¶ This tretyse is of loue and spekyth of iiij of the most specyall louys that ben in the worlde and shewyth veryly and perfitely bi gret resons and Causis how the meruelous bounteuous loue that our lord Ihesu cryste had to mannys soule excedyth to ferre alle other loues as apperith well by the paynfull passion and tormeÌtis y t he suffryd for the redempcyon therof so that alle louis y t euyr were or euyr shal be arne not to be lyke nyd to the lest parte of y e loue that was in hym whiche tretyse was translatid out of frenshe Into englyshe the yere of our lord Mcccclxxxxiij by a persone that is vnper fight in suche werke wherfor he huÌbly byseche the lernyd reders wyth pacyens to correcte it where they fynde nede And they alle other redders of their charyte to pray for the soule of the sayde translatour ¶ CanticuÌ beate marie de dolore suo in passione filii sui plenitudo legis est dilectio The apostel seinte poule seyth the fulfyllyng of the lawe ys loue Seynte gregory seythÌ Â¶ Quicquid precipitur in sola caritate solidatur All thys that ys comaunded in y e olde lawe and in the newe is onÌly in loue coÌfermed for thys seyth seynt austyn ¶ Habe caritateÌ et quicquid vis Haue ye charite and do what ye wyll so it Agree wyth charite and all shall turne to your we le As seynt Ambrose seyth after that same effecte in contrary wordys ¶ Qui non habet caritatem omne bonuÌ quod habet amittit who that hath no charyte he leseth alle the weles that he hath or ony thyng that man doth wythoute loue is not acceptable to god of thys seyth seynte poule ¶ Si linguis hominnÌ loquar et angelorum IteÌ si tradidero corpus meuÌ ita vt ardeaÌ et si distribuero oÌnes facultates meas in cibos pauperrum caritatem auteÌ noÌ habuero nichil michi prodest Though that I coude speke wyth tongue of angell man And that I shuld do neuer so moche penauÌce and yelde my body to the fyre to be brente and gyf alle my good to fede poore folkes If I hadde not wyth thys loue in god and to alle folkes for god all thys shuld no thynge profyte for as seyth the holi abbot moyses All the penauÌce that we suffer and other good werkes that we do or cause to be doon ne be but Instrumentis for to aredy the herte that loue may more sone growe ther in wyth holy deuoconÌ and thys may ye see be ensample If a nedill sowyd not nor sherid clipped not who wold hold them in ther haÌdys meÌ loue not suche thyngis for them self but for the welys that men do wyth hem So is it of the werkys of penauÌce they be not to be be loued for them self only but for y e holy loue that growyth in the herte of maÌ be their helpe and be their procreacyon and that IhuÌ criste more sooner sendeth hys grace maketh the herte clene and of clere syght whiche none may haue that be ocupyed and ouyr corians aboute worldy vanyteys and carnall loue for thys that the loue of the world derkyth y e eyeÌ of y e thought that it may not knowe god nor gyue no conforte in beholdyng hym specyally that is full of ioye clere loue of herte as saint bernarde seyth Do seyth he ij thynges oon is thys all that ye do of we le do it specyally for the loue of god or for the loue of your neyghbour in god In alle your dedys haue one of these ij enteÌtes or bothe for the secunde cometh of the fyrste and who hath hys herte enclerde of thys specyall loue no well is doon in heuene nor in erthe but he is partner therof as seyth saynt powle ¶ Omnia muÌda muÌdis quoinquinatis auteÌ nihil munduÌ To folkes of clene harte belongeth all clennesse And tho folkes of fowle harte no clene thyng beloÌgeth For thys ouyr alle other thynges be coryous to kepe your harte clene in the loue of our lorde IhuÌ cryst and no thynge desyre in thys world but only the loue of god and tho thynges that helpyth yow toward hym loue no thynge for them self thus as mete and drynke man or woman or other thynges necessary y t helpyth yow to your leuyng and to be sustyned in y e seruyse of our lorde jhuÌ cryste For thus spekyth saynt Austyn to our lorde sayng ¶ Minus te amat qÌ aliquod pÌter te amat quod propter te non amat This is to sey ye loue god lesse thanne ony other thynge that ye loue wythoute hym yf ye loue it not for hym loue shall be put in the balannce of saynt myghel and they that moste hath loued most shall be glorifyed in heuene and not they that haue led hardeste lyf lengeste penaunce but tho that most haue loued augustinus ¶ Non diuturnitas temporuÌ noÌ vniuerositas bonorum operuÌ auget merituÌ Sed maior caritas maiorque voluÌtas auget meritum This encreseth not chefly the meryte to be longe in good lyf to do many good werkys But grettest charyte and best wyll encreseth the meryte loue is the Cenycyall of paradys for is grete fredom for he wythholdyth no thynge but geueth all that he hath and hym self also as saynt poule seyth ¶ Caritas noÌ querit que sua suÌt Charyte desyreth not that is hys owne and ryght marueylously loueth the swete god charite for he makith hytte hys chambyrleyn hys couÌsellour hys spouse fro whom he may hide no thinge that he wyll do of thought that he hath in hys herte as he seyd to abraham in genysis ¶ NuÌquit celare potero abrahaÌ que gesturus sum Shuld I seyde our lord hyde from abraham ony thyng that j may do naye in no maner so dere is loue wyth hym that he makyth it hys felaw and yet wyll j sey more y e god makyth it hys mayster for thys that he doth all that loue hym comaundyth Shall I mow preue thys ye wythowte fayle be these wordys For here spekyth he that was the man of the world that most loued god in hys tyme in y e booke of Nombrys ¶ Diuisi iuxta verbuÌ tuuÌ noÌ dicit preces I had thought seyd our lorde to moyses to auenged me on thys people But ye sey me that j shuld not your worde be ther warant Men sey that loue byndeth ye for trouth Loue bonde the allmyghty god so fermely that he myght no thyng do but as loue gaf hym leue now preue we thys marueyle ¶ Comune noÌ est qui consurgat et teneat te Lord seyd I saye wyll ye stryke A wee may sey alas ther is non that holdeth yow as he ought For yf ony loued you ryhÌt he myght holde yow and lette yow that ye wold not do it ¶ In gene si ad loth
me eligeret ne me perderet In asmoche as the swete jhesus was more vyle in erthe for me in so moche ys he to me more dere in swete loue for I coude not thynke that he had loued me so moche A swete IhuÌ fro hensforth ought I not to sette lyttyll be my sowle syn it was so pleysaunte to hym that he chaas rather to suffyr deth thaÌne lese it IteÌ Barnardus ¶ Nisi amasset me dulciter noÌ me in carcere Requisisset illa maiestas If y e swete jhesu had not loued me the more feruenhly he had not come from hys hygh ryall maieste for me that was so lowe in helle In thys shylde be thre thynges y e ton is the wode y e thother is the skyn and the thyrde is the colour Thys it is of the shylde that IhuÌ cryste hath lefte yow The wode of the crosse the lethir of the peynfull passyoÌ of our lorde And colour of hys red blood ThaÌne the skyn of hys precyous body was all to rente and broken and colowred wyth hys precyous blood and the crosse also The thyrde reson of thys shylde is that aftyr the deth of a valyaunte knyghte men shulde shewe hys shylde in the remembrance of hym Thys shylde is the crucyfyxe that is sette in y e chyrche wher meÌ may se and thinke of the cheualrye that our lorde jhuÌ cryste dyd on hye vppon the crosse on the mounte of caluarye befor theym of hys blessed dere sorowfull mother Thys shylde is haÌgyd vppe in euery chyrche y t hys loue whyche is our sowle may beholde how dere he hath bought her he lette not to bere hys shylde to opyn hys syde to shewe hys herte shewed all openli how entyrly he loued hyr and how she oughte often to thynke of the tokenys of loue that in thys shylde is syngnyfyed wherof seyth saynte Bernarde ¶ O felix anima aspice inclinacioneÌ capitis ad osculuÌ extencionem brachioruÌ ad ampbexum O ye blessed and happy spowse of jhuÌ cryste beholde on the crucyfyx the shylde of jhesu cryste your spowse And se the inclinacyon of hys hed to kysse yow se the spredyng of hys armys to clyppe yow beholde the openynge of hys syde and the crucyfyenge of hys fayr body and wyth greet affeccyoun of your holy loue turne it and returne it from syde to syde fro the hede to the fete and ye shall fynde that ther was neuer sorou nor peyne lyke to that payne our lorde Ihesu cryste endureed for your loue seyth he hath geuyn so myche for your loue and yet may not haue it It is gre marueyle I may seyth he gyf now no more wherfor ye wyll loue me and that forthymketh me but whanne I may no forther I shall sey suche thynge wherof ye shall haue pyte yf ye wyll at the leste be charyte of gret gyftys wherof speketh saynte Barnarde ¶ Uere compacienduÌ est ei qui dedtt nobis clauos in salsam carnem in cibum sanguinem in potum aquam ex latere in balneum sudorem sanguinis in medicinaÌ propriam animam in redempcionem Trewly is the swete Ihesu cryste A herttely louer and A compassyonate that hath gnuyn vs so many grete specyalteys Beholde how he hath geuyn vs hys nayles in sauce hys swete fleshe in mete hys precyous blood in drynke watyr of hys precyous syde in Baynes hys blody swete in medecyne hys propyr blessed sowle in our redeÌpcyon A what may wee more axe that he shuld gyf for vs Alas alas full harde is that herte and full vnnaturell that wyll not loue hym that hath geuyn so moche for their loue-here is a gret specialt wherfor we shold loue god The secunde cause wherfor god is to be beloued more thaÌne ony other thynge is for the marueylous gret loue that he hath shewed vs. ouyr alle other louys Ther be four special louys in this worlde y e one is betwene ij good felawes The tother betwene mother and chylde The thyrde betwene body and sowle And the fourth betwene maÌ and wyf But the dere loue that IhuÌ cryste louyth vs and also that we shulde loue hym passeth surmounteth alle other louys Men myght say that thys were a right good felaw that wolde laye hys plegge in place for to aquite hys felaw owte of dette of vsurye but the swete IhuÌ put hym self in place and leyd hys tendyr body to aquyte hys loue whyche is our sowle owte of the pryson of helle and of alle vsuryes wherof dauid seyth ¶ Et pro vsuris et iniquitate redimit animas eoruÌ From alle vsuries and ynyquiteys he hath redemeth our sowlys Take hede now who brought thys pereaunte to the place wete ye well it was the blessyd mayden our lady saynte mary that bare the swete IhuÌ the sone of god in hyr vyrgynall wombe in the tyme of wynter in the cyte of BethleÌ for to put hym in plegge to make our pees in the place wher the aungels sunge gloryously befor hys ⪠fader in heuene ¶ Gloria in excelsis deo et in terra pax Glorye be yeldyn on hye to god and in erth pees to meÌ of good wyll But loo how malycyous were these cruell Iewes that they deyned to logge this lady that bare thys blessed plegge and in so colde atyme as it was thenne in wyntyr parauentur it was frost and the pure vyrgyne mary grete wyth chylde and wente to seke sum place wher she myght reste hyr she was so wery of the gret trauayle that she hath in walkynge moche of that day tell it was nye nyght and wyst not whether to goo sauf at the ende of the town was ij hye walles of rokkes ⪠and thys pytons wery vyrgyne entryd ther and founde an oxe and an asse teyed ther and so streyght was the place that vnnethe myght she and Iosoppe hyr spowse haue ony rome to sytte in wyth ese but ther were they fayne to reste tyll it was mydnyght that the sone of god was borne and so poore was the bedde of thys lady and so streyght that hÌyr chylde might not lye by hyr as seyth the gospell ¶ Peperit filiuÌ suuÌ primogenituÌ pannis euÌ in voluit et reclinauit euÌ in precepio quia noÌ erat ei locus in diuersario Mary bare a sone wrappyd hym in poor clothis and leyd hÌym in y e rakke before bestys ⪠for thys that she had not in all the worlde so moche place that hys lytyll swete body myght lye in for yf she had put hym behynde the bestys yt was so streyght there wher folkis vsed to go and cum that they shulde haue hurte hym wyth their feete the way was so nere there Now I pray yow ryght dere sustyr remembyr yow stedfastly whaÌne ye lyein your large softe bed wel arayed wyth ryche clothys and warme couerynge and hote furrys so well at ese and your Ientylwoman so redy to serue
seeth you comyng towarde hym to crye hym mercy It is wreten in the gospell ¶ Occurrens prodigo cecidit suê colluÌ eius osculatusque est euÌ c. Whan he seeth the sowle comynge toward him he spredith his armes to clippe hir kyssyth hir and makith gretter Ioy of hir than of many other that were wyth hym alway as hymself sayth ¶ Dico vobis quod ita gaudiuÌ est in celo super vno pccoÌre penitenciaÌ agente quaÌ super nonaginta nouem iustis qui non indigent penitencia I saye you surely that gretter Ioy is there in heuen of one oonly synnar doynge his penaunce than of nynty nyne rightfull that neuer had nede to doo penauÌce And yet here a gretter merueyle of the loue of Ihesu cryst For though his loue mannes soule be neuer somoche foylid wyth dedely synne yet assonÌ as she comith to him he makith her as clene as she was tofore the sinne as ryche of all welÌes as saynt austyn sayth ¶ Erant sicut fueraÌt antequaÌ êieceraÌ eos They shalle be as clene riche of good werkes restablisshid in vyrginite of the soule yf ye wyl haue an ensaÌple how this may be ye may here by ⪠this Al the synÌes that is or euer was may not be doo but in thre maners That is to know in thought in worde or in werke Now shold not this be one of the grettest synÌes y t a maÌ myght doo in thoughte to thiÌke desire to destroy al holy chyrche truly this same was y e thought desire of saynt poul as it is wreteÌ in actibus applorum apostolorum Saulus adhuc spiraÌs c. Saul began furiously tenforce him to y e destruccoÌn of al cristyndoÌ wyth menaces betynges weÌt to archebysshops to pryncipal masters of the iewes gate lettres of theÌ to take all crysteÌ meÌ that he might fynde wherso euer he cam bryng them bouÌde and put theym in pryson And in his chyef auctoryte malyce was he conuerted to our lorde And is now a hye saynt glorifyed in heuen wyth saynt Iohan euangelist and other that were of pure and perfyght lyfe Also the grettest synne that man myghte do wyth worde sholde be to renye oure lorde saynt peter renyed hÌiÌ thre times in one nyghte whan he had thus done he took right hertly repentaunce ¶ Exiuit petrus foras et fleuit amare He went oute and wepte full bytterly and sorowed cryed god mercy And now is he senescall of heuen And the moost fowle synne of the body is the vyle synne of the flesshe And men wolde say that he or she shold be the gretest synner of the worlde that had accompanyed theym not oonly moost comunely wyth man but also wyth fendes And marye mawdeleyn had them wythin hyr whiche is now the dere loue of our lorde IhÌu Cryst as sayth saynt gregorye ¶ Maria septem demonia habuit qui vniuersis viciis plena fuit Mary had seuen fendes wythin hyr by whiche she was fulfyllid wyth all maner of vyces But for all those euyll vyces she made a resonable amendement as saynt gregory sayth ¶ Quotquot in se habuit delectamenta tot de se inuenit holocausta Asmany delites as she had in hyr of synnes soo many sacrefyces dide she vpon hyrself for amendes of hyr offences NOw retornÌ we to this grete loue that our lorde hathe shewed vs· wherof he sayth yet by ZachÌarye ¶ Zelatus sum syon zelo magno I am Ielous ouer mannes soule wyth a grete Ielousie As he saith in exodi ¶ Ego suÌ deus zelotes I am god the Ielous And not allonly was he Ielous of the gode but to make peas wyth theuyll as dauyd sayth ¶ Zelaui suê iniquos paceÌ pccoÌruÌ videns I haue desired by grete Ielousie to haue pees with euyl folkes soo sayth he to saynt peter in y e sawter ¶ Tabescere me fecit zelê° meê° My Ielousie hath caused me to suffre dethe yet myne enmyes haue forgoten my wordes so that they wylle in noo wyse graunt me theyr loue for al that I haue do for theym And yet agayn sayth our lorde IhÌu cryst ye shalle not escape me but that ye shal grauÌt me youre loue I aske ye whether it be to be gyuen or to be solde or to be taken wyth force Yf it be to be gyuen to whom may ye better giue it than to me that passe all meÌ that euer werÌ am fayrest of all other He is soo fayr y t yf a man were in hell mighte see his visage beaute of his diuynyte he sholde fele nother harmÌ ne payn And therfor sayth he where may ye better set your loue than on me Am not I the kyng of alle kyngis am I not more fayr than other nor am I not of more hie lignage than ony prynce Am I not more wyse than all other am I not of al folke moost curteys of al thyng most large free am I not of alle other the moost swete debonayr Thenne is there none exscuse ⪠syth that ye maye fynde in me all the causes of reason wherefor man shold yeue his loue and namely yf ye haue clennesse chastyte For none maye loue a right but they be clene fro dedely synne ¶ Now and ye will not gyue your loue I wyll by r it wyll ye selle it for mi loue or for ony other thinge It is moost resonable marchandyse loue for loue And yf it be to selle for that pryce I haue truly boughte it wyth a nother loue And that loue that I haue shewed you passeth all the louys of the world And though they were al togider yet is it gretter· And yf ye say that ye wyll not gyue it me so good chepe name how moche ye wyll haue· And ye can not name somoche but I wyll gyue you asmoche ¶ Wyll ye castelles wyll ye reames Or wyll ye aske al the worlde Yet shall I make you a better couenaunt giue me your loue and I shall crowne you in heuen make you seuen tymes more clere theÌne is the sonne Nor neuyr harme shall towche you nor neuyr thyng shal greue you nor noo wele shal fayle you· But all your wyll shal be doon in heuen in erth and in helle ¶ For neuer manÌys wytte may deuyse nor herte thynke the Ioye the glorye that I wyll gyue you for your loue wythoute ony comparyson wythoute ony rekenyng and wythout ony ende more more And moche more wyth all the gladnes of Estre ⪠al the beaute of absolon as often as he dyde clippe his hede he myght selle the here that was kytte of for ijCC siclis of siluer The swyftnes of Asaell y t wolde stryue wyth the hertes in reÌnyng The strength of Sampson that slewe at one tyme a thousand men in batayle The largenesse of cezar The renomme of alexandre the holynesse of moyses But good lorde mercy wolde
teÌpte you A nother medycyne ayenst spirytuell slouth is in the hope comfor to of euerlastyng Ioye And this may a man haue by holy medytacion of the passion of the swete Ihesu cryst of his Ioye of heuen ¶ And thise medytacoÌns comen ofte by good lessons herde of other folke or by redyng theymself that makyth man woman fermly to trust in god and for noo synne to be in dyspaire of his mercy for thê° sayth saynt bâânarde I haue synned gretly wherwyth my conscyence is trowblid but for this I dyspayre not for I shall thynke of the woundes of our lorde that he suffryd for synÌars And thenne canÌ I not be afrayed for noo synÌe that I haue done in tyme paste but that I shall be sauid yf I haue grace to come wyth repentaunce to the mercy of our lorde· A nother remedie there is ayenst slouth ayenst euery euyll and a mene to purchace euery we le This is oryson and therfore the fende dredeth moche y e charytable prayer for this cause y e prayer entreth somoche in the court of ihesu cryst ayenst the fende that it doth two thiÌgis It byndeth hym brenneth hym We rede that a holy man was in his prayers the fende came fleyng ouer hym in the eyre sholde passe towarde the occydent by the commauÌdement of Iulian the emperour of Rome And there became he soo faste bounde by the prayers of the holy man that to hym ascended as wynges mouÌtynge towarde heuen that in noo wise he myght remeue bi y e space of x. dayes enteerly And of a nother fende rede we in the lyf of saynt bertylmew y t as he was in his prayers the fende sayd to him grete pane haue I wyth you for your praiers brenne me sore And for thys I pray you good suster that ye oft remembre thise thynges thennel shall ye haue the ioy of heueÌ y t shal be gyuen to theym that tâaueylle for our lord Ihesu cryst Soo as he hymselfe sayth in the gospell calle sayth he the labourers gyue them theyr hire that is the Ioye of heueÌ WHo sheld be coueytous or scarse as ben thei that will for the purchasyng receyuyng of erthly weles trespace ayeÌste god yf they beholde by true fayth the grete pouertee that was in the swete Ihesu that conteyned fro the begynnyng of his lyf more more vnto th ende For at the fyrst tyme whaÌ the kyng was borne that made bothe heuen erth he had not soo moche place on all the erth vpon whiche his lityl body myght reste And therfore his piteous moder wrapped him in pour clothes layed him in a manger betwyx an oxe an asse As it is sayd in the gospell Yet after this was he more pour so as he hymself sayd that he had not soo moche place wheron he might rest his hede so pour was he of erthly loggyng But yet foloweth a greter pouerte for the kiÌge of glorye was dyspoyled aââe nakyd put vpon the crosse And yet what is more merueile that of all the large erthe brode might he not haue space to laye his body to deye vpon For the crosse was not of brede past a foâe or lityll more This was a thyng of grete merueyle that he that was almyghty in heuen in erthe wolde wylfully be so pour as I haue here befor touchid ThenÌe vnhappy ben they that ouermoche desyren erthly goodes loue honour of this world Wherof saynt poul spekyth sore ayenste saith in this wyse It is not euyl to haue them but rather it is euyll to loue theym For the rychÌesse of this worlde is but thyng that gooth comyth And therfore who that hath rychesse loueth it becometh pour they that haue riches loueth pouerte is ryche For thyse riche folkes that ouermoche loueÌ this worlde haue the curse of god soo as he sayth in the gospell Cursed be ye ryche folkes that haue your comfort in your ryches But to theim that lityll loue it hath he gyueÌ his blessyng the Ioye perdurable thus sayth he in the gospell ¶ Blessyd be the poore for theyrs shall be the reame of heuen Thys graunt vs the swete Ihesus that soo moche louyd pouertee· WHo sholde ete ouermoche by wyll or custome or drynke wherby that the naturel forces of the soule or body sholde be destourbed soo that they maye not doo thoffice that they are ordeyned to Suche that ben thus accustomed ben the glotons that are ofte grutchyng for mete drynke ¶ But who that by true fayth be holde well the poure petaunce that our lorde Ihesu cryst had the day y t he was lete blood on the crosse they sholde haue lityll appetyte to that glotenie There ben two maner of folkes that haue grete nede of good comfortable metes this is to knowe they that traueyle they y t blede And the day of his passion our lorde was both in harde traueyle bledyng and his pour petauÌce was thenÌe but a draught of eysell galle as the gospel sheweth who thenne sholde grutche for defawte though he haue somtyme not plente at his wyll of mete or drynke for the seruauÌt ought not to be better seruid than his lord wherof oure lorde spekith by Ieramye RemeÌbre you sayd he that haue soo moche trespased of my grete pouerte of the bytternesse of the eysell galle that was gyuen to me to drynke yet had I noo thynge trespased Alas wretches that we ben For truely if we thought of this grete defawte we sholde be content wyth lityll furnysshÌ penauÌce wyth abstinence and helpe those meÌbres of our lorde that haue grete defawte whiche ben the pour nedy But it is grete merueyle y t thise rychÌe men haue not grete remorse of conscyeÌce to thynke how they wythdrawe from the mouth of god in the pour gyue it to the chyldern of the fende as to thise mynstrelles triflers glotons vnthryftes doon ayenst the commauÌdement of oure lorde Ihesu cryste to the reryll of her soules· For the book sayth for the commaundement of god receyue the pour whiche is to meane to helpe them after your power And yf ye may not yet haue compascoÌn on theym· and be of good wyll to helpe theim and god wyll rewarde you And saynt austin sayth the ryche be made to helpe the pour and the pour to pray for the riche god wyll gyue to eche of theim richesse Ioye wythout ende The whiche Ioye vs graunt the swete Ihesus that fastyd xlÌ dayes in erthe AYeÌst lecherye is to be noted the clenÌesse of the pure vyrgyn mary for he sholde be ouer vyle of his body that by tru fayth beholde the clene byrth of Ihesu cryst of his rihÌt clene pure moder the blessyd vyrgyn saynt mary and the clenÌesse of the lif that thei ledde in erthe and all theyrs And on that other partye how shamfully
Festiua non potui ibi quicquaÌ facere donec egressus fueris This was whanne our lorde wolde coÌfounde sodom and gomor loth hys louer was ther to whom our lorde seyde haste you to go oute of sodom for befor that ye be gone may I do theÌ none harme here appereth wherbi the louers of the swete kyng of heuene bindith hym A lone loue how thow arte precyous wythoute pere Loue is lyke to a precyous stnoe that is of suche vertue that who that hath it shall haue what thynge y t he towche wyth the sayd stone the same vartue hath loue For yf ye loue y e vartues or bounteys y e other folkes haue in them their weles ye make yours be the towchyng of your holy loue as saynt gregory seyth ¶ Aliena bona si diligis tua facis If ye loue the goodnesse of other ye make it yours wyth oute ony mor trauayle O loue how thow arte precyous and wyth out pere Nou ryght dere beloued in god take hede to thre thynge be whych ye may lerne wherfor ye oughte to loue our lorde on thynge is y e grete welys and graces that he hath geuyn you on other ys the grete loue that he hath shewed yow The thyrde that he desyryth your loue so faruently Now remeÌbre yow wel that grete gyft most comonÌly draweth encresyth loue And what hath god geuyn yon All y e world wyth the apporthenaunce and paradyse wyth alle hys delytys And to adaÌ our fader alle the thynge creaturs vndyr heuene as byrdys bestis fyshys alle were put vndyr y e foote of man at our comaÌdment befor the synne of hym wherof dauid seyth ¶ Omnia subiecisti sub pedibus eius oues et boues And yet for all that these thinges be ordeyned stylle for to sarue the good and susteyne them in the seruyse of our lorde Another gyste hath he geuyn vs and euery day geuyth vs thys is hÌym self for to kepe vs and helpe vs in alle our nedys As seyt saynt Austyn ¶ De multis periculis liberauit me virtute sua QuaÌdo errabaÌ reduxit me quaÌdo ignorabaÌ docuit me quaÌdo contristabar consolatus est me quaÌdo peccabaÌ corripuit me quando cecidi erexit me quaÌdo steti tenuit me quando iui duxit me hec et alia multa fecit michi dominus meus de quo erit michi dulce semper loqui semper cogitare semper gracias agere Of many pary lys hath deliuered me my sauioure whaÌne I walked he led me whan I cowde nat he taught me whaÌne I synned repÌued me whanne I was heuy he conforted me whaÌne I fell he areysed me whaÌne I stode he sustyened me whaÌne j zode he led me Thys grete bounteys many other hath doon to me mi lorde jhuÌ cryste of whom it shall be alwey swete to speke and to thynke and alwey to yelde hym thankynge For full euele shull befalle of vs if he tooke not good kepe of vs for our enemyes haue besette vs all abooute to coÌfounde vs. Thys ys to knowe our flesh the fende and the worlde vnde versus ¶ Nos certant triplici certamine tres inimici Serpens antiquus caro lubrica muÌdus iniquus Thre enemyes greue vs be thre maner of batayles as the olde serpente the feÌde and the frele vnstabyll flesh the deceynable worlde as saynte Barnard seyth ¶ O anima innocens o lilium candens O flos tener delicate vide quomodo caute aÌbules inter spinas habitas subuersores tecuÌ habes intra te suÌt extra te sunt super te sunt circa te sunt In carne tua sunt O ye Innosent sowle O ye flour of lely fayr and whyte O ye tendyr delycyous flour take kepe that ye go wysely amonge the thornys for ther in habyte your dedely enemies that wayte to ouerthrowe yow and wyth inne yow they be wythoute you they be ouyr yow they be and rounde abowte you they be now se how grete a gyfte this is of god for to defende yow be hys good wyll as dauid seyth ¶ Scito bone voluntatis tue coronasti nos Fayr lorde seyth dauid gret thynge haue ye geuin vs for ye haue crowned vs wyth the shylde of your good wyl But these gystys beforseyd be but lytyll in comparyson of on gyste that he hath geuyn vs that is the gyste of hym self for so moche loued he vs that he hath geuyn hym self to vs wherof saynt poule seyth ¶ Cristus dilexit eccleciaÌ et dedit se ipsum pro eo IhÌuÌ cryste loued so moche hys loue y t he wold gyf hym self for hyr so hye a gifte was neuyr geuyn to suche wretchys ne for suche wretchys Augustinus ¶ Miser ego quantuÌ debeo diligere deuÌ meuÌ cum me fecit non arboreÌ nec auem nec aliquod de animalibus Sed homineÌ me voluit esse Seyth saynte Augustyn alas I wretche how I oughte to loue my lorde god that made me whaÌne I was no thinge and nother tre nor byrde nor non other beste but man wolde he that I ware and gaf me wherwyth to leue and to fele and knowe good ylle I was perishte and juged to deth he dysceÌded to me mortall mortalyte receyued suffyrd pasconÌ and veynquyshte deth and thus he me restablyshte wher j was parysht sold in myn owne synnes and he cam aftyr me to bye me ageyn and so derely loued he me that the pryes of his precyous blood he gaf for me be suche condyconÌ that the remembraunce of hym shold alwey abyde in me In canticis caÌticoruÌ sponsus ad sponsam ¶ Pone me vt signaculum super cor tuum Et vt signaculuÌ super brachium tuuÌ Fayr loue seyth our lorde and loue jhuÌ cryste put me as a lytyll seale on your herte to the entente y t ye may thynke on me oftyn put me as a seale vppon your arme so that ye enbrace me wyth holy deuocyon Ryght dere beloued frende in god now take hede ententyfly and wyth grete deuocyon to thys ensample that folowyth and wherfor ye shuld loue thys swete jhuÌ cryst therin shall ye fynde delicious matyr for thys hath doon jhuÌ y e kyng of glorie be your sowle that is hys loue as doth a kynge of farre contreys that louyth a strange lady sendeth his masseÌgers before wyth hys lettyrs of loue In the same maner dyde our lorde IhuÌ y e sente hys patryarkis hys prophetis of the olde testamente wyth letters These ware the swete prophecyes of hys gracyous comynge in to erthe thaÌne at the laste he cam all preuyly and brought wyth hym y e gospels as lettyrs opened wreted wyth his precyous blood and wyth y e same saued he hys loue to conquar hyr Now leth her a tale in syngnyfyaunce of the entyre loue of our swete lorde IhuÌ cryste Ther was a lady som tyme in gret warre wyth hyr
them the ryght waye towarde heuen whanne he hade ended hys ryght swete sermon for all his seruise y e felon Iewis sterte on hym and wolde haue stoned hym to deth theÌne seyd he full petously alas fayre folkis wherefore wyll ye now sle me ¶ Multa bona oêa ostendi vobis a patre meo êpter quod opus me vultis lapidare Many good werkys haue I shewede yow fro my fader for y e whyche ye wolde sle me Ryght as he hade sayde to them I haue geuen mete to yower poer folkes I haue made your seke folkys hole I haue done all y t ye haue desyrede me I haue thaught yow the scrypture of my fader now wolde ye sle me ¶ Non ex operibus bonis lapidamus te sed de blasphemia et nuÌc scimus quia demoniuÌ habes They answerede for thy good werkys we wolde not sle the but for thy blaspheminge that we knowe full well thow haste a deuill wythine they body ¶ Et Ihesus abscondit se et exiuitde teÌplo And IhÌs hide him wente oute of y e teÌple whaÌ he sawe y t they wolde haue put hym to this shamfull deth he made a soroufull coÌpleinte by y e êphete dauid ¶ Ego suÌ vermis et noÌ homo obêbriuÌ hoiÌm abieccio plebis Right swete fader mercy what shall I do I am holden so vyle in erthe for synners that these folkis take me not as a man but as I were a worme I am in reproche of men of all caytyffys I am in abyeccyon A what meruaile was this yf he made suche compleynte to hys fader y t sente hym hedyr where alwey he receuide euyll for his gode dedis and harme hate for hys swete loue grete shame for hys honour as hym self seyde· ¶ Retribuebant michi mala pro bonis et odiuÌ prodilecione me a They yelde me euyle for wele hate for loue Alas what vylete was thys that Ihesâ cryst suffred amonge this malicious folkys that alwey in hys blessid wordes were cruell ayen seyers and in hys holi dedys they were preuy aspyers and in hys anguyshous peynes they were sorufull in hys preyrs he hade poor conforters in hys gracious dedys ful few thankers wherefore he pleyneth hym in osee the proohete ¶ Consolacio abscoÌdita est ab oculis meis Euery conforte in thys worlde is hyde before my sorowfull eien as y e êphete dauyd seyth ¶ Heu michi quia iÌcolatê° meê° êloÌgatê° eÌ And iÌ y e gospel of marke OgeneracoÌ incredula quam diu apud vosero quam diu vos paciar Alas I sorowfull for this y t I am so moche êloÌged here wyth these myscreauÌt folke where I haue so longe abyden in pledge And of thys spekyth saynt austyn to prowde folkes ¶ Ecce humilitatis exemplum superbis superbie medicamentum quid ergo intime sis homo O pellis morticina quo teÌdis insanies fedida quid in flaris princeps tuê° humilis eÌ tu superbus capud tuuÌ humile et tu membrum superbi diaboli et comes membroruÌ suorum ¶ we haue ensamples of mekenes medecyn ayenst pryde wherfore wretched men dyscharge yow therof O ye mortall careyne wherfore goo ye in suche height o ye stynkyng fylthe wherfor be ye swollen wyth rotyn pryde was not your prince hede huÌble ye that be hys subiectê membryrs be pryde maketh yow felawes to the fende and hys membrys ¶ Item Erubesce homo esse suberbus qr quia factus est deus humilis ¶ Haue shame wretchyd man to be prowde yn asmoche as god y t made yow ys humble ¶ Discite a me qr quia mitis sum et humilis corde ¶ Lerne ye of me y t am debonair huÌble of herte sayth our lorde IhuÌ cryste yn the grete payne that he suffyrd yn thys place of owr mortalyte Thys ys the thyrd parte of vsurye y t ran vppon thys pledge was the swete body of our lorde IhÌu cryst wherof hym self sayth he Ierom the êphete ¶ O vos omnis qui traÌsitis per viam attendite videte si est dolor sicut dolor meus ¶ O ye alle folkys that passe be the waye of thys synfull world beholde se yf ony sorow or peyne be so grete or lyke vnto myn Trewly neuyr man borne of moder led so sorowfulk lyf nor y e suffyrd so peynfull deth as The swete IhÌu cryste ther as he lay yn pledge for hys loue For tendyrly wepynge cam he yn to thys world wherof he pleneth hym be y e êphete ¶ Caligauerunt oculi met a fleâ tu meo alibi languerunt occuli mei pre inopia ¶ My fayr eyen be com all derke so moche wepe I for my loue that wyll not loue me all the clernesse of myn eyen be anysshe for peyne dyssese And what merueyle for he wente poorely petously yn erthe all barfote yn colde yn hete in harde yn soste fro town to towne from couÌtre to couÌtre whyche was full of frost and snow aâ seyth seynte barnard· ¶ Exiuit a patre deposito diademate aspersit caput cinere nudo pede eiulans et flens venit querens illum qui perierat ¶ He cam from hys fader put of hys crowne of the reyngne celesâtyall strewid his hed with ashys all barfote syghyng wepyng full petously lamentyng cam heder to seke his loue that same pore caytyf y t was perysht A god mercy how he was in gret heuynesse many syghtê and desyrys to hys Ioye fro whens he cam Trewly he was not to âlame for he cam from hys gret honour that ys to sey whaÌne he was wyth hys Angels archaÌgels whyche were redy for to serue hym to his pleasur now was the swete IhuÌ in preson in thys valey of mysery wher so many vnhappy pepyll were to shame hym mokke hym to sey do euylle vnto hym wythoute pyte as hym self seyth ¶ Multiplicati sunt suê capillos capitis mei qui oderunt me gratis May enemyes be multyplyed more thanne the herys of myn hed y t hateth me dedeli Beholde now him y t was in so gret ioye eses he y t was kyng of heuene y t had nede of nothyng y t was in erthe deyned to com in so gret defawte as for to suffyr so sorowfull peynys and so gret labour as to be in colde in hungyr in thurste in hardnesse werynesse yn heuynesse shortly to sey alle y e euelys peynys y t we haue deserued fyll vppon hys gloryous hed wherof sayth ysaye ¶ Vere langores nostros ipse tu lit dolores nostros ipse portauit et nos putauimê° eum quasi leprosum percussum a deo humiliatum Trewly IhuÌ the swete kyng of heuene suffyrd langour bare the sorowys peynys of our deserte vppon hym self for the gret anguisshis shamis that he suffird
dedâly woundys that be so cruell And depe that I se the stremys of blood com fro youre fayre handys down on your shuldyrs your sydys ne wly skorged that hath be so sorbe tyn anguyshously that the skyn ys ouerall broken your pure flesh woundyd the harde crosse hurtyth yow at your bakke in suche wyse yt vnnethe endur your wery bonys wherwith my sowle ys so greued that hyt may in no wyse be coÌforted Alas your fair body so courteys so fre so benyngne now se I hyt all bare vppon the harde crosse streyned wouÌded lyke as houÌdys had gnawen hit And brokyn yt wyth theyr teth I see your thyes coloured as y e marbyll stone your knees leggis treÌble for your greuoê° peynes O IhÌu yourfayr fete I se now wouÌde persed wy tha grete nayle fastned to y e tre of y e crosse I se also y e stones rubych ouer al red wyth your blood Alas wherefore maye I not dye now be pertner of your wofull paynys there were no thynge so swete to me as to suffre deth wyth yow my dere childe spowse IhÌu but I may not haue my desyre fore y t yow my swete chylde wolde I dye a god what shall we wretchys do whanne we shall yelde acomptis befor y e face of IhuÌ cryste y t put hym yn the place to yelde so streyte acouÌpt for vs as ys befor rehersyd A yn euele hour be they born that ys not yn the grace of that blessed IhuÌ that so gret peyne vylene suffyrd yn so wretched a place to delyuer our sowlys owte of the boudys of y e fende The same y t made thys trete tooke hyt owte of an auctoryte that seysaynt ancelme seyth ¶ Actende quod candet nudatum pectus Rubet cruentatum latus teÌ sa arent vlcera procera Rigens brachia labia inigrescunt rosea regia pallent ora decora languent labia caput corona stimulat spinea pellis dorsi flagellis est Rupta speÌs corporis facta est liuida crura pendent mermorea rigat turbatos pedes sanguis vnda cÌ Â¶ Now dere frende beholde well how streytely was reknyd euery party bothe wythynne wythoute of the sowle of y e body wyth how many dyuerse peynes enserched that no thyng was foryetyn but that hyt was yn all yolden be tourmentys pastouÌs ouyr greuous compuccoÌns for to aquyte our sowlys oute of y e place of helle neuyr frend shewed suche a specialte as the good IhÌu cryste hath doon for hys loue our sowlys worshypte thanked be he of alle creaturs wythouten ende ANother gret loue of the world ys betwene mother chylde a Ryght farueÌte loue shuld thys be yf y e chylde had suche a syknesse that hyt myght neuyr be helid but hyt were bayned in the mothyrs blood yff the mother wolde make thys bayne thys shewed well a gret specyall loue A thys bayne made the swete Ihu cryste the very parfyght good loue whanne we were so syke of synne so vyle soo dyshonest y t no thyng in all thys worlde myght wasshe vs hele vs but alonly the precyus bloode of IhuÌ cryst he so gracyously y t so good herte made vs thys bayne wyth oute ony ayen seyng as seyth seynt IohnÌ in the apocalyps ¶ Qui dilexit nos lauit nos in sanguine suo a peccatê nostris He loued vs wyshÌ vs yn hys precyous blood from our synnes Lo whanne a man ys seke of a gret seknesse may not endure an oura hote bain at the begynning nor also he ys not heled be the fyrst bayne wherfor hyt behoueth that he be often bayned alwey warmer warmer in y e same maner made IhuÌ criste our beynes osteÌ in hys pÌcyng blod the fyrste that he made was whanne he was but viij dayes olde ¶ Postquam consuÌmati suÌt dies octo vt circuÌcideretur puer vocatuÌ eÌ nomeÌ eiê° Ihesus whaÌne viij daies where ended that they shulde circmcise our lorde y e swete chylde was called IhuÌ by his name But by y e blode that he lefte thanne of his tender bodi in the cyrcumcysion ne were we not yette enterli helede for we hadde the meselry of synne wherof we where so ful of synÌe inpostumys that our sowle was all full of hedowys matyr venymous bifore the face of the holi trynyte And y e swete IhuÌ toke therof so grete pite y t he wente all alone by him selfe the nyghte byfore hys passion fyll gronelinge to the erthe byfor his father of heuen and praied him full petousli for the helthe of his loue our sowle that was so sike of siÌne euyn at y e deth of helle that is so horyble and seynt barnarde seyth ¶ Quasi nuÌquam membris oiÌbê° fleuisse videtur He wepte not alonli vppon hys father with his blessed eyen but wyth all the membrys of hys lody for so full of compassion was his pituous harte so full of bytter anguyshys harde labours was hys tender body thanne that the swete of hys rede blode dropped from hym as sayth the gospell ¶ Positis genibus cÌ Et factus inagonia pro lixius orabat factê° est sudor eius sicut gutte sanguiÌs decurrentis in tarraÌ He put hys wery kneys vppon the hÌarde erthe so longe prayed hys father tyll he was allmoste in soueÌ in so grete peyne that the swete sprange owte of hys body as droppes of blode y t ran to the erthe to bayne hys loue our sowle to hele hyr make hyr fayr clene wythoute amyable to beholde wherof seyth seynt banarde ¶ Vere compacienduÌ est ei qui dedit nobis sudorem sanguiÌs in medicinam Trewli we ought to haue grete compassion pyte of our swete lorde Ihesu our loue that gaf vs y e swete of hys precyous blode for to bayne our sowlis But yete were we not all hole for our sowlis were enfundyrd in y e mortall dropsey wherof we myght neuer haue helth but it wre recoured by baynes Now thys dropsey is suche a sykenesse that makyt a man orrbyly swollen for the fowle humours that renne betwene the skyn and the fleshe in suche mannere were our wretched sowlys orrybly swollen and so hydowys that god wolde not that none of them sholde entre in to heuene byfor hym they were so fowle englutede and enuenyme de wyth the fylthe of synne And what dyde our swete lorde loue Ihesu cryst y t was the moste wise fisicieÌ he made a right precioê° specyall bayn for vs how he suffrid wilfulli that thise cruell felon Iewis toke hym stryped hym as naked as he was borne and bonde hym to a pylere of colde merbyll wyth harde cordes theÌne ij felon turmeÌtours full quyk redy to do euyll with ij scorges bete hym cruelly withoute mercy turmeÌt him so
may be to all the worlde whan Ihesu sholde deye wepyng soo pyteously so sorowfully playninge for suche as toke nomore hede of his harde passion that he suffred for theym noo more than yf he neuer had become man A nother reason was there as he playned hym wepte full pyteously for that soo fewe folke sholde be soo dere bought wherof saynt gregorye sayth ¶ Si respicio facieÌ cristi in cruce pendentis primis michi occurrit quod fleuit orans Sêª quare fleuisti bone IhÌu quare fleuisti cum pocius esset gaudenduÌ maxime tunc cum operabaris salutem in medio terre affligens peccata nostra cruce daÌpnans diaboluÌ Saluans miseros fleuit igitur qr quia cuÌ passio sua sufficeret redempcioni oiÌm profuit redempcioni paucorum ¶ Whan I beholde the face of Ihesu cryst hangynge vpon the crosse Fyrst it renÌeth in my mynde that he in prayeÌg wept But whi wept ye swete Ihesu why wept ye where rather it sholde be Ioyed specyally whan he brought helth in the myddes of the erth fyxed our synnes on the crosse daÌpnyng the deuyll sauynge wretches But for this wept he that his passion was sufficyent ynoughÌ to the redempcyon of all folkes shold prouffyte allonely to the redempcoÌn of soo fewe For full fewe ben in all the worlde of Religyous or seculer or ony other maner of folkes of holy chyrche or other that a right louyth the kynge of glory the swete Ihesu criste as they ought wherof sayth saynt poul ¶ Omnes que sua sunt querunt non que Ihesu cristi All folkes seke eÌtentyfly the prouffyte of theyr bodyes and not the loue that they owe to Ihesu cryste And our lorde hymself sayth ¶ Putas ne filius hominis inueniet fidem super terrain Wene ye that that Ihesu the sone of mary founde fayth or charyte in erthe for sothe full scarsely Now dere frende remembre ye how yourselfe hath louyd ful pourly our gode lorde and loue Ihesu cryst And how our neighbours of this worlde beÌ now corrupted with many maner of synÌes And how the deth of our swete lorde spouse y e sone of god was harde cruell ThenÌe oughte we well to wepe togider wyth Ihesu cryst and crye hym mercy wherof saynt Bernarde saith ¶ Tria sunt preciosa vnguenta scilicêª flere pro peccatis proptiis pro peccatis proximi pro compassione passionis cristi Thre precyous oynementes ben th one is precyous the other more precious the thyrd rihÌt precyous The precyous is to wepe for our synnes The more precyous is to wepe for the synnes of our neyghbours The right precyous is to wepe for the compascyon of the cruell deth of IhÌu cryst wherof sayth saynt Bernarde O bone Ihesu si tam dulce est gaudere de te A Ihesu yf it be soo swete to wepe wyth you how it shal be swete to be Ioyous wyth you and after he sayth ¶ O bone Ihesu cito lacrimas inuenit soluitur in gemitum qui tui sensum habet doloris O good Ihesu full soone mighte he fynde teeres grete mater of sighynges that had ony felinge vnderstondyng of your sorowes paynes And after of the peteous playntes that ye made And whan ye cryed wyth hyhe voys to your fader ¶ In manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meum In to thy hondes fayr swete fader I yelde my spiryte for the loue of my dere loue mannes soule to delyuer from helle ¶ Et inclinato capite emisit spirituÌ And enclyned his blessid hede yelded his gloryous spyrite A fayr frende thynke on hym that was soo benygne to thyse harde tormeÌtes wherof saynt bernarde sayth ¶ O bone Ihesu benigne cuÌ hominibus conuersatus es quam magna hominibus largitus es quam dura pro hominibus passus es quaÌ dura verba duriora verbera durissima crucis tormeÌta passus es O good Ihesu how benygne thou were conuersaunt wyth men how grete thynges thou hast gyuen man how harde paynes thou hast suffryd for maÌ as harde wordes harde betynges and right cruel and mortall tormentes that blessid be thou moost mercyfull Ihesu For neuer man suffred so harde deth as he suffred for our soules to make vs parteners of all y e ioyes of heuen And he suffred not oonly this cruell and harde dethe but also the moost fowle shamfull deth that they myght put him to And all this suffred he for the loue of mannes soule For what shame was this that Iudas this traytour marchaunt solde him to y e felon Iewes to slee as men doo an oxe or a cowe And yet for a wretchid pryce for thyrty pens For Iudas scaryot sayd to the Iewes ¶ Quid vultis michi dare et ego eum vobis tradam at illi constitueruÌt ei triginta argenteos What wylle ye gyue me and I shall delyuer you hym And establisshyd to gyue for hym thyrty pens of syluer And he brought the Iewes the same nyghte to the place where oure lorde Ihesu cryst was And whan he came he sayd Aue rabi Heyle mayster and kyst hym And our lorde sayd to hym full pyteously ¶ Amice ad quid venisti Frende wherfore come ye ThenÌe came after the Iewes and toke our lorde full rudely And ful sore bounde him as yf he had be an arrante theef And ledde hym in y e cytee before his mortall enmyes Wherof hymselfe playned hym to theym that ledde hym and sayd ¶ Tanquam ad latronem existis cum gladiis fustibus comprehendere me cotidie apud vos eram docens in templo et non me tenuistis A Why doo ye me so grete vilanye that ye come wyth swerdes and wepens forto take me as I were a thef and euery daye I haue be byfore you in the temple· and ye took me not wherfore doo ye this to me now ¶ But for all that they lefte him not but drwe hym forth before cayphas where the cruel Iewes accused hym of felonye and treyson· And he was broughte forth thus as a lambe wherof he sayd ¶ Ego quasi agnus mansuetus qui portatur ad victimam I suffre all togider the vilaynous wordes reproches as a meke lambe with out resisteÌce that men beryth to slee But Cayfas theyr mayster took so grete disdeyne for this that IhÌu wold not answer y t he said to him in scornÌ Where ben your dyscyples what folke ben they howe haue ye taughte theim And Ihesu answered I am acustomed to speke openly and alwaye to teche folke in the synagoge and the temple there as the Iewes came and in secrete places as here is I shall speke lityll And what aske ye me· aske them that haue herde what I haue sayd And vneth had he ended his wordes but there starte forth a felon ribawde that stroke hym ful cruelly in his fayr vysage wyth his hard honde And sayd full egrely before all folkes ¶
et non respondit michi MY sorowfull soule is al dessoluid for anguysshe of mi swete sone that entendeth not to my wordes I seke hym I maye not fynde hym I speke to hym and he answeryth me not Thenne came saynt IohÌn to whoÌ our lorde had deliuerde hir in kepiÌge soo sore wepyng that in no wyse he cowde refreyne hym· ThenÌe took he vp this blessyd virgyn wepiÌge snobbing in sorowes and soo weryed in wepyng so moche greuyd dyscomforted that vnnethes hir fete myghte susteyne to bere hir NotwythstoÌdyng thus as she myighte wyth the helpe of the holy wymen that were there they all wyth wepyng entryd in to Iherusalem many wymen that sawe this had suche pyte of the sorowfull wepyng of the blessyd vyrgyn marye that they cowde not refreyne theyr teres Hyr sorowfull herte pyteous demeanyng constreyned many a harde herte to wepe sorow and thus was she ledde al wyth wepinge vnto the hous of saynt Iohan bothe hirself weping all that weÌte wyth hyr and as many as saw hyr So rested she abode in his hous whiche honoured hir serued her louyd hyr more than she had be his owne moder And whan our lorde was buryed the iewes sealid his sepulture apointed certeÌ kniighÌtes in harneys for to kepe it In the meane tyme the blessid virgyn mary eÌdured grete sorow in the hous of saynt Iohan For she wept contynually wythout comfort for there was no frende she had myght ease hyr nor saynt IohÌn hymselfe for she was alwaye in sorowe bytter teres A who is soo encombrid with synÌe or is somoche encoÌbryd of erthly loue Or who is soo fulfyllid of errour or is soo charged wyth worldly rychesse that hathe the hert soo harde that they can not haue compascoÌn conpuÌccyon whan they redde or here of the sighes wepynges the sorowes tormentes that this blessid pure vyrgyn saynt mary y e ryght swete moder of our lorde Ihesu cryst suffryd Truely they haue the herte right harde wythout mercy that hath not some compascoÌn of thyse paynes And who that is wythoute mercy pyte god wyll haue noo mercy nor pyte on him yf it be not the gretter merueyle For seldom is the man sauyd that is wythout a mercyful hert wherof saynt bernarde sayth ¶ Nemo duri cordis salutem vmquaÌ adeptus est nisi forte miseratus deus abstulerat ab eo cor lapideuÌ dederit ei cor carneum Neuer man of harde hert purchaced not thelth of his soule but perauenture the mercyable god hath be pleysed some tyme to take froÌ hym his hert of stone and gyue hym a tender hert of flesshe wherby he may be sauyd ¶ Nunquid cor durum ipsum quod nec compassione scinditur nec pietate mollitur minis non cedit c. IS not this a harde herte that is not meuyd by compascoÌn nor softed by pyte nor makith noo force of menaces that can come to hym nor other Nor takyth noo hede of counseylle Nor to noo mannes Iugement not to shame nor dispysing nor to noo maner peryl Is not this maÌ ouer folisshe in the opinyons of al resonable folkes that all thynges past forgeteth And necligently vsith those thynges that ben now and taketh none hede to puruey for suche thynges as ben for to come But shortly putteth all in auenture This is a harde herte that nother dredeth god nor beryth reuereÌce to man And yf ye leue not me aske Pharaon that had the herte soo ouer harde ¶ Now fair swete frend haueÌ ye herde that our lorde Ihesu cryst louyd more his loue than euer sowle louyd body For he loued her more than his lyfe whan he gaaf his lyfe and suffryd his gloryous soule to departe fro his precyous body for the loue of hyr that honouryd praysed and thankid be he of al creatures wythout ende THe fourth grete loue that is in the werld is betwene man wyf yet the wyf may be so wretchyd of hyr body and soo enstrauÌged to hyr husbonde that perauenture though she wolde retornÌ to him again he wolde not receyue hyr And this hath be ofte preuyd but the loue of our lorde Ihesu crist passith all beyonde this loue For neuer was the soule of his loue acompanyed wyth soo many synÌes nor soo often in a voutre or other synÌes but yf she wolde retourne to to hym agayn he wolde gladly receyue hyr wyth grete Ioye Wherfore alway be he honoured thankyd for he is euer redy to theym y t wyll leue the fende come to hym As hymself sayth by Ieramye the prophete· ¶ Si dimiserit vir vxorem suaÌ c. tu autem fornicataes cuÌ amatoribus tnÌ reuertere ad me dicit dnÌs Yf a man leuith his wyfe for ony synne it maye wel be for it befalleth often But ye fayre loue though ye haue offended in dedely synÌes innumerable yet leue not therfore to retorne to me and I shal receyue you full swetly benygnely And what dooth more yet this amerous kynge whaÌ his loue is torned from hym he gooth folowynge cryenge after hyr lyke as it is wreten in the book of loue· ¶ Reuertere reuertere suauitatis reuertere reuertere vt intuiamur te ¶ Retorne ye retorne ye to me ye wretchyd soules Retorne ye to the entente that I maye defende you kepe you from your enmyes that wyll confounde you And saynte austin sayth that our lorde spekyth this to the synfull soule ¶ Capud meuÌ spictis tenui manus meas clauis obiecti lancee latus apperui sanguinem meuÌ fudi vt michi coniungerem te et tu diuidis te a me erubesce My hede face I helde agaynst the fowle spyttynges my hondes I spradde agayns harde nayles I openyd my syde agayns the spere my precyous blood I shedde to Ioyne you to me And wolde ye thenne thus depart fro me Ye oughte full gretly to be ashamed A good lorde mercy what is this that he sekith the sinfull soule soo ententyfly and callith hir soo often like as it is wreten in the book of loue ¶ En ipse erat post parietem nostruÌ prospiciens per cancellos BEholde how Ihesu Cryste was behynde y e walle watchynge· and beholdynge Inwarde by the creueces yf she wolde in ony wyse retorne to hym And in the apocalips is sayd Ecce ego sto ad hostiuÌ pulso et si quis apparuerit michi intrabo ad euÌ c. See how I am at the dore knocke make noyse who y t cometh to open his door I shall entre in wyth hym to his comforte As it is sayd in the gospell ¶ Omnes qui laborati et ornati estis venite ad me et ego reficiam vos O all ye that ben traueylled in the seruyse of the fende charged wyth synne ⪠come to me and I shall refresshe you comforte yow And what doth he yf he
gladly to the nede of their affliccoÌns Vpon this brauÌche makyth the shrikeowle hir neest that is of suche nature that she drawith hir about suche places as dede bodyes ben beried And whaÌ ony is nere his deth she felith it aferre cryeth lowde by grete pyte sorowe This byrde signefyeth the coÌpascion of the soule that shold put her in grete dyligence aboute hem that beÌ in sinne for to conuerte hem brynge hem ayen in the way of saluacion And whan she perceyueth ony that aprocheth to the deth of y e sowle bi dedely synÌe theÌne sholde she crie by grete lamentacoÌn to god with teres wyth orysons Vpon thys brauÌche growyth the floure of glane this glane growyth aboute waters By this water is vnderstonde they that ReÌne in dedely synne aboute whom sholde growe charite gyue attendauÌce to the compascyonat soule VpoÌ this brauÌche was mouÌted dauid that sayd Lord for this that the synÌers haue not kepte your lawes I haue cast this grete habuÌdance of teres Vpon thys brauÌche was thereime mouÌted the êphete y t said who shal gyue water to my hede a for this y t he thought water myghte drye and fayle sayde hÌe after and to myne eyen welles of teres that I myght wepe the wretchydnesse of my peple He thoughte teres that neuer sholde sease Suche teres shold hÌaue the soule y t wyll mouÌt vpon the appultree of comteÌplacoÌn as an holy fader was theron wel mouÌted that sayd who is seke in all holy chyrche eyther in body or in soule but that I be trowblid sory wyth hem ¶ The thyrde brauÌche of thappultree is temporell affliccoÌn whan she putteth hirself in grete afflicte by penauÌce also that she suffreth Ioyefully with a peasible hert all aduersitees for the loue of our lorde VpoÌ brauÌche makith the swan her nest that is of suche naturÌ that whan she shall deye she singyth This signefyeth the soule that hathe Ioye in trybulacion VpoÌ this brauÌche were mouÌted thappostles of whom meÌ say the apostles had grete Ioye whan they went out of the couÌsâyles of the Iewes pharesees where thei were beten for this that they thoughte theym worthy to suffre shame for the name of oure lorde Ihesu cryste Vpon thys brauche grewe the floure of the lelye wherof the spowse sayth in the Cantycles ¶ Thus as the lelye is amonge the thornes thus is my loue amoÌge the chylderne of the worlde ¶ Whanne the flowre of the lelye is amonge the thornes they prycke hir and she pryckyth hem not but rather yeldeth good odour by true pacyence Thus oughte the holy soule to doo She oughte not answere by sharpe wordes but rather oughte to yelde good odour by true pacyence to all theym that done hyr ony offence soo that she maye saye wyth saynt poul we ben of good odour to god in al places· But they that yelden euyll for euyll and ben redy to answere by signes and by wordes And wyll not forgete one worde that folke saye to theym or doo ony wronge nor wyll not forgyue all suche folkes ben not of the appyl tree of coÌtemplacyon ¶ The fourth brauÌche of contemplacyon is compunccoÌn CompuÌccyon is whan the soule is sore mouyd and prycked wyth the traueyâes of our lorde Ihesu cryst so that she forgeteth all other payne traueyle that maye come to hyr For as men wyll and maye more ease ây dryue oute a wedge or a pyn of tree that is myssette by a nother In like wyse whan the soule is meuyd pryckyd wyth trybulacyon It oughte to remembre how hyr souerayn sauyour loue was for her perced nayled on the crosse And this sharpnesse sorow sholde put away all other payne sorowe froÌ hir âert VpoÌ this brauÌche makith hir neest a byrde whiche is callid harpia that hath the seÌblauÌce of a manÌes visage hir nature is to slee the fyrst man she fyndeth theÌne gooth she to some water where she beholdeth hirself seeth that she hath slayn hir owne liknes thenÌ makyth she a full grete sorowe alwaye that euer she sawe ony man This signefyeth y e soule that slew cryst by hir synÌe whose seÌblauÌce is in hir for to his seÌblauÌce was she created And whan she remeÌbreth how IhÌu was dede for our synnes thenÌe ought â she to make grete sorow lamentacoÌn Thus as the turtle dooth whaÌ she hath loste her felaw she come to the place where he deyed fynde feders or ony other signe she makyth grete sorowe Thus oughte the soule to doo that hath lost IhÌu cryst hir good lorde loue she ought to doo thus as dide the doughter of a kyng that abode orphelin And men took awaye hyr enheritaunce Thenne was there the sone of a myghty kyng that had soo grete pyte of hyr that he toke this yoÌge lady to his wyf and conqueryd agayne hyr herytage and deyed in the bataylle Thenne this yonge lady took the armes of the knyghte that for hyr was dede· And behelde theim euery day wepyng vpoÌ tharmes made merueyllous grete sorowe The doughter of the kyng that abode orphelin lost hir heritage this was the soule that was doughter of adam that was a ryght noble man whan he was in paradys But he lost his enherytauÌce whan he was dryuen thens by his synne And thenne had the sone of god greate pyte for the sowle that was thus dysheryted and dyscended fro paradyce to marye hir this same daye of maryage was made whan he Ioyned his deyte to our humanite fro that day fought for vs xxxij yeer an halfe at the laste deyed for vs in the batayle of the crosse Wherfore we oughte well to doo thus as this yonge lady dyde alway to haue his deth in remembrauÌce wyth grete compascoÌn often to beholde his armes This is hys crosse his spere his nayles all y e Instrumentes of his passion and wepe euery daye for this that our lorde souerayn loue was dede for vs. ¶ Vpon this brauÌche growith the rose that signefyeth marterdom spuÌelly tho that be thus touched prycked forgeten lightly alle worldli troubles and may wel saey â am wouÌded bi charite for this is the tru way of charyte For as wel content is the very charitable with hem that blame hem· as them that prayse hem For the soule that is verely confermed in god ne is not ouerthroeÌ by aduersite ne a reysid bi êsperite The v. brauÌche of coÌtemplacoÌn is abidyng whaÌ y e sowle is of soo grete desire that she abydeth our lorde in desiryng ¶ VpoÌ this brauÌche were mouÌted y e êphetes of tholde tyme that somoche desired the comyng of our lord whaÌ they sayd come lord tary not a nother sayd yf he make taryeng abyde we him for he shal com tary not longe VpoÌ this brauÌche was mouÌted dauyd whaÌ he sayd beholde we abyde we our lorde after
ouer all is necessary prouffitable y e remeÌbraunce of the paynful meke suffrauÌce of our lorde IhÌu cryst It coÌforteth in all tribulacoÌn It surmounteth all temptacyon It deliuereth from all trystesse It takyth awaye all vayne gladnesse And of dyspayres makyth deliueraunce and is the sure true hope of pardone It is the rule of obedyence and the example of pacyence and sure medicyne agayn all euyll And of all true weles the very rote ¶ There were sixe mayster togyder and one askyd to a nother what thyng they shold say of god began to speke of trybulacoÌn The fyrst master sayd yf ony thinge were more noble than tribulacion to ony creature liuyng in this world god rader wold haue gyueÌ it to his sone therfore he gaaf hiÌ more to suffre therof thaÌ to ony other creature y t euer was or shall be ¶ The .ij master said y t yf ony creature were as clene fro sinÌe as he was at thour that he was cristened ⪠might liue xxx yere withoute bodely mete also that god had gyueÌ him grace to speke with thaÌgel in thayre soo as he dyde to mary magdalenÌ yet myght he not dysserne in this lif soo grete merite as some decerne in auersite by pacyeÌce beryng ¶ The thyrde master sayd yf the moder of god all the sayntes that ben in hâââen prayed for a creature they myght not gete hym soo grete meryte as he shold gete bi beryng pacieÌtly aduersite ¶ The fourth mayster sayd that our lorde IhÌu cryst henge on the crosse halfe a day therfore honour we the crosse· But I saye that we oughte by more grete reison honour tribulacion than the crosse For our lord suffryd that more than thyrty yere in erthe ¶ The fythe mayster sayd rather than to leue the leest rewarde that myght be goten by pacyent suffryng of trybulacion he had as leue forbere the sight of god vnto the day of dome An holy man say the y â nonÌ is worthi to haue tribulacoÌn but suche as desire it gladly TribulacoÌn quenchith the sinnes tribulacoÌn arrayeth the persone to know y e secretê of god tribulacoÌn makith a man to know hiÌself other multiplieth y e vertues preuith hiÌ as gold in the furnays of god charite this doth tribulacoÌn TribulacoÌn bieth ayeÌ the time loste the creature eÌbelissheth with innocense makyth hiÌ able to receyue al the weles that god giueth to his freÌdes it is the tresour y t none may be coÌparid to trybulacyon vneth the creature to gode And that is the most certeyn wele that is ¶ Now askyth the sixte mayster wherfore we suffre soo enuyously trybulacyon And it is answerde for thre causes The fyrst is for we haue lityll loue to god The seconde for we thynke lityll of the rewarde that god wyll gyue vs therfore The thyrde for this that we thynke full lityll of the sufferaunce that our lorde Ihesu cryst suffred for vs Praysed maye he be of hys grete bountee Amen ¶ Thus endeth this present boke whiche treateth fyrst of the gloryous passion of our Sauyour and of the compascyon that his blessyd moder had therof And also sheweth in a nother treatyse folowyng wherfore we ought to loue our sauyour more than ony other thynge ¶ Also sheweth a nother treatise moche prouffytable for reformacyon of soules defoyled wyth ony of the vij dedely synnes ¶ ItmÌ a nother treatyse shewynge the signes of goostly loue ¶ ItmÌ a treatise of the vertues of the brauÌches of the appultree whiche is expowned morally as is before expressyd ¶ Also folowiÌg is declared wherby men maye seke the loue of our lorde Ihesu cryst ¶ And the last treatyse of this forsayd boke spekyth to exhorte the persone to eschewe and haue in coÌtempte all euyll thoughtes And to reduce theymself in all poyntes âo good werkes vnder the hope of dyuyne grace