This boke is compyled by Dan Iohn Lydgate monke of Burye, at the excitacion [and] styrynge of the noble and victorious prynce, Kynge Henry the fyfthe, i[n] the honoure glorie [and] reuerence of the byrthe of our moste blessed Lady, mayde, wyfe, [and] mother of our lorde Iesu Christe, chapitred as foloweth by this table

¶ How Ioseph vsyd the crafte of a carpenter. Ca. ix. (Book 9)

AT Nazareth in her fathers hous Lyke her auowe of herte alway in one And fyue maydens the most vertuous Of the temple where cosen out alone Of the bisshop with her for to gone To wayte on her / by humble attendaunce In what they can / to serue and do pleasaunce.

¶ Of whiche the fyrst / callyd was Reyca And Scepha the seconde / as I fynde Susanna zabell and Abiega

The other thre / as bokes maken mynde Whiche wolde neuer thorowe slouth be behynde But ay in one / as it is specefyed In werke and prayer were occupyed.

¶ And vnto hym / as made is mencion That of lyuynge / so faythfull weren & trewe And diligent in occupacion Delyuered was sylke of sondry hewe For to make dyuerse werkis newe In the temple of intencion Onely to be in mynyst••acion.

¶ And as it is put in remembraunce Eueriche her silke toke by aduenture Like as her hande ••yll theron by chaunce But Mary as god tho shope her eure The purpyll s••••ke toke in to her cure Of gracious happe / of sorte without sight The whiche colour of custome and of right.

¶ To none estate / is kyndely sytting Of doubte to speke in speciall But to the state onely of a kyng So that no wyght / but of the stocke ryall By statuts olde this coloure vse shall For by olde tyme / ye shulde no man sene In purpyll cladde / but other kynge or qu••ne,

¶ Wherfore the sorte full rightfully is fall ••••••••ly by dewe disposicion

Upon Marye / that before hem all By ligne right / is discendyd downe Of blode ryall / and by eleccioun Of god aboue / was chosen for to bene For her merite of heuen and erthe quene.

¶ And mother eke / as ye shall after here Of thylke kynge / that was clad in reed Of purpyll hewe / bothe face and chere Downe to the fete / from his blessed heed Whan he of purpyll dyd his baner sprede On Caluarye abrode / vpon the rode To saue mankynde / whan he shedde his blode.

¶ And of this purpyll that I spake of toforne I fynde playnly howe that Marye wroughte Thylke vayle / that was on tweyne torne The same houre / whan he so dere vs boughte Lo how•• that god in his eternall thoughte Prouyded hath by iust purueaunce The purpyll sp••ke / to his mothers chaunce.