De aflaet vā romē mittē aflaet des oordēs
De kalēdier mittē feestē des aflaets."
Under these tables of contents occur two stanzas, the first containing five lines, the second containing seven lines. They commence:—
"¶ O salige wÿngaert seer diep gheplant
Groyende in duechden van vruchten playsant," &c.
The preface to the Grote Legende informs us that it is Saint Bonaventura's life of Saint Francis, and mentions why it is called the Great Legend. This life ends at folio 47.
The preface to the Oude Legende, which next follows, states that it is "gathered from the writings of his companions and the chronicles of the order of the Brothers Minor;" and the "Prologhe" (which succeeds the preface) mentions—
"Die legēde van zÿn drie gesellen den spiegel der volcomēheyts der minderbroeders. Broeder Thomas oude legends en̄ dē boeck der ghelÿcheden daer seer schoon besereuē is. Hoe ghelÿck dat dese heylighe man Franciscus: Christo Jhesu."
These lives, I suppose, are—that joint narrative compiled by three intimate associates of the Saint, "zÿn drie gesellen," that composed by Thomas of Celano; and the Liber Conformitatum.
The 39th chap. of this Oude Legende, folio ciii., relates, as the preface says—