CCCCLXIV.
Maria deuotos sibi a morte liberat.
We rede in hur 'Meracles' how som tyme þer was a thefe, & he had a grete deuocion̛ vnto our̛ Ladie, & said̛ hur salutacion̛ oft vnto hur. So at þe laste he was takyn̛ with thift & hanged̛, and our Ladie come & held̛ hym̛ vp iij dayes, hur awn̛ handis, so þat he felid̛ no sare. So þai þat hanged̛ hym̛ happend̛ be cace to com̛ by hym̛ away, & fand̛ hym̛ mery and̛ liffand̛, and þai trowed̛ he had̛ not bene wele hanged̛. & þai wer avysid̛ to hafe stykkid̛ hym̛ with a swerd̛ as he hang, and as þai wold̛ hafe stryken̛ hym̛, our Lady putt it away with hur hand̛, so at þai noyed hym̛ noght. And he told̛ þaim how our Ladie helpid̛ hym̛, & þai tuke hym̛ down̛ & lete hym̛. & he went vnto ane abbay & þer servid̛ our̛ Ladie ewhils he liffid̛.