Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	lord_n	love_n	love_v	16,052	5	6.8069	4	true

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13930	This tretyse is of loue and spekyth of iiij of the most specyall louys that ben in the worlde and shewyth veryly and perfitely bi gret resons and causis, how the meruelous [and] bounteuous loue that our lord Ihesu cryste had to mannys soule excedyth to ferre alle other loues ... Whiche tretyse was translatid out of frenshe into englyshe, the yere of our lord M cccc lxxxxiij, by a persone that is vnperfight insuche werke ...; Treatise of love.		1493 (1493)	STC 24234; ESTC S109803	86,365	96

Â¶ This tretyse is of loue and spekyth of iiij of the most specyall louys that ben in the worlde and shewyth veryly and perfitely bi gret resons and Causis how the meruelous bounteuous loue that our lord Ihesu cryste had to mannys soule excedyth to ferre alle other loues as apperith well by the paynfull passion and tormeÌ„tis y t he suffryd for the redempcyon therof so that alle louis y t euyr were or euyr shal be arne not to be lyke nyd to the lest parte of y e loue that was in hym whiche tretyse was translatid out of frenshe Into englyshe the yere of our lord Mcccclxxxxiij by a persone that is vnper fight in suche werke wherfor he huÌ„bly byseche the lernyd reders wyth pacyens to correcte it where they fynde nede And they alle other redders of their charyte to pray for the soule of the sayde translatour Â¶ CanticuÌ„ beate marie de dolore suo in passione filii sui plenitudo legis est dilectio The apostel seinte poule seyth the fulfyllyng of the lawe ys loue Seynte gregory seythÌ„ Â¶ Quicquid precipitur in sola caritate solidatur All thys that ys comaunded in y e olde lawe and in the newe is onÌ„ly in loue coÌ„fermed for thys seyth seynt austyn Â¶ Habe caritateÌ„ et quicquid vis Haue ye charite and do what ye wyll so it Agree wyth charite and all shall turne to your we le As seynt Ambrose seyth after that same effecte in contrary wordys Â¶ Qui non habet caritatem omne bonuÌ„ quod habet amittit who that hath no charyte he leseth alle the weles that he hath or ony thyng that man doth wythoute loue is not acceptable to god of thys seyth seynte poule Â¶ Si linguis hominnÌ„ loquar et angelorum IteÌ„ si tradidero corpus meuÌ„ ita vt ardeaÌ„ et si distribuero oÌ„nes facultates meas in cibos pauperrum caritatem auteÌ„ noÌ„ habuero nichil michi prodest Though that I coude speke wyth tongue of angell man And that I shuld do neuer so moche penauÌ„ce and yelde my body to the fyre to be brente and gyf alle my good to fede poore folkes If I hadde not wyth thys loue in god and to alle folkes for god all thys shuld no thynge profyte for as seyth the holi abbot moyses All the penauÌ„ce that we suffer and other good werkes that we do or cause to be doon ne be but Instrumentis for to aredy the herte that loue may more sone growe ther in wyth holy deuoconÌ„ and thys may ye see be ensample If a nedill sowyd not nor sherid clipped not who wold hold them in ther haÌ„dys meÌ„ loue not suche thyngis for them self but for the welys that men do wyth hem So is it of the werkys of penauÌ„ce they be not to be be loued for them self only but for y e holy loue that growyth in the herte of maÌ„ be their helpe and be their procreacyon and that IhuÌ„ criste more sooner sendeth hys grace maketh the herte clene and of clere syght whiche none may haue that be ocupyed and ouyr corians aboute worldy vanyteys and carnall loue for thys that the loue of the world derkyth y e eyeÌ„ of y e thought that it may not knowe god nor gyue no conforte in beholdyng hym specyally that is full of ioye clere loue of herte as saint bernarde seyth Do seyth he ij thynges oon is thys all that ye do of we le do it specyally for the loue of god or for the loue of your neyghbour in god In alle your dedys haue one of these ij enteÌ„tes or bothe for the secunde cometh of the fyrste and who hath hys herte enclerde of thys specyall loue no well is doon in heuene nor in erthe but he is partner therof as seyth saynt powle Â¶ Omnia muÌ„da muÌ„dis quoinquinatis auteÌ„ nihil munduÌ„ To folkes of clene harte belongeth all clennesse And tho folkes of fowle harte no clene thyng beloÌ„geth For thys ouyr alle other thynges be coryous to kepe your harte clene in the loue of our lorde IhuÌ„ cryst and no thynge desyre in thys world but only the loue of god and tho thynges that helpyth yow toward hym loue no thynge for them self thus as mete and drynke man or woman or other thynges necessary y t helpyth yow to your leuyng and to be sustyned in y e seruyse of our lorde jhuÌ„ cryste For thus spekyth saynt Austyn to our lorde sayng Â¶ Minus te amat qÌ„ aliquod pÌ„ter te amat quod propter te non amat This is to sey ye loue god lesse thanne ony other thynge that ye loue wythoute hym yf ye loue it not for hym loue shall be put in the balannce of saynt myghel and they that moste hath loued most shall be glorifyed in heuene and not they that haue led hardeste lyf lengeste penaunce but tho that most haue loued augustinus Â¶ Non diuturnitas temporuÌ„ noÌ„ vniuerositas bonorum operuÌ„ auget merituÌ„ Sed maior caritas maiorque voluÌ„tas auget meritum This encreseth not chefly the meryte to be longe in good lyf to do many good werkys But grettest charyte and best wyll encreseth the meryte loue is the Cenycyall of paradys for is grete fredom for he wythholdyth no thynge but geueth all that he hath and hym self also as saynt poule seyth Â¶ Caritas noÌ„ querit que sua suÌ„t Charyte desyreth not that is hys owne and ryght marueylously loueth the swete god charite for he makith hytte hys chambyrleyn hys couÌ„sellour hys spouse fro whom he may hide no thinge that he wyll do of thought that he hath in hys herte as he seyd to abraham in genysis Â¶ NuÌ„quit celare potero abrahaÌ„ que gesturus sum Shuld I seyde our lord hyde from abraham ony thyng that j may do naye in no maner so dere is loue wyth hym that he makyth it hys felaw and yet wyll j sey more y e god makyth it hys mayster for thys that he doth all that loue hym comaundyth Shall I mow preue thys ye wythowte fayle be these wordys For here spekyth he that was the man of the world that most loued god in hys tyme in y e booke of Nombrys Â¶ Diuisi iuxta verbuÌ„ tuuÌ„ noÌ„ dicit preces I had thought seyd our lorde to moyses to auenged me on thys people But ye sey me that j shuld not your worde be ther warant Men sey that loue byndeth ye for trouth Loue bonde the allmyghty god so fermely that he myght no thyng do but as loue gaf hym leue now preue we thys marueyle Â¶ Comune noÌ„ est qui consurgat et teneat te Lord seyd I saye wyll ye stryke A wee may sey alas ther is non that holdeth yow as he ought For yf ony loued you ryhÌ„t he myght holde yow and lette yow that ye wold not do it Â¶ In gene si ad loth

me eligeret ne me perderet In asmoche as the swete jhesus was more vyle in erthe for me in so moche ys he to me more dere in swete loue for I coude not thynke that he had loued me so moche A swete IhuÌ„ fro hensforth ought I not to sette lyttyll be my sowle syn it was so pleysaunte to hym that he chaas rather to suffyr deth thaÌ„ne lese it IteÌ„ Barnardus Â¶ Nisi amasset me dulciter noÌ„ me in carcere Requisisset illa maiestas If y e swete jhesu had not loued me the more feruenhly he had not come from hys hygh ryall maieste for me that was so lowe in helle In thys shylde be thre thynges y e ton is the wode y e thother is the skyn and the thyrde is the colour Thys it is of the shylde that IhuÌ„ cryste hath lefte yow The wode of the crosse the lethir of the peynfull passyoÌ„ of our lorde And colour of hys red blood ThaÌ„ne the skyn of hys precyous body was all to rente and broken and colowred wyth hys precyous blood and the crosse also The thyrde reson of thys shylde is that aftyr the deth of a valyaunte knyghte men shulde shewe hys shylde in the remembrance of hym Thys shylde is the crucyfyxe that is sette in y e chyrche wher meÌ„ may se and thinke of the cheualrye that our lorde jhuÌ„ cryste dyd on hye vppon the crosse on the mounte of caluarye befor theym of hys blessed dere sorowfull mother Thys shylde is haÌ„gyd vppe in euery chyrche y t hys loue whyche is our sowle may beholde how dere he hath bought her he lette not to bere hys shylde to opyn hys syde to shewe hys herte shewed all openli how entyrly he loued hyr and how she oughte often to thynke of the tokenys of loue that in thys shylde is syngnyfyed wherof seyth saynte Bernarde Â¶ O felix anima aspice inclinacioneÌ„ capitis ad osculuÌ„ extencionem brachioruÌ„ ad ampbexum O ye blessed and happy spowse of jhuÌ„ cryste beholde on the crucyfyx the shylde of jhesu cryste your spowse And se the inclinacyon of hys hed to kysse yow se the spredyng of hys armys to clyppe yow beholde the openynge of hys syde and the crucyfyenge of hys fayr body and wyth greet affeccyoun of your holy loue turne it and returne it from syde to syde fro the hede to the fete and ye shall fynde that ther was neuer sorou nor peyne lyke to that payne our lorde Ihesu cryste endureed for your loue seyth he hath geuyn so myche for your loue and yet may not haue it It is gre marueyle I may seyth he gyf now no more wherfor ye wyll loue me and that forthymketh me but whanne I may no forther I shall sey suche thynge wherof ye shall haue pyte yf ye wyll at the leste be charyte of gret gyftys wherof speketh saynte Barnarde Â¶ Uere compacienduÌ„ est ei qui dedtt nobis clauos in salsam carnem in cibum sanguinem in potum aquam ex latere in balneum sudorem sanguinis in medicinaÌ„ propriam animam in redempcionem Trewly is the swete Ihesu cryste A herttely louer and A compassyonate that hath gnuyn vs so many grete specyalteys Beholde how he hath geuyn vs hys nayles in sauce hys swete fleshe in mete hys precyous blood in drynke watyr of hys precyous syde in Baynes hys blody swete in medecyne hys propyr blessed sowle in our redeÌ„pcyon A what may wee more axe that he shuld gyf for vs Alas alas full harde is that herte and full vnnaturell that wyll not loue hym that hath geuyn so moche for their loue-here is a gret specialt wherfor we shold loue god The secunde cause wherfor god is to be beloued more thaÌ„ne ony other thynge is for the marueylous gret loue that he hath shewed vs. ouyr alle other louys Ther be four special louys in this worlde y e one is betwene ij good felawes The tother betwene mother and chylde The thyrde betwene body and sowle And the fourth betwene maÌ„ and wyf But the dere loue that IhuÌ„ cryste louyth vs and also that we shulde loue hym passeth surmounteth alle other louys Men myght say that thys were a right good felaw that wolde laye hys plegge in place for to aquite hys felaw owte of dette of vsurye but the swete IhuÌ„ put hym self in place and leyd hys tendyr body to aquyte hys loue whyche is our sowle owte of the pryson of helle and of alle vsuryes wherof dauid seyth Â¶ Et pro vsuris et iniquitate redimit animas eoruÌ„ From alle vsuries and ynyquiteys he hath redemeth our sowlys Take hede now who brought thys pereaunte to the place wete ye well it was the blessyd mayden our lady saynte mary that bare the swete IhuÌ„ the sone of god in hyr vyrgynall wombe in the tyme of wynter in the cyte of BethleÌ„ for to put hym in plegge to make our pees in the place wher the aungels sunge gloryously befor hys â–ª fader in heuene Â¶ Gloria in excelsis deo et in terra pax Glorye be yeldyn on hye to god and in erth pees to meÌ„ of good wyll But loo how malycyous were these cruell Iewes that they deyned to logge this lady that bare thys blessed plegge and in so colde atyme as it was thenne in wyntyr parauentur it was frost and the pure vyrgyne mary grete wyth chylde and wente to seke sum place wher she myght reste hyr she was so wery of the gret trauayle that she hath in walkynge moche of that day tell it was nye nyght and wyst not whether to goo sauf at the ende of the town was ij hye walles of rokkes â–ª and thys pytons wery vyrgyne entryd ther and founde an oxe and an asse teyed ther and so streyght was the place that vnnethe myght she and Iosoppe hyr spowse haue ony rome to sytte in wyth ese but ther were they fayne to reste tyll it was mydnyght that the sone of god was borne and so poore was the bedde of thys lady and so streyght that hÌ„yr chylde might not lye by hyr as seyth the gospell Â¶ Peperit filiuÌ„ suuÌ„ primogenituÌ„ pannis euÌ„ in voluit et reclinauit euÌ„ in precepio quia noÌ„ erat ei locus in diuersario Mary bare a sone wrappyd hym in poor clothis and leyd hÌ„ym in y e rakke before bestys â–ª for thys that she had not in all the worlde so moche place that hys lytyll swete body myght lye in for yf she had put hym behynde the bestys yt was so streyght there wher folkis vsed to go and cum that they shulde haue hurte hym wyth their feete the way was so nere there Now I pray yow ryght dere sustyr remembyr yow stedfastly whaÌ„ne ye lyein your large softe bed wel arayed wyth ryche clothys and warme couerynge and hote furrys so well at ese and your Ientylwoman so redy to serue

outrageousli y t hys tendyr skyn all to brake y e precious blode ran downe his bodi leggis bi stremis on to his feete in suche wise was he there turmented that many yeres after men myghte see the peler all blody wherof he sayth by the prophete Isaye Corpus meuÌ„ dedi ê‘cucientibus et genas meas velleÌ„tibus faciem meaÌ„ noÌ„ auerti ab increpantibus et conspuentibus iÌ„ me IGaf my tender body to turmentis strokes my face I turned not fro those folkis that spyte on me shamefully blamed me In suche maner suche traueyle made he thys bayne to saue hys loue our soule from alle swellynge of the syknesse of thys spirituell dropsye And yet was our sowles stylle encombred wyth peyne of the hede that is a full sore sikenesse Â¶ Cui capud iÌ„firmum cetera membra dolent A who y t is seke in hys hede all other partyes of hys body compleyne And therefore y e good Ihesu saw the hede of his loue so seke that she was all aÌ„guished enraged wherbi she cowde not knoue god nor serue hym he had soo grete pyte compasion therof that hymself suffryd wylfully that thyse mortall enemyes wounde to geder a grete crowne of thornys longe sharpe thykke y e prikked so wofulli his blessid hede bete wyth a gret staf vpon y e crowne y t made his pÌ„cious blod to reÌ„ doune iÌ„ many places on hys forhed as it is sayth in y e gospell Â¶ Plectentes coronam de spinis posueruÌ„t suê‘ caput eiê° acceperuÌ„t aruÌ„dineÌ„ et percusserunt In suche maner suffrid the swete amiable IhuÌ„ hys tendyr hede to blede for to saue the hede of hys syke loue our sowle for whom he suffryd in hys holi hede as saintis sain A M. wouÌ„des thus siath he iÌ„ IobÂ· Â¶ CoÌ„scidit me vulnê° suê‘ vulnus The harde crowne kittith me wounde vpon wouÌ„de saint bernarde seith QuaÌ„ suanissimuÌ„ eÌ„ seruitalÌ„ michi bone Ihesu corona illa capitis tui A swete Ihesu this crowne of your hede is to me full dere Now fayr frende remeÌ„bre yow whaÌ„ne ye will slepe and your hede is layd so eseli vpon softe pelowys how peynfull was the crowne of thorne vopn the hed of the blessid IhuÌ„ your spowse that shedde so grete plente of blood to hlpe your sowle Now yette was there a nother syknesse wherof our wretched sowle languysht whyche was stryken wyth the dedely letarge these letarges ben opellaconÌ„s in the veynes and in the senewys enterlased preuyly that maketh a man slumboryng alwey redy to slepe tyll he be dede And in y e same maner were our sowlys sore stryken wyth y e spuÌ„all letarge wherby she nother myght nor cowde helpe hyr self but abyde stylle alwey in mortall neclygence vnto y e tyme y t hyt shold dyscende in helle But how dyd theÌ„n our swete lorde loue IhuÌ„ cryst wite for trewthe that he wyl fully suffyrd to be let blood on veynys senewys of all partyes of hym for to baine the wretched sowle of man And how was he let blood he suffyrd that thyse fowle vyleyne Iewys tooke hym wyth full gret dysdeyne hynge hym all naked vpon the crosse and persed thrugh hys fayr hand ys and fete wyth full grete myghty nayles wherof hym self seyth by dauid Â¶ Foderunt manus meas et pedes meos dinumerauerunt omnia ossa mea Â¶ They haue thyrled my handys my fete and nombyrd alle my bonys Alas what sorow they dyde hym so gret that y e stremis of blood ran from al ê‘ties of hys blessed body wyth so greâ—e spede that hys loue myght be baynet therwyth bothe wythowte and wythynne But than myghte oure lord Ihesu cryst sey to hys loue our sowle my dere loue now be ye ferre in dette by reson ouyr alle thyngys to loue me Alas yette loue ye me nod I haue so often shed my â—lode to bayne purge yow from all siknesses from all fylthys yette for all thys wyll ye not loue me yette fayr loue now shall I make yow a gifte of amore speciall loue wherby ye shold in no maner denye me your loue I shall gyue yow the holy blood of my harte to bayne your harte in so that ye may alwey loue me TheÌ„n cam a stronge blynde knyght wyth a longe sharpe spere strake hym so iustly thâ—ugh the syde that he persed hys amâ—rus harte forthwyth ran oute gret plente of blood watyr ran full faste down vpon hys body wherof he seyth in the booke of loue Â¶ Vulnerasti cor meum soror me a sponsa vulnerasti cor meum Â¶ now haue ye woundyd my harte fayr suftyr and spowse now haue ye wouÌ„dyd my harte what can ye axe me ony more of loue Now I prey yow for my sake that ye will leue your synne so that ye may loue me the more swetly wherof sayth saynt bernarde Â¶ NoÌ„ne pro te vulneratus sum nonÌ„e pro te satis afflictus sum desine amodo peccare quia peccata magis grauant me eciam vulnera peccati quam vulnus lateris mei Now say me my loue that I loue so moche thinke ye not that I am wounded and tormented ynough for you wherby ye ought to loue me Now leue your synnes thenne frohens forth For the wouÌ„de of your synne greuyth me more than dyde the wouÌ„de of my side A my dere frende put we vs vtterli in deuour to loue ihesu Cryst our swete loue spowse that suffryd so grete payne to wasshe vs in his precyous blood from all morall syknes wherof our soules languysshid And elles be we to ferre vnnaturell NOw see we the thyrde loue that is betwene the sowle the body There is a ful grete loue betwene the soule the lody And that appereth well for they ben in grete torment payne whan they shall departe For the gretter loue that is betwene frendes the greter paine is at theyr departyng And there was neuyr body that soo moche louyd soule nor soule body as dyde the body of Ihesu cryst his soule and his soule his body whyche was noo merueylle For there neuer was nor neuer shal be suche a body and soule Ioyned togyder And yet for al that he suffred wel that his soule departed from his body for to adioyne our pour soules to his wythout ende in his celestyall reygne And by what deth departed his glorious soule fro hys blessid body It was by the moost cruell deth shamfull and dyshoneste that they cowde deuyse amonge theym to Iuge hym to A what sorowful pyte was of this deth of Ihesu cryst It was soo cruel that many a day and often he playned hym to his disciples before his dethe And sayth in the gospell Â¶ Ecce ascendimus IherosolimaÌ„ cÌ„ Loo my dere brethern we shal goo in to Iherusalem And the sone of mary shall be

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 IohÌ„n to whoÌ„ our lorde had deliuerde hir in kepiÌ„ge soo sore wepyng that in no wyse he cowde refreyne hymÂ· ThenÌ„e took he vp this blessyd virgyn wepiÌ„ge snobbing in sorowes and soo weryed in wepyng so moche greuyd dyscomforted that vnnethes hir fete myghte susteyne to bere hir NotwythstoÌ„dyng 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 weÌ„te 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 certeÌ„ kniighÌ„tes in harneys for to kepe it In the meane tyme the blessid virgyn mary eÌ„dured 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 IohÌ„n hymselfe for she was alwaye in sorowe bytter teres A who is soo encombrid with synÌ„e or is somoche encoÌ„bryd 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 compascoÌ„n conpuÌ„ccyon 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 compascoÌ„n 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 Â¶ Nemo duri cordis salutem vmquaÌ„ adeptus est nisi forte miseratus deus abstulerat ab eo cor lapideuÌ„ 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 froÌ„ hym his hert of stone and gyue hym a tender hert of flesshe wherby he may be sauyd Â¶ 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 compascoÌ„n 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 maÌ„ 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 reuereÌ„ce to man And yf ye leue not me aske Pharaon that had the herte soo ouer harde Â¶ Now fair swete frend haueÌ„ 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 enstrauÌ„ged to hyr husbonde that perauenture though she wolde retornÌ„ 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 synÌ„es nor soo often in a voutre or other synÌ„es 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 propheteÂ· Â¶ Si dimiserit vir vxorem suaÌ„ c. tu autem fornicataes cuÌ„ amatoribus tnÌ„ reuertere ad me dicit dnÌ„s 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 synÌ„es 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 whaÌ„ his loue is torned from hym he gooth folowynge cryenge after hyr lyke as it is wreten in the book of loueÂ· Â¶ Reuertere reuertere suauitatis reuertere reuertere vt intuiamur te Â¶ 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 Â¶ Capud meuÌ„ spictis tenui manus meas clauis obiecti lancee latus apperui sanguinem meuÌ„ 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 Â¶ En ipse erat post parietem nostruÌ„ prospiciens per cancellos BEholde how Ihesu Cryste was behynde y e walle watchyngeÂ· 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 hostiuÌ„ pulso et si quis apparuerit michi intrabo ad euÌ„ 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 Â¶ 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 â–ª come to me and I shall refresshe you comforte yow And what doth he yf he

Festiua non potui ibi quicquaÌ„ facere donec egressus fueris This was whanne our lorde wolde coÌ„founde sodom and gomor loth hys louer was ther to whom our lorde seyde haste you to go oute of sodom for befor that ye be gone may I do theÌ„ none harme here appereth wherbi the louers of the swete kyng of heuene bindith hym A lone loue how thow arte precyous wythoute pere Loue is lyke to a precyous stnoe that is of suche vertue that who that hath it shall haue what thynge y t he towche wyth the sayd stone the same vartue hath loue For yf ye loue y e vartues or bounteys y e other folkes haue in them their weles ye make yours be the towchyng of your holy loue as saynt gregory seyth Â¶ Aliena bona si diligis tua facis If ye loue the goodnesse of other ye make it yours wyth oute ony mor trauayle O loue how thow arte precyous and wyth out pere Nou ryght dere beloued in god take hede to thre thynge be whych ye may lerne wherfor ye oughte to loue our lorde on thynge is y e grete welys and graces that he hath geuyn you on other ys the grete loue that he hath shewed yow The thyrde that he desyryth your loue so faruently Now remeÌ„bre yow wel that grete gyft most comonÌ„ly draweth encresyth loue And what hath god geuyn yon All y e world wyth the apporthenaunce and paradyse wyth alle hys delytys And to adaÌ„ our fader alle the thynge creaturs vndyr heuene as byrdys bestis fyshys alle were put vndyr y e foote of man at our comaÌ„dment befor the synne of hym wherof dauid seyth Â¶ Omnia subiecisti sub pedibus eius oues et boues And yet for all that these thinges be ordeyned stylle for to sarue the good and susteyne them in the seruyse of our lorde Another gyste hath he geuyn vs and euery day geuyth vs thys is hÌ„ym self for to kepe vs and helpe vs in alle our nedys As seyt saynt Austyn Â¶ De multis periculis liberauit me virtute sua QuaÌ„do errabaÌ„ reduxit me quaÌ„do ignorabaÌ„ docuit me quaÌ„do contristabar consolatus est me quaÌ„do peccabaÌ„ corripuit me quando cecidi erexit me quaÌ„do steti tenuit me quando iui duxit me hec et alia multa fecit michi dominus meus de quo erit michi dulce semper loqui semper cogitare semper gracias agere Of many pary lys hath deliuered me my sauioure whaÌ„ne I walked he led me whan I cowde nat he taught me whaÌ„ne I synned repÌ„ued me whanne I was heuy he conforted me whaÌ„ne I fell he areysed me whaÌ„ne I stode he sustyened me whaÌ„ne j zode he led me Thys grete bounteys many other hath doon to me mi lorde jhuÌ„ cryste of whom it shall be alwey swete to speke and to thynke and alwey to yelde hym thankynge For full euele shull befalle of vs if he tooke not good kepe of vs for our enemyes haue besette vs all abooute to coÌ„founde vs. Thys ys to knowe our flesh the fende and the worlde vnde versus Â¶ Nos certant triplici certamine tres inimici Serpens antiquus caro lubrica muÌ„dus iniquus Thre enemyes greue vs be thre maner of batayles as the olde serpente the feÌ„de and the frele vnstabyll flesh the deceynable worlde as saynte Barnard seyth Â¶ O anima innocens o lilium candens O flos tener delicate vide quomodo caute aÌ„bules inter spinas habitas subuersores tecuÌ„ habes intra te suÌ„t extra te sunt super te sunt circa te sunt In carne tua sunt O ye Innosent sowle O ye flour of lely fayr and whyte O ye tendyr delycyous flour take kepe that ye go wysely amonge the thornys for ther in habyte your dedely enemies that wayte to ouerthrowe yow and wyth inne yow they be wythoute you they be ouyr yow they be and rounde abowte you they be now se how grete a gyfte this is of god for to defende yow be hys good wyll as dauid seyth Â¶ Scito bone voluntatis tue coronasti nos Fayr lorde seyth dauid gret thynge haue ye geuin vs for ye haue crowned vs wyth the shylde of your good wyl But these gystys beforseyd be but lytyll in comparyson of on gyste that he hath geuyn vs that is the gyste of hym self for so moche loued he vs that he hath geuyn hym self to vs wherof saynt poule seyth Â¶ Cristus dilexit eccleciaÌ„ et dedit se ipsum pro eo IhÌ„uÌ„ cryste loued so moche hys loue y t he wold gyf hym self for hyr so hye a gifte was neuyr geuyn to suche wretchys ne for suche wretchys Augustinus Â¶ Miser ego quantuÌ„ debeo diligere deuÌ„ meuÌ„ cum me fecit non arboreÌ„ nec auem nec aliquod de animalibus Sed homineÌ„ me voluit esse Seyth saynte Augustyn alas I wretche how I oughte to loue my lorde god that made me whaÌ„ne I was no thinge and nother tre nor byrde nor non other beste but man wolde he that I ware and gaf me wherwyth to leue and to fele and knowe good ylle I was perishte and juged to deth he dysceÌ„ded to me mortall mortalyte receyued suffyrd pasconÌ„ and veynquyshte deth and thus he me restablyshte wher j was parysht sold in myn owne synnes and he cam aftyr me to bye me ageyn and so derely loued he me that the pryes of his precyous blood he gaf for me be suche condyconÌ„ that the remembraunce of hym shold alwey abyde in me In canticis caÌ„ticoruÌ„ sponsus ad sponsam Â¶ Pone me vt signaculum super cor tuum Et vt signaculuÌ„ super brachium tuuÌ„ Fayr loue seyth our lorde and loue jhuÌ„ cryste put me as a lytyll seale on your herte to the entente y t ye may thynke on me oftyn put me as a seale vppon your arme so that ye enbrace me wyth holy deuocyon Ryght dere beloued frende in god now take hede ententyfly and wyth grete deuocyon to thys ensample that folowyth and wherfor ye shuld loue thys swete jhuÌ„ cryst therin shall ye fynde delicious matyr for thys hath doon jhuÌ„ y e kyng of glorie be your sowle that is hys loue as doth a kynge of farre contreys that louyth a strange lady sendeth his masseÌ„gers before wyth hys lettyrs of loue In the same maner dyde our lorde IhuÌ„ y e sente hys patryarkis hys prophetis of the olde testamente wyth letters These ware the swete prophecyes of hys gracyous comynge in to erthe thaÌ„ne at the laste he cam all preuyly and brought wyth hym y e gospels as lettyrs opened wreted wyth his precyous blood and wyth y e same saued he hys loue to conquar hyr Now leth her a tale in syngnyfyaunce of the entyre loue of our swete lorde IhuÌ„ cryste Ther was a lady som tyme in gret warre wyth hyr

dedely enemyes y t had dystroyed the substauÌ„ce of all hyr londe and she all poore was beseged in an olde castell wyth hym rounde abowte thys castell was weyke and made of full febyll mater Neuertelesse ther was a ryche kynge and of grete power y t marueylously loued her wyth suche far neuce that often he sente hys messeÌ„gers on to her sente her mani fair Iowellys good socours wherwyth she myghth be susteyned and good helpe of hys noble meny to defende hyr hyr castell And she receyued alle these thynge as a vyleyne y t vnuethys cowde yelde hym a gramercy for alle these grete welys so rude harde was hyr herte how be it had not the bounte and the pyte of thys noble kynge bene she had be vtterly loste dystroyed for he was so supprysed wyth hyr loue that at y e laste he cam him self to the rofe of the tour and shewed hyr his fayre visage whiche was most fayr of alle other to beholde and spake to hÌ„yr soo swete wordys delycious y t they myght haue quikned a body half dede Ther dyd he mani marueyles and shewed grete mastryes and befor hyr eyen preued parte of hys power and tolde of hys rychÌ„esse and offrid to make hir quene of all y t he hade to gif hir all his reme with thys that she wolde gyf hym hyr loue wythoute more But thys was in veyne for hyr lone wolde she not promyse hym A was not thys a grete abusion of thys bestly wretche that was not worthy to serue vndyr his fete yte of hys debonarite pyte hadde so veynquysht him be fo rs of loue y t at y e laste he seide A madam I se well ie be gretly greued wyth your enemyes that be soo ner you and so fers stronge that ye may in no wyse escape ther handis but they wyll put you to euele and sorowfull deth but ye haue helpe wherfor I wyl for your loue entyrprise this bataile vppon them to dysconÌ„fyte your enemyes how be it I knowe well y t I shall receyue amonge them full harde dedely wouÌ„dys but wyth my good wyll I shall take them tho wynne your herte And now I pray you full petonsly wepyng for the grete loue that I shall shewe you that at the leste ye wyll loue me aftyr my peynfull deth syth in my lyf ye wyll not loue me thanne in thys maner entyrd thys kynge in to this batayle and dystounfyted alle hyr enemyes delyuered hyr from them that purposed hyr deth and was hym self wounded so sore and greuously that he dyed but by miracle roos he frodeth to lyue was not thys lady ouyr vnnaturell and moche to be blamed if she loued not hym ouyr all other Thys same kynge is the swete IhuÌ„s y t in thys maner hath loue to our sowles that fendes hadde beseged and he as a nobleÌ„ sauyour sente hyr many massengers many grete bounteys doone to her and fynalle cam hym self for to preue hys loue and shewed well be cheualrye that he was worthi to be be loued wherof seyth saynte barnarde Â¶ Nonne dei filius cum esset ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ sinu patris a regalibus sedibus pro anima tua descendit vt eaÌ„ liberâ—ret a potestate dyaboli quam cuÌ„ audisset peccatoruÌ„ finibus irretica iamque demonibus trateÌ„dam vt morte perpetua daÌ„pnaretur fleuit super illa qui se flere nesciebat nec solum fleuit sed ecia occidi pertulit vnde versus Aspice mortalis per te datur hostia talis Ne se you not ryght dere freendes seyth saynte Barnarde that IhuÌ„ cryste the sone of god how that he beynge in the bosom of hys father descended fro that ryall sete in the heuenly empyre for the loue he hadde to your sowle to delyuer hyr fro y e power of the fende whanne he harde how she was beseged and wyth the bondys of synne enbrased and wythoute taryenge sholde haue be deliuered to the fende to the preson of helle and was condempned to pardurable deth And he be grete pyte and compassyoun wepte full tenderly for her in asmoche as she nother cowde wepe nor helpe hyr self and yete he wepe not only but offryd hym self to dye for hyr relefe Beholde now mortall wretchys who suffrid deth for your lyf thys dyd the swete Ihesus the kynge of heuene to wynne your loue as knyghte were wone to do som tyme he cam to the tourney and for the loue of his loue whiche is iour sowle bar his shyld on alle partys of the bathayle as A valyaunte knyght and A hardy Hys shylde that couered the godhede was hys blessed body that was spred vppon the harde crosse ther appered he as A shylde in hys armys wyth hys handys streyned and persed and hys feete nayled down as summe men sey the tone vppon the tother And wher thys shylde had no syde syngnyfyeth y t hys dyscyplys that sholde haue be shilde to his sydis fledde alle from hym as he seyth in the gospellÂ· Â¶ Relicto eo omnes fugerunt They be alle fledde lefte hym all for fere of deth Thys shylde is geuyn vs for our dyffense ayenste alle euelis and alle temptaconÌ„ as saynte Ierome seyth Â¶ Dabit stictuÌ„ cordis in laborem tuuÌ„ Lord jhesu cryste thanked be ye ye haue geuyn vs a shylde for our hertes whiche is y e thoughte of your peynfull trauayle wherof seyth saynte Barnard Â¶ Quid taÌ„ efficax ad curanduÌ„ vulnera nec noÌ„ ad purganduÌ„ mentis quaÌ„ cristi vulneruÌ„ sedula meditacio what thynge is so spedfull to hele and purge y e spyrytuall woundys as ententyf medytaconÌ„ of y e sorowfull woundys of our swete lorde jhuÌ„ cryste dauid seyth wyth thys shylde be eÌ„uyronÌ„ed alle they that loueÌ„ hym And serue hym nyght and day Scito circuÌ„dabit te veritas eius non timebis a timore nocturno Ne drede we nat y e fere of y e nyght for thys is the trowth the sone of god enuyroundyth vs wyth hys shylde where sum euyr we be and it more be his good wyll with hys shylde he hath crowned vs. as dauid seyth for wyth hys good wyll suffyrd he all thys as Isaee seyth Â¶ Oblatus est quia ipse voluit Now wyll ye sey paraueÌ„ture wherfor suffyrd he these marueylous grete peynes myght he nolightlyer redeme vs fro helle A yis yis myght he wyth moche les yf it had pleased hym but he wolde not so wherfor but to shewe vs how moche he loued vs and to gyf vs ensample to loue hym for suche as men loue lytyll they lette it lyghtli go and if they haue it not they aske not theraftyr also the more peyne and harme that a man suffryth for hys frende the more hys he to be beloued wherof saynte bernarde seyth Â¶ Amplius michi vilis esse non debeo quia tantum deo placuit anima mea vt mori pro

illusum spictis linidum plagis confixum clauis A man behelde the sone of the virgyn marye foylid wyth fowle spittynges all blody of his woundes and percyd wyth nayles Take hede of the kyng of angels beyng on the crosse pale to the deth fowle in flesshÌ„ passe bi this And take kepe whaÌ„ ye see the fygure how he is a man mekely bowynge a man smyten wyth shamfull deth A man lyke vnto a mesell A man of al sorowes apperynge on his body and all wrapt in sorowe And yet whan he was past all the anguysshÌ„ payn and shame that he myght suffre in his lyf for the loue of his loue maÌ„nes soule they dyde hym after hys deth the grettest shame they cowde thynke For they wold not bery hiÌ„ amonge other Iewes but wythoute the towne as a man that were acursed And his blessid soule descended in to helle for to destroye the mortall enmyes of his loue mannes soule And to fetche theym oute that longe had abyden hym there Â¶ Now for goddis sake lete vs remembre well how moche we are bounden to loue that swete Ihesu cryst that so many manere of shames suffryd to put vs in honoure And that he suffred soo shamfull deth to conferme our sowles in the freedom of perdurable lyf For of al the peynes that ben in this worlde shame is the grettest For we maye fynde many of crysten folke that wyll suffre hardnes of lyffe as fastyng lyeng harde colde hungre thurst and diseases for the loue of god But to be holden vyle dyspysid for the loue of god vneth shall ye fynde ony For the wretchid hert desireth alway to be honoured and praysid And by this we may well know that he louyd vs and louith vs enteerly that so many shames dispytes suffred for y e loue of vs. Â¶ The same that is the very perfyte honoure and of hym cometh all honours that blessid be he of al creatures that vs soo moche hath louyd and louyth that gracyous lorde the moost true and hertely louer Â¶ Now haue we spokeÌ„ grete parte of his harde deth and of the shame that men dyde hym wherby ye maye here that neuer man deyed of soo paynfull and vyle a deth wherof he pleyneth hym by the prophete dauyd sayenge Â¶ Defeccio tenuit me pro peccatoribus derelinqentibus legem tuam FAyr swete fader full gret defawteÌ„ me holdeth for synners y t haue leste your lawe Now for trouthe their was neuyr man had more of pouerte defawte than he had in his hende and thys sheweth seynte barnarde that seyth Â¶ Lignum defuit capiti terra pedi vestimentum corpori potus ori amicus consolacioniÂ· Â¶ Alas what defawte was thys the tre failed to hys hede the erthe failed to hys feete clothyng fayled to hys body euery frende failed to hys conforte Now beholde more veryly of thys gret defawte that the tree fayled to his hede for the crosse where he hinge was withoute hed for whan he was so wery hys hede greued hym that was so sore betyn brosed wyth many grete strokes â–ª that vnethe hys necke myght bere hyt hyt was so astoned wyth peyne whan he had so grete nede to reste hys wofull hede he founde not so moche ease that he had ony place to lene hyt to he was streyned so hye vpon the crosse that hys hed might towche no parte therof A what vnmesurable peynes and sorowes he had there founde he an ouyr hard and sharpe pelow for the hede of so noble and gret a kynge as he was O good lorde whan we fele ony gret peyne or febilnesse in our hedis we wyl haue softe pelowys vndir our harde hedys and some woman or some maÌ„ to hold hit for taswage the peine but he had nother the ton nor y e tothyr but skornars as hym self seyth be Ierom the prophete Â¶ Factus sum in derisum omni populo meo canticuÌ„ eorum tota die I Am made in derysyon in mockage of all my people thier eueriday songe The tothâ—r gret defawte that erthe fayled to hys fete and not to them only but to all hys body that was so cruelly peyned that he was seke on to the deth in al the large worlde had he not so moche of place as he myght put oon fote on erthe to reste hys wofull body that was all to betin and brosed but hynge in y e eyre tered wyth gret naylesÂ· full petously Alas their ys not so vyle a sarazin ne so fowle a mesell ne so poure a wretche but that they myght fynde some place or house wher they myght take some reste or ease in ther syknesse A swete IhuÌ„ cryste wherfor wold ye be in so gret dyssese ouyr all other of the wolrde Trewly for loue so moche had bouÌ„den hym in suche wyse y t he raught not of all the dysesys he had for the foruent loue he hade to mannys sowle Now se here the thyrde defawte that was Clothynge to hys fayr body as he seyth by Iob Â¶ Nudê° egressê° sum de vtero matris mee nudus reuertar illucÂ· Â¶ All nakyd I am come fro my moders wombe and all nakyd I shall retorne out of this worlde For the felon Iewes had robbed hym of his clothes departed them amonge them as he pleyneth him by dauid the prophete Â¶ Considerauerunt et inspexeruÌ„t me deuiserunt vestimenta mea et super vestem meam miserunt sorteÌ„ Â¶ Thise Iewes haue considered beholden me and haue deuyded my clothynge to theym cast lottes theron whiche of theyrs it sholde be And the swete Ihesu wolde not stryue ayenst theym but wyth good wylle gaaf theym for theyr seruyce al that he had of erthly thyng whyche was noo more but oonly his clothes so pour was he at that tyme for thus saith saynt bernard Â¶ Quando fuisti pauperior tunc fuisti largior O bone Ihesu WhaÌ„ thou were moost pour thenne were thou moost large for thenÌ„e gauest thou to the theef the kyngdome of heuen to saynt IohÌ„n euangelist thy moder to thy fader thy spyryte and to vs thy flesshe to ete thy blode to drynke And thou gauest thy clothynge to thy crucyfyers in suche wyse that thouÌ„ abodeste all nakyd on hye vpon the patyble A good lorde god mercy the moost stronge theef of the worlde that were Iuged to be hanged yet sholde he haue to couer hym a poure gowne or a pour sherte But Ihesu the kyng of glory had nother gonne nor sherte to couer him where he hynge openly before al folke wherof he playneth hym by dauyd Â¶ FactuÌ„ est cor meum tanquam cera liquescens in medio ventris mei My herte is becomen alle softe meltyng as it were waxe in my body Alas we pour wretches what Ioye maye we haue of oure honour that is come of none other thynge but of the shame of Ihesu cryst What gladnesse may we haue of ease that is

seeth you comyng towarde hym to crye hym mercy It is wreten in the gospell Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 vsÂ· wherof he sayth yet by ZachÌ„arye Â¶ Zelatus sum syon zelo magno I am Ielous ouer mannes soule wyth a grete Ielousie As he saith in exodi Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 gretterÂ· And yf ye say that ye wyll not gyue it me so good chepe name how moche ye wyll haueÂ· And ye can not name somoche but I wyll gyue you asmoche Â¶ 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 youÂ· But all your wyll shal be doon in heuen in erth and in helle Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ On the appultre of the crosse gader men the fruyte of lyfe On Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 chariteÂ· 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 saythÂ· 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 felonyesÂ· By this desired dauyd to be clensid after his grete synne for he knewe well that this was the true medicyn Â¶ 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

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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ Thus as the lelye is amonge the thornes thus is my loue amoÌ„ge the chylderne of the worlde Â¶ 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 placesÂ· 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 Â¶ 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 dedeÂ· 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. Â¶ 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 hemÂ· 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 graceÂ· 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 bornÂ· 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 awakidÂ· 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 Â¶ 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 thyngÂ· 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 himÂ· 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 Â¶ 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 hymÂ· 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

folke wende that he had ben a mesell A god how humble ware ye to suffyr them so cruelly vengably to stryke yow for such anguysh he pleyned hym to his father in y e gospell Â¶ Nunc aiÌ„a mea turbata est et quid dicam pater saluifica me ex hac hora sed propter hoc veni in horam hanc Â¶ Now ys my sowle gretly troblede A what may I sey fayr dere fader saue me nethelesse her fore I cam in erthe to suffyr so hard peynis to aquyte my frendes of all thys made he no force yf he myght haue wonne the loue our sowle for the whyche he suffyrd so gret sorowys greuous peyne yn y e place wher he was put for our loue wherfor ye may well thinke for trouthe that yt behoueth vs to suffyr sum penaÌ„nce for hym for our sauaconÌ„ how beyt he hath no nede of vs of our good dedys wherof dauid sayth Â¶ BonoruÌ„ meorum non indiges dnÌ„e Â¶ Fayr lord seyth he ye haue no no nede of my good dedys but for all that good wyll not saue a man yf he helpe not therto hym self as seynte Austyn seyth Â¶ Qui fecit te sine te non iustificabit te sine te that same that made yow wythoute yowr helpe he will not saue yow wythoute your helpe and the glose vppon seynt powle Â¶ Deus pro omiÌ„bus saÌ„guineÌ„ suuÌ„ fudit illis solis prodest sanguis xpÌ„i qui voluptates deseruuÌ„t se ipÌ„os affliguÌ„t God shed hys blood for alle but to them only shall hys blood profyte in redempconÌ„ y t leue the delyte of ther flesh chastyse their bodies in penaunce for yt shulde be no reson that he shulde suffyr all the peyne we shulde haue all y e ioye here el lys wher For trewly yf we suffir not som penauÌ„ce The father wyll no more spare vs hys ylle chyldyrn thaÌ„ne he dyd the swete IhuÌ„ cryst hys good chylde wherof seynt Bernard sayth Â¶ Qui non pepercit filio suo nunquaÌ„ fimento nunquaÌ„ parcet seruo nequâ—m How shuld he spare vs vyle stynkynge fylthys y t spareth not hys swete sone IhuÌ„ cryst how shuld he thaÌ„ne spare hys fowle and euele felons Now I pray yow sith yowr sowle ys the loue of IhuÌ„ cryste the hygh kynge of heuene that yf ye may no more do for his swete loue yette at y e leeste y t ye haue often yn remeÌ„braunce these thre maner of anguyshys that he suffryd so longe in the place wher he lay for your aquytayle WhaÌ„ne ye beholde your ryche clothis other fayr Iewellis your gret horses fayr harneys thaÌ„ne bethynke yow of the poor clothyng that your lorde loue ihesu cryst hys dyscyplys hadde how they wente abowte barfote yn wyntyr in somyr what dyssese they suffryd also often whaÌ„ne ye sytte at y e tabyll so rychely arayd serued goodly IentylmeÌ„ abowte yow so well araid well seruinge y t serue yow so noâ—ely wyth cuppys of gold syluyr vessell wyth so many dyuerse good metys wyth delycyous sawses pleysauÌ„t wynes ThaÌ„ne remeÌ„byr yow wyth gret compasconÌ„ how poorely the ryche kyng of heneue was serued your spowse the swete IhuÌ„s whaÌ„ne he was so wery for gret trauayle hungyr y t yt behoued hym to go owte of y e cite of samerie in y e mene tyme that hys dyscyplys weÌ„te in to y e cyte to fetche bred in the mene whylys cam a womaÌ„ to fetche watyr at a welle wherby he satte he preyde the woman to gyue hym of hyr water to drynke but she wold not but rather repreuyd hym full egyrly he spake ageyn so benyngly to that woman that she was conuerted than cam hys discyplis And brought mete and set them all down wythowte tabyll and wythoute cloth ê‘auentur toke one of ther poore mantellys set theron ther bred sayde â–ª Rabi maÌ„duca dixit eis Ego cibuÌ„ habeo maÌ„ducare queÌ„ vos nescitê meê° cibê° eÌ„ vt faciaÌ„ voluÌ„tateÌ„ eiê° qui misit me vt ê‘ficiaÌ„ opê° eiê° His disciplis seide mastir ete now he answerd I haue mete to ete wherof ye knowe no thinge a good lord mercy yette for all y e gret desir he had to ete he abode til yt was nere hygh none y t he veinquisht dis desire wold soner ete O y t thys ys a gret ensample to vs whaÌ„n we haue ony tyme gret desyr to ony delicyous mete or drynke or ony other sore temptaconÌ„ we shuld fyght â—â—â—nst our owne wyll â–ª But what seyde he aftyr my mete ys that I muste do y e wyll of my fader y t ys to suffyr hungre thurste gret anguisshys greuous peynes bethynke yow also how y e poor dyscyplys ete y e erys of whâ—te in y e seldis whan they wente wyth ther swete mastyr IhuÌ„ cryst of hym self yt ys wretyn that he cam one day in the mornynge hadde gret hungyr as he that had watched in prayeer in trauayle in sermonys saw a fygge tre full of leuys wythowte ony frute whan he cam nere yt he seyde to the fyggetre ye shall neuyr bere frute wythoute ende and forth wyth the fygtre becam all drye beholde now fayr frende how many dissesis your swete spowse suffird for to redeme yow Wherfor hyt ys good for yow to thynke well often on all thys wahn ye be in the dysportys of this worlde or whan ye see other coÌ„forted in foule vanyteys Remenbyr yow theÌ„ne wyth preuy syghynge how petowsly the swete IhuÌ„s the sone of god wepte whan he cam rydynge all barfote vpon A poore asse VideÌ„s IhuÌ„s ciuitateÌ„ fleuit suê‘ illaÌ„ dicens qr quia cognouissis tu ciuitateÌ„ id ecclesiam As he cam knew al thys y t was to come aswell to theÌ„e y t were present as to al vs y t shuld come after wepte petously for compasconÌ„ of vs seyde yf ye knew asmoche as I knowe ie shuld wepe as tendirly as I do right as he hade seide to theÌ„ I wepe for thys that ye do in foly in vanyte y t ye thynke not how streyght the waye ys that goth toward heuene wherof hym self seyde Â¶ Arta est via que ducit ad celuÌ„ pauci inueniuÌ„t illaÌ„ et iteruÌ„ NoÌ„ ne oportuit xpÌ„m pati et ita intrare in gloriam suaÌ„ Full streyte ys the weye that ledyth to perdurable lyfe fewe folkes fynde hyt Ne see ye not well that IhuÌ„ cryst suffyrd full sharpe trauayle or euyr he entrede in to hys glorye for thys wepte he that we so lyghtly forgete our self take no hede how wretchedly we be engendyrde nor how sorowfully we be borne nor how perlously we lyue in synne in vanyte nor how hedously we shall deye nor knowe not whan nor

com of the dysese of the swete IhÌ„u cryst How may we gloryfye vs of our ryches that cometh of the pouerte of Ihesu crist Â¶ What delyte maye we haue of our fredom that is all comen of the bondes eÌ„prysonement of our lorde ihesu cryst It neuer pleysed him that he shold suffre bere on his body all the harme payne that we haue soo moche deseruyd wythout we ben parteners wyth hym in some maner of penaunce sorowe For trouth soo shal we doo yf we wylle be parteners of his Ioye For he is not wortâ—â— to be partener to the wynnyng that will not be partener to the losse wherof saynt bernarde sayth Â¶ Videntes angustias dnÌ„i nostri IhÌ„u cristi leuiter portauimê° nrÌ„as Â¶ Yf we saw thanguysshes that our lord Ihesu crist suffred for vs we sholde bere ours the more lyghtly And yf we wylle not be of his lyuerey in compassion it is noo reason we sholde be of his lyuerey in consolacyon Â¶ See ye now the fourth defawte that Ihesu cryste had that was drynke fayllid hym to his mouth Two maner of meÌ„ haue grete nede of drynke A maÌ„ that hath moche traueiled and a man that hath moche bledde And both thise thynges were in our lorde Ihesu cryste that daye For neuer may was so wery of paynfull traueylle wooful seruyce as he was wherof hym selfe sayth by Ysaye the prophete Â¶ Seruice me fecistis in pectiÌ„s nostris et laborem michi prebuistê in iniquitatibus nostris Â¶ Ye make me serue in youre fowle synnes to giue my labour in your Iniquyte And after he sayth Â¶ Ysaye Laboraui sustinens I haue traueylled in suffrynge For I haue suffred al the harmes that men wolde doo me for the loue of mannes soule And yf ye wylle ye maye fynde wreten that in that labour he traueylled soo moche that the blood ranne fro his teÌ„der bodi forto crye for mercy to his fader for his loue mannes sowle that was condempned to perpetuel pryson As he sayth by Iherom Â¶ Laboraui rogans I haue sore traueylled in prayeng for your soules thyse were harde labours Â¶ The seconde cause to say he was lete blood It was not of one veyne nor of two but he bledde ouer al his body In soo many placesÂ· that it was grete dyfficulte to nomber the woundes of the amyable body of Ihesu cryste that plenteuously bleddeÂ· But whan we ben lete blood vpon a lityll veyne on oure armes we kepe vs all stylle cloos in a chamber that none ayer come in to hurte vs. And haue alle thynges ordeyned to our comforte Â¶ A good lorde al otherwyse weÌ„te it at your paynful bledyng that was so cruelly drawen oute of the towne wythout ony mercy or pyte and by the shamfull tyrauntes hanged vpon the Crosse agaynst that brennyng sonne streyned as streyte asÂ· a parchemyn skynne to drye And by thyse paynfull wouÌ„des labours he had grete thurste whiche was noo merueylle And thenne he pleyned hym peteously sayd Â¶ Scicio I haue thurst what thenne They gaaf him noo ypocras nor wyne ne yet fair water But they gaaf hym eysel and galle medled togyder Â¶ Alas what drynke was thys to be gyuen at soo grete a nede Â¶ Cum gustasset noluit bibere sed dixit consuÌ„matum est WHan he had taasted he wold not drynke but sayd all is fulfylled Thenne myght he wel haue sait alas now am I outrageously seruyd y t for al the companye that I haue had wyth them and for all the honoures that I haue shewed to theym they yelde me now thus shrewedly my seruyse that in soo grete disease as I am now in and in soo grete defawte they wylle not gyue me a lityl water to drynke Now am I outrageously seruyd For truly this same dyde more harme than many other of the paynes that he suffrydÂ· And noo merueyle for he had longe laboured for to teche theym for to saue their soules â–ª and to drawe theyr loue towarde hym And for all this grete loue yet at the laste they dyde hym this grete vilanye Wherof he pleyneth hym by Iherom the prophete sayeng Â¶ Recordare paupertatis trangressionis mee absinthij fellis Fayre frende remembre you of the pouertee that I suffred for you And remembre of the grete disptes that was done to meÂ· whaÌ„ they gaaf me to drynke so euyll a drynke for your loue wherof sayth saynt bernarde Â¶ Sitiui saluteÌ„ vestram I haue thurst sayd our lorde and not oonly for drynke but oonly for your sauacyon O good lorde mercy who had euer in hym soo ferme loue as he whan he was in soo paynfull caas that he felte the feuers of his harde deth pricke soo sore his pyteuous soule Yet sayd he not alas the harde crosse destroyeth my seke body But he sayd I haue grete thurste that my loue may be deliuerde from helle He sayde not how thyse thornes rase myn wooful hede Nor alas how my hoÌ„des fete ben broken perced wyth grete nayles Nor alas that I sholde suffre soo many grete paynes wythout deserte But he sayd I haue desire that my loue were sauyd â–ª as saynt bernarde sayth Â¶ TantuÌ„ me dilexisti o bone IhÌ„u quod inmemor fuisti doloris noÌ„ inmemor mee salutis dixisti scicoÌ„ non dixisti doleo Soo moche thou hast louyd me o good IhÌ„u that y u hast not remembryd thy sorowe yet thou haddest y e remembraunce of my saluacoÌ„n whaÌ„ thou saydest I thurst after your saluacyon and sayd not I haue grete sorowe for my paynes But all otherwyse toke it the felon Iewes and therfore they dyde him suche a noye that thei most bytter eysell and galle gaaf hym to drynke Â¶ The fifth defaute that was ful grete was whan euery frende fayled to his comforte soo as hymself pleyneth hym by dauyd Â¶ Singulariter sum ego donec transeam I am lefte allone wythoute comforte tyll that I be passed oute of this mortall lyf Wherof he sayth by ysaye Â¶ Circumspexi et non erat auxiliator I behelde all about me and there is none that of ony thynge helpeth me or wyll comforte me And syth sayth he by ysaye Â¶ Torcular calcaui solus non erat de gentibus vir mecum I haue troden in the vylayn pressours all alone and of all the folkes in the worlde I haue not one man wyth me Wherof sayth ysaye Â¶ Quare ergo est rubium indumentum tuum et vestimenta tua sicut calcancium in torculari Â¶ But fayre lorde god wherfore was thenne thy vestyment soo rede as they that haue pressed wyne at the pressour Ye for trouth the vestyment that he was clothyd in was his clene skyn that was alle redde of his blessed blode as he had pressid redde wyne all alone with out comforte and wythout helpe Â¶ But fayr frende ye wolde saye perauenture that allone wythoute comforte was he not For he had his dere moder

ful nere hym for to comforte hym It is trouth his sorowfull moder was nere hym but he was more payned of the compascoÌ„n of his piteous moder than of his owne pascyon And thys maye ye here by a lamentacyon of our lady y t saynt bernard writeth that begynÌ„eth thus as herafter foloweth QVis dabit capiti meo aquaÌ„ et oculis meis fontem lacri marum ê™ possim flere per diem noctem donec seruo suo dominus Iheus cristus coopereat visu vel sompno consolans animam meam Who shall gyue to my hede water and to myne eyen a welle of teres that I myghte wepe by daye nyghte soo longe that it wolde pleyse our lorde Ihesu cryst to apere to me his seruaunte in sighte or in dreme to comforte my wery soule Â¶ O ye doughters of Iherusalem the blessid frendes of our lorde helpe me to wepe in prayeÌ„g and pray in wepyng so longe that our spouse in his bewte soo benigne and so swete to vs wyll appere Thynke deuoutly and remembre ententyfly in your hertes how bytter a thynge it is to be departed from hym to whom ye haue promysed euerychone hoolily to holde you to whom ye haue auoued yelde your soules theÌ„ne to him fayr doughters fayr virgynes fayr maydens pure that haue auowed chastyte to Ihesu criste come to the swete virgyne that bare hym For she bare the kynge of glorye And she wyll gyue him or hir that wyll requyre hym with good loue She bare hym she gaaf hym souke the eyght daye he was circuÌ„cysed and the xl daye he was presented to the temple and offred for hym ij turtles And after fled for fere of herode and bare hym in to egipte and nourisht him toke kepe of hym and folowed hym froÌ„ place to place tyl he came to the crosse And lefte she hym there thenÌ„e naye truly â–ª she taryed there as longe as euer she myght I byleue verely that she was amonge tho wymen that folowed Ihesu crist for to serue hym And it was noo merueyle though she folowed hym for he was all hyr Ioye all hyr comforte and all hyr desire Wherfore I suppose wel that she was among theim that compleyned our lord in wepyng She wept thenne wyth thoos doughters of Iherusalem to whiche Ihesu beryng his crosse torned sayd O ye doughters of Iherusalem ne wepe ye not on me but wepe ye on yourself and on youre chyldern Â¶ The voys prayeng the blessyd moder of Ihesu crist O lady of paradys thamyable moder of our lorde Ihesu cryst is it not this trouth that I saye Now blessid lady I huÌ„bly beseche you that it like you to saye me the trouth and not to dyspleyse you though I your seruaunte speke thus hardely to his lady And to the entent swete vyrgyn that I maye more worthely and deuotly here what it wyll pleyse you to saye I beseche you that ye will gyue me some of the teeres that ye had in the passoÌ„n of your dere childe And to shewe me the maner of the compaseyon and sorow that ye had thenne Â¶ The voys of the vyrgin marye Â¶ Transsumptiue illa respondit illud quod tu queris conpungitiuum est magni doloris sed quia glorificata sum flere non possum tu autem cum lacrimis scribe ea que magnis doloribus ipsa perpensi Â¶ She answerde a fayre frende this thyng that thou desirest is coÌ„puncyon wyth grete sorowe but for by cause that I am gloryfied I maye not wepeÂ· But write thou wyth teres those thynges the whiche I myselfe hÌ„aue suffryd wyth grete sorowes Â¶ The voys prayeng A lady of paradys graunte me this that ye speke and thenne haue I all that I desire O quene of heuen moder to the crucified cryst Ihesu say to me what it pleyseth you And youre pour seruaunt shall humbly here â–ª what that it liketh you to saye And my dere lady I beseche you that ye wyll vouchesauf to tel me yf ye were in Iherusalem whan your swete sone was taken and bounde Â¶ The voys of the blessid virgyn Â¶ Cum illa respondit in Iherusalem eram quaÌ„do hec audiui gressu qualicunque potui vix potui ad deum meum flens venire cunque illum fuissem intuita pugnis percuti et alapis cedi in facie conspui spinis coronari et obprobriuÌ„ hominum fieri commota sunt omnis viscera mea et defecit spiritus meus non erat michi flere neque sensus neque vox Â¶ Whiche answerd fayr frende in Iherusalem I was whan I herde that he was taken Thenne spedde I me forth gooyng as I myghte and scarsly al wepyng as I was cowde I come to my god And whan I behelde hym stryken wyth fystes and beten wyth grete strokes in his blessid face bespitted crowned wyth thornes and made the repreef of men Thenne was I so inwardly meuyd with sorow that my spyryte faylled me soo that I was as thenne past weping wyt or voys But I was not allone for there were with me my susters and other wymen ful heuy and sorowfull that wepte for my swete chylde as moche as he had be ther 's Amonge the whiche was marye mawdeleyne that ouer al other saue myselfe made sorowe And theÌ„ne pylate commaunded that Ihesu cryst sholde be brought forth to his tormentes and bere the crosse hym selfe vpon the whiche he sholde dey Â¶ And thus was he drawen towarde his dedely tormentes And thenne was there ful grete prees of peple that folowed hym And some mockid him and some cast mire and filthe vpon his hede and in his swete face whyche all the heueÌ„ly corte deliteth to beholde And I his sorowfull moder folowed him wyth other wymen of galilee and I was as halfe dede wyth sorowe But they supported me till we came vnto the place of his passion where they crucyfyed my sone before myne eyen And he behelde me soo pyteously and sawe me and I hym whan he was reised vpon the crosse fastned wyth thre grete boyustyous nayles of yren And more me thoughte he sorowed for me than of his owne payne And he took it as mekly as it were a laÌ„be before theym that crucyfied hym And made noo noyse nor opened not his mouth And I seke as I was behelde my lorde and my sone hangyng on the crosse and of soo ryght fowle dethe deyeng in sorow Â¶ I was thenne soo traueylid in my thought that it can not be spoken of noo mouth And it is not to be merueylled he was of soo meke a look and of so swete of worde and soo benygne in euery conuersacyon And there sawe I his precyous blood renne wyth grete stremes in all partyes in suche wise that his visage was all streyned therwyth and all hys beaute chaunged soo moche that he was before the moost fayr that euer was semyd thenne to be the moost fowle of all other Â¶ Thenne sawe I well that the prophecye

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 wepeÂ· 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ Now haue ye herde how harde dethe and shamefull the swete Ihesu hath suffryd for the loue of his loue our soules Â¶ 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 Â¶ The fyrst thyng is the grete sorow that was in our lorde Ihesu cryst of the whyche he sayth by Ieremy Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ Et tuam ipsius animam pertraÌ„sibit gladius The swerde shall passe thorugh your sowle Â¶ Also dauyd playneth hym gretely for his sone Absolon in the boke of kyngis Â¶ 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 detheÂ· 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ 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 greuaunceÂ· Â¶ 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 Â¶ IpÌ„e enim peccata non fecit nec inuentus est dolor in ore eiusÂ· 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 Â¶ 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 Â¶ And whan dauyd sawe the angel slee his folke he sayd to our lorde full peâ—eously Â¶ 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 sayeÂ· a lorde god mercy we ben they that haue ynned we ought by reason to suffre passion dethe Â¶ A good Ihesus ye synned neuer wherfore sholde ye bere the vengaunce of our trespaces euyll dedes Â¶ The fourth thyng is his noblenes for gretter pite is it of a noble man whan he is vile entreated thaÌ„ of a vyle persone And there was neuer none fouÌ„de soo

And yet was she not dede but liuyng as a dedely creature the sorowes tourmented hyr soule so cruelly that she desired moche more to deye than lyue For after the deth of hir swete chylde full painfully dedely lyued she though she were not vtterly dedeÂ· that daye was she therin full merueyllous sorow awaytimg whan the blessid body of our lorde Ihesu cryste sholde be taken downe of the crosse She wept in sayeng sayd in wepyng Alas alas who shall yelde to me your sorowfull moder the dede bodi of hyr dere loue and chylde O ye cruell Iewes ye haue acomplished now your desire Wherfore I require you take down this holy bodi of the crosse and yelde him to his wofull moder She beyng nere to the crosse beholdyng full pyteously hir swete sone IhÌ„u there hÌ„aÌ„gyng theÌ„ne roos she vp on hyr fete wyth full grete payne dressyd hyr to the crosse where she myghte best enbrace the blessyd body of Ihesu cryste to whom she had somtyme gyuen sowke wyth hyr owne swete brestes but she myghte not areche him And thenne enforced she hir with all hyr power to stretche hyr as hye as she myghte areche to towche some parte of hym wherwyth she oueâ—â—hrewe to the erthe and lay there a grete while in merueyllous sorowes But yet agayne the grete feruentnesse of loue made hyr to aryse coueytyng hyr dere sone And enforced hyr wyth alle hyr power to draw hym to hir But she was soo fulfyllid wyth sorow soo wey kid and weried wythinward marterdom that she cowde not susteyne hyr but ouerthrewe ayen to therth Â¶ O graue martirium O frequens suspirium O languens pectus virgineum liquefacta est aiÌ„a mea facies pallet rosea Sêª precioso filii rubet cruore respersa cadentis fluctus sanguinis ore sacro tangebat terram deoâ—culans quaÌ„ cruoris vnda rigabat O How greuous marterdome O how depe often sighes O how this virgynal herte was paynfully tormented And this holy soule that was all dyssoluyd in sorowe And this colour that before was freshe as the rose was become soo pyteously pale And she all bespren clid wyth the precyous blood of hir swete sone wherof grete plente fylle vpon the erthe whyche she wyth hyr holy mouth kyssed soo entrerly that she brake the wawes and clotyrs of that precyous blood towchyng y e erthe soo wonderfully was she tormented wyth full grete sorowes Â¶ O was not this more lyke a sorowfull deyeng than a lyf And whyle she was in thyse tormentes came a noble man that was namid Ioseph whiche was truly in his herte a discyple to IhÌ„us And he wente all hardely to pylate and axyd the body of Ihesu cryst whiche was graunted to hym Thenne took he a nother man wyth hym that was callyd Nychodemus soo came they to golgatha where oure lorde was crucyfyed And broughte wyth theym theyr Instrumentes to take oute the nayles of his hondes fete and to take him doune of the crosse And whan that blessyd vyrgyne saw that they wolde take hym downe she roos vp as well as she myghte for all hyr sorowe to helpe theym to hyr power Â¶ That one took oute the nayles and that other susteyned his body that it sholde not falle to the erthe And his blessid moder took hym by the arme And as soone as he was taken downe his swete moder took hym in his armes full sorowfully kyssyng and clyppynge hym soo pyteously wepyng that she all to wette his blessyd vysage wyth hyr sorowfull teres And tourmeÌ„ted hyrselfe wyth many and often sighes and snobbynges ful lamentably complaynynge wryngyng hyr hondesÂ· and sayd O my swete sone why suffryd ye thise felon Iewes to crucifye you O what sorow now I your wretchyd moder holdeth you dede in my lappe A what shall I sorowfull doo now Alas fayre sone alas where is becom that grete Ioy that I had in your natiuyte alas now is my Ioye chaunged and torned in to grete sorowe my fayre dere chylde And euyr amonge she kyssyd full swetely his blessid vysage wyth soo grete plente of sorowful teres as all hyr flesshe had be molten in teres And thenne sayd she full piteously to the body of hyr sone Saye me my right swete sone Saye me myne oonly sone the lyfe of my soule My synguler conforte myne oonly Ioye Wherfore suffre ye me thus sorowfully to abyde after you Saye me my swete lorde god wherfore be ye soo ferre from me A god mercy comforte my soule Beholde me haue mercy on me Now speke who speke wyll how grete was y e sorow that thenne had the blessyd moder of Ihesu cryst Trewly there may no creature saye nor thynke perfyghtly the gretnes of the sorowe that this pyteuous blessid virgyne felt Â¶ For how be it that she knewe well that he was very god man and that he sholde aryse ayen fro dethe to lyfe the thyrde daye thus as he sayd hymself Yet was hyr loue soo feruent vnto hym that made hyr sorowe to passe and excede all other sorowes that euer were ANd thenÌ„e after she had loÌ„g contynued in this traueylle and tourment wyth sorowfull sighes and wepynge thenne came Ioseph and Nychodemus to wrappe vp his blessyd body in a clene cloth of sendall and to lay it in a fayr newe sepulcre of stone Â¶ Thyder came thousande thousandes of angelles to the beryenge of theyr lorde whiche songen pray singes to almighty god But marye his blessyd moder gaf hertly sighes snobbynges and sorowfully wepte by the sepulcre This sorowfull moder wold haue be beryed bi hyr sone And full often tymes by constraynt of loue eÌ„braced him and sayd full pyteously Â¶ Miseremini mei miseremini me saltem vos amici mei illuÌ„ adhuc paululuÌ„ relinquite michi She sayd to ioseph nychodeme haue mercy on me haue mercy on me my freÌ„des my frendes lete me alityll beholde his visage sith it is ouercouerd so soo that I maye haue some comforte and put him not thus soone in the sepulcre But yf ye wylle nedes burye hym burye me with him For a sorowfull lyf shall I haue after hym Thenne by the moost reuerend and humble wayes they cowde they dide their deuour to peasifye hyr and layed his blessyd body in the sepulcre full bytterly wepynge all in suche wyse that vnethis ony of theym myghte sowne a right worde And what merueyle was it They sawe his pyteous moder dyspourueyed of all maner of comforte whyche was a greate encreasing of theyr sorowe And thus the lorde of this lyf was gyuen to the sepulcre of dethe And whan he was buryed his blessyd moder drewe towarde hym enbrasyng the sepulture wyth al hyr herte soo as she myghte and callid on Ihesu cryst and sayd Fayre sone what shal I do that am your wretchyd moder Now myghte ye say thenne fayr vyrgyne Â¶ Anima me liquefacta est vt dilectus locutus est quesiui eum non inueni illum vocaui

dignyte haue ye gyuen me wythout my deserte yf I lese it not by my defawteÂ· And by thys reason mercyful lorde am I enteerly bounde soueraynly to loue you wyth all my soule wyth all my herte and wyth all my power THenne after thynke agayn yet Lorde amonge thise creaturesÂ· angell man there ben some of one parte some of a nother For some of theym for theyr synne fylle in to helle And ye all pyteous hye kyng of heuen descended from your hye throne in to your lityll preuy chaÌ„ber this was the wombe of the blessid virgyne whan of hir it pleysed you humbli to be born to receyue the humayn flesshÌ„ to suffre deth for the redempcoÌ„n of all mankynde wherof all be not parteners but suche as be crysten liue wel therafter dey in y e right fayth But other may not clayme that as Iewes sarrazins and all other mescreauntes vntrue crysten And good lorde ye miyghte haue lete me deye wythoute baptesme and theÌ„ne had I be caste wyth theym in to helle wythout ende But this dyde ye not but made me partener of your redempcoÌ„n by the grace that ye haue gyueÌ„ me to receyue baptesme wherby ye deliuerde me fro the snare of perdurable deth And yet had I thenÌ„e noo thanke to yelde you nor noughte haue deserued of on wele or grace nomore than they that deyed vncrystned and descended in to helle wythout recouer o mercyfull lorde IhÌ„u howe moche am I bounden by this reason ouer all thing to gyue you that poore loue that can come of me And after this thynke further of tho that ben crystened how some of theym ben naturell fooles wythout vnderstondyng how god hath gyuen you wythout your deserte resonable vnderstonding Â¶ Also in like wyse some of hem ben lepers deef dombe and ful of other foule siknesses or lame or difformed And ye haue receyued of god without your desert your naturel helth right shape wherof huÌ„bli thanke him And thynke thenne ferder that some there be that haue their helth wel formed resonable vnderstondyng yet al the dayes of their lif liue in grete pouerte and labour for theyr mete drynke clothes and yet haue therof full scarse sustenauÌ„ce And all otherwyse hath our lorde pourueyed for you for to haue delicyous metes of all other sustenauÌ„ces grete largesse wythout your deserte Beholde theÌ„ne fro the begynnyng of your lif in al tymes yf euer ye cowde fiÌ„de in you ony manere of wele lityl or moche but that ye haue receyued it of god by his specyall loue grace that he hath gyuen to yow more than to many other And wyth thise grete bountees that he hath giuen you Remembre you of the grete harmes dauÌ„gers that he hath defended you deliuerd you from saye or thynke in this manere Moost mercyfull lorde Ihesu I know well that I haue ofte synned dedely both by wyll dede wherby ye myght by rightful IugemeÌ„t haue condeÌ„pned me forthwyth in to helle without ende And this dide ye not but by your grete mercy hath spared me gyuen me leyser to doo penauÌ„ce And by this onÌ„ly reison am I bouÌ„de to serue you loue you ouer all thyng And whaÌ„ ye shall haue in suche manere wel enserchid in your hert the grete graces giftes that ye haue receyued of our lord IhÌ„u cryst Yf ye auyse you wel your lif your dedes and beholde what we le what loue and what kyndnesse ye haue yelded to hym that hath shewed you soo grete loue done somoche for you with out your deserte Perauenture ye shall well perceyue in your selfe y t noo thyng in regarde haue ye yelden to hym but oonly synÌ„e and yf ye may fynde there ony wele it is soo lityll that it is as noo thynge ayenst soo many graces benefaytes as he hath lente gyuen you whan thyse thynges ye haue well remembred well torned retorned theÌ„ne with a hole mynde speke or thynke huÌ„bly deuoutly in youre herte towarde hym My swete lorde IhÌ„u cryst I perceyue wel that some Rent am I bouÌ„den to yeue yow for so many bouÌ„tees weles as ye haue gyuen me And I know wel that though I hadde a thousande worldes in my power for to gyue you noo thyng shold that encrease you For your glory ryches is so grete infenite that there may no thyng encrease it for ye haue nede of noothyng therfore good lord I wote well that ye aske of me no more than may be fouÌ„de in my power This is to knowe that I loue you serue you with al my soule wyth all my hert wyth all my power But this may I not haue but of your gyfte for I haue noo thyng of myself but sinÌ„e malice And it were to grete a wronge vnkyndnes to yelde you sinÌ„e malice for your grete bouÌ„tee swetnesse that ye haue shewed me truely than behoueth me to haue it of you For there is noo wele nor goodnes but it cometh of you But how shal I haue it of you not by byeÌ„ge for I haue noo good to gyue you but of your owne for ye are lorde of all thiÌ„g haue power ouer al Â¶ Ha good lord theÌ„ne behoueth it me to gete it by huÌ„ble fayr prayer And yf I pray to you ye may ryghtfully refuse it for this that I am a wretchyd sinÌ„er And yet mercyful lorde I know wel that though I had in me the sinÌ„es malyces of all creatures whiche sholde be ouermoche yet were all my vyle wretchydnesse lityll in comparison of your grete bouÌ„te Wherfore almiighty god al merciful piteous I beseche you that your grete bouÌ„tee be not wythdraw by my wretchidnesse Syth it is soo good lord that I yelde me to you come to yow wyth grete drede dyspayr for my grete wretchÌ„ydnesse but yet wyth grete sure hope of you for your merueylous mercy bouÌ„tee and sith ye axe of me nomore for all y e weles graces that I haue receyued of you but that I sholde loue you ouer all thyng and this may I not haue but oonly of you of youre gyfte Wherfore moost mercyfull lorde swete Ihesu I beseche you for that loue that made you descende froÌ„ heuen to be come man for maÌ„ and to suffre soo cruel harde deth for loue of the redempcoÌ„n of man That it may pleyse you tern towarde me grauÌ„t me of your grace that I may yelde you my lityll poor loue ayenst the grete merueylous mercyful loue ye haue shewed vnto me Soo that my poor herte rest on noo creature by vayne deceyuable loue coÌ„trary to your wyll pleysure As verely as I know well that noo thynge is to be belouyd But for bountee or beaute that they haue receyued of you And moost gracyous lorde for y e paynfull pascoÌ„n that ye deyned

not a man gyue all worldly goodes for one of thyse graces And all thise togyder in comparison of the soule is as noo thyng Wherfore yf ye be soo enraged so frowarde that ye refuse so grete agayn as I offre you ThenÌ„e take hede to the thyrde that I wylle haue it by force or at your peryll For I holde redy the swerde of cruell vengauÌ„ce ouer you to slee yow wyth cruell deth and departe body soule and put theym to perdycoÌ„n to confouÌ„de them both in helle for to be tormeÌ„ted wyth fendes sorowfully anguysshously contynuelly wythout eÌ„de Answer now yf ye wyll defende you agaynst me yf ye can or maye or els grauÌ„t me your loue y t I desire wyth so grete Ielousie with so feruent hert not for my wele but for yours Now take good hede to thise wordes of Ihesu cryst Is not she of ouer harde herte that to suche a sauyour wylle not graunt hyr loue Yf she remeÌ„bred wel thyse thre thynges what he is and how grete is the loue of soo hye a lorde as he is and soo vyle soo symple as she is she sholde doo hir deuour to loue hym though she sholde a huÌ„dred tymes suffre dethe for the loue of hym wherof saynt bernarde sayth Â¶ Quomodo eÌ„ istud sine modo a nobis deus amari meruit qui prior nos dilexit tantus tantuÌ„ gratis tantillos tales miseros IN what manere is thisÂ· aboue al maner that can be deuysed by al erthly wyttes that our lorde Ihesu cryst deseruyd to be belouyd for that he louyd vs fyrst loueth vs somoche wythoute our deserte whiche is soo symple suche wretches as we ben And as saynt bernarde sayth Â¶ Omne tempus in quo de deo non cogitas hoc te perdidisse computa All the tyme in whiche ye thynke not on god reken it as lost For therfore be we called crysten to serue cryste and to remembre of his sorowful paynes that he suffryd for our loue And surely yf we wyll not often thinke on his paynes we shal receyue ouer greuous vengaunce And to vs shall be rekenyd the dethe of our lorde Ihesu cryst wherof saynt bernarde pleyneth him in sayenge Â¶ Quamdiu vixero ero me mor laboris queÌ„ cristus sustinuit in predicando fatigacionuÌ„ in discurrendo temptacionuÌ„ in ieiunando vigiliaruÌ„ in orando lacrimaruÌ„ in compaciendo c. As longe as I shal be in this lif I shall remembre me full pyteously of the greuous labours that our lorde IhÌ„u criste suffryd in prechyng and of the werynesse in his gooynge aboute of his temptacyons in fastyng of his watche in praier and of the teres that he wept by compassion I shall remembre also his sorowes his dispisyng with shamful spittynges and the harde strokes that they layd vpon hym the felon repreues that he suffryd And the grete nayles and al thyse other passions that he suffryd for me Â¶ And yf I doo it not there shall be cast on me to my confusion the InÌ„ocent blood that ihesu cryst shed vpon the erthe for me Doo we thenne doo we bi the couÌ„seyle of saynt bernarde and by the counseylle of kynge dauyd that sayth in the sawter Â¶ Sepcies in die laudem dixi tibi Fayr lorde god seuen tymes in the day I yelde to the thankynges praysynges for our benefactours benefaytes And for this reason ben vij houres of the of the day coÌ„maunded to say in holy chyrche in remembraunce of the pascyon of our lorde Ihesu cryst For this that at euery houre suffryd he soo moche shame Thise vij houres ben callyd compline matynes pryme tyerce myddy noone vespres Whan ye say or here coÌ„pline thynke full ententyfly howe at that our Iudas betrayed hym solde hym for xxx pens soo good chepe was neuer seen solde nor bought soo delicyous precyous flesshe And well maye this tyme be callid complyne for this that oure lorde wolde soone after passe from this paynful lyf The whiche deth was purposed of the felon Iewes that he shold not escape For it was of hym as of a man condempned to deye for theft and is delyuerd to his execucoÌ„n of whom men sayen though he be yet liuynge he is as a dede man for cause he is Iuged to the deth This thefte wherfore Ihesu cryst was condeÌ„pnyd was not for golde nor siluer but for an apple that was full bytter as we haue harde that adam stale in paradice where he dyde sacrelage wherby he was acursid oute of holy chirche payned in this mortall lyf sorowfully ixC yeres more tormeÌ„ted in hungre thurst in grete labour anguysshe and sith deyed of righte paynfull deth And his soule decended vnto the horrible paynes of helle and lay there bounde in prison derknesse xlÌ„C yeres more soo that he al his lignage that deyed wente thyder to the tyme that our lorde Ihesus cryst shedde his precyous blood on the holy crosse This ought ye to thiÌ„ke whaÌ„ ye say or here complin haue full grete fere of our lorde whom ye haue soo often offended whan he took so grete greuous vengauÌ„ce of adam that he had made wyth his owne hondes for one apple that was of noo value y t he took agaynst his coÌ„maundemeÌ„te And therfore at that hour yelde wâ— culpable to god within our hertesÂ· and to the preste with our mouth And yf ye maye thenne haue in mynde al that ye haue doon that day ayenst the commauÌ„dement of god â— of al that ye haue euyll spokeÌ„ wyth your mouth and wyth your eyen euyll beholden ofte of all y t we can thynke that daye we haue doon agaynst the wyll of our creatour and deuoutly require merci pardon And this hour was concluded felonously the dethe of IhÌ„u cryst for our synnes And haue very hope that we shal haue this y t we desire yf we repent ourself truly and be well confessyd so that oure axynge be resonable For this sayth our lorde in the gospell Â¶ Pette et accipietis REquyre and ye shall receyue after this complyne He sayd to his thre dyscyples full pyteously fayr brethern abyde and wake here whyle I make my prayers to my fader Thenne fylle he downe to the erthe and prayed thre tymes his fader that yf it miight be his passion were put from hym And thenne appered an angell to hym conforted him wherof ye ought to thynke that as longe as he was in his prayer he swet droppes of blood In the meane tyme slepte his discyples but hymself had noo wyll to slepe to the tyme that he deyed on the crosse and thenÌ„e rested he in the sepulture vnto the daye of his Resurrexcion thenne awaked he thus as a man slepyng hastly awaketh thus soone sooner awoke he fro deth wherof dauyd the prophete sayth Â¶ Excitatus est tanquam dormi ens dnÌ„s At matynes yelde we

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