The festyuall

¶The seuen dedes of mercy.

THe fyrst thynge that thou sholdest knowe god by are the seuen dedes of mercy / the whiche euery man is bounde by the byddȳge of god to fulfyl & to do his power / y^t is to say / fede the hungry / gy∣ue drynke to the thyrsty / clothe the naked / herbo¦row the housles / vysyte the seke / delyuer y^e prysoners / & bu∣ry the poore whan they be deed. These be nedefull to vs ple¦synge to god / & helpynge to body & soule of al thē y^t do them Therfore sayeth Cryst / gyue & it shall be gyuen to you. Al∣messe sayth saynt Austyn is a holy thynge / for it encreaseth that y^u haste / lesseth thy synne / it multyplyeth thy eres / & no bleth the mynde. It lengeth y^e termes & clenseth all thynge. It delyuereth y^t frome dethe / and ioyneth the to angelles / and departe the from deuylles / and is a wall inexpugnable about the soule· Therfore gyue almesses & all thynges shall be clene to you. ¶Thre thȳges he must consyder that shall gyue almesse. Fyrst who asketh / what he asketh and wher∣re

Fyrst I say that god asketh it / for he loueth so moche po∣re men / that what ye do to theym in his name he holdeth it done to hym selfe. He asketh his & not oures. Dauyd sayth. All thynges ben thy lordes. And that we take of thy hādes we haue gyue y^t. He asketh it vs not for to gyue it hym / but to lene it hym. Wherfore he wyll yelde an hondred folde / & the blysse of heuen wherfore sayth saynt Gregory poore mē shall not be dyspysed but prayed as faders. And he that gy∣ueth the poore shall not be poore sayth Salomon. And he y^t stoppeth his eeres from the crye of the poore shall crye and not be herde / therfore al those that aske these / he that asketh vnryghtfully gyue it not that he asketh / but that that is bet¦ter / & that is correccyon. Iherom sayth gyue the poore to su¦stayne theyr ryches. There may no man excuse hym of al∣messe gyuynge. For an halfpeny of the poore somtyme plea¦seth god more than an hondred shelynges of the ryche / yf y^u may not gyue hym that / gyue hym wordes of cōforte. And what thou gyuest gyue it gladly. For the glad gyuer god lo¦ueth. ¶There ben also seuen other goostly dedes of mercy. The fyrst is / teche the vnconnynge / that he sauour ryghful¦ly. Another is / gyue counceyle to hym that asketh it / that he werke and do truely. The thyrde / chastyse hym that trespa¦ceth / that is to saye / repreue or bete / or doo other due correc∣cyon. ¶The fourthe / comforte the sorowfull / as with gyf∣tes / wordes of comforte / or suche other. The fyfth / forgyue them that trespace to the. For yf thou wylt not forgyue thē god wyll not forgyue the / the rancour and the offence / thou must nedes forgyue / the accyon & y^e amendes ben at thyn owne wyll. The syxte that thou suffre mekely and pacyent¦ly whan ony man or woman do ony preiudyce or offence a∣gaynst the that they be not the more prompte and redy too synne / but that they be the more feruent for to doo penaun∣ce and good werkes and operacyons / and be moore preste &

redy to suffre dysease and trybulacyon than for to doo it / yf ony man chyde the / or blame the / or repreue the / or doo the wronge kepe scylence. And set before a sharpe worde y^e shyl∣de of suffraunce / and thynke that our moost benygne sauyi¦our and redemptoure Ihesu Cryst was bobbed / buffeted / & spytte vpon / and scorned / and euermore he helde his pease. Therfore what dysease or mysfortune fal fo the beleue that it cometh to the for synne. And so thou shalte suffre it lyght lyer / yf thou take hede wherfore it cometh. The seuenth is praye (that is to saye for thyn ennemy / and all those that be synfull. And yf thou mayst not helpe them with one of the∣se seuen aforesayd / praye vnto our lorde for theym. Cryst sayth. Loue your ennemyes / and do well to them that hate you / and praye for them that dooth you persecucyon that ye may be the chyldren of heuen. And thus may ye fulfyll the dedes of mercy / bodely and goostly. ¶The .vi thynge that thou sholdest knowe god by / ben the seuen pryncypall vertu¦es / that euery man & woman sholde vse. The fyrst is fayth whiche is grounde and begynnȳge of your saluacyon. And it stondeth in thre thynges. In the vnyte of the godhede in thre persones in the manhode of Cryst. And in the sacra∣mentes of the holy chyrche. This vertue is nedefull too all crysten people. For it is the begynnynge of all good werkes. So that fayth without good werkes / ne good werkes with out true faythe. Ne without true fayth may no man please god almyghty. ¶The seconde is hope / this is a trust by the mercy of god to be saued. And it standeth in y^e grace of god and good werkes / not only in our owne good dedes / but in theym bothe togyder. For we shall not hope so lytell that it is called wanhope / that we sholde hope to haue blysse / yf we doo well and perceuer in the commaundementes of god. Ne not soo moche trust in the grete mercy of our lorde / for to hope to be saued without good dedes and operacyons.

¶The thyrde is charyte / this is the ende and perfeccyon of alle the commaundementes of God. ¶And vnderston∣de in this / that thou loue God aboue alle thynge. And thy neygbboure as thyselfe / soo that one may not be byloued withoute that other / and sayth saynt Iohan) That he that loueth god / he loueth his broder / & that loueth not his bro∣der whiche he may see. How sholde he loue god / whiche he may not see. ¶The fourth vertue is ryghtwsnes / this is not ellis but a payeng of dewte to eche thynge that it dew¦ly longeth to. As to god praysynge and thankynge for the goodes of kynde fortune and grace that he hath gyue the & lente the. And therof to gyue his parte. and many other be¦nefaytes. As in preseruynge the frome many myscheues & vengaunce that thou haddest fall in and all. daye seest ma∣ny one fall in / And sholdeste happely thyselfe haue fall in / had not his gracyous kepynge haue be ¶To thy neyghbou¦re thou muste also yelde loue and charyte. That is to saye) that thou doo ryghte and reason to hym in all thynge as thou woldeste he dyde to the. And yf thou woldest he shol∣de be true to the / and paye his dettys and begyle the not / with subtyltees and sleyghtes in byenge & selyng / do the sa¦me to him yf thou woldest also that he were not proude / enuyous whrathfull / couetyse. glotenous / slouthfull / ne let cherous / be thou the same and thus in all other thynges / as thou woldeste thy neyghboure do to the / do thou to hym And thenne thou doost ryghtwysnesse to thyself. Also thou muste haue besynes to lerne and fulfyll the wyll of the com¦maundementis of god and to withstonde synne & to shrew¦de lyuynge. ¶The fyfth vertue is wysdome / this vertue departeth good frome euyll and techeth vs to beware of sleytes / and deceytes of the wretched worlde / and in lyke∣wyse of the freyle flesshe. and of the cursed ennemye the de∣uyll of helle. ¶And for to dyspyse and set at noughte alle

that we may / and of .ii. good to chose the better. But saynt Austyn sayth as many one dothe / that thou must dyspyse y^e worlde and hate the flesshe for me. Where be the louers of the worlde. That but a lytell whyle ago were here with vs. There is no thynge lefte of theym but powder & wormes Take hede what they ben nowe. And what they were than They were men as thou arte / sayth he / they dranke / they laughed and ladde theyr lyfe in erthe / in myrthe and Ioly∣te / and in this poynte they descende in to helle what profy∣teteth theym theyr vayne glorye / theyr shorte Ioye pompe of the worlde all dylycates luste of the flesshe / false ryches∣se grete meany / and euyll couetyse where is theyr laughter theyr playe / theyr pryde / theyr boost. ¶After all this luste How grete payne and sorowe all that fylle to theym maye falle to the / sayth he for thou arte a man of erthe as they were / and of the erthe thou lyuest / & to the erthe thou shal∣te tourne agayne. These ben y^e wordes of the holy doctoure saynt Austyne. This remembraunce shall make you wyse and hardy to dispyse youre enemyes the worlde / the flesshe and the deuyll saynt Isyder sayth / there is none other thyn¦ge better thenne wysdome. Ne none other thynge sweter and lustyer thenne knowlege. Ne none other thynge wor∣se thenne lewdnesse. Therfore knowe thou where thou shalte flee / and wheder y^u shalt go. ¶Loue wysdome and it be shewed to the. and it shall come to the / be besy there abou¦te and it shall lerne the. The .vi. vertue is strengthe. This maketh a mā myghty and hardy to wythstonde many gre¦te myscheues. for the loue of god. For it stondeth in suffryn¦ge pacyently aduersyte / and mekely to make prosperyte / & to suffre euenly bothe wele and woo. that our herte be not to hye for no wel fare / ne to moche vnder for none euyll fa¦re but to be stronge agaynste oure foon. bothe of body and soule. that noo temptacyon make vs falle / ne fayle in oure

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fayth agaynst God almyghty. ¶The seuenth vertue is me¦sure whyche is a meane betwene to moche and in lyke wyse to lytell and it stondeth in takynge suffycyently that nedeth ¶And refusynge vterly that that is to moche or to lytell. ¶The .viii. thynge / and the last that thou sholdeste knowe god by / is the seuen dedely synnes. that alle men sholde re∣fuse. for eche of them is an euen waye to helle therfore it is nedeful euery man to konwe theym. ¶Therfore sayth the wyse man as fro the face of thadder fonde to flee synne For as the venyme of the adder sleeth mannys body / soo the ve¦nym of synne sleeth mannys soule. ¶The fyrste synne is a lykynge or a hyghnesse of mannys herte. Of his hygh e∣state or noblenesse that he hath by fortune. kynde or by gra∣ce or that he canne passynge a nother. or hath more than a nother. Of this cometh many shrewd spyces as boostyng / bacbytyng / dispite of thy neyghboure / vnbuxumnes / ypo∣crysy / proudberynge / and displeasyng scornynge / and ino∣bedyence hye herte / gaye araye / pryde of grete kynne. and of vayn glory / boldnesse of synne boostynge of good dedes and auauntynge of euyll dedes. indignacion shame lessed presumpciō and stourdynes / and that is worste of all other And soo sayth saynte Austyn). ¶That none is worse nor more dampnable synne than is the synne of pryde In this ben they gyltye that lyste not to be repreued of theyr syn∣nes. Ne to here of theyr defautes. but anone wyth a greate stourdynes as a galled horse / that is touched on the sore he wyncheth and wryeth. ¶And seken how they may mayn∣tene suche lewdenes of synne. ¶Thus dyde not kynge Da¦uyd whan nathan the prophete of god came to hym. and tolde hym his synne and the vengaunce / that he sholde ha¦ue therfore / he shewed no stourdynes to the prophete ne re¦buked hym / ne chydde hym. but mekely sayd to oure lord.

I haue synned. As who sayth. I am sory for my synne. I wyll amende it. And therfore god toke awaye moche of the vengaunce that he shold haue had for his synne. Ryghte thus shold ye here be repreued of youre synne / mekely co∣me to your curate. as to the minister of god. that occupyeth his stede for the tyme (And saye) syr I knowlege my defau¦te. and wote well that I dyde amys my wyll is to amende it And so put awaye stourdynes and the vengaūce that thou deserueste therfore. ¶This synne of pryde sayth Gre∣gory is rote of all euyll. For ryght ne were the rote of a tree hydde in therth / there sholde no braunche spryng out ther¦of. ¶Ryghte so ne were pryde roted in thyne herte. there shold no braunches of synne breke oute therof. ¶For thus was lucefer that was the fayrest aungell in heuen. made the fowleste deuyll in helle.) Also Chore. dathon and abyro and theyre felysshyp they rose agaynst moyses and Aaron of greate pryde. and therfore the erthe openede and swa∣lowede theym alle quycke downe in to hell. ¶Also the peo¦ple of Nynyue / for theyr greate boldenesse of pryde that they hadde in theyr hertes to tourne ayene to theyr synnes there were a hondred score thousande people / as the byble reherseth and sheweth destroyed. by dodely enmyes. Ther¦fore euery man beware of this synne and wysely loke in the myroure of mekenes. for that techeth hym what he was / is / and shall be. ¶Fyrst consyder that thou were made of foule stynkyne slyme and fylthe of the synne or lechery / bor¦ne of thy moder wyth grete sorow and payne / norysshed with greate labour and anger and kepte with greate dre∣de and now thou arte but a sacke of foule dunge. that no swetenes nor fruyte cometh of trees leues cometh floures and frute / and of the lycenettes and fleen. Of herbes also cometh ryght swete and odoryferous smel and in lykewy∣se of the aboue and in lyke semblable maner of wyse beneth

and all other partyes / but stynkynge fylthe / and after the ende thou shalte be wormes mete and torne agayne to er∣the / tyll the daye of dome / that thy body & soule shall ryse a¦gayne. That day sayth Malachy shall brenne as hote as o∣ny furneys of fyre / and all prowde men be as stoble / whiche shall be there brent / y^t there shall be neyther rote not rynde therfore sayth Isyd. By mekenes make thy leest & lowest of all other stretche not forthe thy wynges of pryde by boost of enhauncynge thy selfe. For the lesse thou settest by thy sel¦fe sayth he the more god setteth by the. Be shamefast in che¦re / and dysmayde to loke proudely / for shame of the synne walke with a lowe chere / meke mode a sadde vysage. In hygh worshyp haue grete mekenes / and the hygher that y^u art the meker thou sholdest make thy self. And thynke how our souerayne lorde Ihesu meked hym to the dethe for thy sake. This is mekenes and vtter remedy agaynst pryde / & a sanatyf salue agaynst all myscheues of synne. For it ma∣keth the to haue mynde of thy shorte abydynge here. Of the strayte dome that thou shall come after / for the mekenes y^t thou sholdest haue had here. ¶The seconde synne is enuy / and this is whan thou arte sory for thy neyghbours welfa∣re / and Ioyest of his euyll fare / of this wycked synne come many braunches / one is hatred / and that is whan thou art lothe to speke / or here spoken ony thȳge / the whiche myght torne thy neyghboure to good and prouffyte. Another is fal¦se demenȳge of dedes agaynst thy neyghbour. ¶The thyr¦de is backebytynge / and that is to speke euyll behynde thy neyghboure / whiche thou mayst not ne wyll not auowe afo¦re hym / or though thou do not speke euyl thy selfe / y^u hastly kynge and grete delectacyon for to here euyll spekynge of hym / and in soo doynge thou synnest deedly. For not onely he the whiche speketh euyll of his neyghboure / but alsoo he y^t whiche wyll gladly here suche euyll spekynge are in defau¦te

of synne / Soo that yf there were no berer there were noo bacbytynge ne bacbyter. therfore sayth Isyder be not glad¦de of the falle or euyll fare of thy neyghboure leest god tour¦ne his wrathe frome hym to the. and soo thou sholdest falle in the same or worse / But be glad to sorowe for him that is desesed & euermore mourne his myscheef as y^u woldeste thȳ owne / Loue peas outwarde and in warde peas with all men and make peas where hate is / Flee chydynge. beware & do awaye thoccasyon of stryfe. And lyue alway in peas. Lete noo thynge passe thy lyppes that maye defoyle y^e eeres of the herers. for as vayne wordes is take of vayne cōscien¦ce And suche as the worde is / suche is the soule. therfore be¦sy the not to speke that lyketh / but that that nedeth take he¦de what thou spekest & both in spekynge & not spekynge be ryght wel ware. For thou mayst not call ayene that thou hast sayde putte fro thy tonge the synne of bacbytynge and defoyle not thy mouth with a nother mānys synne / but be sory of hym / & that thou bacbyteste in a nother / drede it in thyselfe. whan thou blamest a nother / thynke on thyne ow¦ne synne. & loke not on other mennys. For thou shalte ne∣uer bacbyte yf thou wylte beholde thy selfe therfore here ne lysten to none suche tytelers For they ben lyke gylty the he¦ter and the bacbyter. Desyre not to wyt that perteyneth not to y^t / aske neuer what ony man dothe spekyth or sayth / leue besynes that perteyneth not to the. And by as greate besynes amende thy synne / by as moche as thou beholdest other mennys. sor no man knoweth whether he be worthy hate or mede that is for to saye / payne or Ioye. For there is many one semeth to vs ryghte good / and yet ayenst god happely are ryghte noughte. And many one also that se∣meth to vs ryghe nought. And yet ben to hym ryght dere Therfore no man deme other. but put all his Iugemente and estymacyon in god Thus with charyte that is knyt of

all vertues thou muste destroye the foule synne of enuye. ¶Thus charyte stondethe in the loue of god and loue of thy neyghboure. In whyche twoo all the lawe of god aby¦deth. So that that one maye not be loued without that o∣ther For yf thou loue god thou wylte haue none other but hym ne thou wylte not take hys name in vayne Ne breke not thy holy sondayes Yf thou loue thy lorde god and also thy neyghbours thou wylte do noo manslaughter / ne thef¦te ne false wytnesse bere. ne letchery ne desyre thy neygh∣bours wyfe. ne his gode. This is charyte the fulfyllynge or goddis loue and thendynge of all other good werkys. Cha¦ryte is pacyente and benygne / he hath none enuye / he wert¦cheth no shrewednes / he loueth not to be with pryde / he co¦ueyteth noo worldly worshyppes he seketh noo propre goo∣des / He is not wroth. He thynketh none euyll / He Ioyed not of wyckednes but of trouth / He taketh all thynge me∣kely / He byleueth all that god sayth and hopeth of blysse. He suffred all harmes and neuer is dyscomfyted thorugh god¦dis helpe to abyde longe. He falleth neuer downe in this world. ne in that other. He kepeth man in byleue and ma∣keth hym stable / vnder hym wexith obedyence and by him pacience ouer cometh al wronges without hym no man pleaseth god. and with hym no man peryssheth. ¶Therfo∣re ayenste enuy. seke charyte wyth grete studye / that thou mayst haue it in thy lyuynge. and dwell parfyghtly ther in to thyne endynge. Amen. ¶The thyrde is the synne of wrath. the whyche is wycked styrynge of a mannys her∣te wherby he wyll auenge hymselfe vp on his euyn crysten Of this cometh many shrewde spyces / as fyghtynge / chy∣dynge / hurtynge / betynge grutchyng / warryng / and cur∣synge / cruellys and man slaughter / and desyrynge of ven¦gaunce. ¶There ben also other foure in specyall. One whā thou art soon moued / and soone swaged / and that is easy.

Another whan thou art not soon swaged / & that is shrew∣de. ¶The thyrde whan thou arte soon meued and not soo∣ne swaged. and that is perylous. ¶The fourth is longe or thou be meued and soone swaged / and that is moost easy. Therfore ayenste thyse braunches thou muste arme the with the vertue of pacyēce. and thynke what sorowe mygh¦te falle to the of thy wordes and dedes. thenne put crystes passyon and paynes betwene the and suche paynes as he myghte suffre / and so shall thy wrath soone slake. ¶In foure thynges spyrytuelly it is necessary to haue pacyence One is ayene thyne enemye. For the more cruell he is / the more thou nedest of pacyence and softe speche For that sla¦keth wrathe. ¶Therfore yf ony aduersyte falleth to the / suffre it pacyently whether thou haue deserued it or not / Yf thou haue deserued it thou arte worthy that or more yf thou haue not / thou hast thy rewarde of cryst whā he sayth blesed be they that ben pacyente / for they shall be called the chyldren of god. ¶Another whā thy souerayne correcteth thy defautes thou muste be pacyente / and drawe in thy hor¦nes of pryde. As a snayle whan he is towched And so dyde Adam at the voys of oure lorde. ¶The thyrde is in losse of thy good. as Iob whan all his good. was gone mekely he sayde) oure lorde gaaf it / our lorde hath take it.) As it lyke hym so it be done. his name be blessed. ¶The .iiii. is in seke∣nesse for our lorde sayth. those that I loue I chastyse. As the moder chastised her childe for takynge of harme whan it neygheth fyre or water Ryghte so the fader of heuen cha¦stysed the / to beware of fleynge awaye. Soo our lorde put∣teth awaye from the rychesse and strengthe / one by pouer¦te a nother by sekenesse that thou sholdest not flee frome hym therfore be pacyente and grutche not ayenst the scour¦ge of our lorde Ihesu cryst and also in lykewyse ferther∣more

that thou grudgest the more thou styrest god agaynst the / sayth saynt Isyder. ¶The fourthe synne is couetyse / y^t whiche is a wronge desyre y^t man hath to haue ony thynge but he hath ryght therto / this stondeth in two thynges prȳ¦cypally. One is whan thou wrongfully purchasest or getest ony maner thynge by sacrylege / symony / stelthe / vsury / or by ony maner falshede / or gyle / that worldly men vse / whi∣che caste all theyr besynes too couetyse y^t they ne recke how they come to good. In this synne be they gylty that for mo¦ney or other worldly wynnynge vse to playe at the dyce or tables whiche is vtterly forboden by holy chyrche / for many synnes that cometh therof. The fyrste is for the couetyse y^t thou hast to wynne and to dyspoyle thy felawe. Another is for the grete vsury .xii. for .ix or double or quyte. The thirde is for encrease of godes / lesynge / & many other vayne wor∣des that there ben vsed in grete dyspyte of god & his faythe. The fourthe is euyll ensample that thou gyuest to other y^t beholde the. The fyfth is lesyng of tyme in whiche y^u myght haue done many good werkes. The syxte is dyspyte & dyso¦bedience that thou doost to thy moder holy chyrche that for¦byddeth the suche playe. The .vii. is fraude and deceyte y^t y^u doost also to thy felawe in that play. The .viii. is cursed wra¦the and stryfe that cometh therof / wherby ofte thou renyest thy god and lesest thy kyndly wytte. The .ix. is the brekyng of thy holy daye / for in tho dayes it is moche vsed and excer¦cysed. The tenthe is manslaughter the whiche ofte happe∣neth in that dame. The enleuenth is ydolatry that thou cō∣mysen. For thou makest it agaynst the dyse that is a token aboue vnto all myghty god. The mycheues and many mo mysfortunes cometh of this sory playe. All that thou getest and wynnest at this forsayd playe for all the besynesse that thou hast hadde therwith thou mayst not reioyce but nedes thou must gyue and dystrybute it vnto the poore and nedy

And yf thou haue it of hym that thou makest so to playe by strength or agaynst his wyll / thou arte bounde to restore hȳ agayne whiche hath lost it with his playe. Also thou brekest all the commaundementes of god / and whyder thou wȳne or lese it is all thyn harme / for and thou lese thou lesest god and heuen. And yf thou wynne / y^u wynnest the deuyll & hell The lawe canon sayth / that a preest or deken y^t gyueth them to the dyce or dronkenes / but yf he leue it he is certaynly dā¦pned. Subdeken clerke or lewde man y^t vse the same / they muste eyther leue it or lacke theyr howsell. Therfore euery man beware of this playe / & that he suffre it in no wyse be done where he may lette it. For they that consente therto or fauoure it in ony wyse ben in as grete peryll as the doers. The seconde poynte is wronge withholdynge / in whiche y^u fallest in / as ofte as thou doost not to god almyghty / to thy neyghboure / and to holy chyrche thy dutees that thou shol¦dest do by dutye / and by goddes lawe / but wylfully w^thol∣dest theym. For not onely he that wrongfully geteth / but al¦so he that wrongfully withholdeth ben in deedly syn̄e. Out of synne spryngeth many shrewde braunches / as mawme¦try / ambycyon / nygardshyp / treason / vsury / and symony / raueyne / theft / sacrylege / and suche other. ¶These synnes ben so cursed / as I sayd tofore / that in all thynge it contra∣ryeth the wyll and commaundement of god. The fyrst com¦maundement it contraryeth whan thou withdraweth fro god ony thynge that thou sholdest worshyp hym with. The seconde also whan for a lytell wynnynge thou takest his na¦me in vayne. The thyrde whan by worldly besynesse of ge∣tynge of money thou brekest thyn holy daye. The fourthe / whan for couetyse and auaryce thou withdrawest and ta∣kest fro thyn owne propre fader and moder bodely and gost¦ly theyr sustenaunce and lyuelode. ¶The fyfth whan thou sleest and mordrest a man for to haue his hauoyr & goodes

¶The syxte whan thou doost lechery / more for good than for true matrymony. ¶The seuenth whan for couetyse y^u steleste thy neyghboures good. ¶The .viii. whan in questes and also consystoryes thou forswerest the and bereste false wytnesse. ¶The .ix. and the ten whan thou desyreste falsely thy neyghboures wyfe or ony of his good. Thus false coue∣tyse contrayeth all the commaundementes and wyl of god Therfore flee it / and thynke that for all suche false goten goodes / but thou make restytucyon / and amende the he∣re or thou goo hens thou shalte be hanged in helle without ende) Mammona whiche is the deuyll of couetysehe / gyt∣ueth foure commaundementes to his seruauntes. One is that thou kepe well thyne owne. Another that thou gyue not ne doo noo almesse. The thyrde that thou lene not to the poore for drede of lesynge. ¶The fourthe is / that thou withdrawe the and thy meany frome mete and drynke / to spare thy good. Of these foure shrewde commaundemen∣tes eche man beware and flee suche couetyse and desyre of good as Salomon dyde. For he desyred none other ry∣chesse nor pouerte. But that is nedefull to his lyuelode / and accordynge to his estate. And thynke thoughe thou haue neuer soo moche thou shalte leue it here. For naked thou cameste in to this worlde / and agayne naked (saue a ragge thou shalte goo oute therto / and thus all the care that thou hast here is but for an olde shete atte thy goynge hens. The fyfte synne is glotony / the whiche is an vnskylfull lykynge or loue y^t a man hath in taste or in takynge of mete or dryn∣ke to erly / or to late. But yf sekenesse or other grete nede ex∣cuse it. Out of this synne spryngen foure braunches. One is whan thou eteste or drynkest to gredly. In this falle tho∣se that on the fastynge dayes wyll not abyde the houre of noone / and sytte the lenger atte mete / and ete more that ty¦me than a nother. And often tymes quenche theyr hunger

with breed / spyces / and ouermoche drynke for drede of hū∣ger / and thus they breke vygyles / ymberdayes / frydayes in lente and suche other. Another is whan thou castest the to lyue in delytes and pleasures passynge thyn estate. And haste noo Ioye but whan thou mayst speke of suche welfa∣re / thynkynge all best beset that thou doost spende theron. Thou mayst well vse suche dayntye metes and drynkes & not synne sayth saynt Gregory. For the synne is neyther in mete ne drynke / but in the appetyte / & talent that thou de∣lytest so moche therin. ¶The thyrde is surfet that is whan thou pomperest thy body with moche mete and drynke that thou mayst not broke it / but lesest thy syght speche & wytte Iangelynge and bostynge / and wenynge to saye well and ryght / and all that he sayth is agaynst reason and ordre. In this fall these the whiche maketh ryot / rere soupers / and de¦stroye vytayle / the whiche many a poore man myght be re∣leued and susteyned by. ¶The fourthe is curyosyte / and y^t is whan thou canst not holde the apayde with easy fare / but gadrest many curyous metes / more to encrease thyn appe∣tyte than to quenche thyn hongre. In this fall they the whi¦che waste theyr goodes in desolute etynge and drynkynge and grete feestes and bankettes makynge. Agaynst all the¦se cursed braunches thou must kepe abstynence in metes & drynkes. For nothynge dryueth away sekenesses / ne dystro¦yeth the lust of the flesshe / than dooth mesurable takynge of mete and drynke. Fyue maner of folke ben excused from fastynge / that is to say women with chylde / labourers / pyl¦grymes / yonge chyldren / olde folke / and seke people. Al the¦se synneth not for to ete twyes on the daye that is mesura∣ble for to sustayne nature / and not theyr appetyte. ¶The∣re is dyuers abstynences / and fastynges in dyuers maner of persones. ¶The seke man absteyneth and withholdeth hym fro mete & drynke for he may not ete & drynke for me∣dycyne.

The nedy where he hath not wherof The couetous for he wolde not spende The gloton to ete the more after. The ypocryte to beholde holy and vertuous man / to deser∣ue mede absteyneth hym / bothe frome excesse of mete and luste of synne. Thus sholde eche man kepe to hys power. This same techeth saynte poule whan he saythe / I praye you as straungeres and pylgrymes that ye absteyne you frome flesshely desyres / that fyghte ayenste thy soule / and also to destroye thy bodye. ¶Thyse myscheues comen of glotony. It engendrethe sores brynge the in sekenes / de∣stroyeth vertues / dulleth the wytte It hasteth the to deth and that that worse is / For it maketh the lyke a beste. For the fuller thy body is the emptyer is thy soule of vertue. Therfore vse vertue (sayth saȳte Austyne) & thyse vertues shal folowe. ¶Abstynence saueth thy mynde / it sharpeth thy wytte. clenseth thy syghte / maketh holy thy fame / swa¦geth thy synne and maketh stronge thy blode norysheeth thy mary / destroyth lechery renneth thy bloode / and leng∣theth thyn age ¶The .vi. synne is slouthe / and that is gre∣uaunce or anoy of gostely dedes. One of this spryngen ma∣ny shrewde braunches. One is to drawe longe / & tary the goode dedes. that thou sholdeste do / the whiche myghte tor¦ne to the helthe of thy soule and of many other. ¶Another is a dulnesse or heuenesse of herte that letteth the to loue god / and maketh the that thou haste no lykynge in goddis seruyce / for though thou praye. thy herte is not therō. The thyrde is ydelnesse the whiche is to moche vsed / and that letteth vs to begynne ony good werkis / and lyghtely ma∣keth vs to leue whan we begynne. ¶And where we were made of kynde to trauayle the synne of sloughthe / holdeth vs in ydelnesse. and ease agaynst oure kynde. Therfore and thou wylt be saued / thou must flee ydelnesse for it is enmye of chrysten soules stepmoder to goodnesse and alle vertues

and the key of all vyces. Alwaye doo some good werkis) sayth saȳt Iherome) that that the occupyed. For he is not lyghtly take with temptacyon / that be syethe hym aboute And Salomon sayth) that he is mooste foole that loueth y∣delnesse. For in heuen he shall not be receyued. For it is or∣deyned only for theym that haue besyed theym here in ver¦tue. In erthly paradyse they shall neuer be. for they were neuer in mannes laboure here / Ne in purgatory they shal¦le not be scourged with men but in helle with deuylles whe¦re they shall neuer haue reste Therfore be besy here in ver∣tue and alwaye thynke that noo thynge maketh a man soo soone to enclyne to synne as ydelnesse) ¶The seuenth syn∣ne is lecherye. and that is a flesshely synne that cometh of luste and lykynge of the flesshe. ¶Oute of thys spryngen many braunches One is fornycacyon / that is dedely syn∣ne done flesshely / Bytwene syngell man and syngell womā agaynst the lawe of god / and the techynge of holy chyrche ¶Therfore holy chyrche byddeth that noo man chylde ne woman chylde / that passen seuen yere of age / lye to gyder in bedde for drede of fornycacyon. Ne syster ne brother for drede of inceste.) ¶Another is called auoutrye / and that is spowsebrekynge / whether it be doone bodely or goostely It is gretter synne and more mysheues than that other. For therin thou dooste sacrelege (that is to saye) thou bre∣keste the sacrament of wedlocke wher of there comen ofte vnryghtful heyres and fals maryages. ¶This synne dow¦bleth ofte tymes whan it is done by man maryed / and wo∣man maryed. For one of thyse foure myscheues folowes theym that customably vse this synne.) One is pouerte.) Another is lesynge of some membre. The thyrde is perpe∣tuell pryson. ¶The fourthe sodeyn deth And this fayleth not hardely and yf that it be custumably vsed as I sayd tofore. ¶Another is incest / and that is with thy kynne /

or thyne affynyte. ¶A nother is whan thou mysusest thy∣ne own wyfe / and dooste ayenste kynde or order of marya¦ge. For as thou mayste slee thyself with thyn owne swerde. ryghte so thou mayste with thyne owne wyfe. For this syn∣ne was Onam Iacobus cosyn smyten to deth. and seuen husbondes of Sara also. ¶This sacramente and all other sholde be done and vsed honestely / and with grete reueren¦ce ¶Another is whan a. man synneth wyth the kynde of his wyfe / and the contrary this is ryghte perylous for he maye not after wedde none of her kynne / and yf he doo the maryage is noughte / and that worse is he maye knowe his wyfe noo more after warde infourme of wedlocke without dedely synne. but he be requyred of her. ¶Another there is and that is moste stynkynge of all / whyche is the synne ayenste kynde that the deuyll techeth both man and womā The dyuersytees of this sȳne be so abhomynable. that they be not named / but oonly in shryfte of theym that be falle therein▪ ¶For the gretter and more horryble that they syn¦ne is / the more auayleth thy shryft So that the shame of the tellynge is a greate parte of thy penaunce. ¶This was soo dyspleasynge to god that he made to reyne brymstone and fyre / that destroyed fyue Cytees of Sodome and Go∣mere. The deuyll himselfe that causeth this synne hath sha¦me of the dede. ¶Thyse and many other flesshely synnes / whiche ben dedely / and eueryche werse than othere comen oute of this fowle synne of lechery.) The whiche be well knowen to theym that lyuen in luste of theyre flesshe. Therfore flee the occasyons (sayth saynte poule) that is to saye) syghte of wymmen / kyssynge / touchynge. and suche other / ¶This wyse scaped Ioseph the synne of his lady whan he lefte his palle or mantel with her. And ranne a∣waye Thynke also vpon the fynyshement and ende / and in lykewyse how nyghe it is of the dredefull and streyte do¦me

the whiche thou shalte come vnto and the horryble and inestymable paynes and also tourmentes the whiche are in the perfounde depnes of helle made redy for suche horry¦ble synnes / and loke that thou presume not of thyself in no maner of wyse. For the noble kynge Dauyd / and the wyse kynge Salamon his sone / and the stronge Sampson were ouercomen with that vnhappy synne. Also in no maner of wyse here nor also speke no lecherous wordes / but with all thy herte and mynde loue holy scrypture. for that draweth a man moche therefor. Vse also prayer fastynge / good and lawfull occupacyons / and wythdrawe the frome superflui¦tees. And excesse of hote metes and drynkes for yf thou ly¦ue after thy flesshe thou shalt be dede sayth scrypture / that is to saye / dampned vnto euer lastynge payne of helle.) ¶Therfore shytte the gates of thy body and thy soule fro all thyse myscheues of synne / that is to saye) thy fyue wyt∣tes bodely and goostly / that they consente not with hym. ¶Fyrste thyne eyen from shrewde and lewd thynges bac bytȳge & euyll wordes & coūceyles. Thy mouth frome vn∣lawful taste of glotony lewd kyssȳges / & rybawdry wordes thyhōdes frome lewd towchȳge of thyselfe & of other And frō stelthe & takȳge other mēnes goodes agaȳst their wyll Thy feet also frome the pathes of synne / and all other wret¦ched wayes that thou myghtest drawe to. ¶These ben the bodely wyttes. ¶Than take thy ghoostly, wyttes as myn¦de / and vnderstondynge / reason and ymagynacyon / that is to saye. Haue mynde of the kyndenesse of god / and of thy laste ende / and thou shalte neuer synne. And ye shal vnder¦stonde also Crystes loore and his techynge and lete euer thy wyll be redy to worshyppe hym in thoughte / worde and de¦de without ony werynes. Lete reason also rule thy dedes Inwarde / and outwarde by Crystes loore and his tehyn∣ge withouten oony deceyte or blyndenesse of thy owne selfe ¶And alwaye haue ymagynacyon of vertuous lyuynge

of nedefull werkes / and of dredefull dedes of Ioye & blysse that is ordeyned in heuen to theym that leue theyr synne & shall be saued / and of the horryble paynes / & sorowes that they shall suffre endlesly / whiche for theyr synnes shall be dampned in to the dongeon of helle. In the whiche ben .ix. maner of horryble and hydeous paynes / that nyne maner of people shall be tourmented with there as clerkes sayeth. ¶The fyrste is fyre that euer brenneth / and neuer gyueth lyght in whiche thoughal y^e water in the see were cast in it sholde not quēche it. For as our fyre passeth a fyre paynted so dooth that fyre passe oures. In this fyre shall they euer brenne / that here alway brenned in the fyre of false couety∣se. ¶The seconde is passynge colde / that yf a grete hylle of fyre were casten therin it sholde torne to yse / with this shall they be tourmented there / that ben colde in loue by malyce of the fende. ¶The thyrde payne is wormes and horryble serpentes as dragons that neuer shall deye / but lyue in fyre as fysshes dooth in water. With these they shall be gnawen there that here gnawe theym selfe with venymous hate of theyr euen crysten. ¶The fourthe is abhomynable stynke / wherin they shall be lapped there that here delyteth theym in the foule stynke of the synne of lechery. ¶The fyfth shal be betynge of myghty fendes as it were with hamers of y∣ren / wherwith they shall be payned and beten without sea∣synge that wolde not here be chastysed by y^e techynge of god¦des wordes. ¶The syxte payn is derkenes the whiche is so tenebrous and thycke / that as it were that it myght be felt with hande. In these horryble derkenes shall they be boun∣de there that lyueth here in present worlde in derkenesse of this foresayd synne and wyll not come to Cryst the whiche is veray lyght by holy lyuynge and leuynge of synne why∣les they myght. ¶The seuenth payne is open shenshyppe or shame for synne / the whiche shall be apertly knowen / &

not hydde in paynfull reprefe of synfull folke / and specyally to them that wyll not knowlege theyr synne here to god in due maner. Ne were not ashamed of hym / this shal be a ful herde tourment. ¶The. eyght is the horryble syght of de∣uylles / rorynge / and cryenge with ferefull and sorowfull voyce wherwith thus they shall be payned there that here toke none hede of holy ensamples & good dedes. Ne of pre∣chynge nor techynge of goddes wordes and byddynges.❀ ¶The nynthe is fyry bondes / wherwith they shall be boun¦de there honde and fote / and other membres that here spen¦deth theyr membres and lymmes in y^e deuylles seruyce af¦ter the lust and lykynge of theyr bodyes. ¶These nyne pay¦nes shall these synfull suffre there that here forsoke and left vnwysely the felawshyp of the nyne ordres of aungellys by theyr synfull lyuynge / but they amende them or they goo hens. Therfore be sory for thy synne & amende the whyles thou arte here that thou mayst escape all these horryble pay¦nes / and reygne with oure lorde Ihesu Cryst in his hyghe blysse of heuen. Where is euer myrthe after trauayle / fredo¦me after bondage / helthe after longe sekenes / rest after tra¦uayle / lyfe after deth / perfyte loue without drede / and euer daye without nyght. There thou shalte haue seuen Ioyes in thy body / and seuen in thy soule. In thy body fayrenes / swetenes / strengthe / luste helthe / and in mortalyte / and in thy soule wysdome / frendshyppe / and accorde / power / wor¦shyppe / surety / and Ioye without ende. To the whiche he brynge vs that for vs deyed on the rode. Ihesu cryst god∣des sone. Amen