CCCCLXXV.
Martirium sustinent aliqui ex magno
fervore.
Saynt Ambrose tellis how on̛ a tyme when̛ a grete multitude of cristenmen̛ war drawen̛ vnto martirdom̛, þer come a mayden̛ of hur fre liste with a hertelie desyre vnto þaim for to be slayn̛ with þaim. And þan̛ a ryche man̛ þat was a paynom̛ spak vnto hur & said̛; "Womman̛, whedur rynys þou so faste?" And sho ansswerd̛ agayn̛ & sayd̛; "I go vnto my frend̛ þat hase biddin̛ me with oþer vnto þe weddyng þer grete daynttys er." And so he vmthoght hym̛ at sho callid̛ Criste hur frend̛, and at she ran̛ to be martyrd̛, & trowid̛ sho had bene a fule & skornyd hur, & said̛; "Say vnto þi frend̛ at send̛ me ane of his rosis." And so sho was martird̛ emang oþer. & als sone as sho was dede and fallyn̛ down̛, a fayr chyld̛ come vnto hym with a white copp̛ fuƚƚ of rosis þat saverd̛ passand̛ wele, & told̛ hym̛ at þe womman̛ frend̛ þat was passid̛ sent hym̛ som̛ of his rosis as he had̛ askid̛. & he sett þaim down̛ & onone he was vanysshid̛ away. And þis man̛ was passand̛ ferd̛ & compuncte, for als mekuƚƚ as it was not rose tyme; and he vmthoght hym̛ at God of cristen̛ men̛ had callid̛ hym̛ vnto martyrdom̛. And evyn̛ furtℏ-with he went vnto þe place of þe martyrdom̛ and said̛ he was a cristen̛ man̛. & onone