Part 9

{79} Matthew wrote, in the first book of Christ, in these words, of the birth-time of Jesus, and said, "When Jesus was born in the Judaean Bethlehem, in the days of Herod the king, behold there came from the east part of the earth three astrologers to the city of Jerusalem, thus inquiring, Where is the King of the Jewish people, who is born? Verily we saw his star in the east part, and we come in order that we may worship him. Now king Herod hearing this was greatly troubled, and all the citizens together with him. He then assembled all the chief bishops and scribes of the people, and inquired where the birthplace of Christ might be. They said, In the Judaean Bethlehem. Thus verily it is written by the prophet Micah, Ah thou Bethlehem, Judaean land, thou art in no wise meanest of cities among the Jewish princes: of thee shall come the Ruler who shall rule and govern the people of Israel. Then Herod called the three astrologers in separate discourse, and diligently questioned them at what time the star had first appeared to them, and sent them to Bethlehem, thus saying, Go instantly, and inquire concerning the child, and when ye find it, let me know, that I may worship him. After the king's speech the astrologers went, and lo, the star which they had seen in the east part glided before them, till it stood over the inn in which the child was staying. They saw the star and greatly rejoiced. They then went in, and found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they worshipped him. They opened their cases of treasure and offered him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Then God warned them in a dream, and commanded, that they should not return to the cruel king Herod, but should turn through another way, and so come to their own country. Lo, God's angel appeared to Joseph, the child's foster-father, in a dream, saying, 'Arise, and take this child with the mother, and flee to the land of Egypt, and be there until I speak to thee again: for it will come to pass that Herod will devise how he may fordo the child.' {81} Joseph then arose by night, and conveyed the child together with the mother to the land of Egypt, and there staid until Herod departed; that the prophecy might be fulfilled which of old thus spake of that journey, From the land of Egypt I have called my son."

Now chroniclers say that in the meanwhile Herod was accused to the Roman emperor, who at that time ruled all the earth. He therefore went, by the emperor's command, to Rome, that he might clear himself, if he could. He cleared himself very cunningly, as he was so sagacious, that the emperor sent him back with great honour to the Jewish kingdom. When he came home he remembered what he had intended concerning the child, and saw that he had been deceived by the astrologers, and was exceedingly irritated. He then sent his executioners, and slew all the male children that were in the city of Bethlehem, and in all its boundaries, from the child of two years to that of one day, according to the time which he had inquired of the astrologers. Then was fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah, who thus prophesied, "A voice is heard on high, great weeping and wailing: Rachel wept for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."

On the twelfth day of Christ's birth the three astrologers came to Herod, and informed him concerning the child that was born; and when they had discovered his birthplace, they went to the child, and would not return to the cruel murderer, as he had commanded. He might not then avoid the emperor's command, and, therefore, through his long journey, the slaughter of the children was delayed more than he had intended; and they were on this present day gloriously martyred; not, however, in the year that Christ was born, but after the course of two years after the return of the cruel tyrant.

He was not of noble birth, nor did he belong to the royal race; but by artifices and deception he attained to the kingly {83} dignity; as Moses wrote concerning him, That the royal Jewish race should not decay until Christ himself came. Now Christ came at the time that the royal family was decayed, and the stranger Herod ruled the kingdom. Then was he greatly afraid and terrified lest his kingdom should fall through the coming of the true king. He called therefore the astrologers in separate converse, and diligently questioned them at what time they first saw the star; for he feared, as it came to pass, that they would not return to him. He therefore commanded all the children of that district, from the age of two years to that of one day, to be slain, that the one might not escape whom he sought. But he was unmindful of the holy scripture, which says, "No wisdom nor any counsel is aught against God."

The treacherous Herod said to the astrologers, "Go, and diligently inquire concerning the child, and let me know, that I may worship him." But he manifested afterwards his guileful artifice, how he would have done, if he had found him, when he destroyed all those of equal age, for the persecution of him alone. Needlessly he machinated against Christ: he came not because he would acquire for himself his earthly kingdom, or any other king's by violence; but he came because he would give his heavenly kingdom to believing men. He came not that he might be exalted on a pompous throne, but that he might with contumely be nailed hanging on a cross. Nevertheless, he would avoid the machination of the cruel tyrant by flight, not because he fled from death, who of his own will visited the world for the purpose of suffering; but it would have been too early, if he had been slain in the child's cradle, for his advent would then, as it were, be hidden from mankind; God's angel, therefore, prevented the impious counsel, and bade the foster-father convey the heavenly Prince forthwith from the country.

Christ despised not his young champions, though he was not bodily present at their slaughter; but he sent them from {85} this miserable life to his eternal kingdom. Blessed they were born that they might for his sake suffer death. Happy is their age, which could not yet acknowledge Christ, and might for Christ suffer. They were witnesses of Jesus, though they yet knew him not. They were not ripened for slaughter, yet they blessedly died to life. Blessed was their birth, because they found everlasting life at the entrance of this present life. They were snatched from their mothers' breasts, but they were instantly committed to the bosoms of angels. The wicked persecutor could not by any service so greatly favour those little ones, so greatly as he favoured them by the fierce hate of persecution. They are called blossoms of martyrs, because they were as blossoms springing up in the midst of the chill of infidelity, consumed, as it were, by the frost of persecution. Blessed are the wombs which bare them, and the breasts that such have sucked. Verily the mothers suffered through their children's martyrdom; the sword that pierced their children's limbs entered the hearts of the mothers, and it is needful that they be partakers of the eternal reward, when they were companions of the suffering. They were slain while little and witless, but they shall arise at the common doom in full growth, and with heavenly wisdom. We shall all come to one age at the common resurrection, although we now in various age depart from this world.

The gospel says, that Rachel wept for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. Jacob the patriarch's wife was called Rachel, and she betokened God's church, which weeps for her ghostly children; but it will not so be comforted, that they again return to temporal strife, who once by a triumphant death have overcome the world, and escaped from its miseries to be crowned with glory with Christ.

But the impious Herod did not enjoy his kingdom in long healthfulness, for without delay the divine vengeance came {87} upon him, which afflicted him with manifold misery, and also manifested in what torments he must after death eternally suffer. An unspeakable disease seized him; his body burned without with a lasting heat, and all within he was inflamed and bursten. He had great craving for food, but yet with no viands could he satisfy his voracity, and fearfully rotted away, and dolefully fetched sighs, so that he could with difficulty breathe. Dropsy came on him, beneath the girdle, to that degree that his members swarmed with vermin, and stinking venom ever flowed from his swollen feet. Unbearable palsies spread over his whole body, and incredible inflation afflicted his entrails. Stinking vapour proceeded from his mouth, so that hardly any leech could approach him. Many of the leeches he slew; he said that they might heal him and would not. Constant sleeplessness afflicted him, so that he passed the whole night without sleep; and if he dozed a little, nightly phantoms immediately tormented him, so that he repented of his sleep. As he with violent longing desired his life, he commanded to be conveyed over the river Jordan, where there were hot baths, which were said to be salutary to diseased bodies. It then seemed good to his leeches that they should bathe him in lukewarm oil. But when he was led to this bathing, the body was all relaxed, so that his eyes turned to the likeness of dead men's, and he lay speechless, without sense. When he came to, he commanded to be borne to the city of Jericho.

When he was hopeless of life he called to him all the Jewish elders from every city, and ordered them to be confined in prison, and sent for his sister Salome and her husband Alexander, and said, "I know that this Jewish people will greatly rejoice at my death; but I may have an honourable funeral attendance of a mourning multitude, if ye will obey my commands. As soon as I depart, slay all the Jewish elders whom {89} I have confined in prison, then will their relations be compelled to mourn, who will rejoice at my departure." He then appointed his soldiers to that slaughter, and commanded fifty shillings as reward to be given to each of them, that they might not withdraw their hands from the shedding of blood. When he was tormented with intense agony he wickedly commanded his own son Antipater to be killed, in addition to the two whom he had killed previously. At last, when he was sensible of his death's approach, he commanded them to reach him his knife to shred an apple, and violently stabbed himself, so that it quaked in him. Such was the death of Herod, who wickedly machinated on the coming of the heavenly Prince, and impiously killed the innocent little ones, his equals in age.

Lo, then, God's angel, after the death of Herod, appeared to Joseph in a dream, in the land of Egypt, thus saying, "Arise, and take the child together with his mother, and go again to the land of Israel; for they are dead, who machinated against the child's life." He then arose, as the angel had commanded him, and conveyed the child with the mother to the land of Israel. Then Joseph learned that Archelaus reigned in Judaea after Herod his father, and he durst not approach his presence. Then again he was admonished in a dream that he should go to Galilee, because the country there was not quite so near to the king, though it was in his kingdom. The child then dwelt in the city which is called Nazareth, that the prophecy might be fulfilled, which said, that he should be called a Nazarene. The angel said to Joseph, "They are dead who machinated against the child's life." With that word he manifested that more of the Jewish elders meditated the slaying of Christ; but it befell them very rightly, that they with their impious lord all perished.

We will not longer extend this narrative, lest it may seem tedious to you, but will pray for the intercession of these innocent martyrs for you. They are those who follow Christ {91} in white garments, whithersoever he goeth; and they stand before his throne, without any impurity, having their palm-twigs in hand, and sing the new hymn in honour of the Almighty, who liveth and ruleth ever without end. Amen.

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K[=L]. JA[=N].

OCTABAS ET CIRCUMCISIO DOMINI NOSTRI.

Se Godspellere Lucas beleac this daegtherlice godspel mid feawum wordum, ac hit is mid menigfealdre mihte thaere heofenlican gerynu afylled. He cwaedh, "Postquam consummati sunt dies octo ut circumcideretur puer, uocatum est nomen ejus Iesus, quod uocatum est ab angelo, priusquam in utero conciperetur." Thaet is on ure gedheode, "Aefter than dhe w['ae]ron gefyllede ehta dagas Drihtnes acennednysse thaet he ymbsniden waere, tha waes his nama geciged Iesus, thaet is Haelend, dham naman he waes geh['a]ten fram dham engle, aerdham the h['e] on innodhe geeacnod waere."

Abraham se heahfaeder waes aerest manna ymbsniden, be Godes haese. Abraham waes Godes gespreca, and God to him genam gethoftraedene aefter Noes fl['o]de swidhost, and him to cwaedh, "Ic eom Aelmihtig Drihten, gang beforan me, and beo fulfremed. And ic sette min wed betwux me and dhe; and ic dhe thearle gemenigfylde, and thu bist manegra theoda faeder. Cyningas aspringadh of dhe, and ic sette min wed betwux me and dhe, and thinum ofspringe aefter dhe, thaet ic beo dhin God and dhines ofspringes." Abraham hine astrehte eallum limum to eordhan, and God him to cwaedh, "Heald thu min wed, and thin ofspring aefter dhe on heora maegdhum. Dhis is min wed, thaet ge healdan sceolon betwux me and eow; thaet aelc hyse-cild on eowrum cynrene beo ymbsniden: thaet t['a]cn sy betwux me and eow. Aelc hyse-cild, thonne hit eahta nihta {92} eald bidh, sy ymbsniden, aegdher ge aethelboren ge theowetling; and sedhe this forgaeidh his sawul losadh, fordhan the h['e] min wed a['y]dlode. Ne beo dhu geciged heonon-fordh Abram, ac Abraham, fordhan the ic gesette dhe manegra theoda faeder. Ne dhin wif ne beo gehaten Sara['i], ac beo gehaten Sarra; and ic h['i] gebletsige, and of hire ic dhe sylle sunu, thone dhu gecigest Isaac; and ic sette min wed to him and to his ofspringe on ecere faestnunge. And aefter dhaere spraece se Aelmihtiga up gewende." On tham ylcan daege waes Abraham ymbsniden, and eal his hyred, and sydhdhan his sunu Isaac, on dham eahtodhan daege his acennednysse.

Abrahames nama waes aet fruman mid fif stafum gecweden, Abram, thaet is, 'Healic faeder'; ac God geyhte his naman mid twam stafum, and gehet hine Abraham, thaet is, 'Manegra dheoda faeder'; fordhan the God cwaedh, thaet he hine gesette manegum dheodum to faeder. Sara['i] waes his w['i]f gehaten, thaet is gereht, 'Min ealdor,' ac God hi het sydhdhan Sarra, thaet is, 'Ealdor,' thaet heo naere synderlice hire hiredes ealdor geciged, ac fordhrihte 'Ealdor'; thaet is to understandenne ealra gelyfedra wifa moder. Hund-teontig geara waes Abraham, and his gebedda hund-nigontig, aerdhan dhe him cild gemaene waere. Thadha him cild com, tha com hit mid Godes foresceawunge and bletsunge to than swidhe, thaet God behet eallum mancynne bletsunge thurh his cynn. Dha heold Abrahames cynn symle sydhdhan Godes wed; and se heretoga Moyses, and eal Israhela maegdh ealle hi ymbsnidon heora cild on tham eahtodhan daege, and him naman gesceopon, odh thaet Crist on menniscnysse acenned weardh, sedhe fulluht astealde, and dhaere ealdan ['ae] getacnunge to gastlicere sodhfaestnysse awende.

W['e]n is thaet eower sum nyte hwaet sy ymbsnidennys. God bebead Abrahame, thaet he sceolde and his ofspring his wed healdan; thaet sum tacn waere on heora lichaman to geswutelunge thaet hi on God belyfdon, and het thaet he n['a]me scearpecgedne flint, and forcurfe sumne dael thaes felles aet {94} foreweardan his gesceape. And thaet tacn waes dha swa micel on geleaffullum mannum, swa micel swa nu is thaet halige fulluht, buton dham anum thaet nan man ne mihte Godes rice gefaran, aerdhan the se come the dha ealdan ['ae] sette, and eft on his andwerdnysse h['i] to gastlicum thingum awende: ac gehwylce halgan andbidodon on Abrahames wununge buton tintregum, theah on helle-wite, odhthaet se Alysend com, the dhone ealdan deofol gewylde, and his gecorenan to heofenan rice gelaedde.

Se ylca Haelend, the nu egefullice and halwendlice clypadh on his godspelle, "Buton gehwa beo ge-edcenned of waetere and of tham Halgum Gaste, ne maeg he faran into heofenan rice," se ylca clypode gefyrn thurh dha ealdan ['ae], "Swa hwylc hyse-cild swa ne bidh ymbsniden on tham fylmene his flaesces his sawul losadh, fordhan the he aydlode min wed." This tacen st['o]d on Godes folce odh thaet Crist sylf com, and he sylf waes thaere halgan ['ae] undertheod the he gesette, thaet he dha alysde the neadwislice dhaere ['ae] undertheodde waeron. He cwaedh thaet he ne c['o]me to dhy thaet he wolde tha ealdan ['ae] towurpan, ac gefyllan. Tha weardh he on tham eahtodhan daege his gebyrd-tide lichamlice ymbsniden, swa swa he sylf aer taehte; and mid tham geswutelode thaet seo ealde ['ae] waes halig and g['o]d on hire timan, tham dhe hire gehyrsume waeron. Hit waes gewunelic thaet tha magas sceoldon tham cilde naman gescyppan on dham eahtodhan daege mid thaere ymbsnidennysse, ac h['i] ne dorston naenne odherne naman Criste gescyppan thonne se heah-engel him gesette, aerdhan the h['e] on his modor innodhe geeacnod waere, thaet is, IESUS, and on urum gereorde, HAELEND, fordhan dhe he gehaeldh his folc fram heora synnum.

Nis nu alyfed cristenum mannum thaet hi thas ymbsnidennysse lichamlice healdan, ac theah-hwaedhere nan man ne bidh sodhlice cristen, buton he dha ymbsnidennysse on gastlicum dheawum gehealde. Hwaet getacnadh thaes fylmenes of-cyrf on dham gesceape, buton galnysse wanunge? Eadhe mihte thes cwyde beon laewedum mannum bediglod, naere seo gastlice getacning. Hit dhincdh ungelaeredum mannum dyselig to {96} gehyrenne; ac gif hit him dyslic thince, thonne cide he widh God, the hit gesette, na widh us, the hit secgadh. Ac wite gehwa to gewissan, buton he his flaesclican lustas and galnysse gewanige, thaet he ne hylt his cristend['o]m mid rihtum biggenge. Be dhysum dhinge ge habbadh oft gehyred, ac us is acumendlicere eower gebelh, thonne thaes Aelmihtigan Godes grama, gif we his bebodu forsuwiadh. Gif ge willadh aefter menniscum gesceade lybban, thonne sind ge gastlice ymbsnidene; gif ge thonne eowere galnysse undertheodde beodh, thonne beo ge swa se witega cwaedh, "Se mann dhadha he on wurdhmynte waes he hit ne understod; he is fordhy widhmeten stuntum nytenum, and is him gel['i]c geworden."

Fordhy sealde God mannum gesce['a]d, thaet hi sceoldon oncnawan heora Scyppend, and mid biggenge his beboda thaet ece lif geearnian. Witodlice se fyrenfulla bidh earmra dhonne aenig nyten, fordhan the thaet nyten naefdh nane sawle, ne naefre ne ge-edcucadh, ne tha toweardan wita ne dhrowadh. Ac we dhe sind to Godes anlicnysse gesceapene, and habbadh ['u]nateorigendlice saule, we sceolon of deadhe ar['i]san, and agyldan Gode gescead ealra ura gedhohta, and worda, and weorca. Ne sceole we fordhy sinderlice on anum lime beon ymbsnidene, ac we sceolon dha fulan galnysse symle wanian, and ure eagan fram yfelre gesihdhe awendan, and earan from yfelre heorcnunge; urne m['u]dh fram leasum spraecum, handa fram m['a]ndaedum; ure fotwylmas fram deadbaerum sidhfaete, ure heortan fram facne. Gif we swa fram leahtrum ymbsnidene beodh, thonne bidh ['u]s geset n['i]we nama; swa swa se w['i]tega Isa['i]as cwaedh, "God gec['i]gdh his dheowan odhrum naman." Eft se ylca w['i]tega cwaedh, "Thu bist gec['i]ged niwum naman, thone dhe Godes m['u]dh genemnode." Se n['i]wa nama is 'Cristianus,' thaet is, Cristen. Ealle we sind of Criste cristene geh['a]tene, ac we sceolon dhone arwurdhfullan naman mid aedhelum theawum geglengan, thaet we ne beon lease cristene. Gif we dhas gastlican ymbsnidennysse on urum dheawum healdadh, thonne sind we Abrahames cynnes, aefter sodhum geleafan; swa swa se theoda lareow Paulus {98} cwaedh to geleaffullum, "Gif ge sind Cristes, thonne sind ge Abrahames s['ae]d, and aefter behate yrfenuman." Petrus eac se apostol tihte geleaffulle w['i]f to eadmodnysse and gemetfaestnysse, dhus cwedhende, "Swa swa Sarra gehyrsumode Abrahame, and hine hlaford het, dhaere dohtra ge sind, wel donde and na ondraedende aenige gedrefednysse."

Se eahtodha daeg, the thaet cild on ymbsniden waes, getacnode dha eahtodhan ylde dhyssere worulde, on thaere we arisadh of deadhe ascyrede fram aelcere brosnunge and gewemmednysse ures lichaman. Thaet staenene sex, the thaet cild ymbsnadh, getacnode dhone st['a]n dhe se apostol cwaedh, "Se st['a]n sodhlice waes Crist." He cwaedh waes for dhaere getacnunge, na for edwiste. Thurh Cristes geleafan, and hiht, and sodhe lufe, beodh singallice estfulle heortan mid daeghwonlicere ymbsnidenysse afeormode fram leahtrum, and dhurh his gife onlihte.

We habbadh oft gehyred thaet men hatadh thysne daeg geares daeg, swylce thes daeg fyrmest sy on geares ymbryne; ac we ne gemetadh nane geswutelunge on cristenum bocum, hw['i] thes daeg to geares anginne geteald sy. Tha ealdan Romani, on haedhenum dagum, ongunnon thaes geares ymbryne on dhysum daege; and dha Ebreiscan leoda on lenctenlicere emnihte; dha Greciscan on sumerlicum sunstede; and tha Egyptiscan dheoda ongunnon heora geares getel on haerfeste. Nu ongindh ure ger['i]m, aefter Romaniscre gesetnysse, on dhysum daege, for nanum godcundlicum gesceade, ac for dham ealdan gewunan. Sume ure dhening-b['e]c onginnadh on Aduentum Domini; nis dheah thaer fordhy dhaes geares ord, ne eac on dhisum daege nis mid n['a]num gesceade; theah dhe ure ger['i]m-b['e]c on thissere st['o]we ge-edlaecon. Rihtlicost bidh gedhuht thaet thaes geares anginn on dham daege sy gehaefd, the se Aelmihtiga Scyppend sunnan, and m['o]nan, and steorran, and ealra tida anginn gesette; thaet is on tham daege the thaet Ebreisce folc heora geares getel onginnadh; swa swa se heretoga Moyses on dham aelicum bocum awr['a]t. Witodlice God cwaedh to Moysen be dham mondhe, "Thes monadh is mondha anginn, and he bidh fyrmest on geares {100} mondhum." Nu heold thaet Ebreisce folc dhone forman geares daeg on lenctenlicere emnihte, fordhan dhe on dham daege wurdon gearlice tida gesette.

Se eahteteodha daeg thaes mondhes the we h['a]tadh Martius, dhone ge hatadh Hlyda, waes se forma daeg dhyssere worulde. On dham daege worhte God leoht, and merigen, and aefen. Dha e['o]don thry dagas fordh buton t['i]da gemetum; fordhan the tunglan naeron gesceapene, aer on tham feordhan daege. On dham feordhan daege gesette se Aelmihtiga ealle tungla and gearlice t['i]da, and h['e]t thaet h['i] w['ae]ron to t['a]cne dagum and gearum. Nu ongynnadh tha Ebreiscan heora geares anginn on tham daege the ealle tida gesette waeron, thaet is on dham feordhan daege woruldlicere gesceapenysse; and se lareow Beda teldh mid micclum gesceade thaet se daeg is XII. K[=L], dhone daeg we freolsiadh tham halgum were Benedick to wurdhmynte, for his micclum gedhincdhum. Hwaet eac seo eordhe cydh mid hire cidhum, the dhonne ge-edcuciadh, thaet se tima is thaet rihtlicoste geares anginn, dhe h['i] on gesceapene waeron.