Miracles of Our Lady in Middle English Verse

Miracles of Our Lady in Middle English Verse
Author(s): Ruth Wilson Tryon

Source: PMLA, Vol. 38, No. 2 (Jun., 1923), pp. 308-388
Published by: Modern Language Association
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/457178 .
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XVI.
MIRACLES OF OUR LADY IN

MIDDLE ENGLISH VERSE
In the followingpages are presentedhithertounprinted

textsof the Miraclesof Our Lady in Middle EnglishVerse,
togetherwith some discussionof the groupsin whichthey
appear, with particularregardto theirrelationshipto the
principalLatin collectionsof Miraclesof the B. V. In conof the
sideringtheantecedentsand the existingrelationships
Middle Englishversions,one must take as a startingpoint
the resultsachievedby Mussafialand Ward2in theirmonumental studies of the Legends of the Virgin,which deal
especia'lywiththeLatin collections,fromwhichpresumably
orindirectly.Though
theEnglishtextsderive,eitherdirectly
the researchesof thesescholarshave been constantlydrawn
upon in discussingthe materialshere assembled,it has not
seemednecessaryin everycase to troublethereaderby citing
to theirworks,since the materialcontained
page references
in themis so systematically
arrangedthatit is easilyaccessible. In citingMSS. containingEnglishtextsoftheMiracles,
I have availed myselfof the MS descriptionscontainedin
Carleton Brown's Registerof MliddleEnglishReligiousand
Didactic Ver.;e.3
I.
THE SOUTH ENGLISH LEGENDARY GROUP
The earliest group of miraclesof our Lady in English

verseis the one whichappears in that greatcompilationof
Saints' Lives, the South English Legendary,of which the
1 Sitzutngsb.
Kaiserl. Akad. der Wiss., Wien (Phil.-Hist.Classe) Band
CXII. 917, CXV. 5, CXIX, Abhandl.9, CXXII, Abhandl.8.
2 Catalogueof Romances,
Dept. of M,SS. in theBrit.Mus., Vols. I and II
H. L. D. Ward; Vol. III, J. A. Herbert.
I Printedforthe BibliographicalSociety,Oxford,Part I, 1916,Part II,
1920.
308

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
309
two earliestMSS. are Laud 108 and Harley 2277.' In the

formeronly a singleMiracle of Our Lady is included-the
story of Theophilus-but the Harley MS insertsbetween
the Lives of St. Barnabas and St. Albanthefollowingseries
of legends of the Virgin: (1) Theophilus,(2) JewBoy, (3)
Devil in Service,(4) B. V. Comes to the Devil insteadofHis
Victim,(5) Saved by LearningTwo Words,(6) OxfordScholar
Led to Heaven, (7) Toledo. The same groupof legendsreappears in later MSS. of the South EnglishLegendaryas
follows: Laud Misc. 463, TrinityColl. Oxf.57, Camb. Univ.
Add. 3039, CorpusChristiColl. Camb. 143,Pepys 2344,and
Cotton Cleop. B ix, Cotton Jul. D ix ("Oxford Scholar"
omitted),Egerton2891 (throughthe loss of a leaf "Saved
by LearningTwo Words" is missing),B. M. Addit. 10301
("Jew Boy" omitted),TrinityColl. Camb. 605 ("Jew Boy"
and "Toledo" omitted).
Of theseseven miraclesthe "OxfordScholar"alone seems
indigenousto England and is the only one whichdoes not
findits prototypein the Continentalcollections. Since the
materialfor the Legendarywas drawnfrommonasteriesof
southernEngland, it was natural enough that a legend of
Oxfordshould have been inserted. Each of the othersix
legends appears again and again in the Latin collections.
Indeed, the storiesare found so frequentlyin the earlier
MSS. that the task of identifying
the particularsource of
the Harley version seems well-nighhopeless. The only
means of establishingconclusiv-ely
the Englishman'ssource
would be throughdiscoveringall six membersof the Harley
group in a singleLatin collection.
The onlycollectionbefore1300 (and therefore
earlyenough
4 In regardto thledate oftheseAMSS.and theirrelationto otherMISS. of
the SouthEniglishLegentdarv,
see Carl Horstmann,Altengl.Leg.Paderborn,
1875, pp. x-xiii;Sozth English Leg., E. E. T. S., Orig. Ser., 87 pp. x-xi.
the oldest formof th.e
HorstmannregardsMS. Laud 108 as representing
South EnglishiLegendary. Ihe study of this collectionby Beatrice Daw
Brown,stillunpublished,does not altogetherconfirrn
Horstmann'sopinion
in thismatter.

310
RUTH WILSON TRYON
to serve as a source) whichcontainsmorethan one or two

of the Harleymiraclesis the great13thcenturycompilation
of Saints' Lives by Jacobus Voragine. In the Legenda
Aurea one finds all six of the Harley legends, except
"Toledo."' Though the Harley stories present many
variationsfromthe textof the Legendain minordetails,the
resemblancein themainoutlineof thestoriesis closeenough
to suggestsomeconnection. For example,thevariousLatin
textsof the "Devil in Service"give two distinctversionsof
the legend: accordingto one, the masteris a pious man; in
the other, a wicked robber. Harley followsJacobus in
making him a robber. Again, the "Lily" miraclein the
forms,to say
Latin MSS. appears in at least fourdifferent
nothingof countlessmiinorvariations. Here Harley once
more followsJacobus,reproducingthe Legendaversion of
"Saved by LearningTwo Words,"in practicallyeverydetail.
ofoutlineappears,then,to indicate
The generalsimilarity
some relationshipbetween the Harley collectionand the
Legenda;but an examinationof the minorvariationsmakes
it unlikelythat the Legentda
was the immediatesourceused
by the Harley translator. The Englishtext of the legends
the narrathroughoutdisplaysmorevivid characterization;
tive is enlivenedby directquotation; the motivationand
dramatic unity of several of the storiesare considerably
improved. Such additions,whethertheybe originalor no,
would indicatean excellentdramaticinstincton the part of
the English translator. It is difficult,
then,to understand
how a writerwho seems so evidentlyintenton quickening
and enrichinghis narrativescould have passed over a
I The legendsappear in the LegendaAurea as follows:
Cap. LI De annuntiatione
2 Saved by LearningTwo Words
3 Devil in Service
Cap. CXIX. De assumptione
3 B. V. to Devil insteadof Victim
5 JewBoy
Cap. CXXXI De nativitate
9 Theophilus.

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
311
numberof detailsin the Legendawhichwould have served

his purpose admirably,yet which are not includedin the
Harley versions. In the "Devil in Service," for example,
details are omittedwhichwould have heightenedthe dramatic quality of the narrative. The suggestivepassage in
the Legenda,givingthe holy man's plea to the robberband
that he be allowed to speak to theirmasterin orderto tell
hima secretthingforhis profit,is reducedin Harleysimply
to "Pe frerescrideand bede"; and theholyman's impressive
exorcismof the devil, given by Jacobus, is suggestedin
Harley merelyby the casual explanation,"Pe devil wende
awei anon." Again,in thestoryof the Virgincomingto the
Devil insteadof his victim,Harleyomitsan excellenttouch
in the Legenda, where the wife on being commandedto
accompanyher husband trembleswithfear,but not daring
to disobeyhis injunction,commendsherselfto the Blessed
Virginand rides afterhim.
It seemshighlyimprobablethat a writerwiththe love of
picturesquedetail of whichthe Harley scribegives evidence
in other passages, could have deliberatelyomitted such
touchesas these,had he ever seen them. In spite of the
thatfiveof the Harleymiraclesoccuralso in
fact,therefore,
the LegendaAurea and that thereis a generalsimilarityin
the narratives,one hesitatesto regardthe Legendaas the
immediatesourceof the Englishtext.
Moreover,thereis anotherpossibilitywhichshouldnot be
overlooked. The LegendaAurea is itselfa compilationfrom
may
variousotherMSS. and one of thesesource-collections
quite possiblyhave furnishedmaterialfor the Harley MS.
also. Though the existenceof such a commonantecedentis
purelyhypotheticalat present,a bit ofevidencewhichpoints
in thisdirectionmay be foundin Mussafia'saccount6of the
LiberMarie, a Latin compilationby Gil de Zamora (f-.1300)
whichis preservedin Madrid MS. B.b. 150 (XIV cent.).
The Liber Marie containsa large numberof the Legenda
9, pp. 26-35.
op.cit.,BandCXIX, Abhandl.
tMussafia,

312
RUTH WILSON TRYON
Aurealegends,but the two worksare so nearlysynchronous

that it is doubtfulwhetherGil could have used the Legenda
Aureaas his source. This and otherevidenceleads Mussafia
to suggestthat Gil did not borrowfromJacobus,but that
theydrewfroma commonsource. The possibilitythat this
source may also have furnishedthe materialsused by the
Harley scribe is strengthened
by the fact that the Liber
Marie includesnot only the five Harley legendsgiven by
Jacobus,but also "Toledo," whichthe Legendaomits. It is
noteworthy,further,that the three legends, "Devil in
Service,""BlessedVirginComestotheDevil," and "Saved by
LearningTwo Words," which follow one anotherin the
Harley MS., are also placed consecutively(though in a
different
order)in the Liber Marie whereasin the Legenda
one is placed underCap. CXIX. and the othertwo under
Cap. LI. It seemsnot unreasonable,therefore,
to suppose
that the Harley legends may have been drawn fromthe
source used by Jacobusand Gil de Zamora,-a collection
givinga condensedversionof the miraclesof the Virginas
comparedwith the Legenda(thus accountingfor the omissions in Harley of various Legenda details), including
"Toledo," and probablyarrangedin an ordermorenearly
approximated
by theHarleyMS. and by Gil thanbyJacobus.
Besides thegroupofsevenmiracleswhichappearwithfair
regularityin the MSS. of the SouthEnglishLegendary,an
isolatedlegendoftheappearanceofourLady to a monkin a
vision-a story not elsewheretold in English verse-is
included in a singleMS. of the South English Legendary,
Egerton 2810 (XIV century). The occurrenceof this
miracle in this manuscriptis the more curious because
Egerton 2810 omits entirelythe normal group of seven
miracles. It mightbe suggestedthat this unique Legend
was deliberatelysubstitutedin Egertonforthe usual group,
but againstsuch an explanationis the fact that,insteadof
beinginsertedamongthe Saints' Lives in the usual place, it
standsbetweentheLifeofSt. Teilo and All Hallows. Though
thislegendcannot,therefore,
be regardedas belongingto the

OF OURLADY
MIRACLES
313
collection,yetinasmuchas it occurs
SouthEnglishLegendary
Legendaryit willbe convenientto
of
this
MSS.
in one of the
arrangeit amongour textsimmediatelyfollowingthe seven
miracleswhichproperlycomprisethiscollection.
1. THEOPHILUS(fol.58a).
[Text printed fromMS. Laud 108 by Horstmann,EETS.
Orig.Ser. 87, 288ff.]
2. THE
4.
8.
12.
16.
20.
JEw-Boy
(fol.60b).
A gyweschildin o tyme: whilebi olde dawe

Wypcristenechilderneofte pleide: as childernewollep
3utfawe
Hit bifulvponan esterdai: Pat pe childernehemgonne
drawe
To churcheas childernedop: as hitis pe dayes lawe
Wiphem3eodepe gyweschild: & po hitto churchecom
To eche pingpat he perise3: gode gomehit nom
Whanhis felawessete a knee: & crideon pe ymagean
he3
Kneo hit sat & eche pingdude: pat hit perise3
pe rode hit bihuldfaste: himwondredeperonynou3
To oureleuediymagemest: ouerehis hurtedrou3
His hurte3afto pulkeymage: hirelouyemesthe mi3te
Out ofhis Po3tne com heo no3t: afterpe furstesi3te
Po Pat fole 3eodeto afonge godes flesch& his blod
pe child3eodeforpwiphem & dude also god
Godes flesch& his blod hit nom: wip his felawespere
& forphit wende sippe hom: po hi hamwardwere
Erst hadde his fader & his moder: iso3t him
aboute
Glad hi werepo he com homr ersthi werein doute
pe fadereschtewharhe were & he toldeanon
What he hadde at churcheido: & hou he piderconm
Pe faderwas ne3 forwrappewod: he hettehis ouene
faste
he
Po was al berningeafure: pat childamiddehe caste

314
RUTH WILSON TRYON
& duttePe ouenesmoup: Pe moderas heo wod were

hirechild: makededulfulbere
24. jo heo se3 forbrenne
In Pe streteheo orn fasteaboute: & pitouslichecride
Pat folcheo toldehou hitwas: and hou hiredude betide
Pat folccom to Pan ouene: aboute bi eche weye
28. Pat childhi fondesitte: & amiddePe furepleye
Hi eschteof him what him wiste Pat Pe furne com
him ne3
Certeshe seide Pe fairewomman Pat ich at churche
ise3
& stod vp an he3bi Pe croi3: & Po ichwas ihousledalso
32. Me jo3te heo stod vpe Pe weued: & tolledeme Perto
To me sijie hiderheo cam: & herekerechief
heo nom
& heledeme Pat ne fur: ne hete ne3 me ne com
Me nas neuereso muriein no stede: as me hap heribeo
36. Ich bileoueon hire& on hiresone: Pat gyweshongeon
Pe treo
Pat folcnomPe childesfader: & jouene welhote tende
& caste Pe cherlamidde: & al to doustebrende
Pat child & his moder& meniojier: cristendomanon
nome
40. & bileouedeon god & on hismoder: & godemenbicome
Elles hit hadde schrewenibeo for miracleof Pulke
childe
Meni miraclesme mai 3uttille of oureleuedi suete &
milde
3. THE DEVIL IN SERVICE (fol.61,).
4.
A kni3tPerwas bi olde dawes lijer man ynou3

he
Strongrobbour& manquellere to alle wikkednessel
drou3
Bi a wei he hadde a castel: furframeche toune
Al Pat folcPat Perforjcome: sone he brou3teadoune
For his menhe hadde be eche side: to robbi& to reue
Alle Pulke Pat Perforjcome: sone hi brou3teto depe
So Pat tuei freresPerforth
come: sone hi wereynome
MS. godnissestruckout,wikkednes6e
hand.
inserted
abovein a different

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
315
8. Irobbed go beo of heregode forhi wereep to beo

ouercome
Pe frerescride & bede 3urne Pat hi robbi hem ne
scholde
Ae lede hemharmlesbiforeherelouerd: & late him do
whathe wolde
Pe lijer mengrantedenherebone: fastehi gonnenherm
holde
12. & ladde to herelouerdas prisoune: & al Pe cas him
tolde
He het as me rubbedeopere: Pdtme dude bi hemalso
Ac Pe freresso 3urnecride Pat mene scholdenonharm
hem
Pe frereshimbede 3urne Pat hi delyuredwere
16. & Pat hereonbiforehis men: mosteprechiPere
& Pat he & alle his men: ihurdePe prechingsone
Pe kni3tas god 3afPe grace: grantedehis bone
He het his men Pat hi scholdebeo: at his prechinge
echone
20. Po hi werealle adoun isete: & Pe frerealone
Ich bisiche3ouquay Pe frere:Pat 3e Pat sopeiseo
Whar3e beo alle clenlicheher: opereni hunnebeo
Po bilokedealle faste: & seide Pat hi werePerechon
24. Hai pardequau Pe frere:zut Perfaillepon
& lokede& fondedefauteof on: & wel widehimso3te
Hi fondenhim& wipstren3pe
himnome: & to prechinge
bro3te
Anonso he Pidercom: he quakedefordrede
28. Mid stren3pehi makedehimsitte: pat hi gonnepider
lede
Ich hote Pe belamiquap Pe frere: as ich Pe her iseo
In mi louerdesname of heuene Pat Pu siggewhat Pu
beo
to gan he quakie & schakemore & Po nonoverrednas
32. Quakingebiforeal Pat folc: he toldewhathe was
Ich am he seidePe deuelofhelle: & midal milore
Pis kni3tich haue iseruedher: fourtene3er& more

316
RUTH WILSON TRYON
His louerdich am & he is myn: & oureaiperoperesis2

Alle Pis fourtene3er ich habbe ifonded: him to astrangliiwis
Ac y ne mi3tewil-innehimcome: to do Pulkedede
For eche day vyfaue maries: to mariehe sede
In Pe honuranceof Pe vyfioyes Pat heo hadde of hire
sone
pis scholdebeo his furstedede eche day bi wone
Hadde he bileued eni day: ich him hadde astrangled
anon
Ac forhe hemseide y ne mi3te of himhabbe no woI1
pat was his mede ofhis aues: foral he hadde here
Ac werehe ded to hellehe scholde: no hingene scholde
him skere
Nou beau freres3e moweiseo: quay Pis holi frere
Wham 3e habbel iserued 3are: & ho hap ibeo 3oure
ifere
Pe deuel wendeawei anon: hi nustewharhe bicom
Pe kni3tlet himschryuesone: & repentancenom
& his menechone: Pat so liperewerebifore
& bicomealle gode men: Po hi hadde herefelaweforlore
Ne be a man no3tso sinful: herhe mai iseo
If he doJ oureleuedi eni seruise: vn3uldene schal hit
no3tbeo
& herbiek me mai iseo Pat be deuel ne may
No schindissedo a man Pat hiregreta day
On mariePat is so moche: Pi milce& Pynore
So muriehit is to telleof Pe: Pat 3utwe motemore
36.
40.
44.
48.
52.
56.
4.
THE
B. V.
COMES TO THE DEVIL

VICTIM
INSTEAD OF
His
(fol.61b).
A kni3twas whilea richeman Pat honuredemochemid

alle
Oureleuedi & alle hirefestes Pat in Pe 3erdo1 falle
A gretfestehe huld vpe his poer: euerechof hiredaye
withbylaterhand.
is- letters
apparently
tampered

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
317
4. & fondedeto honure: ouresueteleuedy: & paye

Sippe hit bifulas god hit wolde: Pxathis god himwas
bynome
Pat he ne mi3tene3tholdevp his honur: so porehe was
bicome
In gretemeseisehe ladde hislyf: & 3uthimgreuedemore
8. Pat he ne mi3tede as he dude er: & aschamedwas ful
sore
Whanhitcom to oureleuedidai: Pat he mostehisfeste
holde
He ne mi3teforschameamongmenbe: so lute of him
me tolde
O tymea3en oureleuediday: as scholdehis festebeo
12. To wede he wende& hudde him: Pat men ne scholde
himno3tiseo
deuel
com in a manesforme: to himwel sone Pere
pe
& axede such man as he was: whihe Peronso were
Nai certesquay Pis kni3t: mi manhodeis al forlore
16. For schame Pat ich was whileman: ich hude me her
Perfore
Riche man ich wole Pe makisone Pe deuel a3e sede
Of wordlescatel & mur3peynou3 ifPu dostbi mi rede
Leoue sirequa) Pis seli kni3t: sai whatich shal do
20. To bringeme out of )isse meseise: & ich wole don also
Bote go homquaJ Pislip erewi3t: & god ynou3Pu shalt
fynde
& com hiderto me pulkeday: & ne bilefno3tPi wyf
bihynde
Ac bringhire& we schole: of sumforewardspeke
24. pat pu schalteuererichebeo: bote Pu Pi foreward
breke
po was pisa god womman:& louedewel seintemarie
perfore
Po deuel hirewoldehabbe: forhe hadde perto
enuie
pe deuelwendeforthis wey: pe kni3thamwarddrou3
28. po he com homin eche hurne: he fondgod ynou3
3urnehe ponkedePe foulewi3t: pat 3afhimsuch cas
Him lange& himeschtesone: ac he nustewhathe was

318
RUTH WILSON
TRYON
pol hit was atte daye: Pat hi betuenehemnome

32. His wyfhe het greipihire pat heo wiphimcome
He noldenopinghiretelle whiderhe woldefare
Hi wandebope to-wardPe wode: po hi were)are
Bi a chapel of oureleuedi bi Pe weyhi come2ride
36. Pe leuedibad he mosteali3te: & a stoundeabide
To bidde hirebedes to oureleuedi: as heo was iwoned
ofte
po heo in to Pe chapelcomr he fuladoun aslepe softe
Oure leuedi suete & mylde ali3teframheueneto hire
pere
40. Hireformein echepoynte hiresilveas Pel hitwere
Wip pe kni3tas his owe wyf: heo wendewyphim& rod
pe kni3tbegan to chidefaste: Pat heo so longeabod
Sire3quap oureleuedi: we ne beopno3tlongeilet
44. Ous ne schal foroureabode: spede bote Pe bet
Ich hopiePin erande: schal beo wel ibet
Forp hi wendein to Pe wode: PerPe stedewas iset
po hi come towardPe stede Pe deuel was 3arebifore
48. Ac Po deueloureleuediise3 hi gan to gredesore
Fale trattourhe seideto Pe knijt: whibitrayestoume so
Shal ichhabbe Pisformigodhede: pat ich habbe Pe ido
Ne holdeichPe foreward
qua4pPe kni3t: wharof dostou
mene
52. pu lixtloude quay Pe deuel: pu bre3stforwardal clene
pu bringstwiJPe mi nieste fo: & scholdestwil pe pi
wyflede
Pis knijthouedeal witles: he nustehou he sede
Pu liperePingquaj oureleuedi: whiwoldestouso fawe
56. Pat he hadde his wyfibro3t: Pu wosthitnereno lawe
Ich wole Pe sigge)uab Pe schrewe: heo is me suy)e lop
For heo himserue}vso wet , he makepme alday wrop
And ifheo hauedehidericome: ichhirewoldeastrangli
anon
1MS. Pat f7 Po.
hi come hi conme
ride.
MS. Sin sirequay.
2 MS.

MIRACLES
319
OF OUR LADY
60. Ac Pu erteueremi worstefreond:amongalle mi fon

Pu hire hast nou bynomeme: Pu bringstme al to
grounde
Allas Pat pu euerewere: allas Pulkestounde
Ich hote Pe quay ourelouedi: ichhotePe hunnewende
64. Pat Pu no) Pis man ne come: neuereforto schende
& Pu sirekni3talso god: Pu me hast igreuiedsore
Beo repentantofPi trespas: ne do Pu so no more
Al Pat Pu hast ofrichesce:PurfPe deuelessonde
68. Del hit al forgodesloue: poueremenin pe londe
& Pu schalthabbe 3utgod ynou: to lede bi Pi lyf
In mi chapel PerPu wost: Pu schaltfyndePi wyfe
Mid Pis wordhe wendefork Pe kni3tne se) hireno
more
72. He vnderstodwel ho hit was he gan to sike sore
For Pe sinnePat he dude: PurfPe fundeslore
Oure leuedi he had for3euenisse:& cride hiremilce&
ore
Hamvvardhe wendein gretPo3t: his wyfslepingehe
fonde
76. In Pe chapelPerheo lay: slepingeal Pulkestounde
Slepingehe hadde al ise3e: of hemal hou hit was
Gretioye he makedenhembituene: as hi tolde of Pis
cas
Fairehi wendeto-gaderehomr & dude oureleuedibone
80. & Pat hi hadde PurfPe deuel pore menhi delde sone
& seruedeourelouedewel: Pat hemwas mylde& hende
& wordlesgod hadde ynou3 to herelyuesende
Of oureleuedifairemiracles we seop al day a grete
84. Pe3we habbe ofsummeitold 3utnole we no3tlete.
5. SAVED BY
LEARNING
Two
WORDS
(fol.63a).
A kni3tPerwas whilealonde: gretman midalle & wys

Atte leste he him bilo3te: pat Pe wordlewas of lute
pris
Al his nobleihe beleuede: & into Religiounwende
4. To seruigod & oureleuedi: his lyfto amende

320
8.
12.
16.
20.
24.
RUTH WILSON TRYON
His brelerenhimwolde teche his bedes: as ri3twas &

lawe
His paternoster& crede: & he hit woldelurnisawe
He ne mi3teneuerefornoping: vnderstonde
Perofmore
Bote aue mariePuse tuei word: hit himof po3tesore
Po hi ne mi3tehimtecheno more:middelou ne middeeye
He lete himiwor]e & lurniwel: Pulkewordestueye
Pis kni)t bope ni3t& dai *on oureleuedi gen crie
In god ententePuse tuo wordes: he seide aue marie
He ne coupe neuereoperbede: wiJgode willehe hem
sede
& wip Pulkebede wiJ7-oute
mo: his lyfhe gan lede
of
he
wende
out
wordle:
as we schullel,also
Pis
Po
Me buredehimfaireas ri3twas such man to do
Out of his burielsPerwax sone a lilie fair& he3
pe flouresso whitso eni mulc: as Pe contrayise)
In eche leefPerwas iwrite lettresof golde rede
Puse tuo wordesaue marie Pat he so ofte sede
Pat folcspac Perofwyde: & wondredemochePerfore
So Pat hi nomehemto rede: to lokewhatwerepe more
Hi dolue & fondePe lilie wex: ri3tout of his moupe
Gretioye hadde al bat folc: Pat penchesouncoube
& ise3ehou good hit was: oureleuedi to grete
3utwe wollekmoretelleofhire: forheo is god & suete.
6. OXFORD SCHOLAR
LED TO HEAVEN
(fol.63a).
[Printedfromthis MS. by Furnivall,Early Eng. Poems,

etc., 1862,pp. 40-42]
7.
TOLEDO
(fol.64a).
[Printed from this MS. by Furnivall, op. cit., pp. 42-43]
8.
THE
B. V.
APPEARS TO A MONK IN A VISION
MS. 2810,fol.99b).
In sumereligiounase we rede
in dede
Pis vsage is fulfyld
Pat aftercomplyneilk-a nyghte

(Egerton
MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
4. Tow sergessall be settewit lyghte

And alle Pe bretherwit-inPe where
Ilkane schallstandein stallessere
Be-foreourelady auteredy3te
8. Pidyrturnandealle Pairesi3te
Wele rewledein ordre& arayde
Alle tymePis antemPe couentsayd
Salue reginaPat Pai say
12. One Pe same wysvn-toPis day
Ate a tymePis antemals pai sange
Ffulledeuoutlyand fullelange
Wit voycesPat werefayre& clere
16. In louyngeof ourelady dere
A (?) religiusby Pat stode
A mane deuoutePat was and gode
He loued ourelady euereelyke
20. His lufewase swetturPen honyof byke
Pis monkePat I mencyonof make
SyngandPis antemforehiresake
Wit deuocyounIlke a nyghte
24. Sere tymeshe saw in gastlysy3te
Wene Pe couentsaid Pes wordestaw
Eya ergoaduocata
A luflylady descenddoune
28. Apone hireheued scho hade a croune
Pat schanewele bry3ter
Pen Pe leuyn
Pis moderof mercyals I neuen
By-forePe by auterin his si3te
32. Sche felldoun on hirkneesri3te
In presens1of hireson Pat stode
Pare in a tabernaclegode
And forealle Paireordyrprayed
36. And alle operPat sange ore sayde
Pis sweteantemloude ore stylle
Wit deuocyounhirevntylle
Pan saide hiresweteson to hiresone
MS. blurred.

321
322
RUTH WILSON TRYON
40. I grauntPe moderall Pi bone

And alle Pi prayersspecialy
No thingewilleI Pe deny
Fforealle Pat wyllehereni3te& day
44. OtherePis salue syngeore say
Wit deuocyonforePi sake
PaireaduoketeI Pe make
And Pairemediatriceto be
48. Pairehope Pairehelp alle hyngeson Pe
Pane wannePis sweteantemwas done
Pis ryallequene rase vp fullesone
And gat Pose monkeshireblessingbri3te
52. And vanistesoneoute of his si3te
)e monkPat saw Pis visyoun
Pan schewdhit wit deuocyoun
Till his breperPat wareblithe
56. Pai loued our lady monya sithe
And quate tymals Pai ere a way
Fra PaireSeruyseate Pai say
Pis antemof our lady free
60. Deuotly knelandon Paireknee
And Pan bigynnesPairehouresto haste
PereCestewsvse Pis manermaste
And Perfore
gode is als I gesse
64. To 3onge& old to mareand lesse
To maydenwidowman and wife
And alle Pat couetesheuenlylife
And to haf Pis lady hende
68. His aduokete& his frende
Say pis salue in hiresi3te
Wit gode myndof hert& mi3te
To go wit grePat he may ga
72. He graunthis gracehit may swa
Amen.
1. "Theophilus." This is one of the oldest and most
widespreadof the legendsof the Virgin;it appears in sixty

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
323
of the Latin and Frenchcollectionsdescribedby Ward and

Mussafia. The originalaccount was writtenin Greek (VI
cent.),and ascribedto Eutychianus;it was translatedinto
Latin (IX cent.) by Paul the Deacon of Naples; also by
GentianusHervetus,who gives a versionpurportingto be
fromSymeonMetaphrastes(X cent.), who had embodied
the narrativeof Eutychianusin his great collectionof the
Lives of the Saints. Hrotsvithaput the storyinto Latin
versein thetenthcentury. Dasent (Theophilus'inIcelandic,
Low Germanand otherTongues,Lqndon, 1845), publishes
versionsin Greek,Latin, French,Anglo-Norman,
Flemish,
Low-German,Icelandic, Swedish, and Anglo-Saxon; and
F. H. von derHagen (Gesammtabenteuer,
III. cxxii)mentions
an old Spanish versioinof the thirteenth
century.
The versionin theSouthEnglishi
is considerably
Legendary
expandedas comparedwiththat in the LegendaAurea,for
example. One of the distinctivefeaturesis the statement
that the Jew who had taken Theophilusto the Devil was
found out it} his treacheryand burned. This inspired
Theophiluswith forebodingsand moved him to call upon
Our Lady foraid. Whetherthis detail is originalwiththe
SouthEnglishLegendarystoryI cannotsay.
"Theophilus" is also introducedas a "Narratio" in the
Northern
HomilyCollection. In this the storyis given with
fullerdetail and the narrativetakes on a decidedlytheological tone. All of Theophilus' misdeedscome as a resultof
the Fiend's suggestions;his repentanceis due to the pityof
God, who revealsto him the pains of hell whichawait him.
K6lbing(Engl.Studien,I. 16-57) makesa carefulcomparison
of two formsof the Theophilustextin the Northern
Homily
Collection,one representedby the VernonMS. (fol. 203b)
and theotherby HarleyMS. 4196 (fol.113a). At firstglance,
the two textscorrespondveryclosely,allowingfordialectal
but a carefulcomparisonshowsomissions,first
differences;
in one MS. and thenin theother,whichseemto demonstrate
thatneitherversionis dependenton theother,but thatboth
derivefroma commonsource.

324
RUTH WILSON TRYON
2. "The Jew-Boy." This likewiseis one of the most

popularofthemiraclesofOurLady: it appearsin sixty-eight
MSS. listed by Ward and Mussafia. Eugen Wolter (Der
Judenknabe-Suchier's
Bibliotheca
NormannicaII.) notesthe
existenceof thirty-one
formsof themiracle,in Greek,Latin,
French,Spanish,German,Arabic,and Ethiopian.
The South English Legendaryversionfollowsthe Latin
text of the miraclefoundin Cotton MS. Cleop. C.X. The
Latin text gives a minuteaccount, some of the details of
whichthe Englishversionomits;but on the whole the two
agree closelyin orderand incident. The onlypoint of real
difference
is in the meansused by the Virginto preservethe
boy: in the Cottontextshe protectshimfromthe firewith
hersleeve (Alanica); in theEnglishversionwithherkerchief.
In MS. 200 of the Biblioteca Alessandriaat Rome (XIIXIII cent.) the Virginlikewiseshields the child with her
head-covering(see Wolter's Judenknabe,No. 11). More
commonlyshe uses her mantle,or simplyher garment.
The several MSS. of the South EnglishLegendarydiffer
slightlyin thislegend. Harleydoes not specifythe location
of the story,and is followedin thisby Laud Misc. 463 and
Trinity Oxf. 57; the other MSS.-all later than Harley
-have adopted the Latin tradition,and place the scene "in
Buturie." CottonJul. D. IX. introducestwo lines (apparently unique) in whichthe motherconsentsto the child's
death.
The "Jew Boy" appears also in the VernonCollection,in
a versionwhich-like most of the Vernonpieces-offersa
difficult
problemas to source. It is an elaborateaccount,
some of the detailsof whichmay certainlybe attributedto
theVernonpoet. For example,at thebeginningofthenarrative it is stated that the Christianslived in one half of the
city,and all the Jewsdwelton one street.' At the close is
1 There is an interesting
analogy betweenthe situationdescribedhere
and that depictedin the openinglines of the miracle,"The Boy Slain by
theJews,"as toldby Chaucer'sPrioress. The Vernon"JewBoy" narrative
begins:

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
325
introducedan up-to-datecourt scene: the mayor sits to

judge the case, twelvemen are swornin, and the verdictis
dulyreturned.Such moderntouches,one need scarcelyadd,
are notfoundin theLatin accounts.
As a whole,the Vernonseemsto representa re-editing
of
theSouthEnglishLegendary
story;noneoftheadditionaldetails connectit with any of the Latin versionsprintedby
Wolter,unlesspossiblytheVernonscribefounda suggestion
for his trial scene in the statementof Cotton Cleop. C.X.
that the people and thejudges assembled at the mother's
cries,and that the judges condemnedthe Jewfatherto be
burned. The trial scene in Vernon,at all events, could
scarcely have been suggestedby the text in the South
English Legendary:
childesfader& jouene
pat folcnomJPe
wel hote tende& caste the cherlamidde
Sum-tymefelin on citeflerknepwel, and ;e may hereAs Jeweswereni-wontto be
AmongPe cristenand wone I-fere:
Pe Cristenewonedenin On halue
Of P?atcite,as I Pe hete,
And alle Pe Jewesbi hem-selue
Werestihletto wonein a strete.
The Prioressopens her storywiththe words:
Ther was in Asye,in a greetcitee
Amongescristenefolk,a Jewrye,
Sustenedby a lordof that contree
For fouleusureand lucreof vileynye
Hatefulto Christand to his compaignye,
And thurghthe stretemen mygtherideor wende
For it was free,and open at eytherende.
Since thereis no reason to believe that Chaucer used the Vremontext
ofthe"Boy Slain by theJews,"forhis Tale (See CarletonBrown,Miracleof
Our Lady Told byChaucer'sPrioress,Pubs. ChaucerSoc. 2nd ser.,No. 45,
p. 112), it seemseven less probablethat he borrowedfroman entirelydifferentlegendin the same collection. The resemblanceis probablya mere
coincidence-but an interesting
one.

326
RUTH WILSON TRYON
It does not seem,however,that thisevidenceis sufficient

to
indicatethat the Vernonis takenfromCotton Cleop. The
Vernon account includes none of the elementsfromthe
Cotton MS. whichhave been omittedby Harley, and in
some cases shows a distinctanalogy to the Harley where
thatversiondiffers
fromCotton Cleop.2
A thirdEnglishversionof the Jew-Boyis foundin B.M.
Addit.MS. 39996. This account,thoughmuchbrieferthan
theVernon,showsan even more surprisingindependence
in
its variations. In all the otherMSS. it is the motherwho
rushesout and calls forhelp afterthe fatherhas comitted
his cruel deed; here, with a perversitycommon to this
scribe,thealarmis givenby a maidwholovesthechild. The
scribe closes his otherwisetraditionalaccount with the
followingstartling-and unexplained-statement:
Pai tokehis faderpen fulrad
And brenthempen anon
And alle Pe ojere everechone
Pat everwereat pat assent
In Pat oven werebitterlybrent.
3. "Devil in Service." This traditionof the uncanny

servantis a very old one. In old German,Danish, and
2 (a) The Cotton MIS simplystates that the boy was instructedin
letterswiththe Christianchildren. Cf. Harleyand Vernon:
Harley: "A gyweschildin o tymewhilebi olde dawe
Wit cristenechilderneoftepleideas childerne
wollep)ut fawe."
Vernon: "Pe Cristenechildernin a Crofte
I-mad themheddena wel feirplas.
Jer-Innea Jeweschildfulofte
Wi] hem to pleyenI-sonthe was."
(b) In the Cotton version,afterthe rescue the boy does not describe
his sensationswhilein the oven. Cf. Harleyand Vernon:
Harley "Me was neuereso muricin no stedeas me hap
Her ibeo."
Vernon: "Of alle Pe Mur]es pat I haue ha4
In al mylyf;it hider-to
Ne was I neuereof gleo so glad
As afturI was In Pe houeneI-dol"

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
327
Englishfolkstorieshe appearsas "BrotherRausch," a cook

in a monastery. The legend appears in two formsin the
Latin collections. Accordingto the versionin S. Germ.
No. 34, and also in Spec. Hist. (VII., 101) and Scala coeli,
fol.clxx.b, the Devil-servantgainsthe confidence
ofa pious
manwhomhe wishesto kill. The LegendaAurea(cap. LI. 3),
on the otherhand, makesthe masterfi wickedknight. The
South English Legendaryagrees with the Legenda Aurea.
fromtheLegendaconsistin makingthe
The chiefdifferences
captivesoftheknight'smentwofriarsinsteadofone person,
and in omittingthe pretextby whichthe holy man in the
Legendagainedthehearingof the knight,i.e., thathe had a
secret to reveal to him for his profit. Also, the English
version,unliketheLegenda,omitsto mentionthattheDevilservantis the knight'schamberlain.
The second English version,that in Tanner MS. 407
(see below,p. 375) followsthe LegendaAurea veryclosely,
and like the Legenda version,is placed afterand closely
connectedwith "Saved by Learning Two Words." I'he
chief variationsintroducedby the Tanner scribe are the
namingof the holy man as St. Bernard,and the addition
of the repentance,reformation,
and finalsalvation of the
knightwithall his men.
4. "The Blessed VirginComes to the Devil instead of
His Victim." The English version omits some rather
strikingdetailsfoundin theLegendaAurea (cap. CXIX. 3):
(a) The Knight'sprocedureafterhe has regainedhis wealth,
-he buys a palace, gives great gifts,and buys back his
heritage. (b) The wife'sfearwhen commandedto accompany her husband,-she dares not disobey,and commends
herselfto theVirgin. (c) The BlessedVirgin'sinjunctionto
the Devil neverto harmthosewhocall on her;he goes away
howling.
The two accountsalso differin theirexplanationof the
cause of the knight'ssenseof shameafterhe has falleninto
poverty. In the Legendahe feelsdisgracedbecause,having
oncebeenaccustomedto givegreatgifts,he is nowobligedto

328
RUTH WILSON
TRYON
ask for small, and when a solemnityapproaches he had

nothingto give: in theHarleytexthe is ashamedbecause he
can not keep Our Lady's feast as was his wont. Another
difference
appearsat theend: in theLegendatherichesfrom
the Devil are thrownaway; in the Englishversiontheyare
given to the poor.
This legend is also introducedas a "Narratio" in the
NorthernHomilyCollection. This versionpresentsonly a
fewvariationsworthnoting: the Devil bids the knightdig
to findhis gold; theknightrefusesto go intothechapelwith
his wife,and cautionshernot to staylong; and thenarrative
endswiththereunionoftheknightand hiswifein thechapel,
the ill-gotgold being undisposedof,in spite of the Virgin's
injunctionto do away withit. In thematterofresemblances
to the Legendathereis littleto choose betweenthe Harley
and the Vernonversions: where the English MSS. differ,
sometimes one, sometimes the other-and sometimes
neither-followsthe Latin version. There is nothingto
indicate that the Vernonnarrativewas influencedby that
in the SouthEnglishLegendary.
5. 'Saved by Learning Two Words." This miracle
belongs to a family which has more branches than
any other miracle of Our Lady The "Lily" motive is
introducedin two distinct types of stories in the Latin
MSS. In one (PEZ No. 3) an incontinentmonkis refused
Christianburialbecause ofhis sins; but Our Lady, whomhe
has served,ordersthathis bodybe placed in thechurchyard;
a lilygrowsfromhis mouthas a tokenof his devotion. The
other-seeminglythe originalform-is the one which is
foundin the Legenda (cap. LI. 2); the appearance of the
miraculousflowerseems morefittinghere,as distinguishing
a man ofextremepiety,as wellas zeal in Our Lady's service,
This versioncenteringabout a pious man passed through
repeatedrevisionsat the hands of the various transcribers.
Thomasde Cantimpre(t c. 1280),in his Bonumuniversalede
apibus,Lib. II, Cap. XXIX, No. 9, gives a storysimilarto
the Legendaversion,exceptthat it is a treeinsteadof a lily

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
329
whichgrowsfromthegood man's mouth. In theLaurentian

MS. of Florence,Conventisoppressi(Catnaldoli) 747, D 3,
No. 84 (XVth century),thetreespringsfromthemouthofa
pilgrimwho has died by the wayside. A more extended
variationof thisformappearsin HarleyMS. 268 (fol.25b.):
a pilgrimis killedby robbersin a wood,and his staffplanted
it growsinto a
in his grave, with the point in his mnouth;
tree,with "Ave Maria" inscribedon everyleaf.
The South English Legendaryversion follows Legenda
Aurea veryclosely. The Englishand Latin textsare practically alike, save that the Englishfailsto name the abbeyCiteaux. The later English version,in Tanner MS. 407
(See below, p. 374) gives a more elaborateversion,clearly
derivedfromthe Legenda.
What seemsto be a thirdvariationof the "Lily" miracle
appears in the miracleof the "Five Psalms." Accordingto
this storya certainmonkwas accustomedto sing the five
Psalms beginningwith the initial lettersM A R I A; when
he died fiverosesbearingtheselettersgrewout of his grave.
This versionis representedin English verse by Lydgate's
"Legend of Dan Joos," whichthe poet says he translated
fromVincentof Beauvais (Spec. Hist VII, 116)
It has remainedfor the unknownEnglish narratorof
the versionin B. M. Addit. MS. 39996 to jumble all three
ofthedistinctformsofthe"Lily" miracleintoa singlestory.
(See thetext,p. 365below.) This versionbeginswiththe"Five
Psalms" story,but immediatelychanges to a new theme,
by the sudden deatn of the clerk,with "Ave
rep'resented
Maria" as his last words. This suggeststhe "Ave on the
Tongue" miracle,a variationof PEZ 3 whichis foundin
several Latin collections.3 The details differin different
MSS.; the commonelemenitsare the refusalof Christian
burial to the body of an unchastemonkwho was drowned,
and thediscoveryof his last words,"Ave Maria," imprinted
of thismiracleoccurin CottonMS. Cleop.C. X. fol.130;
3Versions
MS. 612,fol.10,col.2; S. Germ.No. 86.
Adgar,Egerton

330
RUTH WILSON
TRYON
on his tongue But the English narratordoes not hold to

this new motive; after the death of the clerk the story
presentsa consistentparallel to the versionof the "Lily,"
miraclegivenin a XIIIth centuryLatin collectionoflegends
of the Virgin--Vend6meMS. 185, No. 61.4 This miracle
centersabout a pious clerk (as in our MIS.) whose habit it
was to repeat "Ave Maria" constantly. In the Vend6me
miracle the clerk dies duringan interdict,in the English
versionhe dies unshriven;the consequencein each case is
burialoutsidethe churchyard,
and in both legendsa fieldis
expresslymentionedas the clerk'sresting-place. The two
versions correspondin subsequent events: in each the
miraculousflowermarkedwith "Ave Maria" in lettersof
gold, is discoveredby a passer-by and reportedto the
bishop,and the body is re-interred
withhonor. Thoughthe
two versionsshowno similarityin the openingevents,from
the pointwherethe parallelismbeginsthe only noteworthy
detail in the Vend6mewhichis omittedin the Englishtext
is the discoverythat the monk'stonguehad remainedrosy
and uncorrupted,although all the rest of his body had
decayed.
6. "OxfordScholarLed to Heaven." Thoughthisseems
to be a native Englishlegend,a narrativepresentingpoints
of similarityto this miracle occurs in two Latin MSS.:
Kremsmiinster
114, (No. 43), a XIIIth centuryAustrian
MS., and B.M. Addit. 18346 (No. 43), a XIVth century
collection. A boy namedArnoldus,oIi his deathbedsaw the
heavens opened and the Virginstandingnear him: and a
priestsaw the Virginlead his soul to heaven. I have not
foundthe miraculouslightingof the candles in any other
legend.
7. "Toledo." This is one of the morepopular legends
of the Virgin. S. Germ.,No. 23, gives the traditionalform,
' Carleton Brown, in his Miracle of Our Lady by Chaucer'sPrioress,
Chaucer Soc. Public's., ser. 2, No. 45, printsthe text of this miracle,p.
104, an account of the Vend6meCollection,p. 2; a list of the Vend6me
mirades,Appendix,p. 136.

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
331
fromtheEnglishversionin thatthefigureof Christ

differing
is explicitlymentionedas a wax image,and thattheJewsare
punishedby death. In Mielot's Miracles de NostreDame.
(No. 14), the voice comes not fromheaven, but froman
imageofOur Lady. Mussafiadoes not specifythe sourceof
the voice in his outline of the S. Germ. version; in the
Spec. Hist., (VII 81) the warning voice comes from
heaven, as in the Harley version. Cotton Cleop. C.X.,
fol. 127b,gives the same account,5and may have furnished
the source of our legend, since the "Jew-Boy" in Harley
also showsthe Cotton Cleop. variations. Harley,however,
differsfromCotton Cleop. and the Spec. Hist. in omitting
the punishmentof the Jews.
8. "Our Lady appearsto a Monk in a Vision." This miracle, as faras I can discover,is foundin onlytwoLatin MSS.:
Paris MS. 5562 (No 32), a late XIIIth centurycollectionof
legends of the Virgin,and Darmstadt MS. 703, No. 13.
The appearanceof theVirginduringsomepart ofthechurch
serviceformsthe basis of several othermiracles. In B.M.
Addit.MSS. 18929 (fol.79), late XIIIth century,and 21147
(fol.3b), XVth century,thevisionof theVirginand herSon
appears, as in our legend,while the monksare singingthe
Salva regina;in Etiennede Bourbon'sTractatus(B.M. Addit.
MS. 28682,fol 239, col. 2), themiraculousapparitioncomes
while the monks chant the Te Deum on ChristmasDay
Herolt, Promptuarium,No. 712 (B.M. Addit. MS. 19909, fol.
248b,col. 2) tellshow thewholeconventsaw thevision,and

the same versionis foundin Thomas de Cantimpre,lib. II.,
cap. 29. None of these,however,includesthe closingincident of our legend,-the Virgin'sintercession
forthosewho
singtheSalva regina,and herSon's acceptanceofheras their
mediatress.
6 Ed. by Carl Neullaus (Die lat. Vorlagenzu den alt.fr.Adgarschen
Marien-Leg,Heilbronn1886) fromArundelMS. 346, whichsuppliesthe defects
in Cott. Cleop. C. X.

332
II.
RUTH WILSON TRYON
THE COLLECTION IN THE VERNON MS.

(ca. 1385).
The VernonManuscriptin its original,unmuitilated

state
containedwhatwas, so faras we know,thelargestcollection
of Miraclesof Our Lady in Middle Englishverse. The list
as it appears in the Index of the MS. includesforty-two
miracles,but of theseonlynineare preserved.' The legends
oftheVirginstandin theVernonMS. betweentheSouthEnglish Legendaryand the NorthernHomilyCollection,but are
not attachedto either. The seriesis peculiarto the Vernon;
one findsno copies of it elsewherein the Englishcollections.
It is probable that the "Simeon AIS." (B. NI. Addit. MIS.
22283) may originallyhave included these miracles; this
manuscriptcontains a large part of the Vernonmaterial,
and thelegendsof the BlessedVirginmay have been part of
the 177 leaves now lost.
I have been unable to discover any single MS. which
could be regardedas the sourceof the Vernoncollection,or
even of any considerablenumberof the legendsit contains.
Most of the miraclesappear frequently
in earliercontinental
MSS., and amongthe manypossiblesourcessomesimilarity
in the orderof the legendswould be the chiefclue to the
parentcollection. But neitherMussafianor W'arddescribes
any MS. whose arrangement
showsthe slightestrelationto
that of the Vernontext. One must simplyconclude that
the legendsweregatheredfroma numberof collections,and
probably represent combinations of versions found in
various sources.
The compilationin the VernonMS. consistsforthe most
part of some of the oldest and most widelycopied of the
Latin collections. No less than twenty-five
of the Vernon
miraclesare foundin PEZ and S. Germ.2so faras one may
judge fromthe bare titlespreservedin the Vernonindex:
I For a list of the forty-two
originalmiraclessee Horstmann'sMinor
PoemsoftheVernonMS. E.E.T.S., Part I, p. 138.
2 For "PEZ" see Mussafia,op. cit., Band CXIII. 936-944,and Ward,

333
MIRACLES OF OUR LADY

Vernon PEZ
Saving of CroteyCity
Jew-Boy
Viviers;Foot cut off
Jew]endsto Merchant
Healing throughMilk
IncontinentMonk who was drowned
Five Joys
Clerkof Chartres
Anthem,Salva Regina
Churchof St. Michael; Our Lady as Midwife
Feast of the Nativity
ClerkdeniedBurial
Thiefsaved by Our Lady (Ebbo the Thief)
Priestwho knewonlyone Mass
Devil in Beast shapes
Child weddedto Our Lady
St. Bonyte'sVestments
St. Jame'sPilgrim
Musa
Priorof Pavia
St. Jerome,Bishop of Pavia
StainedCorporale
Completorium
Feast of the Purification
Child whodinedwiththe Christimage
1
4
5
6
8
9
10
16
19
21
22
23
24
25
26
28
30
31
35
36
37
38
39
41
42
31
18
33
30
2
4
3
22
39
6
9
23
16(?)
37
8
12
13
14
29
S. Germ.
46
26
24
72
39
2
4, 95
3
53, 54(?)
65
i8
86,92(?
7
10
64
29(?)
9
103
13
14
15
51
49
28, 44
104 (?)
The large proportionof the Vernon material which

parallelsthe miraclesin these earlyLatin collectionsis, of
course,no indicationthat eitherPEZ or S. Germ.supplied
the immediatesource forthe Vernon,since the legendsin
both these MSS. were widelycopied. Indeed, in the case
of the Vernonmiraclesof whichthe textsurvivesone finds,
with the possibleexceptionof the "IncontinentMonk," a
decidedvariationfromthe formgivenin PEZ or S. Germ.
The Vernonpoet displaysa fQndnessforapplyinghis own
geniusto old materials,and some of the departuresseem to
Cat. Rom. II, 589 ff. "S. Germ." is used to designateParis MS. 12593,
S. Germ.lat. 486 (XIII cent.). For a list of the miraclesin this
formerly
collectionsee Mussafia,op. cit.,Band CXIII. 962 ff.

334
RUTH WILSON
TRYON
be entirelyoriginalwiththe Vernontext. This is especially

evidentin the "Jew-Boy"and the "Boy Slain by the Jews,"
wherethe elaborationsand moderntouchesseem to indicate
clearlythe Englishscribe'sremodelinghand.
Studiesofotherpartsof the MS. maybe cited to bear out
the conclusion that the peculiaritiesof the Vernon text
representthe individualityof the authorworkingupon old
traditions. Miss JosephineSutton,in her paper on "The
Middle English Ipotis"3 shows that the Vernon Ipolis
represents,not the originalpoem, but a much edited text,
with numerousalterationsintroducedby the scribe. Miss
Sutton's conclusionin regard to the Vernor Ipotis agrees
with that previouslyexpressedby R. W. Chambers,who
declaredthattheVernontextofPiersPlowmancannotbe relied upon, and that of Canon Simmons,who in his edition
oftheLay FolksMass Book(E. E. T. S., Orig.Ser. 71,p. 362)
statesthattheVernontextis evidentlypatchedtogetherfrom
at least two different
sources.
1. "The Saving of CroteyCity." This story (in other
MSS. entitled"The SavingofChartres")showsan interesting
progressfroman historicalincidentto a fullydeveloped
miracle. The earliestand simplestformof the legend of
Rollo's siegeof Chartres(A.D. 911) is foundin severalLatin
chronicles: Dudo of St. Quintin,Wm. of Jumieges,and
Orderic(Duchesne,Hist. Norm.Scriptores,
1619,pp. 80, 230,
368). Accordingto thesewriters,bishop "Guualtelmus" or
"Antelmus"made his sallywiththerelicat a timewhenthe
besiegerswere attacked in the rear by Richard, Duke of
Burgundy,and Ebalo, Count of Poitiers. The legendin S.
Germ. retains this incidentof the relievingparty (which
must have contributedlargelyto Rollo's defeat) and adds
the miraculouselementof the blindingof Rollo's men. The
VernonMS. makes no mentionof the Duke of Burgunily's
attack, assigningthe creditfor the victoryentirelyto the
miraculouskirtle. Wace's account in the Roman de Rou
P.M.L.A. XXXI, 114-160.

335
(vv. 815 seq.) agreesgenerallywiththeVernon. CottonMS.

Cleop. C.X.,4 in whichthe bishopis called "Walchelinus,"
tellshowRollo's menregaintheirsightand theshiftvanishes
whentheChristiansbehavecruelly. Accordingto the Spec.
Hist. (XXIV. 46), the shiftis exposedon the ramparts;the
Normansshootat it and are struckblind; and the citizens
thensallyforthand slaughterthem.
2. "The Boy Slain by the Jews." This miracleappears
again in English verse in Chaucer's PrioressesTale, which
liffersfromthe Vernonchieflyin makingthe boy a "litel
and in substituting
clergeon"insteadof a poor street-singer,
a grainon the tongueforthe magicallily. For a complete
discussionof the various versionsof this story and their
relation,see CarletonBrown,Miracle of Our Lady Told by
Chaucer'sPrioress(Chaucer Soc. Pubs., 2nd Series,No. 45).
rare
3. "The Harlot'sPrayer." This miracleis extremely
amonglegendsoftheVirgin;I have discovereditinonlythree
other collections,the earliest of whichis the Scala Coeli.
summaryof theversionin Scala
Mussafiagivesthefollowing
Coeli. "A holymanpassinga harlotsaid to her,'Sister,pray
forme.' Touchedby thesewordsshe wentintoa churchand
prayed. At Mary's intercessionGod pardonedher." The
legendalso appears in two early XVth centurycollections
of religioustales compiledin northernItaly, evidentlyby
Franciscans.5The miracleis thus summarizedin the CatalogueofRomances. "A Franciscanasks a wantonwomanto
prayforhim;she thinkshe is joking,but entersa churchand
praysbeforetheimageof theVirginand child;she hearsthe
Child exclaimthat his enemyis prayingforhis friend,and
the Virginbegs him to spare his enemyforthe sake of his
friend." The last phrasescorrespondexactlyto thosefound
in the Vernon.
Neitherof the Italian collectionsis earlyenoughto have
been used by the Vernon,and withoutseeingthe full text
4Ed. byCarlNeuhaus,
op.cit.,pp. 57-59.
B.M. AdditMSS. 27336and 11872;described

Cat. Roby Herbert,
mances,
Ill. 662,693.

336
RUTH WILSON TRYON
of the Scala coeli one cannot say whetherit containsthe

additionaldetails whichare lackingin Mussafia'sbriefaccount. NeitherWard nor Mussafiamentionsthe opening
incidentof the Vernonmiracle-the temptationof the hermitby theharlot-nor theVirgin'swarningofherimminent
death.
4. "The Jew Boy." See the discussionof this miracle
above, p. 324.
5. "Viviers: How the Virgingave a Man a New Leg."
This is one of the mostpopularof thelegendsof the Virgin.
group
The same story is found in the Toledo-Saturday
of PEZ, No. 18. The afflictionof the unfortunateman
is usually given as the mal des ardents,a disease of the
nature of erysipelas,which ravaged northernFrance in
1128 and 1129. The storyis located variouslyin different
MSS. VernonfollowsPEZ in placingthemiraclein Vivaria;
Mielot (No. LXV.) located it in Nevers; ArundelMS. 346,
fol. 67 gives "in urbe inuaria;" Addit. 18346, fol. 50, "in
urbe vicaria;" Harley 2385, fol. 55b, "in urbe uiaria;"
ArundelMS. 506,fol.25, "in urbevinaria;" Adgar(Egerton
MS. 612, fol. 17), "En vinaria une cite;" and Royal 20 B.
XIV. (fol. 141b.)En la cite de yuorie
Out une eglisede seinteMarie.
Guibertde Nogent, Liber de laude S. Mariae, cap. XI,6

version,whichis repeatedin theSpec. Hist.,
givesa different
(XXVI1., 9-11), and in the LegendaAurea (Cap. CXVIII).
Guibertreportsthe iniracleas happeningnear Grenoble,
while Leodegarius was bishop of Viviers (1096-1119). A
man namedPeterwas forcedto ploughon St. Mary Magdalen's Day. He cursedthe oxen; theywerestruckby lightwiththemaldesardentsin one foot.
ning,and he was afflicted
Afterprayingvainly in a churchof the Virgin,he cut off
the limband placed it in the church. He continuedto pray
to Our Lady, and she finallyappeared to him. with St.
I
Migne,Patrol,CLVI, col. 568.

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
337
Hippolytus,and gave himback his leg; but he now walked

with a limp. Later Mary and Hippolytusappeared once
more,thesainttouchedtheieg,and it was entirelyrestored.
The narrativeconcludes with the statementthat Peter
then became a hermit,and was temptedby the Devil in
the formof a woman,whom he drove away with a consecratedstole.
6. "Our Lady is Suretyfora Merchant." One of the
mostpopularofthemiraclesofOur Lady. S. BaringGould7
printsthe text of the story,entitled"Abram the Usurer,"
as foundby him in a sermonpreachedat Constantinopole,
whichhe assignsto the tenthcentury.Here,as also in PEZ
No. 33, it is not the Virgin'simage,but the figureof Christ
whichis made the surety. Royal MS. 6 B. XIV. (fol.87b),
a Latin collectionof the earlyXIIIth century,agreeswith
the Vernonin makingthe Virginthe surety,but says that
the voice whichrebukedthe Jewcame fromthe crucifix.
B. M. Addit. MS. 39996 gives a second Englishversion
of thismiracle,in whichtheactorsare unnamed.' Here the
merchanthad startedhomeand was on his way "to Cayle,"
but was delayedby storms,and hencewas obligedto entrust
his paymentto the waves. Our lady is morespecificin her
accusationof the Jewin thisversion: she declaresthat the
Jewhas themoneyat homeunderthebed,and theChristian
mengo withhim and findit there. Cf. the similarmiracle
fol. 19, col. 2.
in Johnof Garland'sLibermetricus
The ContinentalMSS. afforda numberof variations.
HarleyMS. 2385,f. 53b, tellshow theJewgoes to theshore
lookingfora ship fromAlexandria,and findsthe casketinstead. Accordingto ArundelMS. 506, fol. 15, the casketis
whovainlytriesto graspit; finally,
firstseen by a passer-by,
the Jew arrivesand takes it up withoutdifficulty.In the
LaurentianMS. at Florence.Conventisoppressi(Camaldoli)
747,D. 3, No. 68, thereis a peculiarvariationofthislegend.
and was greatly
The Christian,whohad metwithill-fortune
7HistoricOddities,FirstSer.,Lond. 1889,p. 103.
' Forthetextseebelow,p. 363.

338
RUTH WILSON TRYON
cameupona groupofpeasants,whohad found

impoverished,
some gold but had no notionof its worth. They gave it to
himin returnforbread and nuts. On the day of payment
the Jewhid himself,but the Christianhung a purse with
the gold about the neckof the Mary-image. The same version is foundin B. M. Addit.MS. 33956,fol. 74.
7. "The Priestthat lay by a Nun." This is not a very
wide-spreadlegend. It occursin threeLatin collectionsof
the XII century:Cotton Cleop. C. X. (No. 64), Toulouse
482 (No. 64), and Oxf.MS. Balliol 240 (No. 46) and also in
Royal MS. 6, B. XIV (fol. 85b), a Latin collectionof the
earlyXIII century. It is also foundin Adgar's collection
(EgertonMS. 612, fol.50b), and in anotherFrenchmetrical
collection,Royal MS 20 B. XIV., fol. 156b,col. 2.
8. "The BlessedVirgingives Milk to a quinsiedMonk."
This legend, in its various forms,is one of the most
popular of the miraclesof Our Lady. The Vernonstory
followsthe mostwidespreadversion,whichis foundin PEZ
No. 30, one of the groupswhich Mussafialabels ToledoSaturday.
B. M. Addit. MS. 39996 presentsa corruptedEnglish
versionof the legend.9 Here the clerk'stongueis cancered
and rots away; Our Lady cures the clerk by laying her
fingeron his tongue.
S. Victor248), one of thegreat
Paris MS. 14463 (formerly
XIIth centurycollections,
givestwovariationsofthe"Milk"
legend,bothofwhichare copiedin othercollections. No. 14
of thiscollectionis verylike PEZ No. 30: the monkwas so
ill that he bit his tongueand lips; theywerehealed by the
Virgin'smilk. This is the versionwhich appears in the
Spec. Hist. VII, No. 84, in Scala coeli,No. 6, and in Herolt's
No. 32. S. Victor,No. 69 is a peculiarcomPromptuarium,
bination of the traditionallegend with another. A man
sick with the cancerhad a vision: he was led by an angel
plants,
flowering
into a field,wherehe saw twenty-three
9 Forthetextseebelow,
p. 350.

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
339
which representedthe 54th Psalm, and the twenty-two

divisionsof the 119th Psalm, whichhe used to sing constantly. Enteringthe temple,he was curedby the Virgin
with her milk. Royal MS. 6 B. XIV. No. 2 adds another
touchto thestoryas it appearsin PEZ No. 30 and in Vernon:
Fulbert,bishopof Chartres,was healedby Mary withthree
dropsof hermilk,whichhe preservedin a silverflask.
9. "The IncontinentMonk who was drowned." This
legendis widelydiffusedamong the miraclesof Our Lady.
Mussafiafirstnotesit in Gautierde Coincy(or Compiegne),
De miraculisbeataeVirginisMariae,No. 4. It appearsagain
as PEZ No. 2, one of the HM group,and fromthissourceis
widelycopied. Von der Hagen, in his Gasammtabenteuer,
III., publishesan Old Germanversionalmostexactlylike
the English,and notes an Old Spanishformin the XIIIth
centurycollectionof theBenedictinemonk,GonzaloBerceo.
Mielot,No. XXXVI., presentsa variationof thislegend,
in whichthe sacristanis drowned,and his body foundand
leftunburied. A friendpraysto Our Lady forhim,and she
appears and announcesthat the sacristanis saved, and his
bodywillbe founduncorrupted.Closelyconnectedwiththis
versionis a combinationof PEZ 2 and 3 (Clerkof Chartres)
of the
foundin S. Germ.No. 86: Mary orderstheinterment
drownedmonk'sbody, and upon his tongueare foundthe
words "Ave Maria." This version is a connectinglink
between PEZ No. 2 and the great networkof "Lily"
miracles.'0
Wace, in the Roman de Rou (ed. Andresen,II. 43),
gives an interestingvariation of this legend; Angel and
fienddisputeforthe soul of the sacristan of St. Ouen's
Abbey at Rouen; they agree to abide by the decision of
Richardsans Peur, Duke of Normandy. The duke hears
the case in his sleep, ordersthe soulrestoredand themonk
placed on the bridge;if he goes forward,the Devil is to
have him,if he drawsback he is to be set free. The monk
10See above, p. 328.

340
RUTH WILSON TRYON
Arieretraistplus tostsun pie

Ke hoemki a serpentmarchie.
He is restoredto life,and goes homeundetected. The next

morningthe Duke makeshimconfess.
III.
THE COLLECTION IN B. 31. ADDIT. MS. 39,996
The thirdcollectionof Miracles of the Virginin Middle

Englishverseis that preservedin PhillippsMS. 9803 (first
half of the XV cent.) recentlyacquired by the British
Museum, and now designatedB. M. Addit. MS. 39,996.
The MS. breaksoffat folio80b, leavingone of the miracles
of Our Lady unfinished.Eighteenare preserved,but there
is no index to tell us how many the collectionoriginally
included.
This groupis unique in English;onlyfiveof the eighteen
legendsappear in any formelsewherein Englishverse,and
thesedo not agree withany of the otherEnglishversions.
The scribeshowsan amazingingenuityin twistingand pervertingfamiliarlegendsalmostbeyondrecognition.Many
of his storiesgive the disconcerting
impressionof a familiar
ofa mirrorat thepenny
faceseen in thedistorting
reflection
show: the veryfamiliarity
of the grotesquerymakes it the
moreastonishing.
The groupoflegendsfoundin thisMS. seemsto be based
on the metricalcollectionof Johnof Garland.' The Latin
poet,as may be seen fromthe tablebelow,tellshis storiesin
the shortestpossible space, in some cases giving scarcely
more than a suggestionof the narrative. This helps to
explainthevagariesof the EnglishMS., sincethescribewas
obliged to cull fromother legends or depend on his own
imaginationto fillin themeageroutlinesof his source. One
evensupposethatthepoet did nothave theLatin work
mnay
at hand, and was expandingfrommemory. One cannot,
however,say how much of the creditfor his strangeper1 Libermetricus
Johalnnis
de Garlitdia qui uocaturStella maris,composed
about 1248. See Ward,Cat. Rom.II. 699-707.

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
341
versionsbelongsto theEnglishscribe,withoutexaminingthe
fulltextof Johnof Garland'scollection,and this,much to
myregret,I have been unable to do.
betweenthe
table willshowtherelationship
The following
Englishcollectionand that of Johnde Garland.
B. M. ADDIT. MIS.39996.
JOHN DE GARLAND.
1. Monk temptedby Devil inform 39. Mouth of Hell shownto a N

6 11.(Connectiondoubtful)
ofa woman;saved by the B.V.:
90 11.
2. Woman revivedforconfession: 12. Same: 9 1H.
36 11.
3. Our Lady and threeInnocents 13. Columns raised by Schoolbo
9 11.
help a Knight to build his
chapel: 30 11.
14. Chaste Empress: 69 11.
4. EmpressofRome: 11711.
2. Abbessdelivered:18 11.
5. Prioressdelivered:117 11.
1. Milk: Tongue restored:15 11.
6. Cancered tongue healed by
touchof B. V.'s finger:24 11.
3. Jewof Bourges: 2411.
7. Jew-Boy:30 11.
4. Same: 18 11.
8. Son restoredto life: 40 11.
5. Same: 6 11.
9. Devil in Beast-shapes-42 11.
10. Barns filledin time of famine: 6. Same: 9 11.
40 11.
11. Ring giver. to Mary-image: 8. Same: 6 11.
4411.
11. Mead: 6 11.
12. Brokentun of wine: 34 11.
15. Same: 13 11.
13. Nativity: 52 11.
14. Mary-image in a synagogue 17. Libia: 611.
20 11.
20. Same: 18 11.
15. Incest: 58 11.
18. Same: 6 11.
16 Mary-imageinsulted:42 11.
17. Our Lady is suretyfora Mer- 19. Same: 12 11.
chant: 96 11.
18. Unshriven Clerk buried out- 22. Clerkof Chartres:9 11.
side the churchyard;lily from
mouth: 50 11.
Here bigynnelPe miraclesof ourelady (fol.70a).

WThoso euerdeuociounhas
In ourelady gretegrace
In Pis boke mayrede here

342
RUTH WILSON TRYON
4. Of hirmiraclesfaireand clere
pat bifellenin certeyntee
In manya diuersecuntre
1. MONK
TEMPTED
BY DEVIL
IN WOMAN'S FORM
A monkeperwas in oon abbay

8. Pat clenelyflyveday
Ech day in pe mornynge
Biforealle opereerpelypinge
To ourelady woldekneledoun
12. And say wipgretedeuocioun
Lady forpi joyes fyve
Wisse me pe redyway on live
? pe deuel pen envyehade
16. For pe prayerespat he made
He made himin all manere
As he a fairewomanwere
Ech day he woldepo
20. Biforepe monkcome and go
pat atte laste pe monkewes
Gretelytemptedin his flesshe
To pe womanhis willehe tolde
24. And asked hirifsche wolde
His paramourin priueteebe
Ouperforcatel operforfee
?)pedeuei pan was fulglad
28 And grauntedhymhis willerad
Aiperspake to operpoo
Wherepai myghther willedo
In Pe belle hous quop pe deuel
32. Perewe schulbe priueand wele
Vnderpe belle hous in pe solere
perschal no man se ne here
l?Whenpat forwardwas made so
36. Aiper3edeoperfro
In pe mornpe monkeros
And byforeourelady gos

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
He saide as he was wontto say

40. Biforetymeeche day
?Lady forJiioyesfive
Wisse me Pe redyway on lyve
Whenhe hade saide wip gode entent
44. To pe belle hous dorehe went
Longe whylepe dorehe soght
For no nede he fondhit noght
pen forthafterabout prime
48. At sayntmariemasse tyme
pe womancome wilout lette
In pe kirkepe monkescho mette
TMonkesche saide how is Pis
52. pou art not al trewey wis
Quol pe monkewitterly
At pe bellehousI was erly
I soghtabout Pe newe tre
56. Pe dore I myghtnot fyndene se
Monke sche saide I vnderstonde
At pi matynspou was so longe
?Nay he sayde in gode fay
60. I saide no pingeto day
Safe oon orisounonly
Biforepe imageof ourelady
Monke sche saide wipoutdrede
64. Of Pineerndeif pou woltspede
In pe mornynge
saye no Pinge
Firstedo Pi likinge
Aftersaye matyns& masse
68. What pou wiltmoreor lasse
?pe monkePoghton pe deuelescrafte
His sitt was a way rafte
On pat opermornynge
he saide noght
72. On pe womanwas al his ioght
He hyedforthwiJall his myght
pe dorehe fondeanon right
TWipynnepe doreproprely

343
344
RUTH WILSON TRYON
76. Stode Pe ymageof ourelady

Monke sche saide how is Pis
At Pis tymePou gost amysse
Go a3eyn& clene pe schryve
80. Pis is not Pe redyway of lyve
Pe wrangway lou art ynne
Of wrecchednesse
& of dedlysynne
?Wi lPatPe womanfiguredwas
84. In Pe kyndeof Sathanas
And vanysshta way right
Verreilyin manya mannessight
?Te monkePen was fulfayn
88. Into Pe kirkehe 3edea3ayn
And schrofehymof his mysdede
And at Pe laste to heuenhe 3ede
2.
WOMAN
REVIVED
A MIRACLE
FOR CONFESSION
(fol. 71a).
of a gode wyf
Pat loued ourelady in al hirlyf.
It fel to hirlaste day
4. Pat sche eueledand seke laye
Sche hoped to dye in Pat sekenesse
Bope howseled& sehryuensche wes.
Sche hade layneda dedlysynne
8. Pat sche hade laynelongeynne
As Pai settePe candellight
In Pe Womanshondright
Pe soule was boun witterly
12. Forto departefroPe body
?Sche seghPe gretepeyneof helle
Pe noumbreof deuelessche coule not telle
Pat abidenforhirsake
16. At hirmoule Pe soule to take
WiJPat sche seghbodily
Oure lady sayntmarie
?pen spake ourelady dere
20. Cursedwreccheswhatdo 3e here

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
345
Pai saide Pis womanin alle wise

Endel nowin oureseruise
Sche schal to hellewip vs away
24. To Pe paynesPat lastenay
?Nay sche saide 3e schal fayle
3e han loste 3ouretrauayle
wommonis 3etton lyve
JPe
28. Of hirsynnesche may hirschryve
Wip Pat by ourelady grace
reuerted& hade space
Pe womiman
To schrivehirwit gretedeuocioun
32. And gade fullyabsolucioun
?Sche tolde to alle Pat sate Perby
Pe miracleof ourelady
Sche dyed Pen as faste
36. And wentto joye Pat ay schal laste.
3.
OUR LADY AND THREE INNOCENT HELP A KNIGHT TO

BUILD A CHAPEL (fol.71b).
NOPER miracle3e may here

A By
Pe myghtof ourelady dere
A gode man deuociounhade

4. Of ourelady a chapel he made
Euer Pe masonswroghtfaste
Whilehis catel woldelaste
So Pat wiJgode entent
8. At Pe last his catel was spent
Whenhe hade noghtto paye
Pe masones3edenPen a-way
?Pe gode man Poghtin alle manere
12. For to do his powere
He wentforsope to say
And wroghthymselfeueryday
?Oure lady come & a wyndasbroght
16. On a day as he wroght
And ropestyedredyto
PerwiiPe werkefortodo

346
RUTH WILSON TRYON
PreInnocentesfaireof face
20. Wentwi) ourelady in pat place
Pai wondevp monya stone
And laide hemfulfaireanon
Er Pat Pe sonne3edeto softenes
Al
24.
Pat werkeendedwes
Bope fayreand clenely
By Pe myghtof ourelady
?Tis miracleforsopeto telle
28. In Pe londe of grecehit bifelle
Pat Jorgbout al grecehit 3ede
pe miracleof ourelady dede
4. EMPRESS OF ROME (fol. 71b).
IN Rome anoPermiraclewes
Pat bifelby Pe Emperesse
Pe Emperouresbroperwas a knyght
4. And coueitedPe Emperessebepe day & nyght
Pe lady saide euernay
Sche woldenot by no way
?When he segheforno nede
8. Of his erndehe my3tnot spede
To Pe EmperourePen he tolde
And bade hymleve & ifhe wolde
Pe Emperessewoldewitterly
12. Haue hade hymto lye hirbye
T?e Emperoureanon right
Bade bringehirof his sight
Wipoutany morerespyte
Radly hir[hed]eof to smyte
was redyboun
A1..............
er froech atoun
B ...
de he hirbroght
..................
20. .........
... and hymbypoght
owe & gretepyte
..................
1A largeholein MS. hereandthrough
thenextpage.

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
..................
lady fayreand fre
..................
ode and tokehis rede
24. To ...............
ir or to baue hirdede
?A lordwiJ)houndescome huntinge
And fondPe lady sorewepinge
He asked Pen what hirwas
28. And sche toldehymal Pe caas
bade
Pat lordPe tormentour
Go homea3aynfulrade.
And tellePe Emperourein certayn
32. Pat he hade Pe lady slayn
Pe knyghttokePat fairelady
Home in his companye.
?A litelbiforePe Emperesse
36. Delyueredof a childewes
And was melcheal newe
Soone afterPe knyghtknewe
Pat sche was melchein alle wise
40. He made hirhis norice
And bade hirkepe wele & faire
Pe childePat schuldbe his ayre
?pe lady lengedPeremekely
44. And keptePe childefulclenely
?A 3ommanin Pe lordeshalle
WowedhirfastewiI alle
And euerPe lady saide nay
48. Neuermoreby no way
WhenPe 3ommanforno nede
Segh Pat he my3tnot spede
To pe childehe stele Po
52. And carfePe Proteeuen a two
He toldePe lordein certayn
Pe noricehade Pe childslayn
TJelordemade als faste
56. Into Je see hirto caste
But by oureladyes gretemyght
Pe wawesheldenhirvp right

347
348
RUTH WILSON TRYON
In Pe see to and fro

60. Pat to Pe grondesche my3tnot go
?And at Pe laste a fisschere
segh
Hir flotenon Pe wateron hegh
And intohis bote hastily
64. We tokePat fairelady
To Pe lond he hirbroght
And settehiron Pe bonkea lofte
sche was Pereonly
?TWhen
68. To ourelady sche prayedspecialy
To helpehirin hergretenede
As sche was broghtin care & drede
TWiJPat ourelady by hirmyght
72. Apperedto hiranone right
And in hirhond an herbeschebroght
Emperessesche saide care Pee noght
Pis herbe}ou schalthaue
76. Al leprepou schaltsaue
Pat knowlechenin open confessiouu
Alle Pe synnesPat Pai han done
Go homea3aynto Pi cuntre
80. Pineenemyesschulleprebe
Pai schalltellein alle manere
Pat manya man schal se & here
Pai Pat accused Pee falsly
84. In angerand in malencolye
?AfterPat Pou schaltanon
Hele hem eucrechone
So hardilybiheeteI Pee
88. J)ouschaltcome to Pi degre
Ourelady Pen vanysshta way
pemperesseforsope to saye
In hirhertwas fal fayne
92. To hircuntresche wenta3ayn
?Sche went2Perefroplace to place
2LJo1e
in MS.

MIRACLES
Sche heled...............
At Pe laste.
96. Pat broght...............
Werefall.
And con..
Pat.....................
100. .......................
349
OF OUR LADY
mesilwas
we
en
hed hede
........................
ght
Be Pe herbe..............
ght
?And
after
104.
Pat Pe.
Tolde hemredywho sche wes
WhenPe Emperouresegh
Pat fairemiraclePat was so hegh
108. Also done so graciously
By JPe
myghtof ourelady
And seghPe godenesseof his wyf
Pat so clenshade lad hirlyf
112. He tokehirwipgode entent
To Pe Pope wiphirhe went
And of Pe pope he hade pardoun
Pereas he hade amyssedone
116. And lyuedwiphirfulfaireay
Til Gode tokehembope away.
5. A
PRIORESS
DELIVERED
BY OUR LADY
MIRACLE of a prioresse
A Pat
priuelywipchildewes
(fol. 73b).
Whensche wist vitterly

4. Pe childwas quykin hirbody
WViblodyterescarefully
Sche prayedourelady marie
Of alle wymmenPou art floure
8. And also synfulmannessocoure
To helpehirin sommemanere
Pat sche neuervndonewere
?lOurelady Pen pite hade

350
RUTH WILSON TRYON
12. For pe woo Pe prioressemade

Sche poghtto bringehirof drede
Whensche had mostenede
?When Pe prioressefeldeon hirf.....
16. To be delyueredalgate........
Sche segh two angels..........
Werecomenof ourelad[y grace]
Pat helpenhirpriue[lyl.......
20. And toldenhir..
Ourelady w..................
And hirchild.................
?And whenPe.................
24. Pai broghthit................
Pat lyvedin a................
Pat was an...................
Pai bade hym................
28. Al forourelady sake
Folow hit & kepe hit so
Til hit coupe speke & go
?1Ourelady woldewi}out fayle
32. Rewardehymforhis trauayle
?Pe hermytewit gode entent
Dide ourelady comaundement
Foloed hit in alle wise
36. And aftergate hit a norice
?And Pe synfulprioresse
Worschipedourelady as worNiwes
And lad hirlyffulclenely
40. WViJout
any morevileny
6.
CANCERED TONGUE HEALED BY OUR LADY
A NOPER miracle3e mayhere
How hit was in alle manere

A clerkehad openly
4. A bodilymanerof maledye
His tongecancredin his hede
Was roteda way & litellede

(fol. 73b).
MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
perwas no lechein pat cuntre

8. pat euercoupe his bote be
He prayedto ourelady ay
Bope by nyghtes& by day
As sche was of grate' walle
12. In mannesnede vppon to calle
pat he myghthis bote haue
For no pingeelles myghthymsaue
?As he sleptevppon a nyght
16. To hymappered[ourc]lady bright
And on his tongehirfyngerlaide
Graciouslypen sche saide
Heele and bote I grauntePe
20. For pi gretebileue in me
Wip Pat ourelady vanysshta way
pe clerkewakened& hit way day
He hade his tongehole & clere
24. And honkedourelady in al manerc
7.
THE
JEW
Boy (fol. 74a).
A JEWES sone priuely
In cristenmannescompany
Was foloedand tornedto cristenlay
4. And ressayuedGod on paske day
Whenhis fadercan Pat aspye
pat he was cristenwitterly
He ordeynedhymto be dede
8. He made an oven glede rede
In despiteof god almyght
in to pe oven he putt hymright
?A Mayde Pat loued pe childpen
12. As fasteas sche myghtrenne
Sche tolde pe cristenal pe caas
IHowpe childein pe oven was
?pe cristencomenfastehyand
' Grace?

351
352
RUTH WILSON
TRYON
16. pai fondePe oven hote brennand

Pe childPai fondePerynnesitte
And was not brentmychene litte
Pai toke Pe childout fulsoone
20. Of Pe hote brennandoven
?pe childsaid witterly
Ourelady Saynt Marie
Lete a mantelouerhymfalle
24. Pat he feldeno heetewi} alle
?Pe cristenmenwerefulglad
Pai toke his faderPen fulrad
And brenthem Pen anon
28. And alle Pe opereeuerechone
Pat euerwereat Pat assent
In Pat oven werebitterlybrent.
8.
WOMAN'S SON RESTORED
A MIRACLE
(fol. 74b).
TO
LIFE
BY OUR LADY
of a gode wyf
wil
hir
husbond
lad hirlyf
Pat
Til manya )ere was comen& gon
4. Childe myghtsche haue none
Sche besoghtourelady mylde
Pat sche myghtbe wipchilde
?So Pat by ourelady grace
8. At Pe laste wip childesche was
Sche hade a childefaireand fre
And also of gretebeaute
?When he was vij. 3ereolde
12. And was norisshedpropre& bolde
A feuertokehymhe dyed Po
Pe modermade sorowe& woo
?Biforeourelady sche hirsette
16. Mony a blodyteresche lette
Lady sche saide holyand dere
My childePat life dede on bere
I hade hymby Pi grace verray

MIRACLES
353
OF OUR LADY
20. And by Pi likingehe is a-way

And Pou may 3ifPi willebe
My sone lyflene to me
Lady sche saiden & maydenc!ere
24. For love of hymPat Pou bere
And also forPi ioyesfive
Graunteme my sone to be on live
?jOurelady seghPe wommanwes
28. Of so gretestablenesse
Sche 3afPe childepowereto ryse
And be quyk in all wise
?Pe childesaide moderdere
32. WhywepestPou in Pis manere
I dide but slepe softely
Pen comesa fairelady
Sche bade Pat I schuldrise& wake
36. Sche saide Pou grettesformy sake
Sone sche saide blessedschebe
Pat lady of graceand of pitee
?Te wom;aman
Pen fulioyedwes
40. And honkedourelady hirgodenesse
9.
THE
DrEVIL
IN BEAST-SHAPES
A MONKE Perwas in an Abbaye
(fol. 75a).
Pat wip Pe deuel was traueleday

Whenhe was wipoutcompany
4. In any place only
Pe deuel ay folowedabout
WipynnePe abbaye & wipout
In liknesseof a bole grym
8. Wip brodeeghenblake & dym
And as a lyonerampand
And as ony firegloand
And as a mad doggealso
12. Pus he wroghtPe monkewoo
Pat he myghtne restehaue
Ne no writtePat myghthimsaue

354
RUTH WILSON TRYON
?He prayedourelady in his mass,

16. As sche Pat welleof helpewas
Pat sche woldehymbote sende
And hymfromPe fendedefende
lAs he sleptevpon a nyght
20. To hymapperedourelady bright
And in hirhonda 3erdeschebroght
Monke sche saide care bou noght
pou schaltgo wherepee liste
24. In pis 3erdepou haue gode triste
pe deuel forferdeschal sorequake
And fleforpe 3erdessake
?TWipPat ourelady vanyssbta-way
28. pe monkewakened& it was day
Pe 3erdeof oureladyeshond
He bare about bitwenehis hond
He 3edeperehe hade to go
32. Pe deuel apperedto hymPo
In liknesseof Pe selfemanere
A madde doggeas he were
SPe monketristourelady wele
36. And wippe 3erderan on Pe deuel
pe deuel roredand made a bere
pat al pe abbay myghthere
pat alle bai Pat werenegh
40. pen radlycome& wele segh
pe deuel by ourelady grace
Sanke to hellerightin pat place
10.
BARNS FILLED
BY OUR LADY IN TIME
Or FAMINE
(fol.75b).
MIRACLE felin Jerusalem

A Of
monkesPat wereholymen
In a tymefela caas
4. Pat a dere 3erehit was
And manya pore man witoutdrede
Hadden bope hongerand nede

355
?Te monkesdaltenlargely
8. For Pe loue of ourelady
Pilgrimespat Pidersoght
And menpat defauted& hade noght
To hem Pai dalt alway faste
12. Whylehergode woldelaste
So Pat by Pe Witsonday
Her gode was nerehonda way
And echonebade opernot spare
16. Ne forno catel to haue no care
Oure lady was richeof gold plentee
And may helpewhenhirwillebe
?Te monkesrisenin a mornynge
20. Pai 3edeaboute herbedes biddinge
Pai fondherbernespen anon
Full of corneuerechone
And gretestakkesstondandbye
24. Her housesfullof oxen and kye
?And so by ourelady grace
Ful of gode was al herplace
pat of pat miraclepat fairewes
28. Spake al pat sydeof hepennesse
pat by ourelady gretevertue
At Pat tymetornedmanya Jewe..
[A leafhas been tornout of the MS. here.]
11.
RING GIVEN BY A CLERK TO THE IMAGE OF OUR LADY
(fol.76B).
[Beginsimperfectly]
He felPo in a wille
To live chasteeuerstille
And neuertermeof his lyf
4. Worldlyto haue a wyf
Lady he saide holyand dere
As Josephweddedpee on erpehere
And on lyveneuerto twynne
8. But euerin chastewipoutsynne

356
RUTH WILSON
TRYON
Righton Pe selfe manere

?Lady 3ifPi willewere
I wole Pee wedde now verray
12. In chastitelyve to mynendingeday
He tokea ryngewipoutlette
And on hirfyngerhe hit sette
And kissedhirfetein tokenynge
16. Pat Perehe made his weddinge
?And so afterPat his kyn
Of mariagespake to hym
Ofte Pe childesaide nay
20. But atte laste forsope to saye
Pai tornedhimPat wive he wolde
And wi} a maydea day holde
Pat aipermyghtoperse
24. To loke how beste myghtbe
?pen as Pe clerkesleptea-nyght
To hymapperedourelady bright
Pe ryngeon hirfyngersche broght
28. Clerkesche sayde mynnestPou noght
In what wise Pou weddestme
Woldestlou now a gabberbe
I woldeholde my wedlake
32. Wole I neuerPee forsake
And so mostJouby Pe lawe
Pou may not two wiveshaue
Wii me Joumostwipoutlees
36. Lede Pi lyfendeles
?Wip Pat ourelady vanysshta-way
Pe clerkea-woke& hit was day
He made hymmon of holychirche
40. Holy werkesforto wirche
And in oure lady seruisedyed
And at Pe laste to hirhe 3ede
In almainfelPis caas
44. By oureladyes gretegrace

12. A
357
BROKEN TUN OF WINE FILLED BY OUR LADY (fol.
A MIRACLE
76b).
of a gode wyf
Pat faire& cleneled hirlyf
Hir wake felsope to saye
4. Al way on oureladi day
Sche had ordevneda tonneof wyn
Pat was bope gode and fyne
WhenPe day was comenwit al
8. Hir gestesgederedinto Pe halle
?Pe spencercome Pen priue]y
And tolde to Pe lady
Pe tonnewas brokenPe wynschedde
12. And oueral Pe selerfledde
?Pe lady was Pen fulwoo
To hirchambersche 3edePo
On Pe er}e schefeldoun
16. Wi} fulgretedeuocioun
Lady sche saide as Pou art walle
In manmies
nede vppon to calle
And cristenmannessocoure
20. When Jiaiben mostin doloure
Helpe lady as }ou may beste
Pat my menskebe not leste
?As sche kneledat hirprayere
24. To Pe lady come a chambrere
Dame sche saide be glad and fayn
Pe tonneof wynis hole a3ayn
?Pe lady 3edePen anon
28. And tolde hirgesteseuerechone
Pe grace of ourederelady
Pat was done so openly
Alle Pe menin Pat place
32. Spake Pen of ourelady grace
Pai saide Pat ourelady wes
To love & to tristepereles

358
RUTH WILSON TRYON
13.
ORIGIN OF THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY (foi. 76b).
miraclegraciously
A NOpER
Fel by oure
lady
Of Pe festof hirNatiuite
4. As hit was ordeynedfortobe
A gode cristenman Jorwes
And a holyand lastles
And all his occupacioun
8. Was in prayeresand in orisoun
?pen in Jeheruestsope to say
On oure lady latterday
pat now is pen was none
12. Into a feldehe was gon
He herdeangelsin Pe liftesinginge
Aue Maria ay mynnynge
So Pai songena gretespace
16. Of oureladyesheghgrace
Pai vsed to come in pat manere
As pat day manya )ere
?pe holyman ech ;ere also
20. As pat day woldePidergo
To herepat songein Pe lifte
Of Pe angelsfayreand bright
On a day he kneleddoun
24. And prayedwit gretedeuocioun
Pe myghtylordheuenkyng
pat he myghthaue tokenynge
To weteforwhat skil & why
28. Pe angel songenso merily
?An angel pen as God wolde
To pat holyman tolde
pat tymewitterly
32. Was bornourederelady
WhenPe angel in pat caas
Hade toldePe gode man how it was
He bade Pe gode man go his way

MIRACLES
359
OF OUR LADY
36. As Pou hast seen so Pou may say

?pe holyman was ioyedand glad
And to Pe bisshophe 3edfulrad
And toldePe tale myche& litte
40. As hit was cuerechea quytte
?i1ebisshopPen wele wiste
Pe holyman was wele to truste
Pe bisshopePen wipgode entent
44. To Pe Pope anon went
And Pe holyman also
He made wit hymforto go
?17aitolde Pe Pope al Pe caas
48. Rightas hit done wes
And ordeynedPen forsopeto saye
Pe latterSaynt Marie day
In holychircheforcerteyntee
JSaicallen hit Pe Natiuitee.
14.
JEWS
CANNOT
DESTROY
A MARY
IMAGE
miracleI wole 30w telle

A InNOpER
greteRome as hit bifel
In a synagogeof Pe Jewerye
4. Of an ymageof ourelady
It was not made wij manneshond
But was comenof goddessonde
?Pe JewesvpponPe sabothday
8. Fonde Pat ymageverray
Pe Jeweshertesswollenso grete
Pai myghtnot welea wordespeke
Pai wentforthforgretedespite
12. Pai woldewesshehit away tite
But Perewas no licoure
Ne no manerof siluer
Knyfschauyngene operPinge
16. Pat myghthit a waye bringe
?When Pai seghenwipoutles
Pat alle heriapes wereboteles

(fol. 77b).
360
RUTH WILSON TRYON
For greteanger& malencolye

20. pai lefteher templewitterly
15. A WOMAN
WHO COMMITTED
BY THE
A MIRACLE
DEVIL
INCEST,
AND WAS ACCUSED
(fol.77b),
of a symplewyf
Pat hade wrangeled hirlyf
A sone sche hade bope faire& fre
4. And a childeof gretebewte
Sche loued hymso tenderly
Pat ech a nyghthe lay hirbye
?pe childebigan Pen to belde
8. Pat atte laste he came to elde
Pe deuel temptedbope two
Pat Pai myghtnot forgo
So Pai dide and so Pai speke
12. Bitwenehem a chyldePai gete
T?e deuel was war of hersynne
And woldehaue combredhemPeryflne
He made hymin al manere
16. A greteclerkeas he were
He tolde to Pe Official
Al Pe gretehole tale
As Pai hade in ech a place
20. Synnedin her trespace
? ve wonimanwas fulhastily
Somnedto je Constorye
WThen
Pe wornmanPat segh
24. Pat hirsorowewas so hegh
Sche cryedon ourelady ay
Bope by nyghtand by day
?Lady sche saide wele I se
28. But I haue helpe of Pee
My lyfschamelyschal be leste
Helpe me lady forPou may beste
AfterPat wi}out lette
was sette
32. Whenpe Conistorye

MIRACLES
361
OF OUR LADY
Pe wommancame fulcarefully
Hir myndewas eueron ourelady
?Je deuel in liknesseof a clerke
36. Come & toldeal hiirwerke
And preuedin pe wyvesface
By redytokenas hit was
As sche schuldhave hade hLrdome
40. And to Pe dep haue ben done
Oure lady apperedby hirmyglit
And wii hiran angel bright
But noonof hemhade powere
44. Ourelady to se ne to here
Safe Pe wonimanonly
And Pe deuel Pat stode hirbye
Pe deuel gleweas he werewode
t8. And in his ownekyndestode
AfterPat Pe fendesanke right
To hellein heralres sight
Pai broghtbe wyfpurghout Pe toun
52. Wip a faireprocessiout
And heldenhircleneand lastles
And Ponkedourelady as worli wes
?Pe wommanschrofehirof hirsyntne
56. }at sche hade layn longeynne
And lyuedin ourelady seruise
And endedPerynnein all wyse.
16. A
MARY
IMAGE
INSULTED
BY A
A NOpER miracle3e mayhere
JEW (fol. 78b).
As hit was in all manere

As bifelforcerteyntee
4. In Spayn in a greteCite
?pe Cristenmen made wipal
Ouera 3atevppona wal
An ymageof ourelady
8. A fulfayreand a clenely
?A Jeweas he comeand 3ede

362
RUTH WILSON
TRYON
On Pat ymagetoke hede

He hade anger& mychewoo
12. Pat comelyymageto se so
On a day in a malencolye
He stale to hit priuely
And at Pe ymagehe kest stones
16. And manycloddesforPe nones
WiJfenPat vnderhis fetewas
He smotePe ymagein Pe face
As he was Pat dede doynge
20. Pe cristenmenwerecommynge
?Jen Pe pire deuel of helle
DispitouslyPe Jewedide quelle
?Pe cristenhyedforto se
24. HastilyPat meruailtee
Pai fondePe Jewestoon dede.
As Pe deuel hymhade lede
Also Pai seghenP?edeuel verray
28. FromPe Jeweflea-waye
?Tai fondePe ymageof oure lady
Brokenand defouledbodily
A cristenman wijout lette
32. To Pe ymagea laddersette
He wentvp wip waterclere
And wesshedhirin alle manere
?On Pe ymagewas manya pitte
36. Pere as Pe stoneshade hitte
Pat ran oyle greteplente
Pat cristenmenof Pat Cito
Come and bare hit a-way
40. Pat dide miraclesfulverray
And all soreshole made
And halpe alle Pat nede hade

MIRACLES
17.
OF OUR LADY
OUR LADY IN SURETY FOR A MERCHANT
NOpER miraclefely wisse

A fPat
was faireand gracewis
It was a marchauntforsopeto telle

4. Pat vsed bope to bye and selle
So on a tymewipoutendrede
;if his marchandiseschuldspede
He mostcreancenedely
8. Siluerin pe Jewerye
he erlyros
In a mornynge
To a Jewehe radlygos
And bade hymto a certaynday
12. Lene hyma certeynof monay
For pe okerin Pe selfassise
As was hervsage and her gyse
?Quop Pe JewePen loke pou
16. What sikernesseI schal haue now
?Quop Pe cristenman witterly
I schal fyndeourelady
Sche schal be myfulleplegge
20. And al mygode I lay to wedde
Pai 3ode to Pe kirkebope
Vppon ourelady he made his ope
To quytehymwitoutlette
24. At a certaynday was sette
He tokehis siluerradlyPoo
And 3edePere he hade to go
MarchaundisePerwiphe boght
28. And ouerpe see he radlysoght
Bi3ondePe see his catel he solde
And homea3aynhye he wolde
For euerhe poghtwi} gode entent
32. Vppon Pe Jewespayment
?When he was boun forto Cayle
pe wyndewoldenot avayle
But turneda3eynhymouerpwert

363
(fol. 79a).
364
RUTH WILSON TRYON
36. Wit gretstormeshuge& smert

Pen vpponPe euenynge
Pat he schuldpaye in Pe mornynge
Whenhe seghno bote was
40. OuerPe see he myghtnot passe
Into a pekettetrewly
He tokePe siluerech a penye
And seled hit in heralressight
44. Lady he sayde fulof myght
As }ou hast vertuegreteplentee
Helpe 3ifPat Pi willebe
So Pat neuera3eynmywille
48. To a Jewemy trowpeto spille
He toke Pe siluerPen anon
And kesthit intoPe see fome
?The morneaftersope to saye
52. Wes pe termeof Pe paye
Pe Jeweros in Pe mornynge
Beside Pe see was goynge
He fondePe siluerals faste
56. As hit into Pe see was caste
?AfterPe cristenman comehome
Pe Jewe3edeto hymanone
He asked afterhis monay
60. And saide he had brokenhis day
?Quop Pe marchauntI trowenay
I hope Pou haddesta redypaye
Sche Pat was borghof Pe dette
64. Go we to hirwipoutlette
For sche woteal myPoght
Sche knoweswele as I haue wroght
I tristewele in hirgodenesse
68. Pat sche wole bere me witnesse
?Biforeourelady Jai 3edenPo
Many oon wentwit hem two
Pe cristenman kneleddoun
72. And saide wit gretedeuocioun

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
365
Lady forPi dignite

Helpe ifPat Pi willebe
Pat I neuerso euel spede
76. In wrongebe tayntin falshede
TIHehade not so radlysayde
Pe ymageanswerdeat abraide
Jewesche saide Pou fondein paye
80. Beside Pe see Pat ilke day
IintoPe see he hit keste
I sendehit to Pee er hit wereleste
VnderPi bedde Pou putthit po
84. 3etthitlithrightso
Cristenman quop ourelady
Go homewiphymradly
Pere3e schal Pe sope se
88 Wheperof hemschal gabberbe
'pe cristenmenPen anoon
Wipe Jewe3edenhome
As ourelady saide so hit was
92. Pai fondePe siluerin Pat place
And of Pat meruailte
Sprangewordeoueral Pe cuntre
And by ourelady gretevertue
96. Pat tymetornedmanya Jewe
18. A LILY
GROWS FROM THE MOUTH
OUTSIDE
THE
CI1URCHYARD
OF A CLERK
(fol.80a).
A NOpER miracle3e mayhere
As hit was in alle manere

A clerkeseruedourelady ay
4. And forhirloue woldepsalmessay
So at Pe laste fela caas
Vppon a feldehe swoltenwas
Schriftene houselhade he noght
8. But ourelady was in his Poght
l?ErPe soule passed a-way

BURIED
366
RUTH WILSON
TRYON
?Aue Maria'
He saide Aue Maria aye
Whenpat he was fondedede
12. Pai saide hit was Pe besterede
Peremake a pitte& laye hymynne
He was not schryvenof his synne
WhenPai hade so saide
16. Pe pittwas made Pe clerkin laide
T?ai prayedto God Almyghty
On his soule to haue mercy
And Pen by Pe Priddeday
20. Fel a gracefulverray
Of his mouje sprangea floure
Whyteas lilie of coloure
Pe spyrefourefotelonge
24. Pe leues a partieredeamonge
Vppon Pe leues proprely
Was writenPus2 Aue Marie
As a man come on Pe felde
28. Vpon Pe biriyngehe behelde
Pereas Pe flouresprongenwes
newe baren ofgresse
Pe .
He 3ede to Pe kirkePerone
32. And tolde [hitto] Pe persone
T?epersonePen & opermo
leredand lewed also
Wenten piderforto se
36. Wheper[hit]myght[so]Pebe
Pai seghenverrayin hersight
Pe floureof ourelady myght
To be bisshoppai 3edeto telle
40. A Pe graceas hit bifelle
Pai prayedof leve to haue
To take Pe body of Pe grave
Pe bisshopwiJgode chere
44. 3afhemhis powere
oftheMS.
IIn margin
MS. blurred.

367
pai 3edea3aynhastily
And toke vp Pe body
And bare hit into holyplace
48. And biriedhit as worpiwas
wipfulgretesolempnitie
For he was holyin alle degre
19.
THE EMPEROR OF ROME (fol. 80b).
A NOpER miracle3e may here
Of Pe myghtof ourelady dere

In Rome was an Emperoure
pat was a man of gretevaloure
[The leaves of the MS. whichfollowedhave been lost.]
4.
1. "Monk Temptedby theDevil in theformofa Woman."

This miracleseems to be a remarkableconglomerateof a
numberof legends. The temptationincidentis not uncommon in religioustales. Royal MS. 8 F. VI, fol. 15 (a XVth
centurycollection)and B. M. Addit. MS. 22557 (fol. 28b)
give a similarstoryof a proudhermitseducedby the Devil
in theformofa woman.' The secondelementof thestorytheappointment
secret
ofthebell-houseas beinga sufficiently
place for meeting-is slightlyreminiscentof the Thais
legend.2 The monk'sinabilityto findthe door of the bellhouse after he has repeated the Five Joys, is paralleled
Otherexamplesof temptationby the Devil:
Guibertde Nogent,De laude S. Mariae, Cap. XI. Hermittemptedby
the Devil in theformof a woman;see above, p. 336.
Herolt,Promptuarium,
B. M. MS. Addit. 19,909, f. 241b, col. 2. A
sacristanenragedthe Devil by paintinghimhideousand the Virginbeautiful; he was inducedby the Devil in the formof a beautifulwomanto steal
the conventtreasurersand was finallyundeceiveaby theVirgin.
Legennda
Aurea,,Cap. II. 9: Devil in formof a beautifulwomanvisitsa
bishop;he is exposedwhenasked the distancefromheaven to hell.
GestaRomanorurn,
B. M. Addit. 9066, fol.80b (see Cat. Ram. III, 261).
Hlereit is an anchoresswho is temptedby the Devil as a beautifulwoman,
to returnto theworld;sheis saved by prayersto theVirgin.
2 This legendis introduced
into the Northz.
Hom. Collection;forthe text
see Herrig'sArchiv.LVII. 279.
1

368
RUTH WILSON TRYON
in anotherlegendin Royal MS. 8 F. VI., fol.21, a variation

of "The Nun who Saw the World." Here a nun who is
about to elope witha knightcannotfindthe conventdoor
tillshe ceases to salute theVirgin. The close of theEnglish
legendmayhave beensuggestedby a miraclefromCaesarius
VII. 33) in whicha
of Heisterbach(Dialogus Miraculorum,
nun triesto fleewitha sacristan,but findsher way barred
at thegate by thefigureof the Crucified.
Since all theothermiraclesin thisEnglishtextshowsome
relationto John de Garland, it seems probable that this
hybridstorywas suggestedby someoneofGarland'slegends.
The nearestseems to be "The Mouth of Hell shownto a
Nun" (Libermetricus,
f. 20b,col. 2), a tale ofa nunwhowas
turnedback fromelopingwitha knightby a visionin which
she was draggedto the mouthof hell,but saved by the Vir-
gin.
2. "Woman revived for Confession." Suggestedby a

f. 18,
similarlegend in Johnde Garland's Liber metricus,
col. 2. The same storyis given in the Spec. Hist. (VII.
magnumordinisCis117), and morefullyin the Exordiium
terciensis,
V., cap. 5 (Migne,Patrol. CLXXXV., col. 1129).
B. M. MS.
It is also includedin Herolt's Promptuarium,
Addit, 19,909,fol. 247, col. 2. In this miraclethe English
narratorseems to have confinedhimselfto the traditional
version.
3. "Our Lady and ThreeInnocentshelpto builda chapel."

Suggestedby Johnde Garland's"Columnsraisedby School
f. 18, col. 2). The Englishscribe
Boys." (Liber metricus,
but the relationhas disguiisedhis sourcevery thoroughly,
ship is still discernible. Accordingto the traditionalstory,
workmenwho werebuildinga churchin honorof the Virgin
forthe EmperorConstantinewereunable to raise theheavy
columns. The Virgindirectedthat three school children
be called; they accomplishedthe task with ease. This
miracleis told by Gregoryof Tours, MiraculorumLib. I.,
cap. 9;3 it also appears in Spec. Hist. (VII. 81) and Scala
I
MignePairol.LXXI., col.713.

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
369
coeli,fol. clxi. This Englishversionis, as faras I can discover,unique.

4. "Empress of Rome." Suggestedby a similarlegend,
"The Chaste Empress,"in Garland'sLibermetricus,
(fol.18,
col. 2). The samemiracleappearsin Herolt'sPromptuarium,
(B. Al. Addit. MS. 19,909,fol. 239) taken fromthe Spec.
Hist. (VII. 90-92). This tale is one formof the Crescentialegend,and is connectedwith the storyof Constance in
Chaucer's AManof Law's Tale, and in Gower's Confessio
Amantis,Bk. II.
For a complete discussionof the Crescentia-saga,see
Svend Gruntvig,DanmarksGamleFolkevise,(Copenhagen)
I., (1853), pp. 177-204;II. (1856), pp. 644-5; III. (1858-62),
pp. 779-782;IV. (1869-83),pp. 722-731;and also Mussafia,
Uebereine italienischemnetrische
Darstellungder Crescentiasage (Sitzungsberichte
d. WienerAkad. Bd. LI (1865) pp.
589-692).
5. "Abbess Delivered by Our Lady." Suggestedby a
similarlegendin Johnof Garland's Liber metricus,
fol. 16b.
This legend-one of the most popular of the miraclesof
Our Lady-may lbeidentified
withPEZ No. 36. It appears
in a greatnumberof theLatin collections,includingVincent
de Beauvais, Spec. Ilist. (VII. 86); JohnGobii, Scala coeli
(No. 11), Etienne de Bourbon,De SeptemDonis (Pars II.,
Titulus VI. "De B. Maria," No. 135) and Herolt,Promptuariumexenmplorum
(No. 24). This miracleis introduced
as a "Narratio" in the NorthernHoinilyCollection.4The
NorthernHomily versionintroducesa new element-the
accusationof the abbess to the bishop by a nun whomshe
had takenin as a foundling
The Englishversionin B. M. Addit. MS. 39996,does not
give the incidentof the ungrateful
foundling-nun,
but offers
a different
peculiarity:it is not Our Lady, but two angels
sentby her,who help theprioressin hertrouble.
4 For textsof the versionin theNorthHoom.
Coll. see Small,Metr.Homilies, pp. 164-7and Herrig's.4rchivLVII. 257.

370
RUTH WILSON
TRYON
6. "Cancered tonguehealed by the touchof the Virgin's

Finger." See above, p. 338.
7. "Jew-Boy." See above, p. 324.
8. "Woman's Son Restoredto Life by Our Lady." Suggestedby a similarlegendin Garland'sLibermetricus,
f. 17.
The same storyis foundin a XIVth centuryLatin collection,
B. M. Addit. MIS. 18346,fol. 52b, col. 2. Here the woman
is the wifeof a Frenchknight. A Frenchversionappears in
Mielot, (RoxburgheClub, 1885) No. XXXI.
9. "Devil in Beast-Shapes." Suggested by a similar
legendin Garland's Liber metricus,
f. 17. Accordingto the
usual versionin PEZ No. 23 (one of the Toledo-Saturday
group), a drunkenmonk met the Devil in each of these
shapes successively,and each time was deliveredby Our
Lady. Cotton MS. Cleop. C.X., fol. 132, gives thisformof
the story.
10. "Barns Filled in Time of Fame." Suggestedby a
similarlegend in Garland's Liber metricus,
f. 17. The traditionalversionis givenby Gregoryof Tours, Mliraculorum,
Lib. I., cap. 11 (Migne, Patrol. XXI., col. 715), as follows:
Whenmonksin an abbey in Jerusalemwerein greatstraits
forlack of food, theirbarns were miraculouslyfilled;when
therewas a secondtimeof need,an angellaid gold upon the
altar; both miracleswereascribedto theVirgin.
11. "Ring given to a Mary-image." Suggested by a
similar legend in Garland's Liber metricus,f. 18. This
miraclecontainselementsfoundin two different
Latin versions-one in PEZ, and the other in B. M. Addit. MS.
15723, a late XIIth and XIIIth centurycollection. Accordingto PEZ, No. 16, a pious clerkof Pisa, who was devoted to Mary, influencedby his kin, became betrothed.
On his weddingday Mary reproachedhim and bade him
not to marry;he stole away in the night. Mussafia does
not mentionthe ringin summarizingthis miracle. B. M.
Addit. MS. 15723, fol. 72b, introducesthe ring incident,
but in this case the young men marriedin spite of good
advice; the image seemedto intervenebetweenhimand his

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
371
bride,and he became a monk. A similarversionappears

in theSpec. Hist. (VII. 87) and in Scala qoeli,fol.clxiv.
12. "The BrokenTun of Wine." Suggestedby Garland's
miracle,"Mead" (Liber metricus,f. i6, col. 2). Cotton
MS. Cleop. C.X., fol. 137b, gives the traditionalversion:
A lady in England received sudden notice of the King's
comingto dine withher; findingthat she had scarcelyany
mead in the cellar,she prayed to the Virginand obtained
abundance. In thebiographiesof Dunstan by "B," Osbern,
Eadmer, and William of Malmesbury(Stubbs, Memorials
ofSt. Dunstan,Rolls series,pp. 17, 86, 176,266) thismiracle
is said to have occurredon theoccasionof King Athelstane's
visit to the Lady AEthelfleda
(or Elfgifu)at Glastonbury.
The versionin whichthe occasionis a feastin honorof Our
Lady insteadof theKing, seemsto be originalwithour text.
13. "The Nativity." Suggestedby a similarlegend in
fol. 19. This is the traditional
Garland's Liber Mletricus,
accountof theoriginof the Feast of the Nativity. Mussafia
cites it firstfrom the Speculum ecclesiaeof Honorius of
Autun.5 It also appears in S. Germ. No. 48; Spec. Hist.
VII., 119; Scala coeli,No. 36; and in the Frenchmetrical
collections,Adgar, Egerton MS. 612, fol. 9b, col. 2, and
Royal MS. 20 B. XIV., fol. 114,col. 2.
14. "Mary image in a Synagogue." Suggested by the
story"Libia" in Garland's Liber metricus,
fol. 19. Again
the Englishnarratorhas succeededin manglinga traditional
miracle. The Libia storyas givenin PEZ No. 20 (one ofthe
Toledo-Saturday
group) is the conventionalform:The Jews
nearLydda (Libia is evidentlya mistake)complainedto the
Emperorbecause the Apostleshad turnedtheirsynagogue
into a church;the Emperororderedthe churchclosed; after
threedays a portraitof the Virginwas found to have appeared miraculously
on the wall. The EmperorJulianlater
orderedtheJewsto removeit, but theywereafraidto touch
it. The storyis foundedon a legendtoldby JohnofDamasI
Migne,Patrol.CLXXII., cols. 689, 769, 100!.

372
RUTH WILSON TRYON
cus (t c. 760) in his Epistola ad Tireophilum

:6
Jrnperatorei
How a portraitoftheVirginappearedon thewallat theopening of the churchdedicatedto her (in her lifetime)by the
ApostlesPeter and John;and how, in the time of Julian,
to removeit onlymadeits colorsbrighter.
theJews'efforts
15. "Incest." Suggested by a similar legend in Garf. 19, col. 2. The mostcommonform
land's Libermetricus,
of this miracleis the versionfound in Paris MS. 14463
(formerly
S. Victor248), a largeXIJthcenturycollectionof
miraclesof Our Lady, closelyrelatedin contentsto PEZ.
This versionincludesdetails not givenin the EnglishMS.
viz., the murderof the infant,and the woman'sconfession
to the Pope. The same storyis narratedby Jacques de
EgertonMS. 1117,fol.176,
Vitry(Exempla,No. CCLXIII).
of thismiracle,in which
gives a moresensationalrendering
the Devil introduceshimselfto the Emperoras a skilled
counselor,and is made judge; in the end he vanisheslike
smoke with a whirlwind,carryingpart of the palace-roof
away withhim (XVard,Cat. RoIn.II, 669)
is found in
Anotherstory of incest and child-murder
Royal MS. 5 A. VIII., a XIIIth centuryLatin collection
(see Ward,Cat. Rom. II, 650), but in this case thereis no
Devil-accuser,and the womanis saved by the Virginfrom
of a spiderwhichshe had swallowedin
the poisonouseffects
an attemptto commitsuicide
16. "Mary-imageInsulted." Comparethe similarlegend
in Garland's Liber metricus,fol. 19. This miracle is an
adaptationof a legendfoundin the older collections. Accordingto the XIIth centuryMS. Paris 14463 (S. Victor
248), a Jewthrewa Mary-imageinto a privy;he died, and
the rescuedimage afterwardemittedoil. Ward notes that
this storyis told by Adamnan, De Locis Sanctis, III., 5.
(Migne Patrol. LXXXVIII., col. 813), on the authorityof
Arculfus,a FrenchPilgrim.7
6 Migne,
Patr.GA.,XCV.,col.350.
' A translation
ofAdamnan's
workhasbeenpublished
bythePalestine
TextSoc.,underthetitleArculfus,
(London,1889).

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
373
The miracleoftheMary-imageinsultedas givenin Cotton

MS. Cleop. C.X., does not mention the miraculousoil.
Ward speaks of Johnof Garland'sversionas similarto that
in Cotton Cleop.; whetherGarlandalso omitsthe oil is not
clear.
17. "Our Lady is Suretyfor a Merchant." See above,
p. 337.
18. "Lily fromthe mouthof a Clerk." See above, p. 329.
19. "Emperorof Rome." The fourlines of this miracle
whichare preservedare not enoughto identifythestory.
IV.
SCATTERED
TEXTS
Thus far we have consideredonly Miracles of Our Lady

whichappear in moreor less definitely
organizedgroupsor
collections. Besides these,one comes upon a considerable
numberof Legends of the Virginin English verse either
standing separately or sometimesjoined in pairs. The
earliest of these is the Legend, "How Our Lady's Psalter
was firstFound," whichfirstmakesits appearancein Digby
86, a MS. of the second halfof the 13thcentury.1Next in
chronologicalorderis the imperfecttextof "The Clerkwho
would see the B. V.," whichappears in the AuchinleckMS.
(firstquarter of the XIVth century).2 Chaucer, Lydgate,
and Hoccieve each relatesone Miracle of Our Lady: Chaucer's Prioresstellsthestoryof"The Boy Slain by theJews";
LydgatetranslatesfromVincentof Beauvais, underthe title
"'rhe Legend of Dan Joos,"3the miracleof the monkfrom
whosegravesprangfiverosesbearingthe lettersM, A, R, 1,
A; IHocclevein his legend, "The Virginof the Sleeveless
Garment,"4gives a later versionof the miracle,"How Our
Lady's Psalterwas firstFound."
In the ThorntonMS (Lincoln Cath. A. 5. 2, circa 1440)
1 Ed. Horstmann,A. E. Legenden:Neur Folge,pp. 220-224; Furnivall,
EETS. Orig.Ser. 117, 777-785.
2 Ed. Horstmann,
op. cit.,pp. 499-502.
1 For discussionof thismiraclesee above, p. 329.
4 Ed. A. Beatty,A Neuw
Ploughman'sTale, Chauc. Soc. 2nd Ser. 34, 12-21.

374
RUTH WILSON
TRYON
one finds"The Wicked Knight Reformed,"unfortunately

a defectivetext, of which only the beginningand the end
are preserved.5 MS. Ashmole61 (late 15th century)tells
the storyof "The Good Knight and His JealousWife"5theonlyinstanceof thislegendin English.
list are already
The miraclesenumeratedin the foregoing
accessiblein print,and consequentlyit willnot be necessary
to include texts of them here. There are, however,two
other manuscriptswhich contain Miracles of Our Lady
hithertounprinted. Of these the firstis MS. Tanner 407
(end of the 15thcentury)whichcontainsversionsof "Saved
by LearningTwo Words" and "The Devil in Service." The
otheris MS. Harley 2380 (beg. of the 16th century)which
containsthe legend,"The Child and the Abbot," otherwise
in English. The textsof thesethreemiracles
unrepresented
are presentedherewith.
1.
SAVED
BY
LEARNINGTwo VWORDs-Tanner
MS. 407 (fol.58b).1
Serysa merakylor to I schal 3ou telle

That foroureladyis loue somtymebe-felle
Of to gentylmenPat knvghtyswerenkyd
4. And both herdoynggysand what of hem betyd
On of hem was no clerkbut a lewydman
But he was sette to skole to leresertayn
He was set to Pe boke forto spel and rede
S. His a b se and paternosterhis aue and his crede
But whenaue maria was his lesson
He myghtlere no fertherbe no reson
But aue maria euermorin his mendehe kept
12. And seyde it wit his mowthsaf onlyquan pat he slept
I
Ed. Horstmann,op. cit.,pp. 503, 504.

Ilorstmann,op. cit.,pp. 329-333.
1 and y: I
1 In this MS. thesame characterhas beenused to represent
havedistinguished
between
themas thesenserequired. I havealso disregarded
a strokeplaced overcertainwordswhereit seemedmeaningless,as in toun
Mir. 2, 1. 14; doun,Mir. 2,1. 25; and renoun,Mir. 2,1. 26.
6 Ed.

16.
20.
24.
28.
32.
36.
375
And so pis wordysaue mariaforgathe nought

Wherpat he wentor quat pat he wrought
So be-felafterwardas goddyswillewas
This knightschuldbe ded and fropis werldpas
His body was beryedin a cherche3erd
Amongpe comonpepyllewydand leryd
But witinnea fewedayes Jat al menmyghtsene
pergrewea lylyeon his grauefulgay and fulgrene
And fyuefulfayrlevyshad Pat lelya
And on eueryleefwas wretynAue maria
And mechefolkwentto se Pat semelysyth
Of Pat lovelylely Pat was so fayrand so bryth
Som men seyd Pat it greweneuerof Pat same lond
But Pat it was settetherewit som mannyshond
wit a spade Pei dede deluynin pe grounde
And therfor
On-tope tymePat the rotePer-ofmyghtbe founde
So depe theydoluynin pat stede
On-topat pei comento pe dede mannyshede
And therepei southpe roteas wel as Pei cowth
And pei sey pe rotestondein Pe dede mannysmowth
And thanalle 1e pepylseyd thussertaynly
That it was a merakylof god and of ourelady
forPat chesoun
Al Pe pepyl aftyrward
Seyd therAue marywithgood deuocioun
And god 3euevs grace to seynoureAue mary
Pat it be plesyngto hymalso to ourelady. Amen.
2.
THE DEVIL IN
SERVICE--TannerMS. 407
(fol.59a).
The totherknyghtwas keperof a castell

And therehe robbydmanymerias ourebokystell
And therehe ieuyd as a theffmanydays & )erys
manyfalsfolkpat wernhis comperys
4. And maynteynyd
But it was his customforsotheeueryday
Onys at Pe lest fyveAue maryesto say
And forony besynespat myghtbe-falle
8. He for-3atehem nouthto seynhem alle

376
12.
16.
20.
24.
28.
32.
36.
40.
RUTH WILSON TRYON
Of al day afterPat ded he no good dede

But ourelady at Pe last a-qwythhymwel his mede
Fforas 3e schulhereand vnderstond
Ther cam a good man throwPat lond
Sent barnarda man2of religyon
That wentbe Pat castel to a nothertoun
AnonPis man was taken& fowlydyffoulyd
And of al pat he had robbydand dyspoylyd
And afterwardtheybrouthhymto a preson
ony reson
Perothermenwornwith-owten
And thangan he preyePe menPat hymgan take
SerysI preye3ou alle foroureladijs sake
That I myghtspekewit Pe lordof Pis castel
Ffora prevycouncelto hymI schal tel
And so Pis menPvattokenhymfellynto a-cord
And bowdenhym& Pei browtehima-fornherlord
And a-fornPe lordJeidede hymknelyndoun
To do hymwurchepreuerensand renoun
And he preydPe lord to grauntenhyma bone
And Pe lordansweredand seyd quat forto done
Lord 3eueme leue foroureladijs sake
In Pe worchepof ourelady a sarmonto make
And a-nonPe knyghtconsentydther-to
And whatso euerehe bad it3schuldbe do
Than he preydPe knyght4
at Pe be-gynnyng
That alle his menmyghtcomynto herehis prechyng
And a-nonPey wernbodynand chargedsertayn
That Pei schuldcomynthedyreueryman
And alle his mengladlyand wit a good chere
A-fornPis holyman a-nonPeygonea-pere
Than seyd Pis holyman be 3e comeeuery-schone
They seyd 3a and he sayd nay 3etwantysherone
AndPan Pis menanswered& seydenalle in fere
All Pe menof thisplace stondyna-fornPe here
MS. aman.
MS. h crossed
outbefore
it.
4 MS. knygth.
2

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
377
Than seyd Pis holyman to hema-geyn

44. Qweris mynlordysownechambyrlavn
Than eueryman fulbeselylokydlivma-boute
But he was not therewitowtenony dowte
And a-nonbe Pe lordyswylleand be assent
to chambertheywent
48. AfterPe chamberleyn
And whanPat he was brouthforthin to Pat place
He mad a foulsemlawntand a fouleface
And therhe was coniuridof Pat holyman
52. Be Pe vertuof cristyspassiouncertayn
And bad hem tellealle menwhat Pat he were
And whyPaxthe com thedyr& quat Pat he dede there
Than seyd Pis man I can no moresay
56. I mustdo as Pou byddystme I can not sayn nay
I am a-knoweto alle menin thiscastel
That I am no man but a fyndeof hel
And whyanidwherfore
Pat I com hedyr
60. I schal 3011tellenal to-gedyr
I haue dwellydwit Pis knyghtxiiij yeer
And be his chamberleyn
and mad himgood cher
Fforhis falsleuyng& his wykkednes
64. And formayvitenawns
of falsmenin herfalsnes
And her-toI have temptydhymmanyday & long
And I haue loynin a wayteeuermora-mong
Pat 3ifhe had fayledonyson a day
68. On aue mariaat Jelest forto say
And forPat he seyd eueryday his aue mary
Fforthiof hymI myghtnothhan non maystry
Ffor3ifthathe Jerofon day had fayled
72, Sodenlyforsothehe schulda be asayled
And sodeynlya be ded and gon to helle
Trowe Pis tale fortreweas ony gospelle
But marymodyrand may
76. She is ourefulenmyebothenyght& day
Fforalle Pe folkthathermay plese
We may on no wysedo hemdesese
And thanPis knyghtknelyddoun a-non

378
RUTH WILSON TRYON
80. And cryedgod mercyand mad mechilmon

And alle his felawisperin fere
They cryedto god wit dolfulchere
And mad a wow to god & to ourelady
84. pat Pey schuldneueraftervse no swychefoly
And preydPis holyman of religion
Of penaunsand of absolucion
And he 3afhemin penaunsspecially
88. pat Pei schuldeuermorworchepour lady
And thisholyman coniurydPe fend
And on goddysname he bad hymwend
And to wyldernesse
take Pou Pe way
92. And neuermoretempteman be nyghtne be day
The fendwentanon as he hymbad
And whenhe was gon al menwernglad
And on herknesPei gone doun glyde
96. And Pis holyman mercyPei cryede
And he for3afhemher trespasforcristyssake
And 3ouynhymageyinal pat he wold take
And werntrewemenafterwardas I wene
100. Throwhelp ofourelady blyssydmoteshe bene
And leddyna good lyfand madena good ende
And forthergood leuyngto heuengun pei wynde
To pat plas bryngvs crystgod and man
104. ThrowPe preyerof ourelady & of sent AnneAmen.
3.
THE CHILD AND THE
ABBOT-Harley MS. 2380 (fol.

74b).1
pe blyssedBarneIn betlemBorne
pat wit Is blod fullderevs bought
' This MS. is in very bad condition;moreover,the scribe'swritingis
poor, and his spellinginconsistent.In some lines wherethe text is plain,
it is evidentthat his versionis a corruption.I have not attempted,therefore,to supplywhat he mighthave writtenin passages whichare tornor
blurred,exceptin lineswherethe meaningis obvious.
The scribeuses many of his symbolslavishly,and withoutmeaningor
consistency;and in interpreting
theseabbreviationsmy object has been to

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
379
And lete hysbraynebe tyrledwit thorne

4. And he gyltlesin vord& thowt
Blys Pane abbode euvn & morne
And menskePam pat marsme nought
Mani maruellhas ben beforn
has ben wro3t
8. And wondervs2
Offferlyfolkpat warefulfere
In on myfattfullyes feste3
pere
Of an abbot wyttvtyn
12. Pat euerIn prayerswas fullpreste.
He was fullwyswitoutynwere
Hys woningwas al in Pe weste
Wit duks was he lef& dere
16. Quen pai to-gederon des waredreste
Pis lholyabbotte Pus lede Is lyffe
Pat lordslufwas one himlentte
And kny3tsof Pe contrifouoror fyiue
20. paresons to pe abbott sentte
He taughtpe chylderforto thryve
And to pam tokehe so gud tente
Pat wit and wyrscypewas pam to Bywe
24. And rebaldryfropam was rentte
Bot ane of all Pe abbot add
A chyldPat was bothechef& chace
usagesas faras posconventional
supplya readabletext,whilefollowing
exceptin words
sible. I havenotexpandedthestrokeoverm,n, and glh,
writes
outwiththee,as oneand(downe.I have
whichthescribeelsewhere
it from
soil,which
soonto distinguish
insone,meaning
thestroke
expanded
11
strokethrough
Theinvariable
witha flourish.
thescribeusuallyfinishes
thetext,m is
it. Throughout
requires
is expandedonlywhentherhyme
withthe
used foru or n (finie,1. 19; dynie,1.35); thisis corrected,
frequently
written
H-a abovetheline-ai, ori; I have
n in italics. pai is commonly
simplyused the properspelling,in italics. Wherethesensehas requiredthe

insertionof a wordor letter,it is put in parenthesis.
2 MS., a letter
v and s.
struckoutbetween
corrupted.
3 A line et4dently

380
RUTH WILSON
TRYON
He dyd bott as Pe abbott bad

Fforhe wa . . Id ne werkswaste4
28. In gods seruisehe was fulsad
Thurghtthe5homageof Pe holygoste
Gretlufehe to hourlady had
32. And to hyreson of mytsmoste
FforIlka day qwen he wald dyne
Vnto Pe pantrihe wald pas
Quen he It ad he wald not fine
36. Bot hydeym wythescwylkeas he as
Wareit bred ale or wyne
BetterIt vare qweteuerIt ware
Hys trauelltho3the noghtto turne
40. Bot to Pe kyrkehe toke pe trace
In kyrkeone knes Perwald he knele
Beforane ymageof vrelady
Wit aue grettePat worthy6
wele
44. Syne sayd hyresauterdeuotly
Qwen he ad sayde it euerydeyll
Pan wald he set7ym downePerby
And mak ym meryat Pat male
48. Wit scwelkas he gat at pantry
Oure lady sauterJuswald he say
Eueryday are he wald dyne
So It fellapone a day
52. As he gun one hys knes enclyne
In Is prayersforto pray
BeforePat ymagefayr& fyne
Of mani.........................
I may8
56. ThurghtmyghtofmaryPat clen virgyn
M S. blurred.
MS. he.
6 MS. after
worthy,kingstruckout.
MS. he set he sette ym.
Lines 55-70written
in themargin,theedgeofwhichis torn.

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
381
ThurghtmyghtofmaryPatmodermyld
.kne
Pe lytyll
chyld
Gone doun.oder
he
60. And to yms.sayd
d
For pou ertof no......
....
sal Joube
]y nane..........
.....
Wit folyPi fiese.....
fyld
me
64. Bot surlyse..........
Qwenhe ad sayd ......
.... Perbywald say
Pe abbot chyldwasful fayn........
play
pai ett & dranke& s..........
to layn
..........
68. Ffullykaridly
Pai
......
Ffynefellowe....
Per.
Syne qwen It droughto tymeof day
To9
72.
Pe moderkne It styrtagayn
Thus ayderlefeat oderhas lau)t
Pe abbottchyldwentto Pe hall
Gretlyforym Pai weredistrau3t
76. And sadly sou3tPe chyldouerhall
He venthe ad bene in somescwaute(?)
Efterym Pai gun cry& call
Qwen Pe abbote hymse he was all foyut'0
80. Pe chylddoune one ys kne gun fall
The abbot sayd qwen (he) hemsee
I sertonson }ou ertto blame
Mercymaystermyndsayd he
84. In fatheIP was na ferfrohame
In kyrkI knelydoponemykne
Befora chyld& his dayme
His aun fellowmad e me
88. I am sogeteto seruiePe same
'MS. So.
10MS. blotted.
"MS. he.

382
RUTH WILSON
TRYON
FforIlka day at mv dynnere

To dynewit me I wil ymdres"2
pus er we fellousboth In fere
92. Pis farlyfodeful offarn(e)s
Pe abbot Pan chaungedIs chere
And sayd pou says nottas It es
Bote It be sothepou sall byd ere
96. bilessyngs& Pi lydernes
pe abbot leuid it was a ly
& 3ithe let no3tforto luke
P.etroughttrulyforto cry
100. Into Pe kyrkepe tracehe tuke
Vpone pe mornehe...............
Pe chyldwystnoughthys mayster
Be-forPe ymageof ourelady
104. Pe barnevn-bucyldsoneys Boke
Pe abbot preuilyin pe kyrkehymihyd
For pe chyldsowlenot ym see
Pe Barn Began hys beds to byd
108. & one ys hod ys metlayd he
Pe ymagekyndneshymkyd
kne
It come douniefrope nmoder
As pai warewentto do Pay dyd
112. God lentpe abbot leue to se
pe ymagesayd myfayrefelawe
Ouireal thyngI Pe for-byde
Wit Pi moutheluk pou say no sawe
116. Bot It be southeas god Pe sped
To pi last day it begynsto draywe
Pat Pou sall dynewit me In dede
& forpou lufsso wellmysawe
120. My moder& me I sall make pi med
12 The MS. has been corrected
by a laterhand. AfterI
(and corrtupted)
inserted.
whatappearstobe wylnotteis struckot, and wilydres

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
Ilka day haffI dyndwit Pe

To me Pou haf done Pi denere
Hastelysall Pou dynewit me
124. & also wythtmyfaderdyre
Pe chyldstyrtvnto pe moderkne
fere
And sayd myfayremyfathefull
It was a Ioyfullsy3tto see
128. Pe sembland& Peresolas sere
Wen Pie abbottall at hard
He ad gretast Into Pe hall
For fayneE wystno;t hou hefard
132. AndforPe chyldhe gunto call
Wen Pe chyldcome to yme-ward
Pe abbottdounon knesgun fall
And grettas Pe chyldchastysedwit )ehrde
136. And sayd scwettson I am thythrall
The chyldesor wonderwas I wys
And was Pe abbot fulwo Pe abbot wepe
Dere maysterhe sayd quat mensthys
140. Pat }ou to me one knessuld crepe
Me thynk;e move 3houall one mys
Scwylkcowrtasylordnon I kepe
Me had leueras hafI blys
144. Haf lygynin mybed doun seke
The abbott sayd son say not soo
Sey me son"3I saw pe laste
Qqware a-boutPen hast Pou go
148. And to wat place has Pou paste
& let noughtforfrendne foo
Bot fathfully
Pou tell me faste
Fforbot I wytI wyllbe wo
152. And catyflyin care Be caste
11Errorforsync?

383
384
RUTTH WILSON TRYON
The chyldsade lord )e kep counsayll

To say Je sotheto say I sal noughtsese
I was wit ym Jat witt3e well
156. 3e bad me to myfellowchese
Je chyldhe to Jeabbotguntell
All Pat jxai dyd bot Pe'4mor& les(e)
How e was meryat Jat mell
160. Wit hys denereJat dereone dese
He as praydto hys denere
Wit hym& wit Is modermeke
Pe abbot sayd wit-outynwere
164. I hard 3houbothe& saw 3oueke
per-for
son as Joul5lufsme dere
Pat luflychyldof chyn& cheke
Pat I my3tdynewit 3OUIn fere
168. Sadly son lou hymbeseke
All bote yfI vnvorthybe
I wald fayndynewit 3houPat day
pe chyldsayd syrehaf 3e ne kare
172. I sall'6be prestefor3houto prai
Pe cherfullchy(l)d graunthymfull3hare
In myndto do all Pat I may
Vn-toPat barnePat marybare
176. For Is maysterto mak Pe a way
On be mornewitoutynani mare
To mak Is prayersas e mente
He did ryghtas e dyd be-fore
180. And hastelyhys denerhente
Pen wald he no langeryne
Bot wyghtelyto Pe kyrkehe wente
And Perhe set wit syghngsore
184. And wy it was taks entente
14MS. botdhe.
15 MS. as
Jouas jou lufs.
"MS. aftersail twoletters,

apparently3u, struckout.

MIRACLES
385
OF OUR LADY
................e......
Pe kne
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' . . . .h . . . . . . ..h
y
........................
e....... e
188. ..................
away.. .. ry
e lytno3tlake wit Pe
................
.
...............
..... ...
be tratouly
..................
betrayedbothePe & me
192. Wat Pat we dyd bod Pou & I
MyckellmoningPe chyldgun make
And askydmercyofys mysdeed
And sayd fellowegud tentPou take
196. & pinkqwat Pat Pou me for-bed
Pat I suld neuerbe land ne lake
A lesingmak17in ani led
Bot southeto say ay forPe sake
200. To uenePe it Is no ned
And sythenit was Pi awnnebydding
I ad ben worthymykyllblame
GyfI ad mad lesynge
204. To my maysterit ad ben scame
Perforas Pou ertcomlykyng"
Pou luge Pe ryghtI Pou bename
And take gud tentto Pis Pyng
208. I aske.... es at Pinaun dame
..................
chyldwit nobyllchere
come dounfroPe moderkne
..............
finemyfathfulfere
......................
212. ................................
ight
oure dynnere
.........................
.........
I..............
me wine
....................
besoutlyin fere
216.
.g.d.
7
MS.mad.
1From thislineontheMS. is very

much
blwred.

386
RUTH WILSON
TRYON
........................
witting
.........
..... say
Of my mayster is my mynny(n)g19
220. Pou graunt It me as Pou well may
Prathe may forani thyng

Be at Pe dynnerof owreday
pus he praid himspecially
224. For Is maysterwitall att Is myght
Qwere lady son........
sone In
....
I grauntIt Pe as .... is ryght

pi maysteris not 3itredy
228. I wyllabyd til he be dyht
...............
day... be......y
. pat ay ys bryht
And co ..
Pe abbot chylldPen was fullfayne
232. pat .......
sayd ym soo
pay mad.............................
hartthro
........................
3hou
Sayd mayster........
blyth& layn
of all pi.
236. I ffor
..............
fellowI praydforPe
................
pat Pou sall com to ouredenere
MS. ends here.
"The Childand theAbbot." (It is verydifficult
to geteven
the gistof thismiracle,owingto the tornand stainedconditionof the MS. and to the manycorruptions,
whichseemto
scribe.) How a boy
be due to the workof an unintelligent
in theschoolofa certainabbot was accustomedto steal away
to churchwithhis dinner,whichhe sharedwiththeimageof
the Christ-childin the Virgin'sarms; how the abbot discoveredthis,and asked to be allowed to join themat the
meal; how the Childiwarnedthe boy that theywould soon
19Thisandthesubsequent
in themargin
oftheleaf,and
linesarewritten
thatitis impossible
areso runtogether
lineswith
todistinguish
theseparate
Thepageis badlyblurred
andtorn.
anycertainty.

MIRACLES
OF OUR LADY
387
dine togetherin heaven. (The mannerin whichtheAbbot's

requestwas fulfilled
is not quite clear.)
This is a singularvariationofone ofthetraditionallegends
of Our Lady "Bread Offeredto the Christ-Child"-inwhich
a boy offers
bread to the figureof the Christin the Virgin's
arms, and the image announces the child's approaching
death. This is theversionfoundin theSpec.Hist.,Lib. VII.,
cap. 99; in Guibertde Nogent, De PignoribusSanctorum,
Lib. I., cap. 2 (Migne,Patr.Lat.,CLVI., col. 617); in S. Germ;
No. 29; and in manyof the othercollections. But thissupplies onlythe skeletonof our story. The elaborationswhich
are introducedin the Englishversionare suggestedin two
othervariationsof thelegend. The firstis foundin a collectionin theBrusselsMSS. Phillipps336 (XIIth century),and
7797-7806 (XIIlth century). Here a young clerk learns
withsuch difficulty
that he is oftenchastised;he complains
to Mary and the Child, who promiseshim help if he will
each day bringhimthebest ofhis food. The youthdoes so,
and astonishesall withhis learning. His teacherdiscovers
the matter,and the Child tells the youth that, now that
the secret is known,he will repay him at the heavenly
table; the youthdies threedays later. The Englishversion
in
does not seem to indicatethat the boy had any difficulty
forstupiditymay
learning;but thisstoryof his punishment
be responsiblefora passage whosemeaningis nowsomewhat
obscure:
WenPechyldcometo yme-ward
Pe abott doun on knesgun fall

And grettas Pe chyldchastysedwith3erde
And said scwettson I am thythrall(vv. 133-136).
Anotherdetail whichconnectsthisversionwiththe English

miracle is the fact that the Christ-Childspeaks of their
secret meetingbeing discovered. The Child rebukes the
boy for having confessedthe matterto the abbot, and is
only appeased when the boy makes answer that he was
simplyobeyingthe Child'sinjunctionneverto tella lie.

388
RUTH WILSON TRYON
The Brusselsversionprovidesan analogy for all of the

Englishstory,save the abbot's desireto sharethe feast. In
a fourteenthcenturycollectionof religioustales, (B. M.
Addit. MS. 15833, fol. 144b), thereis a variationof the
miraclewhich,thoughdiffering
fromour versionin other
respects,correspondsto it in this detail. Here a simple
lay-brother
in a Cistercianabbey thinksthe crucifixabove
the altar too emaciated,and lays mostof his owndailyfood
on thealtar. At Easterhe tellsthecrucifix
thathe is nowso
weak thathe needsall the foodforhimself,and the crucifix
inviteshimto a feast;he asks theabbot's leave,whichis not
grantedtillthe abbot,too,is invited,and theybothdie after
mass on Easter Day.
The Englishversion,then,seemsto representa combinationof elementsfromseveraldifferent
legends. The textis
evidentlymuchcorrupted,and probablydoes not represent
theoriginaladaptation,but is takenfroman earlierEnglish
model.
RUTH WILSON TRYON


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Miracles of Our Lady in Middle English Verse

Author(s): Ruth Wilson Tryon

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