gladly to the nede of their affliccoÌ„ns Vpon this brauÌ„che makyth the shrikeowle hir neest that is of suche nature that she drawith hir about suche places as dede bodyes ben beried And whaÌ„ ony is nere his deth she felith it aferre cryeth lowde by grete pyte sorowe This byrde signefyeth the coÌ„pascion of the soule that shold put her in grete dyligence aboute hem that beÌ„ in sinne for to conuerte hem brynge hem ayen in the way of saluacion And whan she perceyueth ony that aprocheth to the deth of y e sowle bi dedely synÌ„e theÌ„ne sholde she crie by grete lamentacoÌ„n to god with teres wyth orysons Vpon thys brauÌ„che growyth the floure of glane this glane growyth aboute waters By this water is vnderstonde they that ReÌ„ne in dedely synne aboute whom sholde growe charite gyue attendauÌ„ce to the compascyonat soule VpoÌ„ this brauÌ„che was mouÌ„ted dauid that sayd Lord for this that the synÌ„ers haue not kepte your lawes I haue cast this grete habuÌ„dance of teres Vpon thys brauÌ„che was thereime mouÌ„ted the ê“phete y t said who shal gyue water to my hede a for this y t he thought water myghte drye and fayle sayde hÌ„e after and to myne eyen welles of teres that I myght wepe the wretchydnesse of my peple He thoughte teres that neuer sholde sease Suche teres shold hÌ„aue the soule y t wyll mouÌ„t vpon the appultree of comteÌ„placoÌ„n as an holy fader was theron wel mouÌ„ted that sayd who is seke in all holy chyrche eyther in body or in soule but that I be trowblid sory wyth hem ¶ The thyrde brauÌ„che of thappultree is temporell affliccoÌ„n whan she putteth hirself in grete afflicte by penauÌ„ce also that she suffreth Ioyefully with a peasible hert all aduersitees for the loue of our lorde VpoÌ„ brauÌ„che makith the swan her nest that is of suche naturÌ„ that whan she shall deye she singyth This signefyeth the soule that hathe Ioye in trybulacion VpoÌ„ this brauÌ„che were mouÌ„ted thappostles of whom meÌ„ say the apostles had grete Ioye whan they went out of the couÌ„sâ—yles of the Iewes pharesees where thei were beten for this that they thoughte theym worthy to suffre shame for the name of oure lorde Ihesu cryste Vpon thys brauche grewe the floure of the lelye wherof the spowse sayth in the Cantycles ¶ Thus as the lelye is amonge the thornes thus is my loue amoÌ„ge the chylderne of the worlde ¶ Whanne the flowre of the lelye is amonge the thornes they prycke hir and she pryckyth hem not but rather yeldeth good odour by true pacyence Thus oughte the holy soule to doo She oughte not answere by sharpe wordes but rather oughte to yelde good odour by true pacyence to all theym that done hyr ony offence soo that she maye saye wyth saynt poul we ben of good odour to god in al places· But they that yelden euyll for euyll and ben redy to answere by signes and by wordes And wyll not forgete one worde that folke saye to theym or doo ony wronge nor wyll not forgyue all suche folkes ben not of the appyl tree of coÌ„templacyon ¶ The fourth brauÌ„che of contemplacyon is compunccoÌ„n CompuÌ„ccyon is whan the soule is sore mouyd and prycked wyth the traueyâ—es of our lorde Ihesu cryst so that she forgeteth all other payne traueyle that maye come to hyr For as men wyll and maye more ease â—y dryue oute a wedge or a pyn of tree that is myssette by a nother In like wyse whan the soule is meuyd pryckyd wyth trybulacyon It oughte to remembre how hyr souerayn sauyour loue was for her perced nayled on the crosse And this sharpnesse sorow sholde put away all other payne sorowe froÌ„ hir â—ert VpoÌ„ this brauÌ„che makith hir neest a byrde whiche is callid harpia that hath the seÌ„blauÌ„ce of a manÌ„es visage hir nature is to slee the fyrst man she fyndeth theÌ„ne gooth she to some water where she beholdeth hirself seeth that she hath slayn hir owne liknes thenÌ„ makyth she a full grete sorowe alwaye that euer she sawe ony man This signefyeth y e soule that slew cryst by hir synÌ„e whose seÌ„blauÌ„ce is in hir for to his seÌ„blauÌ„ce was she created And whan she remeÌ„breth how IhÌ„u was dede for our synnes thenÌ„e ought â— she to make grete sorow lamentacoÌ„n Thus as the turtle dooth whaÌ„ she hath loste her felaw she come to the place where he deyed fynde feders or ony other signe she makyth grete sorowe Thus oughte the soule to doo that hath lost IhÌ„u cryst hir good lorde loue she ought to doo thus as dide the doughter of a kyng that abode orphelin And men took awaye hyr enheritaunce Thenne was there the sone of a myghty kyng that had soo grete pyte of hyr that he toke this yoÌ„ge lady to his wyf and conqueryd agayne hyr herytage and deyed in the bataylle Thenne this yonge lady took the armes of the knyghte that for hyr was dede· And behelde theim euery day wepyng vpoÌ„ tharmes made merueyllous grete sorowe The doughter of the kyng that abode orphelin lost hir heritage this was the soule that was doughter of adam that was a ryght noble man whan he was in paradys But he lost his enherytauÌ„ce whan he was dryuen thens by his synne And thenne had the sone of god greate pyte for the sowle that was thus dysheryted and dyscended fro paradyce to marye hir this same daye of maryage was made whan he Ioyned his deyte to our humanite fro that day fought for vs xxxij yeer an halfe at the laste deyed for vs in the batayle of the crosse Wherfore we oughte well to doo thus as this yonge lady dyde alway to haue his deth in remembrauÌ„ce wyth grete compascoÌ„n often to beholde his armes This is hys crosse his spere his nayles all y e Instrumentes of his passion and wepe euery daye for this that our lorde souerayn loue was dede for vs. ¶ Vpon this brauÌ„che growith the rose that signefyeth marterdom spuÌ„elly tho that be thus touched prycked forgeten lightly alle worldli troubles and may wel saey â— am wouÌ„ded bi charite for this is the tru way of charyte For as wel content is the very charitable with hem that blame hem· as them that prayse hem For the soule that is verely confermed in god ne is not ouerthroeÌ„ by aduersite ne a reysid bi ê“sperite The v. brauÌ„che of coÌ„templacoÌ„n is abidyng whaÌ„ y e sowle is of soo grete desire that she abydeth our lorde in desiryng ¶ VpoÌ„ this brauÌ„che were mouÌ„ted y e ê“phetes of tholde tyme that somoche desired the comyng of our lord whaÌ„ they sayd come lord tary not a nother sayd yf he make taryeng abyde we him for he shal com tary not longe VpoÌ„ this brauÌ„che was mouÌ„ted dauyd whaÌ„ he sayd beholde we abyde we our lorde after
me eligeret ne me perderet In asmoche as the swete jhesus was more vyle in erthe for me in so moche ys he to me more dere in swete loue for I coude not thynke that he had loued me so moche A swete Ihū fro hensforth ought I not to sette lyttyll be my sowle syn it was so pleysaunte to hym that he chaas rather to suffyr deth thāne lese it Itē Barnardus ¶ Nisi amasset me dulciter nō me in carcere Requisisset illa maiestas If y e swete jhesu had not loued me the more feruenhly he had not come from hys hygh ryall maieste for me that was so lowe in helle In thys shylde be thre thynges y e ton is the wode y e thother is the skyn and the thyrde is the colour Thys it is of the shylde that Ihū cryste hath lefte yow The wode of the crosse the lethir of the peynfull passyō of our lorde And colour of hys red blood Thāne the skyn of hys precyous body was all to rente and broken and colowred wyth hys precyous blood and the crosse also The thyrde reson of thys shylde is that aftyr the deth of a valyaunte knyghte men shulde shewe hys shylde in the remembrance of hym Thys shylde is the crucyfyxe that is sette in y e chyrche wher mē may se and thinke of the cheualrye that our lorde jhū cryste dyd on hye vppon the crosse on the mounte of caluarye befor theym of hys blessed dere sorowfull mother Thys shylde is hāgyd vppe in euery chyrche y t hys loue whyche is our sowle may beholde how dere he hath bought her he lette not to bere hys shylde to opyn hys syde to shewe hys herte shewed all openli how entyrly he loued hyr and how she oughte often to thynke of the tokenys of loue that in thys shylde is syngnyfyed wherof seyth saynte Bernarde ¶ O felix anima aspice inclinacionē capitis ad osculū extencionem brachiorū ad ampbexum O ye blessed and happy spowse of jhū cryste beholde on the crucyfyx the shylde of jhesu cryste your spowse And se the inclinacyon of hys hed to kysse yow se the spredyng of hys armys to clyppe yow beholde the openynge of hys syde and the crucyfyenge of hys fayr body and wyth greet affeccyoun of your holy loue turne it and returne it from syde to syde fro the hede to the fete and ye shall fynde that ther was neuer sorou nor peyne lyke to that payne our lorde Ihesu cryste endureed for your loue seyth he hath geuyn so myche for your loue and yet may not haue it It is gre marueyle I may seyth he gyf now no more wherfor ye wyll loue me and that forthymketh me but whanne I may no forther I shall sey suche thynge wherof ye shall haue pyte yf ye wyll at the leste be charyte of gret gyftys wherof speketh saynte Barnarde ¶ Uere compaciendū est ei qui dedtt nobis clauos in salsam carnem in cibum sanguinem in potum aquam ex latere in balneum sudorem sanguinis in medicinā propriam animam in redempcionem Trewly is the swete Ihesu cryste A herttely louer and A compassyonate that hath gnuyn vs so many grete specyalteys Beholde how he hath geuyn vs hys nayles in sauce hys swete fleshe in mete hys precyous blood in drynke watyr of hys precyous syde in Baynes hys blody swete in medecyne hys propyr blessed sowle in our redēpcyon A what may wee more axe that he shuld gyf for vs Alas alas full harde is that herte and full vnnaturell that wyll not loue hym that hath geuyn so moche for their loue-here is a gret specialt wherfor we shold loue god The secunde cause wherfor god is to be beloued more thāne ony other thynge is for the marueylous gret loue that he hath shewed vs. ouyr alle other louys Ther be four special louys in this worlde y e one is betwene ij good felawes The tother betwene mother and chylde The thyrde betwene body and sowle And the fourth betwene mā and wyf But the dere loue that Ihū cryste louyth vs and also that we shulde loue hym passeth surmounteth alle other louys Men myght say that thys were a right good felaw that wolde laye hys plegge in place for to aquite hys felaw owte of dette of vsurye but the swete Ihū put hym self in place and leyd hys tendyr body to aquyte hys loue whyche is our sowle owte of the pryson of helle and of alle vsuryes wherof dauid seyth ¶ Et pro vsuris et iniquitate redimit animas eorū From alle vsuries and ynyquiteys he hath redemeth our sowlys Take hede now who brought thys pereaunte to the place wete ye well it was the blessyd mayden our lady saynte mary that bare the swete Ihū the sone of god in hyr vyrgynall wombe in the tyme of wynter in the cyte of Bethlē for to put hym in plegge to make our pees in the place wher the aungels sunge gloryously befor hys ▪ fader in heuene ¶ Gloria in excelsis deo et in terra pax Glorye be yeldyn on hye to god and in erth pees to mē of good wyll But loo how malycyous were these cruell Iewes that they deyned to logge this lady that bare thys blessed plegge and in so colde atyme as it was thenne in wyntyr parauentur it was frost and the pure vyrgyne mary grete wyth chylde and wente to seke sum place wher she myght reste hyr she was so wery of the gret trauayle that she hath in walkynge moche of that day tell it was nye nyght and wyst not whether to goo sauf at the ende of the town was ij hye walles of rokkes ▪ and thys pytons wery vyrgyne entryd ther and founde an oxe and an asse teyed ther and so streyght was the place that vnnethe myght she and Iosoppe hyr spowse haue ony rome to sytte in wyth ese but ther were they fayne to reste tyll it was mydnyght that the sone of god was borne and so poore was the bedde of thys lady and so streyght that h̄yr chylde might not lye by hyr as seyth the gospell ¶ Peperit filiū suū primogenitū pannis eū in voluit et reclinauit eū in precepio quia nō erat ei locus in diuersario Mary bare a sone wrappyd hym in poor clothis and leyd h̄ym in y e rakke before bestys ▪ for thys that she had not in all the worlde so moche place that hys lytyll swete body myght lye in for yf she had put hym behynde the bestys yt was so streyght there wher folkis vsed to go and cum that they shulde haue hurte hym wyth their feete the way was so nere there Now I pray yow ryght dere sustyr remembyr yow stedfastly whāne ye lyein your large softe bed wel arayed wyth ryche clothys and warme couerynge and hote furrys so well at ese and your Ientylwoman so redy to serue
dedâ—ly woundys that be so cruell And depe that I se the stremys of blood com fro youre fayre handys down on your shuldyrs your sydys ne wly skorged that hath be so sorbe tyn anguyshously that the skyn ys ouerall broken your pure flesh woundyd the harde crosse hurtyth yow at your bakke in suche wyse yt vnnethe endur your wery bonys wherwith my sowle ys so greued that hyt may in no wyse be coÌ„forted Alas your fair body so courteys so fre so benyngne now se I hyt all bare vppon the harde crosse streyned wouÌ„ded lyke as houÌ„dys had gnawen hit And brokyn yt wyth theyr teth I see your thyes coloured as y e marbyll stone your knees leggis treÌ„ble for your greuoê° peynes O IhÌ„u yourfayr fete I se now wouÌ„de persed wy tha grete nayle fastned to y e tre of y e crosse I se also y e stones rubych ouer al red wyth your blood Alas wherefore maye I not dye now be pertner of your wofull paynys there were no thynge so swete to me as to suffre deth wyth yow my dere childe spowse IhÌ„u but I may not haue my desyre fore y t yow my swete chylde wolde I dye a god what shall we wretchys do whanne we shall yelde acomptis befor y e face of IhuÌ„ cryste y t put hym yn the place to yelde so streyte acouÌ„pt for vs as ys befor rehersyd A yn euele hour be they born that ys not yn the grace of that blessed IhuÌ„ that so gret peyne vylene suffyrd yn so wretched a place to delyuer our sowlys owte of the boudys of y e fende The same y t made thys trete tooke hyt owte of an auctoryte that seysaynt ancelme seyth ¶ Actende quod candet nudatum pectus Rubet cruentatum latus teÌ„ sa arent vlcera procera Rigens brachia labia inigrescunt rosea regia pallent ora decora languent labia caput corona stimulat spinea pellis dorsi flagellis est Rupta speÌ„s corporis facta est liuida crura pendent mermorea rigat turbatos pedes sanguis vnda cÌ„ ¶ Now dere frende beholde well how streytely was reknyd euery party bothe wythynne wythoute of the sowle of y e body wyth how many dyuerse peynes enserched that no thyng was foryetyn but that hyt was yn all yolden be tourmentys pastouÌ„s ouyr greuous compuccoÌ„ns for to aquyte our sowlys oute of y e place of helle neuyr frend shewed suche a specialte as the good IhÌ„u cryste hath doon for hys loue our sowlys worshypte thanked be he of alle creaturs wythouten ende ANother gret loue of the world ys betwene mother chylde a Ryght farueÌ„te loue shuld thys be yf y e chylde had suche a syknesse that hyt myght neuyr be helid but hyt were bayned in the mothyrs blood yff the mother wolde make thys bayne thys shewed well a gret specyall loue A thys bayne made the swete Ihu cryste the very parfyght good loue whanne we were so syke of synne so vyle soo dyshonest y t no thyng in all thys worlde myght wasshe vs hele vs but alonly the precyus bloode of IhuÌ„ cryst he so gracyously y t so good herte made vs thys bayne wyth oute ony ayen seyng as seyth seynt IohnÌ„ in the apocalyps ¶ Qui dilexit nos lauit nos in sanguine suo a peccatê nostris He loued vs wyshÌ„ vs yn hys precyous blood from our synnes Lo whanne a man ys seke of a gret seknesse may not endure an oura hote bain at the begynning nor also he ys not heled be the fyrst bayne wherfor hyt behoueth that he be often bayned alwey warmer warmer in y e same maner made IhuÌ„ criste our beynes osteÌ„ in hys pÌ„cyng blod the fyrste that he made was whanne he was but viij dayes olde ¶ Postquam consuÌ„mati suÌ„t dies octo vt circuÌ„cideretur puer vocatuÌ„ eÌ„ nomeÌ„ eiê° Ihesus whaÌ„ne viij daies where ended that they shulde circmcise our lorde y e swete chylde was called IhuÌ„ by his name But by y e blode that he lefte thanne of his tender bodi in the cyrcumcysion ne were we not yette enterli helede for we hadde the meselry of synne wherof we where so ful of synÌ„e inpostumys that our sowle was all full of hedowys matyr venymous bifore the face of the holi trynyte And y e swete IhuÌ„ toke therof so grete pite y t he wente all alone by him selfe the nyghte byfore hys passion fyll gronelinge to the erthe byfor his father of heuen and praied him full petousli for the helthe of his loue our sowle that was so sike of siÌ„ne euyn at y e deth of helle that is so horyble and seynt barnarde seyth ¶ Quasi nuÌ„quam membris oiÌ„bê° fleuisse videtur He wepte not alonli vppon hys father with his blessed eyen but wyth all the membrys of hys lody for so full of compassion was his pituous harte so full of bytter anguyshys harde labours was hys tender body thanne that the swete of hys rede blode dropped from hym as sayth the gospell ¶ Positis genibus cÌ„ Et factus inagonia pro lixius orabat factê° est sudor eius sicut gutte sanguiÌ„s decurrentis in tarraÌ„ He put hys wery kneys vppon the hÌ„arde erthe so longe prayed hys father tyll he was allmoste in soueÌ„ in so grete peyne that the swete sprange owte of hys body as droppes of blode y t ran to the erthe to bayne hys loue our sowle to hele hyr make hyr fayr clene wythoute amyable to beholde wherof seyth seynt banarde ¶ Vere compacienduÌ„ est ei qui dedit nobis sudorem sanguiÌ„s in medicinam Trewli we ought to haue grete compassion pyte of our swete lorde Ihesu our loue that gaf vs y e swete of hys precyous blode for to bayne our sowlis But yete were we not all hole for our sowlis were enfundyrd in y e mortall dropsey wherof we myght neuer haue helth but it wre recoured by baynes Now thys dropsey is suche a sykenesse that makyt a man orrbyly swollen for the fowle humours that renne betwene the skyn and the fleshe in suche mannere were our wretched sowlys orrybly swollen and so hydowys that god wolde not that none of them sholde entre in to heuene byfor hym they were so fowle englutede and enuenyme de wyth the fylthe of synne And what dyde our swete lorde loue Ihesu cryst y t was the moste wise fisicieÌ„ he made a right precioê° specyall bayn for vs how he suffrid wilfulli that thise cruell felon Iewis toke hym stryped hym as naked as he was borne and bonde hym to a pylere of colde merbyll wyth harde cordes theÌ„ne ij felon turmeÌ„tours full quyk redy to do euyll with ij scorges bete hym cruelly withoute mercy turmeÌ„t him so
outrageousli y t hys tendyr skyn all to brake y e precious blode ran downe his bodi leggis bi stremis on to his feete in suche wise was he there turmented that many yeres after men myghte see the peler all blody wherof he sayth by the prophete Isaye Corpus meuÌ„ dedi ê‘cucientibus et genas meas velleÌ„tibus faciem meaÌ„ noÌ„ auerti ab increpantibus et conspuentibus iÌ„ me IGaf my tender body to turmentis strokes my face I turned not fro those folkis that spyte on me shamefully blamed me In suche maner suche traueyle made he thys bayne to saue hys loue our soule from alle swellynge of the syknesse of thys spirituell dropsye And yet was our sowles stylle encombred wyth peyne of the hede that is a full sore sikenesse ¶ Cui capud iÌ„firmum cetera membra dolent A who y t is seke in hys hede all other partyes of hys body compleyne And therefore y e good Ihesu saw the hede of his loue so seke that she was all aÌ„guished enraged wherbi she cowde not knoue god nor serue hym he had soo grete pyte compasion therof that hymself suffryd wylfully that thyse mortall enemyes wounde to geder a grete crowne of thornys longe sharpe thykke y e prikked so wofulli his blessid hede bete wyth a gret staf vpon y e crowne y t made his pÌ„cious blod to reÌ„ doune iÌ„ many places on hys forhed as it is sayth in y e gospell ¶ Plectentes coronam de spinis posueruÌ„t suê‘ caput eiê° acceperuÌ„t aruÌ„dineÌ„ et percusserunt In suche maner suffrid the swete amiable IhuÌ„ hys tendyr hede to blede for to saue the hede of hys syke loue our sowle for whom he suffryd in hys holi hede as saintis sain A M. wouÌ„des thus siath he iÌ„ Iob· ¶ CoÌ„scidit me vulnê° suê‘ vulnus The harde crowne kittith me wounde vpon wouÌ„de saint bernarde seith QuaÌ„ suanissimuÌ„ eÌ„ seruitalÌ„ michi bone Ihesu corona illa capitis tui A swete Ihesu this crowne of your hede is to me full dere Now fayr frende remeÌ„bre yow whaÌ„ne ye will slepe and your hede is layd so eseli vpon softe pelowys how peynfull was the crowne of thorne vopn the hed of the blessid IhuÌ„ your spowse that shedde so grete plente of blood to hlpe your sowle Now yette was there a nother syknesse wherof our wretched sowle languysht whyche was stryken wyth the dedely letarge these letarges ben opellaconÌ„s in the veynes and in the senewys enterlased preuyly that maketh a man slumboryng alwey redy to slepe tyll he be dede And in y e same maner were our sowlys sore stryken wyth y e spuÌ„all letarge wherby she nother myght nor cowde helpe hyr self but abyde stylle alwey in mortall neclygence vnto y e tyme y t hyt shold dyscende in helle But how dyd theÌ„n our swete lorde loue IhuÌ„ cryst wite for trewthe that he wyl fully suffyrd to be let blood on veynys senewys of all partyes of hym for to baine the wretched sowle of man And how was he let blood he suffyrd that thyse fowle vyleyne Iewys tooke hym wyth full gret dysdeyne hynge hym all naked vpon the crosse and persed thrugh hys fayr hand ys and fete wyth full grete myghty nayles wherof hym self seyth by dauid ¶ Foderunt manus meas et pedes meos dinumerauerunt omnia ossa mea ¶ They haue thyrled my handys my fete and nombyrd alle my bonys Alas what sorow they dyde hym so gret that y e stremis of blood ran from al ê‘ties of hys blessed body wyth so greâ—e spede that hys loue myght be baynet therwyth bothe wythowte and wythynne But than myghte oure lord Ihesu cryst sey to hys loue our sowle my dere loue now be ye ferre in dette by reson ouyr alle thyngys to loue me Alas yette loue ye me nod I haue so often shed my â—lode to bayne purge yow from all siknesses from all fylthys yette for all thys wyll ye not loue me yette fayr loue now shall I make yow a gifte of amore speciall loue wherby ye shold in no maner denye me your loue I shall gyue yow the holy blood of my harte to bayne your harte in so that ye may alwey loue me TheÌ„n cam a stronge blynde knyght wyth a longe sharpe spere strake hym so iustly thâ—ugh the syde that he persed hys amâ—rus harte forthwyth ran oute gret plente of blood watyr ran full faste down vpon hys body wherof he seyth in the booke of loue ¶ Vulnerasti cor meum soror me a sponsa vulnerasti cor meum ¶ now haue ye woundyd my harte fayr suftyr and spowse now haue ye wouÌ„dyd my harte what can ye axe me ony more of loue Now I prey yow for my sake that ye will leue your synne so that ye may loue me the more swetly wherof sayth saynt bernarde ¶ NoÌ„ne pro te vulneratus sum nonÌ„e pro te satis afflictus sum desine amodo peccare quia peccata magis grauant me eciam vulnera peccati quam vulnus lateris mei Now say me my loue that I loue so moche thinke ye not that I am wounded and tormented ynough for you wherby ye ought to loue me Now leue your synnes thenne frohens forth For the wouÌ„de of your synne greuyth me more than dyde the wouÌ„de of my side A my dere frende put we vs vtterli in deuour to loue ihesu Cryst our swete loue spowse that suffryd so grete payne to wasshe vs in his precyous blood from all morall syknes wherof our soules languysshid And elles be we to ferre vnnaturell NOw see we the thyrde loue that is betwene the sowle the body There is a ful grete loue betwene the soule the lody And that appereth well for they ben in grete torment payne whan they shall departe For the gretter loue that is betwene frendes the greter paine is at theyr departyng And there was neuyr body that soo moche louyd soule nor soule body as dyde the body of Ihesu cryst his soule and his soule his body whyche was noo merueylle For there neuer was nor neuer shal be suche a body and soule Ioyned togyder And yet for al that he suffred wel that his soule departed from his body for to adioyne our pour soules to his wythout ende in his celestyall reygne And by what deth departed his glorious soule fro hys blessid body It was by the moost cruell deth shamfull and dyshoneste that they cowde deuyse amonge theym to Iuge hym to A what sorowful pyte was of this deth of Ihesu cryst It was soo cruel that many a day and often he playned hym to his disciples before his dethe And sayth in the gospell ¶ Ecce ascendimus IherosolimaÌ„ cÌ„ Loo my dere brethern we shal goo in to Iherusalem And the sone of mary shall be
delyuerde by treason to the bysshops and maysters of the lawe And they shall condempne hym to deye right cruelly And how cruelly he shal be delyuered to Iewes to mocke to bete and crucifye and the thyrde daye shall aryse from dethe to lyf And what merueylle was this yf he playnid hym of this dethe· For his flesshe was alway as in languour paine ayenst his dethe as he sayth by dauyd ¶ Estimabam me quasi mortuū super terram I take my self as a man dede vpon the erthe And this was well preuid for it is not founde that euer he lough ones in all his lyf but often tymes weptte he full pytously As whā he sawe the sepulture of Lazare that was dede and beryed whyche was a lytyll before his passyon And he behelde full pytously vpon the body of Lazare ¶ Fremuit inquid sp̄u et turbauit seipsum et lacrimatus est Ihesus He tremblyd in his spiryte and trowblyd hymselfe and began to wepe Men saye that he is as a dede man that will not answere whan men eyther doo or saye hym ony harme In suche manere was it of Ihesu cryst as hymself sayth by Dauid the prophete ¶ Ego autem tanquam surdus non audiebam et sicut mutus non aperiens os suum ¶ For trouth whan men myssay me I goo forth as a deef man that heryth not and as a dombpe man that openyth not his mouth ¶ Of this cruell dethe had he soo grete fere trowble that the nyghte before he suffred his passōn he toke saint peter saint Iames. and saynt Iohan wyth hym And preuely before theim thre he began so grete lamentacyon that it was merueylle and lokyd soo pytously And playned hym soo sorowfully sayeng ¶ Tristis est anima mea vsque ad mortem sustinete hic vigilate mecum Fayr dere bretherne sayd he my soule is heuy torwade y e dethe abyde here wyth me and wake wyth me For I am in full grete trowble fere And thenne he wythdrewe him fro theim as ferre as one myght caste a stone and felle downe to the erthe and playnyd hym full pitously to his fader in heuen and said ¶ Abba pater cui onmia possibilia sūt trāsfer calicem hunc a me Fayr lorde god my right dere fader to whom alle thyng is possible I pray you that ye wyll remeue this harde deth fro me Neuertheles not as I wylle But as ye will your will be done I am redy to obey it and to take this deth for the sauacyon of man̄ys soule ¶ Spiritus quidem promptus est caro autem infirma Truly my spirite is redy to suffre this cruell deth but my flesshe is full trowbles ferfull ¶ Fiat volūtas tua Your wyll be doon fayr swete fader And on y e morow was he Iuged to the moost harde dethe that ony man cowde Iuge this was to be crucifyed And thenne pylate sayd to the felon Iewes Quid faciā de illo qui dicitur xp̄s illi dixerūt crucifige eū Pilate said to the Iewes what wyll ye that I doo of him that mē calle cryst they said crucifye him Alas what sorowe was this how they yelded hym shrewdly his seruyse for all the weles and boūtees that he had done to theym they toke hym crucifyed hym to petously And yet for all his payn he cryed to his fader mercy And sayd ¶ Pater ignosce illis quia nesciūt quid faciunt A swete fader perdon̄e theym of all this harme they do to me for they knowe not what they doo A god mercy what merueyllous mekenes and swete pite was this in hym He sayd not fayr fader venge me on thyse felon folkes that slee me wythout desert and crye soo highly Crucyfie him crucyfie hym But he sayd pardon̄ theym my deth fayre swete fader ¶ Hec mutacio dextere excelci This was a wonderful chaunge that alwaye ayenst harme he dyde good Swete Ihesu yet ouer thyse mortall paynes that he suffryd in his woofull body he had in his cōpassionable soule thremaner of anguyssles of full egyr and bytter sorowe that made hym to sighe merueyllously wyth grete tribulacion ¶ Thyse thre anguisshes henge in his holi soule as thre sharpe speres that smote him alwaye to the herte The fyrste anguysshe was for the sorowe that his blessid moder and the other thre maryes made that were soo wete wyth theyr sorowfull teeres The seconde anguisshe was for his disciples refused him and byleued not in hym nor helde hym not for god For this that he wold not helpe hymselfe to escape· And fledde all from hym and left hym al straunge Wherof he sayth by the prophete dauyd ¶ Qui videbant me foras fugierunt a me obliuioni datus sū tanquam mortuus a corde My discyples that sawe me taken they fledde fro me· and I was putt in foryetyng amonge hem as yf I were dede The thyrde anguysshe was the grete sorowe that he had for thyse felon tyrauntes that put hym to dethe to see howe he loste his longe traueylle for the sauacyon of theyr soules and how he had vtterly loste theym And he sayth ¶ Non veni vocare iustos sed peccatores ad penitenciam I cam not in erthe to calle the rightfull but the synners to penaunce And he sawe well that they had the hertes soo harde that they wolde neuer doo penaūce And amonge all thoos synnars at that tyme he wan but the theef that was hāged on the right syde of hym whyche cryed hym mercy· And more sorowe and more compascyon had he of the losse of Iudas his traytour and of the other felons than of his owne proper deth As he sayth by dauyd ¶ Zelus domus tue comedit me et alibi Tabescere me fecit zelus meus quia oblitisunt verba tua inimici mei Fayr swete fader the grete desire that I haue to the sauacyon of your peple werith me sore wyth sorowe and anguysshe And after he sayth my right grete Ielousie makyth me all wery in my spiryte for this that myne enmyes haue forgoten your commaundementes And at the last whā he felte his cruel deth approche· his pour soule had full grete trowble Thenne sighed he wyth cheueryng thenne cryed he wyth pyteous playntes thenne wepte his languysshyng eyen as sayth saynt powle ¶ Cum clamore valido et lacrimis offerens exauditusest pro sua reuerencia With grete crye and teeres he suffryd his soule departe with harde deth for the loue of his dere belouyd mannes soule ¶ But what was his crye the moost sorowful that euer was herde ¶ Clamauit voce magna Eloy Eloy lamazabatani hoc est deus meus deus meus vt quid de reliquisti me MY swete fader my god my god why haue ye forsaken me· lete me suffre so cruel deth for the folke that gyue me no thankes for all the harmes that I haue shall suffre for there loue ¶ Alas what grete woo
illusum spictis linidum plagis confixum clauis A man behelde the sone of the virgyn marye foylid wyth fowle spittynges all blody of his woundes and percyd wyth nayles Take hede of the kyng of angels beyng on the crosse pale to the deth fowle in flesshÌ„ passe bi this And take kepe whaÌ„ ye see the fygure how he is a man mekely bowynge a man smyten wyth shamfull deth A man lyke vnto a mesell A man of al sorowes apperynge on his body and all wrapt in sorowe And yet whan he was past all the anguysshÌ„ payn and shame that he myght suffre in his lyf for the loue of his loue maÌ„nes soule they dyde hym after hys deth the grettest shame they cowde thynke For they wold not bery hiÌ„ amonge other Iewes but wythoute the towne as a man that were acursed And his blessid soule descended in to helle for to destroye the mortall enmyes of his loue mannes soule And to fetche theym oute that longe had abyden hym there ¶ Now for goddis sake lete vs remembre well how moche we are bounden to loue that swete Ihesu cryst that so many manere of shames suffryd to put vs in honoure And that he suffred soo shamfull deth to conferme our sowles in the freedom of perdurable lyf For of al the peynes that ben in this worlde shame is the grettest For we maye fynde many of crysten folke that wyll suffre hardnes of lyffe as fastyng lyeng harde colde hungre thurst and diseases for the loue of god But to be holden vyle dyspysid for the loue of god vneth shall ye fynde ony For the wretchid hert desireth alway to be honoured and praysid And by this we may well know that he louyd vs and louith vs enteerly that so many shames dispytes suffred for y e loue of vs. ¶ The same that is the very perfyte honoure and of hym cometh all honours that blessid be he of al creatures that vs soo moche hath louyd and louyth that gracyous lorde the moost true and hertely louer ¶ Now haue we spokeÌ„ grete parte of his harde deth and of the shame that men dyde hym wherby ye maye here that neuer man deyed of soo paynfull and vyle a deth wherof he pleyneth hym by the prophete dauyd sayenge ¶ Defeccio tenuit me pro peccatoribus derelinqentibus legem tuam FAyr swete fader full gret defawteÌ„ me holdeth for synners y t haue leste your lawe Now for trouthe their was neuyr man had more of pouerte defawte than he had in his hende and thys sheweth seynte barnarde that seyth ¶ Lignum defuit capiti terra pedi vestimentum corpori potus ori amicus consolacioni· ¶ Alas what defawte was thys the tre failed to hys hede the erthe failed to hys feete clothyng fayled to hys body euery frende failed to hys conforte Now beholde more veryly of thys gret defawte that the tree fayled to his hede for the crosse where he hinge was withoute hed for whan he was so wery hys hede greued hym that was so sore betyn brosed wyth many grete strokes â–ª that vnethe hys necke myght bere hyt hyt was so astoned wyth peyne whan he had so grete nede to reste hys wofull hede he founde not so moche ease that he had ony place to lene hyt to he was streyned so hye vpon the crosse that hys hed might towche no parte therof A what vnmesurable peynes and sorowes he had there founde he an ouyr hard and sharpe pelow for the hede of so noble and gret a kynge as he was O good lorde whan we fele ony gret peyne or febilnesse in our hedis we wyl haue softe pelowys vndir our harde hedys and some woman or some maÌ„ to hold hit for taswage the peine but he had nother the ton nor y e tothyr but skornars as hym self seyth be Ierom the prophete ¶ Factus sum in derisum omni populo meo canticuÌ„ eorum tota die I Am made in derysyon in mockage of all my people thier eueriday songe The tothâ—r gret defawte that erthe fayled to hys fete and not to them only but to all hys body that was so cruelly peyned that he was seke on to the deth in al the large worlde had he not so moche of place as he myght put oon fote on erthe to reste hys wofull body that was all to betin and brosed but hynge in y e eyre tered wyth gret nayles· full petously Alas their ys not so vyle a sarazin ne so fowle a mesell ne so poure a wretche but that they myght fynde some place or house wher they myght take some reste or ease in ther syknesse A swete IhuÌ„ cryste wherfor wold ye be in so gret dyssese ouyr all other of the wolrde Trewly for loue so moche had bouÌ„den hym in suche wyse y t he raught not of all the dysesys he had for the foruent loue he hade to mannys sowle Now se here the thyrde defawte that was Clothynge to hys fayr body as he seyth by Iob ¶ Nudê° egressê° sum de vtero matris mee nudus reuertar illuc· ¶ All nakyd I am come fro my moders wombe and all nakyd I shall retorne out of this worlde For the felon Iewes had robbed hym of his clothes departed them amonge them as he pleyneth him by dauid the prophete ¶ Considerauerunt et inspexeruÌ„t me deuiserunt vestimenta mea et super vestem meam miserunt sorteÌ„ ¶ Thise Iewes haue considered beholden me and haue deuyded my clothynge to theym cast lottes theron whiche of theyrs it sholde be And the swete Ihesu wolde not stryue ayenst theym but wyth good wylle gaaf theym for theyr seruyce al that he had of erthly thyng whyche was noo more but oonly his clothes so pour was he at that tyme for thus saith saynt bernard ¶ Quando fuisti pauperior tunc fuisti largior O bone Ihesu WhaÌ„ thou were moost pour thenne were thou moost large for thenÌ„e gauest thou to the theef the kyngdome of heuen to saynt IohÌ„n euangelist thy moder to thy fader thy spyryte and to vs thy flesshe to ete thy blode to drynke And thou gauest thy clothynge to thy crucyfyers in suche wyse that thouÌ„ abodeste all nakyd on hye vpon the patyble A good lorde god mercy the moost stronge theef of the worlde that were Iuged to be hanged yet sholde he haue to couer hym a poure gowne or a pour sherte But Ihesu the kyng of glory had nother gonne nor sherte to couer him where he hynge openly before al folke wherof he playneth hym by dauyd ¶ FactuÌ„ est cor meum tanquam cera liquescens in medio ventris mei My herte is becomen alle softe meltyng as it were waxe in my body Alas we pour wretches what Ioye maye we haue of oure honour that is come of none other thynge but of the shame of Ihesu cryst What gladnesse may we haue of ease that is
And sorowed for the swerde of the passion of our lorde Ihesu cryst perced thorugh theyr soules This swerde perced theym bothe full cruelly and whoo moost feruently louyd moost cruelly was tormeÌ„ted This was the moder that felte the sorowes that her sone suffred The swerde of sorow was the woundes of Ihesu cryst whyche were paynful tormentes in the soule of his moder Whan Ihesu cryst had deliuerde his blessid moder in the kepyng of saynt Iohan. And he saew that tender maydeÌ„ soo pyteously wepe· snobbe and sighe that noo thynge in all this worlde myghte comfort hyr thenne had he soo grete sorow that by compassion therof the anguysshe of the harde deth seased hym by the herte And cryed wyth merueyllous voys and sorowfull and yelded vp his spyryte ¶ Now maye ye see well how he had fawte of euery maner of comforte and how his blessid moder dide him thenne more of sorow than of comforte ¶ Now haue ye herde how harde dethe and shamefull the swete Ihesu hath suffryd for the loue of his loue our soules ¶ Yf she wolde yet in ony maner gyue hym hyr loue And haue compascyon of hym and all his payneful deth wherof be many thinges that may encrease our loue and our compassyon ¶ The fyrst thyng is the grete sorow that was in our lorde Ihesu cryst of the whyche he sayth by Ieremy ¶ Non est dolor sicut dolor meus THere is noo sorow like vnto my sorowe and it was noo merueylle For moche more tender is a yonge clene vyrgyne InÌ„ocent wythout synÌ„e than an olde wretched synÌ„er Now was there neuer a more pure vyrgyne ne more tender nor soo clene as was the blessyd pure virgyn mary the fayre moder of our lorde Ihesu cryste of whom he tork his humanytee of the moost pure dropes of hyr vyrgynal blood wythout synÌ„e and ony substaunce of the humayne seed For whÌ„an this blessyd bodi was borne of his moder he was more tender than is the apple of y e eye And as lityll payne dyde greue in his swete body as it shold do in the sighte of our eye ¶ For his blessyd moder was neuer blamyd of synne wherof he was soo tender that there was neuer man nor none other creature that in this worlde dyde suffre soo grete sorowes and so hideous tormentes as dyde our lorde Ihesu cryst in his tender body two thirty yere duryng alwaye greuous more greuous And he receyued theym full hardely and wysely for the loue of his loue as he saith by Ysaye ¶ Ideo posui faciem meam vt petram durissimam et subditur qui est aduersarius meus accedat ad me Therfore I haue put my face as a right harde stone who sayth who is myne aduersaryes come to me to do me asmoche harme as thei wylle And I shall receyue theym for the loue of my loue ¶ The seconde is the Right grete loue and that appered betwene Ihesu cryst and his moder For by the grete loue that his moder had towarde hym the swerde of harde marterdom passed thorugh her sowle as Symeon promysed hyr whan she offryd Ihesus in the temple ¶ Et tuam ipsius animam pertraÌ„sibit gladius The swerde shall passe thorugh your sowle ¶ Also dauyd playneth hym gretely for his sone Absolon in the boke of kyngis ¶ Quis dabit michi vt ego moriar pro te Alas mi fayr sone absolon what shall I do sith ye be dede wherfore maye I not deye for you Thus semeth it that the deth of his sone was more greuous vnto hym than sholde haue be his owne propre dethe· In like wyse our blesyd lady had by many folde more sorow of the deth of her swete sone than she sholde haue of hyr owne ¶ And accordyngly chyldern haue grete loue vnto ther moder and nature meueth theym to be in full grete fere and sorow whan they see theyr moder beten or wounded ¶ But what chylde saw euer his moder thus martred and soo beten and wounded of mortall sorowe as Ihesu cryst sawe his moder Not oonly in body ne in her tender hert but in hyr holy soule that was specyally crucyfied wyth hym And who louid euer moder so tenderly as dide the swete Ihesu cryst Wherof sayth saynt Ancelme ¶ Alloquens filius cum benedicta mater sic dixtt vestro continuo a more langueat cor meum liquefiet anima mea deficiat caro mea vtinam sic viscera anime mee dulci feruore dileccionis vestre ex arescereÌ„t ne viscera carnis mee ex arescant HOw swetely the Sone of god Ihesus spake to his blessyd moder aynt Maryes that sayd Fayr moder of your contynuell loue that ye haue to me my herte languysshyth my sowle maye wexe softe my flesshe may faylle I desire that the entraylles of my soule myghte drye for fauour of your loue as y e entraylles of my flesshe ben dryed for langour of aÌ„guisshe and of greuaunce· ¶ Alas how grete pyte is it whaÌ„ soo good frendes shal depart wyth soo grete sorowe THe thyrde reason is wherfore men ought to haue compassion of his grete Innocency For gretter sorowe is it to see a man suffre grete harme with oute deserte as saynt peter sayth ¶ IpÌ„e enim peccata non fecit nec inuentus est dolor in ore eius· He neuer dyde synne nor noo treyson wherfore we oughte to haue the gretter sorow that he suffred so moche torment for vs as Ysaye sayth ¶ Ipse enim vulnâ—ratus est propter iniquitates nostras at tritus est propter scelera nostra Truly he was mortally wounded for our Inyquyte and all defoylled for our felonyes A man that hathe a noble hert wylle haue ful grete compaâ—â—oÌ„n whan a nother shal suffre payne for his deserte For he hiÌ„self thinketh he felith the pain in hymself wherof it is wreten in the boke of kynges That whan Dauyd by pryde had nombred his people wherâ—ore our lorde sent â—n aungell to slee his peple for the displeysure that he took of the same pryde ¶ And whan dauyd sawe the angel slee his folke he sayd to our lorde full peâ—eously ¶ Ego sum qui peccaui ego inique egi isti â—ui oues sunt quid fecerunt vertatur obsecro ira tua contra me O fayre lorde sayd he I haue synned and I am he that hathe done euyll thyse folkes that ben innocentes what haue they done wherefor they ben slayne I beseche the lorde that thou retorne thy wrath towarde me and take vengaunce on me for I am worthy and they not Thus maye we saye· a lorde god mercy we ben they that haue ynned we ought by reason to suffre passion dethe ¶ A good Ihesus ye synned neuer wherfore sholde ye bere the vengaunce of our trespaces euyll dedes ¶ The fourth thyng is his noblenes for gretter pite is it of a noble man whan he is vile entreated thaÌ„ of a vyle persone And there was neuer none fouÌ„de soo
And yet was she not dede but liuyng as a dedely creature the sorowes tourmented hyr soule so cruelly that she desired moche more to deye than lyue For after the deth of hir swete chylde full painfully dedely lyued she though she were not vtterly dede· that daye was she therin full merueyllous sorow awaytimg whan the blessid body of our lorde Ihesu cryste sholde be taken downe of the crosse She wept in sayeng sayd in wepyng Alas alas who shall yelde to me your sorowfull moder the dede bodi of hyr dere loue and chylde O ye cruell Iewes ye haue acomplished now your desire Wherfore I require you take down this holy bodi of the crosse and yelde him to his wofull moder She beyng nere to the crosse beholdyng full pyteously hir swete sone IhÌ„u there hÌ„aÌ„gyng theÌ„ne roos she vp on hyr fete wyth full grete payne dressyd hyr to the crosse where she myghte best enbrace the blessyd body of Ihesu cryste to whom she had somtyme gyuen sowke wyth hyr owne swete brestes but she myghte not areche him And thenne enforced she hir with all hyr power to stretche hyr as hye as she myghte areche to towche some parte of hym wherwyth she oueâ—â—hrewe to the erthe and lay there a grete while in merueyllous sorowes But yet agayne the grete feruentnesse of loue made hyr to aryse coueytyng hyr dere sone And enforced hyr wyth alle hyr power to draw hym to hir But she was soo fulfyllid wyth sorow soo wey kid and weried wythinward marterdom that she cowde not susteyne hyr but ouerthrewe ayen to therth ¶ O graue martirium O frequens suspirium O languens pectus virgineum liquefacta est aiÌ„a mea facies pallet rosea Sêª precioso filii rubet cruore respersa cadentis fluctus sanguinis ore sacro tangebat terram deoâ—culans quaÌ„ cruoris vnda rigabat O How greuous marterdome O how depe often sighes O how this virgynal herte was paynfully tormented And this holy soule that was all dyssoluyd in sorowe And this colour that before was freshe as the rose was become soo pyteously pale And she all bespren clid wyth the precyous blood of hir swete sone wherof grete plente fylle vpon the erthe whyche she wyth hyr holy mouth kyssed soo entrerly that she brake the wawes and clotyrs of that precyous blood towchyng y e erthe soo wonderfully was she tormented wyth full grete sorowes ¶ O was not this more lyke a sorowfull deyeng than a lyf And whyle she was in thyse tormentes came a noble man that was namid Ioseph whiche was truly in his herte a discyple to IhÌ„us And he wente all hardely to pylate and axyd the body of Ihesu cryst whiche was graunted to hym Thenne took he a nother man wyth hym that was callyd Nychodemus soo came they to golgatha where oure lorde was crucyfyed And broughte wyth theym theyr Instrumentes to take oute the nayles of his hondes fete and to take him doune of the crosse And whan that blessyd vyrgyne saw that they wolde take hym downe she roos vp as well as she myghte for all hyr sorowe to helpe theym to hyr power ¶ That one took oute the nayles and that other susteyned his body that it sholde not falle to the erthe And his blessid moder took hym by the arme And as soone as he was taken downe his swete moder took hym in his armes full sorowfully kyssyng and clyppynge hym soo pyteously wepyng that she all to wette his blessyd vysage wyth hyr sorowfull teres And tourmeÌ„ted hyrselfe wyth many and often sighes and snobbynges ful lamentably complaynynge wryngyng hyr hondes· and sayd O my swete sone why suffryd ye thise felon Iewes to crucifye you O what sorow now I your wretchyd moder holdeth you dede in my lappe A what shall I sorowfull doo now Alas fayre sone alas where is becom that grete Ioy that I had in your natiuyte alas now is my Ioye chaunged and torned in to grete sorowe my fayre dere chylde And euyr amonge she kyssyd full swetely his blessid vysage wyth soo grete plente of sorowful teres as all hyr flesshe had be molten in teres And thenne sayd she full piteously to the body of hyr sone Saye me my right swete sone Saye me myne oonly sone the lyfe of my soule My synguler conforte myne oonly Ioye Wherfore suffre ye me thus sorowfully to abyde after you Saye me my swete lorde god wherfore be ye soo ferre from me A god mercy comforte my soule Beholde me haue mercy on me Now speke who speke wyll how grete was y e sorow that thenne had the blessyd moder of Ihesu cryst Trewly there may no creature saye nor thynke perfyghtly the gretnes of the sorowe that this pyteuous blessid virgyne felt ¶ For how be it that she knewe well that he was very god man and that he sholde aryse ayen fro dethe to lyfe the thyrde daye thus as he sayd hymself Yet was hyr loue soo feruent vnto hym that made hyr sorowe to passe and excede all other sorowes that euer were ANd thenÌ„e after she had loÌ„g contynued in this traueylle and tourment wyth sorowfull sighes and wepynge thenne came Ioseph and Nychodemus to wrappe vp his blessyd body in a clene cloth of sendall and to lay it in a fayr newe sepulcre of stone ¶ Thyder came thousande thousandes of angelles to the beryenge of theyr lorde whiche songen pray singes to almighty god But marye his blessyd moder gaf hertly sighes snobbynges and sorowfully wepte by the sepulcre This sorowfull moder wold haue be beryed bi hyr sone And full often tymes by constraynt of loue eÌ„braced him and sayd full pyteously ¶ Miseremini mei miseremini me saltem vos amici mei illuÌ„ adhuc paululuÌ„ relinquite michi She sayd to ioseph nychodeme haue mercy on me haue mercy on me my freÌ„des my frendes lete me alityll beholde his visage sith it is ouercouerd so soo that I maye haue some comforte and put him not thus soone in the sepulcre But yf ye wylle nedes burye hym burye me with him For a sorowfull lyf shall I haue after hym Thenne by the moost reuerend and humble wayes they cowde they dide their deuour to peasifye hyr and layed his blessyd body in the sepulcre full bytterly wepynge all in suche wyse that vnethis ony of theym myghte sowne a right worde And what merueyle was it They sawe his pyteous moder dyspourueyed of all maner of comforte whyche was a greate encreasing of theyr sorowe And thus the lorde of this lyf was gyuen to the sepulcre of dethe And whan he was buryed his blessyd moder drewe towarde hym enbrasyng the sepulture wyth al hyr herte soo as she myghte and callid on Ihesu cryst and sayd Fayre sone what shal I do that am your wretchyd moder Now myghte ye say thenne fayr vyrgyne ¶ Anima me liquefacta est vt dilectus locutus est quesiui eum non inueni illum vocaui
dedely enemyes y t had dystroyed the substauÌ„ce of all hyr londe and she all poore was beseged in an olde castell wyth hym rounde abowte thys castell was weyke and made of full febyll mater Neuertelesse ther was a ryche kynge and of grete power y t marueylously loued her wyth suche far neuce that often he sente hys messeÌ„gers on to her sente her mani fair Iowellys good socours wherwyth she myghth be susteyned and good helpe of hys noble meny to defende hyr hyr castell And she receyued alle these thynge as a vyleyne y t vnuethys cowde yelde hym a gramercy for alle these grete welys so rude harde was hyr herte how be it had not the bounte and the pyte of thys noble kynge bene she had be vtterly loste dystroyed for he was so supprysed wyth hyr loue that at y e laste he cam him self to the rofe of the tour and shewed hyr his fayre visage whiche was most fayr of alle other to beholde and spake to hÌ„yr soo swete wordys delycious y t they myght haue quikned a body half dede Ther dyd he mani marueyles and shewed grete mastryes and befor hyr eyen preued parte of hys power and tolde of hys rychÌ„esse and offrid to make hir quene of all y t he hade to gif hir all his reme with thys that she wolde gyf hym hyr loue wythoute more But thys was in veyne for hyr lone wolde she not promyse hym A was not thys a grete abusion of thys bestly wretche that was not worthy to serue vndyr his fete yte of hys debonarite pyte hadde so veynquysht him be fo rs of loue y t at y e laste he seide A madam I se well ie be gretly greued wyth your enemyes that be soo ner you and so fers stronge that ye may in no wyse escape ther handis but they wyll put you to euele and sorowfull deth but ye haue helpe wherfor I wyl for your loue entyrprise this bataile vppon them to dysconÌ„fyte your enemyes how be it I knowe well y t I shall receyue amonge them full harde dedely wouÌ„dys but wyth my good wyll I shall take them tho wynne your herte And now I pray you full petonsly wepyng for the grete loue that I shall shewe you that at the leste ye wyll loue me aftyr my peynfull deth syth in my lyf ye wyll not loue me thanne in thys maner entyrd thys kynge in to this batayle and dystounfyted alle hyr enemyes delyuered hyr from them that purposed hyr deth and was hym self wounded so sore and greuously that he dyed but by miracle roos he frodeth to lyue was not thys lady ouyr vnnaturell and moche to be blamed if she loued not hym ouyr all other Thys same kynge is the swete IhuÌ„s y t in thys maner hath loue to our sowles that fendes hadde beseged and he as a nobleÌ„ sauyour sente hyr many massengers many grete bounteys doone to her and fynalle cam hym self for to preue hys loue and shewed well be cheualrye that he was worthi to be be loued wherof seyth saynte barnarde ¶ Nonne dei filius cum esset 〈◊〉 sinu patris a regalibus sedibus pro anima tua descendit vt eaÌ„ liberâ—ret a potestate dyaboli quam cuÌ„ audisset peccatoruÌ„ finibus irretica iamque demonibus trateÌ„dam vt morte perpetua daÌ„pnaretur fleuit super illa qui se flere nesciebat nec solum fleuit sed ecia occidi pertulit vnde versus Aspice mortalis per te datur hostia talis Ne se you not ryght dere freendes seyth saynte Barnarde that IhuÌ„ cryste the sone of god how that he beynge in the bosom of hys father descended fro that ryall sete in the heuenly empyre for the loue he hadde to your sowle to delyuer hyr fro y e power of the fende whanne he harde how she was beseged and wyth the bondys of synne enbrased and wythoute taryenge sholde haue be deliuered to the fende to the preson of helle and was condempned to pardurable deth And he be grete pyte and compassyoun wepte full tenderly for her in asmoche as she nother cowde wepe nor helpe hyr self and yete he wepe not only but offryd hym self to dye for hyr relefe Beholde now mortall wretchys who suffrid deth for your lyf thys dyd the swete Ihesus the kynge of heuene to wynne your loue as knyghte were wone to do som tyme he cam to the tourney and for the loue of his loue whiche is iour sowle bar his shyld on alle partys of the bathayle as A valyaunte knyght and A hardy Hys shylde that couered the godhede was hys blessed body that was spred vppon the harde crosse ther appered he as A shylde in hys armys wyth hys handys streyned and persed and hys feete nayled down as summe men sey the tone vppon the tother And wher thys shylde had no syde syngnyfyeth y t hys dyscyplys that sholde haue be shilde to his sydis fledde alle from hym as he seyth in the gospell· ¶ Relicto eo omnes fugerunt They be alle fledde lefte hym all for fere of deth Thys shylde is geuyn vs for our dyffense ayenste alle euelis and alle temptaconÌ„ as saynte Ierome seyth ¶ Dabit stictuÌ„ cordis in laborem tuuÌ„ Lord jhesu cryste thanked be ye ye haue geuyn vs a shylde for our hertes whiche is y e thoughte of your peynfull trauayle wherof seyth saynte Barnard ¶ Quid taÌ„ efficax ad curanduÌ„ vulnera nec noÌ„ ad purganduÌ„ mentis quaÌ„ cristi vulneruÌ„ sedula meditacio what thynge is so spedfull to hele and purge y e spyrytuall woundys as ententyf medytaconÌ„ of y e sorowfull woundys of our swete lorde jhuÌ„ cryste dauid seyth wyth thys shylde be eÌ„uyronÌ„ed alle they that loueÌ„ hym And serue hym nyght and day Scito circuÌ„dabit te veritas eius non timebis a timore nocturno Ne drede we nat y e fere of y e nyght for thys is the trowth the sone of god enuyroundyth vs wyth hys shylde where sum euyr we be and it more be his good wyll with hys shylde he hath crowned vs. as dauid seyth for wyth hys good wyll suffyrd he all thys as Isaee seyth ¶ Oblatus est quia ipse voluit Now wyll ye sey paraueÌ„ture wherfor suffyrd he these marueylous grete peynes myght he nolightlyer redeme vs fro helle A yis yis myght he wyth moche les yf it had pleased hym but he wolde not so wherfor but to shewe vs how moche he loued vs and to gyf vs ensample to loue hym for suche as men loue lytyll they lette it lyghtli go and if they haue it not they aske not theraftyr also the more peyne and harme that a man suffryth for hys frende the more hys he to be beloued wherof saynte bernarde seyth ¶ Amplius michi vilis esse non debeo quia tantum deo placuit anima mea vt mori pro
may be to all the worlde whan Ihesu sholde deye wepyng soo pyteously so sorowfully playninge for suche as toke nomore hede of his harde passion that he suffred for theym noo more than yf he neuer had become man A nother reason was there as he playned hym wepte full pyteously for that soo fewe folke sholde be soo dere bought wherof saynt gregorye sayth ¶ Si respicio facieÌ„ cristi in cruce pendentis primis michi occurrit quod fleuit orans Sêª quare fleuisti bone IhÌ„u quare fleuisti cum pocius esset gaudenduÌ„ maxime tunc cum operabaris salutem in medio terre affligens peccata nostra cruce daÌ„pnans diaboluÌ„ Saluans miseros fleuit igitur qr quia cuÌ„ passio sua sufficeret redempcioni oiÌ„m profuit redempcioni paucorum ¶ Whan I beholde the face of Ihesu cryst hangynge vpon the crosse Fyrst it renÌ„eth in my mynde that he in prayeÌ„g wept But whi wept ye swete Ihesu why wept ye where rather it sholde be Ioyed specyally whan he brought helth in the myddes of the erth fyxed our synnes on the crosse daÌ„pnyng the deuyll sauynge wretches But for this wept he that his passion was sufficyent ynoughÌ„ to the redempcyon of all folkes shold prouffyte allonely to the redempcoÌ„n of soo fewe For full fewe ben in all the worlde of Religyous or seculer or ony other maner of folkes of holy chyrche or other that a right louyth the kynge of glory the swete Ihesu criste as they ought wherof sayth saynt poul ¶ Omnes que sua sunt querunt non que Ihesu cristi All folkes seke eÌ„tentyfly the prouffyte of theyr bodyes and not the loue that they owe to Ihesu cryste And our lorde hymself sayth ¶ Putas ne filius hominis inueniet fidem super terrain Wene ye that that Ihesu the sone of mary founde fayth or charyte in erthe for sothe full scarsely Now dere frende remembre ye how yourselfe hath louyd ful pourly our gode lorde and loue Ihesu cryst And how our neighbours of this worlde beÌ„ now corrupted with many maner of synÌ„es And how the deth of our swete lorde spouse y e sone of god was harde cruell ThenÌ„e oughte we well to wepe togider wyth Ihesu cryst and crye hym mercy wherof saynt Bernarde saith ¶ Tria sunt preciosa vnguenta scilicêª flere pro peccatis proptiis pro peccatis proximi pro compassione passionis cristi Thre precyous oynementes ben th one is precyous the other more precious the thyrd rihÌ„t precyous The precyous is to wepe for our synnes The more precyous is to wepe for the synnes of our neyghbours The right precyous is to wepe for the compascyon of the cruell deth of IhÌ„u cryst wherof sayth saynt Bernarde O bone Ihesu si tam dulce est gaudere de te A Ihesu yf it be soo swete to wepe wyth you how it shal be swete to be Ioyous wyth you and after he sayth ¶ O bone Ihesu cito lacrimas inuenit soluitur in gemitum qui tui sensum habet doloris O good Ihesu full soone mighte he fynde teeres grete mater of sighynges that had ony felinge vnderstondyng of your sorowes paynes And after of the peteous playntes that ye made And whan ye cryed wyth hyhe voys to your fader ¶ In manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meum In to thy hondes fayr swete fader I yelde my spiryte for the loue of my dere loue mannes soule to delyuer from helle ¶ Et inclinato capite emisit spirituÌ„ And enclyned his blessid hede yelded his gloryous spyrite A fayr frende thynke on hym that was soo benygne to thyse harde tormeÌ„tes wherof saynt bernarde sayth ¶ O bone Ihesu benigne cuÌ„ hominibus conuersatus es quam magna hominibus largitus es quam dura pro hominibus passus es quaÌ„ dura verba duriora verbera durissima crucis tormeÌ„ta passus es O good Ihesu how benygne thou were conuersaunt wyth men how grete thynges thou hast gyuen man how harde paynes thou hast suffryd for maÌ„ as harde wordes harde betynges and right cruel and mortall tormentes that blessid be thou moost mercyfull Ihesu For neuer man suffred so harde deth as he suffred for our soules to make vs parteners of all y e ioyes of heuen And he suffred not oonly this cruell and harde dethe but also the moost fowle shamfull deth that they myght put him to And all this suffred he for the loue of mannes soule For what shame was this that Iudas this traytour marchaunt solde him to y e felon Iewes to slee as men doo an oxe or a cowe And yet for a wretchid pryce for thyrty pens For Iudas scaryot sayd to the Iewes ¶ Quid vultis michi dare et ego eum vobis tradam at illi constitueruÌ„t ei triginta argenteos What wylle ye gyue me and I shall delyuer you hym And establisshyd to gyue for hym thyrty pens of syluer And he brought the Iewes the same nyghte to the place where oure lorde Ihesu cryst was And whan he came he sayd Aue rabi Heyle mayster and kyst hym And our lorde sayd to hym full pyteously ¶ Amice ad quid venisti Frende wherfore come ye ThenÌ„e came after the Iewes and toke our lorde full rudely And ful sore bounde him as yf he had be an arrante theef And ledde hym in y e cytee before his mortall enmyes Wherof hymselfe playned hym to theym that ledde hym and sayd ¶ Tanquam ad latronem existis cum gladiis fustibus comprehendere me cotidie apud vos eram docens in templo et non me tenuistis A Why doo ye me so grete vilanye that ye come wyth swerdes and wepens forto take me as I were a thef and euery daye I haue be byfore you in the temple· and ye took me not wherfore doo ye this to me now ¶ But for all that they lefte him not but drwe hym forth before cayphas where the cruel Iewes accused hym of felonye and treyson· And he was broughte forth thus as a lambe wherof he sayd ¶ Ego quasi agnus mansuetus qui portatur ad victimam I suffre all togider the vilaynous wordes reproches as a meke lambe with out resisteÌ„ce that men beryth to slee But Cayfas theyr mayster took so grete disdeyne for this that IhÌ„u wold not answer y t he said to him in scornÌ„ Where ben your dyscyples what folke ben they howe haue ye taughte theim And Ihesu answered I am acustomed to speke openly and alwaye to teche folke in the synagoge and the temple there as the Iewes came and in secrete places as here is I shall speke lityll And what aske ye me· aske them that haue herde what I haue sayd And vneth had he ended his wordes but there starte forth a felon ribawde that stroke hym ful cruelly in his fayr vysage wyth his hard honde And sayd full egrely before all folkes ¶
et non respondit michi MY sorowfull soule is al dessoluid for anguysshe of mi swete sone that entendeth not to my wordes I seke hym I maye not fynde hym I speke to hym and he answeryth me not Thenne came saynt Ioh̄n to whō our lorde had deliuerde hir in kepīge soo sore wepyng that in no wyse he cowde refreyne hym· Then̄e took he vp this blessyd virgyn wepīge snobbing in sorowes and soo weryed in wepyng so moche greuyd dyscomforted that vnnethes hir fete myghte susteyne to bere hir Notwythstōdyng thus as she myighte wyth the helpe of the holy wymen that were there they all wyth wepyng entryd in to Iherusalem many wymen that sawe this had suche pyte of the sorowfull wepyng of the blessyd vyrgyn marye that they cowde not refreyne theyr teres Hyr sorowfull herte pyteous demeanyng constreyned many a harde herte to wepe sorow and thus was she ledde al wyth wepinge vnto the hous of saynt Iohan bothe hirself weping all that wēte wyth hyr and as many as saw hyr So rested she abode in his hous whiche honoured hir serued her louyd hyr more than she had be his owne moder And whan our lorde was buryed the iewes sealid his sepulture apointed certē kniigh̄tes in harneys for to kepe it In the meane tyme the blessid virgyn mary ēdured grete sorow in the hous of saynt Iohan For she wept contynually wythout comfort for there was no frende she had myght ease hyr nor saynt Ioh̄n hymselfe for she was alwaye in sorowe bytter teres A who is soo encombrid with syn̄e or is somoche encōbryd of erthly loue Or who is soo fulfyllid of errour or is soo charged wyth worldly rychesse that hathe the hert soo harde that they can not haue compascōn conpūccyon whan they redde or here of the sighes wepynges the sorowes tormentes that this blessid pure vyrgyn saynt mary y e ryght swete moder of our lorde Ihesu cryst suffryd Truely they haue the herte right harde wythout mercy that hath not some compascōn of thyse paynes And who that is wythoute mercy pyte god wyll haue noo mercy nor pyte on him yf it be not the gretter merueyle For seldom is the man sauyd that is wythout a mercyful hert wherof saynt bernarde sayth ¶ Nemo duri cordis salutem vmquā adeptus est nisi forte miseratus deus abstulerat ab eo cor lapideū dederit ei cor carneum Neuer man of harde hert purchaced not thelth of his soule but perauenture the mercyable god hath be pleysed some tyme to take frō hym his hert of stone and gyue hym a tender hert of flesshe wherby he may be sauyd ¶ Nunquid cor durum ipsum quod nec compassione scinditur nec pietate mollitur minis non cedit c. IS not this a harde herte that is not meuyd by compascōn nor softed by pyte nor makith noo force of menaces that can come to hym nor other Nor takyth noo hede of counseylle Nor to noo mannes Iugement not to shame nor dispysing nor to noo maner peryl Is not this mā ouer folisshe in the opinyons of al resonable folkes that all thynges past forgeteth And necligently vsith those thynges that ben now and taketh none hede to puruey for suche thynges as ben for to come But shortly putteth all in auenture This is a harde herte that nother dredeth god nor beryth reuerēce to man And yf ye leue not me aske Pharaon that had the herte soo ouer harde ¶ Now fair swete frend hauē ye herde that our lorde Ihesu cryst louyd more his loue than euer sowle louyd body For he loued her more than his lyfe whan he gaaf his lyfe and suffryd his gloryous soule to departe fro his precyous body for the loue of hyr that honouryd praysed and thankid be he of al creatures wythout ende THe fourth grete loue that is in the werld is betwene man wyf yet the wyf may be so wretchyd of hyr body and soo enstraūged to hyr husbonde that perauenture though she wolde retorn̄ to him again he wolde not receyue hyr And this hath be ofte preuyd but the loue of our lorde Ihesu crist passith all beyonde this loue For neuer was the soule of his loue acompanyed wyth soo many syn̄es nor soo often in a voutre or other syn̄es but yf she wolde retourne to to hym agayn he wolde gladly receyue hyr wyth grete Ioye Wherfore alway be he honoured thankyd for he is euer redy to theym y t wyll leue the fende come to hym As hymself sayth by Ieramye the prophete· ¶ Si dimiserit vir vxorem suā c. tu autem fornicataes cū amatoribus tn̄ reuertere ad me dicit dn̄s Yf a man leuith his wyfe for ony synne it maye wel be for it befalleth often But ye fayre loue though ye haue offended in dedely syn̄es innumerable yet leue not therfore to retorne to me and I shal receyue you full swetly benygnely And what dooth more yet this amerous kynge whā his loue is torned from hym he gooth folowynge cryenge after hyr lyke as it is wreten in the book of loue· ¶ Reuertere reuertere suauitatis reuertere reuertere vt intuiamur te ¶ Retorne ye retorne ye to me ye wretchyd soules Retorne ye to the entente that I maye defende you kepe you from your enmyes that wyll confounde you And saynte austin sayth that our lorde spekyth this to the synfull soule ¶ Capud meū spictis tenui manus meas clauis obiecti lancee latus apperui sanguinem meū fudi vt michi coniungerem te et tu diuidis te a me erubesce My hede face I helde agaynst the fowle spyttynges my hondes I spradde agayns harde nayles I openyd my syde agayns the spere my precyous blood I shedde to Ioyne you to me And wolde ye thenne thus depart fro me Ye oughte full gretly to be ashamed A good lorde mercy what is this that he sekith the sinfull soule soo ententyfly and callith hir soo often like as it is wreten in the book of loue ¶ En ipse erat post parietem nostrū prospiciens per cancellos BEholde how Ihesu Cryste was behynde y e walle watchynge· and beholdynge Inwarde by the creueces yf she wolde in ony wyse retorne to hym And in the apocalips is sayd Ecce ego sto ad hostiū pulso et si quis apparuerit michi intrabo ad eū c. See how I am at the dore knocke make noyse who y t cometh to open his door I shall entre in wyth hym to his comforte As it is sayd in the gospell ¶ Omnes qui laborati et ornati estis venite ad me et ego reficiam vos O all ye that ben traueylled in the seruyse of the fende charged wyth synne ▪ come to me and I shall refresshe you comforte yow And what doth he yf he
not a man gyue all worldly goodes for one of thyse graces And all thise togyder in comparison of the soule is as noo thyng Wherfore yf ye be soo enraged so frowarde that ye refuse so grete agayn as I offre you Then̄e take hede to the thyrde that I wylle haue it by force or at your peryll For I holde redy the swerde of cruell vengaūce ouer you to slee yow wyth cruell deth and departe body soule and put theym to perdycōn to confoūde them both in helle for to be tormēted wyth fendes sorowfully anguysshously contynuelly wythout ēde Answer now yf ye wyll defende you agaynst me yf ye can or maye or els graūt me your loue y t I desire wyth so grete Ielousie with so feruent hert not for my wele but for yours Now take good hede to thise wordes of Ihesu cryst Is not she of ouer harde herte that to suche a sauyour wylle not graunt hyr loue Yf she remēbred wel thyse thre thynges what he is and how grete is the loue of soo hye a lorde as he is and soo vyle soo symple as she is she sholde doo hir deuour to loue hym though she sholde a hūdred tymes suffre dethe for the loue of hym wherof saynt bernarde sayth ¶ Quomodo ē istud sine modo a nobis deus amari meruit qui prior nos dilexit tantus tantū gratis tantillos tales miseros IN what manere is this· aboue al maner that can be deuysed by al erthly wyttes that our lorde Ihesu cryst deseruyd to be belouyd for that he louyd vs fyrst loueth vs somoche wythoute our deserte whiche is soo symple suche wretches as we ben And as saynt bernarde sayth ¶ Omne tempus in quo de deo non cogitas hoc te perdidisse computa All the tyme in whiche ye thynke not on god reken it as lost For therfore be we called crysten to serue cryste and to remembre of his sorowful paynes that he suffryd for our loue And surely yf we wyll not often thinke on his paynes we shal receyue ouer greuous vengaunce And to vs shall be rekenyd the dethe of our lorde Ihesu cryst wherof saynt bernarde pleyneth him in sayenge ¶ Quamdiu vixero ero me mor laboris quē cristus sustinuit in predicando fatigacionū in discurrendo temptacionū in ieiunando vigiliarū in orando lacrimarū in compaciendo c. As longe as I shal be in this lif I shall remembre me full pyteously of the greuous labours that our lorde Ih̄u criste suffryd in prechyng and of the werynesse in his gooynge aboute of his temptacyons in fastyng of his watche in praier and of the teres that he wept by compassion I shall remembre also his sorowes his dispisyng with shamful spittynges and the harde strokes that they layd vpon hym the felon repreues that he suffryd And the grete nayles and al thyse other passions that he suffryd for me ¶ And yf I doo it not there shall be cast on me to my confusion the In̄ocent blood that ihesu cryst shed vpon the erthe for me Doo we thenne doo we bi the coūseyle of saynt bernarde and by the counseylle of kynge dauyd that sayth in the sawter ¶ Sepcies in die laudem dixi tibi Fayr lorde god seuen tymes in the day I yelde to the thankynges praysynges for our benefactours benefaytes And for this reason ben vij houres of the of the day cōmaunded to say in holy chyrche in remembraunce of the pascyon of our lorde Ihesu cryst For this that at euery houre suffryd he soo moche shame Thise vij houres ben callyd compline matynes pryme tyerce myddy noone vespres Whan ye say or here cōpline thynke full ententyfly howe at that our Iudas betrayed hym solde hym for xxx pens soo good chepe was neuer seen solde nor bought soo delicyous precyous flesshe And well maye this tyme be callid complyne for this that oure lorde wolde soone after passe from this paynful lyf The whiche deth was purposed of the felon Iewes that he shold not escape For it was of hym as of a man condempned to deye for theft and is delyuerd to his execucōn of whom men sayen though he be yet liuynge he is as a dede man for cause he is Iuged to the deth This thefte wherfore Ihesu cryst was condēpnyd was not for golde nor siluer but for an apple that was full bytter as we haue harde that adam stale in paradice where he dyde sacrelage wherby he was acursid oute of holy chirche payned in this mortall lyf sorowfully ixC yeres more tormēted in hungre thurst in grete labour anguysshe and sith deyed of righte paynfull deth And his soule decended vnto the horrible paynes of helle and lay there bounde in prison derknesse xl̄C yeres more soo that he al his lignage that deyed wente thyder to the tyme that our lorde Ihesus cryst shedde his precyous blood on the holy crosse This ought ye to thīke whā ye say or here complin haue full grete fere of our lorde whom ye haue soo often offended whan he took so grete greuous vengaūce of adam that he had made wyth his owne hondes for one apple that was of noo value y t he took agaynst his cōmaundemēte And therfore at that hour yelde w◠culpable to god within our hertes· and to the preste with our mouth And yf ye maye thenne haue in mynde al that ye haue doon that day ayenst the commaūdement of god ◠of al that ye haue euyll spokē wyth your mouth and wyth your eyen euyll beholden ofte of all y t we can thynke that daye we haue doon agaynst the wyll of our creatour and deuoutly require merci pardon And this hour was concluded felonously the dethe of Ih̄u cryst for our synnes And haue very hope that we shal haue this y t we desire yf we repent ourself truly and be well confessyd so that oure axynge be resonable For this sayth our lorde in the gospell ¶ Pette et accipietis REquyre and ye shall receyue after this complyne He sayd to his thre dyscyples full pyteously fayr brethern abyde and wake here whyle I make my prayers to my fader Thenne fylle he downe to the erthe and prayed thre tymes his fader that yf it miight be his passion were put from hym And thenne appered an angell to hym conforted him wherof ye ought to thynke that as longe as he was in his prayer he swet droppes of blood In the meane tyme slepte his discyples but hymself had noo wyll to slepe to the tyme that he deyed on the crosse and then̄e rested he in the sepulture vnto the daye of his Resurrexcion thenne awaked he thus as a man slepyng hastly awaketh thus soone sooner awoke he fro deth wherof dauyd the prophete sayth ¶ Excitatus est tanquam dormi ens dn̄s At matynes yelde we
euyll vnclene is that vyle sinne they sholde hate it wyth all theyr hertes and flee it as the deth yf they were not out of theyr wyttes or of suche frowardnesse that they raughte not of theyr dampnacōn For we rede in genesis that god for that vyle shamfull synne dystroyed al the worlde by the floode For it rayned xl dayes xl nyghtes And this wate◠was soo hye that it was aboue the hyest mountayn in erthe xv cubytes· which̄e drowned al folkes bestes fowles in the world sauyng noe his wyfe his thre sones their iij. wyues And those bestes fowles y t were saued in the same arke the whiche water roos soo hye ouer al erth to wasshe away the filth foilyng of that vyle synne of lecherye And as hye shall ryse the fyre before the daye of Iugement to purge the erthe of synne as a wise fader sayth A how vnclene a thyng vyle is that fowle synne of lecherye whiche foyleth not oonly therthe But the ayre the whiche fylthe to wasshe awaye suffyseth not all the water that was in erth but that god sente fro heuen Rayne xl dayes xl nyghtes And for sīple fornycacōn that the folke of israhel dyde wyth the women of madyan rede we that there were slay of theim in one daye by the com̄aundement of moyses xxiij thousāde men And saynt poul wytnesseth And for the auoutrye that the folke of gaba dyde one nyghte in the rauysshyng the wyf of a man were slayne lx v. M. men And for that vyle shāfull synne a ayēste nature god dystroyed v. cytees For it regned vpon sodome gomore stynkyng sulphur bren̄ynge fyre and ouerthrewe the cytees all the reame aboute And all tho that enhabyted in the cytees all the thynges growenge in that londe And this was done in signe that god took noo vengaunce vpon the sinners oonly but on the place where they enhabyted of al the place aboute theim that eyther vsid it or knewe it and myghte amende theym wolde not And knowe well that in all maners y e ony man or woman procureth or assenteth therto oute of maryage it is dedely synne and one of y e gretest synnes that is For saynt austin sayth in the decre Auoutry is gretter synne than fornycacyon woors more vyle is a man to sinne wyth his own moder then with a nother woman But ouer euyl abhomynable is it of the synne ayenst nature the leest of all oute of mariage is dāpnable Wherfore ye wretches that folow soo the vise desires of your flessh̄ bethinke ye and repent you And remēbre how greuous is this vyle syn̄e of lecherye And therof sayth saynt Ioh̄n in thapocalipsis y e vicyous wretches auouterers that will not leue their synne shall be payned perdurably in a lake of stynkyng sulphur brennyng fire for this that they ben now soo brennyng in the fowle desire of theyr wretchid flessh̄ before god his angelles and all good folkes But yet the mercy of our lord is soo grete y t whan the wretchid man or woman repēteth hem of hir synnes haue they euer somoche offended in ony syn̄e what soo euer it be so that they kepe hem clene forthe in body herte shall goo to the Ioye perdurable where they shall see Ih̄u cryst y e fader the holy goost soo as sayth y e gospell Blessyd be the clene of herte for they shal see god swete ihesu the sone of marye all the holy company of heuen My dere suster there I trust we shall be togyder bothe body sowle at the grete daye of Iugement And this graūt vs almighti god of his Infinite mercy Amen And all ye that rede or here this pray ye for hym that made it for theym that wrote it and for hir that was the cause that it was made and of your charite for theym that translated it wrote it out of frenssh̄ in to ēglissh̄ one pater noster one auee that god haue mercy on vs. that we may come to hym after this mortall lyfe in to the euerlastyng lyf wythout departynge Amen AS wyse folkes sayen there ben thre signes of very loue frenshyp One is a persone wyll be gladde to speke well of whom they loue beste A nother they wylle be gladde to here often well good tidynges of theym The thyrde they haue theim somoche in theyr remembraūce ▪ that at somtyme all other thyng is forgoten but oonly the same thyng that they loue best And this is the moost sure true signe of all other moost to be preysed And this dyde saynt Fraūceys of whom pope gregory wytnessith by his bull y t he sawe often wyth his eyen that whan men named the name of ihesu before saynt fraunceys he was soo rauysshyd wyth that blessid name that he had nother the herynge nor the sight of ony persone or thīge that was done aboute him for a tyme. And thus my right dere suster for goddes sake ouer all thyng loue ye him· doo your true deuour to wynne the specyall fauour and grace of him that so hiely will marye his louers As well preuyd it saynt Katheryne and saynt an̄es and holde ye thenne this maner to thynke what a loue the swete Ih̄s is· Thynke fyrst how by naturell reason ye be moost beholden to loue theim that moost hath gyuen you and moost hath don̄ for you with out ony deserte of you wythoute ony rewarde of you For al y e good weles that is in you ye haue receyued of hym Thenne shee wit well that aboue all other ye ought to loue him wyth all your herte wyth all your power For after y e grete weles bountees that ye haue receyued of him soo ought youre loue to be grete towarde hym this sayth hymself by the prophete Ysaye I haue noo desire of golde nor siluer nor other tresour but onely of the faythfull loue of man or woman Now bethynke you well thenne dere suster where may ye better gyue your hert loue thā to hym Wherfore to remēbre yow euery daye yf ye haue leyser what ben y e weles that ye haue receyued of god wythout your deserte say or thinke in this manere My lorde god I vnderstonde well that ye of your grace hath made me of no thyng and giuen me beyng amonge your creatures and truly whā I was noo thynge I myght noo thyng deserue Then̄e all this that I am haue I haue receiued of your specyall gyfte grace wythout my deserte And of your creatures there ben some hyer some lower And I knowe well that ye myghte haue made me the most vyle creature that is and this dyde ye not But of your bountee fourmed me to be amonge the moost hie creatures that is this is to knowe aungell man that in your owne liknesse shall see you in your glorye And this
to suffre for my synÌ„es ye that neuer dyde synÌ„e I require huÌ„bly beseche you that ye grauÌ„t me very sorowe true repentauÌ„ce for my sinnes in this lif soo that I be not by theim deliuerde to eternall payne And dere suster whan ye shall thus haue spoken to the sone tourne yow theÌ„ne to his blessid moder say or thynke O moost blessid glorious virgyn mary moder of our lorde IhÌ„u cryst for that swete loue that was betwene you your dere sone whan ye soo swetly enbrased hym theÌ„ same that is the kyng of glori And wyth your breste gaaf hym sowke and many a swete kisse gaue and Receyued of hym I requyre huÌ„bly beseche you that ye purchace me that grace of your dere chylde truly to loue him And my prayer soo to auauÌ„ce that I maye atteyne his blessid loue And I beseche you moder of mercy for that grete sorow that was in your herte whan ye saw your dere sone wyth out gylte suffre soo harde cruel dethe for me synfull all other synÌ„ners that it wyll pleyse you to be meane for vs to gete vs his grace of true repentauÌ„ce for our synÌ„es here in thÌ„is wretchyd short lyf so y t we may to his pleysure peasible departe â–ª come Ioyfully to y e presence of your dere sone you there to contynue wythout ende Amen ¶ Here foloweth a Treatise that spekyth of the vertu of the brauÌ„ches of the appultree whiche is expouned morally as foloweth here after THE Prophete saith thise wordes I shall mount to the appultree take of the frute Somtyme is vnderstonde by the appultree the crosse And somtyme penaunce Somtyme contemplacyon ¶ On the appultre of the crosse gader men the fruyte of lyfe On ¶ This appultree shold haue vij braunches and vpon euery braunche a byrde a floure The fyrste braunche is consideracyon of hym selfe that is whan the soule knoweth hyrselfe and enserchyth faythfully truly in hir conscyence soo that therin abyde noo thynge that shold dysplese god Vpon this braunche makyth the pecok his neest The pecok is of suche nature that whan she slepyth on nyghtes and wakyth sodenly she cryeth for the fere that she hathe to lese hir bewte ¶ This signefyeth the soule that our lorde hath formed and created soo fayr that in the nyghte of this derke worlde oughte alwaye to be in drede soo that she lease not hir beaute whiche ben the bountees the graces that god hath lent gyuen hyr so ought she by grete dyscoÌ„forte to crye whan she felith knoweth ony derknesse and shortly and wyth ferme faythe to chace awaye all hir defawtes Vpon this brauÌ„che is a full fayre flour that is of good odour also hath an heuenly coloure whiche is called Narde It is an herbe lityll low of hote nature that signefieth humilite that gladly obeyeth hirself that maye not be done wythout y e hete of charite· Suche humylite yeldeth grete colour odour for it drewe y e sone of god down to erth soo as our lady it wytnesseth â–ª there where she sayth· For he hath behold the humylite of his hondmayde She sayd not the virgynite nor the charyte nor the noblesse nor many other vertues wherwyth she was fulfylled But she said rather humylite For this was the specyall vertue wherfore the sone of god descended in her For yf she had not be perfite meke he wold neuer haue chosen hir for he resisteth to the prowde to the huÌ„ble gyueth his grace Well rested this swete lady vpon the brauÌ„che of contemplacyon that kepte humylite loste not hir holinesse Vpon this brauÌ„che desired dauyd to sitte whan he sayd in prayenge Bedewe me lorde wyth esoppe theÌ„ne shal I be more whyte thaÌ„ snow Isoppe signefieth that same ye. narde doth The Isoppe purgeth the breste humylyte purgeth the hert of Rancour of enuye of shrewdnesse of al felonyes· By this desired dauyd to be clensid after his grete synne for he knewe well that this was the true medicyn ¶ The seconde brauÌ„che of contemplacoÌ„n is coÌ„punccion of theyr neyghbours for whaÌ„ y e soule hath good wyll to ameÌ„de al this that god is displesed for bi y e knouleche receyueth the floure of very humylytee Thenne oughte she to haue compascyon of hir neyghbours the appultree of Penaunce gader men seuen fruytes Foure to the body and thre to the soule The fyrste fruyte that the body shall haue after his penaunce â–ª done shal be clerenesse soo scrypture sayth The iuste folke shall shyne as the sonÌ„e in the Reame of their fader Of this sayth saynt poul we shall beholde sayth he our lorde Ihesu cryste that shall refourme the bodyes of oure humanytee as fygure to the body of his clernesse The seconde frute that the body shall haue shall be liightnesse for it shal be as light as the thought is now Wherof men finde of our lord after his resurrexcyon that he was light For now apered he to theim that were in eumans â–ª and forthwith to them that were in Iherusalem The thirde frute that the body shall haue shall be subtylte They shall not be thenne so groos as they are now but they shall be full subtyll As men fynde also of our lorde Ihesu cryst after the sayd resurrexcoÌ„n that he entred amonge his dyscyples whan the dores were shytte This myghte not be done before but by myracle The fourth fruyte that the body shall haue shall be Impassibylite this shall be helthe for it shal be so hole that it shall neuer maye haue siknes in bodi nor in soule thise four fruytes shal the body haue and the soule shall haue thre The fyrst shal be the knowlege of the godhede wherof saint poul saith I know now a partye by fygure as men loke in a glasse But theÌ„ne shal I knowe like as I am now knoweÌ„ we shall know god in all as he is see him clerly wythout couerture or wythout glasse this shall be the lighte of the grete glories that the soule shall haue The seconde shall be the glorye of humanyte of IhÌ„u cryst The thyrde shall be loue For yf the soule haue knowleche sighte loue not this sholde be noo perfyte glorye But she loue hir god whoÌ„ she shall see know Now come we to the appultree of conteÌ„placoÌ„n Thappultree is streite skleÌ„der douÌ„ward large vpward For the soule that wyll mouÌ„t in conteÌ„placoÌ„n ought to be streyght skleÌ„der douÌ„warde to all erthly thynges to all carnall affeccoÌ„ns large vpwarde in the loue of god and of his neyghbour For like as the appultree the more playn it be wythout bowes tyll it come to the height the more spredeth it in y e toppe thê° dooth the soule that stretchith on height by conteÌ„placoÌ„n of tyme hauiÌ„ge noo lowe bowes of worldly ne carnalle affeccyon spredeth moche more vpwarde in loue to god And sholde applie hyr humbly and
sayd he thus as the harte desireth the welle thus desireth my soule to the my god in a nother place sayth he ¶ Dormitauit aiÌ„a mea prete dio Saynt poul was mouÌ„ted onÌ„ day on this brauÌ„che sayd I desire to be dyssolued to be wyth cryst in a nother place he sayd â–ª Wretched maÌ„ who shal delyuer me of this body of deth ¶ VpoÌ„ this brauÌ„che makith y e nightyngale his neest y t is of suche nature that he singyth al nyght ayeÌ„st y e day whaÌ„ he seth y e daye the sonÌ„e ryse he makyth so gre Ioy y e vneth he kepith his lyfe this signefieth y e holi soule y t in the derke night of this lif abydeth our lord whaÌ„ she felith his comiÌ„g in hir hert by grace· she hath soo grete Ioye that she can nother speke nor be stylle suche was the gode â—ld symeoÌ„ that was so Ioyful whan he beholde the comynge of the sone of god wherof he sayth Ha god whaÌ„ shall come the swete chylde whan shal he be born· whan shall I see hiÌ„ whether shall I dure soo long that he may finde me here at his holi natyuite Maye euer my eyen see that same by whom the eye of the soule shall be awakid· Thise wordes sayd he euery day in his prayer by y e oppressynge of the grete desire of his herte And by his grete desyre had he answere of the holy goost y t he sholde not fele deth tyll he had seeÌ„ the very sone of god Thus dide he as the nyghtyngale that singeth all the nyghte Whan he sawe com day the sone of Iustyce of whoÌ„ mary was moder broughte him to be offryd in the temple he ran ayenst him enbraced him and held hym ayeÌ„st his hert and had so grete Ioye that vneth his hert myght abyde it And thenne made he this fair songe ¶ NuÌ„c dimittis seruuÌ„ tuuÌ„ dnÌ„e c Lord put your seruaunt in peas for now I see the pease that I haue somoche desired â— whereof I haue somoche Ioye that deth is noo payne to me And for goddes sake doo we as simeon dyde enbrace we this swete chylde in tharmes of our hertes Saint anne enbraced him in the temple that had somoc desired hym Vpon this braunche grew the floure of safreÌ„ and the flour blanche whiche signefyen that this feruent desire maketh the soule pale yelow wherof it sayth in the cantycles lete me not to beholde though I be blacke for the sone hath dyscoloured me And in a nother place sayth he arayed wyth flowres set on wyth thornes for I languysshe in loue The sixte braunche of the appyll tree is vysitacyon whan our lord hath pyte on the soule desiryng hiÌ„ he vysiteth hir by his grace that he gyueth hir the felyng of his swete presence that she hath somoche desired Vpon this braunche makyth the swalow hir nest she is of suche nature that she takyth hir fediÌ„ge in ayre in fleeng This signe fyeth the soule vysited of god that ought to take no comfort nor pleisure of noo temporell thynge but of god allonly And tho thynges nedeful to the body sholde they take thus as in fleeng that is to abyde theron as lityll as they may but onely for their sustenauÌ„ce Vpon this brauÌ„che was mounted ezechiel whaÌ„ he sayd all thus as y e fawne that cryeth after his moder taketh noo comforte but of hir thus the soule contemplatyf whan she cometh ayen to hyrselfe and seeth the grete Ioye that she shall haue of this suffrauÌ„ce she oughâ— not to obeye hir to hir owne wyll nor to synne but allonely to the wylle of god Vpon this brauÌ„che groweth the marygolde whiche is of suche nature that whan the sonne sheweth the floure spredeth And whaÌ„ the sonne wythdrâ—â—eeth it closeth Right thus shold doo the comtemplatyf soule ayenst the sonÌ„e of Iustyse and ought alway to open hyr herte by desire by loue And yf it falle ony tyme that grace be wythdrawen they sholde close their hertes ayenst all forreyne pleysures ayenst all synne oughte to take noo reste nor comforte tyll it come ayen And as the marygolde foloweth the sonÌ„e soo ought the contemplatyf soule to folowe our lord to serue hym to desire hym to go after him Suche was mari mawdeleyne whan she went to the sepulcre where she fouÌ„de noo thyng· but thangel that answerd hir of whoÌ„ she took lityll hede for she was soo ferueÌ„t in the loue of our lorde whoÌ„ she soughte that she myght receyue noo comfort of thangel And yet was he as cleer as a full fayr sterre But she axed for the sonÌ„e that all enlumyneth took lityll kepe of al other cleâ—nes She sought hiÌ„ ofte where he was not thider came she wyth right grete desire For there was the last place where she had lefte him· and for this wende she there surely to fynde hym by her desires And afterwarde she fouÌ„de hym For truly who that wyll perseuer in deuoute praiers refuseth for him all other forreyne pleysures they shall surely fynde hym wythout doubt hymself promyseth soo in thapocalips sayth I loue them that loue me and those that wake bytymes for me shall fynde me And thus for cause she loued hym she fonde him and yet sayd he more Yf ony opeÌ„ his gate for me I wyll entre in wyth a good wyll dwelle wyth hym he wyth me and shal ete gladly wyth hym he wyth me Vpon this braunche sate dauyd whaÌ„ he sayd my soule hathe refused all comforte but oonly of the ¶ The seuenth braunche of contemplacyon is affeccoÌ„n that is whan the soule is come to thys that she felith somoche of god that the humanyte ne may not holde her but rather fayle Vpon this brauÌ„che was dauyd mounted whan he sayd I shal remember me of god shall delite me exercyse me in the loue of hym· my spiryte fayleth And in a nother place he saith mi soule fayleth Vpon this brauÌ„che makyth her nest the phenyx that signefyeth the spirytuell folke for this that he is singuler For full fewe is of them or of suche that come to this hye stage The phenyx is of suche nature that whan he shall deye he gadreth togyder thornes and gooth in to the moost hote part of al the londe y t he is in whan he hath heped them he fleeth ouer theym soo longe that they begyn to brenne and thenne brenÌ„eth he hymselfe in that fyre and of those asshes groweth a nother fenyx The phenix in one sence signefieth our lorde IhÌ„u crist that was with out fader in erth to whom was neuer none like in him was all y e brauÌ„ches of vertues asseÌ„bled whiche by loue brent hymself on th aulter of the crosse The phenyx also signefyeth the holy soule spirituell that hath gadred togyder the thornes of good vertues bereth hem in to the hete of
charite Soo make they to god sacrefyse of body soule whaÌ„ they offre to him in thodour of his humanyte on the auter of their hertes by perfyte desire and this sacrefyce is ful pleysaunt to god wherof dauyd sayd Suche sacrefyse is crase And in a nother place sayd Thenne is the sacrefise crase whan 〈…〉 is reysed by wynges of 〈◊〉 â—esires oute of al bodely affeccyons Imagynacyons and she is Ioyned to god in crase is dronken of the crase of the holy goost so that for the tyme hir behoueth to fayle bi the grete habundante Ioye that she felith This signefyeth the quene of saba that came to Iherusalem for to see the sapyeÌ„ce of Salamon wherof she had herde the grete renomme But whan she sawe hym she said she sawe more than she had herde And as scripture sayth she fayled in hirself for the merueiles that she behelde in hym The fruyte of this brauÌ„che is IhÌ„u cryst that sayd I am the floure of the felde and the lelye of the valeye Of this frute sayd Elisabeth ¶ Benedictus fructus c. The leues of this brauÌ„che ben the cryes sighes· the sownynges and the snobbynges that they haue that ben thus mouÌ„ted ¶ HEre ben declared the signes wherby men may seke the loue of our lorde WE CRysten oughte moche hertly to RemeÌ„bre in our hertes thynke on the rihÌ„t grete loue y t the swete childe of bethleem IhÌ„u crist shewed to vs by the wouÌ„de of his precious side in vij signes ful of right grete loue ¶ ThÌ„e fyrst signe of loue was shewed to vs in this y t he wold make of his precyoê° wouÌ„de the leure red blody to call oure hertes that by fleeÌ„g thoughtes ofte seaseth hem by fals loue vpon the careyne of vayn creatures ¶ The seconde signe is in this y t hÌ„e made their tresour to redeme vs this tresour is that of his precioê° bÌ„ody was put out the most precious lif that euer was or euer maye be gaf it for to redeme our soules fro the paynes of helle He gaf therfore also his precious soule ful of all weles full of grace wythoute mesure ful of all the blessid diuynite ful of the myght of god y e fader Ful of the sapyence of god the sone ful of the grace of god the holy goost And for asmoche as one bouÌ„tee requireth a nother we ought to opeÌ„ to him the tresour of our hertes whiche shold be in golde ensence myrre this is to knowe the golde of feruent loue thensence of deuout prayer the myrre of penauÌ„ce of satysfaccoÌ„n ¶ The thyrde signe is shewed in this that he made there a welle to wasshe our hertê this is the welle of grace that spriÌ„geth fro the depnes of the diuynite cometh thorugh the wouÌ„de of his side costeth vpon the grauell of holy medytacyon and decendeth in to the draught of the conscyeÌ„ce right brenÌ„yngly for to put out all vnclennesse ¶ The fourth signe is in this that he made there a tauerne to make vs drynke this tauerne hath the humanytee nature fulfyllid wyth wyne of consolacyon· that the true hert ordeneth in very charite In this tauerne descended the sone of god bi ix degrees y t thus representeth the ix orders of angels This wyne god the fader tuÌ„ned god the sone pressed god y e holy goost it fylled wyth ful mesure thrugh holy desire he reysed by y e vertu of the fire of loue wherof the furnays of the hert ought to be alway hote ¶ The v. signe is in this that he made there a nest for vs to rest in In this nest shold the religious soule seke y e rest of his conscyence bi holi conteÌ„placoÌ„n flee thoccacoÌ„ns that myght meue hir herte to desire spredde to many creatures by disordinat fals affeccyon ¶ The vj. signe is this tha the made there a sheld to defende vs froÌ„ oure enmyes that seaseth not day ne night to doo their power to deceiue vs Thise enmyes beÌ„ the flesshe the world the fende froÌ„ whiche none may defende hem nor kepe but bi y e vertu of the pascoÌ„n of our lord ihesu cryst of his swete wouÌ„des ¶ The vij signe is in this that he made there a tree of lif for vs in hiÌ„ to entree al thus as the waxe of the candell shold entree wythin the wyke for to drawe the light to it thus shold y e religious hert be eÌ„tred wythin this wouÌ„de by loue brennyng charite ought to be couerd wyth erth by y e knowlege of oure owne freelte wrapt in the barke by remebrauÌ„ce of that deth that vs al hath redemed seke the rewarde of the same by the steppes of holy werkes in the vertue of perseuerauÌ„ce wyth very humylite thenne draweth the light of deuocoÌ„n wardur of honest conuersacoÌ„n sauour right pleysauÌ„t wyth swete refeccyon Thus is the hert draweÌ„ to nature diuyne by the vertue of loue whiche of two makyth one all in Ioye that neuer shall haue ende Wyth this leure be our hertes calde of this tresour truly redemed of this welle clene wassht of this tauern swetly made drunke In this nest stilly to rest wyth this sheelde defended kept Soo that withoute ende be we in god soo set that neuer in noo tyme be we fâ—om hym dysseuered Amen ¶ How fayth exhorteth the persone to eschewe haue in contempt all euyl thoughtes to reduse theÌ„ self in al poyntes to good werkes vnder the hope of diuyne grace GRete awayte ought eueri bodi to haue vpon theymself y t they retorne not ayen vnto those synnes that they haue ben reconsiled of For vain is the penauÌ„ce that the same offence soyleth ayen Where resiste wyth al your power froÌ„ doyng those synÌ„es that ye haue lost soo that they growe not in you ayeÌ„ ThenÌ„e vnderstonde what ye beÌ„ to what enteÌ„t ye beÌ„ made for suche as god hath ordeyned you ought ye to be ¶ Haue in you very byleue that ye by one onÌ„ly sinÌ„e beÌ„ many vertues lost ThenÌ„e for the loue of god gyue not your sowle to the power of the flesshÌ„ suffre none vnclenÌ„es to abyde in you Resist at the begiÌ„nyng of euyll thoughtes soone may ye theÌ„ne surmouÌ„t the remenaunt Knowe ye for trouth that by your thoughtes shall ye be Iuged for the body may not be corrupt till the thought be fyrst corrupt And whan the wylle therto consenteth the flesshe is all redy to synÌ„e therfore torne your wylle froÌ„ euyll thoughtes the body shall not synne VnderstoÌ„de to this that is admonested to you that ye be not foyled wyth none vnclenÌ„es of lecherye nor that ye be vainquynshed bi fornycacoÌ„n for thise beÌ„ grete sinÌ„es among all other For better is it todey than to doo fornycacoÌ„n better to lese your life than be foiled with lecherye Therfore bewaar for contynuauÌ„ce somtyme makith one to synÌ„e Haa god how chastite atteyneth
noble nor of soo ryall nor gentyll lygnage as was the swete Ihesu cryst For he was and his the sone of the kyng of heuen of the erth of helle and of all theym that ben therin And by his moder was he comen of the lignage of the ryche kynge dauyd and of the wyse kyng Salamon A good lorde mercy for he was lityll accustomed to lede suche lyfe Ful strange was it to hym to suffre suche paynes as ysaye sayth ¶ Alienum opus eius vt operetur opus suuÌ„ peregrinum est ab eo Moche chauÌ„ged is his werke that he dooth this vile crafte It is full strange to him And this sheweth saynt bernarde more openly ¶ Illud capud angelicis spiritibus adoranduÌ„ tremenduÌ„â— spinis et tribulis coronatur â— aures que audi unt canâ—us angeloruÌ„ audiuit insultus iudeoruÌ„ dicencium crucifige crucifige eum oculi lucidiores sole calligauerunt in morte c That hede is crowned wyth thornes breres that is worshipped fered of angelles The ere 's whiche here the songes of angelles thenÌ„e herde the cryenge of Iewes crucyfye hym crucifye hym The eyen y t ben bryghter than the sone became thenne all derke in his dethe The face that is most fayre amonge the sones of men was thenne all foyled wyth foule spittynges The hoÌ„des that maden heuen erthe were streyned thenne on the crosse The fete that be to be honoured were theÌ„ne rudely nayled to the tree O good lord there was neuer soo noble a persone soo gentyll nor soo curteys And yet was neuer none soo sorowfully entreated ¶ The fifth reson that was in 〈…〉 his benignyte And his 〈◊〉 wherof saynt poul saith ad 〈◊〉 ¶ Apparuit benignitas humâ—nitas saluatoris nostri corde dei The benignyte the humanyte of god our sauyour apereth And ihesu himself sayd ¶ Discite a me quia mitis sum humilis corde Lerne this of me fayr loue for I am humble of herte O saynt mary mercy whan he was soo benygne a man soo debonayr what nede was it to bete hym soo felonously what nede was it soo cruelly with a sharpe spere to perce his swete herte soo mortally What nede was it thus to tormente him and soo shamfully to drawe soo blessid a chylde soo fayr a sone soo debonayr· and of soo humble a herte as our lorde Ihesu cryst was Alas alas wherfore bounde slewe the felon iewes soo rudely the same that neuer dide harme but to all folkes shewed loue debonayrte wherof saynt austin playneth hym full gretly sayeÌ„g ¶ Odolor inestimabilis o angustia singularis palmatur que est vera palma victorie spinis coronatur qui venit spinas peccatoruÌ„ confringere ligatur â–ª qui soluit coÌ„peditos in ligno suspenditur qui erigit elisos sons vite sitis panis angeloruÌ„ esurit Quid plura disciplina ceditur salê° vulneratur vita ad tempus moritur vt inops inperpetuuÌ„ moriatur SOrow Inestymable O anguisshe synguler he was palmed â–ª that is the true palmÌ„ of victorie he was crowned with thornes that came to breke the thornes of synne He was sore bounde that came to lose theym that were in bondes He was hanged on the crosse that reyseth hem that ben ouerthrowen The welle of lyf had thurst The brede of angelles had hungre And what more discypline was beten Helth was wounded Lyfe for a tyme was dede to slee dethe wythouten ende There was neuer none herde of creature that receyued by many folde soo grete harme in rewarde of his grete goodnes And thenne to remeÌ„bre his benignyte his grete debonairte wherof holy chyrche makith grete sorow in an ympne of y e passyon And pyteously complaineth that soo gracyous a body was soo cruelly stryken wyth a spere and perced soo depe with grete nayles· saith thenne to the crosse ¶ Flecte ramos arbor alta c. O ye hye tree of the crosse wythdrawe your braunches slake your entrayles y t ben so stratchyd and your rygour the whyche he gaaf aswage yow siyth all the membres of the souereyne debonayre kynge is streyned on the harde stocke ¶ The sixt cause wherfor men sholde haue comâ—pascyon of our lorde Ihesu cryste this was the semblaunce of other thynges that maken sorowe For whan a man seeth other folke make sorow he is more apte to sorow wyth theym In like wyse beholde how many ensamples were of sorowe whaÌ„ our lorde Ihesu cryst deyed The vnresonable creatures made sorowe The sonne wythdrewe his lyghte hidyng his bemys and became al derke The harde stones all to brake· thus as though they had compascyon of theyr creatour The vayle of the temple claf on to as yf it were for anguysshe of the spowse of holy chyrche whoo 's bodi was soo pyteously entreated The bodyes of dede folke aroos for ensaÌ„ple of that sorowe And that men ought to remembre that deth with grete compascyon And also it is a grete ensample of pyte sorowe the lamentable complaint that his blessid sorowfull moder made for the dethe of hyr swete sone whan she was lefte allone of all frendes auf of saynt Iohan to whose kepyng she was delyuerde beholdyng thenne hyr dere chylde dede vpon y e crosse hangyng betwene two theues Well myghte she make thenne the moost sorowfull complaynte that euyr was made Wherof sayth saynt Bernarde ¶ Quis dabit capiti meo aquam c. And whan hir sone was dede on the crosse saynt bernarde sayth thus ¶ Cogitare libet quantê° dolor tuÌ„c iÌ„fuit matri mulieri cuÌ„'sic dolebant insensibilea non lingua loqui nec meÌ„s cogitare valebat quanto dolore afficiebantur pia viscera marie IT maye be thoughte full grete sorow was in his blessyd moder whan the creatures that felte not made soo grete sorowe as is before rehersed there can noo tongue saye nor hert thynke how merueyllous grete sorowes pyteous tormentes was in y e herte of that blessid vyrgyne mary and saynt bernarde sayth ¶ NuÌ„c soluis virgo maria cum viscera ê™ in partu mutuasti a natura doloreÌ„ pariendo filiuÌ„ non sensisti quem milies replicando filio moriente passafuisti Now swete virgin ye haue yelded wyth esurye this that in the byrth of your sone was chaunged ayenst nature· For in hys byrthe felte ye noo sorowe nor payne But in his deth felte ye the thousande folde of sorowes The moder was nere vnto the crosse at the dethe of Ihesu crist whiche she conceiuyd by the holy goost But she fayled bothe speche voys whiche sorow had taken fro her· ¶ O verum eloquiuÌ„ iustum simeonis O ye true worde of the very Iust Symeon For thenne was your promyse fulfilled of the swerde of sorow· whan that blessid virgyne mary was there present and hyr swete sone hanged on the crosse She laye at the erthe as dede pale and dyscolored but hyr soule lyued as in deyeÌ„g