and of his kingdome shal be none ende This hous of Jacob is ghostly holy chirche in yâ— whiche JhuÌ„s shall reygne in trewe soules fyrst ouercomyng synnes the deuylle here in erthe by grace And after in heuen in blysse withouten ende Here may thou say with saynt Bernard 〈…〉 desyrynge in the kiÌ„gdome of JhuÌ„ thus come my lord Jesu and putte aweye al sclauÌ„ders of â—ynne fro thy reame that is my soule soo that thou maye reygne therein as the oweth to do For couetyse cometh chalengeth his reame in me â–ª Presumpcyon coueyteth to be my lorde Pryde wolde be my quene lechery saith I wol regne De traccion enuy wrath and glotony stryuen whiche of hem shal pricipally regne in me and I in as mykel as I waâ—e ageynstonde hem But thou my lord Jhesu destroye hem in thy vertue and take thou thy reame and thy kyngdome in me For I haue no trewe kyng but thy my lord Jhesu And whan the Aungel hadde tolde these condicions and the worthynes of this blessid child the â—â—s to that meke mayden mary that was chosen to his mo â–ª der Than she spake fyrste to the Aungel nought dredyng of his wordes ne of hyr coÌ„ceyuyng ne knoulechyng ne forsakyng the praysynges before said of his gretynge but wyllynge to be more certyfyed playnly of that she drede most that was that she sholde not lese hir maydenhede asked of the AuÌ„gel the maner of hyr conceyuynge in these wordes how and of what maner shal this be done syth I knowe no man flesshely And I haue made a vowe to kepe me chaste to my lord god withoute faylle and I shalle neuer dele wyth man flesshly And than the aungel answerd and said to hir it shal be done by the wyrchynges of yâ— holy ghost that shal lyghten in to yâ— in a synguler maner thoruÈ his vertu that is alther hygest thou shalt coÌ„ceyue sauyng thy maidenhede therfore that holy thyng that shall be borne of the shal be named godes sone in coÌ„forte ferthermore here of the aungel said Loo Elizabeth thy cosyn that is olde was bareyne hath coÌ„ceyued a child now six monethes apassed for ther shal no thyng be imposible to god Now take here good hede haue in mynde how fyrst all the holy Trynyte is there abydinge a fynal answer asseÌ„t of his blessyd vyrgyne Mary takyng hede and be holdyng lykyngly hir shamefast seÌ„blaunce hir sadde maners Bernarâ— hir wyse wordes And ferthermore how all the blessyd spyrytes of heuen al the ryghtwys lyuynge men in erthe alle the choseÌ„ soules that were that tyme in helle as Adam Abraham Dauyd all other desyreden hyr assente in the which stode the sauacion of all mankynde And also how the auÌ„gel gabriel stoÌ„dynge with reuerence before his lady enclynyng and with mylde semblaunce abydeth the answer of hys mesage And on that other syde take hede how mary stant sadly with drede mekenes in grete auysement hauyng no pryde ne veyne glorye For al the hyhe praysynge before said But tho souerayne yeftes of grace that she hath herde yeuen to hir that neuer were yeue to creature before all she aretid only to the grace of god lerne thou than by ensaÌ„ple of hir to be shamefaste vertuously meke for withouten these two vertues maydeÌ„ Bernarâ— hede or vyrgynyte is but lytyl worthe For as Saynte Bernarde saith vyrgynyte is a fayre vertue but mekenes is mor necessary For thou may be sauf wythoute the fyrst but withoute the other that is mekenes thou maye not In soo moche that I dar hardly saye that withoute mekenes the vyrgynite of mary had not be plesynge to god For but Mary had be meke the holy ghost had not rested vpon hir sayth saynte Bernard At the last as the ende of the gospel seith the mylde maydeÌ„ mary when she had herde wysely vnderstonde the Aungels wordes by good auysement yaf hir assente in thys maner as it is writen in her reuelacoÌ„ns she knelyd doun with souerain deuocion holdyng vp bothe hir handes and lyftyng vp her eyen to heuen sayd these wordes Loo here the handmayden the seruaunt of my lord â–ª be it done to me fulfilled after thy word And so in these meke and lowe wordes of Mary at the ende thou hast ensample of grete mekenes as thou haddest in hyr sylence at the begynnyng loo she is chosen godes moder and of the Aungel cleped ful of grace and she named 〈…〉 hyr self his hand mayden And noo wonder for as saynt Bernard saith Mekenes is euer wonte to be felâ—w with the grace 〈…〉 of god But this mekenes was not lytyl For as he sayth It is not mykel to prayse mekenes in abieccion but it is a grete vertue seldome sene mekenes in worship Also sone than as she yaf hir answer goddes sone entrid in to hir wombe thorugh worchyng of the holy ghost was made maÌ„ in very flesshe blod taken of her body and not as other chyldren conceyued borne by kynde ben shapen membre after membre and after the soule shedde in to the body but anone at the fyrste instaunce was full shapen in all membres and all hole man in body and soule but neuertheles ful lytyl in quantyte For after he weâ—ed more more kyndely as other chyldren done Soo that at the fyrste he was ful parfyghte God man al 's wyse and as myghty as he is now And whan thys was done Gabriel knelyng doune with our lady and sone after with hyr rysyng vp tooke curtoisli his leue of hir with a deuoute lowe bowynge to the erthe and so vanisshed away fro hir with a swift flyghte and toke his wey to heuen agein tellynge certyfyenge the holy courte of heuene hys message fulfylled And that that was done in erthe and than was there a newe Joye and a newe feste â–ª and full mykel myrthe and solempnyte Afterward our lady fulfylled enflaÌ„med with the holy ghost in the loue of god more brennynge than she was before felyng that she had conceyued knelyd doune and thanked god of that grete yefte mekely besechynge hym and deuoutly prayenge that he wold sende hir grace and teche hir so that al that were after to come and to be done aboute hys blessyd sone that she myght fulfylle hem doo hem wythout defaulte And thus mykel touchynge the Gospel and the processe of the incarnacyon of Jhesu Cryste ¶ Of the feste of the annuÌ„ciacion And of tho thynges that befelle that daye NOw take good hede vnderstoÌ„de how worthy thys feste thys soleÌ„pnyte is And haue therfore a ghostly myrthe make a speciall feste in thy soule thaÌ„kynge god inwardly For suche was neuer herd before for this is the soÌ„lempnite of al the holy Trynyte the Fader sone and holy ghoost by whome this souereyn dede of Incarnacyon was wroughte and fulfylled as it is said before Thys also
maudleyn other sayeng thus to hem Be not your herte troubled and drede ye not for I shalle not leue you desolate as faderlees For I shal goo come euer be wyth you And at the last he badde hem goo in to the mouÌ„te of olyuete for theÌ„s he wolde stie vp and soo passed at that tyme awaye fro heÌ„ And anone right his moder all other wythout taryenge yeden in to the forsayd mount yâ— is fro Jhrlm aboute a myle and therÌ„ anone our lorde apered to hem Loo here we haue on this daye two aperynges ThenÌ„e clippyd he kyssed his moder takynge leue and she again warde clippyd kysse hym full tenderly And the dyscyples maudleyne and other fallynge downe to the grouÌ„de and wepynge kisseden his fete deuoutly and he takynge hem vp kyssed all his apostles benygnely Now take hede Inwardly of hem and of all that here ben done And therwyth beholde the holy faders there beynge Inuysible how gladly and reuereÌ„tly they beholden Inwardly blessen her by whom they haue receyued soo grete a benefyce of her sauacy on They beholden tho worthy chaÌ„pyons leders of goddis oost the whiche amonge all other peple our lorde JhuÌ„s specyally hath chosen for to conquere all the worlde ¶ At yâ— last whan all the mysteryes were complete fulfylled our lorde NoÌ„ processuÌ„ asceÌ„cionis Jhesê° began to be lyfte vp fro hem and to stye vp by his owne vertue And thenne our lady and all other fellen downe to the erthe worshyppynge hym And our lady sayd My blessed sone Jhesu thynke on me And therwith she might not with holde her fro wepyuge by cause of his gooynge Neuertheles she was full Joyefull that she sawe her sone soo gloryously stye vp to heuen Also the discyples this seenge sayden Lorde we haue forsaken all worldes goodes for the haue mynde on vs And soo he hauynge his hondes lyfte vp and blessyng heÌ„ wyth a bryghte Joyefull face Crowned worthily as a kyng gloryously arrayed styenge vp to heuen and sayd Be stedfaste and werchyth manfully For I shall euer be wyth you And soo our lorde Jhesus all gloryous whyte and rudye shinynge and â–ª Joyefull ledynge wyth hym that noble multitude and gooynge before and shewynge the waye to hem in dede fulfylled thenne that the prophetes had sayd longe before of his ascencoÌ„n And they also wyth vnspeable Joye folowyng hym songen merely the psalmes ympnes of his louyuge as perteyned to that blisfull tyme of her delyuerauÌ„ce fro all sorow and entre in to all blysse wythout ende And in that tyme the archangel mychael prouoste of paradise gooyng bofore tolde the blessed court of heuen that our lorde JhuÌ„s was comyng vpstyenge And anone all the blessed spirytes after her orders yeden ayen her lorde none lefte behynde metynge wyth hym and worshippyuge â–ª hym wyth all the reuerence that they cowde ladde hym wyth hympnes songes of Joye that maye not be spoken nor thought And soo metynge togyder the holy faders and the blessed spirytes and syngen alleluya and moost Joyefull songes wyth reuerence before hym maden a grete soleÌ„pnyte a worshipful feest ye lord who myght tell what fest yâ— was in what Joye they hadden whan they mett togider And whan they had done due reuerence to our lorde and fulfylled her mery songes that perteynen to his gloryoê° ascencoÌ„n they torned hem eche to other bothe the blessed spirytes the holy princeps apâ—oâ— faders reioycynge syngyuge And fyrste the holy spirytes in this manere sayenge ye prynces of peple be welcome Joyeful we ben of your comyng All ye are now here gadred and wonderfully lyft vp wyth your god Alleluya Therfore make myrth and syngeth now to hym â–ª that so gloryously styed vp princeps pplâ—â—â— aboue heuen heuen Alleluya And the holy faders Joyefully ansuerde To you prynces of goddis peple alieluya â–ª Our kepers helpers alleluya Joye pees be euer alleluya Syngyth makyth myrth also to our god kyng and sauyour Alleluya alla alleluya And ferdermore all togyder songen and sayden in doâ—â— dnÌ„â—le Now we go merely in to the hous of oure lorde alleluya and that worshipfull cyte of god that shall receyue vs all togyder alleluya In ympnes and songes of Joye myrthe Alleluya alleluya Loo here was moche myrthe and Joye All they songen and soueraynly Joyeden as the prophete dauyd sayth God styeth in to heuen in moost wonderfully Joye of the appostles ascendâ—â— dâ—â—in in bilacoÌ„ne that sawe hym that tyme And in voyce of trompe That is in voyce of angels that apered thenne and spake to the appostles Sothly our lorde Jhesus styed vp thenne openly to the comforte of his moder And the appostles as longe as her bodily syghte wolde suffyse to see hym And after a briyght clowde took him fro her eyen And anone in a moment that is in an vnperceyuable shorte tyme. he was wyth all his angels and the forsayd faders in the hyghest heuen O lorde what Joye was thenne to see that blessed lorde soo gloryous vp styenge Sothly I trowe who soo myghte haue seen that as the appostles dyden and therwyth herde that Joyfull songe of angels holy soules wyth hym vp styenge for that passynge Joye of his soule sholde haue be departed fro the body and goon vp to heuen also wyth hem and noo wonder wherfoâ— our lorde knowyng the Infyrmyte of mankynde in bodily lyfe here wolde shewe some of his blysse to his moder other discyples In as moche as they myghte bere that was in that blisfull vpstyeng of hym and hydde â—ro hem that they myghte not bere soo in flesshly lyuynge And therfore also he sent to hem u. angels in manÌ„es lickenes that they sholde not ouer moche be traueyled in yâ— stondyng lokynge vp after hym in to heuen â–ª For they were soo rauysshed by that blysfull syght of hym that they hadden foryete hemself And also he sent than gels to coÌ„forte hem in that they herde the angels wytnesse accordynge wyth hem of thascencoÌ„n of our lorde And whan the angels had bidden hem that they sholde noo lenger loke after JhuÌ„s bodily presence in that forme that they sawe him thenÌ„e stye vp in to that tyme that he sholde come in that self forme bodily to deme all quycke dede But that they sholde torne a yen in to the cyte and there abyde the holy ghost as he had sayde heÌ„ before ThenÌ„e our lady prayed mekely the angels to recoÌ„mende B her to her blessed sone And thenÌ„e louely enclynyng to her gladly token her biddyng And also the appostles and maudleyne recoÌ„mended hem in the self maner And after the angels passyng fro hem they torned agayne in to the cyte as they were bydden to mouÌ„t syon there abidyng the holy ghost of our lorde JhuÌ„ Now goo we vp bi deuoute conteÌ„placoÌ„n to N B our lorde JhuÌ„ beholdyng in ymagynacoÌ„n
of heuenly thinges by lykenes of erthly thynges how he wyth all that forsayd worthy blysful multytude of holy soules openynge heuen yates that were beforÌ„ that tyme spered ayenst mankynde as a worthy conquerour Joyefully entred and gladly before the forsayd fader Fader I thaÌ„ke the that thou hast yeuen me the vycto ry of all oure enmyes and aduersaryes And loo fader here I present to the our frendes that were holden in thraldome And for asmoche as I haue behight to my brethern discyples the whyche I haue left in the worlde to sende to hem the holy ghost I praye the fader fulfyll my byhest and I recoÌ„mende hem also to the ThenÌ„e the fader takynge hym vp made him sytte on his right honde and said My blessed sone al power dome I haue yeuen to the. and therforÌ„ of that thou askedest dyspose and doo as the lyketh After that all the holy faders blessed spirytes the whiche had in worshping of the holy trynyte fall doune lowely wyth all reuerence risynge vp began agayn to synge her songes of myrthe and vnspekable Jore before the trone of god For sithen moyses the chyldern of Israhel songen in thankyng louynge of god whan they were passed the reed see and her enmyes therin drowned And also the selfe tyme mary aarons syster with other wymÌ„en her folowing in tym panes and other melodye dauÌ„sen songen to goddis louyng Also dauyd wyth his peple ledynge the arke of god in to Jherusalem â–ª harped daunsed for Joye before the arke and chauÌ„ters songen and in other dyuers myntralsye they honoured worshipped god And also saynt Johan sayth in the apocalip se that he herde a voys in heuen of an huÌ„dred fourty and four thousande harpes harpyng and syngynge a newe songe bifore the throne and the seet of the very lambe Jhesu Moche more we resonably trowe that now in this Joyefule tyme whan JhuÌ„s wyth his company passed all sorowe and al his aduersaryes were so gracyously ouercome And he that was tokened by the arke JhuÌ„s was soo gracyously come in to the cyte of heuenly Jherusalem All that blessed felyship of spirytes and soules wythoute nomber songen and maden Joye myrthe that noo tonge maye telle ne herte thynke Soothly now in that blessed cytee of heuenly Jherusalem is songeu herde that souerayn songe of Joye after the prophecy of thobie by all the stretes therof is songen Alleluya that is as moche NoÌ„ excel lenciaÌ„ festi asceÌ„ci oiÌ„s suâ— a lia festa to saye as louynge be to our lorde Neuer from the begynÌ„yng was there soo soleÌ„pne soo Joyefull a feest ne neuer peraueÌ„ sure shall be But at the laste after the daye of dome whaÌ„ all the chosen soules shall be preseÌ„ted there wyth her bodies gloryfyed And therfore as I sayd at begynÌ„ynge of this chapyter This soleÌ„pnyte all thynges considred passeth all other Take Incarnacio hede of eche of hem and see whether it be soo that I saye Fyrste the Incarnacyon of our lorde JhuÌ„ is a solempne feest worthy For that was the begynÌ„ynge of all our good oure Natiuitas sauacoÌ„n But that was our Joye and not his for he was closed thenÌ„e in his moders wombe Also the natyuyte is a soleÌ„pne and hyghe feest and worthy myrthe to be made therin but that is also as on our syde For as on his syde we owen to haue compassoÌ„n of hym that was for vs borne in soo grete pouertee Hardenesse of weder and other abieccoÌ„n Also as to vs Passio his passion is a grete feest thrugh the whiche we ben broughte oute of the feudes thraldome And all oure synnes ben for yeue and done away And as saynt gregory saith It had not auaylled vs to be borne but it had also profyted vs for to be boughte Neuertheles for the grete tormentes of hym and that hardest and moost despytous dethe that he suffred for our Redempcyon Resurreccio and byenge there was noo matere of Joye but rather of sorowe bothe to hym in that paynfull suffrynge and to vs for our synfull deseruynge Ferdermore yet the resurreccoÌ„n of our lorde Jhesu is a gloryous solempne and a Joyful feest bothe for hym and for vs for thenne was his body gloryfied and all payne sorow passed and we iustyfied haue an ernest and ensample wythout doubte of our laste vprysynge in body soule And therfore of this worshipfull Joyful Hec eÌ„ dies quaÌ„ fecit dnÌ„s daye specyall syngeth holy chirche by the wordes of the prophete dauyd This is the day of our lorde made be we mery therin gladde And as augustyn sayth in a sermon This day is holyest of all other but that maye be vnderstonde of all other before that day For this of the ascencoÌ„n by reason is gretter holyer â–ª and that touchynge thre partyes That is to say our lorde hymself the blessed spirytes in heuen mankynde in erthe For as to the fyrste though our lorde had thenÌ„e gloryously in body soule vprysen fro dethe to lyf euerlastyng neuertheles he was bodily yet as a pilgryme in erthe fro his owne kynde herytage reame Also as to the seconde yet saye not yâ— angels her felishyp encreased by season takynge of mankynde wyth hem in blysse And as aneÌ„st the thyrde yet was closed shytte the yate of heuenly paradyse and yet were not the holy faders soules presented to the fader of heuen the whiche all thre were coÌ„plete and fulfylled in his holy ascencoÌ„n And yf we take good hede we maye see that all that god wroughte dyde he dyde for to come to this ende And wythout this all his werkes had ben as Inperfite For lo heuen erthe and all that is made in hem is made for man And man for to haue the blysse of heuen And therto myghte noo man come after â—â—opâ—â—â— he had synned in to this daye were he neuer soo gode and rightwys And soo we maye see how worthy this holy daye is yet more ouer this feest of penthcoste is hyghe holy â–ª And worthily holy chirche makyth it solempne For thenne was yeuen therto that hyghe worthiest yefte that is the holy ghost AscencoÌ„ But this is to vs and not to hym But this ascencyon daye is properly the moost solempne feest of oure lorde Jhesu For FmÌ„ JhuÌ„ this daye fyrste in his manhede he beganne to sytte on the taders ryght honde in blysse And toke ful reste of his pylgrymage before All this is properly the feest of all the blessed spyrytes AscencoÌ„ in heuen For this daye they had a newe Joye of her lorde whom they sawe neuer before there in his manhede â–ª And also AscencoÌ„ FmÌ„ angelo for this daye beganne fyrste to be restored the fallyng downe of her felowes And that in soo greate a multytude and nombre of blessyd soules of patryarkes
gospell tellyth But they for as moche as they founde not yâ— body of her mayster there as they hopeden were soo dystour â–ª bled in her wittes and abasshed that they token noâ— rewarde to the angels wordes But wyth grete sorow and drede anone tourned agayne to the discyples And tolde theym that her lordes body was taken awaye And whyther they wyste not â–ª And thenne Peter and Johan rennen towarde the sepulture And wyth hem also the forsayd wymmen And alle they rennen for feruente loue to Jhesu sechynge her herte and her lyf â—u 〈…〉 â— ii viii But after the processe of the gospell Peter and Johan entrynge the graue and not fyndynge the body but oonly the clothes that he was wrapped in and the sudary of his hede wyth grete heuynesse they tourned home agayne ¶ And here we owen to haue Inwarde compassyon of hem For sothly att this tyme they were in full grete desolacoÌ„n â–ª and sorow whanne they soughte soo theyr lorde and founde hym not Nor wyste where they sholde seche hym more Also here we haue ensaÌ„ple yâ— oft tymes before grete Joye â— comyth grete dyscomforte and sorowe the whyche is to be born pacyently for the tyme and euer Jhesu to be sought and called on by denoute prayer and feruent desire vnto the tyme that he be fouÌ„den as the processe after folowynge sheweth B For after the ii apostles were gone ayen as it is sayd in maner of despeyre The forsayd maryes abyden lokeden efte in lucexiiii the sepulcre and thenÌ„e they sawe the ii angels sittyng in white clothes sayenge to hem what seke ye hym that lyueth wyth hem that ben dede But they yet token no rewarde to her wordes nor token ony coÌ„forte to the syght of the angels for they soughten not the angels but the lord of angels And for they fonde hym not therforÌ„ the ii felawes of mawdlayne al heuy discoÌ„forted withdrewe hem setten hem doune somwhere a lityll besyde makyng her mone to other But mary magdalayne I. ii viii wittyng not what she myght doo for wythout her mayster she coude not lyue And for she fonde hym not there nor wyste where she shold seche hym elles she stode styll there wythout the graue wepyng and eft she loked in For she hoped Tertus maria st abat ad monumentuÌ„ Notabil euer to fynde hym there as she helped to berye hym And theÌ„ne sayden the angels to her woman why wepest thou whom sekest thou And she said they haue take awaye my lorde and I wote not where they haue put hym Beholde here the wonderfull werchynge of loue A lytyll before she herde of one angell that he was rysen and after of ii that he lyued And yet she had it not iu mynde but sayd I wote not alle that made loue For as orygene sayth her hert her mynde was not theâ— she was in body but it was there as her loue was that is to saye her mayster JhuÌ„s therfore she coude not speke nor here but of hym And therfore befell that what tyme she wept so toke none rewarde to the angels by cause of the feruent loue that she had to JhuÌ„ that was lorde of angels her mercyful mayster myght noo leuger holde hym fro her but appered to her as it foloueth ¶ How our lorde JhuÌ„s apered after his resurreccoÌ„n to mawdelayne Caplm lii OVre lorde JhuÌ„s spekynge with his blessed moder at his fyrste apperynge to her â–ª as it was tolde and sayd before Amonge other louely comynynge tolde her of the grete besynes feruent felynge of mawdleyne and sayd that he wolde goo shewe hym bodily to her to comforte her And our lady gladde therof sayd My blessed sone gooth in pees and comforte her For she louyth you full moche and full truely and was full sory of your dethe But I praye you thynketh to come agayn to comforte me And soo she louely clyppyng and kissynge hym lete him goo ¶ And anone he was in the gardyne where mawdleyne was and sayd to her woman whoÌ„ sechest thou And why wepest thou Oure lorde asked that he wyste well To that ende as saynt gregory sayth that by her ansuere in the namyng of hym the fyre of loue sholde be more feruently kyndled in her herte Neuertheles she not knoweynge hym but all dystracte and out of herself supposing that he had be a gardyâ—er sayd Sire yf thou hast take him away telle me where thou haste done hym that I maye take him to me And though our lorde was not a bodily gardyner neuertheles as the same clerke gregory sayth he was so in soth to her ghostly For he was that planted in her herte the plantes of vertues and true loues And thenÌ„e our lorde JhuÌ„s hauyng compassyon of her grete sorowe wepynge chere called her by her homely name and sayd mary the whiche worde sodenly heled all her sorowe And she thenÌ„e knowynge hym wyth vnspekable Joye sayd O Rabony that is mayster ye be he yâ— I haue soo longe soughte and why haue ye hydde you so longe from me And anone she ranne to hym and fallyng downe to the erthe wolde haue kyssed his fete as she was wonte before by vnperfyte affeccoÌ„n to his manhede that was thenÌ„e dedely but not soo now after his ResurreccoÌ„n wherfore oure lorde willynge to lyfte vp ghostly her herte and her affeccyon to heuen to the godhede â–ª and that she sholde nomore seke hym in erthe in manere as she dyde before that he was dede sayde Touche me not in that erthli maner for I haue not stied vp to my fader That is to say I am not yet lyfte vp in thy soule by true perfyte byleue that I am euen wyth the fader veri god And therfore touche me not in that manere Inperfytely But goo saye to my brethern I ascende vp to my fader and your fader to my god and your god And ferdermotÌ„ our lord homely comynyng wyth her spake to her in this maner woost thou not well doughter that I tolde the before my passion that I sholde ryse the thyrde daye from dethe to lyfe And why woldest thou thenne soo besily seke me in the sepulcre And she sayd Soothly mayster I saye you that my herte was fylled wyth so grete sorowe of the bitternesse of your harde passyon and deth that I foryate all other thynge and onÌ„ly thoughte of your bodâ— dede and beried and on the place that it was beryed in And therforÌ„ I broughte now the oynement for to haue enoynted wyth your gloryous body Blessed be your almyghty godhede where thrugh ye wolde ryse fro deth and come agayne to vs And soo they two true louers stoden spaken togyder wyth grete likynge and Joye And she curyously beholdeth his glorious body and askith what her lykith and he in all thynge ansuerde plesyngly to her paye And ferdermore though our lorde soo strangly as it semyth
per compilatoreÌ„ eiusdem N. Reuerendissimo in cristo patri et dnÌ„o dnÌ„o Thome Arundell caÌ„ tuarieÌ„si Archiepiscopo ad inspiciendum et ex ammanduÌ„ antequam fue rat libere comuiÌ„cata Qui post ispectioneÌ„ eiusdem perdies aliquot retradens ipsum librum memorato eiusdeÌ„ libri proprie vocis oraculo in singulis comeÌ„dauit et approbauit nec noÌ„ et auctoritate sua metropolitica vt pote Catholicum publice cominicandum decreuit et mandauit ad fidelium e dificacionem et hereticoruÌ„ siue lollardorum confutacionem QVecunque scripta sunt ad nostram doctrinaÌ„ scripta suÌ„t vt per pacienciam et coÌ„solacionem scripturarum spem habeamê° ad romaÌ„os xv ¶ These ben the wordes of the grete doctour and holy apostel saynte poule consyderyng that the ghostly lyuyng of all trew Cristen creatures in this world stant specyally in hope of the blysse the lyf that is to come in another world And for as moche as two thynges pryncypally nouryshen strengthen thys hope in man that is pacyence in herte and ensample of vertues good lyuyng of holy men wreton in bookes and souereynly the wordes the dedes wryten of our lorde Jhesu Criste veray god maÌ„ for the tyme of his bodely lyuynge here in erthe Therfore to strengthe vs and conforte vs in his hope speketh the apostle the wordes forsayde to thys entente sayenge that all thynges that ben wryten generally in holy chyrche and specyally of our lord Jhesu criste They ben wreton to oure lore that by pacyence and comforte of holy scryptures we haue hope that is to saye of the lyf blesse that is to come in another worlde ¶ Here to accordynge speketh saynte Austyne thus Goddissone toke mankind in hym he suffryd that longyd to man was made medecyne of man and thys medicyne is so mykel that it maye not be thought For there is no pryde but that it maye be heled thorugh the mekenes of goddes sone There is no couetise but that it may be heled thorugh his pouerte No wrath but that it may be heled thorugh his pacience No malice but that hit maye be heled thorugh hys charite ¶ And more ouer there is no synne of wyckednesse but that it shall wante hyt and be kepte fro hit the whyche beholdeth inwardly And loueth and foloweth the wordes and the dedes of that man in whome goddes sone yaaf him selfe to vs in to ensample of good lyuynge wherfore nowe bothe men and wymmen and euery age and euery dygnyte of thys world is styred to hope of euerlastyng lyf ¶ And for thys hope and to thys entente wyth holy wrytte Also ben wreton dyuerse bookes and tretes of deuoute men not oonly to clerkes in latyn but also in englysshe to lewde men and wymmen and hem that ben of simple vnderstondynge Amonge the whyche ben wreton deuonte meditacyons of Crystes lyf more playnly in certayn partyes than is expressyd in the Gospel of the foure Euangelystes ¶ And as hit is sayde the deuoute man and worthy Clerke Bonauenture wrote hem to a relygyous woman in laten the whyche scrypture and wrytynge for the fructuous matere therof stering specyally for the loue of Jhesu Cryste and also for the playne sentence to comyne vnderstondynge semeth a monge other souereynly edyfyenge to symple creatures The whiche as chyldren haue nede to be fedde wyth mylke of lyghte doctryne not wyth sadde mete of grete clergye and oâ— hyghe contemplacyon wherfore at the Instance and prayer of somme deuout soules to edyfycacyon of suche men or wymmen is this drawynge oute of the forsayde booke of Crystes lyf wreton in englyssh wyth more putte to in certayne partyes and also wythdrawynge of dyuerse auctorytees and maters as it semeth to the wryter Bernard ad 〈…〉 dem 〈…〉 herof mooste spedeful edyfyeng to hem that ben of symple vnderstondyng To the whyche symple soules as saynte Bernard sayth comtemplacion of the manhede of Cryste is more lykynge more spedefull more syker than is hyghe contemplacoÌ„n of the godhede And therefore to hem is pryncypally to be sette in mynde the ymage of Crystes Incarnacyon Passyon and ResurreccoÌ„n so that asymple soule canne not thynke but bodyes and bodyly thynges maye haue somwhat accordynge to hys affeccyon wherwyth he maye fynde and styre hys deuocyon Nota pro 〈…〉 intellectu humâ—â— liber ¶ wherfore hyt is to vnderstonde atte the begynnyng as for a pryncypalle and generall rule of dyuerse ymagynacyons that folowen after in thys booke that the descryuyng of speches or dedes of god in heuen and angellis or other ghoostly substaunce ben only wreten in thys manere and to thys entent that is to saye as deuout ymagynacoÌ„ns and lykenes styrynge symple soules to yâ— loue of God and desyre of heuenly thynges For as saynt Gregorye sayth therfore is the kyngdome of heuene lykened to erthely thynges that by tho thynges Gregorius in Omelia Simile est reg oe th that ben vysible and that man kyndely knoweth he be stered and rauysshed to loue and desyre ghoostly inuysyble thynges that he kindely knoweth not ¶ Also saynte Jhon sayth that alle tho thynges that Jhesus dyde ben not wreten in the gospel wherfore we mowen to styrynge of deuocyon ymagyne and thynke dyuerse wordes and dedes of hym and other that we finde not wreton so that it be not ageynste the byleue as sainte Gregore and other doctours sayen that holy wrytte may be expowned and vnderstonde in dyuerse maners and to dyuerse purposes Soo that it be not ageynst the byleue or good maners And so what tyme or in what place in thys book is wreton that thus dyde Nota bene or thus spake our lorde Jhesus or other that ben spoken of and it maye not be preued by holy wryte or grounded in expresse sayenges of hooly doctours hit shalle be taken none otherwyse than as a deuoute medytacyon that hyt myght so be spoken or done ¶ And so for as moche as in the boke ben conteyned dyuerse ymagynacoÌ„ns of Crystys lyf the. whiche lyf fro the begynnyng in to the endyng euer blessyd and withoute synne passynge alle the lyues of alle other sayntes as NomeÌ„ libri for a synguler prerogatyue maye worthely be cleped the blessyd lyf of Jhesu crist The whyche also by cause hyt may not be fully descryued as the lyues of other sayntes but in a maner of lyknesse as the ymage of mannes face is shewed in the myrrour ¶ Therfore as for a pertynent name to thys booke hyt maye skylfully be cleped the Myrroure of the blessyd lyf of Jhesu Cryste Ferthermore for to speke of the proffitable good mater of this booke the forsayde Clerke Bonauenture spekynge to the woman forsayd in his proheme begynneth in this maner sentence ¶ Bonaueture Incipit AMonge other vertuous commeÌ„dynges of the holy virgyne Cecille it is wreton that she bare alwaye the gospel of Criste hydde in her breste that maye
â—ernard his lord was come before and there he fonde all the holy Trimen or his messager For thou shalt vnderstonde that thys blessid Incarnacion was the hyhe werke of all the holy Trinite though hit so be that only the persone of the sone was Incarnate become man But now beware here that thou erre not in ImaginacoÌ„n of god of the holy Trinite supposynge that these thre persones the fader the sone and the holy ghost ben as thre erthely men that thou feest with thy bodyli eye whiche ben thre dyuerse substauÌ„ces eche departed fro other so that none of hem is other Nay it is not so in thys ghostly substuÌ„ce of the holy Trynyte For tho thre persones ben one substauÌ„ce and one god and yet is ther none of these persones other But yet may thou not vnderstoÌ„de by manÌ„es reason ne conceyue with thy bodyly wytte And therfore take here a generall doctrine in this mater now for algate what tyme thou herest or thynkest of the Trynyte or of the godhede or of ghoostly creatures as Aungels or soules the whiche thou mayst not see in her propre kynde with thy bodyly eye ne fele with thy bodyly wytte studye not to fer in that mater occupye not thy wytte therwith as thou woldest vnderstoÌ„de it by bodyly reson For it wylle not be whyle we be in thys boistoâ— body lyuyng here in erthe And therfore whan thou herest ony suche thyng in byleue that passeth thi kindely reson trowe soth fastly that it is soth as holy chirche techeth goo no ferther And so thou shalt bileue in thys mater of the IncarnacoÌ„n that the second persone in trynyte Goddes sone of henene come in to the erthe tooke flesshe and blood of the blessyd vyrgyne Mary and become veray man yet was he neuer departed fro the fader or the holy ghost in his godhede but euer was dwelling stylle with hem one very god in heuen But now for to goo to oure purpos of the Incarnacion before sayd take hede haue in mynde as thou were present in the pryue chaÌ„â—er af our lady where the holy Trynyte is present with his Aungel gabriel O lorde what how 's is that where suche ghestes ben suche thynges ben done For though that the holy Trynyte is euer where by preseÌ„ce of his god hede Neuertheles thou maist thynke vnderstonde that he is there in a more special maner by reson of hys hyhe werke of the Incarnacion Gabriel that entred in to Maries chambre that was stoken fro men but not fro aungels as saynt Bernard sayth knelynge wyth reuerence beganne his message in these wordes and said Heyle ful of grace oure lord is with the blessyd be thou in wymen or aboue all wymen Mary than herynge this message thys newe gretynge that she neuer herd before was astonyed and abasshed and nought answerde but thought what gretynge thys myghte be She was not abasshet or troublet by ony vycious or synfull distourblynge ne agaste of his presence for was wonte to Aungels presence to the syghte of hem but as the gospel sayth she was astonyed in his worde that was a newe gretynge For he was neuer wonte be fore to grete her in that maner And for as moche as in that gretynge she sawe her self coÌ„mended praysed specially in thre grete thynges in that she was parfyghtely meke she must nedes be abasshed in that hyhe gretynge For she was commeÌ„ded that she was sul of grace that oure lord was with her yâ— she was blessyd aboue all wymÌ„en And for as moche as the parfyÈte meke maye not here his praysynge withoute abasshement shamefastnes Therfore she was abasshed astonyed wyth an honeste shamefastnes and also with drede for though she trowed wel that the AuÌ„gel said sothe Neuertheles she drede his word for as mykel as they that ben parfytely meke haue that propirte that they rewarde not her owne vertues but rather taken hede to their owne defaultes where thorugh they mowen aâ—gate profyte vertuously holdyng in hem self a grete vertue lytyl and a lytyl defaulte grete And so as wyse and were as shamefast and dredeful she helde her pees ansuerd not Here mayst thou take ensample of Mary fyrst to loue so lytary prayer and departyng fro men that thou mayst be worthy Aungels presence And ferthermore lore of wisdome to here or thou speke and for to kepe scyleÌ„ce and loue lytyl speche For that is a ful grete and proutfytable vertue For marye herde firste the Aungel twyes speke or she wold answere ones ageyne And therfore hit is an abhominable thyng and grete repreef to a mayden or vyrgyne to be a grete iangler namely a Relygyous Ferthermore after the gospel the auÌ„gel beholdyng her semblauÌ„ce and knowynge the cause of hir abasshemente and drede answerd to hir thoughte and spake more homely callynge hyr by name sayd Drede thou not Marye and be thou not abasshed or ashamed of yâ— praysing that I haue grete the with for so is yâ— trouthe and not only thou arte ful of grace in thy self but also thou hast founden speciall grace of god and recouerd grace to al mankynde Bernarâ— For why Loo thou shalt coÌ„ceyue bere a chylde thou shalt calle his name Jhesus that betokeneth sauyour for he shall saue fro synne dampnacoÌ„n al his peple that trewely hopen in hym ¶ Here sayth saint Bernard God grauÌ„te that my lord Jhesus vouchesauf to nombre me amonge his peple so that he saue me fro my synnes For sothely I drede that many Notâ— shewen hem as they were of his peple the whiche he knoweth not ne hath not as his people And as I drede he maye saye to many that semen in his peple more religyous more holy than other this people worshippeth me wyth lyppes but sothely her herte is ful ferre fro me But wolt thou knowe where thou be of his peple or wylt thou be of his people doâ— that our lord Jhesus bydeth in the Gospel and the lawe the prophetes and also that he byddeth by his mynystres and be Bernarâ— buxome to his vykers yâ— ben in holy chirche thy soueraines not only good and wel lyuynge but also shrewes and euylle lyuynge And so lerne of Jhesu to be meke in herte and buxome and than shalt yâ— be of his blessyd peple But here now ferthermore what the Aungel speketh in praysynge of thys childe Jhesus he shall be grete not in temporal lordship and worldly dygnyte â—or that he shall forsake but he shal be grete god and man grete prophete in myracles wyrchyng grete doctour in sothfaitenes prechyng grete coÌ„querour in myghtely the deuylle ouercomynge And so worthyly he shal be cleped the sone of all ther hyest lorde god the whiche shall yeâ—e hym the sete of daâ—id his fader for he shall take mankynde be borne in flesshe by deseÌ„te of his aucestrye And he shall regne in the hous of Jacob euermore
Also thou must kepe loue scylence not spekyng but in tyme of nede or edyfycacoÌ„n and ferthermore or thou be borne that is to say or thou shewe thy self outwardly by word eyther by opynyon of perfeccoÌ„n thou must abyde the tyme of ix monethes that is whyle yâ— arte not parfytely grouÌ„ded in vertues and in knowynge of goddes lawe for the nombre of the x. commauÌ„dements to keneth perfeccion of the lawe therfore that yâ— is lesse toke neth inperfeccoÌ„n wherfor as the chylde that is borne byfore his kyndely tyme is vnable to tryue so who soo wyll shewe hym outward by worde or by dede holy parfyte or the tyme that he be parfytely groweÌ„ shapen in vertues within forth he is vnable to stande as a man in tyme of temptacoÌ„n by goostly strengthe and to profyte of other of hym self wherfor closynge wythdrawynge to oure power all our mynde fro vanyte and lustes of the worlde besye we vs to coÌ„forme vs in clennes of herte to our lord Jhesu that for our sake wold so closed in the wombe of hys blessid moder Mary Also to B styre vs to compassion and to suffre wyth Jhesu penaunce dysease in thys worlde we shold consydere and haue in mynde that he was in contynuel affliccoÌ„n fro the fyrste tyme of his coÌ„cepcion in to the last tyme of his dethe specially pryncipally for yâ— he knewe his fader of heuen whome he loued soueraynly soo in vnworshyp of synful men forsaken for man metry mysbeleue of that grete coÌ„passion that he had to the soules made to his ymage so wretchidly for the most party dampned This was to hym more peyne than his bodyly passion dethe For why to put awey mysbileue destroye N this dampnacoÌ„n he suffred that deth that passion And so shold euery trwe louer of Jhesu haue compassion and be inwardly sory not only for the mysbileue of Jewes and saracenes and her dampnacoÌ„n but also and moche more for the wycked lyuynge of vntrue Cristen men In soo moche that shold by to him more passioÌ„ ghostly disease whaÌ„ he knewe or sawe a soule perisshe thoruÈ dedely synÌ„e than the losse of ony wordly catel or than his owne bodyly dethe â–ª for yâ— wille charite And soo in this forsaid processe we haue profytable doctryne good ensample Fyrste in our blessyd lorde Jhesu of penaunce suffryng of perfite charyte true compassion Also in his moder mary of profouÌ„de mekenesse and pacyence in tribulacoÌ„n and in hir husboÌ„de Joseph of vertuous riÈt Quare virgo Maria fuit despon sata Joseph wisnesse agaynst fals suspecoÌ„n And yf we wolde wyte why and whereto our lady was wedded to Joseph sythen he had not to doo wyth her bodely but she was euer clene mayden Hereto answeryng ben thre skylles Fyrst for she sholde haue comfort solace of man to hir bodely seruyse and wytnesse of hir clene chastite The secoÌ„de is that the merueilous birth of goddis sone shold be helyd and preuy fro the deuyll And the thirdde that she shold not ben diffamed of auoultrye and so as worthy the dethe â–ª after the lawe be stoned of the Jewes And thus endeth the fyrste parte of thys booke that stant in contemplacoÌ„n for the moneday and for the tyme of the Aduent into the natyuyte of our lord Jhesu whos name wyth his moder Mary be euer blessyd wythouten ende Amen ¶ Of the natyuyte of oure lorde Jhesu Capitulum Sextum WHat tyme that ix monethes fro the concepcion of the blessyd Jhesu drewen to an ende Cezar August the emperoure of Rome sende â–ª out a mauÌ„demente or an heste that alle the world subgette to hym shold be descryued so that he myght knowe the nombre of regyons of cytees And of the heedes loÌ„gynge to hym that weren subgette to the emperour of Rome And herefor he ordeyned bad that al men where so euer they dwelleden shold go to the Cyte of her firste byrthe propre lygnage wherof Joseph yâ— was of the lygnage of Dauid whoo 's Cyte was Bethelehem tooke with hym hys blessid spouse mary that was that tyme grete with childe and weÌ„te fro nazareth vnto that Cyte Bethlehem there to be noÌ„bred amonge other as subgette to the Emperour And so ledynge with hym an oxe an Asse they wenten all that longe weye to gyder as poure folke hauynge nomore wordly good but tho two bestes And what time they cameÌ„ to Bethlehem for the grete multytude that was therin that same tyme for yâ— same cause they myght gete no lodgynge but in a comyn place bytwene two houses that were hyled aboue men for to stande therfor the rayne and was cleped a dyuersory They were neded to reste in a byde al that tyme. In the whych place Joseph that was a carpenter made hem a closer a cratche for her bestes Now take here good hede and haue inwardly coÌ„passion of that blessyd lady and mayden Mary how she soo yong of soo tendyr age that is to saye of xv yere and grete wyth childe as nyghe the byrth trauayllynge that longe weye of rl myle and x. or more in so grete pouerte And yet whan she came to the Cyte forsayd there she shold reste asked her barow in diuerse places shamefully among vncouthe folke all they werned them and lete hem goo And so for nede atte last they took as for herburgh that comyn place afore sayde â–ª But now ferthermore for to speke of the blessyd byrthe of Jhesu And of that clene holy delyuerauÌ„ce of his dere moder Mary as it is wryten in party by reuelacion of our lady made herof to a deuoute man whan tyme of that blessyd byrthe was come that is to say the sonday at mydnyght goddes sone of heuen as he was coÌ„ceyued in his moders wombe by â— holy ghost without sede of maÌ„ so goynge oute of yâ— wombe without trauaylle or sorowe sodenly was vp on hyhe at his moder feete anone she deuoutly enclynyng wyth souerayne Joye took hym in hir armes and swetely clyppyng and kyssyng leyd hym in hyr barme with a ful pappe as she was taught of yâ— holy ghost wesshe him al aboute with hir swete mylk and so wrapped hym in the kerchyef of hir hede and leyd hym in the cratche and anone the oxe the asse knelynge doune leyden doune they re mouthes on the cratche brethynge at her noses vpon the childe that they knewen by reason that in that cold tyme the childe so symple hiled had nede to be warmed in that maner And than his moder knelyng doun worshipped loued god inwardly â–ª thankynge seyenge in thys maner Lord God holy fader of heuen I thanke the wyth almy myÈte that thou hast yeue me thy dere sone and I honoure the almyghty god goddes sone myne Joseph also honorynge worshyppynge the childe god and man tooke the sadel of the asse and made therof a quyschyn our
effectuelly of ony other prayer the Pater noster yf it be sayd truly wyth deuocion and specially by that peticion askinge Fiat voluÌ„tas tua sicut in celo et in terra that is to saye Oure â—ader in heuen thy wylle be doone in al thing as in heuen so in erthe And so yf it be best to vs for to be kepte fro fyer or water or sodeyne deth or ony other bodily perylle wyth oute doubte our fader of heuen god wylle yeue it vs after the forsayd peticion with rightwys linyng els not saye we neuer so many priuate prayers For as we rede al daye of diuer se martirs saintes that somÌ„e were brente somme drowned and in other diuerse maners putte to shamful dethe as to the worlde and that was best to hem encreace of her Joye and blisse of heuen wherfor it had ben a grete open foly to hem as we may well were to haue prayed for to be kept fro suche bodily harmes or perils as ayenst sodeyne deth it is spedeful to many men for to haue suche dethe shamful to mannes syghte As saynt Gregory telleth by Ensample of the prophete Abdo that was woryed of the lyon that god purged of tyme here ryghtwys men by suche shamful dethe For as holy writ Jusâ—ê° simoâ— te â—occupatê° fuâ—â—it in refrigeâ—â—â—â—â—it te wytnesseth sothely the ryghtwysman yf he be ouercome by ony maner of bodely dethe his soule shal be saued and be sette in reste euerlastynge Neuertheles we prayen ofte that lawfully to be kepte fro sodayne dethe but that is vnderston de that we be not combred wyth dedely synne therinne to deye withoute repentauÌ„ce of herte shryfte of mouthe and therto as I hope is moost beste effectuel prayer the pater noster specyally in the two laste petycyons and askinges therof by the whyche we prayen almighty god fader of heuen that he suf freth vs to falle to be combred with temptacyon of dedely Et nâ—noâ— i ducas inâ—â—p taâ—â—onâ— synÌ„e but that he kepe vs and delyuere vs fro all wyckednesse And though it so be that the matere of this worthy prayer be so plentiuous also the thesyre of the wryther herof were to speke more there of Neuertheles for it is writen in so many other places as I hope suffysauÌ„tly and also for the grete processe that foloweth after we leue this matere at thys tyme al the fructuous sermons that our lord JhuÌ„s made to his discyples in that hyll before goynge downe with him by deuoute contemplacion and beholdinge how that after that noble lesson taught in the hyll as it was skylful for the hyghe per feccion therof our lord JhuÌ„s cam downe with that meke tâ—lke of his disciples spekyng also homely with hem by the waye they as the chykens of the henÌ„e folowen him with mikel ghostly lykynge coueytynge eche before other to be neâ—â— hym and here is vertuous swete wordes ¶ And after he was come downe mykel peple cam ageinst him bringinge diuerse se ke folke many as the gospel telleth by processe the whiche al he ful of mercy heled made hole bothe in body in soule ¶ And thus shotly we passen here ouer mykel processe of tye gospel many chapiters of the forsayd boke of boâ—aâ—â—uâ—â—t for the litil edificacion of hem as it semeth nedful to simple soules to yâ— whiche this boke is specially writen in englisshe as it hath ofte be sayd here before And so leuyng this processe in many places we shall only telle the notabylytees therupon shortely to edyficacion AmeÌ„ ¶ Of the seruauÌ„t of CeÌ„turio the sone of the litil kynge heled of our lord Calpin â—â—â— IN this Gospel in that our lord ihesus mekely vnpraâ—ed wente bodely to hele the seke seruauÌ„t and wold not go to the kinges sone praied our pride is reproued in that we â—oÌ„ coÌ„â—â—â— suphiaÌ„ muÌ„â—â— noâ—um in the contrary maner ben redy leue to goo to Ryche men and myghty that we maye beworldly worshipped by and to please them and do the seruyce that we may for worldly me de but we ben loth to go to poure men and simple or to helpe hem in her nede for ghostly mede leest it were ageynste our worshyp as saynt Gregory noteth in thys place ¶ Of the paletike maÌ„ leide done in his bedde by the hous heling heled of our lord JhuÌ„ Captm xx IN this gospel NoÌ„de iâ—iâ—mi taâ—ibê° corpo ralibê° spuÌ„ alibê° we haue ensample doctryne that ofte sythes bodely sykenes cometh of ghostely sikenes that is sinÌ„e and that the helinge of ghostly sekenes is ofte cause of bodyly hele In that our lord first foriaf to yâ— paletike his sinÌ„es after heled him of the bodily palesye ¶ Also here we may see the grete vertu of true bilyue in yâ— yâ— the feith the biliue of one man helped saueth another as the feyth of the berers of this paletike man saued hym also in the next chapytre before the feithe of Centurio De â—â—ute fidei gate he le to his seruauÌ„te And also here after the feithe of the woman Chananee saued her douÈter And so it falleth now al daye that children baptysed after dede before the yeres of discression ben saued in the feith of their godfaders thorugh the meryte of crist this is openly ageinste somme heretikes that helden the contrary opinion ¶ How that Martha was heled of hyr sykensse by touchynge of the hemme of our lord clothinge Captm xxi The gospel nameth not the woman that was heled by the Finibria vestimeÌ„â—a bin touching of the hemme of JhuÌ„s clothinge But saint Ambrose and other doctours sayen that she was Martha the syster of mary Maudeleyne by the hemme of Jhesus clothynge as sainte Bernerd saith may be vnderstonde euery meke seruauÌ„t of god the whyche in ony vertuous dede that he doth oweth to knowe truly herte and openly knowleche by mouthe that only god is principall doer therof and noughté he as the clothe heled not but our lord JhuÌ„s that wered that cloth ¶ Of the Conuersyon of Mary Maudeleyne Captm xxii OVre curteis lord Jhesus was prayed of Symon the leprose on a daye to ete with him and therto he grauÌ„ted gladly came to mete as he was wonte to do oftsythes both of hys owene curtosie also for the loue the zele that he had NoÌ„ de cuâ—â— alâ—tateâ— dom 〈◊〉 Iâ—â—â—â— to the sauacyon of manÌ„es sowles for yâ— wyche he was made man for so etyng wyth hem benygnly comining wyth hem he drowe hem to the loue of hym Also for as mykel as he made hym self so pertitely poure that he toke none pocession of worldly godes for hym self as for hys therfore thruÈ that loue of pouerte he that was the mirrour of mekenes what time that he was prayed or beden to mete toke it for the tyme the place mekely
ensample of true repentaunce and penauÌ„ce that is Vâ—â—â— peniteÌ„cia ê“ peccatis CoÌ„te a lollardos NoÌ„ de coÌ„teâ—â— ioÌ„e nedful to forieuenesse of sinÌ„es shewed in this woman Maudaleyne as we haue herde the whyche penaunce as alle hooly Chirche techeth stant in sorow of herte in shrift of mouthe and in satisfactoÌ„n of dede But here paraueÌ„tur somme men thynkyng after the fals oppynyon of lollardes that shryft of mouth is not nedefull but that it sufiseth only in herte to be shriueÌ„ to god as the forsayd womaÌ„ was â–ª for the gospell telleth not that she spake ony word by mouthe yet was her synne fully foryeuen as it is sayd as it semeth this is a grete euydeÌ„ce NoÌ„â—â—sâ— for that opinion But here to is an answere resonable that our lord JhuÌ„s to whome she made hir coÌ„fession in herte was there in bodily preseÌ„ce very god man to whome by vertu of the godhede was al 's open the thouÈte of herte as is to man yâ— speche of mouth as oft sithes the processe of the gospel tellethe specially here opeÌ„ly bothe of yâ— woman also oâ— the pharisees thouÈt wherfor yâ— thouÈt of herte was only thaÌ„ to him as mykel as is now therwith speche of mouthe to man bodily And for as moche as now in the newe lawe what tyme that we synÌ„en dedely we offenden him not only after his godhede but also after his manhede that he bought vs with fro synne and ghostly dethe Therfore vs behoueth to do satisfaccion to him after bothe kyndes by true penauÌ„ce knowelechynge oure trespaces both to god and man askynge foryeuenes And sy then we haue not here his bodily preseÌ„ce as Maudaleyne had therfore in hys stede vs behoueth to shewe to the preest by worde that we haue offendid him as man as we shewen to hym by repentauÌ„ce in herte that we haue offendid hym as god yâ— is to say at yâ— lest by dedely synÌ„e For therby only we ben deê‘ted fro him and vnkindely lesen the grete benefice that he gaf vs in his manhede wherfore yf we wyll be restored ageyne and knytte to hym as we were before in grace we muste doo satisfaction not only to hym as to god but also as to man that we haue soo forsake by dedely synne in manere as it is sayd ¶ And soo as holy Chyrche hath resonably ordeyned and beden knowleche by mouth make oure confessyon truly of oure synne to the prestes that he hath specyally ordeyned in hys stede as hys vykers here to by thoo wordes of the gospell that he spake to his dysciples when he sayd to them thus ¶ what so euer ye bynden in erthe it shall be bonden in heuen And what soo ye vnbynden in erthe shall be vnbonden in heuen ¶ Of this true penaunce nedefull for dedely synne not only by repentauÌ„ce in herte but also by shrifte of mouthe to the preste in godes stede yf we may For more our lord god afketh not And therwyth of due satisfaccion folowyng we haue parfyte Ensample opeÌ„ly shewed in this blessid woman that was before so synfull Mary maudeleyne in the processe before sayd of this Gospell as it is open ynoughe touchyng the firste parte and the laste that is to saye repentauÌ„ce and satisfaccyon ¶ And as to the Seconde that is confession though we rede hit not of hir by worde speking for that was no nede to hym that knewe fully her herte our lord JhuÌ„ the re beyng in his bodily presence as it is sayd Neuertheles she shewed the affeccion of this confession parfitely in dede in that that she wold not shewe hir to hym pryuate as synfull askynge mercy as she myght haue done betwyx him and hir or els before his discyples but sparing for no shame that is a grete parte of penauÌ„ce in confession she chese the place and the tyme where it myghte be to hir as open repreef shame that was in the hous of the pharysee of the whiche she knew wel hauynge indygnacion and despyte of the sinfull and also at the mete whan hit shold be moste wondringe to him al his ghestes vpon her for the repreef shame that she had of her synÌ„e was so grete withinforth that she foryate all shame reprefe wythoute forth And so in that dede she knowleched openly her synne in generall and also by wyll in special not refusinge for to haue herd it reherced and openly tolde of hym that she cam to our lord Jhesu the whiche as she wiste well knewe in specyall the leste parte therof and that myght resonably haue reprehended hir openly of it or he hade foryeuen it But our curtois lord ful of grace and mercy sawe that very contricyon in her herte and that gode wyll grounded in true byleue that he was very god that myght fully foryeue hir NoÌ„ fideÌ„â—â—aâ—iâ—ateÌ„ ri quisitis in coÌ„tricione vera synÌ„e as hym lyked and therwith that she had full hope to haue his grace foryeuenesse and also the feruent loue that she had to hym the whiche thre vertues ben nedefull to euery maÌ„ yâ— wyll haue foryeuenes of synÌ„e And so wythoute ony more penauÌ„ce he fully foryaf all her synÌ„es and bad her goo in pees that was pees of coÌ„science fully made bytwene hir god and man for hir true feyth bilyue in the whiche were grounded parfitely hope charite as it is sayd had made hir sauf And so shall it the moste synfull man that is or euer shall be â–ª yf he haue it truly grounded in his herte by veray contricion as she had for thenne withoute doubte he wyll not spare for ony shame to knowleche hys synÌ„e by worde openly to man in goddes R 〈…〉 stede as she dyde by wyll to hym that was bothe god man as it is sayd But here parauentur semeth to somÌ„e men that as the synfull man shall folowe this woman by true forthin kyng of his synÌ„e so shold the preste folowe our lord in lyght foryeuynge shewed therof enioynyng no more penauÌ„ce than R 〈…〉 â–ª he dyde therfore But here answere holy doctoures that sayen that the contricion and the forthynkynge of synne may be so grete and so parfite that it suffyseth wythoute ony more penauÌ„ce to full foryeuenes there of the whyche there as it is yf the preste myght see and fully knowe he shold yeue no more penauÌ„ce But for as mykel as man seeth not the herte as our lord JhuÌ„s god man dyde and so may he not knowe it but in party as by tokens wythoutforthe therfore as to the syker parte he shall enioyne penauÌ„ce for synne more or lasse as holy chirche hath ordeyned And wold god that all synfull people wold folowe this womaÌ„ in true forthynkynge thenÌ„e with N 〈…〉 i bâ— oute doubte they sholde haue of god full foryeuynge were the penauÌ„ce more or lesse of the prestes enioynynge Ferthermore in the forsaid processe of the
sugestyons Therfore he fell downe as he dyde And soo we maye see that couetyse of grete lordshype hyghe myghte pryued the angell of angels blysse and desyre of grete connynge despoyleth man of the Joye of endeles lyfe And of bothe myscheues was grounde and cause delyte desire of vayne worshyppe wherfore seenge this peryll of vayne worshyp yf we drede the falle of the auÌ„gell of man we muste flee in wylle fro bothe thyse hylles of hye lordshyppÌ„ grete cuÌ„nynge and goo vp wyth our lorde JhuÌ„ in to the hylle of coÌ„templacoÌ„n deuocoÌ„n by mekenes forsakyng the worlde the wyll to be worshypped of the comyn people as he dyde But in this fleenge fro the peple and goynge of hym allone in to Notabile â—â—â—â— the hyll as it is sayd before in the processe of the gospell take we hede ferdermore to our edifycacoÌ„n how he lefte his discyples and made hem ayenst her wyll to take the shyppe goâ— in to the see wythoute hym For they wolde not her thonkes haue ben departed fro hym And in that was her desyre good for to dwelle euer wyth her lorde Neuertheles he ordeyned otherwyse seenge what was best for hem And soo thenÌ„e they mekely diden as he badde and were obeyssauÌ„t to hym though nota q̄◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 spuÌ„â—â—â—â—â—edâ—â—b aâ—a ◠〈◊〉 dâ—â— ad â—â— it soo were that it were neuer soo greuous harde to hem â–ª Thus it fareth comynly wyth ghostly lyuers by specyall felinge of the presence of JhuÌ„ of his absence in her soule thâ—â— wold not that euer he shold goo fro hem as by specyall ghostly comforte in ony tyme But he dooth other wayes For he gooth comyth as it is his wyll and for her best But what shall suche a deuowte sowle doo whan she felyth her ghostly spouse JhuÌ„ soo wythdrawen towchynge his speciall comforte Sothly she behouyth besily ofte calle hym agayn in con tynuell desyre deuoute prayer and in the meane tyme paâ—yâ—tly suffre the absence of her spouse and by ensample of the disciples of JhuÌ„ that thrugh obedience at his biddynge wenten in to the shyppe and token the water in his absence Suffre the wawes tempestes of temptacoÌ„n aduersyte and pacyeÌ„tly abyde tyll he wolde of his grace come in to that soule and make reste pees as it shall folowe after in the processe next to come Of this mater saynt Beruarde in diuers places ma keth a fayre processe and deuoute the whiche for asmoche as it longeth is pertyneÌ„t specyally to ghostly folke â–ª and also as I hope it is wryten suffyciently in dyuers tretees of conteÌ„pla coÌ„n we passen ouer here as we done in many other places suche auctorytees of hym leest this processe of crystes lyfe shold be tedyous to comyn peple and symple soules to the whyche it is specyally wryten AMEN ¶ Of the prayer of our lorde JhuÌ„ in yâ— hyll and how after he came to his disciples vpoÌ„ the water goyng Caplm xxvii AFter the discyples of our lorde JhuÌ„ were gone in to the shyppe the water as he badde hem and as it is said be fore he went vp in to the hyll alone and there was he ocupyed in prayer in to the fourth parte of the nyghte soo that thre partyes of the nyght that were past he had contynued in prayer And notabil de orâ—e thus we rede oft tymes he yaaf hym to prayer where fore take we here gode entent in what manere he prayed and how that he loweth him in his manhede and mekith hym to his fader of heuen He chesith solytary places and gooth to heÌ„ alone to praye and dooth his tender body to penauÌ„ce wakyth longe wakynges he prayeth as the true herde for his shepe For nÌ„ qualâ—â— Jhs orat he prayeth not for hymself but for vs. and as our aduocate mediatour bytwene the fader vs And also he prayeth to ensaÌ„ple of vs that we sholde ofte tymes praye and specyally loue prayer For ofte tymes he badde his dyscyples taughte hem for to praye And soo that he badde hem by worde he shewed hymself in dede He taught hem sayd that it behoueth is nedefull euer to pray and not fayle in leuynge therof shewynge that coÌ„tynuyng oft askynge in prayer getith at last wythoute fayle that thynge that is asked and herof he tolde ensaÌ„ple of yâ— Luce. xviii domesman that at last thrugh longe cryenge askynge of the wydo we dyde her ryght as the gospell of luke telleth Also to styre hem for to praye and trust for to gete that they asken he tolde a nother ensaÌ„ple of a frende That at last thrugh moche askynge lente to his frende the brede that hym neded as the same Luc. xi gospel tellith in processe coÌ„cludynge sayenge thus Asketh it shall be yeueÌ„ to you And al this he sayd to teche vs yâ— vertue of good prayer the whiche may not be estemed for the vertu Notabil therof is soo myghty so grete that it getith al godenes puttith awaye al maner of wickydnes wherfore yf thou wolt patiently victâ— oroÌ„ mâ— multipler suffre aduersytees and myghtely ouercome teÌ„ptacyon diseases be thou a man of prayer Also yf thou wolt knowe the sleyghtes of the deuyll be not begiled wyth his fals suggestyoÌ„s be a man of prayer Also yf thou wolt take the hye way to heuen by traueyle penauÌ„ce of the flessh therwyth gladly contynue in goddis seruyce be a man of prayer Also yf thou Hâ—mâ— oroÌ„â—â— wolt put away vayn thoughtes and fede thy soule wyth holy thoughtes ghostly meditacoÌ„ns deuocoÌ„ns be a maÌ„ of prayer Also yf thou wolt stable thyn hert in good purpose to god dis wyll puttyng away vices plaÌ„tyng vertues be a man of prayer for thrugh prayer is goteÌ„ the yeft of yâ— holy ghost that techeth the soule yâ— is nedefull therto Also yf thou wolt come to heuenly conteÌ„placoÌ„n and fele the ghostly swetnes that is felt of fewe chosen soules and knowe the grete gracyous yeftes of our lorde yâ— maye be felt but not spoken be a man of prayer For by the exercise of prayer specyally a man cometh to coÌ„teÌ„placoÌ„n the felynge of heueÌ„ly thynges Here may we see of how grete ghostly myght vertu is deuoute prayer and to coÌ„fyrmacoÌ„n herof of all those thynges that ben sayd before yâ— holy Nota de simpliâ— wrytt doctours sayeÌ„ges fully preuen Ferdermore we haue a specyall proue in that we see euery daye by experyence many meÌ„ symple vnlettred bi yâ— vertue of prayer gete haue al tho thynges yâ— ben sayd before many more gretter yeftes of grace wherfore moche oughte all cristen folke be styred to yâ— exercyse of prayer but pryncypally they that ben religyous whose manere of liuynge is ordeyned more specyally herto Of this vertue of prayer and how our lord yeuyth to hym
grutchith in the for fayth grutcheth And yf fayth be in vs thenÌ„e cryst is in vs so in this maner of grutching is hope of vprisyng For after this wepyng trowblyng as the processe of yâ— gospel I telleth our lord IhuÌ„s asked where they had put lazar not for vnknowing but in spekyng in maner of man in token ghostly of a strauÌ„gnes of his grace to hem that ben ouerlayed wyth dedely synÌ„e for the tyme Neuertheles he hath alwaye coÌ„passyon of the synful And his mercy is redy to all yâ— woll truly aske it For after he had asked where they had putt hym they sayden ayen Lorde come see thenÌ„e he wept And yâ— Jewes yâ— there were sayden â–ª loo how he loued hym And so he shewed the affeccoÌ„n that he hath to the synfull as he sayth in yâ— gospel I came not to calle the rightwis but the synÌ„ers to penauÌ„ce But now goo we to yâ— graue of lazar folowyng our lord IhuÌ„ wyth all that meyne that is to saye the two systers martha mary and the apostles Jewes many that were there that tyme to comforte the systers And as oure lorde wolde to see bere wytnesse of that solempne worthy myracle and so we maye see by deuoute ymagynacoÌ„n how our lorde IhuÌ„s gooth before bytwene the ii sisters talking homly wyth hem they wyth hym shewyng to hym the grete dyscoÌ„fort sorow that they hadden of her broders deth And specially for asmoche as they durst not bydde hym come to helpe hem kepe him fro de the for drede of the malice of the Jewes that they knewe had coÌ„spired in to his dethe and how they were hyely coÌ„forted theÌ„ne of his presence But neuertheles therwyth they had grete drede of hym by cause of the Jewes And thenÌ„e how our lord benyngly coÌ„forted hem again and bad hem not drede of him for al sholde be for the best at the faders wyll And so talkinge togyder they camen to the graue that was couered wyth a grete stone aboue ThenÌ„e bad our lorde IhuÌ„s that they sholde take awaye the stone and they abasshed for the grete tender loue that they had to hym dredynge the horribylyte the styuke of carayne that it sholde ought of feÌ„de hym sayden â–ª Lorde now he stynketh for he is iiii dayes dede shewynge therby that they had none hope of his liuynge ayen But our lorde ayenwarde coÌ„forted her byleue and makyng the stone to be taken awaye Afterwarde liftynge vp his eyen to heuen sayd Fader I thanke the. for thou herdest me and sothly I wote well that thou herest me euer But I saye this for the peple that here stant yâ— they byleue that thou haste sente me And whan he had sayd thus he cryed wyth a grete voys Lazar come oute of thy graue O lorde IhuÌ„ what nede was the to crye Sothly as saynt austin sayth to shew in ghostly vnderstoÌ„ding how harde it is to augusti â–ª hym for to reyse to lyfe a soule that is ouerlayed with the stone of dedely synne in custome How many ben there sayth saynt Austyn in this peple the whiche ben ouerlayed wyth this heuy burden of wycked custome PeraucÌ„ture some beren me that ben ouercome wyth lechery or gloteny that the appostle forbedeth hem where he sayth thus wyll ye not be dronken wyth wyne in the whiche is lechery And they sayenge again Nolite iÌ„ briari vi no we may not and soo forth of other grete mysdedes wyckydnes that god forbedeth holy chirche whan it is sayd to hem dooth none of thyse leest ye peryssh they ansuerynge sayeng we maye not leue our custome O lorde JhuÌ„ reyse thise folke as thou reysedest lazar for thou arte sothly as the resurreccoÌ„n or vprisyng lyfe How heuily this stone of wicked custome ouerlayeth men in all degrees not onÌ„ly lered lewde seculers but also religyous nyghe by in all astates who soo woll speke N ayenst her wycked customes he shall know sothly by experyence that there is noo remedye but onÌ„ly JhuÌ„ O lorde JhuÌ„ crye to all thise men with an hye voys that is to saye shewe thy myÈte teyse hem to lyfe of grace puttynge away that heuy stone of wycked custome as thou reysedest lazar For after thi crye and at thy biddyng he rose vp and wente out of his graue but yet bouÌ„den hondes fete tyll he was losed and vnbouÌ„den by thy discyples at thy byddynge This is a grete wonder as saynt augustyn sayth to many men how he myghte goo out of the graue wyth his fete bouÌ„den But it is moche more wonder how he rose fro dethe to lyfe that was foure dayes dede and beryed And wyth that body of a stynkynge careyne But what tokenyth all this sayth saynt Augustyn Sothly this it tokenith whan thou doost a grete synÌ„e bi conteÌ„pt thou arte ghostly dede And yf thou contynuest customably therin thenÌ„e arte thou dede beried And whan thou forthinkest within forth and shryuest the and knowlegest thy synne wythout fourth For thenne rysest thou and goost out of thy graue For it is nought elles to saye goo forth out but shewe and make knowen outwarde that is preuy wythin forth And this knowynge shewynge of synÌ„e makyth onÌ„ly god cryenge wyth a grete voys that is to saye wyth his grete grace callynge But N yet though he that was dede be reysed and goone oute of his graue Neuertheles he dwelled bouÌ„den that is to say gylty in to the tyme that he be losed vnbouÌ„den by goddis mynystres to whom onÌ„ly he gaaf that power sayenge thus to hem Al that ye vnbynde in erth shal be vnbouÌ„den in heuen Al this N sayth saynt augustyn in sentence In the whiche we maye see openly a suffycient auctoryte agaynst hem that reprouen confession ordeyned by holy chyrche and also the assoylyng of curates sayenge falsly that it is ynough generally to euery man for to shryue hym onÌ„ly in his herte to god And that prestes curates of holy chirche haue nomore power to assoyle of sinnes than a nother man but that god allonly assoyleth none other in his name But now leuyng the fals opynyons go B ynge to the ende of our forsayd processe what tyme that Lazar was reysed to lif by our lord JhuÌ„s as it is sayd and after vnbouÌ„den by his discyples he his systers wyth grete Joye lowely thanked JhuÌ„s of that souereyn bienfete and laddeÌ„ him home wyth hem to her hous makynge moche myrthe And thenÌ„e the Jewes that there were woÌ„dryng hyghly of that grete myracle some torned in byleue to JhuÌ„ and some yeden tolden yâ— pharisees that JhuÌ„s had done and so was it publyshed opeÌ„ly knowen in somoche that grete multytude of Jerlm the couÌ„tree theraboute camen to sce lazar that was reysed And thenÌ„e were the prynces of the Jewes the pharisees all confused and thoughten casten for to slee lazar
of John â–ª wherforÌ„ they thenÌ„e prayden John the same And he an suerde that he wolde lede her in to mount Syon where theyr mayster supped on the daye before at eueÌ„ wyth his discyples and there wold he abyde wyth her And soo they lowely saluenge our lady and worsyppyng the sepulture yeden forth her waye ¶ What was done of our lady and other after the berienge of Jhesu Caplm xlviii WHan it drewe to nyght John spake to our lady and sayd â–ª It is not honest for duelle here lenger and for to come in to cyte in the nyghte wherfore yf it be your wyll goo we hens and torne we agayne And therwyth our lady ryseth vppe And wyth all hem knelynge blessed and kyssed the sepulture and sayd My sonne I maye noo lenger stonde here wyth yâ— but I recoÌ„mende the to thy fader And thenÌ„e lyftyng vppe her eyen to heuen with teeres and Inwarde affeccoÌ„n sayd to the fader almighty Euerlastynge fader I recoÌ„mende to you my sonne And my sowle the whyche I leue here wyth hym And therwyth they beganne to goo alle theyr waye And whan they camen to the crosse â–ª there she kneled downe and honoured the crosse and sayd Here made my sone his ende and here is his precyous blode and soo dyden all that other For thou mayst thinke vnderstonde that she was the first that honoured the crosse as she was the first that honoured her so ne borne And after fro thens they token yâ— way towarde the cyte and oft by the waye she loked agayn towarde her sone whan they came there as they myghte nomore see the crosse our lady all other kneled honoured it wepyng And whaÌ„ they came nyghe the cyte our ladyes systers hyled her face in maner of a morning wido wâ—they yede beforÌ„ our lady foloued after bitwix mawdleyne John soo couerde the face TheÌ„ ne mawdleyne at the entree of the cyte desirynge to haue oure lady to her hous before the takynge of the waye â–ª that ladde thidwardere she spake to our lady sayd My lady I praye you for the loue of my mayster that ye wol lete vs goo to our hous in to Bethanye where we maye beste abyde For as ye knowe wel my mayster loued wel that place and came gladly ofte tymes therto And that hous is yours wyth all that I haue wherfore I praye you that ye woll come And here theâ— began to wepe But our lady holdynge her pees and makinge sygne to John for to ansuere And mawdaleyne prayenge hym for the same matere He ansuerde and sayd It is more semely that we goo to mount Syon namly for soo we ansuerde and sayd to our frendes wherfore come thou rather wyth her to that place Thenne sayd mawdleyne to John Thou knowest well I woll goo wyth her whether soo euer she gooth And that I shall neuer leue her After whan they camen in to the cyte there camen on al sydes maydens good maâ—â—ones to her gooyng wyth her and sorowyng comfortyng in her manere And also good men that wenten by hadden grete coÌ„passion of her and weren styred to wepyng saydeÌ„ Soothly this daye is done grete wronge by our prynces to the sone of this lady and god hath shewed grete tokens wonders bi hym Auise hem what they haue done And whan they camen nygh the place where they wolde reste our lady bowing lowely to the ladyes that camen wyth her thankyng hem they ayeuwarde to her token her leue of other makynge grete lamentacoÌ„n sorowe And thenÌ„e our lady mawdleyne and the other systers of our lady yeden in to that hous And John after be had woyded the other wymÌ„en and thaÌ„ked hem shitt the dore after hem ThenÌ„e they beynge soo all hemself togider our lady lokynge aboute the hous and myssyng her loued sone JhuÌ„ with grete sorowe of herte complayned her â–ª and said O John where is now my dere sone that soo highe specyall affeccoÌ„n had to the O mawdleyne where is thy mayster yâ— soo tenderly loued the and thou soo gladly seruedest hym O my dere systers where is now my sone Soothly he is goon awaye fro vs. he that was all our Joye our comforte And the lyghte of our eyen ye soothly he is goon And that wyth soo grete anguyssh payne as ye all seen And that is that encreasyth my sorowe that in all his paynes we might not helpe hym His discyples forsoken him His fader almyghty wolde not socour hym And how soone all those thynges ayenst hym were doon ye knowen and haue seen was there euer ony theyf or woors dooyng man soo soone dampned put to soo pyteous dethe For loo the laste nyght he was taken as a theyf and erly on the morough brought before the Justice â–ª at tyerce daÌ„pned at sext on the crosse haÌ„ged at none deed now beryed O my dere sone a bitter departyng was this â–ª and a so roufull mynde is this of thy foulest horryble dethe Thenne Johan prayed her to stynte of suche soroufull wordes and to seace of wepynge And comforted her in the beste manere yâ— he coude ¶ And thou also bi deuout ymaginacoÌ„n as thou were there bodily present comforte our lady and that felyshyp Prayenge hem to ete somwhat For yet they ben fastynge and after to slepe But that I trowe was full lityll And soo takynge theyr blessynge goo thy waye att this tyme ¶ What our lady and other wyth her dyden vpon the saterdaye Caplm xlix ERly at the morough vpon the saterday stoden in the for sayd hous the yates sperde our lady John other wymÌ„en before named in grete mornynge sorowe hauynge in mynde the grete trybulacions anguysshes of the daye before not spekynge but by tymes lokynge on other in manere as they done that ben ouerlayed wyth grete myscheyf sorowe knowen none comforte ne none socoure And therwyth they herde one knocke at the yate And thenÌ„e they dreden sore For all thynge in that tyme they dradden by cause that her sykernesse coÌ„forte was awaye Neuertheles John went to the dore â–ª and vnderstondyng that it was peter tolde hem soo And our lady badde vndoo the dore and lete hym in And peter â—â—mynge 〈◊〉 with grete shame wepynge sobbynge saluted our lady â–ª and other but nought spake And therwyth they all began to wepe and myghte not speke for sorowe A lytyll whyle after camen other disciples one after a nother in the self maner at yâ— begynnyng makynge sorowe wepynge But at yâ— last whaÌ„ they seaceden of wepynge and began to speke of her loâ—de â–ª peter fyrst sayd in this wyse I am ashamed and confouÌ„ded 〈◊〉 myself and I sholde not by reason speke in your presence or appere in the syghte of men For asmoche as I left soo cowardly forsoke soo vntruely my lorde that loued me somoche And in the same maner all other smitynge her hondes
tempted of the enemy we shold not wonder though we wretches ben ofte sythes tempted for not oonly he was tempted in these thre tymes But also as saint Bernard saith in other dyuer se tymes as the Apostle saith that he was tempted in all maner temptacyou that longeth to the infirmyte of man wythoute synÌ„e Ferthermore whan the enemy was fully ouercome gone away angels comen serueden and mynystreden hym Meditacio â—â—uoâ—â— But now here take we good hede â–ª and beholde we inwardly oure lorde Jhesu etynge alone and the AuÌ„gels aboute hym thynke we deuoutely by ymagynacion tho thynges that folowen herafter For they ben ful faire and styrynge to deuocoÌ„n And so fyrste we maye aske â–ª what maner of mete it was that the Aungels serueden hym of after that longe fast â–ª Herof speketh not holy wrytte wherfore we maye here ymagyne by reason ordeyne this worldly feest as vs lyketh not by errour affermynge but deuoutly ymagynynge and supposyng and that after the comyn kynde of the manhede For yt we take hede and speke of his myghte after the godhede there is no question For it is no doubte that he myght make what hym lyst â–ª And also haue of tho that ben weren made at his owne wille But we shall not fynde that he vsed this myght and this power for hym self or for his disciples in her bodyly nede But for the peple to shewe his godhede we reden that at two tymes he fedde hem myraculously in grete multitude of a fewe loues and fysshes but of his disciples is wryten that in his owne presence they plucked eeres of corne eten hem for honger as it shal folowe herafter ¶ Also what tyme he hym self was wery of the way and satte vpon the welle spekynge with the womaÌ„ Samarytane we rede not that he made mete for to ete but that he sende his disciples in to the Cyte to begge her mete so it was not lyckly that in thys tyme after his fast bodily honger he purueyed his mete by miracle fythen in thys tyme he shewed oonly his manhede and also there was no peple â–ª therfore to wyrche myracle to her edificacion as comynly he dide but oonly Aungels were there present And sythen in that hylle was noo dwellynge of men ne mete redy dyÈt we shall suppose that AuÌ„gels broughten him manÌ„es mete all redy dyghte fro another place as it befelle to the prophete Danyel ¶ For as holy wrytte telleth what tyme Danyel was put in the pytte of lyons and Abacuk a nother prophete bare mete to his repars in the felde goddes Aungel took hym vp by the here of his hede bare hym fro thenâ— in to babylonye to Danyel for to be fedde wyth that mete And after anone he was borne ageyne ¶ And so in that manere lete vs ymagyne here with ghostly myrth as it were rehetynge oure lorde â–ª Jhesu at his mete and also hauynge in specyally his dere moder thynke we deuoutly in this manere what tyme sathanas was reproued as a fals temptour and vtterly dryuen away holy Aungels in grete multitude comeÌ„ to oure lord Jhesu after his vyctory and fallynge downe to yâ— erthe deuoutely honoured hym and salued hym as theyr lord and Almyghty god And oure lord benyngly and swettely to ok hem vp enclynyng to hem with his hede as hit were knowlechyng hym self veray man and in that somwhat lasse lowed fro AuÌ„gels And thenÌ„e speken the AuÌ„gels saydeÌ„ thus Oure worthy lord ye haue longe fasted And it is now youre tyme to ete what is youre wille that we ordeyne for you And thenÌ„e he said goo forth to my dere moder what maner of mete she hath redy brynge to me For there is none bodyly mete so lykynge to me as that is of hir dyghtynge And anone two of theim goynge forth sodeynly were before hir â–ª and with grete reuerence gretynge hir of hir sone behalfe tolde their message And so of that symple mete yâ— she had ordeyned to hir self Joseph the Aungels token with a loof and a to wel and other necessaryes and broughten hit to Jhesu And perauenture there with a few smale fysshes that oure lady had ordeyned thenÌ„e as god wold so therwyth the Aungels comynge spradden the towel vpon the grounde leiden brede theron and myldly stoden sayden graces with oure lord Jhesu â–ª abydynge his blessyng tyl he was sette ¶ Now take go Vide solitarie â—t resluse od entente here specially thou that arte solytary and haue in mynde why thou etest thy mete alone as withoute manÌ„es teliship the maner of this mete And how lowely oure lorde Jhesê° sytteth downe to his mete on the bare grouÌ„de For there had he neyther bancquerre ne quysshen and take hede how N curteysly and how sobirly he taketh his mete notwithstondynge his honger after his longe fast The angels serueden hym as her lord perauenture one of brede another wyne another dyÈt fysshes some songen in the stede of mynstrelsy that swete songe of heuen and soo they reheteden and couÌ„forted her lord as it longen to them with mykel Joye medled with coÌ„passion This teliship hast thou though thou see hem not whan thou etest allone in thy celle yf thou be in charite and specyally when thou hast thy herte to god as ye owe to haue after the byddynge of the apostle the whiche saith to vs that whether we eten or drynken or ony other thynge doo all we shall doo in the name of oure lord the whyche name Jhesus we shall algate blysse and thanke hym in herte haue we mykel haue we lytyl haue we good haue we badde and soo ete oure mete though we ben alone as though we seene bodyly the blessyd Aungels that ben presente ghostly And here with hauynge inward compassion of oure lorde Jhesu and beholdynge in mynde hym that is Almyghty god souerayne lorde and maker of alle the worlde that yeueth mete to alle flesshely creatures soo meked and in maner neded to bodyly mete and therewith etynge as another erthely man mykel owe we to loue hym thanke hym and wyth a gladde wylle take penaunce and suffre dysease for hym that soo moche hath suffred for vs ¶ Ferthermore as to the processe when our lord Jhesus had eten and sayd grace that is to saye thanketh the fader in his maÌ„hede of that bodily refeccion He badde the AuÌ„gels bere ageyn to his moder that was lefte tellyng hir that he shold in shorte tyme come to hir ageyne And whan they hadden doo as he badde were come ageyne that was in ful shorte tyme. he spake to all the Aungels that weren there and said God ageyne to my fader and youre blysse and recoÌ„mendeth me to hym and to all the Courte of heuen For yet it behoueth me to doo my pylgremage here in erth a whyle a none therwyth they fallyng downe to the erthe deuoutely askynge his
blessyng after he had blessyd them wenten vp ageyn to heuen tellyng there these tidynges of his gracious vyctory And therof was all the blessyd Courte reioysed fulfilled in myrthe thankynge of god And thus in thys maner we may thynke ymagyne the forsaid processe to styrynge of oure deuocion as by way of meditacion in the whiche processe ben many good notabylitees touchyng temptacion of man in this world of the wiche saynte Gregory other doctours spekeÌ„ in the exposicion of this Gospel Duet â–ª est Jhesus in deserto cetera And specially Crisostome in in perfecto the whiche for they ben suffisauÌ„tly wryten not only in latyn but also in Englisshe we passen ouer at this tyme Spekynge ferthermore of the tornynge ageyne of oure Lorde 〈…〉 Jhesus home to his moder at Nazareth And thenÌ„e whan he wente downe fro that hylle and cam to Jordan Johan Baptiste as soone as he sawe hym come towarde hym wyth his fynger puttynge toward hym shewed hym and sayd loo the lambe of god loo he that dooth a way the synÌ„es of the worlde He hit is vpon whome I sawe the holy ghost reste what tyme I baptysed hym ¶ Afterward also a nother day whan Johan hadde shewed hym as he dyde firste Andrewe and Peter with other disciples speken wyth hym and hadden a begynnynge of his knowleche as Johan telleth in his Gospel Afterward oure lord Jhesê° lefte that Countre â–ª and took the waye towarde Galilee tyl he came to his moder at Nazareth whome we shall also folowe by coÌ„passion of his grete trauaylle all that longe waye of lxxiiii myle as it is said before And what tyme that he was come home and his moder had the syghte of hym noo wonder was though she was gladde ioyeful in so mykel that there may no tonge telle â–ª wherfore anone she rose clippynge and kyssyng hym welcomyd hym home and thanked the fader of heuen that brought hym sauf to hir But there with beholding his face lene pale she had grete coÌ„passoÌ„n and he ayenward reuerently enclynynge dyde hir worshippe as to his moder also to Joseph as to his trowed fader And so dwellid he with them as he dyde before me kely but in another maner of lyuynge as by shewynge withoute forth of his perfeccion more and more as it shal shewe Nota bene pro ordine capituloruÌ„â— modo sâ—ribeâ—di in sequâ—ntibus hereafter But for as mykel as it were longe werke peraueÌ„ture tedious bothe to the reders to the herers herof yf al the processe of the blessid lyf of Jhu shold be wryten in Englissh so fully by meditacions as it is yet hyder to after the processe of the book before named of Bonauenture in latyn therfore hereafterward many chapitres longe processe that semeth lytyl edifycacoÌ„n in as to the maner of symple folke that this book is specyally wryten to shalle be lefte vnto it drawe to the passion the whiche with the grace of Jhu shalle be more playnly coÌ„tynued as the mater that is moost nedeful moste edyfyenge And before oonly tho materes that semen moost fructuous and the Chapytres of theym shalle be wryten as god wille yeue grace wherfore as the same Bonauenture B byddeth thou that wilt fele the swetnes and the fruyte of these meditacions take heede algate and in all places deuoutly Vide iÌ„ coâ— ê“xio seque ti qd hic omittitur in thy mynde beholdynge the persone of oure lorde Jhesu in all his dedes as whan he stante with his disciples and whan wyth other synful men And whan he preched to the peple And how he speketh to theym And also whenÌ„e he wyrcheth myracles â–ª so forth takynge hede of all his dedes his maners and pryncipally beholdynge his blessid face yf thou canst ymagyne it that semeth to me moost hard of all other but as I trowe it is moost lykynge to hym that hath grace therof And soo what tyme that synguler me ditacions ben not specifyed this generalle shal suffyle AmeÌ„ ¶ De apercioÌ„e libri iÌ„ sinagoga notatur in capitulo sequeÌ„ti ¶ How oure lord Jhesus began to teche and gadre disciples Capitulum xvi AFter that oure lorde Jhesus was come home ageyne to Nazareth fro his baptisme and his temptacion as it is sayd he beganne a lytil a lytil to shewe hym self and to tech pryuely and in party For as openly and fully we rede not that he took vpon hym thoffyce of prechynge all that yere folowyng that is to saye vnto that tyme that he wrought the first myracle at the weddyng that was that self day a twelue moneth that he was baptised And though he or his disciples precheden in the meane tyme other whyle Neuertheles it was not so fully nor so customably done before that Johan Baptiste was taken emprisoned as after And in that he gaf vs ensample of a wonderful mekenes when touchyng thoffyce of prechynge he gaf stede to Johan that was mykel lesse with oute comparison more vnworthy than he And soo we may see that he began not with boost blowynge as many done but with mekenesse lytyl lytyl softely wherfore vpon a sab botte daye when he was come in to the synagoge as he was wonte to doo with other as in the chirche of Jewes he rose vp for to rede in maner of â–ª a mynyster or a Clerke And whan there was take hym the book of the prophete ysaye he tornyd to that pace where it is wryten soo he redde in this maner The spyryte of oure lord hath rested vpon me wherfore he hath anoynted me and for to preche to the poore he hath seÌ„te me cetera And thenÌ„e whan he had closed the booke taken it to the seruauÌ„t he sat down and thenÌ„e he spake ferthermore This day is this scripture fulfylled in youre ere 's Now take hede of hym how mekely at begynÌ„ynge he took vpon hym yâ— offyce of a reder as it were a symple clerke fyrste with a benigne and lowely chere redynge and after expownyng it me kely of hym self yet not openly expressyng or menyng hym self when he said this day is fulfilled this scripture as who seith I that rede this this daye am he of whome it speketh And the eyen of all that were in the Synagoge were sette be sely in hym And alle they wondred of these wordes of grace that yeden oute of his mouthe And no wonder for he was soueraynly fair also moost eloquente As Dauid saith of hym also Thou faire in shappe passyng the chyldren of meÌ„ Specioâ—ê° â—oâ—â—a pre 〈…〉 s homi num and grace is shewed in thy lyppes Ferthermore also our lord Jhesus besyenge hym aboute oure sauacoÌ„n beganne to clepe gadre to hym dysciples and soo he cleped Peter Andrew thre tymes Fyrste tyme when he was aboute yâ— water of Jordan as it was sayd before and thenÌ„e they comeÌ„ somwhat in De