I . (CMROLLTR,1.3)
Of the Vertu+g of the Haly Name of Ihesu . (CMROLLTR,1.4)
Ricardus herimita super versiculo ' Oleum effusum nomen tuum ' ; in
Cantic. $I.3 , &c. (CMROLLTR,1.6)
That es on Inglysce ' Oyle owt-+gettede es thi name ' . (CMROLLTR,1.7)
The name of Ihesu commys in-to the worlde , (CMROLLTR,1.8)
and als sone it smellys Oyle out-+getted . (CMROLLTR,1.9)
Oyle , it es takyn , for ay-lastande saluacyone es hopede .
(CMROLLTR,1.10)
Sothely Ihesu es als mekyll to be mene als saueoure or helefull .
(CMROLLTR,1.11)
Thare-fore what menys it , ' Oyle owt-+gettide es thy name , ' Bot
Ihesu es thy name ? (CMROLLTR,1.12)
This name es Oyle owte-+gettyd , (CMROLLTR,1.13)
For Ihesu , the Worde of God , has tane manes kynde . (CMROLLTR,1.14)
Ihesu , thow fulfillis in warke that thow es called in name ,
(CMROLLTR,1.15)
Sothely sauys $+tou man , +tat wham we calle saueoure , (CMROLLTR,1.16)
Thare-fore Ihesu es thy name . (CMROLLTR,1.17)
A ! A ! that wondyrfull name ! (CMROLLTR,1.18)
A ! that delittabyll name ! (CMROLLTR,1.19)
This es the name +tat es abown all names ; name althirhegeste ,
withowtten whilke no man hopes hele . (CMROLLTR,1.20)
This name es in myn ere heuenly sowne , in my mouthe hony-full swetnes
. (CMROLLTR,1.21)
Whare-fore , na wondire +tofe I luf +tat name , the whylke gyffes
comforthe to me in all Angwys . (CMROLLTR,1.22)
I can noghte pray , (CMROLLTR,1.23)
I cane noghte hafe mynde , Bot sownnande the nam of Ihesu .
(CMROLLTR,1.24)
I sauyre noghte Ioye that with Ihesu es noghte mengede .
(CMROLLTR,1.25)
Whare-so I be , Whare-so I sytt , What-so I doo , the mynd of the
sauoyre of the name Ihesu departis noghte fra my mynde .
(CMROLLTR,1.26)
I haf sett my mynde , (CMROLLTR,1.27)
I haf sett it als takynnynge appone myn arme , (CMROLLTR,2.28)
for luf es strange als dede . (CMROLLTR,2.29)
Als ded slaas all , Swa lufe ouer-comes all . (CMROLLTR,2.30)
Ay-lastande lufe has ouer-comemyn me , noghte for to sla me , bot for
to qwykkyn me . (CMROLLTR,2.31)
Bot it has wondyde me , For it sulde leche me . (CMROLLTR,2.32)
It has thurghe-fychede my herte , +tat merghlyere it be helyde .
(CMROLLTR,2.33)
And now ouer-comen I fayle . (CMROLLTR,2.34)
Vn-nethes I lyfe for Joye . (CMROLLTR,2.35)
Nerehand I dye ; (CMROLLTR,2.36)
For I suffyce noghte in delycyouseste swettnes , And ay to be
dronkenede . (CMROLLTR,2.37)
It falles the flesche may noghte of his vertu noghte defaile ay whils
+te saule in swylk Ioyes is rauyste for to Ioye . (CMROLLTR,2.38)
Bot when vn-to me swylke Ioye , bot for Ihesu ? (CMROLLTR,2.39)
The nam of Ihesu has taughte me for to synge , (CMROLLTR,2.40)
and has lyghtenede my mynde with the hete of vn-made lyghte .
(CMROLLTR,2.41)
Thare-fore I syghe , and crye , ' Wha sall schewe to +te lufede Ihesu ,
+tat I langwys for lufe ? ' (CMROLLTR,2.42)
My flesche has faylede , (CMROLLTR,2.43)
and my herte meltes in lufe , +garenande Ihesu . (CMROLLTR,2.44)
All +te herte festenede in +te +gernyuge of Ihesu es turned in-to +te
fyre of lufe ; (CMROLLTR,2.45)
& with +te swettnes of +te Godhede fullyly es it fillide .
(CMROLLTR,2.46)
Thare-fore , A gude Ihesu , hafe mercy of +tis wreche ! (CMROLLTR,2.47)
schewe +te to +tis languessande , (CMROLLTR,2.48)
be +tou leche vn-to +tis woundyde ! (CMROLLTR,2.49)
If +tou come , I am hale , (CMROLLTR,2.50)
I fele me noghte seke , bot langwyssande for +ti lufe ; (CMROLLTR,2.51)
late my saule takande , sekande +te , Ihesu , whaym it lufes , with
whas lufe it es takyn , whaym anely it couaytes . (CMROLLTR,2.52)
Sothely +te mynd towchede with the soueraynge swettnes ,
(CMROLLTR,2.53)
and es for to waxe hate in the lufe of +te makare , qwhyls it enforthis
for to halde besyly in it the swetteste name of Ihesu . (CMROLLTR,2.54)
Sothely fra thythen Inryses a gret lufe ; (CMROLLTR,2.55)
and what thynge +tat it trewely towches , it rauesche it vtterly to it
. (CMROLLTR,2.56)
It inflawmes +te affeccyone , (CMROLLTR,2.57)
it byndis +te thoghte , (CMROLLTR,2.58)
+ga , & all +te name it drawes to +te serues of it . (CMROLLTR,2.59)
Sothely , Ihesu , desederabill es thi name , lufabyll and comfortabyll
. (CMROLLTR,2.60)
Nane swa swete Ioye may be consaveuede . (CMROLLTR,2.61)
Nane swa swete sange may be herde . (CMROLLTR,2.62)
Nane swa swete & delytabyll solace may be hade in mynde .
(CMROLLTR,3.63)
Thare-fore , what-so-euer +tou bee +tat redies the for to lufe Gode ,
if +tou will nowthire be dyssayuede ne dyssayue , if +tou wyll be wysse
and noghte vnwysse , if +tou will stande and noghte fall , haue in
mynde besely for to halde +te name of Ihesu in +ti mynde ;
(CMROLLTR,3.64)
and +tane thyn Enemy sall fall (CMROLLTR,3.65)
and +tou sall stande , (CMROLLTR,3.66)
Thyne Enemye sall be made wayke , (CMROLLTR,3.67)
+tou sall be made strange . (CMROLLTR,3.68)
And if +tou will lelely doo this , ferre fra drede , +tou sall be
gloryus and lowuabyll ouercommere . (CMROLLTR,3.69)
Seke +ter-fore the name of Ihesu , (CMROLLTR,3.70)
and halde it , (CMROLLTR,3.71)
and for-gette it noghte . (CMROLLTR,3.72)
Sothely na thynge slokynns sa fell flawmes , (CMROLLTR,3.73)
dystroyes ill thoghtes , (CMROLLTR,3.74)
puttes owte venemous affeccyons , (CMROLLTR,3.75)
dos a-waye coryous & vayne Ocupacyons fra vs . (CMROLLTR,3.76)
This name Ihesu , lelely haldyn in mynde , drawes by +te rote vyces ,
(CMROLLTR,3.77)
settys vertus , (CMROLLTR,3.78)
Inlawes charytee , (CMROLLTR,3.79)
In-+gettis sauoure of heuenely thynges , (CMROLLTR,3.80)
wastys discorde , (CMROLLTR,3.81)
reformes pese , (CMROLLTR,3.82)
Gyffes Inlastande ryste , (CMROLLTR,3.83)
Dose away greuesnes of fleschely desyris , (CMROLLTR,3.84)
turnes all Erthely thynge to noye , (CMROLLTR,3.85)
fyllys +te luffande of gastely Ioye . So +tat wele it may be saide , '
Et gloriabuntur omnes qui deligunt nomen tuum , quoniam tu benedices
Iusto , ' That es , ' All sall Ioye , +tat lufes +ti name ,
(CMROLLTR,3.86)
for +tou sall blysse +te ryghtwyse . ' (CMROLLTR,3.87)
Thare-fore +te ryghtwyse has dysseruede to be blyssede if +te name of
Ihesu trewly he hase luffede ; And +tare-fore es cald ryghtwyse ,
(CMROLLTR,3.88)
For he enforssede hym trewly to lufe Ihesu . Whare-fore , what may
defaile vn-to hym +tat couaytes vn-cessandly for to lufe +te name of
Ihesu ? (CMROLLTR,3.89)
Sothely he lufes , (CMROLLTR,3.90)
and he +garnes for to lufe , (CMROLLTR,3.91)
For we haue knawen +tat , +te lufe of Gode standis in swylke manere
+tat In als mekyll als we may lufe , +te mare vs langes for to lufe .
For-why it es saide ' Qui edunt me adhuc esurient , et qui bibunt me
adhuc sciciunt ? ' +tat es to say , ' that ettys me +gitt hungres thaym
; (CMROLLTR,3.92)
and +tay +tat drynkes me +gitt thristis thaym . ' (CMROLLTR,3.93)
Thare-fore be it-selfe delitabill and couaytabill es +te name of Ihesu
, and +te lufe of it . (CMROLLTR,3.94)
Thare-fore Ioy sall noghte faile vn-to hym +tat couaytes besyly
for to lufe hym in whaym Angells +gernys for to be-halde .
(CMROLLTR,4.95)
Angels euer sese , (CMROLLTR,4.96)
& euer +tay +gerne for to see ; (CMROLLTR,4.97)
and swa are +tay fild , +tat +taire fillynge duse noghte awaye +taire
desyre , (CMROLLTR,4.98)
and so +tayre desyre duse noghte awaye +taire fillynge .
(CMROLLTR,4.99)
This es full Ioye , (CMROLLTR,4.100)
This es Endles Ioye , (CMROLLTR,4.101)
This es glorious Ioye , +te whylke +te fylde vses lastandly with-owtten
noye ; (CMROLLTR,4.102)
& if we vse it , we sall be fyllyde euer withowttyn lessynge .
(CMROLLTR,4.103)
Thare-fore , Ihesu , all sall Ioye +tat lufes thi name .
(CMROLLTR,4.104)
Sothely +tay sall Ioye nowe , be in-+gettynge of grace , and in tym to
come be syghte of Ioye , (CMROLLTR,4.105)
and thare-fore +tay sall Ioye , for why Ioy comes of lufe .
(CMROLLTR,4.106)
Thare-fore , he +tat luffes noghte , he sall euer mare be with-owttyn
Ioye . (CMROLLTR,4.107)
Thare-fore many wreches of +te worlde , trowande +tam to Ioye with
Criste , sall sorowe with-owttyn ende . (CMROLLTR,4.108)
And why ? (CMROLLTR,4.109)
For thay lufede noghte +te name of Ihesu . (CMROLLTR,4.110)
What so +ge doo , if +ge gyfe all +tat +ge hafe vn-to +te nedy , bot
+ge lufe +te name of Ihesu , +ge trauelle in vayne . (CMROLLTR,4.111)
All anely +tay may Ioye in Ihesu +tat lufes hym in +tis lyfe ;
(CMROLLTR,4.112)
and thay +tat files +tam with vices and venemous delittes , Na drede
+tat ne +tay ere putt owte of Ioye . (CMROLLTR,4.113)
Also with all +tat +te name of Ihesu es helefull , fruytfull & glorious
. (CMROLLTR,4.114)
Thare-fore wha sall haue hele +tat lufes it noghte , (CMROLLTR,4.115)
or wha sall bere +te frwyte be-fore Criste +tat has noghte the floure ;
(CMROLLTR,4.116)
and Ioye sall he noghte see That , Ioyeande luffede noghte +te name of
Ihesu . (CMROLLTR,4.117)
The wykkyde sall be don a-waye , +tat he see noghte +te Ioye of God .
(CMROLLTR,4.118)
Sothely +te ryghtwyse sekys +te Ioye and +te lufe , (CMROLLTR,4.119)
and +tay fynd it in Ihesu , whaym +tay luffede . (CMROLLTR,4.120)
I +gede abowte be couaytyse of reches , (CMROLLTR,4.121)
and I fande noghte Ihesu . (CMROLLTR,4.122)
I rane $be the wanntonnes of flesche . (CMROLLTR,4.123)
and I fand noghte Ihesu . (CMROLLTR,4.124)
I satt in companyes of worldly myrthe , (CMROLLTR,4.125)
and I fand noghte Ihesu . (CMROLLTR,4.126)
In all thire I soghte Ihesu , (CMROLLTR,4.127)
bot I fand hym noghte , (CMROLLTR,4.128)
For he lett me wyete by his grace +tat he ne is funden in +te lande of
softly lyfande . (CMROLLTR,4.129)
Thare-fore I turnede by anothire waye , (CMROLLTR,4.130)
and I rane a-bowte be pouerte , (CMROLLTR,4.131)
and I fande Ihesu , pure borne in +te worlde , laid in a crybe
and lappid in clathis . (CMROLLTR,5.132)
I +gode by sufferynge of werynes , (CMROLLTR,5.133)
and I fand Ihesu wery in +te way , turment with hungre , thriste &
calde , fild with repreues & blames . (CMROLLTR,5.134)
I satt by min ane , Fleande +te vanytes of +te worlde ,
(CMROLLTR,5.135)
and I fande Ihesu in deserte , fastande in +te monte , anely prayande .
(CMROLLTR,5.136)
I rane by +te payne of penaunce , (CMROLLTR,5.137)
and I fand Ihesu bownden , scourgede , Gyffen galle to drynke , naylede
to +te Crosse , hyngande in +te Crosse and dyeand in +te Crosse .
(CMROLLTR,5.138)
Thare-fore Ihesu es noghte funden in reches , bot in pouerte ; noghte
in delytes , bot in penance ; noghte in wanton joyeynge , bot in bytter
gretynge , noghte emange many , bot in anelynes . (CMROLLTR,5.139)
Sothely ane euyll mane fyndis noghte Ihesu , (CMROLLTR,5.140)
for , +tare he es , he sekes hym noghte . (CMROLLTR,5.141)
He enforces hym to seke Ihesu in +te Ioy of +te worlde , whare neuer he
sall be funden . (CMROLLTR,5.142)
Sothely thare-fore +te nam of Ihesu es helefull , (CMROLLTR,5.143)
& nedys by-houys be lufed of all couaytande saluacyone .
(CMROLLTR,5.144)
He couaytes wele hys saluacyone +tat kepis besyly in hym +te name of
Ihesu . (CMROLLTR,5.145)
Sothely I haue na wondyr if +te temptid fall +tat puttes noghte +te
name of Ihesu in lastande mynde . (CMROLLTR,5.146)
Sekyrly may he or scho chese to lyfe anely , +tat has chosen +te name
of Ihesu to thaire specyalle , (CMROLLTR,5.147)
For thare may na wykked spyritte noye , +tare Ihesu es mekyll in mynde
or is neuennyd in mouthe , &c. (CMROLLTR,5.148)
Explicit . (CMROLLTR,5.149)
$II $A $Tale $of $Hampole's $Temptation $. (CMROLLTR,5.151)
Narracio
A tale +tat Richerde hermet $made . (CMROLLTR,5.153)
When I had taken my syngulere purpos , & lefte +te seculere habyte ,
and I be-gane mare to serue God +tan man , it fell one a nyghte , als I
lay in my ryste , in +te begynnynge of my conuersyone , +tare appered
to me a full faire +gonge womane , +te whilke I had sene be-fore , &
+te whilke luffed me noght lytill in gude lufe . (CMROLLTR,6.155)
And when I had be-haldyn hyre , and I was wondyrde why scho com swa on
nyghte in +te wyldyrnes , Sodanly , withowttyn any mare speche , scho
laid hire be-syde me , (CMROLLTR,6.156)
And when +tat I felyd hir thare , I dred +tat scho sulde drawe me to
Iuell , (CMROLLTR,6.157)
and said +tat I wald ryse and blyse vs in +te name of +te Haly Trynytee
. (CMROLLTR,6.158)
And scho strenyde me so stallworthely +tat I had no mouthe to speke ,
ne no hande to styrre ; (CMROLLTR,6.159)
and whene I sawe +tat , I perceyuede well +tare was na womane , bot +te
deuell in schappe of womane . (CMROLLTR,6.160)
Thare-fore I turnede me to Gode , (CMROLLTR,6.161)
and with my mynde I said , ' A , Jhesu , how precyous es thi blude ! '
makand +te crosse with my fyngere in my breste : (CMROLLTR,6.162)
and alls faste scho wexe wayke , (CMROLLTR,6.163)
& sodanly all was awaye . (CMROLLTR,6.164)
And I thankked Gode +tat delyuerd me ; (CMROLLTR,6.165)
& sothely , fra +tat tym furthe , I forced me for to luf Ihesu ,
(CMROLLTR,6.166)
and ay +te mare I profette in +te luf of Ihesu , +te swetter I fand it
, (CMROLLTR,6.167)
& to +tis daye it went noghte fra my mynde . (CMROLLTR,6.168)
Thare-fore , blysside be +te nam of Ihesu in the worlde of worldes !
(CMROLLTR,6.169)
Amen - Amen - Amen ! (CMROLLTR,6.170)
Iesu +te sone of +te glorious virgyne , Now Lord haue mercy one all
thyne - (CMROLLTR,6.171)
Amen . (CMROLLTR,6.172)
Amen - Pur charyte - Amen . (CMROLLTR,6.173)
III . (CMROLLTR,6.175)
De in-perfecta contricione . (CMROLLTR,6.176)
Rycharde hermyte reherces a dredfull tale of vn-perfitte contrecyone
+tat a haly mane Cesarius tellys in Ensample . (CMROLLTR,6.178)
He says +tat - A +gonge mane , a chanone at Parys , vn-chastely and
delycyousely lyfande , and full of many synnys , laye seke to +te dede
. (CMROLLTR,6.179)
He schrafe hym of his gret synnys , (CMROLLTR,6.180)
he hyghte to amende hym , (CMROLLTR,6.181)
He rescheyuede +te sacrament of +te Autire , (CMROLLTR,6.182)
and Anoynte hym , (CMROLLTR,6.183)
and swa he dyede . (CMROLLTR,7.184)
Till his grauynge it semyde als +te ayere gafe seruese .
(CMROLLTR,7.185)
Eftyr a faa dayes he apperyde till ane +tat was famyliare till hym in
hys lyfe , (CMROLLTR,7.186)
and sayde +tat he was dampnede , for +tis Enchesone : (CMROLLTR,7.187)
' +Tofe I ware , ' quod he , ' schreuen , & hyghte to doo penance , Me
wantede verray contrycyone , wythowtten +te whilke , all othere thynges
avayles noghte . (CMROLLTR,7.188)
For-thy , if I hyghte to lefe my foly , my concyens sayde +tat , if I
lefede tham , +get walde I hafe delyte in myn alde lyfe .
(CMROLLTR,7.189)
And till +tat my herte heldede mare , and bowghede , Thane to restreyne
me fra all thoghtes +tat I knewe agaynes Goddes will . (CMROLLTR,7.190)
And for-thy I had na stabyll purpos in gude , na perfite contrycyone ,
(CMROLLTR,7.191)
Whare-fore sentence of dampnacyone Felle one me (CMROLLTR,7.192)
and wente agaynes mee . ' (CMROLLTR,7.193)
IV . (CMROLLTR,7.195)
All-swa he reherces a-nothyre tale of verraye contrecyone , +tat +te
same clerke Cesarius says . (CMROLLTR,7.197)
He tellys +tat - A scolere at Pares had done many full synnys , +te
whylke he hade schame to schryfe hym of . (CMROLLTR,7.198)
At the last , gret sorowe of herte ouercome his schame ,
(CMROLLTR,7.199)
and when he was redy to schryfe hym till +te priore of +te Abbay of
Saynte Victor , swa mekill contricione was in his herte , Syghynge in
his breste , Sobbynge in his throtte , +tat he moghte noghte brynge a
worde furthe . (CMROLLTR,7.200)
Thane the prioure said till hym , ' Gaa (CMROLLTR,7.201)
and wrytte thy synnes . ' (CMROLLTR,7.202)
He dyd swa , (CMROLLTR,7.203)
and come a-gayne to +te pryoure , (CMROLLTR,7.204)
and gafe hym +tat he hadde wretyn , (CMROLLTR,7.205)
For +gitt he myghte noghte schryfe hym with mouthe . (CMROLLTR,7.206)
The prioure saghe the synnys swa grette +tat , thurghe leue of +te
scolere , he schewede theym to +te Abbotte , to hafe conceyle .
(CMROLLTR,7.207)
The Abbotte tuke +tat byll +tat +tay warre wrettyn In ,
(CMROLLTR,7.208)
and lukede thare-one . (CMROLLTR,7.209)
He fande na thynge wretyn , (CMROLLTR,7.210)
and sayd to +te priour , ' What may here be redde , +tare noghte es
wretyn ? (CMROLLTR,7.211)
That saghe +te pryour , (CMROLLTR,7.212)
& wondyrde gretly , (CMROLLTR,7.213)
& saide ' Wyet +ge +tat his synns here warre wretyn , (CMROLLTR,7.214)
& I redde thaym ; (CMROLLTR,7.215)
Bot now I see +tat God has sene hys contrycyone , (CMROLLTR,7.216)
& forgyfes hym all his synnes . (CMROLLTR,7.217)
+tis +te Abbot & +te prioure tolde +te scolere , (CMROLLTR,7.218)
and he with gret Ioye thanked God . (CMROLLTR,7.219)
V . (CMROLLTR,8.222)
Moralia Richardi heremite de natura apis , vnde qualis apis argumentosa
. (CMROLLTR,8.223)
Apis . (CMROLLTR,8.224)
The bee has thre kyndis . (CMROLLTR,8.226)
Ane es , +tat scho es neuer ydill , (CMROLLTR,8.227)
and scho es noghte with thaym +tat will noghte wyrke , (CMROLLTR,8.228)
Bot castys thaym owte , (CMROLLTR,8.229)
and puttes thaym awaye . (CMROLLTR,8.230)
A-nothire es , +tat when scho flyes , scho takes erthe in hyr fette
+tat scho be noghte lyghtly ouer-heghede in the ayere of wynde .
(CMROLLTR,8.231)
The thyrde es , that scho kepes clene and bryghte hire winge+g .
(CMROLLTR,8.232)
Thus ryghtwyse men +tat lufes God are never in ydillnes ,
(CMROLLTR,8.233)
For owthire +tay ere in trauayle , prayand , or thynkande , or redande
, or othere gude doande , or with takand ydill mene , and schewand
thaym worthy to be put fra +te ryste of heuen , For thay will noghte
trauayle . (CMROLLTR,8.234)
Here +tay take erthe , +tat es , +tay halde +tam selfe vile & erthely ,
that they be noghte blawen with +te wynde of vanyte and of pryde .
(CMROLLTR,8.235)
Thay kepe thaire wynges clene , that es , +te twa commandementes of
charyte +tay fulfill in gud concyens , (CMROLLTR,8.236)
and thay hafe othyre vertus vnblendyde with +te fylthe of syn and
vnclene luste . (CMROLLTR,8.237)
Aristotill sais +tat +te bees are feghtande agaynes hym +tat will drawe
+taire hony fra thaym ; (CMROLLTR,8.238)
Swa sulde we do agaynes deuells +tat afforces tham to reue fra vs +te
hony of poure lyfe & of grace . (CMROLLTR,8.239)
For many are +tat neuer kane halde +te ordyre of lufe ynesche +taire
frendys sybbe or Fremede , (CMROLLTR,8.240)
Bot outhire +tay lufe +taym ouer mekill , (CMROLLTR,8.241)
or they lufe +tam ouer lyttill , settand thaire thoghte vnryghtwysely
on thaym , (CMROLLTR,8.242)
or +tay lufe thaym ouer lyttill , yf +tay doo noghte all as +tey wolde
till +tam . (CMROLLTR,8.243)
Swylke kane noghte fyghte for thaire hony , For-thy +te deuelle turnes
it to wormes , and makes +teire saules ofte sythes full bitter in
angwys and tene , and besynes of vayne thoghtes , & o+ter wrechidnes ,
(CMROLLTR,8.244)
For thay are so heuy in erthely frenchype +tat +tay may noghte flee
in-till +te lufe of Ihesu Criste , in +te wylke +tay moghte well
for-gaa +te lufe of all creaturs lyfande in erthe . Whare-fore ,
accordandly , Arystotill sais +tat some fowheles are of gude flyghyng ,
+tat passes fra a land to a-nothire ; (CMROLLTR,8.245)
Some are of ill flyghynge , for heuynes of body and for +taire
neste es noghte ferre fra +te erthe . (CMROLLTR,9.246)
Thus es it of thaym +tat turnes +tam to Godes seruys , -
(CMROLLTR,9.247)
Some are of gude flyeghynge , (CMROLLTR,9.248)
for thay flye fra erthe to heuen , (CMROLLTR,9.249)
and rystes thaym thare in thoghte , (CMROLLTR,9.250)
and are fedde in delite of Goddes lufe , (CMROLLTR,9.251)
and has thoghte of na lufe of +te worlde . (CMROLLTR,9.252)
Some are +tat kan noghte flye fra +tis lande , bot in +te waye late
theyre herte ryste , and delyttes +taym in sere lufes of men and women
, als +tay come & gaa , nowe ane & nowe a-nothire . (CMROLLTR,9.253)
And in Ihesu Criste +tay ken fynde na swettnes ; (CMROLLTR,9.254)
Or if +tay any tym fele oghte it es swa lyttill and swa schorte , for
othire thoghtes +tat are in thaym , +tat it brynges thaym till na
stabylnes . (CMROLLTR,9.255)
Or +tay are lyke till a fowle +tat es callede ' strucyo ' or storke ,
+tat has wenges , and it may noghte flye , for charge of body .
(CMROLLTR,9.256)
Swa +tay hafe vndirstandynge , (CMROLLTR,9.257)
and fastes and wakes , (CMROLLTR,9.258)
and semes haly to mens syghte ; (CMROLLTR,9.259)
bot they may noghte flye to lufe and contemplacyone of God , +tay are
so chargede wyth othyre affeccyons and othire vanytes .
(CMROLLTR,9.260)
Explicit . (CMROLLTR,9.261)
VI . (CMROLLTR,9.262)
De vita cuiusdam puelle incluse proptter Amorem Christi .
(CMROLLTR,9.263)
Alswa Heraclides +te clerke telles +tat a mayden forsuke hir Cete , and
satte in a sepulcre , and tuke hir mete at a lyttill hole , ten +gere .
(CMROLLTR,9.264)
Scho saghe neuer man ne woman , ne +tay hir face , Bot stode at a hole
, and talde why scho was enclosede , And said +tat ' a +gonge man was
tempede of my fairehede ; (CMROLLTR,9.265)
For-thy me warre leuere be , als lange als I lyfe , in +tis sepulcre ,
+tan any sawle +tat es made til +te lyknes of Gode , suld perichse by
cause of me . (CMROLLTR,9.266)
' And when men askede hire : how scho myghte swa lyffe , scho said , '
fra the begynnynge of the day I gyfe me till praynge till forthe dayes
; (CMROLLTR,9.267)
Thane I wyrke with handes some thynge ; (CMROLLTR,9.268)
and alswa I wyrke in thoghtes , by patryarkes , prophetes , appostilles
, Martyrs and confessours , and by-haldes +taire Ioye .
(CMROLLTR,9.269)
And aftyrwarde I take my mete . (CMROLLTR,9.270)
When euen commys , with gret Ioye I lofe my lorde . (CMROLLTR,9.271)
The ende of my lyfe I habyde in gude hope and thole-modnes ' :
(CMROLLTR,9.272)
& loo , swa perfitly a woman lyfede ! (CMROLLTR,9.273)
Richard herymyte reherces +tis tale in Ensampill . (CMROLLTR,9.274)
VII (CMROLLTR,10.277)
A Notabill Tretys off the ten Comandementys , Drawen by Richerde , the
hermyte off Hampull . (CMROLLTR,10.278)
The fyrste comandement es ' Thy Lorde God +tou sall loute ,
(CMROLLTR,10.280)
and til Hym anely +tou sall serue . ' (CMROLLTR,10.281)
In this comandement es forboden all mawmetryse , all wychcrafte and
charemynge , the wylke may do na remedy till any seknes of man , woman
, or beste , (CMROLLTR,10.282)
For +tay erre +te snarrys of +te deuelle , by +te whilke he afforces
hym to dyssayue mankynde . (CMROLLTR,10.283)
Alswa in +tis commandemente es forbodyn to gyffe trouthe till socerye
or till dyuynynge+g by sternys , or by dremys , or by any swylke
thynges . (CMROLLTR,10.284)
Astronomyenes by-haldes +te daye and +te houre , and +te poynte +tat
man es borne In , and vndyr whylke syngne he es borne , and +te poynte
+tat he begynnes to be in ; (CMROLLTR,10.285)
and by +tire syngnes and o+ter , +tay saye +tat +tay say that sall
be-fall +te man aftyrwarde ; (CMROLLTR,10.286)
Bot theyre errowre es reproffede of haly doctours . (CMROLLTR,10.287)
Haly crosses men sall lowte , (CMROLLTR,10.288)
For thay are in syngne of Cryste crucyfiede . (CMROLLTR,10.289)
To ymages es +te louynge +tat es till thaym of whaym +taire are +te
ymage+g , (CMROLLTR,10.290)
For +tat Entent anely +taire are for to lowte . (CMROLLTR,10.291)
The tothire comandement es ' +tou sall noghte take +te name of God in
vayne . ' (CMROLLTR,10.292)
Here is forboden athe with-owtten cheson . (CMROLLTR,10.293)
He +tat neuenes God & sweris fals , $dispyses God . (CMROLLTR,10.294)
In thre maners mane may syn in swerynge ; That es , if he swere agayne
his concyence , or if he swere be Cryste wondes or blude ,
(CMROLLTR,10.295)
That es euermare gret syn , +tofe it be sothe +tat he sweris ,
(CMROLLTR,10.296)
For it sounes in $irreuerence of Ihesu Cryste . (CMROLLTR,10.297)
Also if he com agaynes his athe , noght fulfilland +tat he has sworne .
(CMROLLTR,10.298)
The nam of Gode es takyn in vayne one many maners : with herte ,
with mouthe , with werke . (CMROLLTR,11.299)
With herte , takes false crystyn men it in vayne , +tat rescheyues +te
sacrement with-owtten grace in sawle . (CMROLLTR,11.300)
With mouthe es it tane in vayne , with all athes brekynge , of new
prechynge +tat es vanyte and vndevocyone ; prayere , when we honour God
with oure lyppys , and oure hertys erre ferre fra Hym .
(CMROLLTR,11.301)
With werke , ypocrittes takes Goddes nam in vayne , (CMROLLTR,11.302)
For they feyne gud dede with-owtten , (CMROLLTR,11.303)
and +tey erre with-owtten charyte and vertue and force of sawle to
stand agayne all ill styrrynges . (CMROLLTR,11.304)
The thirde commandement es ' Vmbethynke the +tat thow halowe +ti
halydaye . ' (CMROLLTR,11.305)
This commandement may be takyn in thre maneres . (CMROLLTR,11.306)
Firste generally , +tat we sesse of all vyces +tat lettys deuocyone to
God in prayenge and thynkynge . (CMROLLTR,11.307)
The thyrde es specyall , als in contemplaytyfe men +tat departis +taym
fra all werldly thynges , swa +tat +tey hally gyfe +taym till God .
(CMROLLTR,11.308)
The fyrste manere es nedfull vs to do ; (CMROLLTR,11.309)
The tothire we awe to do ; (CMROLLTR,11.310)
The thirde es perfeccyone . (CMROLLTR,11.311)
For-thi , one +te halydaye , men awe , als God byddys , to lefe all syn
, and do na werke +tat lettis thaym to gyffe +taire herte to Godd ,
thatt +tay halowe +te daye in ryst , and deuocyone , and dedys of
charyte . (CMROLLTR,11.312)
The ferthe comandement es ' Honoure thy fadyre and +ti modyre . '
(CMROLLTR,11.313)
That es , in twa thynges , +tat es , bodyly and gastely .
(CMROLLTR,11.314)
Bodyly , in sustenance , +tat +tay be helpede and sustaynede in +taire
elde , and when +tay are vnmyghtty of +taym selfe . (CMROLLTR,11.315)
Gastely , in reuerence and bouxomnes , +tat +tay say to +tam na wordes
of myssawe , ne vnhoneste , ne of displesance , vnauyssedly , Bot serue
+tam mekely , and gladly and lawlyly , +tat +tay may wyn +tat Godde
hyghte to swylke barnes +tat es laude of lyghte . (CMROLLTR,11.316)
And if +tay be dede , thaym awe to helpe +taire sawles with almous
dedes and prayers . (CMROLLTR,11.317)
The fifte commandement es , +tat ' thow slaa na man , nowthire with
assente , ne with werke , ne with worde or fauour . ' (CMROLLTR,11.318)
And also here es forboden vn-ryghtewyse hurtynge of any person .
(CMROLLTR,11.319)
Thay are slaers gastely , +tat will noghte feede +te pouer in nede ,
and +tat defames men , and +tat confoundes Innocentys .
(CMROLLTR,11.320)
The sexte commandement es , ' Thow sall be na lichoure ' ; +tat es ,
thow sall haue na man or woman Bot +tat +tou has taken in fourme of
Haly Kyrke . (CMROLLTR,12.322)
Alswa here es forboden all maner of wilfull pollusyone procurede one
any maner agaynes kyndly oys or o+ter-gates . (CMROLLTR,12.323)
The seuende commandement , es ' Thow sall noghte do na thyfte . ' In
the whylke es forboden all manere of withdraweynge of o+ter men thynges
wrangwysely , agaynes +taire wyll +tat aghte it , Bot if it ware in
tyme of maste nede , when all thynges erre comone . (CMROLLTR,12.324)
Also here es forboden gillery of weghte or of tale , or of mett or of
mesure , or thorow okyre , or violence , or drede , als bedells or
foresters duse , and mynystyrs of +te kynge , or thurghe extorcyone ,
als lordes duse . (CMROLLTR,12.325)
The aughten commandement es , that ' thow sall noghte bere false
wyttnes agaynes thi neghteboure , ' als in assys , or cause of
matremoyne . (CMROLLTR,12.326)
And also lyenges ere forboden in +tis commandement , and forswerrynge .
(CMROLLTR,12.327)
Bot all lyenges are noghte dedly syn , bot if +tay noye till som man
bodyly or gastely . (CMROLLTR,12.328)
The nynde commandement es , ' Thow sall noghte couayte +te hous or
o+ter thynge mobill or in-mobill of +ti neghtbour with wrange , '
(CMROLLTR,12.329)
ne +tou sall noghte hald o+ter mens gude if +tou may +gelde thaym ,
(CMROLLTR,12.330)
elles +ti penance saues +te noghte . (CMROLLTR,12.331)
The tend commandement es , ' Thow sall noghte couayte +ti neghtebour
wyefe , ne his seruande , ne his mayden , ne mobylls of his . '
(CMROLLTR,12.332)
He lufes God +tat kepis thire commandementes for lufe .
(CMROLLTR,12.333)
His neghtebour hym awe to lufe als hym selfe , +tat es , till +te same
gude +tat he lufes hym-selfe to , na thynge till ill ; and +tat he lufe
his neghtbour saule mare +tan his body , or any gude+g of +te worlde ,
& cetera . (CMROLLTR,12.334)
Explicit . (CMROLLTR,12.335)
VIII (CMROLLTR,13.338)
Item , Idem de septem donis Spiritus Sancti . (CMROLLTR,13.339)
Also of the gyftes of the Haly Gaste . (CMROLLTR,13.340)
+Te seuen gyftes of +te Haly Gaste +tat ere gyfen to men and wymmen
+tat er ordaynede to +te Ioye of heuen , and ledys thaire lyfe in this
worlde reghtwysely : - Thire are thay , Wysdom , Vndyrstandynge ,
Counsayle , Strenghe , Connynge , Pete , The drede of God .
(CMROLLTR,13.342)
Begynn we at Consaile , (CMROLLTR,13.343)
for +tare-of es myster at the begynnynge of oure werkes , +tat vs
myslyke noghte aftyrwarde . (CMROLLTR,13.344)
With thire seuen gyftes +te Haly Gaste teches sere men serely .
(CMROLLTR,13.345)
Consaile es doynge awaye of worldes reches , and of all delytes of all
thynge+g +tat mane may be tagyld with in thoghte or dede , and +tat
withdrawynge in-till contemplacyone of Gode . (CMROLLTR,13.346)
Vndyrstandynge es to knawe whate es to doo and whate es to lefe , and
+tat that sall be gyffen , to gyffe it to thaym +tat has nede , noghte
till o+ter +tat has na myster . (CMROLLTR,13.347)
Wysedome es forgetynge of erthely thynges , and thynkynge of heuen ,
with discrecyone of all men dedys . (CMROLLTR,13.348)
In +tis gyfte schynes contemplacyone , +tat es , Saynt Austyn says , A
gastely dede of fleschely Affeccyones thurghe +te Ioye of Araysede
thoghte . (CMROLLTR,13.349)
Strenghe es lastynge to fullfill gude purpose , +tat it be noghte lefte
for wele ne for waa . (CMROLLTR,13.350)
Pete es , +tat a man be mylde , and gaynesay noghte haly writte when it
smyttes his synnys , whethire he vndyrstand it or noghte , Bot in all
his myghte purge he +te vilte of syn in hym and o+ter .
(CMROLLTR,13.351)
Connynge es , +tat makes a man of gude , noghte ruysand hym of his
reghtewysnes , bot sorowand of his synnys , and +tat man gedyrs erthely
gude anely to the honour of God , and prow to o+ter men +tan hym-selfe
. (CMROLLTR,13.352)
The drede of God es , +tat we turne noghte Agayne till oure syn thurghe
any ill eggyng . (CMROLLTR,13.353)
And +tat es drede perfite in vs , and gastely , When we drede to wrethe
God in +te leste syn +tat we kan knawe , and flese it als venym .
(CMROLLTR,13.354)
Explicit . (CMROLLTR,13.355)
IX (CMROLLTR,14.358)
Item , Idem de dilectacione in Deo . (CMROLLTR,14.359)
Also of +te same , delyte and +gernyng of Gode . (CMROLLTR,14.360)
Ihesus , Marie filius , sit michi clemens & propecius ! Amen !
(CMROLLTR,14.361)
Gernyng and delite of Ihesu Criste , +tat has na thyng of worldes
thoghtes , es wondyrfull pure , haly , and faste ; (CMROLLTR,14.363)
and when a man felis hym in +tat degre , than es a man Circumsysede
gastely . (CMROLLTR,14.364)
When all o+ter besynes and affeccyons and thoghtes are drawen away owte
of his saule That he may hafe ryste in Goddes lufe , with-owtten
tagillynge of o+ter thynges . The delyte es wondirfull .
(CMROLLTR,14.365)
It es sa heghe +tat na thoghte may reche +tar-to to bryng it doun .
(CMROLLTR,14.366)
It es pure , when it es noghte blendid with na thynge +tat es
contrayrie thare-to . (CMROLLTR,14.367)
And it es faste , when it es clene and stabill , delitande by it-selfe
. (CMROLLTR,14.368)
Thre thynges makes delite in Gode heghe . (CMROLLTR,14.369)
Ane es , restreynynge of fleschely luste in compleccionne .
(CMROLLTR,14.370)
Ano+ter es , restreynynge or repressynge of ill styrrynge and of
temptacione in will . (CMROLLTR,14.371)
The thirde es , kepynge or hegheynge of +te herte in lyghtenynge of +te
Halygaste , +tat haldis his herte vpe fra all erthely thoghtes , +tat
he sette nane obstakill at the comynge of Criste in-till hym .
(CMROLLTR,14.372)
Ilkane +tat couaytes endles hele , Be he besy nyghte and daye to
fulfill +tis lare , (CMROLLTR,14.373)
or elles to Criste+g lufe he may noghte wynn ; (CMROLLTR,14.374)
For it es heghe , (CMROLLTR,14.375)
and all +tat it duellis in , it lyftes abown layery lustes and vile
couaytes , and abown all affeccyouns and thoghtes of any bodily thynge
. (CMROLLTR,14.376)
Twa thynges makes oure delyte pure . (CMROLLTR,14.377)
Ane es , ternynge of sensualite to the skyll . (CMROLLTR,14.378)
For , when any es tornede to delite of hys fyve wittes , alsonne
vnclennes entyrs in-to his saule . (CMROLLTR,14.379)
Ano+ter es , +tat +te skyll mekely be vssede in gastely thynges , als
in medytacyons , and orysouns , and lukynge in haly bukes .
(CMROLLTR,14.380)
For-thy +te delyte +tat has noghte of vnordaynde styrrynge , and mekely
has styrrynge in Criste , and in whilke +te sensualyte es tournede to
+te skyll , all sette and eysede tyll God , makys a mans saule in ryste
& sekirnes , and ay to duell in gude hope , & to be payede with
all Godis sandes with-owtten gruchynge or heuynese of thoghte+g , &
cetera . (CMROLLTR,15.381)
Explicit . (CMROLLTR,15.382)
X (CMROLLTR,15.384)
$the $Anehede $of $Godd $with $mannis $saule . (CMROLLTR,15.385)
{COM:the_heading_on_lf.219_bk.}
Dere Frende , wit +tou wele +tat +te ende and +te soueraynte of
perfeccione standes in a verray anehede of Godd and of manes saule by
perfyte charyte . (CMROLLTR,15.388)
This Ende +tan es verrayly made , whene +te myghtes of +te saule er
refourmede by grace to +te dignyte and +te state of +te firste
condicione , +tat es , whene +te mynde es stablede sadely , with-owtten
changynge and vagacyone , in Godd and gastely thynges , and when the
resone es cleryde fra all worldly & fleschely behaldynges and
Imagycyones , fygours and fantasyes of creatures , and es illumenede
with grace for to be-halde Godde and gastely thynges , and when +te
will and +te affeccyon es puryfiede and clensede fra all fleschely
lustes , kyndely and werldly lufe , and es enflawmede with brennande
lufe of +te Haly Gaste . (CMROLLTR,15.389)
Bot +tis wondirfull anehede may noghte be fulfillede perfytely ,
contenually , ne hally in +tis lyfe , for corrupcyon of +te flesche ,
Bot anely in +te blysse of heuen . (CMROLLTR,15.390)
Neuer-+te-lattere , +te nerre +tat a saule in +tis presente lyfe may
come to +tis anehede , +te mare perfite it es , (CMROLLTR,15.391)
For +te mare +tat it es refourmede by grace till +te ymage
and +te lyknes of his creatoure here one +tis manere wyse , +te more
Ioy and blysse sall it hafe in heuen . (CMROLLTR,15.392)
Oure Lorde Godd es ane Endles beynge with-owtten chaungynge ,
All-myghtty with-owtten faylynge , Souerayne wysdome , lyghte ,
sofastenes with-owtten errour or myrknes ; Souerayne gudnes , lufe ,
Pees and swetnes ; (CMROLLTR,16.393)
+tan , +te mare +tat a saule es Anehede , festened , confourmede &
Ioynede to oure Lorde Godd , +te mare stabill it es & myghty , +te mare
wysse & clere , Gude , peyseble , luffande , and mare vertuous ;
(CMROLLTR,16.394)
and so it es mare perfite . (CMROLLTR,16.395)
For a saule +tat haues , by grace of Ihesu , and lange trauayle of
bodyly & gastely excercyse , ouercommen and dystroyede concupyscensand
passiouns , and vnskillwyse styrrynges with-in it-selfe , and
with-owtten in +te sensualite , and es clede in vertus , - as in
mekenes and myldnes , in pacyence , in sothefastnes , in gastely
strenghe and ryghtewisenes , in contynence , in wysdom , in trouthe ,
hope , and charyte , - +tan es it made perfite als it may be in +tis
lyfe . (CMROLLTR,16.396)
Mekill comforthe it reschayues of oure Lorde , no+gte anely inwardly in
his preue substance , be +te vertu of +te anehede to oure Lorde , +tat
lyes in knaweynge and lufynge of Godd , in lyghte of gastely brynnynge
of hym , in transfourmynge of +te saule in +te Godhede , Bot also in
many o+ter comforthes , & Sauours , swettnes , and wondirfull felynges
one sere maners . (CMROLLTR,16.397)
Aftir oure Lorde vouches safe to vesete his creatours here in erthe ,
and eftyre +te saule profytes and waxes in charyte , Some saule
by vertue of charyte +tat Godd gyffes it es so clensede , +tat
all creaturs , in all +tat he heris or sese , or felis by any of his
wittes , turnes hym till comforthe and gladnes ; (CMROLLTR,16.398)
and +te sensualite receyues newe savour and swetnes in all creaturs .
(CMROLLTR,16.399)
And righte als before , +te lykynges in +te sensualite ware fleschely ,
vayne , and vecyous , for +te payne of +te orygynalle synn , righte so
nowe +tay ere made gastely , and clene , with-owtten bitternes and
bytynge of concyence . (CMROLLTR,16.400)
And +tis es +te gudnes of oure Lorde , +tat , sen +te saule es
puneschede in the sensualite , and +te flesche es partynere of +te
payne , That eftirwarde +te saule be comforthede in hir sensualite ,
(CMROLLTR,16.401)
and +te flesche be felawe of +te Ioye and comforthe with +te saule ,
noghte fleschely , bot gastely , als he was felawe in tribulacione and
payne . (CMROLLTR,16.402)
+tis es +te fredom & +te lordchipe , dygnyte and +te wyrchipe , +tat a
manes saule hase ouer all creaturs ; The whylke dygnyte he may receyue
by grace here , +tat ilk a creature sauoure to hym als it es ,
(CMROLLTR,16.403)
and +tat es , when by grace he sese , or he heres , or he felys anely
Godd in all creaturs . (CMROLLTR,16.404)
One +tis maner wyse a saule es made gastely in +te sensualite by
abowndance of charite +tat es in +te substance of the saule .
(CMROLLTR,17.406)
Also oure Lorde comforthes a saule by Aungells sange .
(CMROLLTR,17.407)
Bot what +tat sange es , it may noghte $be dyscryuede be no bodyly
lyknes , (CMROLLTR,17.408)
for it es gastely , and abown all manere of ymagynacyone and mans reson
. (CMROLLTR,17.409)
It may be perceyuede and felide in a saule , (CMROLLTR,17.410)
bot it may noghte be spoken . (CMROLLTR,17.411)
Neuer-+te-lattere , I speke +tare-of to +te als me thynke .
(CMROLLTR,17.412)
When a saule es puryfyede by +te lufe of Godd , Illumynede by wysedom ,
stabled by myghte of Godd , Than es +te eghe of +te saule opyned to
be-halde gastely thynges , as vertus , Aungells , and haly saules , and
heuenly thynges . (CMROLLTR,17.413)
Thane es +te saule abill , by cause of clennes , to fele +te toucheynge
, +te spekynge of gude Aungells . (CMROLLTR,17.414)
This touchyng and spekynge es gastely , noghte bodyly :
(CMROLLTR,17.415)
For when +te saule es lyftede and raysede owte of the sensualyte , and
owte of mynde of any erthely thynges , Than in gret feruoure of lufe
and lyghte of Godd , if oure Lorde vouche-safe , +te saule may here &
fele heuenly sowun , made by +te presence of Aungells in louynge of
Godd . (CMROLLTR,17.416)
Noghte +tat +tis sange of Aungells es souerayne Ioy of +te saule , Bot
a defference +tat es by-twyxe a manes saule in flesche and ane Aungelle
, be-cause of vnclennes . (CMROLLTR,17.417)
A saule may noghte here it , bot by rauyschynge in lufe ,
(CMROLLTR,17.418)
and nedis for to be puryfiede full clene , and fullfillide of mekyll
charyte , are it ware abyll for to here heuenly sowun .
(CMROLLTR,17.419)
For +te souerayne and +te Escencyalle Ioy es in +te lufe of Godd by
hym-selfe and for hym-selfe , (CMROLLTR,17.420)
and +te secundarye es in comonynge and byhaldynge of Aungells and
gastely creaturs . (CMROLLTR,17.421)
For , ryghte as a saule , in vndirstandynge of gastely thynges , es of
ofte sythes touched and kennede thurghe bodyly ymagynacyone , by
wyrkynge of Aungells as E+gechielle +te profete sawe in bodily
ymagynacyonne +te sothefastnes of Goddes preuates , Righte so
, in +te lufe of Godd , a saule , be +te presence of Aungelles , es
raueschede owte of all mynde of erthely and fleschely thynges in-to a
heuenly Ioye , to here Aungells saunge and heuenly sowun , eftir +tat
+te charite es mare or lesse . (CMROLLTR,17.422)
Nowe than , thynke me , +tat +ter may no saule fele verreyly Aungells
sange ne heuenly sown , bot it be in perfite charite .
(CMROLLTR,17.423)
And noghte for-thi all +tat are in perfite charyte ne hase
noghte felyde it , Bot anely +tat saule +tat es purede in +te fyre of
lufe of Godd , +tat all erthely sauoure es brynte owte of it , and all
menes lettande be-twyx +te saule and +te clennes of Angells es broken
and put awaye fra it . (CMROLLTR,18.424)
+Tan sothely may he synge a newe sange , (CMROLLTR,18.425)
and sothely may he here a blysfull heuenly sown and Aungells sange ,
with-owtten dessayte or feynynge . (CMROLLTR,18.426)
Oure Lorde wate whare +tat saule es +tat , for abowndance of brynnande
lufe , es worthi to here Aungells sange . (CMROLLTR,18.427)
Wha-so +tan will here Aungells sange , and noghte be dyssayuede by
feynynge , ne by ymagynacyone of hym-selfe , ne by illusyone of +te
Enemy , hym behoues hafe perfite charite , (CMROLLTR,18.428)
and +tat es , when all vayne lufe and drede , vayne Ioy and sorowe , es
casten owte of +te herte , +tat he lufes na thynge bot Godd , ne dredis
na thynge bot Godd , ne Ioyes ne sorowes na thynge bot in Godd , or of
Godd . (CMROLLTR,18.429)
Who-so myghte , by +te grace of Godd , go +tis way , he sulde noghte
erre . (CMROLLTR,18.430)
Neuer-+te-lattere som men ere disceyued by +taire awenn ymagynacyon ,
or by illucyon of +te Enemy in +tis matere . (CMROLLTR,18.431)
Som man , when he hase lange trauelde bodily and gastely in dystroynge
of synnes and getynge of vertus , and perauenture hase getyn by grace a
somdele ryste , and a clerete in concyence , onone he leues prayers ,
redyngs of haly writte , and medytacions of +te passione of Criste ,
and +te mynde of his wrechidnes , (CMROLLTR,18.432)
and , are he be callede of Godd , he gedyrs his wittys by violence to
seke and to be-halde heuenly thynges , are his eghe be made gastely by
grace , and ouertrauells by ymagynacionns his wittes , and by
vndiscrete trauellynge turnes +te braynes in his heuede , and forbrekes
+te myghtes and +te wittes of +te saule and of +te body ;
(CMROLLTR,18.433)
and +tan , for febilnes of +te brayne , hym thynkes +tat he heres
woundirfull sownes and sanges , (CMROLLTR,18.434)
and +tat es no thynge ells bot a fantasie caused of trubblyng of +te
brayne , (CMROLLTR,18.435)
as a man +tat es in a frensye , hym thynkes +tat he herys or sese +tat
na no+ter man duse , (CMROLLTR,18.436)
and all es bot vanyte and fantasie of +te heued ; or elles by wyrkyng
of +te enemy +tat fenys swylke sowune in his herynge .
(CMROLLTR,18.437)
For if a man hase any presumpcione in his fantasies and in his wirkynge
, and +tare-be falles in-to vndiscrete ymagynacyone , as it ware a
frensye , and es noghte kennede ne rewlede of grace , ne comforthede by
gastely strenghe , +te deuelle entirs +tan by fals illumynacyons
, and fals sownnes and swetnes , (CMROLLTR,19.438)
and dyssaues a mans saule . (CMROLLTR,19.439)
And of +tis false grounde sprynges errours and herysyes , false
prophesyes , presumpcyons and false rusynngs , Blasfemyes , and
sclandirynges , and many o+ter meschefes . (CMROLLTR,19.440)
And +tare-fore , if +tou se any man gastely ocupiede Falle in any of
+tise synnes , and +tise dissaytes , or in frensyes , wit +tou wele
+tat he herde neuer ne felide Aungells sange , ne heuenly sowne .
(CMROLLTR,19.441)
For sothely , he +tat verreyly heres Aungels sange , he es made so wyse
+tat he sall neuer erre by fantasye , ne by indiscrecyon , ne by no
sleghte of +te deuelle . (CMROLLTR,19.442)
Also som men felis in theire hertes as it ware a gastely sowne and
swete sanges of dyuerse maners , (CMROLLTR,19.443)
and +tis es commonly gude , (CMROLLTR,19.444)
and somtyme it may turne tyll dissayte . (CMROLLTR,19.445)
+tis sowne es felide one +tis wyse . (CMROLLTR,19.446)
Some man settis +te thoghte of his herte anely in +te name of Ihesu ,
(CMROLLTR,19.447)
and stedfastly haldis it +tare-too ; (CMROLLTR,19.448)
and in schorte tym hym thynkes that +tat name turnes hym till gret
comforthe and swetnes , (CMROLLTR,19.449)
and hym thynkes +tat +te name sowunes in his herte delitably , as it
were a saunge , (CMROLLTR,19.450)
and +te vertu of +tis likynge es so myghty , +tat it drawes in all +te
wittes of +te saule +tare-to . (CMROLLTR,19.451)
Who-so may fele +tis sownne and +tis swetnes verrayly in his herte ,
wite he wiele +tat it es of Godd ; and als lange als he es meke , he
sall noghte be dissayuede . (CMROLLTR,19.452)
Bot +tis es noghte Aungels sange , (CMROLLTR,19.453)
bot it es a saunge of +te saule , be vertu of +te name , and by
touchynge of +te gude Aungels . (CMROLLTR,19.454)
For when a saule offers it to Ihesu trewly & mekely , puttande all his
traiste and his desyre in hym , and besily kepis in his mynde , Oure
Lorde Ihesu , whene he will , puris +te affeccione of +te saule ,
(CMROLLTR,19.455)
and fillis it (CMROLLTR,19.456)
& fedis it with swetnes of hym-selfe , (CMROLLTR,19.457)
and makes his name in +te felynge of +te saule as hony , and as sange ,
and as any thynge +tat es delitabill . So +tat it lykes +te saule euer
mare for to cry ' Ihesu , Ihesu ' ; (CMROLLTR,19.458)
and noghte anely he hase comforthe in +tis , bot also in psalmes and
ympnes , and antymms of Haly Kyrke , +tat +te herte synges +tam swetely
, deuotly , and frely , with-owtten any trauelle of +te saule , or
bitternes , in +te same tym , and note+g +tat Haly Kyrke vses .
(CMROLLTR,19.459)
This es +te gude and of +te gyfte of Godd , (CMROLLTR,19.460)
For +te substance of +tis felynge lyes in +te lufe of Ihesu ,
whilke es fedde and lyghtenede by swilke maner of sanges .
(CMROLLTR,20.461)
Neuer-+te-lattere , in +tis maner felynge a saule may be disceyuede by
vayne glorye , (CMROLLTR,20.462)
noghte in +tat tym +tat +te affeccion synges to Ihesu and loues Ihesu
in swetnes of hym , bot eftyrwarde , whan it cesses , & +te herte kelis
of loue of Ihesu , Than entyrs in vayne glorie . (CMROLLTR,20.463)
Also sum man es dessayuede on +tis wyese . (CMROLLTR,20.464)
He heris wele say +tat it es gude to haue Ihesu in his mynde , or any
o+ter gude worde of Godd , (CMROLLTR,20.465)
and +tan he streynes his herte myghtyly to +tat name ,
(CMROLLTR,20.466)
and by acostom he hase it nerehande alway in his mynde .
(CMROLLTR,20.467)
Noghte for-thi he felis nou+ter-1 +tare-by , in his affeccyonne ,
swetnes , ne lighte of knawynge in his resoun , bot anely a nakede
mynde of Godd or of Ihesu , or of Mary , or of any o+ter gude worde .
(CMROLLTR,20.468)
Here may be disceyte , noghte for it es ill to hafe Ihesu in mynde on
+tis wyse , Bot if he think a thinge and this mynde , +tat
es anely his awen wyrkynge by custom , halde it a specyalle vesytacyon
of oure Lorde , and thynke it mare +tan it es . (CMROLLTR,20.469)
For , wite +tou wele , +tat a nakede mynde or a nakede ymagycion of
Ihesu or of any gastely thynge , with-owtten swetnes of lufe in +te
affeccion , or with-owtten lyghte of knawynge in resoun , es bot a
blyndnes , and a waye to dessayte , if a man halde it in his awen mare
+tan it es . (CMROLLTR,20.470)
Thare-fore I halde it sekyre +tat he be meke in his awen felynge , and
halde +tis mynde in regarde noghte , till he mowe , be custom and
vsynge of +tis mynde , fele +te fyre of lufe in his affeccion , and +te
lyghte of knawynge in his reson . (CMROLLTR,20.471)
Loo ! I haue tolde +te in +tis mater a lyttill as me thynke ; noghte
affermande +tat +tis suffisches , ne +tat +tis es +te sothefastnes in
+tis mater . (CMROLLTR,20.472)
Bot if +te thynke it o+ter-wyse , or elles any o+ter man sauour by
grace +te contrarye here-to , I leue +te saying , (CMROLLTR,20.473)
and gyfe stede to hym . (CMROLLTR,20.474)
It sufficeth to me for to lyffe in trouthe princypally , and noghte in
felynge . (CMROLLTR,20.475)
XI . (CMROLLTR,21.478)
$Active $and $contemplative $life $. (CMROLLTR,21.479)
Brethirne and susteryne bodely and goostely , two maner of states ther
bene in holy chirch , be the which cristen soules plesyn God and gettyn
hem the blisse of heven , (CMROLLTR,21.481)
the one is bodily , (CMROLLTR,21.482)
and the other is gostely . (CMROLLTR,21.483)
Bodely wirkynge longith principally to worldely men or women , the
which haunten leuefully worldely goodes and wilfully vsen worldely
besynessis . (CMROLLTR,21.484)
Also itt longith to all yonge begynnynge men , which come newe oute of
worldely synnes to the seruyce of God , forto make hem able to goostely
wyrkynges , and forto breke downe the vnbuxomnes of the body be skill ,
And swich bodely wyrkynges that itt myght be souple and redy , and not
moch contrarious to the spirite in gostely wyrkynge . (CMROLLTR,21.485)
For , as seynt Poule seith , as women was maade for man , and not man
for women , Ryght so bodely wirkyngis was maade for goostely , and not
gostely for bodely . (CMROLLTR,21.486)
Bodely wirkyngis goth before , (CMROLLTR,21.487)
and gostely comyth aftir , (CMROLLTR,21.488)
so seith seynt Poule , (CMROLLTR,21.489)
Non quod prius spirituale , sed quod prius animale , deinde spirituale
. (CMROLLTR,21.490)
Gostely werke comyth not firste ; (CMROLLTR,22.492)
but firste comyth bodely werke that is doone by the body ,
(CMROLLTR,22.493)
and sithen comyth gostely aftir ; (CMROLLTR,22.494)
and this is the cause why itt behouyth the to be soo ,
(CMROLLTR,22.495)
for we are borne in synne and in corrupcion of the flessh , by the
which we be so blyndet and so ouerlaide , that we haue nethir the
gostely knowynge of God by light of vndirstondynge , ne gostely felynge
of hym by clene desire of lovynge . (CMROLLTR,22.496)
And for-thi we mowe not sodenly stir oute of this mirke pitte of this
flesshly corrupcion into that gostely light . (CMROLLTR,22.497)
For we may not suffre itt ne bere itt for sekenes of oure silfe , no
more than we may with oure bodely eene , when +tei be sore , beholde
the light of the sonne . (CMROLLTR,22.498)
And therfor we muste abide , and wirke be processe of tyme . Firste bi
bodily werkis besili , vnto we be discharged of this hevy birthen of
synne , +te which lettith vs fro goostely wirkynge , And till oure
soule be somwhat clensid from gret outewarde synnes , and abiled to
gostely werke . (CMROLLTR,22.499)
By this bodely wirkynge that I spake of , may +tou vndirstonde all
maner of goode werke that thi soule doth by +te wittes and the membres
of thi bodi vnto thi silfe , - as in fastynge , wakeynge , and in
refreynynge of thi flesshly lustis , be othir pennaunce doynge , - or
to thine even cristen , by fulfillynge of the dedis of mercy bodili or
gostely , or vnto God , by suffrynge of all maner bodely mischeves for
the loue of rightwisnes . (CMROLLTR,22.500)
And thees werkis doone in trouth by charite pleysyn God , with-out the
which +tei be noght . (CMROLLTR,22.501)
Than who-so desirith forto be occupied gostely , hit is sekir and
profitable to hym that he be firste well assaide a longe tyme in this
bodely wirkynge , (CMROLLTR,22.502)
for thies bodely dedis ar tokyne and shewynge of moralle vertues ,
with-oute which a soule is not able forto werke gostely .
(CMROLLTR,22.503)
Breke downe firste pride in bodely berynge , and also with-in thi herte
, thynkynge , boostynge , and prikkynge and preysynge of thi silfe and
of thi dedis , presumynge of thi silfe , and veynlikynge of thi silfe ,
of eny thynge that God hath sent the , bodili or gostely .
(CMROLLTR,22.504)
Breke downe also envy and Ire ayene thyne even cristen , whe+ter he be
riche or pore , goode or badde , that +tou hate hym nott , ne haue
disdeyne of hym wilfully , nethir in worde , ne in dede .
(CMROLLTR,23.505)
All-so breke doune Couatise or worldely goode , +tat +tou for
holdynge or getynge or sauynge of itt offende not thi
conscience , ne breke not charite to God and to thi even cristen , for
loue of no worldely gode , but that +tou getiste to kepe itt and to
spened itt with-oute loue or vaynlikynge of itt , as reson askith , in
worship of God , and helpe of thyne evyn cristyn . (CMROLLTR,23.506)
Breke doune also , as +tou may , flesshely likynges , o+ter in accidie
or in bodili ease , or glotonie , or licherye ; (CMROLLTR,23.507)
and +tan , whan +tou haste be well trauailed and wele assaide in all
swich bodily werkes , than may +tou bi grace ordeyne the to goostely
wirkynges . (CMROLLTR,23.508)
Grace and the goodenes of oure lorde Ihesu Criste that he hath shewed
to the , - in with-drawynge of thyne herte fro luste and from likynges
of worldely vanite , and vse of flesshly synnes and in the turnynge of
thi will enterely to his seruyce and his plesaunce , - bryngith into my
herte much mater to loue hym in his mercy . (CMROLLTR,23.509)
And also itt sterith me gretly to strength the in thi goode purpos and
thi wirkynge that +tou haste begon , forto brynge itt to a goode ende ,
if that I coude , and principally for God , and sithen for tendir
affeccion of loue which +tou haste to me , Thoffe I be a wrech and
vnworthi . (CMROLLTR,23.510)
I knowe well the desire of thi herte , that +tou desiriste gretely to
serue oure Lorde by goostely occupacion , and holy , with-oute lettynge
or strobillynge of worldely besynes , +tat +tou myght com by grace to
more knowynge and gostely felynge of God , and of gostely thyngis .
(CMROLLTR,23.511)
This desire is goode , as I hope , and of God , (CMROLLTR,23.512)
for itt is sente vnto hym specially . (CMROLLTR,23.513)
Nevirtheles itt is to refreyne and rewlen by discrecion , as even
outwarde wirkynge aftir the state that +tou arte in , (CMROLLTR,23.514)
for charite vnrewled turnyth som tyme into vice . (CMROLLTR,23.515)
And for this is seid in holy write , ' Ordinauit in me caritatem , '
That is to sey , oure Lorde yevynge {TEXT:yevYnge} to me cherite , sett
itt in ordir , and in reule , that itt shulde nat be loste by myne
discrecion . (CMROLLTR,23.516)
Right so this charite and this desire that oure Lorde hattth {COM:sic}
yeven , of his mercy , to the , is forto rule and ordeyne how thou
shalte pursewe itt , aftir +ti degre askith , and aftir the lyvynge
that thou haste vsed by-for this tyme , and after the grace of
vertues that +tou now haste . (CMROLLTR,24.517)
Thow shalt not vttirly folow thi desire forto leve occupacion and
besynes of the worlde which ar nedefull to vsen , in reulynge of thi
silfe and of all othir that , ar vndir thi kepynge , and yeve the holy
to gostely occupacion of prayers and holy meditacions as itt were a
frere or a monke , or ano+ter man that war not bonden to the worlde by
children and seruantes as +tou arte , (CMROLLTR,24.518)
for itt fallith not to the . (CMROLLTR,24.519)
And if +tou doo soo , thou kepiste not the ordire and charite .
(CMROLLTR,24.520)
Also yf +tou woldiste leven vttirly gostely occupacion , namely now
aftir +te grace that God hath yeven vnto +te , and sett the holy to the
besynes of the worlde , to the fulfillynge of the werkis of actife
liffe as fully as anothir man that nevir felt deuocion , thou leuyste
the ordir of cherite , (CMROLLTR,24.521)
for thi state askith forto doo both ilkon of hem in dyvyrs tymes .
(CMROLLTR,24.522)
Thou shalt medle the werkes of actife liffe with goostely werkes of
live comtemplatyfe , (CMROLLTR,24.523)
and than +tou doste wele . (CMROLLTR,24.524)
For +tou shalt oo tyme with Martha be besy forto reule and gouerne thi
householde , thi children , thi seruantes , +ti neghboris , and thi
tenantes ; if +tei do well , comforth hem there-in and helpe hem ; if
thei do evill , forto teche hem , amende hem , and chastise hem .
(CMROLLTR,24.525)
And thou shalt also loke and knowe wysely thi thyngis and thi worldely
goodes , +tat +tei be ryghtwysly kepte bi thi seruantes , gouerned and
truly spendid , that +tou myght the more plentivosly fulfill the dedis
of mercy with hem vnto thyne evyn cristen . (CMROLLTR,24.526)
Also thou shalt , with Maria , leve besines of the world , and sitt
dovne at the fete of oure Lorde by mekenes in prayers , and in holy
thoghtes and in contemplacion of hym as he yevith the grace ;
(CMROLLTR,24.527)
and so shalt +tou goo from the oone to the othir medefully , and
fulfill hem both , (CMROLLTR,24.528)
and than kepiste +tou well the ordir of cherite . (CMROLLTR,24.529)
Vnto what maner of men longith actiffe liffe . (CMROLLTR,24.531)
Neuertheles , that +tou haue no wondre of this that I say , +terefore I
shall tell and declare to the a litill of this more opynly .
(CMROLLTR,24.533)
+tou shalt vnderstonde that +tere is iij maner of livyngis :
(CMROLLTR,24.534)
One is actife , anothir comtemplatife , (CMROLLTR,24.535)
the thride is made of both , (CMROLLTR,24.536)
and that is medlid . (CMROLLTR,24.537)
Actyfe liffe alon , that longith to worldely men and women which
ar lerned in knowynge of gostely occupacion , (CMROLLTR,25.538)
for +tei fele no sauoure ne deuocion be feruour of loue , as othir men
doo , (CMROLLTR,25.539)
ne thei can no skill of itt , (CMROLLTR,25.540)
and yitt nevirtheles thei haue drede of God , and of the payne of hell
, (CMROLLTR,25.541)
and +terefore thei fle synne , (CMROLLTR,25.542)
and thei haue desire forto please God , and forto com to heven ,
(CMROLLTR,25.543)
and a goode wille hauen to her even cristen . (CMROLLTR,25.544)
Vnto these men itt is nedefull and spedefull to vse the werkis of
Actife liffe als besili as +tei may , in the helpe of hem silfe and of
hir even cristen , (CMROLLTR,25.545)
for thei can nott els doo . (CMROLLTR,25.546)
Vnto which men longith contemplatife liff . (CMROLLTR,25.548)
Contemplatife liffe alon longith to swyche men and women that , for the
loue of Godd , for-saken all opyn synnes of the worlde , and of hir
flessh , and all besynes chargis , and grevance of worldely goodis ,
and maken hem silfe pore and naked , to the bare nede of the bodili
kynde , and fre fro soueraynte of alle othir men , to the seruice of
God . (CMROLLTR,25.550)
Vnto thies men itt longith forto trauaile and occupy hem inwardly forto
gett , thorow the grace of our Lorde , clennes in herte , and pes in
conscience , bi the distroynge of synne and receyvynge of vertues , and
so forto com to the comtemplacion ; which clennes may not be hadd
with-out gret excersyice of body and continuell trauaile of the spirit
, in deuoute prayers , feruent desires , and gostely meditacions .
(CMROLLTR,25.551)
Vnto which men longith medelid liffe . (CMROLLTR,25.553)
The thride liffe , that is , medlid liffe , itt longith to men of
holi-chirch , as to prelates and to o+ter Curatis , the which han cure
and souerante ouer othir men forto teche and reule hem , both hir
bodies and hir soules , principally in fulfillynge of the dedis of
mercy bodili and gostely . (CMROLLTR,25.555)
Vnto thes men itt longith som tyme to vsen werkis of mercy in actife
liffe , in helpe and sustinaunce of hem silfe and of hir sugettis and
of othir also , and som tyme forto leve all maner of besines ovtewarde
, and yeve hem vnto prayers and meditacions , and redynge of holy writt
, and to othir gosteli occupacions , after that thei fele hem
disposed . (CMROLLTR,26.556)
Also itt longith to som temperall men , the which han soueraynte with
michell haver of worldely goodis , and han also as itt wer lordisshipe
ouer othir men forto gouerne and sustene hem , as a fader hath ovir his
children , a maistre ouer his seruantis , and a lorde ovir his tenantes
, the which men han also receyved of oure Lordes yifte grace of
deuocion , (CMROLLTR,26.557)
and in party sauoure of gostely occupacion , vnto these men also
longith medlid liffe , that is both actife and contemplatife .
(CMROLLTR,26.558)
For if +tese men , stondynge the charge and the bonde which thei haue
taken , wille leve vtterly the besynes of the world , the which owe
skilfully to be vsed in fulfillynge of hir charge , and hooly yeve hem
to contemplatife liffe , thei doo not well , (CMROLLTR,26.559)
for thei kepe nott the ordir of cherite . (CMROLLTR,26.560)
For charite , as +tou knowiste , lith both-2 in loue of God and of
thyne evyn cristen , (CMROLLTR,26.561)
and +tere-fore itt is resounable , that he that hath cherite , vse both
, in wirkynge now to the one and now to the othir . (CMROLLTR,26.562)
For he +tat , for the loue of God in contemplacion , levith the loue of
his evyn cristen , and doth not to hym as he oght when he is bonden
+tere-to , he fulfillith no cherite . (CMROLLTR,26.563)
Also , on the contrary wise , who-so hath gret rewarde to wirke actife
liffe and to besinnes of +te worlde that , for the loue of his evyn
cristen , he levith gostely occupacion vtterly , after +tat God hath
disposed hem there-too , thei fulfill not cherite . (CMROLLTR,26.564)
This is the seynge of seynt Gregory . (CMROLLTR,26.565)
For-thi our Lorde , forto stere som forto vse this medlid liffe , toke
vpon hym silfe the person of swiche maner of men , both of prelates ,
and of othir swich as ar disposed ther-to as I haue seide ,
(CMROLLTR,26.566)
and yave hem ensample , by his owen wirkynge , that thei shulde vse
this medlid liffe as he did , that tyme he comyned with men and medled
with men , shewynge to hem his dedis of mercy . (CMROLLTR,26.567)
For he taght the vn-couthe and vnkunnynge by his prechynge ,
(CMROLLTR,26.568)
he vesited +te seke , (CMROLLTR,26.569)
and helid hem of hir sores , (CMROLLTR,26.570)
he fedde the hungry , (CMROLLTR,26.571)
and he conforted the sory . (CMROLLTR,26.572)
And an othir tym he lefte +te conuersacion of all worldely men , and of
his disciplis , (CMROLLTR,26.573)
and went into disserte vpon the hilles , (CMROLLTR,26.574)
and continued all night in prayers alone , as the gospell seith .
(CMROLLTR,26.575)
+Tis medlid liffe shewith oure Lorde in hym silfe to ensample of all
othir that han taken the charge of +tis medlid liffe , that +tei
shuld oo tyme yeven hem to besynes and worldely thyngis att resonable
nede , and to the werkes of actiffe liffe in profitt of her encresynge
, which +tei haue cure of . And an othir tyme yive hem holy to deuocion
and to contemplacion , in prayers and in meditacion . (CMROLLTR,27.576)
How holy bisshopes vsed medled liffe . (CMROLLTR,27.578)
this liffe ledde and vsed this holy Bisshopis be-for , which had cure
of mennes soules , and ministracion of temperall goodes .
(CMROLLTR,27.580)
For thes holy men lefte not witterly the ministracion of the lokynge
and the dispendynge of worldely goodes , (CMROLLTR,27.581)
and yeve hem holy to comtemplacion , as moch comtemplacion as thei had
. (CMROLLTR,27.582)
But thei lefte full of hir owen reste in comtemplacion when thei had
well lever haue bene still +tat for loue of hir even cristen +tei
intermettid hem with worldely besynes in helpynge of hir sugettis ;
(CMROLLTR,27.583)
and sothly that was charite . (CMROLLTR,27.584)
For wysely and discretely thei departed hir levynge in two :
(CMROLLTR,27.585)
O tyme thei fulfilled the lower party of cherite bi werkes of Actife
liffe , (CMROLLTR,27.586)
for thei wer bonden +ter-to by takynge of theire prelacies ;
(CMROLLTR,27.587)
And a-nothir tyme thei fulfilled the hyer party of cherite , in
contemplacion of God and of gostely thyngis , by prayers and
meditacions ; (CMROLLTR,27.588)
and so thei had cherite to God and to hir evyn cristen , both in
affeccion of soule with-in , And also with shewynge of bodili dedis
with-outen . (CMROLLTR,27.589)
O+ter men that wer oonly comtemplatiffe , and were free from all cures
and prelaci , +tei had fulle cherite to God and to hir evyn cristen ,
(CMROLLTR,27.590)
but itt was oonly in affeccion of hir soule , and not in outewarde
shewynge ; (CMROLLTR,27.591)
and in hap so moch itt was more full inwarde , +tei myght not , ne itt
nede not , ne itt fell not for hym . (CMROLLTR,27.592)
But these men that were in prelacye and other also that were haly
temperelle mene , had full cherite in affeccion with-in and also in
wirkynge with-outen ; (CMROLLTR,27.593)
and that is propirly this mellide lyfe that is made bath of actyffe
lyfe and of comtemplatyfe lyfe . (CMROLLTR,27.594)
And sothely for swilke a man +tat es in spirituelle soueraynte , as in
prelacye , in cure , in gouernance of o+ter , as prelates bene ,
or in temperalle soueraynte , as werldly lordes and maysters bene , I
halde +tis mellide lyfe beste , and maste by-houely to +tam , als lange
als +tay ere bownden +ter-to . (CMROLLTR,28.595)
Bot to o+ter , +tat ere fre , and noghte bownden to temperale
mynystracyon , ne to spiritualle , I hope +tat lyfe contemplatyfe
allane , if +tay myghte com sothefastly +tare-to , were beste and maste
spedfull , maste medfull and faire , and maste worthi to +tam for to
vse and to halde , & noghte for to leue wilfully for nane outwarde
werkes of actyfe lyfe , Bot if it ware in gret nede , at gret releuynge
& conforthynge of o+ter men , ou+ter of +taire body or of +taire saule
. (CMROLLTR,28.596)
Than , if nede aske , at +te prayere and instaunce of o+ter , or elles
at +te biddynge of o+ter governaunce , I hope it es gude to +tam for to
schewe owtwarde werkes of actyfe lyfe for a tym , in helpynge of +taire
euencristen . (CMROLLTR,28.597)
By this that I hafe saide , +tou may in party vndirstande whilke es a
lyfe and whilke es o+ter , and whilke accordis maste to thi state of
lyffynge . (CMROLLTR,28.598)
And sothely , as me thynke , this Mellid lyfe accordis maste to +te ;
(CMROLLTR,28.599)
For sen owre Lorde hase ordaynede +te and sette +te in +te state of
soueraynte over o+ter , als mekell als it es , and lent +te habowndance
of werldly gudes for to rewle and susten specyally all +tose +tat are
vndire thi gouernance and thi lordchipe , after thi myghte & thi
cunnynge , and also after thou hase ressayuede grace of +te mercy of
oure Lorde Godd for to hafe sumwhate knawynge of thi selfe , and
gastely desyre and savour of his lufe , I hope +tat +tis lyfe +tat es
mellide es beste , and accordes maste to +te for to trauelle +te
+tare-in . (CMROLLTR,28.600)
And +tat es , to depart wyesly thi lyffynge in two ; a tyme to +te tane
, and ano+ter tyme to +te to+ter ; (CMROLLTR,28.601)
For , wiet +tou wele , if +tou leue nedfull besynes of actyf lyfe , and
be rekles , and take na kepe of thi werldly gudes , how +tay be
spendide and kepide , ne hafe no force of thi sugetis and of thyn
euencristen , by-cause of desire and will +tat +tou hase anely for to
gyffe +te to gastely ocupacyon , wenande +tat +tou arte therby excusede
- if +tou do so , +tou dose noghte wysely . (CMROLLTR,28.602)
Whate are all thi werkes worthe , whethire +tay be bodyly or gastely ,
bot if they be done ryghtefully and resonnably , to +te wirchipe of
Godde , and at His byddynges ? (CMROLLTR,28.603)
Now sothely , righte noghte . (CMROLLTR,28.604)
Thane , if +tou leue +tat thynge +tat +tou arte bownden to , by
way of charite , apone righte and reson , and will hally gyffe +te to
a-no+ter thynge , wilfully as it ware , for mare plesance of hym ,
whilke +tou arte noghte bownden to , Thou dose noghte wirchipe
discretly to Hym . (CMROLLTR,29.605)
Thou arte besy to wirchipe his heuede and his face , and aray it faire
and curyusly , (CMROLLTR,29.606)
bot +tou leues his body and +te armes and +te fete raggede and rente ,
(CMROLLTR,29.607)
and takes no kepe +tare-of . (CMROLLTR,29.608)
And +tan +tou wirchipis hym noghte . (CMROLLTR,29.609)
For it es a velany , a man for to be curyously arrayede apon his heuede
with perre' and precyous stanes , and all his body be nakide and bare ,
as it ware a beggere . (CMROLLTR,29.610)
Righte so , gastely , it es no wyrchipe to Godd for to couer His heuede
and leue His body bare . (CMROLLTR,29.611)
Thou sall vndirstande , +tat oure Lorde Ihesu Criste , as man , es
heuede of a gastely body , whilke es Haly Kirke . (CMROLLTR,29.612)
The membris of this body are all cristen men . (CMROLLTR,29.613)
Som are armes , (CMROLLTR,29.614)
and som are fete , (CMROLLTR,29.615)
and som ere o+ter membris , aftire sundre wirkynges +tat +tay vse in
thaire lyffynge . (CMROLLTR,29.616)
Than , if +tou be besy with all +ti myghte for to arraye his heuede ,
+tat es , for to wirchipe hym selfe by mynde of his passion or of his
o+ter werkes in his manhede , by deuocyon and meditacyone of Hym , and
forgetis his fete , +tat ere thi childire , thi seruantes , thi
tenauntes and all thyne euencristyn , and latis +tam spill for defaute
of kepynge - unarayede , unkepide , and noghte tente to as +tame aughte
for to be , - thou pleses Hym noghte , (CMROLLTR,29.617)
For +tou duse no wirchipe to Hym . (CMROLLTR,29.618)
Thou makes +te for to kysse His mouthe by deuocyon and gastely prayere
, (CMROLLTR,29.619)
bot +tou tredis apon his fete (CMROLLTR,29.620)
and defoules +tam , in als mekill als +tou will noghte tente to thaym
for neclygence of +ti-selfe , of whilke +tou hase takyne cure .
(CMROLLTR,29.621)
Thus me thynke . (CMROLLTR,29.622)
Neuer-the-lesse , if +tou thynke +tat +tis es noghte sothe , for it
ware a fayrere offyce to wyrchype +te heuede of Hyme , as for to be
alday ocupiede in meditacyon of His manhede , +tan for to go lawere to
o+ter werkes and make clene his fete , as for to be besy bathe-3 in
thoghte and dede aboute +te helpe of thyn euencristen in tyme - Me
thynke noghte so as vn-to +te . (CMROLLTR,29.623)
Sothely , He will cun the more thanke for meke waschehynge of His fete
when they ere righte foule and stynkyng appon the , +tan for all +te
precyouse payntynge and +te arraynge +tat +tou haue made aboute
His heuede by mynde of His manhede . (CMROLLTR,30.624)
For it es faire enoghe , (CMROLLTR,30.625)
and nedis noghte mekill to be arayede of +te . (CMROLLTR,30.626)
Bot His fete and His o+ter membris , that ere thi sugetts and thyn
euencristyn , ere sumtyme euyll arrayede , (CMROLLTR,30.627)
and had nede for to be lukede to and holpyn by +te , & namely sen +tou
erte bownden +tare-to ; (CMROLLTR,30.628)
and for thaym will He cun the mekill thanke , if +tou will mekely and
tendirly luke +tam . (CMROLLTR,30.629)
For +te mare lawe seruyce +tat +tou duse to +ti Lorde , for lufe of Hym
, vn-to any of His membris , when nede and rightwysnes askes , with a
glade meke herte the mare plese+g +tou Hym : thynkand +tat it ware
enoghe for +te for to be at +te leste degre & laweste state , sen it es
His will at it be so ; (CMROLLTR,30.630)
For it semys , sen He hase putt +te in +tat state , for to trauelle and
serue o+ter men +tat it es His will +tat +tou suld fulfill it at thi
myghte . (CMROLLTR,30.631)
This ensample I say to +te , noghte for +tou duse noghte +tus as I say
, For I hope +tou duse +tus and better , Bot for I walde +tat +tou
sulde do +tus gladly , and noghte for to leue sumtyme gastely ocupacyon
and entermete +te with werldly besynes , in wyse kepynge and
dispendynge of thi werldly gudes , and gud rewlynge of +ti seruauntes
and +ti tenauntes , and in o+ter gude werkes doynge , vn-to alle +tinne
euencristen at +ti myghte ; (CMROLLTR,30.632)
Bot for +tat +tou sulde doo bathe in dyuers tym with a gud will , +te
tane and +te to+ter , if +tou myghte ; as if +tou hade prayede and bene
ocupiede gastely , +tou sall aftir certeyne tym breke of +tat ,
(CMROLLTR,30.633)
and +tou sall besyly and gladly ocupye +te in sum bodily ocupacion vnto
thyne euen cristen . (CMROLLTR,30.634)
Also when +tou hase bene besye owtwarde a while with thi seruauntes ,
or with o+ter mene profitably , +tou sall breke offe , and com agayne
to +ti prayers and thi deuocyon , after Godd gyfs +te grace ;
(CMROLLTR,30.635)
and so sall +tou put away , by grace of oure Lorde , sleuthe , ydilnes
, and vayne riste of thi selfe , +tat comes undir coloure of
contemplacion and lettes +te sumtyme fra medfull and spedfull ocupacion
in owtwarde besynes ; (CMROLLTR,30.636)
and +tou sall be ay wele ocupiede , ou+ter bodyly or gastely .
(CMROLLTR,30.637)
Thare-fore , if +tou will do wele , +tou sall gastely , als as Iacob
did bodily . (CMROLLTR,30.638)
Haly Write saise +tat Iacob , when he begane for to serue his mayster
Labane , he couete Rachelle , his mayster doghter , to his wyfe , for
hir fairehede ; (CMROLLTR,31.639)
and for hir he seruede . (CMROLLTR,31.640)
Bot when he wende to hafe hade hire to his wife , he tuke firste Lya ,
+te to+ter doghter , in stede of Rachelle ; (CMROLLTR,31.641)
and aftirwarde he tuke Rachelle ; (CMROLLTR,31.642)
and so he hade bathe at +te laste . (CMROLLTR,31.643)
By Iacob in Haly Writt es vndirstande ane ouerganger of synnes .
(CMROLLTR,31.644)
By +tise two wymmen ere vndirstanden , as Sayne Gregor saise , two
lyfes in Haly Kyrke , actyfe lyfe and contemplatyfe . (CMROLLTR,31.645)
Lya es als mekill at say as trauyliouse , (CMROLLTR,31.646)
and betakyns actyfe lyfe . (CMROLLTR,31.647)
Rachelle , syghte of begynnynge , +tat es , Godd , (CMROLLTR,31.648)
and betakyns lyfe contemplatyfe . (CMROLLTR,31.649)
Lya was frwtefull , (CMROLLTR,31.650)
bot scho was sare eghede . (CMROLLTR,31.651)
Rachelle was faire and lufely , (CMROLLTR,31.652)
bot scho was barrayne . (CMROLLTR,31.653)
Than , righte as Iacob couetid Rachelle for hir fairehede , and
neuer-+te-lesse he had hir noghte whene he walde , bot firste he tuke
Lya and aftir-warde hir , Righte so , ilk mane , turnede by grace of
compunccyon sothefastly fra synnes of +te werlde and of +te flesche ,
vn-to +te seruyce of Godd , and clennes of gude lyffynge , hase gret
desyre and gret langynge for to hafe Rachelle , +tat es , for to hafe
ryste and gastely swetnes in deuocyon and contemplacion ,
(CMROLLTR,31.654)
for +tat es so faire and so lufely . (CMROLLTR,31.655)
And in hope for to hafe +tat lyfe anely , he disposes hym for to serue
oure Lorde wyth all his myghtes . (CMROLLTR,31.656)
Bot ofte whene he wenes for to hafe Rachelle , +tat es , riste in
deuocyon , oure Lorde suffers hym firste for to be assayede wele and
trauelde with Lya , +tat es , ou+ter with gret temptacions of +te
werlde or of +te deuelle , or ells with o+ter werldly besynes , bodily
or gastely , in helpyng of his euencristyn . (CMROLLTR,31.657)
And when he es wele trauelde with +tam , and nerhande ouer-commen ,
Than oure Lorde gyffes hym Rachelle , +tat es , grace of deuocyon , and
riste in concience . (CMROLLTR,31.658)
And so hase he bathe Rachelle and Lya . (CMROLLTR,31.659)
So sall +tou do after ensaumple of Iacob , (CMROLLTR,31.660)
take +tise two lyfes , actyfe & contemplatyfe , sen Godd hase sett the
bathe +te tane and +te to+ter . (CMROLLTR,31.661)
By +te taa lyfe +tat es actyfe , +tou sall brynge furthe fruyte of many
gude dedis in helpe of thyn euencristen ; (CMROLLTR,31.662)
And by +te to+ter , +tou sall be made and bryghte and clene in +te
behaldynge of souerayne bryghtnes , +tat es Godd , begynnynge and ende
of all +tat es made . (CMROLLTR,31.663)
And +tan sall +tou be sothefastly Iacob , and ouerganger and
ouercommere of all synnes ; (CMROLLTR,31.664)
and after by +te grace of Godd thi nam sall be chaungede , as
Iacobe name was turnede in-to Israel . (CMROLLTR,32.665)
Israel es als mekill at say als a man seande Godd . (CMROLLTR,32.666)
Than , if +tou be firste Iacob , and discretly will vse +tise two lyfes
in tyme , +tou sall be aftir Israel , +tat es , verray contemplatyfe .
(CMROLLTR,32.667)
Ou+ter in +tis lyfe he will delyuer +te , and make +te free fra charge
of besynes whilke +tou ert bounden to , or ells after +tis lyfe fully
in +te blysse of Heuen when +tou comes thedire . (CMROLLTR,32.668)
Contemplatyfe lyfe es faire and medfull , (CMROLLTR,32.669)
and +tare-fore +tou sall aye hafe it in desyre . (CMROLLTR,32.670)
Bot +tou sall hafe in vsesynge mekill +te lyfe actyfe ,
(CMROLLTR,32.671)
for it es so nedfull and so spedfull . (CMROLLTR,32.672)
And +tare-fore if +tou be putt fra thi reste by deuocyon when +te ware
leueste be stille +tar-at , by thy childire , thy seruantes , or by any
of thyn euencristen , for +taire profyte or ese of +taire hertes
skilfully askide , be noghte angry with +tam , ne heuy , ne dredfull ,
as if Godd wald be wrathe with the +tat +tou lefte Hym for any o+ter
thynge , (CMROLLTR,32.673)
For it es noghte so . (CMROLLTR,32.674)
Bot lyghtly +tou leue of thi deuocyon whey+ter it be in prayers or in
meditacyons , (CMROLLTR,32.675)
and goo do thi dett and +ti seruyse to +tine euencristen als redily als
if oure Lorde hymselfe bade +te do so . (CMROLLTR,32.676)
And suffire mekely for his lufe with-owtten gruchynge , if +tou may ,
and dissese and trubblynge of +ti herte by-cause of mellynge with
swylke besynes , (CMROLLTR,32.677)
For it may fall sumtyme +tat +te trubylyere +tat +tou hase bene
owtwarde with actyfe werkes , The mare brynnande desyre +tou sall hafe
to Godd , and +te more clere syghte of gostely thynges , by grace of
oure Lorde , in deuocyon when +tou comes +tare-to . (CMROLLTR,32.678)
For it faris +ter-by as if +tou hade a littill cole , and +tou walde
make a fyre +tare-with , and ger it bryn . (CMROLLTR,32.679)
Thow wald fyrste lay to stykkes , and ouer-hille +te cole ;
(CMROLLTR,32.680)
and if it semyd as for a tym +tat +tou sulde qwenche +te cole with +ti
stykkes , neuer-+te-lesse , when +tou hase habedyn a while , and after
blawes a lyttill , Onane sprynges a grete flawme of fyre ,
(CMROLLTR,32.681)
for +te stykkes ere turnede to fyre . (CMROLLTR,32.682)
Righte so gastely , thi will and thi desyre +tat +tou hase to Godd , it
es , as it ware , a littill cole of fyre in +ti saule ,
(CMROLLTR,32.683)
For it gyffes to +te sumwhate of gostely hete and gostely lyghte ;
(CMROLLTR,32.684)
bot it es full lyttill , (CMROLLTR,32.685)
For ofte it waxes colde , (CMROLLTR,32.686)
and turnes to fleschely riste , and sumtyme into ydilnes .
(CMROLLTR,32.687)
For-+ti it es gude +tat +tou putte +tare-to stykkes , +tat ere gud
werkes of actyfe lyfe . (CMROLLTR,32.688)
And if so bee +tat +tire werkes , as it semes , for a tym lette thi
desyre , +tat it may noghte be so clene ne so feruente as +tou walde ,
Be noghte to dredfull +tare-fore , (CMROLLTR,33.690)
Bot habyde (CMROLLTR,33.691)
and suffire a while , (CMROLLTR,33.692)
and go blawe at +te fyre , +tat es , firste do thi werkes , and go +tan
allane to +ti prayers and thi meditacyons , and lyfte vpe thi herte to
Godd , and pray Hym of His gudnes +tat He will accepte thi werkis +tat
+tou duse to His plesance . (CMROLLTR,33.693)
Halde +tou +tam as noghte in thyne awen syghte , bot anely at +te mercy
of Hym . (CMROLLTR,33.694)
Be a-knowe mekely thi wrechidnes and thi frelte , (CMROLLTR,33.695)
and arett all thi gude dedis sothefastely to Hym , in als mekill als
+tay ere gude , and in als mekill als +tay ere badde , noghte donne
with all +te circumstance +tat ere nedfull vn-to gude dedis , for
defaute of discrecione , (CMROLLTR,33.696)
put tham vn-to thi selfe . (CMROLLTR,33.697)
And for +tis meknes sall all thi dedis turne in-to flawme of fyre , as
stykkes laide apon +te cole . (CMROLLTR,33.698)
And so sall gude dedis owtewarde noghte hyndire thi deuocyone , bot
ra+ter make it mare . (CMROLLTR,33.699)
Oure Lorde sayse in Haly Write +tus : ' Ignis in altare meo semper
ardebit , et sacerdos mane surgens subiciet ligna , ut ignis non
extynguatur . ' (CMROLLTR,33.700)
' Fyre ' , he sayse ' sall bryn in myne autir , (CMROLLTR,33.701)
and +te priste rysande at morne sall putt undire stykkys , +tat it be
noghte qwenchede . ' (CMROLLTR,33.702)
This fire es lufe and desire to Godd in saule ; whilke lufe nedis to be
nureschede and kepide by laynge to of stykkis , +tat it goo noghte
owtte . (CMROLLTR,33.703)
Thise stykkes ere of dyuerse matire : (CMROLLTR,33.704)
som ere of a tre , (CMROLLTR,33.705)
and som er of ano+ter . (CMROLLTR,33.706)
A man or a woman +tat es letterede , and hase vndirstandynge in Haly
Writt , if he hafe +tis desire of deuocyon in his herte , It es gude
vn-to hym for to gedire hym stekkis of haly ensaumpills and saynges of
oure Lorde by redynge+g of Haly Write , and noresche +te fyre with
thaym . (CMROLLTR,33.707)
Ano+ter man or a woman unletterede may noght so redyly hafe at his hand
Haly Writt and doctours sawes , (CMROLLTR,33.708)
and for-thi it nedis to hym to do many gud werkis owtewarde to his euen
cristyn , and kyndill +te fire of lufe with tham . (CMROLLTR,33.709)
And so it es gude , ilke man in his degre , aftir he es disposede ,
+tat he gette hym stykkes of a thyng or of o+ter , ou+ter prayers or
gude meditacyons , or redynges in Haly Writt , or gude bodily wyrkynges
, for to nuresche +te desire of lufe in his saule +tat it be noghte
qwenchede ; (CMROLLTR,33.710)
For +te affeceyone of lufe es tendir (CMROLLTR,33.711)
and lyghtly will vanysche awaye , bot if it be wele kepide , and by gud
dedis bodyly or gastely contenualy nuresched . (CMROLLTR,34.713)
Now +tane , sen oure Lorde hase sente in-to thi herte a littill sparke
of his blysside fire , +tat es hym-selfe , as Haly Writt saise , ' Deus
noster ignis consumens est , ' ' oure Lorde es fyre wastande ' - For as
bodily fyre wastes all bodily thynges +tat may be wastyde , Righte so
gastely fyre , +tat es Godd , wastis all maner of syn whare-so it
fallis ; and for-thi oure Lorde es lykkende to fyre wastande . I pray
+te hertly , dere syster , noresche +tis fire . (CMROLLTR,34.714)
This fire es noghte ellis bot lufe and charyte ; (CMROLLTR,34.715)
+tis hase He sent in-till erthe , as He saise in the Gosepelle , '
Ignem veni mittere in terram , et ad quid nisi ut ardeat . '
(CMROLLTR,34.716)
' I am commen , ' He saise , ' for to send fyre of lufe intill erthe ,
and whare-to +tat it suld bryn ; That es , Godd hase sent fire of lufe
, +tat es , gude desyre and a grete will vn-to plese Hym , in-to manes
saule , and vn-to +tis ende , +tat a mane suld knawe it , kepe it ,
noresche it and strenghe it , and be saued thare-by . (CMROLLTR,34.717)
The more desire +tat +tou hase vn-to Hym +te more es this fyre of lufe
in the . (CMROLLTR,34.718)
The lesse +tat thi desire es , +te lesse es +tis fire .
(CMROLLTR,34.719)
The mesure of +tis desyre , how mekill it es , no+ter in thi selfe , ne
in na no+ter knawes +tou noghte , ne no man of hym-selfe , Bot Godd
allone +tat gyffes it ; (CMROLLTR,34.720)
and for-thi dispuyte noghte with +ti selfe as if +tou wolde knawe how
mekille thi desire es , (CMROLLTR,34.721)
Bot be besy for to desyre als mekill als +tou may , bot noghte for to
wete +te mesure of thi desyre . (CMROLLTR,34.722)
Sayne Austyne saise , +tat +te lyfe of euer-ilk a gude Cristyn man es a
contenuelle desire to Godd , (CMROLLTR,34.723)
and +tat es of a gret vertue , (CMROLLTR,34.724)
For it es a gret crying in +te erris of Godd ; (CMROLLTR,34.725)
+te more +tat +tou desires , +te heghere +tou cries , (CMROLLTR,34.726)
+te better +tou prayes , +te wyseleere +tou thynkis . (CMROLLTR,34.727)
And what es +tis desire ? (CMROLLTR,34.728)
Now , sothely , na thyng bot a lathynge of all +tis werldis blysse , of
all flesehely lykynges in thi herte , and a qwemfull langynge , with a
thristy +gernyng to heuenly Ioye and endles blysse . (CMROLLTR,34.729)
This , thynke me , may be callid a desire of Godd . (CMROLLTR,34.730)
If +tou hafe +tis desire , as I hope sekirly +tat +tou hase , I pray
the kepe it wele and noresche it wysely ; (CMROLLTR,34.731)
and when +tou sall pray or thynke , make +tis desire begynnynge of all
+ti werke for to encresse it . (CMROLLTR,34.732)
Luke after na no+ter bodily swetnes , no+ter sownyng ne sauourynge , ne
wondirfull lyghte , ne Aungells syghte , (CMROLLTR,35.734)
ne if oure Lorde hym-selfe , as vn-to +ti syghte , walde appere to +te
bodily ; charge it bot a lytill , (CMROLLTR,35.735)
Bot at all thi besynes be +tat +tou myghte fele sothefastly in thi
thoghte a lathynge and a full forsakynge of all maner of syn and of
unclennes , with a gastely syghte of it , how foule , how vggly , and
how paynfull +tat it es ; and at +tou myght hafe a myghty desyrynge to
vertus , to mekenes , to charite , and to the blysse of Heuen .
(CMROLLTR,35.736)
This , thynke me , ware gastely comforthe and gastely swetnes in a mans
saule , as for to hafe clennes in concience fra wikkidnes of all
werldly vanyte , with stabill trouthe , meke hope , and full desyre to
Godd . (CMROLLTR,35.737)
How-so-euer it es of o+ter conforthes and swetnes , me thynke +tat
swetnes sekire and sothefaste +tat es felid in clennes of concyence ,
by myghty forsakynge and lathyng of all syn and by in-ward syghte , by
feruent desyre of gastely thyngis , (CMROLLTR,35.738)
and o+ter confortes or swetnes , or any o+ter maner of felynges , bot
if +tay helpe and lede to +tis ende , +tat es , to clennes in
conscience , and gastely desyre of Godd , ere noghte full sekire for to
reste one . (CMROLLTR,35.739)
But now may +tou aske whe+ter this desyre be lufe of Godd .
(CMROLLTR,35.740)
As vn-to +tis I say , +tat +tis desire es noghte propirly lufe , bot it
es a begynnynge ; (CMROLLTR,35.741)
For lufe propirly es a full cuppillynge of +te lufande and +te lufed
to-gedyre , as Godd and a saule , in-to ane . (CMROLLTR,35.742)
This cuppillyng may noghte be had fully in this lyfe , Bot anely in
desyre and langynge +tare-to ; (CMROLLTR,35.743)
as if a man lufe ano+ter whilke es absent , he desyris gretly his
presence , for to hafe +te vys of his lufe and his likynge . Righte so
gostely , als lang als we erre in +tis life , oure Lorde es absent fra
vs , +tat we may no+ter se Hym , ne here Hym , ne fele Hym als He es ,
(CMROLLTR,35.744)
and +tare-fore we may noghte hafe +te vis of His lufe here in
fulfilling . (CMROLLTR,35.745)
Bot we may hafe a desyre and a gret +gernynge for to be present to Hym
, for to se Hym in His blysse , and to be anede to Hym in lufe .
(CMROLLTR,35.746)
This desyre may we hafe of His gyfte in +tis life , by +te whilke we
sall be safe , (CMROLLTR,35.747)
For it es lufe vn-to Hym as it may be hade here . (CMROLLTR,35.748)
This Sayne Paule saide , ' Scientes quidem dum sumus in hoc
corpore perginamur a Domino , per fidem enim ambulamus , et non per
speciem , audemus autem et bonam voluntatem habemus magis pergrinari a
corpore et presentes esse ad Deum ; et idcirco contendimus , siue
absentes siue presentes , placere illi . ' (CMROLLTR,36.749)
Sayne Paule sais +tat ' als lange als we ere in +tis body , we ere
pilgrymes fra oure Lorde , ' +tat es , we ere absent fra heuen in +tis
exile ; (CMROLLTR,36.750)
we go by trouthe , noghte by syghte , +tat es , we lyff in trouthe ,
noghte in bodily felynge ; (CMROLLTR,36.751)
we dare and hase gud will to be absent fra +te body , and be present to
Godd , +tat es , we for clennes in concyence , and sekire trouthe of
saluacyone , dare desyre gastely absence fra oure body by bodily dede ,
and be present to oure Lorde . (CMROLLTR,36.752)
Neuer-+te-les , for we may noghte +gitt , ' +ter-fore we stryfe ,
whe+ter we be absent or present , for to plese Hym , and +tat es , we
stryfe agayne synnes of +te werlde and likynges of +te flesche by
desyre to Hym , for to bryn in +tis desire all thynges +tat lettes vs
fra Hym . (CMROLLTR,36.753)
+Git askes +tou whe+ter a man may haue +tis desire contenually in his
herte or noghte . (CMROLLTR,36.754)
+Te thynke nay . (CMROLLTR,36.755)
As to +tis I may say as me thynke , +tat +tis desire may be hadd , as
for +te vertu and profite of it , in habyte contenualy , bot noghte in
wyrkynge ne vsesynge , as by +tis ensample : (CMROLLTR,36.756)
If +tou ware seke , +tou sulde haue , as ilke man hase , a kyndly
desire of bodily hele contenualy in thi herte , what so +tou dide ,
whe+ter +tou slepe or +tou wake , bot noghte ay ylyke ,
(CMROLLTR,36.757)
For if +tou , slepande or elles wakande , thynke of sum werldly thynge
, +tan hafe +tou +tis desire anely in habite , noghte in wyrkynge ;
(CMROLLTR,36.758)
Bot when +tou thynkes of +ti seknes and of thi bodily hele , +tan hase
+tou it in vssynge . (CMROLLTR,36.759)
Righte so , gostely , es it of desyre to Godd . (CMROLLTR,36.760)
He +tat hase +tis desyre of +te gyfte of Godd , +tofe he slepe , or
ells thynke noghte of Godd bot of werldly thynges , +git he hase +tis
desyre in habyte of his saule vntill syn dedly . (CMROLLTR,36.761)
Bot whene he thynkes of Godd , or of clennes of lyffynge , or of Ioyes
of Heuen , than wirkkis his desyre als lange als he kepis his thoghte
and his entente to plese Godd , ou+ter in prayere or in meditacyon or
in any o+ter gud dede of actyfe lyfe . (CMROLLTR,36.762)
Thane es it gude +tat all o+ter besynes be for to stire +tis desire and
vse it be discrecyon , now in a dede , now in a-no+ter , after we ere
disposede and hase grace to . (CMROLLTR,37.763)
This desire es rute of all thi wirkkynges ; (CMROLLTR,37.764)
For wete +tou wele , whate gude dede it be +tat +tou dose for Godd ,
bodily or gostely , (CMROLLTR,37.765)
it es ane vsynge of +tis desyre ; (CMROLLTR,37.766)
and +ter-fore when +tou duse a gude dede , or prayes , or thynkis of
Godd , thynk noghte in thi herte , doutande whe+ter +tou desires or
noghte , (CMROLLTR,37.767)
For +ti dede schewes thi desyre . (CMROLLTR,37.768)
Sum ere vnkonande , (CMROLLTR,37.769)
and wenes +tat +tay desire noghte Godd , (CMROLLTR,37.770)
bot if +tay be ay criande ef Godd with wordis of +taire mouthe , or
elles in theire hertis by desyrand wordes , as if +tay said thus : ' A
Lorde , brynge me to Thi blysse ! ' ' Lorde make me safe ! ' or swylke
o+ter . (CMROLLTR,37.771)
The wordis ere gude , whe+ter +tay be sownned in +te mouthe , or ells
fourmede in +te herte , (CMROLLTR,37.772)
For +tay stire a mans herte to +te desyrynge of Godd .
(CMROLLTR,37.773)
Bot neuer-+te-les , with-owtten any swylke wordes , a clene thoghte of
Godd or of any gostely thynge , as of vertu+g or of +te manhede of
Criste , of +te Ioyes of Heuen , or of vndirstandynge of Haly Writte ,
with lufe , may be bettire +tan slyke wordis . (CMROLLTR,37.774)
For a clene thoghte of Godd es sothefaste desyre to Hym ;
(CMROLLTR,37.775)
and +te mare gastely +tat thi thoghte es , +te mare es thi desire ;
(CMROLLTR,37.776)
and for-thi be +tou noghte in dowte ne in were when +tou prayes or
thynkes one Godd , or ells duse any owtwarde dedis to thyne euencristyn
, whe+ter +tou desyres Hym or noghte , (CMROLLTR,37.777)
For thi dedis schewes it . (CMROLLTR,37.778)
Neuer-+te-les , if it be so +tat all thi gude dedis bodyly and gastely
ere a schewynge of thi desire to Godd , +git es +ter a dyuersite
by-twix gastely & bodily dedis ; (CMROLLTR,37.779)
For dedis of contemplatyfe lyfe er properly and kyndly wirkyng of +tis
desire , (CMROLLTR,37.780)
bot owtwarde dedis ere noght so ; (CMROLLTR,37.781)
and for-thi when +tou prayes or thynkes one Godd thi desire to Godd ,
es mare hale , mare feruent , and mare gastely , +tan when +tou duse
o+ter dedis vn-to thyne euencristyn . (CMROLLTR,37.782)
Now +tan if +tou aske how +tou sall kepe this desire and norische it ,
a litill I sall tell the , noghte for +tou sall vse +te same fourme
all-way as I say , Bot for +tou sall hafe , if nede be , some wyssyng
for to rewle the in thyne ocupacyon . (CMROLLTR,37.783)
For I may noghte , ne I can noghte , tell the fully what es beste ay to
+te for to vse , (CMROLLTR,37.784)
Bot I sall say to +te sumwhate as me thynke . (CMROLLTR,37.785)
One nyghtis , aftir thi slepe , if +tou will ryse for to serue thi
Lorde , thow sall fele thi-selfe firste fleschely heuy , and
sumtym lusty , (CMROLLTR,38.786)
Than sall +tou dispose the for to pray , or for to thynke som gude
thoghte for to qwykkyn thi herte to Godd , and sett all thi besynes
firste for to drawe vp thi thoghte fra werldly vanytes and fra vayne
ymagynacyonns fallande in-to thi mynde , +tat +tou may fele sum
deuocyon in thi sayinge , or ells , if +tou will thynke of gostely
thynges , +tat +tou be noghte letted with swylke vayne thoghtes of +te
werlde or of +te flesche in thi thynkynge . (CMROLLTR,38.787)
Thare ere many maners of thynkynges , (CMROLLTR,38.788)
whilke ere beste to +te , I can noghte say , (CMROLLTR,38.789)
Bot I hope +te whilke +tou felis maste sauour in , and maste riste for
+te tyme , it es beste for the . (CMROLLTR,38.790)
Thow may , if +tou wille sumtym thynke on thi synnes be-fore donne ,
and of thi freeltes +tat +tou fallis in ilke day , and aske mercy and
forgyfnes for thaym . (CMROLLTR,38.791)
Also aftir this +tou may thynke of synnes and of wrechidnes of thyn
euencristen , bodily and gastely , with pete , and of compassion of
thaym , and cry mercy and forgyfnes for thayme als tendirly als iff
+tay ware thyn awen ; (CMROLLTR,38.792)
and +tat es a gude thoghte , (CMROLLTR,38.793)
For I tell +te for-sothe +tou may make o+ter mens synnes a precyouse
oynement for to hele with thyne awen saule when +tou hase mynde of
thaym . (CMROLLTR,38.794)
This oynement es precyouse , all if +te spycery in it-selfe be noghte
full clene , (CMROLLTR,38.795)
For it es triacle made of venym for to distroye venym , +tat es to saye
, thyne awen synnes , and o+ter mens also broghte in-to +ti mynde .
(CMROLLTR,38.796)
If +tou bete +tam wele with sorowe of herte , pete and compassion ,
+tay turne vn-to triacle , whilke makes thi saule hale fra dryde and
envye , and brynges in lufe & charite to thyne euencristen .
(CMROLLTR,38.797)
This thoghte es gude sumtyme for to hafe . (CMROLLTR,38.798)
Also +tou may hafe mynde of +te manhede of oure Lorde , in his byrthe
or in his passion , or in any of his werkes , and fede thi thoghte with
gastely ymagynacyon of it , for to stirre thyne affeccion to mare lufe
of Hym . (CMROLLTR,38.799)
This thoghte es gude and spedfull , namely when it commes frely of
Goddes gyfte , with deuocyon and feruour of +te sperite .
(CMROLLTR,38.800)
Elles if a man may noghte lightly hafe sauour ne deuocyon in it , I
halde it , noghte spedfulle +tan to a mane for to prese to mekill
+tare-till , as if he walde gete it by maystry . (CMROLLTR,38.801)
For he sall mowe breke his heuede ; and his body (CMROLLTR,38.802)
and he sall neuer be +te nerre . (CMROLLTR,38.803)
For-thi me thynke , vn-to +te it es gude for to hafe in mynde
his manhede sumtyme ; (CMROLLTR,39.804)
and if deuocyon and sauour cume with-alle , kepe it (CMROLLTR,39.805)
and folowe it for a tyme ; (CMROLLTR,39.806)
bot leue of sone , (CMROLLTR,39.807)
and hyng noghte to lange +tare-appon . (CMROLLTR,39.808)
Also if deuocyon cum noghte with mynde of +te passion , stryne noghte
to prese to mekill +tare-after . (CMROLLTR,39.809)
Take esyly +tat will cume , (CMROLLTR,39.810)
and go furthe to som o+ter thoghte . (CMROLLTR,39.811)
Also o+ter +tar bene +tat ere mare gostely , as for to thynke of vertus
, and for to se by lyghte of vndirstandynge what +te vertu of mekenes
es and how a man sulde be meke . Also what es pacyence and clennes ,
rightwysnes , chastyte , and sobirte , and swylke o+ter , and how a man
sulde gette all thiese vertus , and by swylke thoghtes for to hafe gret
desire and langgyng to +tise vertus for to hafe thaym , and also for to
hafe a gastely syghte , and +te desyre of +tise vertus .
(CMROLLTR,39.812)
A saule sulde mowe fele grete comforthe if a man had grace of oure
Lorde , with-owtten whilke grace a mans thoghte es halfe blynde ,
with-owtten sauour of gastely swetnes . (CMROLLTR,39.813)
Also for to thynke of +te sayntes of oure Lorde , of Appostills ,
Martirs , Confessours and haly virgyns , Byhalde inwardly thaire haly
lyffynge , +te grace and +te vertus +tat oure Lorde gafe +tam here
liffande , and by +tis mynde for to stirre thyn awen herte to take
ensaunpill of +tam vn-to better lyffynge . (CMROLLTR,39.814)
Also the mynd of oure Lady Saynt Marie abowne all o+ter sayntes , for
to see by gostely eghe +te abowndance of grace in hire haly saule ,
whene scho was here lyffand , +tat owre Lorde gafe hir allane ,
passande all o+ter creatours ; (CMROLLTR,39.815)
For in hir was full-hede of all vertus with-owttyn wem of synn .
(CMROLLTR,39.816)
Scho had fulle mekenes and perfit charite , and fully with +tise +te
bewte of all o+ter vertus so hally , +tat +tare myghte no styrrynge of
pride , envie , ne wrethe , ne fleschely lykynge , ne no manere of syn
enter in-till hir herte , ne defoule +te saule in no party of it .
(CMROLLTR,39.817)
The behaldynge of +te fairehede of +tis blyssid saule sulde stirre a
mans herte vn-to gostely comforthe gretly , and mekill mare +tan abowne
+tis , +te thynkynge of +te saule of Ihesu oure blyssid Lorde , the
whilke was aned fully to +te Godhede , passand with-owttyn comparison
oure Ladye and all o+ter creaturs . (CMROLLTR,39.818)
For in +te person of Ihesu er two kyndis , +tat es , Godd and man ,
fully anede togedir . (CMROLLTR,39.819)
By +te vertu of this blysfull anynge , whilke may noghte be
saide ne consayued be manes wit , the saule of Ihesu ressayuede +te
fulhede of wysedome and lufe and all gudnes , as +te Appostill saise :
(CMROLLTR,40.820)
' Plenitudo diuinitatis inhabitavit in ipso corporaliter ; ' +tat es ,
+te Godhede was anede fully to +te manhede in +te saule of Ihesu ;
(CMROLLTR,40.821)
and so by +te saule duellide in +te body . (CMROLLTR,40.822)
+Te mynde of +te manhed of oure Lorde on +tis wyse , +tat es , for to
behalde +te vertus and +te ouer-passande grace of +te saule of Ihesu ,
sulde be confortheabill to a mans saule . (CMROLLTR,40.823)
Also mynd of +te myghte of +te wysedome & +te gudnes of oure Lorde in
all his creaturs , (CMROLLTR,40.824)
For in als mekill als we may noghte see Godd fully in hym-selfe , her
lyffande , For-thi we sall be-halde hym , lufe hym and dred hym , and
wondire hys myghte and his wysdome , and his gudnes in his werkes and
his creaturs . (CMROLLTR,40.825)
Also for to thynke of +te mercy of oure Lorde +tat he hase schewed to
+te and to me and to all synfull kaytyfes +tat hase bene combirde in
synn , speride so lange in +te deuells presone , how oure Lorde
sufferde vs pacyently in oure syn , and tuke na vengeance of vs , as he
myghte ryghtfully hafe donne , and putt vs till helle , if his mercy
had noghte lettide hym , (CMROLLTR,40.826)
Bot for lufe he sparede vs , (CMROLLTR,40.827)
he had pete of vs , (CMROLLTR,40.828)
and sente his grace in-till oure hertes , (CMROLLTR,40.829)
and callid vs owte of oure syn , (CMROLLTR,40.830)
and by his grace hase turnede oure will hally to hym , for to hafe hym
, and for his lufe to for-sake all maner of syn . (CMROLLTR,40.831)
The mynde of +tis mercy and +tis gudnes made , with o+ter circumstance
mo +tan I can or may reherse , now bringes in-to my saule grete triste
in oure Lorde and full hope of saluacyone , (CMROLLTR,40.832)
and it kyndylls desire of lufe myghtily to +te Ioyes of Heuen .
(CMROLLTR,40.833)
Also for to thynke of +te wrechidnes , +te mischeues and +te perills ,
bodily and gastely , +tat fallis in +tis lyfe , and after +tat , for to
thynke of +te Ioyes of Heuen , how mekill blysse +tare es , and how
mekill Ioye , (CMROLLTR,40.834)
For +tare es no syn , no sorowe , no passion , no payne , no hungre ,
no thriste , no sare , no sekenes , no dowte , no drede , no schame ,
no schenchipe , no defaut of myghte , ne lakkynge of lyghte , ne
wanttynge of will ; (CMROLLTR,40.835)
Bot thare es souerayne fairenes , lyghtenes , strenghe , Fredom , hele
, lykynge ay-lastande , wysedom , lufe , pees , wirchipe , sekirnes ,
ryste , Ioy and blysse with-owtten ende . (CMROLLTR,40.836)
The more +tat +tou thynkis and felis +te wrechidnes of +tis lyfe +te
more frequently sall +tou desire +te Ioye and +te riste of +tat
blyssede lyfe . (CMROLLTR,41.837)
Many men er couetouse of werldly wyrchips and erthely reches ,
(CMROLLTR,41.838)
and thynkes nyghte and day , dremande and wakande , how and what maner
+tay myghte wyn +tare-to , (CMROLLTR,41.839)
and for-getes +te mynde of thaym selfe of +te paynes of helle and of
+te Ioyes of Heuen . (CMROLLTR,41.840)
Sothely +tay are noghte wyse : (CMROLLTR,41.841)
Thay ere lyke vn-to +te childir +tat rynnes aftire buttyrflyes ,
(CMROLLTR,41.842)
and , for +tay luke noghte to thaire fete , +tay fall sumtyme ,
(CMROLLTR,41.843)
and brekes +taire legges . (CMROLLTR,41.844)
What es all +te wirchipe and +te pompe of +tis werlde in reches and
Iolyte , bot a buttirflye ? (CMROLLTR,41.845)
Sothely noghte elles , (CMROLLTR,41.846)
and +gitt mekill lesse . (CMROLLTR,41.847)
Thare-fore I praye +te , be +tou couetouse of +te Ioyes of Heuen ,
(CMROLLTR,41.848)
and +tou sall hafe wirchipe and reches +tat euer more sall laste .
(CMROLLTR,41.849)
For at +te laste ende when werldly couetouse men brynges no gud in
thaire handis , for all +te wirchipes & rechesse er turned to
noghte saue sorowe and payne , thane sall heuenly couetous men
+tat forsakes trewly all vayne wyrchips of +tis werlde , - or ells if
+tay hafe wirchips & reches +tay sett noghte +taire lykynge ne +taire
lufe in thaym , Bot ay in drede , in meknes , in hope , and in sorowe
sumtym , and habydes +te mercy of Godd paciently , - +tay salle +tan
hafe fully +tat +tay hafe couetid , (CMROLLTR,41.850)
For they sall be coround as kynges , and sitt vpe with oure Lorde Ihesu
in +te blysse of Heuen . (CMROLLTR,41.851)
Also +tar are many o+ter meditacyons mo +tan I kan say , whilke oure
Lorde puttis in-to a mans mynde for to stirre +te affeccyon and reson
of +te saule to lathe vanytes of +tis werlde , and for to desyre +te
Ioyes of Heuen . (CMROLLTR,41.852)
These wordes I saye to +te , noghte as I had fully schewede +tese
maners of meditacions as +tay ere wroght in a manes saule , Bot I
touche thaym to +te a lyttill , for +tou sulde , by +tis littill ,
vndirstande +te more . (CMROLLTR,41.853)
Noghte for-thi me thynke it es gude vn-to +te +tat , when thou
dispose+g +te for to thynke of Godd as I hafe be-fore saide , or one
o+ter wyse , if thi herte be dulle and myrke , and felis no+ter witt ne
sauour , ne deuocyon for to thynke , bot anely of a naked desyre & a
wayke wille , +tat +tou walde fayne thynke of Godd , bot +tou can
noghte , +tan I hope it es gud to +te +tat +tou stryue noghte to mekill
with thi selfe , as if +tou walde by thyn awen myghte ouercome thi
selfe , (CMROLLTR,41.854)
For +tou myghte lightely Fall so in-to more myrknes , bot if +tou ware
+te more slye in thi wirkynge ; (CMROLLTR,42.855)
and for-thi I hald it than moste sekyre vn-to +te for to say thi Pater
noster & +tine Aue Maria of +ti matyns , or ells for to rede apon thi
sauter , (CMROLLTR,42.856)
For +tat is euer-more a sekyr standarde +tat will noghte faile ;
(CMROLLTR,42.857)
who-so may cleue +ter-to , he sall noghte erre , (CMROLLTR,42.858)
and if +tou may by prayenge gete deuocyon , Than , if +ti deuocyon be
anely in affeccion , +tat es , in a grete desire to Godd with gastely
delyte , halde furthe thi saynge , (CMROLLTR,42.859)
& brek noghte lyghtely off , (CMROLLTR,42.860)
For it Fallis +tat praynge with +te mouthe getis and kepis feruour of
deuocion ; (CMROLLTR,42.861)
and if a man cesse of saynge , deuocyone vanysche away .
(CMROLLTR,42.862)
Neuer-+te-les , if deuocion of prayere brynge to thi herte gastely a
thoghte of +te manhed of oure Lorde , or of any o+ter before-said , and
+tis thoghte sulde be lettide by +ti saynge , +tan may +tou cesse of
saynge , and ocupye +te in meditacyon vntill it passe away .
(CMROLLTR,42.863)
Bot of certayne thynges the by-houes be-warre in +ti meditacion .
(CMROLLTR,42.864)
Sum sall I tell +te . (CMROLLTR,42.865)
Ane , +tat when +tou hase had a gastely thoghte , ou+ter-1 in
ymagynynge of +te manhede of oure Lorde , or of swylke bodily thynges ,
and +ti saule hase bene fedd and comforthid +ter-with , and passes away
by +te-selfe , be +tou noghte to besy for to kepe it still by maystry ,
(CMROLLTR,42.866)
For it sall +tan turne to pyne and to bitternes . (CMROLLTR,42.867)
Also if it passe noghte away , bot duellis still in thi mynde by any
trauell of +ti selfe , and +tou for comforthe of it will noghte leue it
, and +ter-fore it reuys the fra +ti slepe on nyghtys , or elles on
dayes , fra o+ter gud dedis , +tis es noghte wele , (CMROLLTR,42.868)
Thou sall wilfully breke of when $it askis , (CMROLLTR,42.869)
+ga , sumtyme when +tou hase maste deuocyon , and ware latheste for to
leue it , as when it passes resonabill tym , or ells it turnes to
dissese of thyn euencristen , (CMROLLTR,42.870)
Bot if +tou do so , elles +tou dusse noghte wysely , as me thynke .
(CMROLLTR,42.871)
A werldly man or woman +tat felis noght peraunter deuocyon twys in a
+gere , if he felid by +te grace of oure Lorde , gret compunccyon for
his synnes , or elles by a mynde of +te passion of oure Lorde , +tofe
he ware put fra his slepe a nyghte , or two or thre , vn-till his heued
werke , it es no force , (CMROLLTR,42.872)
for it comes to +tam seldom ; (CMROLLTR,42.873)
Bot to the , or to a-no+ter man or woman +tat hase this maner of
wirkynge in custom , as ware ilke o+ter day , it es spedfull for till
hafe discrecyon in +gour wyrkynge , noghte fully fall +ter-to for to
folow it als mekill als will com . (CMROLLTR,43.874)
And I halde +tat it es gud to +te for to vse +tis maner in what
deuocyon +tat +tou be , +tat +tou hyng nogt to lange +tare-appon ,
ou+ter for to put +te fra thi mete or thi slepe in tyme , or for to
disesse any o+ter man vnskilfully . (CMROLLTR,43.875)
The wyse man sayse , ' Omnia tempus habent . ' +Tat es , all thyngis
hase tyme . (CMROLLTR,43.876)
Ano+ter thyng es this , +tat +te by-houys be-warre off .
(CMROLLTR,43.877)
If thi thoghte be ocupied in ymagynacyon of +te manhede of owre Lorde ,
or in any swilke o+ter , and after this +tou erte besy with all +te
desire , of thi herte for to seke knawynge or felyng mare gastely of
+te Godhede , prese noghte to mekill +tar-after , (CMROLLTR,43.878)
ne suffire noghte thi herte fall fra +te desire as if +tou ware
abydande or gapand after sum qwyent stirrynge , or sum wondirfull
felynge vthire +tan +tou hase had . (CMROLLTR,43.879)
Thou sall noghte do so . (CMROLLTR,43.880)
It es ynoghe to me and to +te for to haue desyre & langynge to oure
Lorde ; (CMROLLTR,43.881)
and if he will , of his fre grace , ouer +tis desire , send vs of his
gostely lyghte , and opyn oure gostely eghen for to se & knawe more of
Hym +tan we hafe had be-fore by comon trauell , thanke we Hym +tar-of ;
(CMROLLTR,43.882)
and if He will noghte , for we er +git noghte meke ynoghe , or ells we
er noghte disposede by clennes of lyffynge in o+ter sydis for to
ressayue his grace , Than sall we mekly knawe oure awen syn and
wrechednes , and hald vs payed with +te desyre +tat we hafe to Hym ,
and with oure comon thoghtes +tat may lyghtly fall vndir oure
ymagynacion , as of oure synns , or of Cristes passion , or of swilke
o+ter ; or ells with prayers of +te sauter , or sum o+ter , and loue
Hym with all oure hert , +tat He will gyff vs +tat . (CMROLLTR,43.883)
If +tou do o+ter wyse , +tou may lyghtly be by-gyled by +te spiryte of
oure errour , (CMROLLTR,43.884)
For it es presumpsion a man by his awen wytt for to prese to mekill
in-to knawyng of gastly thynges , bot if he felid plente of grace ,
(CMROLLTR,43.885)
For +te wyse man saise +tus , (CMROLLTR,43.886)
' Scrutator maiestatis opprimetur a gloria . ' +tat es to say , '
Raunsaker of +te myghte of Godd and of His Maieste , with-owttene gret
clennes and meknes , sall be ouerlayde and oppresside of Hym-selfe ' .
(CMROLLTR,43.887)
XII . (CMROLLTR,44.890)
$The $virtue $of $our $Lord's $Passion . (CMROLLTR,44.891)
Wit thou wele dere Frende , +tat +tof +tou had neuer done syn with thi
bodi , dedly , ne venyall , bot anely this +tat es called Orygynall ,
for it es +te firste syn , and +tat es the lossyng of thy
ryghtwysnes whilke +tou was mad in , Suld +tou neuer hafe bene
safe , if oure Lord Ihesu Christe by his passion had noghte delyuerde
the , and restorede +te agayne . (CMROLLTR,44.893)
And +tou sall wit +tat +tou , be +tou neuer so mekill a wreche , hafe
+tou done neuer so mekill syne , for-sake thi selfe and all thi werkes
gude & ill , (CMROLLTR,44.894)
Cry mercy , (CMROLLTR,44.895)
and aske anely saluacyon by +te vertu of his precyouse passyon mekly
and tristely , (CMROLLTR,44.896)
and with-owtten dowte +tou sall haf it , (CMROLLTR,44.897)
and fra this orygynall syn and all o+ter +tou sall be safe .
(CMROLLTR,44.898)
+ga , and +tou sall be safe as ane ankir incluse ; and noghte anely
+tou , Bot all cristen men and wymen +tat trowes appon his passion ,
and mekes +tam selfe , knawande +taire wrechidnes , askand mercy and
forgyfnes , and +te fruyte of his precyouse passion , anely lawand
+tame-selfe to +te Sacramentes of haly kyrke , (CMROLLTR,44.899)
+tof it be swa +tat +tay hafe bene cumbyrde in syne & with syne all
+taire lyfe tyme , and neuer had felyng of gastely sauour or swetnes ,
or gastely knawynge of Godd , +tay sall , in this faith and in +tair
gud will , be safe , by +te vertu of +te precyouse passione of oure
Lorde Ihesu Criste , and com to +te blysse of Heuen . (CMROLLTR,44.900)
See here +te Endles mercy of owre Lorde , how lawe He fallis to +te &
to me and to all synfull caytyfs . (CMROLLTR,44.901)
' Aske mercy (CMROLLTR,44.902)
and hafe it : ' (CMROLLTR,44.903)
Thus said +te prophete in +te person of oure Lorde , (CMROLLTR,44.904)
' Omnis enym quicunque invocauerit nomen Domini , saluus erit . '
(CMROLLTR,44.905)
' Ilk man , what +tat he be , +tat in-calles +te name of Godd , +tat es
to say , askes saluacion by Ihesu and by his passion , he sall be safe
. ' (CMROLLTR,44.906)
Bot +tis curtasye of oure Lorde , sum men takes , (CMROLLTR,44.907)
and erre safede +ter-by ; (CMROLLTR,44.908)
and sum in traiste of his mercy and his curtasye , lyffes still in
+tair synnes (CMROLLTR,44.909)
& wenys for to hafe it when +tam lyst : (CMROLLTR,45.910)
and +tan may +tay noghte , (CMROLLTR,45.911)
For +tay ere takyne or +tay wit , (CMROLLTR,45.912)
and swa +tay dampne +tam selfe . (CMROLLTR,45.913)
Bot now , sayse +tou , if +tis be sothe +tou wondyrs gretly ,
(CMROLLTR,45.914)
for +tat I fynde wretyn in sum haly mens saghes . (CMROLLTR,45.915)
Sum says , as I undirstande , +tat he +tat cane noghte lufe +tis
blyssed name Ihesu , ne fynd ne fele in it gastely Ioye and
delitabilite , with wondirfull swetnes in +tis lyfe here , ffra +te
souerayne Ioy and gastely swetnes in +te blysse of Heuen he sall be
aliene , (CMROLLTR,45.916)
and neuer sall he com +tar-to . (CMROLLTR,45.917)
Sothely +tise wordes , when I here thaym or redis +tam , stonyes me ,
(CMROLLTR,45.918)
and makis me gretly ferd , (CMROLLTR,45.919)
For I hope , as +tou sayse , +tat many , by +te mercy of Godd , sall be
safe , be kepyng of his commandemente+g and by verray repentance of
+taire euyll lyfe be-fore done , +te wylke felid neuer gastely swetnes
ne inly sauour in +te name of Ihesu or in +te lufe of Ihesu .
(CMROLLTR,45.920)
And for-thi I meruell me +te more , +tat +tay say contrarye here-to ,
as it semys . (CMROLLTR,45.921)
Als un-to +tis , I may say , as me thynke , that theire saynge , if it
be wele vndirstanden , es sothe , (CMROLLTR,45.922)
ne it es noghte contrarye to +tat that I hafe said , (CMROLLTR,45.923)
For +tis name Ihesu es noghte ells for to say one Ynglische bot ' heler
or helre . ' (CMROLLTR,45.924)
Nowe euer-ilk man +tat lyffes in +tis wrechid lyfe , es gastely seke ,
(CMROLLTR,45.925)
For +taire es na man +tat lyffis with-owtten synne , whilke es gastely
seknes , as Sayn Ihon sayse of hym-selfe and o+ter perfite mene thus ,
(CMROLLTR,45.926)
' Si dixerimus quod peccatum non habemus , ipsi nos seducimus , et c=a=
. ' (CMROLLTR,45.927)
' If we say +tat we hafe na syn , we begile oure-selfe ,
(CMROLLTR,45.928)
and sothefastnes es noghte in vs . ' (CMROLLTR,45.929)
And for-+ti he may neuer fele ne com to +te Ioyes of Heuen , vn-to he
first be made hale of +tis gostely seknes . (CMROLLTR,45.930)
Bot +tis gastely may na man haf +tat hase vse of reson , bot if he
desire it and lufe it , and hafe delite +tar-in , in als mekill als he
hopis for to get it . (CMROLLTR,45.931)
Now +te name of Ihesu es noghte elles bot +tis gastely hele .
Whare-fore it es sothe +tat +tay say , +tat +tar may na man be safe bot
if he lufe & lyke in +te name of Ihesu ; (CMROLLTR,45.932)
For +tar may na man be gastely hale , bot if he lufe and desire gastely
hele ; (CMROLLTR,45.933)
For ryght als a man ware bodily seke , +ter ware nane erthely thyng sa
dere ne so nedfull to hym , ne so mekill suld be desyrid of hym , als
bodily hele For +tofe +tou wald gyff hym all +te reches and +te
wirchips of +tis werlde , and noghte make hym hale of +tat +tou
myghte , +tou plesid hym noghte - Ryghte so it es to a man
+tat es seke gastely , and felis +te payne of gastely seknes .
(CMROLLTR,46.934)
Nathyng es so dere , so nedfull , ne so mekill desirid of hym , als his
gastely hele , (CMROLLTR,46.935)
and +tat es Ihesu , withowtten whilke , all +te Ioyes of Heuen may
noghte lyke hym . (CMROLLTR,46.936)
And this es +te skill as I hope whi oure Lorde , when
he tuke mankynde for oure saluacyon , he walde noghte be called by na
name betakenande his Endles beyng , or his myghte , or his wysdom , or
his ryghtwysnes , bot anely by +tat that was cause of his commynge ,
and +tat was saluacyon of mans saule . Whilke saluacion was maste dere
and maste nedfull to man ; (CMROLLTR,46.937)
and +tis saluacyon , betakens +tis name Ihesu . (CMROLLTR,46.938)
+Tan bi this it semes , +tat +ter may na man be safe bot if he lufe
Ihesu ; (CMROLLTR,46.939)
For +ter may na man be safe bot if he lufe saluacyon , whilke lufe he
may hafe +tat lyfes and dyes in +te laweste degre of charite .
(CMROLLTR,46.940)
Also I may say on a-no+ter wyse , +tat he +tat can noghte lufe +tis
blessede nam Ihesu with gastely myrthe , ne enjoye in it with heuenly
melodye here , he sall neuer hafe ne fele in +te blysse of Heuen +tat
fulhede of souerayne Ioye , +te whilke he +tat myghte in +tis lyfe , by
habondance of perfite charite , enjoye in Ihesu , sall hafe & fele ,
(CMROLLTR,46.941)
and so may +taire saynge be vndirstanden . (CMROLLTR,46.942)
Neuer-+te-les , he sall be safe , and hafe full mede in +te syghte of
Godd , all if he be in +tis lyfe in the laweste degre of charite , by
kepyng of Goddes commandementes , (CMROLLTR,46.943)
For Criste sayse in the Gospelle , ' In domo Patris mei mansiones multe
sunt . ' (CMROLLTR,46.944)
' In my fadir house erre many sere dwellynges . ' (CMROLLTR,46.945)
Sum are for perfite saules , +te whilke in +tis lyfe ware fulfillede of
grace of +te Haly Gaste , and sang louynngs to Godd in contemplacion of
Hym with wondirfull swetnes and heuennly savour . (CMROLLTR,46.946)
+Tise saules , for +tay hade maste charite , sall haue hegheste mede in
+te blyse of Heuen , (CMROLLTR,46.947)
For +tise ere callid Goddes derlyngs . (CMROLLTR,46.948)
Othir saules +tat ere in +tis lyfe inperfite , and erre noghte disposed
to contemplacyon of Godd , ne had noghte +te fullhede of charite , as
apostells or martirs had in +te begynnyng of haly Kirke , +tay sall
haue +te lawere mede in +te blyse of Heuen , (CMROLLTR,46.949)
For +tise er callede Goddis frendis . (CMROLLTR,46.950)
+Tus callis oure Lorde chosene saules in haly writt , sayand thus ,
(CMROLLTR,46.951)
' Comedite amici , et inebriamini carissimi . '
(CMROLLTR,47.952)
' Mi frendes , ete +ge ; (CMROLLTR,47.953)
and my derlynges , be +ge drunkyn . ' (CMROLLTR,47.954)
As if oure Lorde said one +tis wyse , ' +ge +tat er my frendis , for
+ge keped my commandmente+g and sett my lufe be-fore +te lufe of +te
werlde , and lufed me more +tan any o+ter erthely thynge , +ge sall be
feedd with gastely fude of +te brede of lyfe . (CMROLLTR,47.955)
Bot +ge +tat er my derlynges and noghte anely kepid my commandementis ,
Bot also of +goure awen fre will fulfillede my consailles , and ouer
+tat +ge luffed me anely enterely with all +te myghtes of +goure saule
, and brynnede in my lufe with gastely delyte , as did pryncypally +te
apostills & martirs and all o+ter +tat myghte com by grace to +te gyfte
of perfeccion , +ge sall be made drunken with +te freeste wyne in my
celer , +tat es , +te souereyne ioye of lufe in +te blyse of Heuen . '
To the whilke blise he brynge vs , +tat boghte vs with his precyouse
passion , Ihesu Criste , Goddes sone of Heuen . (CMROLLTR,47.956)
Amen ! (CMROLLTR,47.957)