Here after folowith the boke callyd the myrroure of Oure Lady very necessary for all relygyous persones.

¶ How ye oughte to dresse youre entente in sa∣ynge / or syngynge of this holy seruice. Ca. xxiii.

THE fyfte thynge that longeth to the dew maner of saynge of deuyne serui is to take hede to what entente ye say yt. For thentente gyueth euery good dede hys ryght name. So that yf the entente be good / the dede is good / and yf thentente be yuel. the dede ys yuel. But yuel dede may neuer be made good / be thente neuer so good / all thoughe yt maye be the lesse yuel / when yt ys done of good entente. ¶But to saye or synge dyuyne ser∣uice ys a good and an holy dede yt selfe▪ and therfore yf yt be well done. and to good entente / then ys all good ¶Therfore ye nede to take hede / that nether ye synge ne saye thys holy seruyce for vayne glory / as they done that wyll be taken as holy and deuoute.

Ne for vayne pleasaunce as they do / that seke to plese other thereby / or desyre to beholde louers of goddes seruyce. Ne for vayne drede as they do / that wolde not come there / saue for drede leste they shulde be shent Ne for vayne shame / as they doo that come thydre. for they ar a shamed / but yf they do as other do. But ye oughte to do yt only for god / and for good entent so that though no creature shulde here you / ne se you but eche of you by your selfe alone▪ yet ye wolde be neuer the lesse dylygent and deuoute to synge yt / and to say yt and to come therto. ¶And for as moche as all that god asketh of man / ys conteyned vnder one conclusyon of charyte / that standeth in loue of god and of oure selfe / and of oure euen chrysten as oure selfe▪ therfore yt is nedefull that not only in goddes seruyce / but in all that ye do / ye entende oure lordes worshyp / and the helthe & profyt of youre selfe / and of all your euen chrysten. ¶And for all your seruice ys of oure blessed Lady▪ therfore yt ys good that ye entende specyally therin / her praysyng and worship and that god be thanked and praysed for all the gyf∣tes / & benefytes that he hathe gyuen to her & by her to all mankynde. ¶And farthermore for that thys ho∣ly seruyce ys not sette of youre selfe but by holy chry¦che▪ therfore yt ys expedyente that ye entende to say yt in vnyte / and in obedyence of holy chyrche and to theffecte and entente that god of hys chyrche hath or denyd yt to be sayd and songe. For so may yt alway¦es be accepted and harde. ¶ye oughte also to entende the fulfyllynge of youre founders entente / that was to the helthe of hys owne soulle / and of hys progeni¦tours

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/ and of all chrysten soulles.* 1.1 and specyally for peace and welfare of all thys londe / after the byhesle of oure lorde Iesu chryst in reuelacyō to saynte Bir¦gytte / where he behoteth that in eche lande where eny Monastery of thys order ys founded / there shall be encresed peace & accorde. ¶It ys also spedefull / y^e ye entende in saynge of thys holy seruice▪ y^e fulfyllyng of your bonde & dewtye / in as moche as ye ar boūde therto by youre rewle / and by youre holy professyō ¶And for the prayer of these holy houres ys rather sped and harde of our lorde / then other prayers as I sayde before▪ therfore yt ys good that in the saynge. or syngynge therof▪ ye entende to gette forgyuenesse of youre owne synnes / and suche helpe & graces / and vertewes as ye fele nedefull to you / & also to the hel∣the and profyt of all that ye ar bounde / or haue deuo∣cyon to praye for. ¶And the more specyally & often that ye offer vp these ententes to god / with meke and feruent desyre in him▪ the better and soner spede shal ye haue of that thynge that ye desyre and praye for. Netheles ye oughte to dresse youre hartes after these ententes or ye begyn / for in tyme of this holy seruy∣ce ye oughte to stable youre mynde only in god / and vpon the same seruyce / and vpon none other thynge as I haue sayde before.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In regula Capi¦tulo .xxxi. §.