The rule of saynt Augustyn translated out of latyn in to englysshe / indefferently vnto bothe the sexes / that is to saye vnto ye brothers and systers of that pro∣fessyon.
The fyrst chapytre.
O Ere beloued relygious frendes ye must aboue all thynges loue almyghty god / & than ye neygh¦bour. For these cōmaundemen∣tes ben vnto vs fyrst and pryn∣cipally gyuen and cōmaunded. We therfore done charge and commaunde you that ben constytute and ordred in the monasterye / that you obserue and kepe these thynges that done folowe. Fyrste that you dwelle & byde in your house q••etly restfully & agreable togyder in all goodnes / for therunto ye be gadred togyder in one couent / and that you haue (in our lorde) one herte / one wyll / and one mynde.* And yt also you nother name ne call ony thynge properly your owne / but that all thynges be vnto you com∣mune. And yet forther that euery thynge ye shall nede / as mete / drynke & clothynge / be distrybuted deuyded & assygned or appoȳted vnto eueryche of you by your souerayn / not equally or ī lyke porciō vnto all (for you be not all of lyke strength) but ra∣ther it so be deuyded as vnto euery parsone is ne∣cessary.* For so done we rede in ye actes of ye apostles that all thynges were vnto them commune / and Page [unnumbered] vnto eueryche was deuyded & departed / as vnto euerych was necessarye. And therfore suche par∣sones as in the worlde whan they entred the mo∣nasterye had ony substaunce of gooddes / let them haue gladde mynde / and good wyll / and desyre it be commune. And suche as nothynge had / let not them seke ne desyre in the monastery yt they coude not / ne were of power to haue a brode in ye worlde / yet notwithstādynge that yt is necessary for theyr infyrmyte & nede let them haue / althoughe theyr pouertye were suche (whan they were abrode in the worlde) yt they myght not / ne were of powere to haue that was necessarye / yet neuertheles let them not thynke themselfe therfore happy & well at ease / bycause they haue founde within the mo∣nasterye / fode / clothynge / and other necessaryes / suche as without they coude not haue / nor yet let them stretche out the necke ne be the more proude / stately / bolde / or malapert bycause they ben now accompanyed as felowes wt those parsones / vnto whose presence (wtout in the worlde) they durst not approche ne presume. But let them rather lyfte vp theyr hertes vnto heuēly thynges / and nother seke / ne yet desyre or couet to haue ye vayne thyn∣ges of this worlde / lest therby ye monasteryes shol¦de wex profytable vnto the ryche / and not vnto ye poore parsones / yf therin the ryche were mekened & brought lowe / & the poore bolne vp with pryde.
¶ The seconde chapytre.
ANd agayne suche parsones as in ye worlde semed to be set by and to be of reputacyon / let not them dysdayne / haue scorne / ne be werye of Page [unnumbered] theyr felowes / that from pouerte came vnto that holy company / but let them rather study and de∣syre to reioyce and be glad / not of the dygnete and honour of theyr ryche kyn and frendes / but of the cōpanye of theyr poore felowes. Nor yet let them (yf they gaue or broughte ony of theyr worldly gooddes vnto the commenty) loke to haue thanke preimynence & the more to be set by therfore. Nor yet to be proude of theyr riches bycause they gaue them vnto the monasterie more than yf they had (in the worlde) inioyed & vsed them at theyr owne pleasure. For (of a suertye) euery other iniquite & syn̄e / what so euer it be is excercysed in yll werkes to brynge them to passe or vnto effecte / but pryde lyeth in wayte of good werkes to cause theym to perysshe and come to nought. And what auayleth it to sparpoyle and deele forthe gooddes vnto the poore / and so (in worldly ryches) to be made bare and nedy / yf the whretched soule be more proude in dyspysynge & forsakynge of that ryches / than it was in the possessyon & vsynge of them at wyll / pleasure / & lyberte. All you therfore (I saye) lyue and be cōuersant togyder restfully of one mynde & agreably / & in your selfe eche vnto other amonge your selfe do honoure vnto almyghty god whose temples / mancyons & dwellynge place / ye nowe ben made and ordeyned. And in your prayers and seruyce of god in the due houres & tymes appoynt∣ted and assygned / be you euer dilygent and hedy. In the oratorye chyrche or place of prayer / let no parsone do ony werke or busynes but onely praye. For therunto the chyrche was ordeyned & made / Page [unnumbered] and therof hath ye name of an oratorye. The cause wherof is / that yf ony parsone (besyde duete and ye houres appoynted) haue leyser and wolde theyr praye / yt other parsones that in the chyrche wolde do ony other laboures or busynes / sholde not vnto them be impedemēt or let. And whan so euer you done praye and serue god with psalmes / ympnes or with other duetyes / let euer the same thyng be remēbred in your herte and mynde / that is vttred spoke or songe by your mouthe. And neuer couet you to synge but yt you knowe by auctoryte sholde be songe. And yf ony thynge be ordeyned not to be songe let it not be songe.
¶ The thyrde chapytre.
COrrect you also and abate your flesshe and body by abstynence & fastyng from mete and drynke / as moche as your nature helth and strength may bere.* And yf ony of you may not fast / yet shal they take no fode besyde melety∣me / but whan they ben seke.* And whan ye be set at the table / ye muste contynually vnto the tyme ye ryse therfrom / gyue good eere and herkenynge and without noyse or contencyon / take good hede what (after your costome) is redde amonge you / so that not onely your mouth take mete / but your eeres and heryng do also honger & desyre ye worde of god. And yf suche parsones as (of olde custom) bē seke or feble be otherwyse entreated & prouided Page [unnumbered] fore / thā the other that ben hole and (by custome) more stronge in nature / let not the hole parsones / grudge ne ony thynge be greued therwt / nor thyn∣ke it vniust or wronge. Nor yet sholde they iudge or thynke the feble parsones more happy or better at ease / bycause they haue that they haue not / but rather sholde they reioyce and be glad of them self and that thanke god that they ben able to do that they ben not. And yf vnto suche parsones as haue come vnto ye monasterye from delycate educacyon and tendre bryngynge vp ony mete clothynge / or other necessaries be gyuen / that vnto the stronger parsones be not gyuen / whiche parsones in that they be stronger ben more happy & in better case / let not those strōger parsones grudge therat. But rather let them consyder and wey how lowe they came downe frome theyr estate or degre / that lefte and forsoke the seculer lyfe of pleasure to com vnto this lyfe of hardnes & laboure / although they be not able to attayne and reche vnto suche frugalite and moderacion (called in cōmune englysshe good husbondry) as ben the other persones that ben (of nature) more stronge in body. Nor yet sholde all ye hole company couet or desyre that they se a fewe parsones haue / whiche thynge they haue not by∣cause they be had in more honoure or reuerence & more in fauour / but that rather they ben the more suffred and borne. And why sholde not all desyre in lyke. Lest by that meane sholde happe or fall a grete peruersyte and abhomynable mysordre / yt in ye monasterye (wherunto theyr strēgth & power) the ryche and noble parsones sholde be laboryouse Page [unnumbered] and contynually occupyed / the poore parsones of lowe degre sholde be made delycate and ydle. And yet as it is necessary for ye seke and feble parsones to kepe a dyete / and take the lesse fode (for ye tyme) lest they sholde be greued or hurte therby / so is it cōuenyent yt after theyr sekenes they be so entrea∣ted and cherysshed that they maye the soner be re∣couered. And that although whan they came in to relygyon / they were in moost depe pouertye or nedynes. As thoughe theyr late sekenes or feble∣nes sholde put them in suche case or state / as dyd ye ryche parsones theyr fore vsed custome. But not with••ndynge whan they haue recouered theyr olde strength and ben hole / than let them retourne vnto •heyr more happy and gracyous custome of hard •••uynge. Whiche so moche more becōmeth the s••uauntes of god / yt they haue lesse nede than ye oth•r Lest also ye pleasure of delycate fare sholde cōty•••e with them that nowe ben hole / whome very ••essyte releued whan they were seke. And let the• euer thynke & iudge those parsons moost ryche / •hat to suffre hardenes ben moost stronge.* For be••er is it somwhat to nede & wante / than to haue o•y thynge ouermoche.
¶ The fourthe chapytre.
LEt your habyte or arye: neuer be notable nor euer haue you pleasure in clothynge / but in good maners and relygyous byhauyour. Whan ye go forthe go togyder. And whā ye come whether ye go / byde togyder. In your place / ha∣byte Page [unnumbered] / stondynge / & in al your gestures / mouynges sterynges / and byhauyour / shewe you euer your good and godly conuersacyon. So yt ye nothynge do that sholde sclaūder or offende the syght of ony parsone / but rather that sholde become your per∣feccyon sanctite and holynes. And thoughe ye for∣tune to cast your syght or loke vpon ony frayle par¦sone / yet may you not fyx your syght ne loke sted∣fastly vpon ony suche lyght parsones. For whan ye go forth of your monasterye / it is not prohybyte ne forboden you to se or loke vpon frayle parsones. But to haue appetyte or desyre to haue or to mys∣vse them / or yet to be had or be misused of them / is euer synfull. For ye concupyscence and carnall mo∣cyons of frayle parsones / not onely in the pryue affeccyon and inwarde desyre / but also in bothe ye syght and affeccyon hathe mynde appetyte & vn∣lawfull desyre to haue & to be had. And neuer may you saye ye haue clene and chaste myndes / yf you haue wanton syght & vnchaste lokes. For ye lyght eye & vnchaste loke / is the messenger of the lyght mynde & vnchaste herte. And whan so euer suche parsones (althoughe without speche) onely by lo∣kynge eche vpon other / done shewe forthe theyr carnall myndes & vnchaste hertes / & after ye concu¦pyscence and desyre of the flesshe / eche done take pleasure in the carnall fauour of other / although there be none vnclene touchynge of ye body yet (by that lewde consent) doeth that vertue of chastyte flee and auoyde frome theyr soules and maners. And let not those parsones that so done fastē theyr lokes or syght vpon other lyght & frayle parsons / Page [unnumbered] and that done also loue to haue agayn theyr syght and lokes fyxed vpon them / let not them (I saye) thynke ne suppose they be not sene ne perceyued of other parsones whā they so done. For in dede they ben sene and perceyued / & that of suche parsones as they wene not ne wold trowe fore. But though (in case) it were pryuey & no parsone sawe them / what wolde they thynke or do of hym that loketh frome aboue / almyghty god / frome whose syght nothyng can be hyd. wolde they suppose or thinke he sawe them not bycause he is so pacyent and so doeth suffre them in that yll and mysbyhauyour. which he doeth se in dede and wherof he hath sure and certayne knowlege. Let therfore the holy re∣lygyous parsones feere & drede to dysplease hym. So that therby they haue not wyll ne cōsent / syn∣fully to please or content the other frayle parsons. Let them thynke and suppose that god doeth se / & beholde all thynges / that they therby haue not wyll ne consente vnlawfully to se or beholde those frayle parsones. For in this thynge we haue com∣maundement by holy scrypture to feere and drede god.* where is sayd. Abhominatio est domino de∣figens oculum. Our lorde god doeth abhorre that parsone that doeth fyxe or fasten ye syght or lokes. Whan so euer therfore you ben togyder in ye chyr∣che or ony where elles / where suche frayle & lyght parsones ben presēt take you good hede & awayte eche vnto other. And amonge your selfe be you ke∣pers of your owne chastite / and of your relygyous honeste. For our lorde god that dwelleth & bydeth within you wyl by this meanes of your owne de∣meanour Page [unnumbered] and deseruynge: preserue and kepe you. And yf (by chaunce) ony of you perceyue & spye this wantones of lokes wherof I speke: in ony of your felowes / forthwith warne them therof / that no ferther incōuenyence come or growe of ye same / but that rather that thynge that so began: maye be shortly corrected and refourmed. But yf at ony tyme after ye sayd warnyng: you do se or perceyue the same parsone do agayne the same thynge / let them that done fynde & perceyue it: shewe it forth and proclame the defaute / that the offender maye be cured corrected and refourmed. Notwithston∣dynge the offence or defaute sholde fyrst be shewed vnto an other parsone or twayne / yt by ye mouthe and informacyon of two or thre parsones: ye same trespasser may be conuyc•ed & proued gylty. And by suche competent correccyon and reformable re∣buke: be also restrayned from his iniquyte & euyl. And for all yt: you shal not thȳke or iudge your selfe euyll / wylly / fraude mȳded / or malycyous:* whā you shewe forth suche offences or defautes. For (of a surete) you ben more noyouse & greter enemyes vnto those offenders (sythe ye myght in shewyng theyr defaute correcte & refourme your felowes) than ye be whā (by your sylence) you suffre them to perysshe. For yf (in case) your felowe hadde a woūde or sore in his body / whiche (for feere of cut∣tynge or for drede of payne) he wolde hyde & kepe secrete: were it not a cruelte in you to kepe ye coūsel & contrarye: a grete pyte compassyon and of grete meryte to shewe it forth. How moche more than sholde you shewe the offence and defaute of your Page [unnumbered] felowe? lest it sholde rote & mater inwarde in his herte. Yet notwithstondynge before the offence or defaute: be shewed vnto ony other parsone or par∣sones: by whome as recordes the sayd trespasser (yf he wolde deney or defende the defaute) sholde be (as is sayd) conuynced & proued gylty / it sholde fyrste be shewed vnto the souerayne. That yf the parsone were neglygente or frowarde and wolde not be warned and refourme by the parsone that fyrst foūde the defaute / than sholde his offence be fyrst shewed vnto the souerayne / yf peraduenture the same trespasser: myght so more secretely be re∣fourmed / and the defaute no ferther to be open ne knowen vnto ony other parsones. But yf the tres∣passer wolde deney the offence: than must ye other recordes: be brought forthe / and that before ye hole congregacyon / that the same trespasser may (not onely of one recorde be accused) but also of twayne or thre: be conuycted and founde gylty. Whiche thynge so proued: let the same trespasser (haue for his amendement / and refourmacyon) correccyon and punyshment / accordynge vnto the iudgment of the presydent or souerayne vnto the dyspensacy¦on and appoyntement of whome: the same iudge∣mente doeth appertayne / whiche correccyon and punyshment: yf the sayd trespasser wolde not take ne suffre: but vtterly deney and forsake it / let hym than (althoughe he wolde not departe) be vtterly cast out & put awaye from your companye. For (I tell you) that is not cruelly: but rather mercyfully done. Lest he (by that pestelencyous contagyon & euyll exāple) sholde infecte / lose / & destroye / many Page [unnumbered] other persones. And this ordre and processe that I haue here spoken of the garde and kepynge of the syght that it be not carnally fixed vpon ony frayle or lyght parsone: I wyl also in all other lyke offen¦ces that shall be foūde perceyued forboden iudged conuycte and proued gylty: be delygently & feyth∣fully obserued and kepte with the loue euer of the parsones and hate of the vyces syn̄es or offences.*
¶ The fyfth chapytre.
But what so euer parson do passe so ferre in to synne & mysordre and so ferre be ouersene:* yt they done receyue preueyly / lettres / bylles or ony other / gyftes or / token of ony maner of parsone: yf they do wylfully cōfesse and knowlege theyr defaute: let them be fauourable delt with / & let prayer also be made for them. But yf (without suche confessyon) they be founde and taken wt the defaute / and therof accused / conuycte and / proued gylty by wytnes: let them than accor∣dynge vnto the iudgement of the presydent or of ye souerane: be more greuously punysshed. You shall also put your clothyng: in ye kepynge of one offycer or twayne / or as many: as may be suffycyent to kepe them clene & saufe that they be not corrupte nor hurte with mothes. And as you be fedde out of one celary: so shal you be clothed out of one vesty¦ary or chambre. And yf it may conuenyently com∣to passe that the garmente be mete for ye body and Page [unnumbered] wyll serue the parsone: take you than no care (as thoughe ony garment were yours) what garmēt you haue or whiche garment be offred & brought vnto you / whether ye haue ye same yt (for ye season of the yere) ye layde away / or an other garmente yt one of your felowes had. So yt vnto no parsone that thynge that is necessary: be denyed. But yet yf (by occasyon of that exchaūge) cōtencyon / stryfe murmure / or grudge / do aryse & begyn to growe amōge you / so that some parsons wolde cōplayne that they haue nowe wors garmentes than those were that they had before / and that they haue not deserued so to be clothed / nor to haue as theyr felo∣wes haue: you maye therin proue & se your selfe / how moche you wante or lacke inwardely of the holy habyte and spyrytu•ll apparell of your herte and soule that so done stryue for the habyte & aray of ye body. Notwithstondynge yf your infyrmyte & fraylte: be so consydred and suffred of ye offycers / yt eueryche of you haue agayne ye same garmentes that before they had / and that (for the tyme) they layd away: yet shall you put your stuffe all in one place / vnder the kepynge of the cōmune offycers. So that none of you werke ne laboure ony thyng for them selfe / but yt all your werkes and laboures be done vnto the commune profite.* And that with more study / more care / with better wyl / and with more dylygence. And with more gladnes of herte & cherefull countenaunce: than yf eche of you dyd werke and laboure for them selfe. For the charyte wherof saynt Paule sayth: doeth in ye charytable parsone: nother seke couet / ne desire propre auayle Page [unnumbered] or selfe pleasure: is to be vnderstond / that charyte doeth euer put the cōmune profyte before ye propre or synguler profyte / and not the propre or synguler auaūtage: before the commune welthe. And ther∣fore: how moche more you do care for the cōmune welth: rather than for your owne propre or syngu∣ler profyte. So muche ye more (I wyl you knowe) you shall profyte vnto this perfeccyō / that is that charyte whiche doeth euer remayne and yt lasteth for euer be rather preferred / and more set by: than these trāsytory thynges / which (here in this lyfe) we done vse for nede.* It foloweth therfore as con∣uenyent / that yf vnto a relygyous parsone a gar∣ment or ony thynge els that maye be deputed / or appoynted amonge the cōmune necessaryes vnto the commune vse: be gyuen by theyr parentes or frendes: it shold not be receyued pryuely or secret∣ly / but that it be in the power and wyll of the soue¦rane to be put vnto the commune profyte or gyuē vnto them that hath nede therof. And therfore yf ony of you do hyde and kepe secrete: ony thynge so gyuen or sende vnto them: let them be cōdempned and iudged as theues / by suche iudgemente as apperteyneth vnto thefte.
¶ The syxth chapytre.
LEt your clothes be putte vnto wasshynge whether ye wasshe them your selfe: or by other parsones: at the poyntement & wyll of the souerayne / & not at your owne pleasure. Lest ye su∣perfluous appetite of clene clothes: sholde defoule Page [unnumbered] or make fylthy your inwarde soules. Baynes also for the body whan nede is vnto the seke parsones: shal not be denyed. But let it be done wtout grudge and by the coūsell of physyke. And that so / that yf the seke wolde not therof: yet shal they (whan the souerayne commaūdeth) do (for theyr helthe) that is to be done. And yet yf the seke parsones wolde coueyte or desyre to haue a bayne / whiche (in case) were not expedyent / let not theyr pleasure therin be fulfylled ne done. For (many tymes) yt thynge that doeth delect and please: is iudged or supposed profytable / althoughe in dede (moche contrary) it do noy and hurte. Yet notwithstondynge: yf ye de∣sease be in the body secrete & not open and knowen than whan the seruauntes of god done affyrme & say for troth they ben se•e: let them (without ony mystrust) be beleued. And yet for all that: yf there be no certente whether that thynge that the seke parsone doeth coueyte or desyre: be expedyment & curatyue or medycynable for the dysase / let coūsell be axed of the physycyon. And whan so euer ony of you must go forth / vnto the bayne or where els is necessarye: they shall be no lesse in company than twayne or thre. Nor yet shall those parsones that haue nede to go forthe: go with whome they wyl. But with whome the souerayne shall commaūde and appoynt. The cure kepynge and prouysyon of the seke parsones / whether it be for theyr reco∣uery (after sekenes) or by feblenes of nature / or yet of thē that ben vexed with / feuers / axes / or other dyseases: shall be commytted and assygned vnto one certeyne parsone / that shall axe of the celarye: Page [unnumbered] what he perceyueth is nedefull vnto euery seke parsone. And who so euer ben offycers of ye celary / of the chambre / or of the library with suche other: let them serue theyr felowes without murmure or grudge. And let the bokes be axed euery day at a certayne houre. For who so besyde the due ap∣poynted houre doeth ony axe shall none receyue. But as for your clothȳge / your hoses also or shoes and suche other necessaryes: the offycers: vnder whose kepynge they bē: shal not defferre ne make delay to delyuer whā nede is. As vnto cōtencyons stryfes or debates: other let none be amonge you / or (at the lest) let them shortly be left. Lest a lytyll wrathe or displeasure sholde growe vnto hattred / & so make of a strawe or mote a blocke or a beame. And so cause the soule by wyl: to be an homycyde / that is a mansleer or manqueller. For so done you rede in holy scrypture. Qui odit fratrem suum:* homicida est. who so hateth his brother: is an ho∣mycyde or manqueller. And yf in passyon ony of you: by / rebuke / fraude / or vnrelygyons wordes / or yet by vpbraydynge of ony defaute that before was done: sholde / greue / hurte / or offende / ony of your felowes: let them remembre and gyue dyly∣gence (as sone as couenyently they may) by due satysfaccyō to amende that they dyd amysse. And let the parsones so offende or hurte / without ony reasonynge argumente or rehers: clerely forgyue the defaute and offence. And yf bothe the partyes haue greued or hurte eche other / let thē holy for∣gyue eche other. And yt for lettynge of your prayer and dyuyne seruyce. whiche prayers: the oftener Page [unnumbered] you do excercise: the more holy sholde they be. And those amonge you: that oftymes ben tempted wt the spyryte of yre and so ben hasty & soone angrye: and yet wyll soone be sory therfore & make haste to axe & haue forgyuenes of them whome they / gre∣ued / wronged / or dyspleased: ben better and more relygyous than ben those that wyll not so lyghtly be moued / and yet whan they ben wrothe: wyll be lothe to be inclyned or intreated to concorde and to axe forgyuenes. And yf ony be that wyll not (in suche case) axe ony forgyuenes at all / or yet that doeth not axe and requyre it with good wyll and with hole herte and mynde: wtout reason or cause done they byde in ye monasterye / although they be not cast out (as they haue deserued) or put awaye therfrome. Therfore beware and kepe your selfe from sharpe & greuouse wordes. And yf by chaūce ony suche wordes: do escape and passe your mouth be not lothe wt the same mouthe to make the salue or medycyne of amendes: wherwith you made ye wounde and sore: of the trespasse and offence.
¶ The seuenth chapytre
BVt whan the necessyte or nede of discyplyne or correccyō / for defau∣tes and mysdemeanoure to be re∣fourmed: doeth compell you that ben soueraynes to speke harde & sharpe wordes / thoughe also you perceyue your self / that you haue somwhat exceded and ouerpassed good maner or Page [unnumbered] due measure therin / yet is it not requyred of you yt you shall axe forgyuenes of your subiectes. Lest therby in the opynyon of them that must of duete be vnto you subdued as subiectes / your auctoryte of gouernaunce and rule sholde (by reason of that precyse obseruance of mekenes) be dymynysshed letted / or of lesse strength. But notwithstondynge you muste axe forgyuenes of god / lorde & mayster of all. For he knoweth: wt how grete benyuolence good wyl and kyndenes: you do loue and fauoure them: whom (peraduēture beyonde due measure of iustyce) you dyd so blame or correcte. But amon¦ge you maye be no carnal loue / but all spyrytuall. Vnto your soueraynes: as vnto your parentes / fathers / or mothers / must you be lowly obedient. And moche more obedyent must you than be vnto your vysytoure yt of you all hathe ferther charge. wherfore we straytely cōmaunde and charge you that all these artycles and poyntes: be obserued & kepte. So that yf ony poynt therof be broken and not done: it be not forgoten ne yet neglygētly ouer∣passed / but that for the amendement correccyon & refourmacion therof: cure / and hede / be gyuen of the souerayne. For vnto the souerayn doeth pryn∣cypally apperteyne & bylonge: that yf ony thynge do passe the wyttes lernynge or power of ye same soueraynes: he sholde shewe it forther vnto the or∣dynarye / or vysytour / yt hath ye more large aucto∣ryte. And as vnto those soueraynes that be gouer¦ners and rulers ouer you / let not them iudge ne thynke them selfe happy and welthy: bycause of ye power they haue to rule & ordre other parsones / Page [unnumbered] but rather for the charyte / & good wyll they haue to do theym seruyce. And therfore shall they in all due honoure and reuerence: be your prelates and aboue you all. And yet in reuerende drede (before our lorde) let them lye prostrate before your feete. And vnto all theyr company: let them of vertue & all good werkes / make themselfe fourme & exam∣ple Let them also blame rebuke and correcte the vnrestfull and besy parsones. And them that ben feynte herted & dredful: let them / conforte / herten / and make bolde. Let them also take the seke and feble parsones: vnto theyr owne propre cure and charge. And vnto all parsones let thē be pacyent. Let them also with good wyll make refourmaciō and do correccyon / wherby they may be hadde in reuerend feere & drede. And although bothe loue / and drede ben necessary (yet let them coueyte and desyre: to be amōge you more beloued than fered. Euermore remembrynge yt they shall (before god) rēdre and make answere and a counte for you all. And therfore sholde you of duete (by your more lowly obedyence) haue pyte and compassyon / not onely vpon your selfe: but also vpon them. For the more hygh place & roume they done amonge you bere and occupye: the more ben they in perell and Ieoperdy. ¶ Almyghty god therfore graunte yt you (as very louers of spyrytuall beautye) maye obserue & kepe all these commaundementes. And that by your good and holy conuersacyon and de∣meanour: you may smelle of the odour of chryste. Not as bonde caytyues vnto ye seruitude or thral∣dom of the lawe / but as chyldren: vnder ye lyberte Page [unnumbered] of grace. And forbycause yt you in this lytyll boke may se & beholde your owne selfe as in a myrrour or a glasse / let the same boke one tyme (at the leest) in ye weke be led vnto you. And where you fynde and perceyue: ye haue perfourmed & fulfylled all that herein is wryten / gyue you vnto our lorde ye gyuer of all goodnes: due prayse & thāke therfore. And agayne / where ony of you doeth perceyue / & fynde: they lacke / wante / and haue not done and perfourmed ye same / or fayled in ony poynt therof let them be sorye for that is past: and beware of yt is to come. Besechyng our lorde theyr defaut may be forgyuen / and they neuer be brought or ledde vnto the consent of synne.
The sayd wretche of syon Rycharde Whytforde.
