prologue

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

stanza 1

1Now whan we consyder / with mynde dylygent
The merueylous maners / & synguler condycion
Of the comyn people ¹ / symple and neclygent,
Whiche without lytterature / and good informacyon
Ben lyke to Brute beestes / as in comparyson,
Rude / wylde / and boystous / by a prouerbe, certan,
'Good maners and conynge / maken a man'. ²

stanza 2

8 Saynt Paule sayth / shewynge to the Romans ³
How all thynge wryten / in holy scrypture
Is wryten for our doctryne / and ghostly ordynans , ⁴
For our great conforte / and endeles pleasure.
All thynge is knowen playnly / by lytterature,
Morall vertues / be noted by it full playne
From vyce and neclygence / to abstayne, certayne.

stanza 3

15 What were mankynde / without lytterature? ⁵
Full lytel worthy / blynded by ignoraunce.
The way to heuen it declareth ryght sure
Thrugh perfyte lyuynge / and good perseueraunce;
By it we may be taught / for to do penaunce
Whan we transgresse / our lordes commaundyment;
It is a swete cordyall / for mannes entent.

stanza 4

22How shulde the seuen / scyences lyberall ⁶
Haue ben preserued / vnto this day,
The wysdome / of the phylosophers all,
But alone by lernynge / it is no nay.
The notable actes / of our fathers, I say,
(yf litterature were nat) myght nat nowe be tolde,
Nor auncient histories and cronycles olde.

stanza 5

29 The lawe of ciuile / and of holy canon ⁷
By study be preferred with moche honour
To execute iustice / and for due reformacion;
The most blessed doctrine of our sauiour,
The actis of the apostoles / with the doctours four ,
Be preserued by wrytyng / and put in memorie,
With the lyues of saintes many a noble storie.

stanza 6

36Of whiche histories ⁸ we purpose speciall
To speke of saint Werburge / vnder your protection, ⁹
Declaryng the ende of her lyfe historiall
As we haue begon / and made playne mencion
In the fyrst volume by breue compliacion, ¹⁰
There playnly descriuyng her liniall discens
Of .iiii. myghty kyngdomes by true experience; ¹¹

stanza 7

43Also we haue shewed in the sayd littell boke
Her goodly maners / and vertuous disposicion
Of her yonge age / who-so lyst theron to loke;
And howe her bretherne suffred martyrdome; ¹²
Of her fathers realme a litell discripcion:
Howe she was professed in the place of Ely; ¹³
Of her conuersacion within the sayd monastery;

stanza 8

50After for her vertue / howe she was made abbasse
Of diuers monasteries, ¹⁴ flouryng in vertue;
And of the great miracles whiche there done was
For her great charite / by the grace of Iesu;
Howe diuers of her kynrede dyd clerely exchewe
All wordly pleasures and honours transetory,
Professyng obedience at the place of Ely;

stanza 9

57Also we haue shewed vnder your licence
Of her departure from this lyfe mortall, ¹⁵
And of her sepulture at the place of Hamburgence ; ¹⁶
The manyfolde myracles shewed by grace supernall,
The wofull lamentacion of her systers all;
And howe after .ix. yere of her translacion ¹⁷
By diuine ordinaunce miracles were done.

stanza 10

64We humble require you of your charite
To this seconde abstract to graunt pardon, ¹⁸
Conysderynge we omytte whilom the historie
And speke of cronicles / makyng a digression;
It is of no ignoraunce / nor presumption,
But to enlarge the mater and sentence,
To gladde the auditours / and moue their diligence.

stanza 11

71In our seconde boke expresse nowe wyll we,
Vnder your licence and speciall tuicion,
Of this blessed virgin / flourynge in chastite,
Why and wherfore she came to Chestre towne,
Principally by miracle / and diuine prouision,
And how for synne / vice / and wykednes
Danes oppressed this lande with wretchednes,

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,
Vnto euery creature in extreme case,
Howe Werburge delyuered the towne from enmite,
From dredfull fire / and plages of miserye.

stanza 13

85Also encronicled foloweth here expresse
A brefe compilacion of kynge Edwarde seniour ¹⁹
Of kyng Ethelstam ²⁰ / the great worthynes,
Of humble kyng Edgare regnyng as emperour, ²¹
Of his comyng to Chestre / of his great honour;
And howe Erle Leofrice ²² repared of his charite
The mynstre of Werburge, gyuyng therto liberte;

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, ²³
With counsell and helpe of blessed Anselmus; ²⁴
And of the great compas of the sayd abbay,
Enuired with walles myghty to assay;

stanza 15

99How Richard erle of Chestre by myracle ryght ²⁵
Was preserued from daunger of Walshemen ,
And howe he was drowned about mydnyght
Purposyng to distroye the monastery, certen. ²⁶
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
This virgin shewed within Chestre cite,
Whiche at this tyme we let ouer go,
Lest to the reders tedious it shulde be.
Almyghty god, both one two and thre,
Sende vs of theyr grace to make a good ende:
Helpe, lady Werburge, this warke to amende. ²⁷

chapter 2

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

stanza 34

232In meane tyme the danes pitously destroyed
The monasteries of Werburge / Trentam & Wedon,
As they many other places had euyll oppressed
In the north and eest part of this region;
The kyngdome of Kent suffred lyke punicion,
The Ile of Wyght endured moche turment:
So dyd the Westmarches / for punysshement. ²⁸

stanza 35

239 The people of Hambury, wysely consyderyng
The comynge of danes vnto Repton,
And of the departure of Burdred, theyr kyng, ²⁹
Howe all Englande was in great affliction,
And howe they were next to endure punicion -
Whiche forsayd Repton was distaunt from Hambury
The space of .v. mile, sayth the history - ³⁰

stanza 36

246The Hamburgenses with all the comons and clergy,
Dredynge full sore the pagans flagellacions, ³¹
Of their lyues desperate / but for the shryne specially,
To our blessed sauiour made dayly inuocacions
With vigils, prayers and feruent meditacions,
To preserue the countrey / the relique / the shryne
From daunger of enmite and miserable ruyne.

stanza 37

253As they continued in cotidian prayer,
The best remedie sekyng for to fynde
To auoide vexacion and all greuous daunger
Of theyr great ennemies cursed and vnkynde,
The holy goost inspired theyr mynde
To take the shryne with great humilite
And brynge it to Chestre from perill and enmyte.

stanza 38

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

stanza 39

267Whan the clergie of Chestre and the citezens ³²
Herde tell of the comynge of this noble abbasse,
They made preparacion and great diligence,
In theyr best-maner worship and solace
To mete this relique of singular grace;
The great estates / and rulers of the countray
Were redy to honour saint Werburge that day.

stanza 40

274First was ordeyned a solemne procession,
With crosses / and baners / and surges clere lyght,
The belles were tolled for ioye and deuocion;
The ministres of god in coopes redy dight,
With censours of siluer / to encense her body right;
All prestis and clerkes redy to say and synge
Proceded in ordre / this holy virgin praysyng. ³³

stanza 41

281Next to the clergie approched in degree
The lordes of the shyre, knyghtes, barons, all
With feruent deuocion / praysyng the trinite
Whiche sent to them suche comfort spirituall.
The citezens ensued with gladness cordiall,
With bokes and beades / magnifieng our maker
For this great treasure to kepe them from daunger.

stanza 42

288 Venerable virgins next sette in ordre clere,
With lilies in theyr handes ³⁴ / coronate with chastite,
Good widowes and wuyes appoynted well were,
Gyuynge true thankes vnto this virgin fre.
Nex[t] them assemble all the commonte
In all goodly maner, dyuised by discrecion,
Praysyng saynt Werburge with humiliacion.

stanza 43

295Whan they approched to her hie presence
And comon were afore this relique most riall,
They kneled all downe with mycle reuerence,
Salutynge the shryne with honour victoriall, ³⁵
Magnifying with melodye and tunys musicall
This glorious virgin / nothyng done amis,
Syngynge Te deum to the kyng of blysse.

stanza 44

302The lordes / the citezins / and all the commons ³⁶
Mekely submytted them-selfe to the shryne,
With manyfolde prayses and humble supplicacions,
With interiour loue / and morall discipline,
Trustyng all in her to saue them from ruyne,
From greuous daunger / and cruell enmite
By her entercession vnto the trinite.

stanza 45

309They gaue due thankes vnto this abbasse,
Deuoutly sayenge knelyng vpon kne:
'Welcome, swete lady, replet with grace,
The floure of mekenes / and of chastite,
The cristall of clennes and virginite; ³⁷
Welcome thou art to vs euerychone,
A speciall comfort for vs to trust vpon!

stanza 46

316'Welcome, swete princesse / kynges doughter dere,
Welcome, faire creature / and rose of merciens ,
The diamonde of dignite / and gemme shenynge clere ,
Virgin and moiniall of mycle excellence;
Welcome, holy abbasse of hie preeminence,
The rutilant saphire of syncerite, ³⁸
Welcome, swete patronesse, to Chestre cite!

stanza 47

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

stanza 48

330Agaynst her comynge into Chestre cite
The stretes were strawed with flours fragrant,
The mancions and halles edified rialle
Were hanged with arras precious and plesaunt,
Torches were carried on eche syde flagrant;
Also ouer the shryne was prepared a canaby
Of cloth of golde and tissewe riche and costly. ³⁹

stanza 49

337Thus with great worship, decoure and dignite
Of all clergie, lordis and citezens
She was receuyed with great humilite
Into the cite with humble reuerence,
The clergie syngyng with mycle diligence,
The comons prayeng with loue feruent,
Folowynge this relique after their entent.

stanza 50

344In procession they passed all in to the towne,
With ioye and great gladnes, ye may be sure,
In ordre togyther, in charite and deuocion,
Praysyng our sauiour and this virgin pure;
They brought full solemple with gostly p[l]easure
This riall relique to the moost noble place
Within all the cite, as our lordes wyll was.

stanza 51

351 This seconde translacion of this virgin bright ⁴⁰
From Hambury abbay vnto Chestre cite
Was celebrate, with ioye and gladnes full right,
The yere of our saueour in his humanite
viii. hundreth complet .v. and seuentie;
Alured regned than kyng of this region,
Victorious and liberall / coronate at London. ⁴¹

stanza 52

358 This kyng deuyded in .iiii. partes his richesse:
One parte to the poore, the seconde to religion,
The thyrde part to scholers / the fourth to bild churches; ⁴²
And of a day naturall / he made trium diuision:
viii. houres to rede and praye with feruent deuocion,
viii. houres occupied with businesse naturall,
And other .viii. houres to rule his realme riall.

stanza 52a

364aNobilitas innata tibi probitatis honorem,
Armipotens Alurede, dedit / probitasque laborem,
Perpetuumque labor nomen: cui mixta dolori
Gaudia semper erant: spes semper mixta timori.
Si modo victus erat / ad crastina bella parabat,
Iam post transactos regni viteque labores /
Christe ei sit vera quies / sceptrumque perenne. ⁴³

chapter 3

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

stanza 53

365Two cites of legions in cronicles we fynde: ⁴⁴
One in south-Wales / in the tyme of Claudius ⁴⁵
Called Caeruska / by britons had in mynde, ⁴⁶
Orels Caerleon / buylded by kyng Belinus; ⁴⁷
Where somtyme was a legion of knyghtes chiualrous. ⁴⁸
This cite of legions was whilom the bysshops se
Vnto all south-wales / nominat Wenedocie . ⁴⁹

stanza 54

372Another cite of legions we may fynde also
In the west part of Englande / by the water of Dee,
Called Caerlleon of britons longe ago,
After named Chestre, by great auctorite;
Iulius the emperour sende to this sayd cite ⁵⁰
A legion of knyghtes / for to subdue Irelande; ⁵¹
Like-wyse dyd Claudius (as we vnderstande). ⁵²

stanza 55

379The founder of Chestre / as sayth Policronicon,
Was Lleon Gauer / a myghty stronge gyaunt, ⁵³
Whiche buylded caues and dongions many one,
No goodly buyldyng / propre ne pleasaunt;
But the Kynge Leil, a briton sure and valiaunt, ⁵⁴
Was founder of Chestre by pleasaunt buyldyng,
And of Caerleil also named by the kynge. ⁵⁵

stanza 56

386 Ranulphus in his cronicle yet doth expresse
The cite of Chestre edified for to be
By the noble romans prudence and richesse
Whan a legion of knyghtes was sende to the cite,
Rather than by the wysdome of the Britons or policie ;
Obiectyng clere agaynst the britons fundacion,
Whiche auctour resteth in his owne opinion. ⁵⁶

stanza 57

393 Kyng Marius, a bryton, regnyng in prosperite ⁵⁷
In the West partie of this noble region,
Ampliat and walled strongly Chestre cite
And myghtyly fortified the sayd foundacion.
Thus eche auctour holdeth a singular opinion. ⁵⁸
This Marius slewe Reodric, kyng of pictis lande,
Callyng the place of his name Westmarilande. ⁵⁹

stanza 58

400 This 'cite of legions', so called by the Romans, ⁶⁰
Nowe is nominat in latine of his proprete
Cestria quasi castria / of honour and pleasance: ⁶¹
Proued by the buyldynge of olde antiquite
In cellers and lowe voultes / and halles of realte
Lyke a comly castell / mighty, stronge and sure,
Eche house like a toure, somtyme of great pleasure.

stanza 59

407Vnto the sayd Chestre all northwales subiect were
For reformacion, Iustice and iugement;
Theyr bysshops see also it was many a yere
Enduryng the gouernance of brutes auncient;
To saxons and britons a place indifferent;
The inhabitauntes of it manfull and liberall,
Constant, sad and virtuous / and gentyll continuall.

stanza 60

414Of frutes and cornes there is great habundaunce,
Woddes / parkes / forestes / and beestis of venare,
Pastures / feeldes / commons / the cite to auaunce,
Waters / pooles / pondes of fysshe great plente;
Most swete holsome ayre by the water of dee:
There is great marchaundise / shyps and wynes strang,
With all thing of pleasure the citezens amonge.

stanza 61

421The yere of our lorde a hundred sixe and fyfty
Reigned vpon this lande a briton kyng Lucius,
Whiche with great desire required instantly
His realme to be baptized of pope Eleutherius.
Whose charitable mocion was harde full gratius:
The pope enioyed / graunted his peticion
And sende .ii. doctours to conuerte this region. ⁶²

stanza 62

428The doctours by prechyng and singular grace
In short tyme conuerted the greatter Britayne; ⁶³
The people confessed their synne and trespase,
Batpized all were / forgyuenes dyd attayne;
Idolatrie cessed through-out this lande, certayne;
With grace circumfulced and lyghtned was Englande,
By faith to god professed was all Wales and scotlande.

stanza 63

435 Kynge Lucius ordeyned / by the doctours mocion
xxxviii. bisshops in this realme for to be,
And .iii. archebisshops, for gostly exhortacion,
To reduce the people to vertue and humilite.
At London was set the chiefe archebisshops se,
The seconde in south-Wales at cite of legions, ⁶⁴
The thyrde was at yorke, all subiect to the britons.

stanza 64

442Churches were edified in many a place
Here in the more Britayne with diligent labour,
Christis faith encreased by speciall grace,
Faithfull religion delated euery hour;
Diuine seruice was songon & sayd with great honour,
True faith and deuocion wre dayly encreasynge,
Namely in Chestre by grace continuall abidynge.

stanza 65

449Certaynly, sith baptym came to Chestre cite,
Soone after Lucius / and afore kynge Arthure,
By the grace of god and their humilite,
The faith of holy churche dyd euer there endure
Without rediciuacion and infection / sure;
Wherefore it is worthy a singular commendacion,
Aboue all the citees and townes of this region.

stanza 66

456The perfect begynnyng and fyrst foundacion
Of the monasterie within the sayd cite
Was at the same tyme by famus opinion
That baptym began within this countre;
The great lordes of Chestre of landes and auncetre
First edified the churche for comfort spirituall
In honour of the apostels Peter and Paule.

stanza 67

463 Whiche churche was principall to all the citie,
And the mouther-churche called withouten doubt;
It was their buriall by great auctorite,
To all this sayd cite / and .vii. myle without;
The cemiterie was large to compase it about.
But what by sufferaunce and processe of tyme
Many olde customes ben brought now to ruyne.

stanza 68

470In whiche mother-churche of Peter and Paule
All holy sacramentes ministred dayly were,
With great encreasement of vertues all,
Continuall endurynge more than .CCC. yere,
In the britons tyme / of blodde noble and clere,
Afore the comyng of saxons to this lande,
Which with apostasie enfected all Englande.

stanza 69

477So after that the Angles / Iutes / and saxons ⁶⁵
By fortune of batell / power and policie
Had clerely subdued all the olde britons
And them expulsed to wales and wylde countre,
The faith of holy churche remayned at chestre cite
In the sayd churche, truely, by singular grace alone,
Like as the faith of Peter neuer fayled at Rome.

stanza 70

484What tyme saint Austin, the doctour of Englande, ⁶⁶
Had baptized Ethelbrut, kynge of Kent, ⁶⁷
And by relacion dyd fully vnderstande
That the faith of Christ most digne and excellent
In the cite of legions was truely remanent,
In the churche of the apostoles Peter and Paul,
He magnified our lorde with thanke speciall.

stanza 71

491That season there was a noble monasterie
xii. myles from Chestre, nominate Bangour,
Where religious monkes lyued vertuouslye,
Almost .iii. thousande / obedient euery houre,
Without possessions / lyuyng by theyr labour:
Vnto whiche place he sende for helpe at nede,
To conuert the saxons (sayth venerable Bede). ⁶⁸

stanza 72

498 Saynt Austin approched the cite of legions,
Where the sayd couent afore hym were present: ⁶⁹
Whom he required to preche to the saxons
The faith of holy churche and baptym diligent.
To whose humble prayer / they were disobedient,
Obseruyng no charite / yet for theyr great pride
Many of them were slayne by kyng Ethelfride. ⁷⁰

stanza 73

505That season the britons remayned vnder licence
Of Angles and saxons within the sayd cite,
Tyll the dayes of Offa, kynge of merciens, ⁷¹
Regnyng in the west marche with great victorie;
Whiche kynge expulsed by power and chiualrie
All brutes and walshemen clere out of his londe,
In peyne of punysshement none there to be fonde.

stanza 74

512Whan the said churche, hauynge great liberte,
Dayly augmented in vertue and holyness,
Prestis and clerkes praysed the holy trinite
And the sayd apostoles with great mekenes,
The cite encreased in worshyp and ryches;
Churches were edified with feruent deuocion
In sondrie places within the sayd towne.

stanza 75

519This noble kyng Offa agaynst the pagans
Of .xvii. batels had euer the victorye;
Confederate was with great Charles, kyng of Fraunce, ⁷²
And edified saint Albans monasterye;
Of Englande first toke the hole monarchie
Gaue Peter pens vnto the court of Rome; ⁷³
Translate to Lichefelde the se of Canturbury;
xxxix. yere regned fully in this region.

chapter 4

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

stanza 76

527The yere of grace .D.CCC. seuynte and fyue,
Kyng Alured regned vpon this region, ⁷⁴
The relique, the shryne full memoratyue
Was brought to Chestre for our consolacion,
Reuerently receyued, set with deuocion
In the mouther-churche of saint Peter and Paule,
(As afore is sayd), a place moost principall.

stanza 77

534In whiche holy place vnto this present day
She bodilye resteth by diuine prouidence,
And so by his grace shall continue alway,
In honour, worshyp / and mycle reuerence;
A deuout oratorie of vertue and excellence,
Prepared by our lorde / where speciall remedy
Is agayne all greuans in soule and in body.

stanza 78

541The primatyue gyftes gyuen to the place
Immediatly were after her comynge
Of deuout people replet with grace
In the dayes of the forsayd Alured kyng:
Of landes and libertes they made moche offerynge ⁷⁵
To god and saint Werburge / after theyr possession,
Tristyng to her prayer and sure protection.

stanza 79

548 The people with deuocion and mynde feruent
Gaue diuers enormentes vnto this place:
Some gaue a coope / and some a vestement,
Some other a chalice / and some a corporace,
Many albes and other clothes offred ther was,
Some crosses of golde / some bokes / some belles;
The pore folke gaue surges / torches / and towelles. ⁷⁶

stanza 80

555 The citezens offered to the sayd virgine
For the great miracles amonge them wrought
Many riall gyftes of Iewels to the shrine,
Thankynge our lorde, that hath vs all bought,
And blessed Werburge in worde, dede, and thought - ⁷⁷
Women and children she mynded full gracious,
As testifieth the archebisshop Antoninus. ⁷⁸

stanza 81

562Diuine seruice was obserued deuoutly
Euery day, encreasyng with feruent adoracion
As the feest required / and the solemnite,
To the honour of our lorde and hie glorificacion;
Preistis and clerkes with pure meditacion
Obseruynge their dutie gaue vertuous example
Of great perfection to the comon people.

stanza 82

569After kyng Alured / regned his son
Edwarde senior, by liniall discence, ⁷⁹
Crowned the yere of grace .ix. hundreth and one,
[W]ith wordly glorie and great preeminence;
Buylded castles, townes of myghty defence,
Subdued the danes .vii. tymes in batell;
Encreased his realme manfully and well.

stanza 83

576That tyme the realme of merciens was translate
By the kynge / and gyuen to duke Ethelrede, ⁸⁰
A noble man of auncetre / politicke and fortunate,
Whiche maried his syster, lady Elflede, ⁸¹
Doughter to the forsaid valiant kynge Alurede;
The sayd gentilman was wyse and vertuous,
Sad and discrete, pacient and famous.

stanza 84

583This lady Elflede, duchesse of merciens, ⁸²
Had speciall loue and singular affection
To blessed Werburge, and true confidence:
Wherfore she mynded with great dilectacion
To edifie a mynstre, a place of deuocion,
To this holy virgin, for profite of her soule,
Enlargynge the churche of Peter and of Paule. ⁸³

stanza 85

590 She moued her husbande with great mekenes
To supplie the same dede of his charite, ⁸⁴
And diuers other nobles of theyr goodnes
For aide in that cause after their degree.
Ioyfull was the duke of the mocion gostle,
Glad were the nobles within all the shire
To founde a mynstre after her desire.

stanza 86

597Afore the holy roode in a table writen is
At saint Iohans churche without the sayd cite, ⁸⁵
Howe that prince Edmunde, the thyrde son e-wis
Of Edward senior, true foundour shulde be - ⁸⁶
To whom lady Elflede was aunt by auncetre.
So betwix twayne was founded in short space
An holy mynstre, of vertue full and grace.

stanza 87

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

stanza 88

611Whan it was edified / and curiously wrought
And all thyng ended / in goodly proporcion,
Than riche enormentes were offred and brought
Of the said nobles with great deuocion
Temporall landes / rentes / possession
Were gyuen, for euer to mayntayne the place
Of blessed Werburge by singular grace. ⁸⁷

stanza 89

618 Spirituall ministres were elect also:
Secular chanons, of great humilite, ⁸⁸
To synge and psalmodise oure sauiour vnto,
Within the sayd mynstre hauynge a perpetuite;
Prebendes were assigned to that fraternite,
With townes / borowes / and fredomes manifest,
Continually encreasyng vnto the conquest.

stanza 90

625And the olde churche of Peter and of Paule
By a general counsell of the spiritualte
With helpe of the duke moost principall ⁸⁹
Was tranlate to the myddes of the sayd cite;
Where a paresshe-churche was edified, truele,
In honour of the aforesayd apostoles twayne ,
Whiche shall for euer by grace diuine remayne.

stanza 91

632Also we may note, holdyng none opinion,
This lady Elflede of her charite
Of the sayd mother-churche translate the patron,
Caused the sayd oratorie reconciled to be
In the honour of the most blessed trinite
And of saynt Oswalde, martyr and kyng,
For the loue she had to hym continuynge. ⁹⁰

stanza 92

639 The yere of our lorde .ix. hundreth and .viii.
This noble duchesse with mycle royalte
Reedified Chestre / and fortified it full ryght,
Churche / house / and wall, decayed piteousle.
Thus brought vnto ruyne was Chestre cite
First, by Ethelfride, kyng of Northumberlande, ⁹¹
And by danes / norwaies, vexyng all Englande. ⁹²

stanza 93

646Also she enlarged this sayd old cite
With newe myghty walles stronge all-about,
Almost by proporcion double in quantite
To the forther byldynge brought without dout;
She compassed in the castell enemies to hold out
Within the sayd Walles, to defende the towne
Agaynst danes and walshemen, to dryue them all downe.

stanza 94

653After the deth of her husband Ethelrede ⁹³
She ruled the realme of mercelande manfully, ⁹⁴
Buylded churches / and townes repared in dede,
As Staforde / Warwike / Thomwort / and Shirisbury ;
Of newe she edified Runcorn and Edisbury.
The body of saynt Oswalde also she translate
From Bardeney to Gloucetur , there to be tumulate: ⁹⁵

stanza 95

660 Where she edified a noble monastery,
With licence of her brother ⁹⁶ afore nominate,
In honour of saint Peter / ouer the blessed body
Of the sayd saynt Oswalde / kyng and martyr coronate.
In wiche monastery this lady was tumulate,
The yere of our lorde .ix. hundreth and nyntene;
Whom myn auctor prayseth in this wordes serene:

stanza 95a

666aO Elfleda potens / o terror virgo virorum:
Victrix nature, nomine digna viri.
Te quoque splendidior fecit natura puellam,
Te probitas fecit nomen habere viri.
Te mutare docet sed solum nomina sexus,
Tu regina potens / rexque trophea parans.
Iam nec cesarei tantum meruere triumphi,
Caesare splendidior virgo virago. Vale. ⁹⁷

chapter 5

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

stanza 96

667 This glorious Werburge and virgin pure
By singular grace of god omnipotent
Shewed many myracles to euery creature,
To blynde / dombe / halt / lame / and impotent,
In the cite of Chestre / whan her shryne was present,
Like-wyse as in her lyfe at Wedon / at Hambury -
Witneseth the same her true legende and history. ⁹⁸

stanza 97

674Wher[for]e the honour / prayse / and laudacion
Of Iesu / the seconde persone in trinite ,
And of this virgin a speciall commendacion,
We purpose to reherce nowe with charite,
Vnder the protection of you that shall the reders be,
Parte of the myracles / with mynde diligent
In this humble stile / and sentence consequent. ⁹⁹

stanza 98

681The first myracle / that our blessed sauiour
Shewed for his spouses / after her translacion ¹⁰⁰
To Chestre: was nye the tyme of Edwarde seniour, ¹⁰¹
Son to kyng Alured, famous of renowne.
The Name of britons was chaunged that season, ¹⁰²
Were named walshemen, in the montaynes segregate,
Euer to the saxons hauynge inwarde hate.

stanza 99

688 The Walshemen that tyme had ouer them a kyng
Called Griffinus / to be theyr gouernour, ¹⁰³
Electe by the comons their appetite folowyng,
Endurate with malice / couetise and rancour,
Ennemies to englisshemen / as is said before.
This kyng entended by mortall enuy ¹⁰⁴
The cite of Chestre to spoyle and distrye. ¹⁰⁵

stanza 100

695A myghty host discended from the mountans,
Well armed and strongely approchyng the cite,
Prepared for batell, with them great ordinaunce.
The sayd Griffinus and all his company
With his power passed ouer the water of Dee -
Whiche ryuer adioynneth to the sayd towne,
Betwene Englande and Wales a sure diuision. ¹⁰⁶

stanza 101

702 This kynge layd siege vnto Chestre cite
With all his great host / there honour to wyn -
By policie of warre / encreasynge myghtyle.
For whiche the citezens remaynynge within
[W]ere sore disconsolate, like for to twyn:
With wofull heuy hearts they dyd call and crye
Vpon blessed Werburge for helpe and remedye.

stanza 102

709The charitable chanons with great deuocion
Toke the holy shryne of theyr patrones ,
Set it on the towne-walles for helpe and tuicion,
Trustynge on her to be saued from distres.
But one of the ennemyes with great wyckednes
Smot the sayd shryne in castyng of a stone,
And it empaired / piteous to loke vpon.

stanza 103

716Anone great punysshement vpon them all lyght:
The kyng and his host were smytten with blyndnes,
That of the cite / they had no maner of syght;
And he that smote the holy shryne, doubtles,
Was greuously vexed with a sprite of darkenes,
And with hidous payne expired miserably -
The kynge was sore a-dred / and all his company.

stanza 104

723Shortly the kynge remoued his great host,
Departed from the cite without any praye,
And gaue in commaundement in euery cost
Saynt Werburge landes to meynteyne alway,
Assigned her possessions euer after that day
With the signe of the crosse, a token euident,
In pleasyng this virgin / for drede of punysshement.

chapter 7

Howe saynt Werburgesaued Chestrefrom innumberable barbarike nacions / purposynge to distroye and spoyle the sayd cite.

stanza 109

758An other tyme innumerable barbarike nacions
Came to spoyle Chestre, to robbe it and distry,
(Sayth the historye) from diuers regions: ¹⁰⁷ .
Harolde kyng of danes / the kynge of gotes & galwedy ,
Maucolyn of Scotlande, and all theyr company,
With baners displayed, well armed to fyght;
Theyr tentes rially in hoole heth were pyght. ¹⁰⁸

stanza 110

765They set theyr ordinaunce agaynst the towne
Vpon euery side / timorous for to se,
Namely at the northgate they were redy-bowne
By myght, police to haue entered the cite.
The citezens, dredyng to be in captiuite,
Made intercession vnto this holy abbasse
For theyr deliueraunce in suche extreme case.

stanza 111

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

stanza 112

779As the kynges were sautynge this forsayd cite,
Trustyne for a praye to haue it euery hour,
One of the sayd ennemies, replet with iniquite,
Nat worshyppyng ye virgin / nor dredyng our sauiour,
Smote this riall relique with a stone in his rancour,
Brake therof a corner, curiously wrought,
Cast all to the grounde: than sorowe came vnsought.

stanza 113

786The sayd malefactour nat passynge the place
Vexed with the deuill for his greuous offence,
Roryng and yellyng his outragious trespase,
Tore his tonge a-sonder in wodely violence,
Miserable exspired afore them in presence;
Satan ceased nat to shewe great punysshement
Vpon his soule and body / by signes euident.

stanza 114

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

chapter 10

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

stanza 126

877Within the same cite afore the abbay-gate
Dwelled a woman / which brake the commaundement
Of god and holy churche / hye sabbot-day dyd violate
Unlaufully wurkynge: ¹⁰⁹ wherfore great punysshement
Fell vpon this woman with peynes equiualent,
Sodaynly smytten / wurkynge full busely
With greuous blyndnes / and mycle miserye.

stanza 127

884This woman, consyderynge her syght was gone,
The pleasure of this worlde, her helpe and succour,
Hauynge to lyue by / small riches or none,
Cried maynly 'out out, alas' euery hour,
'Wo is me wretche, fulfylled with dolour!
Alas, I was borne to abyde this wofull day
My maker to displese! / alas, what shall I say?'

stanza 128

891She called to memorie with hye discrecion
The myracles that Werburge shewed to mankynde:
By grace she repented / with suche contricion
That water distilled from her eyes blynde,
Dolefully lamentynge / that she was so vnkynde; ¹¹⁰
Ruthfully was brought to Werburge oratory,
Trustyng in this virgin to haue remedy.

stanza 129

898As she continued in her supplicacion,
Wofully wepynge / abidyng the special grace
Of blessed Werburge / with singular inuocacion,
Anone she was cured to helth and solace,
Restored to her eye-sight / she passed the place,
Praysed our lorde and this virgin pure,
Was a holy woman after, ye may be sure.

chapter 12

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

stanza 135

940 Almyghty god gaue in commaundement
By moises lawe to his people echone,
No innocent to slee by wrongfull iudgement
Nor causeles to punysshe by greuous oppression,
Also to beware of lyght suspection. ¹¹¹
Wherof a myracle we shall nowe expresse,
Done in Chestre cite by Werburge theyr patronesse.

stanza 136

947A certayne younge man dwelled in the cite,
Honest in maners / and of good conuersacion,
Disposed to vertue and humilite:
Was arrest and taken of a lyght suspicion
By the officers and rule[r]s of the sayd towne,
Gyltles accused most innocently,
Condemned and iudged to deth shamfully.

stanza 137

954After sentence gyuen / ministres were all redy
Vpon the iudgement to do execucion:
He was fettred and brought to the gebbet by and by
And as a stronge thefe hanged ther-vpon.
His frendes and cosyns for hym made great mone - as
Alas, what tonge myght expresse the wo
They made that tyme departynge hym fro?

stanza 138

961And as this innocent hang in his payne,
He called to mynd the manyfolde goodnes,
The myracles of Werburge, shewed her, certayne,
Howe she had saued many in great distres: ¹¹²
So, whan he myght no wordes expresse,
In mynde he required her / and humblie dyd pray
From shamfull deth to saue hym that day. ¹¹³

stanza 139

968Whan all the officers departed were thens
Supposynge the soule seperate from the body,
A white doue descended afore them in presence
And lyght vpon the gebbet immediatly;
The byrde with his byll brake the rope, truely,
The prisoner escaped that tyme from deth,
Shortly reuiuynge toke naturall breth. ¹¹⁴

stanza 140

975Whiche thynge notified, so meruailous in syght,
The ministres returned / theyr labour in vayne:
Toke this innocent by power and myght,
Vpon the sayd gebbet hanged hym agayne.
Thus he was delyuered by myracle from payne:
The tortuous turmentours cessed their tyrranny,
Permytted the prisoner to go at liberte. ¹¹⁵

stanza 141

982Whiche myracle knowen / his frendes and cosyns all
Returned agayne with glad mynde and chere.
The prisoner mette them, louyng god in speciall
And blessed Werburge in his best manere
The deuout citezens approched them nere,
Went all to the shryne the virgin thankyng;
The belles were tolled for ioy of this thyng.

chapter 15

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

stanza 159

1108Afterthe decesse of kynge Edwarde seniour ¹¹⁶
Ethelstan his sonne was coronate at London ¹¹⁷
Kynge of this lande / regnyng in honour
With power, regalite by true succession;
Valeant in chiualry and actes euerychone,
Subdued danes / scottes / norwayes / britons all,
Opteyned triumphe / and dignite imperiall. ¹¹⁸

stanza 160

1115The fourth year of his reigne / and the yere of grace
viii. hundreth .ii. and seuenty by full computacion
Guy erle of Warwike by fortune slayne hase
Colbrond the gyaunt / floure of danes nacion.
The sayd kyng Ethelstan by power and renowne
Thries subdued danes / and slewe the kyng of Irelande,
Nominat prince Anlaff / as we vnderstande. ¹¹⁹

stanza 161

1122 This noble Ethelstan was good and gracious
To all-holy churche / namely to religion,
Ryghtfull in iudgement / liberall and piteous
To his true subiectes through his dominion;
To mynstres and holy places had great affection,
Confirmed theyr foundacions with libertes clere,
Whose noble actes be touched on a lytell here:

stanza 161a

1128aRegia progenies produxit nobile stemma
Cum tenebris nostris illuxit splendida gemma
Magnus Ethelstanus patrie decus orbita recti
Illustris probitas a vero nescia flecti. ¹²⁰

stanza 162

1129After Ethelstan regned Edmunde, his brothur, ¹²¹
Fyue yeres in honour / hauying great victory.
Princis Elred and Edwyn succided eytherothur, ¹²²
In great business with scottes and danes, truly.
Next whom meke Edgare / sayth the history,
xvi. yere of age / coronate at Kyngston, ¹²³
With peace and quietnes first ruled this region.

stanza 163

1136 In whose natiuite the blessed Dunstan
Herde angles singe with mycle melody. ¹²⁴
'Peace is nowe come to Englande, certan,
Quitenes / and rest / honour / and victory.'
Of cornes and frutes that tyme was plentie;
Danes / norwaies / scottes / britons in euery place
Submytted them-selfe to the kynges grace.

stanza 164

1143Science encreased, true loue and amite,
Vertue was exalted in all this region;
Monasteries were edified of his benignite,
Endowed with riches / and riall possession:
xl. religious places by famous opinion
Were newly buylded by the sayd noble kyng,
In sondry places of this realme standyng.

stanza 165

1150 Secular prestes expulsed sothely were
From diuers monasteries with great discrecion, ¹²⁵
Religious persones, repleit with vertue clere,
Entred their places cause deuocion;
Charite was feruent and holy religion;
The lyues of saynts were soth in eche place,
And written in legendes for our comfort and grace. ¹²⁶

stanza 166

1157Many shyps were made vpon the kynges cost ¹²⁷
To serche by the se all his lande about,
That no alian entre in no-maner cost,
By policie and manhod to holde all his ennemies out.
Danes / norwaies / scottes durst nat ones loke out -
Such drede all nacions had ensuynge the tyme
That kyng Edgare regned by prouidence diuine.

stanza 167

1164In progresse he passed ones in the yere
Eche quarter of the realme with his company,
To se that his subiectes well ordred were
And the lawe obserued / iustice with mercy.
Than was none oppression, wronges, nor iniury,
Debate, malice, rancour myght nat be founde;
True loue and charite was in all the londe.

stanza 168

1171 Kynge Edgare approched the cite of legions,
Nowe called Chestre / specified afore; ¹²⁸
Where .viii. kynges mette of diuers nacions,
Redy to gyue Edgare reuerence and honour,
Legiance and fidelite depely sworne full sore
At the same cite: after to be obedient,
Promyt at his callyng to come to his parliament. ¹²⁹

stanza 169

1178From the Castell he went to the water of Dee
By a priue posturne through the walles of the towne;
The kyng toke his barge with mycle rialte,
Rowyng vpwarde to the church of saynt Iohn:
The forsayd .viii. kynges with hym went alone:
Kynge Edgare kept the storne / as most principall,
Eche prince had an ore to labour with-all.

stanza 170

1185Whan the kynge had done his pylgrimage
And to the holy roode made oblacion,
They entred agayne into the sayd barge,
Passynge to his place with great renowne.
Than Edgare spake in praysynge of the crowne:
'All my successours may glad and ioyfull be
To haue suche homage, honour and dignite.'

stanza 171

1192Also it is to be had in memory
That this sayd Edgare and his princis all
Came with great reuerence vnto the monastery,
To worshyp saynt Werburge with mynde liberall;
Where he gaue fredoms and priuileges speciall,
With singular possessions of his charite,
Confirmynge the olde grauntes by hye auctorite.

stanza 172

1199 This Edgare was nominate in cronicles expresse
'The floure of Englande', regnyng as emperour,
Lyke-wise Romulus to romains was of prowes,
Cyrus to the persis / to the grekes their conquerour,
Great Charles to frenchemen / to troians Hectour;
Famous in victorye, preignant in wysdome,
Vertuous and pacient / feruent in deuocion. ¹³⁰

stanza 172a

1199a Auctor opum, vindix scelerum / largitor honorum,
Sceptriger Edgarus regna superna petit.
Hic alter Solomon / legum pater / orbita pacis,
Quod claruit bellis / claruit inde magis.
Templa deo / templis monachos / monachis dedit agros:
Nequitie lapsum / iusticieque loquum. ¹³¹

stanza 173

1206Also from the byrthe of our blessed sauiour
A thousande fyfty yere / and seuen expresse,
In the tyme of saynt Edwarde kyng and confessour, ¹³²
As William Maluesbury beareth wytnes, ¹³³
Than Leofricus, a man of great mekenes, ¹³⁴
Was erle of Chestre and duke of merciens ,
Son to duke Leoffwin by liniall discence.

stanza 174

1213This noble Leofric, sayth policronicon, ¹³⁵
Of his deuocion and beningne grace,
Namely by the counsell and vertues mocion
Of his lady Godith, countes whiche was, ¹³⁶
Reedified churches decayed in many a place,
Also he founded the monastery of Leonence ,
By the towne of Herforde and the place of Wenlecence .

stanza 175

1220 This erle repareled a noble olde monastery,
Euesham vpon Auen / gaue them great riches;
Also founder was of the abbay in couentre ,
Made the cite free, for loue of his countesse: ¹³⁷
At the cite of Chestre of his great goodnes
He repared the College-churche of saynt Iohn,
Endowed it with riches and enormentes many on.

stanza 176

1227This erle of Chestre, the sayd Leofricus,
Of his charite / and feruent deuocion
To the honour of god / reedified full gracious
The mynstre of Werburge within the sayd towne,
Gaue vnto it riches and singular possession,
Endowed the sayd place with fredoms and liberte
And speciall priuileges, confirmed by auctorite.

stanza 177

1234So the sayd place encreased in honour,
In great possessions / fredoms / and richesse;
With singular deuocion vnto our sauiour
And prayse to saynt Werburge, theyr patronesse,
The chanons obserued vertue and clennes,
Daily augmentyng by diuine sufferaunce
Vnto the comyng to this lande of normans.

chapter 16

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

stanza 178

1241The yere of grace .M. sixe and thre-scour,
The .xiii. day of the moneth of october
The duke of normandy / William conquerour, ¹³⁸
Pight a stronge batell / displayed his baner,
Of normans and frenchemen hauynge great power,
Subdued kyng Harolde / opteyned all the londe,
Was coronate at London / made saxons all bonde.

stanza 179

1248For diuerse great causes he came to this countre:
First for deth of Alured, his nere kynsman; ¹³⁹
The proscripcion ¹⁴⁰ of Robert archebisshop of Canterbury; ¹⁴¹
The periury of Harolde agaynst conscience playne; ¹⁴²
The promys of saynt Edwarde made to him, certayne, ¹⁴³
That the sayd William shulde enioye the crowne,
If the kyng departed without succession.

stanza 180

1255A generall counsell was celebrate at London,
That all bysshops sees by helpe of the conquerour
From borowes shulde be translate to a famous towne
Within their diocese / to the greatter honour.
Ryght so they all were / sayth myn auctor; ¹⁴⁴
Also the see of Lichfelde was translate to Chester,
By helpe and sufferaunce of the bysshop Peter. ¹⁴⁵

stanza 181

1262With Wylliam conquerour came to this region
A noble worthy prynce nominate Hug. Lupus,
The dukes son of Britayne / and his syster son; ¹⁴⁶
Flourynge in chiualry, bolde and victorious,
Manfull in batell / liberall and vertuous:
To whom the kyng gaue for his enheritaunce
The counte of Chesshire, with the appurtinaunce, ¹⁴⁷

stanza 182

1269By victorie to wynne the forsayd Erledom,
Frely to gouerne it as by conquest right;
Made a sure chartre to hym and his succession,
By the swerde of dignite to holde it with myght,
And to calle a parlement to his wyll and syght,
To ordre his subiectes after true iustice
As a prepotent prince / and after statutes to deuise.

stanza 183

1276 This valeant knyght with a myghty host
Descended from London to wynne the sayd counte.
But the lordes of Chesshire rose from euery cost,
Agaynst hym made batell and had the victorie; ¹⁴⁸
Thries they preuayled agaynst the erle, trulie.
After he optayned to his fame and honour
The erledome of Chestre, entred as a conquerour.

stanza 184

1283 He gaue to his knyghtes after theyr desire
Lordshyps and franches / and great possession,
With riche mariages, within all Chesshire,
Exalted his seruauntes to hye promocion;
Vnto holy churche had special deuocion,
Maynte[in]ynge iustice / commendyng vertue,
Deposyng vice by the helpe of Iesu.

stanza 185

1290After the departure of his vncle, the conquerour,
Whan William Ruff. toke the regalite, ¹⁴⁹
Than blessed Anselme, the famous doctour, ¹⁵⁰
Dyd viset this lande oft-tymes of his charite,
Glad to refourme / and brynge vnto vnite
Where was debate / and mycle diuision,
By diligent labour / and good exhortacion.

stanza 186

1297This forsayd erle of his benignite,
Interiously louynge holy religion,
Repleit with vertue and feruent charite,
Sende for saynt Anselme vnto London,
To come to Chestre at his peticion
And there for to founde a religious place
In honour of Werburge by diuine grace.

stanza 187

1304 Blessed Anselme at the erles supplicacion
Came vnto Chestre with gladde chere shortly:
Where he founded an abbaye of holy religion,
A pleasaunt place and a noble monasterye,
In worshyp of god / and saynt Werburge, sothely,
The yere of grace by full computacion
A thousande .iiii. score .xiii. yere alon. ¹⁵¹

stanza 188

1311All secular prestes / and chanons also,
Within the sayd place afore-tyme dwellyng
Were clerely dismyssed / and letten go;
Religious monkes, perfect in lyuynge,
Receyued were gladly their rule professynge.
Saynt Anselme ordeyned Richard of Beccense
To be their abbot with great preeminence. ¹⁵²

stanza 189

1318Landes / rentes / libertes / and great possession,
Franches / fredoms / and priuileges riall
Were gyuen mekely to that foundacion,
Maners / borowes / townes / with the people thrall,
And many faire churches / chapels withall,
Wardes and mariages were gyuen that season
To god and saynt Werburge, cause of deuocion; ¹⁵³

stanza 190

1325 Kyng Wyllyam Ruff, son to the conquerour, ¹⁵⁴
Confirmed the foundacion / with great auctorite,
Endowed the monastery with mycle honour
Of fredoms / franches / also liberte.
The place that tyme was made as fre
As the sayd erle was in his castell,
Or as hert myght thynke / or tonge myght tell.

stanza 191

1332 Saynt Anselme departed thence vnto London
And was made archebisshop of Canturbury.
To the place he gaue a sure confirmacion,
With singular priuileges to be had in memory;
Of whom it is written here folowyng, truly:
Hic vir dum vixit, extirpantes maledixit
Werburge iura presentia siue futura. ¹⁵⁵

stanza 192

1339 This noble prince gaue of his charite
Riall riche enormentes vnto the sayd place,
Coopes / crosses / Iewels of great rialte,
Chales / censures / vestures and landes dyd purchace;
A librarie of bokes to rede and synge there was -
Of whiche riall iewels and bokes some remayne
Within the sayd monastery to thys day, certayne.

stanza 193

1346 The founder also buylded within the monasterie
Many myghty places / conuenient for religion,
Compased with stronge walles on the west partie
And on the other syde with Walles of the towne,
Closed at euery ende with a sure postron ,
In south part the cimiterie inuironed rounde about.
For a sure defence ennemies to holde out.

stanza 194

1353The .ix. yere aftre this riall foundacion,
This noble founder the .xxvii. day of Iuly
Departed to-warde the heuenly mancion. ¹⁵⁶
Next whom his son Richarde succeded, truly, ¹⁵⁷
Than regnyng in honour was the first kyng Henry. ¹⁵⁸
Also the place had their fraunches and fredom
Afore the sayd cite a hundreth yere and one. ¹⁵⁹

chapter 20

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

stanza 229

1598From the incarnacion of our sauiour
A thousand / a hundreth yere, .lxxx. also,
On sonday in mydlenton / the .viii. houre,
Whan euery paresshen theyr churche went to
As all christen people of dutie shulde do,
A fyre by infortune rose vp sodeinly,
All flamyng feruent or the people dyd espy. ¹⁶⁰

stanza 230

1605This fearefull fire encreased more and more,
Piteously wastyng hous / chambre / and hall;
The citezens were redy their cite to succour,
Shewed all their diligence / and labour continuall,
Some cried for water / and some for hookes dyd call, ¹⁶¹
Some vsed other engins by crafte and policy,
Some pulled downe howses afore the fire, truly.

stanza 231

1612Other, that were impotent / mekely gan praye
Our blessed lorde / on them to haue pite;
Women and children cried 'out and waile-a-way',
Beholdyng the daunger and perill of the cite;
Prestes made hast diuine seruice to supple,
Redy for to succour their neyghbours in distres
(As charite required) and helpe their heuynes.

stanza 232

1619The fire contynued without any cessynge,
Feruently flamyng euer contynuall,
From place to place meruaylously rennyng,
As it were tynder consumyng toure and wall.
The citezens sadly laboured in vayne all;
By the policie of man was founde no remedy
To cesse the fire so feruent and myghty.

stanza 233

1626Alas, great heuynes it was to beholde
The cite of Troye all flamyng as fire; ¹⁶²
More pite of Rome cite was manyfolde,
Feruently flagrant / empeiryng the empire: ¹⁶³
As to the quantite, the cite of Chestire
Myght be assembled this styme in like case
To the sayd citees, remedeles, alas!

stanza 234

1633 Many riall places fell adowne that day,
Riche marchauntes houses brought to distruction,
Churches and chapels went to great decay:
That tyme was brent the more part of the towne;
And to this present day is a famous opinion
Howe a myghty churche, a mynstre of saynt Michaell,
That season was brent and to ruyne fell. ¹⁶⁴

stanza 235

1640Whan the people sawe their power insufficient,
By diligent labour / wysdome and policye,
To subdue the fire / but styll dyd augment:
To almyghty god they dyd call and crye
And to saynt Werburge, the gracious lady,
For helpe and succour in such wretchednes,
Wepyng and waylyng for woo and heuynes.

stanza 236

1647 Thabbot and couent of the sayd monasterie
Religiously lyuyng in holy conuersacion,
Repleit with mekenes and feruent charite,
Toke the holy shryne in prayer and deuocion,
Syngyng the letanie bare it in procession,
Compasyng the fyre in euery strete and place,
Trustyng in Werburge for helpe, aide and grace.

stanza 237

1654Whan they had ended the holy letanye
From place to place procedyng in stacion,
Anone a stremyng sterre appered sodaynlye,
A white doue descended afore the congregacion
Approchyng as to helpe them / a signe of consolacion.
The people reioysed of that gostly syght
And praysed saynt Werburge with power and myght.

stanza 238

1661So by >the merite of this blessed virgin
The fire began to cesse - / a myracle clere -
Nat passyng the place / where the holy shryne
Was borne by the bretherne / as playnly dyd appere.
The citezens dyd helpe in their best manere;
The feruent great fire extincted was in-dede
By grace aboue nature / in story we may rede. ¹⁶⁵

stanza 239

1668 The clergie, the burges / and the comons all,
Consyderynge the goodnes of this virgin bright,
With tendernes of hert and loue in speciall
Magnified and praysed our lorde god almyght
And blessed Werburge by day, also nyght,
Whiche hath preserued of her great charite
Chestre from distruction in extreme necessite.

stanza 240

1675Vnto her shryne the people all went,
The clergie before, in maner of procession,
Thankyng this virgin with loue feruent
For her mercy and grace shewed them vpon;
Deuoutly knelynge there made oblacion,
Sayeng full sadly / 'we shall neuer able be
The place to recompence for this ded of charite'. ¹⁶⁶

chapter 21

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

stanza 241

1682These fore-sayd myracles and signes celestiall, ¹⁶⁷
By diuine sufferaunce shewed manifestly,
Magnifien this virgin and blessed moiniall
With mycle worshyp, honour and victory,
Playnly declaryng vnto your memory
What singular grace / worshyp / and excellence
Our sauiour shewed for his spouse openly, ¹⁶⁸
As is rehersed at masse in her sequens. ¹⁶⁹

stanza 242

1690To expresse all myracles written in the place
In a boke nominate the third passionarye, ¹⁷⁰
It wolde require a longe tyme and space,
To the reders tedious (no meruayle sothly).
Wher[for]e we omytte to writte of them specially,
But touched in generall vnto your audience,
To reioyse and comfort your hertes inwardly,
As ye may considre in her sequens.

stanza 243

1698Certaynly, it is knowen by bokes express:
Sith that saynt Werburge came to Chestre cite,
By the power of god and myracle, doutles,
She hath defended the towne from ennemite,
From barbarike nacions full of crudelite,
Of who we haue shewed with diligence,
Preseruyng her seruauntes / and the monastery,
As is declared in her true sequence.

stanza 244

1706Also of her goodnes preserued she hase
The sayd towne from fire in extreme necessite;
Many diuers tymes to their ioye and solace
Releuyng the citezens in wo and penalite.
For it is well knowen, by olde antiquite
Sith the holy shryne came to their presence,
It hath ben their comfort and gladnes, truly,
As playnly appereth in her sequens.

stanza 245

1714Also to blynde men she hath gyuen syght,
To dombe men speche right perfectly,
To deffe men their heryng pleasaunt and right,
And helth to sicke men repleit with debilite,
Delyuered prisoners from captiuite,
Passage to lame men / to mad men intelligence;
Suche myracles shewed this blessed lady,
As ye may vnderstande in her sequens.

stanza 246

1722Women with childe by her had good delyueraunce,
Virgins defended from shame and vilany;
Her seruauntes were cured from wofull greuaunce,
Marchantes and mariners delyuered from ieopardye;
Other were saued from hangyng shamfully;
A speciall comfort, succour and defence
To all carefull creatures sekyng for remedy,
By singular grace / as sayth the sequens.

stanza 247

1730No wofull person in payne and wretchednes,
Man, woman, childe / who-so-euer they be,
Comynge to the abbay with perfit mekenes,
Makyng supplicacion to this lady free,
But they departed ioyfull and merie
To theyr dwellyng-place by her beniuolence,
And for their lyuyng had all thyng necessarie,
As written is playnly in her sequens.

stanza 248

1738For whiche great myracles and signes continuall
This blessed Werburge, floure of humilite ,
Of the people is called for grace supernall
'Patrones of Chestre' / protrectrice of the countre.
Where next our sauiour and his mother Marie
She hath great honour, prayse and preeminence,
As most condigne to beare the principalite,
In witnes wherof recordeth her sequens.

stanza 249

1746This holy abbasse and lady imperiall
Hath ben president in Chestre monasterie,
Theyr trust / theyr treasure / and defence speciall
In mycle reuerence .vii. hundreth yere, trulie;
And so shall continue, by grace of god almyghty,
To the worldes ende, in hie magnificence.
To whom be honour, worship and glorie
Euer to endure / as sayth her sequens.