The interpretacyon, and sygnyfycacyon of the Masse Here begynneth a good deuoute boke to the honoure of god, of our lady his mother, [and] of all sayntes, and ryght profytable to all good Catholyke persones, to knowe howe they shall deuoutly here masse. And how salutaryly they shal confesse them. And how reuerently and honourably they shall go to the holy sacrament or table of our sauyour Ihesu chryste, with dyuerse other profytable documents and oraysons or prayers here conteyned, composed and ordeyned by frere Gararde, frere mynoure, of the ordre of the Obseruauntes.

¶ Here begynneth the thyrde boke / contey∣nynge & showynge howe a man shall confesse hym and prepare hym selfe to receyue the holy and blyssed Sacrament / and what he shall rede than.

¶ The prologue.

EGo sū panis viuus qⁱ de celo descēdit: si qⁱs mādu cauerit ex hoc pane / vi∣uet īeternū. Iohīs sexto In the whiche wordes our lorde doth resē∣ble hym selfe to breade sayenge. I am the ly¦uynge breade / he that doth eate of this brea∣de shall lyue euerlastyngly / not that this breade after the consecracyon doth lyue / but

this breade is conuerted in to lyuely flesshe and blode / albeit that it doth resemble and appere lyke breade / And that for foure rea∣sons.

¶ Fyrste / for the breade noryssheth the man more than any other meate / so also the holy Sacrament doth norysshe the soule of man aboue all thynge / for a thynge is full whā there can no more enter therin. The soule of man is of so great importaūce: that no crea¦ture in heuen nor in erth can or maye fyll it / but god onely whiche hath made and four∣med it. This ye maye consydre / for albeit y^t man shuld haue al the ioye & all the goodes of the worlde / yet wolde he more haue and desyre / as those that haue a thousande poū∣des / wolde yet haue .x. thousande / and tho∣se that haue .x. thousande / wolde haue .xx. thousande. And therfore the herte of man is neuer content / haue he neuer so moche: ex¦cepte that he haue god in his soule / for he is so great that he onely can fyll satysfye and content it. And therfore they do erre whiche do saye / yf I had suche a thynge I shuld be content. O man / yf thou haddest all the worlde as kynge Alexandre had / yf thou haue not our lord Ihesu chryste in thy herte yet shall thou not be content. For as saynt

Austyn sayth. O good lorde thou hast ma∣de vs after thy dyuyne Image & lykenes. And therfore our herte is not content tyll it come vnto the / my herte maye be occupyed with & in all thynges / but thou onely good lorde maye remplysshe and fyll it.

¶ Secondaryly / oure lorde dothe resemble hym selfe to breade / for naturally a mā can not lyue without breade / and breade dothe fortyfye the herte and gyueth lyfe to man / So spyrytually the man can not lyue in the soule / without vsynge and receyuynge re∣uerently the holy sacrament / For by recey∣uynge reuerently the holy sacrament / a mā doth not onely lyue but also he is preserued here in erth / in vertue / ī prosperyte / in grace and also hereafter in heuen in ioye / whiche god hym selfe hath promysed vs sayenge / He that dothe eate of this breade shall lyue euerlastyngly.

¶ Thyrdly: albeit that the breade is necessa¦ry for man as concernynge the body / yet ne¦uertheles it is very euyl & daūgerous eaten in foure maners. So is it also of the holy sa¦crament whiche is the breade of the soule.

¶ Fyrste / the breade eaten in angre & with impacyence / bryngeth & causeth great dysea¦se and syckenes to the man: for the naturall

hete of the man whiche dothe consume and dysgest the meate / doth apply & gyue it selfe to the angre and impacyentnes / and not to the meate. So is it also with them that re∣ceyue the holy sacrament beynge in malyce & enuye: for theyr synnes wherof they be cō∣fessed / be not pardoned and forgyuen them And as saynt Ambrose wryteth / the man receyueth of god suche pardon of his syn̄es / as he gyueth and pardoneth his neyghbour and euen chrysten / for suche persones do set theyr myndes more to dystroye theyr ene∣myes / than to serue god.

¶ Secōdaryly / he that doth eate the breade or meate whiche is not well hādled / dressed or apoynted / shall fynde it very vnholso∣me. So is it also with them that do receyue the holy sacrament / without a feruent pre∣paracyon of deuocyon / as of contrycyon & confessyon which be necessary for the man. For as saynt Paule saythe / the man shall proue hym selfe fyrste / that is to saye howe he is dysposed in his conscyence / afore that he receyue the holy sacrament / and than he shall go there.

¶ Thyrdly / it is very vnholsome to take and eate to moche of brede or of mete: for all fyllynge and excesse & specyally of breade

is euyll as the Phesycyens do saye. So is it also of the holy sacrament / that is to saye / whan the man wyll enquyre further and knowe more thā it doth belonge vnto hym where it is cōmaūded vnto hym to knowe or to byleue / he doth fall in a great dysease and syckenes in his soule as the Herytykes whiche byleue not in the holy sacrament: by¦cause that it is aboue theyr vnderstandyn∣ge / the whiche (as Salomon sayth) be spoy¦led of grace and of glory hereafter in heuen. For as saynt Bonauenture sayth / there be .xxiii. mysteryes hyd and closed in the sacra¦ment which do surmount and passe all our vnderstandynge.

¶ Fourthly / the breade or meate is not hol∣some yf that the man do slepe incontynent after that he haue taken it / for therby do pro¦cede and come feuers and other dyseases as Auycene sayth. So is it also of the holy sa∣crament / that is to saye / whan the man af∣ter that he hath receyued the holy sacrament dothe fall incontynent agayne in to deedly synne / so that he doth not kepe the grace of the holy sacrament / he doth lease all his ver¦tues by hym done / and his soule is deed afo¦re god. And so longe as he is yet in synne / so longe he is in dampnacyon of his soule.

Therfore saynt Iohan Euangelyste sayth be well ware that thou do not lease that / y^t thou hast done / to the ende that thou maye receyue a great rewarde in heuen.

¶ Fourthly / wherfore our lorde doth resem¦ble hym selfe to breade is / that in all maner that the naturall breade is apoynted and la¦boured for the profyte of the body / so is also the lyuynge breade spyrytually apoynted / in the holy sacrament.

¶ Fyrste / for to sawe the corne fructefully a man muste take the tyme conuenyent for the same / as the last parte of the yere. This doth sygnyfie howe our lord had made hym selfe man / in the laste age of this worlde / whan it had dured .v.M.C.xcix. yeres.

¶ Secondaryly / by the sede caste in to the erth / we vnderstande the humanyte of our lorde buryed and couerte in erth.

¶ Thyrdly / by the erth in the whiche the se¦de was caste / we vnderstande the blyssed body of oure lady / in the whiche oure lorde hath rested.

¶ Fourthly / the erth ought to be donged y^t it may be fertyll / and yet alwayes it is este¦med as nothynge worth. We vnderstande by this the parfounde humylyte of the blys∣sed vyrgyne mary / the which dyd not repu¦te

and esteme her selfe to be the worthy ser∣uaunt of our lorde god.

¶ Fyfthly / the erth muste be laboured and tourned. This doth sygnyfye howe mary was tourned by consent to receyue the sone of god in her vyrgynall wombe.

¶ Syxtly / there is a seruaunt that doth le∣de and guyde the horses tournynge the erth. This doth sygnyfie the aungell Gabryell berynge the message / and dysyrynge her consent.

¶ Seuenthly / the erth oughte to be moyste with the rayne celestyall / for otherwyse the corne wolde not sprynge and come forth of the grounde / whiche doth sygnyfye the holy ghost descended from heuen / makynge the blyssed vyrgyne mary apte and mete to be the mother of the sone of god / and she to be styll a vyrgyne.

¶ Eyghtly / the corne is couered vnder the erth that a man can not se it. This doth sy∣gnyfye the meruaylous concepcyon of oure lord / by the which the humanyte was vny¦ed with the deyte / the whiche thynge howe it was done / it doth passe the vnderstādyn¦ge of all creatures.

¶ Nynthly / after that the corne hath ben a longe space in the erth / and that it is rype /

it is cut & layed on the grounde. This doth sygnyfye how after that our lord had rested nyne monethes in the wombe of our lady / he was borne lyenge vpon the colde erth. ¶ Tenthly / whan the corne hathe rested a lytell vpon the grounde / it is taken vp & bounde togyther. This doth sygnyfye how our lady dyd take vp her dere sone from the grounde / byndynge his membres in poore lynnen clothes.

¶ Eleuenthly / after that the corne is so boū¦de / it is layde in the grange or barne. This doth sygnyfye howe our lady dyd laye her chylde in the crybbe of an Oxe stall: betwe¦ne an Oxe and an Asse.

¶ Twelfthly / whan the corne hath ben a certayne space in the grange or barne / and that the man wyl vse it to his profyte / it is taken & caste downe from the mowe to be thrasshed. This doth sygnyfye howe after that oure lorde had rested .xxxiii. yeres / he was taken from the company of his dyscy∣ples by the Iewes / who caste hym downe to the erth.

¶ The .xiii. the corne is thrasshed and all to bette on euery syde hygh & lowe. This doth sygnyfye howe the Iewes dyde caste hym downe moste cruelly before them / betynge

and scourgynge hym / hygh and lowe: afore and behynde and on euery syde / those that were the seruaūtes of Pylate & the Iewes. ¶ The .xiiii. a man doth clense it and caste it in the fan from one syde to another. This sygnyfyeth howe swete Ihesus was sent and ledde from Annas to Cayphas / from Cayphas to Pylate / from Pylate to Hero¦de / and agayne from Herode to Pylate / as from one Iuge to another.

¶ The .xv. the corne is gronne and broken so y^t there is no parte therof left hole. This doth sygnyfye howe our lorde beynge boū∣de to a pyller / was so sore bette / scourged & wounded / that from the toppe of his heed vnto the solles of his fete was not one pla¦ce lefte hole. The two heuye stones of the myll / were the Iewes and Romaynes / as the seruauntes and sergeauntes of Pylate. ¶ The .xvi. the corne thus broken is cyfted & caused to passe through the cyue / whiche is full of lytell holes. This doth sygnyfye howe Ihesus after that he was scourged was crowned with a crown of thorne / the whiche dyd make many holles in his blys∣sed heed wherof dyd tenne downe his blys∣sed blode abundauntly.

¶ The .xvii. the swete flowre or mele / is

mynged or myxte / with daughe or sowre paste. This dothe sygnyfye howe Pylate hath gyuen and myxte the bytter sentence of deth / with the humanyte of oure lorde Ihesu chryste.

¶ The .xviii. the breade thus myxte & ma∣de / it is couered with a cloth. This doth sy∣gnyfye howe after the sentence gyuen by Pylate / the Iewes dyd cloth our lorde a∣gayne with his owne clothes.

¶ The .xix. the breade begynneth to ascen∣de & ryse. This doth sygnyfye howe swete Ihesus charged with the heuye crosse / dyd ascende vp to the mount of Caluerye.

¶ The .xx. the ouen is prepared for to bake the breade. This doth sygnyfye that the Ie¦wes dyd prepare the crosse / for to crucyfye our lorde vpon the same.

¶ The .xxi. the fyre is put in to the ouen / wherwith it is made hotte. This dothe sy∣gnyfye the brennynge & feruent loue / wher¦with the herte of our lorde was kyndled & set on fyre for to saue mankynde.

¶ The .xxii. the cooles & asshes be drawen out of the ouen & the ouen made clene. This doth sygnyfye howe our lorde ones agayne was spoyled of his robes by the Iewes / & was lefte all naked.

¶ The .xxiii. the breade is put in to the ouen to be baked. This doth sygnyfie that the Ie¦wes dyd cast our lorde vpon the crosse and there dyd fasten and nayle hym with great nayles.

¶ The .xxiiii. than the ouen is iust stopped that there go none ayre forthe of it. This dothe sygnyfye that the sonne was darke & stopped from his lyghte at the deth of oure lorde Ihesu chryste.

¶ Fynally whan the breade is well baked it is drawen out of the ouen. This doth sy∣gnyfye howe after that our lorde was wel dryed and baked with the hete of the sonne / he was taken downe from the crosse. And as a man doth shytte & locke vp the breades so was the body of our lorde buryed / shytte fast and kepte / and the thyrde daye dyd ryse from deth. All this done / the breade is perfy¦te / wherof our lorde Ihesu chryste doth spe∣ke sayenge. I am the lyuynge breade descen¦ded from heuen: all those that do eate of this breade shall lyue euerlastyngly. O what it is swete to here in the eres of synners. Our lorde doth moue & exorte vs poore synners spoyled and voyde of all vertues / to recey¦ue his blyssed body for the meate and resec∣cyon of our soule. But O good lorde man

maye say / what am I that wolde presume to receyue the: for neyther heuen nor erth can not cōprehende the / and shall I receyue the. O good lorde / howe shall I be so bolde as to receyue the / whiche hath done no maner of good afore thy face / but ofte tymes haue greued and offended thy dyuynyte. The ho¦ly aungelles tremble for fere in thy presence and the iust men fere and doubt thy power: and yet exhorteth and moueth me to recey∣ue the. O most benygne lord Ihesu yf thou haddest not spoken this / who wold byleue it. Yf thou haddest not cōmaūded this / who wolde haue ben so bolde as to do it. Noe the iust and good man was an hondreth yeres in preparynge a shyppe to saue eyght perso¦nes. And howe myght I prepare my selfe in so lytell space to receyue the / whiche hast made heuen / erth and all creatures. Moyses thy faythfull seruaunt and frende / made a tabernacle of precyous wode couered with golde / for to put in the tables of thy .x. cō∣maundemētes / and Ian vnclene creature shuld I presume to receyue the: whiche hath made all lawes & all creatures. Salomon the prudent kynge was .vii. yeres ī makyn¦ge a precyous temple for to honoure & wor∣shyp the there / & there dyd offre thousandes

of offrynges / and I a poore synner howe shall I be so bolde as to receyue the in my soule / whiche hath not occupyed my selfe de¦uoutly one houre of this daye. O good lord what great dylygence haue they gyuen in the olde testament for to please the / & howe lytell haue I trauayled and busyed me to receyue the worthely. There is great dyfferē¦ce betwene the tabernacle of Moyses with the relyques / and thy blyssed body. Yf they haue showed suche deuocyon afore the arche or tabernacle of the testament / moche more shulde I prepare my selfe to receyue the blys¦sed body of our lorde Ihesu chryste in the ho¦ly sacrament. O father of heuen albeit that I shulde be a thousande yeres in preparyn∣ge my selfe / and that I shuld haue the holy¦nes of all saynt{is}: the charyte of all aūgelles and archaūgelles / the desyre of all iust per∣nes / yet neuertheles I knowlege my selfe vnworthy to receyue thy onely sone Ihesu chryste in the holy sacrament. O man this thou shall vnderstāde after the dygnyte of the holy sacrament / for there is no person ne creature in heuen so holy / nor in erth so iust that myght worthely receyue it. But thou shall vnderstāde and knowe for to cōforte the / that whan the man dothe prepare hym

selfe to it by true cōtrycyon and confessyon that god doth not regarde what he is or hath ben / but onely doth se & regarde yf he wold be better thā he is / for god doth than forget all his synnes / and doth molyfye hym selfe by the holy sacrament. And therfore the mā shall proue and serche his cōscyence in these thre poyntes.

¶ Fyrste / yf his conscyence doth moue and prycke hym in any of the deedly synnes.

¶ Secondaryly / yf his wyl be vnyed and ioyned to the wyll of god / so that all thyn∣ge do please hym whiche doth please god / & that all thynge do dysplease hym / whiche doth dysplease god.

¶ Thyrdly / yf the man do fynde in hym sel¦fe that charyte & the loue of god is augmen¦ted by the holy sacrament / and that the fere of god is not dymynysshed. In these poyn∣tes the man shall examyne hym selfe. And yf he fynde that by oft tymes goynge to the holy sacrament / the loue of god is not fer∣uent and quycke in hym: and the fere of god is dymynysshed / than by humylyte he shall refrayne and shall not go so ofte. For the ly¦fe of one man is the deth of another / but yf he fynde that the loue of god is more feruēt and quycke in hym by reason of the same /

and that the fere of god doth encrease rather than dymynysshe / he shall ofte tymes go to the holy sacrament after the counceyll of a good cōfessoure and ghostly father. For the desyre of god is / that he maye dwell in the herte of man: and by the same habytacyon or presence of the holy sacrament / the man doth drawe hym selfe from transytory thyn¦ges / & doth delyte in heuenly thynges. Also by his holy body / ours is renewed / & with it is vnyed and ioyned: so that all thynge is oure whiche belongeth vnto hym / so that his herte and ours is all one: our body is his our wyttes be his / our power / and all our membres be vnyed with god by the holy sa¦crament. Wherfore he doth speke by the pro∣phete Dauid. I haue spoken: O men ye be godes and all togyther chyldren of heuen / For the soule of man is so vnyed with god by the holy sacrament: that all the aūgelles Cherubyns ne Seraphyns can not fynde any dyfference betwene thē two: for where they do moue the soule / thyther also they do moue god. There was neuer thyng so vny¦ed as god is with the soule of man / for he is nerer and more vnyed / than the soule and the body / whiche do man a man. This we may consydre by many sayntes and perfyte

men whiche haue suffred great paynes / pu∣nysshementes / and tourmētes of tyrauntes vnto deth / that theyr bodyes dyde departe from theyr soules. Yet these tyrauntes could neuer separate god from theyr soules with all theyr tourmēt{is}. This vnyon is greater than yf a droppe of water were put in to a great tonne full of wyne / the which droppe of water shall be incontynent conuerted in to wyne. And therfore man yf thou wylte procede from vertue to vertue / from grace to grace / from charyte to charyte / from desy¦re in to desyre / from the lyght of grace to the lyght of glory / and to come to the perfeccy∣on of good workes / exercyse thy selfe in the passyon of our lorde / and go oft tymes true ten••ly and worthely to the holy sacrament. For there is nothyng that doth quycken the wyttes so moche / nor that doth illumynate the herte with deuocyon / nor that doth lyfte vp the man so moche to hygh contemplacy¦on / as to receyue the body of our lorde / and remēbre his passyon. O man yf thou wylt also be perfytly pourged from synne / enry∣ched in vertues / hyghly illumynate in the holy scrypture / boldly vaynquysshe thyne enemyes / be cōforted in all paynes and try∣bulacyons / lyue deuoutly in erth / feruently

be enbrased in thy herte / to wepe swetely in thy prayers / oft tymes to be illumynate / in thy desyres to be ferme and stedfast / to con∣tynewe in good operacyons / to be remplys¦shed and fulfylled with spyrytuall ioyes / to be drawen to heuenly thynges / to know that thynge that god hath hydde and kepte darke / to dye wysely / & to lyue euerlastyng¦ly with god / exercyse thy selfe here in erth with god in the holy sacrament and his byt¦ter passyon. For the man myght with suche and so great medytacyon / desyre / and with suche loue and deuocyon receyue the holy sa¦crament that from the lowest trone of aun¦gelles he shulde be set ī the hyghest. For god doth not promyse nor also rewarde the man in heuen / after the multytude of his good workes / but also after the greatnes of his desyre & loue. Therfore many do erre which do withdrawe them selfe from the holy sa∣crament sayenge. I worde very oft tymes go to receyue the holy sacramēt / but I haue no spyrytuall rychesse in me / that is to saye vertues wherwith honestly and competēt∣ly I maye aorne my soule for to receyue the great kynge beynge present in the sacramēt The other do say / I haue not in me the wa¦ter of teares for to clense and wasshe my cō¦scyence

from all fylth and synne. Other do say / I haue no feruent deuocyon ī my pray¦ers / but I am colde / feble / and slouthfull towardes god. And so they wyll tary vn∣to they be ryche in vertues: and that they ha¦ue abundaunce of teares and feruent deuo∣cyon: as they were assured therby to receyue god worthely ī the holy sacramēt. O poore man: there be many Turkes / Sarazyns / & Infydelles / whiche haue done many ver∣tuous dedes & haue great deuocyon in theyr sacryfyce / yet neuertheles they do consyste & be in dampnacyon of theyr soules. It is not that that god doth serche. Our lorde Ihesu chryste doth desyre and demaūde of vs: that we after our poore power prepare our selfe by trewe confessyon / repentaunce / and con¦trycyon and ferme purpose neuer to retour∣ne more to syn̄e. In this we do prepare our selfe. And yf our lord god gyue vs this gra¦ce / than we shall tourne vs to deuocyon & to the teares of our iyes. And yf we can not do it / we shal cōmyt it to god: and shall not therfore leue and refrayne to go to the holy sacrament / specyally yf thy herte greatly de¦syre it. That suche people do erre / I wyll showe you by thre reasons.

¶ Fyrste / it shulde be great foly & madnes

for a poore man beynge clothed in ryche and precyous apparell / to demaūde and begge of a ryche kynge / but it shulde be better that he shuld come lyke a poore man showynge his pouertie and so demaundynge rychesse. So do the poore people that do sytte at the churche dores / showynge to the ryche men theyr nakednes and pouertie: and therby the ryche people be moued with pytie. So also shall we do: showyng our nakednes of ver¦tues / howe feble so euer we be / howe colde and flowe in deuocyon / howe indyscryte in wordes inclyned to all syn̄e. These faul¦tes & other lyke showynge to god the ryche kynge of Ierusalem / he wyll ayde and hel¦pe vs in our pouertie with the treasoure of his dyuyne grace / and shall haue mercy of vs in lykewyse as he dyd to the woman of Canane / the whiche humbly dyd demaun∣de and desyre to eate with the fytell dogges the crommes & lytell peaces of breade / that dyd fall from the table. And bycause that she dyd not repute her selfe worthy to recey∣ue a great grace / god dyd graunt her that / that she dyd demaunde / ye and yf she had desyred a greater thynge. And this is that / wherof he doth speke by the prophet Dauid The poore shall eate & shall be fylled / and

those that do serche god shall prayse & laude hym / & theyr herte shall lyue with god euer∣lastyngly. In this ye maye consydre two thynges.

¶ Fyrste / god is the meate of the poore / in the soule.

¶ Secondaryly / that they shall eate vnto they be full. And bycause that that is impos¦syble so longe as we be here in erth / vnto y^t we come to heuen where we shall be fylled Therfore all deuoute persones shall dyspo¦se themselfe for to go ofte tymes to the holy sacrament. For as saynt Gregorye faythe / there is great dyfferēce betwene spyrytuall meate & carnall meate. For the man maye take so moche of carnall meate or ioye / that he shall be wery therwith. But of spyrytu∣all meate or ioye / the man can not take so moche that he wyll be wery therwith / for the more that he dothe take therof / the more he doth demaunde and desyre. And of this it is spoken in Ecclesiastico: sayeng. Those that do eate me shall haue hungre. Wherfore he that wyll go to receyue the Sacrament worthely / he shall do that is in hym / & than he shall cōmyt hym selfe to god / which wyl fulfyll that that doth lacke in the mā. The other do cōplayne and saye / that they haue

not the water of teares for to wasshe theyr cōscyēce / for the which thyng they do refray¦ne to go to the holy sacrament / in depreuyn¦ge theyr soule from moche fruyte. These per¦sones do lyke foles / whiche wyll not go to the fountayne for to haue water / but with theyr pottes full. And shulde it not be more profytable to go to the fountayne with em¦ptye vesselles / and to take of the water so moche as shall suffyse them. This fountay¦ne is our lorde Ihesu chryste hyd in the holy sacrament / & redy with his dyuyne grace / to gyue abundauntly to all persones / as he dyd speke to the woman standynge at the well. He that doth drynke of that water y^t I wyll gyue hym he shall neuer haue thir¦ste / but in hym shall spryng and come forth a lyuynge fountayne in the euerlastynge ly¦fe. And therfore he that hath no thynge nor no thynge can get of the water of teares in his vessell / he shall go surely without dou∣bte or fere with a ferme fayth and byleue / to the abundaūtly lyuyngly well the whi∣che is open to all persones / that is to saye / the holy sacrament. And therof thou shall drawe and take abundauntly / so moche as thou shall nede / and shall suffyse the / for yf the fountayne be to depe / bynde thy vessell

to the woode of the crosse remembryng his bytter passyon / & thou shall fyll thy vessell abūdauntly with the water of teares. And therfore it is y^t our lorde Ihesu chryste hath gyuen hym selfe in the holy sacrament / by∣cause that he knoweth wel that mā is faul¦tye and inclyned to all feblenes. Yf we shul¦de haue ben as perfyte as the aungelles in heuen / it shulde not haue ben nedefull that our lorde god shulde haue gyuen hym selfe in the holy sacrament for our syckenes & fe∣blenes. Therfore man shall do that that is in hym & shall recōmende hym to the mercy of god / For so haue all the holy men done / whiche be saued by the same.

¶ There be other that do complayne sayen¦ge that they be not feruent nor hote in the lo¦ue of god / and that theyr hertes be not infla¦med in the charyte or loue of god / but they be colde. And therfore they wyll not go to the table of god to receyue the holy sacramēt These persones do lyke foles / as those that be very colde and wyll not go to the fyre to warme them. It were better for them to go to the fyre / than to tarye longe from it / and to suffre ī the meane tyme great colde. This fyre is Ihesu chryste hydde in the holy sacra¦ment / as the Prophete sayth / Our god is

fyre whiche deuoureth / the whiche fyre is god come and descended in erth / for to illu∣mynate our hertes by all the benefytes that he hath done vnto vs. Deuocyon doth not consyste in moche fastynge / prayenge / and oft tymes confessynge / but it doth consyste in that that the man be humble of herte / fer¦uent / tourned towardes god / illumynate with dyuyne charyte / mercyfull towardes his neyghbour & euen chrysten hauyng god alwayes afore his iyes. For it is more acce¦ptable vnto god / that the man after that he hath synned / tourne hym selfe humbly to∣wardes god / than yf he had neuer synned & shulde not be humble. Therfore all those y^t be colde and feble in the loue and charyte of god / shall somtymes prepare themselfe for to go worthely to the holy sacrament / for to be so and in suche maner hooly illumynate with the loue of god / without the which al our good workes (as saynt Paule sayth) be no thynge acceptable of god. I do not saye that I wyll counceyll al persones to go oft tymes to the holy sacrament / But I say as saynt Austyne sayth / I do not laude and prayse for to go euerydaye to the holy sacra¦ment / nor also do not dysprayse it / but I gyue counceyll to receyue it euery sondaye.

This dothe saynt Austyne speke of those / whose cōscyence is not knowen / wherupō the glose doth saye / that yf the good men go ofte tymes to the holy sacrament it is to be praysed whan they be in good lyfe / flyenge synne and the occasyon therof / takynge al∣so good hede to them selfe and alwayes oc∣cupyenge them selfe in the passyon of our lorde. These folkes thus lyuynge and not after the sensualyte of the flesshe: be greatly to be praysed / that they go so ofte tymes to the holy sacrament. And bycause that the conscyence of man is hyd and not knowen whether it be worthy to receyue god or no / therfore the holy doctours do counceyll that euery man do after his byleue & fayth / that is to saye after his conscyence / and the loue that he hath towardes the holy sacrament. For after the loue that the man hath towar¦des the holy sacramēt / he doth perceyue and fele deuocyon and swetnes in his soule / & the man doth more honour to god in deuout¦ly goynge to the holy sacrament / than yf he shulde refrayne by and through humylyte. For the man goynge deuoutly to the sacra∣ment / he doth conuerte and tourne hym self to the dyuyne loue & charyte / and in refray∣nyng he doth tourne hym to humylyte: and

bycause that charyte and loue do passe all other vertues / so it is better to go with loue to the holy sacrament / than to refrayne by humylyte. For he that is not letted by synne and myght well prepare hym selfe to the sa¦me and dothe it not / he dothe depryue (in as moche as in hym is) the holy trynyte from his honoure / the aūgelles from theyr glory / the holy churche from his treasoure / the iust men from many graces / the synners from pytie and mercy / and the soules in purgato¦rye from delyueraunce of the payne. Yet not withstādynge it is good that the man som∣tymes withdrawe hym selfe through humy¦lyte from the holy sacrament / in not goyng to the table of our lorde. For it was as ac∣ceptable to god / that Centurio that noble knyght dyd knowlege hym selfe by humy∣lyte to be vnworthy to receyue hym in his howse / as Zacheus that ryche man whiche worthely dyd receyue hym. This neuethe∣les shall not be oft tymes to be done / specy∣ally whan the man dothe fynde hym selfe īmaculate and without synne. For the holy sacramēt is a medicyne of the soule agaynst syx dyseases wherwith the soule is charged. ¶ Fyrste / the man is feble and hath small courage in vertue / and is not so vertuous

ne doth not so many vertuous dedes / as he is bounde to do. Wherfore god hathe made hym selfe lytell and small in the holy sacra¦ment / to the entent that no man be afrayed of his myght & power / the whiche we maye consydre in two maners and sortes.

¶ Fyrste / it semeth that god is lesser than the man / for he doth applye & gyue his wyll to the wyll of the man: so that he doth descē¦de from heuen to the erth vpon the aulter / whan it pleaseth the man / that is to say the preest. And doth suffre hym selfe to be vsed as well of his enemyes as of his frendes / & doth showe no maner of euyll nor aduersy∣tye. And so it semeth outwardely that the man is greater than god / for god is obedy∣ent to the man.

¶ Secōdaryly / we may consydre the smal∣nes or lytelnes of god in the holy sacrament For he dothe gyue hym selfe so frely to the man / that he maye do with hym what he wyll. He doth suffre the man to vse and re∣ceyue hym as he wyll / to the entent that eue¦ry man whiche is lytell & poore of vertues: shulde receyue great rychesse in his soule.

¶ The seconde reason: the man is feble and redy to synne. Therfore oure lorde Ihesu chryste hath gyuen hym self in the sacramēt

to the entēt that the man therby shuld vayn¦quysshe all tēptacyons and inclynacyons to synne / For the multytude of our synnes towardes the power of the holy sacrament is not / but as a droppe of water towardes the hole see. So we may alwayes by the ho¦ly sacrament / make satysfaccyon for oure synnes. Therfore saynt Ambrose sayth / so ofte as the man receyueth the holy sacramēt so oft receyueth he remyssyon of his synnes. And for so moche as man is alwayes redy to synne / therfore he shall haue alwayes with hym the medycyne of his soule / for the man can not better reconcyle hym selfe to god / than by the holy sacrament. Therfore those that do not go to the holy sacrament / do showe y^t they do not desyre grace ne mer¦cy of god: thynkynge to come to heuen with out god. Notwithstandyng the nerest way to come to heuen / is by the holy sacrament. Therfore the prophete Dauid sayth: assaye and proue howe swete our lorde god is.

¶ Thyrdly / the man is enuyroned & amon¦ges his enemyes / as the deuyll / the flesshe / and the worlde. Wherfore the man lyueth alwayes with fere and drede / and is neuer in suretie. And to the entent that the man do not fere beynge in this great myserie and

peryll / and that his enemyes do not vayn∣quysshe hym nor wounde hym to deth / ther¦fore god hath gyuen hym selfe in the holy sa¦cramēt as a faythfull felowe & cōpaygnon whiche styfly wyll tary with hym and not departe / vnto he haue vaynquysshed all his enemyes / the which thynge god dyd pro¦myse to his dyscyples in the last supper: and to all men that do receyue hym sayenge / I wyll be with you / vnto the ende and con∣summacyon of the worlde. This good com¦paygnon defendeth / techeth / and doth soly∣cyts the man in all thyng that he hath to do and that is necessary for hym / and doth ke∣pe and take hede of the man / in all payne / tēptacyon / trybulacyon / in pouertie of spy∣ryte / and in all busynes that maye chaunce vnto hym. Therfore the man shall call & demaunde the cōmynge of this cōpaygnon / for he doth make the slouthfull person quyc¦ke / and that thyng that is heuy lyght / eygre and bytter swete. And he doth make ryche those that be poore: and those that be desola∣te and in heuynes / he doth reioyse and con∣forte them. For saynt Paule sayth / I may in hym whiche dothe coroborate me / do all thynge / that is to saye in the holy sacramēt the mā may fynde in cōpanye many swete

ioyes / ye yf the man wolde serche he shulde fynde all that he wolde / as vyctorye in tē∣ptacyon / ioye in trybulacyon / in syckenes pacyence / in persecucyon pleasure. Therfo∣re Dauid sayth / I wyll not fere what so∣euer man shall do to me for god is with me. ¶ Fourthly / a good man fereth god for his tyme loste / the whiche he hath consumed in syn̄e without doynge any vertuous dedes fewe or none. In this may be cōsydered the great displeasure of the mā: which is moche to be complayned / & that for two reasons. ¶ The fyrste / that so longe as the man is in deedly synne / so longe is he in the male∣dyccyon of god / and is eueryday more than a hondreth tymes cursed of the good perso∣nes sayenge theyr houres / by the prophete Dauid in the psalter / where it is wryten. O good lorde cursed be those whiche do not obserue and kepe thy cōmaundementes.

¶ Secondaryly / so longe as the man is in deedly synne / he doth lease all his good wor¦kes that he doth & hath done: And yf he dye in any deedly synne / all is lost. O good lor¦de / howe fewe people do remembre that. O man remēbre that yf temporall goodes and rychesse be lost / there is no thynge lost / but yf the soule be lost / all is lost: yf honour

be lost / moche is lost: but yf the soule be lost all is lost. And to the entent that the man do not contynewe in this myserye and that he do not fall in dyspayre: the most benygne Ihesus hath gyuen hym selfe in the sacra∣ment / to the entent that all those whiche a∣fore were cursed / by hym agayne maye be blyssed / and whose workes were deed / by hym shulde reuyue. That is to say the good workes whiche ones were in lyfe / whiche nowe reuyue. And so the man doth repare and recouer by the holy sacrament / all his tyme loste. And in receyuynge the holy sa∣cramēt the man doth a great worke / so that he can do no thynge better / in case that he re¦ceyue it as it aperteyneth after the ordynaū¦ce of the holy churche / for therby the myserye of the man is amended.

¶ Fyfthly / the man is very poore of ver∣tues / so y^t he can do no good thynge of hym selfe. Therfore god hath gyuen hym selfe in the sacrament for consolacyon and cōforte / as a marchaunt with all the treasoure and rychesse of his grace and mercy / so that the man maye surely of hym demaunde & aske what soeuer he wyll / and god wyll gyue it hym by and in the holy sacrament / to the entent that the man may so satysfye his po∣uertie.

Wherof Salomon speketh sayenge / He is come as a shyppe of a marchaunt / the which brought his breade frō a farre coūtre. This marchaunt is the dyuynyte: the shyp is the humanyte / the whiche hath brought the dyuynyte from a farre countre / as from heuen in to the see of this worlde. The brea¦de whiche he hath brought in this shyppe: is the holy sacrament / as he sayth of hym self. I am the lyuynge breade descended & come from heuen. This breade is so abundaunt and so fertyll in it selfe / that it is suffycyēt for all those that demaundeth it and loueth it. Therfore god sayth in the gospell: all my goodes be the goodes of the mā / for all that I haue apperteyneth to the man. O good lorde what thou art lyberall / large & mercy¦full / that all thy goodes whiche so rychely thou onely doest possede: wyll spende with the man sayenge / all my good & rychesse of grace & glory / apperteyneth to the. O good lorde what small gyft thou receyuest of me for that that thou gyuest me in the holy sa∣crament: god maker of all creatures for one creature / a man īnocent for a man beynge a synner / a noble holy soule for a peruerse & vnnoble. Wherfore I speke with the pro∣phete Dauid. O good lorde what shall I

gyue and render to the for that thou hast gy¦uen me. I wyll take the chalyce of helth / & I wyll inuoke and call the name of our lor¦de. All those that be poore of vertues in the soule / they shall go surely without any fere to the holy sacramēt as to a ryche marchaūt whiche shall fulfyll all thy demaūdes and desyres of his lyberalyte: without gyuynge golde or syluer.

¶ Syxtly / the man is to farre from his en∣de of perpetuall helth / to the which he was made and fourmed in this worlde / so that of hym selfe he can not come therto. Neuer∣theles to the entent that the man do not dy∣spayre for to come thyther / god hath gyuen hym selfe in a spyrytuall meate / in and by the whiche the man is saued and vnyed: as he doth speke hym selfe in the gospell / He y^t doth eate my flesshe and drynketh my blode he abydeth in me and I in hym. And yf it be not that thou eate the flesshe of the sone of the man and drynke his blode / thou shal neuer haue lyfe in the / that is to saye in thy soule here in erth & hereafter in heuen. Ther¦fore speketh saynt Austyne in the person of god sayenge. Whan thou doest eate me / I shall not be cōuerted in the / but thou in me. For this vnyon the sone of god dyd pray to

his father sayenge. O father saue in thy na∣me al those that thou hast gyuen me: so that they maye be one with vs as we togyther be one / I in the and thou in me. O most be∣nygne Ihesu thou hast showed in this thy infynyte mercy / for by this meate we do ioy¦ne and make vs one in the / to the and with the. But many doth receyue the holy sacra∣ment with lytell desyre & in great feblenes. It is greatly to be complayned / that so ma¦ny folk{is} haue so lytell deuocyon towardes the holy sacrament / so that for a lyght occa¦syon they do not go therto: to the which they shulde well and dylygently alwayes pre∣pare them. But bycause that they be loth to confesse them / and that it greueth them to fast / they do let it passe / the whiche is a to∣ken of lytell loue that they haue towardes god. For as saynt Gregorye sayth / the dy∣leccyon and loue of god is neuer Idle and voyde in the man / For where it is there it worketh great thynges / and where it is not there the man is Idle. O yf there were but one man in the worlde worthy to receyue the holy sacrament / howe wolde all the o∣ther rēne to se hym and to speke with hym. Nowe our lorde Ihesu chryste gyueth and maketh hym selfe cōmon egally to all per∣sones

/ wherfore many there be that do not regarde hym. And therfore whan they dye / they fynde them selfe naked of vertues in the soule / and chased from euerlastynge ly∣fe / the whiche all those onely that do eate of this breade shall vse and haue / for they shal lyue euerlastyngly. Amen.

¶ The fyrste Chapytre / what thynge is necessary for the man that wyll recey¦ue worthely the holy sacrament.

AS the doctours do wry∣te / thre thyng{is} be necessa¦ry to euery good {per}son y^t fructefully wyll recey∣ue the blyssed sacrament of our lord Ihesu chryst. ¶ The fyrste that is necessary for the man / is purenes and clennes in the conseyence / so that he be without deedly synne / in true re∣pentaunce / confessyon / and stedfast purpo∣se neuer to synne more / and to fulfyll the cōmaūdemētes of god and those of the holy churche. For the holy churche doth prohybyte and forbyd / that all those that be in deedly synne / that they shall not receyue the holy sacrament / yf they be not fyrste and afore

confessed and assoyled. For otherwyse in goynge to the sacrament they synne deedly: in case that they maye haue or fynde a con∣fessoure. Therfore the mā shal prepare hym therunto: as yf incontynent after his confes¦syon he shulde dye / and that is suffycyent afore Ihesu chryste.

¶ The seconde is / that the man shall haue feruent deuocyon / so that he shall appoynte and prepare hym self as deuoutly as he can possyble / tournynge hym selfe hooly from that thynge whiche for that tyme and houre myght drawe hym from god and from his deuocyon. Therfore the man shall haue af∣ter his confessyon afore that he go to the sa∣crament / a generall repentaūce and contry¦cyon of all his venyall synnes / specyally of those wherin he knoweth hym selfe day∣ly to fall / be it in vayne spekynge / in eatyn¦ge and drynkyng more than nede requyreth or in not hauynge pacyence in trybulacyon or any other lyke / for they do let the persone in his deuocyon. A man may get deuocyon in two maners / that is to saye by the fere of god / as in remembrynge the greatnes and multytude of his synnes / and the iustyce of god. Secondaryly / by the dyleccyon & loue of god in remembryng his passyon and the

benefytes that he hath showed vs.

¶ The thyrde thynge that is necessary for man for to receyue the holy sacrament wor¦thely / is clennes of the body outwardly / so that he be not poluted and maculate in the body with synne by the defaulte of nature / the whiche maye be done in deedly synne / That is to saye whan it cōmeth of carnall thoughtes / or whan it cōmeth of glotonye and excesse of meates & drynkes. And than it is good for hym to refrayne for the dygny¦te of the sacrament. It maye be done also without synne / as by feblenes or debylyte of nature / by coldnes of the body / by tēpta¦cyon of the deuyll or otherwyse. But he that shall fynde hym selfe greued herein: shall ta¦ke the counceyll of his confessoure.

¶ The seconde Chapytre / howe the man goth in thre maners of wayes to the holy sacrament in deedly synne.

THe man may be in deedly syn̄e and yet receyue the holy sacra∣ment in thre maners.

¶ Fyrste / he maye be in deedly synne and knowe it not / or he doth truste in god that it is forgyuen hym /

for he doth not remembre it. To this the do∣ctours answere sayenge / yf it be so that the man afore his confessyon haue examyned his conscyence after his power / and accor∣dynge to the prolyxyte of the tyme that he was last confessed. And than he doth serche for a good confessoure / that can helpe & ex∣amyne hym in that wherin he is ygnoraūt. Who that so goth to the holy sacramēt with repentaunce and contrycyon of his synnes: receyueth in the holy sacrament remyssyon of all his synnes / confessed and forgoten. But yf he do renne neclygently to confesse hym / as the dogge to the potage / without remembrynge his euyll lyfe / it shall not hel¦pe nor profyte hym afore god / that he hath forgoten his synnes. For it semeth that he careth not for it / and that he doth dyspyse it.

¶ Secondaryly / the man maye doubte in deedly synne for the erraunt and varyable conscyēce / so that he maketh cōscyence whe∣re it nedeth not / wherof cōmeth ofte tymes great peryll. For the varyable conscyence byndeth the man to electe a good sage and wyse confessoure / whiche hath knowlege and vnderstādynge therof / and so he shall take awaye from hym the varyable cōscy∣ence or the erroure of the same. And than he

shall go to the holy sacrament: but so longe as that erroure of conscyence dureth or the most parte / he shall not go to the sacramēt. But yf the man doubte yf it be deedly syn̄e or no / he shall confesse hym afore that he go to the holy sacrament / or els he shall cōmyt a deedly synne / in puttyng hym ī the peryll of deedly synne.

¶ Thyrdly / the man maye yet be in deedly synne / and that he knoweth well that he hath not confessed hym therof. And neuer∣theles he shulde haue confessed hym therof / where he cōmytteth a deedly synne bycause he doth not knowe it / for he is boūde to knowe it. And in so goynge to the holy sacramēt it is deedly synne and the ygnoraūce doth not excuse afore god / for he myght go / whe∣re he myght be instructed.

¶ The thyrde Chapytre / yf the man maye go vnworthely to the holy sacrament / or be dampned for certayne deedly synnes whiche he hath forgoten: and that he knoweth not.

VPon this answereth / saynt Bonauenture that ī case that the man haue fyue poyntes in hym / god shall not compt his synnes forgoten / albeit that there were many.

¶ Fyrste / he shall aduyse hym selfe well a∣fore that he go to his confessoure / in examy¦nyng his conscyence in the .x. cōmaūdemen¦tes / and in the .vii. deedly synnes / and after¦warde in his state / offyce or crafte.

¶ Secondaryly / he shall praye to god dyly¦gently that he maye haue knowlege of his synnes forgoten / of the whiche he is redy to confesse hym and to do penaunce for the sa∣me after the counceyll of his confessoure.

¶ Thyrdly / he shall gladly go to the Ser∣mons for to here and lerne / what thynge is deedly synne and what is not.

¶ Fourthly / he shall take counceyll with his confessoure / and shall demaunde that wherin he doubteth / whether it be deedly synne or venyall. For many folkes do ma∣ke no synne of that that is synne / thynkyn∣ge so to begyle theyr confessours / the which neuerthelesse shall be reputed great synne afore god.

¶ Fyfthly / the man shall kepe hym in as

moche as he can and may from deedly syn̄e for those that synne an hondreth tymes and esteme it no more thā yf they dyd it not but .x. or .xx. tymes / it is no meruayle yf they do forget moche / the which our lorde god wyll iuge at the daye of iugement.

¶ The fourth Chapytre / wherby the man maye truste that he receyueth the ho∣ly sacrament worthely / & who is in the state of grace.

SAynt Thomas saythe / that no man so longe as he lyueth here ī erth may knowe certaynly yf he be in the state of grace / & yf he receyue worthely the holy sacramēt or no / excepte that god do manyfest and showe it vnto hym. For saint Paule speketh of hym selfe / I do not knowlege me to be culpable in any deedly synne / yet notwithstandyng I am not iustyfyed afore our lord god: whi¦che knoweth all the hertes. Neuertheles af∣ter that the man hath confessed hym selfe a∣fore his confessoure / and hath dylygently declared all his synnes. There be yet foure

tokens / by the whiche he maye surely truste and also haue knowlege / that he is well cō¦fessed and that he is in the state of grace / & so goth worthely to the holy sacrament.

¶ The fyrste / yf the man after his confessy¦on / gladly doth here the worde of god and to speke of god. For our lorde sayth / he that is of god / gladly doth here to speke of god. ¶ The seconde is / so longe as the man fe∣leth hym selfe redy to dwell & to serue god / it is a token that he is in the loue of god: for where the charyte and loue of god is / there it doth worke some good / and yf it can not do it by workes / it doth it by desyre. And as saynt Gregorye sayth / the token of loue is the showynge of the workes.

¶ The thyrde is / that the man ought to ha∣ue a stedfast purpose / from hensforth neuer to synne more. For so longe as the man is in the mynde and wyll to synne / so longe is he in the state of dampnacyon.

¶ The fourth is / that the man ought to ha∣ue great repentaūce and contrycyon of his synnes passed. Therfore the man shall not reioyse nor vaunte hym selfe / nor also shall not reherse his synnes: for by hauynge pleasure and delyte in any deedly synne / a man maye cōmyt another deedly synne of

newe / and is great peryll and daunger to the soule. In these foure poyntes (as saynt Gregorye sayth) doth consyste true and per¦fyte penaunce.

¶ The fyfth Chapytre / yf the man be boū¦de in and for any cause / to confesse hym more than ones in the yere.

YT is cōmaūded in the Ca¦non lawe / that all good & catholyke persones which be come to theyr aege (cer∣tayne great necessyties ex¦cepte) at the leste / ones in the yere do confesse them and do receyue the holy sacrament / or elles he that doth it not / he shall be excōmunycate in his lyfe / and after his deth he shal be buryed in the feldes lyke a beest. Yet notwithstādynge doctours do saye / that the man is bounde vnder the payne of a deedly synne / to confesse hym in contynent and not to tarye to Easter / and that for foure reasons and causes.

¶ Fyrste / so ofte as the man is in peryll of his lyfe: as women afore that they begynne to trauayle and laboure of theyr chylde / or those that wyl interpryse any great iourney

or to go ouer the see: or those that do go to the warre for to fyght / or those that do vnder∣take any thynge / wherof many do dye / or those that be in peryll to dye / as in the tyme of pestylence.

¶ Secondaryly / those that haue cōmyt su∣che synnes that cōmon confessours can not assoyle them / or he that maye assoyle them / doth come thyther where they be: or they may lyghtly go vnto hym where he is: as to par¦dons and suche other / that they be bounde to confesse them.

¶ Thyrdly / whan the conscyence is very vnquyet and doth moue a man feruently to confesse incōtynently his synnes / for the conscyence bereth wytnes howe the man is dysposed within.

¶ Fourthly / whan the man wyll receyue the holy sacrament or any of the .vii. sacra∣ment{is}. In these foure causes is the mā boū∣de more than ones in the yere to confesse his synnes. Yet all this notwithstandynge eue¦ry good catholyke person shal confesse hym selfe at the leste foure tymes in the yere: albe¦it that he be not redy to go to the holy sacra∣ment so oft. For a vessell that is vsed and occupyed euery day and not made clene but ones in the yere / it wyll be so foule and fyl¦thy

at the last that he can not be made clene so it is also of the conscyence of man.

¶ The .vi. Chapytre / howe and in what the man shall serche and examyne hym selfe / that worthely wyll go to the holy sacrament.

A Man that worthely wyll go to the holy sacrament he shal examyne dylygently his cō∣scyēce / in lyke case as he wol decyue and make a compte to a great lorde of many dettes. And to the entent that euery man whiche can not well confesse hym selfe maye knowe the maner howe to confesse hym / I wyll wryte a cō∣mon and a shorte maner / wherin al cōmon synnes be inclosed / in leuynge that whiche apperteyneth not to be wryten / to the entēt that some do not lerne that which they kno¦we not. And by this the man may lerne to cōfesse hym / in addynge & takynge awaye as his state and occupacyon doth requyre / or also after as his conscyence doth testyfye and moue hym: for it shulde not profyte nor be possyble to wryte all maner of synnes. Therfore the man shall prouyde hym of a

good confessoure in cōtynuynge with hym without rennynge from one to another / the whiche shall knowe his state and lyfe / to the entent that he may the better helpe hym in that that he shall haue forgoten and be ygnoraunt. And thou shall come in tyme to confessyon / so that thou be not last / and that thou maye haue space ynough to con∣fesse the / And whan thou doest confesse the a daye before / and thou doest remembre in the meane tyme any venyall syn̄es / it shal not nede to go agayne to confessyon / but to knocke vpon thy brest with cōtrycyon say∣enge. O good lorde haue mercy of me poore synner. And kepe the in as moche as thou can from vayne wordes / and carnall thoughtes and frequētacyons / and from brekyng thy pacyence one day after thou hast receyued the sacrament / and one daye before / for the dygnyte of the same.

¶ The .vii. Chapytre / howe the man shall confesse hym selfe / fyrste of the .xii. Artycles of the holy catholyke fayth.

WHan thou shall come to thy confessyon / knele downe of both thy knees afore thy con∣fessoure / makynge a crosse a¦fore the and saye / In the na∣me of the father / of the sone / and of the holy ghost. Amen. or In nomine patris. &c. And than saye Confiteor yf thou can saye it vn¦to Ideo precor. And yf thou can not say it / saye Benedicite: and than saye / Syr I con¦fesse me afore god and you of all my syn̄es that I haue done / syth the fyrste tyme that I could synne vnto this houre. Fyrste that I haue synned agaynst the .xii. artycles of the holy fayth: that I haue not so stedfastly byleued in herte / mouthe / and workes as I am boūde. I haue somtymes also doubted in the holy sacrament or otherwyse as thou shall knowe thy selfe gyltye. Yf thou haste kepte companye with Iewes / Sarazyns / Heretykes / or yf thou know any other thyn¦ge / thou shall tell it.

¶ The .viii. Chapytre / of the .xii. ver¦tues of the holy ghoste / wherof thou shall confesse the / as here foloweth.

I Confesse & accuse me / that I haue ben neclygent and haue transgressed ī the .xii. vertues of the holy ghost / I haue not had ioye / glad∣nes / and loue in the seruyce of god / nor peace with my chrysten brother: nor pacyence in aduersyte / nor longanymy¦te or contynuaūce in the seruyce of god / nor holynes in my lyfe / nor pytie in beynge cō∣uersaunt with other folkes / nor also mea∣sure and sobrenes in my maners / myne ap∣parell / and in my workes / nor mekenes & Ientylnes with them that I haue haūted and dayly kepte companye / nor humylyte in my thoughtes and dedes / nor trueth in my wordes: nor purenes in my desyres and concupyscence.

¶ The .ix. Chapytre of the .xi. capytall syn¦nes / whiche be called crymynall.

I Do confesse and accuse me: that I ha¦ue synned in many of the crymynall or capytall synnes. Yf thou fynde thy selfe culpable any wyse in any of the same thou maye tell it.

¶ As to syn agaynst the fayth of the trinite

¶ To synne agaynst nature.

¶ To synne in manslaughter.

¶ To synne agaynst the equyte and iusty∣ce of the mageste of any prynce or prelate.

¶ To synne ī robbynge the church{is} by force

¶ To synne in carnall medlyng with any of his lynage.

¶ To synne in adultery in the state of ma∣ryage.

¶ To synne in conspyracye or in makynge tumoure by force amonges the cōmonaltie.

¶ To synne in berynge false wytnes and that he doth knowe it false.

¶ To synne in Symonye.

¶ To synne by hauntynge vserye.

¶ The .x. Chapytre / of the .x. cōmaun∣dementes / the whiche euery per∣sone is bounde to knowe.

YEt I confesse and accuse me of the .x. cōmaūdementes of our lorde Ihesu chryste.

¶ Of the fyrste cōmaunde∣mēt: y^t I haue not loued our lord god with al my herte aboue all thyng{is} I haue not also worshypped hym as I ou∣ghte to do / nor I haue not had so stedfaste

fayth in hym as I am boūde / but sōtymes I haue byleued those which haue vsed Ny¦gromancye / or wytche crafte / or Herytykes which haue spokē agaynst the holy churche.

¶ Of the seconde cōmaundement / that I haue taken the name of god in vayne with out any necessytie / for I haue sworne ofte tymes for a lytell cause / which I haue kno¦wen to be contrary / wherwith I haue ofte tymes deceyued myne euen chrysten. I ha•• also caused other to swere and curse / bycau¦se that I wolde not byleue them of theyr worde. I haue also sworn not onely by god and hy his blyssed membres and passyon / but also by his sayntes / as by the mother of god / by saynt Iohan / & in other maners.

¶ Of the thyrde cōmaūdement / that I ha∣ue not sanctyfyed the sondaye & holy daye / by true contrycyon of my deedly synnes / by my prayers / by herynge masse and the ser∣mon / and by gyuynge almous / but I haue in this tyme serched my profyte in demaun∣dynge money of my dettours / byenge and sellynge that that was not greatly necessa¦ry. I haue suffred my seruaūtes to laboure without necessytie / so that they coulde not here masse. I haue occupyed my selfe that same daye more than in other dayes / with

wordly pleasure: as in eatynge / drynkynge and in carnall frequentacyon.

¶ Of the fourth cōmaūdement / that I ha∣ue not honoured my father and mother: nor haue not obeyed them / nor helped them in theyr necessytie / but I haue vexed and dys¦pleased them: and haue wysshed them deed in my herte. I haue not also after theyr deth faythfully prayed / nor caused to praye for theyr soules. I haue not also ben obedyent to my spyrytuall prelates and auncyent fa¦thers and to them / and to the holy churche I haue not borne honour and showed reue¦rence as I am bounde. I haue not parfyte∣ly payed my offrynges and dewtyes of the holy churche. I haue spoken and kepte com¦pany with those that were excomunycate / with vsurers / herytykes & other Infydels.

¶ Of the fyfth cōmaundement / that I ha¦ue slayne and kylled my chrysten brother or neyghboure by wyll and desyre / albeit that in dede I haue not fulfylled it / And that vniustly and agaynst reason I haue cau∣sed them to be imprysoned / or I haue done them hurt and dōmage in theyr bodyes and goodes. I haue hurte / wounded / or bette so¦me / I haue not kepte well my chyldren / so that they be departed out of this worlde / ba¦ptysed

or not baptysed.

¶ Of the syxt cōmaundement / that I ha∣ue done vnclene and vnlawfull workes with vnlawfull persones not maryed / or in adultery with persones maryed / or with vyrgynes and maydens whom I haue de¦floured and vyolate / or with my kynsfol∣kes / or gossep / or agaynst nature / or with thy selfe / or yf thou haue gyue thy fayth se∣cretly to any persone without any wytnes or without the cōmaūdementes of the chur∣che / and so hath carnally medled afore that thou was maryed.

¶ Of the seuenth cōmaundement / that I haue take and also by force without ryght or reason the goodes of other men out of ho∣ly places or not holy. And that I haue soly¦cyte to haue some offyces or benefyc{is} / wher¦by I haue oppressed the poore people / and haue taken more than of ryght I ought to do. I haue cōmyt vsurye secretly or openly I haue solde my goodes or marchaundyse derer by credence than for redy money. I ha¦ue receyued the goodes of spyrytuall perso∣nes / or of theyr seruauntes / or of chyldren / and those whiche can not gyue any thynge without lycence. I haue not ben faythfull in my laboure and worke. I haue praysed

often tymes my goodes and marchaundyse moch aboue the pryce that they were worth: in puttyng the best aboue in syght. And the worste beneth. I haue also deceyued folkes with euyll money. I haue not restored the goodes which I haue wrongfully come to or that thynge that I haue founde. I haue euyll and vnprofytably spent the goodes of the churche / or myne owne goodes. And I haue not fulfylled the testament or laste wylle of my frendes / so as I oughte to do / or so soone as I myght.

¶ Of the .viii. cōmaundemet / that I haue gyuen by malyce agaynst my neyghboure false wytnes secretly or openly. And I ha¦ue brought forthe agaynst hym false wyt∣nes / or haue brought or turned them by gyf¦tes or thretyng{is}. I haue not sayd the treuth that I knewe to the profyte of my neygh∣boure when it hath ben demaunded of me / I haue also withdrawne the good name & fame of other persones / in spekynge euyll of them behynde theyr backes. And I haue mocked / shamed / and dyffamed them.

¶ Of the .ix. cōmaundement / that I haue voluntaryly consented / desyred and solycy¦te to synne in Lechery with vnlawfull per¦sones. And haue had pleasure and ioye in

my folysshe and vnclene thoughtes. I ha∣ue also apparylled and aorned my selfe in pryde / for to be better seen & to please other persones / and for to drawe them in to syn̄e at my desyre / And I haue gladly gone to suche places / where I myght se wanton & vycyous persones / or myght be seen my sel¦fe with concupyscence / wherof I haue had oft tymes euyll dremes / and defaulte or po∣lucyon of nature.

¶ Of the .x. cōmaūdement / that I haue de¦syred in my herte agaynst ryght and reason to haue another mānes goodes: ye yf they shuld haue suffred pouertie therby / And ha¦ue solycyte to obteyne theyr goodes by frau¦de. I haue also bought that / whiche I coul¦de not by without syn̄e / as the good{is} of the vsurer / or that I dyd know wel y^t it was stolene / or I haue also secretly solycyte for to dyffame some persone for to haue his ser∣uyce or offyce. And then say / of these deedly synnes / and of all other that I haue done agaynst the cōmaūdementes of god / I con¦fesse me to be gyltye. And demaunde & de∣syre penaunce for the same.

¶ The .xii. Chapytre / of the .ix. straūge syn¦nes: how a mā shal cōfesse hym of the same.

I Confesse and knowlege my selfe gyltye of the .ix. straunge syn̄es / where as I haue offended my lorde god in the same.

¶ Fyrste / that I haue cō∣maunded other persones to synne / as the fa¦ther to cōmaunde his chyldren / the mayster his seruauntes / the maystres her mayden or chambryer / which is syn̄e agaynst god and the loue or profyte of his neyghboure. And no man ought to do suche a thynge.

¶ Secondaryly / that I haue gyuen to ano¦ther euyll counceyll / wherof is come synne or dōmage: and wherby also other haue ben oppressed and shamed.

¶ Thyrdly / that I haue consented to do e∣uyll in myne offyces for money or rewar∣de whiche is synne / And albeit that I ha∣ue not done it or cōmaūded it / yet neuerthe∣les consentyngly I haue let it passe with∣out any hede takynge therof. Also of the e∣uyll chaunced in my howse amonges my chyldren and seruaūtes / yf I had gyuen cō¦trary cōmaundement or taken hede therun∣to / it shulde not haue chaunced / or elles it shulde haue ben amended.

¶ Fourthly / that I haue praysed other in

theyr synne and malyce / and that I haue taken pleasure and reioysed my selfe to he∣re them reherse theyr synnes / wherby I ha∣ue made my selfe parte taker of theyr syn̄es. ¶ Fyfthly / that I haue harboured / lodged and defended euyll persons / as theues / mur¦derers / and other vnlawfull persones ly∣uynge in synne.

¶ Syxtly / that I haue ben partener in y^t thynge that hath ben stollen / & goten with synne.

¶ Seuenthly / that I haue kepte scylence / and not argued and spoken in that thynge that I was bounde by god and myne offy¦ce to do / but I haue lette it passe for fere or for loue.

¶ Eyghtly / that I haue not tourned and letted my subgectes and seruaūtes / whan they dyd dōmage or oppresse the poore folk{is} with theyr beestes / dogges / or hawkes / in theyr corne or feldes / or in theyr gartheyns / And also that they haue bette / wounded / mocked / and rygorously spoken to the same poore folkes and īnocentes / so that they ha¦ue cursed and sworne great othes.

¶ Nynthly / that I haue not showed the malyce of another man: to hym that myght amende and correcte it. Also that I haue

knowen some hyd whiche hath ben stollen and that I haue not showed it to hym / to whom it apperteyneth. Also that I haue seen euydent peryll of my neyghboure both in soule / body & good{is} / wherof I haue not coūceylled & aduysed hym after my power.

¶ The .xii. Chapytre / howe a man shall confesse hym selfe breyfly of the .viii. Beatytudes.

I Cōfesse me also & knowle¦ge my self gylte ī the .viii. Beatytudes of the soule. ¶ Fyrste: that I haue not ben poore of spyryte.

¶ Secondaryly / I haue not ben gentyll and meke / in my syckenes and aduersytie.

¶ Thyrdly / I haue not studyed and couey¦ted to haue the vertue of iustyce / for to lyue iustly.

¶ Fourthly / I haue not ben mercyful and pytefull towardes the poore people.

¶ Fyfthly / I haue not ben pure of hert to∣wardes all creatures / but double bothe in worde and dede.

¶ Syxtly I haue not ben peasyble towar¦des

all persones / but rather full of debate and dyscorde.

¶ Seuenthly / I haue not had pacyence for to suffre aduersyties.

¶ Eyghtly / I haue not weped for my syn∣nes / nor had dewe contrycyon for the same.

¶ The .xiii. Chapytre / of the .vii. gyftes of the holy ghoste / and howe a man shall confesse hym of the same.

ALso I confesse and knowle¦ge my self gyltye / that I ha¦ue not in me the .vii. gyftes of the holy ghost.

¶ Fyrst I haue not the wys¦dome for to vnderstande that thynge / whi¦che apperteyneth vnto god.

¶ Secondaryly / I haue not in me vnder∣standynge for to remembre the foure extre∣myties / as deth / the payne of hell / the daye of iugement / and the ioye of heuen.

¶ Thyrdly / I haue not in me wyse and sa¦ge counceyll / for to flye & eschewe the euyll and to chose the best.

¶ Fourthly / I haue not in me the scyence / for to knowe my selfe and my workes.

¶ Fyfthly / I haue no strength in me for to

resyste euyll thoughtes and temptacyons. ¶ Syxtly / I haue not in me pytie nor com¦passyon of the poore.

¶ Seuenthly / I haue not in me the fere of god / for to eschewe the euyll and to folowe the good.

¶ The .xiiii. Chapytre / howe a man shall confesse hym selfe of the .vii. sacra∣mentes / of the holy churche.

I Confesse & knowlege my selfe gyltye / y^t I haue not honoured the .vii. sacramē¦tes of the holy churche / as I am bounde.

¶ Fyrste: albeit that I am baptysed or chrystened / yet neuertheles I haue not renounced the deuyll and his wor¦kes and pompes / as I promysed at the ba∣ptysme.

¶ Secondaryly / albeit that I am confyr∣med / yet notwithstādynge I haue not spo¦ken that thyng that toucheth the holy catho¦lyke fayth / or I haue let it passe for world∣ly fere / and haue ben ashamed to speke.

¶ Thyrdly / I haue not honoured ne obser∣ued the state of maryage.

¶ Fourthly / I haue not honoured the {pre}est{is} and spyrytual persones / nor also the ordres of the holy churche for the loue of god.

¶ Fyfthly / I haue not done the penaunce for my synnes to me enioyned by my con∣fessoure / in prayenge / fastynge / in almous dede and other lyke.

¶ Syxtly / I haue not made my confessy∣on with suche repentaunce and contrycyon of my synnes / and so perfytely spoken / as I ought to do.

¶ Seuenthly / I haue not receyued the ho∣ly sacrament of the aulter so worthely / nor haue beholden it with suche reuerence / as it apperteyneth.

¶ The .xv. Chapytre / howe a man shall confesse hym of the .vii. deedly synnes.

ALso I confesse & know∣lege my selfe gyltye / to haue synned in the .vii. deedly synnes.

¶ Fyste in pryde of herte in wordes / in thoughtes and in workes / for I haue auaunced and exalted my selfe / & haue desyred to be harde and seen of other. I haue also be prowde &

presūptuous in my wordes and dedes / and haue had vayne glory in my herte. I haue also presumed and bosted my self of my no¦blenes and fayrenes / by reason wherof I haue dyspraysed & dyspysed the other which had it not. I haue not regarded the ordinaū¦ces of the holy churche / but reputed them as no thynge / in kepynge companye with tho¦se that were excōmunycate. I haue dyspy∣sed bothe those persones / that were not so hygh indygnyte as I / and also those that were hygher and better than I: and I haue hayted those that were lyke & as good as I. I haue alwayes wylled and desyred to ha¦ue my wyll fulfylled / and haue alwayes wylled to haue ryght and reason / in excu∣synge me and accusynge another. I haue also ben vnkynde both to god & man / for the goodes and benefytes that I haue recey¦ued of them.

¶ Secondaryly / I do confesse and accuse me of the synne of coueytous / for inordyna¦tely and aboue reason and myne estate / I haue desyred and coueyted rychesse and ho∣noure. I haue withholden other mennes goodes / vsynge them at my pleasure. I ha¦ue hydde & withdrawen my selfe / to the en¦tent that I shulde not gyue almous to the

poore and indygent / where as neuertheles great necessytie was. I haue haunted and played at cardes and dyse for coueytous on the sonday and holy dayes. I haue also for money lyed for to get honoure and benefy∣ces. And haue wryten false letters / vsed vsurye. I haue also deceyued / stollen & rob∣bed / bette / sworne / and gyuen false & euyll iugement.

¶ Thyrdly / I knowlege my selfe gyltye in lechery / by thought / worde / and dede / by my selfe / or with vnlawfull persones / in haūtynge / clyppynge and kyssynge vnho∣nestly / or I haue ī the state of maryage dys¦ordynately aboue reason and nature lyued for albeit that I haue not cōmyt adulterye in dede / yet neuertheles I haue consented therunto in my herte.

¶ Nota / Here thou shalt take coūceyll bref∣ly and honestly of thy ghostly father / for a man maye synne deedly with his wyfe in maryage / in fyue maners and wayes / the whiche it is no nede to declare here.

¶ Fourthly / I confesse and knowlege me to haue synned in enuye / for I haue hayted and hath ben enuyous for the honour / good name / and auaūcement of my chrysten bro¦ther and neyghboure. And by enuye I haue

done the best that hath ben ī me / to let hym therof. Also for enuye I haue be ryght sory of his good fortune / prosperyte / & auaunce∣ment / and haue ben very glad of his mys∣fortune / trybulacyon / and aduersytie / trou∣blynge and oppressynge hym to my power where soeuer I coulde. I haue also dyffa∣med hym behynde his backe: and haue glad¦ly herkened and herde other which haue spo¦ken euyll of hym. And I haue also made dyscēcyon where there was peace & cōcorde. ¶ Fyfthly / I haue synned in glotonye / for I haue not fasted and kepte abstynence on fastynge dayes / vygyles / & other cōmaun∣ded by the holy churche. I haue also eaten afore the tyme and houre of the repase / and somtyme without appetyte / more for car∣nall voluptuousnes than for the necessytie and mayntenaunce of nature. I haue also taken meate and drynke so abundauntly & excessyuely / that I haue ben sycke & euyll dysposed therby / hauynge loste reason / me∣morye / and vnderstādynge. I haue caused ouer delycate and precyous meates to be or∣deyned for me / wherin I haue had great pleasure. I haue also eaten meat{is} not law∣full to be eaten on suche a daye / after the cō∣maundementes of the holy churche.

¶ Syxtly I haue synned in yre and wrath for I haue ben ofte tymes vexed & angry with my husbande / or my wyfe / with my chyldren or my menye & seruaūtes. I haue wylled through wrath to be venged / and haue desyred vengeaunce. And I haue bor¦ne in my herte the iniurye and wronge whi¦che hath ben done vnto me / and for yre and wrath / I haue not ben wyllynge to forgy∣ue hym that dyd it / nor to speke vnto hym / but rather I haue eschewed his companye. I haue also for angre and wrath / cursed & sworne abhomynably / and haue done all the hurte and dōmage that I coulde to my neyghboure / both in his body and goodes. Also I haue not ben wyllynge to here rea∣son nor to be content therwith / but haue cry¦ed out agaynst trueth. I haue made dyscor∣de & varyaunce / and without ryght or rea∣son haue holden more with one than with another.

¶ Seuenthly / I confesse me to haue syn∣ned in slouth / where as I haue consumed and loste moche goodes wherwith I was bounde to do good dedes / and by my conscy¦ence exorted therto. I haue ben slouthfull in godes seruyce / and to go to confessyon / & to do my penaūce. I haue not fulfylled my

penaunce inioyned to me by my cōfessoure: for my synnes / nor promyses and vowes by me made / or els slouthfully I haue ful∣fylled them. I haue ben Ydle / & haue spent my tyme ī vayne. And I haue somtymes done good dedes with lytell deuocyon / by heuynes shame or vayne glory. I haue ben also neclygent in lernynge that thyng that I was bounde to knowe / in all these .vii. deedly synnes or in some of them: wherin I haue offended my lorde god / I knowlege my selfe gylty / and crye god mercy.

¶ The .xvi. Chapytre / howe a man shall confesse hym selfe / of the .vii. workes of mercy bodely.

I Knowlege me yet to haue synned in the .vii. bodely workes of mercy.

¶ Fyrste I haue not fedde those that were hungrye and indygent persones.

¶ Secondaryly / I haue not gyuen drynke to those that were thrustye.

¶ Thyrdly / I haue not herboured ne lod∣ged pylgrymes & other lackynge lodgynge And I haue not showed the ryght waye to those that went wronge.

¶ Fourthlye / I haue not vysyted / with

myne almesse the poore and sycke folkes. ¶ Fyfthly / I haue not gyuen clothynge to them that were naked.

¶ Syxtly / I haue not delyuered those that haue ben prysoned vniustly and withoute reason

¶ Seuēthly / I haue not buryed nor caused to burye the deed bodyes.

¶ The .xvii. Chapytre / of the .vii. workes of mercy spyrytually.

I knowlege me to haue synned in the .vii. spyrytuall workes of mercy.

¶ Fyrste / I haue not taughte and in∣structe those that were ignoraūt / that thyn∣ge whiche was necessarye for the helthe of theyr soules / and to whom I was bounde to showe and teche.

¶ Secondarylye / I haue not gyuen them good counceyll whiche demaūded it of me / wherby they haue ben in great peryll and daunger both in body and soule.

¶ Thyrdly / I haue not reproued and corre¦cte them whiche haue erred & synned / wher∣in I myght haue done great profyte.

¶ Fourthly / I haue not corroborate & com¦forte them / whiche haue ben in dyspayre.

¶ Fyfthly / I haue not ben wyllyng to for¦gyue thē / which haue troubled & vexed me. ¶ Syxtly / I haue not pacyētly borne nor suffred iniuryes / wronges / dyspysynges / tēptacyons / syckenes / oppressyons or other aduersyties.

¶ Seuenthly / I haue not hertely / affectu∣ously / and faythfull prayed for my frendes and for myne enemyes / and for them that I am bounde to praye.

¶ The .xviii. Chapytre / howe the man maye confesse hym of the syx synnes whiche be agaynst the holy ghost.

I Confesse me yf I haue a¦ny maner or wyse synned in the syxe syn̄es agaynst the holy ghost.

¶ Fyrste in dyspayre / y^t I haue not byleued throu¦ghe dyspayre that god is mercyfull / & wyll pardon and forgyue all synnes: after repen¦taunce / contrycyon / and confessyon.

¶ Secondaryly / that I haue wyllyngly spoken agaynst the catholyke fayth: and ha¦ue spoken agaynst that whiche was for the helth of my soule.

¶ Thyrdly / I haue ben so harde of herte & so roted in synne / that I wolde not be brou¦ghte out of it.

¶ Fourthly / that by presumpcyon I haue not dred god nor deth / nor the iugement of god / but I haue thought that I shall be sa∣ued without penaunce and good workes. ¶ Fyfthly: that I haue ben enuyous for the grace of god in another / whiche dyde with∣drawe hym selfe from synne / to good & ver¦tuous lyuynge.

¶ Syxtly / that I haue dyspysed to do pe∣naunce for my synnes.

¶ The .xix. Chapytre / howe a man shall confesse hym of the fyue senses or wyttes and of the other membres of the body.

MOreouer / I confesse me to haue synned / & to haue offē¦ded god in my .v. wyttes & by all my membres.

¶ Fyrste / that I haue trym¦med and aorned the heer of my heed and browes with great pryde. I haue not ho∣noured nor showed reuerence to god / and my superyours with my heed / nor haue not ben obedyent therwith. I haue also gyuen

myne eares to here vnhonest wordes and cōmunycacyon / and to detraccyon. I haue not ruled and kepte myne iyes from the be∣holdynge of vnlawfull & dyshonest syght{is} I haue delyted to smell with my nose suche thynges as haue prouoked me to synne. I haue also opened my mouthe / to curse / to swere / to lye / and to deceyue. I haue also abused my tongue for to eate and drynke de¦lycyously: and my throte in syngynge wan¦ton and vnhonest songes. I haue also abu¦sed my handes to my self or to other / in vn∣clennes and lechery. I haue made my god of my body / in abundaunce of eatynge and drynkyng / and vnclennes. I haue had ma¦ny vnlawfull and vnclene thoughtes / & desyres in my herte: the whiche I wolde ha∣ue done in dede / yf shame of the worlde had not letted me. I haue mysused my legges and fete in goynge to places / where as I haue greatly greued god / wher¦of I am sorye / and I crye god mercy.

¶ The .xx. Chapytre / howe the man shall confesse hym selfe of the foure synnes cryenge vengeaunce afore god.

I Confesse me also yf I haue ī any wy¦se offended god / in the foure synnes cryenge to god for vengeaunce.

¶ Fyrste / in the synne agaynst nature: that is to saye / whan it is done in another place and in otherwyse / than nature and god ha∣ue ordeyned it.

¶ Secondaryly / that I haue shed innocent blode / or haue brought any persone to deth / without a cause.

¶ Thyrdly / that I haue oppressed and vn¦reasonably persecuted poore orphelyns: wy¦dowes / and poore folkes.

¶ Fourthly / that I haue withholden and not dewely payed those / whiche haue fayth fully serued and laboured for me / as they haue deserued.

¶ The .xxi. Chapytre / howe the man shall confesse hym of the foure cardynall vertues.

I Haue yet synned ī the foure cardynall vertues / wher∣by I am bounde to lede & rule my lyfe.

¶ Fyrste: in me there is not wysdome & prudence to do and accōplysshe

my actes and dedes in tyme conuenyent / as I am bounde.

¶ Secondaryly / I haue not in me force & strength to resyste euyll and peruers incly∣nacyons and temptacyons to synne / but I haue ben lyghtly ouercome / and haue fal∣len in to synne.

¶ Thyrdly / I haue not in me the vertue of temperaūce and meane / for I haue trauay∣led / and laboured / fasted / prayed / done pe∣naunce / and other good dedes without dys∣crecyon / so that therby I haue to moche fe∣blysshed my body.

¶ Fourthly / I haue not in me the vertue of iustyce / for I haue not tourned my selfe from synne / in not doynge the vertue whi∣che I was bounde to do / & for myne owne profyte / I haue forsaken to do the cōmon profyte.

¶ The .xxii. Chapytre / howe a man shall cōfesse hym of the .iii. pryncypall ver¦tues / called Theologycall.

I Haue syn̄ed ī the .iii. pryncypall vertues without the which I can not be saued. ¶ Fyrste / that I haue not in me / stedfaste fayth with good workes.

¶ Secondaryly / I haue not a sure hope of the heuenly goodnes for to come.

¶ Thyrdly / I haue not in me a feruent lo∣ue & charyte toward{is} god & my neyghbour.

¶ The .xxiii. Chapytre / howe a man shall confesse hym of the two cōmaunde∣mentes / in the whiche all the other be comprehende.

I Haue synned / bycause I haue not lo∣ued my lorde god and creatoure with all my herte / my soule / and with all my myght and power. I haue ofte tymes set my herte more in the loue of folkes / and in the honoure and ioye of this worlde / in aornemētes & voluptuousnes of my body / and in the goodes / rychesse / and other va∣nyties of this worlde / than towardes god almyghtye.

¶ Also I haue not loued my chrysten bro∣ther & neyghbour as my self / doynge other∣wyse to hym / than I wold had ben done to me / wherof I am sory & crye god mercy.

¶ The .xxiiii. Chapytre / howe a man shal confesse hym / of the cogytacyons and thoughtes of his herte.

I Do accuse me also / to haue synned greatly by cogytacyons and thought{is} of my herte.

¶ Fyrste / that I haue receyued of our lorde god many good inspyracions: sterynge and mouyng me to amende my peruers & euyll lyfe / and to tourne me to penaūce / and that I shulde do good and leue the euyll. These and many other exhortacions whiche I ha¦ue receyued of god and of my holy aungell I haue resyste & withstande / as an ingrate and vnkynde persone.

¶ Secondaryly / I haue not resyste & with stande euyll thoughtes / whiche haue come vnto me by temptacyon of the flesshe or of the deuyll / but haue perseuered of a fre wyl and haue thought of them by consent / yf I myght haue had my purpose: and haue lefte it more for shame and fere of the people: thā for the loue or fere of god. In these and ma∣ny other synnes venyall and mortall / I knowlege me to haue ofte tymes offended my lorde god in herte.

¶ The .xxv. Chapytre / howe a man shall confesse hym selfe in generall of all his venyall synnes.

I Haue finally synned and do accuse me of al my ve¦nyall syn̄es / whiche be in great nombre / as of vay∣ne thoughtes / wordes / & dedes: & that I haue euyll and vnprofytably spent and lost my tyme and that I myght haue done moche more good thā I haue done. I haue not also said my prayers and penaūce so hertely and fer∣uently as I ought to do / and that I haue not so deuoutly and hertely made my con∣fessyon. I haue not praysed and lauded al∣myghty god in all his operacyons & work{is}. I haue fylled & nourysshed my body with eatynge and drynkynge more than was ne¦de or necessarye.

¶ Of these synnes and all other that I ha∣ue done in my lyfe / whether they be mortall or venyall / whiche be in my remembraun∣ce and knowen / or forgoten & not knowen by ygnoraūce / were it wakynge or slepyn∣ge / by daye or by nyght: al one or with a∣nother / I confesse me and knowlege me to haue offende god / cryenge hym mercy / and desyre absolu¦cyon of you my ghostly fa∣ther. Et Ideo precor. &c.

¶ The .xxvi. Chapytre / what thynge man receyueth / whiche worthely and in the state of grace / goth to the holy sacrament.

WE haue nowe herde / howe & in what maner ye shall pre∣pare your selfe by confessyon for to go to the holy sacramēt and resteth to declare what vertues and fruytes the mā receyueth in his soule / whiche hathe so pre∣pared hym selfe.

¶ Fyrste / the man receyueth in the holy sa∣crament / the same blyssed body and flesshe that our lady mary the mother of god hath borne in her vyrgynall wombe / & the whi∣che hath hange vpon the crosse / by the whi∣che sacrament also the man is made parte taker of all the goodnes that our lorde hath done in all his lyfe / in fastynge / prayenge / prechynge / in watchynge / and in his harde and bytter passyon. Also the man therby is made parte taker of all the merytes of all the sayntes in heuen: and of all the good per¦sones in erth.

¶ Secondaryly / the man receyueth in the holy sacrament / the holy precyous & blyssed

blode of our lorde Ihesu chryste: & therby is pourged of al his syn̄es cōfessed & forgoten. And after the greatnes of his deuocyon / the multytude of his synnes be forgyuen hym.

¶ Thyrdly / the man receyueth in the holy sacrament / the noble soule of our lorde Ihe¦su chryste / the whiche he dyd cōmende han∣gynge on the crosse / to his father god almy∣ghty / wherby man pourchaseth a gayge of euerlastynge lyfe. For yf god gyue to man the greatest thynge / as his owne propre sou¦le: he wyll gyue also that whiche is lesse / as the perdurable and euerlastynge lyfe.

¶ Fourthly / he receyueth also in the holy sa¦crament / the lyfe vnyed with the body of our lorde Ihesu chryste / wherby the man is transfourmed in god. For as puyssaunce or myghte is ascrybed to god the father / to the sone sapyence or wysdome / and to the holy ghost pytie and benygnyte / so the man also by the vertue of the holy sacrament / becō∣meth myghty & stronge in prayer / to resyste the euyll temptacyons of the deuyll of hell. He becōmeth also sage and wyse for to cho∣se vertue and the good from the euyll. He doth pourchase also in hym selfe great good¦nes: as loue and charite towardes god / and pacyence and humylyte.

¶ Fyfthly / the mā receyueth by the holy sa∣crament / the dyuynyte of our lorde: wherby the soule of the man is rēplysshed with the swetnes of dyuyne grace. For the man whi¦che hathe worthely receyued the holy sacra∣ment / albeit that the breade or hoste is con∣sumed and vanysshed / yet hath he our lor∣de Ihesu chryste abydynge ī his soule with his grace / as a spyrytual meate of the soule: and so he receyueth the sacrament bodyly & ghostly. But yf he receyue it in deedly syn̄e: he receyueth it bodyly / as the very body of our lorde / but he dothe not receyue the ver∣tues aforesayde in his soule. For whan the sacrament is dygeste ī the body of man / our lorde god dothe retourne vnto heuen from whens he came by his grace / leuyng the sou¦le voyde of all vertue: and possessed of the deuyll of hell / as Iudas the traytoure was whiche receyued our lorde Ihesu chryste in the holy sacrament / in the last supper or col∣lacyon. And bycause that he was not in the state of grace but in deedly synne / therfore he receyued not the grace of god / also oure lorde dyd not tary with hym. And so there be foure maner of folkes / that receyueth the holy sacrament.

¶ The fyrst receyue it bodyly & not ghostly

¶ The seconde / receyue it spyrytually or ghostly and not bodyly.

¶ The thyrde: receyue it not neyther bodely nor ghostly.

¶ The fourthe / receyue it bodyly and not ghostly / as hereafter is declared to the helth of the soule.

¶ The .xxvii. Chapytre / of foure maner of folkes whiche receyueth onely the holy sacrament bodely / to the dāpnacyon of theyr soules.

THey receyue the holy Sacra∣ment bodyly to the dampna∣cyon of theyr soules.

¶ Fyrste / those whiche wyl∣lyngly and knowynge them selfe in deedly synne do go to receyue it / for suche folkes be deed in theyr soules. And as saynt Austyne wryteth: that as the soule of the mā is the lyfe of the body / so is also god the lyfe of the soule / taryenge and dwellyn¦ge in the soule / And god and deedly synne can not dwell togyther in one place. Ther∣fore saynt Paule saythe / that a man shall proue and examyne hym selfe afore that he receyue the holy sacrament. A synner shall

examyne hym selfe in thre thynges / and so he may go worthely to the holy sacrament.

¶ Fyrste / yf he repent hym of all his syn̄es passed.

¶ Secondaryly / yf he be purposed neuer to synne more.

¶ Thyrdly / yf he haue mynde and wyll / & wyll accomplysshe that same wyll / to con∣fesse all his synnes / and after the counceyll of his confessour to make satysfaccyon for the same. All those hauynge thyse thre poyn¦tes be in the state of grace / & without deedly synne. And in case that they shulde dye so∣deynly / god wyll haue mercy of them. And may suerly receyue / vpon the mercy of god the holy sacrament.

¶ The other whiche receyueth the holy sa∣cramēt vnworthely be those whiche hauyn¦ge no knowleg of any deedly syn̄e by them cōmyt / be in a peruerse and euyll mynde & wyll to do synne / as wyllyngly to hurte a¦ny man: or to haunt lechery and vnclennes or to be prowde or other lyke. For in al deed¦ly synnes wherby a man may dampne his soule by the dede / so he maye also dampne it without the dede / onely by wyll & consent. So dyd Iudas receyue the holy sacrament beynge ī the myscheuous wyll and mynde

to betraye our lorde Ihesu chryste. And ther¦fore dyde he receyue within hym the deuyll of hell / and became worse after that he had receyued the sacrament / than he was afore. So also the people become worse and mo∣re obstynate in synne / whiche receyue the ho¦ly sacrament in an euyll and peruers myn∣de and wyll. They haue all an euyll myn∣de and wyll / whiche do not eschewe occasy¦on to syn̄e: wherby they shuld fall in synne. ¶ The thyrde maner of folkes / whiche re∣ceyue not well the holy sacrament / be the Ypocrytes whiche resemble to be good out∣wardly / but within they be full of all vn∣clennes / lechery / and enuye. They be suche whiche ones in the yere come to confessyon and do promyse to amende theyr lyuynge / but they do the contrarye. They be also su∣che whiche without occasyon by fayned hu¦mylyte / do ofte tymes refrayne to go to the holy sacrament / sayenge that they be not worthy to receyue it / in reprehendyng other whiche ofte tymes go therunto. Yf we wyll speke of the dygnyte / there is none worthy to receyue it / in heuen nor in erthe / neyther Mary the mother of god nor the apostelles. Nor god doth not desyre of vs suche prepay¦rynge as doth apperteyne to his mageste &

dyuynyte / but he desyreth onely of vs suche prepayrynge as is possyble to our power / nor he dothe not demaunde that we do not synne / or that we haue not synned / but he desyreth onely that after that we haue syn∣ned / that we be penytent and sory therfore / and that we be in purpose and wyll neuer to synne more. For saynt Peter in the laste supper dyd receyue worthely the holy sacra¦ment / yet neuertheles he renounced our lor∣de Ihesu chryste shortely after / and all the other apostelles dyd cōmyt a deedly synne with hym. Wherfore man shall do that that is in hym / goynge to the holy sacrament / & cōmendynge hym to god.

¶ The fourth maner of folkes / whiche re∣ceyue the sacrament vnworthely / be those whiche presūptuously go to the holy sacra∣ment in deedly synne / to moche trustynge to the mercy of god / thynkynge it not to be synne / whiche they do make no synne / whi¦che do not examyne theyr conscyence afore / nor remembre not theyr euyll and peruers lyuynge / nor also haue not contrycyon in theyr hertes / nor do not make theyr confessy¦on. And suche folkes albeit that they haue not knowlege of any deedly synne by them cōmytte / yet neuertheles they goynge to the

holy sacrament cōmytte a deedly synne / for they do put them selfe ī peryll. Saynt Pau¦le sayth / that the man shall examyne his cō¦scyence afore that he go therunto. O what nombre of people there is: which bere many and great synnes vpon them / and careth no thynge at all therfore. They do chose a confessoure whiche is very symple: whiche doth lede both the synner & hym selfe to hell.

¶ The .xxviii. Chapytre / howe greatly he synneth / whiche receyueth the sacrament vnworthely.

THe greatnesse of the synnes of those / whiche receyue the holy sacrament vnworthely and in deedly syn̄e to theyr euerlastyn¦ge dampnacyon / maye be con∣sydered by foure reasons.

¶ Fyrste / for suche folkes be reputed afore god for murderers of Ihesu chryste the sone of god. And as saynt Gregorye sayth: they do cōmyt greater synne whiche do dyspyse god reygnynge in heuen / than those whiche dyd crucyfye hym in erth. O what penaun¦ce wolde a good catholyke man do / whiche shulde haue crucyfyed our lorde / what pe∣naunce

is he than bounde to do / which hath vnworthely receyued the body of oure lor∣de god.

¶ Secondaryly / suche folkes be oft tymes punysshed in theyr bodyes by syckenes / or by sodayne deth. And therfore cōmonly af∣ter easter cōmeth syckenes / pestylence / and other inconuenyence / And that is bycause the man so vnworthely and in deedly syn̄e receyueth the holy sacrament.

¶ Thyrdly / for they synne more enormely than the Iewes / for the Iewes dyd synne by ygnoraunce. And as saynt Paule sayth yf they had knowen it / they wold not haue crucyfyed the lorde of glorye. But the syn∣ners chrysten men knowlege god / & knowe well y^t they be in great synne. The Iewes haue crucyfyed our lorde but ones / but the chrysten men do crucyfye hym very ofte / in so moche that wyttyngly they do go to the holy sacrament in deedly synne.

¶ Fourthly / suche folkes receyue vpō them the iugement of god / whiche he shall gyue vpon the dampned soules at the daye of iu∣gement / where he shall say: go ye cursed peo¦ple to euerlastynge fyre.

¶ Fyfthly / those that vnworthely receyue the holy sacrament / be lyke to Iudas the

traytoure / whiche dyd betraye and delyuer our lorde Ihesu to the Iewes. And it shall chaunce vnto them in hell / as it dyd to Iu∣das for after that he had vnworthely recey¦ued the holy sacrament: the deuyll dyd entre in to hym / so that he dyde betraye our lorde Ihesu chryste / wherfore afterwarde he fell in dyspayre and dyde hange hym selfe. So they become more obstynate in synne / those whiche receyue the holy sacrament dayly in deedly syn̄e / & they dare boldly do that thyn¦ge whiche other dare not thynke / ye and mo¦reouer do that thynge whiche the deuyll da∣re not do. And as Iudas delyuered our lor¦de to the Iewes: so in lyke case men delyuer our lorde Ihesu chryste / in as moche as they can / to the deuylles of hell. For they receyue our lorde Ihesu chryste in the place / whiche the deuyll doth possesse / and apperteyneth vnto hym.

¶ Syxtly / this is an vnkynde man / for he dyspyseth god his creatoure / which for hym hathe suffred bytter dethe vpon the crosse. This is yet a greater vnkyndnes ī the mā that the diuynyte & power of god is redy for to come to vysyte hym with his dyuyne gra¦ce inclosed in the holy sacrament / & the man maketh him self vnworthy to receyue hym.

¶ Seuenthly / suche persones be more vn∣happy than other / for the soueraygne good∣nes whiche is god: is hurtfull and dampna¦ble vnto them / & the medycyne of the soule is infyrmytie and deth vnto them. For as the holy sacrament is an euerlastynge lyfe vnto them whiche do receyue & vse it well so it is deth vnto those / whiche euyll & vn∣worthely receyue it.

¶ The .xxix. Chapytre / of those whi∣che receyue the holy Sacrament spyrytually and not bodely.

THere be yet foure maner of folkes / whiche receyue the ho∣ly sacrament spyrytually or ghostly and not bodely / that is to saye / they receyue the gra¦ce of the holy sacrament secretly ī theyr sou∣les / albeit that they receyue it not vysybly in theyr bodyes / and shall be rewarded afo¦re god / as yf they had receyued it bodely.

¶ The fyrste sorte whiche receyue it spyry∣tually / be those whiche by feblenes of infyr¦mytie and syckenes can not holde meate in theyr bodyes / or whiche do coughe moche / or do cast and voyde fleume very sore & suche

other. These persones shall coueyte and de∣syre hertely to receyue it / in beholdynge it with great deuocyon sayenge. O good lor∣de I do thanke the that I maye paye / satys¦fye / and content the by a good wyll & myn¦de. O good lorde I thanke the / that in all places I maye fynde the. O good lorde I thanke the / that no persone maye hurte or hynder me towardes the. And I do thanke the good lord that whan I haue the / no per¦sone maye take me.

¶ The seconde sorte whiche receyue the ho∣ly sacrament spyrytually / be those whiche sodaynely be taken with sodayne deth / as maryners on the see / men of warre ī the fel∣de / women trauaylyng of chylde and other lyke / whiche can not haue a confessoure to confesse them / and to receyue the holy sacra¦ment. Suche persones hauyng contrycyon and repentaunce for theyr synnes and desy¦re to receyue the holy sacrament / haue afore god receyued the holy sacrament ī theyr sou¦les. Yet neuertheles they shall confesse them selfe afore yf it be possyble / & shall not trust to moche in that / to the entent that god do not withdrawe his grace.

¶ The thyrde sorte be those / whiche serue god in purenes of cōscyence / yet neuertheles

they refrayne somtyme through humylyte / to go to the holy sacrament / but they here masse with deuocyon reuerently beholdyn∣ge the holy sacrament / and by desyre to re∣ceyue it. Suche persones yf so and in suche maner they here masse / they shall be rewar∣ded afore god: as yf they had receyued the ho¦ly sacrament.

¶ The fourth sorte whiche spyrytually re∣ceyueth the holy sacrament / be those whiche be prepayred therto: and humbly desyreth to receyue it / but theyr confessours wyll not a∣gre therto. Also relygeous persones whiche after the rule of theyr ordre / maye not go to the holy sacrament / but on dayes ordeyned by theyr heedes. Yet notwithstandyng they desyre to receyue it somtymes / the whiche must be content: for afore god they haue re∣ceyued it spyrytually. And it is somtymes more acceptable to god that the man do ab∣steyne deuoutly with Centurio / than to re∣ceyue our lorde worthely with Zachee. Su∣che persones shal thynke that god hath seen some thynge in them / wherfore they maye not be admyt to receyue the holy sacrament bodely. And so they maye go afore the blys∣sed sacrament / and shall rede deuoutly these prayers folowynge / the which saynt Fraū¦cys

was wont to saye and rede with great deuocyon / or a man maye saye them in his chambre afore the crucyfyxe or crosse of our lorde god / thynkynge that the very sone of god doth hange there.

¶ The .xxx. Chapytre / what thynge a man shall rede whiche desyreth spy∣rytually to receyue the holy sacra¦ment with his dyuyne grace.

THat man whiche spyrytually desy∣reth to receyue the body of our lorde Ihesu chryste with his dyuyne gra∣ce / vertue / and fruytes he shall hūble hym selfe perfoundely afore god. And shall rede these fyue prayers deuoutly vpō his knees or in his chambre ī the maner here showed.

¶ Here thou shalt knele on thy knees and shall saye.

O Lorde Ihesu chryste here I am vpō my knees afore thy blyssed iyes and presence / as a synner and an euyll doer afore a iuge. And I knowe that after thy iustyce / I haue lost and forfayte my bo¦dy & soule. Wherfore I praye the good lorde Ihesu chryste / by the sentēce of deth wrong¦fully gyuen of the / that thou wylt be a mer∣cyfull

iuge to me / whan my soule shall de¦parte from my body. Amen.

¶ Pater noster. Aue maria.

¶ Nowe thou shalt ryse vp and saye.

O Good lorde Ihesu chryst here I am afore thyne iyes and in thy presence: as a bonde man afore his lorde and mayster / whom I and all other creatures be bounde to serue euerlastyngly. I praye the good lorde Ihesu chryste that thou wylt lette me knowe thy dere wyll in all thyng{is} to be done / and to let it be acceptable to the / and lette me not do that thynge / wherby I maye lease thy loue euerlastyngly. Amen.

¶ Pater noster. Aue maria.

¶ Here thou shalt knele agayne / and shall saye hertely.

O Lorde Ihesu chryst here I am on my knees afore thy blyssed face / as a po∣re begger afore a ryche kynge. I praye the O kynge of glory: that thou wylt cloth my soule with the vestment of thy dyuyne lo∣ue / and to enryche the same with thy grace in all vertue / & to aorne the same with the perles of pacyence / to the entent that so aor∣ned I may com to the soueraygne maryage

wherunto thou hast called me. Amen.

¶ Pater noster. Aue maria.

¶ Here thou shalt ryse with fere / and shall saye.

O Lorde god Ihesu chryste here I am afore thy reuerēde presence: as a man afore his derest frende / whom I & al other creatures be bounde to loue / for thou haste made & delyuered vs by thy precyous blode. O benygne Ihesu chryste I pray the kepe and defende me alwayes / and graunt me to perceyue howe good and swete thou art / to the entent that therby all payne and ioye / and also all creatures maye be bytter vnto me. Amen.

¶ Pater noster. Aue maria.

¶ Nowe thou shalt knele agayne / and shall saye.

O Lorde Ihesu chryste here I am hum¦bly on knees afore thy dyuyne iyes / as a chylde afore his father: of whom I haue receyued body and soule / albeit that I haue not ben at all tymes obedyent / as a true and faythfull chylde ought to be to his father. I pray the O my father euerlastyn∣ge by thy paternall loue / that thou wylt no¦rysshe

me here in erth with the heuenly brea¦de / and in chastysynge me for my faultes / haue mercy of me / to the entent that so I puryfyed of my synnes / we maye reioyse / thou in me and I in the / with all the saynt{is} in heuen euerlastyngly. Amen.

¶ Pater noster. Aue maria.

¶ The .xxxi. Chapytre / of those whiche neyther spyrytually nor bodely re∣ceyue the holy sacrament.

THyrdly / there be some {per}sones whiche neyther spyrytually nor bodely / receyue the holy sacrament / and that do with∣drawe them selfe from the lyf¦ly fountayne of grace: wherby they become drye in theyr soules / as a braunche cut from a tree.

¶ Fyrste / they be those whiche be harde her∣ted / obstynate / and roted in theyr euyll and peruers lyuynge / and wyll not leue it / As those which be in adultery / those whiche do lede theyr lyues in a lyght and cōmon ma∣ner / those whiche do haunt olde fylthy / and vnhonest tauernes or lodgyng{is} / or whiche do possesse goodes vnryghtfully / or also

whiche be in enuye or suche lyke deedly syn¦nes. These persones / albeit that they synne lease bycause they do not go to the holy sa∣crament in suche an euyll and peruers lyfe: yet neuertheles they synne deedly / bycause that one ī the yere they do not prepare them selfe to the holy sacrament. For they myght leue theyr synne and confesse them therof / and so go to the holy sacrament / where as nowe they tarye in deedly synne and in the state of euerlastynge dāpnacyon: in the whi¦che they maye at all houres dye.

¶ Secondaryly / all Infydelles / as Tur∣kes / Sarazyns / Iewes / and paynyms / & other whiche do not byleue in Ihesu chryste the sone of god & in the holy catholyke chur∣che. All persones blynded in theyr malyce & synne / wherby they dyspyse the holy sacra∣ment / & mocke them that do receyue it. And bycause that they byleue not in the sone of god / and do not receyue hym in the holy sa∣crament / whiche is the lyfe of the soule / ther¦fore they abyde and dwell in dethe / and be deed in theyr soules.

¶ Thyrdly / there be yet some which do not receyue the holy sacrament / as Herytykes / that is to saye chrysten people / whiche vn∣derstāde the holy scrypture otherwyse than

the holy ghost doth speke it by the prophetes and that that is ordeyned by the holy chur∣che / as to go to confessyon / to faste / to go to the holy sacrament / to repute as no thynge excōmunycacyon / and not to sanctyfye the holy dayes / and to honoure our lady & other sayntes / or to gyue any almous in theyr ho¦noure to the poore folkes / to dyspyse and set at nought pardons & indulgences / and of suche other artycles they haue many. And these persones go not to the holy sacrament whan and where they may / for they byleue not in the holy sacrament. And yf they go to confessyon or to the holy sacrament / they do it without fayth / and bycause that they shall not be knowen from other / and in ly∣ke case they com to the churche to here masse.

¶ Fourthlye / they be those whiche take so great payne in worldly busynes / as to go in to the countre for marchaūdyse and other transytory thynges / that they forgette to re∣ceyue the holy sacrament. For there be some folkes which yf they dyd not gyue them sel¦fe therunto / they wolde receyue the holy sa∣crament more than ones in the yere / as on the foure pryncypall and solempne festes / and the feestes of our lady. But bycause y^t they be colde in deuocyon / and that they be

loth to prepare them selfe & to confesse them they lette it passe lyghtly / and go not to the holy sacrament / wherof they shall gyue a compte afore god. For that man that goth so seldome to the holy sacrament / he becō∣meth so slouthfull / so colde and drye to war¦des god / that he is oft tymes wery and loth to thynke of god: to here of god / and to serue hym. And yf he do saye one Pater noster: he feleth hym selfe wery and thynketh it very tedyous. This is bycause that the soule is not ofte tymes fedde and refresshed / wher∣by it becōmeth feble / colde / and sycke / and inclyned to deedly syn̄e / wherin it doth ma∣ke an ende of the lyfe.

¶ The .xxxii. Chapytre / of them whiche worthely receyueth the holy sacra∣ment in grace: and howe a man maye knowe that he hath re¦ceyued it in grace.

FOurthly / there be yet so∣me maner of folkes whi∣che receyue the holy sacra∣ment bodely and ghostly in grace / to the helthe of soules. These be all good catholyke persones / whiche haue prepayred

them selfe therto with all dylygence by true contrycyon and confession as is aforesayd. These persones wyll not prepare them self onely to receyue well and worthely the ho∣ly sacrament / but they be very dylygent in kepynge and holdynge it with them. And ther is .vii. tokens wherby a man may kno¦we stedfastly / that god resteth styll in his soule / and in the holy sacrament.

¶ The fyrste is / that so longe as a man is contryte & sory for his synnes passed whan soeuer he doth remēbre them: suche a persone lyueth styll in his soule. But whan a man reioyseth and taketh pleasure in remēbryn∣ge his synnes passed / than his soule begyn∣neth to dye: & god to departe from hym with his dyuyne grace.

¶ The seconde token is / so longe as a man is dylygent to ordre his thoughtes / wordes and dedes / to the profyte & helth of his soule and to the instruccyon and example of his neyghboure / and that he do all his busynes and workes with fere / to the entent that no man take any euyll example at hym: And that he desyre that god onely be honoured in all his good workes: suche folkes haue god inclosed in theyr hertes.

¶ The thyrde token is / so longe as a man

hath pacyence in his trybulacyon: for no mā can tell what a mā is in wardly / afore that he be proued outwardly. Some and many folkes esteme them selfe to be good and ho∣ly / yet they can not suffre or bere pacyently one lytell worde / the whiche is a token that they be farre from the waye of perfeccyon / for holynes consysteth in trybulacyon. For it is better to haue pacyence in trybulacyon than to do moche good dedes withoute pa∣cyence.

¶ The fourth token is / so longe as a man hath sauoure: pleasure / and ioye in the remē¦braunce of euerlastynge lyfe / in the worde of god / in the passyon of our lorde / and in other lyke / god is styll restynge in his soule. For yf he haue no pleasure nor sauoure in these thynges / it is a token that his herte is remplysshed and full of worldly and tem∣porall thyng{is} by carnall ioye and pleasure. And suche folk{is} haue chased our lorde Ihe∣su chryste from theyr soules: for carnall ioye & spyrytuall consolacyon / maye not dwell togyther in one place.

¶ The fyfth token is / so longe as a man is feruent and deuoute in sayenge his prayers to god / and that at that tyme he put awaye all rumoure and trouble from his herte in

as moche as he maye / and that he speke god¦ly and fruytfull wordes / and that he than∣ke god of all his benefytes and goodnes / as well for aduersytie as prosperyte. Suche a man hath god remaynyng styll in his herte: but whan he doth begyn to speke detraccy∣ons or backbytynges / to curse / or other euyl wordes / it is a token that he is deed in his soule / and that god is not with hym: For he that is of god / he wyll gladly here to speke of god.

¶ The syxt token is / so longe as a man fe∣leth hym self redy to serue god / and dylygēt to all good workes / it is a token that suche a man hath ben worthely at the holy sacra∣ment. For our lorde Ihesu chryste moueth the herte and the soule within / howe he shal lyue and kepe hym from synne / for the loue of god is neuer Idle ī man for to cause hym do well.

¶ The seuenth token is / so longe as a man hath in hym the loue of god and of his ney∣ghboure chrysten brother / in louynge god a¦boue all thynge: & doynge to his neyghbour as he wolde shulde be done to hym / as to cō¦forte those that be desolate and cōfortles / to helpe the poore in theyr nede / and suche lyke good dedes. This persone shall not doubte

but that he is in the grace & fauoure of god.

¶ The .xxxiii. Chapytre / of the .xii. ver∣tues and fruytes / whiche the man receyueth / that worthely goth to the holy sacrament.

FYnally it is to be declared what vertues and fruyt{is} the good mā receyueth in goynge worthely / to the holy sacrament. Saynt Iohan in the apocalypse dyde se in Paradyse .xii. maner of fruytes. The tre is our lorde Ihesu chryste / whiche hath borne and lefte to vs in the holy sacra¦ment .xii. maner & sortes of fruyt{is} agaynst xii. maledyccyons or cursynges / the whiche our soules receyue in cōmyttynge a deedly synne.

¶ Fyrste / synne causeth the soule to be feble and redy to all euyll / but the holy sacramēt heleth the soule of syn̄e / and maketh it wor∣thy of all vertues.

¶ Secondaryly / by deedly synne man doth bynde hym selfe to euerlastynge payne and dampnacyon / but by the holy sacrament he is assoyled of all deedly synne. And after

the great deuocyon that he hath towardes the sacramēt / the multytude of paynes and tourmentes be remytted.

¶ Thyrdly / man dothe dyspoyle hym selfe by deedly syn̄e / of all the good workes that he hath done in all his lyfe / so longe as he is in deedly syn̄e. But whan he doth retourne to grace / doynge penaunce humbly for his synnes / and that he receyueth worthely the holy body of god / god restoreth agayne to hym all his good workes.

¶ Fourthly: deedly synne blyndeth man by neclygent ygnoraunce / & maketh hym loth to leue his syn̄e / but the holy sacrament put¦teth in to the soule of man by his vertue & myght: a lyght of knowlege the which doth illumynate the soule and puryfye it / so that from thensforth man knoweth the wyll of god / and the greatnes of synne.

¶ Fyfthly / deedly synne maketh place for the deuyll / by his temptacyons in the soule of man / but the holy sacrament doth arme the soule of man agaynst the deuyll and his dartes or temptacyons. For where he seeth the blode of our lorde / he flyeth from thens and the aūgelles do helpe the man to fyght agaynst the deuyll and enemye of hell.

¶ Syxtly / deedly synne inclyneth the man

and doth plucke hym to many other deedly synnes / yf it be not incontynent wasshed & taken awaye by true penaunce / but by the blyssed sacrament man becōmeth stedfaste and stronge in grace and redy to all vertue so longe as he doth not fall to syn̄e agayne.

¶ Seuenthly / by deedly synne man is bese¦ged of the deuyll / but by the blyssed sacra∣ment he is vnyed with god / so that he loue god: wherby he doth pourchase and obteyne taste and sauoure of euerlastynge lyfe.

¶ Eyghtly / the soule of man dyeth of euer∣lastynge deth by deedly syn̄e / so that it kno∣weth not what to do that maye be accepta∣ble to god / and to hym selfe profytable / but the holy sacrament doth preserue and kepe the soule of man from the deth of synne / so that he doth abyde in the lyfe of grace / And his work{is} be acceptable to god / and to hym selfe profytable.

¶ Nynthlye / deedly synne maketh a man sorowfull pensyfe & heuy of herte / and har∣de and euyll wyllynge to all vertue / but the blyssed sacramēt maketh the man wor∣thy mete & redy to all vertue / and tourneth all his inwarde myght towardes god / and spyrytuall ioye and gladnes.

¶ Tenthly / man doth depryuate hym selfe

by deedly synne of the passyon / payne / and tourment of our lorde Ihesu chryste / of ma¦ry the mother of god / and of all the sayntes. Also of all the good workes and cōmuny∣on of the holy churche / and of all the good∣nes in heuen and in erth / but by the holy sa∣crament man maketh hym selfe parte taker of all the goodnes that the sone of god hath done vpon the erth / and of all other good dedes.

¶ Eleuenthly / man is dayly cursed of god & of the holy churche for deedly synne / wher¦by man hath alwayes an inconstaunt and troubled conscyence / but by the holy sacra∣ment he pourchaseth in his soule / a swete spyrytuall ioye and gladnes / and great pea¦ce and rest in his conscyence / the which doth passe all gladnes & pleasure that man may haue in all his lyfe in this worlde.

¶ Twelfthly / man is for deedly synne put out of the gate of Paradyse and of euerla∣stynge lyfe: & dysinheryte of the soueraygne rychesse / but by well and worthely recey∣uynge the holy sacrament it is forgyuen: as to a chylde & heyre of the precyous treasure of the glory of heuen / the whiche they onely shall possede and euerlastyngly vse and en¦ioye / whiche worthely / bodely / and ghostly

receyue here in erth the holy sacrament / As chryste hym self sayth as it is wryten in the begynnynge of the thyrde boke. Hic est pa∣nis. &c. This is the breade descended from heuen / and all those whiche eateth of this breade shall lyue euerlastyngly / to the whi¦che brynge vs Ihesu chryste very god and man / inclosed and conteyned in the holy sa¦crament. Amen.

¶ This prayer shall a man saye whan he goth to the holy sacrament / or for to here masse deuoutly.

I Do salute the moste holy body of oure lorde Ihesu chryste / conteyned in this sacrament / I do confesse & knowlege the with my lyppes / and with my hert I desyre & coueyte the / I pray the that thou wylte this daye come to conforte my poore soule gracyously / the whiche desyreth and coueyteth to receyue the holy oblacyon and fountayne of all grace / to the ende that I may be with the in ioye and consolacyon of thy presence / in body & in soule. O benygne lorde Ihesu chryste / haue not regarde to my

many folde synnes / but haue regarde to thy great mercy / for thou arte he by whom all the worlde is made & delyuered. Thou arte the innocent lambe which is offred vp this daye to the father of heuen / for all the worl∣de. O most swetest heuēly breade. O most ioyfull buurayge or drynke / Gyue to my mouth a swete sauoure of thy holsome pre∣sence / illumynate me with thy loue / take a¦waye my malyce and synne: and put in me vertue and grace to the helthe of my soule. O most worthy sacrament / I praye the y^t by thy presence all myne enemyes maye be chased awaye / all my syn̄es forgyuen / and all euyll temptacyon withstande and put awaye / graunt me a good and holy lyfe / correcte my maners and condycyons / and all my workes and dedes / tourne them to thy wyll. O good lorde open heuen & come to me for to illumynate my vnderstandyn¦ge by this newe lyght / illumynate my desy¦res / and corroborate & strengthen my truste and hope / to the entent that from hensforth my lyfe maye so amende / that fynally I maye come to good ende. Amen.

¶ Another deuoute prayer that a man shal saye in goynge to the holy sacrament.

O Lorde Ihesu chryste I desyre and coueyte this day to recey¦ue thy blyssed body / as per∣fytely as mary thy most ho∣nourable mother receyued it in her vyrgynall wombe: so good lorde de∣scende and come in to my soule / not accor∣dynge and after my deseruynges / but after thy great mercy. O lorde Ihesu chryste I desyre and coueyte this daye to receyue thy blyssed blode / in wasshynge awaye all my synnes. O lorde Ihesu chryste / this daye I coueyte to receyue thy blyssed spyryte / in re∣couerynge all my tyme loste and mysspent. O benygne lorde Ihesu chryste / I desyre this daye to receyue thy blyssed soule / in in∣fusyon of thy dyuyne charyte & loue. O lor∣de Ihesu chryste / this day I coueyte and de¦syre to receyue thy blyssed dyuynyte / in assu¦raunce and securytye / of the euerlastynge lyfe. Amen.

¶ Saye thre tymes this verse afore that ye go to the holy sacramēt. O lorde god I am not worthy that thou entre in to my howse but speke onely and my poore soule shall be hole. Than go forthe and receyue the sone of god with all mekenes and feruent desyre And whan thou shalt haue receyued hym /

rede this prayer whiche our lady dyd speke / after that she had receyued the sone of god / the whiche was this psalme. Magnificat anima mea dominum.

¶ The Magnificat in englysshe.

MY soule dothe magnyfye our lorde. And my spyryte hath reioysed ī god my sauyoure. For he hathe beholden the humylyte of his mayde ser∣uaunt / therfore all generacions shall blysse me. For he whiche is myghtye / hathe done great thynges to me / and his name is holy. And his mercy is from generacyon to gene¦racyon to them that fere hym. He hath ma∣de power in his arme / he hath sprede abro∣de the prowde herted men. He hath deposed and put downe the myghty men from theyr place / & hath exalted the humble persones. He hath rēplysshed and fyllyd the hungrye and nedy persones with goodes / & hath left the ryche voyde. He hathe receyued Israel his sone / remēbrynge his mercy. As he hath spoken & showed to our fathers Abraham / and to his sede for euermore. Glory be to the father / the sone / and the holy ghost / through out all the worlde for euermore. Amen.

¶ A man shal rede this prayer after that he hath worthely receyued the holy sacramēt.

O Lorde Ihesu chryste / thankes & pray∣synges be to thy ineffable and incom¦parable benygnyte and goodnes: whiche so louyngly hathe made me parte taker of thy blyssed body / and precyous blode / wherw^t thou hast now norysshed & fedde my soule. O penetrable and persyng lyght. O lyght reluysant and shynynge aboue all lyghtes. Illumynate and clere my vnderstandyng and shyne & perce my soule of all sydes. So that no maner of spotte do abyde there whe¦re as thy dygnyte hath come / thankes be to our lorde god the father in his puyssaunce & magestie / thankes be to oure lorde god / the sone in his sapyence and wysdom: thankes be to the holy ghoste / in his amyable pytie. O lorde Ihesu chryste / in these thre thyng{is} thou arte one. O amyable lorde god Ihesu chryste / I thanke the that thou hast vouche¦safe to here me / an vnworthy creature / and to reioyse & cōforte my pensyfe herte. That that I haue desyred of the / thou hast gyuen it me. And that whiche of longe tyme I ha¦ue coueyted and desyred / now I haue recey¦ued it. O lorde god / thou arte the fruytefull

tree of our helthe / the whiche thou thy selfe hathe planted in oure blyssed Lady thy mo∣ther / And of that same thy mother beynge a vyrgyne thou hast receyued nature humay¦ne / wherwith nowe I am fedde. O lorde god / nowe is the same selfe tree planted in erth where there is no humydyte nor moyst¦nes of grace. Wherfore I beseche the of mer∣cy / that in the same it may please the to sen∣de the swete moystnes and dewe of the ho∣ly ghost / the whiche shall cause the noble ro∣te whiche thou good Lorde hath planted in my soule to florysshe & sprynge. O hyghe power and mageste of the father entre in to my thoughtes. O sapyence and wysdome of the sone / entre in to my vnderstandynge & intellygence. O pyte of the holy ghost / en¦tre in to my wyll / so that these thre myghty vertues maye answere to thy trynyte: from whens they be com. And I beseche the good lorde for the great loue that thou hast to thy dere mother and to all sayntes / that frō hensforth thou gyue me grace to syn̄e no more / and to fulfyll thy wyl in all thynges to the whiche the father / the sone / and the holy ghost helpe & lede vs. Amen.

¶ Another prayer that a man shall say af∣ter that he hath ben at the holy sacramēt / wherby the the pope 〈…〉〈…〉 gyueth moche pardon and indulgence.

O Most holy soule of Ihesu chryste san¦ctyfye me. O most pure body of Ihe¦su chryste saue me. O most swete blode of Ihesu chryste make me entre in to thy loue. O most pure and clere water of the syde of our lord Ihesu chryste wasshe me from my synnes. O most bytter passyon of Ihesu chryste cōforte and strengthen me. O most feruent swete of the face of our lorde Ihesu chryste hele me. O good lorde Ihesu chryste here and exalte my prayer / and in thy woū¦des hyde me / and do not suffre me to be sepe¦rate from the: delyuer me from the deuyll & enemye of hell: at the houre of deth helpe me and let me be set nere to the / to the entent y^t euerlastyngly I maye reioyse with all the aungelles in heuen / in gyuyng praysynges and thankes vnto the. Amen.

¶ Another prayer after that a man hath ben at the holy Sacrament.

O Lorde Ihesu chryste I praye the / that thy body and precyous blode / whiche

I a poore synner haue receyued / maye rem∣plysshe and satysfye my soule / and graunt that in me there do not abyde any spotte of synne / where nowe the holy sacrament is entred. O good lord sauyoure of all creatu¦res / whiche doth not desyre the deth of syn∣ners: I beseche the most humbly by thy blys¦sed body & precyous blode / that thou wylte assure me from al fere & drede / and to graūt me peace with all men / and remyssyon of all my synnes / to the entent that the holy sa¦crament be not to my dampnacyon / but to the helth and medycyne of my soule. I bese∣che the also graunt me grace and felycyte / & helth to lyuynge persones / and euerlastyng rest to those that be deed: and specyally haue mercy of the soules of my father & mother / my brother or syster / and of all my frendes which haue done me good / or for the which I am bounde to praye. And whan the last houre of my lyfe shall come / that the holy aūgelles maye receyue me: and brynge and lede me to euerlastynge ioye. Amen.

¶ This prayer maye a man saye / whan he hath ben at the holy sacrament: & whan he goth therto / or eueryday in the we¦ke / whan a mā hath herde masse.

¶ A prayer on the Sondaye to all the sayntes in heuen.

O Most holy aungelles of he∣uen / Seraphyn / Cherubyn Trones / Pryncypalytes / Potestates / Vertues / Do∣mynacyons / Aungelles / & Archaūgelles / with all Patryarches / Pro¦phetes / Apostelles / Martyres / Cōfessours: Vyrgynes / and all the chosen soules & fren¦des of god / which without ceasynge be lau¦dynge / praysynge / and louynge god / behol¦dynge his amyable face / and tastynge his perdurable glory: I pray you all as a poore synner vpon my knees with feruent desyre and hole herte: that ye wyll faythfully pray to god for me and all good catholyke perso¦nes / in what estate soeuer they be in body & in soule. Also for all chrysten people that god wyll haue prayed for / and specyall for those that I am bounde to pray for / be they lyuynge or deed / that it wyll please god to forgyue vs all our synnes & offences / whi¦che we haue done agaynst his dyuyne wyll to the entent that by your prayers and me∣rytes / we may all obteyne grace in our sou¦les & to escape the payne of hell: in possedyn¦ge euerlastynge lyfe with you / the whiche

almyghty Ihesu chryste graunt vs. Amen.

¶ Pater noster. Aue maria.

¶ A prayer to be sayd the Mondaye to thre archaūgelles and to thy holy aungell.

O Holy archaūgell saynt My∣chaell prynce and faythfull defēsoure of the holy churche stronge and myghty conque¦roure of the enemyes of hell. O saynt Gabryell most faythfull & swete messenger of our helth. O saynt Raphaell reuerende and amyable medycyne and phe∣sycyen of god. O thre soueraygne messen∣gers of the holy trynyte: I do call vnto you for helpe / with my good aungell / whiche hath me in kepynge / and all holy sayntes / whiche be afore god with incōparable ioye laudynge god and with one voyce sayeng Sanctus / Sanctus / Sanctus / that is to say: holy lorde god of the heuenly company I praye you all togyther by the incompara¦ble ardaunt loue / whiche abundauntly ye vse and enioye afore the face of god: that ye wyll come to helpe me a poore synner and all my frendes and enemyes / in all maner of necessytie: and at al tymes & in all places

to defende kepe and conserue vs: And illu∣mynate our hert{is} with the same dyuyne dy∣leccyon & loue / wherwith ye be illumynate And helpe vs in all temptacyons and try∣bulacyons / and strēgthen vs in all vertue and specyally socoure vs in extreme neces∣sytie / and delyuer vs from the temptacyon and snare of our enemye / to the entent that throughe your helpe we maye at that tyme obteyne a holy and good lyfe / and may pro¦cede in all vertue / so boldly fyght / pacyent¦ly suffre / and well & happely to dye / that after this lyfe we maye come to the euerla∣stynge lyfe / where with you and all saynt{is} we maye laude and prayse oure creatoure euerlastyngly. Amen.

¶ Pater noster. Aue maria.

¶ A prayer to the Patryarches and Prophetes / on the Tuesdaye.

O Holy gloryous & reuerende fathers / Adam / Abraham / Isaac / and Ia∣cob / Moyses / Aaron / & Iosue / Sa¦muel / Dauid / Helye / and Helyzeus / Isaie Hieremye / and Danyell / with all other ho¦ly Prophetes and Patriarches / messengers of the perpetuall trueth of god oure lorde

Ihesu chryste / which for our helth was bor¦ne of a vyrgyne and suffred deth / as ye ho∣ly patryarches haue fygured in the olde te∣stament / and ye true prophetes haue prophe¦cyed by the myght of the holy ghost / I pray you holy fathers that ye wyll praye for me a poore synner to our lorde Ihesu chryste / that he wyll illumynate my herte by the ho¦ly ghost / to the entent that alwayes I may haue afore myne iyes / those extreme thyng{is} that be to come / as the iugement / deth / the paynes of hell / and the euerlastynge ioye of heuen. And so by his grace specyally at the houre of deth I maye be founde redy therto and at the daye of iugement I maye onely trust in hym: & by his grace escape the payne of hell / and that I may be foūde amonges the nombre of those whiche from the Eest & west shall come to rest in the skyrte or lappe of Abraham Isaac / and Iacob / in the euer¦lastynge lyfe: the whiche graunt vs he that without ende lyueth & reygneth ī the worl∣de of worldes. Amen.

¶ Pater noster. Aue maria.

¶ A prayer on the wednesdaye / to all the Apostelles / and to the Apo∣stell that ye do honoure.

O Heuenly senatures and clere lyghtes & iuges of the world holy Apostelles and Euāge¦lystes / saynt Peter / & saynt Paule / saint Andrewe: and saynt Iames / saynt Iohan / and saynt Phylyppe / saynt Iames / & saynt Mathie / saynt Symon / and Iude Thadee / saynt Thomas / & saynt Barthylmewe / saynt Mathewe / saynt Luke / saint Marke / saint Barnabe / with all other dyscyples of our lord Ihesu chryst. And specyally saynt. N. whom I serue and haue chosen to be myne aduocate and to pray for me. I beseche you all humbly & with my very herte / to praye to your mayster our lorde Ihesu chryste for me / that he do graūt me perfyte / ryght / and stedfaste fayth & hope towardes hym / and true charyte and loue towardes god and al persones. And as that he hath drawen you from this worlde & to dyspyse it / so drawe me also from all carnall ioyes and world∣ly loue / and from all transytorye thynges. And that he do graunt his dyuyne grace / to folowe his doctryne showed vnto vs by you: to the entent that at the day of iugemēt I may appere and come afore the consysto¦rye / as a good chylde of the holy churche / to

lyue with you in euerlastynge lyfe. Amen.

¶ Pater noster. Aue maria.

¶ A prayer the Thursday to all Marty∣res / and to hym that ye do serue.

O Noble knyghtes of god and glory∣ous Martyres of oure lorde Ihesu chryste / saynt Stephen / saynt Lau∣rence / saynt Xp̄ofore / saynt George / saynt Cornelys / saynt Adryan / saynt Sebasty∣an / saynt Lambert / with all other Marty∣res / whiche haue suffred deth for the name and loue of god / with whom ye do reygne and reioyse in heuen euerlastyngly / and spe¦cyally saynt. N. whom I do serue and ha∣ue chosen to praye and speke for me. I pray you all for the loue of hym whiche hath cho¦sen you / and for the confessynge of whose name / ye haue receyued gloryous martyr∣dome / that ye praye for me a poore synner / that as he hath gyuen you strength and pa∣cyence agaynst his enemyes in all the great and intollerable tourmentes that they dyde you / that he wyl graūt me also by his great mercy and your prayers / strength / myght / and pacyence in all temptacyons and per∣sucyons of the enemye / of the worlde / and

of my flesshe / that I maye vaynquysshe & ouercome them: and that he do graunt me to dyspyse all transytorye thynges / and to in∣close in my herte / onely heuenly thynges. O shynynge rubyes. O reed roses & heuen¦ly baners / obteyne vs of the holy trynyte to folowe you stedfastly and feruently / in the holy catholyke fayth / to the entent that of the kynge of heuen Ihū chryste / we may be crowned with the crowne of spyrytuall martyres in the euerlastynge lyfe. Amen.

¶ Pater noster. Aue maria.

¶ A prayer the Frydaye to all Cōfessours and to hym whom ye do serue.

O Holy blyssed Confessours of oure lord / saynt Gregorye / saynt Ierom saynt Ambrose / saynt Augustyne / saynt Martyne / saynt Frauncys / saynt Alexe / saynt Bernarde / with all Confes∣sours your dere heuenly company / whiche haue confessed / knowleged / and annunced god in erth: and specyally saynt. N. whom I serue and haue chosen to praye and speke for me / I praye you all / O heuenly trom∣pettes by the whiche god hath ben herde / y^t as ye haue showed & annūced in erth with

the herte / with the mouth / and with the de∣des: that by your prayers I may obteyne to byleue with herte / to speke with the mouth / and with dedes to accomplysshe that that ye haue showed and taught / to the entent that by your holy doctryne and predycacy∣on I may receyue the blyssed name Ihesus with his grace / wherby I maye be saued. O happy and noble louers and frendes of god and possessours of the euerlastynge ly∣fe / praye for me to almyghty god / that by your merytes he wyll graunt me to do pe∣naunce for my synnes afore my deth / and to pardon and forgyue all that I haue mys¦done in all my lyfe / agaynst hym and my neyghboure. And do not dyspyse me poore synner for the multytude of my synnes: but cōuerte me at al tymes to god / to the entent that he maye sende you to be present at my passyng of the bytter deth: And delyuer my poore soule from the fere / drede / and payne of hell / and to brynge it in to euerlastynge ioye. Amen.

¶ Pater noster. Aue maria.

¶ A prayer on the Saturdaye to our blys∣sed lady & to al Vyrgynes: and to that Vyrgyne that ye specyally serue.

O Noble and honourable mo¦ther of god / I worshyppe & praye to the this daye aboue all vyrgynes / for thou arte quene of al vyrgynes / whi¦che hath ben worthy aboue all women / to bere hym in thy vyrgynall wombe: whom I vnworthy syn̄er coueyteth and desyreth to receyue in the holy sacrament / afore my deth. Therfore I pray the most blissed lady with all holy vyrgynes & chosen espouses of god / saynt Katheryne / saynt Babara / saynt Agnes / saynt Lucye / saynt Cycyle / saynt Agatha / saynt Dorothe / saynt Mar¦garete / saynt Clare / saynt Gertrude: saynt Vrsula / with all other vyrgynes and wy∣dow{is} / saynt Anne / saynt Elyzabeth: & spe¦cyally the chosen vyrgyne saynt. N. whom specyally I do serue. I praye you all togy∣ther with a profounde herte / that ye wyll faythfully pray for me to your espouse and husbande / that he wyll take awaye from me all euyll and carnall concupyscences / & all pryde and vanytie of the worlde. And that he wyll graunt me true humylyte and pacyence in aduersytie / payne / & tourment / helth and holynes in my soule / true contry∣cyon / perfyte confessyon / and penaunce for

all my synnes / in all vertue a feruent be∣gynnynge and a ferme and stedfast perse∣ueraūce vnto my deth: the which almyghty god / the father / the sone / and the holy ghost graunt me. Amen.

¶ Here endeth the ryght deuoute Boke / of the sygnyfycacyon of the Masse / to the honour of god: of our lady his mother & of all sayntes.