Contemplacio. Sovereynes, ȝe han sen shewyd ȝow before, Of Joachym and Anne here botheres holy metynge, How our lady was conseyvid, and how she was bore; We passe ovyr that, breffnes of tyme consyderynge. And how our lady, in here tendyr age and ȝyng, Into the temple was offryd, and so forthe proced, This sentens sayd xal be hire begynnyng, Now the Modyr of mercy in this be our sped! And as a childe of iij. ȝere age here she xal appere, To alle pepyl that ben here present, And of here grett grace now xal ȝe here, How she levyd evyr to Goddys entent With grace. That holy matere we wole declare, Tyl ffortene ȝere how sche dyd ffare; Now of ȝour speche I pray ȝow spare, Alle that ben in this place.
Here Joachym and Anne, with oure lady betwen hem, beyny al in whyte as a childe of iij. ȝere age, presente here into the temple, thus seyng Joachym,
Joachym. Blyssyd be oure Lord, ffayr ffrute have we now!
Anne, wyff, remembyr wole ȝe,
That we made to God an holy avow,
That oure fyrst childe the servaunt of God xulde be!
The age of Mary oure dowtere is ȝeres thre,
Therfore to thre personys and on God lete us here present;
