An exposition upon the song of the blessed virgin Mary, called Magnificat Where unto…An exposicion vpon the songe of the blessed virgine Mary, called Magnificat Where vnto…

Of this manner do we read that in the time of the council holden at Constance in Germany, two Cardinals riding upon costly mules over the fields by the way, did see a shepherd stand weeping. The one of them a more meeker man and moved with pity, would not pass by him that was so sorrowful, approached to comfort him, and asked first what him ailed. The shepherd after he had wept bitterly, and holden his peace a great while, so that the Cardinal was grieved and sorrowful also. At the last he showed him a toad and said: For this cause do I weep, namely, that God hath shapen and created me so fair a creature, and not like this evil favoured worm, and that I did never consider this by myself, nor thanked him therefore. Of this was the Cardinal so abashed, that he fell from his mule, and was borne in the council house, where he cried and said: O Austin how truly was it said of thee: The unlearned rise up and take in the kingdom of heaven, ⟨image 30⟩but we with our learning do wander in flesh and blood. Now do I think that the shepherd was not so rich nor fair, yet did he so highly & earnestly consider the gifts of God in him, and render thanks therefore, that he did find more in himself, than he could well attain & perceive with his sight.

Of thys maner do we reade that in the tyme of the councell holden at Constaunce in Germany, two Cardinals rydynge vpon costlye mules ouer the feldes by the waye, dyd se a shepeherde stāde wepyng. The one of them a more meker mā and moued wyth pytie, wold not passe by hym that was so sorowfull, approched to comforte hym, and asked fyrst what hym ayled. The shepeherde after he had wepte bytterly, and holden hys peace a greate whyle, so that the Cardinall was greued and sorowfull also. At the laste he shewed hym a tode and sayde: For thys cause do I wepe, namely, that God hath shapen and created me so fayre a creature, and not lyke thys euell fauoured worme, and that I dyd neuer consydre thys by myselfe, nor thanked hym therfore. Of thys was the Cardinall so abashed, that he fell from hys mule, and was boren in the councell house, where he cryed and sayde: O Austine howe truely was it sayde of the: The vnlearned ryse vp and take in the kyngdome of heauē, ⟨image 30⟩but we wyth oure learnynge do wander in flesh and bloude. Now do I thynke that the shepeherd was not so rych nor fayre, yet dyd he so hyghly & earnestly consyder the gyftes of God in hym, and rendre thankes therfore, that he dyd fynde more in hymselfe, thā he coulde well attayne & perceaue with hys syghte.