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
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
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
of Isaye was accomplysshyd in hym ¶ Vidimus eum et non erat ei species neque decor WE sawe hym and in hym was nother beaute nor honour it was soo chauÌ„ged by betyng and spyttynges and castynge of myre and other fylth vpon hym by thyse cursyd people Trueli this was to me a greuous torment to see me thus sorowfully dysceyued from hym that I had borne and nouryshyd and now to be lefte allone wyche encreased me wyth sorowe vpon sorowe so that my voyce failed me whan I wold speke there took me suche a sorow that closed my hert soo that I cowde noo thynge doo but snobbe sighe whan I sawe in deyenge the same that deyed for loue that my soule louyd And thenne behelde he me and sawe that I wepte and wolde haue comforted me But in noo maner I coude receyue noo comforte And thenne I wepte in seenge and sayd in wepyng Alas fayre sone why graunte ye me not to dey for you· Alas what shall I now doo my dere sone deyeth wherfore deyeth not his sorowfull moder wyth hym A fayr sone my oonly loue leue not after you But take me wyth you soo that ye deye not thus allone but lete vs deye togyder suffre your woofull moder to be slayn wyth you O ye wretched deth ne spare me not for now your comyng sholde pleyse me slee me wyth my swete sone that is al my Ioye and all my comforte and the lyf of my soule Now my dere sone doo soo moche that I may dey with you syth I haue borne you to thys cruell dethe Alas take kepe now of your sorowfull moder and here my prayer Receyue me wyth you in your passion in suche wyse that we that haue liuyd in one flesshe loued of one loue maye deye of one deth A ye cruel men wherfore spâ—re ye me sith ye crucyfie my childe crucyfie me wyth hym or make me deye of some other deth I rekke not what it be soo that I deye with my sone Alas my swete chylde sholde ye deye thus allone Now see I my lyfe deye and my helth perysshe All my hope is taken oute of therth Wherfore lyueth the sorowfull moder after the sone Take the moder and put hyr to dethe wyth hyr sone syth ye spare not the sone spare not the moder A Dethe thy cruelte now to me sholde be grete Ioye yf I myghte deye wyth my sone IhÌ„us A woo is me the deth that I desire soo moche departeth fro me A my dere chylde it is moche better for me to deye than to lyue a dedely lyffe ¶ O dere sone o blessid swete sone receyue the prayers of your sorowfull moder And be not harde to her that hath be alwaye soo benygne to all other Truly it is accordynge that the sone sholde here his sorowfull moder soo dyscomforted Now swete child receyue your moder wyth you on your crosse that I maye lyue alwaye wyth you after your deth For truely there sholde noo thyng be to me soo Ioyfull as to deye wyth you vpon the crosse Nor no thynge maye be to me more paynfull than to lyue after your dethe· ¶ A fayre swete chylde the very true sone of god haue pyte on your sorowfull moder For ye be my fader and my moder Ye be my husbonde ye be my sone ye be all the Ioye and comforte I haue in thys worlde And now am I Orphelin of fader wydowe of husbonde dyscomforted of chylde Thyse cruell Iewes haue taken all from me ¶ A fayr swete sone what shal I doo frohens forth Fair lorde what shall befalle on me My dere chylde where shall I fynde conforte Most specyall frende and alle my loue where shall I fynde helpe couÌ„seyle ¶ Fayr swete sone I knowe well that ye may doo what that ye will But yf it pleyse you not that I dey now wyth you I beseche you that ye wylle leue me some gracyous comforte ¶ The voys of our lorde to his blessyd moder answeryng there where he hyng so paynfully on the crosse And tornyd his eyen full pytefully towarde saynt IohÌ„n theuangelyst and sayd to his moder Woman see there your sone And saynt Iohan was thenne there present full pyteously and contynuelly wepyng ¶ Ac si diceret O maria dulcissima mollis ad flenduÌ„ mollis ad dolenduÌ„ tu scis qr quia ad hoc rem veni ad hoc de te carneÌ„ suÌ„psi vt per crucis patibuluÌ„ saluareÌ„ genus huÌ„anum ¶ As yf he had sayd O moost swete marye beyng soo redy to coÌ„passion and wepyng and soo redy to pyteous sorowe ye knowe wel that for this I came and for this I took flesshe of the. that bi the patyble of the crosse I sholde redeme mankynde How otherwyse sholde be the scryptures accomplysshyd wherby ye knowe well that it behoueth me to suffre dethe for the sauacyon of mankynde And the thyrde daye I shall aryse agayne and appere to the and to my dyscyples Now sease ye your wepynges and your sorowes fayr swete moder· syth that I goo now to my fader· where I shall receyue the glorye of my paternall maieste ¶ Ye oughte to make Ioye wyth me be gladde of this that I shall fynde the shepe that hath erred soo longe and be loste For oonly one shall dey by whom the worlde shal be sauyd And this that pleyseth to god my fader â— how sholde it dyspleyse you my swete moder· Wherfore I praye you wepe nomore nor make noo more thise sorowfull complayntes For I shall not leue nor forgete you But am and shal be wyth you alway with oute ende For though I am not after the flesshe obeysaunte to the dethe yet after my dyuinyte I am and shall be alway Inmortal and vnsuffrynge of payne WEll knowe ye fayre swete moder frowhens I came Wherfore be ye thenÌ„e so sorowful though I ascende there frowhens I descended It is tyme that I retourne to hym that sende me hyther And there maye not ye come now but surely ye shal come after And in the meane tyme Iohan that is your neuewe shall be in stede of your sone shal take kepe of you be your true coÌ„fort theÌ„ne behelde our lord saynt iohÌ„n and sayd to hiÌ„ See here thy moder I recommende hyr vnto the and praye the fayre swete frende serue hyr and take good kepe of hyr For I delyuer hyr vnto thy kepynge Receyue thy moder Iohan and not as thy moder wythout more But receyue hyr more gladly for this that she is my moder Truely fewe wordes spake our lorde But whan thise two that herde hym thê° swetli speke thei sesed not of wepiÌ„g But sorowes martred theym in suche wyse that they cowde not speke one worde Thyse two blessyd vyrgyns herynge our lorde thus speke wyth hole voys And sawe hym drawe nere to his dethe they cowde not answer one word but were as haâ—f dede fayâ—linge bothe theyr spirytes voyce They wepte full bytterly
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
seeth you comyng towarde hym to crye hym mercy It is wreten in the gospell ¶ Occurrens prodigo cecidit suê‘ colluÌ„ eius osculatusque est euÌ„ c. Whan he seeth the sowle comynge toward him he spredith his armes to clippe hir kyssyth hir and makith gretter Ioy of hir than of many other that were wyth hym alway as hymself sayth ¶ Dico vobis quod ita gaudiuÌ„ est in celo super vno pccoÌ„re penitenciaÌ„ agente quaÌ„ super nonaginta nouem iustis qui non indigent penitencia I saye you surely that gretter Ioy is there in heuen of one oonly synnar doynge his penaunce than of nynty nyne rightfull that neuer had nede to doo penauÌ„ce And yet here a gretter merueyle of the loue of Ihesu cryst For though his loue mannes soule be neuer somoche foylid wyth dedely synne yet assonÌ„ as she comith to him he makith her as clene as she was tofore the sinne as ryche of all welÌ„es as saynt austyn sayth ¶ Erant sicut fueraÌ„t antequaÌ„ ê“ieceraÌ„ eos They shalle be as clene riche of good werkes restablisshid in vyrginite of the soule yf ye wyl haue an ensaÌ„ple how this may be ye may here by â–ª this Al the synÌ„es that is or euer was may not be doo but in thre maners That is to know in thought in worde or in werke Now shold not this be one of the grettest synÌ„es y t a maÌ„ myght doo in thoughte to thiÌ„ke desire to destroy al holy chyrche truly this same was y e thought desire of saynt poul as it is wreteÌ„ in actibus applorum apostolorum Saulus adhuc spiraÌ„s c. Saul began furiously tenforce him to y e destruccoÌ„n of al cristyndoÌ„ wyth menaces betynges weÌ„t to archebysshops to pryncipal masters of the iewes gate lettres of theÌ„ to take all crysteÌ„ meÌ„ that he might fynde wherso euer he cam bryng them bouÌ„de and put theym in pryson And in his chyef auctoryte malyce was he conuerted to our lorde And is now a hye saynt glorifyed in heuen wyth saynt Iohan euangelist and other that were of pure and perfyght lyfe Also the grettest synne that man myghte do wyth worde sholde be to renye oure lorde saynt peter renyed hÌ„iÌ„ thre times in one nyghte whan he had thus done he took right hertly repentaunce ¶ Exiuit petrus foras et fleuit amare He went oute and wepte full bytterly and sorowed cryed god mercy And now is he senescall of heuen And the moost fowle synne of the body is the vyle synne of the flesshe And men wolde say that he or she shold be the gretest synner of the worlde that had accompanyed theym not oonly moost comunely wyth man but also wyth fendes And marye mawdeleyn had them wythin hyr whiche is now the dere loue of our lorde IhÌ„u Cryst as sayth saynt gregorye ¶ Maria septem demonia habuit qui vniuersis viciis plena fuit Mary had seuen fendes wythin hyr by whiche she was fulfyllid wyth all maner of vyces But for all those euyll vyces she made a resonable amendement as saynt gregory sayth ¶ Quotquot in se habuit delectamenta tot de se inuenit holocausta Asmany delites as she had in hyr of synnes soo many sacrefyces dide she vpon hyrself for amendes of hyr offences NOw retornÌ„ we to this grete loue that our lorde hathe shewed vs· wherof he sayth yet by ZachÌ„arye ¶ Zelatus sum syon zelo magno I am Ielous ouer mannes soule wyth a grete Ielousie As he saith in exodi ¶ Ego suÌ„ deus zelotes I am god the Ielous And not allonly was he Ielous of the gode but to make peas wyth theuyll as dauyd sayth ¶ Zelaui suê‘ iniquos paceÌ„ pccoÌ„ruÌ„ videns I haue desired by grete Ielousie to haue pees with euyl folkes soo sayth he to saynt peter in y e sawter ¶ Tabescere me fecit zelê° meê° My Ielousie hath caused me to suffre dethe yet myne enmyes haue forgoten my wordes so that they wylle in noo wyse graunt me theyr loue for al that I haue do for theym And yet agayn sayth our lorde IhÌ„u cryst ye shalle not escape me but that ye shal grauÌ„t me youre loue I aske ye whether it be to be gyuen or to be solde or to be taken wyth force Yf it be to be gyuen to whom may ye better giue it than to me that passe all meÌ„ that euer werÌ„ am fayrest of all other He is soo fayr y t yf a man were in hell mighte see his visage beaute of his diuynyte he sholde fele nother harmÌ„ ne payn And therfor sayth he where may ye better set your loue than on me Am not I the kyng of alle kyngis am I not more fayr than other nor am I not of more hie lignage than ony prynce Am I not more wyse than all other am I not of al folke moost curteys of al thyng most large free am I not of alle other the moost swete debonayr Thenne is there none exscuse â–ª syth that ye maye fynde in me all the causes of reason wherefor man shold yeue his loue and namely yf ye haue clennesse chastyte For none maye loue a right but they be clene fro dedely synne ¶ Now and ye will not gyue your loue I wyll by r it wyll ye selle it for mi loue or for ony other thinge It is moost resonable marchandyse loue for loue And yf it be to selle for that pryce I haue truly boughte it wyth a nother loue And that loue that I haue shewed you passeth all the louys of the world And though they were al togider yet is it gretter· And yf ye say that ye wyll not gyue it me so good chepe name how moche ye wyll haue· And ye can not name somoche but I wyll gyue you asmoche ¶ Wyll ye castelles wyll ye reames Or wyll ye aske al the worlde Yet shall I make you a better couenaunt giue me your loue and I shall crowne you in heuen make you seuen tymes more clere theÌ„ne is the sonne Nor neuyr harme shall towche you nor neuyr thyng shal greue you nor noo wele shal fayle you· But all your wyll shal be doon in heuen in erth and in helle ¶ For neuer manÌ„ys wytte may deuyse nor herte thynke the Ioye the glorye that I wyll gyue you for your loue wythoute ony comparyson wythoute ony rekenyng and wythout ony ende more more And moche more wyth all the gladnes of Estre â–ª al the beaute of absolon as often as he dyde clippe his hede he myght selle the here that was kytte of for ijCC siclis of siluer The swyftnes of Asaell y t wolde stryue wyth the hertes in reÌ„nyng The strength of Sampson that slewe at one tyme a thousand men in batayle The largenesse of cezar The renomme of alexandre the holynesse of moyses But good lorde mercy wolde
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
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
the blestful reame of heuen lechery draweth a man to the derke dongeon of helle Yf lecheri asayleth you thynke what turmeÌ„t they suffre that hath be therto habandonÌ„ed horryble beÌ„ the paynes of helle wherfore pray god deuoutly wyth teres both nyght day whan ye awake of your fyrste slepe retorne ye do prayers for customably oryson surmouÌ„teth tharmes of the feÌ„de Oryson is the fyrst vertue agayn thasawtes of all euyll thoughtes Fulfyll not your appetyte by metes but chastise your bodies by fastyng for otherwyse it is harde to vaynquysshÌ„ the teÌ„ptacoÌ„n of the flesshÌ„ but by fastynge orysons for ouermoche delicacye in mete drynke enclineth the flesshÌ„ to vnclennesse The eyen beÌ„ the fyrst armes of vnclenÌ„esse The sight is y e fyrste couetyse of men or wymen Therfore wythdraw your eyen yf ye be nighe the serpent soo that ye be not hurt For yf ye be nygh y e fire though ye were of yren yet sholde ye be somtyme warme For that sinÌ„e hurteth gretly suche as beÌ„ fouÌ„den vayn Therfore ocupye you per fightly in good werkes gode thoughtes Chatyse your lodyes by rightful traueyle soo may ye prouffyte to yourself to other And be alwaye huÌ„ble to all folkes Yf ye kepe humylite ye shall haue glory for the more huÌ„ble ye be the more shall ye folow the hienes of glory Vse not to auauÌ„te you of your gode dedes so that ye bryng not yourself in pryde But rather obeye huÌ„ble yourself moost whan ye fele your herte meuyd to be rased wyth pryde Beware of hye mouÌ„tynge for fere of ouer lowe descendynge For pryde casted downe thangels out of heuen and made theim fendes in helle RemeÌ„bre ye of the humylite of our lorde whiche was obeysauÌ„t to his fader vnto the dethe Soo take ye perfightly thensaÌ„ple of hym Wyll ye be huÌ„ble Thenne haue alway shame in your hert of the remembrauÌ„ce of your sinnes And goo alway wyth huÌ„ble maners sobre vysage by sighyng wepiÌ„g in your hert swete shall be tho teres for grete sinÌ„es asken grete amendes Ouer all thynges make you sure of your synÌ„es For therin shall ye fynde mater ynouhÌ„ to make you pensif And in all your other siknesses trowbles be not sorowful But ye ought huÌ„bli to yelde god thankynges that hathe sent theim to you to th entent y t ye shold come the more clene before hym Haue alway attemperance in prosperyte pacyence in aduersitee Refrayne your Ire ouercome it by suffrauÌ„ce Suffre other pacyeÌ„tly whan they doo you wrong For by pacyence beyng stylle shall ye soone ouercom y e wrathfull Thinke what payne almyghty god suffred for you that was perced with nayles crowned wyth thornes and condempned to be crucified on the crosse This ought to gyue you a grete comfort to bere wyth pacyeÌ„ce all Iniurye And be not hasty to stryke theim that haue stryken you But suffre al suche thynges for the loue of god and he wyâ—â— gyue you a grete rewarde Yf ye haue displeysed ony man slepe not tyl ye haue accorded him with you agayn Yf ony man hath done against you yelde him not after his desert but wyth good herte pardon hym For wrath departeth man from god Be of good wyll to all folkes Yf your enmye haue ony mysauenture ye oughte not to reioyse it For ye may happe to fall in like peryll Wyth compleyners pleyne ye wyth theim that wepe wepe ye Be of charytable herte to all folkes and care not who prayseth you or blameth you For none may better know what ye ben than yourselfe Be simple clene of dyscrete manere soo that youre demeanyng offende not the voys of other wherby they may falle in sinne Flee the company of many folkes and specyally of theym that ben lighte to falle in synne Who desireth and haunteth the coÌ„panye of wyse folkes is wyse And a peryllous thyng is it to be conuersaunt amonge theym that ben euyll Vayne wordes foylen moche the soule Lete neuer thyng passe your mouth that shold offende the ere 's of the herers Fowle worde shall neuer be wythoute Iugement Take good kepe to your mouth soo that ye speke not but in tyme place couenable For euery creature shall yelde rekenynge of their wordes on the daye of Iugement Be not lighte to speke afore grete folkes but yf ye be questyoned or commauÌ„ded Full herde it is wyth moche speche a man to kepe hym wythout some offense Be not hasty to Iuge the lif of other folkes Detraccyon is grete synne cause of endles daÌ„pnacyon Whan ye be meuyd to Iuge other folkes thynke thenne on your owne synnes And thenne shall ye fynÌ„de lityll cause to Iuge other yf ye take good kepe of youreselfe Or who that spekyth euyll of other or who that ben gladde to here euyll they ben parteners to bothe offences Be not lighte of byleue to euery bodyes sayeng Nor speke none vntrue thynge For euery lesyng is a synÌ„e â— The vntrue tongue sayth his owne wylle Dauyd sayth god shall destroy al those that vse lesynges Promyse not that thyng that ye may not do For moche be ye to be blamyd yf ye yelde not that thyng that ye promised Lete not your worde be contrary to your thought for noo thyng may be hydde from god for he seeth knoweth al Good lif is alway cause of Ioye Yf ye liue well ye nede neuer to be in sorow Yf ye be vertuous auaunt not therof wherby ye maye lese it Neuertheles whan ye doo or thynke ony euyll shewe it anone by confession thenÌ„ shall ye be sauid For synne groweth from lityll to gâ—ete And yf it be shewed by confession it is soone made of grete lityll Slouth noyeth moche to good werkes Necligence slaketh the courage quencheth the light of conmyge Vyces ouercometh sone the slouthfull persones· Take kepe to this to th entent that ye ben not founden vayn For yf slouth hath a lityll entree it wyll lightly growe tomoche Yf ye be good vertuous theÌ„ne shall ye be gloryfied Beware whan ye doo ony thyng well that ye coueyte not the preyse of folkes wherby ye may lese the grete rewarde that ye sholde haue of god Lese noo tyme but that ye do alway some good nor coueyte not to knowe of other thus â— that they wolde be loâ—he ye knewe Whan folkes speke to you herken them redely and speke by deliberacyon For in some thynge is th ende gretter than the beginnyng In whiche the speker hathe more grete honour and better shold be the last worde than the fyrst Demeane yourselfe to euery body soo that ye offende not the wylle of god Grete payne shal haue the cruel persones and suche as therto consenten Wherfore consente ye to noo synne But whan ye ben moued soone retorne your hertes sâ—o that ye be not eÌ„uenemyd therwith Be not ouersharpe to your seruates but doo soo that they haue delite