Here beginneth the Life of Saint Nicholas the Bishop. Nicholas
is said of Nichos, which is to say victory, and of laos, people,
so Nicholas is as much as to say as victory of people, that is,
victory of sins, which be foul people. Or else he is said,
victory of people, because he enseigned and taught much people
by his doctrine to overcome vices and sins. Or Nicholas is said
of Nichor, that is the resplendour or shining of the people, for
he had in him things that make shining and clearness. After this
Saint Ambrose saith: “The word of God, very confession, and holy
thought, make a man clean.” And the doctors of Greece write his
legend, and some others say that Methodius the patriarch wrote
it in Greek, and John the deacon translated it into Latin and
adjousted thereto many things. Nicholas, citizen of the city of
Patras, was born of rich and holy kin, and his father was
Epiphanes and his mother Johane. He was begotten in the first
flower of their age, and from that time forthon they lived in
continence and l