¶ Incipit Speculum vite Cristi AT the begynnynge of the prohemy of the booke that is cleped the myroure of the blessyd lyf of Jesu Crist the fyrste parte for the monedaye ¶ A deuoute medytacyon of the grete counceyll in heuen for the restorynge oâ— man and hys sauacyon CapituluÌ„ primuÌ„ ¶ Of the manâ—â— of lyuyng of the blessyd vyrgyn marye CapituluÌ„ SecuÌ„dum ¶ Of the Incarnacyon of Jhesu and the feste of the Annâ—cyacyon and of the gretyng Aue maria Capitulum Terâ—â—◠¶ How that oure lady wente to elysabeth and mekely greted her Capitulum Quartum ¶ How Joseph thoughte to leue pryuely oure lady saynte Marye â–ª Capitulum quintuÌ„ ¶ Of the Natiuite of oure lorde Jhesu Cryste Capitulum Sextum ¶ Of the Circoucysyon of oure lorde Jhesu Capitulum septimuÌ„ Of the Epiphanie that is open shewynge of oure lord Jhesu crist CapitulnuÌ„ Octauum Of the puryfycacion of our lady saynt marye Capitulum nonum ¶ The seconde parte for the tewesdaye ¶ Of the fleynge of oure lord Jhesu in to Egypte Capilm decimum Of the tornynge ageyne of oure lord Jhesu fro Egypte Capitulum vndecimum How the chylde Jhesus was lefte allone in iherusalem Capitulum Duodecimum â–ª what maner of lyuynge our lord Jhesus had And what he dyde fro hys twelfth yere vnto the begynnynge of his xxx â–ª yere CapituluÌ„ xiii Of the baptysme of oure lorde And the waye therto Capitulum xiiii The thyrde parte for the wednesdaye ¶ Of the fastynge of oure lord Jhesu and hys teÌ„ptacyons in deserte Capitulum xv How our lord Jhesus beganne to teche gader discyples â–ª Capilum xvi Of the miracle done at the brydale of water tornyd in to wyne Capitulum xvii Of that excellent sermon of oure lorde Jhesu in the. hylle Capitulum xviii Of the seruauÌ„t of Centurio and the sone of the lytyl kynge helyd of our lorde Jhesu Capi. xix Of the palatyke man lete doune in hys bedde by the hous hyllynge and hellyd of oure lorde Jhesu Capitulum xx How that Martha was helyd of her sekenes by touchyng of the hemme of oure lordes clothyng Capitulum xxi Of the conuersyon of mary Maudalene Capitulum xxii Of the spekynge of oure lord Jhesus wyth the woman Samaritane at the pytte of water Capitulum xxiii How the dyscyples of Jhesu pluckeden the ere 's of corne and eâ—en hit for hongre vpon the sabotte daye Capitulum xxiiii ¶ The fourth parte for the thursdaye ¶ Of the fedynge of the grete peple wyth brede multiplied Capitulum xxv Of the fleynge of oure lord Jhesus when the peple wold haue made hym her kynge Capitulum xxvi Of the prayer of oure lorde Jhesu Cryste in the hylle Capitulum xxvii How the Pharysees and other token accasion of sclaunder of the wordes and the dedes of Jhesu Ca. xxviii Of the specialle reward of oure lord Jhesu behoten tho alle to that forsaken the world for hys loue Capilm xxix Of the transfyguracyon of oure lord Jhesu in the hylle Capitulum xxx Of the seke men heled at the water in Jherusalem cleped probatica piscina Capitulum xxxi How oure lord Jhesu caste out of the Temple the byars and the sellers ageynste goddes â—awe Capitulum xxxii Of the receyuynge of oure lorde Jhesu by the two systers Martha mary and the two maner of lyuynge that ben actyue conteÌ„ platyue in holy chyrche cap. xxxiii Of the reysynge of lazar other ii dede bodyes Cap xxxiiii How the Jewes token her counceyl and conspyred ageynst Jhesu in to hys deth Capitlm xxxv ¶ How our lorde Jhesus came ageyne to Betany the satyrday before plamsonday of the souper made to hem there Capitulum xxxvi ¶ How Jhesus came to Jherusalem vpon palmsonday Capitulum xxxvii ¶ what oure lord Jhesus dyde fro the palmsonday in to the thursday next sewyng Capitulum xxxviii ¶ Of that worthy souper that our lord Jhesus made the nyght before hys passyon and of the noble circumstances that be â—elle therwyth ¶ Capitulum xxxix ¶ The fyrste parte of the Frydaye Of the paâ—yon of our lord Jhesu Cryste and fyrste of his prayer and takyng at matyn tyme. Capitulum xl Of the bryngynge of oure lorde Jhesu before Pylate at pryme Catulum xli How oure lorde Jhesus was dampned to the deth of the crosse aboute Tyerce of the daye â–ª Capitulum xlii Of the crucytyenge of oure lorde Jhesus at the Seâ—te houre Capitulum xliii How oure lorde Jhesus yelded vp the spyryte at none CapituluÌ„ xliiii Of thâ— thynges that befelle after the deth of oure lorde Jhesus and after the none Caplm xlv Of the takynge doune fro the crosse our lordes body Jhesu at euensonge Capitulum xlvi Of the buryenge of our lord Jhesu at complyntyme Caplm xlvii ¶ what was done of our lady and other after the buryeng of Jhesu Capitulum xlviii The Syxte parte for the satyradye what our lady and other wyth her dyden on the satyrdaye Capitulum xlix The Seueth parte for the sondaye Of the glorious resureccion of our lord Jhesu And of the fyrste apperynge of hym to hys blessyd moder as it maye be resonably trowed Capitulum l. How that Maudalene and other maries comen to the graue Capitulum li. ¶ How oure lord Jhesus apperyd to maudalene Capitulum lii How oure lord Jhesus apperyd to the thre Maries Capitulum liii ¶ How oure lorde Jhesus apperyd to Peter Capitulum liiii Of the comynge ageyn of our lord Jhesu to the faders And of her ioyeful songe Capitulum lv How our lord Jhesus apperyd to the two disciples goyng toward the castel of Emaus Capitulum lvi How oure lord Jhesus appered to hys apostles and dyscyples that were reclused for drede on the selfe daye of hys resureccion CapituluÌ„ lvii How our lord Jhesus apperyd the eyghte daye after to hys dyscyples Thomas present Capitulum lviii How our lord Jhesus apperyd to the dyscyples in Galilee Capitulum lix How oure lord Jhesus apperyd to the dyscyples at the see Tyâ—eryades Capitulum lx Of alle the apperynges of our lord Jhesus in general Capitulum lxi Of the assency on of oure lord Jhesus Capitulum lxii Of the sendynge doune and the comynge of the holy ghoost Capitulum lxiii Of that excellente and moost worthy sacrament of Crystes blessyd body Capitulum lxiiii ¶ Explicit Capitula ¶ Sequitur prohemium ¶ Prohemium ATtende lector huius libri prout sequitur in anglico scriptis quod vbicuÌ„que in margine ponitur lâ—a N. verba suÌ„t translatoris siue coÌ„pilatoris in anglicis preter illa que inseruntur iâ— libro scriptis secunduÌ„ communeÌ„ opinionem a venerabili doctore Bonauenture in latino de meditacione vite ihesâ— cristi Et quando peruenitur ad processum verba einsdem doctoris inseritur in marginue iâ—a B prout legenti siue intueÌ„ti istuÌ„ librum speculi vite cristi lucide poterit apparere MEmorandum quod circa annuÌ„ domini Millesimum qua dringentesimum decimuÌ„ originalis copia huius libri scilicet speculi vite cristi in aÌ„glicis presentabatur LoÌ„donÌ„
lady to syte on a suppoylle to leene to and so that the lady of al the worlde in that symple aray besyde the cratche hauynge hir mylde mode and hir louely eyen wyth hir inwarde affeccion vpon hir der worth swete childe But in thys poure symple worldly arraye what ghostly Rychesse and inward comforte Joye she had may no tonge telle wherfore yf ye wylle fele the true Joye comforte of Jhesu we must with hym and â–ª with his moder loue pouerte mekenes and bodily penaunce as he Primum de pauper â—ate gaf vs ensample of all these here in thys byrth and first comynge in to thys world For of the fyrste that is pouerte saynt Bernard in a sermon of the natyuite of our lord tellyng how she was borne to coÌ„forte of mankynde seith in thys maner Goddes sone coÌ„forteth his peple wolt thou knowe his people that is of whome speketh Dauid in the Sauter and seith Lord to the is bilefte the poure peple And he hym self sayth in the Gospel woo to you Ryche men that haueÌ„ youre comforte here How shold he comforte hem that hauen here Nota bent her owne coÌ„forte wherfor Crystes Innocence childhode coÌ„forteth not Janglers grete spekers Crystes wepyng teres comforteth not dysolute laughers His symple clothyng conforteth not hem that gone in proude clothynge his trable racke comforteth not hem that louen firste setes and worldly worshyppes And also the AuÌ„gels in Cristes Natiuite appierynge to the wakyng sheepherdes comforten none other but poure traueyllers and to hem telleÌ„ they the Joye of newe lyghte not to the Ryche men that haueÌ„ her Joye comfort here Also as to the seconde we may see at this byrthe bothe in Criste and in his moder parfyte mekenes For thei were not S 〈…〉 squeymoê° of the stable ne of the bestes ne of heye other suche abiecte symplenes But this vertue of mekenes bothe 〈…〉 oure lord our lady kepten parfytely in al their dedes commended it soueraynly to vs. wherfore be we aboute with all oure myght to gete this vertue knowyng that without it is no sauacion For there is noo werke or dede of vs that maye please god with pryde Also as to the thyrdde we maye see in hem bothe and namely in the child Jhesu not a lytyl bodyly penauÌ„ce Of the whiche saint bernard sayth thus Goddes sone T 〈…〉 Câ—rpets lie 〈…〉 Bernard see 〈◊〉 〈…〉 whan he wold be borne that had in his owne free will to chese what tyme he wold take therto he chese that tyme that was moost noious harde as the colde wynter namely to a yonge childe a poure womaÌ„s sone yâ— scarscely had clothes to wrappe hym in a racke as for a cradel to leye hym in yet though ther was so mykel nede I fynde no mynde of furrys or pilches And sytheÌ„ Cryste that is no begyler chace that is most hard to fleshe sothely that is best moost prouffytable rather to be chosen and who soo techeth or byddeth other he is as a fals deceyuour to be fledde forsaken All thys sayth saint â–ª Bernard and thus moche of these vertues at thys tyme Go we now ferthermor to speke of the forsayde blessyd natyuyte of Cryst what tyme that oure lord was so borne the grete company of Aungels that there were honoryng worshyppyng her lord god wente anone to the sheepherdes that were there besyde about a myle fro Bethleem tellyng hem the â–ª byrthe of her sauyour and also the place therof by one of them appierynge wtyh grete lyght perauenture Gabriel that was special messager of this werke And therwyth al that multitude of AuÌ„gels token vp that newe Joyeful songe sayeng as the gospel telleth in these wordes Joye wythoute ende aboue in alther hyhest heuen to God and in erthe pees to alle men that ben of good wyll And so with that Joyeful songe my kel myrth they wenten vp in to heuene tellyng their other â—e lawes these newe Joyeful tydynges of their lordes blessyd byrthe wherof all the Courte of heuene Joyeful glad morÌ„ than tong can telle or herte thynke makyng a solempne feste and deuoutly thankyng the fader Almyghty god â–ª as we may deuoutly thinke ymagine comeÌ„ al after by ordre to see that louely face of goddes sone theyr lorde with grete reuerence worshyppynge hym his blessyd moder Here to accordynge speketh the apostel saynt Paule in his pystle Ad Hebreos sa yenge that when the fader of heuene brought his fyrste goteÌ„ sone in to this worlde he badde that all the AuÌ„gels of God shold worshyppe hym Also the herdmen after the AuÌ„gels we ren passid fro them camen worshyppiden this child tellyng openly what they herden of the Aungels his dere moder as she that was soueraynly wyse wytty took good hede of all that was done kepte pryuely in hyr herte al the wordes that were spoken of her blessyd sone Thus mykel and in thys maner we maye haue in comteÌ„placyon touchyng the processe of the blessyd Natyuyte of our lord Jhesus And ferthermore touchyng the solempuyte of thys feste and thys hyhe daye we shold haue in mynde that thys daye is borne the kyng of blysse and the sone of Almyghty god lorde of all lordes and maker and gouenour of all the world whos name is cleped specially prynce of pees for by hym was made that grete endeles pees that is told before the IncarnacoÌ„n wherfor this daye the Angels songen that Joyeful songe Gloria in excel sis deo as it is sayd before this day as holy chirche syngeth in the masse after the prophecye of ysaye A child is borne to vs that is lyke to vs in his manhede and a sone is yeuen to vs that is euen to the fader of heuen in his godhede Also thys day the sone of ryghtwysnes that was fyrste vnder cloude spred de openly his beames of mercy the lyghte of his grace in al the world And so this day was sene that blessid newe syÈt that neuer ere was sene in erthe that is to say god almyÈty in maÌ„nes lykenes This day also befell tho two kyndes that passen all kynde al menÌ„es wytte the whiche may al only be coÌ„ceyued thorugh trwe byleue that is to saye that god is borne a maydeÌ„ without sorowe or blemysshyng of hir maydenhede hath borne a childe wherfore thys day had she that seconde souerayn Joye in felyng done in dede that she yaf feyth to spoken before behyÈt of the angel of hir conceyuyng so to al maÌ„kynd this day is of grete Joye a grete fest both of god almyghty of his blessid moder mary as it is sayd before in the feste of the IncarnacoÌ„n for all the skylles that there were said beganÌ„e here more playnly fulfylled Joyne that to this than it wylle shewe pleynly In token also and in wytnesse of this
wonderful byrthe ageynst kynde at Rome that daye oute of a tauerne sprang a welle of oylle in the same Cyte an ymage of gold with a Temple that was cleped yâ— euer lastynge Temple of pees for as mykel as hit was ê“phecyed that shold neuer falle doune tyl a mayden bare a sone thys daye felle doun bothe to gyder anone as Criste was borne In the whyche place is now made a chirche in the worshippe of oure lady saint Mary whos name with hir blessid sone our lord Jhesus blessid be now and euer wythouten ende Amen ¶ Of the circuncisycion of oure lord Captlin SeptimuÌ„ â–ª IN the eyghte daye that the child was borne he was circumcised Ca. vii after the byddyng of the lawe And so in thys day two grete thynges were doune that we owen to haue deuoutly in mynde the fyrst is that the blessyd name Jhesê° that euer was withoute begynÌ„ynge yeuen to hym of the fader of heuen and also of the AuÌ„gel cleped and tolde or he were conceyued Thys day was openly declared named And he ther with specially cleped Jhesus that is as mykel to saye as sauy our and this name resonably is aboue al names For as the A postle Peter saith there is none other name vnder heuen in the whiche we owen to be saued Of the whiche name and grete worthynes and vertue therof saint Bernard speketh deuoutly by processe that shal be sayd after The second thynge Bernard super can that was done thys day worthy to be had in mynde is that this day our lord Jhesus beganne to shede his precious blood for our sake he bygan by tyme to suffre for vs he that dyde neuer synne began this day to bere payne in his swete ten dir body for our synne Mykel ouÈt we to wepe haue coÌ„passiou with hym For he wepte this day ful sore and so in the se grete festes and solempnytees we shold make mykel myr the be Joyeful for our hele and also haue inward coÌ„passoÌ„n sorowe for the peynes anguysshes that he suffred for vs For as it is said before thys day he shedde his blod when that after the ryght of the lawe his tendyr flesshe was cutte with a sharp stonen knyf and so the yonge child Jhesus our sauy our kyndely wepte for yâ— sorow that he felte there thurgh in his flesshe For withoute doubte he had very flesshe kyndly suffrable as haue other children shold not we thenÌ„e haue coÌ„passion of hym yes sothely also of his dere moder For wel may we wete that whan she sawe hir louely chyld wepe she myght not witholde wepynge than may we ymagyne and thynke how that lytyl babe in his moders barme seeynge hyr wepe putte his hand to hyr face as he wold not that she sholde wepe And she ageynward inwardly styred hauyng compassion of the sorowe and yâ— wepynge of hir dere sone wyth kyssyng spekynge comfortyd hym as she myght For she vnderstood wel by the Inspiracion of the holy ghost that was in hir the wylle of hir sone though he spake not to her ther for she sayd Dere sone yf thou wylt that I ceace of wepyng ceace thou also of wepyng For I may not but I wepe what tyme that I see the wepe and so thorugh the coÌ„passion of the moder the. child ceased of sobbynge wepyng And thenÌ„e his moder wypyng his face kysyng hym puttyng the pape in his mouthe coÌ„forted hym in all the maners that she myght Cause 〈…〉 â–ª And soo she dyde as ofte as he wepte For as we may suppose he wepte ofte sythes as other children doune to shewe the wrechidnesse of mankynde that he verely took also he hyd hym fro the deuyll that he shold not knowe hym as for god And thus moche suffyseth to be sayd at thys tyme of the circumcision of our lord Jhesu But now in tyme of grace ceaceth this circumcision of the old lawe we haue in that stede baptysme ordeyned by Cryst that is the sacramente of more grace lesse peyne But for that bodily circmcision we shal haue ghoostly circuÌ„cision that is kuttyng awey al superflue thynges fro vs that disposen to synÌ„e and holdynge wyth vs as in affeccion only that is nedeful to vertuous lyuynge For he that is truly poure is vertuously circuÌ„cised the whiche circumcisyon the Apostle techeth in these wordes when he saith that we hauyge mete and drynke and cloth we shold holde vs payed This also ghoostly circumcision nedeth to be in al oure bodyly wyttes as in seyng heringe touchyng and other that is to say that we in all these eschewe superfluyte kepe scarcite namely in spekynge For mykel speche withoute fruyte is a grete vyce displeysyng to god and good men a token of an vnstable and a dissolute herte as ageyn ward scyleÌ„ce is a grete vertu and for grete cause of goodnes ordeyned in religion of the whiche vertu dyuerse clerkes speken that Ca â–ª vii we shal passe ouer at this tyme and thus endeth this chapitre Of the Epiphanie that is opeÌ„ shewyng of our lord Ca viii FIrste touchyng this solempne daye and worthy fest we shal vnderstonde that there is none feste that hath soo moche dyuerse seruyce in holy chirche as longynge therto as this feste hath not for hit is more worthy than other but for many grete thynges be felle and were done this day specially touchyng the state of holy chirche As firste vnderstondyng that holy chirche here in erthe stante in two maner of peple that one is of them that comeÌ„ of the Jewes that hadden moyses lawe and weren circumcysed that other is of the remanaunt that weren not circumcised and weren Primum factum cleped gentyles This day that is to say the xiii day fro the natyuyte accouÌ„tynge that same day the blessid childe Jhesus shewed hym as god man specially to the kynges that wereÌ„ of the gentyles ¶ And in her persone holy chirche now crystned is pryncypally gadred of yâ— multytude of gentyles was thus receyued of â–ª our lord God to true byleue For the day of his natyuyte he appiered shewed hym specially to the Jewes in the persone of herdemen the whiche Jewes for the moost party receyued not goddes word and by leue but this daye he shewed hym to the gentyls of whome we comeÌ„ that ben now his chosen chirche wherfore this feste is specially propirly the feste of holy chyrche of true cristeÌ„ men The seconde thynge that was done this day touchynge Sâ—â—m factum holy chirche is that she was this day ghostly wedded to criste truli knytte to hym by the baptysme that he took this daye xx ix yere coÌ„plete For in the baptisme bâ— soules weded to criste the congregacion of crysten soules is cleped holy chirche that baptysme is wesshen maade clene of thefylthe of synÌ„e and clothed newe in vertues ¶ The
third is that same â–ª 〈…〉 daye xii moneth that is to saye a yere after the baptysme of crist he wrought that fyrst miracle at the bridale tourning water in to wyne by the whiche is vnderstoÌ„de also yâ— ghostly bridale of holy chirche The fourth thyng yâ— befelle that day 〈…〉 is as Bede saith that in yâ— same day a yere after our lord Jhs wrouÈt that grete myracle fedyng the grete multitude of peple with a fewe loues a fewe fysshes but the fyrst thre ben reherced this daye in holy chirche not the fourth Loo how worshipful this day is yâ— whiche god chese specially to worshippe 〈…〉 there in so many grete wonderful thynges â–ª wherfore holy chirche coÌ„syderynge â–ª soo many grete benefices done to hir this day of hyr ghostly spouse Jhu Crist by wey of due kyndenesse maketh grete myrthe solempnite in this day But for as moche as princypall moste speciall yâ— soleÌ„pnyte of this day staÌ„deth in the mynde of the fyrst yâ— is the worshippyng of the kynges her offryng to Jhesu Therfore speke we ferthermore of the cotemplacion herof leuynge the remenaut at this tyme And soo ymagyne we and sette we oure mynde our thoÈt as we were present in the place where this was done at bethleem beholdyng how these thre kynges comen wyth grete multytude a worshipful coÌ„panye of lordes other seruauÌ„tes so by token of the sterre fyrste ledyng and after restyng vpon that place that the chyld Jhesus was in there they lyghted done of dromedaries that they roden vp on byfore that symple hous maner of stable in the which our lord Jhs was born And our lady thenÌ„e heryng grete noise steryng of peple anone took hyr swete chyld in to hyr bar me And they comyng in to that hous as soone as they sawe yâ— chyld theâ— kneled doun reuereÌ„tly deuoutly honoured him as kyng and worshypped him as god Lord god how grete how sadde was hyr feythe bileue that suche a lytyl chyld so symple clothed fouÌ„den wyth so poure a moder in so abiecte â–ª a place wythoute coÌ„pany wythoute meyne wythout al worldly array shold be very god kynge lord of all the world And neuertheles they bileued sothfastly both two this was a grete godenes of our lord god ordeinyng such forleders such begynÌ„ers of our bileue so it behoueth to be Ferthermore touchyng the processe we maye thynke how the kynges after the fyrste honourynge of the chyld speken with hys moder reuerently the condycyons of hym in what maner he was coÌ„ceyued borne so of other that they desyreden to knowe and our lady mekely ansueryng told them of al as it neded they yeuyng ful credeÌ„ce byleue to al that she sayd â–ª and for as mykel as they were clerkes men of the grete wysdom therfore we may supuose that they couden the laÌ„gage of Hebrew and spaken in that tonge that was the moders tonge of our lady and al Jewes Now take we here good entente to the maner of spekynge in both partyes Fyrst how reuerently how curtoysely they spekeÌ„ asken their questions on that other syde how oure lady with a maner of honest shame fastnesse holding doun hit eyen toward therth speketh answerthe sadly shortly to her askynges for she hath no lykyng speke moch or to be sene Netheles our lord yaf hir strengthe specyall coÌ„fort to speke more homly to them by cause yâ— thei represeÌ„tedeÌ„ â—oâ—a holy chirch that was then to come of the gentyls as it is sayd before Beholde also yâ— chylde Jhesus how he speketh not but stant wyth a maner of sad seÌ„blauÌ„t glad chere as he vnderstode hem louely lokyng vpon hem they haue grete lykynge in the syght of hym not only ghostly in soule of hys godhede as illumyned taught of hym but also in hys bodely syght wythoutforth for as dauyd wytnessith he was fayre louely in body before al menÌ„es sones â–ª so whan they were gretely coÌ„forted by hym they made her offryng to hym in this maner as we maye suppose they openyd her Cofers wyth her tresour spredynge a tapet or a cloth before the childes feet our lord Jhu â–ª thei leydeÌ„ therupoÌ„ offrid echone of them gold eÌ„nceÌ„se â–ª myrre that in grete quaÌ„tyte namely of gold for els as for a lytyl offrynge it had not neded hem for to haue opened her tresour as the gospel seith but her amonerers or her tresourers myÈt liÈtly haue had it in hande takeÌ„ it hem but therforÌ„ the yeftes yâ— quaÌ„tite were grete by reson as it is said And whaÌ„ they haddeÌ„ thê° offred leid their yeftes before hym thenÌ„e reuereÌ„tly dououtly falling down thei kyssedeÌ„ his feet thenÌ„e peraueÌ„ture yâ— child ful of wisdom for to coÌ„fort hem more streÌ„gthe them in his loue yafe them his hand to kisse after blessyd them there with so they reuereÌ„tly enclinyng also takyng her leue at his moder Joseph with grete ioye goostly myrthe as yâ— gospel saith torned ayeÌ„ in to her owne couÌ„tre by another way what yâ— these thre yeftes offrid of the kynges betokeÌ„ ghostly many other thynges yâ— the gospel more ouer telleth as hit is expowned by holy doctors is suffycyeÌ„tly fully wretoÌ„ in other places wherfore we passeÌ„ ouer al that here But what hope ye was done with that gold of so grete pryce whether our lady reserued it and put it in tresore or els bought therwith londe rentes Nay god forbede for she that was a parfyt louer of pouerte took noo hede of noo worldly â—oÌ„de 〈…〉 goodes but what she louing pouerte and vnderstondyng hyr blessyd sones wil â–ª not only thoruÈ hys inspiracoÌ„n techinge hyr in soule within forth but also by syng shewyng his wyll wythoute forth that he loued not suche Ca. viii Ryches perauenture tornynge away ofte sythes his face fro that gold or spyttynge therupon within a fewe dayes â— short tyme she gaf it al to poore men For the kepyng therof that lytyl tyme was to hyr but a grete burden and heuy charge and that semeth wel for she made her so bare of money that whan she shold goo to the TeÌ„ple for to be puryfyed she had not wherwyth to bye a lambe for to offre for hyr sone But oonly bought turtules or douues of lytyl price that was the offrynge of poore folke after the lawe And so we maye resonably byleue that the offrynge of the kynges was grete ryche and that our lady louynge pouerte ful of charyte gaf it in hast to poore men as it is sayd So that here is shewed Nota de peâ—teâ—â—a humilitate a grete precony worthy ensaÌ„ple of pouerte Also yf we here take good hede we may see open ensaÌ„ple of parfyght mekenes for there ben many that holdeÌ„ hem self lowe
abiecte in her owne herte ben not eleuate by pryde as in their owne syght but neuertheles they wold not be holdeÌ„ suche in other menes syÈte ne maye not suffre to be despysed or scorned of other And also they wold not that theyr vnworthynes and their defaultes were knoweÌ„ of other leest they were despysed repreâ—ed of theym But thus dide not thys daye that chylde Jhs lord aboue al other for he wold that his lowenes abieccoÌ„n were knowen seen to his to other that not to symple fewe but to grete many that is to say to kynges lordes theyr meyne many fele And also that is more to wonder in suche caas tyme in the whiche by reason it was mykel to drede that is to saye leest they comynge fro so fer fyndynge hym that they soughteÌ„ kynge of Jewes And whome they troweden almyghty god lyggynge in so symple arraye so grete abieccion by that symple syght supposynge them deceyued Nota holden them self as fooles sholden goo awaye withoute deuocionÌ„ and byleue ¶ But not for thy the mayster of mekenes and louer of symplenesse lefte not to fulfylle the perfeccion therof yeuynge to vs ensample that we shold not go fro the grouÌ„d of true mekenes by coloure of ony semelynes prouffyte or good but that we shold lerne to wylle for to appiere and be seen symple abiecte in the syghte of other that vertue of parfyte mekenes he grauÌ„te vs thorough hys grace that soo wolde meke hym for our sake oure blessid lorde Jhesus Amen DE mora dnÌ„i apud presepe continetur in proximo capitulo excepta meditacioÌ„e de ministerio suo solicitudine circa pueruÌ„ Jhesum de quibus poterit quis feliciter meditari ¶ Of the puryfycacion of our lady saynte Marye Capitulum Nonum AFter the tyme the kynges had performed her offryng were gone home ageyne in to they re owne Countre as it is sayd yet stode that worthy lady of all the worlde in that symple herburgh wyth hyr blessyd sone Jhesu and hyr husband that holy olde man Joseph at the racke pacieÌ„tly abydyng vnto the xl day ordeyned by the lawe puryfycacyon as she were another woman of the peple defouled thorugh synne and as the chylde Jhs were a poore man not god â—edy to kepe the obseruauÌ„ce of the lawe But why hope we that they dyden thus Sothely for ensaÌ„ple to vs shewyng the true way of obedyeÌ„ce And for they wold noo synguler prerogatyf they kepten the comyn lawe as other dyde but thus done not many that lyuen in comyn coÌ„gregacoÌ„n the whiche desyre to haue special prerogatyues and therby wylle be seen more worshipful than other synguler aboue other but thys suffreth not true mekenes whaÌ„ the xl dayes were comeÌ„ of hir puryficacoÌ„n after the lawe thenÌ„e weÌ„te our lady wyth her sone Jhesê° Joseph and took the waye fro Bethlehem in to Jhe rusaleÌ„ that is aboute v. or vi myle there to present the chylde and offre hym to god in the Temple after that hit is wryteÌ„ in the lawe of god Now lete vs here goo wyth hem by deuout conteÌ„placoÌ„n helpe we to bere that blessid byrthen the childe Jhesus in oure soule by deuocoÌ„n and take we inwardly Contemplacio good entente to all that ben here sayde and done For they ben ful deuoute In thys maner thenne they herynge bringyng the chylde Jhesus into Jherusalem the lord of the temple in to the Temple of god at the entre therof they boughteÌ„ two turteles or els two douue byrdes to offre for hym as the maner was for pooer folke And therfore the gospel speketh not of a lambe that was the comyn offryng of ryche men in token that they weren with the poorest folke And here with that ryght wyse man Symeon lad in spiryte by the holy ghoost came in to the temple to see that he had longe tyme desired cryst goddes sone after the byhest answere of the holy goost and anone as he came and had the sight of hym knowynge hym by spyryte of ê“phecye he knelyd downe deuoutely honoured and worsipped him as he was in his moders armes borne and the chylde blessyd hym and lokyng vpoÌ„ his moder bowed toward hym in tokeÌ„ that he wold goo wyth hym soo the mod vnderstondynge the chyldes wylle therof woÌ„dryng tooke hym to Symeon and he with grete Joye and reuerence clippyng hym in his armes rose vp blessyng god sayeng with gladde spirite Lorde I thanke the for now thou letest thy seruauÌ„t after thy worde in pees For why I haue sene wyth myn eyen thy blessyd sone our sauyour And after warde he prophecyed of his passion and of the sorowe ther of that sholde as a swerde perce wounde the moders herte Herewyth also that worthy wydow Anne the prophetesse came to theim in to the teÌ„ple worshippyng the childe she prophecied of hem also and spake of redempcoÌ„n that was to come by hym to mankynde And the moder wondryng of alle thyse wordes kepte theim by good entent pryuely in her hert And thenne the child Jhesus stretchynge hys armes to warde his moder was bytaken hyr ageyne Afterward they yeden in maner of processyon toward the aulter wyth the chyld theâ— whyche processoÌ„n is preseÌ„ted thys day in al holy chirche with light brennyng to goddes worship And thenÌ„e they wente in thys maner Fyrste to two worshipful olde men Joseph simeon gone before Joyeful eyther holdyng other by the handes And wyth grete myrthe syngynge sayeng Lord god we haue receyued thys daye thy grete mercy in myddes of thy teÌ„ple And therfore after thy grete name so by thy louynge and thy worship in to the ferdest ende of al the worlde After them folowed the blessyd moder mayden mary beryng the kyng S 〈…〉 of heuen Jhs and wyth hyr on that one syde goth that worshpful wydowe Anne wyth grete reuerence and vnspecable Joye louynge and praysyng god Thys is a solempne worshipful procession of so fewe persones but grete thynges be tokenyng and represeÌ„tynge For there ben or al states of maÌ„kynde some that is to saye of men and wymÌ„en olde yonge maydens and wydowes Ferthermore when they were come to the aulter of the temple the moder wyth reuereÌ„ce knelyng doune offryd hyr swete sone to the fader of heuen sayenge in this maner Taketh now hyhest fader youre dere sone whom I offre here to you after the byddynge of youre lawe For he is fyrst borne of his moder But god fader I beseche you that ye yeue hym to me ageyne ¶ And thenÌ„e she rysyng vp lyfte Nota ablâ— nonâ— Jhesâ—â— hym on the aulter O lord god what offryng is this Sothly there was neuer none sythen suche another fro the begynÌ„yng of the world ne shal neuer after in to the ende Now take we here good hede how yâ— chyld Jhesus sitte vpon the
ordeyned after that our lord Jhūs yaue ensample in that open reysynge of the forsayd dede body that was opēly borne dede on y◠bere wythout forth in y◠syght of the peple BVt now as to our princypall purpose for to speke of y◠reysynge of the iii. dede body that is to saye Lazar foure dayes dede For asmoche as in this processe ben many fayre grete notable thynges Therfore we shall here more specyally gader in our entente and make vs by ymagynacōn as they were present in bodily conuersacōn not on̄ly wyth our lorde Jhū and his dyscyples but also wyth that blessed and deuout meyne That is to saye martha mary and Lazar that was specyally beloued of our lorde Jesu as the gospell wytnessith And fyrste we shall vnderstonde and haue in mynde the processe of the nexte chapyter before this How vpon a tyme whan our lorde Jhūs walked in the temple That is to saye in that place that was called salamons porche in the feste of the dedicacyon of the temple The Jewes camen aboute hym as rauysshynge wulues or wood dogges wyth grete yre gren̄ynge vpon hym sayeng in thise maner wordes How longe wolt thou make vs in suspēse in dwere in our hertes what thou arte If thou be cryste telle vs openly This they sayden bi false malycyous entent to that ende that yf he had openly knowleged that he was criste that is to saye enoynted kynge then̄e for to haue taken hym and accused hym as a traytoure to cezar the emperour of rome But therfore our lorde Jhūs knowyng her fals ymagynacōn tempred wysly his ansuere as an In̄ocent lambe amonge soo many trechours wulues sobyrly and mekely sayd to hem agayne I speke to you and ye leue me not But the werke that I doo in the name of my fader tho beren wytnes of me what I am And after more ouer whan he sayd I and my fader am alone they token vppe stones to haue stoned hym as a blasphemer makynge hym self god And ferdermore whan our lorde had concluded them in that partye by reason auctorytees of holy wrytt that they myght not ayen say and they notwythstōdyng his resonable meke ansuere and soo goodly wordes contynueden and encreasen in her malyce For asmoche as the tyme of his passyon was not yet comen and for to yeue ensāple of penaūce ▪ of yeuynge stede to woodnesse he withdrewe hym out of her hondes and wente wyth his discyples beyonde Jordan in to y◠place where John baptyzed fyrste aboute xviii myle fro Jherusalem And there he dwelled awhile wyth his discyples And in that tyme soone after as the gospell telleth now to our purpoos lazar the broder of martha mary before sayde wexed sore sike And anone y◠two systers senden worde to Jesu where he was in that forsayd place beyonde Jordan sayenge to hym in this manere Loo lorde he that thou loueste that is lazar is sore seke And they sayden noo more For asmoche as hē thought that y◠suffised to hym that loued wyst what they meaned And also perauenture for they knowing y◠malyce of the Jewes agaynst hym to his deth and how a lityl before they wolde haue stoned hym they durst not calle hym to hem but com̄ytted all to his wyll And then̄e Jhesus sayd to hem This infirmyte is not to dethe but for the praysyng of god that goddis sone be glorifyed therby The gospel tellyth that he sayd thise wordes to hem but it specifyeth not to whom for the sisters that senden to him were not that tyme present but a grete waye fro hym as it is sayd Neuertheles we may vnderstonde as by the processe that he ansuerde to hem in thyse wordes by the messager or elles sayd to his discyples or to bothe as it is moost lykely O lorde what cōforte was this to y◠systers whan they herde of the messager thise wordes that Jhesus sayd this Infirmyte is not to dethe vnderstondyng perauēture by hym y◠her broder sholde not deye bodily by y◠Infirmyte But what discomforte was it to hem after whan he was dede beryed not vnderstondynge that oure lorde meaned of that gloryous reysynge that folowed after nor trowynge thenne that it sholde haue falle Neuertheles that dyscomforte for the tyme was after torned in to more comfort than they desired Fyrst by that they wolde haue had hym preserued fro the deth helyd of his Infyrmyte by oure lorde Jhūs Thus it fallyth oft tymes wyth hem that god loueth and ben in trybulacion or disease our lorde god graūteth hem not that comfort that they askē desyren but suffreth hem as for the tyme to be in dispeyre of her desyre And after whan his wyll is he fulfylleth her desyre better than they wolde firste torneth her discōforte in to more comfort than they wolde haue ymagined or thoughte Ferdermore as to the processe of the gospel after oure lorde was certifyed of the seke Lazar. and had ansuere as it is sayd he dwellled styll in the forsayd place two dayes af◠he sayd to his discyples Goo we agayne in to Jewery they aferde of this worde sayden to him Maister right now the Jewes wolde haue stoned the there and now wolte thou goo agayn thyder And then̄e Jhūs ansuerde agayn Ben there not twelue houres of the daye as who sayth why ben ye aferde supposyng that the Jewes contynuē in her malyce wete ye not well that as oft tymes as the houres chaūgen on the daye so ofte man̄es herte purpoos varyeth chaungeth But the goostly meanynge of thyse wordes as saynt austyn expowneth is this Our lord vnderstondyng hymself as the daye and his twelue discyples as twelue houres of y◠daye reprehended her mysbileue and her vnresonable drede of his deth that was in his wyll that they wold yeue coūseyle to hym as men to god dyscyples to the mayster the seruaūtes to her lorde and the feble seke to hym that was souerayne leche wherfore in maner blamyng hem our lorde sayd to hem in this manere sentēce Are there not twelue houres of the daye who so walkyth in the day he offendeth not or erreth not Folowe ye me yf ye woll not erre and wyll ye not yeue coūseyle to me sythen it is nede to you to take counseyle of me And therfore sythen it is soo that I am the daye the houres and by kindly reason the houres folowē the daye not the daye the houres Folowe ye me and that yf ye woll not offende or erre And after this oure lord Jhūs knowyng in spiryte that lazar was dede sayd to hem Lazare oure frende slepyth but I woll goo for to wake hym and reyse hym fro slepe And then̄e the discyples vnderstondyng flesshly tho wordes of kyndly slepe sayden ▪ Syre yf he slepe it is a token that he shall be hole saaf of his sykenesse For comynly by way of kynde slepe of seke
testameÌ„t makyng hymself our sacrefyce he toke brede in his holy hondes lyft vp his eyen to his fader almyghty god blessed the brede and sayd the wordes of the consecracoÌ„n therouer â–ª By vertue of the whiche wordes brede was torned in to his body thenne he yaaf it to his discyples and sayd Taketh eteth for sothly this is my body that shall be take yeue for you And after in the same manere takynge the chalyce wyth wyne sayd takith and drynkith alle herof â–ª For this is my blode that shall be out shedde for you many other in redempcyon of synÌ„es after he yaaf heÌ„ power of the consecracoÌ„n and to all prestes in hem and sayd thus dooth ye as oft as ye take it in coÌ„memoracoÌ„n and mynde of me Take now gode here thou crysten man â–ª but specyally thou preste how deuoutly how dy ligently truely thy lorde JhuÌ„s cryste made fyrste this precyoê° sacrament And after wyth his blessed hondes minystred it commyned that blessed his byloued meyne And on that other syde take hede wyth what deuoute wonder fyrste they sawe hym make that wonderfull and excellent sacrament And after with what drede reuereÌ„ce the y toke it â–ª and receyued it of hym Sothly at this tyme they lefte all her kyndly reason of man and onÌ„ly rested in true byleue to all that he sayd and dyde byleue wythoute ony doubte â–ª that he was god and myghte not erre And soo must thou doo that wolte fele and haue the vertu the ghostly swetnesse of this blissed sacrament This B is that swete precyous memoryale that soueraynly makith mans soule worthy and plesynge to god as ofte as it is duely receyued eyther by true deuoute meditacoÌ„n of his passion or elles and that more specyally in sacramentale etynge therof wherfore by reson this excellent yeft of loue shold kyndle manÌ„es soule and enflamÌ„e it all holy in to the yeuer therof oure lorde JhuÌ„s cryste For there is noo thynge that he myght yeue and leue to vs more derworth more swete or more profy table than hymself For without ony doubte he that we receiuen in the sacrament of the aulter is he that self goddis sone Jhesus that toke flesshe and blode and was borne of the vyrgyn mary and that suffred deth on the crosse for vs. and rose the thirde daye fro dethe to lyfe and after styed vp in to heuen and sittyth on the faders ryght side and that shall come at the daye of dome and deme all maÌ„kynde In whoo 's power is bo the lyfe and dethe that made bothe heuen helle and that onÌ„li maye saue vs or daÌ„pne vs euer wythout ende And soo he yâ— self god man is conteyned in that lityll oost that thou seest in forme of brede And eueri daye is offred vp to the fader of N heueÌ„ for our ghostly hele euerlastyng sauacoÌ„n This is the true bileue that holy chirche hath tauÈte vs of this blessid sacrament But yet more ouer lete vs sitte a lityll loÌ„ger at this worthy lordes boorde JhuÌ„s and take we hede Inwardly of oure ghostly foode comforte more specyally of that precyous moost deâ—â—teous mete that is there sette before vs. that is the blessed body of our lorde JhuÌ„s in this holy sacrameÌ„t beforsayd And so by inwarde coÌ„sideracoÌ„n taaste we the swetnesse of this heuenly fode hauynge fyrst in mynde the gracious resonable makyng ordenauÌ„ce of yâ— blessed sacrameÌ„t and after the grete worthines merueylous werkyng therof in chosen soules to coÌ„forte strengthyng of our fayth And as anenst the firste poynt we shall vnderstonde that almyghty goddis sone the seconde persone in trinyte willynge of his souerayne charyte endles goodnes to make vs partyners of his godhede he toke our kynde and became man to make men as goddes ferdermore that he toke of our kynde that was flesshe blode aâ—â—e he yaaf to vs for our hele our sauacoÌ„n For he offred to his fader of heuen vpon the aulter of the crosse his blessyd body for our reconcilynge and he shedde his precyous blood in to pryce for to bye vs out of our wretchid thraldom to wasâ—â— vs make vs clene of all synne And for asmoche as he wolde that the mynde of that hye grete benefyce sholde dwelle in vs euerlastyngly he yaaf to al cristen people his body in to mete and his blode in to drynke vnder the lyknesse of brede wyne in manere as it is sayd before in the fyrst makyng of this blessed sacrament But now here beholde we Inwardly take we hede what wondrynge it was to the appostles thenne to see oure lorde JhuÌ„s very man as they were syttynge wyth hem bodily and therwith holdyng in his hondes that self body in that yâ— semyd to her bodiâ—y syghte noughte elles but brede affermynge thus sothly This is my body that shall be yeuen for you And also of that that in the chalyce semed oonly very wyne This is my bloode that shall be shedde for remyssion of your synnes And soo that self bodi that they sene wyth her bodily eyen before hem was sothly vnder the forme of brede And that self blode that was all hole in his bodi was there in the chalice in forme of wyne But thenne was not that brede as it semid as it was before the wordes of coÌ„secracoÌ„n nor wyne as it semid in self maner but onÌ„ly the liknes or the fourme of brede wyne conteynynge very crystes flesshe and blode as it is sayd But what manÌ„es wytte or reason myghte comprehende att this tyme Sothly none And therfore the true apostles at that tyme leften all her bodily reason wytte and rested onÌ„ly in true byleue to her lordes wor des as it is sayd beforÌ„ sauf Judas that was reproued for his falshede mysbyleue and therfore he receyued that blessed sa coÌ„tra lol lardos crament to his dampnacoÌ„n And so done all tho that beÌ„ now of his parte the whiche falsly bileuen and sayen that the holi sacramente of the aulter is in his kynde brede or wyne as it was before the consecracoÌ„n by cause that it semyth soo to all her bodily felynge as in syght taast touchyng the whiche beÌ„ more reprouable as in that parte than Judas For they sene not JhuÌ„s bodily beside that sacrament as he dyde and therforÌ„ it is lyghter to hem for to byleue and more to her dampnacion yf they byleue not as god himself holy chirche hath taughte namly sythen that true techinge of this blessed sacramente hath be holden stedfastly soo many huÌ„dred yeres and of so Fides sacrameÌ„ti many holy men marters confessours other true cristen men the whiche in to her laste dayes stoden without doubte in this faythe and deyden therin The whiche is this in fewe wordes that the sacrament of the aulter duely made by vertue of crystes wordes is very
sore wepynge accused reprehended hemself that they had soo lefte her lorde Thenne our lady comfortynge hem sayd â–ª Oure gode lorde mayster â–ª and our true herdman is goon fro vs. and we ben left now as faderles chyldern But I hope truely yâ— we shall soone hane hym agayn And ye knowe well that my sone is benygne and mercyful blessed may he be For he loued you well and therfore doubteth not but that he shall be well reâ—oucylied to you and gladly he shall foryeue all the trespasses all offences For sothly by suffrauÌ„ce of the fader the malyce ayenst hym was so grete and the woodnes of his enmyes so stronge mighty that ye myght not haue socoured him though ye had abyde styll wyth hym and therfore dredeth not all shall be well ThenÌ„e ansuerde peter and sayd sothly as ye saye soo it is For I that sawe but a lityll of the begynnyng was wyth soo grete drede smyten in the porche of Cayphas house that vnneth wende I for to haue scaped the deth And therfore I forsoke hym and had noo mynde att that tyme of the wordes that he had sayd to me before tyll he loked on me And mawdleyne asked what those wordes were and he said how he tolde hym before that he sholde forsake hym what tyme And soo forth he tolde all his wordes spoken to hem specyally yâ— he tolde before many thynges to hem of his passion in that supper tyme. that he made with heÌ„ the thursday at euen ThenÌ„e our lady sayd that she wold gladly here of that processe that befell at that supper And Peter made sygne to John that he sholde tell that processe and John telleth al that was done and sayd And after to peter he tolde all the processe of his passion as he desyred And so what of thise thynges of other done by our lorde JhuÌ„ amonge hem they tellen to other now one and now another as it comyth to her mynde Durynge awaye all that daye in suche maner talkynges of our lord JhuÌ„ O lorde how attentifly besely mawdleine listned to those wordes but moche more our lady saienge oft tymes at the ende of a processe Blessyd be my sone Jhesus namely whan she mawdleyne herde of the makynge of the sacrament And how he yaaf hem in the forme of brede his owne body to ete and in the forme of wyne his blode to drynke Sothly I trow that wyth souerayn merueyle her hertes melted in to likynge sorowe and soroufull likynge brekyng out on wepynge and shedynge swete teres for that hye brennyng loue that he shewed to man soueraynly in that excellent passige dede of charyte But now passing ouer soo shortly of this ineditacoÌ„n at this tyme Morouer take hede and beholde hem this daye in grete sorowe drede and haue compassion of heÌ„ yf thou canst For what is it to see how that the lady of al the world and the pryncesse of holy chirche chyuetayns of goddis peple ben now soo in drede sorowe stoken hydde in yâ— lityll hous not knowinge what they maye doo not hauynge comforte but oonly in that comynge of the wordes dedes of her lorde JhuÌ„ Neuertheles our lady stode alwaye sadly in a restfull and peasyble herte For she had euer a certayne hope of the resurreccoÌ„n of her sone And therfoâ— holy chyrche makyth mynde specyall of her euery saterdaye by that in that dare stode onÌ„ly in her the fayth of our lorde JhuÌ„ that he was very god Neuertheles she myghte not haue fully Joye by cause of the mynde of his harde dethe his bytter passion whan the sonÌ„e was gone downe and it was leifful to werche mary mawdleyne another mary with her yeden forth in to the cyte for to bye maters able for to make oynements of as thei had soÌ„ what done on the fridaye before in to the sonÌ„e settelyng For by the law they were bouÌ„de to kepe the sabbot day fro yâ— sonÌ„e reste of the daye before in to the sonne reste of the same daye Now take hede and behold hem how they goon with soroufull chere in maner of desolate wydoues to some apothecha â–ª ry or spycer the whiche they had knowlege of that he was a good deuoute man and that wolde gladly fulfylle her wylle and desyre in that party And whan they haue chosen the best oynements that they cowde fynde and payed therfoâ— they yeden home agayne werchynge hem in the beste manere that they cowde And so maist thou see how diligeÌ„tly truely they werchen traueyle for her lord wyth wepynges and sighynges a monge And how our lady and thapastles stoden behelden and peraueuture helpen amonge And whan it was nyghte they seaceden yeden to rest suche as was And soo this maye be the meditacoÌ„n for the saterdaye touchyng our lady other wymmen and the apoostles BVt what dyde our lorde JhuÌ„s that day Soothly anone as he was dede He wente in soule doune in to helle there as holy faders weren And thenne weren they in Joye and blysse by vertue of his blessed presence For the syghte of god â–ª is perfyte Joye And here may we see howe grete is his benygnytee in that he wolde hymself goo doune to helle How grete charyte mekenesse that was For he mighte haue sende an angell and hane delyuerde hem out of the deuylles bondes broughte hem to hym where he had lyste but his loue his mekenes wolde not haue suffred that and therfore he wente hymselfe doune in to helle vysited his chosen soules there that not as seruauÌ„tes but freÌ„des of hym that was lorde of all And thenÌ„e all the holy faders in his comyng fylled wyth Joye blysse and al sorowe myslikyng away passed stoden before hym in louynges songes of prophecyes and psalmes that were beforsaid And thenÌ„e fulfilled as they ben writen in holy wrytt in to the tyme that he wold take his body ayen and ryse vp gloriously fro deth to lyf as it folouyth in processe herafter To the whiche lif for to rise at the last with him he grauÌ„t vs our lord JhuÌ„s that for vs deyed on the crosse ¶ Of the gloryous ResurreccoÌ„n of our our lorde Jhesu and how he fyrste appered to his moder as it maye be resonably trowed Caplm l. AFter that the worthy est Prynce and myghtyest Conquerour Jhesus thrugh his bytter passyon and harde dethe had vaynquysshed and vtterly onecome that souerayne tyraunte mannes enm ye thys aduersary sathanas wyth all his wycked oost As so one as the soule was departed fro the body he wente doune to that tyraunts prison helle And right as in soth he was lorde of vertues kyage of blysse so by his souerayn myght rightwysnes he brake of that pryson and entred with vnspekeable Joye blysse to his chosen people that there had ben in distresse many thousandes yeres before And thenÌ„e was that pryson torned in
ansuerde her att the begynnynge biddynge her that she sholde not touche him neuertheles I maye not trowe but that afterwarde he suffred her to touche hym and to kysse bothe hondes and fete or thei departed For we maye suppose and goodly trowe that sitheÌ„ he wolde soo affectuously and specyally after his owne moder fyrste before all other vysite and appere to that he wolde not therby in ony manere distourble her or heuy her But rather in all poyntes comforte her and therfore the good lorde that is soo benygne and full of swetnesse namly to all those that truely louen hym spake not to her the forsayd wordes in strauÌ„ge maner boystously in mystery shewyng her inperfyte affeccoÌ„n as it is sayd and willinge lyft vp her hert holy to god to heueÌ„ly thynges as sayth saynt bernarde ThenÌ„e sayd our lorde that he wolde goo fro her vysite comfort other And maudleyne torned thenÌ„e somwhat in sorowe for she wolde neuer haue ben departed fro hym sayde O good lorde I see well now that your conuersacoÌ„n wol not be wyth vs in maner as it hath here before but good master haue euer in minde of me And of the grete goodnes homelynesse and yâ— specyall loue that ye had to me And soo thynketh euer on me 〈◊〉 re lorde god And he ansuerde Drede not but be stedâ—aste and truste well that I shall euer be wyth the And soo she takyng deuoutly his blessynge and he vanysshynge awaye fro her She came to her felowes and tolde hem all the forsayd processe wherfore they were gladde as to wchynge his Resurrecyon But that they sawe hym not wyth her they were beuy and sory But the good lorde suffred not their sorowe longe laste But soone comforteth hem as it folowyth after â–ª ¶ How our lorde JhuÌ„s apered to the thre maryes Mathei vi cesimo nono Caplm liii â—Erdermore as the thre maryes wenten towarde the cytee Our curteys lorde JhuÌ„s metyng wyth hem by the way mekely greted hem sayenge Heylle to you And they soo Joyfull of his presence that it maye not be sayde felle downe att his fete And clippynge hem and kysseden hem wyth Joyful teeres And also speken wyth hym and he wyth hem homly wordes of ghostly comforte beholdynge therwyth his gloryous body wyth vnspekable Joye the whiche they behelde the thirde day befor wyth souerayne sorowe And thenÌ„e our lord Jhesus sayd to hem Gooth and sayth to my bretherne that they goo in to galile for ther sothly they shal see me as I told hem before Loo how the maister of mekenes callyth his discyples brethern He lefte neuer this vertue the whiche he soue raynly louyth And who soo wol haue swete vnderstondyng ghostly comfort in the forsaid processe and also in that foloweth herafter hym behouyth to make hymselfe by deuoute medytacoÌ„n as he were bodily present in all places and dedes as I sayd here before ¶ How that our lorde apered to Joseph of armathie as tellith the gospel of nichodeme also to the lasse James as sainte Jerom witnessith I passe ouer for lityll fruyt of hem How our lorde JhuÌ„s apered to peter Luce. xxviii Caplm liiii WHan maudleyne her felowes were come home tolden the discyples that oure lorde was vprysen Peter that was moost feruent in loue inwardly sorowyng that he saw not his lorde and not mowynge reste for his grete loue toke his waye alone towarde the sepulture For he wyst not where to seke hym elles And soone after our benygne lorde JhuÌ„s hauynge coÌ„passion of his sorowe appered to hym in yâ— waye and greted hym sayeng Pees to the symonde And therwith peter smytynge hym sadly on the breste And fallynge doune to the grounde wyth sore wepynge teeres sayd Lorde I knoulege my grete trespace in that I cowardly forsoke the and ofte tymes denyed the And therwyth he kyssed his fete And oure lorde benygnely lyftyng hym vp kyssed hym and sayd Be in pees drede not â–ª for al thy synÌ„es ben foryeuen the I knew thyne Infyrmyte better than thyself and therfore I tolde the before But now goo comforte and stable thy bretherne And byleue sadly that I haue ouercome al your enmyes and soo they stooden and speken homely togyder And Peter full besily beholdeth hym and takyth hede of all thynges and after his blessyng taken he went home ayen wyth grete Joy tellyng oure lady the discyples what he had seen and herde ¶ Ot this processe of thapperynge to peter is not expressed in the gospel but thê° by deuout ymagynacoÌ„n I haue set it her before other aperynges that folowen For so it semyth that holy chirche holde as it is conteyned more plainly in the legende of the Resurreccyon ¶ Of the comynge ayen of our lord JhuÌ„s to the faders and of her Joyefull songe Caplm lv OUr lorde JhuÌ„s after he departed fro peter â–ª willynge visâ—te and comfort after his ResurreccoÌ„n the faders of the olde lawe and other â–ª the whiche he had anone after his dethe delyuerde out of the deuylles thraldom and sett in paradise of delyces he came to hem all gloryoê° in whyte shinyng clothes wyth a grete multytude of angels And they seeng hym aâ—erâ— comyng wyth so grete blysse with vnspeakable louyng Joy wyth songe of myrth they receyued hym â–ª sayenge â–ª Lo our kinge of blysse comyth to vs and mete we wyth our sauyoure For now the holy daye shyneth vpon vs. and therforÌ„ comâ—â— all honoure we as worthy is our lorde And thenÌ„e alle they fallyng doune to the erthe deuoutly honoured hym after rysynge vp stondinge before hym reuerently merely songe the psalmes of dauid that specyally perteynen to his louyng in this tyme And whan it drewe somwhat towarde euenty de our lorde JhuÌ„s sayd to hem I haue compassyon of my bretherne the whiche ben wonder sory for my dethe And for drede ben disparpled as shepe that arne wythoute gouernoure And sore they desyren to see me wherfore now I woll goo â–ª And shewe me to theim and comforte theym And soone after I shall come agayne to you And they all fallynge downe honouryng hym sayden lorde so be it at your wyll hou our lord apered to yâ— ii disciples going to warde yâ— castel of Emaus ca lvi THe selfe daye of resurreccoÌ„n as ii dysciples of JhuÌ„ yeden towarde the castel Emaus mornyng and in maner of despayr talkinge togyder by the waye of that befell the fridaye before oure lord JhuÌ„s came in manere of a pilgrim felishiped with heÌ„ askyng hem questions and ansueryng tellin hem swete wordes of edifycacoÌ„n as the processe of the gospel of luke tellyth playnly at the last byden drawen coÌ„strained to entre to duelle wyth hem shewed hym to hem and was knowen in the brede brekyng Here may we vnderstonde see the grete goodnes the benygnyte of oure lorde JhuÌ„ in many maners Fyrste he shewed his godenes in
yâ— his feruent loue wold not suffre his beloued discyples longe erre and be sory Sothly he is a true frende a comfortable felawe a benygne lorde For loo he Joyneth feloweth hym to hem homely He askyth the cause of her sorow heuynesse goodly and he expowneth the scriptures to hem wysely and enflaÌ„meth her hertes ghostly consumynge all the rust of mysbileue Thus he dooth wyth vs all daye ghostly For what tyme we ben in ony perplexite ouerlayed wyth heuynes or slouth and we speke comyn togyder of JhuÌ„ anone he comyth to vs coÌ„fortyng vs lightnyng our hertes qmÌ„dulâ—i a facibê° IgnituÌ„ and enflaÌ„myng to the loue of hym For the best medicyn agaynst suche ghostly sykenesse is for to speke of god as the prophete dauyd sayth Lorde how swete ben thy speches and thi wordes to my chekes ye passing hony to my mouth And in a nother place thy speche is gretly enflammed as fyre thorugh werchinge of the holy ghost and I thy seruauÌ„te loued it Also to thynke on god the grete goodnesse of JhuÌ„ â–ª helpyth moche in temptacoÌ„n dysease as the self prophete sayth My herte verily heted wyth the fyre of crystis loue and in meditacoÌ„n of Jhesu shall brenÌ„e fyre of perfyte loue Also we may see here the goodnesse of our lord JhuÌ„ not oonly in loue as it is sayd but also in his profounde mekenesse As yf we take hede how lowely and mekely he gooth wyth hem that is to saye the hyghe lorde of lordes wyth his symple seruauÌ„tes as one of hem kepinge now the mekenesse in his body glorifyed that he shewed before in his body dedely And yeuynge vs ensample to folowe hym in that vertue yet also here we maye vnderstonde the mekenes of our lorde JhuÌ„ in that he made him self so homely wyth those ii symple discyples the whiche were of lower degree thanne the apostles But this done not proude men for they woll not gladly goo speke and be conuersauÌ„te but wyth hem that ben of grete fame of hyghe astate towarde the world And yet ferdermore here is shewed his mekenesse in the thyrde poynt ayenst pronde men For as we maye see they woll not gladly shewe her wysdome her curious wordes amonge fewe folke But our souerayne master of all wysdom hath none dysdayn of few for be shewyth his pryue wysdome highe mysteryes not oonly to two as now as this tyme â–ª but also to one as he dyde before wyth the woman Samarytane More ouer we maye consyder the grete godenes of our lorde JhuÌ„ in all the processe of the gospel for sayd that is to saye how he enformeth his disciples in maneres Also fedeth comforteth And specyally how he feynyth hym to goo ferder vnto that ende for to kyndle and encreace her desyre and affeccoÌ„n to hym and to be more feruently bydden and witholden of hem And ferdermore how beningnely he entreth and goth in with hem after takith brede blessith it and wyth his holy hondes brekyth and yeuyth it to hem thenÌ„e shewyth hymself to hem Thus he dooth wyth vs euery day ghostly for he wolde be bydde of vs to dwell wyth vs and drawen wyth feruent desires deuoute prayers holy me dytacoÌ„ns And therforÌ„ as he hath taught vs. it behouyth euer to praye not fayle but that we take in mynde the werkes of pyte hospitalyte And how it suffyceth not to rede or here the wordes the biddynges of god but they ben performed in dede as we may here of more playnly be enformed in the omely of saynt gregory vpon this gospell At last our lorde IhuÌ„s willynge also to wisyte comforte other dwelled not longe wyth thise discyples But assone as he had broken yeuen hem the brede he vanysshed awaye fro her eyen ¶ How our lorde IhuÌ„s appered to his apostles discyples that were reclused for drede on the self daye of his resurreccoÌ„n Caplm lvii WHan the two forsaid dyscyples were thus comforted as it is sayde by the presence of oure lorde Anone for Joye they tourned agayne to Jherusalem And camen to the Appostles and other discyples there pryuely gadred But thomas absent And told hem the forsaid processe and herden agayn warde of theymthat soothly our lorde is rysen and hath appered to peter And there wyth sodeynly oure lorde Jhesus entryn ge into hem and the yates closed stode in middes of hem and sayd Pees to you And anone they fallynge doune to the erth cetera Lrnowlegynge her gylte in that yâ— they had soo lefte hym and forsaken Receyueden hym wyth grete Joye And thenne sayd he to hem Ryseth vp bretherne and be of goode coÌ„forte For al your synÌ„es ben foryeue you And soo stondeth ThuÌ„s amonge his discyples spekyng homely wyth hem and shewynge hem booth his honde his syde And openyth her wyttes to vnderstondynge cleerly holy scryptures and for to knowe sothfastly his resurreccoÌ„n He asketh whether they haue oughte that is to be eten And he etith homely before hem a part of a rosted fysshe of a hony combe to preue his very body present rysen After he bretheth on hem and yeuith hâ— the holy ghost Loo yf we take Juwardly hede all thise forsaâ—de thynges ben full swete full of ghostly lykynge â–ª For they thenne were the disciples Joyefull in the syghte of our lorde the whiche were before dredfull heuy Lorde god how gladly they yeuen hym that he askyth how truely they serued â— mynystred hym and how merily they stoden aboute hym â–ª But herwyth beholde we our lady his blessed moder that was there present in that tyme For to her were the discyples gadâ—ed How she takyth hede to al those thynges done of her swete sone wyth vnspekable Joye sittynge by hym homly and seruinge hym full gladly And our lorde takyth gladly her seruyce worshippeth her therwyth before the discyples â–ª And yet morouer foryete we not here mary maudleyne the byloued discyplesse of thapostles apostlesse â–ª how she after her olde manere sittyth at the fete of her mayster â–ª and besily hereth his wordes in all that she may gladly and with gode wyll minystreth O lorde JhuÌ„ how worthy is that lityll hous and how likyng gracyous it is to dwell therin Sothly who soo hath ony deuocoÌ„n and ghostly taast he maye see fele that here is now a grete paske But oure lorde Jhesus stoode but a lityll whyle Inwarde Joye of crystes ResurreccoÌ„n â–ª that is sothfastnesse en sample erneste of our ResurreccoÌ„n to come whan we shall ryse in body soule to lyfe euerlastynge And thê° moche be sayd at this tyme to wchynge this holy paske daye ¶ How our lorde ThuÌ„s apered the viii daye after to his discyples Thomas present Johis ii viii Eaplm lviii WHan the viii daye of his Resurreccyon was come Our lorde ThuÌ„s appered eft to his dyscyples in the forsayde place and the yates
of heuenly thinges by lykenes of erthly thynges how he wyth all that forsayd worthy blysful multytude of holy soules openynge heuen yates that were beforÌ„ that tyme spered ayenst mankynde as a worthy conquerour Joyefully entred and gladly before the forsayd fader Fader I thaÌ„ke the that thou hast yeuen me the vycto ry of all oure enmyes and aduersaryes And loo fader here I present to the our frendes that were holden in thraldome And for asmoche as I haue behight to my brethern discyples the whyche I haue left in the worlde to sende to hem the holy ghost I praye the fader fulfyll my byhest and I recoÌ„mende hem also to the ThenÌ„e the fader takynge hym vp made him sytte on his right honde and said My blessed sone al power dome I haue yeuen to the. and therforÌ„ of that thou askedest dyspose and doo as the lyketh After that all the holy faders blessed spirytes the whiche had in worshping of the holy trynyte fall doune lowely wyth all reuerence risynge vp began agayn to synge her songes of myrthe and vnspekable Jore before the trone of god For sithen moyses the chyldern of Israhel songen in thankyng louynge of god whan they were passed the reed see and her enmyes therin drowned And also the selfe tyme mary aarons syster with other wymÌ„en her folowing in tym panes and other melodye dauÌ„sen songen to goddis louyng Also dauyd wyth his peple ledynge the arke of god in to Jherusalem â–ª harped daunsed for Joye before the arke and chauÌ„ters songen and in other dyuers myntralsye they honoured worshipped god And also saynt Johan sayth in the apocalip se that he herde a voys in heuen of an huÌ„dred fourty and four thousande harpes harpyng and syngynge a newe songe bifore the throne and the seet of the very lambe Jhesu Moche more we resonably trowe that now in this Joyefule tyme whan JhuÌ„s wyth his company passed all sorowe and al his aduersaryes were so gracyously ouercome And he that was tokened by the arke JhuÌ„s was soo gracyously come in to the cyte of heuenly Jherusalem All that blessed felyship of spirytes and soules wythoute nomber songen and maden Joye myrthe that noo tonge maye telle ne herte thynke Soothly now in that blessed cytee of heuenly Jherusalem is songeu herde that souerayn songe of Joye after the prophecy of thobie by all the stretes therof is songen Alleluya that is as moche NoÌ„ excel lenciaÌ„ festi asceÌ„ci oiÌ„s suâ— a lia festa to saye as louynge be to our lorde Neuer from the begynÌ„yng was there soo soleÌ„pne soo Joyefull a feest ne neuer peraueÌ„ sure shall be But at the laste after the daye of dome whaÌ„ all the chosen soules shall be preseÌ„ted there wyth her bodies gloryfyed And therfore as I sayd at begynÌ„ynge of this chapyter This soleÌ„pnyte all thynges considred passeth all other Take Incarnacio hede of eche of hem and see whether it be soo that I saye Fyrste the Incarnacyon of our lorde JhuÌ„ is a solempne feest worthy For that was the begynÌ„ynge of all our good oure Natiuitas sauacoÌ„n But that was our Joye and not his for he was closed thenÌ„e in his moders wombe Also the natyuyte is a soleÌ„pne and hyghe feest and worthy myrthe to be made therin but that is also as on our syde For as on his syde we owen to haue compassoÌ„n of hym that was for vs borne in soo grete pouertee Hardenesse of weder and other abieccoÌ„n Also as to vs Passio his passion is a grete feest thrugh the whiche we ben broughte oute of the feudes thraldome And all oure synnes ben for yeue and done away And as saynt gregory saith It had not auaylled vs to be borne but it had also profyted vs for to be boughte Neuertheles for the grete tormentes of hym and that hardest and moost despytous dethe that he suffred for our Redempcyon Resurreccio and byenge there was noo matere of Joye but rather of sorowe bothe to hym in that paynfull suffrynge and to vs for our synfull deseruynge Ferdermore yet the resurreccoÌ„n of our lorde Jhesu is a gloryous solempne and a Joyful feest bothe for hym and for vs for thenne was his body gloryfied and all payne sorow passed and we iustyfied haue an ernest and ensample wythout doubte of our laste vprysynge in body soule And therfore of this worshipfull Joyful Hec eÌ„ dies quaÌ„ fecit dnÌ„s daye specyall syngeth holy chirche by the wordes of the prophete dauyd This is the day of our lorde made be we mery therin gladde And as augustyn sayth in a sermon This day is holyest of all other but that maye be vnderstonde of all other before that day For this of the ascencoÌ„n by reason is gretter holyer â–ª and that touchynge thre partyes That is to say our lorde hymself the blessed spirytes in heuen mankynde in erthe For as to the fyrste though our lorde had thenÌ„e gloryously in body soule vprysen fro dethe to lyf euerlastyng neuertheles he was bodily yet as a pilgryme in erthe fro his owne kynde herytage reame Also as to the seconde yet saye not yâ— angels her felishyp encreased by season takynge of mankynde wyth hem in blysse And as aneÌ„st the thyrde yet was closed shytte the yate of heuenly paradyse and yet were not the holy faders soules presented to the fader of heuen the whiche all thre were coÌ„plete and fulfylled in his holy ascencoÌ„n And yf we take good hede we maye see that all that god wroughte dyde he dyde for to come to this ende And wythout this all his werkes had ben as Inperfite For lo heuen erthe and all that is made in hem is made for man And man for to haue the blysse of heuen And therto myghte noo man come after â—â—opâ—â—â— he had synned in to this daye were he neuer soo gode and rightwys And soo we maye see how worthy this holy daye is yet more ouer this feest of penthcoste is hyghe holy â–ª And worthily holy chirche makyth it solempne For thenne was yeuen therto that hyghe worthiest yefte that is the holy ghost AscencoÌ„ But this is to vs and not to hym But this ascencyon daye is properly the moost solempne feest of oure lorde Jhesu For FmÌ„ JhuÌ„ this daye fyrste in his manhede he beganne to sytte on the taders ryght honde in blysse And toke ful reste of his pylgrymage before All this is properly the feest of all the blessed spyrytes AscencoÌ„ in heuen For this daye they had a newe Joye of her lorde whom they sawe neuer before there in his manhede â–ª And also AscencoÌ„ FmÌ„ angelo for this daye beganne fyrste to be restored the fallyng downe of her felowes And that in soo greate a multytude and nombre of blessyd soules of patryarkes
and prophetes â–ª And all the holy soules that this daye entred fyrst in to that blessid cyte of heuenly Jhrlm her kynde herytage aboue wherfore sy then we maken soleÌ„pne the feest of one saynt that is passyd out of this world to heuen Moche more we owen to doo of soo many thousandes and yet passingly of hym that is saint Ascencio FmÌ„ dnÌ„e of all sayntes Also this is specialli the fest of our lady for as moche as this daye she sawe her blessed sone JhuÌ„ very god man soo gloryously crowned as kynge steye vp to heuen ¶ yet this daye is properly our feest For this daye was first our kynde exalted lyft vp oboue the heueÌ„s And also for but yf cryst had so styen vp yâ— worthy yeft of the holy ghost wherof we make soleÌ„pnyte we myghte not haue receyued to hys disciples â—t is spedful to you that I goo vp to the fader for but yf I goo fro you the holy ghost comforter shall not comÌ„ to you â–ª And therfore saith saynt bernarde in a sermon of this feest of thascencoÌ„n in the coÌ„fermacoÌ„n of my forsayd sentence that this gloryous feest of thascencion of our lorde JhuÌ„ is an ende a fulfillyng of all other solempnytees festes and blessed conclusion of all the Journeye of our lorde JhuÌ„ his manhede ¶ Thus maye we openly see that this daye this feest is moche hygh solempne of all other and that soule that loued truely our lorde JhuÌ„ shold this day be more rauysshed to heuen and more ghostly Joye haue in herte than in ony daye of the yere For thus sayd our lorde JhuÌ„s to his discyples yf ye loued me soothly ye sholde be gladde Joyefull for that I goo to the fader â–ª wherforÌ„ I leue that I sayd truly before that was in heuen neuer a daye soo Joyefull and so solempne as this daye And soo this daye and this solempnyte lasted in to the daye of penthecoste wherof we maye deuoutly ymagyne and haue medytacoÌ„n in this maner The ascencoÌ„n of our lorde was at the serte hour For before he ete wyth his discyples at tyerce ThenÌ„e may we thê° ymagyne yâ— those x-dayes fro yâ— hour that he ascended into the hour of the holy ghost sending the ix â–ª orders of angels wyth the holy faders and soules that he toke vp wyth hym made him x. festes he ayen warde reward ded hem specyally in some synguler comfort euery daye and soo though all that were thenÌ„e in heueÌ„ generally were of his ascencoÌ„n Joyefull and made soo mery a feest that noo tonge can telle Neuertheles the fyrst daye fro the hour of his ascencoÌ„n in to the sexte of the next daye folowynge angels maden her feest Te seconde day in the self maner maden her feest ar chaÌ„gels the thirde day virtutes the fourth daye potestates the fyfth day pryncipatus the sexte day domynacoÌ„nes the seueÌ„th day thrones the eyght daye cherubyn the ninthe day seraphin And soo thise nyne orders of angels coÌ„tynued her festes in to the sexte hour of the vigyll of penthcost And fro thens in to tyerce of the daye folowyng â–ª that is the sondaye of penthcost the holy faders wyth her felyshyp made her feest to JhuÌ„s blessed be he wythout ende Amen ¶ Of the sendyng doune of the holy ghost Caplm lxiii AFter that oure Lorde Jhesus was goone vppÌ„ to his blysse And the angels had bydden the dyscyples to tourne agayn in to the cyte as it was sayde next before they wyth his blessed moder worshippinge him kissyng deuoutely the steppes of his fete wherÌ„ he last towched the erthe as the gospell of Luke tellyth they wente agayn in to Jherusalem with grete Joye there they abyden the comynge of yâ— holy ghost contynuelly in deuout prayers louynge god and blessinge our lorde And whan the tenth daye was come fro his AscencoÌ„n thenÌ„e was the fyfthy daye of his resurreccoÌ„n our lord JhuÌ„s Joynynge the fygure of tholde testament with the new For asmoche as the tyme of grace was in that daye come he sayd to the fader thus My fader hauith now in mynde the byhest that I made to my brethern of the holy ghost And the fader ansuerd My dere sone I am wel apaid of that byhest and now it is tyme that it be fulfilled And morouer he sayd to yâ— holy ghost we pray the that thou goo doune to our discyples And that thou fylle hem of thy grace comforte hem strength hem teche hem and yeue hem habuÌ„daunce of vertues Joye And anone the holy ghost came doune wyth a wonderfull noyse N in brenÌ„ynge tonges vpon an huÌ„dred twenty discyples gadred that tyme togider and fyllid hem wyth all Joye vertues grace â–ª By vertue wherof the discypled strengthed taughte lyghted and enflaÌ„med yeden after by all parties of the world and made it subget to hem in grete partye This is a worthi feest and amonge other a swete louely feest For this is the feest of hym that is loue properly as saynt Gregory sayth that the holy ghost is loue wherfore he that loueth god sholde in this feest specially be enflaÌ„med with loue or at the leest with a brennynge desire to loue But this woll not be with flesshly or wordly loue medled as saynt bernard saith in a sermon bernarde of the ascencoÌ„n in this maner sentence He erryth gretly who soo he is that weneth for to medle togyder that heuenly Joye wyth thise bytter asshes of flesshly likynge Or that swete ghostly baume wyth this venym or those gracious yeftes of the holy ghost wyth thise lynkynge lustes And noo wonder For as the self bernarde sayth Thapostles for the tyme that they hadden his bodily presence wyth hem â–ª for the loue that they hadden to his body though it was holy good yet for that tyme they were vnable to receyue perfytly yâ— holy ghost as he sayd hymself But yf I goo fro you the holy ghost shall not Nisiego abiero come to you Moche more thenÌ„e he that is knytte wyth loue to rotten mucke or to a stynkyng carrayn is in al maner vnable to that clenÌ„est swetest loue of the holy ghost For there is none accorde knyttynge togyder of sothfastnes vanyte of lighte and derkenes of the spiryte and the flesshe of fyre colde water But thou perauenture that felest not the swetnesse comforte of that ghostly likynge and loue sayst to me wyth out comforte of loue likynge I maye not be â–ª what shall I not doo thenÌ„e whyle I fele not that ghostly loue Saynt bernarde ansuereth thus sayth to the Forsake fyrst fully truly all vayne worldes comforte and all flesshly loue lykynge abyde awhyle in deuoute prayers as the appostles dyden abydynge the holy ghost wherof they knewe noo certayne tyme And thou shalt fele wythin shorte tyme. that he shall come comforte the better than thou cowdest before knowe or thinke and in
that there maye noo true angel teche the contrary of the bileue of holy chirche And therforÌ„ he that soo dooth is an angell of sathanas and not of god As ben all the fals lollardes the whiche haue neyther true drede nor perfyte loue of oure lord JhuÌ„ And therfore they fele not the ghostly swetnes of this heuenly mete of his precyous body ne the likynge mynde of his merueylles shewed in that blessed sacramente â–ª But we that thorugh grace stonden in true byleue as holy chyrche hath taught vs in this souerayne holyest sacrament wyth goostly lykynge of sowle Haue we not oonly in mynde the grete merueylles and myghty myracles wryten and preched of that holy Sacrament in dyuerse maners shewed as it is beforsayd But also consider we how that our lorde JhuÌ„s of his vnspeable goodnes shewed to mankynde he yeueth hym self to vs euery daye bodily in that precious sacrament as in a conclusion and moost specyall mynde of all his blessed lyf to souerayne comforte helpe of our wretchid lyfe the whyche is full of temptacoÌ„ns and ouersette wyth many enmyes Wherfore it is spedfull to vs contynuelly to crye after helpe of the sonerayne vertue of this blessed sacrament by the wordes that holy chyrche syngeth in the ympne of this sacrament thus O thou helful oost that openest the door of heueÌ„ the bataylles of our enmyes oppressen ouerseten vs wherfore yeue vs strengthe of wythstondynge and brynge vs thy helpe to her ouercomyng Also to wythstondynge of temptacoÌ„ns and ouercomyng of vices to getynge of vertues and encreace of feruent affeccoÌ„ns of our lorde JhuÌ„ as for a full ende of all his blessed lyfe before wryten ¶ Enprynted by wynkin the worth ¶ Here folowyth a shorte deuoute prayer to JhuÌ„ cryst his body in the sacrament of the aulter the whiche oweth to be sayd in presence of that holy sacrament at the masse with inwarde deuocoÌ„n HEyle holyest body of our lorde Jhesu cryste that art now soothfastly conteyned here in this moost excellent sacrament I knowlege the my lorde god wyth my mouth I loue the wyth all my herte and I desyre the wyth all the Inwarde affeccyon of my soule I beseche the swete JhuÌ„ that thou vochesauf of thy souerayne goodnes this daye soo benygnely gracyously to vysite my sike soule desiryng to receyue the goostly our heelfull sacrifyce well of all grace soo that I may wyth gladnesse fynde medecyne heele in body soule by vertue of thy blessed presence Beholde not lorde JhuÌ„ to my wickydnesse manyfolde neclygences and my grete vnkyndnes but rather to thy souerayne mercy endles godenes Sothly thou arte that holy lambe wythout weÌ„me of synÌ„e that this day is offred to the euerlastinge fader of heuen for the redempcoÌ„n of al the worlde O thou swettest manÌ„a angels mete â–ª O thou moost likynge ghostly drynke brynge in to my Inwarde mouth that hony swete taast of thy helfull presence Byadie in me the feruour of thy charyte Quenche in me all maner vyces Shede in to me the plentee of vertues Encreace in me the yeftes of graces And yeue me heele of body soule to thy plesynge My god I biseche the that thou wolt soo gracyously bowe the and fro thy hye heuen now come doune to me yâ— I knytted Joyned to the be made one spiryte wyth the O yâ— worshypfull sacrament I byseche the that al myn enmyes be put awaye fro me by the strengthe of the and all my synnes foryeue and all wyckidnes be excluded by the blessid presence of the Good purpose lorde yeue thou me My maners thou correcte amende And al my werkes dedes thou dispose in thy wyll My wytte vnderstondyng by the swete JhuÌ„ be made here clere wyth a newe lyghte of grace Myne affeccoÌ„n be enflaÌ„med wyth the fyre of thy loue and myne hope coÌ„forted strengthed wyth this blessid sacrament soo that my lyf here profyte euer in amendynge to better And at last fro this wretchid worlde wyth a blessed departyng that I maye come wyth the to lyf euerlastyng JhuÌ„ lorde by vertue grace of thy lyfe blessed wythout endynge Amen amen Amen ¶ JhuÌ„ lorde thy blessid lyfe helpe comforte our wretchid lyfe AMEN ¶ Explicit Speclm vite xpÌ„i cuÌ„ â–ª â—tiliâ—â—ime tractatu breue de sacramento corporis xpÌ„i oracoÌ„ne eidâ—â—â— sacramenti ImpressuÌ„ westmonasterii Anno dnÌ„i M. Câ—â—â— â–ª â—xxxxiiii
be vnderstonde that of the blessyd lyf of oure lord Jhesu criste wryten in the Gospel she chace certeyne partyes moost deuoute in the whiche she sette her meditacoÌ„n and hyr thought nyghte day with a clene and holy herte And whan she hadde so fully all the maner of his lif ouergone she byganne ageyn And soo wyth a lykynge and swete taste ghoostly shewyng in that maner the gospel of crist she sette and bare it euer in the pryuete of hyr breste In the same maner I counceyll that thou doo For amonge alle ghoostly exercyses I leue that this is moost necesary and moost proffytable and that may Nota tri◠〈…〉 de â—i 〈◊〉 〈…〉 brynge the to the hyhest degre of good lyuynge that stant specially in parfyghte despysynge of the world in pacience suffrynge of Aduersytees and in encrees and getyng of vertues For sothely thou shalt neuer fynde where man may soo parfyghtely be taughte fyrste for to stable his herte ageynste vanitees deceyuable lykynges of the world also to strengthe hym among tribulacions and aduersytees and ferthermore to be kepte tro vyces and to getyng or vertues as in the blessyd lyf of our lord Jesu cryst the whyche was euer wythoute defaulte mooste parfyghte Fyrste I saye that besy medytacyon Primum and custommable of the blessyd lyf of Jhesu stableth the soule and the herte ageynste vanytees and deceyuable lykynges of the worlde thys is shewed openly in the blessyd vyrgyne Exampluz de â—â—aâ—a cecilia Cecylle before named whenÌ„e she fylled so fully her herte of the lyf of cryst that vanytees of the world myghten not entre in to her For in alle the grete pompe of weddyng where so many vanytees ben vsed whan the Organs blewen and songen she sette her herte stably in God sayenge prayenge Lord be my herte and my body clene and not defyled Secundum soo that I be not confounded Also as to the Secound wherof haue martirs her strenght ageynst dyuerse Bernard de martirâ—bus tormentys But as saynt Bernard sayth in that they setten all her herte deuocyon in the passyon the wouÌ„des of criste For what tyme the martyr stant wyth all the body to rente And neuertheles he his gladde and Joyful in all hys payne where trowest is than his sowle and his herte sothely in the woundes of Jhesu ye the woundes not closed but open and wyde to entre in ellis he sholde fele the harde payne not mowe bere the payne and the sorowe but sone faylle and denye god And not only martirs but also confessours vyrgynes and all that lyuen ryghwysely despysynge the worlde in many trybulacyons Infyrmytees and dedes of penaunce both kepyng pacyeÌ„ce And also more ouer therwyth ben ioyeful and gladde in soule as we mowen sene alway and why so but for her hertes ben more proprely in crystes body by deuoute medytacoÌ„ns of hys blessyd lyf than in her owne bodyes And as to the. thyrdde poynte that it kepeth fro vyces Tercium dysposeth souereynly to geting of vertues preuethe wel in that perfeccion of all vertues is founde in cristes lyf For where shalt thou fynde so open ensample and doctrin of souerayne charyte of parfyte pouerte of profunde meknes of pacience and other vertues as in the blessyd lyf of Jhesu cryste Herfore sayth saynt Bernard that he trauayleth in Bernard super canâ—er xxâ— â–ª vaine aboute the getynge of vertues who so hopeth to fynde hem ou where but in the lord of vertues whoo 's lyf is the Myroure of TemperauÌ„ce and all other vertues Loo here grete comforte and ghoostly prouffyte in deuoute coÌ„templacyon of crystes blessyd body wherfore thou that coueytest to fele truly the fruyte of thys booke thou muste wyth alle thy thoughte all thyn entente in that manere make the in thy soule presente to tho thynges that ben here wreten sayde or done of oure lorde Jhesu And that besely lykyngly and abydyngly as though thou herdest hym wyth thy bodyly ere 's or N see them wyth thyn eyen doun puttynge awaye for the tyme and leuyg al other occupacyons and besynesses And though it so be that the begynnyng of the mater of thys booke that is the blessyd lyf of Jhesu Cryst be at hys Incarnacyon Neuertheles we mowen fyrst deuontly ymagyne and thynge soÌ„me thynges done before touchyng god and hys aungellys in heuen and also as anentes the blessyd vyrgyne our lady sainte marie in erthe of the whyche is to begynne ¶ And for as moche as thys booke is deuyded departed in seuen partyes after seuen dayes of the weke euery daye one partye or somme therof to be hadde in coÌ„templacyon of hem that hauen therto desyre and deuocoÌ„n Therfore at the mone daye as the fyrste weke daye of the weke begynneth thys ghoostly werke tellynge fyrste of the deuoute instaunce and desyre of holy aungellis in heuen for man restorynge and hys saluacyon to styre man amoÌ„ge other that daye specyally to worshyppe hem as holy Chyrche the same daye maketh specyally mynde of hem ¶ Also not onely the mater of thys booke is pertynent and prouffytable to be hadde in contemplacion the forsayd day is to them that wyll and mowe but also it longeth to the tymes of the yere as in aduent to rede deuoutly haue in mynde fro the begynnynge vnto the Natiuyte of oure lord Jhesus And therof after in that holy feste of Crystmasse and so forth of other maters as holy chirche maketh mynde of hem in tyme of the yere and amonge other who so redeth or hereth thys book felynge ony ghostly swetnesse or grace there thurgh praye he for charyte specyally for the auctour and the drawer out therof as it is wreton here in Englisshe to the prouffyte of symple and deuoute soules as it was sayd before and thus endeth the. prohemye and after foloweth the contemplacyon for mondaye in the fyrste party And the fyrst chapytre ¶ Die lune ¶ Incipit Prima pars ¶ A deuoute meditacyon of the grete counseylle in heuene for the restorynge of man and hys sauacion Capitulum I. Et prima pars Capitulo primo AFter the Tyme that man was exyled oute of the hyghe Cyte of heuene by the rightwys dome of almyghty god souerayne kynge therof for hys trespas and his synne and soo wretchydly lay in pryson and was holden in the bandes of that tyrauÌ„t the deuylle of helle that none myghte come ageyne to that blessyd Cyte the space of Fyue thousande yere and more All the blessyd spyrytes of heuene desyringe the restoryng of her companye that was falle doune wyth lucyfer hadden grete compsyon of soo longe meschyef of man that was made to her restorynge and prayden ofte for his restoryng But specialli and wyth more instaunce whan the tyme of grace was come what tyme as we may deuoutly ymagyne all the blessyd companye of aungels gadred to gydre wyth one wyll and souereyne
were able to doo this dede but there was none DnÌ„â— in 〈◊〉 â—o 〈◊〉 â—u◠¶ Also sothfastnes sought fro heuene to the clowdes byneth whether there were ony creature that myght perfourme hit and thei were all vnable riÈtwysnes went doun to erthe among the hyhe hylles and in to the depe pytte of helle â–ª whether ther was ony man that myght take this good and Innocente dethe but there was none fouÌ„den clene of synne noo not the child of one dares byrthe and so she went vp to hir systers tellynge that men hadde forfetid were vnable and there was no ne that myght doo that go od dede wherfore they were al ful sory heuy that they myghte not fynde that one that they desyred than sayd pees wete ye note wel that the prophete Nâ—◠〈◊〉 qui 〈…〉 bonum 〈◊〉 â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—d â—num 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 saluâ—â—â—â— domic that sayd there is none founden â–ª that may doo good Afterward he put to more sayth tyl it come to one this one man may be he that yaf the sentence forsaid of mannes sauacoÌ„n wherfore pray we hym that he wyl helpe fulfylle it in dede for to him speketh the ê“phete in the psalme forsaid sayeÌ„g lord thou shalt saue man bestes after thy grete mercy but than was a question amonge the systers commytted to reison for Ca â–ª i â–ª to termyne whiche perione of thre yâ— fader sone holy ghost one god shold become man and doo this mercyfull dede than sayd reson that for as mykel as the persone of yâ— fader is propirly Râ—cio In caâ—nacio niâ—â—ilâ—i dei dredeful and myghty the persone of the sone all wyse wytty And the persone of the holy ghost most benigne godely the second persone seineth most couenyent as to the ful accorde of the forsayd systers to the skilful remedy of man to the most resonable vyctory of the enmy for as touchyng the first yf the persone of the rader shold doo this dede for his drede myght mercy pees myght somwhat haue him suspecte as not fully fauourable to hem and so on yâ— other syde for yâ— souerayne beiÌ„gnite goodnes of the holy ghost trouth ryÈt wysnesse myght drede of not ful satisfaccion but to mykel mercy wherfore as a good mene euen to bothe partyes the persone of the sone is moost coÌ„uenyent to performe thys dede thorugh his souerayne wytte wysdome ¶ Also it semeth moost skylfull remedy to man for as moche as he forfend by vnwytte foly that satisfaccion be made for hym by soth fast wysdome that is the sone soo that as he felle to deth by the fals worde of the fende that he ryse ageyne to lyf by the trewe word of god And as for most resonable vyctory of the enmy it is skylful yâ— as he coÌ„qnerd man by wycked sleyÈt fals wysdome so he be ouercome vaynquysshed by good sleyÈte trew wysdom whan reson had sayd this verditeur the fader said it was his wille that it shold be so the sone ya Mia et veri â—aâ— obuia ueruÌ„t sibi insciciam et Pax fe his asseÌ„t therto the holy ghost said he wold wyrche ther to also than felleÌ„ doun al the spirites of heuen soueraynly thankyd the holy Trinyte the foure sisters forseid weren kyssed made accorde so was fylfylled that the ê“phete dauid seid Mercy sothfastnes metten louely to gyder riÈtwysnesse pees hauen kyssed thus was termined ended the grete couÌ„ceyl in heuen for the restorynge of man and his sauacion the whiche processe shal be taken as in lykenes and only as a maner of parable deuoute ymagynacyon styringe man to loue god soueraynly for his grete mercy to man his endles goodnes Also to honoure and worship the blessid aungels of heuene for her good wylle to man and for his sauacion hauinge contynuel besynesse and also to loue vertues and hate Ca. â—â— synne that broughte man to soo grete wretchydnes And thus mykel and this maner maye be sayd and thoughte by deuoute contemplacion of that was done aboue in heuene before â—â—â— the Incarnacion of Jhesu now goo we doun to erthe thynke we how it stood with his blessid moder Marye and what was hyr lyuyng here before the Incarnacion on Jhesu that foloweth after Of the maner of lyuynge of the blessid vyrgyne Mary Capitulum secundum AS it is wryten in the lyf of oure lady seint Mary wheÌ„ne she was thre yere olde she was offrid in the Temple of fader and moder ther she abode and dwellyd in to the xiiii yere And what she dyde And how she lyued there in that tyme. we may knowe by the rouelacions made of hyr to a deuout woman whiche men troweÌ„ was seint Elizabeth in yâ— whiche reuelacions is coÌ„teyned amonge other that our lady told to the same woman and sayd in thys maner when my fader and my moder leften me in the temple I purposed and Nota propo 〈…〉 sette stably in my herte to haue god in to my tader and ofte sythes wyth grete denocion I thoughte â–ª what I myght do plesynge to God so that he wolde vouchesauf to sende me his grace And herewith I was taught and lernyd the lawe of my lord God In the whiche lawe of all the hestes and dyddynges â–ª pryncypally I kepte thre in my hert ¶ The fyrste is 〈…〉 thou shalt loue thy lord god with all thy herte wyth all thy soule wyth alle thy mynde and wyth alle thy myghtes The second thou shalt loue thy neyghbour as thy felf And Ca. iii. the thyrdde is thou shalt hate thyne enemy these I kepte trewely in herte and anone I concyued and toke al the vertues that ben conteyned in hem For there may no soule haue vertue but it loue god with all the herte for of thys loue cometh Nota odiuÌ„ inimicoru â–ª all plente of grace And after hit is comen it abydeth not in the soule but it renneth oute as water but hit so be that he hate his enemyes that is to saye vyces and synnes wherfore he that wylle haue grace kepe hit hit behoueth that he dispose and ordeyne his herte to loue and to hate as it is said And so Nota orâ— cionem Marie I wylle that thou doo in maner as I dyd I rose vp algate at mydnyghte wente forth before the Aulter of the. Temple there wyth al 's grete desyre wyl affeccion as I coude and myghte I asked grace of almyghty god to kepe tho thre hestes and all other byddynges of the lawe And so standynge Nota septeÌ„ peticioneâ— Marie before the Aulter I made seuen peticions to god the which ben these Fyrste I asked grace of god thorugh the whiche I myÈt fulfylle the heste of loue that is to saye for to loue him with al my herte The second I asked that
withoute sorow or peyne thy sone Jhesu blessyd berynge Oure lorde is and was with the by true feyth at Jhesu Joyeful vprysynge Blessyd be thou soueraynly in wymmeÌ„ by ladde hope seynge thy sone Jhesu to heuen myghtely ascendynge And blessyd by the fruyte of thy wombe Jhesus in euerlastyng blysse thorugh parfyte charyte the quene of heuen gloryously crownynge Be thou our helpe in oure nede and socoure at oure last endynge Amen Sythen than the processe of the blessyd IncarnacoÌ„n of Jhesu the begynnynge mynde of the Joyes of the blessyd moder Mary and the grounde of sauacion of mankynde is conteyned in thys Gospel Missus est as it is sayd And as thou hast herde before wyth grete deuocoÌ„n ghostly desyre owest thou and euery CrysteÌ„ creature here thys gospel and worshippe therin Jhesu that so bicame man for our sake and his blessyd moder Mary To whoo 's worshipe and profite of thy soule and myne this short tretys be wryten Amen ¶ How oure lady wente to Elyzabeth and mekely grete hyr Capitulum quartum AFter the processe of the Incarnacion of Jhesu befor sayyd the blessid Mayden mary hauyng in mynde the wordes of the AuÌ„gel touchyng hyr cosyn Elizabeth she purposed to vysyte her for to thanke god wyth hyr and also to mynystre and to serue hyr And so with hyr spouse Joseph she wente fro nazareth to hyr hous besyde Jherusalem that is the space of syxty myle fourtene or there aboute She taryed not letted not for the longe and diseasy weye but anone she wente with haste For she wolde not longe be sene in open amonge folke And so she was not heuyed nor charged by the coÌ„ceyuynge of hyr sone as comynly ben other wymmen For our 〈…〉 lord Jhesus was not chargeable to hys moder Now take hede how that blessyd lady quene of heuen and of erthe goth al one with hyr spouse and yâ— not vpon an horse but on â—oote She ledeth not with hyr many knyghtes and Barons ne yâ— grete coÌ„pany of boure maydens and damoyseles but sothly ther goth with her a wel better company and that is Pouerte Mekenes and honeste shamefastues they the plente of al vertues And the beste of al that is our lord god is wyth hyr She hath a grete and a worshypful companye but not of yâ— vanite the pompe of the world And what tyme she come and entryd in to yâ— hous of zacharye she grete hys wyf Elyzabeth in thys maner All heyle my dere syster Elyzabeth And a none here with Elyzabeth gladde and Joyful and lyghtned thorugh the holy ghoost rose vp and clypped hyr worthyly tendyrly cryenge for Joye and sayeng thus Blessyd be thou amonge wymmen and blessid be the fruyte of thy wombe And wherfore or of what deeserte is thys befallen me that yâ— moder of my lorde shold come to me et ce ¶ And so forthe in the wordes of the gospel And so what tyme that our lady blessyd Elyzabeth Johan in hys moders wombe was fulfylled with the holy ghost and also his moder nouÈte fuste the moder to fore the sone but the sone fulfylled yâ— moder thoruÈ his deserte in as mykel as in hym was more fully the grace â—â— iiii of the holy ghoost and fyrste he felte receyued grace for as he felte the comynge the presence of our lady soo he felte the comynge of oure lord And therfore he wythin forth Joyed she spake and prophecyed without forth Behold now take hede what and how mykel vertu is in the wordes of oure lady in that at one pronuÌ„cyng of hem is gyuen the holy ghost For she was so fully replenysshed with hym yâ— thoruÈ hir merytes desert yâ— same holy ghost also fylled other ThaÌ„ to the wordes of Elyzabeth Mary ansuerd sayd My soule magnyfyed oure lord my spyryte is gladde and reyoyced in god my sauyour and so forth sayenge fulfyllyng that cantycle Magnificat of ghostly Joyenge louynge that is Magnificat as hit is conteyned in the gospel ¶ And whan she had done they wenten to sytte to gyder And oure lady of hyr souerayne me kenes sette hyr doune in the lower place at Elyzabeths feete but she anone rysynge vp suffred not but took hir vp and so they sytten doune to geder And thenÌ„e asked oure lady of Elyzabeth the maner of hyr conceyuynge And she ageyne of the maner of hir coÌ„ceyuynge and soo they tolden eyther to other gladly the grete goodnes of our lord and loueden worshyppeden god of eyther concepcion and so in thankynge god ghostly myrthe they coÌ„tynueden daye nyÈtes For oure lady dwellid there the space of thre monethes seruyng Elyzabeth Nota humilitatem marie in al that she myght mekely reuereÌ„tly deuoutly as a seruauÌ„t foryetyng that she was gods moder quene of al the world O lorde what hous was that what chamber what bedde in the whiche dwelleden to gyder resteden so worthy moders with so noble sones that is to say Mary Elyzabeth Jhesus Jhon and also with hem dwellyng tho worshipful oldemeÌ„ zacharie Joseph This was a blessid company of men and Nota bene wymen of chyldren In this forsayd processe of the visitacion of our lady we haue ensaÌ„ple that it is leeful oft spedeful deuoute men and wymmen to vysite other for edyfycacion and ghostly recreacion namely the yonger to the elder so yâ— it be done in deue tyme and other leeful menes and also that the yeftes of grace may ben certyfyed to other for edyfycacion in tyme so it be not done for wayne glory but to goddes worship Also yf we take good entent to the wordes of Mary Elyzabeth al they were in louyng of hem self to worshippynge of god magnifyenge hym in al his werkes tellyng his grete mercy shewed to mankynde to styre man to yâ— loue the worshippe of god Ferthermore when the tyme of Elyzabeth was come she was lyÈtned bare hir childe y whiche B. D. 〈…〉 in token of hys grete holynes our lady lyfte vp fyrste tro the grouÌ„de after besely dyght tretyd as it longed to hym the childe ast vnderstoÌ„dyng what she was sette his eyen sadly vpoÌ„ hir when she wold take hym to his moder he tornyd his hede his face to hyr as hauyng in hyr al only his lykynge she gladly played with hym louely clypped kyssed hym And here may we see the grete worthynes of this childe For there was neuer none other before that had soo worthy a berer After in the viii daye as the lawe wold the chyld was circuÌ„cised named John by myracle of god as yâ— gospel telleth the mouthe the tonge of yâ— fader zacharie before closed for vntrowynge was then openyd so he ê“phecied sayeÌ„ge Blessid 〈…〉 be our lord god of Israel for he hath visited thoruÈ grace made redeÌ„pcion of
erre lette vs folowe hym that souerayne mayster that wyll not begyle â–ª and that maye not be begyled And also after the doctryne of hys Apostle hauiÌ„ge lyuelode and clothyng in these be we apayed and that in nede couenable and not in superfluyte And also in all other vertuous lyuynge and exercyses before sayd folowe to oure power oure lorde Jhesu that we maye after â–ª this wrechid lyf in penaunce come to his blysse and the lyf euerlastyng in Joye Amen ¶ Of the Baptisme of oure lorde Jhesu and waye therto Capitulum xiiii AFter that nyne and twenty yere were complete in the whiche oure lord Jhesus lyued in penaunce and in abâ—eccion as it is sayd in the begynÌ„ynge of his xxx yere he spake to thys moder and saide Dere moder hit is now tyme that I goo to gloryfye my fader and make hym knowen and also to shewe my self to the world to wyrke the sauacion of maÌ„nes sonle as my fader hath ordeyned sente in to this worlde for this ende wherfore good moder be of good coÌ„forte For I shall soone come ageyne to the And therwith that souerayne maister of mekenes knelyng downe to his moder asked lowely her blessyng And she also knelynge clyppynge hym derworthly in hir armes with wepyng said thus My blessid sone as thou wolt goo now with thy faders blessyng myn And thynke on me and haue in minde soone to come ageyne And soo reuereÌ„tly takynge his leue at his moder and also at his supposed fader Joseph he took his way fro Nazareth to ward Jherusalem and soo forth tyl he came to the water of Jordan where iohn baptysed the peple at that tyme the whyche place is fro Jherusalem the space of eyghteÌ„ myle And so the lord of al the world gooth all that longe way bare foote allone For he had yet none disciples gadred wherfore we takynge good entente by inward coÌ„passion of hym in this iourney speke we to hym deuoutly in herte thynkynge in this â—edi 〈…〉 â—â—uot 〈…〉 nota 〈…〉 maner O lord Jhu ye that ben kynge of all kynges whyder goo ye in this maner alone Good lord where ben your Dukes Erles knyghtes and Barons horses and harneys chari ottes and soÌ„mers and all other seruauntes and mynystres that shold be aboute you to kepe you fro the comyn peple in maner of kynges and lordes where ben the trompes clario nes all other mynstralsye and herbegers and purueyours that shold goo before and al other worshippes and pompes of the world as we wretchyd wormes vseâ— â–ª Be not ye that hye lorde of whos Joye and blysse heuen and erthe is replenysshed why thenÌ„e goo ye thus symply alone and on that bare erthe Sothely the cause is for ye be not aâ— thys tyme in your kyngdome the whiche is not of this worlde For here ye haue auauntysed youre self takynge the maner of a seruauÌ„t not of a kynge and soo ye haue made youre self as one of vs a 〈…〉 na â— pâ—râ—g 〈…〉 â—go sum si cut omn 〈…〉 â—riâ— m 〈…〉 pylgryme and a stranger as al oure faders weren ye be come a seruaunte to make vs kynges â–ª and for we sholde sykerly come to youre Reame ye come youre self shewynge vs the true waye wherby we sholde mowe come vp there to But lorde god why leue we forsake we that waye why folowe we 〈…〉 â—â—n â—râ— bâ—â—uâ— mundâ— dâ— lâ—â—â—otâ—â— not after the. why lowe we not and meke not oure self why loue we and holde we and coueyte we soo besely worshippes and pompes and vanytees of the worlde Sothely for oure Reame is of thy worlde and for we knowe not our self as pylgrymes and strauÌ„gers therfore we fallen in al these folyes and myscheues soo we vayne mens sones louen holden aldaye thynges that ben vayn and fals for tho that ben good true and tho that ben temporel euer fayllynge for tho that ben heuenly euerlastyng Truly gode lord yf we desyren with a sadde will to youre reame our coÌ„forte were in heuenly thynges and also therwyth yf we inwardly thoughten knewen our self here as pilgrymes and strangers we shold soone and lyghtely folowe you and of all these erthely and teÌ„porel goodes takynge oonly that were nedeful to our lyuynge we shold not be taryed to renne after yow but as wythouten byrthen we shold goo lyghtely fully despyse sette at nouÈt all these wordly Rycheses goodes But now speke we ferthermore of the baptysme of our lord Jhesu what tyme that he come to the water of Jordan there founde he Johan baptysynge synfull men and mykel peple that was come thyder for to here his predicacoÌ„n for they helden hym that tyme as Cryste And thenÌ„e oure lorde Jhesus amonge other wente to Johan and prayd hym that he wolde baptyse hym with other And Johan beholdynge hym and knowynge hym in spiryte was adred with grete reuereÌ„ce said Lord I shold be baptysed of the thou comest to me â–ª and Iâ—s answerd Suffre now For thus it falleth besemeth vs to fulfille all ryghtwysnesse As who saith Saye not thys now bewreye me not or make me not knowe for my tyme therof is not yet come but now doo as I bydde baptyse me ¶ â—ota tees gâ—â—duâ— hu unlitatiâ— for now is tyme of mekenes therfore I wyll now fulfille al maner mekenes Here saith the glose yâ— mekenes hath thre degrees the first degree is a man to be subget lowed to his souerayn not preferred or hyed hym self aboue hym that is euen with hym in astate the secoÌ„d is to be subget to his euen lyke in astate not to be hyed or preferred aboue his vnderlinge The thirde the souerayn degree of mekenes is to be subget lowed to his vnderlyng that is he that is lasse in astate thaÌ„ he this degree kepte our lord ihs at this time whaÌ„ he meked hym lowed hym to Johan and therfore so he fulfilled ryghtwysnes and all the perfeccion of mekenes And thenne whan Johan sawe our lordes will that must nedes be doo he dyde as he baâ— and baptysed hym â— here Now take we here goode hede how that hye lord of mageste despoilleth hym â—â—oth oâ— his clothes as another symple man of the peple And after he is plonged in that colde water in that colde tyme. as in wynter al for our loue for our hele ordeynyng the sacrament of baptisme wasshyng therwyth none of his owne synÌ„es fâ—â— he had none but oure fylthes oure synÌ„es and so weddynge there ghostly to hym holy chirche generally all trewe soules specially For in the feith of oure baptisme we â—en wedded to oure lord Jhesu Crist wherfore this is a grete feste and a werke of grete profyte excellence for in this worthy werke al the hole Trinyte was openly shewed in a synguler 〈…〉 anâ—r ¶ whan the holy ghoost cam downe in
tempted of the enemy we shold not wonder though we wretches ben ofte sythes tempted for not oonly he was tempted in these thre tymes But also as saint Bernard saith in other dyuer se tymes as the Apostle saith that he was tempted in all maner temptacyou that longeth to the infirmyte of man wythoute synÌ„e Ferthermore whan the enemy was fully ouercome gone away angels comen serueden and mynystreden hym Meditacio â—â—uoâ—â— But now here take we good hede â–ª and beholde we inwardly oure lorde Jhesu etynge alone and the AuÌ„gels aboute hym thynke we deuoutely by ymagynacion tho thynges that folowen herafter For they ben ful faire and styrynge to deuocoÌ„n And so fyrste we maye aske â–ª what maner of mete it was that the Aungels serueden hym of after that longe fast â–ª Herof speketh not holy wrytte wherfore we maye here ymagyne by reason ordeyne this worldly feest as vs lyketh not by errour affermynge but deuoutly ymagynynge and supposyng and that after the comyn kynde of the manhede For yt we take hede and speke of his myghte after the godhede there is no question For it is no doubte that he myght make what hym lyst â–ª And also haue of tho that ben weren made at his owne wille But we shall not fynde that he vsed this myght and this power for hym self or for his disciples in her bodyly nede But for the peple to shewe his godhede we reden that at two tymes he fedde hem myraculously in grete multitude of a fewe loues and fysshes but of his disciples is wryten that in his owne presence they plucked eeres of corne eten hem for honger as it shal folowe herafter ¶ Also what tyme he hym self was wery of the way and satte vpon the welle spekynge with the womaÌ„ Samarytane we rede not that he made mete for to ete but that he sende his disciples in to the Cyte to begge her mete so it was not lyckly that in thys tyme after his fast bodily honger he purueyed his mete by miracle fythen in thys tyme he shewed oonly his manhede and also there was no peple â–ª therfore to wyrche myracle to her edificacion as comynly he dide but oonly Aungels were there present And sythen in that hylle was noo dwellynge of men ne mete redy dyÈt we shall suppose that AuÌ„gels broughten him manÌ„es mete all redy dyghte fro another place as it befelle to the prophete Danyel ¶ For as holy wrytte telleth what tyme Danyel was put in the pytte of lyons and Abacuk a nother prophete bare mete to his repars in the felde goddes Aungel took hym vp by the here of his hede bare hym fro thenâ— in to babylonye to Danyel for to be fedde wyth that mete And after anone he was borne ageyne ¶ And so in that manere lete vs ymagyne here with ghostly myrth as it were rehetynge oure lorde â–ª Jhesu at his mete and also hauynge in specyally his dere moder thynke we deuoutly in this manere what tyme sathanas was reproued as a fals temptour and vtterly dryuen away holy Aungels in grete multitude comeÌ„ to oure lord Jhesu after his vyctory and fallynge downe to yâ— erthe deuoutely honoured hym and salued hym as theyr lord and Almyghty god And oure lord benyngly and swettely to ok hem vp enclynyng to hem with his hede as hit were knowlechyng hym self veray man and in that somwhat lasse lowed fro AuÌ„gels And thenÌ„e speken the AuÌ„gels saydeÌ„ thus Oure worthy lord ye haue longe fasted And it is now youre tyme to ete what is youre wille that we ordeyne for you And thenÌ„e he said goo forth to my dere moder what maner of mete she hath redy brynge to me For there is none bodyly mete so lykynge to me as that is of hir dyghtynge And anone two of theim goynge forth sodeynly were before hir â–ª and with grete reuerence gretynge hir of hir sone behalfe tolde their message And so of that symple mete yâ— she had ordeyned to hir self Joseph the Aungels token with a loof and a to wel and other necessaryes and broughten hit to Jhesu And perauenture there with a few smale fysshes that oure lady had ordeyned thenÌ„e as god wold so therwyth the Aungels comynge spradden the towel vpon the grounde leiden brede theron and myldly stoden sayden graces with oure lord Jhesu â–ª abydynge his blessyng tyl he was sette ¶ Now take go Vide solitarie â—t resluse od entente here specially thou that arte solytary and haue in mynde why thou etest thy mete alone as withoute manÌ„es teliship the maner of this mete And how lowely oure lorde Jhesê° sytteth downe to his mete on the bare grouÌ„de For there had he neyther bancquerre ne quysshen and take hede how N curteysly and how sobirly he taketh his mete notwithstondynge his honger after his longe fast The angels serueden hym as her lord perauenture one of brede another wyne another dyÈt fysshes some songen in the stede of mynstrelsy that swete songe of heuen and soo they reheteden and couÌ„forted her lord as it longen to them with mykel Joye medled with coÌ„passion This teliship hast thou though thou see hem not whan thou etest allone in thy celle yf thou be in charite and specyally when thou hast thy herte to god as ye owe to haue after the byddynge of the apostle the whiche saith to vs that whether we eten or drynken or ony other thynge doo all we shall doo in the name of oure lord the whyche name Jhesus we shall algate blysse and thanke hym in herte haue we mykel haue we lytyl haue we good haue we badde and soo ete oure mete though we ben alone as though we seene bodyly the blessyd Aungels that ben presente ghostly And here with hauynge inward compassion of oure lorde Jhesu and beholdynge in mynde hym that is Almyghty god souerayne lorde and maker of alle the worlde that yeueth mete to alle flesshely creatures soo meked and in maner neded to bodyly mete and therewith etynge as another erthely man mykel owe we to loue hym thanke hym and wyth a gladde wylle take penaunce and suffre dysease for hym that soo moche hath suffred for vs ¶ Ferthermore as to the processe when our lord Jhesus had eten and sayd grace that is to saye thanketh the fader in his maÌ„hede of that bodily refeccion He badde the AuÌ„gels bere ageyn to his moder that was lefte tellyng hir that he shold in shorte tyme come to hir ageyne And whan they hadden doo as he badde were come ageyne that was in ful shorte tyme. he spake to all the Aungels that weren there and said God ageyne to my fader and youre blysse and recoÌ„mendeth me to hym and to all the Courte of heuen For yet it behoueth me to doo my pylgremage here in erth a whyle a none therwyth they fallyng downe to the erthe deuoutely askynge his
ensample of true repentaunce and penauÌ„ce that is Vâ—â—â— peniteÌ„cia ê“ peccatis CoÌ„te a lollardos NoÌ„ de coÌ„teâ—â— ioÌ„e nedful to forieuenesse of sinÌ„es shewed in this woman Maudaleyne as we haue herde the whyche penaunce as alle hooly Chirche techeth stant in sorow of herte in shrift of mouthe and in satisfactoÌ„n of dede But here paraueÌ„tur somme men thynkyng after the fals oppynyon of lollardes that shryft of mouth is not nedefull but that it sufiseth only in herte to be shriueÌ„ to god as the forsayd womaÌ„ was â–ª for the gospell telleth not that she spake ony word by mouthe yet was her synne fully foryeuen as it is sayd as it semeth this is a grete euydeÌ„ce NoÌ„â—â—sâ— for that opinion But here to is an answere resonable that our lord JhuÌ„s to whome she made hir coÌ„fession in herte was there in bodily preseÌ„ce very god man to whome by vertu of the godhede was al 's open the thouÈte of herte as is to man yâ— speche of mouth as oft sithes the processe of the gospel tellethe specially here opeÌ„ly bothe of yâ— woman also oâ— the pharisees thouÈt wherfor yâ— thouÈt of herte was only thaÌ„ to him as mykel as is now therwith speche of mouthe to man bodily And for as moche as now in the newe lawe what tyme that we synÌ„en dedely we offenden him not only after his godhede but also after his manhede that he bought vs with fro synne and ghostly dethe Therfore vs behoueth to do satisfaccion to him after bothe kyndes by true penauÌ„ce knowelechynge oure trespaces both to god and man askynge foryeuenes And sy then we haue not here his bodily preseÌ„ce as Maudaleyne had therfore in hys stede vs behoueth to shewe to the preest by worde that we haue offendid him as man as we shewen to hym by repentauÌ„ce in herte that we haue offendid hym as god yâ— is to say at yâ— lest by dedely synÌ„e For therby only we ben deê‘ted fro him and vnkindely lesen the grete benefice that he gaf vs in his manhede wherfore yf we wyll be restored ageyne and knytte to hym as we were before in grace we muste doo satisfaction not only to hym as to god but also as to man that we haue soo forsake by dedely synne in manere as it is sayd ¶ And soo as holy Chyrche hath resonably ordeyned and beden knowleche by mouth make oure confessyon truly of oure synne to the prestes that he hath specyally ordeyned in hys stede as hys vykers here to by thoo wordes of the gospell that he spake to his dysciples when he sayd to them thus ¶ what so euer ye bynden in erthe it shall be bonden in heuen And what soo ye vnbynden in erthe shall be vnbonden in heuen ¶ Of this true penaunce nedefull for dedely synne not only by repentauÌ„ce in herte but also by shrifte of mouthe to the preste in godes stede yf we may For more our lord god afketh not And therwyth of due satisfaccion folowyng we haue parfyte Ensample opeÌ„ly shewed in this blessid woman that was before so synfull Mary maudeleyne in the processe before sayd of this Gospell as it is open ynoughe touchyng the firste parte and the laste that is to saye repentauÌ„ce and satisfaccyon ¶ And as to the Seconde that is confession though we rede hit not of hir by worde speking for that was no nede to hym that knewe fully her herte our lord JhuÌ„ the re beyng in his bodily presence as it is sayd Neuertheles she shewed the affeccion of this confession parfitely in dede in that that she wold not shewe hir to hym pryuate as synfull askynge mercy as she myght haue done betwyx him and hir or els before his discyples but sparing for no shame that is a grete parte of penauÌ„ce in confession she chese the place and the tyme where it myghte be to hir as open repreef shame that was in the hous of the pharysee of the whiche she knew wel hauynge indygnacion and despyte of the sinfull and also at the mete whan hit shold be moste wondringe to him al his ghestes vpon her for the repreef shame that she had of her synÌ„e was so grete withinforth that she foryate all shame reprefe wythoute forth And so in that dede she knowleched openly her synne in generall and also by wyll in special not refusinge for to haue herd it reherced and openly tolde of hym that she cam to our lord Jhesu the whiche as she wiste well knewe in specyall the leste parte therof and that myght resonably haue reprehended hir openly of it or he hade foryeuen it But our curtois lord ful of grace and mercy sawe that very contricyon in her herte and that gode wyll grounded in true byleue that he was very god that myght fully foryeue hir NoÌ„ fideÌ„â—â—aâ—iâ—ateÌ„ ri quisitis in coÌ„tricione vera synÌ„e as hym lyked and therwith that she had full hope to haue his grace foryeuenesse and also the feruent loue that she had to hym the whiche thre vertues ben nedefull to euery maÌ„ yâ— wyll haue foryeuenes of synÌ„e And so wythoute ony more penauÌ„ce he fully foryaf all her synÌ„es and bad her goo in pees that was pees of coÌ„science fully made bytwene hir god and man for hir true feyth bilyue in the whiche were grounded parfitely hope charite as it is sayd had made hir sauf And so shall it the moste synfull man that is or euer shall be â–ª yf he haue it truly grounded in his herte by veray contricion as she had for thenne withoute doubte he wyll not spare for ony shame to knowleche hys synÌ„e by worde openly to man in goddes R 〈…〉 stede as she dyde by wyll to hym that was bothe god man as it is sayd But here parauentur semeth to somÌ„e men that as the synfull man shall folowe this woman by true forthin kyng of his synÌ„e so shold the preste folowe our lord in lyght foryeuynge shewed therof enioynyng no more penauÌ„ce than R 〈…〉 â–ª he dyde therfore But here answere holy doctoures that sayen that the contricion and the forthynkynge of synne may be so grete and so parfite that it suffyseth wythoute ony more penauÌ„ce to full foryeuenes there of the whyche there as it is yf the preste myght see and fully knowe he shold yeue no more penauÌ„ce But for as mykel as man seeth not the herte as our lord JhuÌ„s god man dyde and so may he not knowe it but in party as by tokens wythoutforthe therfore as to the syker parte he shall enioyne penauÌ„ce for synne more or lasse as holy chirche hath ordeyned And wold god that all synfull people wold folowe this womaÌ„ in true forthynkynge thenÌ„e with N 〈…〉 i bâ— oute doubte they sholde haue of god full foryeuynge were the penauÌ„ce more or lesse of the prestes enioynynge Ferthermore in the forsaid processe of the
thyse two vertues perfytly taughte vs by ensample bothe of hym his discyples it shall folow after more plainly in the nexte chapyter ¶ Hic pÌ„mittuÌ„tur plura capitula transit ad caplm xxxvii in Bonauentura pro eo qd materia huiê° capli videtur conueniencius sequi istud capituluÌ„ pretactum Sed postea sequntur de ipsis quinque capitula ê‘tinencia ad contemplacoÌ„nem pro die Jouis ¶ How the disciples of Jhesu pluckedeÌ„ the ere 's of corne and eten it for honger on the sabotte daye Caplm xxiiii IN a sabotte daye as the discyples of our lorde Jhesu weÌ„ten by the feeldes wyth hym where ripe corne was growynge they were ahongred and pluckeden the ere 's and froteden hem bytwene her hondes and ete hem And the pharysees that euer aspyeden our lordes wordes and dedes for to take hym in defaulte agaynste theyr lawe reproued herfore bothe hym and his discyples And sayden that it was vnleâ—ffull on the sabotte daye But our lorde excused hem first by nede that is out take in the lawe As Dauyd and his men in nede eten Nota the prestes brede that was elles forboden And also by that reason that the prestes of the lawe on the sabotte daye cyrcumsiced and made sacrifyce the whyche were bodily werkes not so nedfull as that they diden And also his presence that was lorde and auctour of the lawe yaue hem leue But yf we take here Inwarde entente wyth deuoute compassyon of that nede of the disciples in the presence of their lord almyghty we owen resonably to be stired to the loue of pouerte bodily nede for his sake For wonderfull it is to thynke that they that were choseÌ„ so specyally to yâ— hye degree of apostles there thrugh made prynces domesmeÌ„ of the worlde sholde be put in to so grete pouerte nede for to ete the rawe corne for hongre as they were vnresonable bestes and naÌ„ly in his presence that was maker of all mete drynke at his wyll lorde of all the worlde as though he myght not helpe hem at her nede But the good lorde that dyde all thyng for our sauacoÌ„n he suffreth this nede in hem for the beste as he toke in hymselfe all the nede of mankynde wythoute synÌ„e And soo though he had copassoÌ„n of hem in asmoche as he loued hem tenderly Neuertheles it lyked hym that nede in hem the gode wyll of heÌ„ therwyth that gladly suffred that nede for his loue And soo it plesyd hym not onÌ„ly for her mede that he knewe moche therfore but also for ensaÌ„ple for vs that sholde come after For Nota tria here haue we specyally that haue forsake the worlde for the loue of god ensaÌ„ple stirynge to thre vertues namly that beÌ„ nedefull to vs That is to say pacyeÌ„ce in bodily nede perfyte pouerte PrimuÌ„ ayenste gloteny vertuous abstyneÌ„ce And as to the first sythen the discyples of JhuÌ„ that hadden lefte forsaken all that Corporalis necessiâ—â—â— they had for to folowe hym suffreden pacyently gladly soo grete nede of bodily honger in his presence whom they sawe myraculously fede other men helpe at her nede moche more we owen to be pacyent in bodily nede whan it falleth that beÌ„ not soo worthy ne soo perfytly louen god but rather haue deserued for our mysliuyng vnkyndnes ayenste our lorde god moche more penauÌ„ce dysease than he wylle suffre vs for to haue And peraueÌ„ture we comeÌ„ neuer to soo grete nede for to suffre for his sake As to the seconde that is perfyte pouertee SecunduÌ„ Perfectapâ— upertas for goddes loue we shal vnderstonde that his pouerte passed in perfeccoÌ„n the hyest degree of wylful pouerte of other withoute coÌ„paryson For other menÌ„es pouerte that haue forsakeÌ„ for crystes loue all rychesses worshyppes of the worlde is in reputacoÌ„n of meÌ„ in asmoche as it is holde vertuous as it is But Nota de perfectissima paupertats Cristi his pouerte was in repreyf dispyte of men in asmoche as it was not knoweÌ„ that he toke this pouerte wilfully but as of nede as it semyth in the forsayd processe of him his discyples whan they eten rawe corne for honger and he halpe hem not and in many other places of the gospel he shewed hym as poore nedy And for asmoche as that pouertee that comyth of nede not of wyll is in dispyte repreif and all that knewen hym sawe that he had nother hous nor possessions they hadden hym in the more conteÌ„pte For comynly suche nedeful poor men ben dispysed of al men sette aâ— nought But neuertheles they maye be full honorable in his syghte that thê° yaue ensaÌ„ple therof wherfore it is full perylloê° for to dispyse ony poore man But yf we wyll wyte who is vertuously perfytly Nota poore we shall vnderstonde that not onÌ„ly he that made his professoÌ„n to pouerte hath left all worldly richesses as in hauour wythout forthe but he that therwyth hath that pouerte sette in his hert wythin forthe so that he wyll not more loue nor desire ony worldely godes or possessions but onÌ„ly that is nedefull to his liuyng For yf a man be in pouerte suffre nede without forth thrugh lacke of worldly godes and therwith he desyre wyth delyberacyon in herte wythin forth more than hym nedeth that man lyueth not in vertuous pouerte but in wretched nede wythout mede For the luste of the wyll within forth with full assente therto suffyseth to the fulfyllyng of synÌ„e to the losse of mede wherfore he that wyll be perfyte pore Nota 〈…〉 he muste loke that neyther he haue nor desire more than is nedeful to his liuynge Of this vertuous pouerte spekyth saynt Bernarde sermone quarto de AdueÌ„tu in sermone quarto de Bernarde Tâ—â—â—ta coÌ„â—â—a gâ—lâ—â— Natiuitate dnÌ„i Ferdermore towchyng the thyrde vertue that is abstynence wherof agaynst gloteny we haue ensample here in the discyples and also byfore in our lorde Jhesu we shal vnderstonde that gloteny is a vyce agaynste the whyche it behoueth vs while we lyuen in this flesshe for to haue contynuell batayll as holy faders that knowen the temptacoÌ„n therof by longe experieÌ„ce techen vs. specyally saynt Bernarde in dyuerse places telleth howe we shalle flee gloteny and nourysshe the body onÌ„ly as it nedeth to the he le therof and more shal we not seche oâ— desire to the body wherfore in all that we taken ouer that is to saye to fulfylle the luste the likinge that passeth the termes of kynde and disposeth to dethe bodily ghostly Nota contra plures bestiales gulosos And soo it falleth ofte that many men ben somoche ouer comen wyth the luste likynge of the flesshe that as vnresonable bestes they putten the lust before the hele takyng suche metes drynkes the whiche they knoweÌ„ well
yâ— deuoutly askyth hym in prayer that thynge that they aske in maner as it is moost spedful to hem Saynt bernard by deâ—oute processe telleth in dyâ—erse places the whiche processe passyng ouer tornÌ„ we to our lorde â—huÌ„s his disciples and to yâ— forsaid processe of hem what tyme that he was alone prayenge in the hyll as it is sayd his discyples were in the see in grete disease for asmoche as the wynde was against hem and yâ— shippe in pâ—ynt of perysshynge thrugh the grete wawes â— the grete teÌ„pest that was rysen in that same tyme And soo we may see yf we take good hede by deâ—out compassion in what mysche yf â— tribulacion they were in at that tyme bothe for the grete tempest yâ— was risen vpoÌ„ hem also for the nyght tyme and pryncipally for they lackeden her lordes presence that was al her refute in her nede But he that good lorde that knewe what was beste for hem and that suffred this dysease of hem for the tyme. whaÌ„ he sawe tyme also sent hem coÌ„fort helpe and so at the foâ—â—th wakyng of yâ— nyght he came downe fro yâ— hylle goyng vpoÌ„ the see comyng towarde hem Now beholde we here Inwardly how that blessâ—d lorde after his grete traueyle of longe wakynge prayenge came downe al onÌ„ly iâ— yâ— night tyme fro that traueylouê° hyll and perauenture stony bare fote and soo gooth he sadly vpon the water as it were vpon the erthe For that creature knew her maker and was obeysauÌ„t to â—ym at his wyll And what tyme he came nye the shypÌ„ the dyscyples supposynge that it had be a fantasme cryeden for drede And thenne the benygne lorde hauynge compassion of hem and wyllynge that they sholde noo lenger be distourbled traâ—eylled hem sykerde of his presence and sayd I am he that ye desiren be not adradde And theâ—Ì„e peter that was more â—er uâ—Ì„t than other trustyng of his mygâ—t at his byddyng he begaÌ„ to goo towarde hym vpon the water But anone as â–ª a grete wynde blewe he faylled in byleue and dradde and soo began to drenche but the good lorde wyth his ryght honde toke him vp and kept hym fro perysshynge and thenne went in to the shyppe wyth hym and anone all the tempest ceased and alle was in pees tranquylite And so the discyples wyth grete reuerence Joye receyuynge her lorde weren putt in grete reste â–ª and soueraynly comforted by his blessed presence This is yâ— Notabâ—â— processe of that gospell shortly In this processe touchynge yâ— disciples we haue ghostly doctryne ensample of pacyence 〈◊〉 trybulacoÌ„n of profyte therof As we had before touchynge hymself of the vertu of prayer as it is sayd wherfor we shall vnderstonde that as it felle wyth the discyples bodâ—â—y soo it falleth wyth vs all daye ghostly Our lorde â—huÌ„s suffreth hem yâ— ben chosen of hym for to be dyseased and haue trybulacoÌ„n in this worlde bothe in body in soule For as holy wrytt wrtnessyth 〈…〉 he beâ—yth euery chylde that he receyueth to his gâ—ace â–ª And as the apostle poul sayth All tho that ben wrthout discyplyâ—e ben not kynde chyldern but of auoutrye and it is spedefull to vs to be soo beten and to suâ—â—re trybulacoÌ„n dyseaâ—e in this worlde for many causes For therby we beÌ„ taught for to knowe ourself our owne wretchidnes Also ther thrugh we profiteÌ„ ghostly geteÌ„ vertues and whaÌ„ they beÌ„ goteÌ„ theâ—e thrugh kepen heÌ„ the better and ferdermore that is moost of al there thrugh we trustly hopeÌ„ abyde that euerlastyng mede 〈◊〉 yâ— blâ—sse of heuen wherforÌ„ we shal not be discoÌ„forted by hem or in pacyent in hem but rather coueyte hem loue hem â–ª But for asmoche as yâ— profyte of tribulacoÌ„ns though it be moâ—he worthe and of grete vertu moche mede Neuertheles manâ— mâ— thynken heÌ„ full harde grutcheâ— ayenst hem as inportable â–ª by cause that they knowen not seen not the vertue of hem Neueâ—theles â—ernard suâ—â—o â—ui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many holy doctours tellen techen vs the grete profyte of hem in many places to comforte vs gladli for to take â—eÌ„ And specyally amoÌ„ge other saynt Bernard in dyuers tretees wherfore â—aue we noo wonder though our lorde â—huÌ„s suffred his discyples the whiche he loued so specyally to be troubled wyth tempestes as it is said suffre trybulacoÌ„ns For he kneew â—tmÌ„ can xiii xxv lxxx her ghostly profyte therby For ofte we rede that her shipÌ„ was in peryll by tempestes contrary wyndes but it was neâ—er drowned or fully perisshid â–ª nomore shal we what tribulacoÌ„n soo euer come to vs yf we suffre pacyently trust fully in yâ— helpe of our lorde â—huÌ„ that woll not fayle vs at our nede â—apituluÌ„ sequens de chananea premittitur vbi notatur de angelis vt infra caplo xxx ¶ How the pharysees other token occasion of sclauÌ„der of the wordes dedes of â—huÌ„ â—aplin xxviii WE shall haue noo wonder though some take occasion of sclauÌ„der of our wordes and dedes ben they neuer soo â–ª go de true For soo it befelle of our lorde â—hesu oft tymes And Descan 〈◊〉 yet myghte not he erre in worde or dede wherfore it befell on a tyme that the pharysees askeden him whi that his disciples wysshe not her hondes whan they went to mete And in that they kepte not her custome after the techynge of her elders But our lorde seenge that they charged more the wasshynge wythout forth bodily clenÌ„es â–ª than vertues of the soule with inforth and ghostly â–ª Answerde harde agayne reprouynge hem that they breken the hestes of god for her tradycoÌ„nes and bodily obseruauÌ„ces declarynge after that vyces that comen out of the herte defoylen more a man than dooth the bodily mete taken vnwasshen wherfore they weren ghostly â—â—â—aundred styred agaynst hym but he toke none hede therof for they we ren â–ª blynde in soule thrugh malyce Also ofte tymes our lorde â—hesns wroughte myracles vpon the sabott daye that weren goddes holy dayes to the Jewes as ben now the sondayes to crysten men that he dyde to confusoÌ„n and repreyf of the Jewes that kepten straytly the lawe in bodily obseruaunces and not in ghostly vnderstondyng as his wyll was For he badde not the holy daye for to leue therin good worâ—hyng and dedes of charyte but for to sease and absteyne fro synne and bodily werkes wherforÌ„ they were gretly sclauÌ„dred that is for to say token occasion of sclauuder ayenst hym and conspyred in to his detâ—e and sayden that man was not of goddis half that kepte not the sabott daye But our lord left not therfore to weâ—ke myracles and do dedes of charyte in those dayes but moche more dyde hem for to destroye the Jewes errour afore sayd Another tyme also whan he taught in yâ— synagoge ghostly lore sayd that he
for to speke of the maner of liuyng in thise ii lyues actyf conteÌ„platyf in specyal And namly of actyf that stant in soo many degrees as of seculers and relygyous and lered and lewde it were harde and wolde aske longe processe and also as it semyth it nedeth not For the generall exercyse of actyf lyfe as it loÌ„geth fyrst to a man hymself that is in fyghtynge agaynste vyces besy in getynge of vertues And also after as it longeth to his eueÌ„crysten that is in fulfyllyng of yâ— dedes of mercy almes dedes doynge of heÌ„ yâ— haue habuÌ„daunce of teÌ„porell goodes In euery degree is wryten sufficyently as I hope and therfore I haue lefte to speke more of this mater at this tyme sauf to make an ende accordyng to the begynÌ„ynge of the mater before sayd in yâ— gospel of thise ii systers martha mary by the whiche ben vnderstonde thise two liues actif conteÌ„platyf as it is sayd Fyrste they that ben in actif life haue ensample in martha of that vertue that is souereynly ned ful to hem in all her dedes that is charyte And fyrste as to heÌ„ selfe that they ben wythout dedely synÌ„e For elles JhuÌ„s woll not dwelle in her housâ—e accept her seruyce Also as to other Sâ—dm â–ª that they deme not ne dispyse other the whiche perauâ—ture done not soo many vertuous dedes as to mannes syghte as they done For they maye not knowe the preuy domes of our lorde JhuÌ„ that accepted more plesyngly and preferred the preuy coÌ„teÌ„placoÌ„n of mary that satte at his fete in scylence as she had be ydle before all the grete besy seruyce of martha that was for the feruent loue that she hadde in contemplacoÌ„n of hym And yet was the seruyce and the besines of martha full pleysynge to JhuÌ„ and medefull to her as actyf lyf is good but coÌ„templatif beter And soo ferdermore it is to note that notwithstondyng TerciuÌ„ the grete commÌ„endacion of our lorde JhuÌ„ touchynge mary the preferrynge of hir parte Martha grutched not of hir parte but contynued forth in her maner liuynge seruinge customably to JhuÌ„ his discyples As John wytnessith after in his gospel in token that he that is called to god stant in the state of actyf lyf holde hym payed and grutche not though conteÌ„platyf lyfe be coÌ„mended before his astate For how soo euer it stant of thise two estates degrees liuyng god wote alonly who shall be before a nother in the blysse of heuen of tho persones in thise astates and thê° mykel be sayd as touchynge the parte of martha of actyf lyfe tokened by her Ferdermore touchynge conteÌ„platyf lyfe he that is in that state hathe ensaÌ„ple in mary of thre thynges that neden souereynly to that state â–ª that ben mekenes pacyence scilence First meknes PrimuÌ„ notabil is tokened in the lowe sittynge of mary att fete of our lorde JhuÌ„ And but this grounde be truely sette in the herte of hym that is in this degree of contemplacoÌ„n That is to saye that he presume not of his ownÌ„ holynes but that he dispyse him self truely in his owne syghte as it is reherced tolde before in dyuers places what longeth to mekenes Sothly elles alle his bildyng of conteÌ„placoÌ„n be it neuer soo hye woll not stonde stedfastly but soone at a lytill wynde of aduersyte falle to nought The seconde vertue accordynge herto is pacyence in suffryng fals demynges scornynges reprouynges of yâ— worlde Sâ—dm Notabil that he shall suffre that fully forsakyth dispyseth yâ— worlde as it nedeth to the true conteÌ„platyf comÌ„yttynge alwaye by pacyence in herte his cause to his aduocate jhesu wythoute ansuere reprouynge agayne as mary dyde whan the pharysee demed and reproued her Also her sister playned vpon her and the discyples had IndignacoÌ„n and grutched agaynst her But in all thise she kepte scylence That is the thirde vertue nedefull to the conteÌ„platyf and soo ferforth she yaaf ensaÌ„ple TerciuÌ„ Notabil of scylence that we fynde not in all the gospel that she spake before the resurreccoÌ„n of our lorde JhuÌ„ sauf ones by a shorte worde at reysyng of her broder lazar notwythstondyng the grete loue of our lorde JhuÌ„ shewed to him and to the grete likinge that she had in the wordes the holy doctryne of hym that sholde styre her by reason the more boldly to speke And who soo coueyteth to knowe the fruyt of vertuous scylence yf he haue affeccoÌ„n and wyll to trow contemplatyf lyuynge with out doubte he shal be better taught by experyence than by wrytynge and techynge of man And neuertheles saynt bernarde and many other holy faders and doctours commenden highly vertuous scylence as it is worthy wherof and other vertuous exercyse that longen to contemplatyf lyuing And specyally to a recluse And also of medled life â–ª That is to saye some tyme actyf and some tyme contemplatyf as it longyth to dyuerse persones that in worldly astate haue grace of ghostly loue who soo woll more playnly be enfourmed and taughte in englysshe tonge Lete hym loke the tretees that the worthy clerke and holy lyuer mayster â—alter Hylton the chanon of Thurgarton wrote in englysshe by hyghe grace and dyscrecion And he shall fynde there as â— leue a suffycyente scole and a true of all thyse whoo 's soule reste in euerlastynge pees â–ª As I hope he be full hyghe in blysse Joyned and knytte wythout departynge to his spouse by perfyte vse of the beste parte that he chese here wyth mary Of the whiche parte he graunte vs felyshyp Jhesus our lord god A M E N ¶ Of the Reysynge of Lazar. and other two dede bodyes Caplm xxxiiii AMonge all the myracles that our lord JhuÌ„ cryste wroughte here in erthe the reysynge of lazar is pryncypally coÌ„mended And souereynly is to be consydered not oonly for the souerayn myracle it self But also for many notable thynges that befell in that myracle and dyuerse mysteryes The whyche saynte Augustyn clergeally treatyth by lon longe processe vpon the same gospel Of the whiche somwhat I shall towche in party and more ouer as the grace of our lorde JhuÌ„ woll sende wytte perteynyng to the pourpose And for asmoche as the gospel makyth mynde of ui dede bodyes reysed by oure lorde Jhesu fro dethe to lyfe of the whiche two the fyrste is not spoken of specyally in this treatyse before TherforÌ„ it semyth coÌ„uenyent to this purpose soÌ„what touche of hem in this place as the forsaid saynt austin dooth And fyrste we shall vndstonde haue in mynde that as the dedes of our lorde JhuÌ„ after his manhede ben ensample to vs for to folowe hym as in mekenes pouertee pacyence and other vertues soo in his myracles done bi vertue of the godhe de we shal not desyre to folow hym for to doo as he dyde but we shall worshyp hym as almyghty god and in that partye more ouer coueyte for
to vnderstōde the ghostly meanynge of hem how the myracles done than bodily And in bodyes ben now done oft times in ghostly men̄es soules and so as saynt augustyn sayth by tho thre bodyes the whiche our lorde Jhūs reysed fro dethe to lyfe bodily ben vnderstonden thre maner of dede soules the whiche thrugh his speciall grace he reyseth euery day to euerlasting lyf ghostly for as y◠gospel makith minde he reysed the doughter of the maister of the temple that lay dede in the hous By whom is vnderstonde dedely synne on̄ly in assent wythoute the fulfyilynge therof in dede Also he reysed the wydowes sone borne dede on the bere wythout the yates of the cyte by whom is vnderstonde dedely syn̄e wythout forth performed in dede And the thirde dede body he reysed that was lazar buryed and foure dayes dede by whom is tokened dedely syn̄e in custome For yf we take good hede vnderstonde that syn̄e is dethe of the soule we maye fynde that the soule is dede ghostly slayn thrugh syn̄e in thise thre maners Fyrst by ful assent of wyll to doo that is forboden of god on̄ly wythin fourth in the soule wythout the dede therof wythoute forth As by ensāple of lechery that is forboden what tyme as our lord sayth in the gospel that whan a man seeth a woman lustely to y◠ende for to haue to doo wyth her flesshly fully assentith therto in his wyll though y◠dede folowe not after he is acoūted as a lechout in his herte and soo is his soule slayne ghostly thrugh y◠assente dede in goddis syghte And this manere of ghostly deth is vnderstōde by that fyrst dede body that our lorde Jhūs reysed in the hous that was the doughter of the prynce of the synagoge or the mayster of the temple as it is sayde before Of whom the gospel telleth that he came to our lord Jhū prayenge hym that he wolde come to his house and hele his doughter that laye seke therin And as our lord that of his grete grace endlesse goodnes was euer redy to helpe to he le all tho that asked hym truely was goynge wyth hym towarde his hous There came worde to the forsard prynce that his doughter was dede And therfor̄ they bodē hym the be shold not make the mayster that is Jhūs traueyle in vayne for they trowed well that he was of might to hele the seke but not to reyse the dede Neuertheles our lorde Jhūs letted not for her mysby leue ne for her scornynge to doo his grace but badde the fader that he sholde not drede but on̄ly byleue And whā he came to his hous foūde there after her custome many wepyng mournful mynstralsy other aray for her exequyes he sayd to hē wepeth not for the wenche is not dede but slepyth and then̄e they scorned him For they vnderstode not what he meaned for though she was dede as to hem Neuertheles to him that was of myghte to reyse her and make her to lyue she dyde but slepe And then̄e puttynge oute all that were in the hous sauf the tader the moder and the thre apostles Peter James John Our lorde Jhesus badde the wēche to ryse And anone she rose vp fro dethe to lyfe And after ete and was all hool This is the processe of the gospell after the vnderstondyng of the letter In the whyche we maye ghostly vnderstonde fyrste that as our lord god thenne reysed bodily the doughter at prayer by the faythe of the fader soo he reyseth now oft tymes ghostly dede soule by syn̄e to lyfe of grace thrugh the prechynge prayeng of holy men and the fayth of holy chyrche And as our lorde Jhūs spared not for mysbyleue and scornyng of other to helpe hym that asked his grace so sholde not mē spare to profite to other soules And namly men of holy chirche spare to preche goddis worde whan it lōgeth to her offyce in to reysing of dede soules to ghostly lyf though some men scorne hem or reproue hem therfore For as saynt augustyn say the. It falleth all daye that a man that is ghostly dede bi ful assent in his herte to dedely syn̄e by the prechyng of goddes worde is compūcte in his herte therof thorugh grace as though he herde our lorde bydde hym ryse And soo is he reysed in his soule by repentaūce fro dethe to lyfe As it were in the hous or that he be borne wythoute by the dede more ouer of that syn̄e And this is the fyrst maner of dedely synne and lightest for to ryse out therof thrugh grace that is betokened by the fyrste dede bo dy reysed of Jhesu in the house as it is sayd But neuertheles this manere of dedely syn̄e that is on̄ly in assent is moost perillous yf it longe abyde And specially yf it be ghostly as hye pryde or enuye For as saynt gregory sayth that somtyme it is more greuous syn̄e in goddes syghte pryde by delyberacōn in herte than is the dede of lechery And yet aldaye that one is gretly charged that is to saye lechery but that other seldom or lityll And therfore ben many men here deceyued But now passe we here ouer Of the reysynge of the seconde dede body is wryten in the gospel of saynt luke How what tyme our lorde Of 〈…〉 dede bo d 〈…〉 Jhūs came to a cite that was named Naym his disciples wyth hym and moche peple he mette at yate of the cyte a dede body borne on a bere that was the allone sone of a widow that came wyth the corse and moche folke of the cytee wyth her And then̄e our lorde hauynge pyte of the grete soro we of the wydowe and meued thrugh his endles mercy badde her that she sholde not wepe And thenne nighyng towchyng the bere And therwyth they that beren it standinge styll he spake to the body in thyse wordes Thou yonge man I saye to the aryse vp and anone he rose fro dethe to lyfe and wente on his fete and began to speke And soo he betoke him to his moder alyue This is the processe of the gospel forsayd O lorde Jhū moche is thy mercy shewed to synfull man in the whiche as thou reysedest that dede body borne out towarde beryeng with out prayer made to the before on̄ly styrynge thyn endles godenes pyte Soo thou reysest all daye ghostly hem that bē dede in soule by grete syn̄es flesshly ghostly yeuyng thy grace oft times before or thou be prayed or sought by ony deserte thrugh the whiche synfull men be styred to repentaūce and forsakyng of syn̄e And soo by shryfte penaūce doynge after the lawes of holy chirche they ben reysed ghostly to lyf of grace that first were dede by syn̄e performed in dede And yf it soo be that this synne be openly knowen in to the euyl ensample of other sclaūder thenne it is nede of open penaunce as holy chirche hath
grutchith in the for fayth grutcheth And yf fayth be in vs thenÌ„e cryst is in vs so in this maner of grutching is hope of vprisyng For after this wepyng trowblyng as the processe of yâ— gospel I telleth our lord IhuÌ„s asked where they had put lazar not for vnknowing but in spekyng in maner of man in token ghostly of a strauÌ„gnes of his grace to hem that ben ouerlayed wyth dedely synÌ„e for the tyme Neuertheles he hath alwaye coÌ„passyon of the synful And his mercy is redy to all yâ— woll truly aske it For after he had asked where they had putt hym they sayden ayen Lorde come see thenÌ„e he wept And yâ— Jewes yâ— there were sayden â–ª loo how he loued hym And so he shewed the affeccoÌ„n that he hath to the synfull as he sayth in yâ— gospel I came not to calle the rightwis but the synÌ„ers to penauÌ„ce But now goo we to yâ— graue of lazar folowyng our lord IhuÌ„ wyth all that meyne that is to saye the two systers martha mary and the apostles Jewes many that were there that tyme to comforte the systers And as oure lorde wolde to see bere wytnesse of that solempne worthy myracle and so we maye see by deuoute ymagynacoÌ„n how our lorde IhuÌ„s gooth before bytwene the ii sisters talking homly wyth hem they wyth hym shewyng to hym the grete dyscoÌ„fort sorow that they hadden of her broders deth And specially for asmoche as they durst not bydde hym come to helpe hem kepe him fro de the for drede of the malice of the Jewes that they knewe had coÌ„spired in to his dethe and how they were hyely coÌ„forted theÌ„ne of his presence But neuertheles therwyth they had grete drede of hym by cause of the Jewes And thenÌ„e how our lord benyngly coÌ„forted hem again and bad hem not drede of him for al sholde be for the best at the faders wyll And so talkinge togyder they camen to the graue that was couered wyth a grete stone aboue ThenÌ„e bad our lorde IhuÌ„s that they sholde take awaye the stone and they abasshed for the grete tender loue that they had to hym dredynge the horribylyte the styuke of carayne that it sholde ought of feÌ„de hym sayden â–ª Lorde now he stynketh for he is iiii dayes dede shewynge therby that they had none hope of his liuynge ayen But our lorde ayenwarde coÌ„forted her byleue and makyng the stone to be taken awaye Afterwarde liftynge vp his eyen to heuen sayd Fader I thanke the. for thou herdest me and sothly I wote well that thou herest me euer But I saye this for the peple that here stant yâ— they byleue that thou haste sente me And whan he had sayd thus he cryed wyth a grete voys Lazar come oute of thy graue O lorde IhuÌ„ what nede was the to crye Sothly as saynt austin sayth to shew in ghostly vnderstoÌ„ding how harde it is to augusti â–ª hym for to reyse to lyfe a soule that is ouerlayed with the stone of dedely synne in custome How many ben there sayth saynt Austyn in this peple the whiche ben ouerlayed wyth this heuy burden of wycked custome PeraucÌ„ture some beren me that ben ouercome wyth lechery or gloteny that the appostle forbedeth hem where he sayth thus wyll ye not be dronken wyth wyne in the whiche is lechery And they sayenge again Nolite iÌ„ briari vi no we may not and soo forth of other grete mysdedes wyckydnes that god forbedeth holy chirche whan it is sayd to hem dooth none of thyse leest ye peryssh they ansuerynge sayeng we maye not leue our custome O lorde JhuÌ„ reyse thise folke as thou reysedest lazar for thou arte sothly as the resurreccoÌ„n or vprisyng lyfe How heuily this stone of wicked custome ouerlayeth men in all degrees not onÌ„ly lered lewde seculers but also religyous nyghe by in all astates who soo woll speke N ayenst her wycked customes he shall know sothly by experyence that there is noo remedye but onÌ„ly JhuÌ„ O lorde JhuÌ„ crye to all thise men with an hye voys that is to saye shewe thy myÈte teyse hem to lyfe of grace puttynge away that heuy stone of wycked custome as thou reysedest lazar For after thi crye and at thy biddyng he rose vp and wente out of his graue but yet bouÌ„den hondes fete tyll he was losed and vnbouÌ„den by thy discyples at thy byddynge This is a grete wonder as saynt augustyn sayth to many men how he myghte goo out of the graue wyth his fete bouÌ„den But it is moche more wonder how he rose fro dethe to lyfe that was foure dayes dede and beryed And wyth that body of a stynkynge careyne But what tokenyth all this sayth saynt Augustyn Sothly this it tokenith whan thou doost a grete synÌ„e bi conteÌ„pt thou arte ghostly dede And yf thou contynuest customably therin thenÌ„e arte thou dede beried And whan thou forthinkest within forth and shryuest the and knowlegest thy synne wythout fourth For thenne rysest thou and goost out of thy graue For it is nought elles to saye goo forth out but shewe and make knowen outwarde that is preuy wythin forth And this knowynge shewynge of synÌ„e makyth onÌ„ly god cryenge wyth a grete voys that is to saye wyth his grete grace callynge But N yet though he that was dede be reysed and goone oute of his graue Neuertheles he dwelled bouÌ„den that is to say gylty in to the tyme that he be losed vnbouÌ„den by goddis mynystres to whom onÌ„ly he gaaf that power sayenge thus to hem Al that ye vnbynde in erth shal be vnbouÌ„den in heuen Al this N sayth saynt augustyn in sentence In the whiche we maye see openly a suffycient auctoryte agaynst hem that reprouen confession ordeyned by holy chyrche and also the assoylyng of curates sayenge falsly that it is ynough generally to euery man for to shryue hym onÌ„ly in his herte to god And that prestes curates of holy chirche haue nomore power to assoyle of sinnes than a nother man but that god allonly assoyleth none other in his name But now leuyng the fals opynyons go B ynge to the ende of our forsayd processe what tyme that Lazar was reysed to lif by our lord JhuÌ„s as it is sayd and after vnbouÌ„den by his discyples he his systers wyth grete Joye lowely thanked JhuÌ„s of that souereyn bienfete and laddeÌ„ him home wyth hem to her hous makynge moche myrthe And thenÌ„e the Jewes that there were woÌ„dryng hyghly of that grete myracle some torned in byleue to JhuÌ„ and some yeden tolden yâ— pharisees that JhuÌ„s had done and so was it publyshed opeÌ„ly knowen in somoche that grete multytude of Jerlm the couÌ„tree theraboute camen to sce lazar that was reysed And thenÌ„e were the prynces of the Jewes the pharisees all confused and thoughten casten for to slee lazar
was his comyn hostrye and namly tho fewe dayes folowyn ge in to his passyon For there he ete on dayes slept in nygh tes wyth his discyples and his blessed moder wyth her sisters for they worshipped her soueraynly as worthy was but specyally mawdeleyne yâ— wolde neuer departe fro her ThenÌ„e amonge those his true frendes our lorde sayd that they sholde not be tomoche abasshed or distourbled with that vncouth de de to come tolde hem that he wold on the morowe goo openly in to Jhrlm And thenÌ„e were they all soueraynly aferde and prayden hym hertly his moder also namely that he wolde not put hymselfe soo vtterly in to his enmyes hondes and sothly ferdermore in to the dethe that was conspyred wythout faylle agaynst hym of yâ— Jewes But our lorde god coÌ„fortyng hem againward badde hem drede nought and sayd it is the faders wyll that I take this Journeye and he shall kepe vs and soo ordeyne for vs at this tyme that ye shall see me amonge al myn enmyes in the grettest worshyp that euer ye sawe me they shall haue noo power now agaynst me But after that I haue done all that I wyll tomorowe att euen we shall come hyder again sauf and sounde And thenne thorugh thyse wordes they were all well comforted But neuertheles alwaye dredynge How our lorde JhuÌ„s tame to Jherusalem vpon palmsonday Caplm xxxvii THe sondaye after erly vpon the morow our lorde Jhesus dysposed hym as he had sayd to goo in to Jherusalem in a new maner an vncouthe other wyse than euer he dyde before But to fulfyll yâ— prophecye of zacarye yâ— prophete â–ª sayd to that pourpoos And whan he with that lytill but blessid coÌ„pany camÌ„ to a place in middes yâ— way that was called bethfage He sente two of his discyples in to Jherusalem And badde hem bryng to him an asse her fole that were teâ—ed the re in the comyn waye and ordeyned to serue poore men at her nede that had none bestes of her owne And whan they were broughte and the discyples had layed her clothes vpon hem Our lorde mekely sette hym firste a lityl while vpon the asse after on the fole ridynge in that symple araye toke his way forth in to Jhrlm O lorde what syghte was this to see yâ— kinge of kyngis lorde of all the worlde ride in suche araye namly in to that solempne cytee of Jherusalem But sothly this thou dydest as all thyn other dedes to our enformacoÌ„n and en sample For we may see and vnderstonde that in this maner of worldes worshippe takynge thou dispisest fully all the poÌ„pe of vayne worldes worshyp hauyuge in stede of golden har neys and curyous sadels and bridels symple clothes and hem ê“yn helters And whan the people herde of his comynge by cause of that grete myracle that was publisshed before of the reysinge of lazar they weÌ„ten ayenst hym and receyueden him as kynge wyth ympnes songes and grete Joyes strewynge in his waye her clothes braunches of trees But wyth this Joye our lorde meaned sorow wepyng For whan he came nyghe the cyte he wepte therupon sayenge before the destrucci on therof that came after sorowynge for her ghostly blind nesse For we shall vnderstonde that as holy wrytte makyth mynde our lorde wepte notably thre tymes One tyme in the Primo dethe of lazar the wretchydnes of mankynde wherby he is neded to deth for the fyrste synÌ„e A nother tyme he wepte for the SecuÌ„do ghostly blyndenes vncuÌ„nynge of man as now at this tyme of hem that dwellen in that cyte of Jherusalem that wolden not knowe the tyme of her gracyous visytacoÌ„n And therforÌ„ after was to come to that cyte her vtter distruccoÌ„n The thir de tyme he wepte for the grete trespaas and malyce of man And Tercio that was in tyme of his passion hangyng on the crosse for he sawe that his passyon was sufficyent for redempcoÌ„n of all men but neuertheles it toke not effecte of profyte in all for not in reproued and harde hertes obstynate to doo pena unce that woll not forthynke amende hem of her synÌ„es And of this wepinge spekith the appostle poul whan he sayth that JhuÌ„s in tyme of his passyon wyth a grete crye wepynge teres was herde of the fader for his reuerence And of thyse thre wepyng tymes holy wrytte spekyth Also holy chirche Quart makith mynde that he wepte the fourth tyme. and that was whan he was a yonge chylde And that wepynge was for to hyde fro the deuilles the mysterye of his JncarnacoÌ„n Beholde we now our lorde JhuÌ„s soo wepynge and that not feynyngly but effectuelly and largely wyth a sorowfull herte specyally for her dampnacoÌ„n without ende with the destruccoÌ„n tem porell of hem and of her cytee And as we maye sothfastly trowe his dere moder and all that company seenge hym wepyng soo myght not conteyne hem fro wepyng at that tyme and nomore sholde we sene losse of soules Thê° our lord Jesus rydynge on the asse and hauynge in stede of prynces erles borons his poore symple discyples aboute hym wyth his moder other deuoute wymÌ„en folowynge entred in to that solempne cyte and also the peple doynge hym great worshyp as it is sayd before Of the whiche comynge al the cyte was gretly styred And soo went he firste in to the temple cast oute therof the byars sellers agaynst goddis lawes as it is sayde here before in the xxxii chapiter And there was he stondin ge openly in the temple prechynge ansuerynge to the prynces pharysees all that daye tyll it drewe towarde euen And soo he his discyples stondyng all the daye fastynge after the grete worshyp before done there was not one yâ— wolde bydde hym ones drynke wherfore at euen he wente wyth his discyples to his homely hostry bethanye gooynge soo symply thorugh the cyte wyth that lityll company that came on the mo rowe wyth soo grete worshyp And here maye we consyder yâ— it is lityll to charge and lityll force of worldes worshyp that is soo soone done and soo lyghtly passeth awaye But what Joye trowe we that his moder mawdeleyne other true freÌ„des hadden whan they sawe hym soo worshypped of the people namly at nyght whan he was come wyth his disciples sauf in prosperyte to bethanye Sothly he alonly knowyth our lord JhuÌ„s that euer blessed be with ende AMEN What our lorde JhuÌ„s dyde from palmsonday in to the thursdaye after next sewynge Caplm xxxviii OVr lord JhuÌ„s ful of charyte well of al charyte wyllynge to shew bothe in worde dede his souerayne charyte as well to his foes as to his frendes and desirynge that noo man sholde be loste but al saaf whan it drewe to the ende of his dedely lyfe here of his passion tyme was nyghe at honde he traueyled besily in prechyng and techyug opeÌ„ly to yâ—
goddis body in forme of brede and his very blode in forme of wyne And though that forme of brede wyne seme as to alle the bodily wyttes of man brede wyne in his kynde as it was before Neuertheles it is not soo in so othnes but oonli goddis flesshe blode in substaunce so that the accydents of brede and wyne wonderfully and myraculously agaynst manÌ„es reason and the comyn order of kynde beÌ„ there in that holy sacrament wyth her kyndly subiect and very cristes body that suffred deth vpoÌ„ the crosse is there in that sacrament bodily vnder the forme and lyknesse of brede and his very blood vnder lyknes of wyne substancyally and holy wythout ony feynyng or deceyte And not oonly in fygure as Notâ— the fals heretyke sayth Thise termes I touche here soo specially by cause of the lewde lollardes that medlen hem agaynst the fayth falsly And more ouer this before sayd fayth of holy chirche touchynge this excellent sacrament taughte by holy doctours and worthy clerkes â–ª is confermed by many maneres of myracles as we reden in many bokes and heren alday preche and taughte But here laugheth the lollarde and scorneth holy chirche in allegaunce of suche myracles holding heÌ„ but as madde tales and feyned Illusyons And by cause that he tasteth not the swetnesse of this precyous sacramente nor felyth the gracyous werchynge therof in hymself therfore he loueth not that ony other doth but here in coÌ„fession of al fals lollardes in confort of all true louers worshyppers of this holy sacrament and princypally to the louynge honoure of the hye auctour and maker of our lorde IhuÌ„s I shall sare more ouer somwhat in specyall that I knowe sothly of the gracyous werchynge in sensible felinge of this blessid sacramente the whiche merueylously werching felyngeaboue comin kynde of man shewyth proueth soueraynly the blessed bodies presence of JhuÌ„ in that sacrament There is one persone yâ— I know liuynge perauenture there ben many that I know not in the selfe degree or hygher the whiche persone of tymes whan our lord Jhesus vouchesauf to touche hym of his grace in tretynge of that blessed sacrament wyth the Inwarde siyght of his soule deuout meditacoÌ„n of his presious passion Sodeynly felyth also shedde in to the same body a Joye and likynge that passyth wythout comparyson the hyghest likynge that ony creature may haue or fele as by way of kynde in this lyfe thrugh the whiche Joye likynge all the membres of the bodi enflamÌ„ed of soo delectable and Joyefull hete that hym thynkyth sensibly alle the body as it were meltynge for Joye as waxe dooth anenst the hote fyre so ferforth that the body might not bere that excellent likyng but that it shold vtterly faylle nere the gracyous kepynge susteynyng of the towcher our lorde JhuÌ„ aboue kynde O lorde JhuÌ„ â–ª in what delectable paradise is he for the tyme that thus felith that blessid bodily presence of the in that precions sacrament â–ª thrugh the whiche he felyth hym sensybly wyth vnspeable Joye as he were Joyned body to body Sothly I trowe that there maye no man telle it or speke it And I am syker that there maye noo man fully sothfastly knowe it but he that in experyence felyth it For wythoute doubte this is specyally that hydde manÌ„a that is to saye the angels mete that no man knowyth but he that felyth it As saynt John witnessith in his apolipse And he that soothfastly felyth it maye well saye wyth dauyd the prophete soueraynly reioycynge body soule herte flesshe in god alyue O lorde Jhesu how moche is the multytude of thy swetnesse Quam magna multitu do dulce dinis that thou hast hydde to hem that in true loue dreden the Thus haue I vnderstonde of the forsayd gracyous wonderfull and myraculous worchinge of our lorde JhuÌ„ shewynge sensibly his blessyd delectable bodily presence in that moost excelleÌ„te sacrament of the awter in manere as the forsayd persone that felte it myght tell it soo in party and as I cowde shortly inperfectly wryte it The whiche myraculous worching to my vnderstondynge hauynge consideracyon to all cirstauÌ„ce ther of passeth many grete myracles that we redeÌ„ shewed in this holy sacrament In asmoche as the witte of that bodily felinge passyth incertaynte the wytte of syghte and hathe lasse of straunge lyckenes and more of the self sothfastnesse For what tyme that our lorde Jhesus apered in that blessed sacrament to streÌ„gthyng of byleue or to comfort of his chosen derlynges eyther in liknes of a lityll childe as he dyde to saynt edwarde kynge confessour or elles in quantyte of flessh al blody as it is wryten in the lyfe of saynt gregory other places Sooth it is that that bodily lyknes seen in that quantyte accordeth not wyth the very bodily quantyte shappe of oure lorde that henge on the crosse and that is sothly in that sacrament fro the bodily syghte But he that felyth that gracyous yefte before sayd hath noo strauÌ„ge bodily syghte of ony lyknesse other than sacrament in true byleue but in his soule lightned thrugh specyall grace he seeth inwardly wyth souerayn Joye that blessed body of JhuÌ„ cryst ryght as he henge on the crosse wythoute ony deceyte therwyth in the body Also he felyth sensibly the bodily presence of our lorde JhuÌ„s in manere as it is sayd before with soo grete Joye likynge that there can nootonge telle it fully nor hert vnderstonde it but onÌ„ly he that felyth it And as it semyth that Joyfull felyng in the body is lyke to yâ— that holy chirche syngeth of the apostles disciples at the feste of penthecoste whan the holy ghost was sent to hem sodenly in the lyknes of fire wythoutforth vnspekable Joy in her bodies wythin forth that is yâ— her bowels fylled wyth the holy ghoste Joyed soueraynly in god And soo maye he yâ— Imple ta gaudent viscera hath that forsayd gracyous yeft sothly say in that tyme with dauyd in specyall maner and hyghe gracyous felyng My herte and my flesshe reioyced hem soueraynly in to the presence of god alyue Jhesus That blessed be he euer and soueraynly for this hye feest of grace to man But now seace we bere awhyle of this delectable ghostly shewynge treatynge of this moost deynteous and precyous mete and take we hede ferdeâ—r more to the noble lesson that our lorde JhuÌ„s taughte his dâ—sciples therwyth after that worthy supper that is the fourth artycle beforsayd with purpose yet yf our lorde will sende grace to touche more of his precyous sacramente and that at laste ende of this boke as in conclusion of all the blessid lyfe here bodily of our lorde JhuÌ„ accordynge so wyth the gracious and resonable ordynaunce of holy chirche of the worthy solempne feste of this blessed sacrament as in a perfyte conclusyon af all the festes of our
vnbounden fro that pyler they ladden hym soo beten and naked aboute the hous sekyng after his clothes that were cast in dyuers places of hem that dispoyled hym Here haue coÌ„passyon of him in so grete colde quakynge treÌ„blynge For as the gospel wytnessith It was thenne harde colde And whan he wolde haue done on his clothes some of the moost wycked wyth stoden camen to pylate and sayden Lorde he this made hym selfe kynge wherfore lete vs clothe hym crowne hym as a kynge And thenÌ„e they token an olde sylken mantell of rede casten on hym maden a garlonde of sharpe thornes thyrsteÌ„ it on his hede putten in his hoÌ„de a rede for a ceptre al he pacyently suffreth And after whaÌ„ they kneled salued hym in scorne sayenge Heyle kynge of Jewes he helde his pees spake not Now beholde hym wyth sorowe of herte namly whaÌ„ they smyten him greuously oft tymes vpon the hede full of sharpe thornes the whiche perced greuously in to the brayne panÌ„e made it all ful of blode And soo they scorned hym as yf he wolde haue regned but that he myght not al he suffreth as her sernauÌ„te or knaue O wretches how dredful shal that hede appere at the last to you the whiche ye smyten now so boldli And yet this suffiseth not to her malice but to moâ— reproue scorne of heÌ„m they gadred al her wicked coÌ„pany fyrst to wonder vpon hym in the hous and after they broughte hym out before pylate al the peple in that maner Illuded with the crowne of thornes that olde purpur vestyment See now for goddis loue how he stant in that maner haÌ„ging his face dou ne towarde the erthe before all the grete multytude cryenge askynge of pylate Crucifye crucyfie hym and scorning hym that he wold make hym wyser than the prynces the pharysees the doctours of the law And how his wysdom was torneth in so grete foly as it shewed in that tyme And soo not onÌ„ly he suffred grete paynes sorow in his body wythin for the but also many foule abredgynges reproues wythoute forth ¶ How our lorde JhuÌ„s was daÌ„pned to the dethe of the yâ— crosse aboute tyerce of the daye Caplm xlii AFter that our lord JhuÌ„s was longe tyme so tormented and Illuded as it is sayd and the prynces of the Jewes wyth grete Instaunce contynuelly askeden maden all the multytude wyth hem to crye and aske that he sholde be crucyfyed At last the wretched Justyce pylate dredynge more to offende hem than to condempne the Innocent wrongefully yaaf the sentence vpon hym at her wyll and soo dampned hym to be hanged on the crosse And thenÌ„e were the prynces pharysees and the aldermen Joyefull gladde that they had her entent fulfylled They haue not in mynde the grete benefyces wonderfull dedes that he hath shewed hem And also they beÌ„ not moued to pite for his Innocence and that is more cruel in hem They ben not slaked nor withdrawen fro her malyce by the grete despytes paynes that they haue seen and done to hym before But laughen and maken Joye scornen hym that is very god and maye dampne hem to euerlastynge dethe And soo they now besien hem in all that they maye to bryng hym hastely to his dethe wherfore he is ladde in agayn to the hous where he was before scorged Illuded and there was draw fro hym that olde purpyll mantell and soo he alle naked was beden to clothe hymself ayen Now wyth Inwarde coÌ„passoÌ„n beholde hym here in manere as I sayd before oonly after the manhede so passyng soo fayre a yonge man moost Innocent moost louely in that maner all to rente and wounded and all blody naked wyth a maner of shamefastnes gadryng hys clothes in dyuerse places of that hous as they were dysclatered by thoo harlottes doynge hem on in honest maner before hem that euer lowghen hym to scorne as though he were the Nota de pacieÌ„câ—a â—â—â—taÌ„da moost wretche of al other forsaken of god wythoute al maner socoure or helpe ¶ wherfore nowe take hede dyligently to hym haue wounder of that grete profounde mekenes of hym and in as moche as thou mayste conforme the to folowe hym by pacyence and mekenes suffrynge of wronge for his loue And gooth forth wyth him and beholde how After he hath done on his clothes they ladden hym forth in grete haste layne vpon hym yâ— worshipful tree of the crosse that was heuy and full long that is to saye as it is wryten in storyes xv foote of lengthe the whiche he as a meke moste pacient lambe toke vpon his sholders bereth forth And soo was he ladde forth wyth his twoo felawes that were theues dampned to the self dethe this is his felawship at this tyme O good lord JhuÌ„ what shame done they to you that sholde be your frendes they maken you felawe to theues yet they done worse for they maken you to bere youre crosse that is not redde of hem wherfore not oonly as the prophete ysaye sayth ye be putte wyth wicked doers theues but also wyth CuÌ„ iniâ—s deputatus est worse than theues Sothely lord thy pacience may not be spoken ¶ Ferthermore as to the processe seenge his dere moder that she myghte not folowe him nyghe for the grete multitude of peple aboute him she toke another waye more short in haste with Johan other of her felawship so that she myÈte mete wyth hym before other by that waye whan she mette wyth him wythoute the yate of the Cyte there as ii wayes metten to gyder and sawe him charged ouerlayd wyth soo grete a tree of the crosse the whiche she sawe not before she was all out of herself and halfe dede for sorowe soo that neyther she myghte speke to hym one worde nor he to hir by cause of grete haast of hem that ladden hym to the Jewes And a lityl after our lorde torned hym to the wymÌ„en that folowed hym Filie iherlm nolite sleâ— super me wepyng and sayd to hem ye doughters of Jhrlm wepith not on me but on yourself and so forth after the gospell And in thise ii places were after made chirches in mynde of thise thiges as they sayen that haue seen hem Ferthermore by cause of the mount of caluarie where he was crucyfied was a grete space fro the yate of the cyte and he was atter so ouer come wyth traueyle wery that he myghte noo lenger bere yâ— heuy crosse he layed it doune But the cursed tormentours they full of malyce dredynge for to dyfferre his deth leest that pylate wold haue called ayen his sentence dome For he shewed beforÌ„ a wyll to haue delyuerde hym they maden a nother man that was called symon to bere the crosse with him and ladden hym soo discharged of the
ye breke him not as ye haue done the theues soo that I maye berye his body all hole for it nedith not sythen as ye seen he is fully dede and was a longe tyme now passed And therwyth John magdalene and her other systers knelynge wyth our lady besoughten the same wyth her sore wepynge O lady what doo ye ye lowen you to the fete of hem that ben moost wycked And prayen hem that haue noo rewarde to ony good prayer Suppose ye to bowe by your pyte hem that ben moost cruell and moost wycked wythout pyte Or to ouercome hem that ben alder proudest with mekenes naye For proude men haue abhomynacoÌ„n of mekenes ye traueyllen in vayne And therwyth one that was named longius and was that tyme wycked proude but after a true lyuer marter despisyng her wepyng prayers wyth a sharpe spere openyd the syde of oure lorde Jhesu and made a grete wounde Out of the whiche anone ranÌ„e togyder bothe bloode water And therwyth our lady felle doune in a swounyug half dede bytwene the harmes of magdalene And that John not mowynge bere that grete sorow toke to hym manÌ„es hert and risyng ayenst hem sayd ye wycked meÌ„ why doo ye this cruelte See ye not that he is dede why woll ye also slaye this woman his moder Go now your way for we shall berye hym And therwyth as god wolde they wente her waye ThenÌ„e was our lady excyted and so rose as it had be fro slepe askynge what was done more to her sone they sayd none newe thynge more ayenst hym And after she had caughte spiryte and behelde her sone soo greuously wounded was also wouÌ„ded in her herte wyth a newe wouÌ„de of sorow Seest thou now how oft times our lady is this day dede sothly as oft as she sawe done ayeÌ„st her sone oni payne wherfore now is fulfylled in her that symeon sayd to her prophecyeng Tâ—aÌ„ ipsiê° aâ—am ptraÌ„sibit gladâ—ê° longe before his suerde shal perce thrugh thyn oune soule that is to saye the suerde of his passoÌ„n sorowe And that befelle oft tymes in this daye But now sothly the suerde of this spere hath perced both the body of the sone the soule of the moder After this they saten doune all besyde the crosse but what they shall doo they wote not For they may not take do un the body berye it by cause they haue neyther streÌ„gthe nor Instrumentes apte therfore And for to goo awaye fro hym soo hangynge they dare not and longe abyde there they may not â–ª by cause that the nyghte was come on hem Here mayst thou see in what sorow and perplexyte they ben O benygne lorde Jhesu how is this that ye suffre your dere moder chosen before all other that is the myrrour of the worlde and youre specyall restynge place soo to be tormeÌ„ted troubled that vnneth she hathe ony spiryte to lyue And tyme it were that she had some manere of reste and relecynge of her sorowe ¶ Of the takynge doune of the crosse our lordes body Jhesu at euensonge tyme Caplm xlvi IN the mene tyme that oure lady Johan other before sayd were in soo grete perplexyte desolacion as it is sayd they lokeden toward the cyte as oftymes dyden for drede and thenne see they many other comynge towarde hem by the waye the whyche was Joseph of armathre and Nycodeme bryngynge wyth hem dyuerse Instrumentes wyth the whyche they sholde take doune the body of JhuÌ„ fro the crosse And also they broughte an hondred pouÌ„de of myrre and aloes for to anoynte his body soo burye hyt And thenÌ„e they all rysen vp wyth grete drede not knowynge what they wold do O lord god how grete is thy sorowe this daye ThenÌ„e Johan taking hede to hem that were so coming sayd to our lady Sothely I see comyng there Joseph Nichodeme And thenÌ„e our lady caughte spiryte was gretely comforted and sayd Blessed be oure lord god that hath sente vs helpe at oure nede hath mynde of oure sorowe that hath not forsake vs in oure trybulacyon Good sone Johan goo agaynst hem welcome hem For I wote well they come to our socoure And anone Johan wente agaynste hem And when they metten they clipped other wyth wepynge teres myghte not speke to other a grete whyle for tendernes of coÌ„passyon and sorowe After that they hadde walked forth a lytyll whyle and drawen nyghe towarde the Crosse Joseph asked who were there wythe our lady how it stode wyth the other dyscyples Johan answerynge tolde hem whoo were there wyth our lady but of the discyples he coude not tell for he sayd there was none of hem sene of all yâ— day â–ª ferthermore at her askynge he tolde all that was done agaynst our lord all the processe of his passyon when they come nygh the place knelynge doune and wepynge they honoured our lorde Jhesu And after metynge togyder our Lady and her systers mawdleyne receyued hem worshipfully with knelyng low bowynge to therthe and they ayen warde knelynge worship pynge wyth grete wepynge stoden soo togyder a grete whyle or they speken But at last our lady began to speke to hem said Sothly frendes ye hane done wel that ye haue mynde so of your mayster for he loued you well And as I knowlege plainly to you it semyd to me that there was a newe light rysen at your comynge For before we wyste not what we myighte doo therfore god quyte you And they sayden ayeÌ„warde we ben sory wyth all our herte for all thyse wronges malice done ayenst hym For as we seen well the wycked men hauen the maystry ayenst the ryghtwysman and we wolde full gladly haue delyuerde him fro so grete Jniury yf we had mighte â–ª But at the leest we shal do this seruyce to our lorde maister that we ben come fore And thenÌ„e they made hem redy to take hym downe Take now good hede in maner as I haue sayd before to the maner of takynge downe there are sette ii laders on the sydes on the crosse one ayenst another Joseph gooth vpon the ladder stoÌ„dynge of that houde on the right halfe besteth hym to drawe out the nayle of that honde but it is full harde For the nayle is grete longe harde driuen in to the tree And wythout grete thirstyng doune of our lordes hoÌ„de it may not be done but that is noo force for our lorde knowyth that he doyth al truly with good entent and therfore he acceptith his dede And whan the nayle was drawen out iohn makith sygne to nychode for to take hym it priuely soo that our lady see it not for dyscomfortynge And after in the same manere nychodeme drawyth oute the nayle of the lyfte honde and takyth it pryuely to Johan And thenne nychodeme comyth doune for to draw out the thirde nayle of the fete
to a blisful paradise thrugh his presence and al that blessid fely ship wyth myrth Joye that maye not be spoken or thought honoured worshipped and thanked soueraynly her lode â–ª that soo gracyously delyuerde hem fro that thraldome of the fende and restored hem to that blysse that they had forfeyted worthily by synne And soo in ympnes and Joyeful songes of the prophecye fulfylled Fyrste adam his progenye and after noe abraham moyses dauyd wyth all other holy faders and prophetes louinge and thankyng our lorde Jhesu contynued there wyth hym And his blessed angels in to the tyme that it lyked him to take vem thens wyth vnspekable Joye myrth and sette hem in paradise terrestre where that Enoch Hely liuynge in bodies abyden the tyme of antcryst the whiche also weren soueraynly coÌ„forted of his glorioê° presence wyth that blessed coÌ„pany And whan it drowe towarde daye vpon the sondaye that was the thirde daye fro his passion our lorde Jesus spake to hem all and sayd in thise maner wordes Now it is tyme that I reyse my body fro dethe to life And I therfore now shall goo take my body agayne And therwyth they all fallynge doune and worshippyng hym sayden Gooth oure lorde kynge of blysse soone after it be your wyll comyth agayn For we desyren soueraynly to see your moost gloryoê° body to oure souerayne comforte Comynge thenÌ„e our lorde JhuÌ„s in soule wyth a worshypful multytude of angels to the graue where his blessed body laye on the sondaye full erly byfore the full spryngynge of the daye and takynge agayn that body moost holy rose vp thorugh his owne vertue myghte and went out of that graue closid as he went first out of his mâ—â—s wombe clene virgyn in his natiuyte wythout sorow or wemÌ„e of synÌ„e And thenÌ„e aboute the same tyme that is to saye erly on morough mary mawdleyn mary of James of salome takynge her leue fyrste at our lady token the waye to warde the graue wyth precyous onements duellynge styll att home our lady and makynge her prayers in this maner Allmyghty god fader moost mercyfull and moost piteous as ye well knowe my dere sone is dede beryed For sothly he was nayâ—led to the crosse and hanged bitwyx ii theues And after he was dede I helped to berie hym wyth myne owne hondes whom I conceyued wythout corrupcyon And bare hym wy thoute traueylle and sorowe And he was alle my good alle my desyre and all the lyfe and comforte of my soule But at laste he passed awaye fro me all to beten all to wounded al to rente And all his enmyes rysen ayenst hym and scorned hym and dampned hym And his owne dâ—ycyples forsoken hym and flewe fro hym And I his sorouâ—â—ll moder myght not helpe hym And as ye knowen well fader of pyte and of mercy that haue all power myghte ye wolde not thenÌ„e delyuer hym fro the harde deth But now ye maye restore hym to me agayn to lyfe and that I beseche your hyghe mageste Lorde where is he now why taryeth he soo longe fro me Good fader sende him I praye you to me For my soule may not be in rest in to the tyme that I see hym â–ª O my swete sone what doost thou now And why abydest thou soo longe or thou â—â—me to me Sothly thou saydest that thou sholdest agayne vp ryse the thirde daye And is not this the thirde daye my dere sone Aryse vp now all my Joye and comforte me wyth thâ—â—e agayn comynge whom thou soo dyscomfortest thrugh tâ—â—n awaye passynge And with that she soo prayenge and swete teeres shedynge Loo sodenly our lorde JhuÌ„s came apered to her and in all the whitest clothes with a gladde louely â—here gretynge her on syde half in thise wordes â–ª Salue sâ—taÌ„ parens that is to saye â–ª Heyle holy moder And anone she torned her ◠〈…〉 sayd Arte thou JhuÌ„s my blessed sone And therwyth she knelyng downe honoured hym And also he agaynwarde knelâ—â—ge sayd My dere moder I am he I am vprysen and â—o I am wyth yâ— And after both rysyng vp kysseden louely other and she wyth vnspekable Joye clippynge hym sadly rested aâ— vpon him and he gladly bare her vp susteyned her After both sittyng togyder our lady besily and curyously behelde hym â—â—semblaunce and in hondes fete and al the body whether be had the sygnes of the wouÌ„des before â–ª Askynge hym whether all the paynes and sorowe weren awaye â–ª And he ansuerde sayd ye soothly worshypfull moder all sorowe is aware fro me And dethe sorowe and alle paynes anguysshes I haue ouercome soo that I shall neuer hens forwarde fele ought of heÌ„ And thenÌ„e she sayd Blessed be the holy fader that hath yâ— agayne yeuen to me and his holy name be exalted loued and magnyfied euer wythout ende And soo they bothe louely likyngly talkynge togider maden a grete Joyefull feest and oure lorde JhuÌ„s tolde her the worthy thynges that he dyde in tho iii. dayes after his passion And hou be delyuerde his choseÌ„ peple fro helle the deuell Loo this is a souerayne paske this is the Joyefull daye that dauyd spekyth of specyally sayenge â—ec est dies quam fecit dnÌ„s exultemus igitur et letemur in ea AMEN ¶ How that Mawdlayne and other maryes camen to the graue Caplm li. AS I sayd before Mary Mawdleyne and her two felowes token her waye towarde the graue of oure lorde Jhesu wyth precioê° oynements And whaÌ„ they came wythout the ya te of the cyte they token in to her mynde the paynes the tormeÌ„tes of her dere mayster And therfoâ— in al places where ony thynge was notably done agaynst hym or by hym they somwhat stoden and abydynge knelynge doune kissynge the erthe sighyng wepyng and in thise maner wordes sayeng to other lo here we mett hym wyth yâ— grete heuy crosse on his backe whaÌ„ his moder swouned and half dede And after her he torned to the wymÌ„en of Jhrlm yâ— maden sorowe for hym And ferdermore here for werynesse ouer myghte he layed downe the crosse And here it was that the wicked tormentours violently and cruelly putten him fourth and constrayneden him to goo faster And here at the laste they spoylleden hym of his clothes and maden hym all naked and soo cruelly nayleden hym vpon the crosse And thenÌ„ wyth grete sorowe and shedynge of teres fallynge doune vpon her faces they worshippeden inwardly and kisseden deuoutly the crosse of oure lorde that was thenÌ„e spreyned wyth his precyous rede blode And ferdermore they rysynge vp and goinge Tettus towarde the graue sayden to other who shall ouertorne to vs that grete stone fro the dore of the sepulcre And therwith they nyghinge therto and Inwardly beholdynge seen the stone ouertorned And an angell syttyng therupon and sayenge to hem Dredeth not ye sechyth Jhesu And soo forth as the
closed where Thomas was thenÌ„e presente wyth hem that was not soo the fyrste daye before sayde And aâ—ter his felowes hadden tolde hym how they had seen her lorde And he not byleuyng but yt he myghte touche hym as the processe of the gospell plainly tellyth ThenÌ„e the gode herdman of his errynge shepe â–ª besy and hauinge compassion sodenly stondynge in myddes of hem â–ª and sayd Pees to you And therwyth tornyng hym specyally to thomas sayd Putt in thy fynger hyder and see touche my hondes and bryng fourth thyn honde and putt it in to my syde And be no more of mysbyleue but hâ—sforwarde truely byleuyng And thenÌ„e reuerently Thomas knelyng downe wyth bothe Joye and drede touched his wouÌ„des as he badde sayd My lord and my god He sawe hym man â–ª and byleued hym god And thenÌ„e also he knouleged his gylte in that he had forsaken hym as other dyden also â–ª And our lorde goodly takynge hym vp sayd Drede not all thy synnes ben foryeue And this longe doubte and mysbyleue of thomas was of the grete godenes of our lorde in that manere suffred for our profyte to the more open pre yf and certaynte of his very resurreccyon And soo we maye see here the grete benygnytee mekenesse and feruent loue of oure lorde Jhesu in that yâ— he shewyth to Thomas and his other discyples soo openly his wouÌ„des for to put away fro her hertes alle manere derkenesse of mysbyleue to bothe hers and ours grete profyte And specially our lord reserued in his gloryous body the steppes of his woundes for iii â–ª skylles that is to saye Fyrste to confermyng of the fayth of his resurreccoÌ„n N. bil to t 〈…〉 discyples And secondly for to shewe hem to the fader 〈…〉 woll praye for vs and make hym plesed to vs for 〈…〉 r specyall and souerayne aduocate in that party And th 〈…〉 de skylle is for to shewe hem at the daye of dome to yâ— reproued peple vnto her confusion â–ª And soo stondeth our lorde wyth his blessed moder and maudleyne his discyples as longe as hym lyste comynynge homely wyth hem in maner as it is sayd in the nexte chapyter to be had in contemplacoÌ„n And thenÌ„e att laste he badde hem goo in to galile to the mounte Thabor as it is sayd For there he sayd he wolde speke more wyth hem And thenne yeuynge hem his blessynge he passed awaye fro hem ¶ How our lorde Jhesus appered to his dyscyples in galyle Caplm lix AFter the discyples were gone in to Galyle as our lorde badde there he appered efte to hem â— sayd There is yeuen to men alle the power in heuen in erthe Gooth now 〈…〉 teche all maner of peple baptisynge hem in the name of the fader the sone and the holy ghost â–ª and techynge hem to kepe all those thynges that I haue bydden you and be of gode comforte For loo I am wyth you all the dayes in to the worldes ende And they honoured him at his cominge and stonden after wyth hym full Joyeful and gladde ¶ Now take we good hede to the forsayd wordes for they ben full comfortable worthy Fyrst he shewyth to hem that he is lorde of all thyng After he yeuyth hem auctoryte mauÌ„dement to preche â–ª The thirde he yeuyth hem the fourme of baptisynge And att laste the strongest holde and comfort that they myght haue whan he sayth that he shall euer be wyth hem â—oo what Joye and comfort he yeueth hem And how many grete tokens of charytee he shewyth to hem And soo yeuynge hem his blessynge he passed awaye fro hem ¶ How our lorde JhuÌ„s apered to the discyples at the see Tyberiadis Johis xxi Caplm lx Dwellynge yet the discyples in Galyle vpon a tyme vii of theym wenten to fysshe in the see of Tiberyadis as the gospel tellith in processe the whiche I passe ouer ¶ But yf we take hede Inwardly to all those thynges that were there spoken done we maye fynde moche ghostly mirthe comforte in hem and namly in that solempne feest that our lorde made there to hem In the whiche he homely etynge wyth hem and as his maner alwaye was mekely seruynge heÌ„ ful likyngly fedde hem not onÌ„ly bodily but moche more ghostly wherof he yeue vs part ghostly JhuÌ„s for his mercy Amen ¶ After the forsayd feest complete our lorde asked of peter de petro whether he loued hym more than other and eft and the thyr de tyme askynge whether he loued hym At euery tyme he coÌ„meÌ„ded to hym his peple yâ— he sholde after gouernÌ„ badde him fede his shepe wherin we may see the proper benignyte me kenes of our lorde JhuÌ„s and specyally his hyghe charyte and de petro Joâ—e the grete lone that he hath to our soules And after he tellith before to peter the deth that he sholde suffre for his loue And peter willynge to wite also of John that folowed with him in what maner he sholde deye was ansuerde thus of our lorde I woll that he dwelle soo tyll I come As who sayth I woll not that he folowe me as thou by the passyon suffrynge but yâ— in his full age contemplacoÌ„n he ende this lyfe in pees Neuertheles other discyples mys vndstode by that worde that he sholde not haue deyed and yet had not that ben a grete yeft sy then it is better to be bodily dede and dwelle euer wyth cryste as the appostle sayth ¶ After this our lorde Jhesus passed a waye fro theym and went again as he was wonte to the holy faders in paradyse Also our lorde Jhesus appered a nother tyme to moo than fyue hundred discyples and brethern gade Apparu 〈◊〉 JhuÌ„s â—ngent â–ª fribus red togyder As the appostle poul wytnessyth But where or what tyme or how it is not wryten Neuertheles we may suppose that it was as he was wont wyth grete charyte meke nesse and goodnesse on his syde and wyth grete Joye comforte on her syde And soo haue we now touched of xii apperynges of our lorde JhuÌ„ after his resurreccoÌ„n wythout two yâ— folowen after in his ascencoÌ„n ¶ Of alle the Apperynges of oure lorde Jhesu in generalle Caplm lxi THough it soo be that our lorde JhuÌ„s appered in druerse manere after his resurreccyon xiiii tymes as it is sayde Netheles the gospel specifyeth not but onÌ„ly of x. For how he apered to his moder it is not wryten in ony place but we resonably deuoutly trowe it as it is sayd before Also of other iii. apperynges that is to saye to Joseph to James mo than v. C. brethern is specyfied beforÌ„ where they ben wryten but not in the gospell Also we maye well suppose of many mo For it is lykly that he the moost benigne lorde ofte tymes visited bothe his moder his dyscyples and maudleyne his specyall beloued comfortynge and gladynge hem specyally that were in his
passyon moost dredfull sory And that semyth that saynt augustyn felt where he sayth thus Of our lordes body apperynge his ResurreccoÌ„n alle thynges ben not wryten For his conuersacoÌ„n wyth hem was oft tymes peraueÌ„ ture also the holy faders namly abraham dauyd To whom was made of god the specyall byheste of the Incarnacyon of goddes sone comen ofte tymes wyth hym to see that mooste excellent vyrgyne her doughter and goddis moder The whiche for hem and all other founde soo grete grace and that bare her sauyour and all mankynde O lorde god how likyngely they behelde her How reuerently they enclyned to her And wyth all deuocyon that they cowde they blessed her and honoured her Though it soo were that they were not seen of her ¶ Also in alle thise we maye consider the grete benygnytee the hyghe charytee and the profounde mekenesse of our lorde Jhesu as we ben wonte Of the whyche ofte tymes we haue made mynde and the whiche shewen in alle his dedes And specyally he in that here wolde after his resurreccoÌ„n and gloryous vyctory not stye vp anone to his blysse But in manere of a pylgryme fourty dayes abyde here in erthe To conferme and strengthe his discyples and vs in hem And that not by his angels as he myghte lyghtly haue done but compellinge hym by his highe charytee He wolde oonly doo that in his owne persone and bodily be conuersaunt wyth hem aperynge to hem as it is sayd fourty dayes spekynge of the kyngdome of god ¶ And all this he dyde not oonly for hem but for vs And yet we can not se it He hath loued vs. and yet he loueth vs soo feruently and yet we loue not hym agayn warde And that is a grete reprouable vnkyndnesse in vs For at soo grete syre of loue we sholde not be made hote But by reason we shall fully brenne But now leuynge this Goo we to the gloryous AscencoÌ„n ¶ Of the AscencoÌ„n of our lorde Jhesu Caplm lxii TOuchynge the wonderfull Ascencyon of oure lorde Jhesu thou that herest or redest this yf thou wolt fele the swetnes therof I woll that thou be wakeli quicke in thi soule so ferforth that yf euer herby fore as it was byden the thou madest the by deuoute yma gynacoÌ„n as present to hys wordes dedes Now thou doo moche more wyth alle thy myght For this solempne nyte passeth all other as I shall clerly shewe the wyth in forth in processe namly this one thing shold stire herte thyn entencoÌ„n quyck thin affeccoÌ„n that thy lord is now in passyng away fro yâ— as by his bodily preseÌ„ce the tyme of his pylgrymage here in erth with the fully coÌ„plete ended wherfore his wordes dedes may be the more atteÌ„tyfly besily to be coÌ„sidred For sothly euery cristeÌ„ soule shold hir spouse hir lord her god in his away passing most wakly besily take tent to And tho thinges that beÌ„ by him spokeÌ„ done most inwardli set in mynde moost deuoutly mekely recoÌ„mende here to him vtterly withdraw al her mynde in this tyme fro al other thinges set it holy vpoÌ„ her spouse For to go thenÌ„e to yâ— processe of thascencoÌ„n of our lorde JhuÌ„ we shall haue in mynde yâ— on the xl day after his resurreccoÌ„n our lord JhuÌ„s knowing yâ— his tyme was come for to passe fro this worlde to the fader takiÌ„ge out of paradyse terrestre the holy faders alle the blessed soules blessinge enoch hely that there abidyng styll yet liuyng he came to his discyples the whiche were togyder that tyme in mount Syon in the place where he made that worthy supper the nyght before his passyon there beinge thenÌ„e wyth his blessed moder other discyples And soo aperynge to hem he wolde ete wyth hem or he passed fro hem in a specyall token and a memoryall of loue Joye to hem wherfore all etynge togyder wyth grete Joye myrthe in this laste feest of our lorde JhuÌ„ Thenne sayd he to hem Tyme is come now that I torne agayne to hym that sent me But ye shal dwelle and a byde in the cyte tyll ye ben newe clothed ghostly thrugh vertu that shall come fro aboue For sothly wythin fewe dayes here after ye shall bee fulfylled with the holy ghost as I behighte you And after ye shall go preche my gospell thrugh all yâ— worlde baptisynge hem that woll byleue in me And soo ye shall be my wytnesse in to the vttreste ende of the erthe Also he reprehended hem or abreyde hem now specyally whan he byddeth hem preche of her mysbyleue in that that they trowed not to hem that saye hym be vpryseÌ„ and that were the angels And though he sayd to them in this maner sentence to make hem vnderstonde Moche more ye sholde haue trowen byued to the angels or ye sawe me than the peple shall trow to your prechyng the whiche shall not see me ¶ Also he reproued and abreyde thenÌ„e her mysbyleue for they shold knowe firste her owne defawte and therby be the more meke she wyng hym now in this departyng how moche it plesed hym mekenes And therforÌ„ specyally he recoÌ„mende it at the last to hem Thenne they asked hym of those thynges that were to come after but he wolde not telle hem For it was not spedefull to hem to knowe the preuytees of god the whiche the fader had reserued and set in his owne power to fulfyll whan hym liked Thus stonden they togyder etynge and spekynge wyth grete Joye to hem of the blessed presence of her lorde But neuerthelesse wyth grete drede and trowblaunce of his awaye passynge And noo wonder For they loued hym soo tenderly that they myghte not wyth easy herte bere the wordes of his bodily departyng fro hem and namly our lady hys blessed moder that loued him passynge alle other We maye wel suppose that she touched styred soueraynly wych yâ— swetnes of moderly loue as she sate next hym at that mete layd doun her hede swetely rested vpoÌ„ his blessed brest as saynt Johan dyde before in that forsayd moost worthy supper and so wyth swete teeres sighyng she spake to hym in this manere prayeng My dere sone yf thou wolt alwaye goo to thy fader I praye yâ— lede me wyth the And our lorde coÌ„fortyng her sayd I praye the my dere moder take not heuily my goinge fro the for I goo to the fader for thy best it is spedful that thou dwelest here yet awhile to coÌ„ferme hem thall shal truly byleue in me And after I shall come take the with me in euerlastyng blisse And thenÌ„e she sayd My swete sone thy wyll be dâ—ne for not onÌ„ly I am redy to abide at thy will but also to suffre deth for tho soules yâ— thou suffredest deth fore But euer I beseche the haue minde on me And thenÌ„e our lord coÌ„forted morouer her
grete comforte of hym that forsakyth worldly coÌ„forte for god The same saint bernarde coÌ„cluded in thise wordes The apostles in this bidyng seten perseuerauÌ„t wyth one No bnÌ„ wyll togyder in prayer wyth the woman mary JhuÌ„s moder And in the selfe maner lerne thou to praye lerne thou to seke No bernardum to aske and knocke at the door tyll thou fynde tyll thou take and tyll it be opened to the Our lorde knoweth thy freeyll feble kynde and he is true and wol not suffre the to be tempted more than thou mayst bere And I truste in him that yf thou wolt abyde truely thou shalt not abide the tenth day but that he shall come before coÌ„forte thy desolate soule And so prayenge in his blessynges of ghostly swetnesse soo that thou shalte haue soo grete likyng in his mynde and in those ghostly drinkes that he shal make the dronke oft in soule that thou shalt be Joyfull gladde that euer thou forsoke the fals comfortes of the worlde Loo by this forsaid sentence of saynt bernarde we maye see in party what behouyth to receyue the holy Ghost his loue wherfore that we maye be able to receyue here that grete yefte of the holy ghost his coÌ„forte and after come to the blisse that our lord JhuÌ„s is now steyen vp hath made our way before vs. leue we hate we al fals loue likyng of this wretched worlde And set we not our loue on the stynkyng flessh nourissh we it not in desires but desire we coÌ„tynuelly for to be departed therfro Soo that thrugh the grace of the holy ghost helping vs we maye folowe somwhat the blessed lyf of our lorde in this worlde after goo vp to him to our kynde heritage of blysse in the gloryious cytee of heuenly Jhrlm where he souerain kyng wyth the fader the holy ghost one god in trinyte lyueth regneth wythout ende Amen ¶ Thus endeth the contemplacoÌ„n of the blessed lyfe of our lorde JhuÌ„ the whiche processe for asmoche as it is here thus wryten in englysshe tonge lenger in many partyes in other maner than is the laten of Bonauenture â–ª therfore it semyth not conuenient to folowe the processe therof bi the dayes of the weke after th entent of the forsayd Bonauenture For it were to tedious as me thynketh and also it sholde soo soone be fulsome and not in comfortable deyntees by cause of the freilte of mankynde that hath likynge to here and to knowe newe thynges and those that ben seldom herde ben oft in the more deyntee wherforÌ„ it semyth to me best that euery deuoute creature that loueth to rede or here this boke take the parties therof as it semyth moost comfortable and stirynge to his deuocoÌ„n Somtyme one somtyme another and specyally in tymes of the yere and the festes ordeyned in holy chirche as the maters ben pertynent to hem And for asmoche as that blessed and worthy feest of the precyous sacrament of JhuÌ„s body in the whiche he is euery daye bodily presente wyth vs to oure moost comforte that we maye haue in erthe is the ende and conclusyon of alle other Festes of hym gracyously and resonably ordeyned by holy chirche as it was sayd before TheforÌ„ wyth the grace of the holy ghost of him of whom that feest is we shal speke somwhat more to coÌ„forte of hem that truely bileuen and to confusion of all fals lollardes heretykes AmeÌ„ ¶ Blessed be the name of our lorde JhuÌ„ his moder mary now euer wythout ende AMEN ¶ Explicit Spâ—lm vite Cristi ¶ A shorte treatyce of the highest moost worthy sacrament of cristis blessid body and the merueyles therof MEmoriam fecit mirabiliuÌ„ suorum misericors miserator dnÌ„s escaÌ„ dedit timentibus se Thyse wordes of dauyd in the saâ—â—ter sayd in prophecye soÌ„ge tyme before thyncarnacoÌ„n of our lorde JhuÌ„ specyally of the worshipfull sacramente of his precyous bodi hauen senteÌ„ce vnder stondynge in englyssh tonge Our lorde mercyfull mercy yeuer hath maade a mynde of his merueyles that he hathe yeue mete to hem that dreden him This mete is that precyous ghostly mete of the blessed body of our lorde in the sacrament of th aulter that he of his souerayn mercy yeuyth euery day in forme of brede to all tho that truely dreden him as her lord god by the whiche drede they kepen hem from dedely synne and mekely standen in stedfaste byleue of holy chyrche ¶ And this ghostly mete he yeuyth and hath made therby a specyall mynde of his merueiles That is to saye as the prestes rehercen in the canon of the masse in mynde of his merueyles blessed passoÌ„n and of his merueylous ResurreccoÌ„n and of his gloryous AscencoÌ„n And generally in minde of all the merueylous werkes dedes of hym in his blessed lyf here in this worlde the whiche is treated in all this boke before wryten For to begyn â—yrst at his merueyllous IncarnacoÌ„n soo how expresse mynde therof is this mete that he yeuyth to vs in the sacrament of the aulter For therin is he verily and in that self body that was so merueylously conceyued by the holy ghost aboue kynde And also soo merueylously borne of his blessed moder mary wythout sorowe or weme of synne And soo forth of all the merueyllous werkes and dedes of hym in to this ghostly mete we haue that specyall mynde that none maye be more and that we haue of none other For all other thynges passed that we haue mynde of we conceyue in spiryte and in hert soo that therby we haue not the bodily presence of hem But in this ghostly mete and sacramentale coÌ„memoracoÌ„n of our lord Jhesu he is verily bodily present wyth vs vnder another forme But sothly in his owne proper substaunce very god man For what tyme he sholde stye vp in to heueÌ„ he sayd to his discyples his folowers in thise wordes Lo I am wyth you all the dayes in to the worldes ende coÌ„fortyng hem by this benigne promyse that he sholde dwell wyth hem not onÌ„ly by ghostly presence of his godhede but also by the bodyly presence of his manhede that he yeuyth to vs in this forsayd mete of his flessh blode in mynde of his merneyles generally as it is sayd but most specyall in mynde of that blessed passion that he suffred for vs. For what tyme he shold passe out of this world to the fader the nyght before his passoÌ„n at that worthy supper wyth his discyples as it is sayd before he made and ordeyned this souerayne moost worshypfull sacrament of his flessh blode yeuynge his body to mete and his blode in to drynke for a specyall mynde of his passion dethe For thus he sayde to his appostles in that fyrste makynge of this heelfull sacrament This dooth ye in my mynde Soo that the souerayne moost worthy
be hidde they publysshed it in the eeres of the peple openly And soo as the kynge wolde it was for the tyme hydde But after by the ordynauÌ„ce of god publysshed knowen to that ende that the kynges mekenesse therby as hidde shold be preued And netheles therwyth by open knowyng of yâ— grete myracle yâ— faith of true byleuinge men shold be coÌ„fermed streÌ„ghthid to worship of our lorde JhuÌ„ that of his special grace werchith suche myracles and merueyles in that blessed sacrament of his precyous body in specyall comfortynge of true lyuers and more feruent stiringe to his loue AMEN ¶ Also accordynge to the selfe purpoos I fynde wrytynge in the longe lyfe of saynt Hughe bisshop of Lyncolne and firste monke of thorder of charterhous and pryour of wytham The whiche lyfe wrote a chappellayn of his and monke of the selfe order that herde and sawe that he wrote And amonge other in this manere sentence sayenge It befell vpon a satirdaye the forsayd bysshop saynt Hughe dwellynge at a maneer of his called Bukedene as he sange a masse of our lady after his comyn custome in that daye there herde his masse wyth other a deuoute clerke that was sent to hym by specyal reuelacoÌ„n of god wherof there is wryten a fayr processe touchyng another matere the whiche we passen ouer here And as to our purpoos what tyme it was comÌ„ to the sactynge as the bysshop helde vp goddys body in forme of biede there appered to the syghte of the forsayd clerke bitwyx the prestes holy hondes our lorde god bodily in lykenes of a passyng fayr lityll childe Of the whiche syghte he that sawe it Inwardly coÌ„puncte as noo wonder was hiely styred in to feruent deuocoÌ„n coÌ„tynued all the tyme of yâ— masse in swete teres deuout prayers tyll it came to that place where thoost sholde be lyft vp aboue the chalyce be departed in thre at the whiche tyme he efte sawe the self lykenes the forsayd JhuÌ„ goddis sone of heueÌ„ of fryng hymself in sa crefise to the fader for manÌ„es hele saua coÌ„n After the masse was full ended the selfe clerke spekynge wyth the holy bisshap in preuyte tolde hym fyrst the reuelacy on before named And after yâ— fayr vision of goddis bodi here declared therwyth at thâ—de wyth shedyng teres in this maner coÌ„cludynge sayd thê° I sawe my holy fader with myn vn worthy eyen that blessed syght the whiche it is noo doubt but that ye seeÌ„ it also moche more clerly for lenger nere motÌ„ worthily And therwyth bothe the bysshop he wyth swete teeres comynyng ghostly a grete whyle togider after at the counseyle of the bysshop and biddyng for to kepe the forsayd vysion preuy the clerke became a religyoê° man and after holy liuynge here went to blysse euerlastynge Amen Touchynge the seconde cause of myracles merueyles shewed ii causa mitacâ—o rum in this blessed sacrameÌ„t of goddis body that is to saye for to coÌ„uerte hem that ben of mysbileue in to yâ— true byleue Fuste we rede in the life of saynt gregory the pope worthy doctour in this maner sentence ¶ There was a matrone of Rome the whiche euery sondaye offred to saynt gregory certain loues of brede wherof was made goddis body And vpon a sondaye whan saynt gregory wolde haue comuned the forsayd woman wyth one of hem that was coÌ„seâ—rate made god dis body sayeng after the comyn vse of holy chirche in thyse wordes The body of our lorde JhuÌ„ cryste kepe the in to euerlastyng lyf She brake out in to a dissolute laughter thenÌ„e saynt gregory wythdrewe the sacrament fro her and kept it to the ende of the masse And after before the peple he asked the matrone why she lough And thenÌ„e she said by cause that thou callest goddis body the brede that I haue made wyth my hondes And thenÌ„e saynt gregory fell doune in to his prayers to god for the mysbyleue of the womaÌ„ And after that he rose vp he fonde the sacrament torned in to lyknes of a finger in flesshe blode where thrugh the woman was fro her misbyleue torned in to the true And soo after with the self sacrament by prayer of saynt gregory torned in to the lykenes of brede as it was beforÌ„ she was comuned and more styfly set in true bileue of this blessed sacrament And also other thruâ— her to the worshippÌ„ of the highe gracyous auctour wercher herof our lorde Jhesus cryste Amen To this self purpoos accordynge also I fynde wryten in the forsayd life of saynt hughe that vpon a tyme as saynt hughe goynge thrugh fraunce was Inned for the tyme in a towne that was called Joye there came to hym the parysshe preeste of the towne the whiche was an olde man a reuerent in syight and wonder lene for grete penauÌ„ce doynge for his synnes as it was supposed And wherof it folowith after in processe the whiche I take as in short wordes to our purpose and yâ— self preest tolde of hymself in this maner Whan I was yonge he sayd I was made preest but neyther yeres ne maners accordynge to that worthy degree thrugh temptacoÌ„n stirynge of the fende I felle in to a grete dedely synÌ„e In the whiche sinne I contynued without contrycoÌ„n confessyon that is horrible to here Soo as I was pollute in body soule and ghostly blynde seke in the fayth I vsed boldly to synge my masse and dradde not to treate receyue that worthy sacrament of crystis precyous flesshe blood And vpon a daye as I was at my masse in tyme of the consecracoÌ„n felle to my myude yâ— grete horryble synÌ„e the whyche I had solonge tyme contynued in And amonge other wretched thoughtes of my blynde herte I thought in this maner Lorde whether that precyous body in flesshe blode of my lorde JhuÌ„ that is called the bryghtnes of euerlastynge lyfe and ghostly myrrour of the godhe de wythout weÌ„me is now made treated receyued verely of me soo foule and abhomynable synÌ„er And so hauyng suche vnthrifty thoughtes whan it came to the tyme of the fraccy on and as the vse is I had broken thoost in two Anone fresshe blode ranne oute therof and that parte that I helde in my honde was torned in to flesshe and ouer al wete wyth the reed blode And therwyth I seenge this was al astonyed abasshed and well nyghe out of my wytt and soo as for loste the couÌ„seyle of all reason All that I helde in my honde I lete fall doune in to the chalyce There was thenÌ„e to see yet now is a wonderfull myracle that is to saye wyne torned openly to mannes syghte in to blode and brede in to flesshe declarynge expressely the forme the sothnes of that blessed sacrament Ferdermore he sayd whan I sawe this maner of lykenes abide styll wythout ony tornynge or chauÌ„gynge I durst nomore touche
per compilatoreÌ„ eiusdem N. Reuerendissimo in cristo patri et dnÌ„o dnÌ„o Thome Arundell caÌ„ tuarieÌ„si Archiepiscopo ad inspiciendum et ex ammanduÌ„ antequam fue rat libere comuiÌ„cata Qui post ispectioneÌ„ eiusdem perdies aliquot retradens ipsum librum memorato eiusdeÌ„ libri proprie vocis oraculo in singulis comeÌ„dauit et approbauit nec noÌ„ et auctoritate sua metropolitica vt pote Catholicum publice cominicandum decreuit et mandauit ad fidelium e dificacionem et hereticoruÌ„ siue lollardorum confutacionem QVecunque scripta sunt ad nostram doctrinaÌ„ scripta suÌ„t vt per pacienciam et coÌ„solacionem scripturarum spem habeamê° ad romaÌ„os xv ¶ These ben the wordes of the grete doctour and holy apostel saynte poule consyderyng that the ghostly lyuyng of all trew Cristen creatures in this world stant specyally in hope of the blysse the lyf that is to come in another world And for as moche as two thynges pryncypally nouryshen strengthen thys hope in man that is pacyence in herte and ensample of vertues good lyuyng of holy men wreton in bookes and souereynly the wordes the dedes wryten of our lorde Jhesu Criste veray god maÌ„ for the tyme of his bodely lyuynge here in erthe Therfore to strengthe vs and conforte vs in his hope speketh the apostle the wordes forsayde to thys entente sayenge that all thynges that ben wryten generally in holy chyrche and specyally of our lord Jhesu criste They ben wreton to oure lore that by pacyence and comforte of holy scryptures we haue hope that is to saye of the lyf blesse that is to come in another worlde ¶ Here to accordynge speketh saynte Austyne thus Goddissone toke mankind in hym he suffryd that longyd to man was made medecyne of man and thys medicyne is so mykel that it maye not be thought For there is no pryde but that it maye be heled thorugh the mekenes of goddes sone There is no couetise but that it may be heled thorugh his pouerte No wrath but that it may be heled thorugh his pacience No malice but that hit maye be heled thorugh hys charite ¶ And more ouer there is no synne of wyckednesse but that it shall wante hyt and be kepte fro hit the whyche beholdeth inwardly And loueth and foloweth the wordes and the dedes of that man in whome goddes sone yaaf him selfe to vs in to ensample of good lyuynge wherfore nowe bothe men and wymmen and euery age and euery dygnyte of thys world is styred to hope of euerlastyng lyf ¶ And for thys hope and to thys entente wyth holy wrytte Also ben wreton dyuerse bookes and tretes of deuoute men not oonly to clerkes in latyn but also in englysshe to lewde men and wymmen and hem that ben of simple vnderstondynge Amonge the whyche ben wreton deuonte meditacyons of Crystes lyf more playnly in certayn partyes than is expressyd in the Gospel of the foure Euangelystes ¶ And as hit is sayde the deuoute man and worthy Clerke Bonauenture wrote hem to a relygyous woman in laten the whyche scrypture and wrytynge for the fructuous matere therof stering specyally for the loue of Jhesu Cryste and also for the playne sentence to comyne vnderstondynge semeth a monge other souereynly edyfyenge to symple creatures The whiche as chyldren haue nede to be fedde wyth mylke of lyghte doctryne not wyth sadde mete of grete clergye and oâ— hyghe contemplacyon wherfore at the Instance and prayer of somme deuout soules to edyfycacyon of suche men or wymmen is this drawynge oute of the forsayde booke of Crystes lyf wreton in englyssh wyth more putte to in certayne partyes and also wythdrawynge of dyuerse auctorytees and maters as it semeth to the wryter Bernard ad 〈…〉 dem 〈…〉 herof mooste spedeful edyfyeng to hem that ben of symple vnderstondyng To the whyche symple soules as saynte Bernard sayth comtemplacion of the manhede of Cryste is more lykynge more spedefull more syker than is hyghe contemplacoÌ„n of the godhede And therefore to hem is pryncypally to be sette in mynde the ymage of Crystes Incarnacyon Passyon and ResurreccoÌ„n so that asymple soule canne not thynke but bodyes and bodyly thynges maye haue somwhat accordynge to hys affeccyon wherwyth he maye fynde and styre hys deuocyon Nota pro 〈…〉 intellectu humâ—â— liber ¶ wherfore hyt is to vnderstonde atte the begynnyng as for a pryncypalle and generall rule of dyuerse ymagynacyons that folowen after in thys booke that the descryuyng of speches or dedes of god in heuen and angellis or other ghoostly substaunce ben only wreten in thys manere and to thys entent that is to saye as deuout ymagynacoÌ„ns and lykenes styrynge symple soules to yâ— loue of God and desyre of heuenly thynges For as saynt Gregorye sayth therfore is the kyngdome of heuene lykened to erthely thynges that by tho thynges Gregorius in Omelia Simile est reg oe th that ben vysible and that man kyndely knoweth he be stered and rauysshed to loue and desyre ghoostly inuysyble thynges that he kindely knoweth not ¶ Also saynte Jhon sayth that alle tho thynges that Jhesus dyde ben not wreten in the gospel wherfore we mowen to styrynge of deuocyon ymagyne and thynke dyuerse wordes and dedes of hym and other that we finde not wreton so that it be not ageynste the byleue as sainte Gregore and other doctours sayen that holy wrytte may be expowned and vnderstonde in dyuerse maners and to dyuerse purposes Soo that it be not ageynst the byleue or good maners And so what tyme or in what place in thys book is wreton that thus dyde Nota bene or thus spake our lorde Jhesus or other that ben spoken of and it maye not be preued by holy wryte or grounded in expresse sayenges of hooly doctours hit shalle be taken none otherwyse than as a deuoute medytacyon that hyt myght so be spoken or done ¶ And so for as moche as in the boke ben conteyned dyuerse ymagynacoÌ„ns of Crystys lyf the. whiche lyf fro the begynnyng in to the endyng euer blessyd and withoute synne passynge alle the lyues of alle other sayntes as NomeÌ„ libri for a synguler prerogatyue maye worthely be cleped the blessyd lyf of Jhesu crist The whyche also by cause hyt may not be fully descryued as the lyues of other sayntes but in a maner of lyknesse as the ymage of mannes face is shewed in the myrrour ¶ Therfore as for a pertynent name to thys booke hyt maye skylfully be cleped the Myrroure of the blessyd lyf of Jhesu Cryste Ferthermore for to speke of the proffitable good mater of this booke the forsayde Clerke Bonauenture spekynge to the woman forsayd in his proheme begynneth in this maner sentence ¶ Bonaueture Incipit AMonge other vertuous commeÌ„dynges of the holy virgyne Cecille it is wreton that she bare alwaye the gospel of Criste hydde in her breste that maye
â—ernard his lord was come before and there he fonde all the holy Trimen or his messager For thou shalt vnderstonde that thys blessid Incarnacion was the hyhe werke of all the holy Trinite though hit so be that only the persone of the sone was Incarnate become man But now beware here that thou erre not in ImaginacoÌ„n of god of the holy Trinite supposynge that these thre persones the fader the sone and the holy ghost ben as thre erthely men that thou feest with thy bodyli eye whiche ben thre dyuerse substauÌ„ces eche departed fro other so that none of hem is other Nay it is not so in thys ghostly substuÌ„ce of the holy Trynyte For tho thre persones ben one substauÌ„ce and one god and yet is ther none of these persones other But yet may thou not vnderstoÌ„de by manÌ„es reason ne conceyue with thy bodyly wytte And therfore take here a generall doctrine in this mater now for algate what tyme thou herest or thynkest of the Trynyte or of the godhede or of ghoostly creatures as Aungels or soules the whiche thou mayst not see in her propre kynde with thy bodyly eye ne fele with thy bodyly wytte studye not to fer in that mater occupye not thy wytte therwith as thou woldest vnderstoÌ„de it by bodyly reson For it wylle not be whyle we be in thys boistoâ— body lyuyng here in erthe And therfore whan thou herest ony suche thyng in byleue that passeth thi kindely reson trowe soth fastly that it is soth as holy chirche techeth goo no ferther And so thou shalt bileue in thys mater of the IncarnacoÌ„n that the second persone in trynyte Goddes sone of henene come in to the erthe tooke flesshe and blood of the blessyd vyrgyne Mary and become veray man yet was he neuer departed fro the fader or the holy ghost in his godhede but euer was dwelling stylle with hem one very god in heuen But now for to goo to oure purpos of the Incarnacion before sayd take hede haue in mynde as thou were present in the pryue chaÌ„â—er af our lady where the holy Trynyte is present with his Aungel gabriel O lorde what how 's is that where suche ghestes ben suche thynges ben done For though that the holy Trynyte is euer where by preseÌ„ce of his god hede Neuertheles thou maist thynke vnderstonde that he is there in a more special maner by reson of hys hyhe werke of the Incarnacion Gabriel that entred in to Maries chambre that was stoken fro men but not fro aungels as saynt Bernard sayth knelynge wyth reuerence beganne his message in these wordes and said Heyle ful of grace oure lord is with the blessyd be thou in wymen or aboue all wymen Mary than herynge this message thys newe gretynge that she neuer herd before was astonyed and abasshed and nought answerde but thought what gretynge thys myghte be She was not abasshet or troublet by ony vycious or synfull distourblynge ne agaste of his presence for was wonte to Aungels presence to the syghte of hem but as the gospel sayth she was astonyed in his worde that was a newe gretynge For he was neuer wonte be fore to grete her in that maner And for as moche as in that gretynge she sawe her self coÌ„mended praysed specially in thre grete thynges in that she was parfyghtely meke she must nedes be abasshed in that hyhe gretynge For she was commeÌ„ded that she was sul of grace that oure lord was with her yâ— she was blessyd aboue all wymÌ„en And for as moche as the parfyÈte meke maye not here his praysynge withoute abasshement shamefastnes Therfore she was abasshed astonyed wyth an honeste shamefastnes and also with drede for though she trowed wel that the AuÌ„gel said sothe Neuertheles she drede his word for as mykel as they that ben parfytely meke haue that propirte that they rewarde not her owne vertues but rather taken hede to their owne defaultes where thorugh they mowen aâ—gate profyte vertuously holdyng in hem self a grete vertue lytyl and a lytyl defaulte grete And so as wyse and were as shamefast and dredeful she helde her pees ansuerd not Here mayst thou take ensample of Mary fyrst to loue so lytary prayer and departyng fro men that thou mayst be worthy Aungels presence And ferthermore lore of wisdome to here or thou speke and for to kepe scyleÌ„ce and loue lytyl speche For that is a ful grete and proutfytable vertue For marye herde firste the Aungel twyes speke or she wold answere ones ageyne And therfore hit is an abhominable thyng and grete repreef to a mayden or vyrgyne to be a grete iangler namely a Relygyous Ferthermore after the gospel the auÌ„gel beholdyng her semblauÌ„ce and knowynge the cause of hir abasshemente and drede answerd to hir thoughte and spake more homely callynge hyr by name sayd Drede thou not Marye and be thou not abasshed or ashamed of yâ— praysing that I haue grete the with for so is yâ— trouthe and not only thou arte ful of grace in thy self but also thou hast founden speciall grace of god and recouerd grace to al mankynde Bernarâ— For why Loo thou shalt coÌ„ceyue bere a chylde thou shalt calle his name Jhesus that betokeneth sauyour for he shall saue fro synne dampnacoÌ„n al his peple that trewely hopen in hym ¶ Here sayth saint Bernard God grauÌ„te that my lord Jhesus vouchesauf to nombre me amonge his peple so that he saue me fro my synnes For sothely I drede that many Notâ— shewen hem as they were of his peple the whiche he knoweth not ne hath not as his people And as I drede he maye saye to many that semen in his peple more religyous more holy than other this people worshippeth me wyth lyppes but sothely her herte is ful ferre fro me But wolt thou knowe where thou be of his peple or wylt thou be of his people doâ— that our lord Jhesus bydeth in the Gospel and the lawe the prophetes and also that he byddeth by his mynystres and be Bernarâ— buxome to his vykers yâ— ben in holy chirche thy soueraines not only good and wel lyuynge but also shrewes and euylle lyuynge And so lerne of Jhesu to be meke in herte and buxome and than shalt yâ— be of his blessyd peple But here now ferthermore what the Aungel speketh in praysynge of thys childe Jhesus he shall be grete not in temporal lordship and worldly dygnyte â—or that he shall forsake but he shal be grete god and man grete prophete in myracles wyrchyng grete doctour in sothfaitenes prechyng grete coÌ„querour in myghtely the deuylle ouercomynge And so worthyly he shal be cleped the sone of all ther hyest lorde god the whiche shall yeâ—e hym the sete of daâ—id his fader for he shall take mankynde be borne in flesshe by deseÌ„te of his aucestrye And he shall regne in the hous of Jacob euermore
and of his kingdome shal be none ende This hous of Jacob is ghostly holy chirche in yâ— whiche JhuÌ„s shall reygne in trewe soules fyrst ouercomyng synnes the deuylle here in erthe by grace And after in heuen in blysse withouten ende Here may thou say with saynt Bernard 〈…〉 desyrynge in the kiÌ„gdome of JhuÌ„ thus come my lord Jesu and putte aweye al sclauÌ„ders of â—ynne fro thy reame that is my soule soo that thou maye reygne therein as the oweth to do For couetyse cometh chalengeth his reame in me â–ª Presumpcyon coueyteth to be my lorde Pryde wolde be my quene lechery saith I wol regne De traccion enuy wrath and glotony stryuen whiche of hem shal pricipally regne in me and I in as mykel as I waâ—e ageynstonde hem But thou my lord Jhesu destroye hem in thy vertue and take thou thy reame and thy kyngdome in me For I haue no trewe kyng but thy my lord Jhesu And whan the Aungel hadde tolde these condicions and the worthynes of this blessid child the â—â—s to that meke mayden mary that was chosen to his mo â–ª der Than she spake fyrste to the Aungel nought dredyng of his wordes ne of hyr coÌ„ceyuyng ne knoulechyng ne forsakyng the praysynges before said of his gretynge but wyllynge to be more certyfyed playnly of that she drede most that was that she sholde not lese hir maydenhede asked of the AuÌ„gel the maner of hyr conceyuynge in these wordes how and of what maner shal this be done syth I knowe no man flesshely And I haue made a vowe to kepe me chaste to my lord god withoute faylle and I shalle neuer dele wyth man flesshly And than the aungel answerd and said to hir it shal be done by the wyrchynges of yâ— holy ghost that shal lyghten in to yâ— in a synguler maner thoruÈ his vertu that is alther hygest thou shalt coÌ„ceyue sauyng thy maidenhede therfore that holy thyng that shall be borne of the shal be named godes sone in coÌ„forte ferthermore here of the aungel said Loo Elizabeth thy cosyn that is olde was bareyne hath coÌ„ceyued a child now six monethes apassed for ther shal no thyng be imposible to god Now take here good hede haue in mynde how fyrst all the holy Trynyte is there abydinge a fynal answer asseÌ„t of his blessyd vyrgyne Mary takyng hede and be holdyng lykyngly hir shamefast seÌ„blaunce hir sadde maners Bernarâ— hir wyse wordes And ferthermore how all the blessyd spyrytes of heuen al the ryghtwys lyuynge men in erthe alle the choseÌ„ soules that were that tyme in helle as Adam Abraham Dauyd all other desyreden hyr assente in the which stode the sauacion of all mankynde And also how the auÌ„gel gabriel stoÌ„dynge with reuerence before his lady enclynyng and with mylde semblaunce abydeth the answer of hys mesage And on that other syde take hede how mary stant sadly with drede mekenes in grete auysement hauyng no pryde ne veyne glorye For al the hyhe praysynge before said But tho souerayne yeftes of grace that she hath herde yeuen to hir that neuer were yeue to creature before all she aretid only to the grace of god lerne thou than by ensaÌ„ple of hir to be shamefaste vertuously meke for withouten these two vertues maydeÌ„ Bernarâ— hede or vyrgynyte is but lytyl worthe For as Saynte Bernarde saith vyrgynyte is a fayre vertue but mekenes is mor necessary For thou may be sauf wythoute the fyrst but withoute the other that is mekenes thou maye not In soo moche that I dar hardly saye that withoute mekenes the vyrgynite of mary had not be plesynge to god For but Mary had be meke the holy ghost had not rested vpon hir sayth saynte Bernard At the last as the ende of the gospel seith the mylde maydeÌ„ mary when she had herde wysely vnderstonde the Aungels wordes by good auysement yaf hir assente in thys maner as it is writen in her reuelacoÌ„ns she knelyd doun with souerain deuocion holdyng vp bothe hir handes and lyftyng vp her eyen to heuen sayd these wordes Loo here the handmayden the seruaunt of my lord â–ª be it done to me fulfilled after thy word And so in these meke and lowe wordes of Mary at the ende thou hast ensample of grete mekenes as thou haddest in hyr sylence at the begynnyng loo she is chosen godes moder and of the Aungel cleped ful of grace and she named 〈…〉 hyr self his hand mayden And noo wonder for as saynt Bernard saith Mekenes is euer wonte to be felâ—w with the grace 〈…〉 of god But this mekenes was not lytyl For as he sayth It is not mykel to prayse mekenes in abieccion but it is a grete vertue seldome sene mekenes in worship Also sone than as she yaf hir answer goddes sone entrid in to hir wombe thorugh worchyng of the holy ghost was made maÌ„ in very flesshe blod taken of her body and not as other chyldren conceyued borne by kynde ben shapen membre after membre and after the soule shedde in to the body but anone at the fyrste instaunce was full shapen in all membres and all hole man in body and soule but neuertheles ful lytyl in quantyte For after he weâ—ed more more kyndely as other chyldren done Soo that at the fyrste he was ful parfyghte God man al 's wyse and as myghty as he is now And whan thys was done Gabriel knelyng doune with our lady and sone after with hyr rysyng vp tooke curtoisli his leue of hir with a deuoute lowe bowynge to the erthe and so vanisshed away fro hir with a swift flyghte and toke his wey to heuen agein tellynge certyfyenge the holy courte of heuene hys message fulfylled And that that was done in erthe and than was there a newe Joye and a newe feste â–ª and full mykel myrthe and solempnyte Afterward our lady fulfylled enflaÌ„med with the holy ghost in the loue of god more brennynge than she was before felyng that she had conceyued knelyd doune and thanked god of that grete yefte mekely besechynge hym and deuoutly prayenge that he wold sende hir grace and teche hir so that al that were after to come and to be done aboute hys blessyd sone that she myght fulfylle hem doo hem wythout defaulte And thus mykel touchynge the Gospel and the processe of the incarnacyon of Jhesu Cryste ¶ Of the feste of the annuÌ„ciacion And of tho thynges that befelle that daye NOw take good hede vnderstoÌ„de how worthy thys feste thys soleÌ„pnyte is And haue therfore a ghostly myrthe make a speciall feste in thy soule thaÌ„kynge god inwardly For suche was neuer herd before for this is the soÌ„lempnite of al the holy Trynyte the Fader sone and holy ghoost by whome this souereyn dede of Incarnacyon was wroughte and fulfylled as it is said before Thys also
is a special feste of oure lady saint mary the whiche as this day was choseÌ„ of the fader of henene in to his dere doughter of the sone in to his mylde moder and of the holy ghost in to his special spouse this day is also is special solempnite of al the blessid spyrytys of heuen for this day was bigonÌ„e yâ— restorynge of her companye and felanship that felle doun by synÌ„e of lucifer But soueraynly this daye is a hyhe feste and a special soleÌ„nyte of al mankynde For thys daye was mankynde soueraynly worshypped in that he was oned knyt to the godhede in criste without departyng And this daye bigan the hele the redempcion of mankynde the reconcilyng to the fader of heuen For in to this tyme god was wrothe to mankynde for the synÌ„e the trespas of our fornfaders But fro this tyme forth he maye no lenger be wroth seyng his dere sone become man And therfor is this day skylfully called the plente of tyme to man And so this day oweth euer to be had in mynde of man and woman for this daye was man made to the lykenes the ymage of god sette in that Joyeful place of paradyse for to haue lyued euer without deth this day the fyrst man AdaÌ„ by yâ— fruyt of the tree forboden deformed in hym that ymage of god lost that Joyeful place was dampned to deth withoute endynge But this day the second Adam Crist god man reformed this ymage in his Incarnacion after by vertue of the blessid fruyte of his body hangyng on the Tree of the Crosse restoryng man to blysse to lyf euerlastyng Also this day yâ— firste woman Eue thoruÈ pryde assentyng to the serpent the deuyl of hell was cause of manÌ„es dampnacion And this day the blessid mayden mary thorugh meknes trowyng to the Angel gabriel was cause of manÌ„es sauacioÌ„ And. so this day man hath mater of grete Joye of grete sorowe Fyrste of the grete Joye for the souerayne goodnes worship grace of god done to hym also of grete sorowe for his grete synne vnkyndnes done to god ageynward And this maist thou haue thy conteÌ„placyon of Ca. iii this daye of thys feste blessyd of Cristes Incarnacion and oure ladyes annuÌ„ciacion And for as moche as that blessyd gretyng of the AnÌ„gel gabriel wherewith we honouren greten oure lady euery daye is grounded in thys Gospel as thou hast herde before Therfor I shal tell the somwhat more here of as me thynketh to styre thy deuocion the more in seyenge of that gretyng Aue maria AS I conceyue thys gretynge in manere as holy chirche hath ordeined it to be said hath fyue parties in the whiche may be vnderstanden specially the fyue Joyes of our lady And in tho fyue Joyes fyue vertues that she had in hem sooueraynly aboue al erthely creatures the whiche ben mekenes Chastite Feythe hope and Charyte In the fyrste parte of this gretyng that stant in these two wordes Heile mary thou Aue maria AnnuÌ„cia â—io Humilitas mayst vnderstoÌ„de the fyrste Joys that she had in hir annuÌ„ciacion of ihesu gracioê° conceyuing of the whiche meknes was the grouÌ„d as thou hast herd befor And as these wordes Hail mary ben the fyrste the begynnyng of thys gretyng so thys feste was the begynnyng of the ground of al other And as it was the begynÌ„yng of Maryes Joye all mankynde so is mekenes the begynnyng the ground of al vertues And therfore in these forsaid wordes Heyle Mary yâ— mayst skylfully vnderstonde the fyrst Joye that she had in hir aÌ„nuÌ„ciacion of the coÌ„ceyuyng of hir blessid sone Jhesu that specially thorugh the Gracia ple na Natiuitas â—asâ—itas vertue of mekenes In the secoÌ„d party that staÌ„t in these wordes Ful of grace may beÌ„ vnderstoÌ„de the second Joye that mary had in Jhesu natyuyte hyr Joyeful beryng In the which she had soueraynly the vertu of chastite of clenÌ„es therfor thenÌ„e was she specially ful of grace in that yâ— she clene mayden moder bare withoute sorow that neuer dyd woman but she all only In the thyrdde party that is in these wordes our DuÌ„s teâ—uÌ„ lord is with the may be vnderstoÌ„d the thyrd ioye that she had in hyr sone Jesu glorious vprysyng specially by the vertu Resureccio Fides of stedfast feith treue bileue For fro his deth in to that tyme he dwellid al only with hir bi stedfast bileue that she had that al hys apostles disciples wereÌ„ departed fro hym by misbyleue and dyspeyre that he was god And therfor the feythe of holy chirche tho thre dayes stode al only in hyr â–ª so in that tyme it myÈt specially be said to hyr Oure lord is wyth the. that is to say by true feyth byleue after at his vprysynge more specially by his bodyly presence firste to hyr appiecing was fulfilled Our lord is with the. In the foruth party that is in these wordes Blessyd be thou in wymen or els aboue all wymen May be vnderstoÌ„d yâ— fourth Joye that she had in the syÈte of hir sone ihesu myÈtely to heuen ascendyng in yâ— whiche syÈte the hope that she had in his godhede was fully strengthed comfirmed seyeng that other wymen neuer dyde that was that parte that he tooke of hir in flesshe blood bodyly thorugh the myght of the godhede boren vp to heuen so hopynge without drede that she shold foloweÌ„ after wel thaÌ„ myÈt it be sayd that tyme now may to hyr Blessid be thou sone raynly in wymeÌ„ seynge thy sone Jhesu myÈtely asceÌ„dyng â–ª In the fyfte parte that is Blessyd be the fruyt of thy wombe Jesus may ben vnderstoÌ„de yâ— last ioye that she had in hir blessyd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sone Jhesu when he took hir vp wyth hym to blisse there worshpfully crowned hir quene of heuen euerlastynge than was hir desyre loue fulfylled whan she was endelesly thoruÈ pleÌ„te of charyte knyt to hyr blessyd sone Jhesu he to hyr so fedde with yâ— blessid fruyt that she coueyted nomore â–ª for she was there thoruÈ fylled of al goodnes blysse Joye with outen ende And thus shortely in the fyue partyes of this gretynge Aue maria maye be vnderstande the. v. Joyes of blessid mary with v vertues that she had soueraynly in hem as I haue now said yâ— whiche gretyng after the comyn vnderstoÌ„dyng may be thus said in englysshe Haile mary ful of grace our lord is with the blessid be thou soueraynly in wymen and yâ— fruyte of thy wombe Jhesus euer blessyd â—e And yf the lyste in thys gretyng specifye the fyue Joyes with the fyue vertues before said thou mayst say thus in shorte wordes Heyle Mary mayden mekest grete of the aungel gabriel in Jhesu gracious conceyuynge Ful of Nota orâ—â—ionem grace as moder chaste
Also thou must kepe loue scylence not spekyng but in tyme of nede or edyfycacoÌ„n and ferthermore or thou be borne that is to say or thou shewe thy self outwardly by word eyther by opynyon of perfeccoÌ„n thou must abyde the tyme of ix monethes that is whyle yâ— arte not parfytely grouÌ„ded in vertues and in knowynge of goddes lawe for the nombre of the x. commauÌ„dements to keneth perfeccion of the lawe therfore that yâ— is lesse toke neth inperfeccoÌ„n wherfor as the chylde that is borne byfore his kyndely tyme is vnable to tryue so who soo wyll shewe hym outward by worde or by dede holy parfyte or the tyme that he be parfytely groweÌ„ shapen in vertues within forth he is vnable to stande as a man in tyme of temptacoÌ„n by goostly strengthe and to profyte of other of hym self wherfor closynge wythdrawynge to oure power all our mynde fro vanyte and lustes of the worlde besye we vs to coÌ„forme vs in clennes of herte to our lord Jhesu that for our sake wold so closed in the wombe of hys blessid moder Mary Also to B styre vs to compassion and to suffre wyth Jhesu penaunce dysease in thys worlde we shold consydere and haue in mynde that he was in contynuel affliccoÌ„n fro the fyrste tyme of his coÌ„cepcion in to the last tyme of his dethe specially pryncipally for yâ— he knewe his fader of heuen whome he loued soueraynly soo in vnworshyp of synful men forsaken for man metry mysbeleue of that grete coÌ„passion that he had to the soules made to his ymage so wretchidly for the most party dampned This was to hym more peyne than his bodyly passion dethe For why to put awey mysbileue destroye N this dampnacoÌ„n he suffred that deth that passion And so shold euery trwe louer of Jhesu haue compassion and be inwardly sory not only for the mysbileue of Jewes and saracenes and her dampnacoÌ„n but also and moche more for the wycked lyuynge of vntrue Cristen men In soo moche that shold by to him more passioÌ„ ghostly disease whaÌ„ he knewe or sawe a soule perisshe thoruÈ dedely synÌ„e than the losse of ony wordly catel or than his owne bodyly dethe â–ª for yâ— wille charite And soo in this forsaid processe we haue profytable doctryne good ensample Fyrste in our blessyd lorde Jhesu of penaunce suffryng of perfite charyte true compassion Also in his moder mary of profouÌ„de mekenesse and pacyence in tribulacoÌ„n and in hir husboÌ„de Joseph of vertuous riÈt Quare virgo Maria fuit despon sata Joseph wisnesse agaynst fals suspecoÌ„n And yf we wolde wyte why and whereto our lady was wedded to Joseph sythen he had not to doo wyth her bodely but she was euer clene mayden Hereto answeryng ben thre skylles Fyrst for she sholde haue comfort solace of man to hir bodely seruyse and wytnesse of hir clene chastite The secoÌ„de is that the merueilous birth of goddis sone shold be helyd and preuy fro the deuyll And the thirdde that she shold not ben diffamed of auoultrye and so as worthy the dethe â–ª after the lawe be stoned of the Jewes And thus endeth the fyrste parte of thys booke that stant in contemplacoÌ„n for the moneday and for the tyme of the Aduent into the natyuyte of our lord Jhesu whos name wyth his moder Mary be euer blessyd wythouten ende Amen ¶ Of the natyuyte of oure lorde Jhesu Capitulum Sextum WHat tyme that ix monethes fro the concepcion of the blessyd Jhesu drewen to an ende Cezar August the emperoure of Rome sende â–ª out a mauÌ„demente or an heste that alle the world subgette to hym shold be descryued so that he myght knowe the nombre of regyons of cytees And of the heedes loÌ„gynge to hym that weren subgette to the emperour of Rome And herefor he ordeyned bad that al men where so euer they dwelleden shold go to the Cyte of her firste byrthe propre lygnage wherof Joseph yâ— was of the lygnage of Dauid whoo 's Cyte was Bethelehem tooke with hym hys blessid spouse mary that was that tyme grete with childe and weÌ„te fro nazareth vnto that Cyte Bethlehem there to be noÌ„bred amonge other as subgette to the Emperour And so ledynge with hym an oxe an Asse they wenten all that longe weye to gyder as poure folke hauynge nomore wordly good but tho two bestes And what time they cameÌ„ to Bethlehem for the grete multytude that was therin that same tyme for yâ— same cause they myght gete no lodgynge but in a comyn place bytwene two houses that were hyled aboue men for to stande therfor the rayne and was cleped a dyuersory They were neded to reste in a byde al that tyme. In the whych place Joseph that was a carpenter made hem a closer a cratche for her bestes Now take here good hede and haue inwardly coÌ„passion of that blessyd lady and mayden Mary how she soo yong of soo tendyr age that is to saye of xv yere and grete wyth childe as nyghe the byrth trauayllynge that longe weye of rl myle and x. or more in so grete pouerte And yet whan she came to the Cyte forsayd there she shold reste asked her barow in diuerse places shamefully among vncouthe folke all they werned them and lete hem goo And so for nede atte last they took as for herburgh that comyn place afore sayde â–ª But now ferthermore for to speke of the blessyd byrthe of Jhesu And of that clene holy delyuerauÌ„ce of his dere moder Mary as it is wryten in party by reuelacion of our lady made herof to a deuoute man whan tyme of that blessyd byrthe was come that is to say the sonday at mydnyght goddes sone of heuen as he was coÌ„ceyued in his moders wombe by â— holy ghost without sede of maÌ„ so goynge oute of yâ— wombe without trauaylle or sorowe sodenly was vp on hyhe at his moder feete anone she deuoutly enclynyng wyth souerayne Joye took hym in hir armes and swetely clyppyng and kyssyng leyd hym in hyr barme with a ful pappe as she was taught of yâ— holy ghost wesshe him al aboute with hir swete mylk and so wrapped hym in the kerchyef of hir hede and leyd hym in the cratche and anone the oxe the asse knelynge doune leyden doune they re mouthes on the cratche brethynge at her noses vpon the childe that they knewen by reason that in that cold tyme the childe so symple hiled had nede to be warmed in that maner And than his moder knelyng doun worshipped loued god inwardly â–ª thankynge seyenge in thys maner Lord God holy fader of heuen I thanke the wyth almy myÈte that thou hast yeue me thy dere sone and I honoure the almyghty god goddes sone myne Joseph also honorynge worshyppynge the childe god and man tooke the sadel of the asse and made therof a quyschyn our
aulter as it were another chyld of the comyn peple wyth that louely face and sadde chere he loketh and beholdeth vpon hys dere moder other that there were presente pacyently mekely a bydynge what they wold doo wyth hym and therwyth were brought the prestys of th Temple and the child lord of al the world was bouÈt ageyne as a seruauÌ„t for v. pens that wereÌ„ cleped sycles a maner of money after the lawe as other and when Joseph had payed that money for hym the moder our lady took ageyne wyth ful gladde wille hir blessid sone and after she took the forsaid birdes of Jhoseph knelyng doune lyftyng vp deuoutly her eyen in to heuen holdyng them in hir handes offred them sayenge thus Almyghty mercyful fader of heuen vnderfonge ye thys lytel yefte offrynge and the fyrste yefte that your lytil child thys day presenteth to your hâ—he mageste of his symple pouerte And there with the child thesus puttyng hys hondes to the byrdes lyftynge his eyen vp to heuen spake not but sheweth couÌ„tenaunce of his offrynge with the moder and soo they leyden them vpon the Aulter Now here takynge hede what they ben that thus offren that is to saye the moder and the sone Trowe we whether that of fryng though it were lytil myght be forsake Nay god forbede â–ª But we shal fully trowe that this was by AuÌ„gels presented vp in to the. Courte of heuen And therof fader of heuen ful gladly accepted so that the blessyd coÌ„pany of heuen there thorugh was reioyced and gladed After thys was done soo the lawe fully kept as it is seid in all that that longed to the child from his byrthe in to this tyme our lady wyth hir blessyd sone and hir spouse Joseph took the way fro that Cyte of Jerusalem homeward in to nazareth But by the waye she visyted her cosyn Elyzabeth desyrynge also to see hir sone that she loued specially And what tyme they metten to gyder â—oÌ„ 〈◊〉 â—isi None â—â—â—cibeth eâ— liâ—ahaÌ„niâ— Jo they madeÌ„ grete Joie and namely Elyzabeth whan she sawe that blessyd syÈt of the childe by vertue of whome in hir fyrste coÌ„cepcion Joâ—n in hir wombe reioiced she also replenisshed with the holy ghoost Also the children Jhesus Joâ—n whaÌ„ they were broughte to geder they kysyden other louely with lawghyng chere and makynge moche myrthe to gyder But Johan as vnderstondynge his lord â–ª had hym alwey in countenaunce as with reuerence to hir And what tyme they had rested them there certeyne dayes oure lady with hir child and Joseph wenten forth in their waye toward Nazareth as to hir home and reste But yet befelle no reste to them as it shall shewe after Now yf we take good entente to the forsayd processe and how longe tyme they haue leyn oute of they re owne hous in so grete pouerte and symplenes by reason we shold be styred to compassoÌ„n and to leren by ensample of them mekenesse pouerte and buxomnesse that were openly shewed in her symple dwellyng in her poure offrynge and in the lawe kepynge And ferthermore as wordly men maken bodyly myrthe in thys tyme fro the Natyuyte in to Noâ—â—â—e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 domini 〈◊〉 〈…〉 otam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the feste of purificacion that is called candelmasse soo shold eche deuonte soule in thys tyme specyally with deuocion and ghostly myrthe in soule worshippe and honoure that blessid childe Jhesus and his moder Mary vysytynge hem by contemplacion and some deuoute prayer atte lest ones on the daye as they seene in spiryte our lady with hyr chylde lyggynge at the racke hauynge therwyth in mynde the mekenesse the pouerte and the buxomnesse of hem as hit it is sayd and louynge hem and kepynge hem vertuously in dede Amen And thus endeth the fyrste parte of this book in contemplacion for the monedaye ¶ Of the fleynge of oure lord Jhesu in to Egypte Capitulum Decimum WHan our lady and hir childe Jhesus were toward Nazareth as it is said before not knowyng yet the pryuy couÌ„ceylle of god herof that Herode the kynge purposed to slee the child Jhesus the Aungel of god a piered to Joseph in his slepe byddynge that he shold flee in to Epypte with the childe his moder For Herode wolde seche the childe to slee hym And anone Joseph wakyng of his slepe cleped oure lady and told hyr these hard tydynges and she in haste took vp hir dere sone and began to goo For she was ful â—ore agaste of this word and she wold not as she myÈt be sene neclygeÌ„t in the kepyng of hym wherfor anon in that nyght they tokeÌ„ the wey toward Egypte and so fledde that grete lord the pursute of his seruauÌ„t ye more propirly the deuyls seruaunt trauayllynge with hym his yonge tendyr moder and that old man Jhseph by a noyoê° wey and hard and dyuerse that was not inhabited and also a wey that is long that is to say after the comyn sayeÌ„ge the space of xii or xv dayes Jorney of a comyn currour ê‘aueÌ„ture to them hit was trauayle of two monethes or more and that wey as it is said was bi that deserte in the whiche the children of Israel lad oute of Egypte dwel leden xl yere Lord how dide they there of her lyuelode or wher rested they and were herberowed in the nyghtes For in that waye fouÌ„de they ful seldome ony hous Here ought we to haue inwardly coÌ„passion of hem not be loth or thynke trauellous to doo penauÌ„ce for our self sythen other took soo grete and so ofte trauaylle for vs namely they that were so noble and soo worthy Also in thys processe yf we take good heede we may see many good ensamples and notable doctrynes to vs Fyrste yf we take good hede how oure lord Jhesus tooke Quaâ—noâ— nobiliâ— Primum Paciencia inter prospera et aâ— pera in his owne persone somtyme prosperite and welthe somtyme Aduersyte woo we sholde not be styred to InpacieÌ„ce what tyme that hit befalle to vs in the same maner but in tyme of temptacion and discomfort abyde with pacieÌ„ce the tyme of prosperite of comforte and soo ageynwarde on that other syde And yf thou wylt see ensaÌ„ple herof in Jhesu Loo first in his byrthe he was magnified of the herdmen as god and honoured and worshipped of them as god with grete Joye And soone after he was circuÌ„cysed as a synful symple man wyth sorowe ¶ After the kynges comynge to hym worshipped hym soueraynly bothe in theyr persones grete yeftes and yet dwellyd he stylle in that stable amonge bestes in pouerte wepynge as another child of a symple man After he was preseÌ„ted in the Temple with Joye grete thynges were prophecyed of him as of god Almyghty and now he is boden of the Aungel to flee fro Herode in to Egypte as he were a poure man withoute myghte And so ferthermore in al his lyf prosperite and
the lykenesse of a 〈…〉 ue rested vpon hym the voyce of the fader said this is my by loued sone in whome it lyketh me wel therfore here ye â—un 〈…〉 d â—poÌ„ the wyche worde saint Bernard speketh in this maner â—o lord Jhesu now is tyme to speke therfore now begâ—â—e speke how longe wilt thou be in scylence me thynketh thou hast longe tyme holde thy pees ye ful longe but now speke for now thou hast leue of the fader how longe wolt thou that art the vertu of god the wisdom of the fader be hyd in the peple as he that were feble vncoÌ„nyng how longe thou that art that worthy kynge of heuen suffrest thy self to be cleped also to be suppossed holden a wryghtes sone that is to say Joseph For as luke in his gospel witnessith yet in to this tyme of his xxx yere Ihs was supposed holden the sone of 〈…〉 Joseph O thou mekenes that arte the vertu of crist how mykel coÌ„fouÌ„dest thou the pryde of my vanyte for I can but lyâ—â—l or more sothely to speke oonly it semeth me that I can yet now I maye not holde my tonge vnwysely without shame puttyng my self forth and shewyng me as wyse so redy to teche and lyghtly to speke but slowe to here And Criste what tyme he helde his pees so longe also hyde hym self fro the knowyng of men whether he dradde ought of vayne Joye what shold he drede vayne Joye that was in sothenesse the Joye of the fader But neuertheles he drede this not to hym felf but to vs the whiche he knewe wel had nede to be adredde of that vayne Joye And in that he spake not with his mouthe he taught vs in dede And that thynge that he taught after by worde now he spake by ensample that is Lerneth of me for I am mylde and meke in herte For of the yongthe of oure lorde in to this tyme of thyrty yere I here or rede but lityl more But now may he no lenger be hyd sythen he is so openly shewed of the fader All these ben the wordes of saynt Bernard in seÌ„tence coÌ„fermynge that was said before in the nexte chapitre how that our lord Jhesus mekely helde his pees in to this tyme for our doctryne to flee presumcoÌ„n and kepe parfyte mekenes the whiche vertue yet here in his baptisme he shewed more groweÌ„ than it was before by souerayne lowenes opeÌ„ly shewed to his seruauÌ„t makynge hym worthy and grete and hym self as vnworthy abiecte And also in a nother poynte we may see his mekenes here growen for in to this tyme as it is sayd he lyued lowely as in ydelnesse abieccoÌ„n but now he shewed hym self openly as a synful man For Johan preched to synful men to doo penauÌ„ce baptised them And oure lord Jhs came amonge them and in her syght was baptysed as one of them that was a souerayne poynte of mekenes namely in this tyme whaÌ„ he purposed to preche shewe him self as goddes sone for as by way of manÌ„es reason he shold haue drede ThenÌ„e of that lowe dede leest therby after whenÌ„e he preched he shold haue ben in lesse reputacoÌ„n dispysed as a synful maÌ„ vnworthy But therfore lefte not he yâ— was mayster of mekenes to meke hym self in al maner of lowenes to our doctryne ensaÌ„ple shewyng hym self thyng yâ— he was not in to despyte and abieccion of hym self But we in contrary Nota contra supeâ— bâ—aÌ„ maner shewen our self that we ben not in to worship praysynge of our self For yf there be ony thynge in vs of vertue that ought to be preysed that gladly we shewen and maken knowe but oure defaultes and trespaces we helen and hyden And yet be we in sothenes wyked and synful And though N it soo be that we knowen our self as in oure owne syght vnworthy and synful Neuertheles we wold not beholde so in the syght of other And in that is oure mekenes ferre fro the parfyte mekenes of Jhesu as it was here and before shewed And in all his dedes he shewed it as that vertu that is moost nedeful to vs wherfore loue we hit and besye we vs in all oure dedes pryncipally to kepe hit not dredynge therby to be the more vnable to profyte of other For as he was in this tyme Nota of his souerayne mekenes in vnderfongynge of hys baptysme taken of his seruaunt shewed by wytnes of the fader and token of the holy ghost very goddes sone Soo though we make vs abiecte and lowe vs neuer so mykel in our owne syÈte and in other menÌ„es yf we be able to profyte to other god will make vs knowen in tyme as hit is moost spedeful to oure owne mede and to other menÌ„es prouffyte Amen ¶ Explicit pars secunda Et contemplacio pro die martis ¶ Incipit pars Tercia ¶ Of the fastynge of oure lorde Jhesu and his temptacions in deserte ¶ Capitulum xv WHat tyme that oure lord Jhesus was baptysed as it is said before anone went in to deserte there vpon an hill that was fro the place of his baptisme aboute foure myle is cleped QuareÌ„tana He fasted xl dayes xl nyÈtes not etynge or drynkyng as the euangeliste Marke telleth his dwellynge was there with beestes Now yeue we here good entente to our lord Jhu specially to his dedes For here he techeth vs yeueth vs Ensample of many grete vertues As in that that he his solytary fasteth prayeth waketh lyeth slepeth vpon the erthe and mekely is conuersauÌ„t with the beestes Nota bene ê“cessum dequatuor In the whiche processe ben towched foure thynges that loÌ„gen specially to ghostly excercise vertuoê° lyuynge wonder fully helpynge eche other togyder that is to say Solytary beynge Fastyng prayer penauÌ„ce of the body by the whiche we Puâ—â—taâ— cordio may come best to that noble vertu that is clennesse of herte the whiche we oweÌ„ soueraynly to desyre in as moche as it is moost nedeful to vs coÌ„prehendeth in it self all other vertues in manere that is to say charyte mekenes pacience alle other vertues And also it putteth awaye vyces for with vices or wyth defalute of vertues clennes of herte may not stoÌ„de laste therfore in that book that is cleped Collaciones patrum it is sayd that al the excercise of a monke sholde be pryncypally to gete haue clennesse of herte and noo wonder for therby a man shall deserue to see god as cryste hym self witnessyth in the gospel sayenge thus Blessid be the clene in herte Bernard for they shall see god And as sainte Bernard saith the clenner that a man is the nerer he is god and the more clerely Primum SecunduÌ„ Tercium Jeiunium â— afflictio corporio seeth hym wherfore to gete and haue this noble vertue that is
to saye clennesse of herte princypally helpeth besy and deuoute prayer of the whiche we shall speke after But for as mykel as prayer with glotenye or with the lust the lykynge of the body ydelnes is lytyll worthe Therfore hit behoueth that there be therwith fastyng bodyly penauÌ„ce yâ— with discrecion For bodily penauÌ„ce without discrecoÌ„n letteth al gode werkes Also for the kepynge fulfyllynge of all tho thre for sayd thynges helpeth moche the fourth that solytary beynge For with moche noise troublynge praier will not well deuoutly be said he that seeth hereth many thynges shal ful hard escape vnclennesse of hert offence of coÌ„science for ofte sythes deth entreth by our wyndowes in to the soule wherfoâ— thou that wilt be knytte ghostly to our lord â–ª Jhesu criste coueytest in clennesse of herte to see god by ensample of hym goo in to a solytary place in as moche as thou mayst sauynge thyne astate flee the coÌ„pany of flesshely meÌ„ Seche not by curiosite newe knowleche freÌ„shippes Fylle not thyn eyen thyn ere 's with vayn fantasyes For it was not withoute cause that holy faders here before soughten desertes other solitary places fer fro the comyn coÌ„uersacion of men And also it was not for nouÈt that they taughten boden hem that dwelleden in religious coÌ„uersacoÌ„n that they shold be blynde â–ª deeâ— dombe that may lette distourble rest of soule flee as venemous to the soule This solitary beyng this fleyng as Bernard 〈…〉 say 〈…〉 â–ª sayth is more vertuously in soule than in body that is to say that a man in his entencion in deuocion in spiryte be departed fro the world men ioyned so in spyryte to god â–ª that is a spyryte asketh not solytary beynge of body in maner tyme as specially in tyme of special prayer also in other tyme of hem that owen by way of her degree by solytary as recluse some relygious therfore saith the same saint that thou that art amonge many bodyly men thou maist be solytary alone ghostly yf thou will not loue not these worldly thynges that the comynalte loueth also yf thou despyse forsake tho thynge that comynly al men desyreÌ„ taken Also yf thou flee stryues debates yf thou fele not with sorewe thyn owne harmes haue not in mynde wronges done to the for to be auengyd And els though thou be allone solytary in body thou arte not allone in soule truly ¶ And generally in what manere companye of men that thou arte coÌ„uersauÌ„t beware specially of thoo thynges yf thou wilte be truly solytary in spirite that is that thou be not a curious and a besy sercher of other menes conuersacyon â–ª or els a presumtuouse and temerary demer of other men This is saynte Bernardes sentence of solytary beynge by the whiche we may vnderstaÌ„de that bodyly solicitude suttyseth not with oute ghostly But for to haue the ghostly the bodily helpeth ful moche puttynge away occasion without forth that myÈt drawe the ioule within forth fro the onynge and â–ª knyttynge to hir spouse Jhesu Crist wherfore that we maye so be knytte to hym by grace be we aboute with all our wille myght to tolowe hym that is to saye in true solitary beynge as it is layde and in deuoute prayer in fastyng discrete bodily penauÌ„ce doyng And ferthermore that his coÌ„uersacoÌ„n in deserte was Nota â—â—ne amonge bestes we haue ensample to lyue symply and bere vs lowely in what congregacion we ben And there with to bere paciently and suffre also hem that semen to vs as vure sonable bestiall in maneres in lyuynge And thus hauyng in mynde the maner of lyuynge of our lord Jhu Crist in deserte so in penauÌ„ce tho xl dayes euery crysten soule ought to visite hym other oftymes by deuoute coÌ„passion and specially in that tyme begynÌ„yng at the Epiphanye when he was baptised in to xl dayes after in the whiche he fasted lyued there as it is sayd But now ferthermere as to his teÌ„ptacion whan tho xl dayes of his fastynge were coÌ„plete oure lord Jhs hongred And De â—epâ—â—ci one dâ—i prima temptacoÌ„ de gulâ— anone that fals temptour the fende that besy was a boute to knowe whether he werÌ„ goddes sone came to hym began to tempte hym of glotonye and sayd yf thou be goddes sone saye that these stones be made tornyd in to loues But he myghte not with his trechery deceyue hym â–ª that was maister of trouthe For he answerd hym soo wysely that neyther he was ouercome by the temptacion of glotenye yet the aduersary myghte not knowe that he desyred For neyther he denyed ne affermed that he â–ª was goddes sone but coÌ„cluded hym by an Auctoryte of holy wrytte And soo haue we here ensaÌ„pie of our lord Jhesu to withstonde the vyce of glotenye For there must we begynne yf we wylle ouercome other vyces De 〈…〉 as the enemy comynly begynÌ„eth therwyth to assaylle hem that taken hem to ghostly lyuynge wherfore as it semeth he that is ouercomen with that vyce of gloteny that while he is feble vnmyghty to withstonde and ouercome other vyces â–ª as doctoures sayen in this place of the gospel â–ª that but glotony be fyrste refrayned man trauaileth in vayne agenst other vyces Afterward the deuylle took hym vp bare hym in to Jherusalem that was fro that place aboute eyghte myle â–ª as men sayen there he sette hym vpon a pynacle of the Temple where he tempted hym of vayne Joye coueitynge to knowe as he dyde before whether he were goddes sone But here was he also ouercome by auctoryte of holy writte so that he loste fully his purpoos â–ª in that he hurte hym not as man by pryde and hym self was neuer the vyser of hys godhede And here haue we ensample of pacience coÌ„siderynge the grete benygnyte and pacience of oure lorde Jhesu That suffred hym self to be handeled and borne of that cruel beest that hated hym and all that he loued And after that tyme as saynt Bernard sayth the enemy seyng that he shewed noo thynge of the godhede And supposynge therby that he was not god 〈…〉 tempted hym after as man at thys thyrdde tyme whenne he tooke hym efte bare hym ageyne in to a ful hye hille besyde the forsayd hylle of QuareÌ„tana as the space of two myle and there he tempted hym of auaryce And therwith of ydola trye But therfore was he there openly repreued fully ouer come and vaynquysshed ouercome as dyuerse doctoures tellen that expowneÌ„ more plainly these temptacions and thys Nota de 〈…〉 Gospel And therfore we passe ouer the shortlyer here as we doo in other exposicions standynge pryncipally in meditacions as it was said at the begynnynge of thys book â–ª If we take here good hede how oure lorde was handled
blessyng after he had blessyd them wenten vp ageyn to heuen tellyng there these tidynges of his gracious vyctory And therof was all the blessyd Courte reioysed fulfilled in myrthe thankynge of god And thus in thys maner we may thynke ymagyne the forsaid processe to styrynge of oure deuocion as by way of meditacion in the whiche processe ben many good notabylitees touchyng temptacion of man in this world of the wiche saynte Gregory other doctours spekeÌ„ in the exposicion of this Gospel Duet â–ª est Jhesus in deserto cetera And specially Crisostome in in perfecto the whiche for they ben suffisauÌ„tly wryten not only in latyn but also in Englisshe we passen ouer at this tyme Spekynge ferthermore of the tornynge ageyne of oure Lorde 〈…〉 Jhesus home to his moder at Nazareth And thenÌ„e whan he wente downe fro that hylle and cam to Jordan Johan Baptiste as soone as he sawe hym come towarde hym wyth his fynger puttynge toward hym shewed hym and sayd loo the lambe of god loo he that dooth a way the synÌ„es of the worlde He hit is vpon whome I sawe the holy ghost reste what tyme I baptysed hym ¶ Afterward also a nother day whan Johan hadde shewed hym as he dyde firste Andrewe and Peter with other disciples speken wyth hym and hadden a begynnynge of his knowleche as Johan telleth in his Gospel Afterward oure lord Jhesê° lefte that Countre â–ª and took the waye towarde Galilee tyl he came to his moder at Nazareth whome we shall also folowe by coÌ„passion of his grete trauaylle all that longe waye of lxxiiii myle as it is said before And what tyme that he was come home and his moder had the syghte of hym noo wonder was though she was gladde ioyeful in so mykel that there may no tonge telle â–ª wherfore anone she rose clippynge and kyssyng hym welcomyd hym home and thanked the fader of heuen that brought hym sauf to hir But there with beholding his face lene pale she had grete coÌ„passoÌ„n and he ayenward reuerently enclynynge dyde hir worshippe as to his moder also to Joseph as to his trowed fader And so dwellid he with them as he dyde before me kely but in another maner of lyuynge as by shewynge withoute forth of his perfeccion more and more as it shal shewe Nota bene pro ordine capituloruÌ„â— modo sâ—ribeâ—di in sequâ—ntibus hereafter But for as mykel as it were longe werke peraueÌ„ture tedious bothe to the reders to the herers herof yf al the processe of the blessid lyf of Jhu shold be wryten in Englissh so fully by meditacions as it is yet hyder to after the processe of the book before named of Bonauenture in latyn therfore hereafterward many chapitres longe processe that semeth lytyl edifycacoÌ„n in as to the maner of symple folke that this book is specyally wryten to shalle be lefte vnto it drawe to the passion the whiche with the grace of Jhu shalle be more playnly coÌ„tynued as the mater that is moost nedeful moste edyfyenge And before oonly tho materes that semen moost fructuous and the Chapytres of theym shalle be wryten as god wille yeue grace wherfore as the same Bonauenture B byddeth thou that wilt fele the swetnes and the fruyte of these meditacions take heede algate and in all places deuoutly Vide iÌ„ coâ— ê“xio seque ti qd hic omittitur in thy mynde beholdynge the persone of oure lorde Jhesu in all his dedes as whan he stante with his disciples and whan wyth other synful men And whan he preched to the peple And how he speketh to theym And also whenÌ„e he wyrcheth myracles â–ª so forth takynge hede of all his dedes his maners and pryncipally beholdynge his blessid face yf thou canst ymagyne it that semeth to me moost hard of all other but as I trowe it is moost lykynge to hym that hath grace therof And soo what tyme that synguler me ditacions ben not specifyed this generalle shal suffyle AmeÌ„ ¶ De apercioÌ„e libri iÌ„ sinagoga notatur in capitulo sequeÌ„ti ¶ How oure lord Jhesus began to teche and gadre disciples Capitulum xvi AFter that oure lorde Jhesus was come home ageyne to Nazareth fro his baptisme and his temptacion as it is sayd he beganne a lytil a lytil to shewe hym self and to tech pryuely and in party For as openly and fully we rede not that he took vpon hym thoffyce of prechynge all that yere folowyng that is to saye vnto that tyme that he wrought the first myracle at the weddyng that was that self day a twelue moneth that he was baptised And though he or his disciples precheden in the meane tyme other whyle Neuertheles it was not so fully nor so customably done before that Johan Baptiste was taken emprisoned as after And in that he gaf vs ensample of a wonderful mekenes when touchyng thoffyce of prechynge he gaf stede to Johan that was mykel lesse with oute comparison more vnworthy than he And soo we may see that he began not with boost blowynge as many done but with mekenesse lytyl lytyl softely wherfore vpon a sab botte daye when he was come in to the synagoge as he was wonte to doo with other as in the chirche of Jewes he rose vp for to rede in maner of â–ª a mynyster or a Clerke And whan there was take hym the book of the prophete ysaye he tornyd to that pace where it is wryten soo he redde in this maner The spyryte of oure lord hath rested vpon me wherfore he hath anoynted me and for to preche to the poore he hath seÌ„te me cetera And thenÌ„e whan he had closed the booke taken it to the seruauÌ„t he sat down and thenÌ„e he spake ferthermore This day is this scripture fulfylled in youre ere 's Now take hede of hym how mekely at begynÌ„ynge he took vpon hym yâ— offyce of a reder as it were a symple clerke fyrste with a benigne and lowely chere redynge and after expownyng it me kely of hym self yet not openly expressyng or menyng hym self when he said this day is fulfilled this scripture as who seith I that rede this this daye am he of whome it speketh And the eyen of all that were in the Synagoge were sette be sely in hym And alle they wondred of these wordes of grace that yeden oute of his mouthe And no wonder for he was soueraynly fair also moost eloquente As Dauid saith of hym also Thou faire in shappe passyng the chyldren of meÌ„ Specioâ—ê° â—oâ—â—a pre 〈…〉 s homi num and grace is shewed in thy lyppes Ferthermore also our lord Jhesus besyenge hym aboute oure sauacoÌ„n beganne to clepe gadre to hym dysciples and soo he cleped Peter Andrew thre tymes Fyrste tyme when he was aboute yâ— water of Jordan as it was sayd before and thenÌ„e they comeÌ„ somwhat in De
quarto vocacione habetur Jo. po. ca o luce quin to cap o to his knowleche but they folowed not him The seconde tyme he cleped them fro the shippe whan they wereÌ„ aboute to take fysshe as luke telleth But thenÌ„e though they herden his doctryne folowed hym Neuertheles they soughten at that tyme to torne ageyne to theyr propre goodes The third tyme as Mathewe telleth he cleped them fro the shippe when he Mathei quarto et Marc. pri o saide to them Cometh after me For I shall make you fysshers of men And thenÌ„e leften they her nettes shyppe fader folowed hym Also in yâ— two last tymes he cleped James Johan as in yâ— same place is made mynde of hem with Peter Andrew Also specially he cleped John fro the brydale as saynte Jerome saith but that is not expressyd in the texte of the gospell ¶ Also specyally he cleped Philip also in another place Mathew the publicane But the manere of clepyng of the remenauÌ„t is not expressely wryten sauf that luke maketh mynde of the twelue apostles chosen nameth hem all Now take we here good entent to the manere of hym in thys clepyng and gadryng of hys dicyples and of hys conuer sacion wyth hem how lowely he speketh to them and how homely he sheweth hym self to them drawynge them to hys loue wythinforth by grace and wythoute forth by dede famyliarly ledyng hem to hys moders hous also going wth hem ofte to her dwellynges techyng enformynge hem soo in alle manere beyng besy aboute hem wyth as grete cure as the moder hath of hyr owne sone In soo mykell that as is wryten saynt Peter tolde what tyme he slepte wyth hem in ony place it was hys custome to ryse vp in the nyght hem slepyng And yf he fonde ony of them vnhyled â–ª preuely softely hyled hym ageyne For he loued hem ful tenderly knowynge what he wold make of hem as though so were they were meÌ„ of rude boystous condicions and of symple lygnage Neuer theles he thoughte to make hem prynces of the worlde chyâ—etayns of all Crysten men in ghostly bathayll domesmen of other Here also lete vs take hede of what manere peple began the feythe the grouÌ„de of holy chyrche as of suche symple fysshers poure men and vnlerned For our lord wolde not chese her to grete Clerkes and wyse men or mighty men of the worlde leste the grete dedes that sholde after be done by hem myghte be aretted to her wordynesse But thys he reserued kepte for hym self as it was resoÌ„ shewyng that only in hys owne goodnes myght wysedom he boughte vs and saued vs Blessyd be he Jhesus wythoute ende AMEN ¶ Of the myracle done atte brydal tornyd water in to wyne Capytulum xvii IT befelle that day twelue moneth that our lord Jhesus was baptysed as it is sayd there was made a brydale in the couÌ„tre of Galylee in a place that was cleped yâ— chane of the whyche brydale there is doubte whos brydale it was But we at thys tyme shall suppose aâ—ter the comyn opynyon that it was John euangelyst as saint Jerome also telleth in the prologue of the gospel of iohn at the whyche brydale our lady JhuÌ„s moder was as she that was the eldest and moste worthy of the thre systers And therfore she was not bydden nor cleped thyder as other strauÌ„gers weren but she was there in her sisters hous homely as in her owen hous ordeynyng mynistryng as maystres therof And that we may vndstande by thre euydences of the processe of yâ— gospel Fyrst by that the gospel sayth fyrst that the moder of Jhein was there after that Jhesus hys discyples weren cleped or bidden therto And so as we suppose it befell that what tyme oure ladyes sister Mary salome yâ— wyf of zebedee shapte to wedde her sone John she yede before to oure lady to Nazareth that was fro yâ— Chane aboute four myle saieng that she wolde make a brydale to her sone John And soo thenne oure lady wente wyth hir to ordeine therfore certayne dayes before Soo that when other ghestes were bede she was there all redy and homely be fore ¶ The Seconde euydence is that she knewe defaute of wyne wherfore it semeth that she satte not at that mete as other ghestes that were beden but that she yede aboute mynystrynge as one of them that delyuerden mete and drynke and other necessaryes wherfore she perceyued by tyme and sawe the defaulte of wyne And tolde preuely her sone therof for helpe and remedy and that myght she not haue do yf she hadde sette amonge other wymen but she had rysen fro the borde that is not semely to be also it is not to leue that she that was vertuously shamfaste sat by her so ne among men wherfore it foloweth that she satte not as a gheste but mynystred as it is sayd before ¶ The thyrde euydence herof is that she bad the seruauÌ„tes for to goo to hyr so ne and that they sholde do what that he badde them do And so it semeth that he was ouer hem that the brydale was gouerned by hyr therfor she was besy that no default were there at wherfore we may take hede vnderstande the maner of thys brydale the processe of the myracle therat done thus Fyrste we shall beholde our lord Jhesu etynge there amonge hem as another comyn man that syttynge in the lowest place not amoÌ„g the grete most worshypful ghestes abouen as we may onderstande by thys processe For he shold after teche thys lesson of the gospel whanthow arte beden to the brydale or to the feste sytte take thy stede in the loweste place And for as mykel as he wold firste doo in dede that he sholde after teche by woord therfore he wolde not take the first the pryncipall sete in maner of prowde men but rather the lower amonge symple meÌ„ ¶ Here with also behold our lady his moder that al thynge were wel couenably done tellynge the seruauÌ„tes the mynystres how they sholde serue wherof ¶ And soo after whan it drowe toward the ende of yâ— feste they comen to hyr saiden there is no more wine And she aÌ„swered abydeth a litil I shall gete you to haue more And she wente out of the chaÌ„bre in to the hall to her sone Jhesus that satte atte bordes ende nyhe yâ— cahmbers dore rownyd hym in the ere saye My dere sone they haue noo more wyne she thys our syster is poure wherfore I ne wete where we shal haue more Jhesus aÌ„swered said what is yâ— to me to the woman Thys seme the an hard a bostous answere to hys moder But neuerthe lesse it was sayd in mystery for our ductryne and techynge as saint Bernarde sayth and as it shall be tolde after the processe But of this
yâ— forsayd wordes at the beginÌ„yng of his sermon that ben in these Blessyd be tho yâ— ben poure in spirite for her mede is the kingdom of heuen Lo he saith not her mede shal be but as now her me de is Also they that ben not only pour â–ª but poure in spirite bâ— â—â— blessid for therin stant the vertu of pouerte he is poure in spirite that hath lytil of the spirite of pryde that is comyn to mankinde by the fyrst synÌ„e as a man is called poure worldly that hath lityl of worldly goods But now leuynge this mater B torne we vs to conteÌ„placion beholdyng our lord JhuÌ„ how lowely mekely he sitteth vpon that hill his disciples about him with how lowely sadde chere he speketh thoo wordes ful of edificacion teched that nobel lesson of souerayne perfeccion also how mekely enteÌ„tly his disciples beholden his blessyd face heren the swete wordes setten hem besyly in her mynde And soo haue they grete Joye ghostly lykynge in his speche in his sighte And specyally as I hope they weren â—â— comforted in yâ— nobel shorte praier that he tauÈt hem amonge other in that tyme that is pater noster â— that for the grete frute 〈…〉 that they felten therin also for the grete trust hope that they were put in therby For as we maye well suppose as to the firste that is the fruite therof not only they vnderstonde it after the lettir but also therwith they hadden thorugh grace yâ— ghostly vnderstondyng of eche peticion therof And sythen ther in is conteyned the askynge of al that vs nedeth to the body to the soule and that touchinge our temporel lyf in this worlde the lyf euerlastynge in a nother world al comprehendid in so shorte wordes no wonder thouÈ they hadden grete likinge comforte in that praier by the grete fruyt that they tasted therin And so hauen al they that thorugh grace feleÌ„ the ghostly fruyte and the swete taste therof ¶ Also as to the Seconde SecunduÌ„ comforte in that prayer that is trust and hope how might her trust hope be more stabled strengthed than to see hym that al only knewe what was nedeful and spedeful to hem to aske that myghte only yeue hit hem teche hem the petycy on by the whiche they myght not erre in her askinge nor fay le of her askynge And soo he that was domes man made the lybelle in her cause ageynst the whyche he myght not yeue his dome his sentence ¶ Also he that was lorde made the bille of his seruauÌ„tes for to aske only thoo thynges that were nede ful to them and likyng to him for to grauÌ„te More comforte myght not be touchinge prayer askyng in nede ¶ And also more ouer this comforte of this prayer was the more For as mykel as nexte before in the same place of that sermon he reproued the prayer of ypocrytes other that wern not wor thy to be herde And soo was the medecine more confortable and likinge that the defaulte sekenes was opened tolde be fore All this comforte shall we fynde in this forsayd prayer Pater noster yf we saye hit deuoutly not in dedely synÌ„e For our lord JhuÌ„s made not only this prayer to his discyples that weren that tyme specially with hym in that hille but also to vs and al Cristen men generally that shold make their prayer to the fader of heuen in his name in to the worldes ende â—oÌ„ 〈◊〉 causa But the more harme is here is mykel peple deceyued that leuen to mykel thys moost worthy prayer best by singuler de nocion in other priuate prayers or sayeng it withoute denocion As we may see all day many men â–ª and wymmen bering bedes with trillynge on the fingers waggynge the lippes â–ª but the syghte caste to vanitees the herte that only god knoweth as it is to drede sette more vpon worldly thynges Of the whyche manere of peple speketh our lord god by the prophete and saith thus This peple prayeth honoureth me with her lyppes Populus hic labiis me honorat but their herte is fer from me But for as mykel as this matere is spoken of in many other tretees and bokes bothe in latyne and in englysshe â–ª this prayer sufficauÌ„tly expouned therfore we passen ouer more shortly at this time herof But â—oÌ„ de â—â—pâ— riâ—cia oâ—â—â—i onâ—â— Paâ—â—â— nosâ—â—â— one thynge touchyng this prayer â–ª sothely I trowe that whoo so wille yeue his entente for to saye it wyth deuocion hath an inward desire to the ghostly vnderstonding therof settyng his herte as mykel as he may when he saith it both in comin and in pryuate he shalle thorughe grace by processe of tyme fynde soo mykel comforte there in that there is none prayer made of man that shal be to hym soo sauery so effectuell in what so euer nede or caas he be styred specially to pray for remedy and helpe to god soo shall he fynde in his sowle when god wyll yeue his grace with grete likynge diuerse vnderston dynge therof moste aperteyneth to hys desyre and that other than is writen in the comyn exposicion therof or parauâ—â—ur better than he can tell But mykel folke as seruauÌ„tes and by red men haue more wille to praye for speciall mede that they coueyten here than as true sones for the loue and the plesyng of oure fader god of heuen And so they setten more her likâ—â— ge and besines in a pryuate prayer made of man to our lady or to other sainâ— of heueÌ„ thaÌ„ they done this in general praier made of god hym self the whiche withoute doubte is moost plesinge to hym and most spedful to vs. and therfor they ben deceyued in many maners I speke not here of the sauter and the seruice in holy chirche Neuertheles other deuoute praiers made to god and to oure lady other sayntes ben good to be said after that the deuocion of men is stired to saye them in couenable tyme. so that they sette not her affeccion the lasse vpon this moste worthy prayer Pater noster As mykell folke in the sayeng of other priuate praiers setten all her entent speken hem with grete deuocion but in the sayenge of the Pater noster they ben to necligent rabben it forth withoute deuocion that maketh ofte special mede temporel that they hope for to haue by the sayenge of suche priuate prayers as to ouercome their enemyes or for to be kepte fro fyre or water or sodeyne deth or other bodely perils And that is a grete foly to trust vpon by the saieng of ony praiers without ritghwys lyuing And also men shold not desyre suche special temporel medes but only as is the wylle of god that all only knoweth what is spedful to vs and that withoute doubte shal gete vs moste
the sonne And his clothes were also whyte as the snowe And there wyth therap pereden Moyses Hely spekynge wyth hym of his passion that he sholde suffre in Jherusalem In the whiche blysfull syghte yâ— discyples were rauysshed specially peter feryetyng al erthly thynge desired for to haue dwelled stylle there in that blysfull place and sayd Lorde it is gode that we abyde and dwelle heâ— And therfore yf thou wolt make we here iii. tabernacles one to the One to moyses one to hely but he wyste not what he sayd neyther in that he wolde haue dwelled wyth JhuÌ„s in blysse before that he suffred wyth him the passyon of deth as he had tolde hem before that he sholde do nor in that he wold haue seuered hem iii. that were all one as in ghostly felynge the lawe the prophetes JhuÌ„s And therfore to conferme hym that is to saye Peter his felawes in true byleue of JhuÌ„s that he was goddys sone and that they sholde here folowe hym in all thynge Therwyth a bryghte clowde ouershadowed hem â–ª out of the clowde came a voys fro the fader of heuen sayeng This is my byloued sone in whom me liketh well and therfore here ye hym that is to saye in all that he techyth For he is very sothfastnes wythout lesynge therwyth folow hym in that he shewith For he is the right waye wythout erryng whom ye haue herde in the lawe that is vnderstonde in moyses and in the prophetes that is vnderstonde hely And thenÌ„e whaÌ„ the dyscyples had herde this heuenly voyce before sayd of the fader they fellen downe on the erthe on her faces wyth grete drede for the Infirmyte of man myghte not bere that hye voys aboue kynde And thenne our lorde JhuÌ„s benygly lyft hem vp and badde hem not drede And therwyth they lyftynge vp her eyen and lokynge abowte hem sawe noo more but alle oonly Jhesus And as they wenten downe the hylle he badde hem telle noo man that they had seen tyll the sone of a man were rysen fro deth to lyfe This is yâ— processe of yâ— gospel in the whiche who so hath grace of ghostly vnderstonding swetnes may se many notabilytees to lowing dispisyng of maÌ„ hymself and to feruent deuocoÌ„n loue of god And specyally he yâ— hath felynge aboue kynde is yeuen specyall grace maye taast haue moche ghostly comforte that he graunt vs parte JhuÌ„s cryste AMEN ¶ Of the seke man heled at water in Jherusalem called probatica piscina Caplm xxxi THere was in the cyte of Jhrlm in manere of a pounde a standynge water closed abowte wyth v. doores In the whiche water the shepe weren wasshen that weren offred in to sacrefyce In the whiche water also after thopinyon of so notabil primum me clerkes laye the tree of the holy crosse where it befelle as by way of myracle that ones in the yere that water was gretly styred and moeued of the angell of god And thenÌ„e what syke man myght fyrste entre in to the water he was helyd of his Infirmyte wherfore many seke men dwelleden contynuelly by that water abydynge the moeuynge therof by the aungell â–ª Amonge the whiche there was one lienge in his bed on the palleseye xxviii yeres yâ— whiche man our lorde JhuÌ„s helyd on the sabott daye and badde hym bere awaye his bedde and goo as the processe of the gospel telleth more plenayrly In yâ— whiche processe we maye note iii. thynges to our edifycaâ—y on Firste that our lorde JhuÌ„s asked the seke man whether he wolde be made hole we maye vnderstonde that our lorde god woll not yeue vs grace ghostly hele but we woll and desyre it â–ª wherfore the synfull men that desyren not and wolleÌ„ not assente to goddis wyll of her ghostlyhede sauacoÌ„n ben dampnable wythout excusacoÌ„n For as saynt Augustyn sayth He that made the wythout the woll not Justifye the without yâ— The Scdm seconde notabilyte is that it behoueth vs to be waare besy after we ben delyuerd clensed of synÌ„e that we falle not wylfully agayne therto leest that our vnkyndnes in the partye worthily be pâ—nysshed more harde of our lorde wherfore he sayd to that seke man that he helyd Goo wyll thou synne noo more leest wors wyll falle to the For ofte tymes it falleth that for ghostly Infyrmyte that is to saye synne comyth bodily Infyrmyte And soo thrugh delyueryng assoylyng of synÌ„e oft tymes the body is helyd of bodily siknes The thirde TerciuÌ„ â–ª N bâ—Ì„ thynge notabile is that wycked men gladly supposen vertuous dede of other men in to the wors party and soo they lesen her mede comynly as good men on that other syde supposen all thinge in to the better parte in encreace of her mede Thus the Jewes full of enuye whan they sawe yâ— seke man hole myraculously of our lorde JhuÌ„ and berynge away his bedde on the sabott daye at his biddynge they askeden hym who bad hym bere his bedde but they askeden not who made him hole And soo they token that parte that hem thought reprouable â–ª But they lefte that parte that was coÌ„mendable And thus comynly they dyde in all the myracles of our lorde JhuÌ„ In the same maner worldly men flesshly torne in to the wors part that good men ghostly tornen in to the beste party For they that ben in charyte dreden god liuynge rightwysly aretten al thynge for the beste to goddis worship whether it be prosperyte or aduersyte knowyng that al thyng is done right wysly by goddis wyll or his suffrauÌ„ce And soo in all thinge spirytuell men wymÌ„en geten her mede ye soo ferforthe that bernard can v. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of her owne synÌ„es other menÌ„es and of the deuilles werkes they profyten and wynÌ„en ghostly as saynt bernarde sheweth in dyuerse places who soo had this grace perfytly to suppose and arette all thynge that befelle in to the better parte he sholde mowe suffre trybulacoÌ„ns temptacoÌ„ns wythout grete dysease And by longe exercyse come to soo grete reste of soule that full seldome or neuer sholde he be dystourbled wyth ony thynge But it sholde be verifyed in him that the wise man sayth What soo euer be falle to the ryghtwysman â–ª it shall not make hym sory In Capitulo de chananea xxx Ferthermore in the forsayd processe in specyall mynde of the angell we shal vnderstonde that goddes angels ben as mynystres and meanes bytwene god and deuoute soules as saynt Bernarde sayth wherfore we owen to worshyppe hem and thanke hem And for as moche as they ben contynuelly presente wyth vs. we shal eschewe to thynke or speke or doo that myghte offende hem For they ben our kepers ordened of god and besy aboute vs coueytynge alwaye our ghostly profyte Of this mater spekith saynt bernard suê‘ pÌ„oâ— Qui habitat serÌ„ ri ibi angelis suis mandauit de
te c Jâ—mÌ„ sup canâ— serÌ„ lxxi ¶ How our lorde JhuÌ„s caste out of the temple the byars the sellars ayenste goddis lawe Caplm xxxii TWo tymes as the gospel makith mynde our lorde JhuÌ„s caste out of the temple the byers the sellars therin and that with a scourge made of cordes yâ— whiche dede amonge all the myracles yâ— he wrought semith wonderfull for what tyme that he wroughte other myracles in yâ— whiche he shewed the souerayn myght of his godhede the pharisees the scrybes other of the Jewes dispyseden reproueden hym but at this tyme whan they were in grete multytude gadred in the temple and in her grete soleÌ„pnytee they had noo power to wythstonde hym alone And the cause was for the ghostly fyre of hys zele brenÌ„ynge wythin forth for the vnworshippynge of hys fader specyally in that place where he owed moost to be worshipped shewed hym so dredfull in his face without forth yâ— they were wonderfully adradde discoÌ„fyted and hadden no power to wythstonde hym This processe after the exposicyon of saynt Gregory other doctours is full dredfull to all cristeÌ„men but namly to prelates curates and other men of holy chirche and specyally we religyous that ben sett in goddis teÌ„ple for to serue hym contynuelly in deuoute prayer and other ghostly exercyses If we yeue vs to coueytyse vanytees and medle vs ouer nede with worldly occupacoÌ„ns chaffaringes as they dyden we maye skylfully drede the IndygnacoÌ„n of Jesu and his castynge oute fro grace in this life and after departynge of his blysse euerlastyng wherfore thou that wolâ— not drede the IndygnacoÌ„n of JhuÌ„ loke that in noo manere yâ— putt the wylfully nor medle the to thy power wyth worldly occupacoÌ„n But for this matere is fully plenteuously treated in the exposicoÌ„n of this gospell in many places therfore we passen ouer thus shortly at this tyme ¶ Post istud capituluÌ„ sâ—qtur in bonauentura â—mÌ„o discipuli vellebant spâ—cas c quod caplm supra translatum est parte tercia caplo xxxiiii ¶ Of the receyuynge of our lorde Jhesâ— by the two systers Martha Mary of those two maners of lyuynges that ben actyf and contemplatyf in holy chyrche Caplm xxxiii It befell vpoÌ„ a tyme yâ— caplm 〈…〉 our lorde JhuÌ„s wente with his disciples to bethani that was called the castell of marthe mary and came in to the hous of hem And they that loueden hym wyth all her hertes weren gladde and Joye full of his comynge And martha the elder syster that had the cure of the housholde anone besyed her and went faste about to ordeyne for the mete couenable to hym and to dyscyples But her syster mary foryetynge all bodily mete â–ª desuyng so ueraynly to be fedde ghostly of our lorde JhuÌ„ sette her downe on the grouÌ„de at his fete And castynge her eyen and her herte her eeres in to hym oonly wyth more Joye and lykynge than maye be spoken was fedde ghostly and comforted in the blessyd wordes of our lorde JhuÌ„ for he wolde not be ydle but as his comyn manere was occupied hym wyth spekynge of edyficacyon wordes of euerlastynge lyfe Martha that was soo besily occupyed aboute the mynystracoÌ„on the seruyse of our lorde JhuÌ„ his discyples seenge her syster Mary soo sittynge as it were in ydlenesse toke it heuely and complayned her to our lorde as he had take noo rewarde therto And prayed him that he wold bidde her syster ryse helpe her to serue and thenÌ„e was Mary aferde leest she sholde haue be taken fro that swete reste ghostly lykynge that she was in And noughte she sayd but hanged downe her hede abidynge what our lorde wolde saye And thenne our lorde answerynge for her sayd to Martha that though she was besy and troubled aboute many thynges neuertheles one thinge was necessary that was the beste parte that mary chose whyche sholde neuer be take fro her And thenÌ„e was mary gretly coÌ„forted and satte more sykerly in her purpose And Martha wythout enuy helde her payd and seruyd forthe wyth good wyll In this processe of the gospell forsayd and tolde soo shortly touched after the letter we maye note vnderstonde many fayr thynges ghostly to our edifycacoÌ„n And fyrste the grete goodnes of our lord JhuÌ„ in his homely comynge to that poore house of the two systers martha mary takynge ofte tymes wyth good wyll and likynge suche symple refeccoÌ„n bodyly fode as they had For as it semyth well by that sayenge of martha that her syster lete her serue alone there was not multytude of seruauÌ„tes and soo foloweth that there was not grete araye in dyuers messes or many delycate metes drynkes and yet came oure lorde ofter more customably to that place than he dyde to ony other to take his bodily fode and that specially as I trowe for the grete loue affeccoÌ„n yâ— he had to mary after her coÌ„uersyon as he knewe well yâ— she loued hym seueraynly euer after as it is sayd before And so it semyth that our lorde JhuÌ„s woll loue specyally and ofte visyte by grace dwelle ghostly wyth that soule that by true repentauÌ„ce penauÌ„ce forsakyth her synÌ„e and perseuerauÌ„tly kepyth her in yâ— loue of hym Lorde how glad Joyful were thyse ii systers forsayd of yâ— comynge at that tyme of this blessyd gheste JhuÌ„s to her spouse and prycipally mary For as it semyth after yâ— processe of the Nota gospel this was the fyrst tyme that he came to that hous and yâ— soone after the coÌ„uersion of mary forsayd in somoche it was the more Joyfull to her For thenÌ„e she had that she soueraynly loued onÌ„ly desired And therforÌ„ her syster not knowynge how it stode wyth her wythin forth in her hert seeÌ„ge her maners chauÌ„ged yâ— was wont beforÌ„ to be ocupyed in besynes of bodily mynistracoÌ„n wyth her now as takynge noo rewarde therto but sittyng tendyng onÌ„ly to yâ— swete conteÌ„placion of JhuÌ„ as it is sayd beforÌ„ merueyled gretly therof And therfore coÌ„playned to our lorde as it is sayd not reprouynge her syster after the comyn condycoÌ„n of wymÌ„en in token ensaÌ„ple that he that is occupyed vertuously in actyf lyfe shall not reproue hym that is in rest of conteÌ„platyf lyfe though it seme to him that he be as ydle ¶ Of actyf lyfe and contemplatyf lyfe By thyse two sisters forsayd martha mary as holy men and doctours wryten ben vndstonden two maner lyues of crystenmen That is to saye actyf lyfe conteÌ„platyf lyfe Of the whiche there ben many tretees grete processe made of dyuers doctours and specially the forsaid Bonauenture in this boke of crystes lyfe makyth a longe processe alledgynge mani auctoritees of saynt bernarde yâ— whiche processe though it so be yâ— it is ful gode fructuous as to many ghostly lyuers Neuertheles for it semyth
men is token of hele folowyng But JhuÌ„s meaned of his deth â–ª And soo here we maye see the grete homelynes of our lorde wyth his discyples that as in maner of bourdyng spake wyth heÌ„ here â–ª But after declaring to hem openly that he spake fyrst mystly â–ª sayd Lazar is dede and I am gladde for you that therby your bileue maye be encreced strengthed knowyng that I was not theâ— in tyme of his dethe and soo the rather byleuynge that I am goddis sone Ferdermore leuynge many wordes of the gospell and takyng that semyth most notable to our edyficacoÌ„n aft whaÌ„ our lorde JhuÌ„s wyth his disciples torned agayn toward Bethanye and the two systers hadden worde of his comyng Martha an one wente agaynst him but mary satte styll at home tyll after she was called forth by the biddynge of JhuÌ„s An soo it semyth by thise wordes specyally after yâ— letter tellynge how thyse ii systers martha maria dyuersly hadden heÌ„ as anenst JhuÌ„ That John theuangelist meaned ghostly here as he dooth in other places the dyuers condicoÌ„ns that longen to hem that ben in thise ii astates that is to saye of actyf lyf conteÌ„platyf lyf For it is no doubte but that mary loued Jhesus as moche as her sister martha or more And was as gladde of his comynge And as sory was for her broders dethe and as feruently desired his lyfe why thenÌ„e went she not anone wyth her syster oute agaynst IhuÌ„ but in fygure for ensaÌ„ple that they that ben in the state of conteÌ„platyf lyfe shal not take vpon hem bodily exercyse of the dedes of mercy as for to goo oute to vysyte the seke or hem that ben in pryson Or to tede the huÌ„gry or clothe the naked and soo forth of other Or els for to preche or teche or to mynister sacramentes of holy Nota chirche but it so be yâ— they ben called out therto bi the biddyng the auctoryte of holy chirche in IhuÌ„s name ghostly as mary was bodily sittynge mary at home as it is sayd martha goyng out what tyme she mette with IhuÌ„ she felle down at his fete sayd Lorde yf thou haddest ben here my brother had not be dede Neuertheles now I wote well that what soo euer thou askest of god god wolle it yeue the She durste not saye vtterly that she desyred Inwardly sayeng as thus Now reyse my broder fro dethe to lyfe for she wist not whether it were expedient that her broder sholde be reysed or whether it were Ihesus wyll And therforÌ„ she set her wordes discretly in this manere of meanyng Lorde I wote well thou mayst reyse hym therfore yf thou wylt it shall be done but whether thou wylt or not I coÌ„mytte it to thy dome not to my presuÌ„pcoÌ„n ThenÌ„e said Ihs to her that her broder sholde ryse fro deth to life so in general wordes that it might be taken in two maners for to proue her bileue of the fynall resurreccoÌ„n not specifyeng whether he wolde reyse hym at the tyme or none And therfore martha takyng that part yâ— she was syker of after the byleue sayd that she wyste well that he shold ryse in generall resurreccoÌ„n at laste daye of dome And ferdermore at askynge of our lorde whether she bileued that he sayd of himself that he was resurreccoÌ„n lyf and of euerlastyng lyf of all heÌ„ that byleueden sothfastly in hym she answerde fynally thus I byleue that thou art criste goddis sone yâ— art come in to this world for manÌ„es sauacoÌ„n And thenÌ„e at byddynge of IhuÌ„s she wente home â–ª and called mary her suster in scilence that is to saye in soft spekyng sayeng to her Our maister is comen and calleth the to hun and anone â—he rose vp and went to him Loo how expresly here also is tokened ghostly what longeth to the contemplatyf lyfe that is to saye fyrste in reste pees scylence softe speche And not low de cryenge or grete noys as the worlde vseth And ferdermore what tyme that our lorde IhuÌ„ calleth hym out by obedyence to cure and to gouernayle of other as in the offyce of prelacy that thenÌ„e by ensample of mary anone he ryse by applyenge of his wyll to goddis wyll loue he neuer soo moche reste oâ— haue he neuer somoche in swete contemplacoÌ„n That is vnderstonde â–ª what tyme he is called soo vtterly that yf he wythstoÌ„de it he sholde synÌ„e dedely by Inobedyence Ferdermore we may see by the processe of the gospel the specyall loue homlynes that our lorde IhuÌ„s had soueraynly to mary in that he abode stylle there as martha mette fyrste wyth hym and wolde not doo as to the reysynge of lazar vnto the tyme that mary was comen And thenÌ„e whan she was comen fallen downe atte IhuÌ„s fete wyth sore wepynge teeres had sayd as she dide before that yf he had be there her broder had not be dede Our lorde IhuÌ„s seenge her wepyng yâ— he loued soo specyally and also the Jewes wepyng the there were comen at that tyme to coÌ„forte mary he wept also And that for iii. causes First for yâ— loue yâ— he had to mary specyally to her syster and to lazar Also to Nâ—bâ— shewe the greuousyte of synÌ„e in custome And of the ghostly dethe there thrugh â–ª that is tokened in lazar foure dayes dede beried And the thirde for the mysbileue of hem that there were the whiche byleued that he myght haue kept hym fro deth but not that he myghte thenÌ„e reyse hym to lyfe agayne Who soo woll thenÌ„e Inwardly take hede beholde how our lorde IhuÌ„s wepith the sisters wepeÌ„ the Jewes wepeÌ„ ye as â—e Lacrime ason tellyth the discyples wepeÌ„ skylfully he maye be stired to compassion wepynge at leest Inwardly in herte namly for synne in custome that is so harde to ouercome and to ryse out of as our lorde IhuÌ„s shewed in ghostly vnderstondynge by the grete diffyculte that he made as in wepyng in maner of trowbling hymself And yâ— two tymes wroth grutching in spiryte before that he reysed lazar by whom is vnderstoÌ„de synÌ„e in custome as it is oft sayd yeuynge ensaÌ„ple as saynt austyn sayth Aug. that thou that arte ouerlayd wyth the heuy stone of dedely synÌ„e be wroth grutche in spiryte and trouble thyself in this maner deminge thyself gilty And thynke how ofte thou hast sinned worthy euerlasting dethe and god of his endles mercy hathe spared the suffred the How ofte thou haste herde the gospell forbedynge synÌ„e thou hast taken noo rewarde but art contynuelly coÌ„trary fals to thy fyrst baptysme And thenÌ„e so thynkynge wyth coÌ„punâ—coÌ„n for thy synÌ„e â–ª as in maner askyng in thy hert what shall I doo whyder shall I goo In what maner shall I escape this grete synÌ„e dredfull peryll of euerlastyng dethe whan thou sayst thus in thin herte thenÌ„e cryst
by cause thorugh hym many were conuerted to JhuÌ„ Now thenÌ„e for to make N coÌ„clusio augusti a coÌ„clusion of all the processe beforsayd of the thre dede bodies reysed by our lorde JhuÌ„ saynt augustyn sayth in this senteÌ„ce All the forsayd thynges we haue herde bredern to that ende yâ— they that lyuen ghostly kepen hem in lyfe of grace And they that ben dede ryse vp in this maner Fyrste he that hath synÌ„ed dedely by assent in hert and is not goon oute therof by perfor mynge in dede amende hym of that thoughte by repentaunce N And soo ryse he vp that was dede within the hous of his con science Also he that hath performed in dede that he conceyued dedely in thoughte be he not in dispeyre But though he rose not wythin forth rise he wtout forth So he be not beryed ouerlayed wyth the heuy stone of wycked custome But perauenture I speke to hym the whiche is ouerlayed wyth yâ— harde stone of his wycked maners and combred wyth the heuynes of custome And soo is as foure dayes dede and stynkyth yet ê“uerbi orum xxi dispeyre he not For though he be depe dede beryed criste Jhesus is highe of myghte can breke all erthly byrthen cryenge thrugh his grete grace and makynge hym to lyfe fyrst by him self wythinforth and after takynge hym to his discyples for to vnbynde hym and soo fully restore hym to ghostly lyfe so that there shall be lefte noo stynke of synÌ„e in his soule ghostli notabil nomore than dyde lazar reysed bodily that he graunte to al theym that haue nede JhuÌ„s cryste AMEN Hic premittuÌ„tur duo capitula bonauenture ¶ How the Jewes couÌ„seyled conspired ayenst JhuÌ„ in to his dethe Eaplm xxxv AFter the reysynge of lazar before sayd whan the tyme neyghed in the whiche our lorde JhuÌ„s disposed to werke our redempcoÌ„n thrugh the shedyng of his precyous blode the deuyll fader of enuy armed his knyghtes minysters and whetted her hertes ayenst our lorde JhuÌ„ finally in to his deth and specyally by occasoÌ„n of his good vertuoê° werkyng but for soueraynly for the reysynge of lazar enuy kyndled in her hertes more more in somche that they myght noo lenger bere her woodnes wythout execucoÌ„n therof ayenst hym wherforÌ„ the prynces the pharisees gadred a couÌ„seyle ayenst hym in yâ— whiche counseyle cayphas bysshop of that yere all thongh he meaned wickedly prophecyed sothly that JhuÌ„s sholde dey for N sauacoÌ„n of mankynde And soo haue we here open ensaÌ„ple yâ— wycked men reproued of god hauen somtyme the yefte of prophecie so by comyu assent those fals princes pharisees in that counseyle vtterly ordeyned to slee that Innocent lambe JhuÌ„ And to that ende leest all the peple sholde byleue tro we hym And thenÌ„e the romayns as settynge her lawe at noughte sholde come destroye bothe her temple the peple â–ª O fooles foly couÌ„seyle haue ye not wryten of the wyse man that there is noo wysdome ne counseyle agaynst god And therfor ê“â—erbio ruÌ„ 〈◊〉 it shall fall in contrary maner to your wycked entent as it is now perfourmed in dede For there as ye slewen JhuÌ„ leest the romayns sholde destroye your place your peple after befell â–ª agaynwarde that for ye sleweÌ„ JhuÌ„ your place peple was dâ—stroyed by the romayns as the story telleth of yâ— destruccoÌ„â— of Jhrlm by tyte vaspasyane In the same manere it falleth of te tymes in worldes wysdome That is contrary to the wisdome of god For ofte tymes our lorde god torneth in to the beste that the worlde demeth as worst And specyally there as enuye is grounded of that entente of worldes wysdome as it is shewed openly by a notable ensample in Joseph whom his bretherne by enuye of worldes wysdome solden in to Egypte as to his vndoynge For they wolde not worshyppÌ„ hym after his sweuen But after it torned in to contrary effecte by god dis grace For that shewynge of hym was occasyon and cause of his highe auauÌ„cynge And her lowe submyssion to hym and worshyppinge And soo it fallyth all daye men maye see proued by experyence in the wordes chaunged But now leuynge this matere and tournyng to our pourpoos of the for sayd fals and enuyous councelynge our lorde JhuÌ„s euerlastinge wysdome of the fader of heuen to whom may noo thynge be hydde knowynge this malicyous conspirynge of the Jewes agaynst hym For as moche as his tyme was not fully come in the whiche he disposed to suffre dethe for manÌ„es saâ—a coÌ„n and also to yeue ensample as it is sayd in the nexte chapiter before to flee malyce that it encreace not by dwellynge he wythdrewe hym for the tyme fro the Jewes and went in to a couÌ„tre beside desert in to a cite that was called Effrem where he dwelled wyth his discyples a lityll whyle that is to say a seuennyghte For as some clerkes sayen he reysed lazar the fridaye before the passyon sondaye whan the same gospel is redde in holy chirche And the saterdaye seuennyghte after he was come in to bethanye as the processe after declareth ¶ How our lord JhuÌ„s came ayen to bethanie the saterday be forÌ„ yâ— palmsonday of the supper made there to hym and of those thynges done therat CapituluÌ„ xxxvi N OVr lorde JhuÌ„s souereyne doctour maister of al vertues not onÌ„ly by worde techyng but also by ensample yeuynge B prudeÌ„cia right as in the processe before sayd to our edifycacoÌ„n he vsed the vertue of prudence in fleeÌ„g fro his enmyes And there by shewyage that we also shall wysely wythdrawe vs fro yâ— woodnesse of hem that pursewen vs malicyously That is to saye the place and the tyme asketh so now he vsed the vertue of ghostly strengthe in this tornynge ayen to his enmyes whaÌ„ the due time was come in yâ— whiche he wold bi his free Fortitu wyll offer him to the passion And strongly myghtly suffre the malyce of his pursewers in to the vtterest ende yâ— was the harde deth Thus also he vsed teÌ„perauÌ„ce a nother tyme what tyme he fledde eschewinge worldes worshyp whan the peple wolde haue made hym her kyng And ayen warde he vsed ryÈt wysnesse whaÌ„ he wolde be worshypped as a kynge as it foloweth herafter what tyme the peple camen ayenst hym wyth brauÌ„ches of trees other manere of grete reuerence dooynge to hym in the cyte of Jhrlm And ferdermore soueraynly he vsed this rightwysnes after whan he entred in to the temple sharply reproued the couetyse of the prestes of the lawe and pharysees And wyth a scorge droue out the biars sellars of goddis temple And soo vsed the lorde of vertues thise foure pryncypall vertues that is to saye prudence temperaunce StreÌ„gth rightwisnes for our doctrine InformacoÌ„n wher fore as he shall not be supposed or demed as varyaunt or in constauÌ„te no
more shall none other that vseth thise forsayd vertues after discrecoÌ„n as dyuers causes asken But leuyng this mater whaÌ„ our lorde JhuÌ„s as it is sayd for to offre him to the passion in tyme ordeyned of him beforÌ„ the world camÌ„ N agayn to bethany that is to saye the sabbot next before palm sonday the whiche place is nighe Jhrlm as aboute the space of two myle there they made hym a supper his true byloued frendes that were full gladde of his agayn comyng and that in the hous of Symond leprose that had that name for that he was somtyme before leprose but not at that tyme for he was heled of our lorde before And there at that supper were thise homely ghestes wyth JhuÌ„ that is to saye lazar martha mary hir syster And as John noteth specyally martha serued and lazar satte at borde wyth other that seten also wyth our lorde But mary full of brennynge loue to JhuÌ„ and taughte wythinforth of the holy ghost toke a full precious oynemente and shedde it vpon his hede and also enoyntynge his fete Of the whiche precyous oynement the swete sauoure fylled al the house Now lete vs abide here awhile and take hede in N wardly of the forsaid notable pointes And first how our lorde JhuÌ„s wolde haue this supper specyally in that hous of the forsayd symond that was a pharisee as it is sayd before and in whos hous that self mary enoynted hym wyth precyous oynement and wyth Inwarde sorowe and bytter teres of coÌ„trycoÌ„n but now more perfitly wyth vnspekable Joy and ful swete teres of deuocoÌ„n and that knewe well our lorde before And for that one skylle he chose that place at that tyme specially for maries sake as we maye resonably suppose For no dowte that she loued specially that place in the whiche she fouÌ„de fyrste that grete grace of foryeuenes of her grete synÌ„es as it is sayd and soo it was more likyng to her there to doo that excellent dede of deuocoÌ„n shewynge her feruent loue to Jhesu Also he wolde haue that souper in Symonds hous knowinge his charyte true affeccoÌ„n coÌ„tynued to hym and to his dyscyples notwythstondynge the frendly reprehensyon beforÌ„ bycause of mary and also for the more open wytnesse of the tru reysynge of lazar that ete dranke as other dide in that hous of the pharysee openly and in presence of many Jewes that cameÌ„ at that tyme to see not onÌ„ly hymself JhuÌ„ bnt also lazar as John specyally tellyth And so we maye see at that supper and in that hous thife foure persones dooyng to our lorde Jesu true seruyce in dyuers maners That is to say the mayster of the hous by charytable hospytalyte lazar by opeÌ„ wytnesse of his true god bede Martha by besy mynystrynge as longeth to true actyf lyfe And mary by feruent loue deuoute worshyppyng as longeth to hye conteÌ„platyf lyf But on that other syde we maye see in contrary maner other yeuynge occasyon of offence to our lorde JhuÌ„ by enuye fals couetyse wroÌ„gful demynge as enuyous Judas that for to colour his fals couetyse grutchynge as of lesynge somoche money speÌ„den in that precyous oynement pretended specyally the releuynge of poore men therby And sayd that it myghte better haue be solde for thre huÌ„dred pens and yeueÌ„ to hem that neden And other also meued by his wordes but otherwyse in good entent as it se mith for the poore men grutched and were gretly styred agaynst mary as for soo grete a losse of that precyous oynemente But she kepyng scyleÌ„ce our lorde ansuerde for her as he dyde two tymes before now repreheÌ„dyng hem declaryng that good dede euer to be had in mynde as in enoyntynge beforÌ„ of his body into the beryenge that foloweth after O lorde JhuÌ„ how sorowfull and discoÌ„fortynge was this worde that soo openly declareth thy dethe to mary specyally and to all other true frendes that there were but soueraynly to thy blessid moder For as we maye sothly byleue that worde perced her hert more sharply than ony swerde And so thenÌ„e was al yâ— myrthe of that feste torned in to sorowe and namly for asmoche as they knewen that the Jewes had vtterly conspyred in to his dethe But neuertheles that fals traytour Judas coÌ„tynued in his enuyous indignacoÌ„n and herof he toke occasion to betraey hym and selle hym as he dyde the wenesdaye next after for N xxx pens wherof we shall speke herafter Here may we ferdermore note specially to our porpose that they are of iudas parte that reprehenden almesdedes offringes other deuocoÌ„ns of the people done to holy chirche holdynge all suche yeftes of deuocyon but foly and sayenge that it were more nedfull better to be yeuen to poore men O Judas thou that pretendeste wyth thy mouth the releuynge of poore men there as sothly in the entent of thy herte that is grouÌ„ded in enuy ayenst men of holy chirche it perteyneth not to the of poore men â–ª but rather thyne owne fals couetyse in excusacoÌ„n of thy nyhgonrre N. 〈…〉 that hast no deuocoÌ„n and nought woll yeue of thyn owne good For experyence openly techeth that comynly all suche Judas felowes ben as coueytous or more than ony other And that shall he fynde sothly in dede who soo hath to doo wyth heÌ„ in one maner or other We reden in the gospel of our lord Jesu in dyuers places and specially now herafter ayenst his passyon that he repreheÌ„ded sharply the scrybes the pharysees of te tymes namly of couetyse But we fynde not therfore that euer he bad the peple to wythdraw eyther dymes or offrynges or other yeftes of deuocoÌ„n done to hem but ayeÌ„warde bad heÌ„ alwaye doo her dewte after the lawe and coÌ„mended her free deuocoÌ„n in offrynges as it is opeÌ„ly shewed in yâ— gospel of marke of luke whaÌ„ our lord JhuÌ„s behelde how riche meÌ„ put heryeftes or offrynges to yâ— teÌ„ple in to the arche yâ— was called tresory or a coufre hauinge a hole aboue in maner of stockes yâ— ben now vsed in chirches the whiche arche was called Gaâ—ophilaciuÌ„ And amonge hem he sawe a poore wydowe offrynge two mynutes the fourth parte of a sycle and that was the substauuce of her lyuelode And thenÌ„e our lorde not reprehendyng one or other but rather coÌ„mendyng soueraynly praysed the poor wydowe for her grete deuocoÌ„n sayd yâ— her lityll yef te in goddis sighte passed all the grete yeftes of the ryche men Here maye we see yf we take gode hede to all the circustances yâ— bi this onÌ„ly processe senteÌ„ce of our lorde JhuÌ„s iudas his felowes ben sufficyently reproued confouÌ„ded in her fals opynyon doctryne before sayd ayenste holy chirche But now leuyng this processe torne we ayen to bethanye ymaginynge how our lorde JhuÌ„s after the forsayd supper in the hous of si monde went wyth lazar his systers to her hous the whyche
peple and specyally in thise thre dayes That is to saye fyrst on the sonday at it was now last treated and after on the monday seweng the tewisdaye togyder In the whiche dayes he camÌ„erly vpon the morowe in to the temple and there contynued in prechyng techynge to the peple and disputynge wyth the scribes pharysees And ansuerynge to her disceyuable questions and many subtill temptynges and soo he was occupied fro the morowe vnto the euentyde whan he went wyth his discyples to his rest at his homly hostrye wyth lazar his systers in Bethanye as it is sayd before But for asmoche as it were longe processe to trete in specyall of all tho maters that tyme bytwene our lorde JhuÌ„s the Jewes and lettynge fro the purpoos that we beÌ„ now in of the passyon Therfore passinge ouer all the parables ensamples by the whiche our lorde repreheÌ„ded the Jewes and other processe of that tyme in spe syall we maye in generall consyder note on that one syde how the prynces the pharisees seenge the fauour of the people to JhuÌ„ And therfore dredynge to perfourme her malyce agaynste hym openly casten sothly and fully to take hym in worde eyther ayenst her lawe â–ª or elles ayenst the trybute payed to the emperour of rome wherby they mighten accuse him as worthy the dethe But our lorde to whom all the preuyte of mannes herte is open knowyng the subtylte the malyce of hem ansuerde wysely to all her questyons and soo couertly in trou the sette his wordes that they were sufficyeÌ„tly answerde and yet they myghten not haue her entent in ony part But at the laste they were so confouÌ„ded that they durst nomore aske oni questyon of hym And thenne after our lorde JhuÌ„s sharply reprehended the pride the ypocrysy the couetyse other wyckyd condycoÌ„ns of hem and specyally of the scrybes pharisees sa yenge to hem in thise wordes woo to you scrybes pharisees that louen worldly worshippes in many maners and soo fourth of other vyces Neuertheles he badde therwyth the peple that they sholde kepe fulfyll all her techynges but that they sholde not folowe her werkes euyll liuyng At last rehersynge the vnkyndnesse of the Jewes ayeÌ„st god in generall by name of the cyte of Jhrlm for asmoche as he was soo ofte besi to gader hem togider as a henÌ„e dooth her chikens in to yâ— way of her sauacoÌ„n and they wolde not And therforÌ„ tellyng hem before her destruccoÌ„n folowynge temporell euerlastynge he lefte hem wythdrue hym out of the teÌ„ple and wyth his dys ciples and other many of the Jewes that byleued on him he went in to yâ— mouÌ„t of olyuete where he taught heÌ„ more ouer by ensaÌ„ples how they shold dispose hem make hem redy in to her last ende And fynally tolde heÌ„ of the daye of dome in yâ— whiche good men yâ— sholde befouÌ„den on the right half of god sholde haue euerlastynge lyfe and wycked men on the lyft hoÌ„de euerlastyng sorow endles deth Thê° made our lord JhuÌ„s an ende of this open prechyng to the Jewes on the tewisday towarde euen and after in preuyte sayd to his disciples wete ye well that after thise two dayes pasch shall be made â–ª mannes sone shal be bitrayed for to be crucifyed A sorouful worde this was to all his true discyples but the fals traytour Judas full gladde therof And thynkynge anone by InstygacoÌ„n of sathanas that was entred in to his herte how he myghte by occasion of his dethe fulfyll his fals couetise And herupoÌ„ he slepte not but anone on the morowe yâ— was the wenesday whan the prynces of prestes wyth the aldermen scrybes weren tradicio dâ—â— feâ—a quaâ—ta gadred in cayphas hous the bisshop toke counseyle how thei myghte by sleyghte take JhuÌ„s and slee hym But not in the feest daye for drede of the peple Judas aspyenge and knowinge this couÌ„seyle went to hem and profered to take hym to hem at her wyll soo that they wolde mede hym and doo hym why and they gladde of his profer grauÌ„ted ordeined to pare hym thyrty grete pens of the whiche euery peny was worth ten comyn pens As now oure grote is worthe foure comyn pens And soo falshede and couetyse malyce and trechery were accorded in to the deth of Innocentes And thenÌ„e had that fals traytour his couetous desyre of the pryce of that forsayd oynement that be grutched for as loste that is to say thre huÌ„dred pens And fro the tyme he sought oportunyte how he miyght bytraye JhuÌ„ wythout the presence of the peple And for quare ie iunatur feria iiii this bitrayeng of our lord vpoÌ„ the wenesday is that day resonably ordeyned moost of penauÌ„ce doynge abstynence in the weke after friday This was the processe of that cursed parte Judas the Jewes on that wenesdaye but on that other parte what dide JhuÌ„s his blessid coÌ„pany that day we finde not wryten expresse in the gospel For soth it is that he went not in to Jhrlm ne apered openly to the Jewes that daye what trowe we thenÌ„e that he dyde al that day Me thinke it resonably to be trowed that he was â–ª thenÌ„e for the moost part occupied in prayer for the performynge of redempcoÌ„n of mankynde that he came fore and not onÌ„ly for his freÌ„des that trowed in him loued hym but also for his cruel enmyes fulfillyng the pefeccoÌ„n of charytee that he had taughte before to his discyples in prayer for her enmyes hem that shal pursewe hem and ther wyth knowynge seenge in spiryte the forsayd malyce of In das the traytour the iewes in that day vtterly cast ayeÌ„st him and in to his deth And soo skylfully men may suppose that in that prayer to the fader specially he sayd the psalme Deus laudem that dauyd sayd in prophecye of hym of Judas and her other enmyes longe tyme before But thenÌ„e moost properly it was sayd of hymself not desiryng by the wordes of that psalme vengauÌ„ce of his enmyes as it semyth after the senteÌ„ce of the letter but coÌ„formyng his wyll rightwisly to the wyll of of the fader and prophecyeng the rightwis punysshynge vengauÌ„ce deseruynge of hem that soo malicyously conspired agaynst hym And after obstynatly contynued in her synne And for asmoche as that was the last day that he though to dwelle in that maner of bodily conuersacoÌ„n with that good byloued meyne lazar his systers he occupied him that day the more specyally wyth hem in ghostly comforte of hem by his edifycature holy wordes as he was wonte alwaye to do but now at more leyser to streÌ„gthe hem and conforte hem ayenst the grete sorow that was to come after by cause of his passion And soueraynly as we maye trowe in homly comynyng wyth his blessed moder to her specyall comfort and also wyth mawdleyne specyally that euer was thyrsty to drynke
our lorde JhuÌ„s pryuely tolde hym as to hym that he loued more specyally and specifyed to him who was that traytour And John therof gretly astonyed and woÌ„dred wyth grete sorowe to the herte â–ª nought wolde telle peter but torned hym to JhuÌ„ and softely layed downe his hede vpoÌ„ his blessyd breste And as saynt augustyne sayth oure lorde Jhesu wolde not telle peter who was the traytoure For and he had Aug in omelia diâ—it Je sê° petro wyste it â–ª he wolde haue all to torne hym wyth his teeth And as saynt augustyn sayth by peter ben fygured and vnderstoÌ„de they that ben in actyff lyfe and by John they that ben in con templatyff â–ª wherfore we haue here doctryne and fygure that he that is coÌ„templatyff medlith hym not wyth foreyne worldly dedes and also he yâ— sechith not vengaunce wythout forth of the offeÌ„ses done to god â–ª but is sory wythin forth in his herte torneth hym onÌ„ly to god by deuout prayer And the more sadly tornynge hym and drawynge hym to god commyttith all thynge to his disposycoÌ„n and ordenaunce though it soo be that he that is coÌ„templatyff soÌ„tyme gooth out by zele of god and profyte of mannes soules as whan he is called therto Also in that yâ— John wolde not telle Peter that he badde hym aske of the traytour we maye vnderstonde that the comtem platyf shall not reuele the secrete of his lorde As it is wryten N. de scoÌ„ fraÌ„câ—sâ—o of saynt fransoys that preuy reuelacoÌ„ns he reueled not with outforth but what tyme that nede made hym for hele of maÌ„nes soules or yâ— stirynge of god by reuelacoÌ„n meued him theâ— to Now forth in our processe beholde we the grete benygnyte of our lorde JhuÌ„ that soo homly suffred his derâ—ynge John enclyne reste vpon his blessed breste Lorde how tenderly truly they loued togyder This was a swete rest to John a profytable to all crysten soules in the whiche as clerkes sayen he â— dronke of that welle of euerlastynge wysdome the precyous drynke of his holy gospell wyth the whiche after he comfor â— ted al holy chirche and yaaf it as triacle ayenst yâ— venym of diuers heretikes Beholde ferdermore other discyples full sory of the forsayd worde of the bitrayenge of our lord JhuÌ„ not etâ—nge but lokynge eche on other as they that wyste not what counceyle or comforte they myght haue in this caas And thus moche at this tyme suffysith touchinge that fyrst artycle of that â— bodily supper and the etyng of paske lambe in fulfyllyng of the lawe endynge of the fygure that oure lorde JhuÌ„s dyde it fore And as clerkes sayen we fynde not that our lorde ete flesshe in all his lyfe but oonly at this tyme in etyng of that laÌ„ be more for mystery than for bodily fode Towchynge the sâ—dâ— peduÌ„ ablâ— seconde poynte that is the wasshyng of the discyples fete we shall vnderstonde that after the forsayd processe our lord JhuÌ„s rose vp fro the supper also his discyples anone wyth hym B vnwitynge what he wold doo ferdermore or whether he wolde goo And thenÌ„e wente he wyth hem downe in to the nerer hous vnder the forsayd lofte as they sayen â–ª that haue seen that place and there he bad al yâ— disciples sytte a downe made water to be brought to him and thenÌ„e he cast of his ouerclothes that were perauenture combrous and lettynge to that he thought doo and gyrde him wyth a lynnen cloth and put hymselfe water in to the bacyn that was of stone â–ª as men saye and bare it sette it before peters fete and kneled downe for to wasshe hem But Peter gretly abasshed astonyed of that dede as noo wonder was fyrst forsoke to haue that seruyce of his lorde as Inconuenyent to hym But after he herde his threte nynge that elles he sholde haue noo parte wyth him in blysse torned his wyll in to better mekely suffred him do his will Now yf we yeue here gode entent to the dedes of our lord Jesu and all that folowyth in this tyme sothly we maye with grete wonder be styred specyally to the loue drede of hym For what was that to see the kynge of blysse and hygh lorde of mageste knele downe and bowe hym to the fete of a poore fysshar and soo forth to all other that there seten and soo wyth the blessed hondes wysshe her foule fete and after tendly Notahumilitatâ— dâ—â— wyped hem and more ouer deuoutly kyssed hem Soothly he that was souerayne maister of mekenes shewed vs in this dede taughte vs a perfyte lesson therof And yet morouer in that he dyde that same lowe seruyce to his traytour coÌ„meuded soueraynly his passynge mekenes But wo to that harde herte ye harder than the adamaunt or ony thynge hardest that melteth not or softeth not wyth the hete of soo grete fyre of charyte profouÌ„de mekenesse And that dredeth not that lorde of mageste in that dede but ayâ—warde frowardly thynkyth procureth dethe destruccoÌ„n of hym that euer was soo InÌ„ocent soo true louynge wherfore it is bothe wonder and dredful the grete benygnyte and mekenesse of our lorde JhuÌ„ â–ª and the grete obstynacy and malyce of that traytoure Judas ayenwarde whan this wasshynge was done in mystery as it is sayd He wente agayne vp to the place of the forsayd supper whan he was sette wyth theym he tolde theym the cause of the forsayd dede And that was that they sholde folowe hym in mekenesse eche to other as he gaaf hem ensample that was theyr lorde maister And that they shold not wasshe others fete but also foryeue trespaces done to other and wyll doo good to other as it is vnderstonde by his wordes that folowen after whan he said to hem If ye knowen thise that I haue done to you ye shall be blessed yf ye fulfylle hem in dede Here also after the fyrste messe that was the paske lambe â–ª as it is sayde before whan they were wasshen and made clene he serued heÌ„ wyth the seconde messe of his precyons body that was deynte of all deyntes â–ª as men vsen in bodily fedyng and festes fâ—â—ste to be serued wyth boystous homly metes and after with more delycate and deynteous wherof folowyth herafter to wchynge the thirde artycle as anenst the thyrde artycle of that hy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est sacrament of Jhesus precyous body Lyfte we here our bertes soueraynly and bethynke we inwardly wondrynge of the moost worthy dygnacyon and vnspeable charyte thrugh the whiche he betoke hymselfe to vs. and lefte to vs in to meâ—e â— ghostly foode makynge and ordeynynge that precyous sacramente in this manere Whan he had wasshen his discyples fete and was goone vp agayne wyth hem there he before sate at the supper as it is sayd before as for an ende of the saâ—â—â—fyces of the olde lawe and begynnynge of the newe
in whos hondes arte thou now comen how moche is thy pacyence Sothly this is the houre the power of derkenesse And so stode he bouÌ„den vnto that pyler vnto the morow In the meane tyme John that had folowed our lorde wente to our lady and mawdleyne and other of her felawes that were that tyme gadred in mawdleins ho us where he had made the supper before and tolde hem all that was befall of our lorde his discyples and thenÌ„e was there vnspekable soro we cryenge wepynge Take now gode entent to hem and haue coÌ„passoÌ„n of hem for they ben in yâ— grettest disease hyghest sorowe for her lorde For they sene now well fully trowen that he shall be dede At laste our lady drewe her by herself torned her in to prayer sayd Moost worshipful fader â–ª moost piteous fader and moost mercyful fader I recoÌ„mende to you your owne myn derest loued sone Goo de fader be not to hym cruell sythen ye be to al other benygne Fader euerlastynge whether my dere sone shall be dede Sothly he dyde neuer euyll But rightwis fader yt ye woll the redempcoÌ„n of mankynde I byseche you yf it maye be fulfylled by a nother maner and that my sone be not dede yf it be your wyll For all thynge is possible to you he helpith not hymselfe by cause of your obedyence and reuerence but hath in manere forsake hymself and made hym as feble vnmyghty amonge his enmyes wherfore mercyfull fader helpe ye hym delyuer hym me agayne fro her hoÌ„des and yeue hym me agayne By suche manere wordes prayed our lady for her sonne wyth all her myghte of soule in grete sorowe And therfor haue we pyte of her whom thou seest in soo grete afflyccoÌ„n ¶ Of the bryngynge of our lorde Jhesu before pylate at pryme Caplm xl TThe friday erly on the morow the prynces and soueraynes of the people camen ayen to the forsayd place where they had lefte our lorde Jhesu and maden his hoÌ„des to be bouÌ„den behynde hym sayden thus to him Come now with vs come theyf to thy dome for this daye thy wyckednes shall haue an ende and now shall be knowen thy wysdome And soo they ladde him forth to pylate the Justice and he folowed hem as an Innocent lambe And whan his moder John other wymmen of her company that wente out erly for to here see of hym metten with him at a crosse waye and sawe him with soo grete a multytude of peple lad as a theyf and soo foule dispytously ferde wyth wyth how grete sorowe they were thenne fulfilled it myght not be spoken And soo in that metynge togyder of our lorde JhuÌ„ hem and syghte of other there was grete sorowe on bothe partyes For our lorde also had grete soroufull compassion of his moder and the other wyth her and namely of his moder that he knewe in soo grete sorowe for hym as as though the soule sholde be departed fro the body wherforÌ„ in all thise we owen also to haue grete coÌ„passion ThenÌ„e as it sayd is our lord was ladde to pylate and they folowed aferre for they myght not come nyghe for the peple He was there accused of many thynges the whiche they myght not proue And therfore pilate sende hym to herode as the gospell of luke tellyth And for asmoche as herode myght neyther haue worde of him nor miracle done as he desired he helde him but a fole wherforÌ„ as in scorne he lete clothe hym in whyte and soo sent hym ayen to pylate And so thou mayst see that our lorde not onÌ„ly was holdeÌ„ N as a theyf a wicked dooer but also as a fole Thus as saynt N gregory sayth done holy doctours prechers folowing our lorde JhuÌ„ whan they seen the herers onÌ„ly desire loke after curio syte and profyten not in a mendement of euyll liuynge they chosen rather in scylence to be holden as foles than to shewe hemself in prechyng wythout fruyt of soules Beholde now ferdermore the grete pacyence of our lorde in all that is done to hym For they leden hym thrugh the cyte towarde frowarde as a foole hangyng doun his hede in shamfast maner and pacyently herynge reproues scornynges cryenges and suffrynge many dispytes as perauenture in castynge of stones att hym or of fylthe and vnclennesse vpon him And also beholde his moder and his other freÌ„des wyth vnspekable sorowe on feâ— after folowyng whan he was thenÌ„e broughte agayne to pylate and the cursed houÌ„des besily styfly stoden in her fals accusacoÌ„ns Pylate knowynge her enuye wolde haue delyuerde hym and sayd I fynde noo cause of deth in this man wherfore I shall vndernyme hym chastyse hym and soo leue hym amended O pylate pylate wolt thou reprehende chastyse thy lorde god thou wost not what thou doost For he neuer deserued betynge or deth But thou sholdest doo better more rightwisly yf thou woldest chastise amende thilself atte his will And thenÌ„e at the biddynge of pylate that he sholde be scorged beten our lorde was dispoyled bouÌ„den to a pyler and harde sore scorged And soo stant he naked before hem all that fayrest yoÌ„ge man of all chyldern that euer were borne takynge pacyently of all tho foulest wretchest the hardest moost strokes of scorges And soo is that moost Innocent fayrest clennest flesshe floure of all mankynde full of wouÌ„des rennynge oute of alle sides that precyous kynges blode And soo longe be ten scorged wyth wouÌ„de vpon wouÌ„de and brisour vpoÌ„ brysour tyll both the lokers the smyters were wery And thenÌ„e was he beden to be vnbouÌ„den Sothly the pyler that he was bosiden to yet shewith the steppes of his blode as it is conteyned in stories Take now gode here by inwarde meditacoÌ„n of all his paynes abidyngly and but thoufynde thyn herte melt in to sorowfull compassion suppose fully holde that thou hast to harde a stonen herte ThenÌ„e was fulfylled in dede that Vidimê° euÌ„ noÌ„ e rat ei aspectus the prophete ysaye sayd of hym longe tyme before We seen hym in that tyme and there was none semelines nor beaute in hym and we helde him as foule as a leprose man that were smyten doune and made lowe of god wherfore we sette noo rewarde to hym O lord Jhesn who was he soo fole hardy that durste dispoylle the But who were they moche worse hardy that durste bynde the But who were they alther worste and moost foole hardy that durst soo bytterly bete the and scorge the But sothly thou sone of ryghtwysnes at that tyme wythdrewest thy beames of lyght and therfore al was in derkenesse and in the nyghte of wyckidnesse For now all thyn enmyes ben more myghty than thou and that made thi loue and our malyce Cursed be that malyce wyckydnes of synne wherfore thou were soo tormented After he was
maudleyn other sayeng thus to hem Be not your herte troubled and drede ye not for I shalle not leue you desolate as faderlees For I shal goo come euer be wyth you And at the last he badde hem goo in to the mouÌ„te of olyuete for theÌ„s he wolde stie vp and soo passed at that tyme awaye fro heÌ„ And anone right his moder all other wythout taryenge yeden in to the forsayd mount yâ— is fro Jhrlm aboute a myle and therÌ„ anone our lorde apered to hem Loo here we haue on this daye two aperynges ThenÌ„e clippyd he kyssed his moder takynge leue and she again warde clippyd kysse hym full tenderly And the dyscyples maudleyne and other fallynge downe to the grouÌ„de and wepynge kisseden his fete deuoutly and he takynge hem vp kyssed all his apostles benygnely Now take hede Inwardly of hem and of all that here ben done And therwyth beholde the holy faders there beynge Inuysible how gladly and reuereÌ„tly they beholden Inwardly blessen her by whom they haue receyued soo grete a benefyce of her sauacy on They beholden tho worthy chaÌ„pyons leders of goddis oost the whiche amonge all other peple our lorde JhuÌ„s specyally hath chosen for to conquere all the worlde ¶ At yâ— last whan all the mysteryes were complete fulfylled our lorde NoÌ„ processuÌ„ asceÌ„cionis Jhesê° began to be lyfte vp fro hem and to stye vp by his owne vertue And thenne our lady and all other fellen downe to the erthe worshyppynge hym And our lady sayd My blessed sone Jhesu thynke on me And therwith she might not with holde her fro wepyuge by cause of his gooynge Neuertheles she was full Joyefull that she sawe her sone soo gloryously stye vp to heuen Also the discyples this seenge sayden Lorde we haue forsaken all worldes goodes for the haue mynde on vs And soo he hauynge his hondes lyfte vp and blessyng heÌ„ wyth a bryghte Joyefull face Crowned worthily as a kyng gloryously arrayed styenge vp to heuen and sayd Be stedfaste and werchyth manfully For I shall euer be wyth you And soo our lorde Jhesus all gloryous whyte and rudye shinynge and â–ª Joyefull ledynge wyth hym that noble multitude and gooynge before and shewynge the waye to hem in dede fulfylled thenne that the prophetes had sayd longe before of his ascencoÌ„n And they also wyth vnspeable Joye folowyng hym songen merely the psalmes ympnes of his louyuge as perteyned to that blisfull tyme of her delyuerauÌ„ce fro all sorow and entre in to all blysse wythout ende And in that tyme the archangel mychael prouoste of paradise gooyng bofore tolde the blessed court of heuen that our lorde JhuÌ„s was comyng vpstyenge And anone all the blessed spirytes after her orders yeden ayen her lorde none lefte behynde metynge wyth hym and worshippyuge â–ª hym wyth all the reuerence that they cowde ladde hym wyth hympnes songes of Joye that maye not be spoken nor thought And soo metynge togyder the holy faders and the blessed spirytes and syngen alleluya and moost Joyefull songes wyth reuerence before hym maden a grete soleÌ„pnyte a worshipful feest ye lord who myght tell what fest yâ— was in what Joye they hadden whan they mett togider And whan they had done due reuerence to our lorde and fulfylled her mery songes that perteynen to his gloryoê° ascencoÌ„n they torned hem eche to other bothe the blessed spirytes the holy princeps apâ—oâ— faders reioycynge syngyuge And fyrste the holy spirytes in this manere sayenge ye prynces of peple be welcome Joyeful we ben of your comyng All ye are now here gadred and wonderfully lyft vp wyth your god Alleluya Therfore make myrth and syngeth now to hym â–ª that so gloryously styed vp princeps pplâ—â—â— aboue heuen heuen Alleluya And the holy faders Joyefully ansuerde To you prynces of goddis peple alieluya â–ª Our kepers helpers alleluya Joye pees be euer alleluya Syngyth makyth myrth also to our god kyng and sauyour Alleluya alla alleluya And ferdermore all togyder songen and sayden in doâ—â— dnÌ„â—le Now we go merely in to the hous of oure lorde alleluya and that worshipfull cyte of god that shall receyue vs all togyder alleluya In ympnes and songes of Joye myrthe Alleluya alleluya Loo here was moche myrthe and Joye All they songen and soueraynly Joyeden as the prophete dauyd sayth God styeth in to heuen in moost wonderfully Joye of the appostles ascendâ—â— dâ—â—in in bilacoÌ„ne that sawe hym that tyme And in voyce of trompe That is in voyce of angels that apered thenne and spake to the appostles Sothly our lorde Jhesus styed vp thenne openly to the comforte of his moder And the appostles as longe as her bodily syghte wolde suffyse to see hym And after a briyght clowde took him fro her eyen And anone in a moment that is in an vnperceyuable shorte tyme. he was wyth all his angels and the forsayd faders in the hyghest heuen O lorde what Joye was thenne to see that blessed lorde soo gloryous vp styenge Sothly I trowe who soo myghte haue seen that as the appostles dyden and therwyth herde that Joyfull songe of angels holy soules wyth hym vp styenge for that passynge Joye of his soule sholde haue be departed fro the body and goon vp to heuen also wyth hem and noo wonder wherfoâ— our lorde knowyng the Infyrmyte of mankynde in bodily lyfe here wolde shewe some of his blysse to his moder other discyples In as moche as they myghte bere that was in that blisfull vpstyeng of hym and hydde â—ro hem that they myghte not bere soo in flesshly lyuynge And therfore also he sent to hem u. angels in manÌ„es lickenes that they sholde not ouer moche be traueyled in yâ— stondyng lokynge vp after hym in to heuen â–ª For they were soo rauysshed by that blysfull syght of hym that they hadden foryete hemself And also he sent than gels to coÌ„forte hem in that they herde the angels wytnesse accordynge wyth hem of thascencoÌ„n of our lorde And whan the angels had bidden hem that they sholde noo lenger loke after JhuÌ„s bodily presence in that forme that they sawe him thenÌ„e stye vp in to that tyme that he sholde come in that self forme bodily to deme all quycke dede But that they sholde torne a yen in to the cyte and there abyde the holy ghost as he had sayde heÌ„ before ThenÌ„e our lady prayed mekely the angels to recoÌ„mende B her to her blessed sone And thenÌ„e louely enclynyng to her gladly token her biddyng And also the appostles and maudleyne recoÌ„mended hem in the self maner And after the angels passyng fro hem they torned agayne in to the cyte as they were bydden to mouÌ„t syon there abidyng the holy ghost of our lorde JhuÌ„ Now goo we vp bi deuoute conteÌ„placoÌ„n to N B our lorde JhuÌ„ beholdyng in ymagynacoÌ„n
ryght half is verily and hooly in all the places of the worlde where this sacramente is treated soothly conteyned in that sacrament in the selfe flesshe blode that was conceiued of the holi ghost and borne of the blessed virgyn mary and henge vpon the crosse for our sauacyon This maye not be comprehended fully by manÌ„es reason but onÌ„ly stondeth in byleue Neuertheles there is a maner lyke merueyle in kynde that a worde spoken of one man to moche peple is holy in him that spekith it and also in all those that here it ben they neuer so many ¶ It is also a grete merueylle that soo grete a body of our lorde JhuÌ„ is fully holy coÌ„prehended in soo lityl a quantyte of thoost and therwith also yf that oost be departed in to many smale peces it is as fully in euery parte as it was in all the hole ¶ Herto also is a maner of lykenesse that we seen in kynde how thymage of a manÌ„es grete face of a grete body is seen in a litil myrrour And yf it be broken departed yet in euery parte it semyth al the hole ymage not in party after the partes of yâ— glasse so broken Many other wonderfull merueyles our lorde god almighty werchith in this precious sacrament of his endles mercy to our ghostly comfort hele of soule the whyche we maye not coÌ„prehende by kyndly reason our bodily wyâ—t but onÌ„ly by true bileue fayth And therfore it is grete foly ghostly peryll to seche curyously in ymagynacoÌ„n of reason yâ— merueyles of this worthy sacrament But it is most siker to a symple soule namly and suffyseth to sauacoÌ„n Touthyng the forsayd merueyles and all other of this blessed sacramente to thinke fele in this matere Thus haue holi doctours taughte and holy chirche determyned And therforÌ„ I trowe and fully bileue that it is in sothnesse though my kyndely reason againsay it For as saynt gregory sayth That fayth hath no 〈…〉 â–ª meryte to the whiche manÌ„es reason yeuith experyence Touchynge the seconde manere of merueylles myracles shewed wythout forth by vertue of this holy sacramente and in this holy sacrament as we fynde wryten â–ª For thre skylles ouâ—â—oâ—de 〈…〉 shewyth in dyuerse maners those merueylles myracles in this precyous sacrament that is to saye Somtyme to coÌ„forte hem that ben in true byleue of this blessed sacrament and to kyndle her loue therby the more feruently to god to worshippyng of that sacrament Also somtyme by specyall grace for to coÌ„uerte â—orne to true byleue hem that ben oute ther of And also somtyme to open preif of the â–ª grete vertues ther of in delyuerauÌ„ce of paynes and sauyng fro bodily myscheyf ghostly And eche of thyse thre I shall tell shortly some merueyles myracles that I fynde wryten the whyche ben of soo grete auctoryte as to my felynge that there maye noo man agaynsaye hem but he be wors than a Jewe or a paynym â–ª Towchynge the fyrst that is to say how our lorde somtyme â— â–ª causa shewyth openly merueyles myracles of this blessed sacrament to comfort hem that ben in true bileue and to kyndle her hertes in to the more feruent loue of god We fynden wryteÌ„ N 〈…〉 in the lyft of the holy Confessour saynt Edwarde the kyng whos body lyeth in shryne at westmynstre the whiche lyf as for the more auctoryte in sothnesse wrote the worthy clerke holy abbot of Ryuaus Alred thus sayenge touchynge this matere ¶ In that worthy monestery of saynt Peter called westmestre and at the aulter dedifyed there in the worship of the holy trinyte as the forsayd holy kynge edwarde herde masse on a daye wyth the worthy erle called Leueryche the whyche wyth his noble wyfe GodÈyue the couÌ„tesse was founder of many worthy houses of religion what tyme it came to yâ— coÌ„secracoÌ„n and goddis body in forme of brede was holde vp to the peples syght bytwyx the prestes hondes after the vse of holy chyrche He that is fayrest in shape beforÌ„ al menÌ„es sones our lorde JhuÌ„s cryst apered bodily in that oost to bothe her syâ—ghtes liftynge vp his right honde makynge a crosse toward the kynge blessynge And thenÌ„e the kynge wyth lowtyng of his hede honouryng the presence of goddis magestec mekely wyth all the body dyde reuerence to soo worthy a blessinge But the erle that sawe the selfe syghte not knowynge what was in yâ— kynges hert And after desiryng that the kinge mighte be partyner of soo grete worthy a syghte began to goo towarde the kynge fro his place that was perauenture on syde byneth as longed to his astate But the kynge vnderstondin ge what was theâ—es entent said to him in this maner Stande Leueryche stande For that thou seest I see also After this they bothe of so Joyefull a sighte ghostly comforted torned all in deuoute prayers and swete wepynge teeres weren made ghostly dronken of the pleÌ„te of goddis hous and fed wyth the ryuer of his souerayne Joye and ghostly lykynge And after the ende of the masse they that were soo blisfully refeted wyth ghostly mete comyned togider of the forsayd heuenly siyght with swete teres inwarde sighynges â–ª oft tymes brekinge her speches And thenÌ„e sayd saynt edwarde My dere Leueryche I praye the charge the by that hyghe magestee that we haue soo gracyonsly seen that neuer whyle we lyue this thynge be brought fourth in to the comyn knowyng leest we therby falle in to vaynglory pryde thrugh thoppinyon of the comyn peple to our ghostly dethe Or leest the enuye of mysbyleuynge men lette and destroye true byleue to the wordes ther of wherfore after the forsayd erle was goon fro the kynges courte by the JuspyracoÌ„n of the holy ghost as it is to byleue He was taughte soo that he kepte the byddynge the heste of his lorde And yet therwyth that highe vertuous myracle sholde not be fully vnknowen to them that were after to come For after he came to the monastery of wircestre and there in confession to a Religyous man he tolde the forsayd myracle chargyng hym in manere as the kynge had charged him and prayed hym that he wolde wryte the preuytee of soo worthy a visyon and put in suche a place that it mighte be vnknowen to hem that thenÌ„e were liuynge and that it myght be knowen to hem that were to comyng And so dyde that holy maÌ„ after the erles prayer He wrote all thorder maner of the forsayd visyon in a bylle and layd it amonge relyques closed in a cofre the whiche cofre longe tyme after the kinges deth with out manÌ„es honde thrugh the myghte of god as it is to bileue was founde open And thenne the bretherne of that place besily serchynge the reliques fouÌ„den the forsayd bylle and radde it And after for asmoche as they wolde not that soo grete a tresour and worthy myracle sholde
hem but pryuely I hiled the chalyce wyth the patene the paten wyth the corporace And after the masse was doon and the peple awaye passed I sette the chalyce wyth the holy relyques that yet in to this day ben conteyned therin in a coÌ„uenient place besyde th aulter with due reuerence to be kept After this I went to the pope made to hym my confession wyth sothfast tellynge of all the caas beforsayd and of all my synnes And after he had Joyned me penauÌ„ce due satysfaccyon He assoylled me lete me goo And soo after the myracle publysshed knowen there camen fro dyuers countrees moche folke to see those precyoê° relyques with grete reuerence magnyfienge our lorde that alone werchith suche hye myracles merueyles And thenÌ„e at th ende the forsayd preest prayed the clerkes of saynt Hughe to the whiche he tolde all the forsayde tale that they wolde also tell it to him soo yâ— he myght be holpen as anenst god thorugh his holy prayers And whan they had so done supposynge that he wolde wyth a grete desyre haue goon for to see the forsayd memeyles He ansuerde in this maner sentence that is worthily to be noted to wchynge the fayth of this holy sacrament well he sayd in the name of on re lorde Lete hem haue to hemself the tokens of her mysbyle ue what is that to vs of thise thynges whether we that euery daye seen wyth the trueste Inner syghte of oure soule alle hooly fully this heuenly sacrifyce hauen in merueyle the pertyculers ymages of this yeft of god As who sayth nay but lete hym goo see the lityll smalle porcoÌ„ns therof with his bodily eye that seeth not all the hole wyth his Inner ghostly eye And whan he had thus sayd yeuynge his blessyng to the preste at his goyng After he repreheÌ„ded his meyne of her curyosyte and not onÌ„ly stabled hem in bileue but also declared openly yâ— those thynges that our faith techith vs. shold be vnderston de and holde more certaynly of true bileuyng meÌ„ than tho thiÌ„ges that this erthly lyghte by reason sheweth to bodily syght Thus our lorde by specyall grace by open myracles merueyles shewed in this blessed sacrament drawith some folke oute of her mysbyleue stablysshed hem strengthed in true by leue as it is now shewed in u. maners ¶ Touchynge yâ— thirde cause of shewenge myracles merueyles in this blessed sacrameÌ„t that is to open preyf of the grete vertues therof in delyuerauÌ„ce of paynes and sauynge fro bodily myscheyf ghostly Saynt gregory tellyth in his dyalogues and also in an omely vpon that gospel of luke Si quis venit ad me How there was not longe before his tyme a man taken by enmyes and ladde in tâ— ferre couÌ„tre and there layed in pryson and sett in harde boÌ„des longe tyme after many dayes his wyf yâ— he de nomore of him supposed that he had be dede lete syng euery weke ones a masse offred the sacred oost for his soule â–ª And also oft as the masses were soo done for his soule so of tymes his feters bondes were loosed in that pryson For longe tyme after whaÌ„ he was delyuerde out of pryson come home in to his owne couÌ„tree he told his wif with grete merueyle how yâ— certain dayes euery weke his bondes were losed vndone â–ª And his wif besily accouÌ„tyng notyng the self dayes vnderstode wel had knowledge that as oft she lete offre the sacred oost for hym soo oft was he loosed his boÌ„des vndone And thenÌ„e the forsayd saynt gregory concludeth in this senteÌ„ce wherfore dere bredern herof in certayn consyderacoÌ„n takyth gadreth in to your mynde of the sacred oost that is offred of vs. how moche it maye in ourself vnbynde ghostly the bonde of our herte fythen that it offred of one man was of soo grete vertue that it myght loose in a nother the boÌ„de of his body wherfore moche owyth euery preest to loue for to synge hys masse oftymes and for to dyspose hym therto by clene lyfe contrycion and confessyon ¶ To this selfe purpoos also the forsayd saynt Gregory tellyth in this boke called Dyalo gus how vpon a time whan a bisshop was in the see towarde rome there camÌ„ vpon hym so grete a tempest yâ— he was in despeyre euer tescape come to londe The shipmaÌ„ yâ— was in a lityll bote folowynge the shyppe after that the rope where that the bote was bouÌ„den to the shippe by vyolence of yâ— tempest was broken sodenly wyth the self bote he was caâ—t soo a monge the wawes of the see that the bysshop sawe nomore of hym And afterwarde whan the bisshoppis shippe afâ— many perylles was dryuen to londe in a certayn yle the thyrd day he went by the see syde besyly lokyng wheder he myght haue seen of the bote or of the shypman beforsayd But whaÌ„ he miyght not see of heÌ„ in ony party of yâ— see supposing yâ— the shipman was drowned dede hauyng grete sorow for hym he â—ete synge a masse offre yâ— helful sacrifyce of goddis body for thassoyling of his soule And aftwarde in the sayd shippe restored he toke the see towarde ytalye And whan he came to yâ— hauen of rome there sodenly he fouÌ„de a lyue the forsayd ship man that he wende had be dede wherof gladde Joyeful he asked hym in what maner he myght lyue so many dayes in so grete peryll of yâ— see And he ansuerd tolde how of tymes in the flodes of yâ— teÌ„pest he was cast vp doune now aboue yâ— bote ful of water now vnder And at last what for traueile and what for fastyng whan he was so ouercome nere dede that he wyst neyther forsoth wheder he slepte or woke sodenly hym thought that one apered to hym in myddes of the see andâ—ya ue hym brede to ete the whiche also sone as he had eten he toke strengthe and soone after in a shyppe that came therby he was taken and broughte to londe And whanne the bysshop had asked of hym and vnderstode the day in the whyche he had receyued the sayd brede â–ª and was reuygored ThenÌ„e knew he well that it was the selfe daye in the whiche he lete the preest synge for him and offre the sacred oost in the forsayd yle for his soule Thus shewyth oure lorde JhuÌ„s cryst openly by myracles and merueyles the souerayn vertue of his blessed sacrament and that not onÌ„ly in helpynge sauynge of men alyue as it is now herbe forÌ„sayd but also that is more to charge in loosynge vnbindynge of soules hethen passed out of the fyre of purgatory as the self saynt gregory tellyth in the forsaide boke playnly of a moÌ„ke that for the synÌ„e of properâ—e was in the payne of purgatory And after the sacred oost was offred for hym xxx dayes he was releaced and delyuerde oute of payne ¶ And also how a
nother soule was delyuerde out of payne by vertue of that blessed sacrament offred for it al the dayes of a weke And here may we see openly preyf of yâ— passynge profyte vertue of specyall masses done songen both for the quycke and the dede For as the self saynt gregory sayith the holy sacred oost syngulerly souerainly helpyth to vn bynde our soules fro synne and moost pryncipally pleiseth yâ— kyng of heuen and makyth hym soft to vs whan he comith to deme vs soo that it be offred wyth teeres of compuÌ„ccoÌ„n clennes of herte For he that in hymself rysynge fro deth shal neuer deye yet by this blessed oost for vs suffreth in his mystetery For as oft as we offre to hym thoost of his passion soo oft we maken newe to vs his passoÌ„n to our vndindyng fro synne Thus our lorde JhuÌ„s full of mercy and shedyng to vs soueraynly his endlesse mercy in makynge yeuynge of this moost precyous ghostly mete of his blessed body werchith in dyuers maners as it is sayd his merueyles myracles openly shewed in this excellent sacrament And yet contynueth pryuely wonderfully therÌ„ he vouchesauf in hem that by true bileue loue dreden hym But this loue drede wanten many grete clerkes the whiche leuen somoche vpon her owne kindly reason and the prynciples of the phylosophie that is mannes wysdome grounded oonly in kyndly reason of man that they wol not leue the true faith taught by holy chirche of this blessed sacrament And therefore they fele not the sothfast coÌ„fortable effecte of the merueyles myracles before sayd Neyther open ne preuy to wchynge this holy sacrament wherfore moche folke ben deceiued in that party that rather yeueÌ„ credence to that a grete clerke techith acordyng to kyndly reason than to that holy chirche techith herof onÌ„ly in byleue aboue reason For there maye noo man sooner erre in bileue of the sacramentes of holy chirche and specyally in this hyghe wonderfull sacrament of cryst precyous flessh blood than may grete clerkes but they haue grace of true mekenes and loue drede wherby they leue their owne wytt kindly reason and submytte heÌ„ lowely by true byleue doctryne of holy chyrche That grace grauÌ„t vs god specially of his grete mercy in thyse laste dayes that ben as it semyth nyghe to the comynge of antcryst his discyples the whiche shall pryncipally fouÌ„de to destroye the true fayth of this blessed sacrament and that by grete clergy of manÌ„es cuÌ„nynge and by merueyles myracles werchynge as saynt gregory in his morales vpon that worde of cryst in the gospel spekynge of antecryst his discyples sayth in this sentence There shall ryse vp fals crysten men fals prophetes and they shal shew and werke grete sygnes wonders In somoche that they that ben goddis chosen folke yf it maye be shall be brought in to errour Sothly sayth saynt gregory Now oure true marters â–ª werchen merueylles what tyme they suffren tormentes paynes But thenÌ„e that is to saye at the comyng of antcryst his discyples whan they yeuen tormentes paynes they shal also therwith werche miracles Lete vs thenne thinke and haue in mynde what temptacyons of mannes thought that shall be whanne the meke marter submyttith his body to tormentes And neuertheles the tormentour before his eyen werchyth myracles whoo 's vertue shall thenÌ„e be soo sadly grounded in byseue that he ne shall be meued in his thoughte what tyme he seeth that he yâ— tormenteth also therwyth by sygnes merueylles openly shyneth For thenÌ„e shal antecryst be highe in worship by merueilous werchyng and harde sharpe by cruelte of tormentyng Thise ben the wordes of that holy doctour saint gregori and many moo spekynges of the wonderfull myghte of antcryst his discyples and the grete temptacoÌ„n that shall be that tyme to crysten men And it is lykely by reason that as the mooste coÌ„fort of our cristen byleue stant in this moost excellent sacrament of crystes body Soo antcryst his discyples shall princypally werke in to destruccoÌ„n Fyrst of the tru bylene of this blessed sacrament in the forsayd two maners That is to say by clergye euydence of worldes cuÌ„nyng acordyng to naturell reason And by many merueyles myracles werchyng in false decepcoÌ„n And of the fyrste maner werchyng we haue seen in our dayes how the discyples of Antecryst that ben called lollardes haue made moche descencyon diuysion in holy chirche And put mani men in to errour of this blessed sacrameÌ„t by the fals doctryne of her mayster The whiche thrugh his grete clergye cuÌ„nynge of phylosophye was deceyued in that he yaue more credâ—ce to the doctryne of Arystotle that stant onely in naturell reyson of man thanne he dyde to the doctryne of holy chyrche the true doctours therof touchynge this precyous sacrament For Arystotle techyth as kyndely reason accordeth that the accydentes of brede or wyne That is to say the colour the sauour and soo forth of other may not be but in substauÌ„ce of brede or wyne after her kynde But the doctryne of holy chirche is yâ— in this blessed sacrament by specyal myracle of god aboue kynde yâ— colour the sauonr other accydentes of brede wyne ben there wythout her kyndly subâ—ecte that is to say without the substauÌ„ce of brede â–ª wine that was before the consecracoÌ„n And for asmoche as this doctryne of holy chirche is ayeÌ„st the prynciples of philosophye that is naturell scyence therfore the mayster of lollardes reproued it and scorned and so he errith himself and made many other to erre touchyng the bileue of this holiest sacrament the whiche yeuen more credence to hym for the opinyon of his grete clergye than to the true doctryne of holy chyrche And thus yet in our dayes hath antcryst wrought in the fyrst maner befor sayd by this fals mayster of lollardes and many other of his discyples in to destruccoÌ„n of true cristen byleue touchyng this blessed sacrament of cristis body many other poyntes ayenste holy chirche wythout the seconde maner that is to say werchynge of merueylles myracles For and antecriste had had in hem soo grete power that they had wyth her reasons also wroughte merueylles and myracles it had be lykely that holy chirche and true byleue specially of this blessed sacrament in grete party had be destroyed for the vnstablenes of the moost party of the peple notwithstondyng the grete merueyles myracles many and ofte that our lorde hath shewed herbefore in this holy sacrament as it is sayd to strength vs and stable vs in the true byleue that holy chirche hath taught vs toâ— â–ª of In the whiche byleue by reason we shold be soo sadly 〈◊〉 that after the sentence of the apostle poul though there came doun an angel from heuen and taughte the contrary we sholde not yeue credence to hym but holde hym as cursed But sooth it is