The rule of saynt Augustyne, bothe in latyn and englysshe, with two exposicyons. And also the same rule agayn onely in englysshe without latyn or exposicyon The tra[n]slatour doth aduyse [and] cou[n]seyll all the disciples of this rule to bere alway one of these bokes upo[n] them syth they ben so portatyue, [and] may be had for so small a pryce.

Saynt Hugh.

¶ Before in this same rule saynt Augustyn cōmaun¦ded the discyples of this rule / they sholde apply them selfe instaūtly vnto y^e seruyce of god & vnto prayer / at the due houres & tymes appoynted thervnto. And ly∣kewyse wold he in all other study & labours. So that the tyme sholde reasonably be dyuyded & appoynted / whan they sho••de serue god & praye / and whan they sholde study / rede & labour. Of the labour he spake be∣fore / where he cōmaūded that no {per}sone sholde labour for synguler profyte or pleasure / but all for y^e cōmune welth. These thre thynges than dothe this holy rule cōmende / & laye vnto the charge of y^e discyples therof / that is to saye / study / prayer / & labour / as thre syngu¦ler profytes vnto y^e same discyples. For by prayer we ben clensed / by study & redynge we ben instructed and taught / & by good operacyon & well doynge / we ben made blessed & holy. So sayth the holy ghoost by the mouth of the psalmist.* 1.1 Labores manuū tuarū quia manducabis: beatus es / et bene tibi erit. That is. By¦cause thou mayst be fedde with the labours of thyne owne body & membres / therfore arte y^u blessed / & thou shalte be full well at ease. It is good than for all per∣sones to labour for theyr owne profyte / syth they shall be blessed therfore / where the rule cōmaūdeth y^t euery daye bokes shold be axed & desyred: the vse & diligence of moche redynge & study / is therby moche cōmended For y^e very seruaūtes of god sholde oftentymes rede & study. For y^e redynge & study of good werkes / specyal∣ly holy scripture / is moche {pro}fytable. For by redynge & study we may lerne what we sholde flee and auoyde /

what we shold do / & how to gouerne our selfe / & whe∣der / or vnto what ende we sholde entende & approche. The psalmist sayth.* 1.2 Lucerna pedib{us} meis vbū tim. Good lorde thy worde / thy holy scripture is lanterne & lyght / the cōducte & guydynge of my fete / myne affec∣cyons / & of all y^e wayes & ordre of my lyfe. By redynge & study / the senses / wyttes and vnderstandynge done multiply & encreace. For study & redȳge doth instructe & teche euery {per}sone / bothe to praye & labour / & so doth enfourme vs bothe vnto y^e lyfe actyse & cōtemplatyfe. That persone therfore (sayth the psalmist) is blessed that bothe daye & nyght hath meditacyon in the lawe of god.* 1.3 These twayn therfore / study of bokes & prayer ben y^t wepyns & armure wherby y^e deuyll is assayled & vaynquysshed. And these ben y^e instrumētes & mea∣nes / wherby euerlastynge blysse is obteyned & goten. By these artyleres & wepyns / vyce is repressed / & by this fode is vertue nourysshed. And yf ony tyme reli∣gyous {per}sones cease of redȳge or prayenge / than shold they werke & labour. For ydelnes is the enemy of the religyous soule. For the ghostly enemy dothe lyghtly drawe vnto vyce suche {per}sones as he fyndeth not occu∣pyed in other redyng / study / prayer / or labour. By the vse of redynge & study / religyous persones may lerne how to lyue themselfe / & also how to teche other {per}so∣nes. By y^e vse of prayer they may bothe profyte them selfe & all other vnto whome they ben knytte & ioyned by charite. And by bodyly labours they may kepe the body lowe from vyces / & also gete somwhat for them selfe / & for all y^t nedeth. The lettre. Testimēta vero et calciamēta / quādo fuerint indigentib{us} necessaria / dare non differant: sub quo{rum} custodia sunt / que poscuntur.

That is. But as for clothynge / hosen & shose / w^t suche other necessaryes / the offycers vnder whose kepynge they ben / shall not (whan nede is) differre to delyuer. The bokes he wolde sholde be delyuered at a certayne houre / we shewed you why: but as for other thynges necessary / he wolde sholde alway be delyuered whan nede requireth / & that w^tout delay / for bycause the co∣uent sholde neyther lose theyr tyme / ne yet be wery nor abasshed in ofte callynge therfore.

Notes

• * 1.1

  {pre}s. cxxvij
• * 1.2

  {pre}s. cxv••i
• * 1.3

  Psal. j.