Religious Pieces in Prose and Verse / edited ... by George G. Perry

II. THE MIRROR OF SAINT EDMUND.

[leaf 197]

¶ Incipit Speculum Sancti Edmundi Cantuarensis Archipiscopi in Anglicis.

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 [leaf 197 bk.] 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 [leaf 198] 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 [leaf 198 bk.] oþer gudes, and say one þis manere, `My 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 [leaf 199] 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. [leaf 199 bk.] 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 [leaf 200] 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. [leaf 200 bk.] 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, [leaf 201] 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, [leaf 201 bk.] 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.

[leaf 202]

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. 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. [leaf 202 bk.] 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 [leaf 203] 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 [leaf 203 bk.] 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. [leaf 204] 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 retribuit 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 [leaf 204 bk.] 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 [leaf 205] 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 [leaf 205 bk.] 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 [leaf 206] 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, [leaf 206 bk.] 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, [leaf 207] 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, [leaf 207 bk.] 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 [leaf 208] 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 [leaf 208 bk.] 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, [leaf 209] 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. [leaf 209 bk.] 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!

Explicit speculum sancti Edmundi Cantuarensis Archiepiscopi. Dulce nomen Domini nostri Ihesu Christi: sit benedictum in secula seculorum! Amen̛ !

Notes

• Verbis understood.
• 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.
• The description of the virtue of Prudence is here given to Righteousness or Justice, the account of which is omitted.