuen, for euer to mayntayne the place
Of blessed Werburge by singular grace.

152

89

Spirituall ministres were elect also:
Secular chanons, of great humilite,
To synge and psalmodise oure sauiour vnto,
Within the sayd mynstre hauynge a perpetuite;
Prebendes were assigned to that fraternite,
With townes / borowes / and fredomes manifest,
Continually encreasyng vnto the conquest.

90

And the olde churche of Peter and of Paule
By a generall counsell of the spiritualte
With helpe of the duke moost principall
Was translate to the myddes of the sayd cite;
Where a paresshe-churche was edified, truele,
In honour of the aforesayd apostoles twayne,
Whiche shall for euer by grace diuine remayne.

91

Also we may note, holdyng none opinion,
This lady Elflede of her charite
Of the sayd mother-churche translate the patron,
Caused the sayd oratorie reconciled to be
In the honour of the most blessed trinite
And of saynt Oswalde, martyr and kyng,
For the loue she had to hym continuynge.

92

The yere of our lorde .ix. hundreth and .viii.
This noble duchesse with mycle royalte
Reedified Chestre / and fortified it full ryght,
Churche / house / and wall, decayed piteousle.
Thus brought vnto ruyne was Chestre cite
First, by Ethelfride, kyng of Northumberlande,
And by danes / norwaies, vexyng all Englande.

93

Also she enlarged this sayd olde cite
With newe myghty walles stronge all-about,
Almost by proporcion double in quantite

153

To the forther byldynge brought without dout;
She compassed in the castell enemies to hold out
Within the sayd Walles, to defende the towne
Agaynst danes and walshemen, to dryue them all downe.

94

After the deth of her husband Ethelrede
She ruled the realme of mercelande manfully,
Buylded churches / and townes repared in dede,
As Staforde / Warwike / Thomwort / and Shirisbury;
Of newe she edified Runcorn̄ and Edisbury.
The body of saynt Oswalde also she translate
From Bardeney to Gloucetur, there to be tumulate:

95

Where she edified a noble monastery,
With licence of her brother afore nominate,
In honour of saint Peter / ouer the blessed body
Of the sayd saint Oswalde / kyng and martyr coronate.
In wiche monastery this lady was tumulate,
The yere of our lorde .ix. hundreth and nyntene;
Whom myn auctour prayseth in this wordes serene:

Of the notable myracles of saynt Werburge shewed in the tyme of chanons / and fyrst howe she saued Chester from distruction of walshemen. Cap. v.

96

This glorious Werburge and virgin pure
By singular grace of god omnipotent
Shewed many myracles to euery creature,

154

To blynde / dombe / halt / lame / and impotent,
In the cite of Chestre / whan her shryne was present,
Like-wyse as in her lyfe at Wedon / at Hambury—
Witneseth the same her true legende and history.

97

Wher[for]e to the honour / prayse / and laudacion
Of Iesu / the seconde persone in trinite,
And of this virgin a speciall commendacion,
We purpose to reherse nowe with charite,
Vnder the protection of you that shall the reders be,
Parte of the myracles / with mynde diligent
In this humble stile / and sentence consequent.

98

The first myracle / that our blessed sauiour
Shewed for his spouses / after her translacion
To Chestre: was nye the tyme of Edwarde seniour,
Son to kyng Alured, famous of renowne.
The Name of britons was chaunged that season,
Were named walshemen, in the montaynes segregate,
Euer to the saxons hauynge inwarde hate.

99

The Walshemen that tyme had ouer them a kyng
Called Griffinus / to be theyr gouernour,
Electe by the comons their appetite folowyng,
Endurate with malice / couetise and rancour,
Ennemies to englisshemen / as is said before.
This kyng entended by mortall enuy
The cite of Chestre to spoyle and distrye.

100

A myghty host discended from the mountans,
Well armed and strongely approchyng the cite,
Prepared for batell, with them great ordinaunce.
The sayd Griffinus and all his company
With his power passed ouer the water of Dee—
Whiche ryuer adioynneth to the sayd towne,
Betwene Englande and Wales a sure diuision.

155

101

This kynge layd siege vnto Chestre cite
With all his great host / there honour to wyn—
By policie of warre / encreasynge myghtyle.
For whiche the citeȝens remaynyng within
were sore disconsolate, like for to twyn:
With wofull heuy hartes they dyd call and crye
Vpon blessed Werburge for helpe and remedye.

102

The charitable chanons with great deuocion
Toke the holy shryne of theyr patrones,
Set it on the towne-walles for helpe and tuicion,
Trustynge on her to be saued from distres.
But one of the ennemyes with great wyckednes
Smot the sayd shryne in castyng of a stone,
And it empaired / piteous to loke vpon.

103

Anone great punysshement vpon them all lyght:
The kyng and his host were smytten with blyndnes,
That of the cite / they had no maner of syght;
And he that smote the holy shryne, doubtles,
Was greuously vexed with a sprite of darkenes,
And with hidous payne expired miserably—
The kynge was sore a-dred / and all his company.

104

Shortly the kynge remoued his great host,
Departed from the cite without any praye,
And gaue in commaundement in euery coost
Saynt Werburge landes to meynteyne alway,
Assigned her possessions euer after that day
With the signe of the crosse, a token euident,
In pleasyng this virgin / for drede of punysshement.

156

Howe saynt Werburge cured and healed a woman thre tymes (whiche was halte and lame) to helth and prosperite agayne. Cap. vi.

105

In the cite of Chestre (the legende doth expresse)
An honest matrone dwelled / Eagida nominat,
Whiche by continuaunce / and payne of sickenes
Was made halt and lame / of helth all desperate;
yet to saynt Werburge her hart was eleuate,
Instantly required with humble supplicacion
This holy virgin for helth / and preseruacion.

106

Anone by the merite of this lady clere
The pacient restored to helth and prosperite,
Gaue honour and thankes to Werburge and prayer,
Entendyng euer after her true seruaunt to be
And truely continue lyuyng in pure chastite.
But shortly she brake her promesse made in syght,
Folowyng her appetite and carnall lustes full ryght.

107

She had great riches, welth and prosperite
And maried with pleasure after her entencion;
Wher[for]e thries she endured her olde infirmite,
And thries was cured, by meke intercession,
To helth of body from peynfull contraction.
Thus by the merite of this virgin pure
She was deliuered from peyne thries to pleasure.

108

This forsayd Eadgide, prudently ponderyng
These notable miracles with her gostly eye,
Gaue great commendacion and speciall thankyng
To almyghty god / with feruent humilite
And to saynt Werburge, knelynge on kne,
Came to her oratorie and gaue an oblacion
To the holy shryne with singular deuocion.

157

Howe saynt Werburge saued Chestre from innumerable barbarike nacions / purposynge to distroye and spoyle the sayd cite vtterly. Cap. vii.

109

An other tyme innumerable barbarike nacions
Came to spoyle Chestre, to robbe it and distry,
(Sayth the historye) from diuers regions:
Harolde kyng of danes / the kynge of gotes & galwedy,
Maucolyn of Scotlande, and all theyr company,
With baners displayed, well armed to fyght;
Theyr tentes rially in hoole heth were pyght.

110

They set theyr ordinaunce agaynst the towne
Vpon euery side / timorous for to se,
Namely at the northgate they were redy-bowne
By myght, police to haue entred the cite.
The citeȝens dredyng to be in captiuite,
Made intercession vnto this holy abbasse
For theyr deliueraunce in suche extreme case.

111

The deuout chanons sette the holy shryne
Agaynst theyr enemies at the sayd northgate,
Trustynge to Werburge to saue them from ruyne
And shewe some myracle to them disconsolate.
For the citeȝens were of their lyues desperate,
Passynge mannes mynde to escape theyr daunger
But all-only by merite of this virgin clere.

112

As the kynges were sautynge this forsayd cite,
Trustyng for a praye to haue it euery hour,
One of the sayd ennemies, replet with iniquite,
Nat worshyppyng ye virgin / nor dredyng our sauiour,
Smote this riall relique with a stone in his rancour,
Brake therof a corner, curiously wrought,
Cast all to the grounde: than sorowe came vnsought.

158

113

The sayd malefactour nat passynge the place
Vexed with the deuill for his greuous offence,
Roryng and yellyng his outragious trespase,
Tore his tonge a-sonder in wodely violence,
Miserable exspired afore them in presence;
Satan ceased nat to shewe great punysshement
Vpon his soule and body / by signes euident.

114

These kynges considerynge this soden vengeaunce
Amonge them all lyght so soone and hastely,
Shortly remoued theyr great ordinaunce,
Departed from the cite with theyr company;
Callyng on this virgin fast for grace and mercy,
Promyttynge neuer after to retourne agayne
To disquiete her seruauntes and cite, in certayne.

Howe saynt Werburge by her merite sent frute to a barrayne woman by syngular prayer made vnto her. The .viii. chapitre.

115

A noble gentilman / a consul in office,
Descendyng of the hie and riall blodde of costy,
Elected a spouses at his owne deuice,
A swete faire gentilwoman, curtes and comly,
Nominat Iudith / ioynned to hym in matrimony;
With whom this lady lyued a longe season
Barrayn and fruteles of generacion.

116

She daily lamented her great wretchednes,
As woman infortunate full of miserye,
Prayed to saynt Werburge with interiour mekenes
For remedy and helpe agaynst that wofull infamye,
Desired to haue issue and frute of her bodye,
If it pleased god / and this virgin also,
Most greattest comfort to brynge her hert from wo.

159

117

Saynt Werburge appered to her in vision,
In white bright vesture / clere as the cristall,
Expressynge wordes of great consolacion,
Most ioyfull to Iudith to make rehersall:
Commaundyng her by the effect speciall
To go to her churche with singular deuocion
And praye our sauiour with humble supplicacion,

118

Also for to compasse her holy aulter
With a linen cloth / knelyng on her kne,
And after for to take the same cloth in-fere
And compas her wombe about reuerentle.
This Iudith was ioyfull / and rose vp yerle
And truely fulfylled this gostly vision;
From thens departed to her propre mancion.

119

Soone after this wyfe afore-rehersed
Conceyued a childe and had succession,
Praysyng this virgin in hart, worde and dede;
And after the tyme of her purificacion
Of the same faire cloth she made oblacion,
Richely set in syluer / well wrought in compas
With many riche enormentes she sende to this place.

120

After came her-selfe vnto the monastery
With many of her neyghbours / there nye dwellyng,
Praysyng and laudyng this glorious lady,
With cordiall thankynges makyng theyr offeryng,
Of this great myracles true witnes bearyng;
Departed from the place with ioy and deuocion
All the sayd company / eche to theyr mancion.

160

Of a woman great with childe with peyne brought out of her wytte / by saynt Werburge was restoured to reason agayne. Cap. ix.

121

In the prouince of Chestre / knowen it is of olde,
A certayne man dwelled / of great honeste,
Whiche had a doughter disposed manyfolde
To sondrye vertues / clennes / and humilite.
This humble mayde ioyned was in matrimonye
To an honest yong man / of whom she conceyued
And was great with childe / openly perceyued.

122

Whan the tyme approched of her deliueraunce,
Vexed she was with mycle wo and payne,
Continually enduryng / with suche hidous greuaunce
That out of her mynde she went, incertayne;
All phisike and medicyns were founde to her in vayne:
No comfort in erth, helpe nor remedye
For her myght be founde in suche extremite.

123

Her father and mother / and her frendes all
Brought theyr dere doughter with great deuocion
To saynt Werburge churche / requiryng speciall
This blessed virgin / with humble intercession
To helpe the pacient from all vexacion,
Promyttynge an oblacion to this lady bryght
Whan she vnto reason were comen a-ryght.

124

And as she slepped at the aulter ende,
Wofully cruciat with peynes hiduous,
Passyng mannes cure it for to amende:
Anone by the merite of this virgin glorious
She was released from all payne greuous
And fully restored to her reason agayne,
Had good deliueraunce / and spedde well, in certayne.

161

125

Whiche myracle knowen / her frendes euerychone
And all the good matrons of the sayd cite
Came holly togyther with theyr oblacion
To the holy shryne, thankyng with hart fre
This blessed virgin of her benignite,
Whiche is so redy a mediatrice alway
To helpe her true seruauntes both nyght and day.

Howe an other woman vnlaufully wurkynge was made blynde / and by saynt Werburge restored was to her syght agayne. Cap. x.

126

Within the same cite afore the abbay-gate
Dwelled a woman / which brake the commaundement
Of god and holy churche / hye sabbot-day dyd violate
Vnlaufully wurkynge: wherfore great punysshement
Fell vpon this woman with peynes equiualent,
Sodaynly smytten / wurkynge full busely
With greuous blyndnes / and mycle miserye.

127

This woman, consyderynge her syght was gone,
The pleasure of this worlde, her helpe and succour,
Hauynge to lyue by / small riches or none,
Cried maynly ‘out out, alas’ euery hour,
‘Wo is me wretche, fulfylled with dolour!
Alas, I was borne to abyde this wofull day
My maker to displease! / alas, what shall I say?’

128

She called to memorie with hye discrecion
The myracles that Werburge shewed to mankynde:
By grace she repented / with suche contricion
That water distilled from her eyes blynde,
Dolefully lamentynge / that she was so vnkynde;
Ruthfully was brought to Werburge oratory,
Trustyng in this virgin to haue remedy.

162

129

As she continued in her supplicacion,
Wofully wepynge / abidyng the great grace
Of blessed Werburge / with singular inuocacion,
Anone she was cured to helth and solace,
Restored to her eye-sight / she passed the place,
Praysed our lorde and this virgin pure,
Was a holy woman after, ye may be sure.

How saint Werburge restored to helth and prosperite vi. lame and halt persons by singular grace. Cap. xi.

130

The excellent fame of this glorious lady
Dilated was through all this region,
Manifest by myracles full honorably:
Therfore from diuers partes came many a person
For helth of body and gostly conuersacion,
Some to be cured from payne intollerable
And some of olde sores that were incurable.

131

Amonge whom there came vnto her place
Sixe wofull persones / cured for to be,
Halt, blynde and lame, besekyng her of grace
With humble supplicacion vpon them haue pite,
With wepynge teares sayenge / ‘o souerayn ladie,
O imperiall princesse / and kynges doughter dere,
Heele our disease by thy instant prayer!

132

‘O blessed virgin and holy moiniall,
O glorious abbasse / and worthy gouernour,
O pereles parens and ministre spirituall,
O celestiall gemme resplendent with honour,
Praye for vs wretches vnto our sauiour,
That we may opteyne here mercy and grace,
Cured of our sekenes / after to se thy face.

163

133

‘Thy name transcendeth this realme, swete lady,
Thy myracles magnifien thy great goodnes,
Thy worshyp encreaseth with honour and glorie
Daily euermore through thy great holynes:
Shewe nowe thy power / cure vs from sekenes,
That by the we may prayse the kyng of blis,
As thou hast cured many one or this.’

134

By these meke prayers / in hert full penitent,
And many other orisons sayd priuatly
Callyng on this virgin with deuocion feruent,
For certayne / or they passed the monastery
They were all cured from peyne and malady.
In wytnes wherof / and triall as it was
Theyr staues remayned longe after in the place.

Howe a yonge man thries hanged vnlaufully, was thries delyuered by saynt Werburge from dethe to lyfe and lyberte. Cap. xii.

135

Almyghty god gaue in commaundement
By moises lawe / to his people echone,
No innocent to slee by wrongfull iudgement
Nor causeles to punysshe by greuous oppression,
Also to beware of lyght suspection.
Wherof a myracle we shall nowe expresse,
Done in Chestre cite by Werburge theyr patronesse.

136

A certayne yonge man dwelled in the cite,
Honest in maners / and of good conuersacion,
Disposed to vertue and humilite:
Was arrest and taken of a lyght suspicion
By the officers and rule[r]s of the sayd towne,
Gyltles accused most innocently,
Condemned and iudged to deth shamfully.

164

137

After sentence gyuen / ministres were all redy
Vpon the iudgement to do execucion:
He was fettred and brought to the gebbet by and by
And as a stronge thefe hanged ther-vpon.
His frendes and cosyns for hym made great mone—
Alas, what tonge myght expresse the wo
They made that tyme departynge hym fro?

138

And as this innocent hang in his payne,
He called to mynd the manyfolde goodnes,
The myracles of Werburge, shewed her, certayne,
Howe she had saued many in great distres:
So, whan he myght no wordes expresse,
In mynde he required her / and humblie dyd pray
From shamfull deth to saue hym that day.

139

Whan all the officers departed were thens
Supposynge the soule seperate from the body,
A white doue descended afore them in presence
And lyght vpon the gebbet immediatly;
The byrde with his byll brake the rope, truely,
The prisoner escaped that tyme from deth,
Shortly reuiuynge toke naturall breth.

140

Whiche thynge notified, so meruailous in syght,
The ministers returned / theyr labour in vayne:
Toke this innocent by power and myght,
Vpon the sayd gebbet hanged hym agayne.
Thus he was delyuered by myracle from payne:
The tortuous turmentours cessed their tyrranny,
Permytted the prisoner to go at liberte.

141

Whiche myracle knowen / his frendes and cosyns all
Returned agayne with glad mynde and chere.
The prisoner mette them, louyng god in speciall

165

And blessed Werburge in his best manere.
The deuout citeȝens approched them nere,
Went all to the shryne the virgin thankyng;
The belles were tolled for ioy of this thyng.

Howe at the maner-place of Vpton saint Werburge restrayned wylde horses from distruction of cornes put in by theyr ennemyes. Cap. xiii.

142

Also the thyrde season approched to Chestre cite
Many cruell ennemyes in the part of Wirall,
Purposyng to spoyle / and distroy all the countre,
The people and theyr frutes / theyr corne and catall.
The citeȝens, dredyng to be captyue and thrall,
Fortified the cite with men of armes bright,
Hauynge sure artillarie for to defende and fight.

143

The husbandes of the countrey about there dwellyng,
Agaynst the sayd ennemyes makyng sore prouysion
Brought their corne & cattell / their husolde remaynynge,
In assurance to be / to the parke of Vpton,
Saynt Werburge landes, from all distruction—
Whiche parke from Vpton was distaunt a myle space,
A prebende to a chanon of her mynstre and place.

144

These wycked ennemies fulfylled with malice,
Agaynst all conscience and ordre of charite,
In no-maner wise dredynge the hie iustice
Entred the sayd parke with mycle cruelte,
Pulled downe the paale at pleasure and liberte,
Put in theyr horses, made great distruction
Of cornes and catell, of a hie presumpcion.

145

Werburge, remembrynge theyr great wyckednes,
Theyr malice and myschief agaynst her possession,
By myracle shewed her power and goodnes,

166

Preseruynge her seruauntes from all vexacion
And punysshyng her ennemies with great affliction,
As she hath done many seasons or this
By mean to her spouse, our lorde kyng of blis.

146

Whan the corne-sheuys laye broken afore them playne,
The horses had no power any part to take:
For why? by myracle / theyr heedes all, in certayne,
Were vp holden in the ayre / theyr bodyes sore dyd quake,
They touched no frutes / wast they dyd none make.
Of the principall doers / some raged out of mynde,
Some smetyn with palsy / some lepre, halt and blynde.

147

Whiche punysshement knowen vnto all the host,
The rulers and captens without any delaye
Knyt agayne the sheuys / that none shulde be lost,
With tremblynge hartes humbly began to praye
This holy virgin to saue them that daye;
Vpon a condicion / escapynge from payne:
Endurynge theyr lyfe neuer to turne agayne.

148

From that tyme furth ther dare no nacion,
Consyderyng the power of this virgin pure,
Approchyng Chestre cite to make derogacion;
Denmarke, Goet, nor Galway, Scot, ye may be sure,
Cruell danes nor walshemen dare nat procure.
Wherfore the citeȝens haue cause to loue the place
And thanke this virgin for her helpe and grace.

Howe a chanon of Chestre hauyng his leg and thie broken, was restaured to helth by saynt Werburge, hys patronesse. Cap. xiiii.

149

Within Chestre-mynstre, that holy place,
Dwelled a chanon nominate Vlminus,
Sad of disposicion by syngular grace,

167

Humble and pacient / discrete and vertuous,
Liberall and honest / gentyll and piteous;
And for a pastyme this was his pleasure,
To hunt and to hauke to confort nature.

150

And as this chanon rode for his solace
On huntyng with other honest company,
By fortune vnfrendly— / the more pite was,
Both horse and man fell to grounde sodendly,
In perill of theyr lyues standynge in ieoperdye:
The horse downe lyenge oppressed the chanon,
Brake his leg a-sondre / with blod great effusion.

151

Whan by his company the chanon was vp take,
He fell in a swowne for anguisshe, wo and payne,
All wordly riches redy to forsake
For one hour of quietnes to be had agayne;
Vnto his mancion they brought hym, certayne,
Where he continued in mycle wo and langour,
Abydyng allonly the mercy of our sauiour.

152

Counnyng surgeans were sought vpon euery syde,
To cure this gentylman from penalite;
But none of them / by wysdome coude prouyde
Clerely to heele hym / and do hym remedye.
Thus he remediles / in extreme ieopardye
Prayed to saynt Werburge, his patronesse,
For helth and remedye / of her great goodnesse.

153

Whose humble prayer with inward loue feruent
Was graciously harde of her charite:
For right soone after appered euident
A byrde like a doue, most clere for to see,
Into the chanons chambre the byrde flow, trule,
Among the company / and anone, doubtles,
The place was repleit with odour and swetnes.

168

154

Soone after the company euerichone
Were sadly on slepe, a thynge meruaylous,
And afore the pacient by playne vision
Saynt Werburge appered in his syght full glorious,
Sayeng: ‘my chaplayne and seruaunt vertuous,
Why be ye absent from diuine seruice,
Nat doynge your dutie accordyng to iustice?’

155

‘Ma dame,’ he sayd / ‘and swete president,
It is well knowen to all the cite
Of my mysfortune and harmes euydent,
Howe my horse almost had oppressed me.
Wherfore an impotent I endure mysere;
It is no feyned cause / that I do expresse.
I beseke you of helpe nowe, swete maistres.’

156

Saynt Werburge, euer piteous and merciable
Vpon her seruantes in great distresse,
Conforted her chaplayne with wordes delectable,
Proued in effect by her excellent goodnes
To his syght and felynge, as he dyd expresse:
She touched the foote / that sore and broken was,
Cured it holly from payne by singular grace.

157

Whan she had cured thus this impotent,
Anone she departed out of his syght.
The chanon gaue honour to god omnipotent
And to this virgin and lady bryght
Of this gostly vision, comfort and lyght;
All peyne was past, sekenes, vexacion,
Helth was come, by playne probacion.

158

The chanon rose vp the same mydnyght
And went to mattens, as custome was.
His bretherne were glad with all theyr myght,

169

Praysed our lorde of his singular grace
And Werburge, patrones of the sayd place;
Also with honour, reuerence and humilite
The bretherne sange te deum solemle.

A brefe rehersall of certayne kynges / and how kyng Edgare came to Chestre. Also howe Leofrice, Erle of Chestre, repared diuers churches. Cap xv.

159

After the decesse of kynge Edwarde seniour
Ethelstan his sonne was coronate at London
Kyng of this lande / regnyng in honour
With power, regalite by true succession;
Valeant in chiualry and actes euerychone,
Subdued danes / scottes / norwayes / britons all,
Opteyned triumphe / and dignite imperiall.

160

The fourth yere of his reigne / and the yere of grace
viii. hundreth .ii. and seuenty by full computacion
Guy erle of Warwike by fortune slayne hase
Colbrond the gyaunt / floure of danes nacion.
The sayd kyng Ethelstan by power and renowne
Thries subdued danes / and slewe the kyng of Irelande,
Nominat prince Anlaff / as we vnderstande.

161

This noble Ethelstan was good and gracious
To all-holy churche / namely to religion,
Ryghtfull in iudgement / liberall and piteous
To his true subiectes through his dominion;
To mynstres and holy places had great affection,
Confirmed theyr foundacions with libertes clere,
Whose noble actes be touched a lytell here:

170

162

After Ethelstan regned Edmunde, his brothur,
Fyue yeres in honour / hauyng great victory.
Princis Elred and Edwyn succided eytherothur,
In great busines with scottes and danes, truly.
Next whom meke Edgare / sayth the history,
xvi. yere of age / coronate at Kyngston,
With peace and quietnes first ruled this region.

163

In whose natiuite the blessed Dunstan
Herde angels singe with mycle melody:
‘Peace is nowe come to Englande, certan,
Quietnes / and rest / honour / and victory.’
Of cornes and frutes that tyme was plentie;
Danes / norwaies / scottes / britons in euery place
Submytted them-selfe to the kynges grace.

164

Science encreased, true loue and amite,
Vertue was exalted in all this region;
Monasteries were edified of his benignite,
Endowed with riches / and riall possession:
xl. religious places by famous opinion
Were newly buylded by the sayd noble kyng,
In sondry places of this realme standyng.

165

Secular prestes expulsed sothely were
From diuers monasteries with great discrecion,
Religious persones, repleit with vertue clere,
Entred their places cause of deuocion;
Charite was feruent and holy religion;
The lyues of sayntes were soth in eche place,
And written in legendes for our comfort and grace.

166

Many shyps were made vpon the kynges cost
To serche by the se all his lande about,
That no alian entre in no-maner cost,

171

By policie and manhod to holde all his ennemies out.
Danes / norwaies / scottes durst nat ones loke out—
Suche drede all nacions had ensuynge the tyme
That kyng Edgare regned by prouidence diuine.

167

In progresse he passed ones in the yere
Eche quarter of the realme with his company,
To se that his subiectes well ordred were
And the lawe obserued / iustice with mercy.
Than was none oppression, wronges nor iniury,
Debate, malice, rancour myght nat be founde;
True loue and charite was in all the londe.

168

Kynge Edgare approched the cite of legions,
Nowe called Chestre / specified afore;
Where .viii. kynges mette of diuers nacions,
Redy to gyue Edgare reuerence and honour,
Legiance and fidelite depely sworne full sore
At the same cite: after to be obedient,
Promyt at his callyng to come to his parliament.

169

From the Castell he went to the water of Dee
By a priue posturne through walles of the towne;
The kyng toke his barge with mycle rialte,
Rowyng vpwarde to the churche of saynt Iohn̄;
The forsayd .viii. kynges with hym went alone:
Kynge Edgare kept the storne / as most principall,
Eche prince had an ore to labour with-all.

170

Whan the kynge had done his pylgrimage
And to the holy roode made oblacion,
They entred agayne into the sayd barge,
Passynge to his place with great renowne.
Than Edgare spake in praysyng of the crowne:
‘All my successours may glad and ioyfull be
To haue suche homage, honour and dignite.’

172

171

Also it is to be had in memory
That this sayd Edgare and his princis all
Came with great reuerence vnto the monastery,
To worshyp saynt Werburge with mynde liberall;
Where he gaue fredoms and priuileges speciall,
With singular possessions of his charite,
Confirmynge the olde grauntes by hye auctorite.

172

This Edgare was nominate in cronicles expresse
‘The floure of Englande’ / regnyng as emperour,
Lyke-wise as Romulus to romains was of prowes,
Cyrus to the persis / to the grekes their conquerour,
Great Charles to frenchemen / to troians Hectour;
Famous in victorye, preignant in wysdome,
Vertuous and pacient / feruent in deuocion.

173

Also from the byrthe of our blessed sauiour
A thousande fyfty yere / and seuyn expresse,
In the tyme of saynt Edwarde kyng and confessour,
As William Maluesbury beareth wytnes,
Than Leofricus, a man of great mekenes,
Was erle of Chestre and duke of merciens,
Son to duke Leoffwin by liniall discence.

174

This noble Leofric, sayth policronicon,
Of his deuocion and beningne grace,
Namely by the counsell and vertues mocion

173

Of his lady Godith, countes whiche was,
Reedified churches decayed in many a place,
Also he founded the monastery of Leonence,
By the towne of Herforde / and the place of Wenlecence.

175

This erle repareled a noble olde monastery,
Euesham vpon Auen / gaue them great riches;
Also founder was of the abbay in couentre,
Made the cite free, for loue of his countesse:
At the cite of Chestre of his great goodnes
He repared the College-churche of saynt Iohn̄,
Endowed it with riches and enormentes many on.

176

This erle of Chestre, the sayd Leofricus,
Of his charite / and feruent deuocion
To the honour of god / reedified full gracious
The mynstre of Werburge within the sayd towne,
Gaue vnto it riches and singular possession,
Endowed the sayd place with fredoms and liberte
And speciall priuileges, confirmed by auctorite.

177

So the sayd place encreased in honour,
In great possessions / fredoms / and richesse;
With singular deuocion vnto our sauiour
And prayse to saynt Werburge, theyr patronesse,
The chanons obserued vertue and clennes,
Daily augmentyng by diuine sufferaunce
Vnto the comyng to this lande of normans.

Of the comyng of Willyam conquerour to this lande, and howe Hug. Lupe, his syster sonne, was founder of Chestre monasterye. Cap. xvi.

178

The yere of grace .M. sixe and thre-scour,
The .xiii. day of the moneth of october
The duke of Normandy / William conquerour,

174

Pight a stronge batell / displayed his baner,
Of normans and frenchemen hauynge great power,
Subdued kyng Harolde / opteyned all the londe,
Was coronate at London / made saxons all bonde.

179

For diuerse great causes he came to this countre:
First for deth of Alured, his nere kynsman;
The proscripcion of Robert archebisshop of Canterbury;
The periury of Harolde agaynst conscience playne;
The promys of saynt Edwarde made to hym, certayne,
That the sayd Wylliam shulde enioye the crowne,
If the kyng departed without succession.

180

A generall counsell was celebrate at London,
That all bysshops sees by helpe of the conquerour
From borowes shulde be translate to a famous towne
Within their diocese / to the greatter honour.
Ryght so they all were / sayth myn auctour;
Also the see of Lichefelde was translate to Chester,
By helpe and sufferaunce of the bysshop Peter.

181

With Wylliam conquerour came to this region
A noble worthy prynce nominate Hug. Lupus,
The dukes son of Britayne / and his syster son;
Flourynge in chiualry, bolde and victorious,
Manfull in batell / liberall and vertuous:
To whom the kyng gaue for his enheritaunce
The cōunte of Chesshire, with the appurtinaunce,

182

By victorie to wynne the forsayd Erledom,
Frely to gouerne it as by conquest right;
Made a sure chartre to hym and his succession,
By the swerde of dignite to holde it with myght,
And to calle a parlement to his wyll and syght,
To ordre his subiectes after true iustice
As a prepotent prince / and statutes to deuise.

175

183

This valeant knyght with a myghty host
Descended from London to wynne the sayd counte.
But the lordes of Chesshire rose from euery cost,
Agaynst hym made batell and had the victorie;
Thries they preuayled agaynst the erle, trulie.
After he optayned to his fame and honour
The erledome of Chestre, entred as a conquerour.

184

He gaue to his knyghtes after theyr desire
Lordshyps and franches / and great possession,
With riche mariages, within all Chesshire,
Exalted his seruauntes to hye promocion;
Vnto holy churche had special deuocion,
Maynte[in]ynge iustice / commendyng vertue,
Deposyng vice by the helpe of Iesu.

185

After the departure of his vncle, the conquerour,
Whan William Ruff. toke the regalite,
Than blessed Anselme, the famous doctour,
Dyd viset this lande oft-tymes of his charite,
Glad to refourme / and brynge vnto vnite
Where was debate / and mycle diuision,
By diligent labour / and good exhortacion.

186

This forsayd erle of his benignite,
Interiously louynge holy religion,
Repleit with vertue and feruent charite,
Sende for saynt Anselme vnto London,
To come to Chestre at his peticion
And there for to founde a religious place
In honour of Werburge by diuine grace.

187

Blessed Anselme at the erles supplicacion
Came vnto Chestre with gladde chere shortly:
Where he founded an abbaye of holy religion,

176

A pleasaunt place and a noble monasterye,
In worshyp of god / and saynt Werburge, sothely,
The yere of grace by full computacion
A thousande .iiii. score .xiii. yere alon.

188

All secular prestes / and chanons also,
Within the sayd place afore-tyme dwellyng
Were clerely dismyssed / and letten go;
Religious monkes, perfect in lyuynge,
Receyued were gladly their rule professynge.
Saynt Anselme ordeyned Richard of Beccense
To be their abbot with great preeminence.

189

Landes / rentes / libertes / and great possession,
Franches / fredoms / and priuileges riall
Were gyuen mekely to that foundacion,
Maners / borowes / townes / with the people thrall,
And many faire churches / chapels withall,
Wardes and mariages were gyuen that season
To god and saynt Werburge, cause of deuocion;

190

Kyng Wyllyam Ruff, son to the conquerour,
Confirmed the foundacion / with great auctorite,
Endowed the monastery with mycle honour
Of fredoms / franches / also liberte.
The place that tyme was made as fre
As the sayd erle was in his castell,
Or as hert myght thynke / or tonge myght tell.

191

Saynt Anselme departed thence vnto London
And was made archebisshop of Canturbury.
To the place he gaue a sure confirmacion,
With singular priuileges to be had in memory;
Of whom it is written here folowyng, truly:
Hic vir dum vixit, extirpantes maledixit
Werburge iura presentia siue futura.

177

192

This noble prince gaue of his charite
Riall riche enormentes vnto the sayd place,
Coopes / crosses / Iewels of great rialte,
Chales / censures / vestures / and landes dyd purchace;
A librarie of bokes to rede and synge there was—
Of whiche riall iewels and bokes some remayne
Within the sayd monastery to this day, certayne.

193

The founder also buylded within the monasterie
Many myghty places / conuenient for religion,
Compased with stronge walles on the west partie
And on the other syde with Walles of the towne,
Closed at euery ende with a sure postron,
In south part the cimiterie inuironed rounde about,
For a sure defence ennemies to holde out.

194

The .ix. yere aftre this riall foundacion,
This noble founder the .xxvii. day of Iuly
Departed to-warde the heuenly mancion.
Next whom his son Richarde succeded, truly,
Than regnyng in honour the first kyng Henry.
Also the place had their fraunches and fredom
Afore the sayd cite a hundreth yere and one.

Howe saynt Werburge taught her monke and chaplayne to kepe paciens for his greatter merite and glorye to come. Cap. xvii.

195

After the translacion of Chestre monasterye
From secular chanons to monkes religious
By helpe of Anselme archebisshop of Canturburye,
Supportyng therto the founder Hug. Lupus,
As afore is specified full memorous,
A monke there dwelled of vertuous disposicion
Vnder obedience / nominate dan Symon.

178

196

This brother Simon, his tyme well vsyng,
Nowe in vertuous study / nowe in contemplacion,
Nowe in deuout prayer / nowe busely wryttynge,
Somtyme in solace / and honest recreacion,
Obserued deuoutly his holy religion,
Obedience / pacience / and wylfull pouerte,
Mekenes / meditacion / with pure chastite.

197

For whiche examples and signes of vertue
Diuers of his bretherne repleit with enuy
Were fully confederate, entendyng to subdue
This honest prest by malice and policy:
They layd to his charge open wronges and iniury,
They punysshed & oppressed hym with great affliction,
Dayly augmentyng by subtyll collusion.

198

Dan Symon, offendyng no brother at all,
Obserued pacience / euer callynge for grace,
Wepyng, lamentyng with syghes cordiall
His fortune vnfrendly, remediles / in that case;
Entended to depart to some other place,
Of a scrupulous conscience / seyng no redresse,
Was redy to procede plonged in heuynes.

199

Werburge appered to this monke in vision,
Bryghter than Phebus in his meridian spere:
‘My seruaunt,’ she sayd, callyng hym vpon,
‘Why be ye so sad / and heuy of chere?
Wheder entende ye? shewe the mater clere!’
‘Alas,’ he sayd, ‘ma dame and patronesse,
For sorowe I can nat my peynes expresse.

200

‘Diuers of my bretherne ben greued at me,
Vexyng me dayly with great tribulacion,
Causeles on my part deserued, trule,

179

In worde or en dede gyuyng none occasion.
I can nat be quiet amonge that congregacion;
Wherfore, swete lady, vnder your licence
I purpose to departe in sauynge my conscience.’

201

Saynt Werburge pacified his mynde and entent
With wordes of comfort and holy scripture,
Made hym be humble in hert and pacient,
‘Thy sufferaunce shalbe great ioye and pleasure,
And for thy pacience thou maist be sure
To haue rewarde in blis perpetuall
At thy departure from this lyfe mortall.’

202

Wherwith saynt Werburge departed sodeinl[y]
To the blys of heuyn euer-endurynge.
The monke was meke in hert and mery,
Obserued her doctrine this lyfe continuyng,
Gaue good example of perfect lyuynge
Vnto his bretherne / and at his departure
For his pacience passed to eternall pleasure.

Howe sondes rose vp within the salt see agaynst Hilburghee by saynt Werburge at the peticion of the constable of Chestre. Ca. xviii.

203

The seconde erle of Chestre after the conquest
Was erle Richard / son to Hug. Lupus:
Whiche Richarde entended all thyng to the best;
To visite saynt Winifride in hert desirous,
Vpon his iourney went / myn auctour sayth thus,
Deuoutly to holy-well in pylgrimage,
For his great merite and gostly aduantage.

204

Whan the wicked walshemen herd of his comyng
After a meke maner vnto that party,
They made insurrection, inwardly gladdyng,

180

Descended from the mountaynes most furiously,
Agaynst the erle raised a cruell company;
Bytwxt hym and Chestre lettynge the kyngis way,
Purposynge to slee or take hym for a praye.

205

The erle son perceyued theyr malicious entent:
In all hast possible sende to Chestre secretly,
To warne his constable by loue and commaundem[en]t,
Wyllyam the son of Nigell / to rayse a great army,
To mete hym at Basyngwerke right sone and spedely
For his deliueraunce from deth and captiuite
Of the wyld walshemen / without humanite.

206

The constable congregate in all goodly hast
A myghty stronge host / in theyr best arraye,
To-warde Hilburghee on iourney ridyng fast,
Trustyng vpon shippes all them to conuaye—
Whiche was a riall rode that tyme, nyght and daye.
And whan they theder came, shyppyng none there was
To carie all them ouer in conuenient space.

207

Alas, what hert may thynke / or tonge well expresse
The dolorous greuaunce / and great lamentacion
That the host made / for loue and tendernes,
Knowynge their great maister in suche persecucion?
Some wept and wayled without consolacion,
Some sighed and sobbed / some were in extasy,
Without perfect reason. / alas, what remedy?

208

Wyllyam the constable, most carefull man on lyue
Of his mysfortune, in suche extreme necessite
Called to hym a monke there dwellyng contemplatyue,
Required hym for counsayle and prayer for his charite.
The monke exhorted hym to knele vpon his kne,
Humblie to beseke Werburge, his patronesse,
For helpe and remedy in suche great distresse.

181

209

The constable content anone began to praye:
‘O blessed Werburge and virgin pure,
I beseke the mekely, helpe me this day,
That we may transcende this ryuer safe and sure,
To saue and defende my lorde from discomfiture;
And here I promytte to god and the alone
To offre to the a gyfte at my comyng-whome.’

210

Whiche prayer ended, with wepyng and langour,
Beholde and consydre well with your gostly ee
The infinite goodnes of our sauiour:
For like as to Moises deuided the redde see,
And the water of Iordan obeyed to Iosue,
Ryght so the depe riuer of Dee made diuision,
The sondes drye appered in syght of them echone.

211

The constable consyderynge / and all the company
This great myracle transcendyng nature,
Praysed and magnified our lorde god almyghty
And blessed Werburge, the virgin pure.
They went into wales vpon the sondes sure,
Deliuered their lorde from drede and enmite,
Brought hym in safe-garde agayne to Chestre cite.

212

The said Wyllyam constable came to the monasterye,
Thanked saynt Werburge with meke supplicacion,
Fulfylled his promes made in extremite:
Offred to the place the village of Neuton;
Afterwarde he founded the abbay of Norton.
And where the host passed / ouer betwix bondes,
To this day ben called ‘the constable sondes.’

182

Howe Matilde countesse of Chestre, counsellyng her husbande agaynst the monastery of Chestre, was drowned at Barflewe, with many other mo. Cap. xix.

213

After the decesse of Hug. Lupe prenominate
Richarde, his son, .vii. yeres of age,
Was elect Erle by the kyng, and creat;
With counsaile gouerned his landes and heritage.
At yeres of discrecion he toke in mariage
The lady Matild / nece to the first kynge Henry,
Doughter to erle Stephan, (sayth the history).

214

At his begynnyng he was a benefactour,
A founder to the place by landes and possession,
By franches and libertes / ayde / helpe / and succour,
Gyuen to the abbay / augmentyng the foundacion:
Proued by his actes of singular deuocion
Enduryng long tyme / tyll that his lady
By wycked counsaile moued hym the contrarye.

215

It is red in scripture howe quene Iesabell,
Ambicious of honour agaynst all ryghtousnes,
Peruerted her lorde Achas / kyng of Israell,
To sle Nabath for his vineyard, doubtles;
Also Athalia / the bible sheweth expresse,
Commaunded to slee the kynges children all,
That she myght regne sole princesse imperiall:

216

Ryght so this Matilde, clerely refusyng
The steppes of Sara / Rebecca / and Rachell
And other good matrons: but imitacion takyng
Of these wycked women Athali and Iesabell,
Peruerted her husbande by her subtyll counsell
To aske of the abbot the maner-place of Salton
With the appurtinaunce / by famous opinion.

183

217

Thabbot, by counsell of his bretherne all,
Denyed to graunt their propre possession,
The patrimony of Christ, and their landes seuerall
To the sayd erle Richarde and his succession,
Gyuen by his father at the first foundacion.
For whiche thyng the erle and Matilde, his lady,
Hated thabbot / the bretherne / and the monastery.

218

The erle and his countesse went to Normandy,
To viset their frendes and cosyns naturall;
So dyd the princis / their father kyng Henry,
With many estates of the blodde riall.
These princis fauored no saxon at all;
The erle conominat in malice and hate
Agaynst the monasterie / as a man endurate.

219

Satan sende forth his seruauntes in hast
To enfect the erles hert with venomous poison.
The bedyls of Belial attempted full fast
The erle and his countesse / to kepe theyr opinion;
Detractours, flaterers, cause of promocion,
Trustyng therby to opteyne fauour and grace
Excited their myndes agaynst the sayd place.

220

The erle sore attempted by his gostly ennemy,
By wycked people callyng hym vpon,
Namely by the counsell of Matilde, his lady,
Entended to alter and chaunge the foundacion
Of the sayd abbay to a nother religion,
Confirmed the same, sweryng most depely,
At his whom-comyng to Englande / from Normandy.

221

Thabbot and couent, knowyng this great perell
By speciall louers and frendes secretly,
Were pensyue and sorowfull (it was no meruell),

184

Their hertes plonged in wo and misery,
By naturall reason hauyng no remedy,
Consyderyng his malice encreased more and more
Agaynst the monastery / with wordes of rigour.

222

They had their hope, trust and confidence
In blessed Werburge, their patronesse:
With wepyng eies, clere in conscience
They called her vpon in all their distresse:
‘O glorious virgin, lady and swete maistres,
Metigate the malice by thy benignite
Of Richarde our lorde / mekely we praye the.

223

‘Suffre hym neuer to distroye thy place
By wycked consell, malice and enuy,
Founded and dedicate by heuenly grace
In honour of god / and the specially;
Protect / defende / and saue thy monastery,
Thy landes / thy libertes / and thy seruauntes all,
As thou afore-tyme hast done continuall.’

224

In meane tyme the erle entended spedely
From thens to depart / and retourne agayne,
To fulfyll his entent agaynst the monasterye,
By the subtyll mocion of his countesse, playne.
A ship was prepared / all thyng redy, certayne;
The prince of England / the erle and his lady
Toke shippyng at Barflewe, and all their comp[any].

225

Certaynly, they sayled but a lytell space
Whan agaynst them roose a contrarie wynde.
The mariners to gyde the ship had no grace,
The stormes so great, hiduous agaynst kynde;
On a rocke they ranne / no remedy myght fynde;
Incontinently the ship barst all in-sondre;
The erle and his feliship were turned all vndre.

185

226

No man ne childe scaped from deth that tyme,
But one pore seruaunt, whiche swamme to the londe.
Suche was theyr fortune by sufferaunce diuyne.
Many of theyr bodis were neuer fonde.
Thus was their power made thrall and bonde,
Theyr lyues were lost within a s[h]ort space
Whiche were cruell ennemyes vnto her place.

227

On saynt Katharins day at after mydnyght,
Whan matens were ended / and bretherne gon,
Some mournyng, waylyng for drede full ryght,
Some busie in prayer and contemplacion:
Werburge appered to the secristan alone,
Sayenge: ‘ye may be ioyfull in god and mery:
Erle Richarde is drowned, your mortall ennemy.’

228

The same glad tidyng shewed an honest woman
Tollyng at the churche-dore the sayd day and hour,
As she was commaunded by Werburge, in certan,
To thabbot and couent plonged in great langour.
(Whiche myracle herde) they pray[s]ed our sauiour
And blessed Werburge / with hert deuoutly,
Syngyng Te deum full solemply.

Howe a great fire, like to distroye all Chestre, by myracle ceased / whan the holy shryne was borne about the towne by the monkes. Cap. xx.

229

From the incarnacion of our sauiour
A thousand / a hundreth yere, .lxxx. also,
On sonday in mydlenton / the .viii. houre,
Whan euery paresshen theyr churche went to
As all christen people of dutie shulde do,
A fyre by infortune rose vp sodeinly,
All flamyng feruent or the people dyd espy.

186

230

This fearefull fire encreased more and more,
Piteously wastyng hous / chambre / and hall;
The citeȝens were redy their cite to succour,
Shewed all their diligence / and labour continuall,
Some cried for water / and some for hookes dyd call,
Some vsed other engins by crafte and policy,
Some pulled downe howses afore the fire, truly.

231

Other, that were impotent / mekely gan praye
Our blessed lorde / on them to haue pite;
Women and children cried ‘out and waile-a-way,’
Beholdyng the daunger and perill of the cite;
Prestes made hast diuine seruice to supple,
Redy for to succour their neyghbours in distres
(As charite required) and helpe their heuynes.

232

The fire contynued without any cessynge,
Feruently flamyng euer contynuall,
From place to place meruaylously rennyng,
As it were tynder consumyng toure and wall.
The citeȝens sadly laboured in vayne all;
By the policie of man was founde no remedy
To cesse the fire so feruent and myghty.

233

Alas, great heuynes it was to beholde
The cite of Troye all flamyng as fire;
More pite of Rome cite was manyfolde,
Feruently flagrant / empeiryng the empire:
As to the quantite, the cite of Chestire
Myght be assembled this tyme in like case
To the sayd citees, remedeles, alas!

234

Many riall places fell adowne that day,
Riche marchauntes houses brought to distruction,
Churches and chapels went to great decay;

187

That tyme was brent the more part of the towne;
And to this present day is a famous opinion
Howe a myghty churche, a mynstre of saynt Michaell,
That season was brent and to ruyne fell.

235

Whan the people sawe their power insufficient,
By diligent labour / wysdome and policye
To subdue the fire / but styll dyd augment:
To almyghty god they dyd call and crye
And to saynt Werburge, the gracious lady,
For helpe and succour in suche wretchednes,
Wepyng and waylyng for woo and heuynes.

236

Thabbot and couent of the sayd monasterie,
Religiously lyuyng in holy conuersacion,
Repleit with mekenes and feruent charite,
Toke the holy shryne in prayer and deuocion,
Syngyng the letanie bare it in procession,
Compasyng the fyre in euery strete and place,
Trustyng in Werburge for helpe, aide and grace.

237

Whan they had ended the holy letanye
From place to place procedyng in stacion,
Anone a stremyng sterre appered sodaynlye,
A white doue descended afore the congregacion
Approchyng as to helpe them / a signe of consolacion.
The people reioysed of that gostly syght
And praysed saynt Werburge with power and myght.

238

So by the merite of this blessed virgin
The fire began to cesse— / a myracle clere—
Nat passyng the place / where the holy shryne
Was borne by the bretherne / as playnly dyd appere.
The citeȝens dyd helpe in their best manere;
The feruent great fire extincted was in-dede
By grace aboue nature / in story we may rede.

188

239

The clergie, the burges / and the comons all,
Consyderyng the goodnes of this virgin bright,
With tendernes of hert and loue in speciall
Magnified and praysed our lorde god almyght
And blessed Werburge by day, also nyght,
Whiche hath preserued of her great charite
Chestre from distruction in extreme necessite.

240

Vnto her shryne the people all went,
The clergie before, in maner of procession,
Thankyng this virgin with loue feruent
For her mercy and grace shewed them vpon;
Deuoutly knelynge there made oblacion,
Sayeng full sadly / ‘we shall neuer able be
The place to recompence for this dede of charite.’

A breue rehersall of the myracles of saynt Werburge after her translacion to Chestre. Cap. xxi.

241

These fore-sayd myracles and signes celestiall,
By diuine sufferaunce shewed manifestly,
Magnifien this virgin and blessed moiniall
With mycle worshyp, honour and victory,
Playnly declaryng vnto your memory
What singular grace / worshyp / and excellence
Our sauiour shewed for his spouse openly,
As is rehersed at masse in her sequens.

242

To expresse all myracles written in the place
In a boke nominate the thrid passionarye,
It wolde require a longe tyme and space,
To the reders tedious (no meruayle sothly).
Wher[for]e we omytte to writte of them specially,
But touched in generall vnto your audience,

189

To reioyse and comfort your hertes inwardly,
As ye may considre in her sequens.

243

Certaynly, it is knowen by bokes expresse:
Sith that saynt Werburge came to Chestre cite,
By the power of god and myracle, doutles,
She hath defended the towne from ennemite,
From barbarike nacions full of crudelite,
Of whom we haue shewed with diligence,
Preseruyng her seruauntes / and the monastery,
As is declared in her true sequence.

244

Also of her goodnes preserued she hase
The sayd towne from fire in extreme necessite;
Many diuers tymes to their ioye and solace
Releuyng the citeȝens in wo and penalite.
For it is well knowen, by olde antiquite
Sith the holy shryne came to their presence,
It hath ben their comfort and gladnes, truly,
As playnly appereth in her sequens.

245

Also to blynde men she hath gyuen syght,
To dombe men speche right perfectly,
To deffe men their heryng pleasaunt and right,
And helth to sicke men repleit with debilite,
Delyuered prisoners from captiuite,
Passage to lame men / to mad men intelligence;
Suche myracles shewed this blessed lady,
As ye may vnderstande in her sequens.

246

Women with childe by her had good delyueraunce,
Virgins defended from shame and vilany;
Her seruauntes were cured from wofull greuaunce,
Marchantes and mariners delyuered from ieopardye;
Other were saued from hangyng shamfully;
A speciall comfort, succour and defence

190

To all carefull creatures sekyng for remedy,
By singular grace / as sayth the sequens.

247

No wofull person in payne and wretchednes,
Man, woman, childe / who-so-euer they be,
Comynge to the abbay with perfit mekenes,
Makyng supplicacion to this lady free,
But they departed ioyfull and merie
To theyr dwellyng-place by her beniuolence,
And for their lyuyng had all thyng necessarie,
As written is playnly in her sequens.

248

For whiche great myracles and signes continuall
This blessed Werburge, floure of humilite,
Of the people is called for grace supernall
‘Patrones of Chestre’ / protectrice of the countre.
Where next our sauiour and his mother Marie
She hath great honour, prayse and preeminence,
As most condigne to beare the principalite,
In witnes wherof recordeth her sequens.

249

This holy abbasse and lady imperiall
Hath ben president in Chestre monasterie,
Theyr trust / theyr treasure / and defence speciall
In mycle reuerence .vii. hundreth yere, trulie;
And so shall continue, by grace of god almyghty,
To the worldes ende in hie magnificence.
To whom be honour, worship and glorie
Euer to endure / as sayth her sequens.

A charitable mocion and a desyre to all the inhabytauntes within the countie palatine of Chestre for the monasterie. Cap. xxii.

250

O ye worthye nobles of the west partye,
Considre in your mynde with hye discrecion
The perfite goodnes of this swete ladye,

191

We mean saynt Werburge, nowe at this season,
Whiche hath ben your helpe and singular tuicion,
And so euer wylbe— / haue this in your mynde
Whan ye to her call with humble supplicacion:
Wherfore to the monasterye be neuer vnkynde.

251

Remembre / at the foundacion of the sayd place
your predecessours and fore-fathers redy were
To gyue for their soule-helth by singular grace
Parcell of their landes and possessions mere
To our sauiour and to saynt Werburge clere,
Redy to offre them with humble hert and mynde
In perfit oblacion, with Hug. Lupe their foundere:
Wherfore to the monasterie be neuer vnkynde.

252

Many helde their landes of the sayd monasterie
By tenure grand-seriante / and some by homage,
By tenure franke-almoigne / other by fealtie
With seruice de chiualere / and some by escuage,
Some by petit-seriant / and by tenure burgage,
As in their euidentes and grauntes they may fynde:
Tres maners de rentes / with tenure villenage:
Wherfore to the monasterie be neuer vnkynde.

253

The place hath speciall franches and liberte,
Hauynge certayne wardes of landes and mariage
Of diuers gentilmen within the sayd counte;
All theyr tenauntes and seruauntes haue fre passage
Within all chesshire without tolle and pillage—
Suche auncient fredoms in their dedes they fynde,
Gyuen by theyr founders for gostly auauntage:
Wherfore to the monasterie be neuer vnkynde.

254

The erle gaue the place many great fredoms
Within Chestre cite / whiche ben knowen of olde,
With singular priuileges and auncient customs,

192

Saynt Werburge faire / with profites manyfolde,
That no marchandise shulde be bought ne solde
Enduryng the faire-dayes (in writyng as we fynde)
But afore thabbay-gate / to haue and to holde:
Wherfore to the monasterie be neuer vnkynde.

255

Therfore, lordes, barons / ye rulers of the countre,
We you nowe exhorte in our sauiour,
Discretly considre with your gostlie eie
The myght of this mayden and chaste floure,
Shewed by myracles euery day and hour—
Whan she was required with true hert and mynde,
In all busines she hath ben their protectour:
Wherfore to the monasterie be neuer vnkynde.

256

Whan your forefathers haue ben in great perell,
In ieoperdie of lyfe on see and on londe,
Or like to be slayne by ennemies in batell,
Or taken by warre in prison fast bonde:
Vnto this virgin / as we vnderstonde,
Whan they called and cryed with contrite mynde,
They escaped all daunger / cam whom safe and sonde:
Wherfore to the monasterie be neuer vnkynde.

257

Marchauntes passynge with marchaundise,
From lande to lande truly entendyng,
If they were taken with cruell ennemyse
Orels were put in perill of perisshyng:
If they to this virgin deuoutly praying
Made supplicacion with humble hert and mynde,
Anone they opteyned theyr humble askyng:
Wherfore to the monasterie be neuer vnkynde.

258

If any of you [was] vexed with infirmite,
With sekenes incurable / or other vexacion,
As wronges, iniuries, and other maladie.

193

Vnto saynt Werburge makyng intercession
And to her place promysyng an oblacion
With contrite hert and penitent mynde,
They were soone cured from all affliction:
Wherfore to the monasterie be neuer vnkynde.

259

And you, honest matrons, remembre you all
The goodnes of this virgin full of grace:
Whan ye in trauelyng vpon her do call
Or haue any relique sende from the place,
ye fortune and spede well in short tyme and space;
And diuers maydens louyng a chaste mynde
From vilany ben saued by her purchase:
Wherfore to the monasterie be neuer vnkynde.

260

But eche contray / shire / and congregacion,
Some be disposed to vertues generall,
And some to the contrarie, proued by reason:
Folowyng their mynde and appetite sensuall
Haue shewed vnkyndnes to the place spirituall,
And haue ben sore punysshed / take this in mynde,
To all other folowynge and example speciall:
Wherfore to the monastery be neuer vnkynde.

261

There was neuer man of high nor lowe degree,
Lorde / baron / knyght / marchaunt / and burges,
Attemptyng to infringe their rightes and liberte,
Remaynyng in the same malice and wyckednes,
But if they repent shortly theyr busynes
Askyng absolucion to theyr conscience blynde,
Vengeance on them doth lyght, doutles:
Wherfore to the monastery be neuer vnkynd.

262

Diuers malefactours agayne good conscience
Attemptyng to take there seuerall possession
By subtell policy and wrong-feyned euidens,

194

By proued periury and fals collusion,
Whiche in theyr iniury and wronge mesprision
Without repentauns in theyr consciens blynde
Sodenly haue ben drowed a sharpe punycion:
Wherfore to the monastery be neuer vnkynde.

263

Other haue be glad to alienat the patronage
Of certayne churches by malice and enuy,
By a fals enquest for theyr owne auauntage,
Defraudyng the right of the holy monastery:
Suche euill doers remaynynge in theyr tyranny,
Without satisfaccion, in their consciens blynde,
Lyke wretches expired moste myserably:
Wherfore to the monastery be neuer vnkynde.

264

Other haue ben besy serching day and nyght
To infringe theyr fraunchis and fridome auncient
By fals recordes, oppugnant to ryght,
As hath ben proued by persones indifferent;
yet they haue procured and sought wronge iugement
Agaynst their libertes, in conscience blynde:
Sodayne and euyll deth folowed them consequent:
Wherfore to the monasterye be neuer vnkynde.

265

Some other haue be, parauenture on late,
Studious to disquiet the place, the company,
And diuers libertes haue alienate,
Also tolled their franchis fraudulently,
From the sayd place well knowen in memory;
Suche mysdoers we moue in conscience blynde
To mende their wronges, lest payne come sodeynly:
Wherfore to the monasterie be neuer vnkynde.

266

Suche malefactours considre nat discretly
Howe all suche landes, libertes and fredoms
Were gyuen to Christ and ben his patrimonye,

195

And nat allonly to religious persons;
For all suche fraunches, priuileges, possessions
Of charite were gyuen, of pure conscience and mynde
To god and saynt Werburge with great deuocions:
Wherfore to the monasterie be neuer vnkynde.

267

Nowe for to make a finall conclusion,
We well perceyue in auncient bokes olde,
All suche transgressours / holdyng their opinion,
Obstinate in malice, indurate and bolde,
Some haue ben slayne / some drowned in water colde,
Some shamfully hanged rebukyng their kynde,
Some wretchedly departed / some cruciat manyfolde:
Wherfore to the monasterie be neuer vnkynde.

A litell orison or prayer to the blessed virgine saynte Werburge by the translatour of this werke. Ca. xxiii.

268

O Blessed Werburge and virgin glorious,
Descended by auncetrie of blod victoriall,
Doughter to kynge Vulfere / and Ormenilde vertuous,
O sufferayne lady and famous moiniall:
With hert and true mynde on the I call,
Thou art my succour / my helpe in all distres:
Defende and saue me from peynes infernall
By thy meke prayer, swete patrones.

269

O rutilant gemme clerer than the cristall,
O redolent rose repleit with suauite,
Whiche for the loue of thy spouse eternall
Refused hast all vayne pleasures transetore,
Honours / riches / and secular dignite;
Nowe regnyng in heuyn as a quene, doutles,
Praye for thy seruaunt to the lorde of mercy,
Mekely I beseke the, swete patronesse.

196

270

O sufferayne lady full of singular vertue,
Myndyng most religion from thy infancy
Elect to the a spouse our sauiour Iesu,
Professed obedience at the house of Ely,
Where thou obserued the sensuals thre
By grace aboue nature, playn to expresse:
Opteyne me power to haue victory
Ageynst myn ennemyes, swete patrones.

271

O floure of virgins and comly creature,
Syngyng with angels in the heuenly toure,
Transcendyng the saphir and diamounde pure
In worship, praisyng, beaute and decur;
What tong can reherse thy ioy and honour,
Whiche is ineffable for man to expresse?
Beseke thy spouse, our blessyd sauiour,
To graunte me mercy, swete patrones.

272

For thy great vertu and hie discrecion
Chosen thou was a pyler here to be
Of diuers monasteryes, to encrease religion
By thy gostly doctryne and humilite;
Exsample thou gaue of perfit charite
Vnto thi subgettis as a kynde maistres:
Helpe me thy seruaunt of thy benignite
To please my maker, swete patrones.

273

No maruell it was thought thy subgettis all
Were vertuous and perfect in contemplacion,
Vnder suche a ruler, a hed and principall,
Whose gostly example and exortation
Were corespondent, accordyng in one—
Thy precept and deed were vnit with mekenes:
In this vale [of] misery be my protection,
I humble the require, swete patrones.

197

274

Glorious abbasse and floure of chastite,
Carboncle shenyng bothe day and nyght,
All this region by thy noble progenie
And by the is decorat vnder god almyght;
The presens of thy blessyd body right
Reioisith thy seruauntis in all distres,
Thou art our refuge and lanterne of light:
Succour thy seruauntes, swete patrones.

275

O pereles princes, lady imperiall,
O gemme of holynes and noble president,
Comfort to all creatures in paynes thrall,
Releuyng all secke, feble and impotent;
A myrrour of mekenes to euery pacient,
Whose myracles magnifien thy great goodnes:
Defende thy seruaunt[es] from greuous turment
By thy supplicacion, swete patronesse.

276

O noble sufferayne and singular protectrice
Of thy true subiectes by speciall grace,
In all necessite a sure mediatrice,
From greuous oppression preseruyng thy place,
A lanterne of lyght in eche wofull case
To illumine thy people plonged in heuynes
With great consolacion and gostly solace:
Nowe lyghten our conscience, swete patronesse.

277

Swete louely lady, mekely I the praye,
For thy great mekenes and perfect charite,
Make thou intercession both nyght and day
For thy true seruauntes vnto the trinite,
That we may opteyne here grace and mercy
And of our synne to haue forgyuenes,
Afterwarde to come to eternall glorie;
Helpe nowe and euer, swete patronesse.

198

A breue conclusion of this litell werke vnto the reders, by the translatour. Cap. xxiiii.

278

With tremblynge penne / and hand full of drede
In termes rude translate nowe haue we
The noble historye of saynt Werburge in-dede,
Besekyng all them for their good humanite
Whiche this litell proces shall beholde and se,
For to adde and minisshe and cause reformacion
Where nede requireth after your discrecion.

279

At her lyfe historiall example may take
Euery great estate / quene / duches / and lady,
To encreace in vertue / and synne to forsake,
To obserue mekenes and prayer deuoutly,
With pacience of hert / and almesdede, truly.
If thou be widowe / her lyfe well folowyng
Thou mayst be sure in blis to haue a wonnyng.

280

If thou be religious / wearyng blacke vesture,
Take good example at this holy abbasse;
Her lyfe wyll teche the how thou shult endure
In holy religion / opteynyng mycle grace
With mekenes / meditacion / mesure in eche place,
And howe thou shalt kepe thy sensuals thre
Consideryng in heuen thy rewarde to be.

281

If thou be a virgin, of hie or low degre,
Takyng imitacion of this virgin bright
Thou mayst well obserue the floure of chastite
And thy spouse shalbe the lorde most of myght;
On whom if thou attende redy day and nyght,
Thou shalt haue merite, as recordeth scripture,
With .v. wise virgins after thy departure.

199

282

The cause mouyng vs this werke to begyn,
It was to auoyde slouth and idelnes,
And most for the loue of this holy virgin,
Whiche is our sufferayn lady and patrones.
As for baudy balades full of wretchednes,
And wanton wylde gestis / we purpose none to make,
For drede of losyng tyme / clothed in vesture blake.

283

Go forth, litell boke / Iesu be thy spede
And saue the alway from mysreportyng,
Whiche art compiled, for no clerke in-dede,
But for marchaunt men / hauyng litell lernyng,
And that rude people therby may haue knowyng
Of this holy virgin / and redolent rose,
Whiche hath ben kept full longe tyme in close.

284

To all auncient poetes, litell boke, submytte the,
Whilom flouryng in eloquence facundious,
And to all other / whiche present nowe be,
Fyrst to maister Chaucer / and Ludgate sentencious,
Also to preignaunt Barkley / nowe beyng religious,
To inuentiue Skelton and poet laureate;
Praye them all of pardon both erly and late.

285

If there be any thynge within this litell boke
Pleasaunt to the audience / contentyng the mynde,
We praye all reders / whan they theron do loke,
To gyue thankes to god maker of mankynde,
Nat to the translatour ignoraunt and blynde;
For euery good dede / done in any cost
It cometh allonly of the holy gost.

286

Almyghty god, both one two and thre,
We desire the with humble supplicacion,
Saue holy churche of thy benignite,

200

And all ministres in holy religion;
Preserue the kyngis grace, the Peeris, the region,
Defende our monasterie and thy seruau[n]tes all,
And graunt vs by grace to come to blis eternall!

FINIS.