Aberdeen Breviary, winter part (Edinburgh: Chepman & Myllar, 1509-10). Latin office text, extracted from the proprium sanctorum. Contains the end of the office of St Gervadius and the beginning of the office of the Exaltation of our Saviour.

[Lesson 2 of St Gervadius’s office, continued:] … pertained by a wondrous presage to the place of his abbacy. Meanwhile, when the king of the English was stirring up war against the Scots, a certain Englishman humbly besought the man of God Gervadius that through him God would deliver him, for he was about to go into battle — that he might be absolved from his sins. Whereupon the blessed Gervadius, moved by great piety, said to the aforementioned man, who was a Christian: “The Lord Jesus Christ forgive you your sins and make you a partaker of the heavenly kingdom.” And when… Lesson 3.

On the following day, in a heavy conflict, the English being subdued, they laid the Scots low in the land of Eterne; and the remaining survivors betook themselves to flight. But the Englishman of whom mention has been made above, fighting in the middle of his own men, was beheaded, and rendered up the salutary victor’s crown of his mind’s intent to God in peace. And thus it was done. Saint Gervadius, hearing of this, bade his disciples that they should bear away the body of the slain man. But they, refusing, said: “How can we know his corpse among the bodies of so many?” But the blessed Gervadius answered: “You shall receive a sign from God whereby you shall know his corpse.” Whereupon his ministers, looking where the multitude had been slain upon the corpses one by one, saw black birds sitting above them — but above that corpse, to which they had been sent to carry it away, a white bird sitting. Therefore, understanding that it was divinely indicated, they washed it, placing it upon a litter. But his head they did not find. Returning, they made it known to the blessed Gervadius that his head was wanting; but he, praying and asking of the Lord that he would reveal the head of the slain man, when he had prayed, saw a wolf bringing it to the place where the body was.

Lesson 4.

Now the blessed Gervadius, having oxen for the office of ploughing, a wolf slew one of them; the blessed Gervadius, learning of the deed that was done, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ bade the wolf sustain the work of the ox which he had slain, until the time of ploughing should be completed. And he, obedient to his command, remained harmless with the oxen through the whole time of ploughing. And when… Lesson 5.

Moreover, when the blessed Gervadius had not timber wherewith to build his church, he asked of a certain disciple of his timber for his church, who willingly granted it him. And when he had not wagons or horses wherewith to bring such timber to the place where his church was to be built, lo, by divine power that night there were mighty thunderings, and rain came down from heaven beyond the wonted manner, so much that the rains being raised aloft, the stream of the said disciple’s basilica shook the earth, and the channel of the same shore built, contrary to nature into another course, carried the said timber to the cell of the blessed Gervadius. And when… The rest all of the Common of one confessor.

In the feast of the Exaltation of our Saviour, at Vespers, antiphon:

“See how the Lord our God, Jesus Christ, who dwels on high, has looked upon the faithless people with so benign an eye of pity.” Psalm: Laudate pueri. Antiphon: “The might of the Lord is confirmed upon us, who abide inviolably in the truth by the virtue of his passion.” Psalm: Laudate Dominum omnes gentes. Antiphon: “When the blood of the Crucified flowed from his side, he healed wounds, loosed the chains of the condemned, and enlightened the blind.” Psalm: Lauda anima mea. “Now let there be praise and exultation to him who gathered the dispersions of Israel by this miracle and joined them to his own faithful.” Psalm: Laudate Dominum quoniam bonus. Antiphon: “Praise the Lord, Jerusalem, who saves the people; as it were crystal he sends to his church a spiritual material, as it were drops which, when the heat of the Spirit blows, flow into tears of water.” Psalm: Lauda Ierusalem. Hymn…

Prayer: “Be merciful, O Lord, to our… almighty God, and look upon us; and show us your mercy, and send your fear upon the nations that have not sought you, that they may know that there is no God but you, that they may declare your wonders.”

“The wicked sons, thinking on the injuries, the contumelies, the pains and the reproaches which the perverse parents…”