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.

¶ As the soueraynes done precede and go before the subiectes in ordre and degree / so sholde they precede & go before them in sanctite and holynes / that by theyr

example of lyuynge / the subiectes sholde lerne how to lyue. The lettre.* 1.1 Corripiat inquietos / consoletur pu∣sillanimes / suscipiat infirmos / patiens sit ad omnes. That is. Let the soueraynes blame and correcte the vnrestfull and besy persones. And the feynt herted / scrupulous and ferefull persones / let them conforte & make bolde. The infyrme / frayle / and inconstaūt per∣sones / they must bere with pyte and compassion / and take them vnto mercy. And they must be pacyent vn∣to all persones.* 1.2 ¶ A notable doctryne vnto the soue∣raynes / or rather a commaundement / foure synguler lessons. The fyrst / that they do correccyon: but vnto whome? vnto the vnrestfull. For they be enemyes vn¦to the fyrst precepte of the rule / that was / that they sholde be restfull / peacefull / of one mynde and wyll / of one herte and loue in our lorde. The soueraynes that done rule more of charite than of power / & that done gyue the good example of theyr werkes / may well & reasonably do correccyon. For they ben the very soue∣raynes of this rule: so the lettre sheweth nexte before this lesson. The seconde lesson. Let them conforte the feynt & scrupulous persones. The persones that done offende and make many defautes worthy correccyon / yet whan they so do / not of wyll / but by fere of con∣scyence / and by a scrupulous mynde / they had more nede of cōsolacyon / than of eyther rebuke or correccyon For that selfe passyon / is vnto them more paynfull than ony correccyō. The soueraynes therfore must by wyse counseyle & confortable maner study to strength them / to make them bolde agaynst all suche doubtfull dredes. And this is the seconde lesson of dyscrecyon. The thyrde lesson. Suscipiat infirmos. That is. Let

the soueraynes also take y^e frayle persones vnto mer∣cy. This lettre is translated in some bokes that the so∣ueraynes sholde take y^e seke persones vnto theyr cure and charge / meanynge y^e bodyly conforte of suche as ben dyseased. But that is contrary vnto the mynde of the auctour / as vnto this place. For he spake before of the nedes of the body / and now he speketh all of the ordre of the maners and behauyour / as well of the so∣ueraynes as subiectes / eche vnto other. He meaneth therfore that y^e soueraynes must haue pyte and com∣passyon vpon y^e frayle persones. For in very dede they lesse done offende / than these done that done trespace of purpose / or yet by neglygency / and that all though they do more often offende. For the frayle persone en∣tendeth euer to amende / & so oftentymes wyll fayth∣fully promyse / and yet whan y^e occasyon cometh / they fall ouercast by very fraylty / and than ben they bothe sory and ashamed of theyr inconstauncy. They must therfore be receyued vnto mercy. I saye not vnpunys∣shed / but at y^e lest whan they be punysshed / they shold be taken to grace / and (theyr fraylty consydered) to be the more gentylly entreated / and not hagged and tag¦ged by ony furious or hasty maner. And this sentence and exposycyon bryngeth in the fourth lesson for the soueraynes / that is to say / that they shold be pacyent vnto all persones.* 1.3 This terme / all persones / is refer∣red and applyed vnto these thre maners of persones / whiche (as I touched before) ben the obstynate per∣sones / the ignoraunt or neglygent persones / and the frayle persones / vnto all the soueraynes must be pa∣cyent / and yet shall they do due correccyon / accordyng vnto the defaute. The maner wherof dothe folowe

in the lettre / as ye shall here after

Notes

• * 1.1

  Texte.
• * 1.2

  Nota.
• * 1.3

  Texte.