|b[e_Pater_Noster_of_Richard_Ermyte
|b_from_Westminster_School_Library_MS._3,_ed._F._G._A._M._Aarts.
|b_The_Hague:_Martinus_Nijhoff,_1967,_pp._3-56.]



|p3


HERE BIGYNNE E PATER NOSTER
OF RICHARD ERMYTE

        To his dere sistir in God, Goddis hondemayden 7 his spouse, gretynge
     in hym, likynge in his mercy 7 his pees oru myt of his grace. He be
     wi ee euere 7 wi alle at wi stedfast bileue haue certeyne hope in
     hym.
 |r5    Dere sistir, ou wost wel, e more a man ha vndirstondyng of rit_wisnesse
     7 e openlier at he knowi God, e more likyng he ha 7
     e more he it loue if he be good. And fori aren men of religioun 7 oer
     clerkis boe comfortide in soule, for ei vndirstonde what so ei rede in
     eire preieres or elliswhere in holy writt. And oo wymmen at be
|r10 religious, al if ei kun rede 7 synge 7 here preier make, as falli to
     religious, not fori vndirstondynge hem wanti in at at ei preie or
     rede oerwhile. And it, oru ifte of God, as miche goostli likyng 7
     perauenture more ei haue as clerkis of depe witt 7 of grete vndirstond_ynge.
     Ffor goostli ioie come not of greet clergie, but of loue, aftir at
|r15 men or wymen loue oure Lord lesse or more. |r[f.1v] Ffori [this] I seye to
     ee, for I vndirstonde at whanne ou makest i preier to i Lord Ihesu
     Crist, ou woldest, if it were i Lordis wille, hertily vndirstonde at ou
     preiest with mou. And for noing ellis but onely for to kyndil i loue
     to hym 7 more lerne to loue hym, to whom ou i preier makist. Ffori
|r20 I beout me oru e grace of oure Lord to vndo ee e pater noster.
        is is at oon special preier at Ihesu Crist ha taute vs for to seye.
     is preier bilouke seuene preieres. And I wil echone of e seuene, e
     vndirstondynge of euery preier bi itself, sundrily vndo, aftir at God
     wole lit my pore witt oru wissynge of his grace.
|r25    is preier ouerstie alle oer 7 ouergoi in dignyte, in worines
     [and] in price; it ouerweie alle. In dignite alle oer it passi, for Ihesu
     Crist hymself it made 7 taute it vs to seye, at wot al e wille of e
     fadir of heuene 7 wist at is preier was most to his wille 7 wot what
     we wrecchis haue most nede to. Ffor as I rit now seide, he at is
|r30 preier made, Ihesu Goddis sone of heuene, he oonly wot |r[f.2r] 7 sofastli
     knowe al e wille of e fadir 7 al at vs nedi he wot bettir an oure_seluen.



|p4


     And is preier ouerweie alle oer preieris in worinesse, for
     it bilouke al at we haue nede of to lyf or to soule.
        And se now on what wyse we biseche God e fadir in is preier at
     he delyuer vs 7 kepe vs fro yueles 7 at he gyue vs alle goodis. And vn_dirstonde
 |r5 now on what kyns maner al e yuel at vs harme oier it
     is e yuel at is passid or e yuel at is to come or e yuel at is now.
     Of e yuel at is passid we preie oure Lord at he delyuer vs whan we
     seye: Dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut 7 nos dimittimus debitoribus
     nostris. Lord, we seye, foryue vs oure trespases don aens ee, as we
|r10 foryuen hem at haue mysdon to vs. Aein e yuel at is to come we
     preie to hym whanne we seye: Et ne nos inducas in temptacionem. at
     is: Lord, lete vs not falle in no fondyng. Aein e yuel at we now olen
     we preyen: Set libera nos a malo. at is: delyuer vs fro al maner yuel.
     Also, on oer halfe, euery maner of goode at is, it is ouer worldly or
|r15 goostly or goodis at aren lastande. We preye to hym |r[f.2v] aftir worldis
     goodis whanne we seye: Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie.
     at is : Lord, ou yue vs [oure] echedayes foode, at is ech day bodily
     sustenaunce. We preie aftir goostly goodis whanne we seyn: Ffiat
     voluntas tua sicut in celo 7 in terra. at is: we biseche ee, Lord, at we
|r20 mot here on ere do i wille, as in aungelis i wille don in heuene.
     Aftir lastande goode we preie to hym whan we seye: Adueniat regnum
     tuum. at is: graunte vs, Lord, at we may come to i blisse. at he
     graunte vs ese preieres six 7 conferme hem, we preye ere we seye:
     Sanctificetur nomen tuum. at is: i name be halewid in vs, so at what
|r25 so we se, here or speke or worche, al we moten ordeigne it to i knowyng
     and to e worschipe of i name, at halewid was wioute bigynnyng. It
     be halewid in vs, so at we moten hym se in his blisse, not as in a
     myrour, but wiouten ende, soly as he is wioute lettynge.
        es aren e seuene preieres of e gospel at oure Lorde taute his dis_ciplis.
|r30 is preier owi to be seid wi likyng of soule, wi certeyn hope to
     spede of al at we in is preier skilfuly hym biseche. |r[f.3r] But he at wole
     preie 7 spede of at he in his preier aski, do e biddyng of e wyseman
     at sei: Ante orationem prepara animam tuam 7 noli esse quasi homo
     temptans deum. Bifore at ou i preiere make, graye i so ule 7 be not
|r35 as a man at tempti God. He tempti God at maki his preier recheles_ly.
     enke at ou stondist bifore i mytful Lord of heuene, ou wrecche,
     synful 7 nedeful of his grace to haue, wiouten drede 7 lowynge of iself,
     whan e holi Patriark Abraham, Goddis priue frende, to whom as to his



|p5


     priue ofte he spak, it wi grete drede to oure Lord he spak ere he seide :
     loquar ad dominum meum cum sim puluis 7 cinis. at is: I schal speke
     to my Lord, I at am but poudir 7 asches.
        How ou schalt graie ee to i preier, God e techi in e gospel of
 |r5 seynt Mathew ere he sei: Tu autem cum oraueris, intra in cubiculum
     tuum, 7 clauso hostio ora ibi patrem tuum. at is: whanne ou wolt make
     i preier, steppe into i bedde 7 schit i dore 7 anne make i preiere to
     i fadir. Steppe into i bedde, he sei, as if he seide: if ou wolt |r[f.3v] at God
     here i preier 7 graunte e i bone, calle in herte home, at is e loue
|r10 at is in in herte, likynges 7 ernyngis holde hem at home wi ee. And
     whanne ou hast hem alle gederid togidere, steke i dore, at is stoppe
     alle e irlis of i wittis, at in herte vnwarly ne glide not out 7 make e
     gilti bifore oure Lord, whanne ou his grace schuldist wynne, at ou
     wynne ee not peyne.
|r15    Ffori whanne ou bifore i Lord standist i preier for to make,
     anne schalt ou vmenke ee how many sies 7 how grisly ou hast
     synned aeyns i Lord 7 how harde peynes 7 stronge in e eendeles fier
     of helle for i synnes ou schalt ole. Ffro e whiche peynes for to wynne
     ee out of [it es full harde, heuy and dolefulle. Ffor whi] e boondis of
|r20 synne at ou lyest inne 7 longe perauenture hast don, [ai bynde the so
     faste and so sore], at oru no myt of oureself may we arise, but oonly
     oru e mercy 7 goodnesse of hym at ou preiest to. oru isilf ou
     myt falle, but not arise, as God oru e prophete sei: Perdicio tua ex
     te tantum, set ex me salus tua. at is: i losse 7 in harme of iself arise,
|r25 but i hele 7 i socour |r[f.4r] arise of me, he 7 of noon oer.
     eues techen vs to preie 7 at e streit domesman mercy to fynde. A
     eef at is ouertaken wi efte 7 ledde for to take his doom, he feli at
     ing at he ha stoln hevy lyande trussid in his necke. He is drawen 7
     iugide, as a eef owi to be, to his doom. Bifore his ien he see redily
|r30 greied e peyne at he schal to. He see turmentoures on euery syde bi_sette
     to do hym woo, as he ha wel deserued. Whanne he see at he is
     us bisette, I trowe at he is careful ynow; wi teeris hertily mercy he
     crie. And e nerre at he come to e peyne, e hastilier mercy he crie.
     What are we but eues ateynt 7 fals traytours, whanne we synne 7 mys_take
|r35 aeyn oure derwore Lord? Als sone is doom of dee yuen vpon vs
     7 e turmentoures of helle redy wi e fardel of oure synnes trussed in
     oure necke to drawe vs to peyne 7 to plungen vs into e deep pit of helle,



|p6


     ere in pyne wiouten ende to be, but if e mercy 7 e goodnesse of hym
     whom wi oure waried synnes we haue wraid lettynge make. Ffor as
     sone as we haue synned, we aren as e eef at is ouertaken 7 ha e
     corde aboute |r[f.4v] his rote at he schal be hongid wi or his hed leid on a
 |r5 stokke of for to smyte.
        If we an in suche perel be fallen oru gilt of oure synnes, me inki
     at myche nede we haue wi bittir teeres mercy [to] cryen to oure Lord 7
     knowen to hym oure giltis 7 wi hertily preier hym biseche at he hem
     vs foryue. And forsoe knowynge of oure giltis with meke preyer schal
|r10 fynde mercy at e streyt domesman. Ffor is witnessi hooly writt,
     ere he sei: Si quis cognouerit plagam cordis sui 7 extenderit manus
     suas, tu exaudies in celo. is is: who so knowi e woundis of his herte,
     at is his giltis at he ha don aen God, 7 lifti vp his herte 7 his hondis,
     mercy criande wi meke preier, Lord ou schalt here hym 7 ou schalt
|r15 here his preier in heuene 7 graunt hym [e] ernyngis of his herte.
        But perauenture sum man enki in herte: euery day I preye 7 I fare
     neuer e bettir for my preier. As wel faren ei at not preyen as I at
     preye. Wherfore me inki I tyne my tyme whan I preye. Who hopist
     ou putti at in mennes out? Witirly noon but e envious enemy,
|r20 e feende of helle, at euer ylike |r[f.5r] procuri wi his wrenchis 7 wi his
     fondynges to lette men 7 widrawe hem fro alle ese goode dedis,
     werkis 7 outis or preieres at myt helpe hem to wynne e blisse at
     he fel fro. Ffor so envious he is 7 so he is bolned of greme, at ouer
     al inge he erne man to drawe to pyne. And al at in hym is he doi
|r25 man idir to brynge. And fori, if it so bityde whanne ou i preier
     makist or oerwhat so ou doist at may be God to queme, if e curside
     feend any suche yueles putti in i out, lifte vp i rit hand 7 croys ee
     in stidfast hope of Goddis helpe 7 smyte hym wi e hooly roode token,
     at he stirte abak. And vndirstonde what God biheti ee oru e
|r30 gospel, ere he sei: Amen dico vobis: quicquid orantes petitis, credite 7
     accipietis. at is: I saye soely to ow: what so ee asken preiande,
     trowi stedfastly 7 e schal haue. at is ee schul spede of oure preier,
     but if oure yuel lijf it lette. Ne lete not fori litly of i preier whan ou
     preiest, for God, to whom ou preiest, leti not litly erby. Ffor als
|r35 sone as it is out of i moue, he comaundi to his aungels of heuene
     at ei it write |r[f.5v] in e book of lijf. And feifully trowe at of oon or two
     ou schalt spede. Ffor ouer schal God yue ee at ou in i preyer askest
     or at he knowi to ee is bettir to haue, but lettynge on i side it make.
        And ou schalt vndirstonde at fyue ingis letten preier of God to be



|p7


     herd. e first is yuel lijf of e preyande. at oer is at men aske not
     in preier at were for to aske. e ridde en is foule outis 7 ydil at
     men enki, when ei aske here preyer. e fere is hardnesse of herte.
     e fife en is litil ernynge of at men aftir preyen.
 |r5    e first at letti preier to be herde is wickid lijf of e preyande. Ffori
     speki God oru e prophete to suche at preyen wi synnes: Cum
     multiplicaueritis orationes vestras, non exaudiam. at is: when ee
     maken manyfold of preieres to me, I ne here ow not. And why? Aftir
     sone e enchesoun he telli 7 what? Quia manus vestre sangwine plene
|r10 sunt. at is: for oure handis aren ful of blood. As if he seide: fori I here
     ow not, for oure handis aren ful of synful werkis, at e blood bi_tokene.
     is vndirstondi wel Daui ere he sei: Iniquitatem si aspexi in
     corde meo, non exaudiet dominus. at is: If I se any wic |r[f.6r] kidnesse in myn
     herte, God wol not here me. Ffori he at wole be herd of God in his
|r15 preier, aforce hym at he lyue ritwisly aftir e wille of God. And ellis he
     may longe crie ere God hym here 7 at is no wondir. Ffor seynt Gregori
     sei: what wondir is it ou we, preiande to God, late ben herde, sie we
     his biddyngis late or neuere wole heren? Ffori sei a greet clerk Isodre :
     he ne may oru skil certeyn hope haue of his preieres for to spede at
|r20 likyng ha to synne. Ffori he sei: he at wistondi e biddyngis of
     God, rit it is at God wistonde hym in ingis at he desire. And if we
     don at God biddi vs, at we preyen hym he wole graunte vs. Ffor as
     e salme sei: Oculi domini super iustos 7 aures eius ad preces eorum.
     at is: Goddis ien ben euere on e ritwise and his eeris listenande his
|r25 preieris.
        at oer lettynge is at we aske not in preier at were for to aske.
     And God fori to his cosynes, at preiden hym aftir suche ingis at
     ei schulden not aftir haue preide, sturnely he seyde: Nescitis quid
     petatis. ee ne wot, quod he, what ee aske. He saw at ei asked at
|r30 was aens hem, |r[f.6v] for ei asked to be honoured 7 worschipid in is world.
     Ffori God wistood hem 7 seide: mowe ee, quod he, drynk of at
     drink at I schal drynk of? he Lord, seide ei. And ee schulen, quod
     he. As if he seide: at mykil harmes 7 in manye maki weye to yuel ne
     wil I ow graunte, ou ee it erne. But I wil at ee as my priue
|r35 drynkyn here of my cuppe wi me, at is here ole penaunce, as I do, 7
     sien in my blisse as my dere freendis be honoured wi me. Ffori aske



|p8


     e wiseman: wherto, he sei, erne e fool oo ingis at hym harme?
     Rit ofte we preie to God as onge childre doon in scoles, at preien to
     God at ei be not beten. But God heri hem not ne doi not for here
     preier, ffor if ei weren not betyn, it were a lettyng of here lore. So ofte
 |r5 we biseche God of ingis at be aens vs. Fori, as in at, God ne wole
     vs here, but he fulfille oure preier in sumwhat ellis, at he see to vs is
     more nedeful.
        What may helpe, what may harme, bettir wot e leche en e sike.
     Ffori doi God wi vs as e leche doi wi e seke, at he myche
|r10 loue 7 desire for to hele. at he |r[f.7r] desire he do to be holden fro
     hym. Ffor ofte he at seek is desire at myt be his dee. And he
     graie hym suche ingis to note at his herte stondi aeyn, oru
     whiche he casti hym out of his yuel 7 maki hym hool 7 sounde. us
     do oure trewe leche, oure Lord God almyti, at ha vs as vndir his cure 7
|r15 ha vndirtaken vs to hele, if we wol suffre. He see at we as seke don
     mourne 7 callen aftir ingis at aren aeyns vs and at may brynge vs
     to e dee ere we last wene, for to be lorn, boe lijf 7 soule, to e peyne
     wiouten ende. What do oure trewe leche, at desire oure lijf 7 not
     oure dee? [He hereth wel at we vnwysely aske. We desyren oure deth],
|r20 but he turne oure askyng into soule heele and doi widrawe fro vs at
     we desiren, in as myche as it myt lettyng make to soule heele. We preyen
     hym aftir heele 7 he sendi vs sekenes. We preien hym aftir pees 7 he
     sendi vs werre. We preyen hym aftir richees 7 he sendi vs pouerte.
     Manye wolde go to helle, nyf summe of ese re lettynges made. And
|r25 bettir it is wi seeknes wende to wele en wi hele to woo, wi pouert
     to blisse an wi richees to pyne. Certeyn tokenynge it is of dee,
     whanne e leche to e seke graunti hym al his wille. |r[f.7v] So ne ys no more
     [certeyn] token of goostly dee, as is when God leti e synful haue al
     his wille.
|r30    Ffori, if ou wolt wite what ou schalt preye, seynt Poule e techi.
     Herken what he sei: Que sursum sunt querite, non que super terram.
     Preye e aftir oo inges at ben aboue, he sei, not aftir oo ingis
     at ben vpon e ere, at is grace 7 ioye; grace in is lijf 7 ioye aftir,
     when we heen wende. ese two schal men aftir preye bifore alle oer.
|r35 And en schal God yue vs to auauntage of erely goodis at vs nedi.
     Ffor is bihette God vs in e gospel of seynt Mathew, ere he sei:



|p9


     Querite primum regnum dei 7 hec omnia adicientur vobis. Sechi at
     e first oru preier e blisse of heuene 7 ritwisnesse [7] of erely
     goodis at ow nede is I schal yue ow to sustenaunce. Ffor erely
     goodis aren ordeyned to sustenaunce of hem at ben ritwise, ffor
 |r5 ritwisnesse maki of erely men Goddis children. And God is holden
     wi sustenaunce to helpe his children and namely he at is callid fadir
     of mercy, at alle creatures susteyne oru his grace 7 his good_nesse,
     ne wole |r[f.8r] he not his owne dere childre forete. Ffori, if it so
     bitide at man aske erely goodis of God, he owe to aske hem wi
|r10 drede, bisechyng to e fadir of heuene, if he see at ei ben nedeful for
     to haue, at he graunt hem, if ei ne ben, wiholde hem. Ffor at we
     haue nede of betir wot he an we and betir it is at God vs here to oure
     profyt en to oure wille.
        e ridde at letti oure preier to be herde be idil outis and foule,
|r15 at we deliti vs inne when we to God oure preier make. And ei
     fordon e mede at we oru preier schulde wynne, aftir at o outis
     be manye or fewe. ei at wi suche ydil outis preien, ei haue
     hony in here moues, but ei fele no swetnes at chateren as don
     pyes 7 not preie. Of siche en speki oure Lord ere he sei: Populus
|r20 iste labijs me honorat, set cor eorum longe est a me. at is: is folk
     honoure me wi here lippis, but here hertis aren fer fro me. Ne is
     not is grete wrecchidnesse of vs, vnwori caytifs, synful 7 nedeful, when
     we to e mytful Lord of |r[f.8v] heuen in oure preier speke and we as vnwitti
     turnen oure eeris awey froward hym, worldly vanytees for to here, enke
|r25 or see? Soely greet despit we do to God when we preien hym at he
     oure preier here and we at preyen wol not here at we preyen oure_self.
     We preye hym at he be entendaunt to vs 7 we at preyen noier be
     we entendaunt to hym ne to oureself. But it, at wers is, wi vnclene 7
     vnnayt outis in tyme of preier lete oure hertis be defouled 7 so foule
|r30 foyled at not or litil we preye or do oure Lord to paye. Ffori, if we
     wil is lettyng fordo at of oure mede so mykil vs fro reue, we moten do
     as Abraham dide. In e book of Genesis it telli when Abraham to oure
     Lord his sacrifice made e foules eronne litid 7 stood 7 it wolde haue
     foyled. But what dyd Abraham at is saw? Als sone, with al his myt,
|r35 he chased hem awey; ne wolde he suffre hem ere for to reste. When we
     oure sacrifice make, do we also, ffor preyer is sacrifice at is to Crist
     leuest. Fori orou e prophete of vs he it aski ere he sei: Sacrificio



|p10


     laudis honorificabis me. at is: ou schalt worschipe me with sacrifice |r[f.9r] of
     louynge, at is sacrifice to God. e holy man witnessi ere he sei what
     preyer is: Oratio est angelis solacium, diabolo tormentum, deo sacri_ficium.
     at is: preyer is solace to aungelis, turment 7 peyne to e feend 7
 |r5 sacrifyce to oure Lord.
        e fore lettynge is hardnesse of herte 7 at is on two maners. e
     first is aeyn e pore. is witnessi e wyseman ere he sei: Qui
     obturat aurem suam ad clamorem pauperis, clamabit ipse ad dominum
     7 non exaudietur. is is: he at stoppi his eeris, at he here not e
|r10 criynge of e pore at crye to hym aftir helpe, he schal crye to God 7
     he hym schal not here. Anoer hardnes of herte is anentis hem at
     haue misdon, of man at wole not foryue, to whom God speki
     ere he sei: Relynque proximo tuo nocenti te 7 tunc deprecanti tibi
     peccata soluentur. at is: foryue hem at haue harmede ee 7 enne,
|r15 whan ou preiest God, i synnes schullen be foryuen to ee. And it in
     e gospel of seynt Mark God sei: Cum stabitis ad orandum, dimittite si
     quid habetis adversus aliquem, vt pater vester, qui in celis est, dimittat
     vobis peccata vestra. Quod si vos non dimiseritis, |r[f.9v] nec pater vester, qui
     in celis est, dimittet vobis peccata vestra. at is: whanne ou standist
|r20 for to preye, foryue hem at haue harmed ee, so at i fadir, at is in
     heuene, foryue ee i synnes. If ou nout hem foryue at haue mysdon
     aens ee, i fadir of heuene i synnes ne wil not foryue ee. Lo here a
     streyt doom of God aeyns alle oo at ha ire 7 wrae in hertis aeyns
     here breer or systres, as in at while ei lesi here tyme, what so ei do.
|r25 e fyfte is at man desire not hertily at he in preyer aske, as many
     do at preye wi an heuy herte 7 a dul, as ei at ne recche wheer ei
     of here preyer speden or faylen. Ffori sei seynt Austyn: God ne wil not
     as sone yue vs at we in preyer aski, but he holdi it to oure bihoue
     euere to we wi alle oure hertis desyre it. And why ? Certis at we lerne
|r30 greete ingis gretly to erne. Ffor as sei seint Jerom: as wynd doi to e
     cole, so doi deuout desiryng of herte to preyer, ffor it kyndeli e
     preyer 7 quykene 7 forci hym 7 drawi hym out on lenge 7 wynne
     of God al at he wil.
        Whanne we oru |r[f.10r] Goddis grace ese lettyngis haue fordon and oure
|r35 hertis stablisschid, an may we hope at vs schal come at we in preyer
     biseche. In hope us vs sette oure Lord whan he lerne vs to calle



|p11


     hym oure fadir at is in heuenes, ffor in hym men owen to haue certeyn
     hope at may 7 wole alle goodis yue at oure soule [erne], e which
     is vndirstonden oru is word: Pater noster, at is: oure fadir. And e
     power oru is word: qui es in celis: at is in heuenes. In as myche as
 |r5 God techi vs to calle hym oure fadir, in at he maki vs to vndirstonde
     at he loue vs as his dere childre and at he wole yue vs of his goodis
     aftir we haue nede. And wite ou wel forsoe at, ou alle e loues at
     euere were, or at euere hadde fadir or modir to here childer, were
     festened in oo loue, it ne myt it ritly by a ousande parte reche to e
|r10 loue at God ha schewyd to vs. And at we may vndirstonde oru
     e grace of God, if we wil see on what maner he is oure fadir 7 what he
     ha don for vs.
        At e first bigynnynge, whan God made alle creatures of nout, we ne
     may fynde where he made any creature to his liknes |r[f.10v] but man oone.
|r15 Ffori is he God 7 maker to alle creatures 7 alle ingis at aren in is
     world 7 not here fadir called but here maker. But to vs for his mykil
     mercy he is oure God, oure maker 7 oure fadir, ffor oure soules he made
     to his owne liknes, at is to e liknes of e fadir 7 of e sone 7 of e Holy
     Goost, at is oo soifast God 7 re persones. And alle ingis of is world
|r20 he ha maad vs to serue, why at we serue hym 7 loue hym as kynde
     childre owi to do. Ffor as sone as we leue e loue of hym for e loue of
     e fleisch or of any oer erely ing, we leese e lordisdome of is worlde
     7 bicomen rallis to so vyle ingis, ere we were so fre as e kyngis sones
     of heuene 7 lordis of alle e world. Allas, wickid chaffare is is; who so
|r25 vndirstondi e baleful lere at erof arise [he suld ful sore hym dred].
     Dere sistir, ne was it a token of greet loue whan God, at [is] wioute bi_gynnyng
     7 is in oon wiouten chaungynge 7 schal be wiouten endynge,
     at is so mytful 7 so wyse 7 so good at no tunge may telle ne herte
     enke 7 in whom is lijf 7 ioye endeles, deyned hym to make vs to his
|r30 owne liknes, |r[f.11r] whanne he myte haue leten vs ben a litil ere, of e which
     he made vs? Or myt haue made vs haue ben, hadde it ben his wille, a
     toode or a neddir or sum oer forschapen beeste, so at we schuldyn
     haue dyed togydere body 7 soule. And dyd ouer oure desert 7 made vs
     men 7 af vs soule to his holy liknes for to be as corowned kyngis in his
|r35 endeles blys. It is noon so harde herte at it ne aut to melten altogedir in
     loue to God, if it wolde enke hertely of his grete grace 7 loue at oure
     Lord ha schewyd to hym bifore alle oer creatures.
        And it he dide wel more oru his mykil mercy, whan we oru oure
     waried synnes departiden oureself fro hym 7 bicome rallis to e loely
|r40 feendis of helle. anne he, for e mykil reue at he hadde of vs, sent his



|p12


     derwore sone, at is oo God wi hym, to take fleisch 7 blood in at
     blessid mayden Mary wiouten tak of synne. Of hire he took liknes of
     ralle to suffre in at liknes pouert, mysese 7 pyne, as he synful were, he
     at neuere synne wrout. And oled at e ende so schameful 7 peyneful
 |r5 dee at no tunge |r[f.11v] may telle ne herte enke. And why? Certis oonly vs
     synful 7 gilti of his dee for to reuen out of e deuelys prisoun 7 brynge vs
     aeyn to his blis. ere he wole vs corowne wi e coroun of eendeles ioye,
     if we vs kepe wel fro synne 7 do his wille, at for vs dyed on e rode tree.
        Now hauest ou herde two ingis in e whiche God ha schewid at
|r10 he is oure fadir 7 so tendirly loue vs as his dere childre. e first is at
     he made vs to his liknes. at oer is at he bout vs wi his dee. Ffor
     e first is man holden to serue hym [7] to loue [hym] wi al his myt.
     What schal we anne do for at oer? Ffor if I be bounden wi dette for
     to loue God 7 serue hym wi al my soule, wi al myn herte, euere 7 ay
|r15 wiouten ende, for at he made me 7 aue me soule to his owne liknes, as it
     was comaundide in e olde lawe, ere God took oure kynde 7 bicome
     man, what may I now do to hym, at for me, synful 7 his enemy, lowed
     hym so mykel at he bicome man 7 af hymself al to me, whan he wolde
     for me, vnwori wrecche, for his mykil mercy ole so woful |r[f.12r] pyne 7 so
|r20 schameful dee? I ne wot what I may here say, ffor, ou I myte lyue a
     ousande eeris 7 myte eche day suffre as bittir peyne as he suffrid for
     me, it were not to at loue at he ha schewide to me. Whan he at is
     sofast God 7 Goddis sone af hymself for me, how may we anne 7 on
     what wyse quyte hym is riche ifte, at he to vs, vnwori wrecchis, so
|r25 frely 7 so kyndely, to vs vnkynde so largely, to vs vnserued so riche
     tresour wolde yue? So, weileaway, bi manye may he inke his traueil
     lost 7 birewen e while.
        Lo what is to don in aquitaunce of is dette oru Goddis grace to
     oure derwore Lord. Ne aske he not ellis of vs but at we lowen vs to hym
|r30 7 mekely knowe oure feblenes 7 oure wrecchidnes 7 at we vndirstonden
     at we noing haue of oureself but oonly synne, but good, if ere any be,
     it is of God 7 not of vs. Defoule we oure fleisch 7 pyne [we it] wi pe_naunce,
     aftir at it may olen, as it is wel wori 7 wreke [we] oure Lordes
     good dede. And wi tendre teeris crye we mercy to hym, at he saue vs
|r35 oru his hooly name and gyue vs wherof we may hym paye, ffor of oure_self
     ne haue we wherof ne wherwi. Ffori Dauid sei: Quid retribuam



|p13


     domino pro omnibus que retribuit michi? Calicem salutaris |r[f.12v] accipiam 7
     nomen domini inuocabo. at is on englysche: what may I elde to God
     for alle ingis at he ha ouen to me? I schal take, he sei, e coupe of
     heele - [is coupe of heele] at Dauyd calli at is e coupe at Ihesu
 |r5 Crist drank of - and I schal incalle e name of God. is coupe is bittirnes
     of penaunce 7 peyne at Ihesu Crist oled fro e tyme at he into is
     worlde come vnto e tyme he oled dee. It lefte hym neuere, ou al he
     vngilty were, as he at neuer synned 7 as vnsynful at neuere serued peyne
     for to ole.
|r10    Wi wrong we, synful 7 vnwori wrecchis, wiouten penaunce or peyne
     at ioye at he bout so dere wene for to wynne. Ne truste noon therto.
     Certenly, he at wole haue at ioye, he mut wynne it here wi woo.
     erfor are we cast here in ere as in prisoun, wi penaunce oure synnes
     here for to rewe, oure body wi traueyl for to defoule, not feyntly but
|r15 hertely, not today bigynne 7 tomorew stirt abak, but quykly spende
     oure body in penaunce to oure lyues ende. is is e penaunce at God
     leide on vs oure synnes for to bete, ere he seide to Adam, oure former |r[f.13r]
     fadir, sone aftir he hadde synned: In sudore vultus tui vesceris pane tuo,
     donec reuertaris in terram de qua assumptus es; quia [puluis es 7] in
|r20 puluerem reuerteris. ese wordis weren seyd to Adam [aftir] he hadde
     synned 7 is was e penaunce at God on hym leyde 7 reule wheraftir
     he 7 al his osprynge schulde reule here fleisch. Who so fro a lit reule
     turne to haue an heuy, fro a softe to an hard, newe lawe 7 newe lore
     hym is nede to haue wel to kepe at lijf at he hym to take. But oure
|r25 former fadir, ere he hadde synned, was in an ordre softe 7 ful of likyng al
     at his wille, whan he was louand to God 7 his body to his soule so free
     at noing myt harme hym, no de myt dere hym, not at he wolde
     haue wantid hym. But as it is an olde englische: he at ne may suffre e
     wele wi e woo, he hym pleyne ou he no woo ole. Ffor man ne
|r30 wolde ole at hym was wel ne payed was of at ordre at God hym
     inne stabled, at so free was fro alkynnes peyne at his likyng. Myty
     God oru his ritwys doom sone hym out cast 7 stabled vndir |r[f.13v] a newe
     reule, swie hard to ole, 7 bond hym wi ese wordis his lijf for to lede,
     whan he to hym seyde: In sudore vultus tui, 7 cetera. at is on englische :
|r35 in swoot of i face ou schalt ete i breed, euere to ou turne into e
     ere at ou art maad of; ffor ou art pouder 7 into pouder ou schalt
     wore.
        re ingis we felen in vs at strenge oure fleisch aeyns e spirit,



|p14


     e whiche ingis aren ese: Idilnes, glotenye [7] gelous kepynge 7 tendre
     ouer e fleisch. Ffori in es wordis God aue vs a reule, oru which
     aens ese re we schulden reule vs. And firste aeyn ydilnes, at we
     traueile oure fleisch here, not wi an heuy herte 7 dul, but quykly 7
 |r5 stalworely. And is is vndirstonden in is worde: In sudore vultus tui 7
     cetera. In es wordis God byndi man to werkis of penaunce. Whan men
     worchen at ei sweten tokenyng [it] is at ei worchen hertily and stal_worely.
     Sweet comunly folewi eche bodily trauel hertily wrout. And
     us sweet come not but oru hete. By es twoo is vndirstonden good
|r10 wille at werkis of penaunce |r[f.14r] ben done stalworely 7 wi loue, at e
     heete bitokene, not feyntly ne wi aruwe herte. Seint Ambrose sei by
     e olyfaunt, at is a beste of so myche strenge, at he may bere on his
     bak a castel or a tour, maad of tree, wi many armed men erinne. So
     bolde he is of herte at for al e oost of e armed folk at toward hym
|r15 come wi speres 7 swerdes 7 oer eggid wepenes hym for to slee ne
     wold he not stirt for ferdnes of hem alle to wende. ou is beste ouer
     alle oer stalworest be, he durke 7 dare whan he a mous see 7 so
     aferd he is of at litil beste at he trembli as a leef, as he hertles were.
        us it fari bi many men now vpon ere, at aren stalwor 7 bolde to
|r20 putten hem to peril on se 7 on londe, to fastyng 7 wakyng, to hunger 7
     urste, to colde 7 to hete 7 to oer suche hardeschipes to olen. And
     why? Certis worldly biete to wynnen onely, as es couetous don, oer for
     fals preisyng of is world to wynnen, as proude 7 noble men ouerdon or
     as strotiers 7 leccherous men don, at are stalwore, as hooly writt witnes_si,
|r25 to do yuel: ffortes sunt vt faciant mala, bene |r[f.14v] autem facere nesciunt.
     at is: ei aren stalwore to don yuel, but wel kan ei not do. But a
     litil penaunce for here synnes or for here soule hele make hem to drede 7
     to qwake as an aspyn leef, whan ei erof [here] to hem speke, at for
     bodily hele for to wynne many hardschipis wolden ole: boe faste 7
|r30 wake 7 forbere al at e fleische desyre, ete 7 drynk, bittir 7 wyk, ou
     hym wlatide. He wol suffre of to smyte honde and foot at e biddyng of
     his leche, ou it wolde pyne hym sore. it wolde he it ole his heele for
     to wynne, at for his soule heele a litil penaunce wol not vndirtake, but
     he sei at he is seek 7 feble wial, whanne e preest to hym any pe_naunce
|r35 nemene. And wel he sei 7 soer en he wene, for he is ouer_feble
     ony good to done at ha an yuel wille. But forsoe, wolde man as
     ferfor preue his force in werkis of penaunce as in oer werkis at falli
     to vanytees of e fals world, he myte fynde at he myt ole more en
     he ole. Men preue hemself what ei may don, how fer ei may keste
|r40 e stoon, how fer ei may renne; echon striue wi oer. ei preue here



|p15


     strenge wi wrastlynge, wi |r[f.15r] fitynge, maystri for to wynne. But in at
     at falli to God or here soule heele al here strenge is sone ouercaste
     oru arewnes of herte 7 ligge 7 crye, crauaunt oru a wayke wille.
     Ffori sei seynt Jerom: Lord, he sei, forgyf vs, for we feyne vs 7 turne
 |r5 oure bak vpon ee, for in oo werkis at to ee fallen noon wole preue
     what he may do.
        Seynt Jon 7 seynt Jame, cosynes to oure Lord, when he hem askid
     if ei myten ole pyne 7 dee, as he schulde do, als sone ei answeride 7
     seyde: we may. And we ne may ole a litil penaunce at helpi e soule 7
|r10 not harme e body 7 it ne lasti it but a while. Nede it bihoue
     us to be; he at wole haue at lastande wele, here wi peyne he must
     it wynne. Ffori God sei as it abouen is writen: In sudore vultus tui
     7 cetera. at is: [in] sweet of i face. God oru is word he yue vs
     to vndirstonde at he wol at man yue his body to penaunce, aftir
|r15 at it may suffre or aske skilfully, and at he ne spare it not 7 resoun
     why? e body is ouun to e soule as cloing here to weren. is is at
     Job sei to oure Lord: Pelle 7 carne vestisti me. at is: Lord, wi
     skyn 7 fleisch ou hauest clad me. en ha God euen |r[f.15v] e fleisch to e
     soule as a wyntir roobe to hille ee fro tempestis 7 stormes. A swyer at
|r20 serue a good man at cloe hym twies in e eer, for wyntir 7 for somer,
     e wyntir robe he weri in his lordis seruyce, ne spare he it not in
     tempestis ne in stormes. Ffor he wel wot in e somertyde his good lord
     wole yue hym anoer newe. Wyntir bitokene is wrecchid lijf at we
     now lyuen inne. God is as oure good Lord 7 we his swyers 7 his sow_dyours,
|r25 of whom we holde at we haue, body 7 soule 7 al at we lyue by
     in is world. is Lord gyue vs here for is wyntir oure deedly body as
     wyntir robe for to were, on such a forward at, if we defoule is robe 7
     alto ryue it here in his seruyce, he biheti vs a newe, briter en e sunne,
     at euere schal laste, world wiouten ende. And as ou seest at men
|r30 cloe for wyntir roobyng wi greet cloo 7 foule, for somer [with] cloo
     at is sotil 7 smal, lit 7 brit of hewe, so doi oure Lord wi vs. He
     yue vs here a foul body, heuy 7 dul 7 schapen to peyne, for to kepe
     stormes 7 tempestes. But in e somertyde vs schal be ouen e robe at
     lit schal ben 7 faire 7 whyte |r[f.16r] 7 swie brite wial. To telle of e brit_nesse
|r35 ne is mannes speche. To defoule is wyntir roobe wi werkis of
     penaunce God hymseluen forbyse vs ha yuen. at swete robe at he
     of at mayden took at Mary men calli, at e Holy Goost wiinne
     hire wombe schoop, not for hymself but for vs, lete it alto ryue. Ne



|p16


     wolde he sparen; so hertely erwi he swank, as e gospel telli, at
     blody swoot ran fro his face, stremande to e grounde.
        Seynt Austyn sei: ffor Goddis sone ne hadde in his godheed wher_inne
     he pyne myt ole, fori took he oure kynde en, at he ne were
 |r5 wiouten peyne. Sien at he vngilti peynes suffride, wi woo 7 al wi
     wrong, and we, vnwori wrecchis, at peyne haue disserued to haue, 7 we
     passedyn wioute, forsoe aeyns skil it were. Ffor ritwys is e fadir of
     heuene 7 we so wreccheful at he wolde at his oonlepy sone for mannes
     synnes pyne oled 7 deed here in ere, ere at he wolde mankynde were
|r10 vnwreken. Ne wolde he it foryue or it were fully quytte. is is at hooly
     writt witnessi ere he sei: Proprio filio suo non pepercit, set pro omni_bus
     tradidit illum. |r[f.16v] at is: God e fadir [so] hatide synne at he af his
     owne sone to e dee for to fordo [e] synne at al mankynde hadde don.
     erof speki seint Bernard 7 sei: he at wol not forbere his owen sone,
|r15 how schal he forbere his vnnayt ralle? Sweet come of hete 7 hete
     bitokene loue, to vndirstonden at werkis of penaunce, but ei ben
     wrout wi loue 7 in charite, ei ne are not medeful. Aftir at men haue
     loue lasse or more, so ben here werkis wore lesse or more.
        So nedeful is is vertu at charite men calle at wiouten is noon
|r20 may be saaf. is witnessi seynt Poule ere he sei: ou I coue speke
     alle langages of men 7 of aungeles, au I hadde prophecye 7 al maner of
     wisdam, so at I knew alle ingis, 7 ou I hadde herto so mykil troue
     at I myte mountayns flitten 7 sette where I wolde, if I herewi hadde no
     charite, I am nout wor. If I yue al at I haue to fede wi e pore, if I
|r25 yue my body to alkyns bittirnes of penaunce to ole 7 to brenne in e
     fier, if I herto haue no charite, alle es ne helpe nout. And why? For
     vertu is nout wiouten charite. Loo, seint Poule rekkene here e
     noblest |r[f.17r] vertues 7 werkis at owen most to make men mede to wynne, as
     penaunce 7 martirdom 7 e pouer to fede, wisdom 7 prophecye 7 stidfast
|r30 bileue. And ees, wiouten loue 7 charite, ne is God to queme. Ffor haue
     a man neuer so myche of erely goodis, as gold or syluer or oer worldis
     catel, ouer of kyndely goodis, as witt and wisdam, fairhed or force, for
     alle oo dampned may he be, but he hem warly spende to e worschipe of
     God 7 of his soule hele. Or if he do bodily werkis, as tiliand men don,
|r35 or wasti hymself wi swynk, as werkmen don, or goostly werkis deliten
     hym to don, as to pyne his fleisch wi fastynge 7 oer hardschipis [to]
     ole, e hungri to fede, e nakide to cloe 7 oer dedis of mercy to do



|p17


     hem alle on rowe, for alle oo at I haue now nemmened, but ei in
     loue be don 7 in charite, to e pyne of helle dampned may he be. Of so
     mykil myt is is vertu at charite men calle, at a man orugh fastyng
     of oon day at he in loue doi more mede it wynne hym in e blys of
 |r5 heuene en anoer schal wynne hym oru fastyng of a eer, at is to
     say if charite hym wanti. |r[f.17v]
        If ou haddest a ryng of gold at were wor two schillyngis or re, if
     men fastned a ymston in e ryng 7 e ryng eraftir myt be solde for an
     hundred pounde, ou mytest soely say at is ryng were mykil amen_did
|r10 oru is ymston at erinne were fastened. us it is bi loue. e
     widew, as e gospel telli, offred but a fering to Goddis hous. is was a
     pore ifte 7 of a litil pryce. But for sche is sely fering wi grete loue
     aue, wi Zachee sche gate euenynge in mede, at of al at he hadde half
     aue to pore. Wel en was is pore ifte amendid richely oru hertly
|r15 loue at erto was fastened. Ffor God ne loke not oonly to e ifte,
     but he loki wi what loue e ifte is ouen. Mikil ing seme good at
     is not good, for it is not don with a good wille, as werkis at aren don
     for veynglorye or for to haue word erof [or] for to lese oers goodnes.
        e holy man seynt Gregori telli bi an hooly bischop at men called
|r20 Ffortunate, at chased oru e grace at he hadde of God a foule goost
     out of a man. e which goost anoon, rit aein e euentide, |r[f.18r] dyd hym in
     liknes of a pilgrym 7 wente oru e cytee, criand at here bischop, at
     ei helde so holy, hadde put hym out of his hous. As he went us criande
     7 spekande yuel of at good man, oon of at cyte, at hym herde us
|r25 speke, called hym to house 7 sette hym bi e fijr 7 af hym mete 7 drynk,
     syche as he hadde. When ei of dyuerse ingis hadden told togider, is
     cursyd spirit stert ouer e fijr to a cradil at e mannys child lay inne 7
     strangled e child 7 vanyschid awey sone anoon. And why hadde e
     foule spirit pouste us to quite his hoost his good deede? Seint Gregory
|r30 answeri 7 sei is at is man hadde a fals likynge in at he herde is
     spirit, at he wende hadde ben a pilgrym, speke yuel of at good man and
     [in] at entent he called hym to house, at he wore holden of charite more
     en e bischop. Who so wole haue mede for his good deede of God,
     louely it do 7 wi a good wille and en schal noon vnwyte reuen hym
|r35 his wele. Ffor not aftir e werke but aftir e loue almyti God schape
     oure mede to vs. Charite is at oon weite at |r[f.18v] on e day of doom lie
     in e weie at schal weien oure mede at we schulen haue.
        In sudore vultus tui. e toer poynt of is reule at God ha sette to



|p18


     man for to lyue by en is at man norische not ouerdeliciously but wi
     mesure hymself. at is vndirstonden in is word: Vesceris pane tuo.
     ow schalt, he sei, ete i breed. Breed yue strenge to e body 7 of
     alle metes it is most comoun. Noier he speki in is of swannes ne of
 |r5 pekokes, cranes ne herouns, ne of oer likerous metes, of fisch ne of
     fleisch, baken ne roosted, ne ett of sewes. Of hem noing he nemene, in
     tokenyng at man schal be payed of comun metis 7 drynkis 7 it in
     mesure he hem take 7 not ouer skille. Who so of at taki more en hem
     nedi, it wol make hem to snaper 7 to synne 7 namely in gloteny 7 sien
|r10 into leccherye fouly for to falle. Ffor suche aliaunce is bitwene ees two,
     aftir at oon comunly at oer folewe.
        e wyseman it sei, trowe it who so wole: to a glotoun it were in_possible
     chast for to be. Ysaac, e patriark, when he hadde dronken e
     wyn 7 eten at he wende were venesoun and folewed his lust al |r[f.19r] at his
|r15 likyng, sone anon, rit aens his wille, his onger sone he made his heyr,
     ne dide he neuere ing at hym so sore birewyd. Loth, at amonge e
     synful God helde so good, so he lefte his witt oru drynkyng of wyn
     at wi boe his doutres he vncomly synned. Si so holy men glotenye
     ouercaste, wel owen alle oer e more to be waar 7 yue hem to sobre_nesse,
|r20 at vertu is grete 7 norys is called at fosture alle goode ewes.
        Danyel, Goddis freend, wi his felawes re, for he hym helde to
     comun metes, ne wolde he hym fille wi e kynges metes, au he
     hem myt haue alle at his wille. Wisdam wi grace he eroru wan
     bifore alle e men at enne weren on ere. His felawes, at sobre
|r25 weren as he, when ei into e hote fier weren bounden 7 cast for to
     brenne oru biddyng of e heen kyng at Nabugodonosor was
     called, e bondes tobrusten, noon of hem wolde holde. And ei walkid
     in myddis e fier, louynge here Lord; here bodies ne here cloes ne
     myt it not dere. And at was no wondir, au it so were. Ffor, as e
|r30 book of Danyel |r[f.19v] soely telli, e heen kyng beri witnes as he in is
     furneys lokede hem to biholde. He seide he saw oon in myddis e
     furneyce wi oo re, a ing likest Goddis sone of heuen. Glad myt ei
     be --so wel y wot ei weren-- for myt no hete of e fier hem dere,
     while ei amonges hem hadden siche oon to fere. oru is myracle in
|r35 bookis clerkis tellen [at] who so loue mesure 7 outrage forberi 7
     wistondi luste of mete at e fleisch wolde haue, au he oru



|p19


     leccherie stirynge may fele, vertu of abstinence schal be his bote, at
     allyngis to grounde he not falle.
        In e ridde poynt of is reule God to vs sei at we not ouergelous
     be ouer oure owne fleisch. And why at we ne schulen he sei sone
 |r5 anoon; ffor we aren taken of e ere 7 into e ere schul wende. is
     ridde [poynt of] is reule men 7 wymmen ouerpassen 7 ouertaken
     at wi curious aray are streyt sett, as cloo vpon e teyntour, at ei
     seme smal kuttid aboue e knees, as au ei schulden wade 7 stampe
     in myres aftir eles, at, were here breches torne, men myten see here
|r10 lychams. Also ese |r[f.20r] wymmen wi here longe tayles, here hedes with
     garlondes aboute bisette, what so may make hem semely is er noing
     failyng; at at is comun wil ei not. So ei aren in cloing prisoned 7
     pynched at if ei oute schulen, e soe for to say, hem bihoue be
     drawen out as an ele out of his skyn. Wolde God ei wist what peryl
|r15 ei ben inne at us wasten here while. Vndirstonde ei wel, what
     so euere ei ben, but if ei birewe hem of suche dedis 7 clense hem
     wi schrifte 7 wi penaunce, boe [for hemsilfe and for] alle oo at
     oru hem [haue synned], gilty schul ei be, man of womman or womman
     of man. Cloing was first euen to man his synful membris to cloe 7 to
|r20 hide, aftir at he hadde broken e comaundement of God, ffor he ne
     myt for schame nakid go. God made hem pilchis 7 af hem to were, at
     ei myt erwi hem happen aeyns e colde. Noer af he hem robes
     of skarlet ne of grene, keuerchefes ne garlondes wi perry frettid, bendes
     ne kelles at wymmen haue ryue, at ei oru hem ne waxe wilde 7 so
|r25 lepe into pryde.
        God ha yuen cloing to man, as I ere seyde, |r[f.20v] his schameful lymes
     to hil 7 to hide, not wi hem hym to poynte, as he an ymage were,
     but in mynde of his gilte, at he myte knowe how mysese 7 how nede_ful
     synne ha hym made. Ffor so faire in kynde he was ere he hadde
|r30 synned, at no more nede hadde he cloed for to haue ben en e
     sonne ha, at schyne so brit. Ne urt hym noing bisy be for to
     make hym faire, no more en e rose at in e erbere springi. But when
     he wi pride God wistood 7 trowed e curside neddere, at hym
     bigiled, his fairnes 7 his fredom awey can glyde. en wist he first, as a
|r35 woful wrecche, at he hadde mysdon. en bihoued hym cloing 7 oer



|p20


     many what to helpen his kynde, at becom so weyke. God en af hym
     cloing, noer to worschip ne to pride, but for to hile hym wi 7 to hide
     fro colde 7 fro stormes 7 as a marke for to haue in mynnyng of his gilte.
        So is cloing to man as howue to scalled man his sore for to hide. God
 |r5 kest man for his synne fro paradis to ere to weilen his synnes 7 here for
     to dree his peyne, not for to make here his heuene. is is ordeyned
     hym to woo 7 [to] drynk wi God here of his cuppe, at cuppe of heele is
     called, to ole |r[f.21r] myldely alkyns penaunce at God here sendi [and
     thenke that man hathe serued a thousande parte more] 7 say wi e holy
|r10 man at to oure Lord preide: Lord, he seyde, I ee biseche wi al my
     pore herte at I here may weyle my synnes; Lord, here alto ryue me,
     eche bon fro oer, at ow me spare at e streyte dome. if man is
     cuppe of penaunce mekely taki 7 knowi hymself vnwori 7 ydel ral,
     as he at ne ha of hymself but onely synne, it wil hym wynne socour 7
|r15 grace 7 to God make hym queme. And e more at man of hymself
     knowynge ha, e more God yue hym of his grace 7 orugh wissyng
     of is grace more he kyndeli in e loue of God 7 more sereues to be
     loued of God. us it was bi oure dere lady seynt Mary, at, a sche
     hadde more of grace en any at euer of modir was born, it sche helde
|r20 hirselue leste 7 more lowed hire en ony oer. Ffori sche fonde grace
     bifore alle oir, when sofast Goddes sone of heuene lit in hire 7 took
     oure kynde in hire.
        Se now heraftir why oure Lord lerne vs in e gospel to say: Pater
     noster. at is: oure fadir, 7 not my fadir. Ffor hereoru he techi
|r25 vs at we schul gedir 7 enclose alle folke in oure preyeres. Ffor alle
     are we |r[f.21v] breer 7 systres, boe cristen men, Jewes 7 Saracenes, alle
     oru oure forme fadir Adam, of whom we are comen, 7 at may
     ow vndirstonde, how is may be, oru e grace of God; I schal [e]
     schewen. Hym ou callest i broer at ha e fleisch of e same fadir
|r30 at ou haddist of yn. Hem owe ow i breer for to holde at ha
     e soule of e same heuenly fadir at ow hast of in 7 of [e same]
     kynde 7 of e same liknes, [for als wel made he hys soule aftir e lyke_nesse
     ] of e holy Trinite as in. And vs aute holde more dere, if we
     witti were, 7 more wori [is broerhed en e toer at cometh of e
|r35 flesche, in as muche as e soule is more noblyer 7 more wuri] an e
     fleisch, and oure heuenly fadir more wori en oure fleischly for to be
     loued. And so we wolde do if we saw as cleerly wi oure gostly ien as we



|p21


     seen wi oure fleischly ien. But for we se not but wi oure bodily ien,
     as doumbe beestis 7 vnwitti, at knowyng noon haue but of breerhed
     at come of e fleisch, roten 7 foule, we ne enk not at e soule of a
     Saracene or of a Juwe [is] as wel made to e liknes of God 7 as wel wi
 |r5 his dee was boute as oures. Allas, what sory ing us haue vs blent;
     take now kepe 7 I e schal say. Noing may bleende e soule but loue
     one |r[f.22r] at fastened is in any worldly ing at endyng ha. Ffori bihoue
     man to fite aeyn hymself 7 fordo his propre wille, if he wole soly knowen
     is holy broerhed at come of oure heuenly fader, at euer schal laste.
|r10 Ffori are men and wymmen boe at is worlde haue forsaken 7 here
     owne wille called breer 7 sustres, not fori at ei nere bifore breer 7
     sustres, but for ei haue is world forsaken 7 here propre wille onely for
     e loue of God, at ei hem to take. en at e first ei vndirstonde 7
     wittirly knowe at alle aren breer 7 sustres at comen of oon fader, at
|r15 is almyty God. And is may ou se oru ensaumple at I wole e
     schewe. Take two breer or two sustres at of oon fader 7 oon moder
     fleischly ben comen. e more at ei haue of erely goodes, ayer loue
     oer e lesse. And ofte at oon desire e dee of at oer for to haue e
     goodes at his weren. And ei loued pouerte as ei don richessis, aier
|r20 oer for to saue dee wolde ole. And is schewi wel to vs oure Lord
     Ihesu Crist, at in ensaumple to vs pore bicome 7 af hymself to schenful
     dee vs for to make his eyres in heuene. |r[f.22v]
        Now parcas may sum man enke at alle men mowe not come to is
     perfeccioun ne gostly urly se at we alle ben breer 7 sustres. And fori
|r25 I wole is matere more opunly schewe, at ou may bettir vndirstonde of
     is broerhed, 7 aske ee on is manere: wheer louest ou i fleischly
     broer fori at he is of e same fleisch at ou art of or fori at he ha
     e fleisch fourmed to e liknes of man 7 ha soule as ou hast? e first may
     not be, at is at ou louest hym for he is of e same fleisch comen at
|r30 ou art of comen. Ffor en als wel woldest ou loue a pece of flesch at
     were coruen of i fadir, and is is not for to say. en it is fori at he ha
     forme of man as ou hast. Now en aske I ee here ouere: who fourmed
     at fleisch into liknes of man, wheer i fleischly fadir or e fadir of
     heuene? Here bihoue ee nedly to answere at e fadir of heuene it
|r35 made 7 not man. Ffor if man it myte make, he wolde make his children
     faire, wiouten lame or lak, knaue children 7 maydenes, when he wolde 7
     as he wolde. at he doi not, ffor when he wolde haue a knaue, he ha



|p22


     a mayden, when |r[f.23r] he wolde haue a faire, he ha a foule. en is is
     fleischly broer no more sibbe [to] ee en is anoer, but in as moche as
     e haue boe one bigynnyng of oure fleischly fadir. Ffor al at is of
     goodnes in body or in soule, or fairnesse or of vertu, if ere any be, it
 |r5 come al fro e fadir of heuene, at ilyche fre is to vs alle.
        Waylowey, at we schul so be bounden to oure fleischly breeren, so
     hem for to loue, oonly for a litil fleisch 7 blood at we haue of e fleischly
     fadir 7 litly 7 so hately lete of at oer at ha forme of man 7 of wom_man
     as we, not of e fleischly fadir but of e fadir of heuen, of whom ei
|r10 haue soule as we. at is e noblest creature at euere God schoope 7 most
     he it loue 7 nexte hym [it] is oru kynde, ffor he vnto his owne liknes it
     schoope. en schulde we enke 7 knowe, when we seen or heren speke
     of any man, what so euere he be, good or yuel, Juwe or Sarasene:
     A, derwore Lord, is man, or hym or hire, ou madest of a litel ere
|r15 e body 7 aue it liknes of man, as to me, 7 soule to in owne lik_nes,
     as to me, 7 boutest wi i derwore blood 7 i dee on |r[f.23v] e
     rode, as wel as myn. And what goodnes or vertu at we haue, wher_fore
     we may be loued, al it is of i ifte, derwore Lord. He is my
     broer, hym schal I loue as myself, au he be now Juwe or Sara_sene
|r20 or ellis synful. Ffor, Lord, withinne a while ou kanst make hem
     good oru i grace, when it is i wille, as ou didest Mary Maude_leyn
     7 seynt Poule, at weren synful 7 of mysbileue. ou turnedist hem,
     Lord, in a while oru i derwore grace and sien ei weren more
     pryue wi ee 7 so mykil loued of ee, at ou settedist hem in ensaumple
|r25 to alle 7 af hem i worde for to preche, e synful for to turne.
        Now hast ou herd, dere frend, how oure Lord schewi to vs e swete
     loue at God haue to vs. Ffori he techi vs to calle hym oure fadir at
     is in heuen. And so he techi vs in is preyer how we to hym schul preye 7
     whiche we schulden be in oure preieres and techis vs foure ingis in ese
|r30 schorte wordis at nedeful are vs to haue in oure preyeres. e first is
     parfit loue to hym at we to preyen 7 certeyn hope to haue at we skil_fully
     aske in preyer and stalworly bileue in hym |r[f.24r] at we trowen on and
     sofast mekenes, for of oureself we haue no goodnes. Parfyt loue is
     vndirstonde in is worde: Pater, at is: fadir. Ffor euery creature owe
|r35 to loue his fadir as he techi vs. Certeyn hope is vndirstonden in is



|p23


     worde: noster, at is: oure. Ffor if he be oure fadir, as he techi vs hym
     to calle, en may we hope 7 boldely seyn at he is holden to vs as fadir
     to hys children. Certeyn bileue is vndirstonden in is word: qui es, at
     is: at art. en graunte we 7 knowen at he is God, ou we hym neuere
 |r5 saw. And is is certeyn bileue, ffor troue is noing ellis but certeyn
     bileue of at ing at may not be seen. Sofast mekenes is vndirstonden
     in is word: in celis, at is: in heuenes. en, when we enke at he is hie
     in heuen at we preyen to 7 we so lowe here in ere, as in a dungoun
     cast oure synnes for to beten, en owe we for to lowe vs 7 meke vs as
|r10 prisouns 7 miseises, at in prisoun liggen bounden, his grace 7 his mercy
     onely to abide.
        When we haue ese foure ingis in oure herte festened, en may
     we boldely seye at in is preyer folewe, at is: Sanctificetur nomen
     tuum. |r[f.24v] at is at oer poynt of e pater noster and is on englische
|r15 us myche to seye: halewed be i name. Now is it at e bigynnyng
     oru e grace of God for to se which is e name of God 7 aftir what
     it is to say: i name be halewed. Now may sum man aske wher God
     haue any oer name en fadir. I answere 7 seye at he ha oer name.
     Ffor as e name of e fleischly fadir nys not called fadir to oer men,
|r20 au he be of ee --ffor of oer he is called William or Roberd, oru
     e which name of oer he is knowen-- also I say at God is fadir to no
     creature but to man one; fori he ha oer name, oru e whiche he is
     knowen among alle oer creatures and which oru alle creatures one
     hym calle, loue hym 7 preise hym 7 is name is his goodnes, as al holy
|r25 writt witnessi. And is myt ou se oru skil, for name of man ha
     two propretees. at oon is at name of man is spredde in many steedis,
     at oer is at in alle steedis man is knowen among e folk bi his name.
     So it is bi is name of God, at is his goodnes or his bounte. Ffor his
     bounte is wyde spredde |r[f.25r] among alle creatures in heuene 7 in ere. For
|r30 he oru his goodnes made alle creatures of nout and oru his goodnes
     susteyne hem, at ei ne faile, and oru his goodnesse he ordeyne hem
     to here propre endyng. en myt ou se at e goodnesse of God is
     spredde 7 is maad comun to alle 7 skil [it] is at it so be, ffor ellis he
     tyned e name of goodnes, if it ne were comun to alle. On oer half we
|r35 ne may se God in his godhed, but we may knowe hym oru his goodnes,
     at we seen at he ha doon to euery creature, for euery creature prechi



|p24


     7 crye at God is good. Ffor if God wolde, al at is worid to nout.
     Ffori, as sone as any creature is maad oru e goodnes of God, he
     sei als sone, if ou hym vndirstonde: God oru his goodnes me ha
     maad of nout. He ne sei not at God made hym oru his power ne
 |r5 onely oru his witt. Ffor he made not al at he koue make ne al at
     he myt, au al be it so at he maki alle ingis at are made oru his
     power 7 oru his witt. But he maki al at he wol oru |r[f.25v] his good wille
     7 at good wille is his goodnes. us en myt ou see at goodnes is e
     propre name of God oru ese two propretees.
|r10    Allas, so wrecchidful is synful man, for euery creature, au he may
     not speke, loue hys creatour 7 euere sei at he is al good. And synful
     man, to whom oure Lord ha moost yuen bifore alle oere creatures, he
     ryse aeyns oure Lord 7 werri aeyns hym 7 reui hym [his] rit name
     and yue hym at name at proprely schulde be to a fole 7 to an vnwor_i
|r15 creature. Ffor when man chesi oru his propre wille anying aeyns
     Goddis wille, so at he breke any of Goddis comaundementis willy 7
     witynge, he synne deadly. Ffor he loue at ing more en God 7 sei in
     his herte at e ing at he chesi or loue is bettir en God. Ffor he
     loue noing ne chesi bifore anoer but he holdi [it] bettir 7 more
|r20 wori; at he most loue at preyse he most. Wayloway, what vnwori
     chaunge is is. Ffor it is in no creature goodnesse, fairnes ne vertu, in
     body ne in soule, wherfore it is loued, but God oru goodnes it sende |r[f.26r]
     ne it loue but if he it yue, no more en [is in] a stoon. en, when we
     loue ony creature bifore God, we sette God at lit pryce 7 ouervnwori
|r25 hym make. And if we vnwori hym make, vnwori we make oureself,
     ffor if we any worines haue, of his ifte onely we it haue, whois liknes
     we beren.
        Now hast ou seen at e name of God is his grete goodnes, at
     is spredde among alle creatures. And euery creature loue God be is
|r30 name euere whil it lasti. And is is at Daui sei: A solis ortu vsque
     ad occasum laudabile nomen domini. e vndirstondynge of ese wordis
     is at man fro e bigynnynge of is lijf vnto e eendynge schal preise
     e name of God, at is his goodnes, at he ha wroute to alle e
     creatures of is world. But wailowey, so ofte we, vnkynde wrecchis, more
|r35 loue 7 preise e bounte of e creature en of God, au no creature
     bounte haue ne oer goodnes, but if it be oru e goodnes of God, at
     yue hem not for hemseluen, but for helpe to man are ei made goode
     and to man ben yuen |r[f.26v] to loue God e bettir 7 to serue hym quyklyer,
     not to loue e ifte 7 leue e yfer, worschipe e creature 7 dispyse God.
|r40 And as ofte men do at as men louen any erely ing aeyn e wille of



|p25


     God, what so euere it be, at is if he wolde breke oon of e comaunde_mentis
     of God, ere he wolde leue at ing at he loue.
        Rit so doi God wi vs as [e] norys wi hire child, at sche mykil
     loue. When sche see hym wraful or wepe, sche wi hym pleye 7
 |r5 yue hym what so he wole haue, euere to at scho hym stille 7 more hym
     to make hire for to loue. us doi Ihesu Crist, oure norys 7 oure louer, to
     tillen vs to his loue, at he ouer al inge desyre 7 of alle vs onely he it
     aske ere he sei: ffili prebe michi cor tuum. at is: my sone yue me in
     herte, at is e loue at is in in herte. On al maner he seki oure loue
|r10 for to wynne 7 of his goodnes he vs yue 7 bekene vs al pleyande vs
     to stille. He see how weyke we ben 7 feble of kynde. He see at we
     grucche |r[f.27r] to come to hym by ese weyes at sumtyme his hooly halewes
     diden, wi forsakyng of is world 7 al his aute, as e apostles diden,
     wi wakynge 7 fastynge 7 wi oere hardeschipes olynge, as confessours
|r15 diden, wi hard fleisch pynyngis 7 dee suffride at e eende, as martires
     diden, at oru strenge of grace at ei hadde of God dispisedyn e
     world in al at ei myt. In steyde of richees chosen pore for to be ;
     kenely ei stryued aeyn e fleisch erouer maystry to haue. And manye
     wondris of hemseluen ei wrout Goddis loue 7 his grace onely to wynne.
|r20 What doi oure Lord, oure louer, at oure loue wolde haue? He see
     at wi suche hardschipes we grucche swie sore; he yue vs at we
     desyre --as laikande vs to stille-- of is worldis good to pleye vs wi,
     at we oru e comfort at we fynde in hem louen hym al e bettir, as
     skil wolde at it were. But many aren of neddir kynde, of doel it be to
|r25 seyen, at of goodes at God hem yue bicome al e wors, at no
     onk kun hym of his good dede and, |r[f.27v] ou of hem he serued ank for
     to haue, ei louen hym lesse aftir en ei dide bifore 7 putten hym out
     of here hertis, as he fremde were. Ffori wel doi God wi suche men,
     what so euer ei ben, at hym [foryeten] for any goodis at he to hem
|r30 ha ouen, when he fro hem widrawi at ei of hym hadde, at hym
     wolde not knowe whiles hem was wel. ei schulde vndirstonde by here
     woo what ei had doon 7 aftirward e more be waar at ei not orou
     here gult so sikir loue lesen.
        Seynt Jerom telli in a book at Vitas Patrum is kalled of a noble lady,
|r35 at was of noble lijf 7 a knyt in good loue swie mykil loued. Ofte ei
     come togydir to haue here myres in mene; of good loue 7 chaast 7
     oer goode vertues onely was here speche. e more ei come togyder
     such talkyng for to haue, good loue bitwene hem wex euere more 7 more.



|p26


     Greet likyng is lady hadde in is onge knyt, at of good manerloued hire
     so wel; a faukoun |r[f.28r] gentil to hym sche af to make e loue more at was bi_twene
     hem. Sone when is knyt is faukun hadde laut of at curteys lady,
     sone he took his leeue and, ank and hire, went hym to ryuer his faukun see to
 |r5 fle. Suche play in is faukun 7 comfort he fonde, at in oerwhat likynge
     had he noon. So mykil he loued is foule, at hym was so dere, at to e
     lady selden he come and ceessid hire for to loue, as scho to hym were
     strawnge. Fforwondred was e lady of e onge knyt, at he not to
     hire come, as he was wont to done. When sche knew e enchesoun at
|r10 e lettyng made, redily sche sent bodeword blyue 7 bisout hym for his
     curtesy, if his wille were, at he traueil to hire wolde to haue here
     speches in mene and prayde hym, if it goodly myt be, at he wolde his
     faukun wi hym brynge. is knyt to is lady com wi is faukun on his
     hande 7 hendely he hire grette. e lady, wroo as sche were, raut e
|r15 faukun by e heued 7 drou it erfro. Awondrid was is knyt of is
     ilke dede 7 as he wroo were |r[f.28v] to e lady he spak: me inki dame, he
     seyde, ou hast vnhendely wrout. What harmed ee e foule, at
     vngilti was? e lady answered soone anoon wi wordis softe 7 meke and
     seyde: sire, take it not to yuel at I do for i good; ing at ee harmed
|r20 I haue fordon, not in harm of ee, but it lettid e good loue at was
     bitwene ee 7 me.
        us it fari bi God, at is al louande, 7 man, as Salamon e witty
     in his book sei: Delicie mee esse cum filijs hominum. at is: myn
     delices arn for to dwelle wi mennes sones. A, derwore God, so pitous
|r25 is i worde at, were men neuer so harde of herte 7 wi synne bounden,
     if he wolde enk on is derwore sawe 7 haue is word hertly in
     mynde, it aut to make hym in loue to melte 7 wore al to teeres.
     Sien almyti God, at al schal deme, wi so mykel gelousy chees vs
     so dere, at his delyces aren wi vs to dwelle, ffayn aut vs to be, we
|r30 careful wrecchis, to do at we mowen is Lord to seruen, at we e
     mede mowe wynne at he vs |r[f.29r] bihette 7 for to leue alle oo inges at
     myt hym greue, at his likyng in vs may be fulfillid. Oure louande God
     doi to vs as is lady dide, at we schulde wi alle oure hertis loue hym
     e more. He yue vs is faukoun, at is erely goodis, to solace 7 to
|r35 oure pleye. But what doi man when he ese goodes of Goddes hoondes
     ha taken? In hem he fyndi suche likyng 7 loue hem so mykel at
     God holly he foreti 7 turne hym e bak. at is by many is soo
     God oru e prophete sei: Saturaui eos 7 obliti sunt mei. at is: I



|p27


     haue fullid hem wi erely goodes 7 ei me forete. Anentis suche, as me
     inke, God wel doi, at of Goddis ifte no menyng kan haue, when
     he widrawe fro hem at he hem lente, to proue erwi which ei ben
     at hym wole not loue for his good deede, so at ei knowe what he may
 |r5 doon when ei it lesen.
        In ensaumple herof we reden of an heen kyng at Nabugodonosor
     is called, as in e book of Danyel soly it telli. For e power at
     he had 7 richees at |r[f.29v] his wille hym out e myt of no god myt to
     hym reche 7 at noon had power to hym in heuene ne in ere. As is
|r10 kyng in his halle his walkynge inne made, in at name coue cyte at
     Babilon men callen, 7 out of his nobeleys 7 his mytis grete, he
     lokyd hym al aboute as he ere stood to biholde at cytee at semely
     was sette 7 sone a fals likyng erof can he haue 7 spekand to hymself
     ese wordis can he seye: Is is not Babilon my cyte, so grete, so mytful,
|r15 so riche, at I haue maad oru my force? In howsyng to my rewme 7
     to worschipe of me al is is wrout. Vnneis en had is kyng ese
     wordis spoken [at] a voyce come fro heuene 7 on hym fel 7 sturnely
     to hym seyde rit as I schal telle: Nabugodonosor, to ee I saye at kyng
     art called, vndirstonde is tokenynge at I to ee say; ffro comoun of
|r20 men ou schalt be out cast 7 fro i rewme ou schalt out glyde, wi
     wilde beestis i dwellyng schal be, as an oxe in e cribbe ow schalt ete
     hay; be not |r[f.30r] awondride at I ee telle, ffor soo ou schat it fynde at I
     to ee say. Seuene eer on ee al is schal falle 7 nout schalt ou mys
     of at I to ee haue seyd, to at ou knowe how myty is God, at
|r25 ouer alle kyngis maystrie ha, at in heuene 7 in ere al gouerne at his
     wille for to do in dede al at he enki; kyng ne cayser ne may hym
     lette. au e kyng awondrid was of at tiing at hym was told, soely
     he it fonde, al wiout mys, til he wist what he was 7 his gylt can knowe.
     Aftir at almyty God us hym hadde taute to knowe his power 7 what
|r30 he was 7 his gylt can knowe, in soofast wisdom so he was lerned at al
     is nobleye of is world he set it at nout, power ne tresorye ne seig_nourye
     grete, at ese mody kyngis leten mykil by. en bigan he hym for
     to meken, when he e soe can knowe 7 in his rewme was sette kyng, as
     he was ere. His louyng he bigan to make to e mytful kyng of heuen.
|r35 [I bleysse, he sayde, 7 I wurschype on] lyuande God, at neuer more
     schal deye. His werkis alle 7 his domes for ritwis |r[f.30v] I hem knowe, ffor e
     hye he can ouercaste 7 make hem lowe and e lowe he reise al at his
     wille.
        Ffori e wele of e worlde is ofte vs bigilande 7 letti vs wi wrong
|r40 God for to loue. Medeful me inki it is oure fadir for to preye at



|p28


     his goodnes be confermyd 7 stablid in vs, ffor in hym it is confermyd 7
     in alle creatures but in man alone, ffor e goode aungeles aren confermyd
     in good, e yuel in yuel. And en at e first is e goodnes of God con_fermed
     7 stablid in oure hertis when we parfitely loue God, at is
 |r5 soofast goodnes in al at good is.
        And when we in vs ne in noon oere creature loue noing but God 7
     his goodnes and when e name of [God on] such maner is confermed in
     vs, en haue we wonnen ree dere ingis. e first is at we ne schullen
     wraen vs for noing at may falle, but for synne one, ffor alle ingis
|r10 at comen to man, ei comen oru good wille of God, but onely synne.
     en, if ou wrae ee or sory be for bodily yuel or for losse of worldis
     goodis or for freendis |r[f.31r] dee or for any worldis angre at to ee falle
     or to ee may come or to i freende, wite ou wel forsoe at e name
     of God ne is nout confermed in in herte.
|r15    at oer ing is at we ne schulen seche noing of is worlde but
     oonly e honour of God, oure fadir of heuene, and myspreise oure_self
     7 holde oureself synful 7 vnwori wrecchis, nedeful and pore of alle
     goode ewes. Ffor wit ow wel forsoe at he at here in ere hunti
     aftir worldis louyng or erni to be preysyde or honoured, but [in] as
|r20 mykil as it may falle to e honour of God, he loue nout e honour of
     God but hys owne. Suche ben ei at haue a veyn pryde when God ha
     hem ouen a vertu or a grace and enuye ha of oer at suche iftis
     haue of God or bettir en ei or wyser or fairer ben en ei. Suche
     turne here good into yuel, vertu into vyce, tryacle into poysoun, lijf into
|r25 dee. Ffori ben ei oru ritwis doom wori to leese at good 7 e
     grace at God ha hem ouen. Ffor good of God ouen to |r[f.31v] any lijf nys
     nout good but if e resseyuour of is good make it comoun to alle. And
     fori, if ow wolt at e good at God ee ha ouen be oonly in owne,
     ow makest i good yuel. And if at i good be fulfillid in alle i
|r30 breeren, e more ou spredest e name of God, fadir of heuene, and e
     more ou art wori to haue of Goddes [goodes] 7 e more ou hast.
     Als ow seest a gloand broond of fire, e more he caaste of heete to
     ingis at abowte hym been, e more he ha hymseluen 7 e lesse he
     caste, e lesse he ha 7 if he not caste, not he ha. And wite ow
|r35 wel forsoe at he at wole [at] his good to hymsilf be aproprid 7
     wil not at it be comoun, he wol not at God be comoun. And if he
     wol not at God be comoun, he ne wil not at God be God, ffor he
     may not be God but if he be comoun. Ffori Ihesu Crist, at his
     derwori blood schedde for vs alle, if it be his wille, he scheelde vs |r[f.32r]
|r40 fro is oonly loue. Ffori be ow no chinche of i goodis at God ee



|p29


     ha lente, ffor e more at ou it spredist e more wi ee it waxi and
     boldly myt ou i good us spende, si ou schalt not tyne.
        e ridde ing is at if e name of God be us halewed in vs, we schul
     loue God in alle oure werkis, seand, herand, goand, spekand, enkand,
 |r5 wakand. But fori at is ing may not fully be fulfillyd of vs here in is
     lijf --ffor in is deedly lijf we may not oure loue so parfitely ordeigne-_ffori
     schul we here ouer alle ing desire 7 to oure fadir preye at when
     it is his wille he it vs sende. And bigynne we it here for to wynne, aftir at
     God wole yue vs myt of his derwore grace and fordo [we] alle e
|r10 ingis at in vs any lettyng may make, at God vs graunte here it so [to]
     bigynne at it may be fulfillid in vs in e lijf at euere schal laste, where
     noing vs may lette.
        Now hast ou seen at e name of God is goodnes, oru which he
     is knowen oru alle creatures. Ffor we may not seen |r[f.32v] hym here in
|r15 his godhed, fori he yue vs here knowyng of hym orou his goodnes,
     at he ha maad comoun to alle creatures. And ou may vndirstonde
     on anoer maner at e name of God is Ihesu Crist, fori at no man
     may see God in his godhed. But when he took fleisch 7 blood in e
     virgyn Mary 7 bicom man for vs synful orou his derwore mersy,
|r20 en myt alle see 7 knowe in his persoun boe God 7 man. Man mit
     ei knowe 7 see at he was orou at ei sawen [at] he eete 7 dranke 7
     body hadde 7 fleisch, in whiche ei sawe hym ole pyne 7 dee, at
     God ne myt do. God myt ei knowe at he was orou skil 7 see,
     in as myche as ei saw at he reisyd fro dee to lyue, at he helyd e
|r25 seeke, e deef, e doumbe 7 oer bodily yueles, at he ede on e see,
     as men don on e ere, at e wynde 7 e see were bowande to his wille,
     at he fedde fyue ousande of men in wildirnesse wi fyue barley looues
     and |r[f.33r] two fisches, so at e fulle at e disciplis at Cristis biddyng filled
     twelue lepes wi releef at lefte of e feestyng. ei saw wel at suche
|r30 werkis mit noon do but God one. en, orou suche as ei sawen hym
     do, ei mit wel knowen at he was sofast God 7 sofast man. Ffori is
     it wel called Ihesu Crist Maries sone e name of God. Preie we en oure
     fadir of heuene at his name, at is derwore Ihesu Crist his sone, be con_fermed
     7 stabled in oure hertes, at is for to seye at al oure loue be
|r35 stabled in Ihesu Crist, at al good ha don vs, do 7 schal do orou
     his mikil mersy.
        is name was witterly festened in e herte of seynt Ignace, at ans_werid


|p30



     to e tiraunt at he ne myt in no wise but truly trowe in Ihesu
     Crist, for he was writen in his herte. When e tiraunt herde is, he leet
     slee Goddis martir 7 did drawe out his herte 7 fonde writen wiinne
     wi lettris of gold: Ihesu Crist is my loue. A, swete Ihesu Crist, 7 ou
 |r5 were stablischid in oure hertes, |r[f.33v] how we wolde loue pouerte, miseses 7
     oer bodily angres and at, derwore Lord, to be lyke ee. Lucifer in
     heuene coueitide to be like ee, but not on is wise. Ffori out of
     heuenly blijs he felle bodily deuel into pyne of helle. Also Adam,
     oure careful fadir, vnwarly willed to be ee lyke in godhed, at he ne
|r10 myt wiouten synne erne. Ffori he was cast anoon rit out of at
     cely stede of mire at paradys is called into ere for to dreie woo 7
     wandre in pyne 7 penaunce, his dayes to wasten 7 dye at e ende. And
     ou, derwore Lord, for at mikil loue at ou haddest to vs, ou
     madist iself pore 7 mysese here in ere for man, at he myt erne here
|r15 to be ee lyke in penaunce 7 sien [to be] in i blisse. Gladly, Lord, we
     wold be ee lyke here in honoures, as ou art in heuene, but not to be
     pore, to ole pyne 7 dispyt wi ee, as ou suffredist here in ere. Wail_awey,
     wrecchis at we ben, yuel seme it vs to dwelle in his blys wi
     hym when |r[f.34r] [we] waryed sinful wole not suffre pouerte ne penaunce wi
|r20 hym here in ere. And so mykil he oled vngulty for oure synnes 7 wite
     he wel forsoe, he at may not ole mysdede, he dispisi e name of
     God, at is Ihesu Crist, ne he is not stable in his herte. en God, e
     fadir of heuen, so stable his goodnes in oure hertes 7 his dere sone Ihesu
     Crist on suche a maner at we hym so loue 7 loue in alle his creatures,
|r25 at it be his sone 7 hym onely to pay and we as his dere childre noing
     do at be aeyn his wille.
        But fori at we may [is] neuer parfitely do in is wrecchid worlde,
     ffori to oure fadir of heuene in is preier we seye: Adueniat regnum
     tuum. And is is at oer preyer of e pater noster, at is to seye:
|r30 Come to vs i rewme, at ou regne in vs in is lijf wi i grace and
     aftir is lijf we wi ee in i blisse. Ffor man may not regne wi God
     in his blys, but if God regne orou his grace wi man here in his lyue.
     ou schalt vndirstonde |r[f.34v] at e rewme of God is vndirstonden on
     re maneres. Ffirst euery man owe to be e rewme of God. And is
|r35 may ou litly see, ffor [a] rewme nys not ellis but a land at ha



|p31


     many cytees 7 a kyng at alle gouerne 7 ledi wi ritwisnes. i
     body is e lande 7 i fyue wittis are fyue citees wi here werkis, at
     wenden in 7 out ur hem. e werkis ben as folk of e cytees, e resoun
     of i soule is a domesman in is rewme, at demi boe good 7 yuel, as
 |r5 ritwys domesman owe to done. And God oure fadir is kyng of is
     rewme. And en at e first art ou e rewme of God when i resoun,
     at schal gouerne 7 lede i fyue wittis, ha noon oer kyng, noon oer
     gouernour but God onely. And als sone as he heri or see at anying
     in his rewme be don or oute, ouer bi day or bi nyt, at be aein
|r10 e wille of is kyng, als tyte as ritwys domesman he fordo it 7 de_stroye
     it 7 e werkis 7 e willes at aren plesaunt to e kyng, he maki
     hem wi al hys myt quycly to be wroute. When e resoun |r[f.35r] on is
     maner folewi e wille of is kyng, en is resoun fre 7 lord soely may
     be told of al e lond vndir is kyng, boe of cytees 7 of folk, at is for
|r15 to vndirstonde of e fleischly wittis 7 here werkis. And if ou on is wyse
     demest iself here on ere, ou schalt for i traueil be corouned in
     heuene.
        On oer half ou may vndirstonde at holy chirche here in ere is
     e rewme of heuene, of e whiche e pope schulde be as suffragan 7
|r20 hie iustice vndir God. Cardynals, archebischopis 7 bischopis, arche_dekenes
     7 lower prelatis ben as erles 7 barouns 7 iustices 7 schirifes 7
     bailifes to gouerne 7 rule e puple 7 Ihesu Crist is as heued of alle. And if
     we wil en vmenke and vndirstonde hertely how is kyng lowed hym
     so mykil at he cam fro heuene 7 lit in ere 7 for oure bihoue bicome
|r25 man in at blisful mayden Mary 7 wastid here his lyf wi many bittir
     peynes 7 peyneful dee at e eende -- And why? Certis for noon oer
     enchesoun but for to delyuer |r[f.35v] oure soules fro e dee 7 reise hem to
     lyue, e whiche soules he bout so dere wi e price of his derwore blood.
     And he ha yuen to prelatis 7 preestis of hooly chirche power to yue 7
|r30 to teche Goddis lawe, wherfore me inki grete sorewe 7 forinkyng vs
     owe to haue, when ese at cristen mennes soules ha vndirtaken to
     teche 7 truly to lerne e weyes to God, when we suche prelatis 7 preestis
     seen more here wittis sette 7 here loue on erely ingis, at wol ei nyl
     ei schulen fayle, en of e soules at ei haue to kepe, at is Goddis owne
|r35 dere tresour 7 moste to hym lyke. Ffor he is an yuel herde at leti e
     wolfe worie his scheep, at recchi not where ei bicome, but at he
     haue e wolle 7 e mylke. Non owe to take is riche tresour to kepe,
     at is cure of mannes soule, but he kan loue. Ffori Crist, ere he wolde
     yue cure to Petir of mannes soule, at to hym was so dere, ries he hym
|r40 asked if he hym loued, as if he to Petir seyde: But if |r[f.36r] ou parfitely



|p32


     loue me, at is for to seye more an eny fleischly freend or sibbe or more
     en any erely goodis or more en in owne lijf, be not ellis so bolde to
     vndirtake e cure of mennes soules, for whom I schedde my herte blood.
     if any in oer wyse cure of mannes soule vndirtake or holdi it, be
 |r5 [he] what so euere he be, [he] destroye e rewme of God Ihesu Crist.
     Ffori it is nedeful to preye to oure fadir of heuen at he stable 7 sette
     suche prelatis in holy chirche at so may gouerne his puple, at so his
     rewme bi hem be ledde, at onely it be hym to pay.
        On e ridde maner is rewme may be vndirstonde at rewme at
|r10 schal be whan al hooly kirke schal be assemblid togidir in heuen aftir e
     day of doom 7 at aute vs hertely to erne, ffor ere schal we haue e
     lastyng ioye, at grete ioye, 7 ere schal God witterly regne in vs. ere
     schal we noing desire but oonly e wille of oure fadir of heuen. ere
     schul we haue al at we wole of ioye 7 likyng in body 7 in soule 7 it oure |r[f.36v]
|r15 weele schal neuer mys. But wite ou wel forsoe at in is bodely lijf may
     not is rewme of God be fulfillid in vs [in] al, so at al oure witte, oureloue 7
     alle oure werkis be alle reuled to e loue of God, ffor aeyn suche willis 7
     werkis oure fleisch oftetyme aeynstondi. Wherfore vs bihoue wi_stonde
     e ernynge of e fleisch 7 lowen hym to serue e spirit wi helpe
|r20 of Goddis grace. at we ne lesen oure mede, we moten fite aeyn e
     fleisch 7 holde it vndir foote, at he in folye ne glid, ffor in his ledyng he
     is ouermaysterful, if he haue his wille. it anoer lettyng we haue in vs,
     ffor ou it were so at e fleisch were acordid wi e spirit, it e grete
     defaute of witt at is wiinne vs letti vs ofte to loue oo ingis at God
|r25 wolde we loued. Ffor so feble we are of oureself 7 so woyke of witt, at
     we knowe not in many ingis what is Goddis wille 7 is witt at were
     nedeful vs for to haue is not lerned orou clergie but orou mekenes.
     And erfore, if ou witerly |r[f.37r] knowe in owne feblenes, at ou no good
     ne witt hast of iself 7 preiest to God, at is welle of wisdam, at he
|r30 sende ee vndirstondynge for to knowe his wille, if it stonde not be
     [e], e Hooly Goost oru myt of his mykil goodnes he schal lit ee
     wi glemes of his grace 7 schal teche ee to strecche i loue to e loue of
     God. And euer e more so ou dispisist iself 7 holdist iself vnwori
     wrecch 7 synful oru verray mekenes, e more he schal sende of his
|r35 derwore grace.
        But see now how froward we are in is preyer 7 how we it wistonde.
     We preien hym at his rewme come to vs, at is at he at his wille
     schorte oure dayes 7 take vs fro is careful lijf, at is al bisett wi



|p33


     miseses 7 wi teres, in e whiche we are kast as in a dongoun oure
     dayes for oure gilt here for to waste in penaunce 7 in woo, 7 bryng vs to
     at ioye at neuer schal haue eende. Neuereles, whanne God calle vs
     wi penaunce or wi seeknes at we to hym come, we ben not buxum
 |r5 to do his wille, but wrastelen aeyn |r[f.37v] 7 stryue and seche on alkyns wyse
     at his rewme come not. And if it so bityde at oure Lord wole at we
     algatis come, with sorewe 7 wi drede 7 al aeyns oure wille, as is carles
     kynde, oru dee hens we passe. Whi wole we of hym mede haue, to
     whom we come aens oure wille, si we haue more likyng in is kareful
|r10 worlde to dwelle en wi God in his blisse? Als ofte we scorne God as
     we hym biseche when we to hym is preier make, at is i rewme come
     to vs. And sorely tyne we oure tyme as vnfeiful wrecchis, at good ne
     yuel, pyne ne ioye oer ne knowen en we here felen, at is but a
     schadoo of at weel or of at woo at euerlastande be, world wiouten
|r15 eende. Soely, if we feiful were of at heuenly ioye at God vs bihette,
     as e apostle telli --e mykilnesse erof herte ne may it enke ne tunge
     may it telle-- alle hardeschippes at we oole softe wolde vs ink at
     ioye for to wynne.
        Rit fari it bi vs as by a childe at were born 7 norischid in a don_goun
|r20 vndir e ere, |r[f.38r] at neuer lit saw, man ne womman ne beeste
     but his modir one. Who so to is childe his tokenyng wole make of
     e sonne or of e mone, how brit ei schynen, of foules in e eyr 7
     ffysches in e flood, of dyuerse beestis at faire are to see, of gold,
     of siluer, of preciouse stoones at God in is mydilerd to man ha
|r25 yuen, al is talkynge litil wolde he trowe, for neuer bifore he hem hadde
     sene. us it fare by vs, vnfeiful wrecchis, ou we oru techyng of
     e prechoures here of e ioye of heuene at God vs bihoti or of e
     peyne of helle if we mistake, [al] vs inki but fantom 7 dreem, ffor we
     noer it fele ne it haue sene. Ffor if ei feiful trowed on Goddis hooly
|r30 lore 7 of e lastande wele at he hem biheti, fast wolde ei stryue aeyn
     hemself wi werkis of penaunce at weele to wynne, ffor wi noing
     ellis may men erto reche. When we is preier make to oure fadir of
     heuene 7 biseche hym as we seyn at to vs come his rewme, e woordis
     of e prophete to vs may he seye: Populus autem iste labijs |r[f.38v] me honorat,
|r35 set cor eorum longe est a me. at is: is folk wi here lippis worschipi
     me, but here hertis are fer fro me. he, soely may he seye here hertis
     aren aeyns me, [at is here sunneful werkes at cometh fro e wyckede
     hertes are aeynes me] 7 letti e comyng of e rewme. ei preye er_aftir
     wi here lippis 7 as muche as in hem is ei fordon it wi here synful
|r40 werkis 7 letten it for to come.



|p34


        is rewme schal come at e day of doome, when e noumbre is ful_filled
     of alle ese at schul be saue, e whiche noumbre is certeyn 7 bigan
     for to gadir at e tyme when Crist stey vp to heuene wi alle e soules
     at he brout out of helle, at many were fro e tyme at Adam hadde
 |r5 synned. Alle at deade were to e tyme at Crist roose to lyue, at was
     fyue ousande eer two hundrid 7 ritti, alle went to helle 7 ere ei
     dwellyng made, abidyng e tyme of hym, and euer sien to is day ha
     at cely felawschipe ben waxing to fulfille e noumbre of e ordres at
     fro heuene felle. Sum day steie to eche at noumbre elleuen ousande of
|r10 virgynes 7 |r[f.39r] matrones, sum day fewer, sum day moo. And seynt Jerom
     witnessi at it ne is no day in e eer at fyue ousande martris [ne]
     haue for Goddis loue here blood schedde but e first day of Janyuer
     aloon. en seme it wel bi is sawe at is cely noumbre myche is en_cressid.
     Wher is noumbre be ny fulfillid or nout, or many ben of vs
|r15 to at heuenly felawschip or fewe, noon is so crafty of witt at soly
     kan telle.
        Vmenke ee wel now in i herte what men wolde do in forbisne at I
     now schewe. if e kyng of Englond, at mytful is 7 riche, as kyng in paleys
     in his see were sette 7 e setil of his halle wi e woriest of his rewme, aftir e
|r20 kyng hem loued, were in hem stalled; if is halle were fulfillid of is kyngis
     freendis, but oon benche aloone, at to twenti were mete; if is kyng
     en in his rewme is cry did make at whiche twenty at myt fulfille
     at benche soonest wi at felawschep, ei schul lyue 7 ioye, noing
     schal hem wante at here wille may bete, and alle at aftir |r[f.39v] ese twenty
|r25 at on e benche were sette 7 of is freendly felawschip frely fulfilled,
     alle at out of is felawschip or setils myt be founden in any steede of
     his rewme, where so it be, as traytours 7 gilty dampned at ei be 7 kast
     in a dongoun penaunce to dreie 7 euere tyde 7 tyme here sorew be newe;
     if is forbysne soely myt falle, it is noon so woke, but ei vnwitty
|r30 were, if ei wist e wille of e kyng 7 knew e peril at e dwellyng myt
     make, fast wolde ei stryue echeoon wi oer, e sone wi e fadir, e
     douter wi e modir; bifore hem for to renne wolde ei not spare ese
     setis for to wynne.
        Leue we now is forbisne at so may not be 7 take we to ese
|r35 ingis at nedely mut falle. By is kyng at spoken is of schal be vn_dirstonde
     e hye kyng of heuene, at alle mytis may in heuen 7 in
     ere 7 also in helle. To alle kyngis he yue [e] power at ei haue
     and whanne so he wole he may hem down caste. To e kallyng of is



|p35


     kyng alle kyngis |r[f.40r] muste bowe and redily come hym bifore reckenyng to
     make of alle e werkis at ei han wroute si ei born were; ou ei
     hadde it sworne, may ei it not forsake. So aferd schul ei be at are
     now so kene as wood lyouns at noon wol knowe, so aferd schul ei be
 |r5 is kyng on to see, at hem were leuer fro hym hem to hyde an to welde
     al e gold of is mydilere. is kyng in his paleys eendelesly is troned, as
     lord in his owne, mytful ouer alle. Ffor a gederyng of his freendis frely
     ha made setis 7 segis, craftely wroute. is frely kyng his messageres
     ha sente to alle e men of his lond, boe to lesse 7 more, at ei come
|r10 to his court hastely. He hem biddi bityme here stedis for to take in his
     comely rewme at e feste at eendeles schal be, to haue likyng and ioye
     wi at heuenly felawschep euer yliche newe. Ouer is is kyng scharply
     sei, trowe [it] who so wole, he at wol not come for my callyng wane of
     al at hem |r[f.40v] myt like for euere I hem bihete. Of is kyngis freendis many
|r15 ben comen swie wial, at alle e benchis of e halle be ny fylled.
     enk it at vnnee is lefte oon, so moche is e prees at is holden to
     ese at be to come, at e lenger at we dwelle, e more may we drede
     at oer prees vs tofore oure seges for to wynne and we as vnwitty ben
     stoken eroute in woo 7 in peyne for to be for euere. Ffor be e first
|r20 gestenyng al brout togidir 7 al e sete fully besette, e ates schul be
     loken for ones 7 euere ne ar noon idir enke at out is bilafte. if ei
     prees to e ate ingange to haue, God hymself to hem schal seye: ee are
     comen al to late, for I knowe ow not; wendi oure weye, wendi, he
     schal seye, ee waried, fro me into e fyer of helle, at euere schal laste,
|r25 at is greiid to e feend 7 his meyny with [e] forwaried erinne for to
     brenne. Biseche we en God e fadir, as he vs techi, at his rewme mote
     to vs come, at is at he |r[f.41r] regne wi vs here wi grace, at we may haue
     ingang to hym ere he his atis sperre and at we regne wi hym wi at
     cely felawschipe for euer in his blys.
|r30    But fori at we ne may to at ioye wynne but we do his wille in
     ingis at hym is leef, fori he techi vs how we schul erto wynne in
     ese woordis at sone here in is preier folewi: Ffiat voluntas tua
     sicut in celo 7 in terra. at is: gyue vs grace to do al at ou comaundist 7
     for to wistonde al at ou fendist, at is at we, erely men, whyles
|r35 we lyue here in is deedly lijf, at we do e wille of e fadir, as ine
     aungeles 7 alle ine halewes don in heuene. And is schul we erne



|p36


     wi alle oure hertis, ffor Lucifer, at was so faire, so loueli 7 so brit,
     als sone as he lefte e wille of God 7 folewid his owne propre wille,
     he bicome a loely deuel, at heuen 7 ere hym dispisid 7 kest hym
     into e pitt of helle. Also it fel bi Adam 7 Eue, out of paradys he hem
 |r5 caste, fro e stede of likyng at ei weren inne, wherof ei hadde here
     lordeschip, whiles |r[f.41v] ei were obeysauntes to e wille of God 7 holly
     e seignourye of al mydilere. So stalwore 7 so holy ei weren in here
     kynde at no wo myt hem dere at men here dreien. But also soone
     as ei folewed here owne propre wille 7 wistood e wille of here Lord,
|r10 ei become anoon ralles to e feend, at so fre were bifore, whiles ei
     to God buxum were 7 becom deadly, at euere mit haue lyued in ioye 7
     in blisse. Sien ei were dampned oru ritwis doom, ei 7 alle here
     ospring towende to helle, pyne 7 sorewe euer to dreie for here wi_stondyng
     aeyns Goddis wille. And it we alle idir schulde haue wente,
|r15 ne hadde it ben e pyte of oure louand Lord; for noo goodnes at we to
     hym haue doon, but oonly oru his mykil mersy, he made vs alle fre,
     wheroru, if we wole to hym buxum be 7 do his biddyng, as we wel
     owi, on such a forward he quyti vs for euer fro at eendeles pyne at I
     of tolde.
|r20    And it it is so at man may do |r[f.42r] noing at hym may be heleful
     to soule, but in as moche as he folewi e wille of God his Lord. Ffor
     man to folew his owne wille is bigynnyng of alle yueles. Ffori aski
     e holy man wherof synne arisi. And certis, he sei, of propre wille
     of man, at is when men leeue e propre wille of God 7 wistondi
|r25 it and folewi here owne. Herof speki seynt Bernard: what hati
     God, what punyschi God but propre wille of man? Man, he sei,
     fordo i propre wille 7 helle schalt ou nout be inne. en it is nedeful to
     man to wistonde his owne propre wille, si it is God so lo. And is
     God hymself taute vs for to do oru e gospel, ere he sei at he so
|r30 dide. Ffor as e hooly man sooly telli: ritwys lore it is to vs alle
     Cristis holy werkis. Non veni facere voluntatem meam, set voluntatem
     patris mei qui est in celis. at is: I am not comen to do my wille, God
     hymself sei, but e wille of my fadir at is in heuene. Ffori at at he
     dide louely |r[f.42v] vs lerne e gospel of seynt Mathew, ere he to vs sei :
|r35 Qui vult venire post me, abneget semet ipsum. at is: he at wole folow
     me to my blisse forsake he hymself, at is his propre wille and suche as
     synne hym made. Ffor e propre wille of God, as seynt Austyn sei,



|p37


     is bigynnyng 7 roote of goodnes, so e propre wille of man of al at
     yuel is. Not of at wille I speke at wi God 7 goodnes acordi --at
     is comoun to God 7 ech good man-- but of oure cursyd ernyng at we
     wolde were don aeyns e worschip of God 7 to harme of oer. is wille
 |r5 oonly in helle schal brenne, as seynt Bernard witnessi, world wiouten
     ende. To God it falli, as seynt Anselme sei, to haue bifore oer his owne
     propre wille, so at he noon oer haue abouen hym for to folowe. Ffor
     when a man wol out do wi his propre wille, he taki e coroun fro
     Goddis heued 7 setti it vpon his owne. Ffor so as coroun to kyng oonly
|r10 bifalli, rit so propre wille oonly falli to God. |r[f.43r] Greet dishonour he
     dide to a kyng, what so euere he were, at wi maystry and strenge his
     coroun fro hym refte. To God no lesse he mysdoo but a hundridfold
     more at reue hym e priuylege of his propre wille, at oonly to hym
     falli as coroun to a kyng. erfore warly vmenk ee, what so euere
|r15 ou doost, at it acorde wi oure Lordis wille Ihesu and en schalt ou
     neuer birewe i werk at ou hast doon. Ffor in as moche as ou
     acordist to e wille of God, in so moche ou art festened to God in oon
     wille 7 oon spirit, at is lastande lijf, in whom alle e desires 7 alle e
     goode willis at hert of man may enk aren alle togidir gederid in oon.
|r20 And if ou folow in owne wille 7 leeue his, ou departist ee [fro]
     lijf 7 fro eendeles ioye.
        at ou may see oru skil, why ou schalt folew e wille of God 7
     leeue in owne, ffor God, oure fadir almyty, he may do alle ingis
     wiouten any lettyng. And he knowi a ousandfold bettir |r[f.43v] what we
|r25 haue nede of, boe to lijf and to sowle, en oureself 7 more vs loue
     en we oureself. And bisy he is tyde 7 tyme on vs for to enke, as he
     hadde nout to do but oonly be entendaunt to vs to purueye 7 greie
     al to vs at vs is nede to haue to body 7 soule, but if we hym lette.
     Si God ha ouen lijf to man, it is for to trowe at he wol yue at
|r30 nedeful is to e sustenaunce of e lijf. e lijf is more en e mete, as
     God hymself sei: Nonne anima plus est quam esca? As if he seyde:
     he at yue e more, he schal yue e lesse to sustenaunce of e more.
     Ffori biddi God in e gospel of seynt Luk: Ideo dico vobis: ne soli_citi
     sitis anime vestre quid manducetis, neque corpori quid induamini.
|r35 Anima plus est quam esca 7 corpus plus quam vestimentum. at is:
     I seye to ou at ee be not bisy to oure lijf what ee schullen ete ne to
     oure bodyes what cloing ee schul were, ffor e lijf is more en e |r[f.44r]
     mete 7 e body more en e cloinge. Ffor if God to oer creatures,
     at aren lesse wori en man, ordeyne cloing 7 mete, it is for to trowe
|r40 at he wil purueye for man, at is nobiler creature 7 at he more loue.



|p38


|r    it it folewi in e same gospel of seynt Luk: Considerate coruos neque
     seminant neque metunt, quibus non est cellarium neque horreum, 7 deus
     pascit eos: quanto magis vos plus estis illis. at is: biholde ee [e]
     rauenes, at nouer sowe corn ne repen, at nouer haue seler ne berne 7
 |r5 it God hem fedi: sonner wolde he ow fede at [are to hym of mekile
     more pris 7 of worthynes vnto hym an at ai be]; en of hym treist
     may ee be. By ese rauenes I vndirstonde e deueles childre of helle,
     at aren yuel men, waryed 7 cursyd, at are to many suche now in is
     world. If God en suche cloe 7 fede at oru here cursid werkis e
|r10 fendis childre be called, it is for to trowe at his owne children at be
     buxum his wille for to worche, as |r[f.44v] wel taute childre aut to be to here
     fadir, he wole hem cloe 7 fede 7 oerwhat hem yue at hem nede is.
     To kare for e body or for at erto falli to Goddis childre not it
     biseme, ou e vnfeiful it do, at is of mysbileue. God, at no wrong
|r15 may seye, to alle his seruauntis truly he heti e blisse of heuene, at
     neuere may eende, wheroru [ai] at e first his rewme 7 his ritwisnes
     feifulli wole seche. And if ei us do as he hem biddi, of erely goodis
     he hem biheti at hem nede is.
        If a man at ou holdist soofast in his woord bihete ee worldis
|r20 goodis, ou woldist yue fei to his biheste, ou woldist not trowe he
     wolde faile, for ou knew hym bifore as trewe 7 good, boe in werkis 7
     wordis. en God, at is more stedfast en man may be, whois word 7
     whois wille mote nedely be don, he to ee speki 7 soly biheti heuenly
     blisse, at neuer schal eende, wi at at his ritwisnesse 7 his blisse
|r25 ou wolt seche. And si en |r[f.45r] to auauntage he e graunti of erely
     goodis at e nede is 7 it as vnfeiful wrecche ou leuest not at
     he sei. Gretly he wrai God 7 aeyns hym taki at wole not leue
     for so at he to hym sei. Ffor he knowi not God for God nor
     Goddis word at no fei to hym haue. Ffori, if ou bileue on Crist,
|r30 yue fei to e wordis of Crist at he to ee sei. What lord is he
     at yue not mete to his seruauntis? To e seruaunt it falli bisy for
     to be how wel he may serue his lord to queme. To e lord it seme
     to ordeyne for his seruauntis, at ei redy haue at hem nede is. en if
     e seruaunt enke al oonly on hymself 7 not on his lord, ou his lord
|r35 not for hym ne greie, no wondir is. Ffor wel wot oure Lord, fadir of
     heuene, whom we preye to, at of erely ingis nedely must vs haue,
     ffor wiouten hem in is lijf no while may we laste. if we en as his
     childre to hym feiful be, frely of erely goodis he wole vs yue, wherwi



|p39


     e kynde may susteyned be. Sarasenes 7 Jewes to purveye |r[f.45v] for here
     childre kynde hem techi. And wylde bestis 7 doumbe, at no resoun
     haue, here fawnes ei fede, as kynde hem techi. Ne is it not en for to
     trowe at he at Lord of mersy soly is called fro his owne childre here
 |r5 sustenaunce wol [not] wiholde 7 lete hem perische for defaute ? Aeins
     kynde it were, ffor he fourti eer in deserte his seruauntis fulli fedde, not
     of mete at e ere eldi but at com fro heuen, in e whiche heuenly
     fode likyng 7 sauour echoon fonde, aftir at he wolde. en God wol do
     wel wi vs if at we wol suffre [hym to haue his awne propur wille]. Lete
|r10 we en at good Lord haue al his wille 7 wistonde we oure owne wille
     in al at it is aeyns his, ffor of oureself we haue noing but synne one,
     ne we vndirstondi what vs wanti ne we ne loue noing at we schulde
     loue.
        Ffori if ou wolt oru Goddis grace ordeyne ee to Goddis wille,
|r15 two auauntages schalt ou haue. at oon is ou schalt neuere sorew ne
     wrae ee for noing at may falle but for synne one, ffor alle |r[f.46r] e
     ingis at be or may bifalle in ere, al is wi wille of God, saue oonly
     synne. Ffori schalt ou haue of alle ingis at falle in ere, if ou
     loue e wille of i Lord, likyng in soule, but oonly for synne. And
|r20 wite ou wel, if ou wrae ee for anying at falli, in at ou folewest
     in owne wille aeins Goddis. And e more at ou it folewest, e more
     ou schalt sorew fynde 7 angir. And e more ou wistondist in owne
     wille for e loue of God, e more ou schalt haue reste in in herte 7
     likyng in i soule.
|r25    at oer auauntage is if ou not desirest but e wille of i Lord,
     en at e first ou schalt be lord of al e world 7 of alle his ingis.
     Ffor en at e first is man lord of alle ingis when alle hys goodis
     goon aftir his wille and at is aftir when man ha lefte 7 forsaken al
     his owne wille for e loue of God 7 noing wille but his wille. en
|r30 bowe alle e ingis of is worlde holly to his wille when he greet ioye
     ha of oute |r[f.46v] at come, what so euere it be but oonly synne. Ffor wel
     he wot it is Goddis wille at he hertily erni ouer alle ingis for to be
     don. And wite ou wel forsoe, e more ou leuest i wille for e loue
     of God, e more he schal sende ee oru his derwori grace ioye 7
|r35 likyng in iself for to fulfille his wille in al at good is to encrese i mede
     in his eendeles blys. And he at wistondi Goddis wille 7 folewi his
     owne, God schal for euere reue [hym] his propre wille, at he schal mysse
     for euer ing at he desyre.



|p40


        Propre wille for to wistonde en falli [to] men 7 wymmen, namely
     of religyoun, at here wille haue forsaken, at aren as flemed out of is
     worlde, at ei may al e bettir holde alle here fyue wittis fro manklyng
     of e world 7 here fantasye, at al to manye ha lettid for to do wel,
 |r5 at ei may dwelle with hemself and oru goostly likyng at ei haue
     in soule seche and oru grace fynde what is e wille of here Lord in alle
     ingis, so at ei noing erne ne loue but at |r[f.47r] at ei trowe be his
     wille. And who so wole on is wyse don, ei schul conseyue so moche
     likyng 7 ioye at noon it may telle but ei at it haue felyd.
|r10    e fere en is: Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie. at is
     to say: Oure echedayes breed yue vs today. And is may be vndir_stonden
     on two maneres, ouer of e breed with whiche e body is sus_teyned
     for a while, ouer of breed oru e whiche e soule is susteyned
     for euere 7 e body boe. is is sofast breed, e grace of God. is breed
|r15 wi longynge of herte if we it desyre of oure Lord, he it wole vs yue
     frely 7 at oer boe, as he hymself vs biheti in e gospel: Preye first,
     he sei, aftir e blisse of heuene 7 ee schal haue of erely ingis at ow
     nede is. But vndirstonde now, my dere systir in God, at bodyes of men 7
     of beestis feblen 7 failen oru corrupcioun at is wiinne but it be
|r20 susteyned oru norischynge of mete. When man ha defaute of mete,
     if he hool be hym hungre |r[f.47v] and erne mete to haue. But if he be seek,
     it falli ofte at his yuel letti hym, at [he] ne may not fele his defaute
     ne wille haue to ete. us it fari by e sowle, for Ihesu Crist is lijf to e
     soule 7 e grace of e Hooly Goost is e breed oru e whiche e soule
|r25 is sustened in at delicious lijf Ihesu Crist. But fori at e soule in is
     bodily lijf is so couplid wi e fleisch, at is euer yliche faylande 7
     wriande fro Ihesu Crist at his likyng schulde ben inne, [e soule is
     made ful sike] oru corrupcioun of e fleisch, but sche be susteyned 7
     strengid oru is breed at I calle e grace of e Hooly Goost, oru
|r30 e whiche e soule is sustened in e ioyeful lijf Ihesu Crist. And fori
     bihoue vs not ones ne twyes, but vs bihoue euer yliche is bred to
     begge and euere yliche crye as nedeful 7 hungri aftir is breed, ffor what
     tyd or tyme so at we is breed faile to e soule, he waxi seek in synne 7
     drawi to e dee.
|r35    And se now why is breed |r[f.48r] is called oure echdayes breed, for ech
     day 7 eche tyme we haue nede of is breed. Ffor wioute fode of is
     breed e soule enfeblischi 7 is breed holdi it in hele 7 in lijf, at is
     Ihesu Crist.



|p41


        Wolt ou now lerne how ou schalt not leese is breed, at is e
     grace of God? At e first festen not i likyng in noing at taki eend_yng.
     Now may somme men seye: hard ing it were to leue solace 7
     likyng at men haue of creatures 7 of oere worldly ingis. And I saye
 |r5 to ee at it ne is, for likyng at arise of anying at ha eendyng,
     [it endeth in sorwe 7 e more at e delyt is, e more is e endyng]
     or e partyng more sorewful. And who so wol wel vmenk hem 7
     weyen e sorow wi e wynne, he wold neuer seche likyng to haue in at
     ing at taki eendyng. is vndirstood at wijs lady 7 war at seyde
|r10 sche wolde not haue seuen sones corowned kyngis of al e world on
     suche a forward to see hem alle dye tofore hire, ychone aftir oer here 7 |r[f.48v]
     sche ouerlyue hem alle. Ffor sche vndirstood wel at e sorew of here
     dee schulde ouerweye e ioye at sche of em hadde whiles ei lyuande
     were and e likyng at were passid wi many careful whyle schulde
|r15 be rewed. On oer half is is propre kynde of man at he delyti hym
     in his owne ingis. And soly vndirstonde: noing is in propre at
     may be take awey fro ee aens i wille. And such be alle ingis of
     is world at haue eendyng. en schulde no man ioye hym in ing
     at ha eendyng, for ei be not his ingis. But e grace of God, if
|r20 ou it haue, noon may reue it ee, noon may take it fro ee aeyns i
     wille ne God wol not reue it ee. en schalt ou neuer lese it, but if ou
     wolt iself. Ffori we may calle it oure owne, ffor is breed may we not
     lese on no wyse but we wole. Ffori aut vs is breed hertely to desyre 7
     in is breed haue al oure likyng, for it is holly ouren.
|r25    is same breed |r[f.49r] ou may fynde wiinne ee, if ou drawe i wittis fro
     likyng at wakene of worldly ingis. And it ou mit it fynde in yche
     creature, if ou haue wisdam lyke to e bee. A bee at fyndi hony in eche
     floure at in erbere growe. ei make no dwellyng on e floure for to biholde
     how faire it is, what sauour it ha ne ei resten hem not eron it for to ete,
|r30 swete of sauour au it be. ei forsake no flour, whateuere it be, not for
     e floure but for e hony at ei in e floure fynde, ffor what so e
     greesse is or e flour, e hony is swete at erof is taken. But it is anoer
     maner flie envenemows, at eti boe e lef 7 e flour, at kan not
     fynde e hony at is sweet 7 so it is bi many. And fori who so is wyse,
|r35 as e bee is wise, of euery floure he may fynde hony, at is for to say in
     eche creature he may fynde [e] largesse, e swetnesse, e bounte 7 e
     goodnesse of God e fadir, at alle ingis ha made, certis for no nede
     at he of hem ha, but for his owne good wille. |r[f.49v] But wite ou wel for_soe,



|p42


     who so lite on any creature 7 maki eronne his dwellynge, for
     fairhed or for any oer likyng at he erinne fyndi at eendyng ha
     and seki not ouer to e grete loue of oure Lord, at is schewid to ech
     creature, ei lese e swete smel of heuenly hony at ei wol not seche
 |r5 and eten e bittir leef at seme swete to hem 7 sauery, at haue lorn
     here taast. Of is heuenly hony en was oure derwore lady, Goddis
     modir 7 aungelis qween, fulfillid, ffor sche in hirselfen ne in noon oere
     creature desired noing but e loue 7 e bounte of oure Lord, e fadir
     of heuen. And for at sche in al hire herte erned is breed at is heuenly,
|r10 sche was wori to haue it al hool. Ffor sche was so hungry 7 so gredy
     aftir is breed, at no party of is myt hire fulfille to at sche hadde
     it al, boe cruste 7 crommes, at is to at sche hadde conseyued wiinne
     hire swete sydes sofast God at man bicam in hire, oure Lord Ihesu
     Crist.
|r15    Et dimitte |r[f.50r] nobis debita nostra, sicut 7 nos dimittimus debitoribus
     nostris. is is e fifte preyer of e pater noster, at is for to say: foryue
     vs oure synnes 7 oure dettis, as we foryue oure dettoures. As if he sey_de
     : ou God, oure fadir, foryue vs oure synnes at we don aeyns ee, as
     we foryue oo at haue synned aens vs. Sien God lerne vs to preye
|r20 hym of foryuenesse of oure synnes at we haue synned aeyns hym, as
     we foryue oo at haue synned aeyns vs, it is truly for to trowe aftir
     is word 7 on is forward: when we hym biseche, he wol vs foryue.
     But perauenture now seye summe men: wel I wot, if I aske God forif_nes
     on e forward at God hymself setti, he wol me foryue. But if I efte
|r25 synne, may I efte birewe my synnes? I biseche hym of his mercy, may I
     trowe at he me wol foryue? To is I answere: if e roote at is wiinne
     ee at maki ee for to synne 7 his lymes weren alle bicome drye 7 if
     at ichande pricke at ee |r[f.50v] styres to vnthewes were bicomen dead,
     noer schuldest ou synne ne penaunce schuldest ou seche, for en were
|r30 i lijf an aungelis ylyche. en if is kyndely pricke stire ee wiinne 7
     euer ylyche stryue wi ee maystry to haue, if he ee as vnwitty vndir feet
     kaste 7 maki ee for to do at God wolde not ou didist --or parcaas
     he stire ee suche dedis to don at ou iselfe swie sore hatist 7
     knowest it for yuel-- [ne falle not in no wanhope]. Seynt Poule, at men
|r35 may leuen, is witnessi by hymself, ere he sei us: Non quod volo
     hoc ago, set quod odi malum, hoc facio. As if he seide: I ne do not at I
     wolde do, but e yuel at I hate, at I do. Aftir at ou hast mysdon,



|p43


     ou knowest i gilt, ou birewest it, ou preyest God at he ee foryue,
     he heri ee, he foryue ee, ou art assoylid of i synne. But wheer
     ou be assoyled or al quyte of at kene 7 kyndely pricke in i fleisch 7 in
     alle i lymes at ee stire to do e dedis at God wold not at ou
 |r5 didist? Nay forsoe, nay ! it |r[f.51r] he is as he was in i fleisch, as lord in his
     owne maysterful, at neuer wole stynte ee to assayle to dee ow de_parte
     .
        But now aftir of God at ou hast wonnen foryuenesse of i synnes
     at i kyndely prick at I of spak maki ee to do 7 to falle in, at
|r10 God ne wolde ou didist, enk not in in herte at God ne wol ee
     foryuen. Ffor ou ou falle aftir when he ee ha foryuen 7 efte art
     fallen in synne, ne falle not in no wanhope, but radly eftsones arise 7
     ne drede ee not, but quykly arise wi sorew of herte 7 repentaunce to
     God 7 biseche hym mercy of i gilte. And if ou arise to God, God wole
|r15 arise to ee 7 wi ien of mercy loke to ee, not to i synne, but to i
     hertily sorew 7 i repentaunce. Ffori if ou falle, be in no dispeir ne
     lye not stille in synne, as koward for arghnes of herte, but quycly aryse 7
     heue vp boe in hondis to i Lord of mercy, hym bisechyng of his grete
     grace, at he for his mercy wolde ee |r[f.51v] foryue and at he drawe ee
|r20 out of e pit of synne at ou so foule art fallen inne. if ou euery day
     falle, euery day arise 7 turne to i Lord. is aski God of man 7 her_aftir
     he loke. And is it is at he speki oru e prophete Jeremye,
     ere he sei: Numquid, inquit, qui cadit non resurget, aut qui auersus
     est non conuertetur? at is: wher he at falli schal not arise or he at
|r25 ha misdon schal not turne into rit weye aeyn? is is not oonly vndir_stonden
     of oon fal or two, but of alle e fallis at he falli in is deadly
     lij f. Ffori if ou ofte falle, ofte arise, ffor Crist hymself louely e calli
     ere he sei: Surge qui dormis 7 exurge a mortuis 7 illuminabit te
     Christus. at is: wake 7 arise, ou at slomerist 7 slepist in i synne 7
|r30 arise fro i dee 7 Crist ee schal lyten with glemes of his grace. Arise,
     sei God to e synful, arise 7 turne ee to me, for I ne wole at e synful
     die.
        Ffori when it |r[f.52r] so bitidi when ou any good wol do, as fastyng or
     preier or penaunce of prest taken for betyng of i synnes, perauenture
|r35 i conscience stryue ee aeyn 7 gederi alle e synnes at ou hast
     don si e first tyme ou born was 7 setti hem alle on rowe bifore i
     herte eyen. So many 7 so loely he maki hem to seme at e inki at



|p44


     ee loi in owne lijf 7 stilly to ee speki us as I say: seest ou not,
     he sai, how ou hast liggen in synne 7 so many 7 so foule ou hast
     wroute and for e lest of hem alle ou hast serued to be dampned to
     peyne of helle 7 it ou art in hem [so] rotid at ou ne myt hem leue.
 |r5 Wherto preiest ou, wherto fastist ou, wherto any good doist ou?
     i synnes be so many 7 so loely 7 so longe tyme in ee rootid, how
     may ou euere be helid? When in inwitt us aens ee is sette, smyte
     hym wi e swerd of Goddis word rit amyddis e fronte, as hertily as
     ou myt, at he stirte obakke. e wordis at ou schalt smyte hym
|r10 wi |r[f.52v] God oru e prophete to alle synful sei: ou e synful, he
     sei, neuer so myche [ne] neuer so ofte ha synned, turne [he] hym to
     me 7 I hym wole resceyue 7 alle e synnes at he ha don for euere I
     wol forete. So ful of mersy he is to alle at mercy crye wi verray re_pentaunce.
     he forsoe, he is more redy to do mercy en e synful it to
|r15 aske.
        How free, how large Ihesu Crist is of his mercy to ee schewi seynt
     Denys oru [suche] a tale. He telli at it was an hooly man at
     hette Carpo. oru grace of God 7 his lore he turned one out of mys_bileue
     vnto e troue of holy chirche 7 made hym cristen man. is holy
|r20 man wente out of cuntre when he hadde, as he trowyde, is man treuly
     lerned. But sone, when is holy man was fro hym wente, oru counseyl
     of a wickid man, is man at I of tolde turned aeyn to mysbileue. When
     Carpo aeyn com and saw is, as he at sorewful was of his greet
     losse 7 teneful of his swynke, he bysoute wi angre of herte at e
|r25 wrae of |r[f.53r] God on hem boe myt falle. Aftir at e holy man God
     us hadde bisoute, he saw e putt of helle open 7 al on lowe brennande
     he saw feendis on at oon syde, at wolde hem plungen into helle. On
     at oer halfe he saw Goddis aungeles, at hem lettyd 7 so was at holy
     man greued toward hem at he wolde at ei hadden ben plungid doun
|r30 for euere. And, angrid as he was, he lokyd hym bisyde, he saw Ihesu
     Crist stondynge by hym wi his woundis al blody, on his schuldre
     berynge e croos 7 in his hand a hamer 7 nayles 7 to hym myldely ese
     wordis seide: why askest ou vengeaunce, he sayde, 7 wra for hem at
     I am us woundid fore? ou settist al to lit at I haue boute so dere.
|r35 if e ink at I haue not it ynow oled for mannes synnes, haue here
     it is hamer 7 ese nayles 7 efte for here synnes nayle me to is crosse.
     Ffor wyte wel, 7 I myte die for mannes synne, as I ere dide, --so loue



|p45


     byndi to hym my herte--, for peyne ne sorew wolde I not lette. Aftir
     at e holy man hadde sene is sit, he repente hym |r[f.53v] wi sore herte 7
     hertily he preyde wi al his myte to Ihesu Crist at he wolde haue
     mercy on e two at he so bittirly waried. And God hym grauntid for
 |r5 hem at he ernyde, for oru Goddis grace efte keuered ei were.
        Parcaas now seye sum men at God techi me in is holy preier for to
     seye: God, Lord, foryue me my synnes alle at I haue trespasyde aeyns
     ee, as I foryue to oo at haue trespasid aens me. Lord, how
     schal I do? au I wi worde foryue hem at haue mysdon aeyns
|r10 me, wi herte I foryue hem not, wi herte I loue hem not 7 so
     oon I saye wi e mou 7 anoer I enke wi my herte. And so, Lord,
     bifore ee I lye when I is preier make 7 slee myn owne soule, as holy
     writt witnessi ere he sei: Os quod mentitur occidit animam. at is:
     e mou at lye slee e soule. And, Lord, bi e is seyde: Perdes
|r15 omnes qui locuntur mendacium. at is: Lord, ou schalt slee alle at
     lyen in here speche. Ffori, Lord, me inke bettir me were to holde
     me stille en is preyer |r[f.54r] to ee make 7 wynne me peyne in stede of mede.
     ou schalt vndirstonde at he at wole to his sowle wynne hym mede
     [of out at he doth, he schal do al at in hym is to wynne hym e mede]
|r20 at he erne. ou i fleisch wole at harm falle to in enemy, ou
     schalt not aske it wi i mou. And if ou myt not bowe in herte to
     myslike his harm, if hym ony falle, aeyns i flesschis wille, if ou myte
     not wi herte, wi worde ou schalt hym pleyne 7 his synne hym for_yue
     . Ffor, ou we folowe [not] skil, bettir we do when we vs lowen 7
|r25 bicomen buxum to God an if we assentid with oure fleisschly wille.
     Goddis comaundement it is at we loue oure enmyes. If I may not loue
     hem oru wrecchid appetit of my fleissch, at I it ne may maystrien
     ne lowe it for greme 7 angre at stire me wiinne, I schal do at I may.
     And what? Certis I schal erne 7 wille at I myte loue hem 7 biseche
|r30 God hertely oru helpe of his derwore grace at I may loue hem. And
     euere to at I may loue hem as God wol at I do, |r[f.54v] at in my power is,
     at I schal do. And what? Certis wi my worde foryue hem 7 speke to
     oer good of hem 7 noon yuel. And if I us do, I ne lie not, ou I
     seye I hem loue, si I wil hem for to loue. Ffor as seynt Poule sei: Velle
|r35 autem adiacet michi, proficere autem non habeo. at is: wille is in my
     power, but to perfourme e wille is not in me ne but in God. If en I
     do at in me is, I do e comaundement of God, ou e wrecchid appe_tite
     of my fleissch, at is not in my power, it me wistonde.
        If I en wi my wille acorde to e comaundement of God 7 oru ap_petit
|r40 7 stiryng of my fleisch I fele anoer, is worche I not but do synne



|p46


     at regne wiinne me. One is for to fele, anoer is for to assente 7 to
     acorde to e felyng. I may not but I fele stiryng of my fleisch or foule
     lykyngis or fondyngis, but me ar not but ifI wole assente to hem. When at
     I fele any fondyng, as ire or wra or |r[f.55r] wycked wille or oer siche at be
 |r5 aeyn goodnes 7 e biddyngis of God, ei harme not ne dampne not
     hem at ben in troue of Ihesu Crist, at assenti not to e fondyngis
     at regnen hem wiinne, ou ei hem felen, ne folew not at hem
     stire wiinne. Suche fleischly stirynges e apostle seynt Poule, ou he
     so moche grace of God hadde, he pleyned hym at he felyd hem ere
|r10 he seyde: Condelector legi dei secundum interiorem hominem; video autem
     aliam legem in membris meis, repugnantem legi mentis mee 7 captiuum
     me ducentem in lege peccati, que est in membris meis. at is: I haue likyng
     in Goddis lawe wi myn inner man, but I see anoer lawe in my lymes,
     at fiti 7 stryue aeyn my skilful vndirstondyng, at ledi me as a
|r15 prisoun into e lawe of synne at regne in my lymes. e inner man he
     calli e resoun of man, e lawe of e lymes he calli foule delices 7
     willes at be wiinne vs. Goddis lawe is kepyng of Goddis biddyng. Do
     we en at |r[f.55v] is in vs 7 foryue we oo at haue synned aeyns vs wi
     worde, if we may not fully, at God foryue vs oure gilte at we aeyns
|r20 hym haue done.
        But now vndirstonde is at God ha lerned vs to done, for it seme
     at synne is no dette aeyns God, but alle e goodis at we haue [are
     dette anentes God, for e goodes at we haue] we haue of his loue
     and e yuel 7 e synne we haue of oureself 7 be as oure owne propre catel.
|r25 To is ou myt answere at oru noing at we haue ben we dettours
     to God but of synne one. And se now e skil why. if I be a riche mannes
     seruaunt 7 he ha euen me his penyes to spende in his seruyse, if I hem
     spende alle to his wille 7 to his honour, I am not in as moche dettour.
     But if I take his penyes at I schulde spende in his seruyse 7 dispende
|r30 hem in oer ing at my wille 7 not at his, herof I am holde to hym as
     dettour. On is maner God yue to man vertues and worldis grace for
     to spende hem in his seruyse. if ou dispende hem to his worschipe |r[f.56r] 7
     to his wille, wel ou art holden to loue hym of at vertu, of grace 7 oer_what
     at he ee yue, what so euer it be at he for his goodnes 7 to i
|r35 goode ee ha lente. To dette ou art not holden. For why? ou spend_ist
     i Lordis good to his worschipe 7 to his wille. But if ou wast hem at
     i wille aeyn e wille of i Lord, ere ou fallest aeyns God as in dette
     and oru at ou dispendist his good at i wille in foly aeyns his wille,
     ou bicomest dettour 7 gilty to hym.



|p47


        Soely vs aute to haue grete schame to be fals aeyns God, at made
     vs of not 7 bout wi his derwore blood, at yue vs al at we haue
     of good in body or in soule. And it may we not yuel do at he ne it see.
     And ouer alle ingis of his grete mersy and we vs wolde vmenke, it aut
 |r5 it to widrawe vs fro wickidnes of synne, si at he is so deboner to vs
     at, ou we haue neuer so ofte mystaken vs aeyns his wille, if we wol bire_wen
     oure synnes 7 hym mersy craue, frely 7 |r[f.56v] mekely he wil vs foryue. Ffor
     he aski not ellis but at we leuen oure synnes 7 birewe al e while at
     we yuel wrout. It witnessi wel at he wol vs foryue frely, sien for_yuenes
|r10 of oure synnes to hym he biddi vs preye, as we foryue oo at
     haue synned aeyns vs. Ffor noon may synne so myche aeyns vs by a
     ousande parte as we synnen aeyns God. Wolt ou en good forward?
     Fforiue at litil synne at men don aens ee 7 en preye God for in 7
     he wol foryue ee i synnes at be so many 7 so grete, at ou hast
|r15 don aeyns hym. Ffor, as seynt Austyn sei, if I me wrae for anying
     at men seyn or don to me, he at me mysdo is nout enchesoun of
     myn angre but myself. Ffori schulde I take wreche on myself 7 not on
     hym. And see now skil wherfore. If here were now a stalwore champioun
     7 a weyke 7 vnthryuand [wrecche] assayled hym, if is champioun wi
|r20 his wille leyde hym vndir his fete 7 lete hym defoule hym 7 put |r[f.57r] out boe
     his ien, who were most to [wyten]? Witerly e champioun. us it is bi
     man, ffor soule of man passi alle creatures at ou may see in strenge 7
     in noblesse, so at noing of is worlde hym may harme but if he hym_self
     laye hym doun to e ere or in ere falli to be defoulid. Ffori, if
|r25 any missei ee, holde i soule on hi wi God, as falli to his kynde and
     at whiles for noing schalt ou be greued, but if it be wi iselfen 7 at
     for synne one. Ouervnwori ou makest iself 7 ouerfeble wial, when
     ou letist i foule fleischly wille maystre ee 7 schamefully defoule ee
     wi euery vyle synne.
|r30    e sixte preier is is: Et ne nos inducas in temptacionem. at is: lede
     vs not into no temptacioun. ou schalt not preye at ou ne be not
     temptid, but ou schalt preye at ou be not ouercomen in temp_tacioun.
     Ffor e holy apostle seynt Jame vs techi at we wondirly
     grete ioye haue when at we be peyned with dyuerse temptaciouns.
|r35 Ffor as e gold is preued |r[f.57v] 7 clensed oru fier 7 e douty knyt in
     hard bataile is preued, so is man preued oru hard temptaciouns to
     his goode. Ffor so e temptacioun is more, so is e man more streng_ed



|p48


     in vertu 7 in grace, if he wi pacience stalworely stonde. Ffor
     seynt Austyn sei at e perfeccioun of alle vertues is at man be
     myche defoulid wi dyuerse temptaciouns 7 by harde 7 stronge. Ffor as
     ou seest when a man wole sette a stake depe into e ere, at it stonde
 |r5 stalworely, he smyti ries or foure sies on e stake heued euen doun
     and if he aftir is see at it stonde lously 7 not wel synk, en he smyti
     wi e mal on euery syde e stake to large e hole, at it depper synk.
     And aftir he smiti it euen doun on e stake heued 7 en it synki e
     depper 7 stondi e stalworlier. On is wise doi oure Lord wi vs,
|r10 when he see at a man ha a vertu at he ha sette in hym oru his
     grace. He smyti hym on yche syde wi dyuerse temptaciouns 7 stronge
     for to make e vertu depper 7 more fast in his herte. |r[f.58r]
        Ffori haue ou greet ioye when fondynges come to e ward. I say not
     at ou schalt be sorewful ou ei come not. For God, when he see
|r15 at ei be nedeful to ee, he ee wol hem sende. But preye to hym at he
     sende ee pacience in temptaciouns if ei come 7 so ee strenge oru
     his grace, at ou be not ouercomen. And to is vertu ou schalt wynne
     oru verey knowyng of iself, at ou hast of iself greet feblenesse, wrec_chidnes
     7 synne. And in God 7 of God is i vertu 7 i strenge 7 affye
|r20 ee only in God 7 on his mersy 7 noing tryste on iself withouten hym.
     Ffor e more at in hope is in hym, e more ou schalt haue strenge
     of his grace to aeynstonde alle fondyngis, how kene so euer ei be. And
     in alle i werkis lete iself vnwori, ydil 7 vnnayte ralle to i Lord Ihesu
     Crist with alkyns mekenes. Ffor is is not onely help aeyns fondyngis,
|r25 but clensi e soule of ere done synnes, more en do oerwhile bodily
     penaunce. Ffor when man loki his file 7 his wrechidnes, |r[f.58v] how wrec_chid
     he is in body, how wrecchid he is in soule, more it stire hym to
     mekenes en wolde bodily penaunce. And it on oer half ofte it falli
     at bodily penaunce stire e herte to lepe into pride. But when man
|r30 knowi soly 7 see with gostli syte his owne vnworinesse, at schal
     holde hym lowe 7 lette hym to clymbe into pride. And wite ou wel at
     if ou is mekenes to ee sooly mayst wynne, in al at ou for God
     olest likyng schalt ou fynde.
        But vndirstonde en wel how nedeful it is vs to preyen to oure fadir at
|r35 we in fondyng be not ouertaken. Ffor ofte it bitide at man is fondid
     when he leste wot. Fori it is more to drede. As doi e envyous feend of
     helle, at see at he may not brynge man into open yuel oru not at
     he may do. What doi he en? He eggi hym to a ing at seme rit



|p49


     good, at aftir may make weye to myche yuel. And so he doi as ofte as
     he ne may wi open yuel kie his strenge. And us he bigili many at
     holdi hemself |r[f.59r] wyse, at folewen werkis at ei do more wi wille en
     wi skille, as in werkis of penaunce he stire summe to do, as to wakyng,
 |r5 to fastyng, to oer hardschipes olyng at seme good to betyng of syn_nes.
     And ou ei seme goode to hem, he eggi not for goode but for
     mykil yuel. He stire hym so to fast, to wake, so his owne fleisch to pyne,
     so at his kynde enfeblischi 7 his spirit bicome al dul 7 his loue keli 7
     maki hym for to trowe at it is his Lordis wille at he do so. But e
|r10 traytour lie. Fori nedeful it is to alle Goddis louers to reule hem in
     suche werkis more wi skille en wi wille and so, as ei seme goode,
     make hem oru skille to ende in goode, at ei be as ei semen. And
     is is e counseil of seint Poule ere he sei: Racionabile sit obsequium
     vestrum. at is: skilful be oure seruyse.
|r15    Man owi for re ingis skilfully 7 wi resoun for to serue God.
     Also e grete clerk sei: Arbitror primo in vita vtile esse ne quid nimis.
     [I] vndirstonde, he sei, to mannes lijf noing |r[f.59v] profite more en
     at man do noing at is ouermoche. e first ing at is wherfore man
     schal serue God skilfully en is honour of e persone to whom he
|r20 serue. But what is he? Certis kyng of alle kyngis, honourable Lord 7
     skilful en is it honour to hym at seruise at men doi to hym at it be
     skilful. To proue is, lo what it sei in e sauter: honor regis iudicium
     diligit, id est iudicium discrecionis. at is: honour of e kyng loue rit
     dome, at is rit dome at men serue God skilfully. at oer skil is kynde
|r25 of man yue man skille bifore oer bestis. Ffor as e wyse clerk sei:
     homo enim racionalis creatura est. at is: man is Goddis resonable
     creature. Ffori his werkis owe to be resonable, so at he may reule
     [hyse werkes] aftir skille more en aftir strenge. e ridde skil is for
     oure enemy, aeyns whom we mote nedely fite, more he werri aeyns
|r30 vs wi malicious wrenchis 7 wyles en wi eny strenge. And moo he
     ouercaste wi gyle en wi force, ffor strenge ha he noon ouer vs,
     but if we hym yue. at we don as ofte as we |r[f.60r] aeyn hym wol not wi_stonde,
     [for if we hym wythstonde] as God wolde we dyde, for ferdnes
     he wolde fro vs fle, as we do e dee. And at is be soo holy writt
|r35 witnessi ere he sei: Resistite diabolo 7 fugiet a vobis. at is: wi_stondi
     e fondyngis of e fende 7 he schal fle fro ow. And fori nedeful



|p50


     it is aeyns hym for to fite wi wisdam 7 skille aeyns his wrenchis 7 his
     wyles. Ffori sei Salamon: bettir is wisdam an strenge; werkis of
     penaunce vnskilfully wrout plesen not God. For as sei e good clerk
     Ysoder: Quicquid boni cum discrecione feceris virtus est, quicquid sine
 |r5 discrecione gesseris vicium est; virtus enim indiscreta pro vicio est. at
     is: what good so euer ou doist, if ou it do skilfulli, it is vertu, if ou do
     it not wi skil, it is vice.
        It was comaundid in e olde lawe at no best at was blynd or lak
     hadde schulde be offrid to God. at werk is blynd or wi lak, what so
|r10 euere it be, if it ne be ledde wi skil. Ffori in e olde lawe with euery
     sacrifice was offrid salt. Salt sauore |r[f.60v] alle metis to men. So do wisdam
     oure werkis [7] maki hem to God sauery 7 also in at sauour likyng to
     haue. is salt schal men offre to God wi alle e goodis at ei do, what so
     euer ei be, as fastyng, wakyng 7 oer fleischly penaunce, skilfully if ei hem
|r15 do in mesure, as here kynde may ole, not ouermoche, so at he wax ouer_feble
     7 into seeknes falle, so at aftir [in] al his lijf [he] neuer schal keuer.
        Lo now what harmes come of vnskilful penaunce 7 of oere werkis
     at men do ouer mesure, ou men hem don with deuocioun 7 wi likyng
     of soule. Seynt Bernard sei on is wyse: Qui ex indiscrecionis vicio ieiu_nat
|r20 7 vigilat 7 huiusmodi sic agit vt deficiente spiritu vel corpore lan_guente
     spiritualia impediantur, abstulit corpori suo boni operis effectum,
     spiritui affectum, proximo exemplum, deo honorem. Sacrilegus est [et]
     omnium bonorum reus. at is: he at vnwysely waki or fasti or oer
     suche werkis doi, so out of myt at e fleische waxi seek 7 e spirit
|r25 dulle, so at goostly werkis are lettide, he steli fro his body e mede of
     his goode |r[f.61r] werkis, fro his spirit loue, fro his broer ensaumple, louyng 7
     honour fro God; and fori he doi sacrilege 7 schal answere tofore God
     of alle e goode werkis at he for his vnwitt ha widrawen fro God. And
     wel oru skil may it be sayd at he doi sacrilege, for he breki e temple
|r30 of God, at is hymself, at is Goddis temple. Salamon schewi what yuel
     come of vnskilful deuocioun 7 sei: Qui festinus est pedibus offendit.
     at is: who so renne swie, he spurne his feet 7 hurte hym ere he lest
     wene. He snaperi 7 hurti hym at so vnwysely 7 so vnwarly doi dedis
     of penaunce, ou he in hem likyng haue, at he falli in greet seeknesse.
|r35 And ou peril be in euery hasty rennyng for snaperyng or fallyng at
     erof may come, it more peril it is to hym at clymbi on a hie laddir
     eron to snaper. And euer e hier he clymbe 7 for vnwarschip his feet
     hym fayle, e sarrer 7 e lower nedely he falli.



|p51


        Sien e lijf 7 e deuocioun of goode religious is as it were clymbyng
     on a hye laddir at sette were toward heuen, nedeful it is en to e clym_ber
     at he warly clymbe. |r[f.61v] Ffor if he snaper on hye oru vnwitt, per_auenture
     he moot falle to e foot of e ladder, ere he first bigan to lere to
 |r5 clymbe. And en bihoue hym ete 7 drynke 7 oer ingis do, as he first
     dide, to come aeyn to e steire at he fel fro. And parcas, for not at
     he may do, schal he neuer erto wynne. Ffori sei seint Bernard: Nemo
     repente fit summus; ascendendo non volando apprehenditur summitas
     scale. Noon, he sei, may come to e hyest steire sodeynly of e ladder
|r10 wi fleyng, but wi clymbyng men moot erto wynne. As if he seyde: to
     e hye 7 parfite lijf sodeynly may no man come wi fleyng, ffor man is
     maad warly to go 7 not to fle, for e heuy charge of his fleische letti
     hym to flee. But he schal go 7 not renne 7 sette foot bifore foot on e
     laddir 7 warly clymbe fro steire to steire, euere to at he come to e ladder
|r15 eende, at is for to say clymbe wi werkis of penaunce 7 deuocioun, aftir
     at e fleisch may ole, and not ouerhye, at e fleische bicome ouer_feble
     7 e spirit dulle. And ou vnskilfulnesse in werkis ofpenaunce be to
     alle Goddis |r[f.62r] seruauntis greetly to drede, namely to at haue chosen or be
     bounden oru reule to hye lijf 7 parfit. Nede it is hem to reule [hem]
|r20 wi skille 7 namely in e bigynnyng, for e feend aeyns suche is euer
     compasand, for grete envye at he ha to hem, if he may wi any gyle
     caste hem fro e hye to e lowe to make hem, if he may, at e eende
     to falle into despeir. He at his hors ouertraueli in e mornyng, he schal
     not at day good iourny make.
|r25    it ofte it falli at of vnskilful deuocioun or penaunce arise e spirit
     into pride 7 in veynglorye. Ffori sei e holy man: loke, he sei, at
     oure fastyng 7 oere goode werkis, at ee do hem in mesure, at ei be
     hooly 7 symple in al mekenesse, at oure fleisch be chastised wi fastyng,
     at e spirit ne ryse in pride, so at at ing at schulde norische me_kenes
|r30 put ow not to pride 7 make vice of vertu for to wexe. er is no
     hope of hele when at schulde be salue in helpe to soule bicome attir 7
     feloun.
        ou many yueles arise of vnskilful penaunce, schortly of hem sixe
     wole I telle. e first |r[f.62v] is at ei do aeyn e ordenaunce of holy chirche, e
|r35 whiche ordenaunce is at in processioun lit schal go bifore e crosse, in
     vndirstondyng at lyt of wisdam schal go bifore penaunce, at e crosse
     bitokene. But e vnritful doi e reuerse, for he beri e crosse of pe_naunce
     bifore e lit of wysdam. Wherfore suche oftetyme, for defaute of



|p52


     lit, at is goostly witt or resoun, er ei schulde peyne 7 don on e crosse
     e eef, ei peyne on e crosse e vngylty, at is e newe man, at schulde
     nayle to e croos e olde man. What is e olde man? is olde man is at
     is geten in synne, born in synne, norischid in synne, e foule fleisch, e
 |r5 foule stynkyng careyn, louynge synne, liynge in synne, at is e olde man
     at schulde be nayled on e crosse. at is e lymes of is man, in as
     myche as ei be synful, ei schulde be peyned 7 slayn wi penaunce,
     at is synne orou penaunce schal be slayn in hem, as seynt Poule
     sei 7 biddi: Mortificate membra vestra que sunt super terram. at
|r10 is: slee |r[f.63r] i synne here on ere at regne in i lymes wi penaunce.
     What is is newe man? is newe man is vndirstonden at is newe bi_comen
     7 onge oru goode ewes in goode werkis, wroute oru grace
     of God. en is is newe man don on e croos when he for ouermyche
     abstynence or oir vnskilful penaunce so is ouertaken at worche as he
|r15 ere dide may he not do 7 his likyng 7 his deuocioun bicomen al dulle.
        at oer foly is at ei charge hem wi ouermoche armure, at
     harme hem more 7 letti in batayle aeyns e fende en forer, for e
     heuy charge erof ofte make hem to be ouercomen. Ffori it is to do as
     Dauyd dide, at schulde fite aeyns Golye, as it telli in e book of
|r20 kyngis, at took first 7 armed hym wi Saules armure e kyng. When he
     was armed, he proued hymself if he myt wel welde hym in his armure,
     or he wolde to batayle wende. He saw at ei were to heuy 7 myte hym
     harme more an helpe aeyns e stalwore gyaunt at on hym was so
     kene. us, quod Dauyd, may I not fite 7 keste |r[f.63v] fro hym his armure
|r25 sone anoon. And in tryst of Goddis helpe aeyns e geaunt he went and
     wi his slyng 7 re stones to grounde he hym felled.
        So many be at ouercomen e feend wi skilful penaunce, as wi fas_tyng
     7 wakyng 7 with oer to ese lyke, wi resoun 7 mesure warly
     wrout. And many be at of suche taken ouer here myt 7 more em ei
|r30 chargen an here kynde may ole, wheroru ei fallen into ire 7 waxen
     inpacient 7 oru at ei wende to haue ben aboue ei falle vndir foote,
     ou al good wille or deuocioun at e first stired hem [so] for to worche.
     Ffori sei seynt Bernard: Bone voluntati non semper credendum est, set
     refrenanda est [7 regenda est], maxime [in] incipiente. at is: men schal
|r35 not yue fei to e goode wille, ffor e feend putti ofte man to good
     wille for to tille hym erwi and brynge hym vnto yuel. Ffori, he sei, e
     good wille schal bridelid be, at it schal be reulid wi wysdam 7 skil, at



|p53


     vertu ne turne into vice ne salue into dee and namely, he sei, in hem at
     haue bigunnen |r[f.64r] hie lijf. Ffor here good wille is nede to be bridelyd,
     at ei ne taken on honde more en ei may goodly brynge to eende.
     Ffori sei seynt Jame in his epistle: ffrenum in equorum ora mittimus ad
 |r5 consenciendum nobis. at is: bridel, he sei, we do in e hors mou to
     make hem erwi to bowe to oure wille. us schal good wille be bridelyd
     wi wisdam 7 skil, at it ne mysdo 7 aftir birewe it.
        e ridde foly is si ei haue so riche a Lord 7 so fre 7 it ei trowe to
     paye hym wi ouermyche penaunce, as fastyng, wakyng 7 oer suche
|r10 werkis, at ei do so ouer myt, at ei wexe so vnmyti here Lord for to
     serue 7 keli here deuocioun, at first was so hoot. And skil hem sei, 7
     ei wolden it trowe, at er is no chynche so hard, whateuer he be, at
     wolde at his hors fastid so at it ne myt hym serue.
        e fere foly is is at ei deme met and drynk wori to widrawe fro
|r15 Goddis childre, at wori were to ete gold 7 bawme for to drynk, as seynt
     Bernard sei: Da michi abbatem Thimotheum 7 ego cibabo eum auro 7
     balsamo potabo eum. As if he seyde: ffynde |r[f.64v] me suche as was abbot
     Thimothee 7 like to hym in goode ewes 7 I schal fede hym with gold 7
     birle hym bawme. at is if ere any suche be now, he were wori to ete
|r20 gold 7 drynk bawme. Ffori Goddis childre schulde not schame to take
     here Lordis goodis to here nedeful sustenaunce, his seruyse 7 his wor_schipe
     to vpholde, si at ei [sene] so manye deueles childre, at ben vn_wori
     as waried wrecchis any good for to haue, so largely and wi out_rage
     wasten Goddis good.
|r25    e fife at ei wil algatis be more parfyt en here maystir Ihesu Crist.
     And neuereles seynt Luk sei: Perfectus omnis erit si sit sicut magister
     eius. at is: he is parfit at is siche as his mayster is. And knowen ing
     it is to alle at Crist was ful of al parfytnesse 7 it he eet 7 drank skil_fully
     7 in mesure to sustenaunce of his kynde.
|r30    e sixte is at ei trowe at ei may not be hooly but ei sle hemself.
     if he at slee a man at schulde oru kynde lyue but a eer schaI be
     demed to juesse 7 to dee as mansleer, wi skil he is gilty of manslauter
     at oru vnskilful |r[f.65r] penaunce, what so euer it be, enyntise his kynde,



|p54


     at he die ritti eer ere he schulde. Seynt Bernard bymene swie sore
     at he sumtyme oru ouermykil fastyng 7 wakyng enfeblisschid his kynde
     7 neeles loue hym made so to do 7 goode wille. As e wyse clerk sei:
     On a maner is e ende for to deme, anoer maner is for to deme oo
 |r5 ingis at ordeyne or falli to e ende. at ing at men seche or erne
     as ende, it is for to desire 7 for to seche wiouten mesure. But oo ingis
     at ordeyne to e ende, oo ingis schulde be reulid wi mesure 7 wi
     skil, as ei may best helpe to e ende at men erne hem fore, as doi e
     leche for to hele e wounde of [e] seke, at is as ende at he gretly
|r10 erne to hele. Al at he doi, as in gederyng of gresses 7 temperyng 7
     makyng of salue, alle ese he ordeyne oru grete bifore lokyng 7
     temperyng hem in mesure, at ei ne be ouerhote ne ouercolde, ne
     ouerbytand ne ouersofte, ne ouermyche ne ouerlitil. But in suche a
     tempre he hem maki at he may oru hem beste e woundes hele.
|r15    us ow |r[f.65v] schalt vndirstonde at in goostly lijf e loue of God is as
     ende. is schal men desire wioute mesure. Fastyng, wakyng 7 oere
     hardschipes olyng, men schulen not erne oo as ende, but as ingis
     or lomes at helpi as to e ende. Ffor as sei seynt Poule: Non est
     regnum dei esca 7 potus, set adhibentur tanquam necessaria ad finem.
|r20 at is: e rewme of God nys not mete 7 drynk, but ei be helpand 7
     nedeful to e rewme as to e ende. When e fleisch wil welden in synne,
     en is fastyng, wakyng 7 oer hardschipes olyng nedeful to e ende
     [to chastyse e flesche, at hyt no lettyng make to e ende]. Ffori sei
     e apostle Poule: Castigo corpus meum 7 in seruitutem redigo. at is:
|r25 I chastise my fleisch 7 put it into raldam, at he ne glyde into synne 7
     lette is ende. Ffori schal suche hardeschipis be reulid wi mesure 7
     wi skil, at e foule lust of e fleisch be fordon 7 at e kynde be sus_tened,
     so at ei helpe to e ende, at is kyndelyn hym more in e loue
     of God. But perauenture e biddyng of e apostle may stire somme, for
|r30 he sei: Desideria carnis non perficietis, quia si secundum |r[f.66r] carnem
     vixeritis, moriemini. at is: folewe ee not e ernyng of oure fleisch 7
     why? If ee do, he sei, ee schul dye.
        Of is mater en speki seynt Bernard 7 sei: what is he at may holde
     e biddyng of e apostle, at biddi at we ne folewe e ernynge of oure
|r35 fleisch? I am, he sei, nakid 7 colde, I erne cloing my body fro colde to
     kepe. Me hungre, I erne aftir mete. Me ursti, I erne aftir drynk. if
     I wiholde fro my fleisch ese ernyngis, nedely I must perische. Whi en
     forbedi me e apostle e ernyngis of my fleisch for to folwe, si with_outen



|p55


     folewyng erof I may not lyuen? Seynt Bernard to is answeri 7
     sei: e apostle forbedi e ernyng of e fleisch in outrage 7 not at is
     nedeful to e fleisch. en, if ou for colde erne cloing, mete for hunger,
     drynk for urst 7 oer ingis at be nedeful to i body, not for outrage
 |r5 ne for lust, but yue it at it wanti, ow folewest not his ernyngis, but
     eldist hym his dette, at kynde byndi ee to. Ffori e apostle seynt
     Poule more openly speki of is matere ere |r[f.66v] he sei: Carnis curam ne
     feceritis in desiderijs. at is: e cure of e fleisch worche not in his
     ernyngis, at is folew it not in his lust. He sei not: e cure of i
|r10 fleisch do ou not, 7 en holdi hym stille, but he passi fore 7 echi
     erto: in lust 7 ernyng, ffor to do vs vndirstonde at it is forboden vs in
     luste 7 in outrage. It is leeful to erne nedeful sustynaunce to e fleisch,
     ffor as e apostle sei: Debitores sumus carni; non tamen secundum
     carnem viuere debemus. at is: we ben dettours to oure fleisch, but we
|r15 schul not lyuen aftir oure fleisch, at is we schul not folewe it in his
     outrage ne in his luste, but we schullen yue it at it nedi to sustenaunce
     and widrawe fro hym at he desire to haue in harm of e soule. Ffor
     as sei e wyseman: Seruo nequam debetur panis et virga; panis ne
     deficiat, virga ne violescat. at is: to e ydil ral men schal yue breed 7
|r20 e erde; breed at he ne faile, e erde at he ne folye ne wax wilde.
        e seuent preyer en is is: Set libera nos a malo. at is: delyuer vs fro
     yuel. In |r[f.67r] is word ou schalt preye at God delyuer ee fro yuel of synne
     7 fro yuel of peyne. In is preyer ou schalt geder alle soules togyder at
     be in purgatorie, at God for his mersy delyuer hem out of here peynes.
|r25 My leue suster, if ou wol knowe 7 se e yuelis 7 e myseses at man
     ole in is world, vndirstonde e staat of man, what it was ere he
     synned. Ffor ellis may ou not vndirstonde so wel his defautis, no more
     en a child at were mesel born in a dongioun vndir e ere of a man
     at were mesel, at neuer com out of dongioun ne neuere hadde seen
|r30 hole men. He wolde wene at he were hool 7 faire, but if he myt come
     out of e dongioun 7 see hool men 7 faire, en wolde he knowe at he
     were mesel 7 a loely wrecche. Also wite ou wel forsoe, had not man
     synned, his fleisch hadde be clene fro al maner of corrupcioun, febilnesse
     or seeknesse and it no de schulde haue hym dered. He schulde haue
|r35 had al at wille alle delicyous metes and fruyt of trees ne of hem schulde
     he haue taken ouermyche ne ouerlitil, ffor he schulde |r[f.67v] haue knowen



|p56


     rit mesure, how myche hadde ben nedeful to his kynde. Wi is he
     schulde haue had e sit, e heryng, e taastyng 7 his oer wittis, so
     clere 7 so fulfilled of lyf, his witt, his skil, his vndirstondyng, so scharp 7
     so quyk, at wiouten lettyng he myt conceyue al e clergye of e
 |r5 worlde. In al at he saw or herde or feled he schulde haue loued oure
     Lord, derwore God. His skil 7 his wille in alle tymes schulde haue ben
     festened to his creatour, er al his ioye is, and his fleisch schulde haue
     be buxum to e soule 7 to skil wiouten ony aeynstondyng.
        Now may ou see how sorewfuly we fayle in alle ese ingis, boe
|r10 anentis e soule 7 anentis e lyf. And it ouer alle oer en is er oon at
     wondirfully greue: at noon may wyterly vndirstonde if he be in cha_rite,
     ffor, alle e werkis at he doi he may do hem oru pride. Ffori
     sei Job, at was so hooly, at he hadde drede of alle his werkis. Now
     God for his mersy graunte vs is drede here in is lyf, so we mowe haue
|r15 sikirnes withouten drede in euerlastyng blysse. Amen.
