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.

¶ We dayly done saye vnto our lorde Dimitte nobis

debita nostra: sicut et nos dimittimus debitorib{us} nr̄is. Forgyue vs good lorde our dettes / in lyke maner as we done forgyue our detters. Yf we than do not forgy¦ue them that offend vs (for those ben our detters) our owne prayer doth confoūde vs. And we done prouoke our lorde to wrath agaynst vs / and so rather we done gete y^e curse of god than his blessyng. And so y^t prayer that sholde be for our soule helthe / is vnto vs moche noyous. For where it sholde mynysshe / it dothe now multyply & encreace our offences. The dayly prayer of the faythfull chrystyans doth make large satisfac∣cyon for suche venyall synnes as we done dayly com∣mytte / w^tout whiche we can not lightly passe this lyf Vnto all suche persones than doth it appertayn & be∣longe of cōuenyency to saye Pater nr̄ qⁱ es celis. Good lorde fader that arte in heuen: that ben baptysed / all y^t ben chrysten people. For this holy prayer doth put a∣waye all theyr dayly synnes / not onely venyall / but also mortall / so they haue contricyon & purpose at due tyme to make true cōfessyon / & to do for them satisfac∣cyon. And than they saye truly w^t vnfeyned hert vnto our lord for themselfe. dimitte nobis. forgyue vs lord. For many synnes hath euery {per}sone done y^t of our lorde may & must be forgyuen / but se they saye as truly w^t the same hert. Sicut et nos. &c. Lyke as we done for∣gyue. For y^t also must be done in dede / or els all is voy∣de. For the moost princypall almes & compassyon / is lyghtly and redyly forthwith w^tout stoppe to forgyue them that done axe forgyuenes / & vtterly to forgete y^e offence. For many & dyuerse maner of almesses there ben / wherby synnes ben quenched & forgyuen of our lorde. But none almes / no compassyon / no charite can

be lyke vnto that almes / whā we hertely & holy done forgyue them y^t haue offēded vs. It is but a small ma¦ter to haue vnto them good wyll / or to do them good that neuer dyd vnto the hurte. But to loue thyne ene∣my / to do them good that done y^e euyll: that is of excel¦lent goodnes. And yet is y^t a lesson of our sauyour Ie∣su. Diligite inimicos vr̄os. &c. Loue you (sayth he) your enemyes / & do you good vnto them y^t done hate you / & praye you for them that done {per}secute you. But this poynt is of hygh perfeccyon / vnto y^t whiche not∣withstandynge euery chrystyan shold{is} labour & ende∣uoyre hymselfe to attayne. But all though we come not vnto the full poynt of that perfeccion / yet may we come well vnto this {pro}fytable poynt / to forgyue them that done axe of vs forgyuenes / & that must we nede∣ly do / yf we forgyuen wyll be. For our sauyour sayth in an other place. Si dimiseritis hoībus pctā eo{rum} &c. Yf you (sayth he) wyll forgyue all {per}sones theyr offen∣ces / your fader of heuen wyll forgyue you your offen∣ces. And yf contrary / ye wyll not forgyue / be you in a surety / ye shall not be forgyuen. Dimitte et dimittet vobis. Forgyue you therfore / & ye shall be forgyuen. And yf ye do y^e defaut your selfe / than forthw^t axe you forgyuenes. For in y^e lettre foloweth. Melior est autē qui {quam}uis ira sepe tētatur: tamē impetrare festinat / vt sibi dimittat / cui se fecisse agnoscit iniuriā: {quam} qui tar∣dius irascitur: & ad petendā veniā: tardius inclinatur. That ••s. And yet tho {per}sones y^t ofte ben tempted with yre & soone angry / & yet y^t notw^tstandynge wyll make haste to haue forgyuenes of them whome they had wronged / ben moche better than those y^t more lately ben wroth / & ben more lothe to be enclyned & entreated

to axe forgyuenes. Here saynt Augustyn consyderȳge the dyuerse disposicyon of frayle & vnperfyte {per}sones / doth determyne & shewe whiche {per}sones ben more tole¦rable / more to be suffred. Some {per}sones wyll be soone angry / & in theyr hete & passyon they wyll speke shre∣wedly / or out of tune / & somtyme in that hastynes do a displeasure: but soone after comynge vnto themselfe they ben ryght sory / & ben redy w^t all mekenes & hole herte to saye mea culpa / to axe forgyuenes. But some other of more hygh mynde / wyl not lightly be moued but in maner dissymule y^e mater. But than yf they be displeased / they study to be auenged / & neuer wyl they rest / tyll they brynge theyr purpose to passe / by ryght or wronge. And whan they ben spoken to & moued vn¦to conscience of theyr behauyour / they wyll w^t a styffe stomacke defende theyr defaut / & lothe by ony meanes to axe forgyuenes / or to make ony amendes. The per∣sones of y^e fyrst disposicyon ben better (sayth y^e lettre y^t is to say / lesse euyl / not so noyous as y^e other. Of them y^t neuer wyll amende shall folowe / after ye haue herde

Notes

• Mat. vj.
• Math̄. v.
• Mat. vj.
• Mat. vj.
• a. l. diffici¦lius meli∣natur.