|b{Nicholas_Love's_Mirror_of_the_Blessed_Life_of_Jesus_Christ.}
|b{A_critical_edition_based_on_Cambridge_University_Library}
|b{Additional_MSS_6578_and_6686.}
|b{ed._Michael_G._Sargent}
|b{Garland_Medieval_Texts,_18}
|b{New_York,_London,_1992.
|b{pp.3-241.}
|b{Lines_unbybed.}


|p3


|r[1r]      SPECULUM VITE CHRISTI
                                                            |r[Page_number]

         At e byginnyng e proheme of e boke at is clepede
    e Mirroure of e blessede life of Jesu criste.                     |r9


                    e ferst part for e Moneday.
   5  A deuoute meditacion of e grete conseile in heuen for e
     restoryng of man & his sauacion. Capitulum primum                  |r13
      Of e manere of lyuyng of e blessed virgine Marye.
        Capitulum 2=m=                                                  |r18
      Of e Incarnacion of Jesu, & e feste of e Annunciacion & 
  10 of e gretyng, Aue Maria. Capitulum 3=m=                           |r21
      How at oure lady went to Elizabeth & mekely gret hir.
        Capitulum 4=m=                                                  |r30
      How Joseph ouht to leue priuely oure lady seynt Marye.
        Capitulum 5=m=                                                  |r33
  15  Of e Natiuite of oure lord Jesu criste. Capitulum 6=m=          |r36
      Of e Circoncision of oure lord Jesu. Capitulum 7=m=             |r40
      Of e Epiphanye, at is e opune shewyng of oure lorde
     Jesu Criste. Capitulum 8=m=                                        |r42
      Of e purificacion of oure lady seynt Marie. Capitulum 9=m=      |r46


  20                 e secunde part for e twesday.
      Of e fleyng of oure lord Jesu in to Egipte. Capitulum 10=m=     |r51
      Of e turnyng aeyn of oure lord Jesu fro Egipt. Capitulum
        11=m=                                                           |r55
      How e child Jesus laft aloue in Jerusalem. Capitulum 12=m=      |r57
  25  What maner of lyuyng oure lord Jesus hade & what he dide
           fro his xij ere, in to e biginnyng of his xxx ere.
           Capitulum 13=m=                                              |r60



|p4


 Of e baptisme of oure lord Jesu & e weye erto.
     Capitulum 14=m=                                                   |r65


                    e iii part for e Wennesday.
      Of e fasting of oure lord Jesu & hese temptacions in
   5      deserte. Capitulum 15=m=                                      |r71
      How oure lord Jesus began to teche & geder disciples.
          Capitulum 16=m=                                              |r78
      Of e myracle done at e bridale of water turned in to wyne.
          Capitulum 17=m=                                              |r80
  10  Of at excellent sermon of our lord Jesu in e hille.
          Capitulum 18=m=                                              |r84
      Of e seruant of Centurio & e sone of e litel kynge heled
          of oure lord Jesu. Capitulum 19=m=                           |r88
      Of e paletyke man let don in his bedde by e house
  15      hillyng, & heled of our lord Jesu. Capitulum 20=m=           |r89
      How at Martha was heled of hir sekenes by touchyng of e
          hem of oure lordes cloing. Capitulum 21=m=                    89
      Of e conuersion of Marie Maudleyn. Capitulum 22=m=             |r90
     |r[1v]  Of e spekyng of oure lorde Jesus with e woman
  20      Samaritane at e pitte of watere. Capitulum 23=m=            |r96
      Howe e disciples of Jesu plukkeden e eres of corn & eten
          it for hungere on e sabbote day. Capitulum 24=m=            |r98


                   e iiij part for e thursday.
 Of e fedyng of e grete peple with brede multipliede.
  25     Capitulum 25=m=                                               |r103
      Of e fleyng of oure lorde Jesus when e peple walde haue
         made him hir kyng. Capitulum 26=m=                            |r105
      Of e praiere of oure lorde Jesu in e hille. Capitulum 27=m=     |r108
      How e pharisees & oere token occasion of sclandre of e
  30    wordes & e dedes of Jesu. Capitulum 28=m=                     |r111
      Of e speciale rewarde of oure lord Jesu behoten to alle oo
        at forsaken e world for his loue. Capitulum 29=m=            |r113
      Of e transfiguration of oure lord Jesu in e hille. Capitulum
        30=m=                                                          |r114
  35  Of e seke man heled at e water in Jerusalem, clepede
        probatica piscina. Capitulum 31=m=                             |r115
      How oure lorde Jesus cast oute of e temple, e biggeres &
        e selleres aeynus goddus lawe. Capitulum 32=m=               |r117
      Of e receyuyng of oure lord Jesu by e tweyn sistres
  40 Martha & Marie, & of e two maner of lyuyng at



|p5


          bene actif & contemplatife in holi chirch. Capitulum
          33=m=                                                      |r118
      Of e reisyng of Lazare & oer tweyn dede bodies.
          Capitulum 34=m=                                            |r125
   5  Howe e Jues token hir conseil & conspirede aeynus Jesu
          in to his de. Capitulum 35=m=                             |r136
     How oure lord Jesus came aeyn to Betanye e saturday
          before Palmesunday, & of e sopere made to him ere.
          Capitulum 36=m=                                            |r137
  10  How Jesus come to Jerusalem vpon palme soneday.
          Capitulum 37=m=                                            |r141
      What oure lord Jesus dide fro e palmesuneday in to e
          ursday after next suynge. Capitulum 38=m=                 |r143
      Of at wori sopere at oure lord Jesus made e night
  15      before his passion, & of e noble circumstances at
          befelle erwith. Capitulum 39=m=                           |r146


                         e v part for e Fryday.
      Of e passion of oure lorde Jesu criste, & first of his praiere
          & takyng at matyne tyme. Capitulum 40=m=                    |r161
  20 |r[2r]  Of e bryngyng of oure lord Jesu before pilate at prime.
          Capitulum 41=m=                                             |r169
      How oure lorde Jesus was dampnede to e de of e crosse
          about tierce of e day. Capitulum 42=m=                     |r172
      Of e crucifiyng of our lord Jesu at e sexte houre.
  25      Capitulum 43=m=                                              |r176
      How oure lord Jesus elde vp e spirite at none. Capitulum
          44=m=                                                       |r179
      Of oo inges at befelle after e de of oure lord Jesu and
          aftere e none. Capitulum 45=m=                             |r181
  30  Of e takyng done fro e crosse oure lordes body Jesu at
          euene souge. Capitulum 46=m=                                |r183
      Of e burying of our lorde Jesu at Complyn tyme.
          Capitulum 47=m=                                             |r186
      What was don of our lady & oer after e burying of Jesu.
  35      Capitulum 48=m=                                              |r188


                        e vj part for e saturday
      What oure lady & oer with hir diden on e saturday.
          Capitulum 49=m=                                             |r191



|p6


                         e vij part for e sonday.
      Of e gloriouse Resurrection of oure lorde Jesu, & of e
          first aperyng of him to his blessed modere as it may be
          resonably trowede. Capitulum 50=m=                          |r195
   5  How at Maudleyn & oer Maries come to e Graue.
          Capitulum 51=m=                                             |r197
      How oure lord Jesus aperede to Maudleyn. Capitulum 52=m=       |r199
      How oure lord Jesus aperede to e re Maries. Capitulum
          53=m=                                                       |r201
  10  How oure lord Jesus aperede to Petre. Capitulum 54=m=          |r202
      Of e comyng aeyn of oure lord Jesu to e fadres, & of hir
          ioyful songe. Capitulum 55=m=                               |r203
      How oure lord Jesus aperede to e two disciples goyng
          towarde e Castell of Emaus. Capitulum 56=m=                  203
  15  How oure lorde Jesus aperede to hese apostles & disciples
          at were reclused for drede on e self day of his
          Resurrexion. Capitulum 57=m=                                |r205
      How oure lord Jesus aperede e viij day after to hees
          disciples Thomas presente. Capitulum 58=m=                  |r208
  20  How oure lord Jesus aperede to e disciples in Galile.
          Capitulum 59=m=                                             |r209
      How oure lord Jesus aperede to e disciples at e see
          Tiberiades. Capitulum 60=m=                                   209
      Of alle e aperynges of our lord Jesu in generale. Capitulum
  25      61=m=                                                       |r210
      Of e Ascension of oure lord Jesu. Capitulum 62=m=             |r212
          |r[2v]  Of e sendyng done & e comyng of e holi gost.
          Capitulum 63=m=                                             |r220
      Of at excellent & most wori sacrament of Cristies
  30      blessede bodye. Capitulum 64=m=                              |r225


|r<Latin> Expliciunt Capitula



|p7


        Attende lector huius libri prout sequitur in Anglico
     scripti, quod vbicumque in margine ponitur litera N'. verba
     sunt translatoris siue compilatoris in Anglicis preter illa que
     inseruntur in libro scripto secundum communem opinionem a
   5 venerabili doctore Bonauentura in Latino de meditacione vite
     Jesu Christi. Et quando peruenitur ad processum & verba
     eiusdem doctoris'. inseritur in margine litera B, prout legenti
     siue intuenti istum librum speculi vite Christi lucide poterit
     apparere.

  10     Memorandum quod circa annum domini Millesimum
     quadringentesimum decimum, originalis copia huius libri,
     scilicet Speculi vite Christi in Anglicis'. presentabatur
     Londoniis per compilatorem eiusdem .N. Reuerendissimo in
     Christo patri & domino, Domino Thome Arundell, Cantuarie
  15 Archiepiscopo, ad inspiciendum & debite examinandum
     antequam fuerat libere communicata. Qui post inspeccionem
     eiusdem per dies aliquot'. retradens ipsum librum memorato
     eiusdem auctori'. proprie vocis oraculo ipsum in singulis
     commendauit & approbauit, necnon & auctoritate sua
  20 metropolitica, vt pote catholicum, puplice communicandum
     fore decreuit & mandauit, ad fidelium edificacionem, &
     hereticorum siue lollardorum confutacionem. Amen <\Latin>



|p9


     |r[3r] Here bigynne e proheme of e boke at is clepid e
        Mirroure of e blissed lyffe of oure lorde Jesu
        cryste.


        |r<b> Quecumque scripta sunt ad nostram doctrinam scripta
   5 sunt vt per pacienciam & consolacionem scripturar[um] spem
     habeamus, ad Romanos xv=o= capitulo.
        |r<b> ese ben e wordes of e gret doctour & holy apostle
     Powle consideryng at the gostly leuyng of all trewe crysten
     creatures in is worlde stant specialy in hope of e blysse &
  10 the lyfe at is to come in another worlde.
         Ande for also mich as tweyne inges pryncipaly
     noryschen & strenken is hope in man at is pacience in
     herte & ensaumple of vertues & gude liuyng of holy men
     writen in bokes'. Ande souereynly e wordes & e dedis
  15 writen of oure lorde Jesu criste verrei god and man for e
     tyme of his bodily liuyng here in erthe'. erfore to strenke vs
     & confort vs in is hope speke e Apostle e wordes aforseid
     to this entent seying at all thynges at ben written generaly
     in holi chirche ande specialy of oure lorde Jesu cryste ei bene
  20 wryten to oure lore that by pacience & conforte of holi
     scriptures we haue hope that is to say of the Life & Blysse
     that is to come in anothere worlde. Here to acordyng speke
     Seynt Austyn us, Goddes son toke man & in hym he soffred
     that longe to man & was made medicyne of man'. & this
  25 medicyne is so mykell at it may nout be out. For er is
     no pryde bot it may be heled rue mekenes of goddis sone.
     er is no Couetyse bot at it maye be heled thorgh is pouerte'.
     [No] Wrath bot it may be heled throw his pacience. [No]
     Malice bot at it may be heled rowe his charite.
  30      Ande more ouer er is no synne or wikkednesse, bot
     that [he] schal want it & be kept fro [it] e whiche byholde
     inwardly & loue & folowe e wordes & the dedis of that
     man in whome goddes sone aff himself to vs in to ensaumple



|p10


     of gode leuyng. Wherfore nowe boe men & women & euery
     Age & euery dignite of this worlde is stirid to hope of euery
     lastyng lyfe. Ande for is hope & to is entent with holi writte
     also bene wryten diuerse bokes & trettes of |r[3v] devoute men not
   5 onelich to clerkes in latyne, but also in Englyshe to lewde men
     & women & hem at bene of symple vndirstondyng. Amonge
     e whiche be wryten deuovte meditacions of cristes lyfe more
     pleyne in certeyne partyes an is expressed in the gospell of
     e foure euaungelistes. Ande as it is seide e deuoute man &
  10 worthy clerke Bonauentre wrot hem to A religiouse woman in
     latyne e whiche scripture ande wrytyng for e fructuouse
     matere erof steryng specialy to e loue of Jesu ande also for
     e pleyn sentence to comun vndirstondyng [s]eme amonges
     oere souereynly edifiyng to symple creatures e whiche as
  15 childryn hauen nede to be fedde with mylke of lyte doctryne
     & not with sadde mete of grete clargye & of [hye
     contemplacion]. Wherfore at e instance & e prayer of some
     deuoute soules to edification of suche men or women is is
     drawynge oute of e forseide boke of cristes lyfe wryten in
  20 englysche with more putte to in certeyn partes & widrawyng
     of diuerse auctoritis [and] maters as it semeth to e wryter
     hereof moste spedefull & edifyng to hem at bene [of] symple
     vndirstondyng to e which symple soules as seynt Bernerde
     seye contemplacion of e monhede of cryste is more likyng
  25 more spedefull & more sykere an is hye contemplacion of
     e godhed ande erfore to hem is pryncipally to be sette in
     mynde e ymage of crystes Incarnacion passion &
     Resurreccion so that a symple soule at kan not enke bot
     bodyes or bodily inges mowe haue somwhat accordynge vnto
  30 is affecion where wi he maye fede & stire his deuocion
     wherefore it is to vndirstonde at e bygynyng as for [a]
     pryncipal & general rewle of diuerse ymaginacions at
     folowen after in is boke at e discriuyng or speches or dedis
     of god in heuen & angels or oere gostly substances bene only
  35 wryten in is manere, & to is entent at is to saye as devoute
     ymaginacions & likenessis styryng symple soules to e loue of
     god & desire of heuenly inges for as Seynt Gregory sei. |r[4r]
     erfore is e kyngdome of heuene likenet to erly inges'. at
     by o inges at bene visible & at man kyndly knowe'. he
  40 be stirede & rauyshede to loue & desire gostly inuisible
     inges, at he kyndly knowe not. Also seynt Jon sei at alle
     o inges at Jesus dide, bene not writen in e Gospelle.
     Wherfore we mowen to stiryng of deuotion ymagine & enk
     diuerse wordes & dedes of him & oer, at we fynde not



|p11


     writen, so at it be not aeyns e byleue, as seynt Gregory &
     oer doctours seyn, at holi writte may be expownet &
     vndurstande in diuerse maneres, & to diuerse purposes, so at
     it be not aeyns e byleue or gude maneres.
   5      And so what tyme or in what place in is boke is
     writen at us dide or us spake oure lorde Jesus or oer at
     bene spoken of, & it mowe not be preuet by holi writ or
     grondet in expresse seyinges of holy doctours'. it sal be taken
     none oerwyes an as a deuoute meditacion, at it mit be so
  10 spoken or done. And so for als miche as in is boke bene
     contynede diuerse ymaginacions of cristes life, e which life
     fro e bygynnyng in to e endyng euer blessede & withoute
     synne, passyng alle e lifes of alle oer seyntes, as for a
     singulere prerogatife, may worily be clepede e blessede life
  15 of Jesu crist, e which also because it may not be fully
     discriuede as e lifes of oer seyntes, bot in a maner of liknes
     as e ymage of mans face is shewed in e mirrroure'. erfore
     as for a pertynent name to is boke, it may skilfully be cleped,
     e Mirrour of e blessed life of Jesu criste. Forermore fort
  20 speke of e profitable matire of is boke'. e forseide clerke
     Bonauenture spekyng to e woman forseide in his proheme
     bygynne in is manere sentence.


 Bonauenture incipit.


        |r<b> Amonge oer vertuese commendynges of e holy
  25 virgine Cecile it is writen at she bare alwey e gospel of
     criste hidde in her breste, at may be undirstand at of e
     blessed lif of oure lord Jesu criste writen in e gospele, she
     chace certayne parties most deuoute. in e which she set her
     meditacion & her ouht nit & day with a clene & hole herte.
  30 And when she hade so fully alle e manere of his life ouer
     gon, she began aayne. And |r[4v] so with a likyng & swete taste
     gostly chewyng in at manere e gospell of crist'. she set &
     bare it euer in e priuyte of her breste. In e same manere I
     conseil at ou do. For among alle gostly exercyses I leue at
  35 is is most necessarye & most profitable, & at may bringe to
     e hyest degre of gude liuyng at stant specialy in perfite
     despysing of e worlde, in pacience, suffryng of aduersitees,
     & in encrese & getyng of vertues. For soely ou shalt neuer
     finde, where man may so perfitely be taght, first for to stable
  40 his herte aeynus vanitees & deceyuable likynges of e
     worlde, also to strengh him amongis tribulacions &



|p12


     aduersitees, & forermore to be kept fro vices & to getyng of
     vertues'. as in e blissede life of oure lorde Jesu, e which was
     euere withoute defaut most perfite.
         First I say at bisy meditacion & customable of e
   5 blessede life of Jesu, stable e saule & e herte aeynus
     vanitees & deceyuable likynges of e worlde. is is opunly
     shewede in e blessed virgine Cecile before nemede, when she
     fillede so fully her herte of e life of crist'. at vanytees of e
     worlde mit not entre in to her. For in alle e grete pompe of
  10 weddyngis, where so many vanytees bene usede, whene e
     organes blewene & songene, she set hir herte stably in god,
     seying & praying, Lord be my herte & my body clene, & not
     defilede'. so at I be not confondet.
         Also as to e seconde'. whereof hauen martires here
  15 strengh, aayns diuers tormentees'. bot as seynt bernarde sei,
     in at ei setten alle here herte & deuocion in e passione &
     e wondes of criste.
         For what tyme e Martire stant with alle e body to
     rent, & neuer e lesse he is ioiful & glade in alle his peyne,
  20 where trowest is an his soule & his herte? soely in e
     wondes of Jesu, ee e wondes not closed, bot opun & wide
     to entre inne, & elles he shuld fele e harde yryn, & not mowe
     bere e peyne & e sorow, bot sone faile & denye god. And
     not onlich Martires'. bot also Confessours, Virgynes, & alle at
  25 liuen rit wisely despisyng e |r[5r] worlde'. in many tribulacions
     infirmytees & dedes of penance, boe kepyng pacience, & also
     more ouere erwi bene ioyful & glade in soule as we mowen
     se alday. And whi so, bot for hire hertes bene more proprely
     in cristes body by deuoute meditacion of his blessed lif'. an
  30 in hir awne bodies.
         And as to e ridde poynt, at hit kepe fro vices, &
     dispose souereynly to getyng of vertues'. preue wele in at
     e perfection of alle vertues is fonden in cristes lif. For where
     salt ou fynde so opun ensaumple & doctrine, of souereyn
  35 charite, of perfite pouerte, of profonde mekenes of pacience &
     oer vertues, as in e blessed lif of Jesu crist.
         Herefore sei seynt Bernard, at he trauaile in vayn
     aboute e getyng of vertues'. who so hope to fynde hem
     owhere bot in e lord of vertues, whose lif is e mirrour of
  40 temperance & alle oer vertues.
      Lo here grete confort & gostly profite in deuoute
     contemplacion of cristes blessede lif.
      Wherefore ou at coueytest to fele treuly e fruyt of
     is boke'. ou most with all i ought & alle in entent, in at



|p13


     manere make e in i soule present to oo inges at bene
     here writen seyd or done of oure lord Jesu, & at bisily,
     likyngly & abydyngly, as ei ou herdest hem with i bodily
     eres, or sey aim with in eyen don'. puttyng awey for e
   5 tyme, & leuyng alle oer occupacions & bisynesses.
        And ouh hit so be at e bigynnyng of e matire of
     is boke, at is e blessede lif of Jesu crist, be at his
     Incarnation'. neuereles we mowen first deuoutly ymagine &
     enk sume inges done before, touchyng god & his angeles in
  10 heuene, & also as anentes e blessed virgyne oure lady seynt
     Marie in ere, of e whech is to bygynne. And for als mich as
     is boke is dyuydet & departet in vij parties, after vij dayes of
     e wike, euery day on partie or sume erof to be hade in
     contemplacion of hem at hauen erto desire & deuocion'.
  15 erefore at e Moneday as e first werke day of e wike,
     bygynne is gostly werke, tellyng first of e deuoute instance
     & desire of e holy angeles in heuen for mans restoryng, |r[5v]
     and his sauacion, to stire man amongis oer at day specialy
     to wyrshipe hem, as holy chirch e same day make speciale
  20 mynde of hem. Also not onelych e matire of is boke is
     pertynent & profitable to be hade in contemplacion e forseide
     dayes, to hem at wolen & mowen'. bot also as it longe to e
     tymes of e ere, as in aduent to rede & deuoutly haue in
     mynde fro e bigynnyng in to e Natiuite of oure lorde Jesu,
  25 & ere of after in at holy feste of Cristenmesse, & so for of
     oer matires as holy chirch make mynde of hem in tyme of
     e ere.
         And amongis oere who so redi or heri is boke
     felyng any gostly swetnes or grace ereorth'. pray he for
  30 charite specialy for e auctour, & e drawere oute ereof, as
     it is writen here in english, to e profite of symple & deuoute
     soules as it was seide before. And us endi e proheme, &
     after folowe e contemplacion for Moneday in e first partie,
     & e first chapitre.


  35  A deuout meditacione of e grete conseile in heuen for
     e restoryng of man & his sauacione. Capitulum
     primum & prima pars.


        |r<b> Aftire e tyme at man was exilet oute of e hie cite
     of heuen by e [ritwis dome] of almity god souereyn kyng
  40 erof, for his trespasse & his synne, & so wrecchedly lay in



|p14


     prison & was halden in e handes of at Tyrant e deuel of
     helle, at none mit come aeyne to at blessed Cite e space
     of fyue owsande ere & more'. alle e blessede spirites of
     heuene, desyrynge e restoryng of hir companye, at was
   5 fallen don with Lucifere, hadden grete compassion of so longe
     meschefe of manne, at was made to hire restoring, & prayden
     often for his restorynge, bot specialy & with more instance
     when e tyme of grace was comen'. what tyme as we mowen
     deuoutly ymagine'. alle e blessede companye of angeles
  10 gederet to gedire with one wille & souereyn deuocion fellen
     done prostrate to fore e Throne of almiti gode kyng of
     heuen, & Gabriel to whome as seynt Bernord sei was made
     speciale reuelacion of cristes Incarnacion in hire al name |r[6r]
     seyde in is manere:
  15      Almity lorde it liked to our hie maieste of our
     endles gudenes, to make of not at noble & resonable
     creature man, for oure comfort & oure gudenesse, at of him
     suld be made e restoryng of oure fals companye Lucifere &
     his felaghes, at fellen done fro vs by apostasie, so at he
  20 shuld dwelle here in is blessed place with vs, louyng &
     wyrchipyng owe with outen ende. Bot lo gude lorde, now alle
     ei peryshen & none is sauet, & in so many ousande ere
     passede'. we sene none of hem alle here. Oure enmyes hauen
     e victory, & of hem oure party is not restoret, bot e prison
  25 of helle continuelich filled.
         Where to lord be ei born to so grete myschefe? For
     ough it be done after our ritwisnesse'. neuerles lorde it is
     now tyme of mercy. Haue in mynde at he made aim after
     our awne liknesse, & ough hire formfadres folily &
  30 wrecchedly breken our maundment'. neuereles our mercy is
     aboue alle inge. Wherefore hir alle eyen ben sett vpon ow
     as e seruantes on e lordes handes, til e haue mercy & help
     hem with a spedeful & heleful remedye.


     De contencione inter misericordiam et veritatem &c.


  35     |r<b> HErewi began a maner of altercation & disputeson by
     twix e foure kyngesdouhteres, at is to say Mercye &
     sofastnes, Pees & ritwisnes. Of e whech foure Mercy &
     Pees, acordyng to e Angeles prayere forseide, were fauorable
     to mannus restoryng. But at oere tweyn sistres, Sofastnes
  40 & ritwisnesse aeyn seiden. Also seynt bernarde by deuoute



|p15


     ymaginacion make hereof a processe faire & longe'. Bot for
     to take erof shortly as to oure purpose at is tyme'. sumwhat
     in oer manere & in oere wordes we mowen ymagine & enk
     us. First Mercye & Pees knelyng to fore hire fadre kyng of
   5 heuen by e prophetes wordes, Dauid, seiden us, Lord shalt
     ou kast awey fro e man withouten ende? or hast ou
     foreten to do mercye? And is often & longe tyme ei
     reherseden. an seide oure lorde, Let clepe for our oer
     tweyn sistres, e whech e seen redy aeynus ow, & let vs
  10 see also what ei wole say hereto. And when ei were cleped
     & comen alle to gedire, Mercy began & seide in is wise, My
     fadere of Mercye it |r[6v] was our wille euere with outen ende,
     among our oere douhteres my sisteres to if me at
     prerogatif aboue alle our werkes at not onlich I sulde
  15 specialy regne here with ow in heuen'. bot also at e ere
     suld be repleynyshede & filled with me, to so mykel vertue'.
     at whoso wold treuly & bisily aske my help in any myschef
     or nede'. he suld with outen faile fynde our socour & help
     orh e mediacion of me. Bot lo now my dere fader at wori
  20 partye of ere & oure noble creatour man, in his grete
     wrecchednes & myschef so longe tyme liggyng crie
     continuelich & aske after my help, & now tyme is comen, in
     e which bot e help & saue him, I perish & lese my name.
         Here aeynus at oer sistere sofastnes seide, And
  25 e knowen wele my fadere sofast god, at I am e
     bygynnyng of our wordes, & after e made man in so grete
     worinese at e weddet me to him in at condition at what
     tyme he breke our hest'. he & alle at come of him shold lese
     hire blessed life & be dampnet & done to de. Wherefore
  30 sien he forsoke me & betoke him to our enemy & myn, e
     fadere of lesyng'. witnesse my sistere Ritwisnes, I perisch &
     lese my name bot he haue e de at he ha deseruet.
         an spake Ritwisnesse & seyde, Ritwise lorde my
     fadere, ou hast ordynet me gouernour of i dome lastyng with
  35 oute ende & my sistere treue techere of i lawe, & al oh it
     so be at oure sistere Mercye be stirede of pitee & a gude zele
     for mans sauacion'. neuerles in at she wold saue him at ha
     so gretly forfeted aeynus ow & vs also'. withouten dewe
     satisfaccion'. she wolde destruye vs boe hire sistren, at is to
  40 sey treue & ritwisnes, & fordo oure name.
         Herewi e fere sistere came for at is sey Pees,
     & first soburly blamyng her sisteres for hire contrarious
     wordes & hire strif seide to hem us, know e not wele sistres
     at oure fadere ha ordeynet & made his place onlich ere as



|p16


     I am, & I may not abide nor dwele er as is strif & dissencion,
     & at is not semely but fully aeynus kynde to be among
     vertues? Wherefore bot e cesen of strif & be acordet'. I most
     forsake ow & my fadere also.
   5      Lo here a grete controuersy by twix ees foure
     doghteres |r[7r] of oure lorde, & so grete resouns, at it was not
     seyn how at in mannus sauacion Mercy & sofastnes, Pees &
     ritwisnes myt fully be kept & acordet.
         an badde e fader of heuen, at for als mich as he
  10 hade committede & ifen alle his dome to his dere son
     souereyn wisdome, kyng euerlastyng with hym in one
     godhede'. at ees foure douhteres shuld go to him he to
     termyne is question & if a dome eron.
         And an e kyng souereyn wisdome wrote e
  15 sentence & e dome in is matire, & toke it to his Chancelere
     Resone to rede it in his name seying in ees wordes:
         is douhter sofastnes sei at she perish & lese hire
     name bot man haue e de at he ha deseruet, & with hire
     acorde hire sister ritwisnes. And on at oer side Mercie
  20 sei at she perish & lese hire name bot man haue mercye &
     be saued, & with hir acorde e fere sistere Pees.
         Wherefore to acorde alle ees to gedir, & for a finale
     dome in is matire, let be made a gude de of man, so at one
     be fonden withouten synne, at may & wole innocently & for
  25 charite suffre de for man'. & an haue ei alle at ei asken.
     For an may not de lengire hald hym at is with oute synne
     or trespasse, & so he shale pers him makyng in him a hole &
     a way orow e which man may passe & be sauede. In is
     sentence & dome alle e court of heuen wondryng &
  30 commendyng e souereyn wisdome'. assentiden wele hereto,
     bot forermore askeden among hem self where at one mit
     be fonden at shold fulfille & do is dede of charite. And an
     Mercy toke with hire reson & souht among alle e ordres of
     angeles in heuen, to se wheer any of hem were able to do is
  35 dede, bot er was none.
         Also sofastnes souht fro heuen to e cloudes
     beneen, wheer ere were any creature at mit performe it,
     & ei weren alle vnable.
         Ritwisnes went doone to ere & souht among e hie
  40 hilles & in to e depe pitt of helle, wheer ere were any man
     at mit take is gude & innocent de, bot er was none
     fonden clene of synne, no not e child of one dayis bire, &
     so she went |r[7v] aeyne vp to hire sisteres tellyng at alle men
     hade forfetede & weren vnable, & er was none at mit do



|p17


     at gude dede. Wherefore ei weren alle ful sory & heuy at
     ei mit not fynde at one at ei desirede.
     an seide Pees, witte e not wele at e profete seide
     er is none fonden at may do gude. After warde he putte to
   5 more & sei til hit come to one. is one man may be he at
     af e sentence forseide of mannus sauacion. Wherefore pray
     we him, at he wille help & fulfille it in dede. For to him
     speke e profete in e psalme forseide, seiyng, Lord ou
     shalt saue man & bestes after i mikel mercy.
  10      Bot an was a question among e sistres committed
     to Reson fort termyne which person of re fader & son &
     Holigost one god sholde become man & do is mercifull dede.
     an seide Reson at for als mych as e person of e
     fadere is proprely dredeful & mity, e person of e son all
  15 wise & witty, & e person of e holygost most benyng &
     godely'. e seconde persone seme most conuenient as to e
     ful acorde of e forseide sistres to e skilful remedye of man,
     & to e most resonable victorye of e enemye. For as anentys
     e first, if e person of e fadere shuld do is dede'. for his
  20 drede & mit, Mercy & Pees mit sumwhat haue him
     suspecte, as not fully fauorable to hem, & so on at oer side,
     for e souereyn benygnyte & gudenes of e holigost, trew &
     Ritwisnes mit drede of not ful satisfactione bot to mikel
     mercy. Wherfore as a gude meyn euen to boe parties, e
  25 person of e son is most conuenient to performe is dede
     orough his souereyn witte & wisdome.
        Also it seme most skilful remedye to man for als mich
     as he forfeted by vnwitte & folye, at satisfaction be made for
     him by sofast wisdome at is e son, so at as he felle to de
  30 by e fals worde of e feende, at he rise aeyne to life by e
     trew worde of gode. And as for most resonable victory of e
     enmy it is skilful at as he conquered man by wikked sleght
     & fals wisdome, so he be ouercomen & venkisched by gude
     sleght & trew wisdome.
  35      And when Reson hade seide is verdeit'. e fadere
     seide it was his wille at it shuld be so, e son af gladly his
     assent erto, & e holigost seide he wolde wirch erto also.
     And an fallyng done alle e spirites of heuen & souereynly
     |r[8r] ankyng e holi trinyte, e foure sistres forseide weren
  40 kyssed & made acorde, & so was fulfilled at e profete dauid
     seid, Mercy & sofastnes metten louely to gedere. Ritwisnes
     & Pees hauen kyssed. And us was termynet & endet e grete
     conseil in heuen for e restoryng of man & his sauacion.



|p18


         e which processe sal be taken as in liknes & onlich
     as a manere of parable & deuoute ymaginacion, stiryng man
     to loue god souereynly for his grete mercy to man & his
     endles gudnes. Also to honour & wirchipe e blessede angels
   5 of heuen for hire gude wille to man & for his sauacion hauyng
     continuele bysinesse, & also to loue vertues & hate synne, at
     broght man to so gret wrecchednes.
         And us mykel & in is maner may be seide &
     ought by deuoute contemplacion of at was done aboue in
  10 heuen byfore e Incarnacion of Jesu'. now go we done to ere,
     & enk we how it stode wi his blessed modere Marie, &
     what was hire liuyng here before e Incarnacion of Jesu at
     folowe aftere.


     Of e manere of lyuyng of e blessede virgine Marie.
     15 Capitulum secundum.


        |r<b> As it is writen in e life of oure lady seynt Marie whan
     she was re ere olde, she was offrede in e temple of hire
     fadere & modere, & ere she abode & dwellet in to e
     fourtene ere. And what she dide & how she lyued ere in at
  20 tyme, we mowen knowe by e reuelationes made of hire to a
     deuoute woman which men trowen was seynt Elizabeth. In e
     whech reuelationes is contynet amongis oere, at oure lady
     tolde to e same woman & seide in is manere:
         Whan my fader & my modere laften me in e temple,
  25 I purposed & set stably in my herte to haue god in to my
     fadere, & oft siis with grete deuotion I ought what I mit do
     pleysyng to god, so at he wold vouchsafe to sende me his
     grace. And herwi I was taght & I lerned e lawe of my lord
     god. In e which lawe of alle e hestes & biddynges
  30 principaly I kept re in my herte.
        e first is, ou shalt loue i lord god with alle i herte,
     with all i soule, with alle i mynde & with alle i mites.
        e seconde, ou shalt luf i neiborh as i self'. e
     ridde is, ou shalt hate in enmye.
  35      ees I kept trewly in herte, & anone I conceyued &
     toke alle e vertues |r[8v] at be contyned in hem. For ere may
     no soule haue any vertue bot it loue god with alle e herte, for
     of is loue come alle e plente of grace. And after it is
     comen, it abide not in e soule, bot renne oute as water, bot
  40 it so be at he hate hees enmyes, at is to say vices & synnes.



|p19


     Wherefore he at wole haue grace & kepe it'. hit behoue at
     he dispose & ordeyn his herte to loue & to hate, as it is seide.
     And so I wole at ou do in manere as I dide.
         I rose vp al gate at mydnyt & went for before e
   5 autere of e temple, & ere with als grete desire & wille &
     affection as I koude & mit'. I asked grace of almity god to
     kepe o re hestes, & alle oer biddynges of e lawe. And so
     standyng to fore e autere I made vij peticiones to god, e
     whech bene ees:
  10      First I asked grace of god, orh e which I mit fulfil
     e heste of loue, at is to sey, fort loue him with all my herte
     &c.
         e seconde'. I asked at I mit loue my neiborh after
     his wille & his likyng, & at he wolde make me to loue alle
  15 at he loue.
         e ridde, at he wolde make me to hate & to
     eschewe alle inge at he hate.
         e fere'. I asked meknes pacience, benignyte &
     swetnes, & alle oer vertues by e whech I mit be graciouse
  20 & plesyng to goddus sit.
         e fift peticion I made to god, at he wolde let me se
     e tyme in e whech at blessed maiden shold be born, at
     shuld conceyue & bere goddus son, & at he wolde kepe myn
     eyene at I mit se hire. Min eres'. at I mit here hire speke.
  25 My tonge'. at I mit praise hire. Myn handes'. at I mit serue
     hire wi. Myn fete at I mit go to hire seruice, & myn
     kneene'. with e whech I mit honour & wirchip goddus son
     in hire barme.
         In e sexte peticion'. I asked grace to be obeschante
  30 to e biddynges & e ordinances of e bischope of e temple.
     And in e vij'. I prayed god to kepe alle e peple to his
     seruyce.
         And whan e forseide cristes seruant hade herde ees
     wordes'. she seide aeyne, A swete lady, were not e ful of
  35 grace & of alle vertues? And e blessed mayden marie
     answerede, Wit ou wele for certayne, at I held myself als
     gilty, most abiecte, & vnwori e grace of god'. as ou. And
     more ouere, trowest ou doghter, at alle e grace at I hade,
     I hade withoute trauaile? Nay, not |r[9r] so. Bot I telle e & do e
  40 to witte at I hade no grace, ifte nor vertue of god, withoute
     grete trauaile, continuele praiere, ardant desire, profonde
     deuocion, & with many teres & mich affliccion spekyng,
     enkyng & doyng alwey as I kuoe & mit, at was plesyng



|p20


     to god, at is to sey, outake e holy grace, orh e which I
     was halowed in my modere wombe.
         And forermore oure lady seid wit ou wele in
     certayn, at ere come no grace in to mannus soule bot by
   5 prayere & bodily affliccion. And after at we haue iuen to
     god o inges at we mowen, ouh ei bene litel & fewe'. an
     come he in to e soule, bryngyng with him so grete & so hye
     iftes of grace, at it seme to e soule, at she faile in hire
     self, & lese mynde & enke at euer she seide or dide any
  10 inge plesyng to god, & an she seme in hire awne sit more
     foule & more wrecched an she was euer before. Alle is
     sentence is contyned in e forseide reuelaciones.
         Also seynt Jerome writyng of hire life sei in is
     maner, at e blessed maiden Marie ordynet to hire self is
  15 maner of reule in lyuyng, at fro e morn tyde in to e terce
     of e day'. she af hire alle to prayeres, & fro terce in to none'.
     she occupied hire bodily with weuyng werke. And eft fro none
     she went not fro prayeres, to e angele of god came &
     apperede to hire, of whose hande she toke mete to e bodily
  20 sustynance. And so she profited algate bettur & better in e
     werk & e loue of god. And so it befel at she was fonden in
     wakyng, e first. In e wisdome of goddus lawe'. most
     kunnyng. in mekenes'. most lowe. in e song & e salmes of
     dauid'. most conuenyent & semelich. in charite'. most
  25 graciouse. in clennes'. most clene & in alle manere vertue'.
     most perfite.
         Sche was sadde & inuariable, so fer for'. at as she
     profited alday bettur & bettur'. so was er none, at euer seih
     or herde hire wro. Alle hire spech was so ful of grace'. at
  30 god was knowen by hire tonge. Sche was continuelich
     dwellyng in prayere & in e lore of goddes lawe, & algate
     bisy aboute hire felaghes at none of hem shold trespasse or
     synne in any worde, & at none shold lawh dissolutly'. & also
     at none of hem shold offend oer'. orh pride or any wronge,
  35 & euer withouten failyng |r[9v] she blessed god, & lest perchance
     by any gretyng or preysyng she suld be letted fro e loouyng
     of god'. what tyme any man gret hire'. she answered aeyn,
     Deo gracias'. at is to sey, onked be god. Wherefore of hir
     sprange first, at what tyme holi men bene gret, ei seyen
  40 aeyn, Deo gracias, as she seid.
         Sche was fedde of e mete at she toke of e angeles
     hande, & at mete at she toke of e bischope of e temple,
     she af to pore men. Euery day goddus angele spake with hire
     & als he shuld to his derwor sister or modere'. so he serued



|p21


     & was obeschant to hire. us mich sei seynt Jerome of hire
     life.
         Forermore in hire xiiij ere at blessed maiden
     marie was weddet to Joseph by e reuelacion of god, & en
   5 went she home aeyn into Nazareth als it is writen by processe
     in e story of hir Natiuite. Bot us mich at is tyme suffice
     to haue in mynde & in contemplacioune of o inges at
     befellen before e Incarnacion, e whech whoso wole wele
     enk & haue deuoutly in mynde & folowe vertuesly in dede'.
  10 he shal fynd hem full of gostly fruyt.
         Now come we to speke of e Incarnacion of oure
     lord Jesu.


     Of e Incarnacion of Jesu, & e feste of e Annunciacion,
     & of e gretyng Aue Maria. Capitulum tercium.


  15     |r<b> WHen e plente of tyme of grace was come in e
     which e hie Trinite ordeynet to saue mankynd at was
     dampnet orh e synne of Adam, for e grete charite at he
     hade to mankynd, spiryng him his grete mercy, & also e
     prayere & e instance of alle e blessed spirites of heuen, after
  20 at e blessed maiden Marie weddet to Joseph was gone home
     to Nazareth'. e fadere of heuen called to him e archangel
     Gabriel & seid to him in is manere:
         Go to oure dere doghter Marie e spouse of Joseph
     e which is most chere to vs of alle creatures in ere, & sey
  25 to hire at my blessed son ha coueyted hire shape & hire
     bewtye & chosen hire to his modere & erfore pray hir at she
     receyue him gladly. For by hir I haue ordeynet e hele & e
     sauacion of al mankynd, & I wole forete & foriue e wrong
     at ha be done to me of him here before.
  30      Now take hede, & ymagine of gostly inge as it |r[10r]
     were bodily, & enk in i herte as ou were present in e sit
     of at blessed lord, with how benyng & glad semblant he
     speke ees wordes. And on at oer side, how Gabriel with
     a likyng face & glad chere vpon his knen knelyng & with
  35 drede reuerently bowyng receue is message of his lord. And
     so anone Gabriel risyng vp glad & iocunde, toke his flit fro
     e hye heuen to ere, & in a moment he was in mannus liknes
     before e virgine Marie, at was in hire pryue chaumbure at
     tyme closed & in hir prayeres, or in hire meditaciones
  40 perauentur redyng e prophecie of ysaie, touchyng e



|p22


     Incarnacion. And it also swiftly as he flewe, his lord was
     come before, & er he fonde al e holy Trinite comen or his
     messagere.
         For ou shalt vndurstand at is blessed Incarnacion
   5 was e hie werke of al e holy Trinite, ouh it so be at al
     only e person of e son was incarnate & bycame man. Bot
     now beware here at ou erre not in imaginacion of god & of
     e holi Trinite, supposyng at ees re persones e fadere e
     son & e holi gost bene as re erly men, at ou seest with
  10 i bodily eye, e whech ben re diuerse substances, ech
     departed fro oere, so at none of hem is oer. Nay it is not
     so in is gostly substance of e holi trinyte, for o re
     persones ben on substance & on god, & it is ere none of
     ees persones oer. Bot it mai ou not vndirstande by
  15 mannes reson ne conceyue with i bodily wit, & erfore take
     here a generale doctrine in is mater now for algate. What
     tyme ou herest or enkest of e trinyte or of e godhede or
     of gostly creatours as angeles & soules e whech ou maist
     not se in hire propre kynde with i bodily eye, nor fele with
  20 i bodily witte'. study not to fer in at matere occupy not i
     wit erwi als ou woldest vndurstande it, by kyndly reson,
     for it wil not be while we be in is buystes body lyuyng here
     in ere. And erfore when ou herest any sich inge in byleue
     at passe i kyndly reson, trowe sofastly at it is so as
  25 holy chirch teche & go no ferer.
         And so ou shalt byleue in is matere of e
     Incarnacion, at e seconde person in trinyte goddus son of
     heuen cam in to ere & toke flesh & blode of e blessed
     virgyne Marie, & becam verray man & it was he neuer
  30 departed fro e fader |r[10v] or e holi gost in his godhed, bot euer
     was dwellyng stille with hem one verray god in heuen.
         Bot now fort go to oure purpose of e Incarnacion
     before seide'. take hede & haue in mynde as ou were present
     in e pryue chaumbur of our lady where e holi trinyte is
  35 present with his angele Gabriel.
        A lord what house is at, where sech gestes bene &
     sech inges ben don. For ouh at e holy trinyte is euery
     where by presence of his godhede, neuerlese ou mai enk &
     vndurstand, at he is ere in a more speciale manere by reson
  40 of is hie werke, of e Incarnacion.
         Gabriel an entred in to Maries chaumbure at was
     stoken fro men bot not fro angeles as seynt Bernerde sei,
     knelyng with reuerence beganne his message in ees wordes



|p23


     & seid, Heile ful of grace, Oure lord is with e. blessed be
     ou in women or aboue al women.
         Marie an heryng is message, & is new gretyng,
     at she neuere herd before'. was astoned & abashed & not
   5 answered, bot ouht what is gretyng myt be. Sche was not
     abasched or disturblet by any viciouse or synful disturblyng
     nor agast of his presence, for she was wont to angeles
     presence & to e sit of hem'. bot as e gospel sei, She was
     astoned in his worde, at was a new gretyng. For he was neuer
  10 wont before to grete hire in at maner. And for als mich as in
     at gretyng she saye her self comend & praised specialy in re
     grete inges, in at she was perfitely meke'. she most nede be
     abasched in at hye gretyng. For she was comend at she was
     ful of grace, & at oure lord was with hire, & at she was
  15 blessed aboue al women. And for als mich as e perfite meke
     may not here his praisyng without abaschement &
     shamfastnes'. erfore she was abasched & astonede with a
     honest shamfastnes, & also with drede, for ouh she trowed
     wele at e angele seid so'. neuerles she dred his worde, for
  20 as mich as ei at been perfitly meke, han at proprete at ei
     reward not hire awne vertues, bot raer taken hede to hir awne
     defautes, whereorh ei mowen algate profite vertuesly
     haldyng in hemself a grete vertue litel & a litel defaute grete.
     And so as wise & warre as schamfast & dredful she held hire
  25 pees & |r[11r] answered not.
         Here an mait ou take ensaumple of Marie, first to
     loue solitary praiere & departyng fro men at ou mowe be
     wori angeles presence, & forermore, lore of wisdome to here
     or ou speke, & fort kepe silence & loue litil spech, for at is
  30 a ful gret & profitable vertue. For Marie herde first e angele
     twis speke or she wold answere ones aeyn. And erfore it is
     abhominable inge, & gret reproue to a maiden or virgyne to
     be a gret iaunglere & namly a religiouse.
         Forermore after e gospel, e angele biholdyng hire
  35 semblande & knowyng e cause of hire abaishment & drede'.
     answered to hire ouht & spake more homelich, callyng hire
     be name & seide, Drede ou not Marie, & be ou not
     abashed or ashamet of e praisyng at I haue gret e wi, for
     so is e treu, & not only ou art ful of grace in i self, bot
  40 also ou hast fonden special grace of god & rekeuerde grace
     to alle mankynde. Forwhi, Lo ou shalt conceyue & bere a
     childe, & ou shalt calle his name Jesus, at betokenne
     sauioure, for he sal saue fro synne & fro dampnacion alle his
     peple at treuly hopen in him.



|p24


         Here sei sent Bernerd, God graunt at my lord Jesus
     vouch saue to noumbre me among his peple, so at he saue
     me fro my synnes. For soly I drede at many shewen hem as
     ei were of his peple, e whech he knowe not ne ha not as
   5 his peple. And as I dred he may sey to many at semen in his
     peple more religiouse & more holi an oere'. is peple
     wirchipe me with lippes, bot soly hire herte is ful ferre fro
     me. Bot wolde ou know wheer ou be of his peple or wilt
     ou be of his peple'. do at he oure lord Jesus bidde in e
  10 gospel & e lawe & e prophetes, & also at he bidde by his
     ministres, & be buxum to hes vikeres, at bene in holy chirch
     i souereyns, not only gude & wele lyuyng'. bot also schrewes
     & yuel lyuyng, & so lerne of Jesu to be meke in herte &
     buxom & en shalt ou be of his blessed peple.
  15      Bot here now forermore what e angel, speke in
     praisyng of is child Jesus, He shal be grete, not in temporele
     lordshipe & worldly dignite, for at he shal forsake, bot he
     shal be grete god & man, grete prophete in miracles worching,
     grete doctour in sofast prechynge, & grete conquerour in
  20 mityly e deuel ouercomyng, & so worily He sal be cleped,
     e son ofe aler hiest |r[11v] lord god, e whech sal iue him e
     sete of Dauid his fadere, for he sal take mankynde & be born
     in flesh by desent of his ansetrye. And he sal regne in e
     house of Jocob euermore & of his kingdom sal be none ende.
  25 is hous of Jacob is gostly holychirch, in e which Jesus sal
     reigne in trew soules, first ouercomyng synnes & e deuel here
     in er by grace, & after in heuen in blisse withoute ende.
         Here mait ou sey with seynt Bernard, desiryng in
     e e kyngdom of Jesu'. us:
  30      Come my lord Jesu & put awey alle sklandres of
     synne fro i reume, at is my soule, so at ou may regne
     erin as e owe to do. For coueytise come & chaulenge his
     rewme in me'. Presumption couete to be my lord. Pride wolde
     be my qwene. Lechery sei I wole reigne. Detraction, Enuy,
  35 Wra & Glotony stryuen which of hem sal principaly reigne
     in me, & I in als mych as I may aeyn stand hem. Bot ou my
     lord Jesu destruye hem in i vertue, & take ou i rewme &
     i kyngdom in me, for I haue no trew kyng bot e my lord
     Jesu.
  40      And when e angel hade tolde es conditiones & e
     worines of is blessed child Jesus to at meke maiden Marie
     at was chosen to his modere'. an she spake first to e angele
     not dredyng of his wordes nor of hire conceyuyng nor
     knalechyng nor forsakyng e preysynges before seide of his



|p25


     gretyng'. bot willyng to be more pleynly certified of at she
     dredde most, at was at she shuld not lese hire maidenhede,
     asked of e angel e manere of hire conceyuyng in ees
     wordes'. How & of what maner sal is be done, sien I know
   5 no man fleshly, & I haue made a vowe to kepe me chast to my
     lord god, without faile, & I sal neuer dele with man fleshly.
     And en e angel answered & seid to hire, It sal be done be
     e worching of e holi gost, at sal liten in to e in a
     singulere manere, & orh his vertue at is alerhiest'. ou
  10 shalt conceyue sauyng i maidenhede & erfore at holi inge
     at sal be born of e, sal be named goddus son. And in
     confort forermore hereof, Lo, Elizabeth i cosyn at is olde
     & was baren ha conceyued a child nowe sex monees
     apassed, for er sal no inge be impossible to god.
  15      Now take here gude hede & haue in mynde, how first
     al e holy trinyte is ere abydyng a finale answere & assent |r[12r]
     of his blessed douhtere Marie takyng hede & beholdyng
     likyngly hire shamefast sembland hir sad maneres & hir wise
     wordes'. And forermore how alle e blessed spirites of
  20 heuen, & alle e ritwislyuyng men in ere & alle e chosen
     soules at weren at tyme in helle as Adam Abraham Dauid
     & alle oer desireden here asent in e which stode e sauacion
     of alle mankynde. And also how e angele Gabriel standyng
     wi reuerence before his lady enclynande & with mylde
  25 semblande abide e answere of his message. And on at
     oere side take hede how marie stant saddely with drede &
     meknes in grete auysment hauyng no pride nor veyn glorye for
     alle e hye praisyng before seide. Bot o souereyn iftes of
     grace at she ha herd iuen to hire at neuer were iuen to
  30 creatour byfore'. alle she aret only to e grace of god.
         Lerne ou en by ensaumple of hire to be shamefast
     vertuesly & meke, for without ees tweyn vertues'. maidenhede
     or virginyte is litel wor.
         For as seynt Bernerd sei, virginite is a faire vertue,
  35 bot mekenes is more necessary. For ou mait be saue without
     e first bot without at oer at is mekenes ou maist not. In
     so mich at I dar herdly sey, at without meknes e virginyte
     of Marie had not be plesyng to god. For bot Marie had be
     meke'. e holi gost hade not rested vp on hire, sei seynt
  40 Bernerd.
         At e last os e ende of e gospel sei, e myld
     maiden Marie when she hade herd & wisely vndirstand e
     angeles wordes by gude auysement'. af hire asent in is
     manere, as it is writen in hire reuelaciones, she kneled done



|p26


     with souereyn deuocion & haldyng vp boe hire handes &
     liftyng vp hire eyen to heuen seid ees wordes, Lo here e
     hande maiden & e seruant of my lord be it done to me &
     fulfilled after i worde. And so in ees meke & lowe wordes
   5 of Marie at e ende ou hast ensaumple of grete mekenes, as
     ou haddest in hire silence at e bygynnyng.
         Lo she is chosen goddus modere & of e angele
     cleped ful of grace'. she neme hireself his hande maiden. And
     no wondere, for as seynt Bernerd sei, mekenes is euere wont
  10 to be felawe with e grace of god. Bot is mekenes was not
     litel, for as he sei, it is not much to praise mekenes in
     abiectioun, bot it is a grete vertue & seldom seen |r[12v] mekenesse
     in wirchipe.
         Also sone en as she hade iue here answere, goddus
  15 son entred in to hire wombe, & orh wirching of e holi gost
     was made man in verrey flesh & blode taken of hire body &
     not as oer children conceyued & boren by kynde ben shapen
     membre aftere membre & after e soule shedde in to e body'.
     bot anone at e first instance, he was ful shapen in alle
  20 membres & alle hole man in body & soule, bot neuerles ful
     litel in quantite. For aftere he waxed more & more kyndly as
     oer children done. So at at e first he was ful perfite god &
     man als wise & als mity as he is now.
         And when is was done Gabriel knelyng done wi
  25 oure lady & sone after wi here risyng vp'. toke curteysly his
     leue of hire with a deuout & lowe bowyng to e ere, & so
     vanyshed awey fro hire wi a swift flit & toke his wey to
     heuen aeyn tellyng & certifiyng e holy court of heuen his
     message fulfilled, & at at was done in ere, & en was ere
  30 a new ioy & a new fest & ful miche mir & solempnyte.
         Afterward oure lady fulfilled & enflaumede with e
     holi gost, & in e loue of god more brennyng en she was
     before'. felyng at she hade conceyued'. kneled don & onked
     god of at grete ifte, mekelich besekyng him & deuoutlich
  35 praiyng at he wold send hire grace & tech hire so'. at alle
     at were after to come & to be done about his blessed son at
     she mit fulfille hem & do hem without defaute.
         And us mich touchyng e gospel & e processe of
     e Incarnacion of Jesu criste.
  40 Of e feste of e Annunciacion and of oo inges at
     befelle at day.



|p27


        |r<b> Nowe take gode hede & vndurstande how wori is
     fest & is solempnite is, & haue erfore a gostly mir & make
     a speciale fest in i soule, onkyng god inwardly, for sech was
     neuer herde before. For is is e solempnite of alle e holi
   5 trinite fadere & son & holi gost by whom is souereyn dede
     of e Incarnacion was wrot & fulfilled as it is seide before.
     is also is a speciale fest of oure lady seynt Marie e which as
     is day was chosen of e fadere of heuen in to his dere
     douhter & of e son in to his mylde modere, & of e holi gost
  10 in to his speciale spouse. is day is also a special solempnite
     of alle e blessed spirites of heuen for is day was begunne e
     restoryng of hire company & felaschipe |r[13r] at felle done by
     synne of Lucifere. Bot souereynlich is day is a hye fest & a
     special solempnite of al mankynde. For is day was mankynd
  15 souereynly wirchiped in at he was oned & knyt to e
     godhede in crist without departyng. And is day began e hele
     & e redemption of mankynd & e reconcilyng to e fadre of
     heuen, for in to is tyme god was wro to mankynd for e
     synne & e trespase of oure forme fadres, bot fro is tyme
  20 for, he may no lengire be wro seyng his dere son bycome
     man. And erfore is is day skilfully called e plente of tyme
     to man.
         And so is day owe euer to be hade in mynde of
     man & woman, for is day was man made to e liknes & e
  25 ymage of god & set in at ioyful place of Paradise & fort haue
     lyued euer without de. And is day e first man Adam by e
     frute of e tre forboden, deformede in him at ymage of god,
     & lost at ioyful place, & was dampnet to de without endyng.
         Bot is day e seconde Adam crist god & man
  30 reformed is ymage in his Incarnation, & after by vertue of e
     blessed fruyt of his body, hangyng on e tre of e crosse'.
     restorede man to blisse & life euerlastyng.
         Also is day e first woman Eue orh pride
     assentynge to e serpent e deuel of helle was cause of
  35 mannus dampnacion'. & is day e blessed maiden Marie orh
     mekenes trowyng to e angele Gabriel was cause of mannus
     sauacion.
         And so is day ha man matere of gret ioy & of
     grete sorow. First of gret ioy'. for e souereyn gudenes,
  40 wirchipe & grace of god done to him. And also of grete
     sorow, for his grete synne & vnkyndnes done to god
     aeynward.



|p28


         And us mait ou haue i contemplacion of is day
     & of is blessed fest of cristes Incarnacion & oure ladies
     Annunciacion.
         And for als miche as at blessed gretyng of e angele
   5 Gabriel where wi we honouren & greten oure lady euery day
     is grondet in is gospel as ou hast herde here before'. erfore
     I sal telle e sumwhat more hereof as me enke to stire i
     deuocion e more in seying of at gretyng, Aue maria &c.


        As I conceyue is gretyng in maner as holi chirch ha
  10 ordeynet it to be seide, ha fyue parties in e which mowen be
     vndurstand specialy e fyue ioyes of oure lady, & in o fyue
     ioyes'. fyue vertues at she hade in hem souereynly aboue alle
     erly creatours, e whech ben, Meknes |r[13v] Chastite, Fei, Hope
     & Charite.
  15      In e first part of is gretyng at stant in ees tweyn
     wordes, Heyl Marie'. ow mait vndirstond e first ioy at she
     hade in hire Annunciacion of Jesu gracious conceyuyng, of e
     which'. mekenes was e grounde as ou hast herde before. And
     as ees wordes Heil Marie, bene e first & e bygynnyng of
  20 is gretyng'. so is fest was e bygynnyng & e gronde of al
     oere. And as it was e bygynnyng of Maries ioy & al
     mankynd'. so is meknes e bygynnyng & gronde of al vertues.
     And erfore in ees first wordes Heyl Marie, skilfully ou
     maist vndurstande e first ioy at she hade in hire
  25 Annunciation, of e conceyuyng of hire blessed son Jesu, &
     at specialy orh e vertue of Mekenes.
         In e seconde party at stant in ees wordes, Ful of
     grace, may be vndurstonde e seconde ioy at Marie hade in
     Jesu Natiuyte & hire ioyfulle berynge. In e which she hade
  30 souereynly e vertue of Chastite & of clennesse. & erfore en
     was she specialy ful of grace, in at at sche clene maiden &
     modire bare without sorowe at neuer dide woman bot sche
     alonly.
         In e ridde parte at is in es wordes, Oure lord is
  35 with e may be vndirstonde e ridde ioy at sche hade in hire
     son Jesu gloriouse vprisyng speciali be e vertue of stedfast
     fei & trewe by leue. For fro his de into at time he dwelled
     al only with hire by stedfast byleue at sche had at alle his
     aposteles & disciples weren departed fro him by mysbyleue &
  40 despeire at he was god. And erfore e fei of holy chyrch
     o re daies stod al only in hire so in at tyme it myt
     specialy be seide to hire Oure lord is with e at is to sey by
     trew fei & byleue. And after at his vprising more speciali bi



|p29


     his bodily presence first to hire aperyng was fulfilled Oure lord
     is with e.
         In e fere parte at is in es wordes, Iblessed be
     ou in women or elles aboue al women may be vndirstonde e
   5 fer ioy at she hade, in e siht of hire sone Jesu miteli to
     heuen vp steing. In e which sit e hope at sche hadde in
     his godhede was fullich strengede & confermede seying at
     oer women neuer dide at was at part at he toke of hire in
     fleisch & blode bodily oru e mit of e godhed boren vp
  10 to heuen & so hoping withoute |r[14r] drede at she sholde folow
     aftere. Wele an miht it be seid at tyme & now may to hire,
     Blessed be ou souereynly in women, seing i son Jesu mihtily
     to heuen vpsteynge.
         In e fift part, at is Blessed be e fruyt of i wombe
  15 Jesus, may be vndurstond e last ioy at she hade in hire
     blessed sone Jesu when he toke hire vp with him to blis. &
     ere wirchipfully coronede hire qwene of heuen euerelastynge,
     an was hire desire & loue fulfillede, when she was endlesly
     orh plente of Charite knyt to hire blessed son Jesu & he to
  20 hire, & so fedde with at blessed fruyt at she couated
     nomore, for she was ereorh filled of al gudenes, blisse & ioy
     without ende.
         And us shortly in e fyue parties of is gretyng Aue
     maria mowen be vndurstonde e fyue ioyes of blessed Marie
  25 with fyue vertues at sche hade souereynly in hem, as I haue
     now seide, e which gretyng after e comune vndurstandyng
     may be us seide in englishe tonge, Heyl Marie, Ful of grace,
     Oure lord is with e, Blessed be ou souereynly in women, &
     e fruyt of i wombe Jesus euere blessede be.
  30    And if e lust in is gretyng specifie e fyue ioyes
     with e fyue vertues before seide'. ow maiht sey us in short
     wordes:
        Heil Marie'. maiden mekest.
        Gret of angel gabriel in Jesu graciouse conceyuyng.
  35     Ful of grace'. as modere chast
        without sorow or peyne i son, Jesu blessed beryng.
        Oure lord is & was with e
        by trew fei at Jesu ioyful vprysyng.
        Blessed be ou souereynly in women,
  40     by sadde hope seying i sone Jesu to heuen mihtily
            vpsteyng.
        And blessed be e fruyt ofi wombe Jesus,
        in euerlastyng blisse orh perfite charite e quene of
            heuen gloriously cronyng.



|p30


        Be ou oure help in al oure nede, & socour at our last
            endynge. Amen.
         Sien en e processe of e blessed Incarnacion of
     Jesu, & e bygynnyng & mynde of e ioyes of his blessed
   5 modere Marie, & e gronde of sauacion of mankynd is
     contened in is gospell, Missus est, as it is seide, & ou hast
     herd before'. wi gret deuocion & gostly desire owest ou &
     euery cristien creature here is gospel & wirchipe erin Jesu
     at so bycame man for oure sake, & his blessed modere Marie
  10 to whose wirchipe & profite of i soule & myn'. is short
     tretyse be wryten. Amen.


     |r[14v] How oure lady went to Elizabeth & mekely grett hire.
     Capitulum iiij=m=


        |r<b> After e processe of e Incarnacion of Jesu before
  15 seide'. e blessed maiden Marie hauyng in mynde e wordes
     of e angele touching hire cosyn Elizabeth'. she purposed to
     viset hire fort onke god with hire & also to ministre & to
     serue hire. And so with hire spouse Joseph, she went fro
     Nazareth to hire house beside Jerusalem, at is e space of
  20 sixty Mile & fourtene or ere aboute. Sche taried not & lettid
     not for e louge & disesy wey'. bot anone she went with hast,
     for she wold not longe be seene in opun among folk. And so
     she was not heuyed or chargied by e conceyuyng of hire sone
     as comunely be oer women, for oure lorde Jesus was not
  25 chargant to his modere.
        Now take hede how at blessed lady qwene of heuen
     & of ere go alone with hire spouse & at not vp on hors bot
     on fote. She lede not with hire many knytes & barones nor
     e grete companye of boure maidenes & damyseles, bot soely
  30 ere go with hire a wele better companye, & at is Pouert,
     Mekenes, & honest Shamefastnes, ei & e plente of alle
     vertues, & e best of alle at is oure lorde god is with hire.
     She ha a grete & wirchipful company, bot not of e vanyte
     & e pompe of e world. And what tyme she came &
  35 entred in to e house of Zakarye'. she gret his wife Elizabeth
     in is manere, Alheyle my dere sistere Elizabeth. And anone
     herewi Elizabeth glad & ioyful & litnet orh e holy gost'.
     rose vp & clepped hire dereworly & tendurly criyng for ioy
     & seying us'. Blessed be ou amonge women & blessed be e
  40 fruyt of i wombe. And wherfore or of what desert is is



|p31


     befallen me, at e modere of my lord shold come to me? &c.
     and so for in e wordes of e gospelle.
        And so what tyme at oure blessed lady gret Elizabeth'.
     Jone in his modere wombe was fulfilled with e holi gost, &
   5 also his modere, & not first e modere an e sone'. bot e
     sone fulfilled e modere orh his desert, in als mich as in him
     was more fully e grace of e holigost, & first he feld &
     receyued grace, for as he felt e comyng & e presence of
     oure lady'. so he felt e comyng of oure lord. And erfore he
  10 withinne for ioied & she spake & prophecied without for.
         Beholde now & take hede what & howe mich vertue
     is in e wordes of oure lady in at at one prononcyng of hem
     is iuen e holi gost. For she was so fully repleneshede with
     him, |r[15r] at orh hire merites & deserte, e same holigost also
  15 filled oere.
        en to e wordes of Elizabeth Marie answered & seide'.
     My soule magnifie oure lord, & my spirite is glade &
     reioycede in god my sauyour &c. and so for seying &
     fulfillyng at Canticle of gostly ioying & louyng, at is
  20 Magnificat as it is contyned in e gospell.
        And when she had done'. ei wenten to sitte to gedire.
     And oure lady of hire souereyn mekenes, sette hire doune in
     e lowere place at Elizabeth feet. Bot she anone risyng vp'.
     suffred not bot toke hire vp & so ei setten downe to gedire.
  25 And an asked oure lady of Elizabeth e manere of hire
     conceyuyng, & she aeyn of e maner of hire conceyuyng, &
     so ei tolden eiere to oere gladly e grete gudenesse of oure
     lord, & lowedon & wirchipedon god of eier conception, & so
     in onkyng god & gostly myr ei contynueden dayes &
  30 nytes. For oure laidy duelled ere e space of re monees
     seruyng Elizabeth in al at she myt, mekely, reuerently &
     deuoutly as a seruant, foretyng at she was goddis modere &
     qwene of alle e world.
        A lord god what house was at, what Chaumbur &
  35 what bedde in e whech duelleden to gedire & resteden so
     wori Moderes with so noble sones, at is to sey Marie &
     Elizabeth, Jesus & Jon. And also with hem duellyng o
     wirchipful olde men, Zakarie & Joseph. is was a blessed
     companye of men & women & of children.
  40     In is forseid processe of e visitacione of oure lady
     we hauen ensaumple at it is leueful & oft spedful, deuout
     men & women to viset oer for edificacion & gostly
     recreacion, & namelich e ongere to e eldire, so at it be
     done in dewe tyme, & with oere leueful menes. And also at



|p32


     e iftes of grace mowen be notifiede to oere for edificacion,
     in tyme so at it be not done for vayn ioy, bot goddus
     wirchipe.
        Also if we take gude entent to e wordes of Marie &
   5 Elizabeth, alle ei weren in lowyng of hem self, & to
     wirchipyng of god & magnifiyng him in alle hese werkes, &
     tellyng his grete mercy shewed to mankynd to stire man to e
     loue & e wirchipe of god.
         Forermore when e tyme of Elizabeth was come she
  10 was litnet & bare hir child, e which in token of his grete
     holynes, oure lady lift vp first fro e gronde, & after bisily
     dit & treted as it longet to him. |r[15v] And e child as
     vndurstondyng what she was, sette hees eyene saddely vpon
     hire, & when she wolde take him to his modere'. he turned his
  15 hed & his face to hire, als hauyng in hir al only his likyng, &
     she gladly pleide with him, & louely clipped & kissed him.
     And here mowe we se e grete worines of is child, for ere
     was neuer none oer before at had so wori a berere.
     After in e viij day as e lawe wold e child was
  20 circumcised & nomed Jon by myracle of god as e gospel
     telle, & e moue & tonge of e fadere Zacarie before closed
     for vntrowyng was an oponned & so he prophecyed, seyng,
     Blessed be oure god of Israel, for he ha visited orh grace &
     made redemption of his peple &c. and so for as it is contyned
  25 in e gospel. And so in at house ees tweyn noble & wori
     Canticles, at is to sey Magnificat & Benedictus weren first
     spoken & made, & oure lady standyng at tyme withinne sume
     curtyne for she wold not be seen of hem at weren come to e
     circumcision of at child Jon, listnet bisily & herd ententily
  30 at Canticle Benedictus. In e which was made mynde of here
     blessede sone Jesus, & alle she kept in hire herte as she at
     was most wise & ful of grace.
        And at e last when al is was done'. she toke hire leue
     at Elizabeth & zacarie, & blessed e child Jon, & so went
  35 home aeyn to hire awne house in Nazareth.
        Now here beenk e & haue in mynde e grete pouert
     of hire in is goyng aeyne to hire owne house. For ere she
     sal neere fynde brede nor wyne nor oer necessaries, &
     erwi she hade neere possessiones nor money. And when
  40 she hade al o re monees dwellet with hem at weren
     plentyuous & hauyng'. now she turne aeyn to hire owne
     pouerte & bare house, where she behoue to gete hire lyuelode
     with hir awne handes & bodily trauaile. And here of, mich
     owht we to haue compassion, & be stired to e loue of



|p33


     vertuouse pouerte by e ensaumple of hire. Blessed mot sche
     euere be. Amen.


     How Joseph ouht to leue priuely oure lady seynt Marie.
     Capitulum V=m=


   5     |r<b> What tyme at oure lady & Joseph hire spouse
     duelleden to gedire, & hire blessed son Jesus day by day
     encresed bodily in his modere wombe'. at e last Joseph seyng
     hire grete with child & beholdyng hire not |r[16r] ones bot oft
     sies'. was wondur sory & gretly disturblet, made hir heuy
  10 chere & turned awey hees eyene oft sies fro hir. And as in a
     perplexite ouht what he mit best do. For on at one side, he
     sawh hir life so holi, & none token of synne in hire neyer in
     contenance nor in worde nor in dede'. at he durst no[t] opunly
     accuse hire of auoutrie. And on at oer side he knew not how
  15 at she mit conceyue bot by man'. wherfore he ouht at he
     wolde pryuely leue hir.
        Soely it may wele be seide of him at is writen in e
     gospel to his preisyng, at is to sey, at he was a ritwise
     man, at shewed wele is dede of grete vertue.
  20     For sien comunely auoutre of e woman is to e man
     occasion of most shame, most sorow, & os a maner of
     wodenesse'. neuerles he vertuesly tempered him self, & wold
     not acuse hire nor venge him self, bot paciently suffryng at
     semyng wrong, & ouercomyng himself with pite'. ouht at he
  25 wold priuely leue hire.
        is is an opun ensaumple of reproue to gelouse men,
     at bene so suspiciouse, at at e leste contenance of louely
     spech of hir wifes wi oer men, haue hem suspecte of
     avoutre.
  30     Also if we take here gude entent, we mowen se boe
     in Joseph & also in Marie a fructuouse doctrine, how at we
     sholen paciently suffre tribulacion, & how at god suffre hees
     chosen soules to be disesed & tempted for hir beste, & to hir
     mede.
  35     For wite we wele oure lady was not here without
     tribulacion & gret disese what tyme at she sawh here
     hosbande so disturblet, & neuerles she suffrede & held hire
     pees mekely, & kept pryue at grete ifte of god, & chase
     raere to be holde as wikked, viciouse & vnwori'. an she



|p34


     wold make opun at gret sacrament of god, & to speke & telle
     inge at mit seme to hir praisyng, boste or iactance.
        Bot herwi she praied god at he wold send remedy in
     is case, & at he wold as it were his wille put awey fro hir
   5 & fro hir hosbande is tribulacion & is disese.
        And so our lord at suffre & ordine al inge for e
     best, to confort of boe, send his angel e which apered to
     Joseph in his slep & seide, at he shold not dred to take him
     Marie his spouse, bot tristily & gladly duelle with hir, for at
  10 at she hade conceyued, |r[16v] was not by man, bot by e
     werching of e holy gost, & so after tribulacion came gret ioy
     & confort.
         In e same manere it shold falle with vs, if we
     kuowe wele kepe pacience in tyme of aduersite, for oure lord
  15 god after tempest, sent soft & myry weure, & it is no doute
     at he suffre no temptacion falle to hese chosen'. bot for hir
     profite.
         an after is reuelacion, Joseph asked oure lady of
     is wondurful conceyuyng, & she gladly told him e ordere &
  20 e maner erof. And so Joseph duelled & stode ioyfuly with
     his blessed spouse Marie, & with chaste & trew loue so
     feruently loued hire, at it may not be tolde, & bisily in alle
     inges toke hede to hir, & oure lady aeynward tristily duelled
     with him, & so in here boe pouerte ei lyueden to gedir with
  25 gret gostly mire.
         Herewi also oure lord Jesus as recluse & stoken in
     his modere wombe e space of ix monees in manere of oere
     children'. paciently & benyngly suffre & abide, e dew tyme
     of his bire.
  30      Lord god how mich owe we to haue compassion, at
     he wold for oure sake enclyne to so profonde mekenes. Mich
     owe we to desire & loue e vertue of mekenes, & if we
     wolde haue bisily in mynde how at hie lord of so gret
     maieste so miche lowed himself'. shold we neuer be lift vp to
  35 veyn pride & reputacion of oure self. For of is one benefice
     of so longe reclusion for our sake we mowe neuer do
     satisfaction worily or recompensacion to him. Bot neuerles
     knowe we is trewly in herte, & with alle oure affeccion
     deuoutly onke we him specialy we at bene religiouse, at he
  40 wold take vs fro oer, & graciously depart vs fro e world. So
     at in is ouh hit litel be, sumwhat we eld him, at is to
     sey, at we stande perseuerantly recluse in his seruyce. For
     soely is alonly is his benefice of grace & not oure desert, &
     at a gret benefice & wirchipful in at at we bene not recluse



|p35


     to peyne'. bot to gret sikernesse. For we be sette as in a hie &
     strong towre of religion, vnto e which'. e venemous arwes of
     is wikked world, & e disturblyng tempestes of at bitter see
     mowe not attyne or neihe'. bot in oure awne defaute & foly.
   5      Bot for als mich as bodily enclosyng is litel wore or
     not, without gostly enclosyng in soule'. erfore ou at art
     enclosed bodily in Celle or in Cloystre, if ou wilt be with
     Jesu vertuesly enclosed in soule'. First ou moste |r[17r] with him
     anentish i self in in owne reputacion, & bycome a child
  10 orh perfite mekenes. Also ou most kepe & loue silence not
     spekyng bot in tyme of nede or edificacion. And forermore
     or ou be born, at is to sey, or ou shew i self outward by
     word or by opinion of perfeccion'. ou most abide e tyme of
     ix monees, at is while ou art not perfitely grondet in
  15 vertues, & in knowyng of goddus lawe, for e nombre of x
     commandmentes tokene perfeccion of e lawe, & erfore at
     at is lasse'. tokene imperfeccion.
        Wherfore as e child at is born before his kyndly
     tyme is vnable to rife'. so whoso wole shew him outwarde by
  20 worde or by dede holi & perfite or e tyme at he be perfitely
     growen & shapen in vertues, withinnefor'. he is vnable to
     stant as a man in tyme of temptacion by gostly strengh & to
     profite of oer & of himself. Wherefore closyng &
     withdrawyng to oure powere al oure mynde fro vanyte &
  25 lustes of e worlde'. bisy we vs to conforme vs in clannes of
     hert to oure lord Jesu, at for oure sake wold be so closed in
     e wombe of his blessed modere Marie.
         Also to stire vs to compassion & to suffre with Jesu
     penance & disese in is world'. we shole considere & haue in
  30 mynde at he was in continuele affliccion fro e first tyme of
     his concepcion in to e last tyme of his de, specialy &
     principaly for at he knewe his fadere of heuen, whom he
     louede souereynly'. so inworchipede of sinful men & forsaken,
     for mawmentry & misbeleue, & of at gret compassion at he
  35 had to e soules made to his ymage so wrecchedly & for e
     most parte dampnet'. is was to him more peyne, an his
     bodily passion & de. Forwhi'. to put awey misbyleue &
     destruye is dampnacion, he suffret at de & at passion.
         And so shold euery trew louere of Jesu haue
  40 compassion & be inwardly sory not onely for e misbyleue of
     Jues & saracenes & here dampnacion'. bot also & mich more
     for e wikked lyuyng of vntrew cristen men. In so mich at it
     suld be to him more passion & gostly disese, when he knewe
     or sawh a soule perishe, orh dedly synne'. an e losse of any



|p36


     worldly catel or en his owne bodily de, for at wole perfite
     charite.
         And so in is forseid processe we haue profitable
     doctrine & gude ensaumple first in oure blessed lord Jesu'. of
   5 penance suffrynge of perfite Charite |r[17v] & trew compassion.
     Also in his modere Marie'. of profonde mekenes & pacience in
     tribulacion, & in hire hosbande Joseph'. of vertuese ritwisnes
     aeynus fals suspicion.
        And if we wolt witte whi & wherto oure lady was
  10 weddet, to Joseph, sien he hade not to do with hir bodily, bot
     she was euer clene maiden'. hereto answeryng bene re skylles.
     First'. for she shold haue confort & solace of man, to hir
     bodily seruyce & witnes of hir clene chastite. e seconde is'.
     at e meruelouse bire of goddus son shold be heled &
  15 priuey fro e deuel. And e ridde'. at she shold not be
     defamed of avoutre, & so as wori e de after e lawe'. be
     stoned of e Jues.
        And us endi e first party of is boke, at stant in
     contemplacion for e Moneday, & for e tyme of Aduent in to
  20 e Natiuite of oure lord Jesu. Whose name with his modere
     Marie'. be euere blessede wiout ende. Amen.


     Of e natiuite of oure lorde Jesu. Capitulum vj=m=


     |r<b> What tyme at ix monees fro e conception of blessed
     Jesu drowen to ende'. Cesar Auguste e emperoure of Rome
  25 send oute a mandment or an heste, at alle e world suget to
     him shold be descryuet, so at he mit knowe e noumbre of
     Regiones, of Cites & of e hedes longyng to hem, at weren
     subdite to e Empire of Rome. And herfore he ordeynet &
     badde at al men where so euere ei duelleden, shold go to e
  30 Citee of hire first bire & propre lynage. Wherefore Joseph at
     was of e lynage of Dauid, whose Citee was Bethleem'. toke
     with him his blessede spouse Marie at was at tyme gret with
     child, & wente fro Nazareth vnto at Citee Bethleem, ere to
     be noumbret among oere als suget to e Emperoure. And so
  35 ledyng with him an Ox & an Asse, ei wenten al at longe
     wey to gedire, als pore folk hauyng no more worldly gude bot
     e tweyn bestes. And what tyme ei comen to Bethleem'. for
     e gret multitude at was erinne at same tyme for e self
     cause'. ei mit gete none herbere in none hous, bot in a
  40 comune place by twix tweyn houses, at was hiled aboue, men



|p37


     fort stand ere for e reyne, & was cleped a Diuersorie'. ei
     were nedet to rest inne, & abide al at tyme. In e which place
     Joseph at was a carpentary made hem a closere & a crach for
     |r[18r] hire bestes.
   5     Now take here gude hede & haue inwardly compassion
     of at blessed lady & maiden Marie, how she so onge & of
     so tendire age, at is to sey of xv ere & gret with child as
     nehe e bire trauaile at longe wey of lxti Mile and x or
     more, in so gret pouerte, & it when she came to e Cite
  10 forseide ere she shold rest & asked herburgh in diuerse place
     shamefastly among vnke folk'. alle ei werned hem & let hem
     go. And so for nede at e last ei toke as for herborgh, at
     comune place aforseide.
        Bot now forermore fort speke of e blessed bire of
  15 Jesu & of at clene & holi delyuerance of his dere modere
     Marie, as it is writen in party by reuelacion of oure lady made
     hereof to a deuout man, when tyme of at blessed bire was
     come, at is to sey e soneday at midnit, goddus son of
     heuen as he was conceyued in his modere wombe by e holi
  20 gost, without sede of man, so goyng oute of at wombe
     without trauaile or sorowe'. sodeynly was vpon hey at his
     modere feet, & anone she deuoutly enclinande with souereyn
     ioy toke him in hire armes, & swetly clippyng & kissyng, leide
     him in hir barme, & with a fulle pap, as she was taght of e
  25 holi gost, weshe him alle aboute with hir swete milke, & so
     wrapped him in e kerchif of her hede, & leide him in e
     crach, & anone e Ox & e Asse knelyng done leiden hir
     moues on e craches, breing at hir neses vpon e child, at
     ei knewen by reson at in at colde tyme e child so simply
  30 hiled hade nede to be hatte in at manere. And an his modere
     knelyng done wirchiped & loued god, inwardly onkyng &
     seying in is manere, Lord god holi fadere of heuen, I onke
     e with al my mit, at hast iue me i dere sone, & I honour
     e almity god goddus son & myn. Joseph also honouryng &
  35 wirchipyng e child god & man, toke e sadel of e Asse, &
     made erof a qwischyn oure lady to sitte on & a suppoyle to
     leyn to. And so sat e lady of al e worlde in at simple araye
     byside e crach, hauyng hir mild mode & hir louely eyene,
     with her inward affeccion, vpon hir swete derworth child.
  40     Bot in is pore & symple worldly aray what gostly
     riches & inward confort & ioy she hade'. may no tonge telle.
     |r[18v] Wherfore if we wole fele e trew ioy & confort of Jesu'. we
     most wi him & wi his modere loue'. pouerte, mekenes &



|p38


     bodily penance os he gaf vs ensaumple of alle ese here in is
     bire & first comyng in to is world.
        For of e first at is pouerte seynt Bernard in a sermon
     of e Natiuite of oure lord tellyng how he was born to confort
   5 of mankynd, sei in is manere:
         Goddusson conforte his peple. Wolt ou knawe his
     peple? at is of whom speke Dauid in e sautre & sei, Lord
     to e is belaft e pore peple, and he him self sei in e gospel,
     Wo to ow rich men ot hauen our confort here. How suld
  10 he confort hem, at hauen here hir awne confort. Wherfore
     cristes innocens & childhode'. conforte not iangeleres & gret
     spekers, cristes wepyng & teres'. conforte not dissolute
     lagheres. His simple cloing'. conforte not hem at gone in
     proude cloing, & his stable & crache'. conforte not hem at
  15 louen first setes & worldly wirchipe. And also e angeles in
     cristes Natiuite apperyng to e wakyng shepherdes'. conforten
     none oere bot e pore trauaileres, & to hem tellen ei e ioy
     of newe lit & not to e rich men, at haue hir ioy & confort
     here.
  20      Also as to e seconde, we mowen se at is bire
     boe in crist & in his modere perfite mekenes. For ei were
     not sqweymes of e stable, nor of e beestes nor of hey, &
     seche oer abiecte symplenes. Bot is vertue of mekenes boe
     oure lord & oure lady kepten perfitely in alle hir dedes &
  25 commende it souereynly to vs. Wherfore be we aboute with
     alle oure mit to gete is vertue, knawyng at without it is non
     sauacion. For er is no werke or dede of vs at may pleys god
     with pride.
         Also as to e ridde we may se in hem boe, &
  30 namelich in e child Jesu not a litel bodily penance. Of e
     whiche seynt bernarde sei us:
         Goddus son when he wold be born at hade in his
     owne fre wille to chese what tyme he wold take erto'. he
     chese e tyme at was most noyus & hard, as e cold
  35 wyntour, namelich to a onge childe & a pore womans son,
     at skarsly hade cloes to wrappe him inne, & a cracche as for
     a credile to lay him inne, & it ouh er was so mich nede'. I
     fynde no mynde of fureres or pilches. And sien crist at is
     not bygilet chase at is most harde to e flesh'. soely at is
  40 best, most profi*table |r[19r] & raere to be chosen, & whoso
     teche or bidde oere'. he is as a fals deceyuere, to be fledde
     & forsaken.
         Al is sei sent Bernord and us miche of ese
     vertues at is tyme.



|p39


         Go we now forermore to speke of e forseid blessed
     Natiuite of crist. What tyme at oure lord was so born, e gret
     cumpany of angeles at ere weren honourying & wirchipyng
     hir lord god'. wenten anone to e shepherdes, at weren ere
   5 byside aboute a myle fro bethleem, tellyng hem at bire of
     hir sauioure, & also e place erof by one of hem aperyng wi
     gret lit, perauenture Gabriel at was special messagere of is
     werke. And erwi al at multitude of angeles token vp at
     newe ioyful songe, seying as e gospel telle in ees wordes,
  10 Joy withoute ende be aboue in alerhiest heuen to god, & in
     ere pees to al men at bene of gude wille. And so with at
     ioyful songe & miche mire ei wenten vp in to heuen, tellyng
     hir oere felaghes ese newe ioyful tiinges of hir lordes
     blessed bire. Wherof al e court of heuen ioyful & glade
  15 more an tonge may telle or hert enk'. makyng a solempne
     fest & deuoutly onkyng e fadere almity god, as we mowen
     deuoutly enk & ymagine'. comene alle after by ordre aftere
     ordre to se at louely face of goddus son hir lord, with gret
     reuerence wirchipyng him & his blessed modere.
  20      Hereto acordyng speke e apostle seynt Poule in his
     pistele ad hebreos seying at when e fadere of heuen brouht
     his first goten in to is world'. he badde at alle e angeles of
     god shold wirchipe him.
         Also e herdmen aftur e angeles weren passed fro
  25 hem, comen & wirchipede is child tellyng opunly what ei
     herden of e angeles, & his dere modere, as she at was
     souereynly wise & witty, toke gude hede of alle at was done,
     & kept priueyly in hir herte al e wordes at weren spoken of
     hir blessed son.
  30      us miche & in is maner, we mowen haue in
     contemplacion touchyng e processe of e blessed Natiuite of
     oure lord Jesus.
         And forermore touchyng e solempnyte & e
     worinesse of is feste & is hie day, we sholen haue in
  35 mynde at is is born e kyng of blysse, & e son of almity
     god, lord of al lordes & makere & gouernere of alle e world,
     whose name is cleped specialy Prynce of Pees, |r[19v] for by hym
     was made at gret & endles pees, at is told before in e
     Incarnacion. Wherfore is day e angeles songen at ioyful
  40 songe. Gloria in excelsis deo &c. as it is seide before.
         is day as holi kirke singe in e messe after e
     prophecye of ysaie, A child is born to vs, at is like to vs in
     his manhede, & a son is iuen to vs, at is euen to e fadere
     of heuen in his godhede.



|p  40


         Also is day e sonne of ritwisnes at was first
     vndur cloude, sprang opunly his bemes of mercy & e lit of
     his grace in alle e world, & so is day was seen at blessed
     newe sit, at neuer ere was seen in ere, at is to sey, god
   5 almity in mannus likenes.
         is day also befelle o twey gret wondres at passen
     al kynde & al mannus witte, e whech mowe alonly be
     conceyued orh trew byleue, at is to sey, at god is born, &
     a maiden without sorow or blemyshyng of hir maydenhede ha
  10 born a child. Wherfore is day hade she at seconde souereyn
     ioy in felyng done in dede at she af fei to spoken before &
     beheyt by e angel at hire conceyuyng, & so to alle mankynd
     is is a day of gret ioy, & a gret fest boe of god almyty &
     of his blessed moder Marie, as it was seid before in e feste
  15 of e Incarnacion, for al e skiles at ere were seid began, &
     here more pleynly fulfilled. Ioyn at to is & an it wole
     shewe pleynly.
         In token also & in witnesse of is wondurful bire
     aeynus kynde, at Rome at day out of a taverne sprange a
  20 welle of oyle, & in e same Cite an ymage of golde, with a
     temple at was cleped e euerlastyng temple of pees, for als
     miche as it was propheciede at it shold neuer fal done til a
     maiden bare a son'. is day felle done boe to gedire anone as
     crist was born. In e which place is now made a chirch in e
  25 wirchipe of oure lady seynt Marie. Whose name with hire
     blessed son oure lord Jesus blessed be now & euer withoute
     ende. Amen.


     Of e Circumcision of oure lord Jesu. Capitulum vij=m=


        |r<b> In e viij day at e child was born'. he was
  30 Circumcised aftur e byddyng of e lawe. And so in is day
     twey gret inges were done at we owen to haue deuoutly in
     mynde.
         e first is at e blessed name Jesus at was |r[20r] euere
     wi out bygynnyng iuen to him of e fadere of heuen, & also
  35 of e angele cleped & tolde or he were conceyued'. is day
     was opunly declared & nemede, & he erwi specialy cleped
     Jesus, at is als mich to sey as sauioure, & is name resonably
     is aboue al names, for as e apostle Petur sei, er is none
     oere name vndur heuen in e which we owen to be sauede.



|p41


         Of e whiche name & gret worines & vertue erof,
     seynt Bernard speke deuoutly by processe at sal be seid
     aftur.
         e seconde inge at was done is day, wori to be
   5 hade in mynde is'. at is day oure lord Jesus began to shede
     his preciouse blode for oure sake. He began betyme to suffre
     for vs, & he at neuer dide synne'. began is day to bere payne
     in his swete tendire body for oure synne.
         Miche owht we to wepe & haue compassion with
  10 him, for he wept is day ful sore, & so in ees gret festes &
     solempnites, we sholde make miche mire, & be ioyful for
     oure hele, & also haue inwarde compassion & sorowe for e
     peynes & anguysh at he suffret for vs. For as it is seid
     before, is day he shedde his blode, when at aftur e rite of
  15 e lawe, his tendere flesh was kut, with a sharp stonen knife,
     so at onge child Jesus kyndly wept for e sorow at he felt
     erorh in his flesh. For without doute he hade verrey flesh &
     kyndly suffrable as haue oer children. Shold we an not haue
     compassion of him? is soely, & also of his dere modere. For
  20 wele mowe we wit, at when she sey hir louely sone wepe'.
     she mit not withhold wepyng, & an mowe we ymagine &
     enk how at litel babe in his modere barme seynge hir wepe,
     put his litel hande to hire face, als he wold not at she shold
     wepe, & she aeynward inwardly stired & hauyng compassion
  25 of e sorowe & e wepyng of hir dere son, with kissyng &
     spekyng, comforted him as she mit, for she vndurstode wele
     by e inspiracion of e holi gost at was in hire e wille of hir
     son, ouh he speke not to hir, & erfore she seid, Dere sone
     if ou wolt at I sees of wepyng'. sese ou also of i wepyng.
  30 For I may not bot I wepe'. what tyme at I se e wepe, & so
     orh e compassion of e modere, e child sesed of sobbyng
     & wepyng. And an his modere wipyng his face, |r[20v] & kyssyng
     him & puttyng e pappe in his moue'. conforted him in alle
     e maneres at she mit, & so she dede als oft os he wept. For
  35 as we mowen suppose he wept oft sies as oer children done,
     to shew e wrecchednes of mankynd at he verreyly toke, &
     also to hide him fro e deuel, at he shold not knawe him as
     for god.
         And us mich suffice seide at is tyme of e
  40 Circumcision of our lord Jesu.
         Bot now in tyme of grace cese is circumcision of
     e olde lawe, & we hauen in at stede baptisme ordeynet by
     criste, at is e sacrament of more grace, & lesse peyn. Bot
     for at bodily circumcision, we sholen haue gostly



|p42


     circumcision, at is kuttyng awey al superflue inges fro vs
     at disposen to synne, & haldyng with vs as in affeccion
     onelich at is nedfull to vertues lyuyng. For he at is treuly
     pore'. is vertuesly circumcised, e whiche circumcision e
   5 apostle teche in ees wordes, when he sei at we hauyng
     mete & drinke & cloe, we shold hold vs paied.
         is also gostly circumcision nede to be in alle oure
     bodily wittes, as in seyng heryng, touching & oer at is to
     sey, at we in alle ees eschue superfluite & kepe skarsyte &
  10 namelich in spekyng, for miche spech without fruyte is a grete
     vice, & displesyng to god & to gude man, & a token of an
     vnstable & a dissolute herte, as aeynwarde silence is a gret
     vertue, & for gret cause of gudenes ordeynet in religione, of
     e which vertue diuerse clerkes speken at we shole passe
  15 ouer at is tyme, and us endi is chapitre.


     Of e Epiphany at is e opune shewyng of oure lorde.
     Capitulum viij=m=


        |r<b> First touchyng is solempne day & wori feste we
     shole vndurstande at ere is none feste at ha so miche
  20 diuerse seruice in holy chirch longyng erto, as is fest ha,
     not for it is more wori an oer'. bot for many gret inges
     befelle & were done in is day specialy touchyng e stat of
     holi chirch.
         As first vndurstondyng at holi chirch here in ere
  25 stant in twey maner of peple, at one is of hem at comen of
     e Jues at hadden moyses lawe & weren circumcised, at
     oer is of e remenant at weren not circumcised & were
     cleped Jentiles'. is day, at is to sey, e xiij day fro e
     Natiuite acontyng at self day'. e blessed child Jesus shewed
  30 him as god & man specialy |r[21r] to e kynges at weren of e
     Gentiles. And in here persone holi chirche nowe cristened at
     is principaly gederet of e multitude of Jentiles'. was is day
     receyued & acceptede of god to trew byleue. For e day of his
     Natiuite, he aperede & shewed him specialy to e Jewes, in e
  35 persone of e herdmen, e whech Jues for e most part
     receyuet not goddus worde & byleue, bot is day he shewed
     him to e Jentiles of whom we comen at bene now his
     chosen chirch. Wherefore is feste is specialy & proprely e
     feste of holi chirch of trewe cristen men.



|p43


         e seconde inge at was done is day touchyng holi
     chirch, is, at she was is day gostly weddet to crist & treuly
     knyt to him, by e baptisme at he toke is day xxix ere
     aftur complete. For in e baptisme bene soules weddet to crist,
   5 & e congregacion of cristen soules is cleped holi chirch, at
     by baptisme is washen & made clene of e file of synne, &
     cloed new in vertues.
         e ridde inge is at, at same day a twelfmone,
     at is to sey, a ere aftur e baptisme of crist, he wrouht at
  10 first Miracle at e brydale, turnyng watere in to wyne, by e
     whech is vndurstonde also e gostly brydale of holy chirch.
         e fere inge at befel in at day'. is, as bede sei,
     at in at same day a ere aftur'. oure lord Jesus wrouht at
     gret myracle, fedyng e gret multitude of peple with a fewe
  15 loues & a fewe fishes. Bot e first re bene rehersede is day
     in holi chirch, & not e fere.
         Lo how wirchipful is day is, e which oure lord god
     chese specialy to wirch ereinne so many gret & wondurful
     inges. Wherefore holi chirch consideryng so many gret
  20 benefices done to hir is day of hir gostly spouse Jesu crist'. by
     wey of dewe kyndnes, make gret mire & solempnite in is
     day.
         Bot for als mich as principaly & most specialy e
     solempnite of is day, stant in e mynde of e first'. at is e
  25 wirchepyng of e kynges, & hir offryng to Jesu'. erfore speke
     we forermore of e contemplacion hereof, leuyng e remnant
     at is tyme.
        And so ymagine we & set we oure mynde & our ouht
     as we were present in e place where is was done at
  30 Betheleem'. beholdyng how ees re kynges comen with gret
     multitude & a wirchipful company of lordes & oer seruantes,
     & so by token of e Sterre firste |r[21v] ledyng & after restyng vp
     on at place, at e child Jesus was inne'. ere ei lited done
     of e dromedaries at ei rydene vpon'. byfore at simple
  35 house & maner of stable in e which oure lord Jesus was born.
     And an oure lady heryng gret noys, & stiryng of peple'. anone
     toke hire swete child in to hir barme, & ei comyng in to at
     house, als so soon as ei seene e child'. ei kneled done &
     reuerently & deuoutly honoured him as kyng, & wirchiped him
  40 as god. Lord god how gret & how sadde was here fei &
     byleue, at sich a litel child so simple cloed, fonden with so
     pore a modere in so abiecte a place withoute cumpanye,
     withoute meyny & without al worldly aray shold be verrey god
     & kyng & lord of al e world'. & naeles ei byleued



|p44


     soefastly boe two. is was a gret gudenes of oure lord god
     ordeynyng sech forledars & sech bygynnars of oure byleue, &
     so it behoued to be.
         Forermore touching e processe we mowe enk how
   5 e kynges aftur e first honouryug of e child speken with his
     modere reuerently askyng of e condiciones of him, in what
     maner he was conceyued & born, & so of oere at ei
     desireden to knowe, & oure lady mildly answeryng told hem
     of alle as it nedet, & ei iuyng ful credence & byleue, to al
  10 at she seide. And for als miche as ei weren clerkes & men
     of gret wisdome, erfore we mowe suppose at ei kowen e
     langage of hebrewe, & speken in at tonge at was e modere
     tonge of our lady & alle Jues.
         Now take we here gude entent to e manere of
  15 spekyng in boe parties, first how reuerently & how curteysly
     ei speken, & asken hir questiones, & on at oere side, how
     oure lady with a maner of honest shamefastnes, holdyng done
     hir eyene toward e ere speke & answere sadly & shortly
     to hir askynges, for she ha no likynge to speke mekyl or to
  20 be seene. Neuerles oure lord af hir strengh & special confort
     to speke more homely to hem, because at ei representeden
     holi chirch, at was an to come of e Jentiles as it is seid
     before.
         Behald also e child Jesus'. how he speke not, bot
  25 stant with a maner of sad semblant & glad chere & als he
     vndurstode hem louely lokyng vpon hem, & ei haue gret
     likyng in e siht of him, not only gostly in soule of his
     godhed, as illumynet & tauht of him'. bot also in his bodily
     sit, withoute |r[22r] for, for as Dauid witnesse, He was faire &
  30 louely in body before al mennus sonnes.
         And so when ei were gretly conforted by him, ei
     maden here offryng to him in is manere as we mowen
     suppose, ei opuneden hire cofres with hir tresoure, &
     spredyng a tapet or a cloe before e childes feet oure lord
  35 Jesu'. ei leyden er vpon & offreden ich on of hem, golde,
     encense & myrre, & at in gret quantite, namelich of golde,
     for elles as for a litel offryng it hade not nedet hem, fort haue
     oponede here tresour cofres, as e gospel sei, but her
     awmoneres or here tresoureres mit litly haue hade it in
  40 hande & taken it hem, bot erfore e iftes & e quantites
     were gret, by reson as it is seide. And when ei haden us
     offred & leide here iftes before him'. en reuerently &
     deuoutly fallyng done ei kisseden his feet, & an perauenture
     e child ful of wisdome fort confort hem more & strengh hem



|p45


     in his loue'. af hem his hande to kysse & aftur blessed hem
     erwi, & so ei reuerently enclynyng & also takyng here leue
     at his modere & Joseph'. with gret ioy & gostly mire as e
     gospel sei, turnede aeyn in to hir owne cuntre by an oere
   5 wey.
        What at ees re iftes offred of ese kynges bytoken
     gostly & many oere inges at e gospel more ouere telle
     at it is expownet by holy doctours'. is sufficiantly & fully
     writen in many oer places, wherefore we passen ouer alle at
  10 here.
         Bot what hope we was done with at gold of so gret
     prise? Wheer oure lady reserued it & put it in tresory or elles
     bouht erwi londes & rentes? Nay nay god forbede'. For she
     at was a perfite louere of pouerte, toke none hede of sech
  15 worldly godes. Bot what? She louyng pouerte &
     vndurstondyng also hir blessed sonnes wille, not onlich orh
     his inspiracion teching hir in soule withinne for'. bot also by
     signe shewyng his wille, without for, at he loued not sech
     riches, perauentere turnyng awey oft sies his face fro at
  20 gold, or spittyng er vpon'. withinne a fewe dayes & short
     tyme, she af it al to pore men. For e kepyng erof at litel
     tyme, was to hir bot a gret buren, & heuy charge, & at
     seme wele'. for she made hem so bare of money, at when
     she schold go to e temple forto be |r[22v] purifiede'. she hade not
  25 wherwi to bigge a lombe fort offre for hir sone, bot only
     bouht turtures or dowues of litel prys, at was e offryng of
     pore folk aftur e lawe. And so we mowen resonably byleue,
     at e offryng of e kynges was gret & riche, & at oure lady
     louyng pouert & ful of charite af it in haste to pore men, as
  30 it is seide. So at here is shewed a gret preconye & wori
     ensaumple of pouerte.
         Also if we take here gude hede'. we mowe se opune
     ensaumple of perfite mekenes. For ere be many at halden
     hem self lowe & abiecte in her owne herte, & bene not eleuate
  35 be pride as in her owne sit, bot neuerles ei wold not be
     halden sech in oer mennus siht, nor mowen not suffre to be
     despised or skorned of oere, & also ei wold not at hir
     vnworines & hir defautes weren knowne of oer lest ei were
     dispised & reproued of hem. Bot us dide not is day at child
  40 Jesus lord of alle oer, for he wold at his lowenes &
     abieccion were knowen, & seen to hese & to oer, & at not
     to simple & fewe'. bot to gret & many at is to sey, to kynges
     & lordes, & her meyne many & feel. And also at is more to
     wondur in sich a case & tyme, in e whech by reson it was



|p46


     mich to dred, at is to sey, lest e icomyng fro so ferr &
     fyndyng him at ei souhten kyng of Jewes, & whom ei
     trouden almity god, liggyng in so simple aray, & so gret
     abieccione'. by at simple sit supposyng hem deceyuet &
   5 haldyng hem self as foles'. sholden go awey without deuocion
     & byleue. Bot not fori e maistre of mekenes & louere of
     symplenes laft not to fulfille e perfeccion erof, iuyng to vs
     ensaumple at we shold not go fro e grounde of trewe
     mekenes, by colour of any semelich profite or gude, bot at
  10 we sholden lerne, to wille fort apere & be seen symple &
     abiecte in e sit of oer.
         at vertue of perfite meknes he graunt vs orh his
     grace, at so wolde meke him for oure sake oure blessed lord
     Jesus. Amen.


  15     De mora domine apud presepe, continetur in proximo
     capitulo, excepta meditacione, de ministerio suo & solicitudine
     circa puerum Jesum, de quibus poterit quis faciliter meditari.


     Of e purificacion of oure Laydye seynt Marie. Capitulum
     nonum.

  20     |r[23r] |r<b> Aftere e kynges hadden performede hir offeryng &
     werene gone home aeyne in to hir owne cuntre as it is seide'.
     it stode at wori lady of al e worlde in at simple herbour
     with hir blessed sone Jesu, & hir husband at holi oldman
     Joseph, at e cracche paciently abidyng vnto e xl day
  25 ordeynet by e lawe to hire Purificacion, as she were anoer
     woman of e peple defoylet orh synne, & as e childe Jesus
     were a pure man & not god, nedy to kepe e obseruance of
     e lawe. Bot whi hope we at ei diden us? Soely for
     ensaumple to vs, shewyng e trewe wey of obedience, & for
  30 ei wolde none singulere prerogatif'. ei kepten e comune
     lawe as oer.
         Bot us done not many at liuen in comune
     congregacion, e which desiren to haue speciale prerogatifes,
     & erby wole be seen more wirchipful an oer, & singulere
  35 aboue oer, bot is suffre not trew mekenes.
         When e xl day was comen of hir Purificacion aftur
     e lawe'. an went oure lady out with hire sone Jesus, &
     Joseph & toke e wey fro Bethleem in to Jerusalem, at is



|p47


     aboute v or vj myle ere to present e child & offre him to
     god in e temple, after at it is writen in e lawe of god.
         Now lat vs here go with hem by deuout
     contemplacion, & help we to bere at blessed biren e child
   5 Jesus in oure soule by deuoucion, & take we inwardly gude
     entent to alle at bene here seide & done, for ei bene ful
     deuoute. In is manere en ei beryng & bringyng e child
     Jesus, in to Jerusalem, & e lord of e temple in to e temple
     of god'. at e entre erof ei bouhten tweyn turtures or elles
  10 tweyn douf briddes to offre for him as e maner was for pore
     folk, & erfore e gospel speke not of a lombe at was e
     comune offryng of rich men'. in token at ei weren with e
     porest folk. And herwi at ritwisman Symeon, lad in spirite
     by e holi gost'. came in to e temple, to se at he hade longe
  15 tyme desiret, crist goddus son, aftur e byhest & answere of
     e holi gost. And anone as he came & hade e sit of him,
     knowyng him by spirite of prophecie, he kneled done &
     deuoutly honourede & wirchiped him as he was in his modere
     armes born, & e |r[23v] child blessed him & lokyng vpon his
  20 modere, bowed towarde him in token at he wold go to him,
     and so e modere vndirstondyng e childes wille, & erof
     wonduryng'. toke him to symeon, & he with gret ioy &
     reuerence clippyng him in hees armes'. ros vp blessyng god &
     seying with glad spirite, Lord I onk e, for nowe ou letest
  25 i seruant aftur i word in pece. Forwhi I houe seene with
     myn eyen i blessed son oure sauyoure &c. And afterwarde he
     prophecied of his passione, & of e sorow erof at shold as
     a swerde perce & wonde e moder herte.
        Herewi also at wori widewe Anne e prophetisse
  30 came to hem into e temple, & wirchipyng e child she
     prophecied also of him & spake of redempcion at was to
     come by him to mankynde. And e modere wonderyng of alle
     ees wordes'. kept hem by gude entent priueyly in hir herte.
     And an e child Jesus strecchyng hese armes towarde his
  35 modere, was betaken to hir aeyne. Afterwarde ei eden in
     maner of procession toward e autere, with e childe, e
     which procession is represented is day in alle holi chirch,
     with lit born to goddus wirchipe. And an ei wenten in is
     manere. First o tweyn wirchipful olde men Joseph & Symeon
  40 goon before, ioyfuly eyer haldyng oer by e handes, & with
     gret mire singyng & seying, Lord god we haue receyuet is
     day i gret mercy in middes of i temple, & erfore after i
     gret name so be i louyng & i wirchippe in to e ferest ende
     of alle e world. Aftur hem folowe e blessed modere &



|p48


     maiden Marie, beryng e kynge of heuen Jesus, & with hir on
     at one side goe at wirchipful widowe Anne with gret
     reuerence & vnspekable ioy louyng & preysyng god.
        is is a solempne & wirchipful procession of so fewe
   5 persones, bot gret inges bytokenyng & representyng. For er
     bene of alle states of mankynde sume, at is to sey of men &
     women, olde & onge, maidenes & widowes.
        Forermore when ei weren come to e autere of e
     temple'. e modere with reuerence knelyng done offre hir
  10 swete sone to e fader god of heuen, seying in is maner,
     Take now hiest fadere our awne dere sone, whom I offre
     here to ow after e biddyng of our lawe for he is e first
     born of his modere. Bot gude fadere I beseke ow at e |r[24r]
     iue him to me aeyne. And an she risyng vp, laft him vp on
  15 e awtere.
        A lord god what offeryng is is? Soely er was neuer
     sien sich a noer fro e bygynnyng of e world, nor shal
     neuer after in to e ende.
        Now take we here gode hede how e child Jesus sit
  20 vpon e autre, as it were a noer child of e comune peple, &
     with at louely face & sadde chere he loke & beholde vpon
     his dere modere & oer at ere were present paciently &
     mekely abidyng what ei wolden do with him. And erwi
     were brouht e prestes of e temple & e child lord of alle e
  25 world was bouht aeyn as a seruant for v penys at weren
     cleped cicles a maner of money aftur e lawe as oere. And
     when Joseph hade paiede at money for him'. e modere oure
     lady toke aeyn with ful glade wille hir blessed sone, & after
     she toke e forseid briddes of Joseph & knelyng done &
  30 liftyng vp hir eyene, deuoutly in to heuen haldyng hem in hir
     handes, offrede hem seying us:
        Almity & mercyful fadere of heuen vndurfong e is
     litel ift & offryng, & e first ift, at our litel child is day
     presente to our hie maieste of his symple pouerte. & erwi
  35 also e child Jesus puttyng hese handes to e briddes & liftyng
     vp hese eyene to heuen, speke not bot shewe contenance of
     his offring with e modere, & so ei leyden hem vpon e
     awtere.
        Now here takyng hede what ei bene at us offrene
  40 at is to say e modere & e sone'. trowe we wheer at
     offryng ouh it were litel mit be forsake? Nay god forbede.
     Bot we shol fully trowe at it was by angeles presented vp in
     to e court of heuen, & ere of e fadre of heuen ful gladly



|p49


     acceptede, so at alle e blessed cumpanye of heuen, ereorh
     was reioycede & gladed.
        Aftur is was done, & so e lawe fully kept as it is
     seide in alle at longed to e childe fro his bire in to is
   5 tyme'. oure lady with hir blessed sone, & hir spouse Joseph
     toke e wey fro at Cite of Jerusalem homewarde in to
     Nazareth.
         bot by e way she visited hir Cosyn Elizabe,
     desiryng also to se Jon her sone at she loued specialy. And
  10 what tyme ei metten to gedire ei maden gret ioy & namelich
     Elizabeth, when she sawh at blessed sit of e child by
     vertue of whome in hir first concepcion |r[24v] Jon in hir wombe
     reioycede & she also replenishede with e holi gost.
         Also e children Jesus & Jon, when ei weren brouht
  15 to gedire ei kisseden oer louely & with lawhyng chere, &
     maden miche mire to gedire, bot Jon as vndurstandyng his
     lorde'. hade him allewey in cuntenance as with reuerence to
     him.
         And what tyme ei hade rested hem ere certayn
  20 dayes'. oure lady with hir child & Joseph wenten for on hir
     wey, towarde Nazareth as to hir home & rest. Bot it befalle
     no rest to hem as it shale shewe after.
         Nowe if we take gude entent to e forseid processe
     & how longe tyme ei hauen lyen out of hir owne house in so
  25 gret pouerte & simplenes'. by reson we shold be stired to
     compassion, & to lerne by ensaumple of hem mekenesse
     pouerte & buxumnesse at were opunly shewed in hir symple
     duellyng, in her pore offryng, & in e lawe kepyng.
         And forermore as worldly men maken bodily mire
  30 in is tyme of Cristenmesse fro e Natiuite in to is fest of e
     Purificacion at is cleped Candelmesse'. so shold euery deuout
     soule in is tyme specialy with deuocion & gostly mire in
     soule, wirchipe & honour at blessed child Jesus, & his
     modere Marie, visityng hem by contemplacion & sume
  35 deuoute prayere, at e leste ones on e day as ei seene in
     spirite oure lady with hir child liggyng at e cracche, hauyng
     erwi in mynde, e mekenes e pouerte & e buxumnesse of
     hem, as it is seide, & louyng hem & kepyng hem vertuesly in
     dede. Amen.


  40  And us endi e first part of is boke in
     contemplacion for e Moneday.



|p51


     Of e fleyng of oure lord Jesu in to Egipte. Capitulum x=m=


        |r<b> WHen oure lady with hir child & Joseph weren
     towarde Nazare as it is seid before'. not knowyng it e
     priuey consele of god hereof, at Heroude e kyng purposed
   5 to sle e child Jesus'. e angel of god appered to Joseph in his
     slepe, biddyng at he shold fle in to Egipte with e child &
     his modere for Heroude wolde seche e child to sle him. And
     anone Joseph wakyng of his slepe, cleped oure lady & tolde
     hir ees harde tydynges, & she in alle haste toke vp hir dere
  10 son & began to go, for she was ful sore agast of is worde, &
     she wolde not as she mit not be seene negligent in e kepyng
     of him, wherefore anone |r[25r] in at nit ei token e wey
     towarde Egipte. And so fledde at gret lord e pursuet of his
     seruant, e more proprely e deueles seruant, trauailyng with
  15 him his onge & tendire modere, & at olde man Joseph, by
     a nuyes wey & herd & diuerse, at was not inhabited & also
     a wey ful longe, at is to sey aftur e comune sawe e space
     of xij or xv dayes iurney of a comune Currour perantre to hem
     it was e trauaile of two monees & more. And at wey as it
  20 is seid was by at deserte in e which e children of lsrael lad
     out of Egypte, duelleden xl ere.
        Lord how dide ei ere of hire lyuelode, or where
     rested ei & were herbored in e nytes, for in at wey fonde
     ei ful seldome any house. Here ouht we to haue inwardly
  25 compassion of hem, & not be loe or enk trauailous to do
     penance for our self'. sien oer token so gret & so oft trauaile
     for vs, namely ei at weren so noble & so wori.
        Also in is forseid processe if we take gode hede'. we
     mowe se many gode ensaumples & notable doctrines to vs.
  30 First if we take gode hede, how oure lorde Jesus toke
     in his owne persone sumtyme prosperite & wele, & sumtyme
     aduersitee & wo'. we shold not be stired to impacience, what
     tyme at it befalle to vs in e same maner, bot in tyme of



|p52


     prosperite & of comfort, so aeynward on ar oer side, & if
     ou wolt se ensaumple hereof in Jesu'. lo first in his bire he
     was magnifiede to e herdmen as god & honoured &
     wirchiped of hem as god with ioy, & sone aftur he was
   5 circumcised as a simple sinful man with sorow. Aftur, e
     kynges comyng to him wirchiped him souereynly boe in hir
     persones, & in gret iftes, & it duelled he stille in at stable
     among bestes in pouerte, wepyng as a noer child of a simple
     mannes. Aftur, he was presented in e temple with ioy, & gret
  10 inges was prophecied of him as of god almity'. & now he is
     beden of e angele to fle fro Heroude in to Egipte, as he were
     a pore man withoute miht.
        And so forermore we mowe fynde in alle his life
     prosperite & aduersite meyned to gedire to ensaumple &
  15 techyng of vs. For he sent vs diuerse confortes to lift vp oure
     hope at we falle not by despeire & erwi he sent vs
     tribulacion & disconfortes to kepe vs in |r[25v] mekenes at erby
     knowyng oure owne wrecchednes'. we stand algate in his
     drede.
  20     e seconde lesson at we mowe lerne in is forseid
     processe is touchyng e benefices & e speciale confortes of
     god, at he at fele hem specialy be not erby eleuate in his
     owne siht, as haldyng him more wori en oer at ha hem
     not, & also he at fele not sech speciale iftes or confortes'.
  25 be not erfore kast done by sorow or enuy to him at ha
     hem. For as we se here e angeles apperyng & spekyng of e
     child'. weren to Joseph & not to oure lady, & neuerles it was
     he lasse in merite miche more & vnwori an she. Also here
     we mowe lerne, at he at fele sech special iftes of god,
  30 ouh he haue hem not algate as he wold & aftur his desire, at
     erorh he grucche not, nor be not heuy be vnkyndnes aeyns
     god. For not withstandyng at Joseph was so nyhe &
     acceptable to god'. neuerles e apperynges of e angele & e
     reuelaciones were not done to him opunly & in wakyng'. bot
  35 in maner of dremes, & in his slepyng.
        e ridde notable inge at we haue ensaumple of here
     is'. how at oure lord suffre hees derlynges to be disesed here
     orh persecuciones & tribulaciones, & at shewe wele here
     in Marie & Joseph. What tyme ei knewen e child souht to
  40 be slayn, what mit ei here more sorowful? For ouh it so
     were, at ei knewen & wisten wele at he was goddus son,
     neuereles e sensualite & e reson of hem miht kyndly be
     disturblet & meuede to sey in is maner, Lord god fader
     almihty what nede is it to i blessed sone at here is, to fle, as



|p53


     ou mihtest not defende him fro hees enmyes, & kepe him
     saue here? And also hir tribulacion & disese was in so miche
     e more'. at hem behoued to go in to so ferre a londe, at ei
     knew not, & at by harde wayes & nuyes, sien ei were
   5 miche vndisposet to goyng & trauailyng, oure lady for oue
     & tendurnesse, & Joseph for eld & feblenesse, & also e child
     at ei shold bere & kary'. was vnne twey monees olde, &
     it here wi ei eden in to at londe, in e which ei as pore
     & vnknowen hade noht to help hemself wi.
  10     Alle ees diseses weren to hem matire of gret
     tribulacion & affliccion, & erfore |r[26r] ou at suffrest here
     tribulacion'. kepe erinne pacience, & loke not to haue hereof
     a priuilege of him at wolde not take him self hit, nor ife it
     is modere.
  15     e fere notable inge at we mowe considere here is
     e gret benyngnite & mercy of oure lorde. For ere as he miht
     anone in a momente haue destrued hees enmyes at pursuede
     him, it wolde he not, bot benyngly & swetly he chace raere
     to fle, & if stede for e tyme to e malice & e wodenesse
  20 of at wikked Heroude'. en to be venged as he miht ritwisely
     of him, & is was a profonde mekenes & a gret pacience. In
     e same manere shold we do, at is to say not wilfully
     wistonde & seke vengance of hem at done wrong & pursuen
     vs'. bot paciently for e tyme bere hem, & fle hir malice, &
  25 more ouer specialy pray for hem, as god teche vs also in a
     noer place of e gospel, to do to oure enemyes.
        Forermore as to e processe of e fleyng of Jesu, with
     his modere & Joseph. When ei comen to Egipte, anone at e
     first entre alle e mawmentes of at land felle done as it was
  30 prophecied before by e prophete ysaye.
        And an went ei to a Cite of at londe at hiht
     Hermopolis or Lymopolis & er ei hired hem sume symple
     house where ei dwelleden vij ere, as pilgrymes & strangeres
     pore & nedy.
  35     Here mowe we deuoutly ymagine & enk of e maner
     of lyuyng of hem in at vncouh londe, & how oure lady
     wrouht for hir lyuelode, at is to sey with nedil sewyng &
     spinnyng as it is writen of hir, & also Joseph wirching in his
     craft of Carpentary, & how e child blessed Jesus aftur he
  40 came to e age of v ere or ere aboute, ede on hir erndes,
     & halpe in at he miht, as a pore child to hem, shewyng in
     alle hese dedes buxumnesse, lowenesse & mekenesse. And
     sien hem behoued to gete hir lyuelode in at manere with hir
     trauaile, & perantur with reprofe oft sies of hem at ei



|p54


     dwelled among, as it falle comunely to straungeres, & also
     with shame'. what hope we of hir housholde as of beddyng,
     cloing, & oer necessaries wheer ei hadden in is
     superfluyte or curiosite? Nay with oute doute, ei at loueden
   5 perfite pouerte, wold |r[26v] not haue ouh ei miht at, at is
     contrarye to pouerte as superfluite & curiosite. And namelich
     touching curiosite. Trowe we at oure lady in hire sowyng or
     oer manere wirchyng made curyouse werkes as miche folk
     doe? Nay god forbede. For ouh ei wirchene sech
  10 curyositees, at taken none hede to lese e tyme'. she at was
     in at nede miht not nor wold not spende e tyme in veyn, as
     many done, namelich in ees dayes. For is vice of curiosite
     is one e most perilouse vice at is'. & at by many skilles
     may be shewed.
  15      First by lesyng of tyme at is ordeynet to e wirchipe
     of god, for siche curiose werke occupie miche more tyme an
     wolde oer pleyn & simple werke do at were sufficiant to e
     nede, & at is a gret harme, & contrarie to goddus wille.
         e seconde harme at come of curiosite is cause &
  20 matire of veyn ioy to e wirchere. As what tyme at a man
     make siche a curiouse werke'. oft loke he eron with likyng,
     & enke & ymagine in his ouht bisily also when he
     wirche not & specialy in tyme of goddus seruice, & when he
     shold haue his herte to god'. enke or speke fort make at
  25 curiouse & erby halt himself sotile & witty, & so wold be
     seen passyng oer.
         Also it is cause of pride to him at e curiouse werke
     is made to. For as simple, pleyn & buystes werkes bene
     occasion of lowenes & mekenes'. so bene curiouse werkes as
  30 oile, nurishyng e fire of pride in e halderes & e haueres of
     hem.
         Also it is to hem at haue likyng in siche curiosite'.
     matire fort drawe hir hertes fro god & heuynly inges. For as
     seynt Gregory sei, In als miche as a man ha delite here
  35 benee in erely inges, in so miche he is departed fro e loue
     aboue of heuenly inges.
         Also it is one of o re, by e whech alle e world
     is infecte in synne, at is e foule lust of e eyene, for sech
     curiositees seruene of nouht elles bot to fede e eyen, & als
  40 oft as a man likyngly & in vayn with sech curiosite fede hese
     eyene'. so oft e makere & e vsere offende god. Wherfore
     men shold be eschew to make seche curiositees for iuyng
     occasion of synne. For a man shold not asente to synne for
     any cause'. bot in alle maner abstine |r[27r] for e offence of god,



|p55


     & sien god af ensaumple & comende & loue pouerte, as
     it is oft seide'. without doute it folowe at he is gretly
     offendet in at inge at is directe contrarie to pouerte, at is
     specialy curiosite.
   5      Also with alle oer harmes, more ouer is is at it is
     a token of a veyn & a liht & an vnstable herte, & soule.
     Wherefore he at wole lyue in clennesse of conscience &
     without defilyng of his soule'. him behoue to abstine him
     boe fro e makyng & also fro e vsyng of sech veyn
  10 curiositees, & to fle erfro, as fro a venymowse serpent.
         Neuerles by is forseid reprofe of curiosite'. we shole
     not vndirstonde generaly forbeden to make faire werkes &
     honest apparaile'. for at is leueful so at it kepe a gude mene,
     & namely in o inges & werkes at longen to goddus seruice.
  15 In e which it is nedeful to be warre & to eschew alle corrupte
     entent of veyn ioy & alle fals affection & foule likyng of
     worldes vanite, so at e vertues mene of sufficiant honeste
     passe not in to e excesse of viciouse curiosite. And us mich
     suffice seid of is matire at is tyme.


  20 Of e turnyng aeyn of oure lord Jesu fro Egipte.
     Capitulum xj=m=.


        |r<b> Aftere at Heroude was dede & vij ere were at ende,
     in e whech oure lorde Jesus hade duelled in egipte'. e angele
     of oure lorde apperede to Joseph in his slepe, & bad at he
  25 shold take e child & his modere, & go in to e londe of
     Israel, for ei weren dede at souhten to sle e childe. And he
     anone rose vp, & with e child & his modere as e angele bad
     turned aeyne in to e londe of Israel. And when he came ere
     & herd at archelaus e sone of Heroude reigned in at party
  30 at was cleped Judea'. he dred & durst not go idere, bot as he
     was eft beden of e angel in his slepe, he went to e cuntre of
     Galilee, in to e cite of Nazare.
         Here mowe we se in e comyng aeyn of Jesu as it
     was seid in his goyng, drede & disese meyned with confort &
  35 ese. For what tyme ei beyng in a strange londe herd of e
     de of hire enemyes, & at ei shold come aeyn in to hir
     owne londe'. no doute, bot at it was gret confort & hope of
     ese, bot takyng hede erwi to e hard trauaile by e wey, &
     aftur when ei comen |r[27v] in to hir owne londe in hope of pees,
  40 tydynges of a newe enmye, & for drede of him byden fort



|p56


     eschew his cuntry.' er was discomfort & disease, & al to oure
     lore as it is seide.
        Lord Jesu ou faire onge child ou art lord & kyng of
     heuen & ere. What disese & what trauaile suffrest ou for
   5 oure sake, & how sone ou began! Soely wele spake e
     prophete in our persone, when he sei us, I am pore & in
     diuerse trauailes fro myfirst ouh. Swete Jesu how edest ou
     or was cariede alle at longe & harde wey, & namely orh at
     horrible desert, passyng ouer e rede se, & also e flode
  10 Jordan, in so tendur age'. for as it seme is aeyn comyng is
     more trauailouse & more nuyes to e, & to i lederes'. an was
     i first goyng. For whi, at tyme ou were so litel at ou
     mihtest esily be born in armes'. bot now ou art eldere & more
     waxen, as in e tyme of vij ere, ou mait not so, & go
  15 miche mait ou noht for tendere age, & to ride art ou not
     vsed. Soely it seme at is trauail al only at we speken
     now of, were sufficiant vnto ful redempcion for mankynde.
        Forermore as to e processe of hir wey, we mowe
     enk at what tyme ei comen toward e ende of at desert'.
  20 ere ei fonden John baptiste, e which at tyme hade begune
     ere to lyue in desert penance doyng, ouh it so were at he
     hade no synne penance wori. For as it is seide at place of
     Jordan in e which John baptizede'. is at same place whereby
     e children of Israel edene dry fote when ei comen by at
  25 desert oute of Egipte, & at nihe at place in desert John
     liuede in penance. Wherfore it is likely at Jesus & his modere
     fonden him ere, & at ei maden gret ioy & mire gostly
     comyng to gedire. And no wondur, for he was an excellent &
     a wori child fro his bire. He was e first hermet & e
  30 byginnyng of religiouse lyuyng in e newe lawe. He was clene
     maiden & grettest prechour after crist. He was a prophete &
     more an a prophete, & a preciouse & gloriouse martire.
     Wherfore we deuoutly wirchipyng & honouryng him'. take we
     oure leue at him at is tyme, & go we for with oure lord Jesu
  35 & his modere, in e forseid wey.
        After ei weren passed e flome Jordan, en come ei
     forermore to e house of oure lady Cosyn Elizabeth, |r[28r] where
     ei weren specialy refreshed, & maden to gedire a gret &
     likyng fest. And ere Joseph heryng at Archelaus reigned
  40 aftur his fadere Heroude, in e cuntre clepede Judea, by
     biddyng of e angel as it is seid before'. went with e child &
     his modere in to e Cite of Galile cleped Nazare, & ere ei
     duelled as in hir owne home ledyng a symple & a pore lyfe to
     gedire'. bot in at gret gostly richesse of Charite.



|p57


        Lo us is e child Jesus brouht out of Egipte, & an as
     we mowen enk, e sistres of our lady & oer kynnes folk &
     frendes comen to hem, welcomyng hem home & visityng hem
     with presentes & iftes as it was nede to hem, at fonden of
   5 hir owne bare housholde.
        Also among oer we mowe specialy haue in mynde, at
     John Euangelist came with his modere oure lady sistere to
     viset & se Jesus, e which John was at tyme aboute fyue ere
     olde. For as it is writen of him, he diede e ere fro e
  10 passion of oure lorde lxti & vij, at was e ere of his age XC
     & viij. So at at e passion of crist he hade in elde xxxj ere
     & crist himself xxxiij, or litel more. And so at is aeyn
     comyng of Jesu at was en vij ere olde'. John was fyue ere
     olde. And as he was aftur among oer chosen apostles &
  15 disciples, specialy byloued of oure lord Jesus'. so it is likly at
     in is tyme of hir child hode, he was more chere an oer, &
     as most special pleisere to Jesu.
        Fro is tyme in to e tyme of xij ere of Jesu age'. e
     gospel make none mynde of e child Jesu, neuerles it is
  20 writen & seid at ere is it in at place a welle, whereof e
     child Jesus fet oft sies watir to his modere. For at meke
     lorde refused not to do sech lowe seruices to his modere. And
     also she hade none oer seruant. Alle hir lyuyng was in
     mekenes & in pouert to oure ensaumple fort folowe hem.
  25 Amen.


     How e child Jesus laft alone in Jerusalem. Capitulum xij=m=


        |r<b> When e child Jesus was xij ere olde'. & his modere
     with Joseph went in to Jerusalem, for e feste day at lastede
     & continuede viij dayes aftur e biddyng & e custome of e
  30 lawe'. he went also with hem in at tendire age trauailyng al
     at longe wey before seide, |r[28v] to honour & wirchipe his fadere
     of heuen in hese fest dayes as reson wolde, for er is souereyn
     loue by twix e fadere & e sone.
        Neuerles er was more inwarde sorow of herte &
  35 compassion to e sone, of e vnwirchipyng of his fadere at
     he sawh in doyng of many manere synnes'. an was any ioy
     withoutfor in e pompe & solempnite of at feste. Bot so
     stode he with his parens in e tyme of at feste kepyng e
     lawe mekely as a noer of e pore peple til what tyme e feste
  40 dayes weren fulfilled & endet. And an after at hees parens



|p58


     weren gon homwarde'. he duelled stille ere in Jerusalem hem
     vnwityng.
         Now take we here gude entent as we were present in
     alle at is here spoken of for is is a fulle deuout matire & a
   5 profitable to vs.
        As it is seide before e Cite of Nazare where oure
     lord duelled, was from Jerusalem e space of lx mile & xiiij
     or ere aboute, & so befelle at his modere oure lady &
     Joseph token diuerse weyes homewarde & what tyme ei
  10 comen to gedire at euen, where ei hadden set to be herbored'.
     our lady seynge Joseph without e child at she supposed had
     gone with him'. asked of him where was e child? And he seid
     at he wist neuer, for he wende as he seid at she had ladde
     him with hir. And erwi she brast on wepyng, & with gret
  15 sorow seid, Alas where is my dere childe? For now I se at
     I haue not wele kept him. And anone she began to go aboute
     in e euentyde as she mit honestly fro house to house askyng,
     Sey e ouht of my sone? Sey e ouht of my sone? Vnnees
     mit she fele hirself for sorew & kare of hir sone. And e sely
  20 old man Joseph folowed hir algate wepyng. And what tyme ei
     hadden longe souht & fonde him not'. what rest hopen we ei
     hadden in at nit, & namely e modere at loued him most
     tendurly? Soely no wondur ouh ei had none confort, al
     ouh hir frendes conforted hem as ei mihten. For it was not
  25 a litel losse to lese Jesu.
         Wherfore here we mowen haue resonably gret
     compassion of e gret anguyshe at our ladies soule is now
     inne for hir sone. She was neuer in so gret fro e tyme at she
     was born.
  30      And also here mowe we lern, what tyme tribu*lacion
     |r[29r] & anguysh fallen to vs'. not to be to heuy or miche
     disturblet erby, sien god sparede not his owne modere as in
     is party. For he suffre generaly tribulaciones to falle to hem
     at bene hese chosen, & so ei be token of his loue, & to vs
  35 it is expedient to haue hem, for many skilles.
         an our lady sory as it is seide for she miht not fynde
     hir sone'. at niht closed hir in hir chaumbur, & toke hir to
     praiere as to e best remedy in at case'. seying in is manere:
         Almihty god fadere of heuen, ful of mercy & of
  40 pite, it liked ow & was our wille to iue me our owne dere
     sone, bot lo now fadere I haue lost him, & I wote note where
     he is, bot e at knowen alle inge, telle me & shewe me
     where my swete sone is, & if him to me aeyne. Gode fadere
     take hede & beholde e sorow of my herte'. & not my gret



|p59


     negligence, for I knowlech wele at I haue offendet in is
     case. Neuerles for it is falle me by ignorance'. e for our gret
     gudenes eue him me aeyn, for I may not lyue without him.
     And ou my swete sone Jesu where art ou now or how is it
   5 with e? & where art ou now herborede? Lord wheer ou be
     gone vp in to heuen aayn to i fader? for I wote wele at ou
     art verrey god & goddus sone. Bot why an woldest ou not
     telle me beforen? Also I wote wele at ou art verrey man of
     me born, & here before I kept e & bare e in to Egipte fro e
  10 malice of Heroude, at souht e to sle. Bot now wheer any
     wikked man ha aspied e? i fadere of heuen almihty he
     kepe e, & shilde e fro alle perile & malice. Dere sone telle
     me where ou art at I may come to e or elles ou come to
     me, & foriue me is negligence at is tyme & I behete at it
  15 sal neuer eft befalle me, for how is is befalle I wote neuer
     bot ou knowest at art my hope, my life & alle my gude'. &
     without e I may not liue.
         In is manere & by sech wordes as we mowe
     deuoutly suppose'. alle at nit e modere kared & praied for
  20 here dere sone.
         Aftur vpon e morow erely Marie & Joseph souhten
     him by oer diuerse wayes at ladden to Jerusalem'. &
     forermore souhten him bisily among |r[29v] hir frendes &
     kynnesmen, bot ei miht not here of him, wherefore his
  25 modere was so sory at she miht in no maner be confortede.
     Bot e rid day aftur, when ei comen in to Jerusalem &
     souhten him at e temple'. ere ei fonden him sittyng among
     e doctours of lawe heryng hem entently, & askyng hem
     questiones wisyly. And anone as oure lady had e siht of
  30 him'. she was as glad as she had be turnede fro de to lyfe, &
     erwi knelyng done onked god inwardly with wepyng ioy.
     And also sone as e child Jesus sawh his modere, he went to
     hir, & she with vnspekable ioy clippyng him in hir armes &
     kissyng him oft sies, & haldyng him in hir barme, rested a
  35 while with him for tendurnesse, to she hade take spirite, & an
     she spake to him & seide, Dere son, what has ou done to vs
     in is maner? For lo i fadere & I with gret sorow haue souht
     e alle ese re dayes. And en he answeryng aeyn'. seide,
     And what eyled ow to seke me, know e not wele ot it
  40 behoue me to be occupied in o inges at longen to e
     wirchipe of my fadere? Bot ees wordes ei vndurstode not in
     at tyme. And an seid his modere, Sone, wolt ou not go
     home aeyn with vs? And he mekely answeryng seide, I wole
     do as e wil at I do, & as it is plesyng to ow. And so was he



|p60


     suget to hem, & went home aayn with hem vnto hir Citee
     Nazareth.
        In is forseid processe of Jesu what hope we at he
     dide or where & in what manere lyued he o re dayes? We
   5 mowe suppose at he went to some hospitale of pore men, &
     ere he shamfastly praiede & asked herborgh, & er ete & lay
     with pore men as a pore child. And sume doctours seyn at he
     begget in o re dayes. Bot erof litel forse, so at we folowe
     him in perfite mekenes & oer vertues. For beggyng
  10 withoutfore bot ere be a meke herte withinnefore'. is litel
     wor als to perfeccion.
        Forermore in e forseid processe we mowe note &
     lerne re notable inges to vs.
        First is at he at wole perfitely serue god shal not
  15 duelle among hese fleshly frendes & kynnesmen, bot he most
     leue hem & go fro hem. In token whereof'. e child Jesus laft
     his owne dere modere what |r[30r] tyme he wolde iue entent to e
     gostly werkes of his fadere. And also when he was souht
     among hees frendes, & kynnesmen'. he was not fonden ere in
  20 at tyme.
        e seconde is'. at he at lede gostly life'. wondere not
     miche ne be not disconfort ouere heuyly, ouh he be sume
     tyme so drie in soule & als voide of deuocion'. as he were
     forsake of god. For is maner bifelle to goddus modere as it
  25 is seid before, wherefore be he not in despeire erby'. bot
     bisily seche he Jesu in holi meditaciones & gude werkes, &
     specialy in deuout praiers, & he sal fynde him at e last in
     dewe tyme.
        e rid is'. at a man folowe not to miche his owne
  30 witte or his owne wille. For oure lord Jesus, aftur he seide at
     he behouede to be occupiede in o inges at longen to his
     fadere wirchipe'. aftur he laft at propre wille, & folowed his
     parens wille, goyng for with hem fro e temple home in to
     Nazareth, & was suget to hem. And is is specialy nedeful to
  35 religiouse folke to folowe by trewe obedience to hir souereyns.
     And also here haue we gret ensaumple of mekenes in
     oure lorde Jesu, whereof we shole trete more pleynly in e
     chapitre at nekest folowe. Amen.


     What manere of lyuyng oure lorde Jesus hadde & what he
  40 dide fro his xij ere vnto e begynnyng of his xxx
     ere. Capitulum xiij=m=



|p61


        |r<b> FRo e tyme at oure lorde Jesus was gone home to
     Nazareth with hees parens, when he was xij ere olde, as it is
     seide before, vnto his xxxti ere, we fynde noht expressed in
     scripture autentike, what he dide or how he lyued, & at
   5 seme ful wondurful. What sal we an suppose of him in alle
     is tyme, wheer he was in so miche ydul'. at he dide noht or
     wroht noht, inge at were wori to be writen & spoken of?
     God shilde. And on at oer side, if he dide & wrouht, whi is
     it not writen as oer dedes of him bene? Soely it seme
  10 merueilouse & wondurful. Bot neuerles, if we wole here take
     gude entent'. we shole mowe se at as in noht doyng'. he dide
     gret inges & wondurful. For er is no inge of hees dedes or
     tyme of |r[30v] his lyuyng withoute misterye & edificacion, bot as
     he spake & wrouht vertuesly in tyme'. so he holde his pees &
  15 restede & widrowe him vertuesly in tyme. Wherefore he at
     was souereyn maistere & came to teche vertues & shewe e
     trewe wey of euery lastyng life'. he began fro his oue to do
     wondurful dedes, & at in a wondurful maner & vnknowen, &
     at was neuer ere herde before, at is to sey, shewyng him self
  20 in at tyme as ydul & vnkonnyng & abiecte in e siht of men
     in maner as we sal say aftur, not fully affermyng in is or oer
     at we mowe not opunly preue by holi writ or doctours
     apreuede'. bot deuoutly ymaginyng to edificacion & stiryng of
     deuocion, as it was seid in e proheme of is boke at e
  25 begynnyng. And so we suppose at oure lorde Jesus in at
     tyme widrowe him fro e cumpanye & e felishipe of men,
     & went oft sies to e sinagoge, as to e chirche, & ere was
     he miche occupiede in praiere, bot not in e hyest & most
     wirchipful place, bot in e lowest & pryuest place, & aftur in
  30 tyme when he came home, halp his modere & also perauentur
     his supposed fadere Joseph in his craft, comyng & goyng
     among men'. as he knew not men. Alle at knewen him, of e
     comune peple at he dueled among, & seene so faire &
     semely ong man doyng no inge at was in to preisyng or
  35 magnifiyng of his name'. wonderet gretly of him. Namely for
     as e gospel sei of him, when he was ong & of xij ere age,
     Jesus profitede in age, in wisdome & in grace to fore god &
     man, at is to sey as in e siht & opinion of men. Bot now
     when he was of more age in to e tyme of his xxxti ere'. he
  40 shewed no dedes of comendacion outewarde, wherefore men
     skorned him & held him as an ydiote & an ydul man & a fole,
     & so it was his wille to be hald as vnwori & abiecte to e
     worlde for oure sauacion, as e prophete speke in his persone
     us, I am a worme & not a man reproue of men & abieccion



|p62


     of e peple. Bot here mowe we see at he in at abiection as
     it were noht doyng'. dide a ful gret vertues dede of wori
     comendyng. & what was at? |r[31r] Soely at he made him self
     foule & abiecte in e siht of oere, & hereof hade he none
   5 nede'. bot we hade is nede. For soely as I trowe in alle oure
     dedes, er is no inge grettere or hardere to fulfille an is is,
     wherefore as me inke at man is come to e hiest & e
     hardest degre of perfeccion'. e which of ful herte & trewe
     wille, without feynyng, ha so ouercome himself, & maistrede
  10 e proude stiryng of e flesh'. at he wille not to be in
     reputacion of men, bot coueyte fully to be despised, & hald
     as foule, vnwori & abiecte. For is is more wori & more to
     comende, an a man be passyngly stronge & a conquerour of
     Citees & londes as salomon witnesse.
  15     Wherefore til we come to is degre of perfeccione'. we
     sal halde oure self as ful imperfite, & al at we done as nouht
     to account. For sien in soenesse alle we bene bot as vnwori
     seruantes what tyme at we done e gude at we owe to do,
     as god him self witnesse'. til e tyme at we come to is degre
  20 of abiectione, & perfite reproue of oure self'. we bene not set
     sadly in trew[]e, bot raer in vanite, as e apostle opunly
     shewe, in ees wordes, Who so halt himself in his owne
     reputacione as ouht wori, sien in sones, he is as nouht'. he
     begile & deceyue himself.
  25     And so as we seide before oure lorde Jesus lyuede in
     is manere, & made himself abiecte & as vnwori to e
     world'. not for his owne nede, bot fort teche vs e trew wey of
     perfeccione, wherefore if we lerne it not'. we mowe not be
     excused. For it is abhomynable inge to se him at is bot a
  30 worme, & wormes mete to come'. fort hye him self by
     presumpsione, & lift vp him self as ouht'. when at e hie lord
     of maieste so meked him self by abiectione, & lowed him self
     as nouht, & at dide he not by feynyng, bot as he was soely
     meke & mylde in herte'. so also without symulacione he lowed
  35 him self in alle maner of mekenes & abiectione in e siht of
     oere fulfillyng first in dede, at he taght aftur by worde when
     he bade hees disciples to lerne of him fort be meke & mylde
     in herte. And in so mych he lowed & anentyshede himself, at
     also aftur he began to preche & to speke |r[31v] so hie inges of e
  40 godhede as e gospel telle, & to wirche myracles & wondres'.
     it e Jewes set noht by hym bot despised him & skorned
     him, seying, What is he is? Is not he at wrightes sone
     Joseph? & also In e deueles name he caste out deueles, &
     many sech oer despites & reproues he suffret paciently &



|p63


     mekely, makyng so ere orh a swerde of mekenes'. erwi to
     sle e proude aduersary e deuel of helle. And if we wole se
     how mihtily he girde him with is swerd of mekenes aftur e
     biddyng of e prophete'. let vs take gode hede to alle his dedes
   5 & we sal se in hem alle algate shewed gret mekenes, as we
     mowe se if we haue in mynde in alle e processe at is seide
     it hidere to. And also here aftur shal be shewed more & more
     in to his hard de. And more ouer aftur his resurrexion & at
     his vp steying to heuen, & it hereto more ouer at e last day
  10 of dome, when he sal sitte in his maieste kynge & domesmane
     of al e world'. it sal he shewe his souereyn mekenes to hees
     creatours hees breerne by ees wordes, Als longe as e diden
     almesdedes to ees my leest breerne e diden to me.
        And whi hope we at he shewed so mich & loued
  15 principaly is vertue of mekenes? Soely for he knew wele at
     as e byginnyng of alle synne is pride'. so e fondament of alle
     gude & of sauacione is mekenes, without e which fondment
     e bildyng of al oer vertues is in veyn. And erfore if we
     triste of maydenhede of pouerte or of any oere vertue or dede
  20 without mekenes'. we ben deceyuede. And for als mich as he
     tawht & shewed vs in what maner is vertue of mekenes sal
     be goten, at is to sey by despysing & abiection of a man him
     self in his owne & also in oer mennus siht, & by continuel
     doyng of lowe & abiecte dedes, erfore vs behoue to loue &
  25 vse ees menes, if we wole perfitely come to at hie vertue,
     as seynt Bernarde sei in diuerse places, God if vs grace to
     gete it perfitely as hit is seide. For soely I at write is'.
     knowlech me ful ferre ere fro. And us miche at is tyme
     suffice spoken of is souereyn vertue.
  30     Bot now to go aeyn to oure |r[32r] principale matere of e
     mirrour of e blessed life of oure lord Jesu'. beholde we ere
     e maner of lyuyng of at blessed cumpanye in pouerte &
     simplenes to gedire, & how at olde man Joseph wrouht as he
     mit in his craft of Carpentary, oure lady also with e distafe
  35 & nelde, & erwi makyng hir mete, & oer office doyng at
     longen to housholde as we mowe inke in diuerse maneres, &
     how oure lord Jesus mekely holp hem boe at hir nede & also
     in leying e borde, makyng e beddes & sech oere choores
     gladly & lowly ministryng, & so fulfillyng in dede at he sei
  40 of him self in e gospel, at, Mannus sone came not to be
     seruet'. bot to serue.
        Also we mowe enke how ei re eten to gedire euery
     day at one litel borde, not preciouse & delicates metes'. bot
     symple & sobre as was onely nedeful to sustinance of e



|p64


     kynde. And aftur mete how ei speken to gedire, & also
     perantere oerwhile in hir mete, not veyn wordes or dissolute'.
     bot wordes of edificacione ful of wisdome & of e holi goste,
     & so as ei weren fed in body, ei were miche better fed in
   5 soule. And en aftur siche manere recreacione in comune'. ei
     wenten to praiere by hem self in hir closetes. For as we mowe
     ymagine ei hade no grete house bot a litel, in e whiche ei
     hade re seuerynges as it were re smale chaumbres, ere
     specialy to pray & to slepe. And so mowe we enk how oure
  10 lord Jesu crist, euery niht aftur praiere go to his bedde
     lowely & mekely, shewyng in at & al oer nedes of
     mankynde at he was verrey man, & hidyng his godhede fro
     e fende.
        A lord Jesu wele maiht ou be cleped hidde god at
  15 woldest in alle is longe tyme us trauaile & put to penance
     at most innocent body for oure sake, when e trauaile of on
     niht hade sufficede to redemption of alle e worlde. Bot i
     grete loue to man made e to do grete dedes of penance for
     him. And so e at bene kynge of kynges & almihti god
  20 withouten ende, at helpen alle men in hir nede & iuen oure
     godes to al oer plentyuously as euery condicion & state
     aske'. e chase & reseruede to oure owne persone so gret
     pouerte, abieccione & penance in wakyng in slepyng,
     abstinyng, etyng |r[32v] & in alle our oere dedes doyng, & at in
  25 so longe tyme, for oure loue.
        Lord god where bene now ei at louen so miche e
     lust & e likyng & e ese of e flesh, at seken so bisily
     preciouse & curiouse & diuerse ornamentes & vanytees of e
     worlde? Soely we at louen & desiren sech inges'. we lerne
  30 not at in e scole of is maistre. For he tauht vs boe by
     worde & by dede, mekenes, pouerte & penance, & chastisyng
     of e body. And sien we be not wisere an he, if we wole
     not erre, late vs folowe him at souereyn Maystere, at wole
     not begile & at may not be bygilede. And also aftur e
  35 doctrine of his apostle hauyng lyuelode & cloing in ees be
     we apaiede, & at in nede couenable'. & not in superfluyte.
     And also in alle oer vertues lyuyng & exercises before seide,
     folowe we to oure powere oure lorde Jesu, at we mowe aftur
     is wrecchede life in penance'. come to his blisse, & e life
  40 euerlastyng in ioy. Amen.



|p65


     Of e baptisme of oure lorde Jesu & e wey erto.
     Capitulum xiiij


        |r<b> Afture at xxix ere were complete, in e whiche oure
     lorde Jesus hade lyuede in penance & in abiection as it is
   5 seide'. in e bigynnyng of hees xxx ere he spake to his
     modere & seide, Dere modere it is now tyme at I go to
     glorifye my fadere & make him knowen, & also to shew my
     self to e worlde, & to worche e sauacion of mannus saule as
     my fadere ha ordeynet & sente me in to is worlde for is
  10 ende. Wherefore gude modere be of gude confort, for I salle
     sone come aeyn to e.
        And erwi at souereyn maistere of mekenes knelyng
     done to his modere asked lowely hir blessyng. And she also
     knelyng & clippyng him derworly in hir armes'. with wepyng
  15 seide us, Mi blessed son as ou wolt, go nowe, with i fadere
     blissyng & myne, & enk on me, & haue in mynde sone to
     come aeyne. And so reuerently takyng his leue at his modere,
     & also at his supposed fadere Joseph he toke his wey fro
     Nazareth toward Jerusalem, & so for til he come to e watere
  20 of Jordan, where Jon baptizede e peple at at tyme, e
     whiche place is fro Jerusalem e space of xviij mile. |r[33r] And so
     e lord of alle e world, go alle at longe wey barefote &
     alone, for he hade it none disciples gederet.
        Where fore we takyng gude entent by inwarde
  25 compassion of him in is jurneye'. speke we to him deuoutly
     in hert enkyng in is manere :
        A lorde Jesu, e at bene kynge of alle kynges whidere
     go e in is manere al one? Gode lord where bene oure
     dukes & erles, knihtes & barones, horses & herneys, chariotes
  30 & sumeres & alle our seruantes & ministres at sholde be
     aboute ow to kepe ow fro e comune peple in manere of
     kynges & lordes? Where bene e trompes & clariones & alle
     oer mynstralsye & herborgeres & poruyoures at shold go
     before & alle oer wirchipes & pompes of e world'. as we
  35 wrecched wormes vsen? Be not e at hie lord of whose ioy
     & blisse heuen & ere is replenishede? Whi an go e us
     symply alone & on e bare ere? Soely e cause is for e be
     not at is tyme in our kyngdome, e which is not of is
     world. For here e haue anentishede our self, takyng e
  40 maner of a seruant, & not of a kynge, & so e haue made our
     self as one of vs, a pilgrime & a strangere as alle oure fadres
     weren, e become a seruant to make vs kynges, & for we
     sholde sikerly come to our rewm'. e came our self shewyng



|p66


     vs e trewe wey whereby we shold mowe come vp erto. Bot
     lord god whi leue we & forsake we at wey? Whi folowe we
     not after e? Whi lowe we not & meke not oure self? Whi
     loue we & hald we & coueyt we so bisily wirchipes & pompes
   5 & vanytees of e world? Soely for oure rewme is of is
     world, & for we knawe not oure self here as pilgrymes &
     strangeres'. erfore we fallen in alle ees folies & myscheues,
     & so we veyn mennus sones louen & halden alday inges at
     bene veyn & fals'. for o at bene gude & trew, & o at bene
  10 temperele euer feilyng'. for o at bene heuenly & euerlastyng.
     Trewly gude lorde if we desireden with a sadde wille to our
     rewme'. & oure confort were in heuenly inges, & also erwi
     if we inwardly ouhten & knewen our self here as pilgrimes
     & strangeres'. we shold sone & lihtly folowe ow, & of alle
  15 |r[33v] ees erly inges & temperele godes takyng onely at were
     nedeful to oure lyuyng'. we shold not be taryed to renne aftur
     owe, bot as without biren we shold go litly & fully despise
     & set at noht alle ees worldly richesse & godes.
        Bot now speke we forermore of e baptisme of oure
  20 lord Jesu. What tyme at he came to e watere Jordane'. ere
     he fonde John baptizing sinfulmen, & miche peple at was
     come ider to here his predicacion, for ei helden him at
     tyme as criste. And en oure lorde Jesus amongis oer went to
     John, & praied him at he wolde baptise him with oere. And
  25 John beholdyng him & knowyng him in spirite'. was dredde &
     wi grete reuerence seide, Lord I sholde be baptizede of e &
     ou comest to me? And Jesus onswered, Suffre now, for us it
     falle & beseme vs to fulfil alle ritwisnes. As who sey, Sey
     not is now, & bewrye me not, or make me not knowen, for
  30 my tyme erof is not it come. Bot now do as I bidde, &
     baptise me for now is tyme of mekenes, & erfore I wole now
     fulfille alle maner mekenes. Here sei e glose, at mekenes
     ha re degres.
        e first degre is'. a man to be suget & lowed to his
  35 souereyne, & not preferred or hiede aboue him at is euen
     with him in astate.
        e seconde is'. to be suget to his euen like in astate, &
     not to be hiede or preferred aboue his vndurlynge.
        e ridde & e souereyn degre of mekenes is'. to be
  40 suget & lowede to his vndirlyng, at is he at is lasse in astate
     an he. And is degre kept oure lorde Jesus at is tyme, when
     he meked him & lowede him to John. & erfore so he
     fulfillede alle e perfeccion of mekenes.



|p67


        And an when John sawh oure lordes wille at most
     nede be do'. he dide as he badde & baptizede him ere.
        Now take we here gude hede, how at hie lorde of
     maieste dispole him & do of hees cloes as a noer simple
   5 man, of e peple, & aftur he is plunget in at colde watere, &
     in at colde tyme as in wynter, & alle for oure loue, & for our
     hele ordeynyng e sacrament of baptisme, & washyng erwi
     none of hees owne synnes for he hadde none, bot oure files
     & oure synnes, & so weddyng ere gostly to him holy chirch
  10 generally, |r[34r] & alle trewe soules specialy. For in e fei of
     oure baptisme we bene weddet to oure lorde Jesu crist.
     Wherefore is is a gret fest & a werke of gret profite &
     excellence. For in is wori werke alle e holi trinyte was
     opunly shewed in a singulere manere. When e holi goste
  15 came done in e likenesse of a doufe & rested vp on him, &
     e voice ofe fadere seide, is is my belouede sone, in whom
     it lyke me wele, & erfore Heire e hym. Vpon e which
     worde seynt bernarde speke in is manere, Lo lorde Jesu,
     now is tyme to speke, & erfore now bygynne & speke. How
  20 longe wolt ou be in silence? Me enk ou hast longe tyme
     hald i pees, e & ful longe. Bot now speke for now ou hast
     leue of e fadere. How longe wolt ou at art e vertue of god
     & e wisdome of e fadere'. be hidde in e peple as he at
     were feble & vnkonyng? How longe ou at art wori kyng of
  25 heuen, suffrest i self to be clepede & also to be supposede &
     halden a wryhtes sone, at is to sey Joseph? For as Luke in his
     gospell witnesse, it in to is tyme of hese xxxti ere'. Jesus
     was supposed & halden e sone of Joseph.
        A ou mekenes at art e vertue of crist, how miche
  30 confondest ou e pride of myn vanite? For I kan bot litel, or
     more soely to speke'. onely it seme to me at I kan'. & it
     now I may not halde my tonge vnwisly & withoute shame,
     puttyng my self fore, & shewyng me as wise, & so redy to
     teche & liht to speke'. bot slow to here. And crist what tyme
  35 at he helde his pees so longe, & also hidde him self fro e
     knowyng of men, wheer he dredde ouht veyn ioy? What
     sholde he drede veyn ioy at was in soenes e ioy of e
     fadere? Bot neuerles he dred is, not to him self'. bot to vs, e
     which he knewe wele hade nede to be adredde of at veyn ioy.
  40 And in at he spake not with his moue'. he tauht vs in dede.
     And at inge at he tauht aftur by worde, now he spake by
     ensaumple, at is Lerne of me for I am mylde & meke in
     herte. For of e oue of oure lorde in to is tyme of xxx
     ere'. I hyre or rede bot litel more. Bot now may he no lengire



|p68


     be hidde'. sien he is so opunly shewed of e fadere. Alle ees
     bene e wordes of seynt Bernarde |r[34v] in sentence confermyng
     at was seide before in e nekst chapitre how at oure lord
     Jesus mekely held his pees in to is tyme for oure doctrine to
   5 fle presumpcione & kepe perfite mekenesse, e which vertue
     it here in his baptisme he shewed more growen en it was
     before, by souereyn lowenesse opunly shewed to his seruant,
     makande him wori & gret'. & him self as vnwori & abiecte.
     And also in a noer poynt, we mowe se his mekenes here
  10 growen, for in to is tyme as hit is seide he lyuede lowely as
     in ydulnesse & in abiection, bot now he shewede him self
     opunly as a sinfulman. For John prechede to sinful men to do
     penance & baptized hem. And oure lord Jesus came among
     hem, & in hir siht was baptized as one of hem, & was a
  15 souereyn poynt of mekenes, namely in is tyme, when he
     purposed to preche & shewe him self as goddus sone. For as
     by wey of mannus reson, he shold haue dredde an of at
     lowe dede lest erby aftur when he prechede he shold haue be
     in lasse reputacione, & despised as a sinfulman & vnwori.
  20 Bot erfore laft not he at was maistere of mekenes, to meke
     him self in alle manere of lowenes, to oure doctrine &
     ensaumple, shewyng him self inge at he was not, in to
     despite & abiectione of him self.
         Bot we in contrarie maner shewen oure self at we
  25 bene not in to wirchepe & praisyng of oure self. For if ere be
     any inge in vs of vertue at ouhe to be praisede'. at gladly
     we shewen & maken knowe, bot oure defautes & trespasses
     we helen & hiden, & it be we in soenes wikked & sinful.
     And ouh it so be at we knowen our self as in oure owne
  30 siht vnwori, & sinful, neuerles we wole not be halde so in
     e siht of oer. And in at is oure mekenes fer fro e parfite
     mekenes of Jesu, as it was here & before shewede. And in alle
     hese dedes he shewed it as at vertue at is most nedeful to
     vs. Wherefore loue we hit & bisy we hus in alle oure dedes
  35 principaly to kepe hit, not dredyng erby to be e more vnable
     to profite of oer. For as he was in is tyme of his souereyn
     mekenes in vndurfon[g]yng of his baptisme taken of his
     seruant, shewed by witnesse of e fadere & token of e holy
     gost |r[35r] verrey goddus sone'. So ouh we make vs abiecte &
  40 lowe vs neuere so miche in oure owne siht & in oer mennes'.
     if we be able to profite to oere, god wole make vs knowen in
     tyme as it is most spedeful to oure owne mede, & to oere
     mennes profite. Amen.



|p69


     Explicit pars secunda & contemplacio pro die Martis'.



|p71


|r     Incipit pars tercia.


     Of e fastyng of oure lord Jesu & hees temptacions in
     Deserte. Capitulum xv.


        |r<b> What tyme at oure lorde Jesus was baptizede, as it is
   5 seide nekst before'. anone he went in to desert, & ere vpon a
     hille at was fro e place of his baptisme aboute foure myle,
     & is cleped Quarentana'. he fastede xl dayes & xl nihtes nouht
     etyng or drinkyng, & as e Euangelist Marke telli, his
     duellyng was ere with bestes.
  10      Now iue we here gude entente to oure lorde Jesu'.
     specialy & to hees dedes. For here he teche vs & iue vs
     ensaumple of many gret vertues. As in at at he here is
     solitarie, & faste & preye, & wake, & ly & slepe vp on
     e ere, & mekely is conuersant with beestes. In e whiche
  15 processe bene touched foure inges, at longen specialy to
     gostly exercise & vertuese lyuyng, & wondurfully holpyng
     eche oere to gedere, at is to sey, Solitary beyng, Fastyng,
     Prayere, & Penance of e body, by e whech we mowe come
     best to at noble vertue at is clennesse of herte, e which
  20 clennes we owe souereynly to desire in als mich as it is most
     nedeful to vs, & comprehende in it self alle oere vertues in
     manere, at is to sey, Charite, Mekenesse, Pacience & alle
     oer vertues. And also it putte awey vices. For with vices or
     with defaute of vertues'. clennes of herte may not stande &
  25 last. And erfore in at booke at is cleped Collationes
     Patrum it is seide at al e exersise of a Monke shuld be
     principaly to gete & haue clennesse of herte, & no wondur, for
     erby a man shal deserue to se god. As crist him self
     witnesse in e gospel seying us, Blessed be e clene in
  30 herte'. for ei shul se god. And as seynt Bernard sei, e



|p72


     clennere at a man is, e nerre he is god, & e more clerely
     se him.
         Wherfore to gete & haue is noble vertue at is to
     sey clennes of herte, principaly helpe bisy & deuoute praiere
   5 of e which we shole speke aftur.
        |r[35v]  Bot for als miche as praiere with glutony or with
     e lust & e likyng of e body & ydulnesse is litel wore'.
     erfore it behoue at ere be erwi Fastyng & bodily
     penance, & at with discrecion. For bodily penance withoute
  10 discrecion'. lette alle gode werkes.
         Also for e kepyng & fulfillyng of alle o re
     forseide inges'. helpe mich e fere, at is solitary beynge.
     For with miche noyse & turblynge'. praiere wil not wele &
     deuoutly be seide. And he at see & here many inges, shal
  15 ful harde ascape vnclannes of herte & offence of conscience,
     for oft sies de entre be oure windowe in to e soule.
         Wherefore ou at wolt be knyt gostly to oure lord
     Jesu crist, & coueytest in clannes of herte to se god, by
     ensaumple of him, go in to solitary place, & in als miche as
  20 ou maist, sauyng in astate, fle e cumpanye of fleshly men.
     Seke not by curiosite newe knowleches & frendeshipes. Fil not
     in eyen & in eres with veyn fantasies. For it was not
     without cause at holi fadres here before souhten desertes &
     oer solitary places fer fro e comune conuersacion of men.
  25 And also it was not for nouht at ei tauhten & beden hem at
     duelled in religiouse congregation, at ei shold be blynde,
     defe & doumbe. And at may let & desturble rest of soule, fle
     as venymous to e soule.
        is solitarye beynge & is fleyng as seynt Bernard sei
  30 is more vertuesly in soule an in body, at is to say, at a man
     in his entention in deuoucion & in spirite be departed fro e
     world & men'. & ioynede so in spirite to god, at is a spirite,
     & aske not solitarye beinge of body bot in manere & in tyme,
     as specialy in tyme of speciale preyer, & also in oer tyme of
  35 hem at ouhen by wey of hir degre be solitarye, as recluse &
     sume religiouse. And erfore sei e same seynt, ou at art
     among many bodily'. ou maiht [be] solitary & alone gostly if
     ou wille not & loue not ese worldly inges, at e comunate
     loue. And also if ou despise & forsake o inges at al men
  40 comunely desiren & taken. Also if ou fle stryfes & debates
     & if ou fele not with sorow in owne hermes, & haue not in
     mynde wronges done to e, fort be auengete. And elles ouh
     ou be alone & solitarye |r[36r] in body'. ou are not alone treuly
     in soule. And generaly in what manere companye of men at



|p73


     ou art conuersant, bewarre specialy of twey inges, if ou
     wolt be treuly solitarye in spirite, at is'. at ou be not a
     curiose & a bisy serchere of oer mennus conuersatione or
     elles a presumptuose & temerarye demare of oer men.
   5      is is seynt bernard sentence of solitary beynge, by
     e which we mowe vndurstand at bodily solitude suffice
     not, without gostly. Bot fort haue e gostly'. e bodily helpe
     ful miche, puttyng awey occasion wiout for, at miht drawe
     e soule withinfor fro e onyng & knittyng to hir spouse Jesu
  10 criste.
         Wherefor at we mowe so be knit to him by grace'.
     be we about wi alle oure wille & miht to folowe him, at is
     to sey. In trewe solitarye beinge as it is seid & in deuoute
     praiere. In fastyng & discrete bodily penance doynge.
  15      And forermore at his conuersacione in desert was
     among beestes'. we haue ensaumple fort lyue symply & bere
     vs lowely in what maner congregacion we bene, & erwi to
     bere paciently & suffre also hem'. at semen to vs as
     vnresonable & bestiale in maneres & in lyuyng.
  20      And us hauyng in mynde e maner of lyuyng of
     oure lord Jesu crist in desert so in penance o xl dayes'. euery
     cristen soule ouht to viset him ere oft tymes by deuoute
     compassion, & specialy in at tyme begynnyng at e
     Epiphanye when he was baptizet in to xl dayes aftur, in e
  25 which he fasted & lyued ere as it is seide.
         Bot now ferermore at to his temptacion, when o xl
     dayes of his fastyng were complete'. oure lord Jesus hungret,
     & anone at fals temptour e fende at was bisy about to
     knowe wheer he were goddussone'. came to him & begane to
  30 tempte him of glotonye & seide, If ou be goddussone sey at
     ees stones be made & turnede in to brede loues. Bot he miht
     not wi his trecherye deceyue him at was maistre of treue.
     For he answered him so wisly'. at neyer he was ouercome by
     e temptacion of glotony, & it e aduersarie miht not knowe
  35 at he desirede. For neier he denyed nor affermede at he
     was goddus sone'. bot concludet him by an auctorite of holy
     writ. And so haue we here ensaumple of oure lord Jesu, to
     wistonde e |r[36v] vice of glotonye. For ere most we begynne'.
     if we wole ouercome oer vices, as e enemye comunely
  40 begynne erwi to asaile hem at taken hem to gostly
     lyuyng. Wherefore as it seme, he at is ouercomen with at
     vice of glotonie'. at while he is feble & vnmihty to ouercome
     & withstonde oer vices, as doctours seyn in is place of e



|p74


     gospel, at bot Glotony be first refreynet'. man trauale in
     veyn aeynys oer vices.
        Afturwarde e deuel toke him vp & bare him into
     Jerusalem, at was fro at place about viij mile as men seyn,
   5 & ere he sett him vpon e pynnakle of e temple, where he
     tempted him of veyn ioy, coueyting to know as he dide before
     wheer he were goddus sone. Bot here was he also ouercome
     by auctorite of holi writ, so at he lost fully his purpose, in at
     he hirt him not as man be pride, & himself was neuer e
  10 wyser of his godhede. And here haue we ensaumple of
     pacience, consideryng e gret benignyte & pacience of oure
     lord Jesu at suffrede him self to be handlet & born of at
     cruel beste, at hatede him & alle at he louede.
        And aftur at tyme as seynt Bernarde sei e enmye
  15 seyng at he shewede no inge of e godhede , & supposyng
     erby at he was not god'. tempted him aftur as man, at is
     ridde tyme, when he toke him vp eft, & bare him aeyn in to
     a ful hie hille beside e forseide hille of quarentana, as e
     space of two mile & ere he tempted hym of Auarice, &
  20 erwi of ydolatrye. Bot erfore was he ere opunly reproued,
     & fully venkyshede & ouercome as diuerse doctours tellen, at
     expowen more pleynly ees temptaciones & is gospel, &
     erfore we passen ouere e shortlyer here as we do in oer
     expositiones, standyng principaly in meditaciones, as it was
  25 seide at e begynnyng of is boke.
        If we take here gude hede how our lord Jesus was
     handlet & temptede of e enmye, we shole not wondur ouh
     we wrecches be oft sies tempted, for not onely he was
     tempted in ees re tymes, bot also as seynt bernard sei in
  30 oer diuerse tymes, as e apostle sei, at he was tempted in
     alle maner temptacion at longe to e infirmyte of man
     without synne.
        Forermore when e enmye was fully ouercome &
     gone awey, Angeles |r[37r] come & seruede & ministred him.
  35     Bot nowe here take we gude hede & behold we
     inwardly oure lord Jesu etyng alone, & e angeles aboute him,
     & enk we deuoutly by ymaginacion o inges at folowen
     here aftur, for ei bene ful faire & stiryng to deuocion. And so
     first we mowe aske what maner of mete it was at e angeles
  40 seruede him of, aftur at longe fast? Here of speke not holi
     writ, wherfore we mowe here ymagiue by reson & ordeyne is
     wori fest as vs like, not by errour affermyng bot deuoutly
     ymaginyng & supposyng, & at aftur e comune kynde of e
     manhode. For if we take hede & speke of his miht aftur e



|p75


     godhede'. ere is no question. For it is no doute, at he miht
     make what at him lust, & also haue of o at bene & weren
     made at his owne wille. Bot we shol not fynde at he vsed is
     mit & is powere, for him self or for hees disciples, in hir
   5 bodily nede. Bot for e peple to shewe his godhede, we reden,
     at at twey tymes he fedde hem miraculously in gret multitude
     of a fewe loues & fyshes.
        Bot of hese disciples is writen at in his owne
     presence, ei plukkede eres of corn & eten hem for hungere as
  10 it sal folowe here aftur.
        Also what tyme he him self was wery of e wey & sat
     vpon e welle, spekyng with e woman samaritane'. we rede
     not at he made mete fort ete'. bot at he sende hese disciples
     in to e cite to bigge hir mete, & so it is not likly at in is
  15 tyme aftur his faste & bodily hungere he puruede his mede by
     miracle'. sien in is tyme he shewed onely his manhede. And
     also er was no peple ere fort wirche miracle to hir
     edificacion, as comunely he dide, bot onely angeles weren ere
     presente. And sien in at hille was no duellyng of men, nor
  20 mete redy diht'. we shol suppose at angeles brouhten him
     mannus mete al redy diht fro an oere place, as it befelle to e
     prophet Daniel. For as holi writ telle, what tyme Daniel was
     put in to e pitte of lyones, & Abacuk a noer prophete bare
     mete to his repsteres on e felde'. goddus angele toke him vp
  25 by e her of his hede, & bare him fro ennus in to Babilone
     to Daniel fort be fedde with at |r[37v] mete, & aftur anone he was
     born aeyn. And so in at manere let vs ymagine here, & with
     gostly mire as it were rehetyng oure lorde Jesu at is mete,
     & also hauyng in mynde specialy his dere modere, enk we
  30 deuoutly in is manere.
        What tyme Sathanas was reprouede as a fals temptour
     & vtturly dryuen awey'. holi angeles in gret multitude comen
     to oure lord Jesu aftur his victorye, & fallyng done to e ere
     deuoutly honourede him & saluede him as hir lord, & almihty
  35 god, & oure lord benyngly & swetely token hem vp enclinyng
     to hem with his hede, as it were knowelechyng him self verrey
     man, & in at sumwhat lasse & lowede fro angeles. And en
     speken e angeles & seiden us, Oure wori lorde e haue
     longe fastode, & it is now our tyme to ete'. what is our wille
  40 at we ordeyn for ow? And an he seide, Goe to my dere
     modere, & what maner of mete she hae redy'. bringe to me,
     for er is none bodily mete so lykyng to me as at is of hir
     dihtyng. And anone tweyn of hem goyng for'. sodenly weren
     before hir, & wi gret reuerence gretyng hir, of hir sone



|p76


     behalf'. told hir message, & so of at symple mete at she
     hade ordeynet to hir self & Joseph'. e angeles tokene with a
     lofe & a towel, & oer necessaryes, & brouhten to Jesu, &
     perantere erwi a fewe smale fishes at oure lady hade
   5 ordeynet en, as god wolde. And so erwi e angeles
     comyng'. spraddene e tuwaile vpon e gronde & leiden brede
     eron, & myldly stoden & seiden graces with oure lord Jesu,
     abidyng his blessyng, & til he was sette.
        Now take gode entent here specialy ou at art
  10 solitarye & haue in mynde, when ou etest i mete alone as
     without mannus felashepe, e manere of is mete, & how
     lowely oure lorde Jesus sitte don to his mete on e bare
     gronde, for ere hade he nieer bankere nor cushyne, & take
     hede how curteysly & how soburly he take his mete, not
  15 wistondyng his hungre aftur his longe fast. e angeles serued
     him as here lorde, perantere one of brede, anoer wyne, a
     noer diht fishes, summe songen in e stede of mynstrelsye
     at swete songe of heuen & so ei reheteden & confortede hir
     lorde as it longen to hem with mich ioy meynede with
  20 compassion. is felawship hast ou ouh ou se hem not, |r[38r]
     when ou etest alone in i celle, if ou be in charite, &
     specialy when ou hast i herte to god as e owe to haue
     aftur e biddyng of e Apostle, e which sei to vs at wheer
     we eten or drinken or any oere inge do'. alle we shole do in
  25 e name of oure lorde, e which name Jesus we shole algates
     blesse & onk him in herte, haue we miche haue we litel, haue
     we gude haue we badde, & so ete oure mete ouh we bene
     alone'. as ei we seeue bodily o blessed angeles at bene
     present gostly. And herewi hauyng inwarde compassion of
  30 oure lord Jesu, & beholdyng in mynde him at is almity god,
     souereyn lord & makere of alle e worlde, at iue mete to
     alle fleshly creatours'. so mekede, & in maner nedet to bodily
     mete, & erwi etyng as a noer erely man'. miche owt we
     to loue him & onk him & with a gladde wille take penance
  35 & suffre disese for him at so mich suffred for vs.
        Forermore as to e processe when oure lord Jesus
     hade eten & seide grace, at is to sey onked e fadere in his
     manhede of at bodily refeccion'. he badde e angeles bere
     aeyn to his modere at was laft, tellyng hir at he sholde in
  40 short tyme come to hir aeyn. And when ei hadden do as he
     badde, & were come aeyn at was in ful short tyme'. he
     spake to hem alle e angeles at ere weren & seid, Goe
     aeyn to my fadere & our blisse, & recommende me to him,
     & to alle e court of heuen, for it it behoue me to do my



|p77


     pilgrymage here in ere a while. And anone erwi ei fallyng
     done to e ere & deuoutly askyng his blessyng'. aftur he
     hadde blessed hem, wenten vp aeyn to heuen, tellyng ere
     ees tydynges of his graciouse victorye, & erof was alle e
   5 blessed court reioycede, & fulfilled in mire & onkyng of
     god. And us & in is manere we mowe enke & ymagyne e
     forseide processe'. to stiryng of oure deuotion as by wey of
     meditacion. In e whiche processe bene many gude
     notabilitees touchyng temptacion of man in is world, of e
  10 whiche seynt Gregoury & oere doctours speken in e
     exposition of is gospell, Ductus est Jesus in desertum, &c. &
     specialy Crisostome in inperfecto, e whech for ei bene
     sufficiantly writen, not onely in latyne, |r[38v] bot also in english'.
     we passen ouere at is tyme spekyng forermore of e turnyng
  15 aeyn of oure lord Jesus home to his modere at Nazareth. And
     en when he went done fro at hille & came to Jordane'. John
     baptist als sone as he sawh him come towarde him, with his
     fyngere puttyng towarde him shewede him & seide, Lo e
     lombe of god. Lo he at doe awey e synnes ofe world. He
  20 it is vpon e whome I sawe e holy gost rest, what tyme I
     boptized him.
         Afturwarde also a noer day, when Jon hadde shewed
     him as he dide first'. Andrewe & Peture with oer disciples
     speken with him & hadden a bygynnyng of his knowlech as
  25 John telle in his gospel.
         Afturward oure lord Jesus laft at cuntre & toke e
     way toward Galile til he came to his modere at Nazareth,
     whom we shole also folowe by compassion of his gret trauaile
     alle at longe wey of lxxiiij myle, as it was seide before.
  30      Ande what tyme at he was come home, & his
     modere hade e siht of him'. no wondur ouh she was gladde
     & ioyful in so mych at ere may no tonge telle. Wherefore
     anone she rose & clippyng & kissyng him, welcomede him
     home, & onked e fadere of heuen, at hade brouht him safe
  35 to hir. Bot erwi beholdyng his face lene & pale'. she hade
     gret compassion, & he aeynward reuerently enclynande dide
     her worchipe as to his modere, & also to Joseph as to his
     trowede fadere, & so duelled he with hem as he dide before
     mekely bot in an oere maner of liuyng, as by shewyng
  40 without for of his perfeccion more & more, as it sal shewe
     here aftur.
         Bot for als miche as hit were longe werke &
     perauenture tediose boe to e rederes & e hereres hereof, if
     alle e processe of e blessed life of Jesu shold be wryten in



|p78


     englishe so fully by meditaciones as it is it hidereto, aftur e
     processe of e boke before nemede of Bonauenture in latyne'.
     erfore here aftur many chapitres & longe processe at semen
     litel edificacion inne, as to e maner of symple folk at is
   5 boke is specialy writen to'. shal be laft vnto it drawe to e
     passion, e which with e grace of Jesu shale be more pleynly
     continuede, as e matere at is most nedeful & most edifying.
     And before onely o materes at semen |r[39r] most fructuose & e
     chapiteres of hem, sholen be writen as god wole ife grace.
  10      Wherefore as e same Bonauenture bidde ou at
     wolt fele e swetnesse & e fruyt of ees meditaciones take
     hede algate, & in alle places deuoutly in i mynde beholdyng
     e persone of oure lorde Jesu in alle hese dedes, as when he
     stant with hees disciples, & when with oer sinfulmen. And
  15 when he preche to e peple, & how he speke to hem, & also
     when he worche myracles, & so for takyng hede of alle hese
     dedes & hees maneres, & principaly beholdyng his blessede
     face, if ou kynne ymagine it, at seme to me most harde of
     alle oere, bot as I trowe it is most lykyng, to him at ha
  20 grace erof. And so what tyme at singulere meditaciones
     bene not specifiede'. is generale shale sufficie. Amen.


        DE Aperitione libri in sinagoga'. nota in capitulo
     sequenti.


     How oure lord Jesus began to teche & gedire disciples.
  25 Capitulum xvj=m=


        |r<b> Afture at oure lorde Jesus was come home aeyn to
     Nazare, fro his baptisme & his temptacion as it is seide'. he
     began litel & litel to shewe himself, & to teche priuely & in
     party. For as opunly & fully we rede not at he toke vpon him
  30 e office of prechyng, alle at ere folowyng, at is to sey
     vnto at tyme at he wrouht e first miracle at e weddyng,
     at was at self day twelf mone at he was baptized. And
     ouh he or his disciples precheden in e mene tyme oerwhile'.
     neuerles it was not so fully nor so customably done before at
  35 Jon baptist was taken & enprisonede'. as aftur'. And in at he
     af vs ensaumple of a wondurful mekenes, when touchyng e
     office of prechyng he af stede to Jon, at was miche lasse, &
     without comparison more vnwori en he. And so we mowe



|p79


     se at he began not with boste & blowyng as many done'. bot
     with mekenes litel & litel softly.
        Wherfore vpon a sabbate day when he was come in to
     e sinagoge as he was wont to do with oere as in e chirch
   5 of Jues'. he rose vp fort rede in maner of a minstere or a
     clerke, & when er was take him e boke of e prophete
     ysaie'. he turnede to at place where it is writen, & so he radde
     in is manere, e spirite of our lorde |r[39v] ha restede vp on me.
     Wherefore he ha anoynted me, & fort preche to e pore'. he
  10 ha send me &c. And an when he hade closede e boke &
     taken it to e seruant'. he sat done, & an he spake forermore
     & seide, is day is is scripture fulfilled in oure eres.
     Now take hede of him how mekely at e byginnyng he
     take vp on him e office of a redere as it were a symple
  15 clerke, first with a benigne & louely chere redyng, & aftur
     expownyng it mekely of him self, & it not opunly expressyng
     or nemyng him self, when he sei is day is fulfilled is
     scripture, as who sey, I at rede is, is day'. am he of whom
     it speke.
  20     And e eyene of alle at were in e sinagoge were set
     bisily in him. And alle ei wondreden of e wordes of grace
     at eden out of his moue. And no wondere. For he was
     souereynly faire & also most eloquente. As Dauid sei to him
     of boe, ou art faire in shape passyng e children of men, &
  25 grace is shedde in i lippes.
        Forermore also oure lord Jesus bisying him about oure
     sauacion'. began to clepe & gedire to him disciples & so he
     cleped Peture & Andrewe re tymes.
        First tyme when he was about e watere of Jordan, as
  30 it was seid before, & en ei comen sumwhat in to his
     knowlech, bot ei folowed not him.
        e seconde tyme he clepede hem fro e shippe, when
     ei weren about to take fishe, as Luke telle. Bot en ouh ei
     herden his doctrine & folowede him'. neuerles ei ouhten at
  35 at tyme to turne aeyn to hir propre gudes.
        e ridde tyme as Mathewe telle, he cleped hem fro
     e shippe, when he seid to hem, Come aftur me for I sal
     make ow fisheres of men. And en laft ei hir nettes & ship
     & fadere & folowed him.
  40     Also in o twey last tymes, he cleped James & John,
     as in e same place is made mynde of hem with Petur &
     Andrewe.
        Also specialy he cleped John fro e bridale as seynt
     Jerome sei, bot at is not expressed in e text of e gospel.



|p80


        Also specialy he cleped Philippe, & also in a noere
     place Mathew e publicane. Bot e maner of clepyng of e
   5 remnant'. it is not expressely writen saue at luke make
     mynde of e xij apostles chosen & name hem alle.
        Nowe take we here entent to e maner of him in is
     clepyng & gederyng |r[40r] of hese disciples, & of his conuersacion
     with hem, how louely he spekes to hem, & how homely he
  10 shewe him self to hem, drawyng hem to his loue, withinfore
     by grace & without fore by dede, familiarely ledyng hem to
     his modere house, & also goyng with hem oft to hir
     duellynges, techyng & enfourmyng hem, & so in alle oer
     manere beynge als bisy aboute hem, & with als gret cure, as
  15 e modere is of hir owne sone. In so miche at as it is writen
     seynt Petur tolde, at what tyme he slept with hem in any
     place'. it was his custome to ryse vp in e niht hem slepyng,
     & if he fonde any of hem vnhilede'. priuely & softly hil him
     aeyne. For he loued hem ful tendurly knowyng what he
  20 wolde make of hem. As ouh it so were at ei were men of
     rude & buystes condiciones, & of symple lynage'. neuerles he
     ouht to make hem princes of e worlde & cheueteynes of alle
     cristien men in gostly bataile, & domesmen of oere.
        Here also lat vs take hede of what maner peple began
  25 e fei & e gronde of holi chirch, as of seche symple
     fysheres, pore men & vnlernde. For oure lord wolde not chese
     hereto grete clerkes & wise men or mihty men of e worlde,
     lest e grete dedes at sholde aftur be done by hem, miht be
     aretted to hir worinesse. Bot is he reseruede & kept to him
  30 self as it was reson, shewyng at onely in his owne gudnes &
     miht & wisdome, he bouht vs & sauede vs.
        Blessed be he without ende Jesus. Amen.


     Of e miracle done at e bridale of water tornede in to
     wyne. Capitulum xvij=m=


        |r<b> BEfelle at day twelf mone at oure lorde Jesus was
     baptizede as it is seide, ere was made a bridale in e contre
  35 of Galile, in a place at was cleped e Cane. Of e which
     bridale er is doute whos bridale it was. Bot we at is tyme
     sholen suppose aftur e comune opinion, at it was of John e
     Euangelist as seynt Jerome also telle, in e prologe of e
     Gospel of John.



|p81


        At e which bridale oure lady Jesu modere was, as she
     at was e eldest & most wori of e re sisteres. And erfore
     she was not byden nor cleped idere as oere strangeres were'.
     |r[40v] bot she was ere in hir sistere house homely as in hir owne
   5 house, ordeynyng, & ministryng as maistrese erof, & at we
     mowe vndurstande by re euidences of e processe of at
     gospel.
        First by at e gospel sei, first, at e modere ofJesu
     was ere, & aftur at Jesus & hese disciples weren cleped or
  10 byden erto. And so as we suppose it befelle, at what tyme
     oure ladies sistere Marie, Salome, e wife of zebede shapt to
     wedde hir son John'. she ede before to oure lady to Nazare
     at was fro e Cane about iiij myle, seyinge at she wolde
     make a bridale to hir sone John.
  15     & so en oure lady went wi hir, to ordeyn erfore
     certayn dayes before. So at when oer gestes were beden'. she
     was ere alredy & homely before.
        e seconde euidence is, at she knew e defaut of
     wyne, wherfore it seme at she sat not at at mete as oer
  20 gestes at were beden'. bot at she ede about mynistryng as
     one of hem at delyuereden mete & drinke & oer necessaries.
     Wherfore she parceyuede by tyme & sauh e defaut of wyne,
     & told priuely hir sone erof for help & remedy, & at miht
     she not haue do, if she had sette among oer women, bot she
  25 had risen fro e borde'. at is not semely to be, & also it is not
     to leue'. at she at was vertuesly shamefast sat by her son
     amonge men. Wherfore it folowe at she sat not as a geste,
     bot ministred as it is seide before.
        e ridde euidence hereof is, at she badde e
  30 seruantes fort go to hir sone, & at ei shold do what at he
     bad hem do. And so it seme, at she was ouer hem, & at e
     bridale was gouernede by here & erfore she was bisy at no
     defaut were ereat.
        Wherefore we mowe take hede & vndurstonde e
  35 manere of is bridale, & e processe of e miracle ereat
     done, us:
        First we shole beholde oure lord Jesu etyng ere among
     hem, as a noere comune man, & at sittyng in e lowest
     place & not among e grete & most wirchipful gestes abouen,
  40 as we mowe vndurstande by is processe. For he shold aftur
     teche is lesson of e gospel, when ou art beden to e
     bridale or to e fest'. sitte & take i stede in e lowest place
     &c. And for als miche as he wold first do in dede at he shold
     aftur tech by worde'. erfore, he wold not |r[41r] take e first & e



|p82


     principale sette in manere of proude men, bot raere e lowest
     among symple men.
        Herewi also beholde oure lady his modere bisy at
     alle inge were wele & couenably don, tellyng e seruantes &
   5 e ministres how ei shold serue & whereof. And so aftur
     when it drowe toward e ende of e feste'. ei comen to hir &
     seide ere is no more wyne. And she answerede, abide a litel'.
     & I sal gete ow to haue more. And she went out of e
     chaumbre in to e halle, to hir son Jesus at sat at e bordes
  10 ende nihe e chaumbre dore & rownede him in e ere, &
     seide, My dere sone, ei haue nomore wyne, & she is oure
     sistere is pore. Wherfore I ne wyte where we shole haue more.
     And an Jesus answered & seide, What is at to me & to e
     woman? is seme a harde & a buystes answere as to his
  15 modere. Bot neuerles it was seide in mistery & for oure
     techyng as seynt bernarde sei, & as it shal be tolde aftur e
     processe. Bot of is harde & strange answere as to semyng, his
     modere was not disturblet nor in despeire'. bot fully traistyng
     in his gret godenes & benignite'. she went aeyn to e
  20 seruantes & seide to hem, Goe to my sone Jesus, & what so
     euer he sei & bidde ow do'. doe. And en at e biddyng
     of oure lorde'. ei filleden e stenes at ere were ful of
     watere & anone at his blessyng alle e watere of hem was
     turnede in to wyne. And en he bad hem drawe erof, & bere
  25 to e Architriclyne, at is to sey e most wori persone of alle
     e gestes in at house.
        In e which biddyng we mowe se first e discrecion of
     our lorde'. in at he sende at wyne first to e most wirchipful
     man. Also we mowe se hereby at oure lord sat ferr fro him,
  30 in at he seide bere to e Architricline. And so sien he sat
     in e hiest place'. it seme at oure lord sat in e lowest place,
     as it was seide before.
        And when he hade tasted e wyne, & preysed it, & he
     & oere dronken erof'. e mynistres at knewen how it was
  35 made, tolden opunly e myracle, & en hees disciples leueden
     in him more sadly as for e first miracle at ei seene done
     before hem. And so in at Jesus shewed his |r[41v] blysse & his
     godhede.
        After warde when e fest was alle done'. oure lord
  40 Jesus cleped John by hym self'. & seid, Leue is woman at
     ou hast take to i wife & folowe me, for I sal bringe e to a
     better & more perfite weddyng en is is. And anone without
     more'. John laft his wife ere & folowed Jesus.



|p83


        In e forseid processe we mowe note many inges to
     oure doctrine & edificacion.
        First in at oure lorde Jesus wold come & be present
     at e bridale & weddyng, he shewe vs at matrimoyn &
   5 fleshly weddyng is leueful & ordeynet of god. Bot in at he
     cleped John erfro'. he doe vs to vndurstond, at gostly
     matrimoyn is miche more perfite & wori.
        Also in at harde answere & straunge as to semyng, at
     he afe to his modere whan he seid What is at to me & to e
  10 woman? As seynt bernard sei, he tauht vs at be religiouse &
     haue forsake e world, not fort be to bysy & haue grete care
     about oure fleshly parens, so at hir nede let not oure gostly
     exercise. For als longe as we bene of e world'. so longe we
     bene in dette to oure parens, bot aftur we haue laft it &
  15 forsake oureself'. miche more we be fre & delyuerede of e
     besinesse of hem.
        And so we fynde writen at ere came vpon a tyme to
     on hermete or a monke at hade forsake e worlde & lyuede
     solitary in deserte, his owne fleshly broer, praying him of his
  20 help in a certayne nede touchyng e world, & he bad him go
     to his oere broere at was dede longe before. And whan he
     wondret of at biddyng & seide, at he was dede as he knewe
     wele'. e monke answerde & seide, at so was he dede to e
     world.
  25     And so tauht vs oure lord Jesus, at we at haue
     forsake e world, shold not be bisy about oure parens &
     fleshly frendes, ouere at at religione aske'. when he
     answered to his modere & namely to sich a modere seying
     What is at to me & to e woman &c.
  30     Anoere vnderstandyng is in ees wordes e which
     doctours comunly tellen, & erfore we passe ouer at, at is
     tyme.
        Forermore we haue here techyng of pacience & hope
     in e dede of oure lady, at laft not for at strange answere,
  35 as it is seide before. And so what tyme we clepen to Jesu for
     help at oure nede bodily or gostly, |r[42r] ouh we fynde it not
     anone'. bot raere hardnesse & contraryte'. we shole not leue
     erfore to calle vp on him by gude hope'. til orh his mercy &
     grace e vnsauory watere & colde of aduersite & penance be
  40 turned in to wyne of confort & gostly likyng.
        Aftere is miracle was done'. oure lord Jesus willyng &
     purposyng sofor to wirche & preche opunly for e sauacione
     of man'. he went fro at place with his modere & hees
     disciples in to Capharnaum beside Nazareth, & after a fewe



|p84


     dayes, aeyn home to Nazareth ledyng his modere by e wey,
     & folowyng hees disciples & bisily heryng hees wordes & his
     techyng. For he was not ydul, bot euere dide & wrouht gude,
     or tauht & spake to edificacion. And so do we in his name, at
   5 blessed be without ende. Amen.


     Of at excellent sermone of oure lord Jesu in e hille.
     Capitulum xviij=m=


        |r<b> When oure lord Jesus hadde chosen & gederet hees
     disciples as it is seide before, willyng to teche hem &
  10 enfourme hem e perfeccion of e newe lawe'. he ladde hem
     vp into a hille, at is cleped Thabor about two myle fro
     Nazareth aftere e comune opinion, & ere he made to hem a
     longe sermone & full of fruyte e which as seynt Austyn sei
     in e byginnyng of his boke at he made of at same sermone'.
  15 it contene al e perfeccion of cristien lyuyng. For in at
     sermone he tauht hem first whech men ben blessed of god, &
     wori to haue his blisse. Also he tauht hem e trewe maner of
     prayere, of fastyng & of almesdede, & oere vertues longyng
     to e perfite life of man, as e text of e gospel opunly telle,
  20 & diuerse doctours & clerkes expowen it sufficiantly, e which
     processe we passen ouere here for als mich as it is writen boe
     in latyn & english in many oere places. And also it were ful
     longe processe to touch alle e poyntes erof here as by maner
     of meditacione. Wherfore at is tyme we shole specialy note,
  25 at oure lord began is sermone first at pouerte, doyng vs to
     vndurstonde, at pouerte is e first grounde of alle gostly
     exercise. For he at is ouerleide & charget with temporel
     gudes & worldly riches'. may not frely & swiftly folowe crist,
     at is e mirrour |r[42v] & ensaumple of pouerte, namely he at
  30 ha his likyng & his affeccion vndre ees worldly gudes, for
     he is not fre, bot ralle & as in bondage of hem. For of at
     inge at a man loue inwardly & by affeccione'. he is made
     wilfully ralle & seruant. And erfore is e pore man blessede,
     at is to sey he at inwardly loue no inge bot god, or for
  35 god, & erfore he despise alle oer worldly inge for god.
     For in at he is knit to god as for e more part. Wherfore sei
     seynt bernarde in a sermone at pouerte is a gret feere or a
     gret wenge, orh e which a man flie so sone in to e
     kyngdome of heuen. For as to oer vertues at folowen in is
  40 place of e gospel, e mede of hem is [beheyt] fort come as



|p85


     in tyme at folowe aftur. Bot to e vertue of pouerte it is not
     onely beheyht fort come'. bot as in tyme at is nowe present
     it is iuen of crist, by e forseid wordes at e byginnyng of
     his sermone, at bene ees, Blessed be ei at bene pore in
   5 spirite, for hir mede is e kyngdom of heuen. Lo he sei not
     hir mede shal be, bot as nowe, hir mede is.
        Also ei at bene not only pore, bot pore in spirite, ben
     blessed, for erinne stant er vertue of pouerte, & he is pore
     in spirite'. at ha litel of e spirite of pride, at is comune to
  10 mankynde by e first synne, as a man is cleped pore worldly
     at ha litel of worldly gudes.
        Bot now leuyng is matere turne we vs to e
     contemplacion, beholdyng oure lord Jesu howe lowely &
     mekely he sitte vpon at hille, & hees disciples about him, &
  15 with how louely & sadde chere, he speke o wordes ful of
     edificacione & teche at noble lesson of souereyn perfeccion.
     And also how mekely & entently hees disciples
     beholden his blessed face & heren o swete wordes, & setten
     hem bisily in hir mynde. And so haue ei gret ioy & gostly
  20 likyng boe in his speche & in his siht.
        And specialy as I hope ei were conforted in at noble
     short prayere at he tauht hem among oer in at tyme, at is
     e pater noster. & at for e gret fruite at ei feldone
     erinne, & also for e gret trist & hope at ei were put inne
  25 erby. For as we mowe wele suppose as to e first, at is e
     fruyt erof, not only ei vndurstode it after e lettur, bot also
     erwi ei hadden orh |r[43r] his grace e gostly vndurstandyng
     of ech peticion erof. And sien erinne is contenede e
     askyng of alle at vs nede to e body & to e soule, & at
  30 touchyng oure temperele lif in is world, & e lif euerlastyng
     in a noer world, & alle comprehendet in so short wordes'. no
     wondur ouh ei hadden gret likyng & confort in at prayere
     by e gret fruite at ei tastede erinne. And so hauen alle ei
     at orh grace felene e gostly fruite & e swete tast erof.
  35      Also as to e seconde confort in at prayere at is
     trist & hope, how miht hir trist & hope be more stablet &
     strenghede'. en to se hym at alonly knewe what was nedeful
     & spedeful to hem to aske, & at miht onely iue it hem'. tech
     hem at peticion by e which ei miht not erre in hir askyng,
  40 nor faile of hir askyng. And so he at was domesman, made
     e libelle in hir cause, aeynus e whiche he miht not iue his
     dome & his sentence.
         Also he at was lord made e bille of hees seruantes,
     fort aske onely o inges at were nedeful to hem, & likyng



|p86


     to him fort graunte. More confort miht not be touchyng
     prayere & askyng in nede.
         And also more ouere is confort of is praiere was e
     more for als miche as nekst before in e same place of at
   5 sermone, he reprouede e praiere of ypocrites & oer at
     weren not wori to be herde. And so was e medicine more
     confortable & likyng'. at e defaute & sekenes was oponede
     & tolde before.
         Alle is confort sal we fynde in is forseid praiere
  10 Pater noster, if we sey it deuoutly & not in dedely sinne. For
     oure lord Jesus made not onely is prayere to his disciples at
     were at tyme specialy with him in at hille'. bot also to vs &
     alle cristien men generaly, at sholde make hir praiere to e
     fadere of heuen in his name in to e worldes ende.
  15      Bot e more harme is'. here is miche peple deceyuet,
     at leue to mich is most wori praiere & beste'. by singulere
     deuocion in oer priuate praieres'. or seying it without
     deuocion. As we mowe se alday many men & women beringe
     bedes with trillyng on e fingeres, & waggyng e lippes'. bot
  20 e siht cast to vanytees & e herte at onely god knowe'. as
     it is to drede, sette more vpon worldly inges. Of e whiche
     maner of peple speke oure lord god by |r[43v] e prophete & sei
     us, is peple praie & honoure me with hir lippes'. bot hir
     herte is ferr fro me.
  25     Bot for als miche as is matere is spoken of in many
     oer tretees & bokes boe in latyne & in english'. & is
     praiere sufficiantly expowenet'. erfore we passen ouer more
     shortly at is tyme hereof.
        Bot one inge touchyng is praiere, soely I trowe at
  30 whoso wole iue his entent fort sey it with deuocion & ha an
     inwarde desire to e gostly vndurstondyng erof, settyng his
     herte erto als miche as he may when he sei it boe in
     comune & in priuate'. he shale orh grace by processe of tyme
     finde so miche confort erinne, at ere is none oere praiere
  35 made of man at shal be to him so sauory & so effectuele in
     what so euere nede or case he be stirede specialy to pray for
     remedy & help to god. And so shale he fynde in his soule
     whan god wole ife his grace with gret likyng diuerse
     vndurstandyng erof most pertynent to his desire & at'. oere
  40 an is writen in e comune exposicion erof, or perantere an
     he can telle.
        Bot miche folke as seruantes & hirede men haue more
     wile to praye for speciale mede at ei coueyten here an as
     trewe sones'. for e loue & e pleysyng of oure fadere god of



|p87


     heuen'. And so ei setten more hir likyng & bisinesse in a
     priuate praiere made of man to oure lady or to oer seyntes of
     heuen'. en ei done in is generale praiere made of god him
     self, e which without dout is most pleisyng to him, & most
   5 spedeful to vs, & erfore e bene deceyued in many maneres.
     I speke not here of e sawter & e seruice in holy chirch.
        Neuerles also oere deuout praieres made to god & to
     oure lady & oere seyntes bene gude to be seide after at e
     deuocion of men is stired to sey hem in conable tyme, so at
  10 ei sette not hir affeccion e lasse vpon is most wori praiere
     pater noster. As miche folk in e seying of oere priuate
     praieres, setten al hir entent & speken hem with grete
     deuocion. Bot in e seying of e pater noster ei bene to
     negligent & rablene it for without deuocion. And at make
  15 oft speciale mede temperel at ei hopen fort haue by e
     seying of sech priuate praieres as to |r[44r] ouercome hir enmyes or
     fort be kept fro fire or watere or sudeyn de or oere bodily
     periles. And at is a gret foly to trist vpon by e seying of any
     praieres'. without rihtwise lyuyng. And also men shold not
  20 desire seche speciale temporele medes, bot onely as it is e
     wille of god, at alonly knowe what is spedful to vs, & at
     without doute shale gete vs most effectuely of eny oer praiere
     e pater noster if it be seide treuly with deuocion & specialy
     by at peticion & askyng, Fiat voluntas tua sicut in celo & in
  25 terra, at is to sey, Oure fadere in heuen, i wille be done in
     alle inge as in heuen'. so in ere. And so if it be best to vs
     fort be kept fro fire or watere or sudeyn de or any oere
     bodily perele'. without dout oure fadere of heuen god, wole
     iue it vs, aftur e forseide peticion with rihtwise lyuyng, &
  30 elles not, sey we neuer so many priuate prayeres. For as we
     rede alday of diuerse martires & seyntes, at sume were brent,
     sume drouned & in oere diuerse maneres put to shamful de
     as to e world & at was best to hem, & encrese of hir ioy in
     blisse of heuen.
  35     Wherfore it hade bene a gret opun foly to hem as we
     wele mow wite, to haue praiede fort be kept fro siche bodily
     harmes, or periles, & as anentes sudeyn de'. it is spedeful to
     many men, fort haue siche de shameful to mannus siht as
     seynt gregour telle, be ensaumple of e prophete Abdo at
  40 was weried of e lyone, at god purge oft tyme here rihtwise
     men, by siche shameful de.
        For as holi writ witnesse soely, e rihtwise man if he
     be ouercome by any maner of bodily de, his soule salbe
     sauede, & he set in rest euere lastyng.



|p88


        Neuerles we preyen oft & at leuefully to be kept fro
     sudeyn de'. bot at is vndurstonde at we be not combret with
     dedely synne, erinne to deye without repentance of herte &
     shrift of moue, & erto as I hope is most best & effectuele
   5 praiere e pater noster specialy in e tweyn last peticiones &
     askynges erof, by e whech we prayen almihty god fadere of
     heuen at he suffre vs not to falle & to be cumbret with
     temptacion of dedely synne, bot at he kepe vs & deliuere vs
     fro alle wikkednes. Amen.
  10     And ouh |r[44v] it so be at e matere of is wori praiere
     be so plentyuous, & also e desire of e writere here of were,
     to speke more erof'. neuerles for it is writen in so many oere
     places as I hope sufficiantly, & also for e gret processe at
     folowe after'. we leuen is matere at is tyme, & alle at
  15 fructuose sermon, at oure lorde Jesus made to hees disciples
     in at hille before, goyng done with him by deuout
     contemplacion, & beholdyng how at after at noble lesson
     tauht in e hye hille, as it was skilful for e hie perfeccion
     erof'. oure lorde Jesus came done with at meke folk of hees
  20 disciples, spekyng also homely with hem by e wey, & ei as
     e chikenes of e henne, folowen him with miche gostly
     likyng, coueytyng eche before oer to be nekst him & here his
     vertuese & swete wordes.
        And  aftur he was come done'. miche peple come
  25 aeynus him, bringyng diuerse seke folk & many, as e gospel
     telle by processe, e whech alle'. he ful of mercy heled &
     made hole boe in body & soule.
        And us shortly we passen ouere here miche processe
     of e gospel & many chapitres of e forseid boke of
  30 Bonauenture, for e litel edificacion of hem as it seme
     nedeful to symple soules, to whech is boke is specialy writen
     in english'. as it ha oft be seide here before.
        And so leuyng is processe in many places'. we shole
     onely telle e notabilitees ere vpon shortly to edificacion.
  35 Amen.


     Of e seruaunt of Centurio, & e sone of e lytell kyng
     helyd of owre lord Jesu. Capitulum xix.


        |r<b> IN is gospel in at oure lorde Jesus mekely vnpraiede
     went bodily to hele e seek seruant, & wolde not go to e
  40 kyngessone praiede'. oure pride is reprouede, in at we in



|p89


     contrarie maner bene redy & leue to go to riche men & mihty
     at we mowe be worldly wirchipede by, & to pleyse hem, &
     do e seruice at we mowen for worldly mede, bot we bene
     loe to go to pore men & simple, or to helpe hem in hir nede
   5 for gostly mede lest it were aeynus oure wirchipe, as seynt
     gregory note in is place.


     Of e palatyk man let don in his bed be e house helyng,
     and heled of owre lord Jesu. Capitulum xx=m=.


        |r<b> IN is gospel we haue ensaumple |r[45r] & doctrine, at oft
  10 sies bodily sekenes'. come of gostly sekenes, at is synne, &
     at e helyng of gostly sekenes'. is oft cause of bodily hele. In
     at oure lord first forafe to e paletyke hees synnes, & aftur
     heled him of e bodily palesye.
        Also here we mowe se e grete vertue of trewe byleue,
  15 in at, at e fee & e byleue of one man'. helpe & saue
     a noer. As e fei of e bereres of is paletike man'. sauede
     him, & also in e nekst chapitre before, e fei of Centurio'.
     gate hele to his seruant. And also here aftur, e fei of e
     woman chanane'. sauede hir douhter. And so it falle now
  20 alday, at childrene baptizede & aftur dede before e eres of
     discrecion'. bene sauede in e fei of hir godfadres orh e
     merite of criste. And is is opunly aeynus sume heritikes at
     holden e contrarie opynion.


     How at Martha was helyd of hyre sekenesse be towchyng
  25 of e hemme of owre lordys clothyng. Capitulum
     xxj=m=.


        |r<b> E gospel neme not e woman at was heled by e
     touching of e hemme of Jesus cloinge. Bot seynt Ambrose
     & oer doctoures seyn at she was Martha e sistere of Marie
  30 Maudeleyn.
        By e hem of Jesus cloing as seynt Bernerde sei,
     may be vndurstonde, euery meke seruant of god, e whiche in
     any vertuese dede at he doe owe to knowe treuly in herte
     & knowlech opunly by mowe, at onely god is e principale
  35 doere erof & nouht he, as e cloue heled not, bot oure lord
     Jesus at werede e cloe.



|p90


     Of e conuersyon of Marie Maugdelyn. Capitulum xxij=m=.


        |r<b> Oure curteise lord Jesus was praiede of Symonde e
     leprose on a day to ete with him, & erto he grauntede gladly,
     & came to mete as he was wont to do oft sies, boe of his
   5 owne curteysie, & also for e loue & e zele at he hade to e
     sauacion of mannus soules, for e whech he was made man.
     For so etyng with hem & benyngly comunyng with hem he
     drou[]e hem vnto e loue of him. Also for als mich as he
     made him self so perfitely pore, at he toke none possession
  10 of worldes godes for him self or for hees'. erfore orh at
     loue of pouerte he at was e mirrour of mekenes, what tyme
     he was preyede or bidene to mete'. toke it for e tyme & e
     place'. mekely |r[45v] & with curteyse onkyng, & gode wille. And
     an befelle at Marie Mawdeleyn, at perantere oft tyme
  15 before hade herde him preche & orh touching of his grace
     was gretly stired to compunccion & to e feruent loue of him,
     ouh it were it priuely hidde in hir herte'. when she herde &
     knewe at he was at e mete in e house of e forseid
     symonde'. she was so feruently touchede with sorow of herte
  20 withinfore for hir synnes, & also with e brennyng fire of his
     loue'. at she miht no lengir abide, bot anone she went to at
     forseid house where Jesus satte at e mete, considering at
     without him she miht not be saue nor haue foriuenes of hir
     sinnes, & so she went bodily in to e house, & as she hade
  25 forete hir self takyng no rewarde to e gestes at ere were
     at e mete, haldyng done hir face & hir eyene to e ere, she
     letted not til she came to him at she souht & inwardly louede
     oure lord Jesu. And anone en she felle done to e gronde
     prostrate at hees fete, & with grete inwarde sorowe & shame
  30 for hir synnes spake in hir herte to him, enkyng as it were in
     is manere:
        My swete lorde I wote wele & treuly knowlech at e
     ben my god & my lorde, & at I haue offendet our hye
     maieste in many gret offenses & trespasses, in so miche at I
  35 knowlech soely at my synnes bene without noumbre as e
     grauele of e see. Bot for als miche as I byleue at our
     mercy passe al inge'. erfore I wrecchede & sinful come to
     owe & fle to our grete mercy forenkyng inwardly of at I
     haue offendet, & askyng mercy & foriuenes. And I behete
  40 with al my herte amendment of my synnes & at I shal neuer
     to my powere forsake our obedience. Gode lord put me not
     fro ow, & forsake not my repentance for oere refute I wote
     wele at I may none haue, & also I wole not haue, for I loue



|p91


     ow souereynly aboue al oere. Wherfore gude lord forsake e
     not me, bot punesh e me at our wille, neuereles I aske algate
     mercy.
        And herwi with grete trist of his mercy & inwarde
   5 affeccion of his loue'. she kissed his fete oft & sadly wepyng
     & shedyng teres so ikke at she weshe hese fete with hem.
     And so it seme erby, at oure lord Jesus went |r[46r] barefote.
        After when she hade wele wept wi grete drede of hir
     vnworinesse at hir teres shold touche oure lordes fete'. she
  10 wiped hem with hir her, deuoutly, for she brouht no inge with
     hir so precious to wipe hem wi. And also she wiped hem
     with hir her, in amendment of at she hade before trespassede
     with hir her, at is to say'. as she hade before vsed it in pride
     & vanite'. an she wolde put it to e vse of mekenes &
  15 deuocion. And also for e feruent loue & deuocion at she
     hade to him, she wold not be letted erof, by e fecchyng of
     any cloe to wipe hem wi, bot so wipyng hees fete with hir
     her, & afterwarde deuoutly kyssyng hem oft sies'. aftur she
     anoynted hem with a preciouse oynement at she brouht with
  20 hir, supposyng perantere at oure lordes feet were harde of e
     wey, & also for inwarde deuocion byginnyng with drede at his
     fete, as she dide after with more boldenes of loue anoyntede
     his hede.
        Lord god whoso wolde inwardly enk & take hede to
  25 is dede of is woman, & al e circumstance erof'. miche
     gostly fruite sholde he fynde erinne, stiryng to inwarde
     repentance of synne, & to trewe loue of Jesu, & grete
     deuocion.
        Bot now for as to e processe, take we hede also of
  30 e manere of oure lorde Jesu in is tyme, how benyngly &
     paiciently he suffre hir do al hir wille, for it liked him ful
     wele, knowyng e inward affeccion & e trewe loue of hir
     herte. And so al at tyme he cesed of etyng, & also with him
     alle e gestes, wondryng of e woman, & of at vnkede dede,
  35 & of e pacience of oure lorde Jesu & his suffrance of hir.
        And specialy e maistere of e house Symonde,
     demede him gretely in his herte, at he wolde suffre siche a
     comune sinful woman touche him so homely, & in at he
     ouht at he was no profete supposyng at he knewe hir
  40 nouht. Bot oure lorde at passyng alle oer prophetes, knewe
     e leste ouht of mannus herte, answerede opunly to his priuey
     ouhtes, shewyng him self erby a verrey prophete & more
     an a profete. And by an ensaumple of tweyn dettours'. he
     concludet him iustifying e woman at he held so sinful &



|p92


     preuyng at she louede him more, & shewed him more token
     of loue by hir dede'. |r[46v] an he with alle his feste, & so
     shewyng, at not onely e perfeccion of alle vertues, bot also
     e iustifying of e sinfull, stant principaly in trewe loue of
   5 god'. he siede to Symonde as for a conclusion us, Many
     sinnes bene foriuene hir, for she loued miche.
        And en he turnede him to Maudeleyn, & seide to hir
     as for a fulle ende of at she askede, i fei ha sauede e, go
     now in pees.
  10     A lorde Jesu how swete & likynge was is worde to
     hir, & with how gret ioy at she went awey! Soely it was so
     likynge'. at as I trowe it went neueraftur out of hir mynde.
     And so was she perfitely conuertede to Jesu, leuyng hir sinne
     fully, & liuyng euer after in al honeste holily & drawyng
  15 algate to him & to his modere without departyng
     perseuerantly.
        In e forseide processe & e sentence of is gospel
     bene many grete notabilites to oure edificacione of e whiche
     we shole touch sume in partye. First as to a souereyn confort
  20 of alle sinful folke we haue here opunly shewede in oure lorde
     Jesu e abundance of his endles mercye, at so sone & so
     gladly forafe so many grete sinnes & trespasses of is sinful
     woman, & so doe he to alle at trewely desiren & asken his
     mercy, but here behoue charite & trewe loue, at was so
  25 specialy comendet of him in is woman, e which onely
     reforme pes by twix god & e sinful man, as e apostle sei,
     at charite couere e multitude ofsinnes, & without e which
     it is impossible to pleys god.
        For as seynt bernarde sei, e quantite of euery mannus
  30 soule shale be taken & estimede after e mesure of charite at
     is erinne, at is to sey, at soule at ha miche of charite'. is
     gret, & at ha litel'. is litel, & at ha noght'. is nowht, as
     seynt poule sei aftur e rehersyng of many gret vertues'.
     concludyng us, If I haue not charite'. soely I am nouht. And
  35 erfore seid oure lord of is woman, at for she louede miche'.
     erfore she hade miche foriuene as it was seide before.
        Forermore also here haue we ensaumple of trewe
     repentance & penance at is nedeful to foriuenes of synnes'.
     shewed in is woman Maudleyn, as we haue herde, e whiche
  40 penance as alle holy chirch teche, stant in sorowe of herte in
     shrift |r[47r] of moue & in satisfaccion of dede.
        Bot here perantere sume men enken aftur e fals
     opinyon of lollardes at shrift of moue is not nedeful, bot at
     it suffice onely in herte to be shriuen to god, as e forseide



|p93


     woman was, for e gospel telle not at she spake any worde
     by moue, & it was hir sinne fully foriuen as it is seide, &
     as it seme is is a gret euidence for at opinion.
     Bot hereto is an answere resonable at oure lorde Jesus
   5 to whome she made hir confession in herte'. was er in bodily
     presence verrey god & man, to whom by vertue of e godhede
     was also opune e ouht of hert'. as is to man e spech of
     moue, as oft sies e processe of e gospel telle, & specialy
     here opunly, boe of e woman & also of e pharise ouht.
  10 Wherfore e ouht of herte onely was an to him als miche,
     as is now erwi spech of moue to man bodily. And for als
     miche as nowe in e newe lawe what tyme at we sinnen
     dedely, we offenden him not onely after his godhede, bot also
     after his manhede at he bouht vs with, fro synne & gostly
  15 de, erfore vs behoue to do satisfaccion to him after boe
     kyndes, by trewe penance knoweleching oure trespasse boe
     to god & man, & askynge foriuenes. And sien we haue not
     here his bodily presence as Maudleyn hade'. erfore in his
     stede vs behoue to shewe to e preste by worde, at we haue
  20 offendet him as man, as we shewen to him by repentance in
     herte, at we haue offendet him as god, at is to sey at e
     leste by dedely sinne. For erby onely we be departede fro
     him & vnkyndly lesen e grete benefice at he afe vs in his
     manhede.
  25     Wherfore if we wole be restorede aeyn, & knit to him
     as we were before in grace'. we most do satisfaccion not onely
     to him as to god'. bot also as to man, at we haue so forsake
     by dedely sinne in manere as it is seide.
        And so as holy chirch ha resonably ordeynet & beden
  30 knowlech by moue & make oure confession trewly of oure
     sinne to e prestes at he ha specialy ordeynet in his stede as
     his vikeres hereto, by o wordes of e gospel at he spake to
     hese disciples when he seid to hem us, What so euere e
     bynden in ere'. it sal be bonden |r[47v] in heuen, & what at e
  35 vnbynden in ere'. sal be vnbonden in heuen.
        Of is trewe penance nedeful for dedely sinne, not
     onely by repentance in herte, bot also by shrift of moue to e
     preste in goddus stede if we mowen'. for more god aske not,
     & erwi of dewe satisfaccion folowyng'. we haue perfite
  40 ensaumple opunly shewed in is blessede woman at was
     before so sinful Marie maudleyn in e processe before seide
     of is gospel, as it is opune ynogh touching e first part & e
     last, at is to sey repentance & satisfaccion. & as to e
     seconde at is confession'. ouh we rede it not of hir by worde



|p94


     spekyng, for at was no nede to him at knewe fully hir herte
     oure lord Jesu ere beynge in his bodily presence as it is
     seide'. neuerles she shewede e effecte of is confession
     parfitely in dede, in at at she wolde not shewe hir to him in
   5 priuete as sinfulle, & askyng mercy, as she miht haue done by
     twix him & hir, or elles onely before hese disciples'. bot
     sparyng for none shame, at is a gret part of penance in
     confession, she chace e place & e tyme where it miht be to
     hir as opune reproue & shame, at was in e house of e
  10 pharise, e which she knewe wele hauynge indignacion &
     despite of e sinful, & also at e mete when it sholde be most
     wondring to him & alle his gestes vpon hir for e reproue &
     e shame at she hade of hir sinne was so gret wiinfor'. at
     she forate al shame & reproue withoutfor, & so in at dede
  15 she knowelech opunly hir synne in generalle, & also by wille
     in speciale, not refusyng fort haue herde it rehersede & opunly
     tolde of him at she came to, oure lord Jesu, e which as she
     wist wele knewe in speciale e lest part erof, & at miht
     resonably haue reprehendet hir opunly of it, or he hade foriue
  20 it. Bot oure curteise lord ful of grace & of mercy, sawh at
     verrey contricion in her herte, & at gude wille grondet in
     trewe byleue at he was verrey god, & at miht fully foriue
     hir synne as him likede, & erwi at she hade ful hope to
     haue his grace & foriuenes, & also e feruent loue at she
  25 hade to him, e whech re vertues bene nedeful to euery man
     at wole haue foriuenes of synne. And so without any more
     penance he fully forafe |r[48r] alle hir sinne, & bade hir go in pes,
     at was pes of conscience fully made by twix hir & god &
     manne. For hir trewe fei & byleue in e whiche were grondet
  30 perfitely hope & charite, as it is seide'. had made hir safe. And
     so shal it e most sinful man at is or euer shal be, if he haue
     it trewly grondet in his herte by verrey contricion as she
     hadde, for an without doute he wole not spare for any shame
     to knowelech his sinne by worde opunly to man in goddus
  35 stede'. as she dide by wille to him at was boe god & man as
     it is seide.
        Bot here perantere seme to sume men at as e sinful
     man shal folowe is woman by trewe forinkyng of his sinne'.
     so sholde e preste folowe oure lorde in lit foriuyng
  40 shewede erof, enioynyng no more penance an he dide
     erfore.
        Bot here answeren holi doctours at seyne, at e
     contricion & forinkyng of synne may be so grete & so
     parfite, at it suffice without any more penance to ful



|p95


     foriuenesse erof, e which ere as it is, if e preste miht se
     & fully knowe'. he shold iue nomore penance. Bot for als
     miche as man see not e herte as oure lord Jesus god & man
     dide'. & so he may not knowe it, bot in party as be tokenes
   5 without for'. erfore as for e siker part he shal enioyne
     penance for sinne, more or lasse as holi chirche ha ordeynet.
     And wold god at alle sinful peple wold folowe is woman in
     trewe forenkyng, & en without doute ei shuld haue of god
     ful foriuyng, were e penaunce more or lasse of e prestes
  10 enioynyng.
        Forermore in e forseide processe of e gospel, oure
     lorde Jesus afe ensaumple to e preycheres of godes worde
     at ei shold not spare in tyme to sey e soe, for displesyng
     of hem at feden hem, or iuen hem oer bodily sustinance.
  15 In at not wistandyng at e pharise fed him as he dide oft,
     he reprehendet him opunly in his owne house of his mysbyleue
     & of his fals ouht in e whech he hade indignacion of e
     sinful woman, & as it wolde seme to stiryng of his grete
     mawgre'. he spared not to iustifie at woman at he demed so
  20 sinful, shewynge hir more louynge god an he, & at she was
     saued by hir trewe byleue, before him at failed erof.
     Bot not wistandyng is, on at oere side e pharise
     laft not aftur to fede him, & do him |r[48v] humanyte, as many men
     now done, e whech what tyme at a soe is seide, at is
  25 contrarie to hir wille or opinione'. ei withdrawen hir humanyte
     & affeccion fro him at sei it, be he neuer so gude or
     vertuese in lyuyng. And soely in at condicion, ei shewen
     hem self what so euere ei bene vnlouyng to Jesus at is
     verrey soefastnes, & more vnkynde en was is pharise, & so
  30 wori more reproue of him & more peyne. Neuerles e
     prechour, or an oere gostly man at represente cristes
     persone, shal not spare to sey e soe in tyme'. for drede or
     mawgre, or widrawyng of fauour or any temperel profite, if
     he wole be e trew membre of criste. And souereynly be he
  35 warr of gloysyng or fauour to errour'. for at is most
     abhominable.
        Also in is forseid processe of e gospel, in at at
     oure lord Jesus rehersede to e pharise e gude dedis of e
     woman, in e whech he failed, as at she woshe hese fete with
  40 hir teres, at he dide not with watere, & so for of oere, &
     erwi he tolde not what he dide to him, at she dide not'. we
     haue ensaumple & techyng what tyme we bene temptede to
     iustifying of oure self & reproue of oer'. en to enk & haue
     in mynde e gude dedes & vertues at ben or mow be in at



|p96


     oere man, foretyng oure owne gude dedes or vertues, &
     bryngynge to mynde oure defautes, & trespasses, & so shole
     we vertuesely deme oure self & excuse oere, & so profite in
     e vertue of trewe mekenes, at he graunt vs'. mirrour of
   5 mekenes blessede Jesus.


        Hic pretermittuntur duo Capitula de Johanne Baptista.


     Of e spekyng of ovre lord Jesus wyth e woman
     samaritane at e pyt. [Capitulum x] xiij=m=.


        |r<b> BEfelle vpon a tyme at as our lorde Jesus shuld go fro
  10 e cuntre of Juda in to Galile, he most make his wey by e
     cuntre of Samarye, where was a drawe wele at ei clepeden
     e welle of Jacob at was a pitte of watere, vpon e which
     pitte he restede him as wery of goyng.
        Lord Jesu what is is, at ou at art e sofast wey &
  15 maker of alle erly wey, so art wery of e wey, e which orh
     i souereyn miht berest vp & confortest al oere in hir wey.
     Bot us woldest ou in i manhede shewe alle e kyndly
     infirmite of man as in hungere & rist & werinesse oft sies
     & sech oere fort |r[49r] shewe e verrey kynde of man at ow
  20 take for oure sake, & so was alle i bodily lyuyng in is
     worlde peynful & trauailous to oure ensaumple, blessed be ou
     euere.
        In e mene tyme as he sat so on e welle, & hees
     disciples weren gone in to e nekst Cite fort bigge mete'. ere
  25 came a woman of at cuntrey to fette watere at at welle, e
     whiche was cleped Lucye. And oure lord Jesus willyng shewe
     to hir, & by hir to oer his godhede'. spake with hir longe
     tyme of gret inge & hie in gostly vndurstandyng, e whiche
     spekyng boe of him & hir & how his disciples comen aayn,
  30 & how at e womannus worde e peple of e cite comen out
     to him, & held him with hem a certayn tyme & after how he
     went fro hem'. we passen ouer at is tyme, for als miche as it
     is opun & pleynly writen in e gospel of Jon.
        Bot in is processe we mowe note in oure lord Jesu
  35 first a token of gret mekenes, in at he wolde be alone, what
     tyme he sent hese disciples in to e Cite fort bigge mete, & in
     at biggyng, ensaumple at it is leueful to goddus seruantes
     fort haue money & reserue it to hir nede.



|p97


        Also in at he spake so homely with at simple woman
     al one, & of so grete inges, as ouh it hade be with many
     gret wise men'. e pride & e presumption of many grete
     clerkes & prechours is confondet & reprouede, e whech if ei
   5 sholde shewe hir wisdome or hir konnyng not only to one
     man, bot also to fewe men ei wolde halde al as loste, & siche
     a simple audience telle vnwori, to take hir proude spech.
        Forermore in at, e disciples brouhten hir mete to
     him & beden him ete ere at e welle'. we haue ensaumple of
  10 pouerte & bodily penance, in his maner of fedyng after his
     trauaile so ere without e cite, & as we mowe suppose
     drinkyng of e watere, & at not onely in is tyme, bot as we
     suppose oft sies, when he went by e cuntrey he ete in at
     maner without e townes & e duellyng of men at sume
  15 ryuere or welle were he neuer so wery or trauailede in body,
     shewyng erinne e gret loue at he hade in pouerte &
     mekenes, he vsede not curiose |r[49v] dihtyng of diuerse metes
     rosted & sodene, nor preciouse vesseil of siluere or pewtere,
     nor dilicate wynes white & rede'. bot onely e clene watere of
  20 e welle or e ryuere, etyng brede erwi as a pore man
     mekely vpon e ere.
        Also in at he answerede to his disciples first when ei
     beden him go to mete, & seide to hem us, I haue mete to ete
     at e knowe not, for my mete is at I do & worche e wille
  25 of him at sent me. And so he abode e comyng of men of e
     cite to preche to hem first'. we mowe se how bisy he was
     about gostly fedyng, first fulfillyng in dede at longe to e
     soule & gostly sustynance'. an at longe to e bodily
     sustinance, ouh he hade erto grete nede, & so afe he
  30 ensaumple to prechours & curates fort do.
        Miche more gostly fruyt is contenede in is gospel, e
     which whoso desire to knowe more fully'. he sal fynde it in
     e boke of seynt Austyn vpon e gospel of Jon, where he
     make of e processe of is gospel a longe processe &
  35 clergiale ful of gostly fruite.
        Bot for als miche as here is made mynde of e pouerte
     of oure lord Jesus as it is oft before, & also of his abstinence'.
     erfore of ees tweyn vertues perfitely tauht vs by ensaumple
     boe of him self & his disciples, it sal folowe after more
  40 plenerly in e nekst Chapitre. Amen.


        [H]ic pretermittuntur plura Capitula, & transitur ad
     Capitulum xxxvij=m= in Bonauentura, pro eo quod materia illius
     Capituli videtur conuenientius sequi istud Capitulum



|p98


     pretactum. Sed postea sequuntur de ipsis'. quinque Capitula
     pertinentia ad contemplationem pro die Jouis.


     How e dysciples of Jesu plukked e eres of corn & etyn
     yt for hunger on e sabootday. Capitulum xxiiij.

   5     |r<b> IN a sabbate day as e disciples of oure lord Jesu
     wenten with him by e feldes where ripe corne was growyng'.
     ei weren a hungret & plukkeden e eres & froteden hem by
     twix hir handes & etene. And e pharisees at euer aspiede
     oure lordes wordes & dedes fort take him in defaute aeynus
  10 hir lawe'. reprouede herfore boe him & hese disciples, &
     seiden at it was vnleueful on e sabbat day. Bot oure lorde
     excusede hem, first by nede at is outake in e lawe. As |r[50r]
     Dauid & hees men in nede eten e prestes brede at was elles
     forbeden. And also by at reson at e prestes of e lawe on
  15 e sabbate day circumcysed & maden sacrifice'. e whech
     weren bodily werkes not so nedeful as at ei diden. And also
     his presence at was lord & auctour of e lawe'. af hem leue.
        Bot if we take here inwarde entent with deuout
     compassion of at nede of e disciples in e presence of hir
  20 lord almihti'. we owe resonably to be stirede to e loue of
     pouerte & bodily nede for his sake. For wondurful it is to enk
     at ei at were chosen so specialy to at hye degre of
     Apostles, & ere orh made princes & domesmen of e
     worlde'. sholde be put in to so gret pouerte & nede, fort ete e
  25 rawe corne for hungre as ei were vnresonable bestes, &
     namely in his presence at was makere of alle mete & drink
     at his wille, & lord of al e world as ei he miht not help hem
     at hir nede.
        Bot e gude lord at dide alle inge for oure sauacion,
  30 he suffrede is nede in hem for e beste, as he toke in him
     self alle e nede of mankynde without synne. And so ouh he
     hade compassion of hem, in als miche as he loued hem
     tendurly'. neuerles it liked him at nede in hem & e gude
     wille of hem erwi at gladly suffrede at nede for his loue.
  35 And so it pleised him not onely for hir mede, at he knewe
     miche erfore'. bot also for ensaumple of vs at shold come
     aftur. For here haue we specialy at haue forsake e worlde
     for e loue of god'. ensaumple & stiryng to re vertues namely
     at bene nedeful to vs.



|p99


        at is to sey, Pacience in bodily nede, perfite pouert, &
     aeynus glotony vertuese abstineuce.
        And as to e first, sien e disciples of Jesu at hade
     laft & forsaken alle at ei hade fort folowe him, suffrede
   5 paciently & gladly so grete nede of bodily hungere in his
     presence, whom ei seene myraculously fede oere men &
     help at hir nede'. miche more we owe to be pacient in bodily
     nede when it falle'. at bene not so wori nor so perfitely
     louen god, bot raere haue deseruet for oure mislyuyng &
  10 vnkyndnes aeynus oure lorde god miche more penance &
     disese an he wole suffre vs fort haue, |r[50v] and perauentur we
     comen neuer to so gret nede fort suffre for his sake.
         And as to e seconde at is perfite pouerte for
     goddus loue'. we shole vndurstaude at his pouerte passed in
  15 perfeccione e hiest degre of wilfulle pouerte of oer without
     comparisone. For oer mennus pouerte at hauen forsake for
     cristes loue alle richesses & wirchipes of e worlde, is in
     reputacion of men, in als miche as it is halde vertuese as it is.
         Bot his pouerte was in reproue & despite of men, in
  20 als miche as it was not knowen, at he toke is pouerte
     wilfully bot as of nede, as it semed in e forseid processe of
     him & hees disciples when ei eten rawe corne for hungre &
     he halpe hem not, and in [many] oer places of e gospel he
     shewed him as pore & nedye. And for als miche as at pouerte
  25 at come of nede & not of wille is in despite & reproue, &
     alle at knewen him seyen at he hade neyer house nor
     possessiones'. ei hade him in e more contempte. For
     comunely sech nedeful pore men, bene despised of al men &
     set at nouht. Bot neuerles ei mowe be ful honourable in his
  30 siht, at us afe ensaumple erof. Wherfore it is ful perilouse
     fort despise any pore men.
         Bot if we wole wite who is vertuesly & perfitely
     pore'. we shole vndurstande, at not onely he at ha made his
     profession to pouerte, & ha laft alle worldly richesses as in
  35 hauere wi out for'. bot he at erewi ha at pouert sette
     in his herte withinnefor so at he wille not more loue nor
     desire any worldly godes or possessiones, bot onely at is
     nedeful to his lyuyng.
        For if a man be in pouerte & suffre nede withoutfor
  40 orh lake of worldly godes, & erwi he desire wi
     deliberacion in herte withinfor more an him nede'. at man
     lyue not in vertuese pouerte bot in wrecched nede without
     mede. For e lust of e wille withinfor wi ful assent ereto'.
     suffice to e fulfillyng of synne, & to e losse of mede.



|p100


         Wherefore he at wole be perfitely pore'. he most
     loke at neier he haue nor desire more an is nedeful to his
     liuyng.
         Of is vertuese pouert, speke seynt Bernard,
   5 sermone 4=to= de Aduentu, & in sermone iiijto de Natiuitate
     domini.
         Forermore touching e ridde vertue at is
     Abstinence'. |r[51r] wherof aeynus glotony we haue ensaumple
     here in e disciples, & also before in oure lorde Jesu'. we shole
  10 vndurstande, at Glotory is a vice, aeynus e which it
     behoue vs while we lyuene in is flesh'. fort haue continuele
     bataile, as holi fadres at knewen e temptacion erof by
     longe experience techen vs, & specialy seynt bernarde in
     diuerse places, telle how we shole fle Glotory, & nurish e
  15 body onely as it nede to e hele erof, & more sholde we not
     seke or desire to e body.
        Wherefore in alle at we take ouere'. at is to sey
     to fulfille e lust & e likyng'. at passe e termes of kynde,
     & dispose to de bodily & gostly, and so it falle oft at
  20 many men bene so miche ouerecome, with e lust & e likyng
     of e flesh at as vnresonable bestes ei putten e lust before
     e hele takyng seche metes & drynkes e whech ei knowe
     wele contrarie to hir hele, & after e whiche ei witen wele
     at ei shole fele gret passiones & sekenes. And so not onely
  25 is e body vndisposede to serue god & vertuese occupacion'.
     but also e saule defuylet at he may not se god with clennes
     of herte, as he made him to.
        And soely is is a foule vice & a perilouse, &
     neuerles miche peple is blyndet & deceyuet in is poynt, boe
  30 worldly & gostly, at excusene hem falsly by e loue of e
     flesh, & e stiryng of e lust, at comunely eschewe, at is
     most holsom to e kynde if it be not likyng to e sensualite,
     & desire at is most vnholsom if it be delicate & likyng
     erto.
  35     Wherfore amonge alle e spices of glotory is seme
     most reprouable, in als miche as it is not onely contrarye to e
     soule'. bot also it destrue & sle e body.
     And so he at take mete or drinke wilfully, knowyng
     at it is contrarie to him & vndisposyng to bodily hele'. may
  40 drede of his dome & reproue in goddus siht, os of a man
     sleere, & at is wors, sleere of him self.
        Oere men at bene ouercome by e sensualite & e
     temptacion of flesh fort take of mete or drynke at is holsome,
     ouh it be likyng, owere in vntyme, or more in quantite en



|p101


     nede, or with gret lust & gredynes'. ben more excusable for
     e comune infirmyte of e first synne of Adam.
        |r[51v] Bot for als miche as is vice of Glotony in alle hees
     spices is reprouable'. erfore it is nedeful vs fort eschewe it to
   5 oure powere & gete & kepe er vertue of discrete Abstinence
     as oure lord Jesus & his apostles & oere seyntes hauen boe
     tauht vs & iuen vs ensaumple, keping e body & fedyng as
     it is nedful erto, after e kynde ereof & e trauaile at
     longe ereto. In manere as a hors owe to be kept fort do his
  10 iurneye so at he faile not by defaute by to miche abstinence
     on at on side, & at he be not rebelle to e spirite & to
     proude by miche pampryng on at oere side, bot in a gude
     mene of abstinence at teche e vertue of discrecion, e
     whiche discrecion as seynt bernarde sei is not onely a vertue'.
  15 bot also kepere & ledere of al oer vertues. For if at lake'. at
     seme vertue is vice, as seynt Gregory sei, Discretioune is
     modere & kepere of alle vertues.
        is discrecion touching abstinence & fedyng of e
     body'. stant generaly in is poynt, as seynt Austyn sei in his
  20 boke of Confessiones'. at a man take of mete & drinke to
     sustinance of e body onely, as he wolde take of medicyne
     fort hele his infirmite. Wherefore riht as in takyng of medicine
     man ha no rewarde to more or lasse or to e preciosite or
     buystesnes or swetnes or bitternes, bot onely as it is most
  25 conuenient & profitable to hele e sore or e sekenesse'. so for
     als miche as hungere & riste bene infirmite of mankynde
     orh e first sinne of man'. mete & drinke at bene as
     medicine to is infirmite, sholde be take onely as for hele
     ereof, as seynt Austyn sei.
  30     us miche is specialy spoken here of abstinence &
     Glotorye by occasion of e hungre & e simple fode ere
     aeynus of e disciples of Jesu as it is seide'. for als miche as
     here ende e rid part of is boke, at stant in contemplacion
     of cristes blessed life for e Wendusday, vpon e which day
  35 to oure ensaumple he began e fiht aeynus glotorye specialy
     by his fasting in desert as it is seide before, e which vice of
     glotorye, he graunte vs of his grace fort eschewe in e vertue
     of discrete abstinence to kepe'. at is blessed without ende
     Jesus. Amen.

  40     Explicit contemplacio pro die Mercurij & tercia pars.



|p102


        Item bernardus de abstinencia in epistola ad fratres de
     monte dei, quantum ad religiosos. Item in sermone tercio de
     circumcisione domini.



|p103


     Incipit 4=a= pars


     |r[52r] Of e fedyng of e grete peple with brede multipliede.
     Capitulum xxv=m=.


        |r<b> Tweyn tymes e gospelle telle at oure lorde Jesus
   5 multipliede a few loues of brede, & erwi fedde many
     ousandes of men to e fulle.
         In e whiche processe takyng hede to e wordes &
     e dedes of oure lorde as e gospel opunly telle'. we mow se
     to oure edificacion gostly, many gude stiringes to loue him &
  10 onke him & wyrchipe him souereynly. And specialy we
     mowe se in is processe at oure lord Jesus was mercyful &
     curteise & kynde, & discrete & circumspecte.
         First at he was Merciful'. shewen hese wordes he
     seid us, I haue pite & mercy vp on e peple, so at mercy
  15 stired him & drouh him to help hem & fede hem at hire nede.
     For as Dauid witnesse, Alle e ere is ful of his mercy.
     Also he shewede his gret curtesye & wondurful
     kyndnes in e cause at he assignede after seying us, for lo
     now ese re daies ei abiden & suffrene & beren me fasting,
  20 & ei haue not whereof to ete, as ei he were bonden to hem,
     for hir benefice done to him, in at ei abiden so with him, &
     neuerles in soenesse, it was for hir owne gude & profite, &
     not for his. Bot at is his souereyn kyndnesse & curtesie &
     endles godnesse, at he ha likyng to dwel with vs, onely for
  25 oure profite & sauacion, ouh ere be ereorh as to him none
     encrese of his gudenes.
        Wherfore al o at folowen him by gode liuyng &
     gladly heren his doctrine, & kepen his hestes'. he loue & ha
     likyng to dwel with hem gostly, & faile neuer to help hem at
  30 hir nede.



|p104


         Forermore oure lorde Jesus takyng hede, at many
     of e peple were come to him fro ferren cuntrey & seyng e
     perile of e peple in to miche fasting'. bycause of e gret
     trauaile at ei sholden haue in hir goyng aeyne'. seide us,
   5 If I suffre hem go home aeyn in to hir owne house fasting'.
     ei shole faile & perish by e wey. Where he shewede at he
     was discrete & circumspecte, seyng be fore hir nede &
     vnmihte'. & erfore ordeynyng remedy & helpe before, by hir
     bodily sustinance, at was nedful to hir trauaile to come afture.
  10     And so in is spech & dede of Jesu'. is doctrine &
     ensaumple of discrecion to prelates & hem at hauen cure of
     oer, |r[52v] to take hede of hir infirmite & of hir trauaile'. &
     ereafter ordeyn to hem bodily sustinance couenable &
     sufficient, at ei faile not by defaut in e way of is bodily
  15 lyuyng in ere.
        Also in e forseide processe we mow vndurstande
     gostly, e graciouse gouernance of oure lorde Jesus to vs
     lyuyng in is worlde eche day. For we haue not to ete bodily
     or gostly'. bot he ife vs, & so if he suffre vs fasting'. we shole
  20 faile in e wey. For without him we mowe not help oure self
     in any gostly nede. Wherefore we haue no matere of elacion
     or veyn ioy of oure self, what tyme at we felene any gostly
     confort or profite in gostly exercise, for it is nouht of vs, bot
     onely of him. And so if we take gude entente we mowe se, at
  25 ei at bene trew seruauntes of god & chosen of him'. e more
     perfite at ei bene in liuyng, & e nerre god, & e more
     excellent in hese iftes of grace'. e more meke ei bene & e
     more abiecte in hir owne siht, for ei knowen wele at ei
     haue noht of hemself bot wrecchednes & sinne. For e nerre
  30 at a man come to god, e more clere siht he ha gostly, &
     so he se e more clerely e gret gudenes & e mercy of god.
     Wherefore pride & veyn ioy, at comen of gostly blyndenesse'.
     mow not haue place & restyng in his soule at is so litnede
     orh grace. For without dout he at knewe wele god, & soely
  35 examynede him self'. miht not be proude dedely.
        Also here is grete confort to sinful men of e gret
     mercy of oure lorde Jesu if ei wole turne aeyn, & come to
     him by verrey repentance what tyme ei bene departed fro him
     & gone in to e ferr cuntrey of wikkednesse. For as e gospel
  40 telle at he was specialy stired to mercy of e peple, for als
     miche as sume of hem were come to him fro ferren cuntrey'.
     so without doute wole he to euery sinful man, at wole come
     to him gostly as it is seide, be his wey of departyng neuere so
     longe before. Amen.



|p105


     Of e fleyng of oure lord Jesus when e peple wold haue
     made him here kynge. Capitulum xxvj.


        |r<b> Aftere at oure lord Jesus hade fedde e peple to e
     fulle as it is seide in e nekst chapitre byfore'. ei seynge his
   5 miht in at miracle, & how he miht help hem at hir nede'. for
     hir temporele profite, ei wolde haue made him hir kynge.
     Bot oure |r[53r] lord Jesus knowyng is wille of hem'. hem
     vnwityng fled in to e hille, so at ei miht not fynde him.
     And is was at hille as sume clerkes seyne vp on e which,
  10 he made at excellent sermone at is spoke of before. And us
     he fled'. for he wolde not haue temperele kyngdome & veyn
     worldes wirchipe.
         Bot take we here gude entent how & in what manere
     he fled is worchipe effectuely without feynyng. First he
  15 badde hese disciples take e shippe & go in to e water before
     him, & en he alone went in to e hille. So at if e peple
     wolde seche him among hese disciples'. ei shold not fynde
     him, & so he skapped awey fro hem at souhten hym to
     wirchipe, iuyng ensaumple to vs fort fle temperele wirchipe,
  20 for he fled not at wirchipe for him self'. bot for vs knowyng
     what perile it is vs fort coueit or desire temperele wirchipe.
     For soe it is, at wirchipe is one of e most perilouse
     [gnarre] of e enemy to cacche & bygile mannus soule, & one
     of e heuyest biren at drawe don & ouercome e soule
  25 dedely, wheere it be wirchipe o[f] prelacie, or of temperele
     lordeshipe, or of gret konyng. For skarsly is ere any man at
     ha delite in wirchipe'. bot at he is ouere in grete perile of
     fallyng, or elles fully fallen don in to e pitte of dedely sinne
     as we se by many resones.
  30     First for als miche as he at ha gret delite in
     worchipe'. is bisy al tymes in his mynde, how he may kepe his
     wirchipe & make it more, & so as seynt Gregory sei, In als
     miche as a man ha set his likyng in inge at longe to e
     worlde or to e flesh here beneie for'. in so miche is he
  35 departed fro e gostly likyng & loue of god & heuenly inges
     aboue for.
        Also he at loue wirchipes, is bisy to procure & gete
     him frendes, at mowe kepe him in his wirchipe, & also
     forere him to gretter wirchipe. Wherfore often sies falle
  40 diuerse causes, in e whech he offende god & his owne
     conscience, fort plese seche frendes, & in e same maner he
     make hem to do for him.



|p106


         Also comunely he ha indignacion of oere at bene
     in wirchipe, & bakbyte hem, to make himself more
     wirchipeful & more wori, & so he falle in to hate & enuye
     of his broer.
   5     Also he halt himself in his owne siht |r[53v] & also desire
     to be halde so in oer mennus siht, wori & wirchipful, & so
     he falle in to e foule vice of elacione & pride & veyn glory.
     Bot erfore as e gospel sei, He at halt him self as ouht
     wori when in soenes he is nouht'. he deceyue foule him self,
  10 & erfore seide our lord to hese disciples in e gospel, when
     e haue done alinges ot bene bedene to ow'. sei e soely
     with herte, we bene vnwori & veyn seruantes.
        Bot is may not he sey at halt him self wori &
     wirchipful.
  15     Forermore as to e last when is likyng of wirchipe
     is rotede in man'. he is so hungry & gredy after wirchepes, at
     he may not be filled, bot euery day procure newe wirchipes
     & grettere & e moo at he gete'. e moo he coueite &
     desire for he halt algate him self more wori & more
  20 worchipful en he was before, boe in his owne siht & in oer
     mennus siht, & so he falle in to depe Coueitise, at is e
     foulest vice, & e rote & cause of many oer vices.
        Of is veyn delite in wirchipes & of e perile erof'.
     seynt bernard speke to men specialy in is manere, Alle we
  25 bene noble & wori creatures, & of a gret manere wille.
     Wherfore kyndly we desiren hyenesse. Bot wo to vs if we
     wole folowe him at wole set his fete in e hille of lordeshipe
     & hye miht, & be like to god in worchipe, at was Lucifer at
     us stey vp by proude wille in to e hille of hyenes first a
  30 gloriouse angele'. bot sodeynly fel done er fro, made a foule
     feend of hell.
        Also take hede forermore at he at foule feend after
     his falle, coueytyng by his wikked enuyous wille, to cast man
     done fro his blisse'. he durst not tempte him fort stey vp to at
  35 hille of lordeschipe & gret miht, at him self so sodeynly fel
     don fro'. bot as a fals trechour he shewed him in a noer hille
     like erto, at is to sey e hille of gret konyng, & conseiled
     him falsly to stey vp in to is hille by proude desire of
     wirchipe, when he seide to him in is maner, e shole be as
  40 goddes, orh gret kunyng knowyng boe gude & ille. And for
     als miche as man af his assent to his suggestion'. erfore he
     fel don as he dide. And so we mow se at coueitise of gret
     lordeschipe & hye miht, pryued e angele of angeles blisse, &
     desire of gret konyng despuylet man of |r[54r] e ioy of endles life.



|p107


     And of boe meschefes was gronde & cause'. delite & desire
     of veyn wirchipe.
        Wherfore seyng is perile of veyn wirchipe, if we
     drede e falle of e angele & of man'. we most fle in wille fro
   5 boe ese hilles of hye lordeschipe & gret konnyng & go vp
     with oure lorde Jesu in to e hille of contemplacion &
     deuocion, by mekenes forsakyng e worlde & e wille to be
     wirchiped of e comune peple as he dide.
        Bot in is fleyng fro e peple & goyng of him al one
  10 in to e hille, as it is seide before, in e processe of e gospel
     take we hede forermore to oure edificacion, howe he laft hees
     disciples, & made hem aeynus hir wille to take e ship & go
     in to e se without him, for ei wold not hir onkes haue bene
     departede fro him, & in at was hir desire gude fort duelle
  15 euere with hir lorde. Neuerles he ordeynet oerwise seyng
     what was best for hem. And so en ei mekely diden as he
     bad & were obeschaunt to him, ouh it so were at it was
     neuer so greuous & harde to hem.
        us it fare comunely with gostly lyueres by speciale
  20 felyng of e presence of Jesu, & of his absence in hir soule,
     ei wold not at euere he shold go fro hem, as by special
     gostly confort in any tyme. Bot he do oerewyes, for he go
     & come as it is his wille & for hir best. Bot what shal siche
     a deuout soule do when she fele hir gostly spouse Jesu so
  25 withdrawen, touching his special confort? Soely she behoue
     bisily & oft, clepe him aeyn in continuele desire & deuout
     praiere, & in e mene tyme paciently suffre e absence of hir
     spouse, & by ensaumple of e disciples of Jesu, at orh meke
     obedience at his biddyng wenten in to e shippe, & toke e
  30 watere in his absence'. suffre e wawes & tempestes of
     temptacione & aduersite, & paciently abide til he wole of his
     grace come in to at soule, & make rest & pes, as it shal
     folowe after in e processe nekst to come.
        Of is matere seynt bernard, in diuerse places make
  35 faire processe & deuout, e which for als miche as it longe
     & is pertynent specialy to gostly folk, & also as I hope is
     writen sufficiently in diuerse tretees of contemplacion'. we
     passen ouere here, as we done in many oere places sech
     auctoritees of him, lest is processe of cristes blessed life
  40 sholde be tedyouse |r[54v] to comune peple, & symple soules, to e
     whech it is specialy writen. Amen.



|p108


     Of e praiere of oure lorde Jesu in e hille, & how aftere
     he came to his disciples vpon e water goyng.
     Capitulum xxvij=m=.


        |r<b> Aftere e disciples of oure lord Jesu were gone in to e
   5 shippe & e watere as he bade hem, & as it is seide before'. he
     went vp in to e hille alone, & ere was he occupiede in
     praiere in to e fere part of e niht, so at re partes of e
     niht at were passede he hade continued in praiere & us we
     redene at oft sies he afe him to praiere.
  10     Wherfore take we here gude entent, in what maner he
     praie, & how at he lowe him in his manhede & meke
     him to his fadere of heuen. He chese solitary places & go to
     hem alone to prey, & doe his tendir body to penance &
     wake longe wakynges. He preye as e trew herde for his
  15 shepe. For he praie not for him self bot for vs, as oure
     aduokete & mediatour betwix e fadere & vs. And also he
     praie to ensaumple of vs, at we sholde oft sies prey &
     specialy loue preiere. For oft sies he bade hese disciples &
     tauht hem fort pray. And so at he bade hem by worde, he
  20 shewed him self in dede. He tauht hem & seide, at it behoue
     & is nedeful euer to pray, & not faile in leuyng ereof,
     shewyng at continuyng & oft askyng in praiere, gete at e
     last without faile at inge at is askede. And hereof he told
     ensaumple of e domesman, at at e last orh longe criyng
  25 & askyng of e widowe, dide hir riht as e gospel of luke
     telle.
        Also to stire hem fort pray bisily, & trist fort gete at
     ei asken'. he told a noer ensaumple of a frende at at e last
     orh miche askyng lante to his frende e brede at him nedet,
  30 as e same gospel telle in processe concludyng & seying us,
     Aske & it shal be iuen to owe.
        And alle is he seide to teche vs e vertue of gude
     praiere, e whiche may not be estimede, for e vertue erof is
     so mihty & so grete'. at it gete al gudenes, & putte awey al
  35 manere of wikkednesse.
        Wherfore if ou wolt paciently suffre aduersitees &
     mihtily ouercome temptacions & diseses'. be ou a man of
     praiere. Also if ou wolt knowe e sleghtes of e deuel & be
     not bygilet with hese fals suggestions'. be a man of praiere.
  40 Also if ou wolt take e streyt wey to heuen by trauaile &
     penance of e flesh, & erwi gladly continue in goddus
     seruice'. be a |r[55r] man of praiere. Also if ou wolt put awey
     veyn ouhtes & fede i soule with holi ouhtes & gostly



|p109


     meditacions & deuocions'. be a man of praiere. Also if ou
     wolt stable i herte in gude purpose to goddes wille, puttyng
     awey vices & plantyng vertues'. be a man of praiere. For orh
     preiere is goten e ift of e holi gost, at teche e soule al
   5 inge at is nedeful erto. Also if ou wolt come to heuenly
     contemplacion & fele e gostly swetnes, at is felt of fewe
     chosen soules, & knowe e grete graciouse iftes of oure lord
     god, at mowen be felt bot not spoken'. be a man of praiere.
     For by e excercise of praiere specialy'. a man come to
  10 contemplacion & e felyng of heuenly inges.
        Here mowe we se of how grete gostly miht & vertue
     is deuout preiere. And to confirmacion hereof & of al o
     inges at bene seide before, at holi writte & doctours
     seyinges fully preuene'. forermore we haue a special profe in
  15 at we seen euery day by experience diuerse persones simple
     & vnlettrede, by e vertue of praiere gete & haue alle o
     inges at bene seid before, & many mo gretter iftes of
     grace. Wherfore miche owhten al cristien folke be stired to e
     exercise of preyer, bot principaly ei at bene religiouse,
  20 whose maner of lyuyng is ordeynet more specialy hereto.
        Of is vertue of preyere & how oure lord god iue to
     hem, at deuoutly aske him in preyer at inge at ei asken
     in maner as it is most spedful to hem'. seynt bernard by deuout
     processe telle in diuerse places, e whiche processe passyng
  25 ouere'. turne we to oure lord Jesus & hese disciples & to e
     forseid processe of hem.
        What tyme at oure lorde Jesus was alone preying in
     e hille as it is seide'. hese disciples were in e see, in grete
     disese, for als miche as e wynde was aeynus hem, & e ship
  30 in poynt of perishyng orh e grete wawes & e gret tempeste
     at was risyne in at tyme. And so we mowe se if we take
     gude hede by deuout compassion in what mischefe &
     tribulacion ei weren at at tyme, boe for e gret tempeste
     at was risen vpon hem, & also for e nihten tyme, &
  35 principaly for ei lakkeden hir lordes presence, at was alle hir
     refute in hir nede. Bot he at gude lorde at knewe what was
     best for hem, & at suffrede is disese of hem for e tyme'.
     when he |r[55v] sawh tyme also, sende hem confort & help. And so
     at e fore wakyng of e niht'. he cam done fro e hille goyng
  40 vp on e see & comyng toward hem.
        Now beholde we here inwardly how at blessed lord
     after his gret trauaile of longe wakyng & preyinge come done
     alone in e nihten tyme fro at trauailouse hille & perauenture
     stony & barefote, & so he saddely vpon e water as it were on



|p110


     e ere, for at creature knewe hir maker, & was obeschant to
     him at his wille. And what tyme he cam nyhe e shippe e
     disciples supposyng at he hade bene a fantasme'. cryede for
     drede, & an e benyng lord hauyng compassion of hem, &
   5 willyng at ei sholde no lengir be desturblet & trauailede'.
     sikerde hem of his presence & seide, I am he at e desiren
     bee not adrede. And an Petre at was more feruent en oer
     tristyng of his miht'. at his biddyng he began to go toward him
     vpon e water, bot anone as a gret wynd blewe'. he failed in
  10 byleue & dredde, & so began to drench, bot e gude lord with
     his riht hande toke him vp & kept him fro perishyng, & en
     went in to e shippe with him, & anone al e tempeste cesed,
     & alle was in pes & tranquyllite. And so e disciples with gret
     reuerence & ioy receyuyng hir lorde'. weren put in gret reste
  15 & souereynly confortede by his blessed presence. is is e
     processe of at gospel shortly.
         In is processe touching e disciples, we haue gostly
     doctrine & ensaumple of pacience in tribulacion & of profite
     erof'. as we hade before touching him self of e vertue of
  20 preyer as it is seide. Wherfore we shole vndurstonde at as it
     felle with e disciples bodily'. so it falle with vs alday gostly.
         Oure lord Jesus suffre hem at bene chosen of him
     fort be disesed & haue gret tribulacion in is worlde, boe in
     body & in soule. For as holi writte witnesse, he bete euery
  25 childe at he receyue to his grace. And as e apostle poule
     sei, Alle o at bene without disciplyne'. ben not kynde
     children, bot of auoutrye. And it is spedful to vs to be so
     beten, & to suffre tribulacion & disese in is world for many
     causes. For erby we bene tauht fort knowe oure self & oure
  30 owne wrecchednes. Also erorh we profitene |r[56r] gostly &
     geten vertues, & when ei bene gotene, ereorh kepen hem
     e better, & forermore at is moste of alle, erorh, we
     tristely hopene & abidene at euerlastyng mede in e blisse of
     heuen. Wherefore we shold not be disconforted by hem or
  35 impacient in hem'. bot raere coueit hem & loue hem. Bot for
     als miche as e profite of tribulaciones ouh it be miche wore
     & of grete vertue & mich mede'. neuerles many men inken
     hem ful harde & grucchen aeynus hem as importable by
     cause at ei knowe not & seene not e vertue of hem.
  40     Neuerles many holy doctours tellen & techene vs e
     grete profite of hem in many places to confort vs gladly fort
     take hem. And specialy among oere seynt bernard'. in diuerse
     tretees.



|p111


        Wherefore haue we no wondur ouh oure lorde Jesus
     suffred hees disciples e whech he louede so specialy to be
     turblet with tempestes as it is seide, & suffre tribulacions, for
     he knewe hir gostly profite ereby. For oft we rede at hire
   5 shippe was in perile by tempestes & contrarye wyndes'. bot it
     was neuere drownede or fully perishede, & no more shole we
     what tribulacion so euer come to vs, if we suffre paciently &
     triste fully in e help of oure lord Jesu at wole not faile vs at
     oure nede. Amen.


  10     CApitulum sequens de Chananea pretermittitur vbi
     notatur de Angelis, ut infra capitulo xxx=o=.


     How e pharisees & oere token occasion of sklandre of e
     wordes & e dedes of Jesu. Capitulum xxviij=m=.


        |r<b> WE shole haue no wondre ouh sume take occasion of
  15 sklandre of oure wordes & dedes be ei neuer so gude &
     trewe, for so it befelle of oure lord Jesu oft sies, & it miht
     not he erre in worde or dede. Wherefore befelle on a tyme at
     e pharisees askeden him, Whi at hese disciples woshe not
     hir handes when ei went to mete, & in at ei kept not hir
  20 custome after e teching of hir eldere. Bot oure lord seyng at
     ei charget more e washing withoutfore & bodily clennesse'.
     en vertuese of e soule withinfor & gostly clennes'.
     answerede harde aeyn reprouyng hem, at ei breken e
     hestes of god, for hir tradiciones & bodily obseruances,
  25 declarynge after at, vices at comen out of e hert defoylene
     |r[56v] more a man, an do e bodily mete takene vnwashede,
     wherefore ei were gretly sclandrede & stired aeynus him,
     bot he toke none hede ereof, for ei were blinde in soule
     orh malice.
  30     Also oft sies oure lord Jesus wrouht miracles vpon e
     sabbate dayes, at weren goddus halidayes to e Jues, as bene
     now e sonedayes to cristene men, & at he dide to confusion
     & reproue of e Jues, at kepten streitly e lawe in bodily
     obseruances, & not in gostly vndurstandyng as his wille was.
  35 For he badde not e haliday fort leue ereinne gude worching
     & dedes of charite'. bot fort cese & abstyne fro synne & bodily
     werkes. Wherefore ei weren gretely sklandret at is to sey,
     token occasion of sclandre aeynus him, & conspirede in to
     his de, & seiden at man was not of goddus halfe at kept



|p112


     not e sabbate day. Bot oure lorde laft not erfore, to worche
     miracles & do dedes of charite in oo dayes, bot miche more
     didene hem, fort destruye e Jues erroure forseide.
        Anoere tyme also whan he tauht in e sinagoge gostly
   5 lore & seide, at he was e brede of life at came fro heuene,
     & how it behouede to ete his flesh & drinke his blode who so
     shulde be safe & haue euerlastyng life, ei vndurstandyng hese
     wordes fleshly & not gostly'. gruccheden aeynus him, &
     token occasion of grete sclandre, & many of hees disciples
  10 orh at mysvndurstandyng fleshly, forsoken him. Bot Petur
     in e name of xij apostles, answered at ei wolde not leue
     him for he hade e wordes of euerlastyng life. And so at was
     sklandre to e badde'. was vertuese to e gode.
        In e forseide wordes & dedes of oure lord Jesu we
  15 haue ensaumple at we shold not let to do gode werkes for
     occasion of sclandre vnskilfully takene of oere or for enuy &
     yuel wille of hem, and specialy of at dede at is necessarye
     to soule hele'. we shold not cese for any sclandre.
        Wherefore seynt gregory sei, at a man shal raer
  20 suffre sclandre fort rise'. en he sal leue e treue, at is to
     sey, in re maneres after e comune sentence of doctours. First
     of e gude life man sal not cese for sclandere, at is to sey, he
     sal not do dedely sinne, for puttyng awey of any sklandere. |r[57r]
     Also a doctour or a prechour shal not teche or preche false for
  25 any sclandere, bot in case he may hald his pes of a certayn
     treue, as what tyme he knowe at e hereres bene obstinate
     in errour & shold be e worse if at treu were seide.
        e ridde is treu of rihtwisnes, at shal not be laft for
     sclandre, at is to sey, a domesman shal not iue fals dome,
  30 nor a witnesse bere fals recorde for any sclandere. Bot of oer
     certayn dedes at mow be laft without perile of soule, a man
     sal oerewhile cese, ouh ei bene gude in hem self'. fort put
     awey occasion of sclandere'. as e apostle poule sei, at wold
     raere neuer ete flesh, en he wold erorh iue occasion of
  35 sclander to his broere.
        Also in e forseid processe of oure lord Jesu we ben
     tauht fort charge more e clennesse of soule & at dispose to
     vertues'. en bodily clennesse & honeste withoutfor, at is no
     vertue inne. Neuerles honeste & bodily clennes is gude, so at
  40 it dispose not to veyn glorye or curiosite, or lechery or oere
     synnes, & so bene gude customes at bene grondet vpon reson
     fort be kept, bot e biddynges of god, & e ordynance of
     souereynes in holi chirch, bene miche more fort charge.
     Wherefore in is poynt errene many cristien men & specialy



|p113


     religiouse, at chargen more bodily obseruance & customes,
     ouh ei dispose to no vertue, & oft bene aeynus reson'. en
     ei done e biddyng of god & doctrine of holi fadres, touching
     charite, mekenes, pacience, deuoucion in praiere, discrete
   5 abstinence & oere vertues. Wherefore ei mowe drede e
     reprofe of oure lord Jesu pryuely'. at he reprouede e
     pharisees opunly as it is seide before.


     Of e speciale rewarde of oure lorde Jesu behoten to alle
     oo at forsaken e worlde for his loue. Capitulum
  10 xxix=m=.


        |r<b> What tyme oure lord Jesus by occasion of e riche man
     at wolde not leue hese temperele gudes for perfeccion, seide'.
     at it was harde to a riche man fort entre in to e kyngdome
  15 of heuen'. e Apostle Petur in e name of alle hees felaghes e
     xij apostles asked of him what rewarde ei shold haue at
     hadden forsake & laft alle worldly inges for his sake'. |r[57v] And
     en oure lorde answered, not onely byhetyng to hem a
     souereyne mede in e blisse of heuen'. bot also to alle oer at
  20 forsakene fadere & modere & oere kynne & temperele gudes
     for his sake'. e hundret folde in is worlde, & after'. lyfe
     euerlastyng in a noer world to come.
        Wherefore alle o at haue taken hem to gostly liuyng
     & fully forsakene e world'. hauen matire of gret gostly ioy &
  25 special confort in is byhest of Jesu, not onely for e euere
     lastyng life in heuen, at ei tristly hopen to haue by his
     gracious byhost'. bot also for at hundretfolde rewarde, at ei
     shole fele in is bodily life, if ei treuly louene Jesu & fully
     forsaken e worlde, at is neyer golde nor siluer, nor deynte
  30 metes or preciouse cloes'. bot gostly richesse of vertues, &
     confort of e holi gost, e which he alonely knowe, at by
     experience feli it in himself, & at is among oere clene
     conscience & rest in soule, loue of pouerte, chastite, pacience
     & oere vertues. And what tyme at oure gostly spouse Jesu
  35 wole & to whome'. e sensible presence of him felt boe in
     body & soule, at passe not onely a hundret folde'. bot also
     a ousande folde alle e fleshly lykyng of ere.
        is speciale ift of Jesu is knowen of gostly folke
     before seide, bot it is hidde to fleshly folk at ha set hir herte
  40 & hir confort in is worlde. As e prophete Dauid felyng is
     ift speke to god in is manere, Lord how grete is e



|p114


     multitude of i swetnesse at ou hast hidde to hem at dreden
     e. Of is matire seynt bernard make a deuout processe, in
     a tretyse of him at is cleped De colloquio simonis & Jesu,
     spekyng more plenerly of is gostly mede, of e whiche Jesus
   5 graunt vs part Amen.


     Of e transfiguracion of oure lorde Jesu in e hille.
     Capitulum xxx=m=.


        |r<b> Oure lord Jesus willyng conferme & strenge hees
     disciples in at trew byleue at he was boe god & man'. he
  10 shewed hem at he was verrey man, by at he suffrede after
     e kynde & e comune infirmite of man, & also at he was
     god'. by e miracles at he wrouht aboue e comune kynde &
     miht of man, & erwi also he informede hem |r[58r] & tolde hem
     before'. at he sholde suffre peynfully e harde de as man, &
  15 after arise vp gloriously to lyfe as god. And to is ende, what
     tyme as e gospel of Mathewe, & Marke & Luke telle, at he
     hade tolde hese disciples, at he shold suffre many reproues &
     despites in Jerusalem, & at e last be slayn & dede'. & after
     at, he shuld rise fro de to lyfe e rid day'. en forermore
  20 he concludet & seide at ere were sume of hem at ere
     stoden at at tyme e whech shold not tast bodily de til ei
     seene mannus son at was him self comyng in his kyngdome,
     at is to sey aperyng in a wondurful & ioyful clerenesse of his
     manhode as longyng to his kyngdome. And at fort fulfille is
  25 byhost'. about e viij day aftur he toke with him petur, James
     & Jone vp into a hye hille, at was as clerkes seyn clepede
     Thabor, & ere he was transfigurede in hir siht, at is to sey
     turnede out of e lowe likenes of seruant into e hye &
     gloriouse liknes of his kyngdome. For his face shane as e
  30 sune, & hese cloes were als white as e snowe. And erwi
     ere appereden Moises & Helye spekyng with him of his
     passion at he sholde suffre in Jerusalem. In e which blissful
     siht e disciples raueshede & specialy Petur foretyng al
     erly inge'. desired fort haue duellede stille ere, in at
  35 blestful place & seide, Lord it is gude at we abide & duelle
     here, & erfore if ou wolt, make we here re tabernacles,
     one to e, & one to Moises & one to Helye, bot he wist not
     what he seide, neyer in at he wolde haue duelled with Jesus
     in blisse'. before at he suffrede with him e passion of de,
  40 as he hade told hem before bat he shold do. nor in at he



|p115


     wolde haue seuerede hem re at were alle one as in gostly
     felyng e lawe, e prophetes & Jesus. And erfore fort
     conferme him, at is to sey Petur & hees felawes in trewe
     byleue of Jesus at he was goddus son, & at ei shold here
   5 & folowe him in alle inge'. erwi a briht cloude ouere
     shadewede hem, & out of e cloude came a voice fro e fadre
     of heuen, seyinge, is is my bylouede son in whom me like
     wele, & erfore here e him'. at is to sey in alle at he
     teche, for he is verrey sofastnes without lesyng, |r[58v] &
  10 erewi folowe him in at he shewe, for he is e riht way
     withoute erryng, whom e haue herde in e lawe, at is
     vndurstande in Moises & in e prophetes at bene vndurstande
     in Helye. And en when e disciples hade herd is heuenly
     voice before seide of e fadere'. ei felle done to e ere on
  15 hir face with gret drede for e infirmite of man miht not bere
     at hye voice aboue kynde. And en oure lord Jesus benygnly
     lift hem vp & bad hem not drede, & erwi ei liftyng vp hire
     eyene & lokyng about hem'. seene no mo bot alonely Jesus.
     And as ei wenten done e hille'. he bade hem telle noman at
  20 ei hade seene, til he mannus sone were rysen fro de to life.
         is is e processe of e gospel, in e which whoso
     ha grace of gostly vndirstandyng & swetnes'. may se many
     notabilytes to lowyng & despisyng of man himself, & to
     feruent deuocion & loue of god, & specialy he at ha felyng
  25 aboue kynde iuen by speciale grace'. may tast & haue miche
     gostly confort, at he graunt vs part of, Jesus crist, Amen.


     Of e sekeman helede at e watere in Jerusalem clepede
     probatica piscina. Capitulum xxxj=m=.


        |r<b> []Ere was in e Cite of Jerusalem in maner of a ponde
  30 a standyng watere cloused aboute with fyue dores. In e
     whiche watere e shepe were weshene, at were offrede in to
     sacrifice. In e which watere also aftere e opinione of sume
     clerkes, lay e tre of e holi crosse, where it befelle as by wey
     of miracle at ones in e ere at watere was gretly stired &
  35 mouede of e angele of god, & en what seke man miht first
     entre in to e watere'. he was helede of his infirmite. Wherfore
     many seke men duelleden continuely by at water abidyng e
     mouynge ereof by e angele. Among e whech, er was one
     liggyng in his bedde, on e pallesye xxviij ere, e which man
  40 oure lorde Jesus helede on e sabbate day, & bade hym bere



|p116


     awey his bedde & go, as e processe of e gospel telle more
     plenerely.
         In e whiche processe we mowe note specialy re
     inges to oure edificacione. First in at oure lord Jesus asked
   5 e seke man wheere he wolde be made hole'. we mow
     vndurstande at oure lord god |r[59r] wole note ife vs grace &
     gostly hele'. bot we willen & desire it. Wherefore oo sinful
     men at desire not & wole not assent to goddus wille of hir
     gostly hele & sauacion'. bene dampnable without excusacion.
  10 For as seynt Austyn sei, He at made e without e'. wole not
     iustifye e without e.
        e seconde notablete is'. at it behoue vs to be warre
     & bisy aftur we be delyuerete & clensede of sinne, at we fal
     not wilfully aeyn erto, lest at oure vnkyndenesse in at
  15 partye worily be puneshede more hard of oure lorde Jesu.
     Wherfore he seid to at seke man at he hade helede, Go &
     wille ou sinne no more'. lest worse wil falle to e. For oft
     syes it falles at for gostly infirmite, at is to sey sinne'.
     come bodily infirmite, & so orh delyueryng & assoilyng of
  20 sinne'. oft tymes e body is heled of bodily sekenes.
     e rid inge notable is, at wikked men gladly
     supposen vertuese dedis of oere men in to e worse partye,
     & so ei lesene hir mede comunely'. as gude men on at oere
     side supposen al inge in to e better part in encrese of hir
  25 mede.
        us e Jewes ful of enuye, when ei seene at seke
     man made hole miraculously of oure lorde Jesu, & beryng
     awey his bedde on e sabbate day at his biddyng'. ei asked
     him who badde him bere his bedde, bot ei asked not who
  30 made him hole. And so ei token at part at hem ouht was
     reprouable, bot ei laft at part at was comendable. And us
     comunely ei diden in alle e miracles of oure lord Jesu. In e
     same manere worldly men & fleshly turne in to e worse part
     at gudely men & gostly turne in to e best part. For ei at
  35 bene in charite & dreden [gode,] lyuing rihtwisely'. aretten al
     inge for e best, & to goddus wirchip wheer it be prosperite
     or aduersite, knowyng at alle inge is done rihtwisly by
     goddus wille, or his suffrance, & so in al inge spirituel men
     wynnen & geten hem mede, ei so ferfor, at of hir owne
  40 sinnes & oer mennus, & of e deueles werkes'. ei profiten
     & winnen gostly, as seynt bernord shewe in diuerse places.
     Whoso hade is grace perfitely to suppose & arette al
     inge at befel in to e bettur part'. he shold mow suffre
     tribulaciones & temptaciones without gret disese, & by longe



|p117


     exercise, |r[59v] come to so grete rest of soule'. at ful seldome or
     neuere sholde he be disturblet with any inge. Bot it shuld be
     verifiede in him at e wisman sei'. What so euer befalle to
     e rihtwiseman'. it sal not make him sorye.


   5     In capitulo de chananea 30


        Forermore in e forseide processe, in e speciale
     mynde of e angele'. we shole vndurstande at goddus angeles
     bene as mynistres & menes bytwix god & deuout soules as
     seynt Bernard sei. Wherefore we owe to wirchipe hem &
  10 honour hem & onke hem. And for als mich as ei bene
     continuely present with vs, we shole be eschewe to enke or
     speke or do'. at miht offende hem, for ei bene oure kepers
     ordeynet of god, & bisy about vs coueityng algate oure gostly
     profite.
  15     Of is matere speke seynt bernard Super psalmum
     Oui habitat sermone xi ibi Angelis suis mandauit de te &c.
     Item super cantica sermone lxxjo.


     How oure lorde Jesus cast oute of e temple e biggeres &
     e selleres aeynus goddus lawe. Capitulum xxxij.


  20     |r<b> TWeyn tymes as e gospel make mynde oure lord
     Jesus cast out of e temple e biggeres & e selleres ereinne,
     & at with a skourge made of cordes, e which dede among
     alle e miracles at he wrouht seme wondurful. For what
     tyme at he wrouht oere miracles in e whech he shewede e
  25 souereyn miht of his godhede, e pharisees & e scribes &
     oer of e Jewes despised & reprouede him. Bot at is tyme
     when ei were in grete multitude gederet in e temple, & in
     hir grete solempnite'. ei hade no powere to withstande him al
     one. And e cause was, for e gostly fire of his zele brennyng
  30 withinfor, for e vnwirchipyng of his fadere, specialy in at
     place, where he owede most to be wirchipede shewede him so
     dredful in his face withoutfor, at ei were wondurfully
     adredde, & disconfyted, & had no powere to wistande him.
        is processe aftur e exposition of seynt Gregory &
  35 oer doctours is ful dredeful to al cristien men, bot namely to
     prelates & curates & oer men of holi chirch, & specialy we
     religiouse at bene sette in goddus temple fort serue him
     continuely in deuout praiere, & oer gostly exercises'. if we



|p118


     ife vs to coueitise & vanitees, & medle vs ouere nede with
     worldly occupaciones & chaffarynges, as ei diden'. we mowe
     |r[60r] skilfully drede e indignacion of Jesu, & his castyng out fro
     grace in is life, & after departyng fro his blisse euerlastyng.
   5     Wherefore ou at wolt not drede e indignacion of
     Jesu'. loke at in no manere ou putte e wilfully nor medle e
     to i powere with worldly occupacion.
        Bot for is matiere is fully & plentyvously tretede in e
     exposition of is gospel in many places'. erfore we passen
  10 ouere us shortly at is tyme.


        Post istum capitulum sequitur in Bonauentura, Quando
     discipuli vellebant spicas &c. quod capitulum supra translatum
     est parte tercia, capitulo xxiiij.


     Of e receyuyng of oure lord Jesu by e tweyn sisteres
  15 Martha & Marie, and of e tweyn manere of
     lyuynges at bene actife & contemplatife in holy
     chirch. Capitulum xxxiij=m=.

        |r<b> BEfelle vpon a tyme at oure lorde Jesus went with
     hese disciples in to Bethanie at was cleped e Castel of
  20 Marthe & Marie, & came in to e house of hem. And ei at
     loueden him with alle hir hertes, weren gladde & ioyful of his
     comyng. And Martha e elder sistere at hade e cure of e
     housholde anone byside hir & went fast aboute to ordeyne for
     e mete couenable to him & hees disciples. Bot hir sistere
  25 Marie foretyng alle bodily mete & desiryng souereynly to be
     fedde gostly of oure lord Jesu'. set hir done on e gronde at
     hees fete, & kastyng hir eyene & hir herte & hir eres in to him
     onely'. with more ioy & likyng en may be spoken was fed
     gostly & confortede in e blessede wordes of oure lord Jesu.
  30 For he wolde not be ydule'. bot as his comune manere was,
     occupiede him with spekyng of edificacion & wordes of
     euerlastyng life. Martha at was so bisily occupiede aboute e
     ministracion & e seruice of oure lord Jesu & hees disciples,
     seyng hir sistere Marie so sittyng as it were in ydulnes'. toke
  35 hit heuyly, & compleyned hir to oure lord as he hade take no
     rewarde erto, & praiede him at he wolde bidde hir sistere
     rise & help hir to serue, & en was Marie aferde lest she shold
     haue be taken fro at swete rest & gostly likyng at she was
     inne. And nouht she seide, bot henge don hir hede, abydyng



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     what oure lord wolde sey. And en oure lord answeryng for
     hir, seide to Martha at ouh she was bisy & turblet about
     many |r[60v] inges, neuerles one inge was necessarye, & at was
     e best parte at Marye chase, e whiche shold neuer be take
   5 fro hir. And en was Marie gretly conforted & satte more
     sikurly in hir purpose, & Martha without enuye held hir paiede
     & serued for with gude wille.
         In is processe of e gospel forseide so shortly
     touchede after e letter'. we mowe note & vndurstande many
  10 faire inges gostly to oure edificacion. And first e gret
     gudenes of oure lord Jesu in his homely comyng to at pore
     house of o tweyn sistres Martha & Marie, takyng oft syes
     with gude wille & likyng siche simple refeccion & bodily fode
     as ei hadden. For as it seme wele by at seying of Martha,
  15 at hir sistre lete hir serue alone'. ere was not multitude of
     seruantes, & so folowe at ere was no gret aray in diuerse
     messes or many delicate metes & drinkes, & it came oure
     lord oftere customably vnbeden to at place, an he dide to
     any oere to take his bodily fode, & at specialy as I trowe,
  20 for e gret loue & affeccion at he hade to Marie after hir
     conuersione, as he knewe wele at she louede him souereynly
     euere after, as it is seide before.
         And so it seme at oure lord Jesus, wole loue
     specialy & oft visite by grace & duelle gostly with at soule,
  25 at by trewe repentauce & penance forsake hir sinne, &
     perseuerantly kepe hir in e loue of him.
        Lord how gladde & ioyful were ese tweyn sistres
     forseide of e comyng at at tyme of is blessed gest Jesus to
     hir house, & principaly Marie. For as it seme after e
  30 processe of e gospel, is was e first tyme at he came to at
     house, & at sone after e conuersion of Marie forseide, & in
     so miche it was e more ioyful to hir, for en she hade at she
     souereynly louede & onely desired. And erfore hir sistere not
     knowyng how it stode with hir withinfor in hir herte, &
  35 seyng hir maneres changet, at was wont before to be
     occupiede in bisinesse of bodily ministracion with hir, & now
     as takyng no rewarde erto, bot sittyng & tentyng onely to e
     swete contemplacion of Jesu as it is seide before'. merueilede
     gretly erof, & erfore compleyned to oure lord as it is seide,
  40 not reprouyng hir sistere after e comune condicion of women.
     In tokene |r[61r] & ensaumple at he at is occupied vertuesly in
     actif life'. shal not reproue him at is in rest of contemplatif
     life, ouh it seme to him at he be as ydul.



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     Of actife life and contemplatife life.

        By ees tweyn sisteres forseide, Martha & Marie, as
     holy men & doctours writen'. ben vndurstande tweyn maner
     lifes of cristen men, at is to sey actif lif & contemplatif lyfe.
   5 Of e whech ere be many tretees, & gret processe made of
     diuerse doctours. And specialy e forseid Bonauenture in is
     boke of cristes life make a longe processe aleggyng many
     auctoritees of seynt Bernard, e whiche processe ouh it so be
     at it is ful gude & fructuouse as to many gostly lyueres'.
  10 neuerles for it seme as inpertynent in gret party to many
     comune persones & symple soules, at is boke in english is
     writen to, as it is seid oft before, erefore we passen ouere
     shortly takyng ereof at seme profitable & edificatife to oure
     purpose at is tyme.
  15      And first it is to vndurstande, at e processe of e
     forseid Bonauenture of ees tweyn manere of lyfes Actif &
     contemplatif longe specialy to spirituel persones as bene
     prelates, prechours & religiouse. And so he sei at e
     byginnyng, at actif life at is vndurstonde by Martha, ha
  20 tweyn parties.
         And e first part is at manere of lyuyng by e which
     a mannus bisinesse stant principaly in at exercise, at longe
     to his owne gostly profite, at is to sey in amendyng of him
     self as widrawyng fro vices & profetyng in vertues. First as
  25 to profite of him self, & afterwarde as to his neihborgh by
     werkes of rihtwisnes & pite, & dedes of charite as it sal be
     seide more pleynly here after.
         e seconde part of actif life is, when a mannus
     occupacion & bisinesse, stant in at exercise at longe to e
  30 profite of oer men principaly, ouh it be also erwi to his
     owne mede e more erby. As it is in gouernyng of oer men
     & teching, & helping to e hele of soule, as done prelates &
     prechours & oer at hauen cure of soule.
         And bytwix ese tweyn parties of actif lif before
  35 seide'. stant contemplatif life. So at in is ordre'. first a man
     trauaile & if him to gude exercise in praiere, & in study of
     holi scriptures & oer gude werkynges in comune
     conuersacion. |r[61v] Amendyng his life & widrawyng fro vices &
     profityng in getyng of vertues. And after en secondly restyng
  40 in contemplacion at is to sey in solitude at e lest of herte,
     forsakyng alle worldes bisinesse'. with alle his miht be about,
     continuely to enk on god, & heuenly inges, onely tentynge
     to plese god. And en here after when he is perfitely in e



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     tweyn forseid exercises tauht & stablet in verrey wisdome &
     vertues, & lihtned orh grace desiring e gostly profite of
     oermen'. en may he sikerly take vpon him e cure & e
     gouernale of oere.
   5     And so after e forseid processe, first it behoue at in
     e first part of actif life mannus soule be purget of vices &
     strenghed & conforted in vertues. After at it be enfourmede
     tauht & lihtnede in contemplatif life, & an in e ridde degre
     may he sikurly go out to gouernaile & profite of oer, as it is
  10 seide.
        Vpon is forseid processe of Bonauenture, so shortly
     touchede'. he alegge after many auctoritees of seynt Bernard
     fort preue alle e partes ereof, at is to sey, e first of actife,
     e seconde contemplatif, & e ridde at is e seconde of
  15 Actif life, e which we passe ouere with gret proce sse of
     contemplacion & many auctoritees of seynt Bernard. For fewe
     ere bene e more harme is awere in state of contemplatif
     life touchyng e seconde poynt beforeseide, or in e state of
     perfite actif life, touching e ridde poynt'. at comen to hir
  20 astate by e trewe wey at is declarede before. And is is e
     cause at in is tyme many er bene boe men & women in
     e state of contemplatif life, as specyaly ankeres & recluses or
     hermytes at witen litel as in effecte trewly what contemplatif
     life is by defaut of exercise in actife lif as it is before seide.
  25 And erfore it is ful perilous & ful dredeful to be in astate of
     perfection & haue a name of holynes'. as hauen specialy ees
     Recluses, bot e lyuyng & e gostly exercise of hem be
     acordyng erto.
        For seynt Gregory sei, at ere bene many at fleen
  30 occupacion of e worlde & taken hem to rest, bot erwi ei
     bene not occupiede with vertues, & erfore oft sies it falle,
     at e more sikurly at ei cese fro outwarde occupacion, e
     more largely ei gederen in to hem by ydulnesse |r[62r] e noyse
     of vnclene ouhtes. And so of euery siche soule at spende
  35 hir tyme in ydulnes & sloue, speke e prophete Jeremye in
     his lamentacions in is manere, viderunt illam hostes &
     deriserunt sabbata eius, at is to sey, e wikked spirites
     enemyes of mankynde, seyng & takyng hede of e lyuyng of
     siche an ydul soule'. laghen to scorn hir daies of rest. For in
  40 at she is ferre fro outwarde occupacion & ereby is trowede
     to serue god in holinesse'. in so miche she serue e tirantry
     of o wikked spirites in ydulnes.
        Also e same holi Clerk seynt Gregory in e same
     boke after spekyng of ees tweyn lifes, actif & contemplatif,



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     sei, at mannus soule shold first b[e] wiped & made clene of
     e desire of temperele ioy & veyn glorye, & of al delectacion
     or likyng of fleshly lust & desire'. & en may he be lift vp to
     e siht & degre of contemplacion. In figure & token hereof,
   5 when god af Moises e lawe'. e comune peple was forbeden
     to neihe e hille. In tokene at ei at bene of weike wille &
     desiren erly inges'. shold not presume to clymbe vp to hye
     inges of contemplacion.
        And forermore declaryng how ei shal preue hem self
  10 able at wole go to contemplatif lyfe sei, at first it behoue
     at ei preue hem self by excercise of vertues in e feelde of
     worching, at is to sey, at ei knowe hem self bisily, if ei
     done none harme to hir neihborgh & if ei bere paciently
     harmes & wronges done to hem of oer men. Also if ei haue
  15 no gladnesse in herte or likyng when temperele godes fallen to
     hem, & aeynwarde if ei be not to heuy or sory, when ei
     bene widrawen. Also if ei felene in hir mynde e loue of
     spirituel inges so mihty, at it ouercome & putte out of hir
     herte e affeccion & ymaginacion of al erly inges, & so in
  20 at ei coueytene to come to at inge at is aboue hir kynde'.
     ei ouercomen at at ei bene by kynde. Al is sei gregory.
        Hereto acordyng seynt bernarde & alle oer doctours
     generaly'. seyen at who so wole go dewly to contemplatif life'.
     it behoue at he be first preued in exercise of actif life. In
  25 figure whereof is alegged comunely e storye of e tweyn
     douhteres of Laban e whech Jacob toke to hees wifes, at
      weren cleped, e eldre |r[62v] Lya, at was sore eyede, bot
     plentyuous in beryng children, by whom is tokened actif life.
     e onger was Rachel, faire & louelich bot bareyn, & by her
  30 is tokened contemplatif life. And ouh it so were at Jacob
     loued better Rachel en Lya & couaited first to haue hade hir
     to wife for his vij ere seruice'. neuere lese he was made to
     take first e eldre Lia. In token at actif lif shuld be before
     contemplatif as it is seid, & is story is pleynly treted in many
  35 places to is purpose, & erfore we passe ouere so shortly.


     De vita actiua & contemplatiua.


        |r<b> BOt fort speke of e maner of lyuyng in ese tweyn
     lifes actif & contemplatif in special, & namelich of actif at
     stant in so many degres, as of seculeres & religiouse & lerede



|p123


     & lewede, it were hard & wolde ask longe processe, & also as
     it seme it nede not.
        For e generale exercise of actif life, as it longe first
     to a man him self, at is in fihtyng aeynus vices, & bisy in
   5 getyng of vertues. And also after as it longe to hese euen
     cristien, at is in fulfillyng of e dedes of mercy, &
     almesdedes doyng of hem at haue abundance of temperele
     godes'. in euery degre, is writen sufficiently as I hope, &
     erfore I leue to speke more of is matere at is tyme.
  10     Saue to make an ende acordyng to e byginnyng of e
     mater before seid in e gospel of ese tweyn sisteres Martha
     & Marie by e whech bene vndurstonde ees tweyn lifes actif
     & contemplatif as it is seide.
        First ei at bene in actif life, hauen ensaumple in
  15 Martha of at vertue at is souereynly nedeful to hem in alle
     hir dedes at is charite, & first as to hem self at ei be
     without dedely sinne, for elles Jesus wole not duelle in hir
     house, nor accept hir seruyce. Also as to oer, at ei deme
     not nor despise oer e whech perauenture done not so many
  20 vertuese dedes as to mannus siht as ei done. For ei mowe
     not knowe e priue domes of oure lord Jesu, at accepted
     more pleysingly & preferrede e pryue contemplacion of
     Marie, at satte at hese fete in silence, as she hade be ydul'.
     before alle e gret bisy seruyce of Martha, and at was for e
  25 feruent loue at she hade in contemplacion of him, and it was
     e seruice & e bisynesse of Martha ful pleisinge to Jesu &
     medeful to hir, as actif life is gude, bot contemplatif bettur.
        And so forermore |r[63r] it is to note, at not wistandyng
     e grete commendacion of oure lord Jesu touching Marie & e
  30 preferryng of hir part, Martha grucched not of hir part, bot
     continued for in hir manere lyuyng, seruyng customably to
     Jesu & hese disciples, as John witnesse after in his gospel. In
     token at he at is called to god & stant in e state of actif
     life, hald him paied & gruch not, ouh contemplatif life be
  35 commendet before his astate. For how so euere it stande of
     ese tweyn astates & degrees of lyuyng'. god wote al only who
     shal be before oere in e blisse of heuen, of e persones in
     ees astates.
        And us miche be seide as touching e part of Martha,
  40 & of actif life tokened by hir.
        Forermore touching contemplatif life, he at is in at
     state, ha ensaumple in Marie of re inges at nede
     souereynly to at astate, at bene mekenes, pacience & silence.



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        First mekenes is tokenet in e lowe sittyng of Marie, at
     e fete of oure lord Jesu'. & bot is gronde be trewly sette in
     e herte of him at is in is degre of contemplacion, at is to
     sey at he presume not of his owne holynesse, bot at he
   5 despise him self trewly in his owne siht as it is seide before in
     diuerse places, what longe to mekenes'. soely elles alle his
     byldyng of contemplacion be hit neuer so hye wole not stande
     stedfastly bot sone at a lytel wynde of aduersite falle to nouht.
        e seconde vertue acordyng hereto is pacience, in
  10 suffryng fals demynges, skornynges & reprouynges of e
     world at he shal suffre at fully forsake & despise e
     world as it nede to e trewe contemplatife, committyng alwey
     by pacience in herte, his cause to his aduoket Jesu, without
     answere reprouyng aeyn as Marie dide, when e pharisee
  15 demede & reproued hir. Also hir sistere pleyned vpon hir'. &
     e disciple hade indignacion & grucched aeynus hir. Bot in
     alle ese she kept silence, at is e ridde vertue nedful to e
     contemplatife, & so ferfor she afe ensaumple of silence at
     we finde not in alle e gospel at she spake before e
  20 resurrexione of oure lorde saue ones, by a short word at e
     reisiug of hir broer Lazare, not wistandyng e grete loue at
     oure lord Jesu shewed to hir, & e grete likyng at she hade
     in e wordes & |r[63v] e holi doctrine of him, at shold stir hir by
     reson e more boldly to speke.
  25      And whoso coueite to knowe e fruyte of vertuese
     silence, if he haue affeccion & wille to trewe contemplatif
     lyuyng'. without doute he shal be bettur tauht by experience,
     en by writyng or teching of man, & neuerles seynt bernard,
     & many oere holi fadres & doctours comenden hyely vertuese
  30 silence as it is wori.
        Whereof & oer vertuese exercise at longe to
     contemplatif lyuyng, & specialy to a recluse, & also of
     medelet life, at is to sey sumtyme actife & sumtyme
     contemplatif, as it longe to diuerse persones at in worldly
  35 astate hauen grace of gostly loue'. who so wole more pleynly
     b[e] enfourmed & tauht in english tonge'. lete him loke e
     tretees at e wori clerk & holi lyuere Maister Walter Hilton
     e Chanon of Thurgarton wrote in english by grete grace &
     hye discrecion'. & he shal fynde ere as I leue a sufficient
  40 scole & a trew of alle ees. Whos saule rest in euerlastyng
     pese'. as I hope he be ful hye in blisse, ioynede & knyt without
     departyng to his spouse Jesu, by perfite vse of e best part at
     he chase here with Marie. Of e which part he graunt vs
     felawchipe'. Jesus oure lord god, Amen.



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     Of e reising of Lazare & oere tweyn dede bodies.
     Capitulum xxxiiij.


        |r<b> Among alle e myracles at oure lord Jesus crist
     wrouht here in ere, e reisyng of Lazare principaly is
   5 comendet & souerenly is to be consideret, not onely for e
     souereyn miracle itself, bot also for many notable inges at
     befelle in at myracle & diuerse misteries, e whech seynt
     Austyn clergialy trete, by longe processe vpon e self gospel.
     Of e whiche sumwhat I shal touche in partye, & more ouer
  10 as e grace of oure lord Jesu wele sende wit pertynyng to e
     purpose.
         And for als miche as e gospel make mynde of re
     dede bodies reised by oure lord Jesu fro de to life'. of e
     which tweyn e first, bene not spoken of specialy in is trete
  15 before'. erfore it seme conuenient to is purpose sumwhat
     touche of hem now in is place as e forseid seynt Austin do.
         And first we shole vndurstande & haue in mynde, at
     as e dedes of oure lord Jesu after his manhede bene
     ensaumple to vs fort folowe him, as in mekenes, pouerte,
  20 pacience |r[64r] & oere vertues'. so in hese miracles done by
     vertue of e godhede we shole not desire to folowe him fort
     do as he dide'. bot we shole wirchipe him as almity god in
     at partye, & more ouere coueyt fort vudirstande e gostly
     meynyng of hem, how o miracles done an bodily & in
  25 bodies, bene now done oft sies gostly in mennus soules. And
     so as seynt Austyne sei, by o re bodies e whech oure lord
     Jesus reised fro de to life bodily'. ben vndurstande re maner
     of dede soules, e whech orh his speciale grace he reise
     euery day to euerlastyng lif gostly. For as e gospel make
  30 mynde, he reised e douhter of e maister of e temple, at
     lay dede in e house, by whom is vndurstande dedely sinne
     onely in assent, without e fulfillyng erof in dede. Also he
     reised e widowes sone born dede on e bere without e ates
     of e cite, by whom is vndurstande dedely sinne withoutfor
  35 parfourmet in dede. And e ridde dede body he reised at
     was Lazare biryed & foure daies dede, by whom is tokenet
     dedely sinne in custome. For if we take gude hede &
     vndurstande at sinne is de of e soule'. we mowe fynde at
     e soule is dede gostly & slayn orh sinne in ees re
  40 maneres. First by full assent of wille to do at is forbeden of
     god, onely within for in e soule, without e dede erof
     withoutfor. As by ensaumple of lecherye at is forbeden,
     what tyme as oure lord sei in e gospel, at a man see a



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     woman lustily to at ende fort haue to do with hir fleshly, &
     fully assente erto in his wille'. ouh e dede folowe not
     after'. he is aconted as a lechour in his herte, & so is his soule
     slayn gostly orh at assent, & ded in goddus siht.
   5      And is maner of gostly de is vndurstande by at
     first dede bodye at oure lorde Jesus reised in e house, at
     was e douhter of e prince of e sinagoge or e maister of e
     temple as it is seid before.
         Of whom e gospel telle, at he came to oure lord
  10 Jesu preyng him at he wold come to his house & hele his
     douhter at lay seeke erinne. And as oure lord at of his
     grete grace & endles gudenes was euer redy to help & hele al
     oo at asked him trewely, was goyng with him toward his
     house, |r[64v] ere came worde to e forseid prince at his douhter
  15 was dede, & erfore ei beden him, at he shold not make e
     maister at is Jesus trauaile in veyne, for ei trowede wele at
     he was of miht to hele e seke, bot not to reise e dede.
     Neuerles oure lord Jesus letted not for hir mysbyleue nor for
     hir scornyng to do his grace, bot bade e fadere at he shuld
  20 not drede bot onely byleue. And when he came to his house,
     & fonde ere, after hir custome many wepyng & mourneful
     minstralsye, & oer aray, for e exequyes'. he seid to hem,
     wepe not, for e wench is not dede bot slepi, & an ei
     scorned him, for ei vndurstode not what he mened. For ouh
  25 she was dede as to hem'. neuerles to him at was of miht to
     reise hir & make hir to lyue'. she dide bot slept. And an
     puttyug out alle at were in e house saue e fadere & e
     modere, & e re apostles, Petur, James & John, oure lord
     Jesus bad e wenche rise, & anone she rose vp fro de to life,
  30 & after ete & was al hole.
        is is e processe of e gospel, after e vndurstandyng
     of e letter. In e which we mowe gostly vndurstonde first at
     as oure lord god an reised bodily e douhter at e praiere &
     by e fei of e fadere'. so he reise nowe oft sies gostly
  35 dede soules by sinne to life of grace, orh e preching &
     preyinge of holi men, & e fei of holi chirch. And as oure
     lord Jesus spared not for mysbyleue & scornyng of oer, to
     help him at asked his grace'. so shold not men spare to profite
     to oer soules & namely men of holi chirch spare to preche
  40 goddus worde whan it longe to hir office, in to reisyng of
     dede soules to gostly life, ouh sume men scorn hem or
     reproue hem erfore. For as seynt Austin sei it falle al day,
     at a man at is gostly dede by ful assent in his herte to
     dedely sinne, by e preching of goddus worde, is compuncte



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     in his herte erof orh grace, as ei he herd oure lorde bidde
     him rise. And so is he reised in his soule by repentance fro
     de to life, at it were in e house, or at he be born without
     by e dede more ouere of at sinne. And is is e first manere
   5 of dedely sinne, & lihtest forto rise out ereof orh grace, at
     is betokenet by e first dede bodie reised of Jesu |r[65r] in e house
     as it is seide.
        Bot neuerles is manere of dedely synne at is onely
     in assent, is moste perilouse if it longe abide, & specialy if it
  10 be gostly, as hye pride or enuy. For as seynt Gregory sei, at
     sumtyme it is more greuous sinne in goddus siht, pride by
     deliberacion in herte'. en is e dede of lecherye, & it alday
     at one is gretly charget, at is to sey lecherye, bot at oere
     seldom or litel, & erfore bene many men here deceyuet. Bot
  15 now passe we here ouere.
        Of e reisyng of e seconde dede body, is writen in e
     gospel, of seynt Luke, how what tyme oure lord Jesus came to
     a Cite at was clepede Naym & hese disciples with him &
     mikel peple'. he mette at e ate of e Cite a dede body born
  20 on a bere, at was e al one son of a wydowe at came with
     e corse & mikel folk of e cite with hir. And an oure lord
     hauyng pite, of e grete sorow of e widowe, & meuede orh
     his endles mercy'. bade hir at she shold not wepe, & an
     [nehyng] & touchyng e bere, & erwi ei at berene it
  25 standyng stille'. he spake to e dede body in ees wordes, ow
     onge man I say to e arise vp, & anone he rose fro de to
     lyfe, & went on hees fete, & bygan to speke, & so he betoke
     him to his modere alyfe. is is e processe of e forseid
     gospel.
  30     A lord Jesu mikel is i mercy shewed to sinful men, e
     which as ou reisedest at dede body born out toward birying
     without praiere made to e before, onely stiryng e yne
     endeles gudnesse & pite'. so ou reisest alday gostly hem at
     ben dede in soule, by gret sinnes perfourmede in dede, as by
  35 e dede of lecherie, glotenye & oere gret sinnes fleshly &
     gostly, iuyng i grace oft sies before or ou be praiede or
     souht by any desert, orh e which sinful men bene stirede to
     repentance & forsakyng of sinne, & so by shrift & penance
     doyng after e lawes of holy chirch, ei bene reised gostly to
  40 lif of grace, at first were dede by sinne perfourmede in dede.
     And if it so be at is sinne be opunly knowen, in to yuel
     ensaumple of oere & sklaundre'. en is it nede of opune
      penance as holi chirch ha ordeynet, after at oure lord Jesus
     af ensaumple in at opene reising of e forseid dede body,



|p128


     at was opunly born dede |r[65v] on e bere wi out for in siht of
     e peple.


        |r<b> BOt now as to oure principale purpose fort speke of e
     reising of e rid dede body, at is to sey Lazare foure daies
   5 dede. For als miche as in is processe bene continede many
     faire & gret notable inges'. erfore we shole here more
     specialy gedere in oure entent, & make vs by ymaginacion, as
     ei we were present in bodily conuersacion not onely with
     oure lord Jesu & hees disciples'. bot also with at blessede &
  10 deuout meyne, at is to sey, Martha, Marie & Lazare, at was
     specialy belouede of oure lord Jesu, as e gospel witnese.
     And first we shole vndirstande & haue in mynde, e processe
     of e nekst chapitre before is, how vpon a tyme when oure
     lord Jesus walked in e temple, at is to sey in at place at
  15 was clepede salomonus porche, in e feste of e dedicacion of
     e temple'. e Jues comen about him, as rauyshing wolfes or
     wode dogges, with grete ire grennyng vp on him & seying in
     ees maner wordes, how longe wolt ou make vs in suspense
     & in dwere in oure he rtes what ou art. Ifou be crist'. telle
  20 vs opunly. is ei seyden by fals & malicious entent to at
     ende at if he hade opunly knowlechede at he was crist, at
     is to sey anoynted kynge'. en fort haue taken him & accusede
     him as traitour to Cesar e emperour of Rome. Bot erfore
     oure lord Jesus knowyng hir fals ymaginacion, temperede
  25 wisly his answere, & as an innocent lambe among so many
     trecherouse wolfes, soburly & mekely seid to hem aeyn, I
     speke to owe & e leue me not, bot e werkes at I do in e
     name of my fadere'. o beren witnese of me what I am. And
     after more ouer when he seide, I & my fadere arne alone, ei
  30 token vp stones fort haue stonede him as blasfeme, makyng
     him self god.
        And forermore when oure lord hade concludet hem in
     at party by reson & auctorite of holi writte, at ei miht not
     aeyn seye, & ei not withstandyng his resonable & meke
  35 answere, & so gudely wordes, continueden & encreseden in hir
     malice. For als miche as e tyme of his passion was not it
     comene & fort iue ensaumple of pacience, & of iuyng stede
     to |r[66r] rennyng wodenesse'. he widrowe him out of hir handes,
     & went wi hese disciples by onde Jordane, in to at place
  40 where John baptist first baptizede, aboute xviij Mile fro
     Jerusalem, & ere he dwellede awhile with hees disciples.
        And in at tyme sone after as e gospel telle nowe to
     oure purpose'. Lazare e broer of Martha & Marie before



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     seide waxed sore seke, & anone e tweyn sistres senden worde
     to Jesu where he was in at forseide place by onde Jordane
     seying to him in is manere Lo lord he at ou louest at is
     lazare, is sore seke. And ei seiden no more. For als miche as
   5 hem ouht at at sufficced to him at louede & wist what ei
     menede. And also perauenture, for ei knowyng e malice of
     e Jues aeynus him in to his de, & how a litel before ei
     wolde haue stenede him'. ei durst not clepe him to hem, bot
     committede alle to his wille. And an Jesus answerede & seide
  10 to hem is infirmite is not to de'. bot for e louyng of god at
     goddus son be glorified erby. e gospel telle at he seide
     ees wordes to hem, bot it specifie not to whame, for e
     sistres at senden to him were not at tyme present, bot a
     grete wey fro him as it is seide.
  15     Neuerles we mowe vndurstande as by e processe, at
     he answered to hem in ees wordes by e messagere, or elles
     seid so to hese disciples, or to boe, as it is most lykly.
     A lorde what conforte was is to e sistres, when ei
     hardene of e messagere ese wordes, at Jesus seide, is
  20 infirmite is not to de, vndurstandyng perantere by hem, at
     hir broer shold not dye bodily by at infirmite. Bot what
     disconfort was it to hem aftur whan he was dede & biriede,
     not vndurstandyng at oure lord menede of at gloriouse
     reisyng at folowede after, nor trowyng an at it sholde haue
  25 falle. Neuerles at disconfort for e tyme'. was after turnede in
     to more confort en ei desirede first by at ei wolde haue
     hade him preseruede fro e de, & helede of his infirmite by
     oure lord Jesus.
        us it falle oft sies with hem at god loue & bene
  30 in tribulacion or disese, |r[66v] oure lord graunte hem not at
     confort at ei asken & desirene'. bot suffre hem as for e
     tyme to be in despeire of hir desire. And after when his wille
     is, he fulfille hir desire better en ei wolde first, & turne
     hir disconfort in to more confort an ei wolde haue ymagined
  35 or ouht.
        Forermore as to e processe of e gospel, after oure
     lord Jesus was certifiede of e seke lazare, & hade answerede
     as it is seide, he duelled stille in e forseide place tweyn
     dayes, & after he seide to hese disciples, Go we aeyne in to
  40 e Jewery, & ei aferde of is worde seiden to him, Maister
     riht nowe e Jues wolden haue stenede e ere, & now wolt
     ou go idere aeyn? & en Jesus answered, Be ere not xij
     houres of e day? as who sei, whi be e aferd supposyng at
     e Jues continuen in hir malice? Wit e not wele at as oft



|p130


     sies, as e houres changen on e day'. so oft mannus herte &
     purpose varie & change? Bot e gostly menyng of ese
     wordes as seynt Austin expowne is is, Oure lord
     vndurstandyng him self as e day, & hees xij disciples, as xij
   5 houres of e day, reprehendet hir misbyleue, & hir vnresonable
     drede of his de at was in his wille, at ei wold iue conseil
     to him, as men to god, disciples to e maister, e seruantes to
     hir lorde, & e feble & seke to him at was souereyn leche.
     Wherfore in manere blamyng hem, oure lord seid to hem in
  10 is maner sentence, Are ere not xij houres ofe day, who so
     walke in e day'. he offende not, or erre not. Folowe e
     me if e wol not erre, & wole e not iue conseil to me, sien
     it is nede to ow to take conseil of me. And erfore sien it so
     is at I am e day, & e e houres'. by kyndly reson e houres
  15 folowen e day, & not e day e houres'. folowe e me & at
     if e wil not offende or erre.
        And after is oure lord Jesus knowyng in spirite at
     lazare was dede'. seid to hem, Lazare oure frende slepe bot
     I wole go fort wake him & reise him fro slepe. And en e
  20 disciples vndurstandyng fleshly o wordes of kyndly slepe'.
     seiden, Sir if he slepe'. hit is a token at he shal be hole &
     safe of his sekenes. For comunely by wey of kynde, slepe of
     sekemen |r[67r] is token of hele aftur folowyng. Bot Jesus menede
     of his de. And so here we mowe se e gret homelynes of
  25 oure lord with hees disciples, at as in maner of bouredyng
     spake with hem here. Bot after declaring to hem opunly, at
     he spake first mistily'. seide, Lazare is dede, & I am glad for
     owe, at ereby oure byleue may be encresed & strenghede,
     knowyng at I was not ere in tyme of his deth, & so e
  30 raere byliuyng at I am goddus sone.
         Forermore leuyng many wordes of e gospel, &
     takyng at seme most notable to oure edificacion'. after when
     oure lorde Jesus with hese disciples turnede aeyne toward
     bethanye, & e tweyn sistres hadden worde of his comyng,
  35 Martha anone went aeynus him, bot Marie satte stille at home
     til after at she was cleped for by e biddyng of Jesus. And
     so it seme by ees wordes, so specialy after e letter tellyng
     howe ese tweyn sistres Martha & Maria, diuersely hadden
     hem as anentes Jesu'. at e holi euangelist John menede
  40 gostly here as he do in oere places, e diuerse condiciones
     at longen to hem, at bene in ese tweyn astates, at is to sey
     of actife life & contemplatif life. For it is no doute bot at
     Marie louede Jesus als mikel as hir sistere Martha or more, &
     was als glad of his comyng & als sory was of hir broer deth



|p131


     & als feruently desirede his life. Whi en went she not anone
     with hir sistre out aeynus Jesu? Bot in figure & for
     ensaumple, at ei at bene in e state of contemplatif life,
     shole not take vpon hem bodily exercise of e dedes of mercy,
   5 as fort go out to visite e seke, or hem at bene in prison, or
     to fede e hungry or cle e naked, & so for of oer, or elles
     fort preche or teche, or to minystre sacramentes of holy chirch'.
     bot it so be, at ei bene cleped out ereto, by e biddyng &
     e auctorite of holi chirch in Jesu name gostly as Marie was
  10 bodily.
         Sittyng en Marie at home as it is seide & Martha
     goyng out'. what tyme she met with Jesu'. she felle done at
     hese fete & seide, Lord if ou haddest ben here'. my broer
     hade not be dede, neuerles & nowe I wote wele at what so
  15 euer ou askeste of god'. god wole if it e, she dorst not |r[67v]
     sey vtturly at she desirede inwardly, seying as us, now reise
     my broere fro de to life'. for she wist not wheire it were
     expedient at hir broere shuld be reised, or wheer it were
     Jesus wille, and erfore she sette hir wordes discretly in is
  20 maner of menyng, Lord I wote wele ou maist reise him, &
     erfore if ou wolt'. it sal be done, bot wheer ou wolt or
     nouht'. I committe it to i dome, & not to my presumptione.
     an seide Jesus to hire, at hir broer shold ryse fro
     de to life, so in generale wordes, at miht be taken in tweyn
  25 maneres, fort preue hir byleue of e finale resurrexion, not
     specifiyng wheer he wolde reise him at at tyme or none.
     And erfore Martha takyng at part at she was siker of after
     e byleue, seide, at she wist wele at he shold rise in
     generale resurrexion, at e last day of dome. And forermore
  30 at e askyng of oure lorde, wheer she byleuede, at he seide
     of himself, at he was resurrexion & life, & of euerlastyng lif
     of alle hem, at byleuede sofastly in him'. she answerede
     finaly us, I byleued at ou art criste goddus son ot art
     come in to is world for mannus sauacion. And an at e
  35 biddyng of Jesus, she went home & clepede Marie hir sistere
     in silence, at is to sey in soft spekyng, seying to hir, Oure
     maistre is comen & clepe e to him, & anone she rose vp &
     went to him. Lo how expressly here also is tokened gostly
     what longe to e contemplatife, at is to sey, first in pees &
  40 rest silence & soft spech, & not loude cryinge or gret noyse as
     e world vse. And forermore what tyme at oure lord clepe
     him out by obedience to cure & gouernaile of oere as in e
     office of prelacie'. at en by ensaumple of Marie anone he
     rise by applying of his wille to goddus wille, loue he neuer so



|p132


     mykil rest, or haue he neuer so mykil likyng in swete
     contemplacion, at is to vndurstande, what tyme at he is
     cleped so vtturly, at if he withstode he shold synne dedely by
     inobedience.
   5     Forermore we mowe se by e processe of e gospel,
     e speciale loue & homelynes at oure lord Jesus hade
     souereynly to Marie in at he abode stille ere as Martha first
     mette with him, & wolde nouht do as to e reisyng of Lazare
     in to |r[68r] tyme at Marie was comen. And en when she was
  10 come & fallyng done at Jesus fete & with sore wepyng teres,
     hadde seide as hir sistere dide before, at if he had be ere hir
     broere hade not ben dede'. oure lorde Jesus seynge hir wepe,
     at he loued so specialy, & also e Jues wepyng at ere were
     at at tyme, & were comen to confort Marie'. he wept also, &
  15 at for re causes, first for e loue at he hadde to Marie
     specialy & to hir sistere & to Lazare. Also to shewe e
     greuoustye of sinne in custome, & of e gostly deth ereorh,
     at is tokened in Lazare foure dayes dede & biriede, & e
     ridde for e misbyleue of hem at ere were, e whech
  20 beleued at he miht haue kept him fro de, bot not at he miht
     en reise him to life aeyn.
        Who so wole an here inwardly take hede & beholde
     how oure lord Jesus wepe, e sistres wepen, e Jues wepen,
     e & as reson telle e disciples wepene'. skilfully he may be
  25 stired to compassion & wepyng, at e leste inwardly in hert
     namely for synne in custome, at is so harde to ouercome, &
     to rise out of, as oure lord Jesus shewed in gostly
     vndurstandyng, by e gret difficulte at he made as in wepyng
     & in maner of turblyng himself, & at tweyn tymes wro &
  30 grucching in spirite before at he reised Lazare, by whome is
     vndurstand sinne in custome, as it is oft seide, iuyng
     ensaumple as seynt Austyn sei, at ou at art ouerleyde with
     e heuy stone of dedely sinne'. be wro & grucche in spirite
     & turble i self in is maner, demyng i self gilty, & enkyng
  35 how oft ou hast sinned, wory euere lastyng de, & god of
     his endles mercy ha spared e & suffrede e. How oft ou
     hast herde e gospel forbedyng sinne, & ou hast taken none
     rewarde, bot art continuely contrarie & fals to i first
     baptisme, & en so enkyng with compunccion for i sinne,
  40 & as in maner askyng in i herte, What shal I do? Whydere
     sal I go? In what maner sal I askape is grete sinne & dredful
     perile of euerlastyng deth? Whan ou seyst us in i herte an
     criste grucche in e, for fei grucche, & if feith |r[68v] be in vs,
     an is crist in vs, & so in is manere of grucchyng'. is hope of



|p133


     vprisyng. For after is wepyng & turblyng as e processe of
     e gospel telle, oure lorde Jesus asked where ei hadden put
     Lazare, not for vnknowyng, bot spekyng in manere of man &
     in tokennyng gostly of a straungenes of his grace, to hem at
   5 bene ouerleide with dedely sinne for e tyme. Neuerles he ha
     alwey compassion of e sinfulle, & his mercy is redy to alle
     at wole trewly aske it, for after he hade asked where ei
     hadde putte him, & ei seide aeyne, Lord come & se'. en he
     wept, & e Jues at ere weren, seide La howe he louede him,
  10 & so he shewede e affeccion at he ha to e sinfulle, as he
     sei in e gospel, I came not to clepe e riht wise, bot e
     synneres to penance.
        Bot now go we to e graue of lazare, folowyng oure
     lord Jesu with alle at meyne, at is to sey, e tweyn sistres
  15 Martha & Marie & e apostles, & e Jues many at weren
     ere at tyme, to confort e sistres, & as oure lord wolde to se
     & bere witnesse of at solempne & wori myracle & so we
     mowe se by deuout ymaginacion how oure lord Jesus go
     before bytwix o tweyn sistres, talkyng homely with hem &
  20 ei with him, shewyng to him e grete disconfort & sorow at
     ei hadde of hir broer de, & specialy for als mykel, as ei
     durst not bidde him come to helpe hem & kepe him fro de
     for drede of e malice of e Jues, at ei knewen hade
     conspirede in to his de, & how ei were hiely confortede an
  25 of his blessed presence. Bot neuerles erewi ei hadden gret
     drede of him by cause of e Jues, & en how oure lorde
     benyngly confortede hem aeyn, & badde hem not drede of
     him, for alle shold be for e best, & at e fadere wille. And so
     talkyng to gedir'. ei come to e graue, at was keuerede with
  30 a grete stone abouene, an badde oure lord Jesus at ei shold
     take awey e stone, & ei abashede for e grete tendur loue
     at ei hade to him, dredyng e horriblete & e stinke of at
     carione at it shold ouht offende him, seiden, Lord now he
     stinke |r[69r] for he is foure daies dede, shewyng erby at ei
  35 hade none hope of his lyuyng aeyn. Bot oure lord
     aeynwarde, confortyng hir byleue, & makynge e stone taken
     awey'. afterwarde liftyng vp hese eyene to heuen seide, Fadere
     I thonke e, for ou hast herde me, & soely I wote wele at
     ou herest me euer, bot I sey is, for e peple at here stant
  40 at ei beleue at ou hast sende me. And when he hadde
     seide us'. he criede with a gret voice, Lazare come out of i
     graue.
        A lord Jesu, what nede was e to cry? Soely as seynt
     Austin sei, to shew in gostly vndurstandyng, how harde it is



|p134


     to him fort rise to life of soule, at is ouerlayde with e stone
     of dedely sinne in custome.
        How many bene ere sei seynt Austin, in is peple, e
     whech bene ouerleide with is heuy birthene of wikkede
   5 custome, perauenture sume heren me, at bene ouercomen with
     Lechery, or Glotenye at e apostle forbede hem where he
     sei us, Wille e not be drunken with wyne in e which is
     lecherye. And ei seyn aeyn, We mow not, & so for of
     oere grete misdedes & wikkednesses at god forbede & holi
  10 chirch. When it is seide to hem, do none of ese lest e
     perish'. ei answeren & seyn, we mowe not leue oure custome.
        A lord Jesu reise ese folk as ou reisede Lazare, for
     ou art soely as ou seyst resurrexion or vprisyng & life.
        How heuyly is stone of wikked custome ouerlei men
  15 in alle degres, not onely lered & lewede seculeres, bot also
     religious nyheby in alle astates'. whoso wole speke aeynus hir
     wikked customes, he sal knowe soely by experience, & at
     ere is no remedye bot onely Jesu.
        A lord Jesu crye to alle ese menne with a gret voice,
  20 at is to sey, shewe i miht & reise hem to life of grace,
     puttyng awey at heuy stone of wikked custome, as ou reised
     Lazare, for after i crye & at i biddyng he rose vp & went
     out of his graue, bot it bonden handes & feet til he was lesed
     & vnbonden by i disciples at i biddyng.
  25     is is a gret wondur as seynt Austin sei, to many men
     how he miht go out of e Graue with hese fete |r[69v] bonden'. bot
     it is miche more wondur how he rose fro de to life at was
     foure dayes byriede & with at body of a stynkyng kareyne.
     Bot what tokene alle is sei seynt Austin? Soely is it
  30 tokene. When ou doyst a gret sinne by contempte'. ou art
     gostly dede, & if ou contynuest customably ereinne'. an art
     ou dede & byriede. And when ou forenkest withinfor, &
     shryuest e & knowlechest i sinne withoutfor'. en risest ou
     & goste out of i graue, for it is nouht elles to sey, go for
  35 out, bot shewe & make knowen outwarde, at is priue
     withinfor. And is knowleching & shewyng of sinne, make
     onelich god, crying with a grete voice, at is to sey with his
     grete grace clepyng.
        Bot it ouh he at was dede be reised & gone out of
  40 his graue'. neuerles he duelle bonden, at is to sey gilty, in to
     tyme at he be lesede & vnbonden by goddus ministres, to
     whom onely he af at powere, seying us to hem, Alle at e
     vnbynde in erth'. sal be vnbonden in heuen. Alle is sei seynt
     Austin in sentence.



|p135


        In e which we mowe se opunly a sufficient auctorite
     aeynus hem at repreuene confession ordeynet by holi chirch,
     & also e assoylyng of curates, seying falsly at it is ynowh
     generaly to euery man, fort shryue him onely in his herte, to
   5 godde. And at prestes or curates of holi chirch haue no more
     powere to assoile of synnes, an anoyer comene man, bot at
     god alonly assoile, & none oere in his name.
        Bot nowe leuyng ees fals opiniones, & goyng to e
     ende of oure forseid processe'. what tyme at Lazare was
  10 reised to lif by oure lorde Jesus'. as it is seide & aftur
     vnbonden by hees disciples'. he & hese sistres wi gret ioy
     lowely onkeden Jesus of at souereyn benfete & ladden him
     with hem home to hir house makyng mykel mirth. And en e
     Jewes at ere weren wondryng hyely of at grete myracle'.
  15 sume turnede in byleue to Jesu, & sume eden & tolden e
     pharisees at Jesus hadde done, & so was it publyshede &
     opunly knowen. In so miche at gret multitude of Jerusalem &
     e cuntrey ere aboute, comen to se Lazare at was reisede, &
     an were e princes of e Jewes & e pharisees |r[70r] alle
  20 confusede, & ouhten & kastene fort sle Lazare, by cause at
     orh him many weren conuertede to Jesu.
        Now en fort make a conclusion of alle e processe
     before seide of e re dede bodies reised by oure lord Jesu'.
     seynt Austin sei in is sentence, Alle ese forseid inges we
  25 haue herde breerne to at ende'. at ei at lyuen gostly kepe
     hem in lyfe of grace, & ei at bene dede'. rise vp in is
     manere. First he at ha sinnede dedely by assent in herte, &
     is not gone out by performyng erof in dede'. amende him of
     at ouht by repentance, & so rise he vp, at was dede
  30 withinne e house of his conscience. Also he at ha
     performede in dede, at he conceyuede dedely in ouht'. be he
     not in despeire, bot ouh he rose not withinfor'. rise he
     withoutfor, so at he be not biriede & ouerleide with e heuy
     stone of wikked custome.
  35     Bot forermore, perauenture I speke to him e which
     is ouerleide with at harde stone of hees wikked maneres &
     kombrede with e heuynesse of custome, & so is as foure
     daies dede & stinke'. it despeire he not, for ouh he be depe
     dede & biriede'. crist Jesus is hye of miht, & can breke alle
  40 erly birthene, criyng orh his gret grace, & makyng him to
     lyfe, first by him self withinfor, & after takyng him to hees
     disciples fort vnbynde him, & so fully restore him to gostly
     life, so at ere sal leue no stinke of sinne in his soule gostly,



|p136


     nomore en dide in Lazare, reisede bodily, at he grant to alle
     at hauen nede'. Jesus crist Amen.


        Hic pretermittuntur duo Capitul Bonauenture.


     How e Jues conseilede & conspirede aeynus Jesu in to
   5 his deth. Capitulum xxxV=m=.


        |r<b> Aftere e reisynge of Lazare before seide, when e
     tyme neyhede, in e which oure lorde Jesus disposede to
     wirke oure redemption, orh e shedyng of his preciouse
     blode'. e deuele fadere of enuye, armede hees knytes &
  10 mynistres & whettede hir hertes aeynus oure lord Jesu, finaly
     in to his de. And specialy by occasion of hese gude &
     vertuese wyrkyngis, bot souereynly for e reisyng of lazare,
     enuye kyndelet in hir hertes more & more, in so mykel at ei
     miht no lengere |r[70v] bere hir wodenes without execucion erof
  15 aeynus Jesu. Wherefore e princes & pharisees gederet a
     conseil aeynus him, in e which consele Caiphas byshope of
     at ere, al ouh he menede wikkedly'. propheciede soely at
     Jesus shuld dye for sauacion of mankynde.
        And so haue we here opun ensaumple at wikked men
  20 & reprouede of god'. hauen sumtyme e ift of prophecye.
        And so by comune assent oo fals princes & pharisees
     in at consele ordeynet vtturly to sle at innocent lambe Jesu,
     & to at ende, leste alle e peple shuld beleue & trowe in him,
     & en e Romaynes as settyng hir lawe at nouht'. shuld come
  25 & destruye boe hir temple & peple.
        A fooles & foly consele, haue e not wryten of e
     wisman, at ere is no wisdam nor consele aeynus god? And
     erfore it sal falle in contrarye manere to oure wikked entent,
     as it is nowe performede in dede. For ere as e slewen Jesu,
  30 lest e Romaynes shold destrue our place & our peple'. after
     befelle aeynwarde, at for e slewen Jesu'. oure place &
     peple was destruyede by e Romanes, as e story telle of
     destruccion of Jerusalem by Tite & Vespasiane.
        In e same manere it falle oft sies in worldes
  35 wisdam, at is contrarie to e wisdam of god. For oft sies
     oure lord god turne in to e best'. at e worlde deme as
     worst & to e worst. And specialy ere as enuye is gronde of
     at entent of worldes wisdam, as it shewed opunly by a
     notable ensaumple in Joseph whom hese breerne, by enuy



|p137


     after worldes wisdam'. soldene in to Egipte as to his vndoynge,
     for ei wolde not wirchipe him after his sweuen'. bot after it
     turnede in to e contrarie effecte, by goddus grace, for at
     sellynge of him, was occasion & cause of his hye auansyng,
   5 & hir lowe submission to him & wirchipyng. And so it
     befalle alday as men mowe se prouede by experience in e
     worldes changyng.
        Bot nowe leuyng is matire & turnyng to oure purpose
     of e forsiede fals & enuyous conseilyng'. oure lord Jesus
  10 euerlastyng wisdam of e fadere of heuen, to whom may no
     inge be hidde'. knowyng is malicious conspirynge of e
     Jewes aeynus him'. for als miche as his tyme was not fully
     come, in e which |r[71r] he disposede to suffre de for mannus
     sauacion, & also to iue ensaumple as it is seide in e nekst
  15 chapitre before, to fle malice, at it encrese not by duellyng'.
     he widrowe him for e tyme fro e Jewes & went in to a
     cuntre, byside deserte, in to a cite at was cleped Effrem,
     where he duelled with hese disciples a litel while, at is to say
     a seuen nyght. For as sume clerkes seyne, he reised Lazare e
  20 friday before e passione soneday, when e same gospel is
     radde in holi chirch, & e setturday seuene niht after, he was
     come aeyn in to Bethanie as e processe folowyng declare.


     How oure lorde Jesus came aeyn to Bethanye e saturday
     before Palmesoneday, & of e sopere made to him
  25 ere, & of oo inges done eratte. Capitulum
     xxxvj=m=.


        OVure lord Jesus souereyn doctour & maister of al
     vertues not onely by worde techiug, bot also by ensaumple
     iuyng'. riht as in e processe before seide to oure edificacion
  30 he vsede e vertue of Prudence, in fleyng fro hees enmyes, &
     ereby shewyng at we also sholeu wisely widrawe vs fro e
     wodenes of hem at pursuene vs maliciously, at is to sey,
     when e place & e tyme aske'. so nowe he vsede e vertue
     of gostly strenghe in is turnyng aeyne to hese enmyes, when
  35 e dewe tyme was come in e which he wolde by his fre wille
     offre him to e passione, & strongly & myhtyly suffre e
     malice of hese pursueres in to e vtturest ende, at was e
     harde de.
        us also an oere tyme he vsede temperance, what
  40 tyme he flewe, eschewyng worldes wirchipe, when e peple



|p138


     wolde haue made him hir kynge'. & aeynwarde he vsed
     rihtwisnes, when he wolde be wirchipet as a kynge as it
     folowe here aftur, what tyme e peple comen aeynus him,
     with branches of trene & oer manere of gret reuerence doyng
   5 to him in e cite of Jerusalem.
        And forermore souereynly he vsede is rihtwisnes,
     after when he entrede in to e temple, & sharply reprouede e
     fals couaitise of preestes of e lawe & pharisees, & with a
     scourge drofe out e biggeres & e selleres of goddus temple.
  10     And so vsede e lorde of vertues ese foure principale
     vertues, |r[71v] at is to sey, prudence, & temperance, strenge &
     rihtwisnes, for oure doctrine & informacion in vertues.
        Wherfore as he shal not be supposede or demede as
     variant or inconstant'. no more sal none oer at vse ees
  15 forseide vertues, after discrecion as diuerse cases askene. Bot
     leuyng is matere, when oure lord Jesus, as it is seide, forto
     offre him to e passion in tyme ordeynet of him before e
     world, came aeyn to Bethanye, at is to sey e sabbate nekst
     before palmes soneday, e which place is nyhe Jerusalem, as
  20 aboute e space of tweyn myle'. ere ei maden him a sopere
     hees trewe bylouede frendes at were ful glad of his aeyn
     comyng, & at in e house of Symond leprose, at hade at
     name for at he was sumtyme before leprose, bot not at at
     tyme, for he was helede of oure lorde before. And ere at at
  25 sopere was ese homely gestes with Jesu, at is to sey Lazare,
     Martha & Marie, hir sistre. And as John note specialy Martha
     seruede & Lazare satte at e borde with oere at setene also
     with oure lorde. Bot Marie ful of brennyng loue to Jesu, &
     taht withinfor of e holi goste'. tuke a ful preciouse oynement
  30 & shedde vp on his hede, & also anoyntyng his feet, of e
     which precious oynement e swete sauour filled alle e hous.
        Now let vs abide here awhile & take hede inwardly of
     e forseide notable poyntis, & first how oure lorde Jesus
     wolde haue is sopere specialy in at house of e forseid
  35 Symonde at was a pharisee, as it is seide before, & in whose
     hous at self'. Marie anoyntede him with preciouse oynement,
     & with inwarde sorow & bitter teres of contricion, bot nowe
     more perfitely with vnspekable ioy & ful swete teres of
     deuocion, & at knewe wele oure lorde before, & for at one
  40 skil he chase at place at at tyme, specialy for Maries sake
     as we mowe resonably suppose. For no doute at she louede
     specialy at place in e whiche she fonde first at grete grace
     of foryuyng, of hir grete synnes as it is seid, & so it was



|p139


     more likyng to hir ere to do at excellent dede of deuocion
     shewyng hir feruent loue to Jesu.
        Also he wolde haue at sopere in Symondes house, |r[72r]
     knowyng his charite & trewe affeccion continuede to him &
   5 to hees disciples, not withstandyng e frendely reprehension
     before bycause of Marie, & also for e more opun witnesse of
     e trewe reisyng of Lazare at ete & dranke as oer dide in
     at hous of e pharisee opunly & in presence of many Jewes
     at comen at at tyme idere to se not onely him self Jesu'. bot
  10 also Lazare as John specialy telle.
        And so we mowe se at at sopere & in at house ees
     foure persones doyng to oure lord Jesu trewe seruyce in
     diuerse maneres, at is to sey e maister of e house by
     charitable hospitalyte, Lazare by opun witnesse of his trewe
  15 godhede, Martha by bisy mynistringe, as longe to trewe actife
     life, & Marie by feruent loue & deuout wirchipyng, as longe
     to hye contemplatif life.
        Bot on at oere side we mowe se in contrarie manere,
     oere iuyng occasion of offense to oure lord Jesu, by enuye,
  20 fals coueitise, & wrongeful demyng, as enuyous Judas, at fort
     coloure his fals coueitise, grucchyng as of losse of so miche
     money spendet in at preciouse oynement, pretendet falsly e
     releuyng of pore men ereby, & seide at it miht better haue
     bene solde for re hundret penys & iuene to hem at nedet,
  25 & oer also meuede by hees wordes bot oerwise & in gude
     entent as it semede for pore men'. grucchede & were gretly
     stirede aeynus Marie, as for so grete losse of at preciouse
     oynement. Bot she kepyng silence, oure lorde answered for hir,
     as he dide tweyn tymes before, nowe reprehendyng hem &
  30 declaring at gude dede, euer to be hadde in mynde as in
     anoyntyng before of his body in to e birying at folowede
     after.
        A lorde Jesu how soryfull & disconfortyng was is
     worde, at so opunly declared i de'. to Marie specialy & to
  35 alle oere trewe freendes at ere weren, bot souereynly to i
     blessede modere. For os we may soely byleue at worde
     persede hir herte more sharply en any swerde. And so an
     was alle e mire of at feste turnede in to sorowe, & namely
     for als miche as ei knewen, at e Jewes hade vtturly
  40 conspirede in to his de. Bot neuerlese |r[72v] at fals traitour Judas
     continuede in his enuyous indignacion, & hereof he toke
     occasion to betraye him, & selle him, as he dide e wendesday
     nekst after for xxxti penys, whereof we shale speke here after.



|p140


        Here mowe we forermore note specialy to oure
     purpose at ei are of Judas parte at reprehenden almesdede,
     offrynges & oere deuociones of e peple done to holi chirch,
     haldyng alle siche iftes of deuocion bot foly, & seying at it
   5 were more nedeful & bettur, to be iuen to pore men.
        O Judas ou at pretendest with i mouth e releuyng
     of pore men, ere as soely in e entent of i herte at is
     grondet in enuye aeynus men of holi chirch'. it pertene not
     to e of pore men'. bot raere ine owne fals coueitise in
  10 excusacion of i nygunrye, at hast none deuocione & nouht
     wilt iue of in owne gode. For experience opunly teche, at
     comunely alle sech Judas felawes bene als coueitous or more
     en any oere, & at sal he finde soely in dede, who so ha
     to do with hem in one manere or oere.
  15     We redene in e gospel of oure lord Jesu in diuerse
     places & specialy nowe here after, aeynus his passione at he
     reprehendet sharply e scribes & e pharisees oft sies namely
     of coueitise, bot we finde not erfore, at euer he bade e
     peple to widrawe auther dymes or offrynges or oer iftes of
  20 deuocione done to hem, bot aeynw arde badde hem alwey do
     hir dewtye after e lawe, & commendet hir fre deuocion in
     offrynges, as it is opunly shewede in e gospell of Marke &
     of Luke, when oure lord Jesus behelde how riche men putten
     hir iftes or offrynges to e temple in to e arch at was clept
  25 tresourye, or a cofre, hauyng a hole abouene in maner of
     stokkes, at bene now vsede in chirches, e which arch was
     clepede Gazophilacium, & amonge hem he sauhe a pore
     widowe offring tweyn minutes, e fere part of a sicle, & at
     was e substance of hir lyuelode. And an oure lorde not
  30 reprehendyng on or oere bot raere commendyng'. souereynly
     preisede e pore widowe, for hir gret deuocion, & siede at hir
     litel ift in goddus siht passede alle e gret iftes of e riche
     men. |r[137b]
         Here mowe we se if we take gude hede to alle e
  35 circumstances at by is onely processe and sentence of oure
     lord Jesus'. Judas & hees felaghes bene sufficiently reprouede
     & confondet in heere fals opinione & doctrine before seid
     aeynus holy chirch.
         Bot nowe leuyng is processe turne |r[138a] we aeyn to
  40 Bethanye ymaginyng how oure lord Jesus after e forseide
     sopere in e house of Symonde went wi lazare and hees
     sistres to heere house, e which was his comune hostery &
     namely oo fewe daies folowyng in to his passione, for ere
     he ete on dayes & slept in nihtes with hees disciples & also



|p141


     his blessede Modere with hir sistres. For alle ei wirchipeden
     hir souereynly as wori was, bot specialy Maudleyne wolde
     neuer depart fro hir.
         an amonge oo hese trewe frendes oure lord Jesus,
   5 at ei shold not be to miche abashede or disturblet with at
     vnke dede to come'. tolde hem at he wolde on e morowe
     go opunly in to Jerusalem, and an were ei alle souereynly
     aferde, & preiden him hertely & his modere namely at he
     wold not put him self so vtturly in to hees enmyes handes &
  10 semely forermore in to e de at was conspirede wi out
     faile aeynus him of e Jewes. Bot oure gude lorde confortyng
     hem aeynwarde, badde hem drede nouht & seide, lt is e
     fadres wille, at I take is iourney, & he sal kepe vs & so
     ordeyne for vs at is tyme, at e shale se me among |r[138b] alle
  15 myne enmyes in e grettest wirschipe at euer e seyhe me, &
     ei shole not haue no powere now aeynus me. Bot after at
     I haue done alle at I wille'. to morow at euene we shole come
     hidure aeyne saue & sonde. And en orh ees wordes ei
     were alle wele confortede, bot neuerlese alwey dredynge.


  20 How at Jesus came to Jerusalem vpon Palmesoneday.
     Capitulum xxxvij.


        |r<b> E soneday after erely vpon e morowe oure lorde
     Jesus disposede him as he hade seide to go in to Jerusalem in
a newe manere & an vnke, oer wyes an euer he dide before
  25 bot to fulfille e prophecie of zachary e prophete seide to at
     purpose. And when he with at litel bot blessede companye
     came to a place in midde wey at was clepet Bethfage'. he sent
     tweyn of hees disciples in to Jerusalem & badde hem bringe
     to him an Asse & hir fole, at were tyede ere in e comune
  30 wey & ordeynet to serue pore men at heere nede at hade
     none beestes of heere owne, & when ei were brouht, & e
     disciples hade laide heere cloes vp on hem oure lord mekely
     sett him first a litel |r[139a] while on e Asse, & after on e fole
     ridyng in at simple aray toke his weye for in to Jerusalem.
  35      A lorde Jesu what siht was is to se e kynge of
     kynges & lorde of alle e world'. ride in siche araye, namely
     in to at solempne Cite of Jerusalem. Bot soely is ou diste
     as alle ine oere dedes to oure enformacione & ensaumple.
     For we mowe se & vndurstande at in is manere of worldes
  40 wirchipe takyng'. ou despisede fully al e pompe of veyn



|p142


     worldes wirschipe, hauyng instede of golden harneys &
     curiouse sadeles & brideles simple cloes & hempen heltres.
         And when e peple herde of his comynge, by cause
     of at gret miracle at was publishet before of e reisyng of
   5 lazare'. ei wenten aeynus him, and receyuet him as kynge
     wi ympnes & songe[] & gret ioy strawyng in his wey hir
     cloes & braunches of trehen. Bot wi is ioy oure lorde Jesus
     meynede sorowe & wepyng. For when he came nihe e Cite'.
     he wept ere vpon, seynge before e destruccion erof, at
  10 came aftere |r[139b] & sorowynge for heere gostly blyndnes. For we
     shole vndurstonde at as holi writ make mynde oure lorde
     wept notably re tymes. One tyme in e de of lazare'. e
     wrecchednes of mankynde, where by he is nedet to deth by e
     first synne. Another tyme he wept for e gostly blyndnes &
  15 vnkonyng of man as now at is tyme of hem at duelled in at
     Cite of Jerusalem at wolde not knowe e tyme of heere
     gracious visitacion, & erfore after was to come to at Cite
     hire vtture destruccion. e ridde tyme he wept e gret
     trespasse & malice of man & at was in tyme of his passion
  20 hangyng on e crosse. For he sauh at his passion was
     sufficient for redempcion of alle men, bot neuerlese it toke not
     effecte of profite in alle, for not in reprouede & harde hertes
     & obstinate to do penance |r[73r] at wole not forinke & amende
     hem of hir sinnes. And of is wepyng speke e apostle poule
  25 where he sei, at Jesus in tyme of his passion wi a gret crye
     & wepyng teres was herde of e fadere for his reuerence, & of
     ees re wepyng tymes holy writte speke.
        Also holi chirch make mynde at he wept e fere
     tyme, & at was when he was a onge childe, & at weping
  30 was fort hide fro e deuel e misterye of his incarnacion.
        Beholde we nowe oure lord Jesu so weping, & at not
     feynyngly, bot effectuely & largely with a sorowful herte
     specialy for hir dampnacion without ende, with e destruccion
     temperele of hem & of hir cite. And as we mowe soefastly
  35 trowe his dere modere & al at blessed cumpanye, seynge hym
     wepe so'. miht not conteyne hem fro weping at at tyme, & no
     more shold we when we seene losse of soules.
        us oure lord Jesus ridyng on e Asse, & hauyng in
     stede of princes Erles & barones'. hees pore & simple disciples
  40 about him, with his modere & oer deuout women folowyng'.
     entrede in to at solempne cite, & also e peple doyng him
     gret wirchipe as it is seide before. Of e which comyng alle e
     cite was gretly stired. And so went he first in to e temple, &
     cast out erof biggeres & selleres aeynus goddus lawe as it



|p143


     is seid here before in e xxxij chapiter. And er was he
     standyng opunly in e temple preching & answering to e
     princes & pharisees, alle at day til it drowe towarde euen.
     And so he & hese standyng alle e day fastyng'. after e gret
   5 wirchipe before, ere was not one at wold bidde him ones
     drinke, wherefore at euene he went with hees disciples to his
     homely hostrye Bethanye, goyng so simply orh e cite, with
     at litel cumpanye, at came on e morow with so gret
     wirchipe.
  10     And here mowe we considere at it is litel to charge &
     litel forse of worldes wirchipe at is so sone done & so lihtly
     passe awey. Bot what ioy trowe we at his modere &
     Maudleyn & oere trewe freendes hadden when ei seene him
     so wirchipede of e peple & namely at niht when he was come
  15 with hees safe & in prosperite to Bethanye? Soely |r[73v] he
     alonely knowe oure lord Jesus at is euer blessed without
     ende. Amen.


     What oure lorde Jesus dide fro Palmesonday in to e
     oresday aftere nexkst suwyng. Capitulum xxxviij=m=.


  20     OVure lord Jesus full of charite & welle of alle charite
     willyng to shew boe in word & dede his souereyn charite as
     wele to hese foos as to hees frendes, & desiring at no man
     shold be lost, bot alle saue'. when it drowe to e ende of his
     dedely life here, & his passion tyme, was nihe at hande'. he
  25 trauailed bisily in preching & teching opunly to e peple, &
     specialy in ese re daies, at is to sey first on e soneday as
     it was now last tretede'. & after on e moneday & e tywesday
     to gidere suwynge. In e whiche dayes he came erely vp on e
     morow in to e temple & ere continuede in preching &
  30 teching to e peple, & disputyng with e scribes & e
     pharisees & answering to hir deceyuable questions & many
     sotel temptynges, & so he was occupiede fro e morowe'. in to
     e euentyde'. whan he went with hees disciples to his rest at
     his homely hostrye with Lazare & hese sistres in Bethanye as
  35 it is seide before.
        Bot for als miche as it were longe processe to trete in
     speciale of alle e maters at tyme bytwix oure lord Jesu & e
     Jues, & lettyng fro e purpose at we bene nowe inne of e
     passion'. erfore passing ouer alle e parables & ensaumples
  40 by e whech oure lord reprehendet e Jues, & oer processe



|p144


     of at tyme in speciale'. we mowe in generale considere on at
     one side how e princes & e pharisees seyng e fauour of e
     peple to Jesu, & erfore dredyng to performe hir malice
     aeynus him opunely'. casten sotely & fellye to take him in
   5 worde ouere aeynus hir lawe or elles aeynus e tribute
     paiede to e Emperoure of Rome'. whereby ei mihten accuse
     him as wori e de. Bot oure lorde to whome al priuete of
     mannus herte is opun, knowyng e soteltye & e malice of
     hem'. answerede wisely to alle hir questions, & so couertely in
  10 trewe sette hees wordes'. at ei were sufficiently answerde,
     & it ei miht not haue hir entent in any parte, bot at |r[74r] e last
     ei were so confondet at ei dorst nomore aske any questione
     of him.
        And en after oure lord Jesus sharply reprehendet e
  15 pride, e ypocrisye, e coueitise & oer wikked condicions of
     hem, & specialy of e scribes & e pharisees, seying to hem
     in ees wordes, Wo to owe scribes & pharisees, at louen
     worldly wirchipes in many maneres, & so for of oer vices.
        Neuerles erwi he bad e peple, at ei sholde kepe
  20 & fulfille alle hir techingis'. bot at ei shold not folowe hir
     werkes & yuel lyuyng. At e last rehersyng e vnkyndnes of
     e Jues aeynus god, in generale, by name of e cite of
     Jerusalem, for als miche as he was so oft bisy to gedire hem
     to gedir as a henne doe hir chekynes in to e wey of hir
  25 sauacion & ei wolde not'. & erfore tellyng hem before hir
     destruccion folowyng temperele & euerlastyng'. he laft hem &
     withdrowe him out of e temple, & with hees disciples & oer
     many of e Jues at beleuede on him'. he went in to e monte
     of olyuete, where he tauht hem more ouere by ensaumples,
  30 how ei shold dispose hem & make hem redy in to hir last
     ende, & finaly tolde hem of e day of dome, in e which gude
     men at sholde be fonden on e riht half of god, shold haue
     euerlastyng life'. & wikked men on e lift half'. euerlastyng
     sorow & endeles de.
  35     us made oure lord Jesus an ende of his opun preching
     to e peple of Jues on e tywesday towarde euen, & after in
     priuete seide to hees disciples, witte e wele at after ees
     tweyn dayes Paske sal be made, & an mannus sone sal be
     betraiede fort be crucifiede'. A sorowful worde was is, to
  40 alle hese trewe disciples, bot e fals traitour Judas was gladde
     erof, enkyng anone by instigacion of sathanas at was
     entrede in to his herte, how he miht be occasion of his de,
     fulfille his fals coueitise, & here vpon he slept note, bot anone
     on e morow at was e wendesday, when e princes of



|p145


     preestes with e Aldere men & scribes were gederet in caiphas
     hows e bishope, to consele how ei miht by sleyght take Jesu
     & sle him, bot not in e feste day for drede of e peple'. |r[74v]
     Judas aspiyng & knowyng is conseil, went to hem & profered
   5 to take him to hem at hir wille, so at ei wolde mede him &
     do him whye, & ei gladde of is profre'. graunted & ordeynet
     to pay him ritty grete pens, of e whech euery peny was
     wor tene comune pens, as now our grote is wor foure
     comune pens. And so falshede & coueitise malice & trechery
  10 were acordet in to e de of lnnocens.
        And an hade at fals traytour his coueitous desire of
     e prise of at forseide oynement, at he grucchede fore, as
     lost'. at is to sey, re hundre pens.
        And fro at tyme he souht oportunite how he miht
  15 betray Jesu without e presence of e peple.
        And for is bytraying of oure lord vpon e wendusday'.
     is at day resonably ordeinet moste of penance doyng &
     abstinence in e weke after fridaye.
        is was e processe of at cursede part Judas & e Jues
  20 on at wendesday.
        Bot on at oere part, what dide oure lord Jesus & his
     blessed cumpany at day? We fynde not writen expresse in e
     gospele, for soe it is at he went not in to Jerusalem, nor
     aperede opunely to e Jues at day. What trowe we an at he
  25 dide alle at day? Me inke it resonably to be trowede, at he
     was an for e moste part occupiede in praiere for e
     performyng of redempcion of mankynde at he came fore, &
     not onely for hees frendes at trowede in him & louede him'.
     bot also for hese cruel enemyes, fulfillyng e perfeccion of
  30 charity at he hade tauht before to hees disciples in praiere for
     hir enemyes, & hem at shold pursuene hem, & erwi
     knowynge & seynge in spirite e forseid malice of Judas e
     traytour & e Jues in at day vtturly kast aeynus him, & in
     to his de.
  35     And so skilfully men mowe suppose, at in at praiere
     to e fadere specialy he seide e salme, Deus laudem, at
     dauid seide in prophecye of him, & of Judas & here oer
     enemyes longe tyme before, bot an moste proprely it was
     seide of him self, not desiring by e wordes of at psalme
  40 veniance of hese enmyes, as it seme after e sentence of e
     letter'. bot conformyng his wille rihtwisly to e wille of e
     fadere, & |r[75r] propheciyng e rihtwise punishing & veniance
     deseruyng of hem, at so maliciously conspirede aeynus him
     & after obstinatly continuede in hir sinne.



|p146


        And for als miche as at was e last day at he thouht
     to duelle in at maner of bodily conuersacion with at gude &
     belouede meyne Lazare & hees sistres'. he occupiede him at
     day e more specialy with hem in gostly confort of hem, by
   5 hese edificatife & holi wordes, as he was wonte alwey to do,
     bot nowe at more leyzere to streng hem & confort hem
     aeynus e gret sorowe at was to come after bycause of his
     passion. And souereynly as we mowe trowe in homely
     comunyng with his blessed modere to hir speciale confort, &
  10 also with Maudleyn specialy at euer was ristye to drinke of
     his swete gostly wordes. Of e whech he iue vs taste &
     sauour Jesus crist blessede with out ende. Amen.


     Of at wori sopere at oure lorde Jesus made e niht
     before his passion, & of e noble circumstances at
  15 befelle erwi. Capitulum xxxix=m=.


        |r<b> When e tyme came, in e which oure lord Jesus hade
     disposede of his endles mercy fort suffre de for man & shede
     his precious blode for oure redempcion'. it liked him first to
     make a sopere with hees disciples, as for a mynde euerlastyng
  20 of his grete loue to hem, & al mankynde, & fort fulfille e
     figure of e olde lawe, & begynne e treue of e newe &
     performe e misteryes at were to come of his preciouse
     passion.
        is sopere was souerenly wori & wondurful, & gret &
  25 wondurful inges weren done erate, wherfore if we here take
     gude entent with inwarde deuocion erto & to o inges at
     oure lord Jesus dide erate'. at curteys lord wole not suffre vs
     go fastyng erfro, bot he sal fede vs of his grace as we tristly
     hope, with miche gostly confort erof.
  30     We shole vndurstonde at foure inges specialy befel
     at is sopere, of e whech inward meditacion shal by reson stir
     oure loue to oure lord Jesu, & kyndele e gostly fir of oure
     deuocion.
        e first is, at bodily sopere, & e maner erof in
  35 fulfillyng of e lawe. e seconde is, e washyng of e fete of
     e disciples by oure lorde Jesu. e ridde is, e ordynance &
     |r[75v] e consecracion of at preciouse sacrament, of his blessede
     bodye. And e fere is at noble & fructuouse sermon at he
     made to hese disciples. Of e whech foure we shole speke &
  40 se by processe & in ordre.



|p147


        As to e first at is e bodily sopere, we shole haue in
     mynde, at Petre & John at e biddyng of oure lord Jesu
     eden in to e Cite of Jerusalem to a frende of eires at
     duelled in at part of e cite at was cleped Mont syon, where
   5 ere was a large house on loft strewede & able fort make is
     sopere in, & so aftur oure lorde Jesus, with at oere disciples
     entrede in to e cite & came to e forseide place on e
     oresday toward euen.
        Now take hede & beholde with alle i mynde ou at
  10 redest or herest is, alle at folowen, at bene tolde, spoken or
     done, for ei bene ful likyng & stiryng to gret deuocion. For
     in is processe is e most strenge & gostly fruyte of alle e
     meditaciones at bene of e blessed lif of oure lord Jesu,
     principaly for e passyng tokenes & shewyngis in dede of his
  15 loue to mankynde, wherefore here we shol not abregge as we
     haue in oere places'. bot raere lengh it in processe.
        Now en beholde oure lord Jesu after he was come to
     e forseide place, how he stant in sume part beneen, spekyng
     with hese disciples of edificacion, & abidyng til it was made
  20 redy for hem in e forseid house aloft. And when alle inges
     were redy'. seynt John at was most homely & familiere with
     oure lord Jesu, & at bisily went to & fro, to se at alle at
     nedet were ordeynet & done'. came to him & seide, Sir e
     mowe go to sopere when e wole'. for alle inges bene redy.
  25     And an anone oure lorde Jesus with e xij apostles
     went vp, bot John algate nekst him & by his side without
     departyng. For er was none at so trewly & familierely drow
     to him, & folowede him as he dede. For when he was take he
     folowede him when oer fledde, & was present at his
  30 crucifiyng & at his de, & after he laft him not til al was
     done, & he was biriede. And so at is sopere he sat nekst him,
     ouh he was ongere an oer.
        What tyme at oure lord Jesus with e xij apostles cam
     vp to e borde where |r[76r] vpon ei sholden ete'. first standyng
  35 ere aboute ei deuoutly seiden graces, & after he hade
     blessed'. ei seten don alle aboute at borde, bot John nekst
     Jesu, & at vpon e gronde as e maner was of olde men
     before.
        Bot here we shole vndurstande at at borde was
  40 square as men supposen, made of diuerse bordes ioynet to
     gedir, & as men seyen at haue seen it at Rome in e chirch
     of Lateranensis, it contene in euery part of e foure square'.
     e space of tweyn armes lenge & sumwhat more. So at in
     euery side of e square borde, re disciples seten as men



|p148


     supposen, ouh it were streytly, & oure lord Jesus in summe
     Angle. So at ei alle miht reche in to e myddes, & ete of
     one dishes. And erfore ei vndurstode not him, what tyme he
     seide, He at with me putte his hande in to e dishe or
   5 doblere'. he shal betraye me.
        us we mowe ymagine & suppose of e maner of hir
     sittyng at e borde. Also we mowe vndurstande in e etyng of
     e paske lambe'. at in at tyme ei stoden about e borde
     vpriht, haldyng stafes in hir handes after e biddyng of Moises
  10 lawe, at oure lord cam to fulfille. So at ouh ei stoden in
     at tyme, neuerles ei seten also in oer tyme, as e gospel
     telle in diuerse places, & elles miht not John haue leid his
     hede & rested him in maner of liggyng opon e breste of Jesu.
        What tyme e paske lambe was brouht to e borde
  15 rosted after e lawe'. oure lorde Jesus at was sofast lambe of
     god, without wemme of synne'. & at was in middes of hem,
     as he at serue & ministre'. toke e lambe in his blessed
     handes & kut it & departede & af to e disciples, biddyng
     hem ete gladly & confortyng hem with louely chere. And ouh
  20 it so was at ei eten as he badde'. neuerles confort miht ei
     none haue, for als miche as ei dredde alwey lest er shold
     falle ouht aeynus hir lord in at nouelte. And so as ei eten'.
     he told hem e sorowful dede more opunly & seide, I haue
     desirede fort ete with ow is paske lambe before I suffre e
  25 de. For soely one of ow shole bytraye me.
        is spech went to hir hertes as a sharp swerde.
     Wherfore ei ceseden of etyng & lokeden |r[76v] ech on oere, &
     seiden to him, Lord'. wheer I be he? Here if we take gude
     hede we owe to haue inward compassion, boe of oure lord
  30 Jesu & also of hem. For it is no doute ei were in ful gret
     sorowe. Bot e traytour Judas laft not of etyng, for ese
     wordes of bytrayinge shold not seme as pertynyng to him.
        an John at e instance of Petur asked of oure lord &
     seide, Lord who is he, at sal be tray e? And our lord Jesus
  35 priuely told him, & as to him at he loued more specialy
     specifiede who was at traytour. And John erof gretly
     astonede, & wondet with gret sorow to e herte'. nouht wold
     telle Petur, bot turnede him to Jesu, & softly leide done his
     hede vpon his blessed breste.
  40     And as seynt Austin sei, oure lord Jesu wold not telle
     Petur who was e traytour. For and he hade wist'. he wold
     haue al to torn him with hese tee.
        And as e same seynt Austin sei, by Petur bene
     figurede & vndurstande ei at bene in actif life, & by John



|p149


     ei at bene contemplatife. Wherefore we haue here doctrine
     & figure, at he at is contemplatif, medle him not with
     foreyne worldly dedes, & also he seche not veniance
     withoutfor of e offenses done to god, bot is sory withinfor
   5 in his herte, & turne him onely to god, by deuout prayers, &
     e more saddely turnyng him & drawyng him to god'.
     committe al inge to his disposicion & ordinance.
        ouh it so be at he at is contemplatif sumtyme go
     out by zele of god & profite of mannus soule, as whan he is
  10 cleped erto.
        Also, in at at John wold not telle Petur at he bad
     him aske of e traytour, we mowe vndurstande at e
     contemplatif sal not reuele e priuete of his lord.
        As it is writen of seynt Francese at priuey reuelacions
  15 he reueled not withoutfor'. bot what tyme at nede made him
     for hele of mennus soules, or e stiryng of god by reuelacion
     meuede him erto.
        Now for in oure processe beholde we e grete
     benyngnyte of our lord Jesu, at so homely suffre his derlyng
  20 John enclyne & rest vpon his blessed breste. Lord how
     tendurly & treuly ei louede to gedir.
        is was a swete rest to John, & a profitable to alle
     cristien soules, in e which as clerkes seyn, he dronke of at
     welle of euerlastyng wisdome, e precious drinke of his |r[77r] holi
  25 gospel, with e which aftur he conforted alle holi chirch &
     afe it as tryacle aeynus e venyme of diuerse heretikes.
        Beholde forermore oer disciples ful sory of e
     forseide worde, of betrayng of oure lorde Jesu, not etyng bot
     lokyng eche on oere as ei at wist not what conseil or
  30 confort ei miht haue in is case. And us miche at is tyme
     suffice touchyng e first article, of at bodily sopere, & of e
     etyng of e paske lambe in fulfillyng of e lawe, & endyng of
     e figure at our lord Jesus dide it fore. And as clerkes seyn
     we fynde not at oure lord ete flesh in alle his life, bot onely
  35 at is tyme in etyng of at lambe more for mistery an for
     bodily fode.
        Touching e seconde poynt at is e washing of e
     disciples feet'. we shole vndurstonde at after e forseide
     processe, oure lord Jesus rose vp fro e sopere, & also hese
  40 disciples anone with him, vnwittyng what he wold do
     forermore or whider he wold go. And an went he with hem
     done in to e neier house vndur e forseide loft as ei seyn
     at haue seen at place, & ere he badde alle e disciples sitte
     a done, & made water be brouht to him. And an he cast of



|p150


     hees ouer cloes, at were perantere cumbrose, & lettyng to
     at he ouht do'. & girde him with a linnene cloe, & put
     himself watere in to e basyne at was of stone as men seyne,
     & bare it & set it before petur fete & knelede done fort washe
   5 hem. Bot petur gretely abashede & astonede of at dede as no
     wondur was, first forsoke to haue at seruyce of his lord, as
     inconuenient to him, bot after he herde his rete, at elles he
     shold haue no parte with him in blisse'. turnede his wille in to
     bettur & mekely suffrede him do his wille.
  10     Now if we iue here gude entent to e dedes of oure
     lord Jesu & alle at folowe in is tyme'. soely we mowe
     with grete wondur, be stired specialy boe to e loue & drede
     of him. For what was at to se? e kyng of blys & at hie lord

     of maieste knele done & bowe him to e feet of a pore fisher,
  15 & so for to alle oer at ere seten, & so with o blessed
     handes washe hir foule fete, & after tendirly |r[77v] wipe hem, &
     more ouere deuoutly kysse hem? Soely he at was souereyn
     maister of mekenes, shewede vs in is dede & tauht vs a
     perfite lesson erof, & it more ouer in at he dide e same
  20 lowe seruice to his traytour'. commende souereynly his
     passyng mekenes.
        Bot wo to at harde herte, e hardere an e Adamant
     or any oere ing hardest'. at melte not or softe not with e
     hete of so grete fire of charite & profonde mekenes, & at
  25 drede not at lorde of maieste in at dede, bot aeynward
     frowardly enke & procure de & destruccion of him at
     euer was so innocent & so trewe louyng.
        Wherfore it is boe wondurful & dredeful e grete
     benignyte & mekenes of oure lord Jesu'. & e grete obstinacye
  30 & malice of at traitour Judas aeynwarde.
        Whan is washyng was don in misterye as it is seide'.
     he went aeyn vp to e place of e forseide sopere, & when
     he was sett with hem'. he tolde hem e cause of e forseide
     dede, & at was at ei sholde folowe him in mekenes eche
  35 to oer'. as he af hem ensaumple, at was hir lord & maister,
     & at ei sholde not onely wash oere fete'. bot also foriue
     trespasses done to oere, & wille & do gude to oer, as it is
     vnderstande by his wordes at folowen aftur, when he seide to
     hem, If e knowen ees at I haue do to ow'. e shole be
  40 blessede if e fulfille hem in dede.
        Here also aftur e first Messe at was e paske lambe
     as it is seid before'. when ei were washen & made clene'. he
     seruede hem with e seconde Messe of his owne precious
     body, at was deynte of alle deyntees, as men vsen in bodily



|p151


     fedyng & festes, first to be seruede with buystes & homely
     metes, & after with more delicate & deyntees. Whereof
     folowe here aftur touching e ridde article.
        As anentes e ridde article of at hiest sacrament of
   5 Jesus precious body'. lift we here vp oure hertes souereynly &
     beenke we inwardly wonduryng of at moste wori dignacion
     & vnspekable charite, orh e which he betoke him self to vs
     & laft to vs in to mete & gostly foode, makyng & ordeynyng
     at precious sacrament in is manere.
  10     Whan |r[78r] he hade washe hees disciples fete, & was gone
     vp aeyn with hem ere he before satt at e sopere as it is
     seide'. as for an ende of e sacrifices of e olde lawe, &
     byginnyng of e newe testament, makyng him self oure
     sacrifice'. he toke brede in his holi handes & lift vp hees eyene
  15 to his fadere almity god, & blessed e brede & seide e
     wordes of consecration ere ouere, by vertue of e whech
     wordes brede was turnede in to his body, & en he af it to
     hese disciples & seide, Take & ete for soely is is my body
     at sal be toke & iuen for ow. And after in e same manere
  20 takyng e chalice with wyne seide, take & drinke alle here
     of, for is is my blode at shal be out shedde for ow &
     manye in remission of sinnes.
        And aftur he af hem powere of at consecracion &
     alle preestes in hem & seide, []is do e als oft os e take it
  25 in commemoracion & mynde of me.
        Take nowe gude hede here ou cristien manne, bot
     specialy ou preeste, how deuoutly how diligently & treuly i
     lord Jesus criste first made is precious sacrament, & after
     with hees blessed handes ministrede it, & comunede at
  30 blessede & his belouede meyne. And on at oer side take
     hede with what deuout wonder first ei sah him make at
     wondurful & excellent sacrament, & after with what drede &
     reuerence ei toke it & receyuet it of him. Soely at is tyme
     ei laft alle hir kyndely reson of manne, & onely restede in
  35 trew byleue to alle at he seide & dide, beleuyng without any
     doute, at he was god & miht not erre. And so most ou do
     at wolt fele & haue e vertue & e gostly swetnes of is
     blessed sacrament.
        is is at swete & precious memoriale at souereynly
  40 make mannus soule wori & pleisyng to god, als oft as it is
     dewely receyuede, ouere by trewe & deuout meditacion of his
     passion, or elles & at more specialy in sacramentale etyng
     erof. Wherefore by reson is excellent ift of loue shold
     kyndele mannus soule & enflawme it al holy in to e iuere



|p152


     erof our lorde Jesus criste. For er is no inge at he miht
     iue & leue to vs more derwor, more swete, or more
     profitable'. an him self. For without any doute he at we
     receyuen in e sacrament of |r[78v] e autere'. is he at self goddus
   5 son Jesus at toke flesh & blode & was born of e virgine
     Marie, & at suffrede de on e crosse for vs, & rose e
     ridde day fro de to lyue & after stey vp in to heuen & sitte
     on e fadres riht side, & at shale come at e day of dome, &
     deme alle mankynde. In whos powere is boe lif & de, at
  10 made boe heuen & helle, & at onely may saue vs or dampne
     vs euer without ende.
        And so he at self god & manne is contynede in at
     litel ooste at ou seest in forme of brede, & euery day is
     offrede vp to e fadere of heuen for our gostly hele, &
  15 euerlastyng sauacion.
        is is e trew byleue at holi chirch ha tauht vs of is
     blessed sacrament.
        Bot it more ouere lat vs sitte a litel lengir at is wori
     lordes borde Jesus & take we hede inwardly to oure gostly
  20 foode & conforte more specialy of at preciouse & moste
     deynte mete, at is ere set before vs, at is e blessed body
     of oure lorde Jesus in is holi sacrament before seide. And so
     by inwarde consideracion tast we e swetnes of is heuenly
     foode, hauyng first in mynde e gracious & resonable makyng
  25 & ordinance of at blessede sacrament, and after e gret
     worines & merueylous worching erof in chosen soules to
     confort & strening of oure fei.
        And as anentes e first poynt, we shole vndurstande at
     almihty goddussone e seconde persone in trinite willyng of
  30 his souereyn charite & endles gudenes to make vs perceyneres
     of his godhede'. he toke oure kynde & became man to make
     men as goddes, & forermore at he toke of oure kynde at
     was flesh & blode'. alle he af to vs for oure hele & oure
     sauacion. For he offrede to his fadere of heuen vpon e autere
  35 of e crosse'. his blessed body for oure reconcilyng, & he
     shedde his preciouse blode in to prys fort bigge vs out of oure
     recched raldame, & to wash vs & make vs clene of alle
     sinne. And for als miche as he wolde at e mynde of at hie
     gret benefice shold duelle in vs euerlastyngly'. he af to alle
  40 trew cristien peple his body in to mete & his blode in to
     drinke vnder e lykenes of brede & wyne, in maner as it is
     seide before, |r[79r] in e first makyng of is blessede sacrament.
        Bot now here beholde we inwardly & take we hede
     what wonduryng it was to e apostles an to se oure lord Jesus



|p153


     verrey man as ei were, sittyng with hem bodily, & erwi
     haldyng in hese handes at self body in at at semede as to
     hir bodily siht, nouht elles bot brede, affermyng us soely,
     is is my body at shalle be iuen for ow, & also of at at
   5 in e chalice semede onely verrey wyne'. is is my blode at
     shal be shedde for e remissione of our sinnes. And so at
     self body at ei seyen with hir bodily eye before hem, was
     soely vndur at forme of brede, & at self blode at was alle
     hole in his body'. was ere in e chalice in e forme of wyne.
  10 Bot an was not at brede as it semede, & as it was before e
     wordes of consecracion, nor wyne as it semede in self manere,
     bot onely e likenes or e forme of brede & wyne contynyng
     verrey cristes flesh & blode as it is seide.
        Bot what mannus witte or reson miht comprehende is
  15 at at tyme? Soely none. And erfore e trewe apostles at at
     tyme laften alle hir bodily reson & witte, & restede onely in
     trewe beleue to hir lordes wordes as it is seide before, saue
     Judas at was reprouede for his falshede & misbeleue, &
     erfore he receyued at blessed sacrament in to his
  20 dampnacion.
        And so done alle o at bene nowe of his part, e
     whech falsly byleuen & seyene at e holy sacrament of e
     autere is in his kynde brede or wyne as it was before e
     consecracion, bycause at it seme so to alle hir bodily felyng,
  25 as in siht, tast & touching, e whech bene more reprouable as
     in at part an Judas, for ei seene not Jesus bodily byside at
     sacrament as he dide, and erfore it is lihtere to hem fort
     byleue, & more to hir dampnacion if ei byleue not as god
     himself & holi chirch ha tauht, namely sien at trewe
  30 teching of is blessed sacrament, ha be halden stedfastly so
     many hundre ere, & of so many holi men, Martires,
     confessours & oer trewe cristien men e whech in to hir last
     dayes stoden without |r[79v] doute in is fei & diedene erinne.
        e which fei is is in short wordes, at e sacrament
  35 of e autere dewly made by vertue of cristes wordes is verrey
     goddus body in forme of brede, & his verrey blode in forme
     of wyne, & ouh at forme of brede & wyne seme as to alle
     e bodily wittes of man brede & wyne in his kynde as it was
     before'. neuerles it is not so in soenesse, bot onely goddus
  40 flesh & blode in substance, so at e accidentes of brede &
     wyne wondurfully & myraclesly aeynus mannus reson, & e
     comune ordre of kynde bene ere in at holi sacrament
     without hir kyndely subiecte, & verrey cristies body at
     suffrede de vpon e crosse is ere in at sacrament bodily



|p154


     vnder e forme & liknes of brede, & his verrey blode vndur
     likenes of wyne substancially & holely, without any feynyng
     or deceit, & not onely in figure as e fals heritike sei.
        ese termes I touch here so specialy bycause of e
   5 lewede lollardes at medlen hem of hem aeynus e fei
     falsly.
        And more ouere, is before seide fei of holi chirch
     touching is excellent sacrament tauht by holi doctours &
     wori clerkes'. is confermede by many maneres of myracles as
  10 we redene in many bokes & heren alday prechede & tauht.
        Bot here lawhe e lollarde & scorne holi chirche in
     allegance of seche myracles, haldyng hem bot as maggetales
     & feyned illusiones, & bycause at he taste not e swetnes of
     is precious sacrament nor fele e gracious wirching erof in
  15 himself'. erfore he leue not at any oere do.
        Bot here in confusion of alle fals lollardes, & in confort
     of alle trewe loueres & wirchiperes of is holi sacrament &
     principaly to e louyng & honour of e hye auctour & makere
     erof oure lord Jesus'. I sal say more ouer sumwhat in speciale
  20 at I knowe soely of e gracious wirching in sensible felyng
     of is blessed sacrament, e which merueylouse wirching &
     felyng aboue comune kynde of manne shewe & proue
     souereynly, e blessed bodily presence of Jesu in at
     sacrament.
  25     ere is one person at I knowe now lyuyng &
     perauenture ere bene many at I knowe not, in e self degre
     |r[80r] or hiere, e which persone, oft sies whan oure lorde Jesus
     vouchsafe, to touch him of his grace in tretyng of at blessede
     sacrament, with e inwarde siht of his soule, & deuout
  30 meditacion of his precious passione, sodeynly fele also
     shedde in to e self bodye, a ioy & likyng at passe without
     comparison e hiest likyng at any creature may haue or fele
     as by wey of kynde in is life, orh e which ioy & likyng'.
     alle e membres of e body bene enflaumede of so deletable
  35 & ioyful a hete at him enke sensibly alle e body as it
     were meltyng for ioy as waxe do anentes e hote fire, so
     farfor at e body miht not bere at excellent likyng, bot at
     it shold vtturly faile, nere e gracious kepyng & sustenyng of
     e touchere oure lord Jesu aboue kynde.
  40     A lorde Jesu in what delectable paradise is he for at
     tyme at us fele at blessede bodily presence of e, in at
     precious sacrament, orh e which he fele him sensibly with
     vnspekable ioy as he were ioynede body to body? Soely I
     trowe at ere may no manne telle it or speke it, and I am



|p155


     sikere at ere may no man fully & soefastly know it, bot
     onely he at in experience feli it. For withoute doute is is
     specialy at hidde Manna, at is to sey angele mete, at
     noman knowe bot he at fele it, as seynt John witnesse in
   5 his Apocalipse. And he at soefastly fele it'. may welle sey
     with Dauid e prophete souereynly reioycyng body & soule,
     hert & flesh in god alyue, A lorde Jesu how mykel is e
     multitude ofi swetnes at ou hast hie to hem at in trewe
     loue dreden e.
  10     us haue I vndurstande of e forseide graciouse,
     wondurfulle & myraculose wirching of oure lorde Jesu,
     shewyng sensibly his blessede delectable bodily presence, in
     at moste excellent sacrament of e autere, in maner as e
     forseide persone at felt it miht telle it so in partie, & als I
  15 koude shortly & imperfitely write it, e whiche myraculous
     wirchyng to my vndirstandyng hauyng consideracion to alle e
     circumstance ereof'. passe many gret myracles at we redene
     shewede in is holy sacrament, in als miche as e witte of at
     bodily felyng'. passe in certeynte e witte of siht, & ha lasse
  20 |r[80v] of straunge liknesse, & more of e self sofastnes.
        For what tyme at oure lorde Jesus appere in at
     blessede sacrament to strenynge of byleue or to confort of his
     chosen derlynges auer in likenes of a litel childe, as he dide
     to seynt Edward kynge & confessour, or elles in a quantite of
  25 flesh all blodye as it is writen in e lif of seynt Gregour & in
     oere places'. soe it is at at bodily likenes seene in at
     quantite'. acorde not with e verrey bodily quantite & shappe
     of oure lorde at henge on e crosse, & at is soely in at
     sacrament hidde fro e bodily siht.
  30     Bot he at fele at gracious ifte before seide'. ha
     none straunge bodily siht of any likenes oere an e
     sacrament in trewe byleue. Bot in his soule lihtenede orh
     speciale grace, he see inwardly with souereyn ioy at
     blessede body of Jesu riht as he heenge on e crosse, withoute
  35 any deceyte.
        And erwi also in e body he fele sensiblye e
     bodily presence of oure lorde Jesus in manere as it is seide
     before, with so grete ioy & likyng at ere can no tonge telle
     it fully, nor herte vndurstande it, bot onely he at feli it.
  40     And as it seme at ioyful felyng in e body is like to
     at at holi chirch singe of e Apostles & disciples at e
     feste of Pentecost, when e holi goste was sent to hem
     sodeynly in e likenes of fire withoutfor, & vnspekable ioy
     in hir bodies withinfor, at is at hir boweles fillede with e



|p156


     holi goste'. ioyede souereynly in god. And so may he at ha
     at forseide gracious ifte soely say in at tyme with dauid
     in speciale maner & hye gracious felyng, My herte & my flesh
     reioycede hem souereynly in to e presence of god alyue
   5 Jesus, at blessede be euere, & souereynly for is hie ift of
     grace to man.
        Bot now cese we here awhile of is delectable gostly
     chewyng & tretynge of is moste deynte & preciouse mete,
     & take we hede forermore to e noble lesson at oure lord
  10 Jesus tauht hese disciples erwi, after at wori sopere, at
     is e fere article before seide, with purpose it if our lorde
     wole sende grace to touche more of is precious sacrament, &
     at at e last ende of is boke as in a conclusion of alle |r[81r] e
     blessede life here bodily of oure lord Jesus, acordyng so with
  15 e gracious & resonable ordinance of holi chirch, of e wori
     & solempne feste of is blessede sacrament, as in a perfite
     conclusione of alle e festes of oure lorde Jesus, whos name
     blessed be euere without endyng. Amen.
        Forermore touching e fer article, take hede ou
  20 cristien soule, at haste any liht withinne e of e fire of loue,
     how is souereyn scole maister Jesus criste made to hese
     disciples a noble sermon ful of gostly swetnes, & brennynge
     koles of loue & charite. For when he hadde iuene at
     blessede sacrament to hese disciples, & among oer of his hie
  25 charite to his enmye at wikked Judas'. he seide to him, at
     ou purposest to do'. do it anone. As whose sei, I wote where
     about ou arte, & erfore delyuere e betyme, vndirstandinge
     his betraying. Bot ere was none of hese oer disciples, at
     wist to what ende Jesus seide oo wordes. And anone is
  30 cursede traitour went for to e princes of preestes to whome
     he hade solde him e wendusday before as it seide, & asked
     of hem cumpany to take him. And in e mene tyme, oure
     lorde Jesus, made is forseide longe & wori sermone to hese
     disciples.
  35     Of e which profitable sentence first comendyng pees
     to hese disciples'. we mow vndurstande alle e effecte
     comprehendet shortly at he enformede hem specialy &
     betauht to hem with ese re principale vertues, at is to sey,
     Fei, Hope & Charite.
  40     First he betauht to hem Charite oft sies, & most bisily
     when he seide, I ife ow a newe maundment, & ot is at e
     loue to gedir. And also in is one inge souereynly, alle men
     shole knowe at e bene my disciples, if e houe loue ech to
     oer. And also after how ei shold treuly kepe is charite by



|p157


     worching in e loue of him, he seide to hem us, If e loue
     me'. kepe myne hestes, & also after, Whoso loue me'. he
     shale kepe my worde & an shale my fadere loue him, & we
     shole come to him & duelle with him, & in oer diuerse places
   5 specialy he commende to hem charite & pees as a principale
     |r[81v] byquyst in his testament at is tyme, as e processe of e
     gospelle telle.
        In fei also he enformede hem & stablet hem more
     perfitely in byleue of his godhede. Seying in ees wordes, Be
  10 not our herte turblet, & drede it not. For as e beleuen in
     god'. so e most beleue in me. And after he tauht hem in is
     byleue at e fadere & he bene one god, & ouh he be lasse
     en e fadere after e manhede, neuerles, he is euere euen
     with e fadere after e godhede, & erfore he reprehendet
  15 Philippe, at bad him shewe hem e fadere & seide, at whoso
     see him, see e fadere. And after in conclusion of is fei,
     he seid to hese disciples, Leue e not at I am in e fadere &
     e fadere is in me? elles for o werkes at e seene, beleue.
        In hope also he confortede hem in many maneres, &
  20 first touching e effecte of praiere, seyinge to hem in ees
     wordes, If e duelle in me & my wordes duellen stedfastly in
     ow'. what so euer e wole aske'. it sal be iuen ow.
        Also he confortede hir hope aeynus tribulacions &
     hate of e worlde seying us, if e world hate ow'. witte
  25 wele at it hated me first before owe, & so for as e text
     telle, confortyng hir hope in pacience of persecucion by
     ensaumple of him self at was hir lorde. In e ridde maner he
     conforted hem to hope without despeire bycause of e
     widrawyng fro hem his bodily presence, tellyng hem before
  30 at ei sholde haue gret sorowe for e absence of him, orh
     his hard de'. bot afterwarde at sorow shold be turnede in to
     endles ioye, by his gloriouse resurrection & ascension to e
     fadere, & sendyng of e holy goste to hem, e which shuld
     souereynly confort hem in alle disese, & teche hem alle
  35 sofastnes.
        And en he concludet in ees wordes, Alle ese forseid
     wordes I haue spoken to ow vnto at ende, at e haue pese
     in me. In e world e shole haue sorow & anguysh, bot
     truste wele by sadde hope, for I haue ouercome e world, as
  40 whose sei & so sal e.
        And after is oure lord Jesus turnede his spekyng to e
     fadere, liftyng vp hese louely eyene to heuen & commendyng,
     |r[f.156b] first himself after e manhede, & aftere praying tendurly
     for hese disciples & forer more praying not onely for hem,



|p158


     bot also for alle hem at shold byleue on him aftere orh heere
     worde & in to at ende at e last at al miht be onede to
     gedire in trew loue & charite, as e fadere in e sone & e
     sone in e fadere'. so ei alle in one god fadere & sone & holy
   5 goste.
         A lorde Jesu how wondurfullye perseden ees forseid
     wordes e hertes of i disciples, for soe- |r[157a] ly ei loueden e
     so feruently at ei miht not haue born hem, ne hade bene e
     speciale preseruynge of i grace.
  10      And so whoso ha grace inwardly to beenke &
     diligently to discusse alle e processe of is blessede & wori
     sermon'. skilfully he sal be stirede in to e brennyng loue of
     Jesu & likynglye reste in e swetnes of his blessed doctrine.
     And on at oer side who so take hede to hees disciples
  15 howe ei standen sorowfully hangyng done heere hedes &
     wepinge & hiely sihyng'. resonably he may be stirede to grete
     compassion, & speciale for Jone at [was] most familiere with
     Jesu, & at toke gude hede specialy before oer to alle at
     Jesus spake, as he was chosen by speciale grace onely to write
  20 soely oo forseide swete wordes of Jesu, to edifiyng of alle
     holy chirch, & oure hye confort.
         Forermore among oer wordes of Jesu we redene
     at he seide to his disciples, Rise vp & go we hennys. A dere
     god what drede entrede an in to hem not knowyng whidere
  25 ei sholde go, & gretely dredynge of his departyng fro hem.
     Neuerles he spake to hem after, fulfillyng e processe of his
     sermon goyng by e wey & ei bisily takyng hede to hit.
         Now beholde how e disciples folowen |r[157b] him & in
     maner of chikenns at folowen e henne, & putten hire
  30 hyderwarde & ider warde fort come vnder hir wenges, so ei
     bisidene hem nowe one & now an oere to here & to be next
     him, & at he suffird & likede wele.
         At e last when is sermone was done, & alle
     misteries fulfillede'. he went with hem in to a arde or a
  35 gardyne ouere e water of Cedron ere to abyde his traitour
     Judas & oer armede menn, where of hit shale folowe here
     after in processe of his passione.
         Here mowe we haue in mynde at oure lord Jesus af
     vs ensaumple in is euentyde & niht of fyue grete vertues, at
  40 is to sey first of profunde mekenes, as it is seide in e
     washyng of hese disciples fete. Aftere of souereyne charite, in
     e excellent sacrament of his blessede bodie, & in at swete
     sermone fulle of brennyng koles of charite. And e ridde of
     passynge pacience, in so benygne suffryng of his traitour, &



|p159


     alle e despite done to him after'. e fere of perfite
     obedience'. in takyng wilfully at harde passione & bitter de
     after e fadere wille. And e fift of deuout praiere, continuede
     re tymes in longe & feruent praying & his precious blode
   5 shedyng. In e which fyue vertues he graunt vs grace to
     folowe him Jesus at blessede be euere |r[158a] without ende. Amen.


     us ende e contemplacion for oresday, & after
     folowe e passion at longe specialy to friday.



|p161


     Of e passion of oure lord Jesu, & first of his praiere &
     takyng at matyne tyme. Capitulum xl.


        AT e bigynnyng ou at desireste to haue sorouful
     compassion orh feruent inwarde affection of e peynful
   5 passion of Jesu'. ou most in i mynde depart in manere for e
     tyme e miht of e godhede fro e kyndely infirmite of e
     manhede ouh it so be in soenes at e godhede was neuer
     departede fro e manhede. For ere be many so blynde gostly
     by vnresonable ymaginacion of e miht of e godhede in Jesu,
  10 at ei trowe not at any inge miht be peynful or sorouful to
     him as to a noer comune man at ha onely e kynde of
     man'. And erfore ha ei none compassion of e peynes at
     he suffrede supposyng, at for als mich as he was god'. ere
     miht noing be aeynus his wille or dere him.
  15      Bot erfore here aeynus fort haue trewe
     ymaginacion & inwarde compassion of e peynes & e
     passion of oure lorde |r[158b] Jesu verrey god & man'. we shole
     vndurstande at as his wil was to suffre e hardest de & most
     sorouful peynes, for e redempcion of mankynde'. so by e
  20 self wille he suspendet in al his passione e vse & e miht of
     e godhede fro e infirmite of e |r[82r] manhede, nomore takyng
     of for e tyme'. en ha anoer tendere & delicate man, onely
     after e kynde of manne.
        Wherefore ou shalt ymagine & inwardly enk of him
  25 in his passione as of a faire onge man of e age of xxxiij
     ere, at were e fairest, e wisest e moste rihtwise in lyuyng
     & moste godely & innocent, at euer was or miht be in is
     worlde'. so falsly accusede, so enuyously pursuede so
     wrongwisely demede, & so despitesly slayne'. as e processe
  30 of his passione after telle & alle for i loue.
        Also vnderstonde as clerkes seyne & reson teche, at
     in his bodily kynde of manne'. he was of e clannest
     complexione at euer was manne or miht be. Wherfore he was



|p162


     e more tendire in e bodye. And so folowe, at e peynes
     in e bodie were e more sore & bittere'. & e hardere to
     suffre.
        an sien he toke none socour of e godhede, bot onely
   5 suffrede after e kynde of e manhede'. e leste peyne at he
     hade, was more peynfull to him an it miht haue bene to any
     oer manne.
        Wherfore hauyng is in mynde, first to stiryng of e
     more compassion. Forermore after e processe of
  10 Bonauenture, whoso desire with e apostle Poule to be ioyful
     in e crosse of oure lorde Jesu criste, & in his blessede
     passion'. he moste with bisy meditacion abide ereinne. For e
     grete misteries & alle e processe erof, if ei were inw ardly
     consideret with alle e inwarde mynde & beholdyng of
  15 mannus soule'. as I fully trowe, ei sholde bringe at beholdere
     in to a newe state of grace. For to him at wolde serche e
     passion of oure lorde with alle his herte & alle his inwarde
     affeccione'. ere shuld come many deuout felynges & stirynges
     at he neuer supposede before. Of e whech he shuld fele a
  20 newe compassion & a newe loue, & haue newe gostly
     confortes, orh e whech he shold perceyue him self turnede
     as it were in to a newe astate of soule, in e which astate oo
     forseide gostly felynges, shold seme to him as a nerneste &
     partie of e blisse & ioy to come.
  25     And fort gete is astate of e soule'. I trowe as he at
     is vnkenyng & blaberinge'. at it behouede to sette erto alle
     e |r[82v] sharpenesse of mynde, with wakyng eyene of herte,
     puttyng aweye & leuyng alle oere cures & bisinesses for e
     tyme, & makynge him self as present in alle at befelle aboute
  30 at passion & crucifixione, affectuesly, bisily, auisily &
     perseuerantly and not passing litly, or with tediouse heuynes'.
     bot with alle e herte & gostly gladnes.
        Wherefore if ou at redist or herest is boke, haste
     herebefore bisily taken hede to oo inges at hauen be writen
  35 & spoken of e blessede life of oure lorde Jesu criste in to is
     tyme'. miche more now ou shalt gedire alle i mynde & alle
     e strengh of i soule to oo inges at folowen of his
     blessede passion. For here specialy is shewede his hye charite,
     e which resonably shold alle holely enflaume & brenne oure
  40 hertes in his loue.
        Go we an now to e processe of his passione, takyng
     hede & makyng vs in mynde as present, to alle at folowe.
     And first beholdyng how after e processe of e gospell of
     seynt John, oure lord Jesus after at wori sopere was done,



|p163


     & at noble & fructuose sermone endet whereof it is spoken
     in e next chapitre before, went with his disciples ouer e
     watere of Cedron in to a gardyne, in to e which he was wonte
     oft sies to come with hees disciples, & ere he bade hem
   5 abide & praye.
        And forermore takyng with him hese re speciale
     secretaries, at is to sey Petur, James & Jone, & tellyng hem
     at his herte was heuye & sorowfulle vnto e de'. badde hem
     ere abide & wake with him in praieres.
  10     And so a litel ferere fro hem, as aboute e space of a
     stone cast vpon a litel hille'. mekely & reuerently knelyng vpon
     hese boe knene made his praiere to e fadere, deuoutely in
     manere as it folowe after.
        Bot here abide we a litel while, & take we hede with
  15 a deuout mynde of is wondurfulle dede of oure lord Jesu,
     soely wori to be hade in mynde in inwarde soroufulle
     compassion.
        For lo nowe he praie to e fadere mekely, & at for
     him self'. as we rede at he ha oft before praiede, bot an for
  20 vs as for oure aduoket. Wherefore skilfully we sholde be
     stirede |r[83r] to inwarde compassion, & wondere here'. of e
     lowest mekenes of e moste perfite obedience & of e
     vnspekable charite of god shewede to vs, & first of is moste
     profonde mekenes, consideryng him at is verrey god euen
  25 with e fadere almity & euerlastyng, so as it were foretyng
     him self as god, & so lowely praying as a noere comune man
     of e peple.
        Also take hede of his most perfite obedience. For what
     is at he preye? Soely he praie e fadere if it be his wille,
  30 at he be not slayne & put to at harde de, & it with e
     fadere he ha ordeynet to take at de for manne. And so he
     praie e fadere, & it he is not herde after his wille at is to
     sey after one maner of wille at was in him. For ere was in
     him re maner of wille, at is to sey, first e wille of e flesh
  35 & e sensualite, & at grucchede & dredde & wold not
     gladely suffre deth. Also e wille of reson, & at was
     obeschant & assentante, as e prophet ysaie sei of him, He
     was offrede vpon e crosse to e fadere for so was his wille.
     And e ridde was e wille of e godhede e which afe e
  40 sentence of his passione, & bade in alle maner to be done.
     Wherefore in als miche as he was verrey manne'. he dredde as
     man, after e first wille & was en in grete anguysh. And
     erfore inwardly haue compassion of him in als miche as ou
     may with alle i herte. For lo e fadere wille vtturly at he be



|p164


     slayn & dede, & not wistandyng at he is his owne dere
     louede sone, it he spare him not, bot iue him to e de
     for vs alle, & oure lorde Jesus take mekely at obedience &
     fulfille after in dede, as e processe of his passione witnesse
   5 fullye.
        In e ridde poynt beholde e vnspekable charite of e
     fadere & e sone shewede to vs at owe worely to be hade
     in inwarde compassione & hye wonder & wirchipe. For onely
     for oure sauacione'. is harde de is beden of e fadere &
  10 taken of e sone.
        Beholde now how he praie. Longe tyme knelyng vpon
     e grounde he speke to e fadere & sei in ees manere
     wordes, My dere fadere almity & ful of pite & mercye, I
     beseke e, at ou herre my praiere & despise not my bede,
  15 beholde to me & here me. For I am made sory in myn exercise
     of vertue, shewyng to myn |r[83v] enemyes pacience & charite, &
     ei not amendet, & so my spirite is in anguishe withinne me,
     & my herte greuously desturblete. Wherefore bowe in ere to
     me & take hede to e voice of my bede. lt likede e fadere to
  20 sende me in to e worlde, fort make asee for e wronge at
     was done of man to owe, & anone at our wille & biddyng
     I was redye & seide lo I go, & so i sofastnes & i hele'. I
     haue declarede & shewede, & I euere pore & in diuerse
     trauailes fro my oue, doyng i wille & alle at ou hast
  25 beden me'. am nowe redy to fulfille vtturly oo inges at
     bene it to be done & fulle endete. ou seeste fadere e malice
     at myne enemyes hauen conspirede aeynus me, & how I
     haue euere done oo inges at bene plesant to e, & done
     goode & benefices to hem at haten me, & ei aeynwarde
  30 hauen rewardet me yuel for gude, & hate for my loue, & so
     ei haue corrupte my disciple, & made him here ledere to
     destruye me, & hauen solde me & set my prise in thrittye
     penyes.
        Goode fadere I beseke e, at ou do awey fro me is
  35 cuppe of sorowe, & bitter passione, at is ordeynet to me to
     drinke. And elles be i wille fulfillede.
        Bot my dere fadere rise vp in to my helpe, & haste e
     to socour me at my nede. For be it so fadere at ei know me
     not ine sofast sone'. neuerles sien I haue ladde amonge hem
  40 a ritwise & innocent life, & also done to hem many gude
     dedes'. ei sholde not be so cruele & so maliciouse aeynus
     me.
        Haue in mynde gude fadere how I haue stante in i siht
     fort speke euer e gude of hem. Bot lo now ei eldene yuel



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     for gude, & hauene ordeynet e vileste de for me. Wherfore
     ou lorde at seest al inge'. rise in to my helpe & leue me
     not. For grete tribulacion is now nihe, & ere is none at wille
     & may helpe bot ou alone.
   5     And after is praiere oure lorde Jesus turnyng aeyn to
     hese disciples'. woke hem & confortede hem it to praye. And
     eft e seconde tyme & e ridde tyme turnede aeyn to hese
     praiere in diuerse places alitel fro oere, as in e space of a
     stones caste lihtlye withoute grete strengh, & continuede e
  10 forseide praiere to e fadere, |r[84r] addyng to & seying, Fadere
     rihtwise, if it so be at ou haste ordeynet & wilt in alle
     manere at I suffre e de vpon e crosse'. i wille be
     fulfillede. Bot I recommende to e fadere my swete modere &
     my disciples, e whech I haue kept in to is tyme, alle e
  15 while I haue bene duellyng with hem.
        And with is prayere at precious & holiest blode of
     his blessede bodie'. brekyng out in manere of swote'. droppede
     done in to e ere abundantly in at grete agonye & herde
     bataile.
  20     Soely here is grete matire of sorowe & compassione,
     at ouht to stire e hardest herte at is in is worlde to haue
     inwarde compassion of at grete & souereyn anguish at oure
     lorde Jesus suffrede in at tyme, & for oure sake. For by e
     godhede he sawh e hardest & souereyn peynes at were to
  25 come in his bodie. And erfore after e manhede, his tendure
     bodie, for fere & anguysh'. brake out violently on blode.
        Take hede also here, at is specialy to be notede
     aeynus oure impacience how oure lorde Jesus preye re
     tymes or he ha answere fro e fadere.
  30     Bot en at e ridde tyme when oure lorde Jesus was
     in so grete anguishe of spirite as it is seide'. lo e prince of
     goddus angeles Michael, stondyng by him confortede him &
     seide, Heil my lord Jesu, oure deuoute praiere & our blody
     swete I haue offrede & shewede to e fadere in siht of alle e
  35 blessede court, & we alle fallyng done before him, hauene
     besouht him, to put awey fro owe is bitter drinke of our
     passione. Bot e fadere answerede & seide, My derelouede
     sone knowe wele, at e redempcion of mankynde, e whiche
     we desirene so of oure hie charite'. may not be fulfilled &
  40 done, so conueniently & resonably'. without shedyng of his
     blode. Wherefore if he wole e hele of soules'. it behoue him
     to dye for hem. And erfore my lorde, what deme e nowe in
     is matire? Oure lorde Jesus answerede en to e angele, I
     wole in alle maner e hele & sauacion of soules. And erfore



|p166


     I chese raere to suffre e de, where orh e soules at e
     fadere ha made vnto his likenes mowen be sauede'. an I
     wolde not dye, |r[84v] & e soules be not aeyn bouht. Wherefore
     my fadere wille be fulfillede. And an seide e angele to him,
   5 Be en now of gude confort my lorde, & worche manfully.
     For it is semely to him at is in hye degre'. to do grete inges
     & wori, & to him at is a manful man'. to suffre harde
     inges. For oo inges at bene harde & peynful shole sone
     passe, & oo inges at bene ioyful & gloriose shole come
  10 after. e fadere sei at he is & shale be euere with owe, &
     at he sal kepe our dere modere & our disciples, at our
     wille, & shale iue hem safe aeyne to owe. And so e gude
     meke lorde toke benynglye is manere of confort, & at of his
     creature, consideryng him self after e kynde of manne, lasse
  15 in worinesse en angeles, for e tyme of e dedely life in is
     world, & so he was sorouful as man, & so he was confortede
     of e angeles wordes as man, & so he toke his leue of him,
     praiyng him to recommende him to e fadere & alle e court
     of heuen.
  20     And an is ridde tyme he rose vp fro his praiere, alle
     e bodie blodye, whome ou maiht beholde with inwarde
     compassion how he wipe his bodye, or elles perauenture
     washe him priuely in e ryuere & so gretely pynede in his
     body, & at is reuerently to be hade in sorouful compassion.
  25 For without grete bitternes of sorow'. is miht not befalle to
     him. Neuerles doctours & wise clerkes seyne, at oure lorde
     Jesus praiede e fadere in is manere'. not onely for drede of
     his passion'. bot also for e grete pite & mercie at he hade of
     his first peple e Jewes, sorowyng at ei sholde be loste by
  30 occasion of his de. For ei sholde not haue slayn him namely
     sien he was of hir kynde, & was also contynede writen in hir
     lawe as criste to come & erwi shewede hem so many grete
     benefices.
        Wherefore he praiede e fadere to is entent us, My
  35 fadere, if it mowe be wi e hele & e sauacion of Jues at e
     multitude of oer folke be turnede to byleue'. I forsake e
     passion & e de. Bot if it be nedeful at e Jues be blyndet
     in hir malice, so at oer folke mowe haue siht in trewe
     beleue'. not my wille bot ine be fulfillede & done, at is to
  40 sey after e first manere of wille |r[85r] in hym as it is seide
     before.
        Aftere is he came to his disciples & seide to hem,
     Nowe slepe & reste, for ei hade slept a litel before ere.
     Soely he as a gude herde, was ful wakkely & bisye vpon e



|p167


     kepyng of at litel flokke, hees bylouede disciples. O trewe
     loue, soely he louede hem in to e vttrest, at in so grete
     anguish & so bitter agonye, was so bisye to procure hir hele
     & hir reste.
   5     an sawh oure lorde after hees aduersaries comyng with
     torches & armes, & it he wolde not wake & reise hees
     disciples til ei comen nihe hem, & an he seide to hem, lt
     suffice now, e haue slept ynowh. Lo he at shale bytraye me
     is nihe at hande.
  10     And erwi came at wikked Judas e fals traytoure &
     worst marchant before hem, & boldly kissed at innocent
     lambe his lorde Jesus. For as it is writen, e manere of
     custome, at oure lorde vsede of his grete benyngnite was'.
     what tyme hese disciples were sent for'. at hir comynge aeyn
  15 fort receyue hem in louely kosse, & erfore at traytour went
     before & kissed him as who sei, I am not comene with ese
     armede men'. bot in maner as here before I was wonte & at
     myne aeyn comynge, & kisse e & sei, Heile maistere.
        Oo verrey traitour! Take nowe gude hede to oure lord
  20 Jesu, how paciently & benyngly he receyue at fals feynede
     clippyng, & traytours kosse, of at vnseily disciple'. whos feete
     he woshe a litel before of his souereyne mekenes, & fedde him
     with at hye precious mete of his owne blessede bodye, orh
     his vnspekable charite.
  25     And also beholde how paciently he suffre him self to
     be takene, bonden, smyten & wodely ladde for, as ei he
     were a thefe or a wikked doare, & in alle maner vnmihty to
     help him self. And also take hede how he ha inwarde sorowe
     & compassion of hees disciples, fleyng fro him & erryng, &
  30 also ou maiht se here grete sorow of hem, how aeynus hir
     wille, by freelty of mannus drede, ei goyn fro him, makyng
     grete mournyng, & wi hye sihhyng as faderles childrene, not
     wittyng what to do, & it was hir sorowe miche more, seyng
     hir maister & lorde so vileynsly ferde with, & o helle hondes,
  35 drawynge him as a beest to sacrifice, & him as a meke lambe
     wi oute |r[85v] resistence folowyng.
         Now forermore beholde how he is ladde of oo
     vileste wrecches fro at ryuere vp towarde e cite of
     Jerusalem, & at hastilye & with grete pyne, hauyng hees
  40 handes bonden byhynde hym as a thefe, girde aboue his kote,
     bot not curiously, & his mantile drawen fro him, & goyng
     barehede & stoupyng for e grete haste & trauaile at ei
     made him to haue.



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         And whenne he was brouht before e princes of
     preestes, & e scribes & e alderemenne at were an gederet
     abydyng his comyng'. gladde were ei an examinyng him &
     aposyng sotelye in many questiones, & procuryng fals witnesse
   5 aeynus him, & spittyng on hys holiest face, & hidyng hese
     eyene'. ei buffetede him scornyng & seying, Prophecie nowe,
     & telle vs who smote e last, and so in many maneres ei
     vexede & tormentede him, & he in alle shewede hie pacience.
     Wherefore here we owe to haue inwarde compassion of alle
  10 at he suffrede so for vs.
         At e last e grete maistres went hir weye, puttyng
     him in to a maner of prison ere vndur a loft, & ere ei
     bonden him to a stonen pilere as men seyne at haue seen it.
     And also ere ei laft with him sume armede men to kepe him
  15 for more sikernes, e whech alle at niht vexede him in
     skornynges & shrewede wordes. Abreydyng him & reprouyng
     in ees maner wordes as we resonably mowe suppose:
         Wendust ou to be better & wisere an oure princes
     & maistres of e lawe? What vnwitte & folye was at in e to
  20 reprehende hem? ou sholdest not haue bene so hardy ones
     fort haue oponede i moue aeynus hem. Bot now shewe i
     lewede witte. For now ou standest as it beseme to suche as
     ou art, withoute dout ou art wori e de, & erfore ou
     shalt haue it, and so alle at niht nowe one & now a noere by
  25 wordes & dedes skornede him & reprouede him.
         Take hede also on at oere side of oure lorde as
     shamefast paciently in silence haldyng his pees to alle at ei
     putte vpon him, kastyng done towarde e ere his chere, as ei
     he were gilty & taken in blame, & here haue [inwardly]
  30 compassion.
         A lorde Jesu in to whos handes art ou now comen,
     how mikel is i pacience? |r[86r] Soely is is e houre & e
     powere of derkenes. And so stode he bonden vnto at pilere
     vnto e morowe.
  35      In e mene tyme John at hade folowede oure lorde,
     went to oure lady & Maudleyn & oer of hir felawes, at were
     at tyme gederet in maudleyn house, where he hade made e
     sopere before, & tolde hem alle at was befalle of oure lorde
     & hese disciples, & en was ere vnspekable sorowe, criyng
  40 & wepyng.
        Take nowe entent to hem, & haue compassion of hem,
     for ei bene in e grettest disese & hyest sorowe for hir lorde.
     For ei seene now wele & fully trowen at he shale be dede.



|p169


        At e last oure lady drowe hir by hir self, & turnede
     hir in to praiere & seide, Most wirchipeful fadere, most
     piteuous fadere, & moste mercyful fadere, I recommende to
     ow oure awne & my derrest louede sone. Gude fadere be
   5 not to him cruele, sien he bene to alle oer beninge. Fadere
     euerlastyng, wheer my dere sone shale be dede? Soely he
     dide neuer ille. Bot rihtwise fadere, if he wole e redempcion
     of mankynde'. I beseke ow if it may be at it be fulfillede by
     a noer maner, & at my sone be not dede if it be our wille,
  10 for alle inge is possible to ow. He helpe not him self, by
     cause of oure obedience & reuerence, bot ha in maner
     forsake him self, & made him as feble & vnmihty among hees
     enemyes. Wherefore merciful fadere help e him & delyuer
     him fro hir handes, & iue him me aeyn. By seche maner
  15 wordes praiede oure lady for hir sone, with alle hir miht of
     soule & in grete sorowe, & erfore haue here pite of hir whom
     ou seest in so grete affliccione.


     Of e bryngynge of oure lord Jesu before pilate at prime.
     Capitulum xlj.


  20     |r<b> E fridaye erely on e morowe e princes &
     souereynes of e peple comen aeyn to e forseide place,
     where ei hadde laft oure lorde Jesu & maden hese handes be
     bonden byhynde him & seiden us to him, Come now with vs,
     come thefe to i dome, for is day i wikked dedes shole haue
  25 an ende, & nowe shale be knowen i wisdam.
         And so ei ladden him to Pilate e Justice, & he
     folowede |r[86v] hem as a innocent lambe.
        And when his modere & Jone & oer women of hir
     companye, at went oute erely fort here & se of him'. metten
  30 with him at a crosse weye, & seene him with so grete a
     multitude of peple, ladde as a thefe, & so foule & disputesly
     ferde with'. with how grete sorow ei were an fulfillede'. it
     miht not be spoken.
        And so in at metyng to gedire of oure lorde Jesu &
  35 hem'. & siht of oere'. ere was grete sorowe on boe parties.
     For oure lorde also hade grete sorowful compassion of his
     modere, & o oer with hir, & namely of his modere at he
     knewe in so grete sorowe for him, as ei e soule sholde be
     departede fro e bodie. Wherefore also we owe in alle ees
  40 to haue grete compassion.



|p170


        anne as it is seide oure lorde was ladde to Pilate, &
     ei foloweden aferre for ei miht not come nihe for peple. He
     was ere accusede of many inges, e whech ei miht not
     preue, & erfore Pilate sende him to Heroude as e gospelle
   5 of Luke telle.
        And for als miche as Heroude miht neier haue worde
     of him, nor miracle done, as he desirede'. he helde him bot a
     fole. Wherfore as in scorne, he lete cloe him in white'. and so
     sende him aeyn to pylate.
  10     And so ou maiht se at oure lorde not onely is halden
     as a thefe & a wikked doere'. bot also as a foole.
        us as seynt gregour sei, done holy doctours &
     prechours, folowyng oure lorde Jesu'. when ei seene e
     hereres, onely desire & loke after curiosite, & profitten not in
  15 amendment of yuel lyuyng'. ei chesen raere in silence to be
     halde as foiles'. en to shewe hemself in prechinge, without
     fruyt of soules.
        Beholde nowe forermore e grete pacience of oure
     lorde in alle at is done to him. For ei ledene him orh e
  20 cite towarde & frawarde as a fole, hangyng done his hede in
     shamefast manere, & paciently herynge reproues, scornynges,
     criynges, & suffryng many despites as perantere in castynge of
     stones at him, or of fenne & vnclannes vpon him.
        And also beholde his modere & hese oer frendes, with
  25 vnspekable sorowe on ferre after folowyng.
        When he was an brouht aeyne to Pilate, & oo
     cursede hondes bisily & stiffely stodene in hir fals
     accusaciones'. pilate knowyng |r[87r] hir enuye wolde haue
     delyuerede him & seide, I finde no cause of de in is manne.
  30 Wherfore I shale vndirnyme him & chastise him, & so leue
     him amendet.
        O pilate, pilate, wolt ou reprehende & chastise i
     lorde god? ou woste not what ou doist, for he neuer
     deseruede betyng nor deth. Bot ou sholdest do better & more
  35 rihtwisely, if ou woldest chastise & amende i self at his
     wille.
        And an at e biddyng of pylate, at he sholde be
     scourgete & beten'. oure lord was despoilete, bonden to a
     pilere, & harde & sore scourgete, & so stant he nakede before
  40 hem alle, at fairest onge manne of alle childrene at euer
     were born takyng paciently of oo foulest wrecches, e hardest
     & moste bitter strokes of scourges, & so is at moste innocent,
     faireste & clennest flesh, floure of alle mankynde, alle to rente
     & fulle of wondes, rennyng out of alle sides at preciouse



|p171


     kynges blode. And so longe betene & scourgete with wonde
     vpon wonde & brisoure vpon brisour'. til boe e lokeres & e
     smyters were werye, & en was he bidene to be vnbonden.
       Soely e pylere at he was bonden to'. it schewe e
   5 steppes of his blode as it is contenede in stories.
        Take now here gude hede by inwarde meditacion of
     alle hees peynes abidyngly, & bot ou fynde i herte melte in
     to sorouful compassion'. suppose fully & halde, at ou hast to
     harde a stonene herte.
  10     anne was fulfilled in dede, at e prophete ysaie seide
     of him longe tyme before, We seene him in at tyme, & ere
     was none semlynesse nor beutye in hym, & we helde him as
     foule as a leprose manne at were smitene done & made lowe
     of god. Wherfore we set no rewarde of him. Oo lorde Jesu,
  15 who was he so fole hardye at dorst despoile e? Bot who
     were ei miche worse hardy at dorst bynde e? Bot it who
     were ei alere werst & moste foole hardye, at dorst so
     bitterly bete e & scourge e?
        Bot soely ou sonne of rihtwisnes, at at tyme
  20 widrowest i bemes of liht, & erfore alle was in derkenes,
     & in e miht of wikkednes. For nowe alle ine enmyes bene
     more mihtye an ou, & at made i loue & oure malice.
     Cursede be |r[87v] at malice & wikkednes of sinne, wherfore ou
     were so tormentede & pynede.
  25     Aftere he was vnbonden fro at pilere'. ei ladden him
     so beten & nakede aboute be house sekynge after hese cloes,
     at were cast in diuerse places of hem at despoilede him.
     And here haue compassion of him in so grete colde quakyng
     & tremelyng, for as e gospelle witnesse it was anne harde
  30 colde. And when he wolde haue done on hees cloes'. sume of
     oo moste wikkede wistoden & comene to pylate & seide,
     Lorde, he is made him self a kynge. Wherfore let vs cloe
     him & corone him as a kynge. And en ei token an olde
     silken mantelle of redde, & kast on him, & madene a garlande
  35 of sharpe ornes, & rist vpon his hede & putten in his hande
     a rede as for a sceptre, & alle he paciently suffre, & after
     when ei knelede & saluede him in scorne, seyinge heile
     kynges of Jewes'. he helde his pees & spake not.
        Now beholde him with sorowe of herte, namely when
  40 ei smitene him greuously & oft sies vpon e hede, ful of
     sharpe ornes, e whech persede greuously in to e brayne
     panne, & made it alle fulle of blode, & so ei scornede him as
     ei he wolde haue reignede, bot at he miht not'. & alle he
     suffre as hir seruante or knafe.



|p172


        Oo wrecches, how dredeful sal at hede apere at e
     laste to ow e which e smyten now so boldly.
        And it is suffice not to hir malice'. bot to more
     reproue & scorn of him ei gederet alle hir wikkede companye
   5 first to wondre vpon him in e hous, & after ei brouht him
     out before pylate, & alle e peple in at manere illudet with
     e corone of ornes, & at olde purpure vestiment.
        Se now for goddus loue, how he stant in at maner,
     hangyng e face done towarde e ere before alle e grete
  10 multitude criyng & askyng of pilate, Crucifye, crucifie him, &
     scornyng him at he wolde make him wisere an e princes &
     e pharisees & e doctours of e lawe, & how his wisdome
     was turnede in to so grete folie at it shewede in at tyme. And
     so not onely he suffrede grete peynes & sorow in his body
  15 withinfor'. bot also many |r[88r] & foule obreydynges & reproues
     withoutforth.


     How oure lorde Jesus was dampnet to e deth of e crosse
     about tierce of e day. Capitulum xlij=m=.


        |r<b> Aftere at oure lorde Jesus was longe tyme so
  20 tormentede & illudet as it is seide, & e princes of e Jues
     with grete instance continuely askedene & madene alle e
     multitude with hem to crie & aske at he sholde be crucifiede'.
     at e last e wretchede Justice Pilate dredyng more to offende
     hem en to condempne e innocent wrongwisly'. af e
  25 sentence vpon him at hir wille, & so dampnet him to be
     hanget on e crosse.
        And an were e princes & e pharisees & e
     aldermenne ioyful & glade, at ei hade hir entent fulfillede.
        ei haue not in mynde e grete benefices & e
  30 wondurfull dedes at he ha shewede hem. And also ei be
     not mouede to pite for his innocence, & at is more cruelte in
     hem, ei be not slakede nor withdrawen fro hir malice by e
     grete despites & peynes at ei haue seene & done to him
     before'. bot laghen & maken ioy, & scornene him at is verrey
  35 godde & may dampne hem to euerlastyng de. And so ei now
     bysyen hem in alle at ei may to bringe him hastely to his
     de.
        Wherfore he is ladde inne aeyn to e hous, where he
     was before scourgete & illudete, & er was drawe fro him at



|p173


     olde purpure mantele, & so he alle naked was beden to cloe
     him self aeyn.
        Now with inwarde compassion beholde him here in
     maner as I seide before onelich after e manhede, so passyng
   5 faire a onge manne, most innocent & most louely in at
     maner alle to rent, & wondet, & alle blody nakede with a
     maner of schamefastnes gederyng hese cloes, in diuerse
     places of at hous, as ei were deskaterede by oo harlotes,
     doyng hem on in honest maner before hem at euere laghen
  10 him to scorn, as ei he were e most wrech of alle oer
     forsaken of god, & withouten alle maner socoure or help.
        Wherfore nowe take hede diligently to him, & haue
     wondre of at grete profonde mekenes of him, & in als miche
     as ou may conforme e to folowe him by pacience &
  15 mekenes & suffryng of wronges for his loue. And go forth
     with him & beholde howe after he ha done on hees cloes'.
     ei leden him for in grete haste, & layn |r[88v] vpon him at
     wirchipefulle tre of e crosse, at was heuye & fulle longe, at
     is to sey as it is writen in stories, xv fote of lengh, e which
  20 he as a meke & most pacient lambe, take vpon hese sholderes
     & bere for. And so was he ladde fore with hees tweyn
     felauhes, at were thefes & dampnet to e self deth, & is is
     his felawshipe at is tyme.
        Oo gude lorde Jesu what shame done ei to owe, ei
  25 at sholde be our frendes, ei maken ow felawe to efes,
     []ei & it ei done worse'. for ei maken ow to bere oure
     crosse, at is not radde of hem.
        Wherfore not onely as e prophete ysaie sei, e bene
     put with wikked doeres & efes'. bot also with worse an
  30 thefes. Soely lorde i pacience may not be spoken.
        Forermore as to e processe, seyng his dere modere
     at she miht not folowe him nihe for e grete multitude of
     peple about him'. she toke a noer wey more short in hast,
     with Jone & oer of hir felawshipe, so at she miht mete with
  35 him before oer by at weye.
        And when she mette with him, without e ate of e
     Cite, ere as tweyne weyes meten to gedire, & sauhe him
     charget & ouerleide with so grete a tre of e crosse, e which
     she sawe not before'. she was alle out of hir self, & half dede
  40 for sorowe, so at neier she miht speke to him one worde nor
     he to hir bycause of e grete haste of hem at ladden him to
     e iewes.
        And alitel after oure lorde turnede him to e women
     at folowede him wepyng, & seide vnto hem. he douhteres



|p174


     of Jerusalem, wepe not on me bot on our self, & so for
     after e gospel.
        And in ees tweyn places were after made chirches in
     mynde of ees inges, as ei seyne at haue seene hem.
   5     Forermore bycause at e monte of Caluarie where he
     was crucifiede, was a gret space fro e ate of e cyte, & he
     was after so ouercome wi trauaile & werie, at he miht no
     lengire bere at heuy crosse'. he leide it done. Bot e cursede
     tormentours, & ei ful of malice, dredyng fort differre his de,
  10 lest at Pilate wolde haue clepede aeyn his sentence & dome,
     for he shewede before a wille to haue delyueret him'. ei
     maden a noer manne |r[89r] at was clepede Symonde, to bere e
     crosse with him, & ladden him so descharget of e crosse, bot
     an bonden hees handes byhynde him, as a efe, to at place
  15 of his iewes e monte of Caluarie.
        Nowe if ou take gude hede to alle at ha bene done
     to oure lorde Jesu, & alle at he ha suffrede, at matyne tyme
     & pryme & tierce, in to is tyme'. shale it not be sene to e as
     matire of grete compassion of his grete passion & sorow?
  20 Soely I trowe is.
        And namely if ou wilt nowe make in i mynde a
     recapitulacione, & reherse in generale at he ha suffrede, &
     at ha be done to him in to is tyme.
        For what is it to enke, at oure lorde Jesus verrey god
  25 blessede aboue alle iuges fro e houre at he was taken in e
     niht in to is tyme of his crucifiyng was in continuele bataile,
     in grete reproues, despites & sorowes, illusiones & tormentes.
     For ere was iuen him no reste, bot euer trauaile in peynes &
     sorow.
  30     And if ou wolt knawe in what conflicte & bataile he
     was'. beholde & se.
        First one despitesly lei hande on him & take him. A
     noer is redy & harde bynde him. A noer criynge putte
     vpon him blasfeme. A noere spitte in his face. A noer
  35 sotely aske of him many questiones in deceite fort accuse
     him. A noer is bisy to bryng fals wittenes aeynus him.
     Anoer drawe him forth before e Justice. A noere stiffely
     accuse him. Anoer hide his eyene. A noer buffete &
     scorne him. Anoer after despoile him. A noer bynde him
  40 harde to e pilere. A noer with sharpe scourges sore bete
     him. A noer vnbynde him. A noer caste on him at olde
     selken mantelle. A noer sette a croune of sharpe ornes on
     his hede. A noer pitte in to his hande a rede. A noere take
     it wodely fro him, & smyte his sore hede ful of ornes. A



|p175


     noer in scorn kneli before him, & so for now one & now
     anoer & diuerse & many, with alle hir witte & miht byseyn
     hem to torment him in e worst manere. ei leden him as a
     thefe, nowe to e bishope Anne & now to Caiphas, nowe to
   5 Pilate & nowe to Heroude, now hiderwarde & now
     iderewarde, nowe inne & nowe oute.
        Oo my lorde god, what is alle is? Loo enke e not
     here a fulle harde |r[89v] & continuele bitter bataile? itte abide a
     litel while, & ou salt se hardere.
  10     ei stande stiffely aeynus him alone, e princes & e
     pharisees & e scribes, with ousandes of e peple, criyng alle
     with one voice at he be crucifiede.
        And at e laste e Justice Pilate iue e dome at he
     be crucifiede, & anone at heuye crosse was leide on hees
  15 sholdres at were alle to rente & broken with wondes of hees
     scourgyng.
        Now forermore beholde i lorde Jesu, so goyng fore
     with his crosse on his bake, & how anne out of e cite at alle
     ates rennene boe citesenes & strangeres of alle degres, not
  20 onely gentiles'. but also e foulest Ribawdes & wyne drinkeres,
     not to haue compassion of him, bot to wondre vpon him, &
     scorne him.
        ere is none at wole knawe him by pitevous affeccion'.
     bot raer with e fenne & oer vnclannes, alle ei despisene
  25 & reprouene him.
        And so as e prophete sei, he is now as in a parabole
     in alle hir moues. And o at seten in e ates as iuges
     spekene aeynus him, & oo at dronken e wyne in hir luste'.
     maden hir songe of him.
  30     us was he drawene & hastede by grete violence,
     without reste'. til he came to at foule stinkyng place of
     Caluarie, where was set e ende & e reste of is harde bataile
     at we speken of.
        Bot what maner reste is at, whereof we now shole
  35 trette? Soely at harde tre & de th, sharpere an e bataile. Lo
     what reste? certayn e bedde of sorow.
        us maiht ou se in generale contemplacion how harde
     a batail i lorde ha suffrede in to is sixte houre, whereof
     now we shole trete, folowyng e processe of his blessede
  40 passion.



|p176


     Of e crucifiyng of oure lorde Jesu atte e sixte houre.
     Capitulum xliij=m=.


        |r<b> NOw forermore maiht ou se whan oure lord Jesus
     was come to at stinkyng hille of Caluarie'. how wikkedly oo
   5 cursede werke menne begunne to worche on alle sides at
     cruele werke.
        Take hede now diligently with alle i herte, alle o
     inges at be now to come, & make e ere present in i
     mynde, beholdyng alle at shale be done aeynus i lorde Jesu
  10 & at bene spoken or done of him. And so wi e innere eye
     of i soule beholde |r[90r] sume, settyng & ficching e crosse fast
     in to e ere. Sume makyng redye e nailes & e hameres to
     dryue hem wi. Oere makyng redy & settyng vp laddres, &
     ordeinyng oer instrumentis at hem ouht nedeful, & oer
  15 faste aboute to spoile him, & drawe of hees cloes. And so is
     he now e ridde tyme spoilede & stande nakede in siht of
     alle at peple, & so bene nowe e ridde tyme renvede e
     brisours of e wondes in his scourgyng by e cleuyng of e
     cloes to his flesh.
  20     Now also first his modere see how he is so takene &
     ordeynede to e deth. Wherefore she sorouful out of mesure,
     & hauyng shame to se him standyng alle nakede. For ei laft
     him not so miche as hese pryue cloes'. she went in haste to
     hir dere sone, & clippede him & girde him aboute e leendes
  25 with e kerchefe of hir hede.
        Aa lorde in what sorowe is hir soule nowe? Soely I
     trowe at she miht not speke one worde to him for sorowe.
     Bot she miht do no more to him nor help him. For if she miht
     without doute she wolde.
  30     anne was hir sone anone taken oute of hir handes in
     wode manere, & ladde to e fote of e crosse.
        Now take hede diligently to e maner of crucifying.
     ere bene sette vp tweyn laddres, one behynde & a noere
     before at e lift arme of e crosse, vpon e whech oo wikked
  35 ministres gone vp with nailes & hameres. Also a noer short
     laddre is sette before e crosse at laste vp to e place where
     hees feete sholde be nailede.
        Now take gude hede to alle at folowe. Oure lorde
     anne was compellede & beden fort go vp one at laddre to e
  40 crosse, & he mekely doe alle at ei bedene him. And when
     he came vp to e ouerest ende of at short laddre'. he turnede
     his bakke to e crosse, & streyht out one brede oo kynges
     armes, & hese fairest handes afe vp to hem at crucifiede



|p177


     him. And an liftyng vp hees louely eyene to heuen seide to
     e fadere in ees maner wordes, Loo here I am my dere fadere
     as ou woldest at I sholde lowe my self vnto e crosse, for
     e sauacion of mankynde, & at is pleisyng & acceptable to
   5 me, & for hem I offre my self'. e whech ou woldest sholde
     be my |r[90v] breerne. Wherefore also ou fadere take gladely is
     sacrifice for hem of me, & now heen forwarde be plesede &
     wele willede to hem for my loue, & alle olde offense &
     trespasse foriue & wipe awey, & put aferre alle vnclannes of
  10 sinne fro hem. For soely I offre here now my self for hem &
     hir hele.
        And an he at was on e laddere behynde e crosse'.
     take his riht hande & naile it fast to e crosse. And after he
     at was on e lift side drawe wi alle his miht e lift arme
  15 & hande, & driue erorh a noere grete naile. After ei
     comen done & taken awey alle e laddres & so hange oure
     lorde onely by oo tweyn nailes smyten orh hees handes
     without sustenance of e body, drawyng donwarde peynfully
     orh e weiht erof.
  20     Herewi also a noer harlote renne to, & drawe done
     hese feete with alle his miht, & anoer anone driue a grete
     longe naile orh boe hese feete ioynede to oer.
     is is one maner of his crucifiyng after e opinione of
     sume men.
  25     Oere ere bene at trowen at he was not crucifiede
     in is manere'. bot at first liggyng e crosse on e gronde'. ei
     nailede him ere vpon, & after with him so hangyng ei liften
     vp e crosse & festen it done in e ere.
        And if it were done in is manere'. an maist ou se,
  30 howe vileynsly ei taken him as a ribaude & kasten him done
     vp on e crosse, & an as wode efes drowen on boe sides
     first hees handes & after hees feete, & so nailede him fast to
     e crosse, & after with alle hir miht liften vp e crosse with
     him hangyng als hye as ei miht & an lete it falle done in to
  35 e morteise.
        In e which falle as ou may vndurstande, alle e
     senewes to breken, to his souereyn peyne. Bot wheer so it be
     in one maner or in oere'. soe it is at oure lorde Jesus was
     nailede harde vpon e crosse, hande & foote, & so streynede
  40 & drawen'. at as he himself sei by e prophete Dauid, at
     ei mihten telle & noumbre alle hees bones.
        an rennene out of his blessed body ee stremes of at
     holiest blode, on alle sides abundantly fro o grete wondes, &



|p178


     so is he constreynede & artede'. at he may not meve bot his
     hede.
        Wherefore hangyng e body onely by o re nailes'. no
     doute bot at |r[91r] he suffre so bitter sorowes & peynes'. at
   5 ere may no herte enke, nor tonge telle.
     And it more ouere, he hange by twix two thefes, of
     e whech at one'. blasfeme & tempte him to impacience.
        And erwi oer blasfemyng & skornyng seyene, Vaath is is
     he at destrue e temple of god, & make it vp aeyn in re
  10 daies. And oer seiden, He made oer safe bot he may not
     now saue himself. And mani oere reproues & scornynges ei
     seidene to him as e gospelle telle.
        And alle ese reproues, blasfemies & despites ben
     done, seynge & heryng his most sorowful modere, whose
  15 compassion & sorowe made him hir sone to haue e more
     bitter peyne.
        And on at oere halfe she hange in soule with hir
     sone on e crosse & desirede inwardly raer to haue diede at
     tyme with him'. an to haue lyuede lengire.
  20     And so stode e modere byside e crosse of hir sone,
     bytwix his crosse & e efes crosse'. she turnede neuer hir
     eyene fro him, she was full of anguysh as he was also. And
     she preide to e fadere at at tyme, with alle hir herte seying
     us, Fadere & god without ende it was pleisyng to ow at my
  25 sone solde be crucifiede'. & it is done. lt is not now tyme to
     aske him of owe aeyn, bot e seene nowe in what anguish
     is his soule. I beseke ow at he wille ese his peynes, gode
     fadere I recommende vnto ow in alle at I may my dere sone.
        And also he hir sone praiede for hir priuely in himself
  30 seying:
        Mi fadere he knawen how my modere is tormentede
     for me. I sholde onely be crucifiede & not shee. But loo now
     she hange on e crosse with me'. Mine owne crucifiynge
     suffice, for I bere e synnes of alle e peple. She ha not
  35 deseruet any seche inge. Wherfore I recommende hir to owe,
     at he make hir peynes lesse.
        anne was with oure lady Jone & Maudeleyn e
     belouede disciplesse & oere of his frendes by e crosse of
     oure lord Jesu, e whech alle maden grete sorowe & wepten
  40 & miht not be confortede in no manere of her belouede
     maister, bot euer was her sorow renvede with his sorowe,
     auere in reproues or in dedes, |r[91v] as it folowe aftere.



|p179


     How oure lorde Jesus elde vp e spirite at none.
     Capitulum xliiij=m=.


        |r<b> Now hange oure lorde Jesus on e crosse in grete
     peyne, & it is he not ydul by cause of at peyne'. bot he
   5 wrouht alle waye & spake at was profitable for vs.
        Wherefore so hangyng he spake vij notable wordes, at
     bene fonden writen in e gospelle.
        e first was in e tyme at ei crucifiede him, when he
     praiede for hem seying us, Fadere foriue hem, for ei wite
  10 not what ei done. e which worde, was a worde of grete
     pacience, of grete loue, & of vnspekable beningnite.
        e seconde was to his modere, seying us, Woman loo
     i sone, & also to Jone, Loo i modere. He clepede hir not at
     at tyme, modere, lest she sholde orh feruent tendirnes of
  15 loue haue bene more sorye.
        e ridde was to e blessede thefe seying is day ou
     shalt be with me in paradise, whereinne his moost large
     mercye opunly is shewede.
        e fere was when he seide, Helye Helye,
  20 Lamazabathanye, at is to sey, My god, My god, whi hast ou
     forsake me, as ei he seide in is sentence. My god fadere of
     heuen, ou hast so miche louede e redempcion of e worlde'.
     at ou hast iuen me erfore, & as it seme forsaken.
        Lorde Jesu what confort was at forseide worde to alle
  25 ine enemies'. & what disconfort to alle i freendes? Soely as
     it seme er was neuer worde at oure lorde Jesus spake at
     afe so miche boldenes to hees enemyes, & so miche occasion
     to his frendes fort despeire at he was god'. as at worde. For
     [ei] vndirstode it at tyme bot nakedly after e letter sowne.
  30 Bot oure lord wolde shewe in to e last ende, at as he
     suffrede in body fully after e kynde of man'. so also in his
     spekyng after e infirmite of man, at he was verrey man
     suspendyng for e tyme e vse of alle e miht of e godhede.
        e fyft worde was, I am restye, e whech worde also
  35 was occasion to his modere & Jone & oer frendes of grete
     compassione'. & to hees wikked enemyes of grete reioycing &
     gladnes. For ouh it so be at it may be vndirstande at worde
     |r[92r] I riste, gostely to at entent, at he restede anne e hele
     of soules'. Neuerles also in soenes he ristede bodily bycause
  40 of e grete passing out of blode whereorh he was alle drye
     wiinfor & risty.



|p180


        And en oo wikked deuels lymes, at euer caste how
     ei miht moste nuye him'. token aisele & galle & proferede
     him vp to drinke.
        Oo cursede wodenes of hem, at bene neuer fillede
   5 with malice, bot in alle tyme nuyene als miche as ei kunne or
     mowen.
        e sixte worde was when he seide'. Consummatum est,
     it is alle endete. As ei he seide us, Fadere e obedience, at
     ou hast iuen me'. I haue perfitely & fully done in dede, &
  10 it I am redy to do what so ou bidde me. Bot alle at is
     writen of me'. is now fulfillede. Wherfore if it be i wille'.
     clepe me now aeyn to e.
        And anne seide e fadere, Come now my swete
     louede sone, ou hast wele done alle inges, & I wole not at
  15 ou be more tormentede, & erfore come nowe, for I shale
     clippe e with myn armes & take e in to my bosume.
        And after at tyme oure lorde began to faile in siht in
     manere of diynge menne, & wax alle pale now stekyng e
     eyene & now opunyng, & lowde his hede now in to one side
  20 & now in to a noer side, failyng alle e strenghes, & alle e
     vaynes an voide.
        And so atte e last he putte e seuene worde, with a
     stronnge crye & wepynge teres seying us, Fadere I
     commende my spirite in to i handes, & erwi he elte e
  25 spirite, bowynge his hede vpon his breeste towarde e fadere
     as in maner of onkyng, at he clepede him to him, & iuyng
     him his spirite.
        Atte is crye an was conuertede Centurio, ere beynge
     & seide, Soely is manne was goddus sone, by cause at he
  30 sawh him so criynge dye. For oer menne when ei dyene
     mowe not crie. Wherfore he beleuede in him.
        Soly is crie was so grete as holi men seyne'. at it
     was herde in to helle.
        Oo lord god in what state was at tyme his modere
  35 soule, when she sawh him so peynfully faile, wepe & dye?
     Soely I trowe at for e multitude of anguishes she was alle
     out of hir self & vnfelable made as half dede, & at now mich
     more'. |r[92v] an what tyme she mette with him, beringe e crosse
     as it is seide.
  40     What trowe we didene en Maudleyn e trewe louede
     disciplesse, what John his awne derlyng, & oer tweyn sistres
     of oure lady? Bot what miht ei do? ei were alle fulle of
     sorowe & bitternes, & erfore ei weptene sore without
     remedye.



|p181


        Loo now hange oure lorde on e crosse dede, & alle
     at grete multitude goe awey towarde e cite, & his sorouful
     modere with e foure forseide felawes, sette hir done by side
     e crosse, & beholde piteuously hir dere sone so ferd wi &
   5 abide helpe fro god, at she miht haue him to hir & birye
     him.
        an also if ou beholde wele i lorde'. ou maiht haue
     here matire ynouh of hye compassion, seynge him so
     tormeutede, at fro e sole of e fote in to e hiest part of e
  10 hede'. er was in him none hole place nor membre without
     passion.
        is is a pitevouse siht & a ioyful siht. A pitevous siht
     in him'. for at harde passion at he suffrede for oure sauacion,
     bot it is a likyng siht to vs, for e matire & e effecte at we
  15 haue erbye of oure redempcion. Soely is siht of oure lord
     Jesu hangyng so on e crosse by deuoute ymaginacion of e
     soule, is so likyng to sume creatours'. at after longe exercise
     of sorouful compassion'. ei felen sumtyme, so grete likyng not
     ouely in soule bot also in e body at ei kunne not telle, &
  20 at noman may knowe, bot onely he at by experience fele
     it. And an may he wele sey with e apostle, Betyde me neuer
     to be ioyful bot in e crosse of my lord Jesu criste. Amen.


     Of o inges at befelle aftere e de of oure lord Jesu &
     aftere none. Capitulum xiv=m=.


  25     |r<b> What tyme at e wirchipful modere of oure lord Jesu,
     as it is seide next before abode & duelled beside e crosse,
     with oer trewe loueres of him before nemede, beholdyng oure
     lorde Jesu continuely so piteuousely hangyng dede on e
     crosse, bytwix tweyn efes'. loo an comen many armede men
  30 out of e cite towarde hem, e whech were sent to breke e
     leggys of hem at were crucifiede, & so to sle hem alle out &
     birye hem, bycause at hir bodyes sholde not abide hangyng
     |r[93r] on e crosse in e grete sabbate daye.
        an rose vp oure lady & alle oer with hir, & bisily
  35 lokede & seene hem come, bot what to do ei wote note.
     Wherfore ei fallen in to grete sorowe & drede, & namely
     oure lady, spekyng to hir sone in is manere:
        My dere sone what may be cause, at alle ees armede
     men comen aeyn? What wole ei do more to e? Haue ei
  40 not slayn e my swete sone? I hade hope at ei hade be



|p182


     fillede with at ei haue done to e. Bot as it seme to me it
     ei pursuene e dede, & I wote not what I may do, for I may
     not help e nomore en I miht deliuere e fro de, bot I shale
     abide & se, & prey i fadere at he make hem sawht & esye
   5 to e, & erwi ei alle fyue eden & stoden before e crosse
     of oure lorde.
        an comene oo forseide armede to hem with grete
     wodenes & noys, & seynge e efes it lyuyng'. with gret yre
     ei hewene & breken despitesly hir legges & so slewen hem,
  10 & kast hem anone into sume dike ere nihe beside, & after
     turnede hem aeyn & come towarde oure lorde Jesu. Wherfore
     oure lady dredyng leste ei wolde do in e self maner to hir
     sone, & erorh smyten with sorowe of herte withinfor'. she
     koude not elles bot go to hir best armore, at is to sey, hir
  15 kyndely mekenes, & knelynge done before hem, & spredyng
     hir handes with an hoys voice & wepyng chere, she spake to
     hem in is manere:
        Goode breeren I beseke owe for almihty goddus loue
     at he torment me nomore in my dere sone for soely I am
  20 his moost sorouful modere. And as e knowen wele breerene
     I neuer offendet ow nor dide any wronge to owe. Bot ouh
     it so be at my sone semede contraryose to ow'. he haue
     slayn him, & I foriue ow alle wronge & offense ei & e
     de of my sone. Wherfore now doe me at mercie, at e
  25 breke him not as e haue done e thefes, so at I may birye
     his body alle hole. For it nede not'. sien as he seene he is
     fully dede, & was a longe tyme now passede. And erwi Jone
     & Maudleyn & hir oer sistres knelyng with oure lady bysouht
     e same with hir sore wepyng.
  30     Aa lady what do e? he lowene ow |r[93v] to e feete of
     hem at bene moste wikkede, & preyne hem, at hauene no
     rewarde to any gude praiere. Suppose he to bowe by our
     pite, hem at bene moste cruele & most wikkede & wioute
     pite? Or to ouercome hem at bene alere priddest wi
  35 mekenes? Nay, for proude men hauen abominacion of
     mekenes. Wherfore e trauaile in vayne.
         And erwi one at was clepede longyne, & was at
     tyme wikkede & proude, bot after a trewe lyuere & martire'.
     despisyng hir wepyng & praieres'. with a sharpe spere opunede
  40 e side of oure lorde Jesu, & made a grete wonde, oute of e
     which anone ranne to gedire boe blode & water. And erwi
     oure lady felle done in swowhen half dede, bytwix e armes
     of Maudeleyn.



|p183


         And an Jon not mowyng bere at grete sorowe'. toke
     to him mannus herte, & risyng aeynus hem'. seide, he
     wikkede menne, whi do e is cruelte? Se e not at he is
     dede? Whi wole e also slee is woman his modere? Goe
   5 nowe oure weye, for we shole birye him. And erwi as god
     wolde ei went hir weye.
         anne was oure lady excitede & roos as it hade be fro
     slepe, askyng what was done more to hir sone, & ei seide no
     newe ing more aeynus him.
  10     And after she hade kawht spirite & behelde hir sone so
     greuously wondet'. was also wondet in herte with a newe
     wonde of sorowe.
        Seeste ou nowe how ofte sies oure lady is is day
     dede? Soely als oft as she sawh done aeynus hir sone anye
  15 newe peyne. Wherfore nowe is fulle fillede in hir at symeon
     seide to hir propheciynge longe before, His swerde'. shalle
     perse orh ine awne soule, at is to sey e swerde of his
     passion & sorowe. And at befelle ofte sies in is day, bot
     now soely e swerde of is spere hae persede boe e body
  20 of e sone & e soule of e modere.
         After is ei seten done alle beside e crosse, bot
     what ei shole do'. ei wite not. For ei mowe not take done
     e body & birye hit'. bycause ei haue neier strengh nor
     instrumentes apte erfore.
  25      And fort go awey fro him so hangyng ei dore not,
     & longe abide ere ei mowe not by cause at e niht was
     comynge |r[94r] on hem.
        Here maiht ou se in what sorowe & perplexite ei
     bene.
  30     Oo benygne lorde Jesu how is is, at e suffrene
     oure dere modere, chosen before alle oer, at is e Mirrour
     of e worlde & our speciale restyng place'. so to be
     tormentede & turblete'. at vnne ha she any spirite to life, &
     tyme it were at she had sume manere of reste, & relesyng of
  35 hir sorowe.


     Of e takyng done fro e crosse oure lordes body Jesu at
     euensonge tyme. Capitulum xlvj=m=.


        |r<b> IN e meyne tyme at oure lady & Jone & oer before
     seide were in so grete perplexite & desolacion as it is seide'.
  40 ei lokeden towarde e cite as ei oft sies diden for drede'. &



|p184


     en see ei many oer comyng towarde hem by e weye, e
     whech were Joseph of Armathye & Nichodeme, bringyng with
     hem oere mistere menne at brouhten with hem diuerse
     instrumentes, with e whech ei sholden take done e bodye
   5 of Jesu fro e crosse, & also ei brouht an hundret ponde of
     Mirre & aloes fort anoynt his body & so birye it.
        And an alle ei risene vp with grete drede not
     knowyng what ei wolde do.
        Aa lord god how grete is sorowe is day?
  10     an Jone takyng hede to hem at were so comyng'.
     seide to oure lady, Soely I se comyng ere Joseph &
     Nichodeme. And an oure lady kawht spirite, & was gretely
     confortede & seide, Blessede be oure lorde god, at ha sente
     vs helpe at oure nede, & ha mynde of oure sorowe, & at
  15 ha not forsake vs in oure tribulacion. Gode sone Jone go
     aeynus hem & welcome hem. For I wete wele ei come to
     oure socoure. And anone John went aeynus hem.
        And when ei mettene'. ei clippede oere with wepyng
     teres & miht not speke to oere a grete while for tendirnes of
  20 compassion & sorowe.
        After at ei hadde walkede for, a litel while &
     drowene nihe towarde e crosse'. Joseph askede who were ere
     with oure lady, & how it stode with e oere disciples. And
     John answeryng tolde hem who were ere with oure lady'. bot
  25 of e disciples he koude not telle, for he seide ere was none
     of hem seene ere alle at day. And forermore atte hir
     askyng'. he tolde alle at was done aeynus oure lorde, & alle
     e processe |r[94v] of his passione. And when ei come nihe e
     place'. knelyng done & wepyng ei honourede oure lorde Jesu.
  30 And after metyng to gedir oure lady & hir sisteres &
     Maudeleyn receyuede hem worchipfully with knelyng & lowe
     bowyng to e ere, & ei aeynwarde knelyng & wirchipyng'.
     with grete wepyng stoden so to gedire a grete while or ei
     speken.
  35     Bot at e laste our lady began to speke to hem & seide,
     Soely freendes he haue done wele, at e haue mynde so of
     our maistre, for he louede ow wele, and as I knowlich
     pleynly to owe'. it semede to me at ere was a newe liht
     risen at oure comynge. For before we wiste not what we miht
  40 do, & erfore god qwyte owe.
        Ande ei seiden aeynwarde, we bene sorye with alle
     oure herte, for alle ees wronges & malice done aeynus him.
     For as we seene wele, e wikked men hauen e maistrye
     aeynus e rihtwise man, & we wolde fulle gladely haue



|p185


     delyueret him fro so grete iniurye, if we hade miht. Bot at e
     leest we shole do is seruice to oure lorde & maistre, at we
     be comen fore, & en ei made hem redy fort take him done.
        Take nowe gude hede in maner as I haue seide before,
   5 to e maner of takyng done. ere are sette tweyn laddres on e
     sides of e crosse, on aeynus a noer, & Joseph goe vp on
     e laddre standyng of at hande on e riht half, & bise him
     to drawe out e naile of at hande, bot it is ful harde, for e
     naile is grete & longe & harde driuen in to e tre, & without
  10 grete ristyng done of oure lordes hande it may not be done,
     bot at is no forse, for oure lorde knowe at he do alle
     trewely & with goode entent, & erfore he accepte his dede.
     And when e naile was drawe out'. Jone make signe to
     Nichodeme fort take him it priuelye so at oure lady see hit
  15 not for disconfortyng. And after in e same maner Nichodeme
     drawe out e naile of e lift hande, & take hit priuely to
     John.
        And an Nichodeme come done fort drawe out e
     ridde naile of e feete, & in e mene tyme, Joseph sustene
  20 e bodye. Soely wele is him at may susteyn & clippe at
     holiest body |r[95r] of oure lorde Jesu. erwi oure lady take in
     hir handes reuerently oure lordes riht hande, & beholde it &
     lei it to hir eyene & deuoutly kisse it'. sore wepyng &
     sihhyng. And when e naile of e feete was drawe out'. Joseph
  25 came done softly & alle leiden to hande, & token oure lordes
     bodie, & leide it done on e ere, & oure lady toke e hede &
     e sholderes & leide it in hir barme, bot Maudeleyn was redy
     to take & kysse e feet, at e whech she fonde so miche grace
     before in his life.
  30      Oere of at cumpanye stoden about beholdyng, &
     alle maken grete lamentacion vp on him, after e prophecie,
     at was an fulfillede, seying, at ei sholde make sorowe
     vpon him, as vpon e one begoten childe.
         And namely his blessede modere alle tymes sore
  35 wepyng, & an soroufully beholdyng e wondes of handes &
     feet, & specialy at horrible wonde of his side now takyng
     hede to one & now to a noer, & seying his hede so foule
     ferde wi, & his her to drawen with e sharpe ornes, & his
     louely face alle defilede with spittynges & blode, & e heres
  40 of his berde drawen awey fro his chekes, as e prophete ysaie
     speke in his persone us, I af my body to hem at smyten it,
     & myn chekes to hem at drowen e her aweye &c.



|p186


     Of e biryinge of oure lorde Jesu at compleyn tyme.
     Capitulum xlvij=m=.


        |r<b> Aftere a litel while, liggyng e body of oure lorde Jesu
     bytwix hese modere armes as it is seide'. when it drowe
   5 towarde niht'. Joseph praiede oure lady at she wolde suffre e
     bodye to be diht aftere e maner of Jues & biriede'. Bot she
     was loth erto & seide, Goode breerne take not so soyne my
     childe fro me, raere birie me with him.
        an seide Jone, Mi dere modere lat vs assent to Joseph
  10 & Nichodeme, & suffre oure lordes body to be byriede, for
     elles by occasion of to miche tariynge e mihten lihtly falle in
     dangre & sclandre of e Jues. And at is suggestion of Jone'.
     oure lady as wise & discrete, enkyng at she was committede
     to him by oure lorde'. wolde no lengir let his biriynge, bot
  15 blessede e body & lete hem diht it as ei wolde.
        And an Jon, Nichodeme Joseph & oere |r[95v] begunne to
     anoynt e bodie, & wrappe it in lynene cloe, as it was e
     manere of Jues biriynge. Neuerles oure lady kept alweye e
     hede in hir barme, fort diht at hir self & Maudeleyn e feete.
  20     And when ei dihten e legges & comene nihe to e
     feete'. Maudeleyn seide, I praye ow suffre me to diht ees
     feete, at e whech I foonde so miche grace. And ei suffryng
     hir askyng'. she helde e feete & lokede vpon hem wepyng &
     alle mooste failyng for sorowe. And riht as she before in his
  25 life, weshe hem with teres of compunction'. now miche more
     she washe hem with teres of grete sorowe & inwarde
     compassion. For as he verrey sofastnes witnesse of hir, she
     louede mikele, & erfore she wept mykele, & namely in is
     last seruice doyng to hir maister & lorde so dede pitevously.
  30 Vnnees for sorow miht hir herte abide in hir bodye. For she
     wolde ful gladely haue dyede ere at hir lordes feete. She
     sawh none oer remedye, bot she bisie hir with alle hir miht
     nowe at e last seruice to him e which was fulle vnke to
     hir'. fort diht his body in e beste manere at she maye, bot
  35 not as she wolde. For she ha neier matere whereof nor tyme
     erto. Bot neuerles in maner as she maye she washe e feete
     with teres & after deuoutly wipe hem & kisse hem &
     wrappe in cloes in e beste maner she can.
        Whan ei haue us done & dressede e body in to e
  40 hede'. ei lokene to oure lady at she wolde parforme hir part,
     & an began ei alle newely to wepe & make sorowe.



|p187


        an she seynge at she may no lengire differre'. sette
     hir siht vpon e face of hir sone, & speke to him in is
     maner:
        My swete sone I halde e nowe here dede in my
   5 barme, & as I se we most depart bodily, bot harde is e
     departyng of dede. Here before ere was a likynge
     conuersacion bytwix vs, & we were lyuyng among oer men
     euer without playnt or offense, ouh it so be at ou arte slayn
     nowe as a wikked man. And I haue seruede e trewely & ou
  10 me, bot in is soroufulle bataile'. i fadere wolde not helpe e,
     & I miht not. |r[96r] Wherfore ou forsoke i self for e loue of
     mankynde, at ou woldest aeynbigge & saue, bot ful harde,
     peynful & dere is is biggyng. Whereof neuerles I am gladde
     for e hele & sauacion of men'. bot in i passion & de I am
  15 fulle harde tormentede, for I wote wele at ou neuer didest
     synne, & at ou art slayn without deserte orh at foulest
     horrible de. Wherfore now my dere sone, oure bodily
     felawshipe is twinnede, & now most I nede be departede fro
     e, & so I shalle birye e. Bot whidere sal I i moste sorouful
  20 modere after at go & where shale I duelle? My dere sone
     how may I life without e? Soely I wolde gladly be biriede
     with e, so at where so euere ou were'. I miht be with e.
        Bot sien I may not be biriede with e bodily'. at e
     leste I shalle be biriede with e gostly in mye mynde.
  25 Wherfore I shal birye with i body in i graue'. my soule, &
     erfore at I comende & leue to e.
        Oo swete sone how sorouful is is departyng. And
     erwi of e grete abundance of teres, she weshe miche better
     his hede'. an Maudeleyn dide before his feete. an she wipede
  30 his face & kissede it & after wonde his hede in a sudarie & so
     signede & blessed him.
        And an alle to gedire honouryng & kissyng his feete'.
     toke him vp & beren him to e graue, oure lady beringe e
     hede & Maudeleyn e feete & oere e midele part.
  35     ere was nihe at place of e crosse e space of a
     stones cast, a newe graue, whereinne none body was biriede
     before, & erinne with reuerence knelyng ei leiden him with
     grete sihhynges, sobbynges & wepynge.
        And after he was so biriede, & his modere hade iuen
  40 him hir blessinge'. ei leiden a grete stone at e dore of e
     graue'. & went hir wey towarde e cite, at is to sey Joseph &
     his felawshipe.
        Bot Joseph at his goyng spake to oure lady & seide,
     My lady I pray ow for goddes loue & for e loue of our



|p188


     sone oure maistre, at e vouch safe to come & take our
     herbere in myne house. For I wote wele at e haue none
     house of our awne. Wherfore take myne as oure owne for
     alle myne bene oures, & in e self manere |r[96v] Nichodeme
   5 praiede on his side. And she lowely enclynyng to hem &
     onkyng hem'. answerede & seide, at she was committede to
     e gouernaile of Jone. Wherfore ei an praiede Jon e same,
     & he answerede at he wolde lede hir in to Mont sion where
     hir maistre soupede on e day before at euene with hees
  10 disciples & ere wolde he abide with hir. And so ei lowely
     saluyng oure lady, & wirchipyng e sepulere edene for on
     hir weye.


     What was done of oure lady & oere aftere e biryinge of
     Jesu. Capitulum xlviij=m=.


  15     |r<b> WHanne it drowe to niht, Jone spake to oure lady &
     seide, lt is not honeste for duelle hir lengire'. & fort come in
     to e Cite in e niht. Wherfore if it be oure wille'. go we
     hense & turne we aeyn. And erwi oure lady [r]ise vp, &
     with alle hem knelyng blessede & kissede []e sepulere &
  20 seide, My sone I may no lengir stande here with e, bot I
     comende e to i fadere, and en liftyng vp hir eyene, to
     heuene wi teres & inwarde affeccion seide, Euerlastyng
     fadere I recomende to ow my sone & my soule e which I
     leue here with him, & erwi ei begunne alle to go hir weye.
  25 And when ei comen to e crosse'. ere she knelede done &
     honourede e crosse & seide, here made my son his ende, &
     here is his precious blode, & so diden alle at oere.
        For ou maiht enke & vndurstande at she was e
     first at honourede e crosse'. as she was e first at
  30 honourede hir sone born.
        And after fro ense ei toke e wey towarde e cite, &
     oft by e weye she lokede aeyn towarde hire sone.
     And when ei comen ere as ei miht no more see e
     crosse'. oure lady & alle oer kneled & honourede it wepyng.
  35 And when ei comen nihe e cite'. oure lady sistres hilede hir
     face in maner of a mournyng widowe. And ei eden before'.
     & oure lady folowede after, bitwix Maudeleyn & Johen, so
     keuerede e face.



|p189


        an Maudeleyn at e entre of e cite, desirynge to haue
     oure lady to hir house, before e takyng of e weye at ladde
     iderwarde'. she spake to oure lady & seide:
        My lady I pray ow for e loue of my maistre oure
   5 sone at e wole let vs go to oure house in to |r[97r] Bethanye,
     where we mowe best abide. For as he knowen wele, my
     maistre louede wele at place, & came gladdely oft sies ere
     to, & at house is oures with alle at I haue. Wherfore I pray
     owe at he wole come.
  10     And here an ei begunne to wepe. Bot oure lady
     haldyng hir pees & makyng signe to Jone fort answere &
     maudeleyn praying him for e self matire, he answerede &
     seide, lt is more semely at we go to Mont syon, namely for
     so we answerede & seide, to oure freendes. Wherfore come
  15 ou raer with hir to at place.
        an seide Maudeleyn to Jon, ou woste wele at I wole
     go with hir whidere so euer she goe, & at I shale neuer leue
     hir.
         Aftere when ei comene in to e cite'. ere comene
  20 on alle sides maidenes & gude matrones to hir, goynge with
     hir & sorowyng & confortyng in hir manere, & also gude
     menne at ei went by'. hade grete compassion of hir, & were
     stirede to wepyng & seidene, Soely is day is done grete
     wronge be oure princes to e sone of is lady, & god ha
  25 shewede grete tokynes & wondres by him. Auyse hem what
     ei haue done.
        And when ei comene nihe e place ere ei wolde
     reste'. oure lady bowyng lowely to e ladyes at comen with
     hir, & onkyng hem, & ei aeynwarde to hir'. tokene hir leue
  30 of oere, makyng grete lamentacion & sorowe.
        Ande an oure ladye & Maudeleyn & e oere sistres
     of oure lady, eden inne to at house, & Jone after he hade
     conget at oer women & ankede hem'. stake e dore after
     hem.
  35      an ei beyng so alle hem self to gedir'. oure lady
     lokyng aboute e house & myssyng hir louede sone Jesu'. with
     grete sorow of herte compleynede hir & seide, Oo Jon, where
     is now my dere son, at so hie speciale affeccion hade to e?
     Oo Maudeleyn where is i maister at so tendirly louede e,
  40 & ou so gladdly seruedest him? Oo my dere sistres where is
     nowe my son? Soely he is gone awey fro vs, he at was alle
     oure ioy & oure conforte & e liht of oure eyene. ei soely
     he is gone & at wi so grete anguish & peyne, as e alle
     seene. And at is at encrese my sorowe at in alle hese



|p190


     peynes we miht not |r[97v] helpe him, hees disciples forsoke him,
     his fadere almity wolde not socoure him.
        And how sone alle ees inges aeynus him were
     done'. e knewen & seene.
   5     Was ere euer any efe or worst doynge man, so sone
     dampnet & put to so desputese de? For loo e last niht he
     was takene as a thefe, & erely on e morow brouht before e
     Justice, at tierce dampnet, at sexte on e crosse hangede, at
     none dede & now biriede.
  10     Oo my dere son, a bitter departyng was is, & a
     sorouful mynde is is of ine foulest & horrible de.
     an Jone praiede hir to stynte of sech sorouful wordes,
     & to cese of wepyng, & confortede hir in e beste manere he
     kuoe.
  15     And ou also by deuoute ymaginacion as ou were
     ere bodily present, confort oure lady & at felawshipe
     praiyng hem to ete sumwhat, for it ei bene fastyng, & after
     to slepe, bot at I trowe was ful lytel'. & so takyng hir
     blessyng, go i weye at is tyme.



|p191


     What oure lady & oere wi her diden vpon e seturday.
     Capitulum xlix=m=.


        |r<b> Erely at e morowe vpon e saturday, stoden in e
     forseide hous, e ates sperede'. oure lady Jone & oere
   5 women before nemede in grete mournynge & sorowe hauyng
     in mynde e grete tribulaciones & anguish of e day before
     not spekyng bot by tymes lokyng on oere. In manere as ei
     done at bene ouerleide with grete meschefe & sorowe &
     knowene none confort ne none socour.
  10     And erwi ei herden one knokke at e ate, & an
     ei dredden sore. For alle inge in at tyme ei dredden
     bycause at hir sikernesse & cumfort was awey.
        Neuerles Jone went to e dore & vndirstandyng at it
     was Peture'. tolde hem so, & oure lady bade vndo e dore &
  15 let him inne. And Petre comyng in with grete shame wepinge
     & sobbyng saluede oure lady & oer bot nouht spake.
        And erwi ei alle begunne to wepe, & miht not
     speke for sorowe.
        A litel while after comen oer disciples one aftere a
  20 noere in e self manere at e bygynnyng makyng sorowe &
     wepyng.
        Bot at e laste whene ei ceseden of wepyng &
     begunne fort speke of hir lorde'. Petur first seide in is wise:
        I am ashamede & confondet in my self, & I sholde not
  25 by |r[98r] resone speke in our presence or apere in e siht of men,
     for als miche as I laft so kowardely & forsoke so vntrewely
     my lorde at louede me so miche. And in e self manere alle
     oer smytyng hir handes & sore weping, accusede &
     reprehendet hem self at ei hade so laft hir lorde.
  30     an oure lady confortyng hem seide, Oure gude maister
     & oure trewe herdman is gone fro vs, & we bene laft now as
     faderles childrene. Bot I hope treuly at we shale sone haue
     him aeyn. And e knowen wele at my son is benynge &



|p192


     merciful blessede mote he be, for he louede ow wele, &
     erfore doute not, bot at he sal be wele reconceilede to ow,
     & gladly he sal foriue alle trespasses & alle offenses.
        For soely by suffrance of e fader e malice aeynus
   5 him was so grete, & e wodenes of hees enemyes so stronge
     & mihty'. at e miht not haue socoured him, ouh e hade
     abiden stille with him, & erfore drede not alle shalle be
     wele.
        an answerede Petur & seide, Soely as e seyne'. so
  10 it is, for I at sauh bot a litel of e byginynge was with so
     grete drede smiten in e porche of Caiphas hous'. at vnnees
     wende I fort haue scapede e de, & erfore I forsoke him &
     hade non mynde at at tyme of o wordes at he hade seide
     to me before til he lokede on me.
  15     And Maudeleyn askede what o wordes were, & he
     seide how he tolde him before at he sholde forsake him, &
     what tyme. And so for he tolde alle hees wordes spoken to
     hem, & specialy at he tolde before many inges to hem of his
     passion in at sopere tyme, at he made with hem e oresday
  20 at euene.
        an oure lady seide she wolde gladly here of at
     processe at befelle at at sopere. And Petur made signe to
     Jon at he sholde telle at processe, & Jone telle alle at was
     done & seide, & after to Petur he tolde alle e processe of his
  25 passione as he desirede.
        And so what of ees inges & of oere done by o re
     lorde Jesu among hem'. ei tellen to oer, nowe one, & now
     a noer as it come to hir mynde, driuyng aweye alle at day
     in seeh maner talkyngis of oure lorde Jesu.
  30     Aa lorde howe attentifely & bisily Maudeleyn listenede
     to oo wordes, bot miche more oure lady'. seying oft sies at
     e ende of a processe, |r[98v] Blessede be my sone Jesus.
        Namely when she & Maudeleyn herde of e makyng of
     e sacrament, & how he af hem in e forme of brede his
  35 owne body to ete, & in e forme of wyne his blode to drynke'.
     soely I trow at with souereyn merueile'. hir hertes meltede
     in to likyng sorow & sorouful likynge, brekyng oute in
     wepyng & shedyng swete teres, for at hye brennyng loue, at
     he shewede to man souereynly in at excellent & passyng dede
  40 of charite.
        Bot now passing ouer so shortly of is meditacion at
     is tyme'. more ouer take hede & beholde hem is day in grete
     sorowe & drede, & haue compassion of hem if ou can. For
     what is it to see, howe at e lady of alle e world, & e



|p193


     princes of holi chirch, & cheuetenes of goddus peple'. bene
     now so in drede & sorowe stoken & hidde in at litel hous,
     not knowyng what ei mowe do, not hauyng confort bot onely
     in at co[mun]yng of e wordes & dedes of hire lorde Jesu.
   5     Neuerles oure lady stode alle weye saddely in a
     restfulle & peisible herte. For she hade euer a certeyn hope of
     e resurrexion of hir sone. And erfore holy chirche make
     speciale mynde of hir euery saturday'. bycause at in at day
     stode onely in hir e fei of oure lorde Jesu, at he was verrey
  10 godde.
        Neuerles she miht not haue fulle ioy, bycause of e
     mynde of his harde de & his bitter passion.
        Whan e sonne was gone done, & it was leueful to
     worche'. Marie Maudeleyn & a noer Marie with hir eden
  15 for in to e cite fort bigge matires able to make oynementes
     of, as ei hade sumwhat done on e friday before in to e
     sunne settelyng. For by e lawe ei were bonden to kepe e
     sabbate day, fro e sonne reste of e day before in to e sunne
     reste of e self daye.
  20     Now take hede & beholde hem, how ei gone with
     sorouful chere in maner of desolate widowes to sume
     Apothec arye or spicere e which ei hade knowlech of, at he
     was a gude deuoute man, & at wolde gladly fulfille hir wille
     & desire in at partye.
  25     And when ei haue chosen e beste oynmentes at ei
     koude fynde & paide erfore'. ei eden home aeyn worching
     hem in e best manere ei koue.
        And so may ou see how diligently & trewly ei |r[99r]
     worchene & trauailene for hir lorde, with wepinges &
  30 sihhynges amonge & how oure lady & e apostles standen &
     beholden & perantere helpene amonge, & when it was niht'.
     ei ceseden & edene to reste siche as was.
        And so is may be e meditacion for seturday
     touchinge oure lady & oere women, & e apostles.
  35     Bot what dide oure lorde Jesus at daye? Soely anone
     as he was dede he went in soule done in to helle ere as e
     holy fadres werene, & an were ei in ioy & blisse by vertue
     of his blessede presence, for e siht of god is perfite ioy.
        And here mowe we see how grete was his benignite in
  40 at he wolde him self go done in to helle. Howe grete charite
     & mekenes at was. For he miht haue sende an angele & haue
     deliuerede hem out of e deueles bandes, & brouht hem to him
     where him hadde liste, bot his loue & his mekenes wold not
     haue suffrede at, & erfore he went him self done in to helle,



|p194


     & visitede hese chosen soules ere, & at not as seruantes, but
     frendes of him, at was lord of alle.
        And an alle e holi fadres in his comyng fillede with
     ioy & blisse, & alle sorowe & mislikyng awey passede'.
   5 stodene before him in louynges & songes of prophetes &
     psalmes, at were before seide & an fulfillede, as ei bee
     writen in holi writte, in to e tyme at he wolde take his body
     aeyn & rise vp gloriously fro de to life, as it folowe in
     processe here after. To e which life fort rise at e last with
  10 him'. he graunt vs oure lorde Jesus at for vs diede on e
     crosse. Amen.



|p195


     Of e gloriouse resurrexion of oure lorde Jesu & how he
     first aperede to his modere as it may be resonably
     trowede. Capitulum I.


        |r<b> Aftere at e woriest prince & mihtyest conquerour
   5 Jesus orh his bittere passion & hardest de, hade venkeshede
     & vtturly ouercome at souereyn tirante mannus enemye, &
     his aduersarie sathanas wi alle his wikked hoste'. als sone as
     e soule was departede fro e body'. he went done to at
     tyrantes prison helle, & riht as in soe he was lorde of vertues
  10 & kynge of blis'. so by his souereyn miht |r[99v] & rihtwisenes he
     brake e ates of at prison & entrede wi vnspekable ioy &
     blisse to hese chosen peple, at ere hade be in distresse many
     ousande ere before. And an was at prison turnede in to a
     blissed ful paradise orh his presence, & alle at blessede
  15 felaushipe with mire & ioy at may not be spoken or ouht,
     honourede & wirchipede & onkede souereynly hir lorde, at
     so graciously deliuerede hem fro at raldom of e feende, &
     restored hem to at blisse at ei hade forfetede worily by
     sinne, & so in ympnes & ioyful songes of e prophecye
  20 fulfilled first Adam & his progenie & after Noe & Abraham,
     Moises & Dauid with alle oer holi fadres & prophetes,
     louyng & onkyng oure lord Jesu, continuede ere with him
     & hese blessede angeles in to e tyme at it likede him to take
     hem ennes with grete ioy & mire & set hem in paradise
  25 terrestre where at Enoke & Helye liuyng in bodyes abiden e
     tyme of Anticriste, e whech also were souereynly confortede
     of his glorious presence with at blessede cumpanye.
        And when it drowh towarde day vpon e soneday at
     was e ridde day fro his passion'. oure lord Jesus spake to
  30 hem alle & seide in ese maner wordes:
        Now it is tyme at I reyse my body fro de to life, &
     erfore now I shale go & take my body aeyn.



|p196


        And erwi ei alle fallyng done & wirchipyng him
     seide:
        Goe oure lorde kyng of blisse, & sone after if it be
     our wille come aeyn. For we desiren souereynly to se our
   5 moste gloriouse body to oure souereyn conforte.
        Comyng an oure lord Jesus in soule with a wirchipful
     multitude of angeles to e graue where his blessede body lay,
     on e soneday ful erely to fore e fulle springe of daye &
     takyng aeyn at body moste holy'. rose vp orh his owne
  10 vertue & miht & went out of at graue closede, as he went
     first out of his modere wombe clene virgine in his Natiuite
     with out sorow or wemme of sinne.
        And an about e self tyme at is to sey erely on
     morowe, Marie Maudeleyn & Marie James & Salome, takyng
  15 hir leue first at oure lady, token e wey towarde e graue with
     preciouse oynementes, duellyng stille at home oure lady &
     makynge a praier|r[100r] in is manere:
        Almity god fadere moste mercyful & moste piteuous
     as he wele knowen my dere sone Jesus is dede & biriede. For
  20 soely he was nailede to e crosse & hangede bitwix two
     efes, & after he was dede I halpe to birye him with myne
     awne handes, whome I conceuede without corruption & bare
     him without trauaile & sorowe. And he was alle my gude, alle
     my desire & alle e life & e confort of my soule. Bot at e
  25 laste he passede aweye fro me alle to beten, alle to wondete &
     alle to rente, & alle hees enemyes risene aeynus him &
     scornede him & dampnede him, & hees owne disciples
     forsoken him & flewe fro him, & I his sorouful modere miht
     not help him. And as he knowene wele fadere of pite & of
  30 mercy, at hauen alle powere & miht'. e wolde not an
     delyuere him fro e harde de, bot nowe e mowe restore him
     aeyn to me a lyfe & at I beseke oure hye maieste. Lord
     where is he now? Whi tarye he so longe fro me? Gude fadere
     sende him I pray owe to me for my soule may not be in reste
  35 in to e tyme at I se him. Aa my swete sone what doste ou
     nowe & whi abidest ou so longe or ou come to me? Soely
     ou seidest at ou sholdest aeyn vprise e ridde day, & is
     not is e ridde day my dere sone? Arise vp erfore nowe
     alle my ioy, & conforte me with ine aeyn comynge'. whome
  40 ou so disconfortedest orh ine aweye passyng.
        And with at, she so praying & swete teres shedyng, lo
     sodeynly oure lorde Jesus came & aperede to hir and in alle
     er whittest cloes, with a glade & louely chere gretyng hir on
     sidehalf in ees wordes, Salue sancta parens, at is to sey,



|p197


     heile holy modere. And anone she turnynge hir, seide, Art ou
     Jesus my blessede sone? And erwi she knelyng done
     honourede him, & also he aeynwarde knelyng seide, My dere
     modere I am he. I haue vprisene & lo I am with e. And after
   5 boe risyng vp, kisseden louely oere & she with vnspekable
     ioy clippyng him saddely'. restede alle vpon him, & he gladly
     bare hir vp & sustenede hir.
        After boe sittyng to gedire'. oure lady bisily &
     curiously behelde him in semblant |r[100v] & in handes & feete, &
  10 alle e body where he hadde e signes of e wondes before,
     askyng him wheer alle e sorowe & peyne were aweye. And
     he answerede & seide, e soely wirchipeful Modere, alle
     sorowe is awey fro me, & de & sorowe & alle peynes &
     anguish I haue ouercome, so at I sal neuer heen forwarde
  15 fele ouht of hem. And en she seide, Blessede be i holi
     fadere at ha aeyn iuen e to me, & his holy name be
     exaltede, lovede & magnyfiede euer without ende. And so ei
     boe louely & likyngly talkyng to gedire, maden a gret ioyful
     feste & oure lorde Jesus told hir oo wori inges at he dide
  20 in o re daies after his passion, & how he delyuerede his
     chosen peple fro helle & e deuel.
        Loo is is a souereyne paske, & is is e ioyful day at
     Dauid speke of specialye seyinge, Haec est dies quam fecit
     dominus exultemus igitur & letemur in ea Amen.


  25 How at Maudeleyn & oere Maries comene to e Graue,
     &c. Capitulum lj=m=.


        |r<b> As I seide before, Marie Maudeleyn & hir tweyn
     felawes token hir wey towarde e graue of our lorde Jesu with
     precious oynementes, & when ei come without e ate of e
  30 cite'. ei toke in to hir mynde e peynes & e tormentes of hir
     dere maister, & erfore in alle places where any inge was
     notablye done aeynus him or by him'. ei sumwhat stodon &
     abiden, knelyng done & kissyng e ere, sihhinge & wepyng,
     & in ees maner wordes seying to oere, Loo here we mete
  35 him with e grete heuy crosse on his bakke when his dere
     modere swonede & was half dede. And after here he turnede
     him to e women of Jerusalem at maden sorowe for him.
     And forermore here for werynesse ouere miht, he leide done
     e crosse. And here it was at e wikked tormentours violently
  40 & cruelye put him for & constreynede him to go fastere. &



|p198


     here at e last ei spolede him of hees cloes & made him alle
     nakede, & so cruelye nailed him vpon e crosse. And an with
     grete sorowe & shedyng of teres fallyng done vpon hir faces,
     ei wirchipede inwardly & kissed deuoutly e crosse of oure
   5 lorde at was an spreynede wi his |r[101r] preciouse fresh rede
     blode. And forermore ei risyng vp & goynge towarde e
     graue'. seiden to oer, Who shalle ouerturne to vs at grete
     stone fro e dore of e sepulcre, & erwi ei neihyng ereto
     & inwardely beholdyng'. seene e stone ouerturnede & an
  10 angele sittyng ervpon & seying to hem, Drede not, e
     sechene Jesu, & so for as e gospel telle.
        Bot ei for als miche as ei fonde not e body of hir
     maistre ere as ei hopeden'. were so desturblet in hir wittes
     & abashede, at ei toke no rewarde to e angeles wordes. Bot
  15 with grete sorowe & drede anone turnede aeyn to e disciples
     & told hem at hir lordes body was taken awey, & whidere
     ei wist not. And en Petur & Jone runnene towarde e
     sepulcre, & with hem also e forseide women, & alle ei
     runnene for feruent loue to Jesu sechyng hir herte & hir life.
  20 Bot after e processe of e gospel Petre & John entrynge e
     graue & not fyndyng e bodie, bot onely e cloes at he was
     wrapped inne, & e sudarie of his hede'. with grete heuynes
     ei turnede home aeyn. And here we owe to haue inwarde
     compassion of hem, for soely at is tyme ei were in ful
  25 grete desolacion & sorowe, when ei souht so hir lorde &
     fonde him not, nor wiste where ei sholde seke him more.
        Also here we haue ensaumple at oft sies before grete
     ioy'. come grete disconfort, & sorowe, e which is to be born
     paciently for e tyme, & euer Jesu to be souht & callede one
  30 by deuout praiere & feruent desire vnto e tyme at he be
     fonden as e processe after folowyng shewe.
         For after e tweyn apostles were gone aeyn as it is
     seide in maner of despeire'. e forseide Maries abiden &
     lokeden eft in to e sepulcre, & en ei seene tweyn angeles
  35 sittyng in white cloes & seying to hem, What seke e him at
     liue with hem at bene dede. Bot ei it toke none rewarde
     to aire wordes, nor toke any confort to e siht of angeles, for
     ei souht not angeles, bot e lorde of angeles, & for ei fonde
     him not, erfore e tweyn felawes of Maudeleyn alle heuye &
  40 disconfortede widrowe hem |r[101v] & seten don sumwhere a litel
     byside makyng her mone to oer. Bot Marye Maudeleyn
     wityng neuer what she miht do'. for with out hir maister she
     koude not lyue'. & for she fonde him not ere nor wist where
     she sholde seke him elles'. she stode stille ere without e



|p199


     graue wepyng, & eft she lokede inne, for she hopede euer to
     fynde him ere as she helpede to birye him.
        And an seide e angeles to hir, Woman whi wepeste?
     Whom sekeste? And she seide, ei haue take aweye my lorde,
   5 & I wote note where ei haue put him.
        Beholde here e wondurfull worching of loue. A litel
     before she herde of one angele at he was rysene, & after of
     tweyn at he lyuede, & it she hade it not in mynde, bot seide
     I wote not, & alle at made loue.
  10     For as Origene sei, hir herte & hir mynde was not
     ere she was in bodye'. bot it was ere as hir loue was, at is
     to sey hir maister Jesus, & erfore she koude not speke nor
     here bot of him. And erfore befelle at what tyme she wept
     so & toke none rewarde to e angeles bycause of e feruent
  15 loue at she hade to him at was lord of angeles'. hir
     mercifulle maister miht non lengir halde him fro hir, bot
     aperede to hir as it folowe.


     How oure lorde Jesus aperede aftere his Resurrexion to
     Maudeleyn. Capitulum lij.


  20     |r<b> Ovre lorde Jesus spekyng with his blessede modere at
     his first aperyng to hir as it was tolde before'. among oere
     louely comunyngis, tolde hir of e grete bisinesse & feruent
     sekynge of Maudeleyn & seide at he wolde go shewe him
     bodily to hir to confort hir. And oure lady gladde erof seide,
  25 My blessede sone go in pees & confort hir, for she loue
     ow ful miche & ful treuly, & was ful sory of our de. Bot
     I pray owe enke to come aeyn to confort me, & so she
     louely clippyng him & kissinge, lete him go.
         And anone was he in e gardyne where Maudeleyn
  30 was & seide to hir, woman whom sekeste, & whi wepeste?
     Oure lorde askede hir at he wist wele, to at ende as seynt
     Gregour sei'. at by hir answere in e nemyng of him, e fire
     of loue sholde be more feruently kyndelet in hir herte.
     Neuerles she not knowyng him, |r[102r] bot alle distracte & out of
  35  hir self, supposyng at he hade bene a gardynere, seide, Sir, if
     ou hast take him awey, telle me where ou hast done him,
     at I may take him to me.
        And ouh oure lorde was not bodily a gardinere'.
     neuerles as e same clerke gregore sei, he was so in soe



|p200


     gostly to hir. For he was, at plantede in hir herte e plantes
     of vertues & trewe loues.
        And en oure lorde Jesus hauyng compassion of hir
     grete sorowe, & wepyng chere'. clepede hir by hir homely
   5 name, & seide Marie, e which worde sodeynly helede alle hir
     sorowe, & she an knowyng him'. with vnspekable ioy seide
     A maister, e be he at I haue so longe souht, & whi haue e
     hidde ou so longe fro me?
        And anone she ranne to him, & fallyng done to e
  10 ere, wolde haue kissede his feete as she was wont before by
     vnperfite affeccion to his manhode at was en dedely, bot not
     so now after his resurrexion.
        Wherfore oure lorde willyng to lift vp gostly hir herte
     & hir affeccion to heuene & to e godhede, & at she sholde
  15 no more seke him in ere in maner as she dide before when he
     was dedely'. seide, Touche me not in at erely manere, for I
     haue not steyhen vp to my fadere, at is to sey, I am not it
     lift vp in i soule by trewe & perfite byleue, at I am euene
     with e fadere verrey god, & erfore touch me not in at
  20 manere imperfitely. Bot go & sey to my breerne, I stey vp to
     my fadere & our fadere, to my god & our god.
        And forermore oure lorde homely comunyng wi hir'.
     spake to hir in is manere'. wost not wele douhter, at I tolde
     e before my passion at I sholde rise e ridde day fro de
  25 to life? & whi woldest ou an so bisily seke me in e
     sepulcre? And she seide, soely maister I sey owe, at my
     herte was fillede with so grete sorowe, of e bitternesse of
     our harde passion & de, at I forate alle oere inge, &
     onely ouht of our bodie dede & biriede, & on e place at
  30 it was biriede in. And erfore I brouht now is oynement fort
     haue anoyntede with oure glorious bodye. Blessede be our
     almihty godhede, whereorh e wolde rise vp fro de, & come
     aeyn to vs.
        And so ei tweyn trewe louers standen & speken to
  35 geder with grete likyng & ioy, & she curiously beholde his
     gloriouse body, & aske what |r[102v] hir like, & he in alle inge
     answerede plesynglye to hir paye.
        And forermore ouh oure lorde so straungely as it
     seme answerede hir at e byginnyng biddyng hir at she
  40 sulde not touch him'. neuereles I may not trowe, bot at
     afterwarde he suffrede hir to touch him, & to kysse boe
     handes & feete, or ei departeden. For we mowe suppose &
     godely trowe at sien he wolde so affectuously & specialy
     after his owne modere first before alle oere visete & apere to'.



|p201


     at he wolde not ereby in any maner disturble hir or heuye
     hir, bot raer in alle poyntes confort hir. And erfore e goode
     lorde at is so benynge & ful of swetnes, namely to alle oo,
     at trewly louene him spake not to hir e forseide wordes in
   5 straunge manere & bostesly'. bot in misterye, shewyng hir in
     perfite affeccion as it is seide, & willing lift vp hir herte holly
     to god & to heuenly inges, as sei seynt Bernerde.
        an seide our lorde at he wolde go fro hir, & visete &
     confort oere, & Maudeleyn turnede an sumwhat in to
  10 sorowe, for she wolde neuere haue be departede fro him'.
     seide, A gude lorde I se wele nowe at oure conuersacion
     wole not be with vs in maner as it ha here before. Bot gude
     maister haue euer mynde of me, & of e grete godnes & e
     homelynes & e speciale loue at e hade to me, & so enke
  15 euer on me my dere lorde god. And he answerede, Drede not
     bot be stedefast & triste wele at I sal euer be with e. And so
     she takyng deuoutly his blessyng'. & he vanyshyng awey fro
     hir'. she came to hir felawes & tolde hem alle e forseide
     processe, wherof ei were gladde as touching his resurrexion,
  20 bot at ei sauh him not with hir'. ei were heuy & sorye. Bot
     e gude lorde suffrede not hir sorowe longe laste, bot sone
     confortede hem as it after folowe.


     How oure lorde Jesus aperede to e re Maries. Matthei
     29. Capitulum liij.


  25     |r<b> FOrermore as ese re Maries wenten towarde e cite,
     oure curtese lorde Jesus metyng with hem, by e weye'.
     mekely gret hem seying Heyle to owe, & ei so ioyful of his
     presence, at may not be seide'. felle done at hees feete &
     clipped hem & kissede with ioyful teres & speken also with
  30 him, & he with hem homely wordes of gostly confort, |r[103r]
     beholdyng erwi his gloriouse body with vnspekable ioy'. e
     which ei behelde e ridde day before with souereyn sorowe.
        And an oure lorde Jesus seide to hem, Goe & sei to
     my breerne, at ei go in to Galile'. for ere soely ei shole
  35 me se as I tolde hem before.
        Lo how e maister of mekenes clepe hees disciples
     breerne. He laft neuer is vertue e which he souereynly
     loue.
        And whoso wole haue swete vndurstandyng & gostly
  40 confort in e forseide processe & also in at folowe here



|p202


     after'. him behoue to make himself by deuout meditacion as
     he were bodily present in alle places & dedes as I seide here
     before.


   5     How at oure lorde aperede to Joseph ofArimathye as
     telle e gospell of Nichodeme, & also to e lasse Jomes as
     seynt Jerom witnesse'. I passe ouer for litel fruite of hem.


     How oure lorde Jesus aperede to Peture. Luce. 2[4].
     Capitulum liiij.


        |r<b> When Maudeleyn & hir felawes were come home &
  10 tolden e disciples at oure lorde was vprysen'. Petur at was
     mooste feruent in loue inwardely sorowyng at he sawe not his
     lorde, & not mowyng rest for his grete loue'. toke his weye al
     one towarde e sepulc re for he wiste not where he miht seke
     him elles.
  15      And sone after oure benynge lorde Jesus hauyng
     compassion of his sorowe'. aperede to him in at weye, & gret
     him seying Pees to e Symonde. And erwi Petur smityng
     himself saddely on e breest & fallyng done to e grounde wi
     sore wepyng teres, seide, Lorde I knowelech my grete
  20 trespasse in at I kowardely forsoke e & oft sies denyede
     e, & erwi he kissede his feete. And oure lorde benyngly
     liftyng him vp kissede him & seide, Be in pees & drede not
     for alle i synnes bene foriue e. I knewe ine infirmite
     better an i self, & erfore I tolde e before. Bot nowe go &
  25 confort & stable i breerne, & triste saddely at I haue
     ouercome alle oure aduersaries & enemyes. And so ei
     standen & speken homely to gedir, & Petur ful bisily beholde
     him & take hede of alle inges, & after his blessyng taken he
     went home aeyn with grete ioy tellyng oure lady & e
  30 disciples what he hade seene & herde.
         Of is processe of e apperyng to |r[103v] Petur is not
     expressede in e gospele. Bot us by deuoute ymaginacion I
     haue set it here before oer apperynges at folowene, for so it
     seme at holy chirch halde, as it is contenede more pleynly
  35 in e legende of e Resurrexion.



|p203


     Of e comyng aeyn of oure lorde Jesus to e fadres & of
     hir ioyful songe. Capitulum lv.


        |r<b> OVure lorde Jesus after he departede fro Petur, willyng
     visite & confort after his resurrexion e fadres of e olde lawe
   5 & oer e which he hade anone after his de delyuerete out of
     e deuels raldame & sette in paradise of delices'. he came to
     hem alle glorious in white shynyng cloes with a grete
     multitude of angeles. And ei seynge him aferr, comyng with
     so grete blisse'. with vnspekable lovyng & ioy, with songe of
  10 mire ei receyuet him seying, Loo oure kynge of blisse'.
     come alle & mete we with oure sauyour. For nowe e holy
     day shyne vpon vs, & erfore come alle & honour we as
     wori is oure lorde.
        And an alle ei fallyng done to e ere deuoutly
  15 honourede him, & after risyng vp & standyng before him'.
     reuerently & mirylye songene e psalmes of Dauid at
     specialy pertynede to his lovynge in is tyme.
         And when it drowe sumwhat towarde e euentyde'.
     oure lorde Jesus seide to hem, I haue compassion of my
  20 breerne e whech bene wondur sory for my de, & for drede
     bene disparklet as shepe at errene without gouernour, & sore
     ei desirene to se me. Wherfore nowe I wole go & shewe me
     to hem & confort hem, & sone after I shalle come aeyn to
     owe. And ei alle fallyng done & honouryng him, seiden,
  25 Lorde so be it at our wille.


     How oure lorde Jesus apperede to e tweyn disciples
     goynge towarde e Castelle Emaus. Capitulum lvj.


        |r<b> E self day of e Resurrexion as tweyn disciples of
     Jesu eden towarde e Castele Emavs, & mournyng, & in
  30 manere of despeire talkyng to gedire by e weye of at befelle
     e friday before'. oure lorde Jesus come in maner of a
     pilgryme & felaweshipede wi hem, askynge hem questions &
     answerynge, & tellyng hem swete wordes of edificacion as e
     processe of e gospel of Luke telle pleynly, & at e last
  35 bydene, drawene & constreynede to entere & duelle with hem'.
     shewede him to hem & was knowen in e brede brekyng.
         Here mowe we vndirstande |r[104r] & se e grete godenes
     & e benignyte of oure lorde Jesu in many maneres.



|p204


        First he shewede his godenes in at his feruent loue
     wolde not suffre hese belouede disciples longe erre & be
     sorye. Soely he is a trewe frende, a confortable felawe, & a
     benynge lorde. For loo he ioyne & felawe him to hem
   5 homely, he aske e cause of hir sorowe & heuynes, gudely,
     & he expowne e scriptures to hem wisely'. & enflawme hir
     hertes gostly, consumyng alle e rust of misbyleue.
        us he do with vs euery day gostly. For what tyme we
     bene in any perplexite, ouereleide with heuynes or slouth'. &
  10 we speke & comune to gedir of Jesu'. anone he come to vs,
     confortyng vs & lihtynyng oure hertes & enflawmynge in to
     e loue of him. For e best medicine aeynus seche gostly
     sekenesse, is fort speke of god, as e prophete Dauid sei,
     Lord how swete bene i speches & i wordes to myn chekes,
  15 e soely passyng honye to my moue, & in a noer place, i
     spech is gretely enflawemede as fir orh e worching of e
     holy goste, & I i seruant louede it. Also to enke on god &
     e grete godenes of Jesu helpe miche in temptacion & disese,
     as e self prophete sei, My herte verreyly hetede, with e fir
  20 of cristes loue, & in my meditacion of Jesu'. shal brenne fir of
     perfite loue.
        Also we mowe se here e godenes of oure lorde Jesu
     not onely in loue as it is seide'. bot also in his profonde
     mekenes, as if we take hede how lowely & mekely he go
  25 with hem, at is to sey e hye lorde of lordes, with hese
     simple seruantes as one of hem, kepyng nowe e mekenes in
     his body glorifiede, at he shewede before in his body dedely,
     & iuyng vs ensaumple to folowe him in at vertue.
        it also here we mowe vndirstonde e mekenes of our
  30 lorde Jesu'. in at he made him self so homely with oo tweyn
     simple disciples, e whech were of lowere degre an e
     Apostles. Bot is done not proude men for ei wole not gladly
     go & speke & be conuersant'. bot with hem at bene of grete
     fame, & of hye astate towarde e worlde.
  35     And it forermore here is shewede his mekenes in e
     ridde poynt aeynus proude men. For as we mowe se ei
     wole not gladly shewe hir wisdam & hir curiouse |r[104v] wordes
     amangis fewe folke. Bot oure souereyn maister of alle wisdam
     ha none dedeyn of fewe, for he shewe his priue wisdam &
  40 hye misteries not onely to tweyn as now at is tyme'. bot also
     to one as he dide before with e woman samaritane.
         More ouere we mowe considere e grete godenes of
     oure lorde Jesu in alle is processe of e gospelle forseide at
     is to sey howe he enforme his disciples in maneres, also



|p205


     fedu & conforte. And specialy take hede how he feine him
     to go ferer, vnto at ende, fort kyndele & encrese hir desire
     & affection to him & to be e more feruently bydene &
     wihalden of hem. And forermore howe benyngly he entre
   5 & goe in with hem, after take brede & blisse it, & wi
     hees holy handes breke & iue it to hem, & en shewe
     himself to hem.
         us he do euery day with vs gostly. For he wolde be
     byden of vs to duelle with vs & drawen with feruent desires,
  10 deuout praieres & holi meditaciones, & erfore as he ha tauht
     vs, It behoue euere to praye, & not faile, bot at we take in
     mynde e werkes of pyte & hospitalite, & how it suffice not
     to rede or here e wordes & e biddynges of god'. bot ei bene
     performede in dede, as we mowe here of more pleynly be
  15 enformede in e Omelye of seynt Gregory vpon is gospel.
         At e last oure lorde Jesus willyng also visite &
     confort oere'. duellede not longe wi ees disciples, bot also
     sone as he hade broken & iuen hem e brede'. he vanyshede
     awey fro hir eyene.


  20 How oure lorde Jesus aperede to hees apostles & disciples
     at were reclusede for drede'. on e self day of his
     resurrexion. Capitulum lvij.


        |r<b> WHen e forseide tweyn disciples were us confortede
     as it is seide, by e presence of oure lorde'. anone for ioy ei
  25 turnede aeyn to Jerusalem, & comen to e apostles & oer
     disciples ere priuely gederet, bot Thomas absent, & tolden
     hem e forseid processe & herden aeynwarde of hem, at
     soely oure lorde is rysene, & ha aperede to Petur, & erwi
     sudeynly oure lorde Jesus entryng in to hem & e ates
  30 closede'. stode in middes of hem & seide Pees to owe. And
     anone ei fallyng done to e ere &c, knowelechynge ere
     gilt, in at at ei hade so laft him & forsaken'. |r[105r] receyuede
     him wi grete ioy. And an seide he to hem, Rise vp
     breerne & be of gude confort, for alle our sinnes bene
  35 foriue owe. And so stande Jesus amongis hees disciples
     spekynge homely with hem & shewyng hem boe hees handes
     & his side, & opene hir wittes to vndirstande clerely holy
     scriptures & fort knowe sofastly his resurrexion. He aske
     wheer ei haue ouht at is to be etene, & he ete homely
  40 before hem a part of a rostede fisch & of a honye kombe to



|p206


     preue his verrey body present & risene. After he bree on
     hem & if hem e holi goste.
        Loo if we take inwardly hede'. alle ees forseide inges
     bene ful swete, & ful of gostly likyng. Fori an were e
   5 disciples ioyful in at siht of oure lorde e whech were before
     heuye & dredefulle. Lorde god how gladly ei iuen him at
     he askede. How treuly ei ministrede & seruede him, & how
     myrily ei stoden about him.
        Bot here wi also beholde we oure lady his blessede
  10 modere at was ere present in at tyme, for to hir were e
     disciples gederet. Howe she take hede to alle o inges done
     of hir swete sone with vnspekable ioy sittyng by him homely
     & seruynge him fulle gladly. & oure lorde take blily hir
     seruyse & wirchipe hir erwi to fore e disciples.
  15     And it more ouer forete we not here Maudeleyn e
     belouede disciples & of e apostles Apostlesse. How she after
     hir olde manere sitte at e feete of hir maister, & bisily here
     his wordes, & in alle at she may gladly & with gude wille
     ministre.
  20     A lorde Jesu, how wori is at litel hous, & how likyng
     & gracious is it to wonne erinne? Soely whoso ha any
     deuocion & gostly tast'. he may se & fele at here is nowe a
     grete Paske.
        Bot oure lorde Jesus stode bot litel while with hem, for
  25 it was nihe e euene, & neuerles we mowe suppose at ei
     with alle e instance at ei koue helde him ere als longe as
     ei miht, & namely Maudeleyn loe to depart fro him &
     perauentur with a reuerente boldenes she helde him by hees
     cloes. For oure lorde was cloede wi alleere whittest cloes
  30 of his blisse. And soely if it so were at Maudeleyn so helde
     him'. it is no doute she dide not at |r[105v] presumptuosly'. bot
     treuly & mekely in als miche as she was so trewely louyng
     him, & so treuly belouede of him, & erfore at displesede not
     oure lorde. For it is his wille to be holden & drawen by
  35 feruent desire, as it shewede in e forseide tweyn disciples e
     nekst chapitre before.
        At e last oure lorde doyng reuerence to his modere &
     takynge aeynwarde reuerence of hir'. blessyng hem alle'.
     passede aweye fro hem, & ei fallyng done besouhten him of
  40 his sone aeyn comyng. For ei duelleden euer in his absence
     hungry & ristye of her swete lorde of whome before ei were
     wont to haue so grete copye, & erfore no wondur ouh ei
     oft sies with sihynges & feruent desires'. clepede him aeyn.



|p207


        In alle ees forseide aperynges of oure lorde, e whech
     were done on e self day of his resurrexione, is grete matir of
     gostly ioy & solempne paske, whoso inwardly taste hem. Bot
     e more harme is, ere bene many at heren hem with bodily
   5 ere, bot fewe at tasten hem with gostly sauour, & e cause is
     for ei fele not gostly ioy in his resurrexion. For soely I
     byleue at whoso koue haue inwarde compassion of e
     peynes at oure lorde suffrede for man'. he sholde haue a
     ioyful paske in alle e forseide processe of his resurrexion.
  10 And at sholde falle euery soneday to him, at e friday & e
     saturday wolde dispose him in a hole mynde with drawen fro
     worldly & fleshly lykynges, & veyn & curiouse inges'. haue
     trewe compasison of e passion of oure lorde Jesu as e
     apostle witnesse seying at, If we be felawes & perceyneres
  15 of e passiones'. we shole be perceyners ofe consolciones
     & e confortes.
        Seynt bernerde in a sermon of is feest of Paske,
     acordyng to is purpose, sei in is sentence, at alle cristien
     men at bene trewe membres of criste sholde folowe him at
  20 is hir hede in ees re dayes, at is to sey e friday in e
     which he suffrede penance & henge on e crosse in to tyme he
     was taken done with oer mennes handes. Also e seturday in
     e which his body restede and laye in e sepulcre, & e ridde
     day at was e soneday when he rose fro de to life. Riht so
  25 alle cristien men sholde folowe him first on e friday at is
     vndirstande alle e tyme of oure bodily lyuynge in |r[106r] is
     worlde hangyng on e crosse by penance doyng &
     mortyfiynge hem self to alle lustes & likynges of e flesh &
     e worlde. And on e seconde day at is to sey, when ei
  30 bene dede hir bodies rest in e graues, so at on e ridde day
     of Resurrexion, at shalle be e day of dome, ei miht rise in
     body & soule to lyfe euerlastyng. Bot now e more pite, is, e
     most parte of hem at beren vntrewly e name of cristien men
     practisene & vsene a fere day at was neuer made of oure
  35 lorde Jesu, bot of e feende, in e which at is holy tyme ei
     turnene aeyn to alle e lustes of e flesh & sinnes at ei
     vsede before Lente e which is as e friday, & so ei gone
     done wilfully fro e crosse or ei be taken don by god & by
     his angeles, not folowyng Jesu neier in at day nor in is
  40 day, at is Paske, at is as miche to sey as passyng fore. For
     als miche as oure lorde an passede fore fro de to life
     without turnynge aeyn, for he sal neuer more dye, bot ei
     passene not for, bot turneyn aeyn to gostly de, & so maken
     hem e fere day falsly as it is seide, in e which ei turnene



|p208


     aeyn to vices & sinnes at ei vsede before, & herefore is
     alle hir ioy in is holy tyme of Paske, fleshly & bodily & not
     gostly, as it sholde be wi trewe inwarde ioy of cristes
     resurrexion, at is soefast ensaumple & erneste of oure
   5 resurrexione to come, when we shole rise in body & soule to
     life euerlastyng. And us miche be seide at is tyme touching
     is holy paske daye.


     How oure lorde Jesus apperede e viij daye aftere to hees
     disciples Thomas present. Johannis 20. Capitulum
  10 lvii.I.


        |r<b> When e viij day of his resurrexion was come, oure
     lorde Jesus aperede eft to hees disciples in e forseide place,
     & e ates closede, where Thomas was an present with hem,
     at was not so e first day before seide, & after hees felawes
  15 hade tolde him howe ei hadden seen hir lorde, & he not
     byleuyng bot if he miht touch him as e processe of e gospel
     pleynly telle'. an e gode herdeman of his erryng shepe
     bysye & hauyng compassion, sudeynly standyng in middes of
     hem saluede hem & seide, Pees to owe. And erwi turnyng
  20 him specialy |r[106v] to Thomas seide, put in i fingir hider & se, &
     touch my handes, & bringe for i hande & put in to my side,
     & be nomore of misbyleue, bot heen fowarde treuly
     byleuyng. And an Thomas reuerently knelyng don wi boe
     ioy & drede touchede hees wondes as he badde & seide, My
  25 lorde & my god. He sauhe him man & beleuede him god, &
     an also he knowlechede his gilt, in at he hade forsaken him
     as oere also diden, & oure lord godely takyng him vp'. seide,
     Drede not alle i sinnes bene foriue.
        And is longe dout & misbyleue of Thomas was of e
  30 grete gudenes of oure lorde, in at maner suffrede for oure
     profite, to e more opun preue & certeyntye of his verrey
     Resurrexion.
        And so we mowe se here e grete benignyte, mekenes
     & feruent loue of oure lord Jesu, in at at he shewe to
  35 Thomas & his oer disciples so opunly hees wondes fort put
     awey fro hir hertes alle maner derkenes of misbyleue to boe
     heren & oures grete profite.
        And specialy oure lorde reseruede in his gloriouse body
     e steppus of his wondes, for re skilles, at is to sey first to
  40 confermyng of e fei of his Resurrexion to e disciples, &



|p209


     secondely fort shewe hem to e fadre when he wole pray for
     vs, & make him pleisede to vs, for he is oure specialy &
     souereyn aduokete in at partye. And e ridde skille is, fort
     shewe hem at e day of dome, to e reprouede peple vnto hir
   5 confusion.
        And so stande oure lorde with his blessede modere &
     Maudeleyn, & hees disciples as longe as him luste comunyng
     homely with hem, in manere as it is seide in e nexst chapitre
     before to be hade in contemplacion.
  10      And en at e last he badde hem go in to Galile to
     e mont Thabor as it is seide, for ere he seide he wolde
     speke more wi hem & en iuyng hem his blessyng he
     passede awey fro hem.


     How oure lorde Jesus aperede to e disciples in Galile.
  15 Matthaei vltimum. Capitulom lix.


        |r<b> Aftere e disciples were go in to Galile as oure lorde
     badde'. ere he aperede eft to hem & seide, ere is iuen to me
     alle e powere in heuene & in ere. Goe nowe & teche alle
     maner peple baptizinge hem in name of e fadre & e sone &
  20 e holy goste, & |r[107r] techyng hem to kepe alle oo inges at I
     haue byden ow, & bee of gude confort, for lo I am with
     owe alle e dayes in to e worldes ende. And ei honourede
     him at his comyng & standen after wi him fulle ioyfulle &
     gladde.
  25     Now take we gude hede to e forseide wordes for ei
     bene ful confortable & wori. First he shewe to hem at he
     is lorde of alle inge. After he iue hem auctorite &
     mandment to preche. e ridde he iue hem e forme of
     baptisyng'. And at e last e strengest holt & confort at ei
  30 miht haue, when he sei at he sal euer be with hem. Loo
     what ioy & confort he iue hem, & how many grete tokenes
     of charite he shewe to hem, & so iuyng hem his blessyng'.
     he passede awey fro hem.


     How oure lorde Jesus aperede to e disciples at e see
  35 Tiberiadis. Johannis 2l. Capitulum lx.



|p210


        |r<b> DWellyng it e disciples in Galile'. vpon a tyme vij of
     hem wenten to fishe in e see of Tiberiadis, as e gospel telle
     in processe, e whiche I passe ouere. Bot if we take hede
     inwardely to alle oo inges at ere were spoken & done'. we
   5 mowe fynde mich gostly mire & confort in hem, & namely
     in at solempne feste at oure lorde made ere to hem. In e
     which he homely etynge with hem, & as his manere alwey
     was mekely seruyng hem'. fulle lykyngly fedde hem, not onely
     bodily'. bot miche more gostly, whereof he iue vs part &
  10 gostly tast Jesus for his mercy Amen.
         Aftere e forseide feste complete'. oure lorde Jesus
     askede of Petur wheere he louede him more en oere, & eft,
     & e ridde tyme askyng wheere he louede him'. at euery
     tyme he commendet to him his peple, at he sholde after
  15 gouerne, & badde him feede his shepe, where in we mowe se
     e propre benignite & mekenes of oure lorde Jesus, & specialy
     his hye charite & e grete loue at he ha to oure soules.
         And after he telle before to Petre e de at he
     sholde suffre for his loue, & Petur willyng wit also of John at
  20 folowede with him, in what manere he sholde dye'. was
     answerede us of oure lorde, I wole at he duelle so til I
     come, as who sei, I wole not at he folowe me as ou by e
     passion suffryng'. bot at in his fulle elde & contemplacion'. he
     ende is life in pees, neuerles oere disciples |r[107v]
  25 misvunderstode by at worde at he sholde not haue diede &
     it hade not at bene a grete ift, sien it is be tter to be bodily
     dede & duelle euer with criste, as e apostle sei.
        After is, oure lorde Jesus passede awey fro hem &
     went aeyn as he was wont, to e holi fadres in paradise.
  30     Also oure lorde apperede a noer tyme, to moo an
     fyue hundre disciples & breerne, gederet to gedir, as e
     apostle poule witnesse, bot where or what tyme or how, it is
     not writen, neuerles we mowe suppose at it was as he was
     wont, with grete charite mekenes & gudenes on his side, &
  35 with grete ioy & confort on hir side.
        And so haue we now touchede of xij apperinges of
     oure lorde Jesu after his Resurrexion without tweyn at
     folowen after in his Ascension.


|r     Of alle e apperynges of oure lorde Jesu in generale.
  40 Capitulum lxj.



|p211


     |r<b> Ouh it so be at oure lorde Jesus apperede in diuerse
     manere after his Resurrexion fourtene sies as it is seide'.
     neuerles e gospel specifie not bot onely of tenne. For how
     he apperede to his modere'. it is not writen in any place, bot
   5 we resonably & deuoutly trowe it as it is seide before.
        Also of oere re apperynges, at is to sey, to Joseph,
     to James & to moo an fyue hundre breerne'. is specifiede
     before where ei bene writen, bot not in e gospel.
        Also we mowe wele suppose of many moo. For it is
  10 likely at he e moste benigne lorde, oft sies visitede boe
     his modere & hees disciples & Maudeleyn, his speciale
     belouede, confortyng & gladynge hem specialy'. at weren in
     his passion moost dredeful & sorye, & at seme at seynt
     Austyn felt, where he sei us, Of oure lordes body apperynge
  15 after his Resurrexion'. alle inges bene not writen, for his
     conuersacion with hem was oft sies.
        And perantere also e holi fadres, namely Abraham &
     Dauid to whome was made of god e speciale behoste of e
     incarnacion of goddus son'. comen oft sies with him, to se at
  20 moste excellent virgine hir douhtere & goddus modere, e
     which for hem & for alle oer'. foonde so grete grace, & at
     bare hir sauioure & alle mankynde.
        Aa lorde godde how lykyngly ei behelde hir, how
     reuerently ei enclynede to hir, & with alle e deuocion at
  25 ei koue ei blessede hir & honourede |r[108r] hir'. ouh it so were
     at ei were not seene of hir.
        Also in alle ees we mowe considere, e grete
     benignite, e hye charite, & e profonde mekenes of oure
     lorde Jesu as we be wont, of e whech oft sies we haue made
  30 mynde, & e whech shewen in alle hese dedes & specialy here
     in at he wolde after his resurrexion & gloriouse victorye, not
     steye vp anone to his blisse, bot in maner of a pilgryme xl
     dayes abide here in ere to conferme & strenge hees disciples
     & vs in hem, & at not by hees angeles as he mit haue litly
  35 done, bot compellyng him his hye charite, he wolde onely do
     at in his owne persone, & bodily be conuersant with hem,
     apperynge to hem as it is seide xl daies, & spekyng of e
     kyngdome of god.
        And alle is he dide not onely for hem'. bot also for vs
  40 & it we cune not se it. He ha louede vs & it he loue vs
     so feruently, & we loue not him aeynwarde, & at is a grete
     reprouable vnkyndnes in vs. For at so grete fire of loue, we
     sholde not onely be made hote'. bot by reson we sholde fully



|p212


     brenne. Bot nowe we leuyng is'. go we to his glorious
     ascension.


     Of e Ascension of oure lorde Jesu. Capitulum lxij.


        |r<b> TOuching e wondurfull Ascension of oure lorde Jesu,
   5 ou at herest or redest is, if ou wolt fele e swetnes erof'.
     I wole at ou be wakely & qwikke in i soule, so ferfor'. at
     if euer here before as it was bydene e, ou madest e by
     deuout ymaginacion as present to hees wordes & dedes'. now
     ou do miche more with alle i miht, for is solempnite
  10 passe alle oer, as I shale clerely shewe e withinfor in
     processe. And namely is one inge sholde stire & herte in
     entencion & quikene ine affeccion, at i lorde nowe is in
     passyng aweye, fro e as by his bodily presence e tyme of
     his pilgrymage here in ere with e fully complete & endet.
  15 Wherfore hees wordes & hees dedes nowe bene e more
     attentily & bysily to be considerede. For soely euery trewe
     cristien soule sholde, hir spouse, hir lorde & hir god, in his
     awey passyng most wakely & bisily take tent to & o inges
     at bene by him spoken & done, moste inwardly sette in
  20 mynde, & moste deuoutly & mekely recommende here to him,
     & vtturlye |r[108v] widrawe alle her mynde in is tyme fro alle
     oere inges, & set it holly vpon hir spouse.
        Fort go en to e processe of e Ascension of oure
     lorde Jesu, we shole haue in mynde at on e xl daye after his
  25 Resurrexion oure lorde Jesus knowyng at his tyme was come
     fort passe fro is worlde to e fadere'. takyng out of paradise
     terrestre, e holy fadres & alle oer blessede soules, &
     blessyng Enoke & Helye at ere abydene stille it lyuyng'. he
     came to hees disciples, e whech were to gedire at tyme in
  30 Mont syon, & in e place where he made at wori sopere e
     niht before his passion, ere beynge an with hem his blessede
     modere & oer disciplesses.
        And so apperinge to hem'. he wolde ete with hem or he
     passede fro hem in a speciale token & a memoriale of loue &
  35 ioye to hem. Wherefore alle etyng to gedir with grete ioy &
     mire in is laste feste of our lorde Jesu'. en seide he to hem:
        Tyme is come nowe at I turne aeyn to him at sende
     me. Bot he shole duelle & abide in e cite til e be newe
     cloede gostly orh vertue at shale come fro abouene. For
  40 soely within fewe daies here after e shole be fillede with e



|p213


     holy gost as I beheit owe, & after e shale go & preche my
     gospel orh alle e worlde, baptisyng hem at wole beleue in
     me, & so e shalle be myne witnesses in to e vttreste ende of
     ere.
   5     Also he reprehendet or obreydede hem nowe specialy
     when he bidde hem preche of hir misbyleue in at at ei
     trowede not to hem at seye him haue vprisen, & at were e
     angeles. As ei he seide to hem in is manere sentence to
     make hem vndurstande, Miche more e sholde haue trowede
  10 & byleuede to e angeles or e seene me'. en e peple shal
     trowe to our prechinge e which shalle not se me.
        Also he reprouede & obreydede an hir mysbyleue for
     ei sholde knowe first hir owne defaute, & ereby be e more
     meke, shewyng hem nowe in his departyng howe miche it
  15 pleisede him mekenes, & erfore specialy he recommendet it
     at e last to hem.
        an ei askeden him of oo inges at were to come
     after bot he wolde not telle hem, for it was not spedful to hem
     to knowe e priuytes of god, e whech e fader hade reserued
  20 & set in his owne powere to fulfille when him likede.
|r[109r] us standen ei to gedir etyng & spekyng with grete
     ioy to hem, of e blessede presence of hir lorde, bot neuerles
     with grete drede & turblance of his awey passyng, & no
     wondre for ei louede him so tendirly'. at ei miht not with
  25 esy herte bere e wordes of his bodily departyng fro hem, &
     namely oure lady his blessede moder, at louede him passyng
     alle oere. We mowe wele suppose at she touchede & stirede
     souereynly with e swetnes of modere loue'. as she satte nexst
     him at at mete, leyde don hir hede swetely & restede vpon
  30 his blessede breste, as seynt John dide before in at forseide
     moste wori sopere, & so with swete teres sihynge, she spake
     to him in is manere prayinge:
        My dere sone if ou wolt alle weye go to i fadere'. I
     praye e lede me with e. And oure lorde confortyng hir seide,
  35 I pray e dere modere take not heuyly my goyng fro e, for I
     go to e fadere for i beste, & it is spedeful at ou duelle
     here it awhile, to conferme hem at shale treuly byleue in
     me, & after I shale come & take e with me in to euerlastyng
     blisse. And an she seide, My swete sone i wille be done.
  40 For not onely I am redy to abide at i wille'. bot also to suffre
     de for oo soules, at ou suffrest de fore. Bot euer I beseke
     e haue mynde on me.
        And an oure lorde confortede more ouere hir &
     Maudeleyn, & oer, seying us to hem, Be not our herte



|p214


     turblete & drede it not. For I shalle not leue ow desolate as
     faderles, for I shalle go & come & euer be with owe. And at
     e laste he badde hem go in to e Monte of Olyuete, for
     ennes he wolde stey vp, & so passede he at at tyme awey
   5 fro hem.
        And anone riht his modere & alle oer wiout taryinge
     eden in to e forseide Monte, at is fro Jerusalem about a
     myle, & ere eft sones oure lorde apperede to hem.
        Loo here haue we on is day tweyn apperynges.
  10     an clippede he & kissede his modere, takyng his leue,
     & she aeynwarde clippede & kissede him ful tendirly. And e
     disciples & Maudeleyn, & alle oere fallyng done to e gronde
     & wepyng'. kisseden hees feete deuoutly, & he takyng hem vp
     kissede alle hees apostles benyngly.
  15     Now take hede inwardely of hem & of alle at be
     nowe here done, & erwi beholde e holy fadres |r[109v] ere
     beynge inuisible, how gladly & reuerently ei beholden, &
     inwardely blessen hir'. by whom ei hauen receyuet so grete a
     benefice of hir sauacion, & also how ei beholden oo wori
  20 championes & lederes of goddus hoste, e whech among alle
     oer peple, oure lorde Jesus specialy ha chosen fort conquere
     alle e worlde.
        At e laste when alle e misteries were complete &
     fulfillede'. oure lorde Jesus began to be lift vp fro hem, & to
  25 stey vp by his owne vertue, & an oure lady & alle oer felle
     done to e ere, wirchipyng him, & oure lady seide, My
     blessede sone Jesu enke on me, & erwi she miht not wi
     halde hir fro wepyng bycause of his goyng, neuerlese she was
     ful ioyful at she sawe hir sone so gloriously stey vp to heuen.
  30     Also e disciples is seyng'. seiden, Lorde we haue
     forsake alle worldes godes for e'. haue mynde on vs. And so
     he hauyng hees handes lift vp, & blessyng hem with a briht
     ioyful face, coronede worily as a kynge & gloriously arayede,
     steying vp to heuen'. seide, Be stedfast & worche manfully,
  35 for I shalle be euere with owe.
        And so oure lorde Jesus, alle glorious, white & rudye,
     shynyng & ioyfulle, ledyng with him, at noble multitude, &
     goyng before, & shewyng e weye to hem'. in dede fulfillede
     an at e prophetes hade seide longe before of his Ascension,
  40 & ei also with vnspekable ioy folowyng him'. songen myrily
     e psalmes & ympnes of his lovyng, as pertenede to at
     blisfulle tyme of hir delyuerance fro alle sorowe & entre in to
     alle blis without ende.



|p215


        And in at tyme e Archangele Michaele prouoste of
     paradise, goynge before, tolde e blessede court of heuen at
     oure lorde Jesus was comyng & vp [steying], & anone alle e
     blissede spirites after hir ordres edene aeyn hir lorde, none
   5 laft behynde, & metyng with him & worchipyng him with alle
     e reuerence at ei koue, ladden him with ympnes & songes
     of ioy at may not be spoken nor ouht. And so metyng to
     gedir e holy fadres & e blessede spirites & singene Alleluia,
     & moste ioyfulle songes with reuerence before him'. maden a
  10 grete solempnite, & a wirchipful feste.
        e lorde who miht telle what feste at was & what ioy
     ei hade, when ei mette to gedir?
        And |r[110r] when ei hade done dewe reuerence to oure
     lorde & fulfillede hir myrye songes at pertenede to his
  15 gloriouse Ascension'. ei turnede hem to oere boe e
     blessede spirites & e holy fadres reioycyng & singyng. And
     first e holi spirites in is maner seyinge:
        e princes of peples be welle come & ioyfulle we be
     of our comyng Alleluia. e are nowe here gederet &
  20 wondirfully lift vp with our god, Alleluia. erefore make
     mire & singe nowe to him at so gloriously ste vp aboue
     heuen & heuene Alleluia Alleluia.
        And e holy fadres ioyfully answerede, To owe
     princes of goddus peple, Alleluia. Oure keperes & helperes
  25 Alleluia, ioy & pees be euer Alleluia. singe e & make
     mirthe also to our godde, lorde, kynge & sauyoure, Alleluia.
     Alleluia. Alleluia.
        And forermore alle to gedir songen & seiden, Now we
     gone mirylye in to e hous of oure lorde Alleluia, & at
  30 wirchipefull Cite of godde shalle receyue vs alle to gedir
     Alleleuia, in ympnes & songes of ioy & mire Alleleuia
     Alleluia.
        Loo here was miche mire & ioy, alle ei songene &
     souereynly ioydene as e prophete Dauid sei.
  35     God steie in to heuen in moste wondurfulle ioy of
     Apostles at seye him at tyme. And in voice of Trumpe at
     is in voice of angeles at aperede an & spake to e apostles.
     Soely oure lorde Jesus steye vp an oponly to e confort of
     his modere & e apostles, as longe as hir bodily siht wolde
  40 suffice to se him. And after a briht cloude toke him fro hir
     eyene, & anone in a momente at is in an vnperceyuable short
     tyme, he was with alle hees angeles & e forseide holi fadres
     in e hiest heuen.



|p216


        A lorde what ioy was at an to se at blessede lorde
     so gloriously vp steying, Soely I trowe who so miht haue
     seene at as e apostles didene, & erwi herde at ioyful
     songe of angeles & holi soules with him vpsteying'. for at
   5 passinge ioy'. his soule sholde haue be departede fro e bodye,
     & gone vp to heuen also with hem & no wonder.
        Wherfore oure lorde knowynge e infirmite of
     mankynde in bodily life here'. wolde shewe sume of his blisse
     to his modere, & oer disciples, in als miche as ei miht bere,
  10 at was in at blisfulle of him vpsteyinge & hidde fro hem,
     at ei miht not bere so in flesh lyuyng. And erfore also he
     sende to hem tweyn angeles in mannus likenesse, |r[110v] at ei
     sholde not ouermiche be trauailede in at standynge & lokyng
     vp after him to heuen, for ei were so ravyshede by at
  15 blisfulle siht of him at ei hade forete hem self, & also he
     sende e angeles to conforte hem in at ei herde e angeles
     witnesse acordyng with hem of e Ascension of oure lorde.
        And when e angeles hade byden hem at ei sholde
     no lengir loke after Jesus bodily presence in at forme at ei
  20 seye him an stey vp'. in to at tyme at he sholde come in at
     self forme bodily to deme alle quikke & dede'. bot at ei
     sholde turne aeyn in to e cite, & ere abide e holi goste as
     he hade seide hem before'. en oure lady mekely praiede e
     angeles to recommende hir to hir blisfulle sone, & ei lowely
  25 enclynyng to hir'. gladly toke hir bidyng, & also e apostles &
     Maudeleyn recommendet hem in e self manere, & after e
     angeles passyng fro hem, ei turnede aeyn in to e cite as ei
     were byden to Mont syon ere abydyng e behoste of oure
     lorde Jesu.
  30     Nowe go we vp by deuout contemplacion to oure lorde
     Jesu beholdyng in ymaginacion of heuenly inges by likenes
     of erely inges, howe he with alle at forseide wori &
     blisfulle multitude of holi soules, oponyng heuen ates at
     were before at tyme sperede aeynus mankynde, as a wori
  35 conqueroure ioyfully entrede, & gladly before e fadere, seide,
     Fader I onke e at hast iuen me e victorye of alle our
     enemyes & aduersaries, & loo fadere here I presente to e
     oure frendes at were halden in raldame, & for als miche as
     I haue beheyht to my breerne & disciples, e whech I laft in
  40 e worlde, to sende to hem e holi goste'. I pray e fadere
     fulfille my behost, & I recommende hem also to e.
        an e fadere takyng him vp'. made him sitte on his riht
     hande & seide, My blessede sone alle powere & dome I haue



|p217


     iuen to e, & erfore of at ou askedest'. dispose & do as e
     like.
        After at alle e holy fadres & e blessede spirites e
     whech hade in wirchipyng of e holi trinite falle done lowely
   5 with alle reuerence'. risyng vp begunne aeyn to singe hir
     songes of mire & vnspekable ioy, before e throne of god.
     For sien Moises & e childrene of Israel songene in ankyng
     & lovyngis of god, when ei were passede e rede see & hir
     |r[111r] enemyes erin drounede. And also e self tyme Marie Aaron
  10 sistre, with oere women folowyng hir in timpanes & oer
     melodye, dawnsedene & songen to goddus lovynge.
        Also Dauid with his peple ledyng e Arke of god in to
     Jerusalem herpede & daunsede for ioy before e Arke, &
     chanteres songen, & in oere diuerse minstralsye e honourede
  15 & wirchipede god.
        And also seynt John sei in e Apocalipse, at he herde
     a voice in heuen of an hundret & fourtye & foure ousande
     herperes herpyng & singyng a newe songe before e throne &
     e sete of e verrey lambe Jesu. Miche more we mowe
  20 resonable trowe, at nowe in is ioyful tyme, when Jesus with
     his cumpany were passede alle sorowe & alle aduersaries were
     so graciously ouercome, & he at was tokenede by e Arke
     Jesus was so gloriously come in to e cite of heuenly
     Jerusalem'. alle at blessede felaweshipe of spirites & soules,
  25 without noumbre songen & maden ioy & mire at none tonge
     may telle nor herte enke. Soely nowe in at blessede cite of
     heuenly Jerusalem is songen & herde at souereyn songe of
     ioy, & after e prophecie of Thobie, by alle e stretes erof is
     songen Alleluia, at is als miche to sey, as e lovyng of oure
  30 lorde.
        Neuer fro e bygynnyng of e worlde was ere so
     sollempne & so ioyful a feste, ne neuer perantre shalle be, bot
     at e laste after e day of dome, when alle e chosen soules
     shole be presentede ere wi hir bodies glorifiede. And erfore
  35 as I seide at e beginnyng of is chapitre, is solempnite alle
     inges consideret passe alle oere. Take hede of eche of hem,
     & se wheer it be soe at I sey.
        First e lnc arnacion of our lorde Jesu is a solempne
     feste & wori, for at was e byginnyng of alle oure gude &
  40 oure sauacion. Bot at was oure ioy & not hisene, for he was
     an closede in his modere wombe.
        Also e Natiuite of him is a sollempne & hie feste, &
     worily mire to be made erin. Bot at is also as on oure
     side, for as on his side we owe to haue compassion of him



|p218


     at was for vs born in so grete pouert, hardenes of wedur &
     oere abiection.
        Also as to vs his passion is a grete feste, orh e which
     we bene brouht |r[111v] out of e fendes raldame, & alle oure
   5 sinnes bene foriuene & done aweye. And as seynt gregour
     sei, Hit hadde not auaylede vs to be born, bot it hade also
     profitede vs fort be bouht. Neuerles for e grete tormentes of
     him & at hardest & moste disputose de at he suffrede for
     oure redempcion & byinge'. ere was no matir of ioy but
  10 raere of sorowe, boe to him in at peynfulle suffryng, & to
     vs for oure sinfulle deseruyng.
        Forermore it e Resurrexion of oure lorde Jesu is a
     gloriouse, sollempne & a ioyfulle feste, boe for him & for vs.
     For en was his bodie glorifiede & alle peyne & sorowe
  15 passede'. & we iustifiede, & haue an erneste & ensaumple
     without doute also of oure laste vprisyng in body & soule.
     And erfore of is worchipeful & ioyful day, specialy singe
     holi chirch, by e wordes of e prophete Dauid, is is e day
     at oure lorde made, be we mirye erein & glade.
  20     And as seynt Austyn sei in a sermone, is day is
     holiest of alle oere, bot at may be vndirstonde of alle oer
     before at day. For is day of e Ascension by reson is gretter
     & holiere'. & at touchyng re parties, at is to seye, oure
     lorde him self, e blessede spirites in heuen & mankynde in
  25 ere. For as to e first ouh oure lorde hade an gloriously in
     body & soule vprisen fro de to euerlastyng life'. neuerles he
     was bodily it as a pilgryme in ere, fro his owne kynde
     heritage & rewme. Also as to e seconde, it seye not e
     angeles hir felawshipe encresede by seyson takyng of
  30 mankynde with hem in blisse. And as anentes e ridde'. it
     was closede & stokene e ate of heuynly paradise, & it were
     not e holi fadres & soules presentede to e fadere of heuen,
     e whech alle re were complete & fulfillede in is holi
     Ascension.
  35     And if we take gude hede'. we mowe se at alle at
     god wrouht & dide'. he dide fort come to is ende. And
     withoute is'. alle hees werkes, hade be as imperfite. For loo
     heuen & ere & alle at is made in hem'. is made for man, &
     man fort haue e blisse of heuen, & erto miht no man come
  40 after he hade sinnede in to is day were he neuer so gude &
     rihtwise, & so we mowe se, how wori is holi day is.
        it more ouer e feste of pentechost is hye & holy, &
     worily |r[112r] holy chirche make it solempne. For en was iuen



|p219


     erto at hye woriest ift, at is e holy goste. For is is to
     vs & not to him.
        Bot is Ascencion day is proprely e moste solempne
     feste, of oure lorde Jesu. For is day first in his manhede he
   5 began to sitte, on e fadere riht hande in blisse, & toke fulle
     rest of his pilgrimage before.
        Also is is proprely e feste of alle e blessede spirites
     in heuen. For is day ei hade a newe ioy of here lorde, whom
     ei seye neuer before ere in his manhede, & also for is day
  10 began first to be restorede e fallyng done of hir felawes, &
     at in so grete multitude & noumbre of blessede soules, of
     patriarkhes & prophetes & alle o holy soules, at is day first
     entrede in to at blessede cite of heuenly Jerusalem her kynde
     heritage aboue.
  15     Wherefore sien we maken solempne e feste of one
     seynt at is passede out of is worlde to heuen'. miche more
     we owe to do of so many ousandes, & it passyngly of him,
     at is seynt of alle seyntes.
        Also is is specialy e feste of oure lady, for als mich
  20 as is day she sawe hir blessede son Jesu verrey god & man
     so gloriously coronede as kynge stey vp to heuen.
        it also is is proprely oure feste, for is day was first
     oure kynde exaltede & lift vp aboue e heuenes, & also for
     bot if criste hadde so stey vppe'. at wori ift of e holi goste
  25 whereof we makene solempnite, we miht not haue receyuede,
     as he seide to hees disciples, It is spedeful to ow, at I go vp
     to e fadere, for bot if I go so fro owe'. e holy goste
     confortere shalle not come to owe. And erfore sei seynt
     bernarde in a sermon of is feste of e Ascension in
  30 confirmacion of my forseide sentence'. at is gloriouse feste
     of e Ascension of oure lorde Jesu is an ende & fulfillyng of
     alle oere solempnites & feestes, & a blessede conclusion of
     alle e iurneye of oure lorde Jesu after his manhede &c.
        us mowe we opunly see at is day & is feste is
  35 most hie & solempne of alle oere. And at soule at louede
     treuly oure lorde Jesu, sholde is day be more ravyshede to
     heuen, & more gostly ioy haue in herte'. an in any day of e
     ere. For us seide oure lorde Jesus to hees disciples, If e
     louede me'. soely e sholde be gladde & ioyfulle |r[112v] for at I
  40 go to e fadere. Wherfore I leue at I seide trewly before at
     was neuer in heuen a day so ioyful & so solempne as is day.
     And so is ioy & is solempnite lastede in to e day of
     Pentechoste, whereof we mowe deuoutly ymagine & haue
     meditacion in is manere:



|p220


        e Ascension of oure lorde was at e sexte houre. For
     before he ete with hees disciples at tierce, an mowe we us
     ymagiue, at oo tenne dayes fro at houre at he ascendet in
     to e houre of e holi goste sende'. e ix ordres of angeles
   5 with e holi fadres & soules at he toke vp with him, made
     him tenne festes, & he aeynw arde rewardede hem specialy in
     sume singulere comforte euery day.
        And so ouh alle at were en in heuene generalye
     were of his Ascensione ioyful & made so myrye a feste at no
  10 tonge kanne telle'. neuerles specialy e first day, fro e houre
     of his ascension in to sexte of e nekst day folowyng'. angeles
     made hir feste. e seconde day in e self manere maden hir
     feste'. archangeles. e ridde day'. vertues. e fere day'.
     potestates. e fyueth day'. Principates. e sexte day'.
  15 Dominaciones. e seuent day'. Thrones. e eyhte day'.
     Cherubyn. e nyne day, Seraphin.
        And so ees ix ordres of angeles continuede hir festes
     in to sixte houre of e vigile of Pentechoste, & fro ennus'. in
     to terce of e day folowyng, at is of e soneday in
  20 Pentechoste'. e holy fadres with hir felawchipe made hir feste
     to Jesu blessede without ende. Amen.


     Of e sendyng done & e comyng of e holy goste.
     Capitulum lxiij.


        |r<b> Aftere at oure lorde Jesus was gone vp to his blisse,
  25 & e angeles hade byden e disciples to turne aeyn in to e
     cite as it is seide nexst before, ei with his blessede modere
     wirchipyng him & kissinge deuoutly e steppes of his feete,
     where he laste touchede e ere'. as e gospelle of Luke telle'.
     ei went aeyn in to Jerusalem with grete ioye, & ere ei
  30 abyden e comyng of e holi goste continuely in deuout
     prayeres, lovyng god & blyssyng oure lorde.
         And when e tene day was come fro his Ascension,
     an was e fiftye day fro his Resurrexion |r[113r] oure lorde Jesus
     ioynyng e figure of e olde testament with e newe'. for als
  35 miche as e tyme of grace was in at day come'. he seide to
     e fadre us:
        My fadre haue nowe in mynde e behoste at I made
     to my breerne of e holy goste. And e fader answerede, My
     dere sone I am wele apaide of at behoste, & nowe is tyme
  40 at it be fulfillede, & more ouere he seide to e holy goste, we



|p221


     praye e at ou go done to oure disciples, & at ou fille
     hem of i grace, conforte hem, strenge hem, teche hem, &
     iue hem abundance of vertues & ioye.
        And anone e holi goste come done with a wondirfull
   5 noys in brennyng tonges vpon a hundret & twenty disciples,
     gederet at tyme to gedir & fillede hem with alle ioy, vertues
     & grace. By vertue whereof e disciples strenghede, tawht,
     litnede & enflawmede'. eden after by alle parties of e
     worlde, & made it suget to hem in grete partie.
  10     is is a wori feste & is is amongis oere a swete &
     louely feste. For is is e feste of him at is loue proprely, as
     seynt gregour sei'. at e holi goste is loue. Wherefore he at
     loue god'. sholde in is feste specialy be enflawmede wi
     loue, or at e leste with a brennyng desire to loue. Bot is
  15 wole not be with fleshly or worldly loue medelet, as seynt
     Bernard sei in a sermon of e Ascension in is manere
     sentence, He erre gretely whoso he is, at wene fort medle
     to gedir at heuenly ioy with ees bitter askes of fleshly
     likyng, or at swete gostly bawme, with is venyme, or oo
  20 gracious iftis of e holi goste, with ees foule stinkyng lustes,
     & no wondre. For as e self Bernerde sei, e apostles for e
     tyme at ei hade oure lorde bodily present with hem, for e
     loue at ei hade to his body, ouh it was holye & gude'. it
     for at tyme ei were vnable to receyue perfitely e holi goste,
  25 as he seide himself, Bot I go fro owe'. e holi gost shalle not
     come to owe.
        Miche more en he at is knit with loue to rotene
     mukke or to a stinkyng kareyn'. is in alle maner vnhable to at
     clanest & swettust loue of e holy goste. For ere is none
  30 acorde nor knittyng to gider of soefastnes & vanite, of liht &
     derkenes, of e spirite & e flesh, and of fire & colde watere.
     Bot perantre ou at felest not |r[113v] e swetenes & confort of at
     gostly likyng & loue'. seist to me, withouten confort of loue &
     likyng I may not be, what shalle I do an, while I fele not at
  35 gostly loue? Seynt bernarde answere us & sei to e,
     Forsake first fully & treuly alle veyn worldes confort, & alle
     fleshly loue & likynge, & abide a while in deuout prayeres as
     e apostles dide e comyng of e holi gost, whereof ei knewe
     none certeyne tyme'.& ou shalt fele within shorte tyme at he
  40 shale come & confort e better an ou kowedest before
     knowe or enke.
         And in grete confort of him at forsake worldly
     confort for god'. e same seynt Bernard conclude in ees
     wordes, e apostles in is abyding seten perseuerant with one



|p222


     wille to gedir in praiere with e women & Marie Jesu modere,
     & in e self manere lerne ou to pray, lerne to seke, to aske,
     & to knokke at e dore'. til ou fynde, til ou take & til it be
     oponede to e. Oure lorde knowe i freele & feble kynde, &
   5 he is trewe & wole not suffre e be temptede more an ou
     maiht bere. And I trist in him, at if ou wolt abide trewly'.
     ou shalt not abide e tene day, bot at he shalle come
     before & confort i desolate soule, & so praying, in hees
     blessinges of gostly swetnes, so at ou shalt haue so grete
  10 likyng in his mynde & in oo gostly drinkes, at he shale
     make e drunken oft in soule'. at ou shalt be ioyful & gladde
     at euer ou forsoke e fals confortes of e worlde.
         Loo by is forseide sentence of seynt bernarde we
     mowe se in partie, what behoue to receyue e holi goste &
  15 his loue. Wherfore at we mowe be able to receyue here at
     grete ift of e holy goste & his conforte, & after come to at
     blisse at oure lorde Jesus is nowe steye vp to, & hae made
     oure weye before vs, leue we & hate we alle fals loue &
     likyng of is wrecchede worlde, & set we not oure loue on e
  20 stinkyng flesh & norish we it not in desires, bot desire we
     continuely fort be departede erefro, so at orh e grace of
     e holy goste helpyng vs, we mowe folowe sumwhat e
     blessede life of oure lorde Jesu in is worlde, & after go vp to
     him & to oure kynde heritage of blisse in e gloriouse cite of
  25 heuenly Jerusalem, where he souereyne kynge with e fadere
     & e |r[114r] holy goste one godde in trinyte lyue & reigne
     without ende Amen.


         us ende e contemplacion of e blessede life of
     oure lorde Jesu e which processe for als mich as it is here
  30 us writen in english tonge lengir in many parties & in oere
     manere an is e latyne of Bonauenture'. erfore it seme not
     conuenient to folowe e processe erof by e dayes of e wike
     after e entent of e forseide Bonauentur, for it were to
     tediouse as me inke, & also it shulde so sone be fulsome &
  35 not in confortable deynte by cause of e freelte of mankynde
     at ha likynge to here & knowe newe inges. & oo at bene
     seldome herde'. bene oft in e more deynte. Wherefore it
     seme to me beste at euery deuout creature at loue to rede
     or here is boke'. take e partes erof as it seme moste
  40 confortable & stiryng to his deuocion, sumtyme one &
     symtyme an oere, & specialy in e tymes of e ere & e
     festes ordeynet in holy chirche, as e matires bene perteynent
     to hem.



|p223


         And for als miche as at blessede & wori feste of
     e precious sacrament of Jesu body, in e whiche he is euery
     day bodily present with vs to oure mooste confort at we
     mowe haue here in ere'. is e ende & e conclusion of alle
   5 oere festes of him'. graciously & resonably ordeynet by holi
     chirch as it was seide before'. erfore with e grace of e holi
     goste & of him of whom at feest is'. we shole speke sumwhat
     more to confort of hem at treuly byleuen, & to confusion of
     alle fals lollardes & heritykes Amen.


  10      Blessede be e name of oure lorde Jesu & his modere
     Marye nowe & euere wi out ende Amen.


        Explicit speculum vite Christi.



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  A shorte tretes of e hiest and moste wori sacrament of
     cristes blessede body & e merueiles erof.

        |r[114v] |r<b> MEmoriam fecit mirabilium suorum misericors. et
     miserator dominus escam dedit timentibus se'. ees wordes of
   5 Dauid in e sautere seide in prophecie longe tyme before e
     Incarnacion of oure lorde Jesu, specialy of e wirchipeful
     sacrament of his precious body, hauen is sentence &
     vndirstandyng in english tonge, Oure lorde merciful & mercy
     iuere ha made a mynde of hees merueiles in at he ha
  10 iuen mete to hem at dreden him. is mete is at preciouse
     gostly mete of e blessede body of oure lorde Jesu in e
     sacrament of e awtere at he of his souereyn mercy iue
     euery day in forme of brede to alle oo at trewly dreden him
     as hir lorde god, by e whiche drede, ei kepen hem out of
  15 dedely sinne, & mekely standen in e stedefast byleue of holi
     chirch. And is gostly mete he iue, & ha made erebye a
     speciale mynde of hees merueiles, at is to sey as e preeste
     reherse in e canone of e messe'. in mynde of his
     merueylous & blessede passion, & of his merueilous
  20 Resurrexion & of his merueylous & gloriouse Ascension &
     generaly in mynde of alle e merueilous werkes & dedes of
     him in his blessede life here in is worlde, e which is tretede
     in alle is boke before writen.
        For to begynne first at his merueilous Incarnacion'. loo
  25 howe expresse mynde erof is is mete at he iue to vs in
     e sacrament of e awtere, for erein is he verreyly, & in at
     self body at was so merueilously conceyuede by e holy
     goste aboue kynde. And also so merueilously born of his
     blessede modere Marie without sorowe or wemme of sinne, &
  30 so for of alle e merueilouse werkes & dedes of him'. in is
     gostly mete we haue at speciale mynde at none may be
     more & at we haue of none oer. For alle oer inges
     passede at we haue mynde of'. we conceyuen in spirite & in



|p226


     herte so at ereby we haue not e bodily presence of hem.
     Bot in is gostly mete & sacramentale commemoracion of oure
     lorde Jesu'. he is verreyly & bodily present wi vs vnder an
     oere forme'. bot soely in his owne propre substance verrey
   5 |r[115r] god & man. For what tyme he sholde stey vp in to heuene'.
     he seide to hees apostles & hees foloweres in ees wordes,
     Loo I am with owe alle e daies in to e worldes ende,
     confortyng hem by is benigne promisse'. at he sholde duelle
     with hem not onely by e gostly presence of his godhede'. bot
  10 also by e bodily presence of his manhede, at he iue to vs
     in is forseide mete of his flesh & blode, in mynde of hees
     merueiles generaly as it is seide, bot moste specialy in mynde
     of at blessede passion, at he suffrede for vs. For what tyme
     he sholde passe out of is worlde to e fadere e niht before
  15 his passion at at wori sopere with hees disciples as it is
     seide before'. he made & ordeynet is souereyn & moste
     wirchipfulle sacrament of his flesh & blode, iuyng his body
     in to mete & his blode in to drinke, for a speciale mynde of
     his passion & de. For us seide he to hees apostles in at
  20 first makyng of is helefulle sacrament, is doe e in mye
     mynde. So at e souereyn & moste wori mynde of his
     passion & passyng loue to vs'. sholde be euere more is hye
     wirchipful sacrament.
        is is at precious gostly mete & speciale mynde of
  25 oure lorde Jesu, in e whiche is hade alle gostly likyng, & e
     sauour & taste of alle swetnes. And also is is at swete
     memoriale where orh we bene widrawen & kept fro
     wikkednes, & confortede & strenghede in godenes, & profiten
     euery day in encresse of vertues & of grace in soefastnes.
  30     is is at hye ift & moste noble memoryale at owe
     worily to be prentede euer in oure mynde, & to be bisily kept
     in e inwarde affeccion of e herte in continuele mynde of
     him at iue vs is swete memoriale & precious ift. For
     whos ift is oft tyme seene'. his mynde is likyngly prentede in
  35 e herte.
        us oure lorde Jesus of his grete mercye ha made a
     likyng mynde of hees merueiles in is gostly mete, e which
     is moste merueile of alle merueiles, iuyng is mete specialy
     to hem at dreden him.
  40     And here we shole vndurstande at in two maneres
     men dreden god, & eraftere he iue is mete diuersely to
     hem.
        For sume dreden god as seruantes dredene |r[115v] hir lorde,
     leuyng & eschewyng to sinne onely for drede of peyne, & to



|p227


     ees manere of men if ei bene out of dedely sinne & in
     grace'. oure lorde iue is forseide mete, as to hir gostly
     sustinance, so at by e vertue erof'. ei bene sustynede in
     life of soule & kept fro euerlastyng de.
   5     Bot oer bene at dreden god as trew children dreden
     to offende hir fadere, for e loue of him, & to ees maner men
     oure lorde god iue is precious mete not onely to hir gostly
     sustinance'. bot also to hir souereyn likyng & wondirfulle
     confort in soule, & of ees maner of dredyng folke speke e
  10 self prophete Dauid in ees wordes, Aa lorde god how mikel
     is e manyfolde plente ofi swetnes, e which ou hast hidde
     to hem at dreden e. Bot ei at dreden not god'. hauen
     neier gostly sustenance nor heleful likynge of is precious
     mete, bot orh hir owne wikkednesse & vndisposyng in soule,
  15 taken it & eten it to hir gostly de & euerlastyng dampnacion.
     And at bene tweyn maner of peple, one is of hem at drede
     not to receyue is holiest sacrament in dedely sinne, or elles
     by defaut of drede contynuene in hir sinne. For as e wise
     man sei, e drede of god caste out sinne, & erfore whoso
  20 continue in dedely sinne'. it is an opune prefe, at he drede
     not god, & an is he vnable to receyue & helefully ete is
     wori sacrament.
        A noere maner peple at lakken e drede of god'. bene
     heritykes, e whech in defaut of buxom drede to god & holy
  25 chirch presumptuosly leuyng vpon hir owne bodily wittes &
     kyndely reson'. leue not at holi doctours hauen tauht, & holy
     chirch .determinede of is blessede sacrament, bot falsly
     trowene & obstinately seyne at it is brede in his kynde as it
     was before e consecration, so at e substance of brede is not
  30 turnede in to e substance of goddes body, bot duelle stille
     brede as it was before, bycause at it seme so to alle hir
     bodily wittes.
        e which errour & heresye & alle oer of is holiest
     sacrament'. wiout doute springen of gostly pride &
  35 presumpcion of kyndely witte, in defaut & lakke of lowely
     drede. For awere seche men leuen at god may worch alle
     oo merueiles abouene e comune |r[116r] course of kynde as holy
     chirch teche in is holi sacrament'. or nouht'. And if ei leue
     not at he may'. an dreden ei him nouht as god almihty, &
  40 so bene ei worse an Jewes or saracenes for boe byleuen at
     god is almihty. And on at oere side if ei seyen & leuen at
     god for he is almihty may worch oo merueiles, bot ei leue
     not at he doe so, for als miche as hir kyndely reson telle
     hem e contrarye'. an drede ei not fort aeyne sey e



|p228


     souereyn godenes & loue of god to mankynde, as in at partye
     at holi chirch teche & byleue of is holy sacrament, & in
     at ei preuene hem self grete fooles. For ouh it were so at
     it were in doute, wheere e teching & e beleue at holy
   5 chirch ha, of is holy sacrament were soe or nouht'. or elles
     also sette case at it were not soe'. it e sikere part were to
     byleue as holy chirch teche with a buxom drede. For in at'.
     we leuyn oure kyndely reson, & bene obeshant to god & holi
     chirch as him self bidde vs, & also we withdrawe not in oure
  10 beleue of e miht of god, nor of his loue & souereyn godenes
     to vs, bot raer maken it more'. if it so were at it were not
     soe as we beleuen, & at were litel perile or raere none bot
     mede to vs in alle partes for oure gude wille to god & holy
     chirch. And also in at byleue ere is no perile of ydolatrye,
  15 as e fals heretyke sei, at we honourene & maken brede
     oure godde. For we seyen & beleuen, at in at holy
     sacrament brede is turnede in to goddus bodye, by vertue of
     cristes wordes. And so we alle holely honouren not brede'. bot
     god & his blessede body in forme of brede, at is to sey in at
  20 likenes of brede at we seene with oure bodily eyene'. we
     honouren goddus body at we seene by trewe byleue in soule
     with oure gostly eyene.
        at we hauyng loue drede of god, & standyng stedfastly
     in e byleue at holi chirch ha tauht vs specialy of is holiest
  25 sacrament'. we shole considere & inwardly beholde to
     kyndlyng & norishing of oure loue to oure lorde Jesu, at
     iue vs of his hye grace is precious mete of his blessede
     body'. e merueiles at he make & worche ereinne,
     specialy in tweyn maneres, at is to sey in one manere, euery
  30 day priuely, whereof we haue |r[116v] knowyng onely by byleue
     withinfor, & also in a noer manere, sumtyme opunly'.
     whereof we haue knowyng by trewe tellyng of myracles
     shewede wioutfor.
         Touchinge e first manere of merueiles, it is a fulle
  35 grete merueile at by vertue of cristes wordes, brede is turnede
     in to goddus body, & wyne in to his blode. And to streng vs
     in byleue of is merueile, we shole haue in mynde, at he with
     e self miht of his worde made alle e worlde of nouht, & of
     e ribbe of Adam'. made Eue in flesh & blode & turnede e
  40 wife of Loth in to an ymage of salt, & Moises erde turnede
     in to a serpent, & welles & wateres of Egipte turnede in to
     blode.
         Wherfore sien god almihty wrouht alle ees
     merueiles & many moo, abouen e reson of man, & e



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     comune course of kynde'. whi may he not also by e self miht
     turne brede in to his body? ere is none reson to preue e
     contrarye, bot if we wolde sey at god were not alle mihtye,
     at god forbede.
   5     Also it is a grete merueile, at e self body of oure
     lorde Jesu, at sitte in heuen vpon e fadre riht halfe, is
     verreyly & holely in alle e places of e worlde where is
     holy sacrament is tretede, soely contynede in at sacrament,
     in e self flesh & blode at was conceyuede of e holy goste,
  10 & born of e blessede virgyne Marie, & henge vpon e crosse
     for oure sauacion.
        is may not be comprehendet fully by mannus reson'.
     bot onely stande in byleue, Neuerles ere is a maner of like
     merueile in kynde, at a worde spoken of one man to miche
  15 peple'. is holely in him at speke it, & also in alle oo at
     heren it be ei neuer so many.
        It is also a grete merueile at so grete a body of oure
     lorde Jesu is fully & holely comprehendet in so litel a quantite
     of e hooste, & erwi also if at hoste be dep artede in to
  20 many sm ale partes, it is als fully in euery part, as it was in alle
     e hole.
        Hereto also is a maner of likenes at we seene in
     kynde. Howe e ymage of a mannus grete face, & of a grete
     body is seene in a litel Mirrour, & if it be broken & departede'.
  25 it in euery parte it seme alle e hole ymage, & not in partye
     after e partes |r[117r] of e glasse so broken.
        Many oere wonderfulle merueiles oure lorde god alle
     mihty worche in is precious sacrament, of his endeles mercy
     to oure gostly confort & hele of soule, e whech we mowe not
  30 comprehende, by kyndly reson & our bodily wittes'. bot onely
     by trewe byleue, & erfore it is grete foly & gostly perile, to
     seke curiously in ymaginacion of reson e merueiles of is
     wori sacrament. Bot it is moste sikere namely to a symple
     soule, & suffice to sauacion touchinge e forseide merueiles
  35 & alle oer of is blessede sacrament, to enke & fele in is
     manere, us hauen holy doctours tauht, & holi chirch
     determinede, & erfore us I trowe & fully byleue at it is in
     soenes, ouh my kyndely reson aeyn sey it.
        For as seynt Gregory teche, at Fei ha none merite,
  40 to e which mannus reson iue experience.
        Touching e seconde maner of merueiles & miracles
     shewede without for by vertue of is holy sacrament, & in
     is holy sacrament'. as we fynden writen. For re skilles oure
     lorde shewe in diuerse maneres oo miracles & merueiles in



|p230


     is preciose sacrament. at is to sey, sumtyme to confort hem
     at bene in trewe byleue of is blessede sacrament, & to
     kyndle hir loue erby e more feruently to god & to
     wirchipyng of at sacrament.
   5     Also sumtyme by speciale grace fort conuerte & turne
     to trewe byleue'. hem at bene out erof, & also sumtyme to
     opune prefe of e grete vertue erof in delyuerance of peynes
     & sauyng fro bodily meschefe, & gostly. And of eche of ees
     re'. I shalle telle shortly sume merueiles & myracles at I
  10 fynde writen, e whech bene of so grete auctorite as to my
     felyng'. at ere may no man aeyn sey hem'. bot he be worse
     an a Jewe or a payneme.
        Touching e first at is to sey'. how oure lorde
     sumtyme shewe opunly merueiles & miracles of is blessede
  15 sacrament to confort hem at bene in trewe byleue & to
     kyndle hir hertes in to e more feruent loue of god'. we fynde
     writen in e life of e holi confessour seynt Edwarde kynge,
     whos body lith in shryne at Westminstre, e which life, as for
     |r[117v] e more auctorite in soenes'. wrote e wori clerke & holye
  20 Abbote of Ryuaws seynt Alrede us seyinge touching is
     matere:
        In at wori monasterye of seynt Petur at is clepede
     Westminstre, & at e autere dedifiede ere, in e wirchipe of
     e holy trinite'. as e forseide holy kynge Edwarde herde
  25 messe on a day, with e wori Erle clepede leveriche, e
     which with his noble wife Godiue e contesse was fondere of
     many wori houses of Religion, what tyme it came to e
     consecracion & goddus body in forme of brede was halde vp
     to e peple siht bytwix e preestes handes after e vse of holy
  30 chirch'. he at is fairest in shappe before alle mennus sones
     oure lorde Jesus criste apperede bodily in at hoste to boe hir
     sihtes, liftynge vp his riht hande & makyng a crosse towarde
     e kynge blessinge. And an e kyng with lowtyng of his
     hede, honouryng e presence of goddus maieste'. mekely with
  35 alle e body dide reuerence to so wori a blessyng. Bot e
     Erle at sawe e self siht, not knowyng what was in e kynges
     herte'. & after desiryng at e kynge miht be parcynere of so
     grete & wori a siht'. began to go towarde e kynge fro his
     place, at was perantere on side beneen, as longede to his
  40 astate. Bot e kynge vndurstandyng what was e Erles entent'.
     seide to him in is maner, Stande Leveriche stande'. for at
     ou seest I se also.
        Aftere is ei boe of so ioyfulle a siht gostly
     confortede, & turnede alle in to deuout praieres & swete



|p231


     weping teres'. were made gostly drunken of e plente of
     goddus house, & fedde with e ryuere of his souereyn ioy &
     gostly likyng. And after e ende of e messe, ei at were so
     blisfully refetede with at gostly mete'. comunede to gider of
   5 e forseide heuenly siht with swete teres & inwarde sihynges,
     oft sies brekyng hir speches.
        And en seide seynt Edwarde, My dere Leveriche I
     pray e & charge e by at hye maieste of him, at we haue
     so graciously seene, at neuer while we lyuen is inge be
  10 brouht fore in to e comune knowyng, leste we erebye falle
     in to veyn glorie & pride, orh e opinion of e comune peple
     to oure gostly de, or leste e enuye of misbyleuyng men |r[118r]
     lette & destruye trewe byleue to e wordes hereof.
        Wherfore after e forseide Erle was gone fro e kynges
  15 court'. by e inspiracion of e holy goste as it is to byleue, he
     was tauht, so at he kept e biddyng & e heste of his lorde'.
     & it erwi at hye vertues miracle sholde not be fully
     vnknawene, to hem at were after to come. For afterwarde he
     came to e monastery of Wircestre, & ere in confessione to
  20 a religious man he tolde e forseide miracle, chargyng him in
     manere as e kynge hadd charget him, & prayinge at he
     wolde write e priueyte of so wori a vision, & putte it in
     siche a place'. at it miht be vnknowen to hem at an were
     lyuyng'. & at it miht be knowen to hem at were after to
  25 comyng.
        And so dide at holy man after e Erles praiere, he
     wrote alle e ordre & manere of e forseide vision in a bille,
     & leide it among reliques closede in a cofre, e which cofre
     longe tyme after e kynges de without mannus hande orh e
  30 miht of god, as it is to byleue was fonden opune.
        And an breerne of at place bisily serching e
     reliques fonden e forseide bille & radde it, & after for als
     miche as ei wolde not at so grete a tresour & wori miracle
     sholde be hidde'. ei puplyshede it opynely in e eres of e
  35 peple.
        And so as e kyng wolde, it was for e tyme hidde, bot
     after by e ordinance of god puplishede & knowene to at
     ende, at e kynges mekenes erby as hidde shuld be preuede,
     & neuerles erwi by opune knowyng of at grete miracle, e
  40 fei of trewe byleuyng men sholde be confermede &
     strengede, to e wirchipe of oure lorde god Jesu, at of his
     speciale grace worche sech miracles & merueiles in at
     blessede sacrament of his preciose body in speciale confortyng
     of trewe lyueres, & more feruent stiryng to his loue. Amen.



|p232


        Also acordyng to is self purpose I fynde writen in e
     longe life of seynt Hugh bishope of Lincoln, & first Monke of
     e ordre of Ch arthous & Prior of Witham, e which life wrote
     a chapeleyn of his & monke of e self ordre at herde & sawh
   5 at he wrote. And among oer in is manere sentence seyinge:
        It befelle vpon a setturday |r[118v] e forseide bishope seynt
     Hugh duellyng at a manere of his clepede Bukedene as he
     sange a messe of oure lady after his comune custome in at
     day'. ere herde his messe with oere a deuout Clerke at was
  10 sende to him by speciale reuelacion of god. Whereof ere is
     writen a faire processe touching a noer matere, e which we
     passen ouere here.
        And as to oure purpose what tyme it was come to e
     sacringe as e bishope helde vp goddus body in forme of
  15 brede'. ere aperede to e siht of e forseid clerke, bytwix e
     preestes holy handes oure lord god Jesus bodily in likenes of
     a passyng faire litel childe. Of e which siht, he at sawh it
     inwardly compuncte as no wondre was, & hyely stirede in to
     feruent deuocion'. contynuede alle e tyme of at messe in
  20 swete teres & deuout praieres, til it came to at place, where
     e hooste sholde be lift vp aboue e chalice, & be departede
     in re. At e which tyme he sawh eft in e self liknes e
     forseide Jesu goddus son of heuen, offringe him self in
     sacrifice to e fadre for mannus hele & sauacion.
  25     After e messe was fulle endet'. e self clerk spekyng
     with e holy byshope in priuete'. tolde him first e reuelacion
     before nemede, & after at faire vision of goddus body here
     declarede, & erwi at e ende with shedyng teres in is
     maner concludyng'. seide us, I sawh my holy fadre with myn
  30 vnwori eyene, at blessede siht, e which it is no doute bot
     [] at e seene it also miche more clerely for lengir & nerre &
     more worily.
        And erwi boe e bishope & he with swete teres
     comunyng gostely a grete while to gedir'. after at e conseile
  35 of e bishope & biddyng fort kepe e forseide vision priuey'.
     e clerke became a religiouse man, & after holy lyuyng here'.
     went to blisse euerlastyng. Amen.
        Touching e seconde cause of myracles & merueiles
     shewede in is blessede sacrament of goddes body'. at is to
  40 sey fort conuerte hem at bene of misbyleue in to e trewe
     byleue'. First we redene in e life of seynt Gregory pope &
     wori doctour in is maner sentence:
     ere was a Matrone of Rome e which euery soneday
     offrede to |r[119r] seynt Gregore certeyn lofes of brede, whereof was



|p233


     made goddes body. And vpon a day when seynt Gregour
     wolde haue comunede e forseide woman with one of hem at
     was consecrate, & made goddes body, seying after e comune
     vse of holy chirch in ees wordes, e body of oure lorde Jesu
   5 criste kepe e in to euerlastyng life'. she brest out in to a
     dissolute lawhtere. And an seynt Gregour widrowe e
     sacrament fro hir, & kept it in to e ende of e messe, & after
     before e peple he askede e Matrone whi she lowh, & en
     she seide, by cause at ou clepedest goddus body e brede
  10 at I made wi myn handes.
        And an seynt Gregour felle done in to hees praieres
     to god for e misbyleue of e woman. And after at he rose
     vp, he fonde e sacrament turnede in to e likenes of a fynger
     in flesh & blode. Wherorh e woman was fro hir misbyleue
  15 turnede in to e trewe byleue, & so after with e self
     sacrament by praiere of seynt gregour turnede in to e likenes
     of brede as it was before'. she was comunede, & more stifely
     sette in trewe byleue of is blessede sacrament'. & also oer
     orh hir'. to e wirchipe of e hye gracious auctour &
  20 worchere hereof oure lorde Jesus criste. Amen.
        To is self purpose acordyng also I fynde writen in e
     forseide life of seynt Hugh, at vpon a tyme as seynt Hugh
     goyng orh France was innede for e tyme in a town, at is
     clepede Joye'. ere came to him e parish preste of e towne,
  25 e which was an olde man & a reuerent in siht, & wondre
     leene for grete penance doyng for his sinne as it was
     supposede, & whereof it folowe after in processe, e which
     I take as in short wordes to oure purpose, & e self preste
     tolde of him self in is manere:
  30     When I was onge he seide, I was made preste, bot
     neier eres nor maneres acordyng to at wori degre'. orh
     temptacion & stiring of e feende I felle in to a grete dedely
     sinne. In e which sinne I contynuede without contricion &
     confession, at is horrible to here, so as I was pollute in body
  35 & soule & gostly blynde & seke in e fei. I vsede to synge
     my messe boldly & dredde not to trete & receyue at |r[119v] wori
     sacrament of cristes precious flesh & blode. And vpon a day
     as I was atte my messe in tyme of e consecracion felle to my
     mynde e grete horrible sinne at I hade so longe tyme
  40 contynuede in'. & among oere wrecchede ouhtes of my
     blynde herte'. I ouht in is manere, Lorde wheere at
     precious body in flesh & blode of my lorde Jesu at is clepede
     e brihtnes of euerlastyng life, & at gostely mirrour of e
     godhede without wemme'. is nowe made, tretede & receyuede



|p234


     verreyly of me so foule & abhominable sinnere'. And so
     hauyng sech vnthrifty ouhtes, when it came to e tyme of e
     fraction'. & as e vse is I hade broken e hooste in tweyn'.
     anone fresh blode ranne out erof, & at part at I helde in
   5 my hande was turnede in to flesh & alle ouere wete with e
     rede blode.
        And erwi I seynge is'. was also astonede &
     abashede, & welnere out of my witte, & so as forloste e
     consele of alle reson'. alle at I helde in my handes I lete falle
  10 done in to e chalice.
        ere was an to see & it now is, a wonderfull
     myracle, at is to sey, wyne turnede opunly to mannus siht in
     to blode & brede in to flesh, declaring expressely e forme &
     e soenes of at blessede sacrament.
  15     Forermore he seide, when I sawe ees manere of
     likenes abide stille without any turnyng or changyng'. I dorst
     nomore touche hem bot priuyly I hilede e chalice with e
     patene, & e patene with e corporase, & after e messe was
     done & e peple awey passede'. I sette e chalice with oo
  20 holy reliques, at it in to is day be contenede erinne in
     conuenient place be side e autere with dewe reuerence to be
     kept.
        After is I went to e pope, & made to him my
     confession with soefast tellyng of alle e case before seide,
  25 & of alle myne sinnes. And after he hade enioynede me
     penance & dewe satisfaccion'. he assoilede me & lete me go.
     And so aftere e miracle publishede & knowen, ere comen
     fro diuerse cuntreys mikel folke to see o preciose reliques
     with grete reuerence magnifiynge oure lorde Jesu, at alone
  30 worche sech hye miracles & merueiles.
        And en at e ende e forseide preste |r[120r] preide e
     clerkes of seynt hugh, to e whech he tolde alle e forseide
     tale'. at ei wolde also telle it to him, so at he miht be
     holpene as anentes god orh hees holy praieres.
  35     Ande when ei hade so done'. supposyng at he wolde
     with a grete desire haue gone fort se e forseide merueiles'. he
     answerede in is maner sentence, at is worily to be notede,
     touching e fei of is holy sacrament:
        Wele he seide in e name of oure lorde, Lette hem
  40 haue to hem self oo tokenes of hir misbyleue. What is at to
     vs of ees inges? Wheere we at euery day seene with e
     trewest innere siht of oure soule alle holy & fully is heuenly
     sacrifice'. hauen in merueile e particleres ymages of is ift
     of godde? as who sei naye. Bot let him go see o litel smale



|p235


     porciones erof wi his bodily eye'. at see not alle e hole
     with his innere gostly eye.
        And when he hade us seide, iuyng his blessynge to
     e preeste at his goynge'. afterwarde he reprehendet hees
   5 meyne of hir curiosite, & not onely stablede hem in byleue'.
     bot also declarede opunly, at oo inges at oure fei teche
     vs'. sholde be vndirstande & halde more certaynly of trewe
     byleuyng man'. en oo inges at is erly liht by reson
     shewe to bodily siht.
  10     us oure lorde of his speciale grace by opune miracles
     & merueiles shewede in is blessede sacrament'. drawe sume
     folke out of hir misbyleue, & stable hem & strengh in trewe
     byleue as it is nowe shewede in tweyn maneres.
        Touching e ridde cause of shewyng myracles &
  15 merueiles in is blessede sacrament, at is to opune prefe of
     e grete vertue erof in delyuerance of peynes & sauynge fro
     bodily meschefe & gostly'. seynt Gregore telle in hees
     Dialoges'. & also in an Omelye vpon at gospel of Luke,
     Siquis venit ad me &c. How er was not longe before his tyme
  20 a man taken by enmyes & ladde in to ferre cuntreye & ere
     leide in prison & set in harde bondes longe tyme. And after
     many daies his wife at harde no more of him, & supposede
     at he hadde be dede'. lete synge euery wike ones a messe, &
     offrede |r[120v] e sacrede hooste for his soule, & also oft as oo
  25 messes were sedone for his soule'. so oft tymes, his feteres &
     bondes were lowsede in at prison. For longe tyme after when
     he was delyuerede oute of prison & comene home in to his
     owne cuntre'. he tolde his wife with grete merueile howe at
     certeyne dayes euery wike, his bondes were lowsede &
  30 vndone, & his wife bisily acontyng & notyng oo self dayes'.
     vnderstode wele & hade knowlech at als oft as she lete offre
     e sacrede hooste for him'. so oft was he lowsede & his
     bondes vndone.
        And en e forseide seynt Gregore conclude in is
  35 sentence, Wherfore dere breerne, hereof in certeyn
     consideracion take & gedire in to our mynde of e sacrede
     hooste at is offrede of vs, how miche it may in oure self
     vnbynde gostly e bonde of oure herte, sien at it offrede of
     one man'. was of so grete vertue at it miht lowse in a noer
|r  40 e bonde of his body.
        Wherfore miche owe euery preste to loue fort synge
     his messe oft sies, & fort dispose him erto by clene life &
     contricion & confession.



|p236


        To is self purpose also e forseide seynt Gregore
     telle in at boke clepede Dialogus, how vpon a tyme, when
     a bishope was in e see towarde Rome & ere came vpon him
     so grete a tempeste at he was in despeire euer to skappe &
   5 come to lande'. e shipman at was in a litel bote folowyng
     e shippe, after at e rope wherewith e bote was bonden to
     e shippe, by violence of at tempest was broken'. sodeynly
     with e self bote he was so cast among e wawes of e see'.
     at e bishope sawe no more of him. And afterwarde when e
  10 bishopes shippe after many periles was driuen to lande in a
     certeyn yle'. e ridde day he went by e see side bisily
     lokyng wheere he miht haue seen of e bote or of e shipman
     before seide, bot when he miht not se of hem in any partye of
     e see'. supposyng at e shipman was drownede & dede'.
  15 hauyng grete sorowe for him'. he lete singe a messe & offre e
     heleful sacrifice of goddus body for e assoilyng of his soule.
     And after warde in e self shippe restorede he toke e see |r[121r]
     towarde ltalye, & when he came to e hauen of Rome'. ere
     sodeynly he foonde alife e forseide shipeman at he wende
  20 hade bene dede. Whereof gladde & ioyful'. he askede him in
     what manere he miht life so many dayes in so grete perile of
     e see'. And he answerede & tolde, how oft sies in e flodes
     of at tempeste he was cast vp & done, nowe aboue e bote
     ful of watere & now vnder, & at e last what for trauaile &
  25 what for fastyng, when he was so ouercome & nere dede, at
     he wist neiere forsoe wheer he slept or woke'. sodeynly
     him ouht at one aperede to him in middes e see'. & afe
     him brede to ete, e which also sone as he hade eten, he toke
     strenge, & sone after in a shippe, at came ereby he was
  30 taken & brouht to lande safe.
        And when e bishope hade askede of him &
     vndirstande e day in e which he hade receyuede e forseide
     brede, & was revigorede'. an knewe he wele at it was e self
     day in e which he lete e preest singe for him, & offre e
  35 sacrede hooste in e forseide yle for his soule.
        us shewe oure lorde opunly by myracles & merueiles
     e souereyn vertue of is blessede sacrament, & at not onely
     in helpyng & sauyng of men alyue as it is now here before
     seide'. bot also at is more to charge in lowsyng & vnbyndyng
  40 of soules heen passede out of e fir & e peynes of
     purgatory, as e self seynt Gregore telle in e forseide boke
     pleynly of a monke, at for e sinne of proprete was in e
     peyne of purgatory, & after at e sacrede hooste was offrede
     for him ritty dayes, he was relesed & deliuerete out of peyne.



|p237


        And also howe a noere soule was delyuerete out of
     peyne'. by vertue of at blessede sacrament offrede for it alle
     e daies of a wike.
        And here mowe we se opun prefe of e passing profite
   5 & vertue of speciale messes done & songen boe for e
     qwikke & e dede.
        For als e self seynt Gregore sei, e holy sacrede
     hoost syngulerely & souereynly helpe to vnbynde oure soules
     fro synne, & moste principaly plese e kyng of heuen, &
  10 make him sawht to vs'. when he come to deme vs so at |r[121v]
     it be offrede with teres of compunccion & clannesse of herte.
        For he at in him self risyng fro de shalle neuer dye'.
     it by is blessede hooste in his mistery suffre eft for vs. For
     als oft as we offre to him e hooste of his passion'. so oft we
  15 maken new to vs his passion to oure vnbyndynge fro sinne.
        us oure lorde Jesus fulle of mercye, & shewyng to vs
     souereynly his endeles mercye in makyng & iuyng of is
     moste preciouse gostly mete of his blessede body, worche in
     diuerse maneres as it is seide hees merueiles & miracles
  20 opunly shewede in is excellent sacrament, & it continue
     priuely & wondurfully'. ere he vouche safe in hem at by
     trewe byleue & loue dreden him.
        Bot is loue & drede wante many grete clerkes, e
     which leuen so miche vpon hir owne kyndely reson, & e
  25 principales of philosophy, at is mannus wisdame grondete
     onely in kyndely reson of man'. at ei wole not leue e trewe
     fei tauht by holy chirch of is blessede sacrament, & erfore
     ei fele not e sofast confortable effecte of e merueiles &
     myracles before seide neier opune nor priuey touchyng is
  30 holy sacrament.
        Wherfore miche folke is deceyuet in at party at
     raere iuen credence to at a grete clerke teche acordyng to
     kyndely reson'. en to at holy chirch teche hereof onely in
     byleue aboue reson.
  35     For ere may no man sonere erre in byleue of e
     sacramentes of holy chirch & specialye in is hye wondirful
     sacrament of cristes precious flesh & blode'. en may grete
     clerkes, bot ei haue grace of trewe mekenes & loue drede,
     wherby ei leue hir owne witte & kyndly reson'. & submitte
  40 hem lowely by trewe byleue to e doctrine of holy chirch.
        at grace god graunt vs specialy of his grete mercye in
     ees last dayes at bene as it seme nihe to e comyng of
     Anticriste & hees disciples, e whech shole principaly foonde
     to destruye e trewe fei of is blessede sacrament, & at by



|p238


     grete clergy of mannus konyng, & by merueiles & miracles
     worchinge, as seynt gregore in his morales vpon at worde of
     criste in e gospel spekyng of Anticriste |r[122r] & hees disciples'.
     sei in is sentence, ere shole rise vp fals cristenmen & fals
   5 prophetes, & ei shole shewe & worche grete signes &
     wondres in to so miche, at ei at be goddes chosen folk if
     it may be, shole be brouht in to errour. Soely sei seynt
     Gregore now oure trewe martires worchen merueiles'. what
     tyme ei suffrene tormentes & peynes, bot en at is to sey at
  10 e comyng of Antycrist'. hees disciples when ei iuen
     tormentes & peynes'. ei shole also erwi worche miracles.
        Lette vs an enke & haue in mynde what temptacion
     of mannus ouht, at shale be'. when e meke martire
     submitte his body to tormentes'. & neuerles e tormentoure
  15 before hees eyene worche miracles, whose vertue shalle an
     be so saddely grondet in byleue'. at he ne shalle be meuede
     in his ouht'. what tyme he see at he at tormente also
     erwi, by signes & merueiles opunly shyne? For an shalle
     Antyrciste by hye in wirchipe by merueiles worching'. & harde
  20 & sharpe by cruelte of tormentyng.
        ees bene e wordes of at holy doctour seynt
     Gregore; & many moo spekynges of e wondrefulle miht of
     Antycrist, & hees disciples, & e grete temptacion at shalle
     be at tyme to cristien men. And it is likely by reson, at as
  25 e moste confort of oure cristien byleue, stant in is moste
     excellent sacrament of cristes bodye'. so Antycrist & hees
     disciples shole principaly worche in to destruccion first of e
     trewe byleue of is blessede sacrament in e forseide tweyn
     maneres, at is to sey by clergy & euidence of worldes
  30 konnyng acordyng to naturele reson'. & by merueiles &
     miracles worching in fals deception.
        And of e first manere worching, we haue seene in
     oure dayes, howe e disciples of Anticrist at bene clepede
     Lollardes, hauen made mich dissension & diuision in holy
  35 chirch, & putte many men in to errour of is blessede
     sacrament, by e fals doctrine of hir maistere e whech orh
     his grete clergy & kunnyng of philosophye was deceyuede'. in
     at he af more credence |r[122v] to e doctrine of Arestotele at
     stant onely in naturele reson of man'. an he dide to e
  40 doctrine of holy chirch & e trewe doctours erof touching is
     preciouse sacrament.
        For Aristotle teche as kyndely reson acorde at e
     accidentes of brede or wyne, at is to sey e colour, e sauour
     & so for of oere'. mowe not be bot in substance of brede or



|p239


     wyne after hir kynde. Bot e doctrine of holy chirch is, at in
     is blessede sacrament, by speciele myracle of god aboue
     kynde, e colour e sauour, & oere accidentes of brede &
     wyne bene ere with out hir kyndely subiecte, at is to sey
   5 without e substance of brede & wyne, at was before e
     consecracion.
        And for als miche as is doctrine of holy chirch is
     aeynus e principales of philosophie at is naturele science'.
     erfore e forseide maister of Lollardes reprouede it &
  10 scornede it, & so he errede him self & many oere made to
     erre touching e byleue of is holiest sacrament, e whech
     euen more credence to him for e opinion of his grete clergy'.
     an to e trewe doctrine of holi chirch.
        And us it in oure dayes ha Antycrist wrouht in e
  15 first manere before seide, by is fals maister of Lollardes &
     many oere of hees disciples in to destruccion of trewe cristien
     byleue touching is blessede sacrament of cristes body, &
     many oere poyntis aeynus holi chirch'. without e seconde
     manere, at is to sey worching of merueiles & miracles. For
  20 & Antecrist hade in hem hadde so grete powere, at ei hade
     with hir resones, also wrouht merueiles & miracles'. it hade be
     likly at holy chirch & e trewe byleue specialy of is
     blessede sacrament, in grete partie hade bene destruede for e
     vnstablenes of e most party of e peple, not wistandyng e
  25 grete merueiles & miracles many & fele at oure lorde ha
     shewede here before in is holy sacrament as it is seide'. to
     streng vs & stable vs in e trewe byleue at holy chirch ha
     tauht vs ereof.
        In e which byleue by reson we sholde be so saddely
  30 sette'. at after e sentence of e apostle Poule, ouh |r[123r] ere
     came done an Angele fro heuene & tauht e contrarye'. we
     sholde not iue credence to him, bot halde him as cursede, bot
     soe it is at ere may none trewe Angele teche e contrarye
     of e byleue of holy chirch, & erfore he at so do'. is e
  35 Angele of Sathanas & not of god, as bene alle e fals
     lollardes, e whech hauen neier trewe drede nor parfite loue
     of oure lorde Jesus, & erfore ei fele not e gostly swetnesse
     of is heuenly mete of his precious body, ne e likyng mynde
     of hees merueiles shewede in at blessede sacrament.
  40     Bot we at orh grace standen in trewe byleue as holi
     chirch ha tauht vs in is souereyn holiest sacrament'. with
     gostly likyng of soule haue we in mynde, not onely e
     merueiles & miracles writen & prechede of at holy sacrament
     in diuerse maneres shewede as it is before seide'. bot also



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     considere we how at oure lorde Jesus of his vnspekable
     gudenes shewede to mankynde he iue him self to vs euery
     day bodily in at precious sacrament, as in a conclusion &
     most special[e] mynde of alle his blessede life, to souereyn
   5 confort & helpe of oure wrecchede life, e which is fulle of
     temptaciones & ouere sette with many enemyes. Wherfore it
     is spedeful to vs contynuelye to crye after helpe of e
     souereyne vertue of is blessede sacrament, by e wordes at
     holy chirch singe in e ympne of is sacrament us, O ou
  10 helefulle hooste at opunest e dore of heuen, e batailes of
     oure enmyes oppressene & ouersettene vs, wherfore iue vs
     streng of wistandyng & brynge vs i helpe to hir
     ouercomyng.
        Also to wistondyng of temptaciones & ouercomyng of
  15 vices, to getyng of vertues & encrese of feruent affecciones in
     e loue of oure lorde Jesu'. as for a fulle ende of alle his
     blessede life before writen'. her folowe a shorte deuoute
     praiere to him & his blessede body in e sacrament of e
     awtere, e which owe to be seide in presence of at holy
  20 sacrament at e messe with inwarde deuocion:


        |r<b> [H]Eyle holiest bodye of oure lorde Jesu criste at art
     nowe |r[123v] soefastly contynede here in is moste excellent
     sacrament. I knowlech e my lorde god wi my moue. I loue
  25 e with alle myne herte, & I desire e with alle e inwarde
     affeccion of my soule. I beseke e swete Jesu, at ou vouch
     safe of ine souereyne gudenes, is day so benyngly &
     graciously to visite my seke soule, desiringe to receyue e
     gostly oure helefulle sacrifice & welle of alle graces'. at I
  30 may with gladnes fynde medicine & hele in body & soule, be
     vertue of i blessede presence. Beholde not lorde Jesu to myne
     wikkednesses & manyfolde negligences & myne grete
     vnkyndenes, bot raer to ine souereyn mercye, & endles
     gudenes. Soely ou art at holy lambe wiout wemme of
  35 sinne'. at is day art offrede to e euerlastyng fadre of heuene
     for e redempcion of alle e worlde.
        Oo ou swettest manna, Angeles mete, O ou moste
     likyng gostly drinke'. bringe in to myne inwarde mouth at
     honyswete taste of ine helefulle presence. Kyndle in me e
  40 feruour of ine charite, qwench in me alle maner vices, shede
     in to me e plente of vertues, encrese in me e iftes of
     graces, & if me hele of body & soule, to i plesinge. Mye
     god, I beseke e, at ou wille so graciously bowe e, & fro



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     i hye heuen nowe come done to me, at I knittede & ioynede
     to e, be made one spirite with e.
        O ou wirchipful sacrament, I beseke e at alle myn
     enemyes bene putte awey fro me, by e streng of e, & alle
   5 myn sinnes foriuene, & alle wikkednesse be excludet by e
     blessede presence of e.
        Gude purpose lorde ou iue me, myn maneres ou
     correcte & amende, & alle myne werkes & dedes ou dispose
     in ine wille. My witte & vnderstandyng, by e swete Jesu be
  10 made here clere wi a newe liht of grace. Myn affeccion be
     enflaumede with fire of i loue & myne hope confortede &
     strengede with is blessede sacrament'. so at my life here
     profite euer in amendyng to bettur, & at e last fro is
     wrecchede worlde with a blissede departyng, at I may come
  15 wi e to life euerlastyng, Jesu lorde |r[124r] by vertue and grace of
     i life blessede wi out endynge Amen. amen. amen.


        Jesu lorde i blessede life'. helpe & confort oure
     wrecchede life. Amen.


        [E]xplicit speculum vite christi complete.
