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The fyrste prologue.
[leaf A ij] ¶ Here Begynneth the Prologue of thys presente boke folowynge which is called oure Ladyes myroure.
Viderunt eam Filie syon, et beatissiman predica∣uerunt. [Cantice .vj] These wordes are writen in holy scrypture & are thus to say in englyshe, The doughtres of Syon [The daughters of Syon are to praise our Lady.] haue sene hyr (that is to say oure lady) and they haue shewed hyr mooste blessyd. In whiche wordes the holy goste sayth thre thinges that longe to the prays∣ynge of oure mooste blessed Lady. ¶ Fyrste who they be that prayse hyr, whan he sayeth, the doughters of Syon. ¶ The seconde what they doo or they begynne to prayse hyr, whan he sayeth that they haue sene hyr. ¶ The thyrde, the maner of hyr praysynge, whan he sayeth, & they haue shewed hyr mooste blessed, ther∣fore he sayeth. The doughtres of Syon haue sene hyr; and they haue shewed hyr moste blessed. ¶ Fyrste the holy goste tellyth who they be that prayse oure Lady, for he callyth them doughtres of Syon. But though all chrysten soulles that treuly lyue in chrysten fayth, may be called doughtres of Syon, that is to say of holy chyrche: yet more properly ye ar called [The nuns of Syon monastery are especially daughters of the spiritual Syon.] doughters of Syon. For not onely ye ar doughtres of holy chyrche by chrysten byleue as other chrysten people ys: But also ye are doughtres of this holy relygion, which as a mother noryssheth youre soulles in grace in this Monastery that ys named Syon. And