I. DAN JON GAYTRYGE'S SERMON.Here begynnes a Sermon̛ þat Dan̛ Ioℏn Gaytryge
made, þe whilke teeches how scrifte es to be made, & whare-of,
and in scrifte how many thyngeȝ solde be consederide. Et est
Petrus sentenciarum discrecione primă.
The Fourteen Articles of the Creed
Als a grett Doctour schewes in his buke, of aƚƚ þeye
When y stands for þ, þ is printed. F.creatoures þat Gode made in heuen̛ and in erthe, in water
and in ayere, or in oghte elles, þe Souerayne cause & þe
skyƚƚ whi He mad þam̛ was His awen̛ gud wiƚƚ
and His gudnes, Thurgℏ þe whilke gudnes, alls He es
aƚƚ gude, He walde þat some creatures of þase
þat He made ware communers of þat blyse þat
euer-mare lastis. And for þat na creatoure myghte come to
þat blyse with- owtten̛ knaweyng of Godd̛, als
þat clerkes teches, He made skiƚƚwyse creatours Angelle and
man, of witt and wysdom̛ to knawe God Almyghtyn̛, and,
thorowe þaire knawynge, lufe Hym and serue Hym̛, and so
come to þat blyse þat þay ware made to. This manere
of knawynge had oure forme-fadyrs in þe state of Innocence
þat þay ware mad In̄; and so sulde we hafe hade, if
þay had noghte synnede. Noghte so mekiƚƚ als hally saules
hase now in heuen̛, Bot mekiƚƚ mare þan man̛ hase
now in erthe. For oure fourme-fadyrs synned, sayse þe prophete,
and we bere þe wykkydnes of þaire mysdedis; For þe
knawyng þat þay had of Godd̛ Aƚƚ-myghten̛,
they had it of Goddes gyfte at þaire begynnynge,
with-owtten̛ trauayle, or tray, or passinge of tym̛. And
aƚƚ þe knaweyng þat we hafe in þis werlde of
Hym, es of heryng, and of lerynge, and of techyng of oþer, of
þe law and þe lare þat langes tiƚƚ Haly
Kyrke, þe whilke aƚƚ creatours þat lufes God
Almyghten̛ awe to knawe and to cun̛, and lede þaire
lyfe aftir̛, and swa come to þat blysse þat neuer
mare blynnes.
And for-thi þat mekiƚƚ folke now in þis werlde ne
ere noghte wele ynoghe lerede to knawe God Almyghty, ne lufe Hym̛
ne serue Hym̛ als þay sulde do, and als þaire dedys
oftesythes opynly schewes, in gret pereƚƚ to þam̛, to
lyfe and to saule ; and perawnter þe defaute may be in
thaym̛ þat hase þair̛ saules for to kepe, and
thaym̛ sulde teche, — als prelates and persons, vicars and
prestes, þat ere halden̛ by dett for to lere
þam̛ — For-thi our̛ Fadir̛ þe byschope
þat God Almyghty saue, þat, als Sayn̛ Paule sayse in
his pystiƚƚ, wiƚƚ þat aƚƚ men̛ be safe, and
knawe God Almyghten̛, and namely þase vndirlowttes
þat tiƚƚ hym langes, hase tretide and Ordeyned for þe
comon̛ profett, thorowe þe counceƚƚ of his clergy,
þat ilkane þat vndir̛ hym hase cure of saule,
Opyn̛ly, one ynglysche, apon̛ sonnondayes, preche and teche
þaym̛ þat þay hase cure off, þe lawe and
þe lare to knawe God Almyghty, þat principally may be
schewede in theis sexe thynges — [1] In þe fourtene poyntes
þat falles to þe trowthe, [2] In þe ten
commandementes þat Gode hase gyfen̛ vs, [3] In þe
Seuen̛ Sacramentes þat er in Haly Kyrke, [4] In þe
Seuen̛ werkes of mercy vntiƚƚ oure euen̛ crystyn̛,
[5] In þe seuen̛ vertus þat ilke man̛ saƚƚ
vse, [6] And in þe Seuen̛ dedly Synnes þat ilke
man̛ saƚƚ refuse. And he byddes and commandes in aƚƚ
þat he may, þat aƚƚ þat hase cure or kepynge
vndir̛ hym̛ Enioyne þair̛ parischennes and
þair̛ sugettes þat þay here and lere þise
ilke sex thynges, and oftesythes reherse þam̛ tiƚƚ
þat þay cun̛ þam̛, and sythen̛ teche
þam̛ þair̛ childir̛, if þay any haue,
whate ty,m̛ so þay are of elde to lere þam̛.
And þat persouns and vycars and aƚƚ parische prestis,
Enquere delygently of þair̛ sugettes In þe
lentyn̛ tym̛, when̛ þay come to scryfte,
wheþer þay knawe and cun̛ þise sex thynges; and
if it be funden̛ þat þay cun̛ þam̛
noghte, þat þay Enjoyne þam̛ appon̛ his
behalfe, and Of payne of penance, for to cun̛ þam̛.
And for-thi þat nane saƚƚ excuse thaym thurghe
vnknawlechynge for to cun̛ þam̛,
our̛ haly Fadir þe beschope, of his gudnes, hase ordaynede
and bedyn̛ þat þay be schewede opynly one ynglysche
amanges þe folke.
Whare-fore, anence þe fyrste of þise sex thynges
þat es to knawe, þe articles þat falles to þe
trouthe, — als gret clerkes teches and schewes in thaire bukes,
— Thare Falles to þe faythe'faythe' crost thru in the MS. fourtene poyntes; Of þe
whilke seuen̛ Falles to Goddes Goddhede, and oþer
seuen̛ Falles to Cristes manehede. ¶ The firste poynte
þat we saƚƚ trowe of þe Godhede, Es to trow
stedfastely In a trewe Godd̛, and þat na noþer es for
to trowe In. ¶ The toþer es, þat þe heghe
Fadir of heuen̛ es stedfaste and sothefaste Godd̛
Almyghtyn̛. ¶ The thirde es, þat Ihesu Criste, Goddes
Sone of heuen̛, es sothefastly Gode, euen̛ tiƚƚ His
Fadir̛. ¶ The ferthe es, þat þe Haly Gaste,
þat samenly commes of bathe þe Fadir and þe Sonne,
es sothefaste Godde, euen̛ to þaym̛ bathe; and
þe whethir noghte twa Goddes, þe Fadir̛ and þe
Sonne, ne thre Goddes, þe Fadir and þe Sonne & þe
Haly Gaste, Bot thre sere persouns, and noghte bot a Godd̛.
¶ The fyfte arctecle es, þat þe Trynyte, þe
Fadir and þe Sonne and þe Haly Gaste, thre persouns and a
Godd, es makere of heuen̛ and erthe and of aƚƚ thynges.
¶ The Sexte artycle es, þat Haly Kirke, oure modire, es
hallyly ane thorow-owte þe werlde, that es, comonynge and
felawrede of aƚƚ cristen̛ folke þat comouns
to-gedir̛ in þe sacramentes, and in oþer haly thynges
þat falles tiƚƚ Haly Kyrke, with-owtten̛ þe
whilke ne es na saule hele. ¶ The Seuend̛ article þat
vs awe to trowe es, vppe-rysynge of flesche, and life
with-owtten̛ Ende. For when þe dede hase sundyrde oure
bodyes and oure saules for a certayne tym, als oure kynd askes, vnto
when̛ þat God saƚƚ deme þe qwykke and þe
dede, Thane oure saules saƚƚ turne agayne tiƚƚ oure bodyes,
and we þase ilke (and nane oþer þan̛ we are
nowe), sothefastely saƚƚ ryse vp in body and saule, þat
neuer mare saƚƚ sundire, fra þat tym̛ furthe, bot
Samen̛ (if we wele doo whiles we er here) wende with Godd̛
to þat blysse þat euer-mare lastes. And if we euyƚƚ
do, tiƚƚ Endles payne.
¶ Thir are oþer seuen̛ poyntes of Cristes Manhede
þat are nedfuƚƚ to trowe, tiƚƚ aƚƚ þat are
crystyn̛. ¶ The fyrste es, þat Ihesu Criste, Goddes
Sone of heuen̛, was sothefastely conceyuede of þe
maden̛ Marie, and tuke flesche and blude, and become man̛
thurghe þe myghte and þe strenghe of þe Haly Gaste,
withowtten̛ any merryng of hir modirhede, with-owtten̛ any
mynynge of hir mayden̛hede. ¶ The toþer artecle es,
þat we saƚƚ trowe þat He, Godd̛ and man bathe in
a persoune, was sothefastely of þat blessyde mayden̛,
Godd̛ getyn̛ of His Fadire be-fore any tyme, and man̛,
born of His modir, and broghte furthe in tyme. ¶ The thirde
poynte þat we saƚƚ trowe es, Cristes Passione that He
tholede bodyly for synfuƚƚ man̛-kynde, How He was betraysede
with His disciple, and taken̛ with þe Iewes, beten̛
with scourges, þat na skynn̛ helde, naylede one þe
rude, and corounde with thornes, and many oþer harde paynes, and
dyede at þe laste. ¶ The ferthe artecle es, þat
whene He was dede, and His body tane doun̛, and wonden̛ and
doluen̛, ȝit þe whiƚƚs His body lay in þe
graue, þe gaste with þe Godhede wente vnto Helle, and
heryede it, and tuke owte þase þat ware þare-in, als
Adam and Eue and oþer Forme-fadyrs whilke He in His forluke
walde þat ware sauede. ¶ The fyfte poynte es, þat
one þe thirde day after þat He dyede, He rase fra dede to
lyfe, Sothefaste Godd̛ and man̛ in body and in saule. For
als He dyede in seknes of oure manhede, So He rase thurghe strenghe of
His Godhede, and swa dystroyed oure dede thurgℏ His diynge, and
quykkynd vs unto lyfe thurghe His rysesynge. ¶ The sexte artecle
es, þat we saƚƚ trowe þat one þe fourtede day
eftyr þat He rase, Thurgℏ strenghe of Hym-selfe, He steye
in-tiƚƚ Heuen̛, whare oure kynde es nowe in His blyssyde
personne, noghte anely euynne ne mete tiƚƚ His angeƚƚs, Bot
hey coround kynge abowne aƚƚ His angeƚƚs, þat be-fore
tym̛ was lesse þan þe kynde of angeƚƚs. ¶
The seuend article es, þat righte als He dyede, and eftirwarde
rase, and stey in-tiƚƚ heuen̛, Righte swa saƚƚ He come
apon̛ þe laste day, Bathe for to deme þe qwykke and
þe dede, whare aƚƚ þe folke þat euer was, or
es, or saƚƚ be, saƚƚ sothefastely be schewede and
sene be-fore Hym̛, and ilke a man̛ answere of his awen̛
dedis, and be saued or dampnede wheþer so he serues; For, als
His ryghtwysenes now es mengede with mercy, swa saƚƚ it thane be
with-owtten̛ mercy.
Secundo.
Decem precepta Dei.
The ten Commandementis.
ÞE secund thyng of þe Sex to knawe God Almyghten̛
es, þe ten̛ Commandmentes þat He hase gyffen̛
vs. Of þe whilke ten̛, þe thre þat ere firste,
awe us hallyly to halde anence oure Godd̛; and þe
Seuen̛ þat ere eftyre, anence oure euen̛
cristen̛. ¶ The firste comandement charges vs, and teches
vs, þat we leue ne lowte na false goddes. And in þis
commandement es forboden̛ vs alkyn̛ mysbyleues and aƚƚ
mawmetryes, aƚƚ false enchauntementes, and aƚƚ soceryes,
aƚƚ false charmes, and aƚƚ wichecraftes, þat men̛
of myssehyleue traystes appon̛, or hopes any helpe In̛,
with-owtten̛ God Almyghten̛. ¶ The toþer
commandement byddes vs noghte take in ydillchipe, ne in vayne,
þe name of oure Lorde Godd̛, so þat we trowe noghte
in His name bot þat es sothefaste, þat we swere noghte by
His name bot it be byhouely, and þat we neuen̛ noghte His
name bot wirchipfully. ¶ The thirde commandement es, þat
we halde and halowe oure haly day, þe Sonondaye, and aƚƚ
oþer þat falles to þe ȝere, þat er
ordeynede to halowe thurgℏ Haly Kyrke. In þe whilke dayes
aƚƚ folke, bathe lerede and lawede, awe to gyffe þam̛
gudly to Goddes seruyce, to here and say it efter þaire state
es, in wirchipe of Godd All-myghty and of His gud halowes, noghte
þan̛ for to tente to tary with þe werlde, ne lyffe in
lykynge ne luste, þat þe flesche ȝernes, Bot gudly to
serue Godd̛ in clennes of lyfe. ¶ The fertℏe
commandement byddes vs doo wyrchipe to Fadire and to modire, noghte
anely to fleschely fadyr and modire, þat getes vs and fosters vs
furthe in þe werlde, bot tiƚƚ oure gastely Fadire þat
hase heuede of vs, and teches vs to lyffe tiƚƚ hele of
oure saules, and tiƚƚ oure gastely modyr, þat es, Haly
Kyrke, to be bouxome þare-to, and saue þe ryghte of it,
For it es modir tiƚƚ aƚƚ þat cristenly lyffes, and
alswa tiƚƚ ilke man̛ þat wyrchipfuƚƚ es, for to
do wyrchipe eftere þat it es. ¶ The fyfte comandement
byddes vs þat we sla na man̛, þat es to say, bodyly
ne gastely noþer; For als many we sla, in þat at we may,
als we sclaundire or bakbyte or falsely dcffames, or fandes for to
confounde þaym þat noghte serues, or withdrawes lyfelade
fra þam̛ þat hase nede, if we be of hauynge for to
helpe þam̛. ¶ The sexte commandment forbeddes us to
syn̛ or for to foly fleschely with any woman̛, owþer
sybbe or fremmede, wedde or vnwedde, or any fleschely knawynge or dede
haue with any, oþer þan þe Sacrament of matremoyne
excuseȝ, and þe lawe and þe lare of Haly Kyrke
teches. ¶ The seuend̛ byddis vs þat we saƚƚ
noghte stele: In whilke es forboden̛ vs robbyng and reuyng, and
aƚƚ wrangwyse takynge or with-haldynge, or hydynge or helelynge
of oþer menes gudes, agaynes þaire witt and þaire
wiƚƚ þat hase ryghte to þaym̛. ¶ The
aughten̛ commandement byddes vs þat we saƚƚ bere no
false wytnes agaynes oure euen̛ cristen̛: In þe whilke
es forboden̛ vs aƚƚ manere of lesynges, False consperacye
and false swerynge, whare-thurghe oure euen̛ cristyn̛ may
lese þayre cateƚƚ, Faitℏ, Fauour or Fame, or anything
eƚƚs, wheþer it be in gastely or in bodyly gudes. ¶
The nyende commandement es, þat we ȝerne noghte oure
neghtboure house: In whilke es forboden̛ aƚƚ wrangwyse
couetyse of land or of lythe, or of oghte elles þat may noghte
be lyftede ne raysede fra þe grounde, als thynge þat es
stedfaste, and may noghte be styrrede. ¶ The tend̛
commandement an þe laste es, þat we ȝerne noghte
þe wyefe of oure neghteboure ne of oure euyn̛
cristen̛, ne his mayden̛, ne his knaue, ne his oxe, ne his
asse : In þe whilke es forboden̛ vs to ȝerne or to
take any thynge þat may be styrride of oþer
mēn̄s gudes, als robes or reches or oþer cateƚƚ,
þat we hafe na gude titiƚƚ ne na ryghte to; For what thyng
so we take or getes one oþer wyse þan þe lawe and
þe lare of Haly Kyrke teches, we may noghte be assoylede of
þe trespase bot if we
make assethe, in þat þat we may, to þam̛
þat we harmede with haldande þaire gude. And in case
þat we hafe thurghe false athes, als in assises or oþer
enquestes, wetandly or willfully gerte oure euen̛ cristyn̛
lesse þaire patremoyne or þaire heritage, or falsely be
dyssessede of lande or of lythe, or false deuorce be made, or any
man̛ dam̄pnede, þofe aƚƚ we do þat we may
to þe party, ȝit may we noghte be assoylede of þe
trespas, bot of oure beschoppe, or of hym þat hase his powere,
For swylke caas es ryuely reseruede tiƚƚ hym̛ seluen̛.
¶ Thise ten̛ commandementeȝ þat I hafe now
rekkenede er vmbylowkede in twa of þe gospeƚƚe. The tane
es, þat we luffe Godd̛ ouer aƚƚ thynges; The
toþer es, þat we lufe oure euen̛ cristen̛
hallely in oure herte als we do oure seluen̛; For Godd awe vs to
lufe hally with herte, with aƚƚ oure myghte, with aƚƚ oure
thoghte, with worde and with dede. Oure euyn̛ crysten̛,
als-swa awe vs to lufe vn-to þat ilke gude þat we lufe
oure-selfe, þat es, þat þay wele fare in body and in
saule, and come to þat ilke blysse þat we thynke to ; and
whate-so-euer þat he bee, þat þise twa wele
ȝemes, aƚƚ þe ten̛ commandementes forsothe he
fulfilles.
Tertio.
Septem sunt Sacramenta Ecclesie.
The Seuene Sacramentes of Haly Kyrke.
ÞE thirde thynge of þe Sex þat I firste touchide,
es þe Seuen̛ Sacramentes þat Haly Kirke gyffes,
thurgℏe prelates and oþer prestes þat hase þe
powere. Of whilke seuen̛, the first fyve ilke cristen̛
man̛ awe lawefully to take efter his elde es; and twa lyes in
þaire will þat ressayues þaym̛. ¶ The
firste sacrament of seuen̛ es oure `baptym̛,' þat we
take þe firste tym̛ þat we be-com̛
cristyn̛. In whilke, bathe þe firste synn̛ þat
we ere borne witℏ, and alkyn̛ oþer synnes, ere
waschen̛ awaye, þat we ere fylede witℏ are we take it;
and þe trouthe of Haly Kyrke es taken̛ þare-in̛,
with- owtten̛ whilke na synfuƚƚ mans saule may be sauede.
And tiƚƚ þis sacrament Falles foure thynges, if it
saƚƚ ryghtely be tane als Haly Kirke teches. Ane es, ryghte
sayeyng and carpyng
of þe wordes þat hym awe for to say þat gyffes
þis sacrament, þat ere þise : — ` I Baptise þe
in þe name of þe Fadir and þe Sonne and þe
Haly Gaste.' Ane oþer es, þat it be done anely in watire,
For na noþer licoure es lefulle þare-fore. Þe
thirde es, þat he þat gyffes þis sacrement be in
witt and in wiƚƚ for to gyffe it. And þe ferthe es,
þat he þat takes it be, noþer of lerede nor of
lewde, Baptisede be-fore; For if þe preste be in were of hym
þat saƚƚ take it, whethire he be baptisede or he be noghte,
þan saƚƚ he say þe wordes one þis wyese, `If
þou be noghte baptisede, I baptise þe in þe name of
þe Fadire and þe Sone and þe Haly Gaste.' ¶
The secunde sacrament es `confermynge,' þat þe byschope
gyffes to þam̛ þat ere baptisede, þat gyffes
thorowe his powere to þam̛ þat takes it þe
grace and þe gyfte of þe Haly Gaste, to make
þaym̛ mare stalleworthe þan þay ware be-fore,
to stande agaynes þe fende and dedly syn̛; þat nane
hase powere to do bot þe byschope allane, þat hase the
state and þe stede of Cristes Appostilles. ¶ The thirde
sacrament es callede `penance,' þat es, sothefaste forthynkynge
þat we hafe of oure syn̛, with-owtten̛ wiƚƚ or
thoghte to turne agayne to it. And þis sacrament must haue thre
thynges: — Ane es, sorowe in oure herte þat we hafe synnede.
Anoþer es, opyn̛ scrifte of mouthe, how we hafe synnede.
The [third es, satisfaccion, þat we maun do for oure syn̛].A sentence is here wanting through error of the scribe. [For 'satisfaccion' see Wm. of Shoreham's Poems 39/1078, 'Sorwe, schryfte, and edbote.' F.] ¶ Þise thre, with gud wiƚƚ to forsake oure
syn̛, clenseȝ vs and wasches vs of alkyn̛ syn̛.
¶ The ferthe es, `þe Sacrament of þe Autyr,' Cristes
awen̛ body in lyknes of brede, als hale als He tuke it of
þe blysside mayden̛, the whilke, ilke man̛ and
woman̛ þat of elde es, awe for to rescheyue anes in
þe ȝere, þat es at say, at þe pascℏ, als
Haly Kyrke vses, when þay ere clensede of syn̛ thurgℏe
penance, O payne of doynge owte of Haly Kyrke, bot if þay
forbere it by skiƚƚwyse cause, þat awe to be knawen̛
to þam̛ þat saƚƚ gyffe it; For he þat tase
it worthily, tase his saluacyone; and wha-so takes it vnworthily,
tase his dampnacione. ¶ The fyfte sacrament es `þe laste
Enoyntynge with oyle,' þat es halowede and handelyde of prestes;
þe whilke sacrament awe anely to be gyffen̛ to
þam̛ þat he wate ere of skillwyse elde, and þat
he sese sekyrly in pereƚƚe of dede, in lyghtenes and alegeance of
þaire sekenes, if Godde wiƚƚ þat þay turne
agayne to þe hele, and als in forgyffnes of venial synnes, and
in lessynge of payne if þay passe heþen̛. ¶ The
Sexte sacrament of Haly Kyrke es `ordire,' þat gyffes powere to
þam þat ryghtwysly tase it, For to serue in Haly Kirke
efter þaire state es, and to þam̛ þat takes
þe ordyre of preste, for to synge messe, and for to mynystre
þe Sacramentes of Haly Kyrke, þat to þam̛
fallys, Eftyr þe state þat þay hafe, and þaire
degre askes. ¶ The seuend̛ Sacrament es ` Matrymoyne,'
þat es, lawefuƚƚ festynnynge be-twyx man̛ and
woman̛ at þaire bathere assente, for to lyffe samen̛
with-owtten̛ any lowssynge, whiƚƚs þaire lyfe lastes,
in remedy of syn̛ and getynge of grace, if it be tane in gude
Entente and clennes of lyfe.
The Ferthe thyng of þe Sex.
These be þe Seuene werkes of Mercy Bodyly.
Þe ferthe thynge of þe Sex to knawe Godd̛
Almyghty, þat vs byhoues fullfiƚƚ in aƚƚ þat we
maye, ere þe seuen̛ dedis of mercy vntiƚƚ oure
euen̛ cristen̛, þat Godd̛ saƚƚ reherse vs
apon̛ þe dredfuƚƚ day of dome, and wiet howe we haue
done þam̛ here in þis lyfe, als sayne Mathewe makes
mynde in his gospeƚƚe. ¶ Of whilke, þe firste es, to
fede þaym̛ þat er hunngry. ¶ The toþer
es, to gyffe þaym drynke þat er thristy. ¶ The
thyrde es, for to clethe þam̛ þat er clatheles or
nakede. ¶ The ferthe es, for to herber þam̛ þat
er houseles. ¶ The fyfte es, for to vesete þam̛
þat lyes in sekenes. ¶ The Sexte es, for to helpe
þam̛ þat lyes or er in presoun̛. ¶ The
Seuend̛ es, to bery dede men̛ þat hase myster. ¶
Þise ere the Seuen̛ bodyly dedis of mercy þat ilke
man̛ awe to doo þat es myghtty. ¶ Þar are of
mercy alswa Seuen̛ gastely dedis þat vs awe to doo
tiƚƚ þam̛ þat hase nede tiƚƚ vs. ¶
Ane es, to consaile and wysse þam̛ þat are wyƚƚ.
¶ Anoþer es, to
chasty þam̛ þat wyrkkys iƚƚ. ¶ Þe
thyrd es, to solauce thaym þat er sorowefuƚƚ, and comforthe
thaym̛. ¶ The ferthe es, to pray for thaym̛ þat
ere synfuƚƚ. ¶ Þe fyfte es, to be thole-mode
when̛ men̛ mysdose vs. ¶ Þe Sexte es, Gladly to
forgyffe when men̛ haues greuede vs. ¶ The seuend̛,
when men̛ askes vs for to lere thaym, if we cun̛ mare
þan þay, for to lere thaym. ¶, Þise
vn-tiƚƚ oure neghtebours ere fuƚƚ nedfuƚƚ, and to
þam þat duse thaym̛ wondir̛ medefuƚƚ;
For̛ he saƚƚ Mercy þat Mercyfuƚƚ es ; and
man̛ with-owtten̛ Mercy, of Mercy sall mysse.
vij. opera misericordie corporalia:,: vnde versus : — Vestio, cibo,
poto, redimo, tego, colligo, condo.
vij. opera misericordie spiritualia : — Consule, castiga, solare,
remitte, fer, ora, Instrue, si poteris, sic Christo carus
haberis.
The Fifte thyng of þe Sex.
The seuene gastely vertus.
ÞE fyfte thynge of þe Sex to knawe God Almyghten̛,
are þe Seuen̛ vertus þat Haly Writte teches. Of
whilke seuen̛, þe thre first þat are hede thewes,
teches vs how to hafe vs vn-to God Almyghtty; and þe foure
teches vs swa for to lyffe þat it be bathe lykande to Godd̛
and to man̛. ¶ Þe firste vertu es `trouthe,'
wharethurghe we trow anely in Godd̛ þat made aƚƚ
thynges, with aƚƚ þe oþer vertus I touchede be-fore.
And þis es nedfuƚƚ tiƚƚ aƚƚ þat cristenly
lyffes ; For trouthe es begynnynge of aƚƚ gude dedis; For
noþer es trouthe worthe with-owtten̛ gud werk, ne na werke
with-owtten̛ trouthe may pay Godd̛ Almyghtty. ¶
Þe toþer gude thewe or vertue es ` hope,' þat es, a
sekyr habydynge of gastely gude, thurghe Goddes gudnes and oure gude
dedis, for to com̛ to þat blysse þat neuer mare
blynnes, Noghte anely in trayste of Goddes gudnes, ne allanly in
trayste of oure gude dedis, Bot in trayste of thaym̛ bathe
when̛ þay are bathe Sammen̛; For noþer saƚƚ
we faƚƚ sa ferre in-tiƚƚ whanhope þat we ne saƚƚ
traiste to hafe
þat blysse if we wele do; Ne we saƚƚ noghte com̛ so
ferre in-to ouerhope for to trayste so mekiƚƚ in Goddes gudnes
þat we saƚƚ hope to haue þat blysse with-owtten̛
gude dedys. ¶ Þe thirde vertue or thewe es `charyte,'
þe whylke es a dere lufe þat vs awe vn-tiƚƚ
Godd̛ Almyghtty als for Hym selfe, and tiƚƚ oure
euencristen̛ for God Almyghttyn̛; For þe tane may
noghte be lufede with-owtten̛ þe toþer, als Sayn
Ioℏn þe gospellere sayse in his pystiƚƚ. ` Þat
commandement,' he saise, ` hafe we of Godd̛ þat
wha-sa-euer lufes Gode, lufes his euencristyn̛. For he þat
lufes noghte his broþer wham̛ he may see, how sulde he lufe
God wham̛ he sese noghte ?` ¶ Þe ferthe vertue or
thewe es `ryghtwysenes,' þat es, to ȝelde to aƚƚ
men̛ þat we awe þam̛, For to do to ilke a
man̛ þat vs awe to doo, for to wirchipe tham̛
þat ere worthy, For to helpe þe pure þat er nedy, to
do no gyle ne wrange vn-to na man̛, Bot for to do þat
skiƚƚ es vntiƚƚ ilke mane. ¶ Þe fyfte vertue or
thewe es `sleghte or sleghenes,' þat wysses vs to be-warre with
wathes of þe werlde; For it kennes vs to knawe þe gud and
þe iƚƚ, and alswa to sundire þe tane fra þe
toþer, and for to leue þat es euyƚƚ, and take to
þe gude, and of twa gud thynges for to chese þe better.
¶ Þe Sexte vertue es `strenghe or stalworthnes,' noghte
anely of body, bot of herte and wiƚƚ, euynly to suffire þe
wele and þe waa, welthe or wandretℏ, whethire so betyde,
and þat oure herte be noghte to hye for na wele-fare, ne
ouermekill vndire for nane euyƚƚ fare, Bot styffely for to stande
agaynes oure faas, whethir þay be bodyly or þay be
gastely, swa þat na fulle fandynge make vs to falle ne be false
in oure faytℏe agaynes God Almyghtty. ¶ Þe Seuend
vertue and þe laste es, `methe or methefulnes,' þat kepes
vs fra owterage and haldes vs in euenhede, lettes fulle lykynge and
luste of þe flesche, and ȝemes vs fra ȝernynges of
werldly gudes, and kepes in clennes of body and of saule. For methe
es mesure and mett of aƚƚ þat we do, if we lyffe skillwysly
als þe lawe teches.
The sexte thyng and þe laste.
ÞE sexte thynge, and þe laste of þase I firste
towchede es, þe Seuen̛ heuede or dedly synnes þat
ilke a man̛ and woman̛ awe for to knawe to flee and forhewe,
For folkes may noghte flee þam̛ bot þay knawe
thaym̛. ¶ Pride ¶ and Enuye, ¶ Wreth ¶ and
Glotonye, ¶ Couetyse ¶ and Slouthe, ¶ and Lecherye.
And for-þi er þay callede Seuen̛ heuede Synnes, for
þat all oþer commes of thaym̛; and for-þi er
þay callede dedely synnes, for þay gastely slaa ilke manes
& womanes saule þat es haunkede in aƚƚe or in any of
thaym̛. Whare-fore þe wyese man̛ byddes in his buke `
als fra þe face of þe neddyre, fande to flee syn̛.'
For als þe venym̛ of þe neddire slaas manes body, Swa
þe venym̛ of syn slaas manes saule. ¶ The firste of
þise Seuen̛ synnes es callede `Pryde,' þat es, a
lykande heghenees of a manes herte, Of offyce or of heghe state, or
oþer noblaye þat he ouþer haues of kynde or of
grace, or he hopes þat he haues mare þan̛
anothire. And of þis wikkede synn̛ commes some sere spyces:
— Boste and auauntynge and vn-bouxsomnes, despite, and ypocrisy
and vnhamlynes, and oþer þat ofte ere sene amanges prowde
men̛. ¶ The secunde dedely synn̛ es hatten̛
`Enuy,' þat es, a sorowe and a syte of þe wele-fare, and a
ioy of þe euyƚƚ fare, of oure euen̛cristen: Of whilke
synn̛, many spyces sprenges and spredes. Ane es, hateredyn̛
to speke or here oghte be spoken̛, þat may sown̛ vn-to
gude to þaym þat þay hate. Ane-oþer, false
juggynge or dome of þaire dedis, and ay turne vn-to euyƚƚ
þat es done to gude. Þe thirde es `bakbyttynge,' to saye
be-hynde þam̛, þat we wiƚƚ noghte avowe ne saye
be-fore þam̛ ; whare noghte anely he þat spekes
þe euyƚƚ, bot he þat heres it be spoken̛, es for
to blame; For, ware þare na herere, þare ware na
bakbyttere. ¶ Þe thirde dedly synn̛ or heuede
syn̛ es `wrethe,' þat es, a wykkede stirrynge or bollenynge
of herte, whare-fore a man wilnes for to wreke hym̛, or wykkydly
to venge hym, appon his euyn̛cristyn̛. And of þis
wykkede syn̛ commes stryvynge and
flytynge, with many false athes and many foule wordes, Sclaundere, for
to for-do a man's gude fame, Feghtynge and Felony, and ofte
manes-slaughtere, and many ma þat nowe es [na] nede for to be
neuenede. ¶ Þe fferthe dedly synn̛ men̛ calles
`glotonye,' þat es, ane vnskilwyse lykynge or lufe in taste or
in takynge of mete or of drynke. And þise trespas men̛ duse
apponne sere wyse : — Ane es, ouþer ouer arely or ouer late, or
ouer oftesythe, for to ete or drynke bot if nede gere it. Ane
oþer es, for to lyffe ouer delycately. Þe thirde es, for
to ete or drynke ouer mekyƚƚ. Þe fertℏe es, ouer
hastely to ete or to drynke. Þe fifte es, to compas & caste
appon̛ whate wyese we may gette dylicious metis or drynkes to
fulfiƚƚ þe lykynges and þe lustes of þe
flescℏ oþer þan we may gudly lede oure lyffe with,
SecundumMS. 'Sonde,' the probable miscopying of some contraction. Mr. J. A. Herbert suggests 'Secundum,' as the Latin words (not a verse) which follow mean 'Very hastily, delicately, too eagerly, anxiously,' state 4 of the abovesaid 5 ways to be avoided in eating and drinking. versum,
Prepropere, laute, nimis ardenter, studiosè.
¶ Þe fyfte dedly syn̛ es callede `Couetyse,'
þat es, a wrangwyse wilnynge or ȝernynge to haue any maner
of gude vs awe noghte. And þis es donne pryncypally appon̛
twyn̛ wyese. Ane es, wrangwysely to get any thynge þat
oure likynge or oure lufe lyghtes apon̛, als be Sacrelege or by
symony, falsehede or okyr, or oþer gelery, whilke þise
worldely men̛ er wounte for to vse þat castes þaire
conaundenes swa vn-to couetyse þat þay ne rekke
wheþer it be with ryghte or with wrange, bot þat þay
may gette þat at þaire herte ȝernes. Anoþer
es, wrangwisely to halde þat at es getyn̛, þat es,
when̛ we wiƚƚ noghte do to Godd̛ Almyghten̛ ne
tiƚƚ Haly Kyrke, ne tiƚƚ oure euen̛cristyn̛,
þat vs awe for to do by dett and by lawe, bot anely haldes
þat we hafe for ese of oure selfen̛, whare noghte anely he
þat wrangwysly getes, bot he þat wrangwysely haldes,
falles in þe synn̛. ¶ Þe sexte dedly synn̛
es `slewthe or slawenes,' þat es, a hertly angere or anoye
tiƚƚ vs of any gastely gud þat we saƚƚ do. And of
þis wikkede synn comes sere spyces: — Ane es, latesommes
or lyte to drawe apon̛ lenghte or to lache
any gude dedis þat we saƚƚ do þat may turne vs
tiƚƚ helpe or hele of oure saules. Anoþer es, a `dullnes or
heuenes of herte' þat lettes vs for to lufe oure Lorde God
Almyghten̛, or any lykynge to hafe in His seruyse. Þe
thirde es, `ydillchipe,' þat ouer mekyƚƚ es hauntede,
þat makes lathe to begynn̛ any gude dedis, and lyghtly dose
vs to leue when̛ oghte es begun̛, and þare whare we
ere kyndely borne for to swynke, als þe feule es kyndely brede
for to flie, It haldes vs euermare in ese agayne oure kynde, For
Idillnes es Enemy to cristen̛ man̛ saule, stepmodire and
stamerynge agaynes gude thewes, and witter- wyssynge and waye
tiƚƚ alkyn̛ vices. ¶ Þe Seuend̛ dedely
syn̛ es hatten̛ `lychery' þat es, a foule lykynge or
luste of þe flesche. And of þis foule syn̛ comes
many sere spyces: — Ane es `Fornycacyone,' a fleschely synn be-twyxe
ane anlypy man̛ and ane anlypy woman̛: and for-thi þat
it [es] agaynes þe lawe, & þe leue and þe lare
þat Haly Kirke haldes, it is dedly syn̛ to þaym
þat it duse. Anoþer es `Avowtry, and þat es
spousebreke, wheþer it be bodyly or it be gastely, þat
greuosere and gretter es þan þe toþer. Þe
thirde es `Incest,' þat es, when̛ a man̛ synnes
fleschely with any of his sybb frendes, or any oþer þat es
of his affynyte gastely or bodyly, wheþer so it be. Oþer
spyces many sprynges of þis syn̛ þat ouer mekill es
knawen̛ and kende in þis werlde with þaym þat
ledes þaire lyfe als þaire flesche ȝernes.
¶ Þise are þe sex thynges þat I hafe spoken
off, þat þe lawe of Haly Kirke lyes maste in ; The whilke
we er halden̛ to knawe and to cun̛, if we saƚƚ knawe
God Almyghty, and come tiƚƚ His blysse. ¶ And for to gyffe
ȝow better wyƚƚ for to cun̛ thaym, Oure ffadir þe
beschope grauntes of his grace Fourty dayes of pardoun̛ tiƚƚ
aƚƚ þat cunnes thaym, and ratyfyes alswa þat
oþer men̛ gyffes, Swa mekiƚƚ coueites he þe hele
of ȝour saules. For ȝife ȝe conandely knawe þise
Sex thynges, thurgℏ thaym saƚƚ ȝe cun̛ knawe
Godd̛ Almyghty, whaym, als Sayne Ioℏn sayse in his gospelle,
cunnandely for to knawe swylke als He es, It es endles lyfe and
lastande blysse. To þe whilke blysse He brynge vs,
oure Lorde Gode Almyghty! Amen̛ ! Amen̛! Amen̛! Per
Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, qui cum Deo patrĕpatri et Spiritu
Sancto viuit et regnat omnipotens deus in secula seculorum. Amen!
Amen! Amen !
II. THE MIRROR OF SAINT EDMUND.
¶ Incipit Speculum Sancti Edmundi Cantuarensis Archipiscopi in
Anglicis. Verbis understood.
Here begynnys The Myrrour of Seynt Edmonde þe Ersebechope of
Canterberye.
VIDETE vocacionem vestram. This wordes, sayse Saynte Paule in his
pistyƚƚ, and thay are thus mekiƚƚ to saye one ynglysche,
`Seese ȝowre callynge.' This worde falles tiƚƚ vs folke of
religioun̛: and þat sais he, tiƚƚ excite vs tiƚƚ
perfeccyone. And ther-fore, what houre þat I thynke of
my-selfe, one nyghte or on day, On a syde hafe I gret Ioye, and on
anoþer syde gret sorowe : — Ioy, for þe haly
religion̛; sorowe and confusyon̛ for my febiƚƚ
conuersasione. And þat es na wondire, for I hafe gret
encheson̛. Als þe wyese man saise in his sermon̛, he
sais, `to com to Religion̛ es souerayne perfeccyone; and there-in
noghte perfitly to lyffe, es souerayne dampnacyone.' And thar-for
þare es na turne of þe way bot ane, to come in
congregacyone, þat es, to drawe to perfeccione als þou
wiƚƚ þi saluacyone, to leue aƚƚ þat es in this
worlde and aƚƚ þat þer-to langys, and sett thi myghte
to lyffe perfitly. To lyffe perfitly, as Sayne Bernarde vs kennys,
Þat es, to lyffe honourabilly, mekely, & lufesomly.
Honourabilly, als to God, þat þou sett thyn̛ Entente
to do Hys wiƚƚ, þat es [at] say in aƚƚ thynges
þat þou saƚƚ thynke in hert, or say with mouthe, or
doo in dede, with any of þi fyve wittes; alls with seynge of
eghe,
Herynge of Ere, Smellynge of neese, Suellynge of throtte, towchynge of
hande, Gangand, or standande, Lygand, or sittande, thynke at þe
begynnynge if þat it be Goddes wiƚƚ or noghte. And if it
be Goddis wiƚƚ, do it at thy powere. And if it be noghte Hys
wiƚƚ, do it noghte, for to suffre þe dede.
Bot now may þou aske mee `what es Goddes wyƚƚ ?` I say
þe, His wiƚƚ es na noþer thynge bot þi
halynes. Als þe Appostiƚƚ in his pystiƚƚ : —
¶ Hec est Voluntas Dei, Sanctificacio vestra: Þat es to
say, þat es Goddes wiƚƚ, þat ȝe be haly. Bot now
may þou aske me: `What mase man haly ?` I say þe, twa
thynges with-owtten̛ ma, þat es, knaweynge and lufe.
Knaweyng of sothefastnes, and Lufe of gudnes. Bot to þe
knaweynge of Godde, þat es sothefastnes, ne may þou noghte
com̛ Bot be knaweynge of thi selfe; ne ȝit to þe luf
of Godde may þou noghte com̛, bet thurghe þe luf of
thynn̛ evyn̛-crystyn̛. To þe knaweyng of
þi selfe may þou com̛ with besy vmby- thynkynge; And
to þe knaweynge of Godde thurghe pure contemplacionne. To
þe knaweynge of þi selfe þou may com̛ on̛
þis manere: Thynke besely and ofte what þou erte, what
þou was, and what þou saƚƚ be. Fyrste, als vn-to
þi body: þou erte now vylere þan̛ any mukke;
þou was getyn̛ of sa vile imatire and sa gret fyltℏe,
þat it es schame for to nevynn̛, and abhomynacyon̛ for
to thynke; þou saƚƚ be delyuerde to tades and to neddyrs
for to ete. What þou has bene and what thow erte, now saƚƚ
þou als to þi saule, thynke, For what þou saƚƚ
be þou may noghte wyete nowe. Vmbethynke þe nowe how
þou has dnn̛ gret syn̄s and many, and how thou has
lefte gret gudnes and many. Thynke how lange þou hase lyffede,
and what thow has rescheyuede, and how þou has dyspende it. For
ilke an houre þat þou has noghte thoghte one Godde,
þou has it tynte. For þou saƚƚ ȝelde resonne of
ilke-ane ydiƚƚ thoghte, of ilke-ane ydiƚƚ dede, of ilke-ane
ydiƚƚ worde. And righte as þou has noghte ane hare of thi
heuede þat it ne saƚƚ be gloryfyede, if swa be þou be
safede, Righte swa saƚƚ eschape nane houre þat it ne
saƚƚ [be] accountede. A Ihesu, mercy ! If aƚƚ þis
worlde ware fuƚƚ of
smaƚƚe powdire, wha sulde be sa qwaynte þat he sulde or
moghte Iugge ilke a thoghte, ilke a sawe, ilke a dede by
þam̛ selfe, and twyn̛ ilke ane fra oþer? Certis
na thynge bot þe saule, þat es a thowsande sythes gretter
þan aƚƚ þis worlde, if it ware a thowsande sythes
gretter þan it es. And it es so fuƚƚ of dyuerse thoghtes,
lykynges and ȝernynges, wha moghte þan thus seke his herte
þat he moght knawe aƚƚ þat es þare-in or thynke
it ? See nowe, my dere hertly frende, howe þou has gret nede of
knawynge of thi selfe. Sythen̛ aftyrwarde take gude hede whate
þou erte nowe, als vn-to þi saule; howe þow has
littyƚƚ of gude in the, and littiƚƚ of witte and
littiƚƚ of powere; For þou ȝernys ilke a daye
þat at noghte avayles the, and euer mare ouer lattly þat
at may availe the. Dere frende, þou erte dessayfede sa ofte
with vayne Ioye; nowe trauelde with drede, nowe erte þou lyftede
one lofte with false trayste. See now on þe toþer syde :
— Þou ert chaungeabiƚƚ: þat at þou
wiƚƚ doo to day, þou wiƚƚ noghte to morne. And ofte
sythes þou erte anoyede eftire many thynges, and turment if
þou hafe thaym noghte. And sythen when þou has
þam̛ at þi wiƚƚ, þan erte þou of
thaa thynges annoyede. Thynke ȝitt one þe toþer
syde, how þou erte lyghte to fande, frele to agaynestande, and
redy to assente. Off aƚƚ þese wrechidnes now has þe
delyuerde Ihesu þi spouse, and delyuers þe ylke day mare
and mare. For when̛ þou was noghte, He mad þe in
saule aftire His awen̛ lyknesse and His ymage, and þi body
made of foule stynkande skyūm̄ of þe erthe, whare-of
es abhomynacyone to thynke, He mad þe in witte and in membirs sa
nobiƚƚ and sa faire þat nane can̛ deuyse. Thynke now
besyly, ȝe þat has fleschely frendis and kynredyn̛,
why ȝe luffe þam̛ sa derely and sa tendirly. If
þou say þat þou lufes þi fadire or þi
modire for-thi þat þou ert of þaire blude and of
flesche getyn̛, Sa are þe wormes þat comes of
þam̛ day be day. On a-noþer syde þou has
noþer of þam̛ body ne saule, Bot þou þan
has of God thurghe thaym̛. For whate sulde þou hafe bene
if þou had duellyde swilke as þou was of thaym̛, when
þou genderide in fylthe and in syn̛ ? One þe
toþer syd, if þou lufe brethire or
systers or oþer kynredyn̛, for-thi þat þay are
of þe same flesche of fadir or of modire, and of þaire
blude, by þe same skyƚƚ solde þou lufe a pece of
þaire flesche if it [ware] schorne a-waye; and þat solde
be errour gret with-owtten̛ mesure. ȝyfe þou say
þat þou lufes þam for-thi þat þay hafe
fleschely fegure in lyknes of man̛, and for-thy þat
þay haue saule ryghte als þou has, þan es
þi broþer fleschely na nerre þan anoþer; bot
in als mekiƚƚ als þou and he hase bathe a fadire and a
modire fleschely, The begynnynge of þi flesehe, þat es, a
lyttiƚƚ filtℏ, stynkande and fuƚƚ to see. Thare-fore
þou saƚƚ lufe Hym of whaym aƚƚ þi fairenes
commes. And þou saƚƚ lufe gastely ilk a man, and flee fra
now-forthwarde to lufe flescℏly.
And swa sall þou doo certaynly if þou conabilly thynke
of gudes þat He has done gudly for þe; and mare sall doo
if þou lufe Hym enterely; For, als I saide at þe
begynnynge, — when þou was noghte, He made þe of noghte;
and when þou was tynte, He fande þe; and when̛
þou was peryschede, He soghte þe; and when̛ þou
was saulde with syn̛, þan He boghte þe; and
when̛ þou was dampnede, þan He sauede þe. And
when̛ þou was borne in syn̛, He baptyȝede
þe; and sythen̛ aftirwarde, when̛ þou synnede sa
foully and sa ofte, þan He sufferde þe so frely, and
habade thynne amendemente sa lange, and sythen̛ rescheyuede
þe sa swetly, and þe has sett in sa swete a falachipe.
And ilke a day when þou mysdose, þan He reprofes þe;
and when̛ þou repentis þe, þan He forgyffes
the; and when þou erris, þan He amendis þe; and when
þou dredis þe, þan He leris þe; and wben̛
þou hungers, þan He fedis þe; and when þou
erte calde, þan̛ He warmes þe; and when̛
þou has hete, þan He kelis þe; and when þou
slepis, þan He saues þe; and when̛ þou rysez
vpe, þan He vphaldes þe; and euer-mare when þou erte
at male eese, þan He comforthes þe. Thyre gudnes, and
many oþer, hase done vnto þe thi swete spouse Ihesu
Criste. And þe swettnes of His herte saƚƚ þou thynke
euer-mare, and euer speke þare-of, and euer-mare lofe Hym, and
euer thanke Hym, and that bathe nyghte & day, if þou oghte
kan̛ of lufe.
And þare-for, when þou ryses of þi bedde at morne
or at
mydnyghte, thynke als tite how many thowsand men̛ & women̛
ere perischede in body or in saule þat nyghte: Some in fyre,
Some in oþer manere, als in water or one lande; Some robbide,
woundide, Slayne, dede sodanly with-owttyn̛ sacramentis, and
fallyn̛ in-tiƚƚ dampnacione ay lastande. Thynk alswa how
many thowsande þat nyghte are in periƚƚ of saule, þat
es to say, in dedly syn̛, als in glotony, lechery, Couetyse, in
manes-slaynge, and in many oþer folyes. And of aƚƚ
þise iƚƚes, the has delyuered thy swete Lorde Ihesu,
with-owtten̛ þi deserte. What seruyce hase þou
donne, whare-fore He hase þusgate keped þe, and many
oþer loste and forsaken̛ ? For sothe, if þou take gud
kepe how gret gude He has done þe on ilk a syde, þou
saƚƚ fynd hym ocupiede aboute þi profet, als He did
nan̛ oþer thynge, bot anely ware entendande to þe and
to þi hele, als if He had forgetyn̛ aƚƚ þis
worlde for to be anely intendand̛ vn-to þe. ¶ And
when þou hase þis thoghte, lyfte vpe thi handis and thanke
thi Lorde of þis and of aƚƚ oþer gudes, and say one
þis manere, `My These prayers are first given in the MS. in Latin —Gracias tibi ... In manus tuas...—the translation immediately following. It did not seem necessary to print the Latin as well, the English being a full equivalent. The translation in the first case is introduced with the words 'This Oryson̛ es þus to say one Inglysche my Lorde,' &c.; and in the second 'And þis orysone es þus mekill to saye Lorde' &c. Lorde Ihesu Criste ! grace I ȝelde, and
thanke þe, þat me, thyne vnworthy seruande, þou hase
kepid couerde and vesete in þis nyghte (Or in þis day),
hale, safe, and wemles vn-to þis tym̛ þou hase made
to come, and for aƚƚ oþer gudes and benefitis þat
þou hase geffyn̛ me, anely thurghe þi gudnes and
þi pete, þou þat lyffes and regnes endles.
Amen̛.' Dere frende, in þis same manere sall þou say
when þou rysez at morne, and when þou lygges down̛ at
evyn̛. And when̛ þou has done swa, þan
saƚƚ þou besyly thynke how þou hase spende þat
day (or þat nyghte), and pray God̛ of mercy of þe
iƚƚ þat þou hase done, and of þe gude þat
þou hase lefte vn-tiƚƚ þat tym̛. And, dere
frende, do na thynge in þis lyfe tiƚƚ þou commend
þi selfe, and thi frendes qwykke and dede, in the handis of thi
swete Lorde Ihesu Criste, and say one þis maner, `Lorde Ihesu
Criste! in
þi handis, and in þe handis of thyn̛ haly
Angeƚƚs, I gyffe in þis nyghte (or in þis day) my
saule and my body, my Fadir and my Modire, my brothire and my systirs,
frendis and seruandes, neghtburs and kynredyn̛, my gude-doers,
and aƚƚ folke righte trowande. Kepe vs, Lorde, in þis
nyghte (or þis day) thurgℏ þe gud dedis and þe
prayere of þe blyssed mayden̛ Marie and aƚƚ thi
halous, fra vices and fra wykked ȝernyngez, fra synns and fra
fandynges of þe deueƚƚ, fra sodayne and avysede dede, and
fra þe paynes of helle. Lyght my herte of the Haly Gaste and of
thi haly grace! Lorde! þou make me to be bouxsome euer-mare to
þi byddynges, and suffire me neuer mare to twyn̛ fra the,
endles Ihesu, Lorde in Trinite! Amen!' My dere frende, if þou
hase þis manere, þan saƚƚ þou hafe verray
knaweynge of thi selfe, For thus saise haly Writte, `If þou
trayste one thy selfe, to þi selfe þou saƚƚ be
takyn̛; and ȝif þou trayste one Gode and noghte one
þi-selfe, to God þou saƚƚbhe gyffen̛.' And
þis maner of consederatyone es callede 'medytacyone,' For by
þis maner of knawynge of þi selfe, & by þis maner of
medytacyone, saƚƚ þou come to þe knaweynge of Gode,
by haly contemplacyone.
Wiet þou þat þare es thre manere of
contemplacyone. The fyrste es in creaturs. The toþer es in
haly scripture. The thirde es in Gode hym-selfe in His nature. Thow
saƚƚ wyet þat contemplacyone es na noþer thynge bot
thoghte of Godde in gret lykynge in saule, And to se His gudnes in His
creaturs. His gudnes in His creaturs may þou see one þis
manere. Thre thynges pryncypaly ere in Gode, þat es to say,
Myghte, Wysdome, and gudnes. Myghte es appropirde to Godd þe
Fadire. Wysdome, to God þe Son̛. Gudnes, to God þe
Haly Gaste. Thurgℏ Goddes myghte ere aƚƚ thynges made, and
thurgℏ His wysdome ere aƚƚ thynges meruailously ordaynede;
and thurgℏ His gudnes ilke a day ere aƚƚ thynges waxande.
His powere may þou see by þaire gretnes and by thaire
makynge; His wysdom̛ by þaire fairenes ofþaire
ordaynynge; His gudnes may þou see by þaire Encressynge.
Þaire gretnes may þou see by þaire four partynges,
þat es to saye, by þaire heghte, and by
þaire depnes, and by þaire largenes, and by paire lenghe.
His wysdom̛ may þou see if þou take kepe how He hase
gyffen̛ to ylke a creature to be. Some He hase gyffen̛ to
be anely, with-owtten̛ mare, als vn-to stanes. Tiƚƚ
oþer to be & to lyffe, als to grysse and trees. Tiƚƚ
oþer to be, to lyffe, to fele, als to bestes. Tiƚƚ
oþer to be, to lyffe, to fele, and with resone to deme, als to
mane and to angeƚƚs For stanes erre, bot þay ne hafe nogte
lyffe, ne felys noghte, ne demes noghte. Trees are; þay lyffe,
Bot thay fele noghte. Men̛ are; þay lyffe, Þey fele,
and þay deme, and þay erre with stanes, [þay] lyffe
with trees, þay fele with bestes, and demys with
angeƚƚs. Here saƚƚ þou thynke besyly þe
worthynes of manes kynde, how it ouer-passes ilke a creature. And
þare-fore saise Saynt Austyn̛, `I wald noghte hafe þe
stede of ane angeƚƚe, if I myghte hafe þe stede þat
es purvayede to man̛.' Thynk also þat man̛ es worthy
gret schenchipe þat will noghte lyffe eftyre hys degre and
eftyre his condicyone askis; For aƚƚ þe creaturs in
þe worlde ere made anely for man̛. Þase þat
ere meke, ere made for thre skylles; For to helpe vs at trauayle, als
nate, Oxen̛, kye and horse; For to couer vs & cletℏe vs, als
lyne, and wolle and lethire; for to fede vs and vphalde vs, als
bestes, Corne of þe ertℏe, Fysche of þe See; and
þe noyande creaturs, als iƚƚ trees and venemous bestes,
þe wylke are made for thre thynges, For euro chastyyng, for oure
amendement, and for euro kennynge. We ere chastied and puneschet,
when we ere hurte. And þat es gret mercy of Godde, þat He
wiƚƚ chasty vs bodyly þat we be noghte punescht lastandly.
We erre amendid when̛ we thynke þat aƚƚ þese ere
broghte vs for oure syn̛. For when̛ we see þat sa
lyttiƚƚ creaturs may noye vs, þan̛ we thynke one oure
wrechidnes, and þan̛ we ere mekyde. We ere Eftir- warde
kende, for-þi þat we see in þise creaturs þe
wondirfuƚƚ werkes of God oure Makere. For mare vs availes
tiƚƚ oure ensampiƚƚ and Edifycacione, þe werkes of
þe pyssmowre þan dose þe strenghe of þe lyone
or of þe bere. Als-swa, righte als I haue said of bestes, reght
swa vndirstande of trees; and when þou hase donne on þis
manere, Raise vp thy herte vn-tiƚƚ
Godd̛, and thynke how it es grete myghte to make aƚƚ thynges
of noghte, and to gyffe þam to bee, and grete wysdom̛ to
ordayne þam in sa gret fairenes, and in swa gret bounte, to
multyply þam̛ ilk a day for oure prowe. A! mercy
Godd̛! how we are vnkynde! We dyspende aƚƚ His creaturs, and
He þam makes ! We confound þam̛, and He
þam̛ gouernes. We distruy þam̛ ilke a day, and
He þam multyplies. And þare-fore say tiƚƚ Hym in thi
herte, `Lorde ! for-þi þat þou arte, þay ere,
and for-þi þat þou arte fayre, þay are faire ;
and for-þi þat þou arte gude, þay are gude.
With gud ryghte þay loue þe, and Onoures þe, and
gloryfyes þe, aƚƚ thy creatures. O blyssed Godd in
Trinyte! with gud ryghte þay loue þe for þaire
gudnes, with gud ryghte þay anouren̛ þe for thaire
fairenes, with gud righte þay glorifye þe for þaire
profet, aƚƚ þi creaturs, blyssed Trinyte ! Of wham̛
aƚƚ thynges ere thurgℏ His powere made; Thu[r]gℏ whaym
aƚƚ thynges are thurgℏ Hys wysdom̛ gouernede; In whaym
aƚƚ thynges are thurgℏ His bounte multipliede; Tiƚƚ Hym
honour and louynge with-owten̛ [ende]. Amen̛ !'
ÞE toþer degre of contemplacyone es in Haly Wryte. Bot
nowe may þou say to me, `I þat knawes na letters, how may
I euer mare com to contemplacyone of Haly Writte ?' Now, my dere
frende, vndirstande me swetely, and I saƚƚ say perchance to
þe aƚƚ þat es wreten̛, if þou kan̛
noghte vndirstand Haly Writt. Here gladly þe gud þat
men̛ saise þe: and when̛ þou heres Haly Wryte,
owþer in sermon̛ or in priue collacyone, take kepe als
tyte, if þou here oghte þat may availe þe tiƚƚ
edyfycacyon̛, to hate syn̛ and to lufe vertue, and to dowte
payne, and to ȝerne Ioye, To dispyse þis worlde, and to hye
to blysse, and whate þou saƚƚ doo and whate þou
saƚƚ lefe, and aƚƚ þat lyghtes þinne
vndirstandynge in knawynge of sothefastnes, and aƚƚ þat
kyndiƚƚs þi lykynge in brynnynge of charite; For of
þise twa gudnes, es aƚƚ þat es wretyn̛ in preue
or in apperte. Owte of haly writte sall þou drawe and cun̛
witte, whilke are þe seuen̛ dedly synnes, and þe
seuen̛ vertus, and þe ten comandmentis, and þe tuelfe
artycles of þe troutℏe, and þe seuen̛
sacramentis of Haly Kyrke and þe
seuen̛ gyftis of þe Haly Gaste, and þe seuen̛
werkes of mercy, and þe seuen̛ vertuz of þe
Gospeƚƚ, and þe seuen prayers of þe pater noster.
Þir are þe seuen̛ dedly synnes : —
Pryde and Envy, Ire, Sloutℏ, Couetyse, Glotony and Lechery.
Pryde es lufe of vnkyndly heghyng; and þar-of comes þir
seuen vnbouxomnes agayne God, or agayne souerayngne, þat es to
say, to lefe þat þat es commandyd, and to do þat
that es defendyde. The toþer brancℏ of pride es surquytry,
þat es, to vndirtake thyng ouer his powere, or wenys to be mare
wyse þan he es, or better þan he es, and auauntez hym of
gude þat he hase of oþer, or of iƚƚ þat he hase
of hym-selfe. The thrid braunche of pride es ypocrisye, þat es,
when̛ he feynys hym to hafe gudnes þat he hase noghte, and
hydes þe wykkednes þat he hase. The fertℏ
brauncℏ of pride es despyte of thyne euencristen̛, þat
es, when man lesses gudnes of oþer, for-thi þat hym selfe
suld seme þe bettir. The fyfte braunche, þat es, when man
makes lyknes be-twyx his awen̛ wykkednes and oþer mens
wikkednes, þat his awen̛ may seme þe lesse. The
sexte braunche of Pryde es vnschamefulnes, þat es, when men hase
noghte schame of iƚƚ ded aperte. The seuen̛ braunche of
pryde es Elacion̛, þat es, when a man hase heghe herte,
þat he wiƚƚ noȝte suffire to felawe ne mayster. Dere
frende, þou saƚƚ wit þat thre thynges ere, whare-of a
man Enprides hym, þat es to say, of þe gudez þat he
hase of kynde, als fairenes or strengℏe or of gude witte or of
nobiƚƚe kynredyn̛. The toþer thyng es þait men
hase of purchase, als cunnynge, Grace, gud loos, or dygnyte or offyce.
The thirde thynge es erthely thynge or erthely gude, als clethynge,
houssynge, Rentez, Possession̛, Menȝe, horssyng, and honour
of þis worlde. Pride makes man to be of gret herte and heghe,
to despyse his euencristen̛, and to ȝerne heghenes and
maystry ouer oþer. The toþer dedly syn̛ es `Envy.'
And þat es, Ioye of oþer mens harme, and sorowe of
oþer mens wele-fare. And þat may be in herte with
lykynge, or in moutℏ with bakbyttynge, or in werke with of mens
gudnes wythdrawyng, or eƚƚs with iƚƚ procurynge.
Envye mase man to hafe þe herte hevy of þat he sese
oþer men mare worthi þan he in any thyng. The third dedly
syn̛ es `wretℏe,' þat es, ane vnresonabyƚƚ
temperoure of herte; and of it comes stryfes and contekes
schamefuƚƚ, and dyuerse wordes, and deuyouse and wikked
sclandirs. The fertℏe dedly syn̛ es `slouthe;' and
þat mase manes herte hevy and slawe in gude dede, and makes
man̛ to yrke in prayere or halynes, and puttes man in wykkednes
of wanhope, for it slokyns þe lykynge of gastely lufe. ¶
The fyfte dedly syn̛ es `couetyse,' and þat es, ane
vn-mesurabiƚƚ luffe to hafe erthely gudes; and it destroyes &
blyndes manes herte. And þare-of commes tresones, False athes,
wykked reste, Malice, and hardnes of herte agaynes mercy. ¶ The
sexte dedly syn̛ es `glotony;' and þat makes man̛ to
serue and to be bouxome tiƚƚ wykked lykynges of þe
flescℏe, þe whilke man suld maister and ouercome with
mesure. Of glotony commes vayne Ioy, lyghtnes, and littiƚƚ
vndirstandynge. ¶ The seuen̛ dedly syn̛ es `lecherye;'
and þat mase manes herte to melte, and to playe thare þare
his herte lykes, and heldes, and þat with-owten̛ gouernynge
of resoune. Of lechery commes blyndynge of herte, in prayere
vnstabilnes and fulle hastynes, lufe of hym selfe, hatreden̛ of
Godde, lufe of þis worlde, vgglynes, and whanhope of þe
blysse of heuen̛. ¶ Dere frende, thire are þe
seuen̛ dedly synnes; and wele ere þay callid dedly synnes,
For Pride twynnes fra man his Godde, Envy his euencristen̛, Ire
hym-selfe twynnes, Slouthe hym tourmentes, Couetyse hym be-gyles,
Glotony hym dessayues, and Lecherye hym in thraledome settis.
Nowe hase þou herde þe seuen̛ sekenes of manes
saule. ¶ Sythen̛ aftirwarde commes þe souerayne
leche, and takes þere medcynes, and waresche man̛ of
þese seuen̛ seknes, and stabiƚƚs hym in þe
seuen̛ vertusȝ, thurgℏ þe gyftes of þe Haly
Gaste. Þe whilke are þese, ¶ þe gaste of
wysdom and vndirstandynge, þe gaste of consaile and of
stalworthenes, þe gaste of cunnynge and of pete, and þe
gaste of drede of Godde Almyghty. Thurghe þese gyftes oure Lord
Ihesu lerres man̛ aƚƚ þat he hase myster tiƚƚ
þe lyfe þat es callid actyfe, and til þe lyfe called
contem-
platyfe. And se howe firste, man̛ suld lefe þe euyƚƚ
and do þe gude: lefe þe euyƚƚ, þat teches vs
þe gaste of drede of Godd Almyghty; and do þe gude,
[þat] leres vs þe gaste of pete. And for-þi
þat twa thynges are þat lettis vs to do gude, that es at
saye, wele-fare and tribulacione of þis worlde; For wele-fare
desayues vs with losengery, tribulacion̛ with hardnes of noyes &
dysses; for-þi saƚƚ þou despyse þe wele-fare of
þis worlde, þat þou be noghte þer-with
dessayued; and þat leres þe þe gaste of cunnynge;
and þou saƚƚ stallwortℏly suffire tribulacyon̛,
þat þou be noghte ouercommen̛ ; and þat teches
vs þe gaste of stallworthenes. And þire foure suffice
tiƚƚ þe lyfe þat es callid actyfe. And þe
toþer thre fallys to þe lyfe þat es callid
contemplatyfe, For thre maners of contemplacion̛. Ane es in
creaturs; and þat leres þe gaste of vndirstandynge. The
toþer es in Haly Writte, whare þou sese whatte þou
doo & what þou saƚƚ lefe, and þat leres þe the
gaste of consaile. The thirde manere es in Godde Hym-selfe ; and
þat leres vs þe gaste of wysdom̛. Now þou sese
thurgℏ þe gyftes of Ihesu, how He es besy abowte oure hele.
Eftire þis saƚƚ þou wiete whilke ere þe
ten̛ comandementis. ¶ Þe firste comandement es
þis, `Thow saƚƚ wirchippe bot a Godde, þi Lorde, and
tiƚƚ Hym anely þou saƚƚ serue.' Þat es at say,
wyrchipe Hym with righte troutℏe, Serue vntiƚƚ anely with
gude werkes. Here saƚƚ þou thynke if þou hafe lelly
serued Godde & wirchiped Godde; if þou hafe seruede Hym ouer
aƚƚ thynge, if þou hafe ȝolden Hym þat that
þou hyghte, or if þou hafe done lesse penance, and if
þou hafe ȝoldyn̛ Hym þat that þou hyghte
Hym in þi cristyndom̛, That was, to forsake þe
deueƚƚe and aƚƚ his werkes, and in God lelly to trowe. And
thurgℏe þis commandement es man̛ ordaynede ynence God
þe Fadire. ¶ Þe toþer commandement es defendid
to take Goddes name in vayne; and lying and falsenes þare-in es
defendid̛; and thurgℏe þis commandement es man
ordaynede ynence Godd̛ þe Son̛, þat saise
Hym-selfe `I am sothefastnes.' ¶ Þe thirde commandemente
es, `vmbythynke þe þat þou kepe þe
haly-dayes,' þat es to saye, in þine awen̛ herte, to
kepe þe in riste and pees with-owtten̛ seruage of syn̛
or of bodyly
dedis. And þis commandement ordaynes man̛ to reschayfe
þe Haly Gaste. Þise thre commandmentes lerres man̛
howgates he saƚƚ hafe hym ynence Godd̛ þe Trynite, to
whas lyknes he es made in saule. Þe oþer seuen̛
commandementes leres man how he saƚƚ hafe hym ynence his
euencristen̛. ¶ Þe firste es, `þou saƚƚ
honour þi fadire and þi modire fleschely and gastely, and
þat in twa maners, þat es to say, þat þou be
bouxom to thaym in reuerence and honour, and þou helpe
þam̛ at thy powere in aƚƚ thynges þat þay
hafe myster, þat þou be of lange lyfe in erthe; For if
þou wiƚƚ be of lange lyfe, it es reson̛ þat
þou honoure thaym̛ of whaym þou hase þe lyfe;
For he þat wiƚƚ noghte honoure hym thurgℏ whaym he es,
it es noghte righte þat he be mare þan he es. ¶
Þe toþer commandement es þis, `Þou saƚƚ
sla na man.' Here saƚƚ þou wyt þat slaughter es of
many maneres. For þer es manes-slaghter of hand, of tunge, of
herte. Mannes-slaynge of hande es when a man̛ slaes anoþer
with his handez, or when he duse hym in bandis of dede, als in
preson̛ or in oþer stede þat may be encheson̛ of
his dede. Manes-slaynge of tunge es in twa maners, thurghe
commandement, or thurgℏe enticement. Manes-slayng of herte es
alswa one twa maners, þat es, when̛ men̛ ȝernys
and couaytes ded of oþer, and when he suffyrs man to dy, and
wiƚƚ noghte delyuer hym if ℏe hafe powere. ¶ Þe
thirde commandement es þis: `Þou saƚƚ do na lechery;'
and þat es ryghte. Wha-sa wiƚƚ hafe þe lyfe
with-owtten̛ corupcyone in þe Ioy of heuen̛, hym
byhoues kepe his lyfe þat es dedly, with-owtten̛ corupcione
of body. ¶ The ferthe commandement es þis, `Þou
saƚƚ do na thyfte ne na falsenes;' and þat es ryghte. For
he þat wiƚƚ safe oþer menes lyfe, he saƚƚ noghte
do away þat that moghte his lyfe sustayne. ¶ The fyfte
commandement es þis, ` Þou saƚƚ noghte bere false
wittnes agaynes thyne euencristyn̛ witℏ hym þat
wiƚƚ noye hym or sla hym.' And þat es ryghte; For he
þat wiƚƚ noghte sckathe his euencristyn̛, he saƚƚ
noghte consente, ne na consaile gyffe, to do hym iƚƚ. ¶
Þe sexte commandement and þe seuend̛ er þir,
`Þou saƚƚ noghte couaite þi neghtboure wyfe, ne
þou saƚƚ noghte couaite his
house, ne nane of his gude wrangwysly,' For he þat hase wykked
wiƚƚ and iƚƚ Entente in his herte, he may noghte lang
with-haldynge hym fra wykkide dede; and þer-fore, if þou
wiƚƚ noghte do lecherye, þou saƚƚ noghte consente to
man̛ ne to woman̛ þat it duse; and if þou
wiƚƚ noghte stele, þou saƚƚ noghte couayte oþer
mennes thynges in þi herte. Dere frende, þir are þe
ten commandementes þat God gafe tiƚƚ Moyses in the mounte
of Synay. The thre fyrste er pertenande to þe lufe of God, and
the toþer seuen̛ to þe lufe of þi-selfe and of
thyne euen̛ crystyn̛.
Now, efter, saƚƚ þou wyt whilke ere þe seuen̛
vertusȝ, þat es to saye ¶ Trouthe, Trayste, and lufe,
Wysedom̛ and Rightwysenes, Mesure and Force. Of þe same
matire er þe seuen̛ vertus þat þe ten̛
commandementis, bot þis es þe varyance be-twyx thaym: The
ten̛ commandmentis kennes vs what we saƚƚ do, and þe
seuen̛ vertus kennes vs how we saƚƚ doo. The thre fyrste,
þat es to say, Trouthe, trayste and lufe, ordaynes the how
þou saƚƚ lyfe als to Godd̛: þe toþer foure
how þou saƚƚ ordayne thyne awen̛ lyfe þat
saƚƚ lede till þe Ioye of heuen̛. Dere frende, the
awe to wyt þat we ere aƚƚ made for ane End̛, þat
es to say, for to knawe Godde, to hafe Hym, and to lufe Hym. Bot thre
thynges er nedefuƚƚ at puruaye tiƚƚ oure cunnynge, That es
to wyte, whedyr we saƚƚ ga, and þat we wyƚƚ comme
thedyre, and þat we hafe trayste to com thedyre; For grete foly
ware it to be-gyn̛ þe thynge mane may noghte ende;
ȝitte, one þe toþer syde, þe mane þat
wiƚƚ wyele doo, hym nedide to hafe wysdom̛, myghte, and
wiƚƚ; þat es to say, þat he konn̛ doo, and
þat he may doo, and þat he wyƚƚ doo. Bot
for-þi þat we hafe noghte cunnynge, myghte, ne wiƚƚ
of oure selfe, for-þi hase Godde gyfen̛ vs trouthe, for to
fulfiƚƚ þe defaute of oure myghte. Sothefaste lufe es for
to ordayne oure wiƚƚ to þe tane and to þe
toþer. Trouthe ordaynes vs to Godde þe Son̛, to
whaym̛ es appropyrde Wysdom̛; Trayste, tiƚƚ Godd̛
þe Fadyre, to whaym es appropyrde myghte; Lufe, to þe Haly
Gaste, tiƚƚ whaym̛ es appropyrde gudnes. And þare
trouthe makes vs to hafe knawynge; and þat knaweynge vs sayse
þat He es wondyrfuƚƚ; Fre es He þat
one þis manere and þus largely gyffes of His gudnes; and
of þat comes trayste, and [of] þat knawynge, þat
sais þat He es gude Commes þe thyrde Sothefastnes,
þat es lufe, For ylke a thynge luffes kyndely þe gude.
Dere frende, here saƚƚ þou wyte whilke are þe
twelue artycles of þe trouthe. ¶ The firste es þis,
þat Godde es ane in Hym-selfe and thre in persouns,
with-owtten̛ begynnynge, and with-owtten̛ Endynge, and
þat aƚƚ thynges [were] made of noghte with His worde.
¶ Þe toþer artecle es, þat Goddes son̛
tuke flesche and blode of þe blyssed mayden̛ Marie, and was
borne of hire, sothefaste Godd̛ and sothefaste man̛. ¶
Þe thirde es, þat He was dede and grauen̛, noghte for
nede, Bot for to by vs of His fre wiƚƚ. ¶ The ferthe artecle
es, þat þe same Ihesu rase fra dede to lyfe, and we
saƚƚ ryse alswa. ¶ The fyfte artecle es, þat þe
same Sothefaste God and man̛, steigℏe vp in tiƚƚ
heuen̛ in manhed and godhede; and we saƚƚ steigℏe vp
alswa thurgℏ His grace. ¶ Þe sext artecle es baptymme,
þat mase man̛ clene of syn̛ þat he drawes of
kynde, and gyffes grace to clense. ¶ The Seuend̛ artecle es
confirmacion̛, þat confermys þe Haly Gaste one
man̛ þat es cristenede. ¶ Þe aughtened artecle
es penance, þat duse awaye aƚƚ maner of syn̛ dedly and
venyaƚƚ. ¶ Þe nynde es þe Sacrament of þe
Auter, þat confermys þe penance, and gyffes hym force
þat he faƚƚ noghte efte in syn̛, and vphaldes
hym̛ and reconsailles hym. ¶ Þe tend̛ artecle es
Ordyre, þat gyffes powere tiƚƚ þaym̛ þat
are ordeynede to do þaire Offece and to do þe sacramentis.
¶ Þe elleuend̛ artecle es Matrimone, þat
defendis dedly syn̛ in werke of generacyon̛ by-twyx
man̛ and woman̛. ¶ Þe twelfed artecle es
Enoyntynge, þat men̛ enoyntes þe seke in pereƚƚ
of dede, for alegeance of body and saule.
¶ Dere frende, aftyre saƚƚ þou wyt whilke are
þe foure vertus cardynalles, thurgℏ whilke aƚƚ manes
lyfe es gouernede in þis worlde, þat es, ¶ Cunnynge
and Rightwisnes, Force and Mesure. Of thir foure, saise þe Haly
Gaste in þe buke of Wysdom̛, þat þare es na
thynge mare profytabiƚƚ tiƚƚ man in ertℏe; and so nowe,
whare-fore, wha-sa walde any thynge wele do, firste hym̛ byhouys
þat he konn̛ chese þe iƚƚ fra þe gude, and
of twa gude, chese
þe bettire and leffe þe lesse gude; and þis es the
vertu þat es callede ryghtwysnes. The description of the virtue of Prudence is here given to Righteousness or Justice, the account of which is omitted. And for-þi þat
twa thynges lettes man̛ to do wele and lefe þe yƚƚ,
þat es at say, wele-fare of þis worlde, for it dessayfes
hym̛ with false vanytes; þe toþer es
tribulacyon̛, to putt hym down̛ with many scharpnes: agaynes
wele-fare saƚƚ þou hafe mesure, þat þow be
noghte ouer hye. And þis vertu es called `temperance.' And
agayne aduersyte saƚƚ þou hafe `hardynes,' þat
þou be noghte casten̛ downne. And þat vertue es
callyde Force or strengℏe.
¶ Here-eftyre saƚƚ þou wyte whylke are þe
seuen̛ werkes of mercy. ¶ The firste werke of Mercy es, to
gyffe mete to þe hunngry. The toþer es, to gyffe drynke
to þe thrysty. The thirde es, to clethe þe nakede.
Þe ferthe es, to herbere þe herberles. Þe fyfte es,
to vesete þam̛ þat ere in prisonne. Þe sexte
es, to comfortℏ þe seke. The Seuend̛, to bery
þe dede. Thyse are þe seuen̛ werkes of mercy
þat are langande to þe body. Bot nowe may þou say
to me, `how sulde I, þat es in Relygyon̛, and noghte hase
to gyffe at ete ne at drynke, ne clathes to þe nakede, ne
herbery to þe herberles, For I am at oþer mens wiƚƚ,
and noghte at myn̛ awen̛ ? For-thi ware it better þat
I ware seculere, þat I myghte do þise werkes of mercy.'
A, dere frende, be noghte begylede! Better it es to hafe pete and
compassione in þi herte of hym þat hase mysese and
wrechednes, Thane þou hade aƚƚ þis werlde to gyffe
for charyte; For it es bettir wytℏ compassion̛ to gyffe
þi-selfe als þou erte, þan it es to gyffe þat
that þou hase. There-fore, dere frende, gyffe thi-selfe; and
þan gyffes þou mare þan es in aƚƚ þis
worlde. Bot now may þou Say me one þis manere : —
`Sothe it es þat it es better to gyffe hym̛-selfe þan
it es to gyffe of his, bot better es þe tane and þe
toþer þan es ane be it selfe, for lesse es a gud þan
twa.' It es noghte swa: For whethire es better be callede Godde, or
His seruande. Thow wate wele þat es better to be- callede
Godd̛. Bot þase þat suffirs hunngere, thryste,
caulde and defaute, and oþer wrechidnes and mysese, calles oure
Lorde
Ihesu Criste Hym-selfe ; For He saise þus in þe Gosepelle,
`What als þou dyde to þe leste of myn̛, þou did
to me.' Saynt Barnarde says, 'Thire pure hase noghte in erthe, ne
thire riche hase noghte in heuen̛; and þare-fore, if
þe Riche wiƚƚ it hafe, thaym byhoues bye it at þe
pure.' Now wate I wele þou couaytes to wyte whilke are verray
pure, and whilke noghte. Now herken̛ with deuocyon̛.
Sum̛ are þat hase reches and lufes thaym, and þase
are þe haldande and þe couaytourse of þis worlde.
Othere are þat hase þam̛ noghte, bot thay luffe
thaym̛, and thay walde hafe thaym̛ gladly; and þase
are þe wrechide beggers of þe worlde, and þe false
folke in religyon̛, and þase are als riche and richere
þan̛ þe oþer. And of tham̛ Ihesu saise in
þe gospeƚƚe þat `lyghtere it ware a camelle to passe
thurgℏe a nediƚƚ eghe, þan þe riche to com̛
in-to þe blysse of heuen̛.' Sum̛ are þat hase
reches, bot thay lufe thaym noghte; Noghte for-thy þay wiƚƚ
wele hafe þam̛; and þase are þe gud men̛
of þe worlde þat dispendis wele that at þay hafe.
Bot fone are of þase. Ȝit it are oþer þat hase
noghte reches, ne lufes noghte thaym, ne wiƚƚ noght hafe
þam̛; and þase are þe gude folke þat are
in religion̛ and þase are sothefastly pure; and þairs
es þe Ioye of heuen̛, For þat es the benyson̛ of
þe pure. Than it behufes þat þe riche hafe þe
reuere of þat benyson̛; and þarefore may I say,
`Blyssede be þe pouer, for þaires es þe
kyngdom̛ and þe Ioye of heuen̛.' And swa may I say of
þe riche, For þairs es pyne of helle. Alswa pouer
þay are þat hase pouerte and lufes na reches; and pouer
þay are þat hase reches and lufes pouert.
¶ Now aftire þis, awe þe to wyte whylke are
þe seuen̛ prayers of þe Pater noster, þat duse
away aƚƚ iƚƚ and purchase aƚƚ gude. And þase
seuen̛ prayers er contende in þe Pater noster, þe
whilke oure Lorde Ihesu Criste kennde tiƚƚ His discyples, how
þay [suld] pray Godd þe Fadire, and said thaym one
þis manere, `When̛ ȝe saƚƚ praye, one þis
wyese saƚƚ ȝe say, Pater noster qui es in celis, &c.'
Now, my frende, wit þou þat oure Lorde Ihesu Cryste kennes
vs in þe gospeƚƚe to make þis prayere. And
þare-fore I walde at þou wyste at þe begynnynge
whate es prayere or orysone, and sythyn̛ þat þou
vndirstande
þe prayere of þe pater noster. Prayere or Oryson̛ es
noghte elles bot ȝernyng of saule, with certayne trayste
þat it commes þat þou prayes. And in þat
trayste vs settis Ihesu Criste when̛ He kennes vs to call Godde
oure fadyre þat es in heuen̛, For in Hym saƚƚ man hafe
certayne trayste þat He may and wiƚƚ aƚƚ gudnes gyffe
þat oure saule kan̛ ȝerne, and mekiƚƚ mare;
þe whilke es betakynde by þise wordes, Qui es in celis,
þat es to say, þe whilke es in heuen̛. For if Godde
wiƚƚ caƚƚ Hym-selfe oure fadyre, þan He makes vs to
wiet þat He lufes vs als childyre, and at He wiƚƚ gyfe us
aƚƚ þat we hafe myster of. Bot certanly if aƚƚ
þe lufe þat euer had fadire or modire vn-to þaire
childyre, or aƚƚ othire lufes of þis worlde ware gedirde
to-gedyre in a lufe, and ȝit þat lufe ware multipliede als
mekiƚƚ als mans herte moghte thynke, ȝit it moghte na thynge
atteyne to þe lufe þat Godde oure fadyre hase vn-tiƚƚ
vs, þare whare we are hys enmys. And þat saƚƚ we
wele see thurgℏ þe grace of Godde, If we se one what manere
He is oure Fadyr, and what He has don̛ for vs. Wit þou,
þat when̛ God made aƚƚ creaturs of noghte, we rede
noghte þat He made any creature tiƚƚ His lyknes bot
man̛ allanne; and þare-fore Godd He es, and makere of
aƚƚ thynges of þe worlde, Bot He es noghte þaire
fadyre; Bot vn-tiƚƚ vs, thurghe His awen̛ myghte fuƚƚ
of mercy, es He Godd and makere and Fadyr, For þat our saule es
lelly lyke vn-tiƚƚ þe lyknes of þe Fadyr, and
þe Son̛, and þe Haly Gaste, þat ere hallyly a
Godd̛ and persons thre. And aƚƚ þis werlde He hase
made to serue man, whils mane wiƚƚ duelle in His lele lufe als
His awen̛ childyre. Bot als tyte als we twyn̛ fra þat
lele lufe, for lufe of þis lyfe, or for any oþer thynge,
we losse þe lordechipe of þis worlde, and becommes
thralles dreryly to þe deueƚƚe, þare we ware be-fore
fre, and ayers of þe erytage of þe kyngdom̛ of
heuen̛, and to welde þe welthe of þis werlde. Allas
may saye, Allas! Allas! what here es a sorowfuƚƚ chaunge whasa it
vndyrstode ! Wit þou wele þat here es gret lykynge of
lufe, when Godd þat es with-owttyn̛ begynnynge, and es
withowtten̛ chaungeyng, and duellys with-owttyn̛ Endynge,
for He es al-þir-myghtyeste and alþirwyseste, and alswa
alþire-beste
þat mannes herte may noghte thynke, in whaym es lufe and Ioy
endles, here, I say, es takyn̛ of gret lufe, þat He deyned
Hym to make vs tiƚƚ His awen̛ lyknes righte als we had bene
His awen chosen̛ childyre, and moghte hafe lefte vs to be a
littiƚƚ vyle matire als we ware made of oure modyr, þat
vile es to neuen̛ ; or He moghte hafe made vs at His wiƚƚ
anykyn̛ oþer bestis; and þan̛ had we dyede
to-gedire, bathe body and saule. Bot when He hade made vs man, and
gafe vs þe saule to His awen̛ lyknes, (louede and luffede
be þat Lorde !) for to be ayers of þe Erytage of
heuen̛ and lyfe in þat gret Ioye with-owtten̛ Ende,
Now es na herte sa herde þat it na moghte nesche, and lufe
Swylke a Godd̛ with all his myghte. And his herte suld melte,
filled of Ioy, if it thoghte sothely of þat grace þat oure
Lorde hase don̛ tiƚƚ vs by-fore aƚƚ oþer
creaturs. And ȝitt did He mare thurgℏe His mekiƚƚ
mercy; For, whene we ware, thurgℏe oure Sorowfuƚƚ syn̛,
twynnede fra Godd̛, oure Sweteste Fadire, and become thralles to
þe iƚƚ gaste, Than He, thurgℏe His maste mercy, Sente
His awen̛ Sonne, þat with Hym es Godd̛ in His Godede,
for to take flesche and blode of þe Virgyn̛ Marie,
Mayden̛ and modyr, lastand in Ioy; and one þis manere did
He þe dede. In state of thraƚƚe tuke He oure flescℏe
to suffre þe gylteste pouerte, and schame, and noyes, and
paynnes, þat neuer dyd iƚƚ ne na maner of syn̛, and
Sythen̛ delyuerde Hym tiƚƚ þe vileste dede, and
þe schamefulleste þat man moghte thynke, to delyuer vs
wreches of sorowfuƚƚ bandis, and of þe pynand preson̛
puttid in heƚƚ, and to make vs to comme tiƚƚ þe heghe
heuen̛, whare we saƚƚ be als kynges corounde in blyse, if we
do þe wiƚƚ of þat swet Lorde, þat for vs
ordeynede Hym to dye one þe crosse als þofe He had benne a
wykkid thefe. Dere Frende, nowe hase þou here twa thyngez in
þe whilke Godde hase schewede vs þat He es oure fadire,
and þat He lufes vs als His awen̛ childyre þare we
are agayne Hym̛ with oure wykked syn̛. The firste es,
þat He made vs tiƚƚ His awen̛ lyknes; and þe
toþer es, þat He boghte vs fra presoun̛ with His
precyouse dede of His manhede. For þe fyrste, es man
halden̛ tiƚƚ Hym, for to lufe Hym with aƚƚ his
herte. Bot þan may þou aske, `what saƚƚ I do Hym for
þe toþer
thynge? For if I saƚƚ witℏ pouerhede lofe Godd̛
þe Fadyr, and lufe Hym and serue Him with aƚƚ my saule and
with aƚƚ my herte in aƚƚ thynges, for-þi þat He
made me of noghte and gafe me saule aftir His awen̛ lyknes,
— als it was commandyd in þe alde lawe be-fore Godde was
borne and be-com man for vs, — what moghte I now do Hym,
when̛ He, for me wrechid synnere, sa mekiƚƚ Hym lawede
þat He walde becomme man̛, and He gafe Hym to me,
when̛ He, thurghe His sweteste mercy, walde dye for me, and of
þe maste noyouse and þe moste vile dede þat euer was
thoghte ? I wate neuer what I may say here; For if I myghte lyffe a
hundrethe ȝere, and if I moghte in þat tym, ilk a day at a
tym̛, dye als vile ded als He for me dide, ȝit ne ware it
noghte ynence His gret gyftez, when He es sothely said Goddes Sonne of
heuen̛, and gaffe Hym selfe tiƚƚ vs, þat tynte was for
syn̛ thurgℏ, and put in to þe pyne of helle, and
þare, in þe dispytte of Hym, seruede to þe deuelle.
How sulde we þan̛ ȝelde Hym þe gude gret gyfte,
when̛ He walde sende His awen̛ Sone to be pynede for oure
syn̛ ?`
Now I saƚƚ lere the, if God gyffe me grace, how oure dere
Fadir askes nane oþer store bot that we, with herte, knawe oure
awen̛ Febillnes and oure wrechidnes, þat we hafe for oure
awen̛ syn̛. Thane saƚƚ we be in bitternes of penance,
and crye tiƚƚ Hym faste mercy, þat He vs saue for His haly
name, For of oure selfe hafe we noghte Hym for to ȝelde ;
þare-fore said the prophete in þe psalme, Quid retribuam
Domino pro omnibus que retribuitretrebuit michi ? Calicem salutaris accipiam,
et nomen Domini invocabo, etc'. þat es, 'what saƚƚ I
ȝelde to God for aƚƚ His gud gyftes þat He me gyffes
als Lorde,with-owtten̛ my deserte? The coppe of hele I saƚƚ
take, and caƚƚe þe name of my lorde.' The cope of hele
whare-of dranke oure Lord Ihesu oure Saueour, þat es, the
bytternes of þe penance in His grete pynes, and þat man in
aƚƚ his thoghtez calles Godez name, þat sothefastly knawes
þat he hase noghte of hym-selfe bot sorowe and synne. And wit
thou þat, if sothefastenes be sett faste in thi saule, þe
mare þat þou knawes þe for wrechide and febyƚƚ,
þe mare saƚƚ þou
meke þe, and caƚƚe on Hys mercy. And þus it was of
oure swete Lady, mayden̛ and modyr; For scho had mare of grace
þane any in this lyfe, man or woman̛ þat euer was
borne, Thare-fore scho halde hir lesse and lawere þan any
oþer wyghte, and mare cryede scho mercy þan any oþer
man, when̛ sothefaste Goddes Son̛ lighte in hir wambe. My
dere frende, se now aftir-warde why oure Lord Ihesu kennes vs in
þe Gospelle to saye `oure Fadire,' and noghte `my Fadir'; For by
þat wiƚƚ He kenn̛ vs þat we suld gedyre aƚƚ
men with vs in oure prayers, For aƚƚ ere oure brethire, crystende
and vncristend̛ men̛, For þat aƚƚ of a
gouernaylle hafe we a Fadyr. And þat þou may þis
thynge, thurghe þe grace of Godd, clerelyere See, Gyffe gude
Entente tiƚƚ þat at I say. Hym calles þou `thi
fleschely broþer,' þat hase his body of þe same
man̛ and woman̛ of whaym þou hase thyne. Thane
saƚƚ þou wele halde hym þi broþer þat
hase his saule of þe Same fadir of heuen̛ of whaym
þou hase þi saule, and of swylke a kynd, and of swylke a
lyknes; For als wele made Godd ilke man̛ tiƚƚ lyknes of
þe Trinyte als He did þe. And þis broþerhede
mare suld we lufe, and mare dere halde, þan þe
broþerhede of þe flesche, in als mekiƚƚ als þe
saule es mare nobyƚƚ þan þi flesche, and in als
mekiƚƚ als Godd̛, oure fadir, of heuen̛, es mare
nobiƚƚ, and mare for to lufe, þan oure fleschly fadir. And
þat suld we do if we saghe als clerely witℏ oure gastely
eghe als we do with oure bodyly eghe. Bot for-thy þat we see
noghte bot with þe fleschely eghe, als it ware bestes, we hafe
na knawynge ne na lufe bot of þat broþerhede þat
commes of þe flesche stynkande and foule. Allas! Allas! what
sorowfuƚƚ thynge thus hase blyndid vs! Certis, na thynge mare
blyndis manes saule þane lufe of erthely thynge þat sonne
takes ende. For-þi behufes man̛ lefe his propire
wiƚƚ, if he wiƚƚ perfitly knawe þe lufe-somest
broþerhede. Whare-of now mekiƚƚ I hafe spoken̛, For
whate-sa-euer we hafe in body or in saule of gudnes or of fayrenes, we
hafe it of oure fadyr of heuen̛, Godd̛, þat es
tiƚƚ vs fadir, and Euenly tiƚƚ aƚƚ His creaturs, noghte
anely for His makynge of noghte, ne for His gouernyng of His grace,
for His purchasyage þat He made of vs þat ware tynt
childir, with His flesche and His blode þat He for vs gafe, als
Saynt Austyn̛ þe nobiƚƚ clerke witnes. He sayse
`þe Fadir gaffe His Son̛, thurgℏ whaym He walde by vs
thralles; He gafe þe Haly Gaste, thurgℏ whaym̛ He
walde purchase þe thralles in His childire. Þe Sonn, He
gafe in pryse of raunson̛; þe Haly Gaste, in preuelege of
purchase; and þar-fore þe Fadir kepis Hym selfe in Erytage
tiƚƚ His childir þat He purchase[d].' And þarefore,
dere frende, na man̛ saƚƚ mystrayste of þe lufe of His
swete Fadirhede, and of His dere pete; For mare es His mercy
þan̛ aƚƚ oure wykkednes; For wha sa calles tiƚƚ
Hym with aƚƚ his herte, with-owtten̛ faile He wiƚƚ here
hym̛, for He es fuƚƚ of mercy. And þare-fore, als I
be-fore saide, with ȝernynge of saule and certayne trayste, calle
apon̛ Hym trewely with aƚƚ thi herte. He es þi Fadir
pereles, þat purchacecez þe pees; and saye traystely
tiƚƚ Hym̛ als Hym-selfe vs lerede, Pater noster qui es in
celis, þat es to say, Oure Fadir that es in heuen̛;
sanctificetur nomen tuum, þat es to say, halyed be þi
name; adveniat regnum tuum, it com̛, þi kyngedom̛;
Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in celo et in terrâ, þi wiƚƚ
be donne, swa in erthe als it es in heuen̛; panem nostrum
cotidianum da nobis hodie, Oure ylke day brede þou gyffe vs to
day; Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus
debitoribus nostris, and forgyffe vs oure dettis als we forgyffe our
dettours ; Et ne nos inducas in temptacionem, and suffire vs noghte be
ledde in-to fandyngis, Set libera nos a malo, bot delyuer vs fra
aƚƚ iƚƚ thynges Amen ! Þat es to say, Swa mot it be!
Now, my dere frende, þou saƚƚ wyt þat þis
Oryson̛ passes aƚƚ oþer prayers, pryncypally in twa
thynges, þat es to say, in worthynes and in profyte. In
worthynes, for þat God Hym-selfe mad it; and for-þi do
þay gret schame and gret vnreuerence tiƚƚ Ihesu, Goddes
Son̛, þat takes þam̛ tiƚƚ wordis rynnand
and curius, and leues þe prayere þat He vs kennede,
þat wate aƚƚ þe wiƚƚ of Godd̛ þe
Fadir, and þe whilke orysone commes mare tiƚƚ His plesynge,
and whate thynges þe wrechede caytyfe hase myster at pray fore.
Alswa, als I hafe sayde, He wate anely aƚƚ þe Fadir
wyƚƚ, and He wate aƚƚ oure nede; and þare-fore a
hundrethe thousande er
dyssayued with multyplicatione of wordes and of orysouns; For, when
þay wene þat þay hafe grete deuocyon̛,
þan̛ hafe þai a fulle fleschely lykynge, For-thy
þat ilk a fleschely lykynge delytes þam̛ kyndely in
swylke turnede langage ; and þare-fore I walde þat
þou war warre, For I say þe sykerly, þat it es a
foule lychery for to delyte þe in rymmes and slyke gulyardy;
ȝit one a-noþer syde, Saynt Austyne, and Saynt Gregore, and
oþer halowes þat prayede als was þaire lykynge. I
blame noghte prayers, bot I blame þase þat lefes þe
prayere of Godd̛ þat Hym-selfe made, and lerede vs for to
pray, þat es, Pater noster, and takes þam̛ tiƚƚ
þe Orysons of a synfuƚƚ Saynte whare þay fynde it
wretten̛, For oure Lorde Ihesus Hym-selfe sayse in the
gospeƚƚ, `when ȝe wiƚƚ praye, prayes noghte with many
wordes, bot praye one þis manere, Pater noster &c'.'
¶ Dere frende, ȝit saƚƚ þou wit one
anoþer syde þat þe Pater noster passes aƚƚ
oþer prayers in worthynes; For þare-in es contende
aƚƚ thyngez what-sa we hafe myster of, tiƚƚ þis lyfe
or tiƚƚ þe toþer. For we praye þare-in
Godd̛ þe Fadyr, þat He delyuer vs of aƚƚ illes,
and þat He gyffe vs aƚƚ gudes, and þat He make vs
swylke þat we may neuer do iƚƚ, ne þat we may noghte
fayle of gude. And now, aƚƚ þe iƚƚe þat vs
greues, ouþer es it, ille þat es donne, or it es iƚƚe
for to com̛, or elles it es ille þat we suffire nowe. Of
þat ille þat es donne and passede, we praye oure swete
Lorde þat He delyuer vs þer-of, when̛ we say Dimitte
nobis debita nostra, etc'. We pray Hym delyuer vs of iƚƚ
þat es for to com̛, when̛ we say et ne nos inducas in
temptacionem. Of illes þat we suffire nowe, we praye Hym̛
þat He delyuer vs, when̛ we say Set libera nos a malo.
¶ Ȝit, dere Frende, on a oþer syde, wit þou
þat aƚƚ maner of gude þat es, Ouþer it es
erthely gude, or gastely gude, or gude lastande endles. For erthely
gude we praye, when̛ we saye Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis
hodie; For gastely gude we praye, when̛ we say Fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in celo et in terra; For endles gude we praye, when we say
Adveniat regnum tuum; and confermyng of aƚƚ this we praye,
when̛ we say Sanctificetur nomen tuum.
¶ Now, my dere frende, þese ere seuen̛ prayers of
þe Ewangelle þat oure Lorde Ihesu Criste kenned̛
tiƚƚ His dyscypiƚƚs. And þou saƚƚ wit þat
þese foure wordes þat comes be-fore, þat es to wit,
Pater noster qui es in celis, leres vs how we saƚƚ praye, and
what oure selfe saƚƚ be in prayere; For we saƚƚ, in ylke ane
Oryson̛, haue foure thynges, þat es to say, perfite lufe
tiƚƚ Hym tiƚƚ whaym we praye, and certayne trayste to haue
þat at we praye fore, and stabiƚƚ troutℏ in Hym in
whaym we trowe, and sothefaste mekenes of þat, that of oure
selfe, na gude we haue. Perfite lufe es vndirstanden̛ in
þis worde Pater, For ylke a creature kyndly lufes his Fadir.
Certayne trayst es contende in þis worde noster; For if He be
ours, þan may we sekerly trayst in Hym þat He es
halden̛ tiƚƚ vs. Stabiƚƚ trouthe es taken̛ in
þise wordes Qui es ; For when̛ we say qui es, þan
graunt we wele þat Godd̛ es þat we neuer sawe; and
þat es ryghte troutℏe, For trouthe es na noþer thyng
bot trowyng of thyng þat may noghte be sene. Sothefaste mekenes
es betakynde in þis worde In celis, For when we thynke how He es
heghe in Ioy, and how we are here lawe in besynes, than̛ we are
mekide. Bot when̛ we hafe festenede þere foure thynges in
oure hertes, þan may we hardyly praye, and saye with aƚƚ
oure affeccyon̛, Sanctificetur nomen tuum, þat es to say,
`haly be thi name!' als swa stabiƚƚ þi name, þat es,
Fadir, in vs, þat we be one þat manere þi childire
þat we do na thyng þat be agaynes þi wiƚƚ, and
that euer-mare we doo þat at commes to þi plesyng,
thurgℏ grauntynge of þi grace. And for-thi þat we
may noghte euer-mare do þat perfitely whyls we ere in þis
caytifede worlde, þare-fore pray we þus, and sayse,
Adveniat regnum tuum, þat es to say, it com̛ tiƚƚ vs,
þi kyngdom̛, þat we regne in þe, Ihesu, in
þis lyfe thurgℏ thi grace, and þou in vs in þe
toþer lyfe thurgℏ Ioy. And þis ilke we praye for
þase þat are in purgatorie; and for-þi þat we
neuer-mare may hafe parte with Ioye of heuen̛ if we do noghte thi
wiƚƚ in erthe, þare-fore we praye thus, Fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in celo et in terra, þat es to say, thi wiƚƚ be
don̛e, als in heuen̛, swa in erthe. Alswa say `make vs to
do þi wyƚƚ,' þat es to say, þou gyffe
vs grace to do aƚƚ þat þou commandes, and to lefe
aƚƚ þat þou defendis, and þat swa in erthe als
in heuen̛, þat es to say, als Michaelle, and Gabrielle, and
Raphaelle, Cherubyn̛ and Seraphyn̛, and aƚƚ þe
oþer angeƚƚs and archangeƚƚs, and aƚƚ þase
þat are Ordeynede to þe endles lyfe in Ioy, in ilke a
kynde, in ilke ane ordire, and in ilke ane elde, thi wille duse; and
for-thi þat we may noghte do þi wiƚƚ whiƚƚs we
lyffe in þis body, if þou ne sustayne vs noghte,
þare-fore say we þus, Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis
hodie, þat es to say, Oure ilke day brede þou gyffe vs
to-day; als swa say `þou gyffe vs Force in body and in saule,
and hele, if it be þi wiƚƚ, of þe tane and offe
þe toþer.' And here es for to wit, þat þare
es thre maners of brede, þat es, bodyly brede, þat es to
say, Fode and clethynge; þare es brede gastely, þat es to
say, of haly wrytte þe leryng; and þare es þe brede
of Eukaryste, þat es þe grace in þe sacrament of
þe autere, for to comfortℏe þe kynde of þe tane
and þe toþer.
Bot for-thi þat we ere worthi na gudnes whills we ere
bownden̛ in synn̛, þare-fore say we þus, Dimitte
nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris,
þis es to say, `Forgyffe vs oure dettis als we forgyffe oure
dettours.' þou saƚƚ wyt þare oure synns byndis oure
dettours to pynne; þare-fore we pray Ihesu to for-gyff vs
synnes, þat es to say, aƚƚ þat we hafe synnede in
thoghte, in worde and in dede; and þat ryghte als we for-gyffe
tiƚƚ þase þat hase mysdone agaynes vs. And
for-þi þat a lyttiƚƚ vs helpes to hafe forgyfnes of
syn̛, if we may noghte kepe vs fra syn̛, þare-fore
pray we þus, Et ne nos inducas in temptacionem, and þis es
to say, `lede us noȝte in-to na fandyngis, als swa say, Suffere
vs noghte be ouer-commen̛ in fandyngez of þe deueƚƚ,
ne of þe flescℏ, ne of þe werlde. And noghte allanly
we pray þat we be delyuered of aƚƚ euyƚƚ fandyngez,
Bot alswa we pray þat we be delyuered of aƚƚ iƚƚ
thyngis, when̛ we say, Set libera nos a malo; and þis es to
say, `Bot delyuer vs of aƚƚ iƚƚ thyngis,' þat es, of
body and of saule, of syn̛ and of pyne, For syn̛ that now es
or saƚƚ be. Say we Amen ! þat es to say, `swa be it!' and
for-thi sayse oure Lorde
Ihesu Criste in þe gospelle, `What sa þou prayes my fadir
in my name, He saƚƚ do it;' and þer-fore say at þe
Ende, Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Cristum, filium tuum, &c'.
And now, my dere frende, vndirstande noghte þat þou
saƚƚ say þi Pater noster with mouthe, als I hafe it here
wretyn̛ be-fore þe. Bot say aƚƚ anely þe nakede
lettir with þi mouthe, and thynke in þi herte of this
þat I hafe said here, of ilke a worde by it-selfe; and rekk
noghte þof þou ne multyply many Pater nosters; For it es
better to say a Pater noster with gude deuocyon̛, þan̛
a thousande with-owtten̛ deuocyon̛; For þus sais
Saynte Paule appertly; he sayse, `me ware leuer say fyve wordes in
herte deuotely, þane fyve thousande with my mouthe
with-owtten̛ lykynge.' And one þe same manere saƚƚ
þou say and do at thyne offece in þe qweire ; for swa
sayse þe prophete, Psallite sapienter; and þat es to say,
Synges and versy wyesly,' þat es, to say or to syng wyesly,
þat es, þat thi herte be one þat at þou saise,
and one þat at oþer saise, þat þou here it
besyly; For if þi body be at thi seruyce, and þi mouthe
speke one a wyse, and thi herte thynke of wrechidnes caytefly,
þan es þou twynned̛; For when þou swa es
twynned̛, þou tynes þe mede of þi seruyce; For
þe awe to serue Godd̛ with aƚƚ þi herte, with
aƚƚ þi saule, and with aƚƚ þi vertu; and swa
þou may pay þi Godd̛. Bot þare es many thynges
þat ere cause of swylke wrechede twynnynge, als mete, drynke,
Reste, cleythynge, layke, discorde, Thoghte, laboure, hethynge. These
makes hippynge, homerynge, of medles momellynge. And þare-fore
take kepe what oure Lorde Ihesu Criste saise in þe
gospeƚƚe: `Firste,' He saise, `sekes þe kyngdom̛ of
heuen̛, and aƚƚ þat ȝe hafe myster of saƚƚ
be gyffen̛ ȝowe with-owttyn̛ any askynge.'
Thare-fore, dere Frende, þou saƚƚ wit what þou
saƚƚ hafe in þe blysse of heuen̛. Wit þou wele
þat þou saƚƚ hafe Seuen̛ gyftes in body, and
Seuen̛ in saule, þat es to say, Fairenes in body with-
owttyn̛ fylth, lyghtenes with-owttyn̛ slewtℏ, Force
with-owtten̛ Feblesce, Frenes with-owtten̛ thrall edome,
lykynge with-owtten̛ noye, lufelynes with-owttyn̛ envye,
hele with-owttyn̛ sekenes, lange lyfe with-owttyn̛
ende. Thou saƚƚ hafe in saule, Wysedome
with-owtten̛ ygnorance, Frenchipe with-owtten̛
hateredyn̛, Accorde with-owtten̛ discorde, Myghte
with-owtten̛ wayknes, honour with-owtten̛ dishonour,
Sekirnes with-owtten̛ drede, Ioy with-owtten̛ sorowe. Bot
þe wreches in helle, aƚƚ þe reuerce, botℏ in
body and in saule, þat es to say, Fyltℏ with-owttyn̛
fairenes, Slouthe with-owtten̛ lyghtenes, Feblesce
with-owtten̛ force, Thraldom̛ with-owtten̛ freenes,
Angwyse with-owtten̛ lykynge, Sekenes with-owtten̛ hele, ded
with-owtten̛ ende. Thare saƚƚ be in þair saules,
Ignorance with-owttyn̛ Wysdome, hatredyn̛ with-owtt en̛
lufe, Discorde with-owtten̛ Accorde, feblesce with-owtten̛
powere, Schame with-owtten̛ honour, Drede with-owtten̛
sekernes, and Sorowe with-owtten̛ Ioy. And for þis
saƚƚ þou seke with aƚƚ þi myghte, þat
þou may wyn̛ þe Ioye of heuen̛; For þare
es sa gret Ioye and sa mekiƚƚ swettnes þat, if þou
myghte lyffe fra þe begynnynge of þe worlde vn-tiƚƚ
þe ende, and hafe aƚƚ þe lykynge þat þou
couthe ordeyne, ȝit þou sulde with gret ryghte lefe
aƚƚ þase for to be a day in þe Ioy of heuen̛.
And thus endys þe toþer degre of contemplacyone, þat
es to say, þe contemplacione of haly writte; of þe whylke,
if þou take gud kepe in þi herte, it saƚƚ be lyghte
vnto þe, ilke a worde to halde. One ane oþer syde, if
þou hafe mater to speke vn-to þe clerkez, be þay
neuer sa wyse, or to lewede men, be þay neuer so ruyde, of
þe clerkes þou mofe som matirs of þis, and alswa at
þou may lere more. And when̛ þou spekes tiƚƚ
sympiƚƚ men̛, and ruyde, gladly þou lere
þam̛ with swettnes, For þou hafe enoghe whare-of
þou may speke, and how þou saƚƚ þi lyfe amende
and gouerne, and oþer menes alswa.
Þe thirde degre of contemplacyon̛ es in Godd̛
Hym-selfe. And þat may be on twa maners, þat es,
with-owtten̛ in His manhede, and in His Godhede so blyschede.
For þus saise Saynt Austyn̛, For-þi be-come
Godd̛ man̛, For to make mane to Se Godd̛ in his kynde;
For wheþer som̛ he ȝode with-in or with-owtten̛,
euer-mare moghte man fynde pasture ; with-owtten̛, thurgℏ
consederacyon̛ of His manhed̛; with-in, thurghe
contemplacyon̛ of His Godhede. Of His manhede saƚƚ þou
thynke
thre thyngez: þe meknes of His Incarnacyon̛, þe
swetenes of His conuersasion̛, and þe grete charite of His
passione. Bot þis may þou noghte do aƚƚ att anes; and
þare-fore hafe I twynned the thaym by þe Seuen̛
houres of þe daye þat þou saise in þe kyrke,
Swa þat nan̛ houre passe the, þat þou ne
saƚƚ be swetely ocupyed̛ in þi herte. Bot nowe for to
do þis, þan saƚƚ þou wit þat tiƚƚ
ilke ane houre of þe daye es dowbyƚƚ medytacyon̛, ane
of His passyon̛, and anoþer of þe toþer
seson̛. ¶ Now, dere frende, before matyns saƚƚ
þou thynke of þe swete byrtℏe of Ihesu Cryste
al-þer-fyrste, and sythyn̛ eftyrwarde of His passion̛.
Of His byrtℏ, saƚƚ thou thynke besyly þe tym̛,
and þe stede and þe houre, þat oure Lorde Ihesu
Criste was borne of His modir Marie. Þe tyme was in
myd-wyntter, when̛ it was maste calde; þe houre was at
mydnyghte, þe hardeste houre þat es; þe stede was in
mydwarde þe strete, in a house with-owtten̛ walles. In
clowtis was He wonden̛, and als a chylde was He bunden̛; and
in a crybbe by-fore ane oxe and ane asse, þat lufely lorde layde
was, for þare was na noþer stede voyde. And here
saƚƚ þou thynke of þe kepynge of Marye, and of hir
childe, and of hir spouse Iosepℏ — wat Ioye Ihesu þam
sente. Thou saƚƚ thynke also of þe hyrdes þat saw
þe takyn̛ of His byrtℏe; and þou saƚƚ
thynke of þe swete felachippe of Angeƚƚs, and rayse vpe thi
herte and syng witℏ þam̛, Gloria in excelsis Deo,
&c. Of þe passion̛ saƚƚ þou thynke how
þat He was at swylke a tym̛ of þe nyghte betrayed by
His descyple, and taken̛ als a traytoure, and bownden̛ als a
thefe, and ledde als a felon̛.
¶ Be-fore pryme þou saƚƚ thynke of þe
passion̛ of Ihesu and of His Ioyfuƚƚ ryssynge. Of His
passyon̛ saƚƚ þou thynke how þe Iewes ledd̛
Hym into þaire counsaile, and bare false wytnes agayne Hym, and
put appone Hym þat He had saide blasefeme, þat es,
sclandyre in Godd̛, and þat He had said þat He suld
haue distroyede þe temple of Godd̛, and make agayne
anoþer with-in the thirde day; and þan̛ þay
bygan̛ to dryfe Hym tiƚƚ hethyng, and to fulle Hym als a
fule, and spite one Hym̛ in dispyte in His faire face; and
sythyn̛ thay hide His eghen̛, and gafe Hym̛ bofetes
grete, and sythen̛ asked Hym̛ whate He was þat Hym
smate; and sythen̛, þay ledde Hym dreryly to þe
dede, and ȝitt neuer He sayde tiƚƚ thaym anes why
þay swa dyde. Many othyre wykkydnes þay dide Hym,
þat lange ware to telle. Ȝitt before pryme saƚƚ
þou thynke of þe haly rysesynge, þat at þat
tyme of þe daye Ihesu Ioyfully rase fra dede to lyfe, when̛
þat He hade destruyede helle and delyuerede haly sawles owte of
þe powere of þe deuelle. ¶ Ȝitt before vndrone
saƚƚ þou thynke of þe passion̛ and of þe
witsondaye. Of þe passion̛ saƚƚ þou thynke, how
þat tyme oure Lorde Ihesu Cryste dispytousely was dispuylede,
nakkynde and bownden̛ tiƚƚ a tree in Pylate house, and swa
wykkedly scourgede and doungen̛, þat of His swete body, fra
þe heued tiƚƚ þe fute, noghte was lefte hale. And at
þat ilke houre þou saƚƚ thynke of þe
witsonnday, how þe tym̛ of þe day oure Lorde Ihesu
Criste sente þe Haly Gaste tiƚƚ His disciples, in liknes of
fyre, and of tunnges, in takynnynge þat þay sulde hafe
abowndance in worde and brynnynge in lufe, and þat ryghte es
þe purueance of oure Lorde puruayde; For in twa maners þe
wykked gaste begylede man̛ in paradyse, þat es to saye,
with wykked̛ entycement of his tunge, and with þe caldnes
of his venym̛. And for-þi come þe Haly Gaste in
lyknes of tung, agayne þe Entycement of þe deuelle, and in
fyre for to distruye þe caldnes of his venym̛. ¶
Be-fore myddaye saƚƚ þou thynke of þe
Anunciacyon̛, and of Ihesu passion̛. And of þe
Anunciacion̛ saƚƚ þou thynke of þe grete mercy
of oure Lorde Ihesu Criste, whi þat He walde be-comme man̛,
and For vs suffire þe dede in þat swete manhed̛
Sen̛ He moghte hafe boghte vs agayne on oþer manere. And
þat dyde He for tiƚƚ drawe tiƚƚ Hym̛ þi
luffe. For if ane hade bene þi maker, and anoþer thi
byere, and hade sufferde in thaire bodyes aƚƚ oure sorowe for to
by aƚƚ oure lufe, Than hade noghte oure trouthe bene anely in
ane. Off þe passion̛ saƚƚ þou thynke at
þat houre how oure Lorde Ihesu was done one þe Crosse
be-twyx twa thefes, ane one His ryghte syde, and anoþer one His
lefte syde, and Hym-selfe þay hangede be-twix þam̛
twa, alls mayster of thefes. For if all þe sekenes of þis
werlde and aƚƚ þe sorowe ware in þe body of a
man̛ anely, and þat man myghte consayfe
alls mekiƚƚ noye and Angwysce and Sorowe in his body als aƚƚ
þe men̛ of þis werlde moghte thynke, ȝitt it
ware fuƚƚ littiƚƚ or eƚƚs noghte to regarde of þe
sorowe þat He sufferde for vs ane houre of þe daye.
¶ Before nonne saƚƚ þou thynke of þe
passion̛ and of þe gloriouse Ascencion̛. Of þe
passione saƚƚ þou thynke, þat at swylke a tym̛
of þe daye dyede þe makere of lyfe, for þi lufe.
And here saƚƚ þou thynke of þe wordes þat Ihesu
spake on̛ þe crose, and of þe foure takynes þat
be-feƚƚe in His dede. The fyrste worde was þis þat
He spake, `Fadire, for-gyffe þam̛ þis syn̛, for
þay wate noghte whate þay doo.' The toþer worde was
þis, þat He said to þe thefe, `For sothe I say the,
þis day saƚƚ þou be with me in paradyse.' The thirde
was þat He saide to His modire of Sayne Joℏn̛ His
cosynne, `Woman̛, lo þare thi son̛!' And to þe
discyple saide He, `Manne, lo þare thy Modire !' The ferthe
worde þat He saide was this, `Godd̛, my Godd̛,
whi hase þou lefte me þus.' The fyfte was, `Scicio,'
þat es to say, `I haf thriste.' The sexte worde was this, `In
manus tuas Domine, &c'.' whilke es for to saye, `Fadir, in-to þi
haundis I gyffe my sawle.' The Seuend̛ worde was þis,
Consummatum est, þat es to say, `Now es þe prophecye
fulfillede,' and with þat worde He helde His hede downne, and
gafe þe gaste. Now þe takynes þat ware in His dede
ere þire. Firste, aƚƚ þe erthe by-gane to tremble,
and þe vaile of þe temple braste in twa and felle
doun̛, þe stanes raue in soundire, þe graues opyned
and þe dede men rase, and þe sonne with-drewe his lyghte
fra þe werlde fra myddaye to noune. Of þe Ascencione
saƚƚ þou thynke that swylke a tym̛ of þe daye
wente vpe oure Lorde Ihesu Criste in-tiƚƚ þe mounte of
Olyuete, Seande His discyples and His swete modire Marie, how He
steigℏe in-tiƚƚ heuen̛, and sett Hym one Fadir righte
hande; and how His dysciples turnede agayne into þe Cete, and
ware in fastynge and in prayere vntiƚƚ þe commynge of
þe Haly Gaste; and þare ware togedire a hundretℏ and
twentty in a house for to abyde þe commynge of þe Haly
Gaste, als oure Lorde commande þam̛ before. ¶ Before
euensnage saƚƚ þou thynke of Ihesu passion̛ and of His
supere. Of þe passion̛ saƚƚ þou thynke how
Iosepℏ
of Aramathy purchaste Ihesu body of Pilate, and how þey come to
þe crosse þare He hange, and þay brakke þe twa
thee-banes of þe twa thefes. And þare was a knyghte redye
with a spere, and perchede þe syde of Ihesu, and smate Hym to
þe herte; and als sone come rynnande downe þe precyouse
blode and watire. And þat was þe Rawnsone of þe
whilke I be-fore spake — louede be that Lorde ! — And
þan̛ Iosepℏ tuke Hym downe of þe crosse,
for-þi þat na bodye sulde duelle on þe crosse in so
hye a daye als was one þe morne. Of þe supere of Ihesu
saƚƚ þou thynke, how þat tym̛ He gafe His
precyouse flesche and His blude in lyknes of brede and of wyne
þat we may See; and it es sothefastely flesche and blude of
Ihesu Criste, þat we may noghte See with bodyli eghen̛.
Þe thirde thynge es gastely, þe grace þat we
rescheyue when̛ we take þat flesche and þat blude.
We se þare lyknes of brede and of wyne, and it es noghte; bot we
trowe þat þare es sothefastly þe flesche and
þe blude of Ihesu Criste. And noghte forthi þe lyknes of
flesche ne may we noghte see. And þare-fore, þare whare
we sulde hafe vgglynes als vn-tiƚƚ oure body, for to ete flesche
and drynke blude of man̛, Oure Lorde Ihesu Criste turnede His
flesche and His blude in liknes of brede and of wyne, for to
comfortℏe oure bodily witte thurghe swylke fude als we ere wounte
for to see, and alswa for to helpe oure trouthe thurghe þat,
þat we see a thynge and trowes anoþer. And
þare-fore, dere frende, when̛ þou saƚƚ gaa for
to reschaife þat swete flesche and þat blude of Ihesu thi
saueour, luke at þou haue verray contricyon̛, and
repentance, and clensynge of thi syn̛ in thi herte; For
þare þou ressayfes in sacrament reghte als þou
ressayfede Hym̛ in flesche and blude — blescede be
þat grace! ¶ Be-fore complyn̛ saƚƚ þou
thynke how þat Iosepℏ and Nicodemus wande Ihesu body
in faire schetis, and enoynte it with precyouse oynementes, and laide
it in a monumente of stane, and sett þaire seles apon̛
þe stane, and knyghtes þat sulde it kepe. The toþer
thynge þat þou saƚƚ thynke in þe same tyme es
þis, how Ihesus, in þe daye of supere, when He had
souppede, He ȝode in-tiƚƚ a gardyn̛ with His discyples,
and felle downe in Orysoun̛, and bygann̛ for
to swete one swilke manere þat þe droppis of blode
droppede of His blyssede face vn-tiƚƚ þe erthe. Now hase
þou matire and manere for to thynke of Goddis manhede. And
eftirwarde saƚƚ þou wit how þou saƚƚ thynke one
Hym in His heghe Godhede. ¶ To þat saƚƚ þou wit
þat Godd temperd̛ swa His knaweynge fra þe begynnynge
of mankynde, þat He walde noghte aƚƚ hally schewe Hym to
man̛, ne aƚƚ hally hele Hym̛ fra man̛. For if He
hade aƚƚ hally schewede Hym to man̛, þan hadd̛
trouthe noghte bene worthe and mysbileue had noghte bene
þan̛ ouercomen̛, For trouthe es of thynge þat
may noghte be sene; þan þat at I see es noghte trouthe ;
and if He had aƚƚ hallily helede fra man̛, þan had
trouthe noghte bene helpede, and mysbileue hade bene excusede; and
for-þi þan̛ walde He in party schewe Hym̛, and
in party hele Hym̛. Bot now may þou aske me, `in how many
maners He walde schewe Hym̛.' I say in twa maners, ane
witℏ-in, anoþer witℏ-owtten̛. With-in He
schewede Hym̛ thurgh reuelacyon̛ and thurgh
resonn̛. With-owtten̛, thurgℏ halye writte and
thurgℏ creaturs. Thurgℏ reuelacyon̛, when̛ He
schewede Hym tiƚƚ any folke thurgℏ inspiracion̛ and
thurghe myracle. By resonn̛, commes He tiƚƚ þe
knawynge of man̛ one þis manere : — Ilke a man̛
may wele see in hym-selfe þat at he es, and þat at he hase
bene, bot he may wele wit þat he hase noghte bene ay, and for
þat he wate wele þat sum̛ tym̛ he be-gan̛
for to be; þan was þaire sum̛ tym̛ when̛ he
was noghte. Bot when̛ he was noghte, þan moghte he one na
wyese make hym̛-selfe; and þis seghes man̛ in his
creature, For he sees ilke a day sum̛ ga and sum̛ com̛,
For-þi, sen̛ ilke thynges erre, and þay erre noghte
of thaym̛ selfe, þare-fore it behoues nede þat
þare be ane to gyffe aƚƚ thynges to be, þat es to
saye of whaym alle thynges are; þare-fore it behoues of force
þat He thurgℏe whaym alle thynges erre, be
with-owtten̛ begynnynge. For if He hade begynnyng, than̛ it
behoufede þat He had begynnyng of sum̛ oþer;
þan̛ had He noghte bene þe first autour and þe
fyrste begynnyng of aƚƚ thyngez. Bot þare was na thynge
before Hym̛, þan he come of na noþer, þan̛
hade He neuer na begynnynge.
And þare-fore it behoufes one aƚƚ maner of þe werlde,
þat þare be a thynge þat neuer hade begynnynge. And
when̛ reson̛ of man̛ sese of force þat it may na
noþer wysse be, þan he begynnys for to trowe stabilly
þat a thynge þat was with-owtten̛ begynnynge,
þat es Awtour, and makere, and gouernere of aƚƚ thynges
þat ere. And Hym calles men̛ Godd̛ by This skill, For
þis worde Deus, þat es to say, Godd̛, commes of a
worde of grewe þat es called theos, and þat es als
mekiƚƚ for to say als ane anely Godd̛. And þat
betakyns þis worde Godd̛.
And, dere frend, þou awe to wit þat þare ne es
bot a Godd̛, and þou awe to wit þat na gude may faile
to Godd̛. Bot for-þi þat swete thynge and gud thynge
es comforthe of felaschepe, þan may noghte Godd̛ be
with-owtten̛ gudnes of felaschipe. Than be-houede it nede
þat þare ware many persones in Godd̛, þe
hegheste gudnes. And for-þi þat felyschepe may noghte be
be-twyx faere þan̛ twa, þare-fore be-houes it be
þat in Godd̛ be at þe leste twa persones. And
for-þi þat felyschipe es littiƚƚ worthe whare
þare es nan̛ Alyance ne lufe, For-thi it behoues þat
þe thirde person̛ ware in Godd̛, þat ware the
Alyance and þe lufe be-twyx the twa. And for-þi þat
anehede es gude, and manyhede alswa, þare-fore it behouede nede
þat anehede and manyhede bathe ware in Godd̛. And by
þis skiƚƚ commes man̛ to þe knaweynge of
Godd̛, þat He es a Godd̛ in Hym̛selfe, and thre
in persones. And þis ilke may man̛ see in hym-selfe, For
he sese at þe begynnynge þat he hase in hym-selfe Powere,
and sythen̛ eftir powere he hase wysdom̛. And sythen̛
be-gane he for to lufe þat wysdom̛; and þan begynnes
he for to knawe apertely þat þare es in þe saule
Mighte, and of þat myghte commes wysdom̛, and of thayme
bathe comes lufe. And when man̛ sese þat it es one swylke
manere in hym, Of þat awe hym̛ to wit þat one swylke
man̛ awe it to be in Godd̛ þat es abouen̛
hym̛, þat es to say, þat in Godd̛ es myghte, and
of þat commes his wysdom̛e; and of powere and wysedom̛
bathe comes lufe. And for-þi þat of þe fyrste
personne commes þe toþer, and owte of thaym̛ bathe
comes þe thyrde, For-thi calles he þe firste personne
Godd̛ þe Fadire, þe toþer Godd̛ þe
Sonne, þe thirde
Godd̛ þe Haly Gaste. And for þat it wounte to be
thus inmanges men̛, þat þe Fadir was mare Febiƚƚ
þan þe sonne, for his elde, and þe sonne mare vnwyse
þan þe Fadire for his ȝouthe; and for þat a man
sulde noghte wene þat it ware swa of Godd̛, Tharefore es
powere appropirde to Godd̛ þe Fadir, wysdom̛ to
Godd̛ þe Sonne. And for-þi þat þis worde
Gaste sownnes sumwhate into fellenes, For-þi es swetnes, lufe,
and gudenes appropirde to þe Haly Gaste. Oppon̛ þis
maner commes man̛ firste to þe knaweynge of his Godd̛,
how He es with-owtten̛ be-gynnynge, and whi He es called
Godd̛, ane in substance and thre in persones, and whi þe
firste persone es callede Godd̛ þe Fadir, þe
toþer, Godd̛ þe Sonne, þe thyrde, Godd̛
þe Haly Gaste; and whi powere es appropirde to Godd̛
þe Fadir, and wysdom̛ to Godd̛ þe Sonne, and
gudnes to Godd̛ þe Haly Gaste. In swylke manere saƚƚ
þou knawe þi Godd̛.
The fyrste degre of contemplacion̛ es, þat þe
saule be ledde agayne to þe selfe, and gedire it aƚƚ
with-in þe selfe. The toþer degre es, þat man see
whate he es, swa gedyrde to-gedire. The thirde degre es, þat he
lefte hym selfe abouen hym-selfe, and payne hym for to luke one
his Godd̛ in his awen̛ kynde. Bot tiƚƚ selfe may he
neuer mare comme, vntiƚƚ he hafe lerede to resayfe ilke a bodyly
ymagynacyone erthely and gastely, þat commes to his awen̛
herte, owþer of herynge, or of tastynge, or of sweloynge, or of
any oþer bodily wite, to refuse it and to defule it, þat
it may see the selfe swylke as it es with-owtten̛ þe bodye.
Thare-fore, dere Frende, take gud hede how þe saule es
wondirfuƚƚ in þe selfe, and howe it es ane in þe
kynde, and noghte forthi ȝit it duse dyuerse thynges; For
þe selfe, it sese þat at þou sese with thyn̛
eghne, heris with thyne eres, Swelawes with thi mouthe, Smelles with
þi nese, and al swa þat at þou touches with aƚƚ
þi membris. ¶ Thynke ȝit Eftyrwarde, howe þi
saule es grete, þat aƚƚ anely with a thoghte it may
comprehende heuen̛ and ertℏe and aƚƚ þat in
thaym̛ are, if þay ware a hundretℏ falde grettere
þan̛ þay are or may be. ¶ When manes lyfe es
grete and swa nobiƚƚ þat na creature may
vndirstande it perfitly, Thane grete and nobiƚƚ es he þat
swa nobiƚƚ thynge made of noghte. He es abouen̛ aƚƚ
thynge, and with-in all thynge, and with-owtten̛ all thynge, and
be-netℏe aƚƚ thynge. He is abouen̛ aƚƚ thynge,
aƚƚ thynge gouernande, Be-netℏe aƚƚ thynge, berande
aƚƚ thynge, with-in aƚƚ thynge, Fulfillande aƚƚ,
with-owtten̛ aƚƚ thynge, abowte gangande aƚƚ.
¶ Swylke manere of contemplacione Engendyrs in man̛ Faste
trouthe and sekire deuocyone. ¶ Eftir þis saƚƚ
þou thynke howe þat he es large: and þat may
þou see one many maners. See at þe begynnynge howe
þat he es large of erthely gude; how he gyfes his gudes als wele
to þe iƚƚe als to þe gude in alle thynges þat
þou sese in erthe. Sythen̛ eftirward̛ see howe
þat he es large for to Forgyffe: For if a mane hym ane hade
donne aƚƚs mekiƚƚ iƚƚe als aƚƚe þe men of
þis werlde moghte doo, ȝitt sulde he be mare redy be
þe hundrethe parte for to Forgyffe hym þan þat
caytife sulde bee for to aske of hym forgyfenes.
¶ Nowe, my dere Frende, if þou lyfe eftir þis
kennynge, þan saƚƚ þou lyfe honourabily, — and
þat es þe fyrste parte of oure sermon̛ þat I
touchede at þe begynnynge, — and eftir þat saƚƚ
þou studye to lyffe lufely als to thyne euencrysten̛; and
vntiƚƚ þat saƚƚ þou sette aƚƚ hally
þi myghte to lufe and for to be lufede. Thou saƚƚ lufe
aƚƚ menne in Godd̛, þat es at say, anely in gudnes,
and noghte for þaire fairenes of bodye for to lufe, ne for
force, ne for na noþer bodily vertu. For þay þat
lufes in swylke manere, þay lufe noghte for Goddes sake; and for
to lufe man̛ in Godd̛ es na noþer thynge bot for to
lufe hym̛ for any thynge þat may noghte be lufede
with-owtten̛ Godd̛, als for gudnes or for rightewysnes, or
for sothefastenes. If we do gude, þane hafe we na frende bot
gude, ne nane Enemy bot iƚƚ; and þar-fore þase
þat er gude saƚƚ we lufe, for-thi þat þay er
gude, and þe ille saƚƚ we lufe for-þi þat
þay may be gude. In þis manere lufe þou na thynge
bot gudnes, sen̛ þat þou lufes aƚƚ thynges for
gudnes; and if þou wiƚƚ be lufede, schewe thi selfe lufely.
Ife þou wiƚƚ be lufely, resayfe these thre wordes
with-owtten̛ forgetynge. Do þat at man biddis þe or
praies þe þat gude es; Take þat at man̛ gyffes
þe; and gruche noghte;
and þat at men wiƚƚ say þe, suffire it mekely, and
wrethe the noghte. If þou lyfe þus lelely, þan
lyfes thou lufely.
Dere Syster and frende, Syen̛ eftirwarde saƚƚ þou
studye for to lyffe mekely; and to þis saƚƚ þou
own̛ wit þat þare are twa maners of mekenes. The
tane commes of sothefastenes, and þe toþer commes of
charite. By þe firste may þou hafe knaweynge of thi
selfe, For thou may noghte in na manere of þis worlde see
þi selfe whate þou arte in sothefastenes, if þou be
noghte mekyde. The toþer manere of meknes may þou hafe if
thou thynke of þe meknes of Ihesu Criste, how þat he mekid
hym þat neuer dyde syn̛ ; and swylke mekenes commes clenely
of charyte.
¶ Now, my dere syster and Frende, wate þou whate it es
to lyffe honourabili, lufely, and mekely; and þat es to lyffe
perfitly. Now oure swete Lorde Ihesu Criste gyffe vs grace, swa
Godd̛ for to honour, and oure euencristen̛ for to lufe, and
oure selfe for to meke, þat we may for oure honourynge be
honourede, and for oure lufe be lufede, and for oure mekenes be
lyftede vp in-to þe heghe blysse of heuen̛ þat he
boghte vs to, Ihesu with his swete blude and his preciouse
passion̛. Amen̛!
Explicitexpliculum speculum sancti Edmundi Cantuarensis Archiepiscopi. Dulce
nomen Domini nostri Ihesu Christi: sit benedictum in secula seculorum!
Amen̛ !
III. THE ABBEY OF THE HOLY GHOST.
RELIGIO Sancti SPiritus. RELIGIO MUNDA.
OFF the abbaye of saynte Spirite, that es in a place that es
callede conscyence.
A, dere brethir and systirs ! I see þat many walde be in
religyon̛, bot þay may noghte, owthir for pouerte, or for
drede of thaire kyn̛, or for band of Maryage; and for-thi I make
- here a buke of þe religeon of þe herte, þat es, of
þe abbaye of the Holy Goste, that aƚƚ tho þat ne may
noghte be bodyly in religyon̛, þat þay may be
gostely. A, Ihesu, Mercy! whare may þis abbay beste be funded,
and þis religione ? Now certis nowhare so wele als in a place
þat es called `conscyence'; and who so wiƚƚ be besy to
funde þis holy religion̛, and þat may ilke gud
crystyn̛ man̛ and woman do, þat wiƚƚ be besy
þer- abowte. And at þe begynnynge it es by-houely
þat þe place of thi conscience be clensed clene of
syn̛; to þe whilke clensynge þe Haly Goste saƚƚ
sende two maydyns þat ere conande: the one es callede `
rightwysnes,' and þe toþer is called `luffe of clennes.'
Thiese two saƚƚ cast fro þe conscience and fro þe
herte, all maner of fylthe of foule thoghtes and desyris. When̛
þe place of þe conscience es wele clensed, than saƚƚ
þe grownde be mad lange and depe; and thies two maydenes
saƚƚ be made, þe one es callede `Mekenes,' þat
saƚƚ make þe grownde depe thorowe lowlynes of hir selfe,
the toþer es callede `Pouerte,' i þat makis it large &
wyde abowne, þat castis ouer ylke a halfe þe erthe owte,
þat es to say, alle erthely lustes & worldely thoghtes ferre fro
þe herte, þat, if þay hase erthely gudis, with luffe
þay for-gete þaym̛ for þe tym̛, & castis
no lufe to þam̛, nor hase noghte, ne settis noghte for
þat tyme þaire hertes no thynge one þam̛. And
thies ere called `pure in spyrite,' of wham̛ God spekes in
þe gospelle, & sayse þat `thaires es þe
kyngdom̛ of heuen̛, be thies wordes Beati pauperes spiritu,
quoniam ipsorum est regnum * ` coelorum. Blyssed es þan̛
þat religyon̛ þat es funndide in pouerte and in
meknes. This es agaynes many religyous þat are couetous and
prowde.
This abbaye also saƚƚ be sett on a gud reuer, and þat
saƚƚ be þe reuer of teres. For swylke abbayes þat
ere sett one swylke gude ryuers, þay are wele at ese, and
þe more dylecyous duellyng es þer. One swylke a reuer
was Mary Mawdelayne fowndide, For-thy grace and rechesse come aƚƚ
to hir wiƚƚ, and for-thi sayde Dauid thus, Fluminis impetus
letificat ciuitatem, þat es to saye, `the gude reuer mase
þe Cete lykande,' for it es clene sekyr, & ryche of aƚƚ
gude marchandyse. And so þe reuer of teris clenses Goddis cete,
þat es, mannes saule, þat es Goddes cete. And also
þe holy man sayse of fylthe of synn̛, þat it brynges
owte þe reches of vertus and of alle gude thewes. And when
þis grownde es made, þan saƚƚ come a dameselle,
Bowsomnes, on þe tone halfe, and dameselle Miserecorde one
þe toþer halfe, for to rayse þe walles one heghte,
and to make þam stalworthe, with a fre hert largely gyfande to
þe pure, & to þam̛ þat myster hase. For
when̛ we do any gud werkes of charite thorow þe grace of
Gode, als ofte sythis als we þam do in þe lufe and
þe louynge of God, and in gud Entent, als many gud stonys we
laye one owre howssynge in þe blysse of heuen̛, festenande
togedir with þe lufe of Gode and oure euen̛-crysten̛.
We rede þat Salomon̛ made his howssynge of gret precyouse
stones. Thiese precyous stones are almos-dedis and werkes of mercy, &
holy werkes þat saƚƚ be bownden̛ to-gedir with qwyke
lyme of lufe & stedfaste by-leue. And for-thi sayse Dauid, Omnia
opera eius in fide, þat es to saye, `alle his werkes be done in
stedfaste by-leue.' And als a walle maye not laste with-owtten̛
syment, or more, also no werkes þat we wyrke, are noghte worthe
to God, nor spedfuƚƚ tiƚƚ oure sawles, bot þay be done
in the lufe of God and in trewe by-leue. For alle þat þe
synfuƚƚ dose, aƚƚe es loste. Sythen̛ Dameselle
Sufferance and dameseƚƚ Forte saƚƚ rayse þe pelars, &
vndirsett þam̛ so strangly, þat no wynde of wordes,
angre of stryffe, fleschely nor gastely, sowre ne swete, caste
þam̛ downe. A, dere brethir and systers, ȝitt
by-houys þe cloystyre be made one foure corners; and it es
callede cloyster' for it closys and steskys, and warely saƚƚ be
lokkede. My dere breþir and systyrs, wylke of ȝow as
wiƚƚ halde this gastely religyon̛, & be in ryste of sawle &
in swetnes of hert, halde þe with-in̛ þe cloyster,
and so sparre þou þe ȝates, and so warely kepe
þou þe wardes of þi cloyster, þat no
noþer fand- yngez nor euyƚƚe styrrynges hafe in-gate in
the, & make þat thy Sylence, and for to [ ] the, or styrre the
to synn̛ There is some confusion in this sentence from the omission of one or more words. steke thyn̛ eghne fro fowle syghtes, thyn̛
heres fro foule herynges, thy Mouthe fro foule speche, and thyn̛
herte fra foule thoghtes. Scrifte saƚƚ [make] thi chapitir,
Predicacion̛ saƚƚ make thi fratour, Oracion̛ saƚƚ
make thi chapeƚƚe, Con- templacione saƚƚ make thi dortoure,
þat saƚƚ be raysede one heghte with heghe ȝernynge,
and with lufe qwykkynynge to Gode, and þat saƚƚ be owte ofe
worldly noyse and of worldly angyrse and besynes, als fere furthe als
þou may for þe tym̛ thorow grace for þe
tym̛ of prayere. Contemplacion̛ es a deuote rysynge of
herte with byrnynge lufe to God to do wele, and in his delites Ioyes
his saule, and somdele ressayves of that swetnes þat Goddis
chosen̛ childir saƚƚ hafe in heuen̛. Rewfulnes
saƚƚ make the fermorye, Deuocion̛ saƚƚ make þe
celere, Meditacion saƚƚ make the gernere.
And when aƚƚ þe howses bene made, þan be-houes
þe Holy Gaste Ordeyne þe couent of grace & of vertu. And
þan saƚƚ þe Holy Gaste þat þis religyone
es of, bee warden̛ and visiture, the whilke God þe Fadir
funded thorow his powere. For þus saise Dauide, Fundauit eam
altissimus, and this es to saye, `the heghe Gode þe Fadyr
Fundide this relegyone.' The Son̛ thurgℏ his wysedom̛
þan ordayned it, als Sayne Paule witnes it, Que adeo ordinata
sunt, þat es at saye, `aƚƚe þat es of God the Sone,
it rewlis & ordaynes.' The Holy Goste ȝemys it and vesettes it;
and þat saye [we] in holy kyrke when̛ we saye þis,
Veni Creator Spiritus, with Qui paraclitus diceris, þat es for
to saye, `come, þou God þe Haly Gaste, and thyne þou
vesete, and fulfiƚƚ þam̛ with grace.' And than the
gude lady Charite, als scho þat es most worthy by-fore alle
oþer, saƚƚ be abbas of this sely abbaye. And also, als
þay þat are in relegyone saƚƚ do no thynge, ne saye
thynge, ne gange in-to no stede, ne take no gyfte, with-owtten̛
leue of þe abbasse. Also gastely saƚƚ none of swylke
thyngys be done with-owtten̛ leue of charite, For thus commandes
Sayne Paule, Omnia vestra in caritate fiant, þat es, ` what-so
ȝe do, or saye, or thynke with herte, alle ȝe mon do in
charite.' A, dere breþir and systirs, whate here es harde
eomandement ! Bot it es noghte fuƚƚ iƚƚ to oure sawles
þat oure thoghtes & oure wordes & oure werkes be onely done for
lufe. Wayleawaye! if I durste saye! for many are in religione, bot to
fewe relegious, þat þay ne done þe comandment of
saynte Paule, or þe conceƚƚe of þe gud lady
Charite, þat 1 es abbesse of this cely relegyon̛. And
for-thi þay lose mekiƚƚ tym̛, and losses þaire
mede, and ekes thaire payne gretly, bot if þay amende þam,
whare-fore, leue breþir and systirs, bese euer-more wakire and
warre; and in aƚƚ ȝoure werkes, thynke depely þat
whate-so ȝee doo, be it done in þe lufe of Gode, and for
þe lufe of þe lady Wysdome þat saƚƚ be
prioresse; for scho es worth i, Nam, pr ior omnium creata est
sapiencia, þat es, `al-þir-firste es Wysedcoe made'; and
thurgℏ þe lare of hir, and þe concele cf þis
prioresse, saƚƚ we do alle þat we do; and this sayse Dauid,
Omnia in sapiencia fecisti, þat es at saye, `alle þat
þou hase made, þou hase made wysely.' The gud lady Meknes
þat aye Elyke makis hir selfe lowly and vndir alle oþer,
saƚƚ be supprioresse: hir saƚƚ ȝe honoure and wirchipe
with bouxomnes. A Ihesu! blyssede þat abbaye, and cely es
þat religyone, þat hase so haly ane abbas as Charyte, a
prioresse as Wysedome, a supprioresse as Mekenes. A, dere
breþir and systirs, blyssede and Cely are þay, þat
es to say, those saules are eely þat haldis þe comandment
of þe abbas lady Charite, and þe techynge of þe
priores, lady Wysdome, and the concele of þe suppriorese, lady
mekenes; For who-so es bouxome to
thir thre ladyse, and þaire lyffe rewlis aftir þaire
techynge, the Fadir, the Sone, the Holy Goste, þam saƚƚ
comfurthe with many gostely Ioyes, and þam helpe and socoure in
alle fandinges, in angirs, þat þay ne be noghte
ouercomen̛; þam thare drede no wrenkis ne no wylis of the
fende, for why God es with þam̛, and standis aye by
þam̛ als a trewe kepere & a strange. And for-þi says
Dauid thus, Dominus protector vite mee, a quo trepidabo ? als if he
sayd, ` God es my champyone staleworthe and trewe, þat for me,
þat es so wayke and so vnmyghtfuƚƚ, agaynes myn̛
Enemyse hase vndirtane for to fyghte: whame thare me þan̛
drede ? now trewly, righte none.' We rede in a buke of Danyele
þat a myghtfuƚƚ was þat men̛ callede
Nabogodhonosore, þat sett in Rome thre men̛ þat solde
do & ordayne and stabyƚƚ, als baylyes, alle þe rewme, so
þat þe kynge herde no noyse, ne no playnte, bot þat
he myghte be in pese, & in Ioye, & in ryste in his rewme. And righte
so þe rewme of þe sawle þat thiese thre baylyes are
In̛, and þe religione þat thies thre prelates are
In̛, þat es, Charite, Wyse- dome and Mekenes, thare es
pese, ryste, and lykynge in saule, and comforthe in lyfe.
Damsele Discrecyone, þat es witty and be fuƚƚ ware,
saƚƚ be tresorere; scho saƚƚ hafe in hir kepynge alle, and
ȝernely luke þat all go wele. Orysone salle be
chaunterese, þat with hertly prayers saƚƚ trauele daye &
nyghte. And whate Orysoue es, þe haly man̛ sayse, Oracio
est Deo sacrificium, angelis solacium, diabolo tormentum, þat es
to saye, �` Orysone es a lonely sacrafice to God, Solase and
lykynge to Angeƚƚs, and turment to þe fende.' It witnes in
the lyfe of Saynte Barthil- mewe, þat it es turment to þe
fende; for þe fende cryede to hym and sayde Bartholomee !
incendunt me oraciones tue, þat es to saye, ` Bertilmew, thi
prayers byrnys me.' And þat es lykynge to angels, Saynte
Bartilinew wytnes it, and sayse, `when̛ we praye with deuocyone
of hert, the Angels standis byfore, daunsesande & prayeande, and beris
oure prayers vp, and a present of þam̛ to þe Fadir of
heuen̛. Þe whilke prayers oure Lorde commandes to wryte in
þe buke of lyfe, þat es,
sacrafyce to God: this are of þam̛ þat hym moste
payes; and for-thi he askes vs it þer he sayse thus, Sacrificium
1audis honorificabis me, þat es to saye, `ȝe salle wyrchipe
witℏ sacrifice of louynge.' Iubilacio hir felowe saƚƚ
helpe; and, what Iubilacion̛ es, a seynt it telles, and sayse
þat Iubylacion̛ es a grete Ioye þat es consayuede in
teris, thorow brynnande luffe of spirite, þat may noghte be in
aƚƚ schewede, no in alle hyde, als it fallis somtyme of tho
þat God hertly lufes: þere- eftir þat þay hafe
bene in prayere and in orysone, þay ere so lyghte & so lykande
in God þat, whare-so þay go, þer hertes synges
murnynge songes of lufe-longynge to þaire lefe, þat
þay ȝerne with armys of lufe semlyly to falde, and with
gastely mourny[n]ge of his gudnes swetly to kysse, and ȝit
vmwhile so depely, þat wordis þam wanttis, for
luf-longynge so ferforthe rauesches thorow hertis, þat
somtym̛ þay ne wote noghte whate þay do. Deuocione
es celeresse, þat kepis þe wynnes, bothe þe white
and þe rede, with depe vmbythynkynge of þe gudnes of God,
& of þe paynnes & of þe anguyse þat he tholede, and
of the Ioyes & þe delytes of paradyse, þat he hase
ordayned to his chosen̛. Penance saƚƚ be kychynnere,
þat with grete besynes trayueƚƚs daye & nyghte for to plese
aƚƚe, and ofte swetis with bitter teris for angyre of hir synnes.
Scho makes gud metis, þat es, many bitter sorowes alle for hir
gyltez. And theys metis fedis þe saule, bot scho sparis
hir-selfe thorow abstynence, and etys bot littiƚƚ; For, do scho
neuer so mekiƚƚ ne so mony-folde of gude werkes, ay semys scho
hir-selfe vnworthy and synfuƚƚ. Atemperance seruede in the
fratour þat scho to ylkone so lukes þat mesure be ouer
alle, þat none ouer mekiƚƚ nere ouer lyttiƚƚ ete ne
drynke. Sobirnes redis at þe borde the lyues of the haly
Fadirs, and synges and reherces whate lyfe þat þay lede
for to take gud Ensampiƚƚe to do als þay dyd, and
þere thorowe slyke mede to wyn̛ als þay now hafe.
Pete es spensere, þat dose seruesse to gud, aƚƚ þat
scho maye. And Mercy hir syster saƚƚ be ambynowre, þat
gyffes to aƚƚe, and noghte kane kepe to hir-selfe. The lady
Drede es portere, þat kepis besyly þe cloyster of þe
herte, & of þe conscience
þat chases owte alle vnthewes, and calles In alle gud vertus, &
so speres þe ȝatis of þe cloyster & þe wyndows,
þat none evyƚƚe hafe none Ingate to þe herte, thorowe
þe ȝatis of þe mouthe, ne thorowe þe wyndows of
þe eghne, nere of þe eris. Honeste es Maystresse of
þe nouyce, and teches þam alle curtasye, bow þay
saƚƚ speke and gange, and sytt and stande, and how þay
saƚƚ bere þam̛ with-owtten̛ and with-in̛;
howe to God, how to man̛, so þat alle þat
þam̛ sese, of þam may take ensampiƚƚ of alle
gudnes, and alle gude thewes. Dameselle Curtasye saƚƚ be
hostelere; & þat þay comande & byddes, þat scho
saƚƚ þam resafe hendely, so þat ylke one may speke of
hir. And for-thi þat nowþer saƚƚ be by
þam̛ one enlange the gestes, — For it myghte falle
þat dameselle Curtasye solde be oure balde a[nd] ouer hardy,
— for-thi saƚƚ scho hafe a felawe Damesele, Symplese; for
þay two alyede to-gedir thorowe felawchipe, are sekyre and
semande, for þe tone with-owtten̛ þe toþer
vmwhile es littiƚƚ worthe. For ouer-grete symplesse may make of
þe symple a sott, or ouer nyce, and ouer-grete curtasye may be
somewhile oþer to lyghte chere or to glade, or ouer-balde, for
to paye þe gestes; Bot fayre and wele, & with-owtten̛
fandynge of blame, may þay do þaire Offece both
to-gedir.
Damesele Resone saƚƚ be puruerere, For scho saƚƚ ordayne
with-in & with owttyn̛ so skilfully, þat þere ne be
no defaute. Damesele Lewte saƚƚ be fermoresse, þat
saƚƚ trauelle abowte, & besely serue þe seke. And
for-þi sen þat in þe fermory of this religyon̛
are moo seke þan̛ hole, mo febyƚƚ þan̛
wighte, and es ouer-grete trauelle to serue þam alle hyr one,
For-tℏi saƚƚ scho hafe a felawe, Damesele Largesse,
þat saƚƚ see full wele to ylkone after þat þam
nedis. Damesele Conande and Wysse, þat es callede Meditacyone,
or Poleschesy, es garnere: scho saƚƚ gedyre and sembyƚƚ gude
whete and oþer gud cornnes to-gedir, and þat fully, with
grete plente, thorowe þe whilke alle þe gud ladyse of
þe howse may hafe þaire sustenance. Meditacion̛ es
in gud thoghtes of God, & of his werkes, and of his wordes, and of his
creaturs, and of his paynnens þat he tholede, and of his grete
lufe þat he had and hase to þam̛
for whaym̛ he tholede. This garnere had þe gud kyng Dauid;
For-þi was he ay riche & in plente, and for-þi he sayse in
þe psaltyre, In omnibus oreribus tuis Meditabar die ac nocte,
þat es to saye, `Lorde ! in thi lawe I thynke nyghte and daye.
This es begynnynge of aƚƚ perfeccion̛, than̛ when̛
man̛ settis and stabyƚƚs his herte in depe thynkynge on God
& on his werkes. For ofte es better a gud thoghte in haly
meditacyon̛ þan Many wordes sayd in prayere, For þe
holy thoghtes in meditacion̛ cryes in Goddes eris. Ofte it
falles þat þe herte es so ouer-tane and so raueschede in
holy meditacyon̛, þat it wote noghte what it dose, heris,
nor sayse, or seys; so depely es þe herte festenede in God and
in his werkes, þat wordis hym wanttis; and þe stillere
þat he es in slyke Meditacion̛, the luddere he cryes in
Goddes eris; and þer-fore sayd Dauid thus, Quoniam tacui dum
clamarem tota die, as if he sayd, `Lorde! lo, here, the whiƚƚs
myn̛ herte was in depe thoghtes in the and of thi werkes, it
cryed one the in holy Medytacyons, and was styƚƚe, as beynge
domme.' And þer sayse þe glose, `the grete cryes
þat we crye to God þan, are oure grete desyres and oure
grete ȝernynges.' And this sayse Saynte Denyse, þat sayse,
`When þe herte es lyfte and raueschede to þe lufe of God
with gelouse ȝernynges, he ne may sownde with worde þat
þe herte thynkis.' This holy Meditacione, þat es,
þe gernare þat kepis ȝerely þe whete þat
es rede with-owte and white with-in̛, þat hase þe
syde clouen̛, of þe whilke men mase gud brede, þat es
called Ihesu Criste, þat with-owtten̛ was rede of his
awen̛ blode, and whitte with-in̛ tborow his awen̛
mekenes and clennes of lyfe, and hade his syde clouen̛ with a
spere, — this es þe brede þat we ressayue and etis in
þe Sacrament of þe altyr. And wele þou weite
þat the gerner saƚƚ be abown̛ þe Selare, also
saƚƚ be Meditacion̛ before deuocion̛; and for-thi
meditacion̛ saƚƚ be gernare, Deuocion̛ Celerrere, and
Pete pene- tancere Sic in MS.; but ?pittancere, i.e. the officer who served out the rations. The Prioress had charge of the discipline.. Of thiese thre sayse þe profete Dauide Ps. iv. 8.
A Fructu frumenti vini, et olei sui, multiplicati sunt, þat es
at saye, ` Of
the fruyte of þe whete and wyne and oyle, þay ere
fulfillede.' In þe alde lawe, ;n many stedis, Gode takis to bis
chosen̛ thiese thre. `Serue me,' he sayse, `wele, & I saƚƚ
gyffe ȝowe plente of whete and wyne & oyle.' Plente of whete es,
hertly to thynke one þe croyce, and euer haffe þe
passyon̛ of Ihesu Crist hertly in mynde. This es
Meditacion̛. Plente of wyne, þat es þe weƚƚe of
teres; wele for to wepe, this es Deuocion̛. Plente of oyle,
þat es, for to hafe delyte and sauoyre in God; and this es
comforthe, for þe oyle gyffes odoure to metis, and lyghtes in
þe kyrke, and byrnys in þe lampe. Also when̛ Goddis
seruandes hase depely thoghte with schire herte on Gode, & on his
werkes, with lufe-longynge to þam̛, þan̛ hase
God pete of þam̛, and sendis þam petance of comforthe
and of gastely Ioye; and this gyffes hym at þe begynnyng
Meditacion̛, and þis es þe whete þat God
hyghttes vs, and deuocyone þat mea consayues in
medytacyon̛. Than sendis God sone after þe wyne, þat
es, plente of teris ; and after, þe wyne of swete teris; than
sendys he þe oyle of consolacion̛, þat gyffes
þam̛ Sauour, & lyghtnes his knaweliggynge, and schewes to
þam of his heuenly priuatyse, þat es hide fro
þam̛ þat folowes fleschely desyris, and gyffes
þam̛ selfe aƚƚe to þe wysedome of þe
worlde and his fantesyse, and so enflawmes þam with þe
blysse of his lufe þat þay taste somedelle, & fele how
swete he es, how gud he es, how luffande he es-bot noghte aƚƚe
fully. I wote wele þat none may fele it fully, bot if his herte
sulde bryste for lykynge of Ioye. Sayne Austyne telles of a preste
þat, when̛ he herde any thynge of God þat lykynge
ware In̛, he weld be so raueschede in Ioye þat be walde
faƚƚ downe, and lygge als he ware dede. And also in þat
tyme, if mea layde byrnande fyre to his flesche nakide, he felid it
no more þan dose a dede corse. Sayne Bernarde spekes of
þe wordis of Iob, þer he sayse Abscondit lucem in manibus,
þat es at say, `God hase lyghte hyde in his handis.' þou
wote wele, he þat hase a candiƚƚ lyghte by-twene his
handis, he may hyde it & schewe it at his owenn̛ wiƚƚ. So
dose oure Lorde to his chosen̛ When̛ he wiƚƚ, he opynis
his handes, and lyghtenes þam with
heuenly gladnes; and when̛ he wiƚƚ, be closis his handis,
and withdrawes þe lykynge & þe comforthe fro
þam̛. He wiƚƚc noghte þat þay fele it
fully aye, Bot here be gyffes þam̛ as for to taste & sauour
somedele how swete he es, how gud he es: als Dauid sayse, Gustate &
videte quam suauis est Dominus, als ;f God sayd to vs, `be þ;s
comforthe and this lykynge þat þou þis schorte
tym̛ hase of me, þou may taste & fele how swete, how gude I
ame to my cbosyn̛ ;n my blysse, ;n þe werlde with-
owtten̛ ende'; and þus he dose, for to drawe vs fro worldly
besynes, and þe lykynge þer-of, and for to enflawme oure
hertes with lufe-ȝernynges, For to wyn̛ and to hafe þe
lykynge of þat Ioye, aƚƚe at þe fuƚƚ in body and
saule, with hym for to be euer more with-owtten̛ ende.
A dameselle wyse & wele taghte, þat men̛ calles Gelosye,
þat es ay wakyre and besy euerylyke wele for to do, saƚƚ
kepe þe orloge, and saƚƚ wakkyn̛ þe oþer
ladyse, & make þam̛ arely to ryse, and go þe
wyllylyere to þaire seruysse. Þer es orloges in towne
þat wakyns men̛ to ryse to bodily trauayle, & þat es
þe seke; and þer es orloges in þe cete þat
wakynnes þe marchauntes to wende a-bowte þaire
marchandyce, þat es þe wynde þat blawes daye. And
þer es orloges in religion̛ of contemplacion̛. And
this es of this holy relegyon̛ þat es fundede ofþe
Haly Gaste, and þis es Ielosy; and tℏis es sauoyre of
perfeccion̛. & ofte it falles in relegion̛, be-fore
þat þe Orloge falles or any belles rynges, Goddes gostely
seruandes are lange wakenede before, and hase wepede by-fore God, and
hase waschen̛ þam̛ with þaire teris, and
þaire spyrit hase vesete with deuote prayers and gastely
comforthe. And why rose þay so arely & so tymly ? Witterly for
þe orloge of lufe; and damesele Ielosye had wakened
þam̛ be-fore þe tyme þat þe handmayde
orloge feƚƚe. A, dere breþir and syster! sely ar tho
sawles þat þe lufe of God, and longyng tiƚƚ hym,
wakyns, and slomers noghte, no slepis noghte, in þe slowthe of
fleschly lustes. For-thi be sayse in Canticis, Ecce dormio, et cor
meum vigilatvigelat, þat es at saye, `when I slepe bodily, my flesche
for
to cse & ryste, my herte es ay wakyre in gelosy and in lufe-
ȝernynge to Gode.' That saule þat þus wakes to God,
me thynke hole conscyence þat werldly men̛ thynke, and
þat es this, Jeo ay le quer a leche, rauayle' par amours,
þat es at saye, `Myn̛ herte es styrte fro me, wakened with
lufe.' Wbate es this þat mase þe herte fro þe
flesche to wake, and for þat es it, as it were, fremde to hym?
Wittirly Ieloussye with lufe, teres, & murnynge, with lufe-longynge
consayuede in deuote vprysynge of herte.
When this Abbaye was alle wele ordaynede, and Goddes wiƚƚ
seruede in ryste, & in lykynge, & in pese of saule, than come a
tyrante of þe lande thorowe his powere, and did in this holy
Abbaye Foure doghtyrs þat he hade þat were lothely & of
euyƚƚ maners, þat þe fende was fadyr of thiese
doghtyrs. Þe firste þer-of, þis foule barne-tyme,
highte Envye; the toþer highte Pride; the thirde highte
Gruchynge; the ferthe highte False Demynge of oþer. Thiese
foure doghetirs þan base þe tyraunt, þe deueƚƚ
of helle, for euyƚƚ wiƚƚ & malese, done in this holy Abbaye;
and þay, with þaire foule vnclennes, þe couent hase
greuede and harmede, so þat þay no riste ne no pete may
hafe, nyghte nor daye, nor lykynge in saule. And when þe gud
lady Charite saw this (þat was Abbas), and the lady Wysedome
(þat was prioresse), and þe lady Mekenes, supprioresse,
and þe toþer gude ladyse of this holy Abbaye, that the
holy Abbaye was in poynte for to worthe to noghte thorowe þe
wykkydnes of thir foure, Than range [þay] þe chapetour
belle, and gedirde þam alle to-gedir, and asked concele whate
was beste to do. A11d than lady Dyscrecyon̛ þam̛
concelde þat þay solde alle falle in prayere to þe
Holy Goste, þat of this Abbay es vesetour, þat he haste
hym for to come, as þay grete myster hade, þare for to
helpe and vesete with his grace. And þay aƚƚ, at hire
consaile, with grete deuocyon̛ of herte vnto hym, sange alle with
a swete steuen̛, Veni, creator sriritus! And also sone þe
Holy Goste come at þaire desyrynge, and þam com- forthede
with his grace, and chasede owte þe fowle wyghtes, þose
lothely fendis doghetirs, and clenesede þe Abbaye of all
þe fylthe, and ordayned it, and restorede better þan̛
it was by-fore. Now I pray ȝow aƚƚ in charite of God,
þat aƚƚ þa þat of this relegion̛ redis or
heris, þat þay be bouxome with aƚƚ þaire
myghte, and suffire þat þe gud ladys be-fore namede do
þaire offece ilke daye gastely with-in þaire hertes. And
luke ylkone wysely þat he ne do no trispase agayne þe
rewle ne þe obedyence of þis relegion̛, and of
þase lufe-frayners. And if thorow vnhape faƚƚe þat
any of thiese foure fendis doghetirs seke one any wyse any Ingate for
to hafe with-in ȝoure hertes for to dueƚƚe, or Ingate hase
wonne, and with ȝow duellis, do so, after þe conceƚƚe
of þe lady Discrescion̛, and gyffe ȝow to
deuocion̛ with hertly prayers, in hope of Goddes helpe and of his
socoure, and ȝe saƚƚ be delyuerde thurgh þe mercy of
oure Lord Ihesu Criste there. Blyssede mot he he with-owtten̛
ende! Amen̛
Explicit Relegio Sancti Spiritus. Amen̛.