|b{Richard_Rolle_and_e_holy_Boke_Gratia_Dei}
|b{an_Edition_with_commentary_by}
|b{Sister_Mary_Luke_Arntz,_S.N.D.}
|b{Salzburg,_Institut_fr_Anglistik_und
|b{Amerikanistik_der_Universitt,_1981}
|b{pp.1-131.}



|p1


e holy Boke Gratia Dei


     |r[f.240a] Off Goddis grace stirrand and helpand, and at na thyng may
     be done with-owttene grace. at is: Gracia dei vita eterna (ad
     R=o=V=o=). This are e wordis of e haly appostill saynt Paule, at
     thus are on Ynglysche: e grace of God es lastand lyfe.
 |r5    Grace e appostille settis before as ledare, ffor with_owttyne
     wyssynge & stirrynge of grace nane may wyne to e lastand
     lyfe. For als saynt Austyne sayse: Omne bonum nostrum nichil
     facit in nobis nisi gracia dei. Alle e gude we do to wyne with
     heuenly mede, grace by-fore sent it makis; for ellis oure dedis
|r10 are noghtes bot als false moneye whare-with mene may noghte by.
        And for-thi wene we no gud to do with-owttyne grace, or
     it haue gud wille, for noghte es gud at mane dose ofe it gude
     seme, bot Goddes grace it lede. This the prophete witnes be God
     are he sayse thus: Scio, domine, qui non est via hominis vt
|r15 ambulet et dirigat gressus suos. I knawe wele, Lorde, sayse
     the prophete, at the gude wayes of mane are [noght] of hyme_selfe 
     to styrre his fotsteppis to walke in the waye. For-thi



|p2


     wete ay wele the fende ame foully bygylis, that wenys by ame_selfe 
     any gude to do, with-owttene grace by-fore commande and
     stirande e gude, & by-twene seand & helpande. And at this be
     sothe, God thurgh e prophete sayse: Perdicio tua ex te Israel;
 |r5 in me est auxilium tuum. Of thi-selfe, he sayse, ou hase at
     ou may be loste, bot with-owttyne my grace helpande bese ou
     neuer saufe.
        Goddes grace command to mane wirkis in hym whare-thurgh he
     |r[f.240v] may be saufe, / at in his firste commyng fyndes in mane whare-fore
|r10 he myghte hym dampne thurgh his ryghtewys dome. Whate garte oure
     forme-ffadir paradyse wyne of Cryste, at with his blody handis
     was done one the croyse? Now, certis bot grace helpande, at
     stirrid hyme at tyme to forthynke hys syne & made hym mercy to
     crye for his mysdede.
|r15    Off thre degrees of grace fynde we in haly write, for e
     begynnyng of oure speche es of grace: it es for to wete of thre
     degrees of grace. Ane er es at till creatours es comone, that
     God gyffes till all creatours to vp-halde ame with, and this es
     called Goddis helpe freely gyffene till all creatours, and for_owttene 
|r20 this gyfte of grace creatours may noght do, ne laste in
     thayre kynde. For als ou may se at water es mad hate thurgh
     strenghe of ffyre, & with-drawe e fyre are-fraa, it turnes



|p3


     agayne als it was & by-commes calde. Righte sa it fares of
     creatours, als saynt Austyne sayse: All creatours, als ay are
     of noghte made, bot if God ame vp-halde thurghe his grace in at
     ay ere, worthe to noghte with-in a littill stounde. is vndir_stode 
 |r5 e appostill by skill, & for-thi he sayse: Gracia dei sum
     id quod sum. Thurgh Goddes grace, quod he, I am at I am, anely
     thurgh Goddes grace alle this I haue.
        Bot ar es anoer grace of God & mare specyale, at God
     gyffes till ilk mane at es gud & skilfull creature, do it wha-sa
|r10 will. And this grace standis euer at the ates of oure hertis &
     knokkes on oure fre will and byddes late hym ine. This sayse God
     at he duse er he thus sayse: Ego sto ad hostium & pulso. He
     standis, he sayse, at e dore of thyne herte & knokkes at ou
     late hym ine. And this es calde Goddes grace frely gyffene to
|r15 mane or he er-after serue; at thurgh stirrynge of this grace
     mane graythe hym swa at he be worthy to resceyue e gyfte or e
     Haly Gaste, at euer stirres the to e gude & calles fra e the



|p4


     ille of manes free wille.
        Twa thynges are nedfull to e hele of manes saule. The
     firste es is at I now of speke; the toer es manes fre wyll
     accordand er-till. And with-owttene thir twa na mane may do
 |r5 thurgh oghte at in hym es, at helpe hym sulde to be hele of
     his saule. For noer free will forowtene this grace stirrande,
     ne this grace forowttene free will assentande & helpeand, noghte
     may do at God may paye. For saynt Austyne sayse: Qui fecit te
     sine te, non viuificabit te sine te. at es at say: He at made
|r10 e withowttene the, he wille noghte make the ryghtwyse to be bot
     if ou will helpe er-to.
     |r[f.241a]  And ofe e fre will of mane ne may not mak the /grace of God
     in mane, neuer-the-lesse do mane at in hym es and graythe hym
     swa at he be redy & abyll to resceyue e grace whene it commes.
|r15 Als ou may see by thi-selfe if ou ware in a myrke house one the
     days,  alle the thirlles, dores & wyndows, ware stokyne at na
     sone myght enter. If ou stod styll & walde noghte late e sonne
     come in, wha were to blame if e house were myrke? For if ou
     opynde the dors and wyndouse, als-tyte e sone walde come ine
|r20 and lyghte alle e house. For-thi wyte nane bot thi-selfe if ou
     gracelese be. For saynt Anselme sayse: Man wanttes noghte is
     grace, for God gyffes it hyme; bot he hafes it noghte, & whi? for



|p5


     he resceyues it noghte, & at es for he redies hym noghte to
     resceyue is grace als he sulde. For if he graythede hym als
     he sulde, with-owttene grace ware he noghte.
        God es no chynche of his grace, for he hase er-of ynoghe.
 |r5 For if he dele it neuer sa ferre ne to sa many, itt leues hym
     neuer-the-lesse, ffor it wanttis bot clene vesselle to resceyue
     it. For saynt Austyne sayse: Deus ingenti libertate atque
     vnbertate replet omnes creaturas, & capacitate earum. at es
     us mekill for to say: God thurgh the gret fredome of his mekill
|r10 grace helpfull fillis alle creaturs after at ay are abyll to
     resceyue his grace. If mane opene his herte to this when God it
     sendis to hym, in werke he walde it schewe, with-owttene any
     drede. For-thi the appostill by hym-selfe sayse whene he hys
     grace had wonne: Gracia eius in me vacua non fuit. at es: e
|r15 grace at God hase me gyfene es noghte vanyte in me, for he
     noted euer in werke e grace at he hade.
        We felawchipe with God of hys grace als merchaundes duse
     to-gedir at hase chafere in mene, ffor God settis his grace



|p6


     agayne oure werke to chafere with ame bathe. Bot for his dede
     he will noghte elles, be e byet neuer sa gret, bot louynge &
     thankynge,& alle e prowe he will at mane haue at erof may
     ryse. Bot many fandis to be-gyle God & refe hym his dale, at
 |r5 will be loued of mene for ayre gud dede. And for-thi are ay
     worthi to lose if ay any gude hafe, for ay stele fra aire
     Lorde at falles to his dale. Agaynes whayme God sayse: Gloriam
     meam alteri non dabo. at es to say: The wirchipe at falles
     to me I will gyffe nane oer.
|r10    And for-thi at oure speche es now of manes fre will, ou
     sall undirstande at er es called ffre will of mane at frely
     |r[f.241v] may turne to gude or till ille. at mane wele knawes. / Thre
     statys are of mane: be-fore syne & efter, and efter mane es
     confermed, that [es], efter mane es departede owte of this dedly
|r15 lyfe and wone to that ioy at neuer sall hafe ende. Mannes will
     was mare fre in the first state an in the secunde, and in the
     thirde mare free thane in the firste or in the secunde. In e
     firste state, by-fore mane synned, was mannes will so fre at
     he myghte syne & noghte syne; in his free will it was whethir
|r20 sa he wolde do wele or ille. In the laste state at es con_fermede, 




|p7

     an sall mane noghte mow syne ne do ill one none-kyn
     wyse. In the secund state, in e wylke he may syne and may
     noghte, bot he syne manes will es fre till ill, to it be streyned
     & turned agayne with grace. And whene grace ledis e will, ane
 |r5 es it free to wirke e gude. Euer es manes will fre, bot be-fore
     grace it es free to wirke be ill, & thurgh grace it es made fre
     to wirke e gude. And us es mannes will fre euer one some wyse.
        Bot mannes will es noght gude, bot it be fre fra syne; thus
     es mannes fre will fyled with syne. For-thi by-fore at mane
|r10 synnede, na lettynge hade he at myghte marre hyme to do e gude.
     Bot now slyke a broer hase syne copled with oure flesche at
     saynt Paule calles 'Legem carnis,' e lawe of e flesche, at es,
     mayster of the flesche, swa at euer he withstandis Goddis lawe
     in alle at he may. at lettis oure will to assente to e gude
|r15 & stirris ame to e ill, at he may noghte wirke e gude bot if
     grace helpe & vse hym owte of syne.
        Ilke a mane, or he syne, hase a fre will to folowe e fendis
     rede or Goddes rede, whethir sa he chesys. Bot fra mane thurgh
     werk of syne byndes hym to e fende, he ne may thurgh na myghte



|p8


     of hyme-selfe wyne owte of his bandes. And ane he fares as a
     schippe at thurgh tempeste hase loste alle at sulde hyme helpe,
     and es castene fra wawe to wawe whedir tempeste hym dryues. And
     righte swa it es by mane at Goddes grace wanttis. Fra he be
 |r5 fallene in dedely syne, he duse noghte at he walde, bot aye
     waywes fra hande to hande at the fendis will. And bot God gyffe
     hym grace to ryse owte of his synne, he sall be lefte in syne
     till his lyfes end, and efter he sall be loste bathe lyfe & saule,
     and dampned till endeles pynne.
|r10    And this may ou see in werldly thynges. Nane may make
     hym-selfe kynge bot e folke of e comone chese pame slyke a
     Kynge als ay walde hafe. Bot whene he es chosene of e folke
     and confermede in his rewme, ane slyke powere he hase ouer ame
     at hym chase, at, be he neuer sa ill to ame, ay may noghte
|r15 do hym doune, bot if it be thurgh oer at hase mare powere ane
     |r[f.242a] he. And thus thurghe aire awene chose, / be he neuer so ill,
     nedly by-houys ame thole. Ryght so mane, or he syne, hase a fre
     will to chese wheer he will be vndir God or e fende. Bot whene
     he cheses with his will e fend to serue, efter he may noghte,
|r20 whene he will, come owte of his banddis. And swa e firste fre
     will in-till nedfulnes turnes. And one is maner werldly mene
     sayse at are boundene in syne to ame at consaylles ame to
     amend aire lyfe, "Fayne we walde ryse," ay say, ,"bot we may



|p9


     noghte." Ne ay ne may thurgh myghte of ame-selfe, bot thurghe
     Goddes grace helpand ay may.
        The thirde grace es maste specyalle, ffor it es noght
     gyffene to ilke skilfull creature bot anely to tha at resceyues
 |r5 e secunde grace & with aire fre will filles it in ded, & may say
     by ame-selfe als saynt Paule sayde: Gracia eius vacua non fuit
     in me. at es at say: Goddes grace ne was noghte vanyte in me.
     And saynt Austyne sayse at God in vs wyrkande fulfillis at he
     thurgh grace stirrand by-gane in vs. For nower with-owttene hym
|r10 helpande may we do gude vn-till oure-selfe ne till pay hyme. And
     this by-houes be thoghte by-fore, for God sayse hym-selfe: Sine
     me nichil potestis facere. With-owttene helpe of my grace, he
     sayse, e may noghte spede ne do. Goddes grace stirrande gase
     be-fore gud will, & stirres hyme to do e gude & leve his syne.
|r15    WHATE GRACE DOSE WHENE HE VESETTIS MANNES SAULE. Grace,
     whene he firste commes to vesete mans saule, he wakkyns hyme als
     of a slomerynge at lange hase lyggene in syne, and spyrres at
     hyme with thre scharpe worddes, sayande: "Whare art ou," he
     sayse, "and whethene commes ou, and whedir wendis ou?" Firste
|r20 he sayse, "Whare arte oue?" Als wa say, "Vmbythynke the,



|p10


     vnhappy wreche, how foule ou arte dounne castyne, & whate
     perelle ou arte in. For thurgh thi syne ou arte fallene in_till 
     thyne enemys handes, at ouer all thynge couaytes to wyrke
     the waa; and noghte may helpe ne delyuer the owt of thy faaes
 |r5 handes, bot almyghtty God thi gud Lorde, at ou hase forsakene."
        Sythene he spyrres & sayse, "Whethyne commes ou?" Als he
     till the sayd, "ou wrechid caytefe, by-halde all thi lyfe als
     ou hase wastede it in syne. Thou commes fra e fendis tauerne
     of helle. Whare es all e gudes God hase e gyffene to [help]
|r10 e & wirchipe hym with? Sa saryly ou hase ame loste. So riche
     |r[f.242v] als / thi Lord the made & ou arte by-comene a pure wriche."
        Synthene he spyrres, "Whedir weyndis ou? Wafull wreche,"
     he sayse, "ou wyendis to e wafull dome at he demes to wofull
     wreches, for als ou hase seruede, ryghte swa sall ou be demyde.
|r15 Sa awefull are-to ou sall God see, at ou sall be so ferde
     owt of thi wytte. And to e montaynnes & hillis ou sall luke
     and crye with a grylle voyce & pray ame at ay one the falle &
     hyde the, at ou noghte one hym see. Wafull wreche, ou



|p11


     wendis till helle, & ou do forthe als ou hase by-gonne. Whare
     ou sall wende es fyre, so hate brynnande & sa wodly, at all the
     water of e see, if it thorowe it rane, e leste sparke of the
     fyre it myghte neuer slokene. For ou stynkkes here to Godd for
 |r5 i foule synnes, are-fore ou sall fele foule stynke are last_ande 
     for euer. And for ou luffed here myrknes & ay to be in
     syne, thare sall ou fele so thikke myrkenes at ou may it
     grape. And ffor ou restede the here in syne agaynes Goddes will,
     thare sall ou wepe in a thykkere & more glowande teres thene
|r10 motes ere in the sonne. A thowsande of thowsande eris payne
     sall ou thole, euer payne after payne to newe thy waa."
        Whene Goddes grace hase styrrede mane and wakkenede hyme
     with thir thre, & hase mad hyme to knawe the perelle at he es
     in, thane he conseyues a ferdenes of Goddes awefull dome. And
|r15 are-thorowe he be-gynnes to sorowe at euer he dyd amyse, and
     ernys to amende hyme thurgh Goddes grace at stirres hym to fle
     e euyll & gyf hym to do e gude.
        Than commes grace folowande to helpe e gud will of mane to
     fulfill it in dede. For ofe ou, mane, hafe a gud will to do e
|r20 gude thurgh grace by-fore stirrande, the gud will ou may noghte



|p12


     do in dede with-owttene Goddes grace folouande & helpeande. And
     the appostill affermes by hym-selfe are he us sayse: Non autem
     ego, sed gracia dei mecum. The gud I do es noghte, he sayse,
     bot Goddes grace do it with me. As if he sayde: Na gude may
 |r5 I do if ne Goddes grace me helpe. Than es gud we do e firste
     at grace stirres oure wyll to do, and sythene thurgh grace
     feloande to wyrke gude. And thane hase ou at grace at gase
     by-fore gud will, and gude wyll es als a hande-maydene to grace
     to wyrke alle hir wille.
|r10    Goddes grace, are he es, will noghte e vnmayte, bot euer
     |r[f.243a] he es wyrkkande, / and he es waxeand ay mare & mare, to mekill the
     mede. For-thi of this helpand qrace sayse saynt Paule: Goddes
     grace es noghte vanyte in me. Note we an this grace at God
     vs sendis, at God for-thynke hym noghte of his sande & haue it
|r15 euer in pyne for we note it noghte. For-thi do we als the
     appostill is redis are he sayse: Hortamur vos, fratres, ne in
     vacuum gracium dei recipiatis. I pray ow, he sayse, & byddes



|p13


     owe, als my brethir in God, at e resceyue noghte grace in
     vayne, at notes it noghte in gud whene God till ow it sendis.
     For percas if ou it with-skape & it tyne, ou sall neuer after
     per-till wyne.
 |r5    Isodere telles of a littill fle at es called Saura, & this
     fle by-takyns grace be-fore stirrand, whase kynd it es at he
     [es] enemy to all wormes of venome. Sa at whare he seese any
     worme to-warde mane for to stange hyme whare he slepis in wildir_nes 
     or in woddes, he flees by-fore to e mane, or e worme hym
|r10 stange, and lyghttes appone e slepand face and byttes hym a
     lyttill. And ar-thurgh he wakyns hym or e best commo, at he
     may be warre or he be stangede. Now by this Saura es vndirstande
     grace at God sendis to mane agayne the fandynge of e fende,
     at ofte venemosely stangges. He cryes appone the als e
|r15 appostill witnes in his wordes & sayse: Surge qui dormis &
     exsurge a mortuis, & illuminabit te Christus. He sayse: Ryse,
     ou slepis so faste; owt of thi syne wakkene & ryse fra thi dede,
     & Criste sall helpe the thurgh his dere-worthi grace.
        Bot the vnkynde creatours duse agayne is grace & for-duse
|r20 it with-alle, als Vergill did with this littill flee at I are of



|p14


     spake, at saued hym fra e dede. He, this Virgill, als he
     slepid, a neddere come to hyme-warde for to stang hyme, as it es
     his kynde. Bot this littill flee, is Saura, at sawe e neddire,
     flow by-fore & lyghtted in his forheuede & prykede hyme a littill.
 |r5 And are-with he wakenede, ryghte als e worme come. Bot is
     Virgill in his wakynnynge, he feled his forheued smerte. He
     smate hym-selfe in e fronte, & sa he slew e fle, & us qwyte
     he hym his gud seruyse at sauede his lyfe. For-thi for-do ou
     noghte grace whene he to e commes to warne e of thi harme &
|r10 stirre e to e gude.
        Fayne aughte mane to be of Goddes grace whene God sendis it
     to hym, and sa riche a gyfte of God warely to eme. For bot man
     hafe Goddes grace in this dedly lyfe & reule hym ar-after, wele
     better it ware to hyme at he ware vnborne an lyfe with-owttene
|r15 grace. For grace es harls of at lastand ioye at is to come,
     als e appostill sayse: Gracia dei vita eterna. Goddes grace,
     he sayse, es als helpe & waye to ay-lastand lyfe. And for-thi
     he settis grace by-fore as waye at ledis to e lastande lyfe
     |r[f.243v] & ioye, & als / a wedde, if we it wele eme, to make in it sekirnes
|r20 of endles ioy to welde, als e appostill sayse: Qui dedit



|p15


     pingnus spiritumn suum in corporibus nostris. God, he sayse, has
     gyffene till vs e haly gaste als a wedde here in us to welde of
     at endles ioye.
        Halde we ane this heuenly wede & note it wele in werke, and
 |r5 schape oure lyfe are-after in whate-sa we do. For wele es vs in
     is lyfe whiles Goddis grace vs ledis; ffor whene grace us leues,
     we faile of at wele. For-thi for-do we in vs thurgh helpe of
     grace alle at es agaynes grace what-so euer it b^s
e, lesse or
     mare, at oure synfull witte sayse es agaynes Goddes will. For_do 
|r10 we ane by-dene, at ay lettis us noghte to accorde to Goddes
     will. at es, at we fordo all at syne es, or at may stirre to
     syne, with forthynkkynge of herte & scrifte of mouthe & with_standyng 
     with will neuer to turne agayne.
        Thre thynges are nedefull till ilk a mane of what state he
|r15 be to mekill his mede, thurgh Goddes grace helpande, als abouene
     es sayde, at hym sall lede. The ffirste es at mane e in
     honeste werke with-owttene lettynge of his tyme. The secunde,
     at he his werke do with a fredome of spyrite, in stede and in
     tyme als till ilke werke falles. The thirde, at his vttire
|r20 berynge, whare-so he commes, so honeste be & faire, at louynge
     be to God and stirryng of gude till all at hyme sees-at e



|p16


     appostill byddynge ay ful-fill in dede, at sayse: Omnia in
     vobis honeste & secundum ordinem fiant. at es at saye: All
     at e do, honestely be it done, in ordire.
        At the fyrste, sall euer-ylke gud Cristene mane umbyluke
 |r5 hyme, & euer be warre at he tyne noghte the schorte tyme or
     wrange dispende it, or in ydilnes late it ouer-passe--e tyme
     at God hase lente hyme to serue hym with-all, to gedir in gud
     werkes, tresure of grace, to by hym with heuene. The tyme of
     werke es schorte, & for-thi the faster it es to wirke, at we ne
|r10 tyne noghte is schorte tyme & sa lose oure mede. And noghte anely
     this schorte tyme fra vs flees, bot are flees, als e wyse mane
     sayse: Nostra etas volat. at es at say: Oure elde flees.
     Slepe we, wake we, or whate-sa we elles do, oure lyfe glyddes
     away. And, als saynt Gregor sayse, oure lyfe es lyke a mane in
|r15 a schippe. Sytte he or stande, slepe he or wake he, euer he es
     thedirwarde whedir e schipe dryues thurgh strenthe of e wynde.
     Righte sa we in this schorte whille, whate-sa we do, we dryue
     euer til oure ende. For-thi we spede vs in this schorte tyme,



|p17


     als oure enemy folows us euer at e bake with a scharpe swerde
     to styke vs thurghe. And sothely oure enemy, thate es e deuyll,
     |r[f.244a] folows vs euer at the bakke. For als Senec sayse: / Vita fugit,
     more sequitur. at es to say: The lyfe flees & the dede
 |r5 freschely folows, for oure lyfe es noghte elles bot passynge fra
     lyfe. And saynt Austyne sayse at lyf es bot a swyfte rynnynge
     to the dede. For-thi it es [noght] to tell by how lang a mane
     lyffes, bot how wele.
        itt this schorte lyfe es uncertayne & unstabill, how lang
|r10 it sall laste. And for-thi Iob sayse: Nescio quamdiu subsistam,
     & si post modicum tollatt me factor meus. I ne wate, sayse e
     haly mane Iobe, how lange here I sall duelle, ne whene my makere
     will take me hythene. Here-of spekes saynt Gregor whare he us
     sayse: I ne wate noghte, sayse is haly mane, the while & sall
|r15 duelle here, ne whene at I hythene sall be tane and ledde to
     e dome. Mannes lyfe es lykkynde to the wynde, at of all
     thynges es maste unstabill. For saynt Gregore sayse: Schorte es
     mannes lyfe, & it at schortnes es euer uncertayne. For saynt
     Ierome sayse: Na thynge sa mekill be-gyles mane als mane ne



|p18


     knawes noghte e tyme of his lyfe, at to his witt vncertane es.
     And itt highte he hym-selfe lang to lyfe, als he myghte at his
     will dryue dede obake.
        Thus desceyued was e riche mane of whame e gospelle spekes,
 |r5 at sa mekill gud hade raked to-gedir at he ne wyste whare it to
     do. Na thyng hym greuede, so all thynge felle to his will, bot
     at he had no housesynge to do his gudes ine. Thus als unwitty
     he spake to hym-selfe, "My saule, now may reste the & lede thi
     lyfe with ese, for reches & gudes ou hase ynoghe for many
|r10 eres to spende." Bot for he thoughte all one his gudes & noghte
     one the dede, a voyce come fra almyghtty God & sterynly to hym
     sayde, "A, foule, this nyghte e fendis of helle thy saule sall
     fra the refe. And at ou sa lange gadirde samene, wha sall it
     hafe?"
|r15    Happy had is riche mane bene and wyselyere had he wroghte,
     and he wolde hafe done after Salamone rede, at all teches how
     ay sall do if reches to ame fall: Diuicie si affluant, nolite
     apponere cor. at es at say: If reches to e falle, feste
     noghte one ame thy herte, for ay are faylande & noghte lastande
|r20 ay, & slepir als ane eele, at whene mene wenys he hase hym faste,
     als fantome he fra hyme glyddys & tynys hym for ay.
        And thus it es by erthely gudes ffor whame mene swynke so



|p19


     sare to gedir ame to-gedir at riste may ay nane hafe ne of
     noghte elles thynkkes. And whene ay hafe at ay erne, with
     righte or with wrange, or with pore mene malysouns that bytterly
     |r[f.244v] ame bannes, ane, whene ay thynke ame maste sekire  / and alle
 |r5 to ame falles ryghte als ay walde, sodanly ay fra ame glyde
     als a sleper eele mene haldes by e tayle. For owthir aire
     gudes fra ame partys whylis ay are here, or elis ay dy fra
     air gudes whene ay walde fayneste lyfe, & noghte with ame
     beris bot malysounns & synnes at sall wende with ame to e
|r10 strayte dome & chalange ame by-fore God. For with wrange & in
     ill vse ay spende ame & ouer-mekill luffede ame agaynes Goddis
     will. Unhappy me thynke ane ay ere at for am ouer-mekill
     cares.
        AND AT MANE SALL NOGHTE AFFY HYM IN RECHES: EXEMPLUM:
|r15 Mighte reches, at e worlde eldis to thase at for ame swynkes,
     bynde hym to make am sekyre at ay sulde euer with ame laste?
     it lo, at ane hade mene some coloure erthely gudes to erne &
     hertly for ame to swynke als mene now dose. Bot this may noghte
     the werlde now do one no wyse, ffor that thynge he ne hase of
|r20 hym-selfe at may lett that na he sall passe, and at he hase
     noghte, gyffe it to oer. For e haly wrytt be e werlde & by



|p20


     all his thynges thus sayse: Mundus transsibit, & concupiscencia
     eius. at es thus mekill for to say: The werlde salle passe,
     with all his thynges at mene here after ernes, whate-so-euer
     ay be. And the law wretyne thus sayse: That mane may gyffe na
 |r5 mare ryghte in a thynge to oer thane hym-selfe hase. Righte
     als ou may see by a mane at es fallene in a watter & thurgh
     strenghe it beris hym forthe & reues hym e grounde. If he may
     wyne to a stake or to a rote at gud festenynge hase, he may lett
     e water to bere hym furthe. Bot if he festyne hym-selfe till a
|r10 thynge at fletis als he duse, he may noghte ane lett e water
     to bere hyme furthe or whedir it will. Bot sothely, nyll we
     will we, in is werlde als in a water with e gudes of this
     werlde euer are we passande, & noghte es in is werlde to festyne
     vs by to lett us at we ne sall passe. For als e haly mane by
|r15 vs sayse: Omnes moriemur & sicut aqua dilabimur in terra. at
     es us mekill for to say: Alle sall we dy and als water wende in
     to e erthe.



|p21


        For-thi e haly mane Iob sayse by hym-selfe at here I knawe
     e sothe: Ego ille opulentus quondam repente contritus sum, et
     ecce leues amici mei transierunt, et senectam per quam non
     reuertor ambulo. Loo, said is haly mane, I at some-tyme was
 |r5 so riche, to what meschefe I am now fallene! Loo, my schortt
     frendis hase me lefte, & by at way now & wende bot er-by I
     come neuer agayne. And is als if he saide: Riches & frendis
     I hafe ma ane oer of e lande, & all tha na myghte me lett
     at ne me byhouede furthe wende. And nyll I will I, at waye
|r10 & wende withowtene agayne-come.
        Bot whylke es is pase mane sall wende by, e prophett
     er he schewes with thir wordis: Omnis caro fenum, & omnis gloria
     eius quasi flos agri. Mane, he saise, es als hay, & als flowres
     |r[f.245a] in the medowe  / at growes, to mane at es lufly & faire. Mannes
|r15 flesche es als haye, & all his ioy & noblaye as e flour in e
     medowe, at so faire growes. Haye firste waxes in grene grysse,
     & sone after he brynges furthe faire floures. And if he stande,
     after a while ane e floures dryes & falles, and after he es
     mawene downe with e sythe & dyes. Sythene es it lede to house
|r20 & emyd to bestis fode.
        Thus it fares by e mane at borne es in is werlde. In
     his childhede he sprynges & waxes as dose e grysse at lufly es



|p22


     one to luke. Efter he waxes to mane, & so he floresche in faire_nes 
     & strenghe & wytt & hauynge of erthely gudes at to hym
     falles. ane sone after als he drawes till elde, e floures
     falles & fayles, at ere his vertus, fairehede, strenghe, wytte,
 |r5 syghte, felynge, & herynge. And efter at he es smetyne downe
     with the sythe of dede, sythene led to house to bestis fode --
     at es to say, doluene he es in e erthe to fede wormes with.
        And this wittnes e holy mane er he thus sayse: Cum mori_tur 
     homo, habitabit inter serpentes et bestias. at es thus for
|r10 to say: When mane es dede, with tadis, neddirs, & foulle, venymos
     bestis sall his duellyng be. Whatt thynge es so wlatesome to e
     werlde or vnworthi, als es a mane whene he es dede? at e
     werlde so mekill lattis by whills mane by hym lyffes, so hethely
     e werlde lattis by hym sone whene he es dede, at he ne may
|r15 thole hym be in his house thre dayes to-gedir, bot borne es owte
     at he harme noghte with stynke at of hym commes, & es grauene
     depe vndir e erthe to be wormes mete.
        And ffor-thi it es now in is tyme to wyrke, for in e tyme
     at es to come es na tyme to swynke, bot to resceyue mede for



|p23


     are-done dede. And is affermes e angell with athe er he us
     sayse: Iuravit enim angelus quod non erit tempus amplius. at
     es us mekill for to saye: e angell sware by athe at after
     manes dede na tyme sall he hafe oghte for to wyne, bot at that
 |r5 he hase by-fore wonne. Wete he wele, ffor-thi it es to do als
     e appostill sayse & redis: Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum
     ad omnes. at es to say: Whilis we hafe tyme do we gud till all.
     And als e appostill er mane redis, hym-selfe did in dede. for
     as ir clerkes by saynt Paule sayse, euer at he was styrrande
|r10 in sum gude werkes: for fra e fyrste houre of e daye vn-to e
     fyfte he trauelde with his hende to wyne his fode; & fra e fyfte
     |r[f.245v] houre vn-to e tende houre to e folke he prechede;  / and fro none
     till euene he seruede to e pure pilgrymes with slyke als he hade.
     Also by nyghte was he prayande, & thus spendid he his tyme.
|r15    In thre maners tynes mane his tyme, at es: in ydilchipe, or
     in werke at na gudes commes offe, or in gud werkes bot noghte
     ordayned als ay sold be. Firste it es to for-do ydilchipe, for
     it mekill harmes. And this witnesse Salamone e wytty at thus
     sayse: Multam maliciam docuit ociositas. at es us mekill for
|r20 to saye: at mekill malece & syne leris ydilnes. And for-thi



|p24


     sayse haly wryte er-by: Qui sectatur ocium stultissimus est. at
     es us mekyll for to say: He at spendis his tyme in ydilchipe
     ouer-mekill he es a fole, for he for-beres noghte e thyng at
     duse hym harme. And it mare fole es he for he wynnes hym na
 |r5 mede in e tyme. And aler-maste fole he es for he wynees hym
     payne. And ffor-i God blames e ydill are he to ame sayse:
     Quid hic statis tota die ociosi? at es to say: Whi stand e
     here al e day ydill & will noghte wyrke?
        Ydilchipe wastes godes at are warely wonne, & for-thi saynte
|r10 Iohn sayse at na thyng es werse an ydilnes, & noghte anely for
     he wynnes noghte, bot for he wastes at are wonne. Ydilines
     tilles e fende till house, & for-thi sayse saynt Iohn: Euer
     be wyrkande sum gud werke at e fende fynde the noghte ydill,
     ffor als thurghe gude werke e fende es lettid to enter in to
|r15 manes herte, swa ydilines makes waye to manes herte & drawes e
     fende in.
        Idilines lettis mane to lyfe mannes lyfe ordanely als to
     mane falles. Als e wyse Senec sayse: He lyffes noghte till
     hym-selfe at lyffes till hys wambe & to ese of his foulle
|r20 flesche in all at he may, for he lyffes noghte till his pro_phett 
     ne to nane oer. And for-i he lyffes noghte, ffor Iob
     sayse: Homo enim ad laborem natus est. at es at saye: Mane es



|p25


     borne to trauelle. And for-i mane at trauelis noghte he lyffes
     noghte as mane. To trauelle was mane boundene efter he had
     synned, thurgh Goddes bynddynge at us to hym sayde: In sudore
     wltus tui vesceris pane tuo, donec reuertaris in terram de qua
 |r5 assumptus es, quia terra es & in terram ibis. at es us mekill
     for to saye: In swete of thi face ou sall ete thi brede. at
     es: ou sall trauelle stalworthely & noghte fayntly, for he
     byddis e travelle with swete of thi face. He at trauelis at
     swettes hertly, he at swynkkes. And so ou sold, ay till ou
|r10 torne in-to e erthe he sayse ou erte of e tane. at es: All
     thi lyfe ou trauelle at ou lose no tyme.
     |r[f.246a] This vice of ydilchipe mekill gude it lettis and  / [makes]
     mane vnworthi any gud to do, and symttis hym als it were with a
     parlesy at all his lymes dryes, at he may na gud do als he
|r15 sulde. For-thi spekes e psalme-wrytter are he us sayse: Manus
     habent et non palpabunt; pedes habent et non ambulabunt; os
     habent et non loquentur; oculos habent et non videbunt; aures
     habent et non audient. at es us mekill for to say: Thay hafe
     handes, he sayse, bot ay wyrke noghte; ffeete ay hafe bot ay
|r20 ga noghte; mouthes ay hafe bot ay speke noghte; eres ay hafe
     bot ay here noght--for aire lymmes are so boundene in syne
     at to all thynge at euyll es are ay lyghte, bot to do e gud



|p26


     is dede.
        itt ydilnes es a vyce at wyrkes mekill euyll, for it nur_esche 
     to all at euyll es. Saynt Clement sayse: For it makes
     mane rekles & for-getill for to do at he haldene to do if he
 |r5 sauede sall be. For whene e fend fyndes a mane ydill, ane
     he drawes hym nere hyme to draw hym to his werkes. Firste he
     puttis hym fowle thoghttes in e herte and taries hyme with
     foulle ernynges of fleschely fylthe or of oer folyes at
     brynges mane to syne. Efter he prikkes hym to do thiese ern_ynges 
|r10 in dede, & us he makes hym to lose hym-selfe in syne,
     & hys tyme also, and lettis gud dedis to do at myghte helpe
     hyme till heuene. And sa he dose agaynes e appostell rede at
     us till all mene sayse: Nolite dare locum diabulo. at es to
     say: Gyffe na stede to e fende.
|r15    Bot in at mane at trauels in gud werkes, the fende may
     fynd na stede in hyme for to reste. for what vessale sa it be
     at es euyne-full, if mene ett mare are-in, it castes it
     agayne. And at mane mase waye to e fende & tillis hym to reste
     with hyme, & fulfill in dede whate-sa he hym byddes. And thus he



|p27


     mase hym-selfe unworthi to all oer stedis in to dwelle bot anely
     to helle; ffor als helle es e duellyng-stede of e fowle fende,
     righte sa it es howsynge to e ydill mane at here serues hym in
     syne. And at this thus be, by skyll it may e prouede. Sothe
 |r5 it es e ydill mane may noghte duelle in heuene, ffor heuene es
     anely full mede to ame at in is lyfe spendis aire tyme in
     ase werkes at ay hope be Criste to paye. In purgatorie nane
     slyke may duelle. are e gude anely are purgede in at clensand
     fyre till ay be als clene of syne als whene ay crystenyd ware.
|r10 And here-to witnes e psalme-wrytter er he us sayse: In labore
     hominum non sunt, & cum hominibus non flagellabunttur. at es
     |r[f.246v] us for to say: The ydill  / trauels noghte with mene, ffor-thi
     ay sall noghte in purgatorye be pyned with thase mene at are
     in e waye to heuene. Bot ay sall be for-euer pynede in helle
|r15 with e fende, for ay als his thralles serued hym in syne.
        Grete schame it es Cristyne mane nowe ydill to be in e
     tyme at nowe es, at callede es e tyme of grace, in e whylke
     tyme ensampill es schewed vs of gud werkes. And we are hyrede
     for to wyrke, & if we wyrke als we awe grete mede us habydes.
|r20    Firste, ensample God sett hym-selfe at we suld lufe to
     wyrke, als e apostille by hyme sayse: Exinaniuit semetipsum



|p28


     formam serui accipiens, in similitudinem hominum factus & habitu
     inventus vt homo. Humiliauit semetipsum, factus obidiens vsque
     ad mortem, mortem autem crucis. Propter quod & deus exaltauit
     illum & donauit illi nomen quod est super omne nomen, vt in
 |r5 nomine Ihesu omne genu flectatur, celestium, terrestrium et
     infornorum, et omnis lingua confiteatur quia dominus Ihesus in
     gloria est dei patris. This es us mekill for to saye: This
     es Goddes Sone of heuene, with trauelle hase wastede hym-selfe.
     He tuke e body of thralles, made to lyknes of mane, in clethyng
|r10 fondene as mane. He mekid hym-selfe et boxome by-come to e dede,
     are to dy on e croyse. For-thi God hase heghede hyme & gyffene
     hym name at es abowne al at name beres, so at in e name of
     Ihesu all spyrites sall knele of helle, of heuene, & erthe, & all
     sall witnesse bere at oure Lorde Ihesu Cryste dwelles with his
|r15 Fadir in ioye. Ouer prowde ane es e seruande & ouer delycate
     at in a batelle will ryste, and seese his lorde by-fore him
     eghne of his enymyse be assayllede & of ame euyll wondyde.
        The toer skyll es why we sulde wyrke now in is tyme of
     grace, for we are Goddes boghte thralles, with e pryce of his
|r20 dere-worthy blode, noghte to sytt ydill, bot for to wyrke in this
     vyne-arde. And itt he hyghttes vs mede if we do with gud wyll



|p29


     at we thurgh dett awe for to do.
        The third skill es at mare mede he hyghtes vs if we do his
     will at he highte to his preue frendis be-fore e tyme of grace.
     To ame, if ay wele dyde, he hyghte erthely gudes; to vs he
 |r5 highte to wonne with hyme for-euer in his blysse.
        The ferthe es, if he to any of his preue frendes highte e
     blysse of heuene, lange tyme after it was or ay myghte wyne
     erto. And itt by-houed ame wende by helle and are make lang
     habyddynge: some a thowsand wynter, sum twa thowsand, and some
|r10 thre thowsand wynters, or ay to heuene myghte come. Bot now in.
     a littill whyle mene may wyne heuene at will-als if any dye sone
     aftir he es crystennede; owther if he hafe done full penance for
     his mysdedis at may for-do payne of purgatorie at he for ame
     suld thole; or martyrs at for Goddes lufe scheddes aire blode.
|r15 The blys es now redy to mane if he it serue. And for-thi als e
     |r[f.247a] gospelle tellis saynt Luke: Misit  / dominus seruum suum hora
     cene dicere invitatis ut venirent, quia iam parata sunt omnia.
     at es us mekill for to say: God hase sent his seruant in e
     soper-tyme to say ame at bodene ware at ay sulde come & na
|r20 duellyng make, for alle es redy at graythed es to the feste.
     This tyme of soper es tyme of grace at now es, in whylke all es
     redy with-owttene lettynge to brynge mane with to blysse. are



|p30


     es noghte elis to do bot wasche mene handes & sett ame to the
     mete--at es, at ay perfytely be clensyde of all e synns at
     ay hafe donne sene e tyme at ay were borne agaynes Goddes
     will.
 |r5    WHAT LOSYNG OF TYME ES IT TO TRAUELLE ABOWTE ASE THYNGES
     AT NA PERFET COMMES OF: Noghte anely it es evylle for to waste
     e tyme in ydilines & in vayne, bot il it es & losyng of tyme to
     trauelle abowte ase thynges at na profete commes of, for for-to
     trauelle abowte swylke thynges are wastynge of lyfe.
|r10    His lyfe es lange at trauelis in at he may for hyme-selfe,
     at es to e wyrchipe of God & his saule-hele. Thow sall noghte
     deme the mane at he hase lang lyffede, of ou se hym white_harede 
     & ga stowpande with a staffe, for at of mannes lyfe es
     noghte to telle by at es wasted in ydilnes & in dedly syne.
|r15 For-thi ansuerde Baralame to Iosaphate, his disciple, at to hym
     sayde: "Mayster, how alde arte ou? I pray the, if it be thi
     will, ou telle me e sothe." And he ansuerde & sayd, "I am of
     fourty eres & fyue." "Maister," quod Iosaphate, "me thynke at
     ou solde be of sexty ere & mare." And than ansuerde Baralame,
|r20 "If ou aske me of all ase eres at I haffe lyffede sene I was
     borne, ane haf I lyffed als many als ou laste sayd. Bot ase
     eres I spendid in ydilines & in syne, or I tuke to e lyf at I



|p31


     now halde, ase eris I halde eris of dede. Bot all ase eris
     I telle eris of my lyfe & na ma, at I hafe serued Cryste my
     Lorde in thurgh his dere-worthy grace, for eris of dede with
     eris of lyfe are noghte for to tell."
 |r5    Wha so walde vmbythynke hyme whate tyme stelis fra hyme in
     lang etyng & drynkynge in owtrage, whate vnmayte werkes, ydil_chipe,
     ydill thoghtes and foule, vnmayte wordes & oer vanytes
     at mane delyttes hyme ine, he suld sothely undirstande & fynd,
     at ofe he alde be of eris, at littill he hase lyffed, & at
|r10 es for to say, one e manere he sulde hafe lyffede. And he hym
     wele umbythynke, for he lyffed noghte to his profet, ne wane hym
     no mede als he sold hafe done, bot peranter wane hym payne for
     lossyng of his tyme.
        Wondir thyng it ware at the mane at gyffes hyme to e
     |r[f.247v] besynes of is werlde mare ane  / nedis, had na [letynge in e]
|r16 lykyng of prayere, in reste of herte, in sothefastnes of worde
     in perfeccione of gud werkes, in lufe to God & till all Crystene
     mene. I trow at wha sa with a clene hert will charge thire,
     many lettynges he may fynd at ofte tyme will lett hyme God
|r20 to serue to paye. And for-thi haly mene by-fore is tyme, at



|p32


     aire lettynges knewe, ay flede e werlde with all his vanytes
     righte als it were cursede, for ame thoghte ay mighte na ryght_wyse 
     lyfe lede erin. And for-thi went ay untill wyldirnes,
     for ther they trowed at ay myghte better serue aire Lorde to
 |r5 paye. For Senec e wyse sayse: Auarior redeo & crudelior,
     inhumanior, quia inter homines fui. Mare auerus I am, sayse
     Senec, & mare couetus, & mare kene & lesse mane I ame at haue
     duelled amanges mene.
        OFF THRE MANERS OCUPACIONS: Thre maners of ocupaciouns
|r10 es owtwith, als in sere ianglyng & mekill, in vtwith raykyng, &
     in mekill traualynge abowte weridly thynges.
        Firste may many trauelle ame-selfe in mekill iangelynge,
     & agaynes this Salomone sayse: Qui dimittit aquam, caput est
     iurgii. at es to say: He at lattes owte e water, he es heued
|r15 of the stryuyng. Late e water owt es late e tunge flete owt in
     mekill iangillynge. Als many unmayte wordes & ydill at mane
     spekes, & als so many sythes he latis e water owte. For to
     knawyng to God ne of hym-selfe may nane wyne at latis his herte
     owte flete with mekill vnmayte speche, for he mase waye to the



|p33


     fende, his faa, in hym-selfe. And for-thi slyke lykyns Salamone
     to e cete at es with-owttene walle, are he us sayse: Sicut
     urbs sine murorum ambitu, ita vir qui non potest cohibere spiritum
     suum in loquendo. at es us mekill for to say: Wha sa noghte
 |r5 refrenes his tonge fra mekill speche, he es als a cete with_owttene 
     walles, are hostes may enter. Ouer-alle the fend of
     helle with his hoste gase thurgh at mouthe at euer es opyne
     with euyll speche. In Vitis Patrum it es tolde of a haly mane
     at saide whene mene praysede a felawchipe of breer at he had
|r10 herde of mekill speche: Boni utique sunt, set habitacio eorum non
     habet ianuam; quicunque wlt intrat & asinum soluit. Gude, quod
     he, ay ere, bot aire wonnyng hase no ate. Wha sa will may ga
     in and lede furthe the asse, at es, aire unwitty saules.
     |r[f.248a] For-thi sayse  / sayne Iames: Si quis putat se religiosum esse
|r15 non refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, huius vana
     est religio. at es to say: If any wenys at he es religious
     and brydilis noghte his tunge, his religious es vayne; he be_gyles 
     his herte. He sayse swythe wele: he brydils noghte his
     mouthe. A brydill es noghte anely in the horse mouthe, for sum
|r20 es abowte e eghne, & sum abowte e eres, for all thre es mekill
     nede at ay brydild e. In the mouthe lygges the heuy iryne
     one e lyghte tunge, for at es maste to halde. Ofte we thynke



|p34


     whene we by-gyne to speke, for to spek lyttill & sett wele oure
     wordes. Bot e tung es sleper, for it wades in wate & glyddes
     lyghtly furthe fra faa wordes to many, fra gud to sume ille,
     fra sothe to lese. And ane als Salomone sayse: In multiloqueo
 |r5 non deest peccatum. at es thus for to say: Mekill speche,
     by-gyne it neuer sa wele, may noghte be with-owttene syne. For
     fra sothe it strikes in-to false, owt of gud in-to euyll, fra
     mesure to ouer-mekill, and as of a drope & a drope waxes a
     mekill flode at drownnes the saule, for with e fletand worde
|r10 fletis e hert owt, at lang er-after may it noghte gedir to_gedir.
     
        And erfore sayse Gregor us: Et os nostrum tanto est deo
     longinquum quanto mundo proximum; tanto cicius exauditur in
     prece quanto magis inquinatur locucione. Thir are saynt Gregor
|r15 wordis in his dyalogs, at ere us for to say: Als nere als oure
     mouthe es to e werlde speche, als ferre es it fra God whene we
     to hym speke & prayes hym of oghte. For-thi es whene we calle
     on hyme & he with-drawes hym agayne fra oure steuene, for he will
     noghte it here, for we stynke to hym als of ydill speche and of
|r20 ydill iangelynng at us hase fyled. For-thi wha so will at



|p35


     Goddes ere be nere his mouthe when he to hym prayes, drawe his
     herte fra e werlde, elles may he lange cry or God hym here, als
     he thurgh e prophet Ysaye sayse: Cum extenderitis manus vestras
     auertam oculos meos a vobis. at es to say: When e make many_falde 
 |r5 prayere to me, e at playes with the werlde, & ne here
     ow noghte at while; & will turne me a-way when e our handes
     lyftes to me.
        For sa mekill lettyng of e gud philosophire sayse es in
     mekill spekyng, at ay bynd aire dyscypylis with sylence aire
|r10 firste fyue ere, als saynt Ambrose sayse. And wretyne it es by
     a haly habot at hyghte Agathone, at thre ere he are a stane
     in his mouthe to lere hym to halde hym stylle.
        The toer es of base at kane hafe na ryste, bot euer
     raykand abowte fra stede to stede, & for nane oer enchesone bot
|r15 for to fede aire wyttis with vanytes & lustes slyke als e
     flesche ernes. "Flee e werlde and his ernynges, & halde mene
     |r[f.248v] in ryste,  / and brydelle the tonge at he noghte owte flete, noer
     in iangelyng ne in ydill speche." Thire thre e haly angelle
     lerede e abbot Arsenius at he am solde eme; ffor whare thir
|r20 thre er haldene at e angelle leris, thare es way to God,
     with-drawyng fra ill. It telles of an abbot at fully twenty



|p36


     ere satt in his selle, at neuer lyftede vp his heued to see e
     selle-rofe.
        The third es of tha at wastes aire tyme with trauelle
     in couatyse to gedir ame weridly thynges ma ane am nedis. And
 |r5 of slyke spekes Salamon e wyse & telles what betis to am for
     all aire grete swynke. Here what for-thi us by ame he sayse:
     Vana est spes eorum et labor sine fructu. False es air hope,
     he sayse, & air trauell with-owtene mede. And it be swylke
     mene: Nichil aufert secum de vniuerso labore suo. at es
|r10 us mekill for to say: Na thynge with hym he beris when he
     hythene weyndis, of all at he hase wonne with care & swynke.
     This es ilk a day sene by ase at are dede, at noghte with
     am beris to aire lang hame, of all e gudes ay hade, were
     ay neuer sa ryche, bot a lyttill cloute of clathe to hille
|r15 aire body with. Na mare the werlde vouches-saufe one ame,
     at ay so mekill luffede. Here-of sulde e riche thynke, at
     playes ame with e werlde, and thir couatouse mene at e pure
     pylles, at rakes hally to-gedir at ay may gete, rekkes he
     neuer of whayme; be he pure or be he ryche he takes na kepe, bot
|r20 and at he hafe. And alle es bot fantom & dreme at ay with
     dele.



|p37


        Righte by a ryche mane it es--at here his lykyng hase of
     golde & of syluer & of oer fleschely lykynge, whare-with als an
     unworthi wreche e werld hym dyssayues--als by a pure mane at
     hungres swythe sare & swa sare thrystes at almaste he dyes.
 |r5 Efter hungers lange hase hyme pyned, he falles one slepe, and he
     dremys at he es bodyne till a feste & heghe sett one e desee,
     & all deyntes at his herte may thynke sett by-fore hyme, wyne &
     pyment in faire cowppes. He etis & drynkes at his will & makes
     hym righte glade, & all at abowte hym standis are fayne for to
|r10 do his wylle. Efter at he hase etyne at hym gud thynke, e
     clathe es drawene & he with mekill noblaye to chambir es gane,
     and are, hym thynkes, he etis sypce & drynkes e wyne. And
     sythene to bede he es broghte, als it ware a prynce, & happed
     with ryche robes appone hyme ynewe, wele furrede with vayre &
|r15 with gryse. Bot whene this wreche wakyns, he felis his legges
     all calde. He thynkes on at noblaye hyme thoghte he was in &
     of-all at riche noblaye hym thoghte at was abowte his bed. He
     grapes abowte hyme if he myghte oghte fynde of ase riche clathes
     he wende ware one hyme, bot an feles he noghte alles bot taters &
|r20 ragges. And mare hym hungers & thrystes an he dyd by-fore. ane
     knawes he sothely it was bot a dreme. at false fantome made hym
     to trowe at it was fest.



|p38


        usgate false reches of e werlde taries e riche, at mase
     ame to wene at all es sothe at fantome ame leris. So witles
     |r[f.249a] riches ame makes  / at ay for-gete am-selfe, and hethyng makis
     at oer & lyghtly by am settis at sothely ase reches wane.
 |r5 ay make feste of base gudis ay pylled fra e pure, and ilke
     man for drede es fayne to do aire will. Bot whene dede ame
     sall wakyne of at balefull dreme, ane fynd ay bot fantome all
     at ay wende had bene sothe.
        The thirde maner of mene thare are at lykyng hase to do e
|r10 gude, bot for ay do it noghte in e maner ay suld do, ay putt
     e mede of aire gud dede in a reuene sekke. For ay losse aire
     mede at ay sulde wyne if ay wroghte ase gud dedis in gud
     entent; for are whare gud entent fayles in any gude dede, than
     mede at to e gude werke sulde falle, fayles alswa.
|r15    And at may fayle on foure maners. The firste, for e
     wykkednes of e wyrkande, als it telles in e firste buke of e
     lawe that Cayme, Adam sone, offerde to Godd of e fruyte at hym
     newede. To is offerand of Cayme God walde noghte luke, bot to
     the offerand of Abelle, his brothir. Of ir wordes saynte Gregor
|r20 spekis & sayse: By herttis will of hym at e offerand mase es



|p39


     the gyfte of God resceyued or er-with-all repreued. For by
     Abelle wretyne it es at God firste luked to Abelle & sythene
     to his gyfte, for to vndirstande at noghte for e offerande of
     Abelle God was payed, bot of e offeryng for Abelle, at in all
 |r5 his werke was trew & gud; & after at God luked. Bot to Cayme
     & his offerande God wold noghte luke-at es for-thi at he e
     offerende made gretly mypayed God. Whi oure offerand myspayes
     God or what-so we do at gud es in kynde, e haly prophete
     schewes by skyll. Here & lere who so will, for us he sayse:
|r10 Cum multiplicaueritis oraciones, non exaudiam, quia manus vestre
     plene sanguine sunt. at es us for to say: When e many prayers
     to me makes, & will ame noghte here, ffor oure handes are full
     of blode, that by-takyns syne.
        itt whi trauelle falles with-owttene mede, at es unnayte
|r15 at stirres many gud to do, as it es whene mane dose any gud at
     gud dose in his kynde, for we walde be praysede of men for oure



|p40


     gude. For-i sayse God till all mene at ere in slyke entent to
     be loued of mene: if e so do, for sothe I say e tyne oure mede.
     For vayne glorie es at thynge at of gud makes euyll; als it es
     by almos-dede at in his kynde es gude, bot do it for manes prays_ynge 
5  & it wynnes bot syne.
        The thirde at for gud werke refes mane his mede, than es
     roysyng of ame at dose e gud dede. And for-thi God in e
     gosepelle by e Pharaene sayse, at talde his gud dedis by-fore
     e folke in Goddes temple thare he in prayede--for-i God by hym
     |r[f.249v] sayde  / till all at by-fore hym stode: Sothely, is man hase loste
|r11 his mede, trayste he none oer for all his gud dede. Of this
     Pharaene sayse saynt Gregore: Loo, so many gud dedis are lost
     thurgh a syne. This mane, als hym-selfe sayd, fasted twa dayes in
     a weke, & payed wele his tendis of all at hym newede, & ouer_passed 
|r15 many oer with his gud dedis. Bot for he roysed hyme of
     his dedis, he losed all at he dide. Nedefull forthi it es to
     mane at he do e gud he may, and at he warely imbyluke hym at
     he pryde hym noghte are-of in thoghte ne in worde. And for-thi
     by is Pharaene saynt Gregore sayse: Als reproued of God he went



|p41


     to his house, for e merit of his gud dede he had gyfnene to hym_seluene 
     & mad hym with his worde bettir ane he was.
        For one foure maners mene loses mede of air gud dede. The
     first es when mane wenys e gude he hase at he it haues of hym_selfe.
 |r5 The toer whene he trowes at God gyffes ase gudes for
     he hase ame serued. The thirde es whene he ruses hyme of his
     gud dedis. The ferthe whene he oer dispyses of aire gud dede,
     for he wolde be haldene better ane any oer.
        it dedis at gud are fayles of aire mede whene mene dose
|r10 in at entent to be haldene better ane any oer, or for to
     lesse gud dede of othire, & for to for-do it with all at he may.
     And be slyke gud-doers saynt Gregor spekes & tellys by a haly
     bechope at hyghte Fortunate, at thurghe grace at he had of God
     he chased owte fendis of ame at ay had duellede with. And sa
|r15 by-felle on a tymme at is Fortunate chased the fende owte of a
     mane in an euene-tyde. e fende, sone whene he was chased owte,
     he put hym in lyknes of a pilgrymme & went thurgh e cete ar the
     bechope was, wepand and elland als a pure wreche, als he at was



|p42


     will of herbery at nyghte. And us by-gane he to crye at all
     e cete myghte here: "Loo, whate oure bechope has done to me,
     at e halde so gude & so haly! are I had tane my herberye &
     wend to bene in reste, the bechope come to e house & putt me
 |r5 owte with force. And now als a pure wreche of my herberye I am
     will. Ouer-all herbery I seke & nane will one me rewe." A mane
     of at cete at this herde & herd hym us speke, tuk hym in-to
     his house & hym by e fyre sett & esede hym one this wyese. Whene
     e mane had spokene with e pilgryme, as he wende he had bene, and
|r10 he had spyrred hym of ferre tyynges as mene dose pilgrymes, e
     fend styrte to e childe in e credill and wrathe e neke in twa
     & keste it in e fyre, and vanyste awaye sodanly. And thus at
     his partynge, he qwytt e mane his gud dede.
        Off spekes saynt Gregor & sayse: Many semys gud dedis at
|r15 are noghte gud, for ay are noghte done with a gud will. For
     is mane at e pilgryme herberde, at was the fende, it was for
     na pete at he of hym hade, bot anely for of his bechope he spake
     e ill, he called hym to house at he suld be haldene better &
     |r[f.250a] mare of pete ane his bechope was, als he  / at herberde e pure
|r20 at e bechope with strenghe putt owte of his house. Thus it es
     by mony at dose e gude for to lestene e gud dedis of oer



|p43


     mene & to for-do ame with-all.
        it gud dedis are forowttene mede als [whene a man dose gud
     dedes] willyng to wyne to grete honoures or any werldes gud for
     to hafe mede of mane--ofe to mans dome it seme at many duse e
 |r5 gud, ay do it anely for God. Noghte-for-i many of thir at are
     abouene neuennende reues ame aire mede.
        it thurgh syne fylande, gude dede es loste. And here-to
     accordes at haly wryte sayse: Qui in vno peccauit multa bona
     perdidit. at es us for to say: He at a thyng synnes, many gud
|r10 dedis he tynes--at es, bot he amend hym with schryfte & penance
     do erfore.

        The secude party at teches mane to do e gude, he es haldene
     to do it in stede & in tyme als to ilke gud dedis falles, with a
     fredome of spirite, & noghte be nedit er-to, ne with angir, ne
|r15 with a dede herte, for God takes gretly to thanke at a mane dose
     with a glade herte. For-thi e wyse mane sayse by God: Hillarem
     datorem diligit deus. at es us for to say: God lufes ase at



|p44


     hym gyffes oghte with a glade herte--and namly ase werkes at
     to Goddes honour & his louynge falles & to lykyng of manes saule
     & gastely werkes, als prayers and haly thoghttes, and clere
     mynde of God & of his gude dedis.
 |r5    This, & oer slyke to ame, lyttill reste will hafe if ay
     wele sall bee, for als e haly mane sayse: Prayers with-owtene
     deuocione es als claterynge of pyes. For prayere es a sacrafyce
     at mekill payes Gode if it made one e maner at it awe to be.
     For-thi God askes it of vs als dette at we it to hym paye,
|r10 are he vs sayse: Sacrificium laudis honorificabit me. at es
     to say: With sacrafyce of prayers ou sall honoure me. And at
     es gud skylle, for God mad mane for he wolde be loued of hyme.
     And for-thi haly wryt sayse: Gentes creauit deus in laudem &
     gloriam suam. at es us to say: God made mane to his honour and
|r15 his wyrchip & his louyng. For-i e appostill sayse: Oportet
     semper orare & nunquam deficere. at es us for to say: For-thi
     behoues mane euer pray and neuer fayle. He es euer prayand at
     es gud wyrkande. Ryghte es it by prayere als by draweyng of
     ande: for euer to emyng of oure bodily lyfe us nedis to drawe
|r20 oure ande, at es to drawe ayere, & sa it es by prayere to
     emyng of saule lyfe. For-i if we noghte drawe of God thurgh



|p45


     prayere, we are to wyte.
        For-i it es be-tymes to drawe mene fra e werlde and his
     besynes, at ay e better may serue aire Lorde in prayere & in
     lykyng of hyme, with ase thynges at may styre to hyme. And of
 |r5 all be haldene to wyrchipe God with prayere, mene of religione
     are namely haldene at by almus lyffes, and mene of haly kyrke,
     at lyfes by tendis--ffor alle e werlde trauels to bryng ayme
     to hande all at ame nedis, so at ay may with mare reste
     |r[f.250v] better God  / serue & with haly dedis saughtelyng make bytwyx God
|r10 & mane--and also maydyns & wedows at hase avowede chaste. All
     thir by-fore othir are maste bowndene.
        It es noghte by heuenly werke as by oer werkes at in e
     werlde fall, whare-to mane es ofte constreynede to wyrke agayne
     his will, als an oxe at ledis e okke to drawe, thynke hym neuer
|r15 sa ille. Bot is werke at I of speke wil be done with a fredome
     of spyrit, & with lykyng in God, for at softes alle trauell, be
     |r[f.8v] it neuer sa grete.* For-i he at will pay God prayer, als to
     hym falles, offer his praer to God with a free will & lufand



|p46


     hert, and grath hym be-fore he praye, als Salamone sais, and ene
     may he e better sped: Ante oraciomem prepara animam tuam. at
     is: Be-fore ou praye will, grath i saule.
     |r[f.9a]   At e first are sex  / thynges to wit in prayer: ffirst, how
 |r5 man sall grath him before; e toer, whom he sall pray; [e
     thride, for whome mene sall pray]; e ferth, what he sall aske
     in prayer; e fift, what thynge lettis prayer; e sext, what
     vertu prayer is of.
        e first it is to witt how mane sall grath hym before preyer
|r10 at it be more worthy. And how he sall do, holy writt teches er
     he us sais: Ante oracionem prepara animam tuam & noli esse homo
     quasi temptans deum. Be-fore i prayer, graith i saule, and be
     noght als man at tempis God. For he tempes God at yhernes noght
     to wyne at he be-prayes, or er-of to spede dispares with-all.
|r15 And is mais syne & ill life at mane thinkes noght to leue. For_i 
     Gregor sais be suilke: Quid mirum si tarde a domino exaudi_amur,
     cum precipientem dominum tarde aut nullo modo exaudimus.
     What wondire is hit, if God late here hus prayand, whene late or
     neuer we will her e byddyngs of God. And ofe we aim here,
|r20 late or neuer we do aim in dede. And e clerk Isidere here-to
     acordes in sagh: Non potest habere certam fiduciam qui adhuc
     in preceptis dei pigritat & quem precandi recordacio delectat.
     No certan hope may he haue of his prayer to spede at no will



|p47


     has to Gods byddyngs in dede , & er-with litys hym in syne and
     has no will to leue. For he at Gods biddynge with-standes,
     he is noght worthi to haue of God at he for prayes. And if we
     do at hus biddes, with-outen drede we sall of him wyn at we
 |r5 after pray, ffor gud werkes makes prayer to be herde of God.
     For-i e prophet biddes hus: Levemus corda nostra cum manibus.
     at is:  Left we vp oure hertes in prayer with oure handes, at
     are gud werkes at oure handes betokens.
        an wo-so will spede of is prayer, he sall do e god he
|r10 may and halde fro synne, and call is hert fro e werlde in
     all at he may, and let not his hert out-flee, bot halde it at
     home, als thurght e gospell God hus teches er he us sais:
     Cum oraueris intra in cubiculum tuum et clauso hostio, ora patrem
     tuum. When ou sall pray, God vnto e sais, stepe in-to i
|r15 chaumbre & steke e dore, & en pray i fadire. Entre, he sais,
     in-to i chaumbre, at is called i hert home, & when ou has
     getyne him home, en steke fast i dore. at is, all i wittes
     halde with-in e at non wende oute; hald aim fast stokene with_in,
     en may ou better sped to wyne at ou after prayes, ffor hit
|r20 bot foly to be-seke God at he come to hus nedfull wreches & pore
     to dele hus e almus of his derwothly grace and noght abide his
     come, bot sone turne hym e bake.
        Many plenes aim at ai are graceles, als saynt Bernarde
     sais, bot grace may hym plene at foue will for him swynke.



|p48


     For-i, sais Isider, e saule is to clense of his synnes, and
     e hert is for to with-dragh fro taryyng of is werld, at e
     prayer with-outen lettyng may risse to God. For fere is at mane
     fro God, pray he neuer so mikell, at prayand is taryede with
 |r5 werldly thoght. For-i e prayand call his hert home fro e
     werlde, als fer forth als he may, at he wynly pray to God to
     whom he-prayes. God to e prayand sais to warne hym at he be
     ware thurgh e psalme wryten, er he us sais: Vacate & videte
     quia ego sum deus. Gyfe entent & se, for whi I am i God at
|r10 ou prayes vn-to. is aght to stir hus with grett drede & auise_ment 
     to pray, ffor with almyghty God we spek when we so praye.
        For-i whene we to hym pray we suld loghen hus in drede
     |r[f.9v] to so mightfull a Lorde, we at are so wofull wreches,  / whene
     Abraham, Gods priue frende, so logh hym boghed when he to hym
|r15 spake, ofe God had spoken to hym before oft sithes: Loquar ad
     dominum meum, cum sim puluis et cinis. at is: How dare I speke
     to my Lorde, at is bot poudire & askes! For-i Isidere sais we
     suld praye with sighynge & ters and with a bitter mynde of oure
     gremly synnes and of o many paynes, gret & bitter, at we sall
|r20 for aim thole, bot if we hus amende, and God one hus rew.
        Also e prayand sall hoppe to spede of at he prayes for,
     ffor als God hym-selfe sais: Omnia possibilia sunt credenti. at
     is: All thyng is possibile to e faithfull trowand. For-i e
     prayand sall understand at God is his Fader to whome he prayes,
|r25 and er-thurgh sall he certayne hope haue to spede of his Fader



|p49


     of what-so he hym prayes, if he lufe hym als his Fader & kynde to
     hym be. For he sais to all his clidire at ai be noght aferde
     to aske what ai will: Petite et accipietis. at is: Ask and
     yhe sall haue. Kyndely it is at e Fader gyf to his sone at
 |r5 sees at hym nedes. For-i to his chosene childir, in e gospell
     he sais: Si quid pecieritis patrem in nomine meo dabit vobis. What_so 
     yhe pray to e Fadir in myne name, he sall gyf ow--witt yhe
     wele for soith.
        e toer is at ou knaw to whom ou sall praye. And
|r10 sothly ou sall pray be-for all oer un-to God, als e prophet
     sais: Subditus esto domino et ora eum. Buxone be ou to God, &
     to hym ou praye. And after in e gospell God sais: Dominum
     deum tuum adorabis. at is: i Lord God ou honoure sall.
     Halous we honoure and to ai pray, noght als gifers of gudes, bot
|r15 als to helpers to wynne at we for pray--soueraynely God is to
     worschippe & honour--als Gods priue frendes at sall come at
     e dome with e domes-mane hus all to deme. For-i with all
     oure hert, with gud beleve & certane hope and perfite charite,
     oure Lorde is to lufe.
|r20    e thride, for whome mene sall prey, e gret cherk vndose.
     Ilk Cristene mane is als a whik lyme of holy kyrk. For-i is he
     haldene to pray for all, and specialy he sall pray for mene of
     holy kyrk: als for e pape & e cardinals & bischoppes, and all



|p50


     oer at has cure of mans saule--ffor aim it is mikell nede to
     pray; ffor oure fos & oure frendes, and for all at are bundene
     in dedely synne, at thurgh grace ai may rise; ffor all at are
     |r[f.237a] in purgatory at Godes* mercy habydes; & sythene for all at
 |r5 myster hase, qwykk & dede. And that souerayne mede wynnes e
     prayand, als saynt Gregore sayse: e titter sall he be herde and
     of his prayere spede, at for all prayes. And saynt Ambrose thus:
     Si pro omnibus roges, pro te regabunt. at es to say: If ou
     pray for all, all sall praye for the. And saynt Ierome sayse:
|r10 Nede byndis mane to pray for hym-selfe, bot charite of brethirhede
     stirres to pray for all; for mare it stirres Gode & payes hym at
     noghte nedfulnes, bot charite, at ilkane byndis to oer, makis
     to pray for all. Als God in e Pater Noster vs teches, are he
     byddis vs say: Oure Fadir, noghte my Fadir and teches us us to
|r15 say in e same prayere: Da nobis hodie, at es, gyf us to-day. He
     sayse noghte: Gyf to me, bot gyf to us oure ilke day brede, to mak
     vs to undirstande at we sall pray for all, frendis & fase, and
     erne thurgh prayere at all may be helpede.
        The ferth, what mene sall aske in prayere: Now certis, grace
|r20 in this lyfe& endles ioye in e toer. This techis God vs to
     pray afterwarde, are he sayse thus: Primum querite regnum dei &



|p51


     iusticiam eius, & hec omnia adicientur vobis. First, he saise,
     layte with prayere e blis of heuene & rightwysnes, at e waye
     makis er-to, and an at e nedis sall ou fynd. For God es
     dettour to ame at rightwyse ere to fynd ame at pam nedis of
 |r5 erthely gudis, for rightwysnes makis of men Goddes childir.
     For-thi erthely gudes are ordayned to e sustenance of Goddes
     childir, of ay noghte after ame pray, and e Fadir thurgh
     kynd es haldene to sustene his childir. Erthly gudes ere noghte
     for to erne ne itt for ame to pray, for mane wate neuer
|r10 certaynly if ay be for hyme, for ofte we hafe herde at to many
     ay harme. For-thi be erthely gudis Salamone sayse at knewe e
     sothe: Vsquequo stulti ea que sibi sunt noxia cupiunt. Whare-to,
     he sayse, foles ernes at ame may harme? For-thi, if mane
     erthely gudis will aske of Godd, with grete drede aske he ame
|r15 of Godd, and praye hyme Lorde, if he see at ay may helpe to
     ame, send ame if it be his will, & if ay will noghte helpe,
     bot harme, with-drawe ame at his will. For what may helpe,
     whate may harme, better wate e leche ane e seke.



|p52


     for-thi it es noghte beste in prayere to be herde to oure
     propire will, bot to oure profitt. Better it es we be [noghte]
     herde whene we to God praye, for of ane of ir twa sall we
     trayste in prayere to spede: owthir of at we for pray, or of at
 |r5 at better es for us, with-owttyne any drede. It es noghte ay
     best in prayere to be herd to oure propir will, ffor agaynes e
     prayere of Paule God stode, & graunted to e fende at at he fore
     prayede: at he myghte enter in-till a draue of swyne. Paule
     prayed to God at he suld for-do ase fandynges at hym pynede
|r10 so sare, bot God herd hyme noghte. Bot he did with better ane
     he prayede fore. God grauntes vs noghte ay at we for pray, ffor
     he will gyfe us better ene we after erne, as he duse to onge
     childir, at in e scole leris. Of ay praye to God at ay be
     noghte downgene, God heris ame noghte, for if ay were noghte
|r15 doungene, ay wolde noghte lere &c. /
     |r[f.237v] The fyfte es to wyet: what lettes prayere to e herde of God.
     And sex thynges er are, sothely to telle. The fyrst es syne of
     e prayande. This thurgh God the profett sayse thus: Cum multi_pecaueritis



|p53


     oraciones non exaudiam, quia manus vestre sanguine
     plene sunt. at es thus for say: Whene e to me prayers makes,
     I will noghte here owe, for owre handis are full of blode: at
     es, thay are full of synfull werkes at e blode by-takyns. For_thi 
 |r5 Dauid sayse by hym-selfe: Iniquitatem si aspexi in corde meo,
     non exaudiet dominus. at es thus for to say: If I se wykkednes
     in my hert, God will noghte me here. And e pphete sayse:
     Peccata nostra absconderunt faciem suam a nobis. at es to say:
     Oure synnes hydes Godis face fra vs. And at oure synnes lettis
     in oure prayere to be herde, e gospelle of sayne Iohun it sayse:
     Scimus quoniam peccatores non exaudiet dominus. at es: Sothely
     we wate at God heris noghte e synfull, ne whylles ay lygge in
     syne.
        The secund es e vnworthynes of ame for whayme men prayes,
|r15 ffor whaym God thurgh e profett byddis at mene sall noghte
     praye, ar he us sayse: Nolite orare pro popullo isto, neque
     assumas laudem & oracionem, quia non exaudiam. Ne pray e noghte
     for is folke, e prophete sayse, for if e do, & sall noghte
     here. For-thi nane affye ame in oer prayere bot if ay leue
|r20 aire syne. It telles in the lyfe of haly fadyrs of ane at
     boundene was in syne, at com to e haly habott saynt Antone &
     sayd: "Haly ffadir, hafe mercy on me & pray for mee." To whame



|p54


     e haly habott sayde," I will hafe no mercy on the bot ou helpe
     thi-selfe & leue thi syne."
        The thirde es foule thoghtes & ydill at lettis us to thynke
     one oure prayere & sa merres us of oure med--als it falles whene
 |r5 e mouthe prayes and e hert fletis owt in foule thoghtes &
     ydylle: e body in e kyrke, e hert with-owttyne. Of ir fals
     prayande spekis God thir wordes: Populus iste labiis me honorat,
     cor autem eius longe est a me. at es us for to say: This folke
     honours me with aire lyppes, bot aire hertes are ferre fra mee.
|r10 Es this noght gret unworthynes of ir wrechis, at whene we speke
     wyth prayere till almyghtty Godd, & we alls vnwitty herkyns noghte
     what we saye? Sothely, gret dispyte we do till hyme whene we till
     hym praye at he oure prayere here, and e prayere at we till
     hym make, oure-selfe will noghte it here. We pray hyme at he
|r15 be entendant to us, and we to hyme ne to oure-selfe will be
     entendant, bot at werse es in foulle thoghtes & ydille wastes
     oure tyme. For-thi it es to do alls Abraham dyde. Whene Abra_hame 
     made his sacrafyse to God, ffoules lyghtted er-appone &
     walde hafe fylide it. Bot what dyd Abraham at this sawe? He



|p55


     chasede e fowles clene awaye, at nane durste it neghe, to
     alle e tyme were passede & e sacrafyce made. Do we ane swa
     |r[f.238a] by thir flyande thoghtes, at e sacrafyce of owre  / prayere so
     fouly fyles at ay may noghte paye wele als ay solde.
 |r5    This sacrafyce full qweme es to God whene it es clene &
     commes of a luffande herte. For-thi sacrafice askes God of mane
     as rent, for it es to hym dere. And for-thi thrugh e haly
     prophett he sayse thus: Sacraficium laudis honorificabit me, et
     illic iter quo ostendam illi salutare dei. at es us for to say:
|r10 With sacrifyce of prayere ou sall honour me, & are-thurgh way
     ou makes to me, at of my heuenly lykynge & hele I may sende to
     the. Thane by-twix us may be fulfillide at one Ynglysche es
     sayd: Gyff ou me & I the, & so may we frendis be. Send to me
     prayere, & I sall sende to e grace, & what-sa ou to me duse I
|r15 for-gett it noght.
        e ferthe at lettis oure prayere to be herde of God an es
     hardnes of herte agaynes the pure. And here-by e prophett sayse:
     Qui obturat aures suas ad clamorem pauperis, clamabit ipse & non
     exaudietur. at es us mekill for to say: He at stopes his
|r20 erys agaynes e pure at one hym cryes besekand hym of helpe,



|p56


     whene he cries to God & of oghte hym bysekes, God hym sall noghte
     here.
        The toer es hardnes of ame at noghte will forgyfe ame
     at agaynes ame hase mysdone. And to slyke Salomone spekes:
 |r5 Relynque proximo tuo nocenti te, & tunc depricanti tibi peccata
     soluuntur. at es us mekill for to say: Forgyf hym at agaynes
     the hase mys-done, & ane God will forgyf the thi syne whene ou
     to hym prayes. And in the gospelle God sayse: Cum stabitis ad
     orandum, dimittite si quid habetis adversus aliquem, vt pater
|r10 vester qui in celis est dimittat vobis peccata vestra. at es
     us mekill for to say: Whene ou standis to pray, forgyf thase
     at hase mysdone agaynes the, at thi Fadir of heuene forgyf the
     thi synnes.
        The fyfte es lyttill ernyrge efter e gernynge mene preyes
|r15 fore, and noghte lastande in prayere. For-thi sayse saynt
     Austyne: Quod homo ex toto corde confitetur, seruat tibi deus,
     quod wlt cito tibi dare vt discas magna magne desiderare. at es
     us mekill for to say: For ou sall with all thyne hert gret
     thynges gretly erne, God emys thase thynges to thi byhoue at he
|r20 will [noghte] als tyte gyfe to the or ou erfore stalworthely



|p57


     swynke with all thi herte, at ou lere grete thynges hertly to
     eme. And sayn Greggour sayse thus: If we with mouthe pray after
     e blyse of heuene, & noghte erne it with hert, criand we halde
     us styll. And if we be lastande in prayere, God hyghttes us to
 |r5 spede in his gospelle, are he sayse thus: Qui perseueraverit
     |r[f.238v] pulsans, surget & dabit  / sibi quot habet necessarios. at es to
     say: If he lastande calle one God, God sall gyffe hym at he
     after prayes.
        The sexte at lettis oure prayere es foule speche & ydill
|r10 at we fyle oure lyppis wyth. For if ou gafe a gret lorde drynke
     in a slutty coppe & foule, ware e drynke neuer sa gude, hym wolde
     wlate with-all & byd do it a-waye, thriste hym neuer sa sare. Sa
     dose God with the prayere at comes of a foule mouthe: he latys
     noghte er-by & turnes hym er-fra. And for-thi saynt Gregor
|r15 sayse: Os nostrum a deo tantum minus exauditur in prece, quanto
     plus polluitur stulta locucione. at es us for to say: Als
     mekill es oure prayere herde lesse of God, in als mekill as oure
     mouthe es fyled with foule speche.
        Mene at ware by-for this tyme, with prayere wane of God



|p58


     what-so ay fore prayede, for ay helde ame in sothefastnes &
     noght ydyll spake. And this was schewede till ane haly heremyte
     at highte Florencius, at wonned in a wildirnes unknawene fra
     mene. Sa mekill vennyne was abowte this heremyte stede, at nane
 |r5 durste thedir come, be a ferre waye. A dekene was in at lande
     at of this herymyte had herde. He went so lange in at wildir_nesse 
     hym to seke, ay to he come to e place whare he duelland
     was. Bot sa mekill vermyne he saw are abowte, at he durste
     come no neere, bot criede after helpe, as he at was afferde.
|r10 at haly mane come owte to wiete whate at was at cryede. And
     he sawe a mane stand with-owte, & he spirred hyme whate he walde.
     e dekyne was fayne at he hym sawe, & thus to hyme sayde, "Haly
     fadir, I haue soghte the ferre, for thi blyssynge & walde hafe.
     And now I hafe the foundene I hafe ioye ynoghe, myghte I to e
|r15 wyne, bot sa many venemos bestes abowte I se, at I dare come
     no nerre the." e haly mane, whene he this herde, felle downe
     appone his knees & hertly to God he prayede he wold for-do ase
     wormes, at e dekyne myghte come & speke with hyme. And unnethes
     had this haly mane hys prayere to God made, whene a grysely storme
|r20 with thonore rase--was nane slyke herd ne sene by-fore--& slewe



|p59


     all e wormes by-dene. ane sawe the heremyte is syghte & sayd
     till oure Lorde, "Now, Lord, thir bestes lygges here slayne sa
     |r[f.239a] thikke one ylke a syde, at I to hym come ne may ne he to me, bot /
     we of thir dede wormes be envenomede. Lo, Lord, ay lygge here
 |r5 dede, bot wha sall lefte ame a-waye?" At this worde of is haly
     mane sa many fowles come in a littill whylle at are all ir
     wormes a-waye.
        Here-of spekys saynt Gregore & sayse: For-thi at Goddes
     seruande with-drawes ame fra the werlde and his werkes. Ydill
|r10 & vayne kane ay noghte speke, sa to sylence ay bynd ame-selfe.
     Dare ay no worde say bot it myghte be outhir to lerenynge or to
     louynge of God, for whene ay oghte by-soghte God, he graunted
     ame als sone als he dyd to is haly mane of whame we spake.
     Bot we wofull wrechys at with e werlde delis, at all daye
|r15 clatirs as pyes, righte als we wittles war--now lyes, now wryes
     now ill spekes, now flyttes, now bakbyttis, now sweres grete
     athes. This fyles oure prayere & lettis it to be spede, for als
     ferre es oure mouthe prayande fra God als it es nere e werlde



|p60


     with ydill speche. Mekill fletis ouer oure herte & passys owt
     of warde, whils we are taryed to speke with werldes mene, ffor
     e lesse we are herde of God if we to hym pray, if oure mouthe
     be fyled be-fore with werldes speche.
 |r5    For so myghtfull es prayere, if he hafe his ryghte, at he
     maysters e fende & lettis hym to do his will, ffor als it tellis
     by an emperour at hyghte Iulyane at had many fendis at did
     whate he ame badde. This Iulyane comandid a fende to wend to e
     owttir-este syde of e werlde, to bryng hym hasty tydynges how it
|r10 was are. And whene the fende had flowene by e lyfte tene day
     iourne thedirwarde, he come flyand ouer a place whare an herymet
     duellyd, at hight Puplius, at prayand was at tyme. e prayere
     of at holy heremyt ouer-gat e fende ar he flowe, and ar still
     it helde hym faste as he ware boundene ywhils tene dayes lastede --
|r15 for all at tyme e holy heremyte wasse in prayere. And whene he
     cessyde of his prayere, e fende tournede agayne, for prayere hym
     lettide at he myghte na ferrere wende.
        When ou hase gedirde hame thi herte with his witt, & hase
     for-done ase thynges at e prayand myght lett, and wone to at



|p61


     deuocyone at God to e sendis thurgh his dere-worthy grace,
     qwykly ryse ane of thi bede at e belle ryngynge, if ou may it
     here. And if na kirke be are ou duellis, e cokk be thi belle;
     if er be nowthir cokk ne belle, Goddes lufe ane wakkene the.
 |r5 And this I hald e beste, for it payes maste to Godd whene mane
     wakkyns and mase hym to ryse to serue his Lorde & his Creature
     als to hym fallys. And ofte by Goddes lufers it falles, at
     gelelousely es in lufe ruted, at ay wakkene be-fore bathe cokk
     & belle and hase weschene aire face with swete lufe-teris,
     |r[f.239v] and aire  / saules with-in hase ioye in Gode, with deuocyone
|r11 & likynge & murnynge to hym, & with oer heuenly gladynges at
     God to his lufers sendis.
        Cely are ay by-fore oer at lufe wakkynns, for many glad_ynges 
     ay hafe whene oer faste slepis, for ay fynd by-fore
|r15 ame at gladdes all, ryse ay neuer so sone. For God hyghtis
     this till all his are he us sayse: Qui mane vigilauerit ad me,
     inveniet me. He at arely wakkyns to me, for sothe I say he



|p62


     sall fynde me, to speke with me, to glade hym with me, & hafe
     me at his will. For-thi lere of e lufe-buke als Goddes spouse
     e techis, so he dyd are he us sayse: Ego dormio & cor meum
     vigilat. at es: Whils I slepe my body to ese, my hert es ay
 |r5 wakire in gelousy to my Lord. Qwykly ane ou ryse when any
     oer e calles, & thank hertly thi gud Lord for e rest at ou
     hadd, for e mynd of angels at God to e sent.
        Ryse ane qwykly at this calle as knyght at es called to
     speke with his lord, e kynge. If a knyghte gret lykynge hafe to
|r10 be called to come speke with e kynge, whene he knawes sothely
     at it es for his profet, with more skyll Goddes knyghte, at es
     ilke gud Crystyne mane, at e callyng of his Lord God aughte to
     be redy, sene so es he calles hym for his mekill prowe, and for
     no thynge elles. At is calle arely to ryse ffalles ilke gud
|r15 Crystyne mane, and namely thir thre degres of mene, at es at
     say: mene of relegione are namely haldene at by almus lyfes,
     and mene of haly kyrke at lyfes by tendis--for alle e werld
     trauelis to brynge thame to hande all at ame nedis, so at ay
     may with more ryst better serue Godde, & with aire haly dedis
|r20 saughetelynge make by-twix God & mane--and also maydens & wedous
     at hase a-vowede chaste. All thir by-fore oer ere moste holdene



|p63


     to pray to God and loue hyme als till ylkane falles, at e sonne
     rysesynge fynd ame noghte in bedde, bot if ay wery e for
     trauelle or sekenes at ame lettis, or any medfull enchesone
     at ay may noghte with-stande.
 |r5    Sobirly ou ryse with a glade chere, and thynk ou herys
     God calle the with ir wordes at are wretyne in the lufe-buke,
     are he us spekes to his leue spouse: Surge propria amica mea,
     formosa mea, et veni ostende michi faciem tuam, sonst vox tua
     in auribus meis. at es us mekill to say: Ryse, he sayse, to
|r10 me, my lefe, my faire thynge, & schewe thi face to me, and
     erne at the voyce of thi prayere rynge in myne ere.
        The cok wakyns to loue his lorde by nyghte for at he hym
     made; othir mede gettis he nane efter at he es dede. Thane
     aughte the, Crystyne mane--at lyghtenyde es with skylle & Goddis
|r15 lyknes berys, & traystys one hyme thurgh his grete grace heuenly
     |r[f.240a] mede to haue, if ou hym trewly serue, for thus / thi byleue e sayse
     --schame ane with thi-selfe if ou withstand his calle. Thynke
     e coke es Goddes messangere and with hym he the calles. Whene
     ou heris hyme, or whene ou heris e belle ryng, wakyne ane at
|r20 this calle & qwykly ryse, & gedir thi herte all to-gedir to loue
     thy Lorde, & thanke hym of alle his gud dedis at he to e hase



|p64


     done are ou lyttill seruede &c.
     |r[f.12a]   [OF MEDITACIONE AT MANE SALL HAUE IN HIS RISYNGE OR HE OGHT
     DO: First thynk how many thousand men might perisch in lyfe, and
     some in saule, and som in bate to-gedire: som brend with fire, and
 |r5 some drouned in e see; som with thevis robbed; some sodanly ded
     with-outene repentance or schrift, and er saules draghen with
     fendes to hell or bodys were colde. Think also hertely how many
     thosand mene has at night fallen in perill of saule, at is, in
     dedely syne: als in lechery & in glutery, in couaytis, manslaghter,
|r10 and oer sere synnes at mane oft sithes has fallen in. Many mane
     was hole hurday, and ete & drank and made aim all mery, and
     thoght nomore of ded en ou dose now. And now dede had aim ouer_tayne 
     and custen aim vnder fote, and percase are in hell fro
     wrange ai haue wroght and bitterly now rewes at ai are borne.
|r15 And of all ir perils at othir are fallene in, i gud Lord e has
     liuerde, & of his gud-nes, noght of ine. What forded has ou
     |r[f.12v] done to God? at he e so sulde kepe, and so many othire he has
     suffirde to be lost? And peraunter ou has done wers en aim
     haue done. If ou will take gud kepe what Gode to e dose, of
|r20 ou litill haue hym serued, ou sall fynde at God is als besy to
     do i prow als had noght els to do bot be endendant to e, and
     als he had all is werlde forgetene and onely to thinke on e.
        When ou has thoght on ire with a clere hert, lyft i heuen



|p65


     & thanke God of all his gud dedes, and say one is wys: I thanke
     e, derworthly Lord, with all my pore hert at me, so vnworthy a
     wreche, us has keped is night and tholed me with lyf & hele us
     abyd is day. I thanke e, Lord, of i grett gude and many oer
 |r5 at ou has done to me, so vnkynde and unworthy a wrech most of
     all othire, at ou suilk kyndnes schewes to me agayne my misdedes.
     And on is manere, thank i Lord when ou to bed gose, and think
     how has spended e day fro at tyme ou rose, and beseke God of
     forgifnes of all at ou has misdone, and of o gude dedes ou
|r10 left vndone at ou might haue done.
        Do nothynge fro ou hert resyne are ou hertly haue thanked
     God, i Lorde, for all his gud dedes, and [putt] e in Gods handes
     and all i gud frendes, to whome ou ert halden, whik and dede,
     and for e and all othire. On is manere ou pray to i Lorde,
|r15 sayande: In i derworthy handes, my Lord, and in i holy holowes,
     I yhelde is night, or is day, my saule & my body, and all my
     frendes, brethirs & sistirs, syb & fremed, and all at has me gud
     done, bodely or gastely, and all ose at Cristen-dome has tane,
     at aim kepe is day for luf of i modire, at derworthi maydyn,
|r20 & thurgh besekynge of all i halowes, fro all perill of body
     & of saule and fro all dedely synnes, ffro fondynge of fende
     and fro sudayne ded and fro e paynes of hell, & make hus aim
     to dred. ou halow oure hertes with grace-of Holy Gast and mak
     hus euer here, what-so we do, at we do i will, at we neuer,
|r205 Lord, twen fro e.



|p66


        HOW OU SALL TO E KIRK WEND, IF OU GUDLY MAY, AND HOW 0U
     SALL HAUE E ER-IN, AND WHI MEN SALL PRAY IN HOLY KYRKE MORE
     EN IN OER STEDE: And on is wyse, whene ou hase done us,
     wend ou to e kyrk or chapell or oratory, if ou to any may
5  wynne. If ou noght els may dow, pi chambre mak i kirk. e
     kirk first I sett wethire ou sall wende, if ou may gudely, ffor
     ou biddes e prophet at we luf oure Lord: In exelsis benedicite
     domino. In e kyrke blisse i Lorde, e holy prophet biddes.
     Many thynges ore are at stirs more deuocione to pray in holy
|r10 kyrk, at hous of prayere is cald, and er-to is it halowd more
     en any oer sted, what-so-euer it be, for er is God in autere
     to here os at to hym prayes, redy to helpe & graunt aim at
     ai after pray or at better is--for he wote best what hus nedes-_and 
     in presens of holous in whos wirschippe e kirkes are haloued,
|r15 mynd of aungels at ere are to serue er Lord, and er-fore er
     |r[f.13a] office is to receyue i prayer and bere to God & brynge / e grace
     from hym, als saynt Bernarde sais.
        AT SALAMONE PRAYED TO GOD FOR OS AT IN HOLY KIRK PRAYEDE
     AND GOD HYM GRAUNTED AT HE AIM SULDE HERE: Whene Salamone e
|r20 temple had made in worschippe of Gode, us in e temple to al_mighti 
     God he prayed, als openly hit telles in e boke of e Kynge:
     Exaudiat dominus oracionem quam seruus tuus orat senis in loco
     isto & cum exaudieris propicius eris & si erigit poenitenciam tu
     exaudies in celo oracionin eorum. Lord, if i folk haue synned
|r25 agaynes e, & after sore fore-thynke at ai haue greued e, and



|p67


     dose penaunce er-fore, Lord, ou here aire prayere in heuene,
     if it be i will, and pete of i folk at agaynes e as synned.
     God be is praer to Salamone saide: I haue herd i prayere at
     ou to me has made. is house ou to me has made, my-selfe it
 |r5 has haloud, for I will my name be er-in, and myne eghen lokand
     er-on, and my hert thinkand er-on ay with-outene end.
        A-rise tyte at Gods call, put fro e all henes, and quickly
     rise and answere i Lord with os wordes at Samuel to God said,
     at called hym night: Loquere, domine, quia audit seruus tuus.
|r10 Lord, spek to me, for i unworthi seruant e heres.
        HOW GUD IT IS BE NIGHT TO RISE TO PRAY ALMYGHTY GODE, AND
     HOW GUD HIT IS BE NIGHT TO WAKE IN PRAYERE: Dauid hym-selfe
     sais: Factus sum sicut nicticorax in domicilio. I am als e
     night foghele in house, ensynge is night foghele flyes e night
|r15 & getes hire mete in meekenes at scho lyues by, also sall all gud
     seruands, and namly thre degrese at spoken is be-fore in e
     bygynynge of e secund parte of is boke. Yhe sall flye with holy
     thoghtes, with holy beddes be night to-warde heuen, and wynne be
     night saule fode. Vigilia honestatis tabefaciet carnes. Nothing
|r20 wille chast mans flesch more ne makes more tame ene mikell wak_yng.
     Honest wakynge is in holy wryte in many sted mykell praysede
     for-i God in his gospell to his chosene sais: Vigilate et orate
     ne intretis in temptacionem. Vakes, sais oure Lorde, & prayes at
     e fall in no fondynge, for at sall make ow stalworth to stande



|p68


     And eft he sais: Beatus quem cum uenerit dominus inuenerit eum
     vigilatem. Blissed be he at oure Lord fyndes wakande. For he
     hym-selfe sum tyme was wakand in prayere all night, and so taght
     vs to do noght onely be worde, bot be dede.
5     For aght thynges us aght to do, wake and euer to be wirkande
     in some gud dede: is schort lyfe; e strang way we haue to go;
     oure gud dedes at are so foue; oure synnes at are so many; and
     dede at we are so sykere of, bot we ne wote when; e straite
     dome of domesday, & so herd with-all, ffor ilk idell thoght pore
|r10 sall be broght furth, lok aim howe it sall be of foule wordes,
     and euill & synfull werkes. For God is sais: De omni ocioso
     verbo in die iudicii reddenda est racio. at is: Of ilk idell
     worde mane sall elde acount. For-i sais saynt Anselm: Quid
     |r[f.13v] facies / in illa die quando omne tempus exigetur a te tibi inpen_sum 
|r15 qualiter a te sit expenswn usque ad minimam cogitacionem? ou
     synfull wrech, saynt Anselme sais, what sall ou do when ou be
     asked how ou has spende all i tyme at ou has lyued to e
     lest of all i thoghtes? e seuent thing aght to stire us to
     wake--at is e strange pyne of hell, and namly for thre thinges:
|r20 for or are so many at no tunge may aim tell, with-outen end ay
     lastand, and ouer-all filth foule stynkand. e aghtand thing is
     e mikele ioy in e blisse of heuen with-outen ende ay lastand,
     at is abidand who-so wake here a hande-while. Who-so has es
     aght thinges oft in his hert he will put out of hym slepe and



|p69


     heuenes & slawnes. In e still night, whene mene heres noght
     ne sees noght at lettis aim, en has mene most his hert at
     will, ffor nothinge is wittnes en of oght at man dose, bot gud
     aungels at ilk tyme is besie to hie hus to e gud.
 |r5    DE ITINERE AD ECCLESIAM: Herkens now how gud hit is to
     hide gude dedes and fle e night as e night foghel dose to gedir
     saule fode. Ora Hester placuit regi Assuero. at is: After e
     qwen was wele hard with e kynge Assuere after ...[Hester]
     on Ebrew is 'hid' on Inglisse and is to vnderstande at any gud
|r10 ded is done in idelines it is full leue to e kynge Assuere, at
     is to e Kynge tof heuen, ffor Assuere of Ebrew is 'cely' on
     Inglisse, at is oure Lorde at 'cely' is ouer-all.
        Mykell mede haue ai at erly rise by-for aim at lange
     lies in er bede, for maner of pore hit is herly to rise and calle
|r15 erly at e richmane dore after charite, namly ore rich are wont
     to gyf to os pore at erlyest comes. For-ai wend erly to Gods
     house & knoc at e ate & call after charite to e nedefull wreche.
     For call ou neuer so tymely ou fyndes God be-fore e, redy at
     e abydes pore, to do e of his charite. Wharfore ou idire
|r20 commes, als hym sais to aim at hym erly lates: Qui mane vigila_uerit 
     ad me inueniet me. ai at erly wakens to me sall fynde
     me & my charite haue. For-hi rise erly and noght with e sone,
     at othire prees noght before e & take at ou suld haue.
        After i vprisynge pray for all Cristyne saules at in pur_gatory 



|p70


     are pyned. Think ou heres aim crye after e wordes of
     holy Iob: Miseremini mei, miseremini mei, saltem uos amici mei,
     quia manus domini tetigit me. at is: Haue mercy one me, haue
     mercy one me, e my frendes, for Gods handes toches me full sore
 |r5 --at is, sore I am pynde now for myne ere-donne synnes. And
     helpe aim, if ou lerede be, with De Profundis et Absolue; and
     ou lewed with an Pattere & Aue. And after-warde ou gret oure
     Laydy with Salue Regina opon i knes, or with fyue Aues if ou
     lewed be.
|r10    Whend to e kirke whene-ou has done, & lat noght with-in
     e at e may lett, bot all thoghtes & vanities & esynes of e
     werld bid aim hald aim er-out. And say to i saule at in
     in-commynge: Intra in gaudium domini tui vt videas voluntatem
     eius & uisites templum eius. at is: Enter in e ioy of i
|r15 Lord at ou se his will and visitet his holy house. And welle
     |r[f.14a] hit is said: / Entir in-to e ioy of i Lorde, for holy kyrke is
     ate to ioy, ffor thurgh all be-houes passe at to ioy sall
     wynne, ffor holy kyrk is heuen ate, als holy write sais.
     Whene art wonne to holy kyrk fall don on i kneese and en-noure
|r20 hym at for e was done on e rode, and be-for e croce is
     prayere ou say: Adoramus te, Christe Ihesu, qui per sanctam
     crucem tuam redemisti mundum. And are ou vp-rise think in_wardly 
     in i mynde how hote lufe hym brind at made hym for e
     to dy.
|r25    After ou us has done, if ou lerede be, begynne i matyns



|p71


     for to say, bot first croice i brest & i lippes as e nedes
     standes, for or i-selfe ou has no might to loue hym als yhe
     aght. For-i at i begynnynge ou to hym say: Domine, libia mea
     aperes. at is: Lord, opon my lippes at all night as bene
 |r5 stokene from louen of e, for, Lord, I aim neuer opone bot ou
     helpe me. Emitte manun tuam de alto & tange illa. For-i, Lord,
     com doune fro heuen and thoche aim with i holy handes for els
     may I noght praye to e qweme. And sai en forth: Deus in adiu_torium 
     meum intende; Domine, ad adiuuandi me festina. is is:
|r10 Lord, ou be entendant to my help; and to socoure me, ou hast e.
     Be-lyue with os wordes itt oute of i hert be-for Gods sight,
     and say: Lo, Lorde, als be-fore my domesman be e I stand. ou
     wrek me of my foos at lettis me e to serue. Stire e, Lord,
     me sone to help fro e felony of my foos at no pyte has on me,
|r15 bot kenely me asailes. And I am, Lord, so febyll als ou wele
     knawes; bot i gudnes me helpe & be sone ouer-comen. At at:
     Gloria patri etc. Lout doune with i heuede & say with i hert:
     Lo, Lord, I bow to e. Of i blissynge I e be-seke with all my
     pore hert. Turne e to e angels at about e standes & us to
|r20 aim say: Venite, exultemus domino etc. Be noght a-wondirde I
     say e: to e aungels at about e standes. For witt ou wele,
     when ou prayes to God and to hym i louyng makes, gude aungels
     standes e full nere, and if ou may noght aim se at God has
     send to e in comforth & in helpe, and als wards us to kepe



|p72


     agayne i face.
        Slike gostely spech i hert sall spech when ou to God prayes
     & oer slike at to ere are like, at may stire e to deuocione
     and lett idell thoght, ore e fende walde putt in i hert to lett
 |r5 e of i mede. And kast in eghen of-ferre on some-what ou may
     se, and hald in eghene on at thinge whils ou i prayers makes,
     ffor is helpis mekill to stablynge of i hert. And paynt er
     i Lorde God als he was done on e croce. Think on ose fete
     and handes at nayled were to e tre, and on ose wide wondes
|r10 at Longens spere mayde, thurgh e wlike to e is made way to
     |r[f.14v] wyne to his hert. Thanke / i Lorde with all i mayne at so let
     opun his side to make e way to his hert, and ou ere to lufe.
     For er i fynde tresoure of lufe who-so idere may wynne. Thynke
     ou sees hym hynge one e rode with wondes stremande of blode,
|r15 ffro handes, sydes, & fete, fletande done on e erth. And lik vp
     at blod swetely with teres, kyssand e erth with e mynde of
     at rich tresoure at for i synnes were sched. And spek us with
     i hert: Whi liges is blod here als losed, and perisch for
     thirst? Whi ne drynk & of is rich pyment at my Lord to me
|r20 birles, and cole my tunge, and here what God to me spekes: Qui
     sitit, veniat et bibat & videbis quam suauis deus, quam dulcia,
     quam mitis, quam misecors? Who-so thristes, drynke & tast, &
     ene sall ou see how swet God is, and howe meke and howe mercy_full.
     



|p73


        With slike & oer at are lik to ere, aungels prayde & sume
     to at saule at slike stryngs has of lof conseyuede in e hert.
     God is er at rest and to his lofer sais: Quid vis vt faciam?
     at is: Lo, at i yhernynge I am comen. What will ou at I do?
 |r5 And ou en in i hert answere him: Noght. I will, Lord, bot at
     i gud will ou fulfill in me, for it is inogh to me, synfull
     wrech and out-casten of i folke, at ou, Lorde, o-fer will loke
     to me, and thole me, Lord, so synfull a wrech to luf e,& loue
     if I couth os my wele aght. To suilke thinges, if ou may wene
|r10 when ou i prayers makes, slik gladynge ou sall fele at a payne
     hit sall be to e to thynke of oght els, ffor at wille at i
     will might kele. Saynt Bernard sais by hym-self a oft he herned
     at matyns tyme might haue lasted to e day of dome, ffor e
     lykynge at he had in slike stirynges in matyns tyme.
|r15    ore ou standes to pray or on i knees kneles, think ou
     sees Ihesu come with holy halous on ilke side, and aungels be-fore
     hym, berand lepus full of relefe at is left of e festynge of
     holous, at Criste made to his chosen at with hym dwelles in
     heuen ore likyng & fest is euer at e full. God biddes gedire
|r20 e relefe vp, at of his fest leues, to helpe with e pore, at
     it be noght lost. is relefe is e mete to hus all, als to e
     pore wreches at sone suld perisch for defaute, bot [God] one
     hus rewes ad deles hus of at relefe at leues of is feste,
     ffor kynge ne kaiser, be ai neuer so rich, and othir gret of e



|p74


     werlde, what-so-euer ai be, bot if he to aim dele of is broken
     brede ai faile for defaut with-in a lityll stound. Thinke en,
     as I be-for said, ou sese Ihesu Crist come with aungels berand
     is heuenly mete to dele amang e pore at ere are gedird als
 |r5 beggers to dole. Think ou heres God cry: Who-so has mister of
     mete, putt i hand forth and haue. And witt ou wele, forsoth,
     at God deles to none of his bred, bot to ose at knawes er
     awene nedfulnes and to os at gret hunger stirs to cray after
     is brede. Thynke en amang othire, God comes to e & sais:
|r10 Habes aliquid ad manducadum? at is: Has ou oght here at ete?
     Loute to hym with i heued, and mene i pouert vn-to hym als e
     pore dose to e rich to make hym to rew on hym. And to hym ou
     |r[f.15a] say: Non est in domo mea panis. at is: Lord, / er is no bred in
     my house, and so lange meteles I haue ben at I dry als a stone
|r15 right now. Lord, I dye for hungure, bot ou on me rewe, for right
     noght els may hald my lyfe bot e mete ou deles.
        Stire i-self with suilk myndes & oer mo kyndely may i
     deuocione and rayse hit to hym, ay to ou think u heres him
     spekes and say to e ire wordes: Dilata os tuum et inplebo illud
|r20 at is als God to e saide: Opun i mouth, at is i hert, and of
     my worthy mete I will it fill. After slike steryng, if ou
     worthi be and othire so e halde, euer hald i-selfe vnworthy
     als a synfull wrech. And en sall God thurgh grace make e sum_dele 
     to fele of at heuenly fode at all halous fedes, at ou



|p75


     may with likynge synge e maiden sang, at is Gods Modire of
     heuen: Magnificat anima mea dominum et exaltauit spiritus meus
     in deo salutari meo. My saule with louynge mikels my Lorde and
     my spirit reioes in God my hele.
 |r5    Whene God after swilke stiringes sendes likyng to i saule
     thurgh grace, lok he fynde e noght un-kynd vnto hyme. For his
     gud dede ere wordes ou cry: Quid retribuam domino propter omni_bus 
     que retribuit michi? at is: What sall do vn-to my Lord, I
     so synfull & wrech, for ose many gudes that God to me has done?
|r10 And turne e en to e aungels at before standes, and to aim
     ou us say: Venite et videte quanta fecit deus animae mee.
     Comes and sees what God has done to my saule, ffor to telle e
     all, no witt & haue. For-i I pray ow als my kepers, whome to
     me God has sende, at e thanke oure Lorde for me, for noght is
|r15 at I may do with-outen hym. Turne e en & loke to e autere
     ore Gode sothly es, and is to hym ou saye: Vere, domine, magna
     est misericordia tua super me. Sothly, Lord, I knaw mekill is
     i mercy at ou to me schewes.
        HOW GOD COMES TO COMFORT MEN SAULE THURGH STERYNGE OF PRAYER
|r20 IN GUD DEUOCION: With slik luf stirryngs Gode to his lofers is
     calde, and he abides noght to e prayere be made, bot he preses
     in e myddes to at thristy saule at langwysch in lufe to soften
     hym with a dewyng of henuenly swetnes.
        HOW MENE MAY KNAW OF IS GLADFULL COM: Witerly ters &
|r25 sighynge ere messangers of his come. And if it so e, wonndere
     hit semes, for sighynge & comforth & ters & lykynge are noght of



|p76


     one a-corde. Bot if it so be, hit semes noght ai suld be calde
     ters, bot heuenly dewynge, comande fro a-bofe to soft at saule
     at langes in lufe. Cely are ai at us mournes, for God hight
     aim at ai sall ioy for ons and euer. If so swete be o teres
 |r5 at qwykens in Gods lufers luf langynge to hym, full mekyll and
     ... it is at ioy at Gods lufers sall fele when ai sall se
     Gode sothly, slike als he is, ne neuer more twen fro hym, bot haue
     hym ay at aire will.
        HOW GOD COMES TO HIS LUFERS AT HERE AFTER MOURNES, TO GLADE
|r10 AIM WITH HYM-SELFE AND LEUE AIM WHEN HE WILL, & WHEN AI GLADEST
     BE: Bot itt after e twynnynge with grace, he with aim dwelles.
     For-i  ou at loues God ne dred e noght ne fall in no disspare,
     |r[f.15v] if i lufere  / for a while fro e wyndes & leues e, als e thynk
     with-outene comforth all i none. For all turnes e to gud if ou
|r15 myldely thole, ffor his wendyng & his commyng, all is for i
     prow. He comes to e, he wendes fro e; he comes to i comforth,
     he partis fro e at ou more meker be and at ou noght enpride
     e of at gladynge ou haues in his comyng. If i spouse ay
     were with e, ou suld ouer-wele lette of i-selfe and despise
|r20 oer and sett at light. And if he ay with e were, ou walde
     rett to kynde & [noght] to grace. For-i thurgh his grace, he
     comes when he wile, and to whome he will; and when-so he will,
     parts also, at ou sall noght here weld hym at will, als hit i
     heritage were. For in olde Inglisse hit is said: Ouer-mykell



|p77


     felischipe makes mane to be dispisede. For-i be-tymes fro his
     lufers he partis at longe soiourynge ne make hym more vn-worthy.
     And after his partynge be e more ernand, hertly be-soght with
     gelous luf, loues and pray after his gayne-come with syghynge and
 |r5 ters, and us hertly we sought, graciously to be fonden.
        Bot itt er is a-nothire slike, whi be fro his lufers parts,
     ffor if he noght fro aim went, bot euer gladid aim with lykynge
     in hym, [ai walde make] in is erth heuen, and less walde erne
     after e gret ioy at is to come at God has graunted to his
|r10 luffers with hym euer to wone. For-i at is exill we sulde
     make hus no heuen and haue here oure full mede of oure gud dede,
     God to his lufers comes betymes, and fro aim wendes. At his
     commyng comforth he bringes; at his wendynge he leues aim in
     aire febilnes to mak aim thurgh at ai lett noght ouer-wele
|r15 of aim-selfe, and so stirdt in-to pride.
        Whene he comes he gyfs his luffers oft to tast how swete
     at he is, and whore ai may fully fele, whene he fro aim wendes,
     als with-outene he spredes wynges, and a-bofe aim he rise als e
     egill at flies abouen hire briddes to thech aim to flie. Als
|r20 in his commynge saide: Now some-dele may e fele how swete I
     am, bot if e will is swetnes fele to e full, flies vp after me
     and lift vp oure hert to me, pore I am sittande on e right hand
     of my Fadire. or e sall e fulfilled at all in ioy of me.



|p78


     Bot euer be ware, Guds lufers, what-so ou be, how i spouse
     for a while draghes hym fro e. of ou noght him se, he sees
     ffor he is full of eghen be-fore and be-hynd, and so bright his
     eghen are at ou may noght fro hym be hid. And itt he has his
 |r5 spise on e sett, to witt whene he is out how ou beres e. If
     ai see in e any tokenynge unthew, outhore luf or sembland mak
     to oer ene to hym, sone ai will wrye e & tell hym of i lawes.
     And for lufand God, e to his lemman with mykell luf has chosene.
     If he witt ou luf any othire mo ene hym allone, bot if it be for
|r10 e lufe of hym, or ou erne to pay oer more ene hym, alsone
     he twenes hym fro e, and gif hym to oer at trewly him lufs als
     aire lele spouse.
        Geluses i spouse, delicate, noble & rich, seuene sith
     brighter en e sone. In fairnes & night of all he ouer-passes,
     |r[f.16a] and what-so will is / done in heuen and erth and hele. None
|r16 to lufe he will haue, bot ai faire be. If he see any touch of
     synne in hym at his luf sulde be, fro hym he turnes hym sone,
     vnclennes may none hym see. For-i be ou chaste, schamefull, &
     mylde of hert, and er-to with lufe-longynge erne hym ouer all
|r20 thynge, and will hast hym with e to dwele.
        Who-so thurgh grace feles betymes likyng in God & tastes of
     at heuenly swetnes at he hym birles, when God is likynge fro
     hym drahes, als it nedfull behoues in is dedely lyfe, lok at



|p79


     he fall noght fro e heght done in-to hell--at is, [gyfe] hym to
     no flesly lustes, ne to no likynge of e werlde, ne to no nothire
     vn-chew at may brynge hym un-to hell, ffor all mankynd is euer
     to fele is likynge in is dedely life. When ou feles at is
 |r5 likynge God fro e draghes, gyfe e ene to prayere, or meditacione,
     or redynge of holy wryte, if ou letterd be, or to honeste werke
     als to e tyme falles. And euer ou mourne after i lefe als a
     onge childe at e modire mysses.
        For better it wore to mane at he no knawynge had, ne tast of
|r10 at heuenly swetnes at God to his gyfs, and sithen after his
     knawynge, of his gudnes felyng, turne hym e bake and gyf hym to
     syne. For suilke has no defence agayne God of aire synne, for
     God may sothly to aim say: What might I more do to e en I haue
     done, ffor whene ou was noght I made e. Whene ou hurgh i
|r15 synne was made thrall to e fende, I boght e agayne with e
     blode at ran fro my hert, tok e out fro synfull at ou amange
     dwelled, and schewed e of my priuetes and gladded e with my_selfe.
     And itt all at I haue for e done ou settis it at
     noght, and folowes e red of my fo, and dos qwat he e biddes.
|r20    An vnhappay chaunge is is and carfull, with-all to leue e
     felischippe of God and ose myrthes ai might with hym haue to
     serue e fende & folow his rede, with luf & likynge and werkes
     of synne. Yhe, at hert at before a-while halowed was thurght



|p80


     e Holi Gast, God temple to be, at rased was here ouer his kynd,
     heuenly likinges & mirghtes to haue with almighty God, als-sone
     with foule thoghtes mak it lotghly to stynke, and to defoule it
     all to-wonndire. ose heres at herd is wordes at to none is
 |r5 lefsome to speke, opone aim to here bakbytynge and lesyngs and
     othir idell spech. es eghen at right now was baptized with
     teres, oppone aim sone after vanites to see. And at thinge at
     right now gladdid God with prayer, alsone after stird with weriyng
     and for-swerynge, bacbytyng and foule wordes. Pray we to God for
|r10 his gudnes he schelde us fro ir vnthewes.
        Bot sithen saynt Paule said to God: O altitudo diuiciarum
     sapientiae et scientiae dei; quam incomprehensibilia sunt iudicia
     eius et investigabiles vie. O heghnes of e riches of e wysdome
     and conynge of God! His domes none may thurght witt knaw, ne
|r15 vays. How may mene ene witt of his come or whene he wendes?
        HOW OW SALL KNAW E COMYNGE OF GOD AND HIS PARTYNGE: Of his
     commyng may ow witt be is, als saynt Bernard sais: Whene ou
     arte stird of mane with-outene, or with-in of e Spirite, for to
     keppe rightwysnes and stand erfore for to be meke & tholmonde, to
     |r[f.16v] loue i brethire in God, to be buxome / to i ouerlynge, to lofe
|r21 chastnes and clennes in body and saule, tokennyng hit is at
     almyghty God of vertuse comes to viset i saule e er messaun_geres 
     he be-fore sendes. If any rightwys in charite chastite e
     of i synne, and gudely ou takes hit as chastiing of i frendes,



|p81


     is mayse way before and telles of his come. Or if ou hir
     thourgh prechoure or priste or any of Gods luffers at in charite
     to e spekes wordes at stirs e to vertus or to god thewes, ere
     mas ways be-for God come. ene if ou slawnes and heuenes of e
 |r5 cast and with a lufe-ernynge likes es wordes, en derworthi God,
     i Lorde, hastes hym at he with e were. For e hernynge at
     God has to e kyndels slike yernes in e to like e in-ne slike
     wordes and makes e bittyrly to thynke of i synne and for to
     amende i lif in all at ou may.
|r10    Yhitt mene may witt be is of his comynge, for at his come
     he wakens e saule and stirs and softes him and wasches his
     woundes with wyne and softnes aim with oyle--at is, stirs aim
     bitterly for to thynke at ai haue mysdone--and softes aim with
     hop of mercy and forgyfnes of synnes. He reues syne vp by e rot
|r15 os a gardiner dose. e ill wedes at harmes in e erde and god
     herbes lettes to groue he draghes vp be-dene and castes aim
     away. He impes gud trees, and sawes gud sed or e wedes groued.
     So dose God, at gardiner is calde, whilst he is in mane saule.
     us er he werkes: he pulles all synnes vp by e rotes and impes
|r20 in at saule vertuse and gud thewes. at was be-for drye, he
     dewes with grace; at blake was & merke, he makes hit all bright;
     at bondene was, he lowses; at colde was before, with luf he
     makes it warme. By ir stirynges may ou knaw whene i Lord is
     comen: be no noer felynge bot be stirynge of i hert and be for_doynge 



|p82


     of vices and with-draghynge of lustes, be amendynge of i
     lyf and forthynkynge of i misdede, and begynnynge of a new mane
     ilk day more and more.
        Whene he fro e wendes by is may ou knaw, ffor when he fro
 |r5 e wendes, slawe ou waxes and drye & heuy als e stone. Luf in
     e boles als a pott at had welled and fyre were draghen er-fro.
     ene nedes i saule fore to mourne, ay to he be comene agayne.
        IF A FOULE THOGHT LET E PRAYANDE, WHAT OU ENE SALL DO:
     If any ill thoght will entre thurgh stirryng of e deuill and
|r10 begyne to cary e, and eggis e to tourne fro i God and traw in
     his rede, aske hym what he is, and us to hym ou say: Cuius est
     ymago hec & superscripscio? Whos likenes is is and what is is
     writynge a-boufe? Thinke en at he to e sais: Hit is Cesars
     prince, and his name aboute--at is e prince of e werlde, at
|r15 e fende of hell. Whene ou is of hym heres, say to hym be-lyue:
     Wende agayne, ou foule fende, with is mony at ou with e
     |r[f.17a] broght, and be agayne with e to hell, ore ou come / fro, for
     my gates are stokene and my Lord here with-in dwelles. For-i
     haue no tome oer talles to telle.
|r20    OF MEDITACIONE AT MANE SALL HAUE SUM TYME: Thynke on at
     holy gretynge Gabriel made to at mayden Mary in Nazareth. Think
     how ioyfull scho was in body & in saule whene scho e gretynge
     hard, thurgh e whilke, with assent of hire, scho was fulfillede



|p83


     of grace, at might & powere scho wanne at will in heuen and erth
     and hell. And of hire hynges all is werldes hele, and restorynge
     of o at fel. Thynke on e berth of hire childe, at scho hade
     with-in hire sides, how scho hym bare with-outen sorowe & syghen
 |r5 at othire womene has kyndely and feles in tyme of birth, and scho
     clene maydene with-all left after--and at fele neuer before.
     Thynke sone after borne was, ai laide hym in a cribbe be-twyx a
     nox and asse--oer credell had he none, ffor non was in at house
     to serue hym with torches, als be-fore gret lordes mene dose. For_i 
|r10 come a sterne fro heuen, at so bright schone at he lightend
     e house at he was in, and all Bethlem. And aungels come fro
     heuen to synge e childe one slepe with a mery steuen and hegh,
     at many might here hit. Thynke how thre kynges come of sere
     landes to hym ore he was, thurgh wyssynge of a sterne at led
|r15 aim e way, and offerd hym of aire thresoure: gold rekels, &
     myrre. Thynke how swethly e childe one aim smyllede, and with
     his lovely eghen so myldly one aim loked. Thynke how porely his
     modire was cled be whils e kynges before hire kneled, ffor on
     hire scho hade bot a white smoke, als ir clerke sais, more hill
|r20 hire with ene to schewynge of pride.
        Thynke how his modire with hym come to e temple to make e
     offerynge of e clensyng, als e lagh walde, and boghede to ful_fill 
     e lagh als ai synfull ware. Thynke after-warde how at
     holde preste Symeone toke e childe in his armes and blissede God,
|r25 for ore he sagh thurgh styring of Holy Gast at e Sauoure of



|p84


     all is werlde was betwene his hendes, and prayed hyme at he
     might passe and part out of is werlde: For my eghen sees, he
     saide, at e folk sall saue. Thynke after of at sorow his
     modire had when scho hym myssed, and soght hym thre dayes amange
 |r5 couth and sybbe, aye to scho hyme fonde sittande amange e
     maisters, herand & spirande amange aim e poyntes of e laghe.
        Thynke how he come to be cristene of his cosyn Iohun, how
     e Holy Gast ber on hym light in e liknes of a doufe, e Fadere
     with e voice recorded at he was his Sone. Thynke how he alowede
|r10 wedlaike in architriclines house, and er to schewede at he was
     almighty God chaunged water in-to wyne. In wyldernes how he
     fastede fourty dayes with-outen mete; after how he ouer-come e
     fende at fonded hym with ire thre: glotony, with couatyse, with
     vayne glorie. Also of e wondire e mene of hym had when he
|r15 prechede to ame, ffor all e wordes he to aim spake were full
     |r[f.17v] of grace. / Thynke howe he helede sek at to hym were broght, and
     rased to lyve at ere was dede, how to e blynde he gafe e sight,
     e dombe made to spek, mesels touched with hande & made aim all
     hole. And many othire sekenes at uncurabile ware of kynde,
|r20 thurght might of his-self, he heled aim, ffor he might more
     ene kynde. Thynke how he als wery for mikele ganynge rest hym
     at e wele, and howe he bade a woman gif hym water to drynke, for
     hym thristed sorore.



|p85


        MEDITACIONE OF CRISTES PASSIONE: Now opone i hert with
     sighynge sore to thynk of ose paynes at Criste tholed, and sett
     aim in i saule be ordire als he aim feled: how ai buffet e
     farest face of all mankynd; how ai with cordes ai his hende
 |r5 bonde so fast at out at all e fyngers e blode out-brast; how
     ai beted hym with knotted scourges at neuer did amisse to none
     with worde ne with dede; how all with voice ai on hym cryed: Do
     hym on e croice at he dye als schamefull ded als euer any did.
        Yhitt thynk how he was strenned on e croice at layd was
|r10 on e erth, and draghene out with ropis to make hende & fete to
     a-corde with e holes at made was in e trees. So strait he was
     draghene out on e tree at he on lay, at his bones men might
     tell, als holy wryte telles; and to at tree he on lay, what ai
     festented him with iren nailes. Thynk after how his body was
|r15 lifted vpe with e croice, and smytene oft in e erth, als men
     dose stake of tree, to make hit fast to stande with at swet body
     at lyfand hynged er-one. At is smytyng in e erth, all his
     wayns brayst, at out of all his lymes e blode rayne. is greued
     hym sarrest of all oer paynes, outakene oure vnkyndnes at all
|r20 day newes his paynes. Thynke after how a knyght to hym knelede
     and saide o scorne: Haile, ou kynge of Iewes! So many helps ou,
     now nedes to helpe i-selfe. Let se what ou may do. Come done
     fro e croice at ou art to nailed, and we sall trow with-outen



|p86


     more at ou art God Son of heuen. Thynke on at scharpe croune
     of thornes ai crouned hym with, at made his lufely face to
     streme all one blode, and one e bitter aisell at was menged
     with gall, at ai gafe hym to drynke when he plenned hym of
 |r5 thrist, als he at mykele had blede. Bot whit ou will, he
     thrysted noght after pyment ne wyne, ne after no nothire likoure
     that for thrist mene notes, bot onely after e luf of man at
     he so dere boght. Thynk at when ou oght agaynes hym dose,
     als an vn-kynde wrech, ou dose als Iewes did--birles hym gall
|r10 to drynke.
        Thynke on his carfull modire and Iohun, his cosyne dere, at
     stode e hym nere & sagh all at he tholed. No tunge of mane may
     it tell how carefull ai wore at stonde. Thynke one os wordes
     he to his modire saide whils he hang on e rode: Woman, loo,
|r15 here i sone, he said be his cosyne Iohun. He saide to Iohun:
     Loo, hire i modire dere. ou serue hire with all i might. What
     sighynge come vn-to hire herte when scho herd es wordes--whene
     man son for Gods Sone, the disciple for the Maister, e seruant
     |r[f.18a] for e / Lord was gyfen hire to kepe.
|r20    Thynke how at blissed body, naked and pale, hinged on e
     rode, so reuen with scourges at noght left hole. And yhit so
     porely was he sted in at storme at he had noght wore-on to rest
     his heued, als naked als he was borne, bot his modere kerchefe
     knyt about his lymes. Thynk how full he was of mercy yhit whils
|r25 he hunged of e rode, at for-gafe thef his synnes, at hunged one



|p87


     e rode be his side, and heght hym he sulde be at day in paradisee
     with hym.
        Whene ou art vnbethogh of all ose paynes at Ihesu for e
     tholed, think ou in i saule ou standes by hym in at place &
 |r5 sees what hi hym do. Speke ene in i saule to i Lorde ere
     wordes of Bernarde, and thus to hym say: God, my Lord, swete
     Ihesu, what has ou done at ou so blody hynges on rode, at
     neuer did euill bot euer e god? Sakles ai did e to dede. Wo
     his me so, for I ame gylty of at dede. For-i ai he suld slo,
|r10 ffor agaynes lagh and resone hit is to dampne to ded at neuer did
     misse, and lat hym passe with-outen harme at cheson of e ded is.
     For-i, wrech at wrang has done, ta me for hym and dose he to e
     ded, ffor I am e synfull at euill has wroght, at I haue folowed
     e fendes rede, and let is innocent passe harmeles at neuer did
|r15 harme bot ay gud. I pray ow at I may for hym dye.
        Thynke yhit inwordely on e worde at he said be-fore he
     elded e gast, ffor hit may stire e to haue sorowe for i
     synnes, and make e to sorow for his dede, at for e was so
     pynes, and wreke his ded on i-selfe at us to e cryes: Consum_matum 
|r20 est. at is on Inglisse: All is fulfilled. at is als he
     said: I am fulfilled of sorow both in body and in saule. In body,
     for all was pyned fro e croune of e heued to e sole of e fote,
     als e prophet by hym sais. In saule was he pyned thurgh oure
     [un]-kyndnes at kithes hym no thanke ffor his gud ded, bot dose



|p88


     at in hus is euer more to new his payne, ffor is ouer-passes
     all his payne at he be-for tholed. For-i he sais at his end:
     I am fulfilled of sorow. Thynk ene after is worde was saide,
     he louted sone his heued, and us to his Fadire said at all hit
 |r5 might here: Into i handes, Lord, my saule I e be-tech.
        Thynke en on os worders at fell at tyme: how creaturs
     at no witt hade rewed on his ded and kithed ai feld his ded sore
     in aire led. e son with-drogh his brighnes & be-come als marke,
     als schewand be swilk countenaunce he rewed Crist ded. e hard
|r10 roche all to-roffe; e erth qwoke; e graues of ded mene all to_brast 
     at made were of lyme & stone, and e ded at in e towmbs
     were stokene quykende to lyfe & wittnest at he was soghtfast
     God, at e Iewes did to e ded.
        With sighynge and ters yhit I red ow thynge of ose sore
|r15 stynegand pynes his modere tholed ene at felud hym at tyme, and
     with hym was to e ded, and als carfull a modere euer be-held all
     |r[f.18v] at ai did to hire childe. Neuer yhitt / martir tholed of payne
     als mikele als scho did, ffor in at party all marters wore pyned
     at dedely is of kynde, bot Gods modire in saule was pyned at
|r20 neuer might dye, ffor all os paynes hire Sone tholed, all os
     thurgh stiked hire saule. His paynes lift hym in his ded; ai
     might greve hym no more, bot in hire saule all ai left; for-i
     hire paynes were e more, ffor scho for sorou erned to dye, bot
     no sorou might hire slo. ene was fulfilled e word at Symeon



|p89


     to hire said: e swerde of sorou sall thurgh-stik i saule, witt
     ou well for soth.
        Thynke itt what he was at all is tholede, and how vnworthy
     ai wore to luf for whome he dyede, ffor if ou ire stirings haue
 |r5 of in mynde, what-so-euer ou be, hit halde i hert in luf & makes
     synne to fle. Thynke en with what deuocione at he was tane done
     of e rode, and how e thre Maries dighted with oylement and with
     mereles & folded his body in a new white cloth, and lad hym to a
     towmbe wroght of stone. Thynk after of his wendynge to hell.
|r10 What comforth his cosyne had in at merke sted, so lang had bidene
     his come! What sorou, what drede, what sighyng soroe, what gnay_styng 
     of teth had ose wod-waried wreches, o foule fendes of
     hell! How bonde Sathan so fast at might he neuer sythen harme
     ne fonde e folk as he might be-fore!
|r15    Thynk after of his vprysynge. How bright, how faire he rose
     at body e Iewes so loghly dight in at entent for to for-do e
     mynde of hym for-euer. Now he liues almighty God, cround Kynge in
     heuen, and sall deme hym at his will at hym ere demed to e ded.
     Thynk what ioye his disciples had whene ai sagh hymn resyn and
|r2O haue e maystry of e ded, at be-fore demed hym and saide ai
     kenw hym noght. en ai aim for-thoght ai had missaide and
     louede hym als aire Lorde, and ene so fulfilled ai wore in
     lufe of hym at ai wore redy to dye for luf of hym and qwyte hym
     ded for ded. To tell e ioye his modire had whene scho hym sagh



|p90


     resyn fro ded to lyf is no man may it tell.
        Thynke after how he stegh to heuen with oure manhede. He
     toke & sett hyt on e right hand of almighty God, his Fadere,
     and so oure kynd in hymn has festened at neuer sall ai twen.
 |r5 Thynke at thurgh e aliaunce at thus is made, if wepe hus fro
     synne, or if we synfull haue ene neuer-so-long tyme, for-thynk
     hus & schryue hus of at is misdone and turne no more agayne, en
     chalang we may als right ayers to dwell in his blisse with-outen
     ende.
|r10    Thynke yhitt of his agayne-come, when he sall ilkane deme,
     and eld to ilkone after at ai haue wroght, be it gud or ill,
     ffor als gladfull als his come sall e to ose at has done his
     will, als agfull and grisly hit sall be to ose at endes in ill.
     For e slik God sais, and with es wordes aim thretes of thre
     |r[f.19a] arowes at Gode sall to e synfull schote:  /Congregabo super eos
|r16 mala et sagittas meas conplebo in eis. I sall hepe on aim, he
     sais, alkyne ill and wo, at aim sore sall smert, and my scharpe
     arowes in aim sall I fest, and thre scharpe arowes to aim sall
     I schott, at sall wonde e synfull at ai sall neuer couer:
|r20    e first arowe at he sall to aim schot is whene he sall
     bid aim rise and come to e dome with es schort wordes: Surgite,
     mortui, venite ad iudicium. at is: Rise, yhe at at ded, and come
     to e dome. Thurgh es wordes all at are ded sall qwykyne in-to
     lyfe. Thoumbes of marbill and of stone sall all to-rise to lat



|p91


     out os bodies at in aim wore loken. is is e arow at saynt
     Ierome euer-elyke feled smert sore, be e whilk he sais: Siue come_dam,
     siue bibam, siue aliquid aliud faciam, semper michi videtur
     vt illa vox terribilis sonat in auribus meis: Surgite, mortui, et
 |r5 venite ad iudicium. at is: Wheer I ete or I drynk or what-so
     else I do, euer me thynk os dredfull wordes rynges in myn eres:
     Rise vp, e at are ded, and comes to oure dome. Mynd of es
     wordes come neuer fro his hert. Syn at is holy mane dred had
     of es wordes, nedfull it is to synfull at one es wordes he
|r10 thinke to make hymn a-ferde at he fall in no syne.
        For als Salamon e witty sais: Sicut fremitus leonis ita
     erit eius adventus. e wraght of e domesman sall be at his comyng
     als remyng of a lion, stalworth & kyne, at walkes in wildirnes
     to sek his pray. e lion kynde is at all estes he ferre with
|r15 his romynge, & als ertles for dred dare ai noght flee. of es
     noses at he makes be dredfull to all bestes, his comforths his
     awene whelpes & whikys aim to e lyfe. So sall Ihesu Crist hym
     ere at e strait dome to all bestly mene at has lyued in syne
     and wald make none endynge of aire euill ded. At is callynge
|r20 ai sall be so ferd and so vn-mighty of aim-selfe at one no



|p92


     halfe ene may ai flee, bot right ore sall ai dwell to tak als
     ai haue done. And als he sall be wrathfull to e wreches, so to
     his awene childere, at here has wroght his will, lufly he sall
     be & wynly to aire loke, at sall wakyne with ioye at his callyng
 |r5 & to his blisse wende, euer more with hym to dwelle. Bot e syn_full 
     & wofull wreches sall laite aim to hide at ai se noght
     his dredfull face, at sall flay aim out of witt, als e sothfast
     Ysaie be aim ire wordes sais: Introibunt in cauernas petrarum &
     voragines terre a facie formidinis domini cum surrexerit percutere
|r10 terram. at is: e warred synfull sall crepe in-to creues of
     stones, in holes vndere e erth, aim for to hid fro e wrekfull
     face of Gods dome.
        Of is commynge en spekes Anselme, and us sais er-by: On
     e to halfe at e dai of dome sall oure bitter synnes straitly be_call 
|r15 hus of e slaghter of oure saule. One e tothire halfe sall
     stand rightwynes, at [no] pete is with, dredefull and aghfull to
     be-halde. A-bouen hus, e rightwysly domisman, for als soft als
     he is here, als wraghtfull is he ere, and als mylde als he is now,
     als sterne is he ere. We sall se ene abouen hus is ilk strait
|r20 domesman at is als wittnes & wote all oure gyltes.
     |r[f.19v] e tothire arowe  /is at aim sall fore-smyte whene God sall
     ai areyne of all at ai haue done syn ai were borne at fele



|p93


     to synne. ene sall is domesmane his wondes schew to all man_folk 
     at ai may sothly see at he, vngilty, for aire synnes ded
     tholed, and on is maner with es wordes: I e made and in para_dise,
     at lufly sted, I stalde e, ore to dwell with-outen care
 |r5 and ere to haue dwellede had ou to me buxome bene and noght haue
     brokyne e for-warde at was mad hus bitwene. Bot sone my comand_ment 
     ou with-stode and left me for my foo. For-i rightwysnes
     dampnede e to hell, er to be in sorow & woo. When I sagh after
     ine euill faire, so pite me sterde to rew on e of ou noght
|r10 serued, I light to erth and tok e kynd of e, whor I was for i
     gilt sore pynd & toke many despytes and tholed velany in ded &
     worde. And after Iudas had sold me, e Iewes buffet me & spitted
     in my face, and with scharpe thornes ai crowned me, and with
     knotted scourges ai dange me. And us ffor-dight I was, als a
|r15 messell I was on to see. All is aght to haue made e to haue
     pite and to haue reuth on me & ou had ene kynd. In my thrist
     ai gaf me aysell menged with gall, bot when I feld hit, I wald
     hit noght. And thride my [fete] and hande and nailed me to
     e rode tre & opynd my syd with a spere, at make my hert to
|r20 bled. For e I forgate my-selfe so luf he stirde; for e was all
     my thoght. And yhitt all at I haue for e tholed and done als a



|p94


     vnkynde mane ou settes at noght. Now vndirstand, ou vnkynd, kist
     up i heued & loke to me. Behald my side, my fete, & handes. How
     wofull I am mad for e! us am I dight, noght for my gilt, bot
     for hell i wondes at was so sore. And i gilt all on me is
 |r5 light, he thynk ou suld luf he e more. For soth I wote noght
     what I might haue done more for e en I haue done. For-i ned_fully 
     now e-houes e schew what ow has done for me and tholed,
     for now my reghtwisnes hit wille at to ilkone I schapp his mede
     to dwell in pyne or in blis for ones and aye after his dede.
|r10    Howe sall en e waried synfull fare when he is reyned of e
     wrathfull domesman and all his synnes oppenly knawene & schewed to
     all mans sight? For noght mone ore be hidd, bot at at done was
     here wit schrift. For als e holy mane Iob sais: Heuen & erth
     sall wittnes ere agaynes e synfull wriche: Reuelabunt celi ini_quitates 
|r15 eius et terra consurget aduersus cum. at is: Heuen
     sall schew e wykednes of e synfull, and e erht sall stand
     agaynes hymn, berand witnes of all his werkes. And yhitt als e
     apostele sais: Testimonium reddet illis consciencia eorum. at
     is: Mannes inwitt sall agaynes hym wittnes bere. Who may better
|r20 wittnes bere agaynes e en he at euer has dwelled with e, at
     sees and knawes all i werkes? And us is mannes inwitt, fro
     whome mane may noght hid. And yhitt his euill werk sall with hym
     wynd to e aghfull dome & stande be hym, all one raw, and to his
     scham schew aim to all mane-folk, & us bitterly with hym flite



|p95


     at all e werld may here: We are ai, sal ai say, ose werkes
     at ou, wrech, with wrange has wroght in e despite of i Lord
     God, at ou for hus set at noght. For ou wroght hus agaynes
     his will, at sched his hert blod for e. For-i we are all
 |r5 gederd here, als agaynes e wittnes to bere, ffor ou wald noght
     here, whils ou mighte, amend ine euill state. Now e forthinkes
     at euer ou synde. Bot, sory wrech, all to late, for ou had no
     |r[f.20a] likynge bot in hus & in hus ou wasted all i tyme. For-i we
     sall with e dwell with-outen end to eke i pyne.
|r10    e thride arowe he sall schote, when he sais ir wordes at
     saynt Mathew in his gospell sais: Ite, maledicti, in ignem eternum.
     at is: Go, yhe waried, into endles fire. Be os at in at fire
     sall brine euer with-outen end, e holy mane sais: Sore & blody is
     os eghen at for hete & smok sall wepe mo ters en water is in
|r15 e brode see. Now may ou aske me: Syn ai sall so mikell water
     wepe, whi slokyns hit noght e fire at ai so hete brynnes here?
     us sais saynt Austene: So wodely hit brynnes euer-elyke, and so
     stalworth hit is in kynde, at if all is werldes waters had hit
     ouer-floten, hit might noght is fire sloken, ne yhit a litell of
|r20 hit cole. is fire makes smore & smok at euer mas os wreches
     ters for to wep, and os ters e fire strenghtes ay ilike & more
     wodely makes hit to brynne, als oyle casten in e fire. Mynde of
     ire ters hade at holy fadire at to his disciples said when ai
     lang onn hym cryed to say aim Gods worde: My dere childere, he



|p96


     said, wepe we here for oure syne; ters may oure body brenne.
        What sorou, hopes ou, what dred, what wepyng en sall be
     when Gode to e waried synfull sall sai: Ite, maledicti, in
     ignem eternum! at is: Go, e waried, in-to endles fire. When e
 |r5 wariede heres ire wordes and knowes at ai are dampned, and
     wote er is no gayne-turne, mercy to fynde, en may e say ire
     wordes of Iob with sighyng sore: e day mot perisshe at on
     was borne and e night at I was consayued!. at I had bene dede
     in my modire wombe! Allas, at sory while at euer I was borne!
|r10 Whare-to my modere sett he on hire knee, wasched he and rokked he,
     and fed me on hire brest! Allas, at while so mykell swynke scho
     lost on me at nurissht me a barne to smore in hell-fire.
        Whenn is wofull worde of Gods mouth is saide, en wode
     ilkone sothly wethire he sall wende. ene sall ai twyne e
|r15 euill fro e gud and sall neuer after to-gedire mete. en o
     lothly fendes sall amang aim rixill to rydell e euill fro e
     gude and same aim to-gedire, and als wode lyons dragh aim to
     hell, euer ere to wepe ere ere-done synnes, and ay to wary e
     tyme at ai ill wroght. All at aim may pyne, forsoth sall
|r20 ai fynde, and all at aim might like sal be tane fro aim. For
     fendes at aim sall pyne sall neuer be wery, bot euer ilyk fressh



|p97


     to wirke aim wo, and er wofull wreches no pyne may aim slo.
     Nedders, todes, & snakes, and othire venemus bestes, mo en I cane
     nenen, sall lyf in at fire, als fisch dose in e flod, to pyne
     os sory synfull at ere-in dwelles. o sorifull wreches, for
 |r5 thrist at ai sall haue, e nedders heuedes sall souke e venyme
     out to dragh to slokene ere thrist. In at hot fire no thyng
     sall be harde bot yhellyng & grettyng and gnaystyng of teth.
     Sight is ore non, for smok hit for-dose, bot so wondire markenes
     at men it groppe.
|r10    Bot Gods awene childere at here has done his will, with
     aungels sall be ledd to e blis of heuen, ere ioye with-outen
     |r[f.20v] ende. So grett is /is ioye, als e apostele telles, at no
     hert may thynk hit, ne egh see. If mane myght be in at ioye
     bot halfe a noure, and felde at heuenly likynge bot at litell
 15 qwhile, and sythene wre broght agayne to is midele-erth, so
     stronge payne hit wore here hym to lyf, of all e welth of is
     werlde boghed to his will, he at wald his body here wore delt
     in thousand peces to wynne to at ioye at he wentt fro.
        Thynk ou was with Ihesu Crist in all his payne, and at ou
|r20 stode hym so nere in all his passione tyme at ou sagh all his
     herdenes at to hym was done, and e awonndirde at so might-full



|p98


     a Lord suilk hardnes walde thole, and fall ou doune to e erth
     als gylty of his ded, and thanke hym of os woundes at he for
     yhe tholed, and hym haf euer in mynde. Thynke not of all ire
     to-gedire als ai in ordire are sett for losyng of deuocioun,
 |r5 at on many wys may ffall, bot now one and now nouthire als ou
     felles at God e stirs thurgh his dere grace.
        He may God be-seke of grace, and traist er-of to sped at
     here stirs hym in god werkes to wheme God with, and with deuocions
     & likyngs powdere aim so at ai more sauery be to ere dere Lord.
|r10 Werkes of penaunce, when ou aim do, als fastyng and wakyng and
     herdnes weryng & for-erynge of lustes, at e wantone flesch wont
     to haue, with prayere and almes & er suilk as we do with deuo_cioun 
     & likynd in God, behoues softede to be so at ai be done
     with a glad hert and a fredom of sprit. Deuocioun at I of spek
|r15 his a worthy drewry at God sendes vnto e hert at gladd it with,
     if it worthy be so rich a gyft to welde. Bot vnworthi is he to
     welde is gyft, what-so-euer he be, at in hert to weld hit no
     dwellyng sted will make. We sek at abouen hus is with oure
     belef and skilfull dome, bot hus sauours not at a-buf hus is,
|r20 for so full we are of erth at we haue lost oure tast. Why feles
     so many mene sterynge at e fende forges, and tholes e egynge



|p99


     of aire flesch so oft aim ouer-cast? I se at noght is makes
     bot wantynge of grace. And worthy it is at we want is grace
     at suld help hus and strenght hus agayne ill thewes, ffor we
     pray noght er-after ne er-fore will swynk. God of his der_worthly 
 |r5 grace is no chynch, ffor if he dele er-of to all at
     craues, euer he leues hym-selfe inoghe. Amange all othire at we
     greue Gode with, I trow is be one: at of als mykell folk as now
     is of lered & lewd so foue will swynke to wyne is grace of God.
        And God his derworthy grace hetis to all, at non thare bot
|r10 layt er-after and God hetis hym he sall fynd hym if any haue
     vessell clene and woide to resayfe it inne. Bot oure vessell is
     so full of erth at it may resayfe no more, ffor als saynt Bernard
     sais: at hert at charged is with couatys of e werldes deuocione,
     no likyng in God may hit haue, for sothfastnes & vanite, lastand
|r15 thyng and failland, gastly thynge with bodely may not be to-gedire
     no while in one acorde--at ou haue souour & lykyng in God and
     in e werlde bothe. If ou will with likyng i hert fetyng in
     God, e fals likynge of the werlde and of i flesch both with_stande 
     with all i myght: So worthely is thynge, e comforth of
|r20 God, at he ne will bred in at brest ere othire comforth is.
     So delicius is likyng in hym at with no nothire likyng may it
     a-corde. Wo-so oer comforth ernes to gladd hym, he witnes
     |r[f.21a] agaynes  /hym-selfe at Gods grace he with-standes, bot hit honest
     comforth be be-tymes to glad his kynd with, at he may er-thurgh



|p100


     better serue God.
        AT OU BREKE NOGHT I PRAYERE WITH OTHIRE VANITIES WHILS 0U
     I PRAYERS MAKES: ou spekes to i Lord, almighty God, and for_i 
     keke ou noght i prayere with idell spech, ne spek with non
 |r5 at with e walde speke are ou haue tane i leue at i Lord at
     ou spekes with. For in e tyme of prayere, whils mene spekes
     with God, mene sall noght turne God e bake & speke with othire.
     For velany it were grete, and mikele might harme, if a mane stode
     before e pape or e kyng to say his nedis, if he turne his bak
|r10 on os lords e whils he spekes with aim of his nedfull thynges
     to iangill with othire about hym with wayne wordes. For more he
     greued os lordes, en with his prayers plesed. So dos o at
     aire prayers brekes to speke with aim at about hym standes.
     Bot if it be-stande at e speke be hose for e comen prophet or
|r15 for i nedfulnes, aske leue at i Lord before whome ou standes.
     And to hym ou say: Lord, with i leue here I leue for a-while,
     for it nedes at I speke with ire men. When ou has tane leue
     at i Lord on is maner, I say sped e with few wordes, & als
     sone als ou may, turne e agayne to i Lord and to hym ire
|r20 wordes: Lord, ou set not is agaynes me at I brake my prayere
     whilest I to e praid. And say en forth i prayere als ou
     was wont wysely with reuerence, als to i Lord falles, be-for
     whome ou standes, and in sight of aungels at sees what ou dose.
        For-i with opyn mouth speke with i Lord, noght als e left
|r25 slepe or with a ded hert or with halfe-opyn mouth, als ou ne reke



|p101


     whithire ou spede or noght. Roundely and trete ou say i prayers
     at ou makes, & poudire aim with likynge of gastely thoght, als
     a-bouen is writen, for reuerence of aungels at standes ay be-for
     e to tak e wordes of i mouth and als a derworthi presande bere
 |r5 it to God, and brynge likynge and grace fro hym, and yernynge of
     i hert at ou for-swynkes.
        When ou has prayed at ou will and er-to hard i messe,
     in ere thre now stire i-selfe unto e tyme of mete: authire in
     honestes werkes at ou kane do, or in herynge or redynge of holy
|r10 writt. For is sall be e stody and e entent of ilk Cristen
     mane: to lere o thynges at may stire to gode. Noght elles leres
     all holy write, als saynt Gregor sais, bot to haue anonhede and
     charite to God & mane.
        Aftir ou thus has done and spend i tyme als befor is saide
|r15 in prayere and holy thoghtes and gud werkes, after e tyme and e
     state at to e falles, in Gods holy drede grath e to e mete to
     strenth i waike kynde at elles will faile, at he may better
     serue his Lord in what-so he dose. And in is entent sall ilke
     Cristen mane his body cheth & fede. With mournynge ou sall wende
|r20 to i mete; soburnes & mesure ou kepe in i mete-while. And
     after mete ou mak louynge to i Lord at e has fede, and als
     be-fore, and for all othire gudes at Gode has done to e. First
     ou sall mourne or ou sitt to mete. us e holy mane Iob did
     and teches hus so to do ere he hus sais: Antequam comedam
|r25 suspiro. Be-fore I ete, Iob sais, I sigh sore. If we hus wele



|p102


     vmbethinke how febule, how wake oure kynde is made thurgh Adam
     synne, at ilk daye nedes bodely mete to up-hald e kynd, for elles
     |r[f.21v] walde it faile in a lityll stound! / And for-i it telles in e
     lyf of a mane at hight Ysederus at of whene ete, sore he wepede
 |r5 and saides es wordes: For he schames with my-selfe to lyf with
     bestly mete als othire bestes dose at no skile has of kynd! And
     I, God skilwys creature and made like to his-selfe, at suld haue
     dwelled in paradise in lykyng & ioye and ere onely be fed with
     heuenly fode! Kepe soburnes in i mete-while, and in what-so ou
|r10 dose ou synne noght in glotonye ne in none of his spices--at is:
     ete in tyme and noght be-fore, or out of mesure, or ouer hastely,
     or ouer mykell, or ouer deliciously. Be ou sobure in i mete_while 
     in God holy drede, and luf God for os gudes ou takes to
     sustenance of i kynde.
|r15    And ou delite or sauour findes in mete or drynke, thynke
     en of at heuenly fode at fedes all halous in heuen, at all
     likyng ouer-passes, ffor of we ete and drynke here, oure likynge
     bese neuer fulfilled to we of at heuenly fode felle with Gods
     holy halous. For-i in mete-while religious heres lessons of holy
|r20 mens lyues, at so als e body is fede with bodely fode, so e
     spirit is fede at tyme with holy worde. Be euer, Gods lufere,
     whore all e mete-while hote metes, & delycious drynkes and hote,
     for to bere and oer, what-so ai be, at may wakyn in synne. For



|p103


     mans body is als a fornays brynand of hote fire, and namely e
     outh; and delicius metes & drynkes e fire makes more wodelyere
     to wax, als ole castene in e fire. For-i saynt Iohun sais:
     Welth and outhede is dobill fire, and do fire to fire, hattire
 |r5 brennes. For-i all at in e flesch kyndels synne is for to
     flee. For e wisman sais: If ou will abate e hete of e
     fire, with-dragh e brandes. And Ierome sais: Flesch mete and
     wyn is kyndelynge of lycherous styrryngs. For-i holy men and
     holy wemen is wele knew, fflesch & wyne fore-bere all aire
|r10 lyfe tyme.
        e flesch sall be undere e spirit als maidene undere e
     lauedy to wirk at his will. For saynt Austene sais: e flesch is
     a wild colt at is tame with bridill and hungure, at he bere
     noght his maister out of e way and cast hym in e dike. For-i
|r15 witty Salomon sais be e asse at be-tokens oure flesch: Virga &
     onus asino. Wande & birthyne falles to e asse to teme hym with.
     For-i saynt Paule sais be his flesch: Castigo corpus meum et in
     seruitutem redigo. My body I chastye, sais saynt Paule, with
     penance sere & puttys hym in thraldame to serue my spirit.
|r20    Wysely man sulde note of ose metes at be-for hym comes and
     tak of aim so in mensure at ai hym noght greue, bot at he
     thurgh helpe of aim serue God e better. For-i byddes saynt
     Ierome: Euer so ou ete at ou euer hungure. at after mete ou
     rede and pray and luf God e better, lat resone ordayne at mete_



|p104


     while. Late hym teche e so at i body be noght ouer-charged,
     and at i spirit be mery and fre to serue his Lorde with a glade
     hert. For vertu is it grete, and gud thewe, at man kepe mesure
     in his mete-while, and take at nedes to sustenance of kynde, and
 |r5 knaw when he has inogh, and en leue.
        Holy men and wymene at before hus has bene in aire liflode
     lufly hus teches at we mesure kepe. Sture mete and scharpe ai
     noted more to abate hungre an for any lust. Some lyued be gresse,
     and some e rotes, and some e sere spices at e erth eldes. And
|r10 so ai for-loked aim in what-so ai ete, at ai for-did all
     sauoure at myght stire to luste. Als saynt Ierome did, of whome
     |r[f.22a] we rede at he menged askes to his bred at he ete, at noo /lyk_yng 
     sulde he haue in e mete ne in e mete-whils. Othire sause
     en hungure tof ai none to ete aire met with. Saynt Gregor
|r15 ore he spekes to Gods seruants thus he sais: Bred made of branne
     and watter, als-so cole with or othire simple potage what-so it
     be, to e catyfe wombe is gude fode, with sause of Gods luf, if
     he it haue er-with. With-outen is sause has no sustenance sauoure
     at man notes. Some ete no mete be-for e night; some ilke othire
|r20 day; and some thre dayes to-gedire walde fast with-outen more.
     Macharie wald fast all e lenten-tyd, bot e Sounndays, and en
     ete he noght bot rawe leues. Some toke no kepe when ai ete, ne
     what ai ete--flesch ne fysch, all so nurisscht aim-elike--so



|p105


     at after ai ne wyst what ai ete. And some when ai wore sett
     to e mete and e mete be-for aim broght, ai forgate for to ete
     for e day with e night vn-to e morne, so ai spendid er tyme
     in holy spech of hym at aim boght, of noght elles, to e vndere_tyde 
 |r5 of e secunde daye, at er brethire come to aim and spird
     aim whi ai wald noght ete. And en at e first thoght ai on
     e mete, and ai ete en os aim gud thoght in Gods holy drede.
        Whene ou art sett to i mete, make be-for e on e bord e
     croice with fyue crones of bred to stire e to thynke on hym at
|r10 for e on e crosse dyed. And thynk: ere ligged his heued and
     crouned with thornes. or his hende, or his fet was festend
     with nailes; ire was his swet syde opynd with e spere, whethen
     come blode & watter to hele my wery wondes. Whene has so done,
     if ou may go forth part of i bred with i soule, and lay it be
|r15 it one, and thus to i hert ou spek to i Lord God: With e wald
     I chafere, Lord, for is penance I to e haue made. How many
     syghynge, how many terres, how many lufe-ernyngs and langyngs
     to e, how many comforths of e Holy Gast, how many stiryngs to
     Gode thurgh i derworthi grace, how many louyngs to he, if i
|r20 lufly eghen, Lord, sall ... will ou gif to me for is
     party of mete at e pore hungry, Lord, sall haue for e luf of
     e? When ou has etene at e gud thynk, loue i Lorde at e



|p106


     has fede, als are ou begyn to ete.
        After mete honest ou be, & kepe e fro mikell spech, and
     als fro all maner of idell gammens, and hald i witte inward
     vndire God drede. Semely it is to mane and to God at e beryng
 |r5 of mane more honest be and tempere after e mete en be-fore, at
     [no] tokennyng of autrage e in hym sene, at e flesch better
     may acorde to serue e spirit to rede, to pray, to othire gastily
     werkes at helpe may to God.
        i euensonge--when it is tyme, with deuocione at God to e
|r10 sendes, in kyrk or in oratory or whore ou so best may--say out
     of noise or tariyng of e werlde; or, if ou lewede be, e
     prayers at ou was wont to say in at tyde. After, if ou for
     nedfulnes of kynde has myster to soupe, schortte be i souper_while.
     And so in mesure ou take both mete & drynke at it be no
|r15 charge ne no greuance to i kynd, at hit lett e noght to serue
     i Lorde, or in tyme of reste reue e i slepe, or with foule
     fondynge in i slepe e fend e file, als he dos oft ose at
     autrage has tane & gose so to bed with a full wombe. Ilk mane
     ete, als saynt Ierome sais, after he is of strenth and of elde,
     |r[f.22v] and of his body  /is more or lesse, or seke or hole, at hym nedes
|r21 to sustenaunce of his kynde, and noght als lust hym stirres.
        After e souper go he to e kirke or to oratory, or to oer
     stede er he may be most in rest and of noyse, and or say his



|p107


     complyne and his oer prayers with deuocione at Gode to hym
     sendes. For in is tyde, als saynt Ambros sais, foghels in er
     led loues er Lord God and thankes hym in er kynde for ose
     goes he has to aim done. Call an on i Lord Gode, & say:
 |r5 Conuerte nos, deus salutaris noster. at ou at art oure
     Sauyoure, turne us vn-to e. Als he said: Lord, I haue bene is
     day taryed with e werld at mykell has lett me e for to serue,
     thurgh fondyng of e fende and of my flesch both. Oft sithes is
     day I haue done omisse. For-i, Lord, turne now fro e werld and
|r10 fro all at may he lett, at holy I may loue e with all my pore
     hert and all my wyttes, at ai be endendant to e werke after
     i will. Say ene i prayers standant, or on knees kneland, or
     els sittand, if ou febill e, and say ene with deuocione at
     God e sendes. Semely tyme hit is on e night to pray, for it is
|r15 tyme of rest, for ene is noght at lettes als is one e day. In
     day men is with trauell.
        And after, or ou ga to bed, hald a chapeter with i
     hert & ask it in what thing it is better en it was. Has ou
     schryuen e it of at syn at ou en & bare did? Of a wordes
|r20 at ou are spake? Of at iuel will ou was en in? Of at
     wrange ou are did & said to him? Of at handelynge, of at
     lakkynge, of at foule thought, of at thing ou left vndone ou
     suld haf done? And art ou in will to leue swilk vnthewis? What
     fandyngs withstode ou is dai? In what art ou mekar en ou



|p108


     was? In what mare chaste, mare sober, mare suffrand, mare atempre,
     mare lufand God in i breer, or mare likyng has in God en ou
     had? Lefe at syn at ou thorugh custome so oft fallis in? And
     oer mani vnthewis ou has done & paied e fende with, & greuid
 |r5 i gode God, & has forbarrid e of grace at suld help e. And
     en with a forthinkynge of as synnes at bitis ine inwit, knok
     on i breste, & sai a Pater Noster with Aue Maria on i knees. And
     sone on e morne ou schryue e of as synnes. And if ou us do,
     I hope e fend sal be afferd e for to fande, for ou art vnder
|r10 Goddis warde whil ou us e beris.
        After is rekenyng, whar-thorugh i saule is raisid in a celi
     hope to e Fader of merci & i flesh waxes heuy, ga to i rest;
     for if ou let i flesh of e nedefulnes, & trauail it oute of
     might, faynteli wil it help e, or let with-all. And or ou ga
|r15 to rest, biteche e & al i frendes in-til Goddes handes, at for
     vs ware nailid to e tree, & biseke him for his merci he eme e
     fra all perils of bodi & saule, & arme e with e takenyng of e
     crosse, for whare e fend sees is merke, sone he flees.
        Of is merk is writen in e life of saynt Edmund, at as he
|r20 went an tyme al-ane, a child aperd to him at was wonder faire, &
     said, "Hayle, mi frende, wham I luf in God." Saynt Edmund was
     awondred of is gretyng, & e child said to him, "Knawes ou me
     |r[f.63v] noght?" And saynt Edmund said to e child, /"How suld I know e?
     I saw e neuer are." en e child said, "When ou lerde in e scole,
|r25 I sate ai bi i side, & euer sithen I haf bien with e whare-so
     ou has duelled. For so mi Lord has festenid e with me at I
     might neuer part fra e. Slike is mi Lordis will. Bot bihald in



|p109


     mi fronte, & rede what ou see are." He lokid as he him bade,
     & with heuenli letters is .iiii. wordes he sagh are writen:
     Ihesus nazarenus, rex iudeorum. en said e child, "is is mi
     Lordis name at ou sees us writen. is name I wil ou haf in
 |r5 mynde, & prente it in i saule, & croice i fronte with is name
     or ou ga to slepe. And fra drecchings of e fend it sal e eme
     at night, & fra sodayn dede, & all as at bi night croicis aim
     erwith." And when he had is wordes spoken, he vanist awai.
        Bere some hali thoughtis with e to bed, & sai i praiers
|r10 til slepe fal on e. Til hafe soft slepe & swete, souerayn helpe
     is mesure & sobernes of mete & drink, with mynde of Goddis law &
     hali write, as God thorugh e prophete sais: Custodi legem meam
     & consilium meum, & si dormieris, non timebis. Quiesces & suauis
     erit sompnus tuus. And euer as ou wakyns, lift i hert to God
|r15 with some hali thought, & rise & prai to i Lorde at he grante
     relesse of paynes to e dead, & grace to e quyk, & lif with_outen 
     ende. If fandyng of licheri stere e in bed, think at
     i gode Lord for e hyngis on rode; think on his .v. wondes at
     stremid downe of blode; think at his bed was e hard knotti
|r20 tree, & in stede of a cod, he had a croune of thornis. And sai
     en with sighing sare til cole i lust: Mi dere-worthi Lord for
     he hinged on rode & I lig in is soft bed & weltris me in syn, as
     a foule swyne at loves bot filth. Rise en tide, & halde with
     praiers & loue-sighings & teris.
|r25    Of .iii. poyntis be warre. e first: at as deuocions at
     ou has thorugh grace sterand be noght knowyn of oer, hide aim
     in at ou mai with will & dede for drede of vany-glorie. e .ii.:



|p110


     at ou think noght it is in i might slike deuocions & steryngs
     til haue ai when ou wil, bot aneli thorugh Goddis grace when he
     will aim send. e .iii.: at ou late noght ouer-wele of e_self 
     for slike steryngs, ne think erfore ou art dere with God,
 |r5 ne deme nane oer mare vnworthi, at dose noght as ou dose. Bot
     when ou has all wele done, think sotheli bi e-selfe & grant it
     with worde: It is noght worth, Lord, at I do, for I am bot an
     vnnaite thrall. If ou wil tyne na mede, deme nane oer, bot
     hald e-self mast vnworthi; for if ou fast or prai mare en an_oer, 
|r10 per-case an-oer passis e in mekenes & suffrance & lufyng.
     erfore think of at e wantys & noght aneli of at ou haues.
     Noght-for-i God wil ou think on as graces & godes he has e
     done, to stere e til knowe e endettid til him for aim & serue
     |r[f.64a] him & luf him e mare; or if ou in angir be, til glad e with.
|r15 Some-while it fallis at he is better in Goddis dome, /at man
     demes iuel, en some at man demes gode. Mani are honest with_oute 
     & vnclene with-in; some werldli & dissolute, & hali with-in
     as Goddis priue frendes. And some beris aim in mannis sight as
     angels, & in Goddis sight ai stynk as synful wrechis. And some
|r20 semes synful til mannes dome & are ful dere til God almighti, for
     aire indre berynge is heuenli im Goddis bright sight. erfore
     deme we nane oer bot vs-selfe. And prai we for us-selfe & all
     oer til Ihesu Crist, Mari Son, at for vs was nailid on rode,
     at wha-so is bonden in dedli syn he louse aim, & a at are in
|r25 gode life he grant aim end erin.
        Twa messagers are comen to e to tell e tithandis: at ane
     hat Drede, at comes fra hell to warne e of i harme; at oer



|p111


     hat Hope, at comes fra heuen til tell e of blis ou sal haue
     if ou wele do. Drede sais he sagh in hell so mani synful be
     pyned at if all e wittes of men ware in an, ne might he aim
     tell: of glotones, licheours, robbeours, theues; riche men with
 |r5 aire seruant, at e pouer harmed; domesmen at wold noght deme
     bot it ware for mede; comtours at e wrange bi aire sotilte
     mayntiend; demesters at leal men dampnid & delyuerid starke
     theues; werkmen at falsli swynkis & takis ful hire; tilmen at
     falsli tendis; prelates at has cure of mannes saulis at noier
|r10 chastis ne techis aim. Of all lede of men at wrangli has
     wroght are I sagh at ilkan bitterli it boght. For are I sagh
     defaute of al godenes & plente of pyne & sorugh as hate fire ai
     brennand, brinstane stynkand, gredi deuels as dragons wide-gapand,
     hunger & thrist for-eauer lastand, nedders & tadis on e synful
|r15 gnawand. Slike sorugh & elling & gnaystyng of tethe I herd are
     at nere for-ferid I lost mi wit. Slike mirknes ar was at I
     might it grape, & sa bitter was e smoke at it made e waful
     wrechis til grete glowand teres, & bitterli I herd aim banne e
     tyme ai ware borne in. Now ai erne til deie & ai mai noght
|r20 deie; dead at ai some-tyme hatid, had ai now leuer en all e
     gode of is werld. And erfore I warne e, bot ou amend e of
     i synnes with scrift & penance, & haue a stedfast will to leue
     aim for-euer, a sege I sagh in helle made for e of brinnand fire,
     whare deuels e sal pyne euer withouten ende.
|r25    at oer messager at hat Hope sais he is comen fra heuen
     til tell e of at vntelland mikil ioie at Goddis frendis weldis.
     To tell er-of as it is mai nane erthli man speke, of his tonge



|p112


     ware of stele. For are is a gracious felawschipe of all Goddis
     frendis, ordirs of angels & of hali halughs, & almighti God
     abouen at gladdis aim all. Of all godenes I sagh plente:
     fairenes & riches at ai lastis, honour and power at neuer sal
 |r5 faile, wisdome & luf & ai-lastand ioie. are I herd melodi &
     sange of angels bright. So worthi is at ioie & so grete with-al
     at wha-so might taste of it a cely drope he suld be so rauyst in
     liking of God, & slike ernyng he suld haue ider to wyn, at al
     |r[f.64v] e ioie of  /is werld ware to him payne. With sa grete a lufe he
|r10 suld be ouertane in ernynge to wyn to at blisse at be a hundreth
     sithes it suld mare stere him to luf vertu & flee syn en ani
     drede he might haue of e payne of hell. And I say e for sothe,
     if ou will leue syn & do Goddis biddyngs & luf him as e agh, a
     rich sege & a faire God to e has made, whare-in ou sal dwell
|r15 with him with-outen ende.

        e thrid parti & e last of is boke techis a man to bere
     him sa, whare-so he comes & what-so he dose, at it be louyng to
     God & ensample of gode til all at him sees. For e apostle redis
     us: Omnia in vobis honeste & secundum ordinem fiant. at is: Al
|r20 at e do, honestli & ordeynli loke at e it do.
        en at e first ilk-a Goddis lufar loke at he noght erne
     to mangil him with e werld at taris & desceyuis all at with it
     delis & lettis aim of mani godis at ai might do. And a men
     at wil nouther reste bot ai raikis aboute, aire ien sees mani



|p113


     thinges at e iee sendis to e herte, & ein come ai noght
     lightli after ai are are inprintid. Sayn Bernard pleynis him
     of e harmes at he felid in e werld whils he was er-in & sais:
     Mundus circumcinxit me & obsedit. at is: e werld has bisegid
 |r5 me on ilk-a side, & thorugh e atis of mi .v. wittes, he to me
     shotis & woundes me ful sare, & thorugh e woundes, dead pressis
     in to sla mi sari saule. Mine ien lokes, & mi thought chaungees
     & kyndels me in syn. Mine eris heris, & mi hert bowes er-to.
     I smell with mi nese, & it likis mi thought. With mi mouth I
|r10 speke, & in mi speche I like, or oer bigilis. And with a litil
     ouer-soft felyng, licheri kyndels in mi flesh. And e fende, mi
     faa, at I mai noght see, standis euer agayns me with his bowe
     bente.
        For-i if nede stere man to wende in-to e werld, are so
|r15 mani steryngs are to syn, with grete drede he sal wende as in-to
     a batail to fight with his faas. It nedis he be wele armid agayn
     e arowis of his faas at thrali to him shotis, & e mare he mai
     him drede, for he mai noght him see. With caltrappis & gildirs
     e wai is ful sette, for-i arme him with Goddis hali drede, at
|r20 oute sal wende. God warnid his disciples to be warre in e werld
     when he us said: Sotheli e werld sal withstand ow with sere
     fandyngs. For-i if ou sal nedis wende oute for ine awne pro_fit 
     or oeris, colour noght i wendyng with na fals hewe, to feyne
     e an encheson to dali with e werld, for likyng or biete, or to
|r25 be knowen with lordis bifore oer. And erfore ai make contenance



|p114


     with worde & feyne in at ai mai, to be haldyn hali of all at
     aim sees, or puttis aim to daliance of e werld, mare en nedis,
     as to biyng or sellynge or iangling of werldli thinges. And all
     aire vtter-ering swa acordis to e werld at ai make sothe at
     |r[f.65a] Dauid sais: Commixti sunt inter gentes & di- /dicerunt opera eorum.
 6 at is: ai menge aim e folk of e werld at has na knowyng
     of God; & slike werkis as ai see aim do, slike ai wirke. er_fore 
     when ou nedis to ga forthe, croice e with e hali name of
     Ihesu, Mari Son at deied on e rode, for en art ou mare siker,
|r10 whider-so ou ga, as saynt Austyn said til his brethir when ai
     forth wente. And saynt Ion sais: Whider-so ou ga, & what-so ou
     dose, i forheued & i breste ou merk with e croice, for it is
     na merk e fend so mikil dredis.
        Loke ine vttir-klathing noier e ouer-laith ne ouer_curious 
|r15 in schap nor in hu. Hald i lymes in aire office, at
     ai are made to, ne cast noght ine ien ouer-al as a barne.
     Flish noght i handes, ne lepe noght with i fete. When e hert
     of man is oute of warde, e lymes somdele failes in aire office.
     And as ou ordayns ine vtter-beryng in outeyng, als loke ou be
|r20 with-in devote, & nameli in praying & louyng of i Lorde. If ou
     mai noght in outeyng rest whil ou makis i praiers, ga e softer.
     Mani thinges lettis e trauailand to prai: werynes of lymes, men
     at he metis at with him spekis; e .v. wittis en fletis oute
     of warde & en kelis e deuocion of e praiand: When ou has said
|r25 i praiers walkand, at ou art halden to sai, lift up i hert to
     God & prai him in i thought in a celi mynde. Think on e godes
     God has e done & sal do if ou him truli serue. Think on his



|p115


     biddyngs, & do aim in dede after i might, for so God biddis are
     he us sais: Erunt verba hec que precipio tibi in corde tuo, &
     enarrabis ea filiis, & meditaberis ea, sedens in domo tua, & ambu_lans 
     in itinere, dormiens & consurgens. Or in trauailing, tell
 |r5 faire talis to i felawes, or sum-what of hali write, at mai
     soft oure wai & glad ow in God. And sai sum-tyme e .vii.
     psalmes for e quik & e dead, at God gif grace to e quike &
     rest to e dead.
        When ou comes to e toune til ese i bodi, seke ider are
|r10 ou mai mast honestli duell for ine state, & in mast pece, &
     are ou mai mast profit til e-selfe & til oer. Flesh lust &
     vanite till e to na stede, bot spere whare ani is at mast lufis
     God, & ider ou draw. Seke noght whare ou mai best be fed, for
     are per-auenture are mani sterings to syn. Herbery e with na
|r15 woman, bot if ou knowe aim for gode of lang tyme. When ou art
     comen to e house ou sal rest in, hald i wittis in aire warde
     in Goddis hali drede, so at ine vtter-bering be so rulid with
     grace at ou mai stere to gode all at e sees, & for-do thorugh
     Goddis grace merknes of syn, & so fulfill Goddis teching, at us
|r20 sais: Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus ut videant opera
     uestra bona & glorificent patrem vestrum qui in celis est. And
     sayn Gregor: Neque valde laudabile est esse bonum cum bonis, sed
     bonum esse cum malis; sicut enim grauioris culpe est inter bonos
     bonum non esse, sic immensi preconii est bonum inter malos exti_tisse. 
|r25 Kepe wele ine ien when ou art comen to herbiri fra all
     thing at mai kyndel syn. And make foreward with ine ien as Iob
     did at said: Pepigi fedus cum oculis meis: ne cogitarem de



|p116


     |r[f.66a] virgine. After sight comes thought, & er-after dede.  /And er_fore 
     said e prophete Ieremie: Oculus meus depredatus est animam
     meam. When so hali prophete menid him of his ieesight, sare mai
     an-oer him pleyn at oft synnes er-with. Augustinus: Inpudicus
 |r5 oculus: inpudici cordis est nuncius. Gregor Non licet respici:
     quod non licet concupisci. Dauid: Auerte oculos meos ne videant
     vanitatem. Loke alswa at ou here na thing at mai stere to syn,
     as licherous wordes, bakbityng, fals domes, grete athis, threpyng,
     stryuing, & oer slike vnthewes. Alswa at i mete, ordeynli ou
|r10 e bere & hald e in mesure, and seke after na dayntees, bot of
     commune metis be paied. Avise e in spekynge: to whaim, what,
     when, how, of whaim, & whare. And so ordeynli ou e hafe at
     ou be noght like til oer werldis men, bot fulfil e apostle
     worde: Nolite conformari huic seculo, quia vestra conuersacio in
|r15 celis est.
        of oure bodi be in is werld as a clote of erth, it nedis
     oure spirit at is boght with e dere-worthi blode of God almighti
     be with mynde & will in heuen, noght soil him here with syn as
     swyne dose in e dike. And what-so ou dose, & whare-so ou
|r20 comes, do as e apostle teches: Omnibus prebe te exemplum bonorum
     operum. For thorugh gode ensample God is worschipd & loued, men
     are helpid & lerid & strynthid in aire bileue. Haue ow so at
     men at duellis with ow mai sai bi ow at was said bi e
     apostles Paule and Barnabe: Dii, similes facti hominibus, descen_derunt 
|r25 ad nos. at is: Goddis in liknes of men are comen downe
     til vs. Deo gracias.


|rAPPENDIX
                    EXCERPTS FROM PATER NOSTER
              Cambridge, Trinity College MS 1053 (0.1.29)


     |r[f.19v]  Bote an us, he at will at his praiere be herde a and
     also gladely will praie & spede of at at he in his praiers askes,
     do he an e biddynge of e wisemane at us vnto hym openlye
     says: Ante cracionem prepara animam tuam deo & noli esse quasi
 |r5 homo temptans deum tuum. at es to saye: Before at ou salte
     praiere make, graythe i saule to-warde Gode, and be ou nout as
     a mane at tempte God. For whi he tempte his Gode at makes his
     praiere rekelesly with-outene entente of gode hert & of gode will
     as touchande vnto heele of aire saule.
|r10    And inke an, mane, in i mynde saddely at ou stande be_fore 
     i myghtfulle Lorde of heuene, Ihesu, Marie Sone, & at ou
     syneful wricche & nedefule, spekes vnto hym rudely, oft sithes
     oure of resonne & mesure, of his grete grac to haue it with_outene 
     dreede & louynge of i-seluene, wham e holy prophete &
|r15 patriache Abraham, Godes prevy freende, nout durste speke to
     wham ofte he spake. Bote it bote as vnto his preuy frende ofte
     he spake, bote it ofte in full grete dreede vnto oure Lorde,
     suete Ihesu, where at he sayde on is manere he spake with opene
     mouh & sayde: Loquar ad dominum meum, cum puluis sim & cinis.
|r20 at es to saye us: I salle speke vnto my Lorde, a I at am
     bote poudere & vile aske.
        Bote forermore, my deere Freende in God, how ou sal
     graythe e vnto i praiere gode Gode of his grete godenes e



|p117_omitted



|p118


     teches in e gosspell of saynte Matheu, where at he us says:
     Tu autem cum oraueris intra in cubiculum tuum & clause ostio,
     ora ibi patrem tuum &cer. at es to saye us: Whan at ou wilte
     make i praiere, steppe in-to i bedde & sparre i doore faste on
 |r5 ilke sydde e towne, & ane ou i praiere sanely vn-to i Fadere
     of heuene. Steppe in-to i bedde, he says, as at if he us
     sayde: If at ou will at gode God here i praiere & graunte
     vnto e i boone, calle an at e firste i herte home. at es
     to meene us: All e gode looue & noon eueil at as in i herte
|r10 & likynge & ornynge holde aime at home with e, & when at ou
     has all, gadyre aime to-gedyre in vnite, steke an faste i doore
     |r[f.20a] for dreede of schrewyde gestys.  / at es to saye: Stoppe ou an
     wisely all e thrilles of i wyttes so at i herte glyde nout
     oute onwarly from e & make e so gyltie & culpable vnto-fore
|r15 oure Lorde Ihesu, when at ou his grete grace sulde wynne. e
     wilke ou may nout wynne bote be bittere payne & stronge.

                         *   *   *   *   *

     For whi orough i-selfe ou may soone doune falle, bote nout
     agayne aryse ou maye, als Gode thorough e holy prophete says:
     O misere homo, ex te tantum est perdicio tua, sed ex me salus tua.
|r20 ou wricchede mane, at es to saye, vndirstande at all i losse
     & alle i harme arise of i-seluene orough in awne folye, bote
     alle i helle & alle i socoure ryse of me, i Gouernour, a &
     in no degree of i-seluene.

                         *   *   *   *   *

     |r[f.21a] And erfore mane, what-so ou be, or wommane, lote ou nout
|r25 lyghtely be i praiere when at ou ought praies, for whi ou



|p119


     salte weel vndirstande at gode Gode at ou vnto praies lotes
     nout so lightely ere-by as ou, fonde fole, dose, for whi als
     so soone as at it es oute-spokene of the mouh, an on one he
     comaunde vnto his aungels of heuene at ai take it vnto aime &
 |r5 make it to be written in e booke of lyfe. a & trow faythfully
     at ou salte spede of at ilke bone at ou askes of i God in
     |r[f.21v] i praiere /and desire in e waye of ryghtwysnes, or elles it
     more largelye of at ilke inge at he kennes is bettere vnto e
     at haue for i behoue, bot if at it so betyde at grete lettynge
|r10 of i sidde it make & hyndire e so-gates anense e spede & e
     mede of i saule.
        And erfore ou salte wysely vndirstande all my sayinge in
     is matere at feloughes, wylke matere declare utterly vnto ilke
     creature hauynge resonable discrecione at fyfue inges lette e
|r15 praiere of mannes mouh to be herde of oure Lorde Gode. e firste
     inge at es makynge of lettynge of praiere to be herde of gode
     Gode is e eueile & e cursede liffe of hym at es in synne
     lyuande with-outene any amendynge. And e secunde inge at
     lette praiere to be herde es at mene nout aske in aire praiers
|r20 at inge at were behouefull & spedefulle to haue vnto aire
     gouernale. And e thride inge at lettez praiere to be herde is
     foule oughtes & manye and idell, at mene inke all daye when at
     ai sulde make aire praiers. And e fourte inge at lette
     praiere to be herde of God is is: hardnes of an vnclene & doute_ful 
|r25 herte, with-in forth-holdene orough gretes comberaunce of
     e foule feende, wilke lede all his feloughars in-to e snaare
     of euer-more-lastande dampnacione. And e fyfte inge at lette



|p120


     praiere to be herd of Gode is this: litell ernynge of inge at
     mene or wymmene aftere praie, when at ai make aire praiers
     vnto-warde Gode of heuene.
        Bote now, dere frende in Criste, ou salte clerly vndirstande
 |r5 at e firste inge at lette praiere to be herd of Gode, oure
     allere-Saueour, is e eueil & wykkede life of hym at es prayande.
     For-i spekes Gode us orough e holy prophete vnto suylke mene
     at praies with synne & says on is manere vnto aime: Cum
     multiplicaueritis oraciones vestras, ego non exaudiam. at es to
|r10 saye us: When e sall make oure praier manyfolde vnto me, I
     sal nout heere ou. And whi & wharefore ou may weel vndirstande
     soone after, & e enchesone he says playnely & what: Quia manus
     vestre plene sunt sanguine, hoc est peccato. And at es us
f,22 opunly to saye: For oure handes are full of blode. Als if he  /
|r15 us hadde sayde: For-thi I here ou nought, for whi oure hande
     are full of synnefule werkes & vnskilfule agayns e plesaunc of
     Gode. And what e blode betokennes at es ful weel vndirstande be
     Dauid worde in e sautere booke where at he says us: Iniquitatem
     si aspexi in corde meo, non exaudiet deus. at es to saye us: If
|r20 at I see any of my wickydnes in my herte, Gode will nout here me
     in my praiere. For-thi he at will be herde of Gode in his praiere,
     enforse he hym an in all poyntes so at he lyfe after e comaund_mente
     of God & also ryghtwysely after e will of Gode. And
     surely elles he maye full longe tyme crie & calle or God hym heere
|r25 for all his loude ellynge. And at es no wondire ne merueile,
     ffor saynte Gregore, e wysse & noble doctor, says on is manere:
     What wondire es it if at wee praiande to Gode, oure Saueour, be



|p121


     lately herde of oure feble askynge, seen whee here late or neuere
     his byddynges will do & fulfill. For-thi says e wysse and noble
     clerke Ysedre on is manere: He maye nout orough gode skille
     haue certayne hope of his praire for to spede at will & likynge
 |r5 has to synne. For-i he says us: He at withstand e hie
     biddynges of almyghty Gode right it es agayne-warde at God with_stande 
     hym in inges at he desires to wynne & haue of Gode. . . .
        e oere lettynge of prayinge is at wee aske nought in oure
     pore praiere at inge at were behouely for to aske & also nede_full 
|r10 vnto us synneful wricches & comburde catyfes in all oure con_sekire 
     lyfynge.

                           *   *   *   *   *

     |r[f.22v] For-i e wysemane on is manere askes: Wharto, he says, askes &
     ernes e fole o inge at are euermore moste agayne hym &
     harme hym & moste amonge all oer inges hyndire hym? Ryght ofte
|r15 sithes wee praie vnto God as onge childere done lernande in e
     scoles aire lessone. For whi some tyme ai praye vnto God
     hertily as aime inke so at ai sulde nout be scourgede ne
     betyne with e wande, & surely at praiere es vntrew & erfore
     God heres ame nout in at prayere ne it wirkes not aire
|r20 will nor dose nout ere-aftere, nor for at ilke praire so
     febully schewide as for a speciale bonne to spedde & grauntede
     vnto aire will & likynge. For whi if it so were at ai were
     note bettene, it were a full grete lettynge, an hogges hende_rynge 
     vnto aime of aire loore. Ryght so & on e same manere of
|r25 whyese, whee ofttyme beseeke God of many diuerse inge wilke
     are fully agayns vs & forthi as in at God wil nought here vs,



|p122


     |r[f.23a] bote it he of his grete godenes fulfilles oure /prayere in some_what 
     elle, e whylke he sees is vnto vs more spedefulle & nede_fulle.
     What inge may helpe & what inge also may harme bettere
     for soth wotes e leeche, a an wotes e sekmane.

                        *   *   *   *   *

     |r[f.23v] at es also to saye: Grace in is lyfe now beande, & ioye after_warde 
 6 in e hie kengdome when wee sal heene sodenly passe & weende
     --ies two inges sall mene praie after besily before alle oer
     inges in erthe & ellez is all nout at wee do.
        And an at e firste sal gode God gyue vs vnto auauntage of
|r10 erthely godes at vs nede vs ought to haue. For whi is ilke he
     behette vs gode God in his gosspell of saynt Matheue where at he
     us says: Querite ergo primum regnum dei & iusticiam eius & omnia
     adicientur vobis. at es to meene us: Sekes at e firste on e
     mornetyde orough oure praiere e blis of heuene & e ryghtwysnes
|r15 of Gode, & of erthely godes at nede is of ou ought to haue I
     sall gyfe vnto oure sustenaunce. For whi erthely godes are
     ordende for aime vnto sustenaunce at are ryght-wyse in aire
     lyfynge & regnynge; ffor whi ryght-wysnes make of erthely mene
     Goddes childere & namely whi, for he is callede Fadere of fre
|r20 mersy, at all maner of creatures sustenes & vp-beres orough his
     |r[f.24a] grete grace & godenes, /ne will he nought his awne dere childere
     forgete.
        Forthi if at it so be-tyde at a mane aske of Gode erthely
     godes vnto his sustenaunce, hym owe an to aske eme with grete
     dreede and ferdenes of herte, besekkande makely vnto o hie
     Fadere of heuen a & at if he see at ai be nedefule hym for to



|p123


     haue, at he an graunte eme er boone of his endeles godenes, &
     if at ai be note nedefule for to haue for bodily sustenaunce,
     at he an holde eme farre fro vs synefule wricches & comburd
     catiefs in wricchidnes & in synne. For whi at at wee haue nede
 |r5 of to oure sustenaunc better wotes he an wote wee, & so-gates
     bettere it es at God here vs vnto oure profete a an it es at
     he here vs-vnto oure febull will, & er-fore be ware.
        e thride inge at lette oure praiere to be herde of Gode
     o are ydell & vayne oughtes & foule & wykkede oughtes at wee
|r10 synefule wricches folily delyte vs in aene e will of Gode,
     when wee vnto Gode make oure praiere & so ai for-do all e mede
     at wee orough praiere sulde wynne for saul saluacione. a and
     at after at e oughtes be many or fewe, for whi ai at with
     suylke oughtes makee aire praiere ydully vnto Gode, sothely ai
|r15 haue hony in eire mouhes, bote it mane for alle at feele no
     suetnes in eire hertes. For whi ai chattere faste & ikkely
     with aire lippes as done pyes & praie nout deuoutely & loughly
     as Goddes chyldere sulde do. And erfore of suylke at so-gate
     make eire praiers spekes oure Lorde Ihesu where at he says us:
|r20 Populus iste hic me labiis honorat sed cor eorum longe est a me.
     at es to saye us to gode vndirstandynge: is pepulle honoure
     me here with aire lippes, bote weleawaye, aire hertes are ful
     farre fro me. A, sothely now is is a grete wricchidenes of vs
     vnwerthie wricches & syneful and nedeful catyefs, when at wee
|r25 vnto e myghtful Lorde & Kenge of heuene in oure praiers spekes
     vndevoutelye, & also whan at wee as vnwytty foles turne oure_hastely 
     oure eres awaye from hym to here warldely vanites, to



|p124


     inke aime or elles it to se ame. Sothely ful grete despite
     wee do an vnto God, oure Makere, when wee praye hym us at he
     |r[f.24v] will here oure prayere and wee mased fole  /will nought here oure_selfe 
     what at wee praye vnto hym in oure prayers. Wee praye hym
 |r5 us at he be entendaunt vnto vs & wee at praye nouthere wee are
     entendaunt vnto hym ne it vnto oure-seluene in oure praiere_makynge.
     Bot it is abouene all oer inges wee do at mekile
     wers is with many vnclene & vayne oughtes in tyme of prayere
     wee late oure hertes be defoulede with many foule synnes, so at
|r10 nout or elles litell wee praye or do to e louynge & plesynge of
     oure Lorde, suete Ihesu.
        And forthi, if at wee will is ilke lettynge for-do, at
     oure mede so mekile from vs a-waye refes, wee most do as at e
     holy mane Abraham dide in e boke of Genesis where he us telle.
|r15 It telles us in historie: Whan at Abraham to oure Lorde Ihesu
     his sacrifice made, e foules of e ayere at er-vp-on lyghtede
     & strode & wilde it haue fylede with aire fylthe. Bote what dide
     an Abraham, is ilke wyese prophete? When he saugh at ai wilde
     so haue done, on one ryght he with his myght chassede eme a-waye
|r20 & wilde nought suffire aime ere no lengare to duell ne reste.
     And when wee oure praiere sal make or sacrifice vnto Gode, do wee
     an on e same manere, ffor whi prayere is sacrifice vnto Gode &
     also it es at inge at vnto Gode is more dere & also moste
     leueste for to here. For-thi orough e prophete of vs he it
|r25 askes where at he er says: Sacrificio laudis honorificabis me
     &cer. at es to say us: ou salte worchippe me with sacrifice
     of louynge & at es full suete sacrifice vnto gode God, all



|p125


     inge in his myghte worthily weldande & godely it up-holdane.
     And so e holy mane ere-of bere wittenes where at he says us
     what praiere is in sothfastnes: Oracio est angelis solacium,
     diabolo tormentum, Deo nostro sacrificium. at es to say:
 |r5 Praiere is vnto alle e aungell at bene in heuene solace, and
     termente & harde payne vnto o foule feende of hell, & vnto oure
     Lorde Ihesu sacrific acceptable orough his gretes godenes &
     grace.
        e fourte lettynge at lette praiere to be herde of Gode is
|r10 e hardenes of e herte, and at es at vndirstande on two maners.
     Firste maner is hardenes of herte agayns e us, ffor whi at
     wittenes bere e holymane be wysdame, where at he sayes us vnto
     comone vndirstandynge: Qui obturat aurem suam a paupere clamabit
     ipse ad dominum et non exaudietur ab eo. at es to saye us: He
     |r[f.25a] at stoppes his erys /so at he an here noon noyese nor crie of
|r16 e poremane standande at his doore, & per-auenture quakande for
     colde, or elles walkande be o waye at cryes vnto hym after helpe
     & socoure, & er-fore he, at wykkede tyranne, sal crye vnto God
     & he sal nout here hym for all his lowde cryinge & ellynge.
|r20    And a nothere hardenes of herte er is & at es anense aime
     at haue mysdone vnto any mane & will nout forgyfe aime at ilke
     trespas at vnto aime is done. To wham Gode spekes openly on
     is wyese: Dimitte proximo tuo nocenti tibi & tunc deprecanti
     tibi peccata a deo soluentur. at es to saye us playnely: For_gyfe 
|r25 ou eme alle gladely with free herte & trewe, with-outene
     fenynge, at haue harmede e in worde or it in dede, & an whan
     at ou prayes Gode of forgifnes of i foule synnes, he will an



|p126


     frely forgife vnto e inge at ou has anese hym mysdone,
     folily & vnkyndely. And erfore it us says God almyghty in
     e gosspell of saynte Marce: Dum stabitis ad orandum dimittite
     ei quid habetis aduersus aliquem ut pater vester qui in celis
 |r5 est nobis dimittat peccata vestra. Quod si vos ex puro corde non
     dimiseritis nec pater vester qui in celis est dimittet vobis
     peccata vestra. at es to saye us: When at he sall stande for
     to praye, ffor-gyfe he aime hertily at haue harmede hou in
     worde or in deede, priuely or opertely, so at ou e Fadere at
|r10 es in heuene ricche blis forgyue vnto hou all houre foule synnes.
     And if it so be at he forgyfe nout aime at haue any inge
     mysdone aense hou, sothely oure Fader of heuen ne will he
     nought forgife ou at oure askynge oure foule stynkande synnes.
     Lo, mane, now here a strayte dome of God agayne all o ordend at
|r15 holde ire or enuye in aire schrewed & wikkede hertes as agayns
     aire brothere or it sistere in Gode, for as in at whiel sothely
     ai loose & tynne all eire tyme, what-so-euere ai do or saye,
     & at es reuthe.
        e fyfte inge at mas lettynge at praiere maye note be
|r20 herde of God es is at a mane at prayes desyres nout in his
     |r[f.25v] prayere hertilye at ilke inge at he in praiere  /of gode Gode
     askes, as at many fonde foles doo at praye with a heuy herte
     & an dull herte, so as at ai ne routh of prayere wheire so at
     ai spede or fayle, as mased foles & vnwiese. And forthi says e
|r25 holy mane saynte Austyne, e nobule doctoure, us: God will
     nout also soone gyue vs at wee make & aske in oure prayere,
     bote what dose e an? He holdes it an still vn-to oure behooue,



|p127


     a & at euer till at he see his tyme at wee hafe in oure hertes
     fulle desire vnto it, desirande of Gode mekely and godely to haue
     it. And whi & whare-fore resone openly it declare: at wee suld
     leere besily gostely inges & erne eme gretely of God, if his
 |r5 wil be at ai be graunted vnto vs at oure askynge.

                            *   *   *   *   *

     |r[f.27v] it lyste hym neuer in all at payne ones forthynke for oure
     behoove if all at he vngilty & sakles were, as he at neuere  /
     |r[f.28a] wrought synne, nor it er-to synnede, and as vnsynnefulle at
     neuer deseruyde payne for to thole, stronge payne with grete
|r10 wronge. a and now wee synnefule & vnworthy wricches in all oure
     wickede lyffynge, with-outene penaunce doynge or payne tholynge,
     at ilke endelis ioie & blis at he so dere bought with harde
     tormentes & stronge, wheen lyghtely it to wynne & haue.   . . .
        And is es e penaunce at God layde on vs fore oure
|r15 foule synne to bete ere he sayde vnto Adam, oure formere fadere,
     after e tyme at he hadde synnede orough foondynge & e encomber_aunce 
     of e foul feende. Whi and whaare-fore vnto hym us he an
     sayde: In sudore vero vultus tui vesceris pane tuo, donec reuer_taris 
     in terram de qua assumptus es, quia de puluere surrexisti
|r20 & in puluerem reuerteris, &c. ... ies wordes before spokene
     in Latyne are us mekile for to saye vnto comone vndirstandynge:
     In suete of i face salte ou gete i breede to e tyme at ou

     salte turne agayne in-to o erthe, whens at ai come fro, ffor
     whi ou rosse of powdere at i begynnynge & in-to powdere salte
|r25 ou turne at i laste endynge. And er-fore, mane, when at ou
     arte stirrede in i conscience vnto any matere of vnclennes, haue



|p128


     i wordes in i mynde & orough grace ou salte myghtely all
     dongers eschape.

                         *   *   *   *   +

     |r[f.29a] And firste aens ydulnes, at wee traueile nought here oure frele
     flecche bote with a dull herte & heuy, bote nout quyckely & stal_worthly 
 |r5 as at wee suld do & is weel vndirstonde in ies
     wordes before spokene &c.: In sudore. And in ies wordes gode
     Gode biddes a mane vnto sadde werkes of penaunce. When mene
     wirke some tyme so at ai faste suete for aire besy trauellynge
     for to kenne be at so at ilke suynke hertily & stalworthly es
|r10 wrought, a & at in-to edificacioun of i saule heele. For whi
     suete comonly feloughes ilke bodily traueile hertily wrought, &
     is ilke suete come nout bote of a hete.

                         *   *   *   *   *

     |r[f.30a] e bodie of mane es gyfene vnto o saule ryght as cloth_ynge 
     is here mane for to weere. And is es at Iob sayde vnto
|r15 oure Lorde on is manere in spekynge: Pelle & carne vestisti me;
     ossibus & neruis compegisti me. at es to saye us on is
     manere: Lorde Ihesu, ou has me cladde with skynne & flecche, &
     with bones & synoughes ou has me faste festende sammene. And so
     salte ou, mane, warly vndirstande, at Gode has gyfene the flecche
|r20 vnto i saule as at a wyntere robe or garmente to hyle e with
     from greuouse stormes & hedous tempestes.

                         *   *   *   *   *

     |r[f.32a] For whi gode God almyghty lokes nout all onely vnto e gyfte of
     e gyffare, bot verrily & certanly he lokes on ilke sydde with
     what will & herte at gyfte is gyffene vnto hym. Mekile inge in



|p129


     is warlde seme gode e wilke is nout gode ne it godely in
     no degree, for whi it es nout done with gode will & cleene as at
     it sulde be: as us os werkes at are done for vayne glorie of
     e pepull lyuande in e warlde, or alle us for to haue worde
 |r5 er-of, or it for to haue loose of othere for godenes.
        e holy mane saynnte Gregore telle us be an holy beschoope
     at was callede be mene in comone callynge Fortunate, at chassede
     a foule goste oute of a mane orough e grete grace at he hadde
     of Gode. e wylke goste on one ryght agayns e euyne-tidde didde
|r10 hym in-to e likenes of a pylgryme & wente so faste criande orough_oute 
     e cite at aire bisschope at ai helde so holy a mane hadde
     putte hym wronge-wysely oute of his house. And as he wente us
     criande & spekande eueile of at gode mane, an on one a mane of
     at cite at herde hym us speke called hym home vnto his house
|r15 & sette hym faste by hym be e fiere & gafe hym both mete &
     drynke suylke as at he hadde with-in hym. And when at ai hadde
     longe tyme of diuerse maters be-twix aime two hadde tolde &
     |r[f.32v] spokene, an on one is ilke /cursede spirite stirte ratthelye
     ouer e brynnande fiere & rane vnto e credull in e wilke e gode
|r20 mannes childe was lappede, & helde it strayttely in o throte &
     strangelde so e childe er it laye. And so on one a-waye fro
     hym at hym harbaroughede sodenly he uanychyede.
        And now forthi aske I is ilke questione: Whi & orough
     what cause is foule & cursede spirite hade us-gate myght &
|r25 pouste to quyte his hoste at hym godely harbaroughede so sodenly
     his gode will. And e holy mane saynte Gregorie sais ie er_till,
     at is ilke mane hadde a fals likynge in at at he herde



|p130


     lyghtely e wicked spirite of his awne folye, e wilke spirite he
     wende hade bene an honeste & curtese pylgryme vnto e tyme at he
     spake eueile of at ilke holy mane, & in so mekille werse at he
     callede hyme home vnto his house at he were holdene of charite
 |r5 more an e bisschepe was.
        A, now an us, who-so of Gode will haue mede for his gode
     dede be he full well ware at he do it louely & loughly & with a
     gode will & an sall non wyckede spirite be-refene vs oure whiell.
     For nout after e werkes bote after e looue almyghty God schapes
|r10 oure mede & merkes it at his awne will for grace. Charite is at
     on weghte e wilke on e dredefull daye of e dome sall lye in e
     weght at sall wegh oure bitter & dredful dome and also mede for
     oure seruage at wee er sull haue.
        In sudore vultus tui &c. In o tothere poynte of is
|r15 reule es at Gode has sende vnto mane for to lyfe be is reule
     & at es to meene at a mane noryche nout his freele flecche in
     any tyme ouer deliciouslye in outrage takynge of mete and drynke.
     But us-gate at he take it in all tyme in mesure & at is weel
     vndirstande in is worde at feloughes.

                          *   *   *   *   *

     |r[f.35v] Pater noster, and at es to saye us mekille vnto comone vndir_standynge 
|r21 on is matere to declare: Oure Fadere, & nougt us_gate 
     be noo manere of whiese, my Fadere. For whi-here-orough
     he vs teches frelye at wee sull gadere & enclose all folke in
     oure praiers at we make be nyght or be day, for whi all are wee
|r25 brethyre & systers in God.



|p131


     |r[f.49v] For whi gode God, oure Fader almyghtyeste, he may weel do all
     inges with-outene any maner of letynge, and also more-ouer at he
     kenne a thousande parte bettere what inges at wee haue neede
     of, outhere vnto saule or vnto bodye, a with-outene doute an wee
 |r5 doo oure-seluene. And also more he vs loues an at wee doo oor
     awne seluene, and besy he is vp-on vs to loke ilke tyde & tyme,
     at es to saye ilke houre of e daye or of e nyght on vs synne_full
     wricches to thynke, a sothely ryght as at he hadde nout
     elles to do saue onely to be entendaunte vnto vs, for to purueye
|r10 & for to graythe all inge vnto vs of e wilke inge vs neded
     ought to haue vnto oure saule or elle vnto o stynkande bodye,
     bot all onely in at ilke tyme when wee hym lette orough oure
     manyfolde synnes.