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Derived from: MS. Oxford, Brasenose College e.9
With the exception of chapter numbers, none of the manuscript's marginalia has been retained. Chapter numbers are marked, according to the Latin marginalia, using the abbreviations "Cam." and "Capm." for chapter, with the number written in Roman numerals, and this system has been retained verbatim in the chapter headings in the electronic edition. Where the chapter number is supplied in the main text, as is the case for Chapter Eleven, the marginal chapter number has not been included. In one instance -- Capm.3m -- the chapter is divided into three parts, and these are tagged as such with Div2 tags. In addition, rather than retaining the two chapter 33s as occur in the printed edition, we have kept only the first chapter heading for chapter 33 and tagged the other as a part of chapter 33.
¶THE MIRROUR OF THE BLESSED LYF OF JESU CHRIST / A TRANSLATION OF THE LATIN WORK ENTITLED MEDITATIONES VITÆ CHRISTI / ATTRIBUTED TO CARDINAL BONAVENTURA /¶ MADE BEFORE THE YEAR 1410 BY NICHOLAS LOVE / PRIOR OF THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY OF MOUNT GRACE
¶EDITED BY LAWRENCE F. POWELL
AND PRINTED AT OXFORD AT THE CLARENDON PRESS MCMVIII ; LONDON HENRY FROWDE
THIS devotional Life of Our Lord is a free translation
of portions of the Latin Meditationes Vitae
Christi, a work variously attributed to S. Bonaventura,
the Augustinian Cardinal Bonaventura Baduarius, and
to Joannes Gorus, most frequently to the first-named.
The Meditationes were popular over the whole of Europe,
and were rendered into the vernacular of most Continental
countries. The English version was made by
Nicholas Love, prior of the Carthusian house of Mount
Grace de Ingelby, Yorks., before 1410; in that year it
was presented to Archbishop Arundel, noted for his
vigorous persecution of the Lollards. Nothing is
definitely known about Nicholas Love beyond the
statement found in many manuscripts that the translation
was made by him.
The ascription of the translation to T. Merton, or Morton, rests upon the note 'Explicit liber speculum vite Christi per T. Morton', found in MS. Bodley 131, a copy dating about 1460.
The number of manuscripts is very great, twenty-three
are known to exist; but the textual variation
between them is of so little importance that the plan
adopted of reproducing one manuscript in collation
with two others is justifiable. The manuscript I have
chosen for the text is MS. Brasenose College e. 9 (now
deposited in the Bodleian Library). This copy is quite
perfect, containing portions intentionally omitted in
other manuscripts; it is carefully written in a neat
scribal hand, and has very few textual errors; it was
made about 1430. An additional interesting feature
The two manuscripts which I have collated with the Brasenose MS. are the Sherard MS. (in the possession of Lord Aldenham) and another Bodleian copy, MS. e. Musæo 35. Both are well-written and finely illuminated examples, and date from the latter half of the fifteenth century.
The 'Mirrour' was printed by Caxton?1488, Pynson ?1495, and by Wynkyn de Worde in 1517 and 1523.
As regards the treatment of the text it is only necessary to say that the þ of the manuscript has been expanded to th; on the other hand, ȝ has been retained, because of its difference in value; iℏu has been written Jesu throughout. The punctuation is editorial, the pointing of the manuscript being of no value.
It is not expected that the language will present any difficulty, but as an aid to those who are unfamiliar with the earlier forms of our language a word-list has been added.
It is a source of deep regret to the editor that the late Lord Aldenham did not live to see the completion of a work in which he took great interest, willingly rendering every assistance in his power towards its publication. My thanks are also due to the Librarian of Brasenose College (Mr. G. H. Wakeling, M.A.), for permission to transcribe the college manuscript; and to Sir Henry Ingilby, for the loan of his copy.
To Dr. W. A. Craigie, who has read the proofs, I am greatly indebted for many valuable hints and suggestions; also I have to thank Miss E. R. Steane for her assistance in the production of the volume.
Quecumque ſcripta ſunt / ad noſtram doctrinam
ſcripta ſunt: vt per pacienciam / et conſolacionem
ſcripturarum / ſpem habeamus.Theſe ben the wordes of the grete doctour and holy apoſtil Paul. Conſiderynge that the gooſtly lyuynge of alle trewe criſten creatures in this world ſtant ſpecialy in hope of the bliſſe and the lyf that is to come in another world· and for alſo moche as tweyne thinges principally noriſſhen and ſtrengthen this hope in man / that is pacience in herte and enſaumple of vertues and good lyuyng of holy men writen in bookes / and ſouereynly the wordes and the dedes written of oure lord Jeſu criſt / veray god and man / for the tyme of his bodily lyuynge here in erthe· therfore to ſtrengthe vs and comforte vs in this hope ſpekith the apoſtil the wordes aforſeide to this entent· ſeienge / that alle thinges that ben writen generally in holy chirche and ſpecially of oure lord Jeſu criſt / they ben writen to oure lore· that by pacience and comforte of holy ſcriptures we haue hope / that is to ſaye of the lyf and bliſſe that is to come in an other world.
¶ Here to accordynge ſpeketh ſeint Auſtyn thus: Goddes
ſone toke man· and in hym he ſuffred that longeth to man /
and was made medecyne of man: and this medecyne is ſo
mykel that it may not be thouȝt. For there is no pride / but
that it may be iheled thoruȝ the mekenes of goddis ſone:
there is no couetiſe / bot that it may be heled thoruȝ his
pouerte: ne wraththe / but that it may be heled thoruȝ his
pacience: nor malice / but that hit may be heled thoruȝ
his charitie: and more ouer there is no ſynne or wickedneſſe
¶ And ſo for as moche as in this book ben conteyned
dyuerſe ymaginaciouns of criſtes lyf· the which lyf fro the
bygynnyng in to the endyng euermore bleſſed and with
¶ Furthermore forto ſpeke of the prophitable mater of
this book. The forſaide clerk bonauenture / ſpekynge to the
womman forſeide / in his proheme byginneth in this manere
ſentence. Among other vertues commendynges of the holy
virgyne Cecile it is writen that ſche bare alwey the goſpell
of criſt hyd in hir breſte· that may be vnderſtonde that of
the bleſſed lyf of oure lord Jeſu criſt writen in the goſpell
ſche ches certeyne parties moſte deuoute / in the whiche
ſche ſette hir meditacioun and hir thouȝt nyȝt and day
with a clene and hole herte. And whan ſche had ſo fully
al the manere of his lyf ouer gone / ſche bygan aȝeyne: and
ſo with a likynge and ſwete taſt gooſtly ſchewynge in that
manere the goſpel of criſt / ſche ſette and bare it euere in the
priuete of her breſt. In the ſame manere I counſeile that
thou doo. For among alle goſtly exerciſes I leue that this is
moſt neceſſarye and moſt profitable· and that may brynge
to the hiȝeſt degre of good lyuynge / that ſtant ſpecially in
perfite deſpiſynge of the world / in pacience ſuffrynge of
aduerſitees / and in encres and in getyng of vertues. For
ſothely thou ſchalt neuere fynde where man may ſo perfiȝtly
be tauȝt: Firſt forto ſtable his herte aȝenſt vanytees and
diſceyuable likynges of the world· alſo to ſtrengthe hym
amonge tribulaciouns and aduerſitees· and furthermore to
be kept fro vices and to getynge of vertues / as in the bliſſed
lyf of oure lord Jeſu / the whiche was euere with oute defauȝte
¶ Alſo as vnto the ſecounde. Wherof han martires her ſtrengthe aȝenſt dyuerce tourmentis / bot / as ſeynt Bernard ſeith / in that they ſetten all her herte and deuocioun in the paſſioun and the woundes of criſte? For what tyme the martir ſtant with al the body to rent / and neuertheles he is ioyful and glad in alle his peyne· where troweſt is than his ſoule and his herte? Sothely in the woundes of Jeſu. Ȝe / the woundes not cloſed / bot open and wyde to entre ynne: and elles he ſchulde fele the hard yren and not mowe bere the peyne and the ſorwe / bot ſone faile and denye god. And not onliche martires / bot alſo confeſſours / virgynes / and alle that lyuen riȝtwiſly / deſpiſynge the worlde in many tribulaciouns / infirmytees / and dedes of penaunce· bothe kepen pacience / and alſo more ouer therewith ben ioyful and glad in ſoule / as we mowe ſeen alday: and why ſo bot for her hertes ben more propurly in criſtes body / be deuoute meditacioun of his bleſſed lyf / than in hir owne bodies?
¶ And as to the thridde poynt: that it kepeth fro vices
and diſpoſeth ſouereynly to getynge of vertues· preveth
wel in that the perfectioun of alle vertues is founden in
criſtes lyf. For where ſchalt thow fynde ſo open enſample
¶ And though it ſo be that the bigynnynge of the matere
of this book / that is the bleſſid lyf of Jeſu criſt / be at his
Incarnacioun· neuertheles we mowe firſte deuoutliche
ymagine and thenke ſomme thinges done byfore touching
god and his aungels in heuene· and alſo as anemptes the
bleſſid virgyne / oure lady ſeynte marye / in erthe: of the
whiche is to biginne. And for alſo moche as this book
is deuyded and departed in VIJ parties / after VIJ daies of
the weke: euery day one party or ſomme therof to ben
had in contemplacioun of hem that han therto deſire and
deuocioun. Therfore at the Moneday / as the firſte workeday
of the weke / bygynneth this goſtly werk / tellynge
firſte of the deuoute inſtaunce and deſire of the holy
aungelis in heuene for manis reſtorynge and his ſaluacioun·
to ſtire man amonge other that day ſpecially to
worſchippe hem· as holy chirche the ſame day maketh
ſpecial mynde of hem. Alſo not oneliche the mater of
After the tyme that man was exiled oute of the
hiȝe Citee of heuene by the riȝtwis dome of all
myȝty god / ſouereyne kyng thereof / for his
treſpas and his ſynne· and ſo wrecchedly lay
in preſoun / and was holden in the bondes of that tyraunt
the deuel of helle / that none myȝte come aȝen to that
bleſſed citee the ſpace of fyue thowſand ȝere and more:
alle the bleſſid ſpirites of heuene deſirynge the reſtorynge
of her companye / that was fallen doun with lucifer /
hadden grete compaſſioun of ſo longe meſchief of man
that was made to here reſtorynge / and preiden often for
his reſtorynge / but ſpecially and with more inſtaunce
¶ Herewith bygan a manere of altercacioun and diſputeſoun
bytwixe the foure kynges douȝtres / that is to ſaie /
mercy and ſothfaſtneſſe / pees and riȝtwiſneſſe. Of the
whiche foure / mercye and pees accordynge to the aungels
prayer forſeide weren fauorable to mannis reſtorynge: but
¶ And whan they were cleped / and comen alle togidre / mercy bygan and ſeide in this wiſe: My fader of mercy / it was ȝoure wille euere with outen ende amonge ȝoure othere douȝtres / my ſuſtres / to ȝeue me that prerogatyf abouen alle ȝoure werkes / that not onliche I ſchulde ſpecially regne here with ȝow in heuene / bot alſo that the erthe ſchulde be replenyſched and filled with me to ſo mykel vertu that who ſo wolde trewely and biſely aſke my help in any meſchief or nede / he ſchulde with outen fayle fynde ȝoure ſocour and helpe thoruȝ the mediacioun of me. But loo now / my dere fader / that worthy party of erthe and ȝoure noble creature man / in his grete wrecchedneſſe and meſchief ſo longe tyme liggynge / cryeth contynuellyche and aſketh after myn helpe· and now tyme is comen in the whiche but ȝe helpe and ſaue hym I periſſhe and leſe my name.
¶ Here aȝenſt the other ſiſter / ſothefaſtneſſe / ſeide:
And ȝe knowen wele my fader / ſothfaſt god / that I am
the bygynnynge of ȝoure wordes / and after ȝe made man
in ſo grete worthyneſſe / ȝe wedded me to hym in that
¶ Thanne ſpake ryȝtwiſneſſe and ſeide: Riȝtwyſe lorde / my fader / thou haſt ordeyned me gouernour of thy dome / laſtynge with outen ende· and my ſiſtre truthe techer of thy lawe: and al though it ſo be that oure ſiſter mercye be ſtired of pitee and a gode ȝele for mannis ſauacioun· neuertheles in that ſche wolde ſaue hym that hath ſo greetly forfeted aȝenſt ȝow and vs alſo with outen dewe ſatisfaccioun / ſche wolde deſtroye vs bothe hir ſiſtren / that is to ſeie trewthe and riȝtwiſneſſe / and fordone oure name.
¶ Herwith the ferthe ſuſtir / Pees / came forth / and firſt ſoberlly blamynge hir ſuſtres for here contrarious wordes and her ſtryf / ſeide to hem thus: Knowe ȝe not wele / ſuſtres / that oure fader hath ordeyned and made his place onliche there as I am / and I may not abide ne dwelle there as is ſtryf or diſencioun? and that is noȝt ſemely / bot fully aȝenſt kynde to be amonge vertues. Wherfore but ȝe ceſe of ſtryf and be accorded / I moſte forſake ȝow and my fader alſo. Lo here a grete contrauerſy bitwix theſe foure douȝters of oure lorde· and ſo grete reſones that it was noȝt ſeyn how that in mannis ſauacioun / mercy and ſothfaſtneſſe / pees and riȝtwiſneſſe / myȝt fully be kept and accorded.
¶ Than bad the fader of heuene / that for alſo mykel that
he hadde committed and ȝeuen alle his dome to his dere
ſone / ſouereyne wiſdome / kyng euerlaſtynge / with hym
¶ In this ſentence and dome alle the courte of heuen / wondring and commendynge the ſouereyn wiſdam / aſſenteden wel herto· but furthermore aſkeden amonge hem ſelf / where that one myȝte be founden that ſchulde fulfille and do this dede of charite.
¶ And than mercy toke with hir reſoun and ſouȝte among alle the ordres of aungels in heuene to ſe whether any of hem were able to doo this dede· bot ther was none. Alſo ſothfaſtneſſe ſouȝte fro heuene to the clowdes bynethen / whether there were eny creature that myȝte perfourme it· and they weren alle vnable.
¶ Riȝtwiſneſſe went doun to Erthe and ſouȝte among
the hiȝe hilles / and in to the depe pytte of helle / whether
there were eny man that myȝte take this good and innocent
¶ And thus was termyned and ended the grete counſeille in heuene for the reſtorynge of man and his ſauacioun. The whiche proceſſe ſchal be taken as in likneſſe and oneliche as a manere of a parable and deuouȝte ymagynacioun / ſtirynge man to loue god ſouereynly for his grete mercye to man and his endeles godeneſſe· alſo / to honour and worſchippe the bliſſed aungelis of heuene for hir good wille to man and for his ſauacioun makynge continuele beſyneſſe· and alſo / to loue vertues and hate ſynne that brouȝt man to ſo grete wrecchedneſſe. And thus mykel and in this manere may be ſaide and thouȝt by deuouȝt contemplacioun of that was done abouen in heuene bifore the Incarnacioun of Jeſu. Now goo we doun to erthe· and thynke we how hit ſtood with his bleſſid moder marie / and what was hire lyuynge here bifore the incarnacioun that foloweth after.
As it is writen in the lyf of oure lady ſeynt marye /
whan ſche was thre ȝere olde ſche was offred in
the temple of hir fader and moder / and there
ſche abode and dwelled in to the fourtenthe
ȝere: and what ſche dede / and how ſche lyuede there in
that tyme / we mowen knowe by the reuelaciouns made of
hir to a deuouȝt woman / the whiche men trowen was ſeint
Eliȝabeth. In the whiche reuelaciouns is conteyned among
othere / that oure lady tolde to that ſame womman and ſeide
in this manere: Whan my fader and my moder laften me
in the temple I purpoſed and ſette ſtably in my herte to haue
god vnto my fader· and ofte ſithes with grete deuocioun
I thouȝt what I myȝt doo pleſynge to god· ſo that he
wolde vouche ſauf to ſende me his grace: and here with
I was tauȝt and I lerned the lawe of my lord god. In the
whiche lawe / of alle the heſtes and byddynges / principally
I kepte thre in my herte. The firſte is: Thou ſchalt loue
thy lord god with all thyn herte / with al thy ſoule / with
al thy mynde / and with al thy myȝt: the ſecound: Thow
ſchalt loue thy neiȝhebore as thy ſelf: and the thridde is:
Thou ſchalt hate thyn enemy. Theſe thre I kepte trewely
in herte / and anon I conceyued and toke alle the vertues
that beth conteyned in hem. For there may no ſoule haue
eny vertue but it loue god with alle the herte· for of this
loue cometh al the plente of grace: and after it is comen
it abideth nouȝt in the ſoule / bot renneth out as water bot
it ſo be that he hate his enemyes / that is to ſaie vices and
ſynnes. Wherfore he that wole haue grace and kepe it /
it byhoueth that he diſpoſe and ordeyne his herte to loue
and to hate / as it is ſeide. And ſo I wole that thou doo
in manere as I didde. I roſe vp algate at mydnyȝt and
¶ And whan the forſeide womman / criſtes ſeruaunt /
had herd theſe wordes ſche ſeide aȝeyn: A / ſwete ladye /
were not ȝe ful of grace and of alle vertues? And the
bleſſed mayden marye anſwerde: Wete thou wele certeyne
that I held my ſelf als gilty / moſte abiecte / and vnworthy
the grace of god / as thow: and more ouer troweſt thou /
douȝter / that al the grace that I hadde / I hadde with outen
¶ All this ſentence is conteyned in the forſeide reuelaciouns.
Alſo ſeynt Jerome / writynge of hir lyfe / ſeide in
this manere: that the bleſſed mayden marye ordeyned to
hir ſelf this manere of rule in lyuynge / that fro the morwe
into the tierce of the day ſche ȝaf hire all to prayeres· and
fro tierce in to none ſche occupied hir bodily with weuynge
werk· and efte fro none ſche went not fro prayeres til the
aungel of god come and appered to hir / of whos hande
ſche toke mete to the bodily ſuſtinaunce: and ſo ſche profited
algate bettre and bettre in the werk and in the loue
of god. And ſo it byfel that ſche was founden in wakynge
the firſte / in the wiſdome of goddes lawe moſt kunnynge /
in mekenes moſt lowe / in the ſonges and the pſalmes of
dauid moſt conuenient and ſemeliche / in charite moſt gracious
/ in clenneſſe moſt clene / and in all manere vertue
¶ But thus myche at this tyme ſuffiſeth to haue in mynde and in contemplacioun of the thinges that byfellen byfore the Incarnacioun· the whyche who ſo wil wele thynke and haue deuoutly in mynde and folwe vertuouſly in dede / he ſchal fynde hem ful of gooſtly fruyte. Now come we to ſpeke of the Incarnacioun of oure lord Jeſu.
Whan the plente of tyme and of grace was come in the whiche the hiȝe trinite ordeyned to ſaue mankynde / that was dampned thoruȝ the ſynne of Adam / for the grete charite that he hadde to mankynde ſtirynge hym his grete mercy / and alſo the prayer and the inſtaunce of alle the bleſſed ſpirites of heuene· after that the bleſſed mayden marie / wedde to Joſeph / was gone home to naȝareth / the fader of heuene called to hym the archaungel gabriel and ſeide to hym in this manere: Go to oure dere douȝter marye / the ſpouſe of Joſeph / the whiche is moſt chere to vs of alle creatures in erthe / and ſaie to hir that my bleſſed ſone hath coueyted hir ſchap and hir beaute / and choſen hir to his moder· and therfore praye hir that ſche reſceyue hym gladly· for by hir I haue ordeyned the hele and the ſaluacioun of al mankynde: and I wole foreȝete and forȝeue the wrong that hath be done to me of hym here byfore.
¶ Now take hede and ymagyne of gooſtly thing as it were bodily / and thinke in thyn herte / as thou were preſent in the ſiȝt of that bleſſed lord / with how benigne and glad ſemblaunt he ſpeketh theſe wordes· and on the tother ſide how gabriel / with a likynge face and glad chere / vppon his knees knelynge and with drede reuerently bowynge / reſceyueth this meſſage of his lorde.
¶ And ſo anon Gabriel riſynge vppe / glad and iocunde /
toke his fliȝt fro the hiȝe heuene to erthe and in a moment
he was in mannis likeneſſe byfore the virgyne marye /
that was in hire priue chambre that tyme cloſed and in
¶ But now be war here that thou erre nouȝt in ymagynacioun
of god and of the holy trynyte / ſuppoſynge that
thise thre perſones / the fader / the ſone / and the holy gooſt
ben as thre erthely men that thou ſeeſt with thy bodily
eiȝe: the whiche ben thre dyuerſe ſubſtaunces / eche departed
fro other / ſo that none of hem is other. Nay / it
is not ſo in this goſtely ſubſtaunce of the holy trinite· for
tho thre perſones ben one ſubſtaunce and oon god / and
ȝit is there none of thiſe perſones othere: but this mayſt
thou noȝt vnderſtonde by mannis reſoun ne conceyue with
thy bodily witt. And therfore take here a general doctrine
in this matere now for all gate. What tyme thou hereſt
or thynkeſt of the trinyte / or of the godhede / or of gooſtly
creatures as aungeles and ſoules / the whiche thou maiſt nat
ſee with thy bodily eyȝe in her propre kynde / ne fele with
thy bodily witt / ſtudie not to fer in that mater / occupie
not thy witt therwith as thou woldeſt vnderſtonde it by
kyndely reſoun· for it wole not be while we be in this
buſtous body / lyuynge here in erthe. And therfore whan
thou hereſt eny ſuche thing in byleue that paſſeth thy
kyndely reſoun / trowe ſothfaſtly that it is ſoth / as holy
chirche techeth / and goo no furthere. And ſo thou ſchalt
byleue in this matere of the Incarnacioun / that the ſeconde
perſone in trinite / goddes ſone of heuene / came in to erthe
and took fleſche and blood of the bleſſed virgyne Marye /
¶ But now forto go to oure purpos of the Incarnacioun bifore ſeide: take hede and haue in mynde as thou were preſent in the priue chaumbre of oure lady / where the holy trinite is preſent with his aungel gabriele. A lorde / what hous is that where ſuche geſtes ben / and ſuche thinges ben done! For thouȝ that the holy trinite is euery where by preſence of his godhede / neuertheles thou maiſt thenke and vnderſtonde that he is there in a more ſpecial manere by reſoun of his hiȝe werk of the Incarnacioun. Gabriel than entred in to maryes chaumbre that was ſtoken fro men / bot noȝt fro aungelis / as ſeint Bernarde ſeith / knelinge with reuerence bygan his meſſage in theſe wordes: Heile / ful of grace / oure lord is with the! Bleſſed be thou in wommen and aboue alle wymmen!
¶ Marye than / herynge this meſſage and this newe
gretynge that ſche neuere herde bifore / was aſtonyed and
abaſſhed / and noȝt anſwered / but thouȝt what this greting
myȝte be· ſche was not abaſched or diſtourbled by any
vicious or ſynful diſtourblynge / ne agaſte of his preſence /
for ſche was wont to aungels preſence and the ſiȝt of hem·
bot as the goſpel ſeith / Sche was aſtonyed in his worde.
That was a newe gretynge· for he was neuere wont byfore
to grete hir in that manere. And for as moche as in that
gretynge ſche ſay hir ſelf commended and preiſed ſpecially
of thre grete thinges· in that ſche was perfiȝtly meke / ſche
moſte nede be abaſſhed in that hiȝe gretynge· for ſche
was commended that ſche was ful of grace / and that oure
lord was with hir / and that ſche was bleſſid aboue alle
wommen. And for alſo meche as the perfiȝt meke may
not here his preiſynge with oute abaſſhement and ſhamefaſtneſſe
¶ Here than myȝteſt thou take enſaumple of marye: firſte to loue ſolitarye prayere and departing fro men that thow mowe be worthy aungeles preſence· and furthermore lore of wiſdome to here or thou ſpeke and forto kepe ſcilence and loue litel ſpekeng / for that is a ful greet and profitable vertue· for marye herde firſt the aungel twies ſpeke or ſche wolde anſwere ones aȝen· and therfore it is abhomynable thynge and grete reproofe to a mayden or virgyne to be a grete iangelere / and nameliche a religious.
¶ Furthermore / after the goſpell / the aungel / byholdynge her ſemblaunt / and knowynge the cauſe of hir abaſchement and drede / anſwered to hir thouȝt and ſpake more homeliche / callynge hir by name and ſeide: Drede thou noȝt marye / and be thow noȝt abaſched or aſchamed of the preiſynge that I haue grette the with· for ſo is the trewthe: and noȝt only thou art ful of grace in thy ſelf/ but alſo thow haſt founden ſpecial grace of god / and rekeuered to al mankynde: for why / loo thow ſchalt conceyue and bere a childe / and thou ſchalt calle hys name Jeſu / that bytokeneth ſauyoure· for he ſchal ſaue fro ſynne and fro dampnacioun alle his peple that truly hopen in hym.
¶ Here ſeith ſeynt Bernard: God graunte that my lorde
Jeſu vouch ſauf to noumbre me among his peple / ſo
¶ But here now furthermore what the aungel ſpeketh in preiſynge of this child Jeſu: He ſchal be greet / not in temporel lordſchippe and worldely dignite / for that he ſchal forſake / bot he ſchal be grete god and man / grete prophete in myracles worchynge / grete doctour in ſothfaſt preching / and grete conquerour in myȝtily the deuel ouercomynge· and ſo worthely he ſchal be cleped the ſone of the altherhiȝeſt lord god / the whiche ſchal ȝeue hym the ſete of dauid / his fader· for he ſchal take mankynde and be born in fleſche by deſcente of his auncetrye / and he ſchal regne in the houſe of Jacob euermore / and of his kyngdome ſchal be none ende. This hous of Jacob is gooſtly holy chirche· in the whiche Jeſu ſchal reigne in trewe ſoules: firſte / ouercomynge ſynnes and the deuel here in erthe by grace· and after / in heuene in bliſſe with outen ende.
¶ Here mayſt thou ſayen with ſeynt Bernarde deſirynge
in the the kyngdom of Jeſu thus: Come / my lord Jeſu / and
putte away alle ſclaundres of ſynne fro thy rewme / that is
¶ And whan the aungel had tolde theſe condiciouns / and the worthynes of this bleſſid child Jeſu / to that meke mayden marie / that was choſen to his moder· than ſche ſpak firſt to the aungel / not dredynge of his wordes or of her conceyvynge / nor knowynge / nor forſakinge the preiſynges byfore ſeide of his gretynge / bot willynge to be certified more pleynly of that ſche dredde moſte / that was that ſche ſchulde not leſe hir maydenhode / aſked of the aungel the manere of hir conceyuynge in thiſe wordes: How and in what manere ſchal this be done· ſithen I knowe no man fleſchely / and I haue made a vow to kepe me chaſte to my lorde god with oute fayle / and I ſchal neuere dele with man fleſchely? And than the aungel anſwerde and ſeide to hir: It ſchal be done by the worchynge of the holy gooſt / that ſchal liȝten in to the in a ſinguler manere· and thoruȝ his vertu / that is altherhiȝeſt / thow ſchalt conceyue / ſavynge thy maydenhode· and therfore that holy thing that ſchal be borne of the ſchal be named goddes ſone: and in confort furthermore here of / loo! Eliȝabeth / thy coſyne / that is olde and was bareyne / hath conceyued a childe now ſixe monthes paſſed· for there ſchal no thing be impoſſible to god.
¶ Now take here good hede and haue in mynde how
firſt all the holy trinyte is there abidynge a fynal anſwere
¶ Alſo ſone thenne as ſche had ȝeuen hir anſwere and
aſſented in the wordes forſeide / anone with oute dwellynge
goddis ſone entred into hir wombe· and thoruȝ worchynge
of the holy gooſt was made man in verray fleſche and blood
taken of hir body· and not as othere children / conceyued
and born by kynde / ben ſchapen / membre after membre /
and after the ſoule ſched in to the body· but anone at the
firſte inſtaunce he was ful ſchapen in alle membres and
alle hole man in body and in ſoule· but neuertheles ful
lite in quantite: for after he waxed more and more
kyndely as othere children done. So that at the firſte he
was ful perfite god and man / as wiſe and as myȝty as he
is nowe. And whan this was done / Gabriel / knelynge
doun with oure lady / and ſone aftir with hir riſynge vp /
toke curteiſly his leue of hir with a deuouȝt and lowe bowynge
to the erthe· and ſo vanyſchynge away fro hir with
a ſwift fliȝt toke his wey to heuene aȝeyne / tellynge and
certifienge the holy courte of heuene his meſſage fulfilled /
and that that was done in erthe: and thanne was there
a newe ioye and a newe feſte and ful myche merthe and
ſolempnyte. Afterward oure lady / fulfilled and enflawmed
with the holy goſt and in the loue of god more brennynge
then ſche was bifore / felynge that ſche had conceyued
Now take good hede and vndirſtande how
worthy this feſte and this ſolempnite is· and
haue therfore a goſtly merthe and make a
ſpecial feſte / in thy ſoule thonkynge god ynwardely·
for ſuche was neuere herde bifore. For this is
the ſolempnite of all the holy trinite / fader / and ſone /
and holy goſt / by whom this ſouereyn dede of the Incarnacioun
was wrouȝt and fulfilled / as it is ſeide byfore.
This alſo is a ſpecial feſte of oure lady ſeynt marye / the
whiche as this day was choſen of the fader of heuene
in to his dere douȝter· and of the ſone in to his mylde
moder· and of the holy gooſt in to his ſpecial ſpouſe. This
day alſo is a ſpecial ſolempnyte of alle the bleſſed ſpirites of
heuene· for this day was bygonne the reſtoringe of her
companye and felawſchippe that felle doun by ſynne of
lucifer. But ſouereynliche this day is an hiȝe feſte and
a ſpecial ſolempnytee of al mankynde· for this day was
mankynde ſoueraynliche worſchipped / in that it was oned
and knetted to the godhede in criſt withoute departynge.
And this day bygan the hele and the redempcioun of
mankynde / and the reconſilynge to the fader of heuene.
For in to this tyme god was wrooth to mankynde for the
ſynne and the treſpas of oure forme fadres· but fro this
¶ And for alſo moche as that bleſſid gretynge of the
aungel gabriel / wherwith we honouren and greten oure
lady euery day / is grounded in this goſpelle as thou haſt
herd byfore· therfore I ſchal telle the ſomwhat more here
of / as me thinketh / to ſtere thy deuocioun the more in
ſeienge of that gretynge /
After the proceſſe of the Incarnacioun of Jeſu bifore ſeide / the bliſſed mayden marie hauynge in mynde the wordes of the aungele touchynge hir coſyne Eliȝabeth / ſche purpoſed to viſite hir forto thonke god with her / and alſo to mynyſtre and to ſerue hir: and ſo with hir houſebonde and ſpouſe / Joſeph / ſche wente fro naȝareth to hir houſe by ſide Jeruſalem / that is the ſpace of ſixty myle and fourtene or there aboute. Sche taried not and letted not for the longe and diſeſy way / but anone with haſte ſche wente· for ſche wolde not longe be ſeyen in the open amonge folk: and ſo ſche was not heuyed or charged by the conceyuynge of hir ſone as comounly beeth othere wymmen· for oure lord Jeſu was not chargeant to his moder.
¶ Now take hede how this bleſſed lady / quene of heuene and of erthe / gothe allone with hir ſpouſe / and that not vppon horſe / bot on foote. Sche ledeth noȝt with hir many knyȝtes and barouns / ne grete companye of bouremaydens and damyſeles· but ſothely there gooth with hir a wel better companye / and that is pouert / mekenes / and honeſte ſchamefaſtnes / ȝe and plente of alle vertues: and the beſte of alle / that is oure lord god is with hir. Sche hath a grete and worſchipfull companye / bot not of the vanyte and pompe of the world.
¶ And what tyme ſche come and entred in to the hous
of ȝakarie ſche gret his wyf Eliȝabeth in this manere: Al
heile / my dere ſuſter / Eliȝabeth. And anone here with
Eliȝabeth / glad and ioyful and liȝtened thoruȝ the holy
gooſt / roſe vp and clipped hir derworthely and tendirly /
crienge for ioye and ſeienge thus: Bleſſid be thou amonge
wymmen / and bleſſid be the fruyte of thy wombe! And
¶ In this forſeide proceſſe of the viſitacioun of oure lady we haue enſaumple that it is leueful and ofte ſpedefulle deuoute men and wymmen to viſite othere for edificacioun and gooſtly recreacioun / and nameliche the ȝonger to elder· ſo that it be done in dewe tyme and with othere leful menes. And alſo that the ȝiftes of grace mowen be notified to othere for edificacioun in tyme· ſo that it be not done for veyne ioye / bot only to goddes worſchippe. Als ȝif we take good entente to the wordes of marye and Eliȝabeth / alle they weren in lowynge of hem ſelf / and to worſchippynge of god / and magnifienge hym in alle his werkes / and tellynge his grete mercye ſchewed to mankynde to ſtire man to the loue and the worſchippe of god.
¶ Of the Natiuite of ſeynt John the Baptiſte. Forthermore
whan the tyme of Eliȝabeth was comen / ſche was
liȝtened and bare hir child· the whiche in tokene of his
grete holyneſſe / oure lady firſt lift hym vp fro the grounde
and after beſily dyȝt and treted as it longeth to hym: and
the childe / as vnderſtondynge what ſche was / ſette his eiȝen
ſadly vppon hir. And whan ſche wolde take hym to his
moder / he torned his heued and his face to hir / als hauynge
in hir al onely his likynge· and ſche gladly pleide with
hym and louely clipped and kiſſed him. And here mowe
¶ Now here bythenke we and haue in mynde the grete pouert of hir in this goynge aȝeyn to hir owne hous: for there ſche ſchal neyther fynde brede ne wyne ne othere neceſſaries / and therewith ſche hadde neither poſſeſſiounis ne money. And whan ſche hadde alle tho thre monthes dwelled with hem that were plenteuous and hauinge· now ſche torneth aȝen into her owne pouert and bare hous / where ſche byhoueth to gete her lyflode with hir owne hondes and bodily trauaille. And herof moche ouȝte we to haue compaſſioun / and be ſtired to the loue of vertuouſe pouerte by enſaumple of hir: bleſſid mote ſche euere be. Amen.
What tyme that oure lady and Joſeph hir ſpouſe dwelleden to gidre / and hir bleſſid ſone Jeſu day by day encreſſed bodily in his modir wombe. At the laſte Joſeph / ſeynge hir grete with childe / and byholdynge hir not ones bot ofte ſithes / was wonder ſory and greetly deſtourbled / made hir heuy chere and turned away his eiȝen ofte ſithe fro hir / and as in a perplexite thouȝte what he myȝte beſt doo. For on the tone ſide he ſawh hir lyf ſo holy and no tokene of ſynne in hir / neither in contenaunce / neither in word in ſpeche / nor in dede that he dorſte not openly accuſe hir of avoutrie· and on that other ſide he knewe nouȝt how that ſche myȝte conceyue bot by man. Wherfore he thouȝt that he wolde priuely leue hir. Sothely it may be ſeide of hym that is writen in the goſpel to his preiſynge / that is to ſeie / that he was a riȝtwys man / that ſchewede wele this dede of grete vertue. For ſithen comounly avoutrie of the womman is to the man occaſioun of moſte ſchame / moſt ſorwe / and as a manere of wodenes· neuertheles he vertuouſly tempered hym ſelf and wolde nouȝt accuſen hir / nor venge hym ſelf· but paciently ſuffring that ſemynge wrong / and ouercomyng hym ſelf with pitee / thouȝt that he wolde priuely leue hir.
¶ This is an open enſaumple of reproof to jelouſe men
that ben ſo ſuſpecious / that at the leſte contenaunce or
louely ſpeche of her wifes with othere men han hem ſuſpecte
of avoutrie. Alſo ȝif we take here good entent we mowen
ſee bothe in Joſeph and alſo in marye a fructuoſe doctrine
how that we ſchulde paciently ſuffre tribulacion· and how
that god ſuffreth his choſen ſoules to be diſeſed and tempted
ſor here beſte and to her mede. For wite we wele that alſo
¶ But her with ſche prayed god that he wolde ſende
remedye in this caas / and that he wolde / as it were his
wille / putte away fro hir and fro hire houſbonde this tribulacioun
and this diſeſe. And ſo oure lord / that ſuffreth
and ordeyneth alle thinges for the beſte / to conforte of
bothe ſent his aungel· the whiche appered to Joſeph in
his ſlepe / and ſeide that he ſchulde not drede to take to
hym marye his ſpouſe / bot triſtily and gladly dwelle with
hir: for that that ſche had conceyued was not by man /
but by the worchynge of the holy gooſt. And ſo after
tribulacioun cam grete ioye and counfort. In the ſame
manere it ſchulde falle with vs ȝif we kouthe wele kepe
pacience in tyme of aduerſite. For oure lord god after
tempeſt ſente ſofte and mery wedir· and it is no dowte
that he ſuffreth none temptacioun falle to his choſen bot
for her profiȝte. Than after this reuelacioun Joſeph aſked
oure lady of this wonderful conceyuynge· and ſche gladly
tolde hym the ordre and the manere therof. And ſo Joſeph
dwelled and ſtood ioyfully with his bleſſed ſpouſe / marye·
and with chaſte and trewe loue ſo feruently loued hir that
it may not be tolde· and beſily in alle thinges toke hede
to hir: and oure lady aȝeynward triſtily dwelled with him:
and ſo in hir bothe pouerte they lyueden to gidre with
grete goſtly merthe. Here with alſo oure lord Jeſu / as
recluſe and ſtoken in his moderes wombe the ſpace of
¶ Lord god / how moche ouȝte we to haue compaſſioun
that he wolde for oure ſake enclyne vnto ſo profounde
mekenes! Miche ouȝte we to deſire and loue that vertue
of mekenes· and ȝif we wolde haue beſily in mynde how
that hiȝe lord of ſo grete maieſte ſo myche lowed hym
ſelfe / ſchulde we neuere be lifted vp to veyne pryde and
reputacioun of oure ſelf. For of this one benefice of ſo
longe reclucioun for our ſake / we mowe neuere worthely
doo ſatisfaccioun or recompenſacioun to hym· but neuertheles
knowe we this trewely in herte / and with al oure
affeccioun deuoutely thonke we hym / ſpecially we that
bene religious / that he wolde take vs fro othere and
graciouſly departe vs fro the world / ſo that in this / thouȝ
it litel be / ſomwhat we ȝelde hym· that is to ſaie that we
ſtonde perſeuerantly recluſe in his ſeruice. For ſothely
this is al only his benefice of grace and not oure deſerte /
and that a grete benefice and worſchipful / in that that we
ben not recluſe to peyne / but to grete ſikerneſſe· for we
ben ſette as in a hiȝe and ſtronge toure of religioun / vnto
the whiche the venemous arowes of this wicked world
and diſtourblynge tempeſtes of that bitter ſee mowe not
atteyne or neyhe / bot in oure owne defauȝte and foly. But
for alſo moche as bodely encloſynge is litel worth or nouȝt
with oute goſtly encloſynge in ſoule· therſore thou that art
encloſed bodily in celle or cloyſtre / ȝif thou wolte be with
Jeſu vertuouſly encloſed in ſoule / firſte thou moſte with hym
anentyſche thy ſelf in thyn owne reputacioun and bycome
a child thorgh perfiȝt mekenes. Alſo thou moſte kepe and
loue ſcilence / not ſpekynge but in tyme of nede or edificacioun.
And furthermore or thou be born / that is to ſay
or thou ſchewe thy ſelf outeward by word or by opinioun of
¶ And ȝif we wole wite why and wherto oure lady was wedde to Joſeph / ſithe he hadde noȝt to doo with hir bodily / but ſche was euere clene mayden: herto anſwerynge ben thre ſkilles: Firſte / for ſche ſchulde haue conforte and ſolace of man to hir bodily ſeruice and witteneſſe of hir clene chaſtite: the ſeconde is / that the merueylous birthe of goddes ſone ſchulde be heled and pryvey fro the deuel: and the thridde / that ſche ſchulde not be defamed of avoutrie / and ſo / as worthy the deth after the lawe / be ſtoned of the Jewes. And thus endeth the firſte partie of this booke that ſtant in contemplacioun for the Monday and for the tyme of Aduent vnto the Natiuite of oure lord Jeſu / whos name with his moder marye be euere bleſſid with outen ende. Amen.
What tyme that nyne monthes fro the concepcioun
of bliſſed Jeſu drowen to ende
Ceſar Auguſte / the Emperour of Rome /
ſente oute a maundement / or an heſte / that
all the world ſugette to hym ſchulde be deſcryued· ſo that
he myȝte knowe the noumbre of regiouns / of citees /
and of the heuedes longynge to hem that weren ſubdyte
to the Emperour of Rome· and herfore he ordyned and
¶ Now take here good hede and haue inwardly compaſſioun of that bleſſed lady and mayden / marye· how ſche ſo ȝong and of ſo tendre age / that is to ſaye of xv ȝere / and grete with childe as nyh the birthe / trauailleth that longe wey of ſixty myle and ten or more in ſo grete pouerte· and ȝit whan ſche cam to the citee forſeide there ſche ſchulde reſte / and with her ſpouſe aſked herborgh in dyuers places / ſchamefaſtly as amonge vnkouthe folk / alle they werned hem and lete hem goo· and ſo for nede at the laſte they toke as for herborgh that comoun place aforſeide.
¶ But now furthermore to ſpeke of the bliſſed birthe of
Jeſu· and of that clene and holy deliueraunce of his dere
moder marye / as it is writen in party by reuelacioun of
oure lady made here of to a deuowte man. Whan tyme
¶ And ſo ſat the lady of all the worlde in that ſymple
array beſide the cracche / hauynge her mylde mode and
her louely eiȝen / with her inward affeccioun / vppon her
ſwete derworthe child. But in this pore and ſymple worldly
araye / what goſtly riches and ynward confort and ioye
ſche hadde may no tunge telle. Wherfore ȝif we wole
fele the trewe ioye and conforte of Jeſu / we moſte with
hym and with his moder loue pouerte / mekenes / and
bodily peneaunce / as he ȝaf vs enſample of alle thiſe here
in his birthe and firſt comynge in to this worlde. For of
¶ Alſo as to the ſecounde: we mowen ſee at this birthe / bothe in criſt and in his moder / perfiȝt mekenes· for they were not ſqueymous of the ſtable / nor of the beſtes / nor of hey and ſuche othere abiecte ſimpilnes. But this vertu of mekenes bothe oure lord and oure lady kepten perfiȝtly in alle her dedes / and commenden it ſoueraynly to vs· wherfore be we aboute with al oure myȝt to gete this vertue / knowynge that with outen it is none ſaluacioun: for there is no werk or dede of vs that may pleſe god with pride.
¶ Alſo as to the thridde: we mowen ſee in hem bothe /
and nameliche in the child Jeſu / not a litel bodily penaunce·
of the whiche ſeynt Bernard ſeith thus: Goddes ſone whan
he wolde be born / that hadde in his owne fre wille to cheſe
what tyme he wolde take therto / he ches that tyme that
¶ Goo we nowe furthermore to ſpeke of the forſeide
bleſſid natiuite of criſt. What tyme that oure lord was
ſo borne / the grete companye of aungeles that there weren
honourynge / louynge / and worſchippynge her lord god /
wenten anon to the ſchypherdes that weren there beſide /
aboute a myle fro Bethleem / tellynge hem that birthe of
her ſaueour and alſo the place therof by one of hem
apperynge with grete liȝt / peraunter gabriel that was
ſpecial meſſanger of this werk. And therwith al that
multitude of aungels token vp that newe joyful ſong /
ſeyenge / as the goſpel telleth in thiſe wordes: Joye with
outen ende be aboue in althere hiȝeſt heuen to god· and
in erthe pees to all men that ben of good wille. And ſo
with that ioyful ſong and moche merthe they wente vp in
to heuene / tellynge her othere felawes theſe newe ioyeful
tydynges of her lordes bliſſed birthe. Wherof al the court
of heuene / ioyeful and gladde more than tonge may telle
or herte thenke / makynge a ſolempne feſte / and devoutly
thonkynge the fader all myȝty god / as we mowen deuoutly
thynke and ymagyne / comen alle after by ordre after
ordre to ſee that louely face of goddes ſone her lorde /
with grete reuerence worſchippyng hym and his bliſſed
In the viij day that the child was born he was circumſided
after the biddynge of the lawe. And ſo in
this day tweyne grete thynges were done that we owen
to haue deuoutly in mynde: the firſte is that the bleſſid
name Jeſu / that was euere with oute bygynnynge ȝeuen to
hym of the fader of heuene / and also of the aungel cleped and
tolde or he were conceyued / this day was openly declared
and nempned· and he therwith ſpecially cleped Jeſu / that
is alſo moche to ſay as ſaueoure. And this name reſonably
is aboue alle names· for as the apoſtle Petre ſeith / there is
none othere name vnder heuene in the whiche we owen to
Firſte touchinge this ſolempne day and worthy feſte / we ſchulde vnderſtonde that there is none feſte that hath ſo moche dyuers ſeruiſe in holy chirche longyng therto as this feſte hath· not for it is more worthy than othere / but for many grete thinges byfelle and were done in this day ſpecially touchynge the ſtate of holy chirche. As firſt vnderſtondynge that holy chirche here in erthe ſtante in tweie manere of peple· that one is of hem that comen of the Jewes that hadden Moyſes lawe and weren circumſided· that othere is of the remenaunte that weren not circumſided and were i-cleped gentiles. This day / that is to ſay the xiij day fro the Natiuite / acountyng that ſelf day / the bleſſid child Jeſu ſchewed hym as god and man ſpecially to the kynges that weren of the gentiles / and in her perſone holy chirche nowe criſtened / that is principally gedered of the multitude of gentiles / was this day reſceyued and accepted of god to trewe byleue. For the day of his Natiuitie he appered and ſchewed hym ſpecially to the Jewes in the perſone of the hirde men· the whiche Jewes for the more parte reſceyueth not goddes worde and byleue. But this day he ſchewed hym to the gentiles / of whom we comen that ben nowe his choſen chirche. Wherfore this feſte is ſpecially and propurly the feſte of holy chirche of trewe criſten men.
¶ The ſecounde thing that was done this day touchinge
holy chirche is that ſche was this day goſtly wedded to
criſte / and trewely knytte to hym by the bapteme that he
toke this day / xxix ȝere aftir complete: for in the baptiſme
ben ſoules wedded to criſt / and the congregacioun of
criſten ſoules is cleped holy chirche that by baptiſme is
¶ The thridde thing is that / that ſame day a twelfmonthe / that is to ſaie a ȝere after the baptiſme of criſt / he wrouȝt the firſte miracle at the bridale / turnynge water into wyn· by the whiche is vnderſtonden alſo the gooſtly bridale of holy chirche.
¶ The ferthe thing that byfel in that day is / as Bede ſeith / that in that ſame day a ȝere after oure lord Jeſu wrouȝt that grete myracle fedynge the grete multitude of puple with a fewe loues and a fewe fiſches. But the firſte thre ben reherſed this day in holy chirche and not this ferthe.
¶ Loo how worſchipful this day is! the whiche oure
lord god ches ſpecially to worche thereynne ſo many grete
and wonderful thinges. Wherfore holy chirche / conſiderynge
ſo many grete benefices done to hir this day of hir
goſtly ſpouſe Jeſu criſte / by waye of dewe kyndenes
maketh grete merthe and ſolempnite in this day. But for
alſo moche as principally and moſt ſpecially the ſolempnite
of this day ſtant in the mynde of the firſte / that is the
worſchippynge of the kynges and her offrynges· therfore
ſpeke we furthermore of the contemplacioun her of / leuing
the remenaunt at this tyme. And ſo ymagyne we and
ſette we oure mynde and oure thouȝt as we were preſent
in the place there this was done at Bethleem / byholdynge
how theſe thre kinges comen with grete multitude and
a worſchipful companye of lordes and othere ſeruauntes·
and ſo by token of the ſterre firſt ledynge and after reſtynge
vppon that place that the child Jeſu was ynne / there they
liȝten doun of the dromondes / that they riden vppon / byfore
that ſymple hous and manere of ſtable / in the whiche oure
lord Jeſu was borne. And than oure lady / herynge grete
¶ Now take we here good entent to the manere of
ſpekyng in bothe parties: firſt / how reuerently and how
curteiſly thei ſpeken and aſken her queſtiouns· and on
that other ſide hou oure lady / with a manere of honeſte
ſchamefaſtneſſe holding downe her eiȝen toward the erthe /
ſpeketh and anſwereth / ſaddely and ſchortly / to her
aſkynges· for ſche hath none likynge to ſpeke moche /
or elles to be ſeen: neuertheles oure lord ȝaf hir ſtrengthe
and ſpecial comfort to ſpeke more homely to hem by cauſe
¶ Byholde alſo the childe Jeſu / how he ſpeketh not / but ſtant with a manere of ſad ſemblant and glad chere / and als he vnderſtood hem / louely lokynge vppon hem· and thei haue grete likynge in the ſiȝt of hym / not only gooſtly in ſoule of his godhede as illumyned and tauȝt of hym / but alſo in his bodily ſiȝt with oute forth: for as Dauid witneſſith: He was faire and louely in body byfore alle mennis ſones.
¶ And ſo whan they weren gretly comforted by hym /
thei maden her offrynge to hym in this manere / as we
mowen ſuppoſe. They openeden her cofres with her
treſoure and ſpredynge a tapite / or a cloth / byfore the
childes feete oure lorde Jeſu / they leiden there vppon and
offreden echone of hem golde / encenſe / and myrre / and
that in grete quantite / nameliche of the gold: for elles as
for a litel offrynge it hadde nouȝt neded hem forto haue
opened hir treſoure cofres / as the goſpel ſeith / but here
awmeneres / or her treſoreres / myȝt liȝtly haue had it in
hande and taken it hem bot for the ȝiftes and the quantitees
weren grete by reſoun / as it is ſeide. And whan thei
hadden thus offred and leide her ȝiftes bifore hym / then
reuerently and deuoutly fallynge doune they kiſſeden his
feete· and than peraunter the child / ful of wiſdom / forto
comforte hem more and ſtrengthe hem in his loue ȝaue
hem his hand to kiſſe / and after bleſſed hem therwith.
And ſo they reuerently enclynynge and alſo takynge her
leue at his moder and Joſeph / with grete ioye and gooſtly
merthe / as the goſpel ſeith / turneden aȝen in to hir owne
cuntre by a nother way. What that thiſe thre ȝiftes offred
of thiſe kynges bytoken goſtly / and many other thinges
that the goſpel more ouer telleth / as it is expowned by
¶ But what hope we was done with that golde of ſo grete
priſe? Whether oure lady reſerued it and putte it in treſorie/
or elles boute therewith londes and rentes? Nay/ nay/ god
forbede! for ſche that was a perfite louer of pouerte toke
none hede of ſuche worldely goodes. But what? Sche /
louinge pouert / and vnderſtondynge alſo hir bleſſid ſones
wille / not onliche thoruȝ his Inſpiracioun techynge hir in
ſoule with ynne forth / bot alſo by ſigne ſchewynge his
wille with outen forth that he loued not ſuche riches /
perauntre turnynge away ofte ſithes his face fro that golde
or ſpittynge there vppon / with ynne a fewe dayes and
ſchorte tyme ſche ȝaf it al to pore men· for the kepynge
therof that litel tyme was to hir a gret burthen and heuy
charge. And that ſemeth wele· for ſche made hem ſo
bare of money that whan ſche ſchulde go to the temple
forto be purified / ſche had noȝt wherwith to bigge a lombe
forto offre for hir ſone / but only bouȝte turtles / or dowfes /
of litel prys / that was the offrynge of poore folk after the
lawe. And ſo we mowe reſonably bileue that the offrynge
of the kynges was grete and riche / and that oure lady /
louynge pouert and ful of charite / ȝaf it in haſte to pore
men / as it is ſeide· ſo that here is ſchewed a grete
precony and worthy enſaumple of pouert. Alſo ȝif we
take here goode hede we mowe ſene open enſaumple of
perfite mekenes· for there beth manye that holden hemſelf
lowe and abiecte in her owne herte / and ben not
eleuate by pride as in her owne herte ſiȝte / but neuertheles
they wolde not be ſeyn ſuche in other mennis ſiȝt /
nor mowen not ſuffre to be deſpised or ſcorned of other·
and alſo they wolde not that her vnworthines and her
defauȝtes were knowen of othere / leſt they were deſpiſed
After the kynges had performed her offerynges /
and weren gone home aȝeyne in to her owne
cuntrey / as it is ſeide· ȝit ſtode that worthy
lady of all the world in that ſymple herborwe
with hir bliſſed ſone Jeſu and her houſbonde / that holy
olde man Joſeph / at the cracche paciently abidynge vnto
¶ Now lete vs here goo with hem by deuoute contemplacioun· and helpe we to bere that bliſſed birthen the child Jeſu in oure ſoule by deuocioun· and take we ynwardly good entent to all that ben here ſeide or done: for thei ben ful deuoute.
¶ In this manere then they berynge and bryngynge the
child Jeſu in to Jeruſalem / and the lord of the temple
in to the temple of god at the entre thereof thei bouȝten
tweyne turtles / or elles tweie dowue briddes / to offre for
hym as the manere was for pore folke· and therfore the
goſpel ſpeketh not of a lambe / that was the comoun
offrynge of riche men / in token that they weren with
the poreſt folke. And herwith that riȝtwys man Symeon /
ladde in ſpirit by the holy gooſt / came in to the temple
to ſee that he had longe tyme deſired / criſt goddes ſone /
after byheſt and anſwere of the holy gooſt. And anone
as he cam and had the ſiȝt of hym / knowynge hym by
¶ Aftir this was done / and ſo the lawe of god fully kepte / as it is ſeide / in alle that longed to the child fro his birthe in to this tyme / oure lady with hir bliſſed ſone and hir ſpouſe Joſeph toke the wey fro that citee of Jeruſalem homward into Naȝareth. But by the weie ſche viſited hir coſyn Eliſabeth / deſirynge alſo to ſee John / hir ſone / that ſche loued ſpecially. And what tyme they meten to gidre they maden grete ioye / and nameliche Eliſabeth whan ſche ſawe that bleſſid ſiȝt of the childe Jeſu· by vertu of whome in his firſte concepcioun John in her wombe reioyſed / and ſche alſo replenyſched with the holy gooſt. Alſo the childre / Jeſu and John / when they weren brouȝt to gedere thei kiſſeden othere louely and with lawhynge chere and maden moche merthe to gidre· bot John / as vndirſtondynge his lorde / had hym alwey in countenaunce / as with reuerence to hym. And what tyme they had reſted hem there certeyn dayes / oure lady with hir child and Joſeph wenten forth on her wey toward Naȝareth / as to her home and reſte· but ȝit fel no reſte to hem as it ſchal ſchewe after.
¶ Now ȝif we take good entent to the forſeide proces / and hou longe tyme they haue leyne oute of her owne hous in ſo grete pouerte and ſympleneſſe / by reſoun we ſchulde be ſtired to compaſſioun / and to lerne by enſaumple of hem mekeneſſe / pouerte / and buxumneſſe· that weren openly ſchewed in her ſymple dwellynge / in her pore offrynge / and in the lawe kepynge. And furthermor as the worldly men maken bodely myrthe in this tyme of criſtemaſse / fro the Natiuite in to this day or feſte of the purificacioun / that is i-cleped Candelmaſſe / ſo ſchulde euery deuout ſoule in this tyme ſpecially / with deuocioun and goſtly merthe in ſoule / worſchippe and honour that bliſſed child Jeſu and his moder marye· viſitynge hem by contemplacioun and ſome deuowte prayer / at the leſte ones on the daye / as they ſeien in ſpirit oure lady with her child liggynge at the cracche· hauynge therwith in mynde the mekenes / the pouerte / and the buxumneſſe of hem / as it is ſeide· and louynge hem and kepynge hem vertuouſly in dede. Amen.
Whan oure lady with hir childe and Joſeph
weren toward Naȝareth / as it is ſeide bifore /
not knowynge ȝit the priue counſeile of god
here of / that herodes the kyng purpoſed to
ſle the child Jeſu· the aungel of god appered to Joſeph
in his ſlepe / biddinge that he ſchulde fle in to Egipte with
the child and his moder / for herode wolde ſeche the child
¶ The ſecounde leſſoun that we mowe lerne in this
forſeide proceſſe is touchynge the benefices and the ſpecial
comfortes of god / that he that feleth hem ſpecially be not
thereby eleuate in his owne ſiȝt as holdynge hym more
worthy than another that hath hem noȝt. And alſo he that
feleth not ſuche ſpecial ȝiftes or comfortes be not therfore
caſt doun by ſorwe or envie to hym that hath hem· for as
we ſee here the aungeles apperynge and ſpekynge of the
childe weren to Joſeph / and not to oure lady· and natheleſs
ȝit was he moche laſſe in meryte and more vnworthy than
ſche. Alſo here we mowe lerne that he that feleth ſuche
ſpecial ȝiftes of god / though he haue hem not algate as
he wolde and after his deſire / that there thoruȝ he grucche
noȝt / nor be not heuy by vnkyndenes aȝenſt god· for
not withſtondynge that Joſeph was ſo nyhe and acceptable
¶ The thridde notable thing that we haue enſaumple of here is how that oure lord ſuffreth his derlynges to be diſeſed here thoruȝ perſecuciouns and tribulaciouns· and that ſcheweth wele here in marye and Joſeph. What tyme they knewen the child ſouȝte to be ſlayne· what myȝt they here more ſorwefulle? For thouȝ it ſo were that thei knewen and wiſten wele that he was goddes ſone / neuertheles the ſenſualite and the reſoun of hem myȝte kyndely be deſtourbeled and meued to ſeie in this manere: Lord god / fader all myȝty / what nede is it to thy bleſſed ſone / that here is to flee / as thou myȝteſt not defende hym fro his enemyes and kepe hym ſaaf here? And alſo her tribulacioun and diſeſe was in ſo moche the more that hem byhoued to goo in to ſoo fer a londe that they knewe not / and that by hard weies and noyouſe· ſithen they were moche vndiſpoſed to goynge and trauaillynge / oure lady for ȝouthe and tenderneſſe / and Joſeph for elde and febilneſſe. And alſo the childe that they ſchulde bere and carie was vnnethe two monthes olde· and ȝit herewith they ȝeden in to that londe / in the whiche thei as pore and vnknowen had noȝt to helpe hem ſelf with. Alle thiſe diſeſes weren to hem mater of grete tribulacioun and affliccioun· and therfore / thou that ſuffreſt here tribulacioun kepe therynne pacience / and loke not to haue here of a pryuelege of hym that wolde not take hit hym ſelf / ne ȝeue it his moder.
¶ The ferthe notable thing that we mowe conſidre here
is the grete benignyte and mercy of oure lorde· for there
as he myȝte anone in a moment had deſtroyed his enemyes
that purſued hym· ȝit wolde he not / but benignely and
¶ Furthermore as to the proceſſe of the fleinge of Jeſu
with his moder and Joſeph. Whan they comen to Egipt /
anone at the firſte entre alle the mawmettes of that londe
fellen a downe / as it was prophecied bifore by the prophete
yſaye. And than wente they to a citee of that londe
that hiȝte lymopolus· and there they hired hem ſomme
ſymple hous / where they dwelleden vii ȝere / as pilgrymes
and ſtraungeres / pore and nedy. Here mowe we deuouȝtly
ymagyne and thenke of the manere of liuynge of hem in
that vnkouthe lond· and how oure lady wrouȝt for hir
liflode / that is to ſeie with nedele ſewynge and ſpynnynge /
as it is writen of hir· and alſo Joſeph / worchynge in his
craft of carpuntrie· and how the child / bleſſed Jeſu / after
he cam to the age of fyue ȝere or there aboute / ȝede on
hir erandes and halpe in that he myȝte / as a pore child /
to hem ſchewynge in alle his dedes buxomeneſſe / lowenes /
and mekenes. And ſithen hem byhoued to gete her
lyflode in that manere with her trauaille / and perauenture
with repreue ofte ſithes of hem that they dwelled among /
as it falleth comounly to ſtraungeres / and alſo with ſchame·
what hope we of her houſehold / as of beddynge / clothinge
and othere neceſſaries? whether they hadden in this ſuperfluite
or curioſite? Nay / with outen dowte thei that
¶ The ſecounde harme that cometh of curioſite is cauſe and matere of veyne ioye to the worchere· as what tyme that a man maketh ſuche a curious werk ofte loketh he theron with likynge / and thinketh and ymagyneth in his thouȝt beſily· alſo whan he worcheth noȝt / and ſpecially in tyme of goddes ſeruice and whan he ſchulde haue his herte to god / thinketh or ſpeketh forto make that curious werk and therby halt him ſelf ſubtile and witty / and ſo wolde be ſeyn paſſynge othere.
¶ Alſo it is cauſe of pride to hym that the curiouſe werk is made too· for as ſymple / pleyne / and buſtouſe werkes ben occaſioun of lowenes and mekenes· ſo ben curiouſe werkes as oyle noryſſhynge the fire of pride in the holderes and haueres of hem.
¶ Alſo it is to hem that hauen likynge in ſuche curioſites
matere forto drawe hir hertes fro god and heuenly thinges·
for as ſeynt gregory ſeith: In alſo moche as a man hath
¶ Alſo is it one of the thre by the whiche all the worlde is infecte in ſynne / that is the foule luſt of the eyȝen· for ſuche curioſitees ſeruen of noȝt elles but forto fede the eiȝen: and alſo ofte as a man likyngly and in veyne with ſuche curioſite fedeth his eiȝen / ſo ofte the maker and the vſere offendeth god.
¶ Wherfore men ſchulde eſchewe to make ſuche curioſites for ȝeuynge occaſioun of ſynne. For a man ſchulde not aſſente to ſynne for eny cauſe / bot in alle manere abſtene ſro the offence of god· and ſithen god ȝaf enſaumple and commendeth and loueth pouerte / as it is ofte ſeide / with oute dowte it foloweth that he is gretly offended in that thinge that is directe contrarie to pouerte / that is ſpecially curioſite. Alſo with alle othere harmes more ouer this is / that it is a token of a veyne and a liȝt and an vnſtable herte and ſoule. Wherfore he that wole liue in clenneſſe of conſcience and withoute defoylynge of his ſoule / hym byhoueth to abſteyne hym bothe fro the makynge and alſo fro the vſynge of ſuche veyne curioſitees / and to flee therefro as fro a venemous ſerpent. Neuertheles by this forſaide reproof of curioſite we ſchulle not vnderſtonde generally forbeden to make faire werkes and honeſte apparaille· for that is leueful ſo that it kepe a gode mene / and namely in tho thynges and werkes that longen to goddes ſeruice. In the whiche it is nedefulle to be warre and to eſchewe alle corupte entente of veyne ioye or glorie / and alle falſe affecciouns and foule likynges of worldes vanyte· ſo that the vertues mene of ſufficient honeſte paſſe not in to the exceſſe of viciouse curioſite. And thus moche ſuffiſeth ſeide of this matere at this tyme.
After that herodes was dede / and vij ȝere weren at the ende / in the whiche oure lord Jeſu had dwelled in Egipte / the aungel of oure lorde apered to Joſeph in his ſlepe / and bad that he ſchulde take the child and his moder and goo in to the londe of Iſrael· for they weren dede that ſouȝten to ſle the childe: and he anon roſe vp / and with the child and his moder / as the aungel bad / turned aȝen in to the lond of Iſrael. And whan he came there and herde that Archelaus / the ſone of herode / regned in that party that was cleped Judea he dredde and durſte not goo thider· but / as he was ofte biden of the aungel in his ſlepe / he went to the cuntre of galilee in to the citee of Naȝareth.
¶ Here mowe we ſee in the comynge aȝeyn of Jeſu / as
it was ſeide in his goynge / drede and diſeſe menged with
comforte and eſe. For what tyme thei / beynge in a ſtraunge
londe / herde of the deth of her enemyes / and that thei
ſchulde come aȝeyne in to her owne londe / no doute but
that it was grete comforte and hope of eeſe· but takynge
hede therwith to the hard trauaille by the wey / and after
whan that they comen in to hir owne londe in hope of pees
tithinges of a newe enemy come to hem and for drede of
hym beden to eſchewe his cuntrey / there was diſcomfort
and diſeſe. And alle to oure lore / as it is ſeide. Lorde
Jeſu / thou faire ȝonge childe that art lord and king of
heuene and erthe / what diſeſe and what trauaille ſuffredeſt
thou for oure ſake / and how ſone thou bygan! Sothely
wele ſpake the prophete in ȝoure perſone whan he ſeith thus:
I am pore and in dyuerſe trauailes from my firſte ȝowthe.
Swete Jeſu / how ȝedeſt thou· or was caried al that longe
and harde weie / and namely thoruȝ that horrible deſerte·
¶ After they were paſſed the flome Jordan / than come
they ſurthermore to the houſe of oure lady coſyne Eliȝabeth /
Whan the child Jeſu was xij ȝere olde / and his moder with Joſeph ȝede vnto Jeruſalem for the feſte day / that laſted and contynued viij dayes / after the biddynge and the cuſtome of the lawe / he went alſo with hem· in that tender age / trauailynge efte al that longe way byfore ſeide to honour and worſchippe his fader of heuene in his feſte dayes / as reſoun wolde: for there is ſouereyn loue bytwixe the fader and the ſone. Neuertheles there was more ynward ſorwe of herte and compaſſioun to the ſone of the vnworſchippynge of his fader / that he ſawe in doynge of many manere of ſynnes / than was any ioye withoute forth in the pompe and the ſolempnite of that feſte. But ſo ſtode he with his parens in the tyme of that feſte / kepyng the lawe mekely as an othere of the pore peple / til what tyme the feſte dayes weren fulfilled and ended· and than / after that his parens weren gone homwarde / he dwelled ſtille there in Jeruſalem / hem vnwetynge.
¶ Now take we here good entent as we were preſent
in alle that is here ſpoken of / for this is a ful deuoute
matere and a profitable to vs. As it is ſeide bifore / the
citee of Naȝareth / where oure lorde dwelled / was fro
Jeruſalem the ſpace of ſixty myle and fourtene or thereaboute·
and ſo bifel that his moder / oure lady / and Joſeph
token dyuerſe weies homward / and what tyme they comen
to gidre at euen where they had ſette to be herberwed
oure lady ſeyng Joſeph with outen the childe / that ſche
ſuppoſed had gone with hym / aſked of hym where was
the childe· and he ſeide that he wiſte neuere / for he wende /
as he ſeide / that ſche had lad him with hir: and therewith
ſche braſte on wepynge / and with grete ſorwe ſeide:
Allas / where is my dere childe? For now I ſee that I haue
¶ In this forſeide proces of Jeſu what hope we that he didde? or where and in what manere lyued he tho thre dayes? We mowe ſuppoſe that he went to ſomme hoſpitale of pore men· and there he ſchamefaſtly prayed and aſked herberwe / and there ete and lay with pore men as a pore child. And ſome doctoures ſeien that he begged in thoo thre dayes / but therof litel forſe ſo that we folwe hym in perfiȝte mekenes and othere vertues· for begginge withoute forthe but there be a meke herte withynne forth is litel worth as to perfectioun.
¶ Furthermore in the forſeide proces we mowe note
and lerne thre profitable thinges to vs. Firſte is that he
that wole perfitely ſerue god ſchal not dwelle amonge his
fleſchely frendes and kynneſmen / bot he moſte leue hem
and goo fro hem. In token where of the child Jeſu lafte
his owne dere moder what tyme he wolde ȝeue tente to
the gooſtly werkes of his fader· and alſo whan he was
ſowht among his frendes and kenneſmen he was not
Fro the tyme that oure lord Jeſu was gone home
to Naȝareth with his parens / whan he was xij
ȝere olde / as it is ſeide bifore / vnto his thrittythe
ȝere we fynde not expreſſed in ſcripture autentike
what he didde / or how he lyued· and that ſemeth ful
wonderfulle. What ſchulle we than ſuppoſe of hym in
al this tyme? Whether he was in ſo mochel idel that he
did nouȝt / or wroȝt nouȝt thing that were worthy to be
writen and ſpoken of? God ſchylde! And on the tother
ſide / ȝif he didde and wrouȝt thing that were worthy to be
¶ And why hope we that he ſchewed ſo myche and loued principally this vertue of mekenes? Sothely for he knewe wele that as the bigynnynge of alle ſynne is pride / ſo the foundement of alle gode and of ſauacioun is mekenes· with oute the whiche foundement the bildynge of alle othere vertues is in veyne. And therfore ȝif we triſte of maydenhede / of pouerte / or of eny othere vertue or dede with outen mekenes we bene diſceyued. And for als myche as he tauȝt and ſchewed vs in what manere this vertue of mekenes ſchal be gotyn / that is to ſeie by deſpiſinge and abieccioun of man him ſelf in his owne ſiȝt / and alſo in other mennis ſiȝt / and by contynuel doynge of lowe and abiecte dedes· therfore vs byhoueth to loue and vſe thiſe menes ȝif we wolde perfiȝtly come to that hiȝe vertue / as ſeint Bernard ſeith in dyuerſe places. God ȝeue vs grace to geten it perfiȝtly / as it is ſeide· for ſothely I that write this knowleche me ful fer therfro: and thus moche at this tyme ſuffiſeth ſpoken of this ſouereyn vertue.
¶ But now to goo aȝeyn to oure principal matere of the
myrrour of the bleſſid lyf of oure lorde Jeſu. Byholde
we there the maner of lyuynge of that bliſſed companye in
pouerte and ſympleneſſe to gidre· and how that olde man
Joſeph wrouȝt as he myȝte in his craft of carpuntrie· oure
After that xxix ȝere were complete in whiche oure lord
Jeſu had lyued in penaunce and abiectioun / as
it is ſeide / in the bigynnynge of his xxx ȝere /
he ſpake to his moder and ſeide: Dere moder /
it is now tyme that I goo to glorifie and make knowen
my fader / and alſo to ſchewe my ſelf to the worlde / and
to worche the ſaluacioun of mannis ſoule / as my fader hath
ordeyned and ſent me in to this worlde for this ende·
¶ But now ſpeke we furthermore of the baptiſme of
oure lord Jeſu. What tyme that he came to the water
Jordaine there he fonde John baptiſynge ſynful men / and
moche peple that was comen thider to here his predicacioun·
for thei helden hym that time as criſte. And than
oure lord Jeſu among othere wente to John / and prayed
hym that he wolde baptiſe hym with othere· and John
¶ Here ſeith the gloſe that mekenes hath thre degrees. The firſte degree is: a man to be ſugett and lowed to his ſouereyne / and not preferred or heiȝed abouen hym that is euene with hym in eſtate. The ſecounde is: to be ſuget to his euene like in eſtate / and not to be hiȝed or preferred aboue his vnderlynge. The thridde and the ſouereyne degree of mekenes is: to be ſugett and lowed to his vnderlynge / that is he that is laſſe in eſtate than he. And this degre kept oure lord Jeſu at this tyme whan he meked hym and lowed hym to John· and therfore ſo he fulfilled alle the perfeccioun of mekenes.
¶ And than whan John ſawh oure lordes wille that
moſte nede be doo / he didde as he badde and baptiȝed
hym there. Now take we here gode hede how that hiȝe
lorde of maieſte diſpoyleth hym and dooth of his clothes
as an othere ſymple man of the peple· and after he is
plunged in that colde water and in that colde tyme as in
wynter· and al for oure loue and for oure hele ordeynynge
the ſacrament of bapteme / and waſchynge therwith
none of his owne ſynnes / for he had none / but oure
filthes and oure ſynnes: and ſo weddynge there goſtly
to hym holy chirche generally and alle trewe ſoules
ſpecially· for in the feithe of oure bapteme we ben
wedded to oure lord Jeſu criſte. Wherfore this is a grete
feſte and a werk of grete profite and excellence· for in
¶ Whan the holy gooſt come downe in the liknes of
a dowfe and reſted vppon hym / and the vois of the fader
ſeide: This is my byloued ſone / in whom it liketh me
wele· and therfore here ȝe hym. Vppon the whiche
worde ſeynt Bernard ſpeketh in this manere: Loo lord
Jeſu / now is tyme to ſpeke / and therfore now bygynne
and ſpeke. How longe wilt thou be in ſilence? Me
thynke thou haſt longe tyme holde thy pees· ȝe and ful
longe: bot now ſpeke / for now thou haſt leue of the
fader. Hou longe wilt thou / that art the vertue of god
and the wiſdome of the fader / be hidde in the peple as
he that were feble and vnkunnynge? Hou longe thou /
that art the worthy kyng of heuen / ſuffreſt thy ſelf to
be cleped and alſo to be ſuppoſed and holden a wryȝtes
ſone / that is to ſeie Joſeph? For / as luke in his goſpell
witneſſeth / ȝit in to this tyme of his xxx ȝere Jeſu was
ſuppoſed and holden the ſone of Joſeph. A thou mekenes /
that arte the vertue of criſte / hou myche confoundeſt
thou the pryde of my vanyte. For I can but litel / or
more ſothely to ſpeke / onely hit ſemeth to me that I can /
and ȝit now I may not holde my tonge· vnwyſly and
with oute ſchame puttinge my ſelf forth and ſchewynge
me as wiſe / and ſo redy to teche and liȝt to ſpeke / bot
ſlowh to here. And criſte what tyme that he helde his
pees ſo longe· and alſo hid hym ſelf fro the knowynge
of men· whether he dredde ouȝte veyne ioye? What
ſchulde he dredde veyne ioye that was in ſotheneſſe the
ioye of the fader? But neuertheles he dredde this not
to hym ſelf / bot to vs· the whiche he knewe wele had
nede to be adredde of that veyne ioye. And in that he
ſpake not with his mouth / he tauȝt vs in dede· and
What tyme that oure lord Jeſu was baptiſed /
as it is ſeide next bifore / anone he wente in
to deſerte / and there vppon a hille that was
fro the place of his bapteme aboute foure
myle / and is cleped Quarentena / he faſted fourty dayes
¶ But now furthermore as to his temptacioun. Whan tho xl dayes of his faſtynge were complete / oure lorde Jeſu hungred· and anon that falſe temptour / the fende / that was beſy aboute to knowe whether he were goddes ſone / cam to hym / and gan to tempte hym of glotonye and ſeide: Ȝif thou be goddes ſone / ſeie that theſe ſtones be made and torned in to looues. But he myȝte not with his trecherie deceyue hym that was mayſter of truthe· for he anſwered hym ſo wiſely / that neither he was ouercome by the temptacioun of glotony and ȝit the aduerſarie myȝte not knowe that he deſired· for neither he denyed / ne affermed that he was goddes ſone / but concluded hym by auctorite of holy writt. And ſo haue we here enſaumple of oure lorde Jeſu to withſtonde the vice of glotonye: for there moſte we bygynne ȝif we wil ouercome othere vices / as the enemy comounly bygynneth therwith to aſſaile hem that taken hem to gooſtly lyuynge. Wherfore as it ſemeth he that is ouercome with that vice of glotonye / that while he is feble and vnmyȝti to ouercome and withſtonde other vices· as doctours ſeien in this place of the goſpell / that bot glotonye be firſt refreyned / man trauailleth in veyn aȝenſt othere vices.
¶ Afterward the deuel toke hym vppe and bare hym
in to Jeruſalem / that was fro that place aboute viij myle
as men ſeien / and there he ſette hym vppon the pynacle
of the temple where he tempted hym of veyne ioye /
coueitynge to knowe as he didde bifore whether he were
goddes ſone. But here was he alſo ouercome by auctorite
of holy writte· ſo that he loſte fully his purpos: in that
he hirte hym not as a man by pride / and hym ſelfe was
neuere the wiſere of his godhede. And here haue we
¶ And after that tyme / as ſeint Bernard ſeith / the enemy ſeeng that he ſchewed no thing of the godhede / and ſuppoſynge therby that he was not god / tempted hym after as a man. At this thridde tyme whan he toke hym vp efte and bare hym aȝen in to a ful hiȝe hille / by ſide the forſeide hille of Quarentena / as the ſpace of two myle / and there he tempted hym of auarice and therwith of ydolatrie. But therfore was he there opounly reproued and fully venquyſched and ouercome / as dyuerſe doctoures tellen that expownen more pleynely thiſe temptaciouns and this goſpelle· and therefore we paſſen ouer the ſhortlyere here / as we done in othere expoſiciouns / ſtandinge principally in meditaciouns / as it was ſeide at the bigynnynge of this book.
¶ Ȝif we take then here good hede hou oure lord Jeſu was handeled and tempted of the enemy / we ſchulle not wondre thouȝ we wrecches be ofte ſithes tempted· for not only he was tempted in thiſe thre tymes / but alſo / as Bernard ſeithe / in other dyuerſe tymes / as the apoſtil ſeith that he was tempted in all manere temptacioun that longeth to the infirmyte of man / with oute ſynne.
¶ Furthermore whan the enemy was fully ouercome /
and gone awey / aungels come and ſerued and myniſtred
hym. But here take we now good hede and byholde
ynwardly oure lord Jeſu etynge allone and the aungelles
aboute hym· and thynke we deuoutly be ymaginacioun
tho thinges that folowen here after / for thei ben ful faire
and ſtiringe to deuocioun. And ſo firſte we mowe aſke
what manere of mete it was that the aungeles ſerued hym
¶ Now take good entente here / ſpecially thou that art
ſolitarie / and haue in mynde whan thou eteſt thy mete
¶ Furthermore as to the proceſſe. Whan oure lord Jeſu
hadde eten and ſeide graces / that is to ſeie thonkynge
the fader in his manhede of that bodily refeccioun / he
badde the aungelles bere aȝen to his moder that was laft /
¶ Spekynge ferthermore of the tornynge aȝeyn of oure
lord Jeſu home to his moder at Naȝareth. And than whan
he went downe fro that hille and came to Jordane / John
Baptiſte / as ſone as he ſawh hym come to warde hym /
with his fynger put to warde hym / ſchewed hym / and
ſeid: Lo / the lomb of god! Loo / he that doth awey the
ſynnes of the world! He it is vppon whom I ſawe the
holy gooſt reſte what tyme I baptiſed hym. Afterwarde
alſo / an othere day / whanne John hadde ſchewed hym as
he didde firſt / Andrewe and Petre with othere diſciples
ſpeken with hym and hadden a bigynnynge of his knoweleche
After that oure lorde Jeſu was comen home aȝeyne to Naȝareth fro his baptiſme and his temptacioun / as it is ſeide / he bygan litel and litel to ſchewe hymſelf and to teche priuely and in party· for as openly and fully we red not that he toke vppon hym the office of prechynge al that ȝere folowynge: that is to ſay vnto that tyme that he wrouȝt the firſte myracle at the weddynge / that was that ſelf day twelf monthe that he was baptiſed. And thouȝ he or his diſciples precheden in the mene tyme otherwhile· neuertheles it was not ſo fully / ne ſo cuſtomably done byfore that John Baptiſte was taken and enpriſoned as after. And in that he ȝaf vs enſaumple of a wonderfull mekenes whan / touchynge the office of prechinge / he ȝaf ſtede to John / that was myche laſſe and with oute compariſoun more vnworthy than he. And ſo we mowe ſee that he bigan not with boſte and blowynge / as many done / bot with mekenes litel and litel.
¶ Wherfore vppon a ſabbaoth day / whan he was come in to the ſynagoge / as he was wont to doo with othere as in the chirche of Jewes / he roſe vp forto rede in the manere of a mynyſtre or a clerke· and whan there was take hym the book of the prophete yſaye / he torned to that place where it is writen / and ſo he radde in this manere: The ſpirite of oure lorde hath reſted in me· wherfore he hath anoynted me / and forto preche to pore he hath ſent me. And than whan he hadde cloſed the boke and taken it to the ſeruaunt / he ſatt doun· and than he ſpake furthermore and ſeide: This day is this ſcripture fulfilled in ȝoure eres.
¶ Now take we hede of hym: how mekely at the bygynnynge he takith vppon hym the office of a redere / as it were a ſymple clerk· firſt with a benigne and lowely chere redinge / and after expownynge it mekely of hym ſelf / and ȝit not opounly expreſſynge or nempnynge hym ſelf whan he ſeith / This day is fulfilled this ſcripture / as who ſeie: I that rede this this day / am he of whom it ſpeketh. And the eiȝen of alle that were in the ſynagoge were ſette beſily in hym· and alle they wondreden of the wordes of grace that ȝeden out of his mouthe: and no wonder / for he was ſouereynly fayre and alſo moſte eloquente / as dauid ſeith to hym of bothe: Thow art faire in ſchap / paſſynge the children of men· and grace is ſchedde in thy lyppes / &c.
¶ Furthermore alſo oure lord Jeſu / beſienge hym aboute
oure ſauacioun / began to clepe and to gadre to hym
diſciples· and ſo he cleped peter and Andrewe thre tymes:
Firſte tyme whan he was aboute the water of Jordane /
as it was ſeide bifore / and then they comen ſumwhat into
his knoweleche / bot they folwed not hym: the ſecounde
tyme he cleped hem fro the ſchippe whan they weren
aboute to take fiſche / as luke telleth· but than thouȝ thei
¶ Now take we here entente to the manere of hym in
this clepinge and gederinge of his diſciples / and of his
conuerſacioun with hem· hou louely he ſpeketh to hem /
and how homely he ſcheweth hym ſelfe to hem· drawynge
hem to his loue withynneforthe by grace and withouteforthe
by dede· famylierly ledynge hem to his moder
houſe / and alſo goynge with hem often to her dwellynges /
techynge and enfourmynge hem· and ſo in alle other
manere beinge as beſy aboute hem / and with as grete
cure as the moder is of hir owne ſone. In ſo moche that /
as it is writen / ſeint peter tolde that what tyme he ſlepte
with hem in any place it was his cuſtome to riſen vp
in the nyȝt / hem ſlepynge / and ȝif he fonde eny of hem
vnhiled / priuely and ſoftely hele hym aȝen· for he loued
hem ful tenderly / knowynge what he wolde make of hem.
As thouȝ it ſo were that thei were men of rude and buſtous
condiciouns and of ſymple lynage / neuertheles he thouȝte
to maken hem princes of the world / and cheueteynes
¶ Here alſo lete vs take hede of what manere of peple bygan the feith and the grounde of holy chirche· as of ſuche ſymple fiſcheres / pore men and vnlerned / for oure lorde wolde not cheſe herto grete clerkes and wiſe men / or myȝti men of the world / leſte the grete dedes that ſchulde after be done by hem myȝte be aretted to her worthynes· but this he reſerued and kepte to hym ſelf / as it was reſoun / ſchewynge that only in his owne godeneſſe and myȝt and wiſdome he bouȝte vs and ſaued vs: bliſſed be he with outen ende / Jeſu. Amen.
Byfelle that day twelfmonthe that oure lorde
Jeſu was baptiſed / as it is ſeide / there was
made a bridale in the contre of Galilee / in
a place that was cleped the Cane· of the
whiche bridale there is dowte whos bridale it was / but
we at this tyme ſchullen ſuppoſe / after the comoun
opinioun / that it was of John the euangeliſte / as ſeint
Jerome alſo telleth in the prologe of the goſpelle of John.
At the whiche bridale oure lady Jeſu moder was / as ſche
was the eldeſt and moſt worthy of the thre ſiſtres· and
therfore ſche was not beden and cleped thider as othere
ſtraungeres weren / but ſche was there in hir ſiſtres houſe /
homely as in hir owne hous / ordeynynge and myniſtrynge
as maiſtreſſe therof. And that we mowe vnderſtonde by
thre evydences of the proceſſe of that goſpelle: firſte / by
that the goſpell ſeith firſte: That the moder of Jeſu was
there· and after / that Jeſu and his diſciples weren cleped
or bidden therto. And ſo as we ſuppoſe it byfelle that
¶ Wherfore we mowe take hede and vndirſtonde the
manere of this bridale and the proceſſe of the myracle
theratte thus: firſte / we ſchulle byholde oure lord Jeſu
etynge there amonge hem as an other comoun man / and
that ſittynge in the loweſt place and not amonge the grete
and moſte worſchipfull geſtes abouen / as we mowe vnderſtonde
by this proceſſe: for he ſchulde after teche this
leſſoun of the goſpell: Whan thou art biden to the bridale /
¶ Afterward / whan the feſte was al done / oure lord Jeſu cleped John by hymſelf and ſeide: Leue this womman that thou haſt take to thy wyf / and folowe me· for I ſchal brynge the to a better and more perfiȝte weddynge than this is. And anon with oute more John lafte his wyf there and folwed Jeſu.
¶ In the forſeide proceſſe we mowe note many thinges
to oure doctrine and edificacioun: firſte / in that oure
lorde Jeſu wolde come and be preſente at the bridale and
weddynge / he ſcheweth vs that matrimoyne and fleſchly
weddynge is leueful and ordeyned of god· but in that
he cleped John therfro he dooth vs to vnderſtonde that
goſtly matrymoyne is moche more worthy and perfyte.
Alſo in that harde anſwere and ſtraunge / as to ſemynge /
that he ȝaf to his moder whan he ſeide: What is that to
me and to the / womman? As ſeynt Bernard ſeith / he
tauȝte vs that ben religious and haue forſake the worlde
not to be to beſy and haue grete care aboute oure
fleſchely parens / ſo that her nede lette not oure gooſtly
exerciſe· for alſo longe as we ben of the worlde / ſo longe
we ben in dette to oure parens· but after we haue laft
¶ Furthermore we haue here techynge of pacience and hope in the dede of oure lady that lafte not for that ſtraunge anſwere / as it ſeide bifore. And ſo what tyme we clepen to Jeſu for helpe at oure nede / bodily or gooſtly· thouȝ we fynde it not anone / bot rather hardeneſſe and contrariete / we ſchulle not leue therfore to calle vppon hym by goode hope· til thoruȝ his mercy and grace the vnſauery water and colde of aduerſitie and penaunce be torned in to wyne and conforte and gooſtly likynge.
¶ After this miracle was done oure lorde Jeſu / willynge
and purpoſynge ſo forthe to worche and preche opounly
for the ſaluacioun of man / he wente fro that place with his
moder and his diſciples in to capharnaum byſide Naȝareth /
and after a fewe dayes aȝeyne home to Naȝareth / ledynge
Whan oure lorde Jeſu had choſen and gadered
his diſciples / as it is ſeide / willynge to teche
hem and enforme hem the perfeccioun of the
newe lawe / he ladde hem vp in an hille / that
is cleped Thabor / aboute two myle fro Naȝareth after
the comoun opinioun· and there he made to hem a longe
ſermoun and full of fruyte / the whiche as ſeynt Auſtyn
ſeith in the byginnynge of his book that he made of that
ſame ſermoun: It conteneth all the perfeccioun of criſten
lyuynge· for in that ſermoun he tauȝte hem firſte whiche
men ben bleſſed of god and worthy to haue his bliſſe.
Alſo he tauȝte hem the trewe manere of prayere / of
faſtynge / and of almeſdede / and othere vertues longynge
to the perfite lyf of man: as the texte of that goſpelle
opounly telleth / and dyuers doctoures and clerkes expownen
it ſufficiently· the whiche proceſſe we paſſen
ouer here / for as moche as it is writen bothe in latyn
and in engliſche in many othere places· and alſo it were
ful longe proceſſe to touche alle the poyntes thereof here
as by manere of meditacioun. Wherfore at this tyme we
ſchulle ſpecially note that oure lorde bygan this ſermone
firſte at pouerte / doynge vs to vndirſtonde that pouerte
is the firſte grounde of all gooſtly exerciſe· for he that is
ouerleide and charged with temporel goodes and worldely
richeſſes may not frely and ſwiftly folowe criſt / that is
¶ But now leuynge this matere torne we vs to the
manere of contemplacioun / byholdynge oure lord Jeſu
hou lowely and mekely he ſitteth vppon that hille and
his diſciples aboute hym / and with hou louely and ſad
chere he ſpekith tho wordes ful of edificacioun / and
techeth that noble leſſoun of ſouereyn perfeccioun· and
alſo how mekely and how entently his diſciples byholden
¶ And though it ſo be that the mater of this worthy prayere be ſo plentevous / and alſo the deſire of the writer hereof were to ſpeke more thereof / neuertheles for it is writen in ſo many othere places as I hope ſufficiently / and alſo for the grete proceſſe that foloweth after / we leuen this mater at this tyme / and all that fructuouſe ſermoun that oure lord Jeſu made to his diſciples in that hille biforeſeide. Goynge downe with him by deuoute contemplacioun and byholdynge how that after that noble leſſoun tauȝt in the hiȝe hille / as it was ſkilfull for the hiȝe perfeccioun thereof / oure lorde Jeſu came downe with that meke flokke of the diſciples / ſpekynge alſo homely with hem by the wey· and they / as the briddes or chykenes of the henne / folowen hym with moche gooſtly lykynge / coueitynge eche byfore other to be next hym and heren his vertues and ſwete wordes. And after he was comen downe / myche peple come aȝenſt hym / bryngynge dyuerſe ſeke folke and manye / as the goſpell tellith by proceſſe· the whiche alle he / full of mercy / helid and made hole / bothe in body and in ſoule. And thus ſchortly we paſſen ouer here moche proceſſe of the goſpell / and many chapitres of the forſeide booke of Bonauenture / for the litel edificacioun of hem as it ſemeth nedeful to ſymple ſoules / to whiche this boke is ſpecially writen in engliſche / as it hath ofte be ſeide here bifore. And ſo leuinge the proceſſe in many places we ſchulle only telle the notabilitees there vppon ſchortly to edificacioun. Amen.
In this goſpelle / in that oure lord mekely vnpreide wente bodily to hele the ſike ſeruaunt / and wolde not goo to the kynges ſone prayed / oure pride is reproued· in that we in contrarie manere ben redy and leef to goo to riche men and myȝty / that we mowe be worldly worſchipped by and to pleſe hem and doo the ſeruice that we mowen for worldly mede· butt we ben lothe to goo to pore men and ſymple or to helpen hem in here nede for goſtly mede / leſte it were aȝenſt oure worſchippe / as ſeint gregore noteth in this place.
In this goſpell we haue enſaumple and doctryne that ofte ſithes bodily ſikneſſe cometh of gooſtly ſikneſſe / that is ſynne· and that the helynge of goſtly ſikneſſe is ofte cauſe of bodily hele· in that oure lord firſte forȝaf to the paletyke his ſynnes and after heled hym of the bodily paleſye. Alſo here we mowe ſe the grete vertue of trewe byleue· in that that the feith and the byleue of one man helpeth and ſaueth an other / as the feith of the bereres of this paletyk man ſaued hym· and alſo in the nexte chapitre bifore the feithe of centurio gate hele to his ſeruaunt· and alſo here after the feithe of the womman chanane ſaued hir douȝter· and ſo it falleth now alday that children baptiȝed / and after dede bifore the ȝeres of diſcrecioun / ben ſaued in the feith of her god fadres / thoruȝ the meryte of criſte: and this is opounly aȝenſt ſome heretikes that helden the contrarie opinioun.
The goſpelle nempneth not the womman that was heled by the touchynge of the hem of Jeſu clothinge / bot ſeynt Ambroſe and othere doctoures ſeien that ſche was Martha / the ſiſtre of Marie mawdeleyne. By the hem of Jeſu clothinge / as ſeynt Bernard ſeith / may be vnderſtonde euery meke ſeruaunt of god / the whiche in eny vertuous dede that he doth oweth to knowe trewely in herte / and knoweleche openly by mouth / that only god is the principal doere therof and nouȝt he· as the clothe helede not / bot oure lord Jeſu that wered the clothe.
Owre curteys lorde Jeſu was preyed or beden of Symounde the leproſe on a day to eten with hym· and therto he graunted gladly and came to mete / as he was wont to doo ofte ſithes / bothe of his owne curteſie and alſo for the loue and the ȝele that he hadde to the ſauacioun of mennis ſoules / for the whiche he was made man· for ſo etynge with men and benignely comunynge with hem he drowe hem vnto the loue of hym. Alſo for as moche as he made him ſelf ſo perfiȝtly pore that he toke none poſſeſſioun of worldes goodes for hym ſelf or for his / therfore thoruȝ that loue of pouerte / he that was the myrrour of mekenes / what tyme he was praied or beden to mete toke it for the tyme and the place mekely and with curteſie / thonkinge / and good wille.
¶ And than bifelle that Marie Mawdeleyne / that perauenture
ofte tyme byfore had herd hym preche and thoruȝ
touchynge of his grace was gretely ſtired to compunccioun
¶ Lorde god / who ſo wolde ynwardely thinke and take hede to this dede of this womman and alle the circumſtaunces thereof myche gooſtly fruyte ſchulde he fynde thereynne / ſterynge to ynwarde repentaunce of ſynne and to trewe loue of Jeſu and grete deuocioun.
¶ But now forth as to the proceſſe take we hede alſo of the manere of oure lorde Jeſu in this time· how benignely and paciently he ſuffreth hir doo al hir wille· for it liked hym ful wele / knowynge the ynwarde affeccioun and trewe loue of hir herte.
¶ And ſo al that tyme he ceſed of etynge / and alſo with hym alle the geſtes / wonderynge of the womman and of that vnkede dede / and of the pacience of oure lorde Jeſu and his ſuffraunce of hir· and ſpecially the maiſter of the houſe / Symounde / demed hym gretely in his herte that he wolde ſuffre ſuche a comune ſynful womman touche hym ſo homely: and in that he thouȝte that he was no prophete / ſuppoſynge that he knewe hir not. But oure lorde / that paſſinge alle othere prophetes knewe the leſte thouȝt of mannis herte / anſwered openly to his priue thouȝtis / ſchewynge therby hymſelf a verrey prophete and more than a prophete· and by a enſaumple of tweie dettoures he concluded hym / juſtifieng the womman that he helde ſo ſynful / and preuynge that ſche loued hym more / and ſchewed hym more token of loue by her dede than he with alle his feſte: and ſo ſchewynge that not onely the perfeccioun of alle vertues / but alſo the juſtifienge of the ſynful ſtant principally in trewe loue of god. He ſeide to Symound as for a conclucioun thus: Many ſynnes ben forȝeuen hir / for ſche loued myche. And than he torned hym to Magdeleyne and ſeide to hir / as for a ful ende of that ſche aſked: Thy feith hath ſaued the· go now in pees. A lord Jeſu / how ſwete and likynge was this worde to hir· and with how grete ioye than ſche went away! Sothely it was ſo likynge that / as I trowe / it went neuere after oute of hir mynde. And ſo was ſche perfiȝtly conuerted to Jeſu / leuynge her ſynne fully / and lyuynge euer after in all honeſte holily / and drawynge algate to hym and to his moder / withoute departynge / perſeuerauntly.
¶ In the forſeide proces and the ſentence of this goſpelle
ben many grete notabilitees to oure edificacioun /
of the whiche we ſchulle touche ſumme in partie: firſt / as
¶ Furthermore alſo here haue we enſaumple of trewe
repentaunce and penaunce that is nedeful to forȝeueneſſe
of ſynne ſchewed in this womman / Mawdeleyne / as we
haue herde· the whiche penaunce / as all holy chirche
techeth / ſtant in ſorwe of herte / in ſchrifte of mouthe /
and in ſatisfaccioun of dede. But here perauntre ſumme
men thynken / after the falſe opinioun of lollardes / that
ſchrifte of mowthe is not nedefulle / but that it ſuffiſeth
only in herte to be ſchryuen to god / as this forſaide
womman was· for the goſpel telleth not that ſche ſpake
eny word by mouthe / and ȝit was hir ſynne fully forȝeuen /
as it is ſeide· and as it ſemeth this is a grete euidence
for that opinioun. But herto is an anſwere reſonable:
¶ And as to the ſecounde / that is confeſſioun / thouȝ
we rede it noȝt of hir by worde ſpekynge· for that was
none nede to hym that knewe fully hir herte / oure lord
Jeſu there beynge in his bodily preſence / as it is ſeide.
Neuertheleſs ſche ſchewed the effecte of this confeſſioun
perfiȝtely in dede / in that that ſche wolde not ſchewe hir
to hym in priuete as ſynful and aſkynge mercy / as ſche
myȝte haue do bytwixe hym and hir or elles onely bifore
his diſciples· bot ſparynge for no ſchame / that is a grete
parte of penaunce in confeſſioun / ſche chas the place and
the tyme where it myȝte be to hir as open reproof and
ſchame / that was in the hous of the phariſe / the whiche
ſche knewe wel hauynge indignacioun and deſpite of the
ſynful· and alſo at the mete whan it ſcholde be moſt
wondrynge to hym and alle his geſtes vpon hir· for the
reproof and the ſchame that ſche hadde of hir ſynne was
ſo grete withynneforth that ſche forȝat al ſchame and
reproue withouteforth. And ſo in that dede ſche knowlechede
openly her ſynne in general and alſo by wille
in ſpecial / not refuſynge forto haue herde it reherſed
and openly tolde of hym that ſche came too / oure lorde
Jeſu· the whiche / as ſche wiſte wele / knewe in ſpecial
the leſte parte therof / and that myȝte reſonably haue
¶ But here perauntre ſemeth to ſome men that as the
ſynful man ſchal folowe this womman by trewe forthenkynge
of ſynne / ſo ſchulde the preeſt folowe oure lorde
in lyȝte forȝeuynge ſchewed therof / enioynynge no more
penaunce than he didde therfore. But here anſweren holy
doctoures / that ſeien that the contricioun and forthenkynge
of ſynne may be ſo grete and ſo perfite that it
ſuffiſeth withoute eny more penaunce to fulle forȝeueneſſe
therof· the whiche there as it is ȝif the preeſt myȝte ſee
and fully knowe / he ſchulde ȝeue no more penaunce: bot
for alſo moche as man ſeeth not the herte as oure lord
Jeſu / god and man / dide / and ſo he may not knowe it
bot in party as by tokenes withouteforth· therfore as
¶ Furthermore in the forſeide proceſſe of the goſpelle /
oure lorde Jeſu ȝaf enſaumple to the precheres of goddes
worde that they ſchulde not ſpare in tyme to ſeie the
ſothe for diſpleſynge of hem that fedden hem or ȝeuen
hem othere bodily ſuſtenaunce· in that / not withſtondinge
that the phariſe fedde hym / as he didde ofte / he reprehended
hym openly in his owne hous of his myſbileue
and of his falſe thouȝt / in the whiche he hadde indignacioun
of the ſynful womman· and as it wolde ſeme to
ſterynge of his grete mawgrey he ſpared not to juſtefie
that womman that he demed ſo ſynful / ſchewynge hir
more louynge god than he and that ſche was ſaued by
hir trewe byleue byfore hym that failled therof. But not
withſtondynge this / on the tother ſide the phariſe lafte
not after to fede hym and to doo hym humanyte / as
many men now done· the whiche / what tyme that a ſothe
is ſeide that is contrarie to hir wille or oppynyoun / they
withdrawen her humanyte and affeccioun fro hym that
ſeith it / be he neuere ſo gode or vertuoſe in leuynge·
and ſothely in that condicioun thei ſchewen hem ſelf /
what ſo euere thei bene / vnlouynge to Jeſu that is verray
ſothfaſtneſſe / and more vnkynde than was this phariſee
and ſo worthy more reproue of hym and more peyne.
Neuertheles the prechour / or an other goſtly man that
repreſenteth criſtes perſone / ſchal not ſpare to ſeie the
ſothe in tyme for drede of maugre / or withdrawynge
of fauour or eny temporel profite / ȝif he wole be the
¶ Alſo in this forſeide proceſſe of the goſpelle / in that that oure lord Jeſu reherſed to the phariſee the goode dedes of the womman / in the whiche he fayled / as that ſche wiſche his feet with here teeres that he didde not with water / and ſo forth of othere· and therewith he tolde not what he didde to hym that ſche did not / we haue enſaumple and techynge what tyme we ben tempted to juſtifieng of oure ſelf and reproue of othere / than to thenke and haue in mynde the goode dedes and vertues that bene or mowe bene in that other man / forȝetynge oure owne goode dedes or vertues and bringinge to mynde oure defauȝtes and treſpaſſes. And ſo ſchulle we vertuoſly deme oure ſelfe and excuſe othere / and ſo profiȝte in the vertu of trewe mekenes / that he graunte vs / meroure of mekeneſſe / bliſſed Jeſu. Amen.
Byfell vppon a tyme that as oure lord Jeſu ſchulde
goo fro the contrey of Juda in to Galilee he
moſte make his wey by the cuntrey of Samarye /
where was a drawe welle / that they clepeden
the welle of Jacob / that was a pytte of water· vppon the
whiche pytte he reſted hym as wery of goynge. Lord
Jeſu / what is this? That thou / that art the ſothfaſt way
and makere of all erthely wey / ſo art wery oſ the wey /
the whiche thoruȝ thy ſouereyne myȝte bereſte vppe and
conforteſt all othere in her wey? But thus woldeſt thou
in thy manhede ſchewe all the kyndely infirmyte of man /
as in hunger and thriſte and weryneſſe ofte ſythes / and
ſuche othere / forto ſchewe the verrey kynde of man that
¶ In the mene tyme / as he ſatte ſoo on the welle / and his diſciples were gone in to the nexte citee forto bygge mete / there came a womman of that contree to fette water of that welle / the whiche was clepide lucie· and oure lorde Jeſu / willynge ſchewe to hir / and by hir to othere / his godhede/ ſpake with hir longe tyme of grete thinges and hiȝe in gooſtly vnderſtondyng. The whiche ſpekynge bothe of him and hir / and hou his diſciples comen aȝen / and how at the wommanis word the peple of the citee comen oute to hym and helde hym with hem a certeyne tyme / and after how he wente fro hem / we paſſe ouer at this tyme / for alſo moche as it is open and pleynely writen in the goſpell of John.
¶ But in this proceſſe we mowe note in oure lorde Jeſu firſt a token of grete mekenes / in that he wolde be allone. What tyme he ſent his diſciples in to the citee forto bigge mete· and in that byggeynge enſaumple that it is leuefulle to goddis ſeruauntes forto haue money and reſerue it to hir nede. Alſo in that he ſpake ſo homely with that ſymple woman alone and of ſo grete thinges / as thouȝ it hadde i-be with many grete wiſe men / the pride and the preſumcioun of many clerkes and prechoures is confounded and reproued· the whiche ȝif they ſchulde ſchew her wiſdom or here kunnynge / not onely to one man bot alſo to fewe men / they wolde halde all as looſt / and ſuche a ſymple audience telle vnworthy to take her proude ſpeche.
¶ Furthermore in that the diſciples brouȝten her mete
to hym / and beden hym ete there at the welle / we haue
enſaumple of pouerte and bodely penaunce in his manere
¶ Myche more gooſtly fruyte is conteyned in this goſpel / the whiche who ſo deſireth to knowe more fully he ſchal fynde it in the book of ſeynt Auſtyne vppon the goſpelle of John / where he maketh of the proceſſe of this goſpell a longe proceſſe and clergial / ful of gooſtly fruyte. But for alſo moche as here is made mynde of the pouerte of oure lorde Jeſu / as it is ofte bifore / and alſo of his abſtynence· therfore of thiſe tweyne vertues / perfiȝtely tauȝte vs by enſaumple bothe of hym ſelf and his diſciples / it ſchal folowe after more plenarly in the nexte chapitre.
On a ſabbott day / as the diſciples of oure lorde Jeſu wenten with hym by the feeldes / where rype corn was growynge / they weren a hungred and pluckeden the eeres and froten hem bytwixe her hondes and eten.
¶ And the phariſees / that euere aſpyed oure lordes wordes and dedes forto take hym in defauȝte aȝenſt hir lawe / reproued herefore bothe him and his diſciples / and ſeiden that it was vnleueful on the ſabbot day. But oure lord excuſed hem· firſt by nede / that is out take in the lawe / as Dauid and his men in nede eten the preeſtes brede that was elles forbeden· and alſo by that reſoun that the preeſtes of the lawe on the ſabbot day circumſidede and maden ſacrifice / the whiche weren bodily werkes not ſo nedful as that they didden· and alſo his preſence / that was lorde and auctour of the lawe / ȝaf hem leue.
¶ But ȝif we take here inwarde entente / with deuouȝte
compaſſioun of that nede of the diſciples in the preſence
of her lorde all myȝti / we oweth reſonably be ſtired to
the loue of pouerte and bodily nede for his ſake: for
wonderfull it is to thynke that they that were choſen ſo
ſpecially to that hie degre of apoſtles and there thoruȝ
made princes and domeſmen of the worlde· ſchulde be
putte in to ſo grete pouerte and nede forto ete the rawe
corne for hunger / as they were vnreſonable beſtes / and
namely in his precenſe / that was maker of all mete and
drink at his wille and lorde of all the worlde / as thouȝ
he myȝte not helpe hem at her nede. Bot the good lord /
that didde all thing for oure ſauacioun / he ſoffred this
nede in hem for the beſte / as he toke in hym ſelf all the
nede of mankynde with oute ſynne· and ſo thouȝ he
¶ For here haue we ſpecially that haue forſake the worlde for the loue of god enſaumple and ſterynge to thre vertues namely that ben nedefulle to vs: that is to ſaye / pacience in bodily nede / perfite pouerte / and aȝenſt gloteny vertuouſe abſtynence. And as to the firſte / ſithen the diſciples of Jeſu / that hadde lafte and forſaken all that they hadde forto folwe hym / ſuffred paciently and gladly ſo grete nede of bodily hunger in his preſence / whome thei ſeien myraculouſly fede othere men and helpe at her nede / myche more we oweth to be pacient in bodily nede whan it falleth that ben not ſo worthy ne ſo perfitely louen god / but rathere hauen deſerued for oure myſleuynge and vnkyndeneſſe aȝenſt oure lord god myche more penaunce and diſeſe than he wole ſuffre vs forto haue· and perauenture we comen neuere to ſo grete nede forto ſuffre for his ſake.
¶ And as to the ſecounde / that is perfite pouerte for
goddes loue: we ſchulle vnderſtonde that his pouerte
paſſed in perfeccioun the hiȝeſt degre of wilful pouerte
of othere withoute compariſoun· for othere mennis
pouerte that haue forſaken for criſtes loue alle richeſſes
and worſchippes of the world is in reputacioun of men
in alſo myche as it is holden vertuouſe / as it is· bot his
pouerte was in reprofe and deſpite of men in alſo myche
as it was not knowen that he toke this pouerte priuely /
bot as of nede· as it ſemed in the forſeide proceſſe of hym
and his diſciples whan they eten rawe corne for hunger
¶ But ȝif we wole wite who is vertuouſly and perfiȝtly
pore/ we ſchulle vnderſtonde that not only he that hath mad
his profeſſioun to pouerte / and that hath lafte all worldly
richeſſes as in auere with outeforth· bot he that there with
hath that pouerte ſette in his herte with ynneforth / ſo that
he wil not ne loue ne deſire any worldly goodes or poſſeſſiouns
bot only that is nedeful to his leuynge. For ȝif
a man be in pouerte and ſuffre nede with outeforth thoruȝ
lak of worldely goodes / and therwith he deſire with deliberacioun
in his herte with ynneforth more than hym
nede / that man lyueth not in vertuouſe pouerte / bot in
wrecched nede with oute mede. For the luſte and the wille
with ynneforth with full aſſente therto ſuffiſeth to the fulfillynge
of ſynne and to the loſſe of mede· wherfore he that
wole be perfiȝtly pore / he moſte loke that he neither haue
nor deſire more than is nedefulle to his leuynge. Of this
vertuoufe pouerte ſpeketh ſeynt Bernarde:
¶ Furthermore touchynge the thridde vertue / that is
abſtinence: wherof aȝenſt glottery we haue enſaumple here
in the diſciples and alſo bifore in oure lorde Jeſu. We ſchulle
vndirſtonde that glotterie is a vice aȝeyne the whiche it
¶ And ſothely this is a foule vice and a perilouſe / and
neuertheleſſe myche peple is blynde and deſceyued in this
poynt / bothe worldely and gooſtly / that excuſen hem
falſely by the loue of the fleſche and the ſteringe of the
luſt that comounly eſcheweth that is mooſt hoolſome to the
kynde ȝif it be not likynge to the ſenſualitie / and deſireth
that is mooſt vnholſom ȝif it be delicate and likynge therto:
wherefor among alle the ſpices of glotenye this ſemeth
moſt reprouable / in alſo moche as it is not onely contrarie
to the ſoule / bot alſo deſtroyeth and ſleeth the body. And
ſo he that taketh mete or drynke wilfully knowynge that it
is contrarie to hym and vndiſpoſynge to bodily hele may
drede of his dome and reproue in goddes ſiȝt / as of a man
ſleere and / that is worſe / ſleere of hym ſelf. Othere men
that ben ouercome by the ſenſualite and the temptacioun of
¶ But for alſo moche as this vice of gloteny in alle his ſpices is reprouable / therfore it is nedfull to vs forto ſchewe it to oure power / and gete and kepe the vertue of diſcrete abſtynence / as oure lorde Jeſu and his apoſtles and othere ſeyntes hauen bothe tauȝte vs and ȝeuen vs enſaumple· kepynge the body and fedynge as it is nedefulle therto / after the kynde therof and the trauaille that longeth therto: in manere as a horſe oweth to be kept forto doo his jorney / ſo that he faille not by defaute in to myche abſtynence on the tone ſide and that he be not rebelle to the ſpirite and to prowde by pamperynge on the tother ſide / bot in a good mene of abſtinence that techeth the vertue of diſcrecioun.
¶ The whiche diſcrecioun / as ſeynt Bernard ſeith / is not
only a vertu / bot alſo keper and leder of alle othere vertues:
for ȝif that lakke / that ſemeth vertu is vice. As ſeint gregorie
ſeith: Diſcreſſioun is moder and keper of alle vertues. This
diſcrecioun touchinge abſtinence and fedynge of the body
ſtant generally in this poynt / as ſeynt Auſtyn ſeith in his
book of confeſſiouns / that a man take of mete and drynke
to ſuſtenaunce of the body onely as he wolde take oſ medicyne
forto hele his infirmyte. Wherfore riȝte as in takynge
of medecyne man hath no reward to more or laſſe / or to
the precioſite / or boſtouſneſſe / or ſwetnes / or bitterneſſe /
bot only as it is moſt conuenient and profitable to hele the
ſoore or the ſikneſſe: ſo for alſo myche as hunger and
thruſte ben enfirmytees of mankynde / thoruȝ the firſte
ſinne of man / mete and drynke that ben as medecyne to
¶ For alſo myche as here endeth the thridde parte of this book that ſtant in contemplacioun of criſtes bleſſed lyf for the Wedneſday / vppon the whiche day to oure enſaumple he bygan to fiȝte aȝenſt glotenye / ſpecially by his faſtynge in deſerte / as it is ſeide bifore: the whiche vice of glotterye he graunte vs of his grace to eſchewe in the vertu of diſcrete abſtynence to kepe / that is bleſſid with outen ende. Amen.
Two tymes / as the goſpell telleth / that oure lorde Jeſu multiplied a fewe loues of brede and therwith fedde many thowſandes of men to the fulle. In the whiche proceſſe takynge hede to the wordes and the dedes of oure lorde / as the goſpell openly telleth / we mowe ſee to oure edificacioun gooſtly manye goode ſterynges to loue him and thonke hym and worſchippe hym ſouereynly· and ſpecially we mowe ſee in this proceſſe that oure lorde Jeſu was merciful / and curtais / and kynde / and diſcrete / and circumſpecte.
¶ Firſte that he was mercifulle ſchewen his wordes whan he ſeide thus: I haue pite and mercy vppon the peple. So that mercy ſtired hym and drowe hym to helpe hem and fede hem at her nede. For as dauid witneſſeth: All the erthe is ful of his mercy / etc.
¶ Alſo he ſchewed his grete curteſie and wonderful kyndeneſſe in the cauſe that he aſſigned after / ſeienge thus: For lo! now thiſe thre days thei abiden and ſuffren and beren me faſtynge / and thei haue not wherof to ete. As they he were bounden to hem for her benefice done to hym in that they abiden ſo with hym· and neuertheles in ſotheneſſe it was for her owne gode and profite and not for his: but that is his ſouereyn kyndeneſſe and curteſie and endeles goodnes that he hath likynge to dwelle with vs only for oure profite and ſauacioun / thouȝ there be there thoruȝ as to hym noon encreſe of his goodneſſe. Wherfore alle tho that folowen hym by good leuynge / and gladely heren his doctrine / and kepen his heſtes / he loueth and haueth likynge to dwelle with hem gooſtly and failleth neuere to helpe hem at her nede.
¶ Ferthermore oure lorde Jeſu takynge hede that many of the peple were come to hym fro fer contrey / and ſeynge the perille of the puple in to myche faſtinge by cauſe of the grete trauaille that they ſchulden haue in her goynge aȝen / ſeide thus: Ȝif I ſuffre hem goo home aȝeyne into her owne hous faſtinge / thei ſchulde faile and periſſhe in the way. Where he ſchewed that he was diſcrete and circumſpecte / ſeynge bifore her nede and vnmyȝte· and therfore ordeynynge helpe and remedye bifore by her bodily ſuſtenaunce that was nedefull to her trauaile that come after. And ſo in this ſpeche and dede of Jeſu is doctrine and enſaumple of diſcrecioun to prelates and hem that han cure of othere to take hede of hir infirmyte and of hir trauaille / and therafter ordeyne hem bodily ſuſtenaunce couenable and ſufficient / that they faille not by defaute in the wey of this bodily lyuynge in erthe.
¶ Alſo in the forſeide proceſſe we mowe vndirſtonde
gooſtly the gracious gouernaunce of oure lorde Jeſu to vs
¶ And ſo ȝif we take good entente / we mowe ſee that they that ben trewe ſeruauntes of god and choſen of hym / the more perfite that they ben in leuinge / and the nerre god / and more excellent in his ȝiftes of grace / the more meke they ben and the more abiecte in her owne ſight· for they knowen wele that they haue nouȝt of hem ſelfe bot wrecchedneſſe and ſynne. For the nerre that a man cometh to god / the more clere ſiȝt he hath gooſtly· and ſo he ſeeth the more clerly the greet goodneſſe and the mercy of god. Wherfore pride and veyn ioye / that comen of gooſtly blyndeneſſe / mowe not haue place and reſtynge in his ſoule / that is ſo liȝtened thoruȝ grace· for with outen dowte he that knewe wele god and ſothely examyned hym ſelf myȝte not be proude dedly.
¶ Alſo here is greet comforte to ſynful men of the grete mercy of oure lorde Jeſu / ȝif they wole torne aȝen and come to hym by verray repentaunce what tyme they ben departed fro hym and gone into the ferre cuntrie of wickedneſſe· for as the goſpell telleth / that he was ſpecially ſtired to mercy of the peple for alſo moche as ſome of hem were comen to hym fro ferre contre / ſo with outen dowte wil he to euery ſynful man that wole come to hym gooſtly / as it is ſeide by his wey of departinge neuere ſo longe bifore. Amen.
After that oure lorde Jeſu hadde fedde the peple to the fulle / as it is ſeide in the next proceſſe bifore / thei ſeinge his myȝt in that myracle / and how he myȝte helpe hem at her nede / for here temperel profite they wolde haue made hym her kyng. But oure lorde Jeſu knowynge this wille of hem / hem vnwetynge / fledde in to the hille ſo that they myȝte not fynde hym. And this was that hille / as ſome clerkes ſeyne / vppon the whiche he made that excellent ſermoun that is ſpoke of bifore. And thus he fledde / for he wolde not haue temperel kyngdome and veyne worldes worſchippe.
¶ But take we here good entente how and in what
manere he fledde this worſchippe effectuelly with oute
feynynge. Firſte / he badde his diſciples take the ſchippe
and goo into the water bifore hym / and than he allone
went vppe in to the hille· ſo that ȝif the peple wolde ſeche
hym amonge his diſciples / they ſchulde not fynde hym.
And ſo he ſkaped away fro hem that ſouȝten hym to worſchippe
/ ȝeuynge enſaumple to vs forto flee temperel
worſchippe· for he fledde not that worſchippe for hym
ſelf / bot for vs / knowynge what perile is to vs to coueite or
deſire temperel worſchippe: for ſothe that worſchippe is
one of the moſte perilous gnarre of the enemy to kacche
and begile mannis ſoule / and one of the heuyeſte byrthene
that draweth doun and ouercometh the ſoule dedely·
whether it be worſchippe or prelacie / or of temperel lordſchippe
/ or of grete kunnynge. For ſkarſely is there any
man that hath delite in worſchippe / bot that he is outher in
grete perile of fallyng / or elles fully falle doun in to the
pitte of dedly ſynne / as we mowe ſee by many reſouns:
firſte / for alſo myche as he that hath grete delite in worſchippe
¶ Of this veyne delite in worſchippes and of the perile thereof ſeynt Bernard ſpeketh to men ſpecially in this manere: Alle we ben noble and worthy creatures and of a grete manere wille· wherfore kyndely we deſiren hiȝeneſſe· bot woo to vs ȝif we wole folewe hym that wolde ſette his fete in the hille of lordſchippe and hiȝe myȝte and be like to god in worſchippe / that was lucifer / that thus ſteiȝe vp by proude wille in to this hille of hiȝeneſſe· firſte a glorious aungel / bot ſodeynly fel doun therefro made a foule fende of helle. Alſo taketh hede forthermore that he / that foule fend / after his falle coueitynge by his wicked envious wille to caſte man doun fro his bliſſe / he dorſte not tempte him forto ſtiȝe vp to that hille of lordſchippe and grete myȝte that hym ſelf ſo ſodeynly fel doun fro· but as a falſe trecchour he ſchewed hym another hille like therto / that is to ſaye the hille of grete kunnynge / and counſeilled hym falſely to ſtie vp in to this hille by proude deſire of worſchippe whan he ſeide to hym in this manere: Ȝe ſchulle be as goddes thoruȝ grete kunnynge / knowynge bothe good and ille. And for alſo myche as man ȝaf his aſſent to his ſuggeſtioun therfore he felle doun as he didde.
¶ And ſo we mowe ſee that coueitiſe of grete lordſchippe and hiȝe myȝt priued the aungel of bliſſe· and deſire of grete kunnynge deſpoyled man of the ioye of endeles lyf: and of bothe meſchiefs was grounde and cauſe delite and deſire of veyne worſchippe. Ȝif we drede the fal of the aungell and of man we moſte flee in wille fro bothe thiſe hilles of hiȝe lordſchippe and grete kunnynge / and go vp with oure lorde Jeſu in to the hille of contemplacioun and deuocioun by mekenes / forſakynge the worlde and the wille to worſchippe of the comoun peple as he didde.
¶ But in this fleynge fro the peple and goynge of hym allone in to the hille / as it is ſeide byfore in the proceſſe of the goſpelle / take we hede to oure edificacioun how he lafte his diſciples and made hem aȝenſt her wille to take the ſchippe and goo in to the ſee withoute him· for they wole not her thankes haue ben departed fro hym / and in that was here deſire good forto dwelle euere with her lorde. Neuertheles he ordeyned othere weies / ſeynge what was beſt for hem. And ſo then they mekely didden as he bad and weren obeiſaunt to hym / thouȝ it ſo were that it were neuere ſo greuous and harde to hem.
¶ Thus it fareth comounly with gooſtly lyueres by ſpecial
felynge of the preſence of Jeſu and of his abſence in her
ſoule: they wolde not that he ſchulde euere goo fro hem as
by ſpecial gooſtly comfort in any tyme· but he doth
othere weies / for he gooth and cometh as it is his wille
and for her beſte. Bot what ſchal ſuche a deuoute ſoule
doo whan ſche feleth her gooſtly ſpouſe Jeſu ſo with drawen
touchynge his ſpecial conforte? Sothely ſche byhoueth
beſily and ofte clepe hym aȝen in to continuel deſire and
deuoute prayer· and in the mene tyme paciently ſuffre the
abſence of her ſpouſe / and by enſaumple of the diſciples of
Jeſu / that thoruȝ meke obedience at his biddynge wenten
in to the ſchippe and token the water in his abſence /
ſuffre the wawes and tempeſtes of temptacioun and aduerſite
/ and paciently abide til he wil of his grace come in
to that ſoule and make reſte and pees / as it ſchal folowe
after in the proceſſe next to come. Of this mater ſeynt
Bernarde in dyuerſe places maketh faire proceſſe and deuouȝte
/ the whiche for alſo myche as it longeth and is
pertynent ſpecially to gooſtly folk / and alſo as I hope is
writen ſufficiently in dyuerſe tretees of contemplacioun· and
we paſſen ouer here / as we done in many othere places /
After the diſciples of oure lorde Jeſu were gone
in to the ſchippe and the water / as he bad hem /
and as it is ſeide bifore / he went vp into the
hille allone / and there was he occupied in
prayere into the ferthe part of the nyȝt· ſoo that thre
partes of the nyȝt that were paſſed he hadde contynued in
prayere. And thus we reden that often ſithes he ȝaf him
to prayere. Wherfore take we here good entente in what
manere he prayeth / and how that he loweth hym in his
manhede / and meketh hym to his fader of heuen: he
cheſeth ſolitarie places and goth to hem allone to praye /
and doth his tendre body to penaunce / and waketh longe
wakynges. He prayeth as the trewe herde for his ſchepe·
for he prayeth not for hym ſelf / but for vs as oure aduocate
and mediatour bytwixe the fader and vs· and alſo he
prayeth to enſaumple of vs that we ſchulde ofte ſithes
praye and ſpecially loue prayer. For ofte ſithes he bad his
diſciples and tauȝte hem forto praye / and ſo that he bad
hem by worde he ſchewed in ſelf dede: he tauȝte hem and
ſeide: It byhoueth and is nedefulle euere to praye and noȝt
faile leuynge therof / ſchewing that contynuynge and ofte
aſkynge in prayer geteth at the laſte with outen faile that
thing that is aſked. And hereof he tolde enſaumple of the
domeſman / that at the laſte thoruȝ longe crienge and
aſkynge of the wydowe dide her riȝt / as the goſpelle of
luke telleth. Alſo to ſtire hem forto praye beſily / and
triſte forto gete that thei aſken / he tolde another enſaumple
¶ And alle this he ſeide to teche vs the vertue of good
prayere· the whiche may not be eſtymede / for the vertu
therof is ſo myȝty and ſo grete that it geteth all goodneſſe
and putteth away all manere of wickedneſſe. Wherfore
ȝif thou wilt paciently ſuffre aduerſitees and myȝtily ouercome
temptaciouns and diſeſes / be thou a man of prayer.
Alſo ȝif thou wilt knowe the ſleiȝtes of the deuel and be
not begiled with his falſe ſuggeſtiouns / be a man of prayer.
Alſo ȝif thou wilt take the ſtreiȝt wey to heuene by trauaile
and penaunce of fleſche and therwith gladly contynue
in goddis ſeruice / be a man of prayer. Alſo ȝif thou wilt
putte away veyne thouȝtis and fede thi ſoule with holy
thoȝtis and goſtly meditaciouns and deuociouns / be a man
of prayer. Alſo ȝif thou wilt ſtable thy herte in good
purpos to goddis wille / putting awey vices and planting
vertues / be a man of prayer· for thoruȝ prayer is goten
the ȝifte of the holi goſte / that techith the ſoule all thing
that is nedeful therto. Alſo ȝif thou wilt come to heuen by
contemplacioun / and fele the gooſtly ſwetneſſe that is feled
of fewe choſen ſoules / and knowe the grete gracious ȝiftes
of oure lorde god that mowe be feled bot not ſpoken / be
a man of prayer· for by the exerciſe of prayer ſpecially a
man cometh to contemplacioun and the felynge of heuenly
thinges. Here mowe we ſee of hou grete gooſtly myȝte
and vertue is deuouȝte prayer: and to confirmacioun here
of and of alle tho thinges that ben ſeide byfore / that holy
writt and doctoures ſeienge fully prouen. Ferthermore
we haue a ſpecial profe in that we ſeen euery day by
experience dyuerſe perſones / ſymple and vnlettred / by
¶ What tyme that oure lord Jeſu was allone prayeng
in the hille / as it is ſeide / his diſciples weren in the ſee in
grete diſeſe· for alſo moche as the wynde was aȝenſt hem
and the ſchippe in poynt of periſſhynge thoruȝ the grete
wawes and the grete tempeſte that was riſen in that tyme.
And ſo we mowe ſee ȝif we take good hede by deuoute
compaſſioun in what meſchief and tribulacioun they weren
at that tyme / bothe for the grete tempeſte that was riſen
vppon hem / and alſo for the nyȝtes tyme / and principally
for thei lakkeden her lordes preſence that was all her
refute in her nede. But he / that gode lorde that knewe
what was beſte for hem and that ſuffred this diſeſe of hem
for the tyme / whan he ſawh tyme alſo ſente hem comforte
and helpe· and ſo at the ferthe wakynge of the nyȝt he
came doun fro the hille / goynge vppon the ſee and
comynge towarde hem. Now beholde we here ynwardely
how that bliſſed lorde / after his grete trauaille of
longe wakynge and prayeng / cometh downe allone in the
nyȝt tyme fro that trauaillous hille / and parauntre ſtonye
and barefote. And ſo goth he ſaddely vppon the water as
it were on the erthe / for that creatoure knewe her maker
and was obeiſaunt to hym at his wille. And what tyme
¶ In this proceſſe touchynge the diſciples we haue
gooſtly doctrine and enſaumple of pacience in tribulacioun
and of the profit therof / as we hadde bifore touchinge
hym ſelf of the vertue of prayer / as it is ſeide. Wherfore
we ſchulle vndirſtonde that as it felle with the diſciples
bodily / ſo it falleth with vs all day gooſtly. Oure lorde
Jeſu ſuffreth hem that ben choſen of hym forto be diſeſed
and haue grete tribulacioun in this world / bothe in body
and in ſoule· for als holy writt witneſſeth: He beteth
euery child that he reſceyueth to his grace· and as
the apoſtle poule ſeith: Alle tho that ben with oute
diſcipline ben not kynde children / bot of avoutrie. And
it is ſpedefulle to vs ſo to be beten and to ſuffre tribulacioun
and diſeſe in this worlde for many cauſes· for thereby we
ben tauȝt forto knowe oure ſelf and oure owne wrecchedneſſe·
alſo there thoruȝ we profiten gooſtly and geten
We ſchulle haue no wonder thouȝ ſomme men
taken occaſioun of ſclaundre of oure wordes
and dedes / be they neuere ſo gode and trewe·
for ſo it byfel of oure lorde Jeſu ofte ſithes·
and ȝit myȝte not he erre in worde or dede. Wherfore
byfelle on a tyme that the phariſees aſkeden him: Why
that his diſciples waſched not her hondes whan thei went
¶ Alſo ofte ſithes oure lorde Jeſu wrouȝte myracles vppon the ſabbot dayes / that weren goddes haly dayes to the Jewes as ben the ſondayes now to criſten men· and that he didde to confuſioun and reproue of the Jewes that kepten ſtreiȝtly the lawe in bodily obſeruaunces and not in gooſtly vndirſtondynge / as his wille was: for he bad not the haliday forto leue therynne good worchynge and dedes of charite / bot forto ceſe and abſteyne fro ſynne and bodily werkes. Wherfore they weren greetly ſclaundred / that is to ſaie token occaſioun of ſclaundre aȝenſt hym / and conſpired into his dethe and ſeiden: That that man was not on goddes halue that kepte noȝt the Sabbott daye. But oure lorde lafte not therfore to worche myracles and doo dedes of charite in tho dayes· bot meche more dide hem forto deſtroye the Jewes errour forſeide.
¶ Another tyme alſo whan he tauȝte in the ſynagoge
goſtly lore / and ſeide that he was the brede of lyf that
came fro heuene / and how it byhoued to eten his fleſche
and drinken his blode who ſo ſchulde be ſauf and haue
euerlaſtynge lyf· they vnderſtondynge his wordes fleſchely
and not gooſtely gruccheden aȝenſt hym and token occaſioun
of grete ſclaundre. And many of his diſciples thoruȝ
¶ In the forſeide wordes and dedes of oure lord Jeſu we haue enſaumple that we ſchulle not lette to do gode werkes for occaſioun of ſclaundre vnſkilfully taken of othere / or for enuy and yuel wille of hem / and ſpecially of that dede that is neceſſarie to ſoule hele we ſchulle not ceſe for eny ſclaundre. Wherfore ſeynt gregorye ſeith / that a man ſchal rathere ſuffre ſclaundre forto ariſe than he ſchal leue the trewthe / that is to ſeie in thre maneres after the comoun ſentence of doctoures: firſt / of the trewthe of good lyf man ſchal not ceſſe for ſclaundre / that is to ſaie he ſchal not doo dedely ſynne for puttynge away of eny ſclaundre· alſo / a doctour or a prechour ſchal not teche or preche falſe for eny ſclaundre / bot in caſe he may holde his pees of a certeyne trewthe / as what tyme he knoweth that the hereres ben obſtynate in errour and ſchulle be the worſe if that trewthe were ſeide: the thridde is trewthe of riȝtwiſneſſe that ſchal not be lafte for ſclaundre / that is to ſay a domeſman ſchal not ȝeue falſe dome / ne a witteneſſe bere falſe recorde for any ſclaundre. Bot of othere certeyne dedes that nowe be lafte with outen perile of ſoule a man ſchal otherwhile ceſe / thouȝ they ben goode in hem ſelfe / forto putte away occaſioun of ſclaundre· as the apoſtle poule ſeith: That he wolde rathere neuere ete fleſche than he wolde there thoruȝ ȝeue occaſioun of ſclaundre to his brother.
¶ Alſo in the forſeide proceſſe of oure lorde Jeſu we ben
tauȝte forto charge more the clanneſſe of ſoule / and that
diſpoſith to vertues / than bodily clanneſſe and honeſte with
What tyme oure lorde Jeſu / by occaſioun of
the riche man that wolde not leue his temperel
goodes for perfeccioun / ſeide: That it was
harde to a riche man to entre into the kyngdome
of heuene· the apoſtle petre in the name of alle his
felawes / the xij apoſtles / aſked of hym what rewarde thei
ſchulde haue that hadden forſake and lafte alle worldely
thinges for his ſake. And than oure lorde anſwered / not
onely byhetynge to hem a ſouereyn mede in the bliſſe of
heuen / bot alſo to alle othere that forſaken fader and
moder and othere kynne and temperel goodes of his loue
the hundred folde in this worlde and after lyf euerlaſtynge
in an other world to come. Wherfore alle thoo that
hauen taken hem to gooſtly leuynge and fully forſaken
the worlde hauen mater of greet gooſtly ioye and ſpecial
Owre lorde Jeſu criſte willynge to conferme
and ſtrengthe his diſciples in that trewe byleue
that he was bothe god and man / he ſchewed
hem that he was verray man by that he ſuffred
after the kynde and comoun infirmyte of man· and alſo
that he was god by the myracles that he wroȝte abouen
the comune kynde and myȝt of man: and therwith alſo
¶ And than forto fulfille this byheſte / aboute the viij day
after he toke with hym peter and James and John vppe
into an hiȝe hille that was / as clerkes ſeyn / cleped Thabor·
and there he was tranſfigured in her ſiȝte / that is to ſeie
torned oute of the lowe likneſſe of ſeruaunt in to the hiȝe
and gloriouſe liknes of his kyngdome: for his face ſchone
as the ſonne and his clothes were alſo whyte as the ſnowe:
and therwith there appereden Moyſes and helie ſpekynge
with him of his paſſioun that he ſchulde ſuffre in Jeruſalem.
In the whiche bliſful ſiȝt the diſciples rauiſched / and
ſpecially Petir / forȝetynge all erthely thing coueyted and
deſired forto haue dwelled ſtille there in that bliſſeful place /
and ſeide: Lorde / it is good that we abide and dwelle here·
and therfore / ȝif thou wilt / make we here thre tabernacles:
one to thee / one to Moyſes / and one to helye. Bot he wiſte
not what he ſeide· neither in that he wolde haue dwelled
with Jeſu in bliſſe bifore that he ſuffred with hym the
paſſioun of the deth / as he hadde tolde hem byfore that
he ſchulde doo / nor that he wolde haue ſeuered hem thre
that were alle one as in gooſtly felynge / the lawe / the prophetes
¶ This is the proceſſe of the goſpell / in the whiche whoſo hath grace of gooſtly vnderſtondynge and ſwetneſſe may ſee many good notabilitees ſtirenge to lowynge and deſpiſynge of man hym ſelf and to feruent deuocioun and loue of god / and ſpecially he that hath felynge abouen kynde / ȝeuen by ſpecial grace / may taſte and haue myche gooſtly comforte: that he graunte vs parte of / Jeſu criſte. Amen.
There was in the citee of Jeruſalem / in the manere of a ponde / a ſtandynge water cloſed aboute with fyue dores· in the whiche water the ſchepe were waſchen that were offred in to ſacrifice· in the whiche water alſo / after the opinioun of ſome clerkes / lay the tre of the holy croſſe: where it byfel as by wey of myracle that ones in the ȝere that water was gretly ſtered and meved of the aungel of god. And than what ſeke man myȝte firſte entre in to the water he was heled of his infirmyte: wherfore many ſeke men dwelleden contynuelly by that water / abydynge the meuynge therof by the aungel· among the whiche there was one liggyng in his bedde on the paleſye xxxviij ȝere. The whiche man oure lord Jeſu heled on the ſabbot day / and badde hym bere awey his bedde and goo / as the proceſſe of the goſpelle telleth more plenerly.
¶ In the whiche proceſſe we mowe note ſpecially thre
thinges to oure edificacioun: firſte / in that oure lorde
Jeſu aſkede the ſeke man whether he wolde be made
hole· we mowe vndirſtonde that oure lord god wole not
ȝeue vs grace and gooſtly hele bot we willen and deſire it.
Wherfore tho ſynful men that deſire not and wole not
aſſente to goddes wille of her gooſtly hele and her ſauacioun
ben dampnable with outen excuſacioun· for as ſeynt
Auſtyne ſeith: He that made the with oute the / wil not
iuſtifie the with outen the. The ſecounde notabilite is that
it byhoueth vs to be war and beſy after we be delyuered
and clenſed of ſynne that we falle not wilfully aȝeyne
therto / leſte that oure vnkyndeneſſe in that partie worthily
be punyſched more harde of oure lord Jeſu. Wherfore
¶ Ferthermore in the forſeide proceſſe in the ſpecial
mynde of the aungel / we ſchulle vndirſtande that goddes
aungeles ben as mynyſtres and menes bytwixe god and
deuoute ſoules / as ſeint Bernard ſeithe. Wherfore we
oweth to worſchippe hem and honoure hem and thonke
hem· and for alſo moche as thei ben contynuelly preſent
with vs we ſchulde eſchewe to thenke / or ſpeke / or
doo / that myȝte offende hem· for thei ben oure keperes /
ordeyned of god and beſy aboute vs / coueitynge algate
oure goſtly profite. Of this mater ſpeketh ſeint Bernarde
Two tymes / as the goſpelle maketh mynde /
oure lorde Jeſu caſt out of the temple the
biggeres and the ſelleres there inne / and that
with a ſcourge made of cordes: the whiche dede
among alle the myracles that he wrouȝte ſemeth wonderfulle·
for what tyme that he wrouȝt othere myracles / in
the whiche he ſchewed the ſouereyne myȝt of his godhede /
the phariſees and ſcribes and othere of the Jewes deſpiſed
hym and reproued hym· but at this tyme whan they were
in grete multitude gedered in the temple / and in here
grete ſolempnyte / they hadde no power to withſtonde him
al one: and the cauſe was for the goſtly fire of his ȝele
brennynge withynne forth for the vnworſchippynge of
his fader / ſpecially in that place where he owed moſt to
¶ This proceſſe after the expoſicioun of ſeynt gregorye and othere doctoures is ful dredful to alle criſten men / but namely to prelates and curates and othere men of holy chirche / and ſpecially we religious that ben ſette in goddes temple forto ſerue hym contynuelly in deuoute prayere and othere gooſtly exerciſes. Ȝif we ȝeue vs to couetiſe and vanytees / and medle vs ouer nede with worldely occupaciouns and chafferynges / as thei didden / we mowe ſkilfully drede the indignacioun of Jeſu and his caſtynge oute fro grace in this lyf and after departynge fro his bliſſe euerlaſtynge. Wherfore thou that wilt not drede the indignacioun of Jeſu / loke that in no manere thou putte the wilfully nor medle the to thy power with worldely occupacioun. But for this mater is fully and plenteuouſly treted in the expoſicioun of this goſpell in many places / therfore we paſſen ouer thus ſchortly at this tyme.
Byfelle vppon a tyme that oure lorde Jeſu went
with his diſciples in to Bethanye / that was cleped
the caſtel of marthe and marye / and come into
the hous of hem· and they / that loueden hym
with alle her hertes / weren glad and ioyful of his comynge.
And Martha / the elder ſiſter / that hadde the cure of the
houſeholde anone beſied hir and went faſte aboute to
ordeyne for the mete couenable to hym and his diſciples·
bot hir ſiſtre Marie / forȝetynge alle bodily metes / and
deſirenge ſouereynly to be ſedde goſtely of oure lorde
Jeſu / ſette hir doun on the grounde at his feete and
caſtynge her eiȝen and hir herte and her eres into hym
onely / with more ioye and likynge than may be ſpoken/
was fedde gooſtly and comforted in the bliſſed wordes of
oure lorde Jeſu· for he wolde not be ydel / bot / as his
comune manere was / occupied hym with ſpekynge of
edificacioun and wordes of euerelaſtynge lyf. Martha /
that was ſo beſily occupied aboute the mynyſtracioun and
the ſeruice of oure lorde Jeſu and his diſciples / ſeenge hir
ſuſtre Marie ſo ſittynge as it were in ydelneſſe / toke hit
heuyly and compleyned hir to oure lorde as he hadde take
no rewarde therto / and prayed hym that he wolde bidde
her ſiſter riſe and helpe hir to ſerue. And than was Marie
aferde leſte ſche ſchulde haue be taken fro that ſwete reſte
and gooſtly likynge that ſche was ynne / and nouȝt ſche
ſeide bot hynge doun hir heued / abidynge what oure lorde
wolde ſeie. And than oure lorde / anſwerynge for hir /
ſeide to Martha / that thouȝ ſche was beſy and trowbled
aboute many thinges· neuertheles one thing was neceſſarie
/ and that was the beſte Marye chaſe· the whiche
¶ In this proceſſe of the goſpelle biforeſeide / ſo ſchortly touched after the lettre / we mowe noten and vndirſtonde many faire thinges gooſtly to oure edificacioun. And firſte/ the grete goodneſſe of oure lorde Jeſu in his homely comynge to that pore houſe of tho tweyne ſiſtres / Martha and Marie· takynge ofte ſithes with good wille and likynge ſuche ſymple refeccioun and bodily fode as they hadden: for as it ſemeth wele by that ſeying of Martha / that hir ſuſtre lete hir ſerue allone / there was no multitude of ſeruauntes· and ſo foloweth that there was none grete arraye in dyuerſe meſſes or many delicate metes and drynkes: and ȝit came oure lorde ofter / cuſtomably vnbeden / to that place than he dede to eny other to take his bodily fode· and that ſpecially / as I trowe / for the grete loue and affeccioun that he hadde to marye aftir hir conuerſioun forſeide / and in ſo myche as he knewe wele that ſche loued him ſouereynly euere aftir / as it is ſeide bifore. And ſo it is to byleue that oure lorde Jeſu wille loue ſpeciallye / and ofte viſite by grace / and dwelle gooſtly with that ſoule / that by trewe repentaunce and penaunce forſakith hir ſynne / and perſeuerauntly kepeth hir in the loue of hym.
¶ Lorde / how gladde and ioyfull were theſe two ſiſtres
forſeide / Martha and Marye / of the comynge at this tyme
of this bleſſid giſte / Jeſu / to her houſe / and principally
Marie. For as it ſemeth after the proceſſe of the goſpell
this was the firſte tyme that he come to that houſe / and
that ſone after the conuerſioun of Marie forſeide· and in
ſo meche it was the more ioyful to hire / for than ſche had
that ſche ſouereynly loued and onely deſired. And therfore
By thiſe tweyne ſiſtres byfore ſeide / Martha and Maria / as holy men and doctoures wryten / ben vndirſtande tweyne manere lyues of criſten men / that is to ſay actyf lyf and contemplatyf lyf. Of the whiche there beeth many tretees and grete proceſſe made of dyuerſe doctoures / and ſpecially the forſaide Bonauenture in this book of criſtes lyf maketh a longe proceſſe / aleggynge many auctoritees of ſeynt Bernarde· the whiche proceſſe thouȝ it ſo be that it is full good and fructuouſe to men as vnto many goſtly lyueres· neuertheles for it ſemeth as inpertynent in grete partye to manye comoun perſones and ſymple ſoules that this boke in Engliſche is writen to / as it is ſeide ofte byfore· therfore we paſſen ouer ſchortly / takynge therof that ſemeth profitable and edificatyffe to oure purpoſe at this tyme.
¶ But firſt it is to vndirſtonde that the proceſſe of the
forſeide Bonauenture of thiſe tweyne manere of lyues /
actyf and contemplatyfe / longeth ſpecially to ſpirituel
perſones / as ben prelates / prechoures / and religiouſe.
¶ Vppon this forſaide proceſſe of Bonauenture / ſo
ſchortly touched / he alleggeth after many auctoritees of
ſeynt Bernarde forto preue alle the partes therof/ that is
to ſeie the firſte of actif / the ſecounde of contemplatyf /
and the thridde / that is the ſecounde of actyf: the whiche
we paſſe ouer with grete proceſſe of contemplacioun and
manye auctoritees of ſeynte Bernarde. For fewe there ben/
the more harme is / outher in ſtate of contemplatif lyf
touchinge the ſecounde poynte byfore ſeide / or in the
ſtate of perfiȝte actif lyffe touchynge the thridde poynt/
that comen to her aſtate by the trewe waye / that is declared
bifore. And that is the cauſe that in this tyme manye there
ben / bothe men and wymmen / in the aſtate of contemplatyf
lyffe/ as eſpecially ancres and recluſes/ or heremytes/
that wyten litel as in effecte truly what contemplatyf lyffe
is by defaute of exerciſe in actif lyf / as it is bifore ſeide.
And therfore it is ful perilous and ful dredful to be in
eſtate of perfeccioun and haue a name of holyneſſe / as
hauen ſpecially thiſe recluſes / bot the lyuynge and the
gooſtly exerciſe of hem be accordynge therto. For ſeint
gregorie ſeithe / that there be manye that fleen occupacioun
of the worlde and taken hem to reſte / bot there with thei
ben not occupied wyth vertues· and therfore ofte ſithes
it falleth that the more ſikerly that they ceſſe fro outwarde
occupacioun / the more largely thei gedre in to hem by
ydelneſſe the noyſe of vnclene thouȝtis. And ſo of euerich
ſuche ſoule that ſpendeth her tyme in ydelneſſe and ſlouthe
ſpeketh the prophete Jeremye in his lamentaciouns in this
manere:
¶ Herto accordynge ſeynt Bernarde and alle othere
¶ But forto ſpeke of the manere of lyuynge in thiſe
tweyne lyues / actyfe and contemplatyfe / in ſpecialle / and
namely of actyfe lyfe that ſtant in ſo many degrees as of
ſeculeres and religioufe / and lered and lewed / it were
harde and aſke longe proceſſe· and alſo as it ſemeth it
nedeth noȝt for the general exerciſe of actyf lyffe as it
longeth firſt to a man hym ſelf / that is in fiȝtinge aȝenſt
vices and beſy in getynge of vertues· and alſo after as it
longeth to his euen criſten / that is in the fulfillynge of the
dedes of mercy and almeſdedes doynge of hem that
hauen habundaunce of temperel goodes in euery degre
is writen ſufficiently / as I hope· and therfore I leue
to ſpeke more of this mater at this tyme / ſaue to make an
ende accordynge to the bygynnynge of the mater byforeſeide
in the goſpelle of thiſe tweyne ſiſtres / Martha and
Marye· by the whiche ben vndirſtonden theſe tweyne
lyffes / actyf and contemplatif / as it is ſeide. Firſt / they
that ben in actyffe lyffe hauen enſaumple of Martha of that
¶ And ſo furthermore it is to note that / notwithſtondynge the grete commendacioun of oure lorde Jeſu touchynge Marye and the preferrynge of hir parte / Martha grucched not of hir parte / but contynued forthe in her manere of lyuynge / ſeruynge cuſtomably to Jeſu and his diſciples / as John witneſſith after in his goſpelle: in token that he that is called to god and ſtandeth in the ſtate of actyf lyffe holdeth hym paied and gruccheth not thouȝ contemplatyf lyff be commended byfore his aſtate. For hou ſo euere it ſtande of thiſe tweyne eſtates and degrees of leuynge / god woot all onely who ſchal be bifore othere in the bliſſe of heuene of the perſones in thiſe aſtates. And thus moche be ſeide as touchynge the parte of Martha and of actyf lyfe tokened by hir.
¶ Furthermore touchynge contemplatyf lyffe: he that
is in that aſtate hathe enſaumple in Marie of thre thinges
that nedeth ſouereynly to that aſtate· that bene mekenes
/ pacience / and ſcilence. Firſte mekenes is tokened in
Amonge alle the myracles that oure lorde Jeſu criſt
wroȝt here in erthe the reiſynge of laȝare principally
is commended and ſouereynly is to be
conſidered / not onely for the ſouerayne
myracle it ſelfe / bot alſo for manye notable thinges that
byfelle in that myracle / and dyuerſe myſteries· the whiche
ſeynt Auſtyne clergially treteth by longe proceſſe vppon
the ſelfe goſpell· of the whiche sumwhat I ſchal touche
in partie / and moreouere as the grace of oure lorde
Jeſu wil ſende witte perteynynge to the purpoſe. And
for alſo myche as the goſpell maketh mynde of thre
dede bodies reiſed by oure lorde Jeſu fro deth to lyue /
of the whiche tweyne the firſte ben not ſpoken of
ſpecially in this trete bifore / therfore it ſemeth conuenient
to this purpos ſomewhat to touche of hem nowe
¶ For ȝif we take hede and vndirſtonde that ſynne is dethe
of the ſoule / we mowe fynde that the ſoule is dede gooſtly
and ſlayn thoruȝ ſynne in thiſe thre maneres: Firſte / by
ful aſſent of wille to doo that is forbeden of god onely
withynneforth in the ſoule with outen dede therof with
outeforthe / as by enſaumple of leccherye that is forbeden /
what tyme as oure lorde ſeithe in the goſpell / that a man
ſeeth a womman luſtily to that ende forto haue to doo
¶ This is the proceſſe of the goſpell after the vndirſtondinge of the lettre· in the whiche we mowe gooſtly vndirſtonde firſt / that as oure lorde god than reiſed bodily the douȝter at the prayer and by the feith of the fader / ſo he reiſeth now ofte ſithes gooſtely deede ſoules by ſynne to lyfe of grace thoruȝ the prechynge and preyenge of holy men / and the feithe of holy chirche· and as oure lorde Jeſu ſpared not for miſbyleue and ſcornynge of othere to helpe hym that aſked his grace / ſo ſhull not men of holy chirche ſpare to profite to othere ſoules / and namely ſpare to preche goddes worde whan it longeth to her office and to reiſynge of dede ſoules to gooſtly lyffe· thouȝe ſome men ſkorne hem and reproue hem therfore. For as ſeynt Auſtyne ſeithe / it falleth all day that a man that is gooſtly dede by fulle aſſent in his herte to dedely ſynne / by the prechynge of goddes worde is compuncte in his herte therof thoruȝ grace as thei he herde oure lorde bidde hym riſe· and ſo is he reiſed in his ſoule by repentaunce fro deth to lyf: as it were in the houſe or that he be borne with oute by the dede more ouer of that ſynne. And this is the firſte manere of dedly ſynne and liȝteſt forto riſe oute therof thoruȝ grace / that is bytokened by the firſte dede body reiſed of Jeſu in the houſe / as it is ſeide. But neuertheles this manere of dedly ſynne that is onely in aſſent is moſt perilous ȝif it longe abyde / and ſpecially ȝif it be gooſtly / as hiȝe pryde or envye: for as ſeynt gregor ſeithe / that ſomtyme it is more grevous ſynne in goddes ſiȝte pride by deliberacioun in herte / than is the dede of leccherie· bot the tothere ſeldene or litel / and therfore ben many men diſceyued. But now paſſe we here ouer.
¶ Of the reiſynge of the ſecounde dede body is writen
in the goſpell of ſeynt luke: how what tyme oure lorde
Jeſu came to a citee that was cleped Naym / and his
¶ A lorde Jeſu / mykel is thy mercy ſchewed to ſynneſul men· thoruȝ the whiche as thou reiſedeſt the dede body born out towarde berienge with oute prayer made to the byfore / onely ſterynge the thyne endeles goodneſſe and pytee· ſo thou reiſeſt all day goſtely hem that ben dede in ſoule by grete ſynnes perfourmed in dede / as by the dede of leccherie / glotenye / and othere grete ſynnes fleſchely and gooſtly· ȝeuynge thi grace ofte ſithes byſore or thou be preied or ſouȝte by eny diſſertes / thoruȝ the whiche ſynfull men ben ſtired to repentaunce and forſakinge of ſynne: and ſo by ſchrifte and penaunce doynge / after the lawes of holy chirche / they ben reiſed gooſtly to lyf of grace that firſte were dede by ſynne performed in dede. And ȝif it ſo be that this ſynne be openly knowen in to yuel enſaumple of othere and ſclaundre / then is it nede of open penaunce· as holy chirche hath ordeyned after that oure lorde Jeſu ȝaſ enſaumple in that opoun reiſynge of the forſeide dede body / that was openly borne dede on the bere with oute forth in ſiȝt of the peple.
¶ But nowe as to oure principal purpoſe forto ſpeke of the
reiſynge of the thridde dede body / that is to ſay laȝare that
is foure dayes dede. For alſo myche as in this proceſſe
ben conteyned many faire and grete notable thinges / therfore
we ſchulle here more ſpecially gedere in oure entente /
and make vs by ymagynacioun as they we were preſent
in bodily conuerſacioun / not only with oure lorde Jeſu and
his diſciples / bot alſo with that bleſſed and deuoute
meyne / that is to ſaye Martha / Marie / and Laȝare that
weren ſpecially byloued of oure lorde Jeſu / as the goſpell
witteneſſith. And firſte / we ſchullen vndirſtonden and haue
in mynde the proceſſe of the nexte chapitre bifore this·
hou vppon a tyme whan oure lorde Jeſu walked in the
temple / that is to ſaye in that place that was cleped
Salamonis porche / in the feſte of the dedicacioun of the
temple / the Jewes comen aboute hym as rauyſchynge
wolfes or wode dogges / with grete ire grennynge vppon
hym / and ſayenge in this manere wordes: Hou longe
wilt thou make vs in ſuſpens and in dwere in oure hertes
what thou art? Ȝif thou be criſte / telle vs openly. This
thei ſeiden by falſe and malicious entente to that ende
that ȝif he hadde openliche knowlecched that he was criſt /
that is to ſaye anoynte kyng / than forto han taken hym
and accuſed hym as traytour to Ceſar / the Emperour of
Rome: but therfore oure lorde Jeſu / knowynge her falſe
ymaginacioun / tempered wyſely his anſwere· and als an
innocent lombe amonge ſo manye trecchoures wolffes /
ſoburly and mekely ſeide to hem aȝeyne: I ſpeke to ȝow
and ȝe leue me not· bot the werkes that I doo in the
name of the fader / tho beren witneſſe of me what I am.
And after more ouer whan he ſeide: I and my fader
aren all one· they token vppe ſtones forto haue ſtoned
hym as blaſfeme / makynge hym ſelf god. And ferthermore
¶ And in that tyme ſone after / as the goſpell telleth now to oure purpos / laȝar / the brother of Martha and marye byfore ſeide / waxed ſore ſeke· and anone the two ſiſtres ſenden worde to Jeſu where he was in that forſeide place byȝonde Jordane / ſeyinge to hym in this manere: Lo lorde / he that thou loueſt / that is laȝar / is ſore ſike. And they ſeiden no more for alſo myche as hem thouȝte that that ſuffyſed to hym that loued and wiſte what they menede· and alſo perauenture for they knowynge the malice of the Jewes aȝenſt hym in to his deth / and how a litel byfore they wolde haue ſtoned hym / they dorſte not clepe hym to hem / bot commytted alle to his wille. And than Jeſu anſwered and ſeide to hem: This infirmyte is not to deth· but for the louynge of god / that goddes ſone be glorified therby. The goſpell telleth that he ſeide theſe wordes to hem / bot it ſpecifieth not to whome· for the ſiſtres that ſenden to hym were not that tyme preſent / but a grete wey fro hym / as it is ſeide. Neuertheleſs we mowe vndirſtonde / as by the proceſſe / that he anſwered to hem in thiſe wordes by the meſſagere· or elles ſeide ſo to his diſciples / or to bothe / as it is moſte likkely.
¶ A lorde / what comforte was this to the ſiſtres whan they herden of the meſſager thiſe wordes that Jeſu ſeide: This infirmyte is not to dethe· vnderſtondynge it perauenture by hem that her brother ſchulde not deye bodily by that infirmyte. But what diſcomforte was it to hem after / whan he was dede and buried / noȝt vndirſtondynge that oure lorde mened of that gloriouſe reyſinge that folowed after / nor trowynge than that it ſchulde haue falle. Neuertheles that diſcomforte for the tyme was after torned to more comforte than thei deſired firſt / by that they wolde haue hadde hym preſerued fro the dethe and heled of his infirmyte by oure lorde Jeſu. Thus it falleth ofte ſithes with hem that god loueth and bene in tribulacioun or diſeſe· oure lorde graunteth hem not that comforte that thei aſken and deſiren / but ſuffreth hem as for the tyme to be in deſpeyre of her deſire· and after / whan his wille is / he fulfilleth her deſire better than they wolde firſte / and torneth her diſcomforte in to more comforte than they wolde haue ymagyned or thouȝt.
¶ Ferthermore as to the proceſſe of the goſpell. After
oure lorde Jeſu was certified of the ſeke laȝar / and had
anſwered as it is ſeide / he dwelled ſtille in the forſeide
place tweyne dayes· and after he ſeide to his diſciples:
Go we aȝen in to Jury. And they aferde of this worde
ſeiden to hym: Maiſter / riȝt now the Jewes wolden haue
ſtoned the there / and now wilt thou go thider aȝeyn?
And than Jeſu anſwered: Be there not xij houres of
the day? Als who ſeithe / why be ȝe afferde? ſuppoſynge
that the Jewes contynuen in her malice / wete ȝe not wele
that as ofte ſithes as the houres chaungen in the day /
ſo often mannis herte purpoſeth / varieth / and chaungeth?
But the gooſtly menynge of thiſe wordes / as ſeynt
Auſtyne expowneth / is this: Oure lorde vnderſtondynge
¶ Ferthermore / leuynge many wordes of the goſpell /
and takynge that ſemeth moſt notable to oure edificacioun.
¶ Loo hou expreſſely here alſo is tokened goſtly what
longeth to the contemplatyf/ that is to ſeeye firſte in pees
and reſte / ſilence and ſofte ſpekynge· and not lowde
crienge or grete noyſe / as the world vſeth. And ferthermore
what tyme that oure lorde clepeth hym oute by
obedience to cure and gouernaille of othere / as in the
office of prelacie· that then by enſaumple of Marie anone
he ryſe by applienge of his wille to goddes wille / loue he
neuere ſo mykel reſte / or haue he neuere ſo mykel likynge
¶ Who ſo wole than here ynwardely take hede and
byholde how oure lorde Jeſu wepeth / the ſiſtres wepen /
the Jewes wepen / ȝe and as reſoun telleth the diſciples
wepen / ſkilfully he may be ſtired to compaſſioun and
wepynge / at the leſte ynwardely in herte· namely for
ſynne in cuſtome / that is ſo harde to ouercome and ryſe
oute of / as oure lorde Jeſu ſchewed in gooſtly vnderſtondynge
by the grete difficulte that he made as in wepynge
and in manere of trobelynge hym ſelf / wrothe and
grucchynge in ſpirite / and that tweyne tymes byfore that
he reyſed laȝar · by whom is vnderſtonde ſynne in
¶ But nowe goo we to the berielles or graue of laȝare /
folowynge oure lorde Jeſu with alle that meyne / that is to
ſayen the tweyne ſuſtres / Martha and Marie / and the
¶ And ſo talkynge to gidre they comen to the graue or the berielles / that was keuered with a grete ſtone abouen. Than bad oure lorde Jeſu that they ſchulde take awey the ſtone· and they abaſſhed for the grete tendre loue that they hadde to hym / dredynge the horribilite and the ſtynke of that careyne that it ſchulde ouȝt offende hym / ſeiden: Lorde / now he ſtynketh / for he is foure dayes dede· ſchewynge therby that they hadde none hope of his lyuynge aȝen. But oure lorde aȝeynwarde confortynge her byleue and makynge the ſtone to ben taken away / afterwarde liftynge vppe his eiȝen to heuene / ſeide: Fader / I thonke the for thou haſt herd me / and ſothely I wote wele that thou hereſt me euer· but I ſeie this for the peple that here ſtant that they byleue that thou haſt ſent me. And whan he hadde ſeide thus / he cried with a grete voyce: Laȝar / come out of thy graue.
¶ A lorde Jeſu / what nede was the to crye? Sothely / as ſeynt Auſtyn ſeithe / to ſchewe in gooſtly vnderſtondynge how harde it is to hym forto riſe to lyf of the ſoule that is ouerleide with the ſtone of dedly ſynne in cuſtome. How many ben there / ſeith ſeynt Auſtyne / in this peple the whiche ben ouerleide with this heuy byrthene of wicked cuſtome? Perauenture ſome heren me that ben ouercome with leccherie or glotonye / that the apoſtle forbedeth hem / where he ſeith thus: Wille ȝe not be drunken with wyne / in the whiche is leccherye. And they ſeyenge aȝen: We mowe not. And ſo forth of othere grete myſdedes and wickedneſſes that god forbedeth and holy chirche· whan it is ſeide to hem: Dothe none of thiſe / leſt ȝe periſſhe· they anſweren and ſeien: We mowe not leue oure cuſtome. A lorde Jeſu / reyſe theſe folk as thou reyſed laȝar· for thou art ſothely as thou ſeieſt / Reſurreccioun or vpreyſynge and lyf. How heuyly this ſtone of wicked cuſtome ouerleithe men in alle degrees / not onely lered and lewed ſeculeres / but alſo religious / nyh by in alle aſtates. Who ſo wole ſpeke aȝenſt her wicked cuſtomes / he ſchal knowe ſothely by experience and that there is no remedie but onely Jeſu. A lorde Jeſu / crie to alle theſe men with a grete voys / that is to ſeie ſchewe thy grete myȝt / and reiſe hem to lyf of grace / puttynge away that heuy ſtone of wicked cuſtome / as thou reiſedeſt laȝare· for after thy cry and att thy biddynge he roſe vp and went oute of his graue / bot ȝit bounden hondes and feet til he was lowſed and vnbounden by the diſciples at thy biddynge. This is a grete wonder / as ſeynt Auſtyne ſeithe / to many men· hou he myȝte goo out of the graue with his feete bounden· bot it is myche more wonder / hou he roſe fro deth to lyue / that was foure dayes buryed / and with that body of a ſtynkynge kareyne.
¶ But what tokeneth all this? ſeith ſeynt Auſtyne. Sothely / this it tokeneth: whan thou dooſt a grete ſynne by contempte / thou ert gooſtly dede· and ȝif thou contynueſt cuſtomably thereynne / then art thou dede and buried· and whan thou forthinkeſt with inneforthe and ſchryueſt the and knowlecheſt thy ſynne with outeforth / than reyſeſt thou and gooſt out of thy graue: for it is not elles to ſay / go forth oute / but ſchewe and make knowen outewarde that is priue with ynneforthe. And this knowlechynge and ſchewynge of ſynne maketh oneliche god / crienge with a grete voyce / that is to ſay with his grete grace clepynge. But ȝit thouȝ he that was dede be reyſed and gone oute of his graue· neuertheles he dwelleth bounden / that is to ſay gilty / into the tyme that he be lowſed and vnbounden by goddes myniſtres / to whom onely he ȝaf that power / ſeynge thus to hem: Alle that ȝe vnbynde in erthe ſchal be vnbounde in heuen.
¶ Alle this ſeith ſeynt Auſtyne in ſentence / in the whiche we mowe ſee opounly a ſufficient auctorite aȝenſt hem that reprouen confeſſioun ordeyned by holy chirche / and alſo the aſſoillynge of curates / ſeyinge falſely that it is i-nowh generally for euery man forto ſchryue hym onely in his herte to god / and that preoſtes or curates of holy chirche haue no more power to aſſoille of ſynnes than an othere commune man / but that god all onely aſſoilleth and none other in his name.
¶ But now leuynge thiſe falſe opiniouns / and goynge
to the ende of oure forſeide proceſſe. What tyme that
laȝar was reyſed to lyue by oure lorde Jeſu / as it is ſeide /
and after vnbounden by his diſciples / he and his ſiſtres
with grete ioye lowely thonkeden Jeſu of that ſouereyn
benefete and ladden hym with hem home to her hous /
makyng mykel myrthe. And than the Jewes that there
¶ Now thanne forto make a conclucioun of all the proceſſe
byfore ſeide of thre deed bodyes reiſed by oure lorde
Jeſu / ſeynt Auſtyne ſeithe in this ſentence: Alle thiſe forſeide
thinges we haue herde / bretheren / to that ende that
they that lyuen gooſtly kepe hem in lyf of grace· and
they that ben dede riſe vppe in this manere: firſt / he that
hath ſynned dedly by aſſente in herte and is not gone oute
by perfourmynge therof in dede / amende hym of that
thouȝt by repentaunce· and ſo riſe he vppe that was dede
withynne the hous of his conſcience: alſo / he that hath
performed in dede that he conceyued dedly in thouȝte /
be he not in deſpeyre / bot thouȝ he roſe not with ynneforth
/ riſe he with outeforthe· ſo that he be not ouerleide
with the heuy ſtone of wicked cuſtome. But ferthermore /
perauenture I ſpeke to hym the which is ouerleide with
that hard ſtone of his wicked maneres / and combred with
the heuyneſſe of cuſtome / and ſo is as foure dayes dede
and ſtynketh· ȝit diſpeyre he not / for thouȝ he be depe
dede and beryed / criſt Jeſu is hiȝe of myȝt and kan breke
all erthely byrthenes / cryinge thoruȝ his grete grace and
makynge hym to lyue / firſt by hym ſelf with ynneforth /
and after takynge hym to his diſciples forto vnbynde hym /
and ſo fully reſtore hym to gooſtly lyf· ſo that there
ſchal leue no ſtenke of ſynne in his ſoule goſtly / no more
After the reyſinge of laȝar byforeſeide / whan the
tyme neiȝede in the whiche oure lorde Jeſu diſpoſed
to wirke oure redempcioun thoruȝ the
ſchedynge of his preciouſe bloode / the deuel /
fader of envie / armed his knyȝtes and his myniſtres /
and whetted her hertes aȝenſt oure lorde Jeſu fynally into
his deth· and ſpecially by occaſioun of his good and vertuouſe
wirkynges / bot ſouereynly for the reyſinge of laȝar
envye kyndeled in her hertes more and more / in ſo mykel
that they myȝte no lenger bere her woodneſſe withouten
execuſioun therof aȝenſt Jeſu. Wherfore the princes and
the phariſees gadered a counſeil aȝenſt hym· in the
whiche counſeille Cayphas / biſſhop of that ȝere / all thouȝ
he mened wikkedly / propheſied ſothely that Jeſu ſchulde
dye for ſaluacioun of mankynde. And ſo haue we here
open enſaumple that wicked men and reproued of god hauen
ſomtyme the ȝifte of prophecie. And ſo by comoun aſſent
thoo falſe princes and phariſees in that counſeille ordeyned
vtterly to ſle that innocent lombe Jeſu / in to that ende leſte
alle the peple ſchulde byleue and trowe in to hym· and
than the Romayns as ſettynge her lawe at noȝt ſchulde
come and deſtroye bothe her temple and peple. A fooles
and folye counſele· haue ȝe not writen of the wiſe man /
that there is no wiſdome ne counſeill aȝenſt god? And
therfore it ſchall befalle in contrarie manere to ȝoure
wicked entent / as it is now performed in dede. For there
as ȝe ſlowen Jeſu leſt the Romaynes ſcholde deſtroye ȝoure
¶ But nowe leuynge this matere and turnynge to oure
purpoſe of the forſeide falſe and envious counſeillynge.
Oure lorde Jeſu / euerlaſtynge wiſdome of the fader of
heuene / to whom may no thing be hidde / knowynge
this malicious conſpirynge of the Jewes aȝenſt hym· for
alſo moche as his tyme was not fully comen / in the whiche
he diſpoſed to ſuffre deth for mannis ſaluacioun / and alſo
to ȝeuen enſaumple / as it is ſeide in the next chapitre byfore
/ to flee malice that it encreſed not by dwellynge / he
withdrowe hym for the tyme fro the Jewes and wente
in to a cuntre byſide deſert in to a cite that was cleped
Effrem / where he dwelled with his diſciples a litel whyle /
that is to ſaie aboute an ſeuennyȝt. For as ſome clerkes
ſeien / he reiſed laȝare the friday byfore the paſſioun ſonday /
whan the ſame goſpell is radde in holy chirche· and the
Oure lorde Jeſu / ſouereyn doctoure and maiſter
of alle vertues / not only by worde techynge
bot alſo by enſaumple ȝeuynge / riȝt as in the
proceſſe byfore ſeide / to oure edificacioun he
vſed the vertue of prudence in fleynge fro his enemyes / and
therby ſchewynge that we alſo ſchullen wiſely withdrawen
vs fro the wodeneſſe of hem that purſewen vs maliciouſly /
that is to ſaye whan the tyme and the place aſketh. So
now he vſed the vertue of gooſtly ſtrengthe in this turnynge
aȝeyn to his enemyes whan the dewe tyme was come / in
the whiche he wolde by his fre wille offre hym to the
paſſioun / and ſtrongely and myȝtily ſuffre the malice of
his purſueres in to the vttereſte ende / that was the harde
deth. Thus alſo an othere tyme he vſed temperaunce
what tyme he flewe / eſchewynge worldes worſchippe /
whan the peple wolde haue i-made hym her kyng. And
aȝeynwarde he vſed riȝtwiſneſſe whan he wolde be worſchipped
as a kynge· as it foloweth here after what tyme
the peple comen aȝenſt hym with braunches of trees / and
othere manere of grete reuerence doynge to hym in the
citee of Jeruſalem. And furthermore ſouerenly he vſed
this riȝtwiſneſſe after whan he entred in to the temple / and
there ſcharpely reproued the falſe couetiſe of preoſtes of the
lawe and phariſees· and with a ſcourge drof out the biggeres
and the ſelleres of goddes temple. And ſo vſed the lorde
of vertues thiſe foure principall vertues / that is to ſeie
prudence and temperaunce / ſtrengthe and riȝtwiſneſſe /
¶ Bot leuynge this matere. Whan oure lorde Jeſu / as it is ſeide / forto offre hym to the paſſioun in tyme ordeyned of hym bifore the worlde / come aȝeyne to Bethanye / that is to ſaye the ſabott next byfore palme ſonday· the whiche place is nyȝe Jeruſalem as aboute the ſpace of two myle: there they maden hym a ſoper his trewe byloued frendes that weren ful gladde of his aȝeyne comynge / and that in the houſe of Symounde leproſe / that hadde that name for that he was ſomtyme byfore leproſe / bot not at that tyme· for he was heled of oure lorde byfore. And there at that ſoper were theſe homely geſtes with Jeſu / that is to ſaye laȝar / Martha / and Marie hir ſiſter· and as John noteth ſpecially / Martha ſerued and laȝare ſatte at the borde with othere that ſeten alſo with oure lorde. But Marye / fulle of brennynge loue to Jeſu / and tauȝt with ynneforth of the holy gooſt / toke a ful preciouſe oignement and ſchedde vppon his hede· and alſo anoynted his feete: of the whiche preciouſe oignement the ſwete ſauour filled all the houſe.
¶ Now lete vs abide here awhile and take hede
inwardely of the forſeide notable poyntes. And firſt /
hou oure lorde Jeſu wolde haue this ſoper ſpecially in
that houſe of the forſeyde Symounde / that was a phariſee /
as it is ſeide byfore / and yn whoſe houſe that ſelfe Marye
firſte anoynted hym with preciouſe oignement and with
ynwarde ſorwe and bitter teres of contricioun· but nowe
more perfiȝtly with vnſpekeable ioye and full ſwete teres
of deuocioun / and that knewe wele oure lorde byfore.
And for that oon ſkile he chaſe that place at that tyme
¶ And ſoo we mowe ſee at that ſoper and in that hous
thiſe foure perſones doynge to oure lorde Jeſu trewe
ſeruice in dyuers maneres / that is to ſaye the mayſter
of the hous by charitable hoſpitalite· laȝar by opoun
witneſſynge of his godhede· Martha by beſy myniſtrynge /
as longeth to trewe actif lyffe· and marye by feruent loue
and deuoute worſchippynge / as longeth to hyȝe contemplatyf
lyffe. Bot on the other ſide we mowe ſee in
contrarye manere othere ȝeuynge occaſioun of offence
to oure lorde Jeſu by envie / falſe couetiſe / and wrongful
demynge· as envious Judas / that forto coloure his falſe
couetiſe / grucchynge as of the loſſe of ſo moche money
ſpended in that precious oignement / pretendeth falſely
the releuynge of pore men there by· and ſeyde that
it myȝte better haue ben ſolde for thre hondred pens and
ȝeuen to hem that neded. And othere alſo / meved by
his wordes / but othere weies and in good entente as
it ſemed for pore men / grucched and were greetly ſtired
¶ A lorde Jeſu / how ſorwful and diſcomfortynge was this worde that ſo opounly declared thy deth to marie ſpecially and to alle othere trewe frendes that there weren / but ſouereynly to thy bleſſid moder· for as we mowe ſothely byleue that worde perſid her herte more ſcharpely than eny ſwerde. And ſo than was al the myrthe of that feſte torned in to ſorwe· and namely for alſo myche as they knewen that the Jewes hadde vtterly conſpired in to his deth. But neuertheles that falſe traytour Judas contynued in his envious indignacioun· and hereof he toke occaſioun to bytraye him and ſelle hym / as he didde the Wedneſday next folowynge / for xxxti pens / where of we ſchulle ſpeke here after.
¶ Here mowe we ferthermore note ſpecially to purpoſe
that they are of Judas parte that reprehenden almes dedes /
offrynges / and othere deuociouns of the peple done to
holy chirche / holdinge alle ſuche ȝiftes of deuocioun but
folie / and ſeienge that it were more medefull and better to
be ȝeuen to pore men. O Judas! that thus pretendeſt with
thy mowthe the releuynge of pore men / there as ſothely
in the entent of thy herte / that is grounded in envye aȝenſt
men of holy chirche / it perteyneth not to the of pore men
but rather thyne owne falſe couetiſe in excuſacioun of
thyne nygunrye / that haſt none deuocioun and noȝt wilt ȝeue
of thyne owne goode. For experience openly techeth that
comounly alle ſuche Judas felawes ben als couetous or more
than eny othere· and that ſchal he fynde ſothely in dede
¶ But now leuynge this proceſſe turne we aȝen to
Bethanye / ymagynynge hou oure lorde Jeſu after the
forſeide ſopere in the houſe of ſymounde went with laȝar
and his ſiſtres to her hous / the whiche was her comoun
hoſterye / and namely thoo fewe dayes folowynge in
to his paſſioun· for there he ete on dayes and ſlepte in
nyȝtes with his diſciples: and alſo his bliſſed moder with
The ſonday after / erly vppon the morwe / oure
lorde Jeſu diſpoſed hym / as he had ſeide /
to goo into Jeruſalem in a newe manere and
an vnkouthe / other weies than euere he did
byfore· but to fulfille the prophecie of ȝacharie the
prophete ſeide to that purpoſe. And whan he with
that litel but bliſſed companye come to a place in mydde
way / that was cleped Bethfage / he ſent tweyne of his
diſciples in to Jeruſalem / and bad hem brynge to hym
an aſſe and her fole that were tyȝed there in the comune
¶ And whan the peple herde of his comynge / by cauſe of the grete myracle that was publiſched byfore of the reyſynge of laȝar / they wenten aȝenſt hym and reſceyued hym as kyng with ympnes and ſonges and grete ioye / ſtrawynge in his weie her clothes and braunches of trees. But with this ioye oure lorde Jeſu meynede ſorwe and wepinge· for whan he come nyȝe the citee he wepte there vppon / ſeynge bifore the deſtruccioun therof that came after / and ſorwynge for here gooſtly blyndeneſſe.
¶ For we ſchulle vndirſtande that / as holy writt maketh
mynde / oure lorde wepte notably thre tymes: one tyme /
in the deth of laȝare / the wrecchedneſſe of mankynde
wherby he is nedede to deye for the firſte ſynne. An
other tyme he wepte for the gooſtly blyndeneſſe and
vnkunning of man: as now at this tyme of hem that
dwelled in that citee of Jeruſalem that wolde not knowe
the tyme of her gracious viſitacioun / and therfore after
was to come to that citee her vtter deſtruccioun. The
¶ Thus oure lorde Jeſu / ridynge on the aſſe / and hauynge
in ſtede of princes / erles / and barouns / his pore and
ſymple diſciples aboute hym / with his moder and othere
deuoute wommen folowynge / entred in to that ſolempne
citee· and alſo the peple doynge hym greet worſchippe /
as it is ſeide bifore. Of the whiche comynge all the citee
was greetly ſtired. And ſo wente he firſte in to the temple
and keſt out therof biggeres and ſilleres aȝenſt goddes
lawe / as it is ſeide here bifore the xxxij chapitre. And
there was he ſtandynge opounly in the temple / prechynge
¶ And here mowe we conſidre that it is litel to charge and litel force of worldes worſchippe / that is ſo ſone done and liȝtly paſſeth away. But what ioye trowe we that his moder and Mawdeleyne and othere trewe frendes hadden whan they ſeien hym ſo worſchipped of the peple / and namely at nyȝt whan he was comen with hiſe / ſauf and in proſperite to Bethanye? Sothely he all onely knoweth / oure lord Jeſu that is euere bliſſed with outen ende. Amen.
Oure lorde Jeſu / full of charite and welle of
charite / willynge to ſchewe bothe in worde
and in dede his ſouereyn charite as wele to
his foes as to his frendes / and deſirynge that
no man ſchulde be loſt / bot alle ſaue· whan it drowe to
the ende of his dedly lyf here / and his paſſioun tyme
was nyh at honde / he trauailled beſily in prechynge and
techynge opounly to the peple / and ſpecially in theſe
thre dayes· that is to ſay firſte on the ſonday / as it was
now laſt treted / and after on the monday and the tueſday
togedir ſewynge. In the whiche dayes he come erly on
the morwe in to the temple / and there contynuede in
prechynge and techynge to the peple and deſputynge
¶ Thus made oure lorde Jeſu an ende of his open prechynge to the peple of Jewes on the tueſday to fore euen· and after in priuete ſeide to his diſciples: Wite ȝe wele that after thiſe tweyne dayes paſke ſchal be made / and than mannis ſone ſchal be bitraied forto be cruciſied.
¶ A ſorwefull worde was this to alle his trewe diſciples:
bot the falſe traytour Judas was glad therof /
thenkynge anone by inſtigacioun of Sathanas that was
entred in to his herte / hou he myȝte be occaſioun of his deth
fulfille his falſe couetiſe. And herevppon he ſlepte not·
but anone on the morwe / that was the Wedneſday / whan
the princes of preoſtes with the Aldermen and ſcribes
weren gadered in Cayphas hous / the biſſhop / forto counſeile
how they myȝte be ſleiȝte take Jeſu and ſlee hym /
bot not in the feſte day for drede of the peple / Judas
aſpienge and knowynge this counſeil went to hem and
¶ But on that othir parte / what didde oure lorde
Jeſu and his bliſſed companye that daye we fynde not
writen expreſſe in the goſpelle. For ſothe it is that he
went not in to Jeruſalem ne appered opounly to the
Jewes that day. Me thinketh it reſonably to be trowed
that he was than for the moſte parte occupied in prayere
for the perfourmynge of redempcioun of mankynde that
he come fore· and not only for his frendes that trowed in
hym and loued hym / but alſo for his cruele enemyes:
fulfillynge the perfeccioun of charite that he hadde tauȝt byfore
to his diſciples in prayere for here enemyes and hem
that ſchulde purſewen hem: and therwith knowynge and
ſeenge in ſpirite the forſeide malice of Judas the traytour
and the Jewes in that day vtterly kaſte aȝenſt hym and
into his deth. And ſo ſkilfully men mowe ſuppoſe that in
that prayere to the fader ſpecially he ſeide the pſalme
Deus laudem / that dauid ſeyde in prophecie of hym and of
¶ Alſo for alſo moche as that was the laſte day that he thouȝt to dwelle in that manere of bodily conuerſacioun with that good and byloued meyne / laȝar and his ſiſtres / he occupied hym that day the more ſpecially with hem in goſtly comforte of hem by his edificatyf and holy wordes / as he was wont alway to doo· but now at more leyſer to ſtrengthe and conforte hem aȝenſt the grete ſorwe that was to come after by cauſe of his paſſioun. And ſouereynly / as we mowe trowe / in homely comunynge with his bliſſed moder to hir ſpecial comforte· and alſo with Magdeleyn ſpecially / that euere was thruſty to drynke of his ſwete gooſtly wordes: of the whiche he ȝeue vs inwarde taſte and ſauour / Jeſu criſt / bliſſed with outen ende. Amen.
Whan the tyme came in the whiche oure
lorde Jeſu hadde diſpoſed / of his endeles
mercy / forto ſuffre deth for man / and to
ſchedde his preciouſe blood for his redempcioun
/ it liked hym firſt to make a ſopere with his diſciples
as fore a mynde euere laſtynge of his grete loue to hem and
all mankynde· and forto fulfille the figure of the olde
¶ Now take hede and byholde with all thy mynde / thou
that redeſt or hereſt this / all that folowen that ben tolde /
ſpoken / or doon· for they ben ful likynge and ſterynge
to grete deuocioun. For in this proceſſe is the moſte
¶ Now than byholde oure lorde Jeſu / after he was comen to the forſeide place / hou he ſtant in ſome parte bynethen / ſpekynge with his diſciples of edificacioun / and abydinge til it was made redy for hem in the forſeide hous alofte. And whanne alle thinges weren redy / ſeint John / that was moſte homely and famylier with oure lorde Jeſu / and that beſily went too and fro to ſee that all that neded were ordeyned and done / came to hym and ſeide: Sire / ȝe mowe goo to ſopere whan ȝe wole· for alle thinges ben redy. And than anon oure lorde Jeſu with the xij apoſtles went vppe· bot John allgate next hym and by his ſide with oute departynge· for there was none that ſo truely and famyliarly drowȝ to hym and folowed hym as he didde· for whan he was take he folowed hym whan othere fledde / and was preſente at his crucifienge and at his deth· and after he lafte him nouȝt til al was done and he was buried: and ſo at this ſopere he ſatte next hym / thouȝ he was ȝonger than othere. What tyme thanne oure lorde Jeſu with the xij apoſtles came vppe to the borde where vppon thei ſchulde ete· firſt ſtondynge there aboute they deuoutely ſeiden graces / and after he hadde bliſſed they ſeten downe alle aboute that borde / but John next Jeſu / and that vppon the grounde / as the manere was of olde men byfore.
¶ But here we ſchulle vnderſtonde alſo that that borde
was ſquare / as men ſuppoſen / made of dyuerſe bordes
ioyned to gidre· and / as men ſeien that han ſeen it at
Rome in the chirche of lateranenſis / it conteyneth in
¶ Alſo we mowe vndirſtonde in the etynge of the paſke lombe that in that tyme they ſtoden aboute the borde vppe riȝt / haldynge ſtaffes in her hondes / after the biddynge of moyſes lawe / that oure lorde come to fulfille: ſo that thouȝ they ſtoden in that tyme / neuertheles they ſeten alſo in other tyme / as the goſpell telleth in dyuers places· and elles myȝte nouȝt John haue leide his heued and reſted hym in manere of ligginge vppon the breſt of Jeſu.
¶ What tyme the paſke lombe was brouȝt to the borde /
roſted after the lawe / oure lorde Jeſu / that was ſothefaſte
lombe of god with outen weme of ſynne / and that was in
myddes of hem / as he that ſerueth and mynyſtreth / toke
the lombe in his bliſſed hondes and kutte it and departed
it and ȝaf to the diſciples / biddynge hem eten gladly and
confortynge hem with louely chere. Bot thouȝ it ſo was
that they eten as he badde· neuertheles comforte they
myȝte none haue / for alſo moche as they dredde all wey
leſt there ſchulde falle ouȝt aȝenſt her lorde in that nouelte.
And ſo as they eten he tolde hem the ſorwful dede more
opounly and ſeide: I haue deſired forto ete with ȝow this
paſk lambe byfore I ſuffre the deth / for ſothely on of ȝow
ſhal betray me. This ſpeche went to her hertes as an
ſcharpe ſwerde. Wherfore they ceſſeden of etynge and
¶ Here ȝif we take good hede we oweth to haue ynward compaſſioun / bothe of oure lorde Jeſu / and alſo of hem· for it is no dowte they were in ful greet ſorwe. But the traytour Judas lafte not of etynge / for thiſe wordes of betrayenge ſchulde not ſeme as perteynynge to hym.
¶ Than John at the inſtaunce of Petir aſked of oure lorde and ſeide: Lorde / who is he that ſchal betraye the? And oure lorde Jeſu priuely tolde hym / and / as to hym that he loued more ſpecially / ſpecified who was that traytour. And John thereof gretly aſtonyed / and wounded with grete ſorwe to the herte / nouȝt wolde telle Petir / but turned him to Jeſu and ſoftely leide doun his heued vppon his bliſſed breeſt. And / as ſeynt Auſtyn ſeith / oure lorde wolde not telle Petir who was the traytoure· for and he hadde wiſte / he wolde haue al to toren hym with his teeth.
¶ And as the ſame ſeint Auſtyn ſeith / by petre ben
figured and vndirſtande thei that ben in actyfe lyffe· and
by John they that ben in contemplatyf. Wherfore we
haue here doctrine and figure that he that is contemplatyf
meddeleth hym not with foreyn worldely dedes· and alſo
he ſecheth not vengeaunce with outeforthe of the offences
done to god / but is ſory with ynneforth in his herte· and
torneth hym onely to god by deuoute prayeres / and the
more ſaddely tornynge hym and drawynge hym to god
committeth alle thing to his diſpoſicioun and ordynaunce.
Thouȝ it ſo be that he that is contemplatyf ſomme tyme
goth oute by ȝele of god and profite of mannis ſoule / as
whan he is cleped therto. Alſo in that that John wolde
not telle peter that he badde hym aſke of the traytour / we
mowe vnderſtonde that the contemplatyf ſchal not reuele
¶ Now forthe in oure proceſſe / byholde we the grete benignyte of oure lorde Jeſu that ſo homely ſuffereth his derlynge John enclyne and reſte vppon his bliſſed breeſt. Lorde / hou tenderly and trewely they loueden to gidre! This was a ſwete reſte to John / and a profitable to alle criſten ſoules· in the whiche / as clerkes ſeyn / he drank of that welle of euerelaſtynge wiſdome the preciouſe drynk of his holy goſpell / with the whiche after he conforted all holy chirche and ȝaf it as triacle aȝenſt the venyme of dyuerſe heretikes. Byholde we ferthermore othere diſciples ful ſory of the forſeide worde of betrayenge of oure lorde Jeſu / not etynge bot lokynge echone on othere / as they that wiſte not what counſeile or comforte they myȝte haue in this caas. And thus moche at this tyme ſuffiſeth touchynge the firſte article of that bodily ſoper / and of the etynge of the Paſke lombe in fulfillynge of the lawe and endynge of the figure that oure lorde Jeſu didde it fore. And as clerkes ſeien / we fynde not that oure lorde ete fleſche in all his lyf / bot onely at this tyme in etynge of that lambe / more for myſterie than for bodily fode.
¶ Touchynge the ſecounde poynt / that is the waſchynge
of the diſciples feet. We ſchulle vnderſtande that
after the forſeide proceſſe oure lorde Jeſu roſe vppe fro the
forſeide ſopere / and alſo his diſciples anon with hym / vnwetynge
what he wolde doo ferthermore / or whider he
wolde goo· and than went he with hem downe in to the
neither hous / vnder the forſeide lofte / as they ſeien that
han ſeen that place. And there he badde alle the diſciples
¶ Now ȝif we ȝeue here good entent to the dedes of
oure lorde Jeſu and all that foloweth in this tyme / ſothely
we mowe with grete wonder be ſtired ſpecially bothe to
the loue and drede of hym. For what was that to ſee the
kynge of bliſſe and that hiȝe lorde of maieſtie knele doun
and bowe hym to the feete of a pore fiſſhere / and ſo forthe
to alle othere that there ſeten aboute· and ſo with thoo
bliſſed handes waſche her foule feete and after tendirly
wipe hem / and more ouer deuoutly kiſſe hem. Sothely he
that was ſouereyne mayſter of mekeneſſe ſchewed vs in
this dede and tauȝt vs a perfiȝt leſſoun thereof· and ȝit
more ouer in that he didde the ſame lowe ſeruice to his
treytour commendeth ſouereynly his paſſynge mekeneſſe.
But wo to that harde herte / ȝe harder than the adamaunde
or eny othir thing hardeſte· that melteth not or ſofteth
not with the hete of ſo grete fire of charite and profounde
mekeneſſe / and that dredeth not that lorde of maieſte in
that dede· but aȝeynewarde frowardely thenketh and procureth
dethe and deſtruccioun of hym that euere was ſo
innocent and ſo trewe louynge. Wherfore it is bothe
wonderfull and dredfull the grete benygnyte and mekeneſſe
¶ Whan this waſchynge was done in myſterie / as it is ſeide / he went aȝen vppe to the place of the forſeide ſopere· and whan he was ſette with hem / he tolde hem the cauſe of the forſeide dede· and that was that they ſchulde folowe hym in mekeneſſe eche to other / as he ȝaf hem enſaumple that was her lorde and maiſtre· and that they ſchulde not onely waſſhe othere feete / but alſo forȝeue treſpaſes done to othere· and wille and doo good to othere / as it is vndirſtande by his wordes that folowen after whan he ſeide to hem: Ȝif ȝe knowe thiſe that I haue done to ȝow / ȝe ſchulle be bliſſed ȝif ȝe fulfille hem in dede. Here alſo aftir the firſte meſſe that was the paſke lombe / as it is ſeide bifore / whan they were waſſhen and made clene / he ſerued hem withe the ſecounde meſſe of his owne precious body / that was deynte of alle deyntees: as men vſen in bodily fedynge and feſtes / firſt to be ſerued with boyſtous and homely metes / and after with more delicate and deyntees. Where of foloweth here after touchynge the thridde article.
¶ As anemptes the thridde article of that hiȝeſt ſacrament
of Jeſu preciouſe body / lyfte we here vppe oure
hertes ſouereynely / and bythenk we inwardly / wonderynge
of that moſte worthy dignacioun and vnſpekeable
incomprehenſible charitee / thoruȝ the whiche he bytoke
hym ſelf to vs / and lafte to vs in to mete and gooſtly fode /
makynge and ordeignynge that preciouſe ſacrament in
this manere. Whan he hadde waſche his diſciples fete
and was gone vppe aȝeyn with hem there he byfore ſatte
at the ſopere / as it is ſeide / as for an ende of the ſacrifices
of the olde lawe and bygynnynge of the newe teſtament /
makynge hym ſelf oure ſacrifice / he toke brede in his
¶ Take now good hede here thou criſten man / but
ſpecially thou preoſt / how deuoutly / how dyligently
and trewely thy lorde Jeſu criſte firſte made this preciouſe
ſacrament· and after with his bliſſed handes mynyſtred
it and communed that bliſſed and his byloued meigne.
And on the tother ſide take hede with what deuoute
wondre firſte they ſeie hym make that wonderfulle and
excellent ſacrament· and after with what drede and
reuerence they toke it and reſceyued it of hym. Sothely
at this tyme they lefte al theire kyndely reſoun of man /
and onely reſtede in trewe byleue to alle that he ſeide
and didde / byleuynge with oute eny dowte that he was
god and myȝt not erre. And ſo moſte thou doo that wolt
fele and haue the vertue and the goſtly ſwetneſſe of this
bliſſed ſacrament. This is that ſwete and preciouſe
memoriale that ſouereynly makith mannis ſoule worthy
and pleſyng to god alſo ofte as it is dewely reſceyued /
other by trewe deuoute meditacioun of his paſſioun / or
elles / and that more ſpecially / in ſacramentale etynge
there of. Wherfore by reſoun this excellent ȝifte of loue
ſchulde kyndele mannis ſoule and enflawme it all holy
¶ But ȝit more ouer lete vs ſitte a litel lenger at this
worthy lordes borde / Jeſu· and take we hede ynwardely
to oure goſtly fode and comforte / more ſpecially of that
preciouſe and moſt deynteth mete that is there ſette byfore
vs / that is the bliſſed body of oure lorde Jeſu in
this holy ſacrament bifore ſeide. And ſo by inward
conſideracioun taſte we the ſwetneſſe of this heuenly
foode / hauynge firſte in mynde the gracious and reſonable
makynge and ordynaunce of that bliſſed ſacrament· and
after the grete worthyneſſe and merveillous worchynge
there of in choſen ſoules to comforte and ſtrengthinge
of oure feithe. As anemptes the firſte poynte / we ſchulle
vndirſtonde that all myȝty goddes ſone / the ſecounde
perſone in trinite / wyllynge of his ſouereyn charite and
endeles godeneſſe to make vs pertyneres of his godhede
¶ But now here byholde we inwardely and take we
gode hede what wonder thing it was to the apoſtles than
to ſee oure lord Jeſu / verray man as they were / ſittynge
with hem bodily· and there with holdynge in his hondes
that ſelf body in that that ſemed to hir bodily ſiȝt nouȝt
elles bot brede· affermynge thus ſothely: This is my
body that ſchal be ȝeuen for ȝow· and alſo of that that
in the Chalice ſemed onely verray wyne: This is my
blood that ſchal be ſchedde for remiſſioun of ȝoure ſynnes.
And ſo that ſelfe body that they ſeiȝen with hir bodily
eyȝe byfore hem was ſothely vndir that fourme of brede·
and that ſelfe blode that was alle hole in his bodye was
there in that chalice in the forme of wyne. But than
was not that brede as it ſemed / and as it was byfore the
wordes of conſecracioun· ne wyne as it ſemed in ſelue
manere: but only the liknes or the forme of brede and
wyne / conteynynge verrey criſtes fleſche and blode / as
it is ſeide. But what mannis reſoun or witte myȝt comprehende
this at that tyme? Sothely / none. And therfore
¶ Theſe termes I touche here ſo ſpecially by cauſe of the lewed lollardes that medlen hem aȝenſt the feith falſely. And more ouer this feith of this excellent ſacrament / tauȝt by holy doctoures and worthy clerkes / is confermed by many maneres of myracles / as we reden in many bookes and heren all day preched and tauȝt. But here lawheth the lollarde and ſkorneth holy chirche in allegeaunce of ſuche myracles / haldynge hem bot magge tales and feyned illuſiouns: and by cauſe that he taſteth nouȝt the ſwetteneſſe of this precious ſacrament / ne feleth the gracious worchynge thereof in hym ſelf / therfore he leueth noȝt that eny othir dothe. But here in confuſioun of alle falſe lollardes / and in comforte of alle trewe loueres and worſchipperes of this holy ſacrament / and principally to the louynge and honour of the hiȝe auctor and makere there of / oure lorde Jeſu / I ſchal ſeie more ouer ſomwhat in ſpecialle that I knowe ſothely of the gracious worchynge in ſenſible felynge of this bliſſed ſacrament· the whiche marveylous worchynge and felynge abouen comoun kynde of man ſcheweth and proueth ſouereynely the bleſſid bodyly preſence of Jeſu in that ſacrament.
¶ There is one perſone that I knowe now lyuynge /
and perauenture there ben many that I knowe not in the
ſelf degre or hiȝere / the whiche perſone often tymes / whan
oure lord Jeſu voucheth ſaufe to touche hym of his grace /
in tretynge of that bliſſed ſacrament with the ynwarde
ſiȝt of his ſoule and deuowte meditacioun of his preciouſe
paſſioun / ſodeynly feleth alſo ſched in to the ſelf body
¶ A lorde Jeſu / in what delectable paradyſe is he for
that tyme that thus feleth that bleſſed bodily preſence of
the in that preciouſe ſacrament· thoruȝ the whiche he
feleth him ſenſibily / with vnſpekeable ioye / as he were
ioyned body to body? Sothely I trowe that there may no
man telle it or ſpeke it· and I am ſiker that there may no
man fully and ſothefaſtly knowe it / but onely he that in
experience feleth it: for with outen doute this is ſpecially
that hidde manna / that is to ſay aungelles mete / that no
man knoweth bot he that feleth it / as ſeynt John therof
witneſſith in his apocalipſe: and he that ſothfaſtly feleth
it may wele ſaye with Dauid the prophete / ſouereynly
reioyſynge body and ſoule / herte and fleſche / in god
alyue:
¶ Thus haue I vnderſtonden of the forſeide graciouſe /
wonderfulle / and myraculouſe worchynge of oure lorde
Jeſu / ſchewynge ſenſibly his bliſſed / dilectable bodily
preſence in that moſt excellent ſacrament of the auȝter /
in manere as the forſaide perſone that feled it myȝte telle
it ſo in partye / and as I kouthe ſchortely and inperfiȝtly
¶ Ferthermore touchynge the ferthe article. Take
hede / thou criſten ſoule that haſt eny liȝt withyn the of the
fire of loue / how this ſouerayne ſcole mayſter / Jeſu criſte /
made to his diſciples a noble ſermoun fulle of goſtly ſwetneſſe
and brennynge coles of loue and charitee. For whan
he hadde ȝeuen that bliſſed ſacrament to his diſciples and /
amonge othere / of his hiȝe charitee to his enemye / that
wicked Judas / he ſeide to hym:
¶ And in the mene tyme oure lorde Jeſu made this
forſeide longe and worthy ſermoun to his diſciples. Of
the whiche profitable ſentence / firſte commendynge pees
to his diſciples / we mowe vnderſtonde alle the effecte
comprehended ſchortly that he enfourmed hem ſpecially
and betauȝte to hem with pees thre principal vertues / that
is to ſeie: feithe / hope / and charite. Firſte he bytauȝt to
hem charite ofte ſithes and moſt beſily whan he ſeide:
¶ In feithe alſo he enformed hem and ſtabled hem
more perfitely in byleue of his godhede / ſeienge in theſe
wordes:
¶ In hope alſo he comforted hem in many maneres:
and firſte touchynge the effecte of preyere / ſeyenge to
hem in theſe wordes:
¶ And after this oure lorde Jeſu turned his ſpeche to
the fader / liftynge vppe his louely eiȝen to heuene / and
commendynge firſte hym ſelf after the manhede / and after
prayenge tenderly for his diſciples· and ferthermore preyenge
not only for hem / bot alſo for all hem that ſchulde
byleue on hym after thoruȝ her worde· and into that ende
at the laſte that alle myȝte be oned to gidre in trewe loue
and charite / as the fader in the ſone and the ſone in the
¶ A lorde Jeſu / how wonderfully perceden theſe forſeide wordes the hertes of thy diſciples: for ſothely they loueden the ſo feruentlye that they myȝt nouȝt haue boren hem / ne had ben the ſpecial preſeruynge of thy grace. And ſo who ſo hath grace inwardely to bythenke and diligently to diſcuſſe alle the proceſſe of this bliſſed and worthy ſermoun / ſkilfully he ſchalbe ſtered in to the brennynge loue of Jeſu / and likyngly reſte in the ſwetneſſe of his bliſſed doctrine. And on that other ſide / who ſo taketh hede to his diſciples how they ſtonden ſorwfully hangynge doun her heuedes and wepynge and hiȝely ſiȝhynge / reſonably he may be ſtired to grete compaſſioun / and ſpecially for John / that was moſte familiar with Jeſu / and that toke goode hede ſpecially bifore othere to alle that Jeſu ſpake / as he was choſen by ſpecial grace onely to write ſothely thoo forſeide ſwete wordes of Jeſu to edifienge of all holy chirche and oure hiȝe comforte.
¶ Ferthermore amonge othere wordes of Jeſu we reden
that he ſeide to his diſciples: Riſen vp and go we hens.
A dere god / what drede then entered in to hem / not
knowynge whider they ſchulde goo / and gretely dredene
of his departynge fro hem. Neuertheles he ſpake to hem
afterwarde / fulfillynge the proceſſe of his ſermoun goynge
by the weye / and they beſily takynge hede to it. Now
byholde how the diſciples folowen hym in the manere
of chykenes that folowen the henne / and putten hir hydderwarde
and thiderwarde forto come vndir hir wynges:
and ſo they deſireden hem now one and now an othere to
here and to be nexte hym / and that he ſuffrede and liked
wele. At the laſte whan this ſermoun was done / and alle
miſteries fulfilled / he went with hem in to a ȝerde or a
¶ Here now haue in mynde that oure lord Jeſu ȝaf vs enſaumple in this euentide and nyȝt of fyue grete vertues: that is to ſay / firſte / of profounde mekeneſſe as it is ſeide in the waſſhynge of his diſciples fete· after / of ſouereyne charitee in the excellent ſacrament of his bliſſed body / and in that ſwete ſermoun fulle of brennynge coles of charitee· and the thridde / of paſſynge pacience in ſo benigne ſuffringe of his traytour and alle the deſpite done to hym after· the ferthe / of perfite obedience in takynge wilfully that harde paſſioun and bitter dethe after the fader wille: and the fifte / of deuoute prayer contynuede thre tymes in longe and feruent prayenge / and his preciouſe blood ſchedynge. In the whiche fyue vertues he graunte vs grace to folowe hym / Jeſu / that bliſſed be euere with outen ende. Amen.
At the bygynnynge thou that deſireſt to haue ſorwefull
compaſſioun / thoruȝ feruent inward affeccioun
/ of the peynefull paſſioun of Jeſu / thou
moſte in thy mynde depart in manere for the
tyme the myȝt of the godhede fro the kyndely infirmyte
of the manhede· though it ſo be in ſothenes that the
godhede was neuer departed fro the manhede. For there
beth many ſo blynded goſtly by vnreſonable ymaginacioun
of the myȝt of the godhede in Jeſu / that thei trowe not that
eny thing myȝte be peynefull or ſorwful to hym as to
another comune man that hath only the kynde of man·
and therfore haue they non compaſſioun of the peynes
that he ſuffrede / ſuppoſynge that for alſo moche as he was
god there myȝt no thing be aȝenſt his wille or dere hym.
But therfore here aȝenſt forto haue trewe ymaginacioun
and ynward compaſſioun of the peynes and the paſſioun
of oure lorde Jeſu / verrey god and man / we ſchal vnderſtande
that as his wille was to ſuffre the hardeſt deth and
moſt ſorwful peynes for the redempcioun of mankynde / ſo
by the ſelf wille he ſuſpendet in all his paſſioun the vſe of
the myȝt of the godhede fro the infirmyte of the manhede·
no more takynge of that myȝt for the tyme than hath
another tendre and delicate man / only after the kynde of
man. Wherfore thou ſchalt ymagyne and ynwardely
thinke of hym in his paſſioun as of a faire ȝonge man
of the age of xxxiij ȝere / that were the faireſte / the wiſeſte /
and the moſte riȝtwyſſe in his leuinge· and mooſt goodly
and innocent that euere was or myȝt be in this world· ſo
¶ Go we than to the proceſſe of his paſſioun / takynge
hede and makynge vs in mynde as in preſence to all that
folweth. And firſt byholdynge how / after the proceſſe
of the goſpel of ſeint John / oure lord Jeſu after that
worthy ſoper was done and that noble and fructuouſe ſermoun
ended / wherof it is ſpoken in the nexte chapitre
biforn / he wente with his diſciples ouer the water of
Cedron in to a ȝerde or a gardyn / in to the whiche he was
wont ofte ſithes to come with his diſciples· and there he
bad hem abyde and praye. And ferthermore takynge
with him his thre ſpecial ſecretaries / that is to ſay / Peter
and James and John / and tellynge hem that his herte was
heuy and ſorwful vnto the deth / bad hem there abyde and
wake with hym in prayeres. And ſo a litel ferther fro hem /
as aboute the ſpace of a ſtones caſt / vppon a litel hulle /
¶ But here abide we a litell while / and take we hede
with a deuoute mynde of this wonderfull dede of oure
lord Jeſu / ſothely worthy to be had in inward ſorwful
compaſſioun· for loo now he prayeth mekely to the fader /
and that for hym ſelf· as we reden that he hath ofte
byfore prayed / but than for vs as oure aduokett. Wherfore
ſkilfully we ſchulde be ſtired to inward compaſſioun
and wondre here of the loweſt mekeneſſe / of the moſte perfiȝte
obediens / and of the vnſpekable charite of god
ſchewed to vs· and firſte of this moſte profounde mekeneſſe
/ conſideringe hym that is verray god / euene with
the fader all myȝty and euerelaſtynge / ſo as it were forȝetynge
hym ſelf as god / and ſo lowely prayenge as
another comune man of the peple. Alſo take hede of his
moſte perfiȝte obedience. For what is that he prayeth?
Sothely he prayeth the fader / ȝif it be his wille that he be
nouȝt ſlayn and putte to that hard deth· and ȝit with the
fader he hath ordeyned to take that deth for man. And
ſo he prayeth the fader / and ȝit he is nouȝt herde after his
wille / that is to ſeie after oon manere of wil that was in
hym. For there was in hym thre manere of willes: that
is to ſay / firſt the wille of the fleſche and the ſenſualite /
and that grucched and dredde and wolde nouȝt gladly ſuffre
deth: alſo the wille of reſoun / and that was obeiſſaunt
and aſſentaunt / as the prophete yſaie of hym ſeith: He
was offred vppon the cros to the fader / for ſo was his
wille: and the thridde was the wille of the godhede / the
whiche ȝaf the ſentence of his paſſioun and bad in all
manere to be done. Wherfore / in alſo myche as he was
verray man / he dredde as man aftir the firſte wille / and
¶ Of the prayer of oure lorde Jeſu / ſwetyng blood.
Byholde now how he prayeth / longe tyme knelinge
vppon the grounde he ſpeketh to the fader and ſeith in
thiſe manere wordes: My dere fader / all myȝty and fulle
of pitee and of mercy / I beſeche the that thow here my
prayer and deſpiſe nouȝt my bede· byhalde to me and
here me· for I am made ſory in myn exerciſe of vertue /
ſchewynge to myn enemyes pacience and charite and
thay nouȝt amende it. And ſo my ſpirit is in angwiſche
within me / and myn herte greuouſly deſtourblede· wherfore
bowe thin ere to me and take hede to the voys of my
bede. It likede the / fader / to ſende me in to the worlde
forto make aſeeth for the wrong that was done of man
to ȝow· and anone at ȝour wille and biddinge I was redy
and ſeide / Lo I go. And ſo thy ſoothfaſtneſſe and thy
hele I haue declared and ſchewed· and I / euere pouere
and in dyuers trauailles fro my ȝouthe / doynge thy wille
and all that thou haſt boden me / am now redy to fulfille
vtterly tho thinges that bene ȝit to be done and full ended.
Thow ſeeſt / fader / the malice that myn enemyes hauen
¶ And after this prayer oure lorde Jeſu tornede aȝeyn
to his diſciples / and woke ham / and comforted ham ȝit
to praye. And eft the ſecounde tyme / and the thridde
tyme turnede aȝeyne to his prayere in diuerſe places a
litel fro other / as in the ſpace of a ſtones caſt liȝtly with
oute grete ſtrengthe· and contenued the forſaide prayer
to the fader / addynge to and ſaienge: My fader riȝtwis /
if it ſo be that thou haſt ordeynede and wilt in all manere
that I ſuffre the deth vppon the croſſe / thy wille be fulfilled.
But I recomende to the / fader / my ſwete moder
¶ Sothely here is grete mater of ſorwe and compaſſioun / that ouȝt to ſtere the hardeſt herte that is in this world to haue ynward compaſſioun of that grete and ſouerayne angwiſſhe that oure lorde Jeſu ſuffrede in that tyme and for oure ſake· for by the godhede he ſawe the hardeſt and ſouerayn paynes that were to come in his body· and therfore after the manhode his tendre body for fere and anguyſſh brak out violently of blode.
¶ Take hede alſo here that is ſpecially to be noted
aȝenſt oure inpacience· how oure lord Jeſu prayeth thre
tymes or he haue anſwere fro the fader. But than at the
thridde tyme / whan oure lorde Jeſu was in ſo grete
angwiſſhe of ſpirite / as it is ſeide / loo the prince of
goddes aungelles / Michael by name / ſtondynge by hym
comforted hym and ſeide: Haile / my lorde Jeſu / ȝoure
deuoute prayer and ȝoure blody ſwote I haue offred and
ſchewed to ȝoure fader of heuene in ſiȝt of all his bleſſid
courte· and we alle fallynge doun byfore hym / haue
byſouȝt hym to putte away fro ȝow this bitter drynk of
ȝoure paſſioun. But the fader anſwerde and ſeide: My
dere loued ſone knoweth wel that the redempcioun of
mankynde / the whiche we deſiren ſo of oure hiȝe charite /
may not be fulfilled and done ſo conueniently and reſonably
with outen ſchedinge of his blood· wherfore if he
wole the hele of ſoules / it byhoueth hym to die for ham.
And therfore / my lorde / what deme ȝe now in this
mater? Oure lorde Jeſu anſwered than to the aungel:
¶ Of the takyng of oure lorde Jeſu.
¶ O trewe loue / ſothely he loued hem in to the vttreſt
that in ſo grete anguyſſhe and ſo bittre agonye was ſo beſy
to procure hir hele and her reſte. Than ſawh oure lord
after his aduerſaries comynge with torches and armes /
and ȝit he wolde not wake and raiſe his diſciples til thai
come nyh ham / and than he ſeide to hem: It ſufficeth
now that ȝe haue ſlepte y-nowe. Loo / he that ſchal
betraye me is nyh at hande. And therwith come that
wicked Judas / the falſe traytour / the worſte chapman
that euere was / byfore hem all and boldely keſſid that
innocent lambe / his lord Jeſu. For as it is writen / the
maner of cuſtume that our lord vſede of his grete benignite
was what tyme his diſciples were ſent forth /
when they come aȝeyn forto reſceyue hem in louely cuſſe.
And therfore that traitour went bifore and kuſſede hym·
¶ Now ferthermore byholde how he is ladde of thoo
vileſt wrecches fro that ryuer vpward toward the citee of
Jeruſalem· and that haſtely and with grete pyne / hauynge
his hondes bounden behynde hym as a theef / gird
aboue his cote / but nouȝt curiouſliche / and his mantel
drawen fro hym / and bare heued / and ſtoupynge for the
grete haſte and trauaille that they made hym forto haue.
And when he was broȝt byfore the princes of preoſtes and
the ſcribes and the aldermen that were than gadrede
abidynge his comynge / glad were they than· examynynge
¶ In the mene tyme John / that hadde folwede oure lord / went to oure lady and Magdeleyn and other of hir felawes that were that tyme gadered in Magdeleyns hous where he had made the ſoper byfore / and tolde hem all that was byfalle of oure lord and his diſciples· and than was there vnſpekable ſorwe / crienge / and wepynge. Take now entent to hem and haue compaſſioun of hem· for they ben in the gretteſt diſeſe and hiȝeſt ſorwe for here lorde· for they ſee now wel and fully trowen that he ſchal be dede. At the laſte oure lady drowe here by hir ſelf and turned hir to the praier / and ſaide: Moſt worſchipful fader / moſt pitouſe fader / and moſt merciable fader / I recomende to ȝow ȝoure owne and myn dereſte loued ſone. Gode fader / beth not to hym cruel / ſethen ȝe ben to alle othere benigne. Fader euerlaſtynge / whether my dere ſone ſchal be dede? Sothely he dede neuere euil. But riȝtwis fader / if ȝe wil the redempcioun of mankynde / I byſeche ȝow / if it may be / that it be fulfilled by another manere / and that my ſone be nouȝt dede if it be ȝour wille· for alle thing is poſſible to ȝow. He helpeth nouȝt hym ſelf by cauſe of ȝour obedience and reuerence / but hath in manere forſake hym ſelf and made hym as feble and vnmyȝty amonges his enemyes. Wherfore / merciful fader / helpe ȝe hym and delyuere ȝe hym fro her handes and ȝeue hym me aȝeyne. By ſuche manere wordes prayed oure lady ſor hir ſone / with all her myȝt of ſoule and in grete ſorwe: and therfore haue here pitee of hire / whom thou ſeeſt in ſo grete affliccioun.
The friday / erly on the morwe / the princes and ſoueraynes of the peple come aȝen to the forſaide place where they hadde lefte oure lorde Jeſu / and made his handes be bounde byhynde hym / and ſaiden thus to hym: Come now with vs: come now / theef / to thy dome· for this day thy wicked dedes ſchal haue an ende / and now ſchal be knowe thy wiſdom. And ſo they ladden hym to Pilat / the Juſtice· and he folwed hem as an innocent lambe.
¶ And whan his moder and John and other wommen of her cumpanye / that wente out erly to here and ſee of hym / metten with hym at a croſſe way / and ſeien hym with ſo grete a multitude of peple / lad as a theef and ſo foule and deſpitouſly ferde with / with how grete ſorwe they were than fulfilled it myȝt nouȝt be ſpoken. And ſo in that metynge to gidre of oure lorde Jeſu and hem and ſiȝt of othere there was grete ſorwe on bothe partyes· for oure lord alſo hadde grete ſorwful compaſſioun of his moder and tho othere with hire / and namely of his moder that he knewe in ſo grete ſorwe for hym as thouȝ the ſoule ſchulde be departed fro the body. Wherfore alſo we owen in alle thiſe to haue grete compaſſioun.
¶ Than / as it is ſaide / oure lord was ladde to pylate:
and they folwede aferre / for they myȝt not come nyh for
peple. He was there accuſed of meny thinges / the
whiche thay myȝt nouȝt proue· and therfore pilate ſent
hym to herode / as the goſpell of luke telleth. And
for alſo moche as herode myȝt neuere haue worde of
hym ne myracle done / as he deſirede / he hylde hym as
a foole· wherfore as in ſkorne he lete clothe him in whiȝte
¶ Byholde now ferthermore the grete pacience of oure lord in all that is done to hym· for they leden hym thoruȝ the citee toward and froward as a fole / hangynge doun his heued in ſchameful manere and paciently hering reproues / ſkornynges / crienges / and ſuffringe meny deſpites / as perauntre in caſtynge of ſtones at hym and of fenne and vnclenneſſe vppon hym. And alſo byholde his moder and his othere frendes with vnſpekable ſorwe aferre after folowynge.
¶ When he was than aȝeyn i-brouȝt to pilate / and thoo
curſed houndes beſily and ſtifly ſtoden in hir falſe accuſaciouns
/ pilate / knowynge hir envie / wolde haue delyuered
hym / and ſaide: I fynde no cauſe of deth in this
man· wherfore I ſchal vndernyme hym and chaſtice
hym and amende hym. O pilat / pilat! wolt thou reprehende
and chaſtice thy lorde god? Thou woſt not what
thou doeſt· for he neuere diſſeruede betynge ne deth: but
thou ſchuldeſt doo bettre and more riȝtwiſly if thou woldeſt
chaſtice and amende thy ſelf at his wille. And than at the
biddinge of Pylat that he ſchulde be ſcourged and beten
oure lord was deſpoylede / bounden to a piler / and harde
and ſoore ſkourged. And ſo ſtant he naked byfore hem
alle / that faireſt ȝong man of alle children that euere were
borne / takyng paciently of tho fouleſt wrecches the
hardeſte and moſte byttre ſtrokes of ſcorges. And ſo is
¶ Take now here good hede by inward meditacioun of alle his paynes abidyngly· and but thou fynde thyn herte melte in to ſorwful compaſſioun ſuppoſe fully and halde that thou haſte to harde a ſtonye herte. Than was fulfilled in dede that the prophete yſai ſaide of hym longe tyme bifore: We ſe hym in that tyme / and there was no ſemelyneſſe nor beaute in hym. And we helde hym as foule as a leprouſe man / that were ſmyten doun and made lowe of god· wherfore we ſette no reward of hym. O lord Jeſu / who was he ſo foole hardy that durſte deſpoille the? But who were they moche more hardy that durſte bynde the? But ȝit who were they alther-worſt and mooſt foole hardy that dorſte ſo bitterly bete the and ſkourge the? But ſothely thou ſonne of riȝtwiſneſſe at that tyme withdroweſt thy bemes of liȝt / and therfore all was in derkeneſſe / and in the nyȝt of wickedneſſe. Alle thyne enemyes ben more myȝty than thow / and that made thy loue and oure malice. Curſede be that malice and wickedneſſe of ſynne wherfore thou were ſo tormented and peyned.
¶ After he was vnbounden fro that piler thay ladde
hym ſo beten and nakede aboute the houſe / ſekynge after
his clothes that were caſten in dyuers places of hem that
deſpoylede hym. And here haue compaſſioun of hym in
After that oure lorde Jeſu was longe tyme ſo turmentid and illuded / as it is ſaide· and the princes of the Jewes with grete inſtaunce contynuelly aſkeden and maden all the multitude with hem to crie and aſke that he ſchulde be crucified: at the laſte the wrecched Juſtice Pilate / dredynge more to offende hem than to condampne the innocent / wronge-weſly ȝaf the ſentence vppon hym at her wille / and ſo dampnede hym to be honged on the croys. And thanne were the princes and the phariſeies and the aldermen ioyful and gladde that they hadde thaire entente fulfilled. Thay haue noȝt in mynde the grete benefices and the wonderful dedes that he hath ſchewed hem: and alſo they be nouȝt meved to pitee for his innocence· and that is more cruelte in hem / they be nouȝt ſlaked ne withdrawen fro her malice by the grete deſpites and peynes that they haue ſene and done to hym byfore / but lawhen and maken ioye and ſcornen hym / that is verray god and may dampne hem to euerlaſting deth. And ſo they now beſien hem in alle that they may to brynge hym haſtely to his deth. Wherfore he is ladde in aȝeyne into the houſe where he was bifore ſcourged and illuded· and there was drawe fro hym that olde purpre mantel· and ſo he all naked was beden to clothe hym ſelf aȝeyne.
¶ Now with ynward compaſſioun byholde hym here in
manere as I ſaide bifore / only after the manhode / ſo
paſſyng a faire and ȝong man / moſt innocent and moſt
louely / in that manere alto rente and woundede / and all
¶ Ferthermore as to the proceſſe: ſeinge his dere
moder that ſche myȝt nouȝt folwe hym nyh for the grete
multitude of peple aboute hym / ſche toke another way
more ſchort in haſte with John and othere of here felawſchippe
/ ſo that ſche myȝte mete with him bifore other
by that waie· and when ſche mette with hym with oute
the ȝates of the citee / there as two waies metten to
¶ Now if thou take good hede to all that hath be done to oure lorde Jeſu / and all that he hath ſuffrede at matyne tyme and pryme and terce vnto this tyme / ſchal it nouȝt be ſene to the as mater of grete compaſſioun of his grete paſſioun and ſorwe? Sothely / I trowe / ȝis.
¶ And namely if thou wilt in thy mynde now make
a recapitulacioun / and reherſe in general that he hath
Now ferthermore myȝt thou ſee whan our lorde Jeſu was comen to that ſtinkynge hulle of Caluerie how wickedly thoo curſed werkmen bygonne to worche on alle ſides that cruel werk. Take hede now diligently with all thyn hert alle thoo thinges that be now to come and make the there preſente in thy mynde / byholdynge all that ſchal be done aȝenſt thy lord Jeſu and that be ſpoken or done of hym· and ſo with the ynner yȝe of thy ſoule byholde ſom ſettinge and ficchinge the croſſe faſt into the erthe / ſomme makynge redy the nayles and the hameres to dryue hem with· other makinge redy ladders / and ſettynge vp and ordeynynge othere inſtrumentis that hem thouȝt nedefulle· and othere faſte aboute to ſpoyle hym and drawe of his clothes. And ſo is he now the thridde tyme ſpoyled and ſtondeth naked in ſiȝt of all that peple / and ſo be now renewed the thridde tyme the broſures of the woundes in his ſcourgynge by the cleuynge of his clothes to his fleſche. Now alſo firſt his moder ſeeth how he is ſo taken and ordeyned to the deth· wherfore ſche ſorwful out of meſure and hauynge ſchame to ſee hym ſo ſtandynge al nakede / for they lefte hym nouȝt ſo moche as his priue clothes / ſche wente in haſte to her dere ſone and clipped hym and girt hym aboute the lendes with the keuerchief of her heued. A lorde / in what ſorwe is her ſoule now! Sothely I trowe that ſche myȝt nouȝt ſpeke a worde to hym for ſorwe / but ſche myȝte doo no more to hym nor helpe hym· for if ſche myȝte with outen dowte ſche wolde. Than was hir ſone anone taken oute of her handes in wode manere / and ladde to the foote of the croſſe.
¶ Now take hede diligently to the manere of crucifixioun.
There ben ſette vppe tweie ledders / one byhynde
and another bifore / at the lifte arme of the croys /
vppon the whiche tho wicked myniſtres gone vppe with
nayles and hameres· and another ſchort ladder is ſette
bifore the croſſe that laſteth vp to the place there his feet
ſchulde be nayled. Now take good hede to all that
foloweth. Oure lorde than was compelled and biden
forto goo vppon that ladder to the croys· and he mekely
doth all that thai bidde hym. And when he come vp to
the ouermeſt ende of that ſchorte laddre / he torned his
bakke toward the croſſe / and ſtraght oute on brede tho
kynges armes / and his faireſt handes ȝaf vp to hem that
crucifiede hym. And than / liftyng vppe his louely eiȝen
to heuene / ſaide to the fader in thiſe manere wordes:
Loo / here I am / my dere fader. As thou woldeſt that I
ſchulde lowe my ſelf vnto the deth of the croſſe for ſaluacioun
of mankynde / and that is pleſynge and acceptable to
me· and for hem I offre my ſelf / the whiche thou woldeſt
ſchulde be my bretheren. Wherfore alſo / thou fader /
take gladly this ſacrifice for hem of me. And now hethen
forward be pleſed and wel willed to ham for my
loue / and all olde offence and treſpas forȝeue and wipe
awaye / and putte aferre all vnclenneſſe of ſynne fro hem·
for ſothely I offre now here my ſelf for hem and here
hele. And than he that was on the ladder byhynde the
croſſe taketh his riȝt hande and nayleth it faſte to the
cros: and after he that was on the left ſide draweth with
all his myȝt the lefte arme and hande and dryueth there-thorw
another grete nayle. After thay comen downe and
taken away alle the laddres. And ſo hongeth oure lorde
onely by thoo two nayles ſmyten thoruȝ his handes / with
outen ſuſtenaunce of the body / drawynge dounward pynefully
¶ This is one manere of his crucifienge after the opinioun of ſomme men. Other ther bene that troweth nouȝt that he was crucified on this manere / but that firſt liggynge the croſſe on the grounde thay nayled hym theron· and after / with hym ſo hongynge / thay liften vppe the croſſe and faſteneth it downe in to the erthe. And if it were done in this manere / than myȝt thou ſee how vileynſly they taken hym as a ribaude / and caſte hym doun vppon the croſſe· and than as wode theefes drowen on bothe ſides firſt his handes and after his feet· and ſo nailed hym faſte on the croſſe· and after with all hir myȝt lifte vppe the croſſe / with hym hongynge / alſo hye as thay myȝt / and than lete hym falle doun in to the morteys. In the whiche falle / as thou myȝt vndirſtonde / all the ſynowes to broken to his ſouereyne peyne. But whether that it be in oo manere or in other / ſothe it is that oure lorde Jeſu was naylede harde vppon the croſſe / hande and foote / and ſo ſtreynede and drawen that / as he hym ſelf ſeith by the prophete Dauid: That they myȝte telle and nombre all his bones.
¶ Than rennen oute of his bleſſid body ſtremes of that
holyeſt blood on all ſides habundantly fro tho grete
woundes· and ſo is he conſtreyned and arted that he
may nouȝt meue but his heuede. Wherfore hongynge the
body only by thoo thre nayles / no doute but that he
ſuffrede ſo bittre ſorwes and peynes that there may none
herte thynke ne tonge telle. And ȝit more ouer he hongeth
bytwene two theefes· of the whiche that oon blaſphemeth
and tempteth him to inpacience· and therwith other
Now hangeth our lord Jeſu on the croſſe in grete peyne / and ȝit is he not ydel becauſe of that peyne· but he wrouȝt all waie and ſpak that was prophitable for vs. Wherfore ſo honginge he ſpake ſeuene notable wordes that ben folowynge / writen in the goſpell. The firſte was in the tyme that they crucified hym / whan he prayed for hem / ſayenge thus: Fader / forȝeue hem· for they woot nouȝt what thay done. The whiche word was a word of grete pacience / of grete loue / and of vnſpekable benignyte. The ſecounde was to his moder / ſayenge thus: Womman / loo thy ſone. And alſo to John: Loo thy moder. He cleped her nouȝt at that tyme moder leſte ſche ſchulde thoruȝ feruent tendreneſſe of loue haue ben more ſory. The thridde was to the bleſſid theef / ſeienge: This day thou ſchalt be with me in paradys. Wher ynne his moſte large mercy openly is ſchewed. The ferthe was whan he ſeide: Hely! hely! lama ȝabatany / that is to ſaie / My god! my god! Why haſt thou forſaken me? As thowh he ſaide in this ſentence: My god / fader of heuene / thou haſt ſo moche loued the redempcioun of the worlde that thou haſt ȝeuen me therfore / and as it ſemeth forſaken.
¶ Lorde Jeſu / what conforte was that forſaide worde
to alle thyn enemyes· and what diſconfort to alle thy
frendes. Sothely / as it ſemeth / there was neuere worde
that oure lord Jeſu ſpak that ȝaf ſo moche boldeneſſe to his
enemyes / and ſo moche occaſioun to his frendes to diſpeyre
that he was god / as that worde· for they vnderſtood
¶ The fifte worde was
¶ O lorde god / in what ſtate was that tyme his moders ſoule when ſche ſawe hym ſo pynefully faille / wepe / and dye? Sothely / I trowe / that for the multitude of angwiſches ſche was all out of hir ſelf and vnfelable made / as half dede / and that now moche more than what tyme ſche mette with hym berynge the croſſe / as it is ſaide. What trowe we dede than Maudeleyn / the trewe loued diſcipleſſe? what John / his owne derlynge / and othere two ſiſtres of oure lady? But what myȝt thay doo? They were all ful of ſorwe and bitterneſſe / and therfore they wepten ſore with outen remedye.
¶ Loo now hongeth oure lorde on the croſſe dede / and
all that grete multitude goth awaie toward the citee· and
his ſorwful moder / with the foure forſaide felawes / ſette
her downe byſide the croſſe / and byholdeth pitouſly her
dere ſone ſo ferde with / and abideth helpe fro god that
ſche myȝt haue hym to her and burie hym. Than alſo if
thou byholde wel thy lorde thou myȝte haue here mater
i-now of hyȝe compaſſioun / ſeying hym ſo turmented that
fro the ſole of the foote in to the hiȝeſte parte of his heued
What tyme that the worſchipful moder of
oure lorde Jeſu / as it is ſeide next bifore /
abode and dwelled byſide the croſſe / with
othere trewe loueres of hym byfore nempned /
byholdynge oure lorde Jeſu continuelly ſo pitouſly hongynge
dede on the croſſe bytwixe two theefes· loo than
comen meny armede men out of the citee towarde hem·
the whiche were ſent to breke the legges of hem that
were crucified and ſo to ſlee hem al oute / and burie
hem bycauſe that here bodyes ſchulde nouȝt hynge on
croſſe in that grete ſabbot day. Than roſe vp oure lady
and alle tho with hire / and beſily lokeden and ſeyne hem
come· but what to done they woot nouȝt / wherfore they
fellen in to grete ſorwe and drede / and namely oure lady /
ſpekynge to hir ſone in this manere: My dere ſone / what
¶ A lady / what doo ȝe? Ȝe lowen ȝow to the feete of hem that bene moſte wickede· and prayen hem that hauen no reward to eny good prayer. Suppoſe ȝe to bowe by ȝoure pitee hem that bene moſt cruel and moſt wicked / with oute pitee? or to ouercome hem that bene alther proudeſt with mekeneſſe? Nay / for proude men haue abhominacioun of mekeneſſe: wherfore ȝe trauaile in veyne.
¶ And therwith one that was cleped longyne / and was that tyme wicked and proude but after a trewe leuer and martir / deſpiſynge her wepynge and prayeres / with a ſcharpe ſpere openede the ſide of oure lorde Jeſu and made a grete wounde / oute of the whiche anone ranne to gidre bothe blood and water. And therwith oure lady felle adoun in ſwowne / half dede / bytwene the armes of Maudeleyn. And than John nouȝt mowynge bere that grete ſorwe / toke to hym mannis herte and riſynge aȝenſt hem ſaide: Ȝe wicked men / why do ȝe this cruelte? See ȝe nouȝt that he is dede? Why wil ȝe alſo ſlee this womman / his moder? Gooth now ȝoure way / for we ſchal burye hym. And therwith / as god wolde / thay wente hir way. Than was oure lady excited and roſe as it hadde bene fro ſlepe / aſkynge what was done more to hir ſone· and thay ſaide: No newe thing more aȝenſt hym. And after ſche hadde kauȝt ſpirite and byhelde hir ſone ſo greuouſly wounded / was alſo wounded in hert with a newe wounde of ſorwe.
¶ Seeſt thou now how ofte ſithes oure lady is this day
dede· ſothely as ofte ſithes as ſche ſeih doo aȝenſt her
ſone eny newe peyne. Wherfore now is fulfilled in her
that ſymeon ſaide to her / prophecienge longe tyme
¶ After this thai ſitten downe all byſide the croſſe· but what they ſchulde doo thai woot nouȝt / for they mowe not take doun the body and burie it bycauſe that they haue neither ſtrengthe ne inſtrumentis apte therfore· and forto goo awaye fro hym ſo hongynge thay dar not / and longe abiden there thai mowe nouȝt bycauſe that the nyȝt was comynge on hem. Here myȝt thou ſee in what ſorwe and perplexite thai bene. O benigne lorde Jeſu / how is this that ȝe ſuffren ȝoure dere moder / choſen bifore all othere / that is the merour of the worlde and ȝoure ſpecial reſtyng place / ſo to be tourmented and trobled that vnnethes hath ſche eny ſpirite to lyue· and tyme it were that ſche had ſom manere of reſte and relefynge of hir ſorwe.
In the mene tyme that oure lady and John and othere
biforeſaide were in grete perplexite and deſolacioun /
as it is i-ſaide· they lokeden toward the citee as thay
ofte ſithes deden for drede / and than ſawh thay
many other comynge toward hem by the way· the whiche
were Joſeph of Armethie and Nycodeme / bryngynge with
hem othere miſtermen that brouȝten with hem dyuers
inſtrumentis with the whiche they ſchulde take doun the
body of Jeſu fram the croſſe· and alſo they brouȝte an hondred
pounde of mirre and aloes forto anoynte his body /
and ſo burie it. And thanne alle they riſen vp with grete
¶ Take now good hede in manere as I haue ſaide bifore
to the manere of takyng downe. There are ſette two leddres
on the ſide of the croſſe / one aȝenſt another· and
Joſeph gooth vppe on the laddre ſtondynge on the riȝt
half and beſieth hym to drawe oute the nayle of that
hande / but it is ful harde· for the nayle is grete and
long and harde dryuen into the tree / and withoute grete
thruſtynge doun of oure lordes hande it may nouȝt be
done· but that is no force / for oure lorde knoweth wel
that he doth al trewely and with good entent / and therfore
he axcepteth his dede. And when the nayle was
drawe oute / John maketh ſigne to Nichodeme forto take
it to hym priuely ſo that oure lady ſee it nouȝt for diſcomfortynge.
And after in the ſame manere Nichodeme
drowe oute the nayle of the lifte hande and taketh it priuely
to John. And thanne Nichodeme cometh downe forto
drawe oute the thridde naile of the feet: and in the mene
tyme Joſeph ſuſtened the body. Sothely / wel is hym that
ſo may ſuſtene and clippe that holyeſt body of oure lord
Jeſu. Therwith oure lady taketh in to her handes reuerently
oure lordes riȝt hand and byholdeth it and leieth it
to hir yȝen and deuoutly kuſſeth it / ſore wepynge and
ſighynge. And when the nayle of the ſeete was drawen
oute Joſeph come doun ſoftely / and alle leiden to hande
and token oure lordes body and leide it downe on the
After a litel while / liggynge the body of oure lorde
Jeſu bytwene his moders armes / as it is ſaide /
whan it drewe toward nyȝt Joſeph prayed oure
lady that ſche wolde ſuffre the body to be diȝt
after the manere of the Jewes and buried. Bot ſche was loth
therto and ſeide: Goode bretheren / taketh nouȝt ſo ſone
my child fro me· rather burie me with hym. Than ſeide
John: My dere moder / lat vs aſſente to Joſeph and Nichodeme
/ and ſuffre oure lordes body to be buried· for
elles by occaſioun of to moche tarienge thay myȝt liȝtliche
falle in daunger and ſclaundre of the Jewes. And at this
ſuggeſtioun of John oure lady / as wiſe and diſcrete / thenkynge
¶ There was nihe that place of the croſſe / the ſpace of a ſtones caſte / a newe ſepulture wher ynne no body was buried bifore / and therynne with reuerence knelynge thay leyde hym with greet ſighynge / ſobbynge / and wepynge. And after he was ſo buried / and his moder had ȝeuen him her bleſſing / they leyden a grete ſtone at the dore of the graue / and wente her waie toward the citee: that is to ſaye Joſeph and his felawſchippe· oure lady ȝit abidynge with hir felawſchippe. But Joſeph at his goynge ſpak to oure lady and ſaide: My lady / I pray ȝow for goddes loue and for the loue of ȝour ſone / oure maiſter / that ȝe vouche ſaaf to come and take ȝoure herberwe in myn houſe· for I woot wel that ȝe haue none houſe of ȝoure owne: wherfore taketh myne as ȝoure owne· for alle myne ben ȝoures. And in the ſelf manere Nichodeme prayde on his ſide. And ſche louely enclynynge to hem and thonking hem anſwerde and ſaid / that ſche was committed to the gouernaunce of John. Wherfore than thay prayde John the ſame· and he anſwerde and ſaide / that he wolde lede hir to mount ſyon / where her maiſter ſoupede on the day biforne at euen with his diſciples / and there wolde he abide with her. And ſo thay louely ſaluynge oure lady / and worſchippynge the ſepulcre / ȝeden forth on hir waye.
When it drowe to nyȝt John ſpak to oure
lady and ſaide: It is not honeſt forto dwelle
here lenger and forto come into the citee in
the nyȝt: wherfore if it be ȝoure wille goo
we hennes and torne we aȝeyne. And therwith oure lady
riſeth vp / and with all hem knelynge / bleſſede and kiſſede
the ſepulcre / and ſaide: My ſone / I may no lenger ſtonde
here with the / but I commende the to thy fader. And
than liftyng vp her eiȝen to heuene with teres and ynward
affectioun ſeide: Euerlaſtynge fader / I recomende to ȝow
my ſone and my ſoule / the whiche I leue here with hym.
And therwith thay bygonne to goo all her way. And
when thai comen to the croſſe / there ſche knelede downe
and honourede the croſſe / and ſaide: Here made my ſone
his ende / and here is his precious blood. And ſo deden
alle that othere. For thou myȝte thinke and vndirſtande
that ſche was the firſte that honoured the croſſe / as ſche
was the firſte that honoured her ſone born. And after
fro thens they toke hir waye towarde the citee· and ofte
by the waie ſche lokede aȝeyn towarde her ſone: and
whan thay comen there as thay myȝte no more ſe the
croſſe oure lady and alle othere knelede and honoured
it / wepyng. And when thay comen nyhe the citee oure
lady ſuſtres hiled her face in manere of a mournynge
wydowe· and thai ȝeden bifore / and oure lady folwede
after bytwixe Maudeleyn and John / ſo keuered the face.
Than Maudeleyn at the entre of the citee / deſirynge to
haue oure lady to her houſe / byfore the takynge of the
way that ladde thiderward ſche ſpak to oure lady and
ſaide: My lady / I pray ȝow for the loue of my maiſter /
Erly on the morwe / vppon the ſaturday / ſtoden
in the forſaide hous / the ȝates ſperede / oure
lady / John / and othere wommen byfore nempnede
in greet mornynge and ſorwe / hauynge
in mynde the grete tribulacioun and anguiſſhe of the day
to fore· nouȝt ſpekynge but by tymes lokynge on othir in
manere as thay done that bene ouerleide with grete meſchief
and ſorwe / and knowen no comfort ne no ſocour·
and therwith they herde one knokke at the ȝate / and than
thay dredden ſore· for all thing in that tyme thai dredden
bycauſe that here ſikerneſſe and comfort was awaye.
Neuertheles John ȝede to the dore / and vndirſtandynge
that it was Petre / tolde hem ſo· and oure lady bad vndo
the dore and lete hym ynne: and Petre comynge yn with
grete ſchame / wepynge and ſobbynge / ſaluede oure lady
and othere bot nouȝt ſpak: and therwith they all bygan to
wepe and myȝt nouȝt ſpeke for ſorwe. A litel while after
come othere diſciples oon after another on the ſelf manere /
at the bygynnynge makyng ſorwe and wepynge. But at
the laſte whan they ceſſede of wepynge and bygonne forto
ſpeke of her lorde / Petre ſirſt ſaide in this wiſe: I am
aſchamed and confounded in my ſelf / and I ſchulde nouȝt
by reſoun ſpeke in ȝoure preſence or apere in the ſiȝt of
men / for alſo moche as I lefte ſo kowardly and forſoke
ſo vntrewely my lorde that louede me ſo mykel. And in
the ſelf manere all the othere / ſmytynge her hondes and
ſore weping / accuſen and reprehenden hem ſelf that thei
hadde ſo lefte her lorde. Than oure lady comfortynge
¶ A lorde / how attentely and beſily Maudeleyne liſtnede to thoo wordes· but moche more oure lady / ſayenge ofte ſithes at the ende of a proceſſe: Bleſſed be my ſone Jeſu: namely whan ſche and Maudeleyn herde of the makynge of the ſacrement· and how he ȝaf hem in the forme of brede his owne body to ete / and in the forme of wyne his blood to drynke. Sothely / I trowe / that with ſouerayne meruaile here hertes meltede into likynge ſorwe and ſorowful likynge / brekynge oute on wepynge and ſchedynge ſwete teres for that hiȝe brynnyng loue that he ſchewede to man ſoueraynly in that excellent and paſſyng dede of charite.
¶ But now paſſing ouer ſo ſchortly in this meditacioun at this tyme· more ouer take hede and byholde hem this day in grete ſorwe and drede / and haue compaſſioun of hem if thou konne. For what is it to ſee how that the lady of all the worlde / and princes of holy chirche / and cheuenteynes of goddes peple / bene now ſo in drede and ſorowe ſtoken and hidde in that litel hous / nouȝt knowynge what they mowe doo / nor hauynge comfort but onely in that communynge of the wordes and dedes of her lorde Jeſu. Neuertheles oure lady ſtode all waie ſadly in a reſtful and peſible herte· for ſche hadde euere a certayn hope of the reſurreccioun of her ſone. And therfore holy chirche maketh ſpecially mynde of hire euery ſaturday / bycauſe that in that day ſtode onely in her the feith of oure lorde Jeſu that he was verray god. Neuertheles ſche myȝt nouȝt haue full ioye bycauſe of the mynde of his harde deth and his bitter paſſioun.
¶ When the ſonne was gone doun and it was leeful to
worche / Mary Magdalen and another marie with hir
ȝeden forth in to the citee forto bigge materes able to
make oynementȝ of / as they hadde ſomwhat done bifore /
¶ But what dede oure lorde Jeſu that day? Sothely /
anone as he was dede he wente in ſoule doun to helle
thereas the holy fadres weren / and than were they in
ioye and bliſſe by vertu of his bleſſid preſence· for the
ſiȝt of god is perfiȝt ioye. And here mowe we ſee hou
grete was his benignyte / in that he wolde hym ſelf go
doun in to helle. How grete charite and mekeneſſe that
was· for he myȝt haue ſent an aungel / and haue delyuered
hem oute of the deueles bondes and brouȝte hem
to hym where hym had leſt· but his loue and his mekeneſſe
wolde nouȝt haue ſuffrede that / and therfore he
went hym ſelf doun in to helle and viſitede his choſen
ſoules there· and that nouȝt as ſeruauntes / but frendes
of hym that was lorde of alle. And than all the holy
faderes / in his comynge filled with ioye and bliſſe / and
After that the worthyeſt prince and myȝtieſt conquerour
Jeſu / thoruȝ his bittre paſſioun and
hardeſt deth hadde venquyſſhed and vtterly
ouercome that ſouereyne tyraunte / mannis
enemy and his aduerſarie / Sathanas with all his wicked
hoſte· alſo ſone as the ſoule was departed fro the body he
wente downe to that tirauntȝ priſoun / helle· and riȝt as
in ſothe he was lorde of vertues and kyng of bliſſe / ſo be
his ſouereyn myȝt and riȝtwiſſeneſſe he brak the ȝate of
that priſoun and entred with vnſpecable ioye and blis to
his choſen peple / that there had bene in diſtreſſe meny
thowſand ȝere bifore. And than was that priſoun turned
in to a bleſſid paradys thoruȝ his preſence· and al that
bleſſid felawſchippe with myrthe and ioye that may nouȝt
be ſpoken or thouȝt honoured and worſchipped and
thonked ſoueraynly hir lord / that ſo gracioſly deliuered
hem oute of that thraldome of the fende / and reſtored
¶ And when it drewe toward day vppon the ſonday / that was the thridde day fro his paſſioun / oure lorde Jeſu ſpake to hem alle and ſeide in thiſe manere wordes: Now it is tyme that I reiſe my body fro deth to lyf / and therfore now I ſchal goo and take my body aȝeyne. And therwith they alle fallyng doun and worſchippynge hym ſaide: Gooth oure lorde / kyng of bliſſe / and ſone after ȝif it be ȝoure wille cometh aȝeyne· for we deſiren ſouerenly to ſee ȝoure moſte gloriouſe body to oure ſouerayn comfort. Comynge than oure lorde Jeſu in ſoule with a worſchipful multitude of aungeles to the graue / where his bleſſid body lay / on the ſonday full erly to fore the ful ſpringe of day· and takynge aȝen that body mooſt holy roſe vp thoruȝ his owne vertue and myȝte / and wente oute of that graue cloſede as he wente firſt oute of his moderes wombe / clene virgyne in his natiuite / withoute ſorwe or wemme of ſynne.
¶ And than aboute the ſelf tyme / that is to ſeyne
erly amorwe / marie Maudeleyne / marie / Jacobe and
ſalome / takyng here leue firſt at oure lady / token the
way towarde the graue with preciouſe oignementis·
¶ And with that / ſche ſo prayenge and ſwete teres
ſchedynge / loo / ſodeynly oure lord Jeſu came and
aperede to hir / and in alther whiteſt clothes / with a
glad and louely chere / gretynge hir on ſide half in thiſe
wordes:
As I ſaide bifore / Marie Mawdeleyne and here two
felawes token her waye toward the graue of
oure lorde Jeſu with preciouſe oignementis·
and when thai come with oute the ȝates of the
citee / thay toke in her mynde the peynes and the turmentis
of here dere maiſtre· and therfore in alle places where
eny thing was notably done aȝenſt hym or by hym thai
ſomwhat ſtoden and abiden / knelinge doun and cuſſede
the erthe / ſighynge and wepynge / and in thiſe manere
wordes ſeienge to othere: Loo / here we mette hym with
the grete heuy cros on his bakke / when his dere moder
ſwownede and was half dede: and after: Here he torned
hym to the wommen of Jeruſalem / that maden ſorwe for
hym: and ferthermore: Here for weryneſſe ouer myȝt he
laide doun the croſſe: and here it was that the wicked
tourmentours violently and cruelly putte hym forth / and
conſtreyned hym to goo faſtere: and here at the laſte thai
ſpoylede hym of his clothis / and made him all naked·
and ſo cruelly nailled hym vppon the croſſe. And than
with grete ſorwe and ſchedynge of teres / fallynge doun
vppon hir faces / thai worſchipede inwardly and kiſſed
deuoutly the croſſe of oure lorde / that was than ſpreyned
with his preciouſe freſche reed blood. And ferthermore /
thai riſynge vp and gooynge toward the graue ſaiden
to othere: Who ſchal ouertorne to vs that grete ſtone fro
the dore of the ſepulture? And therwith thay neihynge
therto / and inwardly byholdynge / ſeien the ſtone ouer
tornede and an aungel ſittynge there vppon and ſaienge
to ham: Dredeth nouȝt! ȝe ſecheth Jeſu! and ſo forthe as
the goſpell telleth. But thay for alſo myche as they fonde
¶ And here we oweth to haue ynward compaſſioun of hem· for ſothely at this tyme thei were in ful greet diſſolacioun and ſorwe: whan they ſouȝte ſo oure lorde and founde hym nouȝte / ne wiſte where they ſchulde ſeke hym more. Alſo here we haue enſample that ofte ſithes bifore grete ioye cometh grete diſcomfort and ſorwe· the whiche is to be borne paciently for the tyme / and euer Jeſu to be ſouȝt and called on by deuoute prayer and feruent deſire vnto the tyme that he be founde: as this proceſſe after folowynge ſcheweth.
¶ For after the two diſciples were gone aȝeyne / as it is
ſaide / in manere of deſpeire / the forſaid maries abiden
and lokeden efte in the ſepulcre· and than thei ſeien two
aungelles ſittynge in white clothes and ſeienge to hem:
What ſeche ȝe hym that lyueth with hem that ben dede?
But thay ȝit toke no rewarde to here wordes / ne toke
comfort of the ſiȝt of aungelles: for thay ſouȝt nouȝt aungelles
/ but the lorde of aungelles. And for thei fonde
hym nouȝt / therfore the two felawes of Maudeleyne / all
heuy and diſcomforted / withdrewe hem and ſitten doun
¶ Byholde here the wonderful worchynge of loue. A litel bifore ſche herde of an aungel that he was riſen / and after of tweyne that he leuede· and ȝit ſche hadde it nouȝt in mynde / but ſaide: I woot nouȝt. And all that made loue. For as origene ſeith / here herte and her mynde was not there ſche was in body / but it was there as her loue was / that is to ſeie her maiſter Jeſu: and therfore ſche kouthe not ſpeke nor here but of hym. And therfore it bifel that what tyme ſche wepte ſo / and toke no rewarde to the aungelles / bycauſe of the feruent loue that ſche hadde to hym that was lorde of aungelles / her merciful maiſter myȝte no lenger holde hym fro hir / but apperede to hir as it foloweth.
Oure lorde Jeſu / ſpekynge with his bliſſed moder
at his firſte apperynge to hir / as it was tolde
bifore amonges othir louely comunynges /
tolde hir of the grete beſyneſſe and feruent
ſechynge of Magdeleyne· and ſeide that he wolde goo
ſchewe hym bodily to her to comfort hir. And oure lady /
glad therof / ſaide: My bleſſid ſone / gooth in pees and
¶ And ferthermore oure lorde / homely comunynge with hir / ſpake to hir in this manere: Woſte nouȝt wel / douȝter / that I tolde the byfore my paſſioun that I ſchulde riſe the thridde day fro deth to lyf? And why woldeſt thow then ſo beſily ſeke me in the ſepulcre? And ſche ſaide: Sothely / maiſter / I ſeih ȝow that my herte was filled with ſo grete ſorwe of the bitterneſſe of ȝoure harde paſſioun and deeth that I forȝete all other thing / and onely thouȝt on ȝoure body / dede and beried / and on the place that it was buryed ynne· and therfore I brouȝt now this oynement forto haue anoynted therwith ȝour gloriouſe body: bleſſed be ȝour all myȝty godhede wherthoruȝ ȝe wolde ariſe vp fro deth and come aȝen to vs. And ſo thoo two trewe loueres ſtanden and ſpeken to gidre with grete likynge and ioye. And ſche curiouſly byhelde his glorious body / and aſkede what her liketh· and he in alle thinges anſwerde pleſyngly to here paie.
¶ And ferthermore thouȝ oure lord ſo ſtraungely / as
it ſemeth / anſwerede her at the bygynnynge / biddynge hir
that ſche ſchulde not touche hym· neuertheles I may
nouȝt trowe but that afterwarde he ſuffred her to touche
hym and to kiſſe bothe hondes and feet or they departeden.
For we mowe ſuppoſe and godliche trowe
that ſithe he wolde ſo affectuoſly and ſpecially / aſter his
owne moder / firſt bifore alle othere viſite and appere
to hir: that he wolde nouȝt therby in eny manere deſtourble
her or heuy her / but rather in alle poyntes
¶ Than ſeide oure lorde that he wolde goo fro hir and viſite and comforte othere. And Mawdeleyn than torned ſumwhat in to ſorwe / for ſche wolde neuere haue be departed fro hym / and ſaide: A good lorde / I ſee wel now that ȝoure conuerſacioun wil not be with vs in manere as it hath be here byfore: but / goode maiſtre / haueth euere mynde of me / and the grete godeneſſe / and the homelyneſſe / and the ſpecial loue that ȝe had to me· and ſo thenketh euere on me / my dere lorde god. And he anſwerede: Drede nouȝt / but be ſtedfaſt and truſte wel that I ſchal euere be with the. And ſo ſche takynge deuoutely his bleſſynge / and he vaniſſhynge awaie fro her / ſche come to her felawes and tolde hem al the forſaide proceſſe· wherof thei were glad as touchynge his reſurreccioun· but that they ſeyhe hym nouȝt with here thay were heuy and ſory. But the good lorde ſuffrede nouȝt her ſorw longe laſte / but ſone comforted hem / as it after folweth.
Ferthermore as thiſe thre maries wente toward
the citee / oure curtaiſe lorde Jeſu metynge with
hem by the waie / mekely grette hem / ſaienge:
¶ Loo how the maiſtre of mekeneſſe clepeth his diſciples bretheren: he lefte neuere this vertue / the whiche he ſouereynly loueth. And who ſo wil haue ſwete vnderſtondynge and goſtly comfort in the forſaide proceſſe and alſo in that foloweth here after / hym byhoueth to make hym ſelf by deuoute meditacioun as he were bodily preſent in alle places and dedes / as I ſaide here bifore.
¶ How that oure lorde apperede to Joſeph of Armethie / as the goſpel telleth / and to Nichodeme / and alſo to the laſſe James / as ſeynt Jerom witneſſith / I paſſe ouer for litel fruyte of hem.
When Maudeleyne and here felawes were
comen home / and tolde the diſciples that
oure lord was vpriſen· Petre / that was
moſt feruent in loue / inwardly ſorwynge
that he ſawh not his lorde / and nouȝt mowynge reſte for
his grete loue / toke his waie allone toward the ſepulcre·
for he wiſte nouȝt where he myȝte ſeke hym elles. And
ſone after oure benigne lorde Jeſu / hauynge compaſſioun
of his ſorwe / appered to hym in the wey and greteth hym
ſayenge: Pees to the / Symound. And therwith petre /
ſmytynge hym ſelf ſadly on the breſte / and fallynge doun
on the grounde / with ſore wepynge teres / ſaide: Lorde /
I knowleche my grete treſpace in that I kowardly forſoke
¶ Of this proceſſe of apperynge to petre is noȝt expreſſe in the goſpelle / but thus by deuoute ymaginacioun I haue ſette it here byfore other apperynges that folwen· for ſo it ſemeth that holy chirche holdeth / as it is contened more pleynly in the legende of the reſurreccioun.
Oure lorde Jeſu / after that he departed fro petre /
wilnynge viſite and comforte the fadres of the
olde lawe and othere / the whiche he hadde
anone after his deth delyuerede oute of the
deueles thraldome and ſette in paradys of delices· he
come to hem al gloriouſe / in white ſchynynge clothes /
with a grete multitude of aungeles. And thai ſeynge hym
aferre comynge with ſo grete bliſſe / with vnſpekeable ioye
and louynge / with ſonges of myrthe thay reſceyuede
hym / ſayenge: Loo / oure kyng of bliſſe! Cometh alle
and mete we with oure ſaueour. For now the holy day
ſchyneth vppon vs· and therfore cometh alle and honoure
The ſelf day of the reſurrexioun / as tweyne diſciples of Jeſu ȝeden toward the caſtell of Emaws mornynge / and in manere of deſpeyre talkeden togidre by the waie of that byfelle the friday bifore / oure lorde Jeſu came in manere of a pilgryme and felauſchipped with hem / aſkynge hem queſtiouns and anſwerynge and tellynge hem ſwete wordes of edificacioun / as the proceſſe of the goſpell of ſeynt luke pleynerly makith mynde. And at the laſte he / bedene drawen and conſtreyned to entre and dwelle with hem / ſchewed hym to hem and was knowen in the brede brekynge.
¶ Here may we vndirſtonde and ſee the grete goodneſſe
and the benignyte of oure lorde Jeſu in many
maneres. Firſte / he ſchewed his goodneſſe in that his
feruent loue wolde nouȝt ſuffre his byloued diſciples
¶ Thus he dooth euery day with vs gooſtly· for he wolde be beden of vs to dwelle with vs and drawen with feruent deſires / deuoute prayeres / and holy meditaciouns. And therfore / as he hath tauȝt vs / it byhoueth euere to praye and nouȝt faille· but that we take in mynde the werkes of pitee and hoſpitalite· and how it ſufficeth nouȝt to here or rede the wordes and the biddynges of god but thay bene perfourmed in dede / as we may hereof more pleynly be enformed in the Omelye of ſeynt Gregorie vppon this goſpell.
¶ At the laſte oure lorde Jeſu / wilnynge viſite alſo
and comforte othere / dwelled nouȝt longe with theſe
When the forſaide two diſciples were thus comforted / as it is ſaide / by the preſence of oure lorde / anon for ioye they torned aȝen to Jeruſalem and comen to the apoſtles and other diſciples there priuely gadered / but thomas abſente / and tolde hem the forſaide proceſſe / and herden aȝeynward of hem that ſothely oure lorde is riſen and hath appered to Petre. And therwith ſodeynly oure lord Jeſu / entrynge in to hem and the ȝates cloſed / ſtode in the myddes of hem / and ſaide: Pees to ȝow. And anon they / fallynge doun to the erthe and knowlechynge her gilt in that that they hadde ſo lefte hym and forſaken / reſceyued hym with grete ioye. And than ſaide he to hem: Riſeth vp bretheren / and beeth of good comfort· for alle ȝoure ſynnes beeth forȝeue ȝow. And ſo ſtandeth Jeſu amonge his diſciples / ſpeking homely with hem / and ſchewynge hem bothe his handes and his ſide· and oponeth her wittes to vnderſtonde clerely holy ſcriptures. And forto knowe ſothfaſtly his reſurreccioun he aſketh whether they haueth ouȝt that is to be eten. And he eteth homely byfore hem a part of a roſted fiſſhe and of a hony combe to preue his verray body preſent and riſen: and after he brethed on ham and ȝaf ham the holy gooſt.
¶ Loo if we take ynwardly hede / alle thiſe forſeide
thinges bene ful ſwete and ful of goſtly likynge. Forthi
¶ Oure lorde Jeſu ſtode but litel whyle there with
hem / for it was nyh the even· and neuertheles we may
ſuppoſe that thay / with all the inſtaunce that thay kouthe /
helde hym there as longe as thay myȝte / and namely
Magdaleyn / looth to departe fro hym· and perauenture
with a reuerent boldeneſſe ſche helde hym by the clothes /
for oure lorde was clothed with altherwhiteſte clothes
of his bliſſe. And ſothely if it ſo were that Magdeleyne
ſo helde hym / it is no dowte ſche dede nouȝt that
preſumptuouſly / but truely and mekely· in alſo moche
as ſche was ſo trewely louynge hym and ſo trewely
byloued of hym. And that diſpleſede nouȝt oure lorde·
for it is his wille to be holden and drawen by feruent
¶ At the laſte oure lorde / doynge reuerence to his moder and takynge aȝenwarde of her / bleſſynge hem alle / paſſede away fro hem. And thai / fallynge doun / byſoȝt hym of his ſone aȝeyne comynge· for thay dwelleden euere in his abſence hongry and thruſty of her ſwete lorde / of whom byfore thai were wonte to haue ſo grete copie· and therfore no wonder thogh thai ofteſithes with feruent deſires clepede hym aȝeyne.
¶ In alle theſe forſaide apperynges of oure lorde / the whiche were done on the ſelf day of his reſurrexioun / is grete mater of goſtly ioye and ſolempne paſke who ſo ynwardely taſteth hem: but the more harme is there ben menye that heren hem with bodily eres / but fewe that taſteth hem with gooſtly ſauour. And the cauſe is that they haue nouȝt trewe compaſſioun in his paſſioun· and therfore they fele nouȝt gooſtly ioye in his reſurrexioun. For ſothely I bileue that who ſo kouthe haue ynward compaſſioun of the peynes that oure lorde ſuffrede for man / he ſchulde haue a ioyeful paſke in alle the forſaide proceſſe of his reſurrexioun· and that ſchulde falle euery ſonday to hym that the friday and the ſaturday wolde diſpoſe hym in hole mynde to withdrawen fro worldly and fleſchely likynges and veyne and curiouſe thinges / [and] haue trewe compaſſioun of the paſſioun of oure lorde Jeſu / as the apoſtle witneſſith / ſayenge: That if we be felawes and partyners of the paſſiouns / we ſchul be partyners of the conſolaciouns and comfortes.
¶ Seynt Bernard / in a ſermoun of this feſte of paſke /
accordynge to this purpos ſeith in this ſentence: That
alle criſten men that bene trewe membres of criſte
ſchulde folwe hym that is her lorde in theſe thre dayes:
When the viij day of his reſurrexioun was come / oure lorde Jeſu apered eft to his diſciples in the forſaide place and the ȝates cloſed / wher thomas was than preſent with hem that was nouȝt ſo the firſte day biforeſaide. And after his felowes hadde tolde hym hou they hadde ſene her lorde / and he nouȝt byleuynge but if he myȝte touche hym / as the proceſſe of the goſpell plenerly telleth· than the good heerdman of his errynge ſchepe beſie and hauing compaſſioun / ſodeynly ſtondynge in myddes of hem / ſaluede hem and ſaide: Pees to ȝow. And therwith turnynge hym ſpecially to Thomas / ſaide: Putte in thyn fyngre hider / and ſee and touche my handes· and bryng forth thyn honde / and putte into my ſide: and be na more of myſbileue / but hens forwarde trewely byleuynge. And than Thomas / reuerently knelynge doun / with bothe ioye and drede touchede his woundes as he bad / and ſaide: My lorde and my god. He ſawe hym man / and byleuede hym god. And than alſo he knowlechede his gilte in that he hadde forſaken hym / as othere alſo deden. And oure lorde godely takyng hym vp ſaide: Drede nouȝt· alle thy ſynnes beeth forȝeue the.
¶ And this longe doute and myſbileue of thomas was
of the grete godeneſſe of oure lorde in that manere ſuffrede
for oure profiȝt to the more open proof and certayne
of his verray reſurreccioun. And ſo we may ſee here the
¶ And ſo ſtandeth oure lorde with his bleſſid moder and Magdeleyne and his diſciples as longe as hym liſte / communynge homely with hem / in manere as it is ſaide in the nexte chapitre bifore to be had in contemplacioun. And than at the laſte he bad hem goo in to galile to the Mount Tabor / as it is ſaide· for there he ſeide he wolde ſpeke more with hem.
After the diſciples were goo into Galilee as oure lord badde / there he apperede efte to hem and ſaide: There is ȝeuen to me al the power in heuene and in erthe. Goth now and techeth all manere peple / baptiſynge hem in the name of the fader and ſone and holy gooſt: and techynge hem to kepe alle thoo thinges that I haue bidden ȝow. And beeth of good comfort: for loo / I am with ȝow al daies vnto the worldes ende. And thay honoured hym at his comynge / and ſtanden after with hym ful ioyful and gladde.
¶ Now take we good hede to the forſaide wordes / for thay bene ful confortable and worthy. Firſt / he ſcheweth to hem that he is lorde of alle thinges: after / he ȝeueth hem auctorite and a maundement to preche: the thridde / he ȝeueth hem the forme of baptiſynge: and at the laſte / the ſtrengeſt hold and comfort that thay myȝt haue when he ſeith that he ſchal euere be with hem. Loo / what ioye and comfort he ȝeueth hem / and how many grete tokenes of charite he ſcheweth to hem. And ſo ȝeuynge hem his bleſſynge / he paſſede away fro hem.
Dwellynge ȝit the diſciples in Galile / vppon a tyme ſeuene of hem wente forto fiſſhe in the ſee of Tyberiadis / as the goſpell telleth in proceſſe / the whiche I paſſe ouer. But ȝif we take hede to alle the thinges that were there ſpoken and done / we may fynde moche gooſtly merthe and comforte in hem· and namely in that ſolempne feſte that oure lorde made there to hem. In the whiche he / homely etynge with hem and / as his manere all way was / mekely ſeruynge hem / ful likyngly fedde hem nouȝt only bodily but moche more goſtely: wherof he ȝeue vs parte and gooſtly taſte / Jeſu / for his mercy. Amen.
After the forſaide feſte complete / oure lorde Jeſu
aſkede of petre whether he loued hym more than othere:
and efte and the thridde tyme aſkynge whether he loued
hym· at euery tyme he comended to hym his peple /
that he ſchulde after gouerne· and badde hym fede his
ſchepe. Wher yn we may ſee the propre benignyte of
oure lorde Jeſu / and ſpecially his hiȝe charite / and the grete
loue that he hath to oure ſoules. And after he tolde bifore
¶ Alſo oure lorde appered another tyme to mo than ve diſciples and bretheren gadered to gidre / as the apoſtle poule witneſſith· but where / or what tyme / or how / it is not writen. Neuertheles we may ſuppoſe that it was as he was wonte / with grete charite / mekeneſſe / and godeneſſe on his ſide· and with grete ioye and conforte on her ſide. And ſo haue we nowe touched of xij apperynges of oure lorde Jeſu after his reſurrexioun / with oute two that folowen after in his aſcencioun.
Thogh it ſo be that oure lorde Jeſu apperede
in dyuers maneres after his reſurrexioun
fourtene ſithes / as it is ſaide· neuertheles
the goſpel ſpecifieth not but only of ten:
for how he apperede to his moder it is nouȝt writen in
any place / but we mowe reſonably and deuoutly trowe
it / as it is ſeide bifore. Alſo of othere thre apperynges /
that is to ſeie to Joſeph / to James / and to mo than fyue
Touchynge the wonderfull aſcencioun of oure lord Jeſu / thou that hereſt or redeſt this / if thou wilt fele the ſwetneſſe therof / I wole that thou be wakerly and quikke in thy ſoule· ſo ferforth that if euere here bifore / as it was beden the / thou madeſt the by deuoute ymaginacioun as preſente to his wordes and dedes now thou doo meche more with all thy myȝt· for this ſolempnyte paſſeth alle othere / as I ſchal clerely ſchewe the withynneforth in proceſſe· and namely this one thing ſchulde ſtirre and herte thyn entencioun and quikene thyn affeccioun / that thy lorde now is paſſynge awey fro the as by his bodily preſence / the tyme of his pilgrimage here in erthe with the fully complete and ended. Wherfore his wordes and his dedes now ben the more attentily and beſily to be conſidered. For ſothely euery trewe criſten ſoule ſchulde here ſpouſe / here lorde / and her god in his away paſſynge moſte wakkerly and beſily take tente to / and tho thinges that bene by hym ſpoken and done mooſte ynwardly ſette in mynde / and moſte deuouȝtely and mekely recomende her to hym / and vtterly withdrawe all here mynde in this tyme fro alle othere thinges and ſette it holy vppon hir ſpouſe.
¶ Forto goo than to the proceſſe of the aſcenſioun of
oure lorde Jeſu / we ſchulde haue in mynde that on the
¶ Thus ſtanden they to gidre / etyng and ſpekyng /
with grete ioye to hem of the bleſſed preſence of her
lorde· but neuertheles with grete drede and turbulaunce
of his aweie paſſynge: and no wonder· for thei louede
hym ſo tenderly that they myȝte not with eſy herte bere
the wordes of his bodily departyng fro hem· and namely
oure lady / his bleſſed moder / that louede him paſſynge
alle othere. We mowe wel ſuppoſe that ſche / touchede
and ſtired ſouereynly with the ſwetneſſe of moder loue / as
ſche ſatte nexte hym at the mete leyde doun here hede
ſwetely and reſtede vppon his bleſſid breſte· as ſeynt
John dide bifore in that forſeide and moſte worthy ſopere.
And ſo with ſwete teres ſighynge / ſche ſpak to hym in
this manere preienge: My dere ſone / if thou wilt alway
go to thy fader / I preie the lede me with the. And oure
lorde confortynge hir ſeide: I pray the / dere moder /
take not heuily my goynge fro the· for I goo to the fader
for thy beſte: and it is ſpedeful that thou dwelle here ȝit
awhile to conferme hem that ſchulle trewely byleue in
me: and after I ſchal come and take the with me into
euerelaſtyng bliſſe. And than ſche ſeide: My ſwete
ſone / thy wille be done· for not onely I am redy to abide
at thi wille / but alſo to ſuffre deeth for tho ſoules that thou
ſuffreſt deth for: but euere / I beſeche the / haue mynde
on me. And than oure lorde counforted more ouer hire
and Magdeleyne and othere / ſeienge thus to hem: Be
not ȝoure herte trobled and drede not· for I ſchal not
¶ Now take hede inwardlye of hem and of alle that beth now here done· and therwith byholde the holy fadres / there beynge inviſible / how gladly and reuerently they beholden and ynwardly bleſſen hir by whom they hauen receyued ſo grete a benefice of here ſauacioun· and alſo how they byholden the worthy champiouns and lederes of goddes hoſte / the whiche amonges all othere peple oure lorde Jeſu ſpecially hath choſen forto conquere alle the worlde.
¶ At the laſte when alle the myſteries weren complete
and fulfilled / oure lorde Jeſu bygan to be lifte vp fro
hem / and to ſtye vp by his owne vertue: and than oure
lady and alle othere felle doun to the erthe worſchippynge
hym. And oure lady ſeide: My bleſſid ſone Jeſu /
thynke on me: and therwith ſche myȝte nouȝt withholde
here fro wepynge by cauſe of his goynge· neuertheles
ſche was ful ioyful that ſche ſay here ſone ſo gloriouſely
ſtyenge vppe to heuen. Alſo the diſciples this ſeynge
ſeyden: Lorde / we haue forſake alle worldes goodes for
¶ And in that tyme the Archaungel Mychael / prouoſte
of paradys / goynge bifore / tolde the bleſſid court of
heuene that oure lorde Jeſu was comynge and vpſtienge·
and anone alle the bleſſid ſpirites after her ordres ȝeden
aȝeyn her lorde / none lafte byhynde / and metynge with
hym and worſchipping hym with alle the reuerence that
they kowthe / ladden hym with ympnes and ſonges of
ioye that may not be ſpoken nor thouȝt· and ſo metynge
to gidre the holy fadres and the bleſſed ſpirites / and ſyngynge
Alleluya and moſt ioyful ſonges with reuerence
bifore hym / maden a grete ſolempnite and a worſchipfull
feſte. Ȝe lorde / who myȝte telle what feſte that was? and
what ioye they hadde whan they mette to gidere? And
whan they hadde done dewe reuerence to oure lorde /
and fulfilled here merye ſonges that pertynede to his
gloriouſe aſcencioun / thei torned hem to othere / bothe the
bleſſid ſpirites and the holy fadres / reioyſynge and ſingynge.
And firſt the holy ſpirites in this manere ſeienge:
Ȝe princes of peples beeth wel come· and ioyfull we be of
¶ Loo here was moche myrthe and ioye· alle they ſongen
and ſouereynly ioyeden. As the prophete dauid ſeith:
God ſtyeth vppe into heuene in moſt wonderfull ioye of the
apoſtles that ſeie hym that tyme· and in voys of trumpe /
that is in voys of aungelles that appered than and ſpake
to the apoſtles. Sothely oure lord Jeſu ſtyeth than
opounly / to the comforte of his moder and the apoſtles
as longe as here bodily ſight wolde ſuffice to ſee hym.
And after a briȝt clowde toke hym fro her eiȝen· and
anone in a moment / that is in an vnperceyuable ſhort
tyme / he was with alle his aungeles and the forſaide holy
fadres in the hyeſte heuene. A lorde / what ioye was that
than to ſee that bleſſede lorde ſo gloriouſly vp ſtienge.
Sothely / I trowe / who ſo myȝte haue ſeyne that as the
apoſtles diden / and therwith herde that ioyful ſong of
aungeles and holy ſoules with hym vp ſtienge / for that
paſſynge ioye his ſoule ſchulde haue be departed fro the
body and gone vp to heuene alſo with hem / and no
wondre. Wherfore oure lorde / knowynge the infirmyte
¶ Now goo we vp by deuoute contemplacioun to oure
lord Jeſu / byholdynge in ymaginacioun of heuenly thinges
by likneſſe of erthely thinges how he / with all that forſeide
worthy and bliſſeful multitude of holy ſoules / openynge
heuene ȝates / that were bifore that tyme ſpered
aȝenſt mankynde / as a worthy conquerour ioyfully entred
and gladly knelynge byfore the fader / ſeide: Fader / I
thonke the / that haſte ȝeuen me the victorie of alle oure
¶ Neuere fro the bygynnynge of the world was there
ſo ſolempne and ſo ioyeful a feſte / ne neuere perauentre
ſchal be / but at the laſte after the day of dome / when alle
the choſen ſoules ſchole be preſented there with here
bodyes glorified. And therfore / as I ſeide at the bygynnynge
of this chapitre / this ſollempnite / alle thinges conſidered
/ paſſeth alle othere. Take hede of eche of hem /
and ſee whether it be ſooth that I ſeie: Firſt / the Incarnacioun
of oure lorde Jeſu is a ſolempne feſte and worthi·
for that was the bygynnynge of alle oure gode and oure
ſauacioun: but that was oure ioye and not his / for he
was thanne cloſede in his moder wombe. Alſo the
Natiuite of hym is a ſolempne and hiȝe feſte / and worthily
merthe to be made therynne: but that is alſo as on oure
ſide / for as on his ſide we oweth to haue compaſſioun
of hym that was for vs borne in ſo greet pouert / hardneſſe
of weder / and other abieccioun. Alſo / as to vs his
paſſioun is a grete feſte / thoruȝ the whiche we bene
brouȝt out of the fendes thraldom / and alle oure ſynnes
ben forȝeuen and done aweie· and / as ſeynt Gregor
ſeith / hit hadde nouȝt availled vs to be born / but hit hadde
alſo profited vs forto be bouȝt. Neuertheles for the grete
tormentis of hym / and that hardeſt and moſte deſpitous
deth that he ſuffrede for oure redempcioun and bieng /
there was thanne no mater of ioye / but rather of ſorwe·
bothe to hym in that peynfull ſuffrynge / and to vs for
¶ The Aſcencioun of oure lorde was at the ſixte houre·
for byfore he ete with his diſciples at terce. Thanne
mowe we thus ymagyne that thoo ten dayes fro that
houre that he aſcended in to the houre of the holy goſt
ſende / the nyne ordres of aungelles with the holy fadres
and ſoules that he toke vp with hym made hym ten
feſtes· and he aȝeynwarde rewarded hem ſpecially in ſom
ſinguler coumforte euery day. And ſo though alle that
were thanne in heuene generally were of his aſcencioun
ioyeful / and made ſo murye a feſte that no tonge can telle·
neuertheles ſpecially the firſte day fro the houre of his
aſcencioun in to ſexte of the next day folowynge aungelles
made her feſte. The ſecounde day in the ſelf manere
maden her feſte archaungeles: the thridde day / vertues:
the ferthe day / poteſtates: the fyuethe day / principates:
the ſixte day / dominaciones: the ſeuenthe day / thrones:
the eighthe day / Cherubyn: the nynthe day / Seraphyn.
After that oure lorde Jeſu was gone vp to his
bliſſe / and the aungeles hadde beden the diſciples
to torne aȝen in to the citee / as hit
is ſeide next bifore· they with his bliſſed
moder worſchepynge hym and kiſſynge deuoutly the
ſteppes of his feete / where he laſte touched the erthe /
as the goſpell of luke telleth / they went aȝeyne in to Jeruſalem
with grete ioye / and there they abiden the comynge
of the holy gooſt / contynuely in deuoute prayeres louynge
god and bleſſynge oure lorde. And whan the tenthe day
was comen fro his aſcencioun / that was the fifte day fro
his reſurrexioun / oure lorde Jeſu ioynynge the figure of
the olde teſtament with the newe / for alſo moche as the
tyme of grace was in that day come / he ſeide to the fader
thus: My fader / haueth now in mynde the byheſte that
I made to my bretheren of the holy gooſt. And the fader
anſwerde: My dere ſone / I am wel apayde of that byheſte·
and now is tyme that hit be fulfilled. And more
ouer he ſeide to the holy gooſte: We preye the that thou
goo doun to oure diſciples / and that thou fille hem of thy
grace: coumforte hem / ſtrengthe hem / teche hem / and
ȝeue hem habundaunce of vertues and ioye. And anon
the holy goſt came doun with a wonderful noyſe / in brennynge
tunges / vpon an hundred and twenty diſciples
¶ This is a worthy feſte· and this is / among othere /
a ſwete and a louely feſte· for this is the feſte of hym that
is loue propurly / as ſeynt Gregorie ſeith / that the holy
gooſt is loue. Wherfore he that loueth god ſchulde in
this feſte ſpecially be enflawmed with loue or / at the leſte /
with a brennynge deſire to loue. But thus wole not bee
with fleſchely or worldly loue medled / as ſeynt Bernard
ſeith in a ſermoun of the aſcencioun in this manere ſentence:
He erreth gretely what ſo he is that weneth forto
medle to gidre that heuenly ioye with theſe bitter aſkes
of fleſchely likynge· or that ſwete gooſtly bawme with
this venyme· or thoo graciouſe ȝiftes of the holy goſte
with theſe foule ſtynkynge luſtes. And no wonder / for
as the ſelf Bernard ſeith: The apoſtles for the tyme that
they hadde oure lorde bodily preſent with hem for the
loue that they hadde to his body / though it was holy and
good / ȝit for that tyme they were vnable to reſceyue parfiȝtly
the holy gooſt / as he ſeide hym ſelf:
¶ Loo / by this forſeide ſentence of ſeynt Bernard we
mowe ſee in partie what byhoueth to reſceyue the holy
gooſt and his loue. Wherfore that we mowe be able to
reſceyue here that grete ȝifte of the holy gooſte and his
coumforte / and after come to that bliſſe that oure lorde
Jeſu is now ſteye vp to and hath made oure wey bifore vs /
leue we and hate we all falſe loue and likynge of this
¶ Thus endeth the contemplacioun of the bleſſid lyf of
oure lorde Jeſu: the which proceſſe for alſo moche as it is
here thus writen in Engliſſhe tonge lengere in manye partes
and in other manere than is the latyne of Bonauenture·
therfore hit ſemeth not conuenient to folowe the proceſſe
therof by the dayes of the wike / after the entent of the
forſaide Bonauenture: for it were to tediouſe / as me
thinketh / and alſo it ſchulde ſo ſone be fulſome and not
in comfortable deyntethe by cauſe of the ſreelte of mankynde
/ that hath likynge to here and knowe newe
thinges / and tho that bene ſeldene herde ben ofte in the
more deyntethe. Wherfore it ſemeth to me beeſt that
euery deuoute creatour that loueth to rede or to here this
book take the partes therof as it ſemeth moſte coumfortable
and ſtirynge to his deuocioun· ſumtyme oon and
ſumtyme another / and ſpecially in the tymes of the ȝere
and the feſtes ordeyned in holy chirche / as the materes
ben pertynent to hem. And for alſo moche as that bleſſed
and worthy feſte of the preciouſe ſacrament of Jeſu
bodye / in the whiche he is euery day bodily preſent with
vs / to oure moſte comfort that we mowe haue here in
erthe / is the ende and the concluſioun of alle othere feſtes
of hym graciouſly and reſonably ordeyned by holy chirche /
¶
¶ Forto bygynne firſt at his merueylouſe incarnacioun.
Loo / hou expreſſe mynde therof is this mete that
he ȝeueth to vs in the ſacramente of the awtere· for thereynne
is he verreily / and in that ſelf body that was ſo
merueyloſly conceyuede by the holy gooſt aboue kynde /
and alſo merueyloſely born of his bliſſed moder Marye
with oute ſorwe or weme of ſynne· and ſo forth of alle
the merueyloſe werkes and dedis of hym in this goſtly
mete we haue that ſpecial mynde that none may be more·
and that we haue of none othere: for all othere thinges
that we haue mynde of we conceyuen in ſpirit and in herte /
ſo that thereby we haue not the bodily preſence of hem.
But in this goſtly mete and ſacramentale commemoracioun
of oure lord Jeſu he is verrely and bodily preſent with vs
vndir another forme / but ſothely in his owne propre ſubſtaunce
verray god and man. For what tyme he ſchulde
ſtie vp into heuene he ſeide to his apoſtles and her
foloweres in theſe wordes: Loo / I am with ȝow alle the
dayes into the worldes ende· coumfortynge hem by this
benigne promiſſe that he ſchulde dwelle with hem / not
onely by the goſtly preſence of his godhede / but alſo by
the bodily preſence of his manhede / that he ȝeueth to vs
in this forſeide mete of his fleſche and blood / but in
mynde of his meruailles generally / as hit is ſeide / moſt
ſpecialy in mynde of that bleſſed paſſioun that he ſuffrede
for vs. For what tyme he ſchulde paſſe out of this
worlde to the fader / the nyȝt bifore his paſſioun / at that
worthy ſopere with his diſciples / as hit is ſeide bifore / he
made and ordeynede this ſouereyne and moſt worſchipful
ſacrament of his fleſche and blood / ȝeuynge his body in to
mete and his blode in to drynke for a ſpecial mynde of his
¶ And here we ſchole vnderſtande that in tweyne
maneres men dreden god· and there after he ȝeueth
this mete dyuerſly to hem. For ſome dreden god as
ſeruauntes dreden her lorde / leuynge and eſchewynge
to ſynne onely for drede of peyne. And to theſe manere
of men / if they ben oute of dedly ſynne and in grace /
oure lorde ȝeueth this forſeide mete as to here goſtly
ſuſtenaunce / but alſo to here ſouereyn likynge: ſo that
by the vertue thereof they ben ſuſteyned in lyf of ſoule and
kepte fro euere laſtynge deth. But othere ben that
dreden god as trewe children dreden to offende here
¶ Thus we hauinge loue drede of god / and ſtandynge ſtedfaſtly in the byleue that holy chirche hath tauȝt vs ſpecially of this holyeſte ſacrament / we ſchulle conſidre and ynwardly byholde to kyndelynge and noriſchynge of oure loue to oure lorde Jeſu / that ȝeueth vs of his hiȝe grace this preciouſe mete of his bleſſid body / the merueyles that he maketh and worcheth therynne / ſpecially in tweyne maneres: that is to ſeie / in one manere euery day priuely / wherof we haue knowynge onely by beleue with ynneforthe: and alſo in another manere ſomtyme openly / wherof we haue knowynge by trewe tellynge of myracles with outeforth ſchewed.
¶ Touchynge the firſte manere of merueyles: hit is a ful greet merueyle that by vertue of criſtes wordes brede is turned in to goddes body / and wyne in to his blode. And to ſtrengthe vs in byleue of this merueyle we ſchole haue in mynde that he with the ſelf myȝt of his worde made all the world of nouȝt· and of the ribbe of Adam made Eue in fleſche and blood· and turnede the wyf of loth in to an ymage of ſalte· and moyſes ȝerde tornede in to a ſerpente· and the welles and wateres of Egipte turnede in to blode. Wherfore ſithen god all myȝty wrouȝte alle theſe merueyles and many moo aboue the reſoun of man and the comune curſe of kynde· why may he not alſo by the ſelf myȝt turne brede in to his body? There is non reſoun to preue the contraire but if we wolde ſeie that god were not all myȝti / that god forbede.
¶ Alſo hit is a grete merueyle that the ſelf body of oure
lord Jeſu / that ſitteth in heuene vppon the fader riȝt half/
¶ Many othere wonderful merueyles oure lorde god
all myȝty worcheth in this preciouſe ſacrament / of his
endeles mercy / to oure gooſtly comfort and hele of ſoule·
the whiche we mowe not comprehende by kyndely reſoun
and oure bodily wittes / but onely by trewe byleue. And
therfore hit is greet folie and goſtely perile to ſeke curiouſely
in ymaginacioun of reſoun the merueyles of this worthy
ſacrament. But hit is moſte ſiker / namely to a ſymple
ſoule / and ſuffiſeth to ſauacioun touchynge the forſeide
merueyles and alle othere of this bleſſed ſacrament to
thynke and fele in this manere. Thus hauen holy doctours
tauȝt and holy chirche determynede· and therfore thus I
trowe and fully byleue that it is in ſotheneſſe / thouȝ my
¶ Touchynge the ſecounde manere of merueyles and meracles ſchewed with outeforth by vertue of this holy ſacrament and in this holy ſacrament / as we fynden wreten. For thre ſkilles oure lorde ſchewed in dyuerſe maneres tho myracles and merveiles in this precious ſacrament· that is to ſay / ſomtyme to comforte hem that bene in trewe beleue of this bleſſid ſacrament / and to kyndele her loue therby more feruently to god and to worſchippynge of that ſacrament: alſo ſomtyme be ſpecial grace forto conuerte and turne to trewe beleue hem that bene out therof: and alſo ſomtyme to open preef of grete vertu therof in deleueraunce of peynes and ſauyng fro bodily meſcheef and gooſtly. And of yche of theſe thre I ſchall telle ſchortly ſome merveyles and myracles that I ſynde wreten· the whiche ben of ſo grete auctorite / as to my felynge / that ther may no man aȝenſtonde nor agaynſay hem but he be wers than a Jewe or a paynym.
¶ Touching the firſte / that is to ſeie how oure loord
ſomtyme ſcheweth openly myracles and merveyles of this
bleſſid ſacrament to comforte hem that leuen in trewe
byleue / and to kyndele her hertis to the more feruent
loue of god. We fynde writen in the lyf of the holy confeſſoure
ſeint Edward / kyng / whoos body lythe in
ſchryne at Weſtmynſtre· the whiche lyfe as for the more
auctorite in ſoothneſſe wrote the worthi clerk and holy
Abbott of Ryuaws / ſeint Alrede / thus ſeyeng touching
this matere: In that worthi monaſteri of ſeint petir / that
is clepid Weſtemynſtre / and atte awter edified there in
the worſchippe of the holy trynyte / as the forſeide holy
kyng Edwarde herde meſſe on a day with the worthi Erle
¶ And ſo dede that holy man after the Erlis prayere / and wrote all the ordre and manere of the forſeide viſion in a bylle and leyde it amonges relykes cloſid in a cofre· the whiche cofre longe tyme after the kynges dethe / with oute mannes honde / thorgh the myght of god as it is to beleue / was founden open. And than bretheren of that place / beſily ſechynge the relykes / founden the forſeide bille and redden it· and after / for alſo moche as they wolde noght that ſo grete a treſour and worthy myracle ſchulde be hidde / thei pupliſchid it openly in the eres of the peple.
¶ And ſo as the kyng wolde it was for the tyme
hydde / but aftir by ordenaunce of god it was pupliſſhed
and knowen to that ende that the kynges mekenes ther
by as hidde ſchulde be preved / and neuertheleſe therwith
by open knowynge of that grete myracle the feith of true
beleuyng men ſchal be confermed and ſtrengthed to the
worſchippe of oure loord god Jeſu: that of his ſpecial
¶ Alſo acordynge to the ſelfe purpos / I fynde writen
in the longe lyfe of ſeint hughe / biſſhop of lyncolne and
the firſte monke of the ordre of charterhouſe and priour
of Wytteham / the whiche lyf wroot a chapleyn of his
and monke of the ſelfe ordre / that herde and ſawe that he
wrote / and amonges othere in this manere ſentence
ſeieng: It befil vppon a ſaterday the forſeide biſſhope /
ſeynt hughe / dwellynge atte a manere of his / clepid
Bukedene / as he ſong a meſſe of oure lady / aftir his
comune cuſtome in that day / there herde his meſſe with
othere a devoute Clerk that was ſent to hym by ſpecial
reuelacioun of god / wherof there is wreten a faire proceſſe
touchinge another matier the whiche we paſſen ouer here.
And as to oure purpos: what tyme it was comen to the
ſakerynge / as the Biſſhop helde vp goddis body in forme
of brede / there apperid to the ſiȝt of the forſeide clerke /
bytwene the preeſtis holy hondis / oure loord god Jeſu
bodily in liknes of a paſſyng fayre litel childe. Of the
whiche ſight he that ſaw it inwardly compuncted / as no
wonder / and hyely ſtired into hye deuocioun and feruent /
contenued all the tyme of that meſſe in ſwete teris and
devoute preyeris til it come to that place where the hooſte
ſchulde be lyfte vp aboue the chalice and be departid in
thre· at the whiche tyme he ſaw eft in the ſelf liknes the
forſeide Jeſu / goddes ſone of heuene / offerynge hym ſelf
in ſacrifice to the fadir for mannis helthe and ſaluacioun.
After the meſſe was ful endid the ſelf clerk / ſpekyng with
¶ Touchynge the ſecounde cauſe of myracles and
merveyles ſchewid in this bleſſid ſacrament of goddis
body / that is to ſeie forto conuerte hem that bene of
myſbeleue in to the newe byleue. Firſt we reden in the
lyf of ſeynt Gregory / pope and worthi doctour / in this
manere ſentence: There was a matrone of Rome / the
whiche euery ſonday offerid to ſeint Gregory certeyne
looves of breed wherof was made goddis body. And
vppon a day when ſeynt Gregory wolde haue comuned
the forſeide womman with oon of hem that was conſecrate
and made goddis body / ſeyenge / after the comune vſe of
holy chirche / in thiſe manere wordes: The body of oure
lord Jeſu criſte kepe the in to euere laſtynge lyfe· ſche
breſt out in to a diſſolute laughter / and than ſeint Gregory
withdrowe the ſacrament fro hire and kepte it in to the
ende of the meſſe· and after before the peple he aſkede
the matrone whi ſhe lowh: and then ſche ſeide: Bicauſe
that thou clepedeſt goddis bodi the brede that I made
¶ To this ſelf purpos acordynge alſo I fynde wreten in
the forſeide lyf of ſeint hughe: That vppon a tyme that
ſeynt hughe goyng thoruȝ Fraunce was ynned for the
tyme in a towne / that is cleped Joye / there come to hym
the pariſſhe preeſt of the town / the whiche was an olde
man and a reuerent in ſight and clere / and wonder lene
for grete penaunce doynge for his ſynne / as it was ſuppoſid
and where of it foloweth after in proceſſe / the
whiche I take as in ſchorte wordes to oure purpos· and
the ſelfe preeſt tolde of hym ſelf in this manere: When I
was ȝong / he ſeide / and was made preeſt but neyther
ȝeres nor maneres acordynge to that worthy degree /
thorugh temptacioun and ſterynge of the feend I fel in to
a greet deedly ſynne· in the whiche ſynne I contenued
with oute contricioun and confeſſioun / that is horryble to
here· ſo as I was pollute in body and ſoule / and gooſtly
blynd and ſeke in the feith / I vſed to ſynge my meſſe
boldely and dredde not to trete and receyue that worthi
ſacrament of criſtes precious fleſche and blode. And
vppon a day / as I was at my meſſe in tyme of conſecracioun
/ fel to my mynde the grete horrible ſynne that I
¶ And than at the ende / the forſeide preeſt preyde the clerkes of ſeynt hughe / to the whiche he tolde all the forſeide tale / that they wolde alſo telle it to hym / ſo that he myȝte be holpen as anentes god thoruȝ his holy prayers. And whanne they hadde ſo done / ſuppoſynge that he wolde with a grete deſire haue gone forto ſee the forſeide merveyles / he anſwerde in this manere ſentence that is worthely to be noted touchynge the feith of this holy ſacrament: Wele / he ſeide / in the name / lete hem haue to hem ſelf tho tokenes of her myſbileue. What is that to vs of theſe thinges· whether we / that euery day ſeen with the treweſt ynnere ſight of oure ſoule alle holy and fully this heuenly ſacrifice / hauen in merveyle the partyculers ymages of this ȝifte of god / as who ſeith nay? But lette hym goo ſee tho litel ſmale porciouns therof with his bodily eyȝe / that ſeeth not alle the hole with his ynnere goſtely eyȝe. And whan he hadde thus ſeide / ȝeuynge his bleſſynge to the preoſt at his goyng / afterward he reprehended his meyne of here curioſite· and not only ſtabled hem in byleue / but alſo declared opynly that thoo thinges that oure feith techith vs ſchulde be vnderſtonde and holde more certeynly of trewe byleuynge men than thoo thinges that this erthely light by reſoun ſcheweth to bodily ſight. Thus oure loord of his ſpecial grace by opoun myracles and merueyles / ſchewed in this bleſſid ſacrament / draweth ſom folk out of here myſbyleue and ſtableth hem and ſtrengtheth in trewe bileue / as hit is now ſchewed in tweyne maneres.
¶ Touchynge the thridde cauſe of ſchewyng myracles
¶ To the ſelf purpos alſo the forſeide ſeynt Gregor
telleth in that book cleped
¶ Thus ſcheweth oure loord openly by myracles and merveyles the ſouereigne vertu of this bleſſid ſacrament· and that not only in helpynge and ſauynge of men alyue / as it is now here byforeſeide / but alſo / that is more to charge / in looſyng and vnbyndynge of ſoules hens paſſid out of the fyre and the peynes of purgatorie / as the ſelf ſeint Gregor telleth in the forſeide book pleynly of a monke that for the ſynne of proprete was in the peyne of purgatorie· and after that the ſacrede hoſte was offrede for hym thritty dayes / he was releſed and delyuered out of peyne. And alſo how another ſoule was delyuered out of peyne by vertu of that bleſſid ſacrament offred for it alle the dayes of a wyke.
¶ And here mowe we ſeen open preef of the paſſynge
profite and vertu of ſpecial meſſes done and ſongen bothe
for quyke and for dede. For as the ſelf ſeint Gregor ſeith /
the holy ſacrede hoſte ſyngulerly and ſouereignly helpeth
to vnbynde oure ſoules fro ſynne / and moſt principally
pleſeth the kyng of heuene and maketh hym ſawht to
vs whanne he cometh to deme vs· ſo that it be offred
with teris of compunccioun / and clanneſſe of herte. For
he that in hym ſelf ryſinge fro deeth ſchal neuer dye· ȝit
by this bleſſid hooſte in his myſterie ſuffreth oft for vs.
For as ofte as we offren to hym the hooſte of his paſſioun /
ſo ofte we maken newe to vs his paſſioun to oure vnbyndynge
fro ſynne. Thus oure lorde Jeſu / fulle of mercye /
and ſchewyng to vs ſouereynly his endeles mercye in
makynge and ȝeuynge of this moſt preciouſe gooſtly mete
of his bleſſid body / worcheth in dyuers maneres / as it is
¶ Theſe ben the wordes of that holy doctour ſeint
Gregor / and many mo / ſpekynge of the wonderful myght
of antecriſt and his diſciples· and the grete temptacioun
that ſchal be in that tyme of criſten men. And it is likly
by reſoun that as the moſte confort of oure criſten byleue
ſtant in the moſt excellent ſacrament of criſtes body / ſo
antecriſt and his diſciples ſcholen principaly worche in to
deſtruccioun firſt of the trewe byleue of this bleſſid ſacrament
in the forſeide tweyne maneres / that is to ſeie: by
clergie and euydence of worldes kunnynge acordynge to
naturel reſoun / and by merueyles and myracles worchynge
in falſe decepcioun. And of the firſte manere
worchynge / we haue ſeyn in oure dayes how the diſciples
of Antecriſt / that ben cleped lollardes / hauen made
moche diſſencioun and diuiſioun in holy chirche / and
putte many men in to errour of this bleſſid ſacrament by
¶ As for a full ende of alle his bleſſid lyf byfore writen / here foloweth a ſchort devoute preyere to hym / and his bleſſid body in the ſacrament of the awtere· the whiche oweth to be ſeide in preſence of that holy ſacrament at the maſſe with inward deuocioun.
Heyle / holyeſt body of oure lord Jeſu criſt /
that art now ſothfaſtly conteyned here in
this moſt excellent ſacramente! I knowleche
the myne lord god with my mowth·
I loue the with all my herte· and I deſire the with all
the ynward affeccioun of my ſoule. I beſeke the / ſwete
Jeſu / that thou vouche ſauf of thyne ſouereyn goodneſſe
this day ſo benignely and graciouſly to viſite my ſeke
ſoule / deſirynge to receyue the gooſtly / oure heleful
ſacrifice and welle of alle graces / that I may with gladnes
fynde medicyne and hele in body and ſoule by vertue
of thi bleſſid preſence. Beholde not / lord Jeſu / to myne
wickedneſſes and manyfolde necligences and myn grete
vnkyndeneſſe / but rather to thyne ſouereyn mercy and
endeles godeneſſe. Sothely thou art that holy lambe
with oute wemme of ſynne / that this day art offred to the
euerlaſtyng fader of heuene for the redempcioun of all the
world. O thou ſwetteſt manna / aungels mete! O thou
moſt likynge gooſtly drink / brynge in to my inward
mowth that hony ſwete taſte of thyne heleful preſence.
Kyndele in me the feruour of thyne charite· quenche in