MAry Magdaleyn was surnamed of Magdalon, the castell, and she was born of the kynred, that were descendid of ryal kynne, and hir fadir highte Syrus, and hir modir *highte Eucharie. And she ^aand Lazar, hir brothir, and Martha, hir sustre, sustre eher, als sustir hilden that castel, that is two myle fro Genazereth, and Bethanye, Bethanye] h aus etwas anderem that is nyghe to Ierusa∣lem, and a gret partye of Ierusalem. And thei devided ^bthese thynges by-twene hem in suche wyse, that Marie had Magdalon, wher-of she was surnamed, and Lazar *had partye of Ierusalem, and Martha *had Bethanye. And thanne *Mary Magdaleyen was yoven al to the delycys of the body, and *hir brother Lazar entendid most to knyg[ht]hode, and Martha, that was wyse *and gouerned the partye ^cof hir brothir and of hir sustre, suster (so eher, als sustir) auf Rasur *she mynestrid to knyghtes and to seruauntes and to pore men her necessytees. And thei solde al these thynges after the ascensyoun of oure lorde and brought *al the monye ther-of to the apostellys feete. And *Mary Magdaleyn abundyd *gretly in rychesse, and, for that delite *she ^dis felawe to abundaunce of *other thinges, *and in as moche, as she shyned more in ^ebewte and richesse, so moche the more she had hir bodi sogette to delices, and therfore she loste hir propur name and was of custome callid the synful womman. And, whanne ^foure lorde preched ^ghir in erthe, she was enspired with ^hgrace and wente to the hous of Symon, the lepre, ⁱwhanne oure lorde dyned there. But she durste not appere among the ryghtwys men, for she was synful; but she ^kcome to the feete of oure lorde, and there she wysshe hem with hir teeris and wypid hem with hir heer and anoynted hem with precyous oytmentis. For the dwellers of that londe vsyd ^lbathis and oyne∣mentys for the right gret heete of ^mthat londe. And, for that Sy∣monde thought in him-self, that, if ⁿoure lorde were a *verrey averrey Hs. pro∣phete, he wolde ^onot haue suffrid, a synful womman sholde haue touched him, *and there-fore oure lorde vndirtoke him of ^pverrey pride and for-yaffe the womman al hir synnes. And this [is] Mary Magdaleyn, to whiche oure lorde yaff so *many gret yiftes and shewed so grete tokenes of loue, ^qthat he delyuered hir of feendes, and he sette hir al afire in his loue and made hir right famulier with him: he ^rwolde, she were his hostesse and his procuresse; he wolde, that she were with him in his viage; he excused hir alweie swetely. He excused hir ageyns the ^sphariseis, that seide, she was not clene, and ageyns hir sustur, that seide, that she was idil, and ageyns Iudas, that seide, she was a wastour *of goodis; and, whanne he sawe hir wepe, he myght not kepe his teeris. And for hir loue he reised *Lazar *fro deth to lyf, whiche had leyn foure daies ded, and he heelid hir sustir of the blody flixe, that had ^tholden hir vij. yere. And *also by the meritis of hir he made ^uMarcel, the chaumberer ^vof Martha, to be worthi to seie these swete wordis: 'Blessid be the wombe, that bare the, *and the brestis, that yafe the souke.' ^wBut Ambrose seithe, that it was Martha, *that seide these wordis, and ^xthese wordes were here chaumberers. This is *Mary, that wisshe the feete of oure lorde and wiped hem with hir heere hir her heere Hs. and anoyntid hem with *precyous oynementis and dide solempne penaunce in tyme of grace and ^ywas the furste, that chas the beste parte, that satte at the feete of oure lorde and hurde his wordis; *this is she, that anoynted ^zhis heed, that at the the auf Rasur passioun was besides the crosse, that made redi the oynementis and wolde anoynte his body and parte[d] not fro the sepulcre, to whom *Ihesu Criste appered first, whanne he aroos *from deth to lyff, and she ^awas ^bfelawe to the appostulis. Thanne after the ascencyoun of oure lorde in the ^cxuij. yere of his passyoun, after that the Iewes had slayne Stephen and had dryven oute the tothir disciplis of ^dthat cuntre *and ^ethei ^fwere disparbled abrode amonge the gentiles and sowden the worde of god: than was seynt ^gMaximian amonge the appostulys, oon of the LXXij. disciplis of oure lorde, to whom Mary Magdaleyn had be recommaundid of blessyd *seynt Petre. And than, whan the disciplis were partid, seynte ^hMaxymyan, Mary Magdaleyn, Lazar, hir brother, and Martha, hir sustir, and ⁱMarcel, the chamberer of Martha, and seynte ^kCenodyn, that was bore blynde, but oure lorde ^lyaffe him sight, alle these to-gidre and many othir crysten *were take of the mysbelevers and putte in a shippe shippe] hi aus ly? and sette in the see with-oute ^mgouernaunce *to that ende, that thei sholde alle be drowned, but bi the wil of god thei come to Marcell. And there thei fonde non, that wolde resceyve hem in-to her hous, but than thei dwellid in a porche, that was before a tempul of the pepul of that cuntre. And, whan the blyssid Mary Magdaleyn sawe the puple ⁿassemble to that tempul forto do sacrifice to the ydollis, she aroos hir up ^opesibully with a glade visage and a dis∣crete tunge *and wel spekyng and ^pbigan to preche of *Ihesu Crist and to with-drawe the puple fro worsheppyng of ydollis. And than alle hadden *grete merveyle of the bewte and of the resoun, *that was in hir, and of hir faire spekynge. And it was no wonder, though the mouthe, that so ^qdebonairely and so goodely kyssid the feete of oure ^rlorde, were more ^senspired with the worde of god, than other. And after that ^tit bifel, that the prynce of the provynce did sacrifyce to the ydollys, ^ubothe he and his wyfe, to haue a chi[l]de. And *Mary Magdaleyn prechid of *Ihesu Crist to ^vhem and ^wre∣provid his sacryfice. And ^xwith-inne a while after *Mary Magda∣leyn apperid to the lady in a vysioun avysioun Hs. seyng: 'How is it, sithe ^ythou hast so grete plente of richesse, that thow *darst leeve the *pore ^zservauntis of oure lorde deie for hungre and for *thurst and for colde?' And she was aferde to shewe this visyoun to hir lorde. And the seconde nyght she apperid to hir *ayeyn and seide to hir the same ^aand manasid hir *gretly, but if she wolde stere hir hus∣band for to ^brefresshe the pore ^cservauntes of oure lorde, ^dshe sholde repente hir; but yit ^ewolde she not seie it to hir housbonde. And than ^fthe thridde nyght she apperid to hem bothe, *as thei were in bedde to-gedris, and seide with an angry visage: 'Slepist thou, tyraunt? ^gremembre the of thi fader, ^hthe fende, with thi wyf, the serpent, that list not to telle the my wordis. Rest thow *now, enemy of the crosse, that hast the glotenye of the wombe ful, and thow suffrist to perisshe the seyntis of god? ⁱThow liste in thi paleis wrappid with clothis of silke, and thow seest hem with-oute hous *al discomfortid and takest non hede. Thow shalte not escape so *lightly, thow feloun, ne thow shalte not skape with-oute punshinge, pershinge Hs. that thow haste abide so long.' And, whan she had thus seide, she partid thens, and the ladi awooke and sighid, and ^khir housbonde also for that same cause, and tremblid, and thanne she seide: 'Sire, haue ye seyne the dreme, that I sawe?' 'I haue seyn it,' he seide, 'and haue *grete merveile and am *sore afferde.' And than his wyff seide to him: 'It is more profitable *to vs to obeie hir, than for to renne in the wreche of hir god, that she prechith of.' For whiche cause thei receyvid hem in-to hir hous and mynestryd to hem her necessites. In a ^ltyme, as Mary Magdaleyn prechid ^mto the forseide prynce, than seide the prynce to hir: 'Wenest thou, that thou myghtist diffende the lawe, that thou prechist?' And she seide: 'Syker, I am redy to diffende it, as ⁿshe, that is confermyd euery daye bi myraclis and by the predicacioun of ^ooure maister, *seynt Petre, that ^psittith in the see of Rome.' To whom the prynce seide: 'I ^qand my wiff ben redi to obeie the in alle thyngis, if thou wilte be thi prayer gete vs a sone of *thi god, that thou prechist of.' And than *Mary Magdaleyn seide: 'For that it shal not abide.' And than the blessid ^rMagdaleyn prayed to oure lorde for hem, that he wolde of his mercy graunte hem a childe, and oure [lorde] harde hir prayer, and that lady conceyvid. And than the housbonde wolde go to *seynt Petre for to prove, whethir the verite merite Hs. were suche ^sof *Ihesu Crist, as *Mary Magdeleyn prechid. And than his wif seide to him: 'Sire, wene ye to go with-oute me? ^tNay, in no wyse; for, whan ye go, I wol go and come ayen, *if god wole, whan ye come.' To whom hir housbonde seide: 'Wif, it it über der Zeile von derselben Hand wil not be; for ye be with childe , and the pereiles of the see ben with-oute nombre, and ye myghte lightly perysshe: ye shule abide at home and take hede of oure possessyons.' And ^uthe ladi strof, *as a woman, and *wolde not chaunge hir wommanli maners and fil doun *on hir knees to∣fore his fete wepyng, and at the laste he grauntid hir hir request. And than Mary *Magdeleyn marked hem on her shulders with the crosse, for that the ^vwicked enemy sholde not lette hem of her weie. And so thei chargide a shippe with grete abundaunce of of goode of alle Hs. alle thingis, that was necessarie to hem, and lefte alle her othir thingis in the kepynge of Mary Magdaleyn and wente her weie. And, whan thei had ^wseyled the cours of a daie and a nyght, the see bigan to swelle and the wynde to ^xencrese, so that alle ^ywere ful sore a-ferde, and nameli the ladi, that was with childe and was febul ^zand ful of angwisshe of so grete wawes and trobul of the see; ^aand for angwisshe the ladi bigan to traveile sodenli, and bi-twene the grete turmente of hir travaile and the strengthe of the tyme she brought forthe a sone, and *the ladi deide. And, whan the childe was borne, it ^bcriede for to haue had the brest of his modir and made a pitous noyse. ^cAllas, in what sorowe the childe was made sleere of his modir, and he moste nedys deie, for ther was noght, that myght norysshe him! *Allas, what shal *this pylgryme do, ^dthat sawgh his wif dede and his childe brayinge with wepyng voyce sekynge the brestis of his modir? *The pilgryme wepte ^epitously and seide: 'Allas I wrecche, what shal ^fI doo? I desyred to haue had a sone, and now haue I lost bothe the modir ^gand the sone.' And the ship∣men cried *on the tother syde and seide: 'Caste we this *dede bodi in-to the see, ^hleste we perisshe ⁱalle; for, as longe as it is with us, this ^ktempest wil ^lneuere cese.' And, whanne the shipmen had take the bodi forto haue caste it in-to the see, the pylgryme seide: 'Suffrith *a while, suffrith, and, though ye wil not spare me ne ^mmy wyf, yet spare at the leste this litul babe, that wepith *and cryeth. Abideth a while *forto witte, [if] paraventure the womman be in a swoune with woo *and peyne and may, *and god wole, ⁿawake ayen.' And than an hille apperid not ferre fro the shippe, and, whanne *the housbonde sawgh it, him thought it more goodly to bere the body and the childe thider, than to ^ocaste it in-to the see forto be dewoured ^pin the see. And than he ^qdide ^rso moche bi prayers and bi yiftys, that ^sthei sette her shippe towarde that hille *and bere the bodi thider. And, whan thei *sawgh, that ^tthei myght noght digge the ^uerthe for hardenesse *of the roche, thei leide the bodi in the moste secrete place in the mounteyn and ^vcouered it with a mantell, and than *the fadir leide the childe at the brest of ^wthe modir and seide with *sore wepinge: 'Mary Magdaleyn, thou come to Marcelle to myn ^xyville aventure. Allas I wrecche, whi toke I this iorney vpon me bi thi techinge? Hast thou required of *thi god, that my wif shulde conceyue ^yto perisshe *hir *and the childe? ^zThis is that, that I haue receyued be thi prayers. *I recommende hir now to the, to whom I haue commaundid alle myne *othir thingis, and I recommaunde *hir to thi god, that, if ^ahe be myghti, that he ^bhelpe the soule of the moder, and that be thi prayers he haue pite on the childe, that it perisshe not.' And than he couered *al the bodi *of the modir ^cand *of the childe with his mantel and wente *ayen to the shippe. And, whanne he was come to *seynt Petre, ^dhe come ayens him and sawe the token of the crosse vpon his shol∣dere, and he asked him, what he was, and whens he come. And he tolde him al the *manere bi ordre; *than seide *seynt Petre: 'Pees be with the! Thou arte welcome; ^efor thou hast levide goode coun∣seil. Be not sory *ne hevi, though that thi wif slepe and thi litil sone restith with hir; for oure lorde *Ihesu *Crist is *al-mighti to yeue ^flif, to whom he wole, and to take ayen, *whan him list, that he hath youen *the, and for to turne *al thi vepinge in-to ioie.' And than *seynt Petre ladde him in-to Ierusalem, and *there he shewid him alle the placis, where *Ihesu Crist had prechid, and the place where he suffrid *deth, and where he styed in-to heuene. And, whan he was wel taught of *seynt Petre in the feith and that two yere were passid, he *toke his leve of seynt Petre and went in-to a shippe for to returne in-to his cuntre. And, as thei seiled, thei come bi the ordinaunce of god bi-sidis that roche, where the bodi of his wif ^gand *of his childe had ben putte. And than he ^hdide *so moche bi prayers and bi yiftys, that thei sette the shippe thider. And the childe had *alweie be kepte *in-to that tyme bi Mary Magdeleyn and wente often-tymes, *whan he couthe go, to the see side and, as ⁱthe childe, pleied with the litul stones, *that he fonde vpon the ryvage. And, whan ^kthei come thid^er, thei fonde the childe pleyinge vpon the see side, as it was wonte to doo, and than he merveiled ^lgretli, what it myght be, and ^mcome thider. And, whan the childe sawgh ⁿhem, whiche that had neuere seyn non suche thynge *bifore, he was aferde and fledde preuely to the brestis of his moder and hid him vnder the mantelle. And than the pylgryme wente for to se more clerly *this thinge *and come and sawgh the childe ^oright faire sowkynge the breste of his moder, and than he toke the childe and seide: 'O blessid Mary Magdaleyn, how I were blessid and alle thingis wel happid me, if my wif myght turne ayen to lif and come with me home in-to my cuntre! I wote vereli and bileve with-outen any drede, that thou, that hast youe *me the childe and hast fedde him two yere in this roche, myghtest *wel bi thi i in thi aus etwas anderem prayer restore the modir to hir firste heele.' And with thoo wordis the ^pmodir respired and seide, right as though she had a-wakyd fro an *harde slepe: 'Blessid Mary Magdeleyn, *how thou arte of grete merite and gloryous *in the sight of god; for in *alle ^qmy grete sorowe of my trauail of childe thou ^rwere to me a mydwife, and in alle my necessitees thou hast ^sbenegneli servid me.' And, whan the pilgryme hurde this thinge, he merueyled him and seide: 'Lyvist thou, my *right dere wif?' To whom she seide: '*Yee, surly, I live and am right now come fro the pilgrymage, that ye come fro, and, right as the blessid Petre ladde yow *aboute Ierusalem and shewid yow alle the placis, where ^toure lorde suffrid ^udeth and was buried, and many othir placis, I was with yow, ^vand Mary Magdeleyn ^wwas mi mi über der Zeile von derselben Hand felawe and my ledere, and I sawgh *al the placis there and haue hem *wel in mynde;' and tolde alle the placis and the miraclis, that *hir husbonde had seen, and wente ^xneuere oute of the weie in non *article. And than the pilgryme receyuyd his wif and his childe and wente ful of ioie in-to the shippe, and with-inne a while after thei arryved at the porte of Marcellis and fonde the blessid Mary Magdeleyn prechinge with hir disciplis, and than thei knelid doun to hir and tolde hir al, that was bifalle hem, and re∣ceyved bapteme of seynt ^yMaxymien. And than thei distroied ^zalle the templis of the ydolles in the citee of Marcellis and made chirchis of *Ihesu Criste and chosen bi accorde the blessid Lazar for to be *there bisshop of that citee. And in the ende thei come be the wil of god to the citee ^aof Daies, and bi many miraclis thei brought the puple to the feith of ^bgod, and there was ^cMaxymien made bisshop. And in this mene tyme the blessid Mary Magdeleyn was so covetous of the ^dsouerayne loue of god, that [she] ^echase right a sharpe *place in the deserte and *was in a place, that was or∣deyned *for hir bi the hondis of aungellis, *and there she dwellid xxx. wyntir ^fwith-oute knowliche of any creature. In whiche place there was ^gneuere cours of watir ne comforte of trees ne of herbes; *and it was done for this cause, that it sholde be *clerli shewid, that oure ^hlorde wolde ⁱfeede hir ^kwith heuenli metis and not with ertheli metis. And euery day at ^leuery houre of the day she was lifte up ^man high with angellis and hurde the glorious songe of the hevenli ⁿfelawshipe with bodeli eris; where-with she was euery day ^ofedde with these right swete metis, and than was she ^pborn with these aungellis to hir propur ^qplacis, so that she had ^rno nede of bodeli norshinge. *So it befil in a tyme, that a prest, that desired to live a solitarie liff, ^stoke a selle for him-self *evene xij. ^tbowshotis ^ufro hir place. And in a daie oure [lorde] opened the eyen of that prest, ^vthat he sawgh with his bodeli eyen, in whiche manere the aungellis discendid doun to the forseide place, where Mary *Magdeleyn dwellid, and how thei lifte hir up in-to the eyere, and than after bi the space of an houre thei brought hir ayen with dyvyne preysingis to the same place. And than the preest desired to knowe the trouthe of that merveilous visyon and recommaundid him-self bi his prayers to *oure lorde, his makere, and ^wwente ^xsureli with *grete deuocyoun to the forseide place. And, whan he neghed nygh bi a stones cast, his thies bigunne to ^ywexe so stiff, as though thei had ben fast ibounde, and *alle his ^zinwarde lymes bigan to ^atremble for drede. And, whan he turned him to go, then his thies ^band his feete ^cwere redi to goo, but, whan he ^denforsid him to goo to that place, ^eal his bodi was in languor, and myght not meve him. And than ^fhe vndir∣stode with-outen any faile, that Das zweite t von that zum Teil weggeschnitten it was sume secrete heuenli thing *and a place, that non ertheli ^gman myght come too. And than he callid the name of ^hIhesu *Crist and cried: 'I coniour the bi the *vertu of oure lorde, that, if thou be man or any *other resonabul creature, that dwellist in that pitte, that thou answere me and telle me the trouthe e von trouthe weg∣geschnitten of the.' And, whan he had seide so three tymes, the blessid Mary Magdeleyn answerde *and seide: 'Come nere, e von nere weggeschnitten and thou shalte knowe the trouthe ⁱof thi desire.' And than he come tremblyng ^khalfe weie to hir warde, and than she seide to him: 'Hast thou *not mynde ^lof the gospell, *that maketh mencyoun of that ^mright synful synful doppelt, das zweite Mal durchgestrichen woman, woman] der grössere Teil des n weggeschnitten that *wette and wisshe the feete of oure saviour with her teeris and wiped hem with hir heer and dis∣serued foryevenesse for in foryevenesse auf Rasur of her synnes?' ⁿAnd than the preest seid: 'I remembre me *wel, and it is more, than xxx. wyntir, passid, that holi chirche levith and confessith, that it was was] das s weggeschnitten done.' And than she seide: 'It am I, that bi the space of xxx. wyntir ^ohaue ben here with-outen any worldeli felawship, and it was yistir-daie suffrid the to se, *and *right so euery daie I am lifte up bi the hondis of aungellis aungellis] der zweite Strich des n weggeschnitten in-to the heire and haue disserved to here with my bodeli eris euery daie vij. tymes the right swete songe of the heuenli ^pfelawshipe. And, for it is shewid me, that I shal passe oute of this worlde, go to seynt ^qMaxymien and seie to him, that the nexte day aftir the resurreccyon of oure lorde in the *same tyme, that he is wonte to ^rgoo to mateyns, that he entre allone in-to his oratorie, and there he shal fynde me bi the ^smysterie and seruyce of aun∣gellis.' And *this preest hurde the voice of hir, right as the voice of an aungil, but he sawgh ^tno thyng. And than he wente ^uanon to seynt ^vMaximyen and tolde him al bi ordre, and than was ^wMaximyen fulfillid with gret ioie and yeldid grete thankyngys to oure ^xlorde, and in the day and the houre, ^ythat was seide him, he entred in-to his oratorie and sawgh the blessid Mary Magdeleyn, that was in the quere *in the felawshipe of aungellis, that had brought hir thider. And she was lifte up fro the erthe two cubitis of heighte and prayed and had hir hondis streight up ^zto oure lorde. And seynt ^aMaxymien dred[d]e for to goo to hir, and she turned hir towardis him and seide: 'Come hidir, *myn *owne fadir, and flee not thi doughter.' And than, whan he neyghid hir, as it is redde in the bokys of ^bMaxymien, *he sawgh, that bi continuel visyoun of aungellis ^ceuery daie the visage of this *holi lady [was so] shynynge, ^das it had ben a bright beeme of the sonne. And than al the preestis were callid, and the blessid Mary Magdeleyne receyuyd the holy bodi of oure lorde of *Maxymyen, the bisshope, with grete ^eabundaunce of teeris, and after that she strecchid up hir bodi bifore the awtir, and ^fhir right holi soule passid to oure lorde. And aftir the passyng of hir holi spirite so grete a sauoure of swetnesse abode there, that it was felte bi the space of vij. daies ^gamonge hem. And seynt ^hMaxymien anoyntid the bodi of hir with ....

Maria Magdalena a Magdalo castro cognominata *clarissimis est orta natalibus, *utpote ex regia stirpe descendentibus: cuius pater Syrus, mater vero Eucharia nuncupata est. Haec ^acum fratre suo Lazaro et sorore sua Martha *Magdalum castrum, quod est secundo milliario a Genezareth, Bethaniam, quae est iuxta Ierusalem, et magnam Hierosolymorum partem possidebat. Qui tamen ^bomnia inter se taliter diviserunt, quod Maria Magdalum, a quo *et *Magda∣lena nuncupata est, Lazarus partem *urbis Ierusalem et Martha Bethaniam possideret. Cum autem Magdalena deliciis corporis se totam exponeret et Lazarus plus militiae vacaret, Martha prudens partes ^csororis et fratris sui *strenue gubernabat *et militibus et famulis *suis ac pauperibus necessaria ministrabat. Omnia tamen haec post adscensionem domini vendiderunt et ad pedes apostolorum pretium posuerunt. Cum igitur Magdalena divitiis abundaret, quia rerum affluentiam voluptas comes ^dsequitur, quanto ^edivitiis et pul∣chritudine splenduit, tanto corpus suum voluptati substravit, unde *iam proprio nomine perdito peccatrix consueverat appellari. Sed, cum ^fChristus ^gillic et alibi praedicaret, illa ^hnutu inspirata *divino ad domum Simonis leprosi, ⁱubi *audivit eum discumbere, properavit. Et non audens, ut peccatrix, inter iustos comparere *retro secus pedes domini ^kmansit, ubi pedes eius lacrimis lavit, capillis tersit et unguento pretioso perunxit. Nam incolae regionis illius propter vehementissimum ^msolis calorem ^lunguentis et balneis utebantur. Cumque Simon *pharisaeus intra se cogitaret, quoniam, si ⁿhic esset propheta, a peccatrice tangi se ^onequaquam permitteret, dominus illum de ^psuperba iustitia redarguit et mulieri omnia peccata dimisit. Haec est igitur *illa Maria Magdalena, cui dominus tam magna ^beneficia contulit et tanta signa dilectionis ostendit; ^qnam ab ea *septem daemonia expulit, in suo amore eam totaliter accendit, fami∣liarissimam eam sibi constituit, hospitam suam ^rfecit et procuratricem suam eam in itinere habere voluit et eam semper dulciter excusavit. Nam excusavit eam apud ^spharisaeum, qui dicebat ipsam immundam, et apud sororem suam, quae dicebat ipsam otiosam, et apud Iudam, qui dicebat eam prodigam, lacrimantem videns lacrimas conti∣nere non potuit. Cuius dilectione quatriduanum *fratrem suum re∣suscitavit; *cuius *amore *Martham, sororem suam, a fluxu san∣guinis, quem septem annis ^tperpessa fuerat, liberavit; cuius meritis ^uMartillam, ^vsororis suae famulam, ut illud tam *beatum et tam dulce verbum *exclamans diceret: 'Beatus venter, qui te portavit,' dignam fecit. ^wNam secundum Ambrosium illa fuit Martha et ^xhaec eius famula. Haec est, *inquam, *illa, quae domini pedes *lacrimis lavit, capillis tersit et unguento perunxit; quae in tempore gratiae sollemnem poenitentiam ^yprimo fecit; quae optimam partem elegit; quae ad pedes sedens domini verbum audivit et ^zdomini caput per∣unxit; quae iuxta crucem in *domini passione fuit; quae unguenta parans corpus eius ungere voluit; quae a monumento *discipulis rece∣dentibus non recessit; cui Christus resurgens primo apparuit et apo∣stolorum ^bapostolam ^afecit. Post adscensionem igitur domini, *sci∣licet anno ^cxiv. a passione, cum Iudaei Stephanum *iamdiu occi∣dissent et ceteros discipulos a ^dIudaeae finibus eiecissent, *diversarum gentium ^ediscipuli ^fsubeunt *regiones verbum domini *ibidem semi∣nantes. Erat *autem tunc temporis cum apostolis beatus ^gMaximi∣nus, unus de LXXII domini discipulis, cui a beato Petro Maria Magdalena fuerat commendata. In hac igitur dispersione beatus ^hMaximinus, Maria Magdalena, Lazarus, frater eius, Martha, soror ipsius, et ⁱMartilla, pedissequa Marthae, nec non *et beatus ^kCedo∣nius, qui caecus a nativitate exstiterat, sed a domino fuerat ^lliberatus, omnes hi insimul et plures alii christiani navi ab infidelibus impositi et pelago sine aliquo ^mgubernatore expositi, ut omnes *scilicet *simul submergerentur, divino *tandem nutu Massiliam advenerunt. Ubi cum nullos, qui eos hospitio recipere vellent, invenissent, sub quadam porticu, quae fano gentis illius terrae praeerat, morabantur. Cum autem beata Maria Magdalena videret populum ad fanum ⁿconfluere, ut idolis immolaret, assurgens ^ovultu placido, facie serena, lingua discreta ^peos ab idolorum cultura revocabat et Christum *constan∣tissime praedicabat. Et admirati sunt universi prae specie, prae fa∣cundia, prae dulcedine eloquentiae eius. Nec mirum, si os, quod tam ^qpia et tam pulchra pedibus ^rsalvatoris infixerat oscula, ceteris amplius verbi dei ^sspiraret *odorem. Post hoc autem ^tadvenit prin∣ceps provinciae illius ^ucum uxore sua, ut pro habenda prole idolis immolaret. ^vCui Magdalena Christum praedicans sacrificia ^wdissuasit. ^xInterea evolutis aliquot dierum curriculis apparuit in visu Magda∣lena illi matronae dicens: 'Quare, cum tot divitiis ^yabundetis, ^zsanctos dei fame et frigore mori permittitis?' ^aAddidit et minas, nisi marito suo persuaderet, ut ^csanctorum ^binopiam relevaret [gedr. revelaret], ^diram dei omnipotentis incurreret; ipsa autem viro suo visionem indicare timuit. Sequenti igitur nocte eidem similia dicens apparuit, sed adhuc viro suo hoc indicare ^eneglexit. ^fTertio vero *sub *intempestae noctis *silentio apparuit utrique *fremens et irata vultu *igneo, *ac si tota domus arderet, *et ait: 'Dormisne, tyranne, ^gmembrum patris tui [gedr. tuae], ^hSatanae, cum vipera, coniuge tua, quae tibi indicare noluit verba mea? Quiescisne, crucis *Christi in∣imice, *diversis ciborum generibus ventris tui refecta ingluvie et sanctos dei *fame et siti permittis perire? ⁱIacesne in palatio pannis involutus sericis et illos desolatos sine hospitio vides et praeteris? Non sic, inique, *non sic evades; nec impune feres, quod tantum *iis *benefacere distulisti.' Sic locuta est et abscessit, cumque ma∣trona evigilans suspiraret et ^ktremeret, viro suo eadem de causa sus∣piranti ait: 'Domine *mi, vidistine somnium, quod vidi?' 'Vidi,' inquit, 'et admirari et pavere *non desino; *quid inde faciemus?' Cui mulier: 'Utilius est ei obtemperare, quam iram dei sui, quem praedicat, incurrere.' Quapropter ipsos hospitio receperunt et iis ne∣cessaria ministraverunt. Cum autem quadam ^ldie Maria Magdalena praedicaret, ^mpraedictus princeps dixit ei: 'Putas posse defendere fidem, quam praedicas?' *Cui illa: 'Equidem illam defendere praesto sum, utpote quotidianis miraculis et praedicatione magistri ^omei Petri, qui Romae ^ppraesidet, ⁿroboratam.' Cui princeps ^qcum coniuge dixit: '*Ecce *dictis tuis per omnia obtemperare parati sumus, si a deo, quem praedicas, nobis filium impetrabis.' 'Propter hoc,' inquit Magda∣lena, 'non remanebit.' Tunc beata ^rMaria pro ipsis [gedr. ipsos] do∣minum exoravit, ut sibi filium concedere dignaretur; cuius preces dominus exaudivit, et matrona illa concepit. Tunc vir *eius *coepit velle proficisci ad Petrum, ut probaret, si, ut Magdalena ^sde Christo praedicaverat, sic veritas se haberet. Cui uxor dixit: '*Quid est, do∣mine? putasne sine me proficisci? ^tAbsit; te enim recedente rece∣dam, te veniente veniam, *te quiescente quiescam.' Cui vir ait: 'Non *sic fiet, domina; etenim, cum sis gravida et in mari sint infinita pericula, de facili periclitari posses: domi igitur quiesces et possessio∣nibus nostris curam impendes.' Econtra ^uilla instabat, femineum nec mutans femina morem et cum lacrimis pedibus eius obvoluta, quod petebat, tandem obtinuit. Maria ergo humeris eorum signum crucis imposuit, ne eos ^vantiquus hostis in aliquo itinere impe∣diret. Navem igitur omnibus necessariis copiose onerantes, cetera, quae habebant, in Mariae Magdalenae custodia relinquentes proficisci coeperunt. *Iamque unius diei et noctis cursu ^wconsummato coepit *nimium mare intumescere, ventus ^xflare, ita ut omnes et maxime matrona gravida et debilis ^ztam *saeva inundatione fluctuum quassati ^ygravissimis angustiis urgerentur ^ain tantum, quod in eam subito dolor partus irruit et inter angustias ventris et pressuras temporis filium parturiens exspiravit. Natus igitur puerulus ^bpalpitabat et mammillarum maternarum quaerens *solatia lamentabiles dabat vagi∣tus. ^cProh dolor! et *natus est infans *vivus et matricida effectus, mori eum convenit, cum non sit, qui *vitae tribuat alimentum. Quid faciet peregrinus, ^det cum uxorem mortuam videat et puerum va∣gientem querulis vocibus matris mammam appetentem? Lamenta∣batur ^eplurimum et dicebat: 'Heu miser, quid ^ffacies? Filium ha∣bere desiderasti et matrem ^gcum filio perdidisti.' Nautae acclamabant dicentes: 'Proiiciatur in mare hoc corpus, ^hantequam ⁱinsimul perea∣mus; quamdiu enim nobiscum fuerit, haec ^kquassatio ^lnon cessabit.' Et, cum corpus apprehendissent, ut illud in mare iactarent: 'Parcite,' inquit peregrinus, 'parcite, et, si nec mihi nec ^mmatri parcere volue∣ritis, misereamini saltem parvuli vagientis. Sinite modicum *et susti∣nete, si forte mulier prae dolore in exstasi posita *adhuc valeat ⁿrespi∣rare.' Et *ecce non procul a navi [gedr. mari] quidam collis appa∣ruit, quo viso utilius esse credidit corpus et puerulum illuc deferri, quam ^pmarinis *belluis ad devorandum ^odari. Et ^rvix a ^snautis prece et pretio ^qextorsit, ut illic applicarent. Cumque *illic prae du∣ritia ^ufoveam non ^tpotuisset effodere, in secretiore parte collis chla∣myde ^vsupposita corpus collocavit et puerulum mammis ^weius appo∣nens cum lacrimis ait: '*O Maria Magdalena, ad ^xperditionis meae cumulum Massiliae *partibus applicuisti. Cur infelix admonitione tua hoc iter arripui? Petistine deum, ut mulier mea *hac de causa conciperet ^yet [lies ut?] periret? *Ecce enim concepit et pariendo mortem subiit, conceptusque est natus, ut pereat, cum non sit, qui enutriat. ^zEcce, quod prece tua obtinui; tibi enim omnia mea com∣mendavi deoque tuo commendo: si potens ^aes, ^bmemor sis animae matris, et prece tua misereatur, ne pereat natus.' Tunc chlamyde sua corpus ^ccum puero *circumquaque operuit et *postmodum navem conscendit. Cumque ad Petrum venisset, ^dPetrus ei obvius fuit, qui viso signo crucis in humero suo, qui esset et unde veniret, sciscitatus est. Qui omnia sibi per ordinem narravit; *cui Petrus: 'Pax tibi fiat! Bene venisti ^eet utili consilio credidisti. Nec moleste feras, si mulier tua dormit, si parvulus cum ea quiescit; potens enim est dominus, cui vult, ^fdona dare, data auferre, *ablata *restituere et moerorem tuum in gaudium commutare.' Petrus autem ipsum in Hierosolymam duxit et omnia loca, in quibus Christus praedicavit et *miracula *fecit, locum *etiam, in quo passus est, et in quo coelos adscendit, eidem ostendit. Cumque de fide fuisset instructus dili∣genter a Petro, biennii spatio *iam elapso navem adscendit repa∣triare curans. Cum igitur navigarent, domino disponente iuxta collem, in quo corpus uxoris ^gcum puero positum fuerat, pervenerunt; qui prece et pretio eos ibi ad applicandum ^hinduxit. Puerulus autem *ibidem a Maria Magdalena *incolumis conservatus frequenter ad littus maris procedebat et *ibidem, ut ⁱpuerorum moris est, cum lapillis *et glareis ludere *solitus erat. Et, cum ^kapplicuisset, vidit puerulum more solito in littore maris *cum lapillis ludentem et, quid esset, admirari ^lnon desinens ^mde scapha exsiliit. ⁿQuem videns parvulus, cum nunquam tale quid vidisset, expavit et ad *solita matris recurrens ubera occulte sub chlamyde latitabat. Peregrinus vero, ut manifestius videret, *illuc accessit et puerulum ^opulcherrimum matris ubera sugentem invenit et accipiens puerum ait: 'O beata Maria Magdalena, quam felix essem, quam mihi cuncta prospera ad∣venissent, si mulier respiraret et mecum repatriare valeret! Scio equidem, *scio et procul dubio credo, quod tu, quae [gedr. qui] pue∣rum dedisti et in hac rupe per biennium pavisti, poteris matrem *suam prece tua pristinae restituere sanitati.' Ad haec verba ^pmulier respiravit et quasi a somno evigilans ait: 'Magni meriti es, beata Maria Magdalena, et gloriosa, quae in partus mei ^qpressuris ^rob∣stetricis implevisti officum et in omnibus necessitatibus ^sancillae ser∣vitium explesti.' Quo audito peregrinus admirans ait: 'Vivisne, uxor mea dilecta?' Cui illa: 'Vivo equidem et nunc primo de peregri∣natione, de qua *et tu venisti, venio, et, sicut beatus Petrus te Hiero∣solymam duxit et omnia loca, in quibus ^tChristus passus est, ^umor∣tuus et sepultus, et alia plura loca ostendit, *sic *et ego ^vuna cum beata Maria Magdalena ^wduce et comite vobiscum fui et conspecta memoriae commendavi.' Et *incipiens loca omnia, *in quibus Christus passus est, et miracula, quae viderat, *adeo plene explicuit, ut ^xnec in aliquo deviaret. Tunc peregrinus recepta coniuge et puero navim laetus conscendit, et paulo post Massiliae portibus applicuerunt et *ingressi invenerunt beatam Mariam Magdalenam cum suis disci∣pulis praedicantem et eius *pedibus *cum lacrimis provoluti omnia, quae iis acciderant, narraverunt et a beato ^yMaximino *sacrum bap∣tisma susceperunt. Tunc in civitate Massiliae ^zomnium idolorum templa destruentes Christi ecclesias construxerunt et beatum Lazarum in eiusdem civitatis episcopum unanimiter elegerunt. Tandem divino nutu ad ^aaquensem civitatem venerunt et populum illum ad fidem ^bChristi per multa miracula adduxerunt, ubi *etiam *beatus ^cMaxi∣minus in episcopum est ordinatus. Interea beata Maria Magdalena ^dsupernae contemplationis avida asperrimum eremum ^epetiit et in loco angelicis manibus praeparato per XXX annos ^fincognita mansit. In quo *quidem loco ^gnec aquarum fluenta nec arborum nec herba∣rum erant solatia, ut *ex hoc manifestaretur, quod *redemtor noster ipsam ^knon terrenis refectionibus, sed tantum coelestibus epulis dispo∣suerat ⁱsatiare. Qualibet autem die ^lseptem horis canonicis ab angelis ^min aethera elevabatur et coelestium ⁿagminum gloriosos concentus *etiam corporalibus auribus audiebat, unde diebus singulis his sua∣vissimis dapibus ^osatiata et inde per eosdem angelos ad ^qlocum prop∣rium ^prevocata corporalibus alimentis ^rnullatenus indigebat. Sacerdos autem quidam solitariam vitam agere desiderans ad duodecim ^tstadia loco ^ueidem vicinam sibi cellam ^slocavit. Die igitur quadam domi∣nus *praedicti sacerdotis oculos aperuit, ^vet corporeis oculis *evi∣denter adspexit, qualiter angeli ad praedictum locum, in quo *beata Maria morabatur, descendebant [gedr. discedebant] et eam in aethera sublevabant et post horae spatium ad eundem locum cum divinis laudibus revocabant. Volens autem sacerdos *tam admirabilis visio∣nis veritatem agnoscere creatori suo precibus se commendans ad prae∣dictum locum ^xaudaci devotione ^wproperabat. Cumque ad unius iactum lapidis appropinquaret, coeperunt eius crura ^yresolvi et timore *valido ipsius ^zpraecordia medullitus ^aanhelare. Cumque retro re∣diret, ^cambulandi usum crura ^bcum pedibus *simul praebebant; sed, si *verso tramite ad *praedictum locum accedere ^dconaretur, *totiens ^eeum languor corporis et *hebetudo mentis *modis omnibus prohi∣bebant. Intellexit igitur ^fvir dei illud procul dubio coeleste esse sacramentum, ad quod accedere humanum non poterat ^gexperimen∣tum. Invocato igitur ^hsalvatoris nomine exclamavit: 'Adiuro te per dominum, ut, si homo es vel aliqua rationalis creatura, quae in illa spelunca habitas, mihi respondeas et tui edisseras veritatem.' Cumque hoc tertio repetiisset, beata Maria Magdalena *ei respondit: 'Accede propius et *omnium, ⁱquae desiderat *anima tua, scire *po∣teris veritatem.' Cumque ille tremens ^kusque ad medii spatii ter∣minum appropinquasset, ait ad eum: 'Meministi ^lex evangelio de *Maria, illa ^mfamosa peccatrice, quae pedes salvatoris lacrimis lavit, capillis tersit et suorum delictorum veniam promeruit?' ⁿCui sacer∣dos: 'Memini, et plus quam triginta annorum evolata sunt *curri∣cula, quod hoc factum *etiam sancta credit et confitetur ecclesia.' 'Ego,' inquit, 'sum illa, quae per triginta annorum spatium ^oomnibus hominibus ignota permansi, et, *sicut tibi heri cernere permissum est, sic singulis diebus angelicis manibus in aethera sublevata coe∣lestium ^pagminum dulcissimam iubilationem septenis vicibus per singulos dies corporeis auribus audire promerui. Quia igitur mihi *a domino revelatum est, quod ex hoc migratura sum saeculo, bea∣tum ^qMaximinum adeas et ei *hoc *studeas intimare, proximo die resurrectionis dominicae tempore, quo ad matutinum ^rsurgere con∣suevit, oratorium solus ingrediatur et me illic per angelorum ^smini∣sterium inveniet *consistentem.' Sacerdos autem vocem eius, velut vocem angeli, audiebat, ^tneminem autem videbat. ^uConcitus igitur beatum ^vMaximinum adiit et ei omnia per ordinem enarravit, *sanc∣tus autem ^wMaximinus nimio repletus gaudio ^xsalvatori gratias im∣mensas retulit et illa die ac hora, ^yut sibi iussum fuerat, oratorium *solus ingressus videt beatam Mariam Magdalenam in choro *adhuc stantem eorum, qui eam adduxerant, angelorum. Erat autem spatio duorum cubitorum elevata a terra *stans *in medio angelorum et extensis manibus ^zdeum exorans. Cum autem beatus ^aMaximinus ad eam accedere trepidaret, conversa dixit ad eum: 'Accede huc *propius nec fugias filiam tuam, pater.' Appropinquante autem eo, sicut in *ipsius *beati ^bMaximini legitur libris, ita vultus dominae ex continua *et ^cdiuturna visione angelorum radiabat, ^dut facilius solis radios, quam faciem suam, intueri quis posset. Convocato igi∣tur universo clero *et sacerdote praedicto corpus *et sanguinem do∣mini ab episcopo beata Maria Magdalena cum multa lacrimarum ^einundatione suscepit, deinde *toto corpore ante altaris prostrato *crepidinem sanctissima ^filla anima migravit ad dominum. Post cuius exitum tantus odor suavitatis ibidem remansit, ut per septem dies *fere ^gab ingredientibus oratorium sentiretur. Cuius *sanc∣tissimum corpus beatus ^hMaximinus diversis conditum aromatibus honorifice sepelivit et post mortem suam iuxta se sepeliri praecepit.