prologue

The prologe of the translatour of this lytell treatyse in the seconde boke.

stanza 9

57Also we haue shewed vnder your licence with your permission
Of her departure from this lyfe mortall, ¹
And of her sepulture at the place of Hamburgence ; ² tomb / Hanbury
The manyfolde myracles shewed by grace supernall,many / heavenly
The wofull lamentacion of her systers all;
And howe after .ix. yere of her translacion ³ how after nine years at the time of her translation
By diuine ordinaunce miracles were done.

stanza 10

64We humble require you of your charite humbly / kindness
To this seconde abstract to graunt pardon, ⁴ abridgement
Conysderynge we omytte whilom the historie we leave for a while the history (of St Werburgh)
And speke of cronicles / makyng a digression;
It is of no ignoraunce / nor presumption,
But to enlarge the mater and sentence,content and worthy subject-matter
To gladde the auditours / and moue their diligence.delight the listeners / encourage their attention

stanza 11

71In our seconde boke expresse nowe wyll we,we will now tell
Vnder your licence and speciall tuicion,With your permission and special guidance
Of this blessed virgin / flourynge in chastite,flowering in chastity
Why and wherfore she came to Chestre towne,for what reason
Principally by miracle / and diuine prouision,
And how for synne / vice / and wykednesbecause of
Danes oppressed this lande with wretchednes,Danes, Vikings

stanza 12

78And how she was receyued at Chestre citie;
Of the fyrst foundacion of towne and the place;
Of the great myracles there shewed openlie
To chanons and monkes / by singular grace,canons
Vnto euery creature in extreme case,in the greatest need
Howe Werburge delyuered the towne from enmite,saved / enmity
From dredfull fire / and plages of miserye.plagues

stanza 13

85Also encronicled foloweth here expresse chronicled / clearly
A brefe compilacion of kynge Edwarde seniour ⁵ compilation, account
Of kyng Ethelstam ⁶ / the great worthynes,
Of humble kyng Edgare regnyng as emperour, ⁷ reigning like an emperor
Of his comyng to Chestre / of his great honour;
And howe Erle Leofrice ⁸ repared of his charite renovated through his devotion
The mynstre of Werburge, gyuyng therto liberte;giving freedom to it

stanza 14

92Of the seconde foundacion of the sayd monastery
From secular chanons to monkes religious
Soone after the conquest, sayth the historye,
By the erle of Chestre nominat Hug. Lupus, ⁹ called
With counsell and helpe of blessed Anselmus; ¹⁰ advice and help
And of the great compas of the sayd abbay,enclosed area
Enuired with walles myghty to assay;Encircled with walls, strong to attack (i.e. difficult to break)

stanza 15

99How Richard erle of Chestre by myracle ryght ¹¹
Was preserued from daunger of Walshemen ,Welshmen
And howe he was drowned about mydnyght
Purposyng to distroye the monastery, certen. ¹² Intending / truly
Celestiall signes were shewed to men and women,
To chidren and innocentes by singular grace
Of blessed Werburge, patronesse of the place:

stanza 16

106These miracles specified / and many other mo more
This virgin shewed within Chestre cite,
Whiche at this tyme we let ouer go,at this time we pass over
Lest to the reders tedious it shulde be.In case it should be tedious for the readers
Almyghty god, both one two and thre,
Sende vs of theyr grace to make a good ende:
Helpe, lady Werburge, this warke to amende. ¹³ to improve this work