theym playe with them Thus oure lorde Iesu criste was borne a childe the fayrest that euir was borne to drawe maÌ„nys loue to him For while a childe is yong and withoute synne he is more amyable and more louynge then whenne he is at mannys age and is paste innocencye with doyng Sithen the loue is not only for his beaute but for the clenesse of his soule and also for the godenesse Eche man is bounde for to drawe to him and to do him worship as dyd Delauyan the Emperoure of Rome that pleased somoche his people of his empire of Rome that they wold haue worshipped him as for their god But the Emporoure was wyse and wyst well that he was but a man as a nother was and durste nat take that vpon him but anoon he sente after Sybyll the sage and askyd her whedyr sholde after hiÌ„ any be borne that shulde be greter thaÌ„ne he Thenne at mydday Sybyll loked on the sonne and there she sawe a cyrcle of golde aboute the sone Et in medio circuâ—â— virgo pulcerima And in the myddes of the circle a fayre mayden and a childe in her aâ—â—e with a crowne of golde ¶ And whan Syble had shewyd this to the Emperoure she saide 〈◊〉 him â–ª This childe shal be greter than thou arte or euir were or euir shal be And therfore do him worship and reuereÌ„ce TheÌ„ne anoon the emperoure tooke ensence and dyd worshippe to him and charged all the people to doo the same and to call the childe their god and him but a man as other were Thus all cristen people may lerne to do worshippe and â—â—ruyâ—e to this childe this day And therforâ— the thridde masse this daye is saide at myddaye in tokenyng that cristen peple shuld coÌ„me offre in the worshippe of this childe and his modre and shew him seruaunte and subget to him and knowlege this childe for their lord and god And eche man sholde coÌ„me to him for loue and nat for drede And therfore the office of the masse this day begynneth thus Puer natus est nobis A childe is borne to vs he sayth nat a man for all cristen people shold be bolde and nat aferde to come to him to haue grace for he is full of grace and redy to gyue mercy to theym that asketh it mekely with due reuerence he is euyr redy to gyue mercy and grace In tokenynge that same daye that criste was borne in Bethlem a well of water in Rome turned and ranne oyle all that daye shewynge that the well of grace and mercy was borne that daye that sholde gyue mercy and grace to all theym that wolde coÌ„me to him and aske mercy and grace and that ye shall here by ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede of a woman that was defoileâ— in lechery and almooste fyll in dispayre or drede for whan she bethought herof the streitnesse of cristes dome greate peynes of hel that were ordeyned for suche synners as she was sore aferde and bethoughte her of cristes passion â–ª what loue he shewyd to all cristen peple she thought she was vnkynde to hiÌ„ and he suffred so sore for her And theÌ„ne she bethoughte her how children be they neuir so wrothe and shewe neuyr so grete vengeaunce howe lightly they wyll sease and forgyue wherfore this woman cryed to criste prayng him for his childehode to forgyue her and to haue mercy on her and anoon she herde a voyce on high in the ayre and sayde thy trespasse is forgyuen the Sequitur breuis sermo de sancto stephano gOode men and wymen suche a daye ye shall haue a hye a holy feest in the churche of sainte stevyn the marter that suffred for goddes sake after cristes ascension Thenne for to stirre your deuocion the more to this holy martyr I wyll tel you somwhat what that he suffred for cristes sake as the booke of appostels tellith Post ascensionem domini c. After the ascension of oure lorde that he was styed vp into heuyn the appostels laboure was all to preche and to teche the worde of god to cristen peple And for bicause they were to fewe to serue the people that coÌ„me there come so many to torne to the feyth Therfore they chose vi holy men gode lyuers for to helpe theym in goddes seruyce of the whiche sainte Stevyn was one of theym And the firste and the wysest And was so full of grace and myght of the holy goost that he dyd many myracles and meruelous amonge the people But though a man be neuir so holy yet he shall haue enmyes wherfore of diuerse countrees that hadde enâ—te to Stevyn and coÌ„me ayenste him disputed with him for to haue ouircoÌ„me him with disputacion And for they myght nat they brought false wytnes ayenst him and putte him to deth But whan sainte stevyn sawe and knewe their malice anone he thoughte to sease them by one of these thre wayes Other by shamynge in disputacion or by drede of reuelacion or by prayer of holye orysones But firste he saide by shamiÌ„ge in disputacion For whan they begaÌ„ to dispute with him he was full of the holy gooste that they hadde no power ne no might for to gayne say him and so he ouircome theym in all their maters and preuyd all their mater false that they saide ayenste And therfore he saide he was redy to take the deth in verifyenge of all that he said And so put them that were grete clerkes and knew the lawe and the prophecy to shame velonye But yet they wolde nat byleue but alwaye ayenstode him But he was soo full of the holy ghooste that he preuyd that he saide by grete reason and trouthe yet wolde they nat beleue it for all that the holy gooste spake in him And yet for all that wolde they nat beleue in their conscience that they dyd amysse And there as they saw the coÌ„myte turne to the feithe for wordes miracles that god shewyd in their syghte yet they ayenstode him set goddes mirâ—â—â—es at noughte by malice and enuyte of their cursed hertes and by none other reason of scriptur And so they fretyd their hertes within them selue and gruched with their teeth for angre and thoughte howe they might ouircoÌ„me him with disputacion Thenne they soughte if they might haue take hym with some worde of cristes dethe wher by they might haue made them a cause to haue putte him to deth Thenne saint Stevyn knewe their malice and lyfte vp his eyn vnto heuyn Et vidit celos apertos And sawe heuyn opyn and oure lorde Iesu criste sittyng on his faders right honde redy to helpe him And therwith his face shone as bright as it hadde be an aungell of heuyn But whan they herde him speke thenne were they fayn and stopped their crys as though they hadde herde him speke false sclaundriâ—ge wordes of god And soo anoon drewe him oute of the cyte to stone him to
deth â–ª as for a disclaundreâ— Then they toke two yonge men that coude best caste stones And tooke of his clothes and layde him at the feet of a yongeman that hight saule and after was saint poule whanne sainte Steuyn sawe that he might nat sease their malice by reuelacion shewynge he turned to deuoute orisones praynge and yet it wolde nat be And thenne they caste stones at him and smote oute his brayne And thenne he cryed to god and saide Domine iesu suscipe spmÌ„ meuÌ„ O thou lorde take my spirite For hee wolde praye more deuoutly for his ennymes than for him selue He knelyd downe to the grounde and sâ—yd Pater ignosce illis quia nesciunt quid faciunt Fader forgyue them for they wote nat what they doo and anoon he slepte in god Nowe take hede what breÌ„nynge loue he hadde in his herte to god that prayed more deuoutly for his enmyes than for him selue In this he gaue ensample to all cristen people to be in charite eche one with other and to praye for his enmyes and them that pursued him and dyd him disease ViÌ„uersa delcaÌ„ cooperit caritas Charite hydeth euery trespasse For he that prayeth for his enmyes that marrieth him with any disease and suffrethe paciently is a martyr bifore god For there is thre maner of martirdomes The firste is by passion and wyll therto by wyll withoute passion by passion withoute wyll The firste is shewyd by sainte Steuyn that is sette next the birthe of Criste for he suffred passion and hadde wyll therto Sainte Iohn euangeliste he had wyll but no passion The innocentes they sufred passion but no wyll therto but ayenste wyll ¶ Thus may a man be a martyr though he shedde natt hys bloode that is whanne he suffreth grete wrong of cursed peple and thanketh god therof and taketh it with goode wyll and prayeth for his ennemyes deuoutly in clene charite ¶ Nowe take hede and ye shall see howe thies thre were in parfyte loue and charitee Sainte steuyn whan he shulde dye he knelyd downe and prayed for his ennemyes Saint Iohan whanne he weÌ„t towarde his ende he saide ofte to them that ladde him Children loue to gyddre for charite is ynough to youre saluacion ¶ The Innocentes for they were so yonge that they coude nat speke yet they shewyd loue by signe For they dyd laughe and playe with theire hondes whan they sawe the knyghtes coÌ„me with their bright swerdes to slee theym Thenne for sainte stevyn was soo gloriouse a martyr god shewyd many faire miracles for him ¶ Narracio ¶ There was an honest man that had seuyn sones and thre doughters But in mysse happe vpon a daye all they wratched the modre at onys And in angre she cursed them al at ones anone there fyll greate vengeaunce vpon theym For there caÌ„me suche a seknesse vpon their preuy meÌ„bres that they were so sore gnawen that they mighte no where abyde for woo But walked vp and downe in the countrey lyke mased bestes that all the peple that sawe theym hadde greate pyte on them ¶ Thenne it hapnyd soo that oone of the bredern that hight poule a suster that hight pallida caÌ„me into the church of sainte Steuyn and there they herde Perle tell howe deuoutly sainte steuyn prayed for his ennemyes that martred him anoon they knelyd downe prayed to saint Steuyn to pray to god for theym they wold be his true seruauntes and knelyd downe in the churche prayed saint Steuen hertly of his help And anoon they fyll a slepe in sighte of all the people and soo were hole And anone wente after al the other bretherne and susterne and they were holpen all in the same wise ¶ Narracio A nother miracle saint austyne tellith howe there was a senatoure of Rome that wente to Ierusalem and there he made a faire chapell of sainte Steuyn and there he dyed and was buryed in the same chapell Thenne longe after his wyf wolde home into her countrey and wolde fayne haue hadde her husbondes bones with her â–ª into her owne countrey and prayed the busshop that she might haue them Then the bisshop broght sainte steuyns bonys her husbondes bones to her and saide I know nat thy husbondes fro saint steuynes Thenne she saide I knowe my husboÌ„des bones well ynough and toke sainte Steuyns bones in stede of her husbondes Thenne whanne she coÌ„me fer in the see aungellys songe with great melody in the ayr and there was a passynge swete sauoure that caÌ„me out fro the bones that passed any spicery in the worlde And anoon they herde fendes cry in the eyre and saide woo wo. is vs for steuyn betyth vs and brennethe vs bytterly and therwith raysed a grete tempest that the shipmen went for to haue be drowned for grete fere cryed to sainte Stephen and anone the tepeste seased Thenne the people herde the fendys crye thus Thou cursed prynce or mayster thou nor we may do no thinge for this shippe For steuyn oure aduersary is therin Thenne the prince of fendys sende fyue fendes for to brenne the shippe But thenne goddes aungell was redy droue the fendys in to the grounde of the see And whan they coÌ„me to the londe with the shippe fendes cryed and saide Goddes seruaunt coÌ„meth that was stonyd to deth with Iewys And thenne in worshippe of sainte steuyn the peple made a churche and leyde his bones therin where god wroghte many a faire miracle for him De scoÌ„ Iohanne euangelista gOode frendes suche a daye ye shall haue an hye feste in holy churche the feste of sainte Iohn euaÌ„geliste the whiche was goddes own derlynge ¶ Wherfore all holy church maketh mynde and mencion of the specialtie that oure lorde gaue to him afore any other of his disciples oure lord gaue hym grace to kepe his virginite and of kepinge of his modre and oure lorde shewyd him his preuyte He gaue hym grace to kepe his virginite that is maydenhode For this story tellith the people haue opinyon ¶ Whan Iohn shulde wedde Mary mawdeleyn crist called him and he coÌ„me and shewyd hym and Iohn lefte the worldes vanite and sued oure lorde and so kepte him selfe clene mayden tyll he passed oute off this world In prayng of this whan douâ—ycian themperour of Rome herde the people telle that Iohan preched in a conteey that was called Asia And there Iohan made to bylde many chirches and whan the emperour herde that he sente after Iohan and made hym be put in a brasen tonne full of sethinge oyle And whan Iohan had longe sodâ—n therin that all the people wente that he had be all to soden and dede Thenne themperour bad open the tonâ—â— and whan the tonne was open Ioâ—â—n come â—ute of the tonne and as he was clene of all synne Soo was he â—leâ—e of all brennyng or harme in all â—â—aityes of his body Another harde â—â—urmente he had on a day
tourne ayen to synne and thenne truste vereyly ye shall haue grace mercy and socour to euerlastyng ioye and blysse wherfor thinke for certeyne though ye make it glosyng wyth wordes for to disceyue your goostly fader and saye that ye be in charyte and bee not ye begyle your self and truste truly ye shall not begyle god that seeth euery corner af your hertes ¶ And therfore dysceyue not yoâ—â—e owne soules for the loue of god And be also besy and redy to make your soules clene to the syghte of god as ye ben to make your houses to the syght of man and as ye wolde araye you in your best clothes that ye haue ayenst the comynge of your best frendis soo sholde ye araye you now to receyue your beste frende that is your maker our Lord Ihesu Criste that this tyme suffred passion and dethe to brynge vs to euerlastiÌ„ge lyf ¶ This daye is called also a passyng daye and in especiall for two causes One is for this daye all cristen people in reuerence of god sholde forgyue all theym that haue trespaced to hem and be in parâ—â—â—e loue and charyte to all 〈…〉 sholde be amendyd with the salâ—â— that â—â—â—eth al soâ—â— that is chaâ—â—e Câ—ritus cooperit multitudineÌ„ peccatorum Charite coueryth the multitude of synnes It is also a passinge day For this day shold al goddes châ—ldren passe out of euyll lyuynge into good lyuynge oute of vyces into vertues oute of pryde into mekenesse oute of couetyse in largenesse out of slouthe into holynes oute of enuye into loue and charite ouâ—e of wrathe into mercy oute of glotony into abstinence oute of lechery in to chastite out of the fendes clawes into goddes armes and of his grete enmye make his dere frende And he that passeth thus is worthy to coÌ„me to a good feste the whiche oure lorde Iesu maketh this daye to all the people It is called also goddes sonday For this day goddys sone rose from deth to lyue and so gladdeth all his seruauntes with hys vp rysinge wherfore all holy churche maketh myrthe and melody this daye and singeth thus Hec est dies quam fecit dominus exultemus et letemur iÌ„ ea This is the daye that oure lorde made ioye we and gladde we in that with al oure bertes for the fadre of heuyn with all his aungellyâ— maketh so grete melody of the vprysynge of his sone that he maâ— to daye a passinge grete fest and byâ—â—â—th all cristen people thertâ— aswell those that ben in heuyn as thâ—se that been in erthe and they shall be full welcome that coÌ„me to this feeste 〈…〉 that is a gâ—de clothynge that is in loue and charite And also euyll shal those be that shal coÌ„me in the fendes leuerye clothed in wrathâ— and enuye For as the gospell telleth these shall be caste in pryson of hell And thenne while other laughe and maâ—e mery they shall wepe and be sory and whâ—le some ete and drynâ— at goddes borde they shall grynne wythe their teeth and saye Ve ve ve quante suÌ„t tenebre wo. wo. wo. many derknesse been here For they shall thynk that they may fele the derknesse it is so derke and the peynes of hell shal be so hard for wormes shall gnawe them for they ete her eyen cristen here in this lif in erth with false baâ—bytynge and sâ—laundrynge ¶ wherfore I charge you in goddes name that noon of you coÌ„me thus to goddes borde but if ye be in parfyte loue and charite and be clene shreuyn and in full purpose to leue your synnes For and I wyst in certayn whiche were oute of charite and in dedely synne I must by the lawe of holy churche with a loude voyce say thus to theym in audience of all the people I gyf the nat thy housyll to thy saluacion bâ—â—â—e to thy dampnacion tyll thou coÌ„me to amendmente And therfore euery cristen man and woman sholde serche wel his conscience and make him able to reâ—â—â—ue his sauyour Iesu criste to the heâ—â—â—e of his soule that she may coÌ„me after this fynall lyf to euirlustinge ioye Amen gOode frendes theâ—e thre daies that is to saye Monday Tuysday and and wenesdaye ye shall faste and go in procession man woman and seruantes for al we be synners and haue nede to pray to god for helpe grace and mercy for they may nat excuse therin fro the procession that may laâ—fully be there Than he that withdraweth him self fro the coÌ„maundment of holy churche wylfully he synneth full greuouslye Firste he synneth in pryde for he is vnbuâ—um Also he synneth in slouthe that knoweth him selue in synne and wyll nat do his diligence to coÌ„me out therof right as he withdrawyth him fro peple that be gadred to serue god Right so wyll god putt him from all the company of heuyn and from all the prayers that be doon in holy churche tyll he come to amendement Therfore all cristen people come only to gidder pray these thre daies to all the sayntes in heuyn to pray to god for vs For we haue synned many tymes in the yere ayeÌ„ste the coÌ„maundment of god And therfore these thre daies we shall faste and pray to god of mercy and remission of oure synnes and put awaye al the power of the fende and kepe vs from al myscheuous peryl and dredys that fal this tyme of the yere more than any other tyme For in this tyme many grete thundres and lightnynge and as Lyncolnyence saith Ther were fendes that fleteryn in the ayr for fere of the blast of thundrynge whan that criste coÌ„me to hell gates whan he dispoyled hell And so yet whanne they here the thunder in the ayre they been so agast therof that they fallen downe and then go they nat vp ayen tyll they haue don some cursed dedes For than they 〈…〉 tempestes in the see and drawe downe shippes and make debate emonge the people and make one to slee a nother and tende fyre and brenne houses and drawe downe steples and trees and cause wymmen to ouirlye their children and make people to hange theym selue and drowne them self in wanhope and in dispayre and do many cursed dedys And for to putte awaye all suche myscheuys the power of the fende Holy church hathe ordeyned that al cristen peple shal faste and goo in processioun these thre daies and pray to god and to oure lady and to all the saintes of heuyn of helpe and socoure ¶ wherfore in these processiones belles be ronge baners be spleyed the crosse coÌ„myth after the people suyth after For right as a kinge whanne he goth to a battayl his troÌ„pettes goon to fore Thenne the baners and thenne coÌ„meth the king and his oft folowynge So in this processioun the bellys been goddes trompettes the baners coÌ„me after Thenne coÌ„meth the croce in cristes lyknesse as kinge of cristen people and all sewe him and with her good prayers chace awaye the fendys that they
offre it vp in knowleching that he was subgetâ—â— to the emperour of Rome Thenne muste Ioseph our ladyes husbounde nedis goo to the Cite of bethlem for to offre wyth other people But for he had noo money to offre he toke an oxe wyth hym to selle at the Cite to make money to doo his dewte wyth But for he durst not leue our lady behynd him for she was nye her tyme and therfore he sette her vpon an asse and toke her wyth hym And soo whan they come to the Cite of Bethlem it was so full of people soo that Ioseph and our lady myght haue no lodgyng but tourned in to a cabon that was made bytwyxt two houses there as the people of the countrey sette her horses and theyr asses and other bestis whan they come in to the towne to the marked so there they fonde a cratche wyth hey And there sett thoy and thasse therto and so there they taryed all that night And whan it was a lytill byfore mydnyght our lady bad Ioseph goo in to the towne and loke for her a mydwyf For the tyme was come she shold be delyuered so whyle Ioseph was in the towne for the mydwyf our lady was delyuered and she lapped her sone in clothes and layd it in the crache before the axe and thasse anone they knew her lord and fylle downe on her knees and worshypped hym and ete noo more of the hey Thenne anone after come Ioseph wyth two mydwyfes zebell and salome and zebel fond that oure lady was clene mayden and cryed and sayde Virgo peperit filium A mayden hath borne a child â–ª theÌ„ne salome wold not byleue it But anone wente to oure Lady and bustously handled our lady Probare vellet And wolde preue hit and euyn therwyth her handes dryed vp ¶ Thenne come an angell to her and bad her that she shold goo and touche the child and soo she dyde and anone she was hole Thenne wente Ioseph and dyde his offringe wyth other people and kepte our lady in the same cabon while she was in child bedde Thus ye maye vnderstonde that criste yeueth peas to all people that be of good wylle and calleth theym his children And in verefyeng of this the first masse that is songe that daye Is songe soone after mydnyghte and begynneth thus Dominus dixit ad me filiê° meus est tu ego hodie genuite ¶ Oure lord sayth to me thou art my sone Oure Lord called hym his sone and his childe that loueth hym in resâ—â— and in peas And whan he departeth oute of this world he wyll brynge hym to euerlastynge rest and peas And he that wyll not haue here no rest nor peas shalt goo to euerlasting peyne â–ª there as is neuer rest nor peas nor neuer shall be but euerlastynge woo ¶ Thus he gyueth peas to men of goode wyll He lyghteneth theym that lyketh hym here by goode men ye shall vnderstonde that cryste heled not oonly theym that were blynde in the soule and cumbred wyth derkenesse of synfull lyuyng ¶ For as saynt Austyn sayth whan oure lord shold be borne the world was full of derkenesse and specyally of synne of lechery and off the synne ayenst kynde In soo moche that he had almoste lefte to haue bee borne of mankynde wherfore all those that dyden synne ayenste kynde that tyme they deyed sodenly through oute all the worlde in shewinge howe horryble and abhomynable that synne is in the syghte of almyghty god Thenne loked they full derke in synne that had theyr thoughtes all way in syâ—â—â— and euyll lyuyng and had full grete nede for to be lyghtened wherfore crist was borne at mydnighte And tourned the derkenesse of the nyghte in to the daye lyghte and lyghtened all them that euer were couered and combred wyth derkenesse of synne Also the same tyme that our lorde was borne as many doctours sayen Crist apered in a bryght ster to the kyngis of theft and bad theym goo to bethleem and worship a lytyll chylde that shold be kyng of iewes that was there new borne and so they dyde And euer the sterre shewyng before theym tyll they come thyder Thus he lyghteneth theym that before were full derke in synne ¶ For thyse kynges were paynyms before and beleued in mawmetry and in fals goddis And after they byleued in cryste were holy liuers· and now ben at Coleyne Thus the byrth of Oure Lord Ihesu cryste made many a man loke full bryghte that to fore were ful derke in synne For he is full derke in his soule that euer setteth his herte mynde and thoughte in the prosperyte worshyp and welfare of this worlde and that maketh them blynde that they haue noo grace of ghostely sighte but be made blynde wyth wordely couetyse And soo gete theyr good and haue no desyre to the rychesse of heuen ne to see the lyghte that is there For suche thynges as mannys herte is moste on that he maketh his god For to distroye all suche mawmetry of synne Oure lord was borne Thenne kynge herode pursued oure lord and wolde haue slayne him Thenne his 〈…〉 in to 〈…〉 Ioseph and â—â—â—de thus Accipe pâ—â—ium et matrem eius eâ— fâ—â—ge in egiptum Take the child and his modre and flee into egipte And assone as he caÌ„me thydre all the mawmeÌ„tes that were in the londe fell downe to the grounde doynge to vnderstonde that he was coÌ„me in to the worlde that sholde caste downe the mawmentry of all maner synnâ—â— and euyll leuynge Pride couetyse and all maner falsehode that is vsed now a daies And therfore take hede howe the lorde that made all thinge of noughte and is lorde of al lordes where he was borne in a pore place and in a pore arraye and of a pore mayden gyuyng ensample to all cristen people to sett noughte by the worshippe richesse and vanyte of this worlde â–ª For haue a man neuir so grete worshippe and neuir so moche richesse yet he leuyth it here And shall ber no more with him but his gode dedys Thus oure lorde shewyd many thinges in his byrthe And lightnyd many one that here bifore were ful bliÌ„de In tokenyng herof the seconde masse this daye is sayde in the dawnynge whan the night and the daye departeth the whiche begynneth thus Lux fulgebit That is thus mooche to saye Lighte shall shyne to daye vpon vs For the fadre of heuyn sendythe the grace of the goostlye lighte to all cristen people that beleue truly that oâ—re lorde was borne very god and man â–ª of his modre mary very modre mayâ—en Thus they that byleue truly in oâ—â—e lorde iesu criste and in his modre mary seâ—â— fâ—â—â— lytel by the vanyte of this worlde but 〈◊〉 all their hope and trâ—ste in criste 〈…〉 of our lorde iesu criste lightnyd many one â–ª that bifore â—â—â—â—ed full yf Also he drewe vs to him with loue For children drawe to theym that make moche on
thou thy fader abyde my dere sone and speke wyth me thy fader that is olde may not well goo and thenne at the last this man abode thenne Iohan preched soo that he left his foly and after was soo holy a man that he was a bysshop Thus had Iohan reuelacion of goddis preuyte ¶ Narracio ¶ It is wreten in the lyf of saint Edward the confessour that lyeth at west mynster the saynt Iohan the euaagelist appered to saynt Edward as he went a procession at the halowyng of a chirche saint Iohan appered to hym in lykenes of a palmer prayed the kinge of good for saynt iohaÌ„nis loue the euaÌ„gelist for the kyng loued saynt Iohan well but it happed that the kyng had noo thynge redy there but as he toke a rynge of his fynger and gaue hym soo saynt Iohan had the ryng vii yeres after and thenne saynt iohan appered to two knyghtes that were beyonde the see towardes Iherusalem and asked them how the kyng fared and bad grete hym wel on this token and toke hym the rynge and aske the kynge for whose loue he gaue the ryng a waye and byd hym make him redy For he shall deye soone and soo he dyde ¶ Narracio ¶ A nother fayre reuelacion he had whan he was cx wynter olde and vii thenne our lord come to hym wyth his disciples and said thus Veni dilecte mi quia tempus eÌ„ vt in mea mensa cum fratribê° tuis epularis Come welbeloued derlinge for now is it tyme that thou come ete wyth thy bredern at my borde or in my feste ¶ Thenne Iohan rose vp anone and wolde haue gone forth wyth hym theÌ„ne said our lord to him vp on soÌ„day Thou shalt be wyth me thenne by soÌ„day he was passyng feble Die dominica conuenit ad iohannem vniuersa multitudo populi Soo on the sonday there come to Iohan a grete multytude of people and thenne Iohan made hem to lede hym to the chirche and as he might speke he said to hem that ledde hem thus In fide sitis stabiles et in man datis dei feruentes Be ye stable and sadde in the feyth feruent in the commaundementis off god Thenne sayd one of theym why saye ye thus ofte to vs. Thenne sayde he yf ye loue to gyder and be in parfyghte charyte and sted fast in the feythe it is ynought to saluacion and therfore be ye stable in the feyth and ferueÌ„t in the commaundementes of god And thenne he commaunded to make hym a graue be fore the aulter And whan it was made he wente in to it and theÌ„ne come suche a lyghte aboute hym a grete whyle that noo man myghte see hym And whan this lyght was gone the graue was full of manna and welled vp as dothe sonde in the water And thus he departed out of this worlde in to the blysse of heuen that neuer shall haue ende To that blysse brynge vs all to he that deyed on the rode tree for all mankynde Amen ¶ Sanctorum Innocencium GOod frendis suche a daye is called Innocentes daye some people calle it childermas day for children were slayn that day for cristis sake they be called innocentes that is to say wythout synne for they dyde noo synne for god is euer gretely greued wyth synne and in especyal with proude people ayenst her neyghbourâ— doyng hem wrong Thyse innocentes dyde neuer synne ne consentyng to sinne wherfore I may wel saye that they lyued here wythout shame and deyed wythout blame and were crystened in her owne blode at home and some in her moders armes Holy chirche as this daye singeth and redeth in the worship of thyse innocentes for they were with in two yere of age And therfore they were not ashamed of her owne shaâ—â— For they were not defowled wyth no maner spotte of synne but the synne that they had of the drawte of kynd of our fader adam and eue For adam â— eue ware in the same wise in paradyse in the state of innocenâ—y For they were naked but they were not a shamed of her shappe al the whyle they were wythout sinne but whan they had sinned they saw her owne shappe and were a shamed therof couered her shap wyth leuys of fygge tree Ryght soo whan synne begynneth to take â—oâ—e in a chylde thenne innocency goth away fro hym for he knoweth good from â—â—le and ylle from good and leueth the good and doth the euyll Thenne he synneth and thenne he is not innocente noo lenger For thenne greueth he god But thyse chyldren lyued not so longe to knowe that one from that other but were sleyne wythin age of innocency wherfore they lyued her lyfe wythout shame and blame For kyng herode the kynge of iewes made to slee hem wythoute gyfte For whaÌ„ the thre kynges come to kynge herode and said to hym Vbi eÌ„ qui natê° eÌ„ rex iudeorum ¶ where is he that is borne kynge of iewes and bad hym telle them for they were come to worshyp hym ferre oute the est Thenne was kynge herode foule astonyed of her wordis and asked his clerkis where this childe sholde be borne and they sayd in bethelem iude And thenne kynge herode tolde hem so and bad hem goo thider and worshyp him and come ayen by me that I may goo and worship hym also and so the kyngis wente thyder and worshypped cryste and whan they hadde doone her offryngis to cryste Per aliam viam reuersi sunt iÌ„ regionem suam By another waye they tourned home ayen For the angel bad hem do soo in her slepe Thenne was kynge herode wonder wrothe And anone ordeyned to sle crist and whan he had made all redy therto it happed soo that the Emperour of rome sente after hym for to come to hym in all the hast that he myghte For two of his owne sones had accused hym to the emperour of treson Thenne herode lefte all his purpose of crist as at that tyme. and rode to rome and had the better of his sones And come home ayen wyth more worship than he had tofore But yet alway he thought to sle Criste leste crist had come to mannis estate and wold haue put hym oute of his kyngdom Thenne sente he anone and bad hem slee of the children that were in bethelem and in all the countrey aboute that were wyth in two yeres of age and that were born the same day and so they dyde For kynge herode was goyng and comynge and soo taryeng two yeres therfore he made sle all that euer were wythin two yere of age And for he was soo vengable in party it felle on hym self For a child of his own was slayn amonge other the same tyme. But there come an angell to Ioseph and said to hym Accipe puerum et matrem eiê° et fuge in egiptum Take the child his moder flee in to egypte and be there and so he
whan saint wolstone visited his busshopriche the people brought a man bifore him that dyd his neyghboures moche disease wold neuyr be in peas praynge the busshop to chastice him whan the busshop hade prechyd to this man he was euir leâ—gre the worse Then the busshop and al the peple prayed to saint mathye to shewe some myracle by this maÌ„ what he was worthy to haue Then anoon in sighte of all the peple there came oute of the erthe ii fendes with brennynge hokes and plucked this quycke man doune to hell And whan he was gone the people were releuyd and had reste and peas euyr after Amen De annunciacione beate marie virginis gOode frendes suche a daye ye shall haue an highe and a solempne feste in holy churche thannuÌ„ciacion of oure lady he that hath auowed or ioyned in penaunce must faste the euyn ¶ ye shall vnderstonde that it is called thannuÌ„ciacion for this cause For the fad of heuyn sent his angel gabriel Missus est angelus gabriel a deo in ciuitateÌ„ cui nomen Nazaret In the cyte that was called Nazareth to oure lady that was newe weded by the byddynge of god and reuelacion of the holy ghooste to a man called Iosephe And as she was in her chambre in her praiers the angell gabriell come to her said Oure lorde is with the Then was she gretly astonyed of this gretynge For there was in the countre a man that coud moche wichcraft so with helpe of fendes he made hym self lyâ— an angel came to dyuerse maydens said he was sente from god to theym on his message so ofte tymes laye by hem dyde hem grete vylonye thenne whaÌ„ our lady herde telle of that man she was a drad lest it had be he For she had spoke wyth noo angell before nor ther were no suche wordes ne suche gretinges made neuer none to her before Thenne gabriell the angell comforted her and saide ¶ Ne timeas maria inuenisti graciam apud dnÌ„m Drede not mary forsoth thou hast fouÌ„de grace at our lord For amonge al the wymen our lord hath chosen the for to be moder of his sone And hym thou shal coÌ„ceyue by feyth by loue of the holy goost wythout ony dede of maÌ„ that shal shadow the. quenche al flesshely lust tende the lyght of goostely loue that thou shalt coÌ„ceyue the sone of the hyghe god And thus thou shal be moder mayde so was neuer none before Thenne anone our lady herde thise wordes and anone therwyth come a spirituel swetenesse ioye in her herte that anone or ony erthely man cowde telle it so wyth al the reuereÌ„ce of mekenesse that she cowde She answerde thus ayen and sayde Ecce ancilla domini fiat michi secundum verbum tuum Lo here goddis own mayd redy to goddis wyl prayng it may be to me ryght as thou sayst Thus that blissed body coÌ„ceyued our lord Ihesu cryst in euerlastyng ioye to al the world Thus I ma eye lykeÌ„ our lady to a precioê° stone called onyx it is as clere as ony cristall shal of kynde whan the sonne shyneth hote on hym he openeth and receyueth a droppe of the dewe of heuen in to hym and closed ayen tyl ix monethes after thenne it openeth and falleth out a stone of the same kinde and so closeth ayen as euer it was â–ª and neuer openeth after Thus our lady was as clene as ony cristal for the hote loue of the holy goost at the ix monethis ende she was delyuered of her sone our lord Ihesu criste and was after as clene mayden as she was to fore Thenne whan the angell had done hâ—s message he wente his waye to heuen â–ª And our lady wente to her cosyn elysabeth that was grete wyth châ—ld with Saynt Iohan baptist And when she come to Elysabeth she grete her mâ—kely And assone as our lady spake to Elysabeth the childe in elysabethis woÌ„be pleyde and made grete ioye For he sawe that our lord had take mankynde and was come to saue hem that was lorn Thenne our lady dwelled there wyth Elysabeth her cosyn tyll the tyme that saynt Iohan was borne and was mydwyfe to Elysabeth and toke saynt Iohan from therthe and ther she lerned all that her neded for to knowe ayenst the tyme that her sone shold be borne And was parfyte ynough therof Thenne mekely she toke her leue and wente home ayen to Nazareth Thenne thoughte Ioseph he wold go loke how his wyf dyde and wente towarde her And whan our Lady herde of his comynge she wente ayenst hym and grete hym full mekely But whaÌ„ Ioseph sawe her grete wyth childe he merueyled gretely how that myght be For well he wyste it was not his for he had neuer part of her body in that degree For he knewe well that she had made a vowe before that she wold neuer haue parte of mannys body And thought how that he was made to wedde her by the byddynge of the holy gooste and grete myracle shewynge thought right in his herte he was not worthy to dwelle in her companye thoughte in his herte to haue gone home ayen and to leue her there Thenne come an angell to hym and sayd be not aferde to take mary thy wyf to thy kepyng for it is of the holy gooste that is quycke in her body For thou shalt be kepar and norissher to her child whaÌ„ it is borne calle it Ihesus For he shall be sauyour to all the world Thenne ye shall vnderstonde that for iiii causes As saynt Ambrosius saith Oure lady was wedded to this olde man Ioseph The firste was yf she had conceyued wythout wedlocke the iewes wolde haue said that she had be an euyll woman of her body and soo haue stoned her to deth The second cause was for she was soo shame faste that and she had herde ony haue put ony defam to her she wold haue deyed for sorowe The thirde cause was for Ioseph sholde bere wytnesse of her maydenhode The fourth cause for Ioseph sholde helpe her at her byrthe and brynge her to Bethelem and after in to Egypte and so ayen in to her own countrey For thise four causes she was wedded to this olde man Ioseph and also to begyle the fende that he shold not knowe hym fro another childe Now haue ye herde of the AnnunciacioÌ„ There be some people that aske a question why there stondeth a wyne potte wyth lilyes betwene our Lady and gabriell the angell at her salutacion This is the cause For our Lady at her salutacion conceyued by feyth ¶ Narracio ¶ It befell thus vpon a cristmas day that a Cristen man and a Iewe satte to gyder and spake of the Concepcion of our lady and as they were there stode a wyne pot to fore them with a lilie therin Thenne sayde the cristen man we byleue that our lady conceyued lyke as this lylye conceyued coloure of grene
to gyue to theym that had nede Then blessed Laurence folowed his master and saide Sancte pater noli me derelinquere Holy fader forsake nat me for I haue dealyd all the tresoure that thou tookest to me wherfore go nat thou to thy passion assone but let me goo with the as we haue seruyd god to gydder So lete vs suffre deth to gyddre Then said the pope I wyll goo to fore and thow shall come after and suffre more penaÌ„ce then I may For I am olde and thou arte yonge and mayste suffre more thaÌ„ I. and therfore make the redy for ther is grete turment ordeyned for the TheÌ„ were there some that herde LaureÌ„ce speke of treasoure Thenne the Emperouâ— sente after Laurence and sayd Ostende michi thesauros eccleÌ„ Shewe me the tresoure of the churche or els thou shalte be putt to suche a torment that thou shal be fayne to deliuer it Thenne how pope Sixtê° and saint Laurence come to this treasour ye shal here ¶ we rede that there was a hooly man that hight origines that coÌ„uerted Philyp the Emperoure Thenne the Realme of Fraunce was rebell ayenste the emperoure of Rome Thenne the emperoure sent a knight of his into Fraunce with moche people to ouircome fraunce This knyght was called decyus and in shorte tyme he made frauÌ„ce subgettes to the Emperoure as they were bifore Then whanne this emperoure phylip herde that Decyus hadde doon so well to grete worshyp to Decius and to thanke him for his iourney The emperoure toke with him a fewe men and rode oute of Rome ayenst decius to welcome hym home Thenne decius sawe that the Emperoure dyd him so greate worship he thoughte it hadde be for drede and nat for loue thought to be emperoure him selue And so in the nyght nexte after as the Emperoure lay in his bedde slepynge Decius slew him and toke all his people to Rome with him Thenne whanne the Romaynes the senatoures herde therof what for drede and what for loue they made Decius Emperoure Thenne whanne Philippes sone herde tel that his fader was dede in this wyse he was aferde that decius wolde haue slayne him and tooke all his faders tresoure to holy churche and bare it to pope Sixtus and to Laurence praynge hem if so were that Decius slewe him they shold dele this treasoure to holy churche and â—o pore people that hadde nede Thenne decius made to slee philyps sone for fere left he wolde auenge his faders deth whanne he hadde come to mannys state And this was the tresoure that pope Sixtus and Laurence hadde and for this tresoure they put LaureÌ„ce into prison Then was there a man that hyght Lucellê° in prison that by grete weping had loste his sighte then Laurence made him to se agayn and cristned hym wherfore many blynde men wymen come to Laurence and hadde ther sight Thenne the Emperoure sent to LaureÌ„ce to deliuer the treasoure Then he praied him of thre daies respyte and theÌ„ne he wolde shewe him the treasoure Soo thies thre daies Laurence was lete out of prison and went and gadred all the pore people to gyder that he coude fynd blynde lame or croked and the thridde daye he broughte them bifore the Emperoure to his palys and saide Lo here is euirlastinge tresoure this wyll neuir fayll for it wyll endure for euer in heuyn Soo shewyd Laurence ayenste couetise largenesse for he delyd for goddes sake all that he hadde and myghte haue spent it invanyte and he had wolde Also in turmeÌ„t of his passion he shewyd loue and swetnesse Thenne themperoure coÌ„maunded to brynge forthe all maner of turmentry scourges nayles stones salte pyche brymstone breÌ„nyng coles yron shaftes barres of yron gredirens and coÌ„manded al shold be spent vpon Laurence but if he wold shewe the treasoure forsake his god And to doo sacrifice to mawmentes Thenne saide Laurence thou vnblessed man these metes and drynkes haue I euir desired For right as swete metes and drynkes please thy bodye So these turmentes please my soule and maken me stronge and myghty to suffre passyon for my lordes sake Thenne was themperour â—â—â—th and commaunded to bete hym wyth scourges full of knottis and leue not tyll the blode ranne downe on euery syde and thenne they layd cheynes off yron brennynge to his sydes that brenned the flesshe fro the bones and euer laurence thanked god hertely Thenne was decius wode for woo said though thou wyth thy wytche crafte scornest my tourmentis yet thou sholdest not scorne me And thenne he commauÌ„ded ayen to bete hym wyth whippes and knottes of lede tyll the bones were bare Thenne laurence helde vp his hede and prayed to god thenne came a voyce fro heuen and sayd thou muste suffre moo tourmentis and passion for loue of me This decius herde it hym self and thou shal come in to grete ioye and blysse Thenne sayde decius to the people ye may here all how the fendes come and comforte hym goo and bete hym ayen wyth scourges Thenne was there a knyghte of the emperours that hyght Romanus that sawe an angell wyth a shete of sylke come and wype laurence sydes Thenne he forsoke the emperour become the dysciple of saynt LaureÌ„ce And laurence anone crystened hym Thenne decius made to smyte of Romanus hede thenne deciê° dyd make a grete fyre and set a gred-yren theron to rost laurence and thrested hym downe wyth fyre forkes TheÌ„ne laurence loked vpon themperour sayd thou wretche that syde that is â—osted ynough ete therof whyle that other syde rosteth I drede not thy tormentes and caste his eyen vp to god and sayd Lorde Ihesu criste take my spyrite and so he yelde vp the goâ—â— Thenne the tourmentours wente her waye and lefte the body lyeng there Thenne come cristen people and toke the body and beryed it wyth grete lamentacion Thus Laurence shewed mekenesse ayenst malyce and largenes ayenst couetyse ayenst passyon loue swetenesse for the gret loue that he had to god â–ª made hym sett noughte by all his tourmentis that were doo to his body ¶ Saynt gregory telleth how there was a preste that hyghte staculus and was besy to amende a chirche of saint Laurence that was dystroyed wyth loÌ„bardes but he wanted brede to his werke men and made moche sorowe therfore· and he prayed to god and to saint Laurence besely of helpe And thenne he loked in to an ouen and foude it ful of new white brede But he wente it wold haue serued hem for a weke it fonde hem ynough all the tyme that his werke was a makyng ¶ We fynd that there was an emperour that wâ—â— a cursed man of lyuyng And whan he was dede there come a legion of feÌ„des to fetche hym and as they come by an holy hermites celle they made a grete noyse thermyte had grete merueyll therof and opened a wyndowe spake to one of hem that come behynde
â–ª it shall deye to the poure maÌ„ and not to the. ¶ Soo sayth paryfyens therfore vse leeffull chaffare and wyn wythoute subtylte or sleyght not as moche as thou mayst But that that is resonable to thy sustenaunce after thyn estat is dewe This desyred this wyse man of our lord when he said neyther ryches neyther pouerte lord yeue me but oonly lord that is necessarye to my lyuelod ¶ The viii thou shalt not bere fals wytnesse In this is forboden all maner of lefynges conspyracy and forsweryng wherby that thy neyghbour leseth his catel frenshyp or good all suche ben called the children of the deuyll For they put out trouthe and brynge ynne falsehed Put oute cryste and brynge ynne the deuyll lesynge stondyth not oonly in fals wordes But also in fals werkys and yf thou be a crysten man lyue ther after or ellis thou lyest There be thre maner of lesynges one is when thou lyest wyth full purpose to hurt thy neyghbour And thenne it is dedely synne Another is whan thou lyest to further thy neyghbour in a trouthe and thenne it is not soo moche euyll ¶ The third is when thou lyest for the dysporte of them that be aboute the. not wyllyng to hyndre ony persone ¶ Thyse two be venyall but thou haue them in custume therforr beware of all maner lesynge and neyther for loue ne hate ne for mede bere noo fals wytnes The ix is thou shalt not desyre thy neybours wyf In the seuenth commaundement god forbedeth the dede of lechery and theyr desyre In tokyn that they be both dedely synne yet somme wene but they doo the dede it is noo synne Cryste therfore wyllyng all suche to be clene wythin and wythout bothe in body and in soule sayth this All that sewe a woman to the couetyse of theyr lust they do lechery wyth her in theyr herte And thus by shrewd thoughtis man is ofte tyme departyd from god ¶ yet sayth saynt Byrgit in her vysions But yf ylle thoughtis were somtyme to man He shold wene hym self f rather angell thenne man And soo all euyll thynge cometh off hym self and none of god ¶ Therfore that man sholde vnderstonde the infirmyte that he hath off hym self and the strenthe that he hath off god it is necessarye sayth she that he be suffred somtyme of the greate mercy of god to bee temptyd wyth euyll thoughtes To the whiche yf he consente not they be but a purgacion to his soule and a kepar of his vertâ—â—s Therfore whan shrewd thoughtis come to the wythstonde the first suggestyon and lete thy sowle alweye soo laboure that he consente not to delyte in theym And thenne haue in mynde the bytter paynis that Crist for the suffred And the endeles blysse of the ioyes of heuen that thou muste lese yf thou consente to theym and the bytter paynis of helle also that thou shalt haue yf thou deye in theym and yf thou thus doo thenne shalt thou haue in mynde thy laste ende and neuer doo synne ¶ The x. commaundement and the laste is thou shalt not desyre thy neghbours thynge hous lande oxe asse neyther noo thynge that is his For suche desyres of couetyse as scripture maketh mencion Balaam Nacor Anani Gyesy Achab Iesebel and many other fyll to grete myschyeff bothe off body and of sowle Therfore be ye well war al 's of all suche fals desyre And take noo mannis good ayenste his wyll lest it falle to you as it dyd to them And thynke also that wythout satysfaccion or hauyng wyll to amende the therof The pope ne none by hym may dispence wyth the. and yet thou stondyst acursyd of all holy chirche in the greate sentence foure tymes in the yere what shall all suche false desyre theÌ„ profyte the. when the curse of god shal thus abyde on the. there is noo man that bredith the curse of god nowe ¶ But whan cryst at the dome shall saye that scrypture makyth mencion of Goo ye cursed in the euerlastynge fyre of hell Thenne shall they bothe drede it and fele it For this word goo ye cursed shall be more peynfull as doctours sayn thenne the paynis off a thousand hellys though they were all gadred in to one All thyse ten bâ—hestis ben brought in two of the gospell that is loue god aboue all thyng And thy neyghbour as thy self f Fyrst thou shalt loue god wyth all thy herte that noo thyng be nerer thy herte then god In all thy soule that thou suffre noo synne abyde wythin thy soule for the loue of god And wyth all thy mâ—â—de that thou spare not for myschyâ—ff to please god Thy neyghbour also as thy self f in good and not euyl as moche as thy self in helthe in seekenes in welthe and in woo ¶ Thus for loue thou shalt kepe goddis commaundementis and not oonly for drede of peyn Thise commaundementis sholde eâ—â—e man telle and teche his childre And thus bad our Lorde to moyses thyse wordes said he â–ª the whiche I take here this daye shall be in thy herte Thou shalt telle them to thy sonnys â–ª thynke on hem slepyng wakyng syttyng goyng Thou shalt bynde theym as a sygne to thy hand and wryte theym on the doorys lynterâ—â—s of thy hous And shalt rewle all thy thoughtis wordes and dedes preuy and apert in eche place by thyse commaundementis off god Foryete not thyse wordes sayth he ne fall they not from thy herte all the dayes of thy lyf Thus gouerne ye your meyny sayth saint Austyn For as we thus speke to you here in the chirche soo shold ye to yours at home that ye may gyue tre we rekenyng to god of theym that be subgettis to you and telle theim sayth he the loue and the swetenesse of heuenly thynges and the grete bytternes of helle for ye shall answere for them at the streyâ— daye of dome and counseyll them all that they be not neglyent in no wyse to lerne thyse commaundemeÌ„tis for drede of this sentence that folowyth yf thou wolt not here the voys of thy lord god seyth he That thou kepe his commaundementis all thyse curses shull come to the and take the thou shalt be cursed in cytee in felde cursed shall be thy relyques the fruyte of thy body thy fruyte of thy loÌ„de The drouys of thyn oxyn and the flockes of thy sheep thou shalt be cursed in the goyng ynne and goyng out Thou shalt be smyte wyth hunger seekenesse and pestylence wyth adders wyth fyre wyth hete wyth colde and wyth corrupte ayer ¶ All thyse shall pursewe the. and thou shalt perysshe And yf thou wolt here the voyce of oure Lord that thou lerne and kepe his commaundementis He shall make the hygher thenne all that dwelleth in erthe And all thyse blyssynges shall come to the and take the Thou shalt be bsissed in cytee and in felde in the frute of thy body and fruyte of thy lande in
also that seme to vs right noughte yet be to him right dere Therfore noman deme other but put all his iugement in god Thus with charite that is knotte of all vertues thou must distroye the foull synne of enuye Thus charite stondeth in the loue of god and in the loue of thy neyghboure in whyche ii all the lawe of god abydeth so that one may nat be louyd withoute the other For if thou loue god thou wyâ—te noon other haue but him ne thou wylt nat take his name in vayne ne brecke thyn holy daies If thou loue thy neighboure thou wylt do no manslaughter ne thyfte ne false wytnes bere ne lichery ne desire thy neyghboures wyfe ne his godes Thus is charite the fulfyllyng of goddes loue and the endynge of all gode werkys Charite is pacient and benigne he hath noon enuye He worcheth no shrewedenesse He loueth nat to be with pryde He couetyth no worldly worshippes He secheth noo propre godes He is nat wrothe He thynketh noon euyll He ioyeth nat of wyckydnesse but of trouthe He taketh all thynge mekely He byleuyth all that god sayth â–ª hopyth of blys He suffreth all harmes neuir is disâ—onforted through goddes helpe to abyde longe He falleth neuyr downe in this worlde ne in that other He kepyth man in byleue and maketh hym stable vnder hym waxith obedyence And by him pacience ouircomyth all wronges without him no man plesyth god and with him no man peryssheth Therfore ayenste enuye sekythe charite with gret study that thou maist haue it in thy lyuynge and dwell perfitely therin to thyn endyng ¶ The thrid is the synne of wrathe the whiche is the wycked sterynge of a maÌ„nes hert wherby he wyl aueÌ„ge hym selue vpon his euyn cristen Of this cometh many shreude spices as fighting chydynge hurtyng betynge grudchyng waâ—ieng and cursynge cruelnes maÌ„ slaughter and desiryng of vengeaunce Ther be also other foure in speciall One whan thou art sone meuyd and sone swaged and that is easy A nother whanne thou arte nat sone swagyd and that is shrewyd The thridde whanne thou arte sone meuyd and nat sone swagyd and that is perilous The fourthe is longe or thou be meuyd and sone swagyd and this is mooste easy Therfore ayenst thies braÌ„ches thou muste arme the with the vertue of pacience and thynke what peyn sorowe might fall to the of thy wordes and dedys Thenne put cristes passion and peynes bitwene the and suche peynes as he myght suffre And so shal thy wrathe sone slake In foure thynges spirytually it is necessarye to haue pacience One is ayenst thyn ennemye for the nodre cruell he is the more thou nedyst of pacience and soft speche for that slaketh wrach Therfore if any aduersite fall to the suffre it paciently whether thou haue deseruyd it or nat If thou haue deseruyd it thou arte worthy that or more If thou haue not thou haste thy rewarde of Cryste whan he sayth Blessyd be they that be pacient for they shall be called the children of god A nother whanne thy souerayne correctith thy defautes Thou muste be pacient and drawe in thy hornes of pryde as a snayll whanne he is touched And so dyd Adam at the voyce of oure lorde Tye thridde is in losse of thy good as Ioob whanne all his good was gone mekely he sayde Oure lorde gaue it Oure lord hath take it And as it lyketh him so be it doo His name be blessyd Amen The fourthe is in sekenesse For our lorde sayth Tho that I loue I chastice as the dere modre chastiseth her chylde for takynge of harme whanne it nygheth fyre or water Right so the fad of heueÌ„ chastiseth the to be ware of fleing away So our lord putteth away fro the rychesse streÌ„gth One by pouerte another by sekenesse that thou sholdest nat fle fro him Therfore be pacient and grudche nat ayenst the scourge of god For the more that thou grugest the more thou steryst god agenst the. sayth Isodre ¶ The fourthe synne is Couetyse the whiche is a wrong desyre that man hath to haue any thing but if he haue right therto This stondith in two thyngys pryncipally One is whan thou wrongfully purchasist or getyst ony maner thynge by sacrylege symony stelthe vsury or by ony other falsehede or gyle that worldy men vse whiche cast alle theyr besynesse soo to couetyse that they ne recke how they come to good soo they haue it In this synne be they gylty that for mony or other wordely wynningis vse to playe at dycis or tablis whiche is vtterly forbode by holy chirche For many synnes that come therof The first is for the couetyse that thou hast to wynne and to dispoyle thy felow Another is for the grete vserye as ix for xii or double or quyt ¶ The thirde is for encrese of othis lesynges and many other veyn wordes that there ben vsed in grete dyspyte of god and his feith ¶ The fourth is euyll ensample that thou yeuest to other that beholdeth the ¶ The v. is lesyng of tyme in whiche thou myghtest haue wroughte many good werkys ¶ The syxte is despyte and dysobedyence that thou doost to thy moder holy chyrche that forbedeth the suche play ¶ The vii is fraude and desceyte that thou doost also to thy felowe in that play The viii is cursed wreth and stryf that cometh therof wherby ofte thou reynest god and lesyst thy kyndely wytte The ix is brekyng of thy holy day for in tho dayes is it· most vsed The x. is manslaughter that ofte fallyth in that game The xi is ydolatry that thou dost for thou makyst it ayenst the dyce that is a token aboue thy god Thyse myscheueâ— and many moo comyth of this sory playe All that that thou wynnest atte this playe for al thy besines that thou hast therwith thou maist not reioyse but nedys thou must yeue it to youre And yf thou haue it of hym that thou makyst so playe by strentgh or ayenst his wyl thou art bound to restore it to hym ageyn whiche hath loost hâ—â— wyth this playe And also thou brekest all the commaundementis of god And whether thou wynne or lese it is all thyn harme for and thou lese thou lesest god and heuen And yf thou wynne thou wynnest the deuyll hell ¶ The lawe off Canon sayth that a Bysshop preeste or deken that 〈…〉 theym to dyces or to drounkenes but yf he leue it he is certeynly dampned Subdeken Clerke â–ª or lewd man that doth the same He must other leue it or lacke his howâ—yll Therfore euery man beware of thys play and that he suffre it in noo wyse be doon where he maye lette it For they that consente therto â–ª or fauor it in ony wyse be in as grete peryl as the doers ¶ The second poynt is wronge wythholdyng â–ª in whiche thou fallest as often as thou doost not to god almyghty to thy neyghbour and to holy chirche thy dewtees
the synner that is to say Gyue that nature be susteyned and nat the synne norisshed Thou norysshest the synne that yeuest thy gode to iougelers and iapers and suche that loue to be ydell and suffrest the poure man to haue hungre and myscheyf suche maner of geuynge is forboden If pyte sayth saint Ambrose shall nat be swete to all Moche more plentouous muste it thenne be to the good and vertuous in lyuynge Thou shalt rather gyue to thy kynne or neyghboure in theyr nede they be vertuous then to other Thou shalt also yeue to olde men and wymen with chylde if they haue nede rather thenne to other And to theym that be fall in grete pouerte when such pouert falleth nat through ryot array or pompe of this world yet rather gyue thenne the pore be vnseruyd Opyn thyn hert to all theym that aske the for the loue of gode withoute difficultye and gyue it with charyte and with gode wyll Or elles thou makest nat due satisfactyon for thy synne Also with a glade chere and a meke spyryte Soo that thou do it for no vayn glorye Ne dâ—spyse natt the poure for he is a man as thou art And yeue it hastely and tary nat fro him that suffreth aÌ„guysshe sayth salamoÌ„ ¶ yeue it also with discrescion and if thou haue moche yeue moche if thou haue lytell yeue lytell gladly sayeth Thoby Thus bodily and goostly euery body may yeue almes ¶ Furthermore ayenst concupiscence of thy flesshe thou haste fastyng hard goynge and lyuynge and bytter wepynge knockyng on thy breest of knelynge and sharpe disciplyne with roddes of thyn owne hondes trauayll in pylgramage tribulaciones anguyssh sekenesse and suche other bodily diseases paciently suffred of the scourge of god All suche penaunce wylfully taken a discrete confessoure wyll put to the in parte of thy satisfaction and penaunce Fastynge is a wylfull abstinence fro mete and drynke wherby thy synne is wasshen and thy flessh made lowe for desire of euirlastynge blysse gostly fastyng is fro bodily syn and temporall ioye Saint Iherom sayth that it profyteth natt to feble thy body with fastynge whanne thy herte swelleth with pryde Somme faste for sekenesse or for they may nat ete somme for pouerte som for ypocrysye and somme to the worshyp of god and thou must modre thy fastynge that thy stomake be nat greuyd with to moche excesse for lytell mete mesurably tempreth and proufytteth both body and soul and disposeth the to goostly trauayll Ther be some that ete moo delicate metes and more whenne they faste thenne they doo at ii melys whanne they faste nat and in maner they breke their faste There is also prayer ayenst pryde two maner One is inwarde in thy soull withoute shewynge of voyce A nother also ordeyned for the thre parties of satisfaction ayenst pryde Prayer is a louynge desire of thy soull to god with speche of mouthe or gaderyng of wordes to aske good of god with vttering of thy voyce ¶ Of foure frutefull prayers saynte Poul speketh whenne he sayth I pray you first of all thynge that ther be obsecraciones orisones postulaciones yeldyng of thankynges Obsecraciones are whenne thou seest in thy soul the multitude of synne and lytell of thy merytes and seest the horryble peynes of hell which thou maist nat voyde by thyn owne vertue Ne darst nat for thyn owne vnworthynes make thy prayer thy selue but makest supplicacoÌ„ns by other menys as whenÌ„ thou sayst Sancta maria ora pro nobis Oure lorde by thy passion delyuer vs. Orison is whanne thou hast forsaken thy synne askest foryeuenes by open speche· Postulacion is whanne after thy penaunce doon thou haste a sad hope of foryeuenes if thou pray also any thynge ayenst thyn owne spede As poull that prayed that his temptacion myght be putte away then oure lord wyll nat graunte it the. Some thynges thou mayst pray with condicion And some thynges without condicion to haue grace and blys with oure lorde thou mayst aske without coÌ„dicion Saynt Bernard sayth that thou maist aske of our lord grace in all godenesse to please hym lyue in him see his blysse and to able thy self to vertues to do him worshyp and to be with him withouten ende ¶ yet afore this prayer thou must make redy thy soull in dyuerse wyse Firste thou must withdrawe thyn hert fro outwarde besynesse beynge in wyl to kepe thy thoughtes after thy first entent Thou muste considre also how vnworthy thou arte that prayest and howe worthy he is thou prayest vnto and howe greate thy synnes be that thou prayest for Thou muste also be clene in soull if thy prayer be shorte let it be doon with stedfaste hope for a shorte prayer with a sad hope feithfully doon is more acceptable to god then a longe prayer fayntly doon withoute hope yet to theym that been occupyed in dyuyne seruyce Longe prayer is spedefull To pray also with voys is more spedefull thanne to thynke or whysper Grisostum sayth thus thou that with loude voyce prayest and whysperyst thou suffryst noon other to praye aboute the And therfore thy synne and thy payn are encreased if it be do wyttyngly and thy self nat herd of god It must also be doon without interupcion nat to say nowe a verse or a Pater noster and bitwene iangle and tel a tale withoute greate nede ne to haste it to moche Thou must also make it comon to place tyme and persones Paull sayth I wyll that men pray in euery place yet in the church principally For oure lorde sayth my house shal be called the house of praier All tymes are tymes of prayer yet in holy church been seuen oures ordeyned for tyme of prayer whiche moste specialy longeth to religiouse men Oure lord afore his passion traueyled all nyght in prayer Oure lady and Ioseph also rose euery nyght at mydnyght and saide the psalmes of commendacion And the same dyd Dauid and his householde Though all may nat do thus yâ—t aâ—â—yse theym that be bouâ—de and haue noo lettynge It must also be made wâ—ith other aâ—d nat alwaye allone In that it is more acceptable to god more pleasaunt to aungelles and more confusion to the deuyll And the same that thou makest for a nother is bettre then that thou makest for thy selue ¶ And though oure lorde here nat anone thy prayer at thy wyll yet he heryth it and graunteth the happely that that is more spedefull A thynge that is longe desired at the last it coÌ„myth that is the more deynte ¶ It muste also be doon with deuocyon Deuocion as clerkes sayn is a tendernesse of herte wherby thou breakyst lightly into tearys Also a wyll of loue lyfte vp to god or to his heuynly creatures mâ—uynge the inwarde and outewarde to the seruyce of god Suche deuocion purgeth bothe body and soull ¶ And thus deuocion may be knowen by two pryncipall tokens One by gretenesse of the voyce outwarde as a grete fyre is knowen by the