5 *260    10 15 *270	CONTEMPLACIO Sovereynes, ye han sen shewyd yow before Of Joachym and Anne, here botherys holy metynge, How oure Lady was conseyvid, and how she was bore. We passe ovyr that, breffness of tyme consyderynge, And how oure Lady in her tendyr age and yyng Into the temple was offryd, and so forth proced. This sentens sayd shal be hire begynnyng. Now the Mother of Mercy in this be our sped. And, as a childe of thre yere age, here she shal appere To alle pepyl that ben here present. And of her grett grace now shal ye here: How she levyd evyr to Goddys entent With grace. That holy matere we wole declare, Tyl fortene yere, how sche dyd fare. Now of youre speche, I pray yow spare, All that ben in this place.	Friends; have seen; (see note); (t-note) their holy meeting together; (see note) born young (t-note) part; her help hear; (t-note) lived; God’s will matter; will Until age 14 refrain
	[Here Joachym and Anne with oure Lady betwen hem being al in whyte as a childe of thre yere age presente here into the temple, thus seying Joachym: (t-note)
20 25 *280 30 35 *290 40 45 *300 50 55 *310 60 65 *320 70 75 *330 80 85 *340 90 95 *350 100	JOACHYM Blyssed be oure Lord! Fayr frute have we now! Anne, wyff, remembyr wole ye That we made to God an holy avow That oure fyrst childe, the servaunt of God shulde be. The age of Mary, oure dowtere, is yerys thre. Therfore to thre personys and on God lete us her present. The yonger she be drawyn, the bettyr semyth me, And for teryeng of oure avow of God, we myth be shent.1 ANNE It is as ye sey, husbond, indede. Late us take Mary, oure dowtere, us between And to the temple with her procede. Dowtere, the aungel tolde us ye shulde be a qwen! Wole ye go se that lord youre husbond shal ben, And lerne for to love hym and lede with hym youre lyff? Telle youre fadyr and me her youre answere, let sen! Wole ye be pure maydyn and also Goddys wyff? MARIA Fadyr and modyr, if it plesyng to yow be, Ye han mad youre avow, so sothly wole I To be Goddys chast servaunt whil lyff is in me. But to be Goddys wyff, I was nevyr wurthy! I am the sympelest that evyr was born of body. I have herd yow seyd: “God shulde have a modyr swete.” That I may leve. To se hire, God graunt me for his mercy And abyl me to ley my handys undyr hire fayr fete! [Et genuflectet ad Deum. JOACHYM Iwys, dowtere, it is wel seyd! Ye answere, and ye were twenty yere olde. ANNE Whith youre speche, Mary, I am wel payd! Can ye gon alone? Lett se! Beth bolde! MARIA To go to Goddys hous, wole ye now beholde. I am joyful thedyrward, as I may be! JOACHYM Wyff, I am right joyful oure dowtere to beholde! ANNE So am I, wys husbond. Now in Goddys name go we. JOACHYM Sere prince of prestes, and it plese yow, We that were barreyn, God hath sent a childe To offre her to Goddys service, we mad oure avow; Here is the same mayde, Mary most mylde. YSAKAR Joachym, I have good mende, how I yow revyled. I am right joyful that God hath gove yow this grace To be amonge fruteful. Now, be ye reconsylid! Com, swete Mary, com! Ye have a gracyous face! [Joachym flectendo ad Deum sic dicens: JOACHYM Now Fadyr and Son and Holy Gost, On God and Personys Thre: We offre to thee, Lorde of myghtys most, Oure dowtere thi servaunt evyrmore to be. ANNA Therto most bounde evyrmore be we! Mary, in this holy place, leve yow we shall, In Goddys name. Now up go ye! Oure fadyr, oure preste, lo, doth yow call. MARIA Modyr, and it plese yow, fyrst wole I take my leve Of my fadyr and yow, my modyr, iwys; I have a fadyr in hefne, this I beleve. Now, good fadyr, with that fadyr ye me blysse. JOACHYM In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti.2 MARIA Amen. Now ye, good modyr. ANNE In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. MARIA Amen. Now oure Lord thank yow for this: Here is my fadyr and my modyr bothe. Most mekely I beseche I may yow kys. Now forgeve me yf evyr I made yow wrothe. [Et amplexendo, osculabit patrem et matrem.3 JOACHYM Nay, dowtere, ye offendyd nevyr God nor man. Lovyd be that Lord, yow so doth kepe. ANNE Swete dowtyr, thynk on youre modyr An, Youre swemynge smytyht to myn hert depe. MARIA Fadyr and modyr, I shal pray for yow and wepe To God with al myn hert specyaly. Blysse me day and nyght evyr her ye slepe, Good fadyr and modyr, and beth mery. JOACHYM A, ho had evyr such a chylde, Nevyr creature yit that evyr was bore? Sche is so gracyous; she is so mylde: So shulde childyr to fadyr and modyr evyrmore. ANNE Than shulde thei be blyssyd and plese God sore! Husbond, and it plese yow, not hens go we shal Tyl Mary be in the temple above thore — I wold not for al erthe se her fal. EPISCOPUS Come, gode Mary. Come babe, I thee call: Thi pas pratyly to this plas pretende. Thu shalt be the dowtere of God eternal! If the fyftene grees thu may ascende, It is meracle if thu do, now God thee dyffende! From Babylony to hevynly Jherusalem, this is the way: Every man that thynk his lyf to amende, The fiftene Psalmys in memorye of this mayde say.	(t-note) will first one; (see note) brought Let queen Will; what lord; shall be here; let’s see have made; vow; truly humblest mother believe; see her; (t-note) allow; her And she will kneel to God Indeed as if you pleased Let’s see! Be to that place (t-note) Sir; if it made; vow well remember has given beautiful Joachim, kneeling to God, says thus One behold if it; (see note) indeed bless (t-note) bless (attend to) you; (see note) angry (t-note) (see note) who keeps you grieving cuts my (t-note) heart wherever (t-note) who yet children blessed; greatly; (t-note) if there; (t-note) all the world see steps carefully; direct steps defend you (see note)
	[Maria. Et sic deinceps usque ad finem xvim Psalmorum.4 (t-note)
105	MARIA The fyrst degré gostly applyed: It is holy desyre with God to be. In trobyl to God I have cryed And in sped that Lord hath herde me.	spiritually; (t-note) trouble quickly; (see note); (t-note)
	Ad Dominum cum tribularer clamaui, et exaudiuit me.5
*360	The second is stody, with meke inquysissyon veryly: How I shal have knowynge of Godys wylle. To the mownteynes of hefne I have lyfte myn ey, From qwens shal comyn helpe me tylle.	study; inquiry mountains; my eyes whence
	Leuaui oculos meos in montes; unde ueniat auxilium mihi.6
110	The thrydde is gladnes in mende in hope to be That we shall be savyd all thus. I am glad of these tydyngys ben seyd to me: Now shal we go into Goddys hous.	third; mind God’s
	Letatus sum in hiis que dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus.7
115 *370	The fourte is meke obedyence as is dette To hym that is above the planetys sefne: To thee I have myn eyn sette That dwellys above the skyes in hefne.	as is due seven; (see note)
	Ad te leuaui oculos meos: qui habitas in Celis.8
120	The fyfte is propyr confessyon That we be nought withowth God thus, But God in us have habytacyon, Peraventure oure enemyes shulde swelle us.	not Unless perchance; swallow
	Nisi quia Dominus erat in nobis, dicat nunc Israel: nisi quia Dominus erat in nobis.9
125	The sexte is confidens in Godys strenght alon, For of all grace from hym comyth the strem: They that trust in God as the Mownt Syon, He shal not be steryd, endles that dwellyth in Jherusalem.	God’s stream stirred
	Qui confidunt in Domino sicut Mons Syon, Non commouebitur in eternum qui habitat in Hierusalem.10
*380	The sefte is undowteful hope of immortalyté: In oure Lordeis grace and mercy. Whan oure Lord convertyth oure captivité, Than are we mad as joyful mery.	seventh is steadfast Lord’s; (t-note) transforms Then; made also; (t-note)
	In conuertendo Dominus capiuitatem Syon, facti sumus sicut consolati.11
130	The eyted is contempt of veynglory in us, For hym that al mankende hath multyplyed. But yf oure Lord make here oure hous, They an laboryd in veyn that it han edyfied.	eighth But unless have labored; have built; (t-note)
	Nisi Dominus edificanuerit domum, in uanum laborauerunt qui edificant eam.12 (t-note)
135 *390	The nynte is a childely fer, indede, With a longyng love in oure Lord that ay is. Blyssyd arn all they that God drede, Which that gon in his holy weys.	ninth; childish fear ever who fear God Who go
	Beati omnes qui timent Dominum, qui ambulant in uiius eius.13
140	The tende is myghty soferauns of carnal temptacyon, For the fleschly syghtys ben fers and fel: Ofte yough is fowth with, with suech vexacyon; Thu seynge God say so, clepyd Israel.	tenth; endurance sights; fierce; deadly youth; afflicted; such seeing; called; (t-note)
	Sepe expungnauerunt me a juuentute mea, dicat nunc Israel.14
145	The elefnte is accusatyff confessyon of iniquité, Of which ful noyous is the noyis: Fro depnes, Lord, I have cryed to thee! Lord, here in sped my sympyl voys!	eleventh; accusatory great is the pain From the depths; (see note) hear quickly
	De profundis clamaui ad te, Domine: Domine, exaudi uocem meam.15
*400	The twelfte is mekenes that is fayre and softe In mannys sowle withinne and withowte: Lord, myn herte is not heyved on lofte Nyn myn eyn be not lokynge abowte.	man’s raised on high; (t-note) Nor are my eyes
	Domine, non est exaltatum cor meum; neque elati sunt oculi mei.16
150	The threttene is feyth therwith: With holy dedys don expresse, Have mende, Lorde, of Davyth, And of all his swettnes.	thirteenth deeds; openly Remember; David gentleness
	Memento Domine, David, et omnis mansuetudinis eius.17
155 *410	The fourtene is brothyrly concorde, iwys, That norchyth love of creaturys echon: Se how good and how glad it is, Bretheryn for to dwelle in on.	accord, certainly nourishes; each one as one
	Ecce quam bonum et quam jocundum; habitare fratres in unum.18
160	The fyftene is gracyous, with on acorde, Which is syne of Godly love, semyth me: Se now, blysse oure Lord, All that oure Lordys servauntys be.	one accord a sign See Lord’s
	Ecce nunc benedicite Dominum, omnes serui Domini.19
165 *420 170 175 *430 180 185 *440 190 195 *450 200 205 *460 210 215 *470 220 225 *480 230 235 *490 240 245	EPISCOPUS A, gracyous Lord, this is a mervelyous thynge, That we se here all in syght! A babe of thre yer age so yynge To come up these grecys so upryght! It is an hey meracle, and by Goddys myght, No dowth of she shal be gracyous. MARIA Holy fadyr, I beseche yow forthryght: Sey how I shal be rewlyed in Godys hous. EPISCOPUS Dowtere, God hath govyn us commaundementys ten, Which, shortely to say, be comprehendyd in tweyn. And tho must be kept of all Crysten men Or ellys here jugement is perpetual peyn. Ye must love God sovereynly and youre evyn Crystyn pleyn;20 God fyrst for his hygh and sovereyn dygnyté. He lovyd yow fyrst; love hym ageyn. For of love, to his owyn lyknes, he made thee. Love Fadyr, Sone, and Holy Gost: Love God the Fadyr, for he gevyth myght. Love God the Sone, for he gevyth wysdam thu wost. Love God the Holy Gost, for he gevyth love and lyght, Thre personys and on God, thus love of ryght. With all thin hert, with all thi sowle, with all thi mende And with all the strenghthis in thee bedyght; Than love thin evyn Crystyn as thiself withowtyn ende.21 Thu shalt hate nothynge but the devyl and synne: God byddyth thee lovyn thi bodyly enmy. And as for youreself here, thus shal ye begynne: Ye must serve and wurchep God here dayly For with prayyer, with grace and mercy, Se thee have a resonable tyme to fede Thanne to have a labour bodyly That therin be gostly and bodely mede. Youre abydynge shal be with youre maydenys fyve, Swyche tyme as ye wole have consolacyon. MARIA This lyff me lyketh as my lyve. Of here namys, I beseche yow to have informacyon. EPISCOPUS There is the fyrst, Meditacyon, Contryssyon, Compassyon, and Clennes, And that holy mayde Fruyssyon: With these blyssyd maydenes shal be youre besynes. MARIA Here is an holy felachepp I fele. I am not wurthy amonge hem to be! Swete systerys, to yow all I knele. To receyve me, I beseche youre charyté! EPISCOPUS They shal, dowtere, and on the tothere syde se Ther ben sefne prestys, indede, To schryve, to teche, and to mynystryn to thee, To lerne thee Goddys lawys, and Scrypture to rede. MARIA Fadyr, knew I here namys, wele were I. EPISCOPUS Ther is Dyscressyon, Devocyon, Dylexcyon, and Deliberacyon: They shal tende upon yow besyly With Declaracyon, Determynacyon, Dyvynacyon. Now go ye maydenys to youre occupacyon And loke ye tende this childe tendyrly. And ye, serys, knelyth, and I shal gyve yow Goddys benyson In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti.22 [Et recedet cum ministris suis; omnes virgines dicent “Amen.”23 (t-note) MARIA To yow, fadyr and modyr, I me comende. Blyssyd be the tyme ye me hedyr brought. JOACHYM Dowtere, the Fadere of oure feyth thee mot defende, As he of his myght made all thynge of nowth. ANNE Mary, to thi sowle solas he sende In whos wysdam all this werd was wrought. Go we now hens, husbonde so hende, For owth of care now are we brought. [Hic Joachim et Anna recedent domum. MARIA Be the Holy Gost at hom be ye brought! [Ad virgines: Systerys, ye may go do what ye shall: To serve God fyrst here is al my thought. Beforn this holy awtere on my knes I fall. Lord, sefne petycyons I beseche yow of here: Fyrst, that I may kepe thi love and thi lawe; The secunde, to lovyn myn evyn Crystyn as myself dere; The thrydde, from all that thu hatyst, me to withdrawe; The fourte, all vertuys to thi plesauns knawe; The fyfte, to obey the ordenaryes of the temple echon; The sexte, and that all pepyl may serve thee with awe, That in this holy temple fawte be non. The sefnte, Lord, I haske with grett fere: That I may se onys in my lyve That lady that shal Godys Sone bere, That I may serve her with my wyttys fyve. If it plese yow, and ellys it is not therewith to stryve. With prayers prostrat for these gracys I wepe. O, my God, devocyon depe in me dryve That myn hert may wake in thee thow my body slepe!	(see note); (t-note) young steps high; by God’s; (t-note) doubt that she ask you Tell me; be governed (taught) given two parts those; Christian; (see note) else their (t-note) in return know; (see note) one heart; soul; mind; (see note); (t-note) set enemy First with; (t-note) to eat; (t-note) Then; work spiritual; physical rewards home; maidens; (see note) At what time life their names Fruition work feel them sisters (t-note) other side seven priests hear confession; minister To teach their names; happy Love; (see note) attend (t-note) here may nought solace world; made gracious out Here Joachim and Anna return home; (t-note) By To the maidens altar seven; (see note) (see note) fellow third; hate pleasing to you; (t-note) laws; each one be no fault seventh; ask; fear see once; life God’s five wits; (see note) if otherwise favors heart; though
	[Here the aungel bryngyth manna in a cowpe of gold lyke to confeccyons. The hefne syngynge, the aungel seyth: (see note)
*500 250 255 *510 260 265 *520 270 275 *530	ANGELUS Merveyle not mekest maydon of my mynystracyon! I am a good aungel sent of God Allmyght With aungelys mete for youre sustentacyon, Ye to receyve it for natural myght. We aungellys shul serve yow day and nyght! Now fede yow therwith, in Goddys name. We shal lerne yow the lyberary of oure Lordys law lyght,24 For my sawys in yow shewyth sygnes of shame. MARIA To thank oure sovereyn Lord, not sufficyth my mende.25 I shal fede me of this fode my Lord hath me sent. All maner of savowrys in this mete I fynde! I felt nevyr non so swete ner so redolent. ANGELUS Eche day therwith ye shal be content, Aungelys alle howrys shal to yow apere. MARIA Mercy, my Makere, how may this be ment? I am the sympelest creature that is levynge here. ANGELUS In your name Maria, fyve letterys we han: M: Mayde most mercyfull and mekest in mende; A: Averter of the anguysch that Adam began; R: Regina of Regyon, reyneng withowtyn ende;26 I: Innocent be influens of Iesses kende; A: Advocat most autentyk, youre antecer Anna. Hefne and helle here kneys down bende Whan this holy name of yow is seyd, Maria! MARIA I qwake grettly for dred, to here this commendacyon! Good, swete aungel, why wole ye sey thus? AUNGELUS For ye shal here aftere have a salutacyon That shal this excede, it is seyd amonge us, The Deyté that dede shal determyn and dyscus. Ye shal nevyr, Lady, be lefte here alone. MARIA I crye thee mercy, Lorde, and thin erthe cus, Recomendynge me to that Godhyd that is tryne in trone.27	service; (t-note) angel’s food; sustenance; (see note) physical shall God’s words (t-note) myself fragrance; food tasted; fragrant Angels at all times; (t-note) living have; (see note) mind (t-note) (see note) by; Jesse’s kin; (see note) ancestor Heaven; their knees; (see note) When; yours hear will greeting; (t-note) transcend Deity; deed earth kiss
	[Hic osculet terram.28 Here shal comyn alwey an aungel with dyvers presentys goynge and comyng. And in the tyme thei shal synge in hefne this hympne, “Jhesu corona vir­ginum.”29 And after, ther comyth a minister fro the busschop with a present and seyth: (see note)
280 285 *540 290 295 *550 300 305 *560 310	MINISTER Prynce of oure prestes, Ysakare be name, He hath sent yow hymself his servyce, indede, And bad ye shulde fede yow spare for no shame30 In this tyme of mete no lenger ye rede. MARIA Recomende me to my fadyr, sere, and God do hym mede.31 These vesselys agen sone I shal hym sende. I shal bere it my systerys; I trowe they have more nede. Goddys foyson is evyr to his servauntys hendyr than we wende.32 Systerys, oure holy fadyr Isakare Hath sent us hese servyce here ryght now. Fede yow therof hertyly! I pray yow nat spare, And if owght be leve, specyaly I pray yow, That the pore men the relevys therof have now. Fayn, and I myth, I wolde do the dedys of mercy: Pore folk faryn, God knowyth how — On hem evyr I have grett pety. CONTEMPLACIO Lo, sofreynes, here ye have seyn In the temple of oure Ladyes presentacyon, She was nevyr occapyed in thyngys veyn, But evyr besy in holy ocupacyon. And we beseche yow of youre pacyens That we pace these materys so lythly away. If thei shulde be do with good prevydens, Eche on wolde suffyce for an hool day. Now shal we procede to her dissponsacyon Which aftere this was fourtene yere, Tyme sufficyth not to make pawsacyon. Hath pacyens with us, we besech yow her. And in short spas, The Parlement of Hefne sone shal ye se And how Goddys Sone com man shal he And how the Salutacyon aftere shal be, Be Goddys holy gras.	by name find dishes; soon [to] my; believe (see note) his food do not hold back if anything be left; ask have the leftovers Gladly, if I might subsist them ever; pity friends; (see note) Lady’s occupied (t-note) pass; lightly done; preparation Each one; whole; (t-note) betrothal; (t-note) (see note) a pause here space [of time] Heaven soon become grace; (t-note)