is god / and the saynt that ye doo requyre prayeth vnto god for you / and god heleth you in exaltynge the request and intercessyon of the sayd saynt In lykewyse all the good puyssauÌ„ce that all the sayntes of paradyse haue god it vnto theym hathe gyuen And therfore we sholde praye god in orayson in reknowlegynge our fragylyte that of our selfe we may nothynge doo / and that all procedeth of hym Fourthely god wyll that we hym requyre in orayson for too doo hym honoure For orayson is a sacryfyce the whiche is moche agreable vnto god Also the encense the whiche is put within the fyre casteth a good odour and a smoke the whiche mounteth on heyght vnto god In lyke maner orayson enbrased vpon the coles of deuocyon casteth a smoke and a swete odoure the whiche mounteth vp before god / the whiche vnto hym is moche agreable And therfore sayeth the psalmyst Dirigatur domine oratio mea sicut incensum in conspectu tuo We rede thobie duodecimo That Thobye was moche deuout the whiche occupyed hym selfe to do the werkes of mercy And on a tyme the aungell of god appered vnto hym vnto whome he sayd Whan thou prayest god in orayson with teeres / and whan thou buryest the deed bodyes I present thyn orayson before god Also we rede Actuum decimo / how Cornelius was on a tyme about the houre of noone in orayson the whiche made his request vnto god And incontynent an aungell of god in lykenes of a fayre yonge man clothed in whyte appered vnto hyÌ„ vnto whome he sayd Thyn orayson is exalted / and thyn almesdedes ben remembred before god We ought for to serue god in orayson for to doo hym honoure and sacryfyce the whiche vnto hyÌ„ is agreabled / and vnto vs vtyle and prouffytable Also as a noble man sholde do honour vnto the kynge on his knees the whiche is called homage / in reknowlegynge that he holdeth his sygnourye of hym / and that he is seruaunt obeyssaunte vnto hym In lykewyse we ought to do to god in orayson Or in lykewyse as the seruaunt is bounde for to serue his mayster / in semblable maner ben we bounde vnto god the whiche is our mayster Or in lykewyse as euery maÌ„ sholde bere and pay his rente and his trybute vnto the lorde of whome he holdeth In lyke maner sholde we doo honour vnto god of our bodyes and of our goodes vnto our power C. ¶ A questyon / how sholde a man make orayson vnto god for to haue that the whiche is necessary Answer Hym behoueth to say his pater noster / for he requireth of god that all euylles and synnes ben put awaye and that he haue vnto body and vnto soule al goodes temporalles and spyrytualles the whiche ben necessaryes and vtyles / Our lorde made the pater noster and sayd vnto his dyscyples that they sholde saye it whan they wolde pray vnto almighty god In lykewyse as it is wryten in the gospelles Mathey sexto / et Luce vndecimo ¶ Here after foloweth the orayson domynycall or pater noster the whiche our lorde taught to his dyscyples / and the requestes and fruytfull petycyons conteyned in the same Our fader that art in heueÌ„ sanctified be thy name thy kingdom come to vs / thy wyl be done in erth as in heuen / our dayly brede gyue vs to day forgyue vs our dette as we forgyue our detts lede vs not in to teÌ„ptacoÌ„n but delyuer vs froÌ„ euyl ameÌ„ PAter noster qui es in celis ¶ Our fader celestyall almyghty Lorde / god / and creatour Syttynge in heuen potencyally Exalte me thy seruytour Sanctificetur nomen tuum ¶ Thy name be euer sanctyfyed In our fayth catholyke Aboue all praysed and gloryfyed Without errour dyabolyke Adueniat regnum tuum ¶ More ouer lorde we the requyre That we may come and haue saluacyon Vnto thy kyngdome and empyre In the ende and conclusyon Fiat voluÌ„tas tua sicut in celo iÌ„ terra ¶ Thy wyll be also done Of vs in erthe truely As is of thy sayntes echone In heuen ryght Ioyously PaneÌ„ nrÌ„m cotidianuÌ„da nobis hodie ¶ Gyue vs lorde our dayly fode Of soule and of body eke Amende vs all and make vs gode In spyryte also to be meke Et dimitte nobis debita nrÌ„a sicut etc. ¶ Pardon vs lorde our synÌ„es trespaÌ„ces As we forgyue our offences and dettes Louse vs also out of the deuylles laces And kepe vs from fallynge in his nettes Et ne nos inducas in temptationeÌ„ And suffre vs lorde not to be ledde In euyll thoughtes and temptacyon Wakynge / ne slepynge lyenge in bedde By the deuylles persuacyon Sed libera nos a malo ¶ Delyuer vs from all yll Of body and soule also Gyue vs grace yf it be thy wyll To ouercome our mortall fo Amen ¶ Amen / amen for charyte Graunt vs lorde our petycyon Thy blyssed face for to se And of thy goodheed the fruycyon ¶ Explicit ¶ The requestes that a man maketh vnto god in saynge the pater noster THe petycyon of Sanctificetur nomen tuum taketh away pryde and putteth in vs the vertue of humylyte / and requyreth the gyft of drede / and the beatytude of the gospell Beati pauperes spuÌ„ And the rewarde foloweth Quoniam ipÌ„o rum est regnum celorum The petycyon of Adueniat regnum tuuÌ„ taketh away enuy / and putteth in vs the vertue of charyte / it requyreth the gyft of pyte / and the beatytude of the gospell Beati mites And the rewarde foloweth Quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram The petycyon of Fiat voluntas tua sicut in celo in terra taketh away yre and putteth in vs the vertue of pacyence / and requyreth the gyfte of scyence / and the beatytude of the gospell Beati pacifici And the rewarde foloweth Quoniam filij dei vocabuntur The petycyon of Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie taketh away slouthe / and putteth in vs the vertue of dylygence / requyreth the gyft of strength and the beatytude of the gospel Beati qui esuriunt et sitiunt iusticiaÌ„ And the rewarde foloweth Quoniam ipsi saturabuntur The petycyon of Et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimê° debitoribus nostris taketh away auaryce / and putteth in vs the vertue of largesse / requireth the gyft of counceyle / and the beatytude of the gospell Beati misericordes And the rewarde foloweth Quoniam ipsi misericordiam consequentur The petycyon of Et ne nos inducas in temptationeÌ„ taketh awaye glotony / and putteth in vs the vertue of abstynence / and requyreth the gyft of entendement / and the beatytude of the gospell Beati mundo corde And the rewarde foloweth Quoniam ipsi deum videbunt The petycyon of sed libera nos a malo taketh away lechery / and putteth in vs the vertue of chastyte / and requyreth the gyft of sapyence / and the
cuÌ„ quis fit capax pÌ„cepti dei tenetur ad eiê° noticiaÌ„ et obseruantiam Et dauid dicit in psal Tu mandasti maÌ„data tua custodiri nimis Thou haste coÌ„maunde moche to kepe thy coÌ„maundementes Whan that ony temporell kynge maketh to bane proclayme / or shewe ony coÌ„maundement thorowoute his realme his subgectes moue them to obeye vnto hyÌ„ of drede to renne in paynes and doÌ„mages that they may haue for theyr inobedyeÌ„ce Also many thynges sholde moue vs to kepe the coÌ„maundements that the kynge of heuen and of erthe hath made to proclayme / and to crye ouer all the worlde ¶ The fyrste thynge the whiche sholde moue vs to kepe the coÌ„maundementes of god is for the grete goodnes in fynyte that is in hym / that is to saye that there is soo moche of goodnes in god that it is innumerable For a man ne can fynde the ende soo moche there is of goodnes in hym Of this matere is somwhat spoken in the ende of this treatyse / and howe the sayntes of heuen beholde aboue them the fayre myrrour the whiche is god quere xlvii a. Example .xlvii. b. c ¶ The seconde thynge esmouynge to kepe the coÌ„maundementes of god is for to obeye to his wyll / he is our fader celestyall the whiche hathe create our soules as it is sayd before Also it is he that whiche nouryssheth vs with his godes that he maketh to growe / and it is he the whiche hathe agayne vs bought vs by his precyous blode / and the whiche wyll that we possede his herytage in paradyse as his dere chyldren It is good reason that the chyldren obeye vnto the fader / and by that that we ben the chyldren of god we sholde obeye vnto his coÌ„maundementes The thyrde thynge the whiche moueth vs to kepe the coÌ„maundementes of god is to the ende to be in his loue and in his grace / for he loueth those the whiche kepe them in lyke wyse as it is wryten iohannes .xv. Si precepta mea seruaueritis manebit is iÌ„ dilectione mea Yf ye haue kepte my coÌ„mauÌ„dementes ye shall dwelle in my loue dyleccion IteruÌ„ in codeÌ„ capitulo Vos amici mei estis si feceritis que precipio vobis / Ye be my frendes yf ye doo that thynge the I commauÌ„de you Example by that / that abraham was obedient vnto god / he was so parfytely in his loue that he had his benediccion Quere .lxi. a. Another example by that that saynt Mor was obedyent he dyde many myracles amonge the whiche he ranne one tyme vpon the water wtoute synkynge or ylle hauynge Que. lii c. Another example by the obedyence of a relygyous / god loued so moche that a drye belet blocke that he arroused with water bare floure and fruyte Quere in the exemplayre .lii. e. God sayd in the gospell / yf ye loue me kepe my coÌ„maundementes He the whiche loueth me not / kepeth not my coÌ„maundementes vnde iohannis .xiiii. Si diligitis me mandato mea seruate Sequitur Qui non diligit me sermones meos non seruat Ony lorde or kynge ne maye loue his seruauÌ„t whan he dysobeyeth vnto his coÌ„mauÌ„dementes / no more doth god / how maye he loue ydolatres blasphematoures chyldren vnnaturall / inobedientes / murdrers / theuys / payllars / and false witnesses / whan they dysobeye vnto his wyll breke his coÌ„maundementes he ne may loue them Beholde what hate and inconuenient that there came vnto adam for a bit of an apple that he dyde agayne the commaundemente of god Quere .liiii. a. Also beholde how chore / dathan / and abyron / were punysshed for the inobedyence and murmure that they made agayne god Moyses Quere .liiii. God ne may loue hyÌ„ the whiche dysobeyeth vnto his coÌ„maundementes But he loueth hym the whiche obeyeth vnto hym We rede how god demaunded of saynt peter yf he loued hym / Petre amas me He answered thou knowest that I loue the. Tu sis quia amo te And by that that saynt peter loued god / obeyed vnto hym / our lorde Ihesu cryste sayd vnto hym in this maner of wyse pasce agnos meos pasce oues mea I shall gyue the keyes of the reame of heuen vnto the / and that that thou byndest in erthe shall be bounde in heuen c. For that that he was obedyente vnto oure lorde Ihesu cryste / god gaue vnto hym the gouernement of the chirche and the keyes of paradyse Also we sholde kepe the commaundementes of god to the ende that it wolde please hym to abyde with vs / for to kepe vs and saue vs. Vnde iohannis .xiiii. Si quis diligit me sermonem meum seruabit et pater meus diliget cum et ad cum veniemus et mansionem apud cum faciemus That is to saye / who so loueth me kepeth my wordes and my fader shall loue hym sayeth Ihesus / and vnto hym we shall come and we shal make with hym our dwellynge / and it is wryten iohaÌ„nis .xv. Manete in me et ego in vobis Dwel ye in me and I shall dwelle in you Et legitur ioh iiii Deus caritas est et qui manet in carytate in deo manet et deus in eo God is charyte and loue / and who so dwelleth in charyte / he dwelleth in god and god in hyÌ„ We rede that our lorde sayd vnto the appostles that they sholde goo to preche and to conuerte the infydeles And that they ne sholde thinke what they sholde answer vnto the tyrauntes / and that it sholde be gyuen vnto them that that they shold answer of the holy ghost the whiche abodem them as sayeth the gospell Dabitur eniÌ„ vobis in tiÌ„la hora quid loquamini Non enim vos estis quiloquimini sed spiritê° patris vestri qui loquitur in vobis So it appered that god abode in theym And who so dothe agayne the wyll of god he ne abydeth in hym c. ¶ The fourth thynge that sholde moue vs to kepe the commaundementes of god / is to th ende that the good dedes that we done be vnto hym agreable / and vnto vs vtyle and prouffytable / For yf we dysobeye vnto hym our operacyons pleaseth hym nothynge Thre thynges ben requysyte before that we may do thynge the whiche is vnto god agreable / ¶ The fyrst is the good dedes that we do be done genere bonorum That is that it procede of a good kynde or stocke as to gyue almesdedes of his owne laboure withoute doynge it of thefte or pyllery ¶ The seconde is quod sit ad laudem dei non ad vanam gloriam That is that it be done vnto the preyse of god / not vnto vayne glorye The thyrde thynge is that a man be in the estate of grace For the good dedes that a man dothe in synne is not merytoryous vnto the eternyte vnto the persone the whiche dothe it Also it is not aggreable vnto god how be it that a
cruell vengeaunce how god the creatour had Iuged punysshed the archebysshop Vdo And recounted by ordre all the dede in lykewyse as it is before wryten / how it was done And the same day one of the chapelayns of the sayd archebisshop named Brunet whaÌ„ he had made parfayte and accomplysshed his lygacyon coÌ„mysed by the prouynce sent his seruauntes before / he was oppressed greuously to slepe He auysed a tree wel shadowed derke descended from his hors teyed faste the rayne of his brydle vnto his arme slept Whan he was in rest he sawe in vysyon a gaderyÌ„ge of horrible blacke spyrites with busynes / trompets / tympanes / speres / glayues / axes / the whiche hasted theÌ„ to come vnto the place Whan they were altogyder there was one of theÌ„ prynce most horryble of stature And they made a chayre set hym in it And wtout longe tarienge an other multytude of spyrites as grete as the other appered cryenge / mockynge / and dauncynge / wherof one came hastely cryenge Gyue place / gyue place here is our pryÌ„ce Vdo that approcheth After this saynge the satalytes of Sathan ledde vnto theyr pryÌ„ce the soule of the cursed Vdo in semblaunce corporall hauynge a chayne of fyre strayte about his necke / agaynst whome Sathan arose salued hym by wordes peasybles in yll and treason Thou arte ryght welcome O prynce aydour delatatour of our realme / here we ben redy to yelde vnto the the rewarde equyualent for thy deseruynges / also vnto all our faythfull frendes And as Vdo helde his peas Sathan sayd to the presentes Our frende is ryght wery in his cominge hyder / therfore it pleaseth vnto vs that he be chered / gyue vnto than to ete / he refused it tourned his heed And his mynysters constrayned hym vyolently to ete of todes serpentes / after they made hym to drynke of the lycoure of sulphre / yet he spake not And Sathan commaunded him saynge Suche a prince be ledde to be bayned incontynent brought agayne And there was a welle not ferre of that had a coueringe on the mouthe Whan it was vncouered flambe deuourynge lept vp vnto the heuen The whiche wasted noc all onely the trees mountaynes stones / but the water beynge nere vnto it dryed coÌ„sumed The deuyls kest the soule of the sayd Vdo wtin the layd welle / afterwarde drewe hym out the whiche was all on fyre as yron enbrased reed / bare hym vnto theyr prynce / the whiche laughed sayd Hast thou not had a softe bayne as a prynce Than Vdo sawe hiÌ„selfe daÌ„pned And begaÌ„ to blaspheme say Sathan cursed be thou / thy felawes / thy subgectioÌ„ thy reame Cursed be god that hath created me Cursed be the erthe the whiche bare me Cursed be my parents that begate me and cursed be all creatures in heuen and in erthe Than all the deuylles with theyr pryÌ„ce clapped theyr handes sayd Truly this man here is worthy too dwell with vs / for he can wel our cantycle our offyce Than be he put to our pryncypall scole of the dampned to th ende that he se / here / lerne / fele / frothensforthe neuer to yssue Scantly had he ended his wordes that the deuylles toke that cursed soule kest it and plonged in to hell with so grete shoutes and noyse as yf the heuen and the erthe all the mountaynes of the worlde were moeued to smyte togyder Whan the chapelayne beforesayd had seen herde the sayd thynges he dredde hugely Than the prynce of derkenes shewed hym with the fynger sayd Take hede that the clerke the whiche beholdeth vs fle not the whiche hath ben euermore defensour / messager currour of his euylles Than in lykewyse as he hath ben encreaser of his synne so lete hym be partener of the vengeaunce / therfore be he plonged in the welle with his lorde Whan he had spoken that as the deuylles wolde rauysshe hym he enforced hym to fle and awok sodaynly / his hors was so aferde that he lepte hyder and thyder ranne drawynge the meschaunt man tyl that he was vnbounde of the rayne that was about his arme And with grete dyffyculte he lepte vpon his hors came to the cyte metropolytayne And whan he knewe that his lorde was deed he approued the vysyon to be true / recouÌ„ted al the thynges the whiche vnto hym were comen in the way / all that / that he hadde seen herde So they knewe the thynge to be veritable Whan the cytezyns had seen herde this terryble thynge they drewe the carayne of the body ferre fro the cite in a place full of fylthe And for the in the sayd place bestes infernalles were by wyse counceyle the cursed body was brent the asshes casten in to a water A thyÌ„ge meruaylous men tel that al the fysshes left the place yode in to the see and were there tyl god was apeased by fastynges letanyes Ten yeres after scantely came they agayne The demonstrâ—uÌ„ce of the sayd horryble thynge appereth on the whyte pauement where the sayd Vdo was beheded For the cruour of the effusyon of the blode enharded so strongly in the stones of the pauement that it semeth that the sayd blode be of thessence of the stones the whiche ben there yet And ouer that place where the decollacyon ben alway tapytes spred And whaÌ„ they synge Te deuÌ„ laudamê° vpon a bysshop chosen he is borne vnto the sayd place there they prosterne them in orayson to the ende that the bysshop that is chosen beholde the sayd thynge / also to kepe hyÌ„ that he perysshe not as dyde the other ¶ This thynge was done of our lorde to the terrour of bisshops yll prelates to th ende that they tremble to here the terryble Iugement the cruell vengeaunce of god ¶ This example denoteth many thynges Fyrst that the sayd Vdo vsed yll the scyence the counceyle that he had of the vyrgyn Mary Also those the whiche vse yll the scyence that they haue of god beÌ„ to punyshe and synne gretely VnÌ„ iacob iiii Scienti bonuÌ„ facere non facienti pctmÌ„ eÌ„ illi Also he vsed yll of the prelature of the goodes of the chyrche that god had gyuen vnto hym He sholde be the lyght of vertues of bounte / he was the sklaunder of the people / and the example of derkenesses and of synne Also he vsed his lyfe in lecheryes and was corrupter of vyrgynyte chastyte / therfore he was worthy of punycyon Also he wolde not correke hym and yet he was warned from god And for that he was so obstynate harded in synne replete of carnall pleasaunces that he wolde not correcke hyÌ„ of good ryght he was iuged punisshed in body in soule as it is sayd This here is the example of all
so deformed and replenysshed with woundes and sores of the sekenes elephantyne as he myght be / he wolde go in to his hospytall / but he ne myght soo moche do / he was so wery / and intended to go the way of the sayd Martyr monke And the man of god hadde pyte and compassyon of the sayd wery mesyll and thought to helpe and socoure hym in his nede / he toke his owne mantell and spredde it on the erthe and wrapped the sayd lepre in it and lyfte hym vpon his sholders and bare hym and whan he approched nygh to the gates of the sayd monastery the fader spyrytuall of the sayd monastery began to crye with an hygh voyce vnto his seruauÌ„tes Renne ye renne ye and open the gates of the chyrche for broder Martyr is comen the which bereth god on his sholdres And whan he aryued at the gate he the whiche he hadde thought to be a lepre lepte frome his backe in the fourme of our sauyour and redemptour Ihesu cryst the whiche was god and man mounted in to heuen before the sayd frere Martyr in saynge Martyr thou hast hadde no shame of me vpon the erthe / and I shall haue no shame in heuen of the. And whan the holy man was entred in to the chirche the fader of the monastery hym demauÌ„ded sayenge Broder Martyr where is he that thou barest ryght now He answered Yf I had knowen hym I sholde haue holden hym by the fete Than Martyr tolde the case / and sayd that as he bare hym he felte no weyght c. F. ¶ Another example how saynt Elyzabeth serued a mesyll foure dayes ¶ Men fynde in wrytynge that in an hospytall the whiche saynt Elyzabeth hadde do to be made there came a mesyll or lepre so foule / horryble and lothely to beholde that the chamberers and seruauntes of the sayd hospytall had horrour and ne wolde mynyster serue hym of suche necessytes as were requysyte And whan saynt Elyzabeth sawe that he was in suche wyse dyspised of other she came vnto hym for to mynyster his necessytees in all humylyte and dylygence She wasshed his heed / bathed him / and bare hym vpon her sholdres / and made hym to rest in her lappe / and she dyde hym this seruyce foure dayes and than the sayd seke man departed The fyfth day as saynt Elyzabeth was makinge her deuout oraysons our sauyour Ihesu cryst appered vnto her and sayd I am Ihesu cryst the sone of the vyrgyn Mary / vnto whome thou hast mynystred at suche dayes And for as moche as thou haste purueyed me in fourme of a lepre thou shall haue with me eternall lyfe and Ioye c. G. ¶ Another example of a seke body the whiche was vysyted of an aungell It is wryten in the lyfe of the faders that an ancyent man solytary was seke by the space of thyrty dayes the whiche hadde neuer a persone that hym vysyted / nor the whiche vnto hym dyde ony seruyce in his sekenesse the whiche he bare paciently And after the sayd .xxx. dayes god vnto hym sent an aungell the whiche vnto hym admynystred by seuen dayes his necessytees / for no persone hym vysyted And after that some freres remembred theym of the sayd man the whâ—â— sayd togyders Suche one our broder cometh no more forthe lete vs god vysyte hyÌ„ lest peraduenture he be seke / and they arose incontynent and wente towarde hym And whan they came to knocke at the dore the aungell of god departed from hym / and the sayd seke man began to crye with an hye voyce in the sayd hous Go hens bredren / goo hens / and in wepynge they yode and toke the dore of the hokes and entred vnto him / and than they demaunded hym wherfore he hadde in suche wyse cryed / he vnto them answered For I haue laboured by .xxx. dayes in sekenesse and noo maner of persone hath vysyted me / and here these seuen dayes god hath sent an aungell the whiche hath minystred vnto me my necessytees / and whan ye were comen vnto the dore he departed fro me And whan he hadde sayd these wordes he deyed / and all they praysed our lorde god c. ¶ Another example how many freres gaue a clustre of grapes vnto the moost weykest Quere in the examplarye .lxxv. A. ¶ Another example of a curate the whiche vysyted a ryche man at his dethe / and wolde not vesyte a poore woman wydowe the whiche deyed .cv. A. ¶ Another example of a curate the whiche taryed to longe or wente to mynyster the sacramentes to his parysshen the whiche deyed Quere before .viii. C. ¶ Another example how two men became lepres for that / that they hadde horroure and dyspysed lepres Quere in the examplarye lxxxiiij E. H. ¶ To bury the deed ¶ The deed bodyes that lye aboue the grounde Hauyng not wherof in erthe to be brought To bury them all crysten men ben bounde Specyally those that of theÌ„selfe haue nought IN scriptures we rede that the good man Thobye left his dyner and ranne for to haue the bodyes of them that hadde ben slayne and by nyght entered buryed them agaynst the wyll of the kynge / for he fered and loued more god than the kynge c. Also we rede Eccclesiastice .xliii. Corpora saÌ„ctorum in pace sepulta sunt / et viuent noiÌ„a eorum in eternum That is to say The bodyes of those that ben holy ben buryed in peas / and the names of them lyueth in perdurabylyte I. ¶ To counceyle and to conforte ¶ Confort them that ben confortlesse And counceyle them that no counceyle haue Of suche good dedes thou do not cesse Yf thou thynke thy soule to saue A Grete werke of mercy it is as too gyue good counceyle vnto those the whiche haue synned folyed / or gone out of the way or the whiche haue many doubtes and dyffycultees The wyse man sayeth that helthe shall be in the thynge where as ben many counceyles Vnde prouerbiorum .xi. .xxiiii. Salus erit vbi sunt multa consilia A man sholde take the counceyle of god and of the good men and not of the euyl Vnde thobie quarto Consilium semper a sapientie perquire The euyll people ne counceyleth but euyll and synne / therfore take not theyr counceyle Vnde ecclesiastice .xxxvii. A consiliario malo serua animam tuam ¶ Example / euyll came vnto Theophyle to take the counceyle of a sorcyer / for he made hym to renounce vnto god and vnto the vyrgyn Mary Quere .lviii. b Also euyll came vnto Amon the whiche defloured and had to do flesshely with his syster Thamar by the counceyle of Ionadab for he was slayne after Quere in thexamplary lxxxxi C. ¶ Another example how euyll came vnto the kynge Ochozyas for sendynge too seke counceyle at the deuyll / for he deyed myscheuously / and his messengers were brente with the fyre celestyall Quere in thexamplary ad numerum
they lese the Ioyes of paradyse as sayeth the scriptures VnÌ„ pau i. co vi Nolita errare qia neque fornicarii neque ydolis seruieÌ„tes neque adulteri neque moles neque masculoruÌ„ ê¯cubitores c. regnuÌ„ dei possidebuÌ„t Erre ye not for the fornycatours / ne the seruauÌ„tes vnto ydoles / ne these aduoultres / ne those the whiche coÌ„mitteth the synne of sodomye with masles c. ne shall possede the realme of god And he sayeth .v. ca. ad gal That the operacyons of the flesshe ben manyfest the whiche ben fornycacyon / vnclennes / vnchastyte / lecherye / it foloweth / those that do so shall not haue paradyse and he sayeth ad ephe v. Scitote iÌ„telligentes qmÌ„ oiÌ„s fornicator aut iÌ„mundê° aut auarê° quodeÌ„ ydolorum seruitê° noÌ„ habet hereditateÌ„ in regno christi That is to say vnderstonde you that euery fornycatoure / or vnclene / or auarycyous the whiche is seruytude of ydoles hathe not of herytage in the realme of Ihesu cryste Also these fornycatoures leseth god and the company of auÌ„gelles / and all the sayntes of heuen / and of all the thynges celestyall / spyrytuall / they lese theyr good renoÌ„me theyr vertues good operacyons / yf they deye impenytentes they lese the ioye / the he le the helthe of the soule Also by lecherye they feble theyr bodyes / engendre sekenes / corrupte the theyr blode / shorteth theyr lyfe / they lesse theyr rychesses theyr temporell godes they chase awaye sapyence / scyence / the gyftes of the holy ghost / they assocyate with deuylles with all maledyccyon / with the dampned of perdicyon / they put theyr soules in grete myserye dystresse / they bynde theyr soules to dethe of dampnacyon eternell / to be in the fyre in the paynes of helle without ony remyssyon / yf they in suche wyse deye without contrycyon confessyon satysfaccyon VnÌ„ ysodorus Ad penas tartari hominem libido perducit Lecherye brynge a man vnto the paynes of helle ¶ Example It is wryten in the seconde boke of kynges that Abner knew the concubynes of his fader Hysboreth within a lytell tyme after bothe twayne were slayne ¶ Also the prodygal man of whome it is wryten luce .xv. Who soo dyspendeth and vseth his substaunce in lyuinge lecherously yeueth example that lecherye dymynyssheth the rychesse and the godes of the meschaunt fornycatoure / for it is gyuen vnto harlottes and nouryture / And he lyueth delycyously whyle he hathe wherof Also the fornycatour maketh gyftes vnto promoters / offycyalles / deanes / payeth a grete amendes loseth to gayne for the occasyons of his lechery c. A. ¶ Of aduoutrye that god defendeth Capitulo xxxvi NOn adulterabis Thou shalt not coÌ„myt of rybauldyse Aduoutrye is coÌ„mytted whan the one of the partyes / or bothe twayne ben in the lyne of maryage / they coÌ„mytte lecherye with another than with theyr partye / and it is said aduoutre quasi ad alteriê° thoruÌ„ teÌ„dere vnÌ„ marci x. math xix QuicuÌ„que dimiserit vxoreÌ„ suaÌ„ aliaÌ„ duxerit adulteriuÌ„ coÌ„mittit suê‘ eaÌ„ Et si vxor dimiserit viruÌ„ suuÌ„ alii nupserit mechatur It is to knowe that men fynde by wrytynge that seuen mortall synnes maye folowe in brekynge his maryage ¶ The fyrst synne is fraccyon of the commaundement of god in two places / That is coueyte not the wyfe of thy neighboure exodi xx Non concupisces vxorem proximi tui And do thou not the synne in operacyon mathei v. Non machaberis ¶ The seconde synne is pariurye / for those that breketh theyr maryage transgresseth the fayth that they haue receyued in baptysme promysed vnto theyr party solemply in the face of the chirche before theyr preest frendes / the whiche is a grete synne as to breke the crysten fayth For it is wryten ad hebreos .xi. Quod sine fide iÌ„possibile eÌ„ placere deo It is impossyble to please god wtout faith the faith of a person is nothyÌ„ge worthe wtout doynge the operacyons as it is wryten iacobi .ii. Sicut eniÌ„ corpê° sine spuÌ„ mortuuÌ„ eÌ„ ita fides sine operibê° mor tua est iÌ„ semetipsa In lyke wyse as the body is deed whan it hathe no spyrite In lyke wyse the fayth is deed without operacyons Those that breketh the fayth gyuen in maryage ne byleue wele in god / by fayth operant wherfore they shall be condampned in to helle yf they deye impenytentes ¶ The thyrde is lyenge infydelyte / for those that breketh theyr maryage shewe them to be lyers infydeles to breke the loyalte of the body and of the goodes that they haue promysed to kepe the one with the other the whiche is a greate synne moche to be blamed For it is writen .iiii. ethicoruÌ„ ê™oeÌ„ meÌ„datiuÌ„ prauuÌ„ eÌ„et fugieÌ„duÌ„ sequitur Verax eÌ„ laudandê° / meÌ„dax vero vituperandê° Euery lye or lesynge is yll to be fledde / it foloweth that the true man is to be praysed the lyer to be shamed Et legitur ê“ .xxviii. Vir fidelis multuÌ„ laudabitur The man that kepeth loyalte on his party shall be moche lauded and praysed before god the worlde / shall haue retrybucyon in lyke wyse as it is wryten math .xxvi. Euge serue bone et fidelis qia suê‘ pauca â—uisti fidelis supra multa te ê¯stituaÌ„ itra iÌ„ gaudium diÌ„u tui O good faythfull seruaunt enioye the for thou haste ben faythfull of a lytell thinge I shall ordeyne the aboue a grete thinge / entre in to the ioye of thy lorde And vnto the contrary the persone a lyer infydele shall be dyffamed before god the worlde as we rede de villece luce .xvi. Qui diâ— famatus est apud dnÌ„m suuÌ„ quasi dissipasset bona ipsius And there foloweth damnacyon vnto those whiche deye impenitentes ¶ The .iiii. synne is thefte the whiche is whan ony man dothe vnto his neyghboure theuysshely / fraude / nuysaunce / treson / decepcyon secretely hydyngely agayne his wyll and it is done in suche wyse also whan ony is gyltye on his partye hydyngly and taketh possessyon saysyne of the body and of the flesshe the whiche vnto hym is vnyed by the sacrament of maryage / the whiche vnto hym is gyuen graunted of god and of the chirche / wherof it is wryten genÌ„ ii math xix Proptur hoc relinquet homo patreÌ„ et matre adherebit vxori sue erunt duo in carne vna That is to vnderstonde a man shall leue fader and moder for maryage / to drawe hym to his wyfe / and they shall be two in one flesshe / also they be not two / but one flesshe The thyng that god hathe comoincte man shall not departe it Vnde marci x. Itaque iaÌ„ non sunt duo sed vna caro
wtout goynge by in ony wyse thou arte here lyuynge as a pylgrym that teÌ„deth to go to heueÌ„ or in to hell / for thy lyfe is but a pylgrymage of lytel durynge And therfore yf thou wylt go to se god / the vyrgyn Mary / the aungelles holy places of paradyse / to haue herytage in that contree there not in helle / employe thy fyue wyttes of nature vpon the commaundementes of god / take the condycyons of the good pylgryme It is wryten eccl xxix Pone the saurum tuuÌ„ iÌ„pÌ„ceptis altissimi / et ê“derit tibi magis quam auruÌ„ Put thy treasour in the commaundementes of god / it shall prouffyte the more than golde Also folowe the lyfe of god / his maners condycyons He appered vnto two of his dyscyples in semblaunce of a pylgrime VnÌ„ luce xxiiij T'u solus ê‘egrinê° es in inthrlm et non cognouisti ea qÌ„ facta suÌ„t in ea his diebus c. He descended from paradyse for to accomplysshe the pylgrymage of the worlde / he was borne of the vyrgyn Mary lyued in the state of grace without ony synne xxxii yeres and an halfe / at his dethe his pylgrymage was accomplisshed / and after retorned in to paradyse his contree He shewed vnto vs by example by worde how we sholde lyue in this worlde Cepit dnÌ„s facere et docere to th ende that we be pylgrymes of paradyse / that we goo to dwell with hym in his glory A good pylgryme sholde haue many condycions for to make his pylgrymage of the whiche we shall tell viii B. ¶ Fyrst a good pylgryme sholde coÌ„fesse hym put hym in thestate of grace soo to do his sayd pylgrymage Also in doynge the pylgrymage of this worlde we sholde confesse vs oft tymes / we sholde lyue in thestate of grace to th ende that the good dedes that we do be vnto god agreable to vs proufytable For mortall synÌ„e is an infeccyon sekenes vnto the soule so yll that it letteth all spyrytual good dedes that it vnto hyÌ„ ne may profyte as a maÌ„ seeth by symilytude how bodily sekenes letteth to labour / to walke c. that meet drynke in noo wyse can profyte vnto the body / so that a man seke corporally spyritually ne may do his pylgrymage tyll he haue helthe / that is to be well confest that he haue charite wtout the whiche no good dede ne may prouffyte / as is declared in the chapytre of charyte que iiii c. in the fourth thynge that moeueth to kepe the commaundementes of god que xliiii a. VnÌ„ aug in libro de natura grÌ„a NulluÌ„ opê° quaÌ„tuÌ„cuÌ„que de se bonuÌ„ suÌ„mo opifici est acceptuÌ„ / nisi agatur iÌ„ grÌ„a No werke how good so euer it be of it selfe it is not agreable vnto the souerayne werker yf it be not done in grace And sayÌ„t Thomas sayth Nullus hoÌ„ poÌ„t mereri nisi mediaÌ„te grÌ„a No man may deserue to haue rewarde eternall but by the meryte of grace And howbeit that good werkes done in sinne ben not merytoryous vnto eternyte yet a man sholde not lette to do them as it is declared here before Of this mater example of a pylgryme that lyued in this worlde in the state of grace after the coÌ„maundementes of god / and he was conforted of aungelles of paradyse the whiche bare his soule in to heuen And of an ypocrite that pleased to the worlde dyde synnes secretely / the deuyll drewe his soule from hâ—s body with an hoke bare it in to hell For he was pylgrym Quere in thexam C. iiii C. ¶ Another example of a wydowe that was coÌ„forted vysyted at her dethe of the vyrgyn Mary And of a ryche man that was vesyted of deuylles in lykenes of blacke cattes c. Quere C. v. A. C. ¶ Secondly the good pilgryme sholde take clothynges the whiche ne may greue hyÌ„ in his vyage And sholde take away frome hym al weyght or heuynes of burden / al thynge that myght lette hym to walke well Also in doynge the pylgrymage of this worlde a man sholde not take vestyments / gyrdylles shoes c. full of pompes / fro whens doth procede pryde and elacion the whiche letteth to goo in to the realme of paradyse as sayth saynt Poule in his epy ad thi NoÌ„ iÌ„ tortis crinibê° aut auro / margaritis / vl vesta preciosa Et psal NoÌ„hiÌ„tabit iÌ„ medio domê° mee qui facit suê‘biuÌ„ He that commytteth pryde shall not enhabyte in the myddle of my hous ¶ Example how a woman pompeously arayed clothed was enuyroned and set about with deuylles / she bare many vpon her tayle Quere lxv D. ¶ Another example how the cursed dyues clothed in purple was the pylgryme of hell / there is buryed Quere in thexaÌ„plary lxxxiiii A. ¶ Another example how saynt Iohan baptyst that was clothed with sharpe vestements is in paradyse for he was a pylgryme c. And a man sholde vnderstande that the noblesse of habyllementes is not defended vnto euery man after his estate But the suê‘fluyte pryde is defended the whiche may be taken in those habyllemeÌ„ts Also theues the whiche ben charged of the godes of theyr neyghbours ne may well walke ne mouÌ„te into paradyse VnÌ„ pau i. ad coriÌ„ vi Neque fures / neque auari regnum dei possidebunt ¶ Example in Achar the whiche was a thefe therfore he was stoned all his goodes brent by the coÌ„maundement of god Quere lxxx a. ¶ Another example how the thefe zacheus was a pylgryme of paradyse and is saued / for he dyscharged hym restored the theftes that he had done Vnd luce xix zacheê° dixit ad iesuÌ„ / ecce dimidiuÌ„ bonorum meorum dnÌ„e do pauperibê° / si quid aliquem defraudaui reddo quadrupluÌ„ c. Also glotons / dronkerdes / the whiche eateth drinketh vnto excesse walketh not into paradyse / but falleth in to hell Saynt Poule sayeth i. ad coriÌ„ vi Ebriosi regnuÌ„ dei noÌ„ possidebuÌ„t ¶ Example of a pilgrym that solde his gowne for to drynke wyne Quere xciâ—i G ¶ Another example how a frere was a pylgryme of hell for that he wont hym to drynke ete whan the other occupyed they mat the seruyce of the chyrche / at his dethe he sawe hell open / the tourmentes c. Quere lxvii C. A man that is to moche fed may not wel walke / nor he mounteth not in to paradyse Also these mortall synnes ben burdeÌ„s moche heuy the whiche greueth the soule kepeth it from mountynge in to paradyse Men knoweth by experyence how a heuy burden greueth the body / in lykewyse dooth synne the soule VnÌ„ da. Iniquitates me suê‘gressuÌ„t caput meuÌ„ sicut ouê° graue grauate sunt suê‘ me Put awaye the synnes the whiche ben in the for
demaunded them yf they knewe those persones there They answered that ye And that they ben suche suche Than the holy man sente them vnto the houses of theyr neyghbours for to seyf they were there they founde them in theyr houses Whan they had reported it vnto the holy man / he constrayned the deuylles to tel what they were And they confessed that they were deuylles and that they deceyued in suche wyse the men c. G. ¶ Another example of a kynge the whiche sente to seche counsayll of belzebub / his messengers were brente of the fyre celestyall And he deyed myscheuously lx IT is wryten in the fyrste chapytre of the .iiii. boke of kynges how the kynge Ozochias was seke in bedde The whiche sent for messengers for to take couÌ„sayll of belzabub god of Acharon That is to vnderstonde yf he sholde lyue or dye of the sekenes And the aungell of god came vnto the prophete Helye / vnto whome he seyd Aryse goo thou before the messengers of the kyng of Samarye thou shalt say vnto hym Is it not the god of Israel that is to vnderstonde vnto whome ye shold go to take counsayll / not vnto belzebub god of acharon For this thynge our lorde hathe said from thens that thou art mouÌ„ted thou shalt not dyscende / but thou shalte deye The said prophete made his message and the sayd messengers retourned to tel it vnto the kynge And the sayd kynge said why are ye come agayne And they tolde how a man herye cladde vnto the raynes with a skynne is comen agayne vs. c. the whiche sayd it is Helye Than the sayd kynge sent vnto the sayd prophete a Capytayne and fyfty men vnder hym / the whiche capitayn came vnto hym said Gods man the king hathe coÌ„mauÌ„ded that thou dyscende Homo dei Rex pÌ„cepit vt disceÌ„das And Helye answerde Yf I be gods man dyscende the fyre from heuen the deuoure thy fyfty men And incontynent the fyre dyscended from heuen hym deuoured with his .l. men And agayne the sayd kyng sente another capytayne with fifty men the whiche were brente as the other in the same maner / yet agayne the sayd kynge sente another capytayne and fyftye men vnder hym / the whiche came before the sayd helye / yode on knees prayed humbly / not as the two other the spake proudely / said Man of god ne dyspreyse thou my soule / the fyre is dyscended from heuen that hathe deuoured those that haue ben sent towarde the before me / I praye the haue mercy on my soule / and the auÌ„gell of god spake vnto the sayd prophete sayd Dyscende with him drede thou not Than he came vnto the sayd kyÌ„ge with hym / vnto whome he sayd For that that thou hast sent messengers to take thi couÌ„sayll with belzebub god of Acharon / as yf there ne hadde be of god in Israhell of whom thou mayst axe a worde And therfore from the bedde wherin thou art mouÌ„ted thou shalt not dyscende but thou shal deye of dethe Than he deyed alter the worde of the prophete This example denoteth manyfestly howe a man sholde euermore seche counsayll after god good maneres And so men sholde take hede to byleue ylle counsayll in lyke wyse as sayeth the saige Vnde ecclesiastici .xxxvii. A coÌ„siâ—io malo serua aiÌ„am tuaÌ„ And by that that these two fyrste capytaynes the whiche spake proudely in sayenge / the kynge hathe coÌ„maunded that thou dyscende / is here to be noted that god punyssheth boweth downe dystroyeth the proude men And exalteth preserueth the humbles as he byde the thyrde capytayne the whiche humbled hym on knees and spake humbly c. H. ¶ Another example of a man the whiche gaue hymselfe vnto the deuyl bycause that he sholde enryche hym lx THe dyscyple reciteth in his promptuarye sayeth that a ryche man came vnto pouerte afterwarde submytted hym of his good wyll vnto the deuyll to th ende that he sholde enriche hym And the deuyll toke hym baptyzed hym in sayenge I baptyse the in the name of Lucyfer of all the deuylles that thou be ours in body and soule Afterwarde the deuyll toke hym many rychesses sayd vnto hyÌ„ For as moche as thou art ours thou sholdest bere oure token the whiche is pryde in clothyng and in all thy membres After that he had be in suche estate by some yeres it befell that he entred in to the chirche and herde a predycacyon of the mercy of god / And afterwarde abode in the chirche contryte and sorowfull of his synnes He fell prostrate vnto the erthe and prayed god lyenge that he vnto hym wolde yelde hys grace / and that he wolde correcte all that that he had done Whan our lorde had sene his humylyte / his teres / his wyll that he wolde correcte amende his lyfe / profered from the aulter sayd Aryse thou vp thy synnes be pardoned the. Go and sinne thou no more The whiche arose and with the grete contrycyon that he had he was chaunged that is as an auncyent man so that ryght fewe of his housholde knewe him more The whiche dide afterwarde so grete penaunce tormented his body by correccyon that it was knowen that he had the lyfe eternall Oure lorde sheweth hys mercy vnto synners whyles that they benlyuynge in this worlde shall shewe tyll vnto the iugement / but whan the sayd Iugement shall be come He shall shewe and do Iustyce vnto the good vnto the yll I. ¶ Another example of a woman the whiche renyed the fayth / slewe her chylde and betoke herselfe vnto the deuyll / and after had mercy lx THe dyscyple recyteth in his promuarye how a woman had a husbande the whiche vnto her was moche coÌ„trarye For whan he came fro the masse / From the market / frome the tauerne / he bet her euermore And she toke couÌ„sayl of an olde woman what she sholde do to the ende that her husbande sholde loue her She promysed her to fynde the meane / ledde her in to a garnyer Whan she was there the olde woman called the deuyll the whiche was present incontynent Vnto whom the olde woman said This woman wolde serue you soo that ye make that her husbande loue her He sayd that he sholde do it with good wyll so that fyrste she muste slee her chylde that she had Whan she had slayne it she retorned vnto hym Ye shall do yet a thynge / the whiche is that ye shall renye the fayth and the ayde of god and of al the sayntes And she sayd that she consented / that she coÌ„mytted her vnto hym bothe body soule And the deuyll sayd vnto her Go ye now al assured vnto your house / than she theder yo de Ioyous And her husbande came to bete her that came from the tauerne And as he had be before ylle
of helle / and the glorye of the blyssed the whiche was ledde in to helle by his aungell And amonges many other paynes he sawe a fader stryue with his sone And the fader sayd vnto his sone Cursed be the tyme that euer I begate the. All that that I haue done for that is cursed For for that I was a cursed vsurer / to th ende that thou haddest grete haboundaunce of goodes in the worlde and he said many other thinges vnto his sone in cursynge hym The sone sayd vnto the contrary Cursed be the hour that thou begatest me for thou ne haste taught me the coÌ„maundementes of god / ne to do penauÌ„ce ne other good dedes / but thou taughte me pryde to make false vendycyons / he reproched him many other thynges bycause he corrected him not of his yl dedes Than sayd the holy man vnto his aungel the whiche ledde hym It is a cursed thynge to here to se these thinges here Afterwarde the aungell shewed hym the glorye of the blyssed And in that he sawe a fader his sone the whiche were in grete Ioye And the sone sayd vnto his fader Fader be thou blessyd of god For thou me haste made to lerne scyence And thou haste led me vnto the chirche / vnto predycacions thou haste taught me many good thinges and haste correcte me of the ylles that I dyde More ouer thou haste lerned me the coÌ„maundementes of god to loue and to drede god aboue all thynges And many other thynges that the sone sayd vnto the fader in blyssynge hym For by the sayd thinges he had saued his soule And the fader blyssed the sone in spekynge vnto hym seÌ„blable thinges good and prouffytables by the whiche they were saued c. This exaÌ„ple denoteth that god hathe suffred that this thynge were sene and knowen to the ende that the faders and moders chyldren in lykewyse take hede doo And that they correcte lerne vnto theyr chyldren the good for to come vnto the glorye of heuen And yf they do the contrary that they know that they shall haue punycyon in helle Where they shall curse other eternally c. H. ¶ Another example of a woman damned whiche dispreysed those that repreued her of her synnes Ca. lxxi THe dyscyple recyteth in his promptuary sayeth that a woman moche deuoute and loued of god was ryght curyous of her moder departed The whiche wolde knowe of her moders estate for to helpe her yf she were in purgatorye / it requyred of oure lorde Ihesu cryste / ✿ And one time as she was at the chirche with teres requyred god of this thyÌ„ge / she was put in horrour sawe by her a derke spirite Than she made the token of the crosse demaunded who it was And the spyryte sayd I am thy moder And she her demaunded how it was with her / she answered it is with me ryght yl / thy prayers ne maye serue me of nothynge / for I am dampned eternally Than the doughter with grete wayllynge sayd Alas my moder what is the cause of thy dampnacyon And she answered For that that I lyued haue be nourysshed of thynges yl goten by vsuryes otherwyse / I culpable toke no hede to restore vnto other And that the whiche was yll done agayn god of my subgectes in my house I forced not of it / but I am entred in the wayes of the world yll and vnryghtfull And also I haue dyspreysed those the whiche me haue repreued of my synnes ylles And I ne me amended ne repented in no manere And in suche wyse I deyed And whan the sayd moder had sayd these wordes she departed / the sayd doughter prayed no more for her Vnto this purpose saynt Austyn sayeth Si scireÌ„ patreÌ„ meum in inferno non plus orareÌ„ ê“ eo quam pro dyabolo That is to saye yf I knewe my fader were dampned in helle I sholde pray no more for hym than for the deuyll This example denoteth that those the whiche lyueth of thynges yll goten ben in the waye of dampnacyon / yf that they dye without restitucyon Also a man sholde not dyspreyse one that repreueth hym of his vyces synnes I. ¶ Another example of a tauerner that the deuyll bare awaye in body soule for that he repreued not those the whiche dyd ylle Ca. lxxi THe dyscyple recyteth in hys sermons sayeth that a tauerner receyued to ete to drynke to lodge all sortes of people / that is to vnderstonde good yll / suffred to playe / to swere / to be dronke / to blaspheme / to coÌ„mytte baudrye and other synnes in his tauerne for temporell gayne And one tyme on a sondaye as he bare of wyne from his seller before his yate for that that his hous was ful of other hostes / there arose vp a tempeste of wynde deuylles amonge it the whiche toke vp vyolently the sayd tauerner on hye in the ayre before all the people And whan he sawe hymselfe so lyfte vp and of the deuylles borne awaye cryed by grete contricion of herte O deê° quid fatiet aiÌ„a mea O my god what thyÌ„ge shal be done of my soule thaÌ„ the deuylles suffred hym to fall in to a felde / they sayd vnto hym For asmoche as thou haste forgoten all thynges transytoryes the lyfe of thyn owne body / thy wyfe thy chyldren / thy frendes / that thou haste prayed alonely god for thy soule by contrycyon of herte we ne maye bere the no ferther / for god ne wyll suffre vs to excercise in the our wyll For that that thou haste called hym by contrycyon And yf the haddest not done it we had borne the in to hell in body and in soule Than the said deuylles yode awaye / and he was founde in the sayd felde / and borne in to his house / And he laye in his bedde certayne dayes / and after that he was in conualescence he corrected hym and amended / put away his tauerne And more ouer he neuer suffred in his house to playe / to blaspheme / ne to do other ylles All tauerners and hostyllers sholde wele note this thynge that god ne punysshe them as he dyde the sayd ylle tauerner K. ¶ Another example of a man the whiche was so ylle instructe and correcte that he solde his soule / and the deuyll bare it awaye with the body lxxi THe disciple recyteth in his sermoÌ„s and sayeth that a man sayd vnto his compaygnons as they dranke at the tauerne yf they byleued that there was of soules / and that he byleued nothynge / and that he ne had none sene And that the prestes and prechers had founde that there was of soules in helle for the gayne temporell And that he byleued nothynge And hys compaygnons affermed that after the fayth catholyke that there was of soules in hell and in heuen / and that the soule of
relygyous came vnto his sayd sone demaunded him that that his fader had lefte vnto theym by his testament Than the sone answered sayd I ne shal gyue vnto no persone that lyueth / tolde the reason Ye saye in approuynge the scrypture that yf ony be in helle that the suffrages good dedes ne prouffite to hym And yf he be in heuen that hym nedeth nothynge I knowe not nowe yf he be in paradyse or in helle And yf he be in purgatorye he is there purged vnto the laste synne / for I ne shal gyue nothyng for his soule The goodes temporelles that I possede I ne shal shedde them Also I doubt me for his soule / but be he tormented tyll that he be purged This example techeth vs to do of good dedes whyles that we lyue without taryenge or trustynge vnto oure parentes for to do it after our dethe VnÌ„ grego Tutior eÌ„ vita vt bonuÌ„ qd quisque post morteÌ„ sperat agi ê‘ alios agat duÌ„ viuit ipse ê‘ se Beatius quippe eÌ„ liberuÌ„ exire quam post viÌ„cula liberanteÌ„ qÌ„re Chylde vnnaturall syth that it is so that god coÌ„mauÌ„deth the to helpe thy neyghbours / the poore / the hongry / the thrusty / the seke / yf thou do it not thou shalt yelde accompte before god at the day of Iugement By a more stronge reason yf thou socour not thy parentes of whom thou haste thy goodes the whiche ben in the pryson of purgatorye hauynge hongre thurst / grete necessyte thou arte worthy of grete punycyon c. E. ¶ Another example of semblable matere to do of good dedes without taryeng or trustynge vnto his chyldren lxxii MEn fynde by wrytynge that there was a ryche man the whiche had purchased loÌ„des and possessyons And all the countree aboute hym was his It happened that he fell in a grete sekenes sente for his preest deuysed that he had / requyred hym to praye for hym / made to praye in euery monastery And promysed that yf he myght escape that he shold de go vnto saynt Iames / vnto saynt gyles / vnto Rochemador And that he sholde do many of good dedes for the loue of god / It happened that he escaped from the sayd sekenes / became wors than euer he had be and more vnfaythfull / dyde nothynge of all that he hadde promysed vnto the preest Longe tyme after he fell agayne in to a moche greate sekenes / and sente for his preest as before And promysed to doo many of good dedes / and that he wolde praye for hym Ha said the preest the other tyme thou saydest as moche vnto me / nothynge hast thou done of that that thou promysed I haue sayd he to moche good / who shall do it for me Then he called his sone his heyre tolde hym that he had goten hyÌ„ grete londes that he muste goo for hym vnto saynt Iames and vnto saynt gyles And vnto suche pylgrymages yf I deye / Fayre fader sayd the sone men saye that deed men go as swyftely as they wyll Go you by saynt Iames and vnto saynt gyles yf ye wyll / so god helpe me I shall not put my body in payne Yf ye haue we le do ne ye shall fynde it The sayd heyre yode not / therfore a good thynge it is not to tary ne abyde vnto his heyres For the lanterne the whiche is borne before gyueth better lyght than that the whiche is borne behynde F. ¶ Another example how a man sholde do of good dedes whyles that he lyueth that a fole taught wele one sage lxxii MEn tell of a grete lorde the whiche had of custome as done these grete lordes whan he wyll go thorowe the couÌ„tree to sende his coke to prepayre his dyner and his place And the sayd lorde had a fole that had of custome to go after the coke for the prouffyte that he there had c. It befell one tyme that the sayd lorde was seke in his bedde of the dethe And the people the whiche came to se hym sayd vnto eche other whan they mette / the lorde gothe his waye The sayd fole herde these sayd wordes sayd that shall he not do / for his coke is yet here And for that that the people perseuered to say that he gothe his waye / the said fole entred in to the chambre of the lorde / sayd to hym My lorde all the people say that ye go your waye / and bycause ye haue not sente your coke before by saynt Peter ye shall deye of hongre Than the lorde sayd that the fole sayd true / that a fole hathe assensed wele a saige Than the lorde made all the prestes of the countree to synge to do in his lyfe the seruyces that men sholde do after his dethe to do almesdedes so he sente the coke before / made his fardell to bere with hym as dothe a bryde the whiche departeth from the house of her fader c. A. ¶ Another example of a fader and of his sone the whiche were dampned for the goodes yll begoten and witholden lxxiii THe dyscyple recyteth in the booke of his sermons sayeth that an vsurer had two sones of the whiche the one repented hym in herynge a sermon / after sayd vnto his fader My fader yf we deye in suche wyse we shal be loste in body in soule Than he sayd vnto hym Paye vnto euery man that that thou owest retorne vnto god Vnto whome the fader sayd / the other broder Sholdest thou be our confessoure / goo deye where thou wylte For we shall abyde with our goodes The whiche helde his peas / lefte theym yelded hymself hermyte / lyued a poore lyfe in seruyÌ„ge god And after that this good hermyte herde speke that his fader and his broder were deed was moued in pyte desyred to knowe of theyr estate And requyred of god yf it were his pleasure that he might se them And one daye as he was in orayson the aungell of our lorde came vnto hyÌ„ sayd Thy petycyon is made / come thy waye I shall shewe them the. And he toke hym rauysshed hym / and bare him in to helle And set hym vpon a hye mouÌ„tayne And the sayd aungell sayd vnto hym / wylte thou se and here thy fader and thy brother and the sayd hermyte answered that ye And he sawe a valeye replenysshed of dyuers kyndes of tormentes / and herde a myserable voyce And he sawe fyrst his fader the whiche boylled in fyre as pesen do the within a grete pot the whiche said Maledyccyon / maledyccyon / maledyccyoÌ„ / cursed be the houre that euer I was conceyued Cursed be the wombe that bare me / Whan the sayd hermyte herde these wordes he trembled and sayd O fader arte thou here The answer My sone thou art blyst for thou hast dredde god
so bytterly He answered sayd that one of the thynges wherfore he al the dampned sorowe moost fore is that that they haue loste consumed the tyme of grace vnprouffytably in synnynge / where in an houre by repentaunce they myght haue goten grace and escaped the tormentes wherin they be and shal be eternally By this example these synners sholde vnderstonde that it is the moost grete good dede that may be in them as to be in the state of grace wele confessed / repentaunte of theyr synnes Also by that that this soule wepte in helle is vnto the purpose of that that the euangylles saye that the dampned wepe in hel Vnde mathei .viii. Et luce .xiiii. Ibi erit fletâ—s et stridor dentiuÌ„ Vnto this purpose tongdalus the whiche sawe the tormentes of helle afterwarde was brought agayne tolde that he sawe in helle a torment of an yzy ponde where the soules the whiche therin were tormented cryed so horrybly that they were herde vnto heuen And after where the sayd tongdalus spake of the pytte of helle he herde grete cryes and howlinges of soules thondre so horryble that no man ne myght thynke ne tongue declare the horryble crye and the noyse the whiche was in the sayd torment c. C. ¶ Another exaÌ„ple of two men the whiche were in paynes whan saynt taurayn areysed them Cviii IT is wryten in the legende of saint taurayn the tydynges were brought vnto a ryght honourable man that his sone and his squyere were deed And for to abredge the matere saynt taurayne areysed the sayd sone The whiche yode incontynent on knees before saynt taurayne requyred hym to be baptysed And after that he was baptysed sayd vnto his fader Halas fader thou knowest what myserable lyfe we lede what paynes those susteyne the whiche ben semblables vnto vs And what glorye is vnto those the whiche loue and serue vnto that god the whiche is to be honoured of man CertayÌ„ly I haue sene hym to be in the company of aungelles and to praye vnto god for vs. And whan the sayd sone areyâ—ed had spoken these wordes many other vnto his fader he yode on knees before saynt tauryn caused hym to baptyze him And also his wyfe moder of the sayd reysed And for to be shorte in that daye soo many of grete lordes as of lytell people a thousande two hondred persones were baptyzed And afterwarde at the request of the sayd sone areysed sayÌ„t tauryn areysed also afterwarde the squyer the whiche wytnessed that he was in grete paynes whan a messengere came to tell him of the souerayne maister that he were brought agayne taken vnto sayÌ„t tauryn And this said squyer areysed sayd vnto the said sone He the whiche hathe brought me agayne heder coÌ„maundeth the that thou dispose the to retourne vnto hym And incontynent a feuer toke hym / after the coÌ„mauÌ„dement deyed D. ¶ Another example of .iii. deed men areysed the whiche recompted of the paynes of purgatorye and of helle / how they were in iugement before god Cviii IT is wryten in the epystyll of the holy bysshop named sirillus that by the merytes of saint Iherome the whiche appered vnto saynt eusebe thre deed bodyes were areysed for to take awaye a grete erroure the whiche regned in the tyme amonge the grekes that it came in the latyns of the heretykes that sayd that the ylle persones ne sholde haue of tormentes in helle tyl vnto the daye of Iugement that the body the soule shold be remyt togyders The thre deed bodyes that were areysed lyued .xx. dayes / the whiche were demaunded why they wepte so sore And the one of them sayd vnto hyÌ„ that asked it Yf thou knewe the paynes the whiche before yesterday I endured thou sholdest haue euermore cause to wepe he was requyred to tell what paynes he hadde endured and suffred within helle / He sayd that the dampned those in purgatorye haue so grete paynes that yf a persone sholde endure in this worlde all the paynes / tormentes / afflyccions that a man may thynke / that ne sholde be but consolacyon to endure al that / in regarde of the leest payne of purgatorye / or of helle Also he sayd / yf ony lyuynge had felte the experyence of the dolour the whiche is in helle or in purgatorye / that he sholde loue better to endure tyll vnto th ende of the worlde without ony remedy togyders all the paynes and tormentes that all the men women hath endured one after another syth Adam vnto nowe / than to be tormented one daye in the leest payne that is in helle or in purgatorye And therfore yf ye axe me what the cause is wherfore I wepe It is for that that I knowlege me to haue synned ayenst god / and that iustely he punyssheth the syÌ„ners Wherfore I wepe to haue deserued suche punycyon Afterwarde he was axed wherin dyffereth the paynes / and tormentes of purgatorye / and those of helle He answered that they ne dyffere as vnto the qualyte quantyte of paynes they ben of one self gretenes / but they differe in asmoche as the paynes of helle haue none ende And also the dampned shal haue augmentacyon of tormentes in Iugement whan they shall there be tormented in body and in soule And the paynes of purgatorye shal haue an ende For whaÌ„ the penaunce is accomplysshed / those of purgatorye ben delyuered Also he was asked yf those the whiche ben in purgatory and in helle haue egalle tormentes or dyuers He answered that the one haue more greate tormentes and dyuers than the other after the quantyte and gretenes of synnes that they haue coÌ„mytted And also the dampned albeit that they ben in a place of paynes / yet fele they more grete tormentes the one than the other / after the quantyte / and qualytees of synnes that they haue commytted For in the persone where there is more of matere of synne / and more strongly the fyre hym taketh breÌ„neth more cruelly Also he was demauÌ„ded how he bare the dede whan the soulâ— yssued out frome the body He answered / Whan myne houre of dethe came in place where I was he fouÌ„de so many of deuylles that a man ne myghte nombre theÌ„ for the grete multytude the whiche were so horrybles to beholde that a man ne can thynke more grete payne than it is Ony man had leuer caste hymselfe more soner in a fyre flambynge and brennynge than to beholde them with the eye / the whiche deuylles came vnto me brought agayn vnto my mynde all the cursed operacyons that I had done agayne god esmouynge that I ne had more of esperaunce of the dyuyne mercy the whiche I haue gretely offended And certes knowe ye that yf the mercy of god ne had ayded me I ne might haue resysted vnto them For whan my spyryte was destytute of all force lytel and lytell I
gyue praysynges vnto our lorde of his mercy And the aungell touched her comforted her c. D. ¶ Of the ouen with the flambe ¶ Afterwarde they yode another waye / whan they were gone longely by derkenes they sawe an hous moche hygh the whiche was rounde as an ouen In the sayd hous there was well a thousande wyndowes / from the whiche yssued fyre strong / sharpe moche hote Whan the soule sawe the sayd hous she had grete feere sayd vnto the auÌ„gell A syr we approche to the gates of dethe Alas caytyfe who shall delyuer me fro this tourment The aungell answered From the fyre the whiche yssueth out by these wyndowes thou shalt be delyuered / but in to the hous it behoueth to entre Whan they were approched they sawe wtin the sayd hous in the myddes of the fyre grete multytude of deuylles the whiche helde axes / knyues / hachettes other instrumentes of yron sharpe for to tourment the soules that were there of the whiche soules there was grete multytude Than sayd the soule vnto the aungel Syr I pray the yf it please the that thou delyuer me fro this tourment / in all the other where thou shalt lede me I graunte me to be there tourmented And the aungell sayd This tourment is greter than al those that thou hast seen / but yet shalte thou se greter Now entre here for the deuils tary for the as dogges enraged Than the soule began to quake and to tremble of the grete feere that she had prayed the aungell moche that he wolde make hym to passe the sayd tourment / but it vayled hym nothynge And whan the deuylles herde that she was graunted vnto theÌ„ for to tourment they toke her with theyr instruments tormented her sharpely The mayster of this hous had to name Phisternus His hous was ful of fyre brennynge in the whiche soules strayned theyr tethe and wayled for the grete doloures that the suffred And there were men women / not al onely of people of the worâ—de / but also of relygyon There was this soule tourmented the whiche sayd that she had wel deserued that that she had suffred But whan it pleased god she founde herselfe out of the sayd tourmeÌ„t she wyst not in what maner Thâ—n she aduysed her aungell by her to whome she sayd A syr where is the worde that the prophete Dauyd speâ—â—th Mia dnÌ„i plena est terra That is to say The erthe is full of the mercy of god Than the aungell answered and sayd By those wordes many soules ben deceyued God is ryghtwyse though that he be full of mercy / many synÌ„es he vengeth and punissheth / also he pardoneth Yf god pardoned all the synnes wherfore sholde the man be Iust And yf a man ne dredde the torments wherfore sholde he drede to do synÌ„e his wyll And what sholde it nede that these synners sholde repente theym and confesse them of theyr synnes yf they ne drede god God by his grete mercy spareth the synners in theyr lyfe and tarieth them for that they sholde do penaunce But yf they ben obstynate in theyr synnes wyll not reuerte he theym punyssheth for theyr synnes after theyr dethe And god soÌ„tyme taketh awaye the goodes temporelles from the Iust for to punysshe them temporally of some outrages that they haue done / and also to th ende that they enpryde them not But he kepeth vnto them the goodes perdurables of his glory E. ¶ Of the cruell beest of the ysy ponde ¶ After the aungell ledde the soule in to another place wherin they sawe a beest moche meruaylous the whiche had two fete two wynges the necke ryght longe And his neb and his nayles were as yren / and from his sayd neb yssued a flambe a fyre by ryght grete sharpenes force And the sayd beest was vpon a ponde full of stronge yse The whiche beest deuoured the soules within his wombe in such maner that they became as vnto nothynge by the tourmentes that they suffred Afterwarde he put theym out of his wombe wtin the yse of the sayd ponde And there were they tourmented of newe tourment And all the soules the whiche into the ponde descended were in throwes in lykewyse as women with childe And not alonely the women / but also the men as the women And within theyr belyes they felte the sharpe bytynges that the serpentes made / of the whiche they were engryped And there were the caytyues soules tourmented And whan the tyme came approched that they sholde chylde they cryed so horrybly that they fylled hell of noyse and of howlynges Than they chylded serpentes as well the men as the women And the sayd serpentes yssued not onely by the membres wherby the women chylde naturally But also by the armes / the fete / and all the other membres yssued out the horryble beestes the whiche hadde hedes of fyre brennynge moche sharpe / wherwith they tourmented ryght cruelly the sayd soules from whens they yssued And the sayd beestes hadde horryble tayles and nedles about theyr tayles made as they were crochettes and hokes made as yf they were crochettes And whan they yssued from the sayd caytyues soules yf they myght not drawe theyr tayles after them for the hokes they retorned they nebbes smote the soules gnawed them vnto the synewes and bones / and of the grete payne and tourment that they suffred they keste so grete and horryble cryes that they were herde vnto the heuen Morouer the sayd soules were replenysshed of dyuers maners of beestes on theyr membres the whiche dyde them ete and gnawe vnto the bones And they had tonges the whiche fastened wtin the sayd soules tyll vnto the lyghtes This payne sustayne the fals monkes / chanons / the false nonnes these other benefyced of holy chyrche the whiche haue not well kepte theyr bodyes from euyll doyenge / ne theyr mouthes from euyll saynge spekynge Also those the whiche hath vsed lechery susteyne this payne tourment And for that / that thou arte culpable it behoueth the to sustayne this sayd tourment Whan the deuylles herde this worde they toke the sayd soule gaue it vnto the sayd beest to torment and to deuoure And whan she was in tourmeÌ„t as the other soules and that she was engriped with serpentes as the other / and whan the tyme came that she sholde chylde the aungell came vnto her touched her / and she was incontynent hole / and sayd vnto her / come after me F. ¶ Of the valey of smythes ¶ Afterwarde they yode in to another way moche horryble dyseasefull full of so grete derkenes that they had no lyght but of the clerenes of the aungell And it semed that they descended from a ryght hygh mountayne in to a grete and depe valey And the more that they yode the lesse hadde the soule of esperaunce for to retorne vnto lyfe Than the soule sayd vnto
the aungell Syr whyder go we The aungell answered This waye ledeth vnto dethe And the soule sayd What is that than that the scrypture sayth Lata est via que ducit ad mortem et multi suÌ„t quuntrant per eaÌ„ That is to saye that the way the whiche is large ledeth vnto dethe and many there ben the whiche entre and go by that way The aungell sayd Of this speketh not the scrypture / but of the cursed waye of the worlde wherby men comen 〈◊〉 to this way And whan they were desceÌ„ded in to the sayd valey moche depe they sawe there of forges Than the aungell sayd vnto the soule The mayster of this valey is called Vulcain the whiche by his engin and falsenes hath casten many soules in to paynes and tourmentes Than sayd the soule vnto the aungell Syr shall I suffre this tormeÌ„t The aungell answered / ye / thou shalte suffre this tourment And whan the deuylles herde that worde they beset the soule about and toke it with theyr Instruments of yren that they helde / and sayd vnto the holy aungell none harme / and keste it in to a chymney full of fyre brennynge And began too blowe the fyre of theyr furneys in lykewyse as men blowe whan the yren is in the furneyse And so they tourmented the soules that whiche were there tyll that they came as to nothynge And whan they were so brent tourmented they toke the sayd soules with theyr Instrumentes of yren .xx. an hoÌ„dred or two hondred and layde them on an hepe vpon an anuelde of yren / and the deuylles the whiche were in other forges sayd Cast vnto vs these caytyues soules we shall yet tourment them agayne Than the deuilles kest them vnto them agayn the whiche werein the other forges And after that they hadde ben there stâ—ongly payned and tourmeÌ„ted they kest them vyolently vnto thosof the fyrst forges And before that they came to the grounde they were taken agayne and so they keste theym from one vnto another and tourmented tyll vnto that / that the skinnes / the flesshe / and the bones came as vnto nothynge Of this mater is wryten ProuerbioruÌ„ .ix. Parata sunt derisoribus supplicia / et mallei percutientes stultorum corporibus After that the caytyues soules were so tourmented as it is sayd they desyred the dethe but they myght not deye Vnto this purpose it is wryten Apocalipsis .ix. In diebus illis querent homines mortem et non inuenient eam / et desiderabunt mori et mors fugiet ab eis And whan the sayd soule had suffred longly these tourmentes the aungel came vnto her and toke her and had her out of the fyre where she was / and sayd vnto her How felest thou thy selfe now Remembre the that for as moche as thou hast done thy wyll and the delyte of thy body thou hast suffred soo grete tourmentes But the soule had not soo moche force that she myght answer one worde for the grete tourment that she had souffred Than the aungell sayd vnto the soule Illud psalmi Dominus mortificat et viuificat deducit ad inferos et reducit Comfort the / for our lorde quyckeneth and mortifyeth / ledeth in to helles and bryngeth agayne And al be it that the tourmentes that thou haste seen ben moche grete yet shalte thou se moche more greter from the whiche thou shalt be delyuered by the mercy of god And knowe thou that al those soules that thou hast seen here abydeth the Iugemente of god But those the whiche thou shalte se from hensforthe ben all redy Iuged Goo we now forwarde for thou arre not yet comen vnto the paynes of hell And the aungel touched her and heled as he hadde ben accustomed for to do c. G. ¶ Of the pytte of hell ¶ After that they entred in to a waye / and whan they were a lytell gone forwarde in spekynge one vnto the other there came to the soule sodayne horrour and colde intollerable stynke and derkenes more thycket than those before / trybulacyon and anguysshe so grete that it semed vnto the soule that all the foundementes of the erthe trembled vnder her fete and sayd vnto the aungell Syr wherfore is it that I ne may holde me on my fete as I haue acustomed to do And whan she had sayd this she ne myght remeue from the place for the grete feere that she had / and incontynent the aungell departed in suche maner that she myght noo morese hym / and forthwith she began to dyspayre For she founde that the whiche is wryten Ecclesiastes .ix. Nec opus / nec ratio / nec sapientia / nec scientia erunt apud inferos que tu ê“peras That is to say that in hell there ne is operacion / ne reason / ne wysdome / ne connyÌ„ge wherby man may ayde hym The caytyf soule was in lykewyse / for she might not helpe herselfe / the whiche herde terryble cryes and howlynges of soules / thonder so horryble that no man may thynke it ne tongue declare the horryble crye and the noyse that there was Vnto this purpose god speketh in the gospell Illud math .xxii .xxiii. Ibi erit fletus et stridor dentium Than the soule loked about her for to knowe yf she myght se the way wherby they were comen / and she sawe a grete square dyche in lykewyse as a cysterne And from that dyche yssued oute a pyler of flambe and of smoke togyders moche horryble and stynkynge And that pyler of fyre was so hygh that it stretched vnto the heuens And in that flambe there was grete multitude of soules and of deuylles togyders the whiche mounted with the sayd flambe in hyghe in lykewyse as lytel flambes And of tourmentes the whiche they suffred they came as vnto nothynge / and after that they fell agayne in to the dyche tyll vnto the botome Vnto the purpose of this sayeth the psalmyste Tu vero reduces me in puteuÌ„ interitus And whan the soule had beholden this she wolde haue drawen her abacke / but she ne myght lyft her fete from the grounde And whan she had assayed many tymes to remoeue her and that she might not she was moche ferefull / and of the grete wodenes that she hadde she tare and rent her chekes with her owne handes and nayles cryed Alas caytyfe wherfore may not I deye And the deuylles the whiche mounted with the sayd flambe herde the sayd soule in suche wyse crye soo they be set her about with theyr instrumentes of yron wherwith they tourmeÌ„ted the soules and sayd in this wyse Caytyfe soule worthy of payne and tourment from whens art thou comen hyder / thou ne hast yet nothynge felte ne suffred / thou shalt endure now that that thou arte worthy by the synnes that thou hast commytted From the whiche tourment thou ne mayst neuer departe ne within it deye / but euermore thou shalt lyue and brenne in tourment