How thre heretykkis were mervelously punysshid for offence [ 49] ayeynyst seint Jerom. Cap. XVII.

An heretik of the Grekis disputid openly apone a sunday with a preest in the Cite. And whan the preest for diffence of his party allegid an auctorite of seint Jerome, to distroy the reasonnys of the Greke: | the Greke with a bold voyse was not ashamyd to say that Jerome, [ 45] light of all trowthe, lyed. And for he did suche a wickednesse with his speche, he spake nevir word after. Another heretik of þe Arryannys, whan one had brought an auctorite of seint JeromePage  358 ageynyst him in disputacion and the heretik hadde boldely said he lyed: anone he was smytten with the vengeaunce of god; ffor he hadde not ffully endid the word, but that he cryed all the day after without ceesing: 'Mercy, mercy, gloriouse Jerome, ffor y ame turmentid of the withe 1. [Ms. whicche.] hard paynys!' and whan he had cryed thus [ 5] with 2. [with ist zu tilgen.] all the day as mucche as he myght, at complyne-tyme, all men seyng that were there, wrecchedly he dyed. Another heretik see in the chirche of Syone an ymage of gloriouse Jerome, and said: 'Wold god that y had hadde the in honde, while thou lyviddest, that y myght haue slayn the with my swerd!' and than he pullid [ 10] out his knyff and smote hit in the throte of the ymage. A, how grete is this Jerome doyng thus many merveylis! This heretik myght smyte his knyff in the ymagis throte, but he myght not gytt out his knyf agayne frome the ymage, nor his honde frome the knyff, till hit was knowene openly. | But anone ther come blode [ 15] ffollowing out of þe wound, as of a lyving mane. Which seassid not yet in shewyng of the myracle. The same tyme that þis was do, the Juge of þe cuntre was in the chircheyerd. To whom glori∣ouse Jerom apperid with the knyff in his throte, asking of him to do vengeaunce for the offence, telling him how hit was. Þe Juge was [ 20] astonyed, and all þat were there. And goyng in to the chirche, þay se þe heretik stond with his knyff in the throte of the ymage. And also sone as thay see hit, thay myght take away his honde. Than thay toke him, and, for he did obstinatly in his evill saying: that he sorowid for no thing saeff for that he slow not Jerom by his [ 25] lyff, the multitude of peple withe stonys and stavis, swerdis and speris slowe hyme.