tourne ayen to synne and thenne truste vereyly ye shall haue grace mercy and socour to euerlastyng ioye and blysse wherfor thinke for certeyne though ye make it glosyng wyth wordes for to disceyue your goostly fader and saye that ye be in charyte and bee not ye begyle your self and truste truly ye shall not begyle god that seeth euery corner af your hertes ¶ And therfore dysceyue not yoâ—â—e owne soules for the loue of god And be also besy and redy to make your soules clene to the syghte of god as ye ben to make your houses to the syght of man and as ye wolde araye you in your best clothes that ye haue ayenst the comynge of your best frendis soo sholde ye araye you now to receyue your beste frende that is your maker our Lord Ihesu Criste that this tyme suffred passion and dethe to brynge vs to euerlastiÌ„ge lyf ¶ This daye is called also a passyng daye and in especiall for two causes One is for this daye all cristen people in reuerence of god sholde forgyue all theym that haue trespaced to hem and be in parâ—â—â—e loue and charyte to all 〈…〉 sholde be amendyd with the salâ—â— that â—â—â—eth al soâ—â— that is chaâ—â—e Câ—ritus cooperit multitudineÌ„ peccatorum Charite coueryth the multitude of synnes It is also a passinge day For this day shold al goddes châ—ldren passe out of euyll lyuynge into good lyuynge oute of vyces into vertues oute of pryde into mekenesse oute of couetyse in largenesse out of slouthe into holynes oute of enuye into loue and charite ouâ—e of wrathe into mercy oute of glotony into abstinence oute of lechery in to chastite out of the fendes clawes into goddes armes and of his grete enmye make his dere frende And he that passeth thus is worthy to coÌ„me to a good feste the whiche oure lorde Iesu maketh this daye to all the people It is called also goddes sonday For this day goddys sone rose from deth to lyue and so gladdeth all his seruauntes with hys vp rysinge wherfore all holy churche maketh myrthe and melody this daye and singeth thus Hec est dies quam fecit dominus exultemus et letemur iÌ„ ea This is the daye that oure lorde made ioye we and gladde we in that with al oure bertes for the fadre of heuyn with all his aungellyâ— maketh so grete melody of the vprysynge of his sone that he maâ— to daye a passinge grete fest and byâ—â—â—th all cristen people thertâ— aswell those that ben in heuyn as thâ—se that been in erthe and they shall be full welcome that coÌ„me to this feeste 〈…〉 that is a gâ—de clothynge that is in loue and charite And also euyll shal those be that shal coÌ„me in the fendes leuerye clothed in wrathâ— and enuye For as the gospell telleth these shall be caste in pryson of hell And thenne while other laughe and maâ—e mery they shall wepe and be sory and whâ—le some ete and drynâ— at goddes borde they shall grynne wythe their teeth and saye Ve ve ve quante suÌ„t tenebre wo. wo. wo. many derknesse been here For they shall thynk that they may fele the derknesse it is so derke and the peynes of hell shal be so hard for wormes shall gnawe them for they ete her eyen cristen here in this lif in erth with false baâ—bytynge and sâ—laundrynge ¶ wherfore I charge you in goddes name that noon of you coÌ„me thus to goddes borde but if ye be in parfyte loue and charite and be clene shreuyn and in full purpose to leue your synnes For and I wyst in certayn whiche were oute of charite and in dedely synne I must by the lawe of holy churche with a loude voyce say thus to theym in audience of all the people I gyf the nat thy housyll to thy saluacion bâ—â—â—e to thy dampnacion tyll thou coÌ„me to amendmente And therfore euery cristen man and woman sholde serche wel his conscience and make him able to reâ—â—â—ue his sauyour Iesu criste to the heâ—â—â—e of his soule that she may coÌ„me after this fynall lyf to euirlustinge ioye Amen gOode frendes theâ—e thre daies that is to saye Monday Tuysday and and wenesdaye ye shall faste and go in procession man woman and seruantes for al we be synners and haue nede to pray to god for helpe grace and mercy for they may nat excuse therin fro the procession that may laâ—fully be there Than he that withdraweth him self fro the coÌ„maundment of holy churche wylfully he synneth full greuouslye Firste he synneth in pryde for he is vnbuâ—um Also he synneth in slouthe that knoweth him selue in synne and wyll nat do his diligence to coÌ„me out therof right as he withdrawyth him fro peple that be gadred to serue god Right so wyll god putt him from all the company of heuyn and from all the prayers that be doon in holy churche tyll he come to amendement Therfore all cristen people come only to gidder pray these thre daies to all the sayntes in heuyn to pray to god for vs For we haue synned many tymes in the yere ayeÌ„ste the coÌ„maundment of god And therfore these thre daies we shall faste and pray to god of mercy and remission of oure synnes and put awaye al the power of the fende and kepe vs from al myscheuous peryl and dredys that fal this tyme of the yere more than any other tyme For in this tyme many grete thundres and lightnynge and as Lyncolnyence saith Ther were fendes that fleteryn in the ayr for fere of the blast of thundrynge whan that criste coÌ„me to hell gates whan he dispoyled hell And so yet whanne they here the thunder in the ayre they been so agast therof that they fallen downe and then go they nat vp ayen tyll they haue don some cursed dedes For than they 〈…〉 tempestes in the see and drawe downe shippes and make debate emonge the people and make one to slee a nother and tende fyre and brenne houses and drawe downe steples and trees and cause wymmen to ouirlye their children and make people to hange theym selue and drowne them self in wanhope and in dispayre and do many cursed dedys And for to putte awaye all suche myscheuys the power of the fende Holy church hathe ordeyned that al cristen peple shal faste and goo in processioun these thre daies and pray to god and to oure lady and to all the saintes of heuyn of helpe and socoure ¶ wherfore in these processiones belles be ronge baners be spleyed the crosse coÌ„myth after the people suyth after For right as a kinge whanne he goth to a battayl his troÌ„pettes goon to fore Thenne the baners and thenne coÌ„meth the king and his oft folowynge So in this processioun the bellys been goddes trompettes the baners coÌ„me after Thenne coÌ„meth the croce in cristes lyknesse as kinge of cristen people and all sewe him and with her good prayers chace awaye the fendys that they
haue noo power And lyke a cursed tyraunt wyll be sore aferd and a dradde whan he herd the trompettes of a kynge that were his enmy and sawe his baners splayde in the felde with his oste coÌ„mynge toward him In the same wyse the fende the tyrant of hell is aferd and dredith him sore For whaÌ„ne the bellys rynge and the baners ben bore and the crosse with all the people come praynge Thenne he fleeth and dare not abyde and 〈…〉 power that processâ—â—◠¶ Narracio ¶ we rede at the cytee of Constantyne as the people wente in procession for a disease that the people had as they songe Letany Sodenly a childe was plucked vp into the ayre and borne into heuyn and the aungellys taughte him to synge this songe â–ª Sancte dâ— sancte fortis sancte et â—moâ—â— miserere nobis And anoon he was lete downe agayn to the erthe And thenne he song that same songe and anoon they were delyuered of their diseases This is to say in englysshe Holy god holy stronge god holy and neuir shall dye haue mercye on vs God that is holy and neuir shal dye haue mercy on vs God wylleth and wyll that we be stronge for to fyghte with the fende with the worlde with the flesshe And thanne wyll he haue mercy on vs. and brynge vs to the place then there as aungellys synge Sancte deus sancte fortis Holy god holy stronge god haue mercy on vs and bringe vs to his blisse ¶ Ascensio domini gOod frendes suche a daye ye shall haue an hygh and a solempne feste in holy churche that is called thascension of oure lorde Iesu cryste For that day as the feyth and byleue techyth howe god is very god and man and flyed vp in to heuyn ¶ wherfore in â—oknyng of this the paschall that is the cheif light in holy â—hâ—rche that hath stonde openly in the quiâ—e from Ester vnto this daye Now it is remeuyd awaye in tokenynge that cryste is cheif lighte in holy churche And so oure lordâ— diuerse tymes openly appieryd to his disciples and taught theÌ„ the feyth and the beleue and this daye be styed vp into heuyn and there wyl abyde tyll the daye of dome But now ye shall here the maner of that ascension from Ester daye tyll this daye he was nat with his disciples alway but diuerse tymes apperyd vnto theym And he apperyd to them as they faâ—â—e at ther mete and ete with them to shew them that he was very god and man in flesshe and blood as they were For some of them were in doute left he had be a spirit that hadde nother flesshe â—e blood And therfore to preue the trouth he ete with them in their sight and bad theym goo to the hyll of olyuete â— there in sight of all his disciples be blessed theym and flyed vp into heuyn And lefte the steppes of his feet thâ—eft downe into the harde marbyll stone for a token of his ascension Thenne ye shal vnderstonde that the hyll of Olyuete betokneth mercy wherfore cryste â—â—yed vp at the hyll of olyuet shewâ—nge wele that he is hede of mercy And he is euir redy to shewe mercy to all that aske mercy with meke herte Thenne in his vp flyenge as we call ascension angellys made so moche melody that no tonge may tell it so fayne they wer of his coÌ„mynge ¶ Ascendit velociter she styed vp swyftly For as it werâ— a mommente he was from erth to heuen A grete clerke a philosopher that is called Rabymoyses he sayth that it is as ferre fro heuyn to erth as a holy man myghte lyue a thousand yere and euery daye go a thousand myle But hee that mette this way knoweth best And this waye shal be mette of a rightfull and a good man Thenne in his asceÌ„sion he had a greate multitude of soulâ—s the whiche he sette oute of hell fro the fendes bondes He sâ—yed also wyth his woundes rede fresshe and blody And as bede sayth for fyue causes Firste for to verifye the feythe of his resurrection For he rose in very flesshe blode that dyed on the crosse for all mankynde The secounde to shewe his wouÌ„dâ—s to his fader in greate helpe and socoure to all mankynde The thridde is to shewe how rightfull they be dampned that wyll nat beleue in his passion and in his resurrection The fourth to shewe how mercifull he is to theym that wyll beleue and aske mercy The fyfte is that he bare with him a signe of victory For a sikernesse of all mankynde For lyke as a lorde is syker that hath a true aduocate bifore a Iuge to aunswere for him So in lyke wyse to all mankynde we fynde him oure aduocate euirmore redy to aunswere for vs at nede that the fende oure goostlye enmy maketh ayeÌ„st vs. wherfore saith the holy scriptur A sykerer attournay may no man be thanne god Vbi mater osteÌ„dit filio pectus et vbera wherfore the modre shewyth the soone 〈…〉 and her papes Filâ—â—s patri latus et vulnera The sone shewith to the fader his sides all to beten and his woundes bleding Howe shulde any thinge be putt awaye or denyed there as such tokenes of loue be shewyd He may nat fare amysse that hath suche ii frendes in the countrey of heuyn Also by the styenge vp into heuyn of oure lord iesu Cryst man hath goten a grete dignyte For a man to se his owne kynde and his owne flesshe and his bloâ—â—â—tting on the right syde of the fadâ—â—euyn in his trone ¶ wherfore aunâ—â—â—lys considerynge the dignyte of man they wolde nat suffre noo man to doo theym worshyp as they dyd bifore the incarnacion of crist But they worshyp man for god him selue hathe take mankynd on hym and is nowe in heuyn bodily Hereby may ye see how moche biholde is he to his god what we that were bouÌ„â—â— bifore and thrall to the fende of hel and no â—we ben made free of al that and oure lorde iesu criste haue yeue to man a fredome aboue any aungellys and therfore we be bounde vnto hym to do him seruyce reuerence worshhip And there as aungellys kept somtyme the gates of paradise with brennynge swerdes that no soule myght coÌ„me in Nowe by feyth oure lorde Iesu criste to mankynde he hath cast vp the gates and warneth no man to â—rin that is of stedefaste byleue 〈◊〉 â—aint austyn saythe Aperuisti credentibus regna celorum· Thou haste opnyd the gates of heuyn to theym that byleue Also ye shall byleue right as a king of this world hath officers of diuerse degrees some 〈◊〉 and some lower And some more â—â—â—uâ—er than some So oure lorde â—g vp at this tyme the lawer angellys for grete wounder that they had in cristes ascension whan they sawe him in flesshe and blood styenge vp to heuen wythe so grete multitude of soules with him And also for the grete woundre that they hadde whan they
saw the fendis of the ayre flee awaye for drede and fere of his stronge coÌ„mynge that bifore were wounte sparynge no thynge assayl the soules that caÌ„me by theim And thenne they flewe awaye for grete fere of his coÌ„mynge Also the good aungellys caÌ„me in all the haste that they myghte to doo to oure lorde Iesu criste seruyce reuerence and worship Thus for greate woundre that the lower aungelles had of his styenge vp They askyd the hygher aungellys and sayd Quis est iste qui venit de edoz what is this nowe that coÌ„myth oute of the world with blody clothes as he were a kinge of ioye This is he that wyth deth sufferynge rede in his scourgynge seke and ded in the crosse strong in hel bodily in doynge ferfull in risynge thus hath ouircoÌ„me all his enmyes nowe is kinge of glory in heuyn Thenne oure lorde Iesu criste was styed vp into heuyn then his disciples stondynge with his modre for gret woÌ„dre of that sight and also of the melody that they herde in the ayre they loked vp into heuyn and sodenly ii auÌ„gelles clothed al in white stode by them and sayd to them in this wise Viri galilei quid statis aspicieÌ„tes in celum hic iesus qui assuÌ„ptus est a vobis c. Men of galile what stonde ye biholdâ—â—ge into heuyn It is Iesus that is styed vp from you And so he shall come at the daye of dome ayen deme al quycke and dede And therfore all cristen people lefte vp your hertes to oure lorde Iesu criste that nowe is styed vp into heuyn and sitteth at his faders righte honde and is redy to gyue mercy to al theym that wyl aske mercy with a meke herte And therfore ther is no maner of man that may excuse him selue nor haue no maner excusacion but if that he wyll him selue and aske mercy to his lorde god with a meke herte and he shall haue mercy and shal be sauyd For though a man be neuir so synful and he wyll aske mercy wyth a meke herte he wyll yeue him mercy Cor contritum et humiliatum deus non despicies A meke and a contrite herte god shall neuir dispyse For and he wyl aske mercy and be sory for his synnes oure lord wyll take him to his mercy TheÌ„ne for to shewe his grete goodnesse and coÌ„passion that oure lorde hath on mankynd I shall tell you this ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede in the lyf of saynte Carpe howe a man of mysbyleue torned a cristen man oute of his feyth and forsoke his bileue and his cristendome wherfore this holy man carpe was sore wrothe that he fyll in grete sekenesse Anâ— whan he sholde haue prayed god for amendement He prayed god nyghte day that they might haue a bodily vengeaunce Thenne it happed at mydnight as he prayed thus sodenly the house that he ley in cleuyd in foure parties And he loked vp and sawe one hangyd so pytously that it was grete pyte to see And thenne he loked vp to heuyn and there he sawe oure lorde iesu crist with a greate multitude of aungellys sittinge in his trone And he loked vp ayen and thenne he sawe thâ—se ii men stondenge bifore an hote ouen and trymlâ—ge for drede of fendes lyke adders and woâ—mes coÌ„mynge oute of the ouyn to dâ—awe these men into the ouyn wythe theym And so many other fendes com in diuerse lykenesse to helpe that they were in to the ouyn Then was this hooly man Carpe fayne to se these two haue that vengeaunce and was wonder glaâ— therof that he loste the sight of oure â—â—de Iesu and his holy aungyllys for the herte was on these two meÌ„nys vengeaunce and was sory that it was so longe or they were putte vnto their peyne And then he rose went to him self and halpe all that euir he myghte and whanne they were into the ouyn theÌ„ne was he very glade therof And then he loked vp into heuyn and ther he sawe oure lord iesu and he sawe him ryse from his trone for greate pyte and compassion that he hadde on the ii men â—aÌ„me downe to theym and took theym oute of theyr peyne and sayd thus Carpe extende manus tuas coÌ„trame Streâ—he forthe thy hondes ayenste mâ— and sayd thus I am redy and nede were to dye ayen for mankinde rather thaÌ„ to lese them By this ensample ye may see howe â—â—y that oure lorde iesu crist is to all that wyl aske mercy and foryenesse and deserue mercy that is that euery man amend and leue his synnes and be in full wyll and purpose to sâ—ne no more And thus he shall coÌ„me to the grace and mercy of oure lorde Iesu criste that suffred for vs and all mankynde on good Fryday passion this daye styed vp to heuyn the whiche he wyll graunte vs bryng vs al therto Amen Sequitur vigilia penticostes gOode frendes as ye know wele a saturday nexte coÌ„mynge Is wytsondaye euyn And that daye ye shall faste and coÌ„me to the churche to here your seruice and make you cleene to resceyue the holy gooste that the fader of heuyn sendith amonge mankind wherfore I counseyll you and charge you if there be any of you that fall to any syn that he coÌ„me and amend him therof and I wyll be redy to doo all that longeth to me For take this in certayn In the same wyse as a man wyll nat goo to a place there as a stynkyng carreyn is but if he stoppe his nose hye him thens Right soo the holy goost fleeth from the soule that is combred with dedely synne and aungellys wyl stoppe their noses For moche more fowler stinketh dedly synne in the sight of god thanne dooth any carreyne to smell to people And as the holy gooste fleeth to theym that bideth in gode lyf and clenâ— and in parfyt loue and charite And hathe pyte and coÌ„passion of al those that been in disease or tribulation â–ª to suche the holy gooste visyteth aâ—â— coÌ„meth to And with suche as him listeth to coÌ„me to abyde and conforteth techith them in all nede But as the seruyce of this feste is more praysed thenne any other tyme For at this feste holy churche calleth to them and sayth Veni sancte spiritus Come holy goost specially to haue helpe socoure and grace and to haue part of the dole that he maketh at this tyme to all cristen people that been able to resceyue his yestes But ye shall vnderstonde that the holy gooste maketh hys dole in other wise thanne other people For they dele as it lyketh theym Butte the holy gooste delyth to all cristen people that is nedefull and spedefull to them that yefte and some more and some lesse one yefte and some another some he yeueth wysdome in holy scripture to vnderstonde holy scripture he yeuyth grace to haue greate luste and lykynge therin That is for to saye they be
and thought to sle hym Thenne iacob by counseyll of his modre went oute of the contre vnto an vncle that he hadde that hight Laban and as he wente by the way in a countre of euyll people lyuynge he durst nat longe with theym abyde but leye all a nyghte in the feld by the waye and leyd a stone vndre his hede and slepte Viditque in sompnis scalam staÌ„tem super terram And in this slepe he thoughte he sawe a ledder that stoode of therth and â—aught vp to heuyn and god ioyned to the ledder Vnde Angelos quoque dei ascendeÌ„tes et descendentes And aungellys of god goyng vp and downe Thenne god spake to him and said I am god of Abraham and Isaac and I wyll gyue the this londe and be thy kepar in thy waye Then awoke Iacob and sayd in this wyse Vere dominus est in loco isto et ego nesciebam Forsothe god is in this place and I wyste nat and soo wente forthe to his vncle and was with him xx wynter and more his seruaunte and wedded his ii doughters that one hight rachell and the other Lya And whan he hadde be there so longe he desired to goo home ageyn into his owne countre And tooke with him his wyf and his children and all his catell and wente forthe Thenne came there to him a multitude of aungellys to helpe him Thenne whan Iacob came to a forde he made all his meyne to goo bifore with his cattell and hym selue abode bihinde in his prayers and as he prayed there caÌ„me an aungell to him in lyknesse of a man and wraâ—â—â—ed with him all the nyght tyll on the morne and toke him by the grete senowe of the thighe and made him to haâ—â—e euyâ— after Then sayd the aungell to Iacob what is thy name He sayd Iacob nay saide he thou shalt no lenger hight iacob but israell shal be thy name And blessyd him and lefte him there hastynge and thus he went home to his owâ— countrey with grete prosperyte ¶ This story is red in holy churche in this ensample to all good seruauntes that desire to gete the blissyng of the fadre of heuyn and to haue the herytage that is there He muste be iacob and after israell For iacob is to vnderstonde a wrasteler Israell a man that seeth god for he that wyll see god he muste wrastell here in erthe wyth the bad angel That is the fende â–ª wyth his own flesshe as thus whan he hath doone a gret horryble synne than the fende putteth to hym a grete shame in herte soo that he dare not telle it oute thenne he muste wrastele wyth the fende and the flesshe and ouercome hem And telle out his synne openly â–ª wyth all the circuÌ„staunce of his synne than wylle his flesshe be aferde and ashamed theroff but than he must wrastel wyth his fleshe strongly and make it to telle his since and to doâ— penaunce after the couÌ„seyll of his gostely fader takyng then 〈…〉 woman of fer countrey that came to crist as the gospell sayth Ecce mulier cananea a finibê° ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ egressa clamauit dicens ¶ How the woman of Canenâ—e came â— Criste to gete hele for her doughter 〈◊〉 was trobled wyth a fende said Ihesu fili dauid miserere mei ¶ Ihesu the sone of dauid haue mercy on me Thenne our lord answerd Non eÌ„ bonum sumere panem filiorum et dare canibus ¶ It is not good to take brede of children and gyue it to houndes Nam et catelli edent de mensa dominorum snorum ¶ Ies lord for why welpes eten of the cromes that fallen fro her lordes bord Thenne said our lord Mulier magna est fides tua fiat tibi sicut vis ¶ O woman thou hast a greate feyth wherfore as thou wylte thy doughter be saued and soo was her doughter hole This woman and her doughter betokeneth a man that his conscience traueyleth wyth a fende of dedely synne that may not bee holpen but he goo to god And there he shryue hym to the preeste sparynge for noo rebuke noor shame ne for drede but mekely suffre all that the confessour saith to hym And take his penaunce mekely wyth a contryte herte and doo it wyth good deuocion and soo he shall be delyuered of the fende that hathe traueyleth his conscience for a man that hath done an horryble synne and shall be saued he shall neuer haue rest in his conscience tyll he be shryuen therof For ryght as an hounde gnaweth on a bone that is harde right so his synne gnaweth his conscience Shewynge by experience howe houndes of helle shall gnawe his soule euer more wythoute rest that deyth wyttingly in dely synne that he myght haue be shryuen of â–ª and wolde not Ensample of a woman ¶ Narracio ¶ There was a woman that had don an horryble synne and wold fayn haue be shryuen ther of and durst not Thenne came our lord to her bodely said my doughter why shrâ—â—est the not of thy synne lord I maye not for shame theÌ„ne said our lord take metâ—â— honde put her hoÌ„de in to his syde euin to his hert said womaÌ„ what felest thou and she quaked for fere said lorde I fele 〈◊〉 herte Then sayd oure lord be thou noo more asshamed to shewe me thyn herte than I to let the fele myne Thenne this woman rose and with lyghte sawe her honde al blody and wolde haue wasshe it of but it wolde natte tyll on the morowe that she was shryuen and thenne was her honde clene as it was to fore and she was clene of all her synnes and thus she was made clene bothe of body and soule DnÌ„ica tercia quadragesime gOode men and wymen this is the thridde sonday in clene lent wherfore we rede in the gospell of this daye and saith thus Erat Iesus eiciens demonium How oure lorde caste oute a fende of a dombe man and whan the fend was loppen oute Locutus est mutus Thenne the dombe man spake By this dombe man ye shal vnderstond al tho that haue no myghte to shryue theym with their tongues to tell theire synne but tary as longe as they may for shame of the peple and it were nat for shame of the worlde in lenten nor out of leÌ„ten they wolde neuir came to shrifte that maketh that fende for he is in that man or woman whedyr it be that is so disposed Therfore ye that be behynde come and shryue you and mak you cleue and haue this doÌ„be man out of youre mynde and caste awaye the fende But there be many that be nat yet shreuyn what shall I doo there they woll say they can nat shryue theym they woâ—e nat wherof But I may saye to you of many an ydell worde and many â—n euyll thoughte and many a cursed dede many grete othes many an euyll worde that ye haue spoke I wote well ye can nat tell
noÌ„ oraâ—eÌ„ pro illo nisi vt pro diabolo ¶ If I wyst for trouth that my fader were dampned in to helle I wolde neuer pray for hym but as for the deuyl of hell for there is noo prayer of holy chirche that helpeth a dampned man thenne after thyse orysons the crosse is broughte forth to the whiche all cristeÌ„ people shold worshyp this day in worship of hym that this daye deyed on the crosse And pray our lord to forgyue vs our trespace as Criste prayde to his fader of heuen to foryeue hem that dyde hym on the crosse ¶ Narracio ¶ There was a knight somtyme and that was a grete lorde and he hadde a worthy man vnto his sone And soo it happâ—â— that another knyght and his man fell atte debate and soo this knight â—lewe hym wherfore the fader off this man that was dede gadered a grete multytude of people and pursued that othere knyghte where someuer he wente to haue slayn hym nyghte and daye soo that he myght haue noo reste but euer he dyde flee for fere of his lyf ¶ Thenne it happed on a good friday this knyght sawe all cristen people go to the chirche And he bethoughte hym that Cryste deyed that daye on the crosse for all mankynde and put hym only on the mercy of almyghty god and wente to the chirche wyth other people to serue god and whan he was in the chirche anone this other knyghte hadde worde and come wyth moche peple in to the chirche and his swerde drawen in his honde for to sle hym and whan this other knighte sawe that and wiste well that had trespaced to hym fyll downe to the grouÌ„de wyth his armes sprad abrode as our lord Ihesu Crist spradde his armes on the crosse said ¶ For his loue that this daye spradde his armes on the Crosse and suffred passion and deyed for the and me and all mankynde haue thou mercy on me And forgyue me thy sones dethe ¶ Thenne this knyghte thought it hadde be to horrible a thinge to smyte hym ¶ whyle that he leye soo and cryed hym mercy soo meâ—ely and anone he put vp his swerde and said to him Now for his loue that this daye deyed on the crosse for the â—ne and all mankynde I foryeue the and to ve hym vp and kysâ—â— hym and anone wente to doo worship to the Crosse knelyng And whan this knighte wolde haue kyssed the fete of the crosse the ymage loseth his armes fro the crosse And beclpped the knighte aboute the necke and kyssed hym and spake thus that all the people herde I foryeue the as thou hast foryeuen for the loue off me ¶ And thus all cristen people sholde doo thenne they shold haue mercy and grace of god and blisse euerlastinge Amen ¶ In die paâ—he GOode frendis ye shall knowe well that this daye is called in many places goddis sondai ye knowe well that it is the maner in euery place of worship at this daye to do the fyre out of the alle and the blacke wynter brondis and all thing that is foule wyth smoke shall be doone awaye and there the fyre was shall bee gayly arayed wyth fayre floures and strewed wyth grene risshes all aboute shewyng a gret ensample to all crysteÌ„ people ¶ Lyke as they make clene her houses to the syghte of the peple in the same wyse ye shold clense your soules dâ—yng awaye the fowle brennyng sinne of lechery put all thyse awaye and cast out all thy smoke dust and strewe in your soules floures of feyth charite and thus make youre soules 〈◊〉 to receyue your lord god at the fest of ester Deponentes omneÌ„ maliciaâ— And put awaye all malyâ—e all sorowe for ryght as ye wyll suffâ—e no thinge in your house that stynketh and sauoureth euyll wherwyth ye may bee deceyued Ryght soo Cryst whan he cometh in to your hous of your soules and he fynde there ony stynke of wrathe enuy or ony other dedely synne â–ª hee wyll not abyde there But anone he goth his waye then cometh the fende in and bydeth there thenne may that soule be sory that is so forsakeÌ„ of god and betaken to the fend thus it is wâ—th those that ben in wrathe and enuy or in ony dedely synne and wylle not forgyue to hem that hath trespassed to hem for noo prayer he shall noo forgyuenesse haue for our lorde saith thus Dimittite et dinuttemiâ— Forgyue ye ye shall haue forgyuenesse And therfore euery Crysten man and woman shold serche well her conscience and make hem able to receyue her sauyor Ihesu crist very god maÌ„ ¶ Narracio ¶ There was somtyme an holy bysshop that prayed ofte besely to god that he myght haue grace to see and knowe whiche were worthy to receyue that holy sacramente and come to goddis borde thenne on a tyme as he shold housel the people He sawe some come wyth her faces as rede as blode and blode droppe oute of her mouthâ—â— And some her faces were as blacke as any pitâ—he and some were fayre and redde and lusty to be holde and some as brighte as ony snowe Thenne amonge all other he sawe two comyn wymmen came and their faces shone and bryght as the sonne than had the bysshop grete merueyll of that sight and pâ—eyed to god to gyue hym reuelacion to wyâ—e what all this betokened theÌ„ne ther came to hym an angel said those that haue blody faces and blode droppâ—th out of her mouthis be enuyous peple and wrathfull and wyl not ameÌ„de hem therof and euer they been bacbytyng and slaundrynge her neyghbours And ben euer redy to swere othes therfore her mouthes shall drop blacke blode tyll they come to amendement And those that hauen blacke faces as pytche ben lecherous and wyll not leue her synne and ben grete· synners in many degrees and wyll not amende hem They that haue theyr faces whyte as ony snowe those be they that haue doon greate synne and ben shryuen therof And ben sory for her synnes for the weping of her eyen had wasshed her soules and made hem clene soo they ben in clene lyfe and truly labour for her lyuynge ¶ And those two comyn wymmen that shyne so bryght passyng al other they were gret synners and were sore aferde whan they came to chirche and toke a greate repentaunce in her hertes that they made a vow to god preyeng hym hertely to take noo vengeaunce on hem And they wolde forsake her synne and neuer doo amysse more wherfore god of his grete gracâ— and 〈…〉 â—oâ—gâ—â—ue them her trespas and all her synnes and the sorowe of her hertes hath soo wasshen her soules that they shyne bryghter than all other and thenne the angell wenâ—â— his waye and the bisshop kneled downe and thanked god for his reuelacion and therfore take ensample by thyse two comen wymmen and be sory for your sinnes and repente you in your hertes and purpose neuyr to
this present world Therfor he ordeyned this present feste to be halowed in the next thursdaye after the feste of the holy Trynyte for all crysten people that wyll be sauyd muste haue sad beleue in the holy sacrameÌ„t that is goddis owne body in fourme of brede made by the vertue of crystis wordes that the prest sayth by workyng of the holy ghoste ¶ Thenne for this holy pope thoughte to drawe people to more deuocion and better wyll to this holy sacrament and to doo seruyce this daye he graunteth to all that ben worthy that be they that be verey contryte and shreuen of her synnes be in the chirche at bothe euynsonges at matyns and at masse For eche a â— dayes of pardon and for eche hour off the day xl daies of pardoÌ„â— for euery day of the vtas a C. dayes of pardoÌ„ in remission of all her synnes for euermore enduryng thenne ye shall vnderstonde that Our lord Ihesu cryste on sherethursdaye at nyght whan he had souper and wyst well in the moroweâ— that he shold suffre his passion and dethe and passe oute of this worlde vnto his fadre in heuyn He ordeyned a perpetuall memory of his passion to abyde for euir with all cristen peple in erth He tooke brede and wine and made his owne flesshe and blode and gaue it to his disciples to ete and to drynke said Accipite et manducate hoc est corpus meum Take ye this and ete it for it is myn oune flesshe and blood And this he dyd for they sholde haue mynde of him so he yaue other prestys power to make his body of brede and wyne Thus euery preeste hath power to make the sacrament be he good or badde For the sacramente may no man amende nor payre but he that is a good man and a holy lyuer helpyth greatly them that he prayeth fore And he that doth the offyce of the preest worthely and trulye shal be gladde and ioyfull that euir he was borne Foâ—â—â—re lorde hath yeuyn a preest a 〈…〉 power here in erthe that he gaue neuir to aungell in heuen that is to make his owne body in fourme of breed Therfor ye shal haue worshippe more in heuyn thanne any tong can tell or herte thynke And he that is an euyll lyuer and knoweth him selfe in dedely synne and presumeth to mynistre that worthy sacrament and wyl nat amende him he may be sure of perpetuel dampnacion with fendys of hel in euirlastinge peyne Thenne shall ye vnderstonde that he graunteth this sacrament to be vsed for euirmore in holy churche For foure causes that be nedefull to all cristen people The firste is for mannys grete helpynge The secounde for cristes passion myndynge The thridde for greate loue shewynge And the fourthe for grete mede getting Nota quod propter nouem raciones prodest homini audire missaÌ„ secunduÌ„ augustinum Saint Austyn sayth it profytteth greatly all cristen peple to here masse and in especial for ix causes â— sayth thus Quia illo die qua audieret missaÌ„ necessaria cibaria coÌ„ceduÌ„tur For that day that he heryth a masse he shall nat fayll of noo bodily fode nor no necessary thynge that shall be longynge to nor no lett shall haue in his iournaye where that he trauayleth The secounde is all venyall synnes shall be forgyue him and ydel wordes The thridde is that if aman dye it shal stonde for his housell The fourth he shall nat that day lose his sighte The fyfte all ydell othes that day shall be foryeuyn The vi that daye he shal 〈◊〉 no soden dethe The vii aslonge as he heryth the masse he shall nat wâ—â— olde The viii all all his steppes towarde and from warde the churche hâ—â— goode aungyll reknyth to his saluacion The nynthe all the while that he beholdeth the holy sacramente all wycked spirites flee from him and haue no power ouir him be he neuir so grete a synner This helpe and socour we haue of the holy goost and of the sacrament here in erthe and at oure laste ende al cristen people woll sende after the pâ—â—este to coÌ„me to him with goddes body â–ª and to resceyue it knowynge wel that he beleuyth stedfastly that it is the same flesshe and bloode that criste toke of oure lady saint mary and was born of her body very god man and after suffred passion and deth on the crosse for mankynde and leyde in tombe and rose from deth to lyue and now syttethe on his faders right hond in heuyn and shall coÌ„me ayen at the daye of dome and deme the quycke and the dede euery man after his deseruynge So with this parfite beleue al cristen peple shal be armed and made stronge to wythstonde the fendes that wyll coÌ„me and assayle at the departynge bitwene the body and the soull for thenne fendes coÌ„me besily to bringe him out of the beleue Thenne shall the sacrament that a man hath rescâ—yued in his lyf make him mighty and stronge that he shall sette all the fendes at noughte and soo ouircoÌ„me thâ—ym A nother skyll that the sacramente is broughte to a man to aske mercy of criste and remission of his synnes hauynge full truste and byleue that criste is euir redy to forgyue al theym that wyl aske mercy with a meke herte as dauid sayth Cor contritum et humiliatum deus non despicies A contrite herte and a meke oure lorde shall neuir dispyse and that we may se by ensample whanne he hange vpon the crosse bitwene ii theuys that were men of cursed lyuynge And therfore they were ordeyned to be dede that one asked mercy with a meke hert and sayd in this wyse Domine duz veneris in regnuÌ„ tuum memento mei Lorde quod he whanne thou coÌ„myste to thy kyngdome haue mynde of me anoon at his firste asking he gaue him mercy more ouir he sayd to him thus Hodie mecum eris in paradiso This day thou shalte be with me in paradise And that other theef wolde aske no mercy in noo wyse for pryde he had in his herte and therfore he was dampned to hell Thus oure lorde Iesu cryste shedde his blood on the crosse in helthe of all mankynde So in the masse he shewyth his blood in grete socoure helpe and saluacion to all mankynde and the same flesshe and blood is shewed euery day in the masse for we sholde beleue stedfastly theron And he that beleuyth nat theron verily that it is so shall nat be sauyd at the day of dome ¶ Narracio ¶ Therfore I tell you this ensample that is in the lyf of Odo the Busshop of Caunterbury this busshop had wythe him clerkes that beleâ—yd nat parfytely in the sacrament of the auter and sayd they coude nat beleue that the bodye and blood of crist myght be mynistred in the masse Thenne was this busshop sory and prayed to god besily for her amendement And so on a day whanne he was at the
besely to god for them on erth that he sholde haue mercy on hem This is the cause that this feste was first founde and therfore lete vs come to chirche worshyp god and all halowen that they maye praye for vs that we maye atte our laste ende be af the nombre that shal worshyp god that the boke speketh of and sayth thus Vidi turbam magnam quâ—m nemo dinumerare poterat ¶ For they ben so many that no man can nombre hem And all they praye for vs euermore that we may 〈◊〉 to that blysse that they ben in A◠¶ In die Aninâ—aruâ—â— GOod frendis suche a daye ye shall haue all soules daye the daye of the soules in purgatory there abydyng the mercy of god and haue moche nede to helpe And ryght as holy chirche worshyppeth all sayntes to be holpen by the prayers of hem ryght soo holy chirche ordeynyth this daye to synge and rede And to do almysdedes hauynge full byleue to relese them that ben in purgatori of their peines wherfor god wyll that crysten people to theyr power this daye releue hem For the lest prayer or almysdede that is done gretly releueth theym ¶ ye shall vnderstnnde that there ben foure thynges that gretly helpen soules that ben in purgatory that ben thyse Fideliun amicorum oracoÌ„ elâ— mosinarum largicio salutaris hostia ieiuniorum obseruacio ¶ That is prayers of frendes deuoutly sayd and almysdede doynge And masses syngyng abstynence in fastynge prayers helpen moche a soule For lyke as a lord that hath a man in pryson or in ony dystresse and atte the prayers of hym that he loueth he releseth in party or all ¶ And that is shewed by ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ we fynde wreten in legenda aurea how that there was a man that hadde his house fast by a chircheyaâ—â—e syde And that his dore opened to the chirche and he vsed by custome as ofte as he come or wente to â—ayâ— euery tyme Deprofâ—dis for all cristen soules Thenne it happed soo on a tyme that he was pursued wyth enemyes as he wente homewardes But whan he come in to the chirche yarde he kneled downe and thoug◠〈◊〉 saye Deprofundis And this enâ—â—â—es come after Anone the dede bodyes rose euerychone wyth suche Instrumentis as they wroughte wyth by her lyues and anone they droue awaye his enemyes But whan they sawe that they cryed god mercy and this man and euer after prayed and dede almesdedes for theym that were in peine Thus ye may well proue that deuoute prayers helpen maye a soule that ben in purgatory Also almesdedes helpen many a soule Sicut aqua extinguit ignem ita elemosina extinguit pctmÌ„ ¶ Right as water quencheth fyre soo almesdede quencheth the synne that brenneth them in purgatory yf they ben in good lyff in parfyghte charyte that done it And yf almesse dede be done for them that ben in ioye and haue no nede therto It is put to the tresour off holy chirche And as goddes wyll is soo it is deled and releueth theym that haue most nede therto and so god assygneth it to them And thenne the soules that ben holpeÌ„ therwyth thanke the soule that this was done for Thus ye may knowe well that almesdedes helpen gretly soules that is done fore ben in purgatory For ofte holy men haue herde fendes crye â–ª and make grete sorowe For wyth almesdedes soules were taken from them ¶ Narracio ¶ we rede in olde tyme gode peple wolde on all halowyn daye bake brede dele it for all crysten soules And yet there ben some that vsen it but all to fewe ¶ we fynde in legenda aurea of a knyght that shold goo to a batayle and had a cosyn that he loued passyng well And said to hym thus if he were sleyn in the batayle he shold selle his horse deale the valure to pour people in almesse to praye for all cristen soules Soo it happed that he was slayne and his cosyn loued well the horse and toke hym to his owne vse â–ª Thenne soone after this knyght appered to his cosyn and said thus to hym thyse viii dayes for my horse thou haste made me to brenne in purgatory And therfore god wyll take vengeauÌ„ce on the. Forsothe quod he this daye thy soule shal be in helle wyth the fende Et ego purgatus vado iÌ„ regnuÌ„ dei And I am purged shal go to the kingedom of heuen anone an horryble noyse was herde in thayre of fendes caught this man bare hym awaye The thirde that helpeth is the masse for whan ony soule appereth to ony man to haue ony helpe he desyreth masses prayeth to haue masses songeÌ„ for hym Ryght as mete and drynke comforteth a man whan he is feble so the sacramente of the awter comforteth the soules that the masses ben done for It is wreten in legenda aurea how a bishop suspended a preest for he cowde saye none other masse but of requiem but he songe euery daye deuoutly after his connyng Thenne on a daye as the bysshop wente toward matens it semed to hym that dede bodyes rosen rome a bowte hym And sayde thou hast said noo masse for vs. and more ouer thou hast taken our preste away from vs· Loke that this be amended â–ª or elles god wyll in shorte tyme take vengeaunce on the for our sake Thenne was the bysshop gretely a ferd and anone he bad the prest synge masse off requyem â–ª as he dyde to fore and soo he dyde os ofte as he myghte ¶ Narracio ¶ Also we fynde that fisshers sette her nettes in heruest to fysshe and they toke vp a grete pese of yse and that it was the coldest yse that euer they felte And it wolde not melte for the sonne Thenne brought they that yse to the bysshop For he had a grete brennyg hete in his fote and it was the coldest that euer he felte thenne spake there a voys to hym out of the yse and sayd I am a soule that suffre my penauÌ„ce here in this yse for I haue noo frendes that wyll doo masses for me I shal be delyuered out of my penaunce and thou shalt be hole of thy sykenesse yf thou wylt saye masse for me And he said he wold singe for hym and bad telle hym his name and euer whyle he was at masse he layed the yse vnder his fet and euer as he said masse the yse melte awaye And soo wythin a whyle the yse was molten and the soule from peyn And the bysshop was hole of his sykenesse ¶ Thenne the soule appered to hym wyth moche ioye â–ª and sayde wyth thy masses syngyng I am holpen oute off peyne in to euerlastynge blysse And he tolde the bisshop that he shold deye soone after and come to euerlastynge ioye wythout ende to the whiche god brynge vs all Amen ¶ De festo sctiÌ„ Maâ—â—â—iÌ„ GOod frendis suche a daye ye shall haue saynt Martens daye whan
flame A nother by terys For righte as a fyre dryueth oute moysture fro wete wode Soo deuocion bringeth oute tearys of thyn eyn in prayer ¶ wele is him that hath suche plentye of tearys for he is disposed to grace But there be somme that haue greate plentye of tearys fro daye to daye in prayer deuoutly redynge or spekynge And yet wyll nat leue their synne ne trauayll to withstonde their temptacions ne knowe ne kepe the preceptes of oure lorde Suche teares be nat accepte for due sacrifyce bifore oure lorde If thou be full contryte sayth aldrede and trusteste in the mercy of god confessed and in wyll to do thy penaunce and nat in wyll to turne ageyn to thy synne Thenne saith he suche teares please god and wasshe awaye thy synnes and more turment the deuyll as sayth saynt Bernarde thenne all other kyndes of turmentes may doo Sithen deuocion muste be in euery prayer yet the tyme therof shulde be principally vsed in the tyme of the masse and for foure causes Oone is for the presence of oure lorde god that is there nat onlye by his godhode but also by his manhode that he tooke for the loue of mannys soull The secounde is for the multitude of aungelles that ther been euermore present to yelde worshyp to almyghty god The thrydde is for grete profyt and spede that the body and soull haue by vertue of the sacrament bothe to theym that been present and specially to theym that worthely receyue hym The fourthe is for the wonderfull worshyp that is there yeuen to man that throughe the vertue of wordes sayd of man the presence of oure lorde is hadde and the innumerable nombre of aungelles so many that no tonge can tell ne herte thynke Deuocion also sholde be vsed in tyme of seruyce that thou art bouÌ„d to saye But soÌ„me for vnconnyng say their seruyce the more hastely for theyr pryuy prayer that they haue deuocion to the deuocion is lytell or nought wâ—rth Se nowe therfore how thy soull may be refourmyd and broughte agayn to god Thy soule hath mynde reason wyll mynde for it sholde reste in god reason for thou shold knowe god and wyll for thou sholde loue god But by synne thy mynde is vnstable thy reson blynde and thy wyll croked and all is for thou forsakest thy god ¶ The reformacion therfore of thy mynde is to brynge agayn thy hert that was trauayled with veyn thoughtes by prayer redynge and often thynkynge of god As of his incarnacion passion innumerable benefetys and gracious yeftes Hauyng grete sorowe for thy greate vnkyndnesse that thou alway shewedyst him The reformacion of thy reason is to byleue sadly in the fayth of holy churche Oure lorde for oure greate comforte hath yeuen vs knowlege in scripture where we may fynde all that is necessary spedefull to oure soull he le nat to folowe therin oure naturall wyll But to submytte oure wytte to the rules of feyth after the vnderstondyng of holy doctoures And soo gostly to be clensed by the sacrament of penaunce The reformacion of thy wyll also is to withstoÌ„de vyces with a gode wyll truly and feythfully encreace and abyde in vertues For god without any curiosite of wyll that there be no double desyre ne none affeccion plesynge to the Butt suche as is accordynge with the wyll of god ¶ Thus than coÌ„sidred the worthynesse of thy soull the horroure of thy synne wherwith thy soul is thus wounded Take this salue of penaunce with these thre plasters Contricion coÌ„fession and satisfaccion And bynde them sadly to thy sore with the bondes of hope and drede hope to haue foryeuenes of thy synne hope of grace to lyue well after And hope of glorye withoute ende to reigne perpetually in heuyns blysse Drede also of the peynes of hell if thou dispayre of his mercy For to hym it is propre to haue mercy and to spare Soo that for euery synne as saith saint Austyn ther is an absolucion be it neuir so greate For what myght be greter or worse thenne to sle our lord Iesu Crist right as the iewes dyd yet there were somme of theim after that beleuyd â— now be sauyd Petyr and mary mawdleyn and many other also after they hadde synned they were with the salue of coÌ„tricion maâ—â— hole and nowe be in blys Therfore be thy synnes neuir so many ne so grete dispeyre the nat but say alwey with Dauid Haue mercy on me lord after thy greate mercy Do away lorde my wyckydnesse Man hathe synned saith saint Austyn And crist hath redemyd And so at oure lorde as saith the prophete is mercy and plentuous redempcion And he shall redeme israell from all his wyckednesse Israell is asmoche to saye as he that seeth god He seeth god thenne that lâ—thyth 〈◊〉 synne And by contricoÌ„n and by confession and penaunce doyng is conuerted to him ¶ That ye may thenne thus be conuerted and â—o penance for youre synnes graunte he you and me that dâ—ed for vs on the rode tre Amen ¶ The generall sentence gOde men and wymen I doo you to vnderstonde that we that haue cure of youre soules be commanded of oure ordynaries and by the constituciones and the lawe of holy churche to shewe to you foure tymes by the yere in eche a quarter of the yere onys whan the people is mooste plenary â—â— holy church the articles of the sentence of cursynge So that nought for oure defaut no man ne woman fal therin And if any be therin fallen he may be through the helpe of god almyghtye and all holy churche with shryfte and penaunce makyng good for his syn vp ryse and him amende wherfore I do you to vnderstonde that cursyng is suche a vengeaunce takynge that it departeth a man fro the blysse of heuyn fro housell shryfte and all the sacramentes of holy church betâ—keth him to the deuyll and to the peynes of hell withoute ende but if he haue grace of him to amende But therfore see that no man nor woman say that I curse hem for it longith nat to me but to shew the poyntes and the articles of the sentence of cursynge For I do you well to wy◠¶ who so doth agaynst any of 〈◊〉 poyntes that I shall you shewe he is accursed in the dede doynge of the daye archebusshoppe and busshop and of aâ—â— holy churche And that god almyghtye gyue you grace for to kepe you oute of cursynge Lysten and here and I shall throughe the help of god fader almyghty to you thenne tell and shewe By the auctoryte of god the sonne and the holy goste and his gloryous modre and mayden oure lady saint Mary and the blessed appostelles Petyr and Poule and all the apposteles marters confessoures virgynes and all the halowes of god I â—â—nounce and shewe for accursed al tho that fraunchyse of holy church breke or distrouble or are ayenst the peas or the state of holy chirch or therto asseÌ„t with
wyll saye thus to theym Venite benedicti patris mei Come ye my faderis blissed children receyue ye the kyngdom of heuen that is ordeyned to you and soo reherse to theym the vii werkes of mercy whan I was hungry ye gaaf me mete Sitiui et dedistis michi bibere whan I was thursty ye gaue me drynke and whan I was herberles ye herbered and soo forth all the werkes off mercy For whan ye gaf ony thynge in my name it was to me Thenne shall our lorde rebuke the riche people that wold not doo for his loue nor forgyue noo trespasse for his sake And saye to theym ¶ Discedite a me maledicti in ignem eternum Goo ye cursed people in to euerlastinge peyne of helle For whan I was a hungred ye gaue me noo mete c. ThaÌ„ maye they be full sory and woo that euer our lorde Ihesu Criste shall thus rebuke theym For ther shall noman of lawe to plete nor for golde nor syluer nor other yeftes to helpe For than shall nother mayster nor lordeshyp helpe but all be sette besyde but right as a man hath done soo shall he haue And ther shall be dyuerse accusers bothe aboue hym and benethe hym and on euery syde aboue hym shall be our lord Ihesu Criste his domes man Iratus est furor domini in populo suo wythout mercy to theym that dede no mercy and so accuse theym of the â—â—st thought that euer was amys On the right syde his angell tellyâ—◠〈◊〉 where whan and how ofte he â—yde amys On that other syde fendes chalengynge hym theyres as by ryght for his wycked dedes Vnder hym â—elle redy if he be founde in synne that daye they shall be peyned and in peyn wythout ende That daye poure people shall â—â—â—te wyth cryste at the dome And done the ryche people for the grete wrongâ—s that they dyde to them and they myghte gete none amendes tyll the daye off dome Thenne they shall haue theyâ— wylle of the ryche people For whan the ryche done the pore wronge they can doo nomore But praye to god to quyte theym at the daye of dome And soo he wyll for god sayth thus Michi vindictâ—m et ego retribuam ¶ Put all to me â–ª and I yelde euery man after his deseruynge Therfore whyle ye ben here make ye amendes for your wyckednesse And maâ—e them youre frendes that shal be your domes men at the day of dome And truste nat to them that shall coÌ„me after you leste ye be begyled And drede the payne of hell that neuir shall haue ende ¶ Narracio ¶ Saint Bede tellith howe there was an husbond man in Englond that fyl seke and ley dede from the euyn tyll on the morowe Thenne he rose and departed his godes in foure parties all his owne parte he gaue to pore meÌ„ and wente and was a monke in an Abbey that was nigh the water syde into the whiche water he went euery nyghte wâ—â—â—n neuir so colde and stode therin longe and suffred grete penaunce And whan he was asked why he dyd so to suffre that grete penaunce he sayde to 〈◊〉 we a greter payn that he had seen â—nd he wolde eâ—e but barly brede drinke water all his lyf after and tolde ii religiouse men the peynes that he hadde seen And they were so grete that he coude nat tell them openly He sayd that an aungell ladde him into a place there that oon syde was so colde that noo tongue myght tell the peyne therof And the other was so hoote that no man myghte tell the peyne therof And soules were caste oute of that one into that other that was a grete payne to them And the aungell shewyd him the fyre that came oute of hell that was so hoote and so ferre as him thought he mighte se it he thought it brente him and in the leaâ—â—e therof he sawe soules boile vp and downe cryenge and waylinge for woâ— Also he herde fendes crye caste out hote â—ede and brymstone to make their peines greter and so they tormentyd the soules in peyne Nowe lorde for thy grete mercy haue mercy on vs and kepe vs fro tho peines and bryng vs to the blis of heuyn that neuir shall haue endyng Amen ¶ Dominica in septuagesima GOod men wymen this daye is called in holy churche the soÌ„day in septuagesme for cause that holy churche is modre of all cristen people she taketh good hede to the children as a good modre oweth to doo and forasmoche as she seeth him full sory sek in synne and many of them wounded to the dethe with the swerde of synne the whiche synne hath caughte all this yere to fore and namely this cristeâ—â—asse tyme that was ordeyned in holy churche for grete solempnyte For euery maÌ„ shulde be besy to serue god with al his power bicause that criste him self shewyd that daye swetnesse of loue to al cristen people For man he was that tyme and in the same flesshe and bloode as one of vs and layde in a cradyl more pourely than any of vs and was cristenyd in water as one of vs And also he came to a weddynge for to clense it from synne and to make vs holy and bretherne to him and heires to the kyngdome of heueyn ¶ For these causes all cristen people owen to be full gladde in their soules as in the tyme makinge solempnite and myrthe and making them bothe clene in body and soule from all maner of synnes And groÌ„dynge them in grete sadnesse of loue to god and to all cristen people doynge greate almes to theym that haue nede ¶ But nowe the more harme is for that high and solempne feste is torned into fylthe synne and grete sekenesse to the soule as pryde by diuerse wyse in clothynge and in many diuerse guyseâ— vsynge into grete couetyse and into lechery that suythe alwaye glotony in slewth in goddes seruyce as â—apes and vanyte syngynge rebaudrye spekynge For vanyte causeth moche slouthe for emonge suche people he is moost worthy that mooste of harlatry can speke Thus these solempne and hygh festys that were ordeyned to grete worshippe of god and of our lady and al the saintes in â—â—uyn now been torned into greate offence to god ¶ wherfore oure mâ—dre holy churche seynge her children in suche dispayre as a moodre full of compassion sory in heâ—â—â— her for theym This day leyeth downe alleluya and other songes of myrth and melody and taketh Tractus that been songes of mornynge Also for this holy sacrament of weddynge is moche defoyled by vanyte of synne Therfore it is leyd downe thesâ— daies and in aduente For many that been nowe wedded yeuyth theym all to luste and lykynge of the bodyes of flesshely luste of this worlde And thinketh full lytell of the dethe that is full greuouse that coÌ„meth so sone after but as it is redde by greate clerkes It is more spedefull to 〈◊〉 soule to 〈…〉 an house there as is a 〈◊〉 and
they myghte not deye in paradyse ne suffre no penaunce ther fore he dâ—of hem naked oute in to this worlde that is full wretched wepynge and waylynge full sore syghynge to goo gete her mete wyth 〈◊〉 laboure and trauaylle and deye at the last Than pâ—aid adam our lorde sore wepyng be shold not take grete vengeauÌ„ce vpon theym but haue merry on theym and pyâ—e for they were begyled by enuy and malyce of the fende and by Innocensie off theym self that they wyste not what they dyde Thenne had our lorde â—uâ—â—e on them for they were bothe naked he clothede theym in pâ—â—â—heâ— badde theym goo laboure and traueyle for theyr lyuynge ¶ And sayd to Eue In dolore paries filios In sorowe and woo thou shalt bere thy chyldren And toke adam instrumeÌ„tes to laboure wyth and lefte them there ¶ By this ye shall vnderstonde take ensample to laboure besely For and Adam and eue had laboured besely the fende had neuer ouercome them For the fende desyreth no more whan he wolde tempte a man but for to fynde hym ydle ¶ And therfore knowe ye well that it is a riche salue agaynste synne for to laboure besyly ¶ The thirde is to chastyse the body discretely Vnde paulus Castigo corpus meum et in seruitutem redigo I shall castyse my body and dresse it in seruyce of soule for mannys flessh is so wylde and so lusty to synne that it wylle not with noo waye leue his luste to serue god but yf it be chastysed with penaunce For it muste be chastysed soÌ„tyme wyth peyne Thus dyde Adam Eue in ensample that all other that shal come after hem shold do the same for many yeres before her dethe eyther off theym stode in water a nyghtes vp to the chyn one ferre from another to suffre penaunce tyll her flesshe was as grene as grasse for colde Thenne com the fende to eue also bryghte as an angell and said that god hath sente hym from heuen and bad her goo to Adam and say that god hadde sent hym from heuyn and badde her go to Adam and saye to hym that god badde hym leue his penaunce for his trespasse was forâ—yue and Eue dyde soo but Adam wyst well that it come from the fende and not from god He sayd to eue whaÌ„ god droue vs oute of paradyse for oure synne and had compassion on vs for we wepte sore on hym and prayed hym mekely of mercy he setted vs here to penaunce to our lyues ende and therfore goo agayn for the more penaunce that we doo the more shal be our mede And therfore goo agayn and do penaunce in goddis name yet the fende come ayen the second tyme and said to eue god of his grace hath take reward to your penaunce that ye suffre hath forgyue you ¶ Thenne went eue to adam and tolde hym soo Thenne said Adam I wote well that he that hath said so to the is our enmye for oure penaunce greueth more hym than vs. he wolde haue vs to leue of and soo to lese oure mede But doo we forth our penaunce to oure lyues ende For god taketh none hede to the begynnynge of a thing but to the endyng yet the fend came ayen the thirde tyme to Eue and said ¶ Goo thou to adam and saye to hym that he began foule and wel fouler wylle ende for fyrste he trespassed by innocencie and disceyte of the fende And nowe he synneth by good delyberacion and wyll Not doo as god byddeth hym wherfore youre trespas is worthy dampnacion ¶ Thenne was eue a ferde and tolde adam soo Thenne Adam siked sore and wepte and sayd to her vnauysed won in god made the of one of my rybbes for to helpe me and comforte me· And nowe by tycinge of the fende thou arte besy to combre me agayn ¶ But thinke howe oure firste synne stanke in the ¶ syght off god that all our ofspryng shall be enfect and haue repreef therof in to the worldis ende wherfore though we might doo also moche penaunce as all our ofspring myght doo· yet it were to lytill to quyte our lorde god for oure trespas But god of his special grace aloweth a good wylle Thenne went eue ayen to her penaunce as Adam bad and than said adam god wylle sende vs the oyle of mercy whaÌ„ tyme of mercy is And soo adam and eue dyde their penaunce to theyr lyues ende ¶ And whaÌ„ Adam had lyued ix hundred yeres And xxx and hadde xxx sones and xxx doughters they deyde and were bothe buried togydere adam and eue Thus ye may see well that adam and eue were full hoolyor they deyed and thoughte on deth full inwardly and laboured full besely chastysed her flesshe full resonably soo muste we doo that come of theym that wylle come to the ioye of paradyse in tokenyng here of this sondaye is called the sonday in septuagesme a noÌ„bre of lxx The whiche nombre begynneth this daye and endeth on ester euyn soo holy chirche is mornyng from this daye tyll ester euyn than she taketh coÌ„forte ayen in partye of one alleluya wyth a tracte for it is not yet in fulle myghte tyll saterday in ester weke the whiche is called Dominica in albis Than she leyeth doun the tracte and grayell and syngeth double alleluya techyng all crysten men to labour and do penaunce truly tyll the saterdaye that is to a mannys lyues ende that is tyll the soule goo to rest yet is not the soule in full rest tyll the sâ—terdaye in albis that is tyll the daye of 〈◊〉 whan the body and the soule shall come togyder and be clothed in albis that is in white seuen tymes whetter than the sonne and than they shalle synge double alleluya that is to say lord make vs saaf in euerlastyng blisse To the whiche brynge vs he that for vs al deyed on the rode tree Amen Dominica ¶ ly â—Ood men and wymmen thâ—s daye is called the sonday in seâ—agesme that is the nombre ofâ— lx the whiche nombre holy chirche techeth euery man and woman to thynke how short our lyf is now in our dayes for somtyme people â—uâ—â—dâ—y â—â—yeres and more And now iii. score oâ— iiii score is a longe lyffâ— But the grace off god and his mercy and goodnesse is so moche that yf we wyll doo our besynes and dyligence to serue god and plese hym he wyll gyue vs asmoche ioye and blysse in heyen as he gaf to adam and eue that lyued soo longe But he that wyll haue ioye and blysse muste doo thre thynges One is he muste â—â—te synne namely and suffre tribulaâ—ioÌ„ mekely And do almys dedes wylfully Than for our dayes ben shoâ—â— we muste the more trybulacion suffre mekely And wyth paciente herte an not grâ—â—chynge and disease cometh of speciall grace For it is remedye for synnes he◠¶ re in this worlde for penaunce oâ— elles for grete encreasing to his Ioye in a nother world wherfore
goddis appostell poull wylle that al cristen peple shal take ensample of hym For he suffred moche trybulacion paciently that he reherceth in the pistell of this daye And sayd thus In laboribus plurimis Poull saith I haue be in many grete traueyles and often tymes in pryson sore bounden wyth cheynes of yron Quinque virgis cesus Fyue tymes beton wyth rodis scourgis on my bare body wyth paynemes Semel lapidatus And ones beten wyth stones and thre tymes in shyp brekyng ¶ Nocte ac die in profundum maris fui And I was in the grounde of the see a nyghte and a daye Sepe in periculis fluuium Many tymes in peryll of flodes Periculis latronum In peryll of theues and in perrell off bretherne that shewed true loue to me and were false and couÌ„seyled other to dome dysease and troble In fame et siti In hongre and in thurste In ieiuniis multis In moche fastyng In multis vigiliis In longe wakynge In frigore In colde and in many other mischeues and peryll that were to longe to telle and all he suffred wyth good wyll euer thanked god of his swete sonde For wel he wyst that al thyse tribulacioÌ„s disease was for sinne that he had doâ—â— to fore to encrece his meryte ioye that shold come after wherfore al criste peple that wyl please god what maner disease or tribulacioÌ„ that come to hem be it sâ—kenes losse of catel or other goodes or deth of frendis take it pacietly mekely thinke it cometh for synne that thou hast do tofore or elles for grete increace of ioye blisse that thou shal haue after for it cometh of specyal grace there as god visiteth comyth there as god sendeth but there as he suffreth al their wyl is no good signe that he loueth therfore thanke god euer of his visitacion beseche hym euer of his mercy God knoweth our enteÌ„t therfore he foryeueth sone to al that asketh mercy wyth a meke herte Thus must a man suffre tribulacioÌ„ pacieÌ„tly he must also do almes discretly whiche be figured by thy se lx dayes for lx is six â—ithes .x. so that by vi ye shal vnderstoÌ„de the vii werkes of mercy that comen out of the x. coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes the whiche ben thise to yeue mete drinke cloth herborow visite prysoners coÌ„forte the sike blinde lame to berye them that ben ded thyse ben the vii werkes of mercy the whiche al cristen peple muste do the wyl be saued and haue mercy of god wherfor sexagesme begynneth this daye and endeth the wednesday in ester weke the whiche holy chirche speketh of thus Venite bendicti patris meâ— c. Come ye my faders blyssed children take the kyngdom of heuen that is ordeyned for you These same wordes god shal saye to you at the daye of dome to all that hath done almes dedes discretly And fulfylled the werkes off mercy yf they were of power that tho that ben not of power muste do they good wyl that shal fulfil the dede this must be doo discretely And how god teche this daye in the gospell by ensample and sayth thus Exiit qui seminat seminare se men suum ¶ A man went to sowe his sedes and as he sew some fell by the waye and fowles come and ete it and some fell emonge thornes and was lost and some fel in good erthe brought forth an C. folde encreace to this cryste sayth thus hym selfe Ego sum via veritas et vita ¶ I am the very ryght true lyffe and waye to heuen Thenne falleth his sede besyde the waye that yeueth not his almes for cristys sake dyscretly But for pryde pompe and vayn glory off the world and so leseth his mede and that I preue by ensample ¶ Narracio ¶ There was in Irlond a wonder riche man and dede moche almes in his lyfe in so moche that the peple wende he had be a saynt But whan he was dede he appered to one that he loued well in his lyf as black as ony pytche with an horryble stynke and sayd ye wene that I be a saynt but now I am suche as thou seest thenne sayd he where be thy almes dedes he sayd the wynde of vayn glory hath blowen theym away For he that dooth his almes for vayn glory of the world leseth his mede and the feÌ„des of the cyre destroyeth it Also he leseth his mede that yeueth his almes to suche as he knowe that ben in dedely synne And soo to mayntene theym in ther synne his sâ—de falleth amonge stones and weyeth dâ—ye And soo lesyth his mede his sede falleth amonge thornes that yeueth his good to riche people that hath noo nede therto and soo lesyth theyr mede But his sede falleth in goode erthe that yeueth his almes to good true people for they be goddis erthe â–ª and that sede shall yeue an hundred folde encreace in euerlastynge ioye and blisse and shall bee euerlastyng fode to them that don thus her almes dyscretly ye must also hate synne namely and flee it in al that ye may for he that hateth and fleeth synne loueth god and god loueth hym For god hateth synne in soo moche that he toke vengeaunce on all the worlde fo synne of lechery and in special for the synne ayenst kynde For whan god sawe this synne rennynge in alle the world soo vnworthely he said thus Me forthynketh that euer I made maÌ„ and said to noe ¶ Fac tibi archam Make the a shype of planed boordes as I shall teche the. and make chambres therin and take of al clene bestes the couple by hym self and mete and drinke wyth them ¶ Than made noe this shyp as god taughte hym square in the botom and iii C. cubytes of lâ—â—ghthe and l. cubites in brede and xxx cubytes of heyght and this shepe was in makynge a C. yeres to shewe how merciable god is in taryeng to loke yf the people wold amende hem and how lothe he was to doo vengeaunce But the people was euer lenger the wors thenne by helpe of angelles all maner birdes and bestis were brought to noe And whan al were brought to the ship our lord bad noe and his wyfe and his iii. sones goo in to the ship by hem self And noes wyfe and her soones wyfes by hem self for the men sholde not comen wyth the wymmen so whan they were alle ynne god closed the dore to hem wythout forth Quadraginta diebus quadraginta noctibus aperti sunt celi ¶ Thenne it rayned xl dayes and xl nyghtes that the water bare the shype hygher than ony hyll by xl cubytes stode styll an C. dayes and xl And drowned all the worlde bothe people bestes saue those that were in the shype yet iosephus said in armany ther is an hylle and that is called Barus that was hygher than the water was and therfore dyuerse people haue opynyon there was moche peple
saued Soo noe was in the shyp al a yere And thenne he put out a rauen for to bryng worde to knowe yf the reyne water seaced or no. he come not ayen Thenne he sent oute a douue and she come ayen and brought a braunche of olyue in her bylle And therby noe knewe well that the water was seaced in some place Thenne as god bad noe went oute toke the vnclene bestis from the clene and brente the vnclene bestis in sacryfice to god and that plysed god soo well that he gaaff hem and all that come of hem after leue to ete flesshe of all clene bestes and for to drynke wyne there as before the flode the peple ete and dranke nothing but water for therthe was soo fertyll in it selfe to fore that the people neded none other fode but suche as come of the erthe Thus may ye see and vnderstonde how grete vengeaunce god toke on all the world for synne nowe there is asmoche synne as euere there was in thoo dayes and moche more in many degres where I drede lest god wyll take vengeaunce on vs. and wolde or this tyme were not the prayers of holy chirche and good sayntes â–ª and in especyall by the prayers of oure Lady and that ye shall here by ensample of saynt domynyk as he was in his prayers he sawe our lord Ihesu Crist holdynge thre speres in his honde redy to shote hem in to this worlde for vengeaunce and all for synne Thenne com our lady knelyng before our lord and said my dere sone what wyll ye doo he said my dere moder the worlde is so full of synne of pryde couetyse lechery and other synnes that I wyll shote thyse iii. speres of vengeaunce on the people Thenne said our lady my dere sone hauer mercy on hem and abyde a whyle for I haue some true seruauÌ„tes the whiche shal preche and teche the peple to tourne hem from synne thus by prayer of our lady god spared to take vengeaunce But now the world is so full of synne and cursed liuyng of false extorcion oppression of the poure peple that they cry to god for socoure and helpe wherfore it is full lyke that we shall be smytten full soone wyth some greuous vengeaunce other wyth derth· other wyth dethe of pestilence wherfore it is nedefull for vs to praye besely to our lady that she maye praye for vs to her dere sone Oure lord Ihesu Criste to spare vs in our dayes that we mow haue grace and mercy now euer Anen Do◠〈…〉 GOod men wymen â—â—â—daye is cal◠〈…〉 in quiquagesme This worde quinquagesme 〈◊〉 a nombre of â— whiche nombre betokeneth remission and ioye â–ª For in the olde lawe euery .l. wynter oâ— maner of people that were ouirsette with seruyce of bondage whan they come to the age they were made free in grete ioye and myrthe to them wherfore this nombre begiÌ„neth this daye and endeth on Esterday shewynge that all cristen peple that be oppressed with any tribulacion or dysease here in this woâ—â—de shal be made fre and haue remission at the day of dome and be heires in the kingdome of heuyn And yet in confortynge of al cristen people euery â— wynter the pope of Rome graunteth full remission of all sinnes to all cristen people that coÌ„meth to Rome that yere And for all that may nat come thydre to haue this pardon The pope of heuyn iesu crist of his specyall grace graunteth to all cristen people full pardon of all sinnes in their laste ende So that they wyll â—epe thre thynges here in this worlde Confession contricion and satisfaction Holy shrifâ— of mouthe with contricion of hert and satisfaction in dede doyng Also he muste haue charite withoute faynynge stable feyth withoute flaterynge And withoute these thermay no man haue parâ—â—â—â—e at Rome nor elles where And therfore he that wyll be assoiled of the pope of heuin and haue clene remission ne muste be contriâ—e sorye for his synnes and shryue him clene be in purpose neuir to sinne more And they that 〈…〉 all the peyneâ— that 〈◊〉 were ordeyned â–ª for for him Take an ensample by pâ—â—ye that forsoâ—â— criste 〈…〉 grete othes but he was after 〈◊〉 and sory Et 〈…〉 And wept ful bâ—tterly and god that is ful of mercy for yaue him his trespas and made better there to him after than he dyd to fore For he sholde be in no dispayr deede ¶ Narracio ¶ we finde of a grete riche man that was so wycked in his lyf that moche people demyd him dampned to hell Soo he fell seke and felyd him selue that he shulde be dede and he â—â—thoughte him how wycked he hadde be in his leuyng and toke suche a contricion to hym and soo grete sorowe that he wept nyght â— day euir whan his synne came to his mynd And so ley vii daies and vâ— nyghâ—â—â— and shroue him clene and toke grete repentaunce to him and euir cryed god mercy So that all the peple hadde grete pyte on him and than deyed â–ª Thenne it hapned that ther was a monâ—e â—â— an abbey that dyed the same tyme. waâ— made by his abbot to come â—yen to tel him how he faryd â–ª and so he dyd and sayd to the abbot whan he was coÌ„me Sir I am come to kepe my promyse I praye you gyue me leue to go ayen for I goo to ioye Thenne saide the abboâ— was there any moo that dyed whanne thou dydyst that went to ioye but thou And he sayd ye forsoth one no mo◠〈…〉 was 〈◊〉 soâ—leâ— of suche a man 〈…〉 name Thenne saide thabbot â–ª Nowe I knowe well thou art nat my monke but soâ—â—e send is coÌ„me to teÌ„pte me For we knowe wele if any soule be in peyne he is one of tho Thenne sayd the monke full vnworthy is any man for to knowe the preuyte of goddes dome For that man hadde so grete contricion and repentaunce and wepte so bytterly for his synnes that the water of his eyen percyd through all his clothes to the grouÌ„de wherfore go thydre to morowe and whan thou fyndest it true that I say than byleue me For I goo nowe to euirlastinge ioye and blisse Then went thabbot thyder fouÌ„de as it was true as the monke had saide and there knelyd thabbot downe thankyd god and bad all the peple to be gladde that god is so mercifull and that he had the knowlege Here ye may se that the grete contricioun that this man hadde quenchyd the grete payne that was ordeyned for him Thus ye may se hou grete help it is to a mannys soule to be contrite and sory for his synnes and to drawe a man to the more contricioun â–ª those L. daies the psalme in the psaulter Miserere mei deus is more rehercid these daies than any other tyme of the yere the whiche is thus moche to saye God for thy grete mercy haue mercye on me
fore theym he made a blynde man to se that cryed and sayd Iesu fili dauid miserere mei Iesu the sone of dauyd haue mercy of me Thenne said our lorde to him what woldest thou that I shulde do to the. he sayd Domine vt videam Lorde yeue me sighte Thenne sayd oure lorde thy feyth hath sauyd the And anone he hadde his sight and thanked god So muste euery cristen man that wyll haue pardone of god he muste haue contricion full of herte with shrift of mouthe and satisfaction in dede being in hole charite withoute feynyng and in stable feyth withoute flaterynge And to fiere you more to the faythe I wyll tel you this ensample folowynge ¶ Narracio ¶ There was somtym a bisshop in Englonde that highte by name grosthede and was busshoppe of Lincoln was holden the greteste clerke in Englonde or in the worlde And whome he leâ— his deth heâ— there came to him a grete multitude of fendes disputed with him of the feythe Insomoche that they had nygh tornyd him oute of the byleue and putte him into dispaire Thenne was oure lady redy and saide to hym My seruaunte bileuest thou nat in holy church as it techith And anone he cried and sayd yes gracious lady I byleue as holy churche techith me And anone went the fendes awaye and he gaue vp the goost to euirlasting 〈◊〉 To the whiche blisse brynge vs 〈◊〉 â—hat boughte vs with his precious blode Amen ¶ Dominica prima quadragesime GOde men and wymen this day is called in holy churche the firste sonday in quadragesme A nombre of .xl. for from this daye vnto Esterdaye been xl daies And for bicause that euery man synneth more or lesse for to make satisfaction for trespase all cristen people ben bounde by the lawe of god and holy churche to faste thies xl daies saue tho that lawe dispeÌ„seth with for reasonable cause ChildreÌ„ that been within age wymmen that be with childe Olde people that been myghtlesse to faste labourynge people as pilgrames and seke people Those the lawâ— dispenseth with vpon their conscience Thenne for cause that sondaye is noo daye of penaunce therfore ye shal begynne your fast on asshewednesday That day ye muste coÌ„me to holy churche and take asshes of the prestes hondes and thynke on the wordes well that he sayth ouer youre hedes â–ª 〈…〉 Memento homo quod câ—tis eâ— et in cinerem reuerteris Haue mynde man of asshes that thou arte coÌ„me of and to asshes thou shall turne ayen ¶ Thenne been there diuerse sâ—ylles why ye shall faste these fourty daies One is as the gospell tellythe this day thus Ductus est iesus in desertuÌ„ vt temptaretur a dyabolo How the holy goost bad oure iesu cryste goo into deserte bitwene ierusalem and â—herico to be tempted â–ª of the feâ—de â–ª and was there xl daies fastinge and xl nyghtes for youre sake shewyâ—ge â–ª to all cristen people the vertue and the mede that coÌ„meth of fastinge the wâ—iche been expressyd in the preface of the masse that is sayd in holy churche the xl daies that is thus Qui corporali ieâ—unio viciâ— coÌ„prinus mentem eleuas virtuteÌ„ largiris That holy fasting thrustâ—th downe vices and lyfteth vp the thought of a maÌ„ to vertues and to largenesse of all godenesse and geuyth grete mede in â—euen that shall laste euir â–ª and gete graâ—â—â—â—re in erthe For as clerkes telle the â—pyâ—eâ— of a fastinge man shall slee an â—ddâ—r bodily Thenne moche more it â—â—eeth the might of the olde adder that is the fend of hell that come to eue in paradise in lykenesse of an addre and tempted â—et to glotony vayne glory and couetyse Right so the fende came to criste in syâ—nesse of a man left he hadde be knowen and tempted criste as sayth the gospel Cum ieiunasset quadragiÌ„ta diebus et quadraginta noctibus postea esuriit ¶ whanne criste had fasted fourty dayes and and fourty nyghtes Thenne by kynde of manhode he hungred TheÌ„ne came the fende to him and shewyd him stones and sayd thus Si filius dei es dic vt lapides isti panes fiant If thou be goddes sone of heuyn make these stones brede For right as eue was rauysshed whan she sawe the apell by temptation of the fende to ete therof The same wyse he went to haue made criste to ete of the brede For glotony is nat only in maÌ„nys mete but in the foule luste and appetite of a man Thenne saide criste anoon to him in this wyse Non ex solo pane viuit homo sed de omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei 〈◊〉 lyueth nat only by brede but by 〈◊〉 worde that coÌ„myth fro the mouth of god Thenne the fende toke him and sett him vpon the high pynacle of the teÌ„ple and said If thou be goddes sonne â—â—nge thy selue downe without mannys helpe or harme that I may know the for goddes sone Then said our lord Non temptabis dnÌ„m deuÌ„ tuuÌ„ Thou shalt nat tempte thy lorde god yet he came ayen the thridde tyme. Assumpsit euz diabolus in moÌ„tem excelsum et ostendit ei omnia regna mundi He tooke him and sette him on a hyghe hyll and shewyd him all the kyngdomes and the richesse of the worlde and sayd to him on this wyse Hec omnia tibi dabo si cadenâ— adoraueris me All this I shall gyue the if thou wyll falle downe and worshippe me Than saide oure lorde god vnto him thus Vade sathanas scriptuÌ„ est eniz dominum deum tuum adorabis et ei soli seruies Goo sathanas it is wreten thou shall worship thy lorde god and only him serue Theâ—â—â— he lefte him and wente his waye 〈◊〉 Angeli accesserunt ad iesuÌ„ ministrabant ei Than angellys came and brought him fode For the fende is mooste besy these xl daies to tempte peple to thre synnes to pryde couetyse and gloteny ¶ It is nedefull to haue thre remedyes ayenst them That is ayenst glotony abstinence ayenst pryde mekenesse and ayenst couetyse largenes Ayenst glotony we must faste that is nat to ete bifore tyme and at mete ete nat gredely nomore thaÌ„ a nother tyme and to faste bothe daye nyghte as criste dyd But there is moche people wyll sytt and drynke bothe daye and nyghte and fyll their bodyes with foule lust of gloteny Also ye muste faste from all maner of flesshe mete and white mete For Ierom sayth egges is almoost flesshe and mylke blod And whan ye go to youre mete take ensample by holy churche whan the preste goth to masse that is goddes worde howe he at his begynning boweth doune his knees and byddeth all other doo the same in the myddes of the masse at th end of the masse bowe down your hedes to god And therfore whan ye go to your mete so worship god with a pater noster and an Aue. that sent you the fode and make a
chyldren of Israhell whan moyses ladde theym oute of egypte in to the londe of byheft that is Iherusalem and soo they passed sauf and founde And soo vii dayes after they come all vnto the see and thanked god for her passage and in mynde herof holy chirche vseth all the Ester weke to goo a procession to the foâ—â—e that is nowe the rede see to all cristen people that ben crystened in the fonte For the water in the fonte betokenethe the rede see for blode and water is the wounde that were in cristis syde in the which the power of pharao the sede of helle is drowned and al his might lost and cristen peple saued and for the foÌ„te is halowed on Ester euen and on wytson euyn for in the begynnyng al children abode to be cristened vnto thyse two dayes and to be crystened atte the fonte halowynge But now for by cause that many in soo longe abydyng were dede wythout crystendome therfore holy chirche ordeyned nowe to cristen all tymes of the yere saue viii dayes byfore thise euyns the child shal abyde to the fonte halowyng yf it maye for perryll of deth and ellys not ¶ Thus is the pascall halowed by lyghte wyth the newe fyre and of it al other tapres and candellis ben lyghte for all holynesse and good techynge good liuing coÌ„meth of crist teching of holy chirche and lighteth hem in cristâ—s passion wyth brennynge loue and charyte Peces of enfence ben stycked in the pascall in the maner of a crosse those betokeÌ„ the fyue woundes of our lorde As bede sayth that he suffred in his body that shall be fresshe and sweâ—â— as ony ensence tyll the daye of dom to greate repreef to all that shall bee dampned that belyue not in Crystis passion and wyll not aske mercy and foâ—yeuenesse of her synnes In the fonte halowyng the prest casted water in foure partyes of the fonte for Cryste hadde his disciples goyng prechynge techyng in foure parties of cristendom in the name of the fader and the sone the holy goost And after the prest bretheth on the water for the holy gooste in makynge of the worlde was borne vpon waters ¶ For whan god for Adamis synne cursed therthe and the londe he cursed not the water wherfor it is lawfull to a man to ete in lenton that that cometh of the water After he droppeth the wex in to the water off a candell brennynge the whiche betokeneth the manhode of crist that was fullyd in water and putteth oyle and creme in the water For by the vertu of the sacrament those that ben in heuen and in erthe ben Ioyned to gyder and that was preued by crystis baptisme For there the fader of heuen spake and sayde Hic est filius meus dilectus in quo michi bene complacui This is my well beloued sone that wyll pleyse me and the holy ghost was seen Sicut columba As a whyte doue thus was the fonte halowed two tymes in the yere ¶ Att wythsontyde and at Ester whan all the people is broughte oute of thraldom by Crystis passion fro the dangeour of the fende and at wytsontide For thenne is the holy ghoste yeuen in remyssion of all synnes ¶ Thenne from the fonte the people goon to the quere syngyng the letanye prayenge all the sayntes in heuene to praye to god to gyue to all that been Crysten to kepe that sacrament to goddis pleysaunce And the couenaunt that they haue made in her crystenyng thenne the preest goth to masse for Cryste that is hede off all holy chirche is not rysen Kyrieleyson is said for in euery prayer in especyall in the masse it is grete nede to aske helpe and socoure of god to kepe vs from all maner off temptacion that the fende putteth in vs and namely in goddis seruice Gloria in excelsis Is said for the fader of heueÌ„ hath gret ioye to be holde the peple that his sone hath boughte wyth his passion and to see hem in reste peas and charyte echone wyth other The greyle is not sayd For those that ben newe cristened been not yet parfyte to walke in grace of vertues Alleluya is said For it is gre ioye to angellis to see by crystenynge the nombre of hem restored ayen After alleluya a tracte is said hyghe songen for though by crystenynge they be wasshe from synne yet muste they traueyle besely to kepe hem from comberaunce of the fende that they falle not in dedely synne The offertorye is said for the wymmen that comen wyth oynementis to offre to crystis body They fonde hym not in his tombe Agnus dei Is said noo pax is gyuen For cryste that is hede of peas is not rysen The postcomyn is not sayde for those that ben newe crystened shold not be housled this daye but on the morowe for in olde tyme there come to crystenynge peple of grete age Thenne a short euynsonge is done for the children that were not cristned wherof gretly they were noyed wyth seknesse of colde of longe seruyce thenne is ended vnder a shorte colet all the sacramente of cristenyng is ended in the passion of Crist by the whiche all cristen people were restored tor euerlastyng blisse to the whiche god brynge vs all to Amen ¶ In die paraceues GOod frendis this daye is called good frydaye for all that Oure Lord Ihesu cryste suffred this daye tourned vs to grete ioye For this daye he suffred passion vnder pounce pylate for oure sake It is an olde sawe that a foule begnnnynge hathe a fowle endyng Nowe see howe this pylate began cursedly and ended full wretchedly For as saynt austyn saith cursed lyuyng first asketh a cursyd ende after he that forgeteth hym self here in his lyuyng is full lyke to forgete hym selfe in his last ende This pylate was a knyghtes sone that was called Tyrus that he gate hym on a woman that hyghte Pyle And this womannys fader hyghte Atte. So whan this childe was borne they sette the moders name and the grande fader after and soo by bothe names called hym pylat ¶ Thenne after whan he was thre yeres of age his moder brought hym in to the kynges courte thenne hadde the knyghte another sone nygh lyke to pylates age But for this knightes sone was in all his rule more gentyler more manfully more goodly more beloued that this pylate soo for hate and for enuye therof This pylate on a dâ—y slewe this knyghtes sone thenne was the knyghte wonder sory But yet he wolde not slee Pylate and sente hym to Rome to be there in hostage for a trybut that the knyght sholde paye to Themperour ¶ Thenne it happed that the kynge of Fraunce hadde sent his sone theder for the same cause Thenne for by cause ¶ whan Pylate sawe that he was more beloued and chereshed Therfore this pylate slewe hym TheÌ„ne for he was so cursed themperoure by counseyll of the romayns sente pylate in
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
and contryte and synned nomore our lord toke hem in ensample to all other that wyl leue her synne they shal be saued For he that is shreuen and forsaketh his synne mercy foloweth that and doo his penaunce He shall haue meercy grace For as glad as the fader is to see the sonne rise from deth to lyfe also glad is our lord and moche gladder to see a man rise oute of dedely synne and neuer to doo it more and therfore shewyng by ensample Poule bereth a swerde to all cristen people to cut awaye the cheynes of synne wyth his sharpe swerde of confession for dedely synne byndeth a man sore to the fende therfore cut awaye the cheyne Peter is also redy to open the gates of heuen to all cristen people and to take them in that wyll forsake her synne ¶ ye shall vnderstonde the poule was first soo hye soo feerse ayenst al goddis seruauÌ„tes that there durst no precher deale wyth hym but after he lefte grete malice and there as he was ferse after he was gracious And there as he was before hye and proud of herte he was meke and lowly to all goddis seruauÌ„tes Peter also held hym self most perfyte stedfast of all cristis dyscyples wherfore he made bost by a vayn glory that he was redy to goo to dethe wyth cryst and sayd thus It behoueth me to deye wyth the· And whan cryste sey that all his discyples shold forsake hym Peter for the grete bost sayd though all men forsake hym he wold not And yet more ouer whan criste was take Peter drewe oute his swerd and smote of a seruauntes ere that hyghte malcus But soone after whan he sawe that crist was take and shold be put to deth thenne he swered and stared that he neuer knewe hym and forsoke crist But whan he herde the kocke crowe thenne he remembred of that our lord sayd to hym that or the kocke crewe iii. thou shalte forsake me Thenne Peter went forth Et fleuit amare And wept bytterly and hyd hym in a caue durst not come among his bredren for shame tyll oure lord sente to hym by name Thenne was peter euer after ashamed and sory for his trespas and there as he was a boster and vnstable of his wordes afterwarde he was trewe and stable and grounded in stablenesse of parfyght lyuyng In soo moche that crist called hym peter that is a stone in Englisshe For there as thou layest a stone there thou shalt fynde it Soo was peter soo stedfast after that nether for we le nor for woo he neuer flitered But euer stode stedfast in cristis lawe And had euer his synne in mynde and to amende that he had don amysse And was afterwarde of grete abstynence that he ete but brede and oyle wortes and full selden flesshe and wered but a syngyll kertyll with a mantell And euer as often as he herde ony man mynde Ihesus anone he began to wepe ful sore and whan he herde ony kocke crowe anone he wold ryse vp and goo and praye and suffre penaunce And he wepte many tymes so bytterly that the teeres of his eyen brente his face in soo moche that where he was he had a clothe in his bosom alwaye to wype awaye the teeres Thenne soo folowyng he was so holy that where that euer he wente and he myghte shadowe ony syke body anon they were hole ¶ Soo on a tyme he sente two of his disciples in to a ferre countrey to preche And whan they were goone two dayes iourney one of them deyed and that other tourned ayen and tolde Peter Thenne peter toke hym his stafe and bad hym goo and laye the stafe on his felow and bad hym aryse in the name of god and he rose anone and wente forth to gyder and preched Thenne were many wrothe that Peter tourned soo moche people to the ferth And put hym in to pryson and bonde hym fast wyth grete cheynes of yron tyll he was nye dede leste he soold bee stolen awaye wherfore the knyghtes woke it that he shold not escape And thus the comyn people toke Ensample of hem and make fyres in worshippe of saynt Peter and watche Thenne Criste come to peter in prysoÌ„ And thenne come an angell to Peter wyth grete lyghte as our lorde badde And anone the cheynes breke and fyll fro his hondes and fete And soo wente he to Rome was there pope xxxv yeres and tourned moche people to cristis feythe But soone after came the fendes lymme that was called SymoÌ„ magus that cowde moche of the fendes crafte and made moche people lyke in dyuerse sykenesse· Some blynde some lame some deff so that the peple what for fere and for wonder byleued in hym Thenne peter heled all those that Symon magus hadde buried And bad they shold not byleue in hym Thenne was this Symon magus wroth wyth Peter that he myghte not haue his wyll and in especyall he myghte not reyse a dede body to lyfe that Peter reysed Thenne this symon teyed a fende in lykenesse of a grete dogge there as peter sholde come to sle peter but ¶ Peter â—â—sed hym lete this dogge lose and thenne he lepte to symon and pulled hym doune vnder his fete and thenne peter bad leue and do hym noo harme of his body but all to rente his clothes So that symon wente almost naked awaye Thenne symon ordeyned all the wayes that he cowde to haue Peter dede thenne our lord appered to Peter and sayde ¶ Simon et nero contra te cogitant Symonde nero and other haue ordeyned thy deth to morowe I wyll sende to the poule my seruaunt in comforte to the and ye shall suffre marterdom to gyder for my sake and soo come to me to euerlastynge blysse Thenne peter tolde his bretheren his vysion that he had in the nyght and soo toke Clemente by the honde and set hym in his chayer and made hym pope and successour after hym Thenne on the morowe come Poule and preched the people thenne this Symon had so charmed the Emperour in suche a folishnesse that he wende that he had be goddis sone Soo this symonde magus come to the Emperour and sayde There be two men of Galyle come in this cyte that one hyght peter and that other poule that doo me soo moche dysease that I may noo lenger abyde here in erthe ¶ wherfore commaunde suche a daye al maner of people to come to capytole and there in syghte of all the people I wyl flye op to my fader in heuen And whan all the people were come to gyder Symon wente vp in to a towre of the capytoll Thenne come two fendes lyke ii angellis set on his hede a garlonde off laurel bare hym vp in to the ayre lyke as he had flowen Thenne said peter to poule broder loke vp see theÌ„ne said poule It falleth for me to pray the to coÌ„maunde anone peter said I coÌ„maunde you
angelis of sathanas that ye lete that man goo doune that al the peple may see whom thei haue worshyped Thenne symond felle doune all to brast theÌ„ne was themperour wroth and made to lede peter poul forth And dyde peter on a crosse and his hed downwarde and so put hym to dethe poule for he was a gentylman born For the more worshyp they smote off his hede Thenne the peple sawe angellis stondyng on the crosse there as peter henge wyth crownes And whan poules hede was smytte of there come out fayr plente of mylke after blode Thenne in the nyghte after come cristeÌ„ peple and layd her bodyes to gyder in a graue· there they lay tyl cristeÌ„ feyth was more open in rome TheÌ„ne wolde they haue bore eyther body to his chirche but they cowde not knowe eyther bones fro other Thenne come there a vois fro heuen said the more bones be of the precher and the lesse of the fyssher So after whan the cristen feyth come in to this londe kynge ethelbert lete make a grete chirche at westmynstre in worship of Saynt Peter and another in london of saynt poule And soo on a daye whan the chirche of saynt Peter shold be halowed in the nyghte afore was a man fysshyng ¶ in the tamyse vnder westmynâ— And 〈…〉 â—em reuesshed had vp the 〈…〉 grete dred and quakyng and there they fonde a lityll wryting here lyeth and restech Thomas archebysshop of caunterbury Primat of Englonde and the popes legate sleyn for the ryght of holy chirche the fyfthe daye of cristmasse Thenne for grete deuoâ—ion that they had of that syght· all cryed saynt Thomas And thenne they toke the hede to the Archebysshop to kysse and so they kyssed it all And thenne they behelde his woundes and sayd they were vngracious that wounded the thus And soo layd hym in shryne and couered it wyth cloth of golde and sette torches aboute it brennyng and the people to wake it al nyght Thenne on the morowe come all the states of this londe And bare the shryne to the place there as it is nowe wyth all the reuerence and worshippe that they cowde And there it is wyth worshyp Amen De sancta maria magdalena GOod frendes suche a daye ye shall haue the feste of Mary magdaleyn that was so holy that our lord Ihesu crist loued her best of all wymmen nexte his own moder wherfore ye shall come to god and to holy chirche and praye to that holy woman that she wyll praye to oure lord for vs. that we maye haue grace for she was the first in tyme of grace that dyde penaunce for she had loste grace by fleshly luste so she is made a myrrour to all other synners that wyl forsake synne and do penaunce they shal haue grace the whiche was lost by sinne She had a fader that was a grete lorde and nye of the kynges blode and had a grete lordshyp in IherusaleÌ„ the whiche he gaue to lazarus his sonne and he gaue mary the castelle of mawdeleyne wyth al the lordshyp longyng therto of the whiche castell she had her name and was called mary mawdeleyn for she was lady ther of Thenne as many bokes sayen Saynt Iohan euangeliste wedded her And our lord bad hym goo wyth hym and kepâ— his virgynyte and soo he dyde and was clene virgyn And mawdelayne wâ—â—t forth and gaue her all to synne In so moche she lost the name of mawdeleâ—n and was called the synfull woman â–ª But it was often seen that our lord made of the grettest sinner the holâ—â—st afterwardes And so whaÌ„ our lord sawe tyme he gaue this womaÌ„ grace to â—â—owe her self to haue repentaunce for her synnes Thenne whan mary herde the crist was at a mannis house that was called Symon the pharise she toke a boxe wyth oyntement suche as the people vsed the tyme for hete of the sonne went thyder but she durst not for shame go tofore hym herde hym speke thenne she toke a greate sorowe in her herte and wept tenderly and wyth the teres of her eyeÌ„ she wasshed cristis feâ—e And wyth the here 's of her hede she weped hem and wyth all the loue of her herte she â—ysshed hem anoynted hem but no worde she spake that ony man mighte here but softely in her herte she cryed mercy and made a vowe to him that she wolde neuer trespasse more Thenne our lord had pyte on her and cast oute of her vii fendes and forgaue her all her synnes in heryng of all that there were thenne she toke suche a loue to crist that she lefte all her lordshypâ— of mawdeleyn wyth all other goodes and sued hym forth wyth grete loue that in his passion there as his disciples fled from hym she lefte hym neuer tyll she wyth helpe of other had layed hym in his tombe and whan no man durste goo thyder for fere of the knyghtes that kepeth hym she spared not Cum tenebre essent It was derke in the dawynge she toke wyth her swete bawmes to anoynte Crystis body wyth this she shewed loue bothe in wyll and in dede wherfore cryst in his lyfe for her loue heled Martha her suster of the rede flyxe that she had vii yere to fore and payned her full sore ¶ Et resuscitauit Lazarum a mortuis ¶ And reysed Lazar her broder from dethe to lyfe that had lyen iiii dayes stynkynge in his graue and whan our lord rose from deth to lyfe he appered to her and suffred her to touche hym kyssed his fete Thenne whan it was knowen to the iewes that cryst shewed her so many tokenes of loue before all other Thenne whan criste was styed vp to heuen· the iewes toke Mary and Martha her suster lazarus maxencius and many other and put them in a shyp that was old 〈…〉 â—aâ—e drowned them but g◠〈…〉 soo for all thing at his wyll and brought them sauf to a londe â–ª called Marcyle And there they rested vnder a baâ—â—e that was nye the temple Thenne mary sawe moche people comyng toward the temple to do sacryfice to her mawmettes And the lord of the countrey come wyth hem But mawdeleyn was gracious and wyth her gracious wordes tourned hym ayen Thenne this lorde had grete luste to here her speke and sayd thus to her that yf god that thou spekest of be so gracious and so grete of power as thou sayste praye to him that I may haue a chylde by my wyff that is bareyne and thenne wyl I byleue in hym Thenne mary said she wold and wythin short tyme after the lady conceyued and was wyth chyld Thenne this lord anone after ordeyned to goo to Iherusalem to Peter to wyte of hym wheder mawdeleyns prechinge were true or no. and vytayled his ship and made hym redy Thenne come his lady prayenge hym that she myght goo wyth hym Soo wyth grete prayer the lord graunted her
whyle he spake and mended and his felaw caryed him forthe but he myghte natt traueyll but softe and it hapnyd that they abode all nyght vndre a hyll were full fore aferde what for cursed people and wylde bestes there that maÌ„ dyed Thenne aboute mydnyght come sainte Iames rydynge and sayd Gyue me the dede body thy felowe bifore me and come thou vp behynde me and by the morow they hadde ryden xv daies iournaye and come to the mount ioy half a myle from saint Iames there he lete hem downe and badde this maÌ„ goo fette the chanones of saint Iames to bury his felaw say to his felowes ther pilgramage stonde in no stede For they were false to their other felawe And therfore lete eueryman and womaÌ„ be true to other and we shall at the laste come to the blysse of heuyn ¶ De sancta Anna. gOode frendes suche a daye ye shall haue saint Annes daye that was oure ladies modre that daye ye shall coÌ„me to god and holy church and pray to this holy woman to praye for vs ¶ we rede of v. holy wymen that hight Anna I wyll tel you of the se v. wymen The first Anna was modre to the prophete Samuell that gouerned the people of israell Anna had a husbonde that hight Elâ—ana and he hadde no children by Anna longe butt by grete praier to god at the last he had a sone that was called Samuell Thenne was there a nother anna that was wyfe to a man called raguell they hadde a doughter that hight Sare the whiche hadde seuyn husbondes euyr the firste nyght the fende strangled theym when they wolde haue comuned with her only for luste of flesshe nat to bringe forth frute to goddes plesauÌ„ce and for no children But sone after come yonge tobye and by techynge of the aungell Toby wedded this Sare and thre nyghtes and thre daies he forbare his wyf and was in his prayers and soo after he hadde children The iii anna was the elder tobyes wyf This elder tobye was an old man and dyd the werkes of mercy full besily to preue his mekenesse and suffraunce god made him blynde For on a day as he buryed many dede bodies that were slayne he was wery and lay downe in his hous by the walles and as he loked vp the dunge of the swalous fel in his eyn and soo he was blynde But for he toke it paciently and thanked god of his visitacion god restored him his syght agayn The iiii anna was in the teÌ„ple of Ierusalem whan ioseph and oure lady bare criste to the temple on candelmasse daye For she prophecied of criste â—owe it sholde fall of hym This aÌ„na was so holy that whan she had ben wedded vii yere her husbonde dyed thenne went she into the temple was there nyght and daye tyl she was lxxx yere olde thenne hadde she grace of god to see him bodily or she deyed and had him in her armes The v. anna is oure ladies modre So whan oure lady was of age and broughte into the temple lefte there with other virgynes of her age to lerne moyses lawe to serue god nyght and daye This anna had a husbonde that was called Ioachim our ladies fader and was coÌ„me of the kinred of dauyd For the prophetes had tolde longe to fore howe the kynred of Dauyd sholde discende downe to crist and hadde wreten it in bokes that wer kept in the tresory in the temple Then kyng herode of Ierusalem thoughte to torne the lyf of god to him and to his eyâ—â—â— and toke the bokes oute of the tresorye and made to brene theym for the mynd of criste sholde be forgete by this meane to haue torned the lynage of dauyd to him wherfore there be no bokes that tellitâ— how Ioachim descendyd fro dauyd But whaÌ„ herode had do this foul dede yet were ther some good wyse meÌ„ that hadde copies of thies bokes within them at home that tolde how Ioachim come of the kingdome of dauyd For dauyd hadde many children and oone of theym was called natan of the whiche come Leuy and ther was a nother called panther and of him come barbaÌ„ that was Ioachymes fader that maried oure ladies modre Pater eius Ioachim mater vero anna â—ocati This Ioachym that was oure ladyes fadre and her moder anna whan they hadde this childe she was gyue after in mariage to Ioseph Then dyed IoachiÌ„ and anna toke a nother husbonde that was called Cleophas she had by him a nother doughter that was called mary cleophe and thenne he dyed and she tooke a nother husbonde that hight salome and by him she hadde a nother doghter that was called mary salome And whanne she hadde these iii. doughters in worshyp of the trynite Thenne wolde she no moo husbondes but lyue in chastite and holynesse Thenne was this mary cleophe wedded to a man that was called alpheus and hadde iiii sones Iames the lesse Ioseph that was barsabas symon and Iuda The thridde mary was wedded to a man that was called zebedeus and she hadde by him two sones Iames the more and Iohn euangeliste Thenne as god sayth that of a gode tre coÌ„myth good frute so of this good womaÌ„ come an holy ofspriÌ„g Soo lete vs serue this holy woman that she maye praye for vs nowe and euyr Amen De sancto Laurencio martire gOode frendes suche a daye ye shall haue sainte Laurence day goddes owne holy martir His martirdome as maximys sayth shyneth to all holy churche and lightneth all the worlde wherfore ye shall come to god and holy church and fast theuyn This sainte was holy in lyuynge and greate in compassion of ferynge Saint Austyn sayth that ensamplâ—â—nge is more comendable than is preching and techynge Therfore saint Laurence gaue all cristen peple to shewe ayenst malice mekenesse and ayenst couetyse largenesse ayenst persecucion and trybulacion loue and swetenesse when sixtus the pope hadde be in spayne he broghte Laurence with him to Rome and made him archdeken to serue holy chur and pore people Thenne hadde the Emperoure enuye to him and purposed to do him to dethe Thenne LaureÌ„ce to shewe mekenesse ayenste malyce enquâ—red faste after pore people weÌ„t to theym and gaue them mete drynke and clothes and soo he come to a wedowes house ther as many pore peple were logyd the whiche wedowe had been longe seke of the hede ache Thenne laurence hadde compassion on her and made her hole and mekely wasshed al the pore peoples feet and seruyâ—â— theym at mete and drynke And for he herde that there was a pore man beside in a place that was blynde he went thyder and helyd him Soo euir the more themperoure shewyd malice to him the more he gaue him to mekenesse and holy deuocion He shewyd also ayenste couetise largenesse For whan pope Sixtus hadde take to laurence the tresoure of holy churche to kepe and
neither to lese myn owne soule ne youres I purpose by his leue homly thus to shewe it and rede it to you in the boke For to your lerning it is as goode as withoute And thus dyd Esdras moyses and Baruke in the olde lawe and so dyd criste alsoo in the newe lawe â–ª And right as I am thus bounde to tell and to teche it you so be ye bound to lerne it and to conne it and soo to teche it to other folke the whiche be vndre you to youre power And howe ye shall coÌ„me to this knowlege of god these thâ—nges folowynge shall shewe you ¶ This is the firste peticion of the Pater noster The firste is the Pater noster the whiche oure lorde made and taughte his disciples which conteyneth seuyn shorte peticiones The firste is Fader oure that arte in heuynes halowed be thy name By this ye be behold to loue eche other as sustre and brother And also to yelde him worshyp dâ—ede for the gret worthynes riches and farrnesse that he hath here yeuyn lente to you For more worthynesse may nat be than to be called the sone of god ne ryches greter thanne to be ayr of the blys of heuyn ne more fayrnesse thenne to be lyke to suche a fader for we be all â–ª bretherne and susterne of one fader modre that is god and holy churche In tokenynge that noon of vs sholde scorne other as the proude dothe the pore 〈…〉 ¶ He is also in heuyn nat withstondynge that he is in euery place but yet mooste propyrly he is in heuyn Therfore halowe we so his naname in vs here that we defoule natt his holynesse by synne But that by the yefte of wysdome we may so here be clensed fro all fylthe of synne and so fulfylled of his loue that all other louys contrarye to his wyll be byttre to vs. ¶ The secounde is thy gyngdome come to vs 〈◊〉 is to saye that he and his holynes soo reyne and gouerne all oure lyf here that we may after reigne with him in blys that euyr shall laste and by very charite thou shalt distroye the foâ— synne of enuye ¶ The thridde is thy wyl be doon in erth as it is in heuyn tho that grudge in sekenesse losse of godes or other diseases ayenste god do agaynste this peticion and greatly displease god Therfore praye we that as all aungelles and holy soules please god in heuyn soo must we here in erth noo thynge askynge ayenste his wyll And thus by loue thou shalt distroye the foule synne of wrathe ¶ The fourthe is Oure euery dayes brede gyue vs to daye that is to say oure full sustenaunce of body soule Thus prayed the wise man that sayd Lorde neyther richesse ne pouerte gyue me But that that is necessary to my lyuelode By this is couetyse distroyed and the gyft of compassion and pyte brought in ¶ The fyft is and forgyue us our trespasses as we forgyue theym that trespasse agaynste vs This is ayenste the that beryst grete rancor and malyce agaynste thy neyghboure Or art to gredy of thy dettes to the pore and wylte nat forgyue him a lytell dette or trespasse there as god forgyueth the many greuous offences for the whiche ne were his grete mercy thou sholdeste be dampned To this therfore is knyt the spyrite of connâ—nge â–ª that shewith that what thou arte and what parell thou stondest in and what oure lord suffred for the. ¶ The syxte is And lede vs nat in teÌ„ptacion It is nat to praye here that noo temptacion assayll vs in that the deuyll hath lycence to tempte man as he dyd â–ª Cryste and his appostels and vs aldaye dothe soo that his power may nâ—t be putte awaye withoute the helpe and merâ—y of god Therfore holy fader by the helpe and grace of the spyrite of pyte kepe oure hertes in temptacyon that we consent nat ne be ouircome with synne ¶ The vii is But delyuer vs from all euyll of synne amen And this is the laste peticion to the whiche is yeuen the spyrite of drede that maketh a maÌ„ to withdrawe him from all euyll of synne for the begynnynge of wysdom is to drede god and his right wysnes These seuyn peticiones thus wythe a clene herte asked remeueth and putteth awaye the seuyn dedely synnnes and endueth thy soule with many holy vertues ¶ Aue maria Furthermore as for the salutacion of oure lady pope Vrban and pope Iohn to al beynge in clene lyf that in the ende of the Aue maria say these wordes Iesus amen as ofte as they say it they haue graunted of pardon lxxx and foure daies And so as often as thou sayste oure ladies sauter soo ofte thou haste of pardon xxxiiii yere xxx wekes ¶ These be the xii articles of the faythe The firste is Credo in deum patrem omnipotentem creatorem celi terre et cetera ¶ The seconde thynge that thou shold knowe god by be the articles of the feythe By the whiche grace and mercy be purchased of god and eche vertuous dede strengthed what this fayth is thies articles suynge shall shewe you ¶ The firste is I byleue in god fader almyghty maker of heuyn and of erth To byleue to god is one and to byleue in god is another The deuyl beleueth to god that is to saye that he and his wordes ben true yet many one faileth herin For and they dyd byleue that the wordes of god were true that is to say that for their gode dedys they shold haue euirlastinge lyf and for their euyll dedys the peynes of hell they wold eyther for drede or for loue amende theim To byleue in god saith saint austyn is to cleue to god by loue fulfyllynge his wyll this is very byleue Thus and if thou synne ayenste god it is for lacke of byleue yet in that he is of power to plenysshe the. If thou wylt nat leue it The secounde is Et in iesum cristum filium eiê° vnicum dominum nostrum I byleue in iesu criste his only sone oure lorde Vnderstonde here that iesu cryste the sone is in heuyn with the fader withoute begynnynge and that the fader dothe nothyng withoute the sonne ne the sonne withoute the fader And thus both they be almyghty The thrid article is Qui conceptus eÌ„ de spiritu scoÌ„natus ex maria vigrine I byleue that he was conceyued of the holy gooste and borne of the virgyne mary Here Criste the seconde persone of the holy trynite tooke flesshe blode of oure lady by the â—oly goost with oute medlynge of man She beynge a mayde after as she was to fore For as she conceyued him with oute synne bodily payne She childed him very god and man The fourthe is Passus sub poncio pilato crucifixus mortuus et sepultus I byleue that he suffred payne vndre pounce pylate doon on the crosse dede and buried Here Criste the sonne of god
suffred mekely and threspaced neuir for we sholde mekely suffre that moche haue trespaced He was also crucified for we shold chastise our fleshe by penaunce in withstondyng syn he was beried in token that we shold hyde oure gode dedys fro preysynge vaynglorye of the world to haue miÌ„de that erthe is oure heritage by kynde of oure bodily flesshe The v. is Descendit ad inferna tercia die resurrexit a mortuis I byleue that he went downe to hell the thridde day arose from deth to lyue Cryste thus bodily deed laye in the sepulcre withoute the soule tyll the iii. daye that he arose the godhode nat partyd fro the body He wente downe to hell deliuered the holy soules that wer there through vertue of the godhode the thridde day arose fro deth to lyfe in tokenynge that the light of his deth hathe distroyed oure double deth and that we shall aryse fro goostly deth by iii. maner of mediâ—â—â—es contricion confession and satisfaction The vi is Ascendiâ— ad erlos seder ad dexteram dei patris omnipoteÌ„tis I byleue that he styed vp into heuyn and sett him there on his faders righte honde Thus Criste appering to his disciples after his resurrection 〈◊〉 wythe theym in tokenynge that he was very man as he was to fore And so to stye into heuyn and highed mankynd aboue all aungelles openyng heuyn gate to shewe man the way and to pray for mankynde The seuynth is In de ventuâ—us est iudicare viuos et mortuos I beleue that he is to come to deme the quycke and the dede This criste iesu very god and man shall come to the dome and deme all mankynde quycke dede good and euyll after theyr dedes There shall some coÌ„me to the dome nat be demyd as hethen men For they synne withoute lawe And therfore withoute lawe they muste perysshe Somme also shal be demyd and damned as false cristen men that beleue in Iesu criste withoute loue gode werkes There shall subgettes accuse their euyll curates that wolde nat repreue theym of their synnes ne teche them the commaundmentes of god Also chyldreÌ„ vnchastised shal there repreue ther faders and moders that wold nat chastice theym of their wantonesse There shall the pore accuse the riche that wolde nat helpe theym in their myschief AmeÌ„de all this therfore whyles thou art here and haue mynde how sodenly his veÌ„geaunce falleth and as how he findeth the he shall deme the The viii is Credo in spiritum sanctum I byleue in the holy gooste the thrydde persone of the trinyte The holy gooste also withoute begynnynge or endyng and euyn in wytte myght and godenes with the fader and the sonne and al iii be oon god almyghty The lx is Sanctam ecclesiam catholicaÌ„ sanctorum communionem I byleue in holy chirche and in comunyon of sayntes holy churche throghe oute the worlde is holy and one to all cristen men that in in the sacramentes of the church dele and coÌ„moneth to giddre Therfore it is forboden that in the churche ne in the churche yerde be neyther rumoure ne stryf daunsyng drynkynges ne non inhonest myrthes ne occasion of synne shold nat be yeue ther where as forgeuenesse sholde be asked Holy churche is parted in thre One is in this worlde of theym that sholde be sauyd by the mercy of god â–ª and thys is euyr fightynge agaynste these thre ennemyes the worlde the flesshe the deuyll And a nother is in purgatorye of soules that abide there the grete mercy of god The thridde is criste of heueÌ„ hede of all other with his saintes whyche is free fro all maner descensiones These thre shall be one after the daye of dome ioynynge with Iesu their hede in the blysse that neuyr shall haue ende Comonynge sayntes whan eche of these thre parties helpen other They in heuyn helpen the other two with prayer And they in erth helpen them in purgatory with theyr praier and almes And these two helpe hem in heuyn whan their ioye and blysse is encreased And thus eche coÌ„muneth with other The x. is Remissionem peccatorum I byleue forgyuenesse of synnes they that amende their lyf here and doo very penaunce wyllyng to leue their sinnes and ende in charite shall haf forgyuenesse of all their synnes For criste by his deth and passion of his fader gate vs forgyuenes he him selue by his godhede also forgyueth all originall and actuell synne of oure baptym The xi article Carnis resurrectionem I byleue rysynge of bodye All mankynde at the daye of dome shall ryse from dethe to lyf in body and soule to gydder and after that neuyr be departed And thenne they that haue endyd in dedely synne shuld goo in body and soule to the euirlastynge peyne of hell without mercy And they that haue well lyued and endyd in charite and oute of dedely synne shall weÌ„de in body soule to gyddre to blys for euirmore Of thys blysse speketh sainte Mathewe in the laste artycle The xii is Et vitam eternam Amen I byleue in euirlastynge lyf ¶ Thies been the articles of the feythe the whiche but euery man truly sadly byleue may nat be sauyd For withoute feyth it is impossible to plese god Decem precepta domini ¶ The thridde thynge that thou sholde knowe god by be his x. commaundementes whiche he wrote in the ii tables of stoon and tooke theym to moyses to teche his people promysynge to hem that wolde kepe theym his blessynge welthe and welfare And to them that wolde nat his curse grete sorowe and myscheif ¶ A man asked of Criste what he myght do to haue euirlastynge lyf And he aunsweryd and sayde if thou wyll entre euirlastynge lyf kepe the coÌ„maundementes This preuyth if thou kepe his coÌ„maundmentes thou fulfyllest the lawe of god shalte haue euirlastinge lyf ¶ The firste is he coÌ„maundeth that thou haue no god but hâ—m Ne that thou worshyp serue ne yeue thy truste to none other creature ymage ne thynge grauen but only to him In this is forboden â–ª mawmetry false enchauntemeÌ„tes wychecraftes false charmes and dremys â–ª and mysbeleuys that any man or woman hopyth helpe in withoute almyghtye god In this ye synne dedely that for sekenesse or losse of godes put your fayth or byleue that ye sholde haue in youre lorde god by the deuylles mynystres false wytches the whiche bryng many a soull to the deuyll For they byleue more in the wyches wordes thaÌ„ in the wordes of scripture that the preest techyth theym Al suche â–ª haue goddes curse at the leest iiii tymes a yere in the greate sentence And euery day in oure pryme As for ymages ¶ Also ye shall vndyrstonde that as clerkes see in her bokes how they shold lyue and doo soo sholde lewde men lerne by ymages whome they sholde worshyp and folowe in lyuyng to do goddes worshyp to ymages euery man is forboden ¶ Therfore firste whenne thou
of synfull folke and specyally to theym that wold not knowlege theyr synne here to god in dewe maner Ne were not ashamed of hym This shall be a full hard tormente The eyghte is The horryble syght off deuyllys roryng and cryeng wyth fereful and sorowful voyse wherwyth thus shall they be peyned there That here took no hed of holy ensamplys good dedys ne of techyng ne prechyng of goddis wordes and byddynges The ix is fyrye bondis wherwyth theiÌ„ shulll be bounde there hond and fote and other menbrys that here spendyn theyr menbris and lymmys in the deuyllis seruyce after the luste lykyng of theyr body Thyse ix paynes shall thyse synfull suffre there that here forsoke and lefte vnwysely the felysshyp of the ix ordres of Aungellis by theyr synfull lyuyng but they amende hem or they go hens Therfore be sory for thy synne and amend the whyles thou art here that thou mayst escape all thyse horryble paynis And reygne wyth our lord Ihesu Crist in his hygh blysse of heuen where is euer myrthe after traueyle fredom after bondage helthe after long sekenes lyf after deth perfyt loue wythout drede and euer daye wythout nyght therfore thou shalt haue seuen Ioyes in thy body and seuen in thy soule In thy body fayrnes swetenes strength fredom lust helth and Inmorâ—alite And in thy soule wysdom frendshyp accorde power worshyp surete And ioye wythout ende to the whiche he vs brynge â–ª that for vs dyed on the rood Ihesus goddis sonne ¶ On sunday that last was I Informyd you in homely wyse of the worthynes of mannis sowle what it is when it is out of synne what synne is And how it defowlyth thy sowle Of the sacrament of penaunce also how it is a salue sanatyf for all maner sores of synne when it is discretely vsyd Now by the loue of god I shall declare you the thre partyes of penaunce Contrycion confessioÌ„ and satysfaccyon how by the fulfyllyng of them your sowlys that thus haue ben woundyd wyth synne mowe be reformyd and brought ayen to grace ¶ Fyrst as for contrycion It is sayd but your hertes and not your clothys For confession also shewyth out your hertys afore the prest by open speche of mouth And for satysfaccion Doo ye worthy frutys of penaunce ¶ Thus by thyse thre thynges this holy sacrament of penaunce is preuyd For contrycion also it is sayd in the sawter I haue traueylyd in my sorowys I shall make moyste my bedde euery nyght· wyth my tearys As who saith I haue traueylyd to make satisfaccion for my synnes wyth sorowe of myn herte hauyng in mynde howe longe I haue lyued how I haue spente my tyme. what goodnes I haue lest vn doo â–ª how moche euyll I haue doo and how by my synne I haue lost the felyship of heuen and Ioyned me to the felawshyp of the fend that I am soo here in the vale of tearys full off wretchydnes And my byrthe brought forth vnto mannys synnes and sorowes and shal come to the dredefull dome and gyue a rekenyng for the left and the mooste synne that euer I dyd in worde in dede or thoughâ— not knowyng whether I shall be worthy hate or mede that I wold also be in blysse whiche I may not come to wythout greate torment sorowe ¶ This consyderyng thyn â—arys and werkis thou shalt wel knowe that thou art cause of thyn own sorowe and so for shame thou shalt falle to contricioÌ„ And wynne the grace of god it is a ryght hard herte saith saint bernard that neyther the benefettis of god may grynde ne the paynes of helle may fere Ne the ioyes of heuen may susteyne ne the temporall tormentis ne sorowe maye chastise many one there is that can not be contryte in that they know not what contricion is Therfore ye shal vnderstonde that contrycion is a sorowe off thy soule formyd by grace whiche comyth of forthynkyng of synne drede of the hygh doom wyth a stedfast purpoos to be confessyd to do satisfacion after the precepte of the chirch 〈◊〉 is also a conuersion of thyn herte from euyll to good from the deuyll to god and from vyces to vertu There be many that haue contrycyon but not perfyte as when the herte is touchyd wyth the handys of god By inspyracion to make the perfyte sorowfull for thy synne yet for hardnes off thyn herte hapely thou yeldeste the not fully But somwhat art lesse in as moche as thou begynnest to turne This is called attricion ¶ But when wylle and desyre off synne in euery parte is fully forsaken wyth full sorowe of herte Thenne it is contrycion And soo verry contrycion is the serche of siÌ„ne â—rigeen saith also that very contricion is to abhorre gay arraye and to desyre the hygher wepyng And fle laughter to spek few And to werke ryghtfully and euer to haue drede sorowe in thyn herte for thy synne for the more that thou louest a thyng the more is the sorowe whan thou lesyst it Aboue all creatures is god to be beloued Thenne it is more sorowe of his losse thenne of all other creatures when thou doost dedely synne theÌ„ lefest thou thy god therfor by gret coÌ„tricioÌ„ thou must gete him ageyn For loke how moch thou hast of grace as saith saynt Gregore so moche thou must haue of sorowe for thy synne The sowlis that are in blesse they mowe noo contricion haue By cause their Ioyes be plentuous They that be in helle sorowen but that sorowe is not formyd wyth grace The sowlis in purgatory haue sorowe formyd wyth grace yet it is not merytory in as moche as it shold haue be had here Thus in this 〈◊〉 mercy oonly helpyth 〈◊〉 â—fter not it is blamefully â—erd 〈◊〉 saynt Ieroâ—â— that can wepe â—he 〈◊〉 of his frende o◠〈◊〉 of tâ—mporall losse and can not wepe and bee sory for synne Thy contrycyon therfore must be sharp in that that thou hast offended thyn heuenly fader that bodely and gostely fedeth the in many wyse and yet must thou be sharpe in that that thou hast offended thy lord Ihesu goddis sonne of heuen that wyth his precious bloode and by his mercy delyueryd the fro the bondys of synne cruelte of fendes and bytternes of the peynes of helle And though our lord saye to the. Not euery man that sayth lord lord shall entre the kyngdom of heuen yet leue hym not but haue hym to the tauerne of contrycion and saye to hym as dauyd dyd The meke and the contryte herte lord thou shalt not despyse And thenne he shall yeue the grace here Ioye when thou goest hens ¶ The fawcon whan he hath take his praye he desyreth noo more therof but the hert And ther wyth he is content so our lord wheÌ„ he had rauÌ„sond vs oute of helle he desyred noo more but a meke and a contryte herte of vs Therfore as the fawconer or he woll yeue the herte vnto
luste ne he that hath wronge neyther But a mene that coud and myght sett it resonably after the wronge were declared The preest is ordeyned to be a mene and to sette thy peynes for the wronge that thou haste done to thy god by synne It nedyth thenne that thou shewe truly thy trespasse vnto him that he may sett the suche penaunce wherby thou maiste be able to coÌ„me to the presence of thy lorde god Also in euery dome that is reasonable ther muste be a iuge and a persone that is gyltye And the preest muste either be by preuys or els by witnes ayeÌ„st thy wyll or by wylful knoulege sithen the dome of penance is free and nat agaynst thy wyll bycause that thou goste therto wilfully thenne shal nat the processe of this dome be in promys ne in wytnesse but freely in thy propre confession And he muste be iuge that may bothe forgyue and condeÌ„ne and that is god For he only releseth synnes And so tyll he toke mankynde confession of herte suffised But after he requyred and askyd confession vocall whiche is made of man to man And for asmoche as he is nat here in forme of man Therfore he ordeyneth men to be his vycaries that thou sholdest confesse the to to whome he gaue power to bynde and to vnbynde And thus is confession nedefull by reson promyse and scripture Oure lord gaue power only to the preest to bynd and to vnbynde whanne he sayd whose synnes ye forgyue they been for yeue and whose synnes ye witholde â–ª they be witholde ¶ yet as by power vertue god losith For there is no power but of god Cryst sayth saint Austyn for vs was crucifyed by whiche and noon other synnes are forgeuyn Therfore oure lord yaue openly the holy goost to men yeuynge vndstondynge that synnes are nat foryeue through merites of men but throughe the godenes of the holy goost For whanne he arose from dethe he sayd to his disciples Taketh the holy gost and whose synnes ye forgyue they are foryâ—uen as who sayth the spiryte that is goâ— forgyueth and nat ye And so he that may forgyue by man may forgyue withoute man The sacrament of grace sayth saint Austyn god forgyueth somtyme by euyll men But grace alone he yeueth but by him selue yet remission of synnes he woâ—cheth bothe by him selue and by the holy goost And thus noman doth away synne but Criste alone ¶ Saint Ambrose and other doctoures sayn that the worde of god foryeueth synnes The preest is the iuge and yet of him selue he hath noo power but of him allone that died for oure synnes Saint Ierom sayth that the same power that Criste yaue to his appostelles after his resurrectioÌ„ The same hath al holy chirch in busshopes prestes But specially petyr and his successoures that all shold vnderstonde that who parteth him fro vnyte of the faith may neuyr be losed from synne ne entre into the blisse of heuyn The preest loseth noon verily but god tho that turnyth to penaunce Then he ministreth rightfully that ministreth of the vertue of god what hadde it profyted to Lazar that he went oute of his tombe but it hadde be said Loseth him and let him go Criste by voys raysed him for his sepulcre And so he went forth that was bounde nat 〈◊〉 myght of his feet but by vertue of 〈◊〉 that raysed him This same is nowe 〈◊〉 done in the herte of a repentant mâ—n whanne thou heryst a man repeÌ„tâ—â—â— for his synne then he begynneth 〈◊〉 lyue agayn whenne he confessyth 〈◊〉 thenne he is brought oute of his seâ—â—â—â—re but yet he is nat losed Se therâ—â—â—â— of whome and whanne he is losed Criste sayth Tho that ye haue losed in erthe shal be losed in heuyn Here take hede howe he saide tho that is to say no man except but who so be repeÌ„taunt and ask foryeuenesse by the churche he shall haue foryeuenesse yet though by the churche synne maye worthely be forgyue the dede may nat ryse but our lorde cry within forth For that is doon within vs maye natt be done of vs but of him The discyples losyd hym lyuyng whom the maister raysed fro dethe For they shold haue reased him dede they shulde haue shewyd more strength then vertue Thus holy churche hath auctorite of her spouse to lose from al maner of synne Saint Austyn saythe that seuenty tymes and seuyn wee be charged to forgyue that is to say to euery man that is repentaunt and asketh foryeuenesse yet may nat euery preest generally do this but in tyme of nede or by auctorite of the pope or of his busshop For right as a maÌ„ hath power to ete and hath nat wherof Soo it is of prestes power all they haue power yet it muste be gyuen theym of their soueraynes whanne where how moche they shall execute Ther may no man chese him a confessoure but the pope aboue without auctorite of him or elles of theym that haue power vnder hym but nedes he muste be shreuyn to his owne curate yet in certen causes by leue of his curat he may As whanne the Curate lacketh discrecion A nother whanne thou chaungest thyn householde art a vagabond or in peryll of deth or whan thou entryst into the see in so greate peryll thou maist also by that confesse the to a lay man and haue foryeuenes And they that thus here the if thou escape muste charge the that thou shewe the same to thyne owne curate Also pilgrames marchauntes and other goers aboute in diuerse countrees in the same wyse ¶ Other causes ther be that thy Curate muste sende the to fore the busshop wherto thou muste nedes obeye And be sorye that thou haste more horribly offendyd god thenne other haue The tokenes of very confession are these The first to shame whan thou shriuest the saith saint Ierom. wexe a shamyd of all the wayes that thou haste goon in syn nat for thy confession but for the fylth of synne that thou shewyst there For nat only oure lord seeth it but also the holy company of heuyn Therfore be ashamed for that maketh the soner to haue mercy of oure lorde Mary mawdeleyn shamed nat to confesse all her synnes in presence of all that were aâ—t the feste Her confession and tearis therfore brought her to blysse The seconde is mekenesse in worde lokynge chere without any sturdynesse as the publycan that thought him self vnworthy to lyfte vp his eyn to heuyn And as poul also obeyed to the callyng of our lord Soo sholdest thou to the byddynge of thy goostly fader and in no wyse tary thy shryfte for these parelles suyng ye that be yet vnshreuyn taketh gode hede vnto this lesson and se what parell ye stonde in The firste is for the vncertaynte of the lyf Scriptur saith that man knoweth nat his ende ne the tyme ne place ne how ne what maner he shall dye and all is for thou sholdest in euery
it newes of flax of hempe of wyndemylles of all maner mylles of all maner marchaundise of chafferynge men â–ª and of men of crafte And all tho that any of these thinges maliciously or wittingly or any other thynges witholde â—che ought to be yeuyn to holy 〈…〉 by goddes lawe to harme of holâ—â—che And tho that therto procour 〈◊〉 â—de or in dede ¶ Modus fulminandi 〈◊〉 prelatus alba indutus cum 〈◊〉 â—acerdotibus in ecclesia existenâ—â—â—â— auce erecta candelis accensi◠〈◊〉 â—pulpito pronuncient verba que sequiltuâ— â–ª ex auctoritate dei patriâ— oâ—â—iâ— potentis et beate marie virginis et 〈◊〉 sanctorum excomunicamus anatheâ—atizamus et dyabolo coÌ„mendamus â—â—â—es supradictâ—s malefactores excomunicati sit â—ematizati et diabolo coÌ„mendati sint in villis in campis in viis semitis in domibus extra domos et in oâ—â—â—bus alus locis stando sedendo iacendo surgeÌ„do ambulando currendo vigilando dormiendo comedendo â—â—â—â—â—do et ali 〈◊〉 faciendo illos a luminibus et oâ—â—â—bus bonis ecclesie sequestramê° et diabolo dampnamus et in penis in ferni extinguimus sicut extinguitur ista candela nisi recipiscant ad satisfactioneÌ„ veniant ¶ Finita sentencia exâ— lumen ad terrorem pulsatis campanis ¶ The bedes on sondaye yE shal knele downe on your knees and lyfte vp your hertes makyng your prayers vnto almyghty god for the good state and peas of al holy churche that god mayntene 〈…〉 kepe it For oure holy fader 〈…〉 and all his true college of car◠〈◊〉 that god for his mercy theim â—â—yntene and kepe in the right byleue and it holde and encrease and all mysbyleue and herisye he lesse and distroye Also ye shall pray for the holy londe for the holy crosse that Iesu cryst dyed on for the redempcion of mannys soul that it may come inâ—o the power of crysten men the more to be honoured for oure prayers Also ye shall praye for all archebusshoppes and busshoppes and in especyall for the archebusshop of Caâ—â—terbury oure metropolytayn and for the busshop of N. oure dyocysan that god of his mercy gyue to hem grace soo to rewle holy churche that it may be to the honoure worshyppe of hym and saluacion of oure soules Also ye shall praye for all abbottes pryoures monkes chanons frerys and for all men and wymen of religion in what ordre estate or degre they stonde in from the hyest estate to the loweste degree ye shall also praye for all theym that haue charge and cure of cristen mennâ— soules as curates persones vicaries prestes and clerkes and in especiall for the persone and curate of this churche and for all the prestes and mynistres that serue therin or haf seruyd and for all theym that haue taken any ordre that god geue theym grace well to kepe and obserue it to the honoure and helthe of their soules ye shall also praye for the vnyte and peas of all cristen realmes and in especiall for the good state peas and traÌ„quylite of this royalme of Englonde For oure 〈…〉 for his greate mercy sende 〈◊〉 grace â–ª so to gouerne and rule 〈…〉 that god â—e pleased and 〈◊〉 and profyt and sauacion oâ— this londe Also ye shall pray for oure stâ—ge lady the quene my lorde the prynce and all the noble progenye of theym For all Dukes Erles Barones knyghtes and Squyers and all other lordes of the kynges counseyll whiche haue any rule and gouernance in this londe that god gyue theym grace so to counceyll rule and gouerne that god be pleased the londe defeÌ„ded to the profyt and sauacion of all the realme Also ye shall praye for the peas bothe on the londe and on the water that god graunte loue and charyte amonge all cristen people ye shall pray for all oure parisshenys whether they be on londe or on water that god saue theym from all maner of perellys and for all the gode men of thys parisshe for theyr wyues children and menye that god theym mayntene saue and kepe ye shall also pray for all true tithers that god multiply her godes and encrease For all true telers that laboure for oure sustenaunce that teyle the erthe and also for al the greynes and frutes that be sowen sett or done on the erth or shal be doon that god sende suche wederynge that they maye growe and multiplye to the helpe and profyt of all mankynde ye shall praye for all true shypmen and marchantes where that they be on the lond or on the water that god kepe hem fro all perylles and brynge theym â—â—me in sauetye with their godes Shippes and marchandyses to the coÌ„forte and prouffyt of this Realme ¶ ye shaâ—â— also praye for thâ—â— that fynd any light in the churche or gyue or byqueth boke bell chalyce or westmente londes rentes lampe or lighte wherby goddes seruyce is the bettre seruyd maynteyned the god rewarde it theim at theyr mooste nede Also ye shal pray for all true pilgrames that haue take their waye to Rome Ierusalem saint Katheryn or saint Iames. or to any other holy place that god of his grace yeue theym tyme and space well for to goo and coÌ„me to the proffyt of theyr lyues and soules Also ye shall praye for all theym that be dyseased in this parysshe that god sende theym helthe the rather for oure prayers For all wymen that been in oure lady bondes in this parisshe or in any other that god lende the children cristendome and the moders purificacion And for all them that wolde be here and may nat for sekenesse trauayll or other lefull occupacion that they may haue parte of al the good dedys that shall be doone in this place or any other Also ye shall pray for all theym that be in good lif that god holde theym longe therin and for theym that be in dett or in dedely synne that iesu crist bryng theim oute therof Also ye shall praye for hym or her that this day gaue the holy brede and for him that firste beganne and leÌ„gest holdeth theron ¶ Furthermore ye shall praye for youre faders soules youre moders soules youre godfaders soules youre godmoders soules youre sustern brethern soules and sa◠〈◊〉 frendes soules all the saules 〈…〉 be dounde to pray fore and for 〈◊〉 â—sten soules that god wolde haue prayed fore ye shall say a Pater noster an Aue maria Deus misereatur Gloria patri Kyrie leyson Pater noster Et ne nos OsteÌ„de nobis domine Domine exaudi oroÌ„nem meam Dominus vobiscum Et. Ecclesie tue Deus in euius manu Vel aliter De profundis ¶ Absolne quesumê° domtue animas famulorum tuorum pontificum reguÌ„ sacerdotum parentum parochianoruÌ„ amicorum benefactorum nostrorum omnium fidelium defunctorum ab oiÌ„ vinculo delictorum vt in resurrectionis gloria inter sanctos et electos tuos resuscitati respirent Per cristum dominum nostrum Amen Emprentyd by me Richarde Pinson
And whan a man is sory for his synnes and sayth thus with a soroful herte god heryth his prayer and foryeueth his trespaces soo that he be neuir in full purpose to synne more butt to amende him and be in parfyt loue and charite withoute any feynynge And but he haue charite withoute feynyng 〈…〉 sample ¶ Narracio ¶ There waâ— a man thâ—â— hadde 〈…〉 and hadde founde 〈◊〉 long to â—â—le and coste him moche good So on â— daye he called his v sones â—ifore hym â–ª and saide Children I haue fouÌ„de you longe to scole and haue spent moche gode vpon you and I se no grete ê“fyt therof wherfore but ye woll among you all assoyll me a question I woll doo no more coste on you ne fynde no lengre to scole And they askyd of their fadre what the question was and it shulde be assoyled And he sayd I am olde and feble and may nat lyue longe and therfore I wolde wyte of you what thiÌ„ge wolde bring a mannes soule sonest to heuyn And anoon the eldest sone answeryd and sayd Forsothe fadre prechynge and techynge wyll bryng a soule sonest to heuyn of any thynge well quod the fadre what saysâ— thou to the secounde sone And he answeryd and saide Feyth and true byleue bringeth a soule assoâ—e to heuyn what sayst thou to the question my thyrde sone And he saide good prayers almes dedes bringeth a soule sone to heuyn what sayst thou to the mater my fourth sone And he sayde pilgramage goynge and greate penaunce suffrynge bringeth a soule soner to heuyn than any of these what sayst thou my fyfte sone And he saide forsothe fadre ther is an other thiÌ„ge that bringeth a soule soner to heuyn than all these what is that sayd the fadre Forsoth fadre sayd he charyte For 〈…〉 nat to 〈◊〉 warde For though a man pray and do â—â—mes dedes goo on pylgramage haâ—e full feyth and beleue teche and preche faste and suffre penaunce neuir soo moche trye and wepe neuir so â—oâ—de â—e oute of charite god heryth him natt And herto accordeth saint poule in his epistyll and sayth thus Si linguis hominum loquar Though I were so eloqueÌ„t as any maÌ„ or any aungell Et si habuero propheciam omnem scienciam And though I hadde all the connynge in the world and knewe the prophecy and the preuyte of god Omnem fidem vt montes traÌ„sferam And though I hadde so moche feyth that I myght meue hylles Et si distribuereÌ„ in cibos pauperum And though I dealyd all my good to pore peple for goddes sake Corpus meum vt ardeam And my body to brenne in hote fyre Caritatem autem non habeam nichill michi prodest If I haue nat charite al this profyteth nat to heuyn wardes ¶ Wherfore it is nedefull and most necessary to euery soule that wyll be sauyd to haue charite But though a maÌ„ say that he loueth god and loueth nat his eyn cristen he is deceyued For he that loueth god loueth his nyghboure in gode entente Thus muste a man be full of charite that wyll be sauyd Caritas cooperit multitudineÌ„ peccatorum For charite couerith the multitude of 〈…〉 deyeth in 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 of charite shall be 〈…〉 And therfore of all 〈…〉 â—oost vertuous and moost â—â—â—ssarye to a mannyâ— soule yet we must â—aue a stable feyth withoute flaterynge and to byleue sadly aâ— holy churche techeth and to bileue faithfully in the fadre sone and holy goost the fadre full god the sone full god and the hooly goste full god And thies thre persones been but oon god that made al thinge of noghte This feyth was â—â—ste shewyd to the holy patriark Abraham in the vaâ—e of mambre Ther he sawe thre fayr meÌ„ coÌ„mynge towarde him but he worshyped but one yeuynge ensample to all cristen people to se in the spirite the fadre the sone and the holy goost thre persones and oon in godhede and worship them as one god Also ye must byleue the incarnacion of oure lorde iesu criste that oure lady conceyued in the hooly goost withoute wâ—â—me of her body in flesshe and blood as one of vs and very god and man and was dede and beried Tercia die resurrâ—â—n a mortius And on the thridde day he rose from dethe to lyue Ascendâ— ad â—eâ—os And â—â—yed vp to heuyn on holy thoursdaye Iude venturus est iudicare vâ—â—os â— morâ—â—os And shall coÌ„me ayen at the daye of dome and deme the quycke and the dede This is figured by Isaac the sone of Abraham that he gate on his wyf Sara through the holy goste whanne they were both passed age to bringe for the any frute For god saide to AbrahaÌ„ he shuld haue frute as grete 〈◊〉 multitude as were stâ—rres in the 〈◊〉 Thenne whan this child was borne he was called Isaac and whan he was fyue and twenty yere of age god said to Abraham in this wyse take thy sone Isaac go to suche an hyll as he shewyd to him and offre him in sacrifice that was to sle him as the maner was somtyme Thenne abraham had by heste of god to haue greate issue though he louyd his sone neuir somoch yet he toke him anon withoute gruchinge and went to the hyll and made his sone Isaac to bere woode to brenne hym selfe with And whan they came to the hyll toppe Abraham made an auster of wode and sette it on fyre and thenne he toke his sone Isaac and wold haue slayne him and offeryd to god TheÌ„ne anone spake an aungel to abraham and badde him leue of and take the shepe that stode therby and offer him in stede of thy sone Isaac ¶ By abraham ye may vnderstonde the fadre of heuyn and by Isaac his sone iesu criste that spared nat for no loue that he had to him But suffred the â—ewys to ley wode vpon his backe that was the croce that he shulde be doon on him selue and ladde him to the hyll of caluarye there dyd him vpon the altre of woode that was the croce that was made of foure diuerse maner of wode That was cedre cypresse olyue and palme and theron he dyed for all mankynde Thus may criste well be called Isaac that is to vnderstonde laughter for many a soul he broughte oute of hell laughing that went thidre sore wepynge Thenne lyke as this was a figure of cristes passion loÌ„ge or he was borne Right so this daye â—â—iste him self in the gospel sayd 〈◊〉 to his disciples that he shulde be betrayed Vnde Tradetur enim gentibus et illudetur et flagellabitur et conspuetur et postquam flagellauerunt eum die tercia resurge And howe he shuld be taken and beâ—en with scourges spytte vpon and after his scourgynge doon vpon the croce so sle him the thridde daye shall ryse ayen to lyf â—nd for they shulde haue the bettre byleue therto and to his wordes anoon to
that he sawe our lady was wyth elysabeth vnto the tyme that Iohan was borne and was mydwyf to elysabeth toke saynt iohan from the erthe and whan neyghbours herde that elysabeth had a sone they were full glad and come thyder as the maner was that tyme. to gyue the chyld a name called it zacary after the fader But elysabeth bad calle hym Iohn But for there was none of the kynne of that name they asked zacary by synes what the chyld shold hyght Thenne he wrote to them and bad calle hym Iohan. And therwyth god losed zacaryas tonge spake redely thanked god hyghly Thus was IohaÌ„ holy or he was borne And for he wold gyue euery man syghte of grace and of good liuing he gaue hem ensample for assone as he was of couenable age he wente in to deserte was there tyll our lord come to be cristened of hym Iohannes habuit vestimenta de pilis camelorum Iohan had his cloth made of the here of the camel and a gyrdel aboute him of the same skynne Esca autem eius erat locusta et mel siluestre Forsothe his mete was leues honysocles that hath a whyte floure that growethe in trees he ete al maner of wormes that were noryshed in that deserte amonge herbes and the wormes be as grete as a mannis fynger and sucked hony off floures that be called hanysocles thaâ— poure people gadren and fry heâ— oyle to her mete Also Iohan ete 〈◊〉 rounde leues that growen in trees in that deserte And whan they be broâ—en bytwene a manniâ— hondis thei be swete as hony and he dranke water of the welle that was in the deserte there was Iohnes life in that deserte tyl that our lord was xxx wynter of age And thenne our lord and Iohan met at the water of flain Iordan And thenne iohan tolde the people of crist and said Ecce agnus dei See the lambe of god that I haue tolde you of that shall fulfyll you in the holy gost TheÌ„ne went Iohn in to the water there he baptysed crist and whan he was baptysed Ecce aperti sunt celi Heuen opened Et vidit spiritum dei descenteÌ„ sicut columba And he sawe the holy goost come downe as a doue Et vox de celo dicens And a voys from heuen spake thus Ecce filius meus dilectus in quo michi bene complacui This is my welbeloued sone that pleseth me Here lerned iohan first to knowe thre persones in trynyte all this betokeneth two fyres The thirde fyre of bones betokeneth Iohnes marterdoÌ„ for his bones were brent and how ye shall here ¶ we rede the kyng herode had a broder that highte Phylippe and he had a fair woman to his wyf and herode louyd her 〈◊〉 And helde her vndre his wyf where Ihon repreuyd him and sayd Non licet tibi habere vxorem fratris tui It is nat laufull to the to haue thy broders wyf And therfore he putt hym in pryson and ordeyned bitwene him his wyf how Iohn might be dede with oute troublyng of the people for the comen people loued Iohn well Thenne herode ordeyned to make a grete feste to all the states of the countre for they shulde holde with him if the peple had rysen And so whan the daye was com that the feste shulde be holde and al the people were seruyd at the mete herodes wyf as couenaunt was bitwene theim tho sent her doughter into the hall for to daunce and to tomble afore the gestes And that pleased her fader so well that he swore a grete othe and saide Pete a me quod vis dabo tibi Ask of me what thou wylt and I shal gyue it the. Thenne as her modre bad her saye she saide Caput Iohannis baptiste The hede of Iohn Baptyst Then herode fayned him wrothe and sory that he hadde made suche an othe But he was glad in his hert thenne seÌ„t into pryson to smyte of Iohnes hede withoute any other dome and was brought to the damoysell Then the modre lete bury it in a pryuy place ferre from the body ¶ Thenne the next night after Iohnes disciples came and toke his body buryed it And there it laye tyll Iulyan the appostita the emperour come that waye Then he made take vp Iohnes bones to brenne them to wyndow theym in the wynde hopynge that he shuld neuer ryse ayen to lyf ¶ Thus ye may vnderstonde how holy that this man was Thenne an aungell come fro heuyn and tolde zacary of his conceyuig and was halowed in his moders woÌ„be and oure lady toke him from therth in his byrthe and an aungell brought his name fro heuyn and after he criste nyd oure lorde iesu criste this was an holy man ¶ ye shall vnderstonde thaâ— sainte Iohn the euangelyst dyed the same daye but holy churche maketh noo mencion therof For his day is holde in cristmas weke Then for these ii Iohns beholden the worthiest saintes in heuyn Thenne there were two scolars of dyuynite the one louyd Iohn Baptyst the other Iohn euaÌ„gelyst And on a day they purposed to dispute in this mater and the day was assigned but thenne the night bifore either Iohnes appered to their louers and bad theym leue ther disputacion for they were well accorded in heuyn and made no stryf And thenne on the morow bifore al the people either tolde his vision that were come to here theym dispute ¶ And thenne all the people thanked god almyghty and bothe saint Iohns of this faire miracle ¶ Alsoo there were two meselles that louyd wele thies two Iohnes And so as they were in coÌ„mynge they spake of these two saintes whiche were the gretest in heueÌ„ And soo that one saide that the one was greter thanne that other and so they begannne to fyghte Thenne there come a voys fro heuen and sayd we fyghte not in heuen and therfore fighte not ye in erthe for vs. for we ben in peas and so be ye And therwyth they were bothe hole of their sykenesse and thanked god and bothe saynt Iohannis and afterwarde they were holy men ¶ And therfore lete vs worshyppe thyse holy sayntes· that they maye praye for vs that we may come to euerlastynge blisse ¶ SctoÌ„rum Petri Pauli GOod frendes suche a daye ye shall haue the feste of saynt Peter and Poule and ye shall faste the euyn and on the morowe come vnto the chirche And worshyp god and praye to thyse two saintes that were holy appostles to praye for vs. Oure lord hath peter on the one syde poule on the other syde And he hath his woundes open and fresshe bledyng shewing to all maner of cristen people that he suffred those woundes for vs. that bee the v. welles of mercy that he suffred for vs. ¶ ye shall vnderstonde that thyse two appostles were first grete synners But for they left her synne and were sory