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THE Prophete saith thise wordes / I shall mount to the appul∣tree / & take of the fru¦te / Somtyme is vn¦derstonde by the appultree the cros¦se / And somtyme penaunce. Som¦tyme contemplacyon /
¶On the appultre of the crosse gader men the fruyte of lyfe. On
¶This appultree shold haue vij braunches / and vpon euery braun¦che a byrde & a floure / The fyrste braunche is consideracyon of hym selfe / that is whan the soule know¦eth hyrselfe / and enserchyth fayth∣fully & truly in hir conscyence. soo that therin abyde noo thynge that shold dysplese god Vpon this bra¦unche makyth the pecok his neest / The pecok is of suche nature that whan she slepyth on nyghtes / and wakyth sodenly. she cryeth for the fere that she hathe to lese hir bewte. ¶This signefyeth the soule that our lorde hath formed and created soo fayr that in the nyghte of this derke worlde oughte alwaye to be in drede / soo that she lease not hir be¦aute / whiche ben the bountees & the graces that god hath lent & gyuen hyr. so ought she by grete dyscōfor¦te to crye whan she felith & know∣eth ony derknesse / and shortly and wyth ferme faythe to chace awaye all hir defawtes / Vpon this braū¦che is a full fayre flour that is of good odour. & also hath an heuenly coloure / whiche is called Narde. It is an herbe lityll & low & of hote na¦ture / that signefieth humilite. that gladly obeyeth hirself / & that maye not be done wythout ye hete of cha∣rite· Suche humylite yeldeth grete colour & odour / for it drewe ye sone of god down to erth / soo as our la¦dy it wytnesseth▪ there where she sa¦yth· For he hath behold the humyli¦te of his hondmayde. She sayd not the virgynite nor the charyte / nor the noblesse / nor many other vertu¦es / wherwyth she was fulfylled. But she said rather humylite / For this was the specyall vertue wher¦fore the sone of god descended in her For yf she had not be perfite meke he wold neuer haue chosen hir. for he resisteth to the prowde. & to the hūble gyueth his grace. Well res∣ted this swete lady vpon the braū¦che of contemplacyon / that kepte humylite / & loste not hir holinesse Vpon this braūche desired dauyd to sitte / whan he sayd in prayenge Bedewe me lorde wyth esoppe / thē¦ne shal I be more whyte thā snow Isoppe signefieth that same ye. nar¦de doth / The Isoppe purgeth the bre¦ste. & humylyte purgeth the hert of Rancour / of enuye / of shrewdnesse & of al felonyes· By this desired dauyd to be clensid after his grete synne / for he knewe well that this was the true medicyn /
¶The seconde braūche of contem∣placōn is cōpunccion of theyr ne∣yghbours. for whā ye soule hath go¦od wyll to amēde al this that god is displesed for. & bi ye knouleche re¦ceyueth the floure of very humyly¦tee. Thenne oughte she to haue compascyon of hir neyghbours /
the appultree of Penaunce gader men seuen fruytes / Foure to the body: and thre to the soule The fyrs¦te fruyte that the body shall haue after his penaunce▪ done shal be cle¦renesse / soo scrypture sayth The ius¦te folke shall shyne as the son̄e in the Reame of their fader / Of this sayth saynt poul / we shall beholde sayth he our lorde Ihesu cryste that shall refourme the bodyes of oure humanytee. as fygure to the body of his clernesse The seconde frute that the body shall haue / shall be li¦ightnesse. for it shal be as light as the thought is now. Wherof men finde of our lord after his resurrex¦cyon that he was light / For now apered he to theim that were in eu¦mans▪ and forthwith to them that were in Iherusalem. The thirde fru¦te that the body shall haue shall be subtylte. They shall not be thenne so groos as they are now / but they shall be full subtyll / As men fyn∣de also of our lorde Ihesu cryst af∣ter the sayd resurrexcōn / that he en¦tred amonge his dyscyples whan the dores were shytte / This myg∣hte not be done before but by myra∣cle / The fourth fruyte that the body shall haue / shall be Impassibylite / this shall be helthe / for it shal be so hole that it shall neuer maye haue siknes in bodi nor in soule. thise fo¦ur fruytes shal the body haue / and the soule shall haue thre. The fyrst shal be the knowlege of the godhe¦de wherof saint poul saith / I know now a partye by fygure. & as men loke in a glasse / But thēne shal I knowe like as I am now knowē we shall know god in all as he is & see him clerly wythout couerture or wythout glasse. this shall be the lighte of the grete glories that the soule shall haue / The seconde shall be the glorye of humanyte of Ih̄u cryst / The thyrde shall be loue. For yf the soule haue knowleche & sigh¦te & loue not / this sholde be noo per∣fyte glorye / But she loue hir god whō she shall see & know Now co¦me we to the appultree of contēpla¦cōn / Thappultree is streite & sklē∣der doūward & large vpward. For the soule that wyll moūt in contē∣placōn ought to be streyght & sklē¦der doūwarde to all erthly thynges & to all carnall affeccōns / & large vpwarde in the loue of god and of his neyghbour / For like as the ap¦pultree the more playn it be wyth∣out bowes tyll it come to the height the more spredeth it in ye toppe. th{us} dooth the soule that stretchith on he¦ight by contēplacōn of tyme hauī¦ge noo lowe bowes of worldly ne carnalle affeccyon spredeth moche more vpwarde in loue to god /
And sholde applie hyr humbly and gladly to the nede of their af∣fliccōns. Vpon this braūche ma¦kyth the shrikeowle hir neest / that is of suche nature: that she drawith hir about suche places as dede body¦es ben beried. And whā ony is ne¦re his deth she felith it aferre / & cry¦eth lowde by grete pyte & sorowe: This byrde signefyeth the cōpasci¦on of the soule that shold put her in grete dyligence aboute hem that bē in sinne for to conuerte hem & bryn¦ge hem ayen in the way of saluaci¦on / And whan she perceyueth ony that aprocheth to the deth of ye sow¦le bi dedely syn̄e / thēne sholde she crie by grete lamentacōn to god with teres & wyth orysons / Vpon thys braūche growyth the floure of gla¦ne / this glane growyth aboute wa¦ters / By this water is vnderston¦de they that Rēne in dedely synne a∣boute whom sholde growe charite & gyue attendaūce to the compascyo¦nat soule / Vpō this braūche was moūted dauid. that sayd / Lord for this that the syn̄ers haue not kep¦te your lawes / I haue cast this gre¦te habūdance of teres. Vpon thys braūche was thereime moūted the {pro}phete yt said who shal gyue water to my hede / a for this yt he thought water myghte drye and fayle. say∣de h̄e after / and to myne eyen wel∣les of teres / that I myght wepe the wretchydnesse of my peple / He tho¦ughte teres that neuer sholde sease / Suche teres shold h̄aue the soule yt wyll moūt vpon the appultree of comtēplacōn. as an holy fader was theron wel moūted. that sayd who is seke in all holy chyrche eyther in body or in soule / but that I be trow¦blid & sory wyth hem /
¶The thyrde braūche of thappul¦tree is temporell affliccōn / whan she putteth hirself in grete afflicte by penaūce / & also that she suffreth Ioyefully & with a peasible hert all aduersitees for the loue of our lor¦de. Vpō braūche makith the swan her nest / that is of suche natur̄ that whan she shall deye she singyth This signefyeth the soule that ha¦the Ioye in trybulacion. Vpō this braūche were moūted thappostles of whom mē say: the apostles had grete Ioye whan they went out of the coūs••yles of the Iewes & phare¦sees / where thei were beten. for this that they thoughte theym worthy to suffre shame for the name of ou¦re lorde Ihesu cryste / Vpon thys brauche grewe the floure of the le∣lye / wherof the spowse sayth in the Cantycles /
¶ / Thus as the lelye is amonge the thornes. thus is my loue amō¦ge the chylderne of the worlde / ¶Whanne the flowre of the lelye is amonge the thornes
they prycke hir. and she pryckyth hem not. but rather yeldeth good o¦dour by true pacyence / Thus oug∣hte the holy soule to doo. She oug∣hte not answere by sharpe wordes but rather oughte to yelde good o∣dour by true pacyence to all theym that done hyr ony offence. soo that she maye saye wyth saynt poul / we ben of good odour to god in al pla¦ces· But they that yelden euyll for euyll. and ben redy to answere by signes and by wordes. And wyll not forgete one worde that folke saye to theym or doo ony wronge / nor wyll not forgyue / all suche fol¦kes ben not of the appyl tree of cō¦templacyon /
¶The fourth braūche of contem∣placyon is compunccōn / Compūc¦cyon is whan the soule is sore mo¦uyd and prycked wyth the trauey¦••es of our lorde Ihesu cryst. so that she forgeteth all other payne & tra∣ueyle that maye come to hyr / For as men wyll and maye more ease ••y dryue oute a wedge or a pyn of tree that is myssette by a nother In like wyse whan the soule is me¦uyd & pryckyd wyth trybulacyon. It oughte to remembre how hyr so¦uerayn sauyour & loue was for her perced & nayled on the crosse. And this sharpnesse & sorow sholde put away all other payne & sorowe frō hir ••ert Vpō this braūche makith hir neest a byrde whiche is callid harpia. that hath the sēblaūce of a man̄es visage / & hir nature is to slee the fyrst man she fyndeth / & thē¦ne gooth she to some water / where she beholdeth hirself. & seeth that she hath slayn hir owne liknes. & then̄ makyth she a full grete sorowe al∣waye that euer she sawe ony man. This signefyeth ye soule that slew cryst by hir syn̄e / whose sēblaūce is in hir / for to his sēblaūce was she created / And whan she remēbreth how Ih̄u was dede for our synnes then̄e ought •• she to make grete so∣row & lamentacōn / Thus as the turtle dooth whā she hath loste her felaw. & she come to the place whe∣re he deyed / & fynde feders or ony o∣ther signe she makyth grete sorowe Thus oughte the soule to doo that hath lost Ih̄u cryst hir good lorde & loue / she ought to doo thus as di¦de the doughter of a kyng that abo¦de orphelin. And men took awaye hyr enheritaunce / Thenne was the¦re the sone of a myghty kyng that had soo grete pyte of hyr that he to¦ke this yōge lady to his wyf and conqueryd agayne hyr herytage. and deyed in the bataylle / Thenne this yonge lady took the armes of the knyghte that for hyr was dede· And behelde theim euery day wepyng vpō tharmes & made merueyllous grete sorowe / The do∣ughter
of the kyng that abode or∣phelin & lost hir heritage / this was the soule that was doughter of a∣dam / that was a ryght noble man whan he was in paradys / But he lost his enherytaūce whan he was dryuen thens by his synne / And thenne had the sone of god greate pyte for the sowle that was thus dysheryted / and dyscended fro para∣dyce / to marye hir: this same daye of maryage was made / whan he Ioyned his deyte to our humanite & fro that day fought for vs xxxij yeer & an halfe / & at the laste deyed for vs in the batayle of the crosse / Wherfore we oughte well to doo thus as this yonge lady dyde al∣way to haue his deth in remembra¦ūce / & wyth grete compascōn often to beholde his armes / This is hys crosse / his spere / his nayles: & all ye Instrumentes of his passion / and wepe euery daye for this. that our lorde & souerayn loue was dede for vs. ¶Vpon this braūche grow∣ith the rose / that signefyeth marter¦dom spūelly. & tho that be thus tou¦ched & prycked forgeten lightly alle worldli troubles: and may wel sa¦ey •• am woūded bi charite / for this is the tru way of charyte / For as wel content is the very charitable with hem that blame hem· as them that prayse hem / For the soule that is verely confermed in god. ne is not ouerthroē by aduersite ne a rey¦sid bi {pro}sperite The v. braūche of cō¦templacōn is abidyng / whā ye sow¦le is of soo grete desire that she aby¦deth our lorde in desiryng. ¶Vpō this braūche were moūted ye {pro}phe∣tes of tholde tyme / that somoche de¦sired the comyng of our lord. whā they sayd come lord & tary not / & a nother sayd / yf he make taryeng a¦byde we him / for he shal com / & tary not longe / Vpō this braūche was moūted dauyd / whā he sayd beholde we & abyde we our lorde / & after sa¦yd he thus / as the harte desireth the welle / thus desireth my soule to the my god / . & in a nother place sayth he / ¶Dormitauit aīa mea prete dio / Saynt poul was moūted on̄ day on this braūche & sayd. I desire to be dyssolued / & to be wyth cryst. & in a nother place he sayd▪ Wret∣ched mā who shal delyu{er} me of this body of deth. ¶Vpō this braūche makith ye nightyngale his neest. yt is of suche nature that he singyth al nyght ayēst ye day / & whā he seth ye daye & the son̄e ryse he makyth so gre Ioy ye vneth he kepith his lyfe this signefieth ye holi soule yt in the derke night of this lif abydeth our lord / & whā she felith his comīg in hir hert by grace· she hath soo grete Ioye / that she can nother speke nor be stylle / suche was the gode ••ld sy¦meō / that was so Ioyful whan he
beholde the comynge of the sone of god / wherof he sayth / Ha god whā shall come the swete chylde / whan shal he be born· whan shall I see hī whether shall I dure soo long that he may finde me here at his holi na¦tyuite. Maye euer my eyen see that same / by whom the eye of the soule shall be awakid· Thise wordes sa¦yd he euery day in his prayer. by ye oppressynge of the grete desire of his herte / And by his grete desyre had he answere of the holy goost yt he sholde not fele deth tyll he had seē the very sone of god. Thus dide he as the nyghtyngale that singeth all the nyghte / Whan he sawe com day. & the sone of Iustyce of whō mary was moder. & broughte him to be offryd in the temple. he ran a¦yenst him & enbraced him / and held hym ayēst his hert / and had so gre¦te Ioye / that vneth his hert myght abyde it. And thenne made he this fair songe ¶Nūc dimittis seruū tuū dn̄e / &c / Lord put your serua∣unt in peas / for now I see the pea¦se that I haue somoche desired •• whe¦reof I haue somoche Ioye that deth is noo payne to me. And for god¦des sake doo we as simeon dyde / en¦brace we this swete chylde in thar¦mes of our hertes / Saint anne en¦braced him in the temple / that had somoc desired hym: Vpon this braunche grew the floure of safrē and the flour blanche / whiche sig∣nefyen / that this feruent desire ma¦keth the soule pale & yelow / wher∣of it sayth in the cantycles / lete me not to beholde though I be blacke for the sone hath dyscoloured me And in a nother place sayth he a∣rayed wyth flowres set on wyth thornes. for I languysshe in loue / The sixte braunche of the appyll tree is vysitacyon / whan our lord hath pyte on the soule desiryng hī he vysiteth hir by his grace. that he gyueth hir the felyng of his swete presence / that she hath somoche desi¦red. Vpon this braunche makyth the swalow hir nest / & she is of su¦che nature / that she takyth hir fedī¦ge in ayre & in fleeng / This signe fyeth the soule vysited of god / that ought to take no comfort nor plei¦sure of noo temporell thynge: but of god allonly. And tho thynges nedeful to the body sholde they take thus. as in fleeng. that is to abyde theron as lityll as they may / but o¦nely for their sustenaūce / Vpon this braūche was mounted ezechi¦el whā he sayd all thus / as ye faw¦ne that cryeth after his moder / & ta¦keth noo comforte but of hir / thus the soule contemplatyf whan she cometh ayen to hyrselfe / and seeth the grete Ioye that she shall haue of this suffraūce. she ough•• not to obeye hir to hir owne wyll / nor to
synne but allonely to the wylle of god. / Vpon this braūche groweth the marygolde. whiche is of suche nature / that whan the sonne shew¦eth the floure spredeth / And whā the sonne wythdr••••eeth it closeth / Right thus shold doo the comtem¦platyf soule ayenst the son̄e of Ius¦tyse / and ought alway to open hyr herte by desire & by loue / And yf it falle ony tyme that grace be wyth¦drawen. they sholde close their her∣tes ayenst all forreyne pleysures. & ayenst all synne. & oughte to take noo reste nor comforte tyll it come ayen. And as the marygolde fo∣loweth the son̄e / soo ought the con¦templatyf soule to folowe our lord to serue hym / to desire hym / & to go after him / Suche was mari maw¦deleyne whan she went to the sepul¦cre / where she foūde noo thyng· but thangel that answerd hir of whō she took lityll hede / for she was soo feruēt in the loue of our lorde whō she soughte. that she myght receyue noo comfort of thangel / And yet was he as cleer as a full fayr ster¦re / But she axed for the son̄e that all enlumyneth / & took lityll kepe of al other cle••nes / She sought hī ofte where he was not. & thider ca∣me she wyth right grete desire: For there was the last place where she had lefte him· and for this wende she there surely to fynde hym by her desires. And afterwarde she foūde hym. For truly who that wyll per∣seuer in deuoute praiers / & refuseth for him all other forreyne pleysu∣res / they shall surely fynde hym wythout doubt. hymself promyseth soo in thapocalips & sayth / I loue them that loue me / and those that wake bytymes for me shall fynde me / And thus for cause she loued hym / she fonde him / and yet sayd he more / Yf ony opē his gate for me I wyll entre in wyth a good wyll & dwelle wyth hym. & he wyth me / and shal ete gladly wyth hym. & he wyth me. Vpon this braunche sa∣te dauyd / whā he sayd my soule ha¦the refused all comforte / but oonly of the / ¶The seuenth braunche of contemplacyon is affeccōn. that is. whan the soule is come to thys that she felith somoche of god that the humanyte ne may not holde her but rather fayle. Vpon this braū¦che was dauyd mounted / whan he sayd. I shal remember me of god & shall delite me & exercyse me in the loue of hym· & my spiryte fayleth And in a nother place he saith mi soule fayleth. Vpon this braūche makyth her nest the phenyx. that signefyeth the spirytuell folke / for this that he is singuler. For full fewe is of them. or of suche that co¦me to this hye stage / The phenyx is of suche nature / that whan he
shall deye / he gadreth togyder thor∣nes / and gooth in to the moost ho∣te part of al the londe yt he is in. & whan he hath heped them / he fleeth ouer theym soo longe that they be∣gyn to brenne. and thenne bren̄eth he hymselfe in that fyre / and of tho¦se asshes groweth a nother fenyx The phenix in one sence signefieth our lorde Ih̄u crist that was with out fader in erth. to whom was ne¦uer none like / & in him was all ye braūches of vertues assēbled / whi∣che by loue brent hymself on thaul¦ter of the crosse. The phenyx also signefyeth the holy soule spirituell that hath gadred togyder the thor∣nes of good vertues / & bereth hem in to the hete of charite / Soo ma∣ke they to god sacrefyse of body & soule whā they offre to him in tho¦dour of his humanyte on the auter of their hertes by perfyte desire. and this sacrefyce is ful pleysaunt to god / wherof dauyd sayd / Suche sa¦crefyse is crase / And in a nother place sayd / Thenne is the sacrefise crase whan 〈…〉〈…〉 is reysed by wynges of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••esires / oute of al bodely affeccyons & Imagynacy∣ons / and she is Ioyned to god in crase / & is dronken of the crase of the holy goost / so that for the tyme hir behoueth to fayle bi the grete ha¦bundante Ioye that she felith / This signefyeth the quene of sa∣ba / that came to Iherusalem for to see the sapyēce of Salamon / wher¦of she had herde the grete renomme But whan she sawe hym / she sa∣id she sawe more than she had her¦de / And as scripture sayth she fay¦led in hirself for the merueiles that she behelde in hym. The fruyte of this braūche is Ih̄u cryst / that sa¦yd I am the floure of the felde / and the lelye of the valeye Of this fru¦te sayd Elisabeth / ¶Benedictus fructus. &c. The leues of this bra¦ūche ben the cryes / sighes· the sow¦nynges / and the snobbynges that they haue that ben thus moūted.