<B CMROYAL>
<Q M3/4 IR SERM ROYAL>
<N SERM ROYAL>
<A X>
<C M3/4>
<O 1350-1420>
<M 1420-1500>
<K X>
<D SL>
<V PROSE>
<T SERMON>
<G X>
<F X>
<W X>
<X X>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U X>
<E X>
<J X>
<I X>
<Z INSTR REL>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^MIDDLE ENGLISH SERMONS, EDITED FROM
BRITISH MUSEUM MS. ROYAL 18 B. XXIII.
EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, 209.
ED. W. O. ROSS. 
LONDON, 1940. 
PP. 9.3    - 12.17  (2)
PP. 16.2   - 19.34  (4) 
PP. 251.22 - 261.21 (41)^]

<P 9>
[} [\2\] }]

   Seynt Powle, +te chefe doctoure of holychurche,
brennynge hy+gly in +te loue of almy+gthy God and of is
ney+gbore, wro+gthe all +te dayes of is life aftur +tat he was
turned to +te lawe of Criste to +te edificacion of +te churche,
wrytynge on too wyze, gretely commendynge +te peple
+tat vertuosly lyvyd, and +tonked God +terof, and repreved
+to+g peple +tat fell to synne a+geyn withe sharpenes modified
by resone. Who-so rede+t is pistels shall knowe well +tat
it [{is{] so. And so he wryte+t and teche+t in is pistell of
+tis daye, preysynge God for +te god liffe of a peple of
Grece called (\Corynthi\) , seynge on +tis wyze: "I do
+tonkes to my God for you."
   By +tis he +geve+t ensampull to vs +tat we oure-selfe
shuld +tanke God for oure goodes +tat we receued of God,
se+t +tat he +tonked God so hertely for is euencristen. But
in what wyze +tat we shall +tonke God and prey to him,
Criste hym-selfe teche+t vs in +te gospell, a preyour +tat 
is chefe of all preyours, +te wiche is +te Pater Noster.
+Tis prayoure passe+t all o+tur in worthynesse, for God
hym-selfe made itt; also in goodenesse, for all +tat vs
nede+t to preye is had +ter-in; also in avantage, for
Criste, +tat all can, ordeyn itt. By +tis preyour, +tan,
late ichon of vs +tonke and preye God as Crist and Seynt
Poule teche+t vs.
   In +te begynnynge, (\et cetera.\)
   (\"Gracias ago," et cetera.\)
   Good men and wymmen, oure Lorde Ihesu tau+gth is 
disciples, as +te gospell wittenesse+t, (\Mathei 6=to=, Luce    #
11=mo=,\)
+tis preyoure of +te Pater Noster, by +te wiche +tat euery
man shuld preye to God when +tat +tei preyed, as Poule
dude by +te wordes of my teme, +tus seynge: "I do
+tonkes to my Lorde God," as I seid at +te begynnynge.
   In +tis worthy prayere of +te Pater Noster ben vij
asshyngus, +te wiche iij firste perteynen to +te +tre persons
<P 10>
in Trynite and oo God. +Te fyrste longe+t to +te Fadur
of heven, to whom is apropred all +te powre in heven and
in erthe, as +te gospell wittenes; and +tat prayour is +tis:
"Fadere oure, +tou arte in heven, blessed be +ti name."
+Te seconde ashynge longe+t to +te Sonne, +te seconde
person in +te Trinite, oure Lorde Ihesu Criste, to whom 
all wisdome is apropred, as Seynt Poule se+t, (\Romanos,
13=o=;\) and it is +tis: "Ti kyngedom com to +te." The 
+tride askynge pertene+t to be +trid persone of +te Trynyte,
+te Holygoste, to whom is apropred loue and charite,
as Seynt Iohn se+t: (\"Deus caritas est;"\) and it is +tis:
"Be +ti will don in erthe as itt is in heven." And +te
o+tur foure askynges pertene+t to +te helpe of mankynde
both bodely and goostely. +Te firste of +te foure is +tis:
"Oure euery dayes brede +geue vs to-daye." The
second is, "And for-+geue vs oure dettys as we for+geue
oure dettours." The +tride is, "And lede vs not in-to
temptacion." The fourte and +te laste is +tis: "But
delyuer vs from euyll. Amen."
   In +tis prayour is conteyned more witt +tan anny
erthly man can tell, and +ter-fore I concell you +tat +ge
loue to vse +tis prayour a-boven all prayours.
   In +te firste askynge, when +tat +tou seyste, "Fader
oure, +tat arte in heven, blessed be +ti name" - in +tat
+tat +tou calleste hym fader, +ter +tou knalachesse +tat he
is maker and lorde of heven and of erthe and hell and 
gouernour of all creatures, of whom all goodenesse comes;
and +tus +tou knalages is my+gthe. And se+t +tat he is
lorde and fadere, euery man owe+t hy[{m{] drede and
loue: drede by-cause +tat he is lorde, and worshippe
be-cause +tat he is fader.
   These vij asskyngys of +te Pater Noster putte+t owte +te
vij dedely synnes and purchase+t +te vij +geftes of +te         #
Holygooste.
We excludon pride when we sey "oure Fadur"
and not "myn." +Tis worde sey+t +tat we ben all bretheren,
grett and small, ryche [{and poure{] , hy+g and lawe, of oon
fader and oo moder, +tat is God and holychurche. And 
in +tat we seyn, "Halowed be +ti name," we halowon God
in vs, as Seynt John Crisostom sey+t. When we +tenke
on hym, we dredon hym and wakon besely leste we
<P 11>
defowle +te holynesse of is name in vs by oure euell 
werkes.
   In +te seconde asshynge, when we seye, "Com to [{+te{]
+ti kyngedom," we prayon +tat +tis kyngedom of +tis 
world, of +te wiche +tou arte kynge +tat bow+gtest vs on +te
Crosse by +ti precious blode, mott com and be with
+te in +te ioye of hevene.
   The +trid is +tis: "Be +ti will done in erthe as in heven."
Here we prayon God +tat is will be do here in erthe amonge
synfull mene +torow amendynge of her liffe as itt is don
in ryghtwys men, +te wiche is heven goostely. +Tan +tis 
is a good preyour.
   The fourte asshynge is, "Oure euery dayes brede
+geue vs to-daye." Seynt Austyne sey+t +tat +tis iche
dayes brede may be takon for nedefull lyvelod of oure
bodye, and also for +te Sacrament of Cristes bodye, and
for goostely mete of +te sowle, +te wiche is Goddes worde.
   The v asshynge is +tis: "And for-+geue vs oure dettys
as we for-+geue to oure dettoures." +Tan by +tis witty
techynge of oure Lorde Ihesu Criste, malicious and
veniabull wreches may well knowon +tat +tei be in +te
veye to-hell-warde as longe as +te dwell in here cursed
malice. For by +tese dettys ben vndirstond synnes +tat
we don a+geyns God, as Seynt Austyne and o+ture seyntes
seyon. +Giff +tou be in evyll to +ti ney+gbore, how sey+t
+tou +tan +ti Pater Noster? +Tou preyest God ryght so to 
for+geue +te as +tou doste to o+ture men. +Tou wilte not 
for+geue; how mayste +tou +tan be for+geue of God?
   The vj asshynge is +tis, +tat +tou lede not vs in-to
temptacion. We prayon not here +tat we be not tempted,
for no [{man{] may be proved with-owt temptacion; but
we praye +tat God lede vs not in-to temptacion - +tat
is, +tat he suffre not vs to falle in suche temptacions +te
wiche we may not suffre.
   The vij asshynge is +tis, and +te laste: "But delyvere
vs from all evyll. Amen." In +tis we praye God to
delyvere vs from euyll of peyne +tat we deserue +torowe
synne presente in +tis liffe and fro euyll of peyne aftur
+tis lyffe +tat men shall haue for synne.
<P 12>
   +Tis prayore euery Cristen man is bondon to conne, and 
to preye to God by +tis preyour, and do as Seynt Poule
dothe by +te wordes of my teme: "I do +tonkes to my
Lord God." +Tis prayoure is euery man and childe hold
to kunne +gif he passe vij +gere olde; and +tere frendes be
in grett perill +geff hei teche hem nott is Pater Noster,
Aue Maria, and is Beleue.
   This Aue Maria is in +te i chapter of Luke, and is +tis
in Englisshe to youre vndirstondynge: "Haill, Marye,
full of grace; oure Lorde is with +te. Blessed be +tou
a-monge all wymmen; and blessed be +te fruyte of +ti
wombe, Ihesus. Amen." By +tis preyoure +tou shuldeste 
grett Oure Lady, +tat she be goode mene to hure
Sonne Criste Ihesu to haue mercy on +te +tat +tou my+gthe
at Domes-day com to +tat ioye +tat euer shall laste. To
+te wiche ioye God brynge [{y{]ou and me, +tat for vs
dyed on Rode Tre. Amen.


<P 16>
[} [\4\] }]
   Worshippfull men and wymmen, +te worthye clerke 
Aristotle in +te laste boke of is Ethicus sey+t +tat +tere is
+tre manere of frenshippes: (\amicicia propter vtile,
amicicia pro voluptate, et amicicia propter bonum morale\) .
Som man, sey+t he, is a frende to an o+tur for is owne
avauntage, as courteours and seruuauntes, +tat dare in
no wise displese here maisters o+tur lord; and +tis
frenshippe is now+gthe. The second maner of frenshippe
is frenshippe of luste, as lecherous men o+tur wymmen
vsen for a tyme; but als-so sone as +te luste is fulfillid,
+tan +te frenshippe is gone. The +trid maner of frenshippe
is frenshippe of wertewe, +te wiche +tat on hathe to an
o+ture for is good lyvynge and vertuous; +tis is a verry
frenshippe +tat holy writte speke+t of, " (\Iam non dico
vos seruos, sed amicos\) ." In +tis wyze bene all good
levers called +te frendes of God.
   As to my purpose, oure Lord God, as +te gospell of +tis
daye beres wittenesse by +te wordes of my teme, calle+t
an evill levere is frende, seyinge to hym on +tis wyze,
"Frende, howe commeste +tou hydure?" As who se+t,
"All-be-itt +tat +tou arte man, +gitt parauntur +tou arte
not cristened; and +giff +tou be cristeynd, +gitt parauntur
+tou leueste not as Criste biddeste +te. How
commes +tou +tan amonge is mene?" +Tou canste not
sey but by stalthe. And +ter-fore drede +tou leste he do
commaunde to bynde +te honde and fote and putt +te
in-to +te innere derkenesse. "But sir," +tou seiste
parauntur, "Criste calle+t +te frend and +ter-fore he will
do well with +te and shewe +te of is mercye." +Ge sir,
trewly +tou arte frende to hyme +giff +tou leue synne and
euyll levynge and loue in good wyze for +tin own
avauntage; for +tis is good for +tin soule. For +ter is no
frenshippe good but +tat +tat is grownded of vertewe.
And as to +tat, +tat +tou seist +tat he will do mercy, so he
will. Whe+ture-euer +tou be saued or dampned, +tou
<P 17>
shalte fele of is mercye; for and +tou had rygoressnes of 
ryght with-owte mercy, +tan +tou my+gthe neuer bere itt,
as all holywritt sei+t. I pray God to lat vs neuer com 
to +tat plite.
   In +te begynnynge, (\et cetera.\)
   (\"Amice," et supra.\)
   Good men and wymmen, +te wordes of my teme bethe
writte in +te gospell of +tis daye and +tus muche on 
Englissh: "Frende, how commest +tou here, or hydere?"
   Oure Lorde God seys to vs +tat +te kyngedome of heven 
is like to a kynge +tat made veddynggus to is sonne. +Tis
kynge sente oute is seruauntes to bid hem +tat were bede
com to +te feste; and +tei wolde nott come. +Tan +tis 
kynge sende o+tur seruauntes to bid hem come, and bad
+tat +tei shuld sey, "My mete is redye and all well;
come+t to +te weddyngus." +Tei sett no+gth by +te
messangeres; butt som +gede forthe in-to here towne,
som abowte here marchandize, and some toke +te
messangeres and slow+g hem. +Tan when +te kynge
herde here-of he lete slee +tise men and brent hure citte.
And +tan he seide to is owne seruauntes, "My weddynggus
ben redie, butt +tei +tat were bede were not worthye.
Goy+t +ge owte in-to +te weye; and qwom-euer +tat +ge
fynde, calle+t hem to my weddynggus." +Tan +tese
seruauntes feched in bothe good and euyll and filled +te
place of +te tables. +Tan +tis kynge com and see +te men
sittynge at +te mete and fonde oon +tat was not clothed
of is weddynge leuere and seid to hym to wordes of my
teme, "Frende, how comeste +tou in here - o+tur hidur -  
and haste no leueree of my weddynggus?" +Tan seid
+te kynge far+turmore to +te seruauntes, "Bynde+t hym
honde and fote and put hym in-to innere derkenes, +ter-as
is wepynge and gryntynge of te+te. Many ben called,
butt fewe ben choson." +Tis is +te sentence of +te gospell
in +tis daye.
   "But sir," +tou seiste parauntur, "how is +tis kyngedome
of heven like +tis kynge?" Sir, I shall tell +te.
+Tis kynge +tat made weddynggus to is sonne betokene+t
+te Fadere of heuen, +tat all +tinge made of no+gthe. He
<P 18>
made a weddynge to is Sonne, oure Lorde Ihesu Criste,
and weddit he was to euery mans soule at is folewte.
He send is seruauntes to bid men com to +te feste -  
apostles, martirs, confessours, and virgyns - to +te feste
in +te kyngedome of heven; but +tei wold not come. He
send o+tur messangers to bid men come to heven, as
doctours and prechors of +te word of God, as +tei do now
daye by daye, but +ge sett not by hem, +te more harme is.
Som goyn to youre citte, +tat is, to youre vnclene felishippe, 
as to +te taueron and to o+tur vnhoneste place;
som to youre vn+trifty marchandize, full of vsure, okre,
and o+tur falsenes; som takon is prechors and punyssh
hem vn-to +te dethe. But what shall +te kynge do +tere-to?
+Tis Kynge of kynges, certeyn, sir, as Criste hym-selfe
seid, he shall lat slee hem and brenne +te cite of hem.
Far+turmore +tis Kynge shall sende oute is techars and 
prechars and bid hem come to is feste, all +tat +tei fynden,
bothe good and euyll. But be-ware, I counsell +te, +tat
+tou come not to +te feste, +tat is, to +te Dome dredefull,
but +tou haue oon +te leveree of clennes of +tat weddynge,
leste +tat oure Lorde Ihesu when +tat he comme+t to behold
+te, repreue +te, and ordeyne +te to be putt in-to
euery lastynge peyne for +tin evill lyvynge, seyinge on
+tis wyze, "Frende, how comme+t +tou hydur?" as I
seid at +te begynnynge. In +tis wyze, +tan, as I haue
told +te, +te kyngedome of heven is like to a kynge +tat
ordeynt weddynggus to is sonne.
   Sirs, I counsell all maner of men fully to +tenke on +tis
Dome, for Seynt Ierome sei+t whe+tur +tat he ete, drynke, 
or slepe, or what-euer els +tat he dothe, it seme+t hym,
sei+t he, +tat +te angels trompe sowne+t in is eere seyinge
+tus, "Ryse, +ge dede men, and com to +te Dome." I
concell and I preye euerichon of you to conceyue and 
knowe +tat oure Lorde God at +te Day of Dome shall 
shewe ryght with-oute mercye, full rygorysly, full
sturnely, and aske of vs howe +tat we haue spende +te
vij verkes of mercy, as +te gospell wittenes. But for-as-muche
as euery man and wymman shall +geue a-countes
of +te vij werkes of mercye, +ter-fore I purpose fully to
<P 19>
teche you wiche ben +te vij verkes of bodely mercye and
of goostely, bothe.
   The vij verkes of bodely mercy ben +tese: fede +te
hongery, +geue drynke to +te +tursty, clothe +te naked and
nedye, herbowre +te howslesse, comforte +te seke, visite
prisoners, and bury +te dede. +Tese vij verkes +tou arte
bondon to fulfill by verke and dede +giff +ti powere be,
or els by +ti good will +giff +ti powere faill, in payne of 
euer lastynge dampnacion +giff +tou repente not. For of
+tese werkes of mercy Criste shall speke inspeciall of at 
+te Day of Dome. I praye eueriche of you to haue +tis 
in mynde.
   And +te vij verkys of goostely mercy ben +tese: teche
men +te trouthe, howe +tei shuld com to heven; the
seconde, counsell men besely to hold with Cristes lawe;
the +tride, chastyse synners by moderate reprevynge in
charite; the [{iv{] , comforte sorowfull men with Cristes
passion; the v, for+geue wronges done to +ti-selfe, as +tou
wolte be [{for{]+geue of God; the vj, suffre mekely
repreves for +te ryght of Goddes lawe; the vij, preye
hertely for frend and for foo. +Tese verkes ben of goostely
mercye, +te wiche also +tou arte bond to knowe and to
fulfill hem in dede; for and +tou volte +tenke hertely of
+te dredefull Dome, +tan +tou shulteste euer be besye with
+tou+gth, worde, and dede to plese God and to fulfill +tise 
verkes of mercye, as +tou wolte +tat God haue mercye on 
+te.
   And +tan +giff God assh +te at +te Day of Dome, "Frende,
howe entereste +tou hidre?" +tan +tou maiste seye,
"Lorde, I haue on +ti leueree and I am +ti man, and as 
+ti man I entred; where-fore I preye +te, late me reioyse
+te kyngedome of heven, +tat +tou haste ordeynt for +ti
seruauntes." To +te wiche ioye and infinite blisse 
brynge vs oure swete Lorde Ihesus. Amen.


[} [\41\] }]
<P 251>
   This glorious Ladie with all hur vertewes and preuilegees
as +tis day was taken vp in soule aboven +te hiest
ordere of angels - and in bodie also, as Seynt Austyn and
Anselme haue +ter oppinions; and Ierom in ys pistell 
fauors +te same: (\"Exaltata est sancta Dei genitrix," et
cetera\) - where she besely praye+t +tat we may sewe hure
in lyvynge. +Tan se+t she is of all seyntes +te cheff pure
creature, as holychurche sey+t of hur (\ad mores, sanctorum
sancta\) , +ter-fore we shuld besi vs to be hure folovers, and 
so to be seyntes here and aftur in heven.
   But here what Dauid +te prophete seys, +tat oure
seyntes ben goyn avey: " (\Saluum me fac, Domine,
quoniam defecit sanctus\) - good Lord, sey+t he, make vs
saue, for seyntes +ter is none as +ter were." I sey more 
pleynly +tus: I knowe well no man shall be saued but 
+giff +tat he ende is liff as a seynt, (\sine peccato mortali,
<P 252>
Mathei 25=to= capitulo\) . But how +te multitudo of +te 
peple lyvi+t and ende+t when +tat +tei die, whe+tur +tei die as
seyntes or non I wot neuer, Lord, no+tur I will not +geue
iugement vppon +ti previe dome. But as by mans dome
and as it seme+t by reson, I shall afferme +tat +giff +tis
world be an enterludie, as doctors ymagynne, I wote
neuer who shall pley +te seynte in oure enterludie. For in
comparison +tat it was som tyme, vertewes morall ben
goyn. Fey+gth, hope, and charite be welny+g exiled, and
sewerly with-owte +tise vertewes may be no seynt in +tis 
liff.
   Haa, good Lord God, where is +te fey+gth of Abraam,
+te good hope of Ysaak, +te prudens of Iacob? Where is
+te chastite of Ioseph, the paciens of Moyses, +te gret
zele of Finees, of all +te wiche scripture rememburs, 
(\Genesis, Exodi, Numerorum diuersis capitulis\) ? Where is
be-com +te sadenes of Sent Petre, +te charite of Seynt
Poule, +te holynes of Iacob, oure Lordes bro+tur, and +te 
heuenly wisdom of Seynt Iohn +te Euaungelist, of +te
wiche scripture wittenes (\Actuum diuersis capitulis,
Iohanis primo\) ?
   And +giff +tat we shall speke of latter men and of lowe
degre, where is suche on as Paule, +te first heremite,
dwellyng sole in +te inmaste of wildernes in a cote, where
fourty wynter God send hym by a ravyn brede to
lyve by dayly, and whan +tat he was ded wild lions made
is pitt and buried at +te commaundement of Seynt
Antonij, as Seynt Ierom wryte+t in (\Vitis Patrum\) ? Where
is now suche a seynt as Seynt Benet was amonge all +te
enhabite monasteries - (\inter senobitas\) ? Is liff was
angelike, +te wiche withstode terraundes and devels with
is holy worde, to whom sprites obeied as to +ter maister, 
as Seynt Gregory teche+t, (\2=o= Dialogorum\) ? Where is
+te gret douocion of Seynt Barnard be-com in all is
seculere diligence, +te wiche wrote full wondirfull myracles,
lyvyng so far-forth +tat all +tat were vexed with devels he
<P 253>
heled hem at is commaundement, as Ianuensis write+t
in ys lif?
   Now +giff +tat we shuld speke of holines in prelacie,
where is suche a fadur now as was Seynt Basile, bishop
of Cesare in Capodocia? +Tis man was +te distroer of 
+te heretikes, Arrianus. When +tat he shuld die, 
a leche +tat was a Iewe told hym +te tyme when
+tat he shuld die and +te day. "What," quod he, "and I
may live till to-morow?" "I woll be-com a Cri[{s{]ten
man." And so by myracle hes liff was lenghed vn-to +tat
he was cristened. +Tus write+t of hym Amphilotus,
(\Yconie episcopus, in historia sua\) . Where is suche
accepte auctorite in anny prelate as was in Gregore
Nazanzene, whos doctrine and writynge was suche +tat
+ter was neuer man a+geyn-seid hym into oure tyme, as
Seynt Thomas write+t, (\prima parte Summe, questione
61, articulo 3=O=, in pede\) ? Where is +te mekenes and
wisdom be-com of Seynt Gregore, doctour and pope,
as is verke vppon Iob wittenes, +te wiche is so gret +tat
+to+g all +te principall partes of man were turned on-to
tounges, +git man myght not declare is wisdom and
holynes, as Isedere write+t, (\De Viris Illustribus, de
Gregorio agens\) ?
   +Giff we shuld suche aftur holynes amonge gentilmen
of wurshipp, it is not as it was. Where is now so wertewous
a ientilman as was Iob, kynge of Edom, clere in 
fey+gthe, excellent in mekenes, a nobull housholdere,
ease to be tau+gth, large in almes, riche in money, plentewous 
in children? But sodenly is children were slayn,
+te dewell sore tempted hym and is wiff also and is 
frendes; and neuer gruched a+gens God, as Ysidore sais, 
(\De Ortu et Obitu Patrum\) . Where is now so gret loue,
zele, and fauour vn-to men of holy churche and to +te 
pepull as had +te gret emperour Constantyne, +te wiche
chose ra+tur all is liff tyme to be smytte with a lepre +tan
he wold suffure +te innocentes blod to be shed to saue
hym as by bathes, as +te Cronicle of Rome telle+t vs?
<P 254>
Where is +tat very iust man and emperour Egrite
Traiane, +te wiche demed is own sonne and is eyre to be
ded for +tat he necligently had ouer-riden a widow
sonne, as Gregore teche+t vs in is bokes Regestre?
   Lo, +tan, I se well +giff +tat I be not begiled +tat in men
of holychurche, no+ture in gentilmen, no+tur in +te comon
peple, but +te old holines is goyn from hem. Where-fore
I may sey as me semeth after +te old maner, +tat +ter is no
man able to pley on oure seynt: " (\Saluum me fac,
Domine, quoniam defecit sanctus\) ."
   Parauntur it is replied a+geyns me +tat +ter be many
holy men, al-be-it +tei com not to +te holynes of oure
old holy faders. I answere as Seynt Barnard seith,
(\sermone 33 super Cantico\) , vndirstondyng is language as
for +te more parte: " (\Serpit hodie putrida tabes per
omne corpus ecclesie\) - fowle stynkynge mater of synne
growe+t now thorowe-owte all Cristendom. Qwere-of
Y dispeyre +te more for he growe+t full large. Som tyme
+te prophett spake +ter-of and now it is fulfilled, +tat
holychurche compleyne+t of: (\'Ecce in pace amaritudo
mea amarissima,'\) Ysaie (\38 capitulo\) - 'O fey+gthe in holy
churche, my most bitter bitturnes is in my pece.' I had
a grett bitturnes in dethe of my marters, I had a grettur
bitturnes in doctrine of heritikes, but now haue I my
most bittur bitturnes in +te horribull synnes of fey+gthfull
pepull, whi +tei may not be chastised, +tei may not be
dryven a-vey, wicked men be so many and multipled
owte of nowmbur. This veniaunce is perishyng myn
herte withowte hope of hele. (\Intestina est et insanabilis
plaga.\) And +terfore of all my bitturnes +tis is +te gretest
in pees. But qwhat pes is +tis to +te churche?" Seys
Seynt Barnard, " (\Et pax est et non est pax\) - +ter is
pece," seys he, "in a maner, and +gitt itt is no pes. +Ter
is pes for ethen men, +ter is pes for heretikes, but trewly
+ter is no pes a+gens synnefull lyvyng in all degrees
temperall and spirituall of Cristes churche. Loo, whatt
oure modur holychurche compleyne+t a+gens vs: (\'Filios
<P 255>
enutriui et exaltaui; ipsi autem spreuerunt me,'\) Ysaie
(\primo capitulo\) . 'I haue,' seys she, 'norished many a
Cristen man and woman and made must of hem, and 
+tei sett ryght no+gthe by me: (\spreuerunt et maculauerunt
me,' et cetera\) . '+Tei sett not by me,' seys oure modur
holychurche, 'but +te defoule me with +ter foule lyvyng +tat 
is full abhomynable,'" (\inquid Barnardus in diebus suis\) .
   Se+t, +tan, holichurche compleyne+t +tus in Seynt
Barnardes daies, she may now dredeles compleyne much
more, for fro is tyme hidirward +te liff of +te Cristen pepull
ha+t ben euer wars and wars, as well in +te spirituallte as
in +te temperalte. For sicurly vertew is cast avey and
man is fallyn in-to +te filthe of stynkyng synne. Haa,
good God, now mercy, for our synnes beth not vnpunyshed.
Lo, sirs, I sey itt with sorefull hert, scismus and diuisions
haue now reyned in oure daies amonge men of holychurche,
+tat welny+g holychurche standes (\in desolacionem\) : (\"Per
que peccat quis, per hec et torquetur," Sapiencie 2
capitulo;\) +tat for-asmuche as we will not be ooned to God
be charite, +ter-fore we be+t dissevered amonge oure-self.
Oure gentils also of all degrees be+t greuously punyshed,
for batels be+t reysed welny+g in euery lond, Cristend
Shedyng of Cristen blode continually, gret and huge.
And to sey shortely, welny+g in euery coost of +te marches
Cristen mens lordeshippes decresses and goys downeward,
and +te lordeshippes of hethen men growe+t vpward and
in-crese+t; for seuerly oure Cristen prynces with-in +tis xl
+gere and lasse ha+t lost more +tan +te +tirde parte of
Cristendom. Lo, +ter peyn answeres to +ter synnes. For
lik as oure princes and lordes spoyleth and robbe+t +ter
suggettus and do+t daily, euen so God suffre+t +te ethen 
princes to robb and spoile oure lordes and princes, euen
as +tei do to o+tur: (\"In qua mensura qua mensi fueritis,
remicietur vobis," Mathei 7 capitulo\) . The common 
pepull for +ter synnes and vnthrifty lyvyng and euell will
to holychurche and to +ter lordes, +tei ben oppressed, +tei 
ben robbed, +tei be mad pore welny+g in euery lond of
Cristendom so far-forthe sewerly +tat itt heuys hem to
<P 256>
lyve. Si+t, +tan, euery charite begynne+t of hym-selfe,
and I see so gret perils and by synne vertews distruccion,
+ter-for I pray as +te prophete dud, "Lord, make me sauf,
for +te seyntus ben gon - (\saluum me fac, Domine, quoniam
defecit sanctus\) ." And +tus much for oure first principall
and +te second to-ge+ture.
   I seid also oure +tirde and fourth principall, now
steryng, now shewynge by experience of vertewe, how 
+tat Oure Ladie was all-wey desirous to holines. She 
is full gracious and full of compassion to all Cristen
pepull. For declaracion of +tis wryte+t Seynt Ierom in 
a pistell, and Bonaventure reherse+t it also, (\De Vita
Cristi\) , +tat +tis blessed and glorious Ladie afore +tat she
had conceyved oure Lord, euery ny+gthe aftur mydny+gtht
she was besy in prayour. She ashed and praied of +te
Fadur of heuen vij peticions, of +te wich too I will
reherse vn-to you. On was +tat she my+gthe loue alvey
+tat God loued and non o+tur +tinge: (\Psalmo 17, "Diligam
te, Domine, fortitudo mea."\) +Te o+tur was +tat God wold
+geue hur +tat grace, to hur +tat was +te modur of God to
do euer plesaund seruyse to God. Loo, +tis good Ladies 
peticion sowned alvey vn-to charite, loue, and grace.
(\"Quia plenitudo legis est dileccio operis," Romanos, 13=mo=
capitulo.\) And so dud hur o+tur peticiens, +te wiche I leue
ouer. And +ter-fore +te Fadur of heven herd hur prayour
and graunted hur more grace +tan she prayed fore.
   Inspeciall for +tat she of mekenes coveted to be
seruaunte to Goddes modur, +ter-for God chose hure to be
is modur, (\"Quia respexit humilitatem ancille sue,"
Luce primo,\) and send to hur +te archangell Gabriell vn is
ambassate, to +tat entent +tat suche +tinges by hur, a
woman, shuld reflorish +tat by +te first woman was
brou+gthe to desolacion, (\Genesis 3 capitulo\) .
   For sicurly it was a comon repref to all women +tat
by on of hem all mankynd was lost and non of hem
my+gthe helpe to restore it a+geyn, so far-forth +tat all +te 
elementes and all o+tur beestes and briddes semed (\per
prosopopeiam\) crie vppon a womman, as Petrus (\Rauennas\)
<P 257>
ymagine+t, (\sermone Gregorii\) , seynge +tus, " (\Redde
depositum, mulier, redde depositum Dei quod in Paradiso
perdidisti; redde ex te quod perdidisti per te\) ." +Tis
rebuke of o+tur creatures dyvers devoute women bare
heuely, praying for hem-self to God to take from hem
+tis comon reprefe or suffur hem els no lenger to liff,
(\vnde applicatur illud: "Ad te, Domine, faciem meam
conuert[{o{] ; ad te oculos meos erigo\) . (\Peto, Domine, ut 
de vinculo improperij huius absoluas me, aut certe
desuper terram eripias me," Tobie 3.\)
   But of all +tise women +ter was non hard vn-to Oure 
Ladie was borne, whom holychurche wurshippes +tis day.
Bot +tis Ladie so pleyzed all-myghty God, +te Fadur of
heuen, +tat he send downe is angell vn-to hure to haue
+tis reprefe holpon: (\Malachie 3, "Ecce ego mitto 
angelum meum, qui preparabit viam ante faciem meam,"
id est, ante filium meum\) .
   And as it may be taken of Seynt Austyn, (\primo 
sermone de Anunciacione Dominica,\) whan Gabriel had
knalage +ta[{t{] he was choson to do is message, he com
in-to +te presence of +te Fadur of heven and with all
mekenes a-fore is most soueryn maieste, he seid on +tis 
wise: "Fadur and Lord of euery heuenly and erthly
creature, to +te is all +tinge knowon (Iudith (\9=[{n{]o=\) ).  #
+Tou
knowist verely +te hi+g prudence of +tis nobull virgyn and
also hur sadnes in soule. +Tou knowist also, gracious
Lord, +tis message +tat +tou commaundes me to execute.
It is a werke of gret prevete, keuered in derke seynges of
prophetes of old tyme. By hure +te dewell is putt in
gret drede. So +tan when +tat I sey my message I shall
besy me to encline +tis blessed Ladies will vn-to my
porpose and to shewe hur +tin signet, +te wiche bothe
man and angels ben marked with. (\('Signatum est super
nos lumen vultus tui, Domine,' Psalmo 4=to=).\) And
namely in so hi+g a matur of substaunce she parauntur
will not anone +geue credence to my wordes but ra+tur
suppose me no trewe messanger of so worthy astate.
Where-fore +giff itt like to thy most gracious lordshipp
<P 258>
me to do +tis message, I beseche +te, chef soueraygne
Lord, graunte me +ti signet, where-of when +tat she ha+t
knalage +ter-of, +tat she may applie hur will to +ti godly
purpose."
   The Fadur of heven answerd Gabriell, "+Ti prayour
is resonable, and it shall not be denyed +te. +Tou knawi+t
well, Gabriell, +tat my signet is my speciall grace, +te
wiche I marke with my choson children fro +to +tat be
repreved. And it may well be called my signett, for
itt is so secrete +tat +ter wote no man lyvynge withowte
reuelacion whe+tur +tat he be signett +ter-with or no.
( (\'Nescit homo vtrum amore an odio dignus scit,'
Ecclesiastes 9=no=\) - '+ter knowi+t no man withowte
reuelacion whe+tur +tat he be marked with +te signett
of grace or no' - (\predestinatus\) .) But when +tou commest
vn-to +tis maiden, in hur +tou shalt se my signet of grace.
+Tou seist it neuer so plentevows in no creature. When
+tou commest to hur, gret hur well by +te token of my
speciall grace, and +tan she will resceyve +te as she ow+gth
to do my messanger."
   Anone +tan +tis archangell was in +te cite of Nazareth
and he fownd +ter +tis virgyn, not walkynge abowte in
+te stretis but in hure deuocions in hur chambur, besily
prayinge to all-mygthy God, (\"intra cubiculum orante,"
Matheo\) . He shewed hur +tis signet, seying on +tis wize,
" (\Aue, gracia plena, Dominus tecum; benedicta tu in 
mulieribus\) - hail, full of grace, oure Lord is with +te;
blessed be +tou abowen all wommen." And with +tise
wordes he persceyved anon +tat she was wondur specially
merked with +te signet of oure Lordis grace.
   This blessed maiden with all reuerence and honour
tretid +tis blessed Lordis signet, in +te wiche signet ben
graven succession of dyuers +geres, +te meritis of angels
and man, the begynnyng and +te contynuaunce and
<P 259>
+te ende of all ryghtwisse pepull. And +ter-fore she 
toke avisement afore hur answere, somwhat trowbeled of
so speciall a gretyng; but +gitt she had spokon and seen
aungels afore, as Seynt Barnard seis vppon " (\Missus est\) ."
   But +te language of +te aungell was soleyn and gracius
when +tat he seid +tat she was full of grace and blissed hur
abowon all women. +Tis aungell as a wize messaunger
see +tat she was somdell trowbled, and +ter-fore he spake
to hure more famyliarly, callyng hur by hur name,
seying on +tis wise: " (\Ne timeas, Maria; inuenisti
enim graciam apud Deum\) - drede +te not, maide Mari,
for +tou hast fownden grace aneyns almy+gthy God." As
hoo sei+t. "+Tou arte gracious of +ti-selfe and also shall
be to all Cristen pepull. +Tat shewe I +tus: first, +tou
shalte consceyve with-owten fleshly concupiscence and
brynge forthe a Sonne ( (\ibi Luce primo\) .) +Te cause
here-of is non o+tur bote +tou arte gracious in +ti-self
and shall be to all Cristen peple. But Ladi, +tis Sonne
+tat +tou shalte haue shall not be litill of valowe, but +te
naturall Sonne of allmy+gthy God (\('Filius Altissimi
vocabitur')\) . What may be cause of +tis? Sicurly, for
+tou art gracious to +ti-selfe and shall be to all Cristen
pepull. Far+termare, Ladie, parauntur +tou ashes of +te
maner here-of, how God will haue itt don se+t +tou art 
purposed euer to be a mayde (\('Quo modo fiet istud?'
et cetera)\) . I sey +te Holygoost shall li+gthe vppon +te
and by is infenite vertewe +tis werke shall be endid."
   +Tis good Ladie, heryng +tis message, assentid vn-to +te
will of God and in +te most lowly wize answerd. For
+ter-as +te aungell called hure +te modur of God, she 
calle+t hure-self Goddes lowly seruaunt, seying, (\"Ecce
ancilla Domini; fiat mihi secundum uerbum tuum" - ibi
Luce primo\) .
   I may +tan perfitely conclude by hur wordes and +te 
aungels also +tat +tis Ladie alwey is desirous to holynes
and is gracious and full of compassion vn-to all Cristen
pepull, +te wiche is for oure third and fourte principall.
   She, +tan, +tat was so gracious in hur liff here, is muche
<P 260>
more gracious nowe +tat she is in heven. For +ter
charite euer encrese+t, and +ter she is oure aduocate, and
specially to hure choson seruauntes, as Seynt Anselme
declare+t full swetly in is boke (\De Excellentissima 
Virgin[{e{] \) .
   And also +te story - (\est et cronicus\) - of Seynt Basilie
and of Iulianus, +te emperour and renegate, telle+t of
hur grace wondirly, and on +tis wize: +Tis cursed emperour
Iulian, +te wiche som tyme was a Cristen man and +gede
avey from is fei+gthe and becom an ethen man, and lad
is ost on a tyme by +te citte of Cesare, where Seynt
Basilie was +to bishopp. And for +tinges +tat greved hym,
+tis emperour avowed when +tat he com homward fro
Perse +tat he wold distrow +tat cite and all +te Cristen men
+ter-in. +Tan was +tis holy bishopp sory and praied God
of grace and Oure Ladie with all is deuocions to helpe
+tat Cristen cite. Houre Ladie for+gate hym not, but
graciously herd is prayoure and anon send downe an
aungell and reysed a ded kny+gthe called Sir Mercury,
+te wiche was don to dethe by +tis cursed Iulian. +Te
aungell armed hym and brou+gth hym an hors and seid
vn-to hym +tat he shuld on Goddis by-half and at Our
Ladies commaundement, +tat he shuld ride in-to Persie
and sle +tis terraunt, Goddes enmy. And so he dud.
And when +tis cursed emperour conceyved hym-self
+tus wonded to dethe, anon he +gelded vp is parte and
is opinion, and cast is blode in-to +te eyre and cried vn-to
oure Lord with lowde voyse, " (\Vicisti, Galilee, vicisti\) - 
+tou, Ihesu of Galilee, +tou hast ouercome me." And +tus
+te dampned wreche di+ged in bodie and soule. Lo,
how +tis Ladie hard +tis holy mans prayour and helped +te
Cristen pepull.
   And +giff +tou be a gret synner and drede +te +tat she
will not here +ti prayoure for +ti synne, +tan pray +tou with
+te most synnefull man Theophile, +te wiche +tat forsoke
God vponly afore +te dewell, and wrote is forsakyng and
sealed it with is own seall, and tok it +te dewell is own
person and becam is man. But afturward he sore
<P 261>
repented hym and fled vn-to Oure Ladye for helpe. And
aftur fourty daies penauns Oure Ladie apered vn-to hym
and blamed hym sore for is synne, but +gitt she gat hym
for+geuenes, and brou+gthe a+geyn from +te dewell is writynge
and is seall, and declared +tat God had for+geue hym and
resceyved hym to grace. +Tis is no fabull +tat I sey +gow.
It is euery woke songe and rad in holychurch in remembrance 
of +te good Ladies kyndenes and grace.
   We, +tan, +tat be not ryghtwis as Seynt Basile was,
take we ensampull of Theophile +te synner and pray we
with hym, knowynge mekely oure defawtes, seying +tus
to +tis Lady +tat is most gracious in plesaunce: "Most
comly of persone and most holy in soule, +tou Ladie
choson afore all o+tur, +tou most holy and +tou most 
worshippfull, most excellent in auctorite, +tou most 
benigne, and oure mercyfull Ladie of truste, we beseche
+te to helpe vs +tat we may recovere and haue, here grace
sufficient, and blisse eternall with +ti Sonne, oure Lord
Ihesu, +te wiche is perfite God, with +te Fadere and +te 
Holygoost, and with +te, oure speciall helpe and all 
Cristen pepuls."



