Companion to the English prose works of Richard Rolle : a selection / from the edition by Carl Horstman.

The Privity of the Passion: Bonaventura de mysteriis passionis Iesu Christi.

[folio 179]

In Nomine Patris et Filii et Speritus Sancti Amen. Here begynnes the Previte off the Passioune of owre lorde Ihesu.

Who so desyres to ffynd comforthe and gostely gladnes in þe Passione and in þe croysse of owre lorde Ihesu, hym nedis with a besy thoghte ffor to duell in it and all oþer besynes forgette and sett at noghte: and sothely I trowe fully þat who so wolde besy hyme with all his herte and all his mynde and vmbethynke hym of this gloryus Passione and all the circumstance thare-off, It sulde bryng hym and chaunge hyme In to a new state of lyfynge. For he þat incerches it with depe thoghte and with all hys hert lastandly, he sall fynde full many thynges thare-In styrande hym to newe compassione, newe luffe, newe gostely comforthe, and so sall he be broghte in to a newe gostely swettnesse. [To gete þis state] þat I speke of, I trowe þat a mane behoued to rayse vp all þe scharpenes of his mynde & opyne whyde the Inere eghe of his soule In to be-holdynge of þis b[l]esside passione, and forgett & caste be-hynd hyme for þe tyme all oþer Ocupacyouns & besynes; and that he make hym-selfe present in his thoghte as if he sawe fully with his bodyly eghe all the thyngys þat be-fell abowte þe crosse and þe glorious passione of oure lorde Ihesu; and þat noghte schortly & passandly, bot lufandly, besely, habundandly, & lastandly; noghte sturdandly, ne with dullnes & hevines of sperit. Þof euery man aughte with grett reuerance & sadnes to thynk one all þe leuynge & dedys of oure lorde Ihesu þat he wroghte in erthe for man-kynde, neuer-þe-lesse mekyll more besyly, with mekill sadnes & deuocyone, awe hym to sett all his herte & all his myghte abowte þis glorious passione: ffor here-In he schewes moste lufe & charite to vs, þe wilke aughte to bryne all oure hertes in lufe to hym. And ther-for sett thy-selfe, þat es þi mynde, þer-to all holly: and be-holde noghte onely þe payne & crucyfyenge of thy lorde Ihesu whene he was done one the rode in þe oure of vndrone, bot also fro begynnyng of his blisside passione, that es full of matere of pete & compassione. How mekill compassione, I pray þe, es it to be-holde & thynke how owre lorde Ihesu, þat es bothe verray gode and mane, fro þe oure of his takinge at þe euene, to hye vndrone of þe morne when he was don¯ on þe rode, was in contenuell batell, and hugge sorowe, and bittire reprevynges, In many skornnynges and vnresonabyll turmentes, with-owttyne any ryste or cessyng? Ihesu, mercy, amen.

Begynne nowe thy meditacyone at the be-gynnynge of Cristes passyone and pursue it feruently to þe laste Ende: of the wilke I sall towche to þe a littill: bot thow may vse theme more largelye, after god gyffes þe grace. Be-holde nowe besylye to euery poynte as if þou were there bodyly: and be-holde hym graythely as he rase vpe fro his super, whene he had Endide his Sermone, with his disciples, and ȝede with theme in to a ȝerde where he was ofte wounte to

goo with theme. Goo thow amange theme, & be-holde how lufandly, how felandly he gose with theme and spekes, & steres theme to praye. Be-holde also how he hym-selfe gose fro theme a caste of a stone, and mekely and reuerently he knelyde downn, prayand to his ffadir. Abyde now a littill and see þe wondirs of thy lorde god. / Now thi lorde Ihesu prayes. We rede that he ofte-tyms prayede, bot than he prayede for vs as oure advocate: bot now he prayes [for] hym-selfe. Haue therfore pete & compassyone, and wondire of þe vnmesurabill meknesse of hym. For of-all it be sothe þat he be bothe gode and man, euene to þe fadir of heuene, neuer-þe-lesse he forgettes as it were his godhede, and prayes mekly as a man; he stode as a noþire synnere, prayand to þe ffadire. / Be-holde also in hym moste perfite obedience. What prayede thy lorde Ihesu? sothely he prayede his ffadire þat he sulde delyuer hym fro þe bittire houre of dede, he couetyd noghte to dye, if it were plesyng to þe ffadire of heuene; and neuer-þe-lesse his aughene fadire wolde noghte here hym. This I saye aftire some will þat was in Criste. For þou sall vndirstande þat þere were many and dyuerse willis in hym, as doctours say: there was In hym þe will of þe fflesche and þat wolde one no manere suffyre dede; ther was also In hym þe will of sensualite and þat gruchede and was afferde to suffire dede; ther was also in hym þe will of þe resoune and þat was Obedyent & consentande to dye; thare was also in hym þe will of þe godhede & þat commandedyd and ordaynede hym to dye. And here sall þou haue pete & compassione, ffor his ffadire will owtterly that he dye for oure gilte, and of-all he be his awghene begetyne sone, ȝitt will he not spare hym bot gyffes hyme to þe dede for vs. For þe ffadire of heuene louede so mekill mankynde, þat was loste thurghe synne, þat for redempcione of mans sawle he putt his aughne sone to þe dede. And thene oure lorde Ihesus takes mekly þis obedience, and fulfillis it mekly and reuerently. / Here may thow now see þe vnspekeabill & þe vnmesurabill charite, bothe of þe ffadire and of þe sone. There-fore ȝeld we agayne pete, compassione, & all manere luffe & wirchyppe. / Owre lorde Ihesu prayede his fadire a longe while, and said: «My moste mercyfull fadire, I be-seke the that þou here my prayere, & despise not my prayere. Take hede to me, dere ffadire, & here me: for I am heuyde in my trauayle, and my spyrite es greued in me, and my herte es troublede in my-selfe: and therefore bowe downne thyne ere to me, & here þe voyce of my besekynge. It was likynge to ȝow, ffadire, for to sende me in to þis werlde, þat I sulde make asethe for mans trespas þat he did to vs: and as sone as þou said thus, I said ,I go', and as it es wretyne in þe spalme of me þat I sulde full-fill thy will, my gode, so wold I. Þi sothefastenes I haue schewed to þe werlde, I haue bene pore & in manye trauelles fro myn ȝouthede, & I haue fulfillide all thi will and done all thynges þat þou has bedyn me do. And also what thynge þat es ȝit for to do I am redy to full-fill it. Neuer-þe-lesse, gud fadir, if it be plesande to þe, take fro me þis bitter passione þat myne enemyse ordeyne for me. Thow sees wele, my dere fadir, howe grete ill þey ymagyne agayne me, & how grete falsenes þey put appone me, and all þeire concell es to do me to dede. Bot, holy ffadir, þou knawes wele þat I dide neuer none of thire thynges þat þey put one me, and þat þar es no wykkednes in my handes, bot I haue euer done þat was ple-

sand to þe: and þay do me ill agayne gude, & hatredene for grett lufe þat I schewede to þem; and my disciple þai haue corupte to be þeire ledare to lose me, and haue boghte me for thrytty plates. And there-fore I pray þe, dere fadire, þat thow take awaye fro me this bitter passione. Neuer-þe-lesse if it be othir-wyese plesande to þe, thy will be full-fillide. Rise vpe nowe, ffadire, I pray þe, and helpe me: for certes, þofe-all they know me noghte for þi sone, noghte-for-thy for alls mekill as I haue lyfede amonge theme with-owttyn¯ any trispas or gilte, and for many gude dedys þat I hafe done to them, þem aughte noghte to be so fell & crewell agaynes me. Bot I pray the, ffadir, be noghte ferre fro me: for why my tribulacione es nere, and þer es none þat will helpe me.» Whene owre lorde Ihesu had þus prayede, he come agayne to his disciples, & fonde þem slepande. Bot he waked theme, & bade þeme wake & praye, þat þey fall noghte in to temptacione, and comforthede þem. & went agayne fro þem as it were þe caste of a stone, & mad the seconde prayere; & þe thride tyme the same Orysone; and saide: «Rightewyse fadire, sen þou owtterly ordeyned þat I sall suffire ded one þe crosse for mans saule, thy will be done. Bot I recomand to ȝowe my dere modir, & my disciples, þe whilke I haue kept to þis tyme whills I haue bene with theme: Bot holy fadir, kepe þeme now fro all ill». / Beholde in tyme of þis prayere how his precyous blode rane downe fro his blesside body as watire habundandly in to þe grownde ffor gret angwysse & drede þat he hade of his bitter dede, and be-holde now here besyly in howe grett angwysse & trybulacyone þi lorde Ihesu whas sett in þis houre. And be-holde also how he prayed thrys, or he had any answere; and there-for suffire thowe paciently all-þoff þou be noghte herde one-one. / And whene oure lorde hade þus prayede, and was þus in þis grett angwysse: the angell seynte Michaell, a prynce of þe heuennly courte, apperide to hym comforthande hym & sayande thus: «Hayle, my lorde Ihesu. ȝour meke prayeng & ȝour blody swetynge I haue offerde to ȝour ffadir in þe syghte of all heuenly courte, and we all fell doune one knese prayande hym to take awaye fro ȝowe þis harde passione. And ȝoure ffadir ansuerde & said: ,My dere sone Ihesu knawes wele þat þe rawnssone & saluacione of manes saule, þat we all desyre so gretly, may not be done & made withowttyne scheddynge of his blyssede blode: and þare-for, if it so be þat he will þat mans saule be safe, hym be-houes to dy for it'». Then answ[e]rde oure lorde Ihesu to þe angell: «The hele of mans saule all-gatt I couette, & þere-for I seche rathere to dye þat mans saule myghte be safe, þan nott to dye if mans saule solde be loste: and þerfore þe wyll of my ffadir be fullfillede». Þen said þe angell to hym: «Be ȝe þer-for of gude comforthe & suffirs manly: for sone sall passe ȝoure disesse & payne, & ȝe sall aftir haf Ioye and Endles blise. For ȝoure fadir es euer with ȝowe, and he [sal] kepe ȝour modir & all ȝour disciplys». And than owre lorde Ihesu, mekely and reu[er]ently receyuede þis comforthyng of þe angell, knowyng how thurghe takynge of owre dedlynes he was made lesse þen angell whilles he was in this vale of teres; and ryghte as he was ferde and heuy as mane, righte [so] was he comforthede of þe angell wordes as mane, prayand þe angell to recomande hym to his fadir and to all þe heuenly courte. And so þe angell toke his leue and went his waye agayne to heuene. / Þene owre lorde

Ihesu rose vpe þe thryde tyme fro his prayere, all wete with blody swete. Beholde hym nowe besyly how he wypis his visage, or ells wesches in þe [fonte] of Cedrone, all full of angwysche and woo, and haue thowe grete pete of hyme & compassione, for he myghte noghte haue grett & swett blode so largely with-owttyne grett bitternesse of sorowe & angwysche. / Be-holde & see now besyli all þe doynges and disesse of þi lord Ihesu, how he come to his disciplys & bad them slepe & take theire ryste: and he wakede & watchede as a gude hirdeman ouer hys floke. A full gret lufe of oure lorde! sothely he [lufed] all his [to] þe laste Ende of his lyfe, whene hym-selfe was sett in so grett angre & ȝit he es besy abowte þeire ryste. Then [saw] he his Enemys come fro ferre with force and armes, with lanternes & staues, to take hym, and ȝitt he wolde noghte wakkene his disciplis bot sufferde þeme slepe, to his Enemyse were nere at hym. Þene wakkende he þeme & bade þeme ryse: «ffor he þat has be-trayede me es now commene». And þan come Iudas & kyssede Ihesu. For it was þe manere of oure lorde þat whene he sent his disciples in any place, for to kysse þeme at þe comyng-agayne: and þer-for Iudas gafe þe Iewes þat takene þat whame so he kyssede, hym sulde þey take and holde. Bot Iudas come be-fore, as who say: «I am not with þise armede mene nor of theire knowyng; bot I kysse þe & say haile mayster». Be-holde here nowe oure lorde Ihesu and se how paciently and how benyngly he resayuede þe haylsyng & the kyssynge of þe traytoure; and how he suffirde hym-selfe to be takene & betyne & dispoyllede, be ledde as a theeffe or as a mysdoere þat no powere hade to helpe hym-selfe; ffor he hade more pete & compassione of his disciples þat flede awaye for ferde, þene he hade of hym-selfe. Be-holde now wele how he es led forthe of þe wykked Iewes towarde Ierusalem agayne þe hill hastyly, with grett payne, & his handes boune be-hynd hyme, boystously gyrdide in his kirtill all one, bare-heuede, & bowande downe-warde þe bake for werynesse & gret hastynesse. / When he was presentede be-for Cayphas and oþer prynces & prestes of þe lawe, þay made myrthe and Ioy as dose a lyone whene he has getyne his pray. They lede hym in to þeire chapetere-hous & examende hym straytly; þey procurede false wittnesse agayne hym; þey dampnede hym, despysede hym & spytte in his faire face, they hillide his enghne & bobbyd hym, and with many dispysynges and repreuynges þey trauelde hym hougely: and all he suffirde pacyently with-owttene growchynge. And here be-holde hym wele & haue thow compassione of hym. / At the laste whene þey were wery for tourmentynge of hym, they put hym in a presone, [& bonde hym to a peler] of stone, & lefte with hym armede mene to kepe hym sekerly þat he sulde noghte passe away; [þat] all þe nyghte myssaide, repreuy[n]ge hyme one þis manere: «Thow wenede þou had bene wysere þene oure prynceȝ: it was grette foly! þe aughte noghte ones to opyne þi mouthe agayne theme: how durste þou be so hardy? Bot now schewes wele þi foly, now standes þou as þou has diseruede. Þou erte worthy to be dede, and with-owttyne dowte so þou sall, be seker þerof». And thus they trauelde hym all þat nyghte now one now an oþer. Be-holde now þi lorde gode how mekly he stode & paciently sufferand all þat þat þey dide, & ansuers noghte bot stode styll with-owttene any excusynge, & [as] he had bene gilty mekly enclynande his eghne downewarde: and haue here grete compassione of hym. A,

lorde Ihesu, in to whas handes ware ȝe takyne, & how gret was ȝoure pacience! / And þus stode he all þe nyghte bownd to a peler, to þe morne. In this tym saynt Iohn¯ wente to oure lady & to hir felawghes, þer þey were to-gedyre in Marye Maudeleyne house, & tolde þeme all þat was done to þeire lorde Ihesu & to [his] disciplis. Þen was þere vnspekabill sorowes, wepynges & cryengeȝ, and wryngynge of hondeȝ, & murnyngeȝ with-owttyne mesure. Be-holde þeme with grete compassione, ffor þei are sette in grete angwisse & in full mekill sorowe for þeire lofly lorde Ihesu, ffor they knewe wele þat he sulde be dede. Then owre lady turnede hire to þe walle, prayande þe ffadire of heuene for hir sone Ihesu, and saide: «Wirchipfull fadir of heuene, ffadir of mercy & of pete, I comend in to ȝoure handeȝ & ȝour kepynge my moste dere sonne Ihesu, and I beseke ȝow þat ȝe be noghte cruelle to hym, for ȝe are to all othire benynge & mercyfull. O endles fadire, whedire Ihesu my dere sone sall nowe be dede? Sothely he did neuer ill to be dede fore. Bot, rygtwhise fadyr of heuene, sene ȝe will the redempcyone of manes saulle, I be-seke ȝowe lorde, þat ȝe wolde ordeyne it one anoþer manere than this: ffor all thyng es possibill to ȝowe. I pray ȝow, holy ffadire, if it be likynge to ȝowe, þat my dere sone Ihesu be nott don to dede, bot delyuer ȝe hym fro dede & ffro þe handes of synners, and gyfe me hym agayne. For he for obedience & reuerence of ȝowe helpes nott hym-selfe, bot forsakes hym-selfe witterly, as mane þat myght noþer helpe hyme-selfe ne cowthe. Þere-fore I pray ȝowe, if it plese ȝowe, þat ȝe wolde helpe hyme». Þus prayede owre ladye for hire dere sone with all þe affectioune and will of hire herte, & with grett bitternesse and sorowe. And þerfore haue now pete and compassione of hire, þat was in þat grete trebulacione for hir dere sone Ihesu.

Ad primam.

Arely at morne come agayne þe prynces and þe grette of þe Iewes & toke hyme owte of presone, & bounde his handeȝ by-hynde hym, and repreuede hyme & bade hym, «Come forthe, thefe, come forthe to thy dome, ffor this daye sall we make an ende of thy wykkednes, and nowe sall it be sene what all thy wissedom profeteȝ þe & serues of». And þus despetously þei lede hym forthe be-fore Pylate; and he folowede þeme as one Innocente lambe þat were lede to sacrafice. Whene his modire and seyn Iohne & þeire felawes come tȳmly at morne to see Ihesu, þey mett hym in þe waye, and when þey sawe hym so vnlawefully and so dispetousely lede with so grette multitude, þare myghte no tonge telle þe wo, þe sorowe, þat þey hade ffor hym. In þis metynge to-gedire, was gret sorowe one bothe þe partyese, ffor owre lorde Ihesu hade gret sorowe for compassione þat he hade of all his, & pryncipally to his dere modire, ffor he knewe wele þat hire sorowe was vnspekabill as towchynge hyme. Be-holde þerfore besyly to euery poynte, fore þey are full of sorowe & bytter compassione. / Thus þey lede hym furthe to Pilate; and þeise womene þat lofed hyme so tendirly þey come all o fferre, for they myghte noghte com nere hyme for thronge of þe Iewes. Than the Iewes accusede hym in many poyntes, and Pilate sent hym to Herode. And Herode was fayne of hyme, be-cause þat he couet o longe tyme to se hyme wirke some wondirs; bot he ne myghte gete no meracle, nor worde, of hyme. And þare-for Herode helde hym for a fole, & in diresyoune & skorne he cloþede

hyme in whytte as a fole & sent hyme agayne to Pilate: and þen fro þat tyme forwarde þey helde hyme nott onely a mysedoere, bot also a fole. Bot he sufferde all þis full paciently withowttyne any gruchynge. Be-holde now here, thow that wilde be goddes luffere, how [when] he es lede to-warde and frowarde, how schamefully & how mekely he gose, his face Enclynede to þe erthewarde, and herande with grett styllnes of herte þeire crynges [and] þeire repreuyngeȝ, & [suffrand] þeire betynges and all manere vnclennes. Be-holde also how his modire and all his frendes stand all o ferre lokande, & folowande þeme, with mekyll murnyng & hertly sorowe. / Whene þey hade broghte hyme agayne to Pilate, þis fell pepyll, þey accusede hym felly vncesynge: Bot whene Pylate couthe fynde no cause of dede, he wolde haue delyuerede hyme, & said to þeme: «I sall chastye hyme and late hym goo». Then Pilate comandede theyme þat he sulde be betyne & schorugede. / Thene þey dispoylede owre lorde dispitousely with-owttene any pete & made hym nakyde, & bande hys handis by-hynde hyme and feste hym till a pelere; & bett hym withe scharpe knotty schourges, a longe whyle. And as some doctours says, one euery knott was a scharpe hok of Iryne, þat with euery stroke þey rofe his tendyr flesche. He stode naked be-fore theme a faire ȝonge mane schamefull in schapp, and speciouse in bewte passande all erthely mene: he sufferde þis harde paynefull betyng of thes wikkede mene in his tendireste flesche & clenneste. Floure of all flesche and of all man kynde es nowe full of blo betynges & blody brystynngeȝ; one euery syde stremys downe þe kynges blode of heuene fro euery parte of his blyssed body. He es betyne and betyne agayne, blester appone blester, and wonde appone wonde, to bothe þe beters & þe [be)-holders were wery, & þene þei vn-bonde hyme. Be-holde hym here mekly & habondandly, and if þou can haue here no compassione of þi lorde Ihesu, wete þou wele þi herte es hardere þane þe stone. Than was fullfillede þe profecy of Ysaye the prophete, sayand thus: «We be-helde hym all owt-caste and vileste of all mene, & þer was in hym noþer fairenes nor bewte, bot he was lyke a leprouse mane, smetyne & cast downe fro gode». A, dere Ihesu, what whas he þat was so hardy to dispoyle & nakyn þe? And how were þey wele wers hardy þat durste bynde þe so faste? Bot sothely, most wikkedly were þey hardy þat du[r]ste so bett the! Bot sothely þou sone of ryghtwisenes, þou with-drewe þi bryghte beme, & þerfore was myrknes ouere all þe werlde. A, lorde Ihesu, what made the to suffire all þis hard penance, tourmenteȝ and payneȝ? Sothely thynne vnmesurabyll luffe þat þou hade to vs, and owre grette wikkednes þat myghte not be weschene awaye bot with þe precyouse licoure of þi precyouse blode. A, lord Ihesu, weryede be þat gret wykkednes þat was þe cause þat þou was so felly tourmente! / When [they lesid hym fro þe pelere, he ȝode abowte sekande hys clothes þat ware castene here & there where he was firste nakede. Be-holde hym here besyly thus betyne & all tremlynge for colde: for, as þe gospell sais, þe wedire was colde. Bot whene he sulde haue clede hym agayne with hys aughene clothes, þey wolde noght suffire hym; bot lede hym furthe all nakede be-fore Pilate & said to hym: «Sir, this traytoure mad hym-selfe a kynge: and þerfore be-houes vs cloþe hym one kynges manere, & corowne hyme». Then they toke ane olde rede mantill, foule & myschapene, & cloþed hym þerwith,

& toke a garlande of scharpe thornnes in stede of a corowne & threste one his hede, & toke hym a septur in his hande, all for scorne. Be-holde þow now besyli, & haue þou pete of, his gret paynes, & ȝitt did he all þat þey bade hym, & suffers all þat þey do to hym: he toke þe rede clothe, he bare þe croune of thorne one hys heuede, & toke þe septer in his hande; & þey knelyd be-fore hym & scornede hym & calde hym kynge, & all [he] sufferde & spake righte noghte agayne. Be-holde hym nowe with compassione & tendirnes of herte hou his heued was thurghe-prikkede with scha[r]pe thornes thurghe his [blesside brayne, and ofte-tyme þey smote hyme with þe septure one þe heuede fore scorne & dispite; and beholde his blyssede face all rynnande with rede blode. A ȝee ouere-donne blynde wreches! how dredfull & ferdfull sall þat wirchipfull kynges heuede apere agayne in his ryghtwyse dome, þat ȝe smote so felly and dispetousely! [Þey] scornede hyme & dispysede hyme as he wolde haue bene a kynge & myghte nott; and all he sufferde pacyently as [he] hade bene þeire allere seruande. And ȝitte theme thoghte not þis ynoghe: bot for more scorne & repreue þey gedyrde to-gedire all þe multitude of Iewes, & broghte hym furthe be-fore þeme thus scorne[d], weryng þe croune of thorne, and lede hym be-fore Pilate. Be-holde now tendirly how he stode all aschamede, mekly bowynge his heuede, be-fore so grete a multitude of folke roreynge and cryenge «do hym one þe crosse», scornenynge [hym] as he hade bene a fole, and as all had bene bot foly þat he hade spokene be-fore to þe prynces & þe pharysens & þerfore þey dighte hym thus and broghte hym to þis plighte; and so nott allonely he sufferde of theme [sorwe] and bodyly payne, bot also many repreuynges & dispites.

The meditacione of vndrone.

Þen all þe multitude of Iewes come cryeng with gret voyce þat he solde be crucifiede, and þus was he dampnede with-owttyne gylt of þat cursede domesmane Pilate. They hade for-getyne all his benefeteȝ þat he hade donne to þeme, nor they are noghte styrede to pete þof-all he be bot ane Innocent & clene of lyfyng; ne þey will not lett for all þe paynes & turmenteȝ þat þey haue done to hyme be-fore; bot they make Ioye & myrthe þat þeire malicious Entente & þeire wikkede will es fulfillede. Þey scorned hym & hastede hym to his dede. / Then they broghte hym [in] agayne, & nakynd hym of his purpure; & he stode nakede amonge theme, & soghte his aughene clothes þat were throwene abowte, & clede hym with gret schame before þeme all, þat scornned hym as he had bene vileste of all men & forsakene of god. Be-holde here and wondire of his grete mekenes and pacience, and conforme þe þere-to and folowe as mekill as þou may. / When they had clothed hym, þey led hym forthe with gret haste to his dede, and laid one his bake, þat was so sore & all full of wondes, the hevy crosse: and he as a meke lambe paciently toke it and bare it forthe with mekill penance and angwisse; and þey led hym forthe be-twix two thefes, and þat was his felaschipe! O god Ihesu, how mekyll schame & velany did they to [ȝow] the cursede Iewes, þat mad þe kyng of trewe[t]he felawe to theues! & more schame [ȝe] hade & more reprefe þen þe thefes: ffor they did ȝowe bere ȝoure owne crosse, & þat rede we nott of þe thefes. / Be-holde hym here with gret pete & compassione, how

he wente stowpande with þat gret hevy byrdene þat he bare, þat was þe crosse. Bot for as mekill as his sorowfull modire myghte nott com to hym for gret thronge of pepull, scho wente be anoþer waye nerehand & schortere, with seynt Iohn¯ & hir felawes, & mett hire sone comyng owt of þe cete. And whene cho sawe hir childe þus chargede with þis hevy birdene, & he runne al ouere with blode, cho fell in swunynge and nerehand was dede for sorowe; [n]or cho myghte nott speke to hym a worde, nor he to hire, so was he hastede to his dede ... / And whene he hade borne þat hevy crosse a gret while, so þat for werynes & þe sore wondes & sorenes he myghte no lenger bere it, he laid it downe: and for they wold not tarye his dede fore ferdenes of changyng of Pilates sentence— for he lete be-fore as he wolde hafe delyeuerde hyme: þey made one take þe crosse & bere it forthe, & lede Ihesu, bound as a thefe, to þe mounte of Calueri. / Thynke þe nott þat all þis þat he suferde in þe owre of matyns, prime, & vndrone, with-owttyne any more doynge one þe crosse had bene sorowe & payne Inoghe, bitternes, sorowe & angwyse to h[e]re? Certes, I trowe ȝis, & mekill sterynge to petouse compassione, ȝa & bryngynge in to tendir and loueande hertes gret matere of pacience. And thus we haue saide in this partie what be-fell in þire thre howres.

The Meditacione of Middaye.

Þere-fore whene oure lorde Ihesu whas thus velansly broghte to þat stynkande place of Caluarye, thow may be-holde wykked werkes one ilke a syde. Be-holde theme þat stande beside, and with thi gostely eghe be-holde how some makes þe crosse redy, some ordeynede þe nayles and some þe hamers, oþer some bryng forthe ledders and oþer Instrumentes þat þey hade ordeynede to do hyme one the rode wyth. Thane they nakynde hym agayne be-for all þe pepill and rafe of bustously his clothes þat were drye & bakene to his blessid body all-abowte hyme in his blyssede blode, and so they drew ofe þe flesche & þe skyne with-owttyne any pete. And sekerly þis was a gret payne and a vnsufferabill, ffor there they renewede all his olde bryssynges & his drye wondes, and þe skyne þat be-fore was lefte one hym, þen was it alto-gedire rente of & cleuyde by hys clothes. O whate sorowe & woo trowestowe þat his modire hade whene cho sawe hym thus farene with? Scho had sorowe with-owttyne mesure and also gret schame, whene cho sawe hym thus stande nakede — ffor þe fals Iewes lefte nott so mekill one hyme as his preue clothes: and þerfore his sorowefull modire wente in gret haste to hir sone & halses hyme and hilles hym with the vaile of hire heuede. O lorde Ihesu, how mekill sorowe & pete was thane in hire herte! I hope cho myghte not speke to hym a worde for gret sorowe and tribulacione of sperite. Bot cho myghte no more helpe hyme nor do to hyme, bot þat cho couerde hys preue membirs. For they refte hym fro hire with gret Indignacione and Enviousely, and as wode mene they threwe hym wyde opyne one þe crosse, and strenede oute his armes with gret violence one euery side, and smote hym thrughe bothe þe handes to þe crosse with gret nayles; & whene þey hade so done, þey went to his fete: & þe holes of þe crosse were made so ferre þat his fete myghte nott reche theme be a gret thynge: and þan þay tuke rapes &

with gret violence þey drewe owte his body & his fete, to þei were mete to þe holes. And aftere þat they reysede vpe þe crosse one Ende, as many as myghte ley hande one, & lett it fall downe in to a mortase of stone, was ordeyned þerfore: and In this hevy fallynge all þe Ioyntes & cenowes of his blesside body braste in-sondire. And whene he was thus sprede o-brode one þe crosse more straite þan any parchemyne-skyne es sprede one þe harowe, so þat mene myghte tell all þe blyssede bones of his body: thane rane fro hym one euery syde stremes of blode owt of his blessede wondes. For he was sett so straytly þat he myghte nott remowe fote nor hande nor lyme of hym bot his blyssede hede; thies thre nayles bare vpe & sustente all þe weghte of hys body. He sufferde mekill payne, ȝa more þan herte may thynke or tunge tell. He hangged by-twyx two thefes as he þat hade bene fawty. One euery syde was repreues and paynes. And ȝit whene he was so hard sette, ȝitt wolde þey nott cesse of dispyssynge: Some blasfemede hym & said fy one hym þat distroyes, and oþer some saide: «Othire mene saued he, bot hym-selfe he may nott helpe. If he be goddes sone, late hym come doune of þe crosse & we sall trowe one hym»; and one many oþer wyse þey repreued hym all þe daye. Also þe knyghtes þat crucyfied hym, departede amongeȝ theme his clothes in his awene syghte. / And all þis þey did in presence of his sorowfull modir, whas sorow & compassione was gretly þe cause of encressyng of hir dere sones passione, and þe sones passione ekede þe modire sorowe; ffor oure lady hange one þe Rode with hire dere childe in soule, and rathere couett to dye with hym pene to lyfe ... Þer was also be-syd þe crosse standyng by oure lady Iohn¯ Ewangeliste, Marie Mawdelyne, & oþer two Maries oure lady systers, & all þese wepede full tenderly for oure lorde Ihesu; þey had gret compassione of oure lord Ihesu and also of his modire, & as ofte was þeire sorowe renuede as any new passione, myssayengeȝ or repr[e]ue was done to oure lorde Ihesu &c.

A meditacyone off Non¯e.

Owre Lorde Ihesu whilles he hang one þe crosse, to þe howre of his ded, he was noghte Idill, bot he taughte gret perfeccione. He spake seuene wordes, the wilke we rede in þe gospell. The fyrste was whene he prayede for theme þat did hym to dede, sayeng: «Fadir, for-gyffe theme theire trespas, for they wate nott whate they doo» ... Thise wordes were takyne of gret pacience, perfite lufe & charite, & also schewenge of Ensampill of grette myldnes & pete. / The secund worde was when he spake to his modir of saynte Iohn¯, & said: «Womane, be-holde þi sone». He called hire not modir bot womane, þat cho sulde nott for tendirnes of lufe haue more sorowe ne dissese. / The thryde worde was when he spake to þe thefe þat hange be-syde hyme one þe crosse, & said: «This daye sall þou be with me in paradyse». A, this was a kynd worde, & a swete worde, & a worde to vs of gret comforthe, whene he þat was a theefe & a mysdoere all his lyfe to þe laste houre of his dede, and thane for he forthoghte hys synne & beleuede in oure lorde Ihesu, had forgyfnes. Now, lorde, loued myght þou be! / The fferth worde was: Heloy heloy, lamaȝabatani: Þat es to saye: «My god, my gode, why hase þou forsakene [me]?» as who saye: «my fadir, þou loues so

mekill þe soule of mane þat þou hase gyffene me to be dede for it, and so semes it þat þou has fo[r]-sakene me». / The fyfte worde was: «I thryste». This was a bitter worde full of compassione bothe to his modir & to seynt Iohn¯ & to all his frendis þat louede hym tendirly, and to vnpeteuose Iewes it was comforthe & grete gladnes. For þof it were so þat hym thrystede for þe hele of manes soule, neuer-þe-les in sothefastnes hym thrystede bodily; & þat was no wondyr, for thurghe scheddynge of hys precyouse blode so habundandly, & for grete angwyse þat he sufferde withowttyne cessynge fro þe thursedaye at euene to þe ffrydaye at hey-none, he was all Inwardly drye and thristy. And whene þise vnpetouse mene vmbethoghte theme in what thynge þey myghte moste dere hyme, they tuke aysell & gall & mengede to-gedir, and gafe hym to drynke. / The sexte worde was whene he saide: «It es all done», as who say: «Fadyr, þe Obedience þat þou bad me do, I haue fullfillede it; and ȝit, if þare be any more þat ȝe will þat I do, I am redy to fulfill it» ... And thane he be-gane to langwesse as þe maner es agayne þe dede, now speryng hys eghne & now Openyng þeme, nowe bowynge his heuede downne one þe to syde and now one þe toþer, and all hys strenghes & all his myghte be-gane to faile: / & þen said he þe seuend worde, cryenge with a hye voyce & a myghty, & with teres wepynge sayeand: «Fader, I comende my sperite in to þi handes»; and thane, when he had said þis wordes, he ȝelde þe goste ... / O, dere frende, what sorowe trowes thow vmlappede the soule of his dere modyre, when cho sawe hir dere sone so paynefully fayle and dolefullye dye? I trow þat for mekill payne and angwysse scho was all slokenede in sorowe, and made as it were incencebill and as it were halfe-dede, mekill more þane thane whene cho mete hym in þe waye beryng his crosse. And what trowes thow þat Marie Maudeleyne dyde þat so mekyll loued Ihesu? what dyd sayne Iohn¯, moste bylouede of Ihesu of all his disciplys? and what trowes þou þat þe toþer two systyrs of oure lady dyd? What myghte they do? Þey where slokende and fulfillide with bitternes of sorow and made dronkene with sobbynge and sygheyng, ffor all they wepide with-owttyne mesure. / Be-holde now how thi lorde Ihesu honge dede one þe crosse for þi lufe. All þe multitude of þe folke where þene gone home, bot onely oure lady & hir systers & saynt Iohn¯; they duellide & sett theme doune be-syde þe crosse, and ofte þey lokede one þeire lufe, abydand helpe how þey myghte take hyme downe & bery hym. Now, & thow wolde wele & avesyly be-holde þi lorde Ihesu, thow may fynde þat fro þe crowne of þe heuede to þe sole of his fete þare was no hole spotte lefte one hyme; nor lym nor party of his blyschede body þat ne it was full of payne, passione, woo, angwysse, and sorowe. / Thow haste now herde me reherse here þe manere of his crucyfyenge, his passione and his bitternes, and his rewefull dede, the wilke he sufferde in þe houre of vndrone and of none, aftyr þis littill wryttynge for sterrynge of deuocyone at þis tyme: and therefor studye þou devotely, mekly, and besyly for to clefe þerto, and take Ensampill þarof as mekill as in þe es, thourghe þe helpe of þe mercy of Ihesu, and folowe aftire. And nowe I will reherse the schortely whate be-fell aftyr þat he was dede at þe houre of none &c.

¶ Also at None &c.

Aftire þe houre of none the petefull modire of Ihesu oure lady saynte Marie, saynt Iohn¯, Marie Maudeleyne, & þe two systers of oure lady, þey satt styll abyddynge, & be-holdynge with-owttyne cessynge oure lorde Ihesu so hangyng be-twixe two thefes nakede & so petousely woundede, so bitterly turment, so schamfully done to dede, and vtterly for-sakene off all mene. And as þey satte thus to-gedire, they sawe come fro þe Cete a grete companye of armede mene, that where sente fro þe prynces of þe Iewes to take þeme downe þat hange one þe crosse and bery þeme: that they solde nott hang one þe crosse one þe grette sabot-daye. Than oure lady & hir companye rose vpe & behelde theme, ffor thene begane þeire sorowe all newe & drede [&] ferdnes to begyne. Oure lady was þane full ferde and couthe noghte bot turnede hire to hir sone as he hange dede one þe Rode, and said to hym: «My dere sone, whareto come þise mene agayne? what will þey do to þe more? haue þey nott done þe to ded? My dere sone, I wend þey hade fullfillede all þeire will of the: bot, me thynke, þey will not cesse to pursue [þe] dede. My dere sone, I wate neuer whate I sall do, ffor noþer I myghte haue þe leuynge nor I may not defende þe dede. Bot I sall come and stande be-syde the crosse at thy fete, my dere sone, and I beseke thy dere fadire þat he make þeme to haue mercy one the and pete». And þan þey all fyve knelide downe to-gedire be-fore þe crosse of Ihesu, sore wepande. / Thane come þeise wikkyde Iewes: & whene þey sawe þise two thefes þat hang by oure lorde one lyfe, þey brake þeyre thees & slewe theme all-owte, & caste theme vilancely in to a dyke. And whene þey come to oure lorde Ihesu, oure lady his modire was a-drade þat þey suld do so with oure lorde: scho fell downe one hire knees, & helde vp bothe hir handes tendirly wepynge, & said: «Brethire, I pray ȝow for goddes lufe, þat ȝe do no more to my sone. I am here his sorowfull modire, & ȝe knowe wele þat I greued ȝow neuer ne trespaste agayne ȝow; and þof-all my sone semed contrarie to ȝow, ȝe haue now slayne hyme, and I will for-gyfe ȝowe þe wronge & þe trespas þat ȝe haue done, & my dere son¯s dede, so þat ȝe do mercy with me þat ȝe breke not his lymmes, þat I may lye hym hole in his graue. It nedis not þat ȝe breke his lymmes, fore ȝe see wele he es dede and passede forthe». Þen said Iohn¯ & Marie Maudeleyne & oure lady systers: «A, dere, whate doo ȝe? why do ȝe knele, swete lady of heuene? ȝe knele at þe fete of wikkede mene, and ȝe pray þeme þat no prayere will here. Wene ȝe to bow to þe mercy of creuell wikkede & prowde mene? Nay, lady, it will not be, for meknes es abhomynabill to prowde mene, and thare-fore, lady, ȝe trauell in vayne». / And þan one of þeme þat hyghte Longeus, [þat] þat tyme whas prowde and wykkede, bot aftyre he was conuertede & was a holy martire: he tuke a longe spere &, dispysande oure lady prayere, ffersely and with a fell herte he thriste oure lorde thorow-owte his swete herte, & made a greuose wonde: & one-one rane owte blode & watere. Thane ffell his modyr in swoune in Marie Maudelyne armes. Than Iohn¯ for gretnesse of sorowe tuk herte to hyme & saide: «ȝe wikkede mene, why do ȝe þus? Se ȝe not wele he es dede? Will ȝe also slee his sorowefull modyre? Gose home and late vs bery hym oure-selfe». Than, as god wolde, þey went home. And þane they comforthede oure lady & sette hir vpe; & þan askede scho þeme what þey had done to hir

sone; and þey said, no more þan cho sawe. Þan syghede scho and be-helde hir sone so dispetousely wondede. Than dyede scho neghe fore sorowe. How ofte, thynke the that oure blyssed lady sufferde payne of dede? Sothely, as ofte as scho sawe any new payne or passione done to hire sonne. And þerfore was fulfillide þe prophecy of holy Semyone, þat said þe swerde of sorowe sulde thurghe-perse hir herte. / Than sett they þeme downe by þe crosse agayne, & wiste noghte what they myghte do. For they myghte nott take downe þat body— they had no myghte þare-to. Ne awaye durste þey noghte go and leue hym one þe crosse; & þer myghte they noghte abyde long, for nyghte com one theme: and þus were þey sette in grete perplexite and dowte what theme was beste to doo. A, mercyfull Ihesu, how myghte ȝe suffere ȝour owene modire, þe whilke ȝe ches of all þe womene of þe werlde for to be myrrour and example to þe werlde & to be ȝour owene rystynge-place, to be þus pyned, trobulde, turment & disessede? It es tyme þat cho hade som riste, & ȝe wolde wyche-safe &c.

¶ At the houre of Euensonge.

Anoþer tyme þey lokede & saw come fro þe cete-warde a company. Bot it was Iosephe of Aromathy & Nycodeme, þat come with Instrumentteȝ to take downe þe blyssede body of oure lorde Ihesu Criste; and þey broghte also with þeme a hundrethe pounde of aloes & of myre. Than oure lady & hir company rose vpe with gret drede, and wend it hade bene any new schame of turmentrye. A, dere god, how gret was þeire tribulacione þat day! Than Iohn¯ loked & saide: «ȝondire comes Ioseph & Nycodeme»: and than oure lady was gretly comforthede, & thankede god þat had thoghte one þeme & sent theme helpe & socoure; & bade Iohn¯ þat he sulde goo agayne þeme & kepe þeme. And Iohn¯ in gret haste & mette þeme; & ilkone haylseste oþer with grete wepynge & murnynge—for þer myghte none speke with oþer a longe while for tendirnesse of compassione, & mekillnes of sorowe & wepynge. Than Ioseph spake and askede ware oure lady was, & who was with hire, & what all þe oþer disciplis of Ihesu did. Thene Iohn¯ tolde þeme of owre lady & of hire companye; bot of Peter & of all þe oþer discyplis he couthe nott tell, ffor he had not herde tell of þeme of all þat daye. And whene þey come nere at þe crosse, on-one þey fell downe one knees & wyrchepyd oure lorde. And þene oure lady & hyr company knelyd downe & with gret reuerence resayued þeme and wyrchipede þeme, & þey knelyd agayne. And þene said oure ladye to þeme: «ȝe do wele þat ȝe haue mynde of oure lorde & ȝour mayster, ffor he loffede ȝowe full mekill; and I tell ȝow I haue full grete comforthe of ȝour commynge, ffor we wist nott be-fore what we myghte do: & þerfore gode thanke ȝow». Than they ansuerde & saide: «We sorowe & murne with all oure hertes for all þat es done to hyme, & fayne wolde we haue helpene hyme, bot we myghte not with righte ouere-come wikkednesse; neuer-þe-les þis littill servise sall we do to oure lorde». Than rose þey vpe & mad þeme redy to take hyme downne. / Thane Iosephe sett vpe a leddere one þe ryghte syde, and drew owt þe nayle of his ryghte hande, with gret trauayle, ffor it was full faste dreuene in þe tree, and þe nayle was boystous of it-selfe; [and be-tuke it to. Iohn¯ & bade hyme þat oure ladye sulde noghte see it, ffor ferde of swounynge]. Þene

Nychodeme wente vpe one þe lefte syde & toke owte þat nayle, & be-tuke it to Iohn¯. Þene Nichodeme com doune & went to þe fete, & Ioseph bare vpe þe body of Ihesu. A, Iosephe, wele was the þat so myghte holde þe blyssede body of Ihesu! Than tuke oure lady þat o hande þat hange downwarde, with gret reuerence, & putt it till hire face, & be-helde it & kyssed it with many teres & sore syghynges. When þe nayle of þe fete was pullyd owte, Ioseph come softely doune, & þene þey all toke his blyssede body, & laide it downe one þe grownde. & our lady tuke his heuede one hyre kne, & Marie Maudeleyne his fete, where scho hade fune before-tyme ffull mekill grace; all þe toþer [stode] abowte hyme, and made mekyll mone, waymentyng & wepynge, as it hade bene þeire owune getyne childe.

¶ Att Complyne.

Aftire they hade stande lange þus wepynge a gret while, Ioseph come to oure lady and prayed hire þat scho wolde suffere them to dighte þe body and bery it. Then saide oure lady: «Nay, gud frendis, takes nott fro me my sone [so sone], bot rathere bery me with hym». Scho wepid with-owttyne comforthe, scho be-helde þe wondes of his hende & fete & syde, nowe one & nowe one oþer, scho be-helde his lufly face defoulled with spittynge & brissede blode, his heuede prikkede with scharpe thornnes: þere was þene no wepynge, no be-holdynge, no kyssynge, þat myghte fill hire ... Bot it drewe nere nyghte, & Iohn¯ prayede hire þat scho wolde voche-saue to suffere Iosephe & Nychodeme to dyghte þe body of Ihesu & graue it: «ffor þey myghte lightely, he said, if þey tariede longe, fall vndire daungere of þe Iewes». Thene scho, as wyse lady & discrete, vmbethoghte hyre how scho was be-takyne to þe kepynge of Iohn¯: scho blyssede hire sone & sufferde theme to do with hym what so þey wolde. Thene Ioseph & Nychodeme be-gane to lape hyme in sendell, as þe manere was of Iewes to be beryede. Bot oure lady held styll his heuede in hir lape, to dyght it hir-selfe; and Marie Maudeleyne his fete, and prayed theme þat scho myghte dight his fete where scho had fune mercy and grace. Thene scho tuke his fete and helde þeme, & swounnede nere for sorowe, & þe fete þat scho weschede be-fore with teres of compunncione, aftyrwardeȝ scho weschede theme wele better with teres of deuocyone & bitter compassione. Scho sawe his fete so dulfullye woundede & drye bakene in blode, þat scho wept full tendirlye; scho desyrede to dye for sorowe, bot scho ne myghte. Scho wolde fayne haue anoyntede all his body and lappede it, bot scho had no powere þerto; scho myght no more do, scho weschede his fete with teres of hir eghne, & wyped theme with hir hereȝ, scho halsede þeme & kissed þeme, lapped þeme & dyghte theme one þe beste manere þat scho couthe. Then whene all þe body was dyghte, þey lokede to oure lady þat scho sulde dyghte þe heuede, and þane begane they to wepe all newe. Oure lady sawe þat [scho] ne myghte no lengare tarye: scho kyssede hir dere sone and said to hym: «My dere sone, now holde I þe dede one my kne: A, how hard es þe departynge of þe & me! Mery & Ioyefull was oure lyfe to-gedire, withowten¯ greuance or offence of any oþer, þofe-all þou be þus ded and spilte, my dere sone, withowttene gylte. Trewly, my dere sone, serued I þe and þou me: bot in þis bataile thy fadire wold nott helpe, & I myghte not in no kynde,

and þou spylte þi-selfe for man-kynde. O dere lorde, how herde and paynefull was þat byenge! I am fayne for þe lufe of manns saule; bot for þi sorow & þi bitter ded I pynede with-owttene mesure, ffor I knewe, dere sone, þat þou neuere synned ne trespassede agayne mane & þerfore arte þou done to ded. Now, my dere sone, es oure felachipe twynnede, now be-houes me parte fro the. I thy moste sorowfull modire now sall I bery þe my dere sone; and aftyrwarde whedire sall I wende? where sall I duell? how sall I lyfe with-owttyne the? I wolde fayne be beried with the, þat where so thowe were, I myghte be with the. Bot sene I may noghte be grauene with þe in body, my soule sall I leue in graue with the; I comende it to þe. A, my dere sone, how bittire es this departynge!» & þus with a floude of teres sche weschede his vesage, mekill better þene Maudeleyne did his fete. Scho wypede his face, & kissede his mouthe and his eghne, & wonde his blyssede heuede In a sudarye, and besyly dighte it as it sulde be; at þe laste scho crossede hyme and blyssed hyme. And þene þey all rose vp & knelide be-fore hyme, honourede hym & kyssede his fete, & tuke vp his body & bare it to his graue. Owre lady helde vp his heued, & Maudeleyne his fete, & þe toþer went in-myddis berynge vp his body. For þe [graue] was not ferre fro þe [place] þat he was crucifiede [in]; in þe wilke [graue] they beriede hyme with grett reuerence kneland, gretande with many bitter teres, sadde sobbynges & sorowfull syghynges. And whene he whas thus laide in his graue, his modire blyssede hyme & halssede hyme & fell apone hire dere sone; & þene Iohn¯ & hir sisters lyftede hir, vp & couerde þe graue with a grett stone...

A meditacione [after] complyn; & oþer thyngeȝ of his beryeng.

Whene Ioseph of Aromathy had fulfillede his office, he said to oure lady: «Fore goddes sake, & for þe luffe of ȝour dere sone Ihesu my lorde & my mayster, þat ȝe wolde vochesaffe to come home to my house! I knowe wele, lady, þat ȝe haue no house of ȝoure aghene, & all þat I haue it es at ȝoure will». And Nychodeme prayede hir one þe same manere. A, lorde Ihesu, how grete compassione es this! the qwhene of heuene has nott so mekill to be herberde Ine o nyghte; and all þe sorowfull dayes of hir wedowhede hir be-houes to ly vndire oþer mens hillynge. & wele may þis be calde dayes of hir wedowede to hire: ffor hir dere sone oure lorde Ihesu was to hir bothe spouse & sone, ffadire & all oþer gude, and þerfore, whene scho forȝode hyme, scho forȝode also all oþer gude with hyme. And þerfore was scho thane in wedowede sothefastly, & had no duellynge-place to come too. Then scho Enclynede mekely to þeme, thankand þeme of þeire gud will, & said how scho was be-takyne to Iohn¯ & þare[fore] scho myghte nott do bot at Iohn¯es ordynance. And þen Iohn¯ answerde & saide þat he wolde lede hire to þe mownt Syone, where oure lorde Ihesu soupede þe nyghte before with his disciplis. Then Ioseph and Nychodeme toke þeire leue at oure lady, & wirchipede þe sepulcre, & ȝode home: and Iohn¯ & oure lady bode styll at þe graue. After, whene it begane to drawe to nyghte, Iohn¯ said to oure lady: «It es nott honeste þat we duell here ouer-longe, or þat we come to þe cete be nyghte: and þerfore, if it be lykynge to ȝowe, go we hens». Then oure lady rose vp, & þey bothe knelyd downe to-gedire at þe sepulcre

þen oure lady halsede þe sepulcre and blyssett it, & said: «My dere sone, I may no lengare duelle nowe with þe: I recomende þe to thy ffadyre». Than scho lifte vp hir eghne to þe heuene-warde & prayede to þe fadir, sayande: «Endles ffadire, I recomende to ȝowe my dere sone Ihesu, & myne aghene soule, þe wilke I lefe here with hym», & thene be-gane þey two [to go]. Whene scho come for-gayne þe crosse, scho knelide downe one hir knes & honoured þe crosse, & said: «Here dyede my dere sone & here was his preciouse blode schede», & so did all hir felawes. Here may thowe thynke þat oure lady was the fyrste body that wirchippede the crosse .... righte as scho was þe firste .. tellyng and reherseynge of þe wordes & dedis of þeire swete lorde Ihesu. / Oure lady was euer-more pesefull & quiete in sperite, ffor scho hade euermore certayne hope þat he sulde sone ryse vp agayne, and in þat saterday was all þe faythe of holy kyrke in hir alone —and þerfore es the saterday specyally wirchepde in þe honoure of owre lady. Neuer-þe-lese scho myghte nott be merye nor glade, be cause of vmbethynkynge of þe bitter dede of oure lorde Ihesu hir dere sone. / At euene, aftere þe sonne settynge, whene it was lefull to wyrke, Marie Maudeleyne, Marie Iacobi & Marie Salome, oure lady systyrs, wente to by spycery to make oynement of. Be-holde þene nowe how besyly þey wente with hevy chere in manere of wedouse, and come to a man þat was wele willy to þeire lorde & gladly & willyly fulfillede þeire desyre, & þey boghte of hym spyceryse & payede hyme þerfore; & come home & ordeynede þis onyment. Be-holde besyly þise womene how trewly & besily, how deuoutly on þe best maner þat þey cane they trauelle in theire lordes servyse, with many teris & sore sygheynges. Owre lady & þe appostilles stode all & be-helde þeme; and all þat nyghte þey abode at home.

How oure lorde went to hell: fyrste aftire his ded.

Be-holde now what owre lord Ihesu dide one þe Saterday. As sune as he was dede, he wente downe to hell to owre holy ffadyrs þat ware in lymbo to tyme of his resureccione. & þene were þey all in grete Ioye: for þe syghte of gode es perfite Ioye. Þere was also þe thefe þat oure lorde hangynge one þe crosse said thus to, «this daye sall þou be with me in paradyse» — ffor paradyse es caulde þe syghte of gode; ffor as sune after þe passione of oure lorde bothe þe thefe & all þe holy ffadirs þat ware in lymbo saw þe Ioye of gode as he es. Be-holde now here þe mekill mercy & þe gudenes of oure lorde þat wolde descende downe to hell, and þe vnmesurabill charite & mekenes þat he schewede in his dyenge. He myghte hafe sent one of his angells to þeme [to] hafe vesette his seruandeȝ and takene theme owtt of hell and presente theme to hyme wheþere hyme had lykede: Bot his gret charite & his mekenes, myghte noghte suffire hyme bot þat he sulde algate dye, and þerfore he come in his aghene persone lorde of all thyngeȝ, and vesett theme not as seruandeȝ bot as his frendes; and was þare with theme to þe sondaye at morne. Thane the holy ffadirs made mekill Ioye of his comynge: thene where they in contenuele loueynge in ympnys and gostely sanges. When þey felde his moste helefull comynge, they rane agayne hym Ioyeand and sayande: «Blischyde be oure lorde gode of Israel, for he has vesette vs & boghte his pepill» ... And þofe-all þese wordes be noghte pleynly contenede

in þe gosepell, neuer-þe-lesse þe gosepell beris witnesse þat oure lorde Ihesu dyd many thynges þat þe Euangelisteȝ wrote noghte ...

Þou may also thynke þat oure lorde Ihesu aperid firste to his blischide modir oure lady aftire his resureccione: and in siche Meditacioneȝ, aftire þe gret compassione þat þou had of his dede & his bitter passyone, sall þi saule be fede with swettnes of his glorious resureccione, so þat þou sall be turnede in to lufe of thy lorde Ihesu Cryste, þat lyues & regnes with-owttene ende Amen.

The rysyng vp of owre lorde Ihesu, and how he apperid firste to his modire, oure lady saynte Marie amen.

When oure lorde Ihesu had dispoylled hell & takene Adam & Eue & all oþer holy ffadirs & sett þem in paradyse — þat es a place of delite, where Ennoke & Hely dwellis: he toke leue at theme, & said he wolde go & take agayne his body and rayse it agayne to lyue. Then come he with gret haste to his graue, one þe sonndaye herely at morne; and toke agayne his blissede body owt of þe graue, & wente forthe thurghe his aghene myght. / Þat same houre, herly at morne, Marie Maudeleyne & hir two sisters asked leue at oure lady & went with þeire oynementes to þe sepulcre-warde. Bot owre lady bod styll at home, and prayede to þe ffadire of heuene, sayand: «Fadir of mercy & pite, ȝe knowe wele þat my sone es dede and was schamfully hangede be-twyx thefes, & I helpede to bery hyme with my handes. I knowe wele þat ȝe are of myghte & powere to restore hym agayne to me hole and sonde: and þerfore haue mercy of me: I beseke ȝour hye mageste þat ȝe wolde gyffe me hyme agayne. A, lorde, where es he? why taries he thus longe fro me? send hym to me I pray ȝowe, for my soule may noghte ryste to I haue hym. A, my dere swete sone, what es comene one the? whate dose thow? why taryes þou so longe? I pray the, my dere sone, duell noo langare fro me. For þou said thi-selfe þou sulde ryse þe thyrd daye: & þis es þe thyrde daye, my dere sone. Noghte ȝysterday, bot be-fore ȝisterday, was þat ill day, þat bitter day, þat wrechid day, the day of sorow & of myrknesse, þe day of twynnyng & of bitter dede. Þer-fore, my dere sone, þis day es þe thred day. There-fore, Ryse vp now, my Ioye and all my comforthe, & come agayne to me: ffor ouer all thyng desyre I to se þe. I pray þe þat thyne agayne-come glade me whame þi departynge hase mekyll myscomforthed, & solace me with thi blissede presence whame thyne absence hase mekill hevyde. Come agayne now, þou my wele-belouede sone. Come, my lorde Ihesu. Come, þou onely my hope. Come to me, my dere childe». And whylles scho prayed thus with louely teres: sodeynly come oure lord Ihesu in clothes whyte as any snawe, his fface schynyng as þe sone, all specyouse, all gloryouse & all full of Ioye, and said to his modire: «Haile, holy modire». And as sonne scho turnede hir & said: «Art þou my dere sone Ihesu?» & with þat scho knelid downne & wirchyped hym: and he lowly Enclyned and toke hir vp, & said: «My dere modire, ȝa, I am ȝour sone, & I am resyne, & I am with ȝow«. Þen rose they vp to-gedire, & scho halsede hym & kyssede hyme, and tendirly and loueandly lened one hyme, and he tendirly & mekly helde hir vpe. Aftirwarde þey stode to-gedire, and euer scho behelde one his fface, and

þe wondis in his heuede & in his fete, & aftire one all his blyssede body, & askede hym if all his payne & his disesse were passede a-waye fro hym. Thene said he: «Ȝa, my dere modire, I haue ouer-comene sorow & wo, and I sall no more fele þer-of: bot I am, & sall be, in Endlesse Ioye & blysse». Þen said oure lady: «Now blyssede be thy ffadire, my dere sone, þat hase thus gefene the to me; in heuene & erthe prayssede and magnyfiede be his holy name, in worlde of worldes with-owttyne Ende Amen». Then stode þey to-gedire with gret Ioye and gladnese of herte, holdande þeire speche all In Ioye & in delite of lufe; and oure lorde Ihesu tolde hys modire how he had delyueride his pepyll owt of hell, & all þe meracles & þe wondirs þat he had done þire thre dayes. Lo þis es now a Ioyfull gladsumnes & a merye paske!

¶ How Maudeleyne & hir systers com to þe sepulcre.

Marie Maudeleyne & þe oþer two Maries come arely at morne to þe sepulcre with þeire Oynementes, as I said be-fore. With-owtyn¯ þe ȝates of þe Cete they vmbethoghte þem of þe paynes & affliccyounes & passiones of þeire maystere, and In euery place þat þey knewe þat he had sufferde any specyall payne þey knelyde doune kyssyng þe grownde, sorowynge & sygheynge to-gedire: «Here mette we with hyme berynge his crosse whene his modire swounede for sorowe. And here turnede he hym agayne to þe womene of Ierusalem. And here laid he downe his crosse for werynes, and oppone þis stone lenede he hym a lyttill. And here was it þat þey schot hym forthe so felly & so cruelly and spytte in his face, and garte hym hye so fast. Here dispoyllede þey hyme & nakynd hyme, and here did they hym one þe crosse», and þene with gret wepyng and sorowynge þey ffell to þe grownde & wyrschiped þe crosse & kyssed it — ffor it was all rede of þe precyouse blode of oure lorde Ihesu. Aftir þat, þey rose vp & wente to þe sepulcre, and said to þeme-selfe: «Who sall remow vs þis stone fro þe dore of þe monement?» And whene þey come þey fonde þe stone leyd one syde, and ane angell sittande þere-one, þat said to theme: «Dred ȝow nott, he saide; ȝe seke Ihesu of Naȝareth þat was crucyfyede: he es resyne, he es noghte here». And þey seande þey were dissayuede of þeire purpos, for they wende to hafe found þe body of Ihesu, þey toke no tennt to þe angell worde, bot come agayne all affrayed to þe discyples & tolde þeme þat þeire lordes body was takyne awaye.

Rynnyng to þe graue &c.

Þene Petir & Iohn¯ ran to þe graue, as sayne Luke sais. Be-hold þem wele how þey rane; and Maudeleyne & hir felawes rane with theme. All rane þey to seke Ihesu þeire lorde, þeire herte & þeire saule. Þey rane ffull trewly, full lastandly, full besyly. Whene þey come at þe graue, they fonde noghte bot the sudarye & þe clothes þat he was wound Ine. Haue nowe pete & compassione of þeme, for þey were in full gret tribulacione & thoght for þeire lorde. Þey soghte hym, bot þey fonde hyme noghte, ne þey wiste neuer what they myghte doo; thare-fore Petir & Iohn¯ went home sore wepynge agayne for sorowe.

Bot þe thre Maries bode still at þe graue, þey come & loked In to þe graue: & þey sawe two angells sittande in whytte clothes, þat said to þeme: «Where-to seke ȝe þe lyfand with þe dede?» Bot they toke no kepe to þe angells wordes, nor to no visyone of þe angells, bot of þe lorde of angells. Þene two Maries with-drewe þeme a littill, & satt downe sore wepynge. Bot Marie Maudeleyne wist not what scho myghte doo, ffore with-owttyne hire mayster myght scho not lyfe, and þare couthe scho nott fynd hym, ne scho wist neuer whare to seke hyme; and þare-fore stode scho styll at þe graue wepyng, eft & efte lokyng in to þe graue, for euer wende scho haue sene hym þare whare sche beryed hyme. & efte scho saw [þe] angells sytt one þe graue, & saide: «Womane, why wepis þoue? what sekes þou?» And scho ansuerde & saide: «ffor they haue takene my lorde awaye, & I wate neuer where þey haue done hyme». Se now here a wondirfull wirkynge of luf: a littill be-fore herd sche þe angell say þat he was resyne, & efte of oþer two þat he lyfed, and ȝitt had scho no mynde of all þis, bot said: «I wote neuer whare they haue done hym». All þis reklessnes of all owtward thynges & also of þe angell wordes was cause[d] of þe gret loue & desyre þat scho had to hir mayster & hir lord Ihesu; ffor scho couthe noghte ells speke, here ne thynke, bot of oure lorde Ihesu. Whene scho had thus a long tym wepyd, & toke no kepe to þe angells: hir loue & hir mayster Ihesu myght no lengare with-holde hym fro hire. Than oure lorde Ihesu said to his modire þat he wolde go to comforthe hir. And owre lady was wele payed þer-of & said: «Go, my blyssyde sone, one my blyssyng, & comforthe hir: ffor mekill es þe luffe þat scho luffes the, and mekill was þe sorowe þat scho had for the & for thy dede. I pray the, my dere sone, þat þou com sone agayne to me».

¶ How oure lord Ihesu appered to Maudeleyne.

Owre lorde Ihesu come þene to þe gardyne where his graue was, and mett þare with Marie Mawdeleyne, & said to hir: «Womane, why wepes þoue?» And ȝitt scho knewe hym nott, bot wend he had bene a gardenere, & as womane full of thoghte scho answerde hym and said: «Sir, if þou haue takyne hym awaye, tell me where þou has hyde hyme and I sall take hym». Be-holde here how wepandly, how mekly, & how deuotly scho prayed hym to tell hir to hyme þat scho soghte: scho hoped euer to here some new tythyngeȝ, of hyme þat was hir lufe. Than oure lorde calde hir by hir name hamly and said: «Mari». Than wakynd scho at his voyce as owte of a ded slepe, knowynge his swet voyce, and with gret Ioye scho saide: Rabony, þat es to say Mayster; «Lorde, scho said, ȝe are he þat I seke; why haue ȝe þus long layned ȝour-selfe fro me?» And than scho rane & ffell downe at his fete & wold hafe kyssed þeme. Bot oure lorde Ihesu rayssede hir vp to heuenly lufe & gostely, þat scho sulde no more seke hym here in erthe ffleschely [be fleschely] affeccyone, onely behauldand his manhede as pure mane only, bot þat scho sulde lufe hym gostely be gostely affeccione, be-haldyng hyme as god in mane; and þare-fore said he to hire: «Mari, touche me nott, for ȝit haue [I] nott styed vp to my ffadir», as who say: in þis forme of man þat þou sees with thi bodily eghe, am I nott euene to my

fadir, bot lesse þan he, & þerfore touche me nott soo: «Bot go saye to my Brethire þat I stye to my ffadir and ȝour ffadir, my gode & ȝour gode. Said I noghte to þe before þat I suld ryse vp þe threde day? why sekes þou me in my graue?» Than answred scho: «Sothely, dere mayster, I haue [had] so mekill sorow & murnynge ffor ȝoure bitter passione and dede, þat I had forgetyne all thyng bot onely ȝoure body þat was ded, and þe place þat I berid ȝow Ine; and þerfore ordeyned I þis Oynement this mornenyng to hafe anoynte ȝoure body with. Blyssed be ȝoure hye worthynes þat vochede-saffe to ryse agayne and come to vs!» Than stode to-gedire Ihesu & his dere luffe with gret Ioye & gladnes: Scho be-helde hym full verreyly and besyly, and askede hym of many thynges, and he answerd gladly to all hir askynges. Thare was þene a Ioyefull standynge: ffore if-all oure lorde bad hyr scho sulde nott touche hyme, I may nott trowe bot þat scho aftyrwarde towched hyme full tendirly or scho ȝede, bothe kyssand his hende & his fete ... Whene þey had þus standene spekyng to-gedire, oure lorde said hym burde goo & comforthe mo of his brethire & frendes. Than changede all hir chere, for scho wolde neuer haf gone fro hyme; than said scho to hym: «Lorde, me thynke ȝoure lyfynge may nott be here amonge vs as it has bene. Bot I pray ȝowe, dere lorde, þat ȝe fore-gett me not. Haue mynde of all kyndnes & gudnesse þat ȝe haue done to me, þat [þei] neuer be loste in me, and thynke [of] þe grete ho[m]lynesse & luf þat ȝe haue had to me». And þen he bad hir þat scho suld nott drede; «bot be faythefull and stabill, ffor I sall euer-more be with the». Thane scho toke his blyssyng and he went forthe; & scho come to hir felawes & tolde theme all þat scho had herde & sene. Thane were þey glade of his vp-rysesyng: bot be-cause þey hade nott sene hym, they went with hir murnynge.

How owre lorde apperide to [þe] thre Maries.

Als theis thre Maries ȝede to-gedir be þe waye, owre lorde Ihesu apperide to theme and said: «Hayle ȝe». Þene made þey mekill Ioye, and fell downe & hillede his fete. Thane be-helde they hyme Ententyfely, and askede of hym dyuerse thynges, and reseiued of hyme myghte and grace, and þey mad also gret Ioye & myrthe. Þene bade oure lorde Ihesu þat þey sulde go to his brethire & byde them goo to Galile, for there suld þey see hyme as he tolde þeme be-fore. Be-holde here þat þe mayster of meknes calde his disciples brethire; þis vertue of Mekenesse dwelles euer-more with hyme. Bot if þou will haue vndirstandynge and gostely comforthe of þis þat I haue saide, the nedis to be present in euery stede and euery dede in thy saule as if þou where there sothe-fastely in body; and one þe same manere in that þat I sall say.

¶ How oure lorde appered to Iosephe of Aromathye.

Whene owre lorde Ihesu was gonne fro þe thre Maries before-saide, he apperid to Ioseph of Aromathy þat berid hyme. For þe Iewes had takene hyme for oure lorde sake, & sperde hyme in a house and sellede þe dores with grete besynes þat he suld noghte passe awaye: ffor aftire þeire sabot-day þey had ordeyned to sle hyme. Thare-ffore oure lorde Ihesu apperid to hym & sett hym

in his awene house in Aromathie, and braste selys and lokkes. / & þene he apperide to Iames the les, þat [had] made a vowe þat he sulde neuer ete mete to he sawe owre lorde resyne. Thane said oure lorde Ihesu till hym, and till oþer, þat þey suld sett a borde: and he toke brede and blyssed it, and gafe þeme, sayande: «Etes now, my dere brethire, and make ȝe mery: ffor þe sone of Marie es resyne ffro ded».

¶ How oure lorde apperid to Symone Petire.

Whene Marye Maudeleyne and hir ffelawes were comene home and had tolde þe disciples þat oure lorde was resyne and howe he had spokene with theme: Petir was hevy þat he hade noghte sene his lorde Ihesu: and for mekylnes of lufe he myghte no langare abyde, bot ȝede forthe allone to þe sepulcre-warde— ffor he wiste neuer ells where to fynde hyme. And as he wente, owre lorde appered to hyme in þe waye, saynge: «Pese be to þe, Symone». Thane Petir bett hym-selfe one þe breste and fell downe to þe grownde with bitter teres and said: «Lorde, I knowelage my trespas, ffor I forsoke ȝowe and ofte-tymes denyed ȝow»; and Efte fell downe and kissede oure lordes fete. Bot oure lorde mercyfully toke hym vp and bad hym drede hym nott, «for all þi synne es forgyfene þe; I knewe wele, as I tolde þe be-fore. And þerfore go nowe and stabill þi felawes and thi breþire, and triste sekerly þat I hafe ouercomene dede». And Petir behelde hym fulbesyly, and all his lymms and his wondes, and fell downe to þe grownde & wepid full tendirly. Bot owre lorde toke hym vp & comforthed hyme, and gafe hym hys blyssynge and partede fro hyme. And Petir come agayne to oure lady and to þe discyples, and tolde theme all to-gedire. / Thow sall vndirstande þat þe apparecione made to owre lady es noghte wretyne in þe gospell, & þerfore I sett it be-fore all oþer, & so semys it þat holy kyrke holdes it, as it es more [fully] schewede in the legent of his resureccione.

How owre [lord] Ihesu appered to two disciples goand to þe castell of Emaus.

Alls two disciples of Ihesu went to þe castell of Emaus all dismayed ffor þeire mayster and hevy for chawnces þat were fallene: owre lorde apperide to þeme in liknes of a pylgryme, & ȝede with theme spekyng wordes of hele, as þou redis more fully in þe gospell. At þe laste þey garte hym come In with þeme: and as [þey] satt at þe supere, þey knewe hym in brekyng of brede; & on-one he vanyste awaye fro þem ... & þen þey rose vp & ȝede to Ierusalem & tolde to oþer disciples what had be-fallene þeme in the waye and [how] they knewe hyme in brekyng of brede. / As þey stode to-gedire spekynge of owre lorde: he come and stode in-myddes þeme, & said: «Pese be with ȝow». Þene all his disciples fell downe to þe grownde, knowlageynge theyre trespas þat þey had so vnkyndly forsakyne hym, & welcomede hym with gret reuerence and gladnes. Then said oure lorde to þeme: «Ryse ȝe vp, my dere brethire, for all ȝoure synnes are forgeffene ȝow». He stode homly among þeme, schewyng þe wondes of his handes & fete & side; þene he Opynde þeire gostely wittys þat þay myghte vndirstande holy writt & knowe þe prevetes of his passione & his resurreccione. Than askede he þeme if they had any mete, & þey broghte forthe be-fore hym

fische & a hony-cambe; and he blew one þeme and gafe þeme þe holy goste. Be-holde how all þese thynges were of gostely Ioye & gladnes. Than were þe disciples glad & fayne þat þey hade sene owre lorde; þen mad þey Ioye & myrthe be-fore hym, þat be-fore were hevy & sary. [With how] glade chere trowes þou þey leyde be-fore hyme mete, how gudly & how faythefully þey serued hyme, how Ioyefull & Iocund þey stode be-fore hyme! Be-holde also oure lady þere, fore all þe disciples were gadirde to hire for socoure & comforthe. Be-holde hire nowe with glade semlande seynge all þis, & homly sittand by hir dere sone & servynge hyme full loueandly. Owre lord Ihesu toke gladely servese of hire handes, & wirchipped hyre reuerently be-for his disciples. I pray þe forgett nott Mari Mawdeleyne, þat wele-beluffed discypulas of Ihesu, & apostolas of all þe appostles, how scho one hir olde manere satt at hir lordes fete deuoutly heryng his wordes, & what þat scho myght do scho dide with gret gladnes [&] with all þe affeccione of hir herte. A, how blyssefull was þene þat house, in the whylke satt bothe god & man, with his modire qwhene of heuene, & all his oþer dere derlynges! Gret Ioye was þene to be with þeme. Thynke þe nott here a gret comforthe? Sothely I trow ȝis, if þou hafe any lufe or deuocyone. / Bot oure lorde duelte nott with theme bot a while, for it was late whene he come to þeme. Bot I trow þey prayede hyme of his gret meknesse þat he sulde not so sone go fro þeme. Hopes þou nott þat Marie Maudeleyne helde hym still by þe skyrtte full tristily [&] with a gret reuerent hardines, þat he sulde noghte so sune go fro hire? Owre lorde Ihesu stode amonges theme clede with clothes of glory bryghtere thane þe sonne, whittere þan the snawe. At þe laste oure lorde Ihesu toke leue at his modire & scho also of hyme, and he blischede theme all, and went forthe; and þey all fell don one knes and prayede hym with gret reuerence & desyre of his sune agayne-comynge. And so þey duellede in gret desyre aftire þeire mayster & lorde agayne-comynge, whome þey were wonnte so mekill be-fore to haue at theire liste. / Thow may se now how oft þou hase had þis daye pasche — ffor ilke of þeis apperynges es calde a pasche. Bot perauenture þou hase herde þeme, bot þou felde no gladnes, nor gostely comforthe of Cristes passione. I trow sothefastly þat if þou couthe pete & compassione of his passione, and had þi herte and þi mynd gedirde to-gedire & nott distracte abowte in þe werlde abowte oþer thynges & oþer fantassies, þat þou sulde fele in euerylkone of þes apperynges a newe feste gostely and a new pasche. And euery sononday suldes þou hafe so, If þou wolde one ffryday before with hole mynde & feruent deuocyone hafe sorowe and pete of Cristes passione; ffor þe appostell sais: «if we be felawes of Cristes passione», haueuyng pete & compassione of his pyne and disese þat he sufferde here for vs, «than one þe same manere sall we be felawes of gostely comforthe» and Endles Ioye the wilke he has ordeyned to all þo þat here hertly luffes hym with all þeire myghte. Þe whilke Ioye & comforthe he graunt vs þat with his precious blode boghte vs, Ihesus Christus Amen. Amen. Amen.Pur Charite.

Explicit Bonauenture de mysteriis Passionis Ihesu Christi.

Notes

• An abridged translation of the Meditationes vitae Christi, chaps. 74-92. The ascription to Bonaventure is improbable.