<P_163>

<heading>

AND BEGYNNETH THE LYFE OF SEYNTE EDMONDE THE CONFESSOURE
(CMEDMUND,163.3)

</heading>

Seynt Edmounde the confessoure , that lyethe at Pounteney in ffraunce ,
was bore in Ynglond in the towne of Abyngdon . (CMEDMUND,163.5)

Mabely the ryche was his moders name ; (CMEDMUND,163.6)

she was right holy , bothe wyfe and wydowe . (CMEDMUND,163.7)

And vpon Seynt Edmoundis daye the kyng the sayde Seynt <P_164> Edmond
was bore . (CMEDMUND,164.8)

And in his byrthe noo clothe was fowlyd by hym . (CMEDMUND,164.9)

And he was bore in the furst spryngyng of the daye , (CMEDMUND,164.10)

and al that daye tyl it was euyn he laye as he had ben dede .
(CMEDMUND,164.11)

And than the mydwyff wolde haue had hym buryed , (CMEDMUND,164.12)

but his moder sayde naye . (CMEDMUND,164.13)

And anone thurgh the myght of God he revyved (CMEDMUND,164.14)

and than he was bore to the churche to be cristenyd . (CMEDMUND,164.15)

And bycause he was bore on Seynt Edmondis daye the kyng he was namyd
Edmond . (CMEDMUND,164.16)

And as this chelde grewe in aige he encresyd gretely in vertu .
(CMEDMUND,164.17)

And than the moder sent the sayde Edmounde with his brother Robert to
scole . (CMEDMUND,164.18)

And she had ii doughters , Dame Mary and Dame Alys ; (CMEDMUND,164.19)

bothe theye were made nonnys at Catesby in Northaumptonshire by the
laboure of Seynt Edmond . (CMEDMUND,164.20)

And there moder gave theym yeftes to fast the ffryday ,
(CMEDMUND,164.21)

and so she drewe theym to good levyng by yeftes and fayre beheestes ;
(CMEDMUND,164.22)

and when thaye came to more aige it grevyd theym not .
(CMEDMUND,164.23)

The moder hirself weryd the hard heyre for oure Lordis loue
(CMEDMUND,164.24)

and lad hir lyff in grete penaunce . (CMEDMUND,164.25)

But in a tyme as Mabely his moder put oute wolle to spynne , she toke
hir spynners so moche for the libra that thaye myght not leue thereon ,
but complayned to Seynt Edmond hir sonne . (CMEDMUND,164.26)

And he toke the yerne (CMEDMUND,164.27)

and rekyd it in the colys , (CMEDMUND,164.28)

and the libra was sauyd that she payd for (CMEDMUND,164.29)

and the ouerplewse was brente . Wherefore she dyd neuer so after to hir
lyves ende . (CMEDMUND,164.30)

And than she sent hir ii sonnys , Edmond and Robert , to Paryce too
scole . (CMEDMUND,164.31)

And she toke theym mony for theyre costes wyth theym ,
(CMEDMUND,164.32)

and she delyueryd to theym ii harde hayres , made lyke shurtes ,
(CMEDMUND,164.33)

and she prayd theym for here loue to were theym onys or tweys in the
weke , (CMEDMUND,164.34)

and they shulde lake nothyng that nedid to theym . (CMEDMUND,164.35)

And then thay fulfylled theire moders desire , (CMEDMUND,164.36)

and in shorte tyme after thaye werid the heyre euery daye and euery
nyght . (CMEDMUND,164.37)

This was a blessyd moder that soo vertuosly brought fourth hir chyldren
. (CMEDMUND,164.38)

And then Seynt Edmond encresyd so gretely in vertu that every creature
joyed thereof and preysed God in his holy seruaunt Edmond .
(CMEDMUND,164.39)

<P_165>

And in a daye as his felowys and he wente to playe he left his
felowship (CMEDMUND,165.41)

and went allone into a medowe vnder an hedge saying his devocions .
(CMEDMUND,165.42)

And sodenly there appierid before hym a fayre chelde in whyte clothyng
(CMEDMUND,165.43)

and sayd : ' Hayle , felowe that goyst allone . ' (CMEDMUND,165.44)

And than Edmounde merveylid from whens the chylde come ;
(CMEDMUND,165.45)

and the chelde sayde : ' Edmond , knowyst not me ? ' (CMEDMUND,165.46)

He sayde : ' Naye ! ' (CMEDMUND,165.47)

And he sayde : ' I am thye felowe in scole , (CMEDMUND,165.48)

and in eche other place where that thu goyst I am alweye on thy ryght
syde ; (CMEDMUND,165.49)

and yet thu knowyst me not . (CMEDMUND,165.50)

But loke thu in my forehed (CMEDMUND,165.51)

and there thu shalte fynde my name wryte . ' (CMEDMUND,165.52)

<paren> And than Edmond lokyd in his forehed (CMEDMUND,165.53)

and se wryte therein Jesus nazarenus , rex Judeorum , fili Dei ,
miserere mei . </paren> (CMEDMUND,165.54)

And then the chelde saide : ' Drede the not , Edmond ,
(CMEDMUND,165.55)

for I am thy lorde , Jesu Cryste , (CMEDMUND,165.56)

and shall be thye defendoure whyle thue leuest . ' (CMEDMUND,165.57)

And than Edmond fylle downe mekely (CMEDMUND,165.58)

and thankyd our Lorde of his grete mercy and godenes .
(CMEDMUND,165.59)

And oure Lorde bade hym when he shall go to his bed and when he shall
aryse to blesse hym with the syngne of the crosse and saye the prayer
affore-wryten in mynde of hys passhyon , (CMEDMUND,165.60)

' and the deuyll shall haue no power ouer the ' . (CMEDMUND,165.61)

And anone the chylde vanysshyd awaye , (CMEDMUND,165.62)

and Seynt Edmond vsyd euer after that prayer and blessyng to his lyvys
ende , (CMEDMUND,165.63)

and suffryd euer grete penaunce for Goddis sake in weryng of the heyre
. (CMEDMUND,165.64)

And when he had contynued many yeris at Paryce at the scole , than he
came to Oxford . (CMEDMUND,165.65)

And he dyd neuer lechery (CMEDMUND,165.66)

nor consentyd yerto , (CMEDMUND,165.67)

and that was special grace of oure Lorde . (CMEDMUND,165.68)

And on a daye he came to an ymage of oure Lady (CMEDMUND,165.69)

and put a ryng vpon hir fyngur (CMEDMUND,165.70)

and he promysed hyr verely neuer to haue other wyff but hir whyles he
levyd . (CMEDMUND,165.71)

And he greete oure Lady withe these iiii wordis : ' Aue , Maria ,
gracia Plena ' , which was wryte in the ryng . (CMEDMUND,165.72)

Hys oste had a doughter that labouryd gretely Seynt Edmond to synne by
hir (CMEDMUND,165.73)

and she desyred long tyme to come to his chambir . (CMEDMUND,165.74)

And at the last this holye man grauntyd hir . (CMEDMUND,165.75)

And she was ryght gladde (CMEDMUND,165.76)

and spyed hir tyme (CMEDMUND,165.77)

and came <P_166> to his chambir (CMEDMUND,166.78)

and made hir redy to go to bed (CMEDMUND,166.79)

and stode nakyd before Seynt Edmond . (CMEDMUND,166.80)

And he toke a sherp rodde (CMEDMUND,166.81)

and layde vpon the mayde tyll the rede blode ranne downe fro hir body
in euery syde . (CMEDMUND,166.82)

And than he sayde to hyr : ' Thus thu shalt lerne to caste awaye thye
sowle for the fowle lustis of thye bodye . ' (CMEDMUND,166.83)

And ar he lefte of she had no lust to syn with hym (CMEDMUND,166.84)

for all hir fowle desyres were clene gonne . (CMEDMUND,166.85)

And after that she levyd a clene virgyn to hir lyves ende .
(CMEDMUND,166.86)

Than sone after Mabely his swete moder nyghed hir ende
(CMEDMUND,166.87)

and sente for Seynt Edmond hir sonne (CMEDMUND,166.88)

and yeaff hym hir blessyng and all hir chyldren . (CMEDMUND,166.89)

And than she prayed hym for Goddes loue and oure Ladys also that he
wolde se that hys susters were well guyded in the nonry of Catysby
affore-sayde . (CMEDMUND,166.90)

And so she passid to our Lorde full of vertues , (CMEDMUND,166.91)

and is buryed in the churche of Seynt Nycholas at Abyngdon in a tombe
of marbyll before the rode . (CMEDMUND,166.92)

And this scripture is wryte on hir tombe : (CMEDMUND,166.93)

' Hir lyeth Maboly , flowre of wedows . ' (CMEDMUND,166.94)

And than Seynt Edmonde made a chapell at Catysby , (CMEDMUND,166.95)

and after bothe his susters were buryed therein , (CMEDMUND,166.96)

for the one of theym was pryoras of the same nonry (CMEDMUND,166.97)

and dyd there many myraclys . (CMEDMUND,166.98)

And theye ben buryed before the high auter in the same nonry .
(CMEDMUND,166.99)

And than this holy man Seynt Edmond dwellyd at Oxford
(CMEDMUND,166.100)

and contynued there in ful holy leuyng (CMEDMUND,166.101)

for he weryd the hard heyre knett with knottes lyke a nett .
(CMEDMUND,166.102)

And the knottis stekyd faste to his flessh that oftyntymes it causid
his body to blede and to be full sore . (CMEDMUND,166.103)

And in this maner was bothe hys shurte and hys breche imade ,
(CMEDMUND,166.104)

and he bounde it faste with a corde to hys body that the heyre myght
cleve fast to his body in euery place . (CMEDMUND,166.105)

Hyt sate so strayte vpon hym that vnnethe he myght bowe his body , the
which was a ful grete penaunce to hym . (CMEDMUND,166.106)

And in a tyme whan his shurte of heyre was fowle and tobroke , he toke
it his man too brenne in a grete fyre . (CMEDMUND,166.107)

But he cowde not brenne hem in no wyse , (CMEDMUND,166.108)

but euer thaye laye hole and vnbrent in the fyre . (CMEDMUND,166.109)

Than his mann toke an hevy stone (CMEDMUND,166.110)

and bownde the shurte thereto (CMEDMUND,166.111)

and caste it in the water where was a depe ponde ; (CMEDMUND,166.112)

and there he left theym . (CMEDMUND,166.113)

But he tolde hys maister that thaye were brente . (CMEDMUND,166.114)

<P_167>

Seynt Edmond and his felowys on a daye came fro Lewkenowre to Abyngdon
(CMEDMUND,167.116)

and as thaye came into a grete valey thaye se many black fowlys lyke
crowys , among which there sate one that was all totoryn with the other
black crowys ; (CMEDMUND,167.117)

and thaye cast hym from one to another that it was grete pety to
beholde it . (CMEDMUND,167.118)

Therefore his felowys were nye madde for fere of that syght .
(CMEDMUND,167.119)

And then Seynt Edmond comfortyd hem (CMEDMUND,167.120)

and tolde theym whate it was . (CMEDMUND,167.121)

He saide that thaye beth feendis of helle that berith a mannys sowle
that dyed at the towne of Chalfegrove right nowe , (CMEDMUND,167.122)

and that sowle shall neuer come in the blysse of heuyn for his cursyd
leuyng . (CMEDMUND,167.123)

And than Seynt Edmond and his felowis wente to the towne of Chalfegrove
(CMEDMUND,167.124)

and fownde al thyng lyke as Seynt Edmond tolde theym .
(CMEDMUND,167.125)

And fro thens thaye wente too Abyngdon (CMEDMUND,167.126)

and theire Seynt Edmond wente into the churche (CMEDMUND,167.127)

and sayde his prayers lyke as he was wonte to doo , the which prayer
was O intemerata , the which he sayde euery daye in the wurship of Jesu
Criste , oure blessyd Lady , and of Seynt John the Euaungelyst .
(CMEDMUND,167.128)

And this prayer he vsyd to saye dayly or he dyd one wordely workys .
(CMEDMUND,167.129)

But in a tyme he forgate to saye this holy oryson (CMEDMUND,167.130)

and than Seynt John the Euaungelyst came to Seynt Edmond in a ful
gastfull maner (CMEDMUND,167.131)

and blamyd gretely Seynt Edmond . (CMEDMUND,167.132)

But after that to his lyfys ende he neuer forgate to saye that holy
prayer . (CMEDMUND,167.133)

And after this holy man encresyd so gretely in Oxforde in all the vii
sciences that all men had grete joye of hym . (CMEDMUND,167.134)

And in a nyght as he sate in his studye , hys awne moder Maboly
appierid vnto hym in a vysyon . (CMEDMUND,167.135)

And she sayde to hir sonne : ' Loke fro hense forewarde that thue
laboure in devynyte and in no nother science , (CMEDMUND,167.136)

for that is the wylle of God lyke as he hathe sente the worde by me . '
(CMEDMUND,167.137)

This saide she vanyshed awaye fro hym . (CMEDMUND,167.138)

And after that this holy mann labourid <P_168> alweye in devynyte to
fulfylle the wylle of oure Lorde Jesu Cryst . (CMEDMUND,168.139)

And he encresyd so mervelously in that scyence that al Oxford had grete
wondyr of hym for his grete connyng , (CMEDMUND,168.140)

for there was none lyke hym in all Oxford . (CMEDMUND,168.141)

ffor he had that grace when he radde in the scole of devynyte , he
profyted more to the herers in one weke than other mennys techyng dyd
in a moneth , (CMEDMUND,168.142)

for many one of his scolers thurgh his gracious techyng forsoke the
worlde (CMEDMUND,168.143)

and became relygious men . (CMEDMUND,168.144)

And in a daye as the holy man sate in the scole for to dispute of the
holy trynyte , he came long ar his scolers came , (CMEDMUND,168.145)

and he felle in a sclombryng as he sate on his chayre .
(CMEDMUND,168.146)

And ther came a white dove (CMEDMUND,168.147)

and brought hym the body of oure Lorde (CMEDMUND,168.148)

and he put hyt into his mouthe . (CMEDMUND,168.149)

And than the dove flye vpwarde from hym (CMEDMUND,168.150)

and heuyn openyd ayenst hym as Seynt Edmonde behelde hit .
(CMEDMUND,168.151)

And euer after he thought that the savoure of oure Lordis flessh was
euer in hys mowthe . (CMEDMUND,168.152)

And thereby he knewe full moche privyte of the pure state of Jesu
Cryste and of hys magestye in hevyn , (CMEDMUND,168.153)

for he had mervelouse connyng aboue al other doctors that were in
Oxforde (CMEDMUND,168.154)

for he expownyd so hye maters to theym that they thought he was more
lyke an angel than a man . (CMEDMUND,168.155)

And in euery lesson that this holy man taught he thought in oure Lordis
passhyon . (CMEDMUND,168.156)

And in a nyght he studyed so long on his bokys that sodenly he fylle
aslepe and forgate to blesse hym and thynke on the passhyon of oure
Lorde . (CMEDMUND,168.157)

And than the feende that had gret envy to hym laye so hevye on Seynt
Edmond that he had no power to blesse hym with the ryght honde ner with
the lyft honde . (CMEDMUND,168.158)

And than Seynt Edmond wyst not whate to doo , (CMEDMUND,168.159)

but at last thurgh the grace of oure Lorde he remembryd his blessyd
passhyon ; (CMEDMUND,168.160)

and then the feend had no power ouer Seynt Edmond , (CMEDMUND,168.161)

but fylle downe anone fro hym . (CMEDMUND,168.162)

And than Seynt Edmond commaundid hym by the vertue of oure Lordis
passhion that he shulde telle hym howe he shulde best defende hym that
he shulde haue no power ouer hym . (CMEDMUND,168.163)

And the feende aunsweryd to Seynt Edmond : ' That that thue haste sayde
and thought on the passhyon of oure Lorde Jesu Cryst ;
(CMEDMUND,168.164)

ffor whate mann or womann that hath hys mende on oure Lordis passhyon ,
I have no power ouer theym at no tyme . ' (CMEDMUND,168.165)

And euer after Seynt Edmond the holy mann had ful grete deuocyoun in
the passhyon of oure Lorde and in holy orysons (CMEDMUND,168.166)

for therein was all hys delyte bothe nyght and daye .
(CMEDMUND,168.167)

But when he ete , slepte and rode , all that tyme he thought was but in
ydelnes and hevy onto hym . (CMEDMUND,168.168)

But all <P_169> that he labourid in holy studye or bedis-byddyng or
almesdede-doyng , all suche thynges was moost plesaunce to hym ,
(CMEDMUND,169.169)

and he was neuer wery of suche werkys (CMEDMUND,169.170)

for he was all hole yeuyn to Goddys seruyce and to hys plesyng .
(CMEDMUND,169.171)

And also he was a notable prechoure (CMEDMUND,169.172)

and gretely his techyng edefyed in the people that all people had grete
devosyon to hyre his prechyng . (CMEDMUND,169.173)

In that tyme the pope sente his crosser to the bysshoppis of Ynglonde
that thaye shulde chese a wyse clerke that shulde proclayme the popys
entent thurgh this realme of Ynglond for to haue helpe and socoure
ayenste the Turke , Goddes enmy . (CMEDMUND,169.174)

And so by one assent theye chose Seynt Edmond to proclayme the popys
wylle . (CMEDMUND,169.175)

And soo he dyd that charge full welle and dyligently thurgh this londe
, (CMEDMUND,169.176)

and moche people he causyd to take the crosse and for to go into the
Holy Londe . (CMEDMUND,169.177)

And as a yong mann came with other to resseyue the crosse , a woman
that louyd hym lette hym of hys purpose (CMEDMUND,169.178)

and she drewe hym fast awaye fro thens with hir hondys .
(CMEDMUND,169.179)

And anone bothe hir hondis were styffe and harde as a borde
(CMEDMUND,169.180)

and also hir hondis wax all crokyd . (CMEDMUND,169.181)

And than she made grete sorowe (CMEDMUND,169.182)

and cryed God mercye ; (CMEDMUND,169.183)

and she prayed Seynt Edmond to praye for hir to oure Lorde .
(CMEDMUND,169.184)

And he sayde to hir : ' Woman , wylt thue take the crosse ? '
(CMEDMUND,169.185)

And she sayde : ' Yee , sir , full fayne . ' (CMEDMUND,169.186)

And than she resseyuid it (CMEDMUND,169.187)

and was made hole . (CMEDMUND,169.188)

And than she thankyd oure Lorde , Jesu Cryste , and his holy seruaunt ,
Seynt Edmond . (CMEDMUND,169.189)

And thurgh this grete myracle moche more people toke the crosse .
(CMEDMUND,169.190)

In a tyme as this holy man prechyd at Oxforde in the churcheyerthe of
Alhalwyn and moche people was there to hyre his holy prechyng . Sodenly
there waxed so derke weder that alle the people were sore agast ;
(CMEDMUND,169.191)

and moche people beganne to go awaye , the wynde and the weder was so
horryble . (CMEDMUND,169.192)

And than this holy man sayde to the people : ' Abyde ye stylle here
(CMEDMUND,169.193)

ffor the power of God is strenger than the feendis power ,
(CMEDMUND,169.194)

for thus he doyth for envye to distrouble Goddes worde . '
(CMEDMUND,169.195)

And than Seynte Edmond lyfte vppe his mynde to oure Lorde
(CMEDMUND,169.196)

and besought of mercy and grace . (CMEDMUND,169.197)

And when he had endid his oryson , the weder beganne to withdrawe bye
the other syde of the churche . (CMEDMUND,169.198)

And all the people that abode there stylle to hyre the prechyng had not
one drope <P_170> of rayne . (CMEDMUND,170.199)

But thaye that wente awaye fro the sermon were thurghwette with the
rayne , (CMEDMUND,170.200)

and there fylle so moche rayne in the hye strete that men myght neither
go ner ride therein . (CMEDMUND,170.201)

And than alle the people preysid God in his seruaunt for this grete
myracle . (CMEDMUND,170.202)

And at Wynchester another tyme , when he prechyd , was shewid there a
lyke myracle (CMEDMUND,170.203)

for there he chasyd awaye suche a derke wether by hys holy prayer .
(CMEDMUND,170.204)

Than for his holy levyng he was chose hye chanon at Salysbury
(CMEDMUND,170.205)

and there he was made rewler and tresourer . (CMEDMUND,170.206)

And there he levyd a full gode lyve , (CMEDMUND,170.207)

for all the mony that he myght gete he yeaff hyt in almes to pore
folkys for the loue of God that he had nothyng to leve by hymself .
(CMEDMUND,170.208)

And than he wente to thabbey of Stanley (CMEDMUND,170.209)

and soiournyd there tylle hys rentys came in , (CMEDMUND,170.210)

ffor Maister Stephyn Lexston that there was abbott was somtyme his
scoler in Oxford . (CMEDMUND,170.211)

He was so lytle an etyr that menn woundryd howe he levyd .
(CMEDMUND,170.212)

And yett he wolde ete no costelewe mete (CMEDMUND,170.213)

for full selde he ete any flessh . (CMEDMUND,170.214)

And fro Shroftyde tyll Ester he wolde ete no mete that suffryd the
dethe , (CMEDMUND,170.215)

not in Aduent he ete neuer but Lente-mete . (CMEDMUND,170.216)

And when the Archiebisshopp of Canterbury was dede , he was chose by
all the covent to be there bysshopp . (CMEDMUND,170.217)

And anone thaye sent there messyngers to hym to Salysbury ,
(CMEDMUND,170.218)

but he was then at Calne which was then one of hys prebendis .
(CMEDMUND,170.219)

There he was prevyly in hys chambir allone in his prayers ;
(CMEDMUND,170.220)

and one of his chapeleyns came into his chambyr (CMEDMUND,170.221)

and tolde hym that he was chose Archiebysshopp of Canterbury and that
messyngers were come to hym for the same cause . (CMEDMUND,170.222)

But Seynt Edmond was nothyng gladde of the tydynges .
(CMEDMUND,170.223)

And then the messyngers spake with Seynt Edmond (CMEDMUND,170.224)

and delyuerid to hym the letters for to rede theym . (CMEDMUND,170.225)

And he sayde : ' I thanke you of youre laboure and gode wylle ,
(CMEDMUND,170.226)

but I am nothyng gladde of these tydynges . (CMEDMUND,170.227)

But I wolle go to Salysbury and take councell of my felowys in this
mater . ' (CMEDMUND,170.228)

But when he came theder he was chose there in the chapyterhowse <P_171>
by all the feloushypp , (CMEDMUND,171.229)

but he denyed hytt in alle wyse to hys power . (CMEDMUND,171.230)

But the Bysshop of Salysbury with his brethern chargyd hym by the
vertue of obedyence that he shulde take it vpon hym .
(CMEDMUND,171.231)

And then he mekely toke it vpon hym fulle sore wepyng .
(CMEDMUND,171.232)

And so thaye had hym to the hye auter (CMEDMUND,171.233)

and there thaye beganne to syng ful devoutly Te Deum laudamus ful
merely . (CMEDMUND,171.234)

But euer this holy man wepte with full bytter tyres (CMEDMUND,171.235)

and sayde : ' Lorde , I beseche the to haue mercy on me , thyne
vnworthy servaunt , and yeffe me grace euer to guyde me to thy plesyng
and wourshypp ; (CMEDMUND,171.236)

and blessyd Lady , helpe me euer at my nede ; (CMEDMUND,171.237)

and the holy virgyn , Seynt John y=e= Euaungelyst , be my socoure and
helpe at my moost nede . ' (CMEDMUND,171.238)

And than he was brought fro Salysbury to Canterbury ,
(CMEDMUND,171.239)

and there he was stallyd Archiebysshopp . (CMEDMUND,171.240)

And than he rewlyd Holy Church full wysely and godely that every man
spake gode of hym , (CMEDMUND,171.241)

for he ledde his lyff in grete penaunce and almysdede .
(CMEDMUND,171.242)

And euer he holpe the poor in theyre grete nede . (CMEDMUND,171.243)

In a tyme a pore tenaunt of hys dyed (CMEDMUND,171.244)

and then his bayly fette the best beest that he had for his lordis
heryott . (CMEDMUND,171.245)

And than the poor wydowe that had lost hyr hosbande and hir best beste
came to this holy bysshopp (CMEDMUND,171.246)

and complayned to hym of hir grete pouertye . (CMEDMUND,171.247)

And she prayd hym for the loue of God that he wolde yeff hir ayen hyr
beest . (CMEDMUND,171.248)

Than seyde this gode bysshopp to the poor woman : ' Ye knowe welle that
the cheff lorde must haue the best beest . ' (CMEDMUND,171.249)

And sayde : ' Woman , yf Y leue y=e= my beest , wylte thue kepe hym
welle to my behofe tyll Y aske it ayen of the another tyme ? '
(CMEDMUND,171.250)

And she sayde to the bysshopp : ' Yee , sir , at all tymes to youre
pleasyng or else God defende , (CMEDMUND,171.251)

for I am fulle moche bownde vnto yowe that ye wolle to me , a poor
wrecche , shewe thys youre gode grace . ' (CMEDMUND,171.252)

And so he lete sende hir hyr best ayen ; (CMEDMUND,171.253)

and she kept hytt stylle to hir lyfys ende . (CMEDMUND,171.254)

And thys holy bysshopp was euer fulle mercyfulle to the poor .
(CMEDMUND,171.255)

<P_172>

And trewly he rewlyd and maynteyned the right of Holy Churche .
(CMEDMUND,172.257)

And therefore the devyll of helle had grete envy vnto hym for his holy
guydyng (CMEDMUND,172.258)

and sette debate betwene the kyng and hym , the which kyng was Kyng
Harry , (CMEDMUND,172.259)

y=t= was Kyng Johns sonne . (CMEDMUND,172.260)

And this kyng dyd to Seynt Edmond leke as hys vnkylle Herry dyd to
Seynt Thomas , (CMEDMUND,172.261)

for alwey he was sturdy ayenst Holy Churche . (CMEDMUND,172.262)

And yett Seynt Edmond prayed hym oftymes to be mercyfulle to the
Churche of God , and strenght hym in ther right for the loue of God and
of his blessid modyr , Mary . (CMEDMUND,172.263)

But for alle his godely entretyng the kyng toke aweye the lybertyes and
the fraunchyes thereof ; (CMEDMUND,172.264)

and he thretenyd gretely Seynt Edmonde . (CMEDMUND,172.265)

And whan he se it wolde no better be , than he spake sherpely to the
kyng (CMEDMUND,172.266)

and sayde : ' Though ye put me oute of youre londe , yette I maye go to
Paryce and dwelle there , as I haue do herebefore , tylle ye be better
dysposyd to Holy Churche . ' (CMEDMUND,172.267)

The kyng hyryng this was euer moor and more ayenst hym and Holy Churche
. (CMEDMUND,172.268)

Than Seynt Edmond cursyd all tho that troublyd Holy Churche by vnright
and shame . (CMEDMUND,172.269)

And when the kyng herde of this cursyng , he was gretely meovyd ayenst
Seynt Edmond . (CMEDMUND,172.270)

But alweye the holy man kepte the right of the Churche to hys power and
myght . (CMEDMUND,172.271)

And then Seynt Thomas appierid to hym (CMEDMUND,172.272)

and bade hym holde vppe the right of Holy Churche with alle hys myght
and rather for to suffre dethe than lese the fredome of the Churche ,
and to take y=t= in sample of hym . (CMEDMUND,172.273)

Than Seynt Edmond fylle on hys kne (CMEDMUND,172.274)

and wolde haue kyssed the fete of Seynt Thomas with weepyng teerys ,
(CMEDMUND,172.275)

but he denyed hytt . (CMEDMUND,172.276)

And then he kyssed the mouth of Seynt Thomas , (CMEDMUND,172.277)

and he vanyshyd awaye . (CMEDMUND,172.278)

And then Seynt Edmond was more stedefast to Holy Churche than euer he
was before (CMEDMUND,172.279)

and wolde rather dye than lese +t=e= right thereof . (CMEDMUND,172.280)

And he toke ensample by Seynt Thomas howe he wente ouer the se into
ffraunce . (CMEDMUND,172.281)

And yen Seynt Edmond went prevely ouer the see intoo ffraunce trustyng
in God that the kyng wolde amende his levyng and withdrawe his malyce
fro Holy Churche . (CMEDMUND,172.282)

Than Seynt Edmond <P_173> came to Pounteney (CMEDMUND,173.283)

and there he bode in fulle holy levyng , (CMEDMUND,173.284)

and euer he prayde for the gode state of the churche of Ynglond .
(CMEDMUND,173.285)

And vi yere he dwellid stille at Pownteney in fulle grete holynesse .
(CMEDMUND,173.286)

And than this holy mann waxyd seke and feble (CMEDMUND,173.287)

and was counselyd to remove thens to a towne xx myle thens that is
callyd Solye . (CMEDMUND,173.288)

And than the monkys of the abbey of Pounteney made grete sorowe for his
departyng thense , (CMEDMUND,173.289)

but he comfortyd theym in the beste wyse that he cowde
(CMEDMUND,173.290)

and promysed theym to be there ayen vpon Seynt Edmondis daye the kyng .
(CMEDMUND,173.291)

And as sone as he came to the towne of Soly he waxe right sore seke
(CMEDMUND,173.292)

and he knewe welle he sholde not long abyde in this worlde .
(CMEDMUND,173.293)

And he desired to resseyue the sacramentes of the churche ;
(CMEDMUND,173.294)

and so he did with fulle grete reuerence , (CMEDMUND,173.295)

and passyd to oure Lorde full of vertues in the yere of oure Lorde M=l=
iiC xlii . (CMEDMUND,173.296)

And fro the towne of Solye he was brought to Pounteney vpon Seynt
Edmondis daye the kyng . (CMEDMUND,173.297)

He myght not kepe his promyse to the monkis of Pounteney on lyve ,
(CMEDMUND,173.298)

and therefore he kepte hys promys dede , (CMEDMUND,173.299)

ffor he was brought thedir and resseyuid ryght devoutly and buryed with
grete solempnyte and put into a fulle worshipfulle shryne in the abbey
of Pounteney before the high auter , where oure Lorde shewith many a
grete myracle for his holy seruaunt Seynt Edmond . (CMEDMUND,173.300)