braunche of pryde is ypocrysye capitulo xxij THe vj braūche of the synne of pryde is ypocrysye thys is a synne that sheweth good dedes wythoutforth whiche ben not withinforth thēne they ben ypocrites which countrefayte the wyse man withoutfort and they be nothyng soo wythinforth For they do more in the entencyon to haue the name of a good man than the trouthe and the holynesse And this is departed in to thre partyes For there is one ypocrysye folysshe one foule and one subtyl They be foule ypocrytes that doon the ordures and fylthes of synne secretelye in hyd places and countrefete the good men tofore the people Our lord calleth them in the gospel sepulcres paynted gylte They ben folysshe ypocrytes that kepe them clene ynough as toward theyr body do moche grete penaunce good werkes pryncypally for the praysyng of the world by cause they wold be reputed and holden for good and holy Suche peple ben wel folysshe For of good metal they make false money They ben subtyl ypocrytes that wyl moūte in hye estate taken aweye and stele the dygnytees and offyces They doo al that a good man ought to do so subtylly that no man may knowe it vnto the tyme that it be achyeued and goten and al redy mounted and reysed in to hye estate and dygnytees thēne they shewe theyr vyees theyr fayntyses the ypocresyes that were in them wythin theyr herte That is to wete pryde auaryce malyce other euyl werkys by whyche may be clerely knowen theyr wyckednesse and theyr ypocresye And that the tree was neuer good and that alle the werke and dede of suche a persone was fayntyse ypocresye of that he had shewed tofore ¶ The seuenth braunche of pryde is fool drede capo. xxiij THe seuenth braunche of pryde is fool drede fole shame that is whan one leueth to do wel for the world to th ēde that he be not reputed and holden for an ypocryte and a papelart fereth and doubteth more the world than god Thys shame cometh of euyl playsaunce whan one wyl playse the wycked and euyl And therfore is she doughter of pryde And the seuenth braunche pryncypal maketh a persone oftymes to leue to doo wel for to playse wyckedly the world ¶ The ij heed of the beest of helle is enuye capitulo xxiiij THe second heed of the beest of helle is enuye This is the serpente that enuenymeth alle Enuye is moder of the dethe And by the enuye of the deuyl came the dethe to the world ¶ Thys is the synne that moost ryght maketh a man to resemble vnto the deuyl hys fader For the deuyl hateth nothyng more than the we le of another And loueth no thynge but the harme of another And by thys synne the enuyous man may not see the wele of another nomore than the oule may see the clerenesse of the sonne ¶ Thys synne is departed in to thre braunches pryncypal For thys synne poysenneth fyrst the hert of thenuyous persone and after the mouthe And after that the werkys The herte of the enuyous is so poysonned and ouertorned that it may not see the good of another but that it gryeue hys herte wythinforth and Iudgeth euyl that which he seeth or that he hereth he taketh and demeth alwaye the werste And in alle thys he dooth hys owen harme ¶ The hert of an enuyous persone hath so many venymous thoughtes and fals demynges Iugementes that they may not be nombred After thys whan the enuyous persone dooth or hereth ony euyl of ony other what someuer he be is hyt of harme of his body as euyl of hys deth or of hys sekenesse or of euyl fortune as of pouerte or euyl spyrytuel lyke as whan he hereth that somme whyche haue been holden for good men been blamed and deffamed of somme vyces and deffaultes Of these thynges enioyeth the enuyuos persone in hys herte After whan thenuyous persone hereth and seeth the we le of another Thenne cometh to hym a sorowe and an heuynesse to his herte that he may not be eased ne make good chere ne fayr semblaunte Now mayst thou see that the venemous herte of thenuyous persone synneth generally In malyce in gladnes ioye of the harme of other and in sorow of the we le of another Thus synneth the enuyous by his mouth For nedes must suche wyne come oute of the tappe as is wythin the vessel And by cause that the herte is al ful of venym it byhoueth that suche yssue oute of the mouthe Thenne by the mouthe of thenuyous persone yssue thre maners of venymous wordes of whome dauyd spekyth in hys psaulter that the mouthe of thenuyous persone is ful of maledyctyon For of the good we le of another he myssayeth appayreth and lasseth as moche as he may Of hurtyng For al the harme and deffaultes of another he secheth sercheth and sheweth forth to hys power Of Trayson For alle that he seeth or hereth he peruerteth to hys power and tourneth it to euyl and Iudgeth it falselye ¶ After the enuyous persone hath thre maners of venym in werke lyke as he hath in his mouthe and in hys herte For the nature of the enuyous is to quenche and to destroye to hys power alle goodnesses be they lytyl be they grete or myddle or perfyght ¶ Thenne he is of the nature of a basylyke that may suffre no verdure nygh vnto hym neyther herbe ne busshe ne tree ¶ Thenne after the gospel the good or wele hath in hym self thre estates For it is fyrst as in the herbe after in the ere and after it is ful of grayn Thenne al thus there be sōme that haue good begynnyng to come wel forth and to prouffyte wel ben lyke as the herbe Them the enuyous thynketh to destroye yf he may thother ben also lyke theerys of corne that floure wel and prouffyte wel to god and to the world And them the fende cryeth to destroye and to shame to hys power The other been perfyte in grete estate do moche good to god and to the world For to bete doun theyr good loos renomee and for to mynysshe theyr good dedes thenuyous dresseth alle his engynes For as moche gretter as the goodnes is So moche more sorow he hath This synne is soo perylous that vnnethe may one that vseth hit come a ryght to veray repentaunce For this synne is contrarye to the holy goost whyche is fontayne of all goodnesses And god sayth in the gospel who that synneth ayenst the holy ghoost he shal neuer haue for yeuenes ne mercy in thys world ne in that other ¶ For he synneth of his propre malyce And it ought hooly to be vnderstonde that there is noo synne how grete it be but that god foryeueth and pardoneth in this world yf a persone repenteth wyth good herte But vnnethe it happeth that ony repente of this synne For suche one warreth wyth hys power the grace of the holy
ghoost in that that he warreth the spyrytuel good of another ¶ In lyke wyse as the Iewes warryd ageynst our lord Ihesu Cryst for the good that he dyd ¶ And ye ought to knowe that there be vj synnes specyally ayenst the holy ghoost That is to wete presumpcyon whyche enlargeth ouermoche to synne and preyseth lytel the Iustyce of our lord and ouermoche to truste in his mercy And therfore moche peple synne in hope ¶ The second synne ageynste the holy ghoost is in despayr whyche bynymmeth and taketh aweye from god hys mercy Lyke as presumpcyon taketh from hym hys Iustyce The thyrd is obstynacyon Thys is hardenesse of herte ¶ whan one is soo enharded in his synne and in his malyce that he may not be humbled ne meked ne bowe and wyl not repente hym ne amende The fourth synne ageynst the holy ghoost is despyte of penaunce That is whan a man purposeth in hys herte that he shalle neuer repente hym of hys synne The fyfthe is to warre ayenst the grace of the holy ghoost in another The vj is to warre ayenst trouthe in ernest wetyngly and in especyal the trouthe of the crysten fayth Al these synnes ben ageynst the bounte and goodnes of the holy ghoost and they been soo grete that vnnethe they come to veray repentaunce And therfore been they vnnethe forgyuen and pardoned ¶ The iij heed of the beest of helle is Ire or wrath capo. xxv THe thyrd heed of the beest is Ire But thou owest to knowe that there is an yre whyche is vertuous that the good men haue ayenste thys synne whyche geten the vertues ayenst the vyces There is another Ire whyche is a moche grete vyce that is felonnye of herte oute of whome yssuen many braunches And in especyal foure warres that the felons haue ¶ Of the fyrst warre of the synne of yre which is suche xxvj THe fyrst warre of the synne of yre is to hym self for whan Ire surmounteth the man she tormenteth the soule the body soo moche that the man may not slepe ne reste Somtyme yre taketh awaye the etyng drynkyng and maketh one to falle in a feuer or in so grete heuynesse or malancolye or despayr that he taketh the deth This is a fyre that wasteth alle the goodes of the how 's ¶ The second warre that the felon hath that is to god For yre and felonnye surmounte and fyre somtyme alle the people by aduersyte temporalle or by maladye and sekenesse or by dethe of frendys Or by ony manere of meschaunce that hys wylle is not doon that he grutcheth and murmureth ayenst god our lord sayth maugre and in despyte of god and of alle hys Sayntes And swereth and blasphemeth ayenst god his blessyd sayntes The thyrd warre of Ire that the felon hath that is vnto them that ben vnder hym that is to his wyf to his meyne breketh pottes cuppes lyke as he were oute of his wytte and so is he The fourth warre is wythoutforth to his neyghbours and bydwellers aboute hym of this braunche growe vj bowes For whan Ire ryseth bytwene two men there is theÌ„ne stryf dyscorde wordes vylonyes wronges And after rancour whyche dwellyth in the herte after cometh hate medlyng and bataylle after desyre for tauenge hym after otherwhyle homycyde and manslaughter After cometh ofte mortalle warre emonge the frendes out of whiche yssuen ofte euyls in dyuers maners and many that may not be amended For whan there is warre bytwene two hye grete men hyt happeth ofte that many men be slayn whyche neuer had blamed ne â—â—espaced monasteryes and chyrches broken vp and somtyme brente townes destroyed and brente Abbayes and grete pryoryes destroyed men wymmen and chyldren dysheryted and put to pouerte· robberyes wymmen maryed maydens defouled and corupte and ouer many other euylles that ben doo for that cause And al this be they bounden to rendre to make amendys al they by whome soo many myschyefs harmes haue be doon And al they that haue ben in theyr helpe in suche wycked euyl werkes and therfore be they in grete peryll of dampnacyon ferre fro theyr sauacyon For they may not amende ne rendre the daÌ„mages that they haue doon and they behoue to restore or to be forlore ¶ Of the synne of slouthe which is sayd accydye capo. xxvij THe fourth heed of the beest of helle is slouthe whyche is callyd of clerkys accidye This synne is greuous to doo wel This synne is an ouer euyl rote and casteth oute many euyl braunches For this synne causeth a man to come vnto euyl amendemente and more euyl begynnyng and ouer euyl endyng The slowe persone hath euyl begynnyng by vj maners of synnes The fyrst vyce is fayntnes that is whan a man loueth lytyl and fayntly our lord whome he oweth to loue ardantly and this happeth whan he is flawe latchous and slowful to do wel The second vyce of slouthe is tendrenesse that is the bedde wherin the deuyl resteth hym and sayth to the man or woman Thou hast be euer tenderly nourysshed thou arte of ouer feble complexyon Thou mayst not do grete penaunces thou arte ouer tendre thou sholdest anone be dâ—ed for this the caytyf suffreth to be cherysshed and to doo alle the eases and the delyte of his body The thyrd vyce is ydlenesse This is a synne of whome cometh many euyls as the holy scrypture sayth For whan the deuyl fyndeth a man ydle he putteth hym anone in his werkys that is he maketh hym fyrst to thynke euyl to desyre vylonyes rybaudryes lecheryes to lose his tyme. and to leue to do moche good that he myght do by whyche he myght gete heuen The fourth vyce of slouth is heuynesse whan a man is so heuy that he secheth nothynge ne loueth so moche as to lye doun reste and slepe Somtyme how wel he be slowe· they been wakre and quycke ynough to the nedes of the world But they be al slepy to the nedes and werkys of god and for to do the werkys that shold be to their sauacyon these maner men had leuer lose thre masses than a swete or a good slepe The fyfthe vyce of slouthe is shrewdnes or cursydnes that is whan a man lyeth in synne and feleth the temptacyons of the deuyl of hys flesshe that assaylle hym And for veray shrewdnesse he wyl not lyft vp his hede ne his herte to god by contrycyon Ne crye to god deuoutelye by confessyon Ne stratche vp his handes to god by satysfaccioÌ„ To suche slouthe resembleth the wycked man that had lyeuer rote in foule stynkyng pryson than to take vn hym the laboure to goo vp the steyer or the degrees for tescape goo his waye ¶ Of pusyllanymyte of delaye werynes capitulo xxviij THe vj vyce of slouthe is pucyllanymyte In this vyce be they that haue fere and drede of nought dare not begynne to do wel for they haue drede that god shal fayle them This
sayd onelye that hyt is substancyous bytwene ony vnderstondyng and supposyng but it is sayd sursubstancious This brede requyre we at our good fader Ihesu Cryste and we praye hym that he wyl gyue it to vs in this day that is in this presēt mortal lyf to th ēde that we may make a good Iourneye and abyde more gladly our rewarde that is in the ende of our lyf the glorye perdurable ¶ Here foloweth the v petycion and request of the holy pater noster capitulo lxxxiij DImitte nobis debita nostra sicut nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris In this request and petycyon we requyre and demaunde our good fader of heuen that he wyl pardonne and foryeue vs our synnes and our trespaces lyke as we foryeue them that haue trespaced to vs. or that trespasse to vs. Thēne we say thus fayr fader quyte to vs our debtes lyke as we quyte our dettours· Our dettes ben our synnes whyche we haue encreased vpon our soules This is the best and moost dere wedde that we may fyne wherof the synnar for one dedely synne whiche is soo sone passed as to the delyte or as touchyng the dede is bounden to so grete vsure that he hath noo power to paye ne to fynyssbe· that is the payne of helle whyche is wythoute ende ¶ After he oweth vnto god whome he hath dysplesed so grete amendes that he hath noo power to paye it For in alle his lyf yf he lyued an hondred yere or more he myght ne coude not make suffysaūt penaunce For one dedely synne onely· yf god wold vse hys ryghtful Iustyce it shold neuer be fogyuen to the ¶ And therfore it byhoueth that in bytter and grete repentaunce the wycked synnar retorne vnto the mercy of the debonayr and blessyd lord Ihesu Cryste And that he crye hym mercy and demaunde pardon and foryeuenes ¶ For by the ryght of the courte of Iustyce the synner shal be Iuged and condeuipned vnto deth perdurable And therfore our good fader Ihesu cryst which is softe and debonayr for to foryeue pardone large curtoys for to yeue we praye hym that he wyl pardone foryeue to vs our synnes trespaces But thynke and consider wel how thou prayest For thou sayst pardone to vs our synnes our trespaces lyke as we pardone to them that to vs haue trespaced God shal not foryeue ne pardone to vs as he hym self sayth in the gospel yf we foryeue not pardone to other that haue trespaced to vs. Thenne he that saith his pater noster yf he kepe in his hert rancour felonnye he prayeth more ayenst hym self than for hym self For he prayeth to god that he forgyue hym not his synnes whan he sayth foryeue me lyke as I forgyue therfore al the tymes that thou shalt say thy pater noster tofore god that seeth thyn hert Thou oughtest to forgyue al euyl talentes and cast out of thyn hert al Ire and alle rancour Otherwyse thy prayer is more ayenst the than with the. yf it seme to the an hard thynge greuous to foryeue pardone to them that hate the and that wylle the euyl or that haue moche trespaced to the. or myssayed Thynke that god pardoned his deth to them that crucefyed hym for to gyue to the an exaumple for to forgyue and more yet for to praye for them that haue trespaced to the that god forgyue them and more yet for to do wel good to them to helpe them yf they haue nede For as he sayth in the gospel that it is not a grete thynge ne grete meryte ayenst god to do good to them that do vs good ne to loue them that loue vs For so done the paynyms and the Sarasyns Iewes and other synners ¶ But we that been the chyldren of god by fayth by grace and been named crysten of our blessyd Lord Ihesu Cryste and been heyres wyth hym of the herytage of heuen ought for to foryeue eche other And also ought for to loue our enemyes That is to saye theyr persones and praye for theym and to do good to them yf they haue nede For so comandeth god in the gospel Thenne we ought onely hate the synnes to loue her soules Lyke as the membres of one body loue supporte eche other yf one membre hurte that other by aduenture that other aduengeth hym not And therfore we that ben al one body in Ihesu Cryste lyke as thappostle sayth we ought to loue and supporte eche other and not to hate ne to greue who that dooth otherwyse he is an homycyde of hym self thys sayth the scrypture Suche there be that can say their pater noster that it were better for them and more auaylable that they coude say it aryght For who that pardoneth not ne foryeueth wyth hert and wyth mouthe he moeueth his Iuge ayenst hym In this prayer that we make to god we requyre of hym the yefte of scyence whyche maketh a man wyse and cunnyng This spyrite sheweth to hym what he is fro whēs he cometh whyther he gooth and what he hath don what he hath trespaced how moche he hath lente and how moche he oweth And whan he seeth that he hath not wherof to paye thenne this spyryte maketh hym to repente to wepe and to syghe and to crye god mercy and say O good lord foryeue and pardonne to me my debtes that be my synnes· for I am moche endetted vnto the. for the euylles synnes that I haue commysed and doon for the good dedes that I haue forgoten and lefte to do whiche that I ought myght haue doon and for the goodes and benefaytes that thou hast done to me· the grete bountees which I haue al day receyued euyl vsed them and haue euyl seruyd the. And by cause lord that I moche drede doubte to make my payement I requyre the to pardone me that whiche I owe vnto the. whan thys spyryte of scyence hath thus enlumyned hym that he knoweth his defaultes and synnes Thenne he casteth oute of his hert alle hate and rancour and pardoneth alle his euyl wylle angre yf he haue ony And yf he haue ony and is in wylle and in purpose to pardone and foryeue wyth good hert yf ony haue trespaced to hym Thenne may he wel say Fayr fader forgyue vs our trespaces lyke as we do to them that haue trespaced to vs. ¶ The vj peticion request of the pater noster capo. lxxxiiij ET ne nos inducas in temptacionem Brent chylde fyre dredeth he that somtyme is fallen in to synne whan hys synne is pardoned hym he is more doubtous and more aferde and hath more drede of the temptacyon of synne than he had tofore therfore he prayeth to god to whome he hath so moche trespaced and also that hath forgyuen and pardoned hym that he wyl kepe hym fro fallyng in to hit ageyn saith thus Et ne
thorough lyke a mynystrel whyche abydeth not gladly in his hous For he hath noo werse home than his owne But in his owne hert a man ought to dwelle and consyder all his synnes and his deffaultes wherof he ought to yelde acompts and reason truly to god and to his confessour and ought to remembre to ordeyne wel his acompte lyke as he that is adiourned tofore hys lord for to rendre acompte of al his receytes and payementes And also wel to take hede tofore the wrytyng of his conscyence that he faylle not to accompte alle hys lyf For yf he faylle of hys acompte god shal not faylle of his whan a man hath dylygently remembred hys synnes and beholden how and in how many maners he hath dysplesed god and how oftymes and how gretelye he hath synned And how longe he hath abyden in synne Thenne he ought to confesse hym anone and hastelye ¶ And thys is the second condycyon that ought to be in confessyon The kyng Dauyd rose at mydnyght for to confesse hym lyke as he sayth in the psaulter and abode neuer vnto a moneth ne to the ende of a yere And the wyse man sayth thus in another place Ne tarye thou not to conuerte to god ne withdrawe the not ne seke no delayes fro day to ady For in taryeng is moche peryl for many reasons Fyrst for the condycyon of synne For synne is a fyre brennyng whyche may not be quenched but by lacrymable confessyon And moche were he a fool that sawe hys how 's brenne and wold not hastely renne to fetche water for to quenche the fyre ¶ Also it is a grete maladye sekenesse to dwelle in synne and the veray medecyne is confessyon And certeyn lytel prayseth he hys helthe that seeth hym self seek to the deth and desyreth not to be guarysshed and helyd ¶ Also the deth whiche is nyghe and alle aboute to espye the synnar· ought to moeue and excyte hym hastelye to confesse hym For he knoweth not the day the houre ne the poynte or mynute whan the dethe shal come whyche surpryseth ofte the synnar there where he taketh none hede And certeynlye who that knewe what day he shold deye he shold make hym redy in the beste and hastyest wyse that he myght ¶ Also yf a synnar sawe wel the perylle wherein he is For he is in the holde and pryson of synne and in the throte of the lyon of helle and of the dragon that wyl deuoure hym he shold hastely goo to confessyon that assone as he myght ¶ Also a synnar ought to see what he hath loste by hys synne the goodes perdurable and the goodes spyrytuel Hys tyme and hym self whyche he myght al recoure by deuoute confessyon Moche thenne were he a fool yf he hasted not to recouure that whyche he had loste ¶ Also the mercy of god that abydeth for the synnar knocketh at hys dore as sayth the apocalypse For that he ought to haste hym to be confessyd For of as moche as god abydeth so longe the synnar of soo moche is hys Iustyce more harde and more cruel whan he seeth hym slowe and neclygente For lyke as the archyer gyueth to hys bowe more bente and tharbalester to the crosse bowe soo moche more smyteth it the harder and stronger And certeynlye god hath his bowe bente and redy to loze as sayth the Psaulter for to slee the synnars yf they wyl not conuerte them and yf they take not good hede ¶ Also the synnar that ouerlonge taryeth to confesse hym forgeteth ofte hys synnes Soo that it happeth that vnnethe that he is wel and truly confessyd For he forgeteth many synnes whyche he shal neuer remembre and so of them shall he neuer repente ne neuer be confessed of whyche it is to hym grete perylle ¶ Also whan a synnar is tofore hys confessour he ought to expresse and saye hys synnes clerely so that hys confessour see euydently hys herte and al thentencyon of hym that confesseth hym For the seek man ought to dyscoure his maladye vnto the physycyen ellys the physycyen myght not werke Ne the Surgyen ne myght not hele the sore but yf he sawe the wounde And therfore sayth the wyse man yf thou wylt that the Surgyan hele the. thou must dyscouere to hym thy wounde or sore ¶ Thenne the truaunte and the lame â—echen the to confesse the whyche shewen theyr maladyes and laye forth the foulest tofore for to haue almesse Thus thenne ought the synnar to dyscouer hys synnes to hys confessour for to haue mercy· and thys is the thyrd condycyon that ought to be in confessyon ¶ Also the synnar ought to confesse hym entyerly and hooly this is the fourth condycyon For he ought to saye alle hys synnes grete and lytel and alle the cyrcumstaunces of the synnes· Thenne he ought fyrst to byholde the dedely synnes· of whyche I haue spoken tofore and to confesse hym hooly of eueryche of them after that he feleth hym culpable wythoute to hyde ony thynge and wythoute sayeng more and wythoute excusyng hym· and wythoute to accuse ony other ¶ Ryght soo confessyd hym Dauyd that sayth in the Psaulter I shalle confesse me and shal saye all my synne ayenst me and not ayenst other lyke as ypocrytes whyche put alwaye the fayrest outward and telle theyr good dedes and hyde theyr euyl dedes And accusen other of that whyche they them self be more culpable of For they see wel a lytel festue or a lytel mote in the eyen of other and beholde not a grete beme or blocke whyche is in theyr owen eyen that is to saye the grete synnes that been in them Suche was the pharyse of whome the gospel sayth that he remembred hys good dedes and despysed the publycan that humbly smote his breste in the temple and cryed God mercy and sayd Lord god haue pyte and mercy on me poure synnar Thus ought the synnar Iuge hym self tofore god not aledge hys synne but to agryeue poyse· and recounte clerely wythoute lyeng ¶ Also confessyon ought to be hole and not departed to dyuers confessours· For it ought to be sayd alle to one confessour and not one parte to one and another parte to another god loueth not suche departyng ¶ Also a man ought not to saye onelye the synnes but alle the cyrcumstaunces whyche agreuen moche the synnes For the synnes ben perauenture more grete in one persone than in another as in a relygyous man more than in a seculer In a prelate than in a symple man ¶ Also thys is more grete synne in one place than in another as in a monasterye· or in ony other holy place· more than in an vnhalowed place also in one tyme more than in another as in lente or on festeful dayes ¶ Also whan one synneth wytyngly and in ernest he synneth more than whan one synneth ygnorantlye ¶ Also one ought for to saye the condycyon of the synne For it is gretter synne with a wedded woman
hym and whan he was in the waye he fonde a grete masse of golde and thenne he thought that god had rendred and yelden hys promesse and retorned in pees ¶ Also of another poure man by cause that he had herde that god wold so gyue an hondred for one he gaf hys cowe vnto hys curate whyche was ryche The preest took gladly thys cowe and sente it to hys pasture where as hys other kyen were And at euen the poure mans cowe came ageyn home brought an C. kyen longyng to the preest with hyr whan the pour man sawe that he thought that god had kept his promesse accordyng to the gospel the sayd kyen were Iuged tofore the bysshop to the poure maÌ„ ayenst the preest These ensauÌ„ples toforesaid shewen wel that mercy is good marchauÌ„dise for it eÌ„creaceth wel the goodes temporel Also mercy eÌ„petreth geteth of god the goodes spirituel ê‘durable wherof saynt Poule sayth that it auaylleth to alle thynge For she gyueth lyf grace in this present lyf and the lyf of glorye wythoute ende in that other And therfore sayth Dauyd in hys psaulter that god loueth mercy and trouthe For she gyueth grace in thys world and glorye in that other ¶ Also mercy and almesse kepeth a man fro alle perylles delyuerth hym from spyrytuel deth that is fro synne and fro the deth of helle For many dede men haue ben reysed to lyf by the werkes of mercy that haue be doon wherof there be many ensaumples in wrytyng of the lyues of sayntes that is of the deth perdurable of helle Therfore sayd Thobye to his sone Be thou sayd he pyteous and mercyful as moche as thou mayste For almesse delyuerth and kepeth fro alle synne and fro the deth of helle and defendeth the soule that it goo not in to the derknesse of helle ¶ Now hast thou herde the braunches and the degrees of mercy by whyche she groweth and prouffyteth Now the byhoueth to see the braunches of this tree by whiche she mounteth by whyche it descendeth ¶ Here after folowen the brannches of the vertu of mercy of almesse capitulo Cxxxj THis tree hath moo brauÌ„ches thaÌ„ thother toforesayd for it extendeth more than the other wherof there been brauÌ„ches on the ryzt syde on the lyft syde On the right syde ben the werkes of mercy whiche touche the soule They ben the spyrituel werkes of mercy on the lyft syde ben the bodyly werkes of mercy which apperteyne to the body on the ryght syde be vij brauÌ„ches The fyrst is to gyue good counceyl to them that haue nede onely for the loue of god purely not for to coueyte other thyng temporel therfore as doon these aduocates men of lawe that taken with bothe handes of that one partye of that other And gyuen ofte tymes many euyl counseylles for to haue money or for yeftes or for drede or for fauour of ryche men but they that haue god tofore theyr eyen and counceyl the synnars to leue theyr synne and saue them Or they that be oute of synne to kepe them to th eÌ„de that they falle not therto ageyn lyke as confessours ought to doo and the prelates the good men in what someuer estate they be they doon the first werke of mercy spyrytuel and this is the fyrst braunche of the ryght syde The second braunche is to teche and enseygne them that a man hath to gouerne As a prelate his subgettes whome he ought to fede wyth good doctryne wyth good ensaumple In lyke wyse ought the mayster doo to his dyscyples in doctryne in scyence and in good maners Also the faders the moders theyr chyldren in suche wyse that they kepe them fro synne vyces that they accustome them to do wel and that they kepe them fro lyeÌ„g fro sweryng fro euyl playes games fro euyl companye specyally the chyldren of grete lordes and of ryche men ouzten to be best enformed in good maners For the chyldren wyl alle waye holde theyr fyrst forme And therfore they ought to be enformed to do wel ¶ The thyrd braunche is to reprehende and chastyse the fooles and the wycked people of theyr folyes and this apperteyneth specyally to the prelates and to the prynces whyche oughten to chastyse theyr subgettes whan they knowe that they be wycked For whan they suffre the synnes where they myght amende them and wyl not they ben partyners· ¶ Ne noo prynce ne prelate ought not to suffre ony wyckednesse in a man aboute hym yf he may knowe it For yf he haue aboute hym euyl wycked meyne yf he knoweth it or supposeth yf he remedye it not It is a sygne that he is noo good man for it is comynly sayd suche lord suche meyne after the lord the meyne folowe oftymes it happeth that the lord is deffamed by his euyl meyne and therfore ne for hauoyr ne for fauour ne for famyliarite of persones a lord ouzt not to doubte to take awaye the synnes that been aboute hym For he ought to doubte more god and to loue hym than ony man mortal Me ought to loue the persones and hate the synnes and euery prynce prelate and lord ought to knowe that ygnoraunce in thys parte shal not excuse them For they be bounden to knowe how theyr people gouerne them in theyr houses and in theyr offyces and ought tenquyre by good men and trewe and that drede god and loue hym For they shal not be quyte atte day of Iugement for to say that they knowe not therof ¶ The fourth braunche of mercy is for to comfort the seek men and them that ben in trybulacyon or in aduersyte or in maladye and to helpe them to theyr power and to comforte them by good wordes that they falle not in despayr or dyscomfort and that theyr hert faylle them not Thus commaundeth Saynt Poul that sayth Comforte them that be feble of hert And Salamon sayth that he that is in dysease of hert shal be glad and Ioyous for to here a good worde Also as he hym self sayth lyke as a persone delyteth hym and taketh playsyr in good odoures in lyke wyse delyteth the soule in grete swetenesse of good counceyl and in the good wordes of a very frende That is he that loueth also wel in aduersyte as in prosperyte For at nede is seen who is a frende and in aduersyte is the good and trewe frende proued thou oughtest to knowe that iiij thynges comfort moche a man which is in aduersyte in trybulacyoÌ„ or in maladye The first thyng is to thynke on the paynes of helle whiche ben so moche harde sharpe and horryble that it nys but a shadowe and an enoyntyng all that that may be suffred in this world to the regarde of the paynes of helle wherof saynt austyn sayth to our lord O good lord brenne me here and hewe me al in pyeces rather than thou dampne me perdurably Also Saynt austyn sayth that the
fayth byleue an hondred folde better this that he sayth that may not lye· that is god than we doo the myracles ne rayson ne that whyche we see God sayth that euery persone shal be Iuged after his werkys god saith that of euery ydle word vs byhoueth to yeue acomptes at the day of Iugement But the meke and the humble that thys hereth and byleueth dredeth and doubteth doeth payne to kepe his hert and so his mouthe and al his werkys shalle not be Iuged ¶ After the veray humble prayseth god truly for al the goodes that he hath done to hym that he dooth to hym dayly ▪ that he yet shal do after lyke as we haue shewed afore in the trayte of pryde The humble persone is lyke a poure man whiche of a lytel almesse hath grete Ioye and thanketh wyth al his hert his benefactour Thēne whan the hūble seeth nothyng in hym by whych he is worthy to haue good or brede or other thynge of which he vseth he knoweth seeth vnderstondeth byleueth doubteth not of al that god sendeth yeueth leneth hym by cause that the very hūble draweth nothyng to hym self of the goodes of his lord whyche passen by his honde therfore is he a trewe seruaunte as saynt bernard sayth After the very humble adoureth god prayeth hym deuoutely that is to say wyth very teerys which comen of the grace of god of right felyng of the hert For hym semeth that he is like a chylde that is al naked tofore his maistre that can not his lesson or that he is lyke to the pour mā endetted which is fallen in the handes of his credytour and hath not wherof he may fyne ne paye his debte Or that he be lyke a theef proued that is taken with an hondred trespaces that hath the corde aboute his necke or that he be like the lame mā that lyeth atte chirche dore which hath no shame to shewe his maladye his soores to them that passe by for cause that eche body shold haue pyte on hym Yf thou wylte thenne lerne to praye god praye adoure hym aryght these iiij thynges aforsayd shal enseygne and teche the that is to wete the chylde· the man endetted the theef and the lame man ¶ Of hym that is veray humble and meke capitulo Cj THe custome is of a very meke humble man to prayse another and to gyue hym loos to put hym afore alowe hym with his mouth by werkys to bere hym honour he is lyke the lytel bee that maketh the hony which escheweth stynkes secheth floures of the felde souketh the dewe the substaunce of them and maketh hony for to garnysshe wyth his hous Thus dooth the veray humble whyche taketh none hede of the stenches the synnes and the deffaultes of other But alle the goodes that other do he heholdeth them loueth and prayseth and souketh the swetenes of deuocion of his hert with which his conscyence is replenysshed The veray humble seeth none so euyl a thynge ne soo hard ne soo synful but that he can drawe matere to allowe prayse god In his hert he preyseth other in iij maners For he byleueth more the wytte of another man· than the wytte of hym self he wylle that the wylle of other men be do sonner than his owne Alle the contrarye doth the proude man lyke as we haue shewed tofore After also the veray meke and humble man alloweth and prayseth other men by worde The good dedes that other haue doon he enhaunceth and prayseth them and the euyl dedes he excuseth maketh them lasse The veray meke man torneth the mene thynge in to good vnderstondeth them alwaye to the beste this is ayenst the euyl tatches of the myssayers whyche enhaunce the euyl dedes mynysshe the good the moyen preuerten torne to the werste The veray meke humble prayseth by werke honoureth in dede eueryche as he ought to do as he may do wythout mysdoyng Thus doth not the proude man but al the contrarye lyke as we haue sayd tofore in the trayty of the synne of pryde ¶ Of hym that is humble of hert capitulo Cij THe custome is of hym that hath an humble herte that al his good dedes he hath behynde hym at his backe al his euyl his synnes al his deffaultes he hath alwaye in mynde tofore his eyen and the good dedes of other he hath all waye tofore his eyen the euyl deffaultes synnes of all other he setteth them behynde hym at his backe as in oublyance or forgetyng And herof happeth oftymes that the veray meke hūble man the more he prayseth other honoureth so moche more he dyspreyseth hym self The veray humble meke persone of hert is lyke the auarycyous couetous mā that hath alway his eyen on the goodes that other haue that they doo And alwaye hym semeth that he hath no spyrytuel good in hym For lyke as there is an euyl proude man So is thece veray meke and humble He that is veray humble of hert is lyke as a lytyl chylde whyche is sone of a kynge and heyre of the royalme whyche wepeth cryeth knoweth no thynge of his hyenesse ne of his rychesse He is also lyke vnto the symple sheep in whome al is good prouffytable the wulle the felle the flessh the mylke and his dunge and the sheep no thynge knoweth of hit ne thynketh on it and in this maner sayth the grete patryarke holy Abraham of hym self that he was no thynge but asshes pouldre And holy Iob whiche was so grete and ryche in the world sayd in lyke wyse And Saynt andrew that sayd also of hym self what am I but asshes duste fylthe rotynnesse a worme wynde shadowe leues that the wynde bereth awaye and drye stupple whiche is nouzt but for the fyre And lyke as the veray humble persone of hert prayseth and honoureth other wyth his hert mouthe also in dede as we haue sayd Ryght soo despyseth he hym self in these iij maners It semeth to hym lyke as saynt Iherome sayth of hym self whan that Iete or drynke or that I wake or slepe alwaye me thynketh that the fereful trompe of the day of Iugement bloweth in myn eerys sayeng come to thy Iugement come to thy Iugemēt and by cause that he wyl not be Iuged of his synnes he seeseth not but euery day purgeth hym self kepeth and clenseth hym from alle synnes and Iugeth condempneth repreueth al his werkys hys wordes· he cryeth nombreth poyseth counterpoyseth repreneth· for he fyndeth more chaffe than grayn that is to vnderstonde more of synnes than of good dedes And by cause that he wyl not be Iuged at the dethe of Iustyce wyl he not leue but that lytel and grete be examyned and sayd also Iuged in the court of mercy that is in holy confessyon· ¶ In that courte
who counteth wel aryght is al quyte of his synnes But in the courte of Iustyce whiche shal be at the day of Iugement whome someuer he oweth he must paye Ne neuer shal he mowe be aquyted and therfore he shall be perdurably dampned For he must rendre or pendre that is hange Alas caytyf what shal he paye that hath no thynge but the body whyche is charged and al ful of dedely synnes who that wel vnderstode felte these thynges he shold holde kepe hym fro al synnes shold wythdrawe hym fro mockeryes and lesynges whyche they contryue ayenst the veray meke humble persones whyche drede god and loue hym by cause they fere and drede hym they wyl kepe them clene wythout ordure of synne and confesse them gladly ofte but lytel auaylleth confessyon wythoute repentaunce wythout penaunce without good Iugement that Iustyce be not doon truly therfore al in lyke wyse as the veray meke and humble persone maketh of hym self veray Iugement in bytter coutrycyon of hert in veray confessyon of mouth in satysfaccyon penaunce of veray Iustyce· he Iuged hym self as a theef putteth hym verayly on the gybet of penaunce withoute fayntyse without ypocrysye ¶ How a man ought to hate pryde capitulo Ciij WHo that hateth pryde he loueth pouerte and setteth his hert alowe and in humylyte therfore al they that been veray humble louen pouerte and ben poure of spyryte The veray humble persone loueth pouerte for thre reasons that is to wete for the perylles that ben in gouernyng of rychesses for the goodes that ben in good and veray pouerte for by cause that god loueth so moche pouerte as whā he was here in this world he loued it yet loueth al them that loue it lyke as holy scrypture wytnesseth it wherof Ihesu cryst sayth by dauyd in his psaulter that god hereth the prayers desyres of pour mē pourueyeth to them mete swetely in good sauour For he is theyr refuge and theyr sauyour Iob sayth that god is the fader of the poure hath gyuen to them power to Iuge the other And our lord at the begynnyng of his fayre sermon sayth that blessyd be the poure and thenne be accursyd the ryche that haue here theyr heuen But the veray heuen celestyal he hath gyuen to the poure so that they may gyue it and selle it and the world wyl not byleue that god say trouthe· ne that pouerte be blessyd But god sayth thus in the gospel fayr fader I praye the and thanke the that thou hast hyd these thynges fro the wyse and hast manyfested shewed it to the humble meke The humble and poure of spyryte seen god here hym wel and byleue hym wel and louen better an hondred folde theyr pouerte than the couetous man loueth his rychessys In iij thynges sheweth a man that he loueth pouerte whan he loueth holdeth gladly the companye of the poure loueth them holdeth them companye lyke as Ihesu Cryste dyd as longe as he was in this world for naturelly the lambes flee fro the wulues wythdrawe fro them the chyldren wythdrawe them flee the companye of grete peple the humble meke peple withdrawe them gladly fro the proude people The lyf of a poure persone is lytel and poure for he requyreth not ne demaundeth precyous metes ne oultrageous vesture ne clothyng ne he secheth no bobaunce ne noo pryde in roobes ne in rydyng ne in householde ne in meyne ne in feest ne in companye· And it suffyseth to the veray poure that he haue onelye his sustenaunce The veray poure persone suffreth in pacyence hungre thryste colde and hete lothynges and vylonnyes many bytter trybulacyons for the loue of Ihesu cryst and of his passyon And al these the euyl poure man doth suffreth ayenst his wylle The veray humble and the veray poure suffreth gladly al euyls and al aduersytees for the loue of god Yet ageyn it is the custome of a poure man that yf he haue noo thynge and may gete ne wynne noo thynge he is not ashamed to aske and demaūde and the veray humble beggeth al day requyreth the prayers and the orysons of good peple and of the frendes of god and the veray humble trusteth more in their ayde than he dooth in his owne good dedes ¶ Of dyuers estates of pryde capitulo Ciiij PRyde loueth the hye place aboue Humylyte loueth the lowe place bynethe This is the dyamont of the noble nature that dayneth not to syt in golde but in poure metal as in yron in lyke wyse is the sheet of whete beten The grayne is vnder and the chaf is aboue But our lord shal selle hys whete at the day of dome al wynewed lyke as sayth the gospel he shal caste the chaffe in to the fyre of helle the grayn in to the garner of heuen how moche more the golde is fyne pure· so moche more is it heuy the more it wayeth the soner it goeth doun to the bottom the more that a man is meke and humble the more loueth he the lowe place lyke as dyd Ihesu cryst and his swete moder whiche gaue to vs ensaumple to serue and to obeye Not onely to the grettest but to the leste And how moche more the seruyse is vyle and despysable so moche gladly doth it the humble and meke Therfore our lord Ihesu Cryste taught hys appostles to wesshe the feet by humylyte Thenne humylyte is proprely moder of obedyence and nouryssheth it enseygneth and kepeth it that it be not corrupt by vayn glorye by heuynesse nor by murmure ne by propre wyt ne by propre wylle ne by aduersyte ne by ony other maner it is to wete that there be vij adournements of obedyence The first that one obeye anone prestly gladly symply purely generally vyly vygorously The humble is poure tofore hys eyen naked hath not to do for hym self therfor he is alwaye redy as the marōners in the see in theyr shyppes that anone as they here the voys of the gouernour they obeye to hym and renne as they were enraged The humble obeyeth gladly that the paynes the perylles and the deth he receyueth to his power wyth grete ioye for the loue that he hath to obedyence Therfore sayd dauyd the prophete in the psaulter that he loued better the commaundements that god made than he dyd golde ne syluer ne precyous stones The humble obeye al symply as doth the hors· or the sheep whome the shepeherde ledeth where as he wyl and that neuer sayth wherfore goo I more here than there For one of the moost honest doughters that humylyte hath is holy symplesse The humble is ryght true to god lyke as is a ryght good wyf to hyr husbond whyche wyl to no man obeye folyly but to hir husbond onely And therfore none obeyeth so Iustly ne in so good entēcyon as doth