with god fader fouÌ„der with god the sone wysdom of the fad The worthy lady Charyte shal be abbesse of this hous for all this other offycers shall obeye to Charyte ¶ Vnde oiÌ„a vraÌ„ in caritate fiaÌ„t All thynge that ye do saye or thynke be they done in the loue of god ¶ Alas yf I durste saye full many be in relygyon but fewe be relygyous that do the byddynge of Poul to obeye to charyte therfore lese they moche tyme also ther mede ¶ Now shall the worthy lady Wysedom be our Pryouresse ¶ Nam prior oiÌ„m est sapiencia The good lady Mekenesse that alwaye loueth herselfe shall be our suppryouresse This abbay is of god blessyd that hath thyse gouernours for all be blessyd that holde them in theyr scole For they that kepe Charyte Wysedom Mekenesse the thre persones in trynyte shall gyue them heuen to mede That soule is grete hye in heuen that hath thyse thre within herself Charyte Wysdom Mekenesse ¶ DyscrecoÌ„n shal be tresorer Oryson shal be chauÌ„tour ¶ NaÌ„ oroÌ„ sacrificiuÌ„ deo hoÌ„i solaciuÌ„ diabolo tormentuÌ„ ¶ The fende sayd to Bertilmew our lordes apostle thy orysons brenne me ¶ Saint Bernarde sayth whaÌ„ we praye in good lyfe our good angel dauÌ„cith maketh therof a present to the fad of heuen thenÌ„e our lorde coÌ„mauÌ„deth hym to wryte them in the booke of lyfe ¶ Saynt Austen telleth the IubylacoÌ„n orysons felowe is a Ioye conceyued in teeres with a ghostly loue that may not be shewed in all ne hyde in all As it doth by them that hertly loue that gyue almesse coÌ„tynue in theyr prayers where soo they ben theyr hertes synge mornynge songes of loue whan they longe inwardly with armes of loue to clyppe with ghostly mouth to kysse they loue somtyme so hertly that they lacke wordes so theyr loue rauyssheth theyr hertes that they wote not somtyme what they doo ¶ Deuocyon is Celerer that kepeth all the wynes bothe whyte redde That ben all the worthy thankynges the whiche we all owe to do to god for the endeles goodnes that he hath done dooth and woll do to vs yf we woll ourself This goodnes that he hath do was whan we all sholde haue ben loste thrugh synne of Adam be in helle without ende had not he of grete goodnes pyte become man for our sake lyuyng here many wynters in grete penauÌ„ce passyon at the laste naylled on a crosse with a spere tonge to the herte deyed and all for loue of vs to brynge vs out of payne ¶ The goodnes that he doth to vs now is whyle we ben here in body in soule yeuynge vs al that we nede both bodyly and ghostly Bodyly as mete drynke clothynge Ghostly as good thoughtes good wordes good dedes And therto to them that ben good he graunteth a shelde of his grace mynde of his passyon to kepe them fro the fende And to theym that ben wycked combred with synne he gyueth space tyme to torne therfro to amende yf they wol For thê° he sayth hymselfe ¶ Nolo morteÌ„ pctoÌ„ris sed magis vt ê¯uertat et viuat This is to saye I woll not the dethe of the synfull man but that he torne lyue And ther to he graunteth mercy forgyuenesse yf they woll it aske ¶ The goodnes that he woll doo to vs yf we woll dwelle abyde styll in his seruyce that is in good vertues In herynge seenge spekynge goynge handlynge in all other dedes werkynge shall be to this In tyme of dethe whan body soule shall departe atweyne the deuyl appere in his owne lykenesse before vs to make vs agast yf he may to brynge vs in to mysbyleue god wolde sende his owne angell all our gode dedes that euer we here wrought wryten to shew vs comforte vs dryue awaye the deuyll lede our soules to blysse The whiche blysse our lorde grauÌ„teth gyueth to all his chosen true seruauÌ„t whan he sayth thus ¶ Venite bnÌ„dicti patris mei ê‘cipite regnuÌ„ qd vobis ê‘atuÌ„ est ab origine mundi ¶ PenauÌ„ce shall be Keruer the ryght well can make many good meetes sufferynge many bytter sorowes for synne to make the soule mery and glad with god that before was â—lenge for she had hym offended ¶ TemperauÌ„ce shall serue in the fraytour loke all aboute that mesure be had ouer all that none haue to moche ne to lytell neyther of etynge drynkynge ne of slepynge ¶ Sobernes must nedes rede at the borde the lyfe of holy faders what lyfe they lyued here in erthe to take of them example to do as they dyde therby to wynne the mede that they haue ¶ Pyte must be the PytauÌ„cer that dooth that good that she may ¶ Mercy must be Almener that gyueth to all no thynge can holde to herself ¶ The lady Drede Porter that kepeth the cloystre of the hert that chacyth awaye all wycked vyces called in good vertues closeth the gates of the cloystre that none euyl come not in to the herte the eyen the mouth the eeres ne in to other places by the fyue wyttes ¶ Honeste is maystresse to teche nouyces curteysy how thei shall haue them in ther dedes both to god aÌ„nd to man ¶ Curteysy is Hostlere to calle in noble gyft and Symplenes shall be her felowe that she be not to lyberall ¶ Reason shall be Purueour that there be no defaute ¶ BouÌ„te shal be Fermerer the seke men to serue Her felawe shall be Largenesse to gyue eueryche that he nedeth ¶ Medytacyon Garnetour for to gadre corne togyder that men haue theyr sustenaunce ¶ MedytacoÌ„n is thought in god of his werkes of his wordes of his creatures of his paynes that he loued vs with For oft a good thought is better than many Indeuowte prayers ¶ Therof speketh the holy bysshop Denys sayth Whan the herte is caught with the loue of god he may not saye the worde that he thynketh in herte The garner is aboue the cellar So medytacoÌ„n ouer deuocoÌ„n MedytacoÌ„n garnetour deuocyon cellerer pyte shall be pytauÌ„cer ¶ Herof speketh the prophete Dauid sayth ¶ A fructu frumeÌ„ti vini olei multiplicati suÌ„t Of frute of whete of wyne of oyle ben they multeplyed God behoteth to his chosen thyse thre thynges Serue ye to me he sayth I shal gyue you plente of whete of wyne of oyle Plente of whete is thê° to thynke on the crosse Inwardly on Cryste Ihu that dyed theron that is to saye medytacyon Plente of wyne is welle of teeres for to wepe well is good deuocoÌ„n Plente of oyle is good dylectacoÌ„n in Cryst Ihesu that is our beste comforte Oyle gyueth sauoure to meetes lyght also to laÌ„pes Ryght so whan men beseche hertly god of mercy he sendeth theym a ghostly Ioye The oyle of comfort
¶ Here begynneth a matere spekynge of a place that is namid the abbaye of the holy ghost that shall be fouÌ„ded or grouÌ„ded in a clene conscyence in whiche abbaye shall dwelle .xxix. ladyes ghostly IN this abbaye Charyte shall be Abbesse Wysdome Pryouresse Mekenes suppryouresse And thyse ben in the Couent Pouertee Clennesse TemperauÌ„ce Sobernesse Penaunce Buxumnesse Confession Ryghtwysnes Predycacyon Strength Pacyence Symplenes Mercy Largenesse Reason Pyte Medytacyon Oryson DeuocoÌ„n ContemplacoÌ„n Chastyte Aubylacyon Honeste Curteysy Drede and Gelousy ¶ The fader of heuen is fouÌ„der of this abbaye the sone gouernour the holy ghost vysytour But though ony abbay haue neuer so good a fouÌ„der gouernour visytour but it haue also good chartours wherby it may holde his londe rent fredom Perauenture eyther by happe it shall be euyll serued or elles suffre moche dysease of enmyes Therfore I woll reherce the chartours wherin I wol saye whan where and of whom this abbaye was fyrste fouÌ„ded or grouÌ„ded And thenne woll I saye how it was fyrst made afterwarde wtin short tyme destroyed in what manere how longe tyme or it were made ayen as it was before And how almyghty god hath put his foure doughters in this holy abbay ayenst the foure doughters of the fende whom the holy ghost chaced awaye for they were so fowle ¶ Sciant presentes futuri c. Knowe they that ben here they that ben to come that I almyghty god in trynyte fader sone holy ghost haue gyue grauÌ„ted with my worde confermed to Adam the fore fader of man to Eue his wyfe to theyr heyres a lytel precyous place that is callid Conscyence that lyeth in theyr soules bytwene a place that is called Sinderesis that styred a man to goodnes grutcheth ayenst euyll in that other halfe Whose ende lyeth fast by the grace of god thrugh whiche euery man may doo well yf he woll And that other ende lyeth in Ioye yf the soule be clene out of synne ¶ This holy place almighty god gaf to Adam forsayd to Eue and to ther heyres clenly dyght without ony weÌ„me In the whiche god made a noble house of religyon that is called the abbaye of the holy ghost In to whiche abbaye he put many goostly ladyes that is to saye good vertues Wherin he made charyte abbesse wysdom pryouresse mekenesse suppryouresse He walled this abbaye aboute with strength that no wycked thought sholde haue entrid in that hous yf Adam his wyfe hadde wolde themselfe He gaaf them lordshyp of al the worlde to maynten this holy house so ferforth that all the fysshes in the see and all the byrdes of thayre and beestes of the erthe sholde haue ben buxome to hym to his wyfe and to theyr heyres after them euer yf Adam his wyf had kept them fro synne in to theyr endynge daye ¶ HabenduÌ„ tenenduÌ„ c. To haue to holde this forsayd place to the forsayd Adam and to Eue to theyr heyres freely in peas without lette of ony man euer And therwith Ioye blysse that neuer shal haue ende for the seruyce custome that longeth therof to the chyef lorde of the fee. And that was no more than to withstonde the temptacoÌ„n of the fende and of his wyfe And that lasted not of bothe not a myle waye space And almyghty god sholde haue warrantyd to Adam to Eue to theyr heyres that noble place to haue dwelled euermore in more Ioye than ony tongue may telle ¶ Also that they ne her heyres sholde neuer haue suffred wo ne sholde they neuer haue deyed but whan almighty god wolde he sholde haue take hym vp in body soule to the blysse of heuen there to haue lyued without ende yf Adam his wyf had kept them fro synne as I sayd one daye to th ende ¶ Hijs teslibz c. Of this bereth wytnes angell man heuen erth sonne monesterres and all creatures ¶ DatuÌ„ apud paradysuÌ„ c. Yeuen at paradyse the fyrst daye that man was made ¶ Anno regni c. In the yere of the regnynge of almyghty god kyng of kynges whose kyngdom neuer beganne neuer shall haue ende ¶ Many men there be that wolde be in relygyon but they may not for dyuerse causes Therfore they that may not be in bodyly relygyon they may be in ghostly relygyon yf they woll that is fouÌ„ded in a place that is called Conscyence But fyrste the place muste be clensed with grace of the holy ghost Two maydeÌ„s that be called Loue Ryghtwysnes shall cast awaye fro conscyence all maner of fylth ThenÌ„e shal Mekenesse Pouerte make the fouÌ„dement therof put awaye all worldely thought that is though men haue worldely goodes set they not theyr loue there vpon thenne may they well be called men poore in spyryte to whom Cryst gyueth his blessynge ¶ This abbay must also be set vpon a ryuer that is the ryuer of teeres on whiche ryuer was Mawdeleyne fouÌ„ded in sorowynge for her synnes therforÌ„ the grace of god heuenly ryches came all to her wyl ¶ ThenÌ„e shal BuxuÌ„nesse mercy rere vp the walles in to heygth make them stronge with almesdedes geuynge gladly to poore men after thy state is thus saith Thobi ¶ Si multuÌ„ tibi fuerit habuÌ„danter tribue si tibi sic exiguuÌ„ paruÌ„ iÌ„ê‘tire stude This is thus moche to meane Yf thou be ryche hauynge plentee of worldly godes gyue plenteuously therof Yf thou be poore be of good wyll to gyue gladly of suche thynge as thou hast For saynt Poule sayth ¶ HilareÌ„ datoreÌ„ diligit deê° That is to saye god loueth the glad gyuer Thê° shall we buylde our hous in heuen with the loue of god of our euen crysten ¶ Thenne shall Pacyence strength reyse vp all the pylars vndset them with botraces that no wynde of wordes of angre ne of tempest of persecucoÌ„n ne of temptacoÌ„n may cast them downe ¶ Thenne we must make our cloystre in this maner that shall kepe vs ghostly out of al worldly thoughts syghtes that is kepe we our eyen fro all euyll syghtes our eeres fro euyll herynge our mouth fro euyll spekynge fro swerynge fro lyenge our hertes fro all euyll thoughtes And yf we kepe thus this foure corners we shall buylde well our cloystre ¶ A mayde the hyght Confessyon shall make our chaptour hous Predycacyon the fraytour Oryson the oratory Contemplacyon the dortour And yf thyse shal be reysed vp to the worshyp of god they must stonde out fro worldly noyse fro worldly besynesse angre ¶ ContemplacoÌ„n is not ellis but a deuoute herte with a breÌ„nynge loue to god to taste somdele of the blysse that is ordeyned for his chosen in heuen ¶ Pyte shal be our fermour DeuocoÌ„n cellerer holy Medytacyon shall be garnetour Whan all thyse offycers ben made the holy ghost is warden
of mercy that is in medytacyon where to thynke on the crosse of Cryste Ihu And in deuocoÌ„n he gyueth wyne that is the welle of teeres of bytternes after that wyne of teeres of swetnes Our lorde Ihu Cryste sendeth them the oyle of comfort of mercy that gyueth the lyght of shewith his heuenly preuytees that he hydeth fro men that ben ful of flesshly lustes that gyue theÌ„ all to worldely wytte in dyuerse degrees that whiche is ryght grete foly ¶ For the apostle Poule sayth ¶ SapieÌ„cia eiê°muÌ„di stulticia eÌ„ apud deuÌ„ That is thus moche to saye that the wysdom of this worlde is foly before god Therfore me thynketh all those that purpose trauaylle to be holde wyse in this worlde that is to gad ryches to gad for grete worshyp of themselfe here for theyr lusty lyuynge more than for the worshyp of god to parte therof there as it nedeth ben ryght nyce foles grete wretches as the apostle vs techeth And to them that be his true seruauntes he gyueth the lyght of loue that they somedele taast fele how swete he is how good But he gyueth it not all fully for no maÌ„ I trowe myghte all fully it fele that for lykynge and Ioye his herte sholde to braste For sayÌ„t Austen doctour tellith example of an holy preest sayth thus that than whan he herde ony thyÌ„ge of god that it lyked hym to here he sholde be rauysshed so with Ioye that he sholde falle lye styll as he were deed And though ony man in that tyme caste fyre on his flesshe he feled it no more than he had be all deed Wherof speketh Iob sayth ¶ Abscondi luceÌ„ in manibz That is to saye god hydeth lyght within his hondes as he that hath a candell lyght betwene his two hondes he may shewe it or hyde whether he woll So doth our lorde Cryst Ihesu to his chosey men his hondes he openeth whan he wol and gladdeth them with heuenly lyght And whaÌ„ he wol he closith his hondes with dreweth his comforte for he woll not that they fele it fully but gyueth them leue to taast in partye to fele how good he is how swete he is as Dauyd sayth in the sawter ¶ Gustate videte qmÌ„ suauis eÌ„ dnÌ„s And yf god sayd to vs by this lykynge that thou hast in this short tyme of me thou mayst taast how swete I am to my chosen in my blysse whan they passe hens And thus he doth to drawe vs fro lust of flesshely worldly loue to flaÌ„me our hertes with loue longynge to haue that Ioye in body soule with hym without ende ¶ A wyse lady Ielousye that is besy both nyght daye to do our lordes wyl shall kepe our Horolege to wake thyse ladyes all cause them swyftely to ryse vp to saye our lordes seruyce This horolege of contemplacyon is to god loue longynge that smyteth sooner than ony other in the herte of Crystys louers that fede theyr soule with good prayers wassheth with swete teeres wipeth it with ghostly comforte as Salomon telleth techeth vs. ¶ Ego dormio et cor meuÌ„ vigilat I slepe he sayth my flesshe to fede my herte is wakynge all in loue all to god longynge ¶ Whan this abbaye was al well set god therin serued a tyraunt came with grete power put in his foure doughters that were all of shrewed maners the fende fad of them all The fyrste doughter pryde the other was enuye the thyrde false demynge the fourth flesshly lust Thyse foure wenchis by couÌ„sell of the deuyll theyr fad came to noye this abbay so nyght daye in soule the worse rest they haue Whan Charyte sawe this myscheyf other ladyes of the house they range anone theyr chapytour bell toke couÌ„sell of this thynge And thenne sayd DyscrecoÌ„n that they praye the holy ghost to come to helpe them with his grace And thenÌ„e they kneled downe sange ¶ Veni creator spiritus Thenne as it is sayd before came our lord Cryst Ihu in to his mod restored this hous better than euer it was before To hym glory worshyp that lyueth without ende ¶ MemoranduÌ„ qd pri o die plasmacione c. We may vnderstonde that there was a fals tyrauÌ„t apostata that is named Sathanas that some tyme was pryour of the order of angels in the blysse of heuen that for pryde raÌ„ne out of his blysful order in to sorowfull horrour of the payne of helle He had soo grete enuy to this abbay of the holy ghost that it was so well with god had so grete a lordshyp He bethought hym how he myght distroye that noble hous how he myght do to make the noble couente of vertues to renne out of theyr order as he ranne out of his He came in lykenes of a adder to thabbaye gate to come in the porter that was called Drede was not there redy For without doubte yf Drede had be there the fende had not come in And Eue sawe that he was there as a grete fole she lete hym come in ThenÌ„e sayd the fende to her why forbad god that ye sholde not ete of the fruyte that growith on the tree that stondeth in myddes of paradyse thenÌ„e sayd Eue yf we ete of it we shall deye Naye sayd he God knowith wel yf ye ete there of ye shal be as goddis knowynge good euyll buthe wolde that ye were not so wyse therfore he forbad ye sholde not ete of that fruyte Eue herde she sholde be so wyse was bothe couetous lykerous sawe the fruytes delycyous to the mouth went to the tree and toke ete therof and gaaf Adam that other dele and he ete therof And in the meane tyme that Adam his wyf ete of the fruyte the fals traytour wich his thre knyghtes That is is to saye Pryde Couetyse Vaynglory wente in this abbaye of the holy ghost bare awaye al the good that there was bare awaye the chartour that god gaaf them to holde theyr place by And therfore Adam ne his wyfe neyther theyr heyres froÌ„ that daye vnto this daye had neuer right to chalenge ayen lordshyp of the blysse of heuen but oonly by goddes mercy And not onely thyse false theues brake the abbaye but also they bare awaye the godes that is they draue awaye dyspytousely out of the abbaye all the noble couent of vertues So that it was .iiij. M.v. C. .xxxiij. yere after that or they myght come ayen al togyder as perfytly as they were before ¶ Whan Adam and his wyfe had eten of the fruyte they behelde eche other thenÌ„e perceyued they fyrst that they were bothe robbed naked were ashamed of theÌ„self And went and toke leues of fygge trees to couer with theyr preuytees for they had no other clothes ThenÌ„e wente they forth to one that was thef
all and came to Cryste kyssed hym And Cryste sayd to hym Iudas frende shalt thou betraye goddes sone with a cosse ¶ ThenÌ„e the Iewes toke Cryste bouÌ„de hym as a theyf ful harde and sore There he fouÌ„de an other lady of that same hous and she was named Pacyence ¶ Peter sawe that out with a swerde and smote of a boyes eere that was one of the bysshops men ThenÌ„e sayd Cryste to Peter Put vp thy swerde agayne Trowest thou not that I myght praye my fader yf I wolde he myght sende me mo than twelue legyons of angels All this he sayd I woll suffre with good wyll for loue of mannes soule ¶ Thenne the false Iewes ladde forth Ihu Cryste to Cayphas the bysshop His dyscyples sawe that ranne awaye for drede euerychone lefte hym there alone ¶ Thenne came many shrewes and made playnt to the bysshop on our lorde ThenÌ„e sayd Cayphas to our lorde What sayst thou to thyse coÌ„playnt trespasses that thyse men shewe ayenst the ¶ Cryste fouÌ„de there an other lady that is called Symplenesse For he answered not to hym with one worde ¶ ThenÌ„e the bysshop asked hym where he had preched what he had taught and sayd Thenne sayde Cryste What demaundest thou me Enquyre of them that herde me preche what I sayd to them Tho toke the Iewes our lorde Ihu put of his clothes and bouÌ„de hym to a pylar of stone And made scourges with knottes of lede sharpe pryckes in thendes and with them bete his precyous body tyll it ranne all on blood Thenne they dyde on hym a streyght sylken clothe that cleuid fast to the flesshe whan the blood was drye Thenne they set a garlonde on his heed of longe sharpe thornes bete it harde downe with staues for they wolde not prycke theyr fyngers And toke hym a rede in his honde and kneled downe sayd in scorne Hayle kyng of Iewes Whan they had so done they strypte of that cote of sylke for it cleuyd fast to the body they drewe awaye therwith moche of the skynne and flesshe also Whan they sawe that the shrewes were well pleasyd bleryd on hym and spyt on hym And there fouÌ„de Cryste an other lady of the abbaye that hyght Mekenes ¶ Tho the false Iewes made Cryste to bere his owne crosse on his backe towarde the mouÌ„t of Caluary tyll he was in poynt to falle downe for feblynesse Whan they sawe that they wolde not that he deyed tyll he had be hanged for grete malyce hate that they had to hym They made an other man to bere the crosse tyll they came to the place where Cry sholde be nayled on And euer as he wente the good lady Mekenes went with him Trowe ye not that his moder hadde thenne moche sorowe whan she sawe her sone goo soo towarde his deth Forsoth it was a pyteous syght who that had it seen ¶ Whan they cam to Caluary they cast downe there the crosse layed our lorde alonge theron made markes holes where his hondes and fete were nayled to ThenÌ„e they toke a blont rough raggid nayle droue with an hamour thrugh his honde to the crosse And for anguysshe therof all his body drewe there towarde they wolde haue nayled that other honde to the crosse it was to short to the hole that they had made by half a fote more yet wolde they make noo newe holes but toke ropes tyed to his honde drewe it tyll it was mete to the hole And in the drawynge all the Ioyntes of his armes brake asondre Whan they wolde haue nayled his fete to the crosse al his body was so shronke vp togyder for peyne that it was to short for the hole that they had made by a large fote ThenÌ„e toke they ropes tyed to his fete drewe hym downe harde lore tyll they were mete therfore they brake in that drawynge al the Ioyntes of his lyndes knees of his fete also Thenne they toke suche an other raggyd rough nayle and draue it thrugh both his fete with an hamour atones in to the harde tree whyle he was thê° nayled on the crosse came many ladyes of the holy abbaye Pouerte BuxuÌ„nes PenauÌ„ce Symplenes Pacyence Mekenes to se how he dide ThenÌ„e sayd Cryst to them yf ye had your abbesse thenÌ„e had ye euerychone ¶ Whan the Iewes had nayled hym on the crosse as men do cloth on a teyntour they lyfte vp the crosse fro the grouÌ„de to set it faste in the morteys that was made for the same purpoos And in theyr grete enuyous malyce the cursed Iewes lyft it vp as hygh as they myght with strengthe of men lete it falle downe sodenly in to the morteys In the fallynge all the synewes of his body all the veynes all the Ioyntes brake euery one I trowe there was penauÌ„ce ynough ¶ The lady Pouerte was there all redy for he hanged all naked as he was born of his moder on the crosse for mannes soule And whyle he haÌ„gid therÌ„ with his blody wouÌ„des al to hurlyd all to rente He fouÌ„de the abbesse of the abbaye of the holy ghost that is callid Charyte the whiche sayd ¶ MaioreÌ„ caritateÌ„ nemo heÌ„t quam vt aiÌ„am suaÌ„ ponat quis ê“ amicis suis. More loue charyte may noo man haue than to gyue his lyf for his freÌ„des as Cryst dyde for maÌ„nes soule ¶ Whan Cryst had fouÌ„de the holy abbesse Charyte all her couent he was full glad in his herte all though he felte moche wo of bodyly payne withoutforth ThenÌ„e asked he a drynke to make with all thyse ladyes mery And welcomed theÌ„ sayd Scicio I thurste Thenne the false Iewes made to him a drynke of eysell gall tempred togyder with myrre put it to his mouth vppon a spounge Whan our lorde had smellid the taste therof he wolde no more therof but he sayd thus ¶ ConsummatuÌ„ est That is to saye I haue done all my fads message that he bad me doo on erthe For I haue fouÌ„de vp the abbesse al the couent of the abbaye of the holy ghost made ayen thabbay better than euer it was Now he sayd I woll go to Adam to my frendes delyuer theÌ„ out of helle lede them ayen to the blysse of paradyse that neuer shall cesse ¶ Whan he had sayd thê° he gaaf vp the ghost and deyed in flesshe hangynge on the crosse all to russhyd all to rent so vnneth ony lyÌ„me henge by other bitwene two theuis for grete loue that he had to saue maÌ„nes soule ThenÌ„e ghostly in his godhede he went downe to helle toke out Adam Eue. Abell Seth other Noe Abraham Iacob Ysaac Ioseph Moyses kyng Dauyd Patryarkes and prophetes all his frendes he toke with hym lad them with thabbesse the couente of the holy ghost to the blysse of heuen And there almyghty god ordenyd that his four doughters Mercy and Trouth Ryghtwysnes and Peas sholde dwelle in thabbay of the holy ghost And then he coÌ„mauÌ„ded hymself that Mercy Trouth sholde be Charytees chapeleyns goo about with her whyther that she went He bad also that Ryghtwysnes sholde be with Wysdom for she was pryouresse Peas with Mekenesse that was suppryouresse He ordeyned that thyse thre ladyes sholde haue theyr chapeleyns for they were moost of worshyp ¶ Thenne he sayd he that woll kepe fayr wel thyse holy vertues he shall fynde in this worlde by holy medytacoÌ„n by good conuersacoÌ„n by noble coÌ„templacoÌ„n moche Ioye myrth both in body soule And afterwarde whan he is deed he shall haue to his mede the kyngdom of heuen that is to laye more Ioye blysse than ony eye may se or eere here or tonge telle or herte thynke Almyghty god for his grete mercy gyue vs grace socour to kepe fayr well this abbaye that is our conscyence all the hole couent that is to laye good vertues in thought in worde in dede that we may come to the blysse that god boughte vs to Amen ¶ Now frendes bretheren in Cryste Ihu that coueyte crystenly to lyue in Crystis religyon Kepe ye well your abbesse Charyte in herte and all thyse other noble vertues before reherced And yf it soo befalle the ony lyÌ„me of the deuyll bodyly or ghostly be abowte to take from you this lady Charyte rynge ye your Chaptour belle of your in wyt And calle ye to your counsell Reason DyscrecoÌ„n Pacyence Peas And go ye forth to Oryson crye ye in soule to the holy ghost And in wardly praye him that he come defende charyte That he thrugh his gracyous helpe kepe you fro euyll chauÌ„ce And he that made vs all with blysse vs auauÌ„ce Amen ¶ Enprynted at Westmestre by Wynken de worde