wyll saye thus to theym Venite benedicti patris mei Come ye my faderis blissed children receyue ye the kyngdom of heuen that is ordeyned to you and soo reherse to theym the vii werkes of mercy whan I was hungry ye gaaf me mete Sitiui et dedistis michi bibere whan I was thursty ye gaue me drynke and whan I was herberles ye herbered and soo forth all the werkes off mercy For whan ye gaf ony thynge in my name it was to me Thenne shall our lorde rebuke the riche people that wold not doo for his loue nor forgyue noo trespasse for his sake And saye to theym ¶ Discedite a me maledicti in ignem eternum Goo ye cursed people in to euerlastinge peyne of helle For whan I was a hungred ye gaue me noo mete c. ThaÌ„ maye they be full sory and woo that euer our lorde Ihesu Criste shall thus rebuke theym For ther shall noman of lawe to plete nor for golde nor syluer nor other yeftes to helpe For than shall nother mayster nor lordeshyp helpe but all be sette besyde but right as a man hath done soo shall he haue And ther shall be dyuerse accusers bothe aboue hym and benethe hym and on euery syde aboue hym shall be our lord Ihesu Criste his domes man Iratus est furor domini in populo suo wythout mercy to theym that dede no mercy and so accuse theym of the â—â—st thought that euer was amys On the right syde his angell tellyâ—◠〈◊〉 where whan and how ofte he â—yde amys On that other syde fendes chalengynge hym theyres as by ryght for his wycked dedes Vnder hym â—elle redy if he be founde in synne that daye they shall be peyned and in peyn wythout ende That daye poure people shall â—â—â—te wyth cryste at the dome And done the ryche people for the grete wrongâ—s that they dyde to them and they myghte gete none amendes tyll the daye off dome Thenne they shall haue theyâ— wylle of the ryche people For whan the ryche done the pore wronge they can doo nomore But praye to god to quyte theym at the daye of dome And soo he wyll for god sayth thus Michi vindictâ—m et ego retribuam ¶ Put all to me â–ª and I yelde euery man after his deseruynge Therfore whyle ye ben here make ye amendes for your wyckednesse And maâ—e them youre frendes that shal be your domes men at the day of dome And truste nat to them that shall coÌ„me after you leste ye be begyled And drede the payne of hell that neuir shall haue ende ¶ Narracio ¶ Saint Bede tellith howe there was an husbond man in Englond that fyl seke and ley dede from the euyn tyll on the morowe Thenne he rose and departed his godes in foure parties all his owne parte he gaue to pore meÌ„ and wente and was a monke in an Abbey that was nigh the water syde into the whiche water he went euery nyghte wâ—â—â—n neuir so colde and stode therin longe and suffred grete penaunce And whan he was asked why he dyd so to suffre that grete penaunce he sayde to 〈◊〉 we a greter payn that he had seen â—nd he wolde eâ—e but barly brede drinke water all his lyf after and tolde ii religiouse men the peynes that he hadde seen And they were so grete that he coude nat tell them openly He sayd that an aungell ladde him into a place there that oon syde was so colde that noo tongue myght tell the peyne therof And the other was so hoote that no man myghte tell the peyne therof And soules were caste oute of that one into that other that was a grete payne to them And the aungell shewyd him the fyre that came oute of hell that was so hoote and so ferre as him thought he mighte se it he thought it brente him and in the leaâ—â—e therof he sawe soules boile vp and downe cryenge and waylinge for woâ— Also he herde fendes crye caste out hote â—ede and brymstone to make their peines greter and so they tormentyd the soules in peyne Nowe lorde for thy grete mercy haue mercy on vs and kepe vs fro tho peines and bryng vs to the blis of heuyn that neuir shall haue endyng Amen ¶ Dominica in septuagesima GOod men wymen this daye is called in holy churche the soÌ„day in septuagesme for cause that holy churche is modre of all cristen people she taketh good hede to the children as a good modre oweth to doo and forasmoche as she seeth him full sory sek in synne and many of them wounded to the dethe with the swerde of synne the whiche synne hath caughte all this yere to fore and namely this cristeâ—â—asse tyme that was ordeyned in holy churche for grete solempnyte For euery maÌ„ shulde be besy to serue god with al his power bicause that criste him self shewyd that daye swetnesse of loue to al cristen people For man he was that tyme and in the same flesshe and bloode as one of vs and layde in a cradyl more pourely than any of vs and was cristenyd in water as one of vs And also he came to a weddynge for to clense it from synne and to make vs holy and bretherne to him and heires to the kyngdome of heueyn ¶ For these causes all cristen people owen to be full gladde in their soules as in the tyme makinge solempnite and myrthe and making them bothe clene in body and soule from all maner of synnes And groÌ„dynge them in grete sadnesse of loue to god and to all cristen people doynge greate almes to theym that haue nede ¶ But nowe the more harme is for that high and solempne feste is torned into fylthe synne and grete sekenesse to the soule as pryde by diuerse wyse in clothynge and in many diuerse guyseâ— vsynge into grete couetyse and into lechery that suythe alwaye glotony in slewth in goddes seruyce as â—apes and vanyte syngynge rebaudrye spekynge For vanyte causeth moche slouthe for emonge suche people he is moost worthy that mooste of harlatry can speke Thus these solempne and hygh festys that were ordeyned to grete worshippe of god and of our lady and al the saintes in â—â—uyn now been torned into greate offence to god ¶ wherfore oure mâ—dre holy churche seynge her children in suche dispayre as a moodre full of compassion sory in heâ—â—â— her for theym This day leyeth downe alleluya and other songes of myrth and melody and taketh Tractus that been songes of mornynge Also for this holy sacrament of weddynge is moche defoyled by vanyte of synne Therfore it is leyd downe thesâ— daies and in aduente For many that been nowe wedded yeuyth theym all to luste and lykynge of the bodyes of flesshely luste of this worlde And thinketh full lytell of the dethe that is full greuouse that coÌ„meth so sone after but as it is redde by greate clerkes It is more spedefull to 〈◊〉 soule to 〈…〉 an house there as is a 〈◊〉 and
a lyue or noo And that they mette by Ioseph and for to preue the trow the he made to bynde one of them that hyghte Symeon And sayd that he shuld abyde wyth hym tyll they had fette hym that was atte home And so he lete fylle her sackes wyth corne preuyly put her mony in to her sackis vnwetynge to hem And so whan they came home to her fader and putte out her corne they fonde her mony ¶ And they tolde her fader but thenne he was sory for Symeon his sone that was lefte behynde in pryson And more ouer that he muste nedys sende for Hym whiche he loneth moste and that was Beniamyn Ioseph hole brother For thyse other were but halfe brederne to Ioseph but whan Iacob fayled corne he must nedis sende for more And he sente forth Beniamyn And whan Ioseph sawe his brother Beniamyn he myghte not forbere wepyng And anone delyuered hym his brother symeon and sette hem all to mete and fylled her sackes wyth corne and pryuely put the cup that they dranke of in Beniamyns sacke and badde hem go her waye But anone after Ioseph sente after theym and sayde they were to â—lame whyle they had soo good chire 〈◊〉 bere awaye a cuppe that they draÌ„ke of Thenne they were heuy and sadde and sayde it was not soo and he raÌ„ â—aked hem by and by ¶ And thenne they founde it in BeÌ„iamyns sacke theÌ„ne came they ayen to Ioseph sore wepynge And whan Ioseph sawe hem all wepe and his owne broder Beniamyn made moost sorowe For it was founde wyth hym ¶ Thenne Ioseph bad hem all bee of good chere For I am Ioseph your broder And be noo thynge adred For god hath me sente heder for youre profyte and anone sente after his fader and soo dwelled all to gyder a grete whyle in the londe with moche prosperyte ¶ This story is red this weke in holy chirche For goddis children shold take ensample off olde faders to suffre tribulacion and persecucion mekely in parfyte charite for goddis sake As he suffred for vs. ¶ For who that grucheth ayenste trybulacion and persecucion that god sendeth must shryue hym and take his penaunce For there is some people wyll saye why dooth god thus by me what haue I trespassed agayn hym they be in great peryll for her penaunce For truly wordes may lette moche grace ¶ Narracio ¶ we fynde in myracles of wenefrede the virgyn that a man came to her on a nyghte vpon two crotches full off many maner syknes and so by the helpe of god and this holy virgyne ¶ This man was hole and soo wente where he wolde an hole daye in the abbey and thanked hyghly god and this holy virgyne of his hele ¶ Soo at nyghte he wente to his bedde in good hele And on the morowe his sykenes toke hym ayen sorer than it dyd before and soo leye cryynge that it was grete pyte to here Thenne came a monke to hym and asked hym what he had done that his syknes was come ayen and he sayd nothynge Thenne said the monke were thou shriuen sith thou were hole and he sayde nay I had noo nede For I stale nother oxe nor cowe nor dyd noo gryuous synne Thenne the monke thoughte thoughe a man doo noo dedely synne he maye doo so many venyall that they maye make a dedely synne for ryghte as a man may wyth many smale cornes charge a stronge horse soo maye he lade his soule wyth soo many smale sinnes that he maye falle in the pytte off helle Thenne anone this man wente to a preeste and shroue hym and soo was hole bothe in body and soule euer after by confessioÌ„ and preyers of this holy virgyne Amen ¶ Dominica iiii quadragesiÌ„e â—Ood men and wymmen this is the fourthe sonday in lenton the whiche holy chirche maketh mencion of an holy prophete that was called moyses the whiche was a fygure of our lorde Ihesu Criste many yeres or our Lorde was borne Thenne as we rede in holy chirche as Moyses was in the deserte of Synay God spake to hym and sayd ¶ Vidi afflictioneÌ„ populi mei qui est in egipto clamorem eius audiui c. ¶ Pharao the kynge of egypte oppresseth soo the peple of Israel wyth bondage and vnresonable werkes And they for woo cryde to me for socoure helpe wherfore goo thou thyder and brynge hem oute of her bondage and I shall be wyth the. thenne bryng hem and offre hem to me I wyll brynge hem in to a londe of plentuousnes off all goodis Soo whan he had taught Moyses how he sholde doo Moyses went thyder and gadered all tholde peple to gyder that knewe the prophecye how they shold be ladde oute of that londe and sayde to hem as god bad hym thenne were they full glade and wente wyth hym olde and yonge tyll they came to the rede see and god was euyr byfore hem in the daye in a pyler as a cloude to refresshe hem fro the hete of the sonne And in the nyghte in a pyler off fyre to lyghte hem fro harme of venym beestis But whan that pharao herde that moyses hadde forth this people he toke thre hondred Charâ—ottis of his owne and thre hondred of the londe and xl thousande horsmen and thre hondred thousande fote men and went after And whan Moyses sawe this peple come he prayed to god for helpe And god hym selfe bad hym smyte the see wyth his yerde Et percussit mari rubro And whan he had smytten the see â–ª he had way for hym and his people The see cloue in two partyes Soo that the water stode stylle on euery syde as an hyll and the grounde was dâ—eye sonde Thenne Moyses yede forthe and all the people after hym Thenne wende pharao to haue passed also and sewed after with all his ofte but whaÌ„ he had his oste wythin the see the water went to gyder drowned hym all his oste And whan moyses sawe that he his peple were peryshed thus he thanked god was there vii dayes after and euery day they yede to the see thankinge god of her passage makynge great melodye that our lord had done soo to them And yet in mynde herof all ester weke we make solempne procession to the fonte that is the rede see ¶ Thenne wente moyses forthe wyth his people in to deserte tylle he came to the hylle of Synay and there he lefte the peple benethe Stabat moyses super monteÌ„ ¶ And moyses stode vpon the hyll there as god was and there he was xl dayes and xl nyghtes wythoute mete and drynke ¶ Thenne god gaue hym two tables of stone in the whiche god wrote wyth his owne fyngres the ten commaundementes and toke theym Moyses ¶ And bad hym teche hem to his people And whan Moyses came downe to the peple his face was all bryghte as the sonne and two spites stondyng on his hede lyke two hornes soo that the people myght not speke wyth
to a contree that was called pounce where the people of that contrey where so cursed that they slewe ony that come to bee thyr mayster ouer hem Soo whan this pylate come thyder he applied hym to her maners soo what wyth whyles and sotyltye he ouercome hem and had the maystrye gate his name and was called pylate of poâ—â—ceâ— and had grete domynacion and power Thenne the kynge of Iherusalem sent after him and made him lyeuftenaunt vnder hym of the londe of Iury. And for pylate lyked well â—â—office preuely he sente to themperour and had his offyce confermed of hym vnwetynge to the kynge herode Kynge that tyme. wherfore whan kynge herode herde what he hadde done he was soo wrothe that they were enmyes vnto the tyme that oure Lorde Ihesu crist was take and thenne they become frendis ayen and fylle bothe in to one aseÌ„t of Cristis deth Thenne it happed afterward that themperour fylle syke sent after criste for to hele hym For it was tolde hym that cryste heled all tho that euer wolde come to hym of all maner of sykenesse what soo euer sykenesse it had soo bee But thenne had pylate done hym to deth or the messager come Thenne whan themperoure vnderstode that he sent for pylate and made hym come to hym ¶ And whan pylate herde this he was sore aferd take on Cristis cote And soo whan he come to rome to themperour all those that were in preseÌ„ce made pilate good chere all the whyle that he had on cristis â—â—te And themperour swore byfore that he shold be ded Thenne toke of the cote and anone as the cote was off Themperour was sore wrothe wythe Pylate that he putte hym in to a prysoÌ„ tyll he had take counseyll what dethe he shold deye on Thenne as soone as pylate wist and vnderstod that he sholde be dede he toke his owne knyfe and slewe hym self wyth all And whan the Emperour herde therof and vnderstode that he had sleyn hym self And thenne anone he made to bynde a grete stone aboute pylats necke and to caste hym in a water that is called Tyber Thenne whan he was cast therin the fendes made suche a noyse there about that all the Cite of Rome was sore afreyd ¶ Thenne whan Emperour sawe this he made to take hym vp agayn and thenne was he caste in to a water that was betwyx two hie hilles and soo longe tyme after there was in the water many horryble syghtes seen aboute that cursed man Thus Oure Lorde Ihesu Cryste suffred passion and dethe for all mankynde and fyrst whan he was take they dyde buffete hym and stryped hym naked and bete hym wyth scourgis ¶ A vertice capitis vsque ad plantas pedumnon fuit in eo sanitas ¶ That from the hyest place of his hede to the sole of the fete was noo thynge lefte hole on hym but all raw And after made a crowne off thornes and set it on his hede and bete it doune wyth stauis of reede that it perisshed his brayne And whan they had peyned hym soo they lad hym foâ—h all blody Ad montem caluarie To the monte of caluary to th ende off dethe yet wymmen of the Cyte whan they see hym soo fowle fayre wyth all to lougged and all to drawe for very pyte they wepte vpon hym ¶ Thenne sayde our lord to hem Nolite flere super me sed super vos et filios vestros ¶ ye wymmen of Iherusalem wepe ye not for me but vpon you and your children· For there shall dayes come in the whiche ye shall blisse the wombes that were bareyne and the pappes that neuer gaue souke Thus oure Lord preched byfore the vengeaunce that fille after vpon Iherusalem The which prophecye Iheremye the prophete spak of that is redde in holy chirche thyse thre dayes at tenebras the which was soo horryble of many dyuerse myscheues and in especiall off hongre deyde in the stretes Thenne was there a woman was come of grete birthe Tthat for houngre toke her owne chyld that was fedde wyth her pappes and slewe it and parte it in two partyes and than rosted halfe And thother halfe she kepte tyll on the morowe ¶ Thenne as the people come by the strete they had sauour of the roste and anone they come in to haue hadde part therof and whan they sawe the moder roste her owne chylde and sone they were heuy and foule dissmayed and wold not ete therof But wente theyr waye forthe ayen Thenne toke the moder of that child and ete theroff and sayd in this maner wyse This is myn owne sone and myn owne chyld that I bare of my body and fedde it wyth my pappes but I wyll rather ete hit than deye for houngre Therfore I tell you this to shewe you somwhat of the vengeaunce that fyll on Iherusalem after the dethe of oure Lord Ihesu Criste ¶ Thenne they ladde hym to the mouÌ„te of Caluarye And there they streyned hym soo on the Crosse that euery bone of his body myght be knowen one from another And nayled hym honde and fote to the crosse and they lyfte vp the Crosse and the body to gyder And wyth a grete peyce they leâ—e the crosse and the body falle doune to gyder in to the mortesse that all the body dasshed and his bonys craked and his ioyntes brast and veynes and al wouÌ„des brake out of blode Sydes armes legges fete and hondes soo that there was no blode in hym yet they toke a clothe while the blod was hote wouÌ„de it a bout his body tyl the blode was cold theÌ„ne they drew away the cloth pulled away the flesshe fro the bonis this was a grete pyte And soo whan he shold deye he began as IohaÌ„ bellet sayth Deê° meê° respice in me And soo saide al the verses siâ—â—ng tyll he caÌ„me vnto the verse In te dneÌ„ spaui And soo atte this verse ¶ In manus tuas domine coÌ„mando spiritum meum redemisti me domine deê° veritatis· ¶ There he gaue vp the spirite This is a grete ensample that our lorde Ihesu Crist gaue to al cristen that euery maÌ„ shold haue in mynde thise verses And he that can hem say and yf he say hem euery daye he shall not deye no maner myscheuous nor vengeable deth TheÌ„ne after this passion we saye orysons and knelyng at euery oryson saue atte that oryson that is said for the Iewes at that oryson holy chirche kneleth not for by cause iewes in scorne knelynge thre tymes to crist whan they scourged hym Thenne thyse orysons holy chirche prayeth for all maner of people For Iewes sarasyns cysmatiâ—s heretykis But not for crysten people for whyle ony man or woman stondeth a cursed â—he is damned byfore god And dampned shall be at his deth But he repente hym and amende hym whyle he lyueth in this present world ¶ Si scirem pro certo quod pater meus esset iÌ„ inferno
noÌ„ oraâ—eÌ„ pro illo nisi vt pro diabolo ¶ If I wyst for trouth that my fader were dampned in to helle I wolde neuer pray for hym but as for the deuyl of hell for there is noo prayer of holy chirche that helpeth a dampned man thenne after thyse orysons the crosse is broughte forth to the whiche all cristeÌ„ people shold worshyp this day in worship of hym that this daye deyed on the crosse And pray our lord to forgyue vs our trespace as Criste prayde to his fader of heuen to foryeue hem that dyde hym on the crosse ¶ Narracio ¶ There was a knight somtyme and that was a grete lorde and he hadde a worthy man vnto his sone And soo it happâ—â— that another knyght and his man fell atte debate and soo this knight â—lewe hym wherfore the fader off this man that was dede gadered a grete multytude of people and pursued that othere knyghte where someuer he wente to haue slayn hym nyghte and daye soo that he myght haue noo reste but euer he dyde flee for fere of his lyf ¶ Thenne it happed on a good friday this knyght sawe all cristen people go to the chirche And he bethoughte hym that Cryste deyed that daye on the crosse for all mankynde and put hym only on the mercy of almyghty god and wente to the chirche wyth other people to serue god and whan he was in the chirche anone this other knyghte hadde worde and come wyth moche peple in to the chirche and his swerde drawen in his honde for to sle hym and whan this other knighte sawe that and wiste well that had trespaced to hym fyll downe to the grouÌ„de wyth his armes sprad abrode as our lord Ihesu Crist spradde his armes on the crosse said ¶ For his loue that this daye spradde his armes on the Crosse and suffred passion and deyed for the and me and all mankynde haue thou mercy on me And forgyue me thy sones dethe ¶ Thenne this knyghte thought it hadde be to horrible a thinge to smyte hym ¶ whyle that he leye soo and cryed hym mercy soo meâ—ely and anone he put vp his swerde and said to him Now for his loue that this daye deyed on the crosse for the â—ne and all mankynde I foryeue the and to ve hym vp and kysâ—â— hym and anone wente to doo worship to the Crosse knelyng And whan this knighte wolde haue kyssed the fete of the crosse the ymage loseth his armes fro the crosse And beclpped the knighte aboute the necke and kyssed hym and spake thus that all the people herde I foryeue the as thou hast foryeuen for the loue off me ¶ And thus all cristen people sholde doo thenne they shold haue mercy and grace of god and blisse euerlastinge Amen ¶ In die paâ—he GOode frendis ye shall knowe well that this daye is called in many places goddis sondai ye knowe well that it is the maner in euery place of worship at this daye to do the fyre out of the alle and the blacke wynter brondis and all thing that is foule wyth smoke shall be doone awaye and there the fyre was shall bee gayly arayed wyth fayre floures and strewed wyth grene risshes all aboute shewyng a gret ensample to all crysteÌ„ people ¶ Lyke as they make clene her houses to the syghte of the peple in the same wyse ye shold clense your soules dâ—yng awaye the fowle brennyng sinne of lechery put all thyse awaye and cast out all thy smoke dust and strewe in your soules floures of feyth charite and thus make youre soules 〈◊〉 to receyue your lord god at the fest of ester Deponentes omneÌ„ maliciaâ— And put awaye all malyâ—e all sorowe for ryght as ye wyll suffâ—e no thinge in your house that stynketh and sauoureth euyll wherwyth ye may bee deceyued Ryght soo Cryst whan he cometh in to your hous of your soules and he fynde there ony stynke of wrathe enuy or ony other dedely synne â–ª hee wyll not abyde there But anone he goth his waye then cometh the fende in and bydeth there thenne may that soule be sory that is so forsakeÌ„ of god and betaken to the fend thus it is wâ—th those that ben in wrathe and enuy or in ony dedely synne and wylle not forgyue to hem that hath trespassed to hem for noo prayer he shall noo forgyuenesse haue for our lorde saith thus Dimittite et dinuttemiâ— Forgyue ye ye shall haue forgyuenesse And therfore euery Crysten man and woman shold serche well her conscience and make hem able to receyue her sauyor Ihesu crist very god maÌ„ ¶ Narracio ¶ There was somtyme an holy bysshop that prayed ofte besely to god that he myght haue grace to see and knowe whiche were worthy to receyue that holy sacramente and come to goddis borde thenne on a tyme as he shold housel the people He sawe some come wyth her faces as rede as blode and blode droppe oute of her mouthâ—â— And some her faces were as blacke as any pitâ—he and some were fayre and redde and lusty to be holde and some as brighte as ony snowe Thenne amonge all other he sawe two comyn wymmen came and their faces shone and bryght as the sonne than had the bysshop grete merueyll of that sight and pâ—eyed to god to gyue hym reuelacion to wyâ—e what all this betokened theÌ„ne ther came to hym an angel said those that haue blody faces and blode droppâ—th out of her mouthis be enuyous peple and wrathfull and wyl not ameÌ„de hem therof and euer they been bacbytyng and slaundrynge her neyghbours And ben euer redy to swere othes therfore her mouthes shall drop blacke blode tyll they come to amendement And those that hauen blacke faces as pytche ben lecherous and wyll not leue her synne and ben grete· synners in many degrees and wyll not amende hem They that haue theyr faces whyte as ony snowe those be they that haue doon greate synne and ben shryuen therof And ben sory for her synnes for the weping of her eyen had wasshed her soules and made hem clene soo they ben in clene lyfe and truly labour for her lyuynge ¶ And those two comyn wymmen that shyne so bryght passyng al other they were gret synners and were sore aferde whan they came to chirche and toke a greate repentaunce in her hertes that they made a vow to god preyeng hym hertely to take noo vengeaunce on hem And they wolde forsake her synne and neuer doo amysse more wherfore god of his grete gracâ— and 〈…〉 â—oâ—gâ—â—ue them her trespas and all her synnes and the sorowe of her hertes hath soo wasshen her soules that they shyne bryghter than all other and thenne the angell wenâ—â— his waye and the bisshop kneled downe and thanked god for his reuelacion and therfore take ensample by thyse two comen wymmen and be sory for your sinnes and repente you in your hertes and purpose neuyr to
saw the fendis of the ayre flee awaye for drede and fere of his stronge coÌ„mynge that bifore were wounte sparynge no thynge assayl the soules that caÌ„me by theim And thenne they flewe awaye for grete fere of his coÌ„mynge Also the good aungellys caÌ„me in all the haste that they myghte to doo to oure lorde Iesu criste seruyce reuerence and worship Thus for greate woundre that the lower aungelles had of his styenge vp They askyd the hygher aungellys and sayd Quis est iste qui venit de edoz what is this nowe that coÌ„myth oute of the world with blody clothes as he were a kinge of ioye This is he that wyth deth sufferynge rede in his scourgynge seke and ded in the crosse strong in hel bodily in doynge ferfull in risynge thus hath ouircoÌ„me all his enmyes nowe is kinge of glory in heuyn Thenne oure lorde Iesu criste was styed vp into heuyn then his disciples stondynge with his modre for gret woÌ„dre of that sight and also of the melody that they herde in the ayre they loked vp into heuyn and sodenly ii auÌ„gelles clothed al in white stode by them and sayd to them in this wise Viri galilei quid statis aspicieÌ„tes in celum hic iesus qui assuÌ„ptus est a vobis c. Men of galile what stonde ye biholdâ—â—ge into heuyn It is Iesus that is styed vp from you And so he shall come at the daye of dome ayen deme al quycke and dede And therfore all cristen people lefte vp your hertes to oure lorde Iesu criste that nowe is styed vp into heuyn and sitteth at his faders righte honde and is redy to gyue mercy to al theym that wyl aske mercy with a meke herte And therfore ther is no maner of man that may excuse him selue nor haue no maner excusacion but if that he wyll him selue and aske mercy to his lorde god with a meke herte and he shall haue mercy and shal be sauyd For though a man be neuir so synful and he wyll aske mercy wyth a meke herte he wyll yeue him mercy Cor contritum et humiliatum deus non despicies A meke and a contrite herte god shall neuir dispyse For and he wyl aske mercy and be sory for his synnes oure lord wyll take him to his mercy TheÌ„ne for to shewe his grete goodnesse and coÌ„passion that oure lorde hath on mankynd I shall tell you this ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede in the lyf of saynte Carpe howe a man of mysbyleue torned a cristen man oute of his feyth and forsoke his bileue and his cristendome wherfore this holy man carpe was sore wrothe that he fyll in grete sekenesse Anâ— whan he sholde haue prayed god for amendement He prayed god nyghte day that they might haue a bodily vengeaunce Thenne it happed at mydnight as he prayed thus sodenly the house that he ley in cleuyd in foure parties And he loked vp and sawe one hangyd so pytously that it was grete pyte to see And thenne he loked vp to heuyn and there he sawe oure lorde iesu crist with a greate multitude of aungellys sittinge in his trone And he loked vp ayen and thenne he sawe thâ—se ii men stondenge bifore an hote ouen and trymlâ—ge for drede of fendes lyke adders and woâ—mes coÌ„mynge oute of the ouyn to dâ—awe these men into the ouyn wythe theym And so many other fendes com in diuerse lykenesse to helpe that they were in to the ouyn Then was this hooly man Carpe fayne to se these two haue that vengeaunce and was wonder glaâ— therof that he loste the sight of oure â—â—de Iesu and his holy aungyllys for the herte was on these two meÌ„nys vengeaunce and was sory that it was so longe or they were putte vnto their peyne And then he rose went to him self and halpe all that euir he myghte and whanne they were into the ouyn theÌ„ne was he very glade therof And then he loked vp into heuyn and ther he sawe oure lord iesu and he sawe him ryse from his trone for greate pyte and compassion that he hadde on the ii men â—aÌ„me downe to theym and took theym oute of theyr peyne and sayd thus Carpe extende manus tuas coÌ„trame Streâ—he forthe thy hondes ayenste mâ— and sayd thus I am redy and nede were to dye ayen for mankinde rather thaÌ„ to lese them By this ensample ye may see howe â—â—y that oure lorde iesu crist is to all that wyl aske mercy and foryenesse and deserue mercy that is that euery man amend and leue his synnes and be in full wyll and purpose to sâ—ne no more And thus he shall coÌ„me to the grace and mercy of oure lorde Iesu criste that suffred for vs and all mankynde on good Fryday passion this daye styed vp to heuyn the whiche he wyll graunte vs bryng vs al therto Amen Sequitur vigilia penticostes gOode frendes as ye know wele a saturday nexte coÌ„mynge Is wytsondaye euyn And that daye ye shall faste and coÌ„me to the churche to here your seruice and make you cleene to resceyue the holy gooste that the fader of heuyn sendith amonge mankind wherfore I counseyll you and charge you if there be any of you that fall to any syn that he coÌ„me and amend him therof and I wyll be redy to doo all that longeth to me For take this in certayn In the same wyse as a man wyll nat goo to a place there as a stynkyng carreyn is but if he stoppe his nose hye him thens Right soo the holy goost fleeth from the soule that is combred with dedely synne and aungellys wyl stoppe their noses For moche more fowler stinketh dedly synne in the sight of god thanne dooth any carreyne to smell to people And as the holy gooste fleeth to theym that bideth in gode lyf and clenâ— and in parfyt loue and charite And hathe pyte and coÌ„passion of al those that been in disease or tribulation â–ª to suche the holy gooste visyteth aâ—â— coÌ„meth to And with suche as him listeth to coÌ„me to abyde and conforteth techith them in all nede But as the seruyce of this feste is more praysed thenne any other tyme For at this feste holy churche calleth to them and sayth Veni sancte spiritus Come holy goost specially to haue helpe socoure and grace and to haue part of the dole that he maketh at this tyme to all cristen people that been able to resceyue his yestes But ye shall vnderstonde that the holy gooste maketh hys dole in other wise thanne other people For they dele as it lyketh theym Butte the holy gooste delyth to all cristen people that is nedefull and spedefull to them that yefte and some more and some lesse one yefte and some another some he yeueth wysdome in holy scripture to vnderstonde holy scripture he yeuyth grace to haue greate luste and lykynge therin That is for to saye they be
all the reame aboute And thus it was alowed in all holy chirche ¶ Narracio Also we fynde that there was a seculer chanon that on a tyme wente ouer a water to haue doo avowtry wyth a woman And as he was aboute to begynne to saye oure lady maâ—yns and as he was at the Inuytatory that is Aue maria Ther wyth the fende caste hym downe and drowned hym wolde haue had hym to helle Thenne come our lady and sayd why hast thou take this man the fende sayde for we fynde hym in our seruyce goyng to do avowtry Thenne sayd our lady he was in my seruice and anone restored hym to lyf ayen And bad hym do no more synne and bad hym halow her concepcion soo he dyde was a good man euer after all his lyf ¶ Narracio ¶ Also there was a clerke that euery day vsed to say the seruice of our lady Then it hapned by counseyll of hys frendes he sholde haue a wyf whan he shulde ben weddyd he bethoughte him that he hadde nat saide oure lady seruyce Thenne he made all the peple to go oute of the churche while he sayd his seruyce And theÌ„ne he knelyd a doune and saide his seruyce tyll he caÌ„me to an antem of oure lady Quam pulcra es amica mea Thenne oure lady apperyd vnto hym and saide why sayste thou that I am faire and honest why wyll thou than leue me and take a nother Thenne saide he vnto oure lady what wylte thou that I shall doo Thenne saide our lady If thou wylt leue thy flesshly wyf and serue my sone and me I shall be thy spouse and thou shalte haue with me a crowne of euirlastinge lyf in the kingdome of heuyn the whiche god his blessed modre sainte mary and all holy saintes of heuyn brynge vs al the dre nowe and euir Amen Sequitur sermo breuis de sancto thoma gOode men and wymen suche a daye ye shall haue saint thomas day he was cristes appostel and ye shall faste the euyn and do him worshippe specially for thre causes The firste is for the preuynge of oure byleue and for grete woundres in his waye and grete miracles in his day This holy appostyll preuyd so oure faythe that he lefte no trouble For whan the discyples saide that our lord was rysen fro dethe to lyue And they haue seen him and spoke with him Thomas said he wolde nat byleue it tyll he hadde pull his honde into his side into the wound that the spere hadde made Thenne viii daies after whan all the disciples were to giddre and thomas with them theÌ„ne oure lorde iesu criste come bodily to theym and saide Pay vobis Peas be with you and thanne oure lorde sayde to thomas of ynde Mitte manuÌ„ tuaÌ„ in latus menÌ„ Putte thy honde into my syde in to the wounde that was made with the spere that smote me to the herte Et noli esse meredulus And be no lengre out of beleue but be stedfaste in the fayth TheÌ„ne whan Thomas hadde doon so anone he cryed and sayd for grete wondre Dominus meus et deus meus My lorde and my god I beleue that thou arte very god and man Then our lorde saide to him thus BtiÌ„ qui credideruÌ„t noÌ„ videruÌ„t Blessed be they that beleue and se nat For thou that haste seen thou byleueste But yet the taryenge of thomas brought vs to fadder beleue and to the blessinge of oure iesu criste Of this speketh sainte Gregory and sayth Thomas of ynde thou haste holpe more to the fayth that woldest nat beleue tyll thou haddest felyd his woundes thenne mary mawdeleyn that dyd beleue at the firste sighte Minus est enim in maria magdalena que cicius credidit quaÌ„ thomas qui diu dubitauit Thus Thomas preuyd oure feyth beleue that we nede neuir to varye ne to be in doubte ¶ Also thomas dyd from deth to lyf tolde to the kynge yâ— he had seen his palâ—yse in paradyse many merueylles and grete wondres that were in his dayes ¶ Narracio Hit happed that a kynge of ynde sende his messenger Abbanê° indie requireÌ„s artificeÌ„ To seke some crafty men in to the contrey of cesar to seke a carpeÌ„ter that coude make hym a palays to his plesaunce Thenne our lorde IhuÌ„ criste met wyth this Abbanus sente wyth hym thomas in to ynde Also whan thomas abbanus were passed the see they com to a cyte there as the kyngis doughter was wedded the same daye wherfore all maner of peple were commaunded to mete So amonge al other people thomas abbanus come in And were set to mete But thomas ete not for his thoughte was euere off god had no luste to ete Thenne come a boteler to thomas smote thomas on the cheke and badde hym ete thenne sayd thomas to hym Non hunc surgam donec manus que me percussit a canibê° aufertur I shall not ryse from this place tyll the honde that smote me be brought wyth a dogge Thenne anone after the boteler went after water and a lion met with hym and slew hym dranke his blode and ete of his body and thenne come a blacke dogge caught that honde that smote thomas and brought it in to the hall in the syghte of all the people layd it downe byfore thomas Thenne was there a woman that vnderstode thomas wordes anone â—neled dowâ—ne to thomas and cryed and said thoâ— arte god or elles one of his disciples For ryght as thou wylt soo it is TheÌ„ne the kynge prayed to thomas to blesse his doughter and her husbande theÌ„ne thomas was glad therof ¶ Cepit ergo predicare beatus Thomas Therfore the blessed thomas began to preche and tolde them of our lord ihesu crist that he tourned the man that was wedded the same daye from his wyff a none and made hym bisshop of the same Cite his wyff anon and they were martirs after for crystis sake TheÌ„ne wente thomas forth in to ynde to the kynge to make hym a paleys to his plesaunce Soo whan Thomas was come to the kynge he was gladde ¶ And delyuered thomas a grete soÌ„me of gold to make a palays wyth Thenne rode the king forth in the meane tyme. And whan thomas sholde haue made this paleyse hym thought it was better to make a paleyse in heuen than in erthe and deled his golde amoÌ„ge poure peple and conuerted them to the feyth Thenne come the kynge home and went that his paleyse had be redy And whan he herde how Thomas and abbanus had done he wold haue put them to deth But it happed that his owne brother was dede the same time ¶ And therfore he putte theym bothe in to pryson in to the tyme that he had buryed his brother ¶ Thenne as god wold whan his brother had laye longe dede he rose
ben cristen peple be well ware lest ye be disceyued by any false sorcery as by taking couÌ„ seyll of a man a fore a nother In byenge or sellinge or lenynge In the whyche haue some diuerse opyniones And if they be well shreuyn they be worthy for to haue grete penauÌ„ce for their mysbeleue for that coÌ„meth of the fende and nat of god This day is called the circumcision of oure lorde For as holy churche tellith this day he was circumcised and bledde his blode for our sake For whanne the flesshe was cutt he bledde faste and was full sore for he was but yong and tendre and but viii daies olde and therfore he bled the more Thenne ye shall vnderstond that he bledde v tymes for vs. Quinque enim vicibus sanguinem suum ê“ nobis effudit The first tyme that he shedde his blode was as this daye whanne he was circumcised A nother was for fere of his passion For right as a child wepyth for fere whanne he seeth the rodde hathe noo harme Soo the flesshe of our lord swete bloode for drede of astroÌ„ger passion that was coÌ„mynge The thryd tyme was in his flagellacion whanne he was beten with scourges â–ª soo that all his body ranne on rede blode The iiii tyme was whanne he was nayled hoÌ„de and fote on the crose The v. tyme was whanne that longius perryd his herte with a spere the water the blode come oute of his woundes and then they tooke vp the crosse with the bodye and lyfte it vp on hye and sodenly they lete the crosse fall downe in the morter se that all the senouse veynes and io 〈…〉 tes brake and blode and water come oute of euery wounde this he suffred for vs Thenne sithe criste was circumcised and shedde his bloode for vs that was withoute synne and circumcision is for synne remedye help why wold he be circumcysed that dyd no synne Sanctus augustinud dicit ê“pteer quatuor causas Saint Austyn sayth it was for foure causes The firste was for to make a sethe with the iewys For elles they wold and might haue saide that he had natt been of their lawe wherfore they wold nat resceyue him nor consente to his techinge this was to desceyue the fende For right as the fend disceyued Adam and eue so all mankynde was daÌ„pned so it fel to crist to desceyue the fend where through all mankynde mighte be sauyd Than whan the fende sawe that he was circuÌ„cised as an other childe child for yf he had knowe hym verely that he had come to haue boughte man kynde he wold neuer haue tysed the iewes to haue put hym to deth And this was the cause that our lady was wedded to Ioseph for to dysceyue the fende for the fende sholde wene that Ioseph had ben his fader and not conceyued of the holy goost The third cause why he was circumcysed that was in confermynge of the olde lawe in greate comforte to the olde faders that were of the olde testament For and yf he had be cristened and not circumcysed it had be a grete discomforte to al that were before thâ—â—carnaciouÌ„ of our lord Ihesu criste The fourth cause of his circumcysion was for our lorde wyste well that there wolde come heretykes after that wold haue sayd that Criste â—ad a body of the erthly fantasye and not of flesshe and blode as one of vs haue for a body of thayre may not blede And therfore to put awaye all suche errours Crist was circuncysed bled in his cuttynge of his flesshe the whiche flesshe was cut from his membre And an angell after broghte it to kyng Charles for the most precious relyke in the world And for the gretteste worshyp that he coude doo therto broughte it to rome to a chirche that is called Sancta sanctorum For thyse iiii causes Crist was cercuÌ„cysed This daye also it is called the vtas of the natiuyte that is the viii daye of our lordis birthe in grete tokenynge to all vs that be goddis seruauntes to thinke on thise viii dayes that foloweÌ„ the byrth The first day is to thynk inwardely on the sede that we were conceyued of that is fowle and abomynable in it self â–ª that a man or a woman be they neuer soo fayre that and they sawe the mater they wold be ashamed of hem self to thynke that euer he were conceyued of that sowle thynge The second daye is to thinke how greuous he peyneth his moder in his byrth in so moche that it is a grete miracle of god that she may haue her lyf The thirde day is to thynke how feble and how wretched he is borne for all the bestes of kynde some what they caÌ„ helpe them self saue oonly mankynde he nother maye ne can helpe hym self f in noo degree but deye anone But he had not helpe and socour of other The iiii day is to bâ—thynk howe moche parell and drede he lyueth here fore in euery place deth folowth hymand is euer redy to fall on him what tyme ne where noo man knoweth But oonly god hym self Incertus eÌ„ locê° in quo mors te expectat ¶ It is incerteyn the place there as deth abydeth the. ¶ The v daye is for to thynke howe horryble deth is whan he cometh for in shorte space tyme he maketh a man to stynke that all the best frendes that he hath ben auysed to put hym in erth And hyde hym there ¶ The vi daye is to thynke how rew full is the departyng of the body and the soule that may not be departed tyl the herte in the body breke for drede off the syghtes that the saule shal see that for greate fere the herte breketh O mors quam amara est memoria tua O thou deth howe byttre is it to thynke vpon whan thou arte coÌ„mynge to any man The vii is to thynke howe dredefull is the dome that he shall go to anoon and howe streight his iugemente shall be Thenne he that wyll thinke on these vii daies besily on the viii day I hope he shal be circumcised that is he shal be cutt away fro the lust of his flesshe and of synne and soo do depart from this worldis likynge And thus coÌ„meth the viii daye that is the vtas of cryste that is the ioye of blisse that neuir shal haue ende To the whiche god brynge vs all In die Epiphanie GOode frendes this daye is called the xii daye but it is xiii daye of cristes byrth the whiche day holy church calleth it Epiphania domini that is to saye the shewyng of our lord Iesu criste very god and man For this daye he was shewyd very god man by thre offringes by his cristnyng and also by tornynge of the water into wyne The xiii day of his birthe by offringe of the thre kinges that same daye xxx wynter and xiii daies after hys byrthe He was cristned in the water of flome Iordane And that same
flame A nother by terys For righte as a fyre dryueth oute moysture fro wete wode Soo deuocion bringeth oute tearys of thyn eyn in prayer ¶ wele is him that hath suche plentye of tearys for he is disposed to grace But there be somme that haue greate plentye of tearys fro daye to daye in prayer deuoutly redynge or spekynge And yet wyll nat leue their synne ne trauayll to withstonde their temptacions ne knowe ne kepe the preceptes of oure lorde Suche teares be nat accepte for due sacrifyce bifore oure lorde If thou be full contryte sayth aldrede and trusteste in the mercy of god confessed and in wyll to do thy penaunce and nat in wyll to turne ageyn to thy synne Thenne saith he suche teares please god and wasshe awaye thy synnes and more turment the deuyll as sayth saynt Bernarde thenne all other kyndes of turmentes may doo Sithen deuocion muste be in euery prayer yet the tyme therof shulde be principally vsed in the tyme of the masse and for foure causes Oone is for the presence of oure lorde god that is there nat onlye by his godhode but also by his manhode that he tooke for the loue of mannys soull The secounde is for the multitude of aungelles that ther been euermore present to yelde worshyp to almyghty god The thrydde is for grete profyt and spede that the body and soull haue by vertue of the sacrament bothe to theym that been present and specially to theym that worthely receyue hym The fourthe is for the wonderfull worshyp that is there yeuen to man that throughe the vertue of wordes sayd of man the presence of oure lorde is hadde and the innumerable nombre of aungelles so many that no tonge can tell ne herte thynke Deuocion also sholde be vsed in tyme of seruyce that thou art bouÌ„d to saye But soÌ„me for vnconnyng say their seruyce the more hastely for theyr pryuy prayer that they haue deuocion to the deuocion is lytell or nought wâ—rth Se nowe therfore how thy soull may be refourmyd and broughte agayn to god Thy soule hath mynde reason wyll mynde for it sholde reste in god reason for thou shold knowe god and wyll for thou sholde loue god But by synne thy mynde is vnstable thy reson blynde and thy wyll croked and all is for thou forsakest thy god ¶ The reformacion therfore of thy mynde is to brynge agayn thy hert that was trauayled with veyn thoughtes by prayer redynge and often thynkynge of god As of his incarnacion passion innumerable benefetys and gracious yeftes Hauyng grete sorowe for thy greate vnkyndnesse that thou alway shewedyst him The reformacion of thy reason is to byleue sadly in the fayth of holy churche Oure lorde for oure greate comforte hath yeuen vs knowlege in scripture where we may fynde all that is necessary spedefull to oure soull he le nat to folowe therin oure naturall wyll But to submytte oure wytte to the rules of feyth after the vnderstondyng of holy doctoures And soo gostly to be clensed by the sacrament of penaunce The reformacion of thy wyll also is to withstoÌ„de vyces with a gode wyll truly and feythfully encreace and abyde in vertues For god without any curiosite of wyll that there be no double desyre ne none affeccion plesynge to the Butt suche as is accordynge with the wyll of god ¶ Thus than coÌ„sidred the worthynesse of thy soull the horroure of thy synne wherwith thy soul is thus wounded Take this salue of penaunce with these thre plasters Contricion coÌ„fession and satisfaccion And bynde them sadly to thy sore with the bondes of hope and drede hope to haue foryeuenes of thy synne hope of grace to lyue well after And hope of glorye withoute ende to reigne perpetually in heuyns blysse Drede also of the peynes of hell if thou dispayre of his mercy For to hym it is propre to haue mercy and to spare Soo that for euery synne as saith saint Austyn ther is an absolucion be it neuir so greate For what myght be greter or worse thenne to sle our lord Iesu Crist right as the iewes dyd yet there were somme of theim after that beleuyd â— now be sauyd Petyr and mary mawdleyn and many other also after they hadde synned they were with the salue of coÌ„tricion maâ—â— hole and nowe be in blys Therfore be thy synnes neuir so many ne so grete dispeyre the nat but say alwey with Dauid Haue mercy on me lord after thy greate mercy Do away lorde my wyckydnesse Man hathe synned saith saint Austyn And crist hath redemyd And so at oure lorde as saith the prophete is mercy and plentuous redempcion And he shall redeme israell from all his wyckednesse Israell is asmoche to saye as he that seeth god He seeth god thenne that lâ—thyth 〈◊〉 synne And by contricoÌ„n and by confession and penaunce doyng is conuerted to him ¶ That ye may thenne thus be conuerted and â—o penance for youre synnes graunte he you and me that dâ—ed for vs on the rode tre Amen ¶ The generall sentence gOde men and wymen I doo you to vnderstonde that we that haue cure of youre soules be commanded of oure ordynaries and by the constituciones and the lawe of holy churche to shewe to you foure tymes by the yere in eche a quarter of the yere onys whan the people is mooste plenary â—â— holy church the articles of the sentence of cursynge So that nought for oure defaut no man ne woman fal therin And if any be therin fallen he may be through the helpe of god almyghtye and all holy churche with shryfte and penaunce makyng good for his syn vp ryse and him amende wherfore I do you to vnderstonde that cursyng is suche a vengeaunce takynge that it departeth a man fro the blysse of heuyn fro housell shryfte and all the sacramentes of holy church betâ—keth him to the deuyll and to the peynes of hell withoute ende but if he haue grace of him to amende But therfore see that no man nor woman say that I curse hem for it longith nat to me but to shew the poyntes and the articles of the sentence of cursynge For I do you well to wy◠¶ who so doth agaynst any of 〈◊〉 poyntes that I shall you shewe he is accursed in the dede doynge of the daye archebusshoppe and busshop and of aâ—â— holy churche And that god almyghtye gyue you grace for to kepe you oute of cursynge Lysten and here and I shall throughe the help of god fader almyghty to you thenne tell and shewe By the auctoryte of god the sonne and the holy goste and his gloryous modre and mayden oure lady saint Mary and the blessed appostelles Petyr and Poule and all the apposteles marters confessoures virgynes and all the halowes of god I â—â—nounce and shewe for accursed al tho that fraunchyse of holy church breke or distrouble or are ayenst the peas or the state of holy chirch or therto asseÌ„t with
a man and told his name that was his seruaunt a lytyll to sore and that woman was and ther knyghtes wif and he haddeley by her husbondes lyf therfore they were bothe put to that penaunce and sayde the horse that I ryde on is the fende that brenneth me a C. fold worse than ony other fyre myghte that is in erthe And that peyne they muste so suffre tyl they had helpe of good preyers masses and almes dedes tolde hym many other thynges Than this knyghte dyde alle thinges that he sayd shold be her helpe and so delyuered hem oute of this peyne to euerlastyng blysse the which god brynge vs all to Amen ¶ Dominica in passione dniÌ„ GOod men and wymmen this daye is called the sondaye In passion weke this daye Oure lord Ihesu Criste began his passion For this 〈◊〉 the iewes had suche an enuye â—oâ— by cause he tolde her defautes and â—â—ces of mysliuyng And soo for this cause they repreued hym Soo this daye they were full assented to do hym to deth and soo they were aboute ofte byfore But they were letted by some thynge and most for fere of the comen people For they helde hym a prophete ¶ But this daye they â—uytte hem togider and fully accorded 〈◊〉 they wolde spaâ—â— for noo thynge but he sholde be dede wherfore as the gospell tellith as criste prechyd in the temple the iewys rebuked him spytously and sayd Nunc cognouimus quia demonium habes Nowe knowe we that thou haste a fende with the And all was to tempte him to haue made him speke som euyl worde by the whiche they mighte haue putt him to some repreefe And for he tolde them that he was goddes sone they were redy to haue stoned him to deth But he knewe well ther malice Iesus autem abscondit se et exiuit de templo Iesus hyd him selue and went oute of the temple ¶ Thus oure lord this day began his passion wherfore holy churche redeth this weke in the booke of Ierom the prophete that firste prophyced of cristes passion and tolde howe and what maner the iewys sholde doo hym to dethe Thenne ye shall vnderstonde wele that in the same wyse that the Iewys pursuyd criste to the deth In the same wyse I fere gretly lest there been moche false people that be cristned that pursuen criste in heuyn nowe ¶ Sainte Austyn sayth that they synne more greuously that pursue him in heuyn that the iewys dyd that pursued him in erth Thenne if ye wol wete whiche be those Take hede how criste marked them and sayd thus Oui ex deo est verba dei audit He that is of god heryth the worde of god For he heryth nat the word of god that sweryth many grete othes ful falsely Thiâ—â— been tho that 〈…〉 in heuyn that been glade in their 〈◊〉 whan they haue a foule dede doon and be grounded in foule cursed lyuynge of synne and wâ—ll nat amende theym for prechinge nor techynge but euir do foull dedes and anone been redy to fyghte and chyde with them that tell hâ—â— their defautes As it is shewyd by crist For the more harme is the condiciones of the people been suche nowe a dayes that he shall haue many enmyes that wyll saye trouthe And that I may preue by ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ There was somtyme a mawmente in a cyte that wold tell where any thinge was that was stole or myssed and who hadde it So it hpped on a tyme that a yonge man hadde stole a thinge and was aferde of this mawmente and anone he went to this mawmeÌ„t and fayde thus well I wote thou mayste deâ—me a grete shame and velonye But by god that I beleue vpon and thou discouer me I wyll breke thy bede And soo went forth his waye Thenne soone after caÌ„me they that missed this gode praynge the mawmente to tell theym who had it And whan they hadde long prayed at the laste the mawment spake and sayd Tymes be chaunged the people been worse than they were who saythe the trouthe his hede shal be broken So he that wyll saye trouthe he shal be shâ—â—e and so the true man shal be dâ—â—â—ted and so plucked that he shall nat wytt to whome he shall speke nor to whâ—â— he may tell his counseyll in truste 〈◊〉 that woll sonest descryue him soÌ„tyme speke mooste fareste ¶ It is wretyn in the boke of kynges haâ— ther were two knyghtes grete enmyes one to the other That one hight Ioab and that other amasa and this ioab saide to amasa as they mette Hayle broder and kyssed him and with his other honde behinde him he slewe him with his knyffe and smote him to the herte Thus it fareth nowe a daies by moche peple they freke full fayre bifore the people And behynde theym they wyl sle them wit a shrewyd knyf that is with the euyl and cursed tongue These been they that pursuyth him into heuyn set nought 〈◊〉 goddes woâ—de For though they here it with their crys it synketh nat in their hertes where god playneth him greuouâ—ly by his prophete Iheremye and saith this ¶ what gyfte fouÌ„de your fadâ—rs 〈◊〉 If I haue trespassed to you in a 〈◊〉 manerthinge tell me Allas for shaâ— of youre obstinat pryde for god is 〈◊〉 the right and so he tretythe with vs. thaâ— ben in the wrong He proferith merâ—â—oâ— we aske it He maketh him mercyfull to theym that displeasyth hym shewyth loue there non is worthy Thê° been their hertes harder than any stoon And thus ben we worse than iewes for we be vnkynde to him that shewyth to vs all kyndenesse And euir he cryeth to vs and sayth I haue lefte on erthe for ye sholde here my scripture Torne ayen to me and I woll resceyue the Lo myn armes ben al redy spredde to clyppe the to me And myn hede is redy bowed to kysse the My syde is all redy opnyd to shewe the myn herte my hondes my fete â—leden to shewe the what I suffryd for the and thou tornest away from me and thou be in parfyt lyf I wyll yeue the treasoure withoute nombre I sal auaunce the withoute comparison yeue the reste withoute ende So that all the faute shal be founde in the and natt in me Thus oure lorde proferith and techyth vs. and there been full fewe that wyll here him but â—et all these wordes passe oute of their hertes And takethe noon hede but all their mynde is in rychesse and in this worldes prosperyte in this presente lyf and take full lytel hede of the lyf that is coÌ„mynge And how oure lorde iesu criste suffryd deth to briÌ„ge vs to euirlastinge blisse ¶ Therfore in cristes passion maketh the prophete a grete lamentacion for the gete vnkyndnesse that he seeth in mankynde and sayth thus Thou man for vanyte thou stynkest for thy rustye synne And therfore I cry and wepe for thou haste on thy hede a garlond of flores and I
for the haue oon of thornes Thou haste on thy hondes a peyrof white gloues And I for the haue my blody woundes Thou hast thy armes spradde to lede karolles and dances And myn armes been nayled on a tree with sharpe nailes Thou haste thy clothes pynched full smale And my body for the is full of greate whelys And oon thynge greuyth me mooste of all thou settyst nat by my passion that I suffred ful sore for thy sake But with thyn horrible swerynge thou vp broydest me with many greate othes by my hede eyen armes nayles sydes wouÌ„des feet bones by myn herte and by my passion that thou sholdest doo worshippe to thou dooste grete dispyte and repreef ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede in the gestes of Romaynes that an emperoure sente a grete man to a loÌ„de to be a Iuge And or he came ther no man in the countre coude swere an othe but ye and nay But whan this Iustice came emong them he made the peple to swere on bokes in sessiones and gaue them charges and so the people toke ensample of this Iustice to swere as he his men dyd By oure lordes passion sydes armes nayles face woundes blood herte and so forthe and took it so in vse that the coÌ„men people swoore as they dyd Thenne on a day as the iustice sat in his office and chargyd the peple there caÌ„me to fore him a fayre woman clothed all in grene and brought a faire childe in her lappe all blody al to martred his hede all to prycked his face disfigured his eyen oute his armes broken his hondes smyte through his nayles cutte and his fete cutte from his legges his sydes all to rente his bowelles and hert drawen onte of his body ¶ Thenne sayd this woman to the iustice what are they worthy to haue that haue thus doo to my childe And he sayde they were worthy to haue deth Than saide she thou and thy men with they re horryble othes haue thus dismembred my swete sone Iesu crist that I am modre vnto and thus ye haue taughte al your countrey ¶ wherfore thou shal haue thyn owne dome And so in sighte of all the people the erthe 〈◊〉 and the Iustice fyll downe to hell than the people were sore aâ—ast and they lefte all suche othes and dyd amend ther lyues And so lete vs leue al our othes and lyue as cristen people sholde doo and reuerence the passion of oure lorde iesu criste that was cause of oure â—â—â—eÌ„pcion by the whiche we shall coÌ„mâ—â—â— euirlastinge blysshe that neuir shall haue ende ¶ Dominica palmarum gOode frendes as ye know wele that this daye is called palme sonday But for bicause â—hat the seruyse of this daye is longe I wyll tell you why it is called Palmesonday as saint Iohan sayth Oure lorde Ihesu criste came to Betany where he saythe Venit Iesus bethaniam vbi lazarus fuit mortuus quem resuscitauit And there â—e reysed Lazar from dethe to lyue that had ley iiii daies dede and this Lazar was brother to Mary magdaleyne and to Martha that was a nother sustre Thenne iesus wyâ—t that his passion was nygh and toke Lazar wâ— the him and rydinge on an asse caÌ„me towarde Ierusalem And whenne the people herde therof the people went agaynste him Non propter Iesum tautum sed vt Lazarum viderent quem resuscitauit a mortuis Nat only for Iesu but for to se Lazar that was rysâ—n from dethe to lyue and also for to see criste doo him worshyp Acceperunt ramos palmarum et sternebant in via They tooke braunches of palme and other floures and strewyd in the way ayenste his coÌ„mynge And some spradde their clothes in the way and songe Benedictus quivenit in nomine domini Blessyd be he that coÌ„meth in the name of oure lorde kinge of Israell ¶ wherfore holy churche maketh this daye solempne procession in mynde of the procession that was made ayenst criste and also ioye and myrthe of oure rysynge from dethe to lyf that hath ley all this yere in dedely synne ¶ Nowe I truste to god that we be reysed to good lyuiÌ„ge And for aungellys of heuyn make â—oche ioye of oure resynge oute of synâ— And thus we take palme and flou◠〈◊〉 procession as they dyd and go in â—ssion knelynge to the crosse in worâ— and mynde of him that was doon 〈◊〉 crosse worshipynge and welcoÌ„mynge him with songe into the churche 〈◊〉 the people dyde oure lorde into the cytee of Ierusalem ¶ Than Iohn Byllet asketh a question and sayth that oure lorde hadde the gretyst worshyppe rydynge on the asse that euir he had in this worlde Thenne why worship wee the cros and nat the asse To this question he aunsweryth him selue and sayth that the worshippe of this worlde as salamon sayd all is but a vanyte noughte and maketh a man to forgete his god and him selue There as is gret tribulation disease and heuynesse it causeth a man to thynke of god and crye to him for socoure and help and to knowe him selue And therfore all cristen people sholde putt awaye all worldly vanyties that bringeth moche people to greate myscheif and many to euirlastynge peyne we worship the crosse for it was cause of oure redempcion saluacion to bringe vs to euirlastinge ioy and blisse that we hope all to coÌ„me to Thenne anoon whan criste was coÌ„me to the cyte of Ierusalem he went to the temple and droue oute all byers and selâ—ers that he founde therin and sayd Domus mea domus oracoÌ„nis vocabitur My house is a house of prayers and ye make it a denne of theuys Thus oure lorde yaue all cristen people ensample to leue byenge and sellynge on the holy day and in especiall in the churche ¶ Another is is why it is called Palme sonday For bicause that palme betoknyth victory wherfore all cristen peple shulde bere palme in processioun in tokenynge that he hadde foughten with the fende and hath the victory on hym by shryfte of mouthe satisfaction with dede mekely doon his penaunce wythe grete coÌ„tricion in hert And in this wyse ouircoÌ„me the goostly enmye the fende ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede in the gestys of Romaynes that it was the maner somtyme that if there were any londe that were rebell ayenste the Emperoure Anoon the Emperoure wolde sende some worthy knyghte with grete puyssaunce to that loâ—de and put them downe and maâ— them subgettes to the Empepoure of Rome And whan this knyghte hadde done so than sholde he be sett in a chayr arayed with clothes of gold in the beste wyse a braunche of palme in his honde in tokenynge that he hadde the victory and with grete worship broughte into Rome But whan he caÌ„me into any worthy cyte thenne there sholde stonde one by him and beâ—e him in the mouth with a â—nche of olyue saynge thus Knowe thy selue That is to vnderstonde thâ—â—u be greate nowe and haue the â—y
tourne ayen to synne and thenne truste vereyly ye shall haue grace mercy and socour to euerlastyng ioye and blysse wherfor thinke for certeyne though ye make it glosyng wyth wordes for to disceyue your goostly fader and saye that ye be in charyte and bee not ye begyle your self and truste truly ye shall not begyle god that seeth euery corner af your hertes ¶ And therfore dysceyue not yoâ—â—e owne soules for the loue of god And be also besy and redy to make your soules clene to the syghte of god as ye ben to make your houses to the syght of man and as ye wolde araye you in your best clothes that ye haue ayenst the comynge of your best frendis soo sholde ye araye you now to receyue your beste frende that is your maker our Lord Ihesu Criste that this tyme suffred passion and dethe to brynge vs to euerlastiÌ„ge lyf ¶ This daye is called also a passyng daye and in especiall for two causes One is for this daye all cristen people in reuerence of god sholde forgyue all theym that haue trespaced to hem and be in parâ—â—â—e loue and charyte to all 〈…〉 sholde be amendyd with the salâ—â— that â—â—â—eth al soâ—â— that is chaâ—â—e Câ—ritus cooperit multitudineÌ„ peccatorum Charite coueryth the multitude of synnes It is also a passinge day For this day shold al goddes châ—ldren passe out of euyll lyuynge into good lyuynge oute of vyces into vertues oute of pryde into mekenesse oute of couetyse in largenesse out of slouthe into holynes oute of enuye into loue and charite ouâ—e of wrathe into mercy oute of glotony into abstinence oute of lechery in to chastite out of the fendes clawes into goddes armes and of his grete enmye make his dere frende And he that passeth thus is worthy to coÌ„me to a good feste the whiche oure lorde Iesu maketh this daye to all the people It is called also goddes sonday For this day goddys sone rose from deth to lyue and so gladdeth all his seruauntes with hys vp rysinge wherfore all holy churche maketh myrthe and melody this daye and singeth thus Hec est dies quam fecit dominus exultemus et letemur iÌ„ ea This is the daye that oure lorde made ioye we and gladde we in that with al oure bertes for the fadre of heuyn with all his aungellyâ— maketh so grete melody of the vprysynge of his sone that he maâ— to daye a passinge grete fest and byâ—â—â—th all cristen people thertâ— aswell those that ben in heuyn as thâ—se that been in erthe and they shall be full welcome that coÌ„me to this feeste 〈…〉 that is a gâ—de clothynge that is in loue and charite And also euyll shal those be that shal coÌ„me in the fendes leuerye clothed in wrathâ— and enuye For as the gospell telleth these shall be caste in pryson of hell And thenne while other laughe and maâ—e mery they shall wepe and be sory and whâ—le some ete and drynâ— at goddes borde they shall grynne wythe their teeth and saye Ve ve ve quante suÌ„t tenebre wo. wo. wo. many derknesse been here For they shall thynk that they may fele the derknesse it is so derke and the peynes of hell shal be so hard for wormes shall gnawe them for they ete her eyen cristen here in this lif in erth with false baâ—bytynge and sâ—laundrynge ¶ wherfore I charge you in goddes name that noon of you coÌ„me thus to goddes borde but if ye be in parfyte loue and charite and be clene shreuyn and in full purpose to leue your synnes For and I wyst in certayn whiche were oute of charite and in dedely synne I must by the lawe of holy churche with a loude voyce say thus to theym in audience of all the people I gyf the nat thy housyll to thy saluacion bâ—â—â—e to thy dampnacion tyll thou coÌ„me to amendmente And therfore euery cristen man and woman sholde serche wel his conscience and make him able to reâ—â—â—ue his sauyour Iesu criste to the heâ—â—â—e of his soule that she may coÌ„me after this fynall lyf to euirlustinge ioye Amen gOode frendes theâ—e thre daies that is to saye Monday Tuysday and and wenesdaye ye shall faste and go in procession man woman and seruantes for al we be synners and haue nede to pray to god for helpe grace and mercy for they may nat excuse therin fro the procession that may laâ—fully be there Than he that withdraweth him self fro the coÌ„maundment of holy churche wylfully he synneth full greuouslye Firste he synneth in pryde for he is vnbuâ—um Also he synneth in slouthe that knoweth him selue in synne and wyll nat do his diligence to coÌ„me out therof right as he withdrawyth him fro peple that be gadred to serue god Right so wyll god putt him from all the company of heuyn and from all the prayers that be doon in holy churche tyll he come to amendement Therfore all cristen people come only to gidder pray these thre daies to all the sayntes in heuyn to pray to god for vs For we haue synned many tymes in the yere ayeÌ„ste the coÌ„maundment of god And therfore these thre daies we shall faste and pray to god of mercy and remission of oure synnes and put awaye al the power of the fende and kepe vs from al myscheuous peryl and dredys that fal this tyme of the yere more than any other tyme For in this tyme many grete thundres and lightnynge and as Lyncolnyence saith Ther were fendes that fleteryn in the ayr for fere of the blast of thundrynge whan that criste coÌ„me to hell gates whan he dispoyled hell And so yet whanne they here the thunder in the ayre they been so agast therof that they fallen downe and then go they nat vp ayen tyll they haue don some cursed dedes For than they 〈…〉 tempestes in the see and drawe downe shippes and make debate emonge the people and make one to slee a nother and tende fyre and brenne houses and drawe downe steples and trees and cause wymmen to ouirlye their children and make people to hange theym selue and drowne them self in wanhope and in dispayre and do many cursed dedys And for to putte awaye all suche myscheuys the power of the fende Holy church hathe ordeyned that al cristen peple shal faste and goo in processioun these thre daies and pray to god and to oure lady and to all the saintes of heuyn of helpe and socoure ¶ wherfore in these processiones belles be ronge baners be spleyed the crosse coÌ„myth after the people suyth after For right as a kinge whanne he goth to a battayl his troÌ„pettes goon to fore Thenne the baners and thenne coÌ„meth the king and his oft folowynge So in this processioun the bellys been goddes trompettes the baners coÌ„me after Thenne coÌ„meth the croce in cristes lyknesse as kinge of cristen people and all sewe him and with her good prayers chace awaye the fendys that they
haue noo power And lyke a cursed tyraunt wyll be sore aferd and a dradde whan he herd the trompettes of a kynge that were his enmy and sawe his baners splayde in the felde with his oste coÌ„mynge toward him In the same wyse the fende the tyrant of hell is aferd and dredith him sore For whaÌ„ne the bellys rynge and the baners ben bore and the crosse with all the people come praynge Thenne he fleeth and dare not abyde and 〈…〉 power that processâ—â—◠¶ Narracio ¶ we rede at the cytee of Constantyne as the people wente in procession for a disease that the people had as they songe Letany Sodenly a childe was plucked vp into the ayre and borne into heuyn and the aungellys taughte him to synge this songe â–ª Sancte dâ— sancte fortis sancte et â—moâ—â— miserere nobis And anoon he was lete downe agayn to the erthe And thenne he song that same songe and anoon they were delyuered of their diseases This is to say in englysshe Holy god holy stronge god holy and neuir shall dye haue mercye on vs God that is holy and neuir shal dye haue mercy on vs God wylleth and wyll that we be stronge for to fyghte with the fende with the worlde with the flesshe And thanne wyll he haue mercy on vs. and brynge vs to the place then there as aungellys synge Sancte deus sancte fortis Holy god holy stronge god haue mercy on vs and bringe vs to his blisse ¶ Ascensio domini gOod frendes suche a daye ye shall haue an hygh and a solempne feste in holy churche that is called thascension of oure lorde Iesu cryste For that day as the feyth and byleue techyth howe god is very god and man and flyed vp in to heuyn ¶ wherfore in â—oknyng of this the paschall that is the cheif light in holy â—hâ—rche that hath stonde openly in the quiâ—e from Ester vnto this daye Now it is remeuyd awaye in tokenynge that cryste is cheif lighte in holy churche And so oure lordâ— diuerse tymes openly appieryd to his disciples and taught theÌ„ the feyth and the beleue and this daye be styed vp into heuyn and there wyl abyde tyll the daye of dome But now ye shall here the maner of that ascension from Ester daye tyll this daye he was nat with his disciples alway but diuerse tymes apperyd vnto theym And he apperyd to them as they faâ—â—e at ther mete and ete with them to shew them that he was very god and man in flesshe and blood as they were For some of them were in doute left he had be a spirit that hadde nother flesshe â—e blood And therfore to preue the trouth he ete with them in their sight and bad theym goo to the hyll of olyuete â— there in sight of all his disciples be blessed theym and flyed vp into heuyn And lefte the steppes of his feet thâ—eft downe into the harde marbyll stone for a token of his ascension Thenne ye shal vnderstonde that the hyll of Olyuete betokneth mercy wherfore cryste â—â—yed vp at the hyll of olyuet shewâ—nge wele that he is hede of mercy And he is euir redy to shewe mercy to all that aske mercy with meke herte Thenne in his vp flyenge as we call ascension angellys made so moche melody that no tonge may tell it so fayne they wer of his coÌ„mynge ¶ Ascendit velociter she styed vp swyftly For as it werâ— a mommente he was from erth to heuen A grete clerke a philosopher that is called Rabymoyses he sayth that it is as ferre fro heuyn to erth as a holy man myghte lyue a thousand yere and euery daye go a thousand myle But hee that mette this way knoweth best And this waye shal be mette of a rightfull and a good man Thenne in his asceÌ„sion he had a greate multitude of soulâ—s the whiche he sette oute of hell fro the fendes bondes He sâ—yed also wyth his woundes rede fresshe and blody And as bede sayth for fyue causes Firste for to verifye the feythe of his resurrection For he rose in very flesshe blode that dyed on the crosse for all mankynde The secounde to shewe his wouÌ„dâ—s to his fader in greate helpe and socoure to all mankynde The thridde is to shewe how rightfull they be dampned that wyll nat beleue in his passion and in his resurrection The fourth to shewe how mercifull he is to theym that wyll beleue and aske mercy The fyfte is that he bare with him a signe of victory For a sikernesse of all mankynde For lyke as a lorde is syker that hath a true aduocate bifore a Iuge to aunswere for him So in lyke wyse to all mankynde we fynde him oure aduocate euirmore redy to aunswere for vs at nede that the fende oure goostlye enmy maketh ayeÌ„st vs. wherfore saith the holy scriptur A sykerer attournay may no man be thanne god Vbi mater osteÌ„dit filio pectus et vbera wherfore the modre shewyth the soone 〈…〉 and her papes Filâ—â—s patri latus et vulnera The sone shewith to the fader his sides all to beten and his woundes bleding Howe shulde any thinge be putt awaye or denyed there as such tokenes of loue be shewyd He may nat fare amysse that hath suche ii frendes in the countrey of heuyn Also by the styenge vp into heuyn of oure lord iesu Cryst man hath goten a grete dignyte For a man to se his owne kynde and his owne flesshe and his bloâ—â—â—tting on the right syde of the fadâ—â—euyn in his trone ¶ wherfore aunâ—â—â—lys considerynge the dignyte of man they wolde nat suffre noo man to doo theym worshyp as they dyd bifore the incarnacion of crist But they worshyp man for god him selue hathe take mankynd on hym and is nowe in heuyn bodily Hereby may ye see how moche biholde is he to his god what we that were bouÌ„â—â— bifore and thrall to the fende of hel and no â—we ben made free of al that and oure lorde iesu criste haue yeue to man a fredome aboue any aungellys and therfore we be bounde vnto hym to do him seruyce reuerence worshhip And there as aungellys kept somtyme the gates of paradise with brennynge swerdes that no soule myght coÌ„me in Nowe by feyth oure lorde Iesu criste to mankynde he hath cast vp the gates and warneth no man to â—rin that is of stedefaste byleue 〈◊〉 â—aint austyn saythe Aperuisti credentibus regna celorum· Thou haste opnyd the gates of heuyn to theym that byleue Also ye shall byleue right as a king of this world hath officers of diuerse degrees some 〈◊〉 and some lower And some more â—â—â—uâ—er than some So oure lorde â—g vp at this tyme the lawer angellys for grete wounder that they had in cristes ascension whan they sawe him in flesshe and blood styenge vp to heuen wythe so grete multitude of soules with him And also for the grete woundre that they hadde whan they
offre it vp in knowleching that he was subgetâ—â— to the emperour of Rome Thenne muste Ioseph our ladyes husbounde nedis goo to the Cite of bethlem for to offre wyth other people But for he had noo money to offre he toke an oxe wyth hym to selle at the Cite to make money to doo his dewte wyth But for he durst not leue our lady behynd him for she was nye her tyme and therfore he sette her vpon an asse and toke her wyth hym And soo whan they come to the Cite of Bethlem it was so full of people soo that Ioseph and our lady myght haue no lodgyng but tourned in to a cabon that was made bytwyxt two houses there as the people of the countrey sette her horses and theyr asses and other bestis whan they come in to the towne to the marked so there they fonde a cratche wyth hey And there sett thoy and thasse therto and so there they taryed all that night And whan it was a lytill byfore mydnyght our lady bad Ioseph goo in to the towne and loke for her a mydwyf For the tyme was come she shold be delyuered so whyle Ioseph was in the towne for the mydwyf our lady was delyuered and she lapped her sone in clothes and layd it in the crache before the axe and thasse anone they knew her lord and fylle downe on her knees and worshypped hym and ete noo more of the hey Thenne anone after come Ioseph wyth two mydwyfes zebell and salome and zebel fond that oure lady was clene mayden and cryed and sayde Virgo peperit filium A mayden hath borne a child â–ª theÌ„ne salome wold not byleue it But anone wente to oure Lady and bustously handled our lady Probare vellet And wolde preue hit and euyn therwyth her handes dryed vp ¶ Thenne come an angell to her and bad her that she shold goo and touche the child and soo she dyde and anone she was hole Thenne wente Ioseph and dyde his offringe wyth other people and kepte our lady in the same cabon while she was in child bedde Thus ye maye vnderstonde that criste yeueth peas to all people that be of good wylle and calleth theym his children And in verefyeng of this the first masse that is songe that daye Is songe soone after mydnyghte and begynneth thus Dominus dixit ad me filiê° meus est tu ego hodie genuite ¶ Oure lord sayth to me thou art my sone Oure Lord called hym his sone and his childe that loueth hym in resâ—â— and in peas And whan he departeth oute of this world he wyll brynge hym to euerlastynge rest and peas And he that wyll not haue here no rest nor peas shalt goo to euerlasting peyne â–ª there as is neuer rest nor peas nor neuer shall be but euerlastynge woo ¶ Thus he gyueth peas to men of goode wyll He lyghteneth theym that lyketh hym here by goode men ye shall vnderstonde that cryste heled not oonly theym that were blynde in the soule and cumbred wyth derkenesse of synfull lyuyng ¶ For as saynt Austyn sayth whan oure lord shold be borne the world was full of derkenesse and specyally of synne of lechery and off the synne ayenst kynde In soo moche that he had almoste lefte to haue bee borne of mankynde wherfore all those that dyden synne ayenste kynde that tyme they deyed sodenly through oute all the worlde in shewinge howe horryble and abhomynable that synne is in the syghte of almyghty god Thenne loked they full derke in synne that had theyr thoughtes all way in syâ—â—â— and euyll lyuyng and had full grete nede for to be lyghtened wherfore crist was borne at mydnighte And tourned the derkenesse of the nyghte in to the daye lyghte and lyghtened all them that euer were couered and combred wyth derkenesse of synne Also the same tyme that our lorde was borne as many doctours sayen Crist apered in a bryght ster to the kyngis of theft and bad theym goo to bethleem and worship a lytyll chylde that shold be kyng of iewes that was there new borne and so they dyde And euer the sterre shewyng before theym tyll they come thyder Thus he lyghteneth theym that before were full derke in synne ¶ For thyse kynges were paynyms before and beleued in mawmetry and in fals goddis And after they byleued in cryste were holy liuers· and now ben at Coleyne Thus the byrth of Oure Lord Ihesu cryste made many a man loke full bryghte that to fore were ful derke in synne For he is full derke in his soule that euer setteth his herte mynde and thoughte in the prosperyte worshyp and welfare of this worlde and that maketh them blynde that they haue noo grace of ghostely sighte but be made blynde wyth wordely couetyse And soo gete theyr good and haue no desyre to the rychesse of heuen ne to see the lyghte that is there For suche thynges as mannys herte is moste on that he maketh his god For to distroye all suche mawmetry of synne Oure lord was borne Thenne kynge herode pursued oure lord and wolde haue slayne him Thenne his 〈…〉 in to 〈…〉 Ioseph and â—â—â—de thus Accipe pâ—â—ium et matrem eius eâ— fâ—â—ge in egiptum Take the child and his modre and flee into egipte And assone as he caÌ„me thydre all the mawmeÌ„tes that were in the londe fell downe to the grounde doynge to vnderstonde that he was coÌ„me in to the worlde that sholde caste downe the mawmentry of all maner synnâ—â— and euyll leuynge Pride couetyse and all maner falsehode that is vsed now a daies And therfore take hede howe the lorde that made all thinge of noughte and is lorde of al lordes where he was borne in a pore place and in a pore arraye and of a pore mayden gyuyng ensample to all cristen people to sett noughte by the worshippe richesse and vanyte of this worlde â–ª For haue a man neuir so grete worshippe and neuir so moche richesse yet he leuyth it here And shall ber no more with him but his gode dedys Thus oure lorde shewyd many thinges in his byrthe And lightnyd many one that here bifore were ful bliÌ„de In tokenyng herof the seconde masse this daye is sayde in the dawnynge whan the night and the daye departeth the whiche begynneth thus Lux fulgebit That is thus mooche to saye Lighte shall shyne to daye vpon vs For the fadre of heuyn sendythe the grace of the goostlye lighte to all cristen people that beleue truly that oâ—re lorde was borne very god and man â–ª of his modre mary very modre mayâ—en Thus they that byleue truly in oâ—â—e lorde iesu criste and in his modre mary seâ—â— fâ—â—â— lytel by the vanyte of this worlde but 〈◊〉 all their hope and trâ—ste in criste 〈…〉 of our lorde iesu criste lightnyd many one â–ª that bifore â—â—â—â—ed full yf Also he drewe vs to him with loue For children drawe to theym that make moche on
theym playe with them Thus oure lorde Iesu criste was borne a childe the fayrest that euir was borne to drawe maÌ„nys loue to him For while a childe is yong and withoute synne he is more amyable and more louynge then whenne he is at mannys age and is paste innocencye with doyng Sithen the loue is not only for his beaute but for the clenesse of his soule and also for the godenesse Eche man is bounde for to drawe to him and to do him worship as dyd Delauyan the Emperoure of Rome that pleased somoche his people of his empire of Rome that they wold haue worshipped him as for their god But the Emporoure was wyse and wyst well that he was but a man as a nother was and durste nat take that vpon him but anoon he sente after Sybyll the sage and askyd her whedyr sholde after hiÌ„ any be borne that shulde be greter thaÌ„ne he Thenne at mydday Sybyll loked on the sonne and there she sawe a cyrcle of golde aboute the sone Et in medio circuâ—â— virgo pulcerima And in the myddes of the circle a fayre mayden and a childe in her aâ—â—e with a crowne of golde ¶ And whan Syble had shewyd this to the Emperoure she saide 〈◊〉 him â–ª This childe shal be greter than thou arte or euir were or euir shal be And therfore do him worship and reuereÌ„ce TheÌ„ne anoon the emperoure tooke ensence and dyd worshippe to him and charged all the people to doo the same and to call the childe their god and him but a man as other were Thus all cristen people may lerne to do worshippe and â—â—ruyâ—e to this childe this day And therforâ— the thridde masse this daye is saide at myddaye in tokenyng that cristen peple shuld coÌ„me offre in the worshippe of this childe and his modre and shew him seruaunte and subget to him and knowlege this childe for their lord and god And eche man sholde coÌ„me to him for loue and nat for drede And therfore the office of the masse this day begynneth thus Puer natus est nobis A childe is borne to vs he sayth nat a man for all cristen people shold be bolde and nat aferde to come to him to haue grace for he is full of grace and redy to gyue mercy to theym that asketh it mekely with due reuerence he is euyr redy to gyue mercy and grace In tokenynge that same daye that criste was borne in Bethlem a well of water in Rome turned and ranne oyle all that daye shewynge that the well of grace and mercy was borne that daye that sholde gyue mercy and grace to all theym that wolde coÌ„me to him and aske mercy and grace and that ye shall here by ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede of a woman that was defoileâ— in lechery and almooste fyll in dispayre or drede for whan she bethought herof the streitnesse of cristes dome greate peynes of hel that were ordeyned for suche synners as she was sore aferde and bethoughte her of cristes passion â–ª what loue he shewyd to all cristen peple she thought she was vnkynde to hiÌ„ and he suffred so sore for her And theÌ„ne she bethoughte her how children be they neuir so wrothe and shewe neuyr so grete vengeaunce howe lightly they wyll sease and forgyue wherfore this woman cryed to criste prayng him for his childehode to forgyue her and to haue mercy on her and anoon she herde a voyce on high in the ayre and sayde thy trespasse is forgyuen the Sequitur breuis sermo de sancto stephano gOode men and wymen suche a daye ye shall haue a hye a holy feest in the churche of sainte stevyn the marter that suffred for goddes sake after cristes ascension Thenne for to stirre your deuocion the more to this holy martyr I wyll tel you somwhat what that he suffred for cristes sake as the booke of appostels tellith Post ascensionem domini c. After the ascension of oure lorde that he was styed vp into heuyn the appostels laboure was all to preche and to teche the worde of god to cristen peple And for bicause they were to fewe to serue the people that coÌ„me there come so many to torne to the feyth Therfore they chose vi holy men gode lyuers for to helpe theym in goddes seruyce of the whiche sainte Stevyn was one of theym And the firste and the wysest And was so full of grace and myght of the holy goost that he dyd many myracles and meruelous amonge the people But though a man be neuir so holy yet he shall haue enmyes wherfore of diuerse countrees that hadde enâ—te to Stevyn and coÌ„me ayenste him disputed with him for to haue ouircoÌ„me him with disputacion And for they myght nat they brought false wytnes ayenst him and putte him to deth But whan sainte stevyn sawe and knewe their malice anone he thoughte to sease them by one of these thre wayes Other by shamynge in disputacion or by drede of reuelacion or by prayer of holye orysones But firste he saide by shamiÌ„ge in disputacion For whan they begaÌ„ to dispute with him he was full of the holy gooste that they hadde no power ne no might for to gayne say him and so he ouircome theym in all their maters and preuyd all their mater false that they saide ayenste And therfore he saide he was redy to take the deth in verifyenge of all that he said And so put them that were grete clerkes and knew the lawe and the prophecy to shame velonye But yet they wolde nat byleue but alwaye ayenstode him But he was soo full of the holy ghooste that he preuyd that he saide by grete reason and trouthe yet wolde they nat beleue it for all that the holy gooste spake in him And yet for all that wolde they nat beleue in their conscience that they dyd amysse And there as they saw the coÌ„myte turne to the feithe for wordes miracles that god shewyd in their syghte yet they ayenstode him set goddes mirâ—â—â—es at noughte by malice and enuyte of their cursed hertes and by none other reason of scriptur And so they fretyd their hertes within them selue and gruched with their teeth for angre and thoughte howe they might ouircoÌ„me him with disputacion Thenne they soughte if they might haue take hym with some worde of cristes dethe wher by they might haue made them a cause to haue putte him to deth Thenne saint Stevyn knewe their malice and lyfte vp his eyn vnto heuyn Et vidit celos apertos And sawe heuyn opyn and oure lorde Iesu criste sittyng on his faders right honde redy to helpe him And therwith his face shone as bright as it hadde be an aungell of heuyn But whan they herde him speke thenne were they fayn and stopped their crys as though they hadde herde him speke false sclaundriâ—ge wordes of god And soo anoon drewe him oute of the cyte to stone him to
But whanne thomas herde the knyghtes armed and wolde come into the chirche and might nat he wente to the dore and vnbaryd it and tooke one of the knyghtes by the honde and saide It besemeth nat to make a castell of holy churche and tooke them by the hondes and saide Come in my children in goddes name Thenne for it was derke that they might nat se nor knowe Thomas they saide where is the tratoure Naye saide thomas no traitoure but arsshebissop Thenne one saide Flee for thou arte dede TheÌ„ne saide Thomas I come nat to flee butt to abyde Ego pro deo mori paratus suÌ„ et pro defensione iusticie et ecclesie liberate I am redy to dye for the loue of god for the right of holy churche TheÌ„ne Raynolde with his swerde poynte put of thomas cappe and smote at his hede cutte of his crowne that it henge bye like a disshe Thenne smote another att hym and smote it all of thenne fyll he downe to the grounde on his knees and elbowes and saide God in to thy hondes I putte my cause and the righte of holy churche and so dyed theÌ„the thridde knyghte smote and half his stroke fyll vpon his clerkes arme that helde thomas crosse bifore him and so the swerde fyll downe to the grounde and brake of the poynte and he said go we hens he is dede And whenne they were at the dore goynge oute Roberte Broke went agayne and sett his foote to Thomas necke and thruste oute the brayne vpon the pauemente Thus for the right of holy churche and the lawe of the londe thomas tooke his deth ¶ Thenne howe this martirdome was knowen in Ierusalem â–ª ye shall here There was an abbey of Monkes in the whiche that same day and 〈◊〉 me tyme that thomas dyed A monke lay at the dethe Thenne for he was a goode holy man of liuynge his abbote badde him If it were nat to goddes displeasure whanne he were dede he shoulde coÌ„me ayen and tell him howe he ferde and soo whanne he was dede he caÌ„me ayen and tolde his abbot whaÌ„ he dyed an aungell brought him bifore god and as he stode there â–ª he sawe a bisshoppe coÌ„me with a greate come any of aungellys and other saintes And he stode bifore god at his iugemeÌ„t and his hede dropped downe of blood of woundes that he had Thenne saide our lord to him â–ª thê° it besemyâ—h a man to come to his lordes courte And anone oure lorde sette a crowne on his hede and saide thus to him Asmoche as I haue gyue to Petyr and Poule so moche ioye I graunte the. and the monke saide Hereby I knowe well that this is the gretest busshop in Englonde â–ª and is slayne for goddes sake And weâ—e â—e well that I goo to euirlastinge blâ—sâ—e This tolde the Patryarke of IerusaleÌ„ sone after that thomas dyede â–ª there caÌ„me into Englonde after peple to fight agayn the hethen men ¶ Narracio ¶ Also there was a byrde that was taughte to speke and coude saye saint thomas as she herde other pilgrymes speke moche of sainte thomas And it hapnyd on a tyme this byrde satt without his cage and there caÌ„me a sparhawke and wolde haue slayn him and anon the byrde cryed on sainte Thomas helpe anoon the sparhauke fel downe dede Then saint thomas of his grete graâ—e and godenesse herde the byrde wist nat what she ment Moche more he wolde haue herde a cristen man or a cristen woman that cryed hertly to him for helpe and socoure ¶ Narracio ¶ Also we rede there was a man that thomas loued passinge well in his lyue And it fyll so that this man fell â–ª seke on a tym and coÌ„me to saint thomas â—ombe praynge him of socoure and helpe and anone he was hole But after â—e bethoughte him that his sekenesse was encreasinge to his soules helthe and so wente agayn prayenge thomas that if it were more mede to his soule to be seke than hole that he might be seke ayen so he was thaÌ„ked god seint thomas Then whan the kinge herde how god wroughte so many miracles for saynt Thomas he went to Caunterbury barefote and wolwarde and almoost naked saue a feble cote to binde his body in goyng in the feÌ„ne and in the lake as he hadde been a pore man in this londe prayenge to saint Thomas of forgyuenesse of his trespasse and at the tombe he made al the couente to gyue disciplyne by and by on his bare bodye with a rodde And there he dampned all sory customes and false lawes that was cause of the debate bitwene Thomas and the kinge bifore and graunted the churche her fredome ayen wente his way ¶ Thenne these foure knyghteâ— whan they herde howe god had wroughte for Thomas they were full sory of their cursed dedes cursed the tym that euir it hapnyd so with theym and lefte all their londes and wente to Ierusalem into the holy londe to were on goddes ennemyes But william Tracy was letted by the waye and fyll seke and roted all his body In somoche that him selue with his owne hondes caste awaye his owne flesshe lomp mele and so died an horrible deth And the other thre also dyed a pytous deth sone after And thus within thre yeres after Thomas dethe they dyed all foure But as longe as they lyued they cried euir mercy to god and to saint thomas and so I hope they hadde De circumcisione domini gOode frendes suche a daye is called neweyeres daye and is the firste daye of the begynnyng of the newe yere that is cuÌ„myng and is the laste daye of the yere that is gone And therfore this daye ye shall coÌ„me to god and holy churche to here youre diuyne seruyce for this yere For lyke as a godâ— seruaunte that hath a good maister makâ—th his couenaunte but ones but holdeth forth from yer to yere hauing ful truste in his maister that he woll for his gode seruice gyf him agode reward in his grete nede at his last ende In the same wyse goddes seruauntes maken couenaunte with him but ones that is at the cristenynge at the fonte and ther he maketh couenaunte to be goddes seruaunt hauynge full truste in god that at his grete nede that is at the daye of dome wyll quyte him for his seruyce in euirlastinge blisse of heuyn And so wyll he do to all that be good true seruauntes Thus this day is called new yeres daye Also it is called Circumcisio domini The circumcision of oure lorde Alsoo this daye is called Neweyeres day for this daye is the firste daye of the CaleÌ„der and the yere gooth moche by the calender therfore it is called neweyeres daye Saint Austyn sayth this daye this nyghte hethen peple vse many false opyniones and witche crafte false byleue the whiche been nat to tell emoÌ„ge cristen people lest they turne to that vse wherfore ye that
daye xii monthe he turned water into wyne at the weddinge at Chane galilee But the feste maketh mooste mynde mencion of the iii. kinges offryng and therfore lete vs folowe the fourme of holy churche and ye shall here howe it fyll of their offringe to oure lorde iesu criste very god and man Thus iii. kynges wer of the lignage that prophecyed howe a sterre sholde shyne of Iacob But they were no iewes kynd but they hadde herde by prophecy of this wherfore they hadde greate desire luste to see it And so often tymes whaÌ„ne they might coÌ„me to giddre vpon certeyne high hylles thenne they wolde dispute emonge theym of this sterre Soo it hapned vpon cristemasse nighte the same tyme as oure lorde was borne they were to gyddre and were disputyng of this sterre Super montem Vpon the hyll Dominus enim erat natus Oure lorde was borne Eâ— apperuit illis And apperyd to theym in the sterre as a faire childe and vnder his hede a brâ—kâ—â—â— â–ª crosse of golde and saide thus to them Goo ye anoon in all the haste that ye maye into the londe of Iury and take with you gold myrre and ensence and offre these thre thinges to him that ye shal fynde there now borne kinge of iewes very god man And I shal be youre gyde and lede you to the way Then anoon for grete haste they toke bestâ—â— that ben called Dromedaries that ben of suche kynde they be so swyfte that they wyll tenne further in one day thaÌ„ne any other beest wyll tenne or go in thre daies And so they caÌ„me to Ierusalem that was the cheif cyte of all Iury hopynge that they shulde here there some tydinges where that this child was borne But as sone as they turnyd into the cyte of Ierusalem thenne they loste the sighte of the sterre that lad theâ—◠¶ euyr the waye tyll that they come thyder bryghter than the sonne theÌ„ne wheÌ„ they com to the cyte of iherusâ—leÌ„ they rode to kyng Herode for he was there the same tyme sayd to heÌ„ Vbi eÌ„ qui natus eÌ„ rex iudeoruÌ„ ¶ where is he that is borne that is kynge of iewes Vidimus enim stellam eius in oriente we sawe his sterre in the Este Venimus adorare eum we be come to worshyp hym Thenne kynge herode was troubled and all the cyte wyth hym but more for flaterynge of him thenne for ony loue that they had to hym Thenne kynge Herode asked his clerkis where this child sholde be borne and they sayd in bethelem â—nde thenne kyng herode asked the kingis preuely of the sterre and bad hem goo in Bethelem and worship the childe â–ª and come ayen by hym telle hym where he myghte fynde the chylde that he myght goo worshyp hym Thenne whan the kyngis were passed towardes Bethelem anone the sterre apered to them And whan thei sawe the sterre was come ayen they were glad in their hertes and as it is in many place painted the kynge that is in the myddel for gret ioye of the sterre he loked bacwarde to his felowe behynde hym and wyth his fynger shewed him the sterre that is the cause that the middel king loked bacward ¶ And thus the sterre broughte them to bethelem and whan the sterre come ouer the hous there as Our Lord was in it stode styll Thenne the kynges lighted downe and wente in to the hous and wyth al the reuerence that they coude knelynge â— downe offird eche of theÌ„ thise iii. thinges Aurum thus et mirram Golde cence and myâ—â—e knowlechyng by the golde that he was kynge of all kynges And by the 〈◊〉 that he was very god and by the myrre that he waâ— very man and shold be dede and layd in graue wythout rotynge For gold is cheef of al mettallis Encence is breÌ„te in holy chirche in worship to god Myrre is an oynemeÌ„te that kepeth the bodyes from rotynge Thus whan the kyngis had done theyr offrynge by techinge of the angell Per aliam viam reuersi sunt iÌ„ regionem suam By another waye they wente toward theyr owne londis And lefte kynge he rode and the sterre vanysshed awaye fro them ¶ Thenne as syant Bernard sayth Ioseph kept of this golde as moche as hym neded to his tribute that he shold paye to the emperour And also more to kepe our lady wyth whyle she laye in chylde bed And the remenaunt he deled to poure people suche as had grete nede therto The cence he brente to put awaye the stenche of the stable there as she laye in and wyth the myrre Oure lady anoynted her chyld to kepe hym from wormes and dysease But what befel of the kyngis after I fynde no thyng in certeyn but some peple haue an oppynyon how the saynt thomas of Inde cristened theym whan he come in to that cuntrey of Inde ¶ And thenne as the sterre lyghtened theym to crystis birth Soo the holy ¶ goost lyghtened them in theyr soule and â—aught them the parfyghte waye of the byleue And also of parfyghte and gracious lyuinge In soo moche that they lefte all theyr kingedom and wente forth on pylgrâ—mages that is to saye to Iherusalâ—m to many other places And soo they come forthe to Myllayne and there they deyed all thre And soo after that they were translated to Coleyne and there they ben yet now haue ye herde bi thyse thre kynges How Oure Lorde Ihesu Criste was this daye shewed verey god and man wherfore lyke as they offred wyth deuocyon So shold ye doo your offrynges whan ye come to holy chirche knelynge downe wyth all reuerence that ye canne or may not on your one knee as to a temporal lorde but on bothe your knees And doo worshyp hym wyth good prayers Thenne offre ye precious golde For there is noo golde soo precyous as is the good prayer deuoute And thenne hold vp your hondes to hym wyth all the reuerence that ye can and wyth a deuoute herte praye to hym and shewe hym all the loue of your hertes And thenne offre ye to hym ensence For there is noo ensence sauour that is so swete brennyng in the fyre as doth good prayers that is deuoutely said· wyth a brennyng loue in clene charyte And if thou doo thus thenne thou offrest knelyng on thy knees Make a crosse on therthe and kysse it and thynke well thou art but etthe theÌ„ne muste ye offre myrre For right as myrre kepeth a body from rotyng soo the mynde of deth kepeth a mannis soule from dedely synne in this wyse do ye your offâ—nâ—â—e And thenne shall ye haue as moche mede as had thyse thre kynges Also he was shewed bothe god and man atte his cristenyng For he come to the water of flom Iordan he wente in to the water and halowed it for right as he was circumcised to conferme the new lawe and for noo nede that he hadde therto For he was clene wythout
synne but for to make the sacrament that shoâ—â—â— wasshe them toâ—â— crystenynge in his name fro all synnes Thenne was Iohan â—aptist redy and moche people wyth hym that come to the cristnynge Thenne sayd Iohan to oure lord all quakyng and tremblynge blessed lord thou art goddis lambe wythoute synne thou hast no nede to be cristened of me But that I am a man goten and bourne in synne haue nede to come and be cristened of the in remissyon of synnes Thenne said our lord Ihesu Iohan suffre at this tyme. For thus we muste fulfyll all rightwysnesse and Iohan cristened our lord 〈◊〉 Criste and as it is credyble our Lady was cristened after wyth other of cristis diciples and all the people that were come thyder Thenne whan all were cristened our lord wente oute of the water And as he went out of the brinke of the water and all the people with hym Aperti sunt celi HeueÌ„ opened a grete lyght â—â—â—lipped hym in syght of al the peple The holy goost come doune in liknesse of a whyte doue lighted on cristis hede And the fader spake and sayd thuâ— in herynge of all the people Hic est filius meus dilectus in quo michi bene complacui This is my welbeloued sone the which pleyseth me This was to teche al cristen people the feyth of the byleue of holy chirche for al cristen people be bounde to byleue stedfastli in the fader and the sone and the holy gooste In baptismo cristi tota trinitas se maiÌ„festauit scilicz pater in voce filiê° in carne spiritê° saÌ„ctus in columba et totum celuÌ„ apertum est In crystis baptisme al the holy trinite was shewed for the fader spak in voyce whan â—e sayd Hic est filius meus dilectus This is my welbeloued sone was there bodely whan Iohan baptist said Ecce agnus dei And the holy goost was seen Sicut columba As a whyte doue Thyse ben iii. persones in one godhede For the fader spake aboue and the sone was ther bodely and the holy gooste in liknesse of a doue ye shal byleue that thyse thre persones be but one god in trinyte This byleue ye shal know on the water brinke that is in your crystenyng at the foÌ„te wherfore he that byleueth thus and doth werkis of byleue shal be saued Qui crediderit et baptisatê° fuerit saluus erit He that byleueth is cristened shall be saued foloweth the werkis of byleue Qui vero non crediderit condempnabitur And he that byleueth not nor doth not the werkes of byleue shal be dampned The werkes of byleue ben mekenesse and charite for wyth out thyse ii shall noo man be saued And he that hath thyse ii he is wreteÌ„ in the genâ—logye of our lord Ihesu crist the whiche iâ— red in cristmasse that begynneth aboue wyth abraham and soo cometh dounwardes to Ioseph and to our lady In shewyng that he that is mooste mekest in herte is moost next oure lord Ihesu cryst and suche he auaunseth in euerlastynge blysse And therfore the genelogye this nyght begynneth atte Ihesu cryst and goth vpwardes to abraham and soo to god Also he was shewed very god in trynite whan he tourned water into wine at the wedding It happed soo the people lacked wyne atte the mete Thenne bad our lord that they shold take vi stenes or pottes that were empty and bad fylle them wyth water and they dyde soo Thenne our lord blessed them and bad that they shold bere them to hiÌ„ that begaÌ„ the table lete hym begyn and thenne he began and said it was the best wyne that euer he dranke Thus oure lorde shewed hym self both god and man God that he tourned water in to wyne and man in that he ete and dranke wyth theym ¶ This miracle he shewed at the weddyng in tokenynge that he blessed all weddyngis that be done after the law of holy chirche and therfore kepe your wedloke and be in full feythe and byleue of holy chirche as holy chirche techeth And soo ye shall come to euerlastyng blisse Amen ¶ De conuercoÌ„e sciÌ„ Pauli â—â—tte a mayâ—e 〈…〉 sone 〈…〉 the mayâ—e anoon by kynde he wyll â—all downe and laye his heâ—â— in her lappe and thenne all his mighte and strenghte is gone And thenne they come and take him Thus he sayth sainte poule was firste so fers in hym self that they durste nat preche there as he was ne speke to hiÌ„ for drede â–ª whan oure lorde iesu criste shewyd him swetenesse of his grace and this faire maiden that is the lawe of holy churche a none Poule fell downe to the ground and was subgett to all cristen people Herfore holy churche was glad of his defendynge He is sette also in high ensample of high mendinge for oure lord is so gracious that all cristen proplee may be sauyd that wyll forsake his mysse lyuynge and he conuerted Multo magis gaudiuz erit in celo de vno peccatore penitenciam agente quam de nonaginta nouem qui non indigent penitencia et cetera There is more ioye in heuyn vpon one synner doynge penaunce thenne vpon xcix that dyd neuir synne and therfore oure lorde wolde that all were conâ—â—â—ted and saued wherfore in high ensample and comforte to all synfull peple he sâ—tte sainte poule to loke vpon For though a man hadde do neuir soo moche synne and he wolde forsake his synne and synne no more Thenne all the company of heuyn maketh myrthe and melodye of his conuersion as we do here in erthe of the coÌ„uersion of sainte Poule But ther is moche peple that loâ—e more synne with luste and 〈◊〉 in this worlde than they doo god For there be many that wyll neuir leue syn nother for loue of god nor for the desyre of the blesse of heuyn nor for fere of the fende nor for deede of the peynes of hell But some saye that god wyll neuer lese that he hath boughte soo dere with his passion But they that say so ben nat wise god wyll that noon were loste but be ware thou lese nat thy selue For all the while thou louest more synne than god and haddest leuyâ— to serue the fende than god thou art cause of thyn owne dampnacion For whyle thou haste more wyll to serue the feÌ„de and be his childe than goddes childe thou lesest â—hy self and god hath ordeyned fendes to turment them in euirlastinge peyne But sainte Gregory saith they that shal be dampned begynne her penaunce here in this worlde in partye and after their deth contynueth for euir more wherfore I tel you this ensaÌ„ple ¶ Narracio ¶ There was a man that was an officer with a lorde and stoode a cursed And on a tyme as he rode towardes a maner of his lordes he fell oute of his mynde and vnbridâ—led his horse and ledde him in to a maner of his lordes and thenne anoon the bailyf perceyued how it was
with this man that he was distraughte oute of his mynde And anoon made the people to bynde him â–ª to a poste in a berne Soo whan the baylyf and his seruauntes hadde souped he hadde one of his seruauntes go loâ—e how that this man dyd And he wenâ—â— to this man and whanne he câ—me there he sawe thre grete blacke dogges pluckynge awaye this mannys flesshe fro the bones Thenne was this seruaunte soo aferde that vnneth he had his mynde but went to his bedde and laye seke there longe after And on the morowe whanne the people come thidre as this man was bounde they founde no more of this man but his bare bones and all his flesshe was clene awaye Thus ye may see he that contynually lyueth in synne may be full sure of a foull ende And though his ende seme fair in the sight of a man yet it is right foull in the sight of almyghty god and all his aungellys wherfore it is nedful to euery cristen man and woman to amende hym while he is here into this lyf and hath tyme and space to amendmente And he that doth soo shall come to sainte Poule and be there with hym in euirlasting blisse to the whiche god brynge vs that dyed for vs all mankynde Amen Sequitur de purificatione beate marie virginis GOode freundes suche a day ye shall haue candelmasse daye that daye maketh mynde and mencion of oure lady and of her sone and specially in thre thinges of our ladyes purification In simeones metynge And in candelles offring This day is called the Purification of our lady In englishe it is the clensynge of oure lady but for no nede that she hadde therto For she was enclensed with the wirkinge of the bodily gooste in conceyuyng of her sone But ther was in her noâ— maner spotte of fylthe But for the day was the xl daye from the byrthe of her sone and was called in the iewes law the day of the Purificacion nat only â–ª for oure lady but for all other wymâ—â— wherfore we call it the purification of oure lady The lawe of the iewes was suche that whaÌ„ne that a woman was delyuered of a man childe she was hâ—â—den vnclene vii daies after TheÌ„ne thâ— lawe gaue her leue to go to her husboÌ„de But yet she was vnclene xxxiii daies but tyll xliiii dayes were fulfilled she sholde holde her withoute the churche with her offrynge And the offrynge in those daies was of a riche man a laÌ„be and for a pore man was a paire of tuâ—tyll doues or elles other doues and soo offred oure lady with her son and if a woman be deliueryd of a mayden childe she sholde double all those same daies aforseyd that is for to saye the coÌ„myng to her husbonde and also the coÌ„mynge to the temple and so this is the reason therof For it is soo that all grete clerkes say that it is vii daies after whanne a woman hath conceyued a manchylde or that the same sede turn into bloode And it is also xxxiii dayes after or it turne to any shap of men And thenne god sendith lyf into it and if it be a mayden childe it doubleth all the daies bothe in tournynge into blode and also in shappe of body and this is the cause Eue that was the firste four myd woman that euir wrathed oure lorde more than the man Adam Therfore she is the lenger in fourmynge ¶ Thus for flesshely complexion of a man and woman she is vnclene in her selue Therfore this Purification is ordeyned But vnderstonde well that oure lady hadde noo nedde to this clensynge For â—he coÌ„ceyued nat with complexioÌ„ of man but only of the holy goste soo that she was clene of all maner of filthe touchynge consent of man But yet she wente to the temple as other wymeÌ„ dyd specially for foute causes The firste was to fulfyll scripture that sayeth thus Guanto maior es tanto te humiles The higher that thou arte in degre the mekar thou sholdest make the Thus dyd oure lady for she wyst well that she was modre to goddes sonne of heuyn and hadde so grete worship passinge all other wymen yet she made her as the pourest woman that was in the company The secounde cause was as she fulfylled the lawe of circumcision of her sone In the same wyse she fulfilled the Purification and in offriÌ„ge of her sone in the temple doynge for him as other pore wymen dyd for their children The thridde cause was for to stoppe the iewes mouthes lest they had saide that she hadde nat done the lawe and so cast a grete sclaunder ayenst her in tyme coÌ„ming The fourth cause was to gyue ensample to all other wymen that they sholde coÌ„me to churche after the birthe of their children and thanke god that he hadde sauyd theym from dethe in their trauaylinge for in the tym a woman is in grete peryll of deth for ther is no sekenesse in the worlde that gooth so nygh deth For thâ—se causes holy churche maketh mynde of oure ladyes purification It maketh mynde also of the coÌ„mynge of Symeon Anne Simeon ille senex dum vixerat etas comperatur anne This Symeon was a passing old maÌ„ but he hadde prayed to god besâ—ly all his lyf that he sholde neuir dye tyll â—e hadde seen criste bodily in this worlde â–ª and so he dyd and this anne prayed the same Also ye shall vnderstonde that this anne was nat oure ladies modre but a nother anne that hadde a husbond vii yeres and whan her husbonde was dede she wolde nat be weddyd noo more but lyued tyll she was lxxx yere old and seruyd god in the temple nyght daye and prayed that she myght se god or she dyed and oure lorde graunted her Thenne whan oure lady came into the temple with her sone the holy goste warned symeon and anne And 〈◊〉 they with moche ioye went ayenst him and brought him into the temple Et simeon accepit euÌ„ in vlnas suas et dixit And simeon toke him in his armes wythe all the reuerence that he coude and myghte and saide Nunc dimittis seruum tuuÌ„ domine secundum verbum tuum in pace â— et cetera O thou lorde nowe suffre thy seruauÌ„te after thy word in peas And so with al the worshippe and reuerence that he coude he louyd and thanked him that he wolde let him lyue so longe to see him bodilye with his eyen where in mynde of thys whanne a woman cometh to churche of a childe she abideth at the church dore tyll the preest coÌ„me caste holy water on her and taketh her in by the hond into the churche gyuyng her leue after to come to chirche to go to her husboÌ„d For and if they haue comenyd to gyddre bifore they muste bothe shryue hem therof and take their penaunce Also holy churche maketh mynde of candelles offrynge And as ye see it is a comen vse for all cristen people that be of
that he sawe our lady was wyth elysabeth vnto the tyme that Iohan was borne and was mydwyf to elysabeth toke saynt iohan from the erthe and whan neyghbours herde that elysabeth had a sone they were full glad and come thyder as the maner was that tyme. to gyue the chyld a name called it zacary after the fader But elysabeth bad calle hym Iohn But for there was none of the kynne of that name they asked zacary by synes what the chyld shold hyght Thenne he wrote to them and bad calle hym Iohan. And therwyth god losed zacaryas tonge spake redely thanked god hyghly Thus was IohaÌ„ holy or he was borne And for he wold gyue euery man syghte of grace and of good liuing he gaue hem ensample for assone as he was of couenable age he wente in to deserte was there tyll our lord come to be cristened of hym Iohannes habuit vestimenta de pilis camelorum Iohan had his cloth made of the here of the camel and a gyrdel aboute him of the same skynne Esca autem eius erat locusta et mel siluestre Forsothe his mete was leues honysocles that hath a whyte floure that growethe in trees he ete al maner of wormes that were noryshed in that deserte amonge herbes and the wormes be as grete as a mannis fynger and sucked hony off floures that be called hanysocles thaâ— poure people gadren and fry heâ— oyle to her mete Also Iohan ete 〈◊〉 rounde leues that growen in trees in that deserte And whan they be broâ—en bytwene a manniâ— hondis thei be swete as hony and he dranke water of the welle that was in the deserte there was Iohnes life in that deserte tyl that our lord was xxx wynter of age And thenne our lord and Iohan met at the water of flain Iordan And thenne iohan tolde the people of crist and said Ecce agnus dei See the lambe of god that I haue tolde you of that shall fulfyll you in the holy gost TheÌ„ne went Iohn in to the water there he baptysed crist and whan he was baptysed Ecce aperti sunt celi Heuen opened Et vidit spiritum dei descenteÌ„ sicut columba And he sawe the holy goost come downe as a doue Et vox de celo dicens And a voys from heuen spake thus Ecce filius meus dilectus in quo michi bene complacui This is my welbeloued sone that pleseth me Here lerned iohan first to knowe thre persones in trynyte all this betokeneth two fyres The thirde fyre of bones betokeneth Iohnes marterdoÌ„ for his bones were brent and how ye shall here ¶ we rede the kyng herode had a broder that highte Phylippe and he had a fair woman to his wyf and herode louyd her 〈◊〉 And helde her vndre his wyf where Ihon repreuyd him and sayd Non licet tibi habere vxorem fratris tui It is nat laufull to the to haue thy broders wyf And therfore he putt hym in pryson and ordeyned bitwene him his wyf how Iohn might be dede with oute troublyng of the people for the comen people loued Iohn well Thenne herode ordeyned to make a grete feste to all the states of the countre for they shulde holde with him if the peple had rysen And so whan the daye was com that the feste shulde be holde and al the people were seruyd at the mete herodes wyf as couenaunt was bitwene theim tho sent her doughter into the hall for to daunce and to tomble afore the gestes And that pleased her fader so well that he swore a grete othe and saide Pete a me quod vis dabo tibi Ask of me what thou wylt and I shal gyue it the. Thenne as her modre bad her saye she saide Caput Iohannis baptiste The hede of Iohn Baptyst Then herode fayned him wrothe and sory that he hadde made suche an othe But he was glad in his hert thenne seÌ„t into pryson to smyte of Iohnes hede withoute any other dome and was brought to the damoysell Then the modre lete bury it in a pryuy place ferre from the body ¶ Thenne the next night after Iohnes disciples came and toke his body buryed it And there it laye tyll Iulyan the appostita the emperour come that waye Then he made take vp Iohnes bones to brenne them to wyndow theym in the wynde hopynge that he shuld neuer ryse ayen to lyf ¶ Thus ye may vnderstonde how holy that this man was Thenne an aungell come fro heuyn and tolde zacary of his conceyuig and was halowed in his moders woÌ„be and oure lady toke him from therth in his byrthe and an aungell brought his name fro heuyn and after he criste nyd oure lorde iesu criste this was an holy man ¶ ye shall vnderstonde thaâ— sainte Iohn the euangelyst dyed the same daye but holy churche maketh noo mencion therof For his day is holde in cristmas weke Then for these ii Iohns beholden the worthiest saintes in heuyn Thenne there were two scolars of dyuynite the one louyd Iohn Baptyst the other Iohn euaÌ„gelyst And on a day they purposed to dispute in this mater and the day was assigned but thenne the night bifore either Iohnes appered to their louers and bad theym leue ther disputacion for they were well accorded in heuyn and made no stryf And thenne on the morow bifore al the people either tolde his vision that were come to here theym dispute ¶ And thenne all the people thanked god almyghty and bothe saint Iohns of this faire miracle ¶ Alsoo there were two meselles that louyd wele thies two Iohnes And so as they were in coÌ„mynge they spake of these two saintes whiche were the gretest in heueÌ„ And soo that one saide that the one was greter thanne that other and so they begannne to fyghte Thenne there come a voys fro heuen and sayd we fyghte not in heuen and therfore fighte not ye in erthe for vs. for we ben in peas and so be ye And therwyth they were bothe hole of their sykenesse and thanked god and bothe saynt Iohannis and afterwarde they were holy men ¶ And therfore lete vs worshyppe thyse holy sayntes· that they maye praye for vs that we may come to euerlastynge blisse ¶ SctoÌ„rum Petri Pauli GOod frendes suche a daye ye shall haue the feste of saynt Peter and Poule and ye shall faste the euyn and on the morowe come vnto the chirche And worshyp god and praye to thyse two saintes that were holy appostles to praye for vs. Oure lord hath peter on the one syde poule on the other syde And he hath his woundes open and fresshe bledyng shewing to all maner of cristen people that he suffred those woundes for vs. that bee the v. welles of mercy that he suffred for vs. ¶ ye shall vnderstonde that thyse two appostles were first grete synners But for they left her synne and were sory
angelis of sathanas that ye lete that man goo doune that al the peple may see whom thei haue worshyped Thenne symond felle doune all to brast theÌ„ne was themperour wroth and made to lede peter poul forth And dyde peter on a crosse and his hed downwarde and so put hym to dethe poule for he was a gentylman born For the more worshyp they smote off his hede Thenne the peple sawe angellis stondyng on the crosse there as peter henge wyth crownes And whan poules hede was smytte of there come out fayr plente of mylke after blode Thenne in the nyghte after come cristeÌ„ peple and layd her bodyes to gyder in a graue· there they lay tyl cristeÌ„ feyth was more open in rome TheÌ„ne wolde they haue bore eyther body to his chirche but they cowde not knowe eyther bones fro other Thenne come there a vois fro heuen said the more bones be of the precher and the lesse of the fyssher So after whan the cristen feyth come in to this londe kynge ethelbert lete make a grete chirche at westmynstre in worship of Saynt Peter and another in london of saynt poule And soo on a daye whan the chirche of saynt Peter shold be halowed in the nyghte afore was a man fysshyng ¶ in the tamyse vnder westmynâ— And 〈…〉 â—em reuesshed had vp the 〈…〉 grete dred and quakyng and there they fonde a lityll wryting here lyeth and restech Thomas archebysshop of caunterbury Primat of Englonde and the popes legate sleyn for the ryght of holy chirche the fyfthe daye of cristmasse Thenne for grete deuoâ—ion that they had of that syght· all cryed saynt Thomas And thenne they toke the hede to the Archebysshop to kysse and so they kyssed it all And thenne they behelde his woundes and sayd they were vngracious that wounded the thus And soo layd hym in shryne and couered it wyth cloth of golde and sette torches aboute it brennyng and the people to wake it al nyght Thenne on the morowe come all the states of this londe And bare the shryne to the place there as it is nowe wyth all the reuerence and worshippe that they cowde And there it is wyth worshyp Amen De sancta maria magdalena GOod frendes suche a daye ye shall haue the feste of Mary magdaleyn that was so holy that our lord Ihesu crist loued her best of all wymmen nexte his own moder wherfore ye shall come to god and to holy chirche and praye to that holy woman that she wyll praye to oure lord for vs. that we maye haue grace for she was the first in tyme of grace that dyde penaunce for she had loste grace by fleshly luste so she is made a myrrour to all other synners that wyl forsake synne and do penaunce they shal haue grace the whiche was lost by sinne She had a fader that was a grete lorde and nye of the kynges blode and had a grete lordshyp in IherusaleÌ„ the whiche he gaue to lazarus his sonne and he gaue mary the castelle of mawdeleyne wyth al the lordshyp longyng therto of the whiche castell she had her name and was called mary mawdeleyn for she was lady ther of Thenne as many bokes sayen Saynt Iohan euangeliste wedded her And our lord bad hym goo wyth hym and kepâ— his virgynyte and soo he dyde and was clene virgyn And mawdelayne wâ—â—t forth and gaue her all to synne In so moche she lost the name of mawdeleâ—n and was called the synfull woman â–ª But it was often seen that our lord made of the grettest sinner the holâ—â—st afterwardes And so whaÌ„ our lord sawe tyme he gaue this womaÌ„ grace to â—â—owe her self to haue repentaunce for her synnes Thenne whan mary herde the crist was at a mannis house that was called Symon the pharise she toke a boxe wyth oyntement suche as the people vsed the tyme for hete of the sonne went thyder but she durst not for shame go tofore hym herde hym speke thenne she toke a greate sorowe in her herte and wept tenderly and wyth the teres of her eyeÌ„ she wasshed cristis feâ—e And wyth the here 's of her hede she weped hem and wyth all the loue of her herte she â—ysshed hem anoynted hem but no worde she spake that ony man mighte here but softely in her herte she cryed mercy and made a vowe to him that she wolde neuer trespasse more Thenne our lord had pyte on her and cast oute of her vii fendes and forgaue her all her synnes in heryng of all that there were thenne she toke suche a loue to crist that she lefte all her lordshypâ— of mawdeleyn wyth all other goodes and sued hym forth wyth grete loue that in his passion there as his disciples fled from hym she lefte hym neuer tyll she wyth helpe of other had layed hym in his tombe and whan no man durste goo thyder for fere of the knyghtes that kepeth hym she spared not Cum tenebre essent It was derke in the dawynge she toke wyth her swete bawmes to anoynte Crystis body wyth this she shewed loue bothe in wyll and in dede wherfore cryst in his lyfe for her loue heled Martha her suster of the rede flyxe that she had vii yere to fore and payned her full sore ¶ Et resuscitauit Lazarum a mortuis ¶ And reysed Lazar her broder from dethe to lyfe that had lyen iiii dayes stynkynge in his graue and whan our lord rose from deth to lyfe he appered to her and suffred her to touche hym kyssed his fete Thenne whan it was knowen to the iewes that cryst shewed her so many tokenes of loue before all other Thenne whan criste was styed vp to heuen· the iewes toke Mary and Martha her suster lazarus maxencius and many other and put them in a shyp that was old 〈…〉 â—aâ—e drowned them but g◠〈…〉 soo for all thing at his wyll and brought them sauf to a londe â–ª called Marcyle And there they rested vnder a baâ—â—e that was nye the temple Thenne mary sawe moche people comyng toward the temple to do sacryfice to her mawmettes And the lord of the countrey come wyth hem But mawdeleyn was gracious and wyth her gracious wordes tourned hym ayen Thenne this lorde had grete luste to here her speke and sayd thus to her that yf god that thou spekest of be so gracious and so grete of power as thou sayste praye to him that I may haue a chylde by my wyff that is bareyne and thenne wyl I byleue in hym Thenne mary said she wold and wythin short tyme after the lady conceyued and was wyth chyld Thenne this lord anone after ordeyned to goo to Iherusalem to Peter to wyte of hym wheder mawdeleyns prechinge were true or no. and vytayled his ship and made hym redy Thenne come his lady prayenge hym that she myght goo wyth hym Soo wyth grete prayer the lord graunted her
thenne by assent of hem bothe they made mary mawdeleyn to kepe her lordshippes and goodes that they had and mary set a crosse on eyther of theyr sholders and bad hem goo in the name off god whan they had seyled a daye and a nyghte a grete tempest arose in soo moche that they wende all to haue bee drowned Thenne was this lady sore aferde And therwyth she began to traueyle And soo was delyuered of a 〈…〉 the birthe fell downe dede Then this lorde made great sorowe and lamentacion and saide Alas alas I wreche what shall I doo with this childe Now is the modre dede and nedys muste the childe dye also for here is no womannys helpe to kepe it Thenne he cryed to mawdeleyn said Allas marye why dooste thou thus to me thou behete me a childe And now is the modre dede and the childe must nedes dye for faute of womannys helpe and I my selue loke euir whan I shal be drowned Helpe mary and haue coÌ„passion on me and of my childe Then saide the shipman Cast this dede body in the see for we shall neuir haue reste while it is in the shippe Thenne sayde the lorde she is natt dede but lyeth in a swowne for fere But I praye you let vs haue the ship to yonder roche for I hadde leuyr graue her yonder thenne to cast her into water And for ther was noon erthe to make her a graue he left her hangynge on a roche of stone and the childe by the modre couered them with his mantell And betoke theym to god and mary mawdelayn to kepe and wente his waye Soo whan he come to Ierusalem he spake with Petyr and he hadde him be of gode comforte though his wyf were dede for god myghte restore her to lyf agayn Thenne â—r shewyd him the places there as oure lorde was quycke and dede And tolde him of his birthe and of his passion of his resurrection and his ascension and enfourmed him of the feyth made him stedfaste to criste And whan he hadde be there two yere Petyr sente him home ayen and bad him grete wel mawdeleyn and her felaushyp Then whanne the lorde came ferre in the see and sawe the place there his wyf laye he longed sore in his herte to go thydre and thenne he prayed the shypman â–ª to sette him there Thenne he sawe a lytel childe syttynge on the see sonde playng with smale stones But assone as the childe sawe him it ranne forth to the roche and he folowyd tyll he come there he lefte his wyf And he toke vp the maÌ„ tell and founde the childe soukyng on his moders papes Thenne thanked he god and mary mawdeleyn Thenne he saide Mary thou arte grete with god that haste kept a yong chyld soukynge vpon a dede body in grete coÌ„fort and ioy to me But and thou wylt pray to thy lorde that my wyf myghte ryse to lyf then were I euir bounden to be thy seruaunte and woll wâ—â—ll I lyue Then with that worde she spakâ— said Blessed more thou be Mary that were medewyf to me and norâ—â— to me childe whil I haue be in my pelgramage Then said this man wyf arte thou alyue â–ª and she saide ye sir nowe I come fro my pylgremage as ye do â— told him of euery place that he hadde be al Thenne he knelyd downe and thanked god and mary mawdeleyn And whan they come home they founde Mary prechinge and techynge the people â–ª and anoon they knelyd downe and thanked her and tolde her what Petyr said and prayed her to tell what they shulde do and they wolde doo it with good wyl Thenne mary bad they shuld distroye the temples of mawmentrye and byld churches and make fontes and cristen the people and soo within shorte tyme all the londe was cristned Thenne for mary gaue her al to coÌ„templacion she went ferre into a wyldernesse was there xxx wynters vnknowen to any man or woman Descendebant angeli et eam iÌ„ ethera leuabant Anâ— aungellys come vii tymes a day and bare her vp into the ayre and ther she was fedde with heuynly fâ—de but whan god wolde that she sholde passe oute of this world he made an holy preste to see howe aungellys bare her vp in the ayre Then went he nere the place and asked in the name of god who was there If it were a cristen man he shulde speke and tell what he was Thenne aunsweryd mary mawdelen I am the sinfull woman that the gospell speketh of that wysshe cristes feet And she badde the preest goo to maxencius the busshop and byd him on Ester day in the mornyng to be in the churche there I wyll mete him whanne he came to the churche he sawe howe mary was borne vp two cubytes froo the grouÌ„de with aungelles that he was sore agaste Thenne mary called to him and badde him come nere and goo saye a masse that she myght be houseled Thenne in sight of all the people whaÌ„ masse was done she was houseled resceyued goddes bodye in fourme of brede and anon therwith she gaue vp the gooste Thenne tooke the busshoppe the holy body and layd it in a tomb of stone And wrote all her lyf in the worship of god that dyde soo graciously by her and all synfull people that wyll leue her synne Thus ye may come to euerlastyng blysse To the whiche god brynge vs all to Amen De festo sancti iacobi appostoli GOod frendes suche a daye ye shall haue saynt Iames daye thappostle and ye shall faste the euen in the worshyp of god this holy appostle This Iames was a holy man for he come of an holy kynde he was our ladyes susters sone And broder to saynt Iohn euangeliste and by thassent of all thappostlis he was sent in to spayn to preche the worde of god for the people were soo combred wyth the synne of mawmentry that he myghte not tourne but ix persones of the whiche he lefte there two to preche and vii he toke wyth hym in to Iury For he herde that there was one called hermogynes And he had a discyple that hyghte phylyp they two begyled soo the people that Iames hadde torned ayen to mawmetry Thenne Iames blamed hem to torne fro euerlastyng saluacioÌ„ to euerlastyng dampnacion Thenne hermogynes herde therof and came and disputed wyth â—mes of the feyth hopyng wyth thâ—â—dis crafte to haue ouer come hym Thenne Iames dyde soo many myracles that Phylyp forsoke hermogynes his mayster thenne was hermogynes wroth and sent a company of fendes saide goâ— ye and bringe Iames. phylip to me bounde Thenne whan the feÌ„des come to Iames the aungell of god was redy and bond the fendes that thei cryed Iames the appostyll haue mercy on vs for we be bound so sore wyth brennynge cheynes that wo is vs on euery syde Then saide Iames wherfore he ye come hyder and they said Hermogynes sente vs hyder for
Katheryne sawe that and blyssed her and wente in to the temple and rebuked themperour boldly and sayd that he dyde soule amysse for to doo that worship to feÌ„des leue the worship of god in heuen that made all thing of nought sent man lyfe wytte hele and preued 〈◊〉 grete reason how cryst was â—oth 〈◊〉 and man And how he bou◠〈…〉 kynde wyth his passion on the crossâ— wyth his deth And taughte how euery man shold honour god and leue false mawmentes Thenne was the Emperour wroth And bad take her to warde tyll he myght be at leyfer Soo in the meane tyme he sente after the grettest maysters and the wyseste clerkes that were in many countreys ferre aboute hym And whan they were comen he bad them goo and dyspute wyth Katheryne and ouercome her they shold haue ryght well for theyr labour Thenne were they wroth to come soo ferre to dyspute wyth a woman And sayd the left scoler in the scole hadde be ynough to ouercome her But whan Katheryne had dysputed wyth theym wyth the helpe of the holy gost she conuerted them euerychone to the feyth off our lord Ihesu criste In so moche that they were redy to suffre deth for cristis sake Thenne anone maxencius commaunded to make a grete fyre brenâ—e them in the fyre But by the helpe of the holy goost the fyre brenned noo partye of theyr bodyes nother the leest clothe of them and yet laye fayre dede as they had be a slepe Thenne the emperour made do Katherine to be naked and to bete her wyth sharpe scourges that she was all blody ful of wouÌ„des And theÌ„ne he put her in to pryson seuen dayes wythout ony maner mete or drynke Thenne had the quene grete lust to speke wyth Katheryne and toke a knyghte wyth her that hyghte porphyriâ—s and wente to katheryne and then they sawe an angell sette a crowne of shynnynge golde on the quenes hede and another on porphiryus hede and bad hem be stedfaste For wythin thre dayes they shold come to heuen by suffrynge of marterdom Thenne sente themperour after Katheryne and wente to haue fouÌ„de her nygh dede but all that tyme god sente her mete from heuen And whan the emperour sawe her a lyue he was wode for wroth and made her to be set betwene ii wheles and tourned one vpward and another downewarde full of hokes swerde poyntes for all to rase Katheryne theÌ„ come an angell as it had be a wynde and all to brake them and slewe four thousand of the tyrauntes Thenne sawe the quene that miracle and come before the kynge her husbonde and rebuked hym that he sawe the myghte of god soo openly and wolde not byleue theron Thenne bad the kynge lede forth the quene and cut of her pappes from the body wyth hokes and thenne to smyte of her hede Thenne for porphpryus beryed her and lxxx of her knyghtes were martered with her and porphyrius be heded also Thenne spake the Emperour to Katheryne and sayde that he wold wedde her and she wold forsake cryst and byleue in his goddis and she sayd she sette noughte by hym nor by his goddis And whan he sawe that he made to smyte of her hede Thenne anone in stede of blode come oute fayr mylke And thenne came an angell and bare the soule in to heuen And thenne angellis come and bare the body in to the ayre and soo to the mounte of Synay and there beryed it wyth worshyp And there god werketh many fayr myracles to this day At the fote of the mounte there is an abbey of monkes that lyuen in grete abstynence and this abbey is strong and hye walled and barred abowte wyth yren for wylde bestes And in that abbey lyeth saynt Katheryne in a fayr tombe of albester for her bones were fetched thyder for the more worshyp aboue the chirche is the busshe ther god stode in whan he spake to moyses and wrote the lawe in two tables of stone and the busshe is as grene and fayre as it was the same day Also in that abbey is a grete merueyle and is this euery monke hathe a lampe wyth oyle brâ—nnyng and whan he shal deye they shall knowe by his lampe For as he draweth to deth soo derketh his lampe And whan the abbot deyeth his brederen shal synge a masse of the holy gost and bery hym solempny whan masse is done they shal fynde a bylle wreten on the auter who shall be abbot so they chose her abbot Also on saynt Katherins nyghte al the birdes in the countree comen thyder and eche off theÌ„ brynge a branche of olyue in her byllys to the place and as pylgrimes sainthe monkes make oyle of the brauÌ„ches to her lampes for al the yere ¶ we fynde rede of a man that serued Katherine and fasted her euen brede water on a tyme he come in felyshyp of recheles people by comforte of theÌ„ he lefte his faste ete wyth hem and so in the nyghte after he sawe a grete coÌ„pany of maydens comyng by hym amonge them there was one passynge all other and eche of hem had a crowne but one had a passynge fair crown that was saint Katheryne So whaÌ„ she come by this man she hyd her face from hym and wold not loke on hym thenne he asked one of them what they were and she sayde we ben virgyns the pryncipall that thou seest is saynte Katheryne that hyd her face from the. by cause thou hast left thy deuoucion fro her euyn of fastynge Thenne this man repented him sore that he had doo this dede and tourned ayen to his deuoucion fasted and after was a holy man and therfore lete vs worship this holy virgin that she may praye for vs all Amen ¶ De dedicacione ecclesie â—Ood freÌ„des suche a daye ye shall haue your dedycacyon daye that is your chirche holy daye ye shal come to chirche and here your deuyne seruyce in the worshyp of god And for iii causes the whiche the chirche is halowed for that is for the chirche clensynge for deuoute praynge for the dede bodyes berynge the first is for the chirche clensyng the chirche is ordeyned for all the people that come thider shold be in parfyte charyte there mete wyth god for god is euer there present and whan all the peple comeÌ„ so to gyder at this assignement it pleyseth god to here hem her good wordes in that place But whan the fende seth ony man besy therto he is full sory seketh all the wayes that he can or maye to let hym from the chirche for they shold not come to the presence of god Thenne whan holy faders knewe the malice of the fende they ordeyned the chirche to be halowed And soo by good preyers the fende is â—reuen oute But yf any cursed lyuer brynge hym in ayen that is oute of charyte or in dedely synne is wyth
coÌ„myst to the churche beholde goddes body vndre forme of brede in the auter And thanke him that he vouchesauf euery day to come fro the holy heuyn aboue for the helth of thy soule Loke thou on the crosse therby haue mynde in the passion that he theron suffred for the. thenne the ymages of the holy saintes nat beleuynge on them but that by the sight of hem thou may haue mynde of theym that been in heuyn anâ— soo to folowe their lyfe asmoche as thou mayst If thou thus worshyppe loue and serue god thenne shall all thynge worshyp loue serue the and so thou shalt fulfyll the firste and mooste coÌ„maundement ¶ The secounde is that thou take nat in vayn the holy names of god Thou takest the name of god in vayn whanne thou turnest agayn to thy syn after thy baptym Thou takeste it in veyne also whanne thou sweryst and foâ—sweryst the and reckeste nat how Afore all thynge sayth saint Iame swere ye nat left ye fall vndre the come of god It is only reseruyd to god saith saint Iohn that thou swere by hym and his trouthe and his rightwysnesse Therfore or thou swere see that thou be compellyd by dome and that it be right nat for enuye loue ne drede but only for rightwysnes in declaring of trouthe And if any man of these fayl it is periury Beware therfore ye that vse questes or consistorye and here what perell ye stonde in that wyttyngly be forswore on the booke The booke betokeneth all holy scripture and the suffrage of the churche the whiche there thou forsakest when thou forsweryst the All the goode werkes that euir thou dydeste the whiche thou forsakest whanne thou withdrawest it Thou forsakest also god almyghty oure lady saynt mary and all the saintes of heuyn and the merytes of the holy sacramentes and hooly betakest thy selue to the deuyll of hell but if thou amende the or thou go hen◠¶ If they then shall thus be punysshed for swerynge how shall they be that blaspheme and dismembre him swerynge by his herte nayles woundes and suche other Some whanne they be repreuyd herof say it is gode to haue god in miÌ„de and with suche leudnes they kepe styll their othes And if thy seruaunte dyd agaynst thy byddynge sayng that he dyd it to haue the in mynde woldest thou nat be wrathe with him Moche more must god thenne with the whanne thou dooste agaynste his byddynge And some saye I may well swere for I swere soothe This is a false excusacion For and if thou sholdest alwaye swere whanne thou sayst sothe Thenne wolde nat criste haue forbeden sweryng But in moche swerynge is ofte forsweryng Therfore he sayth that he that mooche sweryth shall be replete with wyckydnesse and sorowe ne vengeaunce shall nat departe from his house Some say also that no man wyll beleue theym but if they swere This is a subtell excusacion For therby a false man may swere aswell as a true maÌ„ and so sholde he be aswell beleuyd as the true man For the falser that he is the more he swereth and forswerythe and so begyleth Therfore if thou wilt be beleuyd without swerynge be true of thy worde and left it be ye ye nay nay In token that thou sayst with thy mouthe thou sholdest say it with thyn herte and nat say one and â—ynâ—e a nother ¶ The thridde is haue in mynde to halowe thyn holydaies that is to saye Sondayes and other that ben comaunded Almyghty god in vi daies made heuyn erthe and see and all that in theym is And the vii day he restyd Therfore he blessyd it and made it holy But in stede therof we cristen men halowe the sonday whiche was the firste daye of the worlde wherin god made light and that day god gaue to moyses the lawe That day he arose from dethe to lyue That day the holy gooste gaue wysdome to the appostellys to preche the trouthe of cristes lawe And that daye as clerkes say shall also be domes daye ¶ Therfore shall euery man in that day besy him to here goddes seruyce lerne his lawe and fle synne and fleshely lustes tauernes and suche chafferynges that lettith theym to rest in our lorde ¶ yet many there be that such daies be more besy in wordely werkes and synnes thanne al the weke after and neuir woll reste for no techynge ne louene drede of god These be mooste lyke to theym in hell that neuyr reste but euyr laboure in peyne They breke also their holy day they spende theyr tyme in ydelnes and in vayne playes ydell spekynge bacbytynge of their euyn crysten why sayth oure lorde haue mynde to halowe thyn holy day But for thou sholdest putte oute of thyne herte all worldly thoughtes and occupye it with heuynly desires As to thynke what god hathe doon for the 〈◊〉 he made the of noughte and lyke to hym in soull Howe he 〈◊〉 soâ—ed the oute of the pytte of hell withe hys owne precious blood Howe also of his goodnesse he kepyth the nyght and daye in thy right wyttes and fro all bodily myscheuys that many one aldaye falleth in And howe agaynste all this thou yeuest him a drynke of gall of byttre synne and brekest his coÌ„maundementes bothe in word thought and dede ¶ Thus to haue mynde in all this He asked reste of body and soull â–ª on the holy day and thus reste signifyeth the reste in blys that we shall haue after this if we reste in hym On the holye day here goddes seuyre and fle synne ¶ The iiii commaundmnet is worshippe thy fader and moder Thre maner of faders there be that thou muste worshyp The firste is thy fader of heuyn that made the of noughte and norissheth thy body with erthly fode Conforteth thy soull with heuynly desyre Defendeth it fro the deuyll and maketh it heyr of the blys of uyn Thus may noon doo but he oure fader oure lorde and oure god The seconde fader is he that gate the and thy modre that bare the. to whome thou shall be subget and seruysable For they be the secounde cause of thy beynge in this present lyf Thenne thou shalt also worshyp them and yeue theym of thy godes freely if they haue nede and if thou haue more thenne they Comforte counseyl and teche theym after thy connynge folowen vsurye when thou lenest money to hem that haue nede for a certein wynnyg al the tymes ende And for the loone outher thou takyst seruyce presentis or yeftis ¶ Another whan thou lenest it for the half wynnyng he to paye the hooll that thou lenest it to though all be lost ¶ Another whan thou byest a thynge for moche lesse thenne it is worth ¶ Another whan thou sellest thy chaffare the derer for the lone ¶ Another whan thou hast a thyng to fore the tyme. as corn or it be rype ¶ Another whan thou takest the beeste of a poure man wyth this condicion that yf it deye
â–ª it shall deye to the poure maÌ„ and not to the. ¶ Soo sayth paryfyens therfore vse leeffull chaffare and wyn wythoute subtylte or sleyght not as moche as thou mayst But that that is resonable to thy sustenaunce after thyn estat is dewe This desyred this wyse man of our lord when he said neyther ryches neyther pouerte lord yeue me but oonly lord that is necessarye to my lyuelod ¶ The viii thou shalt not bere fals wytnesse In this is forboden all maner of lefynges conspyracy and forsweryng wherby that thy neyghbour leseth his catel frenshyp or good all suche ben called the children of the deuyll For they put out trouthe and brynge ynne falsehed Put oute cryste and brynge ynne the deuyll lesynge stondyth not oonly in fals wordes But also in fals werkys and yf thou be a crysten man lyue ther after or ellis thou lyest There be thre maner of lesynges one is when thou lyest wyth full purpose to hurt thy neyghbour And thenne it is dedely synne Another is whan thou lyest to further thy neyghbour in a trouthe and thenne it is not soo moche euyll ¶ The third is when thou lyest for the dysporte of them that be aboute the. not wyllyng to hyndre ony persone ¶ Thyse two be venyall but thou haue them in custume therforr beware of all maner lesynge and neyther for loue ne hate ne for mede bere noo fals wytnes The ix is thou shalt not desyre thy neybours wyf In the seuenth commaundement god forbedeth the dede of lechery and theyr desyre In tokyn that they be both dedely synne yet somme wene but they doo the dede it is noo synne Cryste therfore wyllyng all suche to be clene wythin and wythout bothe in body and in soule sayth this All that sewe a woman to the couetyse of theyr lust they do lechery wyth her in theyr herte And thus by shrewd thoughtis man is ofte tyme departyd from god ¶ yet sayth saynt Byrgit in her vysions But yf ylle thoughtis were somtyme to man He shold wene hym self f rather angell thenne man And soo all euyll thynge cometh off hym self and none of god ¶ Therfore that man sholde vnderstonde the infirmyte that he hath off hym self and the strenthe that he hath off god it is necessarye sayth she that he be suffred somtyme of the greate mercy of god to bee temptyd wyth euyll thoughtes To the whiche yf he consente not they be but a purgacion to his soule and a kepar of his vertâ—â—s Therfore whan shrewd thoughtis come to the wythstonde the first suggestyon and lete thy sowle alweye soo laboure that he consente not to delyte in theym And thenne haue in mynde the bytter paynis that Crist for the suffred And the endeles blysse of the ioyes of heuen that thou muste lese yf thou consente to theym and the bytter paynis of helle also that thou shalt haue yf thou deye in theym and yf thou thus doo thenne shalt thou haue in mynde thy laste ende and neuer doo synne ¶ The x. commaundement and the laste is thou shalt not desyre thy neghbours thynge hous lande oxe asse neyther noo thynge that is his For suche desyres of couetyse as scripture maketh mencion Balaam Nacor Anani Gyesy Achab Iesebel and many other fyll to grete myschyeff bothe off body and of sowle Therfore be ye well war al 's of all suche fals desyre And take noo mannis good ayenste his wyll lest it falle to you as it dyd to them And thynke also that wythout satysfaccion or hauyng wyll to amende the therof The pope ne none by hym may dispence wyth the. and yet thou stondyst acursyd of all holy chirche in the greate sentence foure tymes in the yere what shall all suche false desyre theÌ„ profyte the. when the curse of god shal thus abyde on the. there is noo man that bredith the curse of god nowe ¶ But whan cryst at the dome shall saye that scrypture makyth mencion of Goo ye cursed in the euerlastynge fyre of hell Thenne shall they bothe drede it and fele it For this word goo ye cursed shall be more peynfull as doctours sayn thenne the paynis off a thousand hellys though they were all gadred in to one All thyse ten bâ—hestis ben brought in two of the gospell that is loue god aboue all thyng And thy neyghbour as thy self f Fyrst thou shalt loue god wyth all thy herte that noo thyng be nerer thy herte then god In all thy soule that thou suffre noo synne abyde wythin thy soule for the loue of god And wyth all thy mâ—â—de that thou spare not for myschyâ—ff to please god Thy neyghbour also as thy self f in good and not euyl as moche as thy self in helthe in seekenes in welthe and in woo ¶ Thus for loue thou shalt kepe goddis commaundementis and not oonly for drede of peyn Thise commaundementis sholde eâ—â—e man telle and teche his childre And thus bad our Lorde to moyses thyse wordes said he â–ª the whiche I take here this daye shall be in thy herte Thou shalt telle them to thy sonnys â–ª thynke on hem slepyng wakyng syttyng goyng Thou shalt bynde theym as a sygne to thy hand and wryte theym on the doorys lynterâ—â—s of thy hous And shalt rewle all thy thoughtis wordes and dedes preuy and apert in eche place by thyse commaundementis off god Foryete not thyse wordes sayth he ne fall they not from thy herte all the dayes of thy lyf Thus gouerne ye your meyny sayth saint Austyn For as we thus speke to you here in the chirche soo shold ye to yours at home that ye may gyue tre we rekenyng to god of theym that be subgettis to you and telle theim sayth he the loue and the swetenesse of heuenly thynges and the grete bytternes of helle for ye shall answere for them at the streyâ— daye of dome and counseyll them all that they be not neglyent in no wyse to lerne thyse commaundemeÌ„tis for drede of this sentence that folowyth yf thou wolt not here the voys of thy lord god seyth he That thou kepe his commaundementis all thyse curses shull come to the and take the thou shalt be cursed in cytee in felde cursed shall be thy relyques the fruyte of thy body thy fruyte of thy loÌ„de The drouys of thyn oxyn and the flockes of thy sheep thou shalt be cursed in the goyng ynne and goyng out Thou shalt be smyte wyth hunger seekenesse and pestylence wyth adders wyth fyre wyth hete wyth colde and wyth corrupte ayer ¶ All thyse shall pursewe the. and thou shalt perysshe And yf thou wolt here the voyce of oure Lord that thou lerne and kepe his commaundementis He shall make the hygher thenne all that dwelleth in erthe And all thyse blyssynges shall come to the and take the Thou shalt be bsissed in cytee and in felde in the frute of thy body and fruyte of thy lande in
his fawcon first he will kytte it and thenne take oute the blood and wasshe it Soo must thou yeue thyn herte to our lord first kyt it wyth the knyff of contrycion thenne take out the blode of synne by confessyon And after wasshe it wyth satisfaccyoÌ„ and soo wyth the knyff of his passion but your hertes and not your clothis hauing in mynde that the blade of this â—nyf was made of the spere hed and naylys that his precious body and herte were thryllyd wyth all The haste was made of the holy tre of the crosse and the virell was made of the crwone of thorn that was aboute his hed -whet this knyf on his blyssed body that soo hard and cruelly was tormentid on the Crosse that there left noon hool ioynt wyth other make also the shethe of thy knyf of the whyt skynne of our lord Ihesu That was payntyd wyth reed blody woundys soo many that fro the toppe of the heed vnto the sole of the foot there was noon hoole plott lefte of hym vnscourgyd Thenne wyth the cordis that he was bounde with to the pyler Now bynde this knyff to the gurdell of thy herte And I doubte not be thy herte neuer soo harde thou this feythfully prynte in thy mynde hys passyon wyth thin harde herte Hit woll begyn to breke Thus mayst thou leâ—ne to suffre repreuys For our lord Ihesu whiche for the suffred thyse and many moo There ben syx thingys that shold stere the to grete sorowe for thy synnes The fyrst is that som tyme of the day or nyght as I said before Bethynke the how thow hast lyuyd And when thy synnes come to thy mynd haue an Inward sorowe that thou hast so greuously offendyd thy god ¶ The second that thou be ashamed of thy synne and ellys at the daye off dome they shall be shewyd to the and to all the world openly vnto thy gret shame and confusyon ¶ The thirde that thou haâ—e grete abhominacion of the fylthe of synne that thou hast thus doon bothe in the syght of god man Seneca sayth though I wyst that my syn shold be vnknowen bothe to god and man yet wold I abhorre and lothe the fylthe of my synne ¶ The fourth is that thou haue drede of the daye of dome and of the peynes of helle Of this daye spekyth saynt Peter thus vnnethe the right wyse maÌ„ that day shall be saued sayth he whereshall thenne the synfull apere As often as I behold that day sayth saint Iherom I quake in all my herte And whether I ete or drynke or ony other thyng doo euer me thynketh that the truÌ„pe of god sowâ—â—th in myn errs And byddeth me synfull wretche aryse and come to the dome ¶ The fyfte is that thou haue sorowe for the losse of heuen And the grete of fence doon to thy maker ¶ The syxte that thou haue a thâ—â—fold hope first of foryeuenes that thy â—ynnes be clene foryeuen the. hope also off grace to doo good werkis after and in hem alweye to encreace then hope of blisse wherwith thou maist afterward be rewarded for thy good werkys he prophete sayd before that I shold wesshe euery nyght my bedde wyth my teerys By this it semeth that contrycion after forgeuenes shold be contynuall To know this it is hard yet in thy wil thou mayst haue contynuell contrycioÌ„ euer in full purpoos to leue and loth thy synne and thus it is nedefull ¶ For and a confessour knewe suche oon that coÌ„meth so contynually being sory inwarde and outwarde Him nedyth neuir to gyue him but lytell penaÌ„ce For though he hadde doon grete and horrible synnes he myght so venge bewayll his synnes here that after his deth he shulde no paynes suffre in purgatorye ¶ yet this sorowe muste be mesurable with a trusty hope that thowe fall nat into heuynes of despayre It must also be generall and hole for all synnes yet more sharpe for oone thenne for a nother after that the gretenesse is And it must be doon for the offence doon to god nat only for drede of euirlasting peyne This maner of contricion brekyth the sâ—ares and the cheynes of the deuyll relisseth the bondes and obligationes of euirlastynge payne And delyuereth the from the seruage and horrible company of deuylles and maketh the child of god and heyre of the blysse of heuyn that to fore were the childe of the deuyll and a brennynge bronde of the pytt of hell Only contricion also auaylâ—th nat but there as confession and satisfactâ—on may be hadde For as we offende god in thre maner of wyse in herte speche and dede Soo it nedith that we do oure satisfaction in iii. maners and els the synnes is nat foryeuen Oonly contricion may auayl also whanne thou arte very contryte purposest afterwarde to absteyne the fro all maner of synne as soone as thou mayst and doost Also due satisfaccion after the dome of the church and this is the mooste sure way ¶ The secounde wasshynge is confession don of thy mouth right as thy soule is nowe wasshe made whyte with sokynge sorowe and salte fretyng teares of thyn eyn So by louly confession of thy mouthe thou must rubbe of the foull spottes of synne that are rustyd in thy soull Of this maner of weshyng spekith the prophete Dauid sayenge thus Thu shalt sprynge me lord with ysope and I shall be clensed Thou shalt wasshe me and I shall be made clene and whyte as snowe Right thus loulye confession doon of thy mouthe to thyne owne curate purgeth and maketh more white thy soull thenne is any snowe in this world Se therfore what confession is Confession after doctoures sayng is A laufull declaracion of synne to fore doon and a thynge wherby a preuy goostly sore or sekenesse is openyd with hope of foryeueâ—â—sse ¶ Tre maner of Confessiones ther be Oone is inwarde in the soull For or thou madest it it was knowen to god The secounde tofore a iuge in hope of forgyuenesse of god And the thridde tofore goddes vycare wher as preuy synne is preuely opened Of these speketh scripture and sayth Tell out if any thyng thou haue to say or shew that thou may be instifyed The passion of oure lorde iesu is a grete remedy agaynst synne be it origynall or actuall The vertue wherof is expressyd in the sacrament of holy churche without whiche ther may no man be hole Therfore that Confession is nedefull preuyth scripture saynge thus He that is proude and woll nat obeye the precept of the preest he shall be dede we haue it also of oure lorde fader of heuyn that euery man and woman hauyng yeres of discrecion is bounde by his own persone to make confessyon onys a yere of all his synnes to his owne Curate That it is also nedefull reson preueth in this wyse and thou haddest trespassed to thy neyghboure it were nat ryghtfull that thou sholdest sett thyn oune peyne at thy
SAM PEPYS CAR ET IAC ANGL REGIB A SECRETIS ADMIRALIAE Mens cujusque is est Quisque ¶ The helpe and grace of almighty god thrugh the besechinge of his blessed mo 〈…〉 saynt mary be with vs at oure begynnynge help vs and spede vs here in oure lyuynge and bringe vs vnto the blisse that neuir shalle haue endynge Amen Myn owne simple vnderstondinge I fele wele how it fareth by other that been in the same degree and haue charge of soules and holden to teche their parisshyns of all the principal festys that come in the yere shewynge vnto theym what the hooly saintes suffred and dyd for goddes sake and for his loue So that they sholde haue the more deuocion in good saintes with the bettre wyll come vnto the churche â–ª to serue god and pray his holy saintes of their help But for many excuse theÌ„ for defaute of bokes and also by symplenesse of connynge Therfore in help of suche this tretyse is drawen oute of Legenda aurea that he that lyst to studye therin he shal fynd redy therin of all the principall festes of the yere of echone a shorte sermon nedefull for hiÌ„ to teche and for other to serue And for this treatise speketh of all the high festys of the yere I woll and praye that it be called festiuall the whiche begynneth at the firste sonday of the Aduent in worship of god and all his sayntes that ben wretyn therin ¶ Incipit liber qui vocatur festialis GOde men and wemen this day is called the first sonday in aduent wherfore holy church maketh mencion of the coÌ„mynge of criste goddes sone into this world 〈…〉 maÌ„kinde oute of the deuylles bondage â–ª to bringe all well doers into the blisse that euir shall last And also of his other coÌ„mynge that shall be at the daye of dome whan he shall coÌ„me to deme all wacked doers into the peyne of hel for euir But the firste coÌ„mynge of â—huÌ„ Criste into this worlde brought ioye and blisse with him Therfore holy churche vsed songes of myrth as alleluya and other And for the second coÌ„mynge of criste shall be soo cruell that no tonge may tell Therfore holy churche seyth downe songes of melodye as Te deum Gloria in excelsis â–ª and weddinge For after that daye shall 〈◊〉 be weddinge more in to 〈…〉 ynge of veÌ„geaunce that coÌ„meth after Then after the the first coÌ„myng of crist into this worlde sainte Austyn sayth there been there thinges ryf in this worlde that ben 〈◊〉 the trauayll and deth This is the testamente that Adam oure forme fadre made to all his ofsprynge after him that is to be borne in sekenesse and for to lyue in trauayll and for to dye in drede But criste he came to be oure socoure of this testamente and was borne and trauayled and deyed he was borne to bringe men oute of sekenesse into euirlastinge helthe he trauayled to bryng man to euir lastinge reste he deyed to brynge man to euirlastinge lyf This was the cause of the firste coÌ„mynge of criste into this worlde wherfore h 〈…〉 wyll escape the dome that he shall coÌ„me to in the secounde coÌ„myng he must ley downe all maner of pryde of herte and knowe him selue a wreche of erth and holde meknesse in his hert he must trauayle his body in good werkes and gete truly his lyuelode with trauayll of his body and putte awaye all ydelnesse For he that woll nat trauayl his body in good werkes â–ª as sainte beinÌ„ sayth he shall trauayll euir with fendes in hel and for drede of dâ—th he muste make him euir redy to god whan he woll fende for him that is to say shryue 〈◊〉 â—ene of all his synnes and nat 〈…〉 yere to yere but assone as he 〈…〉 ryse vp and mekely tak◠〈…〉 fadre then shall 〈…〉 come haue gret worship 〈…〉 a knight she wyth his woū◠〈…〉 had in batayll in moche 〈…〉 to him Right so the synnes 〈…〉 hath doon and is shreuyn of 〈…〉 his penaunce shal be moche wâ—â—ship to him and grete coÌ„fusion to 〈…〉 And that he hath nat shryu◠〈◊〉 â—halbe shewyd openly to al the worlde in grete shamâ— to him This is sayd for the firste coÌ„mynge of crist in to this worlde Vnde DnÌ„s veniet ad iudicium· The coÌ„mynge of criste is to the dome Tunc videbunt filium hominis venientem in nubibus cum potestate magna et maiestate And these coÌ„mynges shal be so cruell that fyftene daies afore shall coÌ„me tokens of grete drede So that therby the people may knowe that sone after coÌ„myth the dome Secundum IeronimuÌ„ As Ierom sayth The firste day the water shall ryse vpon the see and it shall be higher than any hyll by xl cubytes The secounde day the see shal fal downe so lowe that vnnethe it may be seâ—â— The thridde daye all the fysshe and bestes in the see shall make suche a crye and a rorynge that no tonge may tell it but god him selue The fourthe daye the see and waters shall brenne· The v day all trees â–ª and herbes shall swete blood and al maner of foules shal coÌ„me to gidder and nother ete nor drynk for drede of the dome that is coÌ„mynge The vi day all grete bildinges castel sys toures steples and houses shal fal downe and brenne tyll the sonne ryse ayen The vii day all stones and rockes shall bete to gydre that eche shall breke other with an horrible noyse whiche shal be herde into heuyn The eyghte day the erthe shall quake so that there may no man stonde theron but shall fall downe The ix day the peple shal goo oute of their dennys goo as they were myndlesse and noone speke to other The tenth day hylles and erth shal be euyn and playn The xi day al graues and tombes shall open and the bodies shall stonde vpon them The tuelthe day sterres shall fall from heuyn shotynge oute brennynge bemys a dredefull signe to see The xiii day they shall deye that beren lyf The xiiii day heuyn and erthe shall brenne The xv day heuyn and erthe shal be made new and all people shal aryse in the age af xxx wynter and coÌ„me to the dome Dominus veniet ad iudicium cum multitudine angelorum ¶ Thenne shall come to the dome our lord Ihesu Criste very god and man wyth his angelis And shewe his wouÌ„dis fresshe bledyng as thaâ— daye he deyed on the crosse wyth all the instrumeÌ„tes of his passion ¶ The spere croune scourges nailes hamer pynsones and the garland of thornes to shewe what he suffred in his passion for mankynd Thenne maye they be sory and ferde that haue sworne by his passion or wouÌ„dis or by ony membre of his body that shall be a grete represse to theym But they amende theym in this worlde or they deye Thenne wyll our lorde gretely thanke theym that haue doo mercy in this worlde for his sake to theyr euyn crysten And
wepinge thanne to go to anâ—â—â—se there as is greate reuyll and moche â—yrthe For suche thinges make a man to foâ—yete his god and him selue bothe But there as is a sighte of a corse maketh a man to thynke on his deth That is the speâ—yall thinge to pâ—tte awaye synne and vanite of the worlde For Salamon saythe thus to his sone ¶ Fili memorare nouissima et ineternum non peccabis Sone haue in thy mynd â—â—at thou shal dye and thou shall neuir synne dedely Thus holy churche hauynge greate coÌ„passion of her children ordeyneth thre maner of salues to helpe her châ—ldren That ben to thynke on dethe inwardely â–ª to labour besily and to chastise the body reasonably The firstâ— is to thy 〈◊〉 on dethe inwardly Holy churche 〈◊〉 ensaÌ„ple this day in the office of the mâ—ssâ— wâ—â—che begynneth thus Circumdederunt â—e et cetera The sekenesse of deth hath biclepyd me Thus sayth he â—â—â—hing euery good childe to haue in mynde how hard he is be stadde with deth on eche syde In somoche that he may nat scape no waye but euir deth sueth him with a bowe drawen and an arowe euir therin redye to shote him he wote neuir what tyme. This is a principall salue to euery maÌ„ that taketh it to heâ—e to puâ—t away all maner of vanyte and vayne myrthe But for to vnderstonde this the bettre I shewe this by ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ I rede of a â—ing that euir was in heuy sorowe and he wolde neuir laughe ne make mery but euir was in morninge and in heuynesse Therfore his menye and al other men were greuyd ther with they yede to the kinges broder praynge him to speke to the kinge and said he greuyd all tho that were about him with his heuy â—here and couÌ„seyled him to leue it and make lighte chere in tyme coÌ„mynge Thenne was this kinge wise and thought to chastise his broder by a wyle and wrouthly badde him goo home and doo that he hadde to doo Then was the maner of the countree that whan a man shulde be doon to deth shuld coÌ„me â—â—umpettes and truÌ„pe afore his gate Thenne saide the kinge byddyng theÌ„ goo trumpe afore his broders gate and men go with them to arreste him brinâ—◠〈◊〉 bifore there king and in the me 〈◊〉 while the king called to him seuyn mâ—n that he truste on and badde theym that whan his broder was coÌ„me to drawe their swerdes and sette theim at his breste afore his herte So whan his broder was coÌ„me they dyd as the king badde theym Thenne the king coÌ„maunded all men to daunce and to make reuell all that they coude and so they dyd Thenne sayd the kynge to his broder why arte thou so heuy of chere Heue vp thy hede and be mery for all this myrthe is made for the Thenne aunswered he and saide Howe shulde I be mery of chere and see here seuyn swerdes sett to my herte and wote nat who shal be my deth firste Thenne saide the kinge putt vp your swerdes spake to his broder thus It faâ—â—th by 〈◊〉 the seuyn â—edeâ—â—â— synnes be euir ready to reue me of my soule to the herte and this maketh me that I may neuir be mery and make glade chere but euyr am aferde of dethe for my soule that is the lyf of my body Thenne saide the broder I crye the mercy for I knewe neuir this tyll nowe I shall be the wyser euir after ¶ This I say boldly he that wyll take to herte he shall haue better wyll to loure than to laughe to sigh than to be gladde to wepe thanne to synge so that he shall fynde that mynde of deth the principall salue of all maner of synne Also principally we muste haue in mynde the paynfull deth of oure saue oure that he suffred for vs all Of the which is made mencion in the first chapitre of trenys Attendite et videte si est dolor similis sicut dolor meus That other salue is to laboure besilye in this worlde Of this laboure speketh sainte poule in the epistyll of this daye and sayth thus Sic currite vt comprehendatis Renne ye so that ye maye haue the game By this rennynge ye shall vnderstonde that he that renneth for the game enforcyth him self with all his myghte to renne faste and so muste euery seruaunte of god enforce him to laboure besily in that degre that god haâ—â— set him in and men of holy churche muste laboure in studynge and praynge and to teche the people the lawe of god Lordes and rentyd men muste laboure â—◠¶ kepe holy churche in reste and peceâ— and other comyn people muste labour to gete lyuinge to thise other degrees and for hem self bothe to the soule and body And for no maÌ„ shold excuse hym from this labour Cryste in the gospel yeueth an ensample saing thus ¶ Primo mane conducere â—perarios And husbond men wente in to his gardeyn or vyne yerde at prime and ayen at vndren or myddaye and at euynsoÌ„ge tyme. and he hired people to labour by all the tydes of the daye this is to vnderstond all the grees of the world For as Iob saith a man is borne to labour and traueyle in this worlde as a byrd to flee And saynt bernard saith he that wyll not laboure here in this worlde he shall laboure wyth fendys in helle for that is the testament of Adam that he left to all his ofsprynge labour and traueyle To this laboure he yeueth ensample and reherseth how god made adam and eue to laboure to kepe paradyse and bad them ete of all the frutes that was in paradise except one tree that he kepte for hym self soo as ofte as they sawe the tre they shold thynke on hym that made theym and knowe hym for theyr god ¶ And for they sholde not ete therof in peyne off deth and of dampnacion Thenne the fende sawe theym in soo moche ioye that they were in and hym self in so moche peyn and woo that he had grete enuy to theym and went to Eue and asked why they eâ—e not of the frute off that tree And she said god hath forbede vs that tree in peyn of deth Thenne sayd the fende he wote full well that and ye ete therof ye shold 〈…〉 â—nowyng bothe good and â—â—â—lle ¶ Aâ—â—â— yf ye wyll prâ—â—e that I saye soche Ete therof and assâ—ye Thenne toâ—e eue of the frute and gaf adam and bad hym ete therof and assaye And adam loueâ—â—er well and wolde not wrathe her toke an appell and 〈◊〉 And anon therwyth eyther of them â—awe others shappe and were ashamed And toke leues of a fygge tree and soo â—yuered her membres Than came our lorde to adam and saide Quare fecisti hoc ¶ why hast thou doo so and he saide Mulier quam dedisti nuchâ— The woman bad me thenne said oure lord to eue why dydest thou thus Serpens decepit me The Serpente begyled me Thenne for
they myghte not deye in paradyse ne suffre no penaunce ther fore he dâ—of hem naked oute in to this worlde that is full wretched wepynge and waylynge full sore syghynge to goo gete her mete wyth 〈◊〉 laboure and trauaylle and deye at the last Than pâ—aid adam our lorde sore wepyng be shold not take grete vengeauÌ„ce vpon theym but haue merry on theym and pyâ—e for they were begyled by enuy and malyce of the fende and by Innocensie off theym self that they wyste not what they dyde Thenne had our lorde â—uâ—â—e on them for they were bothe naked he clothede theym in pâ—â—â—heâ— badde theym goo laboure and traueyle for theyr lyuynge ¶ And sayd to Eue In dolore paries filios In sorowe and woo thou shalt bere thy chyldren And toke adam instrumeÌ„tes to laboure wyth and lefte them there ¶ By this ye shall vnderstonde take ensample to laboure besely For and Adam and eue had laboured besely the fende had neuer ouercome them For the fende desyreth no more whan he wolde tempte a man but for to fynde hym ydle ¶ And therfore knowe ye well that it is a riche salue agaynste synne for to laboure besyly ¶ The thirde is to chastyse the body discretely Vnde paulus Castigo corpus meum et in seruitutem redigo I shall castyse my body and dresse it in seruyce of soule for mannys flessh is so wylde and so lusty to synne that it wylle not with noo waye leue his luste to serue god but yf it be chastysed with penaunce For it muste be chastysed soÌ„tyme wyth peyne Thus dyde Adam Eue in ensample that all other that shal come after hem shold do the same for many yeres before her dethe eyther off theym stode in water a nyghtes vp to the chyn one ferre from another to suffre penaunce tyll her flesshe was as grene as grasse for colde Thenne com the fende to eue also bryghte as an angell and said that god hath sente hym from heuen and bad her goo to Adam and say that god hadde sent hym from heuyn and badde her go to Adam and saye to hym that god badde hym leue his penaunce for his trespasse was forâ—yue and Eue dyde soo but Adam wyst well that it come from the fende and not from god He sayd to eue whaÌ„ god droue vs oute of paradyse for oure synne and had compassion on vs for we wepte sore on hym and prayed hym mekely of mercy he setted vs here to penaunce to our lyues ende and therfore goo agayn for the more penaunce that we doo the more shal be our mede And therfore goo agayn and do penaunce in goddis name yet the fende come ayen the second tyme and said to eue god of his grace hath take reward to your penaunce that ye suffre hath forgyue you ¶ Thenne went eue to adam and tolde hym soo Thenne said Adam I wote well that he that hath said so to the is our enmye for oure penaunce greueth more hym than vs. he wolde haue vs to leue of and soo to lese oure mede But doo we forth our penaunce to oure lyues ende For god taketh none hede to the begynnynge of a thing but to the endyng yet the fend came ayen the thirde tyme to Eue and said ¶ Goo thou to adam and saye to hym that he began foule and wel fouler wylle ende for fyrste he trespassed by innocencie and disceyte of the fende And nowe he synneth by good delyberacion and wyll Not doo as god byddeth hym wherfore youre trespas is worthy dampnacion ¶ Thenne was eue a ferde and tolde adam soo Thenne Adam siked sore and wepte and sayd to her vnauysed won in god made the of one of my rybbes for to helpe me and comforte me· And nowe by tycinge of the fende thou arte besy to combre me agayn ¶ But thinke howe oure firste synne stanke in the ¶ syght off god that all our ofspryng shall be enfect and haue repreef therof in to the worldis ende wherfore though we might doo also moche penaunce as all our ofspring myght doo· yet it were to lytill to quyte our lorde god for oure trespas But god of his special grace aloweth a good wylle Thenne went eue ayen to her penaunce as Adam bad and than said adam god wylle sende vs the oyle of mercy whaÌ„ tyme of mercy is And soo adam and eue dyde their penaunce to theyr lyues ende ¶ And whaÌ„ Adam had lyued ix hundred yeres And xxx and hadde xxx sones and xxx doughters they deyde and were bothe buried togydere adam and eue Thus ye may see well that adam and eue were full hoolyor they deyed and thoughte on deth full inwardly and laboured full besely chastysed her flesshe full resonably soo muste we doo that come of theym that wylle come to the ioye of paradyse in tokenyng here of this sondaye is called the sonday in septuagesme a noÌ„bre of lxx The whiche nombre begynneth this daye and endeth on ester euyn soo holy chirche is mornyng from this daye tyll ester euyn than she taketh coÌ„forte ayen in partye of one alleluya wyth a tracte for it is not yet in fulle myghte tyll saterday in ester weke the whiche is called Dominica in albis Than she leyeth doun the tracte and grayell and syngeth double alleluya techyng all crysten men to labour and do penaunce truly tyll the saterdaye that is to a mannys lyues ende that is tyll the soule goo to rest yet is not the soule in full rest tyll the sâ—terdaye in albis that is tyll the daye of 〈◊〉 whan the body and the soule shall come togyder and be clothed in albis that is in white seuen tymes whetter than the sonne and than they shalle synge double alleluya that is to say lord make vs saaf in euerlastyng blisse To the whiche brynge vs he that for vs al deyed on the rode tree Amen Dominica ¶ ly â—Ood men and wymmen thâ—s daye is called the sonday in seâ—agesme that is the nombre ofâ— lx the whiche nombre holy chirche techeth euery man and woman to thynke how short our lyf is now in our dayes for somtyme people â—uâ—â—dâ—y â—â—yeres and more And now iii. score oâ— iiii score is a longe lyffâ— But the grace off god and his mercy and goodnesse is so moche that yf we wyll doo our besynes and dyligence to serue god and plese hym he wyll gyue vs asmoche ioye and blysse in heyen as he gaf to adam and eue that lyued soo longe But he that wyll haue ioye and blysse muste doo thre thynges One is he muste â—â—te synne namely and suffre tribulaâ—ioÌ„ mekely And do almys dedes wylfully Than for our dayes ben shoâ—â— we muste the more trybulacion suffre mekely And wyth paciente herte an not grâ—â—chynge and disease cometh of speciall grace For it is remedye for synnes he◠¶ re in this worlde for penaunce oâ— elles for grete encreasing to his Ioye in a nother world wherfore
crose vpon your mete and after mete an other and thank god highly that sent you that fode att your nede to your bodily sustenaunce Thus â—urste ye faste ayenst glotony Ayenst pryde that is but a vayne glory of the worlde ye muste putte away all suche thoughtes of pryde and highnesse in herte and be meâ—e and louly in herte and thynke howe a man is borne feble seke and full poure and how he goeth euery day a iournay toward his dethe while he lyueth in this world and atte last coÌ„meth dethe and castith him downe in his bedde and lyeth there sighinge and gronynge and chaungeth bothe hyde and hewe Thenne stynketh his breth and his lyppes wexen blacke his face pale and his eyen yelowe his tonge englymed and his nose blacke his teeth fallen away his flesshe wydereth and turneth to erthe And then at the last withe great sighinge yeueth vp the gooste and then lyeth ther as erth and put into the erthe Lito obliuisceris And so shal thou be sone forgoten ¶ Therfore take this sadly in mynd and I hope ye shall putt awaye pride Thenne ayenst couetyse ye muste haue abstinence that is for to say ye absteyn your self from worldely couetyse and vanyties And they that haue been hard in kepyng of goodes and euir hath gadred to aydre and faste hath kepte it But now shold ye be as redy to paye and contente that ye be in dette vnto bothe to god and to the worlde And also to restore ayen that ye haue taken wrongfully And yeue to pâ—re people mete and drynke and clothes and other thinges suche as is nedefull to theym And the fete that hathe goon all the yere besily to gete godes of the worlde nowe muste ye be also besy to go yeue the pore people to theym that haue nede as we haue in the gospell Daâ—e et dabitur vobis yeue and god wyll yeue you For the hondes that wyll nat gyue almes they be full vnworthy to be acceptable vnto god Also ye muste goo full besily vnto goddes seruyce in pilgramage goynge and to all maner gode dedes of almesse And he that hath be besy to gadre goodes now sholde he spare from his owne mouthe for to yeue the pore nedy that is goddes people for that pleasith god full moche gretly helpyth the soule Elâ—mosâ—a a morte liberat Almesse delyuerethe the soule from dethâ— Sicut aqua eâ—tinguit ignem ita elimosina extiÌ„guit peccatuÌ„ For right as water quenchyâ—â— fyâ—e Ryght so almes dede queÌ„chith synne wherfore the prophete sayth thus Date et dabitur vobis yeue ye and god wyll gyue to you Dimittite et dimittittum Forgyue and god wyll forgyue you· But nowe all is lytell enoughe to fede your bodies that no thinge ye maye gyue to pore bodies for goddes sake ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede there was a worthy knyght a riche man of godis and a mighty maÌ„ of his hâ—ndes but he cherisshed moche his body with delicate metes and deynties But at the laste he died and was buried in a tombe of stone Than had he a sone that was a worthy man and vsed euery daye in custome to say Deprofundis for his faders â—soull by his tombe So on a day he made a grete feste to all the worthy estates in the countrey aboute him whan they sholde washe and go to mete this man bithought him howe he hadde nat sayd DeprofuÌ„dis â–ª and prayed the people to abyde tyl he saide his deuociones and they sayd they wolde goo with him and dyd soo Thenne there fyll suche a luste in this mannys herte that he must nedes se his faders tomb oyned or els him thought he shulde dye and so made the peple to eyen the tombe Thenne anoon he was â—â—are of a grete blacke tode also blacke 〈◊〉 ony pytche with â—yn brennyng lyke â—yâ—e that had bâ—â—epyd his faders hert with her foure clawes and gnewe fast He saide O fadre moche good mete hathe goon in thy throte and now art straÌ„gled with a foule hell hounde and an horrible foule beste And anone he lete go close the tombe ayen and so yede to mete And whan he hadde seruyd all the people pryuely he went forth left childe and lordship and all his godes went to Ierusalem and lyued there emonge beggers with other pore people in grete pouerte all his lyf and so deyed whan god wolde and wente to euirlastinge ioye as I hope To the whiche ioye god bringe vs all Amen Dominica secuÌ„da quadrageste gOode men and wymen this is the secounde sondaye in clene lente wherfore lyke as ye haue made al this yere bifore you honest and well be seen in good array to your body Now shulde ye be assone besy to make you a clene soule wherfore this tyme of lente is ordeyned to clense youre canscience from al maner of ruste and fylth of siÌ„ne So that ye may on Esterdaye with clene conscience receyue the body of our lordeâ—esu criste wherfore saint Poule in the epistyll of this day sayth thus Hee est voluntas dei This is goddes wyll that ye shulde be besy holy to kepe your bodies in clenesse for to please god moche to pray to him to make his vessell clene ayenst the coÌ„mynge of oure lorde iesu criste Thanne shall ye vnderstonde that this vessell is mannys conscience and that is a good vessell that kepyth all good thinges that is put therin tyll the daye of dome For that daye euery mannys vessell that is to saye euery mannis coÌ„science shal be opened and the worlde shall se what hath been kepte therin be it bettre or worse fayre or foull Than he that bryngeth a clene vessell bifore the high iuge shal be well allowed Thenne howe a man shall kepe his vesell clene holy churche techith by ensaÌ„ple of a holy patriarke Iacob that is rede in songe all this weke ¶ Iacob had a fadre that was called Isaac and his modre Rebecca and she hadde two children at one byrthe and that was firste borne highte Esau and the other iacob But for the story is long we shall taâ—e at this tyme that is moste nedefull and leue that other Thenne hadde god gyue his patriarke Isaac such grace that what blessinge he gaue his blessed children they shulde haue it Than for Isaac was olde and blynde and nyghe his dethe he sayd to his sone Esau Aufer michi de venacione tua Goo and hunte and gete me some mete that I mighte ete of Vt benedicam tibi priusquam moriar et cetera That I may gyue the my blessinge or I deye But whan Esau was gone iacob the yongre by techynge of his modre gate his faders blessinge And his fadre sayd to him in this wyse Esto dominê° fratrum tuorum Be thou lorde of all thy brethern and so made him his eyre and blessed all the blessed him Thenne whanne esau was come home and wyst this he hatyd Iacob his brother
and thought to sle hym Thenne iacob by counseyll of his modre went oute of the contre vnto an vncle that he hadde that hight Laban and as he wente by the way in a countre of euyll people lyuynge he durst nat longe with theym abyde but leye all a nyghte in the feld by the waye and leyd a stone vndre his hede and slepte Viditque in sompnis scalam staÌ„tem super terram And in this slepe he thoughte he sawe a ledder that stoode of therth and â—aught vp to heuyn and god ioyned to the ledder Vnde Angelos quoque dei ascendeÌ„tes et descendentes And aungellys of god goyng vp and downe Thenne god spake to him and said I am god of Abraham and Isaac and I wyll gyue the this londe and be thy kepar in thy waye Then awoke Iacob and sayd in this wyse Vere dominus est in loco isto et ego nesciebam Forsothe god is in this place and I wyste nat and soo wente forthe to his vncle and was with him xx wynter and more his seruaunte and wedded his ii doughters that one hight rachell and the other Lya And whan he hadde be there so longe he desired to goo home ageyn into his owne countre And tooke with him his wyf and his children and all his catell and wente forthe Thenne came there to him a multitude of aungellys to helpe him Thenne whan Iacob came to a forde he made all his meyne to goo bifore with his cattell and hym selue abode bihinde in his prayers and as he prayed there caÌ„me an aungell to him in lyknesse of a man and wraâ—â—â—ed with him all the nyght tyll on the morne and toke him by the grete senowe of the thighe and made him to haâ—â—e euyâ— after Then sayd the aungell to Iacob what is thy name He sayd Iacob nay saide he thou shalt no lenger hight iacob but israell shal be thy name And blessyd him and lefte him there hastynge and thus he went home to his owâ— countrey with grete prosperyte ¶ This story is red in holy churche in this ensample to all good seruauntes that desire to gete the blissyng of the fadre of heuyn and to haue the herytage that is there He muste be iacob and after israell For iacob is to vnderstonde a wrasteler Israell a man that seeth god for he that wyll see god he muste wrastell here in erthe wyth the bad angel That is the fende â–ª wyth his own flesshe as thus whan he hath doone a gret horryble synne than the fende putteth to hym a grete shame in herte soo that he dare not telle it oute thenne he muste wrastele wyth the fende and the flesshe and ouercome hem And telle out his synne openly â–ª wyth all the circuÌ„staunce of his synne than wylle his flesshe be aferde and ashamed theroff but than he must wrastel wyth his fleshe strongly and make it to telle his since and to doâ— penaunce after the couÌ„seyll of his gostely fader takyng then 〈…〉 woman of fer countrey that came to crist as the gospell sayth Ecce mulier cananea a finibê° ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ egressa clamauit dicens ¶ How the woman of Canenâ—e came â— Criste to gete hele for her doughter 〈◊〉 was trobled wyth a fende said Ihesu fili dauid miserere mei ¶ Ihesu the sone of dauid haue mercy on me Thenne our lord answerd Non eÌ„ bonum sumere panem filiorum et dare canibus ¶ It is not good to take brede of children and gyue it to houndes Nam et catelli edent de mensa dominorum snorum ¶ Ies lord for why welpes eten of the cromes that fallen fro her lordes bord Thenne said our lord Mulier magna est fides tua fiat tibi sicut vis ¶ O woman thou hast a greate feyth wherfore as thou wylte thy doughter be saued and soo was her doughter hole This woman and her doughter betokeneth a man that his conscience traueyleth wyth a fende of dedely synne that may not bee holpen but he goo to god And there he shryue hym to the preeste sparynge for noo rebuke noor shame ne for drede but mekely suffre all that the confessour saith to hym And take his penaunce mekely wyth a contryte herte and doo it wyth good deuocion and soo he shall be delyuered of the fende that hathe traueyleth his conscience for a man that hath done an horryble synne and shall be saued he shall neuer haue rest in his conscience tyll he be shryuen therof For ryght as an hounde gnaweth on a bone that is harde right so his synne gnaweth his conscience Shewynge by experience howe houndes of helle shall gnawe his soule euer more wythoute rest that deyth wyttingly in dely synne that he myght haue be shryuen of â–ª and wolde not Ensample of a woman ¶ Narracio ¶ There was a woman that had don an horryble synne and wold fayn haue be shryuen ther of and durst not Thenne came our lord to her bodely said my doughter why shrâ—â—est the not of thy synne lord I maye not for shame theÌ„ne said our lord take metâ—â— honde put her hoÌ„de in to his syde euin to his hert said womaÌ„ what felest thou and she quaked for fere said lorde I fele 〈◊〉 herte Then sayd oure lord be thou noo more asshamed to shewe me thyn herte than I to let the fele myne Thenne this woman rose and with lyghte sawe her honde al blody and wolde haue wasshe it of but it wolde natte tyll on the morowe that she was shryuen and thenne was her honde clene as it was to fore and she was clene of all her synnes and thus she was made clene bothe of body and soule DnÌ„ica tercia quadragesime gOode men and wymen this is the thridde sonday in clene lent wherfore we rede in the gospell of this daye and saith thus Erat Iesus eiciens demonium How oure lorde caste oute a fende of a dombe man and whan the fend was loppen oute Locutus est mutus Thenne the dombe man spake By this dombe man ye shal vnderstond al tho that haue no myghte to shryue theym with their tongues to tell theire synne but tary as longe as they may for shame of the peple and it were nat for shame of the worlde in lenten nor out of leÌ„ten they wolde neuir came to shrifte that maketh that fende for he is in that man or woman whedyr it be that is so disposed Therfore ye that be behynde come and shryue you and mak you cleue and haue this doÌ„be man out of youre mynde and caste awaye the fende But there be many that be nat yet shreuyn what shall I doo there they woll say they can nat shryue theym they woâ—e nat wherof But I may saye to you of many an ydell worde and many â—n euyll thoughte and many a cursed dede many grete othes many an euyll worde that ye haue spoke I wote well ye can nat tell
make nat to moch of thy selue For â—ay fortune a nother tyme he ra◠〈◊〉 â—hou mayste haue the worse and 〈…〉 moche velonye more thanne nowe to worship wherfore be natt now to proude of thy self ¶ Thus shulde ye bete youre selue in the mouthe of your soule wite the braunche of olyue that is with the vertue of mekenesse And so holde you in loue and meke in herte and euirmore dredynge and fearynge leste ye falle ayen to synne And so to leue the worship that ye haue now For truste this truly mekenesse is that vertue that mooste and sonest ouircommeth your gostly enmye the fende and sonest gadreth a man to vertuouse lyuyng That we may haue this vertu of mekenesse pacience and charite to ouyrcoÌ„me oure gostly ennymye nowe and euir Amen gOod frendes ye shall vnderstond that holy churche vsyth these thre daies and sayth seruice in the euyn tyde that iâ— mekenesse wherfore we call it tenebres But holy church calleth it tenebris Thenne why this seruyce is thus doon in meâ—enes holy faders tell for thre causes One is the nyght bifore that oure lorde Iesu criste was take he went into the mount of olyuete prayed thus Pater mi si possibile est transeat a me calix iste My fadre if it be possible that this byttre passion may passe fro me if it were the faders wyll and els nat And for drede and fere of that byttre passioun that he fylte in spyryte he swet both blode and water And another cause is this that anone after mydnyghte caÌ„me Iudas Scarioth with fifty knyghtes and moche other people to take criste And for it was derke and they coude nat we le know him fro sainte Iames he was so lyke to criste wherfore Iudas sayd Quem osculatus fuero cum tenete Forsoth quod he him that I shall kys it is Take ye him for saint Iames was so lyke that mooche people called hym cristes broder And thus Iudas betrayed his master and thus was cryste take in mekenesse with all the spyâ—â— that they coude doo to him berynge him and spyttynge in his face The thâ—â—d cause is whan criste was naked on the crosse fete and handes hangyng thre oures from vndryn tyll none Thenne the sonne with drewe her lighte â–ª and was derke through all the worlde shewing that the maker of lighte was at that tyme pâ—â—ed to the dethe For thies thre causes the seruice in the nyght is done in derkenesse The whiche seruyce maketh mynde How Iudas betrayed cryste and howe the iewys caÌ„me as pryuely as they coud for drede of the coÌ„men people wherfore to the seruice is no bel ronge but a sounde made of tre wherby all cristen people may haue knowelege to coÌ„me to that seruyce pryuâ—ly withoute makinge of any noyse And all that the people shulde speke of coÌ„myng and goynge shulde sounde of tree that is the crosse that oure lord god was done vpon and of his passion and of the wordes that oure lorde spake hangyng on the crosse howe he saide to his modre Mulier ecce filius tuus woman se thy sone And how he coÌ„meÌ„ dyd his modre to sainte Iohn the euaÌ„gâ—lyste in kepynge and what sayd the 〈◊〉 that henge by him and sayd thus â—omine quaÌ„do veneris in regnum tuum memento mei Lorde whanne thou coÌ„myst to thy kingâ—ome haue mynde on me And anoon 〈◊〉 lorde saide to him Hodie mecum eris in paradiso This daye thou shalt be with me in paradise And howe he betoke his spiryte into his faders hondes and sayd In manus tuas coÌ„mendo spiritum meum And so he yelde vp the gooste Thus coÌ„mynge and goynge to the chirche al cristen people shalde comen and leue vanyte and ydell talkynge and speke only of the crosse that is oure redemption A nother cause is whanne that Iudas hadde betrayed criste and sawe by his treson that he shulde be dede anone he fyll in dispayre and honge him self on a tree And than he displeasyd more criste for that dede than for all the trespas that he hadde doon to fore For criste is so mercyfull that and he hadde askyd mercy he sholde haue hadde mercy and foryeuenes Also at this seruyce be sette certayn candilles in the quere after the vse in some place more than in some other as the vse is the whiche been quenchyd one after a nother In toknynge of cristes disciples how they weÌ„t away eâ—he after other But whan all these caÌ„dâ—llys been taken awaye and the lyght goon yet one abydeth styll a whyle tyl clerkes haue song Kyâ—â—es and thies verses the whiche betokenyth the wymmeÌ„ that made lamentation at cristes sepulcre Thanne that candell is brought ayen and other lighted there and that betokenyth oure lady For all the feythe was loste saue only our lady and of al other were enfourmyd and taughte Also it betokneth criste him self that was in his manhode dede and leyde in sepulcre And the thridde day arose from dethe to lyue ayen and yaue lighte by loue to all that were dede and queynt by dispayre ¶ The strokes that the preest geuyth on the boke betokneth the clappes of thundre whan crist brast hel yates and dispoyled them and set oute Adam and Eue and all theym that he hadde boughte with his byttre passion ¶ Nowe haue ye herde somwhat what this seruice betokneth and thynk theruppon and be nat vnkynde to your god that suffred all this for you For vnkyndnesse is a synne that stynketh in the sighte of god Aâ— Saynt ambrose sayth that there may no man fynde a peyne grete enough to punysshe vnkindenesse And that ye shall here by an ensample as thus ¶ Narracio ¶ I fynde that Alisaundre Necham tellyth howe that there was somtyme a knyght that went oute of his owne countrey ferre in to a straunge londe to seke auentures And it hapned that he came into a grete forest and ther he herde a greate noyse of a beste that semyd in dispayre And then he wolde wytte what it mente and went nere sawe howe that a greate horrible adder and of greate lengith biclepyd A lyon and bouÌ„de him to a tree as he ley and slepte And whanne the Lyon woke and fonde him selue bounde myghte nat helpe him self he made a grete horrible noyse desiryng helpe of the knyghte Thenne hadde this knight compassion of this Lyon and wolde fayne haue holpen him but he dradde whan he was louse lest he wold haue fallen to him But bicause he was a knyghte and the Lyon was kinge of all bestes in that distresse he tooke his swerde and smote the adder asonder Thenne the Lyon anone felte him self louse and fyll downe to the knyghtes feete and euir after nyght and day in euery place he folowed the knyghte And euery nyghte this lyon leye at this knyghtes beddes feet and in euery batayll this Lyon was redy for to help his master In somoch that the people
chyldren of Israhell whan moyses ladde theym oute of egypte in to the londe of byheft that is Iherusalem and soo they passed sauf and founde And soo vii dayes after they come all vnto the see and thanked god for her passage and in mynde herof holy chirche vseth all the Ester weke to goo a procession to the foâ—â—e that is nowe the rede see to all cristen people that ben crystened in the fonte For the water in the fonte betokenethe the rede see for blode and water is the wounde that were in cristis syde in the which the power of pharao the sede of helle is drowned and al his might lost and cristen peple saued and for the foÌ„te is halowed on Ester euen and on wytson euyn for in the begynnyng al children abode to be cristened vnto thyse two dayes and to be crystened atte the fonte halowynge But now for by cause that many in soo longe abydyng were dede wythout crystendome therfore holy chirche ordeyned nowe to cristen all tymes of the yere saue viii dayes byfore thise euyns the child shal abyde to the fonte halowyng yf it maye for perryll of deth and ellys not ¶ Thus is the pascall halowed by lyghte wyth the newe fyre and of it al other tapres and candellis ben lyghte for all holynesse and good techynge good liuing coÌ„meth of crist teching of holy chirche and lighteth hem in cristâ—s passion wyth brennynge loue and charyte Peces of enfence ben stycked in the pascall in the maner of a crosse those betokeÌ„ the fyue woundes of our lorde As bede sayth that he suffred in his body that shall be fresshe and sweâ—â— as ony ensence tyll the daye of dom to greate repreef to all that shall bee dampned that belyue not in Crystis passion and wyll not aske mercy and foâ—yeuenesse of her synnes In the fonte halowyng the prest casted water in foure partyes of the fonte for Cryste hadde his disciples goyng prechynge techyng in foure parties of cristendom in the name of the fader and the sone the holy goost And after the prest bretheth on the water for the holy gooste in makynge of the worlde was borne vpon waters ¶ For whan god for Adamis synne cursed therthe and the londe he cursed not the water wherfor it is lawfull to a man to ete in lenton that that cometh of the water After he droppeth the wex in to the water off a candell brennynge the whiche betokeneth the manhode of crist that was fullyd in water and putteth oyle and creme in the water For by the vertu of the sacrament those that ben in heuen and in erthe ben Ioyned to gyder and that was preued by crystis baptisme For there the fader of heuen spake and sayde Hic est filius meus dilectus in quo michi bene complacui This is my well beloued sone that wyll pleyse me and the holy ghost was seen Sicut columba As a whyte doue thus was the fonte halowed two tymes in the yere ¶ Att wythsontyde and at Ester whan all the people is broughte oute of thraldom by Crystis passion fro the dangeour of the fende and at wytsontide For thenne is the holy ghoste yeuen in remyssion of all synnes ¶ Thenne from the fonte the people goon to the quere syngyng the letanye prayenge all the sayntes in heuene to praye to god to gyue to all that been Crysten to kepe that sacrament to goddis pleysaunce And the couenaunt that they haue made in her crystenyng thenne the preest goth to masse for Cryste that is hede off all holy chirche is not rysen Kyrieleyson is said for in euery prayer in especyall in the masse it is grete nede to aske helpe and socoure of god to kepe vs from all maner off temptacion that the fende putteth in vs and namely in goddis seruice Gloria in excelsis Is said for the fader of heueÌ„ hath gret ioye to be holde the peple that his sone hath boughte wyth his passion and to see hem in reste peas and charyte echone wyth other The greyle is not sayd For those that ben newe cristened been not yet parfyte to walke in grace of vertues Alleluya is said For it is gre ioye to angellis to see by crystenynge the nombre of hem restored ayen After alleluya a tracte is said hyghe songen for though by crystenynge they be wasshe from synne yet muste they traueyle besely to kepe hem from comberaunce of the fende that they falle not in dedely synne The offertorye is said for the wymmen that comen wyth oynementis to offre to crystis body They fonde hym not in his tombe Agnus dei Is said noo pax is gyuen For cryste that is hede of peas is not rysen The postcomyn is not sayde for those that ben newe crystened shold not be housled this daye but on the morowe for in olde tyme there come to crystenynge peple of grete age Thenne a short euynsonge is done for the children that were not cristned wherof gretly they were noyed wyth seknesse of colde of longe seruyce thenne is ended vnder a shorte colet all the sacramente of cristenyng is ended in the passion of Crist by the whiche all cristen people were restored tor euerlastyng blisse to the whiche god brynge vs all to Amen ¶ In die paraceues GOod frendis this daye is called good frydaye for all that Oure Lord Ihesu cryste suffred this daye tourned vs to grete ioye For this daye he suffred passion vnder pounce pylate for oure sake It is an olde sawe that a foule begnnnynge hathe a fowle endyng Nowe see howe this pylate began cursedly and ended full wretchedly For as saynt austyn saith cursed lyuyng first asketh a cursyd ende after he that forgeteth hym self here in his lyuyng is full lyke to forgete hym selfe in his last ende This pylate was a knyghtes sone that was called Tyrus that he gate hym on a woman that hyghte Pyle And this womannys fader hyghte Atte. So whan this childe was borne they sette the moders name and the grande fader after and soo by bothe names called hym pylat ¶ Thenne after whan he was thre yeres of age his moder brought hym in to the kynges courte thenne hadde the knyghte another sone nygh lyke to pylates age But for this knightes sone was in all his rule more gentyler more manfully more goodly more beloued that this pylate soo for hate and for enuye therof This pylate on a dâ—y slewe this knyghtes sone thenne was the knyghte wonder sory But yet he wolde not slee Pylate and sente hym to Rome to be there in hostage for a trybut that the knyght sholde paye to Themperour ¶ Thenne it happed that the kynge of Fraunce hadde sent his sone theder for the same cause Thenne for by cause ¶ whan Pylate sawe that he was more beloued and chereshed Therfore this pylate slewe hym TheÌ„ne for he was so cursed themperoure by counseyll of the romayns sente pylate in
and all suche thynges that may come of cursed and wyked tonges Therfore the holy ghoste cometh in the lyckenesse of tonges of brennynge fyre to brenne oute the malyce and enuy and to anoynte hem wyth swetnes off grace loue and charyte And therfore we shall praye to the holy ghoste to yeue vs grace so to tempre our tonges that we maye euermore speke good that our hertes maye be fed wyth mekenesse that we may be able to be fed wyth the holy ghoste as saynt Gregory was whan he expowned the prophecye he toke to hym his deken saynt Peter to wryte as he expowned and made drawe bytwene hem For saynt Peter shold not see how he dyde in his stodyeng Thenne as saynt Gregory satt in his chayer Holdyng vp his hondys and his eyen to heuen warde The holy ghost came lyke a white doue wyth fote and bylle brennyng golde and satte on Gregory ryght sholdre and putte her bylle in Gregoryes mouth And whan he wythdrewe it thenne he bad Peter wryte and soo contynued tyl he had made an ende But he expowned the gospell soo boldly that Peter had merueylle therof and preuely made a hole in the cloth that was bytwene gregory and hym and sawe how the holy ghoste fedde hym And anone the holy gost shewed Gregory how Peter had done thenne Gregory blamed Peter And charged hym that he shold neuer saye noo thynge whyle he lyued But whan gregory was dede an heretyâ—â— wolde haue â—renned his bokys That this holy man 〈◊〉 And thenne Peter wythstode hym and saide nay and tolde all how the holy ghoste had done to hym whyle he expowned the prophecy And soo saued his bokes vnbrenned that he had made by the grace of god and yefte of the holy ghoste the whiche yeue vs grace to be fedde of hym here in our lyuyng that we maye haue the blysse that neuer shall haue ende ameÌ„ ¶ In die sancte trinitatis GOod men and wymmen this daye is an hyghe and a soleÌ„pne feste in holy chirche For it is of the holy trynyte For as holy chirche atte wytsontyde maketh mencion how the holy goost come to crystis dysciples Now at this tyme is made mencion of all thre persones that is for to say Pater filius et spiritus sanctê° Fader sone and holy ghost thre persones and one god wherfore we ben bouÌ„de to doo al the reuerence and worship that we can or maye to this holy trynyte Also ye shall vnderstond why how And what the cause is that this feste was ordeyned This holy fest was worshyped for the trynyte fyrst fyndyng for heretykis confoundyng and for the Trynyte worshypynge Fyrste it was ordeyned for the fourme of the trynyte fyndyng And a greate clerke Iohan belleth telleth that fourme trinite was in the first man adam oure soâ—â— fader that cometh of theâ—â—he one persone and eue of adam the seconde persone of them bothe cometh the thirde persone as her chylde Thus the trynyte was founde in man wherfore man shold haue mynde to doo worshype to the holy trynyte For holy chirche ordeyned that in weddynge of a man and woman to gyder soo that the masse of the Trynyte is songen And atte his dethe one bell shall be ronge in worshyp of the trynyte wherfore all cristeÌ„ people ben bounde gretly to worshyp the holy trynyte The second cause is the feste is ordeyned in confundynge of heretykes and of lollers for to dystroye them and her false opynyons that they had ayenst the holy trynyte For ryght as heretykis in the begynnynge of the feyth wyth her swete wordes and fals opynyons were aboute to distroye the feyth of the holy trynyte In the same wyse lollers nowe a dayes wyth her false spyce of gyle be aboute also to wythdrawe the people from the trewe byleue and feyth of the holy trynyte the byleue feyth of the holy chirche Popes martirs and confessours to the deth Ryght soo now thyse lollers pursuen men of holy chirche ben aboute in all maner wayes that they can and may fynde to distroye and vndo hâ—m soo that they myghte haue theyr purpose And thus they shew openly that they be not goddis seruauntes For they ben oute of charyte and he that is oute of charyte is ferre from god But he that suffreth trybulacyon persecucion and disease for the loue of al myghty god And preyeth for his â—es and mysdoers And wylle doo noo vengeaunce but put all in god almyghty and quyte hem ful well in euerlastynge blysse For oure Lorde sayth thus Michi vindictam et ego retribuam Put all thynge to me and I shal quyte euery man after his deseruynge for though god suffre holy chyrche to bee pursued by suche mysse and proude he uerys at the laste he ordeyneth suche a remedy that holy chirche is holpen and her enmyes confounded and shamed Thus it happed on a tyme wyth themperour of rome that hyght Attylya â–ª he was made by heretikes as Iohan bellet telleth the whiche emperour pursued cristen peple sore and hated hem and holy chirche gretly wherfor he made to brenne all the bokes that myght be founde of crysten feyth But as almyghty god wolde â–ª there was a good holy man and that was a grete clerke and the clerke was called Alpunous that in mayntenynge of the feyth off holy chirche he made the story of the trinyte â–ª and the story all soo of saynt steuen and brought it vnto the pope for to haue hem songen and rede in holy chirche But by counseyll of that greâ— clerke they toke the story of saynt steuen and lefte the story of the holy trynyte tyll the tyme that saynt Gregory was pope thenne for to preue hem and doo hem shame that ben suche mysbyleuyng people and wold not byleue in the trynyte but made after her reason many heretykes and in consyderacion ¶ of hem ¶ Saynt Gregory the pope ordeyned this feste to be halowed and this story to be songe and redde in holy chirche in worship of the Trynite wyth all cristen people The thirde cause is for the hyghe trynyte worshypynge and for all crysten men shold knowe howe in what maner they shold byleue in the trynyte for as holy chirche techeth he that byleueth in the trynyte shall be saued and they that done not shall bee dampned ¶ Thenne it is full expedyent and nedefull to all crysten people to knowe how they shold lyue ye shal vnderstonde that parfyt loue to god is the byleue For he that byleueth parfitly maketh noo questions Fides non habet meritum vbi humana racio pâ—ebet experimentum ¶ Feyth hath noo mede ne meryte where mannys wytte yeueth experience Thenne it is good for all crysten peple to make loue to be medyatoure to the holy ghoste prayng hym to lyghten vs wythin our soules that we may haue grace to come to his parfyte byleue Therfore this daye was set next wytsondaye hopynge that the holy ghoste wyll be redy to all
this present world Therfor he ordeyned this present feste to be halowed in the next thursdaye after the feste of the holy Trynyte for all crysten people that wyll be sauyd muste haue sad beleue in the holy sacrameÌ„t that is goddis owne body in fourme of brede made by the vertue of crystis wordes that the prest sayth by workyng of the holy ghoste ¶ Thenne for this holy pope thoughte to drawe people to more deuocion and better wyll to this holy sacrament and to doo seruyce this daye he graunteth to all that ben worthy that be they that be verey contryte and shreuen of her synnes be in the chirche at bothe euynsonges at matyns and at masse For eche a â— dayes of pardon and for eche hour off the day xl daies of pardoÌ„â— for euery day of the vtas a C. dayes of pardoÌ„ in remission of all her synnes for euermore enduryng thenne ye shall vnderstonde that Our lord Ihesu cryste on sherethursdaye at nyght whan he had souper and wyst well in the moroweâ— that he shold suffre his passion and dethe and passe oute of this worlde vnto his fadre in heuyn He ordeyned a perpetuall memory of his passion to abyde for euir with all cristen peple in erth He tooke brede and wine and made his owne flesshe and blode and gaue it to his disciples to ete and to drynke said Accipite et manducate hoc est corpus meum Take ye this and ete it for it is myn oune flesshe and blood And this he dyd for they sholde haue mynde of him so he yaue other prestys power to make his body of brede and wyne Thus euery preeste hath power to make the sacrament be he good or badde For the sacramente may no man amende nor payre but he that is a good man and a holy lyuer helpyth greatly them that he prayeth fore And he that doth the offyce of the preest worthely and trulye shal be gladde and ioyfull that euir he was borne Foâ—â—â—re lorde hath yeuyn a preest a 〈…〉 power here in erthe that he gaue neuir to aungell in heuen that is to make his owne body in fourme of breed Therfor ye shal haue worshippe more in heuyn thanne any tong can tell or herte thynke And he that is an euyll lyuer and knoweth him selfe in dedely synne and presumeth to mynistre that worthy sacrament and wyl nat amende him he may be sure of perpetuel dampnacion with fendys of hel in euirlastinge peyne Thenne shall ye vnderstonde that he graunteth this sacrament to be vsed for euirmore in holy churche For foure causes that be nedefull to all cristen people The firste is for mannys grete helpynge The secounde for cristes passion myndynge The thridde for greate loue shewynge And the fourthe for grete mede getting Nota quod propter nouem raciones prodest homini audire missaÌ„ secunduÌ„ augustinum Saint Austyn sayth it profytteth greatly all cristen peple to here masse and in especial for ix causes â— sayth thus Quia illo die qua audieret missaÌ„ necessaria cibaria coÌ„ceduÌ„tur For that day that he heryth a masse he shall nat fayll of noo bodily fode nor no necessary thynge that shall be longynge to nor no lett shall haue in his iournaye where that he trauayleth The secounde is all venyall synnes shall be forgyue him and ydel wordes The thridde is that if aman dye it shal stonde for his housell The fourth he shall nat that day lose his sighte The fyfte all ydell othes that day shall be foryeuyn The vi that daye he shal 〈◊〉 no soden dethe The vii aslonge as he heryth the masse he shall nat wâ—â— olde The viii all all his steppes towarde and from warde the churche hâ—â— goode aungyll reknyth to his saluacion The nynthe all the while that he beholdeth the holy sacramente all wycked spirites flee from him and haue no power ouir him be he neuir so grete a synner This helpe and socour we haue of the holy goost and of the sacrament here in erthe and at oure laste ende al cristen people woll sende after the pâ—â—este to coÌ„me to him with goddes body â–ª and to resceyue it knowynge wel that he beleuyth stedfastly that it is the same flesshe and bloode that criste toke of oure lady saint mary and was born of her body very god man and after suffred passion and deth on the crosse for mankynde and leyde in tombe and rose from deth to lyue and now syttethe on his faders right hond in heuyn and shall coÌ„me ayen at the daye of dome and deme the quycke and the dede euery man after his deseruynge So with this parfite beleue al cristen peple shal be armed and made stronge to wythstonde the fendes that wyll coÌ„me and assayle at the departynge bitwene the body and the soull for thenne fendes coÌ„me besily to bringe him out of the beleue Thenne shall the sacrament that a man hath rescâ—yued in his lyf make him mighty and stronge that he shall sette all the fendes at noughte and soo ouircoÌ„me thâ—ym A nother skyll that the sacramente is broughte to a man to aske mercy of criste and remission of his synnes hauynge full truste and byleue that criste is euir redy to forgyue al theym that wyl aske mercy with a meke herte as dauid sayth Cor contritum et humiliatum deus non despicies A contrite herte and a meke oure lorde shall neuir dispyse and that we may se by ensample whanne he hange vpon the crosse bitwene ii theuys that were men of cursed lyuynge And therfore they were ordeyned to be dede that one asked mercy with a meke hert and sayd in this wyse Domine duz veneris in regnuÌ„ tuum memento mei Lorde quod he whanne thou coÌ„myste to thy kyngdome haue mynde of me anoon at his firste asking he gaue him mercy more ouir he sayd to him thus Hodie mecum eris in paradiso This day thou shalte be with me in paradise And that other theef wolde aske no mercy in noo wyse for pryde he had in his herte and therfore he was dampned to hell Thus oure lorde Iesu cryste shedde his blood on the crosse in helthe of all mankynde So in the masse he shewyth his blood in grete socoure helpe and saluacion to all mankynde and the same flesshe and blood is shewed euery day in the masse for we sholde beleue stedfastly theron And he that beleuyth nat theron verily that it is so shall nat be sauyd at the day of dome ¶ Narracio ¶ Therfore I tell you this ensample that is in the lyf of Odo the Busshop of Caunterbury this busshop had wythe him clerkes that beleâ—yd nat parfytely in the sacrament of the auter and sayd they coude nat beleue that the bodye and blood of crist myght be mynistred in the masse Thenne was this busshop sory and prayed to god besily for her amendement And so on a day whanne he was at the
diebus ¶ If I hadde eten asmoche as thou haste eten I sholde nat be a hungred as I trowe in thre daies And then said the cristen man to the iewe Vere nichil comedi Forsothe saide the cristen man to the iewe I ete no maner mete this daye TheÌ„ne saide the iewe Ego vidi te comedere puerum pulcerimum qualem sacerdos eleuauit ad altare I sawe the ete a child the which the preste helde vp at the aulter Et tunc venit pulcerimus homo habeÌ„s multos pueros iÌ„ gremio suo Thenne caÌ„me there a faire man that had many children in his lappe Et dedit vnicuique vestruÌ„ vnnÌ„ puerum taleÌ„ qualem sacerdos comedit And he gaue eche cristen man a childe suche as the preest ete yet to sharp youre bileue the more to this hooly sacrament I shewe you this ensample ¶ we rede in sainte Gregoryes tyme. There was a woman that hight Lacyna and she made brede for the pope other prestes to singe with for to housell with the peple Also the pope caÌ„me to this woman with her housel sayd take here goddes body Thenne this woman smyled and laughed Thenne the pope withdrewe his honde and laid the oste vpon the Aulter and turned to this woman Lacyua and sayd to her why smylest thou whan thou sholdest resceiue cristes body And she sayd why callest thou that cristes body that I made with myn owne hondes Thenne was gregory the pope sory for her misbeleue bad all the people pray to god to shewe some myracle for this womannys helpe And whanne they hadde prayed longe Gregory went to the autre ayen and founde thoste turnyd into rede flesshe and bloode bledynge and he shewyd it to this woman Thenne she cryed and sayd Nowe lorde I crye the mercy I byleue that thou art very god and man and goddes sone of heuyn in fourme of brede Thenne badde Gregory the people to pray agayn that it sholde turne ayen to bredes lykenesse and it dyd and with the same ofte he housled this woman Lacyua ¶ And therfore lete vs doo all the worshyp that we may to the sacrameÌ„te be nat in mysbeleue ¶ Also we fynde that in Deuonshyre beside exbridge was a woman ley seke and was nygh dede and sente after a holy persone aboute mydnyght to haue her rightes Thenne this man in all haste that he myght arose and went to the churche and toke goddes body in a boxe of yuery and put it into his bosome and went forth toward this womaÌ„ And as he went through a foreste in a fayre mede that was his next way It happed that his boxe fell oute of his bosome to the grounde And he wente forth and wyst it nat and caÌ„me to this woman and herde her confession And then he asked her if she wold be housted she said ye syre theÌ„ne he put his hoÌ„de in his bosom sought the boxe whaÌ„ he founde it not he was full sory and sadde and sayd dame I wyl goo after goddis body and come anone ayen to you and soo went forth sore wepynge for his symplenesse and soo as he com to a welow tree he made ther of a rode stryped hym self naked bete hym self that the blode ranne doune by his sydes and said thus to hym self O thou symple man why hast thou loste thy lord god thy maker thy saucour creature And whan he had thus beten him self he dyd on his clothes and wente forth And thenne he was ware of a pyâ—ar of fyre that lasted from erthe to â—â—uen and he was all astonyed therof yâ—â—he blessed hym and wente therto there lay the sacrament fallen oute off the boxe to the grasse and the pylour shone as bryght as ony sonne and lasted from goddis body to heuen And all the â—estis of the foreste were come aboute goddis body and stode in compasse rounde aboute it and all kneled on iiii knees saue on blacke horse that kneled but on that one knee thenne saide he yf thou be ony best that may speke I charge the in goddis name here present in fourme of brede tel me why thou knelest but on thy one knee Thenne said he I am a fende of helle and wyll not knele and I myghte but I am made ayenst my wyll For it is writon that euery knelyng of heuen of erthe shall be to the worshyp to the lord god why art thou lyke an horse he said to make the people to stele me at suche a towne was on haÌ„ged for me at suche a toune a nother Thenne sayd this holy person I commaunde the by goddis flesshe and his blode that thou goo in to wyldernesse and be there as thou shalt neuer dysease crysten people more And anone he wente his waye he myght noo lenger abyde And theÌ„ne this man went forth to this woman and dyde her ryghtes By the whiche she was saued and went to euerlastyng saluacion To the whiche brynge vs to he that for vs shed his blode vpon the rode tree Amen De festo sciÌ„ Andree appostoli GOod men wymmen suche a daye ye shall haue saynt andrewis daye and ye shall fast the euen and come to god and to al holy chirche and worship this holy saynt that daye for iii specyall vertues One is for his greate holynesse in his doynge The seconde for his good lyuyng The thirde for his greate passyon suffryng ¶ He was a man of holy lyuyng for whan he vnderstode and herde of saynt Iohan the Baptist that he was preching in deserte Anone he lefte all his worldly occupacion and wente to hym and was his diciple and soo after on a daye as cryst come walkynge by the way saint iohaÌ„ baptist sawe hym walking he said to his disciyples Ecce agnus dei qui tollit peccata mundi ¶ See the lambe of god that shal do awaye the synne of al the worlde And whan Saynt Andrewe herde that anone he leete saynt Iohan baptiste and sewed Criste And whanne he herde criste preche It pleased him so well that anon he weÌ„t and fett Petyr his broder to here cryste preche Thenne they caste grete loue to god and sone after as they wer in the see of galile fisshinge criste caÌ„me and called them and anon they left fysshiÌ„ge shyppe nette and all that they had and sued crist euir after were wyth him tyll he styed vp to heuyn ¶ Narracio ¶ Thenne after that saint Andrewe prechyd amonge the people then on a day as he prechyd It happed soo there was a man emong the peple that was called nycoll that hadde lyued many wynters in lechery but yet by the grace of god he thoughte to amende his lyue And whanne he herde that the word of god was of so grete vertue that it sholde putte awaye all temptaciones of synne he lete write a gospell and bare with him whersoeuir he weÌ„t with the vertue therof he
deth â–ª as for a disclaundreâ— Then they toke two yonge men that coude best caste stones And tooke of his clothes and layde him at the feet of a yongeman that hight saule and after was saint poule whanne sainte Steuyn sawe that he might nat sease their malice by reuelacion shewynge he turned to deuoute orisones praynge and yet it wolde nat be And thenne they caste stones at him and smote oute his brayne And thenne he cryed to god and saide Domine iesu suscipe spmÌ„ meuÌ„ O thou lorde take my spirite For hee wolde praye more deuoutly for his ennymes than for him selue He knelyd downe to the grounde and sâ—yd Pater ignosce illis quia nesciunt quid faciunt Fader forgyue them for they wote nat what they doo and anoon he slepte in god Nowe take hede what breÌ„nynge loue he hadde in his herte to god that prayed more deuoutly for his enmyes than for him selue In this he gaue ensample to all cristen people to be in charite eche one with other and to praye for his enmyes and them that pursued him and dyd him disease ViÌ„uersa delcaÌ„ cooperit caritas Charite hydeth euery trespasse For he that prayeth for his enmyes that marrieth him with any disease and suffrethe paciently is a martyr bifore god For there is thre maner of martirdomes The firste is by passion and wyll therto by wyll withoute passion by passion withoute wyll The firste is shewyd by sainte Steuyn that is sette next the birthe of Criste for he suffred passion and hadde wyll therto Sainte Iohn euangeliste he had wyll but no passion The innocentes they sufred passion but no wyll therto but ayenste wyll ¶ Thus may a man be a martyr though he shedde natt hys bloode that is whanne he suffreth grete wrong of cursed peple and thanketh god therof and taketh it with goode wyll and prayeth for his ennemyes deuoutly in clene charite ¶ Nowe take hede and ye shall see howe thies thre were in parfyte loue and charitee Sainte steuyn whan he shulde dye he knelyd downe and prayed for his ennemyes Saint Iohan whanne he weÌ„t towarde his ende he saide ofte to them that ladde him Children loue to gyddre for charite is ynough to youre saluacion ¶ The Innocentes for they were so yonge that they coude nat speke yet they shewyd loue by signe For they dyd laughe and playe with theire hondes whan they sawe the knyghtes coÌ„me with their bright swerdes to slee theym Thenne for sainte stevyn was soo gloriouse a martyr god shewyd many faire miracles for him ¶ Narracio ¶ There was an honest man that had seuyn sones and thre doughters But in mysse happe vpon a daye all they wratched the modre at onys And in angre she cursed them al at ones anone there fyll greate vengeaunce vpon theym For there caÌ„me suche a seknesse vpon their preuy meÌ„bres that they were so sore gnawen that they mighte no where abyde for woo But walked vp and downe in the countrey lyke mased bestes that all the peple that sawe theym hadde greate pyte on them ¶ Thenne it hapnyd soo that oone of the bredern that hight poule a suster that hight pallida caÌ„me into the church of sainte Steuyn and there they herde Perle tell howe deuoutly sainte steuyn prayed for his ennemyes that martred him anoon they knelyd downe prayed to saint Steuyn to pray to god for theym they wold be his true seruauntes and knelyd downe in the churche prayed saint Steuen hertly of his help And anoon they fyll a slepe in sighte of all the people and soo were hole And anone wente after al the other bretherne and susterne and they were holpen all in the same wise ¶ Narracio A nother miracle saint austyne tellith howe there was a senatoure of Rome that wente to Ierusalem and there he made a faire chapell of sainte Steuyn and there he dyed and was buryed in the same chapell Thenne longe after his wyf wolde home into her countrey and wolde fayne haue hadde her husbondes bones with her â–ª into her owne countrey and prayed the busshop that she might haue them Then the bisshop broght sainte steuyns bonys her husbondes bones to her and saide I know nat thy husbondes fro saint steuynes Thenne she saide I knowe my husboÌ„des bones well ynough and toke sainte Steuyns bones in stede of her husbondes Thenne whanne she coÌ„me fer in the see aungellys songe with great melody in the ayr and there was a passynge swete sauoure that caÌ„me out fro the bones that passed any spicery in the worlde And anoon they herde fendes cry in the eyre and saide woo wo. is vs for steuyn betyth vs and brennethe vs bytterly and therwith raysed a grete tempest that the shipmen went for to haue be drowned for grete fere cryed to sainte Stephen and anone the tepeste seased Thenne the people herde the fendys crye thus Thou cursed prynce or mayster thou nor we may do no thinge for this shippe For steuyn oure aduersary is therin Thenne the prince of fendys sende fyue fendes for to brenne the shippe But thenne goddes aungell was redy droue the fendys in to the grounde of the see And whan they coÌ„me to the londe with the shippe fendes cryed and saide Goddes seruaunt coÌ„meth that was stonyd to deth with Iewys And thenne in worshippe of sainte steuyn the peple made a churche and leyde his bones therin where god wroghte many a faire miracle for him De scoÌ„ Iohanne euangelista gOode frendes suche a daye ye shall haue an hye feste in holy churche the feste of sainte Iohn euaÌ„geliste the whiche was goddes own derlynge ¶ Wherfore all holy church maketh mynde and mencion of the specialtie that oure lorde gaue to him afore any other of his disciples oure lord gaue hym grace to kepe his virginite and of kepinge of his modre and oure lorde shewyd him his preuyte He gaue hym grace to kepe his virginite that is maydenhode For this story tellith the people haue opinyon ¶ Whan Iohn shulde wedde Mary mawdeleyn crist called him and he coÌ„me and shewyd hym and Iohn lefte the worldes vanite and sued oure lorde and so kepte him selfe clene mayden tyll he passed oute off this world In prayng of this whan douâ—ycian themperour of Rome herde the people telle that Iohan preched in a conteey that was called Asia And there Iohan made to bylde many chirches and whan the emperour herde that he sente after Iohan and made hym be put in a brasen tonne full of sethinge oyle And whan Iohan had longe sodâ—n therin that all the people wente that he had be all to soden and dede Thenne themperour bad open the tonâ—â— and whan the tonne was open Ioâ—â—n come â—ute of the tonne and as he was clene of all synne Soo was he â—leâ—e of all brennyng or harme in all â—â—aityes of his body Another harde â—â—urmente he had on a day
dyde Thus innocentes were slayn wythout blame and they were not shamed off theyr owne shappe and they were cristened at home in theyr own blode and not in no fonte Therfore ye shall vnderstonde that there is thre manere off crystenyng One is in water as we be cristened in the fonte A nother is as thyse children were cristened in her owne blod and a thousand marters moo that shed her blode for crystis sake The thyrde crystenynge is in the feyth In the whiche all patriarkes and prophetes and other holy faders that were byfore the Incarnacion of our lord Ihesu Cryste that byleued verely in the comynge of cryst· they were crystened in the feyth Thus ye may see what enmyte the tyraunt kyng herode had to shede soo many childerns blode for cristis sake that trespassed not to hym nor to none other There wepte many a modeâ— for theyr he hadde to Thomas And also to seâ— the arraye and also the Reuyâ—â— that was in Thomas householde â–ª for there spake so moche people worshippe by Thomas And for more truer and also bettre loue that thenne was bitwene the kinge and Thomas while it laste was neuir bitwene two men wherfore I putte this ensample It hapned that it fyll in a colde wynter as the kinge Thomas come ryding to gydder in chepe side at London The kinge was ware of a poure man that was well nere naked and hadde no clothes and was sore a colde Thenne saide the kinge to Thomas It were a grete almes dede to gyue to this pore man better clothes Sir saide Thomas of suche ye sholde take hede Thenne hadde thomas a cloke of good scarlett and well furred with riche furre TheÌ„ne the kinge layd honde on his cloke And wold haue pulled it from Thomas for to haue gyue to this pore man But Thomas held it faste And thus they wrastled long In somoche that they were like to fall to the grounde But at the last by fauour thomas suffred the kinge to take his cloke of And thenne the kinge caste it to the pore man And badde him renne awaye faste and sell it and bye him other And if thou besette it well thou maiste fare the bettre euir whyle thou leuyst Thenne Thomas faynyd hym selue wrothe But in his herte he was well pleased that his robe was so we le besette Thenne the people marueiled gretely first what was bitwene the kinge thomas whan they saw what it menyd the people were glade and had grete spotte therof ¶ This I say to shewe you ensample how well they louyd to giddre Thus thomas seruyd the kinge manfully Also we must lerne of oure olde patrone saint Thomas to serue god deuoutly For he seruyd god full deuotly for assone as he was made Arshcbisshop of counterbury anone he turnyd his lyuynge into bettre lyuynge and thoughte to serue the kinge of heuyn aswell os he had the king of this worlde bifore Thenne anon he layde awaye scarlet and riche furres And weryd clothe of myddell pryce caste awaye silke and sandyll and weryd â—ere next his body that was right harde and a breche of the same in whiche was so moche vermyn that it was an horrible sight to see but this knewe but fewe people Also euery wenesday and fryday he made his confessoure to bete him with a rodde vpon the baâ—e body like as a childe is bete in the scole Also he wassed euery day thre pore mennys feet knelinge on the grounde And thenne he gaue eche of theim four penâ— And also moche more penauÌ„ce he vsed in prayenge and wakynge that were to moche to tell at this tyme ¶ Thenne whanne thomas was in the Abbey of Pountnaye vpon a day whan he had said masse he knelyd downe bifore the aulter in his prayers Thenne the abot of the same place hadde to speke with him And stode vnder a pylar and abode Thomas he sawe how oure lorde Iesu crist appered to thomas and told him howe he shulde be slayne in Counterbury in his owne churche for his sake And bad him be stedfaste and holde as he began Then come thomas out of his chapell and anone the abbot fyâ—â— downe to the grounde and saide Sâ—re ye may blesse the tyme and the our that euir ye were borne also blessyd myght she be that euir dyd bere you for to haue suche a visitacion as I haue herd you haue Thenne saide Thomas I charge the that thou neuir tel it to no man while I am a lyue no more he dyd But wâ—â—â—ne thomas was dede he tolde it openly to all the people Thus I may wel say that thomas seruyd god deuoutly Also he dyed for the lawe of holy churche mekly For whan he sawe the kinge â—gyn to make lawes to â—uirsette holy church and suche lawes as wolde haue distroyed the londe Thenne thomas put him selue forthe And repreuyd the kynge of his misdedys Thenne was the king wrothe and made a parlemente at northampton And for he wold nat set his scall to the cursed lawes that the king and his sory counseyll hadde ordeyned and made Anon they called him a traitoure to the kinge and exiled him oute of the londe ¶ Thenne thomas wente the to king of FrauÌ„ce for socour and helpe and full goodly and mekely he receyued him and all his clerkes and fâ—nde theym almoste seuyn yeres all that they bihouyd Thenne gret disease and greuaunce Thomas hadde of the kinge of EngloÌ„de and al he suffred mekely ¶ Thenne by treatyse and counseyll of the Pope and of the kinge of Fraunce there was maade a faynte loue day bitwene the king thomas But whanne the kinge shuld haue kyssed thomas he wolde nat For he saide he hadde made his othe he wolde neuir kysse him But badde him go home to his churche boldely Thenne by counseyll of the kinge of Fraunce and byddynge of the pope Thomas come home to Caunterbury Thenne were there foure cursed knightes of lyuynge that thought to haue a grete thaÌ„ke of the kinge and made their avowe to gyddre to slee thomas And so on childermasse daye almooste all the nyghte they wente to come to Caunterbury And come in to thomas hall Sire Raynolde Beriston Sir William Tracy Sir Richard Breton and sir Hugh morley Tthenne Sir Raynolde Beriston for he was beste of kynde anon he saide to thomas The kynge that is beyonde the see sente vs to the. and badde that thou sholde assoyle the busshoppe that thou cursedyste Thenne sayde thomas They be nat accursed by me but by the pope and I may nat assoyle yt. he hath accursed we le saide Raynolde thenne we se thou wylt nat doo the kinges byddinge and swore a grete othe By the eyn of god thou shalt be dede Thenne cryed the other knyghtes Slee slee And they wente downe to the courte and armyd theym tThen prestes and clerkes drewe theym to the churche to thomas and sparyd the dores to theym
it and sett it bifore her in hell and our lady charged and coÌ„maunded that there shulde no fende come there nygh Butt lett it stonde brennynge for euirmore to comforte all that been in hell Thenne saide the fendeâ— they hadde leuyr leâ—e the soule than do so Thenne bad oure lady take the soule and bere it to the body ayen so they dyd And whan she was aliue she bethought her on her strayte dome there as she was at and wente and shroue her to a preest and lyued longe after and she amendyd her lyue and was euir after a gode womaÌ„ and a holy Amen De sancto mathia apostolo gOde frendes suche a daye ye shall haue saint Mathies day that is goddes appostyll whiche hathe noon euyn in certeyn But as clerkes say all cristen people owe to faste the euyn though it be nat sette vigell in the Calendre ye shall vnderstonde whan oure lorde was in erth he chose xii appostels to here and to see al that he dyd here in erthe For iewes were so hard to him and ayenst him that they wolde byleue no thing that he dyd And also for they shulde bere witnesse after his asceÌ„sion of that he dyd in erthe For the Iewes wolde bileue no maner thyng but that myght be preuyd by wytnes TheÌ„ was iudas scariot one of the xii that crist hadde chosen to him Iudas hadde a lytell tofore slayne his owne fader and laye by his modre and then come to criste to be his disciple But he was euir wont tofore to stele and coude nat leue it he was wery anon of crist of his holy lyuynge for grete couetyse of money he solde his lord vnto the Iewes for xxx plates whan he hadde soo done and sawe that criste was take and demyd to dethe anoon he fel in to dispaire and wente and henge hym self with a rope for the throte that spake the wordes of treason and gyle the same throte was strangled For he that dyd so soule by his lordes lyf wold haue saide many an euyl worde after his lordes dethe by him that dyd so foull by his lyf And for the fende might nat drawe oute his soule by his mouth for he hadde late kyssed the mouthe of cryste Therfore the fende brake his wombe and shedde oute his guttes and then they tooke his soule and bare it to hell But oure lorde is so rightful and gracious that he wyll euery goode dede rewarde and euery synne punysshe and that ye shall here by this ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ we fynde that saint Brandan as he sailed in the see he sawe this Iudas syt vpon a stone and a clothe hangyng bifore him that laye in the water and oft bete him in the face Then BraÌ„dan we nyd it hadde be some holy man that had suffred that for grete penaunce and asked in the name of god what he was Then aunsweryd he and sayd I am Iudas goddes traytoure that haf this place of goddes grete grace and curteysye for it refressheth me of the grete hete that I suffre within me and for noo merite that euir I dyd deserue For me thynketh that I am in paradise whyle that I am here Thenne saide brendan why haste thou that stone vnder the. why dothe that bete the in the face TheÌ„ sayde he I layde this stone in a highe waye ther as the coÌ„men peple shold go they were efyd therby that is the caus e that I am eased therby nowe This clothe was nat myn owne that dothe me this refresshing now but it had be my oâ—ne it sholde haue refresshed more for I gaue it to a pore man Then said brandaÌ„ how long hast thou this refresshing then said he euery saturday fro euynsoÌ„ge tyl euynsong on the morow that euynsong be done fro cristmas day tyl xii day fro Ester day tyl wytsondaye in thassuÌ„pcion of our lady caÌ„delmas daye Then braÌ„dan thaÌ„ked god that he is so merciful anon he bad sayl foâ—â—â—e faste that they were gone for they shulde here tydinges sone after euyn therwâ—the come out of an hyll many feÌ„des casted many breÌ„nyng glemes of fire in to the see after them that the se bret on euery side but god kept them so that they had no harm Then for this Iudas was one of the xii appostels the noÌ„bâ—e of theÌ„ must be fulfilled then was criste â—â—yed vp to heuyn the xi appostels were to gider with many other peple in a place Then said petyr Nowe al gode man â— brethern it is wel know to you that iudas was one of the xii bicause the noÌ„bre may nat be iÌ„parfite it is nede to chose one of thies ii men that hath be with our lorde Iesu criste fro the tyme that he was baptised vnto his ascension to bere witnes with vs of his doing Then they set thies ii men Ioseph barsabas mathy cast lot on them saide praynge oure lord O lord thou knowest the hertes of all men shewe to vs whiche thou chosest of thies ii the lot fyll on mathy so he was in nombre with thother xi Then mathy wâ—t into myrre to preche the worde of god and for he hadde the grace of the holy goost he dyd myracles turnyd moch peple to the feith of criste Then was the fende sory appered to the busshop of the iewes lawe in likenesse of a yonge child with long here 's hore bad him take mathy do him to the dethe or els he wyl turne all the peple to the cristen faith Then the busshop wexed nygh wode for wrake sent forth peple to seke mathy whaÌ„ they had him they bonde his hondes behinde him caste a rope aboute his necke lad him to pryson ther bond him faste with chyâ—nes of iron Then the nyghte after oure lorde iesu criste come to 〈◊〉 with a grete lighte losed his boÌ„â—â— whan he had well coÌ„forâ—yd him â—pned the prison dore bad him preâ—â—e the faithe spare for no man TheÌ„ 〈◊〉 as he prechyd were some that withâ—â—te him â–ª letted other that wolde haue â—yd to the faith then said mathy to 〈◊〉 I tel you bifore he shal fal downe to helâ—yâ— so anoon in sight of al men therâ—â— â—opned he sanke downe into hell body soul was neuir seen more of hym Then was the peple fore agast of that sight turned to the feith a gret nombre of them Then whan the bisshop herde therof they toke him and bonde him set men to throwe stones at him And whan he was nygh dede he bad cristen peple to bere the stones that he was stonyd with into the graue wyth him in witnes of his martirdome helde vp his hondes to god saide O lord I beseche the take my spiryte and gaue vp the goost ¶ Raynolde of chestre in his cronycles tellith another miracle lyke this and sayth
whan saint wolstone visited his busshopriche the people brought a man bifore him that dyd his neyghboures moche disease wold neuyr be in peas praynge the busshop to chastice him whan the busshop hade prechyd to this man he was euir leâ—gre the worse Then the busshop and al the peple prayed to saint mathye to shewe some myracle by this maÌ„ what he was worthy to haue Then anoon in sighte of all the peple there came oute of the erthe ii fendes with brennynge hokes and plucked this quycke man doune to hell And whan he was gone the people were releuyd and had reste and peas euyr after Amen De annunciacione beate marie virginis gOode frendes suche a daye ye shall haue an highe and a solempne feste in holy churche thannuÌ„ciacion of oure lady he that hath auowed or ioyned in penaunce must faste the euyn ¶ ye shall vnderstonde that it is called thannuÌ„ciacion for this cause For the fad of heuyn sent his angel gabriel Missus est angelus gabriel a deo in ciuitateÌ„ cui nomen Nazaret In the cyte that was called Nazareth to oure lady that was newe weded by the byddynge of god and reuelacion of the holy ghooste to a man called Iosephe And as she was in her chambre in her praiers the angell gabriell come to her said Oure lorde is with the Then was she gretly astonyed of this gretynge For there was in the countre a man that coud moche wichcraft so with helpe of fendes he made hym self lyâ— an angel came to dyuerse maydens said he was sente from god to theym on his message so ofte tymes laye by hem dyde hem grete vylonye thenne whaÌ„ our lady herde telle of that man she was a drad lest it had be he For she had spoke wyth noo angell before nor ther were no suche wordes ne suche gretinges made neuer none to her before Thenne gabriell the angell comforted her and saide ¶ Ne timeas maria inuenisti graciam apud dnÌ„m Drede not mary forsoth thou hast fouÌ„de grace at our lord For amonge al the wymen our lord hath chosen the for to be moder of his sone And hym thou shal coÌ„ceyue by feyth by loue of the holy goost wythout ony dede of maÌ„ that shal shadow the. quenche al flesshely lust tende the lyght of goostely loue that thou shalt coÌ„ceyue the sone of the hyghe god And thus thou shal be moder mayde so was neuer none before Thenne anone our lady herde thise wordes and anone therwyth come a spirituel swetenesse ioye in her herte that anone or ony erthely man cowde telle it so wyth al the reuereÌ„ce of mekenesse that she cowde She answerde thus ayen and sayde Ecce ancilla domini fiat michi secundum verbum tuum Lo here goddis own mayd redy to goddis wyl prayng it may be to me ryght as thou sayst Thus that blissed body coÌ„ceyued our lord Ihesu cryst in euerlastyng ioye to al the world Thus I ma eye lykeÌ„ our lady to a precioê° stone called onyx it is as clere as ony cristall shal of kynde whan the sonne shyneth hote on hym he openeth and receyueth a droppe of the dewe of heuen in to hym and closed ayen tyl ix monethes after thenne it openeth and falleth out a stone of the same kinde and so closeth ayen as euer it was â–ª and neuer openeth after Thus our lady was as clene as ony cristal for the hote loue of the holy goost at the ix monethis ende she was delyuered of her sone our lord Ihesu criste and was after as clene mayden as she was to fore Thenne whan the angell had done hâ—s message he wente his waye to heuen â–ª And our lady wente to her cosyn elysabeth that was grete wyth châ—ld with Saynt Iohan baptist And when she come to Elysabeth she grete her mâ—kely And assone as our lady spake to Elysabeth the childe in elysabethis woÌ„be pleyde and made grete ioye For he sawe that our lord had take mankynde and was come to saue hem that was lorn Thenne our lady dwelled there wyth Elysabeth her cosyn tyll the tyme that saynt Iohan was borne and was mydwyfe to Elysabeth and toke saynt Iohan from therthe and ther she lerned all that her neded for to knowe ayenst the tyme that her sone shold be borne And was parfyte ynough therof Thenne mekely she toke her leue and wente home ayen to Nazareth Thenne thoughte Ioseph he wold go loke how his wyf dyde and wente towarde her And whan our Lady herde of his comynge she wente ayenst hym and grete hym full mekely But whaÌ„ Ioseph sawe her grete wyth childe he merueyled gretely how that myght be For well he wyste it was not his for he had neuer part of her body in that degree For he knewe well that she had made a vowe before that she wold neuer haue parte of mannys body And thought how that he was made to wedde her by the byddynge of the holy gooste and grete myracle shewynge thought right in his herte he was not worthy to dwelle in her companye thoughte in his herte to haue gone home ayen and to leue her there Thenne come an angell to hym and sayd be not aferde to take mary thy wyf to thy kepyng for it is of the holy gooste that is quycke in her body For thou shalt be kepar and norissher to her child whaÌ„ it is borne calle it Ihesus For he shall be sauyour to all the world Thenne ye shall vnderstonde that for iiii causes As saynt Ambrosius saith Oure lady was wedded to this olde man Ioseph The firste was yf she had conceyued wythout wedlocke the iewes wolde haue said that she had be an euyll woman of her body and soo haue stoned her to deth The second cause was for she was soo shame faste that and she had herde ony haue put ony defam to her she wold haue deyed for sorowe The thirde cause was for Ioseph sholde bere wytnesse of her maydenhode The fourth cause for Ioseph sholde helpe her at her byrthe and brynge her to Bethelem and after in to Egypte and so ayen in to her own countrey For thise four causes she was wedded to this olde man Ioseph and also to begyle the fende that he shold not knowe hym fro another childe Now haue ye herde of the AnnunciacioÌ„ There be some people that aske a question why there stondeth a wyne potte wyth lilyes betwene our Lady and gabriell the angell at her salutacion This is the cause For our Lady at her salutacion conceyued by feyth ¶ Narracio ¶ It befell thus vpon a cristmas day that a Cristen man and a Iewe satte to gyder and spake of the Concepcion of our lady and as they were there stode a wyne pot to fore them with a lilie therin Thenne sayde the cristen man we byleue that our lady conceyued lyke as this lylye conceyued coloure of grene
and after brengeth forth a whyte floure wythout crafte of man or ony peyryng to the stalke Ryght so our lady conceyued of the holy gooste and after brought her sone our lord Ihesu Cryste wythoute ony wemme of her body That is flour and cheef of alle wymmen Thenne said the iewe whaÌ„ I see a lylye sprynge oute of the dede stalke that standeth in this pot thenne wyl I byleue that thou sayst to be trewe And anon ther wyth sprange a whyte lyly oute of the dede stocke that stode in that same wyne pot And whaÌ„ the iewe sawe that anone he felle doune to the grounde vpon his knees and sayd thus Lady now I see well that thou conceyued wyth the holy gost our lord Ihesu criste goddis sone of heuen And thou were clene mayden both before the birth and so anone he was cristened so after he was a full holy man And this is the cause wherfore that the pot wyth the lily is set betwene our lady the angel For ryght as the iew disputed wyth the Cristen man of the maner of the Concepcion So our lady disputed wyth the angell of the maner how she shold conceyue be both moder mayde or she consented therto Thenne ye that wyl faste the v. euens of our lady in the worship of the v. ioyes that she had of her sone The first whan she conceyued of the holy gooste and knewe that she was moder to goddis sone of heuen The ii was on cristmasse daye whan she was delyuered of her sone wythoute ony peyne of her body For as she conceyued wythout lust of her body also she was deliuered wythout peyne of her body The iii. ioye was on ester daye whan her sone rose from deth to life and come to her kyssed her and made her more ioyefull of his vprysing than she was sory off his deth The iiii ioye whan he styed vp to heuâ—n on holy thursday in the same flesshe and blode that he toke in her body The v. ioye was in her assumpcioÌ„ whaÌ„ she sawe her sone come wyth grete multitude of angelis and saintes to fette her to heuen to crowne her quene of heuen and emperes of helle and lady of the world and so al that ben in heuen shall do her reuerence and worshyp And al that ben in erthe shal doo her seruyce Thyse ben the v. ioyes that our lady had of her sone and ye shall vnderstonde that he that wyl grete our lady with v. Aues shal neuer come in to the peynes of helle ¶ Narracio ¶ we fynde wreten of an holy maydeÌ„ that was denoute in our ladyes seruyce and euery daye greted her wyth v. ioyes Thenne it happed so on a daye that she fell seke felte her selfe well that she shold be dede and for fere she sighed wonder sore and made greate mone for by cause she wyft not wheder she shold goo after her deth Thenne come oure lady to her and said why arte thou so sory that hast made me so glad gretynge me wyth ioyes that I had of my sone therfor be not sory but knowe mell that thou shal go wyth me in to euerlastynge blysse and ioye wyth out ende Amen ¶ Narracio ¶ we fynde of saint Gylberte that on a tyme he was nye dede of the quynâ—â— and whan his throte was so grete and well nye dede that he myght not take breth our lady come to hym and sayd to hym Gylbert my seruaunt it were euyll do that thy throte shold suffre penaunce that hath soo oft tyme gladed me wyth ioyes and anone she toke her fayr pappe and mylked on his throte and wente her waye anone therwith he was hole and thanked our lady euer after De sancto Georgeo martire â—Ood frendes suche a daye ye shal haue saynt Georges daye The holy marter It is wreten in 〈◊〉 â—â—fe that there was an horryble dragon besyde a cyte that was called Câ—â—â—e of the whiche dragon men of the Cite were sore aferde in so moche that by counseyll of the kynge euery daye thei gaue hym a childe and a shepe to ete For fere lest he wolde haue come in to the Cyte Thenne whan all the chyldren and the shepe were nye ete for by cause that the kyng hym self gaue theÌ„ the counseyll they constreyned hym that he had but a doughter to gyue her to the dragon Thenne the kynge for fere of the people wyth wepyng and grete sorowe makynge delyuered hem his childe and sente her forth to the place â—â—ere as they were wont to set her own children and a shepe wyth her to abyde tyll the dragon come But than by the ordynaunce of god saynt George come tydyng that waye And whan he sawe this damoysell in her araye him thought she was a woman of greate byrth and asked her why she stode therre wyth the shepe in suche araye so mornynge Thenne answered she and said gentyll knyght well maye I morne make sorowe for I am a kynges doughter of this Cite and now I am sette here to be deuoured of a dragon that hath ete all the chyldren of this Cite be now dystroyed and nowe he muste haue me For my fader gaf hem counseyll therto and therfore gentyll knyght ryde hense faste and saue thy selfe leest the dragon sle bothe the and me Thenne sayd George damoysell that were grete shame and vylonye to me that am a knyghte well arayed And shold fle and thou a woman and sholdest abyde TheÌ„ne wyth that the dragon put oute his hede at an hole and spytted fyre proferd batayle to george he made a sygne of the crosse before hym and sett the spere in the reste and wyth grete myght bare downe the dragon to the grounde· And thenne he bad the damoysell bynde this dragon wyth her gyrdell about the necke And lede it wyth her in to the Cite and soo the dragon folowed after her as it hadde be a honde maide to bowe paciently· But whan the people of the Cyte sawe the dragon come they fledde for fere awaye Thenne George called the peple ayen and sayde to theym be not aferde For and ye wyll belyue in Criste and take cristeÌ„dom I wyll saue and sle this dragon and delyuer you of your enemye then were they so glad that anone xx thousand men wythoute wymen and children were cristened And the kynge the quene were first of all wyth al his housholde And thenne George slewe the dragon and bad the people tye oxen to hym and drawe it out of the Cite that the fauour of it dyde the peple no harme Thenne George bad the kynge edefye chirches in euery corner of his londe and be lusty to goddis seruyce and to honour and worship all the peple of holy chirche and euer haue coÌ„passyon and be sory for them that be pour or in ony dysease Thenne whan George had done thus and had torned al the londe to crysten feyth he herde of
goodlake that first inhabyted crowland in the fennys And the first daye that he come thyder was on saynt Barthylmewis daye· Thenne he prayed to this holy appostle to bee his patrone ayenst the wycked spirytes that were in that place For it was called thinhabytacion of fendes for there durst noo man dwelle there for fendes theÌ„ne whaÌ„ this holy maÌ„ was come thider almost lost his wyttes for fere But thenne by grete grace he had mynde of saynt Barthylmew And prayed hym wyth all his herte of help and socour Thenne anone come saint Barthylmew and commaunded the fendes to goo from that place Thenne the fendes made a grete horryble noyse and wente her waye and sayd Alas alas for now haue we loste our myght and our habytacion and nowe shall we goo to helle for euermore and soo sorowynge and waylinge they wente theyr way Thenne this holy man thaÌ„ked god and saynt Barthylmew for the grete helpe and socour that he had done to hym Hereby ye may see vnderstonde that this holy appostle is euer redy to all that wyl calle to hym with good deuocion he wyll helpe them at theyr nede De â—tate â—eate maâ—â—â— gOodâ— frendes suche a daye ye shall haue the Natiuyte of oure lady that is whan she was borne ye shall fast the euyn And come to god and holy churche in the worshyp of oure lady saint maryâ— Ioachym was her fader and saint anne her madre There canne no man tel the ioye that Ioachym and Anne hadde in their hertes whan our lady was borne For they hadde prayed xxx yere to god nyghte and day and dealyd moch almes And for the goode dedys that they dyd they hadde reuelacion of god that they sholde be holy and please god and also by the byrthe of oure lady the repreue that they hadde bifore of their bareynesse shulde be put awaye And soo Anne went oute emonge other wymen So the byrthe of oure lady gladed the fader and the moder wherfore god seÌ„t them frute of their bodies more by grace than by kynde Thenne all the neyghboures come and conforted anne called her doughter mary as the angel badde or she were borne or begoten ye shall vnderstonde that holy church worshippeth thre byrthes One of oure lorde iesu criste That other of oure lady The thridde of saint Iohn baptyst shewynge openly that euery man and womâ—n that woll be sauyd muste be thryes borne Firste of his modre in to this worlde The secounde from synne by water wasshynge And the thridde oute of this worlde to ioye passinge The firste betokenethe by our lady thâ— seconde by sainte Iohn Baptyst the thridde by our lorde 〈◊〉 câ—iste For 〈◊〉 thre byrthes iâ— grete ioye â—â—yn and 〈◊〉 Though a woman haue greate pâ—yne in the byrthe of her childe I may 〈◊〉 byleue sainte Anne thenne oure laâ—yâ—â— modre hadde nat so in her byrthe of her childe oure lady For â—he was halowed in her moder wombe holy borne â—oly euir after Soo whan she was born and wanyd and was thre yere of age Ioachym and anne and other frendes brought mary into the cyte of Ierusalem to fore the temple as they had made their auowe to fore Thenne the temple stode on an hyll and was xv fâ—eyres vp to the dore and so they lefte mary at the nethermooste steyâ—e while thei made theym redy to do their offrynge Thenne went mary to the vppermâ—ste grece her self knelynge downe and made her prayers to god as she hadde ben of grete age For the holy gooste was euir with her and gaue her grace Also god sent her an aungell to kepe her and to teche her And whanne her fader and her modre hadde offred â—â—y wâ—nte home and lefte her there and she chaunged no â—here bâ—â— gaue her selue all to spirituell occupaâ—ion And euery day fro morowe to vndren she wâ—â— in her prayers from vndren to noâ—â— she occupyed her craft of wenynge of clothes in the temple And anone the mete and the drynk that was set to her she gaue to the pore people was in her deuocion tyll an aungell broughte hyr mete Thenne she lâ—â—ed so clene and so honestly that all her felâ—wes called her qâ—â—ne of maydâ—â—â—â— And whaÌ„ any maÌ„ spake to heâ— mekely she louâ—ed with her hede and saide ¶ Deo gracias For that word was comon in her mouthe and therfore she is lykned to a spicers shop for she smelleth swete for the presence of the holy goste was with her and habundaunce of vertues that she shulde bere the kyng of vertues And thus her byrthe daily is ioye to all crysten people ¶ Howe this daye was firste founde a grete clerke Iohn Byllet tellith There was an holy maÌ„ that prayed to god ofte by nyght tyme And so on a nyghte as he was in his deuociones he herde a songe of an angel in heuyn that oure lady was borne of her modre and noo more of all the yere after So on a nyght he herd this melody in the ayr wherfore this holy maÌ„ prayed to god that he might haue wittynge what was the cause that he herd that melody that certeyn nyght and no more of all the yere after Thenne came an aungell to him and saide That nyghte oure lady was borne of her modre and therfore the melody was made in heuyn at that tyme Thenne went he to the pope and tolde him howe the angell saide Thenne the pope coÌ„manded that day sholde be halowed for euirmore ¶ Thus come this feste firste into holy churche And so oure lady is borne by water wasshynge that is by cristnynge For whanne oure lorde Iesu criste was baptised in the water of flome iordane Thenne oure lady and the xii appostelles in that tyme were cristned Therfore right as oure lorde folowed the olde lawe and the newe lawe bothe and all that fyll to a man of right and so our lady fulfilled both the lawes and all that fyll to a womaÌ„ at that cristnynge For there her sone toke his right name and she bothe And as the gospel telleth whanne oure lord Iesus was cristned the fader of heuen spake and saide Hic est filius meus dilectus c. Here is my welbelouyd sone but after he was called goddes sone â–ª afore the tyme oure lady was called the wyfe of Ioseph and after that she was called the modre of iesu to moch worship to her ¶ The thridde tyme our lady was borne to ioye passinge For whan she shold passe out of this world her sonne come with a greate multitude of aungelles and broughte her to heuyn with moche ioy and there crowned her quene of heuyn Empresse of hel and lady of all the worlde soo she is in euirlastinge blysse Narraico ¶ we fynd of our lady how ther was a iewe that was borne in Fraunce and come into Englonde for diuerse maters that he hadde to do with other people And come to gloucestre and to Bristowe and
the fende the fende wyth hym But how the fende is dreuen awaye by halowyng I will telle yow by ensample that is wreten in legenda aurea ¶ Saint Gregory sayth in a boke that is called dyalogus on a tyme as a châ—rche was on halowyng a swyne ranne amonge the people to and fro and so ranne oute of the chirche dore and that was a fende that ranne awaye but yet the nexte nyght after he come ayen made suche anoyse as though al the chirche shold haue falle downe thenne come neuer ayen more But there be many lewde people that saye her prayers they were as good at home as atte chirche For yf ther be ony man or woman that hath a mater to speke wyth his good frende and wolde feyne haue his â—nteÌ„te he wyl go home to his hous goodly and lowely in hope to spede the better Ryght soo yf ony man wolde praye to god deuoutli he shold come to chirche there is god for he that is in clene lyf and prayeth to god speketh with hym for many of you wote not howe ye shold praye The settyng of the chirche gyueth you knowleche for the chirche is set in the este And soo whan ye praye sette your hertes in the est prayng hertely for mercy wyth perfyte charyte For though it be put oute of your herytage by malyce of the fende â–ª that is enmye to your soules For we shold not haue the ioye of paradyse that he was in and loste it by his pride Also we lost it by our fadres trespase adam lete vs thynke that crist deyed in the est And therfore lete vs praye besely in to the est that we maye be of the nombre that he deyed fore Also let vs thynke that he shall come oute of the este to the dome wherfore lete vs praye hertely to hym and besely that we maye haue grace of contrycyon 〈◊〉 our hertes of our mysdedes wyth shryft and satisfaction that we maye stonde that daye on the ryght hoÌ„de of our lord Ihesu crist and so be off the nombre that shall be saued come to euerlastynge blysse and ioye and that we may scape that horryble rebuke that shall be gyuen to all them that shall be dampned and goo to euerlastyng peyne that wyl not be sory repente them and aske mercy in this worlde And thus for deuoute prayers holy chirche was ordeyned to be halowed For god sayth thus ¶ Domus mea damus oracionis vocabitur My hous is called an hous of prayers But it is now made an hous of rownynge whysperynge cryeng clatering scornyng tales and symple spekynge mowyng of vanyte and many symple wordes and lewde Narraico ¶ we rede how saynte Gregory was at masse on a tywe and saynt Austyn was his deken and bad the people tourne to the popes blessyng Thenne he sawe two wymmen rowne to gyder in the popes chapell and the fende sat in her neâ—ke wrytyng a greate rolle and it lacked parchemente and he drewe it oute with his teeth and so it fell oute of his clawes and sainte Austyn sawe it and wente and tooke it vp Thenne the pope was wrothe and asked hym why that he loughe hym to scorne And he shewyd him what the fende hadde wreten of the wymen and then he come to the wymen and asked theym what they hadde saide all thys masse tyme. and they sayd oure Pater noster Thenne the pope badde rede the roll to theym that the fende hadde wryten And saint Gregory redde it there was neuir a gode worde therin Thenne they knelyd downe and asked mercy and besoughte the pope to praye for theym and so he dyd amd broghte theym oute of the fendes bokes Alsoo for longe restynge to holy churche for whanne a man is dede he is broughte to the churche to his reste ¶ Somtyme the people were buryed at home as pore people and the ryche were buryed in the hyll toppes and some at the foote of the hyll in tombes made of rockes But for the sauoure was so great and greuous holy faders ordeyned church yerdes to bury the peple for ii causes One is to be praied for as holy church vseth And another is for the body shal lye there withoute trauayll For the feÌ„des hath noo maner of power to any thynge within cristen buryelles But if so be that the dede body be nat worthy to be buryed in suche holy grounde For as Iohn Byllet telleth that there shulde noon other body be buryed in the churche but if it be the patrone that defendeth it fro bodily enmyes or the parson vicary preest or clerke that defende the churche fro gostly enneuyes with 〈…〉 For so◠〈…〉 buryed theâ—â— and caste oute 〈◊〉 on the morowe and 〈…〉 in the graue ¶ 〈…〉 come on a tyme to a wardeyn of a churche and badde him go to the bâ—shop byd him caste out the body that he had buryed therr or els he shall be dede within threty daies and so he was for he wolde nat doo as he was bydde ¶ Narracio ¶ Also we rede in gestis of Rome that an aungell tolde an holy Busshoppe that hight Encres howe that charles the kynge of Fraunce was dampned for he toke away holy churche right that goode people hadde gyuen tofore and bad him go and open his tombe and see it Thenne the busshop went with other people and opned the tombe and there came oute a grete dragon slepe forthe and lefte the tombe brennynge within as it hadde be an ouyn mouthe ¶ And thus to bury in holy place is but lytell avayll to theym that be daÌ„ned ¶ Also there be many that walke on nyghtes whan they be buryed in holy place but that is nat longe of the feÌ„de but of the grace of almyghty god whiche grace he graunte vs all that for vs shedde his blode on the rode tree Amen ¶ Per me Ricardum Pynson T◠〈…〉 se 〈…〉 and the firste destincâ—ion sayth that the souerayne cause why god made all creatures in heuyn erth or water 〈◊〉 his oune godenes by the whiche he wold that some of theym sholde haue parte and be communers of his euirlastinge blis But for asmoche as no creature myghte coÌ„me to that blisse withoute knoulege of him â–ª Therfore he made resonable creatures as angelles mankynd of wytte and wysdome wherby they sholde knowe him and so through that knowlege come to the blisse that they were made to This maner of knowlege hadde our forne fader Adam and eue in the state of their innocencye withoute any trauayll The whiche we shold haf had also if they had nat synned But that knowlege that we haue nowe is of herynge lernynge teching of other that can the lawe the faythe of holy churche The whiche we that haue the cure of soules be bounde to teche or to do teche oure parisshynes on peyne of dampnacion of oure soules ¶ And for asmoche as my wyl is nat to offende god
neither to lese myn owne soule ne youres I purpose by his leue homly thus to shewe it and rede it to you in the boke For to your lerning it is as goode as withoute And thus dyd Esdras moyses and Baruke in the olde lawe and so dyd criste alsoo in the newe lawe â–ª And right as I am thus bounde to tell and to teche it you so be ye bound to lerne it and to conne it and soo to teche it to other folke the whiche be vndre you to youre power And howe ye shall coÌ„me to this knowlege of god these thâ—nges folowynge shall shewe you ¶ This is the firste peticion of the Pater noster The firste is the Pater noster the whiche oure lorde made and taughte his disciples which conteyneth seuyn shorte peticiones The firste is Fader oure that arte in heuynes halowed be thy name By this ye be behold to loue eche other as sustre and brother And also to yelde him worshyp dâ—ede for the gret worthynes riches and farrnesse that he hath here yeuyn lente to you For more worthynesse may nat be than to be called the sone of god ne ryches greter thanne to be ayr of the blys of heuyn ne more fayrnesse thenne to be lyke to suche a fader for we be all â–ª bretherne and susterne of one fader modre that is god and holy churche In tokenynge that noon of vs sholde scorne other as the proude dothe the pore 〈…〉 ¶ He is also in heuyn nat withstondynge that he is in euery place but yet mooste propyrly he is in heuyn Therfore halowe we so his naname in vs here that we defoule natt his holynesse by synne But that by the yefte of wysdome we may so here be clensed fro all fylthe of synne and so fulfylled of his loue that all other louys contrarye to his wyll be byttre to vs. ¶ The secounde is thy gyngdome come to vs 〈◊〉 is to saye that he and his holynes soo reyne and gouerne all oure lyf here that we may after reigne with him in blys that euyr shall laste and by very charite thou shalt distroye the foâ— synne of enuye ¶ The thridde is thy wyl be doon in erth as it is in heuyn tho that grudge in sekenesse losse of godes or other diseases ayenste god do agaynste this peticion and greatly displease god Therfore praye we that as all aungelles and holy soules please god in heuyn soo must we here in erth noo thynge askynge ayenste his wyll And thus by loue thou shalt distroye the foule synne of wrathe ¶ The fourthe is Oure euery dayes brede gyue vs to daye that is to say oure full sustenaunce of body soule Thus prayed the wise man that sayd Lorde neyther richesse ne pouerte gyue me But that that is necessary to my lyuelode By this is couetyse distroyed and the gyft of compassion and pyte brought in ¶ The fyft is and forgyue us our trespasses as we forgyue theym that trespasse agaynste vs This is ayenste the that beryst grete rancor and malyce agaynste thy neyghboure Or art to gredy of thy dettes to the pore and wylte nat forgyue him a lytell dette or trespasse there as god forgyueth the many greuous offences for the whiche ne were his grete mercy thou sholdeste be dampned To this therfore is knyt the spyrite of connâ—nge â–ª that shewith that what thou arte and what parell thou stondest in and what oure lord suffred for the. ¶ The syxte is And lede vs nat in teÌ„ptacion It is nat to praye here that noo temptacion assayll vs in that the deuyll hath lycence to tempte man as he dyd â–ª Cryste and his appostels and vs aldaye dothe soo that his power may nâ—t be putte awaye withoute the helpe and merâ—y of god Therfore holy fader by the helpe and grace of the spyrite of pyte kepe oure hertes in temptacyon that we consent nat ne be ouircome with synne ¶ The vii is But delyuer vs from all euyll of synne amen And this is the laste peticion to the whiche is yeuen the spyrite of drede that maketh a maÌ„ to withdrawe him from all euyll of synne for the begynnynge of wysdom is to drede god and his right wysnes These seuyn peticiones thus wythe a clene herte asked remeueth and putteth awaye the seuyn dedely synnnes and endueth thy soule with many holy vertues ¶ Aue maria Furthermore as for the salutacion of oure lady pope Vrban and pope Iohn to al beynge in clene lyf that in the ende of the Aue maria say these wordes Iesus amen as ofte as they say it they haue graunted of pardon lxxx and foure daies And so as often as thou sayste oure ladies sauter soo ofte thou haste of pardon xxxiiii yere xxx wekes ¶ These be the xii articles of the faythe The firste is Credo in deum patrem omnipotentem creatorem celi terre et cetera ¶ The seconde thynge that thou shold knowe god by be the articles of the feythe By the whiche grace and mercy be purchased of god and eche vertuous dede strengthed what this fayth is thies articles suynge shall shewe you ¶ The firste is I byleue in god fader almyghty maker of heuyn and of erth To byleue to god is one and to byleue in god is another The deuyl beleueth to god that is to saye that he and his wordes ben true yet many one faileth herin For and they dyd byleue that the wordes of god were true that is to say that for their gode dedys they shold haue euirlastinge lyf and for their euyll dedys the peynes of hell they wold eyther for drede or for loue amende theim To byleue in god saith saint austyn is to cleue to god by loue fulfyllynge his wyll this is very byleue Thus and if thou synne ayenste god it is for lacke of byleue yet in that he is of power to plenysshe the. If thou wylt nat leue it The secounde is Et in iesum cristum filium eiê° vnicum dominum nostrum I byleue in iesu criste his only sone oure lorde Vnderstonde here that iesu cryste the sone is in heuyn with the fader withoute begynnynge and that the fader dothe nothyng withoute the sonne ne the sonne withoute the fader And thus both they be almyghty The thrid article is Qui conceptus eÌ„ de spiritu scoÌ„natus ex maria vigrine I byleue that he was conceyued of the holy gooste and borne of the virgyne mary Here Criste the seconde persone of the holy trynite tooke flesshe blode of oure lady by the â—oly goost with oute medlynge of man She beynge a mayde after as she was to fore For as she conceyued him with oute synne bodily payne She childed him very god and man The fourthe is Passus sub poncio pilato crucifixus mortuus et sepultus I byleue that he suffred payne vndre pounce pylate doon on the crosse dede and buried Here Criste the sonne of god
flockys of thy sheep and drouys off thy bestys in thy bernys and in thy celers in thy goyng in â–ª in thy goyng oute and in all thy werkis of thy handys Soo that euery man shall see that the name of god is callyd vpon the. and they shull drede the. I shall gyue rayne in tyme sayth he the erthe shall brynge forth his sede And trees shall bee replete wyth fruyte thou shalt haue peas in thy cuntree and thou shalt slepe And noo man shall fere the. All thyse blyssynges shull take the. yf thou lerne and kepe his commaundementis Therfore haue mynde in the preceptys of god and in his byddynges bee ye moost besy For yf thou kepe them they shull kepe the and brynge the to blysse that neuer shall haue ende which he vs graunte that wyth his blode bought vs Ihesus Cryste Amen ¶ De septem sacramentis THe fourth thynge that thou sholdest knowe god by is the seuen sacramentis of holi chirche whiche be mynystred to the people of persones and prestis that haue power therto of the whiche fyue the first that is baptesme confirmacion shryft howsyll and anoyntyng Are euery man and woman hold to doo in pein of cursyng incerteyn tyme as the lawe yeueth The other two may no man take as ordre and wedlocke but att his own wyll Thyse sacrameÌ„tis toke their begynniÌ„g off the gracious wellâ— of the syde off our lord Ihesu criste in his passyon For ryght as out of adamys syde while he slepte was takyn out a rybbe that eue was made of ryght soo atte the deth of oure lord there ranne oute of his syde bothe blood and water by the vertu of whiche passion the sacramentis of holy chirche toke fyrst theyr strentgh and theyr begynnyng ¶ The fyrst sacrament is baptime in whiche oryginall synne that we be born in all other synnes that we be defowled wyth they be wasshen a waye thorow the passyon of crist and therwyth is be taken vs the feyth and byleue of holy chirche wythout whiche there may no man be saned Therfore it is coÌ„maunded that euery crysten woman that felyth her quyck wyth child to kepe her fro heuyng and shouyng greate traueyle and fallyng and all other mischeuys that sholde myschyeue the chyldys lyff and so be lost body and soule And that eche woman byfor her traueyle of chyld come to chirche and take shryft and housyl for peryll of dethe that myght falle in the byrthe Also the mydwyf tho that be about the chyld yf it be in parel of dethe sholde cristen it on this wyse I crysten the in the name of the fader and the sonne and the holy gooste And thenne sprynge the childe wyth water that thou foryete not thyse wordes I crysten the. and yf it be crystened in the maner at home It shall not be crystened eftsone at chirche For that were a grete peryll as to nayle god eftsones on the rood And yf it lyue after this crystenynge at home brynge it to the chirche and there it shall haue all the hooll seruyse that it lackyth In tyme of peryll of dethe fader and moder maye Crysten theyr own children wythout harmyng of theyr spousehode Godfaders and godmoders ben borowys to fore god for theyr godchildren And therfore they ben bounde to teche hem to loue ryghtwysnes charyte and chastyte to kepe theym from dedely sinne and specyally to teche theym the coÌ„maundementis and belyue A man and his wyff shold not fonge at ones to a child atte the fonte stone ¶ Ne they that fongith it there shall not fonge it atte the confermynge but at nede ¶ Fader ne moder notyse ne none other shold suffre noo yonge chylde by theym a bedde whyles they slepe ne presse theym to faste in cradell ne suffre theym lye slepyng ne wakynge wyth oute a keper ¶ There is goostely kynrede thorowe fongyng of chyldre atte the fountfâ—on on ix wyse ¶ One is betwyne the childe and the godfaders Another betwyxt the chyldren of the godfaders another bâ—wyxt the chyld and the wyff of the godfaders flesshely knowen tofore Another betwyxt the godfader and the fader of hym that is cristened ¶ Another betwyxt 〈…〉 hym pardone 〈…〉 â—re ¶ And wyth this accordâ—th saint gregore where he saith thus â—e saith thou makest neuer satysfacâ—ion for thy synne But yf thou fere of thy synne euery body woll desyre pardon but fewe or none woll do that they shold haue pardon for but through trust and colour of that pardon They doo many a cursed synne and doo sinne vpon trust therof other ony good dede it is a grete synne of pryde For be thou neuer soo full of good vertues vnkyndnes to thy god maye dystroye all tho vertues More vnkyndnes thou mayst not shewe Thenne for to displease god wylfully Therfore fle suche vnkyndenesse And thynke that the more acceptable thou arte to god thorow thy good lyuyng the more culpable thou shalt be yf thou retorne ayen to synne It is aslyder hoope saith saynte Austyn whan a man synneth vpon trust to be saued He that soo dothe he neyther dredeth ne loueth god Soo that it is more proffytable to holde thy self f feble and lowe Thenne to be holde strong and for feblenes falle and be lost Therfore take hede what goodnes god puteth in the. and thanke hym and praye hym of contynaunce And doo noo synnne vpon truste off pardon or of ony other good dedys ¶ The fourth is the holy sacramente of the auter The whiche is cristis own body his flesshe and blode in fourme of brede The same that was born off the virgyn marye and doon on the rode This is made thorow vertu of goddis worde of preestis that haue power whiche 〈◊〉 neyther aungell ne aâ—chaungell hâ—dde But oonly man 〈◊〉 mynde of hym self this sacramente is euery man and woman bounde by the lawe oncâ— a yere as aâ—â—e eâ—ter yâ— he be fourtene yere of age And haue discrecion to receyue it when they be wyth shryfte and penaunce made clene of theyr synnes And ellys to be put out of the chirche and of cristen beryellys But yf it be for sykenesse or for some other resonable cause whiche cause he must certyfye his curate of For he that vnworthely receyueth this sacrament he receiueth his dampnacioÌ„ Also as often as ony man seeth that body at masse or borne aboute to the seke he shall deuoutly knele doun and saye his pater noster or sum other gode prayer in worshyp of his souereyn lorde Also ye shall vnderstonde that the drinke that ye receyue in the chalyce after your howsell is noo sacrament But wyne or water to brynge the sacrament the lyghtlyer in to thy body But in fourme of brede it is hole goddis body in flesshe and in blode Therfore thou shalt take it in as holy as thou mayste left ony parte abyde in thy teeth For in the left parte is hole goddis body that daye thou
herest thy masse god graunteth the nedefull and lawfull thynges that day ydell othis and forgetyn synnes be forgeuen That daye thou shalt not lese thyn eye syght ne deye in sodeyn deth ne the tyme of the masse thou shalt not wexe agyd Euery steppe thyderward and homward an aungell shal rekene Lewd men and women to despute of this sacrament a Ì„t vtterly forâ—â—dden For it is ynough to theym to beleue as holy churche techeth â—m The fyft sacrameÌ„tis anoynting of seke men the which is oyl halowed of a busshop and minystred by prestes to theym that been of laufull age in grete peryll of deth in lightnesse and abatyng of their sekenesse if god wyll that they lyue And in forgeuynge of they re venyall synnes and relesyng of theyr peyne if they shall dye So that this sacrameÌ„t may be yeuen as oft as nedyth to euery man and womaÌ„ that be in point of dethe ¶ The syxte is holy ordres which noo man may take but at their owne wyl This yeueth power to them that taketh it to serue in holy churche after their estate is As to him that taketh the ordre of preesthode for to make the sacrameÌ„t of cristes flesshe and his blode and for to mynistre other sacrameÌ„tes to the people These muste haue their crowne shauen their hede tonsured and theire clothes honestly shapen as falleth to her estate and namely in holy churche They muste also in the quere synge rede with clenes of conscience and grete deuocion of soull nat ouyrhyppyng ne momblynge ne musynge of vanytees nat medlynge with lewde ne shrewyd tydynges ne inhonest coÌ„munycacion ne coÌ„mynge to late to goddes seruyce ne goynge oute bifore the ende withoute a resonable cause nat gronynge ne slumbrynge ne sparyng her voyce but shewynge oute the voice of the holy gooste with sowne and hooll speche And thus sayth saint Bernard They muste also dispose theym self if they may to synge masse therto they be bounde For saint Bernarde sayth in the persone of oure lord to euery maÌ„ thus Haue I nat made the and yeue the power to make me to make my sonne incarnat tofore the fader of saluacion of the worlde if thou haf power to synge and syngest nat saith he Thou benymmest the aungelles of heuyn their ioye thou benymmyst mankynde trauelynge in erthe their helpe and grace and thou benymest the soules that are in grete peynes in purgatorye their reste and their forgyuenes These be heuy wordes and lytell thoughte on with many of vs Saint Austyn sayth how worshypful is the dignyte of preesthode sayth he betwyxte whose handes the sonne of god as in his moders wombe was iÌ„carnate hou blessed be the prâ—ests sayth he if that they prestly lyue How heuynly a mynistre is that sayth he that by the wyckynge of the fader and the sonne and the holy gooste the same god that is in heuyn the same and self is in youre handes â–ª in the sacramente Therfore sayth once lord bee ye holy for I am holy ¶ A rightfull lyf to you is necessary saith saint Austyn Therfore ye muste soo lyue soo that your lyf accord with youre name soo that if your ordre be holy let your conuersacion be the same And if men say well of you sayth he see that your werkes bere wytnesse to the same And this is for vs prestes ¶ The seuynthe sacrament is wedlocke before the whiche the banyâ— must be asked thryes in holy churche This is a lauful knytiyng to gydder of maÌ„ and woman in fourme of holy church by assent of theym bothe for to be to gyddre in the lawe of god and neuyr to be departed whyles their lyf lastith in remission of syn and getyng of grace whanne it is taken to a true entent For though there be no trouthe plighte ne flesshâ—y dede doon if they be of ful age accorde in herte to gydder to fore god they be wyf and husbonde al preuy couenauntes in trouthe plightynge and forward makyng without assent of frendes or knowlege are forboden Al that suche make or been therat ben in grete peryll of soull Also it is forboden that no wedded man ne womaÌ„ one withoute that others assente make vowe of chastite pylgremage ne fastynge For if the wyf avowe the husbonde at the firste weâ—yng may fordo it but if he consent and suffre it wetyngly after the firste knowyng The maÌ„ synneth nat for the wyfe hath no power of her owne body but the husbond And if the man absteyne him fro hys wyf by suche wyfe withoute the wyll of his wyf she gyue him noo leue he is cause of her synne And the wyf is in the same case if she doo the same to her husbonde Septem opera misericordie ¶ The fyft thynge that thou shal knowe god by are the seuyn dedye of mercy whiche euery man is bounde by the byddynge of god to fulfyll and to do to his power That is to saye Fede the hungry â–ª yeue drynk to the thristy cloth the nakyd herborowe the houseles vysite the seke deliuer the prisoners and burye the pore whanne they be dede These been nedefull to vs plesyng to god and helpynge to body soull of all theym that doon them Therfore sayth Criste yeue and it shal be yeuyn to you Almes sayth Austyn is an holy thynge For it euerlasyth the that thou haste Lessith thy synnes It multiplyeth thy yeres and nobleth thy mynde It lengtyth thy termes and clenseth al. thynge It deliuereth the fro dethe And ioyneth the to aungelles and departeth the from deuylles And is a wall inexpugnable aboute thy soull Therfore gyue almes and all thynges shall be clene to you Thre thynges he muste considre that shall gyue almes First who asketh it what he asketh wherfore Firste I say that god asketh it for he loueth so moche pore men that what ye do to them in his name he holdeth it doon to him selfe He asketh his and nat oures Dauid sayth al thynges be thyn lorde and that we haue take of thyn handes we haue gyue the He asketh vs nat for to gyue it him but for to leue it him wherfore he woll yelde an hundreth folde and the blys of heuyn Therfore sayth sainte Gregore pore men shall nat be despyced but prayed as faders And he that yeueth the pore shall nat be pore sayth Salamon And he that stoppeth his ere fro the crye of the poure shall crye and nat be herde Therfore to all that aske these he that asketh vnrightfully yeue it not that he asketh but that that bâ—ttâ—â— iâ— And that is correction Ierom sayth gyue the pore to susteyne their ryches There may no maÌ„ excuse him of almes gyuynge For an halpeny of the pore sum tyme more pleaseth god thanne an huÌ„dreth shyliÌ„ges of the rich If thou may nat gyue him that gyue him wordes of comforte And what thou yeuyst gyue it gladly For the gladde gyuer god louyth ¶ Ther be also seuyn other gostly dedys of mercy The firste is teche
luste ne he that hath wronge neyther But a mene that coud and myght sett it resonably after the wronge were declared The preest is ordeyned to be a mene and to sette thy peynes for the wronge that thou haste done to thy god by synne It nedyth thenne that thou shewe truly thy trespasse vnto him that he may sett the suche penaunce wherby thou maiste be able to coÌ„me to the presence of thy lorde god Also in euery dome that is reasonable ther muste be a iuge and a persone that is gyltye And the preest muste either be by preuys or els by witnes ayeÌ„st thy wyll or by wylful knoulege sithen the dome of penance is free and nat agaynst thy wyll bycause that thou goste therto wilfully thenne shal nat the processe of this dome be in promys ne in wytnesse but freely in thy propre confession And he muste be iuge that may bothe forgyue and condeÌ„ne and that is god For he only releseth synnes And so tyll he toke mankynde confession of herte suffised But after he requyred and askyd confession vocall whiche is made of man to man And for asmoche as he is nat here in forme of man Therfore he ordeyneth men to be his vycaries that thou sholdest confesse the to to whome he gaue power to bynde and to vnbynde And thus is confession nedefull by reson promyse and scripture Oure lord gaue power only to the preest to bynd and to vnbynde whanne he sayd whose synnes ye forgyue they been for yeue and whose synnes ye witholde â–ª they be witholde ¶ yet as by power vertue god losith For there is no power but of god Cryst sayth saint Austyn for vs was crucifyed by whiche and noon other synnes are forgeuyn Therfore oure lord yaue openly the holy goost to men yeuynge vndstondynge that synnes are nat foryeue through merites of men but throughe the godenes of the holy goost For whanne he arose from dethe he sayd to his disciples Taketh the holy gost and whose synnes ye forgyue they are foryâ—uen as who sayth the spiryte that is goâ— forgyueth and nat ye And so he that may forgyue by man may forgyue withoute man The sacrament of grace sayth saint Austyn god forgyueth somtyme by euyll men But grace alone he yeueth but by him selue yet remission of synnes he woâ—cheth bothe by him selue and by the holy goost And thus noman doth away synne but Criste alone ¶ Saint Ambrose and other doctoures sayn that the worde of god foryeueth synnes The preest is the iuge and yet of him selue he hath noo power but of him allone that died for oure synnes Saint Ierom sayth that the same power that Criste yaue to his appostelles after his resurrectioÌ„ The same hath al holy chirch in busshopes prestes But specially petyr and his successoures that all shold vnderstonde that who parteth him fro vnyte of the faith may neuyr be losed from synne ne entre into the blisse of heuyn The preest loseth noon verily but god tho that turnyth to penaunce Then he ministreth rightfully that ministreth of the vertue of god what hadde it profyted to Lazar that he went oute of his tombe but it hadde be said Loseth him and let him go Criste by voys raysed him for his sepulcre And so he went forth that was bounde nat 〈◊〉 myght of his feet but by vertue of 〈◊〉 that raysed him This same is nowe 〈◊〉 done in the herte of a repentant mâ—n whanne thou heryst a man repeÌ„tâ—â—â— for his synne then he begynneth 〈◊〉 lyue agayn whenne he confessyth 〈◊〉 thenne he is brought oute of his seâ—â—â—â—re but yet he is nat losed Se therâ—â—â—â— of whome and whanne he is losed Criste sayth Tho that ye haue losed in erthe shal be losed in heuyn Here take hede howe he saide tho that is to say no man except but who so be repeÌ„taunt and ask foryeuenesse by the churche he shall haue foryeuenesse yet though by the churche synne maye worthely be forgyue the dede may nat ryse but our lorde cry within forth For that is doon within vs maye natt be done of vs but of him The discyples losyd hym lyuyng whom the maister raysed fro dethe For they shold haue reased him dede they shulde haue shewyd more strength then vertue Thus holy churche hath auctorite of her spouse to lose from al maner of synne Saint Austyn saythe that seuenty tymes and seuyn wee be charged to forgyue that is to say to euery man that is repentaunt and asketh foryeuenesse yet may nat euery preest generally do this but in tyme of nede or by auctorite of the pope or of his busshop For right as a maÌ„ hath power to ete and hath nat wherof Soo it is of prestes power all they haue power yet it muste be gyuen theym of their soueraynes whanne where how moche they shall execute Ther may no man chese him a confessoure but the pope aboue without auctorite of him or elles of theym that haue power vnder hym but nedes he muste be shreuyn to his owne curate yet in certen causes by leue of his curat he may As whanne the Curate lacketh discrecion A nother whanne thou chaungest thyn householde art a vagabond or in peryll of deth or whan thou entryst into the see in so greate peryll thou maist also by that confesse the to a lay man and haue foryeuenes And they that thus here the if thou escape muste charge the that thou shewe the same to thyne owne curate Also pilgrames marchauntes and other goers aboute in diuerse countrees in the same wyse ¶ Other causes ther be that thy Curate muste sende the to fore the busshop wherto thou muste nedes obeye And be sorye that thou haste more horribly offendyd god thenne other haue The tokenes of very confession are these The first to shame whan thou shriuest the saith saint Ierom. wexe a shamyd of all the wayes that thou haste goon in syn nat for thy confession but for the fylth of synne that thou shewyst there For nat only oure lord seeth it but also the holy company of heuyn Therfore be ashamed for that maketh the soner to haue mercy of oure lorde Mary mawdeleyn shamed nat to confesse all her synnes in presence of all that were aâ—t the feste Her confession and tearis therfore brought her to blysse The seconde is mekenesse in worde lokynge chere without any sturdynesse as the publycan that thought him self vnworthy to lyfte vp his eyn to heuyn And as poul also obeyed to the callyng of our lord Soo sholdest thou to the byddynge of thy goostly fader and in no wyse tary thy shryfte for these parelles suyng ye that be yet vnshreuyn taketh gode hede vnto this lesson and se what parell ye stonde in The firste is for the vncertaynte of the lyf Scriptur saith that man knoweth nat his ende ne the tyme ne place ne how ne what maner he shall dye and all is for thou sholdest in euery
the synner that is to say Gyue that nature be susteyned and nat the synne norisshed Thou norysshest the synne that yeuest thy gode to iougelers and iapers and suche that loue to be ydell and suffrest the poure man to haue hungre and myscheyf suche maner of geuynge is forboden If pyte sayth saint Ambrose shall nat be swete to all Moche more plentouous muste it thenne be to the good and vertuous in lyuynge Thou shalt rather gyue to thy kynne or neyghboure in theyr nede they be vertuous then to other Thou shalt also yeue to olde men and wymen with chylde if they haue nede rather thenne to other And to theym that be fall in grete pouerte when such pouert falleth nat through ryot array or pompe of this world yet rather gyue thenne the pore be vnseruyd Opyn thyn hert to all theym that aske the for the loue of gode withoute difficultye and gyue it with charyte and with gode wyll Or elles thou makest nat due satisfactyon for thy synne Also with a glade chere and a meke spyryte Soo that thou do it for no vayn glorye Ne dâ—spyse natt the poure for he is a man as thou art And yeue it hastely and tary nat fro him that suffreth aÌ„guysshe sayth salamoÌ„ ¶ yeue it also with discrescion and if thou haue moche yeue moche if thou haue lytell yeue lytell gladly sayeth Thoby Thus bodily and goostly euery body may yeue almes ¶ Furthermore ayenst concupiscence of thy flesshe thou haste fastyng hard goynge and lyuynge and bytter wepynge knockyng on thy breest of knelynge and sharpe disciplyne with roddes of thyn owne hondes trauayll in pylgramage tribulaciones anguyssh sekenesse and suche other bodily diseases paciently suffred of the scourge of god All suche penaunce wylfully taken a discrete confessoure wyll put to the in parte of thy satisfaction and penaunce Fastynge is a wylfull abstinence fro mete and drynke wherby thy synne is wasshen and thy flessh made lowe for desire of euirlastynge blysse gostly fastyng is fro bodily syn and temporall ioye Saint Iherom sayth that it profyteth natt to feble thy body with fastynge whanne thy herte swelleth with pryde Somme faste for sekenesse or for they may nat ete somme for pouerte som for ypocrysye and somme to the worshyp of god and thou must modre thy fastynge that thy stomake be nat greuyd with to moche excesse for lytell mete mesurably tempreth and proufytteth both body and soul and disposeth the to goostly trauayll Ther be some that ete moo delicate metes and more whenne they faste thenne they doo at ii melys whanne they faste nat and in maner they breke their faste There is also prayer ayenst pryde two maner One is inwarde in thy soull withoute shewynge of voyce A nother also ordeyned for the thre parties of satisfaction ayenst pryde Prayer is a louynge desire of thy soull to god with speche of mouthe or gaderyng of wordes to aske good of god with vttering of thy voyce ¶ Of foure frutefull prayers saynte Poul speketh whenne he sayth I pray you first of all thynge that ther be obsecraciones orisones postulaciones yeldyng of thankynges Obsecraciones are whenne thou seest in thy soul the multitude of synne and lytell of thy merytes and seest the horryble peynes of hell which thou maist nat voyde by thyn owne vertue Ne darst nat for thyn owne vnworthynes make thy prayer thy selue but makest supplicacoÌ„ns by other menys as whenÌ„ thou sayst Sancta maria ora pro nobis Oure lorde by thy passion delyuer vs. Orison is whanne thou hast forsaken thy synne askest foryeuenes by open speche· Postulacion is whanne after thy penaunce doon thou haste a sad hope of foryeuenes if thou pray also any thynge ayenst thyn owne spede As poull that prayed that his temptacion myght be putte away then oure lord wyll nat graunte it the. Some thynges thou mayst pray with condicion And some thynges without condicion to haue grace and blys with oure lorde thou mayst aske without coÌ„dicion Saynt Bernard sayth that thou maist aske of our lord grace in all godenesse to please hym lyue in him see his blysse and to able thy self to vertues to do him worshyp and to be with him withouten ende ¶ yet afore this prayer thou must make redy thy soull in dyuerse wyse Firste thou must withdrawe thyn hert fro outwarde besynesse beynge in wyl to kepe thy thoughtes after thy first entent Thou muste considre also how vnworthy thou arte that prayest and howe worthy he is thou prayest vnto and howe greate thy synnes be that thou prayest for Thou muste also be clene in soull if thy prayer be shorte let it be doon with stedfaste hope for a shorte prayer with a sad hope feithfully doon is more acceptable to god then a longe prayer fayntly doon withoute hope yet to theym that been occupyed in dyuyne seruyce Longe prayer is spedefull To pray also with voys is more spedefull thanne to thynke or whysper Grisostum sayth thus thou that with loude voyce prayest and whysperyst thou suffryst noon other to praye aboute the And therfore thy synne and thy payn are encreased if it be do wyttyngly and thy self nat herd of god It must also be doon without interupcion nat to say nowe a verse or a Pater noster and bitwene iangle and tel a tale withoute greate nede ne to haste it to moche Thou must also make it comon to place tyme and persones Paull sayth I wyll that men pray in euery place yet in the church principally For oure lorde sayth my house shal be called the house of praier All tymes are tymes of prayer yet in holy church been seuen oures ordeyned for tyme of prayer whiche moste specialy longeth to religiouse men Oure lord afore his passion traueyled all nyght in prayer Oure lady and Ioseph also rose euery nyght at mydnyght and saide the psalmes of commendacion And the same dyd Dauid and his householde Though all may nat do thus yâ—t aâ—â—yse theym that be bouâ—de and haue noo lettynge It must also be made wâ—ith other aâ—d nat alwaye allone In that it is more acceptable to god more pleasaunt to aungelles and more confusion to the deuyll And the same that thou makest for a nother is bettre then that thou makest for thy selue ¶ And though oure lorde here nat anone thy prayer at thy wyll yet he heryth it and graunteth the happely that that is more spedefull A thynge that is longe desired at the last it coÌ„myth that is the more deynte ¶ It muste also be doon with deuocyon Deuocion as clerkes sayn is a tendernesse of herte wherby thou breakyst lightly into tearys Also a wyll of loue lyfte vp to god or to his heuynly creatures mâ—uynge the inwarde and outewarde to the seruyce of god Suche deuocion purgeth bothe body and soull ¶ And thus deuocion may be knowen by two pryncipall tokens One by gretenesse of the voyce outwarde as a grete fyre is knowen by the