Mary and Joseph's Visit to Elizabeth
Maria
Bvtt, husbond, of oo thynge I pray 3ow most mekely:
I haue knowyng þat oure cosyn Elyzabeth with childe is.
þat it plese 3ow to go to here hastyly,
If owught we myth comforte here, it wore to me blys.
Bvtt, husbond, of oo thynge I pray 3ow most mekely:
I haue knowyng þat oure cosyn Elyzabeth with childe is.
þat it plese 3ow to go to here hastyly,
If owught we myth comforte here, it wore to me blys.
Joseph
A, Godys sake! Is she with childe? Sche?5
Than wole here husbond, Zakarye, be mery.
In Montana they dwelle, fer hens, so moty the,
In þe cety of Juda, I knowe it veryly.
It is hens, I trowe, myles two and fyfty_
We are lyke to be wery or we come at þat same.
I wole with a good wyl, blyssyd wyff Mary;11
Now go we forthe, than, in Goddys name.
A, Godys sake! Is she with childe? Sche?5
Than wole here husbond, Zakarye, be mery.
In Montana they dwelle, fer hens, so moty the,
In þe cety of Juda, I knowe it veryly.
It is hens, I trowe, myles two and fyfty_
We are lyke to be wery or we come at þat same.
I wole with a good wyl, blyssyd wyff Mary;11
Now go we forthe, than, in Goddys name.
Maria
[Good] husbond, þow it be to 3ow peyne,13
This jurny, I pray 3ow, lete us go fast;
For I am schamfast of þe pepyl to be seyne,
And namely of men þerof I am agast.
Pylgrymagys and helpyngys wolde be go in hast.
þe more þe body is peynyd þe more is þe mede.
Say 3e 3oure devocyonys and I xal myn icast.19
Now in þis jurny God mote us spede.
[Good] husbond, þow it be to 3ow peyne,13
This jurny, I pray 3ow, lete us go fast;
For I am schamfast of þe pepyl to be seyne,
And namely of men þerof I am agast.
Pylgrymagys and helpyngys wolde be go in hast.
þe more þe body is peynyd þe more is þe mede.
Say 3e 3oure devocyonys and I xal myn icast.19
Now in þis jurny God mote us spede.
Joseph
Amen, amen, and evyrmore,21
Lo, wyff lo how starkly I go before.
Amen, amen, and evyrmore,21
Lo, wyff lo how starkly I go before.
Et sic transient circa placeam.
Contemplacio
Sovereynes, vndyrstondyth þat Kynge Davyd here
Ordeyned foure and twenty prestys of grett devocyon,
In þe temple of God aftere here l[o]t [to] apere.
þei wer[e] clepyd summi sacerdotes for here mynistracyon.
And on was prynce of prestys, havynge domynacyon;
Amonge whiche was an old prest clepyd Zakarye,
And he had an old woman to his wyff of holy conversacyon,
Whiche hyth Elizabeth, þat nevyr had childe, verylye.
Sovereynes, vndyrstondyth þat Kynge Davyd here
Ordeyned foure and twenty prestys of grett devocyon,
In þe temple of God aftere here l[o]t [to] apere.
þei wer[e] clepyd summi sacerdotes for here mynistracyon.
And on was prynce of prestys, havynge domynacyon;
Amonge whiche was an old prest clepyd Zakarye,
And he had an old woman to his wyff of holy conversacyon,
Whiche hyth Elizabeth, þat nevyr had childe, verylye.
In hese mynistracyon, the howre of incense,31
The aungel Gabryel apperyd hym to.
þat hese wyff xulde conscyve he 3aff hym intelligence,
[He, seinge] hese vnwurthynes and age, not belevyd so;
The plage of dompnesse hise lippis lappyd, lo.
Thei wenten hom and his wyff was conseyvenge —
This concepcyon Gabryel tolde oure Lady to —37
And in soth, sone aftere, þat sage sche was sekynge.
The aungel Gabryel apperyd hym to.
þat hese wyff xulde conscyve he 3aff hym intelligence,
[He, seinge] hese vnwurthynes and age, not belevyd so;
The plage of dompnesse hise lippis lappyd, lo.
Thei wenten hom and his wyff was conseyvenge —
This concepcyon Gabryel tolde oure Lady to —37
And in soth, sone aftere, þat sage sche was sekynge.
And of here tweyners metyng39
Here gynnyth þe proces.
Now God be oure begynnynge,
And of my tonge I wole ses.
Here gynnyth þe proces.
Now God be oure begynnynge,
And of my tonge I wole ses.
Joseph
A, a, wyff, in feyth I am wery.43
Therfore I wole sytt downe and rest me ryght here.
Lo, wyff, here is þe hous of Zakary;
Wole 3e I clepe Elyzabeth to 3ow to apere?
A, a, wyff, in feyth I am wery.43
Therfore I wole sytt downe and rest me ryght here.
Lo, wyff, here is þe hous of Zakary;
Wole 3e I clepe Elyzabeth to 3ow to apere?
Maria
Nay, husbond, and it plese 3ow, I xal go ner.47
Now þe blyssyd Trynité be in þis hous.
A, cosyn Elizabeth, swete modyr, what cher?
3e grow grett! A, my God, how 3e be gracyous!
Nay, husbond, and it plese 3ow, I xal go ner.47
Now þe blyssyd Trynité be in þis hous.
A, cosyn Elizabeth, swete modyr, what cher?
3e grow grett! A, my God, how 3e be gracyous!
Elizabeth
Anon as I herd of 3ow þis holy gretynge,51
Mekest mayden and þe Modyr of God, Mary,
Be 3oure breth þe Holy Gost vs was inspyrynge;
þat þe childe in my body enjoyd gretly
And turnyd down on his knes to oure God reverently.
Whom 3e here in 3oure body, þis veryly I ken.
Fulfyllyd with þe Holy Gost þus lowde I cry:
Blyssyd be þu amonge all women!
Anon as I herd of 3ow þis holy gretynge,51
Mekest mayden and þe Modyr of God, Mary,
Be 3oure breth þe Holy Gost vs was inspyrynge;
þat þe childe in my body enjoyd gretly
And turnyd down on his knes to oure God reverently.
Whom 3e here in 3oure body, þis veryly I ken.
Fulfyllyd with þe Holy Gost þus lowde I cry:
Blyssyd be þu amonge all women!
And blyssyd be þe frute off þi wombe also,
þu wurthyest virgyne and wyff þat evyr was wrought.
How is it þat þe Modyr of God me xulde come to,
þat wrecche of all wrecchis, a whyght wers þan nought;
And þu art blyssyd, þat belevyd veryly in þi thought
þat þe wurde of God xulde profyte in the.
But how þis blyssydnes abought was brought,65
I cannot thynk nyn say how it myght be.
þu wurthyest virgyne and wyff þat evyr was wrought.
How is it þat þe Modyr of God me xulde come to,
þat wrecche of all wrecchis, a whyght wers þan nought;
And þu art blyssyd, þat belevyd veryly in þi thought
þat þe wurde of God xulde profyte in the.
But how þis blyssydnes abought was brought,65
I cannot thynk nyn say how it myght be.
Maria
To þe preysynge of God, cosyn, this seyd mut be:
Whan I sat in my lytyl hous onto God praynge,
Gabryel come and seyde to me "Ave."
Ther I conceyvyd God at my consentynge,
Parfyte God and parfyte man at onys beynge.
Than þe aungel seyd onto me
þat it was sex monethys syn 3oure conseyvynge;
þis cawsyth my comynge, cosyn, 3ow to comfort and se.
To þe preysynge of God, cosyn, this seyd mut be:
Whan I sat in my lytyl hous onto God praynge,
Gabryel come and seyde to me "Ave."
Ther I conceyvyd God at my consentynge,
Parfyte God and parfyte man at onys beynge.
Than þe aungel seyd onto me
þat it was sex monethys syn 3oure conseyvynge;
þis cawsyth my comynge, cosyn, 3ow to comfort and se.
Elizabeth
Blyssyd be 3e, cosyn, for 3oure hedyrcomynge.75
How I conseyvyd I xal to 3ow say:
þe aungel apperyd þe howre of incensynge
Seynge I xulde conseyve, and hym thought nay!
Sethe for his mystrost he hath be dowm alway.
And þus of my concepcyon I haue tolde 3ow sum.
Blyssyd be 3e, cosyn, for 3oure hedyrcomynge.75
How I conseyvyd I xal to 3ow say:
þe aungel apperyd þe howre of incensynge
Seynge I xulde conseyve, and hym thought nay!
Sethe for his mystrost he hath be dowm alway.
And þus of my concepcyon I haue tolde 3ow sum.
Maria
For þis holy psalme I begynne here þis day:
For þis holy psalme I begynne here þis day:
Magnificat anima mea Dominum,82
Et exultauit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.
Et exultauit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.
Elizabeth
Be þe Holy Gost with joye Goddys son is in þe cum,
þat þi spyryte so injouyid þe helth of þi God so.
Be þe Holy Gost with joye Goddys son is in þe cum,
þat þi spyryte so injouyid þe helth of þi God so.
Maria
Quia respexit humilitatem ancille sue.86
Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generaciones.
Quia respexit humilitatem ancille sue.86
Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generaciones.
Elizabeth
For he beheld þe lownes of hese handmayde, 3e.
[L]o, ferforthe for þat, all generacyonys blysse 3ow in pes.
For he beheld þe lownes of hese handmayde, 3e.
[L]o, ferforthe for þat, all generacyonys blysse 3ow in pes.
Maria
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est,90
Et sanctum nomen eius.
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est,90
Et sanctum nomen eius.
Elizabeth
For grett thyngys he made, and also myghtyest,92
And ryght holy is þe name of hym in vs.
For grett thyngys he made, and also myghtyest,92
And ryght holy is þe name of hym in vs.
Maria
Et misericordia eius a progenie in progenies94
Timentibus eum.
Et misericordia eius a progenie in progenies94
Timentibus eum.
Elizabeth
3a, þe mercy of hym fro þat kynde into þe kynde of pes,
For all þat hym drede now is he cum.
3a, þe mercy of hym fro þat kynde into þe kynde of pes,
For all þat hym drede now is he cum.
Maria
Fecit potenciam in brachio suo,98
Disspersit superbos mente cordis sui.
Fecit potenciam in brachio suo,98
Disspersit superbos mente cordis sui.
Elizabeth
The pore in his ryght arme he hath mad so,100
þe prowde to dyspeyre [in] þe thought of here hertys only.
The pore in his ryght arme he hath mad so,100
þe prowde to dyspeyre [in] þe thought of here hertys only.
Maria
Deposuit potentes de sede,102
Et exaltauit humiles.
Deposuit potentes de sede,102
Et exaltauit humiles.
Elizabeth
The prowde men fro hey setys put he,104
And þe lowly vpon heyth in þe sete of pes.
The prowde men fro hey setys put he,104
And þe lowly vpon heyth in þe sete of pes.
Maria
Esurientes impleuit bonis,106
Et diuites dimisit inanes.
Esurientes impleuit bonis,106
Et diuites dimisit inanes.
Elizabeth
Alle þe pore and þe nedy he fulfyllyth with his goodys,
And þe ryche he fellyth to voydnes.
Alle þe pore and þe nedy he fulfyllyth with his goodys,
And þe ryche he fellyth to voydnes.
Maria
Suscepit Israel puerurn suum,110
Recordatus est misericordie sue.
Suscepit Israel puerurn suum,110
Recordatus est misericordie sue.
Elizabeth
Israel for his childe vp toke he to cum,112
On his mercy to thynk, for hese þat be.
Israel for his childe vp toke he to cum,112
On his mercy to thynk, for hese þat be.
Maria
Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros,114
Abraham et semini eius in secula.
Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros,114
Abraham et semini eius in secula.
Elizabeth
As he spak here to oure forfaderys in clos,116
Abraham and to all hese sed of hym in þis werd, sa.
As he spak here to oure forfaderys in clos,116
Abraham and to all hese sed of hym in þis werd, sa.
Maria
Gloria Patri, et Filio,118
Et Spiritui Sancto.
Gloria Patri, et Filio,118
Et Spiritui Sancto.
Elizabeth
Preysyng be to þe Fadyr in hevyn, lo!120
þe same to þe Son here be so,
þe Holy Gost also to ken.
Preysyng be to þe Fadyr in hevyn, lo!120
þe same to þe Son here be so,
þe Holy Gost also to ken.
Maria
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper,123
Et in secula seculorum, amen.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper,123
Et in secula seculorum, amen.
Elizabeth
As it was in þe begynnynge, and now is, and xal be forevyr,
And in þis werd in all good werkys to abydyn then.
As it was in þe begynnynge, and now is, and xal be forevyr,
And in þis werd in all good werkys to abydyn then.
Maria
This psalme of prophesye seyd betwen vs tweyn,127
In hefne it is wretyn with aungellys hond,
Evyr to be songe and also to be seyn
Euery day amonge us at oure evesong.
This psalme of prophesye seyd betwen vs tweyn,127
In hefne it is wretyn with aungellys hond,
Evyr to be songe and also to be seyn
Euery day amonge us at oure evesong.
But, cosyn Elyzabeth, I xal 3ow here kepe,131
And þis thre monethis abyde here now,
Tyl 3e han childe; to wasche, skore, and swepe,
And in all þat I may to comforte 3ow.
And þis thre monethis abyde here now,
Tyl 3e han childe; to wasche, skore, and swepe,
And in all þat I may to comforte 3ow.
Elizabeth
A, 3e Modyr of God, 3e shewe us here how135
We xulde be meke þat wrecchis here be.
All hefne and herthe wurchepp 3ow mow,
þat are trone and tabernakyl of þe hy3 Trinité.
A, 3e Modyr of God, 3e shewe us here how135
We xulde be meke þat wrecchis here be.
All hefne and herthe wurchepp 3ow mow,
þat are trone and tabernakyl of þe hy3 Trinité.
Joseph
A, how do 3e, how do 3e, fadyr Zacharye?139
We falle fast in age, withowte oth.
Why shake 3e so 3oure hed? Haue 3e þe palsye?
Why speke 3e not, sere? I trowe 3e are not wroth.
A, how do 3e, how do 3e, fadyr Zacharye?139
We falle fast in age, withowte oth.
Why shake 3e so 3oure hed? Haue 3e þe palsye?
Why speke 3e not, sere? I trowe 3e are not wroth.
Elizabeth
Nay, wys fadyr Joseph, þerto he were ful loth.
It is þe vesytac[y]on of God; he may not speke, veryly.
Lete us thank God þerffor, both.
He xal remedy it whan it plesyth his mercy.
Nay, wys fadyr Joseph, þerto he were ful loth.
It is þe vesytac[y]on of God; he may not speke, veryly.
Lete us thank God þerffor, both.
He xal remedy it whan it plesyth his mercy.
Conclusion A
Joseph
Of 3oure dissese thynkys no greff,147
Thank God of al aduersyté;
For he wyl chastyse and repreff
þo þat he lovyth most hertylé.
Of 3oure dissese thynkys no greff,147
Thank God of al aduersyté;
For he wyl chastyse and repreff
þo þat he lovyth most hertylé.
Mary, I hold best þat we go hens;151
We haue fer hom, withowt fayl.
We haue fer hom, withowt fayl.
Maria
Al redy, husbond, without defens,153
Iwyl werke be 3oure counsayl.
Cosyn, be 3oure leve and 3oure lycens,
For homward now us must travayl.
Of þis refreschynge in 3oure presens
God 3eld 3ow, þat most may avayl.
Al redy, husbond, without defens,153
Iwyl werke be 3oure counsayl.
Cosyn, be 3oure leve and 3oure lycens,
For homward now us must travayl.
Of þis refreschynge in 3oure presens
God 3eld 3ow, þat most may avayl.
Elizabeth
Now, cosynes bothe, God 3ow spede.159
And wete 3ow wele withowtyn mo,
3oure presens comfortyth me indede.
And þerfore now am I ryght wo
That 3e, my frendys and my kynrede,
þus sone now xul parte me fro.
But I pray God he mote 3ow lede165
In every place wherso 3e go.
Now, cosynes bothe, God 3ow spede.159
And wete 3ow wele withowtyn mo,
3oure presens comfortyth me indede.
And þerfore now am I ryght wo
That 3e, my frendys and my kynrede,
þus sone now xul parte me fro.
But I pray God he mote 3ow lede165
In every place wherso 3e go.
Here Mary and Elizabet partyn, and Elizabeth goth to Zakarie and seyth:
Good husbond, ryse up I beseke 3ow,167
And go we to þe temple now fast
To wurchep God, with þat we mow,
And thank hym bothe, this is my cast,
Of þe tyme þat is comynge now.
For now is cum mercy, and venjauns is past!
God wyl be born for mannys prow173
To brynge us to blysse þat evyr xal last.
And go we to þe temple now fast
To wurchep God, with þat we mow,
And thank hym bothe, this is my cast,
Of þe tyme þat is comynge now.
For now is cum mercy, and venjauns is past!
God wyl be born for mannys prow173
To brynge us to blysse þat evyr xal last.
Conclusion B
Come, I pray 3ow specialy.175
Iwys, 3e are welcome, Mary.
For þis comfortabelest comynge, good God, gramercy.
Iwys, 3e are welcome, Mary.
For þis comfortabelest comynge, good God, gramercy.
Contemplacio
Lystenyth, sovereynys, here is a conclusyon.178
How þe Aue was mad here is lernyd vs:
þe aungel seyd, "Aue, gracia plena. Dominus tecum,
Benedicta tu in mulieribus."
Eiyzabeth seyd, "Et benedictus
Fructus uentris tui." Thus þe Chirch addyd "Maria" and "Jesus" her.
Who seyth oure Ladyes Sawtere dayly for a 3er þus,
He hath pardon ten thowsand and eyte hundryd 3er.
Lystenyth, sovereynys, here is a conclusyon.178
How þe Aue was mad here is lernyd vs:
þe aungel seyd, "Aue, gracia plena. Dominus tecum,
Benedicta tu in mulieribus."
Eiyzabeth seyd, "Et benedictus
Fructus uentris tui." Thus þe Chirch addyd "Maria" and "Jesus" her.
Who seyth oure Ladyes Sawtere dayly for a 3er þus,
He hath pardon ten thowsand and eyte hundryd 3er.
Than ferther to oure matere for to procede,186
Mary with Elizabeth abod þer stylle
Iij monthys fully, as we rede,
Thankynge God with hertly wylle.
Mary with Elizabeth abod þer stylle
Iij monthys fully, as we rede,
Thankynge God with hertly wylle.
A, Lord God, what hous was þis on190
þat [held] þese childeryn and here moderys to
As Mary and Elizabeth, Jesus and John,
And Joseph and Zakarye also.
þat [held] þese childeryn and here moderys to
As Mary and Elizabeth, Jesus and John,
And Joseph and Zakarye also.
And evyr oure Lady abod stylle þus194
Tyl Johan was of his modyr born.
And þan Zakarye spak, iwus,
þat had be dowm and his spech lorn.
Tyl Johan was of his modyr born.
And þan Zakarye spak, iwus,
þat had be dowm and his spech lorn.
He and Elizabeth prophesyed as þus:198
They mad "Benedictus" them beforn.
And so "Magnificat" and "Benedictus"
Fyrst in þat place þer made worn.
They mad "Benedictus" them beforn.
And so "Magnificat" and "Benedictus"
Fyrst in þat place þer made worn.
Whan all was don oure Lady fre202
Toke here leve than aftere this
At Elizabeth and at Zakarie,
And kyssyd Johan and gan hym blys.
Toke here leve than aftere this
At Elizabeth and at Zakarie,
And kyssyd Johan and gan hym blys.
Now most mekely we thank 3ou of 3oure pacyens206
And beseke 3ou of 3oure good supportacyon.
If here hath be seyd ore don any inconuenyens,
We asygne it to 3oure good deliberaci[on],
Besekynge to Crystys precyous Passyon
Conserve and rewarde 3oure hedyrcomynge.
With "Aue" we begunne and "Aue" is oure conclusyon:
"Ave Regina Celorum" to our Lady we synge.
And beseke 3ou of 3oure good supportacyon.
If here hath be seyd ore don any inconuenyens,
We asygne it to 3oure good deliberaci[on],
Besekynge to Crystys precyous Passyon
Conserve and rewarde 3oure hedyrcomynge.
With "Aue" we begunne and "Aue" is oure conclusyon:
"Ave Regina Celorum" to our Lady we synge.
2024 Mar 19 14:56:36