good was created heuen maad on the contrarye wyse for the euyl was helle maad establysshyd whiche is horryble stynkyng redoubtable ¶ Hier speketh of Rethoryque Capitulo ixo. THe therde of the vij sciēces is callid rethoryque whiche cōteineth in substance rightwysnes rayson and ordynaūce of wordes ought not to be holden for folye For the droytes and lawes by whiche the Iugemēts be made and that by rayson and after right ben kept and mayntened in the court of kynges of prynces of barons come and procede of rethoryque Of this science were extrayt and drawen the lawes and decrees whiche by nede serue in alle causes and in all rightes and droytes Who well knewe the science of rethoryque he shold knowe the right and the wronge For to doo wronge to another who so doth it is loste and dampned and for to doo right reson to euery man he is saued and geteth the loue of god his creatour ¶ Here foloweth arsmetryque wherof it procedeth ca xo. THe fourth sciēce is called arsmetrique this sciēce cometh after rethoryque is sette in the myddle of the vij sciences And wythout her may none of the vij sciences parfyghtly ne wee l and entierly be knowē wherfore it is expedyent that it be wel knowen conned For all the sciences take of it their substaūce in suche wyse that wythout her they may not be And for this reson was she sette in the myddle of the vij sciences there holdeth her nombre For fro her procede al maners of nombres And in alle thynges renne comme goo And no thyng is wythout nombre But fewe perceyue how this may be but yf he haue be maystre of the vij Artes so longe that he can truly saye the trouthe But we may not now recompte ne declare alle the causes wherfore For who that wolde dispute vpon suche werkes him behoued despute and knowe many thynges and moche of the glose who that knewe well the science of arsmetryque he myght see thordynaunce of alle thynesby ordynaunceg was the world made and created And by ordynaunce of the souerayn it shal be deffeted ¶ Next foloweth the science of Geometrye Capitulo xjo. THe fifthe is called geometrie the whiche more auaileth to astronomye than ony of the vij other For by her is compassed mesured Astronomye Thus is by geometrye mesured all thyngis where ther is mesure by geometrye may be knowen the cours of the sterres whiche alleway go meue And the gretenes of the firmament of the sonne of the mone of the erthe By geometrye may be knowen all thinges also the quantyte they may not be so ferre yf they may be sen or espyed wyth eye but it may be knowen who wel vnderstode geometrye he myght mesure in all maystryes for by mesure was the world made and alle thynges hye ▪ lowe and deep ¶ here folowed of musyque Capitulo xijo. THe syxthe of the vij sciences is called musyque the whiche fourmeth hym of arsmetryque Of this sciēce of musyque cometh alle attemperaunce And of this arte procedeth somme phsisyque For lyke as musique accordeth all thynges that dycorde in them remayne them to cōcordaūce right so in like wyse trauaylleth phisyque to brynge nature to poynt that disnatureth in mannes body whan ony maladye or sekenes encombreth hit But phisique is not of the nombre of the vij sciēces of philosophie But it is a maestier or a craft that entēdeth to the helthe of mānes body for to preserue it fro alle maladyes sekenesse as longe as the lyf is in the body and therfore it is not liberal For it serueth to hele mānes body whiche ellys oftentymes myght lyghtly perysshe ther is nothyng liberal ne free that groweth of therthe for as moche as science that serueth to mānes body leseth his franchise but science that serueth to the soule deserueth in the world to haue name liberal for the soule ought to be liberal as thing that is of noble beyng as she that cometh of god to god wylle ought retorne therfor ben the vij sciēces liberall for they make the soule al free on that other part they teche enseygne al that in euery thyng ought proprely to be don this is the very reson why thyse artes all vij ben called vij sciēces liberall For they make the soule liberall delyuer it fro all euyll Of this arte is musyque thus comune that she accordeth her to euerich so well that by her the vij sciēces were sette in concorde that they yet endure by this sciēce of musyque ben extrayt drawen all the songes that ben songen in holy chirche all the accordaūces of all the instruments that haue diuerse accordes dyuse sownes where ther is reson entendement of somme thynges Certes who can wel the science of musyque he knoweth the accordaunce of alle thynges And alle the creatures that payne them to doo well remayne them to concordaunce ¶ Here speketh of Astronomye Capitulo xiijo. The vij the laste of the vij sciēces lyberall is astronomie Whiche is of alle clergie the ende by this science may ought to be enquyred of thynges of heuen of therthe in especyall of them that ben made by nature how ferre that they be And who knoweth wel vnderstandeth astronomye he can sette reson in alle thynges For our creatour made alle thynges by reson gaf his name to euery thyng By this arte science were first emprysed goten alle other sciences of decrees of dyuinyte by which all crystiante is cōuted to the right fayth of our lord god to loue hym to serue the kynge almyghty fro whom all goodes come and to whom they retorne whiche made all astronomye heuen erthe the sonne the mone the sterres as he that is the very rewler gouernour of all the world he that is the very reffuge of all creatures For wythout his playsir nothynge may endure Certes he is the very Astronomyer For he knoweth all the good the badde as he hym self that composed astronomye that somtime was so strongly frequēted was holden for a right hye werke for it is a science of so noble being that who the myght haue the parfayt sciēce therof he myght wel knowe how the world was cōpassed plente of their parcyal sciēces for it is the sciēce aboue all other by whiche all maner of thinges ben knowen the better by the sciēce of astronomye only were foūden alle the other .vj. to fore named wythout them maye none knowe a right astronomye be he neu so sage ne myghty In lyke wyse as an hamer or an other tool of a mason ben the instruments by whiche he formeth his werke by whiche he doth his crafte In like wyse by right maistrye ben the other the instruments fondements of astronomye the auncient wysemen as
wyse For he shold doo me wronge Neuertheles it was well in our lordes power yf it had plesed hym to haue made man suche that he shold not haue synned ne haue don ony harme ne euyll But he had not deseruyd yet suche meryte ne reward as he now doth in noo tyme of the world And therfore god gaf to man playn frewylle to doo well or euyll to th ende that in wel doyng and leuyng the euyll he myght haue more meryte For otherwyse he myght not deserue so moche yf god had made thangels suche as myght not haue synned dedly ne haue don euyll For that yet shold not they deserue so noble a yefte as the men And who that wyll deserue these hye merytes he ought gladly wyth entyer herte and parfyght serue by grete loue and grete reuerence hym that hath made hym for to conquere and come to the most hye honour And our lord god wolde that man were suche that by ryght he myght deserue as moche goode a boute hym as he hym self hath ¶ And therfore he gaf to hym witte and râ—son for to haue entencion to hym For by ryght he ought well to serue hym Thenne is he a moche fooll that pourueyeth not to doo wel whiles he is here lyuynge For all the good that euery man shal do shal be for hym self alle the euyll also And eche man shal haue for one good thinge an hondreed good thynges and for one euyll an hondred euellis For he is a moche fool that weneth to doo god ony bounte of his goodys in ony maniere that it be And whan he absteneth hym fro doyng euyll so moche our lord holdeth hym the derrer and loueth hym the better For yf he loste alle the world Our lord shold neuer be the lasse worth ne none of the goodys that ben in his power yf alle the sayntes that euer here to fore in the world or euer shal be had neuer don goode ¶ And that alle by her demerytes were perpetuelly dampned in helle yet for alle that our lord god shold neuer haue the lasse Ioye ne consolacion And shold not be the lasse worth ne noo thynge that is in heuen But the sayntes were wyse prudent and constaunt for to doo well and prouffyt as they that playnely knewe that this world is not but a vayn thynge and transsitoyre And had moche leuer to suffre paynes trauaylles and offre their bodyes to tourment and martirdom to haue shames blasphemies and other Iniuryes for the loue of our lord in this miserable world that so lytyl whyle endureth And to haue the goodes of heuen euerlastyng than to haue ease chaungeable to the body for to haue payne perdurable They retched not ne had no charge of suche goodys that atte laste shold be of noo value ¶ But they toke the brydle by the teeth for to gete the right hye wytte and vnderstandyng of heuen And ther ben many of them that holâ—e them for foolys in this world the whiche now at this tyme haue their neekys charged of whiche the other be deliueryd For they ben herberowed in heuen And yet holde they many a wyse man for fool that preyse not moche their wordes Ther ben plente of wyse people in heuen now that yf they had preysed the foolissh dictes or sayngis And the folishe werkys of the people that so moche coueyte the honouyr and loos of this world for the worde of foles that they had lefte the commaundementê of god In whiche the sayntes in heuen dyde gretely their deuoyr For they lefte not for the delytes of the world to serue their maker and creatour for to gete heuen where they haue Ioye and alle honour as they that ben lordes and shal ben wythout ende ¶ And yf they had doon otherwyse they shold haue perpetuelly shame fylthe tourmentis of helle where as ben alle the euyllys that man can deuyse ¶ It is moche grete meruayle of this world how that it is so that ther ben so moche people that wyl suffre payne and trauaylle more for to gete loos of the people or for to amasse grete tresours the whiche so lytyl tyme abyde wyth hem that in an one hour fayll than they wylle doo for to conquere the goodes of our lord the whiche shal neuer fayll whiche the blyssyd sayntes haue goten by a lytyl hard lyf that they haue endured in this world that me semeth but a right delyte to them that of good herte doo it ¶ And in thendâ—it semeth to them that for litil or nought they haue goten heuen and alle thus may euery persone gete it and be comyn of the goodes of our lord and haue the Ioyes and glorye of heuen yf the defaulte be not in hem self But they that desyre the Ioyes the glorye and henours of this world they empayre them self so moche that they may not lerne no good ne entende to their sauacion And had moche leuer the ease and consolacions of the body of whiche they ben so sone put out and brought to sorow and payne than they doo the ease of the soule whiche endureth wythout ende Ne they preyse not the witte ne entendemeÌ„t of the man yf he can not wel haue hym in the world and haue plente of temporal goodes by whiche he may be enhaunsed and lyft vp in the world but saye he is nyce and folissh by cause he can not knowe their malyces cawteles ¶ But alle they ben cursed of god by the mouth of dauid the prophete that so payne them to plese the world by alle the wayes that they can doo For suche pryde is vayne thynge by whiche the soule is enpayred of whom dauid saith in the psaulter accursid be alle they and confused as people of exyle that playse the world For of all goodes they extende them and discorde fro god and fro his loue Syth they haue gyuen them and that they accorde them to the world to his vanytees and delytes For god hath them all in despyte and put them fro his grace by cause they seche the loos and the glorye of the world In whiche he was put out and sette a backe and in th ende crucyfyed and helden for a fool ¶ Thus sayth our lord god in his gospel that alle they shal be blyssyd that haue the world in despyte ¶ And shal be as people hated defowled and cast out as foles for the loue of me and of my name For they shal haue in heueÌ„ their reward and guerdon And this may euery man see yf god hym self lye not And trouthe may not be false that they whiche plese the world and wylle haue and take the loos and glorye of the world it may not be but they after haue sorowe ¶ Therfore he is a fool that secheth to haue it by cause alle they that weeshe or pourchace it be euyl counseyled For alle suche maner of people ben by the deuyl ledde in to helle where they haue a
yet ther is another thinge whiche ought not to be forgoten For that one shal be born black or broun that other whyte one grete and another lytyll that one shal happen to be wyse and dyscrete that other folissh or shrewyssh soÌ„me be wise sadde in their yongthe in their age ben ofte folissh soÌ„me be soles yong olde And other ben wyse alle their lyff yong olde somme be fatte soÌ„me be lene somme ben seâ—k soÌ„me ben hoole some be sklendre soÌ„me be thyk soÌ„me be harde rude and soÌ„me be softe tendre soÌ„me be slowe soÌ„me be hasty soÌ„me be hardy soÌ„me be cowardys soÌ„me be lame haltyng croked soÌ„me ben wel fourmed in all rightis poyntes A grete man is ofte euyll made and a lytyl man is ofte wel made auenauÌ„t for ther is no membre but it be wel made aperteynyng to his body A fair childe oftymes in his growyng becometh fowl SoÌ„me wyl haue their wylles other desyre it but lytyl euerich hath his talente his apetyte a lytyl man engeÌ„dreth ofte a grete maÌ„ a grete maÌ„ ofte getyth a lityl one â–ª a lytyl man otherwhile empriseth to do a grete thing that right a grete maÌ„ wyl not emprise SoÌ„me deye lightly other lyue longe soÌ„me lyue aslonge tyl age make them to gyue ouer the world after that that nature endureth to them by the wylle of god also it is seen ofte emoÌ„gemen that soÌ„me entende to clergye other gyue them to other style of scieÌ„ce crafte as of carpenter mason smyth or ony other crafte in whiche he employed his tyme. For euy man gyueth hym self gladly to that whiche his enteÌ„demeÌ„t is enclyned to to other crafte or scieÌ„ce than nature vnderstondyng gyueth hym to he shal neuer perfyghtly vnderstonde ne so wel meddle wyth all as he shold to that whiche his propre nature gyueth hym to ther ben yet other maner of people that sette and gyue them self to do many thynges that other may not ne can not do for asmoche as their nature hath not gyueÌ„ it to them for soÌ„me preteÌ„de to hye estates grete richesses other ben coÌ„tent wyth lityl estate it happeth ofte that a man cometh to that where he preteÌ„deth other can not come therto but torneth coÌ„trarye to them to their dommage ofte wyth grete payne may they come to their aboue of the thing that they wold accoÌ„plysshe other doo make plente of thynges that soÌ„me can not ne may not doo ne make For in the persones ben so many dyuersetees and facions not lyke and of wylles that men shal not finde in ony contree of the world two men that parfyghtly be lyke who ferre they can seche but that they be dyuerse in soÌ„me cas or of body or of membres or of entendement or of the vysage or of their sayngis or of their faytes or dedes For the puyssauÌ„ce of nature is so diuerse that ther is nothyng that hath growyng but that she hath vpon it myght in suche wyse that she gyueth to one somme thyng that another hath not in hym how be it that noman can perceyue ony dystauÌ„ce Suche is the vertu of nature where plente of clerkes haue somtyme sette their entendement cure and haue strongely laboured to th ende that they myght better declare the fayte puissance of nature And first of all saith Plato whiche was a man of grete renomme that nature is an ouer puyssauÌ„ce or myght in thynges that she maketh to growe lyke by lyke after that that euerych may bee and this may be vnderstande by one man that engendreth another and by beestes by plantes by sedes the whiche after their semblaunces growe aftyr their facion And lo this is that that the wyse platon saith whiche was a grete clerke After hym sayth aristole that this was a yefte comen fro the hye prynce Whan he gaf vertu to the firmament to the sterres for to meue to be And that wythout god suche power ne myght not be gyuen as the thynges that haue power to remeue to bee to meue Aristotle that sayth this studied in many a booke treatyng of nature Many other philosophers ther were that sayd that nature proceded of vertues of hete whiche causeth all thynges to growe nourisshe But for this present tyme I passe ouer for to speke of other matere Tho philosophers ensiewen better plato than Arystotle Thus sayd they that them semeth they spack so hye lyke as afore is said that fewe clerkes myght atteyne to come therto and for to abredge it he is not that myght parfyghtly knowe what it is sauf god that al knoweth that all seeth And that first wold establysshe for taccomplyssh all thynges herby may well be knowen that god is of moche grete puyssauÌ„ce And it is of hym a right grete thynge whan he of nought wythout trauayll created and fourmed so excellent a thinge so hye noble awerke And therfore wold he hym self create make man to the ende that he myght be so myghty haue suche wytte vnderstandyng in hym self that he knewe by nature that whiche myght greue hym in his sowle lyue vnto our lord for yf he wylle Iustely rightfully conduyte hym self he may well brynge his herte to that that nature shal not mowe greue hym in no manere And therfore were fouÌ„den the vij sciences or artes For to take away the euyll thoughtes that myght brynge a man to the deth whiche they may destroye by the sciences And thus may one chauÌ„ge his euyl estate by the techynges of a good maystre and therfore it is good for to haunte emonge the vertuous men For ther men may lerne prouffyte in dyuerse maners Thus thenne is he wyse that is prudent in suche manere that after his deth he hath the better and that god receyueth hym in gree Thus than he shal haue doon more for his owen prouffyt than for an other This knewe alle men certaynly For he shall resseyue alle the wee l And moche is he a fooll that somoche louyâ— his body that he forgeteth to saue his sowle Whiche god hath lente to hym pure and clene to th ende that he shold rendre it suche agayn at his deth And that he gouerne hym not in suche wyse that by hys culpe and defawte defowle hym in synnes he that so conduyteth hym self doth in lyke wyse as the euyll seruaunt dyde to whom the maystre delyuerd his besauÌ„tes for to multyplye in good But he dyde not iustly as he that was of euyll fayth wherfore the maystre seeyng the vntrouth of hym chaced hym away fro hym And euer after he had shame reproche lyke as the gospel wytnesseth to vs wherceth Alle in lykewyse shal it be of them that leue the good grayn for the chaff these ben they that suffre their soules to
noman rendre the reson but that we ought to vnderstonde that alle this procedeth by myracle Yet ben ther other fontaynes whiche ben styll and clere Whiche that whan men pleye ouer them wyth harpe or other instrumentis that resowne in maner of consolacion by their sowne The water of those wellys sprynge vp wyth grete bobles and sprynge ouer in the waye Other fontaynes ben in other places whiche ben right peryllous But for this present we shal reste her wyth all For to telle of this that cometh by the waters whiche holde their cours wythin therthe and also aboue of whiche it happeth other while so grete a quauyng that the erthe meueth so strongly that it behoueth to falle alle that whiche is theron thaugh it were a massyue tour ¶ Wherfor and how the erthe quaueth and trembleth Capitulo xxijo. NOw vnderstande ye thenne what it is of the meuyng of the erthe And how the erthe quaueth and shaketh that somme people calle an erthe quaue by cause they fele therthe meue and quaue vnder theyr feet And oftymes it quaueth so terrybly and meueth that somtyme Cytees ben sonken in to therthe that neuer after be seen And this cometh of the grete waters that come wythin therthe so that by the puttyng out of the grete flodes and waters growe somme tyme cauernes vnder therthe And the ayer that is shette fast wythin the whiche is enclosed in grete distresse Yf therthe be there feble so that it may not reteyne it all wythin thenne is it constrayned to opene cleue For ayer enforceth to yssue out wherof it happeth ofte that townes cytees and castellys ben sonken doun into the abysme And yf therthe be of suche force and strengthe that it openeth not ne cleueth by the shouynge or heuynge of the wyndes that ben wythin Thenne therthe meueth quaueth so meruayllously that the grete walles and hye towres that ben theron falle doun so sodenly in therthe that it destroyeth and sleeth the people that ben therin whiche ben not aduysed ne pourueyed of suche daungers Whiche is a grete sorowe for the pour peple that dwelle where suche meschief happeth whan they be not aduertysed at what tyme suche tempeste shal come for teschewe it But wyse men that doubte for to deye arme them and make them redy ayenst the deth And gyue alle dylygence for to seche to haue accordaunce vnto the souerayn Iudge of their synnes and defaultes after their lawe and byleue that they haue as they that haue none houre ne space to lyue where as they ben hool and wel at ease Thus the water and the wynde maken the right meuyng and quauyng by whiche the erthe cleueth and quaueth ¶ How the water of the see becometh salt Capitulo xxiij NOw I wyl recounte and telle to yow how the water of the see becometh salt whiche is so bittre that no persone may drynke ne the bestys in lyke wyse hit cometh by the sonne on hye For it maketh so grete hete in somme place that the see is chauffed so strongly that therthe whiche is vnder draweth to hym a moysture byttre which taketh away alle sauour For in the see ben right grete and hye montaynes and depe valeyes whiche ben ful of bitternesses greuous and infected And the erthe whiche is in the bottom of thyse valeyes scumeth for the heete of the sonne vpward Whiche medleth wyth the water in the depe in suche wyse that it draweth the saltnes vp by the hete of the sonne so longe tyl it be medlyd wyth that other And thus is the water of the see salt wyth that other Thenne we shall here fynysshe to speke ony more of the watres fressh or salt And shal recounte to yow of the Ayer whiche is one of the iiij Elementis and of his propretees ¶ Here foloweth of Ayer and of his nature Ca xxiiij THe Ayer is sette aboue the water is moche more subtyl than the water or the erthe and enuyronneth therthe on alle partyes and domyneth also hye as the clowdes moūte This ayer which enuyronneth vs on all sydes is moche thycke But we lyue therby in lyke wyse as the fysshe lyueth by the water whiche he draweth in and after casteth it out agayn In suche maner the ayer prouffyteth to vs For we drawe it in and after we put it out agayn And thus it holdeth the lyf wythin the body For a man shold sonner deye wythout ayer than a fysshe shold doo wyth out water to whom the lyf is sone fynysshid whan it is out of the water Thayer maynteneth in vs the lyf by the moysture that is in hym And by the thycknes that is in hym he susteyneth the byrdes fleeyng that so playe wyth their wynges and meue them so moche al aboute therin that they disporte them ledyng their Ioye therin and their deduyt ▪ Thus goon the byrdes by thayer fleyng syngyng and preysyng their maker and creatour lyke as the fysshes that goon swymmyng in the water And ye may apperceyue in this maner take a rodde and meue it in thayer and yf ye meue it fast and roydly it shal bowe anon And yf it fonde not thayer thycke it shold not bowe ne ploye but shold holde him strayght and right how faste someuer ye meued it of this Ayer the euyl esperytes take their habyte and their bodyes whiche in somtyme put them in the semblaunce of somme thynges as whan they may appere in som place for to deceyue som persone man or woman or for to make them to yssue out of their mynde wherof they haue sōtyme thou might Or whan by the arte of nygromancye he putteth hym in somme semblaunce or in suche a fygure as he wylle But this is a science that who that gyueth hym therto to doo euyl hit gyueth hym the deth For yf he taketh not hede therof he shal be dampned body and sowle But we shal enquyre here after what cometh fro thayer in to therthe ¶ How the clowdes rayn come comynly Ca. xxv NOw we shal speke of the clowdes for to knowe what it is and of the rayne also The sonne is the foundement of alle hete and of alle tyme. all in suche wyse as the herte of a man is the foūdement by his valour that is in hym of all natural hete For by hym he hath lyf all lyueth by hym that groweth on therthe as it pleseth to our lord as here after shal be declared yf ye wyl here and well reteyne the mater and substaunce of this present beoke for the sonne maketh the clowdes to mounte on hye and after it maketh the rayne and to auale doun And I shal shewe to yow how it is doon shortly by his force and vnderstande ye in what manere whan the sonne spredeth his rayes vpon therthe vpon the mareys he dreyeth them strongely And draweth vp the moysture whiche he enhaunseth on hye But this is a moysture subtyl whiche appereth but lytyl and is named
their saluacioÌ„ as they ought to doo by suche werkes shold they be in more ease lyue lenger and plese better our lord And shold also haue more helthe of body and of sowle but they loue somoche the wynnyng of the goodes of the world that they leue that whiche shold more auayle and prouffyte them ¶ I wote neuer wherfore they gete this hauoir and good For they lose therby the ease of the worlde bycause whan they wene to sette them in ease and to be in pees Thenne cometh deth and maketh them to deye wyth ryght grete sorowe For the grete couetyse of the good and the payne that they haue made alle way to gete it wythout ordynaunce and mesure hath moche the more hastelyer brought them to their deth And so ben many men deed that yf they had ordeyned their affayres and besynesse as they ought to doo at euery hour competently and by ordre whiche yet had ben a lyue in good helthe And lo thus ye may see how they abredge their dayes and auaunce their deth For at longe nature may not suffre dyuerse mayntenes vnresonable ne the sodeyn agrauacions ne griefs of whiche by their folyes they trauaylle nature and it displesyth moche vnto god And also no good may come therof But gladlyer and wyth better wyll they traueylle and more dylygently for to wynne and gete the worldly goodes than the loue of god And neuer do they thynge by ordre One day goon they erly to the chirche and another day late or at suche an hour as they wene that it shal not hurte them to auaunce their gayne wynnyng Thus go they neuer to chirche for to praye vnto god vnto the tyme that they wene that they shal wynne nomore worldly goodes But they wynne the lasse For they serue god in vayn And god shal rendre to them their reward and they shal bye right dere that they leue to serue hym For he may rendre to them more meryte in one day than they may gete in a thousand yere Suche people ben foles and euyl aduysed whan of nought they wene to serue hym that alle knoweth and all seeth ye the lest thought that they thynke yet ben ther somme whan they go to chirche they goo not in entencion to praye god but only for to gete the loos and goodes of the world And praye more for their richesses that god sholde kepe and multyplye them than they do for the saluacion of their sowles whiche ben in grete parylle to be perysshed And it is a grete meruaylle of suche maner of people that thynke wel in their hertes and knowe wel that it is euyl that they do yet for al that they amende them not â–ª of whiche it is grete pyte whan they so folowe the deuyll whiche is so feble a thyng fro whom alle euyllis sourden Truly the deuyl is ful of inyquyte and wythout power and strengthe ouer ony persone of hym self For he may not vainquysshe ne ouercome but hym that consenteth to his wyll For who that wyll conduyte and rule hym self well The inyquytees of hym may not noye ne greue ne in nothynge trauaylle hym of whiche he hath cause to sorowe fore as longe as he wyll dispose hym to doo well Thenne may wel be sayd fy ¶ For they ben more than faylled whan he ouercometh them so febly and taketh them in their euill dedes and synnes and ledeth them to perdycion where they neuer shal be wythout payne ne neuer shal haue Ioye ne in no wyse haue hope of mercy of this purpos we shal saye nomore now but recouÌ„te of kynge tholomeê° The whiche employed his tyme in the werkes of our lord god out of his bookes were drawen the nombres of whiche the yeres ben ordeyned And of the same is fouÌ„de the cours of the mone By whiche is seen whan she is newe of suche Iuliê° Cezar whiche of rome was emperour made a booke called the somes the soÌ„mes the whiche is ful necessarye in holy chirche and it declareth the golden nombre of the kalender For by the kalender is knowen the cours of the mone and of alle the yere by whiche is also knowen how we ought to lyue after reson euery daye That is to wete in etyng and drynkyng and in worshipyng our lord on hye dayes and symple and for to solempnyse suche dayes as holy chyrche hath ordeyned and by blessyd sayntes establysshed ¶ By the kalender we knowe the holy tymes as the ymbre dayes The lente aduente And the hye dayes and festes thet we ben most bounde to serue god For to gete his Inestimable Ioye and glorye Whiche our lord hath promysed vnto his good and trewe frendes whiche wyth good herte serue hym Alle this lerneth vs the calender the whiche was draweÌ„ out of Astronomye whiche the good kynge Tholomeus louyd so moche and he knewe more than ony other man sauf adam whiche was the first man For adam knewe alle the seuen sciences lyberall entyerly wythout fayllyng of a worde as he that the creatour made and fourmed wyth his propre haÌ„des And so wold our lord haue hym souerayn in beaute in wytte and strengthe ouer all themÌ„ that shold be born after hym vnto the comyng of Ihesu Cryste sone of god The whiche had gyuen to hym suche vertues Ne neuer after Adam gaf he so moche to one man ne neuer shal But anon as he had consented and commysed the synne deffended he lost so moche of his wytte and power that anon he becam a man mortall And he was suche to fore er he had synned that he shold neuer haue felte deth Ne alle we descended of hym shold not haue lasse meryte than he In Ioye in solaas and in deduyt of paradys terrestre alle to gydre born and nouryshed wythout synnes And after in heuen gloryfyed But syth they tasted of the fruyt â–ª whiche god deffended them his wytte and his entendement were so destroyed and corumped by his synne that alle we abyde entetched and foylled ther by Ne ther is nothyng vnder the firmament but it is werse sythen than to fore and of lasse valew Ye the sterres gyue lasse lyght than they dyde to fore ¶ Thus alle thynges empayred of their goodnes and vertues by the synne of Adam whiche god had made for man as he that wold make hym maystre of all the goodes that he had made ¶ But anon as he had commysed the synne he felte hym so bare of his wytte and entendement strengthe of his beaute that hym semed he was al naked that he had loste all goodes as a man put in exyle But notwythstondyng this yet abode wyth hym more wytte streÌ„gthe beaute than euer ony man had sitheÌ„ And to the regard of thyse thre vertues that adam had The kynge dauyd that was so vertuous wyse had two sones whiche myght be compared the one to the beaulte of adam that other to his wysedom absolon myght be
of one or other or nygh or ferre And the knowlege of the ymages of them the whiche by their semblaunce fourmed them For the sterres whiche be named ben of figures on the heuone and compassed by ymages and that all haue dyuerse beynges And eueriche hath his fourme and his name Of whiche ben knowen pryncypally xlvij wythin the firmament And of them ben taken xij of the most worthy whiche ben called the xij Sygnes And they make a cercle rouÌ„de aboute the vij planetes where as they make their torne we ben moche ferre from heuen merueyllously And late euery man knowe that he that deyeth in dedly synne shal neuer come theder And the blyssyd sowle whiche is departed fro the body in good estate not wythstondyng the longe way is sone come thether ye truly in lasse than half an hour and vnto the most hye place to fore the souerayn iuge whiche sitteth on the ryght side of god the fader in his blessyd heuen the whiche is so full of delites of all glorye and of all consolacyon that ther is no man in thys world lyuyng that may ne can esteme or thynke the Ioye the glorie wher thys blessyd soules entreth And ther ys no man that can esteme ne thynke the capacyte gretnes of heuen ne may compare it ne valewe it to the capacyte and gretnes of all therthe or so moche as maye comprise fro therth to the firmament As to the regarde of the estymabyl gretnes aboue the firmament ffor the gretnes is inestymable with oute ende with oute mesure Certes the firmameÌ„te on hye is so so spacyus so nobyl and so large that of alle his wytte may not a man vnneth thynke or esteme the nomber of like masses as all therthe is that shold fylle yt yf they were all in one masse Who is he that coude or myght coÌ„prehende or compryse the grenes of them Whan they all be assembled And euerich as grete as all therth Neuertheles we shall saye to you therof as moche as we may wele ymagyne Of the gretenes of the firmament and of the heuene whiche is a boue yt Capitulo xxjo. YF the erthe were so grete so spacyous and so moche more for to reseyue an hondred thousand tymes as moche pepyl as euer were in thys world and euery man of them were so myghty for to engender a nother man euery day durynge an hondreth thousand yere that euery man were as grete as a Geaunt euery man had his how 's as grete as euer had eny kynge woodes ryuers chaÌ„panyes gardyns medowe pastures vyneyerdes eueych a boute his castell or place for to lyue wyth that ech had so grete foyson that euerych myghte holde an hondreth seruauÌ„tes for to serue hym and euerych of this seruauÌ„te helde xx other had therto grete roume and pourpris in their maner Alle thyse myght moche plentyâ—usly be reseruyd in the firmameÌ„t yet sholde ther be moche place voyde â–ª more thaÌ„ all they myght purprise and take for to playe and disporte them therin yf they wold Thenne ought we wel to knowe that our lord god is moche myghty and of ryghte hye affayre whan he canne make of noughte so noble a thynge as the heuen and the sonne and all other thynges that ben on the heuen in thayer on therth in the See Suche a lord and suche a maister oughte wele to be good that can make so noble thynges of whiche we haue very knowleche we oughte parfytli to loue hym And we le we may euery man thynke that the thynge that is a boue is moche gentyl and moche nobyl whan it that is vnder is so subtyl ffor that whiche is aboue is morâ— grete an hondred thousand tymes than it whiche is benethe ouer moche more than can be knowen or may be compted by ony nombre or may be thought For this is a thinge that in no manere shal haue ende ne terme ¶ Therfore I may wel vnderstonde that theris nothyng that may pourpryse ne esteme in gretenes ne other wyse this whiche is aboue the firmament where the heuene taketh his place ne may be replenysshid ne fylled wyth nothyng that may be but yf it be wyth the goodes of our lord god fyllyd but the right debonayre lorde is so moche full of all goodes that be fylleth alle other thynges whiche ought to haue parte and meryte in goodes And the euyll departeth fro the good in suche wyse that it is voyde and disgarnysshed from all goodes what someuer it be that it shal be lyke as it were nought wherof it is redde herof that synne is nought for as moche as it is voyde disgarnysshid of all goodes rendrid the body the soule somoche feble disgarnysed of all goodes of all vertues of all graces that that one is totally dystroyed and perysshed wyth that other ffor alle way the euyll cometh to nought And contrarye the good goth alway growyng and in amendyng And therfore ther is none euyl but synne whiche is nought For ye may vnderstande that it cometh to nought as donge The is nothyng that ought to be made right But be only this that ought to be permanent ¶ And therfor it is good aman to holde hym nyghe the good For the good amendeth al wayes And who that customly doth gladly the good werkes they ben the cause to lede hym to heuene as he that hath none other wythdraughte ne other dwellyng place And therfor he muste enhabyte there hym behoueth to come in to heuene for to reteyne there his place and also for to fylle it Ther is noman in the worlde that can doo so moche good but that he shal alway fynde his place and his repayre propyce after his merites ffor as moche as this so moche noble a place is withoute ende and wythout terme in suche wise that no goodes what someuer they be shal neuer haue terme ne ende ne neuer shal haue defaulte but it is contynuelly ful of alle consolacion of alle delices of alle goodes of alle Ioye and of alle gladnesse wythout hauyng ony thynge voyde Of whiche they that deserue it of our lord shal haue ful possession of alle the inestimable goodes ¶ Of helle I may frely saye to you that ther is nothyng sauf sorowe martyrdom truly the most anguysshous the most horrible so moche sorowful that ther is no like And yf so were that the chyldren that haue ben syth Adam were all dampned yet it myght not be fylled by them though they were twyes so many more they that be theryn perisshed â–ª shal be dampned and perpetuelly tormented ffor after that they be dampned they shal abyde euer as longe as god shal be whiche is wythout begynnyng and wythout endyng And there they shal brenne in fyre eternel withoute hope of alegeaunce of ony mercy of ony hope to haue ony better but alleway werse fro tyme. to tyme as
it is so that the saued sowles desire the day of dome and of iugemēt for to be gloryfied in body and sowle The dampned sowles redoubte and drede it thynkynge that after that day they shal be perpetuelly tormented in body and in sowle And to that dredeful day they be not tormented in the body but in the sowle ¶ And I haue recyted this thinge shortly to this ende that it may be knowen certaynly that ther is no good deede but it shal be rewarded ne none euyl dede but that it shal be punysshed This is the wille of the creatour And maker of all thynges wythoute whom ther is none that in ony maner hath ony power heis so moche a debonayer lorde ful of souerayn puissaūce and of grete and of infynyt goodes that ther is no comparyson to hym And he that all thynge created made establisshid of nought at his playsyr and wyll But syth we haue spoken to yow of the inestimable gretenesse of the firmament wherin the sterres be sette whiche alleway is in moeuyig so shal ye vnderstonde that ther is an heuen aboue Where they that ben there moeue nothyng but ben contynuelly in one estate lyke as sōme man remeuyth hym from som place to another the first place meuyd hym not But he that shold goo so al aboute lyke rounde aboute a circle shold ofte goo fro place to place er he come to his place and so longe he myght goo that he shold come right to the place fro whens he departed first But that place shold not meue but holde him alway in a poynt now will ye thus vnderstōde of this heuen that ther is no maner place that is remeuyd fro the sterres ne fro the firmament but they holde them also fermly all as they most maye this heuē muste be vnderstonde by them whiche ben Astronomyers This is that gyueth to vs his colour blew the whiche estendeth aboue thayer the whiche we see whan thayer is pure and clere all aboute And it is of so grete attemperaunce that it may haue no violence this is the heuen that encloseth the firmament Now I shal saye yow all appertly ▪ that this that ye may vnderstonde here tofore by heeryng may not be taken ne knowen ne be proued yf it be trouthe or non ne may not be by ony arte of demonstraunce lyke as may be seen by eyen For the wytte of a man hath not the power But neuertheles we shal saye to you this that we truly may fynde by wrytyng in certayn places lyke as sōme Auncient philosophers haue ymagyned and thought of whiche they fonde certayn resons ¶ Here after foloweth of the heuen crystalyn and of the heuene imperyall Capitulo xxij ABoue this heuen that we may see blew as sayd is after that thaūcient clerkes saye ther is another heuene all roūde aboute that aboue bynethe lyke as it were of the colour of whyte cristall clere pure moche noble is called the heuen crystalyn aboue this heuen cristalyn alle roūde aboute that is an other heuen of the colour of purple lyke as the deuynes saye that is called the heuen imperyal This heuene is garnysshid ful of alle beaultees more than ony of the other that we haue named there is thayer seuen tymes more fayr more clere than is the sonne Fro this heuen Imperyall fylle the euyl angeles by their pryde that whiche were disgarnysshid of all glorye of all goodes And ther ben the blessyd Angeles of our lord ¶ Here foloweth of the Celestyall heuene Capitulo xxiij YF ye wyl vnderstande for to knowe of this heuene celestyall whiche is aboue all the other ye shal vnderstonde that this place is right worthy blyssyd in all thinges wherfor ther may nothyng growe but all goodenesse swetnesse by reson right This is the propre place of the holy trynyte where as god the fader sytteth in his right worthy mageste but in that place faylleth thentendemēt of ony erthely man for ther is nowher so good a clercke that may thinke the x. parte of the glorye that is there yf our lord pourpryseth ony place hym behoueth to haue that by right but he is so comune oueral that he seeth euery mā that hath deseruyd it ayenst hym seeth all thynges here there He seeth all aboute as he that hath all thinges in his kepyng of whiche ye may take ensample by sōme whā ye here them speke that all they of whom they here the tale they here his worde many men vnderstōde al attones in one tyme heere euery man hereth al the worde In lyke wyse may ye vnderstāde that god is oueral regnyng oueral in euery place is in all places anon attones And the light clerenes that groweth of him enlumyneth all thinges bothe here there also soone that one as the other example yf ye sette aboue many thynges a lyght also soone shal the resplendour go on the syde by yonde it as on the syde on this syde it whan suche thinges haue lyke vertue ouer moche more ought he to haue that al thynge made and created that all goodes hath wythin hym his heuen stratched oueral as he ▪ whiche of all is lord maistre In heuen ben all thangeles all tharchāgeles and all the sayntes whiche synge all to gydre to for god glorye lawde wyth ryght grete Ioye cōsolacion Ther is none that may compryse ne herte of man mortal may vnderstande what thynge is heuene how moche grete Ioye they haue to whom he hath gyuen graūted it the beste clerk of the world the most subtyl the best spekyng wyth all that euer was lyuynge in erthe or euer shal be in ony tyme of the world thaugh he had a thousand tongues spekynge and euerich of the tongues spack by hym self also had a thousand hertes within his body the most subtyle the most memoratyf that myght be taken foūden in all the world and best chosen to vnderstāde to exprimēte yf this myght be happe that all this myght be to gydre in the body of a man after myght thynke alway the best wyse that they coude descryue deuyse thestate of heuen And that euery tongue myght saye declare the intencion of euery herte yet myght they neuer in no maner of the world saye ne recounte the thousand parte of the grete Ioye that the pourest leest of them that shal be there shal haue foul be he that shal not be there ffor they that shal be in heuene wold not be all the dayes of the world lordes kynges of all the Monarchye of the worlde erthly thaugh all their commādements myght be obserued don not for to ben one only hour out of heuen ffor there is the lyf perdurable there is the parfyght inestimable Ioye that euer was and euer shal be There in euery thynge