Then said Mary unto the angel: How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered, and said unto her: The holy ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born, shall be called the son of God. And mark, thy cousin Elizabeth, hath also conceived a son in her old age. And this is the. vj. month to her, which was called barren, for with God shall nothing be unpossible. Mary said: behold the handmaiden of the lord, be it unto me even as thou hast said. And the angel departed from her.
Mary arose in those days, and went into the mountains with haste into a city of jewry, and entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth: And it fortuned, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe sprang in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled with the holy ghost, and cried with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among the women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence happeneth this to me, that the mother of my lord should come to me? Lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe sprang in my belly for joy. And blessed art thou that believedst: For those things shall be performed which were told thee from the lord.
And Mary said: My soul magnifieth the lord. And my spirit rejoiceth in God my saviour: For he hath looked on the poor degree of his handmaiden. Behold now from hence forth shall all generations call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and blessed is his name. And his mercy is always on them that fear him thorow out all generations. He hath shewed strength with his arm, he hath scattered them that are proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put Down the mighty from their seats, and hath exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things: And hath sent away the rich empty. He hath remembered mercy: and hath holpen his servant Israhel. Even as he promised to our fathers, Abraham and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about a iij. months, And returned home again.
Elizabeths time was come that she should be delivered, And she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard tell how, the lord had magnified his mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.
And it fortuned the eighth day: they came to circumcise the child: and called his name Zacari after the name of his father, and his mother answered, and said: not so, but he shall be called Ihon. And they said unto her: There is none of thy kin, that is named with this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for writing tables and wrote saying: his name is Ihon. And they marvelled all. And his mought was opened immediately, and his tongue, and he spake lauding God. And fear came on all them that dwelt nigh: And all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of jewry: and all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying: What manner child shall this be? And the hand of God was with him.
And his father Zacharias was filled with the holy ghost, and prophesied saying: Blessed be the lord God of Israhel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people. And hath raised up an horn of salvation unto us, in the house of his servant David. Even as he promised by the mouth of his holy prophets which were since the world began. That we should be saved from our enemies: And from the hands of all that hate us: To shew mercy towards our fathers, and to remember his holy promise. That is to say the oath, which he sware to our father Abraham, for to give us. That we delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear: all the days of our life, in such holiness and righteousness that are accept before him. And thou child, shalt be called the prophet of the highest, for thou shalt go before the face of the lord, to prepare his ways: And to give knowledge of health unto his people, for the remission of sins: Through the tender mercy of our lord, wherewith hath visited us the day spring from on high: To give light to them that sat in darkness, and in shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child increased and waxed strong in spirit, and was in wilderness, till the day came, when he should shew himself unto the Israhelites.
The second Chapter.
It followed in those days: that there went out a commandment from August the Emperor, that all the world should be valued. This taxing was first executed when Syrenus was leftenant in Syria. And every man went into his own shire town, there to be taxed. And Ioseph also ascended from Galilee, out of a city called Nazareth, into jewry: into the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David to be taxed with Mary his wedded wife, which was with child.
And it fortuned while they were there, her time was come that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first begotten son. And wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them within, in the hostry.
And there were in the same region shepherds abiding in the field, and watching their flock by night. And lo: the angel of the lord stood hard by them, and the brightness of the lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them: Be not afraid: Behold I bring you tidings of great joy, that shall come to all the people: for unto you is born this day in the city of David a saviour, which is Christ the lord. And take this for a sign: ye shall find the child swaddled, and laid in a manger. And straight way there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly soldiers, lauding God, and saying: Glory to God on high, and peace on the earth: and unto men rejoicing.