CCCXCIX.
Iohannis
MS. Iohannes. Euuangeliste.
Cassianus tellis how on̛ a tyme a man̛ come & broght Saynt Iohn̛ Euuangeliste a pertrykk̘ whikk, & gaff hym̛ it; and he tuke it & held̛ it in his hand̛ & strakid̛ it & made mekyƚƚ þer-off. And þer was a yong felow at saw & skorynd̛ hym̛, said̛ vnto his felows att stude abowte hym̛; "Wiƚƚ ye se yone olde felow how he laykis with yone byrd̛ as it wer a yong barn̛?" And Saynt Iohn̛ be þe Holie Gaste purseyvid̛ þis, and callid̛ þe yong man̛ vnto hym̛ & askyd̛ hym̛ what þat was at he held̛ in his hand̛. And he ansswerd̛ agayn̛ & said̛ þat it was a bow. And he askid̛ hym̛ what he did̛ þerwith, and þe yong man̛ sayd̛; "I shute burdis & bestis þerwith." And þe aposteƚƚ askid̛ hym̛ whi it was vnbendid̛, and he said̛, for & he helde it allway bendyd̛, it wolde be þe wayker to shute away his shaftis with. Than̛ þe aposteƚƚ ansswerd̛ hym̛ agayn̛ & sayde; "Son̛, on̛ þe same wise mans freletie wolde be passand̛ wayke & it wer allway bendyd̛ in þoght of contemplacion̛; ffor as þe egle emang aƚƚ burdis fleis hyest & seis nexte þe son̛, & yit hur muste nedelyng com̛ down̛ vnto þe law placis, right so mans witt, when̛ it withdrawis it a little from̛ contemplacion̛ & hase a litle comfurtℏ, afterward̛ it is mor̛ ardent vnto hevynlie matyrs." et c̛.